Big Idea: God gives us the strength we need to stand strong for Him. 

Bible Passage:  Ephesians 6:10-19

This week the kids learned about the armour of God. We talked about how Paul wrote a letter to believers in Ephesus because he wanted them to know that they had power against evil, and to live God's way. Paul talked about a special kind of armour that God gives us. He gives us:

1. The Belt of Truth. What a gift that God has revealed the truth of the gospel to us! We said that "When we don't know what to do, we go back to what we know is true." The truth of God's Word helps us stand firm for Jesus.

2. Breastplate of Righeousness. Bccause of Jesus, we are no longer enemies of God. When we trust Jesus we are seen instead as God's children – how good it is to know the God of Angel Armies is for us, not against us!

3. Sandals of readiness to share the Gospel – We are armed with the gospel of peace – we know that Jesus is the giver of peace, and that He will go with us to share His Gospel with others.

4. Shield of Faith – We are protected from falling into despair because we put our faith in the God who never fails. When the evil one tempts us "with flaming arrows" to doubt our God's strength, our faith in the ever-faithful one sustains us and helps us remember who is in control.

5. Helmet of Salvation. We can know that nothing, not now or ever, can take our salvation away. Jesus has rescued us, and nothing can take that away. 

6. Sword of the Spirit – The Holy Spirit helps us know how to live God's way by helping us understand the Word of God. 

Thank God for these things that help us fight on towards being like Jesus- the one who loves us and promises to help us be like Him.

Family Activity

Each morning this week as you get dressed, put on items and remind yourselves of the armour of God. Use your daily items to help you remember the things God gives us to help us:

At each stage, talk about how you can use these things today to remind you that God's Holy Spirit is with you and will help you stand firm for him.

Have a great week! 

Ps. Remember we come back from holidays on July 22nd!  

Big Idea:  The Holy Spirit helps us choose to be more like Jesus.

Bible Passage: Galatains 5:16-26

This week the kids learned that when we trust Jesus, He gives us His Holy Spirit and we are changed. Paul wrote a letter to the Christians in Galatia and explained that it is God who changes us, from the inside out, to be more like Him.

The Holy Spirit gives us the power to choose to live God's way -the best way. Instead of living like we did before we knew Jesus, we learn to say no to hatred, jealousy, anger, selfishness and greed. Instead we choose to live God's way and can choose love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control.

Just like we know an apple tree is an apple tree because it grows apples, we know a follower of Jesus is a follower of Jesus because they grow these 'good fruits' of the Spirit.

Family Activity

We talked about using a traffic light to help us practice choosing these good fruits with the help of the Holy Spirit. Red means to 'Stop'. Orange/Yellow means 'Pray'. Green means to 'Choose." When we want to live God's way we can STOP, PRAY– for help from the Holy Spirit to make us like Jesus- and CHOOSE love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Whenever you stop at traffic lights this week, remind children of this, and remind them again that it is the HOLY SPIRIT who gives us the power to live like Jesus, so we must ask for His help, every day. 

Extra fun – make a fruit salad together and see if you can remember all of the fruits that Paul talks about in his letter. As you cut up the fruits, talk about which fruit you like and don't like, and talk about 'Spiritual fruits' that are harder or easier for us to show. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you choose these things together.

See you Sunday!

Big Idea: The Holy Spirit transforms us to be more like Jesus.

Bible Passage: 1 Corinthians 1:9; Romans 12:9-18; Philippians 1:2-7

This week we talked about transformation. Paul wrote in letters to churches and told them how when we put our trust in Jesus, he gives us His Holy Spirit, and His Spirit transforms us. We talked about how we might not change on the outside, and look different, but we are changed on the inside. The Holy Spirit transforms our minds and our hearts. He changes how we think and what we love and this changes what we say and do.

The Holy Spirit transforms our minds and hearts when we read God's word, when we worship Him and when we are encouraged by the family of God. 

When we are transformed, we think differently- we learn what is pleasing or right in God's eyes, and what is not. When we are transformed, we love differently. We are able to love people as Jesus does – like loving them even when they hurt us! 

The Holy Spirit gives us gifts – each and every one of us. When we are transformed to be more like Jesus, we find we can use the things we are good at for the Glory of God by serving others.

Family Activity

We used hand actions on Sunday to point to our minds, hearts, mouths and hands. Try saying together, with the actions: "The Holy Spirit transforms our minds and hearts, so we can be like Jesus in what we say and do." In order to demonstrate transformation – pull out the baby photos. Show the children how they have grown and changed since they were babies, and talk about how we grow and change when we learn more and love Jesus over time. We might not see the difference straight away, like in babies, but we do notice over time. Point out differences between the photos and your kids now. 

Make a list of all the things each person in your family is good at. Think of ways together that you can use these gifts differently now that you know Jesus can use them to help us love people.

See you Sunday!

Big Idea: When we trust in Jesus, God gives us the Holy Spirit and makes us His children.

Bible Passage: Romans 8:12-39

This week the kids learned that when we put our trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, we are adopted into God's family. We are called His children. Paul explained the Holy Spirit helps believers say no to sin, and He gives us the power to live in a way that pleases God. The Holy Spirit makes us more like Jesus. God is a good father, and he loves us – He gave us the greatest gift in Jesus – and we know He will give us everything we need. Nothing will ever separate us from His love. 

Family Activity

One night this week, choose a night for family dinner. Give each person in your family a job to do. Serve one another by helping to set the table, serve each other food, pour drinks, collect dishes and clean up. Talk as your serve one another about how we can serve our brothers and sisters in the church. Talk about who is in our 'God family' and how though we are all different, we are all welcome. If you have a sponsor child, talk about how they can be part of your wider family, too. Who else can you be praying for that they would come into God's family? 

Have a great week! See you Sunday.