Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Using our best to honor God

This past week in the Preschool we learned the story of Mary anointing Christ's feet with costly perfume. Though some were angry that such an expensive material was used for such a temporary purpose, Jesus explained the significance of honoring Him with the best of what Mary had.
As we teach our children to love God and make Him famous, we want to communicate the importance of giving Him the best of what we have. Lived out, we are "doing all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).
As you go throughout your days, talk openly about the things that you are doing together and how those things can honor God. Simple tasks like washing dishes or picking up toys, to fun activities like coloring or playing outside, are opportunities for us to do little "heart checks" with our children and further explain that a heart that honors God and loves Him most is a heart that is pleasing to the Lord.

Have a great day with your little ones!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Follow-up: Jesus is a Friend

Story: Jesus trains his disciples

Fundamental Truth: We Can Talk with God

Making it Real:
What can we learn from Jesus and His friends and how He taught His friends?
Jesus chose men to live and work and travel with Him. Those men were with Him always. They saw Him when He was happy and strong and excited, but also when He was sad and tired and upset. Jesus showed them how they can turn to God the Father in times of joy and sadness, confidence and confusion. And because we have it all in the Bible, Jesus showed us those same things. Jesus showed us how to pray. He showed us that we can talk with God. Jesus showed us how to trust God even when things are hard. Jesus showed us how to love God and follow Him no matter what.

Making it Stick:
Using dominoes, blocks, or some other toys that can stack, stack the materials far enough apart so that they aren’t touching but close enough so that when one falls, it will cause a chain reaction so that each hits the next until they all fall. Set up the chain reaction and while you are doing so, explain that Jesus came, taught men and instructed them to teach others. Those men taught others and instructed them to teach others, on and on so that everyone who heard the Good News of Jesus was told to tell others, a command that we have today, too. Let your child knock down the first in the line of dominoes and watch as the rest fall down. Explain that the power of that one domino falling down spread to all the other dominoes and affected them too. That is true of God’s power. The truth of Jesus reaches to one man, and another and another until many, many people have heard and are saved.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Anticipating Easter

I love Easter. It is my favorite holiday to teach children. All year we help the children understand why Christ came and the importance of His death. Whatever lesson we are teaching, we are constantly bringing it back to the gospel and the cross of Christ. Easter is the culmination of 11 months of pointing to the cross.
At Easter, we can stop pointing. It has arrived. This is the cross of Christ. This is the glorious truth of our incredible salvation! This is God's glory manifest in the saving work of Christ's death and resurrection. This is where life is found.
So as I anticipate Easter and grow in my excitement for the coming celebration, I encourage you to do the same. In the coming weeks we'll post ideas for celebrating Easter, for engaging your children in spiritual conversation and helping to communicate the truth of the crucifixion and resurrection. But for now, just begin by meditating on the cross.
A device of humiliation, torture, death and defeat - redeemed by our God to become the ultimate tool for grace, mercy, life and victory.
This is the cross. This is your salvation!

Monday, February 9, 2009

Follow-up: Jesus is a Friend

Story: Jesus Chooses His Disciples

Fundamental Truth: God is in Charge of Everything

Making it Real:
When Jesus was beginning his ministry, He chose 12 friends, or disciples, to work with Him. Why did He do this?
Jesus came to earth to show us our need for a Rescuer and to be our Rescuer. While He was here, He traveled all over teaching people about God and doing miracles and changing people’s lives. Jesus didn’t need help. He chose men to help him because He wanted them to continue His work after He went up into Heaven to be with God the Father. Because Jesus did ministry with His disciples, they knew how to tell others about God and sin and Jesus’ payment for sin. They spread the Good News of Jesus Christ after the Resurrection and because God used their efforts, the Good News spread all over the world and is still spreading today!

Making it Stick:
Let your child teach you something. It can be how he or she plays a game a certain way, it can be how he or she likes to arrange a room or shelf. It can be anything. If you have time and your child is interested, also take a few minutes to teach your child something he or she has wanted to learn. After you’re done teaching, talk with your child about why we teach and what that accomplishes. Explain that Jesus taught His disciples in order to give them the knowledge and power to continue His work even after He went to Heaven. Explain how Jesus chose His disciples and used them to accomplish His good purposes.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Follow-up: Jesus Loves Sinners

Story: Jesus is a Friend to Zacchaeus

Fundamental Truth: God is Good

Making it Real:
When Jesus told Zacchaeus that He wanted to spend time with him, the people who heard were angry. They wondered why Jesus would want to spend time with a sinner. Why did He?
Jesus came to save sinners. He came because we need a Rescuer who will save us from the pain of sin. Zacchaeus was full of sin because he took what wasn’t his, he lied, he cheated, he made himself the most important person. Jesus came to change the hearts of people like that. Zacchaeus knew he needed help, that’s why he worked so hard to see Jesus. Zacchaeus’ heart was ready to change and ready to put Jesus first.

Making it Stick:
Cook or bake with your child. Explain beforehand that you are going to give away what you are making to a friend and tell that friend the story of Zacchaeus turning away from sin and giving what he had to people in need. While you are baking, talk about how God changed Zacchaeus’ heart from sinful and dishonest and selfish to loving Jesus and desiring to do what’s right and be generous. Talk about how when God changes our hearts, we put Jesus in the number one spot and try to live life in a way that makes Him famous. Explain that loving and trusting Jesus helps us do good things but that doing good things is not what takes away our sin – only Jesus’ death on the cross could accomplish that.