It’s New Year’s resolution time! As we prepare our list of goals for the new year, let’s take time to reflect on 2015—what worked, what didn’t, how God changed us, and how well we served Him. From there, we can consider how to strengthen our walk with the Lord, serve Him more, and better share His story and love. Here are five easy suggestions to get you started.
1. Read at least one verse each day. There are numerous resources available, from verse-a-day emails to multi-chapter in-depth studies. Or you can just open your Bible and read a verse from Psalms or Proverbs.
2. Pray each day. It doesn’t take long, and can be done even while doing something else. I like having my talk with God each day as I drive to work.
3. Before going to bed, think about one way that God blessed you that day, and thank Him for it.
4. Join a Prayer Group. Some groups meet together periodically for an hour to pray. Others simply collect and share prayer requests, praying during their own time with God.
5. Set up automatic payments to the Bible-based charity of your choice.
I pray God blesses each of you greatly as we all work together to serve Him and further His kingdom in the new year.
Monday, December 28, 2015
Monday, December 21, 2015
The Song of Mary
As part of my devotions this month, I’ve been reading through Luke’s version of the Christmas story. In Luke 1:46-55, after an angel tells Mary that she has been chosen to be Jesus’s mother, Mary sings a song of exultation about the things God has already done for His people. As I reflected on the passage, I realized that not only is it a reflection of her past and the past of her people, but also a prophecy of what will come because of Jesus’s birth.
“And Mary said:
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
He has helped His servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy,
As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and to his seed forever.’”
This Christmas, let us too reflect on the things God has done for us, especially that He sent Jesus Christ to save us from our sins and bring us eternal life. Let us also remember that God is faithful, unchanging, and a keeper of His promises. As He took care of those who trusted Him in the past, so too will He take care of us in the future.
Have a Merry Christmas everyone!
“And Mary said:
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
He has helped His servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy,
As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and to his seed forever.’”
This Christmas, let us too reflect on the things God has done for us, especially that He sent Jesus Christ to save us from our sins and bring us eternal life. Let us also remember that God is faithful, unchanging, and a keeper of His promises. As He took care of those who trusted Him in the past, so too will He take care of us in the future.
Have a Merry Christmas everyone!
Monday, December 14, 2015
Sometimes a candy cane is just a candy cane
In November, I was looking around on Pinterest for a simple object lesson to teach my Sparks about being thankful. I found one on sundaychidrensfocus.com that used a donut and a rhyme coined by an unknown author, “As you go through life, make this your goal: look at the donut and not at the hole.” The premise was that we should be thankful for what we have — the donut — and not be upset by what we don’t have — the hole.
The lesson was a hit, and now whenever the kids see a donut, they can be reminded of the Biblical truth of gratitude. Now, does that mean the creator of donuts built them specifically to remind people to be thankful for what they have? Unlikely. It makes more sense that many years after donuts were made, someone was eating a donut and thought, “hey, that’s a neat idea. I can use this donut to help people understand gratitude.”
Unfortunately, especially around Christmas, many Christians become confused when meanings are given to objects, and then these meanings are widely shared without question as the historical reason for the existence of the object. It’s like reading somewhere that donuts were created specifically to teach others about gratitude, and just agreeing with it. Or taking it the next step, presenting this donut origin story as historical fact to others.
For a more common Christmas example, consider the origin story of the candy cane — or rather, consider all three stories. Yes, there are three, and none of them have strong historical evidence. In fact, one story completely contradicts history by stating that it was a secret symbol to help oppressed Christians in Europe during a time where Europe was predominantly Christian.
Another story says that in the 1670's, a nameless choirmaster asked a nameless candy maker to create a treat to be given to the choirboys to help keep them quiet during the church’s Christmas service. But the candy needed to be a teaching tool as well so the parents would let the choirmaster give the candy to the kids. The problem with this story is that there is no documentation to support it, and candy canes aren’t referenced by name or associated with Christmas until somewhere in the 19th century, nearly 200 years after the story is said to have happened.
The third story states that a nameless candy maker in Indiana wanted to make it with each element having a Christian meaning, complete as a hard, white cane with three small red stripes and one large red stripe, and that through time, the meaning was lost. The problem with this story is that it also lacks historical documentation. At minimum, the candy cane was pure white when Americans started using it in the 1800's, and stripes weren’t added until the early 20th century.
Does that mean that candy canes can’t be used to remind others about why we as Christians celebrate Christmas? No. In fact, I plan to share the story of God’s gift of eternal life to my Sparks by using candy canes this week. What this does mean is that we should check our facts before sharing stories like the “Origin of the Candy Cane.” And this isn’t limited to just object history and meaning. In Acts 17:10-11, Paul and Silas commended the Jews of Berea for double-checking what the two were saying. “Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”
We want to teach our kids the truth, both Biblical truth and our own post-Biblical history. But to teach it, we have to research it on our own to verify that it is indeed true. And while we can use objects like candy canes and donuts to help children and youth remember God’s gifts and plans for us, sometimes a candy cane is just a candy cane, and sometimes a donut is just a donut.
Monday, December 7, 2015
Games for the giving season
Here are two games to bring the giving spirit into your club night. Have any other giving or Christmas games? Share in the comments!
Game One: Giveaway
Materials Needed:- 1 player per team
- 1 hula-hoop per team
- 5 miscellaneous items per team, each item must be small enough or light enough for a child to carry with one hand
- Stopwatch or other time-keeping device
- Game Square
Game Two: Wrapping Relay
Materials Needed:- Whole teams
- 1 small box per team
- 1 piece of pre-cut wrapping paper per player. Pieces must be big enough to initially cover the box
- 1 roll of masking or scotch tape per team
- Game Square
- Optional: enough candy or trinkets in each box for all team members
Pre-game setup: Cut enough sheets of wrapping paper for each player to have at least one. Put candy or trinkets in the boxes and close the boxes.
Start with the sealed boxes in each team’s small triangle in the center of the Game Square, along with a stack of wrapping paper pieces and tape. Have players spread out along the white circle between their colored diagonal and the colored diagonal immediately clockwise. At the whistle, player 1 (player furthest right on each team) runs in, grabs a piece of wrapping paper and wraps the box as quickly as possible. When finished, player 1 runs back to his place in line and tags player 2 (immediately left of player 1). Player 2 runs in, grabs another piece of wrapping paper and wraps the box. Play continues until the last player finishes wrapping the box. First team whose last player holds the completely wrapped box over her head wins. Wrapping does not have to be neat. Leaders may need to help Sparks wrap the boxes. If using candy or trinkets, at the end of the game, have all the teams unwrap and open their boxes. Let each clubber have a candy or trinket.
Option: After all the boxes are wrapped, have teams return to their lines, leaving the boxes in the middle. At the whistle, have a predetermined player race to unwrap the multiple layers of paper using only one hand. First player to completely unwrap the package and hold it up wins. Hand out the candy or trinkets to all the clubbers.
*With any food game, please be conscious of the allergies of the participants and the possibility of staining clothes or carpets.
For more information about Awana, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
White as Snow
“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” - Isaiah 1:18a
I love the snow, at least when I’m not having to drive in it. I love watching the tiny flakes through the window as they gracefully make their way to the ground. I love bundling up and walking the sidewalks, leaving my bootprints in the fresh powder. I enjoy building snowmen and throwing snowballs, even if for only a few minutes before coming inside and warming up with a hot beverage.
But most of all, I love looking out first thing in the morning at a fresh snowfall—a sparkling blanket covering everything the eye can see, unblemished by feet or any other markings. The landscape is beautiful and whole, unified by the glistening white cover.
As I look out upon this unbroken mantle of white, I’m reminded of how God sees me.
Before I trusted Christ, I was stained by sin. Isaiah 64:6 describes those who don’t trust God as “unclean things,” with the good things that we do amounting to no more than “filthy rags.” In Isaiah 1:18, our sins are compared to stains of scarlet and crimson. I was filthy, blemished, stained by sin.
But just like new fallen snow transforms the landscape into a glistening scene of pure, clean white, trusting in Jesus’s death on the cross transforms us into clean, perfect, sinless individuals in God’s eyes.
However, Jesus did so much more than snow can ever do. Snow only makes things look white by covering them up. Jesus doesn’t just cover our sins when we trust Him; instead, He completely removes our sin, “cleansing us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7). In Psalm 103:12, we’re told, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
When God looks at me, He doesn’t just see a mask over my sin; He sees me as holy and sinless, clean and without blemish. When He looks at any who have trusted Him, He sees people glistening with purity in His radiant glory. Next time you wake up to see an untouched covering of white sparkling brightly in the morning light, may you be reminded of how Jesus removed your sin, making you as beautiful and spotless as those blankets of snow.
But most of all, I love looking out first thing in the morning at a fresh snowfall—a sparkling blanket covering everything the eye can see, unblemished by feet or any other markings. The landscape is beautiful and whole, unified by the glistening white cover.
As I look out upon this unbroken mantle of white, I’m reminded of how God sees me.
Before I trusted Christ, I was stained by sin. Isaiah 64:6 describes those who don’t trust God as “unclean things,” with the good things that we do amounting to no more than “filthy rags.” In Isaiah 1:18, our sins are compared to stains of scarlet and crimson. I was filthy, blemished, stained by sin.
But just like new fallen snow transforms the landscape into a glistening scene of pure, clean white, trusting in Jesus’s death on the cross transforms us into clean, perfect, sinless individuals in God’s eyes.
However, Jesus did so much more than snow can ever do. Snow only makes things look white by covering them up. Jesus doesn’t just cover our sins when we trust Him; instead, He completely removes our sin, “cleansing us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7). In Psalm 103:12, we’re told, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
When God looks at me, He doesn’t just see a mask over my sin; He sees me as holy and sinless, clean and without blemish. When He looks at any who have trusted Him, He sees people glistening with purity in His radiant glory. Next time you wake up to see an untouched covering of white sparkling brightly in the morning light, may you be reminded of how Jesus removed your sin, making you as beautiful and spotless as those blankets of snow.
