All Collections
August 21, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
You are God's Child
Focus Verse: Romans 8:16 "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." There is a quiet but profound miracle happening inside every believer. The Holy Spirit is actively testifying to your spirit that you belong to God. Not as a servant. Not as a visitor. As a child. This is your deepest and most unshakeable identity, and it is the identity that binds you to every other believer on earth regardless of language, skin color, culture, or country of origin. The world will offer you many ways to define yourself - by your politics, your heritage, your accomplishments, or your wounds. But the Spirit of God speaks a different word over you each day. You are a child of the living God, and that makes every other believer your brother or sister. When you see a fellow Christian across any barrier that the world insists is impassable, you are looking at family. This is why the church matters so deeply. It is not merely an institution or a weekly gathering. It is God's household, and you have a place in it. Your presence matters, your contribution is needed, and the family is incomplete without you. Live today from that identity and toward that calling. Today's Challenge: Write down the words "I am a child of God" somewhere you will see them today, and let that truth be the lens through which you see every person you encounter. Prayer: Father, I receive today what Your Spirit declares - that I am Your child. Help me to live from that identity and to treat every fellow believer as the brother or sister they truly are. Amen.
August 20, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Every Nation Before the Throne
Focus Verse: Revelation 7:9 "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands." This is where history is headed. Every nation. Every tribe. Every language. Standing together before the throne of God, united in one declaration: salvation belongs to God. That is the future, and it is glorious. But it also shapes how you should live right now. If that is the picture of eternity, then the local church's work of radical inclusion is not optional social programming. It is a preview of heaven. Every time believers of different backgrounds choose unity over division, they are giving the watching world a glimpse of what God is building. You are not waiting for that picture to become real in eternity. You are practicing it today. This also means that your mission extends beyond your neighborhood. Supporting missionaries, praying for believers in other countries, and learning about the global church are not extra-credit activities for especially spiritual people. They are expressions of what it means to belong to a worldwide family that will one day stand together before the Lamb. Today's Challenge: Spend five minutes today reading about or praying for a missionary or a church in another part of the world, letting the vision of Revelation 7:9 shape your prayer. Prayer: Father, I lift my eyes beyond my own community today and ask You to work powerfully in Your church across the globe. Let my life be part of the beautiful tapestry You are weaving from every nation and tongue. Amen.
August 19, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Unity Is Where Blessing Lives
Focus Verse: Psalm 133:1 "Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!" Unity is not just a nice idea. According to Psalm 133, it is the place where God commands His blessing. That word "commands" is striking. God does not merely offer blessing where there is unity. He directs it there. This means division is not just relationally painful. It is spiritually costly. When the enemy works to keep believers fighting over denominations, political loyalties, and racial identities, he is working to cut off the flow of what God intended to pour out. You have likely felt the weight of division in your lifetime. Perhaps it was a church split, a falling out between believers, or the slow drift of relationships that once felt strong. Division leaves a hollow feeling because it is working against the very design of God for His people. But unity, even when it is hard-won, produces something different. It produces an atmosphere where God shows up and where people notice. The world is watching the church, and one of the most compelling testimonies you can offer a divided culture is the sight of people who have every reason to be separated choosing to remain together under the cross. Today's Challenge: Ask God to show you one area of your heart where division has taken root - whether toward a person, a denomination, or a culture - and surrender that specific thing to Him today. Prayer: Father, I confess that I have sometimes valued being right over being unified. Teach me to prize what You prize, and let my life be a place where Your blessing flows freely. Amen.
