Better Than Pizza

Parents, this week we taught students about "phileo" love, a love that is defined by being 'friendly towards.'
We challenged students to love the people they like! How can they say "I love you" in word or deed to the people they are already friends with.
In one sense, it's like asking yourself if you truly take the time to appreciate and thank the friends and family in your life.
And in a challenging way, are you being friendly towards (phileo love) to your immediate family? It's hard to show love to them because we take them for granted. And frankly we are up close enough to see the faults in our children, siblings and spouses.

How can YOU show phileo love to your family this week?

Take a listen to our Parent Podcast also!

A Dad Started a Daily Pledge with His Son

This dad, Jenabu Williams, recorded this FANTASTIC short video of his ride to school with his kiddo.
It inspired me to teach middle school kids about the importance of beginning the day with a positive outlook. I challenged students to never have a bad day in 2016. Impossible, right? Well, no, if we can just turn away from a victim's mindset about the 'bad' stuff happening during our day.
Jesus gave simple instructions to those who wanted to be his disciples in Matthew 16:24-25:

Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take
up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

Three simple but incredibly deep concepts:

1. Deny yourself - root out all selfishness
2. Take up your cross - live a life of sacrifice
3. Follow me - listen to the voice of Jesus, our Shepherd, and follow him where He leads

We ended our morning on January 3rd with an activity that led each group to create a pledge that they could begin their day with. Here are some of the things your students came up with!

Real Action Heroes, Coaches Podcast - Nehemiah

Here is the latest coaches' podcast. We're sorry we didn't get it sent out to you in time, gang!

Check out the Parent Podcast, now located on the Heartland app!

You can find the weekly Parent Podcast on the Heartland Community Church app. Here's the link to get it on iOS, Android and Windows.
This week we invited our guest teacher Kyla Hanson to be on it, check it out!
You can also always find the latest Parent Podcast on the HS and MS webpages at heartlandchurch.org

Coaches Podcast for Week 3 of Real Action Heroes - Esther

Take a listen to Kyla Hanson updating you on Sunday's teaching content. See you Sunday!

Parent Podcast - Josiah

Take a listen to this week's podcast on the REAL ACTION HERO, Josiah!

Parent Podcast - REAL ACTION HEROES! - Gideon

This is the first installment of our REAL ACTION HEROES series!
This week's bottom line: God does significant things through unlikely people who choose to obey.

Take a listen to this week's parent podcast located in the app or on the sidebar of the student webpage at www.heartlandchurch.org
We hope it equips you to have a spiritual conversation with your student!