What Does "Condemned" Mean?

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!"

This Week's (Correct) Verse

Hi, parents!  So sorry, but we heard there was a mix-up with our Weekly Reflections this week.  The correct verse due tomorrow, Sunday, January 6, 2013 is:

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them.” ~ Luke 1:68

Thank you for bringing this to our attention.  Can't wait to see everyone tomorrow!

Reminder for Coaches

Hey, Bible Trek coaches!  This is just a reminder that we have our Training Day this Sunday!  Please come to the service you usually volunteer in for the full hour to receive relevant training, as well as some surprises!

Parents, just a reminder that we have no Bible Trek this Sunday, December 30, 2012.  You get to enjoy the service as a family.  We will be back to Bible Trek next Sunday, January 6, 2013.  Happy New Year!

Thanks, all!

 

Jesus is the Reason for the Season

You've heard it before - - and you've been searching for ways to instill this in your children.  Well, look no further!  Here are some ideas of how you can keep Christ the center of Christmas!!

Make a Birthday cake for Jesus

• Here are some ideas for your birthday cake
• Put a candle in your normal Christmas morning breakfast and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus - - an easier way to celebrate during the craziness of the Christmas season

 

Read the Christmas story from the Bible (Luke 2) before opening any presents

 

Make an Advent Calendar together to be used every year. This is a set of things to read/do each day of December leading up to Christmas. Make them Christ-centered!

 

Put up a nativity set

• For younger kids: use toys!!  Fisher Price Little People Nativity Set
• Make a felt one for the wall, kids can peel off and put back up
• Gingerbread Nativity instead of a gingerbread house
• Simple Cardboard Nativity
• Recycled Nativity
• Dress-Up Nativity
• Nativity ABC Matching Game
• Try a printable nativity set that your kids can color
• Make these blocks!
• Magnetic Nativity (DIY)

Christmas Activities

• Click here for Christmas counting activities and an ABC book

 Do a service project together

• Have your kids give away ten gently used toys
• Homeless Blessing Bags
• Sing Christmas carols at a nursing home
• Ring bells for the Salvation Army (sign up at church this weekend!!)
• Host a Christmas dinner for a few people from the church
• Send Christmas cards to the military overseas
• Leave a Christmas card and small treat for your mailcarrier
• Pay for someone else at a restaurant
• Donate books to your local library, or to our Rest Area (as long as they're Jesus-related)
• Donate coats to Goodwill or Salvation Army
• Invite someone to join you for your Christmas feast who might not have somewhere to go otherwise
• Give a gift to Jesus

When decorating the tree, hang hand-made and other sentimental ornaments that show kids that they are a part of the Christmas story.  Talk to them about how other people might not know the true meaning of Christmas.  What can you do to help them?

 Decorate Christmas cookies to be baby Jesus, manger, angel, etc. that have to do with the true Christmas story!

Do you have any other ideas for us?  Share them here!!

Welcome to the Stage, Mr. Chris E.!

We are so excited that Mr. Chris is teaching our lesson this week!  The kids loved it when he taught his first lesson several weeks ago, and we can't wait to learn about Mary and Joseph this week.  You're not going to want to miss it!

Double-Feature Movie Night!

We're having another movie night!  Sorry it's short notice, but we hope you can come.  It's this Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 6:00pm in the Bible Trek room.

We'll be watching Arthur Christmas.  You can watch the trailer here, and read a Christian review of the movie here.  Bring a blanket and pillows to sit on, we'll provide popcorn and candy.  Enjoy some laid-back time with your family this Christmas season!  Kids who bring a friend will receieve a Commitment Coin.

 

After Arthur Christmas, we'll show a short classic Christmas movie.

 

Hope to see you there!!

3 Commitment Coins!!

This week we gave out TWO memory verses for your kids to work on!  If they have BOTH memorized by next Sunday they will get 3 commitment coins!!  Here are the verses, in case you lost your Weekly Reflections.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders”
~ Isaiah 9: 6

 

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
~ Psalm 27: 14

Reflection 1: On the drive home... Parents, ask your kids what their toys have to do with this week’s lesson.
Reflection 2: With your family... Talk about how waiting to open our presents for Christmas can remind us to wait for God to work in our lives. Is that hard or easy? What can be fun about it?
Reflection 3: In your quiet time... Read the parts of Luke 1 that we skipped over today (Luke 1:26-56). This is what our lesson will be about next week!