Kid's City is in the business of "Building Kid Size Disciples". Pretty simple, right? Basically, we teach on Sunday mornings and host events-opportunities for kids to grow in their faith. That's what we do, and by we, I mean the Children's Ministry at SLCC. We recognize that the job of parents is discipleship. Seems to us that a Church and Parents partnership would be the most productive way to "Build Kid Size Disciples." That's why we host Family Worship Experiences. It's a chance for parents and kids to worship, hear a Biblical message and engage in creative activities together!
Last Sunday night, parents sat with their kids and illustrated family portraits. The rule was that everyone had to doodle, color or scribble! After sharing the pictures, we talked about how each person in their family has different privileges, jobs and roles, but they are all important, and the other members of the family need them. My family is not complete without my son, or my wife, or me. We all contribute to the family. Though there are several people, it's just one family.
Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament, spoke about how though there are many people who follow Jesus, they form one body-the body of Christ. In the first letter to the church in Corinth, we read that tensions arose among the members of this church. Different members had different gifts, different functions, which some saw as divisive issue. Paul's perspective was that this diversity among the members pointed to greater unity and appreciation.
"Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,' it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,' it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?
But in fact, God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body." -1 Corinthians 12:14-20 (NIV)
Talk about terrific tater-most other potatoes only have eyes. Lots of 'em.
Take Mr. Potato Head here. Though there's just one of him, he's got 13 parts. Imagine the poor guy covered with ears. He'd be a wreck. Or just feet? Even worse. Or without the big brown base? He'd have no-body! (Ha?) Rather, he needs several different parts with different functions in order to be a productive member of potato society.
Though 1 Corinthians 12 specifically addresses unity based on people's spiritual gifts, I think there's something here for families too. God placed each of us in a family intentionally. Within that family, the members have different purposes. My 2 year old son doesn't get up in the morning, drink coffee and drive to work. (He does like the idea of driving my car though.) Certainly my wife and I don't get to take 3 hour naps after lunch. (Wouldn't that be nice?) As dad, God has given me a specific role in my family and a different role to my wife and far different roles to our children.
Though we are many, and different, we are one family, united in Christ.