LESSON 16 Biblical Community Bible Basis: Nehemiah 2:11 3:32; 6:15; Acts 2:42 47; 4:32 37 Key Verse: Acts 2:44: All the believers were together. They shared everything they had. Key Question: How do I develop healthy relationships with others? Key Idea: I spend time with other Chris tians to accomplish God s plan in my life, in the lives of others, and in the world. Resource: Believe Storybook Bible, Chapter 16, Biblical Community Master Supplies List Believe Storybook Bible PowerPoint slides or printable posters of illustrations 12 ruler An ordinary object, such as a plastic cup or a clothespin Whiteboard or flipchart with easel Dry-erase or regular markers Family Page (one per child) Optional Supplies You will need the following supplies based on which option(s) you choose in STEP 3 Explore More: OPTION 1: Plastic bowls, plastic knives, rolling pins, measuring cups, measuring spoons, flour, salt, red food coloring, hot tap water, toothpicks, wax paper, yarn, marker, baby wipes OPTION 2: Several balloons, blown up and tied (at least one per pair of children) OPTION 3: Small slips of paper (at least ten per child), pens or pencils, 24 lengths of yarn (at least three per child) OPTION 4: Crayons or markers; coloring page (one per child) OPTION 6: Several copies of the skit Our Church Community (one per child or one per group)
STEP 1 Come Together (10 min) Supplies: 12 ruler; an ordinary object, such as a plastic cup or a clothespin; whiteboard or flipchart with easel; dry-erase or regular markers INTRODUCTION GATHER the children. SHOW the children the ruler. ASK, Does anyone know what this is used for? (Measuring things) SAY, That s right; it was made for measuring things, but it can be used in many different ways. I could use this ruler to prop open a broken window, to stake a bean plant as it grows, or to draw straight lines. Can you think of any other uses for this ruler? (Take responses) INDIVIDUAL SHOW the children the cup (or other object). SAY, Here s another object that can be used in lots of different ways. I want you to think about all the ways someone might use this. CONTINUE, Don t say your ideas out loud yet; just keep track on your fingers. When you re ready, hold up your fingers so I can see how many ideas you have. WRITE the numbers representing the children s ideas across the top of the chart paper as the children hold up their fingers. Use tally marks to show how many children had one idea, how many children had two ideas, etc. GROUP SAY, Some of you thought of one or two ways to use this object, and some of you thought of a lot of ways, but almost everyone thought of more than just one use. CONTINUE, Now let s put our heads together and see how many ideas we can come up with by working together. WRITE on the chart paper the different ideas children come up with for using the object. Be sure to take ideas from every child. Continue until they run out of ideas. SAY, Wow! Look at how many ideas we came up with together! When you were thinking by yourself, you thought of maybe one or two ideas. But look at what happened when we worked together: We came up with (number of ideas) different ideas! LESSON 16: Biblical Community EARLY ELEMENTARY 2
REVIEW SAY, Working together is a great way to do more than we could do alone, and it s God s plan for his community of believers. Today we ll read about a community that worked together to build a wall around Jerusalem, and we ll read about a group of believers who lived together and shared everything they owned. KEY VERSE REVIEW this week s Key Verse. You may want to repeat the verse slowly a few times until the children are able to say it from memory. NOTE: You may also choose to review last week s Key Verse together. Acts 2:44 All the believers were together. (clasp hands together, lacing fingers) They shared everything they had. spread hands out in front of self, palms up) STEP 2 Hear the Story (15 min) Supplies: Believe Storybook Bible, PowerPoint slides or printable posters of illustrations INTRODUCTION TELL the children that they will be learning about God s community of believers. SAY, A community is like a family that loves and cares for one another. A biblical community is one that puts God first. As I read, listen for words like community, everyone, together, family, and team that show us that God s plan is for us to love, care for, and help one another. READ CHAPTER 16 READ aloud chapter 16, Biblical Community, from the Believe Storybook Bible. SHOW the illustrations included with this curriculum on PowerPoint slides or printable posters. REVIEW NEHEMIAH ASK, What were the people in today s story able to do when they worked together? (They rebuilt a wall in just fifty-two days) ASK, How were they able to do so much? (They worked together; LESSON 16: Biblical Community EARLY ELEMENTARY 3
everyone did their part. They trusted God, even when people tried to stop them.) REVIEW A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS ASK, How did the people in the community of believers live as a community? (They lived together; they shared food and clothing; they taught others about Jesus; no one in their community went without food or a place to live.) ASK, How is our church like the early church described in Acts? (We learn about Jesus; we worship God; we help one another; we share) PRAY, God, thank you for blessing our friendships and our church community. Help us to love you more and to love the people in our church community. Amen. STEP 3 Explore More Choose from these activity options, depending on your available time frame, to help the children explore the lesson further. Option 1: The Wall of Jerusalem (20 min) Supplies: Plastic bowls, plastic knives, rolling