Barnabas Shares Bible Story Acts 4:32-37 Teacher Challenge Learning to share starts at a young age, and we continue to learn the lesson throughout our lives. The new believers in the Early Church shared because of their abandon to God and their fervent desire to follow Jesus teaching. They pooled what they had. Then when someone among them was in need, they shared freely so that everyone was taken care of. When was a time someone shared with you? What keeps you from sharing more? What can you do about it? Sharing and meeting the needs of others can sometimes be in the form of material goods, sometimes in the form of caring words expressed in a phone call or note, sometimes in the form of time freely given simply to listen to someone talk or grieve. And sometimes it is easier to share with strangers than to share with those closest to you. But remember God s generosity toward you. Ask Him to be generous through you. Teacher s Planning 1. Choose which centers you will provide and the order in which children will participate in them. For tips on schedule planning, see page 9. 2. Plan who will lead each center, making sure to have one adult for approximately every six children. For staffing tips and ideas, see page 12. 2011 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Discovering God s Love Leader s Guide 281
Play to Learn Active Game Center: Share with Me! Bible; Preschool Music #1 CD and player; one or more of the following sets of items, with each set having one item for each child: crayons, blocks, small toys, snack bags, toy food items, etc. 1. Give each child an item, using a mix of items from different sets to make the activity more fun. 2. Children walk around playing area as you play Are You Ready? (track 15 on CD). After 10 to 12 seconds, stop the music. When music stops, children trade items. Repeat several times. (Optional: Give children an item from a different set each round.) Talk About In our Bible story today, Jesus friends shared with people who didn t have enough food or clothes. We can help others by sharing with them. Let s play a game by sharing with each other. It is fun to play with (blocks)! Erin, what toys do you have at home? We can share our toys with others by letting others play with them. What toys can you share with your sister when you play together? The Bible says, are in need. People in need sometimes need food or warm clothes. Briefly describe one of the charitable activities in which your church participates. For Younger Children Children sit in a circle. When the music stops, children pass item to the child on the left. For Older Children Children trade items more than once each round. 282 2011 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Discovering God s Love Leader s Guide
Play to Learn Art Center: Rock Art Bible; newspaper; smooth, flat rocks; markers; masking tape; optional wiggle eyes, pieces of yarn, chenille wires, nature objects (sticks, shells, acorns, pinecones, etc.), glue. Prepare Spread newspaper over table. 1. Children use markers to decorate rocks. Suggest children draw faces, animals, flowers or other designs. (Optional: Children glue wiggle eyes, pieces of yarn, chenille wires or nature objects onto rocks.) 2. Place a strip of masking tape on each rock. Child or you writes child s name on strip. Talk About In our Bible story today, Jesus friends shared food and clothes. We help others by sharing with them. Let s decorate some rocks. We can help people here in our class by sharing the supplies. Andrea, Conner needs some shells. How can you help? Thank you, Andrea, for sharing the shells. We share by giving things to people who need them. Aiden, please pass Megan a wiggle eye. Thank you for sharing with Megan. When else can you share? What can you share with your brother or sister at home? The Bible says, are in need. God wants us to help people who need help. For Younger Children Help children focus on sharing. I see Justin handing Ashley a marker. Justin is sharing. Thank you, Justin. For Older Children Each child decorates two rocks, giving second rock to a friend or family member. 2011 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Discovering God s Love Leader s Guide 283
Play to Learn Block Center: Road Block Bible, blocks, toy cars. 1. Children help each other line up blocks to build roads. 2. Children play with cars on the roads they build. Encourage children to take turns playing with favorite cars. Talk About In today s Bible story, Jesus friends shared food and clothes with people who needed those things. Let s share our blocks to help each other build a long road. Skylar, it looks like Jesse needs one more short block. How can you help him? Yes, you can help him by giving him that short block. Thank you for sharing with Jesse! We can help people by sharing with them. Kevin and Shana are rolling a car back and forth to each other. They are sharing the car. The Bible says, are in need. Jessica, does your sister sometimes let you play with her toys at home? She knows about sharing. Which of your toys do you share with her? We can help people by sharing with them! Pray with children, Thank You, God, for all the good things You give us. Please help us to share them with others. For Younger Children It is important for young children to see an abstract concept such as sharing being modeled. Talk about sharing as you play with children. Bring attention to times you or children share with others. For Older Children Bring several magazine pictures of different kinds of buildings (houses, office buildings, schools, etc.). Children help each other build pictured place. 284 2011 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Discovering God s Love Leader s Guide
Play to Learn Science Center: Bubble Fun Bible, measuring cups, dishwashing liquid, water, spoon, shallow bowls or trays, bubble wands in a variety of sizes. Prepare Make arrangements for children to blow bubbles outdoors if possible. 1. To make bubble solution, children measure and pour one cup of dishwashing liquid and one cup of water into shallow bowls or trays. Children use spoon to mix solution together. 2. Children dip wands into bubble solution and experiment with blowing bubbles through a variety of wand shapes. Talk About The Bible tells us that Jesus friends shared food and clothes with people who did not have them. Let s share these bubble wands and make beautiful bubbles together. Monique, look at that big bubble you blew! What colors do you see in the bubble? Maybe you ll be ready to share the big wand with Austin next time. The Bible says, are in need. We are sharing our bubble wands. What can you share with your sister or brother at home? What can you share with your friends when you are playing together? For Younger Children Blow bubbles for children to chase and catch. For Older Children Give each child a chenille wire. Model how to form a bubble wand. Children make wands in a variety of shapes and sizes and then share wands with one another to blow bubbles. 2011 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Discovering God s Love Leader s Guide 285
