Nahum Warned of God’s Judgment (Nahum)

Dear families,

Our hyper-vigilant culture is full of warnings: warnings of what will happen if you take certain medicines, warnings not to use forbidden words in particular places, authoritative warnings against actions deemed inappropriate or illegal, and many more.

Though at times these warnings may feel harsh, unnecessary, or far too limiting, they exist to guide people to right decisions that are often best for them and the people around them.

The same is true with the warnings we find in the Bible, both those directed toward people in a particular place at a particular time and those generally made for all readers of all times. They exist as God’s reminder to us of what is ultimately for our good.

The warnings of Nahum fit this bill as well. These warnings come as stern and even harsh language through the prophet, intended to wake up a group of spiritually sleepy people who had again turned to their wicked ways. Nahum warned of a coming judgment and painful punishment. He warned of devastation and destruction as a consequence for sin.

Yet, these warnings stood as God’s gracious gift to rebellious people. Through the prophet Nahum, God told these people of His holiness, their sin, His pending consequences, and the urgency with which they ought to take heed to these warnings.

I can imagine that these people could have received these in much the same way that we often receive warnings today: frustrations with the limitations, severity, and apparent inconvenience they present; however, as we see throughout the pages of Scripture, these warnings serve as an invitation to people far from God to turn to Him for hope, joy, and peace that can only be found by His grace.

The next time you read the warnings of Scripture, celebrate the hope they bring as they demonstrate His good grace to show us a better way, the way to Him. Remember, God doesn’t desire devastation but true repentance that results in ultimate deliverance.

Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities.

FAMILY TALKING POINTS

CHRIST CONNECTION

This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.

• Babies & Toddlers: One day, Jesus will take away all bad things.

• Younger Preschool: Nahum told God’s people good news. He said that God loves His people and takes care of them. Jesus also has good news for people who know and love Him. One day, Jesus will take away all bad things.

• Older Preschool: Nahum told God’s people good news. God loves His people and takes care of them. Jesus has good news for people who love and trust Him. All of the enemies of God and His children were defeated at the cross. One day, Jesus will take away all bad things.

• Kids: Nahum brought a message of comfort to God’s people, reminding them that God loves His people and will protect them from their enemies. Jesus also brought a message of comfort, salvation, and peace to His people. All of the enemies of God and His children were defeated at the cross. One day, God will finally judge all evil.

BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER

This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit. 

• Younger Preschool: What makes people special? People are special because God made us.

• Older Preschool: What makes people special? People are special because God made us in His own image.

• Kids: What makes people special? People are special because we are made in God’s image, as male and female, to know Him.

KEY PASSAGE

This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit. 

• Babies & Toddlers: God made me. Psalm 139:14

• Younger Preschool: I will praise God because He made me. Psalm 139:14

• Older Preschool: I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well. Psalm 139:14

• Kids: For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well. Psalm 139:13-14

** Next week: God’s People Were Taken Captive (2 Chronicles 36)

Jonah Warned of God’s Judgment (Jonah)

Dear families,

If we spend time contemplating what it means to belong to Jesus, the reality is a mystery. How can we who are sinners be forgiven and redeemed? The more we recognize the depth and darkness of our own sin, the greater we understand the magnitude of God’s gift to us: Through His Son, He reached down to display His great love and mercy. Because of Jesus’ wounds, we can have full and forever forgiveness.

The Book of Jonah demonstrates this powerful truth on at least two occasions. One is highlighted in Jonah’s prayer in the midst of his desperation. After running from God and being hurled into the sea, fully expecting to die at the bottom of the ocean, Jonah is swept up and swallowed by a great fish. It is from there that he cries out, “I called to the LORD in my distress, and he answered me” (Jonah 2:2). Jonah, knowing the extent of his own sin and the issue of his own disobedience, cries out in desperation to the Father and finds great comfort in a loving God receiving His desperate plea.

Later, in Jonah 3, we find a similar movement of God’s reaching down and bringing about repentance among the people of Nineveh. In His grace, He relented from the looming punishment they deserved in light of their change of heart.

