Kids Min Connecting at Home for November 8, 2026

Shari Borders • Kids Pastor
November 9, 2026

1 Minute Read

God Delights in His People

(Zephaniah 3:16-17; Luke 15:8-10; Psalm 18:19; Psalm 37:23; Psalm 149:3-5)

✝️ Here’s what happens:

These verses demonstrate that God is joyful…and what brings him the most joy is us! God rejoices over us and delights in us, and he is thrilled when someone turns to him. We can make music and sing for joy in response.

“Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy” (Psalm 100:2)

👨‍👩‍👦 Family Together Time

At dinner or bedtime, have each person pick a face that shows how he or she feels about the day.
😁 - Happy
😢 - Sad
😡 - Angry
😱 - Worried
😕 - Confused
😋 - Silly
😲 - Surprised
🤢 - Sick
😴 - Tired
😒 - Annoyed
😎 - Calm
😥 - Stressed
Talk about how we can have joy no matter how we feel

💬 Talk About This:

Talk about a person who brings you joy.

Stay connected by subscribing below so you never miss an update.

Subscribe to Gateway Kids Updates

Up Next

From this Author: Shari Borders

Currently Reading

November 9, 2026 • 1 Minute Read

Kids Min Connecting at Home for November 8, 2026

God Delights in His People (Zephaniah 3:16-17; Luke 15:8-10; Psalm 18:19; Psalm 37:23; Psalm 149:3-5) ✝️ Here’s what happens: These verses demonstrate that God is joyful…and what brings him the most joy is us! God rejoices over us and delights in us, and he is thrilled when someone turns to him. We can make music and sing for joy in response. “Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy” (Psalm 100:2) 👨‍👩‍👦 Family Together Time At dinner or bedtime, have each person pick a face that shows how he or she feels about the day. 😁 - Happy 😢 - Sad 😡 - Angry 😱 - Worried 😕 - Confused 😋 - Silly 😲 - Surprised 🤢 - Sick 😴 - Tired 😒 - Annoyed 😎 - Calm 😥 - Stressed Talk about how we can have joy no matter how we feel 💬 Talk About This: Talk about a person who brings you joy. Digging Into the Heart of God. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc. Permission to reproduce granted for local church use.

Shari Borders

Kids Pastor

November 2, 2026 • 2 Minute Read

Kids Min Connecting at Home for November 1, 2026

God Helps Daniel Act Wisely (Daniel 1) ✝️ Here’s what happens: Daniel and his friends are working in the king’s palace while in exile. God gives them wisdom to handle a tough situation when the palace food goes against God’s plan for them. God is wise, and he helps us make wise choices. “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you now see it?” (Isaiah 43:19) 👨‍👩‍👦 Family Together Time Have a Google race! Read the following questions and have everyone race to look up the answers. What’s the world record for hot dogs eaten in one sitting? In what year was the typewriter invented? Who was the first female Supreme Court Justice of the United States? Which president had a pet alligator? How many countries are there that start with Z? What’s the biggest lake in the world? Talk about the kind of questions Google can help with...and the questions it can’t help with. Turn to God together and ask Him for wisdom with the questions that are too big for Google. 💬 Talk About This: Tell about a wise person who’s influenced your family. Digging Into the Heart of God. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc. Permission to reproduce granted for local church use.

Shari Borders

Kids Pastor

October 26, 2026 • 1 Minute Read

Kids Min Connecting at Home for October 25, 2026

Moses Sees God’s Holiness (Exodus 33-34) ✝️ Here’s what happens: God meets with Moses in a tent, passes by as Moses hides in a mountain crevice, and meets with Moses in a cloud. Moses’ face glows, reflecting that he has spent time with God. Moses’ experiences show us that God is special. “The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.” (Psalm 103:8) 👨‍👩‍👦 Family Together Time Moses had a special place to meet with God: the Tent of Meeting. Make your own special place! Build a blanket fort or tent in a place everyone in your family can get to. Try to choose a quieter place in your home. Whenever anyone wants to spend time with God, he or she can enter the tent to pray or read the Bible. Make sure you spend some time with God together in your special place. 💬 Talk About This: What’s special about God? Digging Into the Heart of God. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc. Permission to reproduce granted for local church use.

