Lessons for the Leader. Three Parables

Transcription

1 Week of June 24, 2012 Lessons for the Leader What is the most challenging aspect of leading children to worship? Is it the myriad of needs within your group? The various approaches to learning? The age group? Consider the teaching ministry of Jesus. He used different applications and methods as He taught with His loving, yet stern manner. His approach was humility with confidence. How do you relate to His teaching? Read Luke 15:1-7. Flocks stay together, so a shepherd leaving his flock to look for one lost sheep was not out of the ordinary. However, for the shepherd, losing a sheep meant not only losing the cost and value, but also his reputation a concept people in Jesus' day easily understood. If Jesus told this story today, what would He use to connect with the people? How do people care about their reputations today? Read Luke 15:8-10. Place yourself in the woman's position. What have you lost that caused you panic? Did you rest until you found the item? At what point did you ask God to help you locate the lost article? Read Luke 15: In the final of the "lost" parables, Jesus focused on a father/son relationship. In what ways can you relate to the son? What about the father? Notice how the father reacts when the son comes home. How do you think God reacts when we "come home" to Him? Review the three parables in Luke 15. Which one do you relate with the most? Why? In what ways is God teaching you He loves and cares for you? How can you help the children in your ministry know God loves and cares for them? Begin by unconditionally loving and caring for each child yourself. What do these symbols mean? 1a Application Activities Format: Follow the numbers with arrows for a 30-minute, large group plus 20-minute Application Activities format. Three Parables Focus Passage: Luke 15 Key Bible Verse: Philippians 4:6 Life Application I can know God loves and cares for me. Level of Biblical Learning (God) God has concern and care for all people. Session at a Glance Introduction to Worship (6-8 minutes) Greet the Children Play "Find the Words" Worship (30 minutes/45 minutes) Sing "Awesome Is the Lord Most High" Sing "Everywhere" Learn the Key Bible Verse Tell the Bible Story Review the Bible Story/Make Life Application Pray Show "Lads" Video Sing "I Will"/Receive Offering Sing "Make Him Known" Application Activities (20 minutes) Wrap-Up (10 minutes) 1 Follow all the numbers for a 45- to 60-minute large group only format. OK to copy. Page 1 of 24

2 Introduction to Worship 1aGreet the Children 2aPlay "Find the Words" Pull It Together 12 file folders, scissors, tape, pencils Print "Words" (CD). Cut apart and place 1 card in each file folder. Randomly place the folders around the room. Print "Cards" (CD). Copy 1 card for each child. Cut apart. Distribute "Cards" and pencils. Explain: "Around the room are 12 file folders. Find each folder. Write the word inside each folder on the matching line of your card. Three folders have the word 'Sorry' in them. You will not need to write anything at these folders. When you complete all of the blanks, bring me your pencil." Assist as needed. Ask: "What message did you discover?" Three Parables Worship 3aSing "Awesome Is the Lord Most High" (DVD, 3 minutes) 4 Sing "Everywhere" (DVD, 3 minutes) 5aLearn the Key Bible Verse (5 minutes) Pull It Together Poster board, marker Write the words of Philippians 4:6 on the poster board. Divide the verse into 3 sections. Guide the children to locate Philippians 4:6 in their Bibles. Assist as needed. Select volunteers to read aloud the verse. Ask: "What does this verse tell us to do about worrying?" Display Philippians 4:6 poster. Say: "Let's say the verse in a round. When I point to your group, start at the beginning of the verse. Continue as the next group begins. Repeat the verse several times." Form three groups. Assign adult leaders to assist. Point to each group to begin the verse. Guide everyone to say the verse together. 6aTell the Bible Story (10 minutes) Pull It Together Scissors, tape Print 10 pages of "Sheep" (CD). Cut 1 sheep out of 1 page and place in your Bible. Display the other sheep pages. Print "Coins" (CD). Cut 1 coin out of the page and place in your Bible. Display the page. Print "Parables" Teaching Picture (CD). Open your Bible to Luke 15. Say: "A parable is 'a story Jesus used to teach people about God.' Today we will learn about three parables." Stand in front of the sheep pictures. Ask: "How would you like to be a shepherd? Do you think it would be hard work? Why?" Read aloud Luke 15:1-2. Three Parables Based on Luke 15 [Call attention to the sheep pictures.] If a shepherd has 100 sheep and loses one, will he not leave the 99 and search until he finds the lost sheep? When the shepherd finds the lost sheep, he carries it home, and calls his friends to share the good news with them [place the cut out sheep with the others]. Jesus said, "Heaven rejoices more over 1 sinful person who turns away from sin than over 99 people who are already doing good things." [Call attention to the coin pictures.] A woman lost one of her 10 silver coins. She lit a lamp, swept the house, and searched carefully until she found the lost coin [place the cut out coin with the others]. The woman said to her friends, "Rejoice with me. I found the coin I lost." Jesus said, "Just like this, there is celebrating in heaven when a person asks God to forgive him of his sins." [Display the teaching picture.] A man had two sons. The younger son asked his father to give him everything he would receive when the father died. The father gave his son what he wanted. The son moved to another country where he spent all of his money. Soon, the son became hungry because there was no food in the country in which he lived. He found a job feeding pigs. The son became so hungry he wanted to eat Page 2 of 24

