Weekly Update Feb 26th
I hope everyone had a great week last week. A couple of announcements for this week:
This Sunday at Sunday School and at Refuge Hangout your kids will be learning about Acts 2. The latter portions of Acts 2 relay the Holy Spirit’s transformational work within not only the apostle Peter’s life but also in the lives of thousands of new believers in Jerusalem. Here we read of the power of the Holy Spirit at work within the life of Peter to bring life transformation to thousands who heard his message. What evidence do we see of genuine life transformation in Peter’s life? How is the Holy Spirit’s power made evident by the legacy of the Acts 2 church? The apostle Peter’s life was one of Scripture's greatest examples of discipleship. Though he had personally journeyed for three years alongside the Savior, Peter struggled with fear, hesitancy, and uncertainty. He was the man who sank from doubt while walking on water and denied Jesus’ lordship not once—but three times. However, the Peter we find in Acts 2 seems to have overcome these stumbling blocks to his faith. But how? It was through the power of the Holy Spirit at work in his life, enabling and encouraging him to do the Lord’s will. The miracle of discipleship did not end with Peter simply learning from Jesus and being filled with His Spirit, only to then retreat and retire from his personal spiritual journey. Instead, he proclaimed the truth of the gospel’s good news for mankind and brought many new believers into the fold as well. We read of Peter’s call to repentance for all those gathered in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, but how can we know that these hearers truly experienced life transformation by the Spirit? The proof was in their legacy as a church, through the lifestyles they took on upon coming to the faith: devotion to the Scriptures, fellowship with one another, enjoying meals together, and prayer.
As you teach your kids this week, remember the role you play as a proclaimer of Christ’s truths to the next generation, taking part in His mission so that your children may follow suit. As you lead a life of faithfulness and fruitfulness, they will see and experience the power of the Holy Spirit at work in your life.
This Wednesday at Hyfi your children will learn about how God shows us Himself through His Son. God sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to show us how to live and to teach us about God. As Nicodemus asked Jesus hard questions about the kingdom of God in John 3, Jesus shows us who He is and who God is. Take time this week to talk about the characteristics of Jesus. Remind your family that we can know God more because of Jesus.
This Wednesday at Refuge Students we are going to double back on 1 John 2:18-27. Students had a lot of good questions about this passage last week. This week we'll be answering the question, "who/what is the antichrist?" We'll also be answering the question, "what doctrines are essential to the gospel, and what doctrines can we agree to disagree on as believers?" These are practical and important questions that define who we seek unity with as believers, and who we determine are likely outside of the faith. In preparation for this week, read 1 John 2:18-27 with your students and answer the question, "what doctrines are essential to the gospel and salvation?"
Finally, there will be a volunteer training session March 27th on gender and sexuality issues facing our children today." Even though it is a "volunteer training session," it is open for any parents who want to come. We will be focusing on issues such as pornography, homosexuality, and transgenderism. We will be taking a look at these issues and how we can best navigate them as a church, and as individuals.
One thing that shocked me in my research for this training session was that the average age of first exposure to pornography is nine. We have a responsibility as believers and parents to educate our children on what it means to be made in the image of God and what it means to be made distinctly male and female. The Christian view of sexuality is the only view that restores to mankind the dignity in intimate relationships God created us to possess. Don't wait until it's too late to create a plan for educating your children on these issues because society certainly isn't!!!
This Sunday at Sunday School and at Refuge Hangout your kids will be learning about Acts 2. The latter portions of Acts 2 relay the Holy Spirit’s transformational work within not only the apostle Peter’s life but also in the lives of thousands of new believers in Jerusalem. Here we read of the power of the Holy Spirit at work within the life of Peter to bring life transformation to thousands who heard his message. What evidence do we see of genuine life transformation in Peter’s life? How is the Holy Spirit’s power made evident by the legacy of the Acts 2 church? The apostle Peter’s life was one of Scripture's greatest examples of discipleship. Though he had personally journeyed for three years alongside the Savior, Peter struggled with fear, hesitancy, and uncertainty. He was the man who sank from doubt while walking on water and denied Jesus’ lordship not once—but three times. However, the Peter we find in Acts 2 seems to have overcome these stumbling blocks to his faith. But how? It was through the power of the Holy Spirit at work in his life, enabling and encouraging him to do the Lord’s will. The miracle of discipleship did not end with Peter simply learning from Jesus and being filled with His Spirit, only to then retreat and retire from his personal spiritual journey. Instead, he proclaimed the truth of the gospel’s good news for mankind and brought many new believers into the fold as well. We read of Peter’s call to repentance for all those gathered in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, but how can we know that these hearers truly experienced life transformation by the Spirit? The proof was in their legacy as a church, through the lifestyles they took on upon coming to the faith: devotion to the Scriptures, fellowship with one another, enjoying meals together, and prayer.
As you teach your kids this week, remember the role you play as a proclaimer of Christ’s truths to the next generation, taking part in His mission so that your children may follow suit. As you lead a life of faithfulness and fruitfulness, they will see and experience the power of the Holy Spirit at work in your life.
This Wednesday at Hyfi your children will learn about how God shows us Himself through His Son. God sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to show us how to live and to teach us about God. As Nicodemus asked Jesus hard questions about the kingdom of God in John 3, Jesus shows us who He is and who God is. Take time this week to talk about the characteristics of Jesus. Remind your family that we can know God more because of Jesus.
This Wednesday at Refuge Students we are going to double back on 1 John 2:18-27. Students had a lot of good questions about this passage last week. This week we'll be answering the question, "who/what is the antichrist?" We'll also be answering the question, "what doctrines are essential to the gospel, and what doctrines can we agree to disagree on as believers?" These are practical and important questions that define who we seek unity with as believers, and who we determine are likely outside of the faith. In preparation for this week, read 1 John 2:18-27 with your students and answer the question, "what doctrines are essential to the gospel and salvation?"
Finally, there will be a volunteer training session March 27th on gender and sexuality issues facing our children today." Even though it is a "volunteer training session," it is open for any parents who want to come. We will be focusing on issues such as pornography, homosexuality, and transgenderism. We will be taking a look at these issues and how we can best navigate them as a church, and as individuals.
One thing that shocked me in my research for this training session was that the average age of first exposure to pornography is nine. We have a responsibility as believers and parents to educate our children on what it means to be made in the image of God and what it means to be made distinctly male and female. The Christian view of sexuality is the only view that restores to mankind the dignity in intimate relationships God created us to possess. Don't wait until it's too late to create a plan for educating your children on these issues because society certainly isn't!!!
Matt Tucker out!!!
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