Focus on the REAL Family | Debby Cheruiyot Bii

Those of you who don't know me, my name is Ms.

Debbie Chiriot B, and I'm on staff here at Real Community Covenant Church.

As you've heard or probably witnessed, today is Family Sunday.

If you're new at Real, how I look at it is like a family reunion.

Okay?

Um every fifth Sunday of uh, whenever there's a fifth Sunday, um, which happens only about four times a year, we all come together as kids, parents, nursery helpers, and everyone in between to remind ourselves that we are part of something bigger.

Now, God doesn't have grandchildren.

Did you know that?

God does not have grandchildren.

God only has children.

So no matter if you're 58, 18, 8 years old, eight months old, or still in the womb, we are all children of God.

None of us is his grandchild or great grandchild.

So think of this as your family reunion, but don't worry, it won't go on forever.

At least ours does at home.

So um, so that's that's a little intro.

Um, today we're gonna focus on the family, on the real family.

Now, some of you adults and parents might hear focus on the family and have some memories coming flooding back, maybe even thinking of James Dobson.

So when I say we're going to focus on the family today, you might be thinking, where is she taking us?

Oh boy, what is she gonna teach our children?

And honestly, I get it.

That face can carry that phrase can carry a lot of meaning and assumptions about the what the family is supposed to do, look like, but today I want to invite us to focus on a family diff a little differently.

In the month of September, as you've heard, we'll be focusing on what real means and therefore what it means to be a real family.

So I thought today I'll do a little intro for the kids because we didn't really have that planned for September.

Um so we'll be doing, we'll be looking at what real means.

So, first off, I want to make sure that everybody has Play-H.

Everybody have Play-Doh.

Okay, this your dad has some Play-Doh.

Make sure you have Play-Doh, everybody, all of God's children.

Have Play-Doh.

Everybody has a plate.

Everybody get a plate if you don't, because you're gonna need the plate for some of the things I'm gonna ask you to do.

Yep.

There's some play-doh right here.

And they're plates.

Thank you, Travis.

So your dad has a plate, Daniel.

So throughout my talk, I will give instructions to build something.

So pay attention and be sure to follow the directions I give you.

Okay?

Okay.

But let me just let me just see if you're good at paying attention.

Okay?

So everybody stand up, put your plate on, put your plate down, everybody stand up.

We're not gonna play Simon says.

I'm gonna read a story.

All right, it's called the rainstorm.

Uh-oh.

I think it might start raining.

Rub your hands together slowly to make the sound of the wind picking up.

Slowly, a little faster.

Now tap your hand slowly on your lap.

Slowly, one, two, one, two, one, two.

Starting to rain.

Get faster and faster and faster.

Now it's pouring.

We're getting snow.

Lightning.

Lightning.

Thunder.

Lightning.

Thunder.

Lightning.

Thunder.

Lightning.

Tap those hands on your lap again.

Fast.

It's really raining.

Now start to slow it down.

Slow it down.

I think the rain might be stopping.

Keep tapping your hands on your lap.

Now rub your hands slowly together.

Slow it down.

Slow it down.

Slow it down.

Stop.

Everything is still and quiet.

Breathe in the smell of the rain.

And breathe out.

Doesn't that smell good?

Put your hands together.

Let's pray.

Lord, just as you sto just as you stop the storm, just as you quiet the storm, help our hearts become still.

May our ears be open to your word today.

And our hearts be softened to whatever it is you have for us.

In your name we pray.

Amen.

Okay, first of all, I'm gonna ask this group over here, first kindergarten, second graders, when you what do you do on Sunday mornings?

After you wake up and eat breakfast, instead of going to school, where do you go?

Huh?

Church.

Good.

Um do you know the name of the church that you go to?

Real, good job, Curly.

Real, good job.

I'm really impressed that you know the name of our church.

Um what I want you to do with your play though, I want you to build something, anything.

It doesn't have to be perfect, just build anything.

Adults too, nothing too complicated.

One minute to do that.

Yep, one minute.

Okay.

What did you build?

Or what are you building?

A person?

A sick man?

A ghost.

Miles built build a ghost, a snail, a what?

A roll.

A roll.

A play-doh man, not a snowman, but a play-doh man.

How about over here?

A soccer ball.

A soccer ball.

Nothing.

A taco.

A taco.

Taco.

Complicated.

A worm.

Spider Man.

Spider Man.

Any other adults?

CJ, what did you build?

A pickup truck.

Mr.

Doug, what did you build?

SpongeBob.

What did you build?

A butterfly.

That was a pretty nice butterfly.

Okay, now does everybody's creation.

Oh, Hazel, what did you build?

You built an ark?

Earth.

You made earth.

Nice.

Now, was everyone's creation the same?

No.

No one's creation was even if you built people, they might have looked different.

And that's the beauty of the church.

Church isn't just a place we go, but it's a church a family we belong to.

Right?

Church is family.

So when every time you come to church on Sunday morning, you're coming to be with family.

And that's kind of how what church is about.

So everyone that comes to Real Community Covenant Church, you're welcome here.

Please take it seriously when CJ and Pastor Drew say to in that they want to have coffee or tea.

