KIDS BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE Grades 1-3 & 4-6 FALL 2013 Leader Guide Ronnie Floyd General editor Watch Out! GETTING ALONG Kids
contents bible studies for life GRAdes 1-3 & 4-6 UNIT 1. Watch Out! SESSION 1: Good Attitudes... 8 SESSION 2: Resist Temptation... 16 SESSION 3: Treat Others Right... 24 SESSION 4: Speak Kindly to All People... 32 SESSION 5: Loving the Unlovable... 40 SESSION 6: It s Not Going to Be Easy... 48 UNIT 2. GEttING ALONG SESSION 1: The Best Option... 58 SESSION 2: Do the Right Thing... 66 SESSION 3: Walk Away... 74 SESSION 4: Speaking Up... 82 SESSION 5: Stepping In... 90 SESSION 6: God s Big Plan... 98 SPECIAL FOCUS: Thanking God...106 USE THE WEEK OF THANKSGIVING. Bonus Teaching Hour: LaRGE-group Experience Check your Enhanced CD for even more Bible learning! Need a large-group plan or kids worship plan? It s now available on your Enhanced CD. Check it out for ideas on how to use the plan in conjunction with your Bible Studies for Life Grades 1-3 & 4-6 curriculum. Eric Geiger Vice President, Church Resources Ronnie Floyd General Editor David Francis Managing Editor Jeff Land Publishing Team Leader Landry Holmes Manager, Kids Ministry Publishing Lance Howerton Director, Kids Ministry Send questions/comments to Publishing Team Leader Bible Studies for Life Grades 1-3 & 4-6 Leader Guide One LifeWay Plaza, MSN 172 Nashville, TN 37234-0172 Make comments on the Web at www.lifeway.com. Printed in the United States of America. Bible Studies for Life Grades 1-3 & 4-6 Leader Guide (ISSN pending; Item 005075020) is published quarterly by LifeWay, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President. 2013 LifeWay. For ordering or inquiries, visit www.lifeway. com, or write LifeWay Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, MSN 113, Nashville, TN 37234-0113. For subscriptions or subscription address changes, email subscribe@lifeway.com, fax 615.251.5818, or write to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, email orderentry@lifeway.com, fax 615.251.5933, or write to the above address. Bible Studies for Life Grades 1-3 & 4-6 Leader Guide is designed to provide Bible study for older children which is foundational to their spiritual awareness and growth and which is developmentally appropriate. Bible Studies for Life Grades 1-3 & 4-6 Leader Guide provides Bible study and teaching suggestions for workers who teach first through sixth graders. The Bible stories printed in this magazine are based on Scripture and are written in words children can understand. We believe that the Bible has God for it author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. To review LifeWay s doctrinal guideline, please visit www.lifeway.com/doctrinalguideline. Aa noted Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible, Holman CSB, and (HCSB) are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers. Bible Studies for Life grades 1 3 & 4 6 3
LIFE POINT Jesus teaches His followers to keep a good attitude at all times. Good Attitudes BIBLE PASSAGE Matthew 5:1-12 CHRIST FOCUS God is for us. When we trust Jesus as Lord and Savior, we have peace with God. God works everything out for our good. God changes us to become like Jesus. LIFE ACTION When you face a problem this week, ask yourself how that problem might help you be more like Jesus. LIFE VERSE Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. James 4:10 (KJV) Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. James 4:10 (HCSB) LEADER BIBLE STUDY One popular professional football player is currently being hailed by Christians as a positive role model for kids. Any sports figure s standing as a moral example is commendable. We pray that more of them will speak up for Christ. Nonetheless, the greatest role model of all, of course, was Jesus. This unit will examine Jesus example when he faced life s various situations. We start early in Jesus ministry. Matthew tells how Jesus went to a hilltop to teach His disciples about the kingdom of God. We call this section of the Book of Matthew (chapters 5 7) the Sermon on the Mount. The first portion, Matthew 5:3-12, is known traditionally as the Beatitudes. (The word beatitude simply means blessedness. ) In this section, Jesus outlined nine important personal characteristics of His followers and the blessings promised by each one. Key qualities He spotlighted include humility, caring for other people, courage in the face of opposition, and total dependence on God in all things. How do the promises in verses 3 and 10 resemble each other? Do they differ from the others? What is meant by the kingdom of heaven? Soon after Jesus delivered this sermon, He selected and commissioned twelve men to be His closest disciples (Matthew 10:1-4). He charged them to carry His message and equipped them to minister in His name. In what ways does God call us, star athletes or not, to be role models in the world today? CONNECT TO FAMILY This week families will learn about attitudes. Just as you are teaching kids that they can have attitudes like Jesus attitudes, students and adults are learning that life is not always going to be easy. In the good times and bad times, we all can have joyful attitudes of trust and surrender. LEVEL OF BIBLICAL LEARNING Jesus 8 SeSSion 1 DATE OF USE
