ONE ANOTHER WEEK 5: ACCEPT ONE ANOTHER OCTOBER 15, 2017 At a Glance Peter Learns to Accept John 18; 21 Main Idea: God wants His people to accept and pray for one another. Memory Verse: May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:5-7, NIV Younger Children Option: Accept one another. Romans 15:7, NIV Teacher Devotional There are few things more beautiful than a symphony playing in perfect unison. Although the individual instruments are diverse, when musicians play the same song, in the same key, with the same timing, the music is an inspiring blend that highlights each musician s talent while creating something together that they couldn t produce as solo artists. But imagine what would happen if each person played in a key of his or her own choosing, or decided to play his or her own song. Rather than a thing of beauty, it would sound like a jumbled and chaotic mess. A symphony can only make beautiful music when there is unity among its members. In the same way, God s people are called to live in unity with one another. Christians have a variety of gifts and callings. Unity does not mean blandness: Christ s church is comprised of people from all different races, backgrounds, languages, and skillsets. Unity means using our gifts and talents in harmony with others in the church body, with the shared goal of bringing glory to God. Jesus constantly modeled a spirit of humility (Phil 2:3). As Christ followers, we are to humble ourselves for the sake of unity in the church. Christians experience unity when we are united in God and the truth of the gospel. As a unified church, we will be empowered to bear witness to the true identity of Jesus and the way to eternal life. Although as believers we all have distinct backgrounds, personalities, and spiritual gifts, we are to be one in purpose. We live in a divided and hostile world that is in desperate need of the unifying power of the gospel. Unity among the body of Christ is essential if we are going to share the gospel with a lost world. Week 5 - Page 61
Large Group Introduce the Story Option for Younger Kids: Leg: Right or Left? Supplies: Invite kids to sit in chairs in a circle and ask kids a series of true/false statements. Tell kids to hold their left legs straight out if the statement is true and their right legs straight out is the statement is false. Make statements such as: The sky is blue. My hair is brown. Giraffes live in Africa. Apples grow on trees. This room has two windows. Noah was swallowed by a giant fish. Zacchaeus was over six feet tall. Jesus was born as a baby. The Book of Matthew is in the Old Testament. The words in the Bible are true. Peter was a follower of Jesus. Comment that all of those statements are like questions on a test. Say: Today you will hear some questions that people asked one of Jesus disciples. Option for Older Kids: Buzz Worthy Supplies: Poster board or white board, marker Prep: Either on a poster board or white board, make a list of the numbers of multiples of 5 for kids to consult when playing the game. Form a circle. Kids will count to twenty, one person at a time. Explain that anyone whose number is a multiple of five must say: Buzz. For example: 1-2-3-4-buzz-6-7...19-buzz. If the group makes a mistake, it must begin again. If the group succeeds, issue a more difficult challenge. Buzz stays in play, but anyone with a multiple of two must say: Fizz. For example: 1-fizz-3-fizzbuzz-fizz-7-fizz-9-buzz/fizz. (Ten is a multiple of both five and two and is denoted by both words, as is twenty.) Be aware that lots of mistakes may be made during the game, and that s part of the lesson. Remark that despite many mistakes along the way, Peter learned to love, trust, and follow Jesus. Say: People mess up. They make mistakes. Today s story will help us learn and remember how God wants us to treat others. Introduce the Main Idea to kids: God wants His people to accept and pray for one another. Ask kids to think about what this means to them, and you ll ask them for their answers in a few minutes. Week 5 - Page 62