August 18, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Citizens of God's Household
Focus Verse: Ephesians 2:19 "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." Think about what it means to belong somewhere. Not just to visit, not just to be tolerated, but to truly belong. That is what God declares over you through the Gospel. You are not a stranger passing through. You are a fellow citizen and a member of His household. That word "household" is intimate. It speaks of family dinners, shared responsibility, and the kind of relationships where people know your name and notice your absence. God is the Father and head of this household, and His family stretches across every continent, culture, and language. This means that a believer worshipping in Nicaragua and a believer sitting in your own pew have more in common with each other than either of them has with an unbelieving neighbor from their own hometown. The Gospel creates a kinship deeper than ethnicity, nationality, or tradition. You are not meant to wander through the Christian life as an isolated individual. You have been placed inside a family, and that family needs your presence, your contribution, and your commitment. Today's Challenge: Take a moment today to thank God specifically for one person in your local church whose life has reflected the family of God to you in a tangible way. Prayer: Father, I am grateful that You did not leave me as a stranger but brought me into Your household. Help me to live as a committed member of Your family, both locally and globally. Amen.
August 17, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Broken Walls, One Family
Focus Verse: Ephesians 2:14 "For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility." There is something powerful about the image of a wall coming down. You have probably experienced walls in your own life - moments when cultural difference, political tension, or even church tradition created invisible barriers between you and someone else. Jesus did not come to manage those barriers or work around them. He came to destroy them entirely. The hostility that once separated Jew and Gentile was not merely cultural preference. It was deep, centuries-old division. And yet, in His body on the cross, Jesus made the two into one. That same reconciling power is available to every relationship marked by distance and suspicion today. The cross is not just your personal salvation story. It is the foundation of a new family that crosses every boundary the world insists must remain. When you look around your church, your neighborhood, or your city, ask yourself whether you are living as though that wall is still standing. Because Jesus already tore it down. Today's Challenge: Identify one person in your life who is meaningfully different from you - culturally, ethnically, or denominationally - and pray specifically for them by name today. Prayer: Father, I confess that I sometimes rebuild the walls You tore down. Remind me today that Christ is my peace and the peace of every believer, and help me live like that is true. Amen.
August 14, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Keeping the Word Before You
Focus Verse: Deuteronomy 6:8-9 "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." God understood something about human beings that we are sometimes slow to admit: we forget what we do not keep in front of us. The instructions in Deuteronomy were not meant to be read once and filed away. They were meant to be visible - on the body, on the door, woven into the architecture of daily life. The ancient Israelites developed physical reminders because the soul needs repeated exposure to what is true. You live in an era with more tools for this than any generation before you. A verse on your bathroom mirror costs nothing but a marker. A prayer printed from Ephesians 1 and taped to your car dashboard turns a commute into a conversation with God. A memory verse written on the refrigerator becomes something the whole family encounters multiple times a day. These are not decorations. They are declarations about what your household is built on and who holds it together. When your children grow up and leave your home, they will carry images with them. Make sure some of those images are the word of God on the walls, on the table, and on the lips of the people who loved them most. Today's Challenge: Place one verse or short prayer somewhere in your home today where your family will see it repeatedly - on the mirror, the refrigerator, the front door, or a car dashboard - and tell your family why you put it there. Prayer: Father, I want my home to be a place where your word is visible and your presence is felt. Help me to build an environment where faith is not confined to Sunday but is woven into every ordinary day. Let my family see that your word matters to me, and let that vision take root in them.
August 13, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Starting Before You Feel Ready
Focus Verse: Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." Overthinking is the enemy of beginning. Many parents - including pastors - have spent years researching the perfect Bible, the right curriculum, the ideal method, and have ended up doing nothing because the search itself became the substitute for action. The desire to do it well is good, but when it prevents you from doing anything at all, it becomes its own kind of failure. John Wesley taught that if a child is old enough to speak, the child is old enough to begin learning about God - a little at a time, in language they can hold. He did not say wait until you have a complete plan. He said start with what a child can grasp: the sky, the sun, the person who made them and loves them. Small questions answered faithfully over years build a foundation that outlasts childhood. The catechism - simply a pattern of asking a question and hearing the answer repeated back - is one of the oldest and most effective tools in the church's history precisely because it is so simple. How many gods are there? One. Who made you? God made me. These are not shallow answers. They are seeds. Do not wait for the perfect resource. Start with what you have. Start tonight. Today's Challenge: Ask your child, grandchild, or a young person in your life one simple question about God today - something like "Who made you?" or "What do you think God is like?" - and listen to their answer without correcting or lecturing. Prayer: Father, I release the pressure of doing this perfectly. I ask you to take my imperfect effort and use it the way you used loaves and fish - to accomplish far more than I could manage on my own. Help me to start today.
