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Emily Pilkington

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Crossing Kids: Sunday, May 19, 2013

5th Grade, Elementary, Family, Little Ones, Parents, Preschool, Sunday Morning No Responses »

May 192013

Little Ones

Big Idea: Jesus uses His followers to tell others about His love.

Memory Verse: “Go make disciples of all nations” – Matthew 28:19

Bible Story Focus: Paul and Silas in jail

Lesson Overview:

In this lesson, kids will hear the story of Paul and Silas in jail. They will learn that Paul and Silas trusted God when they were in prison and because of this, God rescued them. God wanted Paul and Silas to share His love with others, including the jailer that became a follower of Jesus.

Songs

“Wherever, Whatever” from I Count on You CD

“My God is So Big” from One Big Gulp

Pre-School

Monthly Image: Trumpet

Big Idea: Jesus uses His followers to tell others about His love.

Memory Verse: “Go make disciples of all nations” – Matthew 28:19

Bible Story Focus: Paul Discovers a Statue | Acts 17:16-34

Lesson Overview:

Paul tells the people of Athens of the Forever King. In this lesson, kids will hear of Paul’s travels to Athens, a city that worshipped statues and made Paul very sad. Kids will hear of Paul’s courage to stand up in front of a large counsel of people and tell them about the Forever King. Kids will hear that many people became believers that day. Jesus wants us to share Jesus with others; He uses His people to bring others close to Him.

Songs

“Shout” from Little Praise Party

“We Can Praise Jesus” from I Count on You CD

Activities
At all services, children will be “finding Paul” and helping put him on the map where he traveled in the lesson for the week. At the 8:00 and 11:00 kids will be making megaphones with the memory verse to remind themselves to proclaim the good news of Jesus, just like Paul did. At 9:30 children will be making “Tell It” bracelets they can wear to tell others about Jesus, just like Paul did.

Kindergarten-4th Grade

Unit: Judges

Unit Key Passage: Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the Lord relented because of their groaning under those who oppressed and afflicted them. Judges 2:18

Unit Christ Connection: God used the judges to deliver His people from their enemies; Christ delivers people from the greatest enemy, Satan.

Bible Passage: Judges 6-8

Big Picture Question: How should we respond to God’s calling? We should obey God and trust Him to help us.

Follow Up Questions:

• What did the Angel of the LORD as Gideon to do? (Destroy the idols of his father and build an altar to God instead—Judges 6:25-26)

• What material did Gideon ask God to use to prove He would be with them against the Midianites? (Fleece—Judges 6:36-40)

5th Grade

Grapple Question: Why Aren’t Other Religions OK?

Kids Learn: Jesus Is the Only Way

Dig Into the Bible: Matthew 7:13-23; Galatians 1:6-9; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; 1 John 5:1-12

With hundreds of different religions in the world (not to mention all the different denominations and beliefs there are even among Christians!), sometimes we forget the main foundation of our faith: Having a relationship with Jesus is the only way to salvation.

It’s important to know about other religions so we can discuss our beliefs intelligently. With your preteen, write down five questions you have about other religions. Then together type “compare religions” into an Internet search engine, and find a site that answers some of the questions you have.

Kids Club 2013 Devotional (Day 1: Map)

Devotional, Family, Kids Club, Parents, Volunteers No Responses »

May 142013

If you’ve been around The Crossing for a while, you probably know that one of our favorite weeks of the year is Kids Club, our camp-like spin on VBS. We would also like to give you a glimpse of this year’s theme along with a special resource to help equip you–both parents and volunteers–for follow up conversations to come. Each week, we will post the next portion of our parent/volunteer devotional to the blog.

You can click on the image below to make them appear larger or download the entire thing here.

Crossing Kids: Sunday, May 5, 2013

5th Grade, Elementary, Family, Little Ones, Parents, Preschool, Sunday Morning No Responses »

May 062013

Little Ones

Big Idea: Jesus uses His followers to tell others about His love.

