W-3 2-3 - Hope Community Church
JANUARY
W-3 2
PRELUDE
Chief Executive Officer Reggie Joiner Creative Team Kristen Ivy Mike Clear Molly Bell Elloa Davis Elizabeth Hansen Jessica McKee Brandon O’Dell Greg Payne Phil Pierce Dan Scott Jon Williams Contributing Writers Jodi Blackwell Stuart Chapman Kristi Hecht Kelly Nishi Adam Walsh
SOCIAL
15 MINUTES
Editors Molly Bell Elloa Davis Dana Wilkerson Illustrations & Graphic Design Brian Bascle Mike Davis Joe Goode Technical & Web Support Hadley Brandt Orange Specialists Amy Grisham Abbey Carr Amy Fenton Leslie Galema Misty Phillips Stephanie Porter Courtney Templeton
STORY
WORSHIP
Statement of Faith ABOUT GOD God is the one and only true God, yet He exists in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. God is the Creator, so everything belongs to Him and is under His control. God is holy, so He is righteous, majestic, and loving. God is all knowing and purposeful, so He’s at work to bring about His will. No person, thing, or idea compares to God. ABOUT THE SCRIPTURES God reveals Himself to us through the Bible, and it is 100% accurate, reliable, and authoritative. ABOUT PEOPLE People are made in God’s image and for His pleasure. But everybody falls short of God’s intention, or ideal, for people. In other words, everyone has sinned. As a result, we are all separated from Him, even though He wants an intimate relationship with each of us. ABOUT SALVATION That’s why Jesus—God’s Son—came and lived on this earth, died, and rose again. God offers His free gift of salvation to all who believe in Jesus and accept Him as Savior—the only way to be forgiven and reconciled to God. Anyone who accepts this gift is adopted as a son or daughter into God’s family and will live with Him forever in heaven.
0
1
7
GROUPS
25 MINUTES
GRADES
2-3 HOME
User Agreement Orange gladly grants permission to churches, schools, and other licensees to tailor 252 Basics® materials to fit their unique leadership requirements, locale and format preferences, and physical environment needs. However, if you wish to edit the content substantively, including Bible stories, learning activities, scripts, and any other content in which biblical principles and concepts are presented, you are obligated to do so within the doctrinal guidelines we’ve expressed in our Statement of Faith. These resources are intended to be downloaded and printed for use by the subscribing entity only and may not be electronically transferred to or duplicated by other non-subscribing entities. Any unauthorized reproduction of this material or incorporation into a new work is a direct violation of US copyright laws. ©2016 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. 252 Basics® and the 252 Basics® logo are trademarks of Orange and the reThink Group. Scripture marked “NIrV” is taken from the NEW INTERNATIONAL READER’S VERSION®. Copyright © 1996, 1998, 2014 Biblica. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of Biblica. Scripture marked “NIV” is taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
JANUARY
W-3 2
PRELUDE
SOCIAL
15 MINUTES
STORY
BOTTOM LINE
2-3
GROUPS
25 MINUTES
HOME
SOCIAL: Providing time for fun interaction Ideas for Early Arrivers Me Too!
25
STORY: Communicating God’s truth in engaging ways Opener Worship Bible Story Prayer Closer
MINUTES
MINUTES
10 MINUTES
“Your word is like a lamp that shows me the way. It is like a light that guides me.” Psalm 119:105, NIRV Psalm 119:105, NIrV
7
15
Discovering what God says helps you follow Jesus.
MEMORY VERSE
1
PRELUDE: Setting the tone for the experience For Leaders Only Create the Environment
BIBLE STORY
The Big Dipper (Jesus’ Baptism & John Calls Jesus Lamb of God) John 1:19-42
WORSHIP
0
GRADES
25 MINUTES
LIFE APP
WORSHIP: Inviting people to respond to God “Know You Better” from Jump “I Will Follow” from Zapped GROUPS: Creating a safe place to connect 4x4 Movin’ Right Along Color Me Bright Prayer HOME: Prompting action beyond the experience GodTime Parent Cue
Knowledge—learning something new so you can be better at whatever you do.
BASIC TRUTH
I can trust God no matter what.
©2016 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).
