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Biblical Essentials

Kids - Biblical Essentials - Church

March 14, 2021 • Kristy Motte & Ashley Law

Colossians 2:6-7a | 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… Over the last few months, we’ve explored how to grow deep roots as followers of Christ. Last week, we examined salvation, made possible when we put our faith in Jesus, who’s blood covers us, making us right in God’s sight. God’s followers must build their lives on Him as they grow in truth, but they aren’t meant to do that alone. The early church in Acts demonstrates God’s design for his followers- the Body of Christ— also known as His Church. This week we’ll see that the church isn’t a building or a set of pastors. We’ll grow in our final essential- Essential #10 - The Church is the body of Christ and consists of all of God’s followers. God’s church has been entrusted with meeting together to grow, love one another, encourage and support each other, serve together, and to proclaim Christ to others. Each individual follower of God plays a critical role in the body of Christ. Remaining unified and active in and through a local church body allows the believer to fulfill their role as the church.

Teen Talk - Biblical Essentials - Church

March 17, 2021 • Michael Fitzgerald

Colossians 2:6-7a | 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… Over the last few months, we’ve explored how to grow deep roots as followers of Christ. Last week, we examined salvation, made possible when we put our faith in Jesus, who’s blood covers us, making us right in God’s sight. God’s followers must build their lives on Him as they grow in truth, but they aren’t meant to do that alone. The early church in Acts demonstrates God’s design for his followers- the Body of Christ— also known as His Church. This week we’ll see that the church isn’t a building or a set of pastors. We’ll grow in our final essential- Essential #10 - The Church is the body of Christ and consists of all of God’s followers. God’s church has been entrusted with meeting together to grow, love one another, encourage and support each other, serve together, and to proclaim Christ to others. Each individual follower of God plays a critical role in the body of Christ. Remaining unified and active in and through a local church body allows the believer to fulfill their role as the church. Discussion 1.It is important that God’s followers meet with each other as part of a church body. Why is getting together with other believers important? 2. The Bible tells us to love another with genuine affection (Romans 12:10). Do you find it hard to love other followers of God? Are you currently bitter, angry, gossiping, or speaking badly of any other believers? If so what do you need to do according to Ephesians 4:31-32? 3. As a group read 1 Corinthians 12:12-27. Which part of the body of Christ is more important? Is there any person in the body of Christ more or less important than another person? Why or why not? 4. What gifts, talents and abilities has God given you? 5. We should use our gifts to serve God and others. How are you serving God/others by serving the body of Christ (the church)? How are you serving God/others as the body of Christ (outside of the church)?

Parenting - Biblical Essentials - Church

March 14, 2021 • Brian & Kristy Motte

Colossians 2:6-7a | 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… Over the last few months, we’ve explored how to grow deep roots as followers of Christ. Last week, we examined salvation, made possible when we put our faith in Jesus, who’s blood covers us, making us right in God’s sight. God’s followers must build their lives on Him as they grow in truth, but they aren’t meant to do that alone. The early church in Acts demonstrates God’s design for his followers- the Body of Christ— also known as His Church. This week we’ll see that the church isn’t a building or a set of pastors. We’ll grow in our final essential- Essential #10 - The Church is the body of Christ and consists of all of God’s followers. God’s church has been entrusted with meeting together to grow, love one another, encourage and support each other, serve together, and to proclaim Christ to others. Each individual follower of God plays a critical role in the body of Christ. Remaining unified and active in and through a local church body allows the believer to fulfill their role as the church.

