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!***
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