4.10 date: God Is Love. 1st & 2nd Grade Guide. Bible Passage: 1 Corinthians (Letter to the Corinthians) Sunday School Edition REMEMBER VERSE

Transcription

1 Sunday School Edition LESSON 4.10 date: Bible Passage: 1 Corinthians (Letter to the Corinthians) God Is Love REMEMBER VERSE May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23. TruResources are developed in partnership with ROCKHARBOR Church and a national network of family and children s ministry leaders. All rights reserved.

2 Tru Mission Statement Tru helps kids and their families connect to God, find their place in His big story, and respond to Him through the power of the Holy Spirit. Lesson Path: Seeing the Mission Statement in a Tru Lesson Connecting leaders to God... Connects kids and their families to God His big story And invites them to respond to Him Through the power of the Holy Spirit. Inspire, Equip, and Support HomeFront Weekly Connect Gather Respond and Engage Bless Navigating Lesson 4.10 Below you will find additional information to enhance lesson sections as needed. Connect Gather Respond Engage Bless Storytelling Technique Today s technique involves hanging a clothesline somewhere in your room. Consider doing this in advance for your leaders or asking if they need help. Remember Verse When the leaders write the words of the Remember Verse on the sticky notes, have them keep the notes stuck together in the pad. This will make them easier to distribute. Small Group Enhancement Finish the Sentence activities are available for this lesson. Premium, Unlimited, and Combo users may access these activities in the Resource Files. HomeFront Magazine: A Spiritual Parenting Resource This magazine gives families ideas for creating fun, spiritually forming times in their homes setting aside a sacred space for family in the midst of their active, everyday lives! To provide printed copies of the new issue when it becomes available each month, order print subscriptions at or download it. Families may also visit the website to have each month s issue ed directly to their inboxes and they may access each issue through apps for iphone, ipad, or Android devices. 2

3 Connect// 5 10 min. Children develop relationships with their leaders and one another through the use of simple supplies and conversation starters. In Paul s letter to the Corinthians, he encourages believers by sharing that they all have important jobs as one body of Christ. Paul also talked about what it means to love one another. CONNECT QUESTION: Welcome and greet children. Open your time by asking this question: What s a way you like to show others that you love them? Lumps to Love SUPPLIES play dough (1 lump per child) SET UP Set out a lump of play dough for each child on your table. RELATE Invite children to join you around a table. There are so many ways we can show others we love them! Let s take a minute to think of another way we like to show others that we love them. For example, you may like to pick flowers to show your mom you love her, or draw a picture for your dad, or bake cookies for a friend. Then we ll play a game of sculpting and guessing. Each of us will have a chance to sculpt our action using the play dough. Then the rest of the group will get to guess what we created. Whoever guesses correctly gets to go next! Play until the group guesses what each child created. 3

4 Gather//20 35 min. Children experience and learn more about God through prayer, storytelling from The Big God Story, an investigation into God s Word, and creative ways to memorize Scripture. Prayer Gather your children into a circle. Encourage them to hold their hands in front of them, palms up, as a posture of receiving what God might speak to them today. Before you pray, designate a leader (or two) to open and close the time of prayer. Encourage the children to participate in this time of prayer if they d like. Remind them that praying is simply talking and listening to God and that He always hears us when we pray. As you pray, leave space between prayers for the children to take the opportunity to pray, in case some may be apprehensive and need a little more time. Pray that God would bless the day s lesson as you re in His Word. Pray that God would speak to the hearts of His children, revealing to them the truth of today s Ponder Point, that God Is Love. Storytelling Bible Passage: 1 Corinthians Storytelling Technique: Key Word Actions and Visual SUPPLIES Bibles (1 per leader and 1 per child) card stock (5 sheets, red) Heart template (see Resource Files) scissors marker rope or string (8 ) clothespins (5) masking or packing tape PREPARE AHEAD Print five copies of the Heart template onto the red card stock. On the first heart, write Love is patient. On the second heart, write Love is kind. On the third heart, write Love at the top and then below it in a list, write envy, boast, proud. Draw an X through those words. On the fourth heart, write Love at the top and then below it in a list, write dishonor, self-seeking, anger, record of wrongs. Then draw an X through those words. On the fifth heart, write truth, protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres. SET UP String the rope across a wall or between two chairs so that it looks like a clothesline. Note: You ll only use part of the string during storytelling. Keep the clothesline up for RESPOND when children will be able to hang additional hearts to the string. RELATE Who have we been learning about who writes so many letters to different churches? Invite kids to respond. That s right Paul! He loved Jesus so much that he told anyone he could about Jesus. He traveled to many places and helped start many churches. 4

