Tag Archive for: Cornerstone Kids

How do you know if a biscuit or a cupcake is delicious?

/0 Comments/in

How do you know if a biscuit or a cupcake is delicious? Even though it may look delicious, that doesn’t mean that it is delicious. It could have rotten ingredients inside. The only way to know if it is delicious is to taste it.

We used this idea in learning more about our relationship with Jesus. We need to taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 33:8). This week we chose to look at how we can know God’s goodness and glory by tasting Him.

Our part
The emphasis of our lesson was on our need to experience God. If we want to know more about Him we need to experience Him. The truth is that when we do experience God we realise how wonderful He is. We get to see how great He is and experience His goodness and from that we long to have more of Him. It is like a good slice of cake. When you have tasted it, and taste that it is good, you want more and more.

We also looked at Paul. He had so many credible attributes to his name, but after experiencing Jesus, he said that he counted all of his achievements as rubbish in comparison to God. He experienced Jesus and realised that nothing compares to His goodness.

Your part
Help your children in experiencing God. Spend time praying together, reading the Bible together, worshipping together. Tell them what you think of Jesus. If you make Him big, they too will want to make Him big in their life.

Please remember that this coming Sunday we will break bread with the children. Please join us if you feel your child is ready to break bread. There is no pressure in this. If you are unsure please chat to one of our teachers.

–  The Children’s Church Team

Stand Up!

/0 Comments/in

There is a popular quote that says, “For evil to flourish, it only requires good men to do nothing” (Simon Wiesenthal). The world today needs good people to stand up – in fact, to be more accurate, not just good people, but it needs the Church to stand up. In Acts 26:16 God says, “Stand up! I have chosen you to be my servant.” This was our memory verse this weekend as we encouraged our children to stand up and be led by God to be used for His Kingdom and cause.

Our Part
We looked at some common scenarios seen today where we need people to stand up – like standing up against gossiping, bullying, cheating. God tells us what is right and He gives us courage and confidence to stand up for what is right. We encouraged our children to stand up against what’s wrong and ask God to help us fight for what is right.

We looked at the story of Esther in the Bible. In the face of wickedness, and at the risk of losing her life, led by God she chose to stand up for what was right. She chose to speak to the king, to fight for what was right and good. God used her and gave her courage to save her people. We pray that God will use our children like he used Esther. We pray that they will be boys and girls of courage, faith and confidence in God to stand up for God’s Kingdom.

Your Part
Always be the example. Are you willing to stand up for what is right? There are so many causes in society today, and some are really good, but the central cause we ought to fight for and give our lives to is seeing God’s Kingdom advance.

Go over the story of Esther again with your children. Ask them what things happen at school that they know are not good and need to be challenged. Perhaps your child is part of a group that chooses to gossip or tease or bully. Help them see how that isn’t good and needs to be addressed. Explain how Esther did it, how God led her, and equally how God will lead us to stand for good.

We truly pray for a generation of courageous boys and girls to be found in our children. But it requires response. Will we listen to God? Will we seek His anointing? Will we stand?

– Children’s Church team

What can Jesus do for me when I mess up?

/0 Comments/in

We continue our investigating and discovery of Jesus. Our key question this week was, “What can Jesus do for me when I mess up?” The amazing answer is that He grants us forgiveness. It is because of Jesus that we can come before God and find forgiveness for our sin. This was the incredible truth about Jesus that we explored.

Our Part
This Sunday we looked at the story of the prodigal son. It is such a beautiful story with so many lessons that we can learn. Using images and even modern day examples, we discussed the story and focused on God’s grace. We looked how God forgives us of our sin – He cleans up our mess even when we don’t deserve it. Just like the loving father in the story, our Father God welcomes us to Him, forgives us and reminds us that we are His children.

Your Part
We think that it is key that you spend some time reflecting on this story with your children. It is so important to focus on how God can forgive us and that He says He will if we confess our sins to Him. Our children need to know that they can come to God with their faults, their worst actions, their sin and know that He is willing to forgive and still love them. We as parents also need to learn to display grace. We need to try to show forgiveness to our children, and not hold their faults against them.