PAG E 2
JANUARY
W-3 2
PRELUDE
SOCIAL
15 MINUTES
STORY
WORSHIP
0
1
7
GROUPS
25 MINUTES
GRADES
2-3 HOME
GETTING READY
BIBLE STORY
SOCIAL: PROVIDING TIME FOR FUN INTERACTION The Big Dipper (Jesus’ Baptism & John Calls Jesus Lamb of God) John 1:19-42
BOTTOM LINE
Discovering what God says helps you follow Jesus.
MEMORY VERSE
“Your word is like a lamp that shows me the way. It is like a light that guides me.” Psalm 119:105, NIRV Psalm 119:105, NIrV
LIFE APP
Knowledge—learning something new so you can be better at whatever you do.
BASIC TRUTH
I can trust God no matter what.
(Choose one or both of these activities.) Early Arriver • An offering container Me Too! • Print the “Me Too! Grid” Activity Page; 1 for each kid • Pens • Timer
GROUPS: CREATING A SAFE PLACE TO CONNECT (Choose as many of these activities as you like.) * If you don’t have time to do all these activities, be sure to do activity #2. Heads Up! Check out Weeks 1 and 2 of February 2017 for information about a service project 2nd and 3rd graders can participate in. 1. 4x4 (application activity / review the Bible story) • Painter’s tape • Print the “4x4” Activity Page on cardstock and cut apart; 1 set for each small group • Bean Bags; 2 that are different colors • Markers (you’ll need 2 in 2 different colors) * 2. Movin’ Right Along (application activity) • Print the “Movin’ Right Along” Activity Page on cardstock and cut apart; 1 set for each small group • Bibles • Scissors • Painter’s tape • Construction paper; 20 pieces 3. Color Me Bright (memory verse activity) • Colored pencils • Print the “Color by Verse” Activity Page; 1 for each kid
©2016 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).
PAG E 3
JANUARY
W-3 2
PRELUDE
SOCIAL
15 MINUTES
STORY
WORSHIP
0
1
7
GROUPS
25 MINUTES
GRADES
2-3 HOME
Prayer • Flashlights; 1 per kid Additional Resources: • Make copies on cardstock or email this week’s GodTime and Parent Cue cards. • Tell parents about our additional family resources: Studio252.tv, CUE Box, and the Parent Cue app. To find out more about these great resources, go to http://www.Studio252.tv/leaders.
©2016 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).
PAG E 4
JANUARY
W-3 2
PRELUDE
SOCIAL
15 MINUTES
STORY
WORSHIP
0
1
7
GROUPS
GRADES
2-3 HOME
SOCIAL: PROVIDING TIME FOR FUN INTERACTION Welcome kids and spend time engaging in conversation and catching up. Get ready to experience today’s story. Before kids arrive, pray for each regular attendee by name. Pray for those who might visit your group for the first time. Pray that as kids learn more about Jesus, they’ll be drawn to a relationship with Him and have a desire to follow Him. Ask God to guide you as you encourage your few in their relationships with Jesus. Pray that you would be able to model this for them in a real, authentic way.
1. EARLY ARRIVER IDEA WHAT YOU NEED: Offering container WHAT YOU DO: • Ask kids if they have been baptized, making sure to guide the conversation based on your church’s beliefs and traditions for baptism. o Have you seen someone get baptized? o Do you know what it means to get baptized?
2. ME TOO! WHAT YOU NEED: “Me Too! Grid” Activity Pages, pens, timer WHAT YOU DO: • Hand out Activity Pages and pens. • Tell kids that when you start the timer, they will need to fill in words in each category that start with the letter at the top of the column (i.e. under “J,” “Names,” they could write “John”). • Set the timer for five minutes, and start the timer. • Let kids fill in words, encouraging them to be creative. Tell them they’ll only get to count an answer if they’re the only person who wrote that answer. • After five minutes, stop the timer and have one kid go through one category on his grid and tell the others what he has written in each square. • The other kids should cross out any answers on their own papers that are duplicates. • Move on to the next category and choose another volunteer to read out one of her categories. • When all categories have been read through once, go around the circle and let each kid read answers that are not already crossed out. Keep going until you’ve confirmed that the only answers left on the kids’ pages are ones that no one else has. • Each kid will be responsible for scoring their own sheet and awarding themselves one point for every answer no one else wrote down.
©2016 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).
