Is it already the middle of January? I can't really believe how time flies these days, I am already two weeks into my new workout routine, (I know you can already tell a difference), and AWANA starting this Sunday, 1/17. I am super excited, and really miss the kids. If you haven't been coming to AWANA, you should stop by and check it out. We have been averaging about 40 kiddos, four year - 6th grade. We have had such a good core group of leaders (really just parents of clubbers who are eager to be hands-on with their own child) as well, which really has helped things run smoothly... very smoothly. What a blessing and a joy!!!
Summary - This past week in children's church we again focused on John the Baptist. This time we talked about John baptizing Jesus. It is really refreshing to hear the children understand what baptism is and why it is done.... I'm confident that most our our kids at church know what this is. Most knew exactly why Jesus was being baptized and were familiar with the story. Here were two main ideas we focused on, besides the typical idea of baptism:
1, God is triune (three in one). I always feel like this is a hard concept to explain to people, that I believe that God is three in one. I have used the analogy of water before, and how it can be three forms (frozen, liquid, and a vapor) to try and relate it to the being of God but it still is a little difficult, especially for a first grader. Luckily, at the baptism of Jesus there is a crystal clear recongition of all three persons in the trinity. Jesus was there being baptized, God was there speaking from heaven, and the Holy Spirit was there 'coming down on Jesus like a dove'. Pretty cool. Pretty clear. We talked about how Jesus is God's son, not God the Father. We noticed that God said: 'This is my son, with whom I am well pleased'. God didn't say: 'This is me, and I am pleased with me.' A definite distinction. We also talked about how this was a confirmation that Jesus was the Messiah, since no one else ever had a voice from heaven say something after they were baptized.... atleast no one from our children's church group.
2. Jesus was on time - We talked about how Jesus was baptized when he was about '30 years of age' according to the gospel of John. Why did John mention his age? I often wondered this as well? It turns out that there are only four times in the Bible that it mentions the age of Jesus, besides his birth. All of the different ages mentioned had to deal with Jesus fulfilling the Law in some way (or his parents helping him do so). First, at eight daysold he was circumcized according to the law. Second, at 40 days old, he and his parents presented him at the temple along with an offering. Third, at the age of twelve he attened Passover and was found to be with the teachers of the Law (a kind of coming of age). Fourth, he was mentioned as being '30 years of age' according to John. So, why is '30 years old' important? Apparently in the Law there is a regulation that only men 30-50 years old were allowed to serve as priests! Jesus was not only being baptized to show us an example, but also being baptized into the priesthood.... kind of like the the bronze laver washing in the tabernacle. So, Jesus was right on time when he came to be baptized. Pretty cool.
I guess God doesn't lose track of time like I do.....
Humor - We are planning a big Nerf War night at the church for Jan. 30th, from 1 - 4 pm. which was really exciting for the kids. One of them though asked how we were going to keep all of the nerf bullets from being mixed up and lost. I suggested that we put our names on each bullet, to which the child replied "That sounds like a big waste of time". Ahhh.