pins, measuring cups, measuring spoons, flour, salt, red food coloring, hot tap water, toothpicks, wax paper, yarn, marker, baby wipes TELL the children that they will be working together to make ornaments that look like the wall of Jerusalem. ARRANGE the children into groups of three or four. INSTRUCT each group to mix the following ingredients together in a bowl to make dough: 1 cup flour, 6 tablespoons salt, 6 tablespoons hot tap water, 1 drop red food coloring. TELL the children that they can use their hands to mix. HAVE each group divide their dough equally. INSTRUCT the children to roll out their individual dough balls and shape them into a rectangle. They can use the plastic knives or toothpicks to scratch lines into the dough to make them look like bricks. TELL the children to poke a hole through the dough near the top of their rectangle. SET each child s ornament on a piece of wax paper, and use a marker to label it with his or her name. LESSON 16: Biblical Community EARLY ELEMENTARY 4
ASSIST children in stringing the yarn hanger through the hole in the ornament. DISTRIBUTE baby wipes and help children clean their hands. INSTRUCT the children to allow their ornaments to dry at home. Option 2: Working Together (15 min) Supplies: Several balloons, blown up and tied (at least one per pair of children) Teacher Prep: Blow up and tie the balloons. GROUP the children into pairs (of the same gender, if possible). SAY, We are going to play a few different teamwork games. Sometimes you ll find that you can only do something by working together with your partner. At times it may seem harder to do what I m asking because you have a partner, but you will have to find a way to work together and not by yourself. PLAY the following partner games: Partner Stand: Partners sit on the floor back-to-back and lock elbows. They work together to rise to a standing position by pushing against each other. (This is one that would be almost impossible to do alone from this seated position with no hands.) Shoe Tie: One partner unties his or her shoe. The two must work together, using just one hand each, to re-tie it. (This probably requires lots of communication and patience!) Balloon Balance: Have partners hold a balloon between the two of them using only their noses (no hands). See if they can walk across the room without dropping it. (For comparison, see how far individual children can get balancing a balloon on their own nose alone.) TALK about what made each activity easy, challenging, or fun. LESSON 16: Biblical Community EARLY ELEMENTARY 5
DISCUSS how working together often makes tasks easier and more fun. Though it sometimes takes patience and extra communication, it s worth it! Option 3: Community Relationships (10 min) Supplies: Small slips of paper (at least ten per child), pens or pencils, 24 lengths of yarn (at least three per child) SAY, Think about the many relationships you have with others. Do you have family? Friends? Teachers? Neighbors? Coaches? I bet the list could go on! PASS out at least ten small slips of paper and three lengths of yarn to each child. ASK each child to write the names of people they know, one on each slip of paper. Help write names as necessary. INSTRUCT the children to lay the papers out in front of them and organize them by looping a piece of yarn around common relationships. For example, family might be in one loop while neighbors or teammates would be in separate loops of yarn. If a person fits into two categories, such as if Dad coaches the soccer team or Uncle Jim is your pastor, you ll have to overlap the loops (like a Venn diagram). SAY, You know many people, probably many more than you were able to write down. You have such a great community of people around you. During your prayer time, try to remember a different category each day and pray for good relationships with those people. Option 4: Let s Color! (10 min) Supplies: Crayons or markers, Let s Color! sheet (one per child) Teacher Prep: Print and photocopy the Let s Color! sheet (one per child). GIVE each child a Let s Color! sheet. PROVIDE a selection of crayons and/or markers for the children to share. DISCUSS this week s Key Idea as the children color. Option 5: Praise and Worship (15 min) The More We Get Together by EMI Chris tian Music Publishing 1997 by Ariose Music (admin. by EMI Chris tian Music Publishing) CCLI #2593012 LESSON 16: Biblical Community EARLY ELEMENTARY 6
Beloved, Let Us Love One Another by Dennis Ryder 1974 by Maranatha Praise, Inc. (admin. by Maranatha! Music [Capitol CMG]) CCLI #26344 Option 6: Act It Out (10 min) Our Church Community Teacher Prep: Make enough copies of the skit so that each child or group has a copy to read from. Act out this short skit, assigning 2 3 children to each role. Try to group stronger readers and older children with those who are still learning reading skills. Give the children time to read and practice their parts before performing. Groups of Characters Narrators Teachers Elders Pastors Musicians Missionaries Narrators: Here at (name of church) We re all friends in Jesus, you ll see; By loving, sharing, and working together We form a biblical community! NARRATORS join hands. Pastors: We are the pastors, Our job is to lead, We give sermons, we counsel, and We help those in need. PASTORS act out preaching and helping, then join hands with each other and the larger group. Teachers: We teachers are busy Helping kids and adults to grow; We read, sing, and do crafts So that Jesus they will know. TEACHERS act out reading and doing crafts, then join hands with each other and the larger group. Musicians: To lead the worship and praise, We play instruments and sing; When the whole church joins in God hears our voices ring. LESSON 16: Biblical Community EARLY ELEMENTARY 7