Monday, November 23, 2015
Thank you for the rain
“I thank You for the sunshine
Lord, I thank You for the rain,
Lord, I thank You for Your healing touch
When my life was filled with pain,
And I thank You for my family
And the trials You brought me through
And I thank you for my sorrows,
That’s how I learn to lean on You.”
Each year as Thanksgiving approaches, the above lyrics come to my mind. I love the way that The Needhams include both the good and that bad in this song’s lines, showing that each has its purpose and place. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us, “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
It’s effortless to give thanks for things that we easily see as good, like the sunshine and God’s healing touch. But the truth is that sometimes the rain falls, and many times the ugly nature of our broken, sinful world fills our lives with sorrow. And yet, even these are things we can be thankful for. Rain brings water for puddles to splash in and life to grow. Sorrow, as the song states, helps us to learn to lean on the Lord, making us stronger and preparing us for great joy. In Romans 8:28, we’re told, “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
This Thanksgiving, may God remind you of all the blessings He’s provided, and may He grant you many, many more!
Lord, I thank You for the rain,
Lord, I thank You for Your healing touch
When my life was filled with pain,
And I thank You for my family
And the trials You brought me through
And I thank you for my sorrows,
That’s how I learn to lean on You.”
- Chorus for “What Grandma Said” by The Needhams
Each year as Thanksgiving approaches, the above lyrics come to my mind. I love the way that The Needhams include both the good and that bad in this song’s lines, showing that each has its purpose and place. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us, “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
It’s effortless to give thanks for things that we easily see as good, like the sunshine and God’s healing touch. But the truth is that sometimes the rain falls, and many times the ugly nature of our broken, sinful world fills our lives with sorrow. And yet, even these are things we can be thankful for. Rain brings water for puddles to splash in and life to grow. Sorrow, as the song states, helps us to learn to lean on the Lord, making us stronger and preparing us for great joy. In Romans 8:28, we’re told, “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
This Thanksgiving, may God remind you of all the blessings He’s provided, and may He grant you many, many more!
Monday, November 16, 2015
Are you ready to follow?
"Trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." - Proverbs 3:5-6
I have a friend who loves to kayak. Recently, his fiancée joined him for one of his many kayak trips. As they prepared to set off down the river, he took her aside. "The water is not as smooth as it appears to be," he said. "There are places where the water looks fine but under the surface, the weeds are dense and the mud is thick. If you try to kayak through them, you will get stuck. I know this river and where it's safe to row, and I need you to follow me." He paused. "Are you ready to follow?"
Without a second thought, she said yes and they set out. She gained confidence and felt like she had the hang of controlling her kayak as they rowed down the river. After a while, she spotted a bank. We're headed over there to take a break, she thought. I want to beat him there! She veered from his path and rowed straight toward the riverbank. Like a fly in a spider's web, her kayak stuck in a thick entanglement of weeds.
He pulled her boat from the tangled mass, and before they resumed their journey, he looked her in the eyes again. "You told me you were ready to follow," he said, "but you didn't, and you got stuck. Are you ready to follow?"
She looked away embarrassed but replied, "yes, dear," and they set out again. Her confidence rose as she followed in his wake. Eventually, they came within view of a beach. Surely we're headed to that beach. I really want to show him that I can do this and handle the kayak on my own, so I'm going to beat him! Her thoughts echoed with determination as she pointed her kayak straight for the beach — embedding her boat in the cement-like bog where the river suddenly got shallow.
With a sigh, he patiently worked her boat loose from glue-like river bottom. Once she was free, he faced her a third time. "Twice you've said you'd follow me, twice you didn't, and twice you've gotten stuck. I ask again, are you ready to follow?"
Defeated, she nodded and replied, "Yes, dear. I am ready to follow."
My friend’s story reminded me of times in the Bible when God’s people said, “we will follow You,” then thought they saw a better or quicker way. Consider when Abraham had Ishmael with Hagar after God promised many descendants. Abraham and Sarah knew God’s promise, but instead of trusting to see how God would bring it to pass, they tried their own path. Their attempted shortcut resulted in generations of conflict between the descendants of Ishmael and the descendants of Isaac.
So what does it mean to "follow God?" According to Proverbs 3:5-6, following God has two parts.
Following Jesus means denying oneself, or not making decisions simply by relying on what you see or think. What we see may not be what actually is. My friend’s fiancée thought she saw safe water when it was really a tangle of weeds or a muddy bog. Eve saw fruit that was pleasing to the eyes and nose. Sarah saw barrenness in the face of a promise of children. The Israelites saw giants in the land of Canaan. In all cases, they acted on their own accord and either got stuck or missed out on blessings.
Following Jesus means trusting Him, and acknowledging that He knows what he’s doing. My friend knew the water. He had kayaked on the river many times before and through experience knew where both the hazardous and the safe spots were.
God also knows where the hazardous and the safe spots are in our lives. Along with being omniscient, Jesus walked on Earth himself. He knows the struggles and trials you face, because he’s been there.
Sometimes, this means acknowledging His wisdom and authority, even if it doesn’t make sense. Abraham had to trust and follow without being told a destination. The woman with only a little oil in 2 Kings 4 had to trust God when Elisha told her to fill every jar she could get her hands on. The disciples had to trust God when Jesus called them away from their careers and livelihoods to follow Him. And in all cases, when they acted according to God’s instructions, they were blessed abundantly.
Once my friend’s fiancée stopped attempting shortcuts based on her own sight and started trusting where my friend was leading, they finished their kayaking trip, and they both had an amazing time. Once Abraham and Sarah trusted God to do things in His way and His time, God blessed Sarah with Isaac. And as God promises in Proverbs 3:5-6, when we trust and acknowledge God and seek His guidance and instruction instead of trying to get to His ends using our means, He will direct our paths and lead us to where we need, and ultimately want, to be.
I have a friend who loves to kayak. Recently, his fiancée joined him for one of his many kayak trips. As they prepared to set off down the river, he took her aside. "The water is not as smooth as it appears to be," he said. "There are places where the water looks fine but under the surface, the weeds are dense and the mud is thick. If you try to kayak through them, you will get stuck. I know this river and where it's safe to row, and I need you to follow me." He paused. "Are you ready to follow?"
Without a second thought, she said yes and they set out. She gained confidence and felt like she had the hang of controlling her kayak as they rowed down the river. After a while, she spotted a bank. We're headed over there to take a break, she thought. I want to beat him there! She veered from his path and rowed straight toward the riverbank. Like a fly in a spider's web, her kayak stuck in a thick entanglement of weeds.
He pulled her boat from the tangled mass, and before they resumed their journey, he looked her in the eyes again. "You told me you were ready to follow," he said, "but you didn't, and you got stuck. Are you ready to follow?"
She looked away embarrassed but replied, "yes, dear," and they set out again. Her confidence rose as she followed in his wake. Eventually, they came within view of a beach. Surely we're headed to that beach. I really want to show him that I can do this and handle the kayak on my own, so I'm going to beat him! Her thoughts echoed with determination as she pointed her kayak straight for the beach — embedding her boat in the cement-like bog where the river suddenly got shallow.
With a sigh, he patiently worked her boat loose from glue-like river bottom. Once she was free, he faced her a third time. "Twice you've said you'd follow me, twice you didn't, and twice you've gotten stuck. I ask again, are you ready to follow?"
Defeated, she nodded and replied, "Yes, dear. I am ready to follow."
My friend’s story reminded me of times in the Bible when God’s people said, “we will follow You,” then thought they saw a better or quicker way. Consider when Abraham had Ishmael with Hagar after God promised many descendants. Abraham and Sarah knew God’s promise, but instead of trusting to see how God would bring it to pass, they tried their own path. Their attempted shortcut resulted in generations of conflict between the descendants of Ishmael and the descendants of Isaac.
So what does it mean to "follow God?" According to Proverbs 3:5-6, following God has two parts.
Lean not on your own understanding.
In Luke 9:23, Jesus told the people, "if anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself…”
Following Jesus means denying oneself, or not making decisions simply by relying on what you see or think. What we see may not be what actually is. My friend’s fiancée thought she saw safe water when it was really a tangle of weeds or a muddy bog. Eve saw fruit that was pleasing to the eyes and nose. Sarah saw barrenness in the face of a promise of children. The Israelites saw giants in the land of Canaan. In all cases, they acted on their own accord and either got stuck or missed out on blessings.
Trust in the Lord and acknowledge Him.
Acts 16:31 tells us, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”
Following Jesus means trusting Him, and acknowledging that He knows what he’s doing. My friend knew the water. He had kayaked on the river many times before and through experience knew where both the hazardous and the safe spots were.
God also knows where the hazardous and the safe spots are in our lives. Along with being omniscient, Jesus walked on Earth himself. He knows the struggles and trials you face, because he’s been there.
Sometimes, this means acknowledging His wisdom and authority, even if it doesn’t make sense. Abraham had to trust and follow without being told a destination. The woman with only a little oil in 2 Kings 4 had to trust God when Elisha told her to fill every jar she could get her hands on. The disciples had to trust God when Jesus called them away from their careers and livelihoods to follow Him. And in all cases, when they acted according to God’s instructions, they were blessed abundantly.
Once my friend’s fiancée stopped attempting shortcuts based on her own sight and started trusting where my friend was leading, they finished their kayaking trip, and they both had an amazing time. Once Abraham and Sarah trusted God to do things in His way and His time, God blessed Sarah with Isaac. And as God promises in Proverbs 3:5-6, when we trust and acknowledge God and seek His guidance and instruction instead of trying to get to His ends using our means, He will direct our paths and lead us to where we need, and ultimately want, to be.
Monday, November 9, 2015
"The Gospel Truth about Children’s Ministry" book review
Here are my thoughts on this book.
What I liked:
The survey and findings are applicable to all children’s ministries. Children’s ministry leaders will relate to at least one struggle covered in the book.
