GOD LOVES ME LARGE GROUP CEO Reggie Joiner DIRECTOR OF MESSAGING Kristen Ivy DIRECTOR OF PRESCHOOL STRATEGY Brittany Compton Robertson DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM Kathy Hill DESIGN AND BRAND MANAGER Sharon van Rossum TEAM CREATIVE TEAM Brittany Compton Robertson Kathy Hill Autumn Ward Ashley Hiers Donna High Sharon van Rossum Deb Springer McKenzie Causey WRITERS Emily Meredith Kathy Hill USER AGREEMENT Scripture quotations marked NCV are quoted from the Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing, Dallas, Texas 75234. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 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. First Look and the First Look logo are trademarks of The rethink Group. STATEMENT OF FAITH USER AGREEMENT Orange gladly grants permission to churches, schools, and other licensees to tailor First Look 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. 2017 The ReThink Group. All rights reserved. www.thinkorange.com
PRELUDE: Setting the tone for the experience For Leaders Only Monthly Overview Create the Environment BIBLE STORY Jesus is born. Jesus Is Born LUKE 2:1-7 MEMORY VERSE God has given a son to us. ISAIAH 9:6, NCV 15 10 10 SOCIAL: Providing time for fun interaction Offer one or more of these activities as preschoolers arrive. Travel by Tape What s in the Bag? Nativity Scene WORSHIP: Inviting people to respond to God Special Delivery STORY: Communicating God s truth in engaging ways Bible Story Prayer KEY QUESTION How do we know God loves us? BOTTOM LINE God gave us Jesus. 25 GROUPS: Creating a safe place to connect Offer as many of these activities as your time, facilities, resources, and leadership allow. Stable Walk Manger Scene Nativity Set Up Dance, Dance, Dance Special Delivery for Someone Special Journal and Prayer BASIC TRUTH God loves me. HOME: Prompting action beyond the experience Going Home Parent Cue 2017 The ReThink Group. All rights reserved. www.thinkorange.com 2
BIBLE STORY Jesus is born. Jesus Is Born LUKE 2:1-7 MEMORY VERSE God has given a son to us. ISAIAH 9:6, NCV KEY QUESTION How do we know God loves us? BOTTOM LINE God gave us Jesus. BASIC TRUTH God loves me. 10 UTES 10 UTES Gather children for a Large Group time that includes interactive worship and the Bible story. The Rug Script is written for those who pull their children to a rug (or area) to one side of their preschool space to tell the Bible story. If you gather your preschoolers together from multiple rooms and have a larger space on which to present the Bible story, you may benefit from using the Stage Script. WORSHIP Use the full mix of the monthly song provided with the curriculum to lead your preschoolers in worship. Encourage children to be active during worship by incorporating the appropriate hand motions. WHAT YOU NEED: Paperclip Memory Verse Card in your Bible at Isaiah 9:6. You will also need a CD player and this month s worship song, Special Delivery, which is included in your monthly files. The dance moves video of this song is available on AmberSkyRecords.com. LEADER: Good morning, everyone! It s so good to see you today. I can t wait to sing with you today. But first, tell me: How do we know God loves us? CHILDREN AND LEADER: God gave us Jesus. LEADER: Yes, that s right! Let s sing our awesome new song all about that special delivery. Lead children in singing Special Delivery, this month s worship song. Yay! What incredible singers you are. How do we know God loves us? CHILDREN AND LEADER: God gave us Jesus. LEADER: That s right! God gave us Jesus. Remember, our memory verse tells us exactly that. Are you ready to do it with me? (Pause.) Let s do it! God (point arms straight up) has given (cup both hands in front of you like you are giving something) a son (rock your arms like you re holding a baby) to us (point your thumbs to your chest), Isaiah 9:6. (Hold hands open like a book.) Let s do it again. CHILDREN AND LEADER: God (point arms straight up) has given (cup both hands in front of you like you are giving something) a son (rock your arms like you re holding a baby) to us (point your thumbs to your chest), Isaiah 9:6. (Hold hands open like a book.) (Repeat several times.) LEADER: Way to go. You are awesome. God gave us the most awesome gift: Jesus. 2017 The ReThink Group. All rights reserved. www.thinkorange.com 3
10 UTES 10 UTES BIBLE STORY Jesus is born. Jesus Is Born LUKE 2:1-7 MEMORY VERSE God has given a son to us. ISAIAH 9:6, NCV KEY QUESTION How do we know God loves us? STORY Choose an engaging adult to tell the Bible story. This person should be able to command the attention of preschoolers and control the group through animated storytelling. These scripts are written to be told and not read. Advanced preparation is necessary. First Look offers weekly introductory sketch and Bible story videos on the DVD titled Wonder! Look at God s Story. This DVD is available for purchase at OrangeStore.org. WHAT YOU NEED: Bible LEADER: Hello, friends! Raise your hand if you re excited about Christmas! (Pause.) Me too! You can put your hands down. Last week we heard about how the angel came to tell Mary she was going to have a what? Call it out for me. CHILDREN: A baby! LEADER: Exactly! The angel told Mary she would have a baby. Today I want to tell you about what happened next. You can read all about it in the Bible. (Hold up Bible.) And remember, if you read it in the Bible, it is TRUE! BOTTOM LINE God gave us Jesus. BASIC TRUTH God loves me. Let s hear the next part of the story. Mary and Joseph had to travel to Joseph s hometown of Bethlehem, and Mary might have ridden on a donkey to get there. Now, Mary was about to have the baby so they needed to find somewhere to stay and fast. Mary and Joseph had to knock on doors to find a place to stay. But at their first stop, the innkeeper didn t have any room. So they went to another inn. But you know what? Still no room for them. Now, this innkeeper didn t have a room left either, but he did have somewhere else they could go. The innkeeper told Mary and Joseph that they could stay the night in his stable with all the animals, like chickens and sheep! And it wasn t long before the whole world including me and you received a very special gift! Jesus was born! God s Son was here! The most amazing, most perfect gift for ALL of us had finally come. Happy birthday, Baby Jesus, and merry Christmas! Tell me: How do we know God loves us? God gave us Jesus. Again! How 2017 The ReThink Group. All rights reserved. www.thinkorange.com 4
10 UTES 10 UTES do we know God loves us? CHILDREN AND LEADER: God gave us Jesus. LEADER: That s right! God gave us Jesus the best gift ever! Let s pray and thank God for His amazing gift to us. PRAYER LEADER: Heavenly Father, thank You SO much for the most amazing gift: Jesus! Thank You for sending Your only Son to us to show us how much You love us. That s why we celebrate Christmas! We love You, God. In Jesus name, amen. 2017 The ReThink Group. All rights reserved. www.thinkorange.com 5
10 UTES 10 UTES 2017 The ReThink Group. All rights reserved. www.thinkorange.com 6