WOW wk6, 4/11/2010 - PCAC G4/5

Updates from pastor John:
========================================
From: John Chen
To: sam shen ; s k ; songye@yahoo.com; liux1998@gmail.com; mshen6@yahoo.com; iluvgirlswithglasses98@gmail.com; lihongpan2001@yahoo.com; wenhueifu@yahoo.com; lixin_jia@yahoo.com; guoweng@gmail.com; han2mei2@hotmail.com; zhou_yuzheng@hotmail.com; weiwujj@yahoo.com; junyang97@gmail.com; je99762@yahoo.com; qmaria_wang@yahoo.com; shiht fu ; Kate Deng ; Betty Li
Sent: Thu, April 15, 2010 1:13:49 PM
Subject: 4/11/2010 - Wk6 - PCAC G4/5 Sunday School Summary

Dear Parents,

Last week was my last time substituting for Teacher Sam (the curriculum book is in my mail slot for you to pick up any time; I'm off on Thursdays). I really enjoyed my short time teaching and interacting with your children. I want to especially thank Helper Maria because she is both a mom with a son in our class, and a good helper!

I like to address 2 things before the summary of the Sunday School:

1. I've noticed about 2/3 of the kids brought their Bibles. Please strongly encourage your child to bring his/her Bible to church. I also found out that at least 1 child do not own a Bible. This is the best gift one can receive. I recommend The NIV Study Bible for Youth. I've seen them on sale for $20 at Mardel. It is an inexpensive investment for your child's eternal life....
2. There were 3 girls sitting together right next to me who's bodies were there physically, but minds and spirits were some where else. I have no idea where, but they checked out of everything except the beginning exercise. I asked all 3 girls on 3 different occasions during the teaching time (30mins) what I had just said, and none of them could give any replies. I know it's not my lack of communicating because most of the rest of the class were raising their hands eager to answer the questions.
• Please have a talk with your child about being focused during Sunday School instruction time. If they really don't want to be at SS, don't force them. Take them with you, and worship together in the Mandarin service.

Summary:

We started with an exercise in which I asked everyone to stand in a line from the shortest to the tallest person on a tape line on the floor. The object of this exercise was for to show that they may have to take a stand on various issues in life, and some times it might be different from their friends and others. Nevertheless, how different, they need to take a stand for God, truth, and their convictions.

The following explains the game with the 12 statements that they will "take a stand" on:

• The game:
• 12 statements
• If you agree, take 1 shoulder width step to the right
• If you disagree, take 1 step to the left
• No changing the statements or changing your responses
• I will repeat the statements twice
• Step on my count of 3

1. Telling a lie is OK if you can get away with it

2. People who go to church are usually better than people who don’t go to church

3. If you study hard enough, you can get an A in any subject

4. People who has straight teeth usually have greater self-confident than people without

5. Many people join a sport team or cheerleader squad to feel accepted

6. Evolution is true even though the Bible says “God created”

7. Fat people are usually lazier than slim people

8. Wearing eye glasses make someone look like a dork

9. Popular people usually have the most friends

10. Good people should all go to heaven

11. The most important thing for a Christian is to be happy

12. Rich people are usually smarter than poor people

It was interesting where/how some kids thought about these simple statements. You can learn a bunch by which way they stepped, and if they have conviction or not when they take a stand because many hesitated or changed their directions after seeing their peers go the opposite way.

This exercise led to a few other questions from me, ending with "How can we keep following God, even when it's hard? Even if we're the only person standing on the other side of the line?"

(I have to say that at there was 1 boy at the very end of the 12 statements who ended up all by himself on one side of the line opposite of everyone else).

BIBLE PASSAGE LESSON

Apostles Defend Their Faith from Acts 5:12-42.

v.12 - we talked about what is an apostle; what criteria must be met to be an apostle. 3 basic ones in the Bible.

1. Called by Jesus (Luke 6:13)
2. Eye witness of the resurrected Jesus (Acts 2:16-23)
3. Sent by Jesus to proclaim the Gospel, the Good News (Acts 9; 9:15)

Are there any true apostles today according to the Bible?

v.15 – Apparently God used Peter’s shadow to heal some people

• Jesus’ cloak to heal the bleeding woman (Mt. 9:20)
• Paul’s handkerchiefs (Acts 19:12)

* * * we talked about some Catholic relics they worshipped.

v.17 – high priest and his associates were Sadducees (and they were Sad U See) because they did not believe in the resurrection or a personal Messiah so they had no hope after death. But they had control of the temple.

• Pharisees – they were the teachers of the law
• Sanhedrin – Jewish “Supreme” ruling Court (70-100; ideally to have 71 members to avoid an even vote)

* * * they were filled with jealousy against the apostles. Why?

v.19-20 – God rescued them for a reason to “tell the people the message of this new life.”

v.28 – The religious leaders were afraid to be labeled guilty of killing Jesus because of the people.

v.29 – Peter and other Apostles took their stand even in the face of arrest, physical harm and death threats, and said, “we must obey God rather than men.”

v.38-39 – Gamaliel, a Pharisee who was respected and wise. He proposed to the council to:

• Let the Apostles go
• He argued that if what the Apostles’ were doing were of human origin, it would fail like those other rebels; their followers scattered after the death of their leaders.
• But if what's happening is from God, 1) you can’t stop these men, 2) you are only fighting against God. And you will lose.

v.41 – Why were the Apostles “rejoicing?”

• Happy to not have to go back to jail?

v.42 – They continue to do what God told them to do; the reason why God let them out of jail.

What were they telling people? The Good News that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

I asked the kids, "Do you think you could have acted like the apostles under those great pressure? Why or why not? All who responded said no; the pressure is too great.

How do you think the Apostles would answer the question “What should we do when it’s hard to be a Christian?” All who responded said to take a stand for God.

I said that the Apostles and other followers of Jesus did suffer many times for their faith, BUT they kept following God, even when it got hard. And they are our examples for us to follow. And we talked about types of peer pressures they face in school and with their friends. The biggest issue your children at this age are facing is acceptance by peers. This is a very critical time to forge in them though acceptance might make one feel wonderful and belong, but being accepted alone in sin is the wrong path to take. They need to be able to take a stand on God's truth in spite of what others might say and do; they need to value leading peers toward God over valuing acceptance by following their friends doing wrong things. Ultimately, these kids need to understand and forged in them to value God's acceptance of them over anyone else.

There were a couple other things planned, but we ran out of time. One important item we didn't get to the Key Verse for the week. Please work on it with your child. It is

James 1:2-3, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."

• Remember the “pure joy” this week when you have opportunities to take a stand for Jesus.
• When there are trials from God, it is because your faith is being put to the test!

Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I am here to serve the Lord in the best way I can for you. Blessings in the the Name of Jesus.

+ + +
John M. Chen, Pastor to Children. o.972.867.2990 x106
Plano Chinese Alliance Church. 5025 Custer Rd, Plano, TX, 75023. http://www.pcactexas.org