3 Really Important Talks You Must Have With Children

You may be thinking "I was nervous enough about the ONE 'talk' I needed to have.  Now you tell me there are THREE!!"

Yes, three talks but here is something really important to remember about these talks.
They are not "one and done" types of talks.   They are ongoing talks and we want to provide resources for you to have each of these conversations with your children.  

We are going to take part of our next three parenting classes to go through each of these topics.  We will provide you with some great resources and talking points each week.

These topics are for any one who wants to help their child or children grow in their relationship with God and Jesus Christ.

• Talk about Salvation, which we will be talking about on January 8th in our parenting class.

Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart by J.D. Grearr
How to Lead Your Child to Christ by Nancy Machowski

• Talk about Worship, which we will be talking about January 15th in our parenting class.

Ten Unexpected Man-Centered Causes of Family Tension by Sam Crabtree
Family Worship by Donald S. Whitney

• Talk about Relationships and Sexuality, which we will be talking about on January 22nd in our parenting class.

Time for the Talk by Zollos

RECENTLY UPDATED: God Gives Israel a Prophet & Judge - 12.04

This week's lesson is Lesson 14, which is in book 2.

2015-07-19 CM Preview from Faith Church on Vimeo.

Personal note from Pastor Dave.

I am not teaching this month so I didn't spend time prepping a lesson.  However during a conversation with Krista tonight (Saturday) I realized there is a strong Christmas connection in this lesson.  

As we learned in the book of Judges, Israel was disobedient and didn't deserve God's mercy but in today's lesson, God sent a baby to help them.  This baby would become the judge and the prophet Samuel.

As we celebrate Christmas we remember that God sent a baby to VERY undeserving sinners - US.  This baby was the Messiah.  He didn't become the Messiah.  He was the Messiah.

Be Strong & Courageous!! God calls Joshua!

Be sure to pick up one of these Take Home Sheets each Sunday.

Title:

God calls Joshua to be His Servant

Passage:

Joshua  1:1—9

Principle:

God requires believers to live as His Servant

Prompt:    

Ask your child these questions:

What did God command Joshua?

What did God promise Joshua?

How did God fulfill His promise to give Israel the     Promised Land?

Practice: 

Help your child apply these truths in the following ways:

By being strong and courageous in serving God.

By memorizing and meditating on God’s Word.

Verses: 

2 year olds through kinder: 2 Corinthians 9:8a

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, 

1^st through 5^th grade:  2 Corinthians 12:9

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Missionary: 

Newsome

Ministry: 

Groceries for Life

Here are resource to help you and your family talk about

communion,

worship,

sexuality

Here are some posts to help you know how to talk about "racism"

Racial Tension:  What are we teaching our children?

http://www.allprodad.com/racial-tension-what-are-we-teaching-our-children/

Answers in Genesis video on Races 

Focus on the Family article on Teaching Your Kids about Racial Harmony.

Children's Ministry article on Stopping Racism Before It Starts

Be sure to pick up our quarterly EKIDZ guide in the racks by the check in kiosks

The Good Work of Teaching Kids! Thank you from Diane.

Thank you for teaching the children at EBC!!

Greetings to all,

I hope that your summer has been a pleasant one with family and friends. 

I want to take some time and exhort all who play a huge part in serving on Sunday’s, Special Child Care events, Impact Services, those of you who step up and serve in times where there are last minute changes.

Pastor Dave and I can’t thank you enough for your servant’s spirit and using your gifts & talents that God has given you to use for the furtherance of the Kingdom of God.

In my devotions from the The Gospel Primer for Christians, today it reminded me of why we serve. “ Saved for Good Works “ When God “works “ in me day by day, He does so in order to produce in me the desire and the power to “ work  for His good pleasure. “  

Philippians 2: 12-13 says "So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed….. work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

Ephesians 2:10 says "For we are His Workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

This fall, we are entering into year 2 for the second time around with our Children Desiring God curriculum, which goes through the Bible in three years.

It is a privilege to see the changes in the hearts of not only our children but you who faithfully present the Word of God on the level in which our children are hearing it and seeds of truth are being planted in the hearts on a weekly basis.  As well as parents committing to the spiritual upbringing of their children.

Yet we know we are only instruments, servants of God, to share the love of God with children knowing that it is God who draws men, women, boys, and girls to himself.
Let us remind each other. “ Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:23-24.

Diane Smith

Director of Children Ministry

God establishes the priesthood.

