Brite Monthly – May 2024
This month’s Biblical theme is:
Paul’s Missionary Journeys
After meeting Jesus, Paul was completely transformed. He went from hating Christians to preaching the Gospel wherever he went. He would be beaten, imprisoned and sent to stand trial in Rome. Paul was God’s messenger to the gentile, or non-Jewish, world. God used him to perform miracles and show His great power. No matter what, Paul would say that it was Christ working through him to spread the Gospel.
Monthly Bible Verse: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Paul’s Conversion: Saul, a persecutor of Christians, was blinded by Jesus on the road to Damascus. He was healed three days later after believing in Jesus, and he eventually changed his name to Paul. He became a missionary, preaching and planting many churches.
Paul and Barnabas in Lystra: Paul and Barnabas performed miracles. People thought they were gods, but they told people the truth about God. The crowd turned on them and Paul was stoned. Paul survived and went back to the city to tell them about Jesus.
Paul and Silas in Prison: In prison, Paul and Silas sang to God, and there was a great earthquake. Their chains broke and all the prison doors opened. Paul and Silas told the jailer about Jesus. He and his whole household believed and were baptized.
Paul’s Shipwreck: Paul was arrested for preaching about Jesus and was on his way to Rome aboard a ship. Paul warned his captors that the trip was going to be dangerous, but they ignored him. A great storm arose, battering the ship. But God kept His promise to Paul and saved the lives of all onboard.
This month’s Unit Title is: New Creation
How does Jesus transform us from the inside out? This month, we are focusing on the metamorphosis of biblical characters and creatures on Earth! Each week, we will focus on animals that can transform, similar to how Jesus transforms our hearts. Decorate your teaching space using lots of bug images, butterfly catchers and outdoor elements.
Check out our Pinterest board at https://pin.it/7lzYrxL
This Month’s Leader Training Topic is: Keeping Kids Engaged
Imagine that you recently led a Bible study on the book of Acts for a group of middle-aged men and women who grew up in the church. Then you were asked to guide a group of elementary-age kids through a study on the same topic. Clearly, you could not take the same approach, using all the same materials and leading through discussions in the same way. If you did, you would likely miss the opportunity to help kids engage with God’s Word in meaningful ways.
To serve your small group well, meet the kids where they are at. This means getting to know them, including their knowledge, background and experiences. By committing yourself to learning about them and their world, you are more likely to share information and invite them into dialogues that are both practical and engaging. More importantly, your desire to be a student of the kids in your small group communicates care. You are following the example of Jesus, who addresses people in personal and specific ways because He deeply cares for them. This month, we’ll explore various aspects of getting to know the kids you serve so you can help them encounter God right where they are.
Throughout the month, we’ll explore the following topics:
- Week 1 Content: Know Your Kids
- Week 2 Content: Know Your Families
- Week 3 Content: Know Your Community
- Week 4 Content: Know Kid Culture
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.