Extra Miles, Daily Logistics, & Extra Children - FAMILY PLUS Children's

This week is all about sharing the hope of Jesus with everyone. As you guys know we have a huge event coming up for your kids that will do this...Summer Jam. We plan, sweat and provide an entire week around sharing the hope of Jesus with all the kids who will be here. So that leads me to how we can provide hope in people's lives. I want you to challenge your kids to invite 1 friend with them to Summer Jam. I know what you're thinking. That means you have to drive extra miles, figure out daily logistics, or maybe have that child spend the night a couple nights, but this is a way you can help show that Christ is our only hope! Now the only question is "who can your child invite?"

The details for this week are:

Scripture:  Acts 3:1–4:21

Life Point: Share the hope of Jesus with everyone.

Restored and Forgiven - FAMILY PLUS Children's

Have you ever messed up and then promised you'd never do it again only to eventually repeat that same action later? Sometimes we intentionally do this and sometimes we don't. Paul, an apostle of Jesus, mentions this very thing in Romans 7:18-20. Unfortunately, I do this all the time with how I value things. For instance, I can value food over almost anything. I make a promise that I won't let food control my actions; however, I end up failing at that task. Honestly, food can come between my relationship with Jesus just like anything else. I'm sure it's probably something different in your life.

At the end of the day, I/you fail over and over again just like Peter when he denied he knew Jesus 3 times. At the end of John's Gospel he makes a clear point to show that even though Peter failed at keeping Christ the center of his life, Christ restored and forgave him. That's what keeps me going! I'll never get it right all the time. I'll try but that's why I'm grateful that my forgiveness has nothing to do with my actions, it has everything to do with Jesus'. 

This week we will be talking about this very point with the kids. Here are the details we will cover:

Scripture: John 18:15-18;25-27; 21:15-19

Life Point: Jesus will give people hope even when they mess up.

It is finished...almost - FAMILY PLUS Children's

I know its been a while since we've updated you on the clubhouse and playhouse, so I wanted to share how well the kids have done with this project. In the 2 months we've been working on this, they've completely built the clubhouse and playhouse. All that is left is the small details of painting the castle playhouse and delivering each of them. 

I'm so proud of your kids. They really showed off the skills God gave them. No matter what age served they were able to carry their weight. Below you'll see a photo of the 5th grade girls sitting on the playhouse after they completed the roof Wednesday night. 

Don't forget that this whole project started as an illustration of what we can accomplish when we all work together toward the same common goal for God. 

The details this week:

Scripture:  Psalm 138

Life Point: People should thank God for hope.

Is this dumb? - FAMILY PLUS Children's

Have you ever done something really dumb and needed to apologize for it? Of course you have! It probably went something like this...

- You did something dumb!

- You realized you did something dumb!

- You saw the consequences of the dumb thing!

- You felt sick to your stomach because of the the dumb thing!

- You went to apologize for the dumb thing!

- You felt better about the dumb thing!

- Occasionally you think about the dumb thing you did and cringe because it was so dumb.

I think it's fair to say we've all experienced this or something similar to it. (I have several stories I could insert here) What makes us move past something like this? Forgiveness. This week we're going to be talking about the hope of forgiveness with your kids. Knowing when we do something wrong that God is there to forgive us.

Here are the details...

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Life Application: People can have hope that God forgives.

A 4-letter word your kids should use! - FAMILY PLUS Children's

Hope...it's word your kids hear and use in a lot of ways. Most of the time the "hope" we show is an expression for a simple desire to happen. "I hope you have a good day." "I hope I get that for Christmas." This kind of hope is fun and playful; however, it doesn't get at the deeper stuff in life. What do your kids "hope" for? Seriously, do you know?

I bet your kids have some deep desires that your may not know about. I know I didn't tell my parents everything, and I know you didn't either. Think about your conversational life with your kids. Does it even exist? If you want a great way to uncover some things in your kids life, our new generations team has crafted a strategic way we learn about kids on some of the mission trips we lead.

Here is how it works...

Make a game out of asking questions. Ask silly questions like, "what's your favorite super hero?" "If you could have a superpower what would you choose?" Let your kids ask you questions too. Then as the game progresses throw in some serious questions about their life. By starting with and having fun with the silly questions you remove the barriers and hesitations your kids have with communicating with you. 

Oh and take them for a long drive...it removes all the other distractions that keep them from paying attention...usually.

This weeks details:

Scripture: Matthew 8:1-13

Life Point: Jesus desires to give you hope.

Memory Verse: “He was handed over to die because of our sins, and He was raised to life to make us right with God.” - Romans 4:25