This week, the kids and I (and their other various teachers, who in fact, are awesome) are talking about finances. The bible warns very often about the danger of putting the love of money before God. It is an easy thing to do, especially in our consumer driven culture.
The kids learned about the story of the rich man who asked Jesus what he must do to inherent the kingdom of God (Mark 10:17-31) We learned that he loved money so much that when Jesus told him to sell his things and give it to the poor the man was devastated. We also learned that Jesus loved the man regardless of his sin. We never find out what happens with the man, but I often wonder if this encounter with Jesus eventually had a positive impact on the man, which could have eventually led to repentance. As the bible does not finish the story of this man, we will never know, but it's great to imagine the man doing amazing things for the poor with his wealth.
In Luke 19 we learned of another rich person, Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was a rich tax collector who's wealth came from stealing extra taxes. Meeting Jesus had a very different affect on Zacchaeus. He realized the gravity of his sin, and he got rid of his wealth and used it to help people.
We would like to think that these stories do not apply to us, but they most definitely do. One of the biggest things that we worry about is money, but if you take a step back and look at the rest of the world it becomes obvious that we all live like kings. Want proof? Go to http://www.globalrichlist.com/ and enter your income. Even if you make a modest salary by American standards, when compared to the global community you are extremely wealthy.
For convenience sake I am going to calculate a few incomes for you right here on the blog.
The median income for Jasonville IN is 23,208 according to Wikipedia. If you make this much money you rank in the the top 10.46 percent of the world, almost the top 10!
Lets say you make 30,000. That puts you in the top 7.16 percent of richest people in the world!
Now lets jump up to 50,000. If you are making $50,000 it puts you in the top 1 percent wealthiest people in the world!
Now, lets say you are a teenager doing a summer job and you make 2,000 dollars during the whole year. You still make more money than over 80 percent of the world does in 1 year!
Even if you only make 500 dollars in a whole year, you still make more money than 20 percent of the entire world!
I do not put these numbers to make anyone feel guilty. If you make a lot of money then God has blessed you with a good job, and the ability to work. That's awesome! You should thank him for that every single day. Also, you should use some of it to help someone else out. Worldvision is a great way to help less fortunate people in real tangible ways, and it can be a great family activity! Sponsor a child with your kids, or check out the other ways you can help! http://www.worldvision.org/?lpos=top_img_wvLogo
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Creativity Week of 4-15-12
Usually I post blogs the Saturday before i start a new word, but I am running late this week, so it is the Saturday after. I think it's ok though because most blogs that I read start out with "Oh I feel so guilty about not blogging more I need to get in the habbit!" So I think we are good. Just don't ask your kids what they learned this week and wonder why they did not learn about creativity.
Oh, and last weeks word was creativity! We learned about how God is creative, and how he made us in his image, which makes us a little bit like God, which also makes us creative!(Find this in Genesis 1) Try explaining that to a 4 year old!
We also looked at some of the psalms as an example of how David was creative.
I would urge every person to find a creative outlet in life. I think that God gave us all different gifts to cultivate. I think that using these gifts is part of his plan for us.
So whether it is music, art, woodworking, lego building, construction, math equations, gardening, or whatever, get out in the world and make something!
Oh, and last weeks word was creativity! We learned about how God is creative, and how he made us in his image, which makes us a little bit like God, which also makes us creative!(Find this in Genesis 1) Try explaining that to a 4 year old!
We also looked at some of the psalms as an example of how David was creative.
I would urge every person to find a creative outlet in life. I think that God gave us all different gifts to cultivate. I think that using these gifts is part of his plan for us.
So whether it is music, art, woodworking, lego building, construction, math equations, gardening, or whatever, get out in the world and make something!
Friday, March 23, 2012
Community Week of 3/25/12
This week's word is Community. Having community is a very important part of following God. It was his plan for us from the very beginning. We find this out in the second chapter of the bible, God says that it is not good for Adam to be alone. It's interesting because until this point God had declared everything to be good, but he calls the fact that Adam is alone not good, and he makes Eve. It was never God's plan for any of us to be alone.
