Passage: Act 15:1-34

What we talked about:

• Peter’s debate with the Pharisees and Council.

• That we are saved by grace alone.

• That all believers are part of the Body of Christ.

Activity:

We learned that people may come from different backgrounds, speak different languages, and live very different lifestyles, but as believers we are ALL saved by grace! As a family, create a list of things that you do differently from each other. For example, one of you may fold the laundry differently than another. Neither is wrong, just different. One of you may prefer country music to pop music. If the lyrics are appropriate, neither is wrong, just different. After creating a list of 10 differences, read Acts 15:5-11.

The Jewish Pharisee thought that the Gentile believers had to follow the Law of Moses to be saved. In verse 11, how does Peter say we are saved?To make a funny point, look at the list your family created and compare the Pharisee’s thinking to it. For example, the Pharisee’s thinking would be similar to saying “You can only be saved by folding the laundry exactly like I do.” Or “You can only be saved by listening to country music.” Read Ephesians 2:8.

Experiment:

On one side of the paper rub some red paint into the shape of a large circle. The red paint represents a church that worships Jesus with African drums and dancing. Next, create a yellow circle on the opposite side of the paper. The yellow circle represents a church that worships Jesus by singing old traditional hymns like “Amazing Grace” to the music of an organ. Last, in the center of the paper, mix the two paints together until the color orange is created. (More yellow is needed than orange.) Instead of painting a circle with the orange paint, create a heart. God knows our hearts when we are worshipping Him. He does not care if our hands are held high or placed quietly in our laps. He doesn’t care if we are dancing for Him or singing a hymn for Him. He only cares about the condition of our hearts while we

are worshipping Him! Acts 15:8 tells us that “God knows the heart!”

• What are the different ways you have worshipped Jesus?

• When you are singing before the Lord on Sunday mornings, what is God looking at?

• What do you think God notices about your own heart when you are worshipping on Sunday mornings?

Family Bible Time:

Read the following verses and use the questions to discuss what you read.

Read Acts15:8a

• What does God know about each of us?

Read 1 Samuel 16:7

• Have you ever thought someone must love Jesus because they are dressed up and look nice at church on Sunday morning?

• What does God look at when He looks at someone?

Adapted from @2012 The Kitchen, Year 3, Quarter 1.

Focus Your Thoughts on God--Part 1
Isaiah 40:1-17
Willing Series
February 4-5, 2012

Getting Started

1. What form, if any, do you use in prayer? (example, A-C-T-S etc.) What do you like about it?

Going Deeper

2. How would you describe experience of God in worship? Is worship or adoration easy or hard? Explain.

3. Have you ever felt that you’ve blown it so badly that not even God could straighten it out? Explain.

4. What damages have you suffered as a result of your sin? (physically, financially, emotionally, hurting others)

5. What’s so great about the Atonement?

A "Holey" Roof

Your Children Will Learn: Jesus taught people. Jesus healed people.

Memory verse for unit 6- Jesus said, "I didn't come from heaven to do what I want. I came to do what God wants." John 6:38

Just for Parents -
“Take two and call me in the morning.” “I want to see you back next year for a follow-up exam.” “Stay off that foot for a week, and keep ice on it.” How familiar these phrases have become in our modern world, plainly accepted without the bat of an eye. We never hear Jesus using such  band-aid directives. Imagine Jesus having just proclaimed forgiveness of sins over the lame man, then telling him to ice down his legs, drink some herbal tea, and return next week. The lame man’s friends would have thrown their hands in the air and thought, “Why did we even bother?” Jesus heals the sick. Like the lame man’s friends, we can also “bring” our family and friends to Jesus in prayer. Pray for those you know who are in need of a healing touch from Jesus this week. “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.” (Matthew 4:23)

Monday - Read & Do

Read Mark 2:1-12. Ask your child: “Where was Jesus when He was teaching? Did Jesus care  about the man who couldn’t walk? What did Jesus do? What did the man do?”

Tuesday - Art

Draw pictures with your children of the four friends who lowered the sick man through the hole in the roof. What kind of friends did the sick man have? Brave? Crazy? Smart? Full of faith? Ask your child: “What did Jesus and the people think when they saw the man coming through the roof? How would you have felt?”

