when they ask

shaping children's faith through story

Tag: Lent

Making Room Week 6: Kingdom Ambassadors

April 7, 2019 /

During this sixth week of Lent, we get to look forward to the restoration of God’s glorious reign, the Great Banquet in the Old Testament or the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in the New. We’ll spend time both reflecting on the Bible’s descriptions of this great event, and then considering our role as kingdom ambassadors who get to extend Jesus’ invitation to the world. If you are just joining us, welcome! You can read more about this project here, and my church that is producing these videos and resources here.

Songs

Memorization

Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Bible Stories*

  • Jesus’ parable of the great banquet (Luke 14:15-24, cf. Matthew 22:1-14)
  • Jesus’ great commission (Matthew 28:16-20, cf. Matthew 24:14)
  • Jesus sends the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:3-14, 2:1-47)
  • The New Heaven and New Earth (Revelation 21:1-8)
  • The River of Life (Revelation 22:1-5

Activities

  • Paint the scene in Revelation 22:1-5.
  • Talk about how your home is and can be an outpost of God’s kingdom, and then invite someone into it!
  • Make a plan to restructure your life such that you can prioritize making disciples or living into your role as Christ’s ambassador.

Making Room Week 4: Personal Confession

March 23, 2019 /

Breathe. Last week was heavy for me. I know that I ended the video by calling us to worship, but the confession that precedes it is tough. How about you? How are you feeling, heading into this fourth week of Lent? Whereas we’ve been focusing on the Kingdom of God in our communities and world, this week we’ll be reflecting on our need for Jesus’ resurrection in each of our personal lives. For any who are just joining us, I’ve been working with an amazing team from my church on weekly videos to guide our congregation through Lent. Since I’m also leading my own young children (2 and 4) through the season, I’ve included additional resources below that we’re planning (or hoping!) to use on a more daily basis. Thanks for journeying with us!

Songs

Memorization

If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9)

Bible Stories*

  • Jesus’ gift of the Holy Spirit (John 14:15-27; 16:8)
  • Jesus is anointed/ Doctors heal the sick (Luke 7:36-40, 1 John 1:6-9)
  • Jesus chooses imperfect people [The calling of Matthew (Luke 5:27-32), restoration of Peter (John 21:15-19), and conversion of Paul (Acts 9:1-22)]
  • The Greatest 2 Commandments (Matthew 22:34-40)
  • Jesus is the Vine/ A New Commandment (John  15:1-12; 13:12-15, 34-35)

Activities

  • Practice / emphasize apologizing to and forgiving one another, this week. When you are impatient with your kids, tell them and ask for forgiveness!
  • Practice sharing Jesus’ love with others, this week. This could be a specific bigger project (like bringing in #10 cans to Summit) or just being aware of opportunities throughout your days.
  • Watch the 2007 movie about the transatlantic slave trade and author of our beloved hymn, Amazing Grace (Common Sense Media recommends this for those over 11 years old).
  • Pray with the physical “palms down, palms up” prayer posture described in Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline. He describes, “Begin by placing your palms down as a symbolic indication of your desire to turn over any concerns  you ay have. Inwardly you may pray, ‘Lord, I give you my anger toward John. I release my fear of my dentist appointment this morning…’ After several minutes of surrender, turn your palms up as a symbol of your desire to receive from the Lord. Perhaps you will pray silently: ‘Lord, I would like to receive your divine love for John, your peace about the dentist appointment, your patience, your joy…’” Posture is important! Try physically turning over your burdens of sin to the Lord and then physically open your hands to receive God’s forgiveness and love.

*More details about how our family plans to use these Bible stories can be found here.

We’re praying for you as you lead your little disciples to follow Jesus, this week!

Making Room Week 3: Kingdom of God

March 17, 2019 /

Lent is a season for self-examination and confession, an annual opportunity to “remember your baptism” by reflecting on Jesus’ call to follow him in love, death, and new life. This week we’ll look at his first public teaching in the gospel of Luke, through which he essentially declares himself to be the promised Messiah inaugurating God’s long awaited Kingdom. As you watch the video and then use the additional resources, I invite you to prayerfully consider different ways your family might live into and celebrate his kingdom vision for our world, today.

Songs

Memorization

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10).

Bible Stories*

  • Healing miracles (Matthew 15:29-31, cf. Ezekiel 47:1-12 and Revelation 22:1-5)
  • John’s baptism (Luke 3:1-14)
  • Pearl of great price, Rich young ruler (Matthew 13:45-46; 19:16-30)
  • Cleansing the temple (Luke 19:45-48)
  • Love your enemies (Matthew 5:38-48, Luke 22:47-53, possibly 23:34)
  • Jesus frees captives (if age-appropriate, Matthew 8:28-34)

Activities

  • Make a few simple meals and donate the money saved to a food pantry or other ministry (one of our favorites is World Vision).
  • Encourage someone who’s sick
  • Declutter, giving clothes/ toys to Salvation Army
  • Reconcile with “an enemy.”
  • Read The Quiltmaker’s Gift, an amazing story about a greedy king who finds true joy by giving away his many treasures.

