Looking Ahead…Mark your calendars!
 
February 26th: Kids’ Choir sings in A.M. service
March 4th: OCBC Kids to Ellen’s (This will be rescheduled for later in March!)
March 16th: No Kids’ Choir (Spring Break)
March 19th: No TeamKID (Spring Break)
April 9th: Palm Sunday (All kids will lay Palm Branches), Kids’ Choir Sings in PM service
April 16th: Easter Sunday, No Children’s activities during PM Service
May 17: Final Kids’ Choir
May 21st: Final TeamKID
May 26th: End of School Bash for all OCBC Kids, 6pm
June 4th-8th: VBS
June 14th: Summer Kids’ program begins
June 25th-28th: PowerPlus Preteen Camp @ Pineywoods
  
***OCBC Kids’ to Ellen’s will be postponed to a later date in March. 
I will get details to you ASAP!***
 

TeamKID, Sundays @ 6pm
Is God Loving?
 
Memory Verse: John 3:16
Bible Passage: The Prodigal Son – Luke 15:11-32
Missions Emphasis: Argentina
 
What We Learned: Today’s meeting discussed how God is a loving God. Many
children today see the very real and very sad side of life and wonder, “If God is loving, why
does He let these terrible things happen?” This is a challenging question. Sometimes we
must admit that we will never know the full answer until we get to heaven. But we can
declare to children and to all, with all assurance: “Yes! God does love all of us!”
The story of the Prodigal Son is a great illustration of God’s love because it clearly
demonstrates man’s sinful nature and God’s forgiveness. Although the son in the story
was particularly disrespectful and disgraceful, we are all sinners in need of forgiveness.
This story highlights grace as the “unmerited favor” of God because the son in the
story definitely didn’t deserve his father’s open-armed forgiveness. It also couches
the message of God’s love and salvation in the context of a family, something anyone,
especially children, can understand.
 
Reflect on the way God’s love has been unconditional and open-armed in your own life
as you talk about what your child learned this week.
 
At-Home: Use these prompts for family discussion this week to see what your child
learned and how it applies to his or her life. Be prepared to share what you glean from
the story as well. In doing so, you stress the importance of the need for God’s Word in
your life.
 
1. What was this week’s Bible story about? How does it demonstrate God’s love for us?
2. What was this week’s memory verse? What does it reveal about how much God loves
people?
3. What was a time in your life when you knew God was showing you love?
 
Bonus Verse: John 15:12
Kids' Choir, Wednesdays @ 7pm
 Hymn of the month: 
Blessed Be the Rock…singing in morning service on February 26th!
We are starting to prepare for Easter! Now is a great time to join the choir!
 
THE GOSPEL PROJECT FOR KIDS, Sundays @ 9:30am
 
Unit Description: Many Jews returned to their land, but some remained in Persia. God used Esther to protect God’s people, and Nehemiah led them to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls. Even after returning home, the Israelites struggled to obey God completely and worship Him. Malachi the prophet warned the people not to be lazy in the way they worshiped God. Then there was silence.
Key Passage: Lamentations 3:22-23
Big Picture Question: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always faithful even when we are not.
 
Bible Story: Ezra Read the Law
Bible Passage: Nehemiah 8:1-12
Main Point: Ezra read God’s Word to teach the people how to obey God.
 
Dear Parents,
 
Ezra traveled to Jerusalem with a purpose. God’s people had spent 70 years in exile, and they needed to be reminded how to live. As a scribe, Ezra was an expert on the law of Moses, and he had “determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10).
 
Under Nehemiah’s leadership, the people had rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls. They gathered together at the Water Gate to hear the law of Moses. Men, women, and children—anyone who could understand—came to listen to the reading of God’s Word. From early morning until midday, Ezra read from the book of the law of Moses. He stood on a high wooden platform where everyone could see and hear him. Ezra opened the book of the law, and everyone stood up. The Levites helped the listeners understand the words of the law. The people reacted strongly to hearing and understanding the law of Moses. Verse 9 says the people were weeping. The law revealed their sin. God's Word is powerful.
 
When Ezra read God's Word, the people changed their ways and loved God more. The Bible says that Jesus is "the Word." Jesus is God who came to live with people on earth. Jesus has the power to change our hearts. Help your kids recognize that we cannot meet God’s requirements. We need a Savior. God sent Jesus to obey the law perfectly and die for our sins. We can trust in Him for salvation.
 
 Check this session’s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week.
 
 FAMILY STARTING POINTS
● Babies and Toddlers
○ God keeps His promises.
○ Ezra read God’s words to the people.
○ The people heard God’s words and loved God.
○ Jesus spoke God’s words.
 
● Preschool
○ Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always faithful.
○ Ezra taught the people God’s Word.
 
● Kids
○ Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always faithful even when we are not.
○ Ezra read God’s Word to teach the people how to obey God.
 
