KidzPort January 10 – A New Year

January 11, 2010

In our first KidzPort session of the new year we talked about – the new year!  (Stunning, I know.)

New Year’s are a traditional time for beginning.  Marking from one year to another is a convenient way to evaluate our lives and choices.  So it is natural that we look at the past year with (constructive) criticism and look to the new one with hope and determination.

People make resolutions on New Years.  That means that they resolve to change something in their lives.  It’s not always that what they are doing is bad – it usually means that they can simply do better.

One thing we resolved to do better is to promote respect:

• Respect for God
• Respect for one’s self
• Respect for those in authority
• Respect for others

For Parents:

• Talk to your child about the promise of the new year – what areas can they do better in?  Remember to be honest about what areas you can do better in.
• Pray with you child about this time of change, and that you will make the most out of what God has planned for you in 2010.

KidzPort September 27 – Choices

September 29, 2009

Baseball is a game of choices.   The pitcher has to choose which pitch to throw, and where to throw it.  The batter has to choose whether swing, to bunt, or to lay off.  The umpire has to choose to call it a ball or strike.  The fielders have to choose how to play it.

Life is a game of choices.  We choose all kinds of things, every day.  Sometimes we choose to do the right thing, sometimes we don’t.   It’s also a game of chances.  Every  time we get a chance, we have to make a choice.  And sometimes the choices we make determine what our next chance will be.

Peter had many chances.  After Jesus was arrested, God gave him three chances to do the right thing.  Three chances to stand up for Christ.   According to John, Peter stood outside the door of the high priest when a servant girl recognized him.  When she asked him if he was one of Jesus’ disciples, he said “I am not.”

Strike one.

Later, warming himself by a fire, he was asked the same question.  “I am not!” he said vehemently.

Strike two.

Another man, who was in the garden, asked him again. And again he said no.

Strike three. 

Anyone hear a rooster crowing?

But, Peter got more chances.  And he made better choices.  God never stops giving us chances, as long as we consistanty seek after Him.  And the best part?  Once we make the right choice, all are bad choices are forgotten!

So what’s your choice?

For Parents

• Read John 18 with your child, specifically the story of Peter’s denials.  How did Peter make bad choices?
• Read John 21.  How did Jesus give Peter more chances?  How did Peter choose?
• Talk to your child about choices, and pray with them that God helps them make good choices.

KidzPort August 23 – Just Do It!!

August 25, 2009

Sometimes there are things in the Bible that are hard to understand.  Especially when it seems we’re being told two different things.   For example, Ephesians 2:8-9 says this:

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,  not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Fair enough.  But, James 2:24 says this:

You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

So how is it then that Paul tells us that we are not saved by works, and James tells us that we are?

The answer is pretty simple.  James is telling us that while it is God who saves us, by His grace, that we still need to live here.  And that we need to make good choices while we do.  Life is full of opportunities to make good choices.  Every day, people are in our lives; and we can choose to show those people the love of Christ, or to not show them that love.  It might be the new kid at school, the old woman down the street, or our own families.  The choices that we make determine how we reflect Christ.  

It’s true that Christ lives in our hearts.  We just don’t need to keep him there. 

For Parents:

• Read James 2: 14-26 with your child.  What does this say about how we are supposed to live? 
• Read Ephesians 2:10.  Does this verse help to clarify what Paul was saying?
• Pray with your child, asking God to help them make good choices.

Kidzport November 2 – Pray and Vote

November 3, 2008

With the upcoming election, I thought it would be a good time to talk about making important choices.  An American’s vote is an important thing.  It is, at times, a difficult descision, and one that should be made prayerfully and cautiously.    Our verse was Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

We simplified it, though:  “Do all things in the name of the Lord.”    And that includes making important descisions.   We talked about different kinds of choices – going to school, getting married, finding a job.  I asked the kids if God had a place in those descisions.  I was glad when they said yes.  We talked about making choices by filtering them through the lens of scripture, and seeing what comes out.

I asked the kids, if they could vote, who would they vote for.  Most of them said Barak Obama.  I asked them why.  I got a variety of answers, some silly, some wrong, some thoughtful.   I asked the kids, that in light of the verse, who would God have them vote for.  They all named whomever they had chosen, of course. 

So we did a little comparison test.  I said to forget the candidates names, and let’s just look at them as far as where they stand on some issues that might be important to God.  First I told them that Candidate A had a personal experience with God in his life, and has acknowledged that his faith has played an important role in who he is.  This candidate acknowledges Jesus in his life.  Candidate B says that there are many ways to seek God, and that none are wrong.  

Who would God vote for?  Unanamous – Candidate A. 

Next question – Candidate A wants to limit abortions, if not stop them altogether in most cases.  Candidate B wants to expand abortion rights, and make sure everyone who wants an abortion can have one.

Again – unanamous for Candidate A.

Finally, Candidate A says marriage is between a man and a woman only, and has supported a ban on same-sex marriage in his state.   Candidate B has said that he thinks a marriage is between a man and a woman, but doesn’t think same sex marriage should be banned.

That does it – all unanamous for Candidate A.  I then asked then which candidate was which.  They were very surprised at the answer.   We then talked about what happens when we make important descisions before consulting with God.  We need to seek out God’s will in all things, and be sure we are acting as He would want us to.

For parents:

• Talk to your kids about the choices they make.  Ask them if they pray before they make hard choices.  Encourage them to, and pray with them.
• Kids do as they see parents do?  Be sure you are being a good example in seeking God’s face when making choices.
• Whoever you vote for – vote prayerfully.