Brite Monthly – August 2024

This month’s Biblical theme is:

God is Good

This month, we are learning all about the unwavering goodness of God. In the creation story, God crafted a perfect world and formed a special relationship with humans. Despite humanity’s sins, as seen in Cain and Abel’s story, God’s protection and love endure. God’s goodness shines through in Noah’s rescue from the flood and in God fulfilling His promise to Abraham and Sarah, bringing unexpected joy. Through these stories, God’s consistent goodness, faithfulness and love for humanity are evident, emphasizing His enduring care and blessings.

Monthly Bible Verse:

The Lord is good to all, and His mercy is over all that He has made. (Psalm 145:9)

Creation (Genesis 1): In the beginning, God created the world, filling it with light, water, plants and animals. On the sixth day, He made humans, His special creation, for a special relationship with Him. God declared it all very good.

Cain and Abel (Genesis 3 & 4): Adam and Eve sinned, breaking the perfect world God made. Their sons, Cain and Abel, made offerings to God. Abel pleased God, but Cain, jealous, killed Abel. Cain was banished from the land, but God still protected Him out of His great love.

Noah (Genesis 6-9:17): God chose Noah to build an ark, rescuing him, his family and animals from a huge flood. Afterward, God promised never to flood the earth again, sealing His pledge with a rainbow—a symbol of His everlasting goodness and faithfulness.

Abraham (Genesis 17:15-23, 18:1-15, 21:1-7): God promised elderly Abraham and Sarah a child. Despite doubt, Sarah gave birth to Isaac, bringing joy and fulfilling God’s promise. They had a son named Isaac, bringing joy and showing God’s faithfulness.

This month’s Unit Title is: Under the Stars

This month, we are going on a campout under the stars! The stars remind us of the promises of God and how He is always good! Think faux campfires, pup tents and tree cut outs. Get creative and display a starry night sky on your ceiling. You could use twirling star decorations, twinkle lights or even an inexpensive night sky projector.

Check out our Pinterest page for more ideas at https://pin.it/40EN4O1

This Month’s Leader Training Topic is: Keeping Kid’s Attention

Attention spans are shrinking – for both kids and adults. Gone are the days when we can expect kids to simply sit still and listen for an extended period. How do we keep kids engaged in our lessons when they are used to YouTube shorts and fast-moving video games? This month our leader tips provide practical ideas for maintaining kids’ attention.

Throughout the month, we’ll explore the following topics:

  • Week 1 Content—Incorporate Variety
  • Week 2 Content—Avoid Downtime
  • Week 3 Content—Regain Attention
  • Week 4 Content—Don’t Be Boring
Teaching Kids about the Gospel:

The Gospel is the good news that Jesus died and rose again to save us from our sins. God wants everyone to know this good news and not miss out on the invitation!

Here’s the Gospel in four words: God, Us, Jesus, Trust.

God

God is loving, all-powerful and holy. He knows and sees everything and rules over everything. God created all people in His image, and we are valuable to Him.

Us

But we have sinned, and our sin separates us from God. What is sin? Sin is anything we think, say, or do that disobeys God. The penalty for sin is death and separation from God forever.

Jesus

But because God loves us so much, He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for our sin. Jesus died in our place. But He did not stay dead—He rose again three days later. Because of Jesus, we no longer have to be separated from God, and we are offered the free gift of eternal life!

Trust

God gives salvation – rescuing us from our sin to everyone who places their trust in Jesus as their Savior. What is trust? It means that we rely on what Jesus did. You cannot be saved from sin by doing good things but only through what Jesus did for you.