Backseat Bible Nuggets

If yall follow me on social media, you saw me post about the Noteworthy Prayer Cards last week. These little cards made my kids whole week when they found them in their lunch box at school!

Each card has an uplifting message, a Bible verse, a prayer, and a space for you to write your own note to your child! Simply tear off a page and place it in or on their backpack, lunch box, bathroom mirror, or pillow! Wherever they will find it!

Get creative! Remember, your kids are never too young or too old to hear how much you adore them.

For more information and to get your cards, head over to cpgive.org. That’s cpgive.org

Who loves a tongue twister? I know we do in our house. Have you ever tried the one that says...how much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? Here it is slowly....how much wood...could a woodchuck chuck...if a woodchuck...could chuck wood. One more time as fast as you can, how much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

So fun! If you didn’t get it this first time, I’m sure you will with practice.

Well, we are talking about tongue twisters today because I’ve been reading in the Bible, in the book of John lately, and I’ve realized that the very first verse or sentence of that book is like a tongue twister. Or better yet, a brain twister.

It says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.”

It’s a brain twister because it’s a bit confusing on what’s being said here. It almost sounds like the disciple John who wrote this book is repeating Himself a few times. But he’s not. Let’s take each phrase and look at what he’s saying. First of all, he’s talking about Jesus who we can think of as “the word.” So when John says “in the beginning was the word,” what do you think that means? I’m going to give you a minute to pause here and talk about that together. When John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the word,” what does that mean?

PAUSE

If you said that it means that Jesus existed since the beginning of time, you’re right! Remember that “in the beginning” is the phrase that is used in Genesis which explains the whole creation of the world? John is letting us know that Jesus was there at that time! Jesus’ life didn’t just start when He was born on earth!

Okay, let’s add the next part of that verse: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God...remember we can think of “the word” as another name for Jesus here so we’ve already said that Jesus existed before the world was created, but it also says “the word was with God.” This shows us that Jesus is in perfect fellowship with God. And this is a fancy way of saying that they were hanging out together and best friends. It shows us that they are 2 unique people! Which is sorta mindblowing given the next phrase. Let’s add it in...

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The last phrase says “the Word was God.” So we shouldn’t think of Jesus and God as 2 separate people with different things they like and don’t like, but we should think of them as the same beucase this tells us that Jesus IS God. I told you this was a brain twister, right?! This is a concept called the Trinity, which we have a whole episode about if you want to learn more here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/backseat-bible-nuggets/id1573752728?i=1000531698203

But for now, let’s say the whole verse together. But this time I’ll pause so you can repeat after me: In the beginning was the Word....and the Word was with God...and the Word was God...John 1:1

Awesome job everyone! I encourage you to keep practicing this verse and keep thi

We talk a lot on here about how Jesus came to earth and died for our sins. But, did you know that Jesus is going to come back to earth some day?!

Yeah! He’s going to come back one day. But this time it’ll be different. This time He won’t be born in a manger with Mary and Joseph as his Mom and Dad. This time will be A LOT different.

I have to tell you up front that we don’t know EXACTLY all the details about how Jesus will come back, but we DO know He said He would come back so we can trust that it’s true.

We can look to the Bible for some clues about what it will be like when Jesus returns to earth. So, here’s what we DO know about when Jesus comes back again, which we also sometimes call His second coming.

We know he will come on the clouds. We know that every eye will see Him. That means every person will see Him with their own eyeballs. We know He will come with all of His angels – tons and tons of angels with Him. Oh, and there will be trumpets! Loud trumpets! (trumpet sound) AND we know that the only person who knows when all of this will happen is (drum roll) God, Himself.

Revelation 1:7a says, ”Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him...”

How cool is that?! Our God is so amazing that He can do all of those things – like come in the clouds with millions even billions of angels behind Him. With a trumpet call announcing His arrival so that all eyes on earth will look to Him and see Him. I REALLY want to see this because I think it’ll be the coolest sight ever!

And it will be for those who know and love Jesus! For those who don’t know Him or follow Him, though, it won’t be the best day ever. That’s because when Jesus comes back they won’t have time anymore to turn to Him. That’s why it’s important that we know and follow Jesus TODAY! We can’t wait to do that because remember....no one knows when He’s coming back. Only God knows that!

What if it’s today? Look up! Do you see Him in the clouds right now? What if it’s tomorrow? What if it’s when you’re 100 years old? Who knows?! Maybe it won’t happen in your lifetime. Maybe it’ll be in 10,000 years. Only God knows. But, we are told to live for Him right now and to be excited about the day when He comes back in this awesome way.

Okay friends, here are some questions to talk about. You can pause after each question to discuss. And, like always...don’t overthink it! The point is to get us talking about this:

1. What are some things we know from the Bible about Jesus’ second coming?

2. What are some questions that you might have about Jesus coming back to earth? There are plenty of things that we don’t know about this day! So what are some of your questions?

3. How do you think you’ll respond if you see Him coming back? Would you jump for joy or find a trumpet to blow or maybe you’d hide not knowing what was happening or something else?

Let’s try and learn our verse together. You can repeat after me. “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him...” Revelation 1:7a

Backseat Bible Nuggets is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual guidance to help you grow into the perfectly imperfect parent you want to be visit www.ChristianParenting.org

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Hey......you....yeah, you.....what cha doing right now? Riding in the car? Listening to something while waiting on dinner? Laying on the floor with nothing to do? Playing legos?

Did you know that all of these activities and NOT activities are opportunities to talk about God?

Yep!

