isbn-13: 978-1-426-76876-7storage.cloversites.com... · reproducible activities book is part of the...

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ISBN-13: 978-1-426-76876-7

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Scope and Sequence, Fall 2013–Summer 2014Fall 2013Unit 1: From Judges to Kings1. Deborah 2. Hannah 3. God Calls Samuel4. Samuel the Judge5. Choosing a King

Unit 2: David the King6. Samuel Anoints David7. David and Goliath8. David Dances9. David’s Son Builds the Temple

Unit 3: Prophets and Kings10. Elijah and the Ravens11. Elijah and the Prophets12. Elisha13. Josiah/Huldah

Winter 2013-14Unit 1: The Birth of Jesus1. A Child Is Born2. A Message to Mary3. A Message to Joseph4. Good News! 5. Simeon and Anna

Unit 2: The Life of Jesus 6. The Wise Men7. Jesus at the Temple8. Jesus’ Baptism 9. Jesus in the Synagogue

Unit 3: Jesus’ Ministry10. Jesus Calls Fishermen11. Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-law12. Jesus Teaches the Beatitudes13. Jesus Calms the Storm

Spring 2014Unit 1: The Way to Jerusalem1. Jesus and the Children 2. A Man Born Blind3. Zacchaeus4. The Lord’s Supper5. Praying in the Garden

Unit 2: In Jerusalem6. Peter’s Denial7. Palm Sunday8. Easter9. Road to Emmaus

Unit 3: Peter10. Peter’s Declaration11. Peter and John12. Peter and Tabitha13. Peter in Prison

Summer 2014Unit 1: Becoming the Church 1. The Promise of the Holy Spirit2. Pentecost3. Proclaim the Boldness4. Offering for Jerusalem5. One Body, Many Parts

Unit 2: Prayer and Praise6. Psalm 1007. Psalm 1508. Solomon’s Prayer9. The Tax Collector and the Pharisee

Unit 3: Peacemaking 10. Abraham and Lot11. David and Abigail12. Mephibosheth13. Blessed Are . . . 14. Love Your Enemies

Vol. 20 • No. 2 • Winter 2013-14

EDITorIaL / DESIgN TEaMMarcia Stoner ........................................Writer and EditorSusan Heinemann ................................. Production EditorRandall Butler ...................................................... Designer

aDMINISTraTIVE TEaMNeil M. Alexander .............................................. PublisherMarjorie M. Pon ................................Associate Publisher and Editor of Church School PublicationsPhillip D. Francis .................Senior Design Manager, CSPLeeDell B. Stickler ..... Senior Editor, Children’s Resources

Grow, Proclaim, Serve: Grow Your Faith bY leaPS and boundS, one room SundaY School, reProducible KidS’ booK (ISSN 1094-1355): Published quarterly by Abingdon Press, 201 Eighth Avenue, South, P.O. Box 801, Nashville, TN 37202-0801. This reproducible activities book is part of the One Room Sunday School resource kit that includes a Leader’s Guide Reproducible Kid’s Book, Resource Pak, and CD-ROM. Kit price: $65.99 per quarter—(ISSN 1094-1347). Copyright © 2013 by Abingdon Press. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.

If you have questions or comments, call Curric-U-Phone toll free: 800-251-8591. Or e-mail [email protected].

For information concerning permission to reproduce any material in this publication, write to Rights and Permissions, The United Methodist Publishing House, 201 Eighth Avenue, South, P.O. Box 801, Nashville, TN 37202-0801. You may fax your request to 615-749-6128. Or e-mail [email protected].

one room SundaY School, reProducible KidS’ booK, Winter 2013–14, © 2013. Permission is granted for original purchaser to reproduce activity sheets 1a–13g for use in the current Sunday school setting. Copyright notice must be included on reproductions.

Scripture quotations, unless noted otherwise, are from the Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 by the Common English Bible. All rights reserved. Used by permission. (www.CommonEnglishBible.com)

Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 — 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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We’ve created a special page on our website that is just for you!

Go to growproclaimserve.com/leaders and discover resources that will help you prepare

for each week’s lesson!

Attention, Leaders!

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Cokesbury.com | 800.672.1789

Come GROW with

us!

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Art: Shutterstock Images


Websites are constantly changing. Although the websites recommended in

this resource were checked at the time it was developed, we recommend that you double-check all sites to verify

that they are still live and that they are still suitable for children before

doing the activity.

Art: Dave Garbot/Deborah Wolfe, LTD

Check out GrowProclaim Serve.com/leaders to connect with other leaders, download additional content for the quarter, and read weekly articles.

ContentsWritten by Marcia Stoner 2 The One Room Sunday School Class 4 Using These Resources 6 Supplies 7 Age-Level Characteristics

UNIT 1: The Birth of Jesus 10 December Overview 12 December 1 1. A Child Is Born 20 December 8 2. A Message to Mary 28 December 15 3. A Message to Joseph 36 December 22 4. Good News! 44 December 29 5. Simeon and Anna

UNIT 2: The Life of Jesus 52 January Overview 54 January 5 6. The Wise Men 62 January 12 7. Jesus at the Temple 70 January 19 8. Jesus’ Baptism 78 January 26 9. Jesus in the Synagogue

UNIT 3: Jesus’ Ministry 86 February Overview 88 February 2 10. Jesus Calls Fishermen 96 February 9 11. Jesus Heals Peter’s

Mother-in-law 104 February 16 12. Jesus Teaches the Beatitudes 112 February 23 13. Jesus Calms the Storm

120 Answers 127 Welcome to Leaper’s Pointe! 128 The People of Leaper’s Pointe

Logo design by Marc Whitaker, MTWdesign Background and frog: Shutterstock, Julien Tromeur Cover design by Mark Foltz and Phillip Francis

GPS ORSS DJF 2013 LeaderFrontMatter.indd 1 7/2/13 9:57 AM

2 GROW • Proclaim • Serve • One Room Sunday School Leader’s Guide

The One Room Sunday School ClassYou many be new to One ROOm Sunday SchOOl

curriculum resources this fall. Or your may have many years of experience. Either way, tips about teaching in a one-room with children of various ages can be helpful.

How many children should be in the class?

The ideal class will have from one to as many as eight children. If there are more than eight children or if several of the children are preschool age, consider having two classes. The younger children can use the preschool or younger elementary Grow! resources. The elementary children can use Grow! resources to dig deeper into resources designed for their specific age-level needs.

When should there be a second teacher?

Working as a team is always a good idea. You can plan together, teach together, and evaluate together. If you cannot recruit a second teacher, plan for a second adult to be present each week to comply with Safe Sanctuary requirements. Also provide opportunities for the older kids in the class to help with activities for the younger children. Be careful, though! Do not depend on the older children so much that they do not have a chance to learn and grow at their age level.

Is it OK to ask a teenager to be a second teacher?

Sure, but remember four important things: 1) Teenagers need to be students too. Do not take them

out of a class for students their own age. If there is no class for teenagers in your church, teaching younger children will be a valuable experience.

2) The teenager needs to work with you each week to understand the purpose of the session, the Bible story, and the activities you plan to use.

3) Follow your congregation’s guidelines for selecting and training teachers.

4) Follow appropriate Safe Sanctuary policies to protect the children, the teenager, and the teacher.

What if there is only one?

Of course children like it best when they can learn with their peers. But one-on-one creates opportunities that may never been available in any other setting. You will have more time to complete the session activities. You can play games from previous weeks to review. You can examine the Bible and Bible verses closely. You can sing all the songs and talk about what they mean. With an older child, you can enrich the child’s understanding of Bible events, talk about Bible lands and times, take a meaningful look at Bible maps, and work on Bible skills. Younger children learn through play, sensory experience, and repetition. Participate in roleplay experiences that the child may not have when older children are present. Provide clay or play dough to mold, pound, and shape. Whatever you do, take advantage of the opportunity to engage the child in conversation about faith questions. Such an experience with a loving Sunday school teacher may be the best witness to Christ the child sees all week.

The Common English BibleThe CEB is the primary

Scripture resource for One ROOm Sunday SchOOl resources. Have at

least one CEB in your room for the children to handle. We also recommend having

a copy of the New Revised Standard Version and the Contemporary English Version

of the Bible.

Grow, Proclaim, Serve! one room Sunday School resources are available in Braille on request.Contact:

Braille Ministry,

c/o Donna Veigel

10810 N. 91st Avenue #96

Peoria, AZ 85345

(623-979-7552)


Winter 2013–14 GrowProclaimServe.com 3

What if we grow and begin having more children?

That is great! If you are not ready to divide the group into more classes, though, consider using learning centers. Begin with the Bible story for children of all ages together. Then plan learning centers for various groups. Consider a “Did You Know?” center for the older children, a puzzles center for readers, an art center for preschoolers, a missions center for everyone, and so forth. Be aware that more children will require more teachers no matter how you decide to respond. What a wonderful thing it will be to reach more children with God’s message of love!

How can you use extra activity pages?

Keep any copies you have leftover to give to any children who were absent. Plan to have copies of the Bible story page too. The children can take the pages home when they return. Another option is to mail the Bible story and activity sheets to children who do not currently come to Sunday school with an invitation to join your class next week.

How can the class be in mission with a small group?

Consult with your congregation’s outreach chairperson about ways the children can participate in projects planned for the adults in your congregation. Or talk to the chairperson about ways to encourage the adults to support the projects that are suggested in the One ROOm Sunday SchOOl curriculum for one month during each quarter. Working together to collect clothes, food, health supplies, school kits, or money will be a good growing and learning experience for both children and adults.

How can families be involved with the class?

One room Sunday school classes often need adults to help with special projects—activities outside the classroom, activities that require closer than normal supervision, messy projects for one group, field trips, and so on. Adult family members should be the first names on the teacher’s list to call. Keep parents and guardians aware of what is happening in the classroom. Call parents regularly, and become friends. Send notes home with children to tell parents about mission projects, special days, and what the children are learning each month. Ask parents to collect recyclables to use for classroom craft projects. Encourage faith conversations between children and adults at home.

How can you encourage faith conversations in families?

Meet with the parents or guardians of the children in the class. Help them to know that faith conversations with family members are essential for faith development in children. Through such conversations, the family can learn together with children as they journey into a deeper relationship with God. Some parents may need help and support to know how to talk about their own faith, as well as how to talk with children about faith. Perhaps some family members would be interested in meeting with a group to talk about their faith together and discover how they can talk about faith with children.

What should be the focus of teaching and learning?

Sunday school teachers’ most common answer seems to be “learning the Bible.” Bible knowledge is obviously an important reason for providing a Sunday class for children. To grow in faith, children must know Bible stories and Bible verses and the message of the Bible as a whole, as well as develop skills for using the Bible. Other elements are important for each child’s faith development too. Children need to learn about the church—its beginnings; the heritage of their denomination; its practices of worship; its sacraments; its call to service, mission, and outreach; and the relationships found in the community of faith. Children need to develop their own Christian identity and make their own commitments—to God, to Jesus Christ, to the church, to the practice of spiritual disciplines, and to his or her own ministry. And then Christian living comes from self-esteem based on knowing oneself to be a child of God. This knowledge is shown in applying faith to everyday decisions, in coping with difficulties, and in learning the skills of critical thinking.

How can I get help?

Read the information in the front of your leadeR’S Guide and the Reproducible Kids’ Book to become familiar with the resources that are available. There are both the resources that came in your kit and some optional resources you may want to find out more about, such as the annual CD with the music for the whole year and a DVD that provides an entertaining option for hearing the Bible story in a different way.

Call Curric-U-Phone at 1-800-251-8591 for personalized help if you still have questions or comments.



Here’s how it worksLeader’s Guide

Each session plan is divided into three sections:

1. Grow TogetherArrival activities to help the children begin thinking about what they will be learning, and group-building time to help the children relate to one another

2. Proclaim the WordGroup activities for hearing, understanding, and experiencing the Bible story

3. Serve in LoveActivities to encourage contemporary application to the children’s lives, including opportunities to serve others in their own church and community and to participate in mission projects around the world

4. WorshipGroup activities that encourage the learners to remember the Bible stories and verses and worship together

Reproducible Kids’ BookSeven activity sheets for each session, including a Bible story and a variety of activities. Each activity is labeled at the bottom for one of fi ve groupings:

• For Nonreaders • For Beginning Readers • For Skilled Readers• For All Readers • For Everyone

Resource PakAttendance charts, colorful pictures, games, maps, posters, storytelling fi gures, charts, murals, patterns, song lyrics, and other resources to use with the children in the classroom

CD-ROMVocal and instrumental recordings of the songs for each unit, PowerPoint slides of the song lyrics, and printed sheet music with lyrics

Optional Resources Annual CDRecordings and instrumentals for all the songs for the 2012–2013 units

DVDMusic videos for the quarter and a video segment for each session that provides another fun way to understand the meaning of the Bible story.

Using These Resources



Resource Pak ContentsPage Session Title

2 1–13 Attendance Chart

3 1–6 Journey-to-the-Manger Gameboard

5 & 9 1–5 Advent Wreath, Candles, and Flames

8 1–6 Journey-to-the-Manger Game Cards

12 & 13 1–5 Jesse Tree

16 7–13 Jesus-Review Game Cards

17 12 Opposites Cards

19 12 Beatitude Poster

21 8 Child-of-God Poster

22 8 Dove Pattern

23 6–9 Unit 2 Bible Verse Poster

24 10–13 Unit 3 Bible Verse Poster

Optional DVD(One version for young children, one for elementary children. Choose best fit for your class. Explanations in the Leader sessions are for the elementary DVD.)

The optional DVD has 13 episodes set in a colorful, cartoon-like world called Leaper’s Pointe. Each episode includes:• the week’s Bible story told by the residents of Leaper’s Pointe;• a music video of the “Grow, Proclaim, Serve!” theme song, “Growing in Leaps and Bounds”; • “Leaper’s Pointe in Concert,” three additional music videos with lyrics, one for each month; and • the Bible verse—written, spoken, and signed using signs from American Sign Language.• See pages 127–128 for a full description of Leaper’s Pointe and its residents.

Music in This QuarterThe songs marked with an * are not featured in the DVD’s music videos. 1. Leap of Faith (CD-ROM Track 1)

2. Light a Candle (Advent Song) (CD-ROM Track 2)*

3. I Celebrate (CD-ROM Track 3)

4. Have Faith (CD-ROM Track 4)

5. Jesus Teaches (CD-ROM Track 5)

6. Something Fishy*



Supplies Wherever your one-room Sunday School class gathers—in the back of the sanctuary, a small room, the

pastor’s office, the kitchen, or even a hallway—there are some basic supplies you will need to have available almost every Sunday. The ideal situation is to collect the basic supplies you think you will need, and keep them accessible every Sunday. Store them in a cabinet or a closet if one is available, If not, think about a box in the corner of a room or under a pew in the sanctuary. If necessary, assign a place to keep some basic supplies in the trunk of your car.

Whether you collect supplies in advance or if you must collect for only one unit at a time, though, check the first pages that introduce each unit. Choose the activities you will use and provide what will be needed for just that unit. Or, if necessary, collect supplies for one lesson at a time.

The Basics• scissors • markers• crayons, colored

pencils• pencils and pens• markers• construction paper• drawing paper

• tissue paper• glue and gluesticks• stapler and staples• yarn• rulers• paper punch • clear tape• masking tape

• rubber bands• paper clips • string• craft sticks• modeling clay• a hymnal• small basket• mural paper

• paper towels; cleaning supplies

• index cards• scarfs and streamers • paper cups and plates• plastic table covers.• Bibles• simple Bible costumes

Beyond the BasicsCheck the first pages before each unit for a list of the specific supplies needed for the activities in that unit (Unit 1’s page 11; Unit 2’s page 53; Unit 3’s page 87).

Make a wish list of the supplies you will need for that unit. Members of your church will be happy to know how they can support the children in the church. Publish the list in the church newsletter or bulletin.

If you have place to store supplies, encourage the congregation to bring supplies such as old magazines, paper towel tubes, paper grocery bags, yogurt cups, envelopes, or fabric scraps.

If you do not have a place to store things, make a new list each week of the things you will need for the next two or three weeks.



Age-Level Characteristics and ExperiencesHow do children experience God’s love and grow in their knowledge and love of the

Christian faith? Faith development is a natural spiral process. Each new concept develops from all the learnings and experiences that came before. Observe how it works.

