Jesus Chooses Us to Follow Him (Nursery -- January 8)

Happy New Year!

Welcome to the very FIRST Weekly WCC Nursery blog. Every week you will find the following items that will help you be EQUIPPED, be INSPIRED, and be SUPPORTED:

• HomeFront Weekly Attachment -- This is a document that introduces you to what is going to be taught the next week in the Nursery.  The reason for giving you the info BEFORE it taught is a simple one; we believe that you are the primary spiritual leader of your kids, and we want to support you, so it is best if you present the stories and themes at home first and then we support you with our teaching on Sunday morning.
• Other great Biblical information about the Bible story that will help you grow in your walk with Christ.
• A direct email line with Matt, the Children's Minister at Wentzville Christian Church.

One of the important features of our Nursery curriculum is that we teach the same story, with different methods for 2 weeks.  So if you are looking at this week's lesson and thinking that sounds like what my child told me about Sunday afternoon, then you are correct, this will be the second week we talk about Jesus calling his disciples.

Jesus chose to intentionally invest in 12 men during his earthly ministry. He taught and mentored these men in order to prepare them to "go and tell" the rest of the world about him after he was gone. Jesus called each one individually into a relationship with him. Today, he calls each of us into a relationship as well.

It is believed to have been customary in Jewish culture for young boys to enter school at age six. By the time a child was ten years old, it was the hope that rabbinical students would have Genesis through Deuteronomy memorized verbatim. Those who had natural abilities and showed promise would then move to the next level of schooling. Students were encouraged to develop their abilities to think critically and learn to ask thoughtful and provoking questions. Having the aptitude to not only commit Scripture to memory but also being able to understand its meaning was a key component of the rabbinical education.

Around the age of 14, students would apply to follow a particular rabbi. Rabbis would then question the applicants on their knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures. If they were considered to be the cream of the crop, the rabbi would accept the student as his disciple by saying, “Come, follow me.” By applying to become a disciple of a rabbi, the student was committing to become like the teacher and one day follow in his footsteps, continuing to teach the message of the rabbi. Once accepted as a disciple, the student would leave his possessions and family home to follow the rabbi. This was considered to be the highest honor. The students who were not chosen to follow the rabbi would return to their families. Once they returned home, the young men would learn the family trade from their fathers.

When Jesus called the first apostles He said, “Come, follow Me.” They had not applied to be students of this Teacher. However, Jesus was unlike any other rabbi. He chose His disciples. Jesus was looking for faith and obedience. He called the men He knew would take His message and build His church.
There are many things in our culture that vie for our attention. Oftentimes we serve them with our energy and time. Where do we allow time for God to speak to us? When do we make time for Him to direct us where He wants us to go? How do we serve Him with our time?

This week, try practicing the spiritual disciplines of solitude and service. Set aside 15–20 minutes in your schedule and find a quiet place (with your morning coffee, on your lunch break, or in a quiet room of your house). Sit in the silence. Allow yourself to clear your mind as you begin to download thoughts, to-do lists, responsibilities, worries, or burdens. If it helps, write them down and set the paper aside. Release your frustrations, fears, and stresses. Ask the Lord to help you sit in the silence. Allow your soul to find rest in Him. In this time of silence invite God to speak to you. Consider praying this Scripture as you begin: “Speak, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10).

May the Lord give you ears to hear His voice when He calls. And may He reveal to you the way He has chosen for you as you seek to follow Him in a life of worship.

God's Son Brings Peace (December 18 -- KidQuest)

Last week we heard how Zechariah who did not beleive the angel when he told Zechariah that his son would be John the Baptist and help get the people of Israel ready for the Messiah.

I hope you had an opportunity this weekend to come out and see our Living Nativity.  We had a great time and there were a lot of cars that drove through the hear and see the story of Jesus' birth. This week in KidQuest we are going to learn about the birth of Jesus as well.  We hope you use this blog to talk about the birth of Jesus in your home this week. The HomeFront Weekly has a great game/activity for you to play in the car as you travel. This game will make it very easy to start a conversation about the birth of Jesus.

Old Testament prophecies describe the Messiah as a Ruler who will bring peace to Israel and the nations. The word for peace in the Greek is Eirene, which translates in Hebrew as Shalom. In the Bible, “peace” refers to more than the lack of conflict; it encompasses the actions one undergoes to bring about restoration and wholeness. This understanding of peace is completely different from the pax romana under Augustus at the time. To the Romans, “peace” meant the subjugation of their enemies and the establishing of order. In short, the pax romana was not real peace at all.

