This Sunday we’ll focus in on the appearance of Archangel Gabriel to Mary and another (unnamed) angel to Joseph, giving them a very personal and intimate picture of the coming birth. Join us as we celebrate Jesus’ birth!

This is a great time of the year to invite a friend.

Tom and Sydney Cook
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Isaiah was one of the greatest prophets of Israel, some 700 years before Christ. God spoke through Isaiah the promise that a virgin would have a Son and would call Him “Immanuel,” which means “God with us.”

Isaiah forefold many of the names which would apply to Jesus: “Wonderful Counselor,” “Mighty God,” “Everlasting Father,” “Prince of Peace.”

Both Isaiah and Micah told that Jesus would come from the line of King David, and Micah further told that Jesus would be born in the same city as David was born, in Bethlehem.

Join us Sunday as we begin our celebration of the Christmas season, the joyous event of Jesus’ birth.

This is a great time of year to bring a friend to share our fun!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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God had picked Israel as His chosen nation. He continued to honor His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; Abraham’s descendants were now to become a nation, and then occupy the land God had promised.

But first the group of slaves had to become a nation. That started with the rules that God gave them on Mt Sinai, most important of which were the Ten Commandments. Etched in stone, these ten rules provided a foundation for relating to God and to one another.

This Sunday we will be learning the ten commandments and how they apply in our lives today. You will want to be there with us (and, of course, bring a friend!).

Tom and Sydney Cook
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But Pharaoh wasn’t finished with the Israelites. Once again he changed his mind and chased after them with chariots and army. God had one more opportunity to show His mighty power as He opened the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to cross on dry land, but to drown the Egyptian army which tried to follow them.

This week we will finish up our collection for food for needy families for Thanksgiving. Don’t forget to bring in your decorated Thanksgiving grocery bags, even if you haven’t had a chance to get food. These will be used by our deacons as “Thanksgiving cards” to each family we are able to help, to remind them about the real reason for Thanksgiving.

See you Sunday—and bring a friend!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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Moses survives the efforts of Pharoah to kill the Hebrew baby boys with the help of his mother and sister Miriam. Adopted by Pharoah’s daughter and brought up in the Pharoah’s palace, he tries to help his fellow Hebrews and winds up killing an Egyptian. He flees to the desert of Midian, where he marries and raises a family and tends his father-in-law’s sheep.

The stage is set for God to put His plan in motion. God speaks to Moses from a burning bush on Mount Sinai, and instructs him to return to Egypt and lead the Hebrews out of slavery into the Promised Land. That’s where our story will pick up this Sunday. It’s an exciting action story—you won’t want to miss it. Bring a friend to enjoy the action with you.

Tom and Sydney Cook
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Joseph went through many trials, first from his brothers (who sold him into slavery in Egypt), then from his Egyptian master’s wife’s false accusation, then in prison. But wherever he found himself, he knew he could trust God to carry on His promise. Because Joseph continued to obey God, the Bible says over and over that “God was with Joseph.” He gained respect and earned responsibility in Potiphar’s house, then again in prison, and finally in Pharoah’s administration. Joseph became second only to Pharoah in the Egyptian government.

When his brothers showed up to purchase grain because of the famine, Joseph was in a position to help them. But first he tested them to make sure they had repented of their earlier sin against him. Satisfied that they had indeed changed, he sent for his father and his household, who moved from Canaan to the Land of Goshen in Egypt. God’s chosen people were all now in Egypt, where they thrived and increased in number.

The stage was set for the most important event in Jewish history.

Come join us this Sunday as we finish our study of the Patriarchs and Genesis. You’ll have a great time and we’ll love to see you! Bring along a friend.

Tom and Sydney Cook
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Jacob was not the best role model. He cheated his brother Esau out of his birthright (actually selling it for a bowl of bean soup). He deceived his father Isaac into giving Jacob the blessing instead of Esau. Esau hated Jacob and threatened to kill him when Isaac died.

Rebekah sent Jacob back to Haran, to her brother’s family, where he stayed for twenty years and gained two wives, twelve sons and a daughter, and much wealth in the form of herds of sheep. When God told him it was time, he returned to Canaan in fear of his brother Esau.

We’ll fill in the rest of the story Sunday, with a Lego version of the story and a video clip about Jacob and Esau. You’ll want to be there with us—and bring a friend!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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When one of the frequent famines occurred in the area, Isaac started to go to Egypt for food, as his father had done before. But God told him to stay in the area, and he settled in Gerar, in the land of the Philistines.

