Bible Foundations:

Fall 2009

or Teaching Bible Truths to Babies Through Kindergarten A Guide f

Week of September 6, 2009

Paul's New Friends Session Information BIBLE STORY: Paul’s New Friends Scripture Reference: Acts 18:1-4

BIBLICAL TRUTH: God loves all people and wants them to know about Jesus.

LIFE APPLICATION: I can show love to new friends.

BIBLE VERSES  AND PHRASES: Babies—2s Jesus had friends (Luke 2:52). We work together (1 Cor. 3:9). 3s—Kindergarten A friend loves at all times (Prov. 17:17) God made all people (Acts 17:26). God loves us (1 John 4:10).

Bible Study for Teachers Paul’s New Friends (Acts 18:1-3) Paul preached the gospel everywhere he went—Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens. Upon leaving Athens, Paul went to Corinth, a major cosmopolitan city and seaport. Many Corinthians were displaced Romans who worshiped numerous gods. Ship crews spent money and leisure time on the licentious pastimes of the lurid seaport city.    Upon his arrival in Corinth, Paul found a Jewish settlement where he met Priscilla and Aquila. Claudius, the Roman ruler, had expelled all Jews from Rome. This common bond of expulsion and ridicule, as well as the fact that Paul, Aquila, and Priscilla were Jewish Christians, must have solidified their friendship quickly. Since Aquila and Priscilla were settled in Corinth, they invited Paul to stay in their home during his stay in the city.    Has there been a time in your life when a friendship was quickly made and endured through many years? Describe the initial attraction between you and the circumstances that have caused the friendship to continue.    Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila also had a common trade. Paul came from the province of Cilicia where cilicium, a cloth made of woven goats’ hair, was made. Paul probably learned tentmaking while living in that area. Aquila and Priscilla were well-known tentmakers. Imagine these three friends sitting together in the evenings, weaving cloth and making tents as they discussed the day’s events. What are some topics that Paul, Aquila, and Priscilla might have discussed as they worked? ____________________________________________________________________________ Paul’s Witness (Acts 18:4) Not all of Paul’s experiences were good ones. He frequently met opposition, but he was determined to share his knowledge about Christ.    Paul did not always know when he had made a significant difference in someone’s life; yet, he continued to witness everywhere he went and trusted God with the results. As preschool teachers, we also must trust God. Each time we share a Bible story, sing a song, or repeat a Bible verse with these children, they learn more about Jesus Christ. We must trust God with the results!    Pray that God will lead you to tell others about Jesus throughout this week. Make a prayer list of specific ways you can pray for your preschoolers and their families. Bible Truths in This Passage •  We can tell others about Jesus wherever we go. •  God gives us friends to encourage us and show us love. •  God wants us to work together to tell others about Jesus.

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Week of September 6, 2009

Paul’s New Friends Use this Bible conversation as babies and ones are involved in session activities.

• Paul loved his new friends. • Paul and his friends worked together. • Paul’s friends were kind. • Paul and his friends told people about Jesus.

Before the Session

•  Pray for each teacher and child. •  Make photocopies of the front and back of item 2. •  Use masking tape to make name tags. •  Review the Bible story conversation, Bible story for twos, and Bible verses and phrases. •  Prepare fresh disinfecting solution (See notes column.)

Greet

Smile and greet a child and parent by name. Provide clipboards and pens so that parents can complete the information forms for babies and ones (PACK, item 2a) while you ease their baby or one-year-old into the room.     The interests and attention spans of preschoolers vary with each child. Honor the way God made them by providing a variety of activities and using toys and Bible-teaching materials in creative ways.

Teaching Tip

To prepare disinfecting solution, see “Hygiene Policies,” Preschool Sunday School for a New Century by Cindy Lumpkin and Thomas Sanders, p. 29.

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Babies & 1s Music

Sing these words, using each child’s name: “Can you guess who I see? She’s a friend God gave me. Tessa, Tessa, God loves you” (tune “Ring Around the Rosy”). Ones may walk in a circle holding hands while you sing. At the end of the song, raise your arms or suggest that the children hug one another. Add: “Paul loved his new friends. Paul and his friends told people about Jesus.”     Look into baby Kyle’s eyes as you sing and gently move him to the music. Comment: “Kyle, the Bible says, Jesus had friends. You are my new friend.”

