By Darcy Fluitt Children's Ministry JUMP Coordinator
What Elementary Kids Are Talking About This Month…
How Humility Is Needed in Our Upside Down World
Every month our program for elementary kids has a new theme…a concrete idea that helps children more easily understand some of the abstract ideas presented in scripture. It is a creative challenge to bring the themes to life with special decorations in the JUMP room.
In February, I started to think about April. Easter. How would we decorate the JUMP room? The theme “Upside Down…Jesus Changes Everything” could be a fun project. The focus would be Humility-putting others first by giving up what you think you deserve.
Our JUMP team looked forward to helping kids see what it looks like to be humble, to consider the needs of others above our own. First, and foremost, Jesus is our perfect example of humility. As God’s Son, HE was equal with God, but instead of using that to His advantage, Jesus put us first. Jesus gave up his life, his final act of humility, to rescue us from our sins so we can have a forever relationship with God.
As we began to ponder this “Upside Down” theme, our world started to turn upside down. As the coronavirus began its spread in the United States, the guidelines to keep us safe became more restrictive. Gatherings of 500 were soon reduced to 5, with proper social distancing and face masks. As we move into our 4th week of sheltering place, we are all tasked with giving up our rights and freedoms to protect each other. In February, I had no idea how relevant the study of humility would be in our April Bible stories. The practice of putting others first is needed to heal our upside down world and make it right again.
This month our memory verse is Philippians 2: 3-4 NIrV: “Don’t do anything only to get ahead. Don’t do it because you are proud. Instead, be humble. Value others more than yourselves. None of you should look out just for your own good. Each of you should also look out for the good of others.”
Looking out for the good of others is what we are called to do in our everyday lives, but never has it been more crucial than as we shelter in place to protect the health and well-being of all. We hope, as our children discover more about the humility of Jesus this Easter time, they will be encouraged to put others first. Shawna and small group leaders are meeting with kids on Zoom. Just like our large group time in JUMP, we play a game, watch the Bible story together, and talk about what it means and how to apply it.
When we practice humility by putting others first, we give those around us a glimpse of what Jesus did for the entire world.
See you soon on Zoom,
Darcy
