In this episode, kids will learn that the Bible is God’s Word for them too. They do not have to understand everything or read an entire chapter to begin. They can start with a few verses and ask God to help them understand and obey.

Why it matters: God’s Word helps us know Him, follow Jesus, and make wise choices. Like a light on a dark path, the Bible shows us how to take our next step with God.

Bible story: King Josiah Hears God’s Word
Bible passages: 2 Kings 22; Psalm 119:105; 2 Timothy 3:15

Try this simple plan:

• Read: Read a few verses slowly.
• Ask: What does this teach me about God, and what does He want me to do?
• Pray: Ask God to help you understand and obey His Word.

Discipleship Bootcamp challenge: Read Mark 1:16–20 and answer two questions:

1. What did the fishermen do when Jesus invited them to follow Him?
2. What is one way you can follow Jesus today?

Car game: Play Last-Letter Launch and see how long your family can keep the word chain going.

Talk about it:

• Why might some kids think they are too young to read the Bible?
• What did Josiah do when he heard God’s Word?
• When and where could you read a few Bible verses this week?

You are not too young to read the Bible, follow Jesus, or make a difference.

Be with Jesus. Live sent. Believe. Belong. Become.

The Bible tells us the truth about who God says we are. 

Thanks for joining us today. Let's get ready to have some fun, be with Jesus, and live sent.

Ready, set, go!

The big idea: God’s Word is worth knowing before we need it.

This week on DriveTime, we’re talking about the spiritual discipline of memorizing Scripture—not just to know the right words, but to have God’s truth ready when we’re scared, tempted, frustrated, or facing a hard choice.

Why it matters: In Matthew 4:1–11, Jesus was tempted in the wilderness. Again and again, He responded with Scripture: “It is written…” Jesus knew God’s Word and remembered what was true when He needed it.

Play along: Get ready for Three-Second Showdown! You’ll have three seconds to name three things in some seriously silly categories. No supplies or prep needed.

Try this at home: Choose one short Bible verse as a family. Hear it. Say it. Talk about what it means. Then come back to it throughout the week.

Talk about it: When could remembering God’s Word help you?

Remember: Learn God’s Word now so you can remember what’s true when you need it.

Listen together, talk about it, and find one way your family can show God’s love today!

Follow Jesus Bootcamp: Worship | August 20, 2026

What does it really mean to worship God? In this episode, Pastor Rich helps kids discover that worship is much bigger than singing songs at church—it’s showing God how much He is worth with our whole lives.

Kids will learn how ordinary moments like helping someone, obeying, playing sports, or doing schoolwork can become opportunities to honor God. Plus, take the Worship Switch Challenge and look for ways to turn everyday moments into worship!

Faith Skill: Worship
Big Idea: Worship is showing God how much He is worth with my whole life.
Bible Passage: Romans 12:1–2
Remember: A disciple is someone who does what Jesus did.

What do you do when you feel worried? In this Sunday episode of the Northside Kids DriveTime Podcast, families will explore Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:25–34 and discover why we can trust our heavenly Father.

Kids will play Name It Before the Dog Barks, become Bible Story Detectives, respond to today’s Word Alert, and practice this month’s memory verse.

Monthly Bible Truth: I Am Designed for a Purpose
Big Idea: Let’s Trust Like Jesus
Bible Passage: Matthew 6:25–34
Memory Verse: Matthew 5:16b

Talk About It

What is one thing you sometimes worry about, and how can you trust God with it this week?

This Week’s Challenge

Whenever you begin to feel worried:

1. Name it: Tell God what is concerning you.
2. Remember: Say, “My heavenly Father knows what I need and cares for me.”
3. Choose: Do one thing today that honors God.

Trusting God does not mean pretending problems are not real. It means bringing our concerns to God and depending on Him in the middle of them.

God knows. God cares. We can trust Him!

This week on the Northside Kids DriveTime Podcast, we head back to Discipleship Bootcamp to learn about prayer. Prayer is simply talking with God, and we can pray anytime, anywhere, and about anything because He loves us.

We’ll play a hilarious round of Wrong Answers Only, hear how Jonah prayed from inside a giant fish, and practice a simple three-sentence prayer together.

Bible Story: Jonah Prays from Inside the Fish
Bible Passage: Jonah 2
Big Truth: I can pray anytime, anywhere, and about anything because God loves me.
Remember: God’s signal never drops!

DriveTime Challenge

Choose a place to pray today. You might pray while putting on your shoes, riding in the car, walking into school, playing outside, or getting ready for bed.

Talk About It

• What is prayer?
• Where did Jonah pray?
• When and where can you talk with God?
• What would you like to talk with God about today?

Listen, laugh, and grow together as we learn how to follow Jesus wherever we go!

This week on Northside Kids DriveTime, we're taking a ride back through Sunday's Bible lesson and discovering what it means to serve like Jesus!

Jesus taught that His followers don't try to get even or only do the minimum. Instead, we choose kindness, generosity, and love because Jesus served us first. Join us for a fun game, an interactive Bible story, Memory Madness, Mission Possible, and practical ways to let our light shine this week!

Bible Story

Matthew 5:38–42

Main Idea

Let's Serve Like Jesus

Monthly Bible Truth

I Am Designed for a Purpose

Big Idea

God designed us to serve others with love because Jesus first served us.