Teen Talk - Biblical Essentials - Salvation

March 10, 2021 • Michael Fitzgerald

Last week, we explored the problem of sin in depth. It robs us of fulfilling our purpose, it separates us from God, and it leads to physical and spiritual death. But God loved His precious creation far too much to leave us lost and hopeless in our sin. He provided a way of rescue from the penalty for our sin. Paul says it this way- Romans 7:24b-25a | Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. This week, we’ll explore the most important essential yet- Salvation. Essential #9 - Salvation is God’s gift to mankind, one that we could never earn or deserve, made possible through Jesus’ shed blood on the cross. We are made right in God’s sight, the punishment for our sin paid in full, when we put our faith in Jesus. The believer is made a new creation that should continue to grow more and more like Christ. Discussion Think of a time you received a gift that you didn’t deserve. Now think about the gift God has given you in our savior Jesus. Why would God provide a way for us to be saved, even though we don’t deserve it? Why is the cross a critical part of the gospel or good news of salvation? Why is the Resurrection, or Jesus raising from the dead, also important? Once we have accepted Christ into our hearts, we are to continue growing in the Lord (just like our theme verse says). Since we started this biblical essentials series, do you feel like you are growing? Have you graduated from spiritual milk? If not, how can we help? Are you being discipled and making disciples? If you do not feel this way, what is holding you back? Have you accepted Jesus to be Lord of your life?

Kids - Biblical Essentials - Salvation

March 7, 2021 • Kristy Motte & Ashley Law

Parenting - Biblical Essentials - Salvation

March 7, 2021 • Brian & Kristy Motte

Teen Talk - Biblical Essentials - Sin

March 3, 2021 • Michael Fitzgerald

Man was created in God’s image with the purpose of glorifying God. But one look around makes it clear that somewhere between creation and now, things drastically changed. What happened? Sin. Way back in the garden, the very first man and woman decided to break God’s only law by going their own way. The consequence of this sin was death, manifested first spiritually through separation from God and distance in their relationship with Him. They no longer walked with Him in the cool of the evenings and life was hard. Thoughts of their purpose were clouded with hard work, pain, disappointment, discontentment, fear, and selfishness. Sin also brought physical death as man’s life would now have a definitive end… a ticking clock that once expired, would mark the moment His choice regarding eternity (Heaven or Hell) could no longer be altered. Sin wasn’t isolated to Adam and Eve. It spread to all people and continued to wreak havoc among God’s creation. Later, God would give 10 commandments to guide His people in following Him righteously (in what is right), but that list merely proved man’s inability to choose right and uphold God’s laws. It put a spotlight on man’s sin. You may wonder, didn’t God know Adam & Eve would choose sin? Didn’t He know the destruction that would come because man would choose to follow their own sinful desires, rather than God’s perfect law, over and over again? So why would He allow it? Wouldn’t we betater off without it? And after salvation, why doesn’t man escape his sin nature? Why doesn’t God just remove a person’s desire to sin so that the light of Jesus can shine through them even more brightly? This week, we’ll answer these questions and more as we look at: Essential #8 - Sin is anything man thinks, says, or does that breaks God’s law (His Word- the Bible). While sin can be choosing wrong, it is also neglecting what is right. Sin separates man from God through spiritual death and is the cause of man’s physical death as well. While sin originated with Adam and Eve, all people are born in sin and have a natural desire to do wrong. Sin is unavoidable for man but is designed to illuminate man’s need for Jesus. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: What was the sin of Adam and Eve in the garden? What ‘slow fade’ or progression took place there? Read Romans 6:23. What consequence for sin is outlined here? Read James 1:14-15. What is temptation? Who tempts us? Why does God allow mankind to wrestle with sin and temptation? Read Romans 6:15-18. Are you currently a slave to sin or righteousness? In what ways? We must be intentional in our battle against sin. What should we include in a ‘game plan’ against sin and for righteous living?

