God s Church Theme: Investigation Station Table of Contents EDITORIAL STAFF Editor in Chief: Robin Johnston Associate Editor, Curriculum: Lee Ann Alexander Children s Editor: Chris Anderson Preteen Editor: Deanna Barnes WRITERS Kent d Curry, Ashley Hibbetts, Sharon Krnavek, Kara McCoy, Melinda Poitras, Misrak Sykes, Barbara Westberg THEME DEVELOPMENT Hannah Kellogg DESIGNER Layout: Dennis Fiorini Artist: Anthony Mitchell Editorial: Lessons from a Fish Hatchery... 2 Theme: Investigation Station... 4 Kids in Missions... 7 A Preview of Spring 2019... 53 UNIT 1: MISSION December 2, 2018 1 Share the Gospel (Churches in Thessalonica)... 8 December 9, 2018 2 God Honors Worshipers (Lydia)... 14 December 16, 2018 3 God s Message (Jason s House)... 19 December 23, 2018 4 Jesus Is the Christ (Paul Testifies)... 25 UNIT 2: DIRECTION December 30, 2018 5 Search God s Word (Berea)... 30 January 6, 2019 6 God Can Be Known (Mars Hill)... 36 January 13, 2019 7 God Encourages Us (God s Vision to Paul)... 41 January 20, 2019 8 God Uses Teachers (Aquila and Priscilla; Apollos)... 47 UNIT 3: RELATIONSHIP January 27, 2019 9 Trust and Rejoice in God (Paul and Silas in Jail)... 54 February 3, 2019 10 God Cares for Us (Elisha s Room)... 59 February 10, 2019 11 God Wants Us to Please Him (Daniel s Choice)... 64 February 17, 2019 12 Jesus Is Coming Back (John s Vision of Heaven)... 70 REVIEW February 24, 2019 13 God s Church... 76 Join us on our Facebook group. Interact with editors and Sunday school teachers. Post pictures of your class. Brag on what God is doing in your class. You teach with us; now interact with us. Check out our group, Word Aflame Preteen Curriculum Teachers. Preteen Teacher s Manual Manufactured in U.S.A., December 2018 1421911 www.pentecostalpublishing.com All rights reserved 2018 Pentecostal Publishing House, 36 Research Park Court, Weldon Spring, MO 63304 Materials in this curriculum may only be copied for use in the local classroom. Do not reproduce, distribute, or transmit any other part of the Word Aflame curriculum in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without possessing prior documented approval from Pentecostal Publishing House, a department of the United Pentecostal Church International. To request permission, contact customerservice@pentecostalpublishing.com. Websites indicated in source citations are not intended to imply an endorsement by Pentecostal Publishing House (PPH), nor does PPH vouch for the content of these sites. Given the transient nature of online publications, it is possible a web address may no longer be active or may have been altered since the print date of this publication. All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version unless otherwise noted.
Explaining Our Acronyms and Symbols (trp) = Teacher s Resource Packet = Downloadable resource using code on TRP instruction sheet (ap) = Activity Paper THEME DEVELOPMENT Theme: Investigation Station Welcome students to a laboratory where they can investigate God s Word. Help them examine Scripture and find evidence of their roles in God s kingdom, along with their responsibility to share the gospel. BP = Bible Point MV = Memory Verse KiM = Kids in Missions SMP = Special Memory Passage Provide a fun learning environment where students find their Aha! moments. Shine a light on their potential. Above all, magnify Jesus. Room Decoration The suggested wall decorating ideas can be adapted for any size classroom or teaching situation. Decorations can be basic or detailed and three-dimensional. Designs can be reduced in size to fit bulletin boards. Simply choose the best ideas for your students. Keep all important items for interaction and teaching at the students eye level. Anything higher should simply be used for decoration. Attach the door poster (trp) to welcome students to God s Bureau of Investigation. If shared spaces prohibit the use of entire walls, reduce wall ideas to a bulletin board. Teaching Walls Wall 1: Instructional Wall The instructional wall should have a writing board as the focal point for teaching lesson segments. Attach the Special Memory Passage poster (trp) and the Kids in Missions map (trp) to this wall. The focus this quarter is the Pacific region. See page 7 for more information, along with optional missions-related activities provided throughout the lessons. Use the map each week as a reminder to pray for missionaries and their families. Display the New Birth poster (trp), Hot on the Trail of Salvation (trp), in this area. Review God s plan of salvation frequently during class sessions. Follow the Footsteps of Jesus