God Fights for His People!
As we move through the month of August and transition into a new school year, we will see the Israelites make a significant transition as well from the wilderness into the promised land.
We will see Moses pass the baton of leadership to Joshua, but although there is a change in Israel’s human leadership their true leader is still the LORD, who continues to fight for them as He did when He delivered them from Egypt. Check out the overview of Unit 8 here. (The overview mentions an Easter session but we are on a slightly different timeline so we already covered that in April).
For Teachers
The summer can be a crazy time with lots of people traveling for vacations, summer camps, etc. This makes scheduling a challenge, but you have all done a great job working together to keep the ministry going strong. Thank you so much for your flexibility, communication and teamwork!
August Training: Our next quarterly team meeting is coming up on August 11th. This will be the beginning of a new annual tradition. This meeting is not just about equipping, but also about celebrating what God has done in the past year as we renew our vision for the coming school year. We’ll meet after the second service on August 11th from 12:30 – 2:00pm. Childcare and lunch will be provided. Please make it a priority to join us!
Teaching tip for August: On August 18th we’ll have our promotion Sunday, where kids move up to the next grade. We’ll talk at the training a bit about how to make this a special time for the kids, paying particular attention to those who will be changing classes. Let’s do our best to help them feel welcome and be sensitive to the kids who might have a hard time adjusting to a new environment, especially those moving up to or from Pre-K.
Training videos: Check out these Gospel Project videos for each of the upcoming lessons in August. Click on the date and lesson title to expand and show the video.
August 4: Session 7.4, Moses's Farewell
August 11: Session 8.1, Crossing the Jordan
August 18: Session 8.2, The Battle of Jericho
August 25: Session 8.3, Taking the Land
For Parents
We are so thankful for the partnership we have with you in raising these young ones to know and love Jesus!
As we start the new school year we’ll be implementing some new ideas to strengthen partnership between parents and teachers, including our new “ROCK Books.” These will encourage the kids to take home and share what they learned with you from their take-home pages and also include a section for communication with your child’s teachers.
This is one new tool that we hope will be useful but please know that we’re always available and eager to hear how we can be praying for and supporting you and your family. Whether it’s a conversation with a teacher on Sunday morning, or an email or call to Joel or Jenn at the church office, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Family worship tip for August: Take advantage of the fresh start of a new school year as an opportunity for a fresh vision for your family worship as well. As your family schedule has to change to transition out of summer, use that as an opportunity to start a new habit of family worship if you don’t have that already established. In the new Sunday school series (Anchoring Our Souls), we will be spending two weeks on the topic of leading young and older children in family worship.
Change in family schedules can be difficult when you’re in the thick of life, so piggybacking on the change that’s already happening can be a strategic way to ease the introduction of a new tradition!
Devotional Questions for August 4-10
- Read Deuteronomy 31-34
- Why didn’t Moses get to enter the promised land?
- What two things did God tell Joshua to be?
- Where does our strength and courage come from?
Devotional Questions for August 11-17
- Read Joshua 1-4
- What did God promise Joshua?
- What was the purpose of the memorial stones?
- Why is it important to tell others about God?
Devotional Questions for August 18-24
- Read Joshua 6
- Who knocked down the wall of Jericho?
- Discuss one or two ways you could show surprising love to someone this week. Then follow through!
- What are some ways God has taken care of your family?
Devotional Questions for August 25-31
- Read Joshua 10-11, 24
- Has God worked in amazing ways in your own family? Praise and thank him!
- What do you do when you don’t get along with someone else?
- How did the Israelites respond after God gave them victory?
