Children’s bible study

An 8 Week Study

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Love Your Neighbor: Share Christ Children’s Bible Study (8 Weeks) A Cooperative Program Ministry of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lessons        

Lesson 1 - Listen to Jesus Lesson 2 - Prayer Lesson 3 - Serve Others Lesson 4 - Sharing Jesus Lesson 5 - Love & Encourage Others Lesson 6 - Seeing & Feeling As Jesus Sees and Feels Lesson 7 - Being Used by God Lesson 8 - Setting Goals

Pg. 8 Pg. 16 Pg. 23 Pg. 31 Pg. 39 Pg. 46 Pg. 52 Pg. 60

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lessons Description: Eight Sunday School lessons for children that coordinate with Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ.

Purpose: To help children discover the meaning of living a life in keeping with the Great Commandments and the Great Commission.

Schedule: Each lesson has three sections as listed below. Each section is preceded by a Prepare list. Introduce the Lesson: 5-10 minutes Teach the Bible: 25-30 minutes Apply the Lesson: 20-25 minutes Teacher, Practice the Lesson This Week

Notes: * Each lesson is designed for one hour, however, activities can be adjusted to add or delete fifteen minutes from each session. * The lesson is designed for children grades four through six; however, there are some options for groups that have younger children. * If your group is large, form small groups of four to seven for the Introduce the Lesson and Apply the Lesson sections. Each group should have an adult leader. * There are two suggestions in the Apply the Lesson section. You may choose to have all the children do one activity or you may have more than one group and use both activities. * The "Teacher, Practice the Lesson This Week" section gives teachers a suggested way to carry out the theme of the lesson through the week. * The printed verses and Bible passages are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible translation, however, you may use the translation of your choice. All activities are translation neutral and can be used with the translation of your choice.

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Lesson Outlines: Lesson One: Lesson Title: Bible Story Title: Lesson Objective: Scripture Passage: Memory Verse:

Lesson Two: Lesson Title: Bible Story Title: Lesson Objective: Scripture Passage: Memory Verse:

Lesson Three: Lesson Title: Bible Story Title: Lesson Objective: Scripture Passage: Memory Verse:

Lesson Four: Lesson Title: Bible Story Title: Lesson Objective: Scripture Passage: Memory Verse:

Lesson Five: Lesson Title: Bible Story Title: Lesson Objective: Scripture Passage: Memory Verse:

Lesson Six: Lesson Title: Bible Story Title: Lesson Objective: Scripture Passage: Memory Verse:

Listen to Jesus Jesus Gave Commandments Lead children to learn basic teachings of Jesus to guide their lives and actions. Mark 12:28-33; Matthew 28:16-20 Mark 12:30-31a

Prayer Bible People Who Prayed To help boys and girls learn the importance of praying for others and have opportunities to pray for others. Acts 16:6-10; Acts 10:1-33, 44-47; Acts 12:1-7; Colossians 1:9-12 Matthew 6:6

Serve Others Bible Examples of Loving, Caring, and Sharing To lead children to discover ways to show love and care to others and use these times to share the gospel. Matthew 9:9-13; Romans 1:1-16 Romans 1:16

Sharing Jesus Following and Sharing Jesus To lead children to feel the call to follow Jesus and share what they know about Jesus with others. Matthew 4:18-22; John 1:35-42 Acts 1:8

Love and Encourage Others Barnabas, the Encourager Through a study of the life of Barnabas, children will learn how to befriend and encourage others. Acts 4:36-37, 9:26-27, 11:22-26, 13:1-3; 1 John 1:16-18 1 John 3:18

Seeing and Feeling As Jesus Sees and Feels Jesus Saw People and Loved Them This study will help children see people through the eyes of Jesus and love people as Jesus loved. Matthew 9:35-38; Romans 8:2-28 John 13:34

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Lesson Seven: Lesson Title: Bible Story Title: Lesson Objective: Scripture Passage: Memory Verse:

Lesson Eight Lesson Title: Bible Story Title: Lesson Objective:

Scripture Passage: Memory Verse:

Being Used by God Follow Jesus Children will learn that Jesus calls us to follow Him and following Jesus means being used by God. 1 Corinthians 3:5-9; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 1 Corinthians 3:9

Setting Goals Paul's Story Through this study children will review the expressions of love and evangelism, discover what the Bible says about setting goals, and set some spiritual goals for their lives. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Hebrews 12:1-2; Philippians 3:12-14; 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Philippians 4:13

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson One Lesson Title:

Listen to Jesus

Bible Story Title:

Jesus Gave Commandments

Scripture Passage:

Mark 12:28-33; Matthew 28:16-20

Memory Verse:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is: Love your neighbor as yourself. Mark 12:30-31a

Lesson Objectives:

Lead children to learn basic teachings of Jesus to guide their lives and actions.

PREPARE FOR #1: Provide a map of your state, markers, and Bibles. If you plan for more than one group, provide materials for each group. TEACH: 1. Introduce the Lesson (5-10 minutes) Display a map of your state. Guide kids to locate their hometown on the map. Ask the kids to think of places in your state they would like to visit. Discuss why they want to go to those places. (They may think of beach areas, places with theme parks or sports events.) Help the kids choose good routes from your hometown to the chosen destinations and mark the routes. Use a different colored marker for each route. Ask: How did the map help us with this activity? (Guided the group to find a route from your present location to the places you would like to go.) Comments: The Bible is like a map. It gives guidance to help us move from our present thoughts and actions to become the person God wants us to become. Invite the kids to open their Bibles to Psalm 119. Remind them that Psalms is found in the middle of the Bible. Call on volunteers to read verses 9, 11, 93, l05, and l38. Point out that these verses tell how the Bible can help guide one's life. Ask the group to recall thoughts from the verses. They may include keeping or obeying the Bible, memorizing the Bible to keep one from sinning, God gives life through His Word; the Bible is like a light to guide us. Comment: The Bible will guide one to love his neighbor and share Christ. PREPARE FOR #2: Provide Bibles, "Lesson One Memory Verse Poster" (Attachment 1), sticky notes, pens or pencils. TEACH: 2. Teach the Bible (25-30 minutes) Study the Bible Tell the group the lesson is from the New Testament and includes some commandments Jesus gave while He was on earth. Remind the kids that the life and teachings of Jesus are found in the first four books of the New Testament known as the Gospels. Invite the kids to recite the four gospels. (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John.) Invite the kids to open their Bibles to Mark 12, place a finger on verse 30, and be prepared to read when instructed. Tell the Bible story from your open Bible and follow the instructions in parentheses.

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson One Jesus Gave Commandments One day a scribe heard people asking Jesus questions. He heard Jesus giving good answers. Now a scribe was a man trained in Jewish law. Scribes interpreted and taught the law. This scribe asked Jesus, "Which is the most important commandment?" Jesus replied, "Listen, the Lord our God is One Lord." Then Jesus told the scribe which commandments are most important. (Guide the kids to read verses 30 and 31 from their Bibles.) The scribe responded to Jesus' answer by saying, "You are right, Teacher. To love God with all you have and to love your neighbor as yourself is most important." Later, after Jesus had been crucified and had risen from the grave, the disciples met Him on a mountain in Galilee. Jesus said to them, "I have all authority over things in heaven and on earth. I want you to go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Teach them to observe all my commandments. And remember, I will always be with you." We call this commandment "The Great Commission" because it tells what Jesus wants His followers to do. (Guide the kids to locate Matthew 28 in their Bibles and read verses 19-20 in unison. Mark 12:28-33; Matthew 28:16-20 Review the Bible material Ask the group to recall the three commandments from the Bible study. (Love the Lord, love your neighbor, go and make disciples.) Use these questions to lead a discussion: If you love the Lord with your heart, soul, mind, and strength; will you keep all of His commandments? Will you always try to please God? Will you pray and ask God to lead you? If you love your neighbor like you love yourself, how will you treat others? Can you go to every place in the world to tell others about Jesus? If you cannot go to every country, how can you teach others about Jesus? (Tell those you know and meet, pray for the missionaries and unsaved people of the world, give to missions.) Would these three commandments make a good road map for your life? If one kept these three commandments, would he become the kind of person God wants him to be? Would you like to be such a person? Would these commandments lead you to love your neighbor and share Christ with others? Learn a memory verse Display the memory verse poster of Mark 12:30-31a. Challenge the kids to memorize this portion of today's Bible study. Lead the group to read the verses from the poster three times. Play "Memory Verse Stomp" in this way: Form small groups and challenge each group to repeat the verse in a rhythmic chant while stomping their feet to the rhythm. OPTION: If you have younger children, or if your group isn't comfortable with making a rhythm, guide the children in this activity. Underline these words on the poster: Love, Lord, God, heart, soul, mind, strength, Love, neighbor, yourself. Repeat the verse again, stomping one foot on each underlined word. Live the Bible truths and pray Give each child a sticky note and pencil. Ask them to think about the three commandments - Love God, love your neighbor, go into all the world and teach - and write one thing they will do this week to obey one of

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson One these commandments. Instruct the kids to quietly stick their note to a designated place on the wall. When everyone is seated, ask the kids to pray silently. Suggest that they make a commitment to live for Jesus and ask for God's strength to obey the commandments from today's lesson. At the end of the prayer time, voice a short prayer. PREPARE FOR #3-A: Gather 32-40 sheets of construction paper, glue or tape, a small toy car or vehicle for each child (or other game markers), a numbered cube. Cut apart the "Road Instructions" (Attachment 2) and glue or tape each one to a sheet of construction paper. Add 20-25 additional sheets of construction paper. Lay the pieces of construction paper on the floor in the pattern of a crooked road. Place the pieces with instructions randomly along the way. Be sure to place "What I am now" at the beginning or start position and "The person God wants me to be" at the end. Give each child a toy car or vehicle to place at the beginning for a marker. The sheets of paper may be anchored to the floor with curls of tape. TEACH: 3 Apply the Lesson (20-25 minutes) A. Play a Life's Road Game Guide the kids to place their markers on "What I am now" and take turns tossing the numbered cube and moving their vehicle the correct number of spaces along the road. If they land on an instruction sheet, they must follow the instruction. Play as time permits or until the kids reach the end of the road. Debrief by discussing how our lives may be similar to the game. Point out that choices made now can either help or hinder us in becoming the person God wants us to be. We must keep our focus on following God. OPTION: Rather than using toy car markers let the kids be the markers, stepping from sheet to sheet. Or, use other objects (markers, crayons, buttons) for markers. PREPARE FOR #3-B: You will need a football (or a large Nerf type football), "Football Questions" (Attachment 3), tape. Cut the questions apart and tape them to the football. B. Learn from a Hero Read this story to the group. Tim Tebow's Choice Tim Tebow is a handsome young man. He is big - 6 feet, three inches and 235 pounds. He is strong. He plays quarterback for the Denver Broncos. He is a great athlete but more important than that, he is a great Christian. As a child Tim Tebow had ambition. His mother encouraged her children to set goals for themselves. When Tim was eight years old and his mother asked her children to write down their goals, Tim wrote "college quarterback" at the top of his list. He accomplished that goal but all through his football career he had another goal - to put God first. When speaking to a youth rally during his days at the University of Florida,

