April 10 is our next Remember & Celebrate weekend where we remember what God has done and celebrate it. KidQuest and FirstLook both look a little different on these days as we review the Bible stories and activities from the past 6 weeks.
Another cool thing that happens in KidQuest is I let the kids stand at the microphone and tell all the other kids what God is doing in their lives and how He is helping them. The last time we did it, it was an awesome experience.
This time I want to make it even better. So on April 3, we are going to send home a homework sheet with all our KidQuest students (1st-5th). Parents, you are to work through this with them as they try to remember and see what God is doing in their lives and how they fit into God's Big Story. It also gives you one more opportunity besides HomeFront to see and hear about what we do on a weekly basis in KidQuest.
So please look for this paper on Sunday and complete it as a family.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
April 2011 Parent Link -- Fight for the Heart
Parent Link is a podcast we do every single month to help connect the church and the home. In this month's edition we talk about building your relationship with your kids so when your control over them is gone, you will still have a cloud of influence over their hearts. I do admit, this month is GREAT, so please take some time to listen.
Monday, March 28, 2011
April 3 in FirstLook -- Heaven
Memory Verse -- Philippians 4:13 (NLT)
"I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength."
Environment -- Out of the Comfort Zone
As children are challenged to step out of their comfort zone from an early age, they learn to experience a dependence on the Holy Spirit to equip and strengthen them beyond their natural abilities and desires. We believe this environment will cultivate a generation that, instead of seeking comfort, seeks a radical life of faith in Christ.
In John 14, Jesus comforts His disciples after they learn of His impending death and departure. He assures them of the covenant He is making—much like a marriage covenant between a betrothed couple—and promises His return. “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1–3 NASB).
Jesus often uses the metaphor of a bridegroom and his bride as a way to describe the relationship between Himself and the church. In ancient Jewish traditions, when a man was to be married, his father would choose the bride for his son. If she accepted the proposal, the bridegroom would then begin to prepare a place for her in his father’s house, where he would bring his bride to dwell with him. The betrothed woman would wait with the oil of her lamp burning as a symbol to her groom that she was faithfully waiting for his return. Once the father of the bridegroom saw that all of his son’s preparations were completed, he would send the groom after his bride for the completion of the wedding ceremony.
Today, Christ Jesus is preparing a place for us to dwell with Him in His Father’s house. We too must wait faithfully, knowing He will return and bring us to Himself, where we will dwell with Him for all eternity.
This weekend, we will be talking about Heaven and this place that Jesus has went to prepare for us. Here is a prayer you can pray with your kids this week to start preparing their hearts for the lesson on heaven:
"I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength."
Environment -- Out of the Comfort Zone
As children are challenged to step out of their comfort zone from an early age, they learn to experience a dependence on the Holy Spirit to equip and strengthen them beyond their natural abilities and desires. We believe this environment will cultivate a generation that, instead of seeking comfort, seeks a radical life of faith in Christ.
In John 14, Jesus comforts His disciples after they learn of His impending death and departure. He assures them of the covenant He is making—much like a marriage covenant between a betrothed couple—and promises His return. “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1–3 NASB).
Jesus often uses the metaphor of a bridegroom and his bride as a way to describe the relationship between Himself and the church. In ancient Jewish traditions, when a man was to be married, his father would choose the bride for his son. If she accepted the proposal, the bridegroom would then begin to prepare a place for her in his father’s house, where he would bring his bride to dwell with him. The betrothed woman would wait with the oil of her lamp burning as a symbol to her groom that she was faithfully waiting for his return. Once the father of the bridegroom saw that all of his son’s preparations were completed, he would send the groom after his bride for the completion of the wedding ceremony.
Today, Christ Jesus is preparing a place for us to dwell with Him in His Father’s house. We too must wait faithfully, knowing He will return and bring us to Himself, where we will dwell with Him for all eternity.
This weekend, we will be talking about Heaven and this place that Jesus has went to prepare for us. Here is a prayer you can pray with your kids this week to start preparing their hearts for the lesson on heaven:
Lord Jesus, thank You for loving us so very much. May we always trust in You and Your Word. Please fill us with Your hope as we wait expectantly for You. Please allow us opportunities to share Your promises with those we meet. Give us courage to follow the leading of Your Holy Spirit. May we only move forward in love—Your love. May the words we speak, and the work of our hands and feet, be Yours alone. We will wait faithfully for Your return—please come soon.
Amen.
April 3 in KidQuest -- Faith of the Centurion
Memory Verse -- Galatians 2:20
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Environment -- Out of Comfort Zone
As children are challenged to step out of their comfort zone from an early age, they learn and experiecne a dependence on the Holy Spirit to equip and strengthen them beyond their natural abilities and desires. We believe this environment will cultivate a generation that, instead of seeking comfort, seeks a radical life of faith in Christ.