Wednesday - Pray & Praise

Jesus healed the man who couldn’t walk. The people were amazed and they praised God. Think of awesome things God has done for you and your family. Let your children think of some things, too. Then, take some time and praise God together for all the things He has done.

Thursday - Out & About

Jesus taught people. Teach your child how to pray for people who are sick. When you pray for someone who is sick, have your child help out. You can also serve your friend by bringing them a meal. It’s a good opportunity to let your children practice serving and praying for others.

Friday - Play
Act out the Bible story using a stuffed animal or baby doll for the man who couldn’t walk. Carry the man who couldn't walk on a blanket and pretend you are bringing bring him to Jesus. Say to your children: “Jesus taught people; Jesus healed people.”

Adapted from ©2008 Little Son Catchers, Year Two, Winter Quarter

Passage: Matt 17:1-13

What we talked about:

• The story of the transfiguration.

• That James, Peter, and John had a life transforming experience on the mountain during the transfiguration.

• That God wants to change our lives, but we can’t stay on the mountain; we come down to serve Him.

Activity:

In the Bible story, Jesus hikes up a mountain with Peter, James, and John, to the site of the Transfiguration. Go outside (weather permitting) and go on a hike. Look at the scenery and nature around you. Think about what it must have been like to hike on the mountain with Jesus, both climbing up the mountain, and coming down from the mountain. As you walk, talk about a time in your life when you felt you were having a mountaintop experience with God—a time when God changed your life.

Craft:

Give everyone a piece of paper and crayons. Draw pictures of Jesus on the mountain with James, Peter and John, for the Transfiguration. Draw what you think it looked like when Jesus’ face shone like the sun and His clothes shone as bright as white light.

• How would you have reacted if you were there when the Transfiguration happened?

• Why do you think Jesus transformed like He did?

• What do you think that says about heaven?

Family Bible Time:

Read the following verses and use the questions to discuss what you read.

Matthew 17:2

• What happened on the mountain during the Transfiguration?

• How has God changed your life?

• What does “transformed” mean?

• Share about a mountaintop experience you had with God, where you felt close to Him and were transformed … changed … by Him?

Psalm 99:9

• Why do you think this verse says to worship God on the mountain?

• Have you ever been on a mountain? What was it like?

• How can you worship God this week?

• Why should we worship God?

Adapted from @2012 The Kitchen, Year 3, Quarter 1.

The Problem of Feelings in Our Prayers
January 29-29, 2012
Willing Series
Luke 11:5-8; Luke 18:1-8

Getting Started

1. Do you have to be “in the mood” to pray? If so, describe the “mood” you have to be in.

2. Is the word “friend” one of the first things you think of when you think of God? If not, who then are you talking to when you bow down to pray?

Going Deeper

3. How would it change the frequency and the way you pray if you really believed God saw your illness, your children, your work situation etc. as his responsibility?

4. What should we do when we pray and pray and nothing happens?

5. What should our attitude be when God simply hasn’t answered?

6. What role does unanswered prayer play in your spiritual growth?

Chasing Away the Money Changers

Your Children Will Learn: Jesus got angry. Jesus loves God's house.

Memory verse for unit 5- John said, "I know this is God's Son." John 1:34b

Just for Parents -
The people in Jesus’ time were taught to approach God’s house with respect and reverence. Have you ever stopped to consider that your church building is also God’s house? It doesn’t matter if it is large or small, a rented storefront or a school gym. It is as much God’s glorious dwelling place as the grandest cathedral in Europe. How can we show respect for God’s house? Even more, how can we teach children to do likewise? Children will follow your example. Treat the space where you gather to worship God, and everything in it, with “TLC” as if it is the most precious jewel you have. “How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty. My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” (Psalm 84:1-2)

Monday - Read & Do

Read John 2:13-17 together. Ask your child: “Why did Jesus get angry? What did He do?”

Tuesday - Pray & Praise

Jesus loves God’s house. In Luke 19:46, Jesus said His Father’s house was to be used for prayer. Let’s remember to treat our church building with respect when we come to church. This shows how much we love God and His house. Pray and ask God to show you ways that you can help to make His house stay beautiful. Praise God for the church you are a part of.

