July 30

This week's missionaries are the Mayo's

THEOLOGY MATTERS question is "What is salvation?"

The Bible focus is going to be John 3:1-15.

An illustration we are going to use is different water glasses.

In the midst of different situations, you may think of yourself as a glass-half-full (positive/optimistic) or a glass-half-empty (negative/pessimistic) type of person.

Children of God need to approach life with two full glasses in mind.  
The first full glass is filled with God's wrath.  Each of us are born sinners.  Because of this, we sin.  Our sin nature and sin actions bring the full wrath of God on each of us.
However, Jesus died on the cross so that the sins of those who repent of their sin and trust in Jesus have their sin taken away.  If that was the end of salvation, God's wrath removed, that would be great.  But salvation is so much more.  Picture salvation as the removal of God's wrath and the being filled to overflowing with Christ's righteousness.  What an amazing gift!    Source Unknown

Take opportunities throughout the day to celebrate Jesus Christ and the salvation we have in him. 

Toddler Children's Church

• God Gave Adam Work
• God has work for us to do.
• Genesis 2:15 – 20
• 1 Thess 4:11

PreK/ K

• Gideon Tested God
• God patiently helps us trust him
• Judges 6
• Ps. 28:7

1^st–5^th  CC

• Josiah to the Fall of Judah
• God warns us of sin with patience and compassion.
• 2 Chron 34:1 – 36:21
• 2 Chron 36:15,16

july 23

This Week's Missionaries are the Mayo

Theology Matters Combined Sunday School Class

"Who is Jesus?"

Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt/Prayer Guide

Toddler Children's Church Lesson:

• God Made all of creation
• God made everything perfect.
• Genesis 1:31 – 2:3
• Gen 2:1

PreK/ K Children's Church Lesson:

• Deborah Courageously Followed God
• God gives us the courage to obey him.
• Judges 4:1-16
• Ps. 31:24

1^st–5^th  Children's Church Lesson:

• Kings Joash and Hezekiah
• God honors those who obey Him.
• 2 Chron 23; 24; 29-32
• 2 Chron 36:15,16

July 16

This Sunday (July 16) is a KIDZ in Church Sunday for the 1st through 5th graders.
A kid's note sheet will be available Sunday morning (HINT:  read Psalm 42 and think about key words or how you might draw/sketch some of the images from the psalm)

KIDZ in church tips are available at tbcgrkidz.blogspot.com/p/kidz-in-service.html.
Helpful tip for tomorrow:  Read Psalm 42 with your child.

The Sunday School "Theology Matters" Lesson for the children and adults is "What is Sin?" and the sermon is "An Old Hope" from Psalm 42. 

Last week we addressed the question, "Who is Man?"

With the parents and kids, we talked about the relationships between God & man, man & man, and man & creation.

Part of the answer to the "What is Sin?" question this week is the brokenness of EACH of these relationships, as evidenced from Genesis 3 through today.

And this is a BIG PROBLEM.  

To help families with children prepare for Sunday, here are a couple of questions to talk to your children about and passages of scriptures to read with your children.

Passages to Read

• Genesis 3
• Psalm 42
• Romans 8

Questions:

• What is sin? (nature and behavior)
• Why is true, Biblical, eternal hope so important? (because sin is a bigger problem than we understand it to be)
• Where should our hope be and why?

Additional talking points.

One way to think about sin using the diagram above is to put anything else (me, others, the rest of creation) in the place of God.  We may not say it but are we living like me, others, or the rest of creation are more important than God?

From Before You Share Your Faith:
Sin is such a big problem because it is
more about relationship than behavior 

more vertical than horizontal  (see Psalm 51:3-4)

The jumping illustration with River was to show that there is a "catastrophic chasm" between us and God.

Toddler's Children's Church

• God Made People
• God made man & woman to be together.
• Gen 1:26-31; 2:7-15, 18-25
• Gen 1:27

PreK/ K

• Israel Fought along with God
• God answers our prayers.
• Josh. 10:1-15
• Ps. 66:19

July 9

This Week's Missionary Family is the Nielsen family.

COMBINED SUNDAY SCHOOL

Toddlers through 5th grade

THEOLOGY MATTERS Family Info

Who is Man?

Basic questions

• Who is man?
• Who is man in relationship to God?  Because of this, how should we live?
• Who is man in relationship to others?  Because of this, how should we treat others?
• Who is man in relationship to the rest of creation?  Because of this, how should we treat creation?

CHILDREN'S CHURCH

Toddlers

• God Made Animals
• God made wonderful animals.
• Genesis 1:24, 25
• John 1:3

PreK/ K

• Israel Forgot to Pray
• God wants us to pray to Him.
• Josh. 9
• 1 Thess. 5:17

2^nd-3^rd SS

• Jephthah Led Israel Sincerely
• God wants us to serve Him sincerely.
• Judges 10:6 – 11:40
• Josh 24:14

4^th–5^th SS

• Serve God Faithfully
• God gives us all we need to complete His will for our lives.
• Josh 23; 24

1^st–5^th  CC

• The Fall of Israel
• God takes rebellion against Him seriously.
• 2 Kings 17
• 2 Chron 36:15,16