KIDS BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE SPECIAL BUDDIES FALL 2013 LEADER GUIDE RONNIE FLOYD GENERAL EDITOR JESUS IS GETTING ALONG Kids
LIFE POINT Jesus helped people learn. Good Attitudes BIBLE PASSAGE Matthew 5:1-12 CHRIST FOCUS Jesus life and ministry show us how to live. LIFE ACTION When something happens this week that makes you angry, think about how Jesus was kind and try to be like Him. OPTIONAL WEEKLY VERSE Proverbs 3:5 LOBL Jesus DATE OF USE 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 What is meant by the kingdom of example is commendable. We pray that heaven? more of them will speak up for Christ. Nonetheless, the greatest role model Soon after Jesus delivered this sermon, of all, of course, was Jesus. This unit will He selected and commissioned twelve examine Jesus example when He faced men to be His closest disciples (Matt. 10: life s various situations. 1-4). He charged them to carry His We start early in Jesus ministry. message and equipped them to minister Matthew tells how He went to a hilltop in His name. In what ways does God call to teach His disciples about the kingdom us, star athletes or not, to be role models of God. We call this section of the Book in the world today? 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, CONNECT TO FAMILY Jesus outlined nine important personal This week families using the Bible Studies characteristics of His followers and the for Life curriculum will learn about blessings promised by each one. Key attitudes. Just as you are teaching kids qualities He spotlighted include humility, that they can have attitudes like Jesus, caring for other people, courage in the children and adults are learning that life is face of opposition, and total dependence not going to always be easy. In the good on God in all things. times and bad times we can all have How do the promises in verses 3 and joyful attitudes of trust and surrender. 10 resemble each other? Do they differ from the others? 10 SeSSion 1
LIFE VERSE Jesus loved people and helped them. MAT THEW 14:14 BIBLE STORY Notes Jesus Taught About Attitudes One day a crowd of people was following Jesus. He climbed up the side of a mountain and sat down. His disciples gathered near Him. Jesus began to talk about how God wants His followers to live. Jesus said, Happy are the people who trust God to make them strong. Happy are the people who feel sorry when they do wrong or when things go wrong. God will comfort them. Happy are the people who depend on God. Happy are the people who want everyone to do what is right. Happy are the people who forgive others because God forgave them. Happy are the people who live in ways God wants them to live. M AT TH E W 5:1-12 CHRIST FOCUS Jesus life and ministry show us how to live. PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH ACTIVITIES YOU WISH TO USE TO SUPPORT THE BIBLE STORY OVER A TWO-WEEK PERIOD. SEE PAGES 6-7 FOR TEACHING TIPS. TEACHER PREP LIST Pack items 14 and 17a-b: Bible Markers, Attitudes Game Board, and Attitudes Game Cards Kids Activity Pages 3-6 CD track 1: Follow CD-ROM Items: Crowd Picture and Coloring Page DVD: Jesus Taught About Attitudes: Life Action Photo of each child BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE SPECIAL BUDDIES 11
Notes CD Obstacles such as a line of blocks or pillows placed on the floor, blocks, childfriendly stepping stool, plastic toy hoops held perpencidular to the floor by adults, collapsable tunnel Magazines, newspapers, scissors, glue or tape, paper INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITY Follow the Leader Week 1 Week 2 Prior to class, create fun obstacles children may jump across, step over, and crawl through. Invite children to play a game of Follow the Leader. Lead children around the obstacle course; give each child a turn to be the leader. Conclude with: Many people followed Jesus. Today I will tell you a story from the Bible about a time when people climbed a mountain so they could listen to Jesus speak. Play Follow (CD track 1) as children play. Happy Faces Week 1 Week 2 Instruct children to cut out pictures of people who have smiling, happy faces. Show children how to use glue or tape to attach the faces onto a large sheet of paper shared by the group. Explain that children will hear the word happy several times today in the Bible story. Note: Precut pictures for children who may have difficulty using scissors. STUDY THE BIBLE DVD DVD Week 1 Week 2 Show Jesus Taught About Attitudes to introduce the Bible story. Share that today s Bible story will help kids know that Jesus taught how to have a good attitude every day, even when things do not go our way. Kids Activity Page 4 Jesus Climbed a Mountain Week 1 Week 2 Reference the introductory activity children experienced. If they played Follow the Leader on the obstacle course, say: We had fun following one another s examples today. If they cut out pictures of happy faces, say: We had fun looking at happy faces today. Continue: Now I want to tell you a story from the Bible about a time when Jesus taught people about how to set a good example and to have a good attitude. Keep your open Bible on your lap and use the Teaching Picture as a visual as you tell the Bible story. As a review, give each child a copy of Kids Activity Page 4. Read the illustrated statement aloud from the page: Jesus climbed a mountain. Encourage children to touch first the picture of Jesus then the picture of the mountain path. Remind children that a crowd of people followed Jesus up the mountain. Jesus taught the people there. He wanted them to learn to have a good attitude and set a good example for others. 12 SeSSion 1
