Hello Parents! We believe you (parents) are the most significant influence in your kids' lives and are in the best position to help your kids know God. We also believe that we can uniquely equip and partner with you along the way as a kid’s ministry. With this in mind, this newsletter will highlight resources, events, and opportunities for us to partner together in raising the next generation. 

January Series Description: Have you ever seen a bunch of preschoolers jumping in rain puddles? So many giggles! So much excitement! And do you know that feeling you get when you step outside and feel the sunshine on your face for the first time in a week? Pure happiness! Our preschoolers experience a wide range of emotions every day. They feel sad, happy, afraid, nervous, excited—sometimes all in the same hour!

Our preschoolers will grow up and experience a lot of different situations and emotions. We want children to know that Jesus is a friend that loves them at ALL times. A friend that will never leave them. That’s why, this month, we are talking about THE best friend—the One who is ALWAYS a good friend. Rain or shine, Jesus is always a good friend of mine!

Monthly Memory Verse: “A friend loves you all the time.” Proverbs 17:17

Monthly Bottom Line: Ask your child: WHO IS ALWAYS A GOOD FRIEND? Say with your child: JESUS IS ALWAYS A GOOD FRIEND!

Weekly Bible Story and Focus: 

Find the weekly videos and parent guides on our Preschool Resources Page.

January Series Description: Telling a great story is exciting, but when you get to add your own noises, things get…well…KABOOM! Explosively fun! That’s exactly what kids will be doing during the “Live Out Loud” series. Using their mouths, bodies, and just about anything else they can find, kids will help make the early stories of Jesus’ life come alive with sound effects. The sounds of the story won’t be the only thing making noice, though. As kids hear about the wisdom, love, and compassion that Jesus showed, they’ll learn that following His example will help them to “Live Out Loud” so that other people take notice and wonder who or what made them so extraordinary. 

Key passages, verses, and questions for this month: Read the passages together as a family and ask the following questions. Also, take the time to watch the weekly lesson video (around 10 minutes) together as a family.

January 5: Jesus in the Temple

Big Idea: Jesus grew in wisdom and favor by spending time in His Father’s house. 

Bible Basis: Luke 2:41-52

Key Verse: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52

Discussion Questions for Younger Kids: What did you find interesting about this story? Why do you think Jesus wanted to stay behind at the temple instead of going home with Mary and Joseph?

Discussion Questions for Older Kids: What do you think this story teaches us about God? Jesus said to His parents, “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” What do you think He meant by that? 

Watch the weekly lesson video together as a family.

January 12: Jesus is Baptized

Big Idea: Baptism gives us a picture of Jesus’ amazing sacrifice.

Bible Basis: Luke 3; Matthew 3; Mark 1:29-34

Key Verse: “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4

Discussion Questions for Younger Kids: What did you find interesting about this story? Why do you think baptism takes place in the water? 

Discussion Questions for Older Kids: What do you think this story teaches us about God? If Jesus never sinned, why do you think it was part of God’s holy plan that He be baptized?

Watch the weekly lesson video together as a family.

January 19: Jesus is Tempted in the Desert

Big Idea: Jesus said “no” to sin, and so can we.

Bible Basis: Lukel 4:1-13

Key Verse: “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Corinthians 10:31

Discussion Questions for Younger Kids: What did you find interesting about this story? What did Jesus do that helped Him say no to sin?

Discussion Questions for Older Kids: What do you think this story teaches us about God? Why do you think Jesus repeated Scripture every time Satan tempted Him? 

Watch the weekly lesson video together as a family.

January 26: Jesus is Rejected in Nazareth

Big Idea: Jesus was rejected for saying unpopular things. 

Bible Basis: Luke 4:16-30

Key Verse: “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10

Discussion Questions for Younger Kids: What did you find interesting about this story? Why do you think the people in the synagogue were angry when Jesus said He had come to save everyone?

Discussion Questions for Older Kids: What do you think this story teaches us about God? Why do you think the people from Jesus’ hometown had a hard time believing that He was the Messiah?

Find the weekly lesson videos and parent guides on our Elementary Resources Page

January Series Description: We all worship something, but what is true worship and how do we worship God rightly? In this new series, we will introduce preteens to the biblical understanding of worship and why it is important to the Christian life. As we walk through passages in Scripture, we pray that preteens will come to understand that worship is more than just showing up at a church building, singing hymns, or serving others. Worship is our response to God–showing love, respect, and honor to God.

God’s Word helps us to understand that worship begins with knowing the truth of who God is, esteeming God to His rightful place, and loving God above all else. Through this series, we will encourage preteens to look to Jesus and seek to be satisfied in Him. And when they do, they will find that worship of God is what they were made for.

Key passages, verses, and questions for this month: Read the passages together as a family and ask the following questions. 

January 5: What is Worship?

Big Idea: Worship is our response to God–showing love, respect, and honor to God.

Bible Basis: 2 Chronicles 6:1-18; 2 Chronicles 7:1-3; Psalm 90:14

Key Verse: “LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you. I will praise your name, for you have accomplished wonders, plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.” Isaiah 25:1

Discussion Questions of the Week: How can we know God but fail to worship Him in Spirit and truth? Why should all of our life be an act of worship, not just confined to a place or time? How does the attitude of our heart affect our worship?