In Matthew 10:5–6, Jesus told His disciples, “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.” It is interesting to note that Jesus did not actively seek out Gentile converts during His earthly ministry. Even Paul mentions in Romans 15:8 that Christ became “a servant of the Jews.” Jesus’ mission for the lost Jews was prophesied hundreds of years before by the prophet Isaiah (49:5–6):
Although Jesus’ earthly ministry was aimed at lost Jews, God obviously had an eye on lost Gentiles as well. But God decided that the right time for pursuit of the Gentiles was after Jesus had finished His mission on earth. The Gentile mission was central to the book of Acts, the early church, and the church today. In fact, right before Jesus ascended to heaven, He told His disciples: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:18–19).
God did not overlook the people He had originally chosen. He opened up the gift of His salvation to everyone through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. He remembered and loved everyone in the way that they most needed His attention and His love.
Great faith is sometimes a hard thing to come by—even in our own hearts—but God would love to help us increase our faith if we desire it.
During this lesson, the kids will experience a time of response in which they can pray for more faith. Kids will not only pray for their own faith, but pray for other kids who desire more faith. What would it look like to see a generation of kids filled with great faith?
Before this lesson, pray God would increase your faith. Then pray your children will also experience great faith in God—faith that will carry them through the storms of their adolescence and young adult life. Pray they would be deeply rooted in faith, even at this age, so as they grow older they will not stray.
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Environment -- Out of Comfort Zone
As children are challenged to step out of their comfort zone from an early age, they learn and experiecne a dependence on the Holy Spirit to equip and strengthen them beyond their natural abilities and desires. We believe this environment will cultivate a generation that, instead of seeking comfort, seeks a radical life of faith in Christ.
In Matthew 10:5–6, Jesus told His disciples, “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.” It is interesting to note that Jesus did not actively seek out Gentile converts during His earthly ministry. Even Paul mentions in Romans 15:8 that Christ became “a servant of the Jews.” Jesus’ mission for the lost Jews was prophesied hundreds of years before by the prophet Isaiah (49:5–6):
"And now the Lord says—
he who formed me in the womb to be his servant
to bring Jacob back to him
and gather Israel to himself,
for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord
and my God has been my strength—
he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
to restore the tribes of Jacob
and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”
he who formed me in the womb to be his servant
to bring Jacob back to him
and gather Israel to himself,
for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord
and my God has been my strength—
he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
to restore the tribes of Jacob
and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”
Although Jesus’ earthly ministry was aimed at lost Jews, God obviously had an eye on lost Gentiles as well. But God decided that the right time for pursuit of the Gentiles was after Jesus had finished His mission on earth. The Gentile mission was central to the book of Acts, the early church, and the church today. In fact, right before Jesus ascended to heaven, He told His disciples: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:18–19).
God did not overlook the people He had originally chosen. He opened up the gift of His salvation to everyone through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. He remembered and loved everyone in the way that they most needed His attention and His love.
Great faith is sometimes a hard thing to come by—even in our own hearts—but God would love to help us increase our faith if we desire it.
During this lesson, the kids will experience a time of response in which they can pray for more faith. Kids will not only pray for their own faith, but pray for other kids who desire more faith. What would it look like to see a generation of kids filled with great faith?
Before this lesson, pray God would increase your faith. Then pray your children will also experience great faith in God—faith that will carry them through the storms of their adolescence and young adult life. Pray they would be deeply rooted in faith, even at this age, so as they grow older they will not stray.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
March 27 in KidQuest
By establishing Jewish law (the law God gave Moses for His people, the Israelites), God set up rules for how people were to live their lives. Because God is holy, people needed to purify themselves in order to approach the temple or sacrifice to Him. Some of the ways people could become “unclean” were by: eating unclean foods, touching someone who had leprosy, coming into contact with body fluids (including blood), or having contact with a corpse. However, when Jesus came to earth He satisfied the law. He physically came to be with people, so no one needed to keep themselves “clean” in order to approach God. One of the first ways He proved this was by physically touching people who were considered “unclean.”
After Jesus healed the leper in Matthew 8, He said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them” (v. 4). Jesus knew that only the Jewish priests could lawfully certify that a miracle of healing had occurred. So in order to allow this man to return to the community, Jesus knew Jewish law would need to be followed. Though Jesus came to fulfill the law, He still had respect for it. He also shows sensitivity to the healing of the whole person by wanting to see the leper restored, not only physically, but also spiritually and socially. (For more information on Jesus’ healing of the leper, visit: http://bible.org/seriespage/cleansing-leper.)