Listen to Learn Acts 4:32-37 Bible, Bible Story 45 pictures from God s Story for Me Poster Pack #1, Preschool Music #1 CD and player, strips of paper, marker, paper bag, stapler, basket or box, classroom toys or books. Greet Each Other Print each child s name on a strip of paper and place in a paper bag. One at a time, draw a strip of paper out the bag and show children the name. Give clues to help children identify the name. This boy s name begins with the letter T. When children have identified name, named child comes up and staples his or her strip to form a circle. Add each child s strip to others to form a paper chain. We can share with our friends in class. Tell the Story Open your Bible to Acts 4. Tell the story using the pictured motions (keywords in bold) or show Bible Story 45 pictures. Who has shared a toy with you? Our story tells about a man who shared. Listen to find out what he shared. One of the ways Jesus friends showed their love was by sharing everything they had. Nobody had to ask them to share. They wanted to share! Some people had lots of food and clothing. But they didn t keep it all for themselves. They shared their food and clothes with Jesus friends who had no food and clothing. If a family had more food than they needed, they didn t throw it away. They gave it to Jesus friends who did not have enough food. One of Jesus friends helped other people so much that his friends gave him a nickname. The man s friends called him Barnabas. Barnabas meant something like Mr. Helper. He was a cheerful, happy man. Barnabas was always helping people and trying to cheer them up! Barnabas owned a field. He could have kept it for himself. Instead, Barnabas sold his field. Someone bought the land and gave Barnabas money for it. Barnabas could have spent that money on something he wanted for himself, but he didn t. Barnabas gave the money to the men who loved Jesus. He said, Here, share this money with people who need it. Barnabas had learned about Jesus and what Jesus said to do. He knew Jesus wanted him to help other people. Barnabas didn t keep his field or his money for himself. He showed he loved Jesus by sharing with other people. 286 2011 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Discovering God s Love Leader s Guide
Talk About the Story What was the name of the man who shared? (Barnabas.) What did Jesus friends share? (Food and clothes.) We can help others by sharing with them! Sharing means giving things to people who need them. Sharing can also mean letting others use our things. What can you share with someone who is hungry? (Food.) What can you share when we are playing with blocks? (Blocks. Toy people.) Sing to God Let s sing a song about doing good. Lead children in singing Are You Ready? (track 15 on CD). We can do good to our family and friends. We can do good by sharing with them! Option: Ask children to tell ways they can share with others. Print children s responses on large sheet of paper. Display paper so that parents can read it when children are dismissed. Option: To make the Bible verse activity more challenging for older children, ask them to repeat verse and replace the words God s people in need with another child s name. The named child then repeats verse, using a different child s name. Continue until each child has a turn. Hear and Say Holding your Bible open to Romans 12:13, say verse aloud. I saw Jared share blocks with Grace today. Jared knows how to share! When we share with others, we help them! Lead children in repeating the verse two or three times. Then add the word at and a time of day. Share with God s people in need at (lunchtime). Children echo the phrase after you. Repeat several times, using different times of the day or days of the week. Pray to God Let s thank God that He helps us share with others. To complete the following prayer, volunteers take turns naming people with whom they can share: Thank You, God, that You help us share. Please help me share with. Praise to God Place basket or box on the floor. Each child chooses one toy or book from the room and puts it in the container. Children sit in circle around the container. One at a time, hold up each object. Child who put that object in the container raises his or her hand. Comment on each child s contribution. We have so many great toys. We can obey God by sharing these toys with others in our class. 2011 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Discovering God s Love Leader s Guide 287
Talk to Learn Bible Story Activity Pages Center A copy of Activity 45 from The Big Book of Bible Story Activity Pages #1 for yourself and each child, scissors, crayons or markers; optional small fabric pieces, glue. Name Share with God s people who are in need. Romans 12:13 Bible Story Activity 45 Lead children to complete pages following the instructions. (Optional: Children glue fabric pieces to clothing on page.) Use the conversation suggestions as children complete their pages and retell the story. What did Jesus friends share with each other? What can you share with others? Preschool Puzzle Center Copies of Puzzles 63 and 64 (p. 133 and p. 135 from The Big Book of Kindergarten Puzzles) for each child; pencils, crayons or markers. 187 2009 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to the original purchaser only. The Big Book of Bible Story Activity Pages #1 Follow the path through the field to Barnabas. Puzzle 63 Children complete the puzzles and color pages. Use the conversation suggestions on the pages. Read-Aloud Story Center A copy of Story Picture 32 from The Big Book of Read- Aloud Stories #1 for yourself and each child, crayons or markers. Read the story and distribute pictures. Use the conversation suggestions as children complete their pages. 2011 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. The Big Book of Read-Aloud Stories #1 Barnabas sold his field to get money to share with other people. We can help others by sharing with them, too. Our Bible says, are in need (Romans 12:13). BONUS IDEA! Cut out and then color this reminder bookmark. Share with God s people who are in 2001 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted. The Big Book of Reproducible Kindergarten Puzzles need. Romans 12:13 133 Share with God s people who Color the picture. Fold flap forward on dotted line. Unfold flap to show what happened to Natalie s ice cream. 69 FOLD Story Picture 32 288 2011 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Discovering God s Love Leader s Guide