In the car...

Today’s lesson – Genesis 1-2:2

Have your family look out their windows and pick out a couple of things they see. After they choose something, ask if it’s something God created. Talk with them about the difference between what is man-made and what is God-made.

Today’s lesson – John’s vision of Jesus

Jesus gave John a vision of Himself while John was on the island of Patmos. The vision is one that set fear in John’s heart. But comfort came when Jesus announced Himself and gave John strength and peace about what he was experiencing.

Today’s lesson – The Hall of Faith

This unknown author describes faith to us and how we can recognize it in those remembered in the Old Testament. This is referred to as the “Hall of Faith” because it is where some of the people that had strong faith are spoken about. We see that faith can provide strength, sometimes physically but mostly emotionally. Faith can provide strength to withstand fear and lack of courage.

Today’s lesson – Jesus appears to the disciples

Jesus appears! We talked last week about Jesus rising from the grave, explaining that He is NOT dead but ALIVE! Things that are alive move, like plants, insects, and us!

Today’s lesson – Jesus and the rich young man

Jesus was travelling and a young man ran up to him and asked Jesus how he can inherit eternal life. Jesus replied, “Why do you call me ‘good’? Only God is good.”

Today’s lesson – Jesus heals a boy with a spirit

Jesus was coming down the mountain from revealing His glory and having a conversation with Elijah and Moses. On the way down He spoke to the disciples about not revealing what they saw until He had risen. Upon their arrival to camp they noticed a commotion and Jesus was confused as to why.

Today’s lesson – The transfiguration of Jesus

Jesus took Peter, James, and John (the brother of James) up a mountain. This was a special time for Jesus and the disciples, because these three disciples were travelling on a special trip where they were the only ones invited. Peter recognizes this by saying, “Lord, it is good for us to be here”.

Today’s lesson – parable of the mustard seed and yeast

Jesus spoke in parables. He spoke in stories so that we can understand the ways of heaven. The mustard seed is a small seed, but it grows to be a big tree where the birds come to rest.

Today’s lesson – Jesus heals

Jesus was in a massive crowd. People were everywhere! The Bible says that people were right up next to Jesus. And then a woman touched the hem of Jesus' cloak. By her faith she was healed! Jesus knew it the instant she touched His clothing.

Today’s lesson – Jesus casts out a demon

Jesus and His disciples crossed the sea and came upon something unexpected: a man chained to a rock in a graveyard. It scared the disciples because this man spoke strangely and had the strength of many men, but Jesus saw the need to help this man.

Humility is not a pleasant topic in many churches today. Modern churches are more likely to endorse the idea of self-esteem. But when we juxtapose this idea with what the Bible teaches, self-esteem or self-worth is not the calling of the Christian life. God does not command us to look into ourselves and find our own worth; instead, He calls us to look to Jesus Christ. Just like one modern hymn says:

Today’s lesson – Jesus walks on water

Jesus went away to pray and sent the disciples on a boat. Later in the evening Jesus went to be with them on the water. The disciples couldn’t believe what they were seeing!

Today’s lesson – Jesus chooses His disciples

Jesus traveled with His disciples. They traveled in a large group like a caravan. They would go to a town together and preach to that town. When traveling in a caravan, it’s hard to keep up with the leader. Things get between you and the leader, like red lights, other cars, etc. Following Jesus is hard sometimes for the same reason — things get in the way. Then, before we know it, we can’t see our leader.

Today’s lesson – Jesus is tempted

Temptation is something we ALL deal with. When Jesus was tempted by the devil, He recited the verses to the devil to overcome what was being presented to Him. When Satan was finished tempting Jesus, Jesus was attended to by angels.

Today’s lesson – Jesus is baptized

Baptism. It’s a crazy thing to think about as a kid. Getting dunked under water as a sign of your belief in Jesus. Take a moment and think about the symbolism of it: being put under water and then raised again, cleaner than before; Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Today’s lesson – Jesus at CHURCH

Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple, just as it was commanded in the Law, to present Him to the Lord. They traveled far to go the temple to learn from the teachers there. Could you imagine traveling by foot to go to church? Imagine if you, as a family, had to travel far to worship. What would you bring? Would you be excited to go?

Today’s lesson – They are WISE

The wise men were from a land far away! When they noticed the star, they immediately got together and traveled towards it! We’ve been talking a lot about travel these past couple of weeks. Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, and now three guys from the East! Crazy! But they all traveled for Jesus!