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson One Tebow said, "For me, football is a means to an end. I love playing football but there is something more important to me. That is to share my faith in Jesus." In high school, Tebow played hard. His coach said, "Timmy was the hardest worker I've ever been around." He also said, "Tim showed his faith in God in everything he did both on and off the field. He was always giving glory to God." He led his high school team to a State Title and broke Florida high school records in passing yards, rushing yards, passing touchdowns, and rushing touchdowns. When the time came for Tim to move on to college, many schools recruited him. The final decision was between the University of Alabama and the University of Florida. When his decision was made, Tim made the announcement in this way, "I prayed the whole time about it, and I just felt comfortable with the University of Florida. I think that's the place God wants me and that is why I chose it." Tim was a star player for the Florida Gators. He became a hero for fellow players and fans. He was awarded the Davey O'Brien Award as the best quarterback in the country, the Maxwell Award as the nations' best college football player, and the James E. Sullivan Award as the nation's most outstanding amateur athlete. He was awarded the important Heisman trophy when he was just a sophomore, the youngest athlete to ever win this award. Before a national television audience, Tim accepted the trophy with these words, "I'd just like to start off by thanking my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave me the ability to play football." Tim graduated from the University of Florida and was drafted by the Denver Broncos. Someone said, "The Gators didn't lose a hero but the Broncos gained one." Even with all this exciting football history, Tim Tebow has been all about serving God. During his college years he spent spring and summer breaks doing mission trips to the Philippines where he worked with orphans and preached in hospitals, schools, and orphanages. He witnessed by writing scripture messages into his eye black. He took opportunities to speak at youth rallies and in prisons. Tebow uses his football fame to speak for Jesus wherever possible. His audience changes but his message is always "God first." Tim Tebow still has some goals. He says, "After football, I think I'd like to get into something similar to what Danny is doing." Danny is another famous Florida Gator who now operates a ministry for underprivileged boys and girls. [[Gators for God, Suzy Adams Richardson, Bridge-Logos, Alachua, FL, 2010, pp. 2, 5, 6, 14, 15, 20, 23.]] Toss the football to one child who will remove one question, read the question, and call on volunteers to discuss the question; then toss the ball to another child who repeats the process. In the discussions, lead the children to understand that Tim Tebow is just one person who follows God and from whom we can take some lessons. God may be leading them to go in other directions and follow other plans. God does not lead everyone to be a football player, however, God has a plan for every life and it is important to begin as a young person to set goals, seek God's leadership, and learn to live by God's law. 4. Teacher, Practice the Lesson This Week Each morning this week, think of one thing you can do to obey each of the commandments from this lesson. Each evening, evaluate your day. Did you live by the commandments?

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson One

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.

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Love your neighbor as yourself. Mark 12:30-31a

Attachment 1 (Use with Lesson One) Lesson One Memory Verse Poster

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson One What I am now

The person God wants me to be

Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17 to discover why we should study the Bible. Bible study is a great way to learn how God wants you to live. Jump up and down and shout, "Hooray! Long live the Bible!"

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to discover how often we should pray. Prayer draws us close to God. Bow your head and say "Amen" three times.

Today you spent quiet time with God, praying and reading the Bible. Take another turn. This is a good way to become what God wants you to be.

Today you made friends with a new person in your school who had just moved to your town from India. You showed love to a neighbor. Move ahead 3 spaces.

You invited a neighbor to go to Sunday School and church with you. Pat yourself on the back and shout, "Way to go!" You are learning to be a witness.

While walking to school today, you told your friend about Jesus who died for your sins. Move ahead four spaces. You obeyed the Great Commission.

You helped your family get together some bags of used clothing and some groceries to take to a homeless shelter. Take another turn. You are showing love for your neighbor.

You sat quietly in church during the Lord's Supper and thought about all Jesus has done for you and said, "Thank you, Lord." Move ahead one space.

When you had a big decision to make, you prayed and asked God to guide you. You are learning to depend on God! Move ahead 2 spaces.

You talked to an adult friend about what you want to become one day. You asked the friend to pray with you that you will become what God wants you to be. Move ahead 3 spaces.

Today you let your friend talk you into going on a picnic instead of going to Sunday School. Lose one turn.

Today your friends were talking ugly and using God's name in bad ways. You didn't want to be teased about loving God so you said nothing. Move back 3 spaces.

Today you joined some other children in laughing and making fun of a child who looked and dressed differently even though you knew this displeased God. Move back 2 spaces.

Tonight you were just too sleepy to pray and read your Bible. You missed out on learning something about God!. Love one turn.

A friend asked you what you thought of Jesus. You replied, "I don't know what to say." You missed a chance to witness! Go back 3 spaces.

Today you passed notes, whispered, and giggled while the preacher was preaching. Not a good way to learn what God wants you to know! Go back 3 spaces.

Directions: Cut the statements apart and tape them to separate sheets of construction paper. Use as directed with Apply the Lesson, Play a Life's Road Game.

Attachment 2 (Use with Lesson One) Road Instructions

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson One

Does Tim Tebow show love for God? How?

Does Tim Tebow show love for other people? How?

Does Tim Tebow tell others about Jesus? Give an example.

Is football the most important thing in Tim Tebow's life? If not, what is?

What was Tim Tebow's goal when he was just a little boy?

What lessons for living can you learn from Tim Tebow's examples?

Directions: Cut the questions apart and tape them to a football. Use as directed with Apply the Lesson, Learn from a Hero. Attachment 3 (Use with Lesson One) Football Questions

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Two Lesson Title:

Prayer

Bible Story Title:

Bible People Who Prayed

Scripture Passage:

Acts 16:6-10; Acts 10:1-33, 44-47; Acts 12:1-7; Colossians 1:9-12

Memory Verse:

When you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6

Lesson Objectives

To help boys and girls learn the importance of praying for others and have opportunities to pray for others.

PREPARE FOR #1: Print "True" on a sheet of paper and tape it to a wall. Print "False" on another sheet and tape it to the opposite wall. TEACH: 1. Introduce the Lesson (5-10 minutes) Tell the boys and girls your lesson today is about prayer and you will play a True/False game to help them identify some truths about prayer. Gather the children in the middle of the room and explain that you will read a prayer sentence. If the sentence is true, they should run and place their hands on the wall with the "True" sign. If the sentence is false, they should run and place their hands on the wall with the "False" sign. Take time to answer questions and clear up wrong ideas about prayer. After each sentence, direct the kids to return to the middle of the room before reading the next question. Read the following sentences for the game. Answers are provided in parentheses for the teacher. 1. God hears when we pray. (True.) 2. God will answer our prayers. (True.) 3. God always answers "yes." (False. Sometimes God says "No" and sometimes he says "Wait a while.") 4. We must always bow our heads and close our eyes to pray. (False. God can hear no matter where or what position we take, however, bowing heads and closing eyes helps to shut out distractions.) 5. God only hears prayers that are said aloud. (False. God can hear even the prayers we think.) 6. We can talk to God about anything that is important to us. (True. God is interested in every area of our life.) 7. We should ask God to help us love our neighbors and share Jesus with others. (True.) At the close of the game direct the group to be seated as you begin your Bible study. PREPARE FOR #2: Print three copies of the Bible Study Work Sheet (Attachment 4). Highlight a different scripture passage on each sheet. Provide Bibles, pencils, a sheet of poster board, markers, masking tape, "Lesson Two Memory Verse Poster" (Attachment 5), hymnbooks.

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Two Print these words randomly on the poster board: Church helpers, Sick and Shut-in People, People Who Don't Attend Church, Missionaries, Countries, Friends. Draw lines to separate the groups of people. Make a sticky ball by wrapping strips of masking tape, sticky side out, into a wad about the size of a tennis ball. Print each phrase of the memory verse on a separate sheet of paper (probably seven phrases including the reference). Post these randomly around the room. 2. Teach the Bible (25-30 minutes) Study the Bible Form three groups. Give each group a Bible study sheet and pencil. Instruct them to work together to find the facts of the Bible passage and answer the questions on the Bible study sheet. Point out that each story comes from the book of Acts which is a history of the early church just after Jesus returned to heaven. Allow five minutes or so for the groups to complete the assignment, then call them together and ask each group to report. Invite the kids to open their Bibles to Colossians 1. Explain that Colossians is one of the thirteen New Testament books written by Paul and is a letter written to the church in Colosse. In verses 9-12, Paul assures the Colossians church that he is praying for them and tells for what he is praying. Ask a volunteer to read verse 9 and identify how often Paul prayed for the Colossians. Ask the children to identify what Paul says he is praying for. In sequence, ask volunteers to read each verse, 10-12, and identify from each verse what Paul is praying for the Colossian people. Did your group identify filled with knowledge of God's will, spiritual understanding, walk pleasing to God, bear fruit, strength, patience, joy, thanks for the people? OPTION: If you have younger children or children who have poor reading skills, you may tell each story briefly and ask the children to complete a Bible study sheet after each story. Apply the Bible truths Point out that someone in each Bible story prayed for someone else. God wants us to pray for others, also. Display the prayer chart and identify the types of people for whom we can pray. Invite a child to throw the sticky ball at the chart. Ask someone from the group to think of a person who fits in the category on which the ball stuck and write the name on the chart. Continue until several names have been written on the chart. Ask volunteers to choose one person from the chart and lead in a prayer for that person. Challenge the kids to pray for others each day this week and suggest that it would be good to pray for the people listed on the chart. Comment: Praying for someone is one way to show love for them and we should pray for people with whom we can share Christ. Learn a memory verse Tell the group that the True/False game showed that God hears prayer no matter where or how we express our prayers to Him, however, our memory verse teaches a good way to pray. Lead the group to read Matthew 6:6 from the poster. Call on several children to express what this verse means to them. Be sure these thoughts are included in the discussion: It is good to have a place to pray where you will not be disturbed. Prayer is talking to God and God hears when no other person hears. Often God will hear prayers we pray in secret and answer them in ways that others can see. Play a game of "I Spy" with the memory verse. Point out that phrases from the memory verse are posted around the room. Instruct the kids to look around the room and stand when they spy the first phrase. Call on one child to retrieve the phrase and place it on the floor before the group. Lead the group to spy the second

