Big Idea: We (the church) are united together because of Jesus Christ.

Bible Passage: 1 Corinthianians 1:10-31

This week the kids learnt that Christians, because of Jesus, should be united together, not divided. The church in Corinth was fighting among themselves – arguing over who to follow, and boasting about who was the best – Paul, Apollos, Peter or Jesus.

Paul wrote in his letter that it is Jesus that unites us. It is only through Jesus that we are saved, only Jesus is God from heaven, only Jesus died on the cross to take away the sin of the world, and only Jesus rose again from death, defeating sin and death forever. Paul told the Corinthians that if they were going to boast about anyone, they should all boast about Jesus Christ – because He showed us how to love one another. By serving and loving eachother more than we love ourselves. It is Jesus who keeps us fighting for the same thing; it is Jesus' love that unites us.

We talked about how teams must be united if they want to win. We talked about the Avengers, and how they can only defeat evil when they are united- and they could never win if they fought amongst themselves – if the Hulk tried to beat Ironman, or if Spiderman tried to fight Captain America. They needed to be united, not divided in order to win. 

It is the same with us as Christians – we must serve one another and be united in our love if we want to demonstrate Jesus to the world. We asked the question, "Will people want to come join our team, or belong to our family, or come to our church if all they see is us fighting all the time?" They will want to join our team, belong to our family, and come to our churches when they see the love of Jesus demonstrated. John 13:35, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Family Activity

Your family is a team. Talk about how a team must work together and be united in order to win. On some paper – or even on some blank t-shirts if you're feeling extra creative – Design a family jersey with your family name on the back. Use yor favourite colours, designs and ideas that represent your family. Consider coming up with a family slogan that you can say together and use to remind each other of your team culture. 

Eg. Team 'Smith' – "Our team work makes the dream work." or, "We press on as we press in", or "There’s no traffic on the extra mile," or "We take the high road," – try to think of something unique to your family culture. 

Have a great week!

Big Idea: Paul told Peter we are saved by faith in Jesus alone.

Bible Passage: Galatians 2:11-21

This week the kids learnt about Peter. Peter had been hanging out with the Gentiles, until some Jewish people came along and told him he shouldn't. Peter then stopped hanging out with the Gentiles, and Paul rebuked him.

He reminded Peter that the way everyone is saved is by faith in Jesus Christ, and that no works could save anyone- not the Jews, and not the Gentiles either. We are all saved by faith in Jesus Christ – His death and resurrection, and by repenting and following him. 

We talked about how that is true for us, too. We aren't ever good enough to make God love us, or bad enough to make Him stop loving us. We are loved: relentlessly, unconditionally, wonderfully and simply because God chooses to love us. We can't impress Him. So we don't obey Him to make Him happy. We don't obey Him to look good to others, like Peter tried. We obey Jesus because He died for us, and He loves us. We tell others about Him not just because He told us to, but because we want to love them how Jesus loves us. Relentlessly, unconditionally and wonderfully.

When we truly understand how loved we are, then we can begin to obey Jesus out of trust, instead of just trying to do the 'right thing' all the time. 

Family Activity

At the dinner table, talk about how great it is to feel truly loved. Each person can say one thing they love about the person on their left. Parents, speak things about your children that you love. Remind children that there is nothing they can ever do that will change your love for them, that you love them no matter what. That's how they can know that they can trust you – that your love is un-conditional – that it comes with no conditions. Tell children it is the same with the love of God. That there is nothing they can do that will make him love them more, or stop loving them, and that is why we can trust Him. He loves so much that He sent Jesus to die for us – so we can know that He is worth trusting. We can trust and obey Jesus because His love for us never, ever changes, and He always, always keeps His promises. Try repeating this every night or morning at the table, until the kids are sick of hearing it – to prove to them God's love never stops!

See you Sunday!

Big Idea: God helped Paul preach with courage and He helps us too.

