SEPTEMBER 29, 2024

Parents, what a joy it is to serve your precious arrows on Sunday mornings! The Little Reformers team wants you to always have full visibility to what we are teaching your kids. It is important to us that we be effective partners to you, reinforcing what you work hard to teach your children at home. Each week, we update this section of the website to reflect the lesson, the big truth, gospel point, verse, and catechism your child(ren) will learn while in our care. We hope this resource is a help to you and gives you confidence as you train up your children in the way they should go.

Bible Story: Chapter 29. The Wise and Foolish King (1 Kings 3, 11)

The Big Truth: God can give us wisdom to live for him.

The Gospel Point: When Solomon was anointed king, the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” Then King David said to his son, “Come and sit on my throne” (see1 Kings 1:35). After that, people began to pray, asking God to bless Solomon asking: “Make the name of Solomon more famous than [David’s], and make his throne greater than [David’s] throne” (1:47). Those thoughts and prayers were answered. Solomon was the wisest, richest, and most honored king in all of Israel’s history. But, because of his foolishness (marrying many wives) and idolatry (worshiping their false and dead gods), he was not the king to establish David’s forever kingdom. So who would it be? Would God still keep his promise? Of course he would! He always does. Jesus was the forever King! In Matthew 12:42, Jesus speaks of himself as being “greater than Solomon.” How so? Jesus is greater than Solomon in his wisdom, power, obedience, and glory. Solomon ruled Israel for only forty years, and his kingdom was split apart in the end. Jesus will rule all God’s creation forever and establish his kingdom in peace.

Memory Verse: John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him  should not perish but have eternal life.

Catechism: Q: Why ought you to glorify God? A: Because He made me and takes care of me. (Romans 11:36, Revelation 4:11, Daniel 5:23)

Sources: Bible stories from The Biggest Story Bible Story Book by Kevin DeYoung. Catechisms from Truth and Grace Book 1 by Tom Ascol . The Big Truth and the Gospel Point taken from The Biggest Story Bible by Kevin DeYoung, published by Crossway.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2024

Parents, what a joy it is to serve your precious arrows on Sunday mornings! The Little Reformers team wants you to always have full visibility to what we are teaching your kids. It is important to us that we be effective partners to you, reinforcing what you work hard to teach your children at home. Each week, we update this section of the website to reflect the lesson, the big truth, gospel point, verse, and catechism your child(ren) will learn while in our care. We hope this resource is a help to you and gives you confidence as you train up your children in the way they should go.

Bible Story: Chapter 27. David Stands Tall (1 Samuel 16-17)

The Big Truth: Through his anointed king, God defeats our biggest enemies.

The Gospel Point: The story of David’s defeat of Goliath is not about how we can face the giant problems in our lives. Rather it is a story that shows us what God values and how he works in the world. King Saul was tall, handsome, strong, and popular. But God doesn’t look on the outside; he looks on the inside. What’s in our hearts is what matters most. Saul’s heart did not follow after God’s heart. So he was not the king God wanted, which meant he wasn’t the king God used to defeat Israel’s big enemy. But David’s heart beat after God’s heart. Even though he was just a humble shepherd boy, he completely trusted that God could defeat Israel’s biggest enemy through him. He didn’t need special armor, a strong shield, a bronze helmet, and a long sharp sword. He just needed God’s wisdom and strength. And that’s what God gave him. David’s humility points forward to Jesus’s humility. David’s trust in God was great—it led him through a scary battle. But Jesus’s trust in God was greater—it led him through death itself! And so Jesus accomplished the greatest victory because he had the greatest humility.

Memory Verse: John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him  should not perish but have eternal life.

Catechism: Q: Why ought you to glorify God? A: Because He made me and takes care of me. (Romans 11:36, Revelation 4:11, Daniel 5:23)

Sources: Bible stories from The Biggest Story Bible Story Book by Kevin DeYoung. Catechisms from Truth and Grace Book 1 by Tom Ascol . The Big Truth and the Gospel Point taken from The Biggest Story Bible by Kevin DeYoung, published by Crossway.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2024

Parents, what a joy it is to serve your precious arrows on Sunday mornings! The Little Reformers team wants you to always have full visibility to what we are teaching your kids. It is important to us that we be effective partners to you, reinforcing what you work hard to teach your children at home. Each week, we update this section of the website to reflect the lesson, the big truth, gospel point, verse, and catechism your child(ren) will learn while in our care. We hope this resource is a help to you and gives you confidence as you train up your children in the way they should go.

Bible Story: Chapter 26. The Rise and Fall of King Saul (1 Samuel 8-15)

The Big Truth: Our good God is the only king we need.

