Family Quest: The Hope – The Story of God’s Promise (Lesson 16)
LESSON 16: HEAVENLY MISSION
“Jesus expressed His compassion and proved His authority with miracles. He was reported to have calmed storms and walked on the sea. On two occasions, He took just a few loaves of bread and a handful of fish and multiplied them to feed thousands of people. Jesus gave sight to the blind, caused the lame to walk, and healed people of horrible diseases. He cast demons out of people, and He even raised people from the dead. For thirty years, Jesus had lived in obscurity. But now, He was demonstrating His power over the physical and the spiritual world, over life and death.” – The HOPE, Chapter 9
In the Bible, there are four words (two Hebrew and two Greek) that are translated as the word “miracle.” In each case, these words describe an intervention by God in which the ordinary course of
nature is overruled, suspended, or modified.
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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.
Preparing for Sunday | February 20
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Open Up The Heavens | [listen | lyrics]
Meredith Andrews, Stuart Garrard. James McDonald, Andi Rozier
Isaiah 64:1
Crown Him | [listen + lyrics]
Chris Tomlin, Daniel Carson, Matt Redman, DK Kim, Colby Taylor
Hebrews 2:9
My God Is Still the Same | [listen]
Benji Cowart, Chris Rohman, Dustin Lolli, Josh Bronleewe
James 1:17
Living Hope | [listen]
Phil Wickham, Brian Johnson
1 Peter 1:3
Overcome [listen]
Chris Brown, Mack Brock, Steven Furtick
Psalm 46:1-3
SERMON TEXT
2 Corinthians 1
QUEST: Preschool Lesson for February 13
This week’s reading from the Jesus Storybook Bible:
A Little Servant Girl and the Proud General, p. 136
This week’s Big Idea:
Salvation and relationship with God isn’t something we achieve, it’s something we receive!
This week’s Key Verse:
Isaiah 53:6
Family Quest: The Hope – The Story of God’s Promise (Lesson 15)
LESSON 15: JESUS CALLING
Throughout the ages since Jesus walked the earth many non-believers have tried to dismiss Jesus by saying such things as, “He was a teacher,” or “He was a powerful prophet.” Their goal in
making these statements is usually to deny the central claim of Christianity, namely that Jesus is God. But we shouldn’t shy away from these statements because they are in fact true. Jesus was a great teacher. The greatest teacher ever. A typical pastor preaches for 40 minutes today, but Jesus’ most famous sermon on the mount takes only about 15 minutes from beginning to end and is so profound that books have been written just about these few verses. Jesus wasn’t just a lecturer either. He was a “walk along the way” teacher, a disciple maker.
“And walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” And they immediately left the nets, and followed Him.”
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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.
Preparing for Sunday | February 13
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Your Great Name | [listen + lyrics]
Michael Neale, Krissy Nordhoff
Philippians 2:10-11
Promises | [listen]
Aaron Moses, Carrington Gaines, Dante Bowe, Keila Alvarado, Lemuel Marin
Psalm 113:2-3
Revelation Song | [listen + lyrics]
Jennie Lee Riddle
Revelation 5:12
God of Revival | [listen]
Brian Johnson, Phil Wickham
Psalm 77:13-14
SERMON TEXT
Proverbs 16
MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)
QUEST: Preschool Lesson for February 6
This week’s reading from the Jesus Storybook Bible:
The Good Shepherd, p 130
This week’s Big Idea:
The Lord loves us and takes care of us and protects us. Jesus is our good shepherd!
This week’s Key Verse:
Psalm 16:8
BABY QUEST: February 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, we’re focusing on the Creation story. Children will learn to identify God as the Creator and different things He created in the world around them–including themselves!
Big Idea:
God Made Everything!
Scripture Focus:
Genesis 1-2
Preparing for Sunday | February 6
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Man of Sorrows | [listen]
Matt Crocker, Brooke Ligertwood
Isaiah 53:3
Great Things (Worth It All) | [listen]
Mack Brock, Chris Brown, Wade Joye.