Without Christ, the world cannot find peace. Romans 3:16–17 tells us, “Ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know.” In Jesus’ kingdom, peace reigns for everyone who believes. God’s Son brought peace through humility. His peace restores the relationship between God and humans, broken when sin entered the world (Genesis 3:16–19). And those who participatein the kingdom life have the responsibility to use their lives, gifts, and resources to be ambassadors of God’s peace.

We pray we are helping equip you to be one of those ambassadors this Christmas!

Jesus is Here (December 18 -- FirstLook)

I hope you had an opportunity this weekend to come out and see our Living Nativity.  We had a great time and there were a lot of cars that drove through the hear and see the story of Jesus' birth. This week in FirstLook we are going to learn about the birth of Jesus as well.  We hope you use this blog to talk about the birth of Jesus in your home this week. The HomeFront Weekly has a great activity that will help you talk about the birth of Jesus at bedtime.

The news that Jesus was here was what faithful men and women had been anticipating since the garden. In the second chapter of Luke, we read how angels announced the birth of Jesus to shepherds—not to kings, or noblemen, or men of religious virtue. Shepherds. These men who lived on the fringe of society were chosen to experience the most incredible testimony given by celestial beings. It was here in this humble setting among the most common of people that the “chosen One of God enters creation among the creation” (IVP New Testament Commentaries).

Shepherds were hired by farmers to look after their flock of sheep. They were typically single men who didn’t have families. The duties of shepherds inhibited the men’s abilities to participate in religious activities with the community. However, this did not prohibit them from experiencing the holy. Some scholars believe the shepherds who witnessed the heavenly announcement were not ordinary shepherds. During the time of Caesar Augustus, flocks of sheep were being raised around the city of Jerusalem to be used as sacrifices in the temple. It is quite possible the men who were tending sheep the night Jesus was born were in fact caring for the temple flock. These men may have been tending sheep meant for sacrifices, and then gone on to be some of the first to meet the Lamb of God, who became the final payment for our sin.

Upon finding the Christ child, the shepherds responded by “glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:20). They broke out in praise because God’s promise had come to pass. Jesus is the deliverer, Master, and anointed King. The prophesied royal leader had come to restore the kingdom. God came not for a select group of people, but for all, with the most common people being the first to receive the news. They were privileged with the opportunity to spread the message that Jesus is here!

We pray that we are also equipping you to spread the message that Jesus was born and is alive!

Jesus is God's Gift (December 11 -- KidQuest)

God provided for and prepared His people for the promised gift of His Son. All they needed to do was trust and obediently serve Him. God would continually remind His people of the promised gift via the prophets. One such message for His people was given to Zechariah, through the angel Gabriel. The angel told Zechariah he would have an heir—a son who would turn the hearts of many Israelites back to God. We know his son was John the Baptist, the one would have the responsibility of paving the way for the ministry of God’s promised gift of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Zechariah was one of about eighteen thousand priests serving Yahweh. Priests served in the temple only twice a year, and it was extremely rare for a priest to have the honor of entering the holiest place within the temple. “Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside” (Luke 1:8–10).

The opportunity to enter the Holy of Holies was considered a once in a lifetime opportunity, and Zechariah had no idea God would deliver a message of promise on that special day. Of Zechariah’s son, the angel said, “He [John] will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:15b–17).

Jesus is Immanuel (December 11 -- FirstLook)

Our God was drawing near to us through the Savior in the form of a man. It was so important for us to understand our Savior’s lineage that each of the gospels record the genealogy of Christ with a unique perspective. Matthew lists the generations from King David and traces Jesus’ royal lineage through Joseph. Luke traces the bloodline from Adam to David, and his genealogy from Abraham to David is identical to Matthew’s account. Luke diverges from Matthew after David, tracing the lineage not through Solomon but another son of David, Nathan, to Heli, the father of Mary, Jesus’ mother. The significance is that the combined genealogies establish Jesus’ absolute right to the throne of David through the bloodline of Mary (Luke 3:23–38) and by title through Mary’s husband, Joseph.

The genealogy of Jesus shows God’s hand orchestrating His divine plan of  redemption, but names also play an important role throughout Scripture. They intentionally point to the character and role a person will play. There were several names given to the Lord before He came to earth as an infant. These include: Jesus, “Savior” (Jehovah is salvation); Christ, “Anointed” (the Greek equivalent to “Messiah”); and Immanuel, “God with us.” Each of these names defines His title, purpose, and identity.

