Not For Sale

Before getting into Acts 8:9 - 24, the children were reminded of some of the big things that recently happened in the narrative.

Stephen was stoned to death with Saul, soon to be Paul, there.  This was the beginning of the persecution, that scattered the church beyond Jerusalem.  Philip went to Samaria and had a great ministry there.  So amazing that "There was much joy in that city."

With all of this going on in that city, our story for today happens!

Here are some passages to read and questions to answer from the story.

Read Acts 8:9 – 13.
What was Simon doing?
What were the people doing?

When the people saw God doing things through Philip that changed.  They were not just astonished.  Their actions changed.

In the next passage of scripture consider the word simony.

Read Acts 8:14 - 19

God is moving in a great way.  It was in Jerusalem.  Then there was persecution.
NOW, it is happening in Samaria.  Just like Acts 1:8 says.

The Holy Spirit is moving in people and changing them and it is VERY NOTICEABLE.

What is Simon the Sorcerer's response to seeing what GodSimon was doing?

Ultimately, Simon the Sorcerer wanted the gift of God more than he wanted God.

Read Acts 8:20

Peter tells Simon the Sorcerer that he needs to repent of this wickedness- trying to buy with his money what God did through Jesus..

Simon's response does not appear to show true humble obedience.  

TRUE HUMBLE is with a right HEART ATTITUDE.  Do this!!  See the notes below on another Bible story.

Simon the Sorcerer desired the gifts of God more than God himself.  Don't Do This!!!

We need to REPENT of our SINS.

Blessed Be Your Name

I Lay Me Down

HOME LESSON::

This week’s scheduled "through the Bible" lesson is The Tale of Two Wicked Cities from Genesis 19:1, 12-29

Before today’s passage, Abraham gave his nephew, Lot, the choice between two pieces of land. 

Lot choose the land that was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord (Genesis 13:10).  This land was also near a wicked city (Genesis 13:13), which becomes a problem in today’s story.

Read Genesis 19:12 - 20.
In his mercy, God warned Lot that Sodom and Gomorrah were going to be destroyed.  However, Lot delayed his leaving his home and his son-in-laws did not take the warning seriously.
True humble obedience is not just doing the right thing.  It is doing the right thing, right away.

Read Genesis 19:23 - 26.
When God destroyed Sodom & Gomorrah, Lot’s wife looked back and became a pillar of salt.
Why was looking back so bad?  Because of Genesis 19:17.
True humble obedience is not just doing the right thing.  It is doing the right thing, right away, all the way.

In this passage, God is very angry at sin and is right to punish sinners.  We need to obey.

Remember the other part of True Humble Obedience from today’s sermon.

January 30

This week’s ministry is Faith In Deeds

The lessons and memory verses…

• Toddler - Jesus listened to a Father - Jeremiah 32:17
• Kinder - Jesus fed a multitude - Mark 6:34
• 1st grade S.S. - King Saul lost his kingdom - 1 Samuel 15:22c
• 2nd/3rd grade S.S. - God answered Hezekiah - 1 John 5:14
• 4th/5th grade S.S. - The Word gives new life - John 11:25, 26

Tomorrow is going to be a little different day at Children’s Church. 

Our scheduled Through the Bible lesson, A Tale of Two Wicked Cities, will be sent home for your family to do sometime this week.
Our Children's Church lesson tomorrow is going to be the same passage Pastor Brett's sermon is from Acts 8:8 – 24. 

If you are a parent or guardian of a 1st through 5th grader, I want to invite you to join your child in the children’s chapel. 

Why join us in the children’s chapel?

• You will have some sermon-related conversation starters for your family.
• You will have a basic parenting principle that can be used in your family.  It is one Krista and I have used for a long time.
• You will get to know some of what we do during children’s church
• You will get to know some of the kids your child is with during children’s church.

It is my hope and prayer that this will be one of many opportunities to help equip parents to do family worship.

If you don’t come down, which is okay, here are two other options…

1. Do what you regularly do and after the service check out http://tbcgrkidz.org/ for specific resources to help you talk about the sermon and the lesson.
2. Pick up a sermon note sheet at the welcome center downstairs and have your child sit with you during the service.

January 23

This week’s ministry is Faith Deeds.

The lessons and memory verses…

• Toddler - Jesus in the temple - Psalm 122:1
• Kinder- Jesus obeyed the father - Matt. 3:17
• 1  S.S. - King Saul lost his patience - John 14:15
• 2/3  S.S. - Israel finally fell - 1 Corinthians 10:12
• 4/5 S.S. - The Word cares for the flock - John 10:11
• 1st – 5th C.C. - Lot’s selfish choice - Galatians 3:8, 9

Next Sunday, January 30, is a fifth Sunday.  That means our lesson will be the Sunday sermon passage  - Acts 8:9 - 26.  

KIDS, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR BIBLE IN CLASS!

Two of the songs we sang at the beginning of children's church

Death Was Arrested

Joyful (The One Who Saves)

Best Parenting is Done by Prayer - Article

When we talk about ways to help our family, friends, church, and even our children, we usually want to know the stuff to do.  You may know what I am talking about:

the books to read that we might not read,
the disciplines to do that we try for a couple of weeks or even a couple of days,
the conversations to have with our children that never seem to happen.  

Your Best Parenting Is Done by Prayer by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson is a great reminder of one thing we all need to do as parents who want to grow and want our children to grow closer and closer to God through Jesus Christ.  

"As parents, we are all on a mission from the Lord to announce the love of the Father to our children and to encourage them, as much as we can, to believe it. We’re to tell them of the law so that they know that they need rescue, and then we’re to tell them of the Rescuer who has freed them from the law’s curse. But this monumental task is utterly impossible for us to accomplish on our own. We need rescue; we need a Rescuer too. So we need to pray for help." (Emphasis mine)

We need to pray for help!
We need to depend upon Jesus Christ more and more!!

