PRELUDE SOCIAL STORY WORSHIP HOME Chief Executive Officer Reggie Joiner Creative Team Kristen Ivy Mike Clear Molly Bell Elloa Davis Elizabeth Hansen Brandon O Dell Greg Payne Phil Pierce Dan Scott Jon Williams Contributing Writers Jodi Blackwell Sharon Carey Stuart Chapman Kristy Hecht Nicole Jones Cara Martens Editors Molly Bell Elloa Davis Dana Wilkerson Illustrations & Graphic Design Brian Bascle Mike Davis Joe Goode Technical & Web Support Hadley Brandt Orange Specialists Abbey Carr Amy Fenton Leslie Galema Amy Grisham Barbara Graves Terri Jones Misty Phillips Stephanie Porter Annette Stickney Courtney Templeton Gay Tucciarone Statement of Faith ABOUT GOD God is the one and only true God, yet He exists in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. God is the Creator, so everything belongs to Him and is under His control. God is holy, so He is righteous, majestic, and loving. God is all knowing and purposeful, so He s at work to bring about His will. No person, thing, or idea compares to God. ABOUT THE SCRIPTURES God reveals Himself to us through the Bible, and it is 100% accurate, reliable, and authoritative. ABOUT PEOPLE People are made in God s image and for His pleasure. But everybody falls short of God s intention, or ideal, for people. In other words, everyone has sinned. As a result, we are all separated from Him, even though He wants an intimate relationship with each of us. ABOUT SALVATION That s why Jesus God s Son came and lived on this earth, died, and rose again. God offers His free gift of salvation to all who believe in Jesus and accept Him as Savior the only way to be forgiven and reconciled to God. Anyone who accepts this gift is adopted as a son or daughter into God s family and will live with Him forever in heaven. User Agreement Orange gladly grants permission to churches, schools, and other licensees to tailor 252 Basics materials to fit their unique leadership requirements, locale and format preferences, and physical environment needs. However, if you wish to edit the content substantively, including Bible stories, learning activities, scripts, and any other content in which biblical principles and concepts are presented, you are obligated to do so within the doctrinal guidelines we ve expressed in our Statement of Faith. These resources are intended to be downloaded and printed for use by the subscribing entity only and may not be electronically transferred to or duplicated by other non-subscribing entities. Any unauthorized reproduction of this material or incorporation into a new work is a direct violation of US copyright laws. 2017 The rethink Group. All rights reserved. 252 Basics and the 252 Basics logo are trademarks of Orange and the rethink Group. Scripture marked NIrV is taken from the NEW INTERNATIONAL READER S VERSION. Copyright 1996, 1998, 2014 Biblica. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of Biblica. Scripture marked NIV is taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
SOCIAL PRELUDE STORY WORSHIP HOME BIBLE STORY The Namer Adam s First Job Genesis 2:19-20 BOTTOM LINE God made you to imagine. MEMORY VERSE How you made me is amazing and wonderful. I praise you for that. Psalm 139:14, NIrV LIFE APP 15 MINUTES 25 MINUTES 10 MINUTES 25 MINUTES PRELUDE: Setting the tone for the experience For Leaders Only Create the Environment SOCIAL: Providing time for fun interaction Ideas for Early Arrivers Baby Don t Cry STORY: Communicating God s truth in engaging ways Opener Worship Bible Story Prayer Closer WORSHIP: Inviting people to respond to God Every Move I Make from Walk This Way Oh So Beautiful from Everything I Need : Creating a safe place to connect What Is It? That s My Job Verse Circles Prayer HOME: Prompting action beyond the experience GodTime Parent Cue Creativity imagining what you could do because you re made in God s image. BASIC TRUTH I need to make the wise choice. PAGE 2
PRELUDE SOCIAL STORY WORSHIP HOME BIBLE STORY The Namer Adam s First Job Genesis 2:19-20 BOTTOM LINE God made you to imagine. MEMORY VERSE How you made me is amazing and wonderful. I praise you for that. Psalm 139:14, NIrV GETTING READY SOCIAL: PROVIDING TIME FOR FUN INTERACTION (Choose one or both of these activities.) Early Arriver An offering container Prayer booklets from previous weeks (NOTE: Encourage Small Group Leaders to bring their booklets from last week to review with the kids. Be sure to have a couple of extra booklets for SGLs who weren t here last week.) Imagine If Print the Cube Template Activity Page; 1 for each kid Tape Scissors Pencils/markers Optional: Make a cube before Small Group to use as an example. : CREATING A SAFE PLACE TO CONNECT (Choose as many of these activities as you like.) * If you don t have time to do all these activities, be sure to do activity #1. LIFE APP Creativity imagining what you could do because you re made in God s image. BASIC TRUTH I need to make the wise choice. * 1. What Is It? (application activity / review the Bible story) 2 pictures of unusual animals, either printed or pulled up on a mobile device/ computer o Examples could include: a sugar glider, an axolotl (or Mexican walking fish), fennec fox, hedgehog, etc. o Whichever animals get chosen should not be familiar to the kids. Pencils/markers Paper; at least 1 sheet for each kid Paper squares in assorted colors and sizes (this is a great opportunity to use scrap or recycled paper) Scissors Glue 2. That s My Job (application activity) Print the That s My Job Activity Page and cut apart; 1 for each small group PAGE 3