Wednesday - Art

Do some coin rubbings. Place some coins under a piece of paper and lightly color over it with a crayon or pencil. Use many different sizes of coins. Talk about how the money changers treated God’s house like a store. Ask your child, “How can we take care of God’s house?”

Thursday - Out & About

Drive around your neighborhood or city and look at the many different styles of church buildings. Talk to your child about how different they all look, but they are still all God’s house. They are the places people go to worship God.

Friday - Play
Build God’s house with blocks. Then place toy people and animals in God’s house. Let your child recreate the Bible story and act it out with the toys. Explain to your child how special God’s house is.

Adapted from ©2008 Little Son Catchers, Year Two, Winter Quarter

Passage: Luke 17:11-19

What we talked about:

• The story of the ten lepers who were healed by Jesus.

• That only one leper came back to thank Jesus for healing him.

• That God wants us to be thankful.

Experiment:

Things needed: different types of fruits and vegetables, paper bags

We have all seen moldy food at some point, and this is an experiment where moldy food is ok! Gather a few different types of fruits and vegetables and some paper bags. Put each item in a paper bag and label the bags, then put them on your kitchen counter (or somewhere else in the house where they will not be disturbed). Give everyone a chance to guess and see which one will get moldy the fastest and which one will stay healthy the longest. Write down your guesses, and after a few days or a week, look at them to see if you were right. In this experiment, we got to see how mold takes over a fruit or vegetable and ruins it! Molds are fungi that grow on things, and reproduce as the fruits and vegetables rot. Molds are like diseases that cover the fruits and vegetables, similar to the way leprosy takes over a person’s body. This is also similar to how sin takes over our lives! The only way to be healed from our sin is to ask God to forgive us and make us clean and new!

*Note: do not sniff or eat moldy food as this may be dangerous. Discard moldy

Craft:

In the Bible story, Jesus heals 10 lepers, and only one of them comes back to thank Him. Often, we do not thank Jesus for what He does for us! Today, you can make something that will serve as a reminder to thank Jesus every day! Everyone will make a thank you card for Jesus, just as you would for someone who gave you a gift. Jesus has given many gifts and blessings to all of us. Try to think of as many as you can, and write them on the card. Then put the card somewhere where you will see it daily, and it will be a reminder to always be thankful for the many blessings God has given.

Activity:

Get a Scabble game and put the tiles in a bag. Family members will take turns drawing out a single tile and telling something they are thankful for that begins with that letter. For fun, add up the points on each player’s tiles to see who got the highest thankfulness score!

Family Bible Time:

Read the following verses and use the questions to discuss what you read.

1 Chronicles 16:8

• What does this verse tell us to do?
• What has God done in your life, or given you, that you can give thanks for?
• How can you make this message known among the nations?

1 Thessalonians 5:18

• When does this verse say we should give thanks?
• Who do we give thanks to?
• How can we know God’s will?
• How can we give thanks in ALL circumstances? Have you ever given thanks during a difficult circumstance?

Adapted from @2012 The Kitchen, Year 3, Quarter 1.

We Pray Because We Love
January 21-22, 2012
Willing Series
Exodus 17:8-16

Getting Started

1. If you’ve given your life to Jesus Christ, describe your experience of God immediately after you were saved?

2. How long did it last? What brought that initial feeling to an end?

Going Deeper

3. Why should we pray for new believers?

4. Apart from simple obedience to God, why pray for the defenseless?

5. Consider the three roles people often take to express love in this world (Doers, Pray-ers, Supporters), which do you assume most often? The least often? Why?

Saving the Best for Last

Your Children Will Learn: Jesus changed the water. Jesus did a miracle.