5 ZECHARIAH 1st & 2nd Grade Guide And he often wrote to those churches to remind them about what was true, to help them live for Jesus, and to remind them that God is love. Show kids the actions for God is love. For God they can point to the sky, and for love invite them to cross their arms like an x over their chests. Whenever I point to you during today s part of The Big God Story, you can do the sign language for God is love. First, let s take a minute to thank God for loving us and sending us Jesus to set us free from sin! Lead the children in a Prayer of Release. One of the churches Paul wrote to was in a city called Corinth. Invite kids to turn to 1 Corinthians 12 in their Bibles so they can follow along. Corinth was a beautiful city with lots of money and people. Many people traveled through the city and liked to stop and talk about all kinds of things. Many people in Corinth also worshipped false gods. Because of this, the Christians in Corinth sometimes had a hard time. They weren t like the other Corinthians they followed Jesus when no one else did. Sometimes following Jesus is hard. But it s worth it! Jesus died for our sins and He cares for us so much. We can always remember that the Holy Spirit is with us and will encourage us because God is love. Invite kids to do their actions. Paul heard that the Corinthian Christians were arguing and fighting, so he decided to write a letter to the Corinthians. Fighting with others who follow Jesus isn t good because God calls us to be united and to love one another. Also, if the other Corinthians saw that all the Christians were fighting, they wouldn t understand that God is love. Invite kids to do their actions. Paul wrote a letter to the church at Corinth to remind them of the truth. He told them that he was thankful for them and that God had made them a holy people who could live for Him. In his letter, Paul reminded the Christians that the Holy Spirit lived inside of them and gave them gifts so that they could love and serve one another. Read 1 Corinthians 12:4 6 aloud. We re all different kinds of people. What are some things you are good at? Invite kids to respond. Wow! God has given us some amazing gifts, and many of us have different gifts. We can use these gifts to serve God and love each other. Paul wanted the Corinthians to remember this instead of fighting and arguing, they could use their gifts to love because God is love. Invite kids to do their actions. Paul then helped the Corinthians understand what he was saying by giving them a good way to think about unity or working together. Paul told the Corinthians that they were all a part of one body because they were all Christians. Read 1 Corinthians 12:12 14 aloud. A body has many parts. We have arms (invite kids to hold out an arm), legs (ask kids to kick out one leg), eyes (invite everyone to point to their eyes), and ears (ask kids to tug at their ears). Each part of our body is really important to us. We see with our eyes, we walk with our legs, we hear with our ears, and our arms lift things. All the parts of the body are important and have different jobs. God has given everyone gifts, and every part of the body is needed. ADAM & EVE ABRAHAM MOSES JOSHUA SAMUEL KING DAVID ELIJAH KING JOSIAH JEREMIAH SHADRACH/MESHACH/ABEDNEGO DANIEL ESTHER NEHEMIAH 400 YEARS OF WAITING JESUS SIMEON/ANNA ZACCHAEUS MARY PHILIP PETER JAMES JOHN APOSTLES CORNELIUS LYDIA PAUL YOU & ME OUR FUTURE WITH JESUS 5

6 Then Paul wrote about one of the most important things love. Because God is love (invite kids to do their actions), we can love one another. We may have lots of gifts and talents we could be great at sports or singing or school, but if we don t love God and others, it doesn t mean anything! Paul reminded the Corinthians that God is love (have kids do their actions), and that love means that we do certain things for each other. Invite kids to look at 1 Corinthians 13:4 7 in their Bible. Wow! Look at this list that describes what love is. Let s go over it together. Paul says that love is patient. Ask a child to come pin the Love is patient heart to the clothesline. Love is also kind. Ask a child to pin the Love is kind heart to the clothesline. Paul said that love does not envy or get jealous. And it doesn t boast or brag, and it doesn t get proud. Ask a child to come pin the envy, boast, proud heart on the clothesline. Paul reminded the Corinthians that love isn t unkind to others, it isn t selfish, it doesn t get mad easily, and it doesn t keep track of what others have done wrong. Invite a child to hang the dishonor, self-seeking, anger, record of wrongs heart on the clothesline. Then Paul said that love rejoices in what is true. It protects others, trusts, hopes, and keeps going, even when things are tough. Ask a child to hang the last heart on the clothesline. What an amazing list of love. And do you know what? God is love (invite kids to do their actions), and He has shown us what love looks like in all of these ways. What a wonderful letter Paul wrote to the Corinthians! This letter still helps us today. It reminds us not to fight or argue with one another. Instead, we can use our gifts to serve each other and serve God. And, most importantly, it reminds us that love is the most important thing. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can love each other because God is love! Invite kids to do their actions. Share about a time you experienced God s love in your life. Investigate Discussion Questions Why did Paul write a letter to the Corinthians? What did Paul talk about to remind the Corinthians they all had important gifts? 1 Corinthians 12:12 What are some words that describe love? What are some words that tell us what love is not? 1 Corinthians 13:4 7 What helps you to know that God is love? God Showed His Love through Jesus God doesn t just tell us that He loves us. He showed us His love by sending His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. Read Romans 5:8 aloud. How did Jesus show us God s love? What do you want to say to Jesus for dying for your sin? Nothing Separates Us from God s Love When we become Christians, the Bible says that no matter what happens or what we go through, nothing separates us from God s love! Read Romans 8:38 39 aloud. Why does God love us so much? How does it make you feel to know that nothing can separate you from the love of God? 6