Isaac wanted to live in a place where there were no disputes, no contention, and where there was enough water for the many animals he had inherited from Abraham. Water was so precious that the wells Isaac dug (earlier dug by Abraham) were fought over by Isaac’s herdsmen and the Philistine herdsmen. Isaac had to move four times before he moved far enough away from the Philistines that there was no fighting over water rights.

While he was moving away from the Philistines, however, he was also moving closer to where God wanted him to be, in the land of promise. Finally he settled in Beersheba, built an altar and worshiped God, pitched his tents, and dug a new well.

Isaac was willing to give up some of his legal rights so that his family and servants could live in peace. Living at peace with others pleases God.

Join us this Sunday as we learn more about treating others the way God wants us to. This would be a great week to bring a friend!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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Abram, his name changed to Abraham (“Father of Many”,) has faith in God’s promise of descendants, a land, and that he will be a blessing to all the world.

Join us this Sunday as we begin to learn about the Patriarchs, the fathers of faith whom God uses to begin His story of redemption. Bring a friend along with you!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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But there was one — just one — family who still loved and worshipped God. Noah, his three sons, and their wives had kept away from the sin all around them.

God spoke to Noah and gave him the plans for an immense ship, which would serve as a safe place for Noah and his family. It was to be big enough to hold two of every kind of animal (and seven pairs of the clean animals used for food and sacrifice). Noah built the ship, called the Ark, just as God had said. God sent the animals to him and all got on board the Ark.

What happened next was a terrible flood which destroyed all the life on earth—except for those safely in the Ark. It rained for 40 days, and water fountained up from the oceans and other sources, until the whole earth was covered with water. It took about a year for the water to settle and the dry land to reappear. Noah and the animals had survived, and came out of the Ark to have babies and re-populate the earth.

God made two important promises after the flood, sealed with the sign of the rainbow. One was that He would never flood the earth again. The other was that day and night, seedtime and harvest, and the seasons would never end.

Join us (with a friend) this Sunday as we take a closer look at the construction and voyage of the Ark.

Tom and Sydney Cook
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The Bible doesn’t say clearly, but does hint, that Abel brought the best of his flock, but Cain was less selective. In any case, God was pleased with Abel’s sacrifice, but not with Cain’s. God made it clear to Cain that God would help him make things better, but Cain was angry at God and also at his brother. His anger turned to murder as he led Abel out into the fields and killed him.

This first murder has several lessons for us today. Anger can often lead to very bad choices, and again we are accountable for our actions before God. Relationships are important; God will hold us accountable for the way we treat others. But God has mercy and loves us, as much as possible as our choices and attitudes limit His ability to show His love to us.

We will view a short overview of the entire first twelve chapters of Genesis next Sunday, to help us see how all the story fits together. It would be a great week to bring a friend!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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God had given them only one restriction: “Do not eat from the tree in the middle of the garden. You may eat freely from any of the many other trees.”

I wonder how long it took them to break this restriction? They were doing fine until the serpent came along and started to question God. His questions put doubt and envy in Eve’s mind, and when she gave in to temptation she drew Adam into the same sin. Their choice, as always, had consequences, and the whole world suffered because of their sin.

That’s what we’ll be learning about this Sunday. Come join us as we learn why there is poison ivy, mosquitos, disease, hurricanes, earthquakes, as well as all kinds of human sin. The Bible says that all creation is fallen from the state God created it (“It was good” ) because of Adam and Eve’s decision to disbey God.

This would be a great week to bring a friend.

Tom and Sydney Cook
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With the new year and new class, we begin a new study through the Bible. We will start right at the beginning — with the account of the creation of the world in the book of Genesis. “Genesis” means “Beginning,” so it’s a very good place to start.

God has created a wonderful world, and has filled it with many marvelous things. It’s really interesting to learn about all the different kinds of plants, animals, and other things (like stars, lakes, mountains, etc.) that God created. We will have time to discuss only a few of these…but come ready to tell us your favorite part of creation!

When God created man, He put him in charge of creation…to take care of it, use it wisely, and protect it. We can all do our part as creation’s caretakers.

Join us Sunday and have fun with us learning about God’s creation…and bring a friend!