BIBLE STORY Jesus Taught About attitudes Jesus chose twelve special helpers, called disciples. Jesus went to a mountain. His disciples sat near Him. A large crowd of people gathered nearby. Jesus talked about how God wants His followers to live and what it means to be truly blessed (happy). He said, People who are poor in spirit will be blessed. They know that they need God s help for everything! People who are sad when others are sad will be blessed. God will comfort them. Jesus continued, People who are gentle are blessed. Those who have a hunger to be good like God are also blessed. People who show mercy (love and care for others) are blessed. God will show mercy to them. People whose thoughts and attitudes are pure are blessed. Peacemakers (people who take action to help others get along) are blessed. Jesus finished by saying, People who suffer because they follow Me are blessed. Their reward in heaven will be great. based on Matthew 5:1-12 Image Credit: thinkstock Bible Studies for Life grades 1 3 & 4 6 9
PRACTICE BIBLE SKILLS Grades 1-3 painter s tape Make a 12-inch square on a table and divide into 4 equal squares to create a grid. On separate pieces of tape write the name of each Gospel and place 1 in each grid square. super bounce ball grades 1-3 Tell kids that the Gospels tell the story of Jesus life and work on earth. Call attention to the tape grid with each of the four squares labeled Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. Lead kids to play a miniature game of four square. Player 1 will bounce the ball inside a square, while everyone says the name of the book in that square. Player 2 will catch the ball and do the same, then Player 3, and so on. When a player misses a catch or his ball bounces more than once in a square, pause the game. Lead kids to get a Bible and find the last Gospel named in the game before you continue. Option: Jesus Taught the Beatitudes coloring page (CD). bowl of popcorn or snack crackers grades 4-6 Explain that four men recorded Jesus life, death, and resurrection in the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Lead kids to pair off and play a game similar to Rock, Paper, Scissors using one, two, three, or four fingers to represent Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. If partners gestures match, they may take a treat from the bowl. If their gestures do not match, each partner should find her designated book in her Bible. Lead her to identify an event recorded in the book before taking a treat. Swap partners and play again as time permits. Option: Jesus Taught the Beatitudes coloring page (CD). 10 SeSSion 1
INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITY grades 1-3 Form two relay teams. At your signal, Player 1 should put on the shirt, remove it inside out, and hand it to Player 2, who will put the shirt on inside out before reversing it for Player 3. Alternate the inside out, outside in pattern until one team wins the relay. Remind kids that Jesus taught His disciples how to be happy from the inside out. Jesus words about being happy and blessed are called the Beatitudes. Explain that outside in happiness is often caused by events (a birthday) or by things (toys and new clothes). Tell kids that inside out happiness is caused by loving and obeying God. Jesus called it being blessed. Call attention to the Watch Out! Banner as you explain that no matter how a person feels, he can learn to adjust his attitude so that it honors God. Show Good Attitudes: Introduction video. Grades 1-3 Pack Item 15: Watch Out! Banner 2 oversized t-shirts Teaching Tip: If your group is too small for a relay, lead kids to form a circle. Turn your back and challenge them to play the game while you count to a certain number. If kids finish the stunt before you finish counting, they win! grades 4-6 Comment that a person s face often reflects his feelings. Whisper one of the following words to a volunteer: exhausted, confused, excited, bored, surprised, depressed, frightened, hopeful, satisfied, worried. Then lead the other kids to ask in unison: How are you feeling? The volunteer should dramatize the emotion using only facial expressions. Lead kids to guess the emotion. Play again as time permits. Call attention to the Watch Out! Banner. Explain that no matter how a person feels, he can learn to adjust his attitude so that it honors God. Lead kids to find Matthew 5. Show the Teaching Picture as you explain that the Beatitudes are part of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus teaching to His followers about living in His kingdom. Show Good Attitudes: Introduction video. Pack Item 15: Watch Out! Banner Teaching Picture 1 Bible Studies for Life grades 1 3 & 4 6 11
STUDY THE BIBLE Grades 1-3 Pack Item 16: James 4:10 Life Verse Teaching Picture 1 CD poster board On the poster randomly print these phrases: need God s help, selfish, gentle, hungry to be good like God, worried, show mercy, pure thoughts, greedy. markers (red, yellow, green) gift bag or lunch bag Place the markers in the bag. Optional Weekly Memory Verse Proverbs 3:5a grades 1-3 1. Bible STORY Show the Teaching Picture as you read aloud Matthew 5:1-2. Teach kids the sign for blessed: make fists (the sign for the letter A) and place them on near your chin. Then open the hands flat as you swing your hands out and down. Direct kids to listen carefully and sign the word blessed each time they hear it in the Bible story. Open your Bible to Matthew 5. Paraphrase the Beatitudes, using the Bible Story as a guide. Christ Focus: God is for us. When we trust Jesus as Lord and Savior, we have peace with God. God works everything out for our good. God changes us to become like Jesus. 2. Review Call attention to the poster. Explain that some of the words reflect Jesus teaching about good attitudes. Choose a volunteer. Tell her to hide her eyes while someone hides a marker in the room. The other kids can guide her to the marker by buzzing loudly when she is close or softly when she is far away. When she finds the marker, urge her to circle one description of a good attitude on the poster. Choose someone else to find the hidden marker. Repeat the game until kids circle all the appropriate attitudes. Pray. Ask God to help kids honor Him with their attitudes and actions. 3. LIFE VERSE Display the James 4:10 Life Verse. Lead kids to find partners, crouch on the floor, and read the verse popcorn style. Partners should take turns standing up quickly and reading one word of the verse. Sing Humble Yourself (track 1). 4. LIFE AcTION Drop the markers in a gift bag. Lead a child to choose one of the circled phrases from the review poster, draw a marker from the bag, and respond as follows: ~ Yellow how to display that attitude at home ~ Green how to display that attitude at school ~ Red an example of the opposite of the attitude Take turns as time permits. Sing Follow (track 2). Show Good Attitudes: Life Action video. 12 SeSSion 1
LIFE POINT Jesus teaches His followers to keep a good attitude at all times. 1. Bible STORY Guide kids to examine the Beatitude Phrases posted on the wall. Help the kids recognize that some phrases describe an attitude; others describe the result of the attitude. Lead each child to stand beside one of the attitude cards. Open your Bible to Matthew 5 and read aloud each Beatitude. When a child hears his Beatitude, he should walk from the attitude card to the result card. Use the Bible story on page 9 to help clarify the meaning of each Beatitude. Challenge kids to identify a word that appears in each Beatitude (blessed). Define blessed as made happy by God or fortunate. Explain that being blessed is a condition that cannot be changed by outward circumstances. Christ Focus: God is for us. When we trust Jesus as Lord and Savior, we have peace with God. God works everything out for our good. God changes us to become like Jesus. 2. Review Request that kids remove the Beatitude Phrases from the wall. Remove the tape, scramble the cards, and place them facedown. Lead kids to play a concentration game, matching each attitude card with its result. Ask: If you show these attitudes, will you be rewarded immediately? Why or why not? Help kids see that the real reward is having a right relationship with God! 3. LIFE VERSE Display the James 4:10 Life Verse. Whisper one of the words from the Introductory Activity to a child. She will read the verse in that manner. The group will guess the emotion. That child may then whisper a word to her neighbor, who will read the verse in that manner. Continue until everyone participates. Conceal the Life Verse and challenge kids to say James 4:10 from memory. Sing Humble Yourself (track 1). Challenge kids to explain how the Life Verse is similar to the Beatitudes. 