Memory Verse: “Go make disciples of all nations” – Matthew 28:19

Bible Story Focus: Paul and Silas in jail

Lesson Overview:

Songs

“Wherever, Whatever” from I Count on You CD

“My God is So Big” from One Big Gulp

Preschool

Monthly Image: Trumpet

Big Idea: Jesus uses His followers to tell others about His love.

Memory Verse: “Go make disciples of all nations” – Matthew 28:19

Bible Story Focus: Saul/Paul and Barnabas Go Out | Acts 13-14

Lesson Overview:

In this lesson, kids will take a close look at the travels of Paul and Barnabas to Cypress and then to Pisidian Antioch to share with others about Jesus. Kids will hear Paul’s message to the people of Pisidian explaining how Jesus came through the line of David (Acts 13:22-23). They will learn that the Forever King, even after His resurrection can still change lives.

Songs

“Shout” from Little Praise Party

“We Can Praise Jesus” from I Count on You CD

Kindergarten-4th Grade

Rotation Topic: Forever Home with Our Forever King

Key Concept: Those who trust in Jesus as their Forever King will one day live with Him in their Forever Home.

Objectives: After participating in the workshop unit on Revelation 21, children will understand:

- God always keeps his promises: God kept his big promise to David to send a Forever King (2 Sam 7) when He sent Jesus as our Savior. Therefore, we can trust God’s promise of our Forever Home (2 Sam 7; Rev 21:5, John 14:1-3) for those who trust in Him, too.

- We will be happiest when we live forever with Jesus: The greatest thing about our Forever Home is that we will finally be with our Forever King. We will be truly satisfied then. (Rev 21:3-4, 6-7; Psalm 27:4)

- When Jesus returns, our world will be made new:When we are in our Forever Home with our Forever King, everything that is broken in our world will be fixed— no sin, no tears, no death, no sadness, no sickness, no pain, etc. (Rev. 21:1, 4-5)

- Our Forever Home is better than we can ever imagine: We only have a small glimpse of what heaven will be like; it is more amazing than we can ever imagine. (1 Corinthians 2:9; Rev. 21:10-27; Psalm 27:4)

- Heaven is for those who trust in Jesus as their Forever King. We cannot earn our way into heaven by “being good.” We must trust that Jesus paid for our sins by dying on the cross for us. He is the one who saves us!

Memory Verse:

Psalm 27:4 (NIrV):

⁴ I’m asking the Lord for only one thing.
Here is what I want.
I want to live in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life.
I want to look at the beauty of the Lord.
I want to worship him in his temple.

Unit Overview: God’s promise to King David in 2 Samuel 7:11-16 was indestructible. Sin, death, and time didn’t stop it. God sent our Forever King to us as a man named Jesus, our Savior. But, the promise doesn’t stop there. King Jesus will come again in all this glory and bring his kingdom forever when he returns (Revelation 21). Children will learn in this unit how God will keep his big promise to David and us ultimately when we are with our Forever King in our Forever Home. They will also learn that we will be happiest and all things made right when we are with him forever in heaven. That is what we are made for and can look forward to!

Workshop Descriptions

Workshop #1: Something Beautiful

We will explore the idea of what the “new heaven and new earth” will be like and why we can look forward to it, like King David did. To do this, we will:

· play a game called “Trash Game”

· read and discuss Something Beautiful

· discuss Revelation 21 in small groups

· have children decorate a bookmark that has our memory verse on it

Workshop #2: Who Will Be Your King?

Children will learn that our Forever Home is for those who make Jesus their King. We will explore this idea by:

· Sharing a gospel diagram called “Who Will Be Your King?”

· Playing a game called “Lay Down Your Crown”

· Reviewing the “Who Will Be Your King?” presentation through a small group activity

· Sending kids home with a booklet called “Who Will Be Your King?”

Workshop #3: Create a “Forever Home” Castle

We will ask and try to answer the question “Why is heaven better than where we are?” To do this, we will:

· Review our memory verse.

· Read and discuss Revelation 21 in small groups.

· Each child will create a Forever Home castle that describes what heaven will be like.