Toys

Assemble a “peekaboo drawer.”—Cut off the top of the larger cereal box. Cut a six-by-nine-inch rectangle from the front of the smaller Gather: box; tape the top closed. For durability, cover each box with Bible, Bible picture contact plastic. Center two holes, three inches apart, in the insert “Paul’s New bottom of the smaller box. The drawer handle is a ribbon Friends” (PACK, item threaded through the holes and knotted inside the box. Place a 5), two empty cereal Bible picture insert in the drawer, then slide it into the larger box. boxes (two sizes),     Comment to one-year-old Julie: “Paul and his friends scissors, masking worked together. Julie, we work together to find this picture.” tape, decorative     Hide the mirror in the peekaboo drawer. When Austin finds contact plastic, hole punch, 10-inch length the mirror and notices his reflection, ask: “Where’s Austin?” Comment: “God loves Austin. God loves everyone.” of ribbon,     Tilt the mirror so that baby Kaylee’s image appears and nonbreakable toy disappears. To the tune “Are You Sleeping?” sing these words: mirror “Where is Kaylee? Where is Kaylee? Here she is. Here she is. Oh, how God loves Kaylee. Oh, how God loves Kaylee. Thank You, God. Thank You, God.”

Books

Arrange the books on the blanket. Coax Khoa to crawl toward the books by saying: “Khoa sees a book about friends.” Include Bible Gather: conversation or verses as you picture-read a story to him. Bible, clutch book I Learn About God (PACK, item 3), other books about friends, blanket or quilt

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Week of September 6, 2009

2s

Toys

Paul’s New Friends Tell the Bible story in brief segments as twos are involved in activities.

Paul met new friends named Aquila and Priscilla.    They were kind to Paul. Paul worked with his friends to make tents. Paul and his friends told people about Jesus. Paul loved his new friends.

Observe Maria arranging the road cards. If she hands one to you, remark: “I see Gather: roads, Maria. Paul and his friends told Bible stand-up people about Jesus as they walked figures (PACK, down roads.” Pretend to walk a standitem 4), road card up figure toward her. Say: “Today, puzzle/mobile missionaries talk to people about Jesus. Thank You, God, for (PACK, item 6) missionaries.”

Art

Show Jamila how to apply the glue to the back of a picture with a cotton swab and press Gather: the picture onto construction paper. Bible, half sheets of When she shows her picture to you, construction paper, respond: “Jamila, you chose a child cotton swabs, white from Japan! Missionaries tell Japanese glue, magazine children about Jesus. Paul and his pictures of friends told people about Jesus.” Allow Jamila to glue several pictures onto international construction paper. Tie her finished children, yarn, pages together with yarn. Print Jamila’s fine-point marker name and the title “Friends Everywhere” on her book cover.

Puzzles

Nature

Describe yarn textures using words like fuzzy, coarse, fine, and scratchy as Brianna tosses Gather: the balls into a basket or bowl. Open the Bible, yarn balls Bible to 1 Corinthians 3:9. Say: “The Bible of different says, We work together. Paul worked with colors, large his friends to make tents.” basket or plastic bowl

Gather: Bible, a yarn ball from the nature activity

Place the picture insert in the Bible at Acts 18. Tie a shoelace end to a spool. Show Trevor Gather: how to thread the shoelace through Bible, Bible picture several other spools. Referring to the insert “Paul’s New picture, tell some of the Bible story. Friends” (PACK, Conclude: “We learn from the Bible that item 5), shoelaces, Jesus had friends. Paul had friends. We show love to our friends by being kind.” empty spools

Bible Story Plus

With the children sitting in a circle, explain that they will pass the yarn ball from child to child. As the ball passes to each child, the group will repeat the Bible verses Jesus had friends and We work together, one word at a time. Keep the circle going until the verses are said a few times. Open the Bible to today’s story and tell the Bible story in your own words.

Cont inu e •  Fill out the parent’s notes (PACK, item 2b) for each child. •  Place children’s art with their personal belongings. •  Print the verse A friend loves at all times (Prov. 17:17) on Bible markers. Give to the parents to put in their Bible. Encourage parents to use the Bible phrase with their child during the week.