God came to earth and dwelt among men. He gave up His kingly rights to become a servant to all. He is the Messiah and the Savior of Israel and the world. He became God incarnate. The name Immanuel, God with us, was prophesied in Isaiah 7:14: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Jesus’ names announced His arrival and His purpose: God Himself will save us from our sins. He is with us. He has come.

Jesus is Immanuel!!!

God Gets His People Ready to Meet His Son (December 4 FirstLook)

We pray that you had a great Thanksgiving with your family! We have so much to be thankful for!  Now its time to transition into the Christmas season.

In FirstLook, that means we take a break from our chronological study of the Bible to learn about Christ's birth.  As you gear up for Christmas this year, please use this and future posts to help talk about Jesus in your home.

Believe it or not, God prepared the people for the birth of Jesus before he was even born. In FirstLook this week we will open to Luke 1 and see how God used Zechariah to prepare the way for Jesus. Also make sure you check your inbox later this week as I send out the December Children's Ministry E-Newsletter.

 As God was preparing the people to meet His Son, He chose Zechariah, one of about 18,000 priests serving Yahweh. Due to sheer numbers, priests served in the temple only twice a year. It was extremely rare for a priest to have the honor of serving the Lord by entering the holy place within the temple. Those chosen were selected by casting lots (a practice often used to determine God’s will in given situations). This opportunity to enter the holy place would probably happen once in a lifetime.

Luke chapter 1 says Zechariah offered incense as a sacrifice to the Lord, representing the prayers being lifted to God. During this time of service, he would have lifted up prayers specifically for Israel. Psalm 141 says, “May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.” As the incense rose, these were holy moments. While Zechariah lifted his prayers for the nation, the other priests prayed and waited outside.

These priestly rituals had been carried on for centuries. In the time between the Old Testament and the New Testament, there is no record of God speaking to His people. This is often referred to as the period of silence or the 400 Silent Years. Then, “God renewed His activity on behalf of His people in light of promises made long ago” (InterVarsity Press Commentary). God sent a message for His people to Zechariah. The angel Gabriel declared, “Your prayer has been heard” (Luke 1:13). There were two parts to the message that was given. While it is clear that Zechariah, as an elderly Jewish male with no descendants, must have frequently prayed for an heir, Gabriel is also addressing his prayers for the nation. This is clear in the angel’s prophetic message of John’s life. He assures Zechariah that not only will he have a son, but that his son will turn the hearts of many Israelites back to the Lord. God had chosen this holy, pious moment to unveil His plans for Israel.

The Lord is Our Righteousness (KidQuest December 4)

We pray that you had a great Thanksgiving with your family! We have so much to be thankful for!  Now its time to transition into the Christmas season.

In KidQuest, that means we take a break from our chronological study of the Bible to learn about Christ's birth.  As you gear up for Christmas this year, please use this and future posts to help talk about Jesus in your home.

Believe it or not, Jesus was prophesied in the Old Testament. This week in KidQuest, we will look at Jeremiah's prophecies about the coming of Jesus. Also make sure you check your inbox later this week as I send out the December Children's Ministry E-Newsletter.

God gave Jeremiah a prophecy, saying, “‘The days are coming … when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness’” (Jeremiah 23:5–6).

In Jeremiah 23:1, Jeremiah denounced the leaders of Judah for the evil way they had ruled God’s people. He said they had been “‘shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep,’” instead of ruling them justly and righteously as God would. Then, he spoke the words of the above prophecy—foretelling of the king of God’s choosing in contrast to the kings who had sat as impostors upon the throne.

Through Jeremiah, God reminded His people that no matter how dark things had become, He would restore the legitimate order of the Davidic kingship and bring a king who would rule justly and bring peace. By sending His Son, God brought a King from the Davidic family line—the righteous branch, the rightful heir to David’s throne. He brought the Good Shepherd who cares for the flock. And most amazingly, He brought a King who not only rules His people righteously, but also puts His righteousness into His people’s account!

Jesus, the Lord, our righteousness, did for His people what no earthly king or the people could do themselves. Jesus took their sins and declared them righteous before God (Romans 3:21–5:11).

