Category Archives: Children’s Ministry

Children's Ministry, Confessions of a Christian Wife, Proven Path Ministries

Raise the Bar

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Last Wednesday night was the Awana Awards Ceremony at our church. During the awards the kids all share some of the things that they learned during the year and they share some of the Scripture verses that are supposed to be memorized and treasured in their heart…

I went over my child’s verse with her repeatedly.

She knew it.

I knew that she knew it.

Yet she walked up on stage with a cheat sheet and began to read off the verse and was stumbling all over it. Before I knew it I had given the “momma finger snap” and told her out loud that she needed to put that paper down and say her verse.

Once the cheat sheet came down the verse flowed out smooth and clear.

There is a standard my husband and I hold for our children.

First things first.

God is to be first.

If my child can sing the Dora Explorer theme song at 2 years old while playing with her Dora doll in the tub, she can memorize Scripture.

If my child can learn the entire part of Imogene Herdman in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at age 8 she can memorize Scripture.

Last Sunday I had to confront my 12 year old on why she was walking out the house to church without her Bible in hand.

She responded that everything was in her Sunday school book, she didn’t need it.

Not an acceptable answer for this mom…

She has not been raised to be spoon fed off another’s plate. She’s been raised to feed herself… why on earth would we expect her to leave the children’s ministry carrying her own Bible and enter the youth without it. She doesn’t use someone else’s glove or bat when she steps on to the softball field… should we expect less when it comes to stepping into church.

We have lowered the bar in so many areas in what we expect from our kids in the area of their spiritual growth and even academics yet we have raised it to almost unreachable levels when it comes to sports and other hobbies. Of course the excuse for the drive is always for a “college scholarship” As if going to college will be their salvation in this life. Sadly when they get their and have put so little into their character and integrity many end up in a pit that they can’t get out of and end up losing that scholarship along with their name and their respect.

We need to learn to raise the bar in the right areas…

When we look at history we see that Jonathan Edwards entered Yale College at 12 years old. By the age of 17 he had graduated as valedictorian and by 19 years of age, after two years of study in theology he was filling a pulpit. By the age of 30 he was key in being used by God to begin the Great Awakening.

By the age of 11 years old J0hn Quincy Adams was a congressional appointed secretary to his father who was the American ambassador to France, by 14 years old he was appointed secretary to our ambassador to Russia, and by 16 years old he was recognized by the President of the United States, George Washington, as one of the most valuable characters abroad representing our country.

When we look to the Scriptures we see that at 8 years of age Josiah became king of Israel and by his eighteenth year as king, at 26 years of age, he read the book of the Law for the first time and brought revival to a nation.

Today, at 26 years of age in America grown adults are still required by law to be able to mooch off their parents insurance, even if they are healthy, strong, supposedly intelligent individuals.

There was a day when a 13 year old boy was considered a man.

Today we look at a 30 year old and still call them a kid.

Today we expect little, little is invested, therefore little is achieved.

In this great day of knowledge and technology and our supposed so far advancement from the dark ages… how is it that our knowledge grows , but our ability to be responsible for own actions and personhood diminishes.

We have a President today that mocks our past greatness… He stands on the platform of Planned Parenthood and mocks the foundations of this country and the integrity and character on which it was built… because some people seem to have a problem with men and women who call themselves doctors, who took an oath to heal and help, yet instead choose to kill and destroy.

Mr President if we were so dumb and backwards back then, why all the greatness of men and women who brought true and good change to our nation as they supported and strove for the rights of equality of life for all mankind, no matter age, sex, race, or religion?

If we have achieved such knowledge and grandeur in this day, how is it that in this country’s beginning an 11 year old was committed and cognitive enough to be an official ambassador representing our country and yet today in our country an 11 year old is doing good to be able to go to the bathroom by themselves and read Cat in the Hat?

I don’t believe this is the governments fault. I don’t believe it’s the schools fault. I don’t even believe it’s the cultures fault.

It’s our fault, dads and moms, our fault.

There was a day where it was the parent’s responsibility to teach their child. They understood it was their responsibility to teach their kids to succeed and learn and grow. It was their responsibility and great honor and desire and privilege to invest in the lives of their kids. It was their responsibility to tell their kids… You are not a kid anymore. What you say and what you do matters and has an effect on others. You were born to make an impact in the lives of those around you and that starts now. 

I not long ago had to have a conversation with my child about how her Sunday night class was treating their teacher. Her class is comprised of our 3rd – 5th graders. These kids seemed to be completely oblivious that their words and actions had power to affect the adults around them. They were too caught up in their own selves to even have concern for the one who was there trying to teach them. I explained to my child that the way she behaved demonstrated to her teacher whether she respected her or not, and whether she respected her or not demonstrated whether her teacher felt loved and appreciated and even liked.

Yes, at 8 years old what my child said and did and how she treated others had an affect on those around her… yes, even the adults around her. She needed to be made aware of that.

It’s not just about obedience and minding the teacher. It’s more about the fact that they should be aware that they carry an impact in this world.

They matter.

They matter in what they say and do and they matter in the fact that what they say and do has an effect on those around them which in fact impacts their community and their world.

Maybe you might think I am thinking too big… but I don’t think so.

Like I said, my husband and I expect much from our kids when it comes to the things of God and the things of kindness and common courtesy and using their heads.

We see the time, energy, and effort they are willing and able to put into things that have no eternal impact or benefit… why on earth would we expect and require less from them when it comes to the things that do?

It’s time to raise the bar in this nation.

It must begin with it being raised at home and it must be raised in our churches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Children's Ministry, Proven Path Ministries, The Romans Study For Kids

Romans Study For Kids (Romans 5:1-11)

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Romans 5:1-11

 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;

4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;

5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

 

Read Romans 5:1. With what word does this verse begin?

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Remember when we see a “therefore” we need to find out what the “therefore” is there for. We discover that information by looking at the verses that come before the “therefore”. When we do this we see that in Romans 4 the whole chapter was about how Abraham is God’s example to us that we are justified by faith, not works and not the Law.

 

Read Romans 5:1 again and fill in the blanks to complete the verse.