PRELUDE SOCIAL STORY WORSHIP HOME 3. Verse Circles (memory verse activity) Bibles Print Page 1 of the Verse Circles Activity Pages on red cardstock; 6 copies for each small group Print Page 2 of the Verse Circles Activity Pages on blue cardstock; 6 copies for each small group Print Page 3 of the Verse Circles Activity Pages on yellow cardstock; 6 copies for each small group Print Page 4 of the Verse Circles Activity Pages on green cardstock; 6 copies for each small group Print the Instruction Cards Activity Page and cut apart; 1 set for each small group Paper bag or other container; place the Instruction Cards inside Tape Note: If you choose, you can use an actual board and spinner from a Twister game and write the verse phrases from the Verse Circles on the board (or write the verse phrases on duct tape and stick them to the board). If you do this, you will not need to supply each small group with the Activity Pages. Prayer Kids prayer booklets from last week (if they brought them back) Print the Prayer Cards Week 3 Activity Page and cut apart; 4 cards for each kid Hole punches and brads, key rings, yarn, or another way of your choosing to connect the cards together and create a booklet (Note: You only need to provide these for kids who weren t present last week.) Markers or pencils Note: Kids will take the cards and connecters home and continue to add to the booklets each week this month. Additional Resources: Make copies on cardstock or email this week s GodTime and Parent Cue cards. Tell parents about our additional family resources: Studio252.tv, CUE Box, and the Parent Cue app. To find out more about these great resources, go to http://www.studio252.tv/leaders. PAGE 4
PRELUDE STORY WORSHIP HOME SOCIAL SOCIAL: PROVIDING TIME FOR FUN INTERACTION Welcome kids and spend time engaging in conversation and catching up. Get ready to experience today s story. Before kids arrive, pray for each regular attendee by name. Pray for those who might visit your group for the first time. Ask God to open up kids (and your!) imaginations as to what s possible through what He has gifted them to do. Pray that today would inspire them to discover what they are good at and learn to use their imaginations for God s glory. 1. EARLY ARRIVER IDEA WHAT YOU NEED: Offering container, prayer booklets Invite kids to put their offerings in the offering container as they arrive. Engage kids in conversation. Use the optional questions below to facilitate discussion. o During the past week, what were some of the things about yourself you thanked God for creating? (Be ready to share some of the things you praised God for last week. If you have your prayer booklet, use it to spark the conversation.) o What do you think are some of the coolest inventions made? Cars? Phones? Lightbulbs? Think of what you used today to get ready to come to church. Toothbrush? Clocks? Glasses? Plumbing? 2. IMAGINE IF WHAT YOU NEED: Cube Templates Activity Pages, scissors, tape, markers Give each kid a Cube Template. Instruct them to cut along the solid lines of the template. In each of the squares, kids should write something God created (the earth, a rainbow, a bird, a sunflower, a waterfall, a pizza, etc.). Help kids fold along the dashed lines to create a cube and tape along the edges to hold the cube together. When everyone has completed making their cubes, create a story together as a group. Let kids take turns rolling their cubes. The first kid should roll his cube and start the story off, using the object he rolled on his cube. Then the next kid rolls her cube and adds a sentence to the story based on the object showing on the face of the cube. Keep going until kids have each added a sentence to the story. If the story hasn t wrapped up yet, let the group go around again, taking turns rolling their cubes and adding to the story. Challenge them to bring the story to a close by giving every person in the group another turn. In other words, they have to use the exact number of sentences as they have people in the group, and close the story in a way that makes sense. What great imaginations you have! Those were some creative stories. [Transition] Let s head to Large Group to hear how Adam and Eve used their imaginations creatively. Lead your group to the Large Group area. PAGE 5
PRELUDE SOCIAL STORY WORSHIP HOME : CREATING A SAFE PLACE TO CONNECT Create a safe place to connect and learn how the Bible story applies to real life experiences, through interactive activities and discussion questions. * 1. WHAT IS IT? (application activity / review the Bible story) WHAT YOU NEED: Pictures of unusual animals, paper, paper squares, glue, pencils/markers, scissors Show kids a couple of pictures of unusual animals. As a group, create names for the animals and imagine what they might eat or what sound they make. You might want to create special powers for each critter. Using an assortment of paper squares, let kids create their own one-of-a-kind exotic animal. As they work, review the Bible story with them. What are some jobs God gave Adam? (to take care of everything in the garden; to name the animals; to take care of what God created) As the exotic animals begin to take form, ask kids questions about their animals. For example: o What is your animal s name? o What does your animal eat? o What sounds does it make? How does it communicate? o How does it move? God certainly gave you all great imaginations! I love all your exotic animals and how each one was created uniquely. God made each of you uniquely too but He gave you all imaginations and the ability to create. And just like Adam, He gave you all a job to take care of everything He has made. God made you in His image; [Bottom Line] God made you to imagine and to be creative. It is important to look for opportunities to be creative to imagine what you could do to take care of what God has made and then to do it. 2. THAT S MY JOB (application activity) WHAT YOU NEED: That s My Job Activity Page Select a That s My Job card. Each card lists something we can take care of in God s world, such as: a pet, your parents, a sad friend, the earth, your home, or your body. Read the card out loud and give kids time to imagine one way they could take care of the item listed on the card. Kids can work in teams or by themselves. To keep them on their toes, let them work in teams, but change the teams after you ve gone through two or three cards! Then, without talking, kids will act out their ideas of how they could take care of the object while the rest of the group guesses what job they are doing. After two or three ideas have been acted out, draw another card and repeat the process, making sure to choose kids or teams who didn t get to act something out during the first round. PAGE 6