God Knows What We Need (KidQuest -- October 16)

While His people were in the wilderness, God knew what they needed. He sent down manna (which literally means, “What is it?”) to sustain the Israelites. According to the Bible, manna had the sweet taste of honey. Numbers describes how the Israelites could grind the manna and pound it into cake. He could have given them anything to eat, but by His mercy, He provided a delicious, rich food. They were commanded to collect only what they each needed for that day. God challenged His people to be fully dependent on His provision.

Many years later, during Jesus’ earthly ministry, He continuously refers to himself as the “bread of life,” pointing back to the manna God provided in the wilderness. Take, for instance, this passage from John: “I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6:48–51).

In the desert, God provided for Moses and the Israelites’ physical sustenance. He gave them what was needed to live on earth. However, Jesus provides us with something much greater: life eternal. God calls us to be people who are wholly dependent on Him each day. He asks us to be children who trust in Him, believing that He knows what we need.

August 21 in KidQuest and FirstLook

KidQuest

Jesus was with God from the beginning. When Jesus came to earth, He made Himself nothing. He became a servant. He relinquished His glorious state in heaven and instead took on human flesh. He was
humble and meek and obedient. One of the images that most vividly portrayed Jesus’ humility was His choice to enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey.

The Israelites longed for a day when their Messiah would appear. Their hope of the Messiah was central to their existence. But contrary to prophecy in Zechariah 9:9 that described the Messiah as “gentle and riding on a donkey,” they yearned for God to send a messiah who was strong, militarily. They expected a great king who would destroy their enemies in war. They waited for a messiah who would ride on horseback. But, of course, Jesus chose to ride a donkey. By doing this, He foreshadowed that His salvation would come by way of peace.

But the story doesn’t end there. The Son of God wasn’t clothed in modesty forever. In Revelation 19, we see a picture of our Savior riding on a white horse. In the Roman world, white symbolized victory. And we read in Revelation that God will ultimately have victory and reign as not only a military King, but also King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

When this time comes, we will see Jesus in all of His glory. He will be clothed in the majesty that He gave up for our sake. At the end of time, when God is victorious, we will see Jesus for who He is: the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. And we will know our true identity, too—children, heirs, worshippers of the King of Kings. 

 Just for fun, before you read The Big God Story this week, give your children some paper and crayons. Then, read together the account of Jesus coming back in revelation 1:5–18, 19:11–16, and 21:1–7, 10–23. Think of some questions that reflect on what you just read such as, “What kinds of things does God say will happen in heaven?” or “Why is there no sun or moon in heaven?”

When you have finished, invite your kids  to draw a picture of what they imagine heaven will be like. Encourage them to tell you about their picture. Explain to them that, while none of us know exactly what heaven will be like, we do know we will be with God forever. It will be exciting to get there one day and discover exactly what it really is like!

Share with your children that what they just heard is a part of The Big God Story in the Bible, and they will hear more in church this week about how God is the beginning and the end. Close your time together by praying and thanking God for being a victorious God who invites all of His children to join Him in heaven! 

FirstLook

In The Big God Story, we see a theme repeated: God has been saving His people throughout history. In the book of Esther, there are many exciting details that make it a triumphant story. None is as amazing as the way God wove every event together to bring about His plan—His desired outcome.

After a falling-out between King Xerxes and Queen Vashti, the king commanded a search be made among all the young virgins (women of marrying age) in every region of his empire for the woman who would take Vashti’s place as queen. A young Jewish woman from Susa named Esther won the favor of the king and was crowned queen in place of Vashti. Esther continued to gain favor not only with the king, but with everyone she met. 

Through a series of events, Haman, one of the king’s officials, devised a plan to wipe out all the Jewish people. Mordecai, Esther’s cousin (and the man who had raised her), implored her to act on behalf of her people and beg the king for mercy. Esther’s first response was one of fear and apprehension. Mordecai responded with a reminder for Esther of who she was. “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13–14).

Esther realized what needed to be done and went before the king. God went before Esther and the king gave her everything she asked. The Jewish people were saved and God preserved The Promise within the line of Judah.

This week,  JUST FOR FUN, during mealtime read to your children the biblical account of God saving His people in Esther 8:3–6 and 16–17. Explain to them that the Jewish people feasted and celebrated when they were saved. Encourage them to act out the celebrating and joyous shouts the Jewish people must have made as they feasted.

After you’ve finished reading, think of questions that reflect on the passage, such as, “What did Esther ask the king to do?” or “How did the Jewish people feel when God  saved them?”