📖 Memory Verse

"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:16b (CSB)🚗 This Episode Includes

Talk about these questions together:

• What's the kindest thing someone has ever done for you?
• How did it make you feel?
• Who can our family serve together this week?
• What is one way we can "go the extra mile" for someone else?

Keep the Conversation Going

Ask your child:

• What surprised you about what Jesus taught?
• Why do you think serving can sometimes be difficult?
• How did Jesus serve us?
• How can serving others help our light shine for Jesus?

Remember:

Who do we follow? Jesus!

What do we do? Be with Jesus!

How do we live? Live Sent!

We'll see you Thursday for another Follow Jesus Bootcamp as we continue learning practical faith skills to help us follow Jesus every day!

Episode 4 • Follow Jesus Bootcamp

RAP: Read. Ask. Pray.

Thursday, August 6

This Week's Faith Skill

Read the Bible

Big Truth:
I can read the Bible every day because God wants to speak to me.

The Bible isn't just another book. It is God's Word! Every time we open our Bible, God teaches us how to know Him, follow Jesus, and live the life He designed for us.

This Sunday at Northside Kids

Don't miss this Sunday!

Pick up your August Adventure Land Tag!

Collect a brand-new tag every month during the school year. Clip them to your backpack, lunchbox, sports bag, or keychain as a reminder of what God is teaching you.

August Theme:
I Am Designed for a Purpose

Bible Story

Josiah Discovers God's Word

2 Kings 22–23

King Josiah was only eight years old when he became king, but he wanted to honor God. While repairing the Temple, workers discovered God's forgotten Word. When Josiah heard it read, he realized the people had drifted away from God. He gathered everyone together, read God's Word aloud, and led the nation back to following the Lord.

One forgotten Bible changed an entire nation.

Today's Big Idea

The Bible is God's Word.

When I read it, I learn how to follow Jesus every day.

🎤 This Week's Faith Skill

RAP

A simple way to spend time with Jesus every day.

📖 Read

Read a few verses each day. Start small and be consistent.

Ask

Ask questions as you read.

• What does this teach me about God?
• What does this teach me about Jesus?
• Is there something I should obey today?
• Is there a promise I should believe?

Pray

Talk to God about what you read.

Ask Him to help you understand His Word and live it out.

Memory Verse of the Month

"Let your light shine before others."
Matthew 5:16b (CSB)

As we spend time with Jesus, His light shines through our lives for others to see.

Matthew 7:24–29

I Am Designed for a Purpose

Bottom Line

Following Jesus isn't just about hearing God's Word. It's about living it every day.

Big Truth

Jesus wants us to build our lives on Him. When we obey His Word, our lives have a strong foundation that can stand through anything.

Memory Verse Song of the Month

"Let your light shine before others."
Matthew 5:16b 

Episode 002 | What Is a Disciple?

Every great adventure starts with one step.

This week we're kicking off Follow Jesus Bootcamp, a seven-week series designed to help kids build practical faith skills they can use every day. In this first episode, Pastor Rich explains what it really means to be a disciple of Jesus.

Being a disciple isn't about knowing the most Bible facts. It's about following Jesus one step at a time.

Kids will learn the simple framework we use at Northside Kids:

Head – What does God want me to know?

Heart – What is the Holy Spirit showing me?

Hands – What does God want me to do?

We'll also meet Jesus' very first disciples, memorize Hebrews 4:16, pray for children in Mongolia, and leave every family with a practical challenge they can use all week long.

In This Episode

• What a disciple really is
• The three questions every follower of Jesus should ask
• Jesus calls His first disciples (Matthew 4:18–22)
• Memory Verse: Hebrews 4:16
• Weekly DriveTime Challenge
• Around the World Prayer: Mongolia
• Family discussion question

This Week's DriveTime Challenge

Every morning, pray:

"Jesus, help me follow You today."

Then every evening, ask yourself these three questions:

Head
What did God teach me today?

Heart
What was the Holy Spirit showing me today?

Hands
How did I follow Jesus today?

Write your answers down or talk about them together as a family.

Family Conversation

Ask everyone in the car or around the dinner table:

Which is hardest for you?

• Learning God's Word?
• Listening to the Holy Spirit?
• Obeying what God says?

Take turns answering and encourage one another as you grow together.

Memory Verse

"Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need."Hebrews 4:16 (CSB)

Don't Miss This!

Back-to-School • Back-to-Church Kickoff
Sunday, August 9

Join us as we celebrate Promotion Sunday, welcome our new Kindergartners, launch our brand-new ParentLife Life Group, and invite families to start the school year growing together in Jesus.

Service Times
9:30 AM & 11:00 AM

About Northside Kids DriveTime

Northside Kids DriveTime is a weekly podcast from Northside Kids that helps children and families continue growing in their faith throughout the week. Every episode includes Bible teaching, practical faith skills, memory verses, family conversations, prayer, and fun along the way.

Know Jesus. Follow Jesus. Live for Him every day.

Summer is almost over, and you know what that means... it's time for the biggest party of the year!

Sunday, August 9, we're kicking off a brand-new school year at Northside Kids.

Parents, this year we're launching something brand new just for you!

 ParentLife Life Group at 11:00 AM. You'll study the same Bible truth your kids are learning, meet other parents, and discover simple ways to disciple your family at home.