Family Ministry

Upside Down Kingdom...

Starting Wednesday November 30th theRock and theRoad are starting  a new teaching series all about God's Kingdom here's what we're talking about and ways for parents to connect with your students about the topic:

Upside Down Overview...

In the Upside Down series, we are going to look at something Jesus talked a lot about—the kingdom of God. Many of the people who heard His message firsthand thought that He was talking about a kingdom where Jesus would be in political power, and that their lives would be easier than their present circumstances under Roman rule. But Jesus was talking about something bigger than that—a kingdom where His desire for broken things to be restored is met. Jesus was talking about ushering in an upside down kingdom

Session One: Inverted Reality (November 30th)

Last will be first. Give to receive. Lose to gain. People who mourn are blessed. All statements Jesus made, yet they seem so opposite from how our world functions and even how we are wired, don’t they? But the kingdom of God is upside down compared to the kingdoms we seek to establish. The life Christ calls us to counters every natural and selfish inclination we have, but His way, His kingdom, is far better than anything we could have in mind. And when we surrender to God’s kingdom, we begin to live this upside down life that somehow brings more fulfillment, more peace, more satisfaction than the reality we live in every day.   

Session Two Parent Cue: How is God’s kingdom the opposite of how the world operates?

Session Two: An Upside Down World (December 7th)

It’s easy to think that God’s kingdom is just about Him and us. It’s easy to forget that we are part of something bigger, something more vast that just our relationship with Him. We are part of His kingdom both some day, and now. We are a part of His mission to restore things that are broken, whether that’s in our own lives or in the lives of those around us, or those half way around the world. And when we live with a future kingdom in mind we can start to make it a more present reality.

Session Three Parent Cue: What are some things that are “broken” around us? How can we be a part of God’s restoration with those things?

Boys vs. Girls

Recently, I read a couple of blog posts relating to issues of self worth that boys face and that girls face. Both posts had some really insightful thoughts and great reminders. I thought I'd share them with you:

Raising Strong Men

Raising Beautiful Girls

Check them out!

November's Bible Verse

Here is a look at November's preschool bible verse.  It takes just a few minutes to practice this verse with your child and can be lots of fun. How amazing that they can have God's word in their heart at such a young age!

 

Last Wednesday at theRock & theRoad

Parents,

                On Monday, October 31st there was a bus accident involving an eleven year old boy from Janesville.  This boy, Justin Bradfield, was a 6^th Grader involved in theRock on Wednesday nights at Prairie Lakes Church.  Justin was in a small group and he was friends with several of our students and leaders.  This Wednesday at theRock we took time to share the loss of Justin with all our students.  We were able to talk about Justin, show a short video of him, and then pray for the family.  We had counselors and chaplains available for students to talk with as needed.  As we shared the life of Justin we were able to challenge our students to think about their own eternal security.  This situation may have an impact on your son or daughter, and we encourage you to discuss Justin’s accident with your children in order to help them manage any thoughts or feelings they may have.  If you discover that you or your children need assistance in dealing with Justin’s accident, we have chaplains and counselors available.  Please don’t hesitate to call or e-mail for help.  Thank you for partnering with us in the ministry and for allowing your sons and daughters to be a part of The Better Story that God is unfolding at Prairie Lakes Church.  We couldn’t do this without your support. 

Daylight Savings Time

Just a reminder that Daylight Savings Time is this weekend.Don't forget to turn your clocks back on Saturday night! 

Happy Helpers!

We all need help. We all need to help others.  This month, you and your preschooler can learn together how God made us to help each other.   Here is one of our curriculum writers, Autumn Ward, explaining how important this truth is for us and for preschoolers!

 

Looking for ideas to help your child be a "happy helper?"  Here are a few ways you can do this:

• Give your child opportunities to help others at home. As they do, tell them how they are being a "happy helper" just like God wants them to. 
• When you pray with your child, ask God to show you ways you can help others. 
• Tell your preschooler how you are helping someone.
• Bring an offering to your Wee Kids class on Sunday morning so you can help people who are hungry (NE Iowa Food Bank). 

Got more great ideas about teaching our preschoolers about being "happy helpers"? Be sure to leave a comment with your great idea!

 

 

Who Am I? Teaching Series...

Who Am I? is theRock and theRoad's teaching series ending on Wednesday November 16th.

The Who Am I? Teaching Series is designed to engage three Truths about our Identity in Christ.

1. I Am Accepted in Christ...
2. I Am Secure in Christ...
3. I Am Significant in Christ...

The teaching week on our Acceptance in Christ is supported by the Biblical story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10 as well as these other Biblical Truths...

• I am God's Child - John 1:12
• I am Christ's friend - John 15:15
• I am a member of Christ's body - 1 Cor. 12:27
• I am a saint - Ephesians 1:1
• I have been adopted by God - Ephesians 1:5
• I am bought with a price; I belong to God - 1 Cor. 6:19-20

The teaching week on our Security in Christ is supported by the Biblical story of Peter in Matthew 14:22-33 as well as these other Biblical Truths...

• I am free from condemnation - Romans 8:1-2
• I am established, anointed, and sealed by God - 2 Cor. 1:21-22
• I am hidden with Christ in God - Colossians 3:3
• I am a citizen of heaven - Philippians 1:6
• I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me - 1 John 5:18

The teaching week on our Significance in Christ is supported by the Biblical story of David found in 1 Samuel 16:1-13 as well as these other Biblical Truths...

• I am God's temple - 1 Cor. 3:16
• I am God's workmanship - Ephesians 2:10
• I am fearfully and wonderfully made - Psalm 139:14
• You knew me before I was even born - Psalm 139:15-16

Overall we desire our students to wrestle with the thoughts of who the world says that they are and who are they in Christ. Their answer at the end of this teaching series will hopefully be with resounding assurance that they are Accepted, Secure, and Significant in Christ.

Kidventure/FX Parent Resources

We have 3 new Parent Resources for you to use this school year. We are really excited to offer these to you.  Here they are...

1. Parent Cue app for your Smart Phone.
   An app on your phone that has Drive Time, Hang Time, Meal Time, and Parent Time areas for you to access infomation that relates to the monthly virtue and weekly stories from Kidventure.  We are giving each family $1 at FX on Nov. 2nd because we feel that it's that valuable of a tool.
   
    
2. www.Studio252.tv Website: A website that includes the weekly material, including music, that your child learns in Kidventure/FX. There is a monthly fee for this after you use your 1 month free trial code.
    
3. Memory Verse Card: A card that includes the monthly verse, along with other weekly verses for you to memorize as a family.       

Please take advantage of these wonderful resources as PLC partners with you.