4th & Girls, 4th & 5th Boys Week 2, January 8 Extra Credit Bible Story: Bottom Line: Memory Verse: Life App:

Transcription

1 4th & Girls, 4th & 5th Boys Week 2, January 8 Extra Credit Bible Story: Extra Credit (Boy Jesus at the temple) Luke 2:41-52 Bottom Line: What God says is the most important thing to know. Memory Verse: Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105 (NIV) Life App: Knowledge learning something new so you can be better at whatever you do. Basic Truth: I can trust God no matter what. Children Arrive; Social: (8:45) (10:45) (4:15) (6:15) Welcome kids and spend time engaging in conversation and catching up. Get ready to experience today s story. 1. Early Arriver Idea What You Need: Offering container Invite kids to put their offerings in the offering container as they arrive. Ask kids if they spent time this past week discovering what God says. What did they do? Did any of the kids remember what God says about Jesus? If there is time, ask kids about some things they would do to learn something new. For example: What are things you could do to learn to drive a car or a plane? What are things you could do to learn hip-hop or a new dance move? 2. What Do You Know? What You Need: No supplies needed Ask kids about a topic. Kids can work as a group to list what they know about each topic. Examples of topics are listed below, but kids can provide topics too. o Snow White s dwarves o Winter sports o Foods beginning with the letter P o Superheroes o Musicians/bands o Shoes o Soft drinks You sure do know a lot about many different topics. [Transition] Let s head to Large Group to hear about the most important thing you should know. Lead your group to the Large Group area. Story and Worship: (9:00) (11:00) (4:30) (6:30) After large group, gather children in their small groups. Lead them in prayer focusing on The Bottom Line. Groups: (9:35) (11:35) (5:05) (7:05) Create a safe place to connect and learn how the Bible story applies to real life experiences, through interactive activities and discussion questions. 1. Take One! Action! (application activity / review the Bible story) What You Need: Bibles, name tags, whiteboards, markers, Jesus at the Temple Activity Page, Notecards Activity Page Set the scene. Ask kids: in our Bible story today, where did Jesus and his family live? (Nazareth) Write Nazareth on a whiteboard and set it on the floor. Ask kids where Jesus and His family were traveling to and why were they going there. Where did Jesus and His family go to worship and learn about God? (They went to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. They worshiped in the temple.) Write Jerusalem/Temple on a whiteboard and place the board some distance from the Nazareth sign. 1

2 Assign each kid someone from the Bible story to portray: Jesus, Mary, Joseph, friends, teachers, and people being amazed. Once they have their role, instruct kids to make a nametag indicating who they are pretending to be in the story. Using the Jesus at the Temple Activity Page, narrate a review of the story for kids to act out. When prompted in the narration, hand the appropriate kid the notecard indicated and instruct him/her to read it. The Bible doesn t tell us what Joseph and Mary said as they were looking for Jesus or what exactly Jesus said to the teachers in the temple that was so amazing. What we do know is what Jesus said when His parents found Him. He said: Why were you looking for me? Didn t you know I had to be in my Father s house? (Luke 2:49, NIrV). Jesus knew He needed to spend time in the temple in God s house to learn. Jesus asked the teachers questions, and He listened to their answers. Even as a kid, Jesus knew the most important thing He could learn was what God says. And the same is true for you and me! We need to keep learning and discovering what God says because [Bottom Line] what God says is the most important thing to know. 2. Find It First (application activity) What You Need: Find It First Activity Page, Bibles Hand out a Bible to each kid. Read number one on the Find it First Activity Page. When you say, Go, kids should race to find the item from the list. When someone finds the item from the list, let them show everyone and read the verse they found, if applicable. Continue down the list as time and interest allow. The items on this list might seem insignificant, but they are all important because they are part of God s Word. Nothing in the Bible is there by mistake. Everything God has told us in the Bible is important for us to know because [Bottom Line] what God says is the most important thing to know. 2

