Love Him Love Them VBS 2017

Transcription

1 Love Him Love Them VBS 2017

2 Welcome to the Love Him Love Them 2017 VBS, where your children will learn to Love Him and Love Them! Director Guide Overview: During the VBS, children will learn, over a span of five days, how to love God and love others. This theme along with the Key Bible Verse, Luke 10:27, is integrated into each lesson. The lessons and activities will also teach children about Haiti and what God is doing in Haiti. Children can be on mission for God through the Love in Action Projects as they help Haiti, and as they think through the week how God wants them to love people around them at home and in their community. Your children will learn to truly love God, and how to be on mission for Him. Theme: Learn to Love Him and Love Them Key Bible Verse: Luke 10:27, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself. Opening/Closing Worship Time- You will have videos that include songs from the Haiti Orphan Choir. During the opening and closing time, you will sing, review the Bible verse and theme, as well as the Love in Action Projects from the lessons. Lessons Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Bible Story Interactive lessons to teach: What does it mean to love God and love others? How can I live out Luke 10:27? Missions- Includes videos with engaging lesson activities (We have decoration ideas to help your children GO to Haiti.) Who is God? Genesis 1:26, 27 God is my creator. Children will begin to understand who God is and how He loves them. Where is Haiti? Children will learn the location and other facts about Haiti. Children will begin to see and experience Haiti. How did God show He loves me? John 3:16, 17,John 15: 13 Jesus is my Savior. Children will learn that God showed them His love by sending Jesus. What is life like for children in Haiti? Children will learn what daily life is like for kids in the orphanage and in Haiti. Is God Lord of my life? 2 Kings 23:25 King Josiah King Josiah was a young child when he became king, but he obeyed God and made Him Lord of his life. What is God doing in Haiti? Children will learn how LHLT is teaching other kids about Jesus. How do I love and serve Him? Mark 14:3-9 Mary s Heart Mary shows us how to love God with our heart. When we serve, we do it for Jesus and our love for Him. Why do these kids sing? Children will learn about the choir from the orphanage and why they tour the US. Who is my neighbor? Luke 10:25-37 The Good Samaritan Jesus quoted the Old Test. text through Luke 10:27. He then explains who our neighbor is. Children will learn that they are to love everyone. What else is God doing in Haiti? Children will review the week s videos and learn about the many projects God is doing in Haiti. Snacks Crafts Games Includes at least 2-3 game options that help reinforce the Bible Story and Mission lessons. Love in Action Project Rocks Haiti is very rocky and children will eat a snack to resemble the dirt and rocks of God s creation there. Recycled Fun Children will make games using recycled items, or items from God s creation, as many children in Haiti like to do. Creation Fun Children will play games as they think about God as their Creator. Fire Pit Haitians cook over open fires. Children will make a snack to resemble a fire pit. Children will thank God for clean water to drink. Washcloth Animals Children will make washcloth animals they can give to others. Water Relay Children will play games to remind them that Jesus can wash their sins away. Homes in Haiti Children will build their house snack as they are reminded to build their life on Jesus. Wordless Books/ Salvation Colors Children will make items they can give as they tell others about Jesus. Tumbling Towers Children will be reminded to keep God first as they get rid of idols and obey. Hearts Haitian children love to eat fruit for snack. Children will eat heart shaped fruit to remember to love and serve with a heart for Jesus. Musical Instruments Children will make musical instruments they can use as they praise God through song. Where s the Heart? Children will be reminded to love God with all their hearts as they play. Fish Children will eat a snack to remind them to be fishers of men. Caring Crafts Children will make cards and items they can give to others in their community to show God s love. Love and Tell Everyone Children will go fishing and help others. Flip Flopping Lives Saving Soap Tooth-tastic Gifts Housewarming My Neighbor Page 2

3 Director Guide o o o o o o o o o Getting Ready Recruit leaders to walk groups of students (usually about 4-5 students per adult) from station to station. Name the groups/crews. Have a sign ready for the group/crew to use when they are finding a place to sit during whole group activities. Recruit leaders to teach each rotation. Each rotation s lessons are provided in separate guides to make it easier for you to give lessons to your leaders of each rotation. Help gather materials with the rotation leader for each rotation. Rotations last approximately min each. Designate areas/rooms for each rotation. Think about materials needed as you designate your rooms. Gather other supplies needed to help your VBS run smoothly. Hold a training meeting to go over materials and questions with your volunteers and leaders. Want to wear a themed shirt? You can buy Love Him Love Them Shirts at You can also buy P41A Bracelets for volunteers/children to wear during VBS. Decorating ideas are provided to help you set up your mission station or worship area. The decorations will help children travel to Haiti. Designate a registration area and an area children will be picked up each day. Please take note of all allergies and any other parent concerns during registration. Designate an area for donations to be collected. Basic supplies for each crew: Each crew leader will need a bag to keep needed supplies as they travel from rotation to rotation. These might include: children s information and class list, the group/crew s schedule, jump ropes for preschoolers to hold on to during travel (these can be called mouse tails as children are quiet as a mouse as they travel), hand sanitizer, Band-Aids, name badges and any other needed information for the leader. Other tips for crew leaders: smile =), bring a watch or phone to keep time, and add stickers on kids name badges for how they will travel home if you use vans for pick up. There are also coloring sheets available to use during the week. Coloring sheets are available for Mission and Bible Story Rotations. You can keep these in group leaders bags with a box of crayons if desired, so that if there is ever extra time, leaders can pull out the sheets for children to color during rotations. Children can take the sheets home at the end of the day to review what they learned. Safety tips: All allergies should be noted and adjustments made to keep everyone safe. Keep children in designated areas. If you are playing outside, make sure children know the boundaries. You can use cones, ropes, etc to show boundaries if needed. While walking to and from rotations, keep children orderly and together. Make sure leaders release a child only to the caregiver that was designated at registration time. Page 3

4 Director Guide Plan for 2-3 adults to be with groups at all times so that if needs arise, children will never go anywhere or be left without supervision. Management Tips: Need children to listen to you? Clap in patterns and see if children can repeat you. Make motions and have children copy you. Say, 1, 2, 3, eyes on me. Use a fun countdown or song. When the song or countdown is over, children will know to be ready to listen. Sample Schedule to help as you plan: Please use these schedules and information in guides as suggestions. You know your church s needs and can create and adjust accordingly. SAMPLE daily schedule using 5 large groups made up of smaller groups as needed Time Group A Group B Group C Group D Group E Allow 5-10 minutes Allow minutes Allow minutes Allow minutes Allow minutes Allow minutes Allow 5-10 minutes Whole Group Worship Time Whole Group Worship Time Whole Group Worship Time Whole Group Worship Time Bible Story Craft Missions Games Snack Snack Bible Story Craft Missions Games Whole Group Worship Time Games Snack Bible Story Craft Missions Missions Games Snack Bible Story Craft Craft Missions Games Snack Bible Story Whole Group Worship Time Whole Group Worship Time Whole Group Worship Time Whole Group Worship Time Whole Group Worship Time *Include time for transitioning between rotations. Also, choose 2 rotations that would be close or easy for a bathroom break time to be included. For instance, children could have a bathroom break during craft and snack rotations. Decorating Ideas: There is a guide provided for decoration ideas. These ideas can help you if you want to set up your mission area, hallways, or worship center with decorations to look like the kids are visiting Haiti. Love in Action Project and Pick up Information: At the end of each mission lesson, there is included a Love in Action Project. The Love in Action Project provides opportunities for children to use what they are learning about children and ministries in Haiti, and put their love in action as they donate or give items to Love Him Love Them. There is a sample letter you can send home to help parents know about the upcoming Love in Action Projects. Page 4

5 Director Guide If you decide to participate in the Love in Action Projects, below we have easy options for you to get your donations to us. We are so excited for how God is going to use the items your children have given! We will work with YOU on pickup and delivery. These are some ideas we have: 1. We can pick up items as we travel. 2. You can have a fun delivery party where people bring the items to us. 3. Booked the choir yet?!? We can pick up items when we come to your church with the Orphan Choir. 4. Have another idea? Contact us at VBS@LoveHimLoveThem.org Offering and Financial Information: Send one check for all offerings collected. Make checks payable to Love Him Love Them. Mail the check to Love Him Love Them at 485 Capri Pt., Lavonia, GA Please include a note stating it is from your VBS offering. Thank You! Questions or need more information? Contact us at VBS@LoveHimLoveThem.org or visit our website at Thank you. We are here to help you as you minister to children. Please contact us if you need support. Thank You! We would love your feedback! When you finish teaching this curriculum, please go to to complete a short survey. Thank you and God bless! Page 5

6 Worship Guide Love Him Love Them VBS, 2017

7 Opening Worship Time Children will sit at designated areas with their group/crew. Song Welcome, Pledges, Offering Bible Verse Pray and dismiss to rotations Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Oh Happy Every Praise Day When I think of you Welcome, Pledges, Offering Read Luke 10:27 to the group. Explain that this week they will learn to Love God and love others. God, help us learn to love You. Welcome, Pledges, Offering Everyone read verse Luke 10:27 together. Children can read in a loud voice and a quiet whisper. God, help us learn that Jesus is our Savior. I need you to survive: I pray for you Welcome, Pledges, Offering Boys vs. girls as children read Luke 10:27 aloud. God, help us make You Lord of our life. Welcome, Pledges, Offering One side vs. other side of the room (or adults vs. children) as children read Luke 10:27. God, help us love You with our heart, soul, strength and mind. Choose a favorite song from the week. Welcome, Pledges, Offering Students volunteer to recite the verse, Luke 10:27 from memory. God, help us love our neighbor. Closing Worship Time o Play the day s song as children come into the whole group time. o Ask children what they learned or what was their favorite part of today s VBS. You can also have a question ready to ask about Haiti or something from the Bible story as you review the day s lessons. o Remind children about the Love in Action Project. o Review the memory verse and pray as you close.

