Cultivating faith in families through Summer Camp!
Day One
This week our campers are exploring “Multiplying Mercies” based on Matthew 18:21-22.
“Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord how many times should I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Should I forgive as many as seven times?’ Jesus said, ‘Not just seven times, but rather as many as seventy-seven times.’”
Jesus explains his answer with a parable – a story about an unforgiving servant. A king wanted to settle with one of his servants who owed him 10,000 bags of gold. The servant was unable to pay, so the king ordered that the servant be sold along with his family and possessions. The proceeds would be used to pay the debt. The servant knelt in front of the king and pleaded to be patient till he can pay the debt. The king had mercy, released the servant, and forgave the servant’s debt. Later that day, the king learned that the servant had confronted a fellow servant who owed him 100 coins. When the fellow servant couldn’t pay, he also pleaded for mercy. However, instead of forgiving his fellow servant he had him thrown into jail till he could pay the debt. When the king heard this, he was furious and handed the first servant who owed 10,000 bags of gold over the guard responsible for punishing prisoners until he paid the entire debt.
This week, campers will have opportunities to forgive one another and offer multiplying mercies. We pray that they identify those times when someone could punish them but choose not to. They learn to forgive someone instead of making someone feel bad. They experience forgiving others many – multiple times. They discover ways to make a habit of being kind and forgiving others.
Each camper will have a chance to collect their thoughts, stories, and/or pictures through a journal as they discover what it’s like to experience multiplying mercies during this week. We invite you to pray for your son or daughter throughout their camp experience, and encourage you to collect your own stories of multiplying mercies.
This week our campers are exploring “Multiplying Mercies” based on Matthew 18:21-22.
“Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord how many times should I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Should I forgive as many as seven times?’ Jesus said, ‘Not just seven times, but rather as many as seventy-seven times.’”
Jesus explains his answer with a parable – a story about an unforgiving servant. A king wanted to settle with one of his servants who owed him 10,000 bags of gold. The servant was unable to pay, so the king ordered that the servant be sold along with his family and possessions. The proceeds would be used to pay the debt. The servant knelt in front of the king and pleaded to be patient till he can pay the debt. The king had mercy, released the servant, and forgave the servant’s debt. Later that day, the king learned that the servant had confronted a fellow servant who owed him 100 coins. When the fellow servant couldn’t pay, he also pleaded for mercy. However, instead of forgiving his fellow servant he had him thrown into jail till he could pay the debt. When the king heard this, he was furious and handed the first servant who owed 10,000 bags of gold over the guard responsible for punishing prisoners until he paid the entire debt.
This week, campers will have opportunities to forgive one another and offer multiplying mercies. We pray that they identify those times when someone could punish them but choose not to. They learn to forgive someone instead of making someone feel bad. They experience forgiving others many – multiple times. They discover ways to make a habit of being kind and forgiving others.
Each camper will have a chance to collect their thoughts, stories, and/or pictures through a journal as they discover what it’s like to experience multiplying mercies during this week. We invite you to pray for your son or daughter throughout their camp experience, and encourage you to collect your own stories of multiplying mercies.
Day Two
Today, the campers are discovering ways that Abraham and Sarah experienced multiplying mercies. God promised them a child even though Abraham was 100 years old, and Sarah was well beyond childbearing years. Even though Sarah laughed at that promise, God forgave her and still blessed her with a child. You can read the story in Genesis 18:1-15 and 21:1-7.
In the scripture passages, campers will see that Sarah laughed in disbelief, and hid her true feelings from God. Campers will be challenged to explore ways that they hide their own feelings from other, especially when faced with worry about what others might think. Campers will also discover the important truth that the Bible is full of stories about real humans that experienced miraculous or unbelievable mercy in the midst of impossible situations, even when they made mistakes. Think about a time in your own life that you’ve either shown or received this same kind of mercy. How did it impact you?
Campers are learning about and memorizing the Lord’s Prayer. We invite you to pray the Lord’s Prayer today slowly and pausing to reflect on what each phrase means to you and your family.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.
Today, the campers are discovering ways that Abraham and Sarah experienced multiplying mercies. God promised them a child even though Abraham was 100 years old, and Sarah was well beyond childbearing years. Even though Sarah laughed at that promise, God forgave her and still blessed her with a child. You can read the story in Genesis 18:1-15 and 21:1-7.
In the scripture passages, campers will see that Sarah laughed in disbelief, and hid her true feelings from God. Campers will be challenged to explore ways that they hide their own feelings from other, especially when faced with worry about what others might think. Campers will also discover the important truth that the Bible is full of stories about real humans that experienced miraculous or unbelievable mercy in the midst of impossible situations, even when they made mistakes. Think about a time in your own life that you’ve either shown or received this same kind of mercy. How did it impact you?
Campers are learning about and memorizing the Lord’s Prayer. We invite you to pray the Lord’s Prayer today slowly and pausing to reflect on what each phrase means to you and your family.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.