Therefore, having been __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ by __ __ __ __ __, we have __ __ __ __ __ with God through our __ __ __ __    __ __ __ __ __  Christ

 

Now that you have the verse completed, how do we have peace with God?

through __ __ __ __ __   __ __ __ __ __ __ 

 

 

THINK ABOUT IT…

The word peace in this verse in the Greek is eirene and it means exemption from the rage and havoc of war, peace between individuals.

Have you ever thought about the fact that before you are saved you are at war with God?

 

Read Romans 5:2. Who did we obtain our introduction by faith into the grace of God through? (hint: you find the answer in Romans 5:1)

__ __ __ __ __

 

Read Romans 5:2 again. Knowing that we are justified by faith and have peace with God through Jesus what can we now exult in? (the word exult means to boast in)

in __ __ __ __  of the __ __ __ __ __  of God

When we have peace with God we no longer are afraid of His glory, but we boast about it. We no longer hate Him, but we hope in Him.

 

Read Romans 5:3. What else do we exult in if we have been justified by faith and have peace with God. Unscramble the words to help you find the answer.

snoibirtulta    __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

 

Read Romans 5:3-4 and put in order what we know about our tribulations when we are saved.

tribulation, brings about __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

perseverance, proven __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

proven character,  __ __ __ __

 

Read Romans 5:5. What do we learn about hope? 

hope  __ __ __ __    __ __ __  disappoint

 

Read Romans 5:5 again. How can we know that hope in the glory of God does not disappoint?

because the __ __ __ __ of God has been poured out in __ __ __    __ __ __ __ __ __  through the

__ __ __ __     __ __ __ __ __ __  who was given to us.

 

 

Let’s take a moment to learn a little bit about the Holy Spirit.

Look up and read John 14:15-17.

Who did Jesus say that the Holy Spirit would be to us?

the __ __ __ __ __ __

 

Look up and read John 14:25-26.

How did Jesus say that He would help us?

He will be __ __  you

He will __ __ __ __ __ you all things

He will bring to __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __  all that Jesus says to us

 

Look up and read Ephesians 1:13-14. 

Let’s put in order what happens in these verses.

1) after __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ to the message of truth, the __ __ __ __ __ __  of salvation

2) having also __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

3) you were __ __ __ __ __ __ in Him (Jesus) with the __ __ __ __    __ __ __ __ __ __   of promise

 

When was the Holy Spirit promised? Circle the correct answer.

When Jesus was talking with His disciples in John 14.

When Noah got off the ark in Genesis 9

When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden in Genesis 3.

 

Look up Acts 1:1-9 and Acts 2:1-4. When did the promise Jesus made concerning the Holy Spirit come?

the day of __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

 

Look up and read Acts 2:38. We have already learned that faith is a gift, that being justified is a gift, and that Jesus is a gift, now who else is a gift to us from God? 

the __ __ __ __    __ __ __ __ __ __

 

Read Romans 5:6. Why is it important that God was willing to give us all this as a gift.

we were  __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

 

Read Romans 5:6 again. Did Jesus die for us because we were good, loved God, and deserved it?

Circle your answer.

Yes           No

 

How does Romans 5:6 describe us?

helpless and __ __ __ __ __ __ __

 

Read Romans 5:6-8. How does God demonstrate how much He loves us?

while we were yet __ __ __ __ __ __ __ ,

__ __ __ __ __ __   died for  __ __

 

THINK ABOUT IT…

WOW! So God did not wait until we were good before He sent His Son to die for us. He also does not wait until we are good before He shares with us the Gospel and gives us the gift of faith and justification. He meets us where we are and gives us His Word to help us if we will just believe Him. He loved us before we even wanted to be good.

How about we take a moment to tell Him how that makes us feel. 

 

Read Romans 5:9. How does this verse begin?

__ __ __ __    __ __ __ __   then

Have you ever seen an infomercial on television? A commercial were someone offers you a product and they begin to tell you what all you are going to get with it and then they say, “But wait, there’s more!”

As study through the rest of Romans 5 and really the rest of the book of Romans we are going to see what all we receive in this gift of grace and justification by faith through Jesus Christ. 

 

Go ahead read through Romans 5:9-11 and count how many times you read “much more”. 

How many times did you read it?

_____

 

Read Romans 5:9. Now that we are justified by His blood what else will be saved from because of what Jesus did when He died for us?

the __ __ __ __ __ of God

 

Read Romans 5:10. Romans 5:6 tells us that we were helpless and ungodly when Jesus died for us. What do we learn about ourselves in Romans 5:10?

we were __ __ __ __ __ __ __ of God

 

Read Romans 5:10-11. If we believe that Jesus died for us to reconcile us to God while we were helpless, ungodly, sinners, and His enemies, then what should we also know?

we shall be __ __ __ __ __ by His life.

 

What happened after Jesus died on the cross and was buried? Did He stay dead and buried? Circle your answer.

Yes            No

 

Read Romans 5:11. What can we do through Jesus Christ once we are reconciled to God?

__ __ __ __ __  in God

(To reconcile is to reestablish a close relationship between. It is to make peace between. To settle a matter.)

 

THINK ABOUT IT…

If not for what Jesus did by coming to earth as the Son of God and the Son of Man we could never have a relationship with God. 

Why don’t you get out a piece of paper and draw a picture or write a story about how Jesus makes us friends with God again. 

 

Previous posts for Romans Study For Kids: The Romans Project

 

Children's Ministry, Proven Path Ministries, The Romans Study For Kids

Romans Study For Kids (Romans 4)

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The last handouts made for the Romans Study for Kids were on Romans 3:25-31. Today I am posting the Handouts for Romans 4. So this is a long post… but here is a study for Romans 4 that I believe you will be able to use with your kids to help them learn the glorious truth in this chapter.

Romans 4:1-8

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?

2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.

5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,

6 just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

7  “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, And whose sins have been covered.

8  “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.”

 

In Romans 4 Paul shows us how God uses Abraham as an example to show all of us that justification is by faith and not by our works or by the Law.

Read Romans 4:1-2. Even if Abraham had worked really hard and been really good and was able to be justified by his works, could he boast about that before God? Could He impress God with his works? Circle your answer.

Yes              No

 

Read Romans 4:3. What does the Scripture say about how Abraham was justified or declared righteous? Fill in the blanks with your answer.

Abraham __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __  God and it was

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __  to him as righteousness

 

Read Romans 4:4. What do you learn about works and credit?