8 Decorating Guide Love Him Love Them VBS, 2017

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12 In addition to the suggestions given already, you could also include a river or pretend water source. Furthermore, you can add washtubs and buckets around the room or stage to show how children use these items to collect water, wash dishes, wash clothes and more. Also, you could add a clothesline and/or fire pit to give more visuals of Haitian life. We hope the ideas in this decoration guide will help your children see and experience Haiti. Have fun decorating!

13 Love in Action Project Let s show God s love to the people in Haiti! Dear Parents, We are so excited to have your child join us this week in Vacation Bible School. We are learning about God s love and how we can show love to others. We have partnered with the ministry, Love Him Love Them. This ministry, founded in NE Georgia, helps share God s love to people in Georgia, Haiti and the Ukraine. This week, children will be learning about missions in Haiti and have a chance to put what they are learning in action. Throughout the week, children can bring an offering that we will send to help God s work in Haiti, or they can also bring in donations listed below. We would love for you and your child to participate this week through giving and through prayer, as we learn to Love Him and Love Them! Day 2, Flip Flopping Lives : Wear a pair of Flip Flops to VBS and go home without them. That s right! Kids will leave their flip flops at VBS to be sent to children in Haiti who have no shoes. They will go home barefooted like children in Haiti to remind them to pray for the children in Haiti (or they can bring a pair of shoes to wear home-parent preference). Day 3, Saving Soap :Bring a bar of soap. As your child brings the soap, you can remind them how we need soap to keep our bodies clean, but Jesus is the only way to clean us from our sin. As they use soap this week, have them remember to pray for the people in Haiti to know Jesus. Day 4, Tooth-tastic Gifts: Bring toothpaste or a toothbrush. As your child brushes his/her teeth this week, remind them to pray for the ministry as it continues to tell others about Jesus. As a family, talk about how you can tell others about Jesus. Day 5 House Warming: Please choose from some of the needed items for the home the choir children will stay in while they are in the United States: Laundry Detergent, Dishwashing liquid, Clorox wipes, Paper Towels, and Toilet Paper. Pray for the choir as they travel to churches in America. What s Next?: As a family, pray God will help you share His love with others. Decide on your next family project as you show His love to others. You might go to your neighbor or help a mission in your community. Whatever you do, do it for Jesus. Thank you for helping your child as they learned to Love Him and Love Them this week! God Bless, Your VBS leaders and Love Him Love Them Does your family want to continue supporting missions through Love Him Love Them? You can visit for more details.

14 Missions Coloring Sheets Love Him Love Them VBS, 2017

15 Mission Coloring Sheets These coloring sheets have all been drawn by children and students helping the ministry Love Him Love Them. Mission Rotation Day 1, Where is Haiti? Color Sheet 1: In this color sheet, there is pictured a tap-tap, a common source of transportation in Haiti. Point out to children God s beautiful creation in this drawing of Haiti. Color Sheet 2: Pictured is an outline of Georgia and Haiti. Inform students that Georgia is the state where Love Him Love Them ministry is located. Discuss where Haiti is located in relation to where they live. Mission Rotation Day 2, What is life like for children in Haiti? Color Sheet 3: This color sheet includes a drawing of Haiti, as it gives a glimpse of daily life for children. This sheet has hidden items included for extra fun. Mission Rotation Day 3, What is God doing in Haiti? Color Sheet 4: This color sheet shows a drawing of a child that lives in Haiti. God wants us to tell all people everywhere about Him. Mission Rotation Day 4, Why do these kids sing? Color Sheet 5: Included on this sheet is the logo for Love Him Love Them and an image a student created to show how Love Him Love Them helps others. Mission Rotation Day 5, What else is God doing in Haiti? Color Sheet 6: On this sheet, children can draw their own ways to show love to others. Color Sheet 7: This sheet is an extra sheet for coloring.

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21 Draw ways you can show God s love to others.

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23 Bible Story Coloring Sheets Love Him Love Them VBS, 2017

24 Bible Story Coloring Sheets The color sheets provided can be used as an extra activity, as time allows, or as take home reminders for what children have learned. Bible Story, Day 1 God is my Creator. Bible Story, Day 2 Jesus is my Savior. Bible Story, Day 3 King Josiah Bible Story, Day 4 Mary s Heart Bible Story, Day 5 The Good Samaritan.

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30 Missions Teaching Guide Love Him Love Them VBS, 2017

31 Missions Teaching Guide Missions Getting Ready for the Mission Rotation: o Study the lessons. Allow Him to teach you as you study beforehand what you will teach the children. o Pray for the children that will enter this rotation. Pray that God will teach them through you. o Gather Supplies o Decorate your room to look like kids have traveled to Haiti. Your director has decorating tips that you may use for helpful ideas. o The bold text is a scripted guide given to help you know what to say as you teach the lesson. Read over and adjust as you feel God lead, but we hope this helps you prepare and teach your lesson. o If you would like to wear a Love Him Love Them T-shirt this week, go to the store at LoveHimLoveThem.org o Add to and adjust lessons to meet your church s needs. o There are coloring sheets provided that have been drawn by other children and youth who help Love Him Love Them ministry. You may use these sheets during your rotation time, or leaders can use the sheets as needed during any rotation time where there might be extra down time. Children can take the color sheets home at the end of the day s VBS. o Your director should have the Love in Action project letter you can send home with the children to inform parents of the themed donations. Page 2

32 Missions Teaching Guide Missions Day 1 Materials: Projector/TV, computer/dvd, Mission Video Day 1- approx 5 min, gift bag with a pair of flip flops inside, rocks or items as listed in lesson for children to walk on, parent letter for Love in Action Project Introduction: God created ALL people everywhere, and He loves you and each person He created, all over the world. There are some people, who because of their love for God, are showing love to people in Haiti. Video: Do you know where the country of Haiti is? Let s watch this video to find out about where Haiti is and begin to learn about a ministry that helps in Haiti. Watch video- Mission Video Day 1-approx 5 min. Lesson: Children in Haiti do not live the same way as we do here in America. Many children do not have shoes, food, running water, and so much more that we take for granted. Let me ask you a question What is something that you really want and would be very excited to receive? Wait for responses and show a gift bag with hidden flip flops inside. Then tell them Years ago, when Love Him Love Them first went to Haiti, they went to an orphanage where they gave and then pull out flip flops. Flip Flops! The children were so excited to be given flip flops! Those children had been praying for shoes. God used Love Him Love Them to show His love that day when they gave the shoes to the children. Game/Activity: Let s play a game as we think about what it would be like to live in Haiti. Children will take off their shoes then go to the opposite side of the room or area. In the area between the children and their shoes, adults will place small river rocks, blocks, or other items to provide a rough walking experience. Place rocks close together to prevent the risk of falling. Children will walk the rough path to get their shoes. This can be done as a relay race or can be adapted to the age and size of the group. After Activity: In Haiti, the ground is very rocky which makes it hard to walk, just like the items made it harder for you to walk across. Love in Action: Page 3

33 Missions Teaching Guide Here s a way you can love them! We want you to wear flip flops to VBS tomorrow that you will give to the children in Haiti. You will leave the flip flops you want to give here for us to collect, and you can go home barefoot that night (or bring shoes if your parent would rather) as a reminder to pray for the children in Haiti. When you give, you are showing God s love. When you bring shoes, you are helping the children protect their feet and you are giving them something they not only want, but need. Closing and Prayer Time: We can love others in this world because of the love that God gives us. You can show God s love this week as you bring an offering or the items throughout the week for the ministry in Haiti. Let s pray for the people in Haiti to know God s love. Please lead the children in prayer. Extras: Materials: pencils, construction paper, scissors, crayons If time allows, have students trace around their foot or shoe on a piece of construction paper and cut it out. Then the children can draw or write, depending on the age ability, things they want to pray about. Guide them, especially the older children, to pray for the children in Haiti as well as the ministry and needs there. Display the cutouts or encourage children to take their cutout home and display it as a reminder to pray for the people of Haiti and Love Him Love Them ministry. *Please send the reminder/love in Action letter home today for parents to know about the money and/or flip flop donation. Page 4