Kids - Biblical Essentials - Sin

March 7, 2021 • Kristy Motte & Ashley Law

Man was created in God’s image with the purpose of glorifying God. But one look around makes it clear that somewhere between creation and now, things drastically changed. What happened? Sin. Way back in the garden, the very first man and woman decided to break God’s only law by going their own way. The consequence of this sin was death, manifested first spiritually through separation from God and distance in their relationship with Him. They no longer walked with Him in the cool of the evenings and life was hard. Thoughts of their purpose were clouded with hard work, pain, disappointment, discontentment, fear, and selfishness. Sin also brought physical death as man’s life would now have a definitive end… a ticking clock that once expired, would mark the moment His choice regarding eternity (Heaven or Hell) could no longer be altered. Sin wasn’t isolated to Adam and Eve. It spread to all people and continued to wreak havoc among God’s creation. Later, God would give 10 commandments to guide His people in following Him righteously (in what is right), but that list merely proved man’s inability to choose right and uphold God’s laws. It put a spotlight on man’s sin. You may wonder, didn’t God know Adam & Eve would choose sin? Didn’t He know the destruction that would come because man would choose to follow their own sinful desires, rather than God’s perfect law, over and over again? So why would He allow it? Wouldn’t we better off without it? And after salvation, why doesn’t man escape his sin nature? Why doesn’t God just remove a person’s desire to sin so that the light of Jesus can shine through them even more brightly? This week, we’ll answer these questions and more as we look at: Essential #8 - Sin is anything man thinks, says, or does that breaks God’s law (His Word- the Bible). While sin can be choosing wrong, it is also neglecting what is right. Sin separates man from God through spiritual death and is the cause of man’s physical death as well. While sin originated with Adam and Eve, all people are born in sin and have a natural desire to do wrong. Sin is unavoidable for man but is designed to illuminate man’s need for Jesus.

Parenting - Biblical Essentials - Sin

February 28, 2021 • Brian & Kristy Motte

Man was created in God’s image with the purpose of glorifying God. But one look around makes it clear that somewhere between creation and now, things drastically changed. What happened? Sin. Way back in the garden, the very first man and woman decided to break God’s only law by going their own way. The consequence of this sin was death, manifested first spiritually through separation from God and distance in their relationship with Him. They no longer walked with Him in the cool of the evenings and life was hard. Thoughts of their purpose were clouded with hard work, pain, disappointment, discontentment, fear, and selfishness. Sin also brought physical death as man’s life would now have a definitive end… a ticking clock that once expired, would mark the moment His choice regarding eternity (Heaven or Hell) could no longer be altered. Sin wasn’t isolated to Adam and Eve. It spread to all people and continued to wreak havoc among God’s creation. Later, God would give 10 commandments to guide His people in following Him righteously (in what is right), but that list merely proved man’s inability to choose right and uphold God’s laws. It put a spotlight on man’s sin. You may wonder, didn’t God know Adam & Eve would choose sin? Didn’t He know the destruction that would come because man would choose to follow their own sinful desires, rather than God’s perfect law, over and over again? So why would He allow it? Wouldn’t we better off without it? And after salvation, why doesn’t man escape his sin nature? Why doesn’t God just remove a person’s desire to sin so that the light of Jesus can shine through them even more brightly? This week, we’ll answer these questions and more as we look at: Essential #8 - Sin is anything man thinks, says, or does that breaks God’s law (His Word- the Bible). While sin can be choosing wrong, it is also neglecting what is right. Sin separates man from God through spiritual death and is the cause of man’s physical death as well. While sin originated with Adam and Eve, all people are born in sin and have a natural desire to do wrong. Sin is unavoidable for man but is designed to illuminate man’s need for Jesus.