This week the kids learned that Paul continued to preach God's word. Paul’s journey began when he traveled to the city of Corinth. To make a living, Paul was a tentmaker. Paul became friends with two other tentmakers in Corinth: a man named Aquila and his wife, Priscilla as well as Apollos. Apollos was a leader in the early church, and Aquila and Priscilla helped him better understand about Jesus and the Scriptures. Apollos went on to greatly help other believers by showing through Scripture that Jesus is the Messiah. Then the Holy Spirit led Paul to Jerusalem. Paul knew he would face danger in there. His friends prayed for him and God helped Paul preach with courage, even when he was in danger. 

We can be like friends of Paul, and encourage others to have courage and share about Jesus. We can pray for one another. We can also be like Paul and have the courage to share God's good news even if we afraid, knowing that Jesus promises to be with 'even to the ends of the earth'. 

Family Activity

This week, draw a map of the places your family will go. Mark where your friends who encourage you are (like Priscilla and Aquila) such as church friends. Mark where you are afraid to go, or share about Jesus on the map. Mark also where you know people are that don't know Jesus as Lord yet. (Your map can be as messy as you like!) Put your map on the fridge, or the middle of the table, and pray over each member in your family, asking God to help you as you go to these places this week. Leave the map out for your family members to see, to help remind you that wherever you go, the Holy Spirit will go with you. 

See you Sunday!

Big Idea: Are we free to live as we please?

Bible Passage: 1 Corinthians 6:12 +19

(If developmentally/age appropriate, read verses 13-18 as well.)

On Sunday we talked about freedom in Jesus. We have the freedom to live as 'new', freed people – not striving for our salvation, but acknowledging that Jesus has done it all for us, and there is nothing we can do to earn God's grace & love – it is given undeservingly. So how then should we live as free people?

We talked about how we don't just use our freedom to do whatever we want. As Paul says, "I have the right to do anything, but not everything is beneficial." We live in light of the grace given to us by God. We choose to live God's ways because we love him, not because we are trying to make Him love us. He loves us unconditionally already! 

So, we live as Jesus instructs us in John 13:34. "A new command I give you. Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." We choose to live with Jesus as Lord, and serve others before ourselves because we first see this is how Jesus loves and lived. We use our freedom to serve and love others first, not because we have to, but because we love a God who first did this for us!

Family Activity

During school holidays choose a day, or an evening together. Write down fun things your kids always want to do, but aren't allowed to. (Ice cream and pancakes for dinner, wearing pyjamas all day – even if you're going out, wear socks with no shoes around the house, let the dog inside, eat with your hands and no cutlery, spray paint their hair blue, watch TV all day, eat lollies for breakfast, stay up past their bed time etc.) Choose one (or more if you're game!) and allow kids to do this with you.

Let kids talk about how great their freedom to do whatever they like is. Then talk about your family rules, and why it's so important that you have them. Talk about how you give them rules because you love them and know what's best for them. Talk about how it's like that in God's family too. God doesn't just let us have or do whatever we want, He knows what's best for us, and so gives us ways to live and follow Him because He loves us. Thank God together that He cares enough for us to tell us how to use our freedom and love one another, and that He gave us the perfect example to follow in Jesus.

Have a happy holiday week!

Hey families,

This weekend we talked about Jesus' crucifixion & resurrection over the Easter weekend. Here's some more thoughts for you to talk & read about in your homes over the holidays.

God’s law for the people was plain. Together, read Deuteronomy 6:5. But God’s people, and all people, have broken the law. We have loved other things more than we love God. That is sin.

Jesus’ purpose for coming to earth was to save us from our sin. (Matt. 1:21) Why did Jesus have to die? Why couldn’t He just say, “You are forgiven”? God is just and requires due payment for sin. To simply forgive sin without requiring a payment would be unjust. According to God’s Word, the payment of sin is death. (Rom. 6:23) But not only is God just, He is also loving. That is why Jesus was willing to die in our place.