Now to the one who works, his wage is __ __ __ credited

as a favor, but as what is __ __ __

 

If you work for something is your payment a favor as a gift or is your payment due to you because you earned it? Circle your answer.

favor             due

 

Read Romans 4:5. What happens to the one who does not work , but believes in God who justifies the ungodly?

his  __ __ __ __ __  is  __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __  as righteousnessThe word “faith” in the Greek is pistis and it means conviction of the truth, belief. 

So it was Abraham’s conviction of the truth, his belief in God and what God said that justified him.

 

Read Romans 4:5 again. Who does God justify?

the __ __ __ __ __ __ __

 

Look back at Romans 1:18-19 and Romans 3:10-18. According to what you have learned in Romans so far, who are the ungodly? Circle all that apply.

Jews     Gentiles     Everyone    Noone

 

Read Romans 4:6. Who also speaks to us about God crediting righteousness apart from works?

__ __ __ __ __

 

What does David call this credit of righteousness?

a  __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

The word “blessing” in the Greek is Makarismos and it means declaration of blessedness, to utter a declaration of blessedness upon one, to pronounce one blessed.

According to this definition, do you earn a blessing? Circle your answer.

Yes                 No

 

Read Romans 4:7-8. These verses come from Psalm 32:1-2. According to these verses who is blessed?

1)  those whose lawless deeds have been

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

2) those whose sins have been __ __ __ __ __ __ __

3) those whose __ __ __ the Lord will not take into account

 

The greatest blessing and gift we can receive is God forgiving our lawless deeds and not crediting us the wage of our sin. Read Romans 6:23 to see what the wages of sin is. What is the wage for sin?

__ __ __ __ __

 

When we believe God and His promise to us He credits us with righteousness and He pays sin for us. We did not earn the blessing, the forgiveness, or the righteousness… it is all the favor and gift of God to us for simply believing Him.

 

Romans 4:9-25

 

Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.”

10 How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised;

11 and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them,

12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.

13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.

14 For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified;

15 for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.

16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,

17 (as it is written, “A father of many nations have I made you”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.

18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”

19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb

20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,

21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

22 Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness.

23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him,

24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,

25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

 

Read Romans 4:9-10. What question does Paul ask about Abraham’s faith being credited to him as righteousness?

Did Abraham receive this blessing when he was

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ or

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ ?

 

Look up and read Genesis 15:1-18. In what verse do we read that Abraham believed God and God reckons (or credits) Abraham as righteous?

Genesis 15:___

 

In what verse do we read that God make a covenant with Abraham?

Genesis 15:___

We learn that God made a covenant with Abraham on the same day that Abraham believed God and He credited it to him as righteousness.

 

Now look up and read Genesis 17:7-13. What did God say would be the sign of the covenant?

you shall be __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

 

According to what you have read in Genesis put the following in the order that they happened.

Circumcision           1. ___________

Believed God          2. ___________

Covenant made       3. ___________

 

What came last?

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

 

If circumcision came last can it be what made God justify Abraham? Circle your answer.

Yes           No

 

Read Romans 4:10-12. When did Abraham have faith? Before or after he was circumcised?

Circle your answer.

Before        After

 

Read Romans 4:11 to find out why this is so important to know. Why was Abraham credited righteous before he received the sign of circumcision?

So that he might be the father of __ __ __ who

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ without being circumcised

 

According to what you have learned so far in Romans and the chapters you have read in Genesis, does a person have to be circumcised to be justified? Circle your answer.

Yes       No

 

Read Romans 4:13. Did Abraham receive his promise from God through the Law? Circle your answer.

Yes         No

 

When did Abraham receive the promise from God?

Look up and read Genesis 12:1-4 to find out.

 

When did God give Israel the Law?

Read Exodus 20:1-18 to find out.

 

According to the Bible what came first, the promise to Abraham or the Law? Circle your answer.

Promise         Law

 

Go back and read Romans 3:20. What is the purpose of the Law?

Through the Law comes the __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ of __ __ __

 

Read Romans 4:15. What does the Law bring about?

__ __ __ __ __

 

Read Romans 3:21-22. How do we receive the righteousness of God? Circle your answer.

Through the Law        Through faith in Jesus

 

Who can receive this righteousness? Circle your answer.

Those who are circumcised

Those who have the Law

Those who believe God.

 

Think about what you have learned so far in Genesis, Exodus, and Romans. Look at the list below and put everything in the order that they occur and put the Scripture reference that proves it.

Law                      1. ________________

Promise                2. ________________

Circumcision           3. _________________

Believed God          4. _________________

Covenant made       5. _________________

What came first?  _________________

 

What did Abraham believe? Circle your answer.

The Law       The Promise

 

THINK ABOUT IT….

What promise has God made that He has asked us to believe so that we might be saved?

Read John 3:16. 

Is there anything that God says we have to do before we believe? 

Is there anything that God says that we have to do after we believe?

 

Read Romans 4:16. How does this verse begin?

__ __ __    __ __ __ __     __ __ __ __ __ __

 

This verse tells us why God did not make the Law or circumcision the way for us to be justified and credited righteousness. If we were justified by the Law, who could be saved? Who can keep the Law and never break it? Can anyone? Circle your answer.

Yes                No

 

Read Romans 4:16 again. Fill in the blanks to complete the verse.

For this reason it is by __ __ __ __ __, in order that it may be in accordance with __ __ __ __ __, so that the __ __ __ __ __ __ __ will be guaranteed to __ __ __ the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us __ __ __

 

How can Abraham be the father of us all? Remember that Paul is writing this letter to the church, to the saints in Rome. Remember this and read Galatians 3:29 printed below.

And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. 

Galatians 3:29

According to this verse how do we become heirs to the promise and Abraham’s descendants?

if you belong to __ __ __ __ __ __

 

Look up and read Romans 10:9. How can we belong to Christ?

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved

 

Read Romans 4:16 again. Read Ephesians 2:8-9 printed below and answer the questions. 

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

How are you saved?

by __ __ __ __ __ you have been saved through

__ __ __ __ __

 

Read Romans 3:24 and compare it to Ephesians 2:8-9, what do both of the verses tell us about being saved?

it is a __ __ __ __ of __ __ __

 

Read Romans 3:27-28 and Romans 4:2 and compare it to Ephesians 2:8-9. Is there any one who can brag or boast about doing enough works to get themselves saved? Circle your answer.