2015-02-01 CM Preview from Faith Church on Vimeo.

God ordains the sacrificial system (06.26)

2015-01-25 CM Preview from Faith Church on Vimeo.

God’s Presence Fills the Tabernacle (Exodus 33-34; 40)

God can satisfy us like nothing else!

2015-01-25 CM Preview from Faith Church on Vimeo.

God's plans reveal who God is!! (Exodus 25-31)

Look on the right for the link to the Summer Quarter Teaching schedule.  

GOD ORDAINS THE TABERNACLE!

So what does ORDAIN mean?

Merriam-Webster define it as "to establish or order by appointment, decree, or law."

God established His dwelling place, the tabernacle, to reveal the truth about who HE is and what are relationship with us is like.

Understand this word ORDAIN and decide how you want to communicate it becauseTHREE of the next SIX lessons deal with God ORDAINING the tabernacle, the sacrificial system and the Day of Atonement.  
God revealed His plans for this building, these laws and this special day to help the people understand who He is, who they are and what God did, was doing and was going to do for them.

Help the children understand the layout of the tabernacle 
BUT EVEN MORE THAN THAT
Help them understand the purpose of the tabernacle.

Three years ago, when we taught this lesson some teachers put a pattern on the classroom floor.
Along with this visual the teachers also gave some specific directions on how the children were to maneuver through the pattern.

Something to remember as you are preparing and sharing...

• Each piece of furniture...
• Show the sinner's need
• Symbolized God's temporary provision
• pointed to a greater fulfillment in the coming Messiah.

Here is a infographic on the message of the tabernacle.  To download your own digital copy click HERE 



And below is the week's Teaching Help Video from Faith Church.
Don't mind the date on the video.

2014-12-21 CM Preview from Faith Church on Vimeo.

Serving as & Discipling for Families

Post updated at 9:30 pm, 05.21.16 with some pictures from the work day!

Excited to be heading to Jamaica
and
Sad about missing the opportunity to serve alongside EBC families Remember you need to be serving others!




Here are some pictures of the Work Day!
LOVE seeing people of many different ages working together!!!

While more "skilled" workers might have gotten things done faster, there was some great work done today for the Aurora House by EBC families!

Parenting and the Puritans

By sharing resources from the Puritans, I don't want to suggest that the time of the Puritans or the ways of the Puritans were perfect.  There is no "good old days" after the Fall (Genesis 3) that we should long for.


Here are some quotes on parenting from different Puritans.

"If parents would have their children blessed at church and at school, let them beware they give their children no corrupt examples of home by any carelessness, profaneness or ungodliness.  Otherwise, parents will do them more harm at home than bother pastors and schoolmasters can do them good abroad.  For the corrupt example of the one fighteth with the good instruction of the other, which is so much the more dangerous because that corrupt walking is armed with nature and therefor more forcibly inclineth the affections of the children to that side."  (Richard Greenham)

From the old Puritan John Flavel's classic work The Mystery of Providence.The second chapter is an explanation of why we need to worship God for his kind providence in our childhood.  To read the entire post, click HERE

"Now, the purpose of these 8 considerations is not to make parents despair, but to help them see their responsibility.  Flavel acknowledges, of course, that God is the only one who can bring a child to salvation and that God’s purposes are his own. And yet the Scriptures make it plain that the parents are to raise their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Every parent would do well to ponder these 8 items."
This is an abbreviated version of the 8 items.

1. Consider the intimacy of the relationship between you and your children, and, therefore, how much their happiness or misery is your concern. 
2. Consider that God has charged you to tend not only to their bodies, but also to their souls. 
3. Consider what could possibly comfort you at the time of your children’s death if, through your neglect, they die in a Christless condition.
4. Consider this question: If you neglect to instruct your children in the way of holiness, will the devil neglect to instruct them in the way of wickedness?
5. Consider that if the years of your children’s youth are neglected, there is little probability of any good fruit afterwards.
6. Consider that you are the instrumental cause of all your children’s spiritual misery, both by generation and imitation, by birth and by example. 
7. Consider that there is no one in the world more likely than you to be instruments of their eternal good. 
8. Consider the great day of judgment and be moved with pity for your children. 

Parental Guidance Required! - sermon resource

Click the Image to go to the sermon series.

This Sermon Series Parental Guidance Required from Northridge Church contains some great Biblical parenting principles.
The first two messages, 
The Greatest Threat to Your Child's Spirituality & 
The Greatest Hope for Your Child's Spirituality, 
lay a strong foundation for parents.