The Bible tells us in Deuteronomy chapter 6 to talk about God no matter what’s happening... any circumstance. Any time of the day. Any place. Whenever and wherever!

In fact, listen in Deuteronomy 6 verses 5-7. It says this: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

The people in Bible times walked everywhere they went. They didn’t have bikes or roller blades or scooters. Just walking! But, how do you get to places most of the time? If you live in a town like we do, we drive everywhere we go! And this Bible verse that tells us to talk about God when we are “walking along the road” can now be applied to “when we are riding in the car.”

Some of my best thinking and talking happens on car rides!

And so that’s why we’ve named this podcast BACKSEAT Bible nuggets. It was created for parents that have someone in the backseat that they want to talk about God with as they are going as the Bible has commanded us in Deuteronomy 6:7. These are short devotional podcasts to get you talking about God and His word as you go!

So, back to our verses...Let’s hear it again. Deuteronomy 6:5-7. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Whew! That means everything that we have in us! My heart, my brain, the things I do in my own strength with my arms and legs and hands and so on) These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. (In other words, parents are called to have God’s commandments in their hearts and minds so that they can then TEACH them to YOU, their kiddos!) Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (All. The. Time!)

Here are some questions to talk about. You can pause after each question and discuss or just generally review together when it’s over. Oh, and this is important! Listen. There’s no wrong answer to these! The point is to get conversation flowing. So don’t overthink it!

1. Okay, so first. What does it mean to love God with ALL of our heart, soul and strength?

2. Why is it important that we talk about God and His words in the Bible?

3. And lastly, how can you make sure that you talk about the Lord all the time, like it said in scripture. Remember it said talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up? How will YOU help your parents do that?

I’m sure they would love to talk about Him with you! And even if they don’t know all the answers, you can learn together! God loves when we come to Him. Whether we know it all or not!

One last time before we sign off, let’s practice Deuteronomy 6:5 together. You can repeat after me: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

You’ve been listening to Backseat Bible Nuggets. A podcast for kids about God’s great love for them and His written word. Parents you can check out more resources at BackseatBibleNuggets.com. We’re honored you listened and pray deep roots grow in the lives of your backseaters as you go along the way.

Music: Forest by Vlad Gluschenko

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/backseat-bible-nuggets/donations

What are you going to be for Halloween this year? Have you decided yet? In case you’re still undecided, let me point you towards a Bible verse that tells us to be aliens. Wait, what?! That’s right, 1 Peter 2:11 says, “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.”

That verse has a lot of big words, but let’s focus on the part where Peter, who wrote this in the Bible, tells us to be aliens and strangers in the world. WHAT does that mean??

An alien is someone from a different planet, right? Think for a second what you imagine an alien to look like. If you want, draw me a picture and have your parents send it to me. I’d love to see your aliens! ([email protected])

....

We’ve talked before about when we become a Christian and have the Holy Spirit living in us, it changes EVERYTHING about us. While we might not have antenna on our head or have green slimy skin, like I usually think of an alien, it does change us on the inside. It changes our heart and what we care about, it changes how we want to spend our time, it changes how we treat others, it changes EVERYTHING. And when we are changed, we start to look so different than the world around us.

This is what it means to be an alien!

Here are some questions to talk about. You can pause after each question and discuss or just generally review together when it’s over. Oh, and this is important! There’s no wrong answer to these! The point is to get conversation flowing. So don’t overthink it!

1. If you’re not a Christian, are you an alien in the world or not an alien?

2. What are some ways to be an “alien” in the world for God? Like is it to walk around with 3 eyes, antenna, and green skin? Or is it something else when we are an alien in the world as a Christian?

3. And last question to think about, WHY would God want us to be different from the world around us? WHY would he want us to be aliens?

One last time, let’s practice our verse together. You can repeat after me. “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.” 1 Peter 2:11

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/backseat-bible-nuggets/donations

Do you think God laughs? Someone asked me this yesterday and it made me think...what do you think? Do YOU think that God laughs? Do you think that Jesus laughed when He lived on Earth?

I do! I think that God laughs a LOT actually and I bet Jesus laughed a ton as He lived His life. How could He not?! There’s too many funny things in life to NOT laugh! And think of how much you love to laugh. Everyone loves a good laugh. It just makes you feel good! And sometimes we say laughing is contagious, meaning that we can just hear someone else laughing and then we start laughing too. I think God loves to laugh just like we love to laugh.

When God was creating Adam and Eve, the Bible tells us that God created them in His own image. That means God looked at Himself and made humans very similar to Himself. And as good as it feels to laugh, I think God loves to laugh too.

Is it kinda strange to think about God doing someone as simple and fun as laughing?

This isn’t always how we think about God. Some people think God is a mean dictator that sits on His throne telling people what to do and not do. Most people don’t think of God as laughing right along with us when we laugh. But I think it’s important for us to know that while God is indeed a king who has laid out the best way for us to live in the Bible, He’s also our best friend who wants to be right there in the middle of the good laugh.

Psalms 126:2 says “Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then is was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them."

Here are some questions to talk about. You can pause after each question and discuss or just generally review together when it’s over. Oh, and this is important! There’s no wrong answer to these! The point is to get conversation flowing. So don’t overthink it!

1. If God laughs, what does He laugh about?

2. How do you usually think of God? Is He like that mean guy telling everyone what to do OR is He the loving, laughing best friend?

One last time, let’s practice our verse together. You can repeat after me. “Our mouths were filled with laughter, - our tongues with songs of joy. - Then is was said among the nations, - “The Lord has done great things for them.” Psalms 126:2

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/backseat-bible-nuggets/donations