Teen Talk - Biblical Essentials - Man

February 24, 2021 • Michael Fitzgerald

Colossians 2:6-7a | 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… As we continue to grow in faith as followers of Jesus, have you ever wondered, like David did in Psalm 8 — what is man that God is mindful of Him? Why does He care so much for them that He would give up a piece of Himself- His own Son- for the sake of man’s salvation? Maybe after reading about Heaven, God’s home, you wondered why in the world God needed this world anyway? Didn’t He have all He needed in eternity? While we’ve learned so many essentials about the Bible, God, Heaven, Hell, and even our enemy, it’s time for us to understand our place in all of this. What is Essential about man? This week we’ll explore why we were made, what makes us different than the rest of creation, and even our purpose while we’re here on Earth, awaiting our Heavenly home with the Lord. Essential #1 - The Bible is Inspired (authored by God), Inerrant (free from errors), Infallible (will not fail/is trustworthy), and Authoritative (our ultimate guide). Essential #2 - God is the perfect, loving Creator who is three-in-one: Father, Son, and Spirit. He is all powerful, all knowing, and all present. Essential #3- Jesus is fully God and was fully man. Although tempted in every way, He chose not to sin and willingly laid down His own life to be the sacrifice for our sin. His example should be our benchmark for godly living. Essential #4 - The Holy Spirit is God living in the follower of Christ. He helps the believer know and do right, convicts when we sin, and compels us to share the gospel with others. He comforts us, makes us more like Himself, and works through us when we use our Holy Spirit given gifts. Essential #5 - Heaven and Hell are literal places where the spirit of man spends eternity (forever). Heaven is God’s perfect and unimaginably beautiful home, but man’s sin prevents his entry. Instead, sinful man earns eternity in Hell - a place filled with fire and torment where man is separated from God forever. God desires that everyone would join Him in Heaven one day, but the choice to join Him there is ultimately yours alone and determined by whether or not you put your faith in Jesus Christ. Essential #6 - Satan was an angel in Heaven who rebelled against God as a result of his pride. Because of his sin, he was cast out of Heaven. He now roams the Earth, attacking unbelievers to keep them from God and attacking believers to keep them from growing in their faith or from sharing it with others. Even now, he must submit to God’s authority and in the end, God will crush Satan and throw him in Hell forever. Believers should stand strong in God’s power, resisting Satan’s attacks when he tempts them to sin. Essential #7 - Mankind was created by God in His own image for His glory. Then man was entrusted as caretakers of God’s creation. Each person is loved unconditionally by God and has a unique purpose for which God has handcrafted them. Man should live each moment for the Lord, pointing others to Jesus. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS What do you think it means to be made in the image of God? Because man is made in God’s image, they are loved and valued unconditionally by Him. What does love without conditions look like? What does it mean to be valued without condition? What is man’s God-given purpose? Read Isaiah 64:8 God shaped you with His own hands. Do you live with God as the potter of your life- able to shape who you are and what you do? What are some God given talents, strengths, and character traits He has shaped you with?

Kids - Biblical Essentials - Mankind

February 21, 2021 • Kristy Motte & Ashley Law

Colossians 2:6-7a | 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… As we continue to grow in faith as followers of Jesus, have you ever wondered, like David did in Psalm 8 — what is man that God is mindful of Him? Why does He care so much for them that He would give up a piece of Himself- His own Son- for the sake of man’s salvation? Maybe after reading about Heaven, God’s home, you wondered why in the world God needed this world anyway? Didn’t He have all He needed in eternity? While we’ve learned so many essentials about the Bible, God, Heaven, Hell, and even our enemy, it’s time for us to understand our place in all of this. What is Essential about man? This week we’ll explore why we were made, what makes us different than the rest of creation, and even our purpose while we’re here on Earth, awaiting our Heavenly home with the Lord. Essential #1 - The Bible is Inspired (authored by God), Inerrant (free from errors), Infallible (will not fail/is trustworthy), and Authoritative (our ultimate guide). Essential #2 - God is the perfect, loving Creator who is three-in-one: Father, Son, and Spirit. He is all powerful, all knowing, and all present. Essential #3- Jesus is fully God and was fully man. Although tempted in every way, He chose not to sin and willingly laid down His own life to be the sacrifice for our sin. His example should be our benchmark for godly living. Essential #4 - The Holy Spirit is God living in the follower of Christ. He helps the believer know and do right, convicts when we sin, and compels us to share the gospel with others. He comforts us, makes us more like Himself, and works through us when we use our Holy Spirit given gifts. Essential #5 - Heaven and Hell are literal places where the spirit of man spends eternity (forever). Heaven is God’s perfect and unimaginably beautiful home, but man’s sin prevents his entry. Instead, sinful man earns eternity in Hell - a place filled with fire and torment where man is separated from God forever. God desires that everyone would join Him in Heaven one day, but the choice to join Him there is ultimately yours alone and determined by whether or not you put your faith in Jesus Christ. Essential #6 - Satan was an angel in Heaven who rebelled against God as a result of his pride. Because of his sin, he was cast out of Heaven. He now roams the Earth, attacking unbelievers to keep them from God and attacking believers to keep them from growing in their faith or from sharing it with others. Even now, he must submit to God’s authority and in the end, God will crush Satan and throw him in Hell forever. Believers should stand strong in God’s power, resisting Satan’s attacks when he tempts them to sin. Essential #7 - Mankind was created by God in His own image for His glory. Then man was entrusted as caretakers of God’s creation. Each person is loved unconditionally by God and has a unique purpose for which God has handcrafted them. Man should live each moment for the Lord, pointing others to Jesus.

