Come Visit Jill’s House May 31, 2011
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The Greatest Friendship May 27, 2011
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“Greater love has no one than this, that He lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
This weekend in Elementary, your kids will hear a strong salvation message in Large Group with intentional Small Group dialogue afterwards. The message is called “The Greatest Friendship” and we’ll be presenting the Gospel in a very special way using black lights and shaving cream. Did that get your attention?
It is our prayer that this creative presentation will capture the attention and hearts of the kids, too, and that God will use it to bring as many, as He chooses, into a real, life-changing relationship with Jesus. Would you pray this same prayer with us?
Our Small Group Leaders hope to follow up with each child specifically and then share with you, during check-out ,where your child is in their relationship with Jesus so you can pray with them and continue talking at home. We would appreciate your patience during check-out and your willingness to stay an extra moment to personally connect with your child’s Small Group Leader.
Please pray along with us. Pray for God to prepare kids for the message they will hear. Pray for the Large Group and Small Group Leaders who are diligently preparing to share the Gospel message. And pray for yourself and fellow parents, for God to give you opportunities for meaningful conversations with your child at home.
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2: 4-6
Forgiveness May 3, 2011
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This weekend we kicked off May’s virtue that we’re teaching in Elementary classes, Forgiveness: deciding that someone who has wronged you doesn’t have to pay. In Large Group we’re using a television theme to present the lessons each week. Be sure to ask your kids what’s happening on the “KQ Network.” Below is a message from Melanie Williams, editor in chief of 252 Basics, the company that writes our curriculum, on the themes we’ll be teaching about Forgiveness.
Bucket List
Few things are more useful than a bucket. A bucket is simple genius, really. There’s almost no end to what you can do with a bucket. Put it on your head and you’re ready to go jousting. Turn it upside down and you can reach the cookies on the top shelf. Bail water out of your boat, slop the pigs, or play trashketball with one–what you put IN the bucket is key.
We tend to put things in buckets that are important to us. Things that we don’t want to let go of, burdensome things, as often as not, like pain, hurt, disappointment, and disillusionment. And we tend to accumulate those things, adding them to the bucket until we need a bigger bucket or even multiple buckets. We may dedicate our buckets, labeling them with people’s names, especially if they keep on doing us wrong. Eventually we are trapped, weighed down emotionally by buckets we can’t seem to let go of. We can’t move on, enjoying relationships to their fullest and participating with both hands in enjoyable and worthwhile activities, till we let go of the bucket, till we forgive. Forgiveness is all about letting go of the bucket. It may have to be done on a gradual basis, even intentionally done every day. But when you let go of your bucket, you are then free to jump in with both hands and feet and live as God intended.
So in May, we’ll be focusing on forgiveness, which is deciding that someone who has wronged you doesn’t have to pay. Here’s the line-up:
Since God forgives you, you should forgive others. (Jesus’ parable of the unmerciful servant, Matthew 18)
When people are forgiven, it can change them. (Jesus and Zacchaeus, Luke 19)
When you want to get even, do the opposite. (Joseph and his brothers, Genesis 45)
Don’t wait to start making things right with others. (Jesus teaches about forgiveness, Matthew 5)
And for the fifth week of May, we’ll be focusing on the faith skill of prayer: You can talk to God about anything. (Philippians 4)
For a powerful true story of forgiveness, check out Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand. It’s about Louis Zamperini, the Olympic distance runner and WWII POW survivor. 60 Minutes did a story on him a few years back, which you can find online. But don’t miss out on the book. You won’t be sorry.
Peace to you, Melanie Williams, Editor in chief, 252 Basics, The reThink Group
By Melanie Williams. © 2011 The reThink Group * www.rethinkgroup.org * All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Want more? Hear Reggie Joiner speak on how Forgiveness is a reflection of God’s character working in us to change the world around us. He then explores how the 252 Basics Bible stories will work together to unpack God’s truth in a way that makes the virtue come to life.
VIRTUE VIDEO: FORGIVENESS (May 2011) from Orange on Vimeo.