And I'm gonna add hot chocolate because that invitation is for children too.

Right?

Right?

Yes, Kyla gave me a big smile.

That invitation is for children too.

So there are many people here who are committed to know to knowing to real and they're getting wanting to get to know you too.

So that invitation is not just for adults, but it's also for the little ones, for all God's children.

Okay, now put your creation, put it all in one big ball, like it came.

Okay?

Now, with your play-doh, divide it into four sections and place it on your plate.

Divide it into four sections.

Four four sections.

I don't know another word for sections for the little ones.

They don't have to be equal.

Pieces, thank you.

Divide into four pieces.

Your play-doh.

Put your play-doh together.

Your creation.

Put it together.

Put it together.

And divide it into four pieces.

Everybody has four pieces?

Olivia?

Four pieces and put it on your plate.

Third to fifth graders, do you know that REAL stands for something?

That it's an acronym?

You know what do you know what an acronym is?

Do you know what an acronym is, Juju?

No?

Does anyone know what an acronym is?

An acronym is.

Acronyminus?

An acronym is Christy Anders.

Oh, it's a series of letters that stands for something else.

Every first letter stands for something.

Every letter of the So real.

Did you know that real is R E A L?

It says it right back there.

Yes.

Okay, do you know what R stands for?

Relational.

R stands for relational.

Don't do anything with your Play-Doh yet.

We're not building yet.

You can.

What does E stand for?

Does anyone know?

Evangelical.

Evangelistic.

Good job.

He said evangelical.

Evangelistic.

What does A stand for?

Huh?

Not apples.

Huh?

AIDS?

Not AIDS.

Johnny apples not applications.

John application.

John, not application.

Harley, what does it stand for?

Encourage.

Huh?

Encourage.

Encourage, not encouraged.

Good job.

Authentic.

I was coming to you, Sophia.

Authentic.

A stands for authentic, and then L stands for love.

L stands for loving.

So we're gonna look at each of one of those, and I'm gonna have you build something for each one of those letters.

Okay.

Alright.

R for relational.

With your play-doh, I want you to make two little people with one piece of your play-doh.

One minute.

Maybe a minute and a half.

Doesn't have to look perfect.

Just one, just build a person, two people.

Okay, let your people put your little people next to each other.

Or hopefully they're sitting next to each other, or you put them together next to each other.

Okay, in Acts chapter 2, verse 42, it says that they shared their lives together.

Acts 2:42

Being relational means we don't just come to church and sit next to strangers.

Instead, we get to know people, we talk, we listen, we laugh, we pray, we help each other.

So what if your little one little person is not happy?

What will you do?

What should they do?

So you make two people for what reason?

So they can be together and be happy, right?

Why else?

Arius?

You don't know?

Judah answered for you.

He gave you the answer.

To encourage each other.

Why else do you need what if one what if what if one of your one person is sad?

What do you hope the other person will do?

Make her happy and love that person.

Anybody else?

Okay, so being relational and here at real means that sometimes we notice when you're missing at church.

We'll text you and say, Where are you?

I haven't seen you.

We'll celebrate when you're happy.

That's why we do celebrations for birthdays and anniversaries.

We need to figure out how to get that song down.

And if one of your little people is having a bad day, they will say, Let me help you cheer you up, right?

I'm here to cheer you up.

So church is family too, not just a building, not just people who sit next to each other on the same uh um on Sunday.

We are family where we share our life with each other.

We belong to one another, and at real, we believe we don't do what?

We don't roll solo.

We don't have to go through life alone.

This is what it means to be relational.

All right.

E is for what?

Evangelistic.

Now, with your second piece of play-doh, I want you to build a door or a table or both.

You choose.

A door or a table or both.

We'll do one minute for that.

With one piece, yep.

You can add a door or a table or both.

All right.

Where are my youth at?

Right here, okay.

Do you know what it what does evangelistic mean?

You don't know.

Okay.

Thank you for the honesty.

Thank you for being authentic.

Haha.

Anyone know what evangelistic means?

Take a stab.

What do you think it means?

No?

Do you have an answer for me?

Let's see.

Let's see.

Oh, you built a volcano.

I thought that's what I thought that was what evangelistic means.

Volcano! Exploding with love.

That's what his dad says.

Anyone want to take a stab at what evangelistic means?

Going door to door and telling people about the gospel.

Going door to door telling people about the gospel.

Great job, Amaya.

Um, so in verse 7, 47, it says, they praised God, they were respected by all people, every day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.

So while evangelistic means going door to door, telling people about Jesus, it also can mean, come on in, sit with me, come play with us.

Let me teach you, let me tell you what Jesus is teaching me.

So it doesn't often mean standing on a pulpit and sharing the gospel, but it can mean inviting in and sharing what Jesus is teaching you.

Um, listen, kids, you guys are old enough to evangelize.

To teach, what does that mean?

It means to invite others in and to tell others what Jesus is teaching you.

Okay?

So at real, we make room and we share what we are learning about Jesus.

So that's why we have a table or a door, the door meaning to invite others in and a table.

Let's sit together and let me share with you what Jesus is teaching me.