Tom and Sydney Cook

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This Sunday we’ll look at the time Jesus called the first of His disciples, and then at the end of His ministry (after He rose from the dead), how He sent them on mission. We call it the Great Commission, as He left “marching orders” for those disciples and for all Christians, including us today. We are to join in Jesus’ mission to make disciples and teach them what Jesus taught, so that they can have that abundant life that He promised, both now here on earth and forever in heaven.

We will take a look at some of the things we already know about Jesus, and how we can continue to learn more. The more we know about Jesus, the better we can obey Him and be like Him, and the more we can tell to other people about Him.

This is the last Sunday of our Sunday School year, so we will be sending our current fourth graders off to their new fifth grade class. We will have diplomas, “Pomp and Circumstance,” and a memento of the fun times we have had together in Fourth Grade Sunday School. You won’t want to miss it! Bring a friend along to watch you graduate!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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Our story this Sunday is about a young rich man who said he wanted to follow Jesus, until Jesus told him what that meant. At that point the young man turned and went his own way rather than following Jesus…a very sad story.

The good news is that God knows us better than we know ourselves, and that He knows the results of our decisions and actions. If we follow His way, we will have the best possible lives—fulfilling God’s purpose for us, konwing the joy of serving Him, and accomplishing the most in His kingdom. As we study His Word and follow His commands, we will know more and more about what His special plan for each of us is.

Join us this Sunday as we learn more about following God’s plan for our lives—and bring a friend along!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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Planning ahead is a good thing, but worry does not accomplish anything good. Worry can cause us to be grouchy, to lose sleep, and even to become physically ill. Perhaps most important, worry is an indication that we are not trusting God and that we doubt His willingness or ability to take care of us.

Jesus said that we should live day by day, letting God take care of tomorrow.

Please join us, with a friend, this Sunday as we learn more about the ways God takes care of each one of us.

Tom and Sydney Cook
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We begin with a look at the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew’s gospel. Next Sunday we will focus in on the Disciple’s Prayer (also known as the Lord’s Prayer) which Jesus taught to His disciples when they asked Him how to pray. It is not meant to be memorized and repeated (although it is fine to do that), but rather as an example of the way we should pray in our own words.

Prayer is important. Because God loves us, He wants to have a relationship with us—and a relationship requires communication. Prayer can take many forms and many variations. There is no set time or way or words to say when we pray. We simply talk to God in the same way we talk to our friends. We can tell Him how great He is, how much we love Him, the things we are concerned or happy about, and the things we want or need. A prayer can be spoken, written, or just thought. It is our communication with our Heavenly Father, God.

Join us this Sunday as we look more closely at what Jesus taught about prayer. We’d love to see you—and don’t forget to invite a friend!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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One important area we should pray about is to pray for the many people who are involved in telling others about Jesus. This includes missionaries, pastors, teachers, our fellow church members, and even ourselves.

The early church was facing increasing persecution after Stephen was stoned. James the apostle was killed by Herod (the grandson of the Herod who killed all the babies in Bethlehem when Jesus was born). Peter and John had been put in jail for preaching about Jesus, but had been released by an angel.

Now it was Peter’s turn. He was arrested by Herod and put in prison; Herod planned to kill Peter after the passover feast, so he could please the Jewish officials.

But God had other plans! The church gathered to pray for Peter, and their prayers were answered. God sent an angel to Peter in prison to release him and lead him out of the prison. Peter told the church that he was safe, and then went away so Herod couldn’t find him.

Our prayers can be like those of the early church, as we lift up our fellow church members and other leaders, at home and around the world, and ask God’s blessing on their work and their lives.

Join us Sunday to learn more about praying for others…and bring a friend!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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The Jerusalem church sent Barnabas to encourage and aid the new church in Antioch, which was made up mainly of Gentiles. Barnabas went to find Paul, whom he knew had a special mission to the Gentiles. Barnabas and Paul working in the Antioch church, leading and teaching about Jesus.

Later some more Christians arrived from Jerusalem. One was Agabas, a prophet, who told that a famine would come to Jerusalem. The Antioch church wanted to help their Christian brothers in Jerusalem, so they took up an offering and sent it by Paul and Barnabas to the church in Jerusalem.

In the same way, God wants us to be willing to use the things we have to bless others in times of need. We can help using our talents, skills, gifts, money, time, or in other ways. Just being a friend to others or telling them about Jesus are two of the best ways we can help others.