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Week of September 6, 2009

Session Schedule Introduce Bible Truths   (5-10 min) Learn Together (10-15 min) • Use pictures of Jesus to play a guessing game. • Read Bible verses or phrases. •  Hear a Bible story. • Talk about the Bible story. • Sing the song “Jesus Loves Everyone.” •  Pray together. Explore Bible Truths   (25-35 min) •  Sew on a dishcloth. •  Prepare for company. •  Sew a lacing card. • Make a shoe box church. • Record conversations about Jesus. Clean Up (5 min) Apply Bible Truths   (5-10 min) • Complete the Bible verses. •  Recall the Bible story. •  Hear a missions story. •  Play a listen and guess game. 8

3s—Kindergarten Before the Session

•  Pray for each teacher and child. •  Place the Door Poster (PACK, item 16) on the door. •  Practice singing the songs “Jesus Loves Everyone” and “Paul Was a Missionary” (PACK, item 17). •  Review the Bible story. Highlight each Bible verse and place a Bible marker at the reference. Greet:  Greet each child at the door. Kneel to the child’s level and say: “I’m happy Kayla came to church today. We will learn about Paul and his new friends.” Encourage Kayla to choose a Bible activity.

Introduce Bible Truths Choose two of the suggested activities from the “Explore Bible Truths” activities to use as the children arrive. (Note: Continue these two activities along with additional activities during the “Explore Bible Truths” activity time.)

Learn Together •  Play a guessing game as the children gather. Use five pictures of Jesus from your picture file or use Bible markers to mark five pictures of Jesus in a Read to Me Bible for Kids. Place the pictures (or marked Bible) in the group-time area. Describe each picture, then ask a child to identify the picture being described. Comment: “The Bible tells us about Jesus.” •  Children may take turns opening the Bible to the Bible Markers (PACK, item 15). As you read each verse, ask the children to repeat it. •  Open the Bible to Acts 18 and tell the Bible story in your own words. • Read the boldfaced sentences only for threes and younger fours.

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Paul’s New Friends Scripture Reference:  Acts 18:1-4     Paul loved to tell people about Jesus. Paul traveled to many places, and everywhere he went, he told people about Jesus.    One day, Paul went to a town called Corinth. In Corinth, he met a man named Aquila. Paul and Aquila talked and became friends. When Paul met Aquila’s wife, Priscilla, she and Paul became friends, too. Aquila and Priscilla liked to hear their new friend, Paul, talk about Jesus.     Aquila and Priscilla wanted Paul to stay longer in their town. They wanted Paul to teach them more about Jesus. Priscilla and Aquila said, “Paul, will you stay in our house? We will give you food to eat and a place to sleep. You can teach us more about Jesus.”     Paul was happy to stay at their house. Aquila and Priscilla were tentmakers. Paul knew how to make tents, too, so he helped Aquila and Priscilla. Up and down went the needles as the friends sewed. Paul was glad his new friends wanted to hear more about Jesus as they worked.    Paul also went to the synagogue (church) in Corinth with Aquila and Priscilla. Paul told the people at the synagogue (church) that Jesus loved them. He told them about Jesus helping people who were blind or sick. He told them that Jesus was God’s Son. Many people heard about Jesus while Paul lived in Corinth with his friends, Aquila and Priscilla. Paul knew that the people needed to hear about Jesus. He wanted every person to believe his words when he told them, “Jesus loves you.” •  Talk about the Bible story. Ask questions like: “Who was Paul?” “Who did Paul talk about everywhere he went?” Look at the illustration of Paul on today’s Live & Learn. •  Sing these words to the tune “Mary Had a Little Lamb”: “Jesus loves everyone, everyone, everyone. Jesus loves everyone. I can tell *my family.” (*Substitute the word friends or a person’s name.) •  Pray a thank-you prayer for people who help us learn about Jesus.

Week of September 6, 2009

Explore Bible Truths

Use Bible story conversation or songs as you teach the Bible truths. Provide as many Bible-learning activities as possible.

Art

Stretch a dishcloth on each embroidery hoop. Tie a knot in one end of each Gather: shoestring. Place a copy of today’s Live & Learn where the children Bible, loosely woven can see the illustration of Paul dishcloths, large sewing tents with his friends. embroidery hoops,     Encourage Robert to sew on the shoestrings, Live & dishcloth. Show him how to hold Learn the shoestring near the plastic tip for better control. Help him to sew up and down. As Robert sews, comment: “Paul and his friends were tentmakers. They talked about Jesus as they sewed tents. Paul’s friends, Priscilla and Aquila, were happy that Paul could tell them about Jesus.”     Kindergartners may enjoy a more realistic sewing experience by stretching squares of burlap on embroidery hoops. They can sew with large plastic needles threaded with yarn or embroidery floss.

