Bringing It Home 1/2/2011

Hello Parentz Express
Below is a brief summary, main verses  and a few discussion questions you can use to reinforce what we're learning this Sunday. I hope this can be a meaningful tool for you to help your children apply what they learn in Kidz Express.

What's the Deal with Fasting?
We have such a great opportunity this month that we can seize to train our children and empower them with away to authentically encounter God the rest of their lives. I'm talking about our upcoming series on fasting. This Sunday I am going to be talking with your kids about what it means to fast, why Jesus fasted, and why He asks us to fast too. As well as give them some creative ways to join in on what the whole EGC body will be focusing on the next several weeks.

Verses:
Matthew 6:16-18 (The Message)
"When you practice some appetite-denying discipline to better concentrate on God, don't make a production out of it. It might turn you into a small-time celebrity but it won't make you a saint. If you 'go into training' inwardly, act normal outwardly. Shampoo and comb your hair, brush your teeth, wash your face. God doesn't require attention-getting devices. He won't overlook what you are doing; he'll reward you well.

Jonah 3:1-10
... A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth... "Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink... Let everyone call urgently on God."

Discussion Q's:
1. What sort of battles do you need to prepare for?
2. What is one thing you are going to pray for during our fast? It can be for something or someone.
3. What do you think is the hardest part about fasting?

Creative Fasting for the Whole Family

Parents,
As we get closer to our Fast Forward series in the new year, I encourage you to start thinking about how you can use this opportunity to teach your kids about what it means to fast, how to fast with wisdom and for the right reasons, why Jesus fasted and why He asks us to follow His example. I think that because we so closely associate fasting with food, we forget that there are many creative ways we can get our kids involved in what we're doing and teach them why it is so important.

If you follow this link you will find a great article you can use, and even read with your kids about the 'whats', 'whys', and 'hows' of fasting. It also includes some creative ways for your kids to fast such as; fasting sweets, TV, video games, or fasting from 6pm-7am. Also, on the last page of the article you will find some great Bible studies you can read through with your kids.

Remember to teach them the importance of praying during the time they would have spent on what they're fasting. Last year I wrote out on my wall about 6 different areas I wanted to see God work and move in my life for the year so that it was constantly before me and reminding me to pray.

So pull the family together and Fast Forward...

For more resources on fasting, check out our website: elimgospel.net/fast-forward

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Hope you all have a wonderful Chrsitmas this year!

Here are my 2 favorite Christmas videos for the year:
The Christmas Story
North Point's iBand

Plan It - Wing It

Apparently the theme of my blogs this month has been to encourage you to take time to focus, plan out and savor the moments of life you are experiencing right now. I'm sure that at some point or another you have thought or told someone how you feel moments of your life going by very quickly. And even though we are constantly being controlled by the aspects of life that demand our attention right now, we seldom pause to actually enjoy those moments or plan to make those moments a more positive experience for ourselves and our children.

I have come across an idea that we can put people into two different categories according to this dilemma. Most of us are either a "plan it" person, or a "wing it" person. What I have noticed about myself is that my natural tendencies are to "wing it" because I enjoy the amount of energy it takes to make these moments happen (very little energy). But I far more appreciate the outcome of planning (more energy but very positive and memorable experiences).

So, what are you? A plan it person, or a wing it person. I would like to give you some homework and hopefully challenge you in your tendencies. If you are a wing it person, like me, try sitting down for a moment and thinking about the upcoming festivities for this Christmas and New Years holidays. What would you like your children to take away from this time with you? What will it look like to achieve this? What sort of activities will be necessary? What sort of attitudes? How, when, and how often will you affirm and love your children? Will you create memories with them or for them? Will you reflect with, pray with, and encourage your family?

If you are a plan it person, have you thought through these previous questions? What will your children experience if things don't go according to plan? (what attitude or response will they see from you?) Are your plans meaningful or beneficial to them? Do you need to plan out some "unplanned" time?

This type of evaluation was a major part of the life of Jesus (Mark 1:35) and has even been widely embraced by the business world. If you would like more on this subject, check an excerpt from Charles E. Hummel's book Tyranny of the Urgent in this post's comments.