Okay, what does R mean?

Relational.

What does E mean?

Evangelistic.

Okay.

All right, A is authentic.

Now, with your third piece of play-doh, I want you to make a gift box.

A gift box.

Nice job, Sray.

One minute for a gift box.

And if you're being a little creative, put a little bow on it.

If you want to.

Put a bow on it.

Alright.

Can someone tell me what you usually find in a gift box?

Something from Amazon.

Sometimes it's something from Amazon.

A PS5.

Juju?

Xbox.

Xbox.

What have you found in a gift box before?

Like box.

A birthday of something for your birthday, right?

Toys.

Toys.

Money, money, money, money.

Ask the price.

Toy.

Toy.

Money.

Huh?

Money.

Money.

In a gift box.

Lots of it, according to Arius.

Before you find out what's in the box, can you tell what's in the box just from looking at the box?

No, right?

You can't you have to do what?

You can shake it.

Huh?

You can shake it, but you still don't know.

It might be fragile, so you're not supposed to shake it.

Okay?

You can hear it shake if it's Legos, but you can't even tell what kind of Legos it might be because you have to build it, right?

Or have a picture on it.

And sometimes, if you've played a game like White Elephant Game Gift Exchange, it might not be what you thought it was gonna be.

How many of you got a big box and then inside it's really small?

Something, it's something really small, or like a book.

Huh?

Okay, your brother wants to say something.

It's okay.

What do you mean?

Um sometimes people prank each other and they put something in the box that's not what you thought it was gonna be.

Has that ever happened to you?

Yes.

Good job, Harley.

People can be like that too.

Sometimes you look and act happy, but on the inside, not everything is okay.

You might be sad or worried or scared.

Sometimes you might say, I'm fine when I'm really not fine.

Or that I'm not or that I'm afraid.

Oh, that's a really nice box.

Good job, Hazel.

At real, we don't have to hide what's inside.

Okay?

We don't have to hide what's inside.

You can be honest, you can say I'm hurting, or I was hurt, or I don't understand, or that I'm struggling right now.

We don't want you to pretend.

In Acts chapter 2, verse 46, it says their hearts were glad and sincere.

Acts 2:46

Sincere meaning honest, sincere meaning authentic, sincere meaning we're not going to hide who we are.

It also means that we need to be doing that lovingly.

You just can't say mean things because it's the truth.

You have to do it with love, which is my next one.

So A means authentic, L means loving.

Okay, now with your last piece of play-doh, hopefully it's your last one.

I want you to make a heart.

One minute to make a heart.

You can make more than one because you're gonna have to do something with it.

So make two or three if you're feeling generous.

Thank you, Arias.

A heart.

Alright.

So with loving, this is one Jesus gave his church a command to do.

So in John, first, um, in John it says, love one another as I have loved you.

What does it mean to be loving?

What does it mean to be loving?

To be kind, to care.

Love one another.

What about over here?

What does it mean to be loving?

To be kind.

To treat other people nicely.

Okay.

To give somebody a hug.

It also means.

Forgiving, right?

It also means helping or praying or listening or sitting with someone who is alone or make room for people.

You have a heart, nice job.

Um, love isn't just something we feel, it is something we do.

So, what I want you to do is I want you to think about someone that is here, that maybe is not from your family, and I want you to give them one of your hearts.

Give them your heart.

Okay if you've built a heart, yep, right now.

Right now.

One minute to exchange hearts, because love is not something we just feel, it is something we do.

All right.

I need everybody to stand up one more time.

Everybody stand up.

That rain is coming back.

Uh-oh.

That rain is coming back.

So rub your hands together to make the sound of the wind picking up.

Now tap your hands slowly on your lap.

Starting to rain, guys.

Get faster and faster.

It's pouring.

We're getting smoked.

Lightning.

Thunder.

Lightning.

Thunder.

Lightning.

Thunder.

Lightning.

Thunder.

Lightning.

Thunder.

Okay.

Tap those hands on your lap again.

It's really raining.

Do it fast.

It's really raining.

Lightning.

Thunder.

Lightning.

Thunder.

Lightning.

Thunder.

Tap those hands on your lap.

Slowly.

I think the rain is stopping.

Keep tapping on your hand, your hands on your lap slowly.

Now rub your hands together to make the sound of the wind.

Slow it down.

Slow it down.

Slow it down.

Everything is still and quiet.

Put your hands together.

Let's pray.

Dear God, I thank you that we are family at real.

We can be relational.

We can be evangelistic.

We are authentic and loving.

I thank you for these little ones, our teens, our preteens, our youth, our young adults, and older adults.

I thank you that you've placed everyone here uniquely and that we are all not the same.

Help us to lean into what you've called us to be.

And I pray that for anyone that comes through our church doors, that they may know that this is a place for them here.

That there is a place for them here.

That they may feel seen and loved and they can belong here.

Thank you that we are all your children and that you have no grandchildren.

It's no hierarchy where you live, where we are.

So we just thank you for that, God.

And help us continue to remind us of this.

So as we depart from this place, or if we go to our next session, we ask that you'll be with us.

In Jesus' name I pray.

Amen.