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Two phrase and put it in place beside the first phrase. Continue until the entire verse is displayed before the group. Read the verse in unison. Ask the kids to close their eyes while you touch one person on the shoulder. That person is to remove one phrase from the verse. Ask the kids to open their eyes and repeat the verse adding in the missing phrase. Repeat this process until every phrase has been removed and the children are saying the verse from memory. Search the hymn book Form groups of twos and threes. Give each group a hymnal. Demonstrate how to locate songs about prayer in the topical index. Invite the children to look up one or more of the prayer hymns and discover one truth about prayer from the song. Ask for reports. Children may enjoy singing one or more of the songs that are familiar. PREPARE FOR #3-A: Plan a route for your prayer walk that will not disturb activities taking place at this time. 3. Apply the Lesson (20-25 minutes) A. Take a Prayer Walk Remind the group of the importance of praying for others. Tell them you will take a prayer walk, stopping in certain places to pray for the people who are in that place or who may be in that place at a later time. Remind the group to stay together and move quietly so they will not disturb others. Lead the group to several places in your church and stop to pray in each place. Suggested places: outside the nursery, the pastor's office, the church office, outside an adult classroom, at the custodian's closet, in the choir loft, at the piano, beside certain pews to pray for the people who will be sitting there in the worship service. Return to your classroom and remind the children to pray for others during the week. Suggest that they pray for the people inside stores or businesses, in homes, at playgrounds, in offices and everywhere they may be this week. OPTION: If your church is located in a neighborhood of homes, you may take the group on a prayer walk of several blocks near your church, praying for the people that live in the homes. PREPARE FOR #3-B: Make a copy of the prayer grid (Attachment 6) for each child. Provide pencils or pens B. Prayer Grid Remind the group of the prayer list poster made earlier in the session. Suggest that they make a prayer list to use at home this week by filling in each block of the grid with a name. Encourage the kids to brainstorm ideas to give help to those that have difficulty thinking of names. Close the session by asking each child to pray for one person on their prayer grid. Challenge the kids to put their prayer grids on a wall or other prominent place as a reminder to pray for the people each day this week. 4. Teacher, Practice the Lesson This Week Take time to enter your private place of prayer each day this week. Pray for each child in your group, for neighbors, for the lost around the world, and for the people you know who have special needs.

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Two

Bible Study Work Sheet Directions: Quickly read the highlighted Bible reference and answer the questions: Acts 16:6-10

Acts 10:1-33, 44-47

1. Who in this Bible story prayed?

2. For whom or what did they pray?

3. What happened because they prayed?

Attachment 4 (Use with Lesson Two) Bible Study Work Sheet

Acts 12:1-17

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Two

When you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret.

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And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6

Attachment 5 (Use with Lesson Two) Lesson Two Memory Verse Poster

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Two

Prayer Grid Directions: Think of a person that fits the description and write the name in the correct square. Complete all the squares. Use this as a prayer list and pray for each person every day this week. A Neighbor

A Friend

A Sick Person

A Teacher

A Shut-in

A Relative

A Church Helper

A Missionary

Someone who does not attend church

A Public Leader

An Athlete

Entertainer or Singer

Attachment 6 (Use with Lesson Two) Prayer Grid

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Three Lesson Title:

Serve Others

Bible Story Title:

Bible Examples of Loving, Caring, and Sharing

Scripture Passage:

Matthew 9:9-13; Romans 1:1-16

Memory Verse:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes. Romans 1:16

Lesson Objectives:

To lead children to discover ways to show love and care to others and use these times to share the gospel.

PREPARE FOR #1: Cut the "Match Game Cards" (Attachment 7) apart. Post the action cards randomly around the room. NOTE: The correct name and action are side by side as printed with the name card on the left and the action card on the right. Code the cards by placing a different letter or number on the backs of matching cards. TEACH: 1. Introduce the Lesson (5-10 minutes) Lead the children to play a match game to discover ways Bible people cared and shared. Display the action cards around the room. Give each child one or more name cards. Challenge the kids to locate the match for the card they hold and bring it with them as they are seated. Invite each child to share their match. Be ready to make corrections, if needed. Ask: Can you show love and care in similar ways? Lead the kids to give examples of things they can do. PREPARE FOR #2: Provide Bibles, "Lesson Three Memory Verse Poster" (Attachment 8), "Letter Cards" (Attachment 9). Optional: Small wrapped candies. Make a copy of the letter cards for each team you will have, each on a different color paper. Cut the cards apart. TEACH 2. Teach the Bible (25-30 minutes) Study the Bible Invite the children to open their Bibles to Matthew 9. Remind them that Matthew is the first book in the New Testament and the first of the four gospels. Lead the group to recite the four gospels. (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John.) Tell them to open their Bibles to the beginning of the last quarter to be near the book of Matthew. Call on volunteers to read the passage, one verse at a time. Make the following comments and explanations following the reading of each verse.

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Three Verse 9: Matthew was a tax collector. When Jesus called to him, Matthew left his business and followed Jesus. Verse 10: Matthew prepared a dinner at his house for Jesus and the disciples. Many tax collectors and sinful people were invited to the dinner. The people did not like tax collectors because most of them were dishonest. Perhaps Matthew wanted all his old friends to meet Jesus, who had made such a difference in his life. Verse 11: The people didn't understand why Jesus would want to spend time with people whom they thought were not nice. Verse 12: When Jesus talked about sick people needing a doctor, he was referring to people whose lives are sick with sin. They are the ones who need to be healed of their sin. Jesus is the only One who can heal sinful lives. Verse 13: Jesus reminded the people that he wanted mercy and not sacrifice. This means that he wants His followers to show kindness to all people, not treat them badly. Jesus said He came to earth for people who are sinners. That includes every one of us. Ask the children to locate Romans 1. Explain that this is a letter Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome. First he introduced himself as an apostle and a servant of Jesus. He described Jesus as the resurrected Son of God. Ask the children to locate this information and call on volunteers to report: In verse 8, what did Paul say he did? (Thanked God for the Roman Christians.) In verses 10 and 11, what did Paul say he wanted to do? (Visit the Romans.) According to verse 12, what could Paul and the Roman Christians do for one another? (Encourage one another.) According to verses 14 and 15, to whom would Paul like to preach? (Greeks, barbarians, wise, unwise, and to people in Rome.) In verse 16 Paul tells why he is not ashamed to preach to everybody. Why? (Because the gospel brings salvation to everyone who believes.) Ask: What does this Bible study mean to you? Children may respond with things like we should love everybody, Jesus cares about sinful people, Jesus came for everyone, Paul cared about the Roman Christians and we can care for others, and Paul wanted to preach the gospel to everyone and we can tell others, too. Comment: Paul had a desire to show love for others. He wanted to go to Rome. He wanted to share Jesus with them. Learn a memory verse Lead the children to read the verse together from the poster. Challenge the group to think of motions to go with the words. Repeat the verse several times with the motions. Call on children to define "gospel" and "salvation." Ask: What can we do to show we are not ashamed of the gospel and we want people to believe in Jesus? (Possible answers: tell others about Jesus, give out gospel tracts, invite people to church.) NOTE: Possible motions: I- point to self; ashamed - hang head to one side; gospel - form a cross with hands; God's - point heavenward; power - flex muscles; salvation - hug self to denote safety; everyone - spread both hands in front of you; believes - hands over heart. NOTE: Definitions: Gospel is the good news of Jesus. Salvation is being saved from one's sins.

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Three Apply the lesson Form teams of two to five children. Give each team a set of letter cards (Attachment 9). Give these instructions: I will call out a way to show love and care for others. When I say "Go" the teams will spell the word by placing letter cards on the floor in the correct order. The first to spell the word correctly gets 1000 points. At the end of the game, add up the scores and declare the appropriate team the winner. Call these words: care, share, tell, pray, love, serve. At the end of the game, ask: How did you feel about getting such a high score? You will feel good every time you do one of these actions for someone else. NOTE: You may reward the winning team with a small piece of candy and then reward the other team in the same way for being good participants. Pray Lead the children to brainstorm specific ways they can show love and care. List the responses on a piece of chart paper or a chalkboard. Call on volunteers to pray and ask for God's help in carrying out the actions. NOTE: Possible actions may be: Invite my friend from soccer to Sunday School, give a gospel tract to my neighbors who don't attend church, pray for the new girl in my class from another country, run an errand for a shut-in and tell her you did it because Jesus loves her, write a note to a friend to tell him Jesus loves him. Read a story There Was A Man Bill Koehn was just a regular kind of guy. He ran a grocery store where he had worked himself up from bagging groceries to store manager. He had a good job and a loving, Christian family. The thing that was different about Bill Koehn was that this quiet man was known as a man of honor. He worked hard and did things right. He was honest. If he made a promise, he kept it. He told the whole truth and nothing but the truth. He treated others with patience and generosity. Bill learned this life style as a boy. He worked all though high school yet still found time to play basketball, run track, and sing in the choir. He worked construction jobs and became a good carpenter. He was contented with his life in Kansas until God came to call. Bill trusted Jesus as Savior at the age of eight. When he grew up and married, Bill and his wife were church members and took their two girls to church. One year the pastor's wife took Bill's wife, Marty, to Foreign Missions Week at Glorieta Baptist Conference Center. Marty came home and told Bill that God had called her to be a foreign missionary. Repeatedly Bill said, "We aren't going to be missionaries." But Bill did agree to attend Foreign Missions Week with Marty the next two years. He began to see how a good business manager could be used in missions. Finally he said "Yes" to God. Finally Bill and his family arrived on the mission field. He was administrator of the Baptist Hospital in Jibla, a small village in Yemen. Under Bill's leadership, the hospital grew to ninety beds, handled hundreds of surgeries each month, and served as many as forty thousand people a year in the hospital and out-patient clinics. Bill's work was never finished but he started each day with a little act of kindness for someone. Bill noticed that the women who used sickles to cut grass for their animals were always getting cuts on their hands. Bill gave them bandaids. Bill had faucets to the hospital's water supply installed outside the compound fence so villagers could fill their water jugs easily. He used his carpentry skills to make furniture for the hospital and toys for the village children. He gained access to the orphanages and provided home-made toys, food, clothes, water, and building repairs. He used his own money for these ministries. Bill