It is a wonderful privilege to share the Gospel with our children. Keep talking about Jesus, the forgiveness we receive in Him and the family we have through Him.

– The Children’s Church team

Jesus Washes us Clean

/0 Comments/in

This past Sunday we continued with our investigating of who Jesus is. The key question was, “Why do we need Jesus?” We have looked at who he is, but now we need to know why we need him in our lives.

We started by looking at the incredible truth Jesus gives in John 14:6 where he says that he is the way and truth and life, and thus the only way to the Father. He is our salvation. He is the only way.

We then looked at how he washed his disciples’ feet and what we can learn from that humble act. One key point that was made was to see how Jesus washes us clean. He removes the dirt of sin in our lives and makes a clean and right before our Father. Our children were reminded of the beautiful Gospel message and how it applies to them. As always there was some time of fun and games to help emphasise the message.

This was a report given by one of our teachers on how part of the morning went:

“What an amazing morning. God definitely spoke to His kids. As our Grade 2’s were colouring in the craft with their feet they were saying how hard it was, how sore it was, and how frustrating it was. BUT they kept on doing it. On and on they went. What a life lesson to learn: serving others and God can be tough like this but to persevere is the way to follow Jesus. Jesus has called us to serve others and serve Him. He knows at times it’s hard, and we don’t do it perfectly, but he encourages us to keep doing it.”

What a great lesson to experience. We hope our children have learned to persevere for Christ despite the difficulties that may come. May we, the parents and teachers, learn the same.

Your Part
Continue to reflect on the gospel with your children. Think of what it means to love and serve others, and to love and serve God. Help them see what Jesus did for us and how we can respond to him. In the busyness of this term we are seeing such fruit come out in our children. Please play a role in helping water such life.

We continue to investigate next week.

– The Children’s Church team

Jesus is Trustworthy

/0 Comments/in

One of the greatest desires and needs we have as people is the need to find trust in others. We long to have people in our lives that we can rely on, call on in times of need, and trust with our lives. Sadly we do let each other down – often. But there is someone who calls on us to trust Him with our life, and that is Jesus. We need to learn to trust in Jesus, for He is trustworthy.

Our Part
We looked at Psalm 56:3: “When I am afraid I will trust in you.” We have covered the experience of fear many times with our children. This week we wanted to emphasise that no matter what we are feeling or experiencing, we need to learn to trust in Jesus with our lives. When we learn to have trust in Jesus, we find the ability, the hope and courage to not fear what we experience or what may lie ahead. Our fear is kept afar when we are filled with trust in Jesus. Trusting Jesus means we that we know that he will care for us, protect us and love us throughout what happens.

We looked at how in the Gospels, an official from Capernaum feared that his son would die. He had one last hope and that was to trust in Jesus. When Jesus chose not to follow the official to his house but rather assure him that his son would live, the official again had to trust in Jesus. On his way home he heard the incredible news that his son is well. His trust in Jesus paid off.

Your Part
Speak to your children about what it means to trust someone. Tell them Bible stories where men and women had to trust God over and over again, and how God always proved to be trustworthy. Talk to your children about what they may fear. We heard some interesting points from our older children. Assure them of how trusting Jesus helps to combat fear.

We often encourage our children to love Jesus. A place to start that may be simpler for children is for them to first learn to trust Jesus. When they learn to trust Jesus, then it becomes easy to love him.

– The Children’s Church team

The Promised One of God

/0 Comments/in

Last week we looked who the Promised One of God is. We looked at Old Testament prophecies and the clues God gave on who the Messiah would be. We tried to tick the boxes and we worked out that, sorry to say moms and dads, you are not the Promised One of God, but neither are we, the teachers. So who is? Well we tried Jesus and guess what? He ticked all of the boxes. He is the Promised One of God.

So this week we started to learn more about Jesus.

Children’s church reflection for 30 April 2017

Last week we looked who the Promised One of God is. We looked at Old Testament prophecies and the clues God gave on who the Messiah would be. We tried to tick the boxes and we worked out that, sorry to say moms and dads, you are not the Promised One of God, but neither are we, the teachers. So who is? Well we tried Jesus and guess what? He ticked all of the boxes. He is the promised one of God.