4. LIFE AcTION Distribute the attitude halves of the Beatitude Phrases. Lead each kid to use the card he is holding to finish this sentence: I need to be (attitude) when. Direct kids to trade cards and repeat. Sing Follow (track 2). Show Good Attitudes: Life Action video. Pack Items 16 and 17: James 4:10 Life Verse and Beatitude Phrases CD masking tape Tape Beatitude Phrases in random order at kids eye level to the walls of your room. Optional Weekly Memory Verse Proverbs 3:5a Bible Studies for Life grades 1 3 & 4 6 13
LIVE IT OUT Grades 1-3 Choice 1 Supplies clear or semi-opaque disposable gloves colorful paper shreds 2-by-4-inch labels yarn Choice 2 Supplies Kids Activity Page pennies grades 1-3 Choice 1: HANDY REMINDERS Lead kids to remember as many good attitudes from the Beatitudes as possible. Guide them to find Matthew 5:1-12 and check their answers. Guide each child to choose an attitude from the Beatitudes she wants to remember this week. Help her print the descriptive word or phrase on a blank label, then affix the label to a disposable glove. Tell kids that one way to remember something important is to tie a string around their fingers. Allow kids to stuff the gloves tightly with shredded paper. Use the eraser side of a pencil to push the paper shreds into the fingers. Use one yarn scrap to tie each glove shut; use another to tie a bow around its stuffed index finger. Choice 2: SpINNY Penny GAME Lead kids to name some things that might make them outside in happy. (getting a puppy, winning a ball game, pizza for dinner) Lead kids to name some things that might make them insideout happy. (praising God, doing something kind for others, being a peacemaker) Help kids recognize that following Jesus teaching results in an inside out happy that cannot be changed by people or events. Distribute Kids Activity Pages and pennies. Urge kids to practice placing their pennies on the designated space and spinning them. After a few trial spins, lead kids to take turns spinning their pennies, then answering the question on which each penny lands. Help them link their answers to the Beatitudes they heard today. Suggest that kids play the Spinny Penny Game at home. WRAp Up Show Good Attitudes: Wrap Up video. Remind kids to give their One Conversation pages to their parents. 14 SeSSion 1
LIFE POINT Jesus teaches His followers to keep a good attitude at all times. ChOICE 1: EmbodyINg good ATTITUdes Distribute the Kids Activity Pages as you lead kids to examine Beatitude Choice 1 Supplies Kids Activity Page Attitudes. Challenge children to label each kidfriendly Beatitude description with large sheet of paper a Beatitude from the Bible. (poor in spirit, merciful, and so forth) Enlist a volunteer to lie flat on the large sheet of paper. Outline the volunteer s body with a marker. Guide kids to creatively label the outline s head, hands, and other body parts with actions and characteristics that represent the Beatitudes. of the phrases printed on the paper squares. When you say Go, children should draw one square at a time (without looking) from the bowl and place it on the corresponding space on the grid. The goal is to be the first player Choice 1 Note: Label the head with phrases such as: thinks of ways to make peace; label hands used for gentle actions. ChOICE 2: ThrEE In A row go! Distribute paper squares. Challenge kids to recall the eight characteristics featured in Jesus Beatitudes and to print one on each square. (Square nine remains blank.) Allow kids to refer to Matthew 5:1-12 as needed. to complete a three-square row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. If a player draws a term he has already used, he should return it to the bowl and draw again. When a player completes a row, lead him to read and explain his matchup choices. Play more rounds as time permits. Choice 2 Supplies Kids Activity Page 2-inch paper squares (9 per child) Make sure that the paper squares will cover the squares on the Kids Activity Page. Image Credit: thinkstock Distribute Kids Activity Pages. Direct kids to mark the freebie space with a square. Collect the remaining squares and drop them in the bowl. Explain that each phrase in Beatitude Attitudes relates to one Wrap Up Show Good Attitudes: Wrap Up video. Remind kids to give their One Conversation pages to their parents. large mixing bowl Bible Studies for Life grades 1 3 & 4 6 15