The Gospel Point: Israel rejected God as their King and wanted a human king for the wrong reasons, which led to all sorts of trouble. Their bad choice would be bad for them, but their bad choice would not stop God’s perfect plan. He would still establish his forever kingdom through his Son, Jesus—the perfect King! This is how God works throughout history. His purpose is such that rebellious acts bring about his good. This is the story of the cross, isn’t it? Jesus is born as the King of the Jews, but his own people, the Jews, reject him. They mock him and crucify him. But that rejection brings about God’s good plan. Jesus dies and the Snake Crusher is crushed. Jesus dies and rebellious sinners are forgiven. Jesus dies and new life comes to spiritually dead people. Jesus dies and he is crowned King: “God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow . . . and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Phil. 2:9–11). Only God could plan something as good as Jesus’s reign through something as bad as Jesus’s death.

Memory Verse: John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him  should not perish but have eternal life.

Catechism: Q: Why ought you to glorify God? A: Because He made me and takes care of me. (Romans 11:36, Revelation 4:11, Daniel 5:23)

Sources: Bible stories from The Biggest Story Bible Story Book by Kevin DeYoung. Catechisms from Truth and Grace Book 1 by Tom Ascol . The Big Truth and the Gospel Point taken from The Biggest Story Bible by Kevin DeYoung, published by Crossway.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2024

Parents, what a joy it is to serve your precious arrows on Sunday mornings! The Little Reformers team wants you to always have full visibility to what we are teaching your kids. It is important to us that we be effective partners to you, reinforcing what you work hard to teach your children at home. Each week, we update this section of the website to reflect the lesson, the big truth, gospel point, verse, and catechism your child(ren) will learn while in our care. We hope this resource is a help to you and gives you confidence as you train up your children in the way they should go.

Bible Story: Chapter 23. Samson's Strength (Judges 13-16)

The Big Truth: True strength is more about faith than muscles.

The Gospel Point: Do you have a favorite superhero? Maybe Superman, Wonder Woman, Black Panther, or Batgirl? Do you have a favorite hero? Maybe your mom, older brother, teacher, or athlete? The Bible has lots of heroes. Moses and Joshua, for example, are heroes. Samson too. But the Bible has only one superhero—Jesus! He is not a superhero just because he can do things that most people cannot do: read minds, walk on water, give sight to the blind, raise the dead. He is a superhero because he is super good. Perfectly good. The best heroes in the Bible—and the heroes that you know—set an example for us in faith, hope, and love, but they all have weaknesses. Some, like Samson, have lots of them. Only Jesus—the Son of God, the Savior, the Snake Crusher—was without sin. And only Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice. Like Samson, he was mocked. Like Samson’s enemies thought they had defeated Samson, God’s enemies thought they had defeated God. But unlike Samson, Jesus wasn’t captured because he was foolish. And unlike Samson, Jesus didn’t stay dead! He rose again. He conquered his enemies and ours—sin, death, and the devil. He is the only superhero we need.

Memory Verse: John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him  should not perish but have eternal life.

Catechism: Q: Why ought you to glorify God? A: Because He made me and takes care of me. (Romans 11:36, Revelation 4:11, Daniel 5:23)

Sources: Bible stories from The Biggest Story Bible Story Book by Kevin DeYoung. Catechisms from Truth and Grace Book 1 by Tom Ascol . The Big Truth and the Gospel Point taken from The Biggest Story Bible by Kevin DeYoung, published by Crossway.

September 1, 2024

Parents, what a joy it is to serve your precious arrows on Sunday mornings! The Little Reformers team wants you to always have full visibility to what we are teaching your kids. It is important to us that we be effective partners to you, reinforcing what you work hard to teach your children at home. Each week, we update this section of the website to reflect the lesson, the big truth, gospel point, verse, and catechism your child(ren) will learn while in our care. We hope this resource is a help to you and gives you confidence as you train up your children in the way they should go.

Bible Story: Chapter 21. The Walls Come Tumbling Down (Joshua 6)

The Big Truth: God fights for those who trust in him.

The Gospel Point: God’s people have always faced enemies. Sometimes it’s people who oppose God and his ways. Other times it’s things like sin, death, and Satan. Through Jesus all our enemies will be defeated. Sin forgiven. Death killed. Satan crushed. And, yes, people brought down in judgment. Hallelujah! We have the victory in Jesus! And someday soon we will enter a far better promised land, the new heaven and new earth. There may be grapes the size of watermelons to eat. A clear and clean river to swim in. Hills with green grass to roll down. Big and beautiful trees to climb. Secret places to discover. And there will be people from every nation to eat with and play with and explore with and sing with. And there will be never-ending joy! Never-ending peace! Never-ending love! And the best part? Never-ending face-to-face fellowship with God! Unlike the first promised land, this amazing place isn’t just for the people of Israel. It is for anyone who believes God’s promises and trusts in Jesus for salvation. It’s for you and for me. Remember Rahab? Rahab wasn’t an Israelite. She was an enemy of God’s people. But when she heard about God and his mighty acts, she believed he’d keep his promises. She asked to be saved from the coming destruction. And God saved Rahab. And even more, God gave her special honor. We will see her name again because she is in the family tree of the promised Savior, Jesus.

