Lesson 24 The Life of Jesus Ages 6-11

Transcription

1 Lesson 24 The Life of Jesus Ages 6-11 Unit 5 The King Who Teaches: Parables Part One Camp Venture Counselor s Guide The Sower KINGS & KINGDOMS PART 1 THE WORSHIP, THE WORD, & THE WAY Camp Games Fill The Bucket At the Campfire Worship Jesus as our Teacher Camp Critter: Earthworm Parable Point: Its wise to know which seed will grow. Bible Memory Verse You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:37-39 Tent Time Kingdom Parable: Luke 8:4-8, CAMPING SUPPLY CHECKLIST [] Set out mats or sit-upons in a semicircle, Counselor s camp chair [] Camp Venture Counselor s Guide on a clipboard and a Counselor s Bible [] Camp Games: One timer set at 10 minutes, eight buckets, four small shovels or large spoons, water [] At the Campfire: Lesson 24 Critter Kingdom Sketch or Storybook [] Camp Cooler: Parable Pal s Letter, four Sow That Seed Cards (available for download at or directions to create cards on page six of this Lesson), one large seed per child, tape [] Got Time? Gear: Ribbon, large wood bead, glue, tape, markers, scissors, hole punch, seeds, flat, wood stick, fruit with visible seeds, juice, napkins, plates, cups, one piece of poster board, pencil, crayons, markers or paint, Bible Memory Verse Song, colored paper, scissors, Unit 5 Bible Memory Verse poster [] Parable Poster Project: One piece of poster board, pencil, crayons, markers or paint, Bible Memory Verse Song. Optional: glue and seeds [] Kingdom Parable Book [] Kingdom Parable Card: The Sower [] Bonus Kingdom Parable Card: The Good Gifts [] Daily Way Lesson 24 ADD-A-VENTURE Use additional items to create the Camp Venture experience. For example: set up a camp tent, Camp Venture Photo Board or photo album including photos of each camper, fire logs surrounded with stones as a flameless campfire, etc.

2 Camp Games (30 Minutes) Welcome to Camp Venture! Each time before we worship, we get to know each other better and have some fun with our Camp Games. First, let s dedicate this day of camp to King Jesus. (Pray.) Today we re going to learn a special parable about growing. Everything needs water to grow. Let s play a camp game using water! FILL THE BUCKET PURPOSE: To provide a fun, safe environment to encourage good sportsmanship while building relationships. GAME GOAL: To have the team bucket with the most water at end of game SUPPLIES: One timer set to 10 minutes, eight buckets, four small shovels or large spoons, water PREPARATION: Place four empty buckets in the center of the room. Place a bucket full of water and a shovel or spoon in each corner of the room. Play this game outside or protect indoor flooring with sheets of plastic. Encourage the campers to walk quickly, but carefully to avoid spilling and get as much water as possible into their buckets. 1. Each team forms a line behind (or next to) a bucket of water. 2. When a Counselor starts the timer, the first camper in each line scoops up water with their shovel or spoon and carries it to their team bucket. 3. After pouring the water into the bucket, they run back to their team line, pass the shovel or spoon to the next camper in line, and join the team at the end of the line. 4. The game stops when time runs out. The team with the most water in their bucket in the center of the room wins the game. POINTS: First place: 100,000 Second place: 70,000 Third place: 50,000 Fourth place: 30,000 Teams with great sportsmanship: 50,000 Teams cheering for other teams: 50,000 Grand Prize: On the final day at Camp Venture, all members of the winning team receive a surprise grand prize for their team. The grand prize can be an ice cream party, pizza party, etc. Before closing on the last day, have the winning team invite all of the other teams to join the party. Always encourage good sportsmanship and cheering for each other. *Counselor Clues: For added fun, be very generous with points (For example: 100,000 points for 1 st place; 75,000 points for 2 nd place; 40,000 points for 3 rd place; 30,000 points for 4 th place. The teams will end up with point totals in the millions at the end of camp.) 2

