This week's verse is heavy with theology. In fact, it is a widely debated verse. The way it is worded can be difficult for us to swallow sometimes, but let's talk about it from your child's perspective.
This week's verse is: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” ~ Mark 16:16
If your child is asking the question, "What does condemned mean?" our teacher this week had a great explanation for you to use: it means not connected to God.
We talked this week about Jesus being baptized in the Jordan River. Ms. Heather talked about how dirty the water is in the Jordan, and connected that visual to how dirty we are spiritually. We are dirty, and we need Jesus to clean us. When we choose to get baptized, we are choosing to let Jesus wash away our sins. It is a visual way to commit your life to following Jesus, and to being reborn in Christ.
As your child is memorizing this verse throughout the week, help him/her to understand that Jesus wants to save everyone. He does not want anyone to be "condemned," or not connected to Him. If your child has made the decision to follow Christ (to love Him, obey Him, and to tell others about Him), s/he can rest in the fact that s/he will not be condemned. But this is a reason to tell everyone we know about the love of Jesus, don't you think?
"What can wash away our sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!"
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