Young ChildrenTo develop faith foundations, young children need:

• to be with caring adults who model Christian attitudes and behaviors• to have their feelings and actions accepted• to be forgiven when they do not meet adult expectations• to express their own identity as unique children of God• to experience making choices and decisions within safe boundaries• to be guided to play and cooperate with others• to experience decision making within safe boundaries• to hear words such as God, Jesus, faith, love, and Holy Spirit• to be surrounded by adults who are comfortable talking about their faith

To know the Bible and our faith traditions, young children need:

• to handle the Bible and see others read from it• to sing, move to, and say Bible verses• t o hear simple, clear Bible stories about people who lived as God wanted them to live• to hear Bible stories about Jesus’ life and Jesus’ teachings• to be present when the congregation worships• to recognize the Lord’s Prayer and the Doxology To learn to relate to God and the church, young children need:

• to learn simple prayers• to be encouraged to give their offering to God and to the church• to have adults hear and respond to their questions about God, life, death, and crises• to experience wonder and awe at God’s world• to experience Sunday school as a place where they are safe and cared for• to develop a sense of belonging at the church and as a child of God

To learn to relate faith to daily living, young children need:

• to hear stories about loving service to others• to see adults and older children participating in acts of service• to participate in loving service• to see and hear teachers and family members pray• to see evidence that God is important in the daily lives of caring adults• to learn to understand and express their feelings• to participate in activities that show appreciation for God’s world• to be surrounded by people who have experienced grace



Younger Elementary ChildrenTo develop faith foundations, younger elementary children need:

• to plan and carry out both group and individual activities• to be given responsibility for caring for the meeting room• to learn to deal with classroom situations in ways that are Christian• to investigate, experiment, and explore• to have experiences with people who are different from them

To know the Bible and our faith traditions, younger elementary children need:

• to recognize the parts of the Bible—the Old and New Testaments• to hear Bible stories and have opportunities to retell them• to repeat the Lord’s Prayer with others• to hear stories of people who have helped the church come to be• to use Bibles at home as well as at church• to hear an explanation of the sacraments• to learn how to participate in the sacraments• to memorize and explore the meaning of Bible verses and passages• to have their own Bibles and to learn how to use the Bible• to know the names of the books of the Bible and how to find them

To learn to relate to God and the church, younger elementary children need:

• to participate in corporate worship• to pray their own prayers in class and at home• to learn some of the songs and hymns of the church• to feel a part of congregational worship• to feel that they belong to the local church and to the larger faith community• to find guidance for disciplines of prayer and Bible reading• to hear and talk about the meaning of church membership• to learn the importance of obedience and responsibility

To learn to relate faith to daily living, younger elementary children need:

• to learn about people of other ethnic backgrounds• to consider the rights of other children and family members• to participate in service projects• to relate the joys and concerns of daily living to Bible teachings• to be reminded that God expects us to love everyone, even our enemies• to learn simple Bible verses to think about during the week• to be guided and assisted in the practice of spiritual disciplines• to hear and discuss stories of ways others live out their faith• to be given concrete opportunities to practice discipleship• to express ideas and feelings about unfairness and injustice



Older Elementary ChildrenTo develop faith foundations, older elementary children need:

• to be guided in the development and practice of their thinking skills• to be able to affirm themselves as children of God• to develop a sense of belonging to the faith community• to participate in the worship and work of the congregation• to share with faith friends of various age levels

To know the Bible and our faith traditions, older elementary children need:

• to hear and explore the meanings of Bible stories• to learn and to use some of the most familiar hymns of the church• to use tools such as a concordance, an atlas, and a Bible dictionary• to learn how the Bible came to be• to learn about various translations and versions of the Bible• to recite and understand creeds used frequently in church worship• to know various kinds of writings in the Bible• to explore Bible stories in historical context• to learn about the history and teaching of their denomination• to increase and use vocabulary related to Christian faith

To learn to relate to God and the church, older elementary children need:

• to be guided in making a commitment to God through Jesus Christ• to be guided in understanding the meaning of membership in the church• to verbalize experiences, questions, and doubts about God and faith• to see Christian growth as a lifelong process

To learn to relate faith to daily living, older elementary children need:

• to connect the Bible message with their own relationship with God• to clarify and develop their sense of right and wrong• to serve with others in the community and in the world• to struggle with moral and ethical issues in light of the Christian faith• to explore the meaning of commitment to God through Jesus Christ• to grow in understanding of the meaning of membership in the church


Unit 1The Birth of JesusBible Verse

She gave birth to her fi rstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger. (Luke 2:7)

Leap of Faith I celebrate the birth of Jesus.

In This UnitSession 1December 1 A Child Is BornBible Story Isaiah 9:2-6

Session 2December 8A Message to MaryBible Story: Luke 1:26-38; 46-47

Session 3December 15A Message to Joseph Bible Story: Matthew 1:18-25

Session 4December 22Good News! Bible Story: Luke 2:1-20

Session 5 December 29Simeon and AnnaBible Story: Luke 2:25-38

CD-ROMLeap of Faith (Theme Song)• Track 1• vocal recording• instrumental recording• sheet music for printing• PowerPoint® lyrics

I Celebrate• Track 3• vocal recording• instrumental recording• sheet music for printing• PowerPoint® lyrics

Light a Candle• Track 2• vocal recording• instrumental recording• sheet music for printing• PowerPoint® lyrics

DVD Session 1• Leaper’s Pointe• Leaper’s Pointe in

Concert: I Celebrate

Session 4• Leaper’s Pointe• Leaper’s Pointe in








10 December 2013 GROW • Proclaim • Serve • One Room Sunday School Leader’s Guide

WinterLeaderUnit1TitlePages.indd 10 7/2/13 9:59 AM

Supplies The Basics (see page 6)

For This Unit, “The Birth of Jesus”Session 1items that make light (see page 14)Christmas wrapping paperflashlightyellow chenille stemsbirthday candlescotton ballswiggly eyesoptional: purple plastic tablecloth

Session 2 paper muffin linerspaper doilycardstockdrinking strawscoins or commercial gameboard piecespieces of cloth, scarves, or towelsdrinking strawsballoons

Session 3items such as blocks, books, paper cups, paper platessawdustseven bottles or tall canscoins or commercial gameboard pieces

Session 4 coins or commercial gameboard piecesstraw

Session 5 coins or commercial gameboard piecesshoe boxcraft sticksvanilla ice creamcandy canesbowlsspoons

Winter 2013–14 Unit 1 GrowProclaimServe.com 11

Jesse Tree (Resource Pak—pp. 12 & 13)

• In Unit 1, the Jesse Tree is the Bible verse poster.

Unit 1 Coloring Pictures (Reproducible Kids’ Book)

• In the fist four sessions, the nonreaders will begin coloring parts of the nativity scene. When all four coloring pictures (and the baby Jesus) are put together, there will be a complete poster of the nativity. You may wish to post just one of these each week, or you may provide a space for each young child to post one. Directions are in the Leader’s Guide. These pictures will actually be posted during closing worship.

Journey-to-the-Manger Board Game (Resource Pak––pp. 3 & 8)

• This board game can be played each week of the month or may be skipped during any session that has too many other activities.

• Retain the board game for final use in Session 6.

Tips:Make Advent Meaningful• Celebrating Advent, a time of preparation for the

birth of Jesus is extremely important. This month we will have three ongoing Advent activities.

• Use the Advent wreath and candles included in the Resource Pak to focus the children on the true meaning of Christmas.

• Children of each age level will have a major part in closing worship for the first four sessions. Nonreaders will color a part of a nativity poster to be hung in the worship area. Beginning readers

will learn to sign the meaning of the Advent candles and will sign them in worship, adding one sign per week. A skilled reader will be asked to read the Scripture each week. Make sure that there is sufficient time to make closing worship meaningful each week.

• Use the Reproducible Kids’ Book to make ornaments for the Jesse Tree included in the Resource Pak. Activity 1e is an explanation of the Jesse Tree.

Tip for Teachers


12 Winter 2013–14 GROW • Proclaim • Serve • One Room Sunday School Leader’s Guide

Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.

Requires preparation.

A Child Is BornBible Verse


Bible StoryIsaiah 9:2-6

Leap of FaithI celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Before You Begin

Today marks the beginning of the season of Advent, the four weeks prior to Christmas. Advent is a time of preparation for the birth of the Christ child.

We begin our stories of the birth of Jesus with Isaiah’s prophecy of the promise of a child to lead the people. These words of Isaiah are some of the best known in all the Bible: “A child is born to us, a son is given to us, and authority will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

Isaiah begins by speaking of a people in distress—a people whose land was once cursed but has changed. Isaiah then tells of the people’s salvation, saying, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. On those living in a pitch-dark land, light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:2).

Isaiah believes the birth of the child is the sign of hope for a people who have had very little hope. Christians take Isaiah’s words as a prophecy about the Messiah. Christians see this Messiah as Jesus, the Son of God.

“A child is born to us, a son is given to us” are fi tting words with which to begin the celebration of Advent. Advent is a time of celebration. While teaching the story is important, your children will hear this story in all its details every year of their lives. Participating in old and new rituals will help children integrate the meaning of Christmas into their very being.

Your children will participate in an Advent tradition that some may never have participated in: a Jesse tree. A Jesse tree is a tree decorated with symbols of Jesus’ spiritual family. It refers to Isaiah 11:1’s words, “A shoot will grow up from the stump of Jesse; a branch will sprout from its roots.” Jesse was King David’s father. However, on a Jesse tree you will fi nd not only Jesus’ biological family but also others from his family of faith, such as the prophet Isaiah. This month your children will add an ornament each week to the Jesse tree in your room.

Also during Advent, each of your children will participate in closing worship in a way that is appropriate to each of their skill levels.

a way that is appropriate to each of their skill levels.

Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.

a way that is appropriate to each of their skill levels.

Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.

Session 1December 1

Visit growproclaimserve.com/leaders to join the community with other leaders and fi nd helpful weekly content and articles.

GPS ORSS DJF 2013 LeaderSession01.indd 12 7/2/13 9:56 AM

Winter 2013–14 Session 1 GrowProclaimServe.com 13


My Teaching Plan Learning Experiences I Will Use

Grow Together (5 to 10 minutes)

☐ Get Ready

☐ Fun Beginnings

☐ Gather Round

Proclaim the Word (20 to 30 minutes)

For Everyone

☐ Isaiah 9:2-6 Action Reading

☐ Visit Leaper’s Pointe

☐ Light Tag

☐ Begin a Jesse Tree

For Nonreaders

☐ Color the Manger

For Beginning Readers

☐ Begin the Advent Wreath

☐ Learn to Sign Hope

For Skilled Readers

☐ Do You Know His Names?

☐ The Jesse Tree

Serve With Love (10 to 15 minutes)

For Everyone

☐ Birth Announcement Door

Worship (5 to 10 minutes)

Planning Notes to Myself




Grow Together Get Ready Supplies: Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—p. 2), CD-ROM or DVD and player

• Display the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—p. 2) .

• Play “I Celebrate” in the background (CD-ROM Track 3 or DVD) as the children arrive.

• Greet the children as they arrive; mark their names on the attendance chart.

• Show the children where to place any offerings.

Fun Beginnings

Choose one or both of the activities below to do as the children arrive. Remember to encourage children of all ages to work together.

Decorating With Purple

Supplies: purple or royal blue crepe paper, scissors, tape; optional: purple plastic tablecloth for the worship table

• As the children arrive, encourage them to work together to decorate the room with purple or royal blue crepe paper.

• Encourage the children to use their imaginations on what to decorate and how to decorate it. Possibilities include decorating the door frame or the backs of chairs, and having strips of crepe paper hanging down the front of the worship table, around windows, and on bulletin boards.

Say: Purple is the color of the Advent season. Advent is the four weeks before Christmas. During Advent, we prepare for the birth of Jesus. So this month we are going to do things that will help us prepare for Christmas.

TIP: Some churches use royal blue instead of purple. The meaning is the same.

Guess What’s in the Box

Supplies: Bible, box, night light, Christmas wrapping paper, tape, three or more items that make light (such as a flashlight, small lamp, lantern, candle, LED light, cell phone or e-tablet)

Place three or more items that make light in a box, and wrap the box in Christmas wrapping paper.

• Place the box on a table where it can be seen, but not reached, by the children.

• Tell the children that they each get one guess as to what is in the box.

• Unwrap the box, then have the children open it and take out all the items in the box.

aSK: What do all these things have in common? (They all make light.)

Resource Pak—p. 2




Say: Christians believe that the Son who is talked about is the baby Jesus, and so we read Isaiah’s passage at Advent or Christmas to remind ourselves of how great the gift of Jesus is to us.

Say: When the prophet Isaiah talks about people walking in darkness, he means people who feel they have no hope. When he talks about light, he is talking about the Messiah, Jesus, who brings hope to everyone.

Gather RoundSupplies: The Jesse Tree (Resource Pak—pp. 12 & 13), tape, posterboard, scissors, tape, markers

• Create a birthday chart of the quarter. Display it in the storytelling area.

• Post the Jesse Tree (Resource Pak—pp. 12 & 13).

• Bring the children together. They can sit on the floor or around a table.

• Give the children a chance to tell any news of the week.

• Celebrate birthdays that have occurred or will occur in the coming week. Let those children add their names to the chart.

PRay: Dear God, thank you for these boys and girls. Thank you for always being with us, in good times and in hard times. Be with us as we celebrate the season of Advent together. Help us to learn more about your Son, Jesus, and help us to grow more like him each day in our words and our actions. Amen.

Proclaim the WordFor EveryoneIsaiah 9:2-6 Action ReadingSupplies: Bibles, Activity 1a

• Invite the children to the storytelling area.

Say: Today is the first day Advent. This is the time when we get ready to welcome Jesus into our homes and into our hearts. Long before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah told the Hebrew people about the promise of a child sent as a Savior.

• Help the children locate Chapter 9 in the Book of Isaiah, and tell them that today’s Bible reading comes from verses 2-9.

• Assign the parts of the two readers.

• Ask a skilled reader to read Isaiah 9:2.

• As the Scripture is read, invite the group to watch you and follow your actions.

• Have Readers 1 and 2 proceed with the reading.

aSK: Whom, do you think, is the Son Isaiah is talking about? (the Messiah, Jesus)

Resource Pak—pp. 12 & 13

Activity 1a




Visit Leaper’s PointeSupplies: DVD, DVD player

• The DVD can be used in addition to or in place of the storytelling section.

• The DVD also contains music videos for the children to sing and dance to. Use these during arrival time or in worship time.

• Invite the children to sit down where they can easily see the screen as they watch the Leaper’s Pointe story.

Say: Today in Leaper’s Pointe, Rosie shows Furleen and Papa B a birth announcement she received—fourteen years late. Furleen reminds Rosie that Isaiah made his birth announcement four hundred years before the birth of the Messiah. Who is this Messiah? Let’s listen in.

• After your visit to Leaper’s Pointe, enjoy the song “I Celebrate” with the kids on the DVD. Invite the children to imitate the motions on the screen.

Light Tag

Supplies: flashlight

Say: Isaiah tells us that God has sent us light, so to celebrate this light we are going to play a game of “light tag.”

• Choose one child to be “it.” Give “it” a flashlight.

TIP: Have children help you move furniture out of the center of the room. Darken the room just enough that the light from the flashlight can be seen when it lights on a child.

• Explain that at a signal from you, everyone is to start trying to get away from “it.”“It” will stand still on the side of the room. “It” will try to “catch” someone with the flashlight. If the light lands on a player, that player is caught and becomes “it.”

• Play until each child who wishes to be “it” has had a chance to do so.

Begin a Jesse TreeSupplies: Jesse Tree (Resource Pak—pp. 12 & 13) Activity 1b, scissors, crayons, yellow chenille stems, tape

Say: Today we heard the words that Isaiah said about Jesus. We are going to make an ornament to remind ourselves of Isaiah, the prophet. Part of Isaiah’s symbol is a candle, which is a symbol of light, meaning knowledge. The other part of the symbol is the scroll, which stands for the words the prophet spoke. Those words came from God.

• Give each child a copy of Activity 1b and some crayons.

• Have the children color their ornaments.

• Have the older children help the younger children cut out the ornament circle.

• Follow the directions to complete the moment.

• Give each child some tape, and have them tape their ornament to the Jesse Tree. Activity 1b





TIP: If you wish to hang only one Isaiah ornament on the tree, let a child volunteer to hang her or his ornament on the tree, and send the other ornaments home to be hung on the family Christmas tree. To hang the ornaments on a real tree, they can punch a hole in the top with a hole punch and run yarn through it, tying the yarn to make a hanger.

TIP: If you wish to hang more than one ornament on the tree, when making copies reduce the size of the ornament.

For NonreadersColor the MangerSupplies: Activity 1c, crayons

TIP: The coloring pictures for Sessions 1–4, when hung together, make a complete nativity poster. There are two options for hanging these posters.

OPTION 1: You will make one poster by selecting a child each week to add his or her coloring picture to the wall.

OPTION 2: If you have enough wall space, each child can create his or her own poster on the wall and add to his or her own poster each week.

• Give each child a copy of “The Manger” (Activity 1c) and some crayons.

• Let the children color the picture.

• Set the manger pictures aside until closing worship.

For Beginning ReadersBegin the Advent WreathSupplies: Advent Wreath, Advent Wreath Candles and Flames (Resource Pak—pp. 5 & 9); tape; adhesive

• Have the children prepare the Advent wreath (Resource Pak—p. 5) for hanging during the worship service.

• Have a child lay the poster out flat on a table.

• Have a second child punch out the top half of one of the purple candles and a flame (Resource Pak—p. 9).

• Ask the two children to work together to tape the top half of the candle to the bottom half of one of the candles on the Advent wreath.

• Ask another child to put a small circle of tape on the back of one of the flames and set it (tape side up) aside until closing worship.

• Turn the Advent Wreath poster over, and add adhesive to the back. Leave it like this until closing worship.

Activity 1c





Learn to Sign HopeSay: Today’s Bible story is about hope. In the Advent worship, we will light the candle of hope. We are going to learn to sign hope because you will be signing hope during the worship service.