Jesus came to live and die to show God’s love to us (Rom. 5:7-8) so that whoever believes in Him might not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) Jesus came to die so that we would be forgiven. (Eph. 1:7) Jesus came to die to bring us to God. (1 Pet. 3:18)

Jesus died on the cross to satisfy the wrath of God toward sin. Jesus’ resurrection proved that God was satisfied with Jesus’ sacrifice, and forgiveness and life are found in Him. (See 1 Cor. 15:17.) If Jesus had died but not been raised up, He would have been like military leaders who died without a throne. (Acts 5:33-37) But Jesus conquered death, just as He said He would. (John 2:19-21)

Jesus’ resurrection gives us hope for our resurrection. (Rom. 6:5) Romans 8:11 says that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead will raise our bodies to life.

Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection are not the end of the story, but the center of it. Everything that was written about Jesus in the Old Testament and spoken by the prophets was coming true. As you teach your kids this Bible story, emphasize the gospel: the good news of who Jesus is and what He has done

The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus is the center of the gospel. We deserve to die because of our sin, but Jesus died in our place. He was the blood sacrifice made once and for all for the forgiveness of sin. God was pleased with Jesus’ sacrifice and raised Jesus from the dead to reign as King over all creation. We are forgiven only through Jesus. (Acts 4:12)

Family Activity

This week, during the holidays, choose a favourite story book to read or movie to watch together. Consider hosting a 'movie night' together as a fun holiday activity.  Pop some popcorn together, spread the bean-bags & blankets out on the floor and get cosy!

Choose one that has a good plot line – maybe an adventure book where a character has a moment of uncertainty. (Toy Story, Inside Out, the Lego Movie etc). As you read or watch, pause or stop the book/movie right at the climax of uncertainty or just when things start to look really bad for the lead character. While you're stopped, talk about how bad it would be if the story ended there. Talk about how bad it would be, likewise, for us, if Jesus had died and not risen again. But that was not the end of God's Story. Finish the book or movie, and reflect on the victorious ending. Talk together of how wonderful it is that Jesus did come back to life and is able to rescue us from death, too. How death, for the Christian, is not the end of the story, but that we are saved for eternal life, even after death – life with Jesus forever.

Have a great week!

Big Idea

Kids: Jesus is the one true God & we can know Him as our friend.

Bumblebees: Jesus loves us wherever we go.

Bible Passage: Acts 17:16-34

This week the kids learned that Paul went to Athens and continued to tell people the good news of Jesus. Noticing the statues & idols the people worshipped in Athens, Paul talked to people about Jesus, the one true God. He saw an idol in Athens 'To an Unknown god'. Paul told the people that our God doesn't live in temples, He made the whole earth! He isn't made by human hands, He made us, and doesn't need anything from us! And he isn't far away & unknown like the gods the people in Athens worshipped – he is KNOWN to us because of Jesus.

Our Jesus is God himself, who came down from Heaven and rescued us from sin so that we could know Him as our friend.

We talked about how you can get to know someone. How can we get to know someone we love? We spend time with them! We can get to know Jesus as our friend and Lord when we spend time with Him- reading His word, talking to Him in prayer and talking about Him with others who love Him.

Family Activity

How well do you know one another? Have your family members take turns to cover their eyes and describe other members of the family. Ask, "What colour eyes does Mummy/Daddy/Sister/Brother have? What is their hair like? Curly? Straight? etc. Quiz eachother on favourite colours, foods, TV shows, books and things to do. Talk about how you know each other as a family. You spend time talking, listening and being with one another. How can you as a family spend more time with Jesus and get to know Him? 

Big Ideas: 

Kidzone: Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved. 

Bumblebees: Jesus loves everyone.

Bible Passage: Acts16:11-34

This week the kids learnt that Paul and Silas took the message of the gospel – the Good News of Jesus – to many more people on their journey. They were arrested and put in jail, and even there they sang God's praises for how great Jesus is. We learnt that sometimes it can be hard to share the gospel – the good news of Jesus – with others. But our God promises that He will be with us, because He wants all people to have the hope we have in Jesus. Paul and Silas told people, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved!"