Tell the Bible Story Supplies: Teaching Picture 5 Encourage kids to count things that happen in the Bible story. Kids should count on their left hands how many times someone asks Peter about Jesus, and count on their right hands how many times Jesus asks Peter a question. Open the Bible to John 18 and tell the story. Display the teaching picture. Peter Learns to Accept On the night before He was crucified, Jesus went to a garden to pray. One of Jesus disciples, Judas, planned to betray Jesus. Judas brought soldiers and the temple police. The men came to the garden with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Peter grabbed his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest s servant. Jesus scolded Peter. Put your sword away! Jesus commanded. Am I not to do what My Father has planned for me? The men arrested Jesus. Peter followed the soldiers to the high priest s courtyard. Three times, someone asked Peter, Aren t you one of Jesus disciples? Three times, Peter said, I am not. Immediately, a rooster crowed. Jesus died, was buried, and was resurrected, just as He had promised. Peter and some other disciples went fishing in Galilee. They fished all night and caught nothing. Jesus called to them from the shore, but the disciples didn t recognize Him. Cast your net on the other side! Jesus said. When they obeyed, the net was full of fish. The disciples recognized Jesus. Peter plunged into the water and swam to the shore. After breakfast, Jesus asked Peter. Peter, do you love Me? Peter said, You know I love You! Jesus asked Peter this two more times. Each time Jesus told Peter: Feed My sheep. Then Jesus told Peter: Follow Me! BASED ON JOHN 18; 21 Week 5 - Page 63
Guide kids to hold up their answers on each hand (three on both hands). Reiterate that Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him the same number of times that Peter denied Jesus. Week 5 - Page 64
Apply the Bible Story Option for PreK and Younger Kids: Secret Handshake Supplies: None Remind kids of today s Main Point: God wants His people to accept and pray for one another. Say: Remember I told you I would be asking you a question about this? Here s your question: Why does God want you to accept and pray for others? Invite kids to provide their responses. Explain that praying for others may be easier than accepting them, but God wants His people to do both! Talk with kids about how Jesus wants people to love, trust, and follow Him. Invite kids to find a partner or get into groups of three. Challenge kids to make up their own handshake with three moves (such as slap hands, snap fingers, point at friends). Guide each group to do the handshake three times in a row while saying: I can love. I can trust. I can follow. Call for volunteers to pray, asking God to help kids love, trust, and follow Him. Option for Older Kids: Write It On the Wall Supplies: Large sheet of paper, markers, tape, index cards Prep: Attach the large sheet of paper to the wall for kids to draw on as suggested below. Write the following Scriptures on separate index cards: 1 Peter 1:15; 2:13; 2:21; 3:10; and 2 Peter 1:5-7; 3:14. Option: If your time is limited, go ahead and mark these verses in a Bible and allow kids to take turns reading the verses aloud and writing on the wall. Note that Peter shared what he learned about honoring and obeying Jesus by writing two letters to his Christian friends. Distribute prepared cards for kids to locate in their Bibles. Guide kids to find 1 and 2 Peter in their Bibles and read their assigned verses. Call for volunteers to read aloud their discoveries and write important information from the verses on the graffiti wall you prepared. Share that these are great ways to live your life and show love to others. Small Group Time (Dismiss to Groups) Apply the Main Idea Option for PreK: Yarn Weaving Week 5 - Page 65
Supplies: Ball of yarn For Younger Kids: Keep a watchful eye on kids wrapping their hands with the yarn. Be sure the yarn is loosely wrapped. Invite kids to sit on the floor in a tight circle. Hold a ball of yarn and wrap the end around your hand. Share one way you can love, trust, or follow God. Toss the yarn to another child across the circle. Guide the child to wrap the yarn around his or her hand and tell one way he or she can love, trust, or follow God. Lead him or her to toss the ball of yarn to another friend in the circle. Continue until each child answers and holds onto a piece of the yarn. Guide kids to lower the yarn to the floor while holding it in their hands. Invite one child to give his or her yarn to the child sitting next to him or her, stand up, and walk through the weave to the other side of the circle. Allow that child to hold on to a new piece of the yarn as the child takes the yarn from the other child, stands up, and moves across the circle to another spot. Continue until each child moves. Say: God wants us to obey and follow Him even when things are difficult. God wants His people to accept and pray for one another. Option for Younger and Older Kids: Javelin Throw Supplies: Javelin Fun, Older Kids Activity Pages, cotton swabs, scissors Prep: