April 8th - What We Learned

This Sunday, April 8th, your Reign Forest child (ages 2-5) reenacted the Last Supper that Jesus had with His disciples and learned about how Jesus came back from the dead (Matthew 26:20-30; 28:1-7). The class ate bits of a piece of bread and drank grape juice just like Jesus did with His friends before He left them. But Jesus is our Friend forever, so He did not stay dead! He came back to life!

Our memory verse for the month of April is "A friend loves at all times." Proverbs 17:17

As you drive around this week, talk to your child about how Jesus is a good friend and He loves us ALL the time, even when your child is disobedient or unkind! Practice this month’s memory verse together: “A friend loves at all times,” Proverbs 17:17. Maybe surprise your child by driving to their favorite park once they’ve memorized the verse.

Your Land of Promise child (kindergarten through fifth grade) learned that whatever happens, God is stronger than ANYTHING -- even death! (John 20:1-18) In today's lesson, a fake news anchor interviews Mary Magdalene and John and Peter after Jesus rises from the dead.

After the silliness of the story, the teacher explained to the class, “When Jesus died on the cross, He made it possible for our sins to be forgiven and for us to have a friendship with God -- the way God wanted it from the beginning of time. Sins are the wrong things we do. Talking back to your parents, lying to a friend, and even eating a cookie before dinner when it’s against the rules -- these are all sins. Each time we sin, we grow further and further from God. God doesn’t want that. He doesn’t want there to be anything between you and Him.

“So, in order to erase these sin -- the sins of the whole world -- God did something amazing. He sent Jesus, His own Son, to pay for all of our sins when He died on the cross. When you or I believe in our hearts that Jesus is who He said He was, and we put all our trust in what He did for us on the cross, then we receive the gift of eternal life -- heaven, with God, forever!

Photo credited to www.brokenbelievers.com

“That’s a decision you need to make yourself -- to trust Jesus to forgive you for all of your sins. When you believe that Jesus died on the cross to take away your sins, and He rose again, then you have the HOPE of eternal life. The Bible says, ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ Easter: the BEST news the world has ever known, the BEST news that anyone will ever hear. Easter means one thing: Jesus is alive!

“That’s the true meaning of Easter. You might think it was the final piece of the puzzle, but you’d be wrong. This was just the beginning of something new and HUGE that God was doing. Proof that Jesus is who He said He was and that whatever happens, God is stronger!"

The best way to follow this lesson up at home is to ask God to give your child a soft heart towards Him and a complete understanding of what God has done for her. Then take time this week to ask your child if her sins have been forgiven? Have they been paid for?

We will be praying with you as you pray for your child.