Category: Children’s Sunday School

1 John

Lesson Snapshot

BOTTOM LINE:

The Bible leads us closer to Jesus.

OBJECTIVE:

Kids will learn that Jesus is the living Word of God.

KEY PASSAGE:

John 1:1-18, The Word

MEMORY VERSE:

“I spend time thinking about your rules. I consider how you want me to live. I take delight in your orders. I won’t fail to obey your word.” Psalm 119:15-16 (NIrV)

SUMMARY:

The more we learn God’s word, the more we see that there is so much to learn. As we study, we find that there are always new things to see and deeper places that we can go. We are detectives, working to uncover the deeper meanings. As we study God’s word, we learn that it all leads us to Jesus, the Living Word of God.

Object Lesson

ITEMS NEEDED:

A driver’s license

If you look at a driver’s license, you can learn a lot about a person. You can learn where they live, what color their eyes are, how tall they are, how much they weigh, and even whether or not they are an organ donor. But does reading someone’s driver’s license tell you who they are? Of course not! There is so much more to us than our address and physical description, and the more we get to know someone, the more we often realize we have to learn about them.

The more we study the Bible, the more we will discover about God. This is not a book to be read just once but over and over. Each time through, we will discover new things we did not know about God and even ourselves. The Bible is the living Word of God, and the more we dig under the cover, the more we discover Him.

Keep digging, guys. Go deeper and deeper with each read. Jesus is waiting for you to discover Him!

Lets Dance!

Craft Idea

The kids can do a coloring page about Jesus, or draw what they think Jesus would look like. Ask them if this picture of Jesus is any different than what they would have drawn before this series started.

Lesson Snapshot

BOTTOM LINE:

The Bible is meant to be read!

OBJECTIVE:

Kids will learn that the Bible is to be read, and studied and used.

KEY PASSAGE:

2 Timothy 3:14-17, Using Scripture

MEMORY VERSE:

“I spend time thinking about your rules. I consider how you want me to live. I take de- light in your orders. I won’t fail to obey your word.” Psalm 119:15-16 (NIrV)

SUMMARY:

The Bible is special. It is God’s word. But that doesn’t mean we should keep it on the shelf, looking new. The Bible is meant to be opened and studied. We can use a highlighter to mark up passages that mean something special to us. We can write in the margins things that God is saying to us. When it comes to using your Bible, it’s okay to make a mess.

Sing Along

Object Lesson

ITEMS NEEDED:

A brand new Bible

Take a look at this Bible. Look at how nice it looks. Look at how perfectly the pages lie together. Look at how perfect the binding and cover look. Do you know what I see in this Bible? I see an unused Bible. I see the potential for greatness and learning, but it’s very clear that no one has ever read this Bible.

I’m not going to ask anyone to show us their Bibles, but I will say this. If your Bible is more than a few months old and looks this nice, it’s going to waste. Bibles are meant to be opened, used, and studied. A well-worn Bible is a sign of a person who truly wants to learn what it has to say. It may be full of notes in the margins and highlighter marks. It may be jammed with bulletins and paper scraps. It got that way over time because someone wanted to study that Bible for all it’s worth.

Let’s not let our Bibles collect dust from Sunday to Sunday. Read it. Study it. Let it get messy. God wants you to discover everything this Bible has to say!

Craft Activity

Have the kids make bookmarks they can use in their Bibles. Or give everyone highlighters they can use in their Bible study.

The Law of the Lord is Sweeter than Honey

The law of the Lord is perfect,
    refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
    making wise the simple.
⁸ The precepts of the Lord are right,
    giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
    giving light to the eyes.
⁹ The fear of the Lord is pure,
    enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
    and all of them are righteous.

¹⁰ They are more precious than gold,
    than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
    than honey from the honeycomb.
¹¹ By them your servant is warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.
¹² But who can discern their own errors?
    Forgive my hidden faults.
¹³ Keep your servant also from willful sins;
    may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
    innocent of great transgression.

¹⁴ May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
    be pleasing in your sight,
    Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Object Lesson

ITEMS NEEDED:

A microscope

How many of you have learned about the scientific method? The scientific method is a process by which doctors and scientists use to study the natural world. There are several steps to the scientific method, but they boil down to the three things we are discussing today. First they observe. What do they see? What is happening? Second, they interpret. Why did this happen? How did this happen? What does it all mean? Finally, they apply. They ask how their observation and interpretation can be used.

The scientific method has been used to teach us how our world works, how to cure diseases, and how to do many other incredible things. Imagine what you could do by applying these three simple steps to your Bible study. God wants us to take what we learn from the Bible and apply it to our lives. He wants us to live out our faith, living the way the Bible teaches us, loving others the way Jesus loved others, and sharing what we know about God in love.