Join us Sunday to discover other ways you can help people around you…and bring a friend!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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When Jesus came, that promise was about to be kept. Jesus told His followers to go into “all the world,” and the early church preached that “all the world” could be saved through Jesus. No longer would the Jews be the main focus of God’s blessing.

Today’s story stars Peter, a strong Jewish apostle, and Cornelius, a godly Roman centurion who was not a Jew. God convinced Peter in a very dramatic vision that things were changing, that the Gentiles (whose homes a Jew was forbidden to enter) could now receive the salvation that Jesus brought, in just the same way that Jews could.

Moving on from this story, the rest of the book of Acts tells how more and more Gentiles came to know Jesus in saving faith until the gospel moved “unhinderedly” thoughout the world.

God loves all people! He loves you, and He loves your neighbors and schoolmates. He wants you to love and respect everyone, too…and to help them to know of His love for them.

Join us Sunday for a special visitor…and bring a visitor of your own to join us!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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Hopefully boys and girls in America today will not face death for standing up for what they believe. But we can learn from Stephen that we might face people making fun of us, calling us names, not wanting to hear what we have to say about Jesus, or other responses that are hard to take. We need to know that God expects us to boldly tell the truth about Him and His Son, and that He will help us and give us strength when we do so.

Join us this Sunday as we learn how to stand up for what we believe. It would be a perfect Sunday to invite a friend!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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God cannot forgive us, though, unless we confess our sin and ask for His forgiveness. We must repent—which goes beyond just feeling sorry for our sin, but includes realizing that our sin is really a terrible thing and turning from it. God promises to forgive us and cleanse us from sin when we come to Him and ask.

Sunday’s lesson is about Jonah. We all know about the great fish, but the story is really about God’s forgiveness. He forgave Jonah for deliberately disobeying God, and gave him a second chance. He forgave the people of Nineveh when they repented and turned from their sin. He will forgive us as well, when we come to Him and humbly ask His help.

Join us Sunday as we celebrate God’s forgiveness. It would be a great week to bring a friend!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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This Sunday we will learn about Elijah, at a time in his life when he was very much afraid, discouraged, and even wanted to die. Elijah had just come from a great victory over the prophets of Ba’al at Mount Carmel, where God had shown He was the One True God, and the prophets of Ba’al had been put to death. However, Queen Jezebel was not happy! She threatened to kill Elijah by the very next day.

Elijah ran into the wilderness and took shelter under a broom tree. He went to sleep, but was awakened by an angel who provided bread and water for Elijah to eat. After another time of sleep, the angel brought food and water again, telling Elijah he would need strength for his journey.

Elijah walked 40 days and 40 nights to Mt Horeb (Mt Sinai), where he took shelter in a cave. God spoke to Elijah, saying “Why are you here, Elijah?” Elijah complained that he had tried to serve God but now was in danger of being killed.

God told Elijah to stand on the mountain, where he witnessed a mighty wind, an earthquake, and a roaring fire. But, the Bible says, God was not in any of these. After the fire, Elijah heard a quiet voice as God asked again, “Why are you here, Elijah?”

Elijah gave the same answer as before. God gave Elijah several tasks: anointing a new king in Aram (Syria) and Israel, and anointing Elisha as a prophet. The new kings would take care of those who wanted to kill Elijah. God told him that there were 7000 people in Israel who still worshiped the One True God.

God will take care of us just as He took care of Elijah. He has promised never to leave us or forsake us. And He has the power to keep that promise.

Come be with us Sunday as we learn this encouraging story…and bring a friend!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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You might not face a giant like Goliath, but when you need to take a stand for God, He will stand beside you just as He stood by David.

Come Sunday…and bring a friend…and help us celebrate this story.

Tom and Sydney Cook
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God promised to care for our families, and we have a part in providing that care. We will learn about ways we can be caring for our family members.

Also, since this is Mothers. Day, each child will be making a special gift for his or her mother. You won’t want to miss this week—and invite a friend!

Tom and Sydney Cook

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The miracle we will take a close look at this Sunday is the fall of Jericho. Following God’s strange instructions very carefully, Joshua led the Israelites to march around the city once a day for six days. On the seventh day, they marched around Jericho seven times, and shouted—for they knew that God had given them the city. The walls fell as they shouted, and the Israelite soldiers took the city and burned it.

God’s instructions left no doubt that it was only the power of God that overthrew the city. When we trust God and follow what He tells us to do, His power will make things happen!

