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Right to the Heart of the Matter
Sue Jakes, CEP Christian Education Specialist

My four children are all grown up. When my youngest got married last year I was reminded, however, that the responsibility to train up our children is never ending. As the mother of the bride, I was supposed to stand up when signaled so that my daughter could begin her walk down the aisle. I missed the signal because I could not take my eyes off my grandson, the cutest ring bearer I had ever seen. My attention had already moved to the next generation. And so it is with the Kingdom of God. It will not end until Jesus comes back.

The 2008 WIC Love Gift will help provide new and better resources for equipping our churches to make disciples of the next generation. Making disciples of the next generation is the very heart of Christian Education and Publications. We believe our heart is in the right place.

There was silence for four hundred years between the Old and New Testaments. God did not speak. But the last words spoken in the Old were a prophesy fulfilled four hundred years later when he spoke again. “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction,” Malachi 4:5-6.

Luke 1:17 is the announcement of the coming of John the Baptist and his message to “turn the hearts of fathers to children.” This message was to make the path straight for the Word to come forth.

Today, as we long for revival in Jesus’ church, turning our hearts to our children will help straighten the path which has been made so crooked by our sin, the enemy and our culture. What a sweet privilege we have to tell God’s story to the next generation! What a sweet privilege you have to put your money where your heart is.

Giving Opportunities

Give as group: View the video as a group. Ask individuals to give to your church or local women’s treasury and designate for the Love Gift. Then send one check from the church made payable to the 2008 WIC Love Gift.

Give individually: Individuals may desire to give directly to the project by sending a check to CEP designated to the 2008 Love Gift. CEP will send a receipt qualifying the gift is tax deductible.

Give online: CEP will receive contributions made using Visa, Mastercard, Discover and AMEX via a secure website. Donors will receive a receipt reflecting the tax deductible donation. Click here to give and select 2008 Love Gift for the gift designation.

Give real estate or stock: CEP is able to receive gifts of this nature through the PCA Foundation 1-800-700-3221.

The Race is On!

Coach your kids and build them up in faith with this unique summer program. The Race Is On takes children from the miraculous story of Jesus’ birth to his death, resurrection and ascension to heaven. Students will hear the truth of Scripture every day and see the story of redemption in every lesson.

Click to view VBS resources offered by Great Commission Publications.

Racers will have a fun-filled week . . .

• Starting Line – God’s unfolding plan of salvation for his people.
• Fun Reinforcement- Games, stickers, puzzles and additional fun activities.
• Warm up Music – Children worship God through songs daily.
• Cross the Finish Line- To aid in outreach and church involvement.
• Triumphant Missions Projects- Involve the children in proclaiming God’s covenant love.

About Great Commission Publications: GCP is a ministry of the Committee on Christian Education of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and the Committee for Christian Education & Publications of the Presbyterian Church in America. The non-profit corporation is jointly run by a representative Board of Trustees consisting of ministers and elders from both churches. GCP’s place among Christian educational publishers is that we operate from a Reformed perspective and seek to reflect the distinctive doctrines of grace. We stand fast on the Scriptures as the only infallible rule of faith and practice. Our theology is based on the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms.

VBS Reachout Adventures
Genesis 1: Space Probe

• * in-depth Bible lessons
• * whole-passage Scripture memory
• * daily Gospel presentation
• * successfully targets unchurched and churchgoing families
• * promotes missional living

Click to view VBS resources offered by VBS Reachout Adventures.

About VBS Reachout Adventures: Our materials reflect our conviction that the Bible is God’s Word, completely true and trustworthy. Our curricula have been written by members of the Presbyterian Church in America committed to conforming their teaching to Biblically reformed theology. Placing a high priority on knowing and caring for our customer churches and their VBS directors, Reachout offers free, personal coaching by seasoned Reachout VBS directors who provide expert advice, individualized planning help, and prayer support. Client churches are also networked if desired with other area Reachout churches for in-the-trenches fellowship, encouragement, and sharing of resources.

I remember when I first began teaching high school students thirty years ago. I was told never to smile before Christmas and to make sure they knew who was boss. I was quite young then, so there was “some” wisdom in those words. However, now as I teach our high school class at church, I see a need to be much more honest and real with these young people.

Jesus is the Master teacher and we can always learn from him as we seek to teach his children. Jesus says, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father, I have made known to you” (John 15:12-15).

Are your students your friends? Do they respect you as your friends do? Would they come to you for help? Do they learn how to love and serve each other through your example of loving and serving each of them? Are you teaching them all that you have learned from your Father?

Perhaps this year would be a good time to make “new” friends. If your life is already very busy, pray about finding just a little more time. It may mean a weekly phone call, a post card to tell them they were missed last Sunday. Sit with them in worship and at church fellowship event. It seem like a sacrifice at times, but remember…” Greater love has no one than this, that one lay his life down for his friends.”

They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care!

The Covenant of Grace. How do we teach this great doctrine of our faith? God is with us. How does God in his Word teach this great promise to us? He definitely uses all of the learning styles. Abraham heard the voice of God and the people heard the thunder at Mount Sinai. God illustrates the vast reaches of his promise through the stars in the sky. The Israelites travel through the wilderness guided by a cloud and pillar of fire. And over and over, they experience the physical reality of his presence as he protects and provides for their bodily needs. It is a spoken covenant, sealed with a physical and visible sign.

“God has told us stories. He has given us cherished keepsakes. There is a family history with celebrations and traditions that must be embraced and enjoyed by His family. There is a family treasure to discover and share. And there is plenty to go around. We don’t have to squabble over this inheritance. In this economy, the more you give, the more you have.” Heirs of the Covenant, by Susan Hunt.

SOMETHING TO HEAR…

On Volume 1 of PSALMS, HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS FOR KIDS (GCP) there is a precious song entitled, “Covenant Child”. This is a wonderful song to teach children of all ages. Take the time to explain all of the meaning behind phrases like “claimed as God’s own.” Have someone teach the children to sign this song as they sing it. It becomes a beautiful sight and sign of what it means to be a chosen child of God. One of our young couples had the children sing and sign this at the baptism of their baby. It sent such a powerful message that it has become a tradition at all our covenant baptisms.

SOMETHING TO SEE…

If we are teaching our students that church is family because of God’s covenant promise to us, the church should do what families do. Families take pictures and remember.

With today’s technology, reproducing pictures and memory book pages is very inexpensive. How about a class project – A covenant family album. Buy some disposable cameras for all of your students. Give them the assignment to catch on film the fellowship and works of service in their church. Start with pictures of all the Sunday school classes working together, gathered around the teacher. After the film is developed you can scan pictures into a computer and come up with a great memory book for every child. They may want to write their own copy to give the book a personal touch.

SOMETHING TO DO…

Go through your church directory praying for every family by name, one each week. During class make a special card to send to that family telling them that you have prayed for them. Invite the elders and deacons to class to give their testimony. Have questions ready for the children to ask when they come. What is your vocation? What are the names of your family members? What is your favorite hobby, book, sport, etc.? We know these things about our biological family members. Let’s extend the boundaries and really get to know our church family. Give a family party. Each child will make an invitation inviting its family to the class party. Have each household bring something to see, hear, and do that demonstrates important characteristics of their family.

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household.” (Ephesians 2:19)