KidzPort January 25 – Stewardship

January 26, 2009

It is never too early to begin training a child in responsibility, and so a teaching on the concept of stewardship is appropriate at any age.  We began by defining what a “steward” is: a person who is responsible to care for someone else’s possessions. 

So what does this have to do with God?  Well, basically, if we believe (and we do!) that God is the rightful owner of all things, that makes us all stewards of everything in our possession: things, homes – even people we are responsible for caring for.

The main lesson came out of Matthew 25, verses 14-30: what is commonly known as the Parable of the Talents.  In this story, Jesus tells of a wealthy man who entrusted some of his money two three servants.  Two of the servants invested the money (at their own risk) and doubled the master’s money.  The third, fearing losing the money, buried his small allotment in the ground.

When the master returned, he was pleased with the servants who had risked and gained, and was angry with the servant who had feared his master’s wrath.  This story tells us how God expects us to invest our own “talents.”  While there might be a risk involved (noteably a risk of failure) God would be more upset if we simply “bury” our talents out of fear.

For Parents:

• Re-read the Parable of the Talents with your child.  Have them explain to you what each servant did right or wrong.
• Discuss with your child how they can be “Good Stewards” of the things they have been blessed with. 
• They have a homework assignment: to list five talents that they have, and tell how t hey can use them for God.

Memory Verse:  Matthew 25:21

His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

KidzPort – January 18th – What Does God Want?

January 19, 2009

We had a big group in KidzPort today, due to some special guests.   The conversation was about knowing God’s will, and figuring out how we know what God wants us to do when we have a choice to make.   The answer can be found in this week’s verse:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding   – Proverbs 3:5 

When we have a choice to make, it is important that we take a look at the reasons behind why we choose the things we choose.  We need to be sure that we bring God into the conversation.  Often, we choose the way that will please ourselves – but we should try and choose the way that will please God.   This is not always a difficult choice – God’s desires will often line up with our own. 

For Parents:

• Talk with your child about choices.  Discover some of the choices they need to make, and talk about how they can keep God “in the loop.”
• Read the verse above with your child.  Be sure they know it and understand it.
• Pray with your child when they have a difficult choice to make.  Teach them to do this, and they always will.

 

Please be sure:  That your child brings a bible to KidzPort.  We are going to be giving them journals next week – please be sure they bring them each week.

For some other announcements read the GLCCKidz blog.

KidzPort January 11 – Forgiveness and Pancakes!

January 12, 2009

We continuted the talk on forgiveness today with a deeper look at Ephesians 4, specifically verses 25-32.   We read through those verses, taking time to stop and talk about each action in them that would “grieve the Holy Spirit.”  Specifically, bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking.                        .

 We spent some time talking about how other people affect us, and how important it is to forgive, even when we don’t want to.  Some of the kids talked about other kids in school who treat them badly, and how they don’t want to forgive them.   But the cost of that…   we talked about that as well, in light of verses like verse 32: And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

After the Word, we spent some time building knowledge by playing Bible Trivia and Bible Verse Hangman.  All while gettin’ our grub on with some pancakes!

 

 

 

 

For Parents:

• Read Ephesians 4:25-32 with your child.  Ask them what it means to “grieve” the Holy Spirit.
• Talk about anybody that your child may have a hard time forgiving. Find out what that person did, why it’s so hard to forgive, and pray with your child about it.
• If there is a real unforgiveness issue that you are having a hard time dealing with, seek out help and prayer.  Pastor Mike and Sister Jill are availible,  as are the entire pastoral staff at Gospel Light.

 

KidzPort January 4 – Forgiveness

January 4, 2009

This week we focused on “forgiveness.”   Our text was out of Ephesians, Chapter 4.  Sister Jill taught the lesson this week.  She begain with an understanding of what it means to “grieve the Spirit,” and  why God is sad when we hold grudges against one another. 

It’s important to understand that when someone hurts us, it’s OK to be upset, but that we need to be willing to forgive and move on.  God will only forgive us as readily as we forgive others.

Also there were gifts from Pastor Dave Smith and his wife Gloria passed out for those who were not here.

For Parents:

• Talk to your kids about forgiveness.  See if there is anyone they are having a hard time forgiving, and pray with them about it.
• Talk about God’s feeling toward unforgiveness, especially in light of Ephesians 4.
• Memory verse: John 3:16