Jesus’ faithfulness to the law took precedence over His desire for His work to be hidden. Jesus probably knew that not telling the priests about the miracle could make it appear suspicious. This could have been one of the many reasons that Jesus instructed the healed leper to not tell anyone what had happened to him; Jesus might have wanted him to have validation from the priests first, before others found out. Healing a leper would be evidence that the kingdom of God had arrived. And in God’s divine timing, He was revealing Himself in the way that He thought best.
In this lesson, Jesus commends a woman for her faith to go out of her comfort zone and crawl through the crowd to touch Him. He commands faith from Jairus, when he hears from his friends that his daughter had died. Though God is faithful, it is not true that faith is an automatic formula for getting what we want, or even what we think we need. Though we might have to wait patiently, God always turns to us and hears our cry. He might not respond in the way that we would have imagined, but He hears, and He responds.
Is there a place in your life where you need God to hear your cry? Have you given up hope that He will hear you in this area? Take hope. God is listening and He will respond to your cry in His timing.
Pray the kids would know that God will hear them and respond to them, too. God loves them and cares about them because they are His children. Though they might need to be patient, they can trust in the knowledge that God will hear and respond.
After Jesus healed the leper in Matthew 8, He said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them” (v. 4). Jesus knew that only the Jewish priests could lawfully certify that a miracle of healing had occurred. So in order to allow this man to return to the community, Jesus knew Jewish law would need to be followed. Though Jesus came to fulfill the law, He still had respect for it. He also shows sensitivity to the healing of the whole person by wanting to see the leper restored, not only physically, but also spiritually and socially. (For more information on Jesus’ healing of the leper, visit: http://bible.org/seriespage/cleansing-leper.)
Jesus’ faithfulness to the law took precedence over His desire for His work to be hidden. Jesus probably knew that not telling the priests about the miracle could make it appear suspicious. This could have been one of the many reasons that Jesus instructed the healed leper to not tell anyone what had happened to him; Jesus might have wanted him to have validation from the priests first, before others found out. Healing a leper would be evidence that the kingdom of God had arrived. And in God’s divine timing, He was revealing Himself in the way that He thought best.
In this lesson, Jesus commends a woman for her faith to go out of her comfort zone and crawl through the crowd to touch Him. He commands faith from Jairus, when he hears from his friends that his daughter had died. Though God is faithful, it is not true that faith is an automatic formula for getting what we want, or even what we think we need. Though we might have to wait patiently, God always turns to us and hears our cry. He might not respond in the way that we would have imagined, but He hears, and He responds.
Is there a place in your life where you need God to hear your cry? Have you given up hope that He will hear you in this area? Take hope. God is listening and He will respond to your cry in His timing.
Pray the kids would know that God will hear them and respond to them, too. God loves them and cares about them because they are His children. Though they might need to be patient, they can trust in the knowledge that God will hear and respond.
March 27 in FirstLook
In Luke 19, a tax collector and notorious sinner named Zacchaeus fought the crowds to see Jesus. He found something so compelling about Christ that he sprinted ahead of the crowd, climbed a tree, and watched as Jesus passed. In the first century, men didn’t run. Running was considered highly inappropriate and even scandalous, since it was viewed as childlike. One might conclude that climbing trees would also be socially unacceptable. Zacchaeus moved beyond these social parameters to see Jesus. There was no guarantee Zacchaeus would have any interaction with Jesus or that he’d witness something miraculous. Yet he was willing to potentially humiliate himself to get a brief glimpse of Jesus. That sort of faith caught Jesus’ eye. The crowd was displeased that Jesus would have chosen to stay with someone with such a miserable reputation.
Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). In Christianity, to be “saved” is usually used in reference to our salvation—a life where we are freed from the penalty of sin and given a new life with Christ now, as well as after death. However, it’s interesting to note the depth behind this passage. The word “save” in verse 10 is the Greek word sõzõ. According to Strong’s Concordance, sõzõ means “to rescue from danger or destruction; to save one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, or restore to health.” Jesus came to find those who were broken inside and make them well.
Zacchaeus was on a path toward destruction. Tax collectors were known as notoriously greedy, corrupt thieves. They often collected fines over that which the government required, pocketing the profits for themselves. Therefore, Zacchaeus’s love for his material things probably consumed his life. The corruption likely kept him from being in community with others. Yet, when Jesus showed Zacchaeus God’s true, unconditional love, his whole life was changed. The power of God’s love healed his very soul. He willingly responded by pledging to give away half of his goods, repaying those he had cheated, and vowing to change for good.
You are loved by God. You have been commissioned to go into the world and be a representative of His love. God wants everyone to be part of His family— regardless of gender, race, background, or history. So, we must always be aware of those around us: our brothers and sisters who have not yet joined the family. Furthermore, we’re called to live out love such that our lives point to Christ. This is rarely an easy, or comfortable, endeavor. Quite frankly, living the life God calls us to can often be extremely stretching and uncomfortable. We can hold firmly to the Truth; God will give us everything we need to follow Him with boldness and love through the power of His Holy Spirit.