Join us as we study this great miracle, as well as talk about others. This would be a perfect Sunday to invite a friend!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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One the return trip to Nazareth, Mary and Joseph realized that Jesus wasn’t with the group only after a full day of traveling. Returning to Jerusalem, they found Jesus in the Temple, talking with the teachers and scribes.

Jesus asked them if they didn’t know He would be in His Father’s house, but Mary and Joseph didn’t understand. However, Jesus obediently returned with them to Nazareth and continued to grow “in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.”

As this story shows, it is important for children to respect and obey their parents. Many verses in the Bible teach us this great truth.

Come join us this Sunday (and bring a friend!) as we discuss more about how we can make our families even better.

Tom and Sydney Cook
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Elisha’s question was “What do you have?” The widow had very little, but she did have a flask of oil which she planned to use to make a last meal for her sons and herself. Elisha instructed her to go to all her neighbors and borrow jars and pots. Then she and her sons were to go home, close the doors, and pour the last flask of oil into the containers. God multiplied the oil so that all the containers were filled; only when the boys said there were no more empty pots did the oil stop flowing. They were able to sell all the oil, pay the debt, and live on what was left.

God takes care of us in many different ways. The miracle of the oil started out with what the widow already had, no matter how little it was. She simply followed God’s instructions through His prophet Elisha, and her problems were solved.

God often uses Christians to help other people in need, by sharing what He has given to them with others. We need to be alert to times when God is leading us to help other people.

Come be with us this Sunday as we celebrate the ways God takes care of His people…and invite a friend!
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While others may help, God’s intention was that parents would be the primary leaders in the children’s spiritual development. Conversation in the family is to include the things of God, and the children are to be guided in knowing the story of God’s acts in human history as well as in keeping God’s commands.

We will be making a small gift of appreciation for parents this Sunday, thanking them for teaching us about God. See you there…and invite a friend!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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There are some great videos about Moses, but they all are not quite true with what the Bible says. Try these true/false questions:

1) T/F: Baby Moses floated down the Nile river in a basket sealed with tar.

2) T/F: Moses’ sister Miriam hid in the reeds along the river so she could watch over her baby brother.

3) T/F: Moses had a step-brother who was to become the next Pharoah.

4) T/F: Moses’ real mother, Jochobed, was the one who taught him about the One True God.

Join us Sunday (and invite a friend!) to learn the answers—or just read the story in the Bible!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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This was the greeting of the early Christian church on Resurrection Sunday. The early Christians met for worship on Sunday rather than the Jewish Sabbath (Saturday) because this was the day of the week that Jesus rose from the dead.

The Resurrection is the central miracle of the Christian faith. It is sort of God’s stamp of approval on Jesus’ perfect life and His death for our sins on the cross. It shows that Jesus is more powerful than death, and is a promise that we, too, will rise from death and live with Jesus forever. This is really good news!

We will be celebrating the resurrection this Sunday, both in Sunday School and in our worship services. We would really like you to be there with us…and it’s the best Sunday of all to invite a friend!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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Jesus is the one and only Son of God. He left the glories of heaven to be just like us, living on earth, but always and in everything did just what God wanted Him to do. He never sinned. Because of that, He was acceptable to God as a perfect sacrifice to pay for your sins and for mine. He took the blame for the sin that each of us ever did and ever will do. He loved us while we still were enemies of God.

Because of this (and much more), we can praise Jesus and worship Him, just like the crowds in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. We will talk about ways we can praise Jesus this Sunday, and we will do a lot of it as well. Come join us as we dramatize the events of the Triumphal Entry and have a great time of praising Jesus!

It would be a perfect day to bring a friend.

Tom and Sydney Cook
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Lazarus came out, still wrapped in linen grave cloths, and lived again.

This miracle convinced many that Jesus really was the Son of God, the Messiah. But others, like the scribes and pharisees, saw the event as the greatest challenge to their power yet. They swore to kill Jesus.

But to us who have faith, the raising of Lazarus is a wonderful promise of what Jesus will do for each of us. Clearly Jesus has power over death, in addition to His other miraculous powers. Like Lazarus, we shall rise from the dead; but, better than Lazarus, we will never die again. Our resurrection will be more like that of Jesus Himself, as we go to live with Him in heaven.

Join us this Sunday as we celebrate this miracle! It would be a great day to bring a friend.

