MORNINGSIDE KIDS
Morningside Kids 11/8/20
The Pharisees and other Jews in Jerusalem did not like Jesus. He didn’t play by their rules (Matt. 12:1-14), He claimed to be God (John 8:58-59; 10:22-33), and He extended salvation beyond the Jewish people (Luke 4:27). So they plotted several times how they might kill Him.
The events leading up to His death did not surprise Jesus. Each step was part of God’s established plan. (See Isa. 53:10; Acts 2:23.) But knowing God’s plan didn’t lessen Jesus’ suffering as He was betrayed by His friends, arrested, falsely accused, and beaten. As you teach kids about the arrest of Jesus, help them understand the gravity of the events.
First, Jesus wanted to do God’s plan. Jesus came to earth to rescue people from sin. He was committed to doing the Father’s will. (Matt. 26:39,42) When Judas showed up with a crowd, Jesus didn’t run. He didn’t even allow Peter to stand in His defense. (Matt. 26:52) Jesus willingly gave Himself up for us because He loves us. (Eph. 5:2)
Second, Jesus was betrayed and arrested even though He did nothing wrong. The Jews tried to find a legitimate reason to kill Jesus, but they couldn’t find one. (Matt. 26:59-60) Jesus did what we failed to do; He perfectly obeyed the law. His arrest was not just. The trial was not fair. But this had to happen. Only a sinless, perfect sacrifice could take away sin. (Heb. 9:11-14)
Finally, Jesus is who He says He is. After Jesus’ arrest, the high priest asked Jesus if He was the Son of God. Jesus affirmed that He is. (Matt. 26:64) The high priest accused Him of blasphemy (speaking against God), but Jesus always told the truth.
Christ Connection: Jesus felt the pain of betrayal and the agony of His imminent suffering and death. Jesus knew that His death was God’s plan to save people from sin. Jesus’ friends turned against Him and He was arrested and put on trial, but Jesus followed His Father’s plan in order to bring salvation to the world.
God's Power: Moses, Lesson 2
Here’s Lesson 2 of “God’s Power: Moses.” Click here for Lesson 1.
Follow these links for your Jesus and Me sheet!
Good News Club Online
For several years, Good News Club has given us the privilege of reaching out on Tuesday afternoons to students at Pelham Road Elementary School, just across the street from us.
This year, after-school activities have been very limited, and our in-person club isn’t able to meet. But with permission from Child Evangelism Fellowship and Majesty Music, we are very excited to announce that Good News Club is going online this year! Lesson videos, printable worksheets, and songs to help the gospel stick. We hope you can join us.
God's Power: Moses, Lesson 1
Welcome to Good News Club online! Our first group of lessons is called “God’s Power: Moses.” It’s about how God showed His power in the life of Moses.
Here’s our video for Lesson 1.
Follow the links below to find your Jesus and Me sheet!
Kids on Mission - Week 8 - 10/28/20
During last Wednesday’s Missions Night, we talked about how God is with you wherever you go (Deuteronomy 31:6). Kids learned that no matter where God calls you in the world, He will be with you always and will not forsake you. We asked and answered two questions…
What is a Missionary? Kids offered so many good responses. We watched this video from Child Evangelism Fellowship to learn personally from a missionary how she defines what a missionary is. Our answer came down to this short sentence: A missionary is a someone who tells other people about Jesus.
What can you do to be prepared to be a Missionary? We used colored M & Ms to explore some Missional Moves that can help you and your child to prayerfully consider missions. Help your child continue to consider missions by reviewing these Missional Moves below.
Morningside Kids 11/1/20
As the Passover celebration drew near, Jerusalem hummed with excitement. Everyone wondered
if Jesus—teacher, miracle-worker, and prophet—would come for Passover. (John 11:56-57) The
Passover meal was a permanent statute God intended for every Israelite family to observe each
year. (See Ex. 12:1-28; Lev. 23:5-8.) But it was no secret the religious leaders were determined
to kill Jesus. Jesus had warned His disciples what would happen this Passover. (Mark 10:33-34;
Luke 18:31)
As they ate the Passover meal, Jesus broke bread and gave it to His disciples. He shared the cup
with them too, explaining that the bread and cup represented His body and blood. Jesus
established a new covenant.