Memory verse for unit 5- John said, "I know this is God's Son." John 1:34b

Just for Parents -
Weddings have always been a wonderful time of celebration. This was true at this particular wedding in Cana, which would have been a village celebration. Refreshments were provided for guests, and wine would have been expected. Not to provide adequately for the guests was a social disgrace. It would haunt the newly married couple all their life. So Mary, seeing the urgency of the situation, informed Jesus. She expected that Jesus would take action. And He did, not because His mother told Him about the situation, but because of God’s purpose. Not only did He change the water into wine, it was the best wine. Jesus changed something ordinary into something beautiful and extraordinary. That’s what He did for us when He changed our lives! He made us into something new! He continues to change us until we are completed in Him. At times the change is painful, but the end result is worth it!

Monday - Read & Do

Read John 2:1-11. Ask your child, “What did Jesus change the water into? Where was Jesus when this happened? Can anyone else do that?”

Tuesday - Art

In our story today, the servants filled the jars with water. The jars they filled were about as big as a 30-gallon fish tank. That’s a lot of water! Draw a big water jar onto a large piece of white paper. Fill your jar with watercolor paint. While you are painting, talk about what Jesus did in our story. Say to your child, “Jesus changed the water; Jesus did a miracle.”

Wednesday - Pray & Praise

Here is a simple definition of a miracle to share with your child: “A miracle is something special and wonderful that only God can do.” Talk about some miracles we read about in the Bible. Then talk about miracles that have happened in you own lives. Praise God together for the miracles that you have seen Him do in your life and in the lives of others.

Thursday - Snack

Munch on some tasty grapes for your snack today. Talk about the miracle that Jesus did when He turned the water into wine. This was the first of many miracles that Jesus did. Practice the memory verse together.

Friday - Play
Fill a large, clear container with water. Place a few drops of red food coloring into the water. Let your child stir it up with a long-handled spoon. Then place a few drops of blue food coloring in the water. Let your child stir it again and watch the water change color. Talk about how amazed the servants who filled the jars must have felt when Jesus changed the water into wine.

Adapted from ©2008 Little Son Catchers, Year Two, Winter Quarter

TAKE A NEW APPROACH TO

DATING AND RELATIONSHIPS

Parental stress goes up a notch as soon as kids enter the dating scene. How can you encourage your kids to have healthy relationships with members of the opposite sex yet stay safe and morally pure? Youth leader Josh Pease offers these suggestions that just might surprise you:

• Don’t demonize sex, but don’t overglorify it either. As you encourage kids to save intimacy for marriage, also emphasize that sex shouldn’t be just about self-satisfaction.
• Model healthy relationships. Let kids see what a sacrificial relationship looks like—on good days and bad. Show them how to work out problems.
• Teach an “others-focused” approach to dating. Instead of just asking, “Is this person right for me?” dating teenagers should also ask, “Am I right for this person?” Other questions to consider: By my behavior, do I influence the person I’m dating to be more like Jesus? Am I focusing more on what I can get out of them or on what I can do for them? Is my presence in their life right now distracting them from who God is revealing them to be?

As we emphasize abstinence and the beauty of God’s plan for marriage, Pease says, let’s also teach kids to model Jesus’ sacrificial love in their relationships now. That way, they’ll be better equipped to thrive as spouses in the future.

If recent news reports are true, cheating is rampant among today’s teenagers. Some people say technology is to blame because it makes academic dishonestly easier to pull off. Others attribute the problem to our competitive society and its message that you should do anything possible to get ahead.

People of all ages are tempted to cut corners to achieve success, wealth, and popularity. Why put in extra effort when other people take unethical shortcuts? Why pay for media when you can (illegally) download it? Why put relationships in jeopardy by being honest? The reason is that God commands us to be truthful. Disobeying his laws leads to consequences—even if we aren’t “caught” and punished by earthly authorities.

In a Group Magazine survey of more than 26,000 teenagers, half agreed with this statement: “I’ve done things no one really knows about that impact my ability to feel loved by God.” Sinning makes us feel far apart from God, but the good news is that he offers forgiveness and grace.

Church isn’t the only place kids can hear this message. Parents play a bigger role than you might expect. Christian apologist Josh McDowell says, “The most powerful impact upon a child’s ethical, moral, and spiritual development is the relationship with the parents. It is 300 times greater than the church.”

Remind your teenagers that Jesus knows what it’s like to battle temptation and struggle with God’s will. He not only set an example for us but also offers us strength to make wise choices and display Christian character.