34 Missions Teaching Guide Missions Day 2 Materials: Projector/TV, computer/dvd, Mission Video Day 2, dirty item, bar of soap, basket or bucket and small items for relay, parent reminder for Love in Action project *Decoration Tip: If you previously set up your room with decorations resembling Haiti, add trash items to your river and around the room (cups, spoons, napkins, etc). Haiti is polluted with trash, and this can also help the children understand how they have very dirty water there. You can explain that many children go through the trash to find items to use for their toys. Introduction: Yesterday, we talked about how God is your Creator and He loves you. Did you know that God showed His love for you by sending Jesus? God sent Jesus so that whoever believes in Jesus, as their Savior, can be saved from their sins. Everyone has sinned. That means me, you, the children in Haiti, and children and all people all over the world. Everyone has sinned, but we will learn more this week about how Jesus is our hope. He is our Savior. Sin separates us from God and makes us dirty, but Jesus washes us clean. Show a dirty item(s) such as dirty dish, dirty towel, dirty shoe, etc. Using a cup works great! You can show the outside of the cup as clean, but the inside of the cup as dirty. This can help children think about how our outside might be clean, but our inside can be dirty because of sin. Do you think these are clean? What should I do to make them clean? Allow time for responses. Just like we are dirty when we sin, many of our things get dirty and they need to be cleaned. How can we be clean from sin? How can I clean these dirty items? Does anyone like doing chores like washing dishes or washing clothes? Well, let s watch today s video from Haiti to learn more about how kids in Haiti do some of their chores. Video: Watch Mission Video Day 2 You can ask questions and discuss what children saw in the video. You can also tell the children that the kids in the video did not have the shower and water cistern before the ministry Love Him Love Them helped them. Game/Activity: Let s play a game as we think about what it would be like to live in Haiti. Materials- Basket or Bucket, small items for relay Have children form 2 teams. Place items on the other side of the play area. Children will walk with the basket or bucket on their head. When they get to the items, they will place one item in the basket/bucket and bring it back to the group. If items are heavy, have children take the item out of the Page 5

35 Missions Teaching Guide basket when they return to the group. Then, they will hand the basket to the next person in line to do the same activity. Once the entire team is back, the team finished first is the winner. After Activity: In Haiti, children work hard to help their family with chores. Many children carry heavy buckets every day with water or other items needed for the day. Love in Action: Here s a way you can love them! Many people in Haiti do not have running/clean water and soap to clean with to stay healthy. We want you to bring soap to VBS tomorrow that you will give to the children in Haiti. As you bring your soap, remember to pray for the children in Haiti. When you give, you are showing God s love. When you bring soap, you are helping the children stay healthy and clean. Closing and Prayer Time: We can love others in this world because of the love that God gives us. You can show God s love this week as you bring an offering or the items throughout the week for the ministry in Haiti. Let s pray for Love Him Love Them as they help meet the needs of the people in Haiti. Please lead the children in prayer. * Please send a reminder home today for parents about the money and/or soap donation. Page 6

36 Missions Teaching Guide Missions Day 3 Materials: Projector/TV, computer/dvd, Mission Video Day 3, treat for children (skittles or M &Ms if want to teach the plan of salvation using some of the colors), parent reminder for Love in Action project Introduction: Yesterday we talked about how Jesus is our Savior. Isn t that wonderful? That is good news! We want to share the good news with everyone all around the world. Love Him Love Them shares the good news of Jesus being our Savior. Let s watch another video from Haiti. Video: Watch Mission Video Day 3 Just like Love Him Love Them ministry tells people about Jesus, we can tell others about Him too! How can you tell others about Jesus where you live? Have a discussion with the children of ways they can share Jesus. Lesson: When someone has good news, they like to tell their family and friends. We have the best news; Jesus came to be our Savior! There are many people in the world that have never heard about Jesus. Many people in Haiti do not understand that Jesus came to be their Savior. If we don t share about Jesus and God s love to people, they won t hear the good news. Have a volunteer go out of the room, with adult supervision. Give other children a treat - candy/sticker/etc. When you give them the treat, tell them, Jesus loves you. See if someone notices all children got a treat except the child that is outside of the classroom. How can we give it to? Can we throw it to him/her? No, we have to go to him/her. Then allow a child to go get the child and give him/her a treat. We must GO to people and TELL them about Jesus. Optional to use with candy- teach the Plan of Salvation with the colors as they eat their treat. Black is for our sins. Red is for Jesus dying for our sins. White is for how Jesus washes us clean when we ask him to forgive us. Green is for how we grow in our relationship with God. Yellow is for Heaven. Game/Activity: Play freeze tag. One child is chosen as it. The other children run in a designated area to try to not get tagged. When a child is tagged, they must freeze until another child comes up to them and says, Jesus loves you. Play as time allows. After Activity: Page 7

37 Missions Teaching Guide When you were tagged, you needed rescuing. We all need rescuing. Who came to rescue us from sin? Jesus! Wasn t it nice for someone to unfreeze you by saying, Jesus loves you.? We need to help rescue people in this world by going and telling them about Jesus. Love in Action: Here s a way you can love them. We want you to bring toothpaste or toothbrushes to VBS tomorrow, for the children in Haiti. As you bring the toothbrushes and/or toothpaste, remember to pray for the people in Haiti to learn more about Jesus and to tell others about what they have learned. When you give, you are showing God s love. When you bring the toothpaste and/or toothbrushes, you are helping the children stay healthy. Closing and Prayer Time: We can love others in this world because of the love that God gives us. You can show God s love this week as you bring an offering or the items throughout the week for the ministry in Haiti. Let s pray for the people in Haiti to learn more about Jesus. Please lead the children in prayer. * Please send a reminder home today for parents about the money and/or toothpaste/toothbrush donation. Page 8

38 Missions Teaching Guide Missions Day 4 Materials: Projector/TV, computer/dvd, Mission Video Day 4, CD player or some device to use to play music, worship song, chairs, parent reminder for Love in Action project Introduction: Yesterday, you saw a little of how Love Him Love Them in Haiti is sharing God s love. The people in this ministry are helping children who are orphans. An orphan means that a person s mother and father are no longer living. You heard a testimony from an orphan in the video yesterday. The orphans from the choir have no other family, so they live in a place that is called an orphanage. These children are all different ages. Some may have a brother or sister with them; some are related to no one in the orphanage. The children from the orphanage are learning more about Jesus being their Savior, just like you. These children sing songs to God. Let s watch another video about Haiti and the orphans in the Love Him Love Them Orphan Choir. Video: Watch Mission Video Day 4 These children, who lost it all, have more than they need because they have Jesus. All anyone needs is Jesus. Lesson: When you know God s love for you, you want to worship and praise God. How do people praise God? One way people praise God is through music. The choir will travel singing as they are praising God. When do you praise God? When should we praise God? Have children see that they can praise God anywhere, not just at church. When did people in the Bible praise God? Discuss examples like David, Paul in prison, etc. We should praise God when we are happy or when we are sad, because we know He loves us and He is God. Game/Activity: Let s praise God while we play. Play a worship song during the activity. You can order the Love Him Love Them CD online if you would like to use the choir s songs. There is a song entitled, Every Praise, that the choir sings or you can use any song they sing. Then, play musical chairs. Place chairs in a circle with one less chair than children and start the music as children walk around the circle. After a short amount of time, pause the music; the child not in a chair will be out. Have a designated area the children who get out will sit to keep order during the activity. Remove another chair and then start the music again. Continue playing until there is a winner. Have children sing praises along with the music while they walk. You can also play a song while passing a ball or similar item, and play Hot Potato during the praise songs. Page 9

39 Missions Teaching Guide Love in Action: Here s a way you can love them! The items you bring for tomorrow will help the choir when they are in the United States. Just like you need certain things at home to help your family, the children need these things at the house where they will stay while traveling on the choir tour. These are some things they need: laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, clorox wipes, toilet paper, and paper towels. Closing and Prayer Time: We can love others in this world because of the love that God gives us. You can show God s love this week as you bring an offering or the items throughout the week for the ministry in Haiti. Let s pray for the children in the choir and for the people and churches they will sing at this year. Please lead the children in prayer. * Please send a reminder home today for parents about the money and/or choir house donations. Page 10