Memory Verse: John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him  should not perish but have eternal life.

Catechism: Q: Why ought you to glorify God? A: Because He made me and takes care of me. (Romans 11:36, Revelation 4:11, Daniel 5:23)

Sources: Bible stories from The Biggest Story Bible Story Book by Kevin DeYoung. Catechisms from Truth and Grace Book 1 by Tom Ascol . The Big Truth and the Gospel Point taken from The Biggest Story Bible by Kevin DeYoung, published by Crossway.

AUGUST 25, 2024

Parents, what a joy it is to serve your precious arrows on Sunday mornings! The Little Reformers team wants you to always have full visibility to what we are teaching your kids. It is important to us that we be effective partners to you, reinforcing what you work hard to teach your children at home. Each week, we update this section of the website to reflect the lesson, the big truth, gospel point, verse, and catechism your child(ren) will learn while in our care. We hope this resource is a help to you and gives you confidence as you train up your children in the way they should go.

Bible Story: Chapter 15. The Way to Stay Free (Exodus 19-20)

The Big Truth: God gives us his good rules so we can live free lives that reflect him.

The Gospel Point:God didn’t give the Ten Commandments and then save Israel. The order matters. First he saved Israel, then he gave the Ten Commandments. The same pattern is true today. God doesn’t tell us to be good so that he can save us. If he did, we’d all be in a real bad spot. Instead, he saves us first, as a gift. Because of God’s great love, Jesus came into the world to crush the snake. He saves us from the power of the devil and forgave all our sins. All we have to do is believe in the Snake Crusher and we’re saved! But Jesus saves us for a reason. The Bible says that he saved us to be a special people (a kingdom of priests and a holy nation; see 1 Pet. 2:9–10). You see, Jesus didn’t just rescue us from the penalty of our sins. He also saved us from the power of them. When we believe, he gives us new hearts—hearts that want to love God and love others. So when the Bible gives us commands, we don’t see them as a way to earn our salvation. We see them as the good things that the Snake Crusher’s death freed us to do. As God’s special people, Christians have a special job. What a privilege!

Memory Verse: John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him  should not perish but have eternal life.

Catechism: Q: How can you glorify God? A: By loving Him and doing what He commands. (Ecclesiastes 12:13, Mark 12:29-31, John 15:8-10, 1 Corinthians 10:31)

Sources: Bible stories from The Biggest Story Bible Story Book by Kevin DeYoung. Catechisms from Truth and Grace Book 1 by Tom Ascol . The Big Truth and the Gospel Point taken from The Biggest Story Bible by Kevin DeYoung, published by Crossway.

AUGUST 18, 2024

Parents, what a joy it is to serve your precious arrows on Sunday mornings! The Little Reformers team wants you to always have full visibility to what we are teaching your kids. It is important to us that we be effective partners to you, reinforcing what you work hard to teach your children at home. Each week, we update this section of the website to reflect the lesson, the big truth, gospel point, verse, and catechism your child(ren) will learn while in our care. We hope this resource is a help to you and gives you confidence as you train up your children in the way they should go.

Bible Story: Chapter 18. Big People, Little Faith (Numbers 13-14)

The Big Truth: Believing God’s promises makes us brave.

The Gospel Point: We are a lot like Israel. Too often we doubt God’s promises and are too afraid to do the hard things he’s called us to do. But Caleb and Joshua teach us what true faith looks like. True faith is brave. It trusts that God will keep his promises. If he kept his promise to send the Snake Crusher to rescue us from our sins, we can count on him to keep his other promises. So what do we do when our faith is small? There is a simple prayer we learn from Mark 9:24. It goes like this: “I believe. Help my unbelief.” Even such small faith in a big, promise-keeping God is enough because God is, well, big!

Memory Verse: John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him  should not perish but have eternal life.

Catechism: Q: How can you glorify God? A: By loving Him and doing what He commands. (Ecclesiastes 12:13, Mark 12:29-31, John 15:8-10, 1 Corinthians 10:31)

Sources: Bible stories from The Biggest Story Bible Story Book by Kevin DeYoung. Catechisms from Truth and Grace Book 1 by Tom Ascol . The Big Truth and the Gospel Point taken from The Biggest Story Bible by Kevin DeYoung, published by Crossway.

AUGUST 11, 2024

Parents, what a joy it is to serve your precious arrows on Sunday mornings! The Little Reformers team wants you to always have full visibility to what we are teaching your kids. It is important to us that we be effective partners to you, reinforcing what you work hard to teach your children at home. Each week, we update this section of the website to reflect the lesson, the big truth, gospel point, verse, and catechism your child(ren) will learn while in our care. We hope this resource is a help to you and gives you confidence as you train up your children in the way they should go.