The more we apply God’s word to our life, the better we will become at truly living a godly life!

Memory Verse

Make an effort to present yourself to God as a tried-and-true worker, who doesn’t need to be ashamed but is one who interprets the message of truth correctly. 2 Timothy 2:15

Craft Activity

Give each of the kids an inexpensive notebook they can decorate and take home to use in their alone time with God. Remind them to observe, interpret, and apply!

Kids will learn that memorizing God’s word is one part of studying the Bible.

Summary

The Bible says that the Holy Spirit will remind us of everything that Jesus said. But how can the Holy Spirit remind us of what we don’t know. We memorize God’s word – hiding it in our hearts – to help us understand the Bible. The Holy Spirit can then bring these verses to our minds in times of trouble.

How can young people keep their paths pure?
    By guarding them according to what you’ve said.
 I have sought you with all my heart.
    Don’t let me stray from any of your commandments!
 I keep your word close, in my heart,
    so that I won’t sin against you.

Lets Explore

Sign Language Anyone?

Object Lesson

ITEMS NEEDED:

Multiplication flash cards

Pull out some multiplication flash cards. Go through them and drill the kids.

Why do we memorize these math facts? So we don’t have to look them up or figure them on our own. The multiplication tables, 1 through 12, are the foundation for all multiplication. When we memorize these facts, we can recall them any time we need them. Higher math would be a lot harder if we didn’t have them committed to memory.

The Holy Spirit can help us to recall scripture when we need it most, but if we don’t commit scrip-ture to memory, there’s only so much He can do for us. When we memorize Bible verses, we fill our minds with the Word of God. Then the Holy Spirit can bring that Word to mind when we need it most. When we feel unloved, discouraged, fearful, or sad, the Holy Spirit can tap the Word of God stored in our hearts and lift us up.

Memorizing scripture is a great way to fill our hearts with God’s Word for the times we need Him most. One verse at a time, we can prepare for life’s biggest challenges!

Lets Move

Chosen for a Reason and Making Time to be Alone with God

Lesson Snapshot

BOTTOM LINE:

Take time to be alone with God.

OBJECTIVE:

Kids will learn that it’s important to make time to be alone with God.

KEY PASSAGE:

Luke 5:12-16, Jesus Heals & Luke 6:12-16, Jesus Chooses the Twelve

SUMMARY:

Even with all of the preaching that Jesus did and the miracles that he performed, Jesus always made time to get away from the crowds and spend time with God. In studying the Bible, it is important that we carve out quiet time to be with God and let him speak to us.

Object Lesson

ITEMS NEEDED:

A hotel room “Do Not Disturb” tag (or similar sign)

Has your family ever stayed in a hotel? If so, you may have seen and even used one of these tags. If you’re staying in a hotel multiple nights and don’t want someone in your room, or if you’re sleeping in and don’t want to be woken up, you place this tag on the door. It lets the hotel cleaning staff know you’re still there but you don’t wish to be dis- turbed. It’s a way to get a little extra privacy.

Every day, we need to put up a do not disturb sign for a short time. We need to get alone in our rooms or some place quiet in the house with no TV, no music, no video games. We need to open the Bible and read. We need to spend time in prayer. Just as Jesus taught us by example, alone time with God can help us revive our spirit and gain direction for our life.

Sometimes we need to go it alone. Start setting up some alone time with God this week, and you’ll be amazed at how much it will grow your faith.

Lets Sing

Lets Move

Craft Activity

Have the kids make a sign for their quiet time space, indicating this is where they plan to meet with Jesus every day to pray and study the Bible.

1 Samuel 3:1-10

SUMMARY:

Samuel was one of the great prophets of God, sharing the words of God with others. But when he was young, he relied on the priest Eli to teach him and help him learn to understand God’s word and his voice. We can reach out to wise men and women and ask for their help in understanding the Bible.

Object Lesson:

ITEMS NEEDED:

A phone with a social media app

Begin this lesson by pulling up one of your regular social media apps. Show the kids how many followers you have and how many people you follow. Tell them about a few people you follow, preferably people you look up to as leaders.

If we want to grow as believers, we need to get behind people who have walked the path we are walking. God has given us parents, teachers, coaches, and pastors who know what it’s like to be a kid, to struggle with questions of faith, and just handle the ups and downs of life. God has placed leaders in each one of our lives, and if we follow them, we can understand God’s Word much better than we ever could on our own.

Ultimately, God wants us to follow His lead. He’s given us spiritual leaders who are already following to help us get on the right track. Let’s thank God for the spiritual leaders in our lives, and let’s become good students and followers so we can learn more about our Lord.