Today’s lesson – They are TOLD

So Gabriel had frightened Mary, Joseph, and now the Shepherds! Nobody was expecting Jesus. They were living their lives as if they had forgotten. When the angel appeared, they all got scared. But then they realized how cool it was! Discuss a time when you weren't expecting something but were pleasantly surprised.

Today’s lesson – Jesus’ Birth

Traveling can sometimes be hard, loud, crazy, fun, exciting, and sometimes an everyday thing. Imagine what it would be like to travel from one city to the next on a donkey. Talk about how long that might take and how the anticipation might fade or get stronger.

Today’s lesson – The angel told Mary

Mary was told about her pregnancy. She was engaged to Joseph but not yet married. Shewas afraid when the angel told her that she was carrying God’s child. What a surprise! What a scary, positive, awesome surprise!

Dear Family of Quail,
We have seen the goodness of the Lord over the course of 2021. It has been a blessing to get back to gathering for worship, meeting in our Rooted groups, and fellowshipping in our Sunday Bible classes.

When you read this title, “Believe in Yourself”, all the self centered thoughts we have been inundated with, living in a free land, starts circulating in our thought process. What can “I” do, what will “I” get out of this, how will this make “me” greater than everyone else. I, I, I, me, me me. But as a person who trusts the Lord, this topic takes on a different meaning. It is a belief that is not in our own strength but our strength in Christ. Philippians 4:13 tells us “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Today’s lesson – Isaiah’s Prophecy

Isaiah was a prophet, one who spoke and led the people of Israel. He foretold the coming of the Messiah. 400 years before Jesus was born Isaiah told the Israelites of His birth. That gave them something to anticipate. But the timing also gave them some time to forget.

Today’s lesson – Josiah, the kid king

Today we talked about Josiah. Josiah was made king when he was only 8! But he was surrounded by good people to raise him in the correct ways. So much so that that when he was old enough to begin making important decisions, he decided to rebuild the temple.

Today’s lesson – Nehemiah

Today we talked about Nehemiah. Nehemiah was a common man, the cupbearer to the king. He heard of how Jerusalem was being picked on, or destroyed, and the walls had been torn down. It made him extremely sad to hear that his hometown was being destroyed and he wanted to rebuild the walls.

Today’s lesson – Esther

Today we talked about Esther. Esther was just a girl when she was adopted by Mordecai. Mordecai always wanted the best for Esther and raised her to follow the Lord. When the king called for a new queen, Esther was chosen! But it was unknown to the king that she was a Jew, a follower of the Lord. Esther was being placed as queen by God to make some big changes in the king’s life and in the kingdom.

Today’s lesson – Daniel 6

Daniel was well known around Babylon as an honest man and a man of integrity. Daniel was known for these things because he stood out above the rest, and that was because of his faith in the Lord. As you drive around, can you see anybody driving well?

In the September newsletter, we read that one way to stay resilient is by learning lessons in life through our walk with God.

Another way to learn resilience is to know how to Release Tension. Daily worries about family, work and finances can build up and fester inside. To alleviate tension, some people may take a walk or work out at the gym.

Today’s lesson – Daniel 3

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were brought to Babylon as prisoners of war. They were chosen because they were strong men that would serve Babylon well. They served God well and He saved them from the fiery furnace. The three men eventually went on to be missionaries to other nations, sent by the king.

Today’s lesson – Jonah 1-4

Discuss listening and recognizing. Disobedience is something that God does not take lightly. When He told Jonah to go to Nineveh and Jonah went the other way, God directed Jonah back to Nineveh by way of whale.

Today’s lesson – Job

God was strong in Job’s life. Job was chosen by God to be sifted like wheat. God exposed Job to Satan. Satan was looking for something to do and God offered up Job because He knew that Job would be strong, rely on God, and not forsake God. God tested Job’s faith.

Recently, I fell apart. I was melting in a very cold way and I couldn’t get a grip on my emotions.

Has that ever happened to you?? You’re going about your day and SMACK. Out of nowhere you begin to melt. You need to run. You need to leave your comfortable chair and just get away. You don’t want anyone to see you lose it. But where do you go when you have so much to do?

Today’s lesson – 1 Samuel 1-3

Discuss listening and recognizing. There are a lot of sounds we recognize without seeing what made them. We even have game shows based on that idea, like “Name That Tune” and “Beat Shazam.” Talk about some sounds you hear while on the road, like railroad crossing bells, horns, etc. Samuel wasn’t familiar with God’s voice when God called to him in his dream.

Today’s lesson – Exodus 19:1-20:17

Discuss preparation. God told Moses to prepare the Israelites to meet Him. God gave Moses a set of instructions for the Israelites to follow. God told them to change their clothes, take a bath, and not do bad things. These instructions seemed pretty basic, but there were thousands of Israelites! Not an easy task in three days.