August 12, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
The Face of God Your Child Needs
Focus Verse: Psalm 23:1 "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." One of the most freeing insights a parent can receive is this: you do not have to teach your child everything about God all at once. God is love, and love has many faces. The image of God that resonates with a four-year-old who needs safety and comfort is different from the image that speaks to a teenager navigating relationships for the first time. Matching the face of God to the need of your child at a given stage is not watering down the faith - it is wisdom. A young child who is anxious or afraid does not need a lecture on systematic theology. That child needs to hear about the Good Shepherd who knows his sheep by name, who searches for the one who is lost, and who lays down his life for those in his care. That image - concrete, warm, and full of protection - lands in a young heart in ways that abstract doctrine cannot. As children grow and their questions deepen, other faces of God become available to them: the True Vine who sustains them when sin threatens to cut them off, the Bridegroom whose love is faithful and covenant-bound. Watch your child. Pray and ask God which face of his love they need to see right now. Today's Challenge: Think about the child or young person closest to you. Identify one need they are carrying this week - a fear, a question, a longing - and find one image of God from Scripture that speaks directly to that need. Prayer: Father, I ask for wisdom to see my child the way you see them. Show me which face of your love they need most right now, and give me the words to present you in a way that reaches their heart.
August 11, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Hearing That Leads to Obeying
Focus Verse: Luke 6:46 "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" There is a difference between hearing words and truly receiving them. In ancient Hebrew culture, to hear God's word was to obey it - the two actions were inseparable. You could not claim to have heard something you refused to act upon. That understanding cuts straight through the comfortable distance many of us keep between what we know and how we live. Jesus pressed this same point. He did not ask why people failed to call him Lord. He asked why they called him Lord but then lived as though he were not. The title without the surrender is an empty sound. This applies to every area of life, but it lands with particular weight when it comes to raising children. You can know every verse in Deuteronomy 6 and still never sit down with your child and open a Bible together. Knowledge without action is not really knowledge at all, not in the Hebrew sense, and not in Jesus's sense either. The good news is that the gap between knowing and doing can be closed today. One small act of obedience is worth more than years of intention. Today's Challenge: Ask yourself honestly: is there one thing God has already shown you about discipling the people in your home that you have heard but not yet done? Write it down and take one step toward it before the day ends. Prayer: Father, I do not want to be someone who calls you Lord only with words. I ask you to move what I know from my head into my hands and feet. Give me the courage to do the thing I have been putting off.
August 10, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
The Home as Holy Ground
Focus Verse: Deuteronomy 6:6-7 "These words that I am commanding you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up." You may not think of your kitchen table or your morning commute as sacred space, but God does. Long before Israel had temples and priests, God handed parents a commission: make the ordinary moments of daily life into classrooms of faith. The breakfast table, the car ride to school, the quiet moment before lights go out - these are not interruptions to spiritual formation; they are the primary location of it. This is not a calling reserved for pastors or Sunday school teachers. It is yours. God placed those children in your home precisely because you are the right person for this mission. The word translated "diligently" carries the sense of sharpening, of pressing something in with intention. God is not asking for occasional conversations about faith. He is describing a way of life where his word saturates everything. You do not need to be a theologian to begin. You simply need to begin. Today's Challenge: Identify one ordinary moment in your daily routine - a car ride, a meal, a bedtime - and decide right now that starting today it will include one sentence of Scripture or one question about God. Prayer: Father, I confess I have let ordinary moments pass without pointing my family toward you. I ask you to open my eyes to the sacred opportunities already built into my day. Help me to start today, not tomorrow.