Yes               No

 

Go ahead and read Romans 4:16-25. When you finish sit down with your mom and dad or another trusted adult as we study through and think about these last verses in Romans 4. As you read remember that Abraham is an example to us as to how God saves and keeps His promise to us. 

 

THINK ABOUT IT…

When we read about Abraham and Sarah in the book of Genesis we learn that Abraham was 75 years old when God gave him the promise. If we look all the way back to Genesis 3:15 we see that this promise was made first to Adam and Eve. Then it was made to Noah in Genesis 6:18. Now God gives it Abraham in Genesis 12:1-4. God promises that he would become the father of many nations. God gives the promise, but Abraham still has to believe the promise. As we read about Abraham we learn that he makes a lot of mistakes as He tries to obey God, but He keeps trying. In Genesis 15 we learn that Abraham really believes the promise that God made him, and so God credits him righteous, God saves Him. Then Abraham and Sarah tried to help God keep His promise, but they only made things worse. God wanted them and us to know that our works and our efforts do not determine whether or not God keeps His promise. God keeps His promise because He is God.

So God made Abraham and Sarah wait until both their bodies were unable to make a baby on their own. Their baby making parts were as Romans 4:17-19 says, dead.

But dead does not mean anything to the God who creates life out of nothing. So when Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90 years old, Isaac was born. God brought their baby making parts from death to life and fulfilled His promise… all because they believed Him.

In the same way our spirit inside of us is dead. It died when Adam and Eve disobeyed God. But God says if we believe in His promise, if we believe in Jesus, He will make our dead spirit alive. We will learn more about this as we study through the rest of Romans. It’s very exciting!

I want you to close your study today with working on memorizing Romans 4:20-21. Do this together with your mom and dad or your brother or sister. This is a very important passage to have hidden in your heart and mind. There is nothing more important than knowing that God will keep His Word. 

yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

Romans 4:20-21

Write this verse on a card and read it three times a day.

You can also take a dry erase marker and write it on the mirror in your bathroom or bedroom. This way you can read it every time you go in there. 

Children's Ministry, Confessions of a Christian Wife, Proven Path Ministries

Purposeful Parenting

 

 

 

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If you are Christian parent you cannot deny that the enemy of our souls, Satan, the serpent of old, the accuser of the brethren, the deceiver… is after the hearts of our kids. Today is not a day that we as parents can sit by on the sidelines and just try to make it through the day. We must choose to purposefully parent in this day. This requires diligence and effort and training on our part. It also is going to require a strong support system and accountability.

Beginning on September 8th, 2013 Shiloh will begin a year of focusing on how to parent with purpose. We will start with an eleven week study, Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World.

 

raising godly children

Parents and parents-to-be will benefit from this Parenting Study Kit. With thought-provoking discussion questions and engaging homework assignments, parents at all stages are challenged and encouraged as they examine how to “train up their children in the way that they should go” … according to God’s Word!

In addition to the teaching of Ken and Steve, Christian parents who are currently navigating the same parenting challenges that you are offer biblical insights and practical parenting tips.

Discover what the Bible teaches about:

  • the roles of husband, wife, and children in the family
  • how we should discipline our children
  • how to make Scripture come alive for our children
  • important topics like communication, stewardship, and relationships
  • … how we can leave a godly legacy!

An 11-session, DVD-based study!

Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World lesson titles

  • Session 1: The Genesis Family 
  • Session 2: The Genesis of a Worldview 
  • Session 3: Vegemite Kids 
  • Session 4: God-Given Roles in Marriage 
  • Session 5: God-Given Roles in the Family 
  • Session 6: Discipline: Producing a Harvest of Peace and Righteousness 
  • Session 7: Communicating Biblically with Your Children 
  • Session 8: Growing a Godly Heritage 
  • Session 9: The Family Fortress 
  • Session 10: Developing a Biblical Mindset About Money and Possessions 
  • Session 11: Parenting Practices 

Parents attending this study are encouraged to purchase the book, Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World. The study guide and DVD’s will be made available during the class time.

As this study concludes with Parenting Practices we will then begin a study that will take us through the rest of the year, The Christian Parenting Handbook. This study will teach us hands on how to apply everything we learned in the previous study. 

 

bookandhandbook

 

Nuggets of parenting wisdom condensed into 50 short chapters, each one biblical, practical, and relevant for parents of children ages 2-18. Learn appropriate ways to correct, instruct, and set limits. Glean wisdom for dealing with emotions, conflict, and developing closeness in your family… and much more. These 50 strategies provide you with hands-on tools for parenting children of any age. 

You will learn

• A practical tool to stop children’s arguing
• How to separate firmness from harshness
• A strategy to help children change their hearts
• Ways to teach kids to add energy to family life
• Solutions for sibling conflict
• The relational side of parenting
• What to do when parents don’t agree
• How to help kids who are blamers
• and much more.

Parents attending this class are encouraged to purchase The Christian Parenting Handbook and Companion Guide. We will go through one chapter a week so that we can focus on and have an opportunity to put into practice what we learn without overload of information.

To check out more information on parenting go here:

Parenting seminar

 

 

I sincerely hope you will make plans to join us…

 

 

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Children's Ministry, Names of God Series, Proven Path Ministries

Names of God Study: Huios Anthropos

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This post will end our Names of God Series for the summer… The Lord willing it will continue in the fall. There is still so much to learn about our Triune God from His names.  The name that we will look at today is Jesus’ favorite name for Himself… Huios Anthropos

Jesus said to him,

“The foxes have holes

and the birds of the air have nests,

but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” 

Matthew 8:20

 

Huios Anthropos is Son of Man in the Greek. We have already studied Huios in our Names of God study, so lets look at Anthropos. Anthropos is a human being, whether male or female, generically, to include all human individuals. 

This name or title of Jesus appears in the New Testament 89 times. Here’s the kicker, 85 of those 89 are found in the Gospels and they are Jesus referring to Himself. This is why I say it is Jesus’ favorite name for Himself. The question I want us to ask and attempt to answer today is why. Why this name?

 

 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi,

He was asking His disciples,

“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

Matthew 16:13

 

Well let’s go to the Word of God and dig in. Let’s look at some of these 89 references to see what we learn about the Huios Anthropos.

 

But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your bed and go home.”