In the Old Testament, God made a covenant, or promise, with His people. He gave them
commandments to follow so they could live in right relationship with Him. But God’s people broke
the covenant. They didn’t obey God, and they didn’t love Him.
What the sacrifice of the Passover lamb could not do—take away sins once and for all—the
perfect Lamb of God was going to do. Jesus, the perfectly sinless Son of God, was going to take
the punishment for sin upon Himself. (See Heb. 10:1-10.) As Jesus’ disciples prepared for
Passover, Jesus prepared to die. By dying on the cross, Jesus brought forgiveness and made the
way for people to know and love God again.
Christ- Connection: Jesus showed His disciples with the bread and the drink that He is the true Passover
Lamb. God’s people had broken the old covenant, and God promised to make a new
covenant to forgive sins. The new covenant says that everyone who turns away from sin
and trusts in Jesus’ death and resurrection will be forgiven of his sins and will have
eternal life.
Believers take the Lord’s Supper to remember what Jesus did for us in His death and
resurrection. We remember God’s faithfulness, and we look forward to the day that Jesus will
return.
If your kids are not ready to take the Lord’s Supper at church, gently explain that the Lord's
Supper, like baptism, is an ordinance of the church and is a celebration for those who have
repented of their sin and trusted in Jesus for salvation.
Kids on Mission - Week 7 - 10/21/20
Last week at Kids on Mission most of our 3rd-5th graders finished their Key Verse craft! "How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7) Jesus fulfilled this prophecy! Now we who know Jesus personally can follow in His steps while remembering that our "God reigns"!
Our K4-2nd graders learned about Moses in Egypt. God brought 10 terrible plagues upon a stubborn, wicked king, the people of Egypt and their land. God was determined to rescue his people, but not before teaching Pharaoh and all the Egyptians that their gods were inferior to the One True God, Yahweh, I AM. (Exodus 15:11) Our K4-2nd graders made a craft to remember the 10 plagues.
Morningside Kids 10/25/20
The religious leaders despised Jesus. He was a threat to their power, and they didn’t believe He was the Messiah. The Jews decided to confront Jesus with questions. Perhaps He would misspeak, and they could trap Him with His words. The Pharisees’ disciples asked Him, “Teacher, is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
As far as these men were concerned, Jesus could not give a satisfactory answer to this question. If Jesus said God’s law required them to pay taxes to Caesar, they could get the Jewish people —who hated paying taxes to the Romans—to turn away from Jesus. If Jesus said God’s law did not require them to pay taxes to Caesar, they could convince the Romans to arrest Jesus. But Jesus answered wisely: “Give ... to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matt. 22:21). The men were speechless, and they left.
Then an expert in the law asked Jesus which command in God’s law is most important. The Pharisees knew the law well and felt prepared to argue. Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 6:5: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Then He emphasized a second command: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev. 19:18). These commands summarize the rest of the law, and the Pharisees could not object.
Jesus turned the tables and asked the Pharisees about the Messiah: “Whose son is he?” The Pharisees recognized the Messiah as the son of David. Jesus referred to Psalm 110, in which David calls the Messiah “Lord.” Why would he do that? The Pharisees had no answer. As fully man, Jesus is the son of David. But as fully God, He is greater than David; He is Lord. No one dared to question Jesus again.
Christ Connection: When the religious leaders questioned Jesus, He answered with wisdom and power. Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. He is the Word of God, who came to show us exactly what God is like. Jesus has authority in heaven and on earth.