• Demonstrate how to sign HOPE.

• Begin with open hands above the head. (See the picture.) Then move the hands down toward the head, closing the fingers, touching top fingers to the thumbs. (See the bottom picture.)

For Skilled ReadersDo You Know His Names?Supplies: Bibles, Activity 1d, pencils

• Give your skilled readers Activity 1d and a pencil.

• Explain that they can discover several names or titles for Jesus by placing the missing consonants on the line. The exact number of each consonant used is listed; so every time they place a consonant on a line, they should mark it off the list.

• They might need help getting started. If so, give them the first word, LORD, and have them mark one L, one R, and one D off the list of consonants.

TIP: If the children need extra help, have them look up Isaiah 9:6.

The Jesse TreeSupplies: Activity 1e

Say: We began our own Jesse Tree today. Let’s learn a little more about the Jesse Tree.

• Give a copy of Activity 1e to each skilled reader.

• Ask the skilled readers to read “The Jesse Tree.”

Serve With Love For Everyone Birth Announcement Door Supplies: Activity 1f, Activity 1g, crayons or markers, adhesive

aSK: How do parents let everyone know the good news when a baby is born? (They send out birth announcements.)

Activity 1e

Activity 1f

Activity 1d




Say: We are going to create a birth announcement for our door that lets others know the Good News that Isaiah has prophesied.

• Divide the group into two teams.

• Give one team Activity 1f, explaining that this is the symbol for Isaiah.

• Give the second group Activity 1g, explaining that these words of Isaiah will be the birth announcement.

• Give both groups crayons, and encourage them to work together to prepare their part of the announcement to be placed on the door.

• Use adhesive to place the symbol and the announcement on the outside of the door to the room.

WorshipTIP: For the four Sundays of Advent, each group will participate in worship in skill-appropriate ways.

Supplies: Bible, CD-ROM, Activity 1c, Resource Pak—pp. 5 & 9, CD player, tape

• Play “I Celebrate” to bring children to the worship area.

Nonreaders• Begin by having the children adhere the manger (Activity 1c) to the wall in

the worship area.

TIP: If you are going to do multiple nativity posters, help each nonreader post his or her poster in a different location.

Beginning Readers• Ask beginning readers to post the Advent wreath poster (Resource Pak—p. 5)

to the wall and to tape the first “flame” (Resource Pak—p. 9) to the top of the first candle.

• Play “Light a Candle.”

Say: As we prepare for the birth of Jesus, the Advent wreath candle will remind us of who Jesus is. The first candle is the candle of hope. Today we remember that God’s Son came to earth to bring hope to everyone.

• Ask all beginning readers to stand and sign the word HOPE.

Skilled Readers• Ask a skilled reader to read Isaiah 9:6.

PRay: Dear God, we thank you for the hope that your Son, Jesus, brings us every day. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Activity 1c

Activity 1g





A Message to MaryBible Verse


Bible StoryLuke 1:26-38, 46-47


Before You Begin

Mary is at the heart of the Christmas story. It is Mary who is to become the mother of the Son prophesied by Isaiah.

Luke 1 begins with the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah, who become the parents of John the Baptist, who will baptize Jesus. Verse 26 begins, “When Elizabeth was six months pregnant,” almost making us think this story is going to be about Elizabeth, but instead it’s about her relative Mary.

The story of how Mary learns she is to be the mother of the Messiah is very specifi c. We know that an angel is sent, but we are also told the angel’s name: Gabriel. We know that Gabriel is sent to Nazareth, a city in Galilee. We are told that the person Gabriel is to speak to is a woman named Mary who is engaged to a man named Joseph. There is no mistaking for whom the message is meant. This is important, because what Gabriel tells Mary is unbelievable.

The fi rst thing Gabriel says to Mary is, “Rejoice, favored one! The Lord is with you!” (Luke 1:28). That is exactly what we want to help our children do—rejoice! We could be like Mary and question the message. But we would get the same answer that Mary got. Nothing is impossible for God. Mary accepted this answer and replied, “I am the Lord’s servant” (Luke 1:38).

Mary then goes on to praise God in a poem known as The Magnifi cat. It begins, “With all my heart I glorify the Lord!” (Luke 1:46).

In today’s session, the goal is to celebrate the birth of Jesus in various ways.

There will be the ongoing Advent activities of making an ornament for the Jesse Tree, the coloring-page nativity, and Advent worship. There will also be some activities specifi cally for this session. Whichever activities you choose, create an atmosphere of excitement and celebration.

Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.

Session 2December 8








☐ Get Ready

☐ Fun Beginnings

☐ Gather Round


For Everyone

☐ Headdress Bible Story


☐ Jesse-Tree Ornament: Lily

For Nonreaders

☐ Mary Coloring Page


☐ Add to the Advent Wreath

☐ Learn to Sign Love

For Skilled Readers

☐ Did You Know?

For All Readers

☐ Connect the Dots


☐ Leap-of-Faith Balloon Bounce






Grow TogetherGet Ready Supplies: Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—p. 2), CD-ROM or DVD and player

• Display the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—p. 2).




Fun Beginnings

Choose one or more of the activities below to do as the children arrive. Remember to encourage children of all ages to work together.

Muffin-Liner-and-Doily Angel

Supplies: Activity 2b, paper muffin liner (any color), a paper doily, cardstock, glue, glitter; optional: construction paper, glitter

Practice making an angel.

• Follow the directions on Activity 2b to make a muffin liner and doily angel.

• Set the angels aside to dry.

TIP: Write each child’s name on a piece of paper, and place the child’s angel on the paper to dry. This method will help you send the angels home with the children who made them.

Angel Race

Supplies: Activity 2c (top), scissors, drinking straws

Cut the “Did You Know?” section off the page, and set it aside for later use.

• Have the older children help the younger children cut out the basic angel outline.

• Make sure that each child has an angel.

• Give each child a straw.

• Line the children up on one side of the room, and explain that they are to hold the angel on the end of their straw by sucking in their breath.

• Each child is to race to the other end of the room with the angel attached to the straw, no hands allowed. If the angel falls off the straw, the child will have to return to the beginning.

TIP: Let three- and four-year-olds hold the angel onto the end of the straw with their hands. They do not have the ability to suck in and hold it in this way. Help the older children understand why the rules are different for the younger ones.

SAY: Today we hear the story of the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary.

Activity 2b

Activity 2c

Resource Pak—p. 2




Journey to the Manger Board Game

Supplies: Journey to the Manger board game (Resource Pak—pp. 3 & 8), coins or game pieces from any gameboard

Punch out the Journey to the Manger cards (Resource Pak—p. 8).

• Place the Journey to the Manger board (Resource Pak—p. 3) on a table.

• Mix up the number cards (Resource Pak—p. 8), and place them in a pile, face down, on the table. Mix up the action cards (Resource Pak—p. 8), and place them in a separate pile on the table.

• The first player draws one of the number cards and moves the number of spaces stated on the card.

TIP: After each draw, mix the number back in with the others, and place the number cards back on the table.

• If the player lands on a space that says, “Draw a card,” that player then does what the card says.

TIP: For the game to be completed, you may need to mix these cards back together and use them again.

• Play proceeds to the next player.

• The game continues until the first child reaches the manger.

• Put the game aside in a safe place for use in the next three sessions.

TIP: The older children can read the directions on the cards for the nonreaders.

Gather RoundSupplies: birthday chart created last week

• Have the children gather near the birthday chart for the quarter.

• Bring the children together. They can sit on the floor or around a table.

• Give the children a chance to tell any news of the week.


PRAY: Dear God, thank you for these boys and girls. Thank you for always being there for us. Be with us as we celebrate your Son, Jesus. Help us to grow more like him each day in our words and our actions. Amen.

Resource Pak—p. 3

Resource Pak—p. 8




Proclaim the WordFor EveryoneHeaddress Bible StorySupplies: Bibles, Activity 2a, pieces of cloth, scarves, or towels (or any combination of the three), long pieces of cloth or scarves

• Assign the parts of the Narrator, Questioner, Gabriel, and Mary. Give each reader a copy of Activity 2a.

• Give each reader a piece of cloth to drape over his or her head (in biblical style) and a long piece of cloth or scarf. Tie a long piece of cloth or scarf around the head to secure the draped headdress to the reader’s head (biblical style).

SAY: Today is the second Sunday of Advent. Today we are going to see what happens when the angel Gabriel appears to Mary.

• Help the children locate Chapter 1 in the Gospel of Luke. Tell them that today’s story comes from verses 26-38 and 46-47.

• Now have the assigned readers act out the drama on Activity 2a.

• Ask the nonreaders to be the audience.

TIP: If you do not have enough readers, read the part of the questioner yourself. Also, you may have everyone put on the draped headdresses for the reading of the story. Nonreaders like to put on “costumes.”

ASK: Why, do you think, did Mary rejoice when she heard the news Gabriel brought her?

SAY: Since this news is Good News for everyone, we should all rejoice.


• The DVD can be used in addition to or in place of the storytelling section.

• The DVD also contains music videos for the children to sing and dance to. Use these during arrival time or in worship time.

• Invite the children to sit down where they can easily see the screen as they watch the Leaper’s Pointe story.

SAY: Today in Leaper’s Pointe, Ernie is reading the Scriptures from Luke that tell the story of the angel’s visit to Mary. He wonders what that might have been like. Let’s listen in and find out where Ernie’s imagination will take him.


Activity 2a




Jesse Tree Ornament: LilySupplies: Jesse Tree (Resource Pak—p. 12 & 13), Activity 2d, scissors, pencils, drinking straws, tape

You may wish to cut out the lilies for the younger children beforehand.

SAY: Today we will make our second ornament for our Jesse Tree. Today’s ornament is a lily. The lily is the symbol for Mary, the mother of Jesus.

ASK: How will this ornament remind us of today’s story?

• Help the children follow the directions for making their lily (Activity 2d).

• Invite the children to tape their ornaments to the tree.

TIP: If you wish to hang only one lily ornament on the tree, let a child volunteer to hang his or her ornament on the tree and send the other ornaments home to be hung on the family Christmas tree. To hang the ornaments on a real tree, they can tape a loop of yarn to the back of the ornament to make a hanger.

TIP: If you wish to hang more than one lily on the tree, reduce the pattern size when photocopying it.

For NonreadersMary Coloring PageSupplies: Activity 2e, crayons


OPTION 1: You will make one poster by selecting a child each week to add their coloring picture to the wall.

OPTION 2: If you have enough wall space, each child can create their own poster on the wall and add to their own poster each week.

• Give each child a copy of “Mary” (Activity 2e) and some crayons.


• Set the pictures aside until closing worship.

For Beginning ReadersAdd to the Advent WreathSupplies: Advent Wreath (Resource Pak––pp. 5 & 9), tape

• Have a child punch out the top half of one of the purple candles and a flame.

• Ask the children to work together to tape the top half of the candle to the bottom half of one of the candles on the Advent wreath hanging in the worship area.



Activity 2d

Activity 2e




• Ask a child to put a small circle of tape on the back of one of the flames, and set it (tape side up) aside until closing worship.

Learn to Sign Love SAY: Today’s Bible story is about Mary’s joy and love. In the Advent worship, we will light the candle of love. We are going to learn to sign love, because you will be signing love during the worship service.

• Demonstrate how to sign love.

• This sign is done in one motion. See the signing to the right.

• Have children practice the sign for love again, because they will do both signs during worship. (See page 27.)

For Skilled ReadersDid You Know?Supplies: Activity 2c (bottom)

• Give each skilled reader a copy of “Did You Know?”

• Encourage them to read it to learn more about angels.

For All ReadersConnect the Dots Supplies: Activity 2f, pencils

• Encourage the readers to connect the dots to complete the angel.

Serve With Love Leap-of Faith-Balloon BounceSupplies: Activity 2g, CD-ROM, CD player, scissors, balloons, tape

Cut the word cards apart. Blow up six balloons. Tape one word to each balloon.

• Explain that you will play music while they work together to keep all of the balloons in the air. When the music stops, they are to catch the balloons and see how fast they can get them in order.

• Turn on the music, and let them play for a while; then stop the music.

• Once the words are in order, have a reader read the statement.

Activity 2c

Activity 2f

Activity 2g




• Ask the children each to name one way they and their families celebrate Jesus. (Examples include Advent worship at home, baking cookies, and putting up a tree.)

• Play again, and this time ask the children to name one way they can help somebody else celebrate (such as caroling at a nursing home and gathering food for the food pantry).

TIP: Put the older children in charge of making sure the words are put in order.

WorshipTIP: For the four Sundays of Advent, each group will participate in worship in age-appropriate ways.

Supplies: Bible; CD-ROM; Activity 1c; Activity 2e; Advent Wreath, Advent Candles and Flames (Resource Pak––pp. 5 & 9); CD player; tape; adhesive

• Play “I Celebrate” (CD-ROM Track 3) to bring children to the worship area.

Nonreaders• Begin by having the picture of Mary (Activity 2e) posted to the wall to the

right (as you face the poster) of the manger in the worship area. (Mary will be looking at the manger.)

TIP: If you are going to do multiple nativity posters, help each nonreader post his or her poster next to the manger that he or she colored.

Beginning Readers• Ask one of the beginning readers to tape the flame of this week’s Advent

wreath candle (Resource Pak—p. 9) to a purple candle that is on the wall.

• Play, “Light a Candle” (CD-ROM Track 2).

SAY: We remember that Jesus give us hope. The first candle is the candle of hope.

• Ask all beginning readers to stand and sign the word hope (signing on page 18).

SAY: Today we light the candle of love, representing the love Jesus brings to us.

• Ask all beginning readers to sign the word love.

Skilled Readers• Ask a skilled reader to read Luke 1:46-47.

PRAY: Dear God, we thank you for the hope and love that your Son, Jesus, brings us every day. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.


Activity 2e



A Message to JosephBible Verse


Bible StoryMatthew 1:18-25


Before You Begin

Joseph the carpenter, the earthly father of Jesus, appears six times in the Bible. In Matthew, Gabriel announces to Joseph that Mary will have a baby.

Luke tells us that Mary and Joseph go to be enrolled on the tax lists and are present when the shepherds arrive at the stable. After the birth of Jesus, Luke tells of the couple taking the infant Jesus to the Temple for circumcision. After the visit of the magi to the young child Jesus, Matthew tells us, the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream and he escapes with Mary and Jesus to Egypt. Later, an angel of the Lord appears in a dream and tells Joseph that it is safe for his family to return to Nazareth. The fi nal time we see Joseph is in Luke 2:39-52, when Mary and Joseph return to Nazareth and when Jesus is twelve, taking him to the Temple in Jerusalem for the Passover Festival.

It is at this point when Joseph disappears from the Bible story. The assumption is because he was older, that Joseph probably died before Jesus began his ministry.

Just because we don’t hear of Joseph in Jesus’ adult life does not mean he is a minor character. Joseph is important. He is the man entrusted with raising Jesus. It is obvious that God chose Joseph because of his good character and trustworthiness. The news that the angel, Gabriel, has brought Joseph was not only astonishing but also distressing. The news puts Joseph in a awkward position within his community. But Joseph rises to the occasion as God knew he would.

Today the children will continue their ongoing celebration of the birth of Jesus. They give thanks that such a man as Joseph was willing to take on the task of raising God’s Son. They can also give thanks for those in their lives who are raising them.


Session 3December 15


Visit GrowProclaimServe.com/leaders to join the community with other leaders and fi nd helpful weekly content and articles.






☐ Get Ready

☐ Fun Beginnings

☐ Gather Round


For Everyone

☐ Act Out the Bible Story


For Nonreaders

☐ Joseph Coloring Picture



☐ Learn to Sign Joy

For Skilled Readers

☐ What Letter Am I?

For All Readers

☐ Joseph’s Toolbox

For Everyone

☐ Bible Verse Ring Toss


☐ My Roots






Grow TogetherGet ReadySupplies: Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—p. 2), CD-ROM or DVD and player

• Display the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—p. 2) .


• Greet the children as they arrive. Mark each child’s name on the attendance chart.


Fun BeginningsChoose one or more of the following activities to do as the children arrive.

Build Something ChallengeSupplies: a variety of items that would be easily available, such as blocks, books, paper plates, and cups

Gather a variety of “building” supplies (see above).

• Place all “building” materials in the center of a table or the center of the floor.

• As the children arrive, ask them to use whatever they want from the pile to work together to build something.

Say: Today’s story is about Joseph. Joseph was a carpenter. He may have made furniture, or he may have built parts of buildings. Whatever Joseph built, Jesus probably worked alongside Joseph while growing up.

Jesse Tree Ornament: Joseph’s Carpenter’s SquareSupplies: Jesse Tree (Resource Pak—pp. 12 & 13), Activity 3b, crayons, scissors, glue, sawdust, tape; optional: gold glitter

Say: Today we will make our third ornament for our Jesse Tree. Today’s ornament is a carpenter’s square. The carpenter’s square is the symbol for Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father.

aSK: How will this ornament remind us of today’s story?

• Help the children follow the directions for coloring and decorating their carpenter’s square (Activity 3b).