August 3, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Belonging Wholeheartedly to the Lord
Focus Verse: 1 Corinthians 7:35 "I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord." Every instruction Paul has given throughout this chapter points toward a single destination: undivided devotion to the Lord. That phrase is the summary of everything. Whether you are single or married, young or old, in a season of contentment or a season of longing, the goal of your life is belonging wholeheartedly to Jesus. Not belonging to a relationship status. Not belonging to a version of your life that has not arrived yet. Belonging to him, now, completely. Christian freedom — which is what Paul says he is protecting throughout this passage — is not freedom from commitment. It is freedom for full commitment to the One who made you and redeemed you. Trusting him with your relationships means submitting those decisions to his will rather than reacting to social pressure or unchecked impulse. Enjoying his fellowship means filling the quiet spaces of your life — especially the lonely ones — with his presence rather than with noise. And finding yourself useful, in whatever state you are in, means believing that God has something for you to do today, in this season, with the specific time and gifts and freedom that are yours right now. You are not waiting to become someone God can use. You already are. Today's Challenge: Write out this phrase somewhere you will see it today: "I belong wholeheartedly to the Lord, in this season, right now." Let that declaration shape one decision you make before the day ends. Prayer: Father, I want to belong to you without reservation. I release my grip on the version of life I have been planning and I open my hands to whatever you have for me today. Make me useful for your kingdom in this exact season of my life.
August 3, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Marriage Calls for Selfless Focus
Focus Verse: 1 Corinthians 7:33-34 "But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband." Paul makes a statement in this passage that is easy to miss because it is tucked inside a larger argument about singleness and marriage. He says the married man's concern should be how to please his wife, and the married woman's concern should be how to please her husband. That is not a throwaway line. In a culture that tells everyone to put their own needs first, this is a revolutionary instruction. Marriage in God's design is not primarily about having your needs met. It is about becoming the kind of person who is genuinely occupied with meeting someone else's needs. When both people in a marriage are oriented this way — each one asking what the other needs rather than cataloguing what they themselves are not receiving — something remarkable happens. Resentment loses its foothold. Bitterness does not get the room it needs to grow. This principle applies whether you are newly married or have been married for decades. The question is not whether your spouse is meeting your needs. The question Paul presses you toward is this: are you genuinely concerned about theirs? Today's Challenge: If you are married, spend five minutes today thinking carefully and specifically about one practical way you can please or serve your spouse, and then do it without announcing that you are doing it. Prayer: Father, forgive me for the moments when I have entered my marriage focused on what I am receiving rather than what I am giving. Soften my heart toward my spouse today. Make me someone who is genuinely concerned with their flourishing.
July 27, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Weekly Update for July 26
Welcome to the July 26th weekly roundup 👋 This is your one-stop spot for everything happening in our church family. From kids to adults, small groups to special events, here's how you can get connected over the next seven days. Sunday, July 26th 11:00 am Worship Service - Join us for Sunday
service in person or online. 11:00 am - Family Day - Check Facebook for pictures and a video Kids Ministry - Age-specific programming during the service. Monday, July 27th Prayer Gathering - 5:30 pm Thursday, July 30th Praise and Worship Practice - 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary Upcoming Events Partnership Dinner - Sunday, August 2, 5:30-7:00 PM in the Kid’s Room Women’s Painting Party - August 8th from 12-2 at the church Kid’s Back to School Swim Party - August 9th from 4-6 PM at 116 Shadowood Court, Seneca, SC 29678New here? We'd love to connect. Last Week's Message "Marriage is a Covenant Relationship"