PAG E 5
JANUARY
W-3 2
PRELUDE
SOCIAL
15 MINUTES
STORY
WORSHIP
0
1
7
GROUPS
GRADES
2-3 HOME
WHAT YOU SAY: “Even though most people only have one first name, there can be many ways to say that name. For instance, Joseph could also be Joe or Joey. [Transition] Today in Large Group, we are going to hear about another name for Jesus you might not have heard before.” Lead your group to the Large Group area.
©2016 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).
PAG E 6
JANUARY
W-3 2
PRELUDE
SOCIAL
STORY
WORSHIP
0
1
7
GROUPS
25 MINUTES
GRADES
2-3 HOME
GROUPS: CREATING A SAFE PLACE TO CONNECT Create a safe place to connect and learn how the Bible story applies to real life experiences, through interactive activities and discussion questions.
1. 4X4
(application activity / review the Bible story) WHAT YOU NEED: “4x4” cards Activity Page, painter’s tape, beanbags, markers WHAT YOU DO: • Using the painter’s tape, make a four by four grid on the floor; each box should be about one square foot. • Make another line on the ground parallel to the grid about three feet back. That will be the toss line. • Place the review cards face down on the floor—one card in each grid square. • Divide kids into two teams and have the teams line up behind the toss line. • Give each team a beanbag and a marker. Make sure each team has a different color beanbag and different color marker. • Choose a kid from Team 1 to toss the beanbag first. • If the beanbag lands on a square, read him the question from that square. • He can confer with his team for a few seconds to get their final answer to the question on the card. • If the team answers the card correctly, replace the card on the square you took it from and mark it with a large X using that team’s marker. • After Team 1 has gone, choose a kid from Team 2 and repeat. • Encourage kids to aim for squares that will make rows, provided they answer the questions correctly. • If a beanbag lands on a square that has already been marked, the turn passes to the other team. • The first team to get four Xs in a row wins. Adaptation: If you have lots of groups in one room, arrange the room so that you can designate a spot for this activity and the next one. Ask SGLs to work together to rotate through these areas and allow enough time for each group to do both activities. WHAT YOU SAY: “You guys did a great job of remembering all the details from the story! It’s great to know stories from the Bible well because [Bottom Line] discovering what God says helps you follow Jesus. Following Jesus is not complicated, but being like Him helps us to know Him better. The reason we want to know Jesus better is because He died on the cross to save us from our sins. Jesus knew that the only way to bridge the gap between us and God was to die for us because we are sinful people and He is completely without sin. When He died for us, He gave us a way to get to God because God is perfect. [Make It Personal] (Tell kids why you decided to follow Jesus.) If you decide to follow Jesus today, you can talk to me about it or, if your parents know Jesus, you can tell them that you want to follow Him.”
* 2. MOVIN’ RIGHT ALONG
(application activity) WHAT YOU NEED: “Movin’ Right Along” cards Activity Page, Bibles, painter’s tape, construction paper; 20 pieces WHAT YOU DO: • Tape 20 pieces of construction paper to the floor in a curvy path. ©2016 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).
PAG E 7
JANUARY
W-3 2
PRELUDE
SOCIAL
STORY
WORSHIP
0
1
7
GROUPS
25 MINUTES
GRADES
2-3 HOME
• Cut out the instruction cards from the Activity Page and have them in a pile. • Each kid will choose a card from the top of the pile and follow the instructions on the card, moving from the start of the construction paper path to the end of it. • For the “negative” cards (i.e., cards where kids have to move backwards), give the kid who picked that card a chance to flip the situation around. If he does this, let him move forward one space (after he has moved back the correct amount of spaces). • The winner is whoever reaches the end of the path first (or whoever is the furthest along when you run out of cards). Adaptation: If you have lots of groups in one room, arrange the room so that you can designate a spot for this activity and the previous one. Ask SGLs to work together to rotate through these areas and allow enough time for each group to do both activities. If possible, create a game board or two in the hallway! WHAT YOU SAY: “That was a really fun game! Those situations were sometimes funny or unrealistic, but they all were either something that would help us be more like Jesus or less like Jesus. In God’s Word, He tells us how to be more like Jesus, because He knows that acting like Jesus is always the wise choice. If we aren’t sure what Jesus would do, all we have to do is learn more about Him from the Bible. Everything God has told us in the Bible is important for us to know because [Bottom Line] discovering what God says helps you follow Jesus.”