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Three knew and appreciated every hospital worker. He greeted each one by name and gave each one a hand shake. Every worker received a "Thank you" from Bill along with his pay check. Everyone loved and respected this quiet, hard-working, honest man. The people - other missionaries, hospital employees, patients, and villagers - all considered Bill as "father." Then one morning Bill was in the hospital office with two co-workers when a man burst in and began shooting. All three missionaries died. A few days later a missionary met a man on the street. The man pulled out a little book which held pictures of things Bill had made for people. The villager said, "This is a man who truly loved us." Bill Koehn was an ordinary working man. God had compassion for the needs of the people in Yemen and chose a quiet grocer from Kansas to serve them. [[Lives Given, Not Taken - 21st Century Southern Baptist Martyrs, Bridges and Rankin, International Mission Board, 2005, pp. 29-49.]] PREPARE FOR #3-A: Provide paper with a pretty border, pens or fine-point markers. Contact a health facility in your area and ask if they will accept cards from kids, if the kids can visit and deliver the cards, and suggested times for visits. Suggested places: a VA facility, hospital with a children's ward, or a nursing home. Print the words of these verses for kids to copy: John 3:16, Philippians 4:19, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 56:3 NOTE: If your children have difficulty writing, you may make copies of the verses for them to cut and paste. TEACH: 3. Apply the Lesson (20-25 minutes) A. Make hospital cards Tell the group about the place for which you will make greeting cards. Guide the kids to make cards by folding a sheet of bordered paper in half cross-wise and then in half again. Print an appropriate message like "Hi! Jesus loves you!" on the front of the card. On the inside of the card print or glue a Bible verse and invite the kids to sign their names. Some children may wish to write a note. Make plans for one or more children from the group to accompany you to deliver the cards. Those who go may bring a report to the entire group at your next meeting. PREPARE FOR #3-B: Print the planning questions on chart paper or poster board. Provide markers. B. Plan a caring, sharing fellowship Tell the group that one way to witness by showing love and care is to invite people to a party. Use the following questions to lead the kids to plan a fellowship time. Invite a volunteer to print answers on the chart. 1. For whom will we plan the fellowship? a shut-in, a nursing home, people who don't attend Sunday School? 2. When will we have the fellowship? 3. How will we invite the people or inform them we are coming to see them? 4. What refreshments will we serve?

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Three 5. What will we do for entertainment? 6. How will we share Jesus at this fellowship? Help the group make good decisions about a time and appropriate refreshments. Check with a shut-in or nursing home to discern an appropriate time. For entertainment at a party for a shut-in or nursing home, the children may sing Christian songs and recite memory verses. A party for prospects could include fun games and a presentation of the ABCs of becoming a Christian. Be sure to follow through with the party plans!

4. Teacher, Practice the Lesson This Week Choose a ministry action to do this week. Suggestions: Take a small gift to a shut-in or nursing home, call an acquaintance you have not seen in church in a long time, share a Christian book or CD with a co-worker, invite a lonely person to your home.

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Three

Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10)

When Jesus showed love to this man by visiting his home, the man's life was changed and he paid back everything he owed others.

Woman at the Well (John 4:5-30)

When Jesus talked to this woman, she believed Him. She told everyone in her village to come meet Jesus.

Four Friends (Luke 5:18-26)

These men took their paralyzed friend to see Jesus. Jesus healed him and forgave his sins.

Man Born Blind (John 9:1-33)

The people questioned this man after Jesus healed him. The man gave this testimony. "I don't know much about Jesus but this I know, I was blind and now I can see."

Peter and John (Acts 3:1-10)

These disciples stopped to help a crippled man who was sitting at the temple gate begging. They said, "We don't have money but we will give you what we have." They healed him in Jesus' name.

The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)

Robbers left a man beside the road beaten almost to death. Several passed by without helping him but this man stopped and took care of the wounded man .

Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:24-26)

When Apollos came to preach at Ephesus, he didn't know everything about Jesus. These people took him to their home and taught him all he needed to know.

Barnabas (Acts 4:36-37, 9:26-28)

The people were afraid of Paul but this man took up for him. At another time this man sold some land and gave the money to the church to help others.

Attachment 7 (Use with Lesson 3) Match Game

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Three

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes. Romans 1:16 Attachment 8 (Use with Lesson Three) Lesson Three Memory Verse Poster

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Three

A

C

E

E

H

L

L

O

P

R

S

T

V

Y

Attachment 9 (Use with Lesson Three) Letter Cards

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Four Lesson Title:

Sharing Jesus

Bible Story Title:

Following and Sharing Jesus

Scripture Passage:

Matthew 4:18-22; John 1:35-42

Memory Verse:

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8

Lesson Objective:

To lead children to feel the call to follow Jesus and share what they know about Jesus with others.

PREPARE FOR #1: Print each of the following announcements on a separate slip of paper: Our team won the championship! My family is going on a long vacation trip! I made all A's and B's! My family is moving to a new house! I have a new puppy! I'm having a party! I got a new video game for my birthday! I have a new baby sister! My Grandma is coming to visit! The President is coming to visit our town! Place the slips in a bag. Be sure you have enough for the children in your group. Topics may be duplicated. TEACH: 1. Introduce the Lesson (5-10 minutes) Explain that the bag holds exciting announcements. Invite each child to take one announcement from the bag and tell the group about it with excitement. Encourage them to make their stories interesting and not necessarily true. Remark that people who follow Jesus have exciting news to tell which is true. NOTE: Instead of printing the topics to pull from a bag, you could whisper a topic in a child's ear. PREPARE FOR #2: Provide Bibles, "Question/Answer Strips #1" (Attachment 10), "Question/Answer Strips #2" (Attachment 11), "Lesson Four Memory Verse Poster" (Attachment 12), a map of Palestine. The map could be in the back of your Bible. Cut apart the question and answer cards. Make concentric circles for the memory verse this way: Draw a large circle on poster board. Draw a circle in the middle of the large circle and print "Jerusalem" on it. Draw three more circles around the middle circle and print on these "Judea," "Samaria," and "Ends of the earth." Cut the circles apart. Turn the circles over and on the reverse side, starting with the center circle; print the name of your town, the name of your state, "The United States of America," and "The Whole World." Make Action Cards by printing these actions on separate cards: Study hard, Obey your parents, Follow good health rules, Be a good citizen, Make friends, Attend church, Trust Jesus as Savior, Tell others about Jesus. Be prepared to share the plan of salvation and tell your testimony.

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Four TEACH: 2 Teach the Bible (25-30 minutes) Study the Bible Invite the kids to locate Matthew 4:18-22 in their Bibles. Call on a good reader to read the passage. Distribute the Question/Answer Strips #1. Instruct the children to move around to find the matching question or answer to the card they are holding. When all questions are matched to correct answers, ask the children to share the questions and answers. Make corrections and comments as needed. Invite the group to turn to John 1:35-42. Call on a good reader to read the passage, or read the passage as the kids follow in their Bibles. Distribute the Question/Answer Strips #2 and repeat the matching and reporting process. NOTE: If your group is small, give each child several slips and ask them to lay the matching questions and answers on the floor or table. Lead a group discussion by asking these questions: Does Jesus still call people to follow Him today? (Yes.) Since Jesus is not with us in person so we can literally go along with Jesus as Simon, Andrew, James, and John did, how can we follow Him? (Keep his commandments and live as He wants us to live.) How can you bring someone to meet Jesus as Andrew brought his brother, Simon? (Tell them what you know about Jesus, bring them to church with you, share a Bible or Christian tract.) Jesus wants the people who follow Him to love others and He wants them to share Christ with others. Learn a memory verse Explain that Jesus wants His followers to be witnesses for Him and a witness is one that tells what he has seen and what he knows. In the Bible story, John was a witness when he pointed to Jesus and told the people He was the Lamb of God. Andrew was a witness when he told his brother that he had met the Messiah. Comment: When Jesus was ready to leave the earth to return to heaven he gave His followers an important commandment about being witnesses. Invite the kids to read the commandment together from the poster. Display the map and ask the children to locate Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria. Point out that Jerusalem was where the disciples were located when Jesus gave the commandment, Judea was the area around Jerusalem, Samaria was a neighboring area, and the ends of the earth was everywhere else. Scatter the concentric circles on the floor. Ask two children to place them in order as the rest of the group reads the memory verse. Repeat this with different children several times. Turn the circles over and discuss your Jerusalem, your Judea, your Samaria, and the world. Invite the kids to say the verse again, this time substituting your areas for Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and ends of the earth. Ask: According to this verse, what makes one able to be a witness? (The power that comes from the Holy Spirit.) Determine what is important Display the Action Cards on the floor, keeping "Trust Jesus as Savior" and "Tell others about Jesus" in your hand. Invite the children to place the actions in order of importance. When they have completed the task, explain that all the actions are important and there is no right or wrong order. Then place the two reserved

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Four cards at the top of the list and comment that trusting Jesus as Savior is the most important choice a person can make and telling others about Jesus is important for those who have made Jesus their Savior. Ask different groups of children to locate these verses: Romans 3:23, Luke 13:3, Acts 16:31, John 14:15. Give this simple plan of salvation, calling on a child to read each verse at the correct time. Romans 3:23: Everyone has sinned. No one is perfect like God and no one has always been obedient to all of God's commandments. Luke 13:3: Because we have sinned we must repent. Repent means to be sorry enough for your sins that you want God to forgive you and you want to quit doing wrong things. It's like taking an about face. Acts 16:31: One must believe in Jesus to be saved, that is, to go to heaven instead of hell. Believing is more than just knowing in your head about Jesus. It is accepting in your heart that Jesus is God's Son who died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins. John 14:15: When you believe in Jesus with all your heart, you make a commitment to live for him and keep his commandments. Ask the children to bow their heads and close their eyes and think about these things: Some of you have already trusted Jesus as your Savior and that is good. Some of you may be thinking about your need to trust Jesus. You may do that right now in your heart. I will be glad to talk to anyone who needs more information. Lead in a prayer thanking God for His plan to save people and thanking Jesus for being the Savior. Remind the kids that a witness tells what he has seen and what he knows and his story is his testimony. Give a brief testimony of your own conversion experience. Comment that this is your testimony. Lead the group to sing "Into My Heart," "Just As I Am," "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus," or an ABC song from Vacation Bible School. Invite the kids to share things they know about Jesus. Comment that they can share these things with others. NOTE: If you desire, you may use the ABCs of Salvation, the Roman Road, or the Evangecube to present the plan of salvation. PREPARE FOR #3-A Provide a sheet of paper for each child and the concentric circles used earlier in the session. TEACH: 3. Apply the Lesson (20-25 minutes) A. Flights to Sharing Brainstorm ways to share Jesus in Jerusalem (your town), in Judea (your state), in Samaria (in the rest of the United States), and to the whole world. Help the children think of inviting people to church, sharing Bibles and tracts, telling others what they know about Jesus and what Jesus has done for them, praying for missionaries and lost people, giving to missions. Give each child a piece of paper. Instruct each person to fold the paper into an airplane. While they are making the airplanes, scatter the concentric circles on the floor at one end of the room. Invite the children to take turns flying their airplanes. Determine which circle the plane lands nearest to and ask the child to state one way they could be a witness in that place. Continue flying the planes and reporting as time permits.