Jesus Taught Many People Week 1 Week 2 Gain the interest of children by inviting them to count the number of people in the room today. Show a picture of a large crowd of people, such as Crowd Picture from the CD-ROM. How many people do children think are represented in that picture? Explain that Jesus traveled to many places. People followed Him everywhere He went. Sometimes hundreds of people followed Him. They wanted to hear what Jesus said about God. The people that heard Jesus speak often went home and told their friends and neighbors what they had heard. Then many more people came to see Jesus and listen to Him. Show children your Bible, opened to Matthew 5. Tell children there are several stories in the Bible about how Jesus taught the people. Show the Teaching Picture. Let children count the number of people in the picture. Explain that many other people followed Jesus up the mountain that day as well. Tell the Bible story in your own words, emphasizing that Jesus taught the people how to live and how to set a good example for others about how to live. Notes CD-ROM Item: Crowd Picture Story in Motion Week 1 Week 2 Be ready to share the story in an animated style. Explain to children that a crowd of people that wanted to hear Jesus speak followed Him up the side of a mountain and sat down. Lead children from one part of the room to another, walking with an exaggerated motion as if you are climbing a mountain. Invite them to sit or park their wheelchairs close to you. As you tell the story, use the American Sign Language sign for the word happy. (View a demonstration of the sign at www.aslpro.com.) Other key words you may animate or sign include strong and feel sorry. When you talk about forgiving others, show children how to hug a friend or pat a friend s back. Show children the Teaching Picture. As you tell the story a second time, invite children to join in making the signs or motions with you. Happy Times Week 1 Week 2 _ Give children an opportunity to share about a happy day they have enjoyed. Take a moment to tell a silly joke or make a funny face you know will make children laugh. When the mood in the room is light, tell children that you want to tell them a story from the Bible. In the story, Jesus taught the people about some good attitudes He wanted them to have. Instruct children to listen for the word happy as you tell the story. Each time they hear the word, children should show you a big smile. Thank children for smiling as you told the story. Explain that, when people who love Jesus have good attitudes about things that happen to them, they set a good example for other people about learning to live as Jesus taught. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE SPECIAL BUDDIES 13
Notes PRACTICE BIBLE SKILLS Pack Item 14: Bible Markers Jesus Loved People and Helped Them Week 1 Week 2 Assist as children find Matthew 14:14 in personal or classroom Bibles. Post the Bible Marker. Ask: Who loved people and helped them? Children may speak the name Jesus, prompted by a visual of the Teaching Picture. Remind children to think about Jesus when they feel tired, angry, bored, angry, sad, or afraid. Jesus will help children feel better! Some children may be able to model for you a facial expression for one or more of these emotions. Ask children to make a face that shows how they feel when they know that Jesus loves them. Paper, markers or crayons Bibles T-R-U-S-T Week 1 Week 2 Proverbs 3:5 is an optional memory verse for this session. Print each letter of the word trust on a sheet of paper or the white board. Pause to let children identify each letter. Speak the word trust together. Invite children to repeat it with you. Attach a large sheet of paper to the wall. Invite each child to draw a heart on the paper or color, trace, or touch a heart previously drawn. Find Proverbs in personal or classroom Bibles. Remind children that they may trust God to take care of them and help them learn how to live in a way that pleases God. Bibles The Good News of the Gospels Week 1 Week 2 Say: The Bible story I told you today is found in the Book of Matthew. Matthew is the first book of the New Testament part of the Bible. The first four books of the New Testament are called the Gospels because they tell about the good news of the life of Jesus. Practice finding the Old Testament and the New Testament. According to the interest and abilities of children, find the reference for the Bible story, Matthew 5:1-12. Bibles Beach ball The Story of Jesus Week 1 Week 2 Be sure each child has access to a Bible. Show children the location of the Book of Matthew. Explain that the New Testament, or the second part of the Bible, contains stories that happened after Jesus was born. In fact, the first four books of the New Testament tell the stories of the life of Jesus. Work together to flip to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and then John. Let children say the name of each book. Show children how to gently place their Bibles beneath their chairs, reminding them that the Bible is a special book and should be treated with respect. Toss a beach ball to each child. When each child catches the ball, he should say the name of one of the first four books of the New Testament. 14 SeSSion 1