Shari Borders

Kids Pastor

October 12, 2026 • 2 Minute Read

Kids Min Connecting at Home for October 11, 2026

God Sends Manna and Quail (Exodus 16:1-35) ✝️ Here’s what happens: While the Israelites wander in the desert, they need food. They complain about how hungry they are and wish they’d never left Egypt. But God is loyal and sends them food from the sky—manna (a mysterious breadlike substance) and quail. “The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.” (Psalm 103:8) 👨‍👩‍👦 Family Together Time Gather your “manna and quail” to prepare for meals this week. When it’s getting closer to a snack time, hide packaged or bagged snacks around the house. Challenge your family to find the snacks and remind them that the Israelites gathered the food God provided. When it’s nearing time to prepare dinner, hide the packaged ingredients. For example, if you’re making spaghetti with marinara, hide the box of spaghetti and the jar of sauce. After your family finds the items, work together as a family to prepare the food. Thank God for loyally giving you food! 💬 Talk About This: Give an example of something a loyal friend would do. Digging Into the Heart of God. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc. Permission to reproduce granted for local church use.

Shari Borders

Kids Pastor

October 5, 2026 • 1 Minute Read

Kids Min Connecting at Home for October 4, 2026

God Makes Bitter Water Good (Exodus 15:22-27) ✝️ Here’s what happens: After the Israelites escape Egypt, they travel in the desert for three days without finding water. When they finally find some, it tastes bitter. They complain and doubt God’s plan, but God shows grace by providing a piece of wood that makes the water good! “The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.” (Psalm 103:8) 👨‍👩‍👦 Family Together Time Celebrate God’s grace with your favorite beverages. Let everybody choose his or her favorite thing to drink, whether that’s a soft drink, coffee (for Mom or Dad), juice, milk, hot chocolate, or something else. You might even go to a fast food or ice cream place for soft drinks and milkshakes! As you enjoy your tasty drinks, talk about all the good things God has given you that you don’t deserve. That’s grace! Talk about how you can show grace to other people, too. 💬 Talk About This: When is it hardest for you to show grace to other people? Digging Into the Heart of God. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc. Permission to reproduce granted for local church use.

Shari Borders

Kids Pastor

September 27, 2026 • 2 Minute Read

Kids Min Connect at Home for September 27, 2026

God Takes Elijah to Heaven (2 Kings 2:1-18) ✝️ Here’s what happens: In this mysterious Bible story, God takes Elijah up to heaven in a chariot of fire drawn by horses of fire. The chariot is caught up in a whirlwind, carrying Elijah to heaven. Elisha looks on, upset that Elijah is gone but ready to carry on his legacy. These strange events show that God is mysterious. “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?” (Isaiah 43:19) 👨‍👩‍👦 Family Together Time Walk around your home together. As you walk, pause to wonder about how things work. For example, how does a lightbulb make light? How does an oven make heat? How does a toilet flush? Brainstorm possible explanations. After you’ve toured your whole house, sit down together and talk about this question: Which things that we wondered about are the biggest mystery to you? Talk about the idea that we believe in things working even when we can’t understand what makes them work. We can also believe in God when we don’t understand Hi because we see Him working. 💬 Talk About This: What’s one question about God you’d love to know the answer to? Digging Into the Heart of God. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc. Permission to reproduce granted for local church use.