Wall 2: Follow the Footsteps of Jesus Using the theme art, create a trail of footsteps across all walls of the room. Make life-sized detective silhouettes from black butcher paper, and place them at the start of the footsteps. Enlarge and cut out the magnifying glass. Inside of it, spell out: Follow the Footsteps of Jesus. Investigate God s Word Wall 3: Investigate God s Word Cover the wall or bulletin board with a solid color of paper (or plastic tablecloth). Attach the unit MV posters (trp) to this wall. From the theme art, copy and cut out several different sizes of the magnifying glass. Attach the magnifying glasses randomly around the posters. Place a table or desk nearby with an open Bible on top. Add a few investigation tools (briefcase, microscope, case files, maps, phone records, an easel with evidence photos, law journals, and so on) to the table or propped against the wall. 4
Wall 4: Investigation Tracking Cover this wall with large squares or rectangles of paper in coordinating colors. Write students names on manila folders and attach the folders to the wall. Students attendance charts (ap) and memory charts (ap) can be kept in the folders. On a nearby table, place an inkless fingerprint pad (available at office supply stores or online) and a container of pens. Tim Zach Sue Joey Tom Jill EVIDENCE Doug If space permits, use the theme art to add forensic investigation station pieces to the wall. On the table, place a few evidence bags, magnifying glasses, binoculars, plastic gloves, face masks, and flashlights. Attendance Attendance charts are provided with the activity papers, along with a master for printing extra copies as needed. Students track attendance this quarter by using an inkless fingerprint pad to print their thumbprints on the Agency Attendance Record. During the final class of the quarter, students will tally their attendance and sign their pages. Memory Work Memory charts are also provided with the activity papers, along with a master for printing extra copies as needed. As students do their memory work each week, they sign their names to verify they have received training from the agency s guidebook, the Bible. During the final class of the quarter, students will tally their training hours. Additional Bulletin Board Ideas Seek the Truth From the theme art, cut a detective silhouette from black paper. Use yellow paper to make a beam of light from the flashlight. Overlay the words: Seek the Truth. Magnify the Lord From the theme art, enlarge and cut out a magnifying glass. Curve the words Magnify the around the top and position LORD in large letters inside. Use this board to stimulate discussion about how to magnify the Lord rather than other things in our lives. Wanted! Design a WANTED poster for each student. Cut brown wrapping paper rectangles (approximately 8'' x 10''). Crinkle the paper and tear the edges to create a weathered appearance. On each poster in large letters, write or print out: WANTED. Glue a photo of each student in the center of each poster. Attach the posters to a wall with a black background. Above the posters use white lettering, brushed with strong black tea (to create weathered appearance), to spell out: Wanted! Witnesses for Jesus! SEEK THE TRUTH Magnify the LORD Extra Investigation Theme Ideas Dress as a detective while teaching. Provide a lab coat for each student. Order GBI Staff t-shirts (black or navy blue shirts with white printing) for students to wear during class time. (GBI=God s Bureau of Investigation) Make detective badges for students to wear during class time. Provide toy sunglasses, fake mustaches, and fedora hats. Take funny photos for students to share with their friends or on social media. 5
SHARE IT! Be sure to share pictures and videos of your class in action. Upload your photos to the Facebook group, Word Aflame Preteen Curriculum Teachers. Spread the joy! Inspire others! Please remember to obtain signed permission (via the child information forms ) to share videos or pictures of children online. Investigation Theme Snack Ideas Hot on the Trail mix (be aware of peanut or other student allergies) Proof in the Pudding Cups (hide gummy worms in the pudding) Make Your Own Molecules (toothpicks, grapes, blueberries, cut-up fruit, mini marshmallows) Mystery Snack that students examine with magnifying glasses Offering Collect offerings in an evidence bag. Use a large black permanent marker to write on a brown paper lunch bag: Evidence of Our Love for Jesus! Volunteers Randomly selecting names as a way of choosing volunteers can help maintain order and expedite processes