Bible Story: Chapter 17. A Tale of Two Goats (Leviticus 16)

The Big Truth: God forgives and forgets our sins.

The Gospel Point: The Israelites were almost ruined by a cow (remember last lesson?), but once a year they were rescued by two goats. Remember Forgive and Forget? How could we forget them? But of course, we’re not actually rescued by goats. The animals were just symbols or signs. Like a street sign that tells you, “This way to New York,” these two signs pointed to the perfect, final sacrifice that would be offered for our sins: Jesus Christ. Our Savior. Our sin substitute! “For our sake [God] made [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). Like the first goat, Jesus would die for our sins. Like the second goat, Jesus’s death would cause our sins to be forgotten. Because of Jesus—the only perfectly holy man, our high priest—God says, “I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more” (Heb. 8:12). That should make us so happy! Our holy God loves us so much that through Jesus he made a way to be in a relationship with us. What good news!

Memory Verse: John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him  should not perish but have eternal life.

Catechism: Q: How can you glorify God? A: By loving Him and doing what He commands. (Ecclesiastes 12:13, Mark 12:29-31, John 15:8-10, 1 Corinthians 10:31)

Sources: Bible stories from The Biggest Story Bible Story Book by Kevin DeYoung. Catechisms from Truth and Grace Book 1 by Tom Ascol . The Big Truth and the Gospel Point taken from The Biggest Story Bible by Kevin DeYoung, published by Crossway.

August 4, 2024

Parents, what a joy it is to serve your precious arrows on Sunday mornings! The Little Reformers team wants you to always have full visibility to what we are teaching your kids. It is important to us that we be effective partners to you, reinforcing what you work hard to teach your children at home. Each week, we update this section of the website to reflect the lesson, the big truth, gospel point, verse, and catechism your child(ren) will learn while in our care. We hope this resource is a help to you and gives you confidence as you train up your children in the way they should go.

Bible Story: Chapter 16. A Fancy Tent and a Foolish Cow (Exodus 32-34)

The Big Truth: God’s people should worship God the way he commands us to.

The Gospel Point: Earlier in Exodus, Israel had been saved from the big, bad Egyptians. But now Israel came face-to-face with another enemy: the sin within them. Salvation comes when God defeats his enemies, but salvation also comes when God is gracious and merciful with us in our sin. But why was God able to forgive Israel? Was it simply because Moses was such a good mediator? No. There had to be something more. And that more would come in Jesus, when he paid the penalty for our sin. Do you know we have the same enemy as the Israelites? No, not the Egyptians. Our own sin. So we need the same rescuer—Jesus!

Memory Verse: John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him  should not perish but have eternal life.

Catechism: Q: How can you glorify God? A: By loving Him and doing what He commands. (Ecclesiastes 12:13, Mark 12:29-31, John 15:8-10, 1 Corinthians 10:31)

Sources: Bible stories from The Biggest Story Bible Story Book by Kevin DeYoung. Catechisms from Truth and Grace Book 1 by Tom Ascol . The Big Truth and the Gospel Point taken from The Biggest Story Bible by Kevin DeYoung, published by Crossway.

JULY 28, 2024

Parents, what a joy it is to serve your precious arrows on Sunday mornings! The Little Reformers team wants you to always have full visibility to what we are teaching your kids. It is important to us that we be effective partners to you, reinforcing what you work hard to teach your children at home. Each week, we update this section of the website to reflect the lesson, the big truth, gospel point, verse, and catechism your child(ren) will learn while in our care. We hope this resource is a help to you and gives you confidence as you train up your children in the way they should go.

Bible Story: Chapter 14. Free at Last (Exodus 4-15)

The Big Truth: God saves his people from the Egyptians.

The Gospel Point: Have you noticed a pattern in how God works? Trouble before triumph. Suffering before salvation. Danger before deliverance. The story of our rescue in Jesus is no different. He is rejected by his people. He is arrested, sentenced to die, mocked, spit on, slapped, and finally crucified on a cross. Trouble. Suffering. Danger. But the story isn’t over. Next comes triumph, salvation, and deliverance! Jesus rises from the dead. He triumphs over the grave. Jesus saves everyone who believes in him. And he will return to deliver us from trouble, suffering, and danger. And do you remember that peculiar way God saved the Israelites? Death passed over those who put the blood of a lamb on their doorposts. He did that to give us all a clue about how he would save the whole world later on. Through the blood of a more perfect Lamb, God passes over our sin. Everyone who accepts the blood of Jesus, our sinless Passover Lamb, will be saved. If you believe in Jesus as the perfect sacrifice for your sin, God will pass over you on judgment day. You too can be free at last!

Memory Verse: John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him  should not perish but have eternal life.