3 the pigs' food, because no one would give him anything to eat. Finally, the son thought, "The people who work for my father have more than enough food. I'll go back to my father and admit I have done wrong. I'll ask my father to hire me." The son began the trip home. While he was still a long way off, his father saw him. The father was extremely happy to see his son. The father ran to him, and hugged and kissed him. The son said, "Father, I have done wrong things to you. I am not worthy to be called your son." The father instructed, "Bring the best robe for my son to wear. Put a ring on his finger. Prepare a feast because my son is alive." The people began to celebrate. The older son returned from being out in the field. When he heard the music and celebration, he asked, "What is taking place?" He was told, "Your brother has returned. Your father is having a celebration for him." The older brother became angry and did not want to go to the celebration. He told his father, "I have not left you. I have stayed and worked with you. I have never disobeyed you, but you have never given me a celebration like this. But when my brother, who wasted all of his money, comes home, you have a celebration." The father said, "Son, you have always been with me. Everything I have is yours. I had to celebrate because your brother was away and lost and is now home and found." 7aReview the Bible Story/Make Life Application (8 minutes) Pull It Together Worship Guides, pencils Ask: "What three things were lost in the parables? Why did the shepherd search for the sheep? Why did the woman search for the coin? Why did the father celebrate when his son returned home?" Say: "The sheep, the coin, and the son were all important to someone. We are important to God. He had concern for each of these people and He loves and cares for us as well." Distribute Worship Guides and pencils. Guide the children to complete "Find It!" and "Poetry of Praise" on the Worship Guides. Ask: "How does it make you feel to know God loves and cares for you?" Discuss ways God shows His love and care. 8aPray (2 minutes) Thank God for His love and care. 9aShow "Lads" Video (DVD, 7 minutes) Ask: "Have you ever felt like everything you do turns out the wrong way? How does it make you feel when you try your best, but things still turn out differently than you hoped? Things for the Lads have not always been as they hoped. Let's see if things turn out better for them today." Show video. Ask: "Why was Steve so concerned about his kick drum? Why could he not use another drum?" Continue: "What Bible story did Steve tell about? Why did Steve want to search for his drum?" Explain: "Steve's drum was unique. He knew his drum. He did not want anything to happen to it. God made each of us unique. He cares for us and does not want anything to happen to us. God loves and cares for us." 10aSing "I Will" (DVD, 3 minutes)/receive Offering 11 Sing "Make Him Known" (DVD, 3 minutes) 12a Transition to Application Activities or Wrap-Up Week of June 24, 2012 Page 3 of 24

4 Wrap-Up (Large Group Only Format) 13 Play "Giant Word Search" (6 minutes) Pull It Together Poster board, marker Print "Word Search" (CD). Enlarge on the poster board. Teacher Tip Copy "Word Search" on an overhead transparency. Utilize an overhead projector to display. Say: "I'll select three volunteers to play the first round of our game. I'll show all three of you the same puzzle. See which of you can locate a word related to our Bible story first. The first person to locate a word can tell us how the word relates. When you see a word, raise your hand." Select three volunteers. Display the poster. Invite the children to search for a Bible story word. Guide a child to point out and tell how the word relates to the Bible story. Circle the word on the poster board. Select three additional volunteers and continue as time permits. Recap: "Jesus told people parables so they can learn how much God loves and cares for them. We can know God loves and cares for us." Wrap-Up (Application Activities Format) 13aReview Application Activities (4 minutes) Invite the children to share their Application Activity experiences. ddarts and Crafts "What's Missing" Books dddramatic Play 3-Way Match Up ddgames Match Up ddexploration and Discovery The Names of God 14aComplete "Word Search" (4 minutes) Pull It Together Pencils Print "Word Search" (CD). Copy 1 for each child. Distribute "Word Search" and pencils. Guide the children to locate the words in the puzzle. Review and relate each word to the Bible story. Recap: "Jesus told people parables so they can learn how much God loves and cares for them. We can know God loves and cares for us." 15aSing "Live to Worship" (DVD, 3 minutes) 16a Dismiss the Children to Their Parents 14 Sing "Live to Worship" (DVD, 3 minutes) 15 Dismiss the Children to Their Parents Ask Yourself H N D What did the children hear about God s love and care for them? What will the children know about God s love and care for them? What will the children do as a result of God s love and care for them? Week of June 24, 2012 Worship KidStyle Children's Edition Leader Guide 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Page 4 of 24