during class sessions. Use black permanent marker to write each student s name on a large craft stick, along with a few guest sticks. Place the sticks in a container labeled: Detective of the Week. Home Connection Each lesson ends with a few suggested methods to connect the lesson to the home. The Home Connection take-home piece (trp) provides a unit overview, laying out each lesson s biblical text, Bible Point, and Life Application, as well as suggesting a fun family activity to further stimulate discussion. Please note that all children s levels are included on one sheet, making it easy for parents of children across multiple ages to discuss the day s lesson. In addition, we have provided a great weekly family devotional to give to parents, or they can download it by going to the URL address at the bottom of each activity paper. http://pentecostalpublishing.com/homeconnection Facebook Join our Facebook group, Word Aflame Preteen Curriculum Teachers. Interact with editors and Sunday school teachers. Share tips and gather ideas. Post pictures of your class (with parental permission) and encourage others by posting what God is doing in your students lives. Collecting Evidence Consider charting evidence this quarter evidence of spiritual growth. During the first lessons, ask each teacher to stealthily write a few observations about each student. Teachers should keep all comments kind, but describe any needs for improvement. Summarize the notes and give a copy to each teacher to use as a prayer tool. Pray consistently for wisdom to help each student to step up to a higher level. At the end of the quarter, conduct student observations again. Compare the notes to those from the beginning of the quarter. Discuss progress and plans for the future. Celebrate answered prayer. 6
1 SHARE THE GOSPEL December 2 2018 Unit 1 Mission Unit Aim Students will draw conclusions that they should tell God s message of salvation to others. Unit Bible Verses Acts 18:9 10 Scripture Text Acts 16:6 10; 17:1 4 Bible Lesson Verse Acts 16:10 Bible Point God wants us to share the gospel with others. Life Application I will share the gospel with others. CORE SUPPLIES Excite and Engage Welcome: Attendance charts (ap), inkless fingerprint pad, evidence offering bag, file folders, markers Opening Activity: : Cut six 3-inch holes in a large posterboard. Behind each hole, attach a sandwich bag to catch ping-pong balls as they go through the holes. Tape the posterboard to the top of a door frame. Tape off a throwing line 6 8 feet from the posterboard. 12 ping-pong balls (6 per team, preferably in two different colors), activity papers (page 1), pencils, New Birth poster (trp), whiteboard and marker Relate and Receive Bible Lesson: Bibles, necktie, briefcase Apply and Act Life Application: Activity papers (page 1), pencils Prayer and Call to Action: Paper (1 sheet per student), pencils, globe, I Will Follow by Chris Tomlin, Set a Fire by United Pursuit Home Connection: Copies of the Home Connection calendar (trp) and lesson 1 devotion (1 per student), covers of activity paper (1 per student), child information form (1 per student) EXPANDED SUPPLIES Worship and the Word Worship: Suggested songs: Tell the World by Hillsong Kids, The Gospel by Ryan Stevenson Memory Work: Write words and/or phrases of Acts 18:9 10 on small pieces of paper (or copy the Acts 18:9 10 phrases from lesson 3 and cut apart). Place each piece of paper in a separate envelope. Each student needs an envelope. Bible, unit 1 MV poster (trp), markers, tape, memory charts (ap), pens Reinforce and Review Activity Paper: Activity papers (page 2), pencils Option 1: Disposable tablecloth, paint shirts (1 per student), 3'' x 5'' cardboard rectangles (1 per student), washable poster paint, paintbrush, pencils with erasers, paper towels, wet wipes for cleanup Option 2: Option 3: Gather information, pictures, and current news about the Pacific region and missionaries of the area using library books, the internet, and www.globalmissions.com. Kids in Mission poster (trp) Using Downloadable Resources Do you ever forget your teacher s manual? Or loan it to another teacher? Be prepared with the digital resources. Before the quarter begins, follow the process on page 2 to download the entire manual to your electronic device. You can check supplies, study, and focus your prayers with a few simple clicks on your device. Using the digital files also allows you to customize your lessons. 8 NOTE: Some smartphones will not open zip files but will open PDFs. Save the zip files to your computer and then send the PDF to your phone.