Parenting - Biblical Essentials - Man

February 21, 2021 • Brian & Kristy Motte

Colossians 2:6-7a | 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… As we continue to grow in faith as followers of Jesus, have you ever wondered, like David did in Psalm 8 — what is man that God is mindful of Him? Why does He care so much for them that He would give up a piece of Himself- His own Son- for the sake of man’s salvation? Maybe after reading about Heaven, God’s home, you wondered why in the world God needed this world anyway? Didn’t He have all He needed in eternity? While we’ve learned so many essentials about the Bible, God, Heaven, Hell, and even our enemy, it’s time for us to understand our place in all of this. What is Essential about man? This week we’ll explore why we were made, what makes us different than the rest of creation, and even our purpose while we’re here on Earth, awaiting our Heavenly home with the Lord. Essential #1 - The Bible is Inspired (authored by God), Inerrant (free from errors), Infallible (will not fail/is trustworthy), and Authoritative (our ultimate guide). Essential #2 - God is the perfect, loving Creator who is three-in-one: Father, Son, and Spirit. He is all powerful, all knowing, and all present. Essential #3- Jesus is fully God and was fully man. Although tempted in every way, He chose not to sin and willingly laid down His own life to be the sacrifice for our sin. His example should be our benchmark for godly living. Essential #4 - The Holy Spirit is God living in the follower of Christ. He helps the believer know and do right, convicts when we sin, and compels us to share the gospel with others. He comforts us, makes us more like Himself, and works through us when we use our Holy Spirit given gifts. Essential #5 - Heaven and Hell are literal places where the spirit of man spends eternity (forever). Heaven is God’s perfect and unimaginably beautiful home, but man’s sin prevents his entry. Instead, sinful man earns eternity in Hell - a place filled with fire and torment where man is separated from God forever. God desires that everyone would join Him in Heaven one day, but the choice to join Him there is ultimately yours alone and determined by whether or not you put your faith in Jesus Christ. Essential #6 - Satan was an angel in Heaven who rebelled against God as a result of his pride. Because of his sin, he was cast out of Heaven. He now roams the Earth, attacking unbelievers to keep them from God and attacking believers to keep them from growing in their faith or from sharing it with others. Even now, he must submit to God’s authority and in the end, God will crush Satan and throw him in Hell forever. Believers should stand strong in God’s power, resisting Satan’s attacks when he tempts them to sin. Essential #7 - Mankind was created by God in His own image for His glory. Then man was entrusted as caretakers of God’s creation. Each person is loved unconditionally by God and has a unique purpose for which God has handcrafted them. Man should live each moment for the Lord, pointing others to Jesus.

