There are many things in life that could be considered overrated… wealth, fame, power, titles, and the list goes on. But there may be one thing that we could all agree is never overrated, maybe it is even priceless. Peace. Peace of mind. Peace with others. We all know what it’s like to not have peace, and kids are no exception. They, like us, desperately need to know that their heavenly Father is the Prince of Peace and that His peace is available every moment of every day in every situation and relationship. They need to know that His peace is not dependent on what’s happening around us, is more powerful than anything going on inside of us, and can free us from fear, worry, self-consciousness, and strife. This series is an opportunity to remind ourselves and teach kids that peace comes from God and flows from the inside out. We want to equip parents and encourage kids to choose peace and to make peace, because “God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9, NIRV). Now that’s priceless!

God IS Love - He can’t not love. That means you. Love is always coming from the Father towards you. God’s love is free - never earned. It’s a great reminder for all of us. Going to church, serving by teaching and connecting with kids, or sharing who Jesus is with others is never going to get God to love us more. All of that is simply a response to His love, not a prerequisite for it. And God loves us no matter what - period. To think that there is NOTHING we can say or do that will cause God to stop loving us is baffling, but it’s true.

Most of us can probably appreciate a good plan. While we might not all enjoy sticking to a given plan, it’s hard to ignore the benefits. For those responsible for creating a particular plan there can be a lot of pressure... What have I overlooked? What are the factors beyond my control? What if the plan fails? Thankfully, in the grand scheme of things the ultimate plan is not riding on our shoulders. When we realize that our good God who knows everything has a master plan for this world, as well as individual roles for each of us to play, we can breathe a sigh of relief. God’s got this, and He’s got me. When we decide to become a friend and follower of Jesus and accept our assignments in His big plan, we embark on a grand adventure. He assures us that there will be twists and turns along the way, but we are never without hope and help. This is not only good news for us, but for the kids with whom we are connecting each week. Part of God’s big plan for us is to encourage kids to engage in His big plan. As we do we are helping kids discover and live out their God - given destinies, just like Joseph. Living life with hope, purpose, and intentionality is powerful and can actually change the world. When we dream big, give our best, listen to God, and are quick to for give, we will find ourselves smack - dab in the middle of God’s Big Plan!

In this Super Bowl Sunday lesson, kids will learn that no one on a team is more important than another. On a team we help each other like in the story of the sick man and his friends that lowered him in from the roof to be healed by Jesus. Kids will learn “I’m Part of God’s Team!”

For kids to know the value of their hearts and the importance of guarding them cannot be overstated. This is especially true today when kids have such easy access to all things good and bad, right at their fingertips. When it really comes down to it, God wants just one thing from us – our hearts. This series is an opportunity to give kids some practical reasons and ways to guard their hearts. We want to encourage them to pay attention to what they are letting in and putting in, because what goes in is what comes out. Proverbs says it best, “Above everything else, guard you heart. It is where your life comes from.”

Matthew 28:19 (NIV) says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” This verse is known widely as the Great Commission. Jesus issued this challenge moments before departing earth for Heaven. He wanted the Church to know without a doubt that it’s our job to reach the lost. Missions matter to God. That’s what this series is all about. We want the kids to understand and know that it’s our job to go out into the world and share the love of Jesus. This mission may take them anywhere from next door to across the globe. Kids will travel with Paul and Barnabas through their first missionary journey and see firsthand the challenges and blessings that missionaries experience. It’s a great way to introduce the concept of missions to the next generation.

Deciding to follow Jesus is the single most important choice in a person’s life. It will determine the course of their future, both now and into eternity. That’s why it’s so essential to take this moment seriously. This special “Yes to Jesus” service is an opportunity to help the kids in your ministry understand why they should follow Jesus and encourage them to make that choice. It’s a time to focus and reflect on Jesus. This service is also a great occasion to invite parents to join you for service. They can sit with their kids, participate in the service, and even pray with their kids to receive Christ. It’s an opportunity to create a powerful moment in the lives of your families. (Note: This lesson presents God’s gift of salvation. Every church presents the Gospel with slight variations and nuances. Read through the steps before teaching. Present the Gospel in a way that is consistent with the scripture and God’s leading.)

Power. It’s a big idea in our world. Everyone looks for opportunities to gain power. Power to speak their mind. Power to do what they want to do. Power to be independent. Power at work. Power at school. Political power. Power. But what if we could get our kids to look at power differently? What if real power is best expressed in what it does for others instead of yourself? Jesus is the perfect example of how to use power. The King of kings and Lord of lords stooped down to wash stinky feet. He is the creator and yet He obeyed. Jesus came to serve, not to be served. He showed us how to use God’s power and word to resist evil. This series begins with a special Easter lesson and will help your kids learn that when they trust in Jesus, they have access to the power they need to live the Christian life.

“Tools For School” is a great back to school series and is based on the wisdom found in the book of Proverbs. School is a huge part of our kids’ worlds and equipping them with some tools that will help them navigate that world is extremely important. We want kids to realize that God’s wisdom is super practical and helpful. He can help with choosing friends, being a good student, making wise choices, and even accepting correction. Wisdom is an essential tool for school and for life. It’s the key to an awesome school year!

Herman's safety school goes off the rails when Rusty and the gang decide to do anything to earn Herman's approval. This lesson presents God’s gift of salvation. Every church presents the Gospel with slight variations and nuances. Read through the steps before teaching. Present the Gospel in a way that is consistent with the scripture and God’s leading.

This “THANKS + GIVING” series is much more than some good lessons around a holiday theme. These are two principles that have the power to change lives. Gratitude and generosity are not widely prevalent in our society, especially in the life of a child. There is a natural tendency in all of us to get sucked into thinking that life is “all about me.” Helping kids to understand that all that they receive and benefit from in their lives is the result of someone else’s generosity is crucial. Teaching them to take the time to acknowledge that and express gratitude to those people, and to God, is powerful. Once that happens, we find that generosity prompts gratitude and gratitude inspires generosity and the cycle becomes intertwined and contagious. Thankful, giving people stand out…we notice them and want to be like them. So yes, this holiday is the perfect opportunity to teach kids about thanks and giving. It’s a great reminder for us, as well. As we model these traits in our own lives, not only will we reap personal reward, but we also have the opportunity to start a trend and ignite a truth in the hearts and minds of kids that will literally change their lives.

Fear is a powerful force and something we all deal with, kids and grown-ups alike. However, it’s vital that kids realize that there is something and Someone greater than fear! While our feelings are real, they don’t have to be in charge. That’s what this series, “Don’t Fear,” is all about. From the book of Revelation (don’t let that freak you out!), we help kids form a biblical picture of how awesome, just, holy, and powerful Jesus is. A. W. Tozer said the most important thing about us is our thoughts of God. When we have an accurate view of who Jesus is, we don’t have to fear!

“Great Joy” is a series all about, well, joy. This is a great Christmas series because kids often associate this holiday with a lot to be happy about. But we want kids to realize that Jesus’ birth brought a joy that lasts way beyond a day or a season, and it’s not dependent on getting cool presents or being in perfect circumstances. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we want kids to know that He makes Great Joy available all year long!

This Christmas, Kids will learn about the joy in not only giving rather than receiving, but in making room to give their very best to God.

Kids love to help and kids love to give, so “All Aboard” is about encouraging kids to realize that they are never too young or little to talk to God, hear from God, trust God, and be used by God. We are encouraging kids (and all of us) to pray, commit to giving something, trust God to provide them with something to give, and to take a step towards doing something for others. Let’s equip and encourage kids to lead the way in this adventure of faith!

Skip's investigative report has Ethel wondering what she really believes about God.