Ultimately, through prayer, we need to trust our children to God.

January 16

 This week’s missionary is a missionary family 

The lessons and memory verses…

• Toddler - Jesus went to the temple - Psalm 122:1
• Kinder - Listening to the King - Luke 2:47
• 1  S.S. - The king Israel wanted - Psalm 145:8
• 2/3  S.S. - Jonah got a second chance - Titus 3:5
• 4/5 S.S. - The Word lights the way - John 8:12
• 1st – 5th C.C. - Abram’s fearful disobedience - Galatians 3:8, 9

DROP-OFF / PICK-UP PROCEDURES

Trinity Baptist Church has established a Child Protection Policy for the safety of the children God brings to Trinity, the reputation of the faithful servants working with children and families, and the beauty of the Bride of Christ, the church.

The following procedures are important in maintaining safety, reputation, and beauty.

SUNDAY DROP-OFF

• All children need to check-in at the desk and wear check-in labels.  Parents need to keep the pick-up label.
• If the label maker is not working handwritten stickers will be given.
• Teachers will check to see that each child has a label.

SUNDAY PICK-UP

• Children will only be given to an adult or senior high teen who has the appropriate pick receipt.
• If multiple children are being picked up, keep the pick-up label until the final child.
• If for some reason there is no pickup label, the parent and child must wait until after the initial rush has passed.

AWANA DROP-OFF / PICK-UP POLICY

• Cubbies are dropped off and picked up child at the Cubbies room
• Sparks are dropped off and picked up child at the Sparks room
• T and T's are dropped off child at chapel entrance.  They will be picked up in the Fellowship Hall or the Fireplace Room next to the Fellowship Hall.

Thank you very much for helping us disciple kids intentionally and zealously.

January 9 & Drop-off/Pick-up Procedures

This week’s missionary is Reach the Forgotten Jail Ministry - https://jailministry.org/

The lessons and memory verses…

• Toddler - Wise men visited Jesus - Luke 2:40
• Kinder - Protecting the King - 1 John 4:9
• 1  S.S. - Here comes the ark - Isaiah 45:5a
• 2/3  S.S. - Joash stopped listening - 1 Corinthians 4:2
• 4/5 S.S. - The Word satisfies hunger - John 6:51
• 1st – 5th C.C. - God’s plan for a nation and the world - Galatians 3:8, 9

 

DROP-OFF / PICK-UP PROCEDURES

Trinity Baptist Church has established a Child Protection Policy for the safety of the children God brings to Trinity, the reputation of the faithful servants working with children and families, and the beauty of the Bride of Christ, the church.

The following procedures are important in maintaining safety, reputation, and beauty.

SUNDAY DROP-OFF

• All children need to check-in at the desk and wear check-in labels.  Parents need to keep the pick-up label.
• If the label maker is not working handwritten stickers will be given.
• Teachers will check to see that each child has a label.

SUNDAY PICK-UP

• Children will only be given to an adult or senior high teen who has the appropriate pick receipt.
• If multiple children are being picked up, keep the pick-up label until the final child.
• If for some reason there is no pickup label, the parent and child must wait until after the initial rush has passed.

AWANA DROP-OFF / PICK-UP POLICY

• Cubbies are dropped off and picked up child at the Cubbies room
• Sparks are dropped off and picked up child at the Sparks room
• T and T's are dropped off child at chapel entrance.  They will be picked up in the Fellowship Hall or the Fireplace Room next to the Fellowship Hall.

Thank you very much for helping us disciple kids intentionally and zealously.

January 2

This week’s missionaries our Missionary Family
The lessons and memory verses…

• Toddler - Wise men followed a star - Luke 2:40
• Kinder - Worshipping the King - 1 John 4:9
• 1  S.S. - God gave to generous Hannah - 1 Sam. 12:24a
• 2/3  S.S. - Elisha revealed God’s heart - Lamentations 3:24
• 4/5 S.S. - The Word quenches thirst - John 4:14
• 1st – 5th - C.C. - Power beyond belief

In the 1st - 5th grade Children's Church class we were going to do the last lesson on Job before transitioning next week into the God working through Abraham.

If you want to go through the Job lesson with your family, here are some activities and questions.

A family activity:

1. Gather some of the following:
• metal cans of vegetables, soups, or baked beans
• hardcover books
• 5 pounds and less hand weight
• a stopwatch 
2. Have your kids hold their arms straight out with weights in their hands.
3. Start the stopwatch and time who can keep their arms out the longest
4. Transition to the lesson:
• In this week's Children's Church lesson, you were going to get a small glimpse of God's strength by examining two fantastic animals He created.  God showed these animals to Job so that he might gain an understanding of just how great and powerful God is.  God wanted Job to fully rely on Him and look to Him for strength.

Our last lesson from Job reminded us that God ordered the universe and provided for life by His wisdom.

This week's lesson theme is God is infinitely more powerful than people. 

Read Job 40:15 - 24 and look at the description of the behemoth.

Ask "what does the behemoth sound like?"

This animal is huge.  

Answers in Genesis article:

https://answersingenesis.org/kids/dinosaurs/kids-feedback-why-was-behemoth-first-among-the-works-of-god/

Read Job 41:1, 2, 8 - 23 and look at the description of the leviathan.

This beast will never be captured or contained.

Ask... 

"What does the leviathan look like?"

"What is man's reaction to leviathan?"

Read Job 42

Ask "What is Job's response to the behemoth and the leviathan?"

Remember that God is God and there is no one like Him.

Application question:

How should this big truth, impact how you pray?