UNIT KEY PASSAGE
● Lamentations 3:22­23
 
NEXT WEEK
● “Malachi the Prophet” (Malachi 1—4)
 
In Christ,
Stephenie
​

Looking Ahead…Mark your calendars!
 
February 26th: Kids’ Choir sings in A.M. service
March 4th: OCBC Kids to Ellen’s
March 16th: No Kids’ Choir (Spring Break)
March 19th: No TeamKID (Spring Break)
April 9th: Palm Sunday (All kids will lay Palm Branches), Kids’ Choir Sings in PM service
April 16th: Easter Sunday, No Children’s activities during PM Service
May 17: Final Kids’ Choir
May 21st: Final TeamKID
May 26th: End of School Bash for all OCBC Kids, 6pm
June 4th-8th: VBS
June 14th: Summer Kids’ program begins
June 25th-28th: PowerPlus Preteen Camp @ Pineywoods
 
*Please note: There will be no children’s activities on Sunday evenings throughout the summer.  

TeamKID, Sundays @ 6pm
Who is God?
Memory Verse: 2 Corinthians 13:14
Bible Passage: The Baptism of Jesus – Luke 3:21-22; Mark 1:9-11
Missions Emphasis: Nepal (a school for those who are deaf and blind)
 
What We Learned: Today, your child studied the concept of the Trinity. To say
that this was a basic introduction is a dramatic understatement. God is a Triune God
who includes the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This idea is really hard to “grasp”
with our limited human minds and is one believers will continue to unpack throughout
the Christian life. Reinforce the concept that we as humans do not and cannot know
everything and that it is okay to believe by faith when we cannot understand a concept.
Talk with your child about what he or she learned today and see if he can put into words
what today’s meeting was about.
 
At-Home: To better understand the Holy Spirit, try this activity. Read the story of the
baptism of Jesus in Mark 1:9-11. Then act out the story as a family. Ask your child to try
and identify the different persons in the Trinity (God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the
Holy Spirit) in the story. Then ask your child where God is in the story. Your child will
likely pick one of the members of the Trinity. Help them understand that while each
person of the Trinity is fully God, God is also three members of the Trinity. Explain that
the Trinity is one God in three persons. Assure your child this is a difficult concept for
even grownups to understand.
 
Use these prompts for family discussion to remind your child of this week’s lesson and
key Bible story.
1. How did Jesus’ baptism reveal the Trinity?
2. Can you describe the Trinity to me in your own words?
3. What was your favorite part of today’s lesson?
 
Kids' Choir, Wednesdays @ 7pm
 Hymn of the month: 
Blessed Be the Rock…singing in morning service on February 26th!
We are starting to prepare for Easter! Now is a great time to join the choir!
 
THE GOSPEL PROJECT FOR KIDS, Sundays @ 9:30am
 
Unit Description: Many Jews returned to their land, but some remained in Persia. God used Esther to protect God’s people, and Nehemiah led them to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls. Even after returning home, the Israelites struggled to obey God completely and worship Him. Malachi the prophet warned the people not to be lazy in the way they worshiped God. Then there was silence.
Key Passage: Lamentations 3:22-23
Big Picture Question: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always faithful even when we are not.
 
Bible Story: Nehemiah Heard News of Jerusalem
Bible Passage: Nehemiah 1–2
Main Point: Nehemiah prayed that God would help His people rebuild Jerusalem’s walls.
 
This week and the next two weeks, we are studying the story of Nehemiah and Ezra. Nehemiah was a Jew living in Persia. He served as the king’s cupbearer, a position of great trust; the cupbearer made sure no one poisoned the king’s drink. Sometimes the cupbearer even tasted some of the drink himself to ensure it was safe. When the Persian Empire conquered the Babylonians, King Cyrus allowed God’s people to return to Judah. Two or three million Jews had originally been deported, but only a remnant—50,000 people—returned. They set up their homes and rebuilt God’s temple in Jerusalem. 
 
Nehemiah’s story takes place after Ezra led a second group of exiles back to Judah. Nehemiah received word about God’s people who had returned to Judah. They were in trouble and living in shame; the walls of Jerusalem were broken down, and the city gates were burned. They lived in fear, unprotected from their enemies. Nehemiah sat down and wept. Nehemiah fasted and prayed for days. He remembered God’s promise to His people. Their disobedience led to exile, but if they turned back to the Lord, their obedience would lead to blessing. God promised to restore their fortunes and give His people a home. (See Deut. 30:1­10.) The king noticed Nehemiah’s sadness, and Nehemiah was afraid. No one was supposed to be sad in the presence of the king; it was an insult to his greatness. Nehemiah explained the plight of his city. The king granted him leave and gave him letters to ensure his safe passage. Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem. He encouraged the people to rebuild the walls and stood confidently against opposition. Nehemiah trusted that God would keep His promise to protect His people and give them a home.
 