Teen Talk - Biblical Essentials - Satan

February 17, 2021 • Michael Fitzgerald

As we’ve laid a foundation of Biblical Essentials for Christ followers, we’ve covered so much already! We’ve learned a lot about our foundation of truth (the Bible), who God is (in all three parts), and that everyone faces a decision about eternity that results ultimately in Heaven or Hell. If we stopped there, it seems like everyone would follow Jesus and choose Heaven, right? But it is not that simple; the essentials aren’t done. While we have a very real loving, perfect, Creator in Heaven, we also have a very real adversary or enemy - Satan. Understanding who Satan is, where he came from, how he works, and ultimately, where he ends up is ESSENTIAL for God’s followers. It helps us understand why people reject God and why even believers struggle so much with sin. This week we’ll see that Satan isn’t someone to fear or ignore. We can actively resist or fight against him and his attacks and should remember that ultimately, God is in control, even when it feels like overcoming the enemy is impossible. Let’s grow deep roots as God’s followers so that we can continue to follow Him. Colossians 2:6-7a | 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… This strong faith better equips us to share Jesus with others and to stand firm in our own struggle against the enemy. Essential #1 - The Bible is Inspired (authored by God), Inerrant (free from errors), Infallible (will not fail/is trustworthy), and Authoritative (our ultimate guide). Essential #2 - God is the perfect, loving Creator who is three-in-one: Father, Son, and Spirit. He is all powerful, all knowing, and all present. Essential #3- Jesus is fully God and was fully man. Although tempted in every way, He chose not to sin and willingly laid down His own life to be the sacrifice for our sin. His example should be our benchmark for godly living. Essential #4 - The Holy Spirit is God living in the follower of Christ. He helps the believer know and do right, convicts when we sin, and compels us to share the gospel with others. He comforts us, makes us more like Himself, and works through us when we use our Holy Spirit given gifts. Essential #5 - Heaven and Hell are literal places where the spirit of man spends eternity (forever). Heaven is God’s perfect and unimaginably beautiful home, but man’s sin prevents his entry. Instead, sinful man earns eternity in Hell - a place filled with fire and torment where man is separated from God forever. God desires that everyone would join Him in Heaven one day, but the choice to join Him there is ultimately yours alone and determined by whether or not you put your faith in Jesus Christ. Essential #6 - Satan was an angel in Heaven who rebelled against God as a result of his pride. Because of his sin, he was cast out of Heaven. He now roams the Earth, attacking unbelievers to keep them from God and attacking believers to keep them from growing in their faith or from sharing it with others. Even now, he must submit to God’s authority and in the end, God will crush Satan and throw him in Hell forever. Believers should stand strong in God’s power, resisting Satan’s attacks when he tempts them to sin. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: What does the world believe about Satan? How do you view or what do you know about Satan? -- Read 1st Peter 5:8. What is Satan’s goal when he attacks unbelievers? What is his goal when he attacks believers? Read 2nd Corinthians 11:14. What does it mean that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light? What are some ways He does this? What limits are there to Satan’s power to attack you as a follower of Jesus? Read Ephesians 6:13-17. What are the different parts of the armor of God?