LIVE IT OUT Attitudes Game Week 1 Week 2 Guide conversation to focus on the fact that when we trust God and focus on Him, He helps us have a right attitude. Some children may enjoy playing the Attitudes Game. Note that not all of the scenarios listed on the Attitudes Game Cards will be appropriate for children in your class. Make adjustments as necessary, including printing additional scenarios on cards to make the game most applicable for children. Notes Pack Items 17 a-b: Attitudes Game Board and Attitudes Game Cards Highlight It! Week 1 Week 2 Explain that Jesus wants boys and girls to have a good attitude every day. Give each child a copy of Kids Activity Page 5 and a flashlight or a highlighting marker. Show kids how to use the flashlight or marker to highlight first the picture of Jesus. Say: Jesus can help you have a good attitude. When you feel grumpy or sad or angry, ask Jesus to help you feel like smiling. Next, highlight the picture of the church. Say: When you come to church you learn more about how Jesus wants you to live. Finally, highlight the picture of the Bible. Say: Stories from the Bible can help you learn how Jesus wants you to live. Kids Activity Page 5 Flashlights or highlighting markers Everywhere You Go Week 1 Week 2 Let each child tell you the name of his school, the name of the street where he lives, or the name of your church. As each child gives the name, encourage him to have a great attitude in that place. Remind him that Jesus will help him have a good attitude. One Conversation Week 1 Week 2 Send home Kids Activity Page 6 to encourage families to complete the One Conversation activity at home. Kids Activity page 6 CLOSING ACTIVITY I Loved Your Great Attitude Week 1 Week 2 Tell each child you loved his attitude today. If possible, verbalize a specific time when a child had a great attitude, such as when he shared with a friend, transitioned well to a new activity, or participated in an activity. Follow Week 1 Week 2 Play Follow (CD track 1) as children gather belongings and exit the room. CD BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE SPECIAL BUDDIES 15
Notes Four toy hoops BONUS ACTIVITIES Hoop Hop Week 1 Week 2 Place four toy hoops flat on the floor. Form a line of children in a follow-the-leader style. Say the phrase I ll trust in God as you hop from one hoop to the next. Each child may hop into each hoop and repeat each word in a similar manner. On the next time through the hoops, say the phrase Have a good attitude. Continue the game with additional phrases such as Do what is right and Live as Jesus taught. Kids Activity Page 5, reproduced Index cards, string, tape or glue Peek-a-look Book Week 1 Week 2 Permission is granted to reproduce the picture of Jesus on Kids Activity Page 5. Give each child a picture of Jesus and say: Jesus taught about attitudes. Distribute to each child 2 index cards and 2 pieces of string about 5 inches long. Show children how to tape or glue the picture of Jesus on one card. On the second card, print the question: Who taught about attitudes? Some children will be able to print the question. Others may trace letters dotted by adult leaders. Stack each child s set of cards, with the question card on top. Hole punch the cards and tie them together with string. Show children how to enjoy their peek-a-look books. They may show the question card to a friend or family member, and reveal the answer by flippping to the second card. Art supplies Count Your Blessings Week 1 Week 2 God wants all those who know and love Him to have happy attitudes. This means that even when things may seem tough or difficult, God can bless us with an attitude of joy and happiness. Lead children to think of some wonderful blessings God has given them by prompting them to think about people they love and things they enjoy. Children may speak the names of God s blessings or draw a picture of a specific blessing. As children work, guide the conversation to include spiritual blessings more than material blessings. For example, if a child mentions that he loves his video game, guide him to recognize that God has blessed him with friends to enjoy playing games with. Photograph of each child Heavyweight paper, buttons, feathers, stickers Happy Face Picture Frames Week 1 Week 2 As children pose for photos, encourage them to smile their biggest smiles. Assist as each child glues his photo to heavyweight paper. Use buttons, feathers, or stickers to create a border around the photograph. Remind children: Jesus taught that we can trust God and have good attitudes. Suggest children take the photo home to remind them to have a great attitude this week. 16 SeSSion 1
LIFE POINT Jesus helped people learn. God s Comfort Week 1 Week 2 Today s Bible story mentions the fact that God gives comfort to those who know, love, and obey Him. Jesus explained, Happy are the people who trust God to make them strong. Happy are the people who feel sorry when they do wrong or when things go wrong. God will comfort them. Make available several soft, comfy blankets for children to drape across their laps or shoulders. For children with autism, consider using weighted blankets. When everyone is wrapped in a blanket, say: God loves you and is with you everywhere you go. Imagine that God is as close to you as these soft blankets. When you feel sorry for doing wrong or sad when someone has done something that hurts your feelings, God is there. Lead children in prayer, thanking Him for being a comforting presence in our lives every day. Notes Soft blankets Jesus Bracelets Week 1 Week 2 Ask children if they have ever been so excited about something that it was all they could think about for a few days. Give appropriate examples, such as approaching birthday parties, a visit from grandparents, or the first day of school. Suggest that God wants children to be excited about Jesus, too! When children think about Jesus every day, they are more likely to go about their lives with a good attitude. Make simple bracelets from strips of heavyweight paper. Print the name Jesus, or let children do so. Size bracelets to fit and tape them closed around each child s wrist. Let children wear the bracelets for the remainder of class. If you like, send a second bracelet home with each child to wear another day this week. Heavyweight paper, tape, marker Paint Week 1 Week 2 Print the Coloring Page for this session. Provide watercolors for children to use to paint the page. As children work, review the Bible story, the Life Verse, and the Optional Weekly Verse. CD-ROM Item: Coloring Page Watercolor paints BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE SPECIAL BUDDIES 17