The month of December is full of celebration, and not necessarily a time that we want to consider our sin. But perhaps we should in order to fully appreciate the reason for our celebration this season.
What comes to mind when you think about sin? Does the thought of sin make you sad? Angry? Indifferent? To fully understand the beauty of salvation and the power of grace, you must take sin seriously. When we sin, we exploit God's mercy and disrespect His patience. Sin says God may be powerful, but not enough to deserve ultimate authority in our lives. Sin isn’t just a mistake; it is serious. Why? Our sins are first and foremost against an infinitely holy God.
In Ephesians 2, Paul describes our state apart from Christ not merely as broken or flawed; he says we are dead in our sin. We are not simply wrong people who need to do better; rather, we are dead people who need to be made alive. God confronts this bad news with a surprising response. Look at Ephesians 2:4-5: “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses.”
The good news of the gospel increases in its gravity as our awareness and hatred of sin increases. If sin seems like no big deal, the cross is not very impressive and the birth of the Savior is not worth celebrating. When we have a right understanding of the seriousness of our sin, the gospel is good news—the revelation that we who are dead in our sin can have true life as a free gift in Christ.
This Christmas season, take a moment to reflect on your sin and to thank God for His mercy. Pray that God would graciously reveal to our kids their sinful nature and desperate need for salvation as well as His holiness and provision of Jesus as the Savior they need.
Check out The Gospel Project At Home: God Takes Sin Seriously to engage in family activities from this Sunday!
FAMILY TALKING POINTS
CHRIST CONNECTION
This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.
● Toddlers: Everyone who believes in Jesus will live with God forever.
● Preschool: God loves us and sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus rose from the dead. Everyone who believes in Him will live with God forever.
● Kids: God takes sin seriously. People deserve to die for their sins, but God loves us and sent His Son, Jesus, to defeat death by dying on the cross for our sins and rising from the dead. Everyone who trusts in Jesus has eternal life.
BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER
This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.
● Preschool: What is the punishment for sin? The punishment for sin is separation from God.
● Kids: What is the fair payment for sin? The fair payment for sin is death.
KEY PASSAGE
This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.
● Babies & Toddlers: God gives life forever. Romans 6:23
● Preschool: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
● Kids: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
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