Teacher Devotional Read Acts 16:6 10; 17:1 4. Prayerfully consider what this passage says: About God How determined is God to get the gospel into hungry hearts? Acts 16 tells us how God rerouted history s greatest missionary, Paul, from entering Asia Minor because a man in Macedonia wanted the good news. That is still how much God wants us to share His good news with others. To You as a Teacher He was a sculptor. At the age of twenty-eight, he had already sculpted what would become one of the world s most famous statues. He signed his letters with Sculptor. Then his boss informed him he was a painter and forced him to paint in an obscure place in an overlooked chapel. The sculptor hated it, fled, but was forced to return and paint. As a result, we now have the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Everyone in Scripture was rerouted by God at some point and they were more effective because of it. It is not about our plans, but our service to His plans. To Your Students While geography is not a strength of many children in this era, a map study of Paul s journeys will put his travels into perspective. Paul s primary methods of travel were by boat and by using his own two feet. Not many preteens understand how far a mile is, so use local landmarks or neighboring cities to give a sense of distance to Paul s travels... all because God would not overlook a hungry heart in Macedonia. CORE (designed for a teaching period around 45 minutes) EXCITE AND ENGAGE Welcome Welcome students to the new quarter with a tour of the classroom. Students add a fingerprint to their attendance charts (ap). Choose a volunteer to collect the offering and announce the Bible Point and Life Application: God wants us to share the gospel with others. I will share the gospel with others. Opening Activity: Ping-Pong Toss Form two teams. Assign Team 1 the Bible Point: God wants us to share the gospel with others. Assign Team 2 the Life Application: I will share the gospel with others. Line up teams behind the throwing line in front of the prepared posterboard that has been taped to a door frame. Hand each team s first student six ping-pong balls. One student says, God wants us to share the gospel with others. The other student says, I will share the gospel with others. Then throwing from behind the line, they simultaneously race to throw a ball through a hole in the posterboard. The first to make it through a hole earns their team a point. Then they pick up the balls and hand them to the next two students in line before taking a seat. Continue until everyone is seated. Distribute activity papers and pencils. On the board, define the gospel (the good news of the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus). Students should copy the definition on the first box of their papers. Using the New Birth poster (trp), explain God s plan of salvation. This is the application of the gospel to our lives. On their activity papers, students answer the second question, How do I apply the gospel to my life? Why is it important to share God s good news with joy and excitement? Students keep activity papers for the Life Application section. 9
RELATE AND RECEIVE Access Prior Experience: How do you share good news with your friends? Ask students to demonstrate with expressions and body language. Bible Lesson Verse And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them (Acts 16:10). Bible Lesson: Paul s Vision (Acts 16:6 10; 17:1 4) In the Book of Acts, the apostle Paul created lots of excitement as he traveled and shared the gospel in many areas. When he arrived in a new city, he would go straight to the local synagogue the Jewish meeting place. Drape the necktie around a student Paul. Hand him a Bible and tell him to act as if he is preaching with enthusiasm. As Paul preached, some people believed, but others rejected the good news of Jesus. Yet Paul kept traveling and preaching, working long hours night and day through good times and bad. He loved God. He loved people. As he traveled, other preachers would help him. Choose another volunteer to carry the briefcase Silas. Direct both actors to walk around the room, acting like traveling preachers. Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, after they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas (Acts 16:6 8). And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us (Acts 16:9). Now when... they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: and Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few (Acts 17:1 4). 10 Let a student read Acts 16:6 8. God s plan sometimes differed from Paul s ideas. As Paul and Silas traveled, God kept rerouting them. Tell the preachers to stop and kneel, as if in prayer. After spending a few moments listening to God, they should stand and walk in a different direction. Although they were being redirected by God, the changes were probably frustrating. These were dedicated preachers. They just wanted to tell the world about Jesus. How do you think Paul and Silas might have felt? Finally, God made things very plain. Paul and Silas sleep. During the night, God gave Paul a vision. Ask students to examine verse 9 and act out the actions of the man of Macedonia. God knows everything. He knows where His gospel can be shared most effectively. He directed Paul to people who were ready to hear the gospel. Choose students to read Acts 17:1 4. These verses show the fulfillment of Paul s vision from God. Many people believed the good news and asked Paul and Silas for more information. Because Paul submitted to God s changes, the gospel reached people who were hungry for God. APPLY AND ACT Life Application: I will share the gospel with others. Point to the graphic on the activity paper. Jesus is the best news ever! He is greater than the latest superhero. His love exceeds any love story. His Spirit is more valuable than piles of money. Ask students to fill out the rest of the AP by recalling expressions and actions when sharing good news with their friends. When I share good news with my friends, I... So when I share the gospel, I will... It is important to pray and listen to God before sharing the gospel because... God has provided me with talents or methods to share His gospel; these include...