3 At the Campfire (15 Minutes) We gather at the campfire to worship Jesus as our Teacher. He used parables to teach us the mysteries of His Kingdom. One way we can help His Kingdom is by giving our offering. (Collect offering.) We thank God for the way He grows our faith. His Holy Spirit helps our hearts, minds and souls to grow and build His Kingdom everyday. God tell us about that in our Bible Memory Verse. What does Yahweh mean? (Yahweh means God. Sing Bible Memory Verse Song.) When we are obeying the commandments to love God and our neighbors, we will do wonderful things that build His Kingdom. That s another great way to worship Him! Today s camp critter is the earthworm. The earthworm lives in the ground and helps plants grow. Worship Elements: Collect and lead prayer for an offering. Read Critter Kingdom Storybook or perform Sketch which includes the Camper s Code and Critter Kingdom Song. Camper s Code I will love God with all my heart. I will love my neighbor as myself. I will be a light wherever I go. Praise Song Suggestions Select songs containing lyrics about God helping us grow in our faith. Fruit Of The Spirit I Wanna Be Like You Every Move I Make Amazing Grace Critter Kingdom Song I spied a earthworm overhead. Here is what that earthworm said, It s wise to know which seed will grow. I spied an EARTHWORM, who followed the FALCON. And the falcon hollered, Yippee-kigh-yay! At Camp Venture today! Bible Memory Verse Song Yahweh Everyday: You Shall Love The Lord Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV) Verse You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself: the best commandments you ll find. Chorus Yahweh! I know I can go to Yahweh! She can, he can go to Yahweh! We know we can go to Yahweh everyday! Repeat Verse and Chorus faster. Repeat Verse and Chorus faster. Sheet music and recordings available at 3

4 Tent Time (15 Minutes) (Tent time should take place in a corner of the classroom, under a tent or any covered space. Remove chairs and have children sit on mats or sit-upons.) Kingdom Parable Welcome to Tent Time! At the campfire, you heard about the parable of the sower. If you brought your Bible, open it to Luke 8:4-8, so you can follow along silently. First let s ask God to open our hearts, souls and minds to His Word today. Who d like to pray that for us? (Choose a camper to pray aloud. Read Luke 8:4-8, ) What is a sower? (A sower is a farmer who spreads the seed by tossing it on the ground so it can grow.) In this parable, the sower stands for God. What do you think the seed represents? (God s Word, the Bible.) Like the sower spreads the seed, God spreads His Word everywhere. Jesus told the parable of the sower to teach us the different things that may happen to people who hear God s Word. 4

5 Tent Time continued (15 Minutes) Cabin Cooler Let s open our Cabin Cooler to see if you Parable Pal will give us a clue about what the parable of the sower has to do with your life today. (Volunteer opens cooler and reads the note.) Hello Campers, It s your Parable Pal here hope you re having a great day at Camp Venture! Have you ever wondered why some people believe in Jesus and some people don t? Have you? Well, I have! I know a cool game called Sow That Seed. It can help us figure it out together. First take out the four Sow That Seed Cards in your Cabin Cooler. They are pictures that remind us of the four kinds of ground in the parable of the sower. Look at each picture card and answer these two questions: 1. How does this ground show us what may happen when someone hears God s Word? 2. How might that happen in your life or the life of a friend? Now, make a seed sowing target by placing the four Sow That Seed Cards faceup with their edges touching to make one big rectangle. You can tape it together with the tape from your cooler. Ask your Counselor to divide you into three teams. Grab a seed from the seed bag and take turns sowing (that s tossing) your seed at the target. If your seed lands on the path with birds, you win 25 team points. If your seed lands on the rocky soil or the thorny soil, you win 50 team points. If you seed lands on the good soil, you win 100 team points. The team with the most points wins! Have fun and sow that seed! (Play Sow That Seed. ) Great sowing! Seeds in good soil grows into plants that grow good fruit. That is called bearing fruit. Good fruit stands for good actions and attitudes that please God and build His Kingdom. Your challenge today is to bear good fruit in what you do, think and say! Keep cool, campers! Your Parable Pal 5

6 Tent Time continued (15 Minutes) Sow That Seed Card Directions (Cards available for download at or create your own according to the following directions.) Using four, standard size sheets of paper, print or draw the following on the front of each paper: Picture of birds on a path Picture of rocks or rocky ground Picture of thorns or thorny ground Picture of good soil with plants growing in it On the back of each piece of paper, print or write the following corresponding information: Birds on path: Like birds taking seed, the devil may take away the Word of God from the hearts of ones who hear it. If we believe someone who tells us that the Bible is not true, we are like seeds on the path. Luke 8:11-12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the Word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Rocky soil: Thorny soil: Good soil: Like seeds that begin to grow in rocky soil and then wither in the hot sun, some people s faith may begin joyfully when they first hear God s Word, but fade quickly when hard times come. If it doesn t seem like prayers are being answered, some people will stop believing God s Word. Luke 8:11-13 Those on the rock are the ones who receive the Word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. Like seeds that begin to grow and are choked by the thorns, faith can be pushed aside by focusing on our problems. Even focusing on riches and good times can be like thorns that stop our faith from growing. Our faith fades away when we think more about ourselves than God. Luke 8:14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. Like seeds that grow well in good soil, people who hear God s Word and understand it, will listen, remember and obey God s Word. They will grow in faith and do many good things in God s eyes. The fruit stands for those good things. Luke 8:15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the Word, retain it, and be persevering produce a crop. 6

