Welcome to Virtual Kids Church: April 4, 2021
W E E K 1 - Elementary and PreTeen
When Adam and Eve decided that their way was better than God’s way and broke God’s rule, they changed the relationship between God and His creation. When once everything and everyone could be in the presence of God, now we were at odds with God. God could have done anything He wanted, including wiping us out and starting over. But instead, God decided to make peace with us. Ultimately God did this through His Son, Jesus. When Jesus rose from the dead, He paid the price for everything that was wrong and unfair in this world. Because of Jesus, we can have peace. We don’t have to get even. Instead, we can reflect the character of Christ by caring for others and making peace.
We kick off the month with something Paul writes about Jesus in Colossians 1:20 and John 20:1-18. On Easter Sunday, we want to make sure that kids know how they can have a relationship with Jesus. Throughout the entire Bible, we see God’s plan to make peace with us. In the second part the Colossians verse, Paul reminds us that it’s through what Jesus did on the cross that the world can be right with God again.
Bottom Line: God made peace with us. God went to great lengths to fix what was wrong between us and Him. When God looked across humanity and saw the brokenness of our relationship with Him, He proved He cared about us by sending Jesus, His only Son to die— to build a bridge and resolve the conflict that existed. Now, Jesus is alive, and we can have a relationship with God that lasts forever.
Elementary Message Summary:
Bible Story: Alive (Easter) • Colossians 1:20 and John 20:1-18
Today’s Bottom Line: God made peace with us.
Monthly Memory Verse: So let us do all we can to live in peace. And let us work hard to build up one another. Romans 14:19 (NIrV)
Monthly Life App: Peace—Proving you care more about each other than winning an argument
Basic Truth: I can trust God no matter what.
W E E K 1 - Preschool
This month, we are going to be talking about something that is high and wide and deep. Do you know what it is? Yes, it’s the love of Jesus. Jesus’ love for each of us is so wide and long and high and deep that we can’t even measure it! And, we are going to have so much fun introducing this truth to our preschoolers this month! We start the month with the best Sunday of the year—Easter! How exciting that we get to share the story of Easter with our youngest friends this month. Some of them will be hearing for the very first time that Jesus wants to be their friend forever. Yes! Jesus is alive, and He wants to be our friend forever! We want to share the good news that Jesus is alive with our preschoolers all month long. We want them to hear over and over again that Jesus wants to be their friend forever. We want this foundational truth of Jesus’ great love for them to live in each preschooler’s heart.
Week 1
Story Focus: Jesus is alive! We kick everything off by sharing the amazing true story about why we celebrate Easter. We will teach our preschoolers that Jesus is special because Jesus is God’s Son. Jesus did amazing things and showed us how to love one another. Then, angry people hurt Jesus so bad that He died. But, Jesus came back—just like He said He would! Yes! Jesus is alive, and He wants to be our friend forever! For some children, this will be the first time they hear this incredible story.
PreK Message Summary:
Bible Story Focus: Jesus is alive! Easter • Matthew 26:20-30; 27:45-50; 28:1-7
Memory Verse: “How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:18, NIV
Key Question: Who wants to be your friend forever?
Bottom Line: Jesus wants to be my friend forever.
Basic Truth: Jesus wants to be our friend forever.
Worship Playlist:
Oh Happy Day - Orange Music [YouTube]
Even When - Orange Music [Youtube]