3. COLOR ME BRIGHT (memory verse activity) WHAT YOU NEED: “Color by Verse” Activity Pages, colored pencils WHAT YOU DO: • Give each kid an Activity Page and set out the colored pencils. • Read the verse together and then let kids color the Activity Page based on the color key. • If you choose, color your own verse picture, but don’t follow the color key and use colors of your own choosing. WHAT YOU SAY: “When you guys were coloring the pictures you easily could have colored it a different way. You could have used blue where the instructions told you to use yellow. Or you could have used green when they told you to use orange. But your picture wouldn’t have turned out as the artist intended. (Show kids your incorrectly colored picture.) This is just like in our lives—we can do things differently than the Bible instructs us to, but we won’t be living the way God intended. “God has a plan for our lives and He wants only what’s best for us. If we follow His path and do as He asks, our lives will be as He intended them to be. And one of the things He wants most for us is to know and have a relationship with His Son, Jesus. [Bottom Line] Discovering what God says helps you follow Jesus, so one of the ways you can follow Jesus is by reading God’s Word and talking to friends and family who already follow Him!”
©2016 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).
PAG E 8
JANUARY
W-3 2
PRELUDE
SOCIAL
STORY
WORSHIP
0
1
7
GRADES
2-3
GROUPS
25 MINUTES
HOME
PRAY AND DISMISS WHAT YOU NEED: Flashlights WHAT YOU DO: • Give each kid a flashlight. • Make the room as dark as possible. • Talk about how God hears our prayers no matter where we are or what we are doing. • Tell kids that we can bow or kneel to show respect for God, but even in the dark, He hears us the same. • Make sure all the flashlights are turned off, and have kids pray silently. • Tell kids that when they are done praying they should turn on their lights. • When all the kids have turned their flashlights on, finish with the prayer below. WHAT YOU SAY: “God, thank You for caring so much about us that You listen to our prayers. Thank You that we can talk to You about anything. We love You because You gave us Your Son and You gave us Your Holy Spirit. Please guide us through the Holy Spirit this week to remember to read our Bibles and learn more about You through what we read.” As adults arrive to pick up, make sure kids have their lamp pictures. Encourage them to share with their parents about what would have happened if they hadn’t colored the verse using the color key.
©2016 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).
PAG E 9
W-3 2
PRELUDE
Chief Executive Officer Reggie Joiner Creative Team Kristen Ivy Mike Clear Molly Bell Elloa Davis Elizabeth Hansen Jessica McKee Brandon O’Dell Greg Payne Phil Pierce Dan Scott Jon Williams Contributing Writers Jodi Blackwell Stuart Chapman Kristi Hecht Kelly Nishi Adam Walsh
SOCIAL
15 MINUTES
Editors Molly Bell Elloa Davis Dana Wilkerson Illustrations & Graphic Design Brian Bascle Mike Davis Joe Goode Technical & Web Support Hadley Brandt Orange Specialists Amy Grisham Abbey Carr Amy Fenton Leslie Galema Misty Phillips Stephanie Porter Courtney Templeton
STORY
WORSHIP
Statement of Faith ABOUT GOD God is the one and only true God, yet He exists in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. God is the Creator, so everything belongs to Him and is under His control. God is holy, so He is righteous, majestic, and loving. God is all knowing and purposeful, so He’s at work to bring about His will. No person, thing, or idea compares to God. ABOUT THE SCRIPTURES God reveals Himself to us through the Bible, and it is 100% accurate, reliable, and authoritative. ABOUT PEOPLE People are made in God’s image and for His pleasure. But everybody falls short of God’s intention, or ideal, for people. In other words, everyone has sinned. As a result, we are all separated from Him, even though He wants an intimate relationship with each of us. ABOUT SALVATION That’s why Jesus—God’s Son—came and lived on this earth, died, and rose again. God offers His free gift of salvation to all who believe in Jesus and accept Him as Savior—the only way to be forgiven and reconciled to God. Anyone who accepts this gift is adopted as a son or daughter into God’s family and will live with Him forever in heaven.