So this week we started to learn more about Jesus. We looked at four eye-witnesses from His birth to when He was twelve: the shepherds, Simeon, Anna and the teachers in Jerusalem. Their confession about Jesus helps confirm that He is the Saviour, the Promised One of God.

Our Part

We spent time looking at how Jesus, even from birth, was acknowledged by many to be the Saviour of the world. We pointed out how amazing the Father is in His revealing the Messiah. The first people to meet the King of kings were lowly shepherds – not kings, not the rich, not the important leaders, but shepherds. This confirms that Jesus is the Saviour for all people.

Your Part

Spend time talking about Jesus and who He is to you and to scripture. Look at His birth and the people who met Him in His young age and what they said about Him. Your job is to introduce your child to Jesus and hope and pray that they would fall in love with this wonderful King.

We will continue with some more investigating next week.

Children’s Church team

Their confession about Jesus helps confirm that He is the Saviour, the Promised One of God.

Our Part
We spent time looking at how Jesus, even from birth, was acknowledged by many to be the Saviour of the world. We pointed out how amazing the Father is in His revealing the Messiah. The first people to meet the King of kings were lowly shepherds – not kings, not the rich, not the important leaders, but shepherds. This confirms that Jesus is the Saviour for all people.

Your Part
Spend time talking about Jesus and who He is to you and to scripture. Look at His birth and the people who met Him in His young age and what they said about Him. Your job is to introduce your child to Jesus and hope and pray that they would fall in love with this wonderful King.

We will continue with some more investigating next week.

– Children’s Church team

Investigating who Jesus is

/0 Comments/in

It is an incredible privilege for us as God’s created people that we can get to learn about God, who He is and all that He did and does for us. The Bible is a priceless gift that helps us to know more about God. This term for Cornerstone Kids we look forward to joining your children in investigating who Jesus is. We will ask a lot of questions, as any good investigator would do. But we will also find the truth by looking at Jesus and looking at His Word for the true answers.

It is one thing to know about Jesus, but it is another knowing him relationally. Our hope this term is that our teachers and children will be captivated with Jesus and in learning who He is, the hope is that they will learn to trust Him and come to love Him.

We encourage you to use this term’s curriculum in continuing the investigative journey with your children. Our responsibility is to know Jesus and to make Him known. Jesus delights in revealing Himself to us and leading us to tell the world who He is.

So get out your notebooks, get the cameras rolling. We are going live with breaking news that Jesus Christ is alive and He is our King.

Our Part
This Sunday we looked at some of the prophecies made in the Old Testament concerning the promised one, the Messiah. We tried to see if these prophecies, these guides or clues to who the Messiah would be, could fit with anyone. Well they didn’t except for one person – Jesus of Nazareth. We revealed how He miraculously fulfilled all of the prophecies, a feat that is statistically impossible. Jesus is the Promised One, He is the Messiah, He is our King and Lord. He did it! Our hope in the coming weeks is to keep learning how He is our promised Saviour.

Your Part
Firstly, download the curriculum for yourself and continue the lesson throughout the week with your children. Go over the prophecies with your children. Explore how Jesus lived and fulfilled the prophecies. Lead your children in pursuing a relationship with Jesus. You cannot have a relationship with Jesus for your child. It has to be personal for them. But you are able to introduce your child to Jesus and see the relationship ignite.

We are so excited to see what life comes from this term. Please join us.

– The Children’s Church team

Our Children are the Church of Today

/0 Comments/in

An important truth for people to understand, young and old, is that our children are the church of today, not just of the future. As our children engage in their relationship with Jesus, as they worship Him, learn about Him and tell others about Him, they are living out the call of the church. They meet together as believers and encourage each other. So they too are the church, the church of today, and their role in this beautiful body is so important.

Our Part

Our desire this past Sunday was to help the children understand that they are part of the church. As scripture teaches that the church can be compared to a body, and we are the many parts, so our children make up parts of the body. They have a role to play for God’s Kingdom advancing. They too are anointed by the Holy Spirit, they too receive gifts to serve and they too are called for mission.