Basics of Family Worship

It is my prayer that Emmanuel Baptist Church could help parents understand their role as the primary disciple maker in their child's life.

To help with this there are going to be posts each day to help you help your child

Tonight (Sunday) - Basics of family worship

Monday - Parental Guidance Required  sermon series from Northridge Church

Tuesday -  Thought from the Puritans on Parenting

Wednesday - The Importance of Inefficient Service 

Thursday - The Role Camps Can Play in Assisting Your Family

Friday - A Reminder About Kids In Church

Saturday -  Family Discipleship Video  

BASICS OF FAMILY WORSHIP:

This post includes 

a video by Don Whitney that answers several different questions.

several links to posts about family devotional how to's & failures.

An outline of the questions asked with timestamps:

• 00:00 – What is your own personal history when it comes to family worship?
• 1:45 – Was family worship a regular part of your childhood?
• 2:56 – What have you found historically and biblically that has encouraged you to think that family worship is significant?
• 5:09 – What exactly is family worship?
• 6:49 – What is the most difficult element of family worship?
• 7:47 – What would you say to people who are discouraged by seeming failure in family worship?
• 10:30 – Is the only audience you have in mind for this book parents with kids?
• 12:29 – What are you praying the Lord will do through your book in the lives of those who read it?

Here are some honest posts about family worship:

• 11 Reasons to Worship With Your Family  https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/11-reasons-to-worship-with-your-family/
• The What, When & How of Family Worship  https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/then-what-when-and-how-of-family-worship
• How We Do Family Worship  http://www.challies.com/christian-living/how-we-do-family-devotions
• Come Follow a Failure  http://nbfamilies.blogspot.com/2013/10/comefollow-failure.html
• Family Devotion Failure and of All Days  http://ekidzministry.blogspot.com/2016/05/family-devotion-failure-and-of-all-days.html

God preserves Israel for the covenant!

Family Devotion Failure and of all the days it was today

I was going to post some family worship ideas/thoughts yesterday.


At first I was disappointed that I didn't get a chance to post but this morning I realized God had more He wanted me to learn before posting.


This past Sunday EKIDZ lesson was "God preserves the Israelites in the wilderness." ekidzministry.blogspot.com/2016/05/teacher-resource-god-preserves-israel.html
Our good, loving God provided in amazing ways for the Israelites despite their complaining.

The Israelites complained against God when they were thirsty (15:24).
Still, God made undrinkable water drinkable (15:25).

The Israelites complained against God when they were hungry (16:1-2).
Still, God provided manna and quail (16:12).

The Israelites complained when they were thirsty again (17:2).
Still, God provided water from a rock (17:8).

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we had some good times of family worship.
On Tuesday, I even shared with the kids a great section of the Gospel Primer that was connected with that days devotional.

Every time  I deliberately disobey a command of God, it is because I am in that moment doubtful as to God’s true intentions in giving me that command. Does He really have my best interests at heart? Or is He withholding something from me that I would be better off having?  Such questions, whether consciously asked or not, lie underneath every act of disobedience.

Each of these days we did the devotionals from the Generation of Grace Family Devotional Guide.  

We prayed and then sent the kids off.

IT WAS AWESOME!!!  

And then this morning. 
I don't need to go into the gory details but let me just say this Thursday morning was no Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday morning.  NOT EVEN CLOSE!!!!

We did NOTHING for family devotions.  Not. A. Single. Thing.
The kids almost missed their ride to school.  

After they left, I told Krista I had really wanted to do today's Family Devotion with them.
After all, it was the Gospel Connection!
First three days - God is a great provider.
Fourth day - Thursday - this morning - of all the mornings - Jesus provides living water.  John 4:7 - 15.  The water Jesus offered the woman at the well  was so much better than the miraculous water from the rock.

But not this morning!!!

And to make matters "worse" I was the elementary chapel speaker this morning.
The living water devotional coupled with what I was talking about in chapel was going to be a great one-two Gospel combination for my kids and for me.

But not today!!!  Of all the days to have a Family Devotions Failure

This morning God wanted to teach me something so much different than my planned one-two combination.  This morning God helped me realize a couple of important truths...