5 Application Activities Select from the following choices. Each choice is designed for 20 minutes of small group time. Pull It Together Scissors Print "Story Pages" (CD). Copy 1 set for each child. Teacher Tips Prepare a sample "Story Pages." Do not weave "B" in and out of "A." Insert on 1 end and pull to the opposite end. Worship Through Arts and Crafts "What's Missing" Books Say: "In our Bible story, we heard about a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a son who left and returned home. Were the people happy when they found what was lost? How did the father feel when his son returned? Can you tell people about these Bible stories? What did we learn from these stories?" Continue: "We learned God loves and cares for us. He wants people to know about how much He loves and cares for them. Let's make 'What's Missing' books to use to tell people about our Bible stories." Distribute "Story Pages" and scissors. Talk about the people's feelings in the Bible story. Demonstrate where to cut the pictures. Assist as needed. Guide the children to slide the uncut pictures behind the cut ones. Say: "Watch what happens when I slide this picture." Slide the bottom picture over, revealing the missing item. Say: "Use your pictures to tell your friends about our Bible story." Guide the children to open their Bibles to Philippians 4:6. Select volunteers to read aloud the verse. Invite the children to state prayer requests. Pray for each request. Thank God for His love and care. Pull It Together Scissors, 7 crepe paper streamer rolls, masking tape Print "Match-Up" (CD). Cut apart. Attach the verse cards to 1 wall. Randomly attach the example cards to an opposite wall. Attach the "God" cards in various locations on opposite walls. Tape the end of a crepe paper streamer roll to each verse card. Worship Through Dramatic Play 3-Way Match Up Ask: "How do you know God loves and cares for you?" Continue: "The Bible tells us many ways God loves and cares for us. Let's match up some of these ways." Assign each child to a verse card. Say: "Locate the Scripture reference in your Bible. Decide which example best fits the description of your verse. Unroll crepe paper and attach the verse to the example card. Then decide, based on the verse, how God helped the person. Attach crepe paper from the description card to the correct 'God' card. You will make a 3-way match-up." Assist as needed. Say: "In our Bible story, we heard about a shepherd who lost a sheep, a woman who lost a coin, and a father whose son left and returned home. Were the people happy when they found what was lost? How did the father feel when his son returned?" Continue: "God wants the best for us. He wants us to listen to and obey Him. We can count on Him to help us. Let's read Philippians 4:6." Guide the children to open their Bibles to Philippians 4:6. Select volunteers to read aloud the verse. Invite the children to state prayer requests. Pray. Week of June 24, 2012 Page 5 of 24