Catechism: Q: How can you glorify God? A: By loving Him and doing what He commands. (Ecclesiastes 12:13, Mark 12:29-31, John 15:8-10, 1 Corinthians 10:31)

Sources: Bible stories from The Biggest Story Bible Story Book by Kevin DeYoung. Catechisms from Truth and Grace Book 1 by Tom Ascol . The Big Truth and the Gospel Point taken from The Biggest Story Bible by Kevin DeYoung, published by Crossway.

JULY 21, 2024

Parents, what a joy it is to serve your precious arrows on Sunday mornings! The Little Reformers team wants you to always have full visibility to what we are teaching your kids. It is important to us that we be effective partners to you, reinforcing what you work hard to teach your children at home. Each week, we update this section of the website to reflect the lesson, the big truth, gospel point, verse, and catechism your child(ren) will learn while in our care. We hope this resource is a help to you and gives you confidence as you train up your children in the way they should go.

Bible Story: Chapter 13. God Raises Up a Deliverer (Exodus 1-3)

The Big Truth: God raises up a leader to deliver his people out of slavery.

The Gospel Point: Remember what God called himself in the burning bush? “I am who I am” (Ex. 3:14). God is the always-and-forever God. He always was and always will be. When our Lord Jesus, the eternal Son of God, came to earth, he sometimes called him- self “I am”—the same words God used when he was talking to Moses! Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12) and “I am the resurrection and the life” (11:25). Just in case we were missing the point, he told the Pharisees, “Before Abraham was, I am” (8:58). Jesus existed before Abraham because he has always existed, and he will exist forever. And he exists forever to deliver his people. Just as God called Moses to deliver Israel from their slavery in Egypt, God sent Jesus to deliver sinners from their sins. “Thanks be to God,” the apostle Paul writes, “that you who were once slaves of sin have . . . been set free from sin” (Rom. 6:17–18). In Jesus, we are rescued from sin so we can live for him—the great “I AM.”

Memory Verse: John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him  should not perish but have eternal life.

Catechism: Q: How can you glorify God? A: By loving Him and doing what He commands. (Ecclesiastes 12:13, Mark 12:29-31, John 15:8-10, 1 Corinthians 10:31)

Sources: Bible stories from The Biggest Story Bible Story Book by Kevin DeYoung. Catechisms from Truth and Grace Book 1 by Tom Ascol . The Big Truth and the Gospel Point taken from The Biggest Story Bible by Kevin DeYoung, published by Crossway.

JULY 14, 2024

Parents, what a joy it is to serve your precious arrows on Sunday mornings! The Little Reformers team wants you to always have full visibility to what we are teaching your kids. It is important to us that we be effective partners to you, reinforcing what you work hard to teach your children at home. Each week, we update this section of the website to reflect the lesson, the big truth, gospel point, verse, and catechism your child(ren) will learn while in our care. We hope this resource is a help to you and gives you confidence as you train up your children in the way they should go.

Bible Story: Chapter 12. Joseph's Mean Brothers and What God meant to Do (Genesis 37, 50)

The Big Truth: God works all things according to his perfect plan.

The Gospel Point: Remember how we told you at the beginning of the lesson that this would be a messy story? It sure was. But even through our messes, God works for his good. He intends for our mess to bring about his promised rescue plan. But Joseph’s story isn’t the messiest in the Bible. Hundreds of years after Joseph, the religious and political leaders would reject God’s Son, whom the Father had sent into the world to save us. They beat him and mocked him. They hung him on a cross to die. What a mess! It sure looked like the snake was going to win. But Jesus rose from the dead. He conquered sin. He crushed the snake. His purpose was for this mess to bring about salvation. What a great story! What a great salvation!

Memory Verse: John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him  should not perish but have eternal life.

Catechism: Q: How can you glorify God? A: By loving Him and doing what He commands. (Ecclesiastes 12:13, Mark 12:29-31, John 15:8-10, 1 Corinthians 10:31)

Sources: Bible stories from The Biggest Story Bible Story Book by Kevin DeYoung. Catechisms from Truth and Grace Book 1 by Tom Ascol . The Big Truth and the Gospel Point taken from The Biggest Story Bible by Kevin DeYoung, published by Crossway.

July 7, 2024

Parents, what a joy it is to serve your precious arrows on Sunday mornings! The Little Reformers team wants you to always have full visibility to what we are teaching your kids. It is important to us that we be effective partners to you, reinforcing what you work hard to teach your children at home. Each week, we update this section of the website to reflect the lesson, the big truth, gospel point, verse, and catechism your child(ren) will learn while in our care. We hope this resource is a help to you and gives you confidence as you train up your children in the way they should go.

Bible Story: Chapter 9. Its a Boy (Genesis 21-22)

The Big Truth: God provided a son and a sacrifice for Abraham, the man of faith.

