Sample Junior Church Lesson

“It is in the telling and hearing of these stories that children hear the good news

and understand who they are as God’s children.”

- David Bartlett and Carol Bartlett Feasting on the Word: Guide to Children’s Sermons

Sunday Morning Routines and Rituals

Sunday School Our first story is told during the 9:00 hour to children in age appropriate groupings. This will be a time for the older children to explore using the Bible, memorizing verses, and applying scripture. Younger children will focus on learning the stories through play and exploring the songs of our faith.

Snack Offered at 9:45

Junior Church

Checking in - Joys and Concerns

Prayer/Lord’s Prayer

Sing some Songs

Tell the Story of the Week, the second story listed will be told in Junior Church.

Wondering/Response Time

After 10 seconds of silence, Children explore the stories by answering ‘wondering’ questions. There is no right or wrong answer to wondering questions. For example:

I wonder what part of the story you liked best?

I wonder what part is the most important?

I wonder where you are in the story or what part of the story is about you?

Choice Time - Extend the story using your ideas or children’s ideas. This is a time to express their learning of

the stories and to build relationships among each other and with you.

As you talk and as they play, look for ways to...

Help Children Know…

God Loves Them

God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

God wants people to love God and other people

God loves us, even when we are disobedient

The Bible tells stories about how God wanted the people to live

Help Children Know that They Can…

Handle the Bible and hymnal appropriately

Learn, recite, and understand Bible passages and songs

Understand and participate in the order of worship, and can learn the prayers, creeds, and litanies of the church

Participate in corporate worship through attendance, singing, giving, leadership, serving, and sharing gifts

Pray for the people they love and people they do not know

Serve those in need in appropriate ways

Participate in activities that show care and appreciation for others and creation

Play in ways that show the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

SAMPLE LESSON - CREATION/ADAM AND EVE

Bible Verse (Ideas for Bible Learning are HERE!)

Psalm 118:24

This is the day the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Genesis 1:31 God saw everything He made and it was very good.

Psalm 139:14 I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way. What you have done is wonderful. I know this very well.

TELLING THE STORY...

Creation

Genesis 1:1-2:4

The Beginning Beginners Bible 11

Creation Spark 6

God Creates the Earth Celebrate Wonder 12 – 14

God Creates Living Things

Adam and Eve

Genesis 2:4-23

Adam and Eve Beginners Bible 18

Adam and Eve Spark 12

God Creates People/Helpers Celebrate Wonder 16-18

ASK...

I wonder what part of the story you liked best? I wonder what part is the most important?

I wonder what part of the story is about you? I wonder what questions you have?

CONNECT...

Love Boldly We can love like God. God made everything and called it good, or very good. Everything and everyone we see is loved by God, so we can love His creation too.

Serve Joyfully We can be like Adam and Eve. God asked them and us to care for creation. We can do things that are good for the environment and the world God made.

Lead Courageously We can lead the way God planned for Adam and Eve to lead. He walked in the garden with them and gave them rules to follow. We can spend time with God and listen to His rules, so we are happy and safe.

EXTEND...

Songs/Books

This is the Day

He’s Got the Whole World

God Made Me

He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands – Kadir Nelson

When God Made the World - Matthew Turner

God Must Like to Laugh – Helen Caswell

God Knows My Name – Debby Anderson

Vocabulary

Creation – everything and everyone that exists

Connect to Worship

Apostles Creed:

I believe in God the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth

Pointing to

Jesus

Genesis 1 has “The Spirit hovering over the waters”, and includes the phrase “Let Us”.

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit were there from the beginning.

John 1 says “In the beginning was the Word” and “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us”

PLAY!

Go Outside and Praise God

Walk around the church praising God for what you see. Making special glasses with pipe cleaners or a spy glass with rolled up piece of paper to look for things God made.

Create a New Animal

Use any art material to make a new animal. What is it's name? What makes it special. Use the Secret Live of Animals book to see how God made animals with special features perfect for what they need to survive.

Need More???