6 Pull It Together Bibles, tape, scissors Print and cut apart "Match-Up" (CD). Place the verse cards to the side. Randomly tape the other cards (words facing the wall) around the room. Teacher Tip For best results, print "Match-Up" in color. If color is not available, place corresponding color dots on the pages. Worship Through Games Match Up Ask: "How do you know God loves and cares for you?" Invite the children to respond. Continue: "The Bible tells us many ways God loves and cares for us. Let's match up some of these ways. Taped around the room are some cards. Each team will be assigned a color card to locate. Your task is to find the matching card. To do so, you will select a card, and turn it around to see if it matches your team's color. If it matches, you may bring it back to your team. If it does not match, turn the card back around, return to your team, and allow another team member to hunt for the matching card. Your team must find two additional cards to match the one I give you." Guide the children to form two teams. Distribute a "Verse Card" to each team. Review: "Locate the color of card that matches your team's color." Play the game, assisting as needed. Invite the children to locate the Scripture verses in their Bibles. Say: "Read aloud the verse, the situation, and how God helped." Play additional rounds as time permits. Continue: "God wants the best for us. He wants us to listen to and obey Him. We can count on Him to help us. Let's read Philippians 4:6." Guide the children to open their Bibles to Philippians 4:6. Select volunteers to read aloud the verse. Invite the children to state prayer requests. Pray for each request. Thank God for His love and care. Pull It Together Snack item, plates, napkins, pencils Print "God's Names" (CD). Copy 1 for each child. Prepare and post an allergy chart listing all foods to be served. God's Names El Shaddai God Almighty Jehovah Jireh The Lord will Provide Jehovah Rophe The Lord who Heals Jehovah Nissi The Lord Our Banner Jehovah Shalom The Lord Our Peace Jehovah Rohi The Lord Our Shepherd Jehovah Sabaoth The Lord of Hosts Worship Through Exploration and Discovery The Names of God Serve the snack. Ask: "When I give you something to eat, how does it make you feel? Does the food meet a need in your life?" Say: "God meets our needs by providing the things we need. He does not give us everything we want, but what we need." Ask: "How do you know God loves and cares for you?" Invite the children to respond. Continue: "The Bible tells us many ways God loves and cares for us. In fact, many of the ways God cares for us are shown by His names. Let's explore some things about God's names." Distribute "God's Names" and pencils. Guide the children to match the names with the descriptions. Read aloud and discuss each name. Ask: "How do these names help us know God loves and cares for us?" Guide the children to open their Bibles to Philippians 4:6. Select volunteers to read aloud the verse. Invite the children to state prayer requests. Pray for each request. Thank God for His love and care. Worship KidStyle Children s Edition Leader Guide 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. OK to copy. Page 6 of 24

7 Todd Leonardo Three Parables 2009 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Printed in the USA. Luke 15 Page 7 of 24

8 1. I 2. can 3. know 4. God 5. loves 6. and Words (June 24) Page 8 of 24

9 7. cares 8. for 9. me. Sorry Sorry Sorry Words (June 24) Page 9 of 24

10 Write the word in each file folder next to the matching number Write the word in each file folder next to the matching number Write the word in each file folder next to the matching number Write the word in each file folder next to the matching number Write the word in each file folder next to the matching number Write the word in each file folder next to the matching number Cards (June 24) Page 10 of 24

11 Sheep (June 24) Page 11 of 24

12 Coins (June 24) Page 12 of 24

13 WORD SEARCH Shepherd Sheep Woman Coin Lost Son Father Parable Cares Celebrate A B C S O N D F S E F G H H I J A H C E L E B R A T E A K W P W L M H E R N O H O O P E P E Q M E M R S R T S P A R A B L E U V W N D N C O I N X Y Z A W S S E T Y N J C K J T F N Word Search (June 24) Page 13 of 24

14 Cut here. Insert "B." A (Cut out) A (Cut out) Cut here. Pull "B" Tab. B B Story Pages (June 24) Page 14 of 24

15 Cut here. Insert "B." A (Cut out) A (Cut out) Cut here. Pull "B" Tab. B B Story Pages (June 24) Page 15 of 24

16 Cut here. Insert "B." A (Cut out) A (Cut out) Cut here. Pull "B" Tab. B B Story Pages (June 24) Page 16 of 24

17 God heals Joey fell off his bike and broke his arm. Proverbs 3:7-8 Match-Up (June 24) Page 17 of 24

18 God comforts China's uncle was killed in car accident. China is really upset. Psalm 23:4 Match-Up (June 24) Page 18 of 24

19 God provides Michael is worried about his family since his dad lost his job. Philippians 4:19 Match-Up (June 24) Page 19 of 24

20 God saves Carrie Beth wants to know about asking Jesus to be her Savior and Lord. John 3:16 Match-Up (June 24) Page 20 of 24

21 God forgives TJ disobeyed his parents. He does not think they or God will forgive him. 1 John 1:9 Match-Up (June 24) Page 21 of 24

22 God encourages Annica wants to do her very best in her dance recital. She asks God to help her. Joshua 1:9 Match-Up (June 24) Page 22 of 24

23 God answers prayer Cole is worried about his grandfather's health. Cole prays to God to help his grandfather get better. Psalm 3:4 Match-Up (June 24) Page 23 of 24

24 God's Names Match each name of God with the correct description. El Shaddai Jehovah Jireh Jehovah Rophe Jehovah Nissi Jehoavh Shalom Jehovah Rohi Jehovah Sabaoth The Lord Our Banner The Lord Our Shepherd The Lord who Heals The Lord Our Peace The Lord will Provide The Lord of Hosts "God Almighty" God's Names (June 24) Page 24 of 24