Kids on Mission - Week 6 - 10/11/20
It was a Color-Filled Night at Kids on Mission! Joseph lived a colorful life. As the favored son, purchased slave, condemned prisoner, dream interpreter, Egyptian ruler, Joseph's life was anything but dull or easy. Joseph demonstrated faith in God who keeps his promises, rescued his people from famine, and works all things together for good. (Genesis 50:20)
Our 3rd-5th graders spent time finishing up their Key Theme verse craft. You may have noticed your child's hands and feet came home a little more colorful than when they arrived:-) Your 3rd-5th graders painting will go home with them this Wednesday night. I pray this project will be a reminder to your child that it was the feet of Jesus who brought peace and salvation to each one of us and it is God who reigns in our world. (Isaiah 52:7)
Morningside Kids 10/18/20
Leading into the last week of Jesus’ ministry before His death and resurrection, Jesus entered Jerusalem as the King of kings. Many of God’s people traveled to Jerusalem for Passover. Jesus and His disciples traveled to Jerusalem as well. Near Bethphage (BETH fayj) and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples ahead into a village.
Jesus told them, “You will find a young donkey tied there. No one has ever sat on it. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone says to you ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’” Jesus would fulfill Zechariah’s prophecy: “Look, your King is coming to you ... humble and riding on a donkey” (Zech. 9:9).
Jesus made a spectacular entrance into the city. He rode a donkey, and people laid branches and their robes on the ground in front of Him. The people welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem believed He was the promised Messiah, but they expected Him to overthrow Roman oppression and set up an earthly throne. Jesus sent a different message.
The next day, Jesus entered the temple and turned over the tables of the money changers and those selling doves. Jesus referred to Isaiah 56:7, declaring that His kingship would not just be over the Jews but over all people. While Jesus was in the temple, He healed the blind and the lame. Jesus’ actions declared, “I am not just your King; I am also your God.” (See Isa. 35:4-6.)
Finally, the priests and the scribes heard the children in the temple worshiping Jesus as their King. “Do You hear what these children are saying?” they asked. Jesus replied, quoting Psalm 8:2. Jesus gladly received their praise because He was worthy of their praise. Jesus is the Son of God who came to overthrow sin and set up an eternal throne.
During Jesus’ triumphal entry, the people welcomed Him as King. Jesus was the Messiah spoken about by the prophet Zechariah: “Look, your King is coming to you; He is righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9). One day, Jesus will return to earth on a white horse as King over everything.
Kids on MIssion - Week 5 - 10/7/20
It was a Starry Night at Kids on Mission Wednesday night! Being asked to sacrifice your only son for God, was not something Abraham had expected God to require. But "Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness." (Romans 4:3) Because of his faith-filled obedience, God blessed Abraham while promising that one day his family would multiply as the stars of heaven. God fulfilled that promise in the person of his only Son, Jesus Christ. Now all who repent and believe the Gospel are blessed like faithful Abraham and are welcomed into God's family.
Enjoy the pictures below of our starry kids, leaders, crafts, and lesson time!
Morningside Kids 10/11/20
Jesus received word that His friend Lazarus was sick. Lazarus was the brother of Mary and Martha. They lived in the town of Bethany, which was about two miles away from Jerusalem. Mary and Martha sent a message to Jesus, likely expecting Him to come right away.
Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus; yet He stayed where He was, and Lazarus died. Why would Jesus do such a thing? Jesus said that Lazarus’ sickness was “for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it” (John 11:4). He said that He was glad He wasn’t there when Lazarus died so that the disciples may believe. (John 11:15) Jesus’ timing is always perfect, and He acts—or doesn’t act—so that God will be glorified.
By the time Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. Martha went to meet Jesus. She said to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.” Jesus had shown His power to heal people who were sick. Even still, she believed He could do a miracle.
Jesus told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). Jesus is the source of life —eternal life that cannot be destroyed by death. Believers do not need to fear death because physical death is not the end. (See John 11:25-26.) Jesus endured death for us so that when we die and are absent from our physical bodies, our souls are with the Lord. (See 2 Cor. 5:8.)
Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. His messiahship was clearly on display, and it was Jesus’ claims to be the Son of God that would lead to His death on the cross. Jesus interrupted Lazarus’s funeral knowing His would soon follow.
Emphasize to your kids that when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He showed that He has power over death. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead. He gives eternal life to those who trust in Him.
Kids on Mission - Week 4 - 9/30/20
Last Wednesday night was Rain Gear Night! We learned that Noah and his family didn't own umbrellas. They built something better...a boat designed by God. And most importantly, Noah and his family could claim a truthful, just and merciful God and so can we! "He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he." (Deutoronomy 32:4)
Morningside Kids 10/4/20
On the heels of His miraculous feeding of the five thousand, Jesus encountered crowds who erroneously concluded He was worth following because He could use His power to fill their empty stomachs. But Jesus recognized their motives and challenged them to go after something greater —not to work for food, which does not last long, but to receive eternal life by believing in Him.
Over and over again, people misunderstood Jesus’ words. They asked what they could do to get the food that lasts forever. Eternal life is a gift that God gives—not to those who perform certain deeds, but to anyone who believes in Jesus. Then the crowd asked for another sign. If Moses had provided bread for 40 years, couldn’t Jesus do that too? Jesus pointed out the bread didn’t come from Moses; it came from God. The crowd was so determined to get bread to eat that they didn’t understand recognize that God had now provided true bread from heaven by sending His Son.
Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.” He wanted to give people more than food. He wanted to give them true life. Jesus continued, “If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever” (John 6:51). As you teach, emphasize to kids that God invites us to come and eat. We partake in the bread of life by believing in Him.
The Jewish leaders struggled with Jesus’ teaching. How could this man, whom they knew as the son of Joseph, be the Son of God? Furthermore, Jesus talked about giving His flesh and blood. To the Jews, this didn’t make any sense. Jesus wanted to do more than fill people’s stomachs; He wanted to give them true life. Jesus’ teachings were hard to understand. When Jesus talked about His flesh and blood, He was talking about His death and resurrection. When we trust in Jesus, He gives us the gift of eternal life.
Many people stopped following Jesus because they could not accept His teachings. Yet Peter, one of the Twelve, grasped the truth: “You have the words of eternal life. ... You are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69). When we trust in Jesus, He gives us the gift of eternal life.
Kids on Mission - Week 3 - 9/23/20
Last Wednesday night, we welcomed kids to our first official night of “Fall” while we also were reminded of the “The Fall” which began with Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve’s choices to disobey God brought sin into the world (Romans 3:23), but Jesus, our Savior, came into the world to rescue us from our sin. Our K4-2nd graders spent craft time making trees with their arms and adding apples to those hand trees as a reminder of Adam & Eve’s sinful choices and our Savior’s loving rescue.
Our 3rd-5th grade kids spent game time at dusk playing protect the king followed by small groups. In small groups, kids and leaders spent time focusing on our key truth about God (God is Holy) while writing out and saying our verse for the week (Revelation 4:8b)…”Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is and is to come.”
Morningside Kids 9/27/20
Bible Passage: The Three Parables (Luke 15)
Key Passage: Colossians 1:13-14
Big Picture Question: How does God care for His creation? God loves and rules over His creation according to His perfect plan.
Story Point: Jesus came to seek and save the lost.
Next Week: Volume 9: Jesus the Savior, The Kingdom to Come-Jesus’ Hard Teachings (John 6)
In Luke 19, Jesus went after Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector. Zacchaeus was not well liked, but his interaction with Jesus led him to repent of his wrongdoing. Jesus said to him, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).
Who is “the lost”? What does it mean to be lost? In Luke 15, Jesus told three parables to the crowd of tax collectors, sinners, Pharisees, and scribes. Jesus’ teaching brought gospel truth to the tax collectors and sinners—those whose unrighteousness separated them from God—and to the Pharisees and scribes—those whose relied on their own righteous efforts for salvation.