Three ways to help you deal with temptation:

1. Run away from the situation. “Flee the evil desires of youth…” (2 Timothy 2:22a, NIV). This may seem like a strange way of dealing with temptation, but even the greatest of superheroes had weaknesses. Superman never did well against kryptonite, so he avoided the stuff altogether.

2. Run toward what’s right. “…and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace…” (verse 22b). Beating temptation has a lot more to do with saying “yes” to right living than it does with saying “no” to whatever is tempting us.

3. Run with brothers and sisters who are pursuing pure living. “…along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (verse 22c). If we aren’t running with other people who are going in God’s direction, we won’t be running for very long.

Statistics:

• 30% of kids admitted stealing from a store in the past year.

• 64% said they’ve cheated on a test in the past year.

• 83% of teenagers said they’ve lied to a parent about something significant.

• 36% said they’ve plagiarized an assignment using the Internet.

• 26% of survey respondents said they lied on at least one or two questions on the survey!

• 93% said they were satisfied with their personal ethics and character.

Questions to ask your Youth:

1. Among your friends and classmates, how widespread are cheating and lying? Are you

ever tempted to take part? Why or why not?

2. What are some of the consequences people face for cutting corners—even if they

aren’t caught?

3. What does a life of integrity look like to you? What prices might you have to pay to

pursue such a life, and are they worthwhile?

4. What are some ways you can resist temptation and conquer evil?

Passage: Luke 10:1-20

What we talked about:

• The story of Jesus sending out the 72.

• That Jesus sent the 72 out in pairs to preach that the kingdom of God is near.

• That we are also being sent out to tell people about Jesus.

Experiment:

Things needed: clear drinking glass, food coloring, and water.

Fill the glass with water. This glass of water represents one of the towns that two men entered from our Bible account. Drop two drops of food coloring into the glass of water. These two drops represent two of the men who Jesus sent out to preach that the kingdom of God was near. Observe what happens when the two drops enter the water. Do they remain two separate drops, or do they have an effect on the glass of water? The two drops of food coloring had a changing effect on the water. In the Bible story, the message that the two men brought to each town had a changing effect on the people that received the message. The two men brought a message that spread throughout the town, just like the two drops of food coloring spread throughout the glass of water. The Bible tells us that we become new creations when we believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior! There is a changing effect when Jesus enters our lives!

Snack:

Pair everyone in the family with someone and tie them together. Use a bandana or strip of old sheeting to tie right arm to partner’s left arm and another piece to tie right leg to partner’s left leg. Now, each pair will build two ice cream sundaes—one sundae for each of them. Do not put the ingredients out on the counter, but leave them where they are usually stored. Each pair will have to work together, moving around the kitchen to gather supplies, in order to build the sundaes. While you enjoy your sundaes (still tied together), talk about how this snack experience connects with the story of how Jesus sent the 72 out. Why do you think Jesus sent them in pairs, instead of sending them out in 72 different directions? Even though there were two men going out together, they had one purpose—to preach the Kingdom of God. You had one purpose in working together, also—to build and eat your sundaes.

Family Bible Time:

Read the following verses and use the questions to discuss what you read.

Isaiah 6:8

• Describe the attitude of Isaiah in this verse.

• Does your attitude need to change? Are you anxious to be sent by God to spread His message?

Mark 6:7-9

• Jesus sent out the 12 and the 72. What are the similarities in the two stories?

Matthew 28:19-20

• You are commanded to go and make disciples! You do not need to leave your town to do this. There are people living around your own house who may not know Jesus. Who do you live near that may not know Jesus?

Adapted from @2012 The Kitchen, Year 3, Quarter 1.

How to Argue Your Case With God
January 14-15, 2012
Willing Series
Genesis 18:16-33; Exodus 32:7-14

Getting Started

1. Do you believe that prayer makes a difference? Why or why not?

2. How would your life change if you believed in your heart that prayer actually made a difference?

Going Deeper

3. Why would God disclose his plans to us?

4. When should we pray, “Thy will be done”?

5. How should we approach God in prayer? How do you approach God in prayer?

6. What does it mean to pray in the name of Jesus?

Look! It's the Son of God!