Pastor Eric | Ephesians 5:22-33 A Christian marriage is fundamentally different than the prevailing culture’s understanding of marriage. You can have a great marriage. But it starts with understanding that marriage symbolizes the covenant relationship between God and His people. Just as Christ sacrificially gave His life for the Church, a husband is called to love his wife; and just as the Church honors Christ, a wife is called to respect her husband. Watch last week’s sermon 👇Watch Online Community Prayer We carry each other through the spiritual practice of prayer. Here's what our community is lifting up this week: 🙏 Partnership Dinner - That the vision is delivered with clarity and conviction. That new connections will be made and new partnerships established. 🙏 Our City – For renewal and revival across our communities. Submit your own prayer request .here Giving Your generosity makes our work in our community possible. We’re so grateful for you. New to our community? No pressure. Today, just be our guest.Give Now Here Stay Connected 📩 Subscribe to this Collection to get these updates delivered directly to your inbox. 📸 Follow us on , Instagram, and .YouTube 💬 Pastoral care or questions? Connect with us here. Services: Sundays at 11:00 AM
3210 Blue Ridge Blvd., West Union, SC 29696
See you soon ☀️
July 20, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
Weekly Update
Welcome to the July 19th weekly roundup 👋 This is your one-stop spot for everything happening in our church family. From kids to adults, small groups to special events, here's how you can get connected over the next seven days. Sunday, July 19th 11:00 am Worship Service - Join us for Sunday
service in person or online. Kids Ministry - Age-specific programming during the service. Monday, July 20th Prayer Gathering - 5:30 pm Tuesday, July 21st Leadership Meeting - 6:30 pm Wednesday, July 22nd Community Mental Health Workshop - 6:00 pm in the Sanctuary Thursday, July 23rd Praise and Worship Practice - 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary Saturday, July 25th Family Day Set-Up - 10 AM - 12 PM Upcoming Events Family Fun Day - Sunday, July 26th at 11:00 am Partnership Dinner - Sunday, August 2, 5:30-7:00 PM in the Kid’s Room Women’s Painting Party - August 8th from 12-2 at the church Kid’s Back to School Swim Party - August 9th from 4-6 PM at 116 Shadowood Court, Seneca, SC 29678New here? We'd love to connect. Last Week's Message "The Necessity of Evangelism"
Pastor Eric | 1 Peter 3:15 Evangelism is not an optional activity but the natural overflow of the hope we have in Christ. Living out 1 Peter 3:15 in daily life isn't about memorizing a list of specific Scriptures or looking for arguments. Instead, it is about cultivating a lifestyle that naturally invites curiosity and being ready to respond with humility when people ask about our faith. Watch last week’s sermon 👇Watch Online Community Prayer We carry each other through the spiritual practice of prayer. Here's what our community is lifting up this week: 🙏 Family Day - That we will reach families that are far from God so that they may find Hope in Christ. That new connections will be made and that everyone has fun. 🙏 Our City – For renewal and revival across our communities. Submit your own prayer request .here Giving Your generosity makes our work in our community possible. We’re so grateful for you. New to our community? No pressure. Today, just be our guest.Give Now Here Stay Connected 📩 Subscribe to this Collection to get these updates delivered directly to your inbox. 📸 Follow us on , Instagram, and .YouTube 💬 Pastoral care or questions? Connect with us here. Services: Sundays at 11:00 AM
3210 Blue Ridge Blvd., West Union, SC 29696
See you soon ☀️
July 13, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Weekly Update
Welcome to the weekly roundup 👋 This is your one-stop spot for everything happening in our church family. From kids to adults, small groups to special events, here's how you can get connected over the next seven days. Sunday, July 12th 11:00 am Worship Service - Join us for Sunday
service in person or online. Kids Ministry - Age-specific programming during the service. Monday, July 13th Prayer Gathering - 5:30 pm Thursday, July 16th Grief Support Group - 6:00 pm in the Kids Praise and Worship Practice - 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary Upcoming Events Family Fun Day - Sunday, July 26th at 11:00 amNew here? We'd love to connect. This Week's Message "Shaping Your Soul Through Daily Intention"
