Encounter Church

Brite Idea: Jesus teaches us to care about others.

A lawyer asked Jesus what he should do to receive eternal life. Jesus asked him what the law says. The man responded that it says to love the Lord and love his neighbor as himself. Jesus replied that he answered correctly. The man, trying to justify himself, asked: Who is my neighbor? Jesus responded with a parable about a man who was robbed on the road and, after being ignored by a priest and a Levite, was helped by a Samaritan. Jesus shared this parable to make clear that we are called to be neighbors and show mercy to all people, not just those who are like us.

When Jesus taught parables, He showed us what God and His kingdom are like. The story Jesus taught about the good Samaritan surprised the people who heard it. God’s kingdom is different from how we often view things in our world. God sent His Son to rescue people, even those who were His enemies. Jesus gave His all, even thought none of us deserved it. Jesus died on the cross for our sin and rose again so that all who choose to follow Him can have eternal life.

Think About It: Parables teach us what the Father and His kingdom are like.

QUESTIONS:
1. What did this lesson teach you about God?
2. What did this lesson teach you about you?
3. From this lesson what is He asking you to do and/or what is He going to do?
4. How did you hear from God today?

God Encounters:

Please join me in praising our God. We began to use a new curriculum in January of 2025. Since then, the kids have been more engaged and only got one review question wrong after two months.
The curriculum has been adopted for all our children’s ministries. Siblings now have the opportunity to discuss their Sunday lessons together. That will deepen their understanding, and we owe all this to God.
I will pay you $1 to tell me what you think of the new curriculum.

Philippians 2:13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Discipleship
Navigating a Broken World: Putting Yourself First
A quick Google search will result in hundreds of articles about why it is beneficial to put yourself first above anyone and everything else. While self-care is undoubtedly important, culture is communicating to kids that they should prioritize looking out for themselves. In this week’s story, kids learned Jesus taught we should prioritize caring for others. Consider looking for opportunities to help your family look outward. Is there a small service project you could do, even while meeting together? When you hear “me first” lines of thinking, respond gently but push back, asking kids to consider God’s viewpoint and what it would be like to put others first.

Here’s how we discussed this topic and how you can discuss at home:

Discuss: Can you think of a show or movie where people put themselves ahead of other people?

Discuss: What are some situations when that happens in real life?

Discuss: What does God have to say about this?

Say: Our world tends to be a “me first” place. People say, “Look out for number one,” or “You do you.” God loves you and wants you to take care of yourself, but He also wants you to care about other people. Philippians 2:4 says: Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. In a world that is focused on selfishness, we can shine the light of Jesus brightly by not caring if we get all the attention, or the first place in line or the first piece of cake. We honor Jesus when we put others first, even if it doesn’t make sense to the rest of the world.

Upcoming Events
AWANA – Starting January 15th from 6pm to 8pm.
Royal Ball – March 7th 6pm-8:30
VBS True North – June 16th -20th from 8am to 12pm
Movie on the Lawn – September 26th -7:30pm
Family Laser Tag – September 28th -1pm
Movie on the Lawn – October 24th – 7:30
Christmas Cookie Decorating Party- December 6th from 10am to 12pm

Testimonies
Are you beginning to see your testimonies? No matter what, I want you to continue to expect your own testimonies.
How?
Listen to God and trust what He says and how He speaks to you. As always, make sure it is God by comparing His direction with the Bible and/or asking a spiritual leader to help you. Everything God does is a testimony, so pay attention. Write the testimony down and share it with others. Remember to say, “Thank you, Lord!” after He speaks.
“With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints,” – Ephesians 6:18

$5 Memory Verse: Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Brite Idea: Jesus hears us and cares.

Jesus and His disciples were near Jericho when they encountered a blind beggar named Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus heard Jesus passing by and called out for mercy, recognizing Him as the Messiah. Despite being told to be quiet, Bartimaeus persisted, and Jesus stopped. Jesus asked what Bartimaeus wanted. Bartimaeus replied he wanted to see. Jesus commended the man’s faith and restored his sight. Bartimaeus followed Jesus, praising God.

Not long after this encounter, Jesus headed to Jerusalem where He was arrested and crucified before rising again to rescue us from our sin. Bartimaeus called on Jesus to heal his blindness. Each of us must call on Jesus to be saved from our sins. The wrong things we do separate us from a relationship with God. We must be rescued from that. We can’t fix our sin problem on our own. When we call out to Jesus, He is faithful to forgive our sins.

Think About It: Trust Jesus to heal you.

QUESTIONS:
1. What did this lesson teach you about God?
2. What did this lesson teach you about you?
3. From this lesson what is He asking you to do and/or what is He going to do?
4. How did you hear from God today?

God Encounters:

Please join me in praising our God. We began to use a new curriculum in January of 2025. Since then, the kids have been more engaged and only got one review question wrong after two months.
The curriculum has been adopted for all our children’s ministries. Siblings now have the opportunity to discuss their Sunday lessons together. That will deepen their understanding, and we owe all this to God.
I will pay you $1 to tell me what you think of the new curriculum.

Discipleship
Navigating a Broken World: Does Prayer Work?

Prayer is not an assumed part of today’s culture, either publicly or privately. In today’s lesson, kids will learn that God hears us and cares about us. Your kids may have prayed for really big things, such as the healing of a family member, and they didn’t see God answer like they wanted. This situation can cause a crisis of faith, even in younger kids. Celebrate when your family can identify an answered prayer, no matter how small. Share stories from your own life about how you’ve seen God answer prayer. Also, share about times when God didn’t answer like you had hoped. Demonstrating authenticity as a loving, caring adult is powerful.

Here’s how we discussed this topic and how you can discuss at home:

Discuss: How would you explain what prayer is?

Discuss: What would you say if someone said prayer doesn’t really work?

Discuss: What does God have to say about this?

Say: Hebrews 4:16 says: Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Prayer is talking to God. We can seek what we need and want from Him. That doesn’t mean He will always answer just like we want Him to. He knows what is best for us, and He has a perfect plan that we may not understand. Just because God doesn’t do what we ask, that doesn’t mean prayer doesn’t work. It just means He has a greater plan.

Upcoming Events
AWANA – Starting January 15th from 6pm to 8pm.
Royal Ball – March 7th 6pm-8:30
VBS True North – June 16th -20th from 8am to 12pm
Movie on the Lawn – September 26th -7:30pm
Family Laser Tag – September 28th -1pm
Movie on the Lawn – October 24th – 7:30
Christmas Cookie Decorating Party- December 6th from 10am to 12pm

Testimonies
Are you beginning to see your testimonies? No matter what, I want you to continue to expect your own testimonies.
How?
Listen to God and trust what He says and how He speaks to you. As always, make sure it is God by comparing His direction with the Bible and/or asking a spiritual leader to help you. Everything God does is a testimony, so pay attention. Write the testimony down and share it with others. Remember to say, “Thank you, Lord!” after He speaks.
“With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints,” – Ephesians 6:18

$5 Memory Verse: Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7