The first two parables are similar. In one, a man loses a sheep. He leaves his flock to find the missing sheep, and he rejoices when it is found. In the second, a woman loses a silver coin. The woman carefully searches until she finds it. Then she calls her neighbors and friends to celebrate with her. Heaven rejoices when even one sinner repents. Finally, Jesus told a parable about two sons. The younger son asked for his inheritance, wasted his money on immoral living, and decided to return to his father. Rather than rejecting his wayward son, the father embraced him. The older son, who had always been obedient to his father, reacted with anger.
As you read Luke 15, think about the crowd Jesus was speaking to. The focus is often placed on the younger son—the one with whom the tax collectors and sinners could identify—but Jesus also made a point about the older son. The older son was like the Pharisees and scribes, focused on his own morality and feeling entitled to his father’s favor.
Christ Connection: The religious leaders complained that Jesus welcomed sinners. Jesus told these parables to teach about God’s forgiveness. God sent Jesus so sinners can be forgiven. As Savior, Jesus seeks sinners. He paid the ultimate price—His own life—to save people from sin.
Jesus taught what God is like. He seeks sinners who have wandered far from Him, and He seeks sinners who try to earn salvation by their good works. As you talk with your kids, help them understand that being lost means not knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior. God loves us, and He actively seeks to bring sinners to Himself.
Kids on Mission - Week 2 - 9/16/20
It was terrific to see so many kids dressed up in creative nature dress this past week! Our K4-2nd graders spent time hearing the story of Creation and Adam and Eve while enjoying some game time afterward. We are working with our 1st-2nd graders to help them open the Bible and find our weekly Bible verse. Our verse for Week 2 was Genesis 1:31…”And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.”
Our 3rd-5th graders were able to begin their theme verse craft. We will continue and possibly finish this craft next Wednesday. Our Bible verse was Revelation 4:11… “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” We will review this verse tomorrow night and add in Revelation 4:8b.
Morningside Kids 9/20/20
Bible Passage: The Kingdom Parables (Matthew 13)
Key Passage: Colossians 1:13-14
Big Picture Question: How does God care for His creation? God loves and rules over His creation according to His perfect plan.
Story Point: God’s growing kingdom is more valuable than anything.
Next Week: Volume 9: Jesus the Savior, The Kingdom to Come-Three Parables (Luke 15)
The Gospels record dozens of Jesus’ parables. A parable is a simple story Jesus told to help people understand the kingdom of God. Each parable taught a lesson and revealed deep and often mysterious truths about God’s kingdom for those who would understand. (See Matt. 13:10- 15.)
In Matthew 13:31-33, Jesus tells two stories about the kingdom of God. In the first, He compares God’s kingdom to a mustard seed. In those days, the mustard seed was the smallest seed planted in the region. Despite its size, the seed yielded a tall, tree-like bush with branches for birds to nest in. Jesus was teaching that although God’s kingdom started out small—with Jesus and a few disciples—it grows and spreads. We still witness this growth today.
Then Jesus compares God’s kingdom to leaven, or yeast, that is mixed into flour. In time, yeast causes a dense ball of dough to grow and rise. God’s kingdom grows in a similar way, moving throughout the world and changing lives.
Then, in the parables of the hidden treasure and the priceless pearl, Jesus taught about the value of God’s kingdom. A man came across a treasure buried in a field and sold all he had to buy the field. A merchant, finding a priceless pearl, sold all he had to buy it. Jesus taught that the kingdom of heaven is so valuable, we would be wise to give up everything in order to have it. Jesus emphasized this truth in His encounter with the rich young ruler. (See Matt. 19:16-22.)
As you talk with your kids, help them begin to grasp the truth about God’s kingdom.
