Preschool (2yrs-PreK)

This week your preschooler will learn more about who Jesus loves.  We want them to know that…

“Jesus loves everyone!”

The story of the good Samaritan is one that is used often.  Jesus tells this story to make the point that we are to love our neighbors.  Who is your neighbor?  Let’s dig a little deeper and see what Jesus thinks.  All we really know about the men who passed by the beaten man is that they were religious.  One was a priest and the other was a Levite.  They saw the man lying there needing help and did not stop.   The third man was a Samaritan. Now, because the beaten man had been traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho, let’s assume that he was Jewish.  As his neighbors, the priest and the Levite should have been the ones to help!  Samaritan’s and Jews did not get along!  But it was the Samaritan who stopped to help because he was moved with compassion.

Jesus makes a point that all mankind is your neighbor, even the people you wouldn’t normally associate with.  We are to be moved with compassion for all of God’s creation and “Love each other as Jesus has loved us”. (John 15:12)  Make it Personal with your preschooler by asking them about people in their classes at church or school that may need some extra love!  Talk about how they can show love, even at their young age.

Elementary (K-3^rd Grade)

Conviction – standing for what is right even when others don’t

As we continue to teach your student to “Never tire of doing what is right” (2 Thessalonians 3:13), we will look at Daniel 5 this weekend.

Daniel is faced with a choice.  There is writing on the wall, literally, and the king knows that Daniel is the only one who can read it.  He summons Daniel and asks for an interpretation.  Daniel realizes it is NOT good news for the king, but a warning.  He could make something up, say it’s great stuff about the king, take the loot the king wants to reward him with and high tail it out of there.  But, Daniel is a man of CONVICTION.  He gives the hard message to the king and does what is right.  Belshazzar rewards him!  Daniel basically told the king his time was ending, and the king still promoted and celebrated him.  Only God can do that!  Only when we do what is right, even when it’s not popular.

Imagine the End  with your student by talking through scenarios they might encounter.  Talk about what might happen if they give in to peer pressure and make the wrong choice.  Talk about what might happen if they live by conviction, doing what is right even when it’s not popular.  Either choice can change the course of their life, just like Daniel.

 Club 45 (4-5^th grade)

This week your student will be thinking about the things they treasure.  Matthew 6:24 tells us that we can’t serve two masters, God and money.  You love one and hate the other.  For your student, “money” could be video games, sports, the coolest clothes, airsoft etc.  We are asking the question

“What do you love more?”

As a parent, it’s easy to get caught up in what kids want and what they say they need because their friends have it.  Make no mistake, stuff isn’t bad.  This is a heart issue.   Jesus talks to a young rich ruler who wanted to know how to have eternal salvation.  He was already keeping all the commandments.  Jesus said there was one more thing.  Give up all the riches and follow me.  Jesus did not say this because he thought being rich was bad.  Jesus knew that the riches had a more gripping hold on the man’s heart than a desire for eternity with God.

It is our responsibility to guide our students to choose Jesus above all things.  How are you doing this?  Do they have unlimited game time and friend time?  How much time do they spend reading the Bible or praying or simply sitting still and thinking of all the things God does?  Can it even compare to the amount of time they spend texting or playing sports?  Where do you find yourself with these questions?  How much time to do you spend absorbed in God’s Word?

We cannot expect our students to live life for “ME” now and then all of a sudden live life for “JESUS” when they become adults.

Make it Personal this week by sitting down as a family and asking what you are willing to give up to make more room for time with Jesus.  Then make a commitment to do that together.  Hold each other accountable.  That might be less television, less video games, or a complete digital shut down for 1 hour.  Can you re-devote that time to follow a Bible reading plan together and pray?  Let  your student see you sacrifice something in order to “enter the Kingdom” (Luke 18:18-27)