Big Idea: While we wait for Jesus to return, we GET READY for Him, and GET OTHERS READY.

Bible Passage: 2 Peter 3:1-13

This week we read from the book of 2 Peter – a letter written by one of Jesus' disciples & best friends. We heard that Peter told the church that Jesus was coming back, and that while we wait for Him, we are to become more and more like Him. We talked about how we can be like Jesus – and how we can learn more about Him by reading His word to know what He is like. We also learned that while we wait for Jesus to return, we can tell others about Him. 

Family Activity

We talked about how 'getting ready' for Jesus would be like waiting for a very special visitor to come over, and talked about how we get ready for special visitors when they come to our house. Talk with children this week as they get ready for school or other activities about how they might 'get ready' if Jesus was coming over for dinner. Talk about what clothes they might like to wear, or toys they might choose to show Him. Talk together about how the best way to 'get ready' for Jesus is to be just like Him, and how we can learn to love, act and live like Him by reading His word together. Peter gives some instructions for this in 2 Peter 1:5-8, so consider reading these together and talking about these characteristics. 

See you next week!

Big Idea:  The Holy Spirit helps us know God's word and be like Jesus

Bible Passage: Jude 1:3-4, 17-25

Jude was the half-brother of Jesus, and he wrote a letter to Christians to encourage them to stand strong in their faith. He says in his letter that other Christians were wasting the grace that Jesus has shown them – they are using it as an excuse to live however they please. 

But Jude tells us not to waste the grace! We know Jesus saved us to live differently than other people – we are called to live like Jesus. Not to be grumblers, bellyachers, boasters, or think big about ourselves -instead be full of joy, hope, and to thing big about Jesus. Jude helps us see that it  is the Holy Spirit who helps us to live like Jesus- He helps us understand God's word. 

He concludes his letter by saying it is in Jesus' strength and all because of Jesus that we can be saved and be made like him. "Now to him who keeps us from stumbling…all glory, majesty, power and authority be to him!"

Family Activity

This term we have started saying to the kids 'The Bible you use on Monday, bring on Sunday.' Help kids this week to open the Bible and read Jude 1:24 and ask them these questions: 

-What does this verse teach us about God? What does the verse teach me about myself? 

Thank Jesus together that it is Him who saves us, and Him who keeps us from stumbling into sin, and makes us like Him. 

See you Sunday!