UNIT 2. BEING A FRIEND / PRESCHOOL SESSION 4 - A CHURCH HELPED BIBLE PASSAGE: Acts 11:19-30 LIFE POINT: Choose to help at church. CHRIST FOCUS: I am part of the church and can help others. BIBLE VERSE: Work together to help others. Galatians 6:10 (Paraphrase) We must work for the good of all. Galatians 6:10 (HCSB) Let us do good unto all men. Galatians 6:10 (KJV) Let us do good to all people. Galatians 6:10 (NIV) Let us do good to eeryone. Galatians 6:10 (ESV) Let us do good to all. Galatians 6:10 (NKJV) Production Notes p From simple to inoled, you can tailor Worship for Life to your kids and leaders: Short on supplies and leaders? For an easy prep, enlist a host, a music leader, and prepare the Connection Point game. Then show the ideos for the worship songs and other segments. Do you hae musicians who would like to lead worship songs? Check out the lead sheets on the DVD-ROM or substitute your songs! This symbol denotes that the segment or song is aailable on ideo. h This symbol indicates props that will be needed for today s session. 1
Schedule and Props This symbol indicates that a ideo is proided on the DVD-ROM. p This symbol indicates that the actiity is host or leader-led no ideo for this actiity. Ups (Optional) p Huddle People: Small Group Leaders Supplies: A Church Helped Coloring Sheet (DVD-ROM), crayons or washable markers Backstage Intro 1-2 minutes People: Stage Manager Props: headset, clipboard and Welcome Countdown 1-5 minutes Song Worship 3 minutes People: Worship Leader and/or Worship Team Set-up, Host Briana and Friends Video 2 minutes People: Host p Closing 2 minutes People: Host People: Host Worship Song 3 minutes People: Worship Leader and/or Worship Team Point Game p Connection 5-10 minutes Outro Backstage 1-2 minutes People: Stage Manager Props: headset off ears and around neck Ups (Optional) p Huddle People: Small Group Leaders Supplies: large sheets of paper, markers People: Host, eeryone Props: parachute or sheet, projectile item such as stuffed animal or ball Story Bible 5-6 minutes People: Storyteller Props: play money, play food, clothes FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 2
t TECH Video and/or audio capabilities Microphones for singers Lights (optional) Optional sound effects aailable (see sound effects file) m music Jesus Is Real Because He Loes Us Great Big Family of God He Is Worthy Lie Like Him That s Right Need help planning your session? Additional training for Worship for Life: Kids is aailable at ministrygrid.com/web/worshipforlife. FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 3
p HUDDLE UPS (OPTIONAL) Optional huddle ups are for churches that hae a drop-off time before the session begins. There are multiple ideas for interaction during this time, such as simple games that preschoolers can play on the floor or within whateer arrangements you gather your kids. This time can continue for a few seconds een after the stage manager addresses the crowd. (Print the following for your small group leaders.) I Spy This is a traditional game of I Spy where you locate objects in the room. For instance, the leader will say, I spy something red, and gie each child 1 or 2 guesses before moing to the next child to guess. Begin by making answers fairly easy. The person to guess correctly goes next and so forth. Explain that today, we are talking about a church that helped others. Color A Church Helped Coloring Sheets Tell preschoolers that today they will hae the opportunity to learn about helping at church. Proide coloring supplies and coloring sheets to the preschoolers. Allow them to color on their pages while they wait for the session to begin. If the kids prefer to use blank paper, they can color on the back of the page. FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 4
BACKSTAGE INTRO c Estimated time: 1-2 minutes Tech: Video option aailable, t Session Title slide p People: Stage Manager h Props: headset, clipboard (Show ideo or act out the following.) STAGE MANAGER (Show Session Title slide.) Hello, eeryone! It s another great day to be together at church! Did you know that each time we come to church and learn about Jesus together, we are doing something that started more than two thousand years ago? Church didn t start in America. It started WAAAAAYYYY back in Bible times. We can read about it in the Book of Acts in the Bible. Today, we will hear about a particular church in a city called Antioch, and, oh wait (listens to headset) Yes? (to audience) Well, our team just told me that they are ready for us at THIS church to learn about what happened at THAT church! So I m going to hurry up and get us on our way! I ll see you guys soon PLACES! (runs offstage) FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 5
COUNTDOWN AND WELCOME c Estimated time: 1-5 minutes Tech: Countdown ideo, Life t Point slide, Bible Verse slide p People: Host h Props: none HOST (Play Countdown ideo. Host walks out at around 30 seconds.) Guys! It s that time! Let s all stand together and you know what to do. Ready? 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! All right! Time for another great day together. Do you know what I loe about each week? That we get to come to church and learn about Jesus together! Being together is the best part of each week, isn t it? Church is the place we can come to be with other kids and adults who are learning about Jesus, too. But did you know that s not all you can do at church? Today, we want you to choose to help at church. (Show Life Point slide.) Let s say that again together. (Repeat with slide.) Choose to help at church. Did you know that you can help at church? There are ways to sere God and others right here at church! Our erse this week een tells us to work together just like we learn about God together and hae fun together. (Show Bible Verse slide select preferred ersion.) Let s say our Bible erse together. Work together to help others. Galatians 6:10 (Paraphrase) Let us do good to all people. Galatians 6:10 (NIV) We must work for the good of all. Galatians 6:10 (HCSB) Let us do good to eeryone. Galatians 6:10 (ESV) Let us do good unto all men. Galatians 6:10 (KJV) Let us do good to all. Galatians 6:10 (NKJV) Let s stand and sing! (Host leaes as worship team gets in place.) FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 6