3 4th & Girls, 4th & 5th Boys Week 3, January 15 The Big Dipper Bible Story: The Big Dipper (Jesus baptism & John calls Jesus Lamb of God) John 1:19-42 (Supporting: Matthew 3, Mark 1:1-11, Luke 3:1-22) Bottom Line: Discovering what God says helps you follow Jesus. Memory Verse: Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105 (NIV) Life App: Knowledge learning something new so you can be better at whatever you do. Basic Truth: I can trust God no matter what. Children Arrive; Social: (8:45) (10:45) (4:15) (6:15) Welcome kids and spend time engaging in conversation and catching up. Get ready to experience today s story. 1. Early Arriver Idea What You Need: Offering container Invite kids to put their offerings in the offering container as they arrive. Ask kids: o Can you share something you ve learned this month? o What s the definition of knowledge? o Have you learned something new lately? What was it? o What new thing have you learned in school that you found interesting? o Do you remember what the most important thing to know is? (what God says) o Have you learned anything new about God this week? 2. Searching for Knowledge What You Need: Knowledge Search Puzzle Activity pages, pencils Give kids a Knowledge Search Puzzle and a pencil. Give assistance if needed as kids work to find all the hidden words. Once everyone is pretty much finished, ask if anyone knows how the words are related. (They re all synonyms for or words related to knowledge.) Ask if anyone has a favorite word to use instead of knowledge. Can anyone think of a word for knowledge that wasn t on the word search? You did a great job finding all the words. Knowledge is learning something new so you can be better at whatever you do. [Transition] Let s head to Large Group to hear how knowledge of what God says can certainly point you in the right direction. Lead your group to the Large Group area. Story and Worship: (9:00) (11:00) (4:30) (6:30) After large group, gather children in their small groups. Lead them in prayer focusing on The Bottom Line. Groups: (9:35) (11:35) (5:05) (7:05) Create a safe place to connect and learn how the Bible story applies to real life experiences, through interactive activities and discussion questions. 1. Follow in His Footsteps (application activity) What You Need: Cardstock; 2 pieces for each kid, markers, masking tape Give kids two pieces of paper and pencils or markers. Tell kids to trace one foot on each piece of paper and decorate their paper feet. With masking tape, create a start line and a finish line, long enough to accommodate all kids if they are standing shoulder to shoulder. Tell kids they will race each other to the finish line, but they can only follow their paper feet. o They set one paper foot down and stand on it. o They can only move forward when they put the other paper foot down to step on. 3

4 o During the race, kids always have to have their feet on the paper feet they are following. If they break this rule, they have to go back to the start line and start again. The first kid to make it to the finish line and yell the Bottom Line wins. Adaptation: If possible, let groups leave the Small Group room and spread out to other areas near your children s environment. They could go to the Large Group room, a large hallway, even a stairwell! It makes for a challenging race to follow your own footsteps! But in our story today, God isn t asking you to follow yourself; God wants you to follow Jesus. Discovering what God says not only helps you to know Jesus; [Bottom Line] discovering what God says helps you FOLLOW Jesus. None of us can be perfect like Jesus, but when you know what God says, you can make a choice to think and act more like Jesus. When you choose to follow Jesus, you choose to make wise choices based on what God says, you choose to treat others with God s love, and you choose to trust God. When others see your love for Jesus, your words and actions just might inspire them to discover what God says and decide to follow Jesus too. [Make It Personal] (Share how God s Word helps you follow Jesus. Is there a verse you memorized to remind you the importance of following Jesus? Or is there a verse that reminds you to try to think and act more like Jesus?) 2. Tape the Verse on the Arrow (memory verse activity) What You Need: Memory Verse Cards Activity page, painter s tape, blindfold Make an outline of an arrow on the wall using the tape. Give each kid a Memory Verse Card and instruct kids to compare their cards to see where they fall in the order of the verse. Taking turns, kids will put on a blindfold and try to tape their Memory Verse Card inside the outline of the arrow in the correct order. Once blindfolded, have each kid start about eight feet from the wall. If you choose, you can spin them around a couple times before setting them loose! For an increased challenge, don t have kids go in the order of the verse. This game would have been super easy if you could see what you were doing. It was definitely harder to get the verse in the correct order when you couldn t see. The same is true about knowledge and knowing God s Word. When you don t know what God says about Jesus, it is hard to know who Jesus is. Psalm 119:105 says: Your word is like a lamp that shows me the way. It is like a light that guides me (NIrV). Without God s Word, you are missing something; you are in the dark and can t see. God s Word is like a light that guides you and shows you the way and [Bottom Line] discovering what God says helps you follow Jesus. If you lead mostly older kids, consider asking these discussion questions: A couple of weeks ago we talked about how discovering what God says helps us to know Jesus. What were some things God tells us about Jesus? Think back on the verses you looked up for your Star Booklet. (Jesus is God s Son; He never changes; He forgives; He is alive; etc.) What does it look like to follow Jesus? Does knowing who Jesus is help you to trust Him? Does trusting Him help you to follow Him? Why or why not? 4