Tell your children that what they just heard is true and part of The Big God Story in the Bible. They’ll hear more at church this week about how God is a God who saves and protects His people. Come together as a family to pray and thank God for the way He chooses us to complete His plans, loving and caring for us every day.

May 1 in KidQuest and FirstLook

This is a weekly post that introduces you to what we are going to be teaching about in KidQuest and FirstLook this weekend.  We pray by reading this that you receive some insight to the Bible story are are able to answer any questions that may arise in your home as you talk about God's Big Story with your kids. For other insights into talking to your kids at home check out our other Parent Resources.


KidQuest -- Jesus Shows Compassion

After the people saw the miraculous signs Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. (John 6:14–15)

Jesus’ miracle of feeding about five thousand men, women, and children was a sign to the Jewish people that the Messiah had come. The miracle might have reminded them of God feeding His people through Moses and Elijah (in the wilderness and during famine) in Exodus 16 and 2 Kings 4. Because of this connection, they may have been thinking about the prophetic promise in Deuteronomy 18:18, which reads, “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth.” Jesus Himself said He is that prophet (John 5:46), and He is God. He is the Word incarnate, but they were not ready to receive Him (John 1:10–11).

Those who acknowledged Jesus was the Messiah also thought He would be a political figure. Because of this, they instantly wanted to make Jesus their king. Though they seemed to understand who Jesus was—the Messiah—the people did not fully understand what that meant. So Jesus had no choice but to retreat from them while they sought to “make him king by force” (John 6:15). Even so, He continued to teach them about Himself, God’s kingdom, and His purpose on earth. He continued to have compassion on these people who were “like sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34).

The account of Jesus feeding the five thousand is recorded in all four gospels—each one an example of Jesus’ great compassion for the crowd. In each example, Jesus’ feeling of compassion is followed by an action.

In the original Greek language, the word for compassion is splagchnizomai. It comes from the word for the vital inner organs—the stomach, heart, lungs, spleen, liver, and kidneys. This means that when Jesus was moved with compassion, His inner being was stirred, compelling Him to act not just sympathize. Jesus shows us that compassion is more than a feeling. It is meant to be a catalyst to action.

How many times have we felt compassion and not followed God’s call to act on it? Pray God will give you the strength to respond the next time He calls you to have compassion. Pray also your kids would hear God calling them to follow Jesus’example and live a life full of compassion. Pray they will know compassion not only as a feeling, but as an action.

FirstLook -- God's Power Changes Everything

Throughout Scripture there are times when God chooses to display His mighty power. He intentionally makes Himself known and draws people to Himself. We see this clearly in the early days of the church when at Pentecost, the followers of Christ received the Holy Spirit. As they experienced God’s power alive within them, they did miracles in the name of Jesus. This new power is demonstrated in the miracle of Acts 3.

As Peter and John were walking into the temple, their eyes were diverted toward a crippled man begging for money. This man would not have been unfamiliar to them. As the Bible puts it, he was “laid daily at the gate of the temple” (3:2 ESV). The disciples must have walked past this man hundreds of times. However, this day was different: The Holy Spirit was prompting them. When Peter healed him in the name of Jesus, the man began leaping and praising God. The word “leaping” used in verse 8 is the Greek word hallomai. This word is rarely used in the Septuagint, or Greek Old Testament. Its use in Acts alludes to a messianic passage in Isaiah 35:

Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way;
say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, do not fear; your God will come,
he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution
he will come to save you.”
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. (vv. 3–6)

The prophet Isaiah was speaking of the coming messianic age: a promise established in the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus which will find completion at His second coming.
 
The use of rare words is significant in Jewish texts, bringing to mind the passage in Scripture where the word is first found. The author of Acts was intentional with the language and words he chose. By employing hallomai, he was cueing the audience that something major was to happen: God’s kingdom was at hand. The messianic age they had longed for was unfolding right before their eyes.
 
Today, as we wait expectantly for Christ’s second coming, we are also watching God’s kingdom unfold. We are called to ask, “What needs to be done?” By the guiding of the Holy Spirit, we play a part in the story. We can watch God’s power change everything.
 
In the Old Testament, the Israelites made a habit of reflecting on their past. It was a way to strengthen their faith. Looking back on history reminded the people of the almighty power of God. In times of struggle or doubt, remembrance allowed them to embrace the truth once again and act with boldness on behalf of the gospel.

Spend some time embracing this habit in your own life. Make a list of ways that God’s power has changed your life, or the lives of those close to you. Pray beforehand for God to bring to mind important memories.
 