Bringing It Home 12/19

Hello Parentz Express
Below is a brief summary, main verse, "Catch Phrase" and a few discussion questions you can use to reinforce what we're learning this Sunday. I hope this can be a meaningful tool for you to help your children apply what they learn in Kidz Express.

McGregor's Gift Shop-
Christmas is a time where many people spend time with their family. But not everyone has a family we can spend time with. And that can be hard. Maybe you do have a great family already, but how awesome would it be to get to have Jesus in your family? Here’s the good news, when Jesus came to earth He invited us into God’s big family. God invites everyone to become part of His family because of His great love for us. When we make the choice to believe in Jesus and make Him the leader of our lives, we become the sons and daughters of God!

Verse:
1 John 3:1 NLT "See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!"

Catch Phrase:
God’s Gift made us a part of His family!

Discussion Qs:
1. When you hear the word family, what do you think of?
2. Why do you think God wants us to be a part of His family?
3. Are you already in God’s family? How can we become a part of God’s family?
4. How does it make you feel to know that you can be in God’s family?



Material and image from LifeChurch.tv's "McGregor's Gift Shop" series.

Fail Meter

"We all live our lives somewhere between the Lord’s invitation to abundant life and Satan’s attempts to destroy us. Those poles are clearly and concisely captured in John 10:10. Jesus, the One Who died for us, invites us into His abounding life. The devil’s only intention for us is robbery, death, and destruction" -- Ed Chinn

One of the greatest tools the enemy uses is pointing out all the ways we fail as... Christians, husbands, wives, parents, employees ...drivers, or whatever else may be your area of "less than perfection". But when we listen to God and the new identity that He gives us we realize that He is not focused on the ways we fail, but that we are His children. So this Christmas season, for all the things that don't get checked off your list, all the times you get frustrated with your family, for all the missed opportunities, remember the way God sees you.

Give your "fail meter" a break and accept the Lord's invitation to abundant life. Decide what is really important and get rid of the things that are stealing your time and focus. Have fun celebrating this Christmas and focus on what matters, your family and their relationship with you and with God.

Bringing It Home 12/12

Hello Parentz Express
Below is a brief summary, main verse, "Catch Phrase" and a few discussion questions you can use to reinforce what we're learning this Sunday. I hope this can be a meaningful tool for you to help your children apply what they learn in Kidz Express.

McGregor's Gift Shop-
Presence means someone is with you or beside you. Like if I were going to call roll, if you’re here you would say, “Present!” So when I say God's gift of Jesus gives us His presence, I mean God's Gift of Jesus allows God to be with us all the time! But like any gift, we have to accept it. Not everyone does, but you can! You can choose to accept the gift of Jesus and make Him the leader your life! Jesus is God’s Christmas present to us. God’s Gift gives us His presence.

Verse:
Matthew 1:23 NLT “…She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”

Catch Phrase:
God’s Gift gives us His Presence!

Discussion Questions:
1. What’s the difference between the word presents and the word presence?
2. What things make it hard for you to believe God is with you all the time?
3. Share a time where you knew God was with you and helping you.
4. How does it make you feel to know God is with you all the time?



Material and image from LifeChurch.tv's "McGregor's Gift Shop" series.

Bringing It Home 12/5

Hello Parentz Express
Below is a brief summary, main verse, "Catch Phrase" and a few discussion questions you can use to reinforce what we're learning this Sunday. I hope this can be a meaningful tool for you to help your children apply what they learn in Kidz Express.

McGregor's Gift Shop-
Everyone that visits McGregor’s Gift Shop goes home with the perfect gift! This Christmas season, Kidz Express will unwrap the amazing gifts God gave us when He sent Jesus as the very first Christmas present! When someone gives you a present, the best response is to accept it. Receive it thankfully, open it up, and enjoy it. This week we'll be looking at His gift of peace.

Verse:
John 14:27 NLT I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

Catch Phrase
God’s Gift gives us peace!

Discussion Questions:
1. What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
2. Tell about a time you could have been worried or afraid but you weren’t because you had a peace in your heart because you knew God was with you.
3. What does the word peace mean to you?


Material and images from LifeChurch.tv's "McGregor's Gift Shop" series.