Parent Newsletter

In our ‘Influenced’ series, children will discover that the people they surround themselves with, the media they consume, and even the thoughts they dwell on all play a powerful role in who they become. We’ll talk about how to be mindful of the outside influences we allow into our lives, so we do not get distracted from living out the purpose God has for us. Our prayer is that children understand they are God’s masterpiece; masterpieces are valuable; and valuable things are protected – that’s why we guard our hearts and protect the purpose God placed inside us.

This week, children learned that the people they spend time with influence who they become. We looked at two biblical examples: Adam and Eve, who were influenced by the serpent to disobey God (Genesis 3); and a group of faithful men who carried their paralyzed friend and lowered him down to Jesus (Mark 2). We discussed how wise friends influence us to grow closer to the Lord, while foolish ones can pull us away from Him. Through a powerful object lesson, where we spoke kindly to one apple and harshly to another apple, children saw the difference on the inside of each one and realized that we need to guard our hearts even in our friendships. They learned that we need to choose wise friends who point us to Jesus.

Foundational Verse:
Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.
Proverbs 13:20 NLT

Our heart is to partner with you in nurturing your child’s faith. We believe discipleship begins in the home, and when families talk about God together and involve Him in daily life, it makes a lasting impact. These simple ideas can help you keep the conversation going throughout the week:

Talk with your child about the friends they enjoy spending time with. What do they like about them? Gently help them think through whether those friendships encourage kindness, honesty, and love for Jesus.

Throughout the week, use everyday moments to ask, “Is that a wise friend choice or a foolish friend choice?” For example, if they (or a sibling, friend, etc.) tell a lie, pause and talk through what a wise response would look like.

Use simple, ongoing conversations to help your child remember and apply what they learned. This can be easily incorporated in your day-to-day routine. Try asking these questions during dinner, in the car, or right before bed:  

• Remind your child that not everyone gets access to their heart. Pray together, and ask God to bring wise friends into their life—friends who help them follow Jesus more closely.
• Encourage your child not only to look for wise friends, but to be one. Ask, “How can you help someone get closer to Jesus this week?”
• Ask your child about the apple object lesson from church. “What kind of things did you say to the apples? What did each one look like on the inside after that?”