TIP: If you wish to hang only one carpenter’s-square ornament on the tree, let a child volunteer to hang his or her ornament on the tree, and send the other ornaments home to be hung on the family Christmas tree. To hang the ornaments on a real tree, they can punch a hole in the top with a hole punch and run yarn through it, tying the yarn to make a hanger.

TIP: If adding multiple ornaments to the tree, reduce the ornaments’ size.

Activity 3b

Resource Pak—p. 2






Supplies: Journey to the Manger (Resource Pak—pp. 3 & 8), coins or game pieces from any gameboard


• Mix up the number cards (Resource Pak—p. 8), and place them in a pile face down on the table. Mix up the action cards (Resource Pak—p. 8), and place them in a separate pile on the table.


TIP: After each draw, mix the number back in with the others and place the number cards back on the table.


TIP: To complete the game, you may have to mix these cards back together and use them again.




TIP: The older children can read to the nonreaders the directions on the cards.

Gather RoundSupplies: birthday chart created in Session 1 (Leader Guide’s—p. 15)

• Gather near the birthday chart for the quarter.

• Have the children sit together on the floor or around a table.

• Give them a chance to share any news of the week.


PRay: God, thank you for these boys and girls. Thank you for always being there for us. Thank you for giving us people who take care of us.

Proclaim the WordFor EveryoneAct Out the Bible StorySupplies: Bibles, Activity 3a

• Assign the parts of the Narrator 1, Narrator 2, and Angel.

• Explain that everyone else will be the audience.

• Give each reader a copy of Activity 3a. Activity 3a

Resource Pak—p. 3

Resource Pak—p. 8




Say: Today is the third Sunday of Advent. Today we’re going to hear Joseph’s story.

• Help the children locate the Gospel of Matthew in their Bibles. Find Matthew 1:18-25.

• Tell the children that this is where they can find today’s Bible story.

• Have the assigned children read “Joseph’s Dream.”

Visit Leaper’s PointeSupplies: DVD, DVD player, information about Leaper’s Pointe (Leader’s Guide—pp. 127 & 128)

• The optional Leaper’s Pointe DVD can be used in addition to or in place of the storytelling section of the session plan. (Read about Leaper’s Pointe and its residents on pages 127 and 128 of this Leader’s Guide.)

• Invite the children to sit down where they can easily see the screen and watch Session 3.

Say: Today in Leaper’s Pointe, Ernie is dreaming that he is on a game show. He has to answer three questions correctly to win a free trip to the North Pole. He answers the first two correctly, but he’s stumped on the third one, “What does the word ‘Joseph’ mean?” Will he wake up before he finds the answer? And how is Ernie’s dream like Joseph’s dream? Let’s listen in.


For NonreadersJoseph Coloring PictureSupplies: Activity 3d, crayons




• Give each child a copy of “Joseph” (Activity 3d) and some crayons.


• Set the pictures aside until closing worship.

Activity 3d




For Beginning ReadersAdd to the Advent WreathSupplies: Advent Wreath, Advent Wreath Candles and Flames (Resource Pak––pp. 5 & 9); tape

• Have a child punch out the top half of one of the purple candles and a flame.

• Ask the children to work together to tape the top half of the candle to the bottom half of one of the candles on the Advent wreath hanging in the worship area.

• Ask a child to put a small circle of tape on the back of one of the flames and set it (tape side up) aside until closing worship.

Learn to Sign Joy Say: Today’s Bible story is about Joseph’s joy and love. In the Advent worship, we will light the candle of joy. We are going to learn to sign joy because you will be signing joy during the worship service.

• Demonstrate how to sign joy.

• To sign joy, pat the chest with both hands. See the signing to the right.

• Have children practice the signs for hope and love and again, because they will do all three signs during worship. (See pages 18 and 26.)

For Skilled ReadersWhat Letter Am I?Supplies: Activity 3c, pencil

• Give each skilled reader a copy of “What Letter Am I?”

• Encourage them to solve each clue, then rearrange the letters to discover an important word from today’s story.

For All ReadersJoseph’s ToolboxSupplies: Activity 3e, pencils

• Give all readers a copy of Activity 3e, and a pencil.

Say: God was very careful to choose the right man to raise Jesus. Think about some of the important characteristics that God saw in Joseph. What tools (character traits) would Joseph have had? Write one characteristic on each tool.

• When the children are finished, let those who wish to share their thoughts do so.

Activity 3c

Activity 3e




• Accept all reasonable answers, which might include love of God, faithfulness, patience, generosity, obedience to God, compassion, and so forth.

For EveryoneBible Verse Ring TossSupplies: Activity 3f, scissors, tape, seven bottles or tall cans, paper plates

Cut the center out of three paper plates. Copy and cut apart the Bible Verse Ring Toss cards, and tape a card to each of the bottles.

• Set up the bottles on one side of the room.

• One at a time give each child three chances to toss one of the paper-plate rings around a bottle.

• If a child manages to get the “ring” around a bottle, that child removes the bottle.

• After each child has had three chances, have the children work together to arrange the bottles they have removed into a Bible verse. Then have them get the extra bottles and put them in the order to complete the Bible verse.

TIP: The distance each child stands in front of the bottles should be determined by age. Younger children will need to be closer. Each child needs to be far enough from the bottles to be challenging but not so far as to make it impossible to “ring” a bottle.

Serve With LoveMy RootsSupplies: Bible, Activity 3g, pencils and crayons

• Ask a skilled reader to read Isaiah 11:1-2.

Say: Mary and Joseph are part of Jesus’ family tree. We have been adding to a Jesse Tree each week. Some of the people on the Jesse Tree are family members, but others are people who influenced the faith of Jesus. Let’s look at some of the people who have helped make us who we are and who have helped us grow in faith.

• Give each child a copy of Activity 3g.

• Explain that these are the roots, the things that make us grow strong.

• Give the older children a pencil, and the younger children a crayon.

• Ask the children to think of the people who have been big parts of their lives.

• Encourage the older children to add branches (and names) to their tree. These branches with names on them represent the people who have given them good “roots for life.”

• Encourage the younger children to draw people or faces (even just circles) of the people important to them.

Activity 3f

Activity 3g




• Suggest that they take these home and share them with their families. Encourage them to ask other family members who gave them good solid roots, especially for faith.

WorshipTIP: For the four Sundays of Advent, each group will participate in worship in age-appropriate ways.

Supplies: Bible; CD-ROM; Activity 1c; Activity 2e; Activity 3d; Advent Wreath, Advent Wreath Candles and Flames (Resource Pak—pp. 5 & 9); CD player; tape

• Play “I Celebrate” (Track 3) to bring children to the worship area.

Nonreaders• Begin by having the picture of Joseph and the donkey (Activity 3d) taped to

the wall to the left side (as you face the poster) of the manger (Activity 1c) in the worship area.

TIP: If you are going to do multiple nativity posters, help each nonreader to post his or her poster next to the two mangers he or she colored.

Beginning Readers• Ask one of the beginning readers to tape the flame to this week’s candle of the

Advent wreath (Resource Pak—pp. 5 & 9) to the wall.

• Play, “Light a Candle” (Track 2).

SAY: We remember that Jesus gave us hope. The first candle is the candle of hope.

• Ask all beginning readers to stand and sign the word hope (page 18).

SAY: We remember Jesus shows God loves us. The second candle is the candle of love.

• Ask all beginning readers to stand and sign the word love (page 27).

SAY: The birth of Jesus brings us joy. Today we light the candle of joy.

• Ask all beginning readers to stand and sign the word joy (page 33).

Skilled Readers• Ask a skilled reader to read Matthew 1:23.

PRAY: Dear God, we thank you for the hope, love, and joy that your Son, Jesus, brings us every day. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.


Activity 3d



Good News!Bible Verse


Bible StoryLuke 2:1-20


Before You Begin

Luke’s story of the birth of Jesus is so familiar to us Christians that we don’t even have to think about it when we retell it. Joseph and Mary must go from

Nazareth to Bethlehem to be enrolled in the tax lists. They can’t fi nd a room even with relatives, so they must stay in a stable where Jesus is born and laid in a manger. An angel appears and announces the good news of Jesus’ birth to shepherds in a fi eld, and they rush to Bethlehem to see this new baby. When they return home, the shepherds are glorifying and praising God.

We are used to hearing that there was no room for them in the “inn.” The Contemporary English Bible states that there was no place for them in the guest room. There were no inns as we know them in fi rst century Israel. People didn’t hop in the car with their suitcases and stay at the nearest Holiday Inn. People stayed in the homes of family or friends. Since for the census everyone had to go to his or her hometown, it is quite likely that Joseph had a lot of aunts, uncles, cousins, and other relations all trying to stay in Bethlehem. Many would have slept on mats (probably brought with them), packed into the same room of the home of whichever relative lived in Bethlehem. By the time Joseph and Mary got there, no sleeping places in the home were left.

It was obvious that Mary was about to give birth. So why didn’t a couple of the other relatives volunteer to take the stable? The Bible doesn’t say. Probably because the stable suited God’s purpose better. Jesus was born in humble circumstances. This emphasizes that Jesus was born as Savior of all, not just the privileged. The same is true for the shepherds being the fi rst to hear the Good News.

Today we celebrate the peace that Jesus brings to all of us. What peace it brings to our hearts when we remember that Jesus was born for me, for you, and for everyone!










☐ Get Ready

☐ Fun Beginnings

☐ Gather Round


For Everyone

☐ The Bible Story in Action


For Nonreaders

☐ Shepherds and Baby Jesus

☐ Get the Shepherds to the Manger



☐ Learn to Sign Peace

For Skilled Readers

☐ Do You Have Your Christmas Facts Straight?

For All Readers

☐ Help the Shepherds Spread the Good News

For Everyone

☐ Jesse Tree Ornament: Manger


☐ Good News Bulletin Board






Grow TogetherGet ReadySupplies: Attendance Chart CD-ROM or DVD and player


• Play “I Celebrate” in the background (CD-ROM Track 3 or DVD) as the children arrive. The children should know the chorus by now, and some may be able to sing along.

• Greet the children as they arrive. Mark each child’s name on the attendance chart. Show the children where to place any offerings.


Hot-or-Cold Game

Supplies: Activity 4b (bottom of page)

Cut out the baby Jesus at the bottom of the page, and hide it somewhere in the room.

• As the children arrive, ask them to find the baby Jesus hidden in the room.

• Explain that you will help them find it by saying, “Hot” if they are getting close and “Cold” if they are not close to the hidden picture of baby Jesus.

• If a child finds the baby Jesus, ask him or her to leave it there and as other children arrive, the first child or children can help you tell the new arrivals whether they are “hot” or “cold.”

• The last child to play is to bring the picture of baby Jesus to you.


Supplies: Journey to the Manger board and cards (Resource Pak—pp. 3 & 8), coins or game pieces from any gameboard


• Mix up the number cards (Resource Pak—p. 8), and place them in a pile face down on the table. Mix up the action cards (Resource Pak—p. 8), and place them in a separate pile on the table.




TIP: To complete the game, you may need to mix these cards back together and use them again.

Resource Pak—p. 2


Activity 4b







TIP: The older children can read the directions on the cards for the nonreaders.

Gather RoundSupplies: birthday chart made earlier (Leader’s Guide—p. 15)





PRay: God, thank you for these boys and girls. Thank you for the good things this week, and thank you for being with us in the difficult moments. Thank you for the excitement of Christmas celebrations. Most of all we thank you for the gift of Jesus. Help us to grow in faith by keeping Jesus in our hearts this week. Amen.

Proclaim the WordFor EveryoneThe Bible Story in ActionSupplies: Activity 4a

Say: This is the fourth Sunday of Advent. In three days, we will be celebrating Jesus’ birth. Our story today tells about the very first Christmas that happened so long ago.

• Read the story (Activity 4a) so that you will be ready to lead miming the actions.

• Give all readers a copy of “The Christmas Story” (Activity 4a).

• Assign the parts of Messenger, Narrator, Angel, and Shepherd.

TIP: If you do not have enough readers, read the part of the Messenger yourself.

• Explain that all other children will mime actions at certain points in the story. They are to watch you and do what you do.

• Have the story read, and mime the actions at the designated spots.

Say: The shepherds praised God. We too can praise God.

Activity 4a





• The DVD can be used in place of or in addition to the storytelling section.

• The DVD also contains music videos for the children to sing and dance to. Use these during the worship time.


Say: Today in Leaper’s Pointe, Mondo is plugging in eleven thousand lights of Leaper’s Pointe—and blows out all the lights in town. How will they tell the Christmas story without lights and music? Let’s listen in.


For NonreadersShepherds and Baby JesusSupplies: Activity 4b (top), Activity 4d, crayons, scissors

Cut out a baby Jesus (one for every nonreader).

TIP: The coloring pictures for Sessions 1–4 when hung together make a complete nativity poster. There are two options for hanging these posters. This week the children will also color the baby Jesus.



• Give each child a copy of “Shepherds” (Activity 4d) and some crayons.


• Give each of the children a baby Jesus (top of Activity 4b), and ask them to color it.

• Set the pictures and the baby Jesus aside until closing worship.

Get the Shepherds to the MangerSupplies: Activity 4e, crayons

• Give each child a copy of “Get the Shepherds to the Manger” (Activity 4e) and a crayon.

• Show the children where to begin.

• Challenge them to find the right path to the manger.

Activity 4b

Activity 4d

Activity 4e




For Beginning ReadersAdd to the Advent WreathSupplies: Advent Wreath, Advent Wreath and Candles (Resource Pak—pp. 5 & 9); tape

• Have a child punch out the top half of one of the last purple candles and a flame.

• Ask the children to work together to tape the top half of the candle to the bottom half of one of the remaining purple candle on the Advent wreath hanging in the worship area.

• Ask a child to put a small circle of tape on the back of one of the flames and set it (tape side up) aside until closing worship.

Learn to Sign Peace Say: Today’s Bible story is about the shepherds and their being told where to find Jesus, the Prince of Peace. In the Advent worship we will light the candle of peace. We are going to learn to sign peace, because you will be signing peace during the worship service.

• Demonstrate how to sign peace.

• To sign peace, rotate the hands, palms together in a quieting motion close to the mouth (See art of just the hands). Then in a smooth movement, bring hands down, palms out an down and outward, shoulder width at lower chest level. (See the art of the girl signing.)

• Have children practice the signs for hope, love and joy again, because they will do all four signs during worship. (See pages 18, 26, and 33.)

For Skilled ReadersDo You Have Your Christmas Facts Straight?Supplies: Activity 4f, pencils

Say: We have heard the Christmas story so many times that we know it well. But sometimes we forget what the Bible actually says. Some facts about the story are tradition. Do you know which is which?

• Give each child a copy of “Do You Have Your Christmas Facts Straight?” and a pencil.

• Go over the directions, making sure that the skilled readers understand.

• When the skilled readers are done, go over the answers together.

Activity 4f





For All ReadersHelp the Shepherds Spread the Good NewsSupplies: Activity 4g, pencils

Say: After the shepherds visited the baby Jesus at the manger, they were very excited and went home praising God. Let’s help the shepherds spread the Good News of Jesus’ birth by finding where they went.

• Give each child a copy of Activity 4g and a pencil.

• Encourage them to solve the puzzle and find the right path.

Say: All paths are correct. The Good News traveled over the years to many places. It is always good to spread the Good News of Jesus wherever we go.

For EveryoneJesse Tree Ornament: MangerSupplies: Jesse Tree (Resource Pak—p. 12 & 13), Activity 4c, crayons, scissors, straw, glue, tape; optional: yarn

Say: Today we will make our fourth ornament for our Jesse Tree. Today’s ornament is the manger. The manger is the symbol that Jesus was born to an average kind of family.


• Help the children follow the directions for coloring and decorating their mangers (Activity 4c).


TIP: If you wish to hang only one manger ornament on the tree, let a child volunteer to hang his or her ornament on the tree, and send the other ornaments home to be hung on the family Christmas tree. To hang the ornaments on a real tree, they can punch a hole in the top with a hole punch and run yarn through it, tying the yarn to make a hanger. You may wish to make the ornament smaller.

Serve With LoveGood News Bulletin BoardSupplies: posterboard, construction paper (vary the colors), crayons, markers, scissors, glue, any decorative items on hand; optional: Bible

Get permission to decorate a bulletin board in the church.

• Have the children work together to create a Good News bulletin board.

• Encourage the children who can read to cut out big letters spelling out GOOD NEWS, and all ages can color and decorate the letters.


Activity 4g

Activity 4c




• Let the children work together to decide how their bulletin board will look.

OPTIONS: The children may write some Bible verse references on pieces of paper to attach to the board, draw simple pictures, and attach one of the complete nativity posters from the coloring-picture nativity poster to the bulletin board.

• Place everything on a bulletin board where everyone in the church will see it.

WorshipTIP: For the four Sundays of Advent, each group will participate in worship in age appropriate ways.

Supplies: Bible; CD-ROM and player; Activity 1c; Activity 2e; Activity 3c; Activity 4b (top); Activity 4d; Advent Wreath, flames, and candles (Resource Pak—pp. 5 & 9); tape

• Play “I Celebrate” (Track 3) to bring the children to the worship area.

Nonreaders• Begin by having a child adhere the picture of the shepherds (Activity 4d) to

the wall to the left side (as you face the poster) of Joseph and the donkey in the worship area.

