Past Week in FirstLook

Everyone loses things from time to time. Jesus told a story about a shepherd who lost a sheep. The shepherd loved that sheep so much that he went to find it right away. Remind your preschooler about a time that he or she lost a favorite toy. Talk about how he or she felt when she realized the toy was gone. Then, ask him or her how he or she she felt when he or she found the toy. Remind him or her that God loves him or her even more than he or she loves that toy. He loves him or her even more that Mommy and Daddy.

Isn't God's love amazing?

Basic Truth -- Jesus wants to be my friend forever.
Key Question -- Why did Jesus tell these stories?
Bottom Line -- Jesus wants me to know what God is like.
Memory Verse -- "The Son wants to tell others about the Father"
Luke 10:22 (CEV)
Bible Story Focus -- Jesus wants me to know how much God cares about me. We told the story of the Lost Sheep-- Luke 15:3-7

Past Week in KidQuest

Kids are quick to notice someone who is different from them in some way. Younger children may embarrass us by pointing out the man at the mall who limps. Preadolescents can be hard on peers who’re not considered cool or among the “pretty people.” Let’s face it: as we get older, we’re going to run into all kinds of prejudices—our own as well as others’. Today’s lesson will help kids explore how God wants them to respond to those who are different from them. The basics are simple:

1. Be fair. Make sure that everyone is treated respectfully—including those who are different.
   
2. Jesus modeled this for us, not only by rescuing us from death, but through all His interactions with people.
   
3. He even taught about it directly, through a parable commonly known as “The Good Samaritan” (today’s Bible story). He wants us not only to treat others fairly, but to go out of our way to exercise fairness in the way we treat others—even those who are different.
4. When kids discover and apply Jesus’ teachings about fairness, He will work through them to defuse prejudices and ignite God’s love in the community around them.

Feb. 1 in FirstLook

This past week in FirstLook (our preschool room)...

Our Bible story came from Luke 2 when Jesus was "lost" in Jerusalem. In reality Jesus was teaching at the temple and his parents did not know so they left him as they began to return home. We learned that even we we are lost or something is going wrong we can trust that Jesus knows what he is doing just like he did when he was at the temple teaching.

Our Bottom Line was "Jesus wants me to know what God is like." That is what he was teaching about at the temple when he was 12 years old. We can learn a lot from the life of Jesus, we get to see that God knows exactly what he is doing even when other people do not.

This story helps us to remember that "Jesus wants to be my friend forever." So this month, remember to talk with your preschooler about how Jesus wants to be their friend and will watch out for them even when things seem to be bad.

Jesus wants everyone to know about God. When Jesus was only 12 years old, He went to the temple to teach the Bible teachers about God. Ask your preschooler to tell you the story of Jesus in the temple. If they can't remember it, get out a Bible and help them remember it. Jesus helped others learn about God's love by telling stories. You can find stories that Jesus told in the Bible. Take time to read several of Jesus' stories this week with your preschooler and encourage him to share these stories with his family and friends.

Feb 1 in KidQuest

This month in KidQuest we are learning about Fairness.

Fairness is making sure everyone is treated respectfully.
This month at home try to remember to teach this virtue in different areas of your student's life.

This past week we used James 2:1-9 to show that playing favorites is a sin in the eyes of God. So help your children remember this week that they are to be fair to everyone and not show favoritism. The bottom line of the lesson was "treat everyone fairly because everyone's important to God."

Here are some things you could talk about with your elementary student over the course of the week. Don't only ask them about these things, share with your kids times when you have been treated unfairly too whether as a child or even at work.

• Have you ever been treated unfairly?
• What happened?
• What did you do about it?

The memory verse for February is
-- Proverbs 31:9 -- "Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."

SuperStart! Medical Release

All kids and sponsors who plan to attend SuperStart! you must fill out this Medial Release form and give it to Matt along with your $15 deposit.

http://media.ciy.com/pdf/superstart/medical-release-form.pdf

The Challegene is ON!!!

We are having The Challenge tonight despite all the snow on the ground!!!

VBS Planning Meeting

If you are interested in helping plan VBS 2009 -- Studio Go, we have a meeting on February 15 right after church.

SuperStart

SuperStart is a conference just for your PreTeen student.

We will be attending the SuperStart conference on March 6 and 7 in Bloomington, IL.

The deadline for pre-registration is February 8. There is a $15 deposit due at pre-registration. The total cost will be $75.

For more information about the SuperStart conference, please visit www.superstart456.com

FirstLook -- February

A warm fire and a good book are treasures this time of year. As the temperatures drop, we want to snuggle in close with those we love and who love us. What better stories to share with them than those found in the Bible?

In February, the First Look curriculum is teaching stories that Jesus told in order for us to know how much God loves us.

The Bible says in Luke 10:22: "The Son wants to tell others about the Father" (CEV), and He tells such amazing stories to let us know we are special. From the lost sheep to the prodigal son, Jesus lets us know how important we are to the Father.

KidQuest -- February -- Fairness

Basically, a virtue is something God does in us to change the world around us. As you read the next paragraph, you’ll notice some numbers. Here’s what they refer to: (1) the virtue definition. (2) The fact that God created that virtue and exemplifies it. (3) God instills that virtue in us as He shapes us to become more like Him. (4) God uses that virtue in us to influence and impact our families, friends, and neighbors. As others notice the virtue being lived out in our lives, we have more opportunities to tell them about Jesus. As they come to trust Jesus, they’ll influence others as well. See the cycle?

“That’s not fair!” What kid has never put his hands on his hips and cried those words? Most children have built-in radar set to detect when they are being treated unfairly. This month let’s focus on helping them make that radar work the other direction too and learn that (1) fairness is making sure that EVERYONE is treated respectfully. (2) Just think how fair God is. He made each one of us, and although He doesn’t treat us all the same (because we have different needs), He values us equally. He loves each of us dearly, regardless of sex, race, ethnicity, or nationality, and offers His love and salvation to all. All of us come to Him in the same way—through Jesus. Because God treats all of us this way, He is the ultimate example of fairness. (3) As believers, He commands us to treat others with the fairness we desire for ourselves. (4) Imagine the problems that would disappear immediately in a world where everyone was treated with fairness! This month, challenge your kids to set their fairness radar in the direction of others and treat them fairly—because everyone’s important to God.