The Gospel Point: The story of Abraham’s (almost) sacrifice of his son, Isaac, is an amazing story. An even more amazing story is the story of God the Father’s (actual) sacrifice of his son, Jesus. Isaac’s story took place on a small mountain; Jesus’s story took place on a hill. Abraham’s beloved son would carry wood for the sacrifice; God’s beloved Son would carry a wooden cross. Isaac’s life was spared because God provided a ram (a male lamb) to be sacrificed in his place. But for Jesus, there would be no ram. Jesus was the sacrifice. Jesus was the Lamb. He carried the wooden cross on his back; he was nailed to the cross. He died. Just as God provided a ram so that Isaac wouldn’t die, God provided Jesus so that we don’t have to die. The promised child of Eve—the Snake Crusher—was the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world and rescued us from death! Our Savior would die for a people who didn’t seem to love God or trust him at all. Through Jesus’s death on a cross, we can receive forgiveness for our sins. What good news. Do you believe this? How will you respond to Jesus? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all believed like Abraham?

Memory Verse: John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him  should not perish but have eternal life.

Catechism: Q: How can you glorify God? A: By loving Him and doing what He commands. (Ecclesiastes 12:13, Mark 12:29-31, John 15:8-10, 1 Corinthians 10:31)

Sources: Bible stories from The Biggest Story Bible Story Book by Kevin DeYoung. Catechisms from Truth and Grace Book 1 by Tom Ascol . The Big Truth and the Gospel Point taken from The Biggest Story Bible by Kevin DeYoung, published by Crossway.

JUNE 30, 2024

Parents, what a joy it is to serve your precious arrows on Sunday mornings! The Little Reformers team wants you to always have full visibility to what we are teaching your kids. It is important to us that we be effective partners to you, reinforcing what you work hard to teach your children at home. Each week, we update this section of the website to reflect the lesson, the big truth, gospel point, verse, and catechism your child(ren) will learn while in our care. We hope this resource is a help to you and gives you confidence as you train up your children in the way they should go.

Bible Story: Chapter 8. The Judge Judges Justly (Genesis 18-19)

The Big Truth: God is the Judge who judges justly.

The Gospel Point: God knows our sins. God shows us our sins. God hates our sins. God judges our sins. And (this is the most important part!) God offers to forgive all our sins in Jesus. You may not come from a city that is filled with people who do bad things all the time. You may live in a town where a lot more than ten people love God and love their neighbor. And people may not call you selfish, proud, rude, mean, angry, and violent. But that does not mean that you are perfect. In fact, there are many sins we all do every day. Just as we saw with Sodom and Gomorrah, God will judge all the earth justly. But God also gives us a way to escape—just like he did with Lot’s family. God’s word tells us the only way for us to escape is to believe in Jesus Christ. To believe that Jesus is the Snake Crusher, who crushed all our sin on the cross. He took on all of God’s judgment for our sin when he died for us. What love! What sacrifice! What good news!

Memory Verse: Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Catechism: Q: Why did God make all things? A: For His own glory (Psalm 19:1, Jeremiah 9:23-24, Revelation 4:11, 5:13).

Sources: Bible stories from The Biggest Story Bible Story Book by Kevin DeYoung. Catechisms from Truth and Grace Book 1 by Tom Ascol . The Big Truth and the Gospel Point taken from The Biggest Story Bible by Kevin DeYoung, published by Crossway.

JUNE 23, 2024

Parents, what a joy it is to serve your precious arrows on Sunday mornings! The Little Reformers team wants you to always have full visibility to what we are teaching your kids. It is important to us that we be effective partners to you, reinforcing what you work hard to teach your children at home. Each week, we update this section of the website to reflect the lesson, the big truth, gospel point, verse, and catechism your child(ren) will learn while in our care. We hope this resource is a help to you and gives you confidence as you train up your children in the way they should go.

Bible Story: Chapter 6. The Father of Nations (Genesis 11-13)

The Big Truth: God promises to bless the nations through Abraham.

The Gospel Point: God made some amazing promises to Abraham: “I will give you the promised land. I will give you a son. I will make you a great nation. I will bless all the families of the earth through your family” (see Gen. 12:1–3). Abraham believed, and then he obeyed. Of course, at that time he had no idea how God would keep these promises. But the rest of the Bible tells us how. First, God gave Abraham a son, Isaac. Then Isaac had a son who had lots of sons. Soon, Abraham’s children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren were a great nation called the people of Israel. God led Israel to the promised land and gave it to them, just as he said he would. But there’s even more to the story. God kept adding people to the family. Here’s how. When Jesus came, he made a way so that all the families of the earth could be part of God’s family, even people who weren’t Israelites. They became known as Christians. And Jesus promised he was going to prepare a place for them—a new and better promised land. Abraham was God’s man to carry out God’s plan to bless all nations through him. And that was just what God did!

Memory Verse: Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Catechism: Q: Why did God make all things? A: For His own glory (Psalm 19:1, Jeremiah 9:23-24, Revelation 4:11, 5:13).