• Help a child tape the baby Jesus (Activity 4b) to the manger (Activity 1c).

TIP: If you are going to do multiple nativity posters, help each nonreader to post his or her poster next to the two mangers he or she colored.

Beginning Readers• Ask one of the beginning readers to tape the flame to this week’s candle of the

Advent wreath to the wall.

• Play, “Light a Candle” (Track 2).

Say: We remember Jesus brings us hope. The first candle is the candle of hope.

• Ask all beginning readers to stand and sign the word hope (page 18).

Say: Jesus brings us love. The second candle is the candle of love.

• Ask all beginning readers to stand and sign the word love (page 27).

Say: Jesus brings us joy. The third candle is the candle of joy.

• Ask all beginning readers to stand and sign the word joy (page 33).

Say: Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Today we light candle of peace.

• Ask all beginning readers to stand and sign the word peace (page 41).

Skilled Readers• Ask a skilled reader to read Luke 2:7.

PRay: Dear God, we thank you for the hope, love, joy, and peace that your Son, Jesus, brings us every day. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Activity 4b

Activity 4d





Simeon and AnnaBible Verse




Before You Begin

After the birth of Jesus, there were certain religious customs that had to be attended to. The fi rst of these was circumcision. “When eight days had

passed, Jesus’ parents circumcised him and gave him the name Jesus” (Luke 2:21). Then came the time of ritual cleansing for Mary. So Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem to be presented to the Lord (to be blessed).

The stories of Simeon and Anna take place in the Temple in Jerusalem. Simeon was a devout and righteous man who had been waiting on the arrival of the Messiah for many years. It is stated clearly that the Holy Spirit rested on Simeon and revealed to him that he would see the Lord’s Christ before he died. He was led by the Holy Spirit to the Temple. Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God. Simeon blessed Joseph and Mary and spoke to Mary about her son.

In the Temple at this time was also a prophet named Anna. She was eighty-four. She never left the Temple. She spent all of her time worshipping God with fasting and prayer. As Simeon spoke his words to Mary, Anna approached them and began to praise God and spoke to everyone about the Messiah. Both of these people had waited many years for this moment. What patience and devotion it must have taken to go so long waiting for the one thing they wanted most.

The story of these two faithful people show the movement of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ life even at the beginning of his life.

The stories of Simeon and Anna show us that the right response to Jesus in our lives is to praise God.

Today we will do some fun things with waiting to remind us of what an important moment Simeon and Anna waited for. And also, of course, we will celebrate and praise.

Just because Christmas Day has passed and the presents been given, we don’t stop celebrating.










☐ Get Ready

☐ Fun Beginnings

☐ Gather Round


For Everyone

☐ Prepare for the Bible Story

☐ Bible-Story Puppet Theater

☐ Wait-for-It Puzzle (Third Piece)


☐ Wait-for-It Puzzle (Fourth Piece)

☐ Jesse Tree Ornament: Temple

☐ Wait-for-It Puzzle (Final Piece)


For Nonreaders

☐ Worshipping-the-Lord Coloring Page

For All Readers

☐ Bible No-Cook Ice Cream Recipe

For Everyone

☐ Let’s Eat Ice Cream

☐ Prepare for Worship


☐ Christ Candle Worship





Grow TogetherGet ReadySupplies: Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—p. 2), CD-ROM or DVD and player


• Play “Leap of Faith” in the background (CD-ROM Track 1 or DVD) as the children arrive. Encourage the children to sing along if they wish, and join them in the singing.




Wait-for-It Puzzle (First Piece)

Supplies: Activity 5b (one piece of the puzzle), scissors

Cut apart the puzzle along the lines. Place the pieces in an envelope or another container where they cannot be seen by the children. Save the bottom piece to give out last.

• When the first child arrives, give her or him one puzzle piece.

• Explain that the class will try to put the puzzle together.

• When the child complains that it cannot be put together with only one piece, explain that he or she will get another puzzle piece but must wait for it.

• As others arrive, explain that you have given the first child a piece of a puzzle the class is to work on together, and before the end of the session they are to have the puzzle put together.

• When they ask for more pieces, repeat what you said to the first child.

TIP: Ask the children to keep the puzzle piece safe while they do other things. Let the children decide how they will do this.


Supplies: Journey to the Manger (Resource Pak—pp. 3 & 8), coins or game pieces from any game board

• Place the Journey to the Manger board on a table.

• Mix up the number cards, and place them in a pile face down on the table. Mix up the action cards, and place them in a separate pile on the table.



Activity 5b

Resource Pak—p. 2






TIP: To complete the game, you may need to mix these cards back together and use them again.




TIP: The older children will have to read the directions on the cards for the nonreaders.

Wait-for-It Puzzle (Second Piece)

Supplies: Activity 5b (second piece of the puzzle)

• Give one child the second piece of the puzzle.

Say: Here is the second piece of the puzzle. Is that enough?

Say: You will get another puzzle piece, but you must wait for it.

• Ask them to take care of this puzzle piece also.

Gather RoundSupplies: birthday chart used earlier (Leader’s Guide—p. 15)

• Gather near the birthday chart for the quarter, and sit together on the floor or around a table.

• Give the children a chance to share any news of the week.


PRay: God, thank you for these boys and girls. Thank you for all the joy Jesus brings us. Be with us as we celebrate your Son, Jesus. Help us to grow more like him each day in our words and in our actions. Amen.

Proclaim the WordFor EveryonePrepare for the Bible StorySupplies: Activity 5c, Activity 5d, box (such as a shoe box), safety scissors, craft sticks, tape

Optional: When photocopying the Temple backdrop (Activity 5c), enlarge it.

• Give one child the Temple Backdrop (Activity 5c), the box, and some tape.

• Have him or her tape the Temple to the side of a box.

Activity 5b

Activity 5c

Activity 5d




• Give another child the Bible Story Puppets (Activity 5d), and ask him or her to cut the puppets apart and give two of the puppets to other children.

• Ask the three children to each cut out a puppet and glue it to a craft stick. (The craft stick should come above the head of the puppet, as the children will hold the puppets by the craft sticks to make them move.)

• Have the children take the Temple Backdrop and the Bible Story puppets to the storytelling area.

Bible-Story Puppet TheaterSupplies: Bibles; Activities 5a, 5c, 5d

• Place the Temple on a table, making sure that the puppeteers can stand behind the table so that they can hold their puppets in front of the Temple.

• Give each child a copy of “Simeon and Anna.”

• Assign the reading parts of Narrator 1, Narrator 2, and Simeon. Assign a child to each of the three puppets.

TIP: If you have six children, readers and puppets should be assigned to different children. Let the nonreaders move the puppets. You can read the directions for movement to the younger children. With fewer than six children, assign each reader one of the puppets and others can be the audience.

Say: We’ve celebrated the birth of Jesus. Eight days after Jesus was born, he was taken to the Temple in Jerusalem to be dedicated. While there, he was seen by two people who had waited many years to see the Messiah.

• Have the puppeteers take their place behind the table. Ask the readers to read the story, and the puppeteers to move the puppets as directed.

• Ask the children to find Luke 2 in the Bible. Have them locate verses 25-38. Tell them this is where the story of Simeon and Anna is found.

aSK: Do you think it was hard for Simeon and Anna to wait years to see the Savior they had always heard about? Why did they wait?

Wait-for-It Puzzle (Third Piece)Supplies: Activity 5b (third piece of the puzzle)

• Give one child the third piece of the puzzle.

aSK: Here is the third piece of the puzzle. Is that enough?

Say: You will get another puzzle piece, but you must wait for it.

• Ask them to take care of this puzzle piece also.




Activity 5d

Activity 5b

Activity 5a

Activity 5c




Say: Today in Leaper’s Pointe, Farley, Papa B, Merrilee, and Rosie are waiting for the homemade peppermint ice cream to be ready to eat. Let’s listen in to discover what they talk about while waiting.


Wait-for-It Puzzle (Fourth Piece)Supplies: Activity 5b (fourth piece of the puzzle)

• Give one child the fourth piece of the puzzle.

• Ask the children to put the four pieces of the puzzle together.

• When they discover that there is still one piece missing (the bottom), tell them that they will get the last puzzle piece but must wait for it.

• Ask them to take care of all of the puzzle pieces a while longer.

Jesse-Tree Ornament: TempleSupplies: Jesse Tree (Resource Pak—pp. 12 & 13), Activity 5e, crayons, scissors, gold glitter, glue, tape

Say: Today we will make our final ornament for our Jesse Tree. Today’s ornament is the Temple. The Temple stands for Simeon and Anna and also for the importance of faith in the life of Jesus.


• Help the children follow the directions for coloring and decorating their Temples (Activity 5e).


TIP: If you wish to hang only one Temple ornament on the tree, let a child volunteer to hang his or her ornament on the tree, and send the other ornaments home to be hung on the family Christmas tree. To hang the ornaments on a real tree, they can punch a hole in the top with a hole punch and run yarn through it, tying the yarn to make a hanger.

Wait-for-It Puzzle (Final Piece)Supplies: Activity 5b (bottom piece of the puzzle)

• Give one child the fifth and final piece of the puzzle, the bottom piece.

• Ask the children to complete the puzzle.

aSK: What was it like to have to wait for each piece?

Say: If it was hard or frustrating for us to wait for each piece of the puzzle, think how hard it must have been for Simeon and Anna to wait years and years for the birth of the Savior. But their patience was rewarded—they got to see the baby Jesus.

Activity 5b

Activity 5e




Serve With Love For NonreadersWorshipping-the-Lord Coloring PictureSupplies: Activity 5f, crayons

• Give each child a copy of Activity 5f and some crayons.

• Have the children color the picture.

Say: Anna spent much time in the Temple worshipping God and praying. People still spend time worshipping God and praying.

For All ReadersBible No-Cook Ice Cream RecipeSupplies: Bibles, Activity 5g, pencils

• Give each child a copy of Activity 5g, a Bible, and a pencil.

Say: This is a recipe for ice cream that is easy to make because you don’t have to cook it before freezing it. There’s just one problem: No amounts of the ingredients are listed. That’s why you have your Bibles. If you look up the Bible references listed below (in order) and follow the other clues, you will be able to get the right amount for each ingredient.

• Let the children figure out the recipe.

• Check the answers together to be sure that the amounts are correct.

• Send a copy of the recipe home with each child, and encourage the family to make ice cream and celebrate the birth of Jesus together.

TIP: Have the older children fill out a copy of the recipe for each nonreader so that they can take the recipe home.

For EveryoneLet’s Eat Ice CreamSupplies: vanilla ice cream, candy canes, bowls or cups, spoons, napkins

Purchase snack items.

• Dish out a small amount of ice cream for each child. Serve each dish with a candy cane.

Say: We are celebrating Jesus today. One way to celebrate is by eating together. I’m giving you each a candy cane because the candy cane is the symbol of the shepherds who were the first to visit the baby Jesus.

• Enjoy eating together.

Activity 5f

Activity 5g




Prepare for WorshipSupplies: Advent Wreath, candles, and flames (Resource Pak—pp. 5 & 9); tape

• Bring the children together, and teach them to sign the word Christ.

• To sign Christ, form the letter C with the right hand, touch the right hand to the left shoulder, then move the hand to the right front hip. (See the signing to the right).

• Practice the signing with the children until they can easily do it. It will be used in closing worship.

• Ask a child to punch out the top of the white Christ candle and the flame (Resource Pak—p. 9).

• Ask another child to tape the candle top to the bottom of the white center candle on the Advent wreath (Resource Pak—p. 5). Ask a third child to put tape on the back of the flame and hold it until told to place it on the Advent wreath poster.)

WorshipChrist Candle WorshipSupplies: CD-ROM and player; Bible; Advent Wreath, candles, and flames (Resource Pak—pp. 5 & 9); tape

• Play “I Celebrate” (Track 3) as the children gather near the worship table.

Say: We have celebrated the birth of Christ. Today we add the Christ candle to our Advent wreath.

• Ask the child with the flame to place it above the white candle on the Advent wreath poster.

• Ask all children to stand and sign Christ.

• Have a volunteer read Luke 2:29-30.

• Together sing “I Celebrate.”

PRay: Dear God, today we sing your praises and thank you for our Savior, Jesus, the Christ. Amen.

Resource Pak—p. 5

Resource Pak—p. 9

Resource Pak—p. 24


52 January 2014 GROW • Proclaim • Serve • One Room Sunday School Leader’s Guide

Unit 2The Life of JesusBible Verse

Jesus matured in wisdom and years, and in favor with God and with people. (Luke 2:52)

Leap of Faith My faith in God grows as I grow.

January’s UnitSession 6January 5 The Wise MenBible Story: Matthew 2:1-12

Session 7January 12Jesus at the TempleBible Story: Luke 2:39-52

Session 8January 19Jesus’ Baptism Bible Story: Mark 1:4-11

Session 9January 26Jesus in the Synagogue Bible Story: Luke 4:14-30


DVDSession 6• Leaper’s Pointe• Leaper’s Pointe in

Concert: Have Faith


Concert: Have Faith


Concert: Have Faith


Concert: Have Faith

Something Fishy• Track 6• vocal recording• instrumental recording• sheet music for

printing• PowerPoint® lyrics

Have Faith• Track 4• vocal recording• instrumental recording• sheet music for

printing• PowerPoint® lyrics




For This Unit, “The Life of Jesus” Session 6craft stickssmall dowel rods or sticksblue paintyellow paintpaintbrushescoins or commercial game piecesEpsom saltsmud or wet sandbowl of dirty watertwo bowls of clean water soap and towels

Session 7 posterboardbasket or other containernew box of tissuesspray bottlepaitnwaterold newspaperstowels for cleanup

Session 8vanilla puddinggreen food coloringwhipped creamchocolate sandwich cookies with a creamy white fillingtart shellsspoonsdrinking strawsfour clear glasseswatersaltvinegarlemon juicesugar

Session 9 timerhealthy snack foods such as vegetables and fruitwater to drinkoptional: envelope

This month the children will be asked to participate in a service project that will help mothers and children around the world have good health.

The children will collect money to send to a specific mission. However, if you have a mission in your area that you would like to send funds to, that would be a viable option.

Each week, your children will learn about one problem connected to health issues, such as dirty water and poor nutrition. Allow time to incorporate these activities into your sessions.

Unit 2: Bible Verse Poster (Resource Pak—p. 23)

• At the beginning of Session 6, post the Bible Verse Poster in a prominent place in the room.

• Keep the poster up for the entire unit to have a visual reminder of the Bible verse.

Session 8: Child-of-God Poster (Resource Pak—p. 21)

• In Session 8, the children will post the Child-of-God poster on the wall. They will each make a handprint dove with their name on it and add it to or around the poster. This is activity central to the meaning of the session.

Tip for Teachers Tips




The Wise MenBible Verse

Jesus matured in wisdom and years, and in favor with God and people. (Luke 2:52)


Leap of FaithMy faith in God grows as I grow.

Before You Begin

T he story of the wise men traveling from the east to honor the new king of the Jews shows us that the birth of the Messiah was for all people. The wise men

did not arrive at the stable in Bethlehem. Since King Herod ordered the slaughter of all males under two years of age (Matthew 2:16), it is assumed that by the time the wise men arrived Jesus was probably a toddler.

King Herod, being king of the Jews, was not happy to hear that there were wise men looking for a new king. Herod misunderstood (as did most other Jews) the nature of Jesus’ kingship. Herod thought the birth of a new king meant his overthrow here on earth. So Herod was not pleased.

Herod sent for the wise men in secret and asked them to report back to them. The wise men continued to follow the star and found the toddler Jesus in a house in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:7-11). His mother, Mary, was with him. The wise men knelt and honored Jesus. They gave him gifts befi tting a king. The wise men were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, so they went back to their own country by another route.

The Bible does not mention the number of wise men. Western tradition says there were three, probably because of the three gifts. Eastern tradition says there were twelve, probably because of the importance of the number twelve (twelve tribes of Israel and twelve disciples). But the Bible itself does not say. The importance is not the number of wise men but rather what they represent: the peoples of the world. Jesus came for all of us.

The children have been introduced to the infant Jesus. Now they will see that Jesus too had to go through all stages of childhood. Jesus was once a toddler.


Session 6January 5








☐ Get Ready

☐ Fun Beginnings

☐ Gather Round


For Everyone



☐ Learn a New Song

☐ Paint the Wise Men

☐ Star Parade Crown

For Nonreaders

☐ The Gifts

For All Readers

☐ Bible Stars Race

For Everyone

☐ Bible Verse Travelling Balloon Game


☐ Star Parade

☐ Mission Project


☐ Sing





Grow TogetherGet ReadySupplies: Attendance Chart and Unit 2 Bible Verse Poster (Resource Pak—pp. 2, 23), CD-ROM or DVD and player

• Display the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—p. 2) and the Bible Verse Poster (Resource Pak—p. 23).

• Play “Leap of Faith” in the background (CD-ROM Track 1 or DVD) as the children arrive.




Craft-Stick StarSupplies: craft sticks (five per star), small dowel rod or stick, glue, yarn, tape, scissors; optional: yellow paint and paint brush, or glitter

• Give each child five craft sticks.

• Glue two sticks together in an inverted V.