This week, ask God to reveal to your heart someone in your life that He may be specifically pursuing. Maybe it’s a coworker, relative, or classmate. Or perhaps you visit a particular restaurant or coffee shop frequently, and the waiter or barista knows you by name. Write down the name or names God puts on your heart. Pray that God would give you the courage and boldness needed to represent Him—despite how unusual or challenging it may feel. For many, talking to others about God is an uncomfortable and stretching endeavor. Pray that you would be able to move beyond your boundaries, relying fully on God’s strength. (It may even be beneficial to meditate on this week’s Remember Verse.)
Throughout the week, also be aware of ways God may want to use you to bless or show His love to another person. Be open and available to God and see how He would use you to minister to that individual. May you be an ambassador of His love, ushering others into God’s family.
Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). In Christianity, to be “saved” is usually used in reference to our salvation—a life where we are freed from the penalty of sin and given a new life with Christ now, as well as after death. However, it’s interesting to note the depth behind this passage. The word “save” in verse 10 is the Greek word sõzõ. According to Strong’s Concordance, sõzõ means “to rescue from danger or destruction; to save one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, or restore to health.” Jesus came to find those who were broken inside and make them well.
Zacchaeus was on a path toward destruction. Tax collectors were known as notoriously greedy, corrupt thieves. They often collected fines over that which the government required, pocketing the profits for themselves. Therefore, Zacchaeus’s love for his material things probably consumed his life. The corruption likely kept him from being in community with others. Yet, when Jesus showed Zacchaeus God’s true, unconditional love, his whole life was changed. The power of God’s love healed his very soul. He willingly responded by pledging to give away half of his goods, repaying those he had cheated, and vowing to change for good.
You are loved by God. You have been commissioned to go into the world and be a representative of His love. God wants everyone to be part of His family— regardless of gender, race, background, or history. So, we must always be aware of those around us: our brothers and sisters who have not yet joined the family. Furthermore, we’re called to live out love such that our lives point to Christ. This is rarely an easy, or comfortable, endeavor. Quite frankly, living the life God calls us to can often be extremely stretching and uncomfortable. We can hold firmly to the Truth; God will give us everything we need to follow Him with boldness and love through the power of His Holy Spirit.
This week, ask God to reveal to your heart someone in your life that He may be specifically pursuing. Maybe it’s a coworker, relative, or classmate. Or perhaps you visit a particular restaurant or coffee shop frequently, and the waiter or barista knows you by name. Write down the name or names God puts on your heart. Pray that God would give you the courage and boldness needed to represent Him—despite how unusual or challenging it may feel. For many, talking to others about God is an uncomfortable and stretching endeavor. Pray that you would be able to move beyond your boundaries, relying fully on God’s strength. (It may even be beneficial to meditate on this week’s Remember Verse.)
Throughout the week, also be aware of ways God may want to use you to bless or show His love to another person. Be open and available to God and see how He would use you to minister to that individual. May you be an ambassador of His love, ushering others into God’s family.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
March/April Edition of HomeFront Monthly
I am so excited about this month's HomeFront Monthly and the topic you will be talking about at home that I will support at the church from week to week. For the next four weeks, together we will be challenging our kids to step out of their traditional comfort zones and into an understanding of what it means to rely on the Holy Spirit.
This month, with the help of HomeFront and weekly teaching, your family will examine the routines and boundaries you've come to take comfort in. Our prayer is that you would risk stepping outside of this comfort and experience a new dependence on Christ and His love.
This Month in HomeFront
KidQuest Memory Verse
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." -- Galatians 2:20
FirstLook Memory Verse
"I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength." -- Philippians 4:13
This month, with the help of HomeFront and weekly teaching, your family will examine the routines and boundaries you've come to take comfort in. Our prayer is that you would risk stepping outside of this comfort and experience a new dependence on Christ and His love.
This Month in HomeFront
- Comfort Jars
- Freeze Dance Marathon
- Wisdom on Marriage
- Family Food Time (Mystery Fruit Salad)
The Next 4 Weeks in KidQuest
- March 20 -- Jesus Heals the Paralytic
- March 27 -- Jesus Heals the Leper
- April 3 -- Faith of the Centurion
- April 10 -- Remember and Celebrate
The Next 4 Weeks in FirstLook
- March 20 -- Lost Sheep
- March 27 -- Zacchaeus
- April 3 -- Heaven
- April 10 -- Remember and Celebrate
KidQuest Memory Verse
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." -- Galatians 2:20
FirstLook Memory Verse
"I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength." -- Philippians 4:13
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