Your Children Will Learn: John baptized Jesus. Jesus is God's Son.

Memory verse for unit 5- John said, "I know this is God's Son." John 1:34b

Just for Parents -
John spent many long, hot days in the desert telling people to get ready because the special One would be coming soon. Many people asked him, “When, John? When is the special One coming?” John kept on watching and waiting. But in the meantime, he just kept doing the things God had put in front of him: preaching, teaching people about God and the special One, and baptizing people. We can all agree that John was an unusual person. After all, how many of us are eating grasshoppers for lunch? Yet, his life sets an example for us all. He lived his life with an ever present expectation that Jesus was just about to come around the corner. He continued to obey and serve God, knowing that at any minute, the special One would be right there in front of him. We too, are waiting for Jesus to come. Like John, we can continue to obey and serve God and share the good news of Jesus. So people, get ready! Jesus is coming!

Monday - Read & Do

Read Mark 1:4-8; John 1:29-34. Ask your child: “Who baptized Jesus? Where was Jesus baptized? Then what happened?”

Tuesday - Out & About

John the Baptist pointed people to Jesus. He knew Jesus is God’s Son. Some people don’t know who Jesus is. When you are out today, you can point people to Jesus. You can behave in a way that shows the love of Jesus, and your children will follow your example.

Wednesday - Art

John said, “Look, it’s the Lamb of God,” when he saw Jesus. Draw a picture of a lamb on a piece of paper. Glue cotton balls all over the lamb. While you are working together, talk to your child about the other things John said about Jesus in the Bible story. Write the memory verse next to the lamb and practice saying it together.

Thursday - Snack

Make marshmallow lambs with large-sized marshmallows and pretzel sticks. Say to your child, “When John said, ‘Look, it’s the Lamb of God,’ who was he talking about? Who is Jesus?”

Friday - Pray & Praise
Take some time to worship together as a family. You can simply sing along with a children’s  worship CD or make up your own worship songs. You can sing together while cleaning up after  dinner, or designate a more specific time for worship. When your hearts unite in worship, your hearts will unite as one.

Adapted from ©2008 Little Son Catchers, Year Two, Winter Quarter

Join us this weekend for one of the three NYC Mission Trip Information Meetings we're holding this weekend.

You can attend any one of the following meetings:

• Saturday, January 14 @ 6:45pm in room 212
• Sunday, January 15 @ 10:30am in room 212
• Sunday, January 15 @ 12:30pm in room 212

Q: What & Where?

Mission trip to New York City

New York is home to many things — Broadway, Times Square, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Empire State Building, Central Park, Wall Street, the Statue of Liberty, and 8 million of people of hundreds of nationalities. At the heart of the “City that Never Sleeps” are pastors, mission workers, and Christians who desire to see Jesus come alive in the lives of all 8 million New Yorkers. The lingering effects of 9/11 still remind citizens of their vulnerability and their resilience to push for something greater. We have that opportunity to minister to their hearts that are crying out for Someone!

Q: When?

May 26—June 2, 2012 (over Memorial Day)

Q: Why?

We will work with ministries and outreach in the city.  Much of our ministry will include personal evangelism, inner-city missions, homeless shelters, sidewalk Sunday School, and global outreach opportunities.

Q: Who?

Young adults (18-35*)

Current high school seniors, college students, 20 & 30-somethings.
*Some age exceptions may be made; please ask for details if you are truly interested.

Q: How?

Apply and get your deposit in TODAY!

Fill out an application (either download here or pick up a paper copy at the NYC Mission Trip Info meeting this weekend) and submit it with a $50 nonrefundable deposit (cash or check made out to Vineyard OP).

Q: How much?

Estimated costs are $1100 per person for the entire trip

This cost includes lodging, transportation, food, training and ministry materials, background checks, and more. The final cost will be set once the travel deposit is made (middle of February). Personal and corporate fundraising, as well as tax-deductable donations, are available.

Q: What else?

Pre-trip preparation meetings will be held 5 times prior to the trip departure.  Attend the info meeting for more information.

More questions?

Email us at nymissions@vineyardop.org.
More info on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/nycmissions2012