QUEST: Preschool Lesson for December 18
This week’s reading from the Jesus Storybook Bible:
The Light of the World, p.184
This week’s Big Idea:
The Good News About Jesus Is For Everyone, Everywhere!
This week’s Key Verse:
Luke 2:11
Aiding Ukraine Together
A long-time RBC attender, Sandy Varney, was born in a barn while her parents fled from Ukraine during World War II. She would become a refugee in Germany then eventually immigrate to America. Eventually she would marry, practice dentistry and raise a family in Reston. In May of this year, Sandy went to Germany as a translator in a Ukrainian refugee camp. That became a springboard for a later trip into Ukraine where she met relatives, assessed urgent needs and found reliable on-the-ground organizations where the gospel of Jesus Christ would be spread in conjunction with delivering material needs.
As with all war, devastation and destruction leave people without adequate shelter and basic things for life. This is coupled with the mental and emotional trauma many experience. As a congregation, we have not forgotten about the needy and poor of Ukraine. Together, RBC recently supported a large purchase of sleeping bags that protect to -20 degrees. These bags will keep people in some targeted villages from freezing in their bombed-out homes. Generators were also purchased for churches so people can be fed and kept warm.
The generosity of the RBC congregation allows us to extend the love of Jesus to Ukrainians in need. Please continue to pray for an end to hostilities and for many to turn to Jesus Christ. Thank you for being a generous church. Below are some pictures of the villages where this aid was sent.
Preparing for Sunday | December 18
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Open Up The Heavens | [listen | lyrics]
Meredith Andrews, Stuart Garrard. James McDonald, Andi Rozier
Isaiah 64:1
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing | [listen + lyrics]
Felix Mendelssohn, Robert Sterling, Charles Wesley
Luke 2:14
Angels We Have Heard On High | [listen + lyrics]
Hymn, possibly from the 18th century; translated by James Chadwick (1862)
Luke 2:9
Hosanna | [listen]
Brooke Ligertwood
Mark 11:9-10
Let There Be Light [listen]
Bryan Torwalt, Katie Torwalt, Hank Bentley, Mia Fieldes
Genesis 1:3-4
SERMON TEXT
Genesis 17
QUEST: Preschool Lesson for December 11
This week’s reading from the Jesus Storybook Bible:
He’s Here, p.176
This week’s Big Idea:
God’s Promised Son Came To Live With Us.
This week’s Key Verse:
Luke 2:11
Preparing for Sunday | December 11
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Joy to the World | [listen]
George Frideric Handel, Isaac Watts, and Phil Wickham
Psalm 98:4
Christmas Day | [listen + lyrics]
Andrew Bergthold, Scott Cash, Franni Cash, Ed Cash, Ed Cash Jr.
Isaiah 49:13
The First Noel | [listen]
Luke 2:8-9
A Thousand Hallelujahs | [listen]
Brooke Ligertwood, Phil Wickham, Scott Ligertwood
Psalm 92:4-5
SERMON TEXT
Luke 6
Read an Excerpt from ‘Stay the Course’
The following is the preface from Pastor Mike Minter’s book, Stay the Course: A Pastor’s Guide to Navigating the Restless Waters of Ministry.
I once read Open, the autobiography of the legendary tennis player, Andre Agassi.
I don’t play tennis, so why would I read his story? Well, because it took me into a world I never knew existed. I learned about string tension, the difference between hard courts and grass courts, and the mental anguish that comes before each tournament. It was all fascinating to me. The experience was palpable. I could practically feel the sweat trickling down my face as I was moments away from hoisting the Wimbledon trophy before thousands of adoring fans. Agassi had me step into his life and feel every throbbing heartbeat of match point.
After that, I read The Accidental President by A. J. Baime, a very different book that threw me into the world of Harry S. Truman and the messy universe of politics. It was almost overwhelming to comprehend the apprehension that President Truman felt before giving the green light to bomb Japan with a nuclear device.
Good books, whether fiction or nonfiction, bring readers into unfamiliar environments. What string tension will he use on a grass court? What matrix will be employed to tip the scales in favor of dropping a bomb that will eradicate thousands of lives?