Along with learning about Adam being designed for companionship, we learned about encouraging each other in Hebrews chapter 3. We also looked at Matthew chapter 10 where it talks about how Jesus had a community of 12 disciples who he did ministry with. It seems to me that if it was important for Jesus it is probably important for all of us!
Sometimes in our culture we can undervalue community with other Christians. However, the fact is that we absolutely need each other if we are going to successfully follow Jesus. We were not designed to "go it alone", and unlike Euchre you will not receive more points if you do it. For some people Christian community happens easily and naturally, but if you do not have a support system of other Christ followers that you can actually talk to, you should seek these relationships out. A good way to start would be by joining a small group, or getting involved in Sparks (if you are a woman) or plugging in to a ministry at LSCC.
Along with learning about Adam being designed for companionship, we learned about encouraging each other in Hebrews chapter 3. We also looked at Matthew chapter 10 where it talks about how Jesus had a community of 12 disciples who he did ministry with. It seems to me that if it was important for Jesus it is probably important for all of us!
Sometimes in our culture we can undervalue community with other Christians. However, the fact is that we absolutely need each other if we are going to successfully follow Jesus. We were not designed to "go it alone", and unlike Euchre you will not receive more points if you do it. For some people Christian community happens easily and naturally, but if you do not have a support system of other Christ followers that you can actually talk to, you should seek these relationships out. A good way to start would be by joining a small group, or getting involved in Sparks (if you are a woman) or plugging in to a ministry at LSCC.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
3-18-12 Character
This week our theme is Character. We are learning about what it takes to develop good Character. Something I want to stress to the kids is that often times we develop good character when we face struggles. God can use these hard times to help us grow into mature people. But when we talk about this we have to be careful to explain that God does not just send us trouble because he thinks it will make us better, he uses the trouble that comes as a result of the fallen world we live in to bring about good things in our lives. So even when bad things happen, God can take those bad things and redeem them in our lives!
Scripture that we are looking at this week is Romans 5:1-5. Also we are looking at James 1:2-4
We also read the story of Saul becoming a follower of Jesus in Acts chapter 9. Saul was a person who hated the Christian religion until he had a surprising encounter with Jesus. He learned about the love and grace of Jesus and actually went on to write many of the books of the new testament!
Encourage your young people to persevere through trials and hard times. Let them know that even though times are hard, God can take the hard things they are going through and use these times for good. Above all else, show them that the love and grace of Jesus is more important than anything, even if things are hard.
Scripture that we are looking at this week is Romans 5:1-5. Also we are looking at James 1:2-4
We also read the story of Saul becoming a follower of Jesus in Acts chapter 9. Saul was a person who hated the Christian religion until he had a surprising encounter with Jesus. He learned about the love and grace of Jesus and actually went on to write many of the books of the new testament!
Encourage your young people to persevere through trials and hard times. Let them know that even though times are hard, God can take the hard things they are going through and use these times for good. Above all else, show them that the love and grace of Jesus is more important than anything, even if things are hard.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Caring Week of 3/11/12
This week's theme is caring. We are learning about the importance of caring about others.
We are looking at James 1:27 which says that real religion is caring about orphans and widows and keeping from being polluted by the world. This simply means that rather than doing our best to appear religious, our actions should show what we really believe.
Another bible verse that we will study is John 3:16. This is a very often memorized and quoted verse that says that God loved the world so much that he sent Jesus so that our sins could be payed for. This is important because if Jesus cared enough for us to leave heaven and come to us, we should care about others enough to leave our comfort zone and minister to them.
