To the Depths: What Your Child Learned Today in Church (Jan 18)

Bible Lesson: Today your child learned the story of Ruth(Ruth 1 and 2).

Main Point: I will not just talk about the right thing, I will do the right thing!

Bible Verse: "So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless." James 2:17

Bible Readings at Home: Please read through the Book of James with your child through the months of January and February. James is so rich with messages from God on how to live the Christian Life. The primary passages that correspond to today's lesson is James 2:14-20. Your child learned today that talking about what is right and knowing what is right just isn't enough. We must ACTUALLY DO what is right. God wants us to be doers of His Word. You see, like one of the children so keenly said, FAITH and GOOD DEEDS are a PACKAGE DEAL! James says you can't have one without the other. GOOD DEEDS are the EVIDENCE of our FAITH. Just hearing the Word week after week in church isn't enough. FAITH without any WORKS is DEAD FAITH! You may give lipservice to God but what you do is the PROOF of your faith! Although we can not earn our way into heaven through good deeds, our good deeds should be the natural outflow of our faith. We must LIVE OUR FAITH everyday! Stress to your child the importance the 'doing'. Simply talking about helping isn't helping at all!

TRAINING UP A CHILD HOMEWORK:
1. Help your child memorize James 2:17 and be able to recite it to me next Sunday.
2. Keep reading through the Book of James with your child for the months of January and February.
3. SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT: We will have a special collection this week for the Angel Food Pantry. We are asking the children to bring in canned goods for the pantry on Wednesday and Sunday. The Angel Food Pantry provides food to families in need. The Pantry has already helped several families in our church who were in great need. Explain to your child how helping others like this relates to today's lesson.
4. Help your child come up with other ways they can help others. Then help them follow through with one of their ideas.

In His Love, Cathy