​Dear Reign Forest friends,
 
In week four, we finish up in Mark 10:46-52 with an encounter between Jesus and Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus was blind. Because of this, he was often ignored by those who passed by him. When he learns that Jesus is passing by, he calls out for help. Rather than walking past and getting on with his day, Jesus takes time to stop and help Bartimaeus. Jesus knew that Bartimaeus had faith and healed him, changing his life forever.
 
Bottom Line: Make time to help others. We all know people who require some help and compassion. However, we don’t always prioritize those people in our lives. Jesus showed us that prioritizing others and making time for them is important for demonstrating His love. We pray that kids will have a chance to think about the ways they make time throughout their day to meet the needs of those around them.
 
Bible Verse #16: “And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God”  ( Hebrews 13:16, NLT).
 
Have a Great week!
Sincerely,
The Reign Forest Team

​Hi Reign Forest Friends,
 
For the month of February, the BIG IDEA is COMPASSION: CARING ENOUGH TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE’S NEEDS.
 
God’s compassion for us led to the greatest act of love the world had ever seen. God sent Jesus to rescue us. We reflect God’s compassion when we care about others and work to make things right.
 
This familiar story is found in John 6:1-13. People had been clamoring to see Jesus heal and perform miracles. Even as Jesus crossed over the Sea of Galilee, they followed him. When Jesus saw them, He didn’t ignore them or send them away. Instead, Jesus knew they were tired and hungry. He had compassion for them and decided to feed them. With no food in sight, a young boy offers his meal of bread and fish. Jesus takes what the boy has and feeds the multitude with leftovers!
 
Bottom Line: Use what you have to help others. Kids might think they’re too young to make a difference in how they treat others. This story reminds us that what we already have can help others and make a massive difference to them. We just have to be aware of others’ needs and be willing to give up what we have to help them. We pray that kids start to discover the easy ways to use what they have to show compassion.
 
Our memory verse was printed on paper loaves and fish, and the children arranged them in the correct order. We also “used what we had” to complete the hula hoop challenge. If your children want to do that again, all you need is a few people and a hula hoop. Idea from this website: https://www.playworks.org/game-library/hula-hoop-challenge/#:~:text=How%20to%20Play,group%20cheer%20each%20other%20on. Then the children created their own interpretation of loaves and fish using play-doh. It was great to see them being creative.
 
Bible Verse #15: “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2, NLT).
 
Blessings,
The Reign Forest Team

​Good morning, Reign Forest Friends!
 
In week two, we head to John 4:1-30, 39-42. Samaria was a region that the Jews in Jesus’ time tried to avoid. But rather than walking around this region, Jesus took His disciples straight through it and stopped at Jacob’s well. While He was there, a Samaritan woman came to the well. He spoke with her and completely changed how she understood the Messiah and what God was doing in the world. She left and spread the news about Jesus to the people she knew.
 
Bottom Line: Show others that they matter. When Jesus took the time to have a conversation with the Samaritan woman, He showed her that she mattered regardless of who she was or what she’d done. The truth is that we all matter and are valuable to God. When we care for others, include them, and spend time with them, we help them see how much they matter to God and us.
 
Bible Verse #14: “The LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8, NLT).
 
Blessings,
The Reign Forest Team 

​Hi Reign Forest Friends,
 
During the month of Feb, we are learning all about compassion: Caring enough to do something about someone else’s needs.
 
God’s compassion for us led to the greatest act of love the world had ever seen. God sent Jesus to rescue us. We reflect God’s compassion when we care about others and work to make things right.
 
This past week, we learned about a crucial moment in Jesus’ life, found in Luke 4:14-24, 28-30. After Jesus returned from being tempted in the wilderness, He started teaching in the Synagogue. Soon Jesus traveled to Nazareth, where He grew up. Jesus went to the Synagogue, stood in front of the crowd, and read an important passage from Isaiah about the promised Messiah. Jesus says that He is the One sent to fulfill those things written in Isaiah: bringing freedom, healing, and hope to ALL people. Jesus let everyone know His purpose in life.
 
Bottom Line: Following Jesus means caring about others. Jesus showed us genuine compassion. Jesus knew God’s purpose for His life, and every interaction He had with others demonstrated that. As kids learn what it means to believe in Jesus and follow Him with their life, we pray that they will catch His purpose and decide to make a difference in the world by sharing God’s compassionate love with others.
 
Bible Verse #13: “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you” (John 15:12, NLT).
 
Blessings,
The RF Team

​Dear Reign Forest Friends,
 
On Sunday in RF, we closed out the month with another one of Solomon’s vivid word pictures in Proverbs 25:16. We helped kids find out what happens when we indulge and eat too much. This proverb isn’t just about how much we eat. Kids will learn that too much of anything, even if it’s a good thing, can have serious consequences.
 
Bottom Line: Know when to stop. Knowing when to stop isn’t always easy for kids. Often, it’s a parent or teacher who helps them realize it’s time to stop what they’re doing and take a break. We hope that kids start to see that stopping something—even if it’s fun—can be the wisest choice they can make. We also want them to know they don’t need to do this on their own. God can help them know when to stop and give them the strength to do it.
 
Bible Memory Verse: Do you like honey? Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick! (Proverbs 25:16).
 
Blessings,
The RF Team