Family Resources | Week of April 10th

This month preschoolers are learning that Jesus wants to be my friend forever. This week they learn that the whole town wanted to celebrate Jesus because they knew Jesus could do amazing things and they all wanted to see Him.

Lead Their Growth: When you go into your child’s room, say: “Good morning! Let’s start the day celebrating our good friend, Jesus. Hosanna! Hosanna! Yay, Jesus.”

This month elementary students are learning hope -- believing something good can come out of something bad. This week we looked at the story of Palm Sunday (John 12:9-16) and the main point was “Whatever happens, remember God is still working.”

Monthly Verse: “In this world you will have trouble. But be encouraged! I have won the battle over the world.” John 16:33b NIrV

Lead Their Growth: Ask, “What are you hoping for?” and “What do we know about God that is never going to change?” You can even make your own palm fronds and write or draw what you’re hoping for on one side and words that describe God on the other side. Remind kids that even when things don’t go the way we expect them to, we can have hope because God is still working.

Do you ever blast some really sad music and just feel all the feelings? Maybe stare dramatically out a window and think about how no one understands you? No? Just me? Cool, cool, cool. Well, look. Even if you're not as dramatic as me, I'm guessing we've all had moments when we felt alone and misunderstood, like we're the only people alive who ever experienced the specific kind of hurt or stress or frustration or sadness we were feeling. But that's what's so powerful about the Easter story. I know Easter is usually about celebrations and happiness and cute animals popping out of eggs or whatever, but before Easter Sunday came Good Friday, where Jesus suffered and died, all for you and me. So Easter is a reminder that we don't follow a God who can't understand us. We follow a Savior who is right there with us when we're hurting, because Jesus understands our pain.

Lead Their Growth: “Human beings are works in progress that mistakenly think they’re finished.” As teenagers continue to develop and learn more about who they are and who they will be, we are thankful to be on the journey of impacting their stories with you! You are doing amazing work.