We grow in faith by teaching and learning the story of our faith together, building relationships, connecting to our community, serving others, and inviting people in to grow together in God's love. Zion is here to partner with you to encourage the spiritual growth of your child.
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Prepare for @Home Worship
Prepare a space that is most comfortable for you.
Worshipping at home gives you the opportunity to sit in your favorite chair or wrap up with your favorite blanket as you center yourself to learn and respond to God’s Word.
Create an Altar Space @Home
Prepare a space that is most comfortable for you.
- Inside, Outside, In Your Car
- At a table, on the floor, around a fire
Worshipping at home gives you the opportunity to sit in your favorite chair or wrap up with your favorite blanket as you center yourself to learn and respond to God’s Word.
Create an Altar Space @Home
- Blue is the color for Lent..........Find a scrap piece of purple cloth, a cloth napkin/towel, or even a piece of paper and place it in the middle of your kitchen table or coffee table.
- Add a small bowl with water........This is a reminder of our baptism.
- Add a small cross to the space........This could be a cross from your wall, a necklace charm, or one made from paper or scrap wood.
Welcome to the Spark Story Bible!
This collection of beloved Bible stories was designed to make it easy and fun for children and adults to get to konw the Bible together. Experience something new each time you read a story, through the carefully crafted words, the vibrant art, or the suggested activities and discussion questions. Grow in faith together as you explore God's Word.
Using the Spark Story Bible with Your Child
This parent guide can help you get more out of your experience reading The Spark Story Bible with your child. The story Bible itself offers numerous suggestions for activities and discussion questions. As you read with or to a child, you can stop and engage in those activities as they appear. You might make a special sound when one comes up, to transition from the story to the activity or question.
In addition, this guide offers ideas for further questions and activities. You can choose a time that works well for your family—at the end of the day, at the dinner table, or even in the car—to build on what you’ve read in the stories. The suggestions in this guide are meant to help grow your faith together by bringing Bible stories to life in your child’s heart, mind, and soul.
Discussion Questions
Choose a favorite Bible story to talk about. Use the following questions to spark discussion.
Activities
Squiggles
Be sure to watch for Squiggles, the expressive caterpillar whose response to each story will help spark children’s engagement with the story. After you read the text aloud, find Squiggles on the page and ask your child how Squiggles is feeling. Then ask why Squiggles feels that way. Invite the child to share about a time they felt the same way that Squiggles does.
Squiggles Spotting
Squiggles the caterpillar shows up throughout The Spark Story Bible, but sometimes he is hard to spot and takes a bit of searching. One of the best things we learn about God in these stories is that God searches us out too—and sees the wonderful things about us that not everyone else always can. Why not take our Squiggles-spotting skills and use them to see one another as God see us. Take turns “spotting” something wonderful or maybe underappreciated in someone else. Maybe it’s a kind thing one of you did for another, a special way someone smiles, or how they always have a funny joke or kind word.
Promises, Promises
We read about the comfort of God’s promises through many Bible stories. Share this same comfort through a promise made and kept. Choose a person you know who could use some extra love or might need to feel special. Then write a note or call, text, or e-mail the person promising something special. Think about a specific need you can meet and let the person know of your intentions. Then follow up! Make good on your promise just like God does for us.
Create Your Own Family Bible Study
No one has more potential to influence a child than a parent. Whoever has the role of parent, foster parent, stepparent, adoptive parent, or guardian will have more potential to know and influence the kids in their home thatn any other leaders. Time and proximity will give them/you an advantage over other adults to make sure a child grows up with a sense of identiy and belonging.
This collection of beloved Bible stories was designed to make it easy and fun for children and adults to get to konw the Bible together. Experience something new each time you read a story, through the carefully crafted words, the vibrant art, or the suggested activities and discussion questions. Grow in faith together as you explore God's Word.
Using the Spark Story Bible with Your Child
This parent guide can help you get more out of your experience reading The Spark Story Bible with your child. The story Bible itself offers numerous suggestions for activities and discussion questions. As you read with or to a child, you can stop and engage in those activities as they appear. You might make a special sound when one comes up, to transition from the story to the activity or question.
In addition, this guide offers ideas for further questions and activities. You can choose a time that works well for your family—at the end of the day, at the dinner table, or even in the car—to build on what you’ve read in the stories. The suggestions in this guide are meant to help grow your faith together by bringing Bible stories to life in your child’s heart, mind, and soul.
Discussion Questions
Choose a favorite Bible story to talk about. Use the following questions to spark discussion.
