KidzPort May 30 – A New Journey

June 1, 2010

We’ve been taking a journey the past couple of weeks from Easter to Pentecost, travelling though the Gospel of John and the beginning of the Book of Acts.  From reading Acts 2, we know the story of the Pentecost, and what happened.

If you were to visit Kidzport this week, you would know, too.  Pentecost is laid out in a storyboard of sorts, all around the room – from the gathering of devout men “in one accord” to the 3000 that were baptized that day.   What we’re seeing her is the beginning of something special, something that had never been seen before.  Pentecost is the beginning of the church as we know it… the beginning of men (and women) telling others about Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and making disciples – the heart of the Great Commission.

Beginning next week, we will start a new journey – through the Book of Acts, through the beginnings of the church that the Holy Spirit inspired the twelve to begin.  We will meet some fascinating people.  Some we already know – Peter, James, John…   We will meet others as well – Stephen, Simon Magnus, Cornelius, Barbabas, Silas – and, of course, Saul of Tarsus, otherwise known as Paul.

For Parents:

• Ask your child if they can recount for you the story of Pentecost. It’s OK to give them hints.
• We are still working on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.  Please see the last post.  The children should have them memorized by now.

Schedule Note:   Remember as of June, cell meetings for both children’s cells are on WEDNESDAYS, not Fridays.

KidzPort May 2 – Up, up and away!

May 4, 2010

Forty days.

Seems like a long time.   Whenever we see the number 40 in the bible, it always points to a time of preparation.  Jesus was in the desert fasting for 40 days.  When Noah built the ark, it rained for 40 days and 40 nights.   Three times, Moses went up to Mt. Sinai for 40 days.  The Israelites wandered the wilderness for 40 years.

Jesus stayed on Earth for 40 days following the Resurrection.  During that time, Luke tells us in the Book of Acts that He walked with the disciples, ate with them, taught them.  He was seen by many people.  In short, he was preparing his disciples for what was to come.

Once the 40 days was up, Jesus told the disciples that they were to wait in Jerusalem.  He told them that they would shortly be baptized by the Holy Spirit, and that they would be His witnesses.  And then something incredible happened.  Jesus – body and all – was taken up into Heaven, right in front of them.  He didn’t disappear like Enoch, and and there was no whirlwind and fiery chariot like Elijah.  He simply was lifted to heaven, and disappeared in a cloud.

The amazed disciples continued to stare at the sky.  But then two men appeared to them, and asked them why they were just standing there, when Jesus had left them.  They told the twelve that Jesus would return the same way He left.

For Parents:

• Read Acts 1:1-11 with your child.  Make sure they understand and can tell you what happened.
• Why do you think the disciples were just staring at the sky.  Can you remember a time when you just “stared” after Jesus?  Share with your child.
• Read Luke 21:25-28.  Does this description of Jesus’ return match what the two angels told the disciples?

KidzPort April 25 – Fishing, Breakfast and Sheep

April 27, 2010

A lot of times when people don’t know what to do, they do what they know.  This is what happened to Peter in the days after Jesus’ death.   Here they were, all the disciples sitting around Jerusalem, and Simon Peter wanted to do something, but he didn’t know what.  So he did what he did best – he went fishing.  Some of the others, not knowing what to do, either, decided to come along.

After a long night of catching nothing, they saw a man on the shore, calling to them.   He asked them if they’d caught anything. They said they hadn’t, and the man told them to throw their nets over the right side of the boat.  When they hauled in a huge catch, Peter remembered that this had happened once before – and he recognized Jesus.

When they got to shore, Jesus took some of the fish, and made them breakfast.  And he gave them bread.  Which begs the question: where did Jesus get the bread?  How did He start the fire?

Remember when Jesus fasted in the desert for forty days.  Satan came to Him and tempted Him to turn stones into bread.  Jesus replied that “Man does not live on bread alone, but from every word that comes from the mouth of God.”   (Mt 4:4)  But Satan knew Jesus could have turned the stones into bread if He wanted to.

Back to the story in John.  Jesus has fulfilled His mission, accomplished His task.  He is living now as the resurrected King of Kings.  So why not command the very stones to turn to bread to feed His friends?  Why not command the logs to burst into flames, to command the fish to jump into the nets? This simple act of love for His friends demonstrates Jesus’ heart – the heart we should share.

