Happy Easter! This weekend we are celebrating the resurrection of Christ and God’s amazing love for us. As we walk through the story we see God’s perfect plan start in creation, bring victory over sin and death at the cross and continue today with us. Today is a great opportunity to talk about this good news with your kids and also to share it with others.
WE BELIEVE: Sin & Salvation
This Week’s Finish Line: Know What You Believe about Sin & Salvation
This Easter we’re continuing our "We Believe" series by helping kids understand what sin is, what salvation is and how they can be saved. Sin is anything we think, say or do that does not please God. Because of our sin we deserve death BUT God also offers us the free gift of salvation because Jesus paid the price we should have paid on the cross (Romans 6:23). Salvation is rescue from the punishment, power and presence of sin. God promises that anyone who ADMITS they are a sinner, BELIEVES Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross paid our sin debt and CONFESSES Jesus is Lord will be saved (Romans 10:9). We can never know enough or be good enough to save ourselves but God can give us the faith to believe and receive His amazing free gift of salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Family Questions:
- How would you define sin? What can we do to earn salvation?
- Why did Jesus come to earth and die on the cross? Why do we celebrate Easter?
- Take time to retell the Easter story with your kids and explain to them why it matters in your life that Jesus came back to life again.
Bring it Home Conversations & Activities:
* Check out our vision for parents and how to use these activities each week.
Teacher: Defining Sin
At dinner this week ask each individual in your family to define sin. Then ask who the judge of sin is. After they have answered, begin to teach them that God is the judge of sin because He is holy and perfect (1 John 1:5). Then review the definition of sin with them: Sin is anything we think, say, or do that does not please God. There is no one on earth that has not sinned (Romans 3:23), and sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2). We need to be rescued from our sin!
Friend: Salvation Through Jesus is Our Rescue from Sin
Once you have defined sin, take some time to teach your family about how we can be rescued from sin. It can be defined in one word, SALVATION. Salvation is being rescued from the punishment, power and presence of sin. Salvation come directly through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:8). Through Jesus we receive the free gift of salvation from God and it has nothing to do with what we have or have not done (Ephesians 2:8-10). Jesus has paid the price so we do not have to! (John 3:16)
Counselor: Your Salvation Story
As you put your kids to bed one night this week, share with them your story of grace (i.e. how you came to faith in Jesus as your Savior). Share with them what your life was like before you knew Jesus, how you came to understand the gospel, and how your life is different today because of Jesus. If your children have trusted in Jesus, have them remind you of their story of grace. If they haven't made a personal decision to follow Christ, pray with them that they might understand the gospel and follow Jesus for all of their days! (Consider reading this blog post on sharing the gospel with kids)
Coach: Unashamed
As you send your family off for the day, ask them to name one person they know who needs to hear the good news that Jesus loves them and died to save them. Parents should name one too. Pray together for those people by name and then challenge your family to seek that person out to tell them. Circle back at night to share stories of how it went.
Prayer
God, thank You for Your amazing love for us. Thank You for Your perfect plan to save us even before we were born. Remind us of the cross every day so we can remember Your love and forgiveness for our sins, and give us the courage to share our story of sin & salvation with the people around us. We love you. Amen.
Looking Ahead
Next week we will begin our next month's Godly characteristic, MERCY. We will learn about how we need mercy.
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