When we trust in Jesus, we believe God will keep His promise to give us—His people—a home. Jesus obeyed God perfectly. He died on the cross and rose again so we can have a home with Him forever. Help your kids understand that when we repent and trust in Jesus, we can trust His promise to prepare a place for us in His Father’s house, where we will be with Him forever. (See John 14:3.)
 
Check this session’s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week.
 
FAMILY STARTING POINTS
● Babies and Toddlers
○ God keeps His promises.
○ Nehemiah prayed for God to keep His people safe.
○ God used Nehemiah to build the city walls.
○ Jesus hears us when we pray.
● Preschool
○ Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always faithful.
○ Nehemiah prayed that God would help His people.
● Kids
○ Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always faithful even when we are not.
○ Nehemiah prayed that God would help His people rebuild Jerusalem’s walls.
 
UNIT KEY PASSAGE ● Lamentations 3:22­-23
 
NEXT WEEK ● “Jerusalem’s Walls Were Rebuilt” ​(Nehemiah 3:1—6:16)
 
In Christ,
Stephenie
​

​Looking Ahead…Mark your calendars!
 
March 4th: OCBC Kids to Ellen’s!
March 16th: No Kids’ Choir (Spring Break)
March 19th: No TeamKID (Spring Break)
April 9th: Palm Sunday (All kids will lay Palm Branches), Kids’ Choir Sings
April 16th: Easter Sunday, No Children’s activities during PM Service
May 17: Final Kids’ Choir
May 21st: Final TeamKID
May 26th: End of School Bash for all OCBC Kids, 6pm
June 4th-8th: VBS
June 14th: Summer Kids’ program begins
June 25th-28th: PowerPlus Preteen Camp @ Pineywoods
 
*Please note: There will be no children’s activities on Sunday evenings throughout the summer.  

TeamKID, Sundays @ 6pm
Bible Story: God’s Covenant with Abraham
Memory verse: Deuteronomy 7:9 (ESV)
Application: God is fair and can be trusted.
 Kids' Choir, Wednesdays @ 7pm
 Hymn of the month: 
Blessed Be the Rock
We are starting to prepare for Easter! Now is a great time to join the choir!
 
THE GOSPEL PROJECT FOR KIDS, Sundays @ 9:30am
 
Unit Description: Many Jews returned to their land, but some remained in Persia. God used Esther to protect God’s people, and Nehemiah led them to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls. Even after returning home, the Israelites struggled to obey God completely and worship Him. Malachi the prophet warned the people not to be lazy in the way they worshiped God. Then there was silence.
Key Passage: Lamentations 3:22-23
Big Picture Question: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always faithful even when we are not.
 
Bible Story: God Saved His People Through Esther
Bible Passage: Esther 5–10
Main Point: God used Esther at just the right time to save His people.
 
During the time of Queen Esther—more than 450 years before Jesus was born—the Jewish people were scattered around the Persian Empire. The Book of Esther tells the unlikely story of a young Jewish woman who, as the queen of the Persian Empire, saved her people. After Esther was chosen as the queen of Persia, she received news that an evil man named Haman had a plan to kill all of the Jews. The Book of Esther is the only book in the Bible that never mentions God by name, but God clearly worked through Esther and her cousin Mordecai to save the Jewish people. Mordecai even suggested to Esther that God’s hand was in the situation: “Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this” (Esth. 4:14)
 
If Haman was successful in killing all the Jews, his evil plan would put God’s promises in jeopardy. God had promised to bless the world through Abraham’s family and to send a King from the line of David who would rule forever. Esther had a choice to make. She could do nothing and face destruction (Esth. 4:13­14), or she could risk her life by approaching the king to plead for the protection of the Jews. Esther and the Jewish people prayed and fasted for three days before Esther went to the king. Esther was welcomed by the king, who offered to give her anything she wanted—up to half of the kingdom. Esther told the king of Haman’s plot against her people. The king ordered that Haman be killed instead!
 
God was in control over Haman’s evil plan to destroy the Jews. Like Haman, Satan wants to destroy believers. Satan thought he had won when Jesus died on the cross, but God raised Jesus from the dead and defeated Satan once and for all. Help your kids understand that Jesus is the greater Esther. Esther risked her life to rescue God’s people but Jesus gave up His life to rescue God’s people.
 
Check this session’s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week.
 
 FAMILY STARTING POINTS
● Babies and Toddlers
○ God keeps His promises.
○ Esther trusted God to help her talk to the king.
○ God used Esther to keep His people safe.
○ God sent Jesus because He loves us.
● Preschool
○ Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always faithful.
○ God used Esther to save His people.
● Kids
○ Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always faithful even when we are not.
○ God used Esther at just the right time to save His people.
 
UNIT KEY PASSAGE
● Lamentations 3:22-­23
 
NEXT WEEK
● “Nehemiah Heard News of Jerusalem” (N​ehemiah 1—2)
 
In Christ,
Stephenie
​