Kid’s Activity

Colossians 2:6-7 says:

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

Plants send their roots into the soil to absorb nutrients. That’s how they grow!

Kids – during the sermon time, go on a backyard hunt for some dandelions. See if you can dig up the whole root! You might have to use a small shovel to get at it. It’s amazing how long some dandelion roots are!

Remember: when OUR roots are deep in Jesus, we grow and grow in faith, and you’ll overflow with thankfulness! Remember those verses when we get to our gratitude journals during the offering!

Gathering, Songs, and Prayer

Offering

The buttons below will take you to some info on how you can give to your church.

Kids, take some time now to fill up another page in your gratitude journal: what are you “overflowing in thankfulness” for today? And don’t forget to have your parents send in a picture of your journal so your drawing can get included in the service next week!

May God multiply these gifts and make use of them for His Kingdom and Glory, and may He bless those who give in worship and faith. Amen.

Prayer for Unity

Our world is full of disunity. This is always true but we have felt this in a more obvious way these last few weeks. This is a problem as old as Cain and Abel. This is not how God intends for his children to live. Paul knows the call to unity is as important a call as any for the church.

In Paul’s letters to every single church community we have spent time with, there is a call to unity. Hear the call. Read these short verses.

To the church in Rome:

May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

To the church in Corinth:

I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.

To the church in Galatia:

For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

To the church in Ephesus:

Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

To the church in Philippi:

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.

To the church in Colossae:

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

Which one stands out for you? Which one calls to you a little louder than the rest? If you are in a group spend a little time talking about why the one you chose speaks loudly to you?

Use the verse to form a prayer. Maybe just repeat a line or a word and lift it to Jesus, as hope for our world.

Sermon – Philemon

Responding in Prayer

Take a few moments to reflect on these questions posed in the sermon, and to respond to God in silent prayer.

Charge from Colossians

Benediction – 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.

Doxology

Sing it aloud!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Amen.