Unit 4: Who I am in Christ

We purposefully didn't write Unit 4 back when we were creating the others because we wanted to see what worked with our kids first. A couple of weeks ago, Jared (Elementary Director), Caleb (Intern) and I met to plan out Unit 4. We realized that almost everything needed to change. Our original plan for Unit 4 was:

Unit 4—Who I am in Christ
Weeks 1-3: Testimony—hearing that of others and developing your own.
Weeks 4-6: The Church—how each of us fits within the church.
Weeks 7-9: Gifts and Service—the roles we each play in the church.

Our kids are developing quickly, however, they may not be ready to develop their testimonies yet. When I was in high school I struggled with not having a "good enough" testimony. I didn't have a dramatic conversion moment. I'd grown up in the church and asked Jesus in my heart at the age of 3. While I did have periods of more growth than others, I felt inferior to those who were able to present drastic before and after stories. Because of that, I want to see kids realize that there is a rich heritage that comes with growing up in a Christian home. To see that God has still worked greatly in their lives, despite a lack of obvious deliverance from a life of darkness.

We realized, though, that while this is an important lesson for Christian kids to learn, our 4th and 5th graders aren't ready for the depth we wanted to reach. Before we can expect them to write their testimony, we need them to recognize that God is and has been present in their lives. Now, section 1 of unit 4 is about helping them to see that God has been with them. To ask about time where they've moved, been lonely, scared, hurt, anxious, lost, afraid... and to see that God brought them through it. They can't develop a testimony unless they're able to first recognize God's presence in their lives.

The next section will look at their need for other Christians. We'll talk about what kind of situations they might face as they enter 5th grade or middle school--sexuality in their peers, their family breaking apart, changes in technology, violence (either in real life or media), people who don't know God and don't want to. We'll look at what the Bible says about these things and how God wants us to live. And finally, we'll talk about how important it is to have the support of fellow believers as we face these things. To have a small group that holds you accountable. To have leaders that you can honestly share with about what's happening in your life and get good feedback from. I'm excited to think of how this section will help guide our kids into their middle school small groups.

Finally, the third section will talk about how we fit into the church. That God gives us spiritual gifts and we are meant to use them. The students will take a tour of the church and see many of the ways people do use their spiritual gifts. In this section we'll also talk about unity as believers. What a great opportunity to address the rudeness our boys tend to show one another and the mean girls syndrome common among our girls.

I'm really excited about what a great conclusion to the year this will be!