The Guarded Heart Small Group

Transcription

1 Heart to Heart The Guarded Heart Small Group Bible Summary Mathew 26:69-75 This is the story of Peter s denial of Jesus. Mathew 26:14-16,47-50 This is the story of Judas betrayal of Jesus. Points to discuss and emphasize: Both Peter and Judas sinned against Jesus. They betrayed someone they loved. Jesus heart would have been wounded and broken. Mathew 26:75 Peter went out and wept bitterly. Discuss how Peter felt about what he did. Mathew 27:1-3 How did Judas feel about what he did? Try to vividly picture this for the children; how these two must have felt when Jesus died. Likely they had no idea it would turn out so badly. They felt awful! In fact, they were broken hearted. Both Peter and Judas (and Jesus) had broken hearts. They all responded differently? How? John 21:15-17 Peter chose to receive Christ s forgiveness and to forgive himself, chose life and healing. Judas chose not to forgive himself or receive forgiveness. He killed himself. Judas chose death. Jesus forgave them both (and everyone else), Luke 23:34. Jesus chose healing. Bible Verse Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23 Objectives The children will understand the need for a guarded heart and would understand what it means to guard their heart. The children will know at least two methods they can use to guard their hearts: memorizing Unit Summary: Heart to Heart This curriculum includes several lessons dealing with different kinds of hearts; eg. the soft heart, forgiving heart, joyful heart. The goal of the curriculum is to teach the children about the kind of heart that is pleasing to God and then to begin to form that kind of heart within them. The lessons attempt to facilitate that growth through the teaching, activities, worksheets, application and prayer. Our prayer is that this curriculum would be very practical and that children would be changed as a result of taking this course. Scripture and praying about all things. Supplies o Keeping a Soft Heart calendar o Guarded Heart worksheet Key Concept God wants His children to have guarded hearts. In Advance (done by your administrator) o Photocopy Soft Heart calendar o Gather and cut construction paper into strips. Littleton Vineyard Promiseland - Inviting children to a LIFE adventure of friendship with Jesus 1

2 Your Morning Schedule Arrive in the Kidatorium 30 minutes before the service begins to meet the rest of your team (Worship Leader and Large Group Leader) and pray. Check your Small Group supplies needed for the morning. Plan to be ready to help greet children 15 minutes before the service begin s, welcome new children and help draw children into a fun welcoming activity. Kids can stop at the memory verse station and earn Promiseland Bucks. (If a child is new, show them the verse sheets on the sign-in table and explain how they can earn Bucks.) Open the Promiseland Store. (One leader should man the store.) Invite kids to play a game with a new friend from the game cabinet. Help lead a simple craft or activity. Children start in Small Groups 5 minutes past the service start to meet YOU, their small group leader. Worship begins 10 minutes into the service. (9:10 a.m. or 10:55 a.m.) Participate with the kids in worship, help kids engage, and model worship! The Large Group lesson will run for about 10 minutes, then you will break into Small Groups for 20 minutes, when you ll then return to Large Group for the remaining of the lesson. Sit with children in Large Group and help them engage in the lesson. At the end of the service, help children at the Promiseland Store, help them work on their Memory Verses and tidy / clean up your Small Group area. Littleton Vineyard Promiseland - Inviting children to a LIFE adventure of friendship with Jesus 2

3 Kid Connection (5 minutes) WELCOME the kids to your Small Group. Welcome each child warmly and personally. Make sure you know each child s name. Introduce new children to others and match them with one specific child to make them feel at home. ASK, Have you ever had hurt feelings? What are some ways we can be hurt or hurt others? Transition SAY, In Large Group we re going to learn about how our hearts can be hurt and who is able to heal them. [When it s time for worship to begin, go with your kids to Large Group and be ready to participate in worship. Sit with your group. Help children stay engaged in the teaching.] Review Small Group (20 minutes) SAY, What are some ways we can guard our hearts? (Memorizing verses and praying about all things.) Another thing we can do is Bible Study or Quiet Time with God. Today in our activity we will practice doing that. Get the children to examine their own hearts. SAY, Why should we guard our hearts? (to keep them as God wants them to be soft, obedient, giving, etc. and to keep the enemy away from our hearts.) Activity: Practice Bible Study Supplies o Philippians 4 worksheet o Guarded Heart Worksheet o Pencils o Colored pencils Students will learn that when believers make having a quiet time with God a priority they are guarding their hearts from sin. Littleton Vineyard Promiseland - Inviting children to a LIFE adventure of friendship with Jesus 3

4 instructions: Draw a blue box around peace of God/God of peace and color yellow. (Verses 7,9) Circle each reference to God/Lord, Christ Jesus, Him red and color yellow. (Verses 1-2, 4-5, 7, 10, 13, 18-23) Make a purple cloud around rejoice/joy. (Verses 1,4,10) Circle-All/Any/Anything/Every/Everything/Nothing with green. (Verses 6-8, 12-13,18-19) In Philippians 4:8 Using blue underline twice the things we are to dwell on (think about). Draw a squiggly brown line under circumstance in verses Memory Verse EXPLAIN, "Our verse today reminds us that God wants us to guard our hearts. Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23 Prayer Bring the children s hearts to God. Pray with the children about things that worry them. Pray for protection of their hearts in the time ahead. Pray with them and affirm your time with them. At this point be sure to give each child 1 Promiseland BUCK just for being at church today. You can remind them that they can earn BUCKS by memorizing verses (5 BUCKS) for each verse, attending (1 BUCK), bringing a friend (1 BUCK), etc. Littleton Vineyard Promiseland - Inviting children to a LIFE adventure of friendship with Jesus 4

5 Guarded Heart Worksheet Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23 We guard our hearts by: (Psalm 119:11) scripture our sins and hurts and not letting our hearts get hard. against fear and worry. (Philippians 4:6-7) to bring peace to our hearts and guard them Above all else your heart for it is the of. Littleton Vineyard Promiseland - Inviting children to a LIFE adventure of friendship with Jesus 5

6 Philippians 4 Worksheet Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! 2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. 10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. 14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. 17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 21 Greet all God s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings. 22 All God s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar s household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen Littleton Vineyard Promiseland - Inviting children to a LIFE adventure of friendship with Jesus 6