Cut the end off each swab to make the swab into a javelin. Option for Younger Kids: Provide some different situations that kids may throw their javelin at the rating that matches each child s responses. Lead kids to complete Big Numbers on the Older Kids Activity Pages. As you discuss kids ratings, explain that sometimes it is more difficult to be obedient with small stuff (controlling temper, patience with siblings) than it is with big stuff (avoiding alcohol or drugs, stealing money). Ask kids if they agree or disagree with that statement and to explain their positions. Give everyone a javelin (swab). Place the Javelin Fun marker strip on the floor. Lead kids to stand about three feet away from the edge of the marker strip and take turns tossing their javelins.the number on which the javelin head lands determines the difficulty rating : 10 easy; 20 somewhat easy; 30 somewhat difficult; 40 almost impossible. Week 5 - Page 66
Prompt kids to name a way to show love and care for others that, in their opinion, fits the difficulty level. If desired, play in teams and keep score. Tell kids that you will be praying for them by name, asking God to help them trust and obey Him in all things. Say: Accepting others may be difficult for you at times, but God is always there to listen to what you have to say and help you when you ask Him to do so. Review Option for PreK and Younger Kids Lead kids to stand in a circle. Place a chair in the middle of the circle. Ask review questions and instruct the child who knows the answer to pretend to swim to the chair, sit in it, and shout out the answer. Guide him or her to swim back to the circle after answering. To allow all kids an opportunity to respond, shift the angle of the chair after each question. Remind kids how Peter jumped into the sea when he realized the man on the shore was Jesus. Say: No matter where you are or where you go, God wants you to pray for others. Review Questions 1. What did Jesus say when Peter harmed the high priest s servant? (Put your sword away!) 2. Why do you think Peter insisted that he did not know Jesus? (Answers will vary.) 3. What happened when Peter denied Jesus for a third time? (A rooster crowed.) 4. What did Jesus ask Peter three times? (Do you love Me?) 5. What did Jesus tell Peter? (Feed My sheep. Follow Me!) 6. What is one way you can show others you love and accept them? (Answers will vary.) Option for Older Kids Supplies: Graffiti Wall (used earlier in Apply the Main Idea), pencils Prep: Ask review questions. Lead kids to write or doodle their answers on the graffiti wall and then share them with the group. Week 5 - Page 67
Remind kids that it is important to share Jesus with others and pray for people even if they may say they don t want you to pray for them. Learn the Memory Verse Memory Verse: May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:5-7, NIV Younger Children Option: Accept one another. Romans 15:7, NIV Option for PreK Supplies: Bean bag, index cards, marker Prep: Write each word of the Younger Children Option Memory Verse on a separate index card. Option: Extra blank index cards Lead kids to stand in a straight line and say each word of the Bible verse as they pass the beanbag down the line. Instruct each child to pass the beanbag over his or her head to the person behind him or her. Instruct the last child in line to run to the front of the line and continue passing the bean bag again. Repeat several times as kids become familiar with the verse. Challenge kids by covering up the words with blank cards and saying the verse again. Ask kids to explain what it means to accept one another, and why it is important to do so. Remind kids they can always pray for people and ask God for help to accept them and show love to others. Option for All Kids Supplies: Marker board, marker Prep: Write the words to Romans 15:5-7 on the board for reference. Option for Younger Kids: Choose one verse to read aloud (such as verse 7) rather than the entire passage. Week 5 - Page 68