• It is not about the perfectly planned presentation.  It is about faithfulness and consistency, even on those CRAZY hair pulling mornings.  The kids knew that Krista and I had planned to do devotions with them.  I will talk with them about what needs to be different in the mornings.  The reality is families have mornings like this.  
• I have to make the most of the opportunities that God does provide and not let what seems like missed opportunities take my eyes off of the One who truly does the work.  Despite the bad morning.  I think the chapel message was clear.
• This is just another long list of personal reminders that family worship is difficult but it is worth it.  HERE is an "encouraging" article entitled "Stumbling through Family Faith Talks for the Glory of God."  

These talks don't always go as planned.  O.K. to be honest more than "don't always go as planned."  BUT sharing the life-changing truths of the Gospel with my family, the one's God has entrusted to me, is more important than my ease and comfort.

As a pastor, I want to help the families at Emmanuel Baptist Church, understand the importance of and some basic way to do family devotions.  This is the purpose of this blog.  If you have questions leave in the comment section below or go to www.emmanuelbaptist.com/email/

The Power of God at the Red Sea and in your life!

Saw this quote tonight and it reminded me of last week's lesson...

"If you are a born again believer, you have experienced the power of God every bit as majestic and mighty as the parting of the Red Sea"  Kevin DeYoung

Kids, Baptism, Communion and Celebrating Jesus Christ!

This Sunday night we have our monthly IMPACT service.  
I (Pastor Dave) have the opportunity and privilege of sharing the devotional before communion.

With that being said I want to encourage families with children to come out Sunday night for this meeting which includes baptisms, communion and some important church business matters.

For children kindergarten and under - there will be child care.
For older children - It would be great to have them see the baptism, hear the testimonies and learn more about and possibly take communion with the church.   

I want to use the rest of this blog to explain the "learn more about and possibly celebrate communion."
During the devotional time I am planning to share about the seriousness and the symbolism of baptism and communion.  
My goal is to prayerfully plan the teaching to help you have Gospel talking points with your child.
I also am going to share how God used communion to save me.  You will have to come and here about that.  It is not what you think!

Here is a video that explains communion using Passover, which was last week's lesson.

 

The information below is taken directly from www.thevillagechurch.net/the-village-blog/should-my-child-take-communion/

Some thoughts to remember

• In the Bible, there is no age of accountability or prescribed requirement.  The only prerequisite is that the participant be a follower of Jesus Christ.
• Never rush communion.  It's not magical so taking it sooner than later will not keep your kids from sin or earn them extra favor with God.
• Communion requires proper mental understanding and meaning spiritual reflection to hold significance.
• No one knows your child better than you and when it comes to a decision like this, trust the Lord's guidance and your discernment as a parent.
• Be prayerful about the matter.

Some questions to ask yourself

• Have they given a convincing profession of faith in Jesus?
• Are they showing fruit and evidence of conversion through obedience to and love for Jesus?
• Do they understand and can they articulate the significance of communion?

Some questions to talk with your child about

What is Communion?

Make sure they understand what communion is and what communion isn’t. I recommend starting with Jesus’ institution of the Lord’s Supper in Luke 22. Talk about what Jesus was teaching when He spoke to His disciples and how we continue to remember Jesus broken body and shed blood. Be sure to explain that what we are doing is symbolic and not literal. We are not literally drinking Jesus’ blood and eating His body. Communion is not magical.

Why Do We Take Communion?

Teach your child that we take communion because Jesus instructed us to and as a way of remembering and celebrating what He did for us. 1 Corinthians 11:26 tells us that as often as we eat of the bread and drink the cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes again. 

How Do We Take Communion?

Coach your child through the logistics and the spirit of taking communion. Communion is done differently at every church, so coach them on the proper way to receive and the proper time to partake of the bread and juice. Also, help and encourage them to be in the right mindset. 1 Corinthians 11 gives personal instructions for taking communion and tells a believer to “examine himself” before eating and drinking.

God raises Moses to lead Israel (Family Guide) 04.10

This week's EKIDZ memory verse is

James 1:2

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.

What a great verse to memorize and meditate on during Mission's Month.

Here are some other family devotions helps from this week's lesson.

The Family Devotional Book from Generations of Grace 

has 5 days of devotional thoughts and questions 

related to each week's lessons.

Here are the 5 topics for this week's lesson

Day 1

God chose a humble man.

Exodus  3:1-10

Day 2

God confirmed His own power 

Exodus 3:11-4:17

Day 3

God gave Moses success  

Exodus 4:18-31

Day 4

God is the God of the living 

Matthew 22:23-33

Day 5

Jesus is the “I AM” 

John 8:58-59

Day 5 of each week is a New Testament/Gospel Connection

to the lesson.  