Pastor Eric | 1 Timothy 4:7-8 Spiritual Growth Requires Spiritual Intention. We live out our faith in this physical world with our physical bodies. This is why it’s so important to understand how to be a Christian. Paul’s call to his protégé Timothy is a message for all of us: “Train yourself for godliness”. It brings peace and purpose to our current daily lives while securing our eternal destiny. Watch last week’s sermon 👇Watch Online Community Prayer We carry each other through the spiritual practice of prayer. Here's what our community is lifting up this week: 🙏 The Palmer Family – Grieving the loss of Brad Palmer. Praying for comfort, peace and strength for the family. 🙏 Our City – For renewal and revival across our communities. Submit your own prayer request .here Giving Your generosity makes our work in our community possible. We’re so grateful for you. New to our community? No pressure. Today, just be our guest.Give Now Here Stay Connected 📩 Subscribe to this Collection to get these updates delivered directly to your inbox. 📸 Follow us on , Instagram, and .YouTube 💬 Pastoral care or questions? Connect with us here. Services: Sundays at 11:00 AM
3210 Blue Ridge Blvd., West Union, SC 29696
See you soon ☀️
August 12, 2026 • 8 Minute Read
Kids Discipleship
Honestly, even as a pastor, I struggled to disciple my kids because discipling from toddler to adult requires a different Bible for every new season of growth. So the question is, what is the best Bible for them at that stage, and there are so many choices? Then there is what you teach and what approach or method you use at each stage of life. Throughout the years, I have researched these questions many times. A few times I found things that were helpful; most of the time I became frustrated. Frustrated because there were so many choices and no clear answers or pathways I could follow. So I would put it aside and end up coming back to it again and again without ever really starting discipleship training with my kids. Yes, I overthink things. Yes, I do better with a clear plan laid out. Yes, I'm a pastor, and yes, I have struggled with this. Maybe you are facing the same challenges as me along with the same frustrations. You love your kids. You want them to grow up and learn to love God and love others. You want them to live for Jesus, experience His love, mercy, and grace, and ultimately spend eternity with Him. But you don’t know what Bible to buy, and you don’t know where to start. You don’t know what to teach or even what should be taught at the different stages of growth. So you put it off, and you put it off, and before you know it, they have grown up. But we can change things starting today because God designed the home to be the first and most powerful classroom of faith. I am working to put together a family resource of Bibles and catechism materials, articles, etc. In the meantime, here are a few resources that I hope you will find helpful. ✝️ Catechism 0–5 Years Old (Early Childhood & Preschool) At this stage, catechism focuses on foundational concepts of God’s love, creation, and grace through simple Q&A, songs, and storybooks rather than heavy memory work. The Kid's Catechism(Holy Joys / Wesleyan Tradition) Focus: Simplified Questions & Answers for ages 2–5. Highlights: Designed specifically as the entry level for young toddlers, answering essential questions about God, creation, and Jesus in short, memorable sentences (e.g., "Who made you? God made me."). Our Faith for Little Ones / Nazarene Early Childhood Discipleship Focus: Pre-K foundational truths of grace and God's love. Highlights: Uses story-based lessons and basic catechism questions emphasizing prevenient grace—the idea that God loves and pursues us even before we know Him. 6–9 Years Old (Early Elementary) In this age range, children are ready for structured Q&A formats that introduce core doctrines, the Ten Commandments, the Creed, and Wesleyan understandings of grace. The Young Disciples' Catechism(Holy Joys / Arminian-Wesleyan) Focus: 81 Questions & Weekly Memory Verses for ages 6–12. Highlights: Specifically crafted from a Wesleyan-Arminian framework. It structures catechism questions around God's character, salvation, holy living, and joyful obedience, making it ideal for family devotions or Sunday school. My Faith: A Catechism for Kids (Foundry Publishing / Church of the Nazarene) Focus: Interactive Student Workbook & Catechism Guide. Highlights: Covers essential Christian doctrines and the 16 Articles of Faith through engaging activity sheets, Q&A memory work, and age-appropriate discussions on sanctification and Christian living. Garden of Grace Curriculum (The KidMin Creatives) Focus: 16-Week Catechetical Teaching on the Articles of Faith. Highlights: Breaks down core Wesleyan beliefs (grace, repentance, holiness, the sacraments) using child-friendly illustrations, games, and weekly memory prompts. 