The information provides a clear picture of children’s ministry’s current impact on the world, showing what leaders want their ministry priorities to be, the impact of their current ministry efforts and activities, and the outcomes of their ministries. For instance, the majority of responses rated making disciples as a very important objective of ministry. However, less than half said their ministry was actually fulfilling this objective.
The end of each section includes questions to help leaders and volunteers assess their own ministries, such as “in your program or curriculum which comes as a first priority, Scripture/substance, or subject/style?” These questions, combined with the presented findings, make it easy for leaders to determine where changes need to be made and priorities need to be shifted to make their own ministries more effective in teaching children to know, love and serve the Lord.
The infographs were easy to read and understand.
Awana was clear and transparent on how the surveys were conducted, how the results were processed, and how conclusions were reached.
What I didn’t like:
The offered solutions are Awana specific. Only including Awana material and technology as solutions made the book seem like it was an advertisement for Awana with the message, “You have a problem, buy our products for the solution.” For me, this dampened the book’s impact and slightly diminished its purpose of encouraging flexibility and proper focus for children’s ministry overall.
I think that since the study itself covered children’s ministry as a whole, there should have been resources from other ministry partners alongside the Awana options, or just general solutions that could be tried with any children’s ministry.
Conclusion:
I think “The Gospel Truth about Children’s Ministry” provides excellent insight into the challenges children’s ministry is facing. I would recommend this book for all KidMin leaders because the book’s findings can help them more easily identify where they may need to change their ministry to make it relevant to the current generation while keeping its focus where it needs to be.
Monday, November 2, 2015
7 ways to get your clubbers thinking about Thanksgiving
1. Replace pins, beanbags, and batons with pumpkins, apples, and Indian corn
2. Play some harvest or Thanksgiving-themed games (here are some ideas)
3. Have a Pilgrims and Indians theme night
4. Hold a canned food drive for those who can’t afford a Thanksgiving meal
5. Teach a Large Group lesson on the Fruit of the Spirit using a cornucopia as a visual
6. Read “Sparky Shines His Light” by Jack Eggar
7. Have clubbers write what they’re thankful for on feather-shaped pieces of paper, then stick the paper onto a turkey wall decoration
What are some things you do to bring fall and Thanksgiving into your club?
For more information about Awana, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.
2. Play some harvest or Thanksgiving-themed games (here are some ideas)
3. Have a Pilgrims and Indians theme night
4. Hold a canned food drive for those who can’t afford a Thanksgiving meal
5. Teach a Large Group lesson on the Fruit of the Spirit using a cornucopia as a visual
6. Read “Sparky Shines His Light” by Jack Eggar
7. Have clubbers write what they’re thankful for on feather-shaped pieces of paper, then stick the paper onto a turkey wall decoration
What are some things you do to bring fall and Thanksgiving into your club?
For more information about Awana, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.
Monday, October 26, 2015
Unusual Game Equipment Spotlight: Pumpkins
Game One: Pumpkin Partners
Materials Needed:- 2 players per team
- 1 medium-sized pumpkin per team (players must be able to lift it together)
- 4 circle pins
- Scoring pin and beanbag, or 4 scoring pins
- Game Circle
Players start by holding their pumpkin between them at their color teams’ diagonals. At the whistle, all pairs must work together to carry their pumpkin around the Game Circle and cross their colored diagonals. Once a pair crosses their diagonal, they gently set the pumpkin down and run in to the middle. Sparks must run one lap, and the first team to grab the scoring pin wins while the team to grab the beanbag gets second. T&T, Trek, and Journey clubbers must run two laps, and the first team to knock over their scoring pin with their hands wins. Both players must be touching the pumpkin as they carry it around the circle.
Game Two: Pumpkin Bowling
Materials Needed:- 1 player per team
- 1 medium-sized pumpkin per team
- 4 circle pins
- Scoring pin
- Game Circle
Players start at their color teams’ diagonals. At the whistle, players carry their pumpkins around the outside of the circle pins to the bowling zone (the space between their colored diagonal and the colored diagonal immediately clockwise). When players enter their bowling zone, they try and knock down the scoring pin in the center of the circle by rolling their pumpkin from outside the white circle toward the middle. First team to knock down the scoring pin wins. Players must stay outside the white circle when bowling, but may bowl from anywhere along the circle in their bowling zone. If players miss, they must go get their pumpkin and return to their bowling zone before bowling again.
*With any food game, please be conscious of the allergies of the participants and the possibility of staining clothes or carpets.
For more information about Awana, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.
*With any food game, please be conscious of the allergies of the participants and the possibility of staining clothes or carpets.
For more information about Awana, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
A living painting
“O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions” – Psalm 104:24
This past week, I had the chance to revel in awe at some of the Lord’s creation. My husband and I took a trip to upstate New York to visit family. While we were there, we went to the summit of Whiteface Mountain. Along the road was a palette of tree colors I had never witnessed all in one place before. Leaves with hues of gold, ruby, amber, and emerald quivered in the wind.
As we ascended the mountain and the temperature declined, another kind of tree revealed God’s handiwork. Pine trees rose from the mountain’s crest, with the sun only reaching one side of their trunks and branches. On the opposite sides, the frigid wind turned the branches white and fuzzy with frost crystals.
The trees weren’t the only natural wonders touched by the cold— icicles cascaded down the faces of the roadside cliffs, forming frozen waterfalls. Even more mesmerizing were droplets of water trickling down between the rock and the ice, creating the illusion of a moving wall.
But the scene that really took my breath away was at the crown of the mountain. We emerged at the summit to see a panorama of color, like God made a living painting. Lakes became shimmering islands in a sea of rainbow trees. Mountains rose out of a faint mist along the horizon as the afternoon sun provided a golden glow.
I can’t help but proclaim how great our God is when I see the world He has made. What a blessing it is to witness the beauty of the things created by His hands for His pleasure. This week, may you too have the chance to be awed by the work of God’s hands in the world around you.
Monday, October 12, 2015
A little oil and trust
Scripture: Acts 16:31, 2 Kings 4:1-7
Materials needed: Bottle of oil
Have clubbers look up Acts 16:31: “So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.’” Have a clubber read it, then repeat Acts 16:31b a couple times, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (this is a Sparks memory verse).
Materials needed: Bottle of oil
Have clubbers look up Acts 16:31: “So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.’” Have a clubber read it, then repeat Acts 16:31b a couple times, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (this is a Sparks memory verse).
Pull out the bottle of oil and show the kids. Place it where they can see it through the lesson.
Ask Clubbers:
What do we normally use oil for?
- Baking (cooking)
Tell Clubbers:
Raise your hand if you’ve ever helped your mom or dad bake cookies. Yum! Like us, people in Bible times used oil for baking and cooking.
They also used oil for other things, like lighting their homes after dark. You see, they didn’t have electricity, so they would pour oil into a special container and light it, much like a candle.
Another common use of oil was personal cleaning. Oil was used in soap and as a perfume. If you can’t tell, oil was important to people in Bible times.
Now I want to tell you a story in 2 Kings about a woman. This woman had two sons and was married to a prophet (a man who told people things that God said). Every day, the prophet worked hard to earn enough money to pay what he owed and take care of his family. But one day, the man died.
Without her husband working, the woman had no money to pay off what they owed. To make things worse, the person she owed was coming soon to get his money. If she didn’t have the money to give him, then he would take her two sons and make them his slaves!
Ask Clubbers:
How do you think the woman felt?
- Allow responses. Examples: Scared, worried, afraid
Tell Clubbers:
It just so happened that another of God’s prophets, Elisha, was in town. Elisha had known the woman’s dead husband, so the woman came to Elisha for help. This is what Elisha told her to do.
First, he asked her what she had in her house.
Ask Clubbers:
What do you think she had?
- Oil
Tell Clubbers:
That’s right. In fact, that was the only thing she had left — one single jar of oil.
In 2 Kings 4:3-4, Elisha gave her instructions for using her oil. He told her (in NIV):
“Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”
Ask Clubbers:
How many jars of oil did the woman say she had?
- One
Ask Clubbers:
What do we normally use oil for?
- Baking (cooking)
Tell Clubbers:
Raise your hand if you’ve ever helped your mom or dad bake cookies. Yum! Like us, people in Bible times used oil for baking and cooking.
They also used oil for other things, like lighting their homes after dark. You see, they didn’t have electricity, so they would pour oil into a special container and light it, much like a candle.
Another common use of oil was personal cleaning. Oil was used in soap and as a perfume. If you can’t tell, oil was important to people in Bible times.
Now I want to tell you a story in 2 Kings about a woman. This woman had two sons and was married to a prophet (a man who told people things that God said). Every day, the prophet worked hard to earn enough money to pay what he owed and take care of his family. But one day, the man died.
Without her husband working, the woman had no money to pay off what they owed. To make things worse, the person she owed was coming soon to get his money. If she didn’t have the money to give him, then he would take her two sons and make them his slaves!
Ask Clubbers:
How do you think the woman felt?
- Allow responses. Examples: Scared, worried, afraid
Tell Clubbers:
It just so happened that another of God’s prophets, Elisha, was in town. Elisha had known the woman’s dead husband, so the woman came to Elisha for help. This is what Elisha told her to do.
First, he asked her what she had in her house.
Ask Clubbers:
What do you think she had?
- Oil
Tell Clubbers:
That’s right. In fact, that was the only thing she had left — one single jar of oil.
In 2 Kings 4:3-4, Elisha gave her instructions for using her oil. He told her (in NIV):
“Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”
Ask Clubbers:
How many jars of oil did the woman say she had?
- One
Tell Clubbers:
And Elisha’s telling her to fill up as many jars as she can get with that one jar of oil.
And Elisha’s telling her to fill up as many jars as she can get with that one jar of oil.
Ask Clubbers:
How many of you would think Elisha was crazy? How many would think, “That will work!”
Tell Clubbers:
Well, the woman decided to try, trusting that God would provide. So she gathered the jars, went into the house with her sons, and started pouring. Soon a jar was full, and there was still some oil left in her original jar, so she asked her sons, “bring me another.” Then that jar filled. It was working! “Bring me another!” “Another!” She kept pouring and pouring as her sons kept bringing empty jars until finally, “Bring me another!”