5 4th & Girls, 4th & 5th Boys Week 4, January 22 Talk to the Hand Cuz the Savior Ain t Listenin Bible Story: Talk to the Hand Cuz the Savior Ain t Listenin (Jesus tempted in the wilderness) Luke 4:1-13 (Supporting: Matthew 4:1-11) Bottom Line: Discovering what God says helps you make the wise choice. Memory Verse: Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105 (NIV) Life App: Knowledge learning something new so you can be better at whatever you do. Basic Truth: I can trust God no matter what. Children Arrive; Social: (8:45) (10:45) (4:15) (6:15) Welcome kids and spend time engaging in conversation and catching up. Get ready to experience today s story. 1. Early Arriver Idea What You Need: Offering container Invite kids to put their offerings in the offering container as they arrive. Ask kids a Would you rather...? question and ask them to explain their answers. Encourage kids to make their own question for the group to answer. Examples: o Would you rather be a night owl or a morning person? o Would you rather jump in a pool of JELL-O or marshmallow crème? o Would you rather do science or math all day at school? o Would you rather set the table before dinner or clear the table after dinner? 2. Higher or Lower? What You Need: Deck of cards Give each kid a card and instruct them not to look at it. At the same time, kids will all put their cards on their foreheads so everyone can see what card they have. (Make sure kids are clear that they shouldn t know what card they are holding up.) When everyone s holding their cards up, instruct kids to look at everyone else s card and then decide if they think their card is the highest card, lowest card, or in the middle. If kids choose correctly, they keep their card. Kids who guessed wrong put their cards back into the pile. Shuffle the cards and play again. Play several rounds. The kid with the most cards at the end wins. It is important to collect information before making a choice. In this game, even though you didn t know what your card was, knowing everyone else s card helped you make a choice. [Transition] Let s head to Large Group to hear what can really help you make the wisest choices. Lead your group to the Large Group area. Story and Worship: (9:00) (11:00) (4:30) (6:30) After large group, gather children in their small groups. Lead them in prayer focusing on The Bottom Line. Groups: (9:35) (11:35) (5:05) (7:05) 1. What s God Got to Say About It? (application activity) What You Need: Index cards, markers, mobile devices, Bible As a group, brainstorm times when it is hard to make a wise choice, such as when you are angry, mad, scared, worried, hungry, in a hurry, tired, etc. Write ideas on index cards with one idea per card. Pair kids together. Each pair selects one or two cards, and as a team they write (or draw) what they could to do to make a wise choice given the situation on the card. For example: If you are angry, what can you do to help you make the wise choice? 5

6 Guide kids to use a concordance, YouVersion app, or Bible Gateway to search for Scripture related to their situations to see what God says about making a wise choice. Kids can write the verse reference on the card. For example: When you are angry it would help to make the wise choice by remembering Proverbs 15:1: A gentle answer turns anger away, but mean words stir up anger. (NIrV) or Proverbs 15:18: A person with a bad temper stirs up conflict. But a person who is patient calms things down (NIrV). You came up with some helpful ideas of how to make the wise choice in difficult situations. God s Word is a great way to gain knowledge to make better choices wise choices. When you have a hard time remembering what God says, a concordance or a mobile app is a helpful tool to search God s Word to help you make a wise choice. What if you don t have a Bible handy at the time you need help making a wise choice? What can you do? (pray and ask God for help; talk to a someone you know who follows Jesus and is learning God s Word; study God s Word now to prepare you for future decisions) It is important to remember God is with you in any situation and [Bottom Line] discovering what God say helps you make the wise choice. [Make It Personal] (Share about a time when knowing what God says helped you make a wise choice. Maybe you were anxious and verses popped into your head to help you remember God is with you no matter what. Maybe you were in a hurry and people kept getting in your way. You wanted to yell at them to hurry up but you remembered God says a patient person calms things down, so you took a deep breath and prayed.) 2. Flashlight Verse (memory verse activity / environment-wide activity) What You Need: Lamp Verse Cards in a basket; flashlights (optional) Instruct all kids in the room to sit in a big circle along the perimeter of the room. Dump the container of Lamp Verse Cards in the center of the circle. Small Groups will compete as teams to find a full set of cards to complete the memory verse. The first team to get the verse in order and yell, Make a wise choice, wins. To increase the challenge, give kids flashlights and turn off the lights. Let groups find the correct cards in the dark using the flashlights. Our memory verse tells us God s Word is like a lamp that shows you the way. It is like a light that guides you. It would have been impossible to play this game in the dark, without any light. But God doesn t want you to be in the dark; He wants to guide and help you. God s Word is the most important thing to know. God s Word helps you know and follow Jesus. [Bottom Line] Discovering what God says helps you make the wise choice. If you lead mostly older kids, consider asking these discussion questions: Encourage kids to think of times they made a wise choice. How do you know when you have made a wise choice? (it s biblical supported by God s Word; the people you hang out with who also follow Jesus supported your choice; it s Spirit-led and results in acting out the fruits of the Spirit Galatians 5:22; it elevates Christ) Does making the wise choice always result in making others happy or making everything work out perfectly? Why or why not? Can anyone give an example? What are some benefits of making the wise choice? What are some of the consequences of not making the wise choice? [Make It Personal] (Share your own story about the benefits of a wise choice or consequences of an unwise choice. What was the result? Would you do things differently if you found yourself in a similar situation? How did God s Word play into your decision-making?) 6

