The Family Table
Feeding the Faith of LEFC Families
The Family Table – December 11, 2022
December 11, 2022
Dear LEFC Parents,
Today is the third Sunday of advent, and this week’s LEFC Advent Reading emphasizes the wisdom of the Messiah and how His kingdom will perfect because He will make no mistakes. I wish I could be a parent like that! I can’t hardly wait to live in the fullness of His kingdom (though, of course, waiting is exactly what we are called to do right now).
Change of Plans for the Children’s Christmas Program
As Emigh talked with parents about the LEFC Christmas Program this year, it became clear that, because Christmas is on a Sunday this year, families would be better served if the Christmas Program was FOR the kids than BY the kids this time around. So, she has changed the plan. All kids at church on Christmas Morning will be invited up front during worship to hear a special story and receive a small gift just for them. See Emigh if you have any questions or want to help.
Christmas Caroling
Bring your family along for our LEFC Christmas Caroling event on Sunday, December 18th at 3:00pm! We will gather on campus and practice a few favorite songs before caravaning throughout our community to brighten the holiday season of some of our beloved church families (older folks and shut-ins). No sign-ups necessary. Just show up! The kids that came along last year had a great time.
The Gospel Project at Home
Today, our Children’s Church continued their Bible study in The Gospel Project with Volume 3, Unit 8, Lesson 4 – “God’s Miracles Prove Who He Is.” Follow this link to find resources for a family devotional time based on this lesson. [Free one-time registration required.]
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. 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.
Worldview Training for Youth
“Ideas Have Consequences.” Keith Hurley and his team are continuing to offer a worldview training class for youth (grades 7-12) in the upstairs Youth Room every other Sunday evening at 7:00pm. Next week, Keith has planned a Christmas-themed class that should be fun! I hope your teen can participate. Parents are always invited, too.
And for Dessert…
This week’s recommended resource is a suggested gift for the teens in your life.
If I could buy one book for all of the teens I know, it would be 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (And Answer) about Christianity by Rebecca McLaughlin. It’s a distillation of her book I wish every adult would read, Confronting Christianity.
A glance at the table of contents will show you how relevant this book is for youth today:
1. How Can I Live My Best Life Now?
Mental and Physical Health Benefits of the Christian Life
2. Isn’t Christianity against Diversity?
Racism / Slavery / Christianity as the Most Diverse Movement in History
3. Can Jesus Be True for You but Not for Me?
Universal Truth / Relativism / Evangelism
4. Can’t We Just Be Good without God?
God as the Basis for Morality / 9/11 / Hitler / Stalin / Human Identity / Abortion
5. How Can You Believe the Bible Is True?
Evidence for the Gospels / Evidence for the Resurrection / True versus Literal
6. Hasn’t Science Disproved Christianity?
Origins of Science / Science and Faith Controversies / Christian Scientists Today
7. Why Can’t We Just Agree That Love Is Love?
Marriage / Sex / Singleness / Friendship / Same-Sex Attraction / Pornography / Abuse
8. Who Cares If You’re a Boy or a Girl?
Gender / Feminism / Transgender and Non-Binary Identities
9. Does God Care When We Hurt?
God’s Sovereignty in Suffering / God’s Care for Us / Prayer / Purpose
10. How Can You Believe in Heaven and Hell?
Meaning of Heaven and Hell / Sin and Judgment / Salvation / Invitation
You might want to buy one for your teen for Christmas this year (along with something on their wishlist, of course!). I hope your teen eats it up.
Blessings,
Pastor Matt
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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!