Lessons for November 28

This week's Ministry is Community Kids

The lessons and memory verses are...

• Toddler - Thanking God
• Kinder - Solomon’s Wandering from God - 1 Chronicle 16:25
• 1  S.S. - Big Change for a little guy - Luke 19:10
• 2/3  S.S. - Solomon made unwise choices - Ecclesiastes 12:14
• 4/5 S.S. Christ’s Wisdom - Ephesians 5:14b
• 1^st – 5^th C.C. - Bad Day, Good Day - Job 38:4-7

Don't forget to check out the Christmas Info post for rehearsal and class information.

Lessons for November 21

This week's missionaries are Travis and Patti

The lessons and memory verses are...

• Toddler -  Celebrating the Feast
• Kinder - Solomon’s Worship of God - 1 Chronicles 16:25
• 1  S.S. - Neighbor helping Neighbor - Romans 15:2
• 2/3  S.S. - Solomon built God’s temple - Psalm 150:1
• 4/5 S.S. - Christ’s heart - Ephesians - Ephesians 5:2
• 1^st – 5^th C.C. - The Tower of Rebellion - Hebrews 11:7

Don't forget to check out the Christmas Info post for rehearsal and class information.

Christmas Info

Here are some Children's Ministry-related dates to help you and your family navigate the busyness of December.

December 1

Daily Advent posts from Come Let Us Adore Him begin.  You can learn more about these Advent reading at https://tbcgrkidz.blogspot.com/search/label/advent 

December 4

From Carol Trim, 

There will be a Christmas Party/Rehearsal in honor of the children participating in the Christmas Program: Grades 1-5 at the church on Saturday, December 4, from 10:30 A.M - 1:00 P.M. in the Junior Church room. We will play, do a craft, rehearse our parts for the Christmas Program and lunch will be provided. You may drop off and pick up your children by the (downstairs) main entrance.

Just think... you parents get a little free time to do Christmas shopping ... Or a date!

December 18

Dress Rehearsal from 9:30 to 11:00

December 19

Christmas Program at 6:00 P.M.

December 26

No Sunday School Classes

January 2

Combined Sunday School class with kids and adults in the chapel

An Intentional Advent

2nd of 2 Intro to Advent posts

This post includes
a podcast entitled An Intentional Advent and
a post I wrote introducing families to what Advent is - "What is Advent?"

The link to a podcast on Advent:  

An Intentional Advent podcast link

Description of this podcast episode: 

There are several times a year when we are given a unique opportunity to either begin a new tradition around the discipleship of the next generation or to strengthen what we are already doing. Advent season is one of those opportunities for the body of Christ.

In this episode, David Michael, Sally Michael, and Jill Nelson discuss a bit of personal family history and the opportunity we all have to intentionally engage in the discipleship of the next generation this Advent season.

In the podcast, they refer to the Good News of Great Joy Advent.  You may choose to use this devotional for your family.  However, daily Advent devotionals based on Paul Tripp's Come Let Us Adore Him will be shared on this blog starting December 1st.  

WHAT IS ADVENT?

There are two different ways Advent can be celebrated.
Churches can have Advent readings and candles on each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas.
Individuals can do Advent readings and activities beginning December 1.

This word Advent has several definitions that will help you understand why using an Advent devotional/reading during this time of the year is helpful.  These definitions are taken from www.latin-dictionary.net/search/latin/Advent.  My thoughts are in italics.

1. arrival, approach - Advent celebrates the arrival of the Messiah - Jesus Christ, God in the flesh.  It also reminds Christ-followers of the anticipatory hope we have that Jesus is coming again.
2. invasion, incursion - Advent reminds us of our sin problem.  While Jesus did come as a baby in a manger, His purpose was to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15).  He did this through his life, death, resurrection, and ascension.  He came for God's glory and so that we could have victory over sin.
3. ripening - Of the four definitions given this is the one that might seem the most strange at first.  However when you consider one of Merriam-Webster's definitions of "ripening" - to bring to completeness or perfection along with Galatians 4:4-5; Romans 5:6-8, it provides a great visual reminder.  The time was ripe for Jesus' birth.  
4. visit, appearance - Advent is about so much more than a baby in a stable.  It is about the appearance of God's grace, Jesus, who brings salvation (Titus 2:11).  It also reminds us that Jesus will appear again (Titus 2:13).

We are not commanded to celebrate Advent throughout December.  However, we are told to consider who Jesus is and what He has done for us (Hebrews 3:1-2; Hebrews 10:19-25; Hebrews 12:3).   

Use this Advent season to do what we should be doing all the time, glorying God by making much of Jesus Christ.  

Advent 2021

1st of 2 Intro to Advent posts

Below is an article about Christmas pitfalls.  The first line is "It's Christmastime again."