7 Remember Verse Each week children will spend time memorizing a portion of Scripture together. The Remember Verse focuses on a character trait of God that s highlighted in today s portion of The Big God Story. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 What does sanctify mean? After children offer suggestions, you can share that sanctify means being set apart for a special purpose. For what purpose do you think God has set you apart? Game: Sticky Note Strand SUPPLIES Bible sticky notes (31) pen whiteboard and dry erase marker optional: Remember Verse cards and printable image (see Resource Files) PREPARE AHEAD Write one word of the Remember Verse on each of the sticky notes. SET UP Write the Remember Verse on the whiteboard. RELATE Invite children to join you on the floor around the whiteboard. Practice the verse out loud with the group a few times. Then, erase the verse from the whiteboard and pass out one or more sticky notes to each of the children (depending on the number of children in your class). Then, ask which child thinks she has the first word in the verse. Invite that child to come stick it up on the top left corner of the whiteboard. Ask which child has the next word and have him come place his sticky note next to the first one. Continue until the verse is completed on the whiteboard. Encourage children to help one another if they get stuck. Space for the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit longs to speak to His children. Allow time and space for your children to respond to what God might be speaking to their hearts. To create space for children to hear from and respond to Him, ask the children a few simple questions: After all you ve seen, heard, and experienced today through God s Word, what do you know about Him? How does this make you feel? What does this mean for your life? How do you want to respond to God right now? As you lead the children through this time of reflection, pause and ask God to give you the strength and faith to be flexible as you give the children the space to respond in the way that God leads. 7

8 Respond// min. Children process what the Holy Spirit has been teaching them and respond to God through individual and collaborative worship. Who and How Hearts SUPPLIES Who and How Heart template (see Resource Files) card stock (1 sheet per child, various colors) scissors (1 pair for every 2 children) crayons or markers rope or string (from Storytelling) clothespins (1 per child) PREPARE AHEAD Print the Who and How Heart templates on the card stock, enough for one per child. SET UP Hang clothespins on the clothesline. Take down the hearts that were there from storytelling. Set out a Who and How Heart template at each child s place around the table. Spread out the markers and scissors. RELATE Have children help you remove the sticky notes from the board and invite them to join you around the table. God s love is so amazing. His love is perfect. He is always patient, kind, and forgiving! Because His Spirit lives inside of us, He helps us love others in that way too, even if it s hard. Let s all take a minute to quiet our hearts and talk with God. What would you like to say to Him today about His love? Pause for a moment. Next, you can spend a minute asking God if there s someone you need Him to help you love this week. Who is someone in your life who is sad? Is there someone who has been making you angry or saying hurtful things to you? Hand out the Who and How Heart templates. Invite children to write down the name of the person they re thinking of in the Who blank. If they don t know how to spell the name, encourage kids to simply write the first letter of the name. Now let s ask God, How do You want me to show love to this person? Invite children to ask God about a creative way to show love to this person. Share that children can draw or write those thoughts in the How area. When children finish, they can cut out their heart and hang it on the clothesline from The Big God Story. Developmentally Speaking The fine motor skills of six- and seven-year-olds have developed to the point that they can draw simple but recognizable images. Celebrate the drawings your children create while encouraging them not to try too hard to make their drawings perfect. 8

9 Engage// min. Children participate in various forms of play, including interactive games, activities, experiments, and more. Body of Christ Mingle SUPPLIES upbeat music (suggestion: Celebrate, TruWorship Sincerely Yours) RELATE Have children help you clean up the supplies from RESPOND and join you in an open area in your room. Paul told the Corinthians that they were all a part of one body the body of Christ. They each had unique gifts and purposes, just like parts of our body have unique functions. Let s play a fun game that will use different parts of our bodies like our feet, elbows, hands, and noses! Have each child find a partner. Explain that while the music plays, the partners will need to separate and mingle amongst the rest of the class, walking or skipping. When the music stops, you ll call out a body parts combination. For example: Elbow to knee! The partners will then need to find one another and create that combo, with one partner touching his elbow to the other partner s knee. The last pair to make the combination happen will be out. Play several rounds, using different combinations of body parts and eliminating a different pair each time until there s only one pair left the winners! Suggested body parts combinations: elbow to knee, knee to knee, hand to shoulder, foot to foot, elbow to nose, head to head, hand to hand, hand to foot, shoulder to shoulder, nose to knee, head to shoulder, elbow to foot. 9

10 Bless// 5 10 min. Children receive a blessing from their leaders and sometimes one another. A blessing can be a prayer of commission, a portion of Scripture, or words to encourage and guide. Gather children around you and have them stand in a circle. Invite children to place their hands over their heart as you read today s blessing from 1 John 4:11 12: Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. Children, may you know the amazing, huge, wonderful love of God. May His love help you to care for others. Invite children to bless one another today by turning to the person on their left and declaring, May you know God s love this week. WEEKLY Be sure to send home the HomeFront Weekly for next week s lesson! This preteaching tool for parents encourages families to spend time in God s Word together before children arrive at church. 10