Weekly Update April 22
This Wednesday night at Hyfi It is our final week of Stand Out and kids will learn about Saul, a religious leader who persecuted Christians. Because of Jesus confronting Saul in a radical way, Saul’s life was transformed, and he began sharing the gospel of Jesus instead of persecuting Christians. Saul’s (later called Paul) story reminds us of the transformational change that happens in our lives when we surrender to Jesus. We may not experience such a radical encounter as Saul, but the transformation that takes place in our lives is just as special and valuable. Because of Jesus, we can stand up and tell others around us about who He is and why He came.
Who can you stand up and tell about Jesus? Encourage your kids to think of one person with whom they can share the gospel. Set an incredible example by sharing Jesus with that person in front of your kids. Seeing you stand up and share Jesus can help your kids grow in confidence to share Him too.
This Wednesday Night at Refuge Students we will continue our series through 1 John together entitled Standing Firm. This week we will be studying 1 John 4:1-6 and your student will learn that true believers should test everyone who claims to be a Christian teacher and shouldn't get discouraged when the world follows false teachers because the Holy Spirit in believers is greater than Sin and Satan. As believers, we need to know that the message of the gospel will never be popular with the rest of the world but there will always be a group of believers in the world who follow God's voice regardless.
As your student gets older it will become increasingly important for them to test and evaluate everyone who claims to be a Christian teacher because one day they will be responsible for determining what church they will attend and who they will listen to. John instructs us that true Christian teachers "acknowledge the truth about Jesus" (1 John 4:3). This means that true Christian teachers proclaim the message of Jesus (the gospel) and exalt Jesus as the greatest reality. This week, challenge your students by speaking to them about the importance of testing everyone who claims to be a Christian teacher. This includes everyone from pastors to Sunday school teachers, to people that claim to be experts on Christianity and post on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. I know for a fact that we have students who interact with Christian social media content. This is not bad, in fact its very good that they are trying to learn and grow in the faith, but we must always remember that there are wolves amongst the sheep!
This week at Sunday School and at Refuge Hangout we will be taking a look at Acts 8, the story of the Ethiopian official's baptism. The story of the Ethiopian official's baptism began with an angel giving a command to Philip, an apostle of Jesus Christ. Philip's on-the-spot obedience led him to clarify the Scriptures and point the Ethiopian official to Christ. As a result of Philip's desire to live on mission, the Lord provided an opportunity for the gospel to spread further throughout the world.
In what ways did the context of Acts 8 seem inopportune for spreading God’s Word? How did Philip’s willingness to be led by the Holy Spirit play a part in this story of practical evangelism?
In the beginning of today’s reading, we see the rippling effects of Stephen’s stoning (Acts 7). Severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all but the apostles scattered while Saul ravaged the church. However, as these believers dispersed, they continued living on mission, preaching the Word of God boldly rather than cowering to their circumstances.
Making his way down the road God chose for him, Philip came across this traveling eunuch who needed someone to explain the meaning of Isaiah 53. Just as we read in Romans 10 that we cannot believe God’s truth without hearing or having it preached, the Ethiopian official declared that he needed a guide. While Philip did not know everything about the mysteries of God, he trusted that the Holy Spirit guided him down that desert road with divine purpose.
Emphasize the simplicity of this story to your children this week: a follower of Jesus stepped confidently into a situation where the Lord had gone before him. Like Philip, may we trust and obey the leading of the Holy Spirit for the sake of making the gospel known to others!
That's all I have for this week! May the Lord bless and keep your family,
MATT TUCKER OUT!!!
Who can you stand up and tell about Jesus? Encourage your kids to think of one person with whom they can share the gospel. Set an incredible example by sharing Jesus with that person in front of your kids. Seeing you stand up and share Jesus can help your kids grow in confidence to share Him too.
This Wednesday Night at Refuge Students we will continue our series through 1 John together entitled Standing Firm. This week we will be studying 1 John 4:1-6 and your student will learn that true believers should test everyone who claims to be a Christian teacher and shouldn't get discouraged when the world follows false teachers because the Holy Spirit in believers is greater than Sin and Satan. As believers, we need to know that the message of the gospel will never be popular with the rest of the world but there will always be a group of believers in the world who follow God's voice regardless.
As your student gets older it will become increasingly important for them to test and evaluate everyone who claims to be a Christian teacher because one day they will be responsible for determining what church they will attend and who they will listen to. John instructs us that true Christian teachers "acknowledge the truth about Jesus" (1 John 4:3). This means that true Christian teachers proclaim the message of Jesus (the gospel) and exalt Jesus as the greatest reality. This week, challenge your students by speaking to them about the importance of testing everyone who claims to be a Christian teacher. This includes everyone from pastors to Sunday school teachers, to people that claim to be experts on Christianity and post on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. I know for a fact that we have students who interact with Christian social media content. This is not bad, in fact its very good that they are trying to learn and grow in the faith, but we must always remember that there are wolves amongst the sheep!
This week at Sunday School and at Refuge Hangout we will be taking a look at Acts 8, the story of the Ethiopian official's baptism. The story of the Ethiopian official's baptism began with an angel giving a command to Philip, an apostle of Jesus Christ. Philip's on-the-spot obedience led him to clarify the Scriptures and point the Ethiopian official to Christ. As a result of Philip's desire to live on mission, the Lord provided an opportunity for the gospel to spread further throughout the world.
In what ways did the context of Acts 8 seem inopportune for spreading God’s Word? How did Philip’s willingness to be led by the Holy Spirit play a part in this story of practical evangelism?
In the beginning of today’s reading, we see the rippling effects of Stephen’s stoning (Acts 7). Severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all but the apostles scattered while Saul ravaged the church. However, as these believers dispersed, they continued living on mission, preaching the Word of God boldly rather than cowering to their circumstances.
Making his way down the road God chose for him, Philip came across this traveling eunuch who needed someone to explain the meaning of Isaiah 53. Just as we read in Romans 10 that we cannot believe God’s truth without hearing or having it preached, the Ethiopian official declared that he needed a guide. While Philip did not know everything about the mysteries of God, he trusted that the Holy Spirit guided him down that desert road with divine purpose.
Emphasize the simplicity of this story to your children this week: a follower of Jesus stepped confidently into a situation where the Lord had gone before him. Like Philip, may we trust and obey the leading of the Holy Spirit for the sake of making the gospel known to others!
That's all I have for this week! May the Lord bless and keep your family,
MATT TUCKER OUT!!!
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