Family Activity

This week, to read the Bible story together, consider building a 'jail' together. Throw a blanket over some chairs or a table and sit underneath it together in the dark, with the lights off, and read the Bible with a torch or small light. Talk about how Paul and Silas would have felt inside the jail, alone and uncertain of their future. How would you have felt sitting in the jail? Why do you think they sang songs of praise to God there? When is it easy to praise God? When is it difficult? Sing together a song of praise in your jail, assuring your children that even in the darkest or most difficult times, just like with Paul and Silas, God is with us and will never leave us. 

See you Sunday!

Big Idea: Jesus is the only one who can save us.

Bible Passage: Acts 15:1-35

This week the kids learnt that some of the people in the church were wanting the Gentiles to follow some of the Jewish laws in order to be saved. The church leaders decided to meet together and discuss this. Peter stood up and said, "They heard the good news, and they believed. God accepted them and gave them the Holy Spirit, just as He did for us." He said they were all saved by God's grace, through faith. 

We discussed how we too, can only be saved by believing in Jesus. Being a good kid, being nice to people, and even reading the Bible and going to church doesn't save us, or make us good enough to be friends with a Holy God. But God knew that we could never save ourselves from our sin, so He sent Jesus to be our substitute  – to take the punishment we deserve for our sin. He made the payment so that we don't have to. Jesus and Jesus alone saves us from our sin.

This week, we gave kids the opportunity to give their lives to Jesus. We talked about A, B, C. 

Admit – We admit we are sinners, and we can't fix our sin problem on our own. We need to say sorry and be forgiven by our Holy God who loves us.

Believe – We believe Jesus is King, and Saviour, over the whole world, and that His sacrifice on the cross paid for our sins, and that He was raised from the dead.

Choose – We choose to live for Jesus as Lord and Saviour for our whole lives, knowing He gives us a new life, life with His Holy Spirit as our friend to help us be more like Jesus, and tell others about His love.

We are praying for you as you continue to pray through this big week. If you would like more help on how to discuss the gospel together, follow this link for a helpful tool with Bible verses to read together: CLICK HERE.

Family Activity

Ask your kids, "Who saves us? Can we save ourselves? Why/Why not?" Talk about how because God is Holy and perfect, we can never be 'good' enough to save ourselves. That's why God sent Jesus to pay the price of sin for us.

Look together at the gospel PDF from the link above. See if you can memorise any of the memory verses this week. Tell your kids the story of how you came to give your life to Jesus, and what is different now. Talk about how Jesus has changed your life, and ask your kids how they might be different when they give their lives to Jesus too. 

See you Sunday!

Big Idea: God uses Christians to tell others about Jesus so the church can grow.

Bible Passage: Acts 13:1-3; 14:8-28

This week the kids learnt about Paul's first missionary journey. We learnt that he and his friend, Barnabas, travelled around telling people about their hope in Jesus Christ. They started in Antioch, then sailed to Cyprus, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. They healed a man who couldn't walk, and in other places were dragged out of cities and had rocks thrown at them. Their journey was great because the church grew as more and more people came to know the good news of Jesus and trust Him, but also hard because of the troubles they faced.

God has a plan to build His church, and for people to hear about the good news of Jesus. He uses, us, His followers to build His church by telling others, just like Paul and Barnabas. God promises He will build his church no matter what we face, and that His Holy Spirit will never leave us. We can trust God to look after us and help us to tell others about Jesus.

Family Activity

Consider buying a small herb plant from Coles or Woolies. If not, choose a plant outside in your garden, and repot it in a jar inside. Water it each day and talk about how plants grow because of water and sunlight. Talk about how the church grows when our friends put their trust in Jesus and become His followers. It's our job to help the church grow by loving and caring for our friends and telling them about the good news of the gospel.

Pray together that you can find ways to love eachother and your friends and families that they would grow close to Jesus, too.