The Big God Story Family Bible Study!

What Story Are Your Children Living?

As people, we are designed to love stories and to live stories. We all live inside a story, whether we recognize it or not. We tell ourselves a story of what the world is about, what’s important, and what our place in the story is.

Our culture bombards our children with a story that says life is “all about me.” It tells them that they are born by chance, that life is about getting what they want, and that death is the end of the story. The Bible tells a different story, a story of a Lover pursuing His created ones in order to have a personal relationship with each one of them. This story is “all about God.” It tells children that they are born because God wants them, that life is about knowing and loving Him, and that death is not at all the end of the story. It tells them that The Big God Story started long ago, has been lived by people for many centuries, is going somewhere exciting, has a place for each child, and is centered on Jesus.

This resource is designed to help you plant The Big God Story into the hearts of the children in your family, whether they are preschoolers or elementary age. It can be modified to meet your context or schedule as needed.

This resource envisions an adult leader and a small group of two to eight children. If you are a parent with one child, that’s not a problem; you can have the discussion and do the activities one-on-one with your child. Naturally, you can also use this resource to teach a small group of children who might not be yours.  It would be a perfect supplement for a children's teaching time during your adult small group.  You could also use this as the curriculum for your entire small group and have the kids and adults learn together! It truly is a great resource for the entire family!

The content of The Big God Story A Family Bible Study is divided into 15 sessions. Ideally you’ll cover one a week, but again, let this meet your context and your schedule as needed.


Everything you need to teach your family or small group can be downloaded right here!

New HomeFront Monthly -- New Access Point

We're pleased to announce that parents have a whole new way of accessing, HomeFront Monthly!
The new HomeFront app lets your parents gain access to each issue of HomeFront right on their iPhone, iPad or Android device.

This free app not only gives them quick access to the HomeFront pdf, which they can send to iBooks to print and archive, but also pulls out different sections of HomeFront for quick and easy access, including the current Remember Verse, Food & Fun activities, Storytelling and more.
The app also includes videos and text describing all of the Ten Environments.

Use the keyword search "Tru Home" to find this app in the store.

New HomeFront Monthly -- Modeling

In our children's ministry an environment is a common goal or focus we can use to create environments in the home and at church which draw us closer to Christ.  We change environments every four weeks.  Along with this environment change, we also give you a brand new parenting resource called HomeFront Monthly.

The HomeFront Monthly includes ideas for a Family Food Time, Game Time, Storytelling, Prayer, and a Blessing. You can download this edition of HomeFront Monthly by going to http://wentzvillecc.org/621738.ihtml.

For the next 4 weeks we will focus on the environment of MODELING. Here is our description of MODELING:

Biblical content needs a practical living expression in order for it to be spiritually impacting. This environment serves as a hands-on example of what it means for children to put their faith into action. Modeling puts flesh on faith and reminds us that others are watching to see if we live what we believe.

October ParentLink

ParentLink is our monthly parenting podcast that helps us understand key elements of an Orange Parenting Strategy. This month, I talk about "Creating a Rhythm" in your home that allows for spiritual formation to take place.  This month, I propose an idea of a "To-Don't List." You can listen/download a number of different ways. You can listen on our website, download from the iTunes store, listen on our blog or Facebook page.

October in the Children's Ministry

Thanks for sharing your kids with us this past month at WCC! We had a great month of September at the church. We added a new worship minister, kicked off our Wednesday night Bible studies, and started our small groups.  Not to mention that in KidQuest and FirstLook, we started telling God's Big story at the very beginning!  Check out the rest of this email for great information about what is happening in the Children's Ministry at Wentzville Christian Church in October as well as some great parenting resources.

The main focus of October will be the enviroment of Course Correction. Let’s face it … none of us really like to be corrected, especially when being corrected involves a season of pain. We would all like to make the right decisions the first time around and live in an environment that is filled with joy and easy living.

However, when we truly look at the environment of COURSE CORREC TIO N we realize it is an environment filled with grace, mercy, and, yes, even joy. To grasp the fact that we have a heavenly Father who loves us as His own sons and daughters and disciplines us only because He loves us is amazing and overwhelming. He doesn’t just discipline us and walk away, He takes the time to lift us up and get us back on the right path. He makes something beautiful out of the messes we create. I don’t know about you, but for me that is true joy!

This environment flows out of Hebrews 12:11–13 and is the direct opposite of punishment. Instead, biblical discipline encompasses: a season of pain, a building up in love, and a vision for a corrected path for the individual with the purpose of healing at its core.

This month we are looking at the environment of COURSE CORREC TIO N. Most people might think this sounds like a painful process. The truth is, it can be! When we find ourselves “off course” in life, sometimes just the realization that we are wrong can be painful. Sometimes the consequences of our decisions can be painful. However, God has a way of using our mistakes and missteps to make us beautiful and powerful examples of His love in our lives. I pray your family will experience the beautiful healing and restoration that God brings to His children.

