May 23, 2022
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
Eli's Sons Disobeyed God - 1 Samuel 4-6
The ark of God reminded the Israelites that God was with them. Years later, God gave His people something greater than a sign that He was with them; God gave them His Son, JesusGod in the flesh. One of Jesus' names is Immanuel, which means "God with us."
Big Picture Question
What is the punishment for sin? The punishme...
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May 18, 2022
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
God Takes Sin Seriously - Ephesians 2
God takes sin seriously. People deserve to die for their sins, but God loves us and sent His Son, Jesus, to defeat death by dying on the cross for our sins and rising from the dead. Ever one who trusts in Jesus has eternal life.
Big Picture Question
What is the punishment for sin? The punishment for sin is death.
Key ...
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May 12, 2022
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
God Provided For Hannah - 1 Samuel 1-3
Samuel told people what God is like and what He would do. Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth as a human. He told people about God's plan and showed the world what God is like.
Big Picture Question
What is the punishment for sin? The punishment for sin is death.
Key Passage
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift...
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May 2, 2022
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
God Provided For Ruth - Ruth 1-4
Boaz was a family redeemer. He helped his close relatives who were in trouble. Boaz cared for Ruth and Naomi because their husbands had died. In a similar way, Jesus is our Redeemer. We need help because we sin. Jesus bought our salvation for us by taking our punishment when He died on the cross.
Big Picture Question
What is ...
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April 27, 2022
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
God Used Samson - Judges 13-16
Samson's sin led to his own death, but God used his death to save the Israelites from their enemies. Samson's story reminds us of Jesus. Jesus never sinned, but God sent Him to die on the
Big Picture Question
What is the punishment for sin? The punishment for sin is death.
Key Passage
For the wages of sin is death, but the gi...
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April 18, 2022
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
The People Kept Sinning - Judges 2
After God's people sinned, the judges helped God's people obey God again. But the judges could not change the people's hearts and make them love God. God had a plan. He sent His Son, Jesus, to change His people's hearts and save them from sin forever.
Big Picture Question
What is the punishment for sin? The punishment for s...
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April 11, 2022
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
Easter - God's Miracles Prove Who He Is
Jesus died on the cross for our sins, but He didn't stay dead. God was pleased with Jesus' sacrifice and miraculously raised Jesus from the dead to prove He is the Son of God and salvation is found in Him.
Big Picture Question
What is a miracle? A miracle is something God does that usually cannot be done.
Key Pa...
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April 6, 2022
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
Joshua Challenged The People (Joshua 23-24)
Before Joshua died, he left the Israelites with a task: obey God. After Jesus' death and resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples and left them with a task: obey Him by telling others about Him.
Big Picture Question
What is a miracle? A miracle is something God does that usually cannot be done.
Key Pass...
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March 28, 2022
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
God Gave The People The Land (Joshua 7-9)
Joshua's name means "The Lord is salvation." God fought for Joshua and the Israelites, saving them and giving them victory over their enemies. Sinners can look to God for victory over sin and death.
Big Picture Question
What is a miracle? A miracle is something God does that usually cannot be done.
Key Passage...
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March 21, 2022
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
God Defeated Jericho(Joshua 2, 6)
By faith Rahab believed God would win the battle. The Israelites kept Rahab and her family safe, and she joined God's people. Jesus has won against sin and death. Everyone who trusts in Jesus is safeand becomes part of God's family forever.
Big Picture Question
What is a miracle? A miracle is something God does that usually ...
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March 17, 2022
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
The Bible Helps Us Live For God (2 Timothy 3)
Paul wrote to teach Timothy how to live for God. The Bible tells us about God's planfor people to have forgiveness through His Son, Jesus. Jesus obeyed God's Wordperfectly. We can follow Jesus' example to read, believe, and obey the Bible as welive for God's glory.
Big Picture Question
What is the Bible? The Bible is G...