Let students express their own ideas, but guide them to include teaching Bible lessons, singing, praying for others, and helping others. God gives each of us specific talents and abilities to help us reach specific people. Most important, we must be filled with the Holy Ghost. When we are led by God s Spirit, He leads us to those people who are ready to learn about Him. In the blank at the bottom, students write spirit. Prayer and Call to Action Hand out paper and pencils. As you play I Will Follow by Chris Tomlin, let students list at least ten places they will definitely go to this week. Once their list is complete, change the music to Set a Fire by United Pursuit. Let students prayerfully envision entering into each of their listed locations. What does it look like to share the gospel in each location? How can you show the love of God and open an opportunity to discuss the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus? Ask them to mentally prepare themselves to tell others about Jesus. God wants us to share the gospel with others. To close, gather around the globe. Discuss the importance of sharing the gospel in our communities and around the world. Have students place their hands on various regions of the world and pray for the people living in each area. Home Connection For each student, send home a copy of the unit 1 Home Connection calendar (trp) and lesson 1 devotion, or point out the URL on page 2 of the activity paper to parents so they can download it themselves. Send home the cover of the activity paper, showing parents that it contains the memory work for the entire quarter. Use the child information forms to get contact information for parents. This will be used to establish a home connection throughout the quarter. If you are planning on doing option 1 of lesson 2 (page 18), text or email parents at some point midweek, asking them to remind their children to prepare for the talent show. Students will need to bring necessary items, such as musical instruments, artwork, or poetry. EXPANDED (designed for a teaching period over 45 minutes) WORSHIP AND THE WORD Worship Lead exciting worship and help students become aware of their responsibility to share the gospel. Suggested songs: Tell the World by Hillsong Kids The Gospel by Ryan Stevenson 11
Memory Work Give each student a marker and an envelope containing one word or phrase from the unit 1 memory verse. Allow a few minutes for students to walk around the room to find three students to sign their envelopes. After students gather three signatures, they return to their seats. Consider printing a unit 1 MV handout to send home with each student. Choose a student to come to the front. This student is spreading the gospel. Every student who signed her envelope should join her at the front. These students have received the gospel. Now the names on their envelopes should come to the front. Now these students are spreading the gospel. Continue until everyone has come to the front. Then students should open their envelopes, work together to put the passage in order, and tape it to a wall. Once completed, everyone recites the verses together. Students sign their memory charts (ap). Store School Bank Home Gym Restaurant Dentist Zoo Hospital Prison Park Mall Church Office REINFORCE AND REVIEW Activity Paper We can share the gospel anywhere, but sometimes we need to search for opportunities to share it. On the back of the activity paper, ask students to use the picture clues to locate the different places people share the gospel. Option 1: Painting the Message Cover a table with a disposable tablecloth and provide a paint shirt for each student. Place cardboard rectangles for each student on the table. After students are seated, the teacher should quickly coat each cardboard rectangle with a thick layer of paint. Students then use the tips of pencils and erasers to carve into the wet paint. Students should illustrate a method of sharing the gospel with others. Examples: a drawing of a pastor preaching to a crowd or a student performing an act of service for an elderly person. Option 2: Evangelistic Mimes Form two groups. Have one group mime (demonstrate without voices) sharing the good news about Jesus. The second group will mime God s plan of salvation. The actors should not use any props. Switch group assignments and repeat, using voices along with actions this time. Option 3: Kids in Missions Gather at the Kids in Missions poster (trp). Share pictures, information, and current news from the Pacific region. Point out the missionary children who serve with their families in the area. (See page 7 for further information.) Ask volunteers to lead group prayer for specific families, asking God to protect them and help them share the gospel. Look Ahead! Lesson 2 Option 1 features a mini talent show (page 18). Ask students to prepare during the next week to share their talents. They will need to bring necessary items, such as musical instruments, artwork, or poetry. 12