Please see your preteen’s weekly family guide for further activities and questions.

January 12: Whom Do We Worship?

Big Idea: God is the only true God, and He alone should be worshiped.

Bible Basis: 1 Kings 18:20-46

Key Verse: “Today, recognize and keep in mind that the LORD is God in heaven above and on earth below; there is no other.” Deuteronomy 4:39

Discussion Questions of the Week: Why does God make it known throughout Scripture that He is the one true God? How should this determine how we live our lives? How should who God is draw our hearts to worship Him?

Please see your preteen’s weekly family guide for further activities and questions.

January 19: What is Idolatry?

Big Idea: Idolatry is making someone or something more important than God.

Bible Basis: Exodus 20:1-6; Psalm 106:19-22; Matthew 6:19-21; Colossians 3:5-10; Ephesians 6:10-20

Key Verse: “Do not have other gods besides me.” Exodus 20:3

Discussion Questions of the Week: How does all sin begin with idolatry? Why do our hearts sometimes love other things more than God? How do we determine what we treasure?

Please see your preteen’s weekly family guide for further activities and questions.

January 26: Are Idols More than Statues or False Gods?

Big Idea: Anything people place as more important than God could be considered an idol.

Bible Basis: Mark 10:17-31

Key Verse: “No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:24

Discussion Questions of the Week: How do we take good things and make them into idols? What are the idols you are tempted by? How so? What makes Jesus worth following?

Please see your preteen’s weekly family guide for further activities and questions.

January Series Theme: Jesus is the Promised Savior

January Monthly Verse: “For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” Luke 19:10

January 5: Simeon and Anna

Big Idea: Jesus is the promised Messiah.

Bible Basis: Luke 2:22-36

January 12: Jesus in the Temple

Big Idea: Jesus reveals God to us.

Bible Basis: Luke 2:39-52

January 19: Jesus is Baptized

Big Idea: Jesus is the Son of God.

Bible Basis: Luke 3:1-22; Mark 1:1-12; John 1:35-42

January 26: Fishers of Men

Big Idea: Jesus makes us fishers of men.

Bible Basis: Luke 4:14-5:11

Just a Reminder: 

• December 24 - Family Worship! There will be no FG Kids Programming.
• December 29 - No FG in-person services. Online service available at 11 AM. 

FG Kids Serving Needs: Thrive 9 AM, Preschool Upper 9 AM & 11am, and K-3rd 9 AM & 11 AM. If you are interested in serving, please fill out the serving interest form online.

Next Gen Stepping-In Class - January 26: We believe that the act of baptism is significant in the life of a believer. Baptism is a wonderful way to share and celebrate your commitment to follow Jesus. This is why we have designed a special Next Gen Baptism Celebration for our kids and students. The first step in our Next Gen Baptism process is for kids and their parents to attend a Stepping-In class. 

Stepping-In is a fun and interactive class that will help your child understand what baptism is, discover exactly what the Bible says about it, and build their confidence in sharing their faith with others. Kids and students will need to attend this class before participating in Next Gen Baptism. This class is offered three Sundays a year during our regular service times. Our next class will be Sunday, September 29, at 11 AM. You can register on our website. 

A word of encouragement from our Next Gen Ministry Assistant, Courtney Goyak:

If you know me, you know I don’t just love Christmas, I have an absolute obsession with it. I love everything about the season. My house is decorated weeks before Thanksgiving, and my life is consumed with all things Christmas from that moment until December 31st. Do I go through a little seasonal depression when all the holidays come to an end? Potentially. But I promise I’ll be fine…

The moment January 1st hits, Christmas is then tucked away for the next 10 months until I can begin the most wonderful time of the year again. That often applies to the Christmas story too. It’s like I tuck Matthew 1 and Luke 1-2 away with the rest of my Christmas decorations, and I don’t reference it until the next year.

Why do I do that? This is the story of heaven and earth colliding in grace. God and sinners are being reconciled. And He began that good work through the meekest and lowliest people.

So how can we ponder, meditate on, and live out this story between the months of January-November? 

Like Zechariah, may our hearts be constantly prepared for God’s presence. Like Elizabeth, may we be ready to see God’s intentions to display Himself in all things. Like Joseph, may we lay aside our comforts and agendas, releasing our self-confident grip for His sovereign plan. Like Mary, may we be eager to receive grace upon grace in dependent trust, buried under His bountiful mercy, arms stretched to the heavens, anticipating Him. Like the shepherds, may our hearts humbly embrace our lowly estates and see that it is not about the worth and good of man but the mind-blowing mercy of God. Like the wise men, may the magnitude, sight, presence, and revelation of God bring us to our knees in worship. May our view of Him be so high that we cannot help but bow low.

As Scrooge said at the end of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, “I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.” I will live in the past, recounting all that God has done. I will live in the present, rejoicing in the One who is doing far more abundantly. And I will live in the future, looking ahead to the joy that is set before me.

Happy New Year from the FG Kids Team!