Sources: Bible stories from The Biggest Story Bible Story Book by Kevin DeYoung. Catechisms from Truth and Grace Book 1 by Tom Ascol . The Big Truth and the Gospel Point taken from The Biggest Story Bible by Kevin DeYoung, published by Crossway.

JUNE 16, 2024

Parents, what a joy it is to serve your precious arrows on Sunday mornings! The Little Reformers team wants you to always have full visibility to what we are teaching your kids. It is important to us that we be effective partners to you, reinforcing what you work hard to teach your children at home. Each week, we update this section of the website to reflect the lesson, the big truth, gospel point, verse, and catechism your child(ren) will learn while in our care. We hope this resource is a help to you and gives you confidence as you train up your children in the way they should go.

Bible Story: Chapter 5. A Table and a Tower (Genesis 10-11)

The Big Truth: People wanted to be great, but only God is great.

The Gospel Point: Imagine building the Tower of Babel. One day you say, “Hey, Joe, can you get me more bricks?” And he does. But the next day, after God confused the language, Joe can’t understand a word you say and you can’t understand a word he says. How can you possibly finish building a tower? You can’t, and they didn’t. The people back then were so frustrated that each tribe (the ones who spoke the same language) decided to spread over the earth and find a new place to live. Even this was part of God’s good plan for his people to fill the earth. When Jesus came, he didn’t just save his own tribe (the Jews), but people from every language and tribe and nation (the Gentiles). That is what happened. First, people from Jerusalem believed in him. Then, people from the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. Then, people from the Americas and Asia. From the North Pole to the South! And it’s still happening today. Someday, in heaven, God will be praised by people from every nation in languages that all God’s people will understand. And, then and there, we will finally work together to show just how amazing God is.

Memory Verse: Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Catechism: Q: Why did God make all things? A: For His own glory (Psalm 19:1, Jeremiah 9:23-24, Revelation 4:11, 5:13).

Sources: Bible stories from The Biggest Story Bible Story Book by Kevin DeYoung. Catechisms from Truth and Grace Book 1 by Tom Ascol . The Big Truth and the Gospel Point taken from The Biggest Story Bible by Kevin DeYoung, published by Crossway.

June 9, 2024

Parents, what a joy it is to serve your precious arrows on Sunday mornings! The Little Reformers team wants you to always have full visibility to what we are teaching your kids. It is important to us that we be effective partners to you, reinforcing what you work hard to teach your children at home. Each week, we update this section of the website to reflect the lesson, the big truth, gospel point, verse, and catechism your child(ren) will learn while in our care. We hope this resource is a help to you and gives you confidence as you train up your children in the way they should go.

Bible Story: Chapter 4. Rain, Rain Go Away (Gen. 6-9)

The Big Truth: God sent a flood to judge all the wickedness on earth.

The Gospel Point:Have you ever heard a Christian say, “I’m saved”? What does someone mean when they say that? Some people think of being saved from a sickness or breaking a really bad habit. God can and does save people from these things. But when the Bible talks about salvation, it teaches that God saves us from sin and Satan—and also from God’s coming judgment, when God will punish and destroy all that is not good. The New Testament teaches us about Jesus, who was raised from the dead and whom God sent to save us from the punishment to come. Today is not so different than Noah’s day. Some people ignore God. Other people hate God. And lots of people hate one another. God does not like this, and he has promised to judge all sin. He will not destroy people with a flood. Remember the rainbow? But he will punish and destroy all that is not good with fire (2 Peter 3:7: “the heavens and the earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly”). But here is the good news. If we come to Jesus, we will be saved from the coming judgment. Just like Noah was saved! And we too will have a new beginning.

Memory Verse: Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Catechism: Q: Why did God make all things? A: For His own glory (Psalm 19:1, Jeremiah 9:23-24, Revelation 4:11, 5:13).

Sources: Bible stories from The Biggest Story Bible Story Book by Kevin DeYoung. Catechisms from Truth and Grace Book 1 by Tom Ascol . The Big Truth and the Gospel Point taken from The Biggest Story Bible by Kevin DeYoung, published by Crossway.

June 2, 2024

Parents, what a joy it is to serve your precious arrows on Sunday mornings! The Little Reformers team wants you to always have full visibility to what we are teaching your kids. It is important to us that we be effective partners to you, reinforcing what you work hard to teach your children at home. Each week, we update this section of the website to reflect the lesson, the big truth, gospel point, verse, and catechism your child(ren) will learn while in our care. We hope this resource is a help to you and gives you confidence as you train up your children in the way they should go.

Bible Story: Chapter 2. A Very Bad Day (Genesis 3)

The Big Truth: Sin, suffering, and death came into the world because Adam disobeyed God.