PRELUDE SOCIAL STORY WORSHIP HOME We know God made everything. He made the earth, air, water, and animals. We know God made you and your family and your friends and your classmates. Everywhere we look we see what God has made and, just like with Adam and Eve, it is our job to take care of what God has made. [Bottom Line] God made you to imagine and each of you can imagine creative ways to take care of the world God made. [Make It Personal] (Share with the group a couple ways you take care of what God has made. Maybe you like to sing, so you look for opportunities to sing at hospitals and senior centers to encourage people. Maybe you love dogs so you volunteer at an animal shelter to care for animals. Maybe you noticed your local park has a lot of litter so you created a clean-up program to help keep your park clean.) 3. VERSE CIRCLES (memory verse activity) WHAT YOU NEED: Bibles, Verse Circles and Instruction Cards Activity Pages, tape Give kids a Bible and tell them to look up Psalm 139:14. Read the verse together. Set up the game board by taping the Verse Circles on the floor in a four-by-six grid; each column will be one color and each row contains all four colors. Basically, you are making a Twister game board. Tell kids to line up along the edges of the game board. Draw an Instruction Card and read the body part and the color listed on the card, such as: right hand, red. The kids, simultaneously, try to place the correct body part an empty circle of the color that was read. For example, if the card is right hand, red, each player tries to place their right hand on any vacant red spot. If you read a card and a kid already has his hand or foot on the correct color, he must move it to another circle of the same color. (If one is not available, then he s out.) With every move the kids make, they must say the corresponding verse phrase for the color. If they don t say the corresponding verse phrase, they are out of the game. There cannot be more than one hand or foot on any one spot. If two or more players reach for the same circle, you will decide who gets the spot. Any kid who falls or touches the ground with an elbow or knee is immediately out of the game. A kid can also get out if she goes to place her hand or foot on the correct color and all of the colors are already taken. The last player left in the game is the winner! Note: If you have more than six kids in the group, divide the group into two groups and let the groups take turns playing (or provide extra game boards, if you have the space available). You had some creative moves to try to stay in the game! It amazes me how our bodies bend and flex and move. God certainly has quite an imagination when you consider how amazing and wonderful He made you and all the things He made you to do. Not only did He make you able to move to walk and jump and dance but also [Bottom Line] God made you to imagine, to create things, to learn, to solve problems, to write, to plan. Imagine all you can do because you were made in God s image! It is so important to look for opportunities to make the wise choice and share what God s given you to share your creativity with the people around you. PAGE 7
PRELUDE SOCIAL STORY WORSHIP HOME PRAY AND DISMISS WHAT YOU NEED: Prayer Cards Week 3 Activity Page, markers, pencils, Bible, kids prayer booklets from previous weeks God gave Adam and Eve jobs to do. Adam and Eve were to take of everything in the garden, the plants, the animals, and each other. God gives us jobs too. What are some jobs adults do? (teacher; fireman; janitor; professional baseball player; take care of their kids; etc.) What are some jobs kids do? (take care of the pet; clean their room; take out the trash; treat others the way they want to be treated; etc.) God made us to imagine and look for ways to take care of everything He made. Give kids four prayer cards each. This week, kids will use the prayer cards to thank God for jobs that people do (teachers, janitors, firemen, etc.). Kids can either draw what they are thankful for or write a note to God thanking Him for specific jobs. Challenge kids during the week to take note of the different type of jobs they see each day. Encourage kids to add these pages to their booklets and look through them this week, thanking God for the people who do those jobs and help take care of God s world. [Make It Personal] (Be sure to do this activity with the kids and next week bring in your prayer booklet to spark discussion during Social.) Let s pray: Dear God, You are amazing! You are so creative! Thank You for all the creative ways there are in the world to serve You, to praise You, and to take care of everything You made. Help us remember we are made in Your image; we are made to imagine and to create. Amen. As adults arrive to pick up, explain that today we learned God made us to imagine and to use our imaginations to take care of everything He created. Encourage kids to share their prayer booklets with their parents and challenge them to add to their prayer booklets during the week. PAGE 8