40 Missions Teaching Guide Missions Day 5 Materials: Projector/TV, computer/dvd, Mission Video Day 5 Introduction: This week you have learned a lot about Haiti and the ministry Love Him Love Them. God is using Love Him Love Them ministry to help people in Haiti and in other places in the US and around the world. Let s watch our last video to review what we ve learned and to see what God is continuing to do in Haiti. Video: Mission Video Day 5 Lesson: When God tells us to do something, we need to do it. Some people know what to do, but they don t do it. Have you ever known your parents wanted you to do something, like clean your room, but you didn t want to, so you didn t? Well, God tells us to show His love to others. Sometimes He tells us to help others and tell others about Him, but we choose not to do it. We need to obey God. When we follow Him, we will have a joy that only He can give us. Can you think of people in the Bible who did what God asked them to do? Discuss these and others briefly: Abraham, Noah, Moses- at first didn t want to obey, but then they did. God has told some people to work in Haiti. Love Him Love Them is ministering in Haiti because they are following God s lead to do what He has asked them to do. Game/Activity: Let s play a game as we think about following God. Choose from these ideas: Follow the Leader, Simon Says, Mother May I, Red Light Green Light All of those games show how you must listen or watch and then do as directed. After Activity: As you spend time with God, He will begin showing you more and more what He wants you to do. He will guide you. How do we spend time with God?... When God tells you to do something, obey Him. One important thing about obeying God is when we love Him with all of our heart, we will WANT to obey Him. Have you ever cleaned your room because your parent told you to, but you had a bad attitude as you didn t really want to clean it? When we love God with all of our heart, we will want to obey Him and it will bring us joy. Love in Action: Thank you for the things you brought for the children in Haiti. Now, think of other ways you can share God s love with others. How can you continue to show God s love to people who live near you? Page 11

41 Missions Teaching Guide How can you continue to show God s love to others around the world? Follow God s lead and obey Him. Allow time for children to share their ideas. Closing and Prayer Time: We can love others in this world because of the love that God gives us. Thank you for showing God s love to those in Haiti this week. Let s pray a special prayer today for all of the money and donations we have given to Love Him Love Them. Let s pray that God will use these things to bring other people to know God s love. You can continue to show God s love by obeying who God tells you to serve. Let s stay on mission for God as we Love Him and Love Them! *Encourage children to put their love in action at home or in your community. Children can be challenged to continue to show God s love. Leaders and children can write down what they want to do next to show God s love to others. Page 12

42 Bible Story Teaching Guide Love Him Love Them VBS, 2017

43 Bible Story Teaching Guide Bible Story Getting Ready for Bible Story Rotation: o Study the lessons. Allow Him to teach you as you study beforehand what you will teach the children. Throughout the week, help children understand how they can apply Luke 10:27 to their own lives. o Pray for the children that will enter this rotation. Pray that God will teach them through you. o Gather Supplies o You might want to play music, or sing as younger children enter. Young children might like to come in to the classroom with the song B-I-B-L-E as they daily enter their Bible Rotation. o The bold text is a scripted guide given to help you know what to say as you teach the lesson. Read over and adjust as you feel God lead, but we hope this helps you prepare and teach your lesson. o Be prepared to lead children to Christ as that opportunity opens! o Color sheets are available to leaders to use as needed. These can be helpful reminders of what children are learning. You may use these sheets during your rotation, or have leaders use the sheets as needed during any rotation times where there might be extra down time. Children can take the color sheets home at the end of the day s VBS as a reminder of the Bible story. o As you study the lesson, think of your children at your church. Add and adjust to meet your church s needs. Page 2

44 Bible Story Teaching Guide Day 1 God is my Creator. Who is God? Genesis 1:26, 27 *Setting the stage- You might want to bring in props to show things God created. You can include stuffed animals, a pretend water source with fish, etc. Materials: Bible, any props want to use,chairs, optional play doh Introduction Welcome to our Bible Story time. Our Bible verse this week is from Luke 10:27. The verse says to love God, but to love Him, we must first know Him. The ministry that we are partnering with is called Love Him Love Them, but to Love Him, we must know Him, and to Love Them; which, is other people, we must have God s love. God is the reason you are here today. God loves you and He made you. God wants to be with you. Have you ever made something that you liked and were proud of having made it all by yourself? God made you and He loves you. Bible Story We learn about God from reading the Bible. At the beginning of the Bible, God tells us that He is our Creator. He made all things. Do you know the days of creation? Let s think about when God made all things by reviewing the days of creation. Day one, everyone hold up a number 1 finger, God made_ You can continue this pattern as you quickly summarize Genesis ch1 and God s creation, or for older children you can have them read the story of creation in their Bibles. You could also have stuffed animals and other visuals to show as you quickly review what God created. Children can make up motions for the different creations God made, if time allows. Let s read Genesis 1:26, 27. When God made us, He made us different than when He made other things from creation. He made us in His image. He also made us to rule over other things He had created. What can we learn about God from the things He created? We learn that He is very creative. He is in control of everything. We are special because He put us in charge of the other things on earth that He created. We are special because He chose to create us. Did you hear that? He chose to create you. He chose to love you. Better yet, He wanted to walk and talk with you. When He created Adam and Eve, before they sinned, He walked with them and talked with them as they had a relationship with God. God wants a relationship with you. Activity You can choose from some of the activities below: We can play a game as we think of our favorite things God made. Page 3

45 Bible Story Teaching Guide Which is your favorite Children will start in the middle of the room and then move to one side of the room if their favorite is one choice and the other side of the room if it is the other choice. Here are some ideas, you can add more to this list if you would like: fruits/vegetables, dog/cat, mountains/beach. God made you special. Let s think about how God made us special. God is creative. He could have made us all the same, but He didn t. We are all special Have kids sit in a circle with one child standing in the middle. You will need one less chair than children in your group. The middle child will call out a characteristic children have; for instance, blonde hair. Then, all kids with blonde hair will get up and quickly try to move to another seat, including the child in the middle. The child left standing then comes up with another special characteristic like curly hair, and so on. You can also do a game with interests and talents- soccer/dance etc. Alternative for activities: Children can make a creation from play doh, or make their favorite creation that God made. Younger children can also go on a creation hunt outside, or they can hunt for creations as they travel from rotation to rotation. Memory Verse: Teach Luke 10:27, Love the Lord your God God is our Creator. He loves us. We should love Him. When you know how much God loves you, it makes you want to love Him. Teach motions below, or have children make up their own motions. Love- cross arms at chest God- use right hand, with fingers pointing upwards and thumb close to face, move in a downward motion in front of your face starting from about your forehead to about your chin *Pray for children to understand that God is their Creator and He loves them. Page 4

46 Bible Story Teaching Guide Day 2 Jesus is my Savior. How did God show He loves me? John 3:16, John 15:13 Materials: leader s dirty hands, items to clean hands, Bible, 2 glasses, bleach, water, 1 tsp baking soda, food coloring, stirrer, pan with sand or dry erase boards and a surface to erase, paper towels Introduction: Leader can have dirty hands and touch table surfaces etc and be making things very dirty. Leader says, I just don t know what to do. I have this stuff on my hands and I need to get it off. Does anyone know what I should do? (wait for answer) Oh, I need to wash it off so I can be clean again. Have an area set aside to quickly use wipes or something to wash hands clean. Today we are going to talk about how we are all dirty from sin, but soap and water can t help us get clean. Let me tell you a way we get dirty that we can t clean on our own. Have you ever gotten mad and said something mean and hurtful? Have you ever lied or not done what your parents told you to do? All of these are examples of sin. Sin is anything we think (touch top of head), say (touch mouth) or do (hold out both hands with palms up) that does not please God. Repeat this definition of sin, using motions, frequently during the lesson and during the week. Bible Story: Do you know that God loves you and wants to be with you? Remember, yesterday you learned that God created you. He wants a relationship with you. Before sin, God walked with Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve could talk to God and there was nothing that divided or separated their relationship until Adam and Eve sinned. There is something we have to understand about God, our Creator. He loves us. Also we need to know that God is Holy, meaning He does no wrong. Since God is Holy, when we sin, it hurts our relationship with God. Our punishment for sin should be death, but there is good news. God loved us so much that He sent us someone who could make us clean from our sin. Does anyone know who that is? Let s read John 3:16. (Leader can read John 3:16 or have older students read together.) Did you hear that? God LOVED YOU so much that He sent His Son for us so that we can live forever with God! Jesus took our death punishment and He died on the cross for our sins so that we could be forgiven. In the Bible, John 15:13, Jesus is talking to his friends, who were his disciples, and he said (Leader can read the verse from the Bible). Jesus lived a perfect life of no sin, died for our sins, and then rose from the grave for us! He shows us how He loves us so much. There is no greater love than God s love! Since Jesus died for our sins, if we believe we need Jesus as our Savior, and we ask Him to forgive us for our sins and we decide to follow Jesus, we can be washed clean from our sin. Experiment: Set up a glass with half water and another glass with half bleach. Ask children of examples of sin as you use food coloring to drop about 1-2 drops into the water glass and then stir the water. Explain that the Page 5