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Four Ask each child to think of one way he will be a witness this week. Pray and ask God to help each child carry out his choice. NOTE: For easy identification, give each child a different color paper for making the airplanes. PREPARE FOR #3-B: Be prepared to give children ideas for completing the stories. B. Role-play sharing stories Read one story. Assign parts and invite those with parts to act out the story adding a way to share Jesus in that situation. Continue one story at a time. Ask the children to choose one of the stories they could imitate in real life this week. Pray and ask God to help each child carry out their choice. Stories: 1. Jim's soccer team was doing real well. They had won every game so far. Joe and Randy, fellow team mates, had become very good friends with Jim. Jim really liked them but he could tell by the way they talked that they didn't go to church and didn't think about God and the Bible. 2. Hannah sat down in the school cafeteria and bowed her head to think a brief blessing before eating. Carol was sitting across the table. Carol laughed and asked, "What in the world were you doing? Surely you don't have to pray over your food!" 3. It was Vacation Bible School time in Emily's church. A new family had just moved in down the block. Emily had seen several children playing in the yard. 4. Ricardo's church was planning to take a special offering for missions. Ricardo's Sunday School teacher said, "Kids, you really need to plan a way to make money for the mission offering." Ricardo was running errands for his neighbor every week to make money to buy a bicycle. 5. Ricky and Cody were walking to school together. Ricky said to Cody, "I know you go to Sunday School and church all the time. I don't know much about God and Jesus and the Bible. What can you tell me?" 4. Teacher, Practice the Lesson This Week Make plans to share God's plan of salvation with at least one person this week. It may be a co-worker, a neighbor, or a relative.

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Four

1. Who were the first two brothers to whom Jesus spoke?

Simon Peter and Andrew

2. What did Jesus ask Simon and Andrew to do?

Follow Him.

3. What did Jesus tell them they would do?

Fish for men.

4. What did the Simon and Andrew do?

Followed Jesus.

5. Who were the second set of brothers to whom Jesus spoke?

James and John

6. What did James and John do when Jesus called to them?

Left their father and boat and followed Jesus.

7. What does it mean to "fish for men?"

Win people to belief in Jesus.

Attachment 10 (Use with Lesson Four) Question/Answer Strips #1

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Four

1. What did John say about Jesus?

"Look! The Lamb of God!"

2. What did the two men who heard John do?

Followed Jesus.

3. What did the two men ask Jesus?

Where are You staying?

4. What did Jesus do?

Took the men home with Him.

5. Who was the first person Andrew told about Jesus?

His brother, Simon.

6. What did Andrew tell Simon?

We have found the Messiah!

7. What did Jesus say to Simon?

"You will be called Cephas which means "Rock."

8. Define Messiah.

Christ or Anointed One which is Jesus.

Attachment 11 (Use with Lesson Four) Question/Answer Strips #2

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Four

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all

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Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8

Attachment 12 (Use with Lesson Four) Lesson Four Memory Verse Poster

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Five Lesson Title:

Love and Encourage Others

Bible Story Title:

Barnabas, the Encourager

Scripture Passage:

Acts 4:36-37, 9:26-27, 11:22-26, 13:1-3; 1 John 1:16-18

Memory Verse:

We must not love in word or speech, but in deed and truth. 1 John 3:18

Lesson Objective:

Through a study of the life of Barnabas, children will learn how to befriend and encourage others.

PREPARE FOR #1: Provide a ball, a tie (the leg of an old nylon hose makes a good ankle tie), paper, tape. Print a message on the paper. The message may be "Love others" or "Jesus loves me." TEACH: 1 Introduce the Lesson (5-10 minutes) Tell the kids you have some things for them to do and they must do them alone. Call on a child, give him a ball, and tell him to play catch. After a minute or so, call on another child to help him. Point out that one person can't play catch with himself but two can play catch together. Give another child a tie and tell him to run three-legged. After he tries, ask another person to help him. One cannot run three-legged but two people can tie legs together and run three-legged. Tape a sign on a child's back and ask him to read it. When he cannot, call on another child to help him. Point out that there are some things one just cannot do alone. We all need friends to help and encourage us. Tell the kids that today you will study the life of a man who was a helper and encourager. PREPARE FOR #2: Provide tape or other wall adhesive, paper, markers, Bibles, "Lesson Five Memory Verse Poster" (Attachment 13). Print "Barnabas" on a sheet of paper. Make "Brainstorm Sheets" by printing the following headings at the top of sheets of paper, one heading per sheet: Sick, Shut-In, Church Workers, Classmate who is making poor grades, Team mate who needs help with ball, Someone who doesn't attend church. TEACH: 2. Teach the Bible (25-30 minutes) Stick the Barnabas sign to the wall and introduce him as the man whose life you will study. Ask the children to open their Bibles to the book of Acts. Remind them that Acts is the fifth book in the New Testament and it is a history of the early church. Form four groups and assign each group one of the scripture passages. Instruct the group to read the passage and print on a sheet of paper the important facts about the life of Barnabas. Give help to the groups as needed. Ask each group to report by reading their scripture passage and sticking their report sheet on the wall beneath the Barnabas sign. At the end of the reports you will end up with a time line of Barnabas' life.

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Five Point out these important facts about Barnabas: His name was Joseph but he was nicknamed Barnabas which means "Encourager." He sold property and gave the money to the church to help others. When the people in the church in Jerusalem did not trust Paul, Barnabas took up for him. The Jerusalem church sent Barnabas to Antioch to see what was happening because Gentiles were being saved there. Barnabas was happy and encouraged the people to continue their good work. He found Paul and brought him to Antioch where they worked together for a year. The Antioch church chose Barnabas and Paul to send out as missionaries. Invite the kids to open their Bibles to 1 John 3:16-18. Remind them that this is not the gospel of John but one of three letters written by John and is found near the back of the Bible. Tell them that 1 John has a lot to say about love and you are going to find facts about love from three verses. Call on volunteers to read the verses, one at a time, pausing after each verse for commentary as follows: Verse 16: Jesus gave His life for us and that demonstrates how much we should love. Verse 17: If we really have God's love in us, we will share what we have with those who are in need. Verse 18: We must not just say we love; we must show our love by our actions. Do you think these verses describe Barnabas? Would you like to show love like this? Comment: Barnabas showed love for his neighbors and he shared Christ with others. Learn a memory verse Lead the kids to read 1 John 3:18 from the "Lesson Five Memory Verse Poster." Form two groups and guide them to echo the verse in this way: Group 1 says the first phrase in a loud voice and Group 2 repeats the phrase in a low echoing voice. Group 1 says the second phrase while Group 2 echoes, and then Group 1 says the reference with Group 2 echoing. Change groups and repeat the process. This activity may be more effective if you have the groups go to different sides of the room. The shouting group may cup their hands around their mouth while the echoing group closes their hands up to muffle the sound. Challenge the groups to think of one sentence that describes each phrase of the verse and one action that describes each phrase. Have the groups take turns shouting a phrase while the other group responds with a sentence and then take turns shouting the phrases while the other group does an action. Suggestions for the first phrase: "Don't just say 'I love you," "Love is more than making pretty speeches," "Words don't hack it," shouting "I love you" while making ugly faces, saying "I love you, ya-da-ya-da-ya-da." Suggestions for the second phrase: "Actions speak louder than words," "I'll help you because I love you," give each other hugs and handshakes, pretend to serve or give something to each other. Ask: Would you rather be like the first phrase of the verse or the second phrase? Live the lesson Form several groups and give each group one or more "Brainstorm Sheets". Instruct the groups to list as many actions as they can think of to show love and encouragement to the person or persons printed at the tops of the sheets. Give the groups several minutes to work and call for reports. Ask: Did you hear any action you could do this week? Challenge each kid to think of at least one action they will do this week. Ask the kids to think of one person to whom they can show love and encouragement and invite them to pray silently for that person. Close the prayer time by saying "Amen."

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Five Read a story Helen Keller's Friend Helen Keller was just nineteen months old when she had a serious illness which left her blind and deaf. She had not yet learned to talk at that time. When one can't hear words or see words being formed by a mouth, there is no way to learn to speak, so Helen couldn't learn to talk. She had no way of communicating with anyone. As she grew from a baby to a little girl she became very unruly. No one seemed to understand that her behavior was caused from frustration because she had a very bright mind and was unable to communicate. She used some signs to communicate her needs to her family. When Helen was almost seven, her family brought Anne Sullivan into their home to be a teacher and companion for Helen. Anne worked hard trying to teach Helen to communicate by writing in her left hand the names of things she held in her right hand. Finally there was a break-through and Helen realized what Anne was doing. Now she kept Anne busy because Helen wanted to know the names of everything. Because of Anne Sullivan, Helen Keller grew up, completed college, and became an author and lecturer. A movie of her life calls Anne Sullivan "The Miracle Worker." Anne Sullivan was Helen Keller's companion and helper for forty-nine years. It was her love and encouragement that made it possible for Helen Keller to be a productive person. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Keller]] PREPARE FOR #3-A: Provide the "Encouragement Tic, Tac, Toe Game Board" (Attachment #14) and two designs of game markers. Markers may be buttons and pebbles or two colors of small paper squares. Make as many copies of the game board as you will need for your group. TEACH: 3. Apply the Lesson (20-25 minutes) A. Play Encouragement Tic, Tac, Toe Display the game board (Attachment 14) and game pieces. Give these rules: We will play this game just like Tic, Tac, Toe except when you choose where you wish to place your game piece you must tell a way to encourage the person or persons printed in that square before claiming the square. The first team to get three in a row is the winner. Form two teams and play the game. Repeat the game as time permits and challenge the kids to think of new ways rather than repeating. Close this application time by praying with the children that they will find ways to encourage others. NOTE: If your group is large, make several copies of the game board and let children play independently. You may even have a tournament with winners playing winners until you reach a final winner. PREPARE FOR #3-B: Provide note paper, envelopes, and pens or pencils. Provide "Promises That Encourage" (Attachment #15).

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Five TEACH: B. Notes of Encouragement Talk with the group about people who need encouragement and would be helped by receiving a note. Suggestions: sick, shut-in, bereaved, a church worker, firemen at a neighborhood fire station, neighborhood policemen, a teacher, a friend who is going through a hard time. Encourage each child to choose one person to whom they will write. Guide the children to choose from the writing materials provided and write a note of encouragement to the person chosen. Suggest using one of the Bible verses or phrases from "Promises That Encourage" (Attachment 15) in each note. Make plans for delivering the notes. If addresses are available, offer to stamp and mail the notes. Or, the children may wish to deliver them in person. Close with a prayer for the people who will be receiving the notes. 4. Teacher, Practice the Lesson This Week Write a note of encouragement to one or more people this week.

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Five

We must not love in word or speech, but in deed and truth.