Matthew 9:6

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For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

Matthew 11:18-19

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And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man,

Matthew 13:37

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just as the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give a ransom for many Matthew 20:28

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For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Luke 19:10

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For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.

John 5:26-27

 

From these reference we learn that Jesus, the Son of Man, has authority to forgive sins. We learn that He came eating and drinking and without any false pretense of superiority over any other man. He came sowing a good seed. He came to serve, not to be served. He came to seek and save what was lost. He has life within Himself and He also has authority to execute judgment.

Let me pause for a moment and give you a “red flag” measurement. If any man claims to be a leader, especially claims to be a leader in religious things, if any man professes to be of Christ, yet expects others to serve him and not he them… this man is not of or from God. You can know that for sure. Christ came to serve. To give His life for others. Any who claim to come in His name, but expect to be served is not of Him.

Back to our references… we see that the Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost… even those who were absolutely clueless that they were lost until they met Him.

Going back to our video, let’s think about Tarzan. Tarzan lived with the apes… and he was perfectly content there. He was not seeking to get out. He was perfectly happy swinging in the trees. He saw nothing wrong with the way things were going in his life.

Then one day something happened. One day someone enters his world from outside his world and for the first time he sees who he was created to be…

 

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;

Genesis 1:26-29

 

Jesus, the Huios Anthropos, came and entered our world. He came to show us who God created us to be. He came to save us from death. He came to open our eyes and to teach us who we are and who we are supposed to be.

Jesus entered our world. He did not come as a tyrant. He did not come as a condescending dictator. He came as one of us… meeting us where we were… eating and drinking with us. Slowly teaching us by first building a relationship with us.

He came to show us that we not to be worshiping the things of this world… we were supposed to be ruling over them. We were created to have dominion on this earth, not worship it… or those who lived on it.

He also showed us the foolishness in our man-made religious systems… and how we so easily had taken even the law and gifts of God and twisted them and made them objects of idolatry.

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat. But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath.” But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions, how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone? Or have you not read in the Law, that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are innocent? But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here. But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire compassion, and not a sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Matthew 12:1-8

We had even forgotten that God had said “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;(Genesis 1:29)

 

Jesus came as the Son of Man to open our eyes… that we might see. Really see.

When we begin to watch and learn about this Son of Man we cannot deny that He is different… we cannot deny that we do not measure up… we cannot deny His beauty, His mercy, His love, His power, His majesty, His might and His glory.

When we look at our selves in the presence of this Huios Anthropos we have to stop and examine and evaluate where we are in our present situation… and is it really where and who we are supposed to be.

In His presence the blind see… or the seeing become blind… so that they don’t have to see.

 

The man answered and said to them, “Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you teaching us?” So they put him out. Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.” And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him.

John 9:30-38

 

Huios Anthropos, the Son of Man.

Precious one, who do you say that He is?

Do you believe in the Son of Man?

 

 

Children's Ministry, Proven Path Ministries, The Romans Study For Kids

Romans Study For Kids (Romans 3:25b-31)

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Picking up from Romans Study For Kids (Romans 3:21-25a)

 

Read Romans 3:25 again. Why did God display Jesus on the cross publicly (in front of everybody)? The answer is in the verse. Fill in the blanks to answer.

This was to __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __   His

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ , because in the  forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed.

 

THINK ABOUT IT…

Have you ever thought about about all the sin that God has passed over? Think about the last time you broke one of God’s laws. The last time you told a lie. The last time you disobeyed your parents. Did God pass over that sin? Remember the wages of sin is death. If you did not die because of that sin, then your God chose to “pass over it”. Why would He do that? Does He have to do that?  

 

Read 2 Samuel 2:13 printed out below.

Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has taken away your sin; you shall not die. (2 Samuel 2:13)

David had broken a lot of God laws. He had committed adultery. He had lied. He had not honored his father or his mother. He had committed murder. He had not kept God first in his life. He had stolen. He had coveted. David had greatly sinned against God. God had every right to put David to death, but instead God passed over David’s sin. He passed over David’s sin because David was a man who even though he had messed up very bad, he looked forward in faith to the day that God would send a Savior. He looked forward to the day that Jesus would die for his sin.

 

Now read 2 Samuel 2:14 printed out below. Then answer the following questions.

However, because by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die. (2 Samuel 2:14)

 

Who would die for David’s sin?

his  __ __ __

This may seem very hard to understand, that God would take away David’s son because of David’s sin, but I think God wanted David, and us, to understand what God’s Son would do. David’s son would die for this time for this sin of David’s, but God’s Son would die for all of David’s sin and for all the sin of the whole world.

Look up John 3:16 and write the verse out below.

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

Read Romans 3:26. Why did God pass over David’s sin and everyone else, including you and me, who have broken God’s Law. Fill in the blanks below with your answer.

so that He would be __ __ __ __

and the  __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __  of the one who has

__ __ __ __ __  in  __ __ __ __ __

 

THINK ABOUT IT…

How well are you are able to keep all of God’s Law, even when you are trying very, very, very hard to keep it? 

Now, how glad are you that God saves us according to what we believe about Jesus instead of how well we can keep His Law?

Draw a picture below that shows how you feel about this.

______________________________________________

 

 

 

______________________________________________

 

Read Romans 3:27. 

What question does Paul ask?

Where then is __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ ?

 

How does Paul answer it? (The answer is in Romans 3:27)

It is __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

 

Boasting is bragging. Excluded is to be left out. Paul is letting us know that no one can brag about being a Christian, no one can brag about being a Jew, no one is any better than anyone else. All of us are saved by faith. All of us are saved because of God’s grace and God’s love for us. We had nothing to do with it.

 

Read Romans 3:28. How is a man justified?

by __ __ __ __ __

 

Read Romans 3:29. Is God the God of both Jews and Gentiles?

Yes                    No

 

Read Romans 3:30. How are both the circumcised and uncircumcised justified by God?

__ __ __ __ __

 

Read Romans 3:31. 

If both the Jew and Gentile, the circumcised and the uncircumcised, are justified by faith and not the Law of God, does that mean we no longer need the Law of God? Do we nullify the Law through faith?

__ __ __  it __ __ __ __ __ be!

 

According to Romans 3:31, what does our faith do to the Law of God?

we  __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ the Law

 

The word establish in the Greek is Histemi and it means to cause or make to stand, to make firm, fix establish, to cause a person or a thing to keep his or its place, to stand, be kept intact.