This is a book about pastoral ministry and the local church. It is written for pastors, but not exclusively. I hope it proves valuable for anyone who wishes to peek behind the curtain of ministry, as I did with tennis and politics. It is a book for anyone who has a heart for the local church or is concerned about the lack of unity in the body of Christ. There are wonderful things taking place in the global Church, particularly outside of the United States, but there is also plenty of room for growth. Division is rampant, and the debates that rage among Christians often make Democrats and Republicans look like buddies. It’s tragic, really. And it may seem that Christ’s prayer that “all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you” (John 17:21) is not even close to being realized.
It is easy to be discouraged as wars are fought among fellow believers. I want pastors to stay the course and be the generation that will be the answer to the Lord’s prayer that we would be one.
Purchase from Amazon Purchase from ChristianBook.com Purchase from LifewayQUEST: Preschool Lesson for December 4
This week’s reading from the Jesus Storybook Bible:
God Makes a Way, p.92
This week’s Big Idea:
God makes a way where there is no way.
This week’s Key Verse:
Exodus 6:7
BABY QUEST: December Lessons
Baby QUEST is Reston Bible Church’s ministry to the youngest members of our Body.
Each month, we will feature a guide for your family to use with children ages 0-2. The guide includes follow up activities, a craft or sensory activity, recommended reading, a song, and other tips that are uniquely tailored to the development of infants and toddlers.
The guide follows the themes we are teaching in our nursery classes, giving you an opportunity to connect and reinforce the ideas taught at home. Because children this age need repetition, each activity can be done multiple times throughout the month to continue to press it upon your child’s memory as they grow!
This month, children will be excited to talk about the birth of Baby Jesus! They will be introduced to the Christmas story with fun play activities, learning about the star, angels, shepherds, the manger, and more! But most importantly they will begin to discover the importance of Jesus and His birth.
Big Idea:
Jesus Came To Be With Us
Scripture Focus:
Luke 2: Baby Jesus is Born!
Preparing for Sunday | December 4
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
God So Loved | [listen]
Ed Cash, Scott Cash, Franni Cash, Martin Cash, Andrew Bergthold
John 3:16
O Come All Ye Faithful | [listen]
John F. Wade (1743)
Luke 2:15-16
All Creatures of Our God and King | [listen + lyrics]
Jonathan Baird, Ryan Baird, Francis of Assisi, William Henry Draper
Psalm 69:34
Who You Say I Am [listen]
Ben Fielding, Reuben Morgan
John 8:36
Great I Am | [listen]
Jared Anderson
1 Samuel 2:2
SERMON TEXT
Exodus 3
MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE
God said to Moses, “I AM who I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:14)
Preparing for Sunday | November 27
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Only King Forever | [listen]
Mack Brock, Chris Brown, Steven Furtick, Wade Joye
1 Timothy 1:17
O Praise The Name (Anástasis) | [listen + lyrics]
by Benjamin Hastings, Dean Ussher, Marty Sampson
Romans 5:8
New Doxology | [listen + lyrics]
Thomas Miller, Thomas Ken
I Thank God | [listen]
Aaron Moses, Chuck Butler, Dante Bowe, Jesse Cline, Maryanne J. George
Psalm 40:2-3
I Speak Jesus | [listen + lyrics]
Abby Benton, Carlene Prince, Dustin Smith, Jesse Reeves, Kristen Dutton, and Raina Pratt
Philippians 2:9-10
Holy Forever | [listen + lyrics]
Brian Johnson, Chris Tomlin, Jason Ingram, Jenn Johnson, Phil Wickham
Psalm 145:21
SERMON TEXT
Isaiah 52
MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE
Therefore my people shall know my name. Therefore in that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here I am. (Isaiah 52:6)
Family Quest: The Rock – Peak 2 (Lesson 3)
Confident prayer flows from a personal, experiential trust in the character of God.
Trusting that God will answer your prayers, and always in the very best way possible, begins with the knowledge of the revealed character of God in Scripture.
“As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.” (2 Sam. 22:31)
Scripture is clear; God answers the prayers of his people when they turn their hearts toward him. But how does He answer? What can we expect?
ABOUT FAMILY QUEST: At Reston Bible Church, we firmly believe that parents are a child’s first and most important spiritual leader. In order to support you that mission, we have created a parent devotional and some discussion starters to go along with each lesson your grade school age children are learning at Quest on Sundays. Our hope and prayer is that this material will help you to engage with your children around the topics they are learning on Sunday mornings, answer their questions, go deeper with them, and find real, day-to-day applications. We are honored to be able to partner with you in the critical task of sharing Christ with the next generation.