HANGING OUT:

Make this week’s lesson real:
Share with your kids some adults who helped you to learn about God when you were little. How did those people have an affect on you?

CRAFT:

Have the kids write a thank you note or draw a picture as a thank you gift for someone who has taught them about God.

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE:

LETS MOVE:

Proverbs 4 and Matthew 7

Lesson Snapshot

BOTTOM LINE:

It’s okay to ask questions about the Bible.

OBJECTIVE:

Kids will learn that studying the Bible is about asking questions and seeking answers.

KEY PASSAGE:

Proverbs 4:1-7, Get Wisdom & Matthew 7:7-12, Ask, Seek, Knock

SUMMARY:

Sometimes when we read the Bible, we have questions. Did that really happen? Why did that person do that? What does that verse mean? We should not be afraid of questions. Asking questions – to God, to teachers, to parents and to ourselves – will help us grow in our knowledge of the Bible.

Memory Verse

“I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word” Psalm 119:15-16 (NLT)

Time to Move

I don’t usually start this out with a memory verse but I loved ours today.

I will think about your precepts
    and examine all your paths.
¹⁶ I will delight in your statutes;
    I will not forget what you have said.

Lesson Snapshot

OBJECTIVE:

Kids will learn that God’s word should be a part of every day life.

KEY PASSAGE:

Deuteronomy 6:1-9, Love the Lord

SUMMARY:

God’s word is not supposed to be something we just learn about at church once a week. It is meant to be a part of our everyday lives: something we study, something we talk about with others, something that we think about and try to live out every day.

A Song to Live By

Object Lesson

ITEMS NEEDED:

A wristwatch

Do you see this watch ticking away? Every detective knows that the clock never stops ticking on crime. The school day ends for you at a certain time. The work day for most of your parents does too. But detectives know that they can be on call any time of any day. In fact, the moment a crime is discovered, the clock is already ticking for them. Detectives are always on the case, and the sooner they can get to the scene, gather evidence, and look for clues, the better chance they have of cracking the case.

Church begins and ends at a certain time every Sunday, but our time with God should last all week. God is there for us 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so why should we be satisfied with a few hours on Sunday? Like true detectives, true Christians are always working out their faith. Sunday through Saturday, day and night, we can grow our faith by studying God’s Word and praying to Him every chance we get.

This watch will keep ticking every day of the week. Let’s keep our faith growing every day as well.

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

ICEBREAKER:

What is the best book you ever read?

MEMORY VERSE ACTIVITY:
Psalm 119:15-16
Ask the kids what they think the writer was trying to say when he wrote these words. Then ask them how this verse is connected to today’s story.

SMALL GROUP GAME/ACTIVITY:

Have each of the kids pair up, introduce themselves to someone new, and share three interesting facts about themselves with that person.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Read Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Why does Moses want the people to remember God’s Word?

How can the Bible help us in our daily lives?

How many of you are already reading your Bible more than one day a week?

Why is it important to read the Bible every day?

How many of you will try reading your Bibles every day this week?

Judges 7:1-22, Gideon Defeats the Midianites

Lesson Snapshot

BOTTOM LINE:

God wants us to follow Him!

OBJECTIVE:

Kids will learn that when we follow God’s instructions we will succeed.

KEY PASSAGE:

Judges 7:1-22, Gideon Defeats the Midianites

MEMORY VERSE:

“The grass dries up. The flowers fall to the ground. But what our God says will stand forever.” Isaiah 40:8 (NIrV)

SUMMARY:

In the Old West, when a criminal was on the loose, the sheriff would round up a posse of the strongest and bravest men to go after him. When Gideon went up against the Midianites, God gave him some strange instructions on who would be in his posse. When the small band of 300 Israelites defeated the Midianites, it displayed God’s power for all to see.

Object Lesson

ITEMS NEEDED:

A preschool toy used to teach children to fit the correct shapes in correct holes

How many of you remember playing with a toy like this as a small child? At your age, I’m sure this looks like a pretty boring toy, but this was one of the most educational toys you ever played with. Watch a baby with a toy like this, and you’ll be amazed at how hard they will try to put the wrong shapes in the wrong holes. It’s only when they learn to match the square to the square, the triangle to the triangle, that they learn an important lesson. If you want things to work right, you have to put the proper pieces in the proper place.

When we resist God’s will, we are like an infant trying to jam a square into a rounded hole, but when we commit ourselves to obeying God, the pieces will fall in place. God wants us to not only learn His Word but obey His Word. When we are obedient to God and follow Him, we will always succeed.

Are you trying to force something on your own? It’s time to stop riding your own trail and follow God.

Sing/Dance & Shout