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March 8, 2022
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
God Stopped The Jordan River (Joshua 3-4)
God went ahead of Joshua and the Israelites into the promised land. He showed His power to them so they would trust in Him. When Jesus came to earth, He showed His power so people would trust in Him and be saved from sin.
Big Picture Question
What is the Bible? The Bible is God's Word that tells us what is true about God a...
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March 3, 2022
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
God Encouraged Joshua (Joshua 1)
God encouraged Joshua and promised to be with him as he led the Israelites into the promised land, where they would be victorious and find rest. We have victory over sin and rest for our souls in Jesus, who is with us always and leads us into the promised land of God's kingdom.
Big Picture Question
What is the Bible? The Bible is G...
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February 22, 2022
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
No One Is Like God (1 Peter 1)
No one is like God. He is holy, good, and loving. Jesus shows us what God is like. Jesus is holy. When we trust in Jesus, God makes us holy. God can make us more like Jesus.
Big Picture Question
What is God like? God is holy, good, and loving.
Key Passage
Lord, who is like you among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, ...
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February 17, 2022
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
God Healed The People (Numbers 21)
God sent snakes to punish the people, but anyone who was bitten could look at the snake on the pole and live. We deserve to die because of our sin, but anyone who looks to Jesus on the cross and trusts in Him will live forever with God.
Big Picture Question
What is God like? God is holy, good, and loving.
Key Passage
Lord, who ...
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February 10, 2022
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
Moses Disobeyed God (Numbers 20)
Moses disobeyed God and did not enter the promised land. We all have disobeyed God by sinning. But God gave us His Son, Jesus. Jesus always obeyed God. When we trust in Him, Jesus brings us into God's kingdom forever.
Big Picture Question
What is God like? God is holy, good, and loving.
Key Passage
Lord, who is like you among the...
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February 2, 2022
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
The People Didn't Go Into The Land (Numbers 13-14)
The Israelites did not obey God because they did not trust Him. Jesus always trusted God. He came into the world and was punished for our sin. When we trust in Jesus, God forgives our sin and gives us life with Him forever.
Big Picture Question
What is God like? God is holy, good, and loving.
Key Passage
Lord, w...
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January 24, 2022
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
God Deserves Our Worship (Leviticus 1-4)
God deserves our worship. He created us to be in a relationship with Him, and He has provided salvation from sin through His Son, Jesus. We can worship God by loving and obeying Him as we live to give Him glory.
Big Picture Question
What is worship? Worship is celebrating the greatness of God.
Key Passage
Come, let's wors...
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January 19, 2022
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
The People Built the Tabernacle (Exodus 35-40)
God told the Israelites to build a tabernacle where He would dwell with them. God wants to be with His people. As part of His plan to save sinners, God sent Jesus to dwell on earth with people.
Big Picture Question
What is worship? Worship is celebrating the greatness of God.
Key Passage
Come, let's worship and bow ...
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January 10, 2022
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
The People Worshiped a Golden Calf (Exodus 32-34)
Moses acted as the people's mediator, standing for them before God. Moses could not do anything to make up for their sin, but we have a better MediatorJesus. Jesus paid for our sin on the cross and stands for us before God. When we trust in Jesus, our sins are forgiven.
Big Picture Question
What is worship? Worship...
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January 6, 2022
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
God Gave The Ten Commandments (Exodus 19-20)
God gave us rules to show that He is holy. Sin keeps us away from God, but Jesus came to bring us back to Him. Jesus never sinned. We can trust Him to forgive our sins.
Big Picture Question
What is worship? Worship is celebrating the greatness of God.
Key Passage
Come, let's worship and bow down; let's kneel before th...
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December 14, 2021
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
God Keeps His Promises (Isaiah 9)
God keeps His promises. God promised to send a Rescuer, so He sent His Son, Jesus, into the world as a baby. Jesus saves sinners. He died on the cross and rose from the dead to rescue us.
Big Picture Question
Does God keep His promises? Yes, God always keeps His promises because He is faithful.