QUEST: Preschool Lesson for November 20
This week’s reading from the Jesus Storybook Bible:
The Forgiving Prince, p. 76
This week’s Big Idea:
God is always in control.
This week’s Key Verse:
Genesis 50:20
Preparing for Sunday | November 20
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Honey in the Rock | [listen]
Brooke Ligertwood
Psalm 81:16
Be Glad | [listen + lyrics]
Cody Carnes, Chris Davenport, Jason Ingram, Steven Furtick
Psalm 118:1
Living Hope | [listen]
Phil Wickham, Brian Johnson
1 Peter 1:3
I Speak Jesus | [listen + lyrics]
Abby Benton, Carlene Prince, Dustin Smith, Jesse Reeves, Kristen Dutton, and Raina Pratt
Philippians 2:9-10
In Christ Alone | [listen + lyrics]
Keith Getty, Stuart Townend
Galatians 2:20
Holy Forever | [listen + lyrics]
Brian Johnson, Chris Tomlin, Jason Ingram, Jenn Johnson, Phil Wickham
Psalm 145:21
Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me | [listen + lyrics]
Jonny Robinson, Michael Farren, Rich Thompson
Galatians 2:20
SERMON TEXT
Isaiah 52
MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE
Therefore my people shall know my name. Therefore in that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here I am. (Isaiah 52:6)
What Is Happening at Guilford?
As we continue our partnership with the new administration, we want to share some of the ways you may not be aware of that we minister to our Guilford community.
For students, we provide items for special events like Trunk or Treat, Read Across America Week, the SOL pancake breakfast, and more. Every month RBC volunteers fill classroom bins with snacks donated by the congregation. Because of your faithful giving, when the Guidance Counselor reaches out about a student needing shoes, clothes, or coats, we can meet that need.
For staff, we provide breakfasts and lunches on teacher workdays, RBC staff prays weekly over requests we receive from the Guilford prayer box in the teacher’s lounge, and we support the school’s Sunshine Committee with raffles and gift cards. We provide the water in the teacher’s lounge and help with classroom and clinic supplies. RBC also walks alongside staff members that are going through difficult times whether it be financially or emotionally.
For families, we pack and deliver food bags every week to Guilford. We do home visits to help those identified by the Guidance Counselor or Parent Liasion that may need extra assistance. Some of you will be delivering groceries this weekend during First Fruits to families we are ministering to. We provide breakfast every month for the Parent Coffee Hour. We assist with the end-of-the-year community picnic and annual Thanksgiving celebration, which is coming up soon and we still need more pies. There will be a table in the lobby after the service to sign up to provide one or to get more information about getting involved.
Let’s take a moment and pray for the new administration, the staff, families, and children at Guilford Elementary.
Family Quest: The Rock – Peak 2 (Lesson 2)
“In Jesus’ name.” We throw those words on to the end of our prayers as though they were a postage stamp or magical phrase that will result in our prayers being answered.
I am as guilty as the next guy in this regard. “In Jesus name,” has become just as rote as saying, “amen,” at the end of a prayer. It is interesting to consider that “in Jesus name” does not appear at the end of any prayers in the Bible. So what does it mean to pray, “in Jesus name,” and why is it the key to answered prayer?
Thinking about the answer to this question brought to mind an incident that occurred some years ago. I was suffering with a kidney stone. Those of you who have had one will attest to the agony. I went to a hospital where I sat, or rather writhed, in pain while the receptionist asked me about my address, my insurance, and my medical history. She then informed me that I had to wait for admittance even though there were apparently no other patients in the waiting area in as much pain. I asked her to reconsider but to no avail.
ABOUT FAMILY QUEST: At Reston Bible Church, we firmly believe that parents are a child’s first and most important spiritual leader. In order to support you that mission, we have created a parent devotional and some discussion starters to go along with each lesson your grade school age children are learning at Quest on Sundays. Our hope and prayer is that this material will help you to engage with your children around the topics they are learning on Sunday mornings, answer their questions, go deeper with them, and find real, day-to-day applications. We are honored to be able to partner with you in the critical task of sharing Christ with the next generation.