Read aloud today s Memory Verse from your Bible. Lead kids to say the verse by jumping as they say words containing five letters or more, and clapping as they say words containing four letters or less. Entertain several suggestions from the group for motions or sounds to substitute for words in the verse, for example, whistling in place of words that contain the letter E. If needed, use a marker to indicate the words to make it easier for kids to identify what to do when saying each word. For example, circle words that contain five letters or more and underline words that are four letters or less. Repeat the activity several times, using different motions to help kids become familiar with the words of the verse. Ask: What kind of mind does this passage tell you to have? Why is that important for accepting and praying for others? Pray Talk with kids about reasons it might be difficult to accept others. Avoid kids saying names of specific people, and to speak in generalities instead. For example, it might be difficult to accept someone who has hurt your feelings before or said mean things to a friend. Help kids recognize you do not have to agree with what someone says or does, but you can pray for people and show them love. Point out that God wants His people to work together. Pray, asking God to help His people accept and pray for one another. Activity/Take Home Sheets If you haven t already used the Activity Pages, use the remaining group time to complete the activity sheets or review your answers for this week s lesson ( 05_ActivityPage_Younger and 05_ActivityPage_Older ). If you run out of time, send the sheets home for kids to review during the week. Week 5 - Page 69
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5 The Chapel October 15, 2017 Accept one another. Romans 15:7 Grab a red and yellow marker or crayon. Color the hearts red and the stars yellow to see the mystery word. IMAGE CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM Then use the mystery word to create a Knock Knock Joke! KNOCK! KNOCK! WHOS THERE? I I. WHO? O YOU FORGOT WH YOU! Week 5 - Page 71
The Chapel October 15, 2017 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:5-7 IMAGE CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM Read the Scripture references on the text messages and write a reply about how God wants you to obey Him. Then create some BIG NUMBERS to rate how hard it is for you to do that act of obedience. Give yourself a 2,476 if the act is "No Problem!" Give yourself a 91,485 if you think there is "NO WAY!" Your answer might be somewhere in between! You can find Peter s WORDS OF WISDOM (W.O.W.) in two letters he wrote to his Christian friends Take a look at one of those books. You won t have to read long until you find a W.O.W. about trusting and obeying Jesus. Write your discovery here: 1 ANDWeek 2 PETER. 5 - Page 72 2015 LifeWay
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family devotionals Week #5: Accept One Another ACTIVITY: Grab a dry erase board and markers OR a chalk board and chalk OR simply a paper and pencil with eraser. Note: Peter is referred to as both Peter and Simon Peter. This is a long passage but you can choose to read all of John 18 and 21, or simply read John 18:10-11, 15-17, 25-27; 21:15-17 Note: The specific verses are those that are most helpful. What you want your kids to see is the relationship Peter and Jesus had; the good and the bad. While someone is reading ask family members to draw a sad face on the board each time Peter says he does not know Jesus. Then as you get into Chapter 21 ask family members to erase and change the sad faces to smiley faces each times Peter says he loves Jesus. Isn t it great that God loves us when we mess up? He wants us to share that with others! FOCUS: STEP IT UP: (if you are able to make more time in your week) God wants His people to accept and pray for one another. Get a large poster Markers/colored pencils A stack of post-its. Have someone, or take turns, write Romans 15:7 on the poster. Then as a family color and draw all over the poster. Encourage kids to draw pictures that help them remember the verse. Take the stack of post-its, have everyone close their eyes and have one family member pick random words in the verse to cover. See if you can remember those words that are covered without peeking. Have everyone close their eyes again and let a different family member cover new words. Keep doing this until the verse is memorized. Hang your poster up somewhere you will see it all week. GO DEEPER: (have older kids or are just ready for more?) Read John 21:25. The final verse in John quite interesting. We have so many stories about Jesus yet this verse makes it clear that we don t know the half of it. Week 5 - Page 74 As a family write a story about Jesus. Choose your setting, plot, and characters. You may draw pictures or use cartoon bubbles, whatever you want. You can have it set in Bible times or present day. You can be in the story with Jesus! What would He say? Would He perform a miracle? Would He be telling a great story? It s up to you! Note: If your kids need to move a bit more. Act out a story you create about Jesus.