Tom and Sydney Cook
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Jesus’ name was announced by angels to both Mary and Joseph, but His title was foretold by prophet after prophet from the time of Moses. Jesus has many names, but one title: in Hebrew, “Messiah”; in Greek, “Christ”; in English, “Anointed One.” The Jewish people had been praying and expecting the Messiah for hundreds of years. Finally He was here, but many did not recognize Him.

The disciples knew that they had seen the signs predicted by the prophets, as the blind were made to see, the deaf to hear, the lame to walk, the lepers cleansed, the dead restored to life, and the good news of God’s Kingdom preached to the poor and captive. But, as Jesus told Peter, it is only when God reveals Jesus to a person as Messiah that that person can truly know that Jesus is God’s Anointed One.

Jesus is the Messiah, and the Son of God. He is the only one who can be our Savior.

Join us Sunday for a time of fun and learning with friends…and invite one of your friends to join us.

Tom and Sydney Cook
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Paul wrote that the church is like the human body, with the nose, ears, hands, feet, etc., all working together to do the things the body needs to do.

No one person has to do it all, but each one needs to do his or her part to make the whole body work. And all are equally important…no single member is more important than another, since we all are needed to work together.

This Sunday we will look at the gifts God has given us as church members, and try to help you begin to learn what your own gift might be. Join us—and bring a friend!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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Jesus took the chief elements of the Passover supper, unleavened bread and wine, and reinterpreted them to stand for His body and blood. This happened the night before Jesus was crucified, when His body was beaten and bruised for us and His blood was shed on the cross. Each time we participate in the Lord’s Supper with other Christians, we are to remember Jesus’ death for our sins.

The Lord’s Supper should be taken only by those who have accepted Jesus as Savior, but everyone can think about what Jesus did while the Supper is being observed.

Please join us this Sunday as we learn about this important part of our Christian life. Bring a friend to join us!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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The Greek word “baptize” means “to immerse or submerge,” and the act by one who has some to believe in Jesus is a symbol of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. A person does not have to be baptized to go to heaven, but it is a very important first step in following Jesus.

A birthday party is a celebration of the day we were born and became a human being. Our baptism is like that…a celebration of the day we were born of God’s Spirit and became a child of God and a follower of Jesus.

This Sunday is (1) time change Sunday—remember to set your clocks forward one hour; (2) F.R.O.G. Sunday, with our theme of Fully Rely On God. Wear something green and come ready for a FROG party.

This would be a great day to bring a friend!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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Next Sunday we will begin at the beginning—how to become a member of the body. Nicodemus was a Pharisee in Jesus’ day who knew that Jesus was sent from God by the things that he saw Jesus do. Most of the other Pharisees didn’t believe in Jesus, so Nicodemus came to talk to Jesus at night so the others wouldn’t see him.

One of the things Jesus said to Nicodemus was what we know as the most famous verse of the Bible—John 3:16. Because God loved the world so much, He sent His only Son, Jesus, so that we could have real life—eternal life—by believing in Him.

God never sends anyone to hell; all of us are already condemned to go there because we have all sinned, and sin has no place in heaven. But rather God offers to save everyone from hell by providing a Savior, Jesus, who has paid the penalty for our sin and will share His righteousness with us. But we must accept this gift by simply believing who Jesus is and accepting His rule over our lives.

This will be a great Sunday to bring a friend!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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After meeting Jesus, Zacchaeus was a changed man. Not only did he restore money to those he had stolen from, but he gave half his goods to the poor.

We can learn a lot from Zacchaeus. God wants us to treat those around us fairly and kindly. God wants us to make it right when we have done wrong to someone…whether it’s just an apology or giving back something we have wrongly taken. God wants us to love everyone, even those who aren’t very nice (like Zacchaeus started out to be).

Come join us with a friend this week…we’d love to see you!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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We will look at the story of Samuel as a boy in the tabernacle, assisting High Priest Eli in caring for the tabernacle. There had not been a real prophet of God in Israel since the time of Moses, but when God called Samuel by name, that was about to change.

The message God had for Samuel was actually for Eli (God had spoken to Eli some years before, but Eli had done nothing about it). The message was really bad news for Eli, and must have been hard for Samuel to tell. Sometimes we may not wish to tell the truth because it might hurt someone, but the truth is something everyone needs to hear. Samuel gave Eli the message, and it came to pass just as God had said.

