The Big Weekend – 13 – 14 March
3,4 March | Bedfordview
Tag Archive for: Children
Children’s Church Reflection (11 September, 2016)
One of the struggles we fight against is fear. Think of the many things that cause us to fear daily: finances, crime, health, our future, job security etc. It is not difficult to feel afraid in life. The exact same happens with our children. They too become fearful, anxious and uncertain about many things. Knowing this applies to all of us, it is so comforting to know that God says He will be our peace. When we are unsettled by whatever circumstance, God assures us that He will be our peace and help us to display such peace for others to see.
Our Part
Our desire this week was to help our children understand how God is our provider of peace. We looked at some of the things in their life that can affect their feelings; things that can cause fear, uncertainty and insecurity. Those things are real. But then we looked at what Jesus told His disciples in John 14:27. He says, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” Jesus promises that He will not leave us alone but will give us the Holy Spirit, and in Him we find peace.
We looked at the story in the gospels where Jesus calmed the storm. It must have been a massive storm knowing that fishermen were petrified on the boat. Yet Jesus, in one command, stops the storm and brings peace. He longs to speak such commands into our life and bring peace. Our response is that we need to turn to Him and trust Him in all circumstances.
When we live with peace we can also show it. We also encouraged the children to ask God to help them to show peace to others. Jesus says blessed are the peacemakers (Matthew 5). We must also learn to show peace to others.
Your Part
Once again this term we want to emphasise that the worries we face are real, but our victory in God is real too. Help your children when they are feeling insecure or fearful to remember who gives them peace. Don’t tell them that help comes from money or a good government or a safe country. Those are beneficial, but ultimate peace that weathers any storm comes from Jesus. There is such great security that our children can live in if we point to Jesus during the storms, however life-threatening they may seem.
This week, my son, Nathan went outside on his own in the dark and I heard him saying, “I’m not afraid because I have Jesus in my heart.” For some that seems menial. For him it was a massive victory. He defeated a fear because he knew Jesus was with him. There are more victories to be had for all of our children.
– Greg, Nicole and the Children’s Church team
Children’s church reflection for 14 August 2016
Earlier this year as a church we felt God encourage us to challenge the effect of fear in our lives and how we should respond to fear by keeping our eyes and faith on God and His promises. The reality is that children are challenged with fear all the time. Have you ever wondered where we actually learn the idea of fear? God doesn’t tell us to fear. So this week our focus was on how God is our courage.
Our Part
On Sunday we addressed some of the fears that our children are facing. Fears are real, they exist and so we need to address them. We showed a clever object lesson that helped the children see how in God we can overcome our fears and handle them.
We then looked at some of the characters in the Bible who clearly faced fear but by keeping their faith in God, they overcame their fears and saw incredible victory (think of David’s many stories, Joshua, Daniel and his friends). We focused on how God is greater than our fears. God promises that He will watch over us and care for us, and so He won’t let our fears have victory over us. With that, the focus of our craft and stories all tried to encourage our children that when they feel afraid, they can remember that God is all-powerful and He will give us courage when we need to gain the victories for God.
Your Part
When your children display fear, address the fear they are experiencing and then point to Jesus. Remind your children constantly how God loves them and longs to protect them and so he will give us courage to overcome fear. Keep encouraging your children with God’s promises that they feel confident and when fear comes again and again, your children can face their fear head-on with their faith in God and His character and promises.
– The Children’s Church team
Please don’t forget that you can download the curriculum to view all of our content for this term.
Children’s Church team
Children’s church reflection for 5 June 2016
“For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.”
This week with our children we came to the final lines of the Lord’s Prayer that Jesus taught. Remember, Jesus is teaching us how to pray and also what to pray about. These final lines emphasise the supremacy of our God. This is an incredible conclusion that we are to make in all of our prayers: God is in complete control, He carries complete power and in all that happens, in however God answers our prayers, He will have the glory.
Our Part
A key point we focused on this week was the power that Jesus displayed in overcoming sin and defeating death and the grave in his resurrection. In his resurrection we find our victory and because of his resurrection we can confidently pray to God and trust him to hear and answer our prayers as he wills. We truly want our children to come to the understanding of why Jesus went to the cross and the significance of his resurrection. Once we understand the incomparable power of our God, our faith in him grows when we pray.
Your Part
Remind your children that Jesus is alive. Remind them that our God has all power and that all things are possible for our God. Because of this knowledge, we need to pray, pray and pray. Keep reminding your children of the previous lessons taught. We hope that you are seeing more life in your family prayer life. We have definitely seen great growth in our children praying this term.
There are two more weeks to go for this term which we know will be as exciting as the previous eight.
