This week’s Bible story is from a series of teachings Jesus preached that has come to be known as the Sermon on the Mount. Although presented as one long sermon, it is more likely these teachings were gathered from many different times that Jesus taught. In Matthew, the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount lists Jesus’ teachings that we call the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12). The Beatitudes are also found in similar, though not identical form in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 6:20-23).
The Beatitudes provide instruction for how we are to live in order to be happy. The way Jesus teaches us to live is sometimes different than how the world tells us to live. This was true for Jesus’ followers who heard the Beatitudes originally, and it is true for us today. God calls us to depend on and obey God, be humble, be merciful, be pure of heart, and to be peacemakers even when the world tries to get us to do otherwise.
In a world where fighting and war are often front-page news, Jesus’ teaching to be a peacemaker seems especially contrary to society’s teaching. The references to peace are frequent in Jesus’ teachings, so it is not surprising that peace is mentioned in the Beatitudes. Notice that Jesus’ followers are not simply instructed to live in peace, but to be makers of peace. We have a calling to be advocates for peace, to do what we can to make peace a reality. When we live in peace, we are following Jesus’ teaching.
Children may feel that they have a limited ability to be peacemakers. Help them understand they can work for peace by modeling peace in their interactions with others. This may be as simple (or as difficult) as living peaceably with their sibling.
NO MID-WEEK MUSIC MEET UP THIS WEEK – Please tune in to Pastor Jeff’s Pastoral Conversation about Race and Faith
Join us for music and Godly Play Sunday morning at 10:30 on Zoom. https://us04web.zoom.us/j/420327525?pwd=cE5hVFFuOWR4ZGlITyszNExGVm1Zdz09
Password: CHKids2020
JUNE MEMORY VERSE
“Now faith, hope, and love remain—these three things—and the greatest of these is love.” (1Corinthians 13:13)
DEEP BLUE ADVENTURES APP
While I was looking for all the new material to share with you about our new unit, I stumbled across this app. I downloaded it for free, and it has all the videos to go along with the Bible story each week. There is a trivia game, a fun scripture game and another maze game that reinforced the verse of the month. It isn’t anything fancy, but I thought I would share if you were looking for new ways to engage your kids with our weekly Bible stories at home. GET IT HERE