1 John 3:18 Attachment 13 (Use with Lesson Five) Lesson Five Memory Verse Poster

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Five

A lonely person

Sick person

Shut-in

New person in school

Classmate who is making poor grades

Friend who has had a family member die

Person who doesn't attend church

A church worker

Someone from another culture

Attachment 14 (Use with Lesson Five) Encouragement Tic, Tac, Toe Game Board

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Five

“God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in time of trouble.” Psalm 46:1

“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

“I assure you: Anyone who believes has eternal life.” John 6:47

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. . . Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.” John 14:27

“My grace is sufficient for you.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

“Cast all your care upon Him, because He cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7 Attachment 15 (Use with Lesson Five) Promises That Encourage

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Six Lesson Title:

Seeing and Feeling as Jesus Sees and Feels

Bible Story Title:

Jesus Saw People and Loved Them

Scripture Passage:

Matthew 9:35-38; Romans 8:2-28

Memory Verse:

Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. John 13:34

Lesson Objectives:

This study will help children see people through the eyes of Jesus and love people as Jesus loved.

PREPARE FOR #1: TEACH: 1. Introduce the Lesson (5-10 minutes) Lead the group to play "If You Love Me, Smile." Directions: Sit in a circle and choose one person to be "It" and stand in the middle. Instruct those in the circle to look sad. "It" must go to one person, kneel in front of him, and say three times "If you love me, smile." The seated person must answer each time with "I love you but I just can't smile." If the seated person smiles during this procedure, he becomes "It." If the seated player does not smile, "It" must go to another person and continue until he makes a player smile. "It" may make faces and such but he cannot touch the other players. Transition to the lesson by saying: The players were looking sad. "It" tried to make them smile. Today we will learn how Jesus felt when he saw people who were sad or had other problems. PREPARE FOR #2: Provide Bibles; "Romans 8 Fill-in-the-blank" (Attachment 16), pencils, "Lesson Six Memory Verse Poster" (Attachment 17). Make a copy of "Romans 8 Fill-in-the-blank" for each child. TEACH: 2. Teach the Bible (25-30 minutes) Study the Bible Invite the kids to locate Matthew 9:35-38 in their Bibles. Call on volunteers to read one verse at a time and use the commentary and questions below after the reading of each verse. Verse 35: Jesus traveled all over the country. What did He do? (Teach, preach, heal.) Verse 36: Jesus became popular because of his healing and great crowds of people followed Him. How did He feel when he looked out over these crowds? (Had compassion.) Compassion means feeling sympathy enough for people with troubles that you want to help them. How does this verse describe the crowds? (Tired and worn out, like sheep that didn't have a shepherd to follow.) Verse 37: Jesus saw lots of people with lots of problems but He didn't see many people helping take care of the problems.

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Six Verse 38: By "harvest" Jesus meant working to love and care for people, take care of their problems, and win them to believe in Jesus. What did Jesus say we should do? (Pray for more harvesters or workers.) Do you think maybe you should be one of those workers? Distribute the "Romans 8 Fill-in-the-blanks" and pencils. Ask: Would you like to be the kind of person who sees people like Jesus saw them and has a desire to help people as Jesus helped people? Explain that Romans 8 gives some characteristics of that kind of person. Instruct the children to fill in the blanks on their papers as you read the verses. Use only the verses listed on the fill-in-the-blank sheets. NOTE: Answers for the teacher: Verse 9 - Spirit of God; verses 14-15 - God's children, adopted; verses 16-17 heirs; verse 26 - pray; verse 28 - good. Learn a memory verse Lead the group to read the memory verse from the poster. Comment that this is an important verse to learn because it helps us remember to be like Jesus each time we say or think of it. Invite the kids to say the verse over enough times to memorize it. Add interest by asking them to repeat the verse in each of these ways: like a preacher preaching, like an actress reciting lines, like a policeman barking orders, like a child begging for something, like a parent giving a command, like an opera singer, just like yourself. Think about it Ask: Can you do everything Jesus did for people? (No.) What can't you do? (Heal people, bring people back to life, die to pay the price for sins, give salvation.) Designate half of the group to be the "Feelers" and the other half to be the "Doers." Call out these descriptions one at a time and ask the "Feelers" to tell how they would feel if they saw this person and the "Doers" to tell something they could do to help this person. Descriptions: A ragged child telling his mother, "I'm hungry." A small child sitting on the sidewalk crying with a turned over bicycle nearby. A blind man playing a guitar and singing in front of a store with a begging cup beside him. A girl sitting all alone in the cafeteria at school. A boy on your soccer team being made fun of because he messed up an important play. A child in your class that always wears old clothes that are too small and ragged shoes. A soldier going away to war. Sing and Pray Ask: Did the feelings and actions from the last activity express being like Jesus? Lead the kids to sing "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus." Call on volunteers to voice sentence prayers asking for help in seeing and serving people as Jesus did. Challenge the kids to pray every day this week for help to love their neighbors and share Christ with others. PREPARE FOR #3-A Print a copy of "What Would Jesus Do? Studies" (Attachment 18) for each child and provide pencils. Provide beads and lacing or cord for bracelets. You may purchase alphabet beads or plain wooden beads on which the children can print W, W, J, D with permanent fine-tipped markers. Colored or decorative beads can be used to fill in the bracelet. Small leather lacing or heavy elasticized cord is good for stringing the beads.

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Six TEACH 3. Apply the Lesson (20-25 minutes) A. WWJD Bracelets Explain that "WWJD" stands for "What would Jesus do?" Give each child a scenario from the "What Would Jesus Do? Studies." Instruct them to locate the scripture reference and tell what Jesus did for the kind of person listed. Comment that Jesus always did the right thing and He wants each of us to practice being like Him. Display the bracelet supplies and guide each child to string beads on cord with the WWJD beads in the center to make a bracelet. Encourage them to wear the bracelet and let it remind them to respond like Jesus in every situation. Challenge them to use the bracelet as a witnessing tool by telling about Jesus each time someone asks what "WWJD" means? PREPARE FOR #3-B: Provide small wooden ornaments in the shape of a cross or a heart, one per child; chain style key chains, one per child; markers. Optional: Paints and brushes or paint pens. Drill a hole in each ornament, just large enough for the chain to go through. B. Cross or Heart Key Chains Ask: Would it help if you had something to remind you to respond to other people like Jesus did? Tell the kids they will make a key chain that can be a pocket reminder to treat others like Jesus treated people. Allow the kids to choose a heart or a cross and give each one a key chain. Guide the kids to use markers to color both sides of the wooden ornament. String the ornaments onto the key chain. Challenge the kids to carry the key chains with them. Those with cross key chains will be reminded that Jesus loves people enough to die on the cross for their sins. Those with hearts will be reminded to show love to others as Jesus showed love. OPTIONS: Children will enjoy painting the ornaments with acrylic paint and brushes or with paint pens; however, this will require drying time so they may have to leave the ornaments until the following meeting. 4. Teacher, Practice the Lesson This Week This week practice looking at people through the eyes of Jesus? Does this affect your feelings for people?

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Six

Romans 8 Fill-in-the-blanks Instructions: Listen carefully as your teacher reads verses from Romans 8. Fill in the blanks from what you hear. You will discover some things about people who want to follow Jesus example.

Verse 9: People who follow Jesus have the ____________ ______ _________ in them. Another name for this is the "Holy Spirit" who comes to live in one when they trust Jesus as Savior.

Verses 14 and 15: People who have the Holy Spirit are ____________ ____________ because they are __________ by God.

Verses 16 and 17: If we are God's children, we are ____________ of God. This means that we will inherit heaven.

Verse 26: The Holy Spirit helps us ____________. When we don't know what to ask for, the Holy Spirit makes requests for us.

Verse 28: God can make everything accomplish something __________ for people who love God and follow His purpose.

Attachment 16 (Use with Lesson Six) Romans 8 Fill-in-the-blanks

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Six

Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. John 13:34 Attachment 17 (Use with Lesson Six) Lesson Six Memory Verse Poster

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Six

What would you do for a lonely person?

What would you do for hungry people?

Search Luke 19:1-9 to find the name of a lonely man and what Jesus did for him.

Search John 6:1-13 to find who was hungry, what Jesus did, and what He used.

What would you do for a sick person?

What would you do for a family who has been in a storm and lost their home.

Search Matthew 8:14-15 to find who was sick, what was wrong with her, and what Jesus did.

What would you do for a shut-in? Search Mark 2:1-12 to find what was wrong with the man who was shut-in, who helped him get to Jesus, and what Jesus did for him.

Attachment 18 (Use with Lesson Six) What Would Jesus Do? Studies

Search Matthew 8:23-27 to find who was in a storm and what Jesus did.

What would you do for a person who does not know about Jesus? Search John 3:1-4, 16-18 to find who came to see Jesus and what Jesus told him.

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Jesus Children's Sunday School Lesson Seven Lesson Title:

Being Used by God

Bible Story Title:

Follow Jesus

Scripture Passage:

1 Corinthians 3:5-9, 4:1-2

Memory Verse:

For we are God's co-workers. 1 Corinthians 3:9

Lesson Objectives:

Children will learn that Jesus calls us to follow Him and following Jesus means being used by God.

PREPARE FOR #1: Provide packets of bridge building materials, one for each team you plan to have. Suggestions: Legos or other building blocks, box of spaghetti noodles and package of marshmallows, modeling clay. TEACH: 1. Introduce the Lesson (5-10 minutes) Form groups of two to five. Give each group a packet of building supplies. Instruct the groups to work together to build a bridge in three minutes. Challenge them to make their bridges attractive and practical with good design. When time is up, invite the entire group to tour the "Parade of Bridges." Ask them to evaluate the bridges on their attractiveness and practical design. Choose the winning bridge by inviting the group to applaud each bridge. The bridge with the loudest applause is the winner. Ask the winning team to pat themselves on the back and take a bow. Transition to Bible study by saying: Just as you worked together to build a bridge, God wants His people to work together to accomplish His purposes. NOTE: Give each team a sheet of construction paper or a place mat on which to construct their bridges. OPTION: If you have younger children, you may use modeling clay or play dough for building a bridge. PREPARE FOR #2: Provide Bibles, chart paper and marker (or chalkboard and chalk), "Lesson Seven Memory Verse Poster" (Attachment 19), paper and markers or pencils. On a sheet of paper, print "Follow Me" on one side and "Yes" on the reverse side. TEACH: 2. Teach the Bible "Follow me" Bible Drill Invite the kids to stand in a line with a Bible at their right side. Give these instructions: When I say "Start" you may begin searching for the scripture. When you find it, place your finger on the verse and take one step forward.