• Glue a stick from the bottom of each end of the inverted V through the center of the opposite side of the inverted V, and glue at this intersection.

• Repeat with a stick on the opposite side of the star. These two craft sticks will cross.

• Join the last two points of the star by gluing a stick across them.

• Cut a small piece of yarn, make a loop and tie it to the top point of the star.

• Allow the star to dry.

TIP: When it is time for the parade, slip the loop of the yarn over a dowel rod or stick and tape the yarn to the dowel rod or stick. The children will carry the stick by one end, and the star will dangle from the other end.

OPTIOn: If you have time, paint the stars yellow or glue glitter to the stars.


Supplies: Journey to the Manger (Resource Pak—pp. 3 & 8), coins or game pieces from any gameboard

• Play Journey to the Manger board game.

• For instructions on how to play the game, see page 23.

Resource Pak—p. 2











PRay: God, thank you for these boys and girls. Help us to honor Jesus by the way we live as the wise men honored him with gifts. Amen.


Photocopy “Following the Star” (Activity 6a).

• Assign the parts of Narrator, Wise Man, King Herod, and Legal Expert. Give each reader a copy of Activity 6a.

• Have the children look up the Book of Matthew in their Bibles. Have them find Chapter 2. Explain that this is where they will find today’s story.

Say: Today we celebrate the arrival of the wise men to honor Jesus. At the time the wise men came to Bethlehem, Jesus and his family were living in a house and Jesus was probably around two years old.

• Have those assigned parts read “Following the Star” (Activity 6a).

aSK: Why were the wise men warned about King Herod? (God knew that King Herod was jealous and would hurt Jesus if he found him.) Why did the wise men honor Jesus? (They had been looking for a great king for a long time.)





Activity 6a




Say: Today in Leaper’s Pointe, Gabby sees a very special star in the night sky. She points out the star to Farley, Papa B, and Furleen. Gabby tells them that she just looked up in the sky and there it was. That gets Papa B wondering. Let’s listen in.

• After your visit to Leaper’s Pointe, enjoy the song “Have Faith” with the kids on the DVD. Invite the children to imitate the motions on the screen.

Learn a New SongSupplies: CD-ROM or DVD and player, Lyrics (Resource Pak—p. 14)

• Introduce “Have Faith” (Track 4 of the CD-ROM) as a new song for the unit.

Say: This month we are going to be learning a lot about Jesus growing in years, wisdom, and faith. We will learn that our faith grows.

• Play the song “Have Faith,” so that the children can hear the words. Give a copy of the lyrics (Resource Pak—pp. 11 & 14) to the children who can read.

• If you have the DVD, let the children sing and dance with the kids on the clip.

Paint the Wise MenSupplies: Activity 6b, crayons, blue paint, brushes, water, Epsom salts

Practice this to get just the right mixture of water and paint.

• Mix blue paint with a little water.

TIP: Do not let the paint get too watery. You do not want the paper too wet.

• Encourage the children to use crayons to color the wise men.

• Give each child a mixture of paint and a paintbrush.

• Have them paint a color wash over the sky portion of the picture.

• Immediately sprinkle the sky with Epsom salts.

• Allow the paint to dry.

• When the paint is dry, the children can shake off the remaining Epsom salts. Their sky will appear to have stars in it.

Star Parade CrownSupplies: Activity 6c, crayons, construction paper, scissors, glue, glitter, tape

• Give each child a copy of the Star Parade Crown (Activity 6c).

Say: We are going to have a star parade. We will carry our stars and wear a crown for the parade.

• Have the older children help the younger ones cut out their crowns.

• Have the children cut strips of construction paper to tape to the sides of their crown to make headbands, so that they can make the crowns fit their heads.

TIP: The length of side bands needed will depend upon the size of each head.

Activity 6b

Activity 6c





• Encourage the children to spread small amounts of glue on their crowns and sprinkle them with glitter.

• Set crowns aside until parade time.

For NonreadersThe GiftsSupplies: Activity 6d, crayons

• Give each child a copy of “The Gifts” and some crayons.

aSK: What three gifts did the wise men bring to the child Jesus? (gold, frankincense, myrrh)

• Have children color the three gifts.

For All ReadersBible Stars RaceSupplies: Bibles

• Give each child a Bible.

• Divide the group into teams, pairing a beginning reader with a skilled reader.

Say: Stars are mentioned many times in the Bible. We’re going to race to see how fast we can find some of the places stars are mentioned. I will tell you the Scripture to look up, and you will race to see who can find it first.

TIP: If you do not have enough children to divide the group into teams, let all children work together to race the clock and see how fast they can find the Scriptures.

• Read each of these Scripture references, and let the children race to find it: Genesis 1:16; Genesis 26:4; Psalm 136:9; Philippians 2:15; Revelation 1:16.

• The first to find the Scripture should stand and read the verse aloud.

For EveryoneBible-Verse Traveling-Balloon GameSupplies: Activity 6e, CD-ROM, CD player, balloons, scissors, tape

Cut apart the stars on Activity 6e. Blow up six balloons, and tape one star to each balloon.

Say: The wise men followed the star to the young Jesus for a specific reason. We’re going to travel with our Bible verse balloons to discover what they said.

Activity 6d




• Have the children work together to make a winding path (using chairs, tables, and so forth to make the sides of the path) from one side of the room to the other.

• Give the six balloons to the children in any order.

• Explain to the children that they are to all get from one side of the room to the other side, bouncing the balloons and keeping them in the air at all times. If a balloon is dropped, everyone must go back to the beginning and start over.

• Tell the children that they have only two minutes for everyone to get to the other side of the room with their balloons.

• Play “Leap of Faith” (Track 1 of the CD-ROM) to signal start. After two minutes, when you stop the music, the children must stop wherever they are.

• Ask the children to work together to put the Bible verse in order. Have an older child read the verse aloud.

Serve With Love Star ParadeSupplies: Activity 6c, CD-ROM, CD player, crowns and craft-stick stars made earlier

Get approval for a parade to adult Sunday school classes.

• Ask the children to put on their parade crowns (page 58) and to place their craft-stick stars on the dowel rod or stick (page 56).

• Have the children line up for the parade.

• Play “I Celebrate” (CD-ROM Track 3).

• Parade through the adult classes, playing the song and carrying the stars.

Mission ProjectSupplies: Activity 6f, Activity 6g, scissors, tape, mud or wet sand, bowl of dirty water, two bowls of clean water, soap, towels

Say: For the month of January, we have a very special service project. We are going to help mothers and their children have good health.

• Ask a good reader to read the Mission Letter (Activity 6f) aloud to everyone.

Say: Today we are going to think about the importance of clean water.

• Set out a container of mud or wet sand for the children.

• Ask everybody to play with the mud or wet sand long enough to get their hands dirty.

• Set out a bowl of muddy, dirty water and one bowl of clean water.

• Ask half of the children to wash their hands in the dirty water, and the other half to wash their hands in the clean water.

Activity 6f

Activity 6c

Activity 6g



aSK: Who has the cleanest hands? Who would you rather prepare your food?

• Set out the second bowl of clean water, and have those who cleaned their hands in the dirty water now wash them in the clean water. Have everyone dry his or her hands.

TIP: You may wish for everyone to wash his or her hands with soap and water.

• Give everyone a copy of the envelope (Activity 6g), helping the children cut out the envelope, fold it, and tape it.

• Explain that they are to use these envelopes to save and collect money for this month’s mission project.

• Send the mission letter (Activity 6f) home to the parents.

WorshipSingSupplies: Lyrics (Resource Pak—p. 14), CD-ROM or DVD and player

• Gather the children for closing worship.

Say: Today’s story reminds us that Jesus came for all people and we should all honor Jesus.

• Have a volunteer read Luke 2:52.

• Play “Have Faith” (CD-ROM Track 4), encouraging the children to sing along.

PRay: We come to you, God, with thanks for Jesus the child. We also give thanks for those who came to honor him. Help us to honor Jesus by growing closer to you and living as you would have us to live. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.





Jesus at the TempleBible Verse




Before You Begin

Luke’s story of Jesus in the Temple at the age of twelve is the only story we have of Jesus’ childhood after the fl ight to Egypt and the return to Nazareth.

Luke tells us that Jesus grew up and became strong. He was fi lled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him. Luke tells us this so that we can understand what happens next.

According to Jewish custom, a boy becomes a man at the age of thirteen. At the time of this trip to the Temple in Jerusalem, Jesus is still considered a child because he is twelve years old.

The journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem takes four to fi ve days, as walking is a slow process. In this story, Jewish law requires all male Israelites to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles. Therefore, many people are traveling together. This makes it easier to understand that it takes Mary and Joseph a full day to notice that Jesus is missing. They probably think he is with his friends in the traveling group.

Like all parents who discover a missing child, they begin searching for him. When they discover he is not with anyone in the group, they begin looking. After three days they fi nd him in the Temple, and Mary and Joseph are a little put out. Why would Jesus make them worry like this? Why didn’t he do what he was supposed to do and return to Nazareth with everyone else? Jesus seems just as surprised that they didn’t know where he would be. Jesus was preparing for his ministry. But it’s diffi cult for his parents to understand that he has matured so quickly. However, Jesus is obedient. He returns with his parents to Jerusalem where he continues to study and grow.

Your children can come to an understanding that they are preparing for their future right now. It is their “job” to become healthy and strong and to continue learning so that they can learn ever more and more wisdom. They also can continue to grow in their faith.


Session 7January 12








☐ Get Ready

☐ Fun Beginnings

☐ Gather Round




For Nonreaders

☐ We Learn About God


☐ Learn and Grow

For Skilled Readers

☐ Scriptures Jesus Knew

For Everyone

☐ Puzzle Partners


☐ Scripture Scrolls

☐ Mission Project







• Display the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—p. 2) and Unit 2 Bible Verse Poster (Resource Pak—p. 23).

• Play “Leap of Faith” in the background (CD-ROM Track 1 or DVD) as the children arrive.




How Many Chairs Tall Am I?Supplies: Activity 7b (bottom), posterboard or large sheet of paper, markers scissors, glue; chairs the children can lie across

Photocopy Activity 7b, cut the chart chairs off the bottom of the activity, and cut the chart chairs apart.

SAy: We’ve all grown since we were born. We’re going to measure how much you have grown, but we’re going to do it a little differently. We’re going to make a chart that measures how many chairs tall each of you are.

• Post a sheet of posterboard or a large sheet of paper.

• Ask each child to write his or her name (down the left side of the paper). The older children can help the younger children with this.

• Place a row of chairs side by side.

• Ask each child one at a time to lie across the chairs.

TIP: The feet and head of each child should be on the chairs, no overhang. You may need to add chairs to the row for taller children.

• Give each child one chart chair card for each chair tall he or she is.

• Ask the child to glue the chairs in a row next to his or her name.

SAy: We can see from our chart how much each of you has grown since you were born. Since you are different ages, you have each grown a different amount. Today’s story tells us of a time when Jesus was still growing.

Resource Pak—p. 2


Activity 7b




Things We Can Do CharadesSupplies: Activity 7b (top), container for cards

Cut apart the Things We Can Do cards. Fold each card once, and place it in container.

SAy: People of different ages can do different things. The cards in this container show people of various ages. When you draw a card, you will act out something a person that age can do and everyone will guess the age of the person—not the exact years but things such as young child, adult, or teenager.

• Have the child whose birthday is closest to today begin.

• Ask the child to draw one card and act out something that age can do.

• Repeat with a different child until all of the ages have been acted out.

TIP: If any child needs help, here are some suggestions: a baby could be crying, eating, or crawling; a preschooler could be coloring, walking, or dressing him- or herself; an older child could be reading, writing, or riding a bike; a teenager could be driving a car or working at a fast food restaurant; an adult could be teaching school or taking care of children; an older adult could be writing letters, listening, or telling stories.

SAy: Everybody of every age matures and learns. Everybody’s faith grows and matures. You’re never too young or too old for faith and for God.

Jesus Matching GameSupplies: Jesus Review Game Cards (Resource Pak—p. 16); optional: envelope

Separate the puzzle cards.

• Mix up the cards and lay them in rows, face down, on the table.

SAy: These cards show Jesus at different times in his life.

• Play a simple matching game with the cards.

• A child turns over two cards. If the cards match, the child gets the cards. If the cards do not match, they are turned back over.

• Continue until all cards are matched.

TIP: Keep the cards in an envelope for later sessions. As the children learn more stories, these cards will be used in various ways to review Jesus’ life.






PRAy: God, thank you for these boys and girls. Help us to grow in wisdom as Jesus did. Help us to honor Jesus by the way we live. Amen.


Activity 7b




Proclaim the WordAct Out the Bible StorySupplies: Bibles, Activity 7a

• Assign the speaking parts of Narrator 1, Narrator 2, Mary and Joseph. Give each speaker a copy of Activity 7a “(Jesus Gets Lost?”).

SAy: When Jesus was twelve, he went with his parents to Jerusalem. There something important happened.

• Ask the rest of the children to be the audience. Explain that at some point they will be asked by Joseph whether they have seen Jesus. When asked, each child is to respond, “No, I haven’t seen him.”

• Have the speakers read “Jesus Gets Lost?”

ASK: Why was Jesus in the Temple talking with the teachers and religious leaders?




• Invite the children to sit where they can see the screen and watch Session 7.

SAy: Today in Leaper’s Pointe, Papa B is testing Ernie on spelling words that were part of a spelling bee for twelve-year-olds. Let’s listen in to found out what happens.

• After your visit to Leaper’s Pointe, enjoy the song “Have Faith” with the kids on the DVD. Invite your children to imitate the motions on the screen.

For NonreadersWe Learn About GodSupplies: Activity 7c, crayons

• Give each child a copy of “We Learn About God” and some crayons.

• Play “Have Faith” as the children color the picture.

SAy: We come to Sunday school to learn more about Jesus and our faith.

Activity 7c

Activity 7a




For Beginning ReadersLearn and GrowSupplies: Activity 7d, crayons or pencils

• Give the children a copy of “Learn and Grow.”

• Ask them to color the letters in the boxes.

• Have them draw a line from the letter in the box to the corresponding letter in the words: LEARN GROW.

NOTE: Do not have the children draw lines to the letters in the word AND.

SAy: This is our job. We are to learn and grow, in body, in mind, and in our relationship with God.

For Skilled ReadersScriptures Jesus KnewSupplies: Bibles, Activity 7e, pencils

• Give the children a Bible, a copy of “Scriptures Jesus Knew” (Activity 7e), and a pencil.

SAy: We come to Sunday school to learn more about the Bible, Jesus, and our faith. Jesus studied the Scriptures too. Jesus studied the parts of the Bible that we know as the Old Testament. Let’s discover some of the Scripture passages that Jesus would have learned.

• Have the children use their Bibles to look up the Scriptures and draw a line from each Scripture to what the Scripture said.

• Bring everyone back together, and have the skilled readers read the passages aloud from the Bible.

For EveryonePuzzle PartnersSupplies: Activity 7f, crayons

• Divide the group into partners, one younger and one older child.

TIP: This activity works best if you pair a nonreader with a reader.

• Give each pair one copy of “Pair Puzzle” (Activity 7f), and some crayons.

• Have the pairs work together to color the puzzle. The readers can tell the nonreaders which color to use on which parts of the puzzle.

SAy: As we grow, we learn to do different things. We worked together today by using the skills that each of us has learned.

Activity 7d

Activity 7e

Activity 7f




Serve With Love Scripture ScrollsSupplies: Activities 7g, new box of tissues, scissors, tape or glue

Say: For the month of January, we have a special service project. We are going to help mothers and their children have good health. Today, we are going to learn something about good health and the danger of germs caused by sneezing. For our room here we are going to make a reminder of good health of body and spirit. We are going to decorate a tissue box that reminds us of important Bible passages.

• Have an older child cut out a set of the Scripture scrolls.

• Ask the children to work together to glue or tape a Scripture scroll to each side of the tissue box.

TIP: Two blank scrolls have been provided so that the children can choose to write out a favorite Bible passage.

• Have readers read the Scriptures aloud.

• Place the box in the room.

• Over the next few weeks, let the children use the tissues as they need to.

Mission ProjectSupplies: Activities 6f and 6g, sheet of posterboard, spray bottle, paint, water, old newspapers, towels for cleanup

Say: For the month of January, we have a special service project. We are going to help mothers and their children have good health. Today we are going to learn about the importance of not spreading germs.

• Place some paint in a bottle and add water. Shake well.

TIP: This activity is a form of spatter painting and can be messy. Place old newspapers or rags on the table and on the nearby floor area. Have water and towels for cleanup.

Say: We are going to see how germs spread by sneezing. We are going to “sneeze paint.”

• Have children do this activity one at a time, but use the same sheet of posterboard for everyone.

• Give the first child the spray bottle of paint-and-water mixture.

• Explain that the child is to hold the bottle next to his or her face with the spray pointing towards the paper. The child is to pretend to sneeze and at the same time press the trigger on the spray bottle.

TIP: This activity is fun but will also demonstrate how germs spread out when we sneeze.

• Repeat for each child.

Activity 7g

Activity 6f

Activity 6g



ASK: How do we cover a sneeze? (Nose into arm with bent elbow.) Don’t sneeze into your hands because then the germs will get on anything you touch.

