For Parents
On Sunday, Ps Ric Burrell from Strong Nation Church shared from 1 John 4 and John 20 about the most important thing a Christian can ever know: God loved us first. Ric walked through four big truths — God loved us so he created us, saved us, adopted us into his family, and sent us out with a purpose. The one big idea for the whole week is that God’s love is not a reward for good behaviour — it’s where everything begins.
Tip: Aim for about 15 minutes a night, phones face-down on the bench, and make sure everyone gets a turn to answer — including the grown-ups. You can do one night, two nights, or all three — whatever works for your family this week.
The Big Idea
God loved us first, and that changes everything.
Memory Verse
“We love because he first loved us.” — 1 John 4:19
Fun way to learn it: Do it as a tennis match. One side of the table says “We love—” and bounces it across. The other side catches it and says “because he first loved us!” Then swap. See how fast you can go without dropping it. Try it backwards once you know it.
Night One
He made you on purpose
Warm Up
Would you rather be a hand-painted one-of-a-kind painting in a gallery, or a poster printed by the million? Why? (No wrong answers — just get people talking.)
Story Time
In the very beginning, before anything else existed, God decided he wanted a family. So he made people — not like a machine stamps out parts, but like an artist who really loves what they’re making. The Bible says in Psalm 139 that God knitted you together, knew every single day of your life before you were even born, and called you wonderful. Ric reminded us on Sunday that God didn’t create us because he needed servants or because he was lonely. He made us because he wanted someone to love. You are not an accident. You are the intentional work of a loving God.
(You can read Psalm 139:13-16 together from your own Bible.)
Talk About It
- Little ones: If you were going to make your very own person, what would you make them good at?
- What do you think it means that God “knitted you together”?
- Older kids: Ric said God made you with your likes, your dislikes, your dreams, and your personality. Does that idea surprise you or feel normal? Why?
- Grown-ups, your turn: When is it hardest for you to believe that God made you on purpose and loves what he made?
Try It
Before tomorrow, write your name on a small piece of paper and stick it somewhere you’ll see it in the morning — the bathroom mirror, your lunchbox, your school bag. Next to your name write: Made on purpose. Loved from the start. See if it changes how you feel walking into the day.
Pray Together
Go around the table. Each person finishes this sentence out loud: “Thank you God that you made me with…” (something about themselves — a gift, a personality thing, something they enjoy). Mum or Dad closes with a one-line prayer thanking God that every person at the table was made on purpose.
Night Two
He came after you
Warm Up
Has anyone in your family ever lost something they really loved — a pet, a favourite jumper, a toy — and gone all out to find it? What happened? How did it feel when you found it?
Story Time
Jesus told a story about a young bloke who grabbed his share of the family money, left home, spent the lot, and ended up broke and hungry, feeding pigs in a paddock far from home. He finally came to his senses and started walking back, rehearsing his apology the whole way. But his dad spotted him way down the road and ran to meet him — didn’t wait, didn’t make him grovel, just ran. He threw a jacket over him, put a ring on his finger, called for a celebration, and said: you’re not a servant here. You’re my son. Ric said on Sunday that this is exactly how God treats us. He doesn’t just forgive us and leave us standing awkwardly at the door. He pulls us into the family.
(You can read Luke 15:11-24 together from your own Bible.)
Talk About It
- Little ones: Why do you think the dad ran? What does that tell us about how he felt?
- The son planned to come back as a servant, but the dad made him a son again. What’s the difference?
- Older kids: Ric said God doesn’t want servants — he wants kids. Do you ever treat your relationship with God more like a servant who has to earn their keep? What would it look like to act more like a son or daughter?
- Grown-ups, your turn: Is it easy or hard for you to come to God when you’ve done something wrong? What makes the difference?
Try It
At some point tomorrow, find a door in your house and actually walk through it confidently — throw it open, walk in like you belong there. It sounds a bit silly, but Ric talked about how as God’s kids we can “kick open the door” into God’s presence. Use it as a reminder when you pray tomorrow: you don’t have to creep in. You belong.
Pray Together
Each person prays one sentence starting with “Dad…” or “Father…” — whatever feels right — and says one thing they want to bring to God this week. Keep it short and real.
Night Three
He’s got something for you to do
Warm Up
Quick table game: everyone names one thing they reckon they’re actually good at — could be anything, serious or funny. Then everyone else at the table names one thing they see in that person too. See if anyone gets surprised by what others notice about them.
Story Time
After Jesus rose from the dead on that first Easter Sunday, something incredible happened. Mary Magdalene found the tomb empty and ran to tell the disciples. John — who famously called himself “the one Jesus loved” five times in his own book — sprinted to the tomb ahead of everyone. Ric said on Sunday that John wasn’t just showing off. He understood something the others were still catching up on: when you truly know how much God loves you, everything changes. You run towards him, not away. And Jesus didn’t keep that love bottled up — he told his followers: just as the Father sent me, I’m sending you. The love was always meant to keep moving.
(You can read John 20:1-2 and John 20:21 together from your own Bible.)
Talk About It
- Little ones: If someone gave you the best present ever, would you want to tell people about it or keep it secret?
- Ric said that Monday to Saturday we’re “on mission” — shining light, being kind, sharing good news. What does that look like at your school or footy or work?
- Older kids: Ric said God opens doors for us and we just need to be ready to walk through them. Have you ever had a moment where it felt like God set something up for you? What happened?
- Grown-ups, your turn: What’s one way you could show or share God’s love to someone outside your family this week?
Try It
Each person in the family picks one person they know who could use some encouragement this week — a mate, a neighbour, a classmate, someone at work. Write their name down. Then do one thing for that person before Sunday — a text, a kind word at school, helping them out with something. Come back next Sunday night and share what happened.
Pray Together
Hold hands around the table if you’re up for it. One person reads 1 John 4:19 out loud: “We love because he first loved us.” Then go around and each person prays for the person they wrote down in the Try It — just one sentence asking God to show that person his love this week.