“There are no more!”
Every jar in her house was filled with oil. Elisha then told her to sell the oil and use the money to pay their debt, then she and her sons could live on what was left. Because she trusted God and followed His instructions through Elisha, she and her two sons were saved.
Maybe there’s someone here tonight who has never trusted Jesus before. If that’s you, then you’re just like the woman with no money, and the collector’s coming. You’re stuck with a debt of sin (anything you think, say, or do that breaks God’s laws). You’re stuck with a debt of sin, and there’s nothing you can do on your own to pay it off. Without God, her price would have been her sons. Without Jesus, the price of your sin is death — separation from God forever.
But just like God provided oil for the woman to give her family enough to live on, He also provided His Son Jesus Christ to give you life. Just like the oil took the place of her sons, Jesus Christ died in our place for our sins. All you have to do is trust that He paid your debt. I encourage you to talk to one of your leaders, your pastor, your parents, or your friends here at club about trusting Jesus.
For those here tonight who have already trusted Jesus, trusting God doesn’t stop after you’re saved from sin. Even after we’re saved, sometimes we face things that make us afraid, just like the woman with the oil. She was afraid of losing her two sons.
Raise your hand if there’s something you’re afraid of, like spiders, or the dark, or going to a new school. I bet we’re all afraid of something.
But when the woman trusted the Lord and followed His instructions, God took care of her. And just like we read in Acts 16:31, when we “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,” He will take care of us, too.
Tell Clubbers:
Well, the woman decided to try, trusting that God would provide. So she gathered the jars, went into the house with her sons, and started pouring. Soon a jar was full, and there was still some oil left in her original jar, so she asked her sons, “bring me another.” Then that jar filled. It was working! “Bring me another!” “Another!” She kept pouring and pouring as her sons kept bringing empty jars until finally, “Bring me another!”
“There are no more!”
Every jar in her house was filled with oil. Elisha then told her to sell the oil and use the money to pay their debt, then she and her sons could live on what was left. Because she trusted God and followed His instructions through Elisha, she and her two sons were saved.
Maybe there’s someone here tonight who has never trusted Jesus before. If that’s you, then you’re just like the woman with no money, and the collector’s coming. You’re stuck with a debt of sin (anything you think, say, or do that breaks God’s laws). You’re stuck with a debt of sin, and there’s nothing you can do on your own to pay it off. Without God, her price would have been her sons. Without Jesus, the price of your sin is death — separation from God forever.
But just like God provided oil for the woman to give her family enough to live on, He also provided His Son Jesus Christ to give you life. Just like the oil took the place of her sons, Jesus Christ died in our place for our sins. All you have to do is trust that He paid your debt. I encourage you to talk to one of your leaders, your pastor, your parents, or your friends here at club about trusting Jesus.
For those here tonight who have already trusted Jesus, trusting God doesn’t stop after you’re saved from sin. Even after we’re saved, sometimes we face things that make us afraid, just like the woman with the oil. She was afraid of losing her two sons.
Raise your hand if there’s something you’re afraid of, like spiders, or the dark, or going to a new school. I bet we’re all afraid of something.
But when the woman trusted the Lord and followed His instructions, God took care of her. And just like we read in Acts 16:31, when we “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,” He will take care of us, too.
Monday, October 5, 2015
All Things
Have you ever had a moment where you suddenly gain a deeper understanding of a well-known verse? A time of difficulty or struggle, either mentally or physically, preceding a dawning of clarity? My other favorite verse comes from a moment like that.
In high school, I was part of the school’s tennis team and participated in a club called Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The nationwide club hosted a variety of sports camps during the summer, and I attended one for tennis in Santa Barbara, Calif.
The camp had athletes from multiple sports attending, and it focused on a balance between both spiritual and physical health, along with providing training and practice for each specific sport. A normal day began with quiet time with God followed by a camp-wide warm-up session of stretches and simple exercises on the football field. From there, we went to breakfast, and after, we broke into our different sports and practiced sport-specific drills and trainings. We then took a break for lunch and returned to trainings until dinner. In the evening, we met with our “huddles” – small groups of mixed sports but the same gender—and went to the evening chapel. From there, we had a discussion session with our huddles and went to bed.
The second-to-last day of camp, the routine was slightly different. Instead of going to breakfast after the warm-up, we went to the gym for a grind workout — a series of extreme exercise stations which we rotated through with our huddle. It was during this series of exercises that I had my moment of understanding.
I remember the moment clearly. We had done most of the stations, completing repetitions of box jumps, crunches, dashes, push-ups, and many others. We now came to wall-sits. My legs burned as I struggled to maintain the chair-like position with my back flat against the wall. Sweat mixed with tears on my face to where I couldn’t tell the difference between them. I wanted to quit. I was sore and hungry, and I wanted to be done. So close to the end, and I wanted to give up. And yet, as I sat there, the pain screaming through my body, a small voice echoed in my mind the words of Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Louder and louder it became, “all things. All things. ALL THINGS!”
It clicked. The meaning of “all.” I could do it. With Christ, I can do anything, from the little things, such as this momentary physical challenge, to the big things, such as the life-long spiritual battle with Satan. I can stay one second longer on this wall. I can say “no” one more time to Satan’s temptations. I can trust that Jesus Christ will get me through.
Last week, I spoke about my first favorite verses, Hebrews 13:5-6. In those, God tells us what He will do when we trust Him: be with us, provide for us, and help us, so that we do not have to be afraid. In Philippians 4:13, God tells us what we can do when we trust Him. Together, these verses show that when we trust God, we can overcome any obstacle and accomplish any task without fear because we have His divine strength, help, provision, and presence.
For more information about Fellowship of Christian Athletes, visit fca.org.
In high school, I was part of the school’s tennis team and participated in a club called Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The nationwide club hosted a variety of sports camps during the summer, and I attended one for tennis in Santa Barbara, Calif.
The camp had athletes from multiple sports attending, and it focused on a balance between both spiritual and physical health, along with providing training and practice for each specific sport. A normal day began with quiet time with God followed by a camp-wide warm-up session of stretches and simple exercises on the football field. From there, we went to breakfast, and after, we broke into our different sports and practiced sport-specific drills and trainings. We then took a break for lunch and returned to trainings until dinner. In the evening, we met with our “huddles” – small groups of mixed sports but the same gender—and went to the evening chapel. From there, we had a discussion session with our huddles and went to bed.
The second-to-last day of camp, the routine was slightly different. Instead of going to breakfast after the warm-up, we went to the gym for a grind workout — a series of extreme exercise stations which we rotated through with our huddle. It was during this series of exercises that I had my moment of understanding.
I remember the moment clearly. We had done most of the stations, completing repetitions of box jumps, crunches, dashes, push-ups, and many others. We now came to wall-sits. My legs burned as I struggled to maintain the chair-like position with my back flat against the wall. Sweat mixed with tears on my face to where I couldn’t tell the difference between them. I wanted to quit. I was sore and hungry, and I wanted to be done. So close to the end, and I wanted to give up. And yet, as I sat there, the pain screaming through my body, a small voice echoed in my mind the words of Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Louder and louder it became, “all things. All things. ALL THINGS!”
It clicked. The meaning of “all.” I could do it. With Christ, I can do anything, from the little things, such as this momentary physical challenge, to the big things, such as the life-long spiritual battle with Satan. I can stay one second longer on this wall. I can say “no” one more time to Satan’s temptations. I can trust that Jesus Christ will get me through.
Last week, I spoke about my first favorite verses, Hebrews 13:5-6. In those, God tells us what He will do when we trust Him: be with us, provide for us, and help us, so that we do not have to be afraid. In Philippians 4:13, God tells us what we can do when we trust Him. Together, these verses show that when we trust God, we can overcome any obstacle and accomplish any task without fear because we have His divine strength, help, provision, and presence.
For more information about Fellowship of Christian Athletes, visit fca.org.
Monday, September 28, 2015
Always there, always providing, always helping
If you’ve been in kidmin for any decent length of time, you’ve probably been asked about your favorite verse. If not, then you will be eventually.
In my case, I have more than one favorite. My first favorite is actually a combination of two verses — Hebrews 13:5-6.
“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’”
What initially attracted me to these verses is the promise God makes. Imagine: God is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Alpha, Omega, Creator, and Master of the Universe. And yet, He has promised to walk beside me, no matter how insignificant or sinful I am. How cool is that?
But as we look at the clauses and verses before and after the promise, the promise itself gains more meaning. Consider the first clause; "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have." This is a command telling us to live a life without wanting something that belongs to someone else. Our actions should be without jealousy, but instead with contentment. Why? Because God will provide. The God who promises to never leave us or neglect us also promises to take care of us. In Philippians 4:19, we're promised, "my God shall supply all your need."
In Hebrews 13:6, we're shown another benefit of God's promise: "So we may boldly say: 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" Since God promises to be with us all the time, we have no reason to be afraid. God is bigger than any adversary or obstacle, and He proves this time and again throughout the Scriptures, delivering those who trust in Him.
This passage gives me the courage and confidence to keep moving forward, because I know that God promises to always be with me, provide for me, and help me, no matter where I am in life.
For my other favorite verse, check back next week! Do you have a favorite verse (I told you you'd be asked eventually)? Share in the comments!
For more information about Awana, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.
In my case, I have more than one favorite. My first favorite is actually a combination of two verses — Hebrews 13:5-6.
“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’”
What initially attracted me to these verses is the promise God makes. Imagine: God is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Alpha, Omega, Creator, and Master of the Universe. And yet, He has promised to walk beside me, no matter how insignificant or sinful I am. How cool is that?
But as we look at the clauses and verses before and after the promise, the promise itself gains more meaning. Consider the first clause; "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have." This is a command telling us to live a life without wanting something that belongs to someone else. Our actions should be without jealousy, but instead with contentment. Why? Because God will provide. The God who promises to never leave us or neglect us also promises to take care of us. In Philippians 4:19, we're promised, "my God shall supply all your need."