7–12 Years Old (Older Elementary & Preteens) Preteens can handle deeper theological concepts, historical creeds, confirmation prep, and understanding the means of grace (prayer, Scripture, communion, baptism). A Catechism of Christian Faith and Doctrine(Seedbed / Global Methodist Church) Focus: 77 Questions and Answers on Historic & Wesleyan Beliefs. Highlights: Concise and robust catechism published by Seedbed.Designed for upper elementary, youth, and family grounding in the Apostles' Creed, Means of Grace, Articles of Religion, and the Lord's Prayer. Confirm / Wesleyan Confirmation & Catechism (Cokesbury / United Methodist / Global Methodist) Focus: Preteen Confirmation & Catechesis (Ages 10–12+). Highlights: A complete curriculum guiding preteens through the story of Scripture, Christian doctrine, Wesleyan history (John Wesley’s rule of life), and personal commitment to Christ. A Wesleyan Catechism (Ten Commandments, Articles of Religion, Lord's Prayer) Focus: Classical Wesleyan Q&A based on John Wesley's writings. Highlights: Focuses on the primary texts Wesley emphasized: the Ten Commandments (duty to God and neighbor), the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Sacraments. High-level preteens (ages 10–12) can study these alongside parent/teacher guides. 13+ Years Old (Teens & Young Adults) A Catechism of Christian Faith and Doctrine(Seedbed / Global Methodist / Wesleyan) Focus: 77 Questions and Answers on Core & Wesleyan Doctrine Highlights: Concise yet doctrinally rich, this guide works exceptionally well for teens. It covers the Apostles' Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Wesleyan understanding of grace (prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying). Absolute Basics of the Wesleyan Way (Seedbed - Phil Tallon & Justus Hunter) Focus: Interactive Teen & Student Catechism Course Highlights: Designed specifically for youth and young adults, this small-group and individual guide uses videos, short readings, and Q&A formats to break down core Christian beliefs through a distinctly Wesleyan lens. The Class Meeting / Small Group Discipleship Guides (Kevin M. Watson) Focus: Wesleyan Small Group Discipleship & Accountability Highlights: Moves beyond simple Q&A head-knowledge into heart transformation. Grounded in John Wesley's classic "class meetings," it helps teens learn how to watch over one another in love and track where God is working in their daily lives. 📖 Recommended Bibles 0–5 Years Old (Early Childhood & Preschool) At this stage, children benefit most from storybook and devotional Bibles that present essential themes through clear visuals and short, simple narratives. My First Hands-On Bible(NLT) Format: Storybook / Activity Bible Highlights: Designed specifically for ages 3–6, this book uses simplified NLT text alongside interactive prompts (hand motions, questions, simple crafts) that engage energetic toddlers and preschoolers during reading. The Jesus Storybook Bible(Storybook) Format: Illustrated Storybook Bible Highlights: While not a word-for-word translation, it is published alongside standard NIV/NLT resources as a primary recommendation for preschoolers. It focuses on how every story throughout the Old and New Testaments points to Jesus. NIV Little Kids' Big Story Bible(NIV) Format: Storybook Bible Highlights: Features short, simple retellings of 30+ key stories using easy-to-understand language and vibrant artwork crafted specifically to keep young attention spans engaged. 6–9 Years Old (Early Elementary & Early Readers) Children in this group are transitioning into independent reading and can begin moving from storybooks to full-text Bibles with engaging supplemental features. Hands-On Bible(NLT) Format: Full-Text Activity Bible Highlights: Uses the full NLT text packed with graphics, fun facts, "do-it" activities, science experiments, and crafts that help kinesthetic learners understand and apply biblical concepts. NIV Adventure Bible(NIV) (One of my favorites) Format: Full-Text Study Bible Highlights: Widely considered the gold standard for elementary-aged readers. It includes full-color feature pages like Life in Bible Times, Words to Treasure (for verse memory), and People in Bible Times profiles. NIV Boys/Girls Big Dreams, Big Prayers Bible(NIV) Format: Devotional / Full-Text Bible Highlights: Combines the complete NIV Scripture text with short daily devotions and prayer prompts that help early readers begin developing a daily Bible-reading habit. 