Introduction: Branches That Reach Out

Have you ever sat under a big shady tree on a hot summer day? The sun is blazing, but under those wide branches it’s cool and comfortable. Birds build nests in the branches. Squirrels run along them. Kids climb them and hang swings from them. A healthy tree doesn’t just stand there. It spreads out its branches and blesses everything around it.

That’s a picture of what God wants to do through you.

In the earlier books of Rooted, we talked about growing deep roots in God, walking with Jesus, growing good fruit and standing strong in storms. Now it’s time to look outward. When God’s love fills you up, it doesn’t stay inside. It spreads out, like branches, to the people around you.

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

— 1 John 4:11 (BSB)

Notice the order: God loved us first. We don’t love others to earn God’s love. We love others because He loves us. His love flows into us and then out through us.

What’s in this book

This is Book 5 of Rooted. (If you haven’t read the others, that’s okay! You can start right here.)

• Week 1 — Love at Home. Your parents, your brothers and sisters, and your whole family.
• Week 2 — Friends. Being a true friend, choosing friends wisely, and what to do when you feel left out.
• Week 3 — Forgiveness and Peace. Forgiving people who hurt you, saying sorry well, and what to do about bullies.
• Week 4 — God’s Family. The church, your gifts, older people, younger kids, and helping each other.
• Week 5 — Loving the World. People from every nation, the poor, and telling others about Jesus.

How each day works

Every day takes about five to ten minutes and has five parts:

1. The verse. A short passage from the Bible. Read it slowly.
2. The teaching. What the verse means, with a Bible story or a picture from everyday life.
3. Think about it. A question to think about on your own or with someone.
4. Try this. One way to love someone today.
5. The prayer. A prayer to pray. Add your own words too!

Tips for branching out

• Think of real people. As you read each day, picture someone specific: a brother, a friend, a neighbor.
• Actually do the “Try this.” This book is about loving people, and love is something you do.
• Start at home. It’s often easiest to be kind to strangers and hardest to be kind to your own family. Start there anyway!
• Missed a day? Just keep going. Love doesn’t keep score, and neither does this book.

Jesus said the whole Bible hangs on two commandments: love God and love your neighbor. The roots go down to God. The branches reach out to people. Let’s grow some branches!

For parents, grandparents and leaders

Book 5 of Rooted is about relationships: family, friends, forgiveness, the church and the wider world. It is written for readers aged 9 to 12 and quotes Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible. Several days touch on sensitive ground. Days 2 and 5 on honoring and listening to parents note that no one should be asked to do something wrong or unsafe. Days 13 and 14 on forgiveness explain that forgiving someone doesn’t mean pretending, trusting them right away or staying where you can be hurt. Day 17 on bullies tells readers clearly to tell a trusted adult. You may want to talk through those days together.