Teaching Notes

  • June 1, 2025

    At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “So who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a small child and had him stand among them. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child—this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one child like this in my name welcomes me.”

    Matthew 18:1-5 CSB

    “Humility is simply agreeing with who God says you are. Nothing more, nothing less.” 

    – Danielle Strickland

    “You need to just be you!” 

    – Ella, 9 years old

     

    1. Kids are PLAYFUL

    “A playful spiritual life is one that emphasizes joy, delight, freedom, grace and love.”

    – Brian Edgar

     

    “What sounds fun to you?” 

    – Annie F. Downs 

     

    1. Kids are filled with WONDER

     

    Wonder: a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable

    Awakening Kids exists to awaken the kids of this generation to the WONDER of Jesus and the truth of God’s Word.

     

    Afterward, Jesus appeared again to his disciples by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way:  Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

    Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

    He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

    “No,” they answered.

    He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

    Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 

    John 21:1-7

     

    1. Kids experience life with DELIGHT

     

    Delight: a feeling of great pleasure or joy

     

    You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

    Psalm 16:11 

     

    …for the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

    Romans 14:17

     

    This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

    Psalm 118:24