Children's Ministry News

Last Sunday Discovery Point:  Justification - The law Matters Being justified, or perfected by God, involves both obedience (the law) and grace (God’s unmerited favor). Today’s lesson outlined the importance of the law by identifying the reasons it was created. Because all have sinned, the law has a very special part in justification. However, there is a distinction about the law that many misunderstand: God requires more than obedience to truly be justified. While God’s standards teach us that we are sinful and need Him, obedience alone cannot justify us and make us perfect. Obedience leads to salvation through grace. And the law matters because God desires that we reflect His nature through our words and actions. (Scriptures used: Romans 3:10- 20)
Memory Verse:
“Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.” Romans 3:20 NIV 
Suggested Parent/Child Activity:
Review your child’s “God’s Law” craft …

Last Sunday Discovery Point:  Justification - God's Faithfulness Matters Today’s lesson was the second in a series about God’s justification in our lives (how He perfects us to be more like Him). When we become believers, there should be a continual change in our desires, thoughts, and actions toward the things of God as He justifies us. However, sometimes people misinterpret God’s perfect faithfulness and think it’s okay to still sin since He can make good come from it. Today we learned how human reasoning and judgments can keep us from truly understanding God’s purposes as He seeks to make us more like Him, and it’s never right to sin. Everyone is a sinner, so we all have the opportunity to receive salvation and allow God’s justification to change our hearts and minds. And that’s why His faithfulness matters! (Scriptures used: Romans 3:1-9)
Memory Verse:
"He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He.”…

Last Sunday Discovery Point:  Justification - Matters of the Heart Today we started a new series about God justifying us to receive salvation and eternal life. We learned that “justification” means being made and seen as perfect through the eyes of God. Because we sin there must be a way for God to save us (or be justified). Thankfully, He provided the way through Jesus’ death and resurrection! And God cares more about our hearts than outward appearances. He desires for us to be people of honesty, integrity, and love. While obeying Him certainly has importance, we should obey Him because our hearts are changed and not because we want to look good in front of others. Our hearts matter to God, and when we are truly changed by the Spirit our obedience will reflect the love and sacrifice of Christ. (Scriptures used: Romans 2:17-24, 28-29)
Memory Verse:
“The Lord does not look at things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7b NIV…

Last Sunday Discovery Point:  New Beginnings – We plan, God Guides Today, your child learned that we make plans and set goals that seem best to us. There are times when our plans turn out as we had hoped and other times when they turn out quite the opposite. While it may be hard to fully understand, we need to realize that the Lord is in control and will at times establish our steps according to His purposes for our lives. (Scriptures used Isaiah 55:8-9.)
Memory Verse:
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9 
Suggested Parent/Child Activity:
Read Isaiah 55:8-9. After reading this passage, discuss why God’s ways and thoughts are better than ours. Read Proverbs 16:9 and Proverbs 19:21. Discuss why is it important to plan and set goals. We are to use our wisdom and discernment when planning anything from small to big. As we plan, God’s purpose for us will prevail and guide us. Sometimes our plans change for the good or get adjusted causin…

Last Sunday Discovery Point:  New Beginnings – On with the new Today, your child learned, that as believers, we are to get rid of our old sinful nature and become a new creature in Christ, living our lives in such a way as to best represent Him to the world. (Scriptures used: 2 Corinthians 5:17-22)
Memory Verse:

Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception……..Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. (Ephesians 4:22 & 24)
Suggested Parent/Child Activity:
Read 2 Corinthians 5:17-22. After reading this passage, discuss why it is good to get rid of things which hinder us from becoming who God wants us to be. Have each family member go to his or her room and see if there is anything in the room he or she can get rid of because it is broken, useless, or basically just taking up space. Place all the items in a pile on the floor and have each family member discuss why he or she wants to get rid of the item…