In both instances, the mercy and grace of God to withhold punishment due to vile sinners brought hope, and this hope ought to be ours today as well.

Isaiah 59:1 says, “Indeed, the LORD’s arm is not too weak to save, and his ear is not too deaf to hear.”

Though much has changed in our world since Jonah’s day, the Lord has not changed. He is not too weak nor too distant to save. No matter how far you or someone you know has strayed, no matter how distant the Lord might feel, His arm is not too short to save. His love can reach down to even the darkest and vilest of all sinners. Praise be to God.

Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities.

FAMILY TALKING POINTS

CHRIST CONNECTION

This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.

• Babies & Toddlers: Jesus obeyed God’s plan.

• Younger Preschool: God told Jonah to go tell people to stop making wrong choices. Jonah did not want to go. Later, God sent His Son, Jesus, to tell people to stop making wrong choices. Unlike Jonah, Jesus wanted to obey God.

• Older Preschool: God told Jonah to go to his enemies and tell them to stop sinning. Jonah did not want to go. Later, God sent His own Son, Jesus, to go to His enemies and tell them to stop sinning. Unlike Jonah, Jesus wanted to obey God. He died on the cross to save us from sin.

• Kids: God called Jonah to go to his enemies and call them to turn away from their sin, but Jonah refused. Instead, he ran away. Later, God sent Jesus to His enemies to call us to repentance. Jesus willingly obeyed. Jesus died on the cross to rescue us from sin.

BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER

This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit. 

• Younger Preschool: What makes people special? People are special because God made us.

• Older Preschool: What makes people special? People are special because God made us in His own image.

• Kids: What makes people special? People are special because we are made in God’s image, as male and female, to know Him.

KEY PASSAGE

This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit. 

• Babies & Toddlers: God made me. Psalm 139:14

• Younger Preschool: I will praise God because He made me. Psalm 139:14

• Older Preschool: I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well. Psalm 139:14

• Kids: For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well. Psalm 139:13-14

** Next week: Nahum Warned of God’s Judgment (Nahum)

Why we do what we do

I’d love to take the opportunity to highlight some important information about our Kids Ministry.

Our kids’ classes are more than just child care and our activity sheets are more than busy work!

It's our job as parents and members of the Christian community to show what it means to follow Christ. Kids joining us for singing, communion, and hearing God's word can be a very impactful way to do this. Family Worship Sundays are an integral part of our regular rhythms as a congregation because we love giving kids the opportunity to participate fully in service. 

It's a wonderful experience, but we know it's hard for kids to stay engaged and the sermon content is often beyond their comprehension. This is where our Sunday morning kids programs come in. Providing age-appropriate Bible classes for our children allows them to learn about the Bible in an engaging, easy-to-understand way. They are able to see adults, other than their family, excited about sharing God’s love for them.

The fact that our kids "age out" of Sunday classes does not mean we stop investing in their spiritual development. Age-appropriate activity sheets and short age-appropriate Bible study sheets are available for older kids who regularly join us for worship. There are Bible verses to memorize, study guides to help kids learn to follow along with a sermon, short devotionals so kids can study on their own if a sermon is difficult to understand, and more. The sheets have been carefully selected to teach kids how to engage with God's word independently. This is another step towards owning their own faith! 

Although we understand there may be times when you need to keep your child with you, we hope you'll regularly take advantage of kids' classes if your child has one. 

We also understand that some weeks it was all you could do to get your older child to come to church and a phone or iPad may be the only way for YOU to be able to participate in worship. On regular weeks, though, we'd love you to help your child get more involved in the service by helping them select activity sheets and encouraging them to fill them out.

If you find your child is regularly missing their class or is regularly needing “digital help” during the service please let us know!! We would love to help you come up with a plan to help Sundays go smoother for you and your child so you can BOTH fully participate in what’s available for you Sunday mornings.

If you have any questions or would like more information please feel free to reach out to me!

Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to partner with you in the journey!

Melissa