SONG c Estimated time: 3 minutes Music or lyric ideo, mics t fortech:singers, lights (optional) People: Worship Leader p and/or Worship Team h Props: none Music: Great Big Family of God m (lead sheet aailable on DVD-ROM) or worship song of your choice LEADER We e talked about coming to church and learning about Jesus together, haing fun together, and working together. Right now, let s worship God together, too! When we join our oices and sing loudly to God, it s a beautiful sound to Him because His people are praising Him. Let s sing right now and praise Him. (Show the music or lyric ideo.) (Lead kids to sit as song ends.) Now, let s get ready for Connection Point! FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 7
p CONNECTION POINT GAME c Estimated time: 5-10 minutes Tech: Connection Point slide, t Connection Point theme music p People: Host, eeryone Props: parachute or sheet, h projectile item such as a stuffed animal or ball Game Instructions This game is designed for the whole group to play. Host (Play Connection Point theme music and show Connection Point slide.) (enters after theme music plays) Hi eeryone, welcome to Connection Point! Today, we will play a game where we all hae to work together as a team! OK, here is how we are going to play the game. We will work with each other to bounce this (shows stuffed animal or ball) as high as we can! Kids, you need to want to listen ery closely to your leaders who will help you all work together. Ready? Here we go The game can be played multiple times. Great job working together, eeryone! Today, we re going to hear a story about how group of people worked together to help others! (Theme music/slide to transition. Host leads into next segment.) FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 8
BIBLE STORY c Estimated time: 5-6 minutes Tech: Christ Focus, Life Point, and t Bible Story slides; Bible Story ideo p People: Storyteller Props: play money, h play food, clothes (Play the Bible Story ideo or tell the following Bible story.) STORYTELLER (Show Bible Story slide.) What a great day it is to hear a story from God s Word, the Bible! I loe to learn about people in the Bible! Let s get started and learn about helping others. Many of Jesus followers moed to different places and told others about Jesus. One of the cities was called Antioch. Let s say Antioch together. Ready? (allows for responses) Very good! The church in Antioch was growing. Now, there was already a church in Jerusalem. The church in Jerusalem heard about the church in Antioch and sent a man named Barnabas to help teach the people. Can you say Barnabas? (allows for responses) Good job! (Open the Bible and read Acts 11:23.) When he arried and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with a firm resole of the heart. Barnabas met with the church and taught the people about God and His Word. Barnabas brought his friend Saul to Antioch to help teach the new belieers about Jesus, too. Some men, called prophets, came from Jerusalem to Antioch. Prophets told people something that God wanted eeryone to know! Can you say prophets with me? (allows for responses) Great job! One of the men told them that a great famine was coming to Jerusalem. A famine was a time when it didn t rain. During a famine, the crops would not grow and many people would be without food. No food means eeryone is what? (allows for responses) Yes, they would be ery hungry! Was this a good message or a bad message? Yes, this was a bad message. The Christians in Antioch wanted to help the church in Jerusalem. They gae things to help the people there. (show props) They asked Barnabas and Saul to take the gifts to the people in Jerusalem. God s people were working together to help others. (Show Christ Focus slide.) God wants us to help the church, too! We can help at church when we welcome new friends into our class and play with them. We can help at church when we clean up toys and messes that we make. We also can tell other people about Jesus. There are many ways that we can work together and help at church. Jesus wants us to choose to help at church. Let s shout that together. Choose to help at church. (allows for responses) Great job! Let s pray. (Show Life Point slide.) Jesus, thank You for the church. Thank You that You loe the church. Jesus, teach us how we can help Your church. Help us work together always. We loe You, Jesus! Amen. FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 9