SAy: Our mission project this month is to help mothers and their children get good medical care.

• Give anyone who was not present last week a copy of the envelope (Activity 6g), helping the child cut out the envelope, fold it, and tape it.

• Explain that they are to use these envelopes to collect and save money for this month’s mission project.

• Send the mission letter (Activity 6f) home to the parents.

WorshipSupplies: Lyrics (Resource Pak—p. 14), CD-ROM or DVD and player, Unit 2 Bible Verse Poster (Resource Pak—p. 23)


SAy: Today’s story reminds us that Jesus spent time learning God’s Word and growing in body, wisdom, and in his relationship with God. We too are meant to grow in all of those ways.

• Have a volunteer read Luke 2:52 from the Bible Verse Poster (Resource Pak—p. 23).


PRAy: We come to you, God, with thanks for Jesus, who taught us that we need to grow and love. Help us to honor Jesus by growing closer to you and living as you would have us to live. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.






Jesus’ BaptismBible Verse


Bible StoryMark 1:4-11


Before You Begin

J esus continues to grow and learn. At the beginning of his ministry, he is about thirty years old. It is at this time that Jesus is baptized. In the Book of

Mark, the story of Jesus’ baptism begins with identifying John the Baptist. John is considered by Christians to be the one who the prophets have said will come before the Messiah to prepare the way.

John is baptizing people in the Jordan river. These people confess their sins at their baptism. Water is considered to be a cleansing agent, and baptism with water symbolizes cleansing us from our sins. Something else important happens at baptism: When Jesus is baptized, he sees heaven split open “and the Spirit, like a dove, coming down to him. And there was a voice from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I fi nd happiness ’ ” (Mark 1:11).

At our own baptisms, we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that does the work for us. Through the sacrament of baptism, we are claimed as God’s own.

At Jesus’ baptism, we see that he has grown and matured to the point where he is now ready to begin the mission for which God sent him.

We can guide our children to the understanding of the importance of baptism in their own lives. When they were (or will be) baptized, they were (or will be) claimed as children of God. Baptism is the sign of our readiness to give up sin and of the Holy Spirit coming to us and claiming us as one of the family of God. When a baby is baptized, it is the parents and the congregation who make the commitment to raise the child in God’s way.

John the Baptist helped prepare people to understand the meaning of baptism. Jesus’ baptism shows us the full meaning of this sacrament. As a teacher, you are an important part of preparing your children to understand the meaning of their own baptism.


Session 8January 19








☐ Get Ready

☐ Fun Beginnings

☐ Gather Round


For Everyone

☐ Baptism Drama


For Nonreaders

☐ Jesus Is Baptized

For All Readers

☐ John the Baptist

For Skilled Readers

☐ What Is Baptism?

For Everyone

☐ Eat Grasshopper Pie


For Everyone

☐ Paint With Straws

☐ Child-of-God Poster

☐ Mission Project


☐ Optional: Sign the Bible Verse






• Display the Attendance Chart (Resource Pak—p. 2) and the Unit 2 Bible Verse Poster (Resource Pak—p. 23).

• Play “Leap of Faith” (CD-ROM Track 1 or DVD) as the children arrive.



Water Use

Supplies: Activity 8b, scissors

Cut apart the Water Use Cards.

• Lay all of the cards face up on a table.

• Have one child choose a card.

• Ask the children to think of how water might be needed with what is shown.

• Repeat until all cards have been discussed.

Answers: glass—drink water from a glass; clothing—wash clothing; bathtub—use water to wash ourselves; dishes—used to wash dishes; dog—used for dog to drink or to wash the dog; flower—to make the flower grow; pan—to cook

Jesus’ Match and Review Game

Supplies: Jesus Review Game Cards (Resource Pak—p. 16); optional: envelope

If you have not done so, punch out the cards.

• Mix up the cards, and lay them in rows, face down, on the table.

Say: These cards show Jesus at various times in his life.


• A child turns over two cards. If the cards match, the child must name one thing that the card tells him or her about the life of Jesus. If the child can name one thing, he or she keeps the pair of cards.

TIP: For each turn, allow the child to ask help of one other child.

• If the cards do not match or the child cannot name one thing, they are turned back over.

• Continue until most cards are matched.

Resource Pak—p. 2

Activity 8b






• Explain that some of the cards are about things that happen later in Jesus’ life so it’s OK if the children don’t know everything yet.

TIP: Keep the cards for later sessions.


• Have the children gather near the birthday chart for the quarter, sitting together on the floor or around a table.



PRay: God, thank you for these boys and girls. We thank you for sending Jesus to teach us how to live. Help us to honor Jesus by the way we live. Amen.

Proclaim the WordFor EveryoneBaptism Drama

Supplies: Bibles, Activity 8a

• Assign the parts of Mr. Fuentes and Julio, and give these two readers a copy of “Baptism” (Activity 8a).

Say: Today’s drama takes place in a Sunday school classroom just like this one. During the story when a question is asked, the audience will try to answer the questions.

• Give everyone a Bible.

TIP: Pair readers with nonreaders. If you have only two readers in your group, read the part of Mr. Fuentes so that the other reader can read the answers from the Bible. In any case, the child reading Julio’s part should also use a Bible and try to answer the questions.

• Have the story read with pauses for the children to use their Bibles to answer the questions asked.

aSK: Did you know all of the answers to the story without using your Bibles? Did you learn anything new?




Activity 8a




• Invite the children to sit where they can see the screen and watch Session 8.

Say: Today in Leaper’s Pointe, Furleen is keeping a dove for a magician friend of hers. Furleen reminds us that doves are a symbol of peace. Let’s listen and learn why doves are important.

• After your visit to Leaper’s Pointe, enjoy the song “Have Faith” with the kids on the DVD. Invite your children to imitate the motions on the screen.

For NonreadersJesus Is BaptizedSupplies: Activity 8c, CD-ROM, CD player, crayons

• Give each child a copy of “Jesus Is Baptized” (Activity 8c) and some crayons.

• Play “Have Faith” as the children color “Jesus Is Baptized.”

• Ask the children whether they have been baptized.

For All ReadersJohn the BaptistSupplies: Bibles, Activity 8d, pencils

• Give each child a Bible, a copy of “John the Baptist” (Activity 8d), and a pencil.

Say: This is a review of the Bible story we talked about earlier. You may remember the answers; but if you need help with the answers, they are in Mark 4:1-11 in your Bible.

• Help the children find Mark 1:4-11 in their Bibles.

• Encourage the children to work together to decide on the right answers to the questions.

• Go over the answers with the children.

For Skilled ReadersWhat Is Baptism?Supplies: Bibles, Activity 8e, pencils

• Give each child a Bible, a copy of “What Is Baptism?” and a pencil.

• Have the children use their Bibles to solve the puzzle.

aSK: What does the word sacrament mean?

Activity 8c

Activity 8d

Activity 8e




Say: A sacrament is a rite in which God reaches out to us with grace and we accept that grace with faith.

aSK: What sacraments does our church participate in? (For most Protestant churches, the sacraments are baptism and Holy Communion.)

• Ask the children whether they have been baptized.

For EveryoneEat Grasshopper PieSupplies: vanilla pudding, green food coloring, whipped cream, chocolate sandwich cookies with a creamy white filling, tart shells, paper plates, spoons, napkins

Mix green food coloring into vanilla pudding. Spoon the pudding into individual tart shells, and top with whipped cream and crushed chocolate-sandwich cookies.

• Give each child one of the filled tarts, a spoon, and a napkin.

Say: John the Baptist ate honey and grasshoppers (locusts), so in his honor we are going to eat some grasshopper pie.

• Enjoy the snack.

TIP: Young children are very literal. You may have to explain what is really in the pie if a child is reluctant to eat it.

Serve With Love Paint With StrawsSupplies: Activity 8f, paint, plastic drinking straws, paper plate or bowl, water, cloth

Say: When Jesus was baptized, a dove came down from heaven. The descending dove is the symbol of the Holy Spirit. We’re going to decorate a dove to take home that will remind us that we too are claimed as children of God.

• Give each child a copy of the “Dove Baptism Symbol” and a straw.

• Pour paint onto a paper plate.

TIP: You may choose to have various colors of paint. Children may each choose one color to use or may want to use several colors. If the children use more than one color, have bowls of clean water and a cloth of some kind so that they can clean the tips of their straws and dry them before changing colors.

• Show the children how to dip the end of their straw in paint and carefully place the tip on the dove to make a colored circle.

• Repeat until the dove is covered in colored circles.

• Set doves aside to dry.

Activity 8f




Child-of-God PosterSupplies: Child of God Poster (Resource Pak––p. 21), Dove Pattern (Resource Pak—p. 22), white paper, scissors, glue, markers, pens or crayons, adhesive

Make a copy of the dove pattern and the directions for making the dove. (Resource Pak—p. 22).

TIP: A copy of the directions need to be made before the poster is placed on the wall, or you will not know how to proceed.

Say: We are going to create a poster to remind ourselves that each of us is a child of God. It is at our baptism that we are publicly claimed as children of God. Whether we are baptized or not, we are children of God.

• Ask a couple of children to adhere the “I Am a Child of God” poster (Resource Pak—p. 21) to the wall.

• Follow the directions on page 22 of the Resource Pak for each child to make a handprint dove.

• Have each child write his or her name on her or his dove.

• Have the children adhere their doves to or around the poster on the wall. Include a dove for yourself.

Mission ProjectSupplies: Activity 6f, Activity 6g, Activity 8g, clear glasses, water, salt, vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, spoon; optional: scissors, tape

Place one item each in a glass of water: salt, vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, plain water. Place them out of sight until time for use. Have a spoon on hand to stir the glasses containing sugar and salt just before use, as they will settle on the bottom of the glass.

Say: For the month of January, we have a special service project. We are going to help mothers and their children have good health. Today we are going to examine some water problems.

• Place the four glasses on a table.

• Ask for volunteers to take a small sip to see whether they can tell you what is in each glass.

TIP: One volunteer may taste what’s in each glass, or each child may choose to try one glass.

Say: I didn’t put anything harmful in these glasses of water. But you couldn’t tell just by looking what was in the water. However, in many places in the world, there are many things in the water that can be seen that can make people very sick or kill them. The money we are collecting this month will help provide clean, safe water for mothers and their children.

• Ask an older child to read Activity 8g aloud.

• Give an envelope (Activity 6g) to anyone who has not received it, helping the child cut out the envelope, fold it, and tape it.

• Remind the children that next Sunday is the Sunday they must bring their offering envelopes, as it will be the last Sunday you will be collecting money. Activity 6g

Activity 6f






WorshipSupplies: Lyrics (Resource Pak—pp. 11 & 14), CD-ROM or DVD and player


Say: Today’s story reminds us that like Jesus, we are all children of God.



PRay: We come to you God with thanks for Jesus, your Son. We thank you for loving us. We promise to try and live as children of God should live. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Optional: Sign the Bible VerseSupplies: signing on the DVD

• Use the video to teach children to sign Luke 2:52.






Jesus in the SynagogueBible Verse




Before You Begin

Jesus is baptized and then is driven by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness, where he fasts for forty days and is tempted by the devil. Jesus is now

prepared to begin his ministry.

Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth. He goes to the synagogue on the sabbath and stands up to read. (Teachers of this time sit while teaching but stand to read Scripture.)

When Jesus stands, the scroll is brought to him. Here at the very beginning of his ministry, what does he read? The words from the prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has annointed me.” Jesus goes on to read what is at the very core of his ministry: “He has sent me to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the prisoners, and recovery of sight to the blind, to liberate the oppressed” (Luke 4:18). In other words, Jesus is reading about not just physical conditions but spiritual ones as well.

Jesus’ choice to read this specifi c passage from Isaiah shows Jesus as the fulfi llment of prophecy. It also declares that Jesus has come to those lowliest in society, those who need him the most. Jesus tells the people that today the Scripture is fulfi lled.

The reaction of the people is a little diffi cult to understand. It says they were impressed. They said, “This is Joseph’s son, isn’t it?” Jesus replies that “no prophet is welcome in a prophet’s hometown” (Luke 4:22, 24). We are left to wonder whether the people are impressed because the hometown boy is so knowledgeable or unimpressed because he’s a hometown boy. However, their rejection soon becomes clear as they try to throw him off of a cliff.

Linking this Scripture with the other stories in this unit, we see that Jesus has now grown and matured and is ready to begin his ministry. Your children will see that the process of growing and maturing takes many years. Children will also know that there are many things people think they are not ready for. Jesus wasn’t ready at the age of twelve in the synagogue, but he was preparing himself. Now, at last, he is ready. Children can come to understand that everything prepares them for the day when they will fi nally be ready to step into their roles as adults.

Now, at last, he is ready. Children can come to understand that everything Now, at last, he is ready. Children can come to understand that everything prepares them for the day when they will fi nally be ready to step into their roles as adults.

Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.

prepares them for the day when they will fi nally be ready to step into their roles prepares them for the day when they will fi nally be ready to step into their roles


prepares them for the day when they will fi nally be ready to step into their roles prepares them for the day when they will fi nally be ready to step into their roles Now, at last, he is ready. Children can come to understand that everything prepares them for the day when they will fi nally be ready to step into their roles


Session 9January 26








☐ Get Ready

☐ Fun Beginnings

☐ Gather Round


For Everyone



For Nonreaders

☐ Jesus Reads the Scriptures

☐ Find the Scrolls

For All Readers

☐ A Coded Message

For Skilled Readers

☐ Which Is Which?

For Everyone

☐ Paper-Towel-Tube Scroll Holder


☐ Good News Ball Pass

☐ Mission Project


☐ Sing and Pray

☐ Optional: Sign the Bible Verse







• Play “Leap of Faith” (CD-ROM Track 1 or DVD) as the children arrive.


Fun BeginningsChoose one or both of the following activities to do as the children arrive.

Nobody Listens to Me

Supplies: Activity 9b

• As the children arrive, give each a copy of “Nobody Listens to Me.”

• Ask the children to look at the picture.

• Have them identify in each of the situations who should be listened to and who isn’t listening.

• Go over each situation, making sure that the children understand when it’s important to listen.

• A person should not usually interrupt an adult who is on a phone call. However, in a serious situation such as a fire, it’s important for the adult to listen. When someone is giving a report in school, it is always important to listen. It’s rude to interrupt when someone is talking, and it is never good for someone to feel superior just because he or she is older. Interrupting a sibling who is listening to music or talking on the phone is OK only if there is a good reason. Also, older siblings should take some time to listen to younger siblings.

SAY: Sometimes we don’t listen to people we know because we think what they have to say isn’t important or that they don’t know what they’re talking about. In today’s story, that’s what happened to Jesus.

Jesus Review Quiz

Supplies: Jesus Review Game Cards (Resource Pak—p. 16), timer; optional: envelope

If you have not done so, punch out the cards. Select the cards of Jesus as a toddler, the twelve-year-old Jesus, the baptism shell, and Jesus preaching. Set all other cards aside.

• Separate the cards listed above into two sets.

• Place one set face down on a table. Keep the other set.

Resource Pak—p. 2



Activity 9b




SAY: These cards show Jesus at different times in his life. Jesus was always growing and maturing, and his life was important at every age. Let’s figure out what Jesus was doing or what happened to him at various times in his life.

• Explain that you will turn over one card.

• Everyone is to work together to name one thing that the Bible says happened to Jesus or one thing Jesus did that can relate to the card. But they have only thirty seconds to come up with an answer.

• If the group gives a reasonable answer, give the children the matching card you are holding. If they cannot come up with an answer, pick the card up from the table and keep the matching card.

• After round four, ask the children how many cards they are holding.

TIP: For the cards of Jesus as a toddler, a twelve-year-old, and the baptism shell, the answers are very specific. (Toddler: Wise men visited or Jesus’ family had to flee to Egypt. Twelve-year-old Jesus: He was found in the Temple, talking to the teachers. Baptism shell: Jesus was baptized.) For the card of Jesus preaching, accept the answer that he was preaching, teaching, or a statement about anything he taught.




• Give the children a chance to share any news of the week.


PRAY: God, thank you for these boys and girls. Help us to listen to what Jesus teaches us. Amen.


• Assign the parts of Narrator 1; Narrator 2; and Jesus. Give a copy of “Jesus in the Synagogue” to the readers.

• Give everyone but “Jesus” a Bible. Ask them to open their Bibles. Anywhere in the Bible will do.

SAY: Jesus knew the Scriptures, and he read from them. We are going to honor the reading of the Scriptures today. When Jesus speaks, we will all stand with our open Bibles. When he is finished speaking, we will sit back down.

Activity 9a




• Have the readers read “Jesus in the Synagogue.”

• At the appropriate time, stand with your Bible open so that the children can follow your example.

ASK: Why did the people find it hard to believe in Jesus? (They had known him as a young child.)





SAY: Harley has won a sailboat in an essay contest. Mondo is very surprised that Harley won. Let’s listen in.

• After your visit to Leaper’s Pointe, enjoy the song “Have Faith” with the kids on the DVD. Invite your group to imitate the motions on the screen.

For NonreadersJesus Reads the ScripturesSupplies: Activity 9c, crayons

• Give the children a copy of “Jesus Reads the Scriptures” and some crayons.