Some of you Thanksgiving purists, you know who you are - no Christmas songs or decorations until Black Friday, may be upset by that opening  : )

But know this I am sharing this article to help people get ahead of Christmas busyness.

For those who are not Thanksgiving purists,  MERRY CHRISTMAS!  FELIZ NAVIDAD!!  and HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY.  Oh, is that too soon.

Three Christmas Pitfalls for Parents

http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/3-christmas-pitfalls-for-parents

It’s Christmastime again, and if you’re a parent you may be having familiar conversations about gift-giving, consumerism, and the cross. Discipling children through the Christmas season is challenging. Our lists of errands are as endless as the number of cookies we hope to bake. With teachers to honor, traditions to uphold, parties to attend, and all the gifts to buy and eventually wrap, the physical demands can overshadow spiritual needs.

If we want to give our children the gift of clearer gospel understanding this Christmas we must put more thought into how we lead them than we put into buying gifts and making Pinterest crafts. How should we shepherd our kids through a season laden with greed? Should we give one present per child, tithe in their honor, or stop giving gifts completely? As you think and pray through how to answer these questions for your family, consider three Christmas pitfalls that I’ve commonly observed parents pondering.

Here are the 3 pitfalls with a couple of the main points.

You can read more details at www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/3-christmas-pitfalls-for-parents

Pitfall 1: How can I keep the world from hijacking Christmas?

The world doesn't define our celebration; we do, in obedience to God. 

 So when the world publicly hijacks our holiday, peacefully take it right back within your home and community by teaching, showing love, and shining Christ’s light to everyone around.

Instead of fearing the world, teach your children to engage culturally for the spread of the gospel.

Pitfall 2: Why should I give my kids gifts when they don’t need or deserve them?

Giving presents can demonstrate the greater spiritual truths in a tangible way.

God gave us the gift of Christ—his birth, his death, and his resurrection—by grace. All gifts we place under the tree should be given in the same manner we’ve received Christ: freely.

Give gifts in an effort to cultivate a worshipful longing for Christ’s return.

Pitfall 3: How do I teach my kids to love Jesus more than Christmas presents? 

Salvation is the only gift that will eternally satisfy our longings. Don’t shame your children when you sense their greed; teach them. 

If you are tempted to make wild changes to your Christmas giving (scrapping all presents), pause. Realize you can’t shock children into godliness. 

Don’t shame your children for loving presents more than Jesus; help them to understand what the baby in the manger means and why we anticipate his return.

Starting December 1, there will be daily posts based on Paul Tripp's Advent book Come Let Us Adore Him.

Here is a video explaining the basic theme of the book.

While you don't need a copy of the book for the posts, it will definitely help you dig deeper into each day.

You can order the book through 

Amazon HERE

Crossway HERE 

paultripp.com HERE

For more Advent posts, click HERE or the Advent link.

Lessons for November 14

This week's missionaries is a family in a difficult country.

Before Sunday, you can read through the Bible stories.
After church, you can see the basics of what your child did on Sunday.
You may want to check back after church for information that was added after the lessons were taught.

This week's lessons and memory verses are...

• Toddler - Preparing for the Feast
• Kinder - Solomon’s Wisdom of God - Psalm 11:105
• 1  S.S. - The Good shepherd’s sacrifice - John 10:11
• 2/3  S.S. - David sought forgiveness - 1 John 1:9
• 4/5 S.S. -What wise friends do - Proverbs 1:10, 115
• 1th – 5th C.C. -  A World of Evidence - Hebrews 11:7

Lessons for November 7

This week's missionaries are Nick & Dana Harmon.  They serve with CRU, a college campus ministry at UNC - Wilmington.

Before Sunday, you can read through the Bible stories.
After church, you can see the basics of what your child did on Sunday.
You may want to check back after church for information that was added after the lessons were taught.

This week's lessons and memory verses are...

• Toddler - God gave Israel clothes
• Kinder - David’s forgiving heart - Galatians 6:10
• 1  S.S. - Jesus gave new life - John 5:21
• 2/3  S.S. - God made a royal promise - Acts 13:23
• 4/5 S.S. - When kindness is right - Proverbs 3:27
• 1st – 5th C.C. - Noah Finds Grace - Hebrews 11:7

Two specific things we talked about in 1st - 5th Children's Church were...

• The fact that the ark was huge.  It was not like the bathtub toys or how many kids' books illustrate it.  Having these toys is not wrong but we want the kids to know they are not accurate depictions.  Part of the class plan was to watch this 5 minute video from Answers In Genesis - https://youtu.be/UIjRoi6ywYo  
• Just as we did upstairs, we set aside time to pray for the Mollhagens as they leave for India on November 9th.  Lianna and Adi are in this class - www.faithindeeds.org

UPDATE on Children's Church Handout. 

Last Week's section was incorrect.  

Should have been "God stands in contrast to those who LOVE SELF and HATE OTHERS."