Kids - Biblical Essentials - Satan

February 14, 2021 • Kristy Motte & Ashley Law

Week 7 - SATAN As we’ve laid a foundation of Biblical Essentials for Christ followers, we’ve covered so much already! We’ve learned a lot about our foundation of truth (the Bible), who God is (in all three parts), and that everyone faces a decision about eternity that results ultimately in Heaven or Hell. If we stopped there, it seems like everyone would follow Jesus and choose Heaven, right? But its not that simple; the essentials aren’t done. While we have a very real loving, perfect, Creator in Heaven, we also have a very real adversary or enemy - Satan. Understanding who Satan is, where he came from, how he works, and ultimately, where he ends up is ESSENTIAL for God’s followers. It helps us understand why people reject God and why even believers struggle so much with sin. This week we’ll see that Satan isn’t someone to fear or ignore. We can actively resist or fight against him and his attacks and should remember that ultimately, God is in control, even when it feels like overcoming the enemy is impossible. Let’s grow deep roots as God’s followers so that we can continue to follow Him. Colossians 2:6-7a | 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… This strong faith better equips us to share Jesus with others and to stand firm in our own struggle against the enemy. Essential #1 - The Bible is Inspired (authored by God), Inerrant (free from errors), Infallible (will not fail/is trustworthy), and Authoritative (our ultimate guide). Essential #2 - God is the perfect, loving Creator who is three-in-one: Father, Son, and Spirit. He is all powerful, all knowing, and all present. Essential #3- Jesus is fully God and was fully man. Although tempted in every way, He chose not to sin and willingly laid down His own life to be the sacrifice for our sin. His example should be our benchmark for godly living. Essential #4 - The Holy Spirit is God living in the follower of Christ. He helps the believer know and do right, convicts when we sin, and compels us to share the gospel with others. He comforts us, makes us more like Himself, and works through us when we use our Holy Spirit given gifts. Essential #5 - Heaven and Hell are literal places where the spirit of man spends eternity (forever). Heaven is God’s perfect and unimaginably beautiful home, but man’s sin prevents his entry. Instead, sinful man earns eternity in Hell - a place filled with fire and torment where man is separated from God forever. God desires that everyone would join Him in Heaven one day, but the choice to join Him there is ultimately yours alone and determined by whether or not you put your faith in Jesus Christ. Essential #6 - Satan was an angel in Heaven who rebelled against God as a result of his pride. Because of his sin, he was cast out of Heaven. He now roams the Earth, attacking unbelievers to keep them from God and attacking believers to keep them from growing in their faith or from sharing it with others. Even now, he must submit to God’s authority and in the end, God will crush Satan and throw him in Hell forever. Believers should stand strong in God’s power, resisting Satan’s attacks when he tempts them to sin.

Kids - Biblical Essentials - Heaven & Hell

February 7, 2021 • Kristy Motte & Ashley Law

Week by week, essential by essential, our faith has been strengthening! While accepting Jesus as Lord was the first step to a strong faith, we’ve been able to dig deeper into what God’s followers believe and why. Just like our memory verse, Colossians 2:6-7a says, we’re going to continue building our lives on the Lord with a foundation of firmly rooted faith essentials. Colossians 2:6-7a | 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… So far, we’ve learned a lot about the Bible, the Trinity, and the specific roles of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: Essential #1 - The Bible is Inspired (authored by God), Inerrant (free from errors), Infallible (will not fail/is trustworthy), and Authoritative (our ultimate guide). Essential #2 - God is the perfect, loving Creator who is three-in-one: Father, Son, and Spirit. He is all powerful, all knowing, and all present. Essential #3- Jesus is fully God and was fully man. Although tempted in every way, He chose not to sin and willingly laid down His own life to be the sacrifice for our sin. His example should be our benchmark for godly living. Essential #4 - The Holy Spirit is God living in the follower of Christ. He helps the believer know and do right, convicts when we sin, and compels us to share the gospel with others. He comforts us, makes us more like Himself, and works through us when we use our Holy Spirit given gifts. One area that can make sharing our faith difficult is the concept of eternity. We are time-based beings. Our lives revolve around the clock; we literally start and stop our day by it. Understanding that God is an eternal being without a beginning or an end is hard enough. Wrapping your mind around your own spiritual eternity can be even more difficult. While Christ’s sacrifice for the sake of our salvation provides a day-to-day restoration of our relationship with God, it also has an eternal impact that is an essential part of our faith as believers. This understanding begins with with the foundational concepts we will explore in this week’s essential: Essential #5 - Heaven and Hell are literal places where the spirit of man spends eternity (forever). Heaven is God’s perfect and unimaginably beautiful home, but man’s sin prevents his entry. Instead, sinful man earns eternity in Hell - a place filled with fire and torment where man is separated from God forever. God desires that everyone would join Him in Heaven one day, but the choice to join Him there is ultimately yours alone and determined by whether or not you put your faith in Jesus Christ. Brent Deep's Testimony: Brent Deep's Testimony: https://youtu.be/mhz2hdrbufq