Key question:  Have you ever received unexpected kindness?  Often the best kindness is the kindness that feels completely random.  We want to show others unexpected kindness.
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In Matthew 25:35-40, we revisited one of Jesus’ teachings on kindness.  For one reason or another, people are overlooked every day-no one even notices them, much less shows kindness to them.  But Jesus says that when we show kindness to one of the least of these, it is as if we’re showing kindness to Him.  We want to discover how kids can show kindness to people who are overlooked in their world.

Bottom line:  Be kind to people who are overlooked.  Everyone deserves to be treated like they’re valuable, no matter who they are.  We hope kids start to see people who have needs and work with adults in their life to show kindness and meet those needs.

Bible Memory Verse:  A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.   Proverbs 17:17    

Hello from the Reign Forest
 
Key Question: How do you walk away from a fight? If you walk into a fifth-grade classroom, you’ll start to discover that even if fists aren’t flying, kids fight with each other. Walking away from a fight can be one of the hardest things a kid does because they feel like their entire reputation is at stake. We pray kids leave with a game plan for how they can make the wise choice and walk away from a fight.
 
Throughout Genesis 26, we find Abraham’s son, Isaac, settles in his father’s land and reopens some wells. When his new neighbors argue with him, he simply moves to a new place and digs new wells. Isaac had every right to fight for those wells, but he chose peace instead.
 
Bottom Line: Prove you care more about others by walking away from a fight. Sometimes creating peace with someone means walking away even if we’re not wrong. Often it takes a stronger person to have the self-control to walk away.
 
Bible Memory Verse: “A hot-tempered person starts fights; a cool-tempered person stops them.” Proverbs 15:18 NLT
 
Blessings
The Reign Forest Team

Hello Reign Forest Friends,
When Jesus died and then rose from the dead, He paid the price for everything that was wrong and unfair in this world. Because of Jesus, we can have peace. We don’t have to get even. Instead, we can reflect the character of Christ by caring for others and making peace

Key Question: Why is it so hard to give up what you think is fair? Fairness is a big deal to kids. It’s often their biggest complaint when something doesn’t go their way. As kids start with this question, they’ll discover how God thinks about fairness and how they can be more willing to let go of what they think is fair.
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We start the month in Genesis 13:5-18, God blessed Abram and his nephew, Lot, with a large amount of flocks and herds, so many that the land they were on couldn’t sustain all of them. The workers on each side were not getting along. Abram and Lot knew it was time to separate. Although God had promised Abram the land of Canaan and had a right to take whatever he wanted, Abram allowed Lot to choose first. Abram let go of the best land in order to make peace with his family.

Bottom Line: Prove you care more about others by letting go of “what’s fair.” Sometimes choosing peace means letting go of what we want or our perception of ourselves. Preserving the relationship is more important that protecting our own sense of fairness.

Bible Memory Verse: “So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.” Romans 14:19 NLT

Blessings,
Angie, Anita, Cheryl, Jessi, and Kristin

Hello Reign Forest Families,
Last week in RF we finished our Kindness Theme.  Here's a summary of the time spent together:

Key Question: How can you be kind to people you don’t get along with?　There are times when we face people who we feel don’t deserve our kindness. Most likely, preteens have a list of people who they don’t get along with and why those people don’t deserve their kindness. But Jesus tells us to love our enemies. Through this question, we hope kids start to discover how they can show kindness to people who fall into this category.
We finished out our month in Matthew 5:43-48. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus expands the scope of who deserves our kindness.　Not everyone will be kind to us; some may be quite mean to us.　Jesus says that we should love our enemies and pray for them.
　　
Bottom Line: Be kind to people who aren’t kind to you.　As kids discover what Jesus says about loving our enemies, we pray that your kids discover ways they can show God’s love and kindness to people they might not get along with all of the time. They don’t have to be best friends, but they can be kind.

Bible Memory Verse: Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. (Romans 12:14 NLT ​)
 
Blessings,
The Reign Forest Team