0
1
7
GROUPS
25 MINUTES
GRADES
2-3 HOME
User Agreement Orange gladly grants permission to churches, schools, and other licensees to tailor 252 Basics® materials to fit their unique leadership requirements, locale and format preferences, and physical environment needs. However, if you wish to edit the content substantively, including Bible stories, learning activities, scripts, and any other content in which biblical principles and concepts are presented, you are obligated to do so within the doctrinal guidelines we’ve expressed in our Statement of Faith. These resources are intended to be downloaded and printed for use by the subscribing entity only and may not be electronically transferred to or duplicated by other non-subscribing entities. Any unauthorized reproduction of this material or incorporation into a new work is a direct violation of US copyright laws. ©2016 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. 252 Basics® and the 252 Basics® logo are trademarks of Orange and the reThink Group. Scripture marked “NIrV” is taken from the NEW INTERNATIONAL READER’S VERSION®. Copyright © 1996, 1998, 2014 Biblica. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of Biblica. Scripture marked “NIV” is taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
JANUARY
W-3 2
PRELUDE
SOCIAL
15 MINUTES
STORY
BOTTOM LINE
2-3
GROUPS
25 MINUTES
HOME
SOCIAL: Providing time for fun interaction Ideas for Early Arrivers Me Too!
25
STORY: Communicating God’s truth in engaging ways Opener Worship Bible Story Prayer Closer
MINUTES
MINUTES
10 MINUTES
“Your word is like a lamp that shows me the way. It is like a light that guides me.” Psalm 119:105, NIRV Psalm 119:105, NIrV
7
15
Discovering what God says helps you follow Jesus.
MEMORY VERSE
1
PRELUDE: Setting the tone for the experience For Leaders Only Create the Environment
BIBLE STORY
The Big Dipper (Jesus’ Baptism & John Calls Jesus Lamb of God) John 1:19-42
WORSHIP
0
GRADES
25 MINUTES
LIFE APP
WORSHIP: Inviting people to respond to God “Know You Better” from Jump “I Will Follow” from Zapped GROUPS: Creating a safe place to connect 4x4 Movin’ Right Along Color Me Bright Prayer HOME: Prompting action beyond the experience GodTime Parent Cue
Knowledge—learning something new so you can be better at whatever you do.
BASIC TRUTH
I can trust God no matter what.
©2016 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).
PAG E 2
JANUARY
W-3 2
PRELUDE
SOCIAL
15 MINUTES
STORY
WORSHIP
0
1
7
GROUPS
25 MINUTES
GRADES
2-3 HOME
GETTING READY
BIBLE STORY
SOCIAL: PROVIDING TIME FOR FUN INTERACTION The Big Dipper (Jesus’ Baptism & John Calls Jesus Lamb of God) John 1:19-42
BOTTOM LINE
Discovering what God says helps you follow Jesus.
MEMORY VERSE
“Your word is like a lamp that shows me the way. It is like a light that guides me.” Psalm 119:105, NIRV Psalm 119:105, NIrV
LIFE APP
Knowledge—learning something new so you can be better at whatever you do.
BASIC TRUTH
I can trust God no matter what.
(Choose one or both of these activities.) Early Arriver • An offering container Me Too! • Print the “Me Too! Grid” Activity Page; 1 for each kid • Pens • Timer
GROUPS: CREATING A SAFE PLACE TO CONNECT (Choose as many of these activities as you like.) * If you don’t have time to do all these activities, be sure to do activity #2. Heads Up! Check out Weeks 1 and 2 of February 2017 for information about a service project 2nd and 3rd graders can participate in. 1. 4x4 (application activity / review the Bible story) • Painter’s tape • Print the “4x4” Activity Page on cardstock and cut apart; 1 set for each small group • Bean Bags; 2 that are different colors • Markers (you’ll need 2 in 2 different colors) * 2. Movin’ Right Along (application activity) • Print the “Movin’ Right Along” Activity Page on cardstock and cut apart; 1 set for each small group • Bibles • Scissors • Painter’s tape • Construction paper; 20 pieces 3. Color Me Bright (memory verse activity) • Colored pencils • Print the “Color by Verse” Activity Page; 1 for each kid
©2016 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).
PAG E 3
JANUARY
W-3 2
PRELUDE
SOCIAL
15 MINUTES
STORY
WORSHIP
0
1
7
GROUPS
25 MINUTES
GRADES
2-3 HOME
Prayer • Flashlights; 1 per kid Additional Resources: • Make copies on cardstock or email this week’s GodTime and Parent Cue cards. • Tell parents about our additional family resources: Studio252.tv, CUE Box, and the Parent Cue app. To find out more about these great resources, go to http://www.Studio252.tv/leaders.