7 4th & Girls, 4th & 5th Boys Week 5, January 29 Ask Away Bible Story: Ask Away (John the Baptist in prison) Matthew 11:1-6 (Supporting: James 1:5) Bottom Line: When you don t know what God says, ask. Memory Verse: Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105 (NIV) Life App: Knowledge learning something new so you can be better at whatever you do. Basic Truth: I can trust God no matter what. Children Arrive; Social: (8:45) (10:45) (4:15) (6:15) Welcome kids and spend time engaging in conversation and catching up. Get ready to experience today s story. 1. Early Arriver Idea What You Need: Offering container, paper, pencils, 2 prepared paper bags Invite kids to put their offerings in the offering container as they arrive. On a slip of paper, instruct kids to write What if, finish the question, and put the paper in the What if bag. On another slip of paper, kids write Then, finish the sentence, and put the paper in the Then bag. For example: o What if elephants could fly? o Then people would be afraid to go outside. o What if I had to eat an onion? o Then I would cry. Let kids take turns picking one slip of paper from each of the bags. They should read the What if question first, and answer the question by reading the Then statement. Ask: o Are the answers somewhat ridiculous? o Aren t you glad that isn t how all our questions are answered? o What are some ways we get answers to questions? 2. Twenty Questions What You Need: No supplies needed Think of a word (a noun) and tell the kids if your word is a person, place, or thing. Let kids ask you yes-or-no questions to try to identify your word. If they can guess the word correctly in 20 questions or less, they win. Play several times, letting kids take turns being the one who thinks of the word the group is guessing. Excellent questions! When you asked the right questions, it didn t take you long to guess the word correctly. [Transition] Let s head to Large Group and learn about a great time to ask questions. Lead your group to the Large Group area. Story and Worship: (9:00) (11:00) (4:30) (6:30) After large group, gather children in their small groups. Lead them in prayer focusing on The Bottom Line. Groups: (9:35) (11:35) (5:05) (7:05) Create a safe place to connect and learn how the Bible story applies to real life experiences, through interactive activities and discussion questions. 1. Just Ask (application activity / possible environment-wide activity) Whole Group Activity What You Need: Just Ask Activity Pages, pencils or markers, timer or mobile device (optional) This activity can be done as a group or as an environment-wide activity. 7

8 Give kids a copy of the Just Ask Activity Page and a pencil. Challenge kids to answers all the questions on the page. If kids don t know an answer, they can ask someone and put the initials of the person who helped them answer the question. If kids know the answer and don t need any help, they put their own initials next to the question. Give kids about five minutes to mill around and fill out their page. When time is up, review answers with the kids in your individual group. o Were there any questions no one answered? o Did anybody know all the answers to the questions without getting help? o How did you find out what James 1:5 said? Did anyone grab a Bible to look it up and get the answer? You guys know a lot of stuff, but there will be times you won t know something and you will want to find the answer. You all knew 2+2=4, but when it came to my favorite color, you had to ask me because you didn t know. The same thing is true with God; there are a lot of things you know. Think of what you have just learned this month. You know that discovering what God says helps you know about Jesus and what God s says helps you make the wise choice. But there will be times when you have a question about God and His Word and it is important to remember: [Bottom Line] When you don t know what God says, ask. [Make It Personal] (Share with the kids what you do when you don t know what God says. Do you start by asking God and searching His Word? Maybe there is a mentor in your life who follows Jesus who helps you learn what God says, or perhaps there s a group of people you meet with regularly to talk about God s Words and the questions you have.) 2. What God Says (memory verse activity) What You Need: Lamp Verse Cards Activity Page Shuffle the Lamp Verse Cards. Kids will draw one card and say the rest of the verse following the words on the card they selected. For example: If the card says, that shows, kids respond with me the way. It is like a light that guides me. Psalm 119:105. For an extra challenge, kids can say the word of the verse that comes right before the words on the card they selected. o For example: If the card says, that shows, kids respond with, a lamp. o You can tell them they are learning God s Word backwards and forwards! You did a great job saying the memory verse! It helps that we have been studying Psalm 119:105 all month. Knowing God s Word may start with the memory verses you learn at church, but it shouldn t stop there. You should want to know as much as you can about what God has to say to you. You will have questions about things as you grow in your knowledge about God s Word and [Bottom Line] when you don t know what God says, ask. You can pray and ask God directly. You can read the Bible and discover what important thing God is saying. You can ask a friend or relative who is learning about God to help you and to pray for you to find the answer. If you lead mostly older kids, consider asking these discussion questions: Imagine you are getting picked on at school, or you want to help your friend know that God loves her, or you are angry with your friend or parents. What can you do when you don t know what God says about how to handle these situations? Who can you ask when you don t know what God says? And why can you ask them? Sometimes you don t know what God says and you pray about it, you read the Bible, and you ask someone who loves Jesus, but you still are unsure about an answer. What do you do then? 8