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Seven Call a scripture reference and say "Start." When all the children have located the scripture, acknowledge the one who stepped out first and call on a child to read the passage. Ask these questions: Who called? Who followed? Were there any special instructions? Repeat the process for each scripture reference. Scripture references: Matthew 4:18-10, Matthew 4:21-22, Matthew 9:9, Mark 10:17-22, John 1:43. Invite the kids to be seated and ask: What two words were found in every passage? Allow responses, and then hold up the "Follow Me" sign. Do you think Jesus still calls for people to follow Him today? Allow responses then flip the sign over to show "Yes." Ask the group to name things Jesus may call people to do today while one child lists the answers on chart paper or chalk board. Possible answers: preach, be a missionary, sing, teach Sunday School, help others, witness, love your neighbor, share Christ. Search the Scripture Invite half the children to open their Bibles to 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 and the other half to open their Bibles to 1 Corinthians 4:1-2. Call for a child from Group 1 to read 1 Corinthians 3:5-9. Comment that Paul wrote these words to the church located in Corinth. He told those people, and this message is for us today, that everyone who works for God is important. Every person has his own job - the job which God has called him to do. No one person is more important than another. Challenge the group to search verse 9 to discover what people who follow Jesus are called. (God's co-workers.) Call for a child from Group 2 to read 1 Corinthians 4:1-2. Ask the children to search verse 1 to discover how others should see the followers of Jesus. (Servants and managers.) Ask the children to search verse 2 to discover what kind of people God's managers should be. (Faithful.) NOTE: A visual is helpful, so print the scripture references on sheets of paper or on the chalk board. Learn a memory verse Lead the kids to read the memory verse from the poster. Challenge the kids to think of one way they can be a co-worker with God and follower of Jesus. Explain that you will tap a child on the shoulder who will report one way after which the entire group will repeat the verse. If a tapped child has no report, he may say "Pass." Continue tapping children on the shoulder and repeating the verse until everyone has had an opportunity to report. Tell the kids that God's co-workers are His hand, feet, and mouth in the world today. God's coworkers love their neighbors and share Christ with others. Apply the Scripture Recall some things that were reported with the memory verse activity. This may include giving food to the hungry, helping the sick, telling someone about Jesus, or sending missionaries. Comment that all these things should be done for the purpose of helping others come to know Jesus as Savior. Form groups of two to four and give each group a piece of paper and a marker. Instruct each group to draw a simple bridge on their paper. At the left side of the bridge they should print "One who does not know Jesus" and on the right side of the bridge they should print "One who knows Jesus as Savior." Across the top of the bridge each team should print ways they can work with God to help a person cross the bridge from not knowing Jesus to knowing Jesus. Call for reports from each group.

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Seven Pray Invite the children to bow their heads and pray silently that God will help them be God's co-worker. Close the prayer time by singing "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" or "Take My Life, Lead Me Lord." Read a story It May Have Been Like This It was almost Thanksgiving. Carl and his parents were on a very special shopping trip. They had picked up a colorful red and green box, about the size of a shoe box, from church and now they were shopping for things to fill it. They had decided to pack the box for a boy, ten to twelve years of age. Their goal was to stuff the box with as many things as possible so Samaritan's Purse missions could send the box to a boy somewhere in the world, a boy that otherwise would not have any Christmas. They had made a list. Dad suggested toy cars and trucks, yo-yos, and tops. Mom added socks, cap, and a t-shirt. Carl thought the boy might like some fish hooks and fishing line. The family hurried to a big store and shopped until they had everything on their list. They added some pencils, markers, and an activity book. On the way back to the car, Carl had an idea. "Let's stop in this book store," he said. The family entered the book store and Carl went straight to a special section where Bibles were displayed. He chose a small blue Bible just the size to fit into the shoe box. "Let's add this to the box," he said. "I have a book mark about the ABCs of salvation from Sunday School. I'll put that in the Bible." Mom and Dad thought this was a good idea. Back at home they packed the shoe box. Mom was able to add a bar of soap and a wash cloth and some hard candy. Carl remembered a little hammer and some tacks in his room that he had never used. It filled up the last little bit of space. On the very bottom of the box they had packed the little blue Bible with the ABC book mark. At the last minute, Carl printed the words of John 3:16 on a card and laid it on top of the other goodies. The box was complete and ready to go. Weeks had passed and Christmas was near. In a village in a faraway country, children were anxiously waiting for the American missionary truck to come to their neighborhood. In the group was an eleven year old boy who had never had a box from the missionary truck. His friends had told him about the Christmas boxes the truck brought last year. Finally someone yelled, "It's here! It's here!" The children ran to meet the truck. A man and woman jumped from the truck. Even though the man and woman wore strange clothes and spoke a strange language, they had big smiles on their faces and the children understood that. "Merry Christmas!" shouted the man and woman. The children didn't understand the language but they knew this was some kind of nice greeting. The woman lined the children up in a long line. The man and woman went to the back of the truck and brought out arm loads of red and green boxes about the size of a shoe box. Each child was given a box. When the man handed one to the eleven year old boy, he hugged it to him. It was the first Christmas present he had ever had. Most of the children opened their boxes immediately and discovered all kinds of goodies. What excitement! The eleven year old boy held his box tightly as he ran to his home. There in the corner of the one-room where his family lived the boy opened his box. On the very top was the card with the strange writing on it. The boy laid it carefully aside. How he enjoyed each toy - the top, the cars, the yo-yo. The fishing stuff was wonderful. Now he could catch a fish in the river for his family's supper. He immediately put on the warm cap and gloves for it was cold in the little house. Then on the bottom of the box he found the little blue Bible. He had never had a book all for himself. He could tell this was a special book. He took the book and the card and headed out for the home of the teacher. "Maybe the teacher can read this strange writing," he thought.

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Seven The teacher held the book carefully. There were not many books in the village and this was a beautiful, new book. He told the boy the book was written in English and the teacher could read English. He read the words printed on the card. "God loved the world so much he sent His only Son." The boy thought, "This God must have a lot of love to do that. I would like to know more about this God and His Son." The teacher said to the boy, "You must come to see me every day and bring the book. We will read some of it every day." This made the boy very happy. Carl never knew who received his Samaritan's Purse shoe box. He never met the boy who enjoyed it. But Carl had allowed himself to be used by God to reach a boy half way around the world. PREPARE FOR #3-A: For each team you expect to have provide an important fact from "Important Facts" Attachment 20, a set of tracks, and a treasure chest. Each team should have ten to twelve markers to use for "tracks." These may be small colored rocks; cut-outs of footprints, animal tracks, or arrows; or small squares of colored paper. Each set of markers should be different and could be simply different colors of paper. Treasure chests may be small gift boxes or small cans such as a potato chip or candy containers. TEACH: 3. Apply the Lesson (20-25 minutes) A. Scout Out the Facts Comment that a good scout or woodsman can follow tracks through the woods to locate an animal or person. Also, people who are lost in the woods may leave signs for those who look for them to follow. Explain that the group is going to hide some important facts and leave tracks or clues to help others locate the facts. Form groups of two to six. Give each group an "Important Fact" (Attachment 21), a set of tracks, and a treasure chest. Instruct each group to place their fact in the treasure chest, hide the chest and then place the tracks or clues from the place you are sitting to the fact. Tell them to save one track or clue to share with another team. Give them boundaries in which to work and caution them to be secretive so that other teams won't see where they hid the treasure. Give the teams a few minutes to work, and then call the children together. Exchange tracks or clues and instruct the teams to follow the tracks or clues, locate a treasure chest, and bring it back to the home base. Open the chests and share the important facts. Discuss ways the children can obey them during the coming week. NOTE: If you have a small group, form two teams and give each team more than one fact to put in their treasure chest. For large groups you may give the same fact to more than one team. PREPARE FOR #3-B: Provide "Answers for Question/Answer Game" (Attachment 21). Cut the answers apart into small cards.

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Seven TEACH: B. Questions and Answers Game Explain that rather than answering questions, you will play a game where you give an answer and the group will decide on a question that goes with the answer. Give these instructions: I will read an answer, you think of a question that goes with the answer and slap the table when you have one. I will call on the first person to slap the table. If their question is acceptable, I will hand them the answer. For an answer to be acceptable, it must relate the answer to a way to follow Jesus or be a co-worker with God. The person holding the most answers at the end of the game will be the winner. Proceed by reading an answer, calling on the first person to slap the table to give a question and continue until all answers have a question. Acknowledge the child holding the most answers as the winner. Display all the answers on the table and ask: Did any of these answers help you think of a way to be a co-worker with God this week? Guide each child to choose one answer he will do this week. Some of the answers may require the child to write some further explanation on the card. Encourage the children to tuck the chosen answers into a pocket or Bible as a reminder. Pray that God will help each person be a co-worker with God this week. 4. Teacher, Practice the Lesson This Week Decide on one way you will be a co-worker with God this week in order to fish for a person. Will you write a note or send a salvation tract to an unsaved friend or co-worker? Will you talk to an unsaved person and share the plan of salvation?

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Seven

For we are God's co-workers. 1 Corinthians 3:9 Attachment 19 (Use with Lesson Seven) Lesson Seven Memory Verse Poster

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Seven

Jesus wants people who follow Him to tell others about Jesus. Followers of Jesus should work together to win people to Jesus. God uses people to be his hands, feet and mouth in the world today. Followers of Jesus keep His commandments and that includes telling others about Jesus. Attachment 20 (Use with Lesson Seven) Important Facts

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Seven

Follow Me.

People who work together to do God's work.

Fishers for men.

Faithful

Servants and managers.

Letter written to the church in Corinth.

Something I can do as God's co-worker.

Share a Bible.

Treat someone nice.

Give a Christian tract.

Tell someone what I know about Jesus.

My feet, hands, and mouth.

Attachment 21 (Use with Lesson Seven) Answers for A/Q Game

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Eight Lesson Title:

Setting Goals

Bible Story Title:

Paul's Story

Scripture Passage:

1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Hebrews 12:1-2; Philippians 3:12-14; 1 Timothy 1:12-17

Memory Verse:

I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Lesson Objectives:

Through this study children will review the expressions of love and evangelism, discover what the Bible says about setting goals, and set some spiritual goals for their lives.