47 Bible Story Teaching Guide colored water is like our life when we sin. Then, take the glass with bleach and say, Because of God s love for us, He sent Jesus into this world. Jesus lived a perfect life with no sin, but, because of our sin, Jesus died on the cross and rose again as he took our punishment. Next, pour the glass with bleach into the colored water and also the tsp of baking soda. Stir and say, Because Jesus took my punishment for my sins, if I ask for forgiveness, He will clean me of my dirty sin. Then, I follow Jesus and have a relationship with God. God wants to be with us and Jesus is our ONLY way we can have a relationship with God. Another alternate activity includes: Use one of the leaders to represent God, another to represent Jesus and a child to represent all of us. The child will stand with God as you explain God loved us and wanted a relationship with us. Then, you will separate God and the child as you explain because of sin it separates us from Holy God. Next, explain that Jesus lived, died and rose to take away our punishment for our sins. The leader for Jesus will come in the middle of God and the child. Jesus will come over and take the child by the hand to God. Explain the only way to God is through Jesus. Activity If time allows, you can have a pan with sand. Children will think of a sin. You or a volunteer can draw something in the sand to represent the sin (could be a stick person, a letter for the beginning of the sin, etc). Then discuss how that sin hurts their relationship with God. Remind children that Jesus took their punishment and they can ask God to forgive them of their sin. Next, shake the pan of sand as they see that the sin disappeared. You can also do this activity with dry erase markers and marker boards, or page protectors, and then children erase what they wrote/drew. Remind them, Jesus is the ONLY way to be clean from sin. Memory Verse: Teach Luke 10:27, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul God has shown how much He loves us. We should love Him. We should love Him more than anything or anyone. Teach new motions below, or have children make up their own motions. Heart- with pointer fingers, draw a heart on your chest Soul- left hand makes a fist with hole pointing upwards, right hand- thumb and pointer touching as it is like you are taking the right hand s thumb and pointer out of the left hand s fist and bringing hand upward *Pray for the children to understand that God loves them and sent them Jesus to be their Savior. Page 6

48 Bible Story Teaching Guide Day 3 King Josiah Is God Lord of my life? 2 Kings 23:25 *Before each class today, hide a scroll. The scroll can be a rolled up piece of paper. Write on the paper, Have no other gods before Me (God). You can tape pencils to the ends of the paper and roll the pencils towards each other to make it look more like a scroll. Tie the pencils together with yarn. Read the script provided to see how you can use the scroll in your lesson. Materials: scroll, Bible, idols (money, mirror (self), picture of another person, TV, sport, food, etc.), crown Introduction Is anyone 8 years old? Do you have a brother or sister that age? Today our Bible Story is about a boy that was 8 and became king. The best part is, in the Bible, it says that this king loved God with all his heart, soul, and strength. Does anyone know this king s name? The king s name was Josiah. Bible Story Yesterday, we talked about how we have all sinned. When we sin, we are not obeying God. What is sin? Anything we think, say, or do that does not please God. Use motions each time you lead students in saying this. Jesus is the only one who can save us from our sin. In our Bible story today, a nation had not been obeying God. What was the name I said of the boy that became king? Josiah. King Josiah sent a man named Shaphan to the high priest, Hilkiah. Hilkiah told Staphan that he found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord and he gave it to Shaphan. Shaphan told King Josiah about the Book of Law and read it to him. What do you think King Josiah thought after he heard God s laws? When King Josiah heard God s laws, he was very sad that the nation had not been following God s laws. If we really are sorry when we sin, we will be sad like Josiah. Then, we will change our behavior. When we read God s commands in the Bible, we should change things in our life that are not pleasing to God. Josiah was sad that the people had not been following God and then he made changes so the people would turn to God. I m going to tell you more about our Bible story, but first just like they found the Book of Law and then read it, I have hidden in the room a paper rolled up to look like how God s word would have looked a long time ago. Search the room to see if you can find the paper scroll and then we will read what is written on the paper. Have children search for the scroll. The high priest found the Book of the Law just like you searched to find this paper scroll. The Book of the Law had many of the commands from God written in it. There is a command I wrote on this paper that is from the Bible, it says Have no other gods before Me (God). Page 7

49 Bible Story Teaching Guide That means God is to be the most important thing in our life. We should only worship God. The people in the nation where Josiah was king were not worshipping God. They were worshipping other gods, called idols. An idol is anything we care more about than God. In King Josiah s nation, the people had little statue idols that they were worshipping instead of God, but after King Josiah read God s laws, Josiah had the statue idols taken away. If God is the Lord of our life, we care more about Him than anything else and we do what He says. Most of us in America do not have statue idols, but if something else is lord of our life, meaning we care about it more than God, it is our idol. Our idol can be ourselves. We might only care about pleasing ourselves. Our idol could be a sport. Sports are good, but if we only think about that and care more about it than about God then it is our idol. Our idol can be other people if we care about them more than God. Children can give other examples of idols. Discuss ways children can keep God first in their life. What did King Josiah do after he read the laws? He was sad, but then, he started making changes in the kingdom based on God s laws. He didn t just read it; he did something about it. King Josiah, after reading God s laws, saw that there was sin. Then he got rid of all things in the kingdom that were not following God s commands. We must recognize our sins, ask for forgiveness, remember only through Jesus are we forgiven of our sins, and then stop sinning and follow God. When we do that, we make God Lord of our life just like Josiah did. Josiah obeyed God and because he obeyed God, in 2 Kings 23:25, it says Read text from the Bible. God wants to be Lord of our life. If we really love God, we will obey His commands as we make Him Lord of our life. Activity You can play search for the scroll again as time allows. Let children take turns hiding the scroll in the room. Memory Verse: Teach Luke 10:27, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; Teach new motions below, or have children make up their own motions. Strength- make arms in a strong flex motion Mind- point to side of head at temple God loves us. We should love Him more than anything else or anyone. *Pray for children to love God more than anything else and to obey Him. Page 8

50 Bible Story Teaching Guide Day 4 Mary s Heart How do I love and serve Him? When we love God with all of our heart, we will want to serve Him. Mark 14:3-9 Materials: Bible, heart cut outs for children (or older children can cut out on their own), scissors, pencils, crayons or markers Introduction Have you ever done something nice for someone you loved? One time I, Share a personal experience where you did something very special for someone else. Sometimes when we do something special, it will cost a lot of money or time, but we do it to show we care about that person. When we love someone, we like to show them we love them. We might do acts of service for people we love. What are ways we serve others? Discuss examples of service. When we love God with all of our heart, we will want to serve Him. Yesterday we talked about obeying Him and doing what He says, but we shouldn t just obey Him because it is the right thing to do, we should obey Him and do what He says, because we love Him. When we see how much God loves us, we will want to obey, love, and serve Him. Bible Story In our Bible story today, a lady showed Jesus she loved Him. She didn t do something because it was right. She didn t do something because other people would think she was a good person. She served Jesus because she had a heart that loved Him. Just like we will learn from the lady in our Bible story, we can love out of our heart s desire to do everything for Jesus, because of our love for Jesus. The lady that did something for Jesus was named Mary. This was not Jesus s mother, but was a lady who had been with Jesus through His ministry. Let s read the story today from Mark 14:3-9. With younger children, you can summarize but show them where the text is in the Bible. With older children, please have them look in the Bible at the text. You may want to use visuals as you tell the story. Mary poured very expensive perfume on Jesus s head to anoint Him. This would have been worth an entire year s salary. It was very costly. She did not see the cost of the perfume as much as she saw how worthy Jesus was for it. Did the people who were watching Mary like that she poured the expensive perfume on Jesus? No, they thought she was wasting it. What did Jesus think about what she did? In verse 6, He said she did it for Him. In verses 8-9, He explains that she did something great for Him and she did for Him what she could do. When we serve, our service must come out of a heart to serve Jesus. If we love God with all our heart, we will do things for Him because we love Him. Why did Mary pour expensive perfume on Jesus? She saw how wonderful Jesus was and wanted to do something special for Him. Page 9

51 Bible Story Teaching Guide Why should we serve God? When we love God with all of our heart, we will want to serve Him. It is easier to love people who are close to you. Remember that God wants to be close to you. He created you. Sin is what messed up our relationship with God, but He sent Jesus to save us because He wants to be with us. When we see how much God loves us, we will want to love Him and serve Him. Have children discuss ways they can show God they love Him. How can they serve? Remind them they should do these things because of their love FOR God, not just because it is nice or right. Activity Children can cut out, or use precut, heart shapes as they thank God for His love for them through words or pictures on one side, and on the other side they can write or draw a way they can show God s love. Please have an example ready using words and pictures for children to see as they work. Memory Verse: Teach Luke 10:27, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and Love your neighbor Remember God loves you so much and He wants you to love Him and love others. Teach new motions below, or have children make up their own motions. Do the sign for people (to show love to all people) Pointer and middle fingers separated with thumb in middle and pointing downward (ASL sign for the letter p) Then, move hands in a circular motion outward from the body. *Pray for children to love God with all their heart. Page 10