Dramatic Play

Say: “Paul’s new friends, Aquila and Priscilla, invited him to stay with them.” Talk with Gather: preschoolers about ways their families prepare Bible; dust cloth; for company. broom; dustpan; Involve them plastic dishes, forks, in cleaning, and spoons; then place mats; setting the nonbreakable vase; table, and arranging flowers flowers as they prepare to welcome their visitor, Paul. They may take turns pretending to be Paul, arriving at the house of Aquila and Priscilla. As you talk to the children, tell the Bible story “Paul’s New Friends.”

Puzzles

Prepare the lacing cards by tying a shoestring or piece of yarn to each card. Add Gather: wooden puzzles to the Puzzles Bible, lacing cards center or make puzzles about (PACK, item 14), children. Cut three sheets of shoestrings (or yarn with construction paper (each a different taped ends for lacing), color) in half. Glue a magazine several commercial or picture of a child on each half-sheet of paper. When the glue dries, cut teacher-made puzzles each picture in half at a different showing children, angle or curve so that only the two construction paper, matching pieces will fit together. Put all of the puzzle pieces in a basket. scissors, glue,     As the children lace cards or work six magazine pictures puzzles, you might say: “A friend of children, basket loves at all times. Paul showed his friends that he loved them by telling them about Jesus. We can tell our friends about Jesus, too.” Sing the song “Jesus Loves Everyone.”     Kindergartners could make their own puzzles about children. Provide large envelopes to carry the pieces home.

Missions

Encourage the children to draw windows and doors on the shoe boxes to make Gather: them look like churches and houses. They can drive the cars to visit the Bible, September churches and houses. Comment: “We missionary picture (PACK, item 18), shoe are learning about a missionary who visits people to tell them about Jesus. boxes covered with Missionary Scott visits people at light-colored paper, home. He invites them to church to washable fine-point learn more about Jesus. Sometimes he goes to other churches to teach markers, toy cars them how to tell people about Jesus, too. He knows that God made all people. He wants people in South Africa to know about Jesus.”

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Nature

When a child shows an interest in the tape recorder, invite him to record a Bible Gather: verse, song, nature sounds or story about Read to Me Bible for Kids, Jesus. Offer each child the opportunity to listen to his recording. Comment: “When cassette tape we talk about Jesus, it helps other people recorder, blank learn about Him.” Save the cassette tape cassette tape to use later.

Clean Up As the children clean, encourage them with positive comments. Say: “The Bible tells us, A friend loves at all times. You are being loving friends by helping to clean our room.”

Apply Bible Truths •  Open the Bible to each marker and read the verse, leaving out a word. Encourage the children to complete the verse. •  Show the picture on today’s Live & Learn. Review the Bible story “Paul’s New Friends.” •  Show the September missionary picture (PACK, item 18). Say: “A missionary named Scott lives in a place that looks like is picture.”   Begin the missions story by showing the boys and girls a soccer ball. Ask: “What is this?” “How could you help boys and girls learn about Jesus by using a soccer ball?”

“Missionary Scott and his wife, Judith, help teach boys and girls about Jesus through games. They invite soccer teams to visit the area where they work. Then they ask boys and girls, moms and dads who live nearby to come and watch the team play. After the game is over, they tell those who have come to watch about Jesus.” (This month, we will hear about fun times when these two missionaries helped people in South Africa learn about Jesus.) •  Say: “Let’s play a game as we think about how the missionaries teach about Jesus. I am going to roll the soccer ball to each friend in our group. As the ball rolls, let’s all sing: ‘Roll, roll, roll the ball. Roll the ball to Johnny. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Johnny learns about Jesus.’ (tune “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”).” •  Comment: “We can tell people about Jesus like Paul and the missionaries.” While waiting for parents, play the cassette tape from the nature activity and invite the children to guess who is talking.

CO N TI N U E • Give each child a copy of Live & Learn. • Mail the notes to missionaries and remind boys and girls who participated to be looking in the mail for an answer. • Remind each child that God hears him when he prays.

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