Shari Borders

Kids Pastor

September 8, 2026 • 2 Minute Read

Kids Ministry Connecting at Home for September 6, 2026

God Provides Food for Elijah (1 Kings 17:1-6) ✝️ Here’s what happens: There’s a drought for several years that makes food scarce. But God sends ravens to Elijah to bring him meat and bread twice a day. Elijah also has water to drink from a brook. God is our provider, too. “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” (2 Corinthians 1:4) 👨‍👩‍👦 Family Together Time Try this fun reminder that God has provided for your family. Make gift tags that say “Love, God.” (These can be as simple as small scraps of paper.) Tape the gift tags on food packaging, clothes hangers, above sinks, or even on your front door. Think of what God has provided for you and put a tag there. When you see the tags throughout the weeks, remember that the item you see is a gift God provided for you. Thank God for His provisions! 💬 Talk About This: What is the best thing God has provided for you? Digging Into the Heart of God. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc. Permission to reproduce granted for local church use.

Shari Borders

Kids Pastor

September 8, 2026 • 2 Minute Read

Kids Ministry Connecting at Home for September 20, 2026

God Comforts Elijah (1 Kings 19:1-18) ✝️ Here’s what happens: Elijah is tired. He feels defeated, scared, and alone. God gives him rest and food and then speaks in a gentle whisper, addressing Elijah’s concerns. God is comforting, and he helps Elijah see that he’s not going to lose, he has nothing to fear, and he’s not alone. “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” (2 Corinthians 1:4) 👨‍👩‍👦 Family Together Time Get comfortable! Put on your most comfortable jammies, gather a lot of pillows and blankets, and bring your favorite stuffed animals (This might be a great bedtime activity!) Once you’re all comfortable, talk about problems or troubles your family has faced before. What did God do to comfort you in those times? (Remember, God may have used other people to bring you comfort.) Read 2 Corinthians 1:4 Brainstorm together a way your family can comfort someone you know based on the comfort God gave you during your hard time. Do it! Comfort the person you discussed using the ideas you came up with. 💬 Talk About This: What’s the most comfortable place you can think of? Digging Into the Heart of God. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc. Permission to reproduce granted for local church use.

Shari Borders

Kids Pastor

September 8, 2026 • 2 Minute Read

Kids Ministry Connecting at Home for September 13, 2026

A Widow Shares Her Last Bread (1 Kings 17:8-16) ✝️ Here’s what happens: Elijah needs food, so God sends him to a poor widow. She’s down to her last meal’s worth of food and has nothing to give, but she generously gives to Elijah anyway. God is generous as well and continues to replenish the widow’s food supply for as long as she needs. “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” (2 Corinthians 1:4) 👨‍👩‍👦 Family Together Time When you go grocery shopping this week, make it a point to buy at least one extra nonperishable item to donate. (If that’s a stretch for you financially, ask God to help you trust him as you give generously.) If your kids don’t normally go shopping with you, you might involve them by having them list some ideas of what to buy to donate. Or you could make a special trip where each child chooses one item within your budget. Donate the items together, either to a homeless shelter or a community food pantry. Before you drop off the food, hold the item (or items) and pray for God to reveal His generous heart to whoever receives your donations. 💬 Talk About This: Give an example of what it means to give generously. Digging Into the Heart of God. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc. Permission to reproduce granted for local church use.

Shari Borders

Kids Pastor

August 19, 2026 • 2 Minute Read

Kids Ministry Connecting at Home for August 30, 2026

David is Kind to Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9) ✝️ Here’s what happens: King David finds Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth. David shows kindness by inviting him to the palace, feeding him a meal, and letting him eat at the palace regularly. God was kind to David, and David passed it on. God is kind, so we’re kind. “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” (2 Corinthians 1:4) 👨‍👩‍👦 Family Together Time Choose one or two people outside of your household, and overwhelm them with kindness by showing them an act of kindness each day this week! Here are some ideas: Help around the yard or house Make food for them Draw pictures for them Make cards for them Write heartfelt letters to them Make a video for them Text them with encouragement Call to pray with them Use your talents to come up with your own kind ideas 💬 Talk About This: What is the kindest thing someone has ever done for you? Digging Into the Heart of God. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc. Permission to reproduce granted for local church use.

Shari Borders

Kids Pastor