Faith does not cancel out God’s Law. Faith comes only when we believe God’s Law. So our faith proves that we believe God’s Law and we believe God’s Word.

 

Let’s skip ahead a bit and read Romans 10:17 printed below.

 

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

 

THINK ABOUT IT…

Now that you are hearing the Word, do you believe?

Children's Ministry, Confessions of a Christian Wife, Proven Path Ministries

Just One Sunday

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See that you do not despise one of these little ones,

for I say to you that their angels in heaven

continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 18:10

I had a visitor once in children’s church… a beautiful eight year old little girl. I will never forget her… nor who she represents. Her face is bore into my mind and the look in her eyes and the uncomfortableness of her spirit is etched in my heart… I pray it remains there until my work her on this earth is done.

I wonder what a Sunday would look like if just for one Sunday the only prayer request allowed to be made on that day was for the souls of the known lost… and for the strength, wisdom, discernment, grace, and insight to proclaim the gospel to them.

I wonder what one Sunday where we lay aside all the prayer request that concern all the sinus pressure, all the employment issues, all the christians that you know are christians that are about to pass into eternity, all the upcoming surgeries, all the attitude adjustments, all the sick puppies, and lost kitties, even the cancers and the peace for lose who are dealing with a loss of a loved one… I wonder what just one Sunday where we leave those request at home and trust that God has it covered and instead we choose just this one Sunday to lay only the names of the lost before our church… what would that Sunday look like?

After all He did say:

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried canadd a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 6:25-34

What would happen if just one day, we laid aside all the request that had to do with all the things that God has already promised to supply us with… just one day we laid aside our own self interests and just one Sunday, just one, we set our hearts to pray for those we specifically know are abiding under the wrath of God because the enemy of this world has them blinded to the truth?

But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; rescuing youfrom the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.

Acts 26:16-18

What would happen?

Could we even really accomplish that in this self-centered, self-entitled, self-driven day?

I just don’t buy that Jesus saved me just to make my life better. He saved me to join an army. He saved me to join a team. He saved me to become a part of His rescue squad.

I am on active duty.

When did church become our comfort zone? Is it not supposed to be our training ground? Our briefing? Our team huddle to make the plans to fight the enemy…

Our time to grasp hands and say “red rover, red rover, Satan send that one right over” because if you don’t let them go, in the power of the name of Christ and the power of His gospel, we are about to come running over and break your hold on this one with the Truth of the Word of God and bring them on over to our side.

Oh God, take the blinders off of us! Let your church see… really see!

This young girl, in my children’s church, only eight years old… let me share with you how tight the grip the powers of hell have a hold of her mind… and let me remind you she merely is one that represents the majority of every child in our nation…

Oh church, wake up. For the love of Christ, wake up!

As I reviewed through the book of Romans, I begin every lesson with a section review that brings us up to where we will be that day, so as I reviewed Romans 1:18-32 I went over what happens in the minds of those who exchange the truth of God for a lie. I shared again how our thinking becomes all messed and we believe things that are lies, like believing that we come from monkeys… I made this statement and this young girls hand shot up. I addressed her raised hand and she said assuredly, “actually we are descended from monkeys.”

Now stop with me for a moment and think.

This young girl has never been in our church before. She does not go to school with any of the kids in the class. She knows no one and is in a strange place, yet this idea was so ingrained in her as fact, she had the boldness to speak out right then.

I cannot tell you how I prayed for this girl all through the lesson that day… I also cannot tell you the disappointment I felt as I watched our “church kids” including my own “church kid”.

I stood there teaching and I saw this first time visitor, this precious soul who has been taught a lie, for a very long time, I saw her sit there alone and uncomfortable. I saw her sit there while our “church kids” played amongst themselves, really ignoring her completely.

These children are merely a reflection of us… church we have got to work on this.

Yes, it is uncomfortable to approach and talk to someone new… even someone not new, but someone we have never talked to before… but guess what, they are uncomfortable too. Probably much more so than us.

I saw her uncomfortableness and I saw her struggle and my heart was breaking and what I wanted to do was just stop and take her for a walk and show her the beauty of God’s creation through the eyes of one of His children…

Thus declares the Lord who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him, 

Zechariah 12:1

I wanted to pull her aside and tell her that she was too intrinsically designed to come from an ape. I wanted to teach her that she was a living soul and that a monkey doesn’t have a soul and a soul can’t just “evolve”. I wanted to take her in my arms and run straight to the foot of the cross and beg God to open her eyes so that she could see… and I have done that in my prayers over and over and over.

She is only one of many.

So how about just one Sunday, just one, let’s trust that God has got our head cold covered, let’s trust that these mortal bodies are just temporary tents and God will sustain us and the others that we know that are His, no matter what we or they might be going through… let’s trust that He will get us through this one Sunday, and this one week that follows that Sunday, and just one Sunday let all our request be that the blind may see… that God would open their eyes… and that we would be so bold as to declare His Word and His gospel to the world so that whosoever will believe will be saved.

Start in your own church nursery.

Walk the halls of the Preschool wing.

Turn down the Children’s hall.

Do we not know that as soon as their little ears are open, the lies of hell are going in? This past Saturday morning my Bekah comes running up stairs, and says, “Momma, the lies are on Nick Jr! They just said that dinosaurs lived billions of years ago! Momma that’s not true. Kids are watching this Momma and it’s a lie”

Oh church, let not the gates of hell prevail…

If we don’t speak the truth who will?

If we don’t pray for the lost, the deceived  the blinded… who will?

One Sunday… could we start with just one Sunday?

Pray.

 

Children's Ministry, Names of God Series, Proven Path Ministries

Names of God Study: Amnos

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The Names of God study continues as we dig into more of the names and titles of our Christ. In the last post we saw that Jesus is our Archiereus, our High Priest. In this post we will see that He is also the Amnos.

The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said,

“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin ofthe world!”

John 1:29

Amnos is the Greek word for Lamb. The first mention of a lamb in the Scriptures is in the book of Genesis…

Then Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. Abimelech said to Abraham, “What do these seven ewe lambs mean, which you have set by themselves?” He said, “You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand so that it may be a witness to me, that I dug this well.” 

