As you look at your church, are they doing good works? Do you like being a part of a church that helps the community and provides multiple resources? Do you realize, as a follower of Jesus, that you are the church? As such, think about what you are doing to support the church and the community around you.
Often, we pick a church home, not for how they are helping the community, but because of how they can help and support us individually. To be completely transparent with you, my first question when I was looking for a church was about what they had for my child (he was three at that time) and then I asked about how they supported widows and orphans/children. I did not understand fully that the church is not a building; we are the church.
I am not saying that you should not be interested in the things a “church-home” can offer you but to look past that. Are you just a consumer of what the church offers? Or, are you also being the church by helping, giving, sharing, and discipling others in the church as the church does the same for you? The church is not just one group helping another group; it is everyone helping each other as God has gifted us.
The early church is a great example of how we should work together. By sharing what we have as well as sharing responsibilities, we will be able to see beyond ourselves to something so much great. To be the church means we will get to see firsthand lives changed by Jesus including our own.
Here is a snapshot of what we will show the kids this week:
Bible Story Focus: Jesus taught us how to love one another. (Early Church • Acts 2:42-47)
Memory Verse: “How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:18, NIV
Key Question: Who wants to be your friend forever?
Bottom Line: Jesus wants to be my friend forever.
Bible Story & Worship
Watch the Bible Story Video with your kids so you can recap and discuss it with them in the “Bring Jesus To Their Level” section. Then join your kids in worship as we sing and dance that Jesus is the very best friend.
Bible Story Video – Early Church
Worship – Very Best Friend
Worship – My Best Friend
Activities
Next, use the Memory Verse video to practice our monthly verse. This is our last week to practice the memory verse together. Be sure to think of a fun reward you can give your kids at the end of the month when they are able to say it all by themselves. The activity sheet and coloring page are fun resources to help reinforce story and/or big idea.
Memory Verse with Hand Motions
Bible Story Activity
Coloring Page
Bring Jesus To Their Level
Finish up your church at home by recapping the story and practicing the memory again. Then say: “Do
you remember how we can love people? (Pause.) We can love them by giving them the food, clothes, or a home that they need. When we give people what they need, we are loving them and being a good friend, just like Jesus! Since everyone needs clothes, and giving people clothes when they need them is one way we can love like Jesus, I thought we could make a list of clothing. It can be socks, shoes, a coat, shirt . . . anything that you wear. (Have each family member list something.) Let’s pray that we will love people the way Jesus loves us and help them have the clothes they need.”
PRAYER: “Dear God, thank You for giving us the clothes we need. Help us give people (read the list your family made) so they will have clothes and know how much Jesus loves them and wants to be their friend forever. We love You, God. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.”
As we wrap up, I would like to leave you with one of the kids’ favorite ‘good-bye’ songs:
Let Me See Your Alligator
Thank you for the opportunity to partner with you in the discipleship of your kid(s). My prayers are with you.
“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 1:6
