Church School

Gideon – one of Israel’s judges – was faced with an angry crowd from the tribe of Ephraim. They weren’t happy he hadn’t included them in a battle against the Midianites! Gideon was following God’s instructions and could have responded with anger and defensiveness, but instead responded with gentleness and respect. The people of Ephraim took it great! Then, years later, another judge named Jephthah angered the people of Israel – but instead of speaking kindly he spoke harshly. Guess what? Ephraim didn’t take it so great. Our words make a huge difference! Kindness is far more likely to bring about peace than hostility. That’s what we’re learning from the book of Proverbs this weekend!

When it’s time to begin, start your morning of family worship by watching the short lesson video with your kids. [Tell your families how to access the videos here.] It’s a great way to engage spiritually with your family. 
 

God appeared to a young man named Solomon in a dream and offered to give him whatever he wanted. Solomon had just become the king of Israel and knew he was out of his depth. So, he asked God for wisdom. God wants us to desire wisdom that way, too. It’s so much more valuable than money or power or fame – all of which will fade away. The incredible news, though, is that God offers to give us all of the wisdom we need if only we’ll ask. 

The disciples told everyone they could about Jesus. Peter and John even healed a crippled man in the name of Jesus! But when the Jewish leaders heard about what Peter and John were doing and saying, they had the temple guards arrest them and throw them in jail! They warned them to stop talking about Jesus and let them go. What did Peter and John do? They went right back to telling people about Jesus. They had courage because they knew the Spirit of God was with them and in them. 

Jesus came to restore not only our relationship with God, but our relationship with one another! He came to invite us into the family of God – and God has a ton of children! The early believers understood that they needed one another so they gathered to pray together, study God’s Word together, worship together, and live all of life together. We need one another, too. Our relationship with God may be personal, but it was never meant to be private. When we live our lives alongside other believers, we help each other grow in our faith and stand strong when our faith is tested.

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He appeared to His disciples one last time to give them their marching orders. They were to go into all the world and tell everyone about the good news that Jesus had died for their sins and rose from the dead. And that’s exactly what they did. They told everyone they could about Jesus. Then those people told people. Then those people told people. Then someone told you.