7 Tent Time continued (15 Minutes) Share A Prayer Let s thank God for sending us His Word, the Bible! We can pray for each other and all who live in this world for them to hear His Word, too. (Ask campers for individual praise and prayer requests.) Father in heaven, thank you for sending us Your Word. You know our needs the ones we just shared out loud and the ones that we hide in our hearts. We lift all these up to Your throne now. (Pause of silence.) We can t wait to see the way that You will answer each one. Together, we close this prayer with the words Jesus taught us to pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Final Five (When only five minutes remain, begin this segment.) Kingdom Parable Card As you leave today, you ll receive The Sower Kingdom Parable Card. Put it in your Kingdom Parable Book at home. Collect ten cards by joining us here each time at Camp Venture. Plus, each time you compete a Daily Way, you ll receive a Bonus Kingdom Parable Card, too! (This week s Bonus Kingdom Parable Card is The Good Gifts.) Prayer Requests How can I pray for you this week? (As campers work on their Letters from Camp, write individual requests in your teacher s prayer notebook.) Letter From Camp Write a Letter from Camp to We someone can also in your thank home God to for let creation them through know what prayer. you did We today. can pray Write for each your favorite other and thing all who about live today in this world and something He has given special us. about (Ask campers the for parable individual you praise just learned. and prayer Sign re-iquests.) and take Let s it home. pray. Camper Challenge (Hand out Lesson 24 Daily Way.) Complete your Daily Way at home and bring it back next week to win points for your team here at Camp Venture and you ll receive a Bonus Kingdom Parable Card! 7

8 Got Time? (If time remains, choose from the connected activities in this segment.) ROCK, SOIL, SEED GETTING STARTED ACTIVITY PURPOSE: To introduce the parable of the sower by playing a variation of the traditional game: Rock, Paper, Scissors. SUPPLIES: None ASK> Jesus told many stories called parables to teach about God s Kingdom. In today s parable, Jesus tells us about seeds that were sown (tossed) in different places. (Make hand signal for seed by putting thumb and forefinger together as if holding a seed.) Some seeds landed on rocks. (Make fist as rock signal.) Can seeds grow on rocks? (No.) Some seeds landed in good soil. (Face palm of hand down as soil signal.) Can seeds grow in good soil? (Yes.) Let s choose partners and play Rock, Soil, Seed. 1. Divide campers into pairs. 2. Campers practice the following hand positions: Rock: fist Seed: thumb and forefinger together as if holding a seed Soil: palm facing down like flat soil 3. Campers tap their right fist over their left fist two times while counting out loud, One, two 4. On the third count, all campers make a hand signal for rocks, seed, or soil. 5. The winner in each pair is determined based on the following rules: ROCKS stop seeds. Rocks stop roots from going deep. (Put fist over fingers holding pretend seed.) SOIL covers rocks. Good soil is more fruitful than rocky soils. (Palm covers fist.) SEEDS cover soil. Seeds cover the soil when they are sown. (Fingers holding seed on palm.) 6. Repeat steps 3-5 to play again. *Counselor Clue: Practice the hand positions several times before playing game. With younger campers, go slowly and help each set of partners make their hand signals. 8

9 Got Time? continued PARABLE WIND CHIMES: THE SOWER APPLICATION PURPOSE: Create a wind chime strand to remember the parable of the sower. SUPPLIES: Ribbon, large wood bead, glue, tape, markers, scissors, hole punch, seeds, flat, wood stick PREPARE: Cut one 20-inch ribbon for each camper. To maintain balance, punch today s ribbon hole directly opposite the strand attached on previous lesson, approximately one inch in from the edge. Create a sample craft to display. ASK> Today we heard the story of the sower. Why did Jesus tell this parable? (To help us understand what happens when different people hear God s Word.) Some people are like the seeds eaten by the birds. What do they do when they hear God s Word? (They do not believe it.) Some people are like the seed thrown on the rock. What do they do with God s Word? (They only believe for a short time.) Some people are like the seeds surrounded by thorns. What do they do with God s Word? (They believe until worries and riches get in the way.) Some are like the seeds planted in good soil. What do they do when they hear God s Word? (They believe and grow as followers of Jesus.) Let s make a wind chime strand to help us remember the sower parable. 1. Thread the 20-inch ribbon up through the hole on the edge of the plate. 2. Tie a knot in the 20-inch ribbon on the top of the plate large enough to prevent the ribbon from pulling back through the plate. 3. Tie a bead to bottom of the 20-inch ribbon. 4. Lay ribbon on flat surface. Glue the flat, wood stick lengthwise to the center of the ribbon. 5. Spread a thin layer of glue onto the other side of the stick. 6. Sprinkle, or place, seeds onto the glue. Let the glue set before moving the stick. OPTIONAL: Before attaching any of the ribbons, decorate the paper plate wind chime base. Knot ribbon above plate around a large bead. Use brown or green ribbon and beads to match seeds and plant theme. Substitute beads with any materials available: buttons, shells, small stones, small metal objects, etc. *Counselor Clue: Parable Wind Chimes is a craft that will be completed throughout Lessons as the parables of Jesus are taught. Each week, a new strand representing the parable taught that week will be added to the paper plate base of the wind chimes. Photographs of the completed wind chime craft as well as individual wind chime strands are available at 9

