TGP Devotion: Week of March 9-March 15, 2014

Volume 7 Adult/Kids Connections (SPR 2014)

Unit 19, Session 2: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
Daniel 3

Christ Connection: Only God could rescue Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fire. Jesus is the only One who can save us from our sin. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross provided the way for us to be rescued and have eternal life.

Adult Connection Point: See Luke 2:14,20. 

God asked Abraham to do something very difficult—to sacrifice his own son. Abraham was committed to obeying God. He had been obedient in leading his son up the mountain, building an altar, arranging the kindling, and binding Isaac’s hands. And now the time had come to raise the dagger above his head. Abraham was able to obey because, even in the heat of the moment, he believed what he had said to his son: “God will provide for himself” (Gen. 22:8). 

But how? At this point in the story, there was no ram in sight. Abraham did not trust himself to obey; he trusted God to provide. That was the kind of faith that enabled his obedience. Just in time God provided a lamb for Abraham to sacrifice. Abraham praised God. Abraham wanted people to remember God’s goodness. He built an altar on the mountain so that anyone passing by would see that it was God’s grace, and not Abraham’s actions, that spared the life of Isaac. 

God provided Jesus as the way to rescue us from our sin. When Jesus was born the heavenly host sang praises to God, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!” (Luke 2:14). The shepherds heard the message and then they shared it: “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told” (Luke 2:20). 

Family Devotion: 
Materials: firewood, matches (optional) 

If possible, hold your family devotion near the fireplace or outside by a campfire. Using \materials in the house or outside, build the tallest “idol” you can, and then talk about the differences between an idol and God. Mention God is the Creator—idols are created. God is living—idols are not. 

Choose one of your children to recall the Bible story. Ask, “What is something new or interesting you learned from the Bible story about God?” 

Remind your kids that the men walked in the fire, yet came out untouched. The ropes burned, but the men did not have one flesh wound or even smell of smoke. (You might want to take a smell test to see who smells like smoke at this point!) 

Read Daniel 3:16-18. Ask, “What does this passage say about the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?” Only a living God could save Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from this fiery furnace and only Jesus can rescue us from our sin. No piece of wood, metal or stone, no matter how tall, can save us! Remove or break down your created idol and bow down. Pray to the one true living God, thanking Him for sending Jesus to rescue you from your sins. 

TGP Week of March 2 (Snow Week)

Volume 7 Adult/Kids Connections (SPR 2014) 

Unit 19, Session 1: Daniel and His Friends Obeyed God 
Daniel 1 

Christ Connection: Daniel chose to obey God no matter what. God blessed Daniel and his friends. Daniel wasn't perfect, but he reminds us of someone who was. Jesus obeyed God perfectly and He always pleases God. We please God when we trust in Jesus. 

Adult Connection Point: We know from the first chapters of the Bible that God created the first humans for lifelong communion with Him and with each other. There was nothing to fear, nothing to hide from, no reason to be ashamed. We don’t know how long Adam and Eve lived in sinless communion with God and each other. But what we do know is that this was the original plan of God for His creation. It was this that God saw as “very good” (Gen. 1:31). 

Can you imagine a life without shame? No lies to feel guilty for telling. No stealing, coveting, cheating, or gossiping. A life without shame is a life without anxiety. It’s a life without regret. Instead of disappointment, there is satisfaction. Instead of frustration, there is peace. Is this kind of life even possible in a world so full of chaos and danger? 

God thinks so. In fact, this is exactly the kind of life God wants you to live. And God made a way to take away the shame of His people. Every one of us is called to trust in Christ’s atonement to cover our sin and shame. For “the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom.
6:23). 

Family Devotion: 
Materials: variety of fresh vegetables, water, hummus (optional) 

Prepare a Daniel meal. Encourage your kids to try at least one bite of all the vegetables, dipping them into the hummus, if desired. Find out which they liked best and why. 

Recall the Bible story and how God gave specific laws about the types of food the Israelites could and could not eat. Daniel and his three friends obeyed God even though they were in a foreign land and under a foreign king who did not know or care about God’s laws. 

Ask, “What was Daniel’s plan when the king’s servant did not want Daniel to eat different foods?” Daniel responded with a sensible plan—a 10-day experiment eating only vegetables and drinking only water. Daniel
obeyed God even though it was hard to do. 

Remind your children that only Jesus obeyed God completely. When a person obey God, He is pleased. When a person disobeys, shame and guilt quickly follow. Of course, all of us will disobey, but we can trust Jesus to forgive us of our sins when we confess them. 

Try your own 10-day experiment on obeying. Guide each of your kids to think of an area of obedience in which he or she needs God’s help. After the 10 days, see how hard or easy it was to obey. 

Pray, asking God to help you in trusting Jesus each day to obey God’s Word. 

THE GREAT EGG RACE 2014!

The Great Egg Race 2014

BBC Kids invites you to participate in the Second Annual Great Egg Race. Classes will compete against each other to see who can bring in the most FILLED Easter Eggs!

When you bring in your eggs, you will sign them in on the class chart with your child’s name, grade, and number of eggs. So be sure to count them before you bring them to Awana or Sunday School! (Only eggs that are filled and signed in will count towards the class totals!)

The group that brings in the most eggs will be recognized at a pizza party on April 16! So fill and count those eggs for BBC’s GREAT EGG RACE!

And be sure to mark your calendar for our FREE Easter Egg Hunt, April 20, after church!

Contact Elizabeth Horne, Children’s Minister, if you have any questions at Elizabeth@BBCLife.org. 