Here is a reading activity we did in the 1st - 3rd grade 10:30 class
that you can do with your wife.

Listen to Exodus 3:11-4:17 on a website or app.
Note the 5 different times Moses questioned God.
Discuss how God answered each of Moses' objections.
Think about how you can pray for your family and our missionaries
to make an impact for God and His glory.

The Emotions of Easter - The Fear of the Pharisees.

Today's reading is about The Fear of Judas.

Here are some quotes from  www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-would-judas-do

The Pharisees loved money (Luke 16:14), feared men (Matthew 26:5), and hated Jesus (Matthew 26:4).  

That formula may be lived out before you more than you realize.  The love of money often looks merely practical. The fear of men can hide behind masks.

But the Bible is clear: If you love money and fear men, you cannot love God or escape hell (Luke 16:13; John 5:44) — and you become a card-carrying member of the crowd who crucified the Author of life (Acts 3:15).  

The cross — that horrifying drama of hatred — was only a symptom of the Pharisees’ craving for money, approval, and power. It was as if they bought a billboard to advertise their love for money, and set on a hill for all to see.But they would never do something so obvious. What would the people say? They “feared the people” (Luke 22:2).  

In fact, the people’s love for Jesus was half the reason the religious leaders hated him so much. The authorities were cowards with cravings. They had to find a way to kill him quietly (Matthew 26:3–5). They had to find a way to murder an innocent man without losing any esteem or influence.

The Pharisees "feared the people" and they feared Jesus, which is why they paid Judas to betray Jesus.

The Emotions of Easter - Joy of Palm Sunday!

Each day from Wednesday through Sunday, we are going to post some daily readings for you and your family with the theme of "The Emotions of Easter!"

The reading is the Joy of Palm Sunday.

On Palm Sunday, Jesus entrance into the city is filled with joy!  Branch waving, coat dropping joy!







INTRODUCTION QUESTIONS:

What is joy?

Christian joy is a good feeling in the soul, produced by the Holy Spirit, as he causes us to see the beauty of Christ in the Word and in the world.

Now understand, describing joy as a good feeling is not a bad thing.  You don't necessarily have control over your feelings.  When you think about what God has done for you through Jesus Christ it should make you joyful.

What brings you joy?


What do you do when you are joyful?

READING:

Here are some quotes regarding the Joy of Palm Sunday from an article entitled "The Strange and Wonderful Ride."  Click HERE for the entire article.

Joy shines on Palm Sunday — a joy, as we now know, that anticipates a supernova of gladness coming on the following Sunday. In the thrill of hope, the crowds rehearse the praises of Psalm 118, pining that perhaps this is, at long last, the great “Son of David,” the promised royal rescuer, riding into the Holy City to definitively save his people. 

“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:9). Hosanna — a Hebrew declaration of adoration and delight — is the refrain for this triumphal entry.

The joy of Palm Sunday is a shadow of the joy to come.

Yet the joy of Palm Sunday forecasts the unrivaled euphoria to come on Easter morning.

In Jesus our joy comes from the most unlikely place.

The long-awaited Messiah comes not in human glory, but peculiar glory — the glory of strength in weakness, the glory of indomitable joy in excruciating pain, the glory of the Lion of Judah who gives himself as the Lamb of God. He comes on a donkey’s colt to be the stone the builders will utterly reject on Friday, and that God himself will unveil as the very cornerstone on Sunday morning. 

More help for this Sunday's KIDZ in Church time

After listening to the sermon, I wanted to give you more discussion helps.
HERE is the first post with resources.
You can also click HERE for why we do Kids in Church Sundays.

Think about and share ways you can help your child
guard their thinking
feed their desire for God
fight sin
share in our familial victory.

Are the movies and TV shows helping you
  guard your thinking
  feed Holy affections
  fight sin
  share in our familial victory?

Here is a more specific thing.

What kind of reaction do you have to the law?
Pastor Duke used the driving in Kansas illustration.
What do you do/think when you realize you are speeding?
1.  I am a speeder.  I speed.  I am going to continue speeding.
2.  Who made up these rules? 

This is a good illustration to adapt to your child's life.

Just a reminder, we post reminders about Kids in Church Sundays  
  on this site ekidzministry.com
  on the ekidz take home pages
  on the church face page www.facebook.com/ebctoledo
  in the weekly church email

We don't usually post it on the church calendar because the Sundays might change based on Pastor Duke's message and the passage we are studying.