In Hebrews 13:6, we're shown another benefit of God's promise: "So we may boldly say: 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" Since God promises to be with us all the time, we have no reason to be afraid. God is bigger than any adversary or obstacle, and He proves this time and again throughout the Scriptures, delivering those who trust in Him.
This passage gives me the courage and confidence to keep moving forward, because I know that God promises to always be with me, provide for me, and help me, no matter where I am in life.
For my other favorite verse, check back next week! Do you have a favorite verse (I told you you'd be asked eventually)? Share in the comments!
For more information about Awana, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.
Monday, September 21, 2015
A Prayer Request for Kidmin Volunteers
Our church has gone through a difficult time. We are recovering, but there are still many areas in need of prayers and aid, especially in children’s ministry. We’ve lost several of our volunteers for both Sunday school and Awana. This past week, Truth & Training had two co-directors, one ill leader, and one elderly leader in a wheelchair to work with 20 clubbers. In Sparks, I’m fairing somewhat better, with six leaders plus myself for 25-27 clubbers.
Our Awana commander also serves as the church’s children’s ministry coordinator, and she has absolutely no volunteers to teach Sunday school.
We want to reach the hearts and minds of the children in our church, showing them the love God has for them. But unless we gain more volunteers, our leaders will have to sacrifice teaching opportunities and relationship moments in order to maintain the organization and flow of the ministries.
Please be in prayer for us, that more volunteers would join us in serving the Lord through our children’s ministries.
Our Awana commander also serves as the church’s children’s ministry coordinator, and she has absolutely no volunteers to teach Sunday school.
We want to reach the hearts and minds of the children in our church, showing them the love God has for them. But unless we gain more volunteers, our leaders will have to sacrifice teaching opportunities and relationship moments in order to maintain the organization and flow of the ministries.
Please be in prayer for us, that more volunteers would join us in serving the Lord through our children’s ministries.
Monday, September 14, 2015
Unusual Game Equipment Spotlight: Brooms
Game One: Clean Sweep
Materials Needed:- 1 player per team
- 1 broom per player
- 1 ball (or other rolling object) per player
- 4 circle pins
- Scoring pin and beanbag
- Game Circle or other flat race area
Players start at their color teams’ diagonals. At the whistle, players sweep their balls around the Game Circle for one lap and cross their colored diagonals. Once a player crosses her diagonal, she drops the broom and runs in for the scoring pin or beanbag. Players may only use their brooms to touch the balls, and balls must go around the outside of all the circle pins.
Game 2: Pony Express
Materials Needed:- 3 players per team
- 1 broom per team
- 1 letter envelope per team
- 1 basket
- 4 circle pins
- Game Circle or relay area
The starting players on each team begin at their color team’s diagonal. They must straddle the brooms like stick horses and hold their envelopes. At the whistle, players “ride” their “horses” around the outside of the circle pins to the passing zone (the space between their colored diagonal and the colored diagonal immediately clockwise). When they enter the passing zone, player 1 hands the horse and “mail” to player 2. Player 2 then rides around the circle and hands off the horse and mail to player 3. Player 3 goes around the circle and crosses his colored diagonal. Once he crosses his diagonal, he rides his horse to the middle of the circle and “delivers the mail” by dropping the envelope into the basket. First team to deliver the mail wins.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.
Monday, September 7, 2015
Awana GO shows clubbers Awana clubs around the world, teaches missions
Awana recently introduced a new missions program called Awana GO, and it replaces Adopt-a-Club. The goal of the program is to help clubbers in the United States learn about and become involved in mission work that impacts fellow clubbers in other countries.
“We want this program to disciple kids in missions,” Awana GO Western Coordinator Jennifer Henning said.
When Awana Commanders register for Awana GO, they gain access to material such as short video prayer requests from other countries and to a Facebook discussion group, and they receive newsletters with information about how Awana clubs are doing around the world.
Awana GO also provides many discipleship resources, including enough Large Group lessons to use intermittently throughout the club year. Lessons teach Bible truths through telling stories of clubbers or leaders from other countries. These stories show clubbers in the United States how kids just like them are living and sharing the Gospel in other parts of the world. The goal is to inspire clubbers in the United States to become active in missions, too.
“Awana GO shows kids what Acts 1:8 looks like,” Henning said.
Other resources offered through the program include information booklets about other countries, testimonies from clubbers, testimonies from pastors and leaders, and promotional tools.
The program has a fundraising component as well, though it is completely optional. For those who do want to fundraise, Henning is partial to short-time-focus approaches, such as Awana GO’s Verse-a-Thon.
“We went from barely raising $360 in a whole club year to raising $3,250 in a single night,” she said about using the Verse-a-Thon at her club. “The Verse-a-Thon allows the kids to drive the fundraising. Because of the Awana GO lessons, they’ve seen these kids in other countries, and they know what they’re supporting — that they love Awana and hope to bring Awana to these other kids. Our clubbers also had a blast.”
Instructions for the Verse-a-Thon can be found with other fundraising ideas on the Awana GO website. Money raised and submitted through Awana GO is used to train leaders in other countries and provide them with all the materials they need to start a new club, including a four-year chronological curriculum called Truthseekers. For one child to be reached with the Gospel and to attend an Awana Truthseekers club indefinitely, the cost is only $10.
Henning and the creators of Awana GO are excited to see clubbers engage in missions by learning from and supporting other clubs across the globe. They look forward to clubbers discovering a world outside their own clubs, churches, and lives, and finding chances to share the Gospel in new places and ways.
“We want clubbers to know how to share their faith with not only the kids in their hometown,” Henning said, “but also around the world.”
For more information about Awana GO, visit awana.org/go, or contact Henning at jenh@awana.org or 206-619-1885. Henning will also be discussing Awana GO Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. during a Google Hangout on Air. Watch the live stream here.
For more information about Awana, visit the Awana Homepage
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.
Monday, August 31, 2015
Encouraging leaders to teach Large Group
At the Awana club where I serve, most of my Sparks leaders are in high school or college. Many of them are still uncomfortable when speaking to a crowd — a circumstance they will likely face many times not only in school, but also once they enter the workforce.
So to help them gain more confidence, I encourage them to give Large Group presentations to the Sparks. Below are four reasons why encouraging leaders to teach Large Group is beneficial.
Leaders who have presented more than twice before have an option to challenge themselves to create their own lesson to present God’s truth in a clear, age-appropriate way.
In school and at work, teens and adults need to be able to present ideas in a clear manner, often to people who know nothing about a topic or the topic’s jargon. An English teacher may require a student to give a presentation about an author to the class, or an employee may need to articulate an idea to a committee or project team. So why not practice now by presenting a lesson to a group of kids?
But knowing the Gospel and sharing the Gospel can be two very different things, and unless the leaders get opportunities to practice clear Gospel presentations, they may not be as confident, clear, or precise when children ask questions. An unprepared leader could actually make for a more confused child. By giving the leaders a chance to present the Gospel in Large Group, not only do they gain more confidence in sharing, but the clubbers get to hear God’s salvation plan frequently.
And maybe, as leaders gain more confidence speaking to a crowd, a Spark in that crowd may take to heart the leader’s message and make the decision to trust Christ.
For more information about Awana, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.
So to help them gain more confidence, I encourage them to give Large Group presentations to the Sparks. Below are four reasons why encouraging leaders to teach Large Group is beneficial.
Practice with less pressure
Sparks are between the ages of 5 and 8. They’re still learning both Biblical and social basics and won’t care if leaders get a bit tongue-tied or forgetful. Because Sparks don’t care about the quality of the presentation, leaders can make mistakes with no fear of being graded or scored. Leaders may also find standing in front of a bunch of kindergartners is a bit less intimidating than standing in front of a bunch of peers or adults.Practice clarity
Sparks don't understand big words like sanctification or atonement, so leaders need to learn how to fit their presentation to their audience. I encourage beginning presenters to use canned lessons so they experience what a well-organized, age-appropriate lesson is like.Leaders who have presented more than twice before have an option to challenge themselves to create their own lesson to present God’s truth in a clear, age-appropriate way.
In school and at work, teens and adults need to be able to present ideas in a clear manner, often to people who know nothing about a topic or the topic’s jargon. An English teacher may require a student to give a presentation about an author to the class, or an employee may need to articulate an idea to a committee or project team. So why not practice now by presenting a lesson to a group of kids?
Practice precision
Sparks not only have a limited vocabulary, but they also have a limited attention span of about 5 to 8 minutes. So leaders have to both speak clearly and prepare and present a lesson that is engaging and to-the-point. Again, this is a good skill to have for school and other areas when there are time or attention-span constraints.Practice presenting the Gospel
The purpose of Awana, or of any kids’ ministry for that matter, is to teach children to know, love, and serve the Lord. To fulfill this purpose, Awana volunteers need to understand the core of the program — the Gospel.But knowing the Gospel and sharing the Gospel can be two very different things, and unless the leaders get opportunities to practice clear Gospel presentations, they may not be as confident, clear, or precise when children ask questions. An unprepared leader could actually make for a more confused child. By giving the leaders a chance to present the Gospel in Large Group, not only do they gain more confidence in sharing, but the clubbers get to hear God’s salvation plan frequently.
And maybe, as leaders gain more confidence speaking to a crowd, a Spark in that crowd may take to heart the leader’s message and make the decision to trust Christ.
For more information about Awana, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.
Monday, August 24, 2015
4 tools for presenting the Gospel
The Gospel is at the core of everything Awana does, and it’s important to be able to share the salvation message in different ways to reach different people. It’s also important to find a presentation method that makes the presenter comfortable, confident, and clear when sharing.
Discovering new tools and figuring out which ones work for you can be daunting. So at West Coast Honor Camp, we help Journey students get started in their search. Each year, the high school campers receive and learn how to use a different tool to share the Gospel. Then on Wednesday of the camp week, they use the tools to share the Gospel with people around Redding, Calif. After camp, they take the tools home to share in their own communities. Some may even use them as Large Group messages at their Awana clubs.