©2016 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).
PAG E 4
JANUARY
W-3 2
PRELUDE
SOCIAL
15 MINUTES
STORY
WORSHIP
0
1
7
GROUPS
GRADES
2-3 HOME
SOCIAL: PROVIDING TIME FOR FUN INTERACTION Welcome kids and spend time engaging in conversation and catching up. Get ready to experience today’s story. Before kids arrive, pray for each regular attendee by name. Pray for those who might visit your group for the first time. Pray that as kids learn more about Jesus, they’ll be drawn to a relationship with Him and have a desire to follow Him. Ask God to guide you as you encourage your few in their relationships with Jesus. Pray that you would be able to model this for them in a real, authentic way.
1. EARLY ARRIVER IDEA WHAT YOU NEED: Offering container WHAT YOU DO: • Ask kids if they have been baptized, making sure to guide the conversation based on your church’s beliefs and traditions for baptism. o Have you seen someone get baptized? o Do you know what it means to get baptized?
2. ME TOO! WHAT YOU NEED: “Me Too! Grid” Activity Pages, pens, timer WHAT YOU DO: • Hand out Activity Pages and pens. • Tell kids that when you start the timer, they will need to fill in words in each category that start with the letter at the top of the column (i.e. under “J,” “Names,” they could write “John”). • Set the timer for five minutes, and start the timer. • Let kids fill in words, encouraging them to be creative. Tell them they’ll only get to count an answer if they’re the only person who wrote that answer. • After five minutes, stop the timer and have one kid go through one category on his grid and tell the others what he has written in each square. • The other kids should cross out any answers on their own papers that are duplicates. • Move on to the next category and choose another volunteer to read out one of her categories. • When all categories have been read through once, go around the circle and let each kid read answers that are not already crossed out. Keep going until you’ve confirmed that the only answers left on the kids’ pages are ones that no one else has. • Each kid will be responsible for scoring their own sheet and awarding themselves one point for every answer no one else wrote down.
©2016 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).
PAG E 5
JANUARY
W-3 2
PRELUDE
SOCIAL
15 MINUTES
STORY
WORSHIP
0
1
7
GROUPS
GRADES
2-3 HOME
WHAT YOU SAY: “Even though most people only have one first name, there can be many ways to say that name. For instance, Joseph could also be Joe or Joey. [Transition] Today in Large Group, we are going to hear about another name for Jesus you might not have heard before.” Lead your group to the Large Group area.
©2016 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).
PAG E 6
JANUARY
W-3 2
PRELUDE
SOCIAL
STORY
WORSHIP
0
1
7
GROUPS
25 MINUTES
GRADES
2-3 HOME
GROUPS: CREATING A SAFE PLACE TO CONNECT Create a safe place to connect and learn how the Bible story applies to real life experiences, through interactive activities and discussion questions.
1. 4X4
(application activity / review the Bible story) WHAT YOU NEED: “4x4” cards Activity Page, painter’s tape, beanbags, markers WHAT YOU DO: • Using the painter’s tape, make a four by four grid on the floor; each box should be about one square foot. • Make another line on the ground parallel to the grid about three feet back. That will be the toss line. • Place the review cards face down on the floor—one card in each grid square. • Divide kids into two teams and have the teams line up behind the toss line. • Give each team a beanbag and a marker. Make sure each team has a different color beanbag and different color marker. • Choose a kid from Team 1 to toss the beanbag first. • If the beanbag lands on a square, read him the question from that square. • He can confer with his team for a few seconds to get their final answer to the question on the card. • If the team answers the card correctly, replace the card on the square you took it from and mark it with a large X using that team’s marker. • After Team 1 has gone, choose a kid from Team 2 and repeat. • Encourage kids to aim for squares that will make rows, provided they answer the questions correctly. • If a beanbag lands on a square that has already been marked, the turn passes to the other team. • The first team to get four Xs in a row wins. Adaptation: If you have lots of groups in one room, arrange the room so that you can designate a spot for this activity and the next one. Ask SGLs to work together to rotate through these areas and allow enough time for each group to do both activities. WHAT YOU SAY: “You guys did a great job of remembering all the details from the story! It’s great to know stories from the Bible well because [Bottom Line] discovering what God says helps you follow Jesus. Following Jesus is not complicated, but being like Him helps us to know Him better. The reason we want to know Jesus better is because He died on the cross to save us from our sins. Jesus knew that the only way to bridge the gap between us and God was to die for us because we are sinful people and He is completely without sin. When He died for us, He gave us a way to get to God because God is perfect. [Make It Personal] (Tell kids why you decided to follow Jesus.) If you decide to follow Jesus today, you can talk to me about it or, if your parents know Jesus, you can tell them that you want to follow Him.”