Workshop 4: Forever Home Celebration

We will celebrate our Forever King and his promise of a Forever Home. To do this, we will:

· Review our memory verse and motions

· Watch “A Dream of Heaven” video from The Jesus Storybook Bible

· Have a banquet together at tables while listening toHome and discussing questions about heaven.

· Play a party game with balloons

Workshop #5: Forever King Timeline

Children will discover how God’s promise to David to send a king who will reign forever on his throne is fulfilled in the birth of and ultimately in the return of Jesus. To do this, we will:

· Review the memory verse and do motions.

· Play a game called “Birthday Line-Up” that helps kids learn what a timeline is.

· Discuss how the three main parts of the Forever King Story we have talked about this year fit into The Big God Story timeline on the wall (the promise to King David 2 Samuel 7, the birth of Jesus in Luke 2, and the return of Jesus in Revelation 21).

· Review the big Forever King story and have kids create their own timeline in small groups.

Music:

Big House - Audio Adrenaline

Home - Forever/Home CD

A Place for You - Forever Home CD

5th Grade

Grapple Question:

Why Is Church So Long?

Kids Learn: Church Practices

Dig Into the Bible: Psalm 100:1-3; Luke 22:19-20; 2 Corinthians 9:7; 1 Timothy 2:8, 4:13

Do your kids complain about how much time you spend at church each week? Do this object lesson as a family to remind everyone of the importance of spending time with God each week.

Measure and cut a rope or string to make it 168 inches long (that’s how many hours are in a week). Then attach a 1-inch piece of masking tape to the string (one hour is the aver- age length of a church service). Stretch the string out so your family can see it. Then read Psalm 150 as a family. Spending time at church is just one small opportunity to worship God. Talk about how you could spend the other 167 hours a week praising him!

Crossing Kids: Sunday, April 21, 2013

5th Grade, Elementary, Family, Little Ones, Parents, Preschool, Sunday Morning No Responses »

Apr 212013

Little Ones

Big Idea: Our Forever King changes us.

Memory Verse: We are being changed to be more like Him. 2 Corinthians 3:18

Bible Story Focus: Paul’s Conversion

Lesson Overview:

In this lesson, kids will hear the conversion of Paul, understanding that Jesus changes us. Paul hated Christians until Jesus changed his heart, then he wanted to tell everyone about Jesus.

Songs:

I Like To - One, Big Gulp CD
I Wanna Be Like Jesus - Reach Up High

Preschool

Monthly Image: Scepter

Big Idea: Jesus, our Forever King, changes us to be more like Him.

Memory Verse: “We are being changed to become more like Him.” - 2 Corinthians 3:18

Bible Story Focus: Paul’s Conversion, part two | Acts 9:10-19

I Wonder Questions

I wonder… Who did Jesus ask to go see Saul?

* Jesus asked Saul to see Ananias.

I wonder… What happened when Ananias touched Saul?

* Scales fell off his eyes and he could see again.

I wonder… Did Saul hurt Ananias?

*No, Jesus changed him and he was baptized and loved Jesus instead.

Songs

You Alone Can Rescue - Matt Redman

Good, Good Friend - I Count On You CD

Activities
This week children at 8:00 and 11:00 children will see the transformation of tarnished pennies and connect it to Paul’s transformation by Jesus. They will also create blind drawings to remind them of Paul’s blindness in his conversion. At 9:30, children will get to see carnations transformed by food coloring and will make light switch covers to remind themselves of Jesus’ changing power.

Kindergarten-4th Grade

Rotation Topic: Forever Home with Our Forever King

Key Concept: Those who trust in Jesus as their Forever King will one day live with Him in their Forever Home.

Objectives: After participating in the workshop unit on Revelation 21, children will understand:

Memory Verse:

Psalm 27:4 (NIrV):

Workshop Descriptions

Workshop #1: Something Beautiful

We will explore the idea of what the “new heaven and new earth” will be like and why we can look forward to it, like King David did. To do this, we will:

· play a game called “Trash Game”

· read and discuss Something Beautiful

· discuss Revelation 21 in small groups

· have children decorate a bookmark that has our memory verse on it

Workshop #2: Who Will Be Your King?

