renbible.org June 2016

� DON’T TAKE THE SUMMER OFF!

Summer is a good thing. I’m a big fan. I always have been since I was 5 and old enough to understand the school calendar. I love the long days & warm weather…to a point! I could do without anything in the 90s. I’m also a big fan of the days spent at the pool watching the kids swim, play with friends & eat. And eat. And eat. Ok, I don’t love everything about summer. I could do without the growing grocery bill, but other than that I’m very pro-summer & would probably vote for it if spring wasn’t running.

While I love the summer months, summer can also be a dangerous season for me. It’s not dangerous because our children, like their parents, are about as pasty white as they come. That’s a different kind of dangerous. I find summer personally challenging because it alters my normal routine, can breed laziness with relationships, & becomes fertile soil for a lack luster effort in my relationship with God.

TheRevive �1

Opening Thought

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RenVillage

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VBS Preview

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Renegade Recap

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Financial Update

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THEREVIVE

renbible.org June 2016

Summer alters my routine. Some people may thrive without a schedule, but I’m not one of them. I need routine in my life. Excessive free time, down time, and “me time" isn’t a recipe for thriving. In fact, given the right conditions it can be a recipe for disaster.

Life still happens in June, July & August. Please, by all means, rest! But don’t take a break from the things that matter. This summer make this a point to ponder: Exercise your faith muscles as much as you tone your midsection. Learn a verse a week. Read a Psalm a day. Open your table & practice hospitality. Make it a point to make it to worship with your church family. You’ll find that practicing these disciplines will actually enhance your summer and, more importantly, your relationship with God & others.

Pastor James

NEWS FROM THE VILLAGE Making Summer Count

Summer is the time of year when it’s easy to assume that our brains have kicked out of learning mode. While life definitely has a different rhythm than what we experience during the school year, summer is a great time to build new habits & develop spiritual disciplines that can carry over into the school year once August arrives. Besides, God is just as interested in what he’s doing in our family’s lives NOW as he

is what he WILL be doing in a couple months.

So as we seek to get a head start & lean into what he’s up to over the next 6 weeks or so, here are some practical suggestions to pray about…

Help Kids Study the Bible on Their Own

Wouldn’t it be great if kids chose to study the bible on their own? As parents & Village teachers, we pray that our children will grow to desire to know God more & take time to dive into The Word for themselves to see what God says. When children spend time in the Bible, they soon realize that it’s God’s letter to them, that it’s eternal & important.

TheRevive �2

renbible.org June 2016

Model What’s Important

Kids learn more of what they see you do than they will ever learn by just hearing what you say. It’s crucial that we as parents pursue these things:

• Modeling the importance of personal Bible study by having one yourself.

• Modeling the importance of the Bible by using your Bible in front of them. I suggest being in the habit of using a hardcopy not just using Bible apps on your device. Kids need to see that you are truly reading from The Word. Then share with them about the passage, read it aloud and talk about it.

• Encouraging kids to bring their Bibles to The Village. Kids can open up their Bibles during both large & small group times. We do use our classroom Bibles each & every Sunday, but there’s nothing like having your own Bible on hand during study time!

• Parents, YOU really do have the most influence in your child’s life! Make it a priority to establish a family Bible study. This can be before/after a meal, first thing in the morning or before bedtime...make it your own!

Make Scripture Interesting

• Bring out the interesting and unusual facts and customs.

• Use all 5 senses to teach the Bible content.

• Use a variety of teaching methods & approaches to teach kids in the way God created them to learn.

• Get creative & make it fun! Lots of fun & meaningful tools can be found on Pinterest!

Teach Your Kids How to Use Their Bibles

• Help kids know how the Bible is arranged (e.g. - testaments, divisions).

• Help kids know how to find a book, chapter & verse.

• Introduce them early to incredible tools for studying the Bible (commentary, concordance or Bible dictionary) and share how these tools offer new insights & clarity to a Bible passage.

Parents, you truly are the most influential people in your child’s life. By inviting your child into your Bible study time & sharing your spiritual habits, it will help shape their habits as they take ownership of their faith. Keep pressing on...

Marianna

TheRevive �3

renbible.org June 2016

VBS at West Green Join us for Camp Kilimanjaro VBS with our friends at West Green!

Dates: Monday, July 25th - Wednesday, July 27th Time: 9:00am - Noon each day Place: West Green Apartments (620 Atlantic Court in Kannapolis)

Here are some ways that you can help…

1. SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER. Come to our meeting THIS SUNDAY. We’ll meet at 9:30am before the service starts. We need grade level leaders (K-1, 2-3, 4-5) & station leaders (craft, snack, games & music). Decide where you’d love to serve & we'll get you plugged in!

2. LEND US YOUR CANOPY-STYLE TENT. We need 4 canopy tents total. Other needs include: 4 long tables, several card tables, animal-print anything (fabric, decorations, etc.) & some craft supplies (markers, scissors, paper plates, paints, etc.).

3. PRAY FOR US. Please pray that lots of kids come so they can hear that Jesus loves them & has an awesome plan for their lives!

TheRevive �4

renbible.org June 2016

RENEGADE STUDENT MINISTRIES High Adventure Camp Recap

Over the years, I’ve heard person after person claim that a picture is worth 1,000 words. This either means that talk is cheap or that pictures are ridiculously valuable…or both.

But regardless of whether or not you agree with one or both of those statements, we think you’ll enjoy taking a peak at a few of these pictures that were snapped during our first ever high school camp.

The theme of the week was “Courageous,” which was fitting both spiritually as we connected with Jesus & relationally as our students got to hang out with some other teenagers from across the nation. Thanks for all of your prayers last week!

TheRevive �5

renbible.org June 2016

Financial Update

TheRevive �6