Psalm 126:3
It Is Well (Through It All) [listen + lyrics]
Horatio Gates Spafford, Kristene DiMarco, Philip Paul Bliss
Amos 4:13
Jesus Paid It All | [listen + lyrics]
Elvina M. Hall
Colossians 2:13-14
SERMON TEXT
Proverbs 19
MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE
“Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.” (Proverbs 19:11)
Preparing for Sunday | January 30
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Hosanna | [listen]
Brooke Ligertwood
Mark 11:9-10
My God Is Still the Same | [listen]
Benji Cowart, Chris Rohman, Dustin Lolli, Josh Bronleewe
James 1:17
My Worth Is Not in What I Own [listen]
Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, Graham Kendrick
Philippians 3:8
Be Thou My Vision | [listen]
Eleanor Henrietta Hull, Mary Elizabeth Byrne (Arrangement: Ascend The Hill)
2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Jesus Strong And Kind | [listen]
Colin Buchanan, Jonny Robinson, Michael Farren, and Rich Thompson
Matthew 11:28-29
SERMON TEXT
Proverbs 18
Doxologies: My God Is Still the Same
For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. Malachi 3:6
When RBC began, there was no Internet. RBCers didn’t have computers, vehicle airbags, smartphones (or even dumb phones!) The Redskins hadn’t yet won a Super Bowl. There was no Chipotle. There wasn’t even Starbucks, unless you lived in Seattle and were buying beans by the bag from an unknown little shop in Pike Place Market. It had been only a couple years since the Vietnam War ended. The U.S. was still 15 years out from the first Gulf War. It would be 26 years until 9/11 and 45 years until the Covid-19 pandemic.
Of course, the 70s themselves were a milestone of much change from decades before. But with the rise of the Internet and the connectivity we experience today, one thing’s for sure: if this world wasn’t already changing rapidly before, it is certainly getting to the point where if you blink, the world becomes virtually unrecognizable.
And yet, amidst millions of new businesses, countless technological advancements, unsettling cultural shifts and too many breathtaking tragedies, we as Christians can find comfort in the truth of Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” The band Sanctus Real authored a new song called My God Is Still the Same that reflects this powerful truth, and we will sing it together this Sunday. The verses of this song focus on several elements that God used throughout the Old and New Testaments to show the unchanging nature of His mighty power.
The song begins, “Just ask the waves, if they are stilled at the mention of His name…” These lyrics take us back to the Sea of Galilee, some 2000 years ago. Luke recounts the story of Jesus calming a raging storm with just a few words. It’s easy to read this story in context but keep a mental separation between then and now. Yet, those are the same waters floating there today that were stilled at the direction of Jesus’ voice—and they are just as beholden to the sound of His voice today as they ever were. The stanza closes with the answer of the waves, who say, “My God is still the same.” We are then taken to a time where the intimidating walls of Jericho crumbled at the mighty sound of God-fearers, shouting in faith at the top of their lungs. “Ask the walls if they still fall at the mighty sound of praise.” The stanza closes with the answer of the walls, who likewise say, “My God is still the same.” We are later prompted to consider how effectively God hears the words of those who cry out in times of hurt and sadness. “Ask the words you prayed in desperation if they’re heard.” The answer: “My God is still the same.”
The last stanza ends with a consideration of the grave, a place that can feel so finite, so formidable to the unsaved human. “Ask the grave if it’s strong enough to keep hope in its chains.” Even the grave cedes to the Almighty, admitting that it cannot keep the believer in death: “God is still the same.” The chorus similarly proclaims truths about God’s consistent grace: He will never break His promise, never fail us, never lose His power, and never change His mercy. Not once. “Never has, never will.” Our God is still the same.
In Malachi 3, God speaks powerfully through the prophet: “’For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.’” Here, we have a stark and important reminder of our broken human condition in relation to God without Christ, and yet also a gracious reminder of how awesome his mercy is. Because He does not change, we are not consumed. Isn’t it amazing? Even in spite of our brokenness, even while we were still sinners …our God is still the same. Regardless of all the changes that have taken place since RBC began over 45 years ago …our God is still the same. And even as we face changes yet to come …our God is still the same.
As we gather this Sunday and sing praise to God, may we be reminded of His beautiful consistency and unwavering dependability throughout all of time. When the change around us seems unsettling or overwhelming, doubts and questions may arise in our hearts. Perhaps there are moments or seasons in which we relate with the rhetorical questions the song asks. “When did He break His promise?” “When did His kindness fail?” “When did He lose His power?” “When did His mercy change?” But when we sing this song together this Sunday, may our voices rise in worship to proclaim a resolved, unified response:
“Never has, never will. Our God is still the same!”