But these resources aren’t restricted to the high school campers; below are four of the tools provided by West Coast Honor Camp over the years. And if any of your Journey students (or former Journey students) attended camp, maybe they can teach you how to use theirs.
EvangeCube – This is a cube made of eight smaller cubes. The cubes are joined together in a specific way so they can be unfolded to show 7 different images that illustrate the salvation message. Cubes come in different sizes depending on the desired presentation.
Gospel Bracelet – This is a leather or rope bracelet containing colored pony beads. Each color represents a part of the Gospel. The bracelet is so easy to make that the presenter can have the audience members make their own as they talk about the meanings of the colors.
Gospel Glove – This is a two-sided plastic glove. One side presents the Gospel with verses, images and symbolic colors; the other presents a message about obedience and growth for those already saved.
U-Turn Cards – This set follows the Roman Road. The tool uses 9 double-sided road sign-themed cards with letters and images that allow for an interactive, fast-paced presentation.
For more information about Awana, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.
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| A high school student from West Coast Honor Camp explains the Gospel Bracelet to two children in Redding, Calif. |
Discovering new tools and figuring out which ones work for you can be daunting. So at West Coast Honor Camp, we help Journey students get started in their search. Each year, the high school campers receive and learn how to use a different tool to share the Gospel. Then on Wednesday of the camp week, they use the tools to share the Gospel with people around Redding, Calif. After camp, they take the tools home to share in their own communities. Some may even use them as Large Group messages at their Awana clubs.
But these resources aren’t restricted to the high school campers; below are four of the tools provided by West Coast Honor Camp over the years. And if any of your Journey students (or former Journey students) attended camp, maybe they can teach you how to use theirs.
EvangeCube – This is a cube made of eight smaller cubes. The cubes are joined together in a specific way so they can be unfolded to show 7 different images that illustrate the salvation message. Cubes come in different sizes depending on the desired presentation.
Gospel Bracelet – This is a leather or rope bracelet containing colored pony beads. Each color represents a part of the Gospel. The bracelet is so easy to make that the presenter can have the audience members make their own as they talk about the meanings of the colors.
Gospel Glove – This is a two-sided plastic glove. One side presents the Gospel with verses, images and symbolic colors; the other presents a message about obedience and growth for those already saved.
U-Turn Cards – This set follows the Roman Road. The tool uses 9 double-sided road sign-themed cards with letters and images that allow for an interactive, fast-paced presentation.
For more information about Awana, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.
Monday, August 17, 2015
Past, Present, and School Year
I AM
I was regretting the pastand fearing the future.
Suddenly my Lord was speaking:
"My name is I AM"
He paused.
I waited. He continued,
"When you live in the past
with its mistakes and regrets,
it is hard. I am not there.
My name is not I WAS.
When you live in the future,
with its problems and fears,
it is hard. I am not there.
My name is not I WILL BE.
When you live in this moment
it is not hard. I am here,
My name is I AM."
- Helen Mallicoat
I first heard this poem, inspired by Exodus 3:14, when I was a high school student. At the time, I was trying to juggle studies, family, tennis, Awana, and community band, while maintaining a social life. The poem recently resurfaced as I contemplated the lack of things I accomplished over the past few days, as well as all the things I still needed to do for home, work, and the new Awana year.
I imagine there are many new and returning students from kindergarten to college feeling overwhelmed by the daunting task of balancing academia with family and extracurricular activities, now that school is starting. I’m also sure that parents, teachers, coaches, and many others are nervous about their preparations as everyone gets ready for a fresh start in a new school year.
With so much going on, it can be easy to feel overburdened and underprepared. But as the poem states, and as God says in Matthew 6:34, we don’t need to worry about the future until it arrives. And even then, God tells us in Philippians 4:6-7 that we shouldn’t be anxious at all, but instead “let your requests be made known to God.” He then promises that when we let Him take care of our anxieties, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
May God grant you all peace as the busy season begins, and may all your kids have a fun and amazing school year!
For more information about Awana, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.
Monday, August 10, 2015
Which 3rd John role model are you?
“Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.” – 3rd John 11
The book of 3rd John is a letter John wrote to a man named Gaius. Gaius was a Christian who gladly welcomed traveling believers into his home, giving them food and a place to stay on their journey. John was glad that Gaius ministered to fellow believers in this way, but there were some in Gaius’s community who weren’t as happy.
In fact, there was a man named Diotrephes who was a leader within the local church, and he despised what both Gaius and John were trying to do. Even though Diotrephes was supposed to be a fellow believer and a religious leader, he relished in his power and shunned anyone who threatened his authoritative position. John wrote in verse 10 that Diotrephes slandered them, working to estrange John and Gaius from his small faction of followers. In addition, “he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.” John also goes on to say that this supposedly pious man’s evildoing prevents him from even seeing God.
Apparently, John felt that Diotrephes’s influence was great enough that he needed to warn Gaius not to turn a wicked man into a role model simply because of his title or position. Instead, John recommends another man to follow — a man named Demetrius, who “has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true.”
As believers and kidmin volunteers, we need to consider what kind of example we set. Are we being good role models for those in our ministry? Are we being like Diotrephes or like Demetrius?
We also need to be like John. Pop culture, our neighborhoods, our schools, and even our churches are full of people who can be easily seen and imitated. We need to help guide our kids away from the Diotrepheses and toward the Demetriuses, teaching them to “not imitate what is evil, but what is good.”
For more information about Awana, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.
The book of 3rd John is a letter John wrote to a man named Gaius. Gaius was a Christian who gladly welcomed traveling believers into his home, giving them food and a place to stay on their journey. John was glad that Gaius ministered to fellow believers in this way, but there were some in Gaius’s community who weren’t as happy.
In fact, there was a man named Diotrephes who was a leader within the local church, and he despised what both Gaius and John were trying to do. Even though Diotrephes was supposed to be a fellow believer and a religious leader, he relished in his power and shunned anyone who threatened his authoritative position. John wrote in verse 10 that Diotrephes slandered them, working to estrange John and Gaius from his small faction of followers. In addition, “he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.” John also goes on to say that this supposedly pious man’s evildoing prevents him from even seeing God.
Apparently, John felt that Diotrephes’s influence was great enough that he needed to warn Gaius not to turn a wicked man into a role model simply because of his title or position. Instead, John recommends another man to follow — a man named Demetrius, who “has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true.”
As believers and kidmin volunteers, we need to consider what kind of example we set. Are we being good role models for those in our ministry? Are we being like Diotrephes or like Demetrius?
We also need to be like John. Pop culture, our neighborhoods, our schools, and even our churches are full of people who can be easily seen and imitated. We need to help guide our kids away from the Diotrepheses and toward the Demetriuses, teaching them to “not imitate what is evil, but what is good.”
For more information about Awana, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.
Monday, August 3, 2015
Unusual Game Equipment Spotlight: Donuts
Sometimes it’s fun to break away from the traditional and try something different. Unusual game equipment switches up the Game Time routine and adds something fresh to keep the kids excited and wanting to come back.
In a previous post, I discussed some ways to use car sponges, ping pong balls, and combats. But sometimes unusual game equipment can include food items*, as is the case with this week’s article. Today, I want to share a couple games using donuts.
In a previous post, I discussed some ways to use car sponges, ping pong balls, and combats. But sometimes unusual game equipment can include food items*, as is the case with this week’s article. Today, I want to share a couple games using donuts.
Donuts come in many shapes, sizes, and levels of messiness, which makes them fairly versatile. Also, many kids (and leaders — make sure you have enough for them, too!) love the treats, often covered in glaze, chocolate and/or sprinkles. Donuts can make any game time sweeter!
Here are two donut game ideas to start your creative brain train. Do you have any other donutty games? Share in the comments!
How to Play: Break players into groups of 3. Each group must decide who gets blindfolded and holds the string, who gives directions, and who eats the donut. Eaters lie flat on their back with their arms resting comfortably — they are not allowed to use their arms or hands for the duration of the game. Nor are they allowed to sit up or lean forward. String holders are blindfolded and placed at the heads of the eaters, dangling the donuts at least a foot above the eaters’ mouths. Direction givers stand next to the string holders.
At the whistle, direction givers must tell the string holders how to move the string so the eaters can eat the donut. First team with a completely swallowed donut wins.
How to Play: At the whistle, players must eat the donut slices out of the bowls using only their mouths. First player with a completely swallowed donut slice wins.
Variations:
*With any food game, please be conscious of the allergies of the participants and the possibility of staining clothes or carpets.
For more information about Awana, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.
Here are two donut game ideas to start your creative brain train. Do you have any other donutty games? Share in the comments!
Blind Donut
Materials needed:- Several 3-foot pieces of string (1 piece per team of 3)
- Several messy ring donuts (1 donut per team of 3)
- Powdered mini donuts work for younger kids
- Glazed regular sized donuts are great for older kids and adults
How to Play: Break players into groups of 3. Each group must decide who gets blindfolded and holds the string, who gives directions, and who eats the donut. Eaters lie flat on their back with their arms resting comfortably — they are not allowed to use their arms or hands for the duration of the game. Nor are they allowed to sit up or lean forward. String holders are blindfolded and placed at the heads of the eaters, dangling the donuts at least a foot above the eaters’ mouths. Direction givers stand next to the string holders.
At the whistle, direction givers must tell the string holders how to move the string so the eaters can eat the donut. First team with a completely swallowed donut wins.
Jelly Donut Feed
Materials needed:- Jelly Donuts
- Bowls (1 bowl per player, disposable are recommended – easy clean-up)
- Optional: Whipped cream and/or chocolate syrup
How to Play: At the whistle, players must eat the donut slices out of the bowls using only their mouths. First player with a completely swallowed donut slice wins.
Variations:
- Make it a team event — all team members eat at the same time. First team to have all players swallow their donut slices wins.
- Make it a relay — one player from each team eats a donut piece, then tags the next player.
- Make it a relay race station — team chooses a representative to eat the donut piece. When the representative swallows, team can move to the next station.