MEMORY VERSES FOR OCTOBER
KIDQUEST (elementary)
“O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.”
Psalm 30:2 (NIV)

FIRSTLOOK (preschool)
“You always show me the path that leads to life.”
Psalm 16:11a (NIrV)


IMPORTANT DATES

• Starting in October we will be serving a dinner on Wednesday nights, 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. before Bible studies. Be sure to come eat with us!
• Taking the Plunge -- A Baptism Class for Kids begins on October 12. Go to www.wentzvillecc.org/plunge for more info.
• On October 30 at 3:00pm, we will host Trunk or Treat! Kids will have an opportunity to walk around our parking lot and trick or treat at decorated trunks.  This has been a great event in years past and we expect it to be even better this year.  Be on the lookout for how to sign up your trunk too!
• Operation Christmas Child Supply Drive and Packing Party. Right now we are in the middle of a supply drive for our 2nd Annual Operation Christmas Child Packing Party.  In August, we collected school suppllies; In September, we collected hygine supplies; in October we will be collecting small toys.  Please drop off any of these items in the green drop box under the missions bulletin board. The packing party will be November 5 at 10am (there is a rumor that we will also be having a pancake breakfast that morning prior to the packing party).
• SuperStart registration (4th, 5th, and 6th Graders) has started.  SuperStart is the nation's largest preteen Christian conference.  This year, we will be attending the conference in Louisville, KY on November 11, and 12.  You can go to www.wentzvillecc.org/superstart for more info.

PARENT RESOURCES

• HomeFront Monthly
  This month's HomeFront flows out of Hebrews 12:11-13 and focuses on the environement of "Course Correction".  This great resource include food and game activities for the whole family as well as some great reading for you! You can download this month's HomeFront Monthly here.
• ParentLink
  ParentLink is our monthly parenting podcast that helps us understand key elements of an Orange Parenting Strategy. This month, I talk about "Creating a Rhythm" in your home that allows for spiritual formation to take place.  This month, I propose an idea of a "To-Don't List." You can listen/download a number of different ways. You can listen on our website, download from the iTunes store, listen on our blog or Facebook page.
• Family Currents
  This month's Family Currents is all about "Living a Legacy" and goes right along with our current sermon series "Outlive Your Life." You can download this month's resource here.
• Coming Soon!
  A resource that will give you devotions that will help you walk through the Bible with your kids! We are going to call this resource "The Big God Story Bible Study."

IMPORTANT CHANGES

• Our elementary kids will be getting their OWN room for Sunday morning worship very soon!  We are in the construction phase of the KidQuest Room!  We are going to have a paint day on October 8!

A Question for Parents

As a young parent, I have the desire to do a good job raising my children, actually I want to be the best parent in the world, that is just how I am wired. I want people to look at my kids and say, "WOW, what a great dad Matt is!"

This quest to be the best parent in the world led me to what I believe is the most important part of being a parent. The most important thing about being a parent is not to be a perfect parent with perfect kids but rather to pass on a vibrant and transforming faith. I decided I want my children to KNOW and HEAR God's voice and be able to discern it from all the other voices of the culture around the. I pray they will desire to bey Him when they HEAR his voice.

So then the question became, how do I do that? Leading my kids to have a vibrant faith in Christ is a huge task, what if I mess up and lead them away from Christ.

That is when I found a book called Spiritual Parenting by Michelle Anthony.  I passed it on to Joe as well, and we decided that we needed to share this great info with you.  So on August 26, 27, Joe and I will be hosting a Spiritual Parenting Seminar at WCC.

The cost is only $15. This price includes your copy of Michelle's book, childcare, snacks, lunch on Saturday and some great wisdom from Matt, Joe and Michelle Anthony.

We look forward to you joining us.  You can register by going to www.wentzvillecc.org/parenting or sign up in the church foyer.

ParentLink August 2011

Here is the August edition of ParentLink.  There are multiple ways to watch/listen to this great parent resource.

• Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes 
• Watch/Listen just below
• Listen/Subscribe on the WCC ParentLink website
• Listen/Watch on the KidQuest Facebook Page

August Parenting Resources

With the turn of a new month, we also turn the pages on our parenting resources.  Here is a quick overview of the August parenting resources you will find when you go to the Parent Resource page on the WCC website.

HomeFront Monthly -- HomeFront Monthly is a resource to be used at home that coincides with what is being taught every weekend in KidQuest and FirstLook. This is also where you will find the children’s remember verses. They will be learning one verse over four weeks to help them truly hide God’s Word in their hearts.\

•  Identity Focus -- This environment highlights who we are in Christ. According to Ephesians 1, we have been chosen, adopted, redeemed, sealed, and given and inheritance in Christ. This conviction allows children to stand firm against the counter-identities the world will offer to bring them destruction.
• Verses of the Month
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 (elementary)
• Ephesians 1:4 (preschool)

Family Currents -- a quick newsletter type resource that gives you very practical spiritual conversation starters

•  Practical Tips for praying for your child
• Heart Prep for Home
• Vampires, Werewolves and Wizards
• Sharing Jesus

ParentLink (available on Tuesday 8/2

You are the greatest influence in your child’s life. And here’s some great news, you’re also not the only influence your child needs. This month’s ParentLink talks about how to look for other trusted adults who can influence your child and help you “Widen the Circle.” You can also subscribe to this podcast via iTunes and play it on your iPod or in your homeplaylist.  Click here to download from the iTunes store.