Genesis 21:28-30

When we look at the context of this passage of Scripture we see that these lambs in Genesis 21 are connected to covenant. They are connected to a witness. They are connected to a promise. They are connected to a relationship between two individuals. They are connected to sacrifice.

Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance. Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.” Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” And he said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

Genesis 22:1-7

Here we have Isaac and his father, Abraham. Abraham walking in obedience to the call of his God. He takes his son to the mountain… his son obediently follows his father. Isaac I am sure is wondering… something is different. His father is acting strange… this time something feels different… and as he looks and as he wonders… he can’t help but notice… there is no lamb. So finally he gathers the courage to ask, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

Abraham said,

“God will provide for Himself the lamb

for the burnt offering, my son.”

Genesis 22:8

 

We fast forward 2000 years and there in the Jordan River is a man named John. He stands clothed in soaking wet camel hair declaring a message of repentance. He is one voice calling out in the wilderness… calling out for Israel to prepare herself for the coming of the kingdom… He calls out for the Jew to turn their hearts back to their God… He stands there baptizing those who are willing to come and I am sure he wonders… “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

Then one day he lifts up his eyes and he sees… finally the question asked by Isaac 2000 years ago is answered…

The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said,

“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:29

 

There He is the Amnos! The Lamb… The Lamb who would not just cover the sin of one nation for a year, but the Lamb that would take away the sin of the world.

The Amnos could not be just any lamb… it never could be just any lamb. God always required specifics and standards. From the beginning in Exodus, with the first Passover in Egypt, all through the Old Testament with the sacrifices in the Tabernacle and Temple… the lamb had to meet the standard.

The lamb had to be perfect.

“But cursed be the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great King,” says the Lord of hosts, “and My name is feared among the nations.”

Malachi 1:14

It was to be partook of individually and not a bone of it was to be broken.

It is to be eaten in a single house; you are not to bring forth any of the flesh outside of the house, nor are you to break any bone of it.

Exodus 12:46

It was to be a year old.

Your lamb shall be an unblemished male a year old

Exodus 12:5

Have you ever wondered why a year old? If you have ever owned any livestock one thing you know is that the older an animal gets sometimes the more ornery it gets and also the less trusting it gets… a year old lamb would be easily and willingly scooped up by its master… there would be no fight or struggle. This lamb would go to its death willingly… taken to the altar by the very one who his blood would be atoning for…

Jesus did not go kicking and screaming to the cross. Our Amnos went willingly. Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world was the lamb chosen from the flock (Hebrews 2:14).  He was without blemish and without spot (Hebrews 7:26-27, 1 Peter 2:22). His blood must be sprinkled on every house. Salvation is personal. (Hebrews 9:11-14). His flesh must be eaten according to the ordinance of God  (John 6:53-55). 

God did not accept a sacrifice offered haphazardly. Not only did the lamb have to be perfect, but the one bringing the lamb also had to obey the ordinances God had laid out.

As it is with us… Yes Jesus is the Amnos, He is indeed the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, but we must come to Him in the way that God commands and we must receive all that He is and believe all that He says and obey.

 

From Genesis to Revelation we see the Amnos. We see that from the very first mention to the last the lamb is a special animal and picture for us.

Even today, just looking at a lamb we know that a lamb provides us with food and clothing and even companionship.

Not unlike our Amnos, the Lamb of God who provides us with everything we need for life. He is our food, the Bread of Life and the Living Water and He clothes us with His robe of righteousness and He offers a companionship that will never leave us or forsake us.

The very last mention of the word lamb in the Scripture is in the book of Revelation 22, we will close with this verse.

There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.

Revelation 22:3-4


Children's Ministry, Proven Path Ministries, The Romans Study For Kids

Romans Study For Kids (Romans 3:21-25a)

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Tomorrow morning I will be teaching through Romans 3:21-25. I had originally planned to get all the way through verse 31 in the morning… but probably not going to happen. I want to make sure Romans 3:21-25a has time to sink in 🙂

Here’s the study handouts.

Romans 3:21-25a

21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 

22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 

24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 

25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. 

 

Read Romans 3:21. How does this verse begin?

__ __ __   now  [*Do you remember Nemo? :-)]

 

Read Romans 3:21 again. Below you will see two different copies of this verse. Circle which one is correct.

  1. But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
  2. But now together with the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

 

Think about what you learned from reading Romans 3:21 and also all that you have already studied in Romans and answer the following question. 

Does the Law of God make us righteous? Circle your answer.

Yes                    No

 

Romans 3:21 tells us that the righteous of God has been manifested apart from the Law, but the Law and the Prophets are witness to it. Do you know what that means?

Think about it…

Remember that when something is manifested it is being made known. It is being made visible. It is being revealed. It is no longer being hidden. So the righteousness of God is being made known to us apart from the Law. Remember the Law was designed by God to give us knowledge of sin. It cannot give us righteousness. 

Do you understand what it means when Romans 3:21 says the Law and Prophets are witness to the righteousness of God being made known apart from the Law?

Think about a wedding. I know you have probably been to a wedding or at least seen a wedding on television. 

The man and woman stand before a judge and they stand before friends and families and they are making their love and commitment to one another known to the world. They enter into a marriage covenant with one another and the judge and their friends and families are witness to it.

They stand their in agreement that this wedding is good and right and lawful. In the same way, the Law and the Prophets stood witness to the righteousness of God being manifested. 

Do you know how it was manifested?

Let’s keep studying to find out!

 

Read Romans 3:22. Answer the following questions by filling in the blanks. You will find the answers in Romans 3:22.

How do we get the righteousness of God?

__ __ __ __ __ __ __      __ __ __ __ __

Through faith in who?

__ __ __ __ __       __ __ __ __ __ __

Who is the righteousness of God for?

__ __ __  those who  __ __ __ __ __ __ __

 

Read Romans 3:22-23 and answer the following questions by filling in the blanks.

Why is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe instead of through the Law?

for __ __ __ have __ __ __ __ __ __  and __ __ __ __

__ __ __ __ __  of the glory of God

 

Does what you learned in Romans 3:10-20 help you understand and appreciate these verses more? 

Yes                    No

Read Romans 3:24. Below is the definition of the word justified: 

Justified means to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be

Notice that justified means you are “declared righteous” you are “declared to be who you ought to be”. Justified does not mean that you are righteous.