When your listing of things begins to slow, take time to pray over them. Praise God for what He has done for you. Thank Him for being powerful and mighty to save you and restore your life. Celebrate His work!

Serving

For the next 4 weeks, we will be using the life of Jesus to teach your kids about service.  Here is the definition we have for what service means:

This posture of the heart asks the question, "What needs to be done?" It allows the Holy Spirit to cultivate a sensitivity to others and focuses on a cause bigger than one individual life. It helps fulfill the mandate that as Christ followers we are to view our lives as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2) that we generously give away!

In this very first week we will all (even the adults) will be talking about Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus in John 3. In this account truth needed to be told. The truth is: Jesus came to save people, not to punish them. Through his death and resurrection, people would have new life; and only through God's Spirit can people truly become born again children of God. Through the rest of the chapter, Jesus asserts that being "born again" through baptism and into a new life is what is required to receive eternal life, not just believing in him.

But if we continue, we can see that following Jesus is not simply about just believing in him (even the demons do that). He wants our whole live; he wants all of who we are. That is the pure essence of why we serve others, to give Jesus all that we have.

I am looking forward to the next 4 weeks in KidQuest and FirstLook but the best thing of all about teaching your kids about service is a project we hope will engage your whole family and help you begin asking the question, "What needs to be done?"

From May 8-15 we would love for you to participate in what we are calling Families SERVE Experience. We are going to provide you with materials that will help guide your family into a week long serving experience.  You will have times for family devotion and discussion and times to get out of your house and do a act of service in your neighborhood or community.  Then on Sunday May 15, we will come together for our Family Effects service at 5:00 pm and share a meal together, have a time of family worship and share what God did through us in the past week!  This is going to be a great experience and we don't want your family to miss out! The Families SERVE Experience packets will be available starting April 24.

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):

"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.”

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.

March 20 in FirstLook

“Now the tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them’” (Luke 15:1–2). To really understand the significance of Jesus’ message in the parables of the lost sheep, coin, and son, it is helpful to take a look at the social and religious climate of the time. The Jewish leaders looked disapprovingly on tax collectors, Gentiles, and “sinners” as morally and religiously impure. They did not seek to pursue relationship with these marginalized people, nor did they attempt to introduce them to God. They were lost. This was the
identity given to them. The fact that Jesus welcomed such people into His circle and shared meals with them was unheard of and quite appalling to the Pharisees and teachers.

God had chosen the descendants of Abraham to take the message of who He was to the entire world. It was to be through the example of their relationship with God that other nations would be able to know the one true God. They were blessed to be a blessing to all people. Instead, over time this message was hoarded and kept within the Jewish community—excluding all who fell outside the law. Jesus rebukes the judgmental mutterings of the Pharisees and teachers by telling three different parables with one central point: Jesus came to seek and save the lost—Jews and Gentiles alike. Every person who is not in relationship with God is lost. Every person who is lost matters to God and is worthy of His pursuit for the restoration of relationship with Him.

Today as we look around our world, who are those who may feel spiritually or socially marginalized and unable to have access to God? What is our response?

God wants everyone to be a part of His family.

March 20 in KidQuest

When the paralytic and his friends came to Jesus, they expected healing. They wouldn’t have gone through all of that effort had they not. However, Jesus had a much grander plan in mind—one that was not about physical healing alone. Instead, He began with forgiving the man’s sins—all of the brokenness and inner pain.

We so often want to give God certain portions of our lives—the issues that might not hurt as much. We only want Him to heal the easy stuff. But when it gets down to the real struggles plaguing our hearts, it can be so easy to shy away from God, try to hide our sins, and try to atone for our sins with good works and deeds. Yet, no matter how much we try, we cannot hide our sins or conjure up forgiveness on our own. Only God has the authority to forgive sin.

We belong to a loving God who wants to be in every part of our lives. Though He detests sin, He hates the separation that sin causes between Himself and His people even more. He is willing to forgive, if we are faithful to ask.

We were created to live in community. Though it might be out of our comfort zone, accountability is one great way to facilitate asking God for forgiveness. Partner with one of the brothers or sisters in your faith community this week, and be vulnerable. Share and confess with one another where you are struggling, and intercede for one another in prayer. Make it a habit to pray for that person throughout the week. As the days pass, don’t forget to also share with your accountability/prayer partner where you are experiencing freedom and God’s victory in the struggles you discussed. Thank God—and praise Him—for His forgiveness and grace.