Christ Connection: The kingdom of God is growing in the world. This kingdom is valuable and worth giving everything for. While we wait for Jesus to return and fully set up His kingdom, we carry out the mission of telling others about King Jesus, who rescues sinners.
Kids on Mission - Week 1 - 9/9/20
We had a great time last week introducing our Morningside Kids to a new school year of Kids on Mission! We spent some time talking about traveling to Central and South America. We discussed what you would need to pack for a trip outside the country. Most kids agreed you would need water, food, clothing and money. We also added a passport and our Bible to this list.
We continued the conversation with a followup question of what you should pack for life’s journey. We were reminded that the Bible is our guide through life’s journey. We need forgiveness and salvation through Jesus Christ, our Savior. We need God’s wisdom to make the right decisions. And we need the Holy Spirit’s guidance to live a life that pleases and glorifies God. All of this and more is found in God’s Word.
We fininshed our discussion with the question why are we at Kids on Mission? Of course, we’re here to have fun with our friends while we enjoy games and crafts, but primarily we’re here to understand the truths of the Bible through stories and small group discussion.
If your child is in 1st-5th grade, he or she was given a backpack that contains a journal, Bible verse list and a special pen. Each week your child will have the opportunity to look up the week’s Bible verse and write it in his or her journal during our small group time. Once they have written the verse, your child will earn a Central or South American sticker to add to his or her journal. Hopefully by the end of the year, your child will have a journal full of Bible verses and stickers! These bags will stay at church each week. They will be sent home at the end of school year. If you would like to see what your child is writing in his or her journal, you are welcome to stop by and take a peek:-)
Our K4-K5 kids will be receiving some special trinkets throughout the year to help them remember our Bible stories of the lives of flawed, true Bible characters who exercised faith in God.
Our theme verse for the school year is Isaiah 52:7. We will be saying this periodically all year long. If you would like to see a short video of what we watched to introduce this verse, you can watch it here.
Morningside Kids 9/13/20
Bible Passage: Jesus Showed His Glory
Key Passage: Psalm 40:5
Big Picture Question: Why did Jesus perform miracles? Jesus performed miracles to show He is the son of God.
Story Point: Jesus showed His glory to Peter, James and John.
Next Week: *NEW VOLUME 9: Jesus the Savior: The Kingdom to Come
As Jesus traveled and taught, people were trying to figure Him out. Who was this man? Was He a prophet? Was He crazy? Where did He come from? Some people thought He was John the Baptist who had been raised from the dead; others thought He was Elijah or another ancient prophet. Peter recognized Jesus as God’s Messiah. (See Luke 9:19-20.)
One of the ways Jesus revealed His identity was through His miracles. Jesus performed miracles to glorify God, to show He is the Son of God, and to care for people. For three of Jesus’ disciples —Peter, James, and John—Jesus’ identity became even more clear when they witnessed His transfiguration, or change in appearance. The disciples accompanied Jesus to a mountain to pray. The location was likely Mount Hermon, which sits about 40 miles north of the Sea of Galilee.
Jesus’ appearance changed as He prayed: His face changed and His clothes became dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appeared with Him, and they talked about Jesus’ upcoming departure (His death and resurrection). Peter, James, and John had been sleeping, but they awoke to the incredible sight.
When you share with your kids, review who Moses and Elijah were. In the Old Testament, God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Later, Elijah was a prophet to Israel. As Moses and Elijah were leaving, a cloud covered the whole group and a voice—God the Father’s—said, “This is my Son, the Chosen One; listen to him!”
Christ Connection: Jesus showed His glory to Peter, James, and John. Jesus said He would die, rise from the dead, and return to heaven. One day, Jesus will come back to earth in His glory to make all things new.
At the transfiguration, Peter, James, and John beheld Jesus’ glory. We look forward to the day when Jesus will return in full glory to make all things new. While we wait, God calls us to share the gospel with others so they can share in the joy of knowing Jesus, the Son of God, and seeing His glory when He returns.