We looked at Jesus’ teaching on the giving of talents: how some used them while others buried theirs. Our children are given talents by God and they are encouraged to grow in them and be led by God to display them for His glory. We taught how the smallest of parts to the biggest are all equally important and needed in the church and loved by God.

Your Part

It is exciting to believe that among the many children that we meet at Children’s church there are church planters, evangelists, worship leaders, teachers, healers and more. We look forward to seeing all that God has for them as they grow in Him. But it begins today. Their call has begun. Pray with your children. Pray for the church together. Encourage them to be involved in church in many ways. Help them find their value in being part of the body. We love having them part of the body.

This coming Sunday is the last of the term. The children will have a recap of the term’s message. Remember that you can still download the curriculum to look at yourself.

We look forward to the new term.

– The Children’s Church team

The BIG WEEKEND 2017: Incredible!

/0 Comments/in

The Big Weekend is such an incredible event with so many highlights, special moments, stories and testimonies that a simple report back cannot give the weekend the justice it deserves – so here is the attempt.

A team of children’s church leaders from across the sites began dreaming and praying six months ago for the Big Weekend 2017. Planning, dreaming, Pintresting, creating and teamwork all came together to result in the theme of Diving Deep to discover Jesus. We felt God’s desire to call our children and those from the community to search for Him as the greatest treasure with the promise that if you draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. So we created a weekend to help the children discover our incredible Jesus.

The result of our preparation and prayer saw 150 leaders lead and serve 450 children from all across the city. Six groups (Wahoo, Flier, Finback, Sailfish, Seawolf and Snapper) worked together to have fun but ultimately learn more about Jesus. From fighting off sharks with a memory verse, being rolled around in Zorb balls, sliding down giant slides, to jumping off a base onto a soft landing, our children had the chance to build friendships, have fun and discover Jesus. The children passionately worshipped Jesus through song and dance. A great sign was 50 children spontaneously running onto the stage on Saturday night to lead the worship.

We taught on God’s grace, the greatness of God, what it means to search for Him with all of your heart and Jesus being the greatest treasure we can find. We know that there was revelation and truth that some of our children heard for the first time. And there was response too. Our children responded to Jesus. They asked questions, they spoke to Him, they met their King and they loved it all.

Our prayer now is to see the fruit of this weekend. We believe that this weekend will be used by God to affect our city in many ways. So although the weekend is over, what God is doing through the weekend is only beginning.

We will send the links to the songs we sang for those who would like them and share some the pictures soon.

We are off to Lesotho in September for a Big Weekend and begin dreaming for Big Weekend 2018 soon. Thank you for all involved either by sponsoring, praying or physically leading.

– The Children’s Church Team

Children’s Church: Encouragement

/0 Comments/in

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Over the course of this term, our children have learned what it means to build God’s Kingdom and what His Kingdom looks like and represents. We looked at how the church is not a building but rather the gathering of God’s people to live for their King and His Kingdom. Understanding this, our focus this week was how we need to help build each other up, and as 1 Thessalonians 5 teaches, we can build each other up by encouraging one another. Simple efforts encouraging each other can lead to God’s Kingdom becoming more as He desires it to be.

Our Part

We had a look on Sunday at the importance of cement. Without cement, bricks cannot be joined together. Cement is a little like the love and encouragement we are called to show one another. It is easy for people to ‘stick’ together when there is a relationship of love and encouragement. We taught the children how the Holy Spirit helps us to give such incredible gifts to people. Just like cement helps a wall become solid and stable to withstand difficulty, so love and encouragement can help people in the church stand strong together.

We looked at Barnabas (known as the Son of Encouragement from the book of Acts) as an example of someone who tried to encourage others.

Some classes may have received encouragement cards to share with others to encourage them. The fact that our children want to encourage others is encouraging in itself.

Your Part


Be an example of encouragement. It is easy to find fault and criticise accordingly, but to encourage can require some effort before it becomes a wonderful habit. Try to make the effort to encourage your children and your spouse and see the life it gives. Help your children to try to encourage from the smallest of gestures to grand efforts.

Mom and dad, you are doing an incredible job in raising your children and helping them know Jesus more. Well done! We love the chance to support you in this wonderful journey. Keep it up.

– The Children’s Church team