***NEW*** -- Family Fun Activities

These are some fun, printable, activities for you and your kids to do together. They provide a great starting point for you to help nurture your child on their spiritual journey.

All of these resources can be found on the Parents' Resource page on the WCC website.

New HomeFront Monthly Now Available (July)

HomeFront Monthly is a resource you will receive for parents every four weeks. This is a magazine-like publication stuffed with great ideas about how to create spiritually forming times in the home. It has articles and activities on everything from marriage to family, and food time to blessing. This resource is all about equipping parents with really practical ideas about how to create space for the Holy Spirit to spiritually form their kids.

 HomeFront Monthly ties to the lessons and HomeFront Weekly through the common thread of the Environment. Therefore, there is only one HomeFront Monthly for both FirstLook and KidQuest with ideas for engaging both age levels. This is also where you will find the children’s remember verses. They will be learning one verse over four weeks to help them truly hide God’s Word in their hearts.

The July edition of HomeFront Monthly is now available HERE! 

In this month's edition you will find great articles and activities about the environment of KNOWING. 

• Family Food Time -- A Recipe for Beef & Bok Choy Stir Fry
• Game Time
• God's Word
• The "After Church" Question
• And a Great article on Marriage!

Here is more info about KNOWING:

We live in a world that denies absolute Truth and yet God’s Word offers
just that. As we create an environment that upholds and displays God’s
Truth, we give children a foundation based on the knowledge of God, His
Word, and a relationship with Him through Christ.

Family Resources

I know its a couple of days before July 1, when most of our new parenting/family resources are posted on our website, but I want to remind you about these great tools! Here is the direct link to the Parent Resources! Remember, this isn’t about doing more; it’s about framing the things parents naturally do with some space for God to work.

ParentLink (posts at beginning of every month

A podcast that helps parents and church leaders understand how, by combining their influences, they can accomplish more for the spiritual wellbeing of a child than either could individually. 

Here is the topic for the July ParentLink podcast:

You are the greatest influence in your child’s life. And here’s some great news, you’re also not the only influence your child needs. This month’s Parent Link Live talks about how to look for other trusted adults who can influence your child and help you “Widen the Circle.” 

Family Currents (posts at beginning of every month)

The Family Currents newsletter is designed to help parents grow in their roles as spiritual leaders in the home.  You will find great info about spiritual disciplines, prayer, practical parenting tips and much, much more.

HomeFront Monthly (posts in the middle of every month)

HomeFront Monthly is a resource you will receive for parents every four weeks. This is a magazine-like publication stuffed with great ideas about how to create spiritually forming times in the home. It has articles and activities on everything from marriage to family, and food time to blessing. This resource is all about equipping parents with really practical ideas about how to create space for the Holy Spirit to spiritually form their kids.

 HomeFront Monthly ties to the lessons and HomeFront Weekly through the common thread of the Environment. Therefore, there is only one HomeFront Monthly for both FirstLook and KidQuest with ideas for engaging both age levels. This is also where you will find the children’s remember verses. They will be learning one verse over four weeks to help them truly hide God’s Word in their hearts.

HomeFront Weekly (posts every week)

 HomeFront Weekly cards are provided as a parent resource with each week’s lesson which will be handed out in KidQuest and FirstLook, placed on the KidQuest table in the foyer and available for download here. The HomeFront card is not a review of the past week in KidQuest or FirstLook; it is an introduction to the next week in KidQuest and FirstLook. This resource is designed to help parents intentionally spend time in God’s Word with their children before coming to church each week. The cool part is this: parents are first to introduce their kids to the Bible content they will hear at church. In this way, the church is supporting parents as they spiritually nurture their child.

Made My Day!

I received a text today from the Mom of one of my 3rd grade students and it made my day. 

You see, today is VBS office clean up day and isn't very exciting or awe inspiring to do more ministry. So when I got this text and finally was able to get the picture large enough to read, I was so pumped about what is happening in the children's ministry here at WCC.  

It also reminds me that I am not in this alone.  The parents are walking right beside me in the journey to teach their children about Christ.  I take very little credit for what is written on the page below. I know my 40 hours a year with the student don't come close to comparing with the 3000 hours the parents have.  I am so glad I can support parents in a way that enables them to help their kids grasp their own personal relationship with Christ!

Here is the body of the text, followed by the picture that was attached to it...

“Look what I just found when I opened XXXXXXXXXX's writing journal from this past school year. It opened right to this page! He really is listening to us and creating his own relationship! I was getting ready to throw the notebook away but think I’ll keep it now :)”