Children will learn that our Forever Home is for those who make Jesus their King. We will explore this idea by:

· Sharing a gospel diagram called “Who Will Be Your King?”

· Playing a game called “Lay Down Your Crown”

· Reviewing the “Who Will Be Your King?” presentation through a small group activity

· Sending kids home with a booklet called “Who Will Be Your King?”

Workshop #3: Create a “Forever Home” Castle

We will ask and try to answer the question “Why is heaven better than where we are?” To do this, we will:

· Review our memory verse.

· Read and discuss Revelation 21 in small groups.

· Each child will create a Forever Home castle that describes what heaven will be like.

Workshop 4: Forever Home Celebration

We will celebrate our Forever King and his promise of a Forever Home. To do this, we will:

· Review our memory verse and motions

· Watch “A Dream of Heaven” video from The Jesus Storybook Bible

· Have a banquet together at tables while listening toHome and discussing questions about heaven.

· Play a party game with balloons

Workshop #5: Forever King Timeline

Children will discover how God’s promise to David to send a king who will reign forever on his throne is fulfilled in the birth of and ultimately in the return of Jesus. To do this, we will:

· Review the memory verse and do motions.

· Play a game called “Birthday Line-Up” that helps kids learn what a timeline is.

· Review the big Forever King story and have kids create their own timeline in small groups.

Music:

Big House - Audio Adrenaline

Home - Forever/Home CD

A Place for You - Forever Home CD

5th Grade

Grapple Question: Why Are There So Many Churches?? Kids Learn: The Church Is the Body of Christ

Dig Into the Bible: John 17:20-23; Romans 16:16-17; 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 12:12-31

Many people focus on the differences between churches. But the real message Jesus gave us is that we are all one church. First Corinthians 1:10 says, “Live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.”

Talk to your family about ways to work together with people from other churches. May- be you will think of a few families in your neighborhood who go to different churches and invite them to your home for dinner. Remember that as Christians we need to work together as the body of Christ.

Crossing Kids: Sunday, April 14, 2013

5th Grade, Elementary, Family, Little Ones, Parents, Preschool, Sunday Morning 1 Response »

Apr 142013

Little Ones

Big Idea: Our Forever King changes us.

Memory Verse: We are being changed to be more like Him. 2 Corinthians 3:18

Bible Story Focus: Paul’s Conversion

Lesson Overview:

In this lesson, kids will hear the conversion of Paul, understanding that Jesus changes us. Paul hated Christians until Jesus changed his heart, then he wanted to tell everyone about Jesus.

Songs:

I Like To - One, Big Gulp CD
I Wanna Be Like Jesus - Reach Up High

Preschool

Monthly Image: Scepter

Big Idea: Jesus, our Forever King, changes us to be more like Him.

Memory Verse: “We are being changed to become more like Him.” - 2 Corinthians 3:18

Bible Story Focus: Paul’s Conversion, part one | Acts 9:1-9

I Wonder Questions

I wonder… Who was Saul being mean to?

* Christians – people who believe in Jesus

I wonder… Who spoke to Saul outside of Damascus?

* Jesus did

I wonder… What happened to Saul after Jesus told him to go to Damascus?

*He became blind, and did not eat or drink for three days

Songs

You Alone Can Rescue - Matt Redman

Good, Good Friend - I Count On You CD

Activities
This week our activities are a bit messy! At 8:00 and 11:00 we’ll be playing pin the tail on the donkey to talk about how Paul was blinded during his conversion and making slime while we talk about how God changes us just like he changed Paul. At 9:30 we’ll be playing a mystery object game to talk about how Paul was blinded by Jesus and then we’ll be doing a color changing game to talk about how God changes us just like he changed Paul.Kindergarten-4th Grade

Rotation Topic: Forever Home with Our Forever King

Key Concept: Those who trust in Jesus as their Forever King will one day live with Him in their Forever Home.