Key Passage
God is not a man, that...
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December 8, 2021
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
God Provided Manna (Exodus 16-17)
God provided water and manna for His people's physical hunger. Later, He provided His Son, Jesus, for our spiritual hunger. Jesus said, "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35). The Israelites needed bread to live for a little while, but whoever has Jesus will live forever
Big Picture Question
Does God keep His promises? Yes, God alwa...
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November 30, 2021
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
God Parted the Red Sea (Exodus 13-15)
Moses led God's people out of Egypt, and God made the way to freedom across the Red Sea. Moses was a great leader, but the Bible says Jesus is greater. God gives us freedom from sin through His Son, Jesus.
Big Picture Question
Does God keep His promises? Yes, God always keeps His promises because He is faithful.
Key Passage
...
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November 23, 2021
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
God Delivered His People (Exodus 5-12)
God kept the Israelites safe from punishment when they put the blood of a lamb over their doors. Jesus is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus was punished for sin when He died on the cross, and everyone who trusts in Jesus is kept safe from the punishment for sin.
Big Picture Question
Does God keep His...
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November 18, 2021
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Articles
2 Samuel 24:10-25
But David's heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O LORD, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly." And when David arose in the morning, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, "Go and say to ...
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November 15, 2021
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
God Called Moses (Exodus 1-4)
God saved Moses' life and called him to rescue God's people from slavery. The calling of Moses points to a greater calling and rescuethe call of Jesus to come to earth to save God's people. Jesus gave up His life to save us from slavery to sin
Big Picture Question
Does God keep His promises? Yes, God always keeps His promises because ...
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November 10, 2021
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
God Controls Everything (Job)
Job learned that God is all-powerful, sovereign, and good. When we facesuffering, we can hope in God. God sent Jesus, the only truly innocent One, tosuffer and die so that everyone who trusts in Him can.
Big Picture Question
Who is in control of everything? God is in control of everything in heaven and on earth. Nothing is outside of ...
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November 3, 2021
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
God Had a Plan for Joseph (Genesis 35-50)
God had a plan for Joseph's life. He allowed Joseph to suffer in order to rescuea whole nation. God planned for Jesus to suffer so that manypeople from allnationswould be saved.
Big Picture Question
Who is in control of everything? God is in control of everything in heaven and on earth. Nothing is outside of God's good pla...
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October 27, 2021
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
God Changed Jacob (Genesis 25-33)
God changed Jacob's life and gave him a new name, Israel. By dying and rising from the dead, Jesus made the way for us to be adopted into God's family. When we trust in Jesus, we get a new name, toochildren of God.
Big Picture Question
Who is in control of everything? God is in control of everything in heaven and on earth. Nothing...
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October 19, 2021
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
God Provided Isaac (Genesis 21-22)
Abraham showed his love for God by being willing to sacrifice his son Isaac. God provided a ram instead. This is how God showed His love for us: He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross so that we could have eternal life through Him.
Big Picture Question
Who is in control of everything? God is in control of everything in heave...
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October 12, 2021
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
Melchizidek Blessed Abraham (Genesis 14)
Melchizedek means "king of righteousness." Melchizedek reminds us of Jesus, an even greater priest and king who lives forever. Jesus died on the cross and rose again to bless all who trust in Him by providing forgiveness and eternal life.
Big Picture Question
Who is in control of everything? God is in control of everything ...
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October 6, 2021
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
God Made a Covenant With Abraham (Genesis 12-20)
God promised to bless all the world through Abraham. God sent Jesus from His home in heaven to be born on earth into Abraham's family. Through Jesus, all the nations of the earth are blessed because Jesus saves people from their sins.
Big Picture Question
Who is in control of everything? God is in control of everyth...
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September 27, 2021
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
People Rebel Against God (Genesis 1011)
People wanted glory for themselves instead of God. They ignored God's plan, so God confused their language and scattered them all over the earth. One day, Jesus will gather together all of God's peoplefrom every tribe and languageand they will worship Him together.
