5,000 Families

Most of us have heard the story many times.  Jesus feeds 5,000 (Matthew 14 & John 6).  But did you know that it wasn't 5,000 people?  Well, he DID feed people but it was many more than 5,000.  The passage tells us that there were 5,000 MEN which means that their families were close by. OK, so it was more like fifteen or twenty thousand people!  Yes, that's impressive.  But my goal isn't for you to be even more impressed with Jesus (although that's a great result).

Imagine yourself in a Jewish community in Jesus' day.  The culture immersed itself in the stories of the Torah.  Every parent and child knew of the teachings of the Old Testament law.  Each was well versed in the stories of creation, the great flood, the wilderness wanderings, the crossing of the Jordan to possess the promised land - ALL of the history of the Jews.  No doubt they knew of how God provided food in the wilderness; manna from heaven.  They knew of the promised Messiah and how he would one day come and feed their souls and satisfy their hunger for holiness.

Now place yourself on that hillside with your family, spiritually full but physically hungry and tired from following Jesus. Then he begins to prepare food; for everyone!  He blesses the food, what little there is.  He feeds your family.  Imagine the images that flood your mind.  God present in man feeding your soul and stomach.  Imagine the emotion that sweeps over you as you realize this is Messiah...and he just fed you dinner!

Jesus came not to be served, but to serve (Matthew 20:28).  I am humbled at Jesus' compassion for people.  When I read stories like the feeding of the 5,000 families I am challenged to help my family see ways we can serve.  I'm looking forward this week to reading this story with my three children and see what God leads us to do.  How about you?  Why not check out the latest edition of Homefront Monthly.  There are many ways to being to help your children to ask "What needs to be done?" and help them become a servant.

Here's Homefront Monthly
Kids Adventure Homefront Monthly - Serving

Here's Homefront Weekly for Elementary
Kids Summit Homefront Weekly


Here's Homefront Weekly for Preschool & Kindergarten
Kids Safari Homefront Weekly

The Key

Sunday was a great day at Kids Adventure.  In both preschool and elementary large group times we presented God's great love gift of His Son Jesus.  The impact was felt immediately across the church.  I spoke with one fifth grade boy who was smiling from ear to ear.  He committed his life to Christ and was visibly excited about his decision.  One of the greatest parts to his story is that he was brought by a friend!

Kids Safari (preschool & kindergarten) presented Jesus as the "key" to heaven.  The story of Jesus' death and resurrection was told and each child was given a key with Jesus' picture on it.  Each of them was so excited to hold the key to heaven.  One boy took home the key and an invitation to our Easter services.  When his dad asked why he was carrying them around he quickly explained that he wanted to invite his preschool classmate to church because he wanted his friend to have the key to heaven!

WOW!  What a challenge for me.  How many people do I pass by without sharing the key to heaven?  How many more can I invite to come and hear about the best news in all of history?  Who can you share GOd's love with?  Who can you invite to Easter services?  Don't keep the "key" to heaven to yourself.

PARENTS:  Don't forget that Easter Sunday is family worship weekend.  All children first grade and older will attend church with their family.

Check out the new edition of Homefront Monthly:
Homefront Monthly

THE Dream Job

We're quickly approaching another Remember and Celebrate weekend in Kids Adventure. R & C is all about looking back at the past six weeks to see what God has led us to do.  Some of our time was spent looking into the life of John the Baptist.  God appointed John to prepare the way for the coming Messiah!  That may not mean much to you but to a Jewish man, this was THE dream job.  Every Jew anticipated the Messiah's coming.

Apparently, John did a fantastic job.  He had crowds flocking to him listening to his preparatory messages.  He baptized many.  His influence was huge.  But what interests me most about John is what made him different.  John was a recluse.  He ate strange things and dressed in very uncommon clothes.  He probably didn't smell very nice and he most likely wasn't very diplomatic.  So what's the point?

Glad you asked.  Far too many people think that modern day "Johns" are the pastors and Bible scholars of our day.  Not so!  The fact is that ALL of us are called to be "Johns".  Jesus Himself gave us THE dream job.  Go and tell who I am and what I have done!  So why don't more of us go?  I can't help but think a big reason for this is because we don't meet OUR expectations of who we should be before we are qualified to go.  If you met John I guarantee he would not meet my qualifications . . . but he met God's!  If you've given your life to God then you are qualified, just the way you are right now, to take on this calling.

Who can you "GO" to today?  A neighbor, co-worker, family member, Facebook friend?  Ask God to help you prepare the way for people to receive the good news of Jesus.  Be intentional.  Write a few names down and start looking for ways to spread the news.  Hey, it's THE dream job God has gifted you for.

Parents, here's the new Homefront weekly.  Take a look and plan some time with your family.  Get your children ready for a super day at Kids Adventure this Sunday.

Kids Safari Homefront Weekly (Preschool-Kindergarten)

Kids Summit Homefront Weekly (Elementary)