2 Samuel 11-12:25

Since the days of Adam and Eve, dealing with sin has been an issue for every person. Think back to a time you were afraid to tell your parents something you had done wrong. Do you remember the feeling that this sin was just too big to be forgiven, or the feeling of being afraid of the consequences? Then came the decision to lie or in some other way try to hide what had been done. But did the hiding and lying bring relief to the problem?

Read the story of David from 2 Samuel 11-12:25. Even after his tragic failure, God forgave him. Thankfully, God will always help us to be honest about our sins when we ask Him.

We have included this story because our preteens today have been exposed to public figures and people in everyday life who choose to cover up their sin rather than be truthful, just as David ignored his sin until prophet Nathan confronted him. Preteens have also encountered people who thought it was cool to flaunt their sin, just as David had publicly married Bathsheba after arranging her husband's murder. Our kids need different kind of role models. They need people in their lives who acknowledge their sin and go to God for help. If confessing our sins to God and then receiving His forgiveness and help, is not a part our lives, the words we say to our preteens are empty. Our example will make the truth far more vivid to our kids than mere words ever could. 

"Truth will set you free"

Stanwich Rocks 5th and 6th grade Sunday School teaching team

Samson

Unit Bible Passage
PSALM 51:1-4, 10-12 "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgresions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."
Stanwich Rocks 5th and 6th grade Sunday School teaching team

The Parable of the Sower

Check out the unit Bible passage again! It can be found in James 1:22-25 (or you can just check out the previous blog).

Last Sunday we learned the parable of the sower. This can be found in Mark 4:1-20. 

So, what does God want us to do? So many things can take over our lives; work, family, even responsibilities at church! God wants us to care first about spending time with Him, NOT JUST READING BUT DOING WHAT IS IN HIS WORD.

The result of being "good soil" is no small thing. IT IS A FRUITFUL LIFE.  We often see barren, or empty lives that were lived for wealth or success or something that is ultimately fruitless. This is even harder for us who live here in Fairfield County. My heart goes out to the many people I see every day, who HAVE EVERYTHING, but their faces show the misery of their lives. God so much wants to give us abundant lives. 

Preteens are in the process of becoming independent. They can read, understand and do what the Bible says on their own. Share with your preteens how important God's Word is to you. This will develop an attitude of openness toward God's Word. Valuing God's Word leads to a life of integrity.

FAITH IS NOT THE SAME AS BELIEVING. FAITH IS ACTING UPON GOD'S WORD!

Aitta for the Stanwich Rocks 5th and 6th grade Sunday School teaching team

Winter FUN!!!!

Stanwich Rocks 5th and 6th grade Sunday School teaching team is excited to see you all glowing with God's warmth when it has been so cold outside! The morning classes are really growing through their journaling and homework tasks. Our evensong group continues to bring joy, laughter and God's light through experiments and activities.

We are so proud of you and how God is moving in your lives this year!

Just to recap our January:

Our Unit Bible Passage: James 1:22-25
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does."

Lesson 5 - Doers of the Word - Learning about God's word leads us to know Him and teaches us how to obey Him.

Lesson 6 -Delights in Obedience - Wholehearted obedience results in a life of integrity.

Lesson 7 - Don't deceive yourself - Honesty in both words and actions shows integrity.

Lesson 8 - Good soil, good fruit - Valuing God's Word leads to a life of integrity.

This will wrap up our January study...but we don't want to forget all the fun we had! Many of you bonded at the Evensong retreat as well as the girls camp in Vermont this past weekend! We are excited to see what God is continuing to do in your hearts by building our church family.

Bless you this week and we look forward to seeing you on Sunday...DON'T FORGET...invite your parents to class this week!!!!

Year End and New Year!

Stanwich Rocks 5th and 6th grade Sunday School teaching team is watching December blaze past us with many of you performing in Joy Story, Christmas Eve choir and sharing yourselves with your friends in class. Thank YOU! We have enjoyed every minute of it!

We are in new series of Gospel Light and this unit is based on Isaiah 9:6-7.

"For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this."

Lesson 1...we discovered the reasons a Savior is needed and how John the Baptist prepared the way for the Lord...JESUS provides the only way to solve the problem of sin.

Lesson 2 helped us understand how Jesus gives us more than we expect and we compared what we expect from Jesus with what He came to give us.

Lesson 3...we reflected on Jesus as the Prince of Peace...the peace Jesus brings is available to everyone!

Next Sunday (January 4th) we will be studying Lesson 4 where we will be going deeper in discussion on how Jesus is our provider and protector.

For the morning classes...don't forget your assignments this week! Bless you and we look forward to seeing what God is doing through you in this week.

For the evensong class...Carl is back this week! You are always a joy and we can't wait to hear how God is moving in your lives. Bless you and for those who are out of town...we miss you!

Be safe and we will see you in the new year!

You better watch out, you better not cry...New Lessons are coming!!!

Stanwich Rocks 5th and 6th grade Sunday School teaching team is happy to share with you that we just ended our first 13 lessons of Gospel Light! We will be starting our new book this weekend, Dec. 7th! We are very proud of you and how much you are growing as a church family. Thank you for your insightful questions and joyful hearts. We love teaching you because we end up being the blessed ones. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday! Bless you!!!

YOU! YOU! YOU!

Stanwich Rocks 5th and 6th grade Sunday School teaching team is so proud of you!! It is a busy time with the choir rehearsals, Sunday school and keeping up with all of your family and friends. October was a month of shedding leaves and the beginning of dying to the old so that we can make room for new growth. We have been seeing that process in you as well. As your teachers you have brought us great joy with your funny personalities, quiet ways and moments of speaking beautiful truth. We pray that as we head into November and December that we will grow closer as a church family and take time to show each other how important and loved you are...just the way you are. Please know that if you ever need to walk and talk...our doors and hearts are always open. Remember: Love! Love! Love!... and BRING IT wherever you go and to whomever God puts before you. BLESS YOU this week and we look forward to seeing you Sunday!