MUSICIANS act out playing instruments, then join hands with each other and the larger group. Missionaries: We missionaries go out into the world To share the gospel with others. We hope to bring faith To many new sisters and brothers. MISSIONARIES act out sharing the gospel, then join hands with each other and the larger group. Elders: We are chosen by the members To lead and to pray. We help make important decisions And keep people from going astray. ELDERS act out praying, then join hands with each other and the larger group. Narrators: Here at (name of church) We re all friends in Jesus, you see; By loving, sharing, and working together We form a biblical community! ALL GROUPS should be joining hands in a straight line across the stage. As the last narration is spoken, have them form a circle. ALL GROUPS repeat the final narration one more time. STEP 4 Going Home (5 min) Supplies: Family Page (one per child) Teacher Prep: Print and photocopy the Family Page (one per child). GIVE each child a copy of this week s Family Page. SAY, Give this page to your family when they pick you up. It will remind you to tell your family what you learned today about caring for one another in a church community. HAVE the children practice telling you about how God s people work together as a community. REVIEW this week s Key Verse as well as today s story and Key Idea from the Believe Storybook Bible as you wait for the children to get picked up. MAKE sure each child remembers to take home any activity sheets or craft projects and the Family Page. LESSON 16: Biblical Community EARLY ELEMENTARY 8
Lesson 16
Lesson 16
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Let s Color! Name: [Coloring page to come] LESSON 16: Biblical Community EARLY ELEMENTARY
FAMILY PAGE Lesson 16: Biblical Community Bible Basis: Nehemiah 2:11 3:32; 6:15; Acts 2:42 47; 4:32 37 Key Verse: Acts 2:44: All the believers were together. They shared everything they had. Key Question: How do I develop healthy relationships with others? Key Idea: I spend time with other Chris tians to accomplish God s plan in my life, in the lives of others, and in the world. Resource: Believe Storybook Bible, Chapter 16, Biblical Community How to Use This Page This week, your family can either read the story from the Believe Storybook Bible or read the Bible Basis passages from your Bible to help your child remember the lesson. Use the Table Talk questions below to start a discussion around the dinner table, while driving in the car, or just about anywhere. The Living Faith activity is designed to remind your child of the Bible lesson through a drama or other engaging activity. The Extra Mile idea provides interactive ways for your child to connect with the story. Table Talk 1. Think about some of the different roles in our church (pastor, teacher, singer, greeter, etc.). Which one do you think you might be good at when you re older? 2. What did the people in the early church do together? (Eat; pray; share their money, houses, food, etc.) 3. What s nice about being friends with other Chris tians? (They can encourage you, pray for you, remind you about God s promises, show you God s love) 4. What are some things you can do when you are having trouble getting along or working together with someone? LESSON 16: Biblical Community EARLY ELEMENTARY
Living Faith Option 1 Recruit family and friends to work together to tackle a big job. It might be raking leaves for an elderly neighbor or sorting the craft closet at church. Choose an activity that can involve your child and explain how this is similar to the Israelites working together to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem! You ll be teaching your child about teamwork and showing kindness to others. Option 2 Talk with your family about how you are participating in community with other Chris tians. Coming up short? What a great reminder to invite friends over for dinner or visit and encourage someone who doesn t know Jesus. Extra Mile Does your church support any overseas missionaries? Take some time as a family to learn about the culture and community where they serve. Find out what they are doing to bring the good news of Jesus to people in that community and to serve their needs. Write a letter of encouragement to the missionaries; if possible, send a care package. How can you help your child keep God at the center of his or her friendships? Before a playdate with a friend, talk about one simple way to incorporate your child s faith. It may be watching a Bible cartoon or making a snack that has a fun Bible-story tie-in. There are lots of great ideas online! It can be as simple as telling the friend, Our family prayed for your (event or situation) this week or talking with your child about modeling Christ by being kind and loving as they play. Sort through a closet, toy box, or pantry to find items that you can share with others by donating them. Working with your child, fill a bag and explain that some people might need the things that you don t need or no longer use. Tell your child that God wants us to show Chris tian care by sharing with others. Take your bag of items to donate to a food pantry, shelter, or thrift store. Youth sports can be a testing ground for caring behavior, teamwork, and community building. If your child participates in any team activities, lay out a few ground rules to make sure they are practicing Christlike kindness and teamwork. Ideas include cheering others on, sharing the ball with others, winning or losing with a good attitude. It s never too early to start practicing good sportsmanship. LESSON 16: Biblical Community EARLY ELEMENTARY