Preschool (2 yrs to PreK)

God loves me because God made me.

This weekend we focus your preschooler on one simple truth, God made me.  Drawing from Genesis 1:26-27, we watch how God made people.  This is a simple truth that everyone can agree on.  If I were to ask you, “Who made you?”.  You would quickly respond to my odd question, “God did”.  Yet if I were to ask you, “Are you valuable?”, I believe you would pause for just a second.

There seems to be a missing link between the truth that God made you and the inherent value that implies.

Consider your child for a moment.  Your love for them is not based upon their level of talent or their achievements.   In fact, their actions (good or bad) might determine your level of frustration with them, but their actions do not determine how much you love them.  You simply love them for who they are.  They have value, because you love them.

The same is true for you, mom and dad.

You have value because God loves you.  Your level of talent or your achievements do not determine the extent to which God loves you, He simply loves you because He made you.

Now you can take that truth and leave it right where it is.  OR you can Make It Personal by choosing to define your outlook by that truth.  God made you & God loves you.  Therefore you are inherently valuable.

You can certainly get away with teaching your preschooler that God loves them because the Bibles says so.  But imagine teaching your child how much God loves them because its a truth that resonates from your own life.  A truth you believe of yourself.

This isn’t a self-help moment for you.  This is a God-penetrating revelation that I believe too many people miss in their lives.  Myself included.  A simple, foundational truth that we teach our preschoolers yet miss as adults.  What a tragedy.

God Loves You because God Made You

Elementary (Kindergarten to 3rd Grade)

Respect is showing others they are important by what you say and do.

God spoke into nothingness and created the universe and all that is in it.  He has been since the beginning of time and He will never fade.  God controls the rain and the wind.  He set the earth on its axis and governs the delicated balance that gives life to the fish in the sea, the animals on lland, and all the people He created in His image.  There is no one else who has the position or power of God.

That’s why respect is a natural response to the character of God When you really understand who God is, it’s instinctive to place yourself under the authority of the One who literally has all authority.  It just makes sense.

But here’s the tricky part: God not only has all authority, but according to the Bible, God has established governing authorities on earth.  Andn if we respect God, we are called to respect these authorities.  That doesnt’ mean that we submit in every situations – especially when doing so goes against God.  But it does mean that we are supposed to live in such a way that our words and our actions indicate that the God of all authority is the maker of every individual, and that God has placed some people in temporary positions of authority for the good of many.

How does this resonate with you?  Let’s Make It Personal.  Do you demonstrate respect for those in authority over you?  Or do you demonstrate disrespect?  When you receive a speeding ticket, do you complain about the fact that others were going faster and you were the only one the officer stopped?  Or do you take responsibility for the fact that you broke the law?

Our kids learn how to respect authority by how we respect authority.  

Club 45 (4th & 5th Grade)

Be a loyal friend and choose loyal friends.

This weekend our focus is friendships.  Drawing from the popular movie, Diary of a Whimpy Kid, & from 1 Samuel 19:1-2 we take a look at two different friendships.  One that displayed loyalty and one that did not.  In the movie, Greg makes a bad decision and allows his best friend to take the blame.  Loyalty was not his response to the situation.  However, in 1 Samuel, we watch Jonathan choose what is right and be a loyal friend to David.  

We want our tweens to know that they are created to be loyal friends and to choose loyal friends.

This week, let’s Make It Personal by examining our own friendships.  Are you a loyal friend?  Do you choose loyal friends?  Our kids learn how to cultivate friendships by watching how we cultivate friendships.  When our friends have a need, do we make ourselves available to meet that need?