*With any food game, please be conscious of the allergies of the participants and the possibility of staining clothes or carpets.
For more information about Awana, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.
Monday, July 27, 2015
News of what’s new at Camp 2015
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| Junior high campers volunteer during free time to help with a maintenance project at Camp. |
One of the core elements of West Coast Honor Camp, as well as the biggest highlight for many of the campers, is the high school ministry trip. High school campers spend Monday and Tuesday preparing to go into Redding to serve and minister in several different locations and communities. You can learn more about the ministry options in my article, “Living the Lesson.”
But this year, ministry training and service weren’t limited to the high school campers — we offered a ministry opportunity to the junior high campers as well. Like their high school peers, interested junior high campers trained on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday, they served our own camp by working on a small maintenance project during free time. They replaced and painted the wooden backrests on the benches of Reflection Circle — which hadn’t been fixed or replaced for many, many years. Then they got to sign their names on their work so they and their friends can see the fruits of their service for years to come.
West Coast Honor Camp also introduced a craft ministry, which allowed not only campers, but also counselors and staff, to participate. The idea this year was that instead of paying to make crafts for themselves, interested individuals made crafts and kits for free to give to children in impoverished countries through Operation Christmas Child. Participants made small packages with cars and trucks; kits with chalkboards, chalk and erasers; colorful bookmarks; hairclips; headbands; necklaces; and more to be put in shoebox-sized boxes and given to children who may have never received a gift before. Some campers even wrote letters or decorated the boxes. People also had the option to donate money through the week and through an offering at Thursday’s chapel to help ship the boxes. Together, we raised enough money to send 82 boxes filled with our crafts, along with toys, gospel messages, hygiene products, and school supplies.
The main reason I help with West Coast Honor Camp, and with Awana in general, is that I love helping the clubbers not only learn about God and the Bible but also watching them apply what they learn through the ways they chose to live and serve. This year was truly amazing in seeing the new ministry options embraced by everyone at camp, and I look forward to seeing both the ministries and the tweens and teens who serve through them grow in years to come.
For more information about West Coast Honor Camp, visit westcoasthonorcamp.org.
For more information about Awana, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.
Saturday, May 30, 2015
God and the King: Submitting to God’s authority
Over the last couple months, we’ve been studying the first few chapters of Daniel, looking at how God moved Nebuchadnezzar closer to salvation. In Daniel 2, God revealed Himself to the king the first time by using Daniel to interpret a dream. The king took his first step toward salvation by acknowledging that God was real, wise, and involved in the lives of His people. In Daniel 3, God revealed Himself to the king the second time by delivering Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the furnace. The king took his second step toward salvation by recognizing God’s power and ability to care for His followers. In Daniel 4, God revealed Himself twice more, with the final encounter leading to the king’s moment of salvation.
Daniel 4 begins with God giving the king another dream. This encounter started like in Daniel 2; the king called his wise men first, and they were unable to provide the interpretation. However, unlike with the first dream, where the king kept the dream’s content a secret, this time he shared the content freely in Daniel 4:10-17. Also unlike with the first dream where Daniel had to ask to see the king to save the lives of the wise men, this time the king personally summoned Daniel as a trusted adviser and because “the Spirit of the Holy God is in you” (v. 18).
Daniel’s reaction to the interpretation is also different from before. The first time, he interpreted the dream to save the wise men, including himself and his friends, from Nebuchadnezzar. This time, he wanted to save the king. In verse 19, before sharing the interpretation, Daniel wished that the dream was about the king’s enemies. Instead, the dream was a warning to Nebuchadnezzar, telling him that God would cause him to be driven from the kingdom to live with animals and eat grass like the oxen. In verse 25b, Daniel tells the king, “seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.” At the end of the interpretation in verse 27, Daniel urged the king to “break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.”
But in the end, neither Daniel, nor his friends, nor anybody else except God could save the king. All they could do was pray and let God do the rest — which is exactly what happened. God’s fourth and final recorded revelation to Nebuchadnezzar was given directly to the king.
About a year after the dream, Nebuchadnezzar was admiring his palace. Instead of heeding Daniel’s advice to break from his sins and live righteously, he swelled with pride, praising himself in verse 30, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?” God didn’t even let the king finish before making good on the warning. Verses 31-33 tell us, “While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.’ That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar.”
Nebuchadnezzar lived in that animalistic state for what scholars believe was seven years before finally understanding and submitting fully to God’s authority and God’s alone. And we see that once Nebuchadnezzar submitted, God blessed and cared for him, just as with Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. God restored his kingdom to him — and even expanded it to be greater than ever before. Daniel 4 closes with Nebuchadnezzar’s own words; “[God’s] dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth…His works are truth, and His ways as justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down” (v. 34-37).
God used Daniel in the first encounter to show Nebuchadnezzar His wisdom and involvement. We too can help nonbelievers understand that God knows about the world and takes an active role in believers’ lives. In the second encounter, God used Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to show His omnipotence. We too can help nonbelievers recognize that God can and will take care of those who trust Him. And finally, God used Himself in the last encounter to show His authority over the world, ultimately leading to Nebuchadnezzar’s submission and salvation through trusting Him. Now we can’t cause that final submission — that can only happen between God and nonbelievers. But we can act with compassion and concern like Daniel, and we can pray, watch, and wait to see how God draws them to Him.
For more information about Awana, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.
Daniel 4 begins with God giving the king another dream. This encounter started like in Daniel 2; the king called his wise men first, and they were unable to provide the interpretation. However, unlike with the first dream, where the king kept the dream’s content a secret, this time he shared the content freely in Daniel 4:10-17. Also unlike with the first dream where Daniel had to ask to see the king to save the lives of the wise men, this time the king personally summoned Daniel as a trusted adviser and because “the Spirit of the Holy God is in you” (v. 18).
Daniel’s reaction to the interpretation is also different from before. The first time, he interpreted the dream to save the wise men, including himself and his friends, from Nebuchadnezzar. This time, he wanted to save the king. In verse 19, before sharing the interpretation, Daniel wished that the dream was about the king’s enemies. Instead, the dream was a warning to Nebuchadnezzar, telling him that God would cause him to be driven from the kingdom to live with animals and eat grass like the oxen. In verse 25b, Daniel tells the king, “seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.” At the end of the interpretation in verse 27, Daniel urged the king to “break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.”
But in the end, neither Daniel, nor his friends, nor anybody else except God could save the king. All they could do was pray and let God do the rest — which is exactly what happened. God’s fourth and final recorded revelation to Nebuchadnezzar was given directly to the king.
About a year after the dream, Nebuchadnezzar was admiring his palace. Instead of heeding Daniel’s advice to break from his sins and live righteously, he swelled with pride, praising himself in verse 30, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?” God didn’t even let the king finish before making good on the warning. Verses 31-33 tell us, “While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.’ That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar.”
Nebuchadnezzar lived in that animalistic state for what scholars believe was seven years before finally understanding and submitting fully to God’s authority and God’s alone. And we see that once Nebuchadnezzar submitted, God blessed and cared for him, just as with Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. God restored his kingdom to him — and even expanded it to be greater than ever before. Daniel 4 closes with Nebuchadnezzar’s own words; “[God’s] dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth…His works are truth, and His ways as justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down” (v. 34-37).
God used Daniel in the first encounter to show Nebuchadnezzar His wisdom and involvement. We too can help nonbelievers understand that God knows about the world and takes an active role in believers’ lives. In the second encounter, God used Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to show His omnipotence. We too can help nonbelievers recognize that God can and will take care of those who trust Him. And finally, God used Himself in the last encounter to show His authority over the world, ultimately leading to Nebuchadnezzar’s submission and salvation through trusting Him. Now we can’t cause that final submission — that can only happen between God and nonbelievers. But we can act with compassion and concern like Daniel, and we can pray, watch, and wait to see how God draws them to Him.
For more information about Awana, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.
Thursday, April 30, 2015
God and the King: Recognizing God’s power
In my last post, we took a look at Daniel 2 where Nebuchadnezzar met God for the first time through Daniel’s ability to interpret a dream. The king acknowledged God was real, wise, and involved in the lives of His people.
In Daniel 3, Nebuchadnezzar encountered God for the second time, this time through Daniel’s friends: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Nebuchadnezzar had a giant statue built, then required everyone to bow down and worship it when they heard music. Anyone who disobeyed would be thrown into a fiery furnace.
This caused a problem for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, because in Exodus 20:2-6, God had commanded His followers to bow to no other gods, especially ones created by human hands. They could obey God and evoke the wrath of the king who would have them put to death, or they could obey the king and evoke God’s wrath instead. They chose to obey God.
When the king heard that three of his advisers (appointed in Daniel 2) refused to bow, he was outraged. He couldn’t fathom the idea of anyone disobeying him, especially when he had the power to end their lives. In fact, we find in verse 15 that he was so angry that not only did he personally command them to bow, but he also challenged God directly; “who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”
This wasn’t a question of if their God was real — as we saw in Daniel 2, Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged that God existed and was even the wisest of gods. But to the polytheist king, God was just like the rest of the Babylonian gods he knew — limited to specific abilities. In his mind, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s only available salvation was to obey him.
However, the three Israelites knew better. They knew that God wasn’t just limited to being all wise, but that He was all powerful as well. And in verses 17-18, they responded to the king’s threat. “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
If Nebuchadnezzar was angry before, then he was absolutely livid now. He commanded his guards to heat the furnace to seven times greater than normal and to throw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into it with the excessive heat killing the guards in the process.
But God responded to the faith of His people, answering Nebuchadnezzar’s challenge in the process. When Nebuchadnezzar looked into the furnace, he couldn’t believe his eyes — he saw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego walking around in the middle of the flames. What’s more, they had no singed hairs, no burns, and not even a smell of smoke. And even that wasn’t the most astonishing thing the king saw. Inside the furnace, there were not three, but four men — the fourth of whose appearance looked "like the Son of God!" (v. 25).