52 Bible Story Teaching Guide Day 5 The Good Samaritan Who is my neighbor? Luke 10:25-37 Materials: Bible, items for skit, index cards for Love Charades Introduction In our Bible story today, Jesus explains our Bible verse we have been learning. Does anyone remember our Bible verse? Let s say it together. Say the verse together. What was the last sentence in the verse? If children need help, say the verse and then stop after mind and see if children can complete the verse. Yes, Love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus told a story to explain who our neighbor is. We are going to read the story and act out the story Jesus told. Bible Story The teacher can read the text first and have children act out the story last, or read the text as children act out what is being read. Read Luke 10:25-37 Characters needed for skit: a man, robbers (if desired, read note below), priest, Levite, Samaritan, innkeeper You can have items children can use as they act out the story. Designate areas in the room for the inn, etc. Remind robbers to not truly hit, but to pretend they are being mean. Another suggestion is to not use the robbers so there will not be violence, but begin the acting part after the robbers (beginning with verse 31). Another alternative to using children in the skit is to use stuffed animals or puppets to play the roles of the characters. Give children a little background: The Jews, the people Jesus was telling the story to, and the Samaritans, did not get along. The Jews did not like the Samaritans because of their race. Since the Samaritan was the one who helped the man who was hurt, Jesus was teaching the people that it does not matter who we are to love and help, we are to love and help everyone. Who did Jesus come to save? Who does God love? Everyone. Then, we must also show His love to everyone. What are ways we can show God s love to others? Have children discuss ways to show God s love to others. Older children can also look at the verse, 1 John 4:7,8. Beloved, let us love one another. For love is of God and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God, but He that loves not, knows not God for God is love. Beloved, let us love one another. Discuss: Where does love come from? If we know God, what will we do? If we do not love, what does this verse say? Activity Page 11

53 Bible Story Teaching Guide Love Charades Have ideas ready of ways people show God s love to others written on index cards. Children will then act out a way to show God s love as the others guess what they are acting out. Memory Verse: Teach Luke 10:27, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and Love your neighbor as yourself. Teach new motions below, or have children make up their own motions. As yourself Point to yourself. We like to take care of ourselves. We like to do things we want to do. We must love others and care for them like we would want for ourselves. Can anyone recite the verse from memory? Allow responses as time allows. Page 12

54 Craft Teaching Guide Love Him Love Them VBS, 2017

55 Craft Teaching Guide Craft Getting Ready for Craft Rotation o Study the lessons. Allow Him to teach you as you study beforehand what you will teach the children. o Pray for the children that will enter this rotation. Pray that God will teach them through you. o Gather Supplies o Choose from the craft options that will best suit your church s needs. o Prepare examples of each craft you will use. This will give children a visual for what they will create. o The bold text is a scripted guide given to help you know what to say as you teach the lesson. Read over and adjust as you feel God lead, but we hope this helps you prepare and teach your lesson. o Challenge children to use the crafts they make as they love God and love others this week. Page 2

56 Craft Teaching Guide Day 1: Recycled Fun Today you are learning about how God is our Creator. God has given us so many things in His creation. We can be thankful for the many things God has given us in America. Children in Haiti do not have many of the toys and things to play with like we have. Many children, that are not able to buy toys, make toys and games from items they recycle from the trash or from things in creation. Today we are going to make games using recycled items or things from creation. Make the crafts and then, as time allows, children can play with the craft games they made. Keep game pieces in Ziploc bags with children s names on the outside to help children not lose their game pieces. Craft 1: Make a Puzzle Materials: craft sticks and tape (or magazine pictures, cereal box pictures or other item for children to draw on), Ziploc bags, scissors, sharpie, crayons/markers/pencils Children can use craft sticks to make a puzzle. If children use 5 craft sticks, their puzzle will have 5 pieces. Lay the sticks down and tape the sticks together on one side to help it stay stationary as children draw. Children will turn the sticks over and draw on the opposite side from the tape. Children could draw things in creation, mountains to represent the Haiti mountain range, or any picture they would like to draw and color. Once children are finished with their drawing, they can peel off the tape. Then, children will mix up their craft sticks and put it back together. Another way to make a puzzle would be to use a piece of cardboard to draw a picture on or use a cover of a cereal box or a magazine picture etc, and cut the pictures into large pieces to make puzzle pieces. After children make their puzzles, they can trade with others as they let other children try to put their puzzle together. Keep pieces in Ziploc bags with children s names on the outside to help children not lose their pieces. *There is an idea, found on the internet, to use these puzzles to show love to others. Children can make the puzzles and then they can give the puzzle as a gift for someone else. See this activity at Craft 2: Tick-Tac-Toe (using rocks and sticks) Materials: 6 rocks per child, sharpie or paint to draw on rocks, 4 sticks per child, zip lock bags Children will use rocks as the x/o in Tic-Tac-Toe. Children can draw, paint, or write x/o (or use color or another symbol they want to draw on the rocks). Put an x (or other symbol/picture/color) on 3 rocks, and an o (or other symbol/picture/color) on the other 3 rocks. Children can use sticks for the game board as they play Tic-Tac-Toe. Craft 3: Concentration Materials- rocks, pictures and glue, or markers for drawing (or bottle caps, small items from nature and glue), Ziploc bags Children can glue Haiti pictures on rocks or draw things on rocks. Make sure there are pairs of the same picture or drawing. As children play, they will turn over the rocks to find the matches. Children can also use bottle caps. The bottle cap idea was found at Bottle Cap Memory. Glue things from nature like grass, rocks, sticks, etc, inside the bottle caps. Page 3

57 Craft Teaching Guide Challenge to Children: How can you use these crafts to show love to someone this week? Discuss ideas of whom children can give their games to or play their games with as they show God s love this week to others. Page 4

58 Craft Teaching Guide Day 2: Washcloth Animals After you have collected soaps, you may do this activity to send to the children in Haiti, or you can purchase soap and washcloths before today s craft rotation to have ready to use during craft today. Children can give the craft made today to others in your community, or for Haiti. See the challenge at the end of the lesson. Make a Wash Cloth Bunny to give with soap for children in Haiti, or to give others in your community. Today you are learning about how Love Him Love Them helps children in Haiti with clean water and other things they need. You are also learning how we have a sin problem that makes us all dirty, but Jesus can wash our sin away. As we make our craft today, think about how we can show others the love that God has shown us. Materials: Per child: Washcloth and soap, two eyes, rubber bands, a large cotton ball for tail and a pom for nose, glue or glue gun, ribbon Directions: First, place soap bar at one of the corners of the washcloth. Place it far enough from the edge so that one of the corners can fold up over top of it. Roll it up in the wash cloth until you can fold the opposite end over the top. Glue that end down with glue or glue gun. Once the end is glued down, gather the two sides and place rubber bands around them. Separate those two sides so they fall on each side of the soap bar. Now you have the ears! Next, add your eyes and nose to make a face. Then, add your cotton ball or pom to the back end to make a tail. Last, add a bow to hide the rubber band and your cute washcloth craft is finished. Challenge to Children: How can you use this craft to show love to someone this week? Discuss ideas of who children can give their wash cloth animal to as they show God s love this week to others. Children can send these to Haiti, or if you bought soap for children to do the washcloth animals and children are also bringing in soaps this week for children in Haiti, you could use the animals as gifts for others around your community (shelters, nursing homes, etc), and use the donated soaps collected for children in Haiti. *An additional idea is to use colored beads for making bracelets and necklaces as children learn to share the gospel with others through those color beaded crafts. Page 5

59 Craft Teaching Guide Day 3: Wordless Books Children will make wordless books to learn and share the plan of salvation with others. Materials: stapler, scissors, construction paper colors- yellow, green, black, red, white Cut each paper to the desired size. You can make small booklets to save on paper usage. Have children order the papers as you teach what each color represents. Then, a leader can staple the booklet for each child. The children can use the books as they share God s love with others. Black is for our sins. Red is for Jesus dying for our sins. White is for how Jesus washes us clean when we ask Him to forgive us. Green is for how we grow in our relationship with God. Yellow is for Heaven. Children can practice sharing Jesus with others in their group as they retell what the colors represent. You can teach older students how missionaries, in some places of the world where Bibles are not allowed, use wordless books to share Jesus with others. Challenge to Children: How can you use your book you made to show love to someone this week? Discuss ideas of who children can give their wordless books to this week as they tell someone about Jesus. Page 6

60 Craft Teaching Guide Day 4: Instruments Choose which instruments you would like children to make: Kazoo/Drum/Tambourine Make a Tambourine/Maraca (paper plate) Materials: Paper plates, dry lentils, markers and crayons, stapler, optional- hole punch and ribbon Directions: Put a handful of lentils on a paper plate. Fold the plate in half and staple the edges closed. Next, decorate the plate and begin to shake as you play to the beat of your favorite songs. You can hole punch areas around the edge and tie ribbon to add more decorations to your instrument. Make a Kazoo Materials: Toilet Paper Rolls, paint/markers, wax paper, rubber bands Directions: Decorate toilet paper roll using paint or markers. Then, cut a square of wax paper and wrap it over the end of toilet paper roll and secure with a rubber band. Let the kids hum or sing into them and make music to their heart's content. Make a Drum Materials: clean round container like a coffee can or aluminum can, balloons, electrical tape or masking tape, rubber bands (optional) Directions: First, stretch the balloon around the can. Use your fingers to open the balloon up and expand it so it fits over the top of the can. Next, lay another balloon flat on the hard surface. Do not blow it up; you want to use a limp balloon. Using scissors cut small holes into the balloon. Holes do not need to be uniform or perfect, as they are more for decoration. Then, stretch the cut up balloon on top of the balloon on the can. Double layering the balloons will make the drum more durable, and the holes on the top layer will add a fun decorative effect. Lastly, wrap tape around the can to secure the balloons. Enjoy! You can also use rubber bands and simply place them around the can to keep the balloons attached. You can add more weight to the drums by filling the container up with a handful of rice or dry lentils before you stretch the balloon on the top of the container. Make drum sticks out of pencils and tissue paper or simply use your hands to drum along to your favorite song. Challenge to Children: How can you use your instrument to show love this week? Discuss ideas of how children can use their instrument to show love to God and others this week. Page 7

