Issue #23 - Volume 13

 


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July 6, 2012

Ideas? Questions? Opinions?


Articles are listed, below. When replying, highlight the text that is pertinent to your response, then hit reply. Title your message to reflect the content.

1) Signs of the Times Curriculum
2) Are You Teaching Others to Sin?
3) Devotional: Streams of Living H2O
4) Ten Commands Youtube Video


An excellent resource for
summer Bible camps!

 
 
 

 

1) Signs of the Times Curriculum

Jesus taught his followers about the kingdom of Heaven by using everyday objects. And since most children look with anticipation to the day they can drive, what better way to explain the life-saving lessons of God's kingdom than by using common objects such as street signs? Traffic signs show us the right way to go and warn us of what lies ahead. Is this not what God's Word does for us? The Signs of the Times Bible curriculum is designed to teach children, K-5th grade, how to choose the right road in life and strengthen their relationship to Jesus Christ! 

Sample Lesson One by visiting the following link, 
and learn how to get it F--R--E--E at: http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/curriculum-signs-of-the-times.html 

 
 

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2) 
Are You Teaching Others to Sin?

I don't ever remember reading this scripture before --- yet I know I must have. This is after the Beatitudes, and before Jesus explains the 10 commandments from His own mouth.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 
(Matthew 5:19) 

God has really blessed us by having opportunities to teach the 10 Commandments hand gestures! 

What I see in that scripture is, when we break the commandments and others see us - they will use "us" as an excuse to break the commandments too - in other words - we may teach others to sin by our actions.

But, when we break the commandments, and then confess our sins (expose ourselves) and explain our remorse, it opens up the way to share the commandments with others. We can teach others that we are sorry for offending God when we sinned against HIM!

Not only can we share our testimony and the gospel, but we also can teach others how to remember GOD's Commandments, how to protect ourselves and those around us from the consequences of our personal sin, and also what it means to ask for forgiveness and repent. I never knew how much we pleased God for sharing what we KNOW about the commandments!
...but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 

I believe that God showed me through Matthew 5:19, that teaching the commandments is SO foundational to the kids to clarify how we are ALL sinners --- before we can understand we NEED a Savior we must see our own sin!

It is obvious that we cannot stress the commandments enough! Previously I have used the explanation taught through CEF ministries to explain sin: anything we think, do, or say that makes God sad. Although that statement is very true - it seems so "soft". 
After having our club in public school for 9 years, and getting to know so many kids that have had no exposure to GOD's Word, I now feel our kids (8-11 year olds) should hear the specific sins that make God sad....the 10 commandments! Matthew 5:19 showed me that if we understand the specific sins - we are more fully equipped to make better choices in our lives. 

It has been so sad to see the life experiences of so many of the kids we have met in public school. Their real life experiences are not watered down. Most of these kids are being "taught" through their environment - how to behave in life...and it is heartbreaking! 
Kids deserve to hear the TRUTH (and Consequences) of sin as explained in the Bible. AND also to hear, and to read for themselves in God's Word, the alternative that will "save" their lives. Then, perhaps GOD will use the kids to teach their families to turn to GOD! 

Only GOD knows the plans HE has for them! But we have the honor of being placed upon their pathway -- "for such a time as this"!

Emmalea Butler

--from SSTN: Emmalea has submitted many excellent ideas to SSTN over the years. We are grateful for her commitment to children's ministry! To find her work, just type her name into the search box at the bottom of this newsletter or from our home page at: http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com. And, make sure you check out posting #4 in today's newsletter.

 
 
 
 

3) Devotional: Streams of Living H2O

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. (John 7:38) 

I live about one mile—as the crow flies—from the beach. The Intracoastal Waterway separates the mainland from the barrier island beaches, which means I must go over a bridge to get there. I love riding my bicycle to the beach. Fortunately, I can reach the top of the closest bridge in twelve minutes—yes, I’ve timed it. The vantage point at the top of that high span bridge is spectacular. (I live in Paradise!) From there it takes about another five minutes to reach the beach.

This past weekend I biked to the beach. As usual, I stopped at the top of the bridge to take in the view of the waterway and ocean, to rest and drink some water, and pray. (The top of the bridge is the closest thing to a mountaintop in south Florida!) It was a beautiful sunny day. Dozens of boats cruised up and down the Intracoastal Waterway, while hundreds of people were swimming. I wondered why people would choose to swim in brown, murky, gasoline-polluted water, when just a few blocks east they could be swimming in clear, sapphire-colored ocean water. Isn’t this a picture of our lives—how we’re prone to choose the dark, murkiness of sin, over the living water that Jesus offers? 

Get the rest of today's devotional at: http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/living-water.html 

 

 
 
 
 

4) Ten Commands Youtube Video

Check out our latest video. Please share it with your pastors, friends, and coworkers!

 
  http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/curriculum_dwnld-ten-commandments.html

 

   Ten Commandments Hand Gestures

 
 

 
 

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