In verse 28, the king called Daniel’s friends out of the furnace and exclaimed, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!” And in verse 29, he recognized God’s power above all other divine powers he knew; “there is no other God who can deliver like this.”
Even after nonbelievers are introduced to God and His wisdom, they may still be afraid. Culture pressures them to believe that God is for the ignorant and immature. Or they may be surrounded by a world of sorrow and pain, feeling like nobody can help them; that they screwed up too much or are stuck too deep in their situation. But as God showed Nebuchadnezzar, no pressure, situation, or fire is too great for Him to bring His people through.
Recognizing God’s power is the second step on the path to Salvation. Nonbelievers need to learn that not only is God real, wise, and involved but also has the power to take care of those who trust Him.
For more information about Awana, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.
In Daniel 3, Nebuchadnezzar encountered God for the second time, this time through Daniel’s friends: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Nebuchadnezzar had a giant statue built, then required everyone to bow down and worship it when they heard music. Anyone who disobeyed would be thrown into a fiery furnace.
This caused a problem for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, because in Exodus 20:2-6, God had commanded His followers to bow to no other gods, especially ones created by human hands. They could obey God and evoke the wrath of the king who would have them put to death, or they could obey the king and evoke God’s wrath instead. They chose to obey God.
When the king heard that three of his advisers (appointed in Daniel 2) refused to bow, he was outraged. He couldn’t fathom the idea of anyone disobeying him, especially when he had the power to end their lives. In fact, we find in verse 15 that he was so angry that not only did he personally command them to bow, but he also challenged God directly; “who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”
This wasn’t a question of if their God was real — as we saw in Daniel 2, Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged that God existed and was even the wisest of gods. But to the polytheist king, God was just like the rest of the Babylonian gods he knew — limited to specific abilities. In his mind, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s only available salvation was to obey him.
However, the three Israelites knew better. They knew that God wasn’t just limited to being all wise, but that He was all powerful as well. And in verses 17-18, they responded to the king’s threat. “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
If Nebuchadnezzar was angry before, then he was absolutely livid now. He commanded his guards to heat the furnace to seven times greater than normal and to throw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into it with the excessive heat killing the guards in the process.
But God responded to the faith of His people, answering Nebuchadnezzar’s challenge in the process. When Nebuchadnezzar looked into the furnace, he couldn’t believe his eyes — he saw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego walking around in the middle of the flames. What’s more, they had no singed hairs, no burns, and not even a smell of smoke. And even that wasn’t the most astonishing thing the king saw. Inside the furnace, there were not three, but four men — the fourth of whose appearance looked "like the Son of God!" (v. 25).
In verse 28, the king called Daniel’s friends out of the furnace and exclaimed, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!” And in verse 29, he recognized God’s power above all other divine powers he knew; “there is no other God who can deliver like this.”
Even after nonbelievers are introduced to God and His wisdom, they may still be afraid. Culture pressures them to believe that God is for the ignorant and immature. Or they may be surrounded by a world of sorrow and pain, feeling like nobody can help them; that they screwed up too much or are stuck too deep in their situation. But as God showed Nebuchadnezzar, no pressure, situation, or fire is too great for Him to bring His people through.
Recognizing God’s power is the second step on the path to Salvation. Nonbelievers need to learn that not only is God real, wise, and involved but also has the power to take care of those who trust Him.
For more information about Awana, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.
Monday, March 30, 2015
God and the King: Acknowledging God’s existence & wisdom
Daniel is my favorite book of the Bible. I love reading about how Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were delivered and blessed when they obeyed God and followed His will.
But in my last reading, I realized that the book isn’t just about them, but is also about the people around them.
Take Nebuchadnezzar for example. The story of this king shows the process God uses to draw unbelievers close.
We’re initially introduced to the king at the end of the first chapter of Daniel, when he chose the best men out of the captives to enter into his personal service. He found none wiser than Daniel and his three friends, and they were all appointed.
The second chapter is where we begin to see God at work. Nebuchadnezzar was troubled by a dream, and he wanted his magicians, astrologers, sorcerers and advisers to tell him its meaning. However, even though he wanted the meaning, he chose not to tell them about the dream’s content. Some scholars believe he forgot but would recognize it when it was described. Others think that the king was not confident in the wisdom of the wise men, and that he was concerned they were deceiving him. Either way, Nebuchadnezzar believed that if they had the wisdom and insight they claimed to have, they should have been able to divulge the content of the dream along with its meaning.
Of course, none of the wise men were able to tell the king what his dream was. After asking the king to reveal the dream a couple times and the king declining, they said in verse 11, “It is a difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”
Their ineptitude infuriated Nebuchadnezzar, and he responded by issuing an order to kill all the wise men in Babylon. So the soldiers went out seeking the wise men, including Daniel and his friends.
Word of the king’s decree and its reason reached Daniel. He asked his friends to pray, and God revealed the dream and its interpretation to Daniel (v. 31 - 45). Daniel then asked to see the king.
Daniel proved that the wise men were right when they said that only a god could reveal the dream. He told the king that his wisdom and insight was not his own, but came from God. He then proceeded to tell the king about the dream and its interpretation.
But in my last reading, I realized that the book isn’t just about them, but is also about the people around them.
Take Nebuchadnezzar for example. The story of this king shows the process God uses to draw unbelievers close.
We’re initially introduced to the king at the end of the first chapter of Daniel, when he chose the best men out of the captives to enter into his personal service. He found none wiser than Daniel and his three friends, and they were all appointed.
The second chapter is where we begin to see God at work. Nebuchadnezzar was troubled by a dream, and he wanted his magicians, astrologers, sorcerers and advisers to tell him its meaning. However, even though he wanted the meaning, he chose not to tell them about the dream’s content. Some scholars believe he forgot but would recognize it when it was described. Others think that the king was not confident in the wisdom of the wise men, and that he was concerned they were deceiving him. Either way, Nebuchadnezzar believed that if they had the wisdom and insight they claimed to have, they should have been able to divulge the content of the dream along with its meaning.
Of course, none of the wise men were able to tell the king what his dream was. After asking the king to reveal the dream a couple times and the king declining, they said in verse 11, “It is a difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”
Their ineptitude infuriated Nebuchadnezzar, and he responded by issuing an order to kill all the wise men in Babylon. So the soldiers went out seeking the wise men, including Daniel and his friends.
Word of the king’s decree and its reason reached Daniel. He asked his friends to pray, and God revealed the dream and its interpretation to Daniel (v. 31 - 45). Daniel then asked to see the king.
Daniel proved that the wise men were right when they said that only a god could reveal the dream. He told the king that his wisdom and insight was not his own, but came from God. He then proceeded to tell the king about the dream and its interpretation.
When Daniel finished, the king was in awe. “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets," he said, "since you could reveal this secret” (v. 47).
God showed Nebuchadnezzar that He wasn’t like any of the other gods the king and his people worshiped. He was alive, wise, and actively involved in the lives of the people who served Him.
Acknowledging that God is real, wise and involved is the first step nonbelievers must take on the path to Salvation. They need to learn that He is alive, knows about the world and His people, and takes an active role in their lives.
*Interesting fact: Nebuchadnezzar was named after Nabu, the Babylonian god of wisdom. This is ironic, considering the king had to acknowledge that it wasn’t Nabu who revealed the dream and interpretation, but instead was God though Daniel.
For more information about Awana, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.
God showed Nebuchadnezzar that He wasn’t like any of the other gods the king and his people worshiped. He was alive, wise, and actively involved in the lives of the people who served Him.
Acknowledging that God is real, wise and involved is the first step nonbelievers must take on the path to Salvation. They need to learn that He is alive, knows about the world and His people, and takes an active role in their lives.
*Interesting fact: Nebuchadnezzar was named after Nabu, the Babylonian god of wisdom. This is ironic, considering the king had to acknowledge that it wasn’t Nabu who revealed the dream and interpretation, but instead was God though Daniel.
For more information about Awana, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.
Friday, January 30, 2015
5 myths about Awana
When you get an organization as big as Awana, sometimes information can get mixed up or misunderstood. Below are five myths that the missionaries in my region had to debunk in their travels to start new clubs.
Myth: The official order of the colors is red, blue, green, yellow.
Fact: There is no official order.
Myth: Each town is only allowed one Awana Club.
Fact: A town can have as many Awana Clubs as it has groups of people willing to run them.
Myth: You can’t have an Awana Club until you have an official Game Square.
Fact: Some clubs run with no game square at all!
Bonus: Check out these nontraditional Awana Game areas!
Myth: Awana is only for kids within the church; outside kids cannot attend.
Fact: On average, 10 percent of the kids attending any giving club don’t attend a church at all. Awana has complete sets of resources dedicated to bringing in the outside kids, including the “Bring-A-Friend” section in the handbooks and The Great ShakeUP four-week program.
Myth: Awana can only be held in a church building.
Fact: There are Awana Clubs in schools, community centers, parks and apartment complexes, just to name a few.
Have you heard any Awana myths? Do you want to know if something you heard about Awana is a myth or fact? Share in the comments!
For more information about Awana, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.
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| A town can have as many Awana Clubs as it has groups of people willing to run them. |
Myth: The official order of the colors is red, blue, green, yellow.
Fact: There is no official order.
Myth: Each town is only allowed one Awana Club.
Fact: A town can have as many Awana Clubs as it has groups of people willing to run them.
Myth: You can’t have an Awana Club until you have an official Game Square.
Fact: Some clubs run with no game square at all!
Bonus: Check out these nontraditional Awana Game areas!
Myth: Awana is only for kids within the church; outside kids cannot attend.
Fact: On average, 10 percent of the kids attending any giving club don’t attend a church at all. Awana has complete sets of resources dedicated to bringing in the outside kids, including the “Bring-A-Friend” section in the handbooks and The Great ShakeUP four-week program.
Myth: Awana can only be held in a church building.
Fact: There are Awana Clubs in schools, community centers, parks and apartment complexes, just to name a few.
Have you heard any Awana myths? Do you want to know if something you heard about Awana is a myth or fact? Share in the comments!
For more information about Awana, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.
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