61 Craft Teaching Guide Day 5: Caring Crafts Today children will make crafts to give someone in the community, or to someone they know. Cards: Materials- scissors, construction paper, markers/crayons/pencils, glue, (cute add-ons for cards- tissue paper, stickers, etc) Children can create a card to give someone on the church prayer list or shut in, etc. Have prepared phrases for children to copy that will bring words of encouragement to the people who will receive the cards. Children can also create a card to invite someone to church. Praying Hands: Materials- item for handprint and message to go on, easy clean-up paint, big shirts or other items to put over children s clothes, plastic tablecloth or items to cover painting surface, paper towels/wipes and other needed supplies for clean-up Paint each child s hand print and write below the handprint, These little hands prayed for you today. Have children pray for the person who will receive their craft. Challenge to Children: How can you use these crafts to show love to someone this week? Discuss ideas of who children can give their crafts to, as they show God s love this week. Page 8

62 Game Teaching Guide Love Him Love Them VBS, 2017

63 Game Teaching Guide Games Getting Ready for Game Rotation o Study the lessons. Allow Him to teach you as you study beforehand what you will teach the children. o Pray for the children that will enter this rotation. Pray that God will teach them through you. o Gather Supplies o Designate game areas for indoor and outdoor (weather permitting). o Choose from the game options that will best suit your church s needs. o The bold text is a scripted guide given to help you know what to say as you teach the lesson. Read over and adjust as you feel God lead, but we hope this helps you prepare and teach your lesson. o Extra ideas are below to help as needed or to add or substitute games. Extra ideas: Jump rope a favorite activity for children in Haiti Freeze dance Over/under relay races Telephone game Whisper in someone s ear a message and then it is told to the next person etc. Children will determine if the message changed at end. How can we listen to God? Partners- one partner changes something about them without the other seeing and then he/she has to decide what was changed switch roles Freeze tag/ tag Follow the Leader- We follow Jesus. Red Light, Green Light Bucket Toss Blind cow- Blind fold someone as others sit in a circle and pass a bell or make a noise (snap finger, clap, stomp, etc). Blind cow has to listen for the bell sound (or other sound made) to figure out who has (or did have) the bell, etc. Team building games I Spy Charades Kickball Simon Says Page 2

64 Game Teaching Guide Games Day 1 Today you are learning how God is our creator. Let s play with items from the creation that He made. God is our creator. Let s thank Him for His creation. Game 1: Jacks with Rocks Materials- rocks and bouncy ball per group A favorite game for kids in Haiti is to play the game Jacks, but using rocks instead of jacks. Put children in groups and they take turns bouncing the ball once and trying to pick up rocks with one hand until the ball bounces again. Show children how to play and then let children try in their groups. Game 2: Dig for Rocks Relay Materials- real or pretend rocks with parts of the Bible verse (Luke 10:27) on the bottom side of easch rock (or item representing rock, can be construction paper drawn like a rock and turned over if need), boundaries to represent curvy roads (use rope, cones, etc) Children will be in two teams. Rocks with the Bible verse will be on the opposite side of where the children begin. When the leader says go, children will run through the curvy path to the rocks and back to the team. Explain to the children that the curvy path represents the curvy roads in Haiti. Once the team has all of the rocks, they will then work together as they put in order the words for the Bible verse. Game 3: Younger Activity: Side Walk Chalk Materials: side walk chalk Children can draw something God created. The leader can trace around children. As leaders trace the children, tell children, Remember that God loves you and created you. Page 3

65 Game Teaching Guide Games Day 2 Today you are learning that Jesus is the only way to clean us from our sin. You also are learning more about what life is like for kids in Haiti. Let s play games as we think about these things we are learning today. Game 1: As we play, we can thank God for our clean water in America. Children in Haiti help each other with daily chores. In this game, you will work together as a team. Water Relay Materials- 2 buckets of water, 2 cups, towels for clean-up (or blue construction paper balls) Have children form 2 teams. On one side, have a bucket with water. On the other side, have an empty bucket. Have a cup for children to dip into the bucket with water. The children will line up between the buckets, so that they can pass the cup down the line from the bucket with water to the empty (for now) bucket. The child closest to the water bucket will dip the cup into the water and then give it to the person beside him in line. Each team player will pass the cup down the line until the person at the end of their line pours the cup into the empty bucket. You can do this for 2-3 minutes, but set a time limit. When the time is called, the team with the most water is the winning team. Another way you can do this activity is to have the water bucket a few feet away and children form a line on the opposite end. They will then take turns going to the water bucket and filling their cup and returning to empty the cup s water into their team s empty bucket. Once everyone for the team has gone, the leader can see who collected the most water as the winner. * Want to play but not use water? Try crumbling up pieces of construction paper to be water as you pass it down the line. Game 2: We can thank God that Jesus is my Savior. Materials- Bucket of dirt/sand, bucket of water, towels Have children form 2 teams. Kids will dip hands in water bucket. Then, they will run to the bucket of sand and dip hands in sand (representing sin). Children will run back to the water bucket to wash their hands. When one child has returned to the team, the next child can go. If you did not put your hands in the water to clean them after you got them dirty, they would still be very dirty. Jesus is the only way to clean us from our sin. Game 3: Hopscotch to the verse John 3:16 or use this week s memory verse (Luke 10:27). Materials- sectioned off hopscotch board with words from the Bible verses Game 4: Clothesline In this game, we will work together as we race to hang clothes on the clothes line. In the video today, you saw that clothes are washed by hand and then hung to dry. Children in Haiti work together as they finish their chores. You will work together as you race to finish hanging the clothes. Materials- clothesline for each team, bucket of clothes per team, you can add water to this activity if you desire as kids pretend to wash clothes Page 4

66 Game Teaching Guide Form 2 teams. Teams will line up opposite of the clothesline. Children will race to hang up a clothing item on the clothesline and then run back to their team for the next person to then run. The first team finished with their chores wins. Page 5

67 Game Teaching Guide Games Day 3 Today you are learning to keep God first and get rid of sin and idols. King Josiah read God s law and then got rid of the other things people were worshipping instead of God. Anything we care about more than God is an idol. We need to make sure we keep God first and love Him with all our heart. Game 1: Tumbling Towers Materials- items for idol structure to build (can use boxes, cups or any other material have to make towers), scroll, ball or something to knock down structure Children will be in teams for the relay. Items will be on the opposite end of the play area. Children will run to the items they will use to build an idol structure. After the team has built their idol structure, they will run to find the scroll and/or older children can read the scroll (make a paper rolled up like it is the scroll and you can write this week s verse on it for older children to read or one of God s commands like no other gods ) and then they will try to knock down the idol structure they made (can kick a ball at, etc). Remind the children that King Josiah heard God s commands read, was sad, and then he did what he could to get rid of the idols and help people make God Lord of their life. Game 2: Remove sin/idols- Materials- divider for the 2 large sections, balls Divide the play area into 2 large sections. If using a basketball court, you could use large balls, but if using a smaller area, you can use rolled up paper balls. The balls will represent sin. Place the balls in the middle of the area. Children will be in 2 teams. Each team will be in one of the large sections. Teams can not cross into the other team s sections. When the leader says go, children will not try to hit other children, but will be trying to throw the balls to the opposite side of the court. At the end time, the team with the most balls looses and the team with the least balls wins. Tell children, When King Josiah heard the Laws of God, he started getting rid of things that God would not like. We need to be quick to get rid of things in our life that we know is sin. Game 3: Knock (bowl) down the idols Materials- bowling pins (can be soda bottles or other items easy to sit up and knock down) with pictures of idols glued to the pins (children can draw pictures or have premade pictures like money, TV, mirror for self, etc on bottles), ball to use as they bowl Children will bowl to knock down idols on the pins. Alternative: You can also use bean bags and knock down cans set up as idols. Game 4: Place the Crown on King Josiah Materials- crown picture, King Josiah picture, blindfold, tape Younger children can play tape the crown on King Josiah. Draw an outline of a person on poster board for each group s rotation and make a crown picture children can use as they try to get the crown on King Josiah s head without looking, or as they are blindfolded. Page 6