Today’s lesson – Genesis 18:1-19

Discuss recognizing things from a distance. We notice things from a distance when we are familiar with them. When driving home we know when we’re close because we notice the familiar objects around us, or maybe we can even see our house from a distance. Talk about how we recognize things like these because we’re so familiar with them.

Today’s lesson – Genesis 4:1-16

Discuss the differences between cars — your car vs. the car next to you. Talk about the color, the size, the ability of speed, etc. Have your child point out differences. As they point out differences, discuss the differences between Cain and Abel, like how they did different things (one was a shepherd and the other a farmer). God loved both equally and desired that they each do their best.

Today’s lesson: Genesis 3

Discuss driving and making mistakes. Talk with the family about driving rules and that they are in place to protect us and everyone else. Pick out a rule like stopping at a red light and how the traffic lights are designed to allow everybody a chance to go through the intersection. Discuss what might happen if you broke the rule.

Today’s lesson: Genesis 2:4-25

Have the family look at people that are passing by in cars and walking on the sidewalk, or neighbors in your neighborhood. Ask them if they think God made those people too. Discuss with them that God made each and every one of us! And He loves us all!

Continuing with our theme RESILIENT based on the article by Jen Uscher, the second point she makes is that we need to learn lessons.

2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT)

All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

Today’s lesson: Genesis 1-2:2

Have the family look out their windows and pick out a couple of things they see. After they choose something ask if it’s something God created? Talk with them about the difference between what is manmade and God-made.

Dear Quail Family,

Our hearts are breaking as we witness the many calamities that our world is going through right now. Close to home however we feel deep sorrow for the many victims of the NorCal fires. At this writing it sees hundreds have lost homes and entire communities have been decimated. We all feel like we should do something! What should we do?

Dear Quail Family,

What a year it has been! When I glance back to last June, I see that it was a time when we were deep in the heart of dealing with the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic. It brought changes to our individual lives, as well as our Kingdom ministry. In fact, a year ago almost to the day (as I write this) we began our first “live stream” services with people actually in the Sanctuary after months of purely remote worship. Since then, each week we have seen increasing participation in our “in-person” worship, Sunday Bible classes for all ages, and our youth and children’s activities.

Download the July/August Men’s Slow Pitch Softball Church League schedule here.

We are looking forward to a great service of Thanksgiving on “Thanksgiving Eve,” Wednesday, November 25 at 6:30pm. As usual, we will sing songs of praise and hear a message of encouragement. The service will be live in- person in the Sanctuary and on-line on YouTube. However, we will not be able to do our “testimony time” of sharing as usual. Instead, I invite you to send a one minute video testimony in to our Media Director, John Welsh, and he will compile these brief videos into a montage of thanks.

This week’s lesson: The Ten Commandments

The Israelites and Moses were traveling in the desert towards the Promised Land. The Israelites grumbled at Moses and the Lord about lack of food and water.

This week’s lesson: The Golden Calf

The Israelites were waiting for Moses to come back down from Mt. Sinai after his meeting with God. They had just been wandering through the desert after escaping from Egypt, and God invited them to the foot of Mt. Sinai to witness His presence and to wait for Him to chat with Moses.

Dear Quail,
This will be my last Friday “Brief Update” for the foreseeable future. Instead, starting this Sunday and continuing on, we will be sending out our new Sunday bulletin on Sunday mornings. This will allow those of you who are continuing to worship from home to get the same bulletin that we will once again be publishing in hard copy for those who attend in person.

The restarted bulletin will contain the same program information and ongoing announcements that we always have had, as well as the sermon outline and the prayer page. For those who are on campus and worshipping “in-person,” you will have the option of a hard copy to pick up and take with you.

Dear Quail,

Have you failed at something lately? Have you disappointed yourself or someone else? The fact is that it happens to all of us from time to time. But how will God use that event that you consider to be a failure? Listen to these words from the Apostle Paul:

This week’s lesson: Jacob Wrestles God

Jacob was on his way to meet his brother. He and his brother were at odds since Jacob stole Esau’s blessing AND Esau’s birthright. So, on Jacob’s way he met a man and wrestled him. When the man realized that Jacob wouldn’t relent, he blessed Jacob.

This week’s lesson: Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9)

The Tower of Babel was a building project meant for selfish goals. The text is filled with “ourselves,” highlighting the point that the people were working for themselves and not for God. They wanted to build a tower that reached the sky!