Our Bible lesson this week is about fruit. We’re not talking about just apples and oranges. It is about a different kind of fruit, “the fruit of the Spirit.” We’re talking about the way we act when we put our faith in Jesus. The Bible tells us that when we do that, the Holy Spirit fills us with God's love and produces good fruit in our life.

If you see an apple tree, what do you expect to find on that tree? Apples! Well, when you see someone who is filled with the Holy Spirit, you expect to see what the Bible calls the fruit of the Spirit. According to the apostle Paul, he shared with the Galatians that, there are nine different kinds’ fruits: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Oh my, that is some good fruit, isn't it?

These fruits are all things that help us to get along together and to share God’s love! Just as some of us like different fruits, each of us might be better at one of these than another. If you are a good hugger, you are showing love, or if you are good at sharing your toys then you are good at generosity. Are we all going to be really good at all nine of these things? No, but we can try to learn a skill?  And if we notice when our friends are good at not fighting or including new friends, can we tell them that we are proud of them? Just as it takes lots of fruit to make a yummy salad, it takes all of us to share God’s love to everyone we meet to help everyone feel included, respected and loved.
 
This week for Sunday School we read Paul’s letter to the Galatian’s about fruit of the Spirit.  We invite you to learn about the fruits that you excel at!  Ask your grown-ups what spiritual fruits they love about you!  Ask your grown-ups what spiritual fruits you could practice.  Our Fruit of the Spirit lesson page offers, guides to the nine fruits, games, fruit crafts, read aloud books, songs to help you memorize the fruits and fruit infused water recipes for our Arizona heat!  So sit back, read a book, listen to a song, and enjoy a large refreshing, strawberry, cucumber infused glass of H20!

​The Good Samaritan had a crash course in compassion.  He studied the condition of Pharisee (who was beat up, robbed and left to die on a desolate road) and acted quickly.  He bandaged the wounded man.  Carried that man to town and then gave his own money to the innkeeper to take care of him until he was healed. Maybe he did it because the spirit moved him. Maybe because he was paying it forward. Maybe because someone once extended compassion to him. The important part is that he    s t e p p e d      o u t    of his comfort zone and used his resources.  

It is comforting when someone shows us compassion.  Compassion is more than merely recognizing that someone is carrying a heavy burden, and then sympathizing with them—it is actually doing something to lighten their load. The Good Samaritan was willing to cross political, racial, cultural and social barriers and risk prejudices and the fear of the unknown because he saw someone with a need and he used his resources to meet that need.
This week our Sunday School lesson is about the Good Samaritan.  We are providing online children’s books and YouTube videos about compassion.  The greatest gifts we can give to our children are time and unconditional love.  We have rainbow and donut Kindness crafts, candy and ice experiments and kindness cootie catchers for you to share with your children.  Thank you for sharing His GRACE!

​When the day of Pentecost came, the apostles were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest above each of their heads.  The apostles went outside to see if others were having the same experience.  It was the week of the Jewish Festival of Shavuot. All of foreigners and locals congregating in the city of Jerusalem for this festival were speaking in their home language but miraculously they could understand each other.  They all became filled with the Holy Spirit.
 
This was an amazing turning point for those apostles.  Up to this moment they were hiding and living in fear that they would be killed because they were followers of Jesus.  Now in one afternoon a scant flame was placed above their heads and they knew this mystery was real.  Their hearts were filled and so was their need to share this story with the world.
 
Our Sunday School lesson this week is about Pentecost.  We have flaming experiments (literally), fiery snacks, videos that will ignite learning, and red-hot crafts for your family (many can be made from paper plates).  What a great way to experience the holy spirit with your children, grandchildren and the greater community!  We’re praying for you!

Jeremiah was one of the younger prophets.  He was hesitant to preach to the public because he began his ministry at the age of 17.  He was known as the “weeping prophet” because he pleaded with the Babylonians to not worship false gods and to be proactive about social justice issues.  Historians say that he wrote Lamentations.  One of the verses from his writings begins with “For I know the plans I have for you…”  This is a wonderful verse for our graduates!  Knowing that God has an amazing plan for us is pretty exciting!  But as we graduate, wouldn’t we love to have the cliff-notes!  Who wouldn’t want to have a glimpse of how our own story is going to unfold ahead of time.  We do know that if we hold on to faith and walk by His word, things will work out.  But these “plans” do not guarantee that the road won’t have bumps.
 
In another verse, Jeremiah visits the potter and we are reminded of a verse from the book of Isaiah that talks about clay.  “He is the potter and we are the clay.”  I am not sure if being clay is a good thing.  Clay is pretty ridged.  It isn’t as malleable as say playdough.  It takes some strength and patience to reshape the clay.  Shaping it is a long and hard process.  Sometimes the clay doesn’t have enough water and changing its shape is almost impossible.  It’s as if the clay is saying, “Enough, I’m tired of this process of being reshaped and remolded!”
Do you ever feel like that?  Trials come to reshape us.  We resist, shift and then little by little begin to take on a new shape, sometimes with a smile and other times with sigh.  Our faith gets stretched and tested. But in all the stretching, pulling and shaping we can let ourselves be changed into a vessel that can be used for His glory.  We know that our journey will lead us to some “Y’s” in the road but we also know that the path will be “hope-filled” if we walk it with Christ!
​
This week’s Sunday School lesson is about the prophet Jeremiah. We have videos, crafts, snacks and games for you to share with your family. Some of the lessons suggest that you use clay but we have salt dough alternatives (simple ingredients in your home and much easier to mold)!

"Where you go, I will go."    A story about the love that can be found within a family unit.
​
The book of Ruth was written to provide a lovely example of the sovereignty and plan of God. In this beautiful account (Ruth1:16–17), He demonstrates how He will use a person (Ruth) who for all practical purposes is a foreigner and enemy of the Israelites. Her daughter-in-law Naomi demonstrates unconditional love (grace) when she refuses to leave her side.  Ruth ends up playing a pivotal role in the storyline of the Bible because of her loyalty and desire for God, and thus she becomes the great-grandmother of King David!  

Our Sunday School lesson this week is from the book of Ruth (1:16–17).  It’s the story about Ruth’s love and compassion for Naomi.  Ruth wasn’t even Naomi’s daughter but they shared mutual respect and love for each other.  So much so, that Ruth took care of Naomi until her death.  We are so grateful to the ladies that chose to be mentors and inspirational support to lift each other up!  The lesson includes a bubble bath ice cream sundae, a journal page to complete about your favorite lady and shadow photo tips for an awesome Mother’s Day card!