The Family Table
Feeding the Faith of LEFC Families
TFT: Tiny Theologians
September 3, 2023
Dear LEFC Parents,
Here are some items to set the table for family discipleship in your home this week:
Baptizing Believing Children
Pastor Matt is once again offering to meet with kids in our church family to teach them about water baptism. We’re hoping to celebrate some baptisms again this autumn. Many parents ask the question, “What is the appropriate age to baptize believing children?” This article at DesiringGod has some helpful thoughts on how to reach an answer: Do Not Hinder Them — Why We Baptize Believing Children for both pastors and parents. Talk with Pastor Matt about your child taking the class. He is happy to work around busy family schedules.
The Gospel Project at Home
Today’s Bible Study is “Daniel Served God” (Volume 6: Unit 16: Session 3). Ask your kids what they learned in Kids Bible Class this morning and/or do the family devotional you can find at this link.
Snack and Yack
When the auditorium empties after worship, girls and boys (grades 3-7) who listened to the sermon (remember to fill out a handout!) are invited to Pastor Matt’s office for a tasty treat and a brief discussion with one of the LEFC elders and their wives (and sometimes guest preachers?!) about the message. Parents, if you would like to help host the discussion by providing the snack, see Holly Crumrine to get involved.
Send Pastor Matt Your Kids’ Sports Schedules
I (Pastor Matt) love to drop in to see the kids of our church family play their sports, but I need to know when and where the games are. It’s hard to keep track of who is on what team. If you could send me your kids’ sports schedules at the beginning of each season, it will help me to make it to more games and spend some quality time with your family.
And for dessert…
There’s a new podcast in town. The same folks who produce the Family Discipleship Podcast and Knowing Faith have just launched a new one for preschool and early elementary kids to listen to called “Tiny Theologians Podcast.”
Once a week, kids can listen to TJ and Tory (little kids, too) who go on an adventure to learn the attributes of God. Each episode features one letter of the alphabet (kids learn the ABCs at the same time) and a corresponding attribute of God. There is a story, a song, special effects, and humor.
Pastor Matt listened to the first episode, “A is for All-Knowing.” He says, “It is a little cheesy, but so am I. Little kids love cheesy! I believe many parents will enjoy putting it on for their kids and being able to trust that they are getting some good teaching about Who God really is.”
Hear an interview by Kyle Worley with Tiny Theologian founder Amy Gannett (17:00).
Visit the Tiny Theologians website for more family discipleship resources.
We hope your family eats it right up!
Matt Mitchell, Pastor
Holly Crumrine, 2023 Family Ministries Coordinator
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EXPLAINER: THE GOSPEL PROJECT AT HOME
For the last several years, our Children’s Church ministry has utilized The Gospel Project as our Bible study curriculum. The Gospel Project is really excellent–it takes our Little Learners and Bible Explorers chronologically through the whole Bible over the course of three years while always focusing on Jesus as the center of the big story. If your student was in Little Learners or Bible Explorers this morning, they received a coloring page and take-home sheet that corresponds to this lesson. You have also been given a full-color Big Picture Card that you can use to reinforce the lesson with your child, as well.
To reinforce what your kids are learning each week in Children’s Church, you can now access The Gospel Project At Home online. Each week in this email, there will be a link to follow to get this free resource which includes:
1. A guide to using the Gospel Project at Home.
2. Scripture to read and discuss with a recap video of the Bible Story (Preschool and/or Elementary).
3. Scripture memory verses and a song to sing together.
4. Prayer prompts and family activities that correspond to the lesson.
Please consider setting aside at least 10-15 minutes once a week for a family devotional time using this resource as a guide. We are hoping The Gospel Project At Home will help keep all of our LEFC kids “on the same page,” and feed their faith in Jesus.
This might be especially helpful if for some reason your child has to miss a week of Children’s Church. You can show them the Bible story video to keep them up to speed on what the other children are learning.
**Note: The first time you access the link, you will need to register a free account with Lifeway’s Ministry Grid. This will also provide you ongoing access through the “training” tab to many other discipleship resources including the Gospel Project at Home for previous weeks. Many hours of excellent things to absorb for free!