Objectives: After participating in the workshop unit on Revelation 21, children will understand:

Memory Verse:

Psalm 27:4 (NIrV):

Unit Overview: God’s promise to King David in 2 Samuel 7:11-16 was indestructible. Sin, death, and time didn’t stop it. God sent our Forever King to us as a man named Jesus, our Savior. But, the promise doesn’t stop there. King Jesus will come again in all this glory and bring his kingdom forever when he returns (Revelation 21). Children will learn in this unit how God will keep his big promise to David and us ultimately when we are with our Forever King in our Forever Home. They will also learn that we will be happiest and all things made right when we are with him forever in heaven. That is what we are made for and can look forward to!

Workshop Descriptions

Workshop #1: Something Beautiful

We will explore the idea of what the “new heaven and new earth” will be like and why we can look forward to it, like King David did. To do this, we will:

· play a game called “Trash Game”

· read and discuss Something Beautiful

· discuss Revelation 21 in small groups

· have children decorate a bookmark that has our memory verse on it

Workshop #2: Who Will Be Your King?

Children will learn that our Forever Home is for those who make Jesus their King. We will explore this idea by:

· Sharing a gospel diagram called “Who Will Be Your King?”

· Playing a game called “Lay Down Your Crown”

· Reviewing the “Who Will Be Your King?” presentation through a small group activity

· Sending kids home with a booklet called “Who Will Be Your King?”

Workshop #3: Create a “Forever Home” Castle

We will ask and try to answer the question “Why is heaven better than where we are?” To do this, we will:

· Review our memory verse.

· Read and discuss Revelation 21 in small groups.

· Each child will create a Forever Home castle that describes what heaven will be like.

Workshop 4: Forever Home Celebration

We will celebrate our Forever King and his promise of a Forever Home. To do this, we will:

· Review our memory verse and motions

· Watch “A Dream of Heaven” video from The Jesus Storybook Bible

· Have a banquet together at tables while listening toHome and discussing questions about heaven.

· Play a party game with balloons

Workshop #5: Forever King Timeline

Children will discover how God’s promise to David to send a king who will reign forever on his throne is fulfilled in the birth of and ultimately in the return of Jesus. To do this, we will:

· Review the memory verse and do motions.

· Play a game called “Birthday Line-Up” that helps kids learn what a timeline is.

· Review the big Forever King story and have kids create their own timeline in small groups.

Music:

Big House - Audio Adrenaline

Home - Forever/Home CD

A Place for You - Forever Home CD

5th Grade

Grapple Question: Why Do I Have to Go?

Kids Learn: Encountering God in Community

Dig Into the Bible: Luke 4:14-16; Colossians 1:18-20; Hebrews 10:23-25

Have you ever had this happen to you on a Sunday morning? As you’re struggling to get the kids up and out of the house, your preteen asks the inevitable question: “Why do we even have to go to church?” And you respond with your most respectful and understanding tone of voice, “Because I said so!”

Think about why it’s important to you that your kids go to church. Is it because you want them to hang out with their friends, so your neighbors will see you going to church as a family, or because you hope your kids will listen to their Sunday school teachers even if they won’t listen to you? Or is it because you realize that some of the most powerful life-changing moments happen in the midst of other Christians, while listening to a friend share about a tough situation, for example, or worshipping in a large group? Find a quiet time (not on your way out the door to church!) to talk to your preteen about the importance of experiencing God in community. It’s all about growing in relationship with God and others.

Crossing Kids: Easter Sunday 2013

5th Grade, Easter, Elementary, Little Ones, Parents, Preschool, Sunday Morning No Responses »

Mar 312013

Little Ones

Big Idea: Jesus is Alive!

Monthly Symbol: Cross

Memory Verse: “Christ died for us” – Romans 5:8b

Bible Story Focus: Jesus’ death and Resurrection

Lesson Overview:

In this lesson, kids will hear of Jesus’ death on a cross and resurrection from the dead. They will learn that Jesus died for those He loves and raised again so that we too may have life with God.

Preschool

Monthly Image: Cross

Big Idea: Jesus is Alive! Our Forever King died and rose from the dead.