PREPARE FOR #1: Set up areas of the room for each game. You will need cotton balls, tape for marking starting lines, a tape measure, coins, sheet of blue paper. Provide medals for each child. Suggestions: candy wrapped in metallic wrappers, small circles of cardboard covered with tin foil, small circles of wood or metal discs (from hardware store) strung on a ribbon. If you use metal, be sure the edges are smooth. TEACH: 1. Introduce the Lesson (5-10 minutes) Guide the children to participate in as many of these mini-Olympics events as time permits. Cotton Ball Putt: Stand on a starting line and throw a cotton ball as far as possible. (It will not go very far.) Broad Jump: Stand on a line and jump as far as possible with no running start. Smile A Mile: Smile as big as possible and measure the smile with a tape measure. High Dive: Hold a coin at the edge of a table and flip it with the other hand. Try to land on a sheet of blue paper placed on the floor. Sprint: Race from one side of the room to the other in this way: With each step, the heel of one foot must be placed touching the toe of the other foot. At the end of the "games," award each child a "medal" for participation. Tell the kids that even in Paul's day, in the first century A.D.; Olympic Games were played every four years in the city of Olympia, Greece. Paul knew about races, trying to win, and receiving awards. He used examples of racing and athletic events in his writings that became a part of our Bible. PREPARE FOR #2: Provide Bibles, "Lesson Eight Memory Verse Poster" (Attachment 22), "Review Sheet" (Attachment 23), pencils. Optional: Bible costume. Print "Paul" on a file card or name tag. Make a copy of the "Review Sheet" for each child.

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Eight TEACH: 2 Teach the Bible (25-30 minutes) Search the Scripture Tell the kids you will look at three scripture passages written by Paul that refer to racing and athletics. Invite the kids to locate 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 in their Bibles and follow along as you read. Use the following questions and commentary to review each verse: Verse 24: How many people can win a race? (One.) Paul tells us to run the race in such a way that we can win. He was talking about life. He used a race to describe the life one lives. Verse 25: Paul says that everyone who competes in athletics exercises self-control. Have you ever known anyone who trained to enter the Olympics or was part of a college or professional ball team? How did they train? (Spent long hours training, ate correctly, got plenty of rest.) Athletes practice selfcontrol so they can be the best and strongest player possible. We should practice self-control in the game of life so we can be the best person possible for God. What is the difference in a perishable reward and an imperishable reward? (A perishable reward lasts only for a while like a medal or trophy awarded to an athlete. An imperishable reward last eternally and the reward of a Christian life is eternal life in heaven with God.) Verse 26: Paul says we should have some goals in life. We shouldn't be like a racer who just runs around everywhere instead of staying on the track or like a boxer that just beats in the air without any aim. Verse 27: Paul says that he disciplines his body. What are some ways you can discipline your body to strive to be your very best? (Keep good health rules, study and keep our brains active, take time for Bible study and prayer.) Ask the kids to locate Hebrews 12:1-2 in their Bibles. Call on a volunteer to read the passage. Point out that racers often have large crowds watching them and we have lots of people watching how we live our lives. Racers get rid of as much weight as possible. They do not carry back packs full of heavy stuff or other weights. Paul says that sin is like a weight that bothers those who want to live for Jesus. Races are sometimes long but the competitors must keep on keeping on until they cross the finish line. We must endure and "hang in there" no matter what comes our way in life. The racer must keep his eyes on the finish line, not on the people behind him or the things happening on either side of him. Christians must keep their eyes on Jesus if they wish to live for Him. What did Paul say Jesus did for us? (Endured the cross and its shame.) Where is Jesus now? (At the right hand of God's throne.) Ask the kids to locate Philippians 3:12-14 in their Bibles. Invite the kids to follow along as you read the passage. Ask: Did Paul say he had reached his goal? (No.) Was he trying to reach the goal? (Yes.) Why? (Because he had trusted Jesus.) Paul had not reached his goals yet but what did he forget and what did he reach for? (Forgot things in his past; reached for things in his future.) What was Paul's goal? (The prize promised by God.) What prize has God promised those who believe in Jesus? (A home in heaven.) Comment that living one's life for Jesus is a lot like running a race or being a good athlete. Hear Paul's testimony. Ask the children to recall that in an earlier lesson we learned that a testimony is the story of what one has seen or experienced. A Christian testimony is telling what Jesus has done for us. Paul often told others about his life and how it was different before and after he met Jesus. Invite the group to listen to Paul's testimony as

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Eight he wrote it to a young preacher named Timothy. It is found in1 Timothy 1:12-17. Place the name tag on your shoulder and read the following paraphrased testimony. Paul's Testimony I thank Christ Jesus our Lord. He has given me strength and he considered me faithful enough to be appointed to the ministry. He has used me even though I used to talk about Jesus and persecute His followers. I was a conceited man! I really did these things because I didn't know it was wrong. I received God's mercy and grace. Now I have faith and love that come from Jesus. It has been said that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." This is true. I am the worst of sinners but I received mercy. In me Jesus demonstrated His patience for those who will believe in Him for eternal life. Now I praise the eternal King who is the only God. Give Him honor and glory forever and ever! OPTION: You may enlist a man to dress in a Bible robe and give the testimony. Learn a memory verse Lead the kids to read Philippians 4:13 from the memory verse poster. Ask: What are some things you think Jesus will give you the strength to do? (Stay healthy, study and make good grades, be faithful to read the Bible and pray, serve other people, tell others about Jesus.) Will Jesus help you accomplish wrong things? (He will not help us but He does allow people to do wrong if that is their choice.) Form two teams to play a memory verse relay. Guide the teams to line up in two parallel lines behind the team leaders. Post the memory verse poster on the wall in front of the teams. Give these instructions: On "Go," the first person on each team will race to the wall and place his hands on it as he says or reads the memory verse. He returns and tags the next player who repeats the process. The team who is first to have every player read the verse is the winner. Apply the scripture Say: Let's play Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down to see how much you remember about running races and setting goals. I will read a statement. If it is true, hold your thumbs up. If it is false, hold your thumbs down. Read the following statements and allow the kids to respond. Answers are in parentheses for the teacher. We should run the race of life in a way that we expect to win. (True.) Athletes must practice self-control. (True.) Athletes receive rewards that last forever. (False.) Those who run the race of life well receive an eternal reward. (True.) We should set goals and practice self-control to attain them. (True.) Runners in races wear weights so they can run faster. (False.) Sin is like a weight in the race of life. (True.) We should keep our focus on Jesus just as a racer looks ahead to the finish line. (True.) We should keep trying to become like Jesus because of what He has done for us. (True.) Remembering the bad things that have happened to us is a good way to run the race of life. (False.) Paul says we should forget what has happened in the past and reach for the future. (True.) The prize promised by God is eternal life in heaven. (True.) Our strength to live right comes from eating good food. (False.) God gives us the strength to do good things. (True.)

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Eight Let's review Explain that during this study you have learned how to love your neighbor and share Christ. Distribute a "Review Sheet" (Attachment 23) and a pencil to each child. Allow a short time to fill-in-the-blanks. Call on children to read each statement. Comment that this is a good list of goals by which to live our life. NOTE: Answers for the teacher: Listen to Jesus, Pray, Serve others, Share Jesus, Love and encourage, See and feel like Jesus, Be used by God, Set goals and hang in there. Pray Ask for volunteers to pray for help in attaining each goal on the "Review Sheet." PREPARE FOR #3-A: Provide a "Go for the Goal! Game Board" (Attachment 24) and set of markers for each player or team. Make as many copies of the "Go for the Goal! Game Board (Attachment 24) as you plan to have players or teams. Make a set of markers for each player or team expected. Markers may be small squares of paper or colored beads or buttons, a different color for each player or team. Each player or team will need at least four markers. TEACH: 3 Apply the Lesson (20-25 minutes) A. Go for the Goal Game Display the game board. Decide if the kids will play individually or as teams of two or three. Give a set of markers to each player or team of players. Read the goals from the game board and ask: Are these worthy goals? Can you begin now doing things that will help you reach these goals? Give these directions: The players or teams will take turns choosing a goal. If they can state an action they can do to work toward that goal, they may place a marker in the "Start" square. With each successive turn they may state another action to work toward the same goal or choose another goal. Actions may not be repeated. With each stated action the markers may be moved up the squares or placed beneath a new goal. Players or teams may have their color marker in every line of squares. The goal is to place their marker in as many goal squares as possible. At the close of the game, ask the kids to share some actions they heard during the game that they will work on beginning this week. Pray for the kids to be faithful to work hard and stay focused in order to meet good life goals. PREPARE FOR #3-B: Provide play dough, enough for each child to have a golf ball sized chunk, and sheets of paper for work surfaces.

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Eight TEACH: B. Clay Goals Explain that you will use play dough to think through some goals for life and living. Give each child a lump of play dough and a sheet of paper on which to work. First, ask the children to think of a career they would like to pursue. Or, what they would like to become when they grow up. Instruct them to make something from the play dough to represent that career. Suggestions: A teacher may model a book; a fireman, a fire truck; a policeman, a badge; an athlete, a football. When the figures are completed, let the group guess the careers. Ask each child to name some things he could do now to help him achieve this goal. Now ask the children to model something to represent a goal God wants them to pursue. Suggestions: A Bible for Bible scholar, pulpit for preacher, some children for Sunday School teacher. When the models are complete, ask the group to guess the items and discuss the goals represented. Guide the children to see that things they do now can help or hinder them in attaining good goals for life. Close by repeating the memory verse together. 4. Teacher, Practice the Lesson This Week Have you set any goals recently? Does God want you to make a plan for Bible study or a regular time for prayer and devotions? Set one or more goals that will enhance your spiritual life and ask God too help you be faithful to those goals.

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Eight

I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 Attachment 22 (Use with Lesson Eight) Lesson Eight Memory Verse Poster

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Eight

Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Review Sheet Directions: Fill in the letter blanks with a vowel (A, E, I, O, or U) to complete things you have studied that can help you show love and share Christ with other people.

1. L ___ s t ___ n

t ___

J ___ s ___ s.

2. P r ___ y.

3. S ___ r v ___

___ t h ___ r s.

4. S h ___ r ___

J ___ s ___ s.

5. L ___ v ___

6. S ___ ___

___ n d

___ n d

7. B ___

___ s ___ d

8. S ___ t

g ___ ___ l s

t h ___ r ___. Attachment 23 (Use with Lesson Eight) Review Sheet

___ n c ___ ___ r ___ g ___.

F ___ ___ l

by

l ___ k ___

J ___ s ___ s .

G ___ d.

___ n d

H ___ n g

___ n

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Love Your Neighbor - Share Christ Children's Sunday School Lesson Eight

Go for the Goal! Game Board Directions: Players or teams will take turns choosing a goal and stating an action that could help them achieve that goal. If they can state an action, they place a marker at the "Start" box of that goal. With each turn the players may choose a goal, the same one or a new one, and state an action that could help achieve the goal. Each time they name an action, they move their marker one box nearer the goal. Players should work to place a marker in each goal box. GOAL:

GOAL:

GOAL:

GOAL:

Successful Career

Happy, loving family member

Faithful Christian worker

To be known as a Christian

Start

Start

Start

Start

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Love Your Neighbor: Share Christ Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware 10255 Old Columbia Rd. Columbia, MD 21046 www.bcmd.org/loveyourneighbor