10 Got Time? continued FRUIT OF THE SOIL SNACK PURPOSE: Children notice seeds and enjoy fruit as they personally connect to the story. SUPPLIES: Fruit with visible seeds, juice, napkins, plates, cups Let s enjoy some delicious fruit. Where did the fruit come from? (A tree or plant.) How did the tree or plant begin? (As a seed.) We can eat this good fruit because a seed was planted in good soil, grew up, and grew the fruit. The seed is like God s Word. When we listen to God s Word, it s like planting the seed in good soil. Like the seed grows, our faith in God grows as we listen to and obey His Word. Then, because God s Word is in our hearts, we want to obey Him. He helps us to do good things for Him, just like the plant gives us good fruit to eat! 1. Serve fruit and juice. 2. Child prays to thank God for the snack. 3. Ask the Meet & Greet Question: What is your favorite flower? BONUS PARABLE: THE GROWING SEED DISCUSSION PURPOSE: To introduce and discuss another parable Jesus taught His followers. SUPPLIES: A Bible open to Mark 4:26-29 Today s bonus parable is the story of the growing seed. (Volunteer or teacher reads Mark 4:26-29.) Who do you think makes the seed grow? (God.) What do you think the seed stands for in this parable? (Respond.) Some say the seed stands for God s Word, which is the Bible. How can God s Word help your faith grow strong like the growing plant? (The more we know about God, the more we will have faith in Him.) PARABLE POSTER PROJECT CAMP CRAFT (10 LESSON PROJECT) PURPOSE: Campers collaborate to create a picture of each parable to hang around the room or create an oversized book. SUPPLIES: One piece of poster board, pencil, crayons, markers or paint, Bible Memory Verse Song. Optional: Use glue and seeds on the picture. PREPARE: Place the piece of poster board where all the campers can reach to have a turn drawing or coloring. Divide the campers into four teams to each work on a segment of the poster. Play the Bible Memory Verse Song as campers work on the poster. Draw a cross that divides the poster into four large segments 1. In upper left segment, draw some hungry birds and some seeds. 2. In upper right segment, draw rocks and a brown, withered plant. 3. In lower right segment, draw thorny vines and a thirsty, wilted plant. 4. In lower left segment, draw good soil with a large tree growing fruit. 5. Draw a few dots in all four segments as seeds or glue real seeds. 6. Assign one camper to print The Sower on the poster. 10

11 Got Time? continued BIBLE MEMORY VERSE ACTIVITIES Unit 5 Bible Memory Verse: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:37-39 THE WAVE PURPOSE: To help campers memorize the Unit 5 Bible Memory Verse. 1. Assign one phrase from Matthew 22:37-39 to each camper or team. 2. As helper directs, each camper or team quickly stands, says assigned phrase while raising both hands up to the sky and then down to thighs and sits down. 3. Repeat three times, faster each time. COLOR DECODE OBJECT: Campers unscramble and learn the words to the Unit 5 Bible Memory Verse. SUPPLIES: Colored paper, scissors, Unit 5 Bible Memory Verse poster PREPARE: Cut each sheet of colored paper into four equal-size cards. Divide the Unit 5 Bible Memory Verse into four phrases. Write one phrase on each set of four cards of one color. Create one set of a different color for every four campers. Mix up all of the sets. Display the Bible Memory Verse poster. 1. Say the Bible Memory Verse together. 2. Distribute the cards in random order. 3. Each camper searches for the other three campers with matching color cards. 4. Once together, the campers put their cards in the correct order of the Bible Memory Verse and sit down. (They can use the Bible Memory Verse poster as a reference.) 5. Repeat steps 2 through 4 to play again. How should we love God? (With all our heart, soul and mind.) How should we love our neighbors? (As ourselves.) Jesus told parables to teach us how to live together in God s Kingdom. The parables teach us how to love God and each other. GETTING TO KNOW YOU BIBLE MEMORY VERSE DISCUSSION PURPOSE: Campers get to love their neighbors by learning about their favorite things. Gather in a circle and discuss some of the camper s favorite things. What is your favorite thing about: being outside? last week s parable of the lost sheep? going on vacation? being at Camp Venture? 11