One of the most important character traits is to be known as a person of his or her word, whom others know they can trust and believe. A reputation for always telling the truth will help us get along with others and is pleasing to God.

Join us this Sunday — and invite a friend to join you!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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This Sunday we will learn about the prophet Daniel as a young man, captured in Israel and taken captive to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. He and his friends had some choices to make about food. Should they do what the king wanted and eat the royal food, or should they obey God’s commands and eat Kosher food? It may not seem important to us today, but diet was a very important way for Jewish people to obey and honor God in Daniel’s time.

Join us this Sunday as we see how Daniel and his friends made a choice which honored God, and God in turn honored their choice. You’ll want to bring a friend along!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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“Mercy” simply means not getting what we deserve. David showed Saul mercy, and God shows each of us mercy time after time because we continue to sin against Him. The very best mercy is that God sent Jesus to be our Savior, even when we were sinners.

Come this Sunday to learn more about this God-like mercy and how we can show it to others. Don’t forget to bring a friend!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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This Sunday we will take a closer look at one of the brave women of the Bible, Queen Esther. She was a Jewish orphan who became Queen of Persia, clearly placed in that position by God “for such a time as this,” as her uncle Mordecai said. It was a time in history when she was the only one who could save her people from destruction, but with the possible loss of her own life.

Esther asked her Jewish people to pray and fast with her, and she and her maidens also prayed for three days. Then, commiting her fate to God with the words “If I perish, I perish,” Esther bravely risked her life to save her people. God honored her faithfulness and used her to save the day.

The Jewish people still honor the events that Esther brought about by celebrating the day of Purim in the spring. It is a real celebration, with costumes, plays, reading of the book of Esther, and lots of fun and games.

Join us this Sunday to learn more about how Esther showed true courage in standing up for what is right. And bring along a friend!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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The story of Elisha in 1 Kings tells many ways the prophet was used by God to help other people. In this story, a family in Shunem, where Elisha and his servant Gehazi frequently traveled, prepared a special room on the roof of their house for Elisha’s use whenever he passed by. He was impressed with their kindness, and asked God to give the couple a child (they had none).

Later, when the boy fell sick and died, the woman came to Elisha and asked for help. Elisha came and prayed that God would restore the boy to life. His prayer was answered, and everyone rejoiced.

There are many different ways we can help others…and it always pleases God when we do so. Our memory verse urges us to “Serve one another through love.” (Galatians 5:13). As the verse indicates, we help others not because we might get a reward or so that they can in turn help us, but because we love God and love the person we help.

Join us Sunday for our Valentine’s Day party as we help one another have fun and celebrate God’s love for each of us.

Tom and Sydney Cook
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This Sunday’s Bible study is about two women whose home Jesus was visiting…shortly before He was crucified. Mary and Martha lived in Bethany with their brother Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Jesus and His disciples stopped by their home on their way to Jerusalem.

Martha wanted to be sure Jesus had a good meal, and was busy getting everything ready. But Mary wanted to spend all the time with Jesus she could, and sat at His feet as he taught. Martha wanted Mary to help her, and even told Jesus to tell Mary to help with the meal.

But Jesus refused to do this, saying that Mary had chosen to put the most important thing—spending time with Jesus and His teachings—first. He cared more about Mary than about the meal Martha was preparing.

God expects us and commands us to put Him first in all we do. This doesn’t mean that we can use it as an excuse (“I can’t clean my room because I need to read my Bible” is not a good thing to say). But it does mean we need to plan our time and our actions so that God doesn’t get neglected.

The Israelites were commanded to do a large number of things to help them keep God first, from the daily prayers and sacrifices and weekly Sabbath observances to the three festivals each year when each man had to travel to the temple in Jerusalem. Even their diet, their clothing, and the way they trimmed their beard helped remind them that they were a special people to God, His chosen people.

The more time we spend with God, reading His Word, praying, listening to Christian music, worshiping, etc., the more we will understand God’s will and the more we will be like Him. This is the whole focus of the Christian faith, as God creates the image of His Son Jesus in each one of us. That’s the path to the best possible life for each person.

Join us this Sunday as we look more closely at the story of Mary and Martha. It would be a great day to bring a friend!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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• Crossing the Red Sea
• The Passover
• Wise Men from the East
• Happy Birthday, Jesus!
• Angels Everywhere!
• Let My People Go!
• Moses Birth and Calling
• Joseph Part 2
• Joseph, Part 1
• Jacob's Name Changed

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