*More details about how our family plans to use these resources can be found here.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever (Ephesians 3:21-22)!

Making Room: journeying together through Lent

March 6, 2019 /

A few weeks ago I was asked to help make weekly videos that can guide our church community through Lent. They will be primarily for teenagers and adults, but since I am walking through the season with my 2 and 4 year olds, we will also include some elements specifically chosen for them.

But first I have a confession. We’ve never done this. Yes, that’s right. This will be our family’s very first time practicing Lent, together!

So while I’ve been excited to plan it for the four of us, I really didn’t anticipate writing about it, this year… until the pastors asked me to help with the videos! So here we are. Perhaps this can encourage you to jump in and try something new, as well, because we really are all in this together!

For a year or so, the kids and I have been playing around with several different ways of nurturing our hearts and minds over breakfast or lunch. They’ve generally included some combination of eating, playing with play dough or slime, coloring, reading and conversation about Bible stories, pretending their Bible stories, learning a hymn, and memory work. Since I really love the rhythm we’ve established, I’m using a similar format during Lent. Therefore, we’ve chosen a theme for each of the videos (to be used by broader congregation), and then found additional songs, Bible stories, verses to memorize, and a few activities or projects to be used throughout the week specifically for kids. More details about how we anticipate using each of these can be found here. Finally, we’ll be listening to a Spotify playlist as we go about our day with songs that help us reflect on the weekly theme.

During this first partial week (beginning on Ash Wednesday) we will focus on habits and prayer. Overall, we are considering this Lenten season as an opportunity to cultivate the soil of our hearts, motivated by Jesus’ parable of the sower in Matthew 13 (and my weedy garden last summer). So in the video, I give an overview and then encourage people to pray about one established habit that they can set aside for the next 7 weeks (pulling weeds), and one new habit to begin (amending soil). And now, without further ado, here’s our first video and additional resources, with a huge thanks to the Summit Church team for producing both it and the graphic at the top of this post!

Songs

Memorization: Matthew 6:9-13

Bible Stories

  • Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23)
  • The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11: 1, Matthew 6:9-13)
  • Solitude in Prayer (Matthew 6:5-8; Luke 6:12-13)

Activities

  • Plant flower or vegetable seeds
  • Choose family (or individual) habits to add and set aside
  • Create a special prayer closet, corner, or tent
  • Simplify meals (soup and bread)

Picture Books

Making Room: Sunday Morning Introduction

March 3, 2019 /

I recently got to introduce a series of videos that our church is making to help people journey through Lent. They’ll be posted, here, on my blog, so here’s the invitation that I extended to our congregation on Sunday morning!

Good morning! For those of you I don’t yet know, I have a background in theology and ministry, but am currently working as a stay at home mom. I am so excited to be helping with some videos that will guide us through Lent. You know, it’s not a season that we have emphasized in our particular church tradition, so I would suspect that it is fairly unfamiliar to many of us. But one of Jesus’ stories makes me think that 2019 may be a good time for that to change.

In one of his parables, Jesus said that God’s word can be like seed that falls among dormant thorns (as a gardener, I’m thinking of thistles). The seed of God’s word sprouts and begins growing, but is quickly choked out by everything else that is also growing up all around it. This is compared with seed planted in good soil, where it has the space and nourishment to grow up healthy, strong, and fruitful. This past July, my garden was a mess. I personally experienced the frustration of things we’d intentionally planted being choked out by everything else that just grew up on its own. And honestly, my out-of-control garden became a fitting picture of my entire life- It was all just too much. Too much stuff, too many commitments, too many voices, too many newsfeeds.. too many desserts. An ill-managed life. So, ever sense I have been all about weeding- uprooting that which doesn’t really matter in order to give space and nourishment to what matters most.

And that, my friends, is going to be our emphasis during the season of Lent. We’re going to pull the weeds, clear the clutter, and then have the brainspace to ask ourselves some important questions, all in an effort to prepare the soil of our hearts for the best news that we will celebrate 7 weeks from now. Beginning this Wednesday and then each Sunday until Easter, we’ll be posting a video that focuses our attention on one particular aspect of following Jesus. The videos are intended for teenagers and adults, single or married. But since I began thinking about this for our family and we already have a rhythm of more daily devotions, the videos will also include elements that I’ll use with my 2 and 4 year olds throughout the week, like songs, Bible stories, activities, and a verse or passage to memorize. And if you are planning on going through this with your own kids, I’ve recently discovered this picture book on Lent that I’m LOVING and would highly recommend.

So, look for those videos, beginning this Wednesday, and I can’t wait to embark on this journey, together.

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