The Gospel Project Family Devotion-Week of 2/23-3/1, 2014

Volume 6 Adult/Kids Connections
Unit 18, Session 5: Ezekiel Told About a Future Hope
Ezekiel 37

Christ Connection: God showed Ezekiel a valley of dry bones. The dry bones remind us what we are like when we sin. God had a plan for people who sin. Because Jesus came to earth, died, and was raised to life, He has the power to give us eternal life.

Adult Connection Point: Colossians 1:15-20 teaches us the centrality of Jesus the Messiah to the gospel. Everything was made by Him and for Him, everything is held together in Him, and He will ultimately reconcile everything. 

The gospel is more than just information. It is good news. It is the story of a God who loves the work of His hands and has provided everything needed to redeem and restore it. When we care for creation, manage possessions wisely, and demonstrate care and concern for others, we are mirroring the heart of God 
who loves us and loves His world. 

Ask yourselves: What opportunities do we have to show the love of Christ? 

Exercising compassion toward those who do not know Christ is an expression of Godʼs love. Through that expression they may come to know the God who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son to die for our sins. 

Family Devotion: 
Materials: picture of the human skeletal system, cotton swabs or toothpicks

Place the cotton swabs on the floor or table and display the picture of the skeletal system. Use cotton swabs or toothpicks to create a skeleton. Encourage all family members to participate on at least one part of the skeleton.

Recall the vision Ezekiel had of the valley of bones. Ask: “What words did God tell Ezekiel to speak to the dry bones?” God did not want His people to stay in this foreign nation. He did not want them to remain hopeless. Rather, He wanted His people to know that even though they were dead in their sin, they did not have to stay that way. The situation looked hopeless in this foreign land, but God had not forgotten them. He desired for them to obey Him so He could once again be with them.

 In the same way God desires for us to live in relationship with Him. He sent His Son, Jesus, to die. Then God brought Him back to life forever. We too can live forever with God when we receive Jesus into our lives. When we do, Godʼs presence will remain with us forever.

Think of family members, neighbors, or friends who do not know Jesus. Pray, asking God to reveal Himself to them so they too may have eternal life.

BBC's Annual Awana Derby is Coming!

BBC’s Awana Derby 2014 is March 22 from 10:00-12:00 in the FLC!

Workshop is March 8, from 1-3 pm. Must RSVP for workshop to Brian Stivers.  

Pinewood Derby Check-In Rules

YOU MUST MAKE A NEW CAR FOR THE 2014 DERBY! NO PREVIOUSLY USED CARS WILL BE ALLOWED TO RACE!

You must check in your car to be officially weighed.

If your car is over 5 ounces, weight will be drilled out of the car.

Owner of car will draw a number and their name will be placed on the chart next to the corresponding number.

Car owner will then proceed to the tables to place their car on the plate with their number.

Once the car is on the plate, you may no longer touch the car until your name is called to race.

Once you have raced your car, it must go back to the table and placed on your plate.

NO car is to be tampered with after they are placed on the table.

All racers will be given 3 coins which they will use to vote on their favorite car designs.

Racers will deposit their coins into the numbered container corresponding with their favorite cars.

Racers may place all three coins into one container to vote on one car, or choose to vote on three different cars.

The Gospel Project Family Devotion for 2/16-2/22, 2014

Volume 6 Adult/Kids Connections
Unit 18, Session 4: Ezekiel Prophesied to the Exiles
Ezekiel 10

Christ Connection: God left the temple because He was unhappy with His people's sin. Sin separates people from God. Jesus came to earth to fix our relationship with God by taking the punishment of our sin for us. Because of Jesus, we can turn from our sin, trust in Him, and then enjoy God's presence forever.

Adult Connection Point: Before the Apostle Paul served Christ and His church, he persecuted Christ and His church. Paulʼs pre-Christian life, when he was still known as Saul, included persecuting believers to the point of death. Before his Damascus Road conversion (Acts 9:3-8; 22:6-21; 26:12-18), Saul attempted to 
serve God by arranging the arrest and persecution of Christian believers. He gave his approval of Stephenʼs martyrdom and then dragged other believers out of their homes and into prison. (8:1-3) 

Paulʼs sin separated him from God, but God extends grace to those who are separated from Him. That is good news for all of us. The Bible teaches that Christ died for our sins. We are included among those who are responsible for the death of Christ. As Paul explained in Romans 5:8, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Christ laid down His life by His own authority, according to the will of the Father. Still, Christ died for our sins. (1 Cor. 15:3)

“The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God created man in His own image, and in that Christ died for man; therefore, every person of every race possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love.” –Article III from The Baptist Faith and Message (2000)


Family Devotion: 
Materials: picture of the temple, paper, pencils

If available, show a picture of the temple from an illustration in your Bible or from the Internet. Also show the cherubim and mercy seat in the Most Holy Place of the temple.

Review some of the details of the story, and then direct your kids to try to draw the vision Ezekiel had of Godʼs presence leaving the temple. Ask: “Why did Godʼs presence leave the temple?” Over and over, God had sent prophets to warn the people to turn from their sin and do what was right. God loved His people, yet they turned their backs on Him and followed after other gods. Godʼs people ended up in another nation, serving a foreign king and knowing their city of Jerusalem was about to be burned. Even with all the bad news, worse news came: Godʼs presence had left the temple.

Remind your kids that sin separates us from God. We cannot come to a holy God when we have sin in our lives. God sent Jesus, His Son, to take the punishment we deserve so we could have a relationship with our holy God. When we trust in Jesus, we have an eternal relationship with Him—one that will never end.

Get up and dance to one of the worship songs. Pray, thanking God for sending Jesus so you can have a relationship with Him! 

Support Your Team Color Night in Awana!

February 12 is Support Your Team Color Night! 

Deck out in our team's color for this fun Awana Night!

And don't forget, there is a Director's Meeting after Awana this week!