Day Three
Younger campers (grades K-5th grade) are reading the story of Jonah in chapters 1 and 2 in the book of Jonah. Older campers (6th grade and older) are summarizing the first part of the story about Jonah but focusing on Nineveh and Jonah’s anger in chapters 3 and 4. All the campers will discover that God is merciful and forgiving even when we disobey. We invite you to read Jonah’s story.
In their discussion, the younger campers will be identifying times that they were supposed to do something but didn’t or times when they did something that they were not supposed to do. Older campers will be talking about things that make them angry and oftentimes leads them to being disobedient. The campers will discover why it is important to be obedient, but that God promises forgiveness and mercy even when we are not obedient.
Think about your own family experiences. When have you given your child/teen a second chance? Jonah’s 3 days in the big fish is like a time out from God. When have you stepped away from a bad situation and chose like Jonah to turn around and do what’s right? Jonah doesn’t want God to forgive the people of Nineveh. When has it been difficult to offer forgiveness? The story ends with Jonah in his internal struggle to forgive himself. Are you good at forgiving yourself and trusting God’s promise of forgiveness? What are some things that we can do to help us release our anger and trust God’s promise of forgiveness?
Pray for your son or daughter today. Thank God for the times that you or others have given them a second chance. Consider ways that you can remind him/her that he/she is a child of God on good days, on bad days, and even on rough days. It might even become a daily blessing for your child in the morning or at night with the words, “God loves you and I/we love you on good days, bad days, and even on rough days.”
Younger campers (grades K-5th grade) are reading the story of Jonah in chapters 1 and 2 in the book of Jonah. Older campers (6th grade and older) are summarizing the first part of the story about Jonah but focusing on Nineveh and Jonah’s anger in chapters 3 and 4. All the campers will discover that God is merciful and forgiving even when we disobey. We invite you to read Jonah’s story.
In their discussion, the younger campers will be identifying times that they were supposed to do something but didn’t or times when they did something that they were not supposed to do. Older campers will be talking about things that make them angry and oftentimes leads them to being disobedient. The campers will discover why it is important to be obedient, but that God promises forgiveness and mercy even when we are not obedient.
Think about your own family experiences. When have you given your child/teen a second chance? Jonah’s 3 days in the big fish is like a time out from God. When have you stepped away from a bad situation and chose like Jonah to turn around and do what’s right? Jonah doesn’t want God to forgive the people of Nineveh. When has it been difficult to offer forgiveness? The story ends with Jonah in his internal struggle to forgive himself. Are you good at forgiving yourself and trusting God’s promise of forgiveness? What are some things that we can do to help us release our anger and trust God’s promise of forgiveness?
Pray for your son or daughter today. Thank God for the times that you or others have given them a second chance. Consider ways that you can remind him/her that he/she is a child of God on good days, on bad days, and even on rough days. It might even become a daily blessing for your child in the morning or at night with the words, “God loves you and I/we love you on good days, bad days, and even on rough days.”
Day Four
Today, the campers are hearing the Bible story in John 8:1-11 and discussing multiplying mercies of these three different characters:
The campers will be painting stones of love rather than hate. When your camper returns home, feel free to ask them to share his/her stone with you – might even put it in a place to remind your family to cast stones of love. Throughout the rest of the summer, share the ways you continue to experience love.
Today, the campers are hearing the Bible story in John 8:1-11 and discussing multiplying mercies of these three different characters:
- The woman who did something wrong. [Note - We only defined adultery as a married person cheating on their husband or wife. Since we do not teach about sex nor are we prepared to do so, the counselors nor staff talked about any specifics or particulars related to adultery.]
- The Pharisees who were basically the experts in the church and were well-educated preachers but were not perfect people.
- The people in the crowd condemning another.
The campers will be painting stones of love rather than hate. When your camper returns home, feel free to ask them to share his/her stone with you – might even put it in a place to remind your family to cast stones of love. Throughout the rest of the summer, share the ways you continue to experience love.
Day Five
The staff have been delighted that your son or daughter has been with us this week! We pray that he/she has had a fun-filled week but more importantly has experienced God’s multiplying mercies. Know that we are continuing to pray for your camper, and your family!
When you pick up your camper, we invite you to ask him/her to share the ways she/he has experienced God this week. We also invite you to ask your camper to teach you his/her favorite camp song, and share their favorite activity. We’ve created a Home Connection worksheet as an extension of camp – to encourage you, as a family, to continue multiplying mercies in the next days, weeks, and months. We trust that God will use all your child/teen has learned to bless the people and community around you!
The staff have been delighted that your son or daughter has been with us this week! We pray that he/she has had a fun-filled week but more importantly has experienced God’s multiplying mercies. Know that we are continuing to pray for your camper, and your family!
When you pick up your camper, we invite you to ask him/her to share the ways she/he has experienced God this week. We also invite you to ask your camper to teach you his/her favorite camp song, and share their favorite activity. We’ve created a Home Connection worksheet as an extension of camp – to encourage you, as a family, to continue multiplying mercies in the next days, weeks, and months. We trust that God will use all your child/teen has learned to bless the people and community around you!
| Camp Lookout Summer 2023 -- Cultivate Faith |