Psalm 79.5-9
“Do not remember our former iniquities.” Read 1 Corinthians 13 and rejoice in what God, who is Love, does not keep a record of.
Genesis 4.1-26
For younger children read at least Genesis 4.7. You may also talk about how the Holy Spirit cultivates the fruit of self-control in our lives. You can let your child know that you too used to throw temper tantrums but don’t anymore (I hope).
For older children you could discuss this note – “Just as Adam was expelled from God’s presence when he was forced out of the Garden of Eden, so Cain interprets his being forced off the land as an expulsion from God’s presence. Separation from God is the most severe aspect of divine judgment.” The Lutheran Study Bible
Mark 2.18-28
For younger children read at least Mark 2.28 and repeat it so that it might be written on the heart. You might also talk about how Jesus is our rest.
For older children you could discuss this – “Jesus tresses that the time of fulfillment has arrived, and thus totally new ways of thinking and acting are in order. In our own lives, the same dynamics is at work. it will not do simply to patch some little bit of the Gospel onto our existing lifestyle and expect it all to hold together. Thankfully, the Lord offers such surpassingly great promises that the old is made obsolete.” The Lutheran Study Bible
Write it on the heart verses – Genesis 4.7 and Mark 2.28
Small Catechism for the week: The Sixth Petition Lead us not into temptation. What does this mean? God surely tempts no one to sin, but we pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us, so that the devil, the world, and our flesh may not deceive us or lead us into false belief, despair, and other great and shameful sins; and though we are tempted by them, we pray that we may overcome and win the victory.
Small Catechism question for the day: What blessing do we get when God tests us? James 1.2,3 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.