The Gospel Point: TIt was a very bad day. God cursed the snake, the man, and the woman. He promised that hardship and death would come to every human. (And it has!) But he also promised a new start. A fresh start. Adam and Eve would die, but not right away. Eve would have children. More than that (much more than that!), one of her offspring—a child that would come from her children’s children’s children’s children—would deal with the snake. Let’s call him the Snake Crusher. We know him as Jesus. Jesus fulfilled the mysterious promise God made:

I will put enmity between you [Satan] and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. (Gen. 3:15)

Satan would hurt Eve’s offspring. He “bruised” Jesus. Jesus died. And yet, the Bible tells us that when Jesus died, he destroyed Satan. He crushed the snake! And God kept his amazing promise to Adam and Eve. Yes, Jesus’s worst day was our best day.

Memory Verse: Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Catechism: Q: Why did God make all things? A: For His own glory (Psalm 19:1, Jeremiah 9:23-24, Revelation 4:11, 5:13).

Sources: Bible stories from The Biggest Story Bible Story Book by Kevin DeYoung. Catechisms from Truth and Grace Book 1 by Tom Ascol . The Big Truth and the Gospel Point taken from The Biggest Story Bible by Kevin DeYoung, published by Crossway.

MAY 26, 2024

Parents, what a joy it is to serve your precious arrows on Sunday mornings! The Little Reformers team wants you to always have full visibility to what we are teaching your kids. It is important to us that we be effective partners to you, reinforcing what you work hard to teach your children at home. Each week, we update this section of the website to reflect the lesson, the big truth, gospel point, verse, and catechism your child(ren) will learn while in our care. We hope this resource is a help to you and gives you confidence as you train up your children in the way they should go.

Bible Story: Chapter 1. And So It Begins (Genesis 1-2)

The Big Truth: A very good God makes a very good world, with humans as his very good image bearers.

The Gospel Point: The story of creation is just the first story of the Biggest Story. In Genesis we will learn that, because of sin, people aren’t very good mirrors. We don’t reflect God very well. But “the Word” (John 1:1) came as “the image of the invisible God” (Col.1:15). He perfectly showed what God is like, and he made a way for our broken mirrors to be repaired so that we could again do the job God created us to do. But the Word isn’t just our Savior. He, with the Father and the Spirit, created everything. This is why, when John begins his Gospel, he uses words like the ones in Genesis 1:1. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:1–3). Paul also says of the Son of God that “all things were created, in heaven and on earth, . . . through him and for him” (Col. 1:16). The sun, moon, and stars? Yes! The sea and sky? Yes! The land and plants? Yes! The fish, birds, animals, and humans? Yes! Everything!

Memory Verse: Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Catechism: Q: Why did God make all things? A: For His own glory (Psalm 19:1, Jeremiah 9:23-24, Revelation 4:11, 5:13).

Sources: Bible stories from The Biggest Story Bible Story Book by Kevin DeYoung. Catechisms from Truth and Grace Book 1 by Tom Ascol . The Big Truth and the Gospel Point taken from The Biggest Story Bible by Kevin DeYoung, published by Crossway.

MAY 19, 2024

Parents, what a joy it is to serve your precious arrows on Sunday mornings! The Little Reformers team wants you to always have full visibility to what we are teaching your kids. It is important to us that we be effective partners to you, reinforcing what you work hard to teach your children at home. Each week, we update this section of the website to reflect the lesson, the big truth, gospel point, verse, and catechism your child(ren) will learn while in our care. We hope this resource is a help to you and gives you confidence as you train up your children in the way they should go.

Bible Story: Chapter 104. All Things New (Revelation 21-22)

The Big Truth: When Jesus returns, he will create new heavens and earth with no suffering, sin, or Satan.

The Gospel Point: Throughout the ages and in every country around the world, Christians have made this simple confession of faith: “Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.” We could add to that: “Christ came to earth; Christ was born; Christ lived the perfect life.” We can think of the Son of God’s mission on earth as summarized in those six key events: (1) He left heaven for earth. (2) He was born a human of Mary in the town of Bethlehem. (3) He lived a life without sin, healed the sick, cast out demons, taught truths, and welcomed people to follow him. (4) He suffered and died on the cross on behalf of sinners. (5) He rose in glory from the grave. (6) Someday soon he will come again to gather his people, judge evil, and renew creation. Isn’t Jesus amazing? Yes! Shouldn’t we praise him? Yes! And shouldn’t we long for the day when he returns? Yes, or “Amen.” Let the last line of the Bible (well, the second to last!) be our words now and until Jesus comes: “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20).

Memory Verse: Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Catechism: Q: Why did God make all things? A: For His own glory (Psalm 19:1, Jeremiah 9:23-24, Revelation 4:11, 5:13).

Sources: Bible stories from The Biggest Story Bible Story Book by Kevin DeYoung. Catechisms from Truth and Grace Book 1 by Tom Ascol . The Big Truth and the Gospel Point taken from The Biggest Story Bible by Kevin DeYoung, published by Crossway.