Memory Verse: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

Bible Story Focus: Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection | Matthew 27:31-28:10

Lesson Overview:

In this lesson, kids will hear of Jesus’ death on a cross and resurrection from the dead. They will learn that Jesus died for those He loves and raised again so that we too may have life with God. Jesus now sits on a throne in Heaven, as our Forever King, where we will one day be with Him, worshipping Him for eternity.

Songs: “Good, Good Friend” and “You Alone Can Rescue”Activities At 8:00 and 11:00 preschoolers will be opening Easter eggs to find the empty contents, just like the tomb. They’ll also be making sticker scenes of the empty tomb. At 9:30, children will be doing scratch off tomb scenes and cross sticker scenes.

I Wonder Questions

I wonder…how did Jesus die?

*Crucifixion/ On the Cross.

I wonder…how many days was it until Jesus was resurrected?

*Three

I wonder…Who was the first to see Jesus?

*Mary Magdalene.

Elementary

Memory Verse: But God demonstrates His own love for us in this, while we were still sinners Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Key Concept: Christ died to save sinners like you and me.

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-11; Matthew 26

Ways to Follow Up: Use our Family Easter devotional to guide your family in a time of preparation or read the Gospel accounts of Holy Week together as a family.

Let me learn by Easter paradox…

Devotional, Easter, Family, Parents, Volunteers No Responses »

Mar 282013

I don’t think it’s an accident that the most beautiful things of this earth aren’t typically so in the predictable sense. The things that move us the most quite often involve a contrast of some type, an element of surprise.

Wildflowers creeping along a crowded highway.

The intricate wrinkles on my grandmother’s hands.

A quilt created entirely from scraps that sits on my bed.

Weeds left uncared for. Signs of aging and decay. Leftovers that otherwise had no use. Symptoms of the curse redeemed. Beauty rooted in what doesn’t seem to make sense.

Why is my heart captured by such things? Perhaps because this contrast is merely an echo of something greater. Perhaps because the face of beauty itself is described in this way.

…he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
    and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men;
    a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
    he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
-Isaiah 53:2-5-

With wounds we are healed. Grace at its very core is a paradox. Something so costly, so undeserved, is given freely. A gruesome, torturous method of execution becomes the central icon for redemption. A story I’ve heard since I was a little girl continues to contain an element of mystery. My faith, my hope, and my peace secured, only because the righteous died for the unrighteous. Darkness and light, bondage and freedom juxtaposed. And all this was for our salvation.

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,
Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,
where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory.
Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.
Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine;
Let me find Thy light in my darkness,
Thy life in my death,
Thy joy in my sorrow,
Thy grace in my sin,
Thy riches in my poverty,
Thy glory in my valley.
-The Valley of Vision, A Puritain Prayer-

Family Easter Celebration 2013

5th Grade, Devotional, Easter, Elementary, Event, Family, Lent, Little Ones, Music, Parents, Preschool, Uncategorized No Responses »

Mar 222013

Last Monday evening, hundreds of Crossing Kids and their families gathered to prepare for Easter and worship our Savior with Jason Houser from Seeds Family Worship. As you can tell, young and old had a great time singing and dancing in the auditorium.

After our time of praise and worship, families moved to classrooms where they created their own Resurrection Gardens to help them prepare for Easter at home.

If you weren’t able to join us, be sure to pick up an extra copy of the garden materials along with our Family Easter devotional and free Seeds of Easter CD near the Crossing Kids registration area on Sunday.

Crossing Kids: Sunday, March 17, 2013

5th Grade, Elementary, Little Ones, Preschool, Sunday Morning No Responses »

Mar 172013

Little Ones

Big Idea: Jesus is Alive!

Monthly Symbol: Cross

Memory Verse: “Christ died for us” – Romans 5:8b

Bible Story Focus: Jesus’ death and Resurrection

Lesson Overview:

In this lesson, kids will hear of Jesus’ death on a cross and resurrection from the dead. They will learn that Jesus died for those He loves and raised again so that we too may have life with God.