Big Picture Question
What does it mean to sin? To sin is to ...
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September 23, 2021
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
God Spared Noah (Genesis 6-10)
God rescued Noah and his family from the flood. The story of Noah points ahead to a greater rescue. God's Son, Jesusthe only perfectly righteous Onecame to take the punishment for our sin. By trusting in Him, we are saved from the punishment our sin deserves.
Big Picture Question
What does it mean to sin? To sin is to go against God ...
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September 16, 2021
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
Sin Spread to People (Genesis 4-5)
Adam and Eve's sin and its consequences spread to all of their descendants. But God did not forget His promise to send a Rescuer. At just the right time, God would send His Son to save sinners.
Big Picture Question
What does it mean to sin? To sin is to go against God and His commands.
Key Passage
For all have sinned and fall s...
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September 8, 2021
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
Sin Entered the World (Genesis 3)
Everything was different after Adam and Eve sinned. Since then, all people have been sinners. Sin keeps us from God, but God never stops loving us. He sent His Son, Jesus, to rescue people from sin and bring them back to God.
Big Picture Question
What does it mean to sin? To sin is to go against God and His commands.
Key Passage
...
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September 2, 2021
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
Creation Glorifies God (Psalm 19)
All of creation displays the glory of Godhow great He isalthough not perfectly. The perfect revelation of God's glory is found in Jesus, who came to show us exactly what God is like. Because Jesus is God, He is the perfect display of God's glory.
Big Picture Question
Why did God create everything? God created everything for His gl...
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August 26, 2021
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
God Created People (Genesis 2)
God created people in His own image and provides for everything He made. Peopleare special because God made people to live forever in a relationship with Him. Through His Son, Jesus, we can have eternal life with God just as Heplanned.
Big Picture Question
Why did God create everything? God created everything for His glory and our go...
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August 19, 2021
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Kids Lessons
God Created Everything (Genesis 1)
Jesus is Lord over all of creation. The Son has always existed. The Bible says everything was created by Him and for Him, and He holds everything together. All of creation exists to bring God glory.
Big Picture Question
Why did God create everything? God created everything for His glory and our good.
Key Passage
The heavens dec...
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March 8, 2021
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Study Guides
Revelation 6:9-17
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest...
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November 3, 2020
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Study Guides
Laodicea - Revelation 3:14-22
14"And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of theAmen,the faithful and true witness,the beginning of God's creation.15"'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot.Would that you were either cold or hot!16So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.17Foryousay, I am rich, I ...
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April 27, 2020
by Jon Merkling
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Category:
Study Guides
Download a PDF of the full Study Guide
Galatians 1:6-10
6I am astonished that you areso quickly desertinghim who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel7not that there is another one, butthere are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.8But even if we or anangel from heaven should preach to you agospel contrary to ...
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April 9, 2020
by Jon Merkling
Readings
Passover and the Lord's Supper - Matthew 26:2029; Mark 14:1723; Luke 22:1430Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet - John 13:117:26Jesus and the Disciples Sing a Hymn Then Depart to the Mount of Olives - Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26; Luke 22:39Jesus Predicts Peter's Denials - Matthew 26:3135; Mark 14:2731; Luke 22:3134The Garden of Gethsemane - Matthew 26:3646; Mark 14:32...
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March 21, 2020
by Jon Merkling
Hey Parents!
I know that this strange time has been challenging for us all, including our kids. I know many of your kids are already missing their friends and don't quite understand why they're not allowed to go anywhere. Other kids may be viewingthis as an extended break, but soon I thinkthey will struggle with the uncertainty of it all and the reality that things aren't...
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March 18, 2020
by Jon Merkling
If you're anything like me, you have been checking the news every five minutes for the last week or more. I'm typically not one who checks things that often, but since the Coronavirus news began to break in the US, I have followed it closely, alternating between local and national news sites, wanting to know more about where it is spreading, what is closing, and what our l...
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