68 Game Teaching Guide Games Day 4 Today you are learning to love God with all your heart. When we really love God, we serve Him because we want to do things for Him. Game 1: Where s the heart? Materials- cut out heart or heart-shaped item In the Bible, we are reminded that people look on outward appearance, but God looks at heart. People might think someone is doing something because they love God, but God is the only one who knows why we do things. We must keep God as our first love. We must serve God out of our love for Him. We can love Him, when we understand how much He loves us. Have children sit in a circle. One child will turn around while the leader gives the heart to a child in the circle. The child then guesses who has the heart. Take turns letting children guess and hold the heart. You can also hide the heart and give children clues about how to find the heart using hot, if they are close, or cold, if they are far from the heart, to help children find the heart. Children can take turns finding and hiding the heart. Game 2: Appearance (or looks), Appearance (or looks), Heart In this game, children can be reminded that, People look at the outward appearance, but God looks at our heart. Jesus knew Mary was serving Him because she loved Him. Others judged her for what she did, but they did not understand her love for Jesus. The more we understand God s love, the more we will want to serve Him and not just because it is a good thing to do. God always knows why we serve. Children can play Duck, Duck, Goose as Appearance/looks, Appearance/looks, Heart, and children touched when said heart will run to try to tag the child who touched them. Game 3: Pass the Heart Materials: cut out heart or a heart-shaped item Children will sit in a circle. Use an item shaped as a heart to pass around the circle. Children can repeat one word of the Bible verse, Luke 10:27, as they pass the heart. Game 4: Balling Around the Word You can use a beach ball to toss around the circle as you recite Luke 10:27. A beach ball, balloon, or volleyball can be used as children try to keep the ball from hitting the ground as they tap it to keep it in the air. If the ball hits the ground, children will start over. You can additionally use a shorter phrase you choose as they play. Page 7

69 Game Teaching Guide Games Day 5 Today you learned how God wants us to show His love to everyone. He wants us to tell others about His love. Game 1: Good Samaritan Relay Game Materials- per group: 10 band aids or note cards and tape, cup of water Put children into teams. One child will be the hurt man as in the Good Samaritan Bible story. The hurt child for each team will go to the opposite side of their team and lie down. When the leader says go, the team will race to the hurt child. Teams will put all bandages on the hurt child and give the child water. Then, they will all run back linking arms, at the elbows, as the team returns to the starting position. The team back first wins. Ask children what it would be like if they were hurt and no one helped them. Say, We are to help others, because we want to show others God s love. Game 2: Fishers of Men Ask, What does it mean to be fishers of men? Discuss how the disciples were first fishermen and then God called them to become fishers of men as they were going to tell others about Him. Designate a lake area and a land area. Children will form teams. One child will begin as the fisher of men on one side of the play area on the land as other children are in the lake on the opposite side. The first fisherman will run to the lake and link arms with a child as they bring them to the land and tell them Jesus loves you. Then, the child that was just told Jesus loves you, and sent to the land, will go and get a child from the lake and continue that pattern until all of their team has been caught. Another idea: Leaders can also use a similar fishing game. You can additionally have a pool set up on one side and children use small nets to catch a plastic fish or another fish item, and run back to their team. Game 3: Soccer ball Many kids around the world love to play soccer. As we kick the soccer ball around the circle, we will practice our memory verse this week. Game 4: Favorite Game of the week Children can pick one of this week s favorite games to repeat, or the leader can pick a game that you might not have had time to do this week and would like to do as you review what was learned this week. Page 8

70 Page 9 Game Teaching Guide

71 Snack Teaching Guide Love Him Love Them VBS, 2017

72 Snack Teaching Guide Snack Getting Ready for Snack Rotation: o Read over the lessons. Allow Him to teach you as you study beforehand what you will teach the children. o Pray for the children that will enter this rotation. Pray that God will teach them through you. o Gather all ingredients and supplies. o Snack rotation is a great time to allow children a bathroom break. o Use this rotation time to review things the children are learning. Additionally, take time to talk to the children as you build relationships. o Want an extra Haitian experience one day? You can serve the children a bowl of rice and beans as they will experience what most children daily eat in Haiti. Page 2

73 Snack Teaching Guide Snack Day 1 Rock Snack Materials/Ingredients: plate, pudding cup, vanilla wafers, spoon, napkin, drinks Today children will learn about how God is their Creator. Make a snack that will resemble God s creation of rocks in Haiti. Use vanilla wafers to resemble the rocks and chocolate pudding to resemble the dirt. You may have the snack already prepared for children, or give each child a plate with the items needed and allow them make their own Rock Pudding Snack. You, or children, will crumble vanilla wafers into big and small chunks and place those wafers into a cup of pudding. Stir the wafers, as you continue to add wafers into the pudding. Discuss with children how the rocks are a part of God s beautiful creation. Discuss good reasons for rocks and ways people use them in good ways. As children eat their snack, pray for the children of Haiti and thank God for His creation. You can also add gummy worms to the dirt for fun. Children can tell you their favorite thing God made as they eat. Page 3

74 Snack Teaching Guide Snack Day 2 Fire Pit Snack Materials/Ingredients: plate, pretzel sticks, cheese, grapes, bowl, napkin, water in a cup to drink Drink water today as we thank God we have clean water. Today children will learn that Jesus is the only way to be forgiven and clean from sin. As children begin their snack, pray, specifically thanking God for Jesus who forgives us of our sins. Explain to children that many people around the world cook over open fires. Show them a picture of someone cooking over an open fire. Explain to the children that their snack is/will be made to look like open fires that many people in Haiti use to cook over. If you are allowing children to make their own Fire Pit Snack, give each child a plate with the items needed. Place the grapes in the bowl first. Next, place pretzel sticks around the bowl and on top of the grapes. Children can tear their own cheese for their fire or use shredded cheese. Then, children can sprinkle the cheese around the top of the fire pit. Lastly, children can eat their yummy snack! This idea was originally found on the website Here is a picture, as seen in the Mission Video, of one example of a fire pit used in Haiti to cook over: Page 4

75 Snack Teaching Guide Snack Day 3 Homes in Haiti Materials/Ingredients: plate, plastic knife, graham or saltine crackers, fruit roll up, pretzel sticks, peanut butter or icing, napkins Today children will learn more about making God Lord of their life. As children build their house snack, you can discuss with older children how we must have God as the foundation of our life. Discuss how when storms come, the homes in Haiti, that do not have a strong foundation, will not last. Show pictures of homes in Haiti. You can explain to children that some homes are built better than other homes. You can tell children that one of the churches Love Him Love Them has helped build, was under a tent with poles and sticks, but now they are building it to be a better and stronger building. You can read from Matthew 7:24-27 as children make and eat their snack. Discuss what it means to build our life on Jesus. Ask, How can we be a wise builder? Children will build homes for their snack and then will eat the home they built. Children can try to build a home with pretzel sticks and fruit roll up. This home can show how hard it is for homes to stand during bad weather, because they are not built on a strong foundation. Then, children can build homes with crackers as the walls and roof. Children will see that this home is stronger than the first home. Younger children will need help as they connect the sides of the home together. Peanut butter or icing can be used to help the walls of the home stick together. Pray for children to build their life on Jesus as they make Him Lord of their life. Page 5

76 Snack Teaching Guide Haiti homes, pictured above, are examples of homes that can better protect and withstand the weather. Haiti homes, pictured above, are just two examples of homes that are not built strong. You can tell children that since Hurricane Matthew, Love Him Love Them has been helping many families who lost their homes in the hurricane. Page 6

77 Snack Teaching Guide Snack Day 4 Hearts Materials/Ingredients: various types of fruit and/ or other items (sandwiches, cookies, etc) shaped as hearts. Today children will learn how we can serve God with all our heart. We should do things for God and others because of our love for Jesus. Children in Haiti love to eat fruit. God has given us many great things to eat in His creation. The fruit that we eat today is shaped like a heart to remind us of God s love and how we are to love and serve Him with all of our heart. God cares for us and gives us things that are good for us to eat. In the Bible story today, Mary used the perfume that was very expensive on Jesus, but she poured it on Him because of her love for Him. Let s remember how much God loves us and how we are to love Him with all of our heart. Pray for children to know of God s love and for them to love Him. Page 7

78 Snack Teaching Guide Snack Day 5 Fish Materials/Ingredients: bowl or goldfish, plate with pretzel sticks ( fishing poles ) and pretzel snaps ( nets ), peanut butter, plastic knife, napkins Today children will learn they are to love everyone. Children will also learn that when they follow God, they are to be fishers of men. Children will put peanut butter on the end of their pretzel sticks and then will take it to the bowl of fish as they catch a fish. Children can also do the same on the snaps as they catch fish in the nets. As children are catching fish, remind them that we are to help other people know about God and God s love. Explain to the children how some of the disciples were once fisherman, but then they became fishers of men. Jesus told us to go and tell other people about Him. Have children discuss how they can be fishers of men. Pray for the children to become "fishers of men" who go and tell other people about God. *This activity was the most fun for the children that tried these snacks as we were planning this material. We hope your children enjoy it as much as they did! Page 8