- What makes this a favorite story?
- Who are the main people in this story? What do they care about?
- What was a problem that came up in the story? How was the problem solved?
- How does this story help you understand God’s love?
- What lesson did people in the story learn?
- How does this story help us understand how God wants us to live?
- What is one way you can show your love for God today?
Activities
Squiggles
Be sure to watch for Squiggles, the expressive caterpillar whose response to each story will help spark children’s engagement with the story. After you read the text aloud, find Squiggles on the page and ask your child how Squiggles is feeling. Then ask why Squiggles feels that way. Invite the child to share about a time they felt the same way that Squiggles does.
Squiggles Spotting
Squiggles the caterpillar shows up throughout The Spark Story Bible, but sometimes he is hard to spot and takes a bit of searching. One of the best things we learn about God in these stories is that God searches us out too—and sees the wonderful things about us that not everyone else always can. Why not take our Squiggles-spotting skills and use them to see one another as God see us. Take turns “spotting” something wonderful or maybe underappreciated in someone else. Maybe it’s a kind thing one of you did for another, a special way someone smiles, or how they always have a funny joke or kind word.
Promises, Promises
We read about the comfort of God’s promises through many Bible stories. Share this same comfort through a promise made and kept. Choose a person you know who could use some extra love or might need to feel special. Then write a note or call, text, or e-mail the person promising something special. Think about a specific need you can meet and let the person know of your intentions. Then follow up! Make good on your promise just like God does for us.
Create Your Own Family Bible Study
No one has more potential to influence a child than a parent. Whoever has the role of parent, foster parent, stepparent, adoptive parent, or guardian will have more potential to know and influence the kids in their home thatn any other leaders. Time and proximity will give them/you an advantage over other adults to make sure a child grows up with a sense of identiy and belonging.
Themes to Remember
Though God’s Word contains lots of stories and different characters, similar themes are woven throughout. And what we read in The Spark Story Bible is no different: lots of stories with similar themes, such as how God loves us, how God saves us, and God’s peace and presence.
Though God’s Word contains lots of stories and different characters, similar themes are woven throughout. And what we read in The Spark Story Bible is no different: lots of stories with similar themes, such as how God loves us, how God saves us, and God’s peace and presence.
- In which stories do you notice any of these themes? How did they show up?
Luther Park Bible Camp
Luther Park, located along the lake in Chetek, WI
is an extension of our ministry that offers a place to nurture faith through Holy play.
Luther Park is open year round for retreats and conferences located on a 100 acre site, covered with towering pines and surrounded by beautiful views of Prairie Lake. It offers a Christ-centered camping experience for people of all ages. Staff is trained to help campers understand God’s message of love and grace and to provide positive Christian role models.
All children and youth from Zion are encouraged to participate in Luther Park’s ministry programs.
If you have any questions about Luther Park, please call the camp at 715-859-2215 or visit www.LutherPark.org
Luther Park, located along the lake in Chetek, WI
is an extension of our ministry that offers a place to nurture faith through Holy play.
Luther Park is open year round for retreats and conferences located on a 100 acre site, covered with towering pines and surrounded by beautiful views of Prairie Lake. It offers a Christ-centered camping experience for people of all ages. Staff is trained to help campers understand God’s message of love and grace and to provide positive Christian role models.
All children and youth from Zion are encouraged to participate in Luther Park’s ministry programs.
If you have any questions about Luther Park, please call the camp at 715-859-2215 or visit www.LutherPark.org
Sugar Creek is located along the lake in Ferryville, WI
is an extension of our ministry that offers a place where all generations encounter Christ, experience God's grace and are empowered by the Holy Spirit to go forth in faith..
No matter your age, race, or income level, Sugar Creek pledges to have a program designed for you. Ministry programs run year-round!
All children and youth from Zion are encouraged to participate in Sugar Creek’s ministry programs. If you have any questions about Sugar Creek, please call the camp at 608-734-3601 or visit http://wp.sugarcreekbiblecamp.org
is an extension of our ministry that offers a place where all generations encounter Christ, experience God's grace and are empowered by the Holy Spirit to go forth in faith..
No matter your age, race, or income level, Sugar Creek pledges to have a program designed for you. Ministry programs run year-round!
All children and youth from Zion are encouraged to participate in Sugar Creek’s ministry programs. If you have any questions about Sugar Creek, please call the camp at 608-734-3601 or visit http://wp.sugarcreekbiblecamp.org
