The latest series in EPIC is “Journey Below the Earth.” This series will take your child on an adventure that involves exploring caves and finding lost treasure. However, during the series your children will go on an even greater adventure as they begin to learn how to apply God’s Word to their daily life. (In order to get your child established in daily quiet time, you are encouraged to help your child use the Wonder Devotional Book we distributed in November. If your child is finished with the first devotional book, let us know, and we will give them the second book in the Wonder Devotional Book series.)
January 13th:
Summary: This Sunday in EPIC your child will be learning the importance of choosing to do the right thing, even when it is hard, by studying about Nehemiah when he built the wall in Jerusalem. Children, just like adults, face the temptation of giving up or quitting on doing what is right when there seems like an easier way out. For example, most children at one point in their life have been tempted to lie if they think it will keep them from getting in trouble or will help them get what they want. This is a classic example of taking the easier way out even though it disobeys God. Our goal is to help your child begin to look beyond himself, and to learn more on how he can faithfully serve God by choosing to not give up doing what is right.
Parent Challenge: Talk to your child about choices. Help them understand that there are two types of choices: good choices and bad choices. Think of some examples of some bad choices and the negative consequences of those choices. Then think of some examples of good choices and the positive consequences of those choices. Then talk to your child about how his choices are important because they have consequences that will affect his life in a good or bad way. Explain to them that God wants what is best for us, and He has provided the answers on how to make good choices in the Bible. Make sure your child understand that sometimes good choices don’t seem easy at the time, but later he will see how his decision to do what was right was the best thing for him.
Bible Story: To help us learn to never give up doing the right thing, we will be studying the perseverance of Nehemiah as he rebuilds the wall for Jerusalem. (Nehemiah 2, 4, 6)
Memory Verse: James 1:22: “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” (NLT)
January 20th:
Summary: This week’s lesson is similar to last’s week’s lesson in that it is stressing to the children to obey God’s word. This week we will focus on the 10 Commandments. In studying about the 10 Commandments, we will be teaching the children that these aren’t just rules we’re supposed to follow for no good reason. We will guide the children in understanding that the 10 Commandments were given to us by God to help us learn to live in a way that would be the best for us and that would please God.
Parent Challenge: Talk to your child about rules and why it is important we follow them. Get them to think about how difficult it would be to live in a world where everyone just did whatever they felt like anytime they felt like doing it. Teach them that while living life like that may seem fun for a little while, eventually it would cause problems. (You may want to talk about some examples of how living life without rules would cause problems). Then explain to your child that God gave us rules, such as the 10 Commandments, to make sure we live a life that not only pleases Him, but that keeps us from making decisions that will be harmful to us or other people. God’s rules are there to help and protect us.
Bible Story: The Ten Commandments (Exodus 19 & 20:1-17)
Memory Verse: James 1:22: “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” (NLT)
January 27th:
Summary: This week your child will be learning about how to trust and believe in God by studying about how Joshua responded when he had to lead the Israelites across the Jordan River. We will be teaching the children that there are times that God desires that we do things that seem really difficult. (For example, being nice to someone at school who is always picked on, and as a result of you’re being nice to them, all the kids pick on you too now.) However, while a situation may be scary or hard, your child will be learning that God has promised to always be there with him and to protect him in all situations.
Parent Challenge: Talk over the Bible lesson (Joshua 3, 4). Discuss how you think Joshua and the Israelites felt. Talk about how God provided and took care of them. Discuss what may have happened if Joshua had not trusted God and tried to handle everything himself.
After you have discussed the Bible story, explain to your child that we can trust in God just like Joshua did. Explain to them that if they will put their trust in God, that He will help them through any situation. Make sure they understand that this doesn’t mean there won’t be difficult or hard times in life, but that even during those times, as we continue to trust in God, we will eventually see how he helped us even through the hardest times.
Bible Story: Joshua 3, 4
Memory Verse: James 1:22: “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” (NLT)
February 3rd:
Summary: During EPIC this week your child will be learning that everything we have is given to us as a gift from God. (our clothes, homes, food, family, etc). It is important that even at an early age children learn to be good stewards with their money and realize that everything they have comes from God.. In today’s society our kids are faced with the temptation of embracing a lot of worldly things. However, most do not even realize the worldliness they are subjected to on a daily basis is wrong. Therefore, in an effort to get them to begin to think about possessions on this earth in a Godly way, this week the children in EPIC will be learning about tithes and offerings. They will learn that as they tithe, they are saying thank you to God for all He provides for them and showing respect to God.
Parent Challenge: Talk with your child about why we give a tithe and why this pleases God. Then make a “Tithe Jar” with your child. This can be any container around the house that you could put money in during the week. Together, you and your child can decorate the jar together. Then place the jar in an area where your child will see it often. Encourage them to put any spare change they find in the jar. Also, if they receive an allowance, encourage them to put a portion of their allowance in the jar. On Sunday, they can collect the change in the jar and bring it to church.
Bible Story: Genesis 28: 10-22
Memory Verse: James 1:22: “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” (NLT
February 10th:
Summary: This week our lesson will focus on the message of salvation. After hearing clear teaching on the Gospel, your child will be given an opportunity to receive Christ as his Savior if he has never done so.
Parent Challenge: If your child has never received Christ, talk with him about how he can do that. If you feel you need some guidance in presenting the Gospel to your child in a way he can understand, please call the church office. (229-6010).
If your child has received Christ, encourage him to continue to grow as a child of God. (Example: encourage him to read His Bible and obey what He is reading). Try setting some time aside each night to read some from the Bible and talk about what you read together.
Bible Story: Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection (John 3:16; Matthew 28:1-6, John 20: 26-31)
Memory Verse: James 1:22: “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” (NLT)
February 17th:
Summary: This week our lesson will be teaching the kids of the importance of being dependable by studying about Peter. The children will be learning the importance of doing what they say they are going to do, and also the importance of doing what the Bible tells them to do. They will learn that God has a wonderful plan for each person’s life, but if that person is not dependable and does not obey God and His Word, God is not able to use them in the way He desires. Your child will be encouraged to live a life that proves he is responsible and trustworthy, and most importantly, someone God knows He can depend on to do the right thing.
Parent Challenge: Play a game of trust with your child. Set up an obstacle course in your yard (make sure to look around and remove anything that could cause an injury). Then blindfold your child and tell him you are going to guide him through the obstacle course. (you can take his hand and guide him, only give verbal commands, etc) However, before you guide him with directions, tell him you’re going to let him try and do it all by himself.
Afterwards, ask your child which was easier- when he was being led by you or when he had to try to get through the activity by himself. Explain to your child how it was a lot easier to get through the obstacle course when he could depend on someone to guide him, as opposed to trying to do it by himself. Then explain how this can teach us why it is important to be dependable. When we are dependable, other people can rely on us to help them, but more importantly, God knows He can trust us to help others and follow the commands He gives us. Being dependable pleases God and allows Him to use us in the way He desires to do so.
Bible Story: Matthew 16:13-19
Memory Verse: James 1:22: “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” (NLT)