Preschool

The Basic Truth we are teaching your preschooler this month is…

“Jesus wants to be my Friend Forever”

This week we focus on the story of the Four Friends from Mark 2:1-12.  For the past few weeks we’ve emphasized how 1) we need Jesus to help us, 2) Jesus wants to help everyone & now 3) Jesus can help our friends.

What a great story to focus on with our preschooler! Jesus wants to help us and He wants to help our friends.  Let’s look a little deeper…

What does this say about the faith of the four friends?  It’s easy to focus on the man that is paralyzed and celebrate the miracle he received.  But what reward did the friends experience?  I can’t imagine it was easy to lift a grown man onto a rooftop that is paralyzed.  Scripture doesn’t elaborate as to the extent of his disability.  We can assume no use of his legs.  Maybe even his arms.  Either way… he’s dead weight in some respects.  Yet his friends were willing to go to such great trouble to get him to Christ. 

Make it Personal and allow your kids to see how you strive to grow.  Consider who God has placed in your life that you can go out of your way to help?  When have you hoisted a friend up in order to get them to Jesus? 

Fight for the Heart by creating a culture of unconditional love.  This week look for opportunities to talk about how Jesus wants to help our friends.  Who can we bring to Jesus?

Create a Rhythm by tapping into the power of quality moments.  Watch for your Small Talk when you pick up your preschooler for a simple Bath Time activity.
 

 Elementary

We’re focusing on Courage for the next few weeks. 

Courage is being brave enough to do what you should do even when you’re afraid.  

This week we’re focused on the story of Esther from Esther 4; 5:1-8; 7:1-6; 8:3-8.  We want kids to remember that God is with you when you speak up for what’s right.  Wow.  What a defining thing to learn.  Let’s look closer…

Esther, from what we can see, was Jewish by heritage but had lived as an exile in Persia all her life.  The Jewish people were the minority among the Persians and at one point a high official (Haman) threatened to annihilate them.  Esther was a in a position few women would find themselves in.  She had become the queen of Persia.   She was in a great position to stop this thing.  We could spend a lot of time on the reasons why she could have remained silent and not worried about it.  She had no direct family that we knew of.  Only Mordecai.  Her life was not in danger.  No one in the palace knew she was Jewish.  All she had to do was keep that quiet.  Yet she decided, “If I die… I die”. 

But pay attention to what Esther did before she went to the King.  She fasted and prayed.  How many times are we faced with a difficult task?  How many times do we start with fasting and prayer?  Two actions that focus our thoughts and attention on God.  If you continue to read you’ll see a very unique way that Esther gets the attention of the King and Haman.  I can’t help but believe that the idea came about when she stopped her world, cut out the distractions (fasting), turned her thoughts toward Christ (prayer). 

Make it Personal and allow your kids to see how you strive to grow so they can understand how to confront their own limitations and pursue character and faith.  Talk to them about a time you had to stand against the odds, relying solely on Jesus for your strength. 

Create a Rhythm by tapping into the power of quality moments.  Intentionally tuck your child into bed each night this week.  Spend a few minutes working through the God Time cards together and see how this enriches your relationship.