Preschool

Monthly Image: Cross

Big Idea: Jesus is Alive! Our Forever King diead and rose from the dead.

Memory Verse: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

Bible Story Focus: The Last Supper | Luke 22:1-23

Lesson Overview:

In this lesson, kids will hear of Jesus eating the last meal with His disciples. Kids will learn that we take communion as way to recognize what Jesus did for us by His death on a cross. Kids will learn that Jesus will reign in Heaven, as our Forever King.

Songs: “Good, Good Friend” and “You Alone Can Rescue”

Activities Our preschoolers will be playing a ring toss game with wine goblets and making crosses on hills at 8:00 and 11:00. At 9:30, children will be making stained glass windows to hang in the classroom and will be making a watercolor cross painting with the memory verse to take home.

I Wonder Questions

I wonder…who led the disciples to the place where they celebrated Passover?

*A man carrying a jar of water.

I wonder…what meal did Jesus share with his friends?

*The Last Supper.

I wonder…why do we take communion?
*To remember that Jesus died on the cross for us.

Kindergarten-4th Grade

Title of Unit: Prayer: Boldly Approaching the Throne of Grace

Dates: February 17-March 17

Key Concept of Unit: We can have a relationship with God through prayer.

Unit Overview: David was a great sinner who understood he had a great Savior. The God David writes about in the Psalms is both personal and all powerful. He approached Him with honesty in every season of life—those filled with joy, those filled with pain, those filled with sin, those filled with blessing, and every where in between. By examining the Psalms, children will get a glimpse of what it means to approach their Forever King boldly through prayer.

Memory Verse for Unit: So let us boldly approach the throne of grace. Then we will receive mercy. We will find grace to help us when we need it. Hebrews 4:16

Objectives for Unit:

After participating in this unit, children will understand:

· Because of Jesus, we can have a relationship with God through prayer. We don’t have to be afraid to approach our Forever King. Instead, we can do so boldly.

· Jesus wants us to come to Him honestly in prayer. We don’t have to “fix ourselves” before we can come to Him. Instead, we can come to Him broken, messy, weary and needy.

· Our Forever King is both personal and all-powerful.

Workshop Descriptions

Family Dinner: In his book The Praying Life, Paul Miller writes, “When Jesus describes the intimacy he wants with us, he talks about joining us for dinner. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). A praying life feels like our family mealtimes because prayer is all about relationship.” In this workshop, children will participate in a family dinner and a set of prayer stations that allow them to experience this idea.

Messy: Children will create a mess using various objects and attempt to clean it up with a filthy rag to symbolize how our righteous acts are unable to cover over our sin. They will read Psalm 51 to see how David came to God with his sin and take some time to respond.

Memory Verse: Children will learn that through Jesus, we can approach God’s throne of grace confidently. After studying several passages about prayer, children will create scepters to remind them of this truth found in our memory verse.

Music: Students will learn that part of prayer is praising God for who He is and what He’s done. Children will listen and illustrate the song “The Lord Is” before selecting a Psalm to sing, dance, and/or act out as a way of praising God.

Thanksgiving Tree: Children will create a class “Thanksgiving Tree” as a way to praise and thank God for His past grace.

Ways to Follow Up:

· Listen to The Lord Is by: Sovereign Grace

· Spend time praying together as a family. You can pray aloud, through writing in a journal, using note cards, or even creating a tree of thanksgiving listing the many things you’re thankful for.

· Read Psalms together or p. 130-135 in The Jesus Storybook Bible.

· Practice the memory verse together.

· As parents, read The Praying Life by: Paul Miller. It will encourage you as you spend time with the Lord and pray for your children together.

Music

The Lord Is- by Sovereign Grace Music Psalms

Call to Me - by Seeds of Courage from Seeds Family Worship

Rise and Sing - JUMP CD

5th Grade

Grapple Question:

Is Being Liked What Matters?

