“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
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
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!
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.
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???
<---- Ideas for every week are here!
Prayer - Bible Learning - Extending the Story - Service
Check out the God's Big Story box
in the room for more ideas. ---->
Curriculum we Own
Beginner’s Bible:
1 God’s Good Creation
The Beginners Bible: The Bible Tells Me So
God Created Everything p. 7
Pray & Play Bible (Story in picture book format and activities)
God Made Our World p. 6
Activity Books
Bible Crafts
9 Underwater Scene
10 Animal Hookup
11 Making Me
Bible Brain Teasers
5 The Naming
6 -7 Word Searches
It's in the Bag
38 Creation Lotto
Super Simple 3-5
6 In the Beginning
8 Filling the Earth
Super Simple 6-8
6 In the Beginning
8 Filling the Earth