– Children’s Church team
Children’s Church Reflection for 24 April
One of the biggest struggles today for our children is their exposure to media and the voice of the world. In watching cartoons and most television shows, it’s sad to hear how often our Lord’s name is used in vain. With that in mind, and as Jesus taught in the Lord’s Prayer, we focused this last Sunday on understanding the brilliance of God and how His name is to be praised.
Our Part
We focused this week on how there is incredible power and life in God’s name, and so instead of using it in vain we should use His name to speak life into all areas of life. We taught the children that praying in Jesus’ name carries power and the miraculous can happen in His name. The encouragement is that in our words and actions, God’s name should be honoured.
Your Part
Please spend time this week reminding your children about how awesome God is and how His name should be honoured and praised. Please be cautious about what children are watching on television, as using God’s name in vain is becoming more and more prevalent. Explain to your children how and why using God’s name incorrectly is harmful and dishonouring to God. Jesus taught us to praise God because of who He is and what He has done – let us use His name in respect and awe.
Some classes made musical instruments to praise God with. Please see past the noise and enjoy their efforts to worship!
We are loving this term with your children. Please contact us if you would like further conversation.
– The Cornerstone Kids team
Cornerstone Church reflection for 17 April 2016
It was so exciting to see the children recall memory verses and recite the Lord’s Prayer. Well done mom and dad on following up in the week!
This week our focus was on “Our Father, who is in heaven”. What an incredible truth. God wants us to believe that we are His children, and that is what we are (1 John 3:1). Along with explaining the concept of God being our Father, we also emphasised how prayer is just like breathing. We should aim to pray constantly and understand that prayer helps our spiritual life.
Our Part
This weekend we looked at the idea of God as our Father. Some classes saw how God is such a perfect example of a father, how wonderful and perfect His love is for us and how we can always speak to Him. Our memory verse this week is 1 John 3:1, emphasising the Father’s love for us.
We looked at the story Jesus teaches on the Pharisee and tax collector praying (Luke 18:9-14). We explained how prayer is not a way to show off or impress people. It does not need to be shouted out for all to hear. Rather, prayer is to be honest between you and the Father. Prayer can take place silently in your heart, whispered in your room or even out loud, humbly, with friends and family.
Your Part
We encourage you, mom and dad, to continue to encourage your children to pray. Ask them what they feel like praying for and pray along with them. Praying with someone definitely helps build confidence to pray. We know your children will love the idea of praying with you.
Please remind them of the memory verse (and don’t forget the actions). As mentioned, the idea of God wanting to be known as a loving Father is vital. Spend some time this week to explain this truth.
A craft may have been done to help the children remember some of the key ideas from Sunday. They look beautiful, so put them somewhere for all to see.
Again, thank you for this privilege!
– Children’s Ministry Team
Cara Walter and Safe & Sound
TITLE: Cara Walter and Safe & Sound
PREACHER: Coleen Walter
DATE: 18 May 2012 – Friday AM-1
Download MP3 message audio
(Right Click the link and choose the ‘Save As’ Option)
Celebrating Our Beautiful Children
Written by Justine Engelbrecht
Yesterday, on Sunday 27th November, a special Children’s service was held, in celebration of our beautiful children.
Lance, Michelle, Roger & Deidre and their dedicated teams joined the children in sharing with us through song, dance and video what they had learned over the past year.
The Theme for 2011 for 3yrs to Grade 2 was “The Big Questions.”
Here are just a few of the children’s answers below. 🙂
Who is Jesus?
“The Son of God”, “Gods Son”, “The King”
What did you learn this term?
“Jesus is powerful”, “we have to love each other”, “God made the world and if we believe in him we will go to heaven”, “to respect God”
What Bible verses did you learn?
John 14:6 “Jesus says I am the way the truth and the life”
Why do we need Jesus?
“So we can go to heaven”
The grade 3 to 7’s put the Gospel into colours for us.
Collossians 1: 16
“Everything was created by God and for God” – God created each person to have a relationship with him.
BLACK – Romans 3: 23 “Sin is what separates us from God” – We choose to disobey God.
RED – Romans 5:8 “Jesus died on the cross”
WHITE – John 3: 5 “I tell you the truth; no-one can enter the Kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit”
Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
BLUE – Acts 2: 41 “Those who accepted his message were baptised, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”
2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
GOLD – Colossians 1: 16 “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
Before the close of this joyful and inspirational service Tanna, Michael, Lerato and Sanele were baptised to the loud applause of the congregation!
We were encouraged by Lance to take time out for our children this holiday and spend valuable time with them, our greatest blessings. AMEN!