Preschool (2yrs to PreK)

Why is Jesus special?

Jesus is God’s Son!

We continue this season of celebrating Jesus’ birth by introducing Luke 2:1-7 to our preschoolers.  We want kids to know that Jesus came to make a way for us to be with God forever.  We want kids to know that Jesus is God’s greatest expression of love to the world.

And our greatest expression of love to Him is to celebrate Jesus!  So remember… as you shop, prepare, wrap and generally buzz around with your little one this weekend, help them see how Jesus is the One we are celebrating.

Without Him there is no Christmas!

Create a Rhythm this week by practicing the Memory Verse together.

“God (pointing up) loved (hugging yourself)
the world (raising your arms overhead to form a circle)
so much (stretching your arms out as far as possible)
that He gave (placing your hands together with palms up in front of you as if you’re offering something)
His (pointing up) only (holding up one finger)
Son’ (holding your arms as if you’re cradling and rocking a baby).

John 3:16.” (Open your hands like a book)

Elementary (K-3rd grade)

“God love the world so much that
He gave His one and only Son.
Anyone who believes in Him
will not die but will have eternal life.”

John 3:16, NIrV

This week, we’re discovering God’s big gift to us:  Jesus is born!  In Luke 2:1-7, we see God’s gift, wrapped in humanity and born among common animals… His Son Jesus.

God didn’t just see our needs.  he did something to meet them.  Our Bottom Line is : God gave us the greatest gift.  What will you give?  After we see someone else’s needs, what’s something we can do to help meet them?

Compassion isn’t just noticing a need, it’s acting on it.  Our memory verse says, “God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son.  Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.”  John 3:16, NIrV.

God’s great gift would meet our deepest needs and rescue His people.

This week, Widen the Circle, by inviting others to invest in your children so they have other voices communicating the same message in their lives.  Bring everyone in your Small Group together (kids & adults) this week and allow people to share how and when they received the greatest gift of their lives… Jesus.  By sharing your testimonies of God’s work in your lives, you help your kids to see how they will journey to discover Jesus, as well.

Club 45 (4th & 5th grade)

Immanuel
A New Kind of Christmas

 This week we dig into Exodus 3 & Numbers 2 learning that the people of Israel are slaves in Egypt and they’re not happy. They cry out to God and God hears them.  Because God hears every cry.  This is where our new kind of Christmas continues.

God rescues His people with a resounding “Let my people go!” and Moses leads them out of Egypt toward the land they are promised.  And as they travel… God is among them.  In fact, the Israelites make a tent specifically for God, placing it at the center of camp.  Why?  Because God wants you to know that He is at the center of your need… always there, always with your, always hearing your cry.

God is Immanuel.  The ‘with us’ God that never leaves us.  And when we make Jesus the Lord of our life, He is the ‘with us’ God who wants to live in the center of your heart… always there, always with you, always hearing your cry.

This week, Create a Rhythm, by taking your preteen out on a ‘date’.  Create opportunities to talk one-on-one by getting away from the normal routine.  This opens the door to talk about the challenges that come with keeping Jesus at the center of your heart.  Share with your preteen about a time Jesus was not the center of your heart and what you did (will do) to change that.