In children's church we will be looking at the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. This story can be found in John 11. This story tells a lot about Jesus. First off, in the story Jesus knows that Lazarus is going to die and that he is going to bring him back. This is a great example of Jesus' divinity. We also see Jesus weeping even though he knew that Lazarus was going to come back. What a great example of his humanity! He felt sadness even though he knew it would be ok! More than anything, this story tells us about Jesus' heart. He really cared for Lazarus and all the people mourning his death. While it is doubtful that God is going to use us to raise people's loved ones from the dead, we can care as Jesus did. We can be there when people are hurting.
This week, talk to your kids about practical ways that they can care about those hurting around us.
We are looking at James 1:27 which says that real religion is caring about orphans and widows and keeping from being polluted by the world. This simply means that rather than doing our best to appear religious, our actions should show what we really believe.
Another bible verse that we will study is John 3:16. This is a very often memorized and quoted verse that says that God loved the world so much that he sent Jesus so that our sins could be payed for. This is important because if Jesus cared enough for us to leave heaven and come to us, we should care about others enough to leave our comfort zone and minister to them.
In children's church we will be looking at the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. This story can be found in John 11. This story tells a lot about Jesus. First off, in the story Jesus knows that Lazarus is going to die and that he is going to bring him back. This is a great example of Jesus' divinity. We also see Jesus weeping even though he knew that Lazarus was going to come back. What a great example of his humanity! He felt sadness even though he knew it would be ok! More than anything, this story tells us about Jesus' heart. He really cared for Lazarus and all the people mourning his death. While it is doubtful that God is going to use us to raise people's loved ones from the dead, we can care as Jesus did. We can be there when people are hurting.
This week, talk to your kids about practical ways that they can care about those hurting around us.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Bully
This week the theme is Bully. The goal is to teach our kids that it is wrong to bully other people. In Genesis 1:27 it says that humanity is created in God's image. When we intentionally harm another person, you are harming someone who is a little bit like God. Jesus expands on this in Matthew 25:31-46. He says that whatever we do to the least of these (meaning the people who are for whatever reason disadvantaged) you do to me.
Something I have realized growing up in the church is that sometimes good Christian people bully others without realizing it. We are quick to teach our kids that using certain "four letter words" is inappropriate, but sometimes our kids hear us throwing out insults like "that's gay" or "you're retarded." Sadly, while this language is usually done with no ill meaning, it can be highly offensive to people. In some cases, it can even keep people from receiving the good news of Jesus. They may look at us and think that part of the good news is making fun of people that are not like you. I say this not as someone who feels they are better than everyone else with my politically correct language, but as someone who has helped cause deep hurt to others by thoughtlessly using these insults and others like them.
Something I have realized growing up in the church is that sometimes good Christian people bully others without realizing it. We are quick to teach our kids that using certain "four letter words" is inappropriate, but sometimes our kids hear us throwing out insults like "that's gay" or "you're retarded." Sadly, while this language is usually done with no ill meaning, it can be highly offensive to people. In some cases, it can even keep people from receiving the good news of Jesus. They may look at us and think that part of the good news is making fun of people that are not like you. I say this not as someone who feels they are better than everyone else with my politically correct language, but as someone who has helped cause deep hurt to others by thoughtlessly using these insults and others like them.
John 13:34-35
Common English Bible (CEB)
34 “I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other. 35 This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.”
It's hard for people to see your love when they are offended by what comes out of your mouth.
It's hard for people to see your love when they are offended by what comes out of your mouth.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
2/26/12 BOLD
The theme for this week is Bold. We have been learning about the importance of being bold when it comes to our faith. Sometimes it can be scary to talk about our faith to our friends and family who do not know about Jesus, but if we do not, who will?
We learned about different leaders in the bible who were sometimes afraid of the task that God had given them. In Joshua chapter 1 we saw how God comforted Joshua because he was afraid to take over leading the Israelites from Moses. We also looked in Ephesians 6:19-20. In these verses, Paul asks other Christians to pray for him to be fearless.
Another good scripture to show your kids is Acts chapter 4. This is a story about how the early followers of Jesus were persecuted for their faith, and instead of hiding they prayed for more boldness from God.
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