 

Now read Romans 3:24 again and answer the following questions.

How are we justified?

as a  __ __ __ __  by His  __ __ __ __ __

 

Do you earn a gift?

Yes                 No

Do we receive this gift because we are able to keep the Law? 

Yes                No

How do we get this gift of being justified?

by His __ __ __ __ __

through the __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ in Jesus

 

What is grace?

Grace is that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech

good will, loving-kindness, favor

of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ

 

So we are declared righteous, justified, through faith in Jesus as a gift by the joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, and merciful kindness of God.

 

Pretty cool huh!

 

Of course remember this is only for those who believe. Read Romans 3:22. Do you believe? Really believe?

 

 

What is redemption?

Redemption is a releasing effected by payment of ransom

 

So we are declared righteous, justified, through faith in Jesus as a gift by the joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, and merciful kindness of God because Jesus paid our ransom.

 

Read John 19:30 below.

 

Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. (John 19:30)

 

The word “finished” in the greek is teleo and it means to pay

 

Jesus said “It is paid!”

Read Romans 3:25. Do you know what propitiation means?

Propitiation means:

used of the cover of the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies, which was sprinkled with the blood of the expiatory victim on the annual day of atonement, mercy seat.

 

 

Have you ever studied the Tabernacle or the Temple in the Old Testament? Inside the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant and on the Ark of the Covenant was the Mercy Seat. It was here on the Mercy Seat that the High Priest would put the blood of the lamb. When the blood was put on the Mercy Seat, God would forgive the sins of the nation of Israel.

 

Jesus became the Mercy Seat for us and for all who will believe.

 

 

Read Romans 3:25. How was Jesus displayed. Circle your answer.

publicly             privately 

 

Read Romans 3:25 again. Fill in the missing word.

whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through __ __ __ __ __.

 

Have you ever thought about the fact that it took faith for Jesus to go to the cross for us? He had to trust that His Father would accept His sacrifice and raise Him from the dead.

 

Do you remember the story of when God asked Abraham to offer up Isaac as a burnt offering?

 

Let’s go read it now. Look up and read Genesis 22:1-14.

 

How much faith do you think it took for Abraham to do this?

 

How much faith do you think it took for Isaac to obey his father in this?

 

Now how much faith do you think it took Jesus to actually go through with it?

 

How about we spend some time today just thanking Jesus for being willing to go to the cross for us and thanking God for being willing to declare us righteous, to justify us, even though we were sinners and had broken His Law. Let’s thank Him right now for His love and for His grace!

 

**** The previous Romans lessons can be found here: Romans Study For Kids

Book Reviews, Children's Ministry, Confessions of a Christian Wife, Proven Path Ministries

Speaking To The Heart of Your Child

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I shared with my church family last Wednesday night about how excited I am about the National Center of Biblical Parenting coming to our church to do a Parenting Solutions Seminar. I came across this organization, when I received the calling to children’s ministry and was researching curriculum and ideas. I followed a link from a DiscipleLand link that led me to the NSBP. As I perused their site I found myself saying, yes! Yes! This is great stuff!

Why do I feel it is great?

This organization is focused on teaching you how to apply the precepts of God to your parenting. How many times have you heard a parent say, this kid didn’t come with an instruction book? 

But the truth is they did.

God has faithfully left us His Word…

 Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.

Psalm 119:105

So the problem really is not that our children didn’t come with an instruction book… it’s that we, as parents, need help learning how to read the Instruction Book and how to apply it to our parenting.

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

If you have ever looked at your kids and said How many times have I told you?

or Do you not understand the words coming out my mouth?

(or maybe that’s just me :-/)

I think a lot of parents feel like they come home and all they do is “get on” to their kids until bedtime.

I think a lot of parents are growing weary of correcting the same behavior over and over and they just finally say “whatever”

I think a lot of parents feel as if they are losing their mind… Remember that one of the signs of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results… so stop.

Stop now and choose to look at your child in a new way.

Choose to give your style of parenting a remake.

Choose to let someone teach you how the Word of God works in parentings… learn to live out the Word inside your home and see it at work in your heart and the heart of your child. I don’t know about you, but I want to speak to the heart of my child… not just correct their outward behavior or control their circumstances.

You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:14-17

Everything we need to reach the heart of our children is in the Word of God.

Parenting comes with many trials and many tribulations… so parenting requires great perseverance. It is that perseverance through these trials that will bring about proven character in your child… and yes, precious one, in you as well.

 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 3:3-5

 

Yes, everything we need to reach the heart of our child and to be successful at this parenting thing is found in the Scriptures. It’s all right there in the Word of God.

The Christian Parenting Handbook will teach you to find it and apply it. You’ll discover simple advice like this:

Grouping offenses around character qualities is freeing for many parents. First, it provides some perspective. Instead of working on fifty different negative behaviors, now you can focus on three or four positive character qualities. Furthermore, once you develop a strategy for character development, you begin to see many of the offenses in your child’s life as opportunities for growth.

This approach also helps parents focus on what their kids need to be doing instead of simply focusing on the wrong behavior. Listen to your words of correction. Are they primarily focused on the problem, or on the solution?

In this book you will learn how to take the Word of God and realize that in it is all the parenting tools that you need that can apply to your own unique and beautiful children. My favorite thing about this book is that it takes away the formulas and steps and procedures that are in a lot of parenting books. I don’t know about you but I rarely even cook from a recipe… there is always something that I am out of, something we don’t buy, something I don’t like, something I forget to do or forgot to get… so I definitely can’t parent from one.

This is why I recommend purchasing this book… it takes parenting out of the box.

Trust me… you will not regret it.

Purchase the The Christian Parenting Handbook here.

bookandhandbook

 

 

I recommend any of their Parenting Tools. Go here and find the parenting solutions you need to meet the needs of your individual child and your own unique family. You can also purchase the Handbook Companion Guide here.

Parenting seminar

 

If you live in the North Alabama area I would love for you to come and meet Dr Turansky and Dr Miller in person as they come to my church to share with us. They are very laid back and are coming ready and willing to spend one on one time with the attending parents.

You can register to attend here: Register for Parenting Solutions Seminar

 

 

Disclaimer: “As a member of The Christian Parenting Handbook Launch Team, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and the opportunity to promote related giveaways and activities to my readers. All opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC Regulations.”