Kids Learn:

Focusing on God’s Opinion

Dig Into the Bible:

Psalm 139:17-18; Matthew 10:29-32; John 5:16-18, 36-44; 2 Corinthians 10:12-18; Galatians 1:10

Fitting in—wanting to have the right clothes, watch the right movies, and hang out with the right people—is growing increasingly important to your preteen. And the media your child sees (magazines, TV shows, commercials, and movies) just reinforces this message of the need to be liked and accepted.

Take a minute with your son or daughter to thumb through some magazines targeted at preteens and teens (companies are starting to target these age groups together). Check out Teen People, Teen Vogue, J-14, or other magazines your preteen might subscribe to or be interested in. Count how many references to popularity or fitting in you can find. Then read Romans 12:2 together. Remind your child that fitting in with God’s plan is more important than being liked.

Preparing for Easter

Devotional, Easter, Family, Lent, Parents No Responses »

Mar 122013

Growing up, Advent and Lent were seasons that not just my church but my family observed. Both were times of anticipation and waiting. Both were times of drawing closer to the manger and to the cross. Both were opportunities my parents used to start intentional conversations about the Gospel.

Lent in many ways has gotten a bad wrap. The idea of giving something up for the 40+ days before Easter in some ways has become highly ritualistic and unattached from what the season really is about. People abstain from certain foods or vices with a desire not to draw closer to God, but to lose weight or be a better person. Others attempt to sacrifice because of a desire to win the approval of man or from a distorted view of obligation. On the other extreme, Easter in many ways has become a holiday for consumers. Jelly beans, eggs, and bunnies encourage us to bypass the crucifixion and instead focus on cultural icons tied more closely to spring than anything else.

I’ve ran across several sites and blogs that have shared some great ideas for ways you can prepare your family for this season intentionally.

Tell the Easter Story with a Play Dough Mountain
A great idea for families with younger children, this blog post from Desiring God gives children the opportunity to retell the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection with play dough and pipe cleaner

Photo Credit

Resurrection Rolls
Use this fun, tasty recipe to tell the Easter story. The link includes the recipe along with a list of things to say/share as you cook together.

Photo Credit

Lent Devotional from The Village Church
While this may be a little too extensive to do with young children, it’s what I’m currently working through to prepare my heart as an individual. Each week includes a prayer from Valley of Vision to meditate on, selected scripture with a place to reflect, and ideas on things to fast from/how best to go about this process in a Biblical way. It also opens with a great rationale of what Lent is. I’ve copied a snippet of this below:

“Lent is about the gospel. It is a time to narrow the focus of the Church to the work of Christ, in particular His life and death, a season to turn from sin and trust in His atoning work…ent is a reminder that the resurrection only occurred after the crucifixion. Rather than skipping over the ministry and crucifixion of Christ, Lent is a season to prepare ourselves for the joy of Resurrection Sunday as we symbolically enter the sorrow and pain which preceded it.”

What Lent Really Means and Easter Tree Directions
Ann Voskamp writes about her own struggles with Lent along with different things she does with her family to prepare for the season. It closes with a free downloadable devotion and directions on how to make an Easter tree.

Lenten Lights from Noel Piper
Noel Piper guides families through 8 weekly scripture readings with an accompanying brief devotional. Instead of lighting candles as one might do in Advent, she suggests extinguishing candles as a way to physically represent the contrast of light and darkness.

The Jesus Storybook Bible
One of our favorite resources to share with children and families is The Jesus Storybook Bible. Pages 280-325 tell the story of Passion Week all the way through Jesus ascending into heaven. Try reading one story a week for six weeks together as a family. You can also watch a video version of Easter morning below.

http://youtu.be/d_PkwywNxCw

Celebrating Easter with Kids
This blog post is a collection of links put together by C.J. Maheny’s daughter Nicole on Girl Talk. Throughout the post, she offers many practical, fun ideas for impressing the truth of the Gospel on little hearts during this season.

John Devotional
Of course you can also check out our weekly family devotional through the book of John. Many of the passages will coincide with the Lent/Easter season. We will also share a take home devotional with you at our Family Easter Celebration on March 16.

What other ways do you celebrate the Lent and Easter season together as a family? Be sure to share your ideas in the comment section or on Facebook.

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