Brite Monthly – March 2024
This month’s biblical theme is:
End of Jesus’ Ministry
The last week of Jesus’ ministry is known as Passion Week. It begins with Palm Sunday and ends with the joy of Easter morning! It follows Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem, His last meal with His disciples, His grief in the garden, and arrest and crucifixion. Just like He promised, the story did not end there. Jesus conquered sin and death on Easter morning by coming back to life to save us all!
Monthly Bible Verse: For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Triumphal Entry: Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey while people laid their cloaks on the path. They cried, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” The Pharisees and religious leaders were angry and told Jesus to make them stop.
Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet: During the Passover meal, Jesus began washing the disciples’ feet, which was a task for a lowly servant. Peter protested, but Jesus told them just as He had served them, they should be willing to serve each other.
Garden of Gethsemane: Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, wrestling with His grief but submitting to God. Three times, He found the disciples asleep and asked them to pray. Jesus was arrested and suffered as He took the punishment for our sin.
Thief on the Cross: Jesus was nailed to a cross alongside two guilty thieves. One mocked Jesus, but the other believed in Jesus and trusted Him as his Savior. Jesus’ death on the cross makes salvation available to anyone who trusts in Him.
Resurrection: Jesus died on the cross and was buried in a tomb with a large stone blocking the entrance. Three days later, an angel told the women that Jesus had risen, just like He had promised. Jesus met them in the garden and they worshiped Him!
This month’s Unit Title is: The Great Surprise
Jesus was the greatest surprise of all! No one expected the King of Kings to come to Earth as a baby, live a sinless life, die on the cross for our sins and conquer sin and death after 3 days! God had the biggest surprise for us! Decorate your kids’ space as if you are throwing a surprise party. Think balloon backdrops, Easter bunting and crepe paper chandeliers!
Check out our Pinterest page for more ideas at https://pin.it/7JoW2Jk.
This month’s Leader Training Topic is: Keeping Kids Engaged
To be engaged in something means to be actively involved with it. It holds your attention and keeps you interested. Take a moment to picture your group. What would it look like if every kid was fully engaged in the activities and discussions during your time together? What would it sound like? What would it feel like? Take time to imagine this scenario and notice what stands out to you. How does this picture compare with what you currently experience with your group each week? Group engagement is always a work in progress and is certainly impacted by elements such as the arrival of new group members, the comfort level of the kids with each other, the interest level of the group in the specific activities or discussions, and what the kids have experienced during the week.
As a leader, you have an opportunity to create an environment that helps encourage engagement. When kids are engaged during your time together, they have the opportunity to be present with each other and with God’s presence and activity in their midst. They are able to learn and grow through their experiences in community and their interactions with God’s Word. They have a chance to express themselves and experience belonging in the group and in God’s family. This month, we’ll consider various ways to intentionally foster engagement in your small group so that kids will have the best possible opportunity for meaningful and transformative times together.
Throughout the month, we’ll explore the following topics:
- Week 1 – Model Enthusiasm and Engagement
- Week 2 – Cultivate Group Ownership
- Week 3 – Integrate Kids’ Interests
- Week 4 – Provide Choices
- Week 5 – Be Curious and Get Creative
Teaching kids about the gospel:
The gospel is the good news. God wants everyone to know this good news and to not miss out on this invitation!
Here’s the gospel in four main words: God, Us, Jesus, Trust.
God
God is a loving God who is 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.