Brite Monthly – November 2023

This month’s biblical theme is:

Times of Trouble

Israel’s problems didn’t end once they had a king. They continued to disobey God. God raised up prophets who carried His messages to the people, warning them to follow Him and of coming consequences. Just as the prophets told, Israel was taken over by enemies and exiled from their homes. Still, God showed the people His holiness and how great He is over all of their circumstances. From visions of His holiness, to a dramatic rescue, to His compassion towards a rebellious prophet, to working through His people to restore what was broken, God was near to His people.

Isaiah: God gave Isaiah a vision of the heavenly temple where he saw God on the throne, high and lifted up. He saw the holiness of God and realized how sinful he was.

The Fiery Furnace: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down to the king’s statue and were thrown into the furnace. God was with them, literally walking in the fire alongside the men.

Jonah: God called the prophet, Jonah, to go to Nineveh to proclaim God’s judgment. Jonah ran in the opposite direction, eventually ending up thrown into the sea. God showed compassion by sending a fish to swallow him and give him another chance.

Ezra and Nehemiah: After being exiled from their homeland for 70 years, God moved in the hearts of kings to allow groups of Israelites to return to Jerusalem. God used groups, including Ezra and Nehemiah, to begin to rebuild.

This month’s Unit Title is: Adventure Island

In this month’s intro videos, our main character is seeking to complete a scavenger hunt across an island to win a prize. Decor could include trees, water, and scavenger hunt items such as maps or compasses. Check out our

Check out our Pinterest board for more ideas! https://wwwhttps://www.pinterest.com/britecurriculum/adventure-island/

This month’s Leader Training Topic is:
Inviting Kids to Pray

When you think of prayer, what comes to mind? Prayer is a broad topic with many facets, but it is essentially focused on developing a conversational intimacy with God. We speak with God and listen to what God has to say to us. Through prayer, we are reminded that God wants to be in relationship with us, and this relationship is cultivated through the time we spend with Him. Our society often emphasizes prayer in times of need or struggle, such as praying for an urgent request, but we can easily miss the beauty and perspective that comes from interacting with God in the everyday moments of life. Through time spent with God each day, we see God and ourselves more clearly, and we recognize that in His presence we experience the love, joy, and peace we are desperate for. This is true of both set aside times of prayer and engaging with God in the activities of our day. God is always with us and inviting us to cultivate a deeper connection with Him.

As you lead the kids in your group, you have an opportunity to invite them to spend time with God in prayer. This can happen both during your times together and throughout the week. This month, we’ll focus on how to help kids understand the importance of prayer as well as consider what it looks like to pray, perhaps expanding their view and valuing of this vital practice.

Throughout the month, we’ll explore the following topics:
  • Week 1 – Highlight Why We Pray
  • Week 2 – Modeling Prayer
  • Week 3 – Invite Participation
  • Week 4 – Look to Scripture
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.