7–12 Years Old (Older Elementary & Preteens) Preteens benefit from study tools that answer deeper questions, provide historical context, and foster personal reflection. NIV Kids' Visual Study Bible(NIV) Format: Illustrated Study Bible Highlights: Ideal for visual learners, this full-text NIV Bible is loaded with over 700 infographics, photos, maps, and study notes directly alongside the verses. NLT Student Life Application Study Bible(NLT) Format: Full-Text Study Bible Highlights: A great bridge for upper-elementary kids and preteens (ages 10+) stepping into deeper study. It provides application notes, character profiles, and real-world Q&As grounded in the accessible NLT text. NIV Investigator's Holy Bible(NIV) Format: Full-Text Interactive Study Bible Highlights: Uses a detective-and-discovery theme with "evidence files," Q&As, and background context to help preteens explore the historical truth of the Bible for themselves. Beautiful Word Coloring Bible for Girls (NIV, Leathersoft, Teal) Focus: Creative Engagement & Scripture Memorization through Visual Art for Preteens (Ages 8–12). Highlights: Combines the full NIV text with over 500 ready-to-color verse illustrations, thick white paper, and wide margins, encouraging girls to reflect on and memorize God's Word through art. 13+ Years Old (Teens & Young Adults) NLT Teen Life Application Study Bible(NLT) Format: Full-Text Teen Study Bible Highlights: Widely recognized as one of the best life-application Bibles for teenagers. It dives deep into real-world issues (mental health, peer pressure, identity, relationships) while offering clear verse-by-verse commentary grounded in the accessible NLT translation. NIV Student Bible(NIV) Format: Full-Text Guided Study Bible Highlights: Edited by Philip Yancey and Tim Stafford, this Bible includes the 3-Track Reading Plan, book introductions, "Highlights" that explain tricky passages, and historical backgrounds designed to build independent, lifelong study habits. The Jesus Bible(NIV) Format: Theological / Devotional Study Bible Highlights: Excellent for high schoolers and college students looking for deep narrative study. It features extensive essays, study notes, and journaling margins that reveal how Christ is woven throughout both the Old and New Testaments. Article with Graphic for Each Age Group Practical Ways to Teach Your Children about God at Every Age,” Woman of Noble Character, May 1, 2019. Download the article here.
July 13, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Family Fun Day
Summer is Here 😎 Family Fun Day is coming up on Sunday, July 26th and we could not be more excited! Get ready for an exciting Sunday together! Bring a friend and join us as we kick off our brand new family series “Family Life” during the 11:00 AM service.... The fun doesn’t stop there! Stick around right after for an awesome time of food, fellowship, and fun in the water for everyone! Don’t forget your towel!👌 Bring your favorite potluck dish to share 🌭, we can’t wait to enjoy it together! **There will be a sign up sheet located at the Guest Services table. ** Our Sunday Kids Church curriculum kicks off with a brand new 8-week series, “Back-to-School Survival Guide.” The kids will learn how to make this school year the best ever as they see how to listen and hold on to instruction. “I also want to spotlight 🤩 our incredible Hope Kidz team, who have faithfully served Sunday after Sunday! Thank you for making disciples… who make disciples in Hope Kidz!” - Pastor Eric Do you have a passion for kids and a heart for helping them grow in their faith? Do you enjoy teaching children about Jesus and making disciples? Hope Kidz would love to have you join our team! If you're interested in serving or would like to learn more, please reach out to Valerie for additional information.Sign up to join Hope Kidz Coming up 🔔
July 13, 2026 • 1 Minute Read
Family & Kids Ministry Update
Summer is here!!! 🌞 Our Sunday Kids Church curriculum kicks off with a brand new 8-week series, “Back-to-School Survival Guide.” The kids will learn how to make this school year the best ever as they see how to listen and hold on to instruction. “I also want to spotlight 🤩 our incredible Hope Kidz team, who have faithfully served Sunday after Sunday! Thank you for making disciples… who make disciples in Hope Kidz!” - Pastor Eric Do you have a passion for kids and a heart for helping them grow in their faith? Do you enjoy teaching children about Jesus and making disciples? Hope Kidz would love to have you join our team! If you're interested in serving or would like to learn more, please reach out to Valerie for additional information.Sign up to join Hope Kidz ⭐HOPE KIDZ NEWSLETTER ⭐ Coming up 🔔