* 2. MOVIN’ RIGHT ALONG
(application activity) WHAT YOU NEED: “Movin’ Right Along” cards Activity Page, Bibles, painter’s tape, construction paper; 20 pieces WHAT YOU DO: • Tape 20 pieces of construction paper to the floor in a curvy path. ©2016 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).
PAG E 7
JANUARY
W-3 2
PRELUDE
SOCIAL
STORY
WORSHIP
0
1
7
GROUPS
25 MINUTES
GRADES
2-3 HOME
• Cut out the instruction cards from the Activity Page and have them in a pile. • Each kid will choose a card from the top of the pile and follow the instructions on the card, moving from the start of the construction paper path to the end of it. • For the “negative” cards (i.e., cards where kids have to move backwards), give the kid who picked that card a chance to flip the situation around. If he does this, let him move forward one space (after he has moved back the correct amount of spaces). • The winner is whoever reaches the end of the path first (or whoever is the furthest along when you run out of cards). Adaptation: If you have lots of groups in one room, arrange the room so that you can designate a spot for this activity and the previous one. Ask SGLs to work together to rotate through these areas and allow enough time for each group to do both activities. If possible, create a game board or two in the hallway! WHAT YOU SAY: “That was a really fun game! Those situations were sometimes funny or unrealistic, but they all were either something that would help us be more like Jesus or less like Jesus. In God’s Word, He tells us how to be more like Jesus, because He knows that acting like Jesus is always the wise choice. If we aren’t sure what Jesus would do, all we have to do is learn more about Him from the Bible. Everything God has told us in the Bible is important for us to know because [Bottom Line] discovering what God says helps you follow Jesus.”
3. COLOR ME BRIGHT (memory verse activity) WHAT YOU NEED: “Color by Verse” Activity Pages, colored pencils WHAT YOU DO: • Give each kid an Activity Page and set out the colored pencils. • Read the verse together and then let kids color the Activity Page based on the color key. • If you choose, color your own verse picture, but don’t follow the color key and use colors of your own choosing. WHAT YOU SAY: “When you guys were coloring the pictures you easily could have colored it a different way. You could have used blue where the instructions told you to use yellow. Or you could have used green when they told you to use orange. But your picture wouldn’t have turned out as the artist intended. (Show kids your incorrectly colored picture.) This is just like in our lives—we can do things differently than the Bible instructs us to, but we won’t be living the way God intended. “God has a plan for our lives and He wants only what’s best for us. If we follow His path and do as He asks, our lives will be as He intended them to be. And one of the things He wants most for us is to know and have a relationship with His Son, Jesus. [Bottom Line] Discovering what God says helps you follow Jesus, so one of the ways you can follow Jesus is by reading God’s Word and talking to friends and family who already follow Him!”
©2016 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).
PAG E 8
JANUARY
W-3 2
PRELUDE
SOCIAL
STORY
WORSHIP
0
1
7
GRADES
2-3
GROUPS
25 MINUTES
HOME
PRAY AND DISMISS WHAT YOU NEED: Flashlights WHAT YOU DO: • Give each kid a flashlight. • Make the room as dark as possible. • Talk about how God hears our prayers no matter where we are or what we are doing. • Tell kids that we can bow or kneel to show respect for God, but even in the dark, He hears us the same. • Make sure all the flashlights are turned off, and have kids pray silently. • Tell kids that when they are done praying they should turn on their lights. • When all the kids have turned their flashlights on, finish with the prayer below. WHAT YOU SAY: “God, thank You for caring so much about us that You listen to our prayers. Thank You that we can talk to You about anything. We love You because You gave us Your Son and You gave us Your Holy Spirit. Please guide us through the Holy Spirit this week to remember to read our Bibles and learn more about You through what we read.” As adults arrive to pick up, make sure kids have their lamp pictures. Encourage them to share with their parents about what would have happened if they hadn’t colored the verse using the color key.
©2016 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).
PAG E 9