SONG c Estimated time: 3 minutes Music or lyric ideo, mics t fortech:singers, lights (optional) People: Worship Leader p and/or Worship Team h Props: none Music: That s Right! (lead m sheet aailable on DVD-ROM) or worship song of your choice LEADER (Music begins.) Isn t it amazing that all those people so long ago were worshiping the same Jesus that we worship today? They loed Him and wanted to sere Him by sering others. We can do the same thing today. Let s join together now and and sing a song to praise Jesus. (Show the music or lyric ideo.) (Lead kids to sit as song ends.) FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 10
HOST SET-UP, BRIANA AND FRIENDS VIDEO c Estimated time: 2 minutes t Tech: Briana and Friends ideo p People: Host h Props: none HOST Today, we learned about helping at church. Let s talk to our friend Briana about it. Listen carefully and remember, when she asks you a question, be sure to say your answers aloud! (Play ideo.) FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 11
p CLOSING c Estimated time: 2 minutes Tech: Session Title slide, t Bible Verse slide p People: Host h Props: none HOST (Show Session Title slide.) When the church in Antioch heard that there would be no food, they got busy and started gathering supplies to help, right? They didn t wait to be asked they heard about the need and started figuring out how to help! At our church, we can do the same thing. When we hear that someone has a need, we can ask an adult how to help. We can donate clothes and toys that we no longer wear or use. We can do a lot of things, een as kids, to help at church! Let s remember our Life Point for today: (Show Life Point slide.) Choose to help at church. Let s say that one more time, so we don t forget it. (Repeat with slide.) Choose to help at church. Optional Giing Segment: Our church helps many people who are in need. (Explain ways that your church helps those in need such as a homeless ministry, food pantry, missionary support, beneolence, etc.) When we gie to God, we help those in need. If you d like to gie to God today, (Gie your own directions for how the kids gie an offering. Perhaps you hae buckets in the back of the room, a chest up front, or a basket that each small group leader passes.) (Show Bible Verse slide select preferred ersion.) Let s go oer our erse one more time, OK? Work together to help others. Galatians 6:10 (Paraphrase) Let us do good to all people. Galatians 6:10 (NIV) We must work for the good of all. Galatians 6:10 (HCSB) Let us do good to eeryone. Galatians 6:10 (ESV) Let us do good unto all men. Galatians 6:10 (KJV) Let us do good to all. Galatians 6:10 (NKJV) I can t wait to see you back here next week! FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 12
BACKSTAGE OUTRO c Estimated time: 1-2 minutes Tech: Video option aailable, t Session Title slide p People: Stage Manager Props: headset off ears h and around neck (Show ideo or act out the following.) STAGE MANAGER (Show Session Title slide.) I m glad that I m part of the church, a group of belieers. You and I are the church! God wants us to come together to learn about Him and worship Him. As the church, we should help people, meet needs, and take care of others. Together we can show God s loe to eeryone. What a great day it s been! Thank you for coming today! Be sure to grab a One Conersation page on your way out. It will help you talk with your family about what you e learned. Can t wait to see you next week! FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 13
p HUDDLE UPS (OPTIONAL) This time is designed for churches that hae a pick-up time from a large room as parents arrie. It s a great time for follow-up conersations and questions from small group leaders about the session s content. You also can use the missions emphasis (below). (Print the following for your small group leaders.) What city did we hear about today? (Antioch) Who went to isit and teach the church in Antioch? (Barnabas) What did the church in Antioch hear was coming? (a famine - a time when it didn t rain. The crops would not grow and people would be without food.) How did they respond? (They got together and sent supplies and help.) How can our church help others? (Allow for responses.) MISSIONS EMPHASIS (OPTIONAL) Gather a large sheet of paper and marker for each small group. Reiew the missions story about the Johnsons and the family camps they lead. Remind kids that Czech families learn English at the camp where the Johnson family seres. Guide kids to draw pictures about Jesus that Czech families need to know. Pray together for the Czech families who will be learning English at family camp this summer. Missions Story: Families Reaching Families Taylor goes to camp eery summer. It s a lot like the camps in your area. He plays wacky games, hikes in the mountains, and makes new friends. What makes this camp different? It s in the Czech (CHECK) Republic, a country right in the middle of Europe. And it s not just for kids it s for whole families! Families come to learn English, make crafts, play games and sports, and hae a great time. Going to camp is a great way to make new friends, but it s also a great way to talk to people about Jesus. Taylor s parents, Harold and Ginger Johnson, are missionaries who plan the summer family camps. Taylor and his younger brother, Hayden, help their parents. The camps are a great way to build trusted relationships with campers. Most of the Czech people hae heard of Jesus, but they do not choose to follow Him. Many Czechs do not beliee that God is real. Once the Czech families get to know the Johnson family, they want to know who Jesus is and why Christians are so much fun to be around. The Johnsons want people to hear about Jesus and hae an opportunity to loe and trust Him. FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 14