Following breakfast, Jesus asks Peter a strange question: does Peter love Him?  In fact, Jesus asks him the question three times.  Each time Peter responds that he does.  Each time, Jesus tells him to take care of His sheep.  Remember, Peter denied Jesus three times.  And now, Jesus has restored him three times.  Because that’s what God does; as often as we fall, He picks us up.

For Parents:

• Read John  21 with your child, verses 1 to 19.  Pay attention to the story of the fish and the breakfast.
• Challenge your child to find the story of the first miraculous catch of fish.  (Hint: it’s in Luke.)
• Compare both stories.  What is the same, and what is different?

Schedule note:   Friday, April 30th is Family Night!    Everyone is invited.

KidzPort April 4 – It’s EASTER!

April 6, 2010

Yes, Easter…   the most important day of the year in the life of a Christian.    Add to that the fact it was a simply glorious New England day  - sunny, warm…  everything you need!

Here’s some pictures of our kids on Easter morning.  Enjoy!   Christ is Risen!

Schedule Note:   There will be no KidzPort Cell on Friday, April 9.

KidzPort March 21 – Get Your Palms Ready

March 23, 2010

Just a quick refresher this week for the kids about the importance of Lent, and what’s going to be coming up.    We dug out the old chart, and reviewed what happens during this time of year.

It’s important that we keep this season of Lent at the front of what we do.  Easter, Resurrection Sunday, Paschal – whatever you call it, it is the single most important day of a Christian’s life.   Lent should be a time of preparation – readying the heart for the coming Resurrection, when Jesus’ work is fulfilled.

For Parents:

• Talk to you children about Lent.  Make sure they know why this time of year is so important.
• Read together some scripture regarding the preparations for the Resurrection.  The Gospel of Matthew is a great start, chapter 21.

KidzPort – Easter, Timelines and Double Hockeysticks.

April 27, 2009

 This is the whiteboard version of the blackboard graphic we’ve been working with.  Basically, we laid out the timeline of the Easter process in the church today, from the beginning of Lent to Penticost Sunday Basically it goes like this:

• Easter Sunday – Jesus rose from the dead.
• Three days before Easter – Good Friday.  Jesus died on the Cross
• Seven days before Easter – Palm Sunday.  Jesus came to Jerusalem.
• Forty days before Easter – Ash Wednesday.  Beginning of Lent, a time of preparation for Easter
• Fifty days after Easter – Penticost Sunday – Holy Spirit comes to the Apostles.

We also talked about how the number 40 in the Bible refers to a time of preparation. We talked about other examples of this: Jesus fasting for forty days in the desert, Noah when it rained for forty days, the Israelites wandering the desert for forty years.  All were times of preparation.

This week we continued the story.  Yet another graphic:

 Yes, you see it.  The big H-E-double hockey sticks.  After all, how can you talk about Jesus descending into Hell without mentioning it?   The lesson started with a question:  What happened between Good Friday and Easter Sunday morning.  The answers were varied: Jesus went to sleep, Jesus went to Heaven, Jesus wandered the Earth.   But the truth of it is shocking:  Jesus, having become all of our sin, went into Hell to defeat death and Satan. 

We then asked what the worst part of Hell was.  Fire, torture, pointy things.  Yup, all of that is bad.  But the worse thing, it turns out, is that God is not there.  ANd where there is no God, there is no hope!

One girl asked “How can I defeat the devil?”   She was serious!   I gave her a serious answer:  You don’t.  Jesus already did.  You just have to believe in Him. 

We then talked about the cycle seen in the graphic above.  Jesus came from Heaven, died on the Cross, went to Hell for us, rose on Easter and then went back to Heaven.  Then we sang Rick Founds’ wonderful song, “Lord I Lift Your Name on High.”

For Parents:

• Go over the timeline with your kids and make sure they remember what happened. 
• Sing “Lord I Lift Your Name on High” with your child.
• Pray together about being sure of their salvation in Christ.

 We also held our Easter Egg hunt last weekend.  It had been rescheduled due to weather.   The kids had a great time searching for eggs on a beautiful spring day!