• Encourage the children to color the picture.

SAY: Jesus read the Scriptures. We learn about Jesus when we read the Bible.

Find the ScrollsSupplies: Activity 9d, crayons

• Give the children a copy of “Find the Scrolls” and a crayon.

SAY: Jesus read from a scroll. There are five scrolls hidden in this picture. Can you find all five of them?

• Have the children draw a circle around each scroll he or she finds.

Activity 9c

Activity 9d




For All ReadersA Coded MessageSupplies: Activity 9e, pencils

• Give the children a copy of “A Coded Message,” and a pencil.

• Encourage them to break the code to discover one of the things Jesus was sent to do.

For Skilled ReadersWhich Is Which?Supplies: Bible, Activity 9f, pencils

• Give the children Bibles, pencils, and “Which Is Which?”

• Go over the instructions at the top of the page.

• Encourage the children to match the Scriptures to the story.

ASK: Why is it important that Jesus talked about these Scriptures? (The Isaiah passage helps us know that Jesus is the Messiah. The things Jesus said about Elijah are what made the people angry.)

For EveryonePaper-Towel-Tube Scroll HolderSupplies: Bible; Activity 9g; paper-towel tubes; scissors; yarn; markers, crayons, or both; optional: glue, glitter

SAY: The scrolls on which the Scriptures were written had to be protected so that they wouldn’t get torn and dirty. Today, in honor of the Bible verse for this unit, we will make a “scroll holder.”

• Cut out the Bible verse scroll and roll it so that it will fit in the paper-towel tube.

• Tie the scroll with a piece of yarn so that it will not unroll.

• Give the children a paper-towel tube, and ask them to decorate it in any way they wish. (Examples: coloring the tube in stripes by using crayon or markers, drawing things on the tube holder, and decorating the holder with markers, glue, and glitter.)

• Place the scroll in the finished “scroll holder.”

TIP: Each child may make a “scroll holder,” or the children may all work together to make one “scroll holder” for the class. If the group makes only one, keep it on the worship table for the rest of the quarter.

Activity 9e

Activity 9f

Activity 9g




Serve With Love For EveryoneGood News Ball PassSupplies: CD-ROM and player, ball

Say: Jesus brought us Good News. Think about the Good News that Jesus had for us all.

• Have the children sit in a circle.

• Explain that as you play music, they are to continuously pass the ball around the circle. When the music stops, the person holding the ball will shout out some good news about Jesus.

• Begin play.

• Play as time allows.

Mission ProjectSupplies: Activity 6g, healthy snack foods such as vegetables and fruit, water to drink, paper plates, napkins

Say: For the month of January, we have been learning about things that will help create good health for mothers and their children. Today we are going to think about healthy food.

• Give everyone a small portion of the healthy snacks and a glass of water.

Say: Good food is important to growing up healthy and strong. Many people in the world don’t have enough to eat or don’t have balanced diets. Many children even starve to death. In America we often have too much food but we choose not to eat healthy ones. When we choose unhealthy foods, we also can get sick. It may take years, but unhealthy food or not enough food can cause very bad illnesses.

• Collect the mission envelopes the children have brought in with money in them. Help the children count all the money that has been collected.

• Send the money to UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief). Payment information is listed to the right.

To donate by check, please make your check payable to Advance GCFA, write the Advance number (982645) on the memo line, and mail to:

Advance GCFA PO Box 9068 New York, NY 10087-9068

To donate by phone, please call 1-888-252-6174.

Activity 6g



WorshipSing and Pray Supplies: Lyrics (Resource Pak—p. 14), CD-ROM or DVD and player


SAY: Today’s story reminds us that like Jesus we are all children of God.



PRAY: We come to you God with thanks for Jesus, your Son. We thank you for loving us. We promise to try and live as children of God should live. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Optional: Sign the Bible VerseSupplies: signing on the DVD

• Use the video to teach children to sign Luke 2:52.



Unit 3Jesus’ Ministry

February’s UnitSession 10February 2 Jesus Calls FishermenBible Story: Luke 5:1-11

Session 11February 9Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-lawBible Story: Matthew 8:14-17

Session 12February 16Jesus Teaches the BeatitudesBible Story: Matthew 5:3-12

Session 13February 23Jesus Calms the Storm Bible Story: Luke 8:22-25


Jesus Teaches• Track 5• vocal recording• instrumental recording• sheet music for printing• PowerPoint® lyrics

DVDSession 10• Leaper’s Pointe• Leaper’s Pointe in

Concert: Jesus Teaches







86 February 2014 GROW • Proclaim • Serve • One Room Sunday School Leader’s Guide

Bible VerseWe know that God has sent you to teach us. You could not work these miracles, unless God were with you. (John 3:2, CEV)

Leap of FaithI know that God sent Jesus to teach me how to live.


Tips for TeachersReminders

During the month of February, there will be several crafts that are to act as reminders.

• The best time to learn a Bible verse or passage by heart (that is, memorize it) is while we are hearing the stories where the verses are found and exploring the meaning of those words for our lives today .

• In Session 10, the children will make a fi sh windsock to remind themselves that Jesus has called us to fi sh for people.

• In Session 11, the children will make get-well kits to have on hand to give to people who become sick or injured and need a reminder that they are loved and cared for by the children in your class.

• In Session 12, the children will make Bee Reminders to remind themselves to live with an attitude that leads to the kingdom of God.

• In Session 12, children will make strip banners. Nonreaders will use symbols, while readers will use words for their banners. These banners will remind the children that they receive comfort from trusting God and can give comfort to others.

The making of these crafts will help emphasize the faith point of each session.

TipUnit 3: Bible Verse Poster (Resource Pak—p. 24)

• At the beginning of Session 10, post the Bible Verse Poster in the room.

• Use the Bible Verse Poster as an ongoing visual reminder of the unit’s Bible verse.



For This Unit, “Jesus’ Ministry” Session 10balloonsstaplerstaplecrepe paperpaper-towel tubescolorful socksoval bars of soaprubber bandsembroidery threadneedletimer

Session 11timersmall paper bagsitems such as stress balls, moldable clay, pipe cleaners

Session 12timereight bottlespaper-towel tubescardstockstaplerstaples

Session 13aluminum pie platestape of pie-plate plastic lidsplastic beadssmall dowel rodswide ribbon




Jesus Calls FishermenBible Verse

We know that God has sent you to teach us. You could not work these miracles, unless God were with you. (John 3:2, CEV)



Before You Begin

In the synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus declares the beginning of his ministry. Like all of us, Jesus was born and taken care of by his parents; then as he grew and

matured, he was educated by his parents, the Scriptures, and teachers. Jesus then was baptized and tested through his temptations in the wilderness. As a man of thirty, he declared his mission to the world. Now it is time for Jesus to grow further, to become a teacher with disciples.

In Luke the calling of the fi rst disciples, the fi shermen, begins with a miracle. The fi shermen have worked all day and are discouraged because they have caught nothing. Yet Jesus gets in Simon Peter’s boat and has him row out a short distance from shore so that he can teach the crowd without getting crushed. Then Jesus tells Simon to row out deeper and drop his nets. Simon is reluctant but does as he is asked. Simon and his brother Andrew drop their nets and catch so many fi sh that they have to ask the fi shermen in the other boat to come help them. These other disciples are James and John.

All four men are amazed at this miracle. Jesus says to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on, you will be fi shing for people” (Matthew 5:10). And what do the fi shermen do? They bring the boats to shore, leave everything, and follow Jesus.

What does fi shing for people mean to children? It means that they try to follow the teachings of Jesus and to live as God wants them to live. If they live as God wants them to live, other people will see this. Example is the best way for people to understand the Good News.

We fi sh for people by being loving, kind, generous, trustworthy, and by worshipping God. Children can do these things in their own ways that are appropriate for their stage of development. It took the disciples a long time to develop fully into true disciples. But, as the saying goes, every journey begins with one step. Children can understand that right now they can be good examples and that as they grow and mature they can continue to grow closer to God. God will help us along the way.


Session 10February 2







☐ Get Ready

☐ Fun Beginnings

☐ Gather Round


For Everyone


☐ Sing “Something Fishy”


☐ Fish Windsock

For Nonreaders

☐ The Fishermen

For All Readers

☐ Gone Fishing


For Nonreaders

☐ I Follow Jesus When . . .

For All Readers

☐ I Follow Jesus Checklist

For Everyone

☐ My Personal Fish


☐ Sign the Bible Verse

☐ Sing and Pray







• Play “Growing in Leaps and Bounds” in the background (on the CD-ROM or, if you are using the music video, the DVD) as the children arrive.

• Greet each child, and mark each child’s attendance.



Catch-the Fish-Balloon GameSupplies: Activity 10b, scissors, balloons, blanket or beach towel

Blow up three to six balloons. Cut out the fish (Activity 10b). Tape a fish to each balloon.

• Place the balloons (with the fish taped to them) on the floor.

• Have the children hold a blanket or beach towel, stretching it out.

• Explain that they have work together to get all of the balloons into the net (blanket or towel) without using their hands.

• Let them work at that for a while.

• After a couple of minutes, allow one of the children to let go of the blanket and place any remaining balloons on the blanket.

• Then let children have fun using the blanket to toss the balloons in the air.

SAY: Today’s story is about fishing—fishing for fish and fishing for people.

Jesus Review QuizSupplies: Jesus Review Game Cards (Resource Pak—p. 16); timer, optional: envelope

If you have not done so, punch out the cards. Select the cards of Jesus as a toddler, the twelve-year-old Jesus, the baptism shell, Jesus preaching, and the fisherman’s net. Set all other cards aside.



SAY: These cards show Jesus at different times in his life. Jesus was always growing and maturing and his life was important at every age. Let’s figure out what Jesus was doing or what happened to him at various times in his life.

Resource Pak—p. 2



Activity 10b





• Everyone is to work together to name one thing the Bible says that happened to Jesus or one thing Jesus did that can relate to the card. But they have only thirty seconds to come up with an answer.

• If the group gives a reasonable answer, give the children the matching card you are holding. If they cannot come up with an answer, pick the card up from the table and keep the matching card.

• After round four, ask the group how many cards they are holding.

TIP: For the cards of Jesus as a toddler, a twelve-year-old, and the baptism shell, the answers are very specific. (Toddler: Wise men visited or Jesus’ family had to flee to Egypt. Twelve-year-old Jesus: He was found in the Temple, talking to the teachers. Baptism shell: Jesus was baptized.) For the card of Jesus preaching, accept the answer that he was preaching, teaching, or a statement about anything he taught. The fishermen’s net: Jesus told the fishermen to catch fish, Jesus called disciples to fish for men.


• Have the children sit together on the floor or around a table near the birthday chart for the quarter.



PRAY: God, thank you for these boys and girls. We thank you for the disciples who followed Jesus so that we too can learn how Jesus wants us to live. Help us to grow in discipleship today. Amen.


Become familiar with the story, so that you can easily lead the mime actions.


• Assign the parts of Narrator, Jesus, and Simon Peter. Give each reader a copy of Activity 10a.

SAY: Jesus knew that he would need people to help him spread the Good News. There were no phones, no Internet, no Facebook or Twitter. They had to go to people and tell and show them the Good News. So Jesus needed people to help spread the news. He needed disciples. We’re going to hear the story of the first disciples who were called.

Activity 10a




• Tell the other children that as the story is told, they are to mime being fishermen. They are to listen to the story but watch you. They are to perform the same actions as you do.

• Ask the readers to read the story.

ASK: Why, do you think, did Jesus help them catch fish before he called them

to follow him?

Sing “Something Fishy”Supplies: Lyrics (Resource Pak—p. 14), CD-ROM

• Play “Something Fishy” (CD-ROM Track 6).

• Read through the words of the song. Use the CD-ROM (Track 6), or photocopy the lyrics for each child (Resource Pak—p. 14).

• Play the song, encouraging the children to sing along.





SAY: Today in Leaper’s Pointe, Ernie is tangled in fishing line and a fishing net. Papa B tells Ernie that’s he’s not the first person to go fishing and wind up getting caught. Want to know who else got caught? Let’s listen in.

• After your visit to Leaper’s Pointe, enjoy the song “Jesus Teaches” with the kids on the DVD. Invite the children in your group to imitate the motions on the screen.

Fish WindsockSupplies: Activity 10c, construction paper, crayons, staple, stapler, crepe paper, scissors, tape; optional: paper-towel tubes

Cut cardboard rolls (from paper-towel rolls or wrapping-paper tubes) into lengths to fit inside the fish. Make a fish-windsock sample.

SAY: We are going to make a reminder that we are to fish for people. We are going to make a fish windsock. Hang this windsock in a place where a small breeze can catch it and make it move.

• Give each child the fish windsock patterns, some construction paper, and scissors.

TIP: The younger children will need help from the older children for this craft.

• Let each child choose the color he or she would like for the fish body.

• Cut out both of the fish bodies to make each fish windsock. Activity 10c




Activity 10d

Activity 10e

• Cut out both of the fish bodies to make each fish windsock.

• Use markers or crayons to decorate the sides of the fish and to draw fins and eyes.

• Cut strips construction paper about the length of the fish pattern.

• On the undecorated side of each fish, glue the ends of several strips of crepe paper.

• Lay both fish (with crepe paper streamers) together so their decorated sides face out and the crepe paper tips are inside the fish.

• Staple the top and bottom of the fish in several places. Leave both ends of the fish open.

TIP: Use a paper-towel roll to hold the top and bottom of the fish in a curved position while stapling. More air moves through a curved fish than a flat one. Remove the paper-towel roll after stapling. Or, if you wish, cut the paper-towel roll to size and leave it in place.

• Glue a long piece of string or yarn to the inside of the mouth on each side to hang the fish from.

• Set aside to dry.

For NonreadersThe FishermenSupplies: Activity 10d, crayons

• Give each child a copy of “The Fishermen” and crayons.

• Remind children that the first four disciples Jesus called were fishermen.

ASK: Can you remember the names of these four disciples? (Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John)

• Let the children color the fishermen.

For All ReadersGone FishingSupplies: Activity 10e, pencils

• Give the children a copy of “Gone Fishing” and a pencil.

• Explain that if they will follow the fishing lines and put the words in order, they will discover a message.

• Let the children work the puzzle.




Serve With Love For NonreadersI Follow Jesus When . . .Supplies: Activity 10f, crayons

• Give each child a copy of Activity 10f and a crayon.

SAY: I follow Jesus when I live the way Jesus taught me to live. Look at the pictures. Who is following Jesus? Draw a circle around each picture showing someone following Jesus.

• Go over all the pictures, asking the children which children in the pictures are following Jesus and how they know the children are following Jesus.

For All ReadersI-Follow-Jesus ChecklistSupplies: Activity 10g, pencils

• Give each child a copy of Activity 10g and a pencil.

SAY: I follow Jesus when I live the way Jesus taught me to live. Look at the checklist. Put a checkmark by each item on the list that shows when a person is following Jesus.

• Go over the checklist together.

• Ask how they made their choices.

For EveryoneMy Personal FishSupplies: colorful new socks, oval bars of soap, rubber bands, embroidery thread and needle

Turn each sock inside out, and make eyes by sewing a couple of small stitches on either side of the toe just above the seam. If you wish, you can leave some for the older children to make the eyes. Turn each sock right side out.

• Give each child a piece of soap, and let him or her choose a sock.

• Have the children push the soap into the toe of the sock.

• Wrap a rubber band around the sock just below the bar of soap. This gives the fish a tail.

• Suggest that they take their fish home and use it when they take a bath. Rinse the sock off between each bath.

TIP: Oval bars of soap such as Dove soap work best, though different shapes of soap will make different looks for fish.

Activity 10g

Activity 10f





WorshipSign the Bible VerseSupplies: DVD, DVD player

• Teach the children to sign this month’s new Bible verse, John 3:2.

• Watch the signing on the DVD.

Sing and Pray Supplies: Unit 3 Bible Verse Poster (Resource Pak—p. 24), CD-ROM, CD player

• Play “Something Fishy” as the children gather near the worship table.

• Invite the children to sing along.

• Have a volunteer read John 3:2.

SAY: Jesus calls us all to be disciples. We follow Jesus when we live as Jesus taught us to live.

PRAY: Dear God, help us to be good disciples this week by living the way Jesus taught us to live. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.




Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-lawBible Verse




Before You Begin

T he story of Jesus’ healing Peter’s mother-in-law is brief, but it gives us some important information. We discover that the disciples have families and

home lives. Peter is married. That’s how you get a mother-in-law. We are not told what Peter’s wife or his mother-in-law thought about Peter quitting his job and travelling around with Jesus. However, we know that Jesus has contact with the families because he enters the mother-in-law’s home.

A more important point the story shows us is that Jesus takes action on his own to perform this miracle. In many of the other miracles, Jesus is asked to help. Here Jesus sees a need and does something about it.

This action teaches us something about how to live as disciples. When we see a need, we can do something. For example, if we know someone is sick, we can send get-well cards. We can say comforting words if we know someone is sad. Instead of laughing when somebody falls, we can try to help him or her up.

In today’s session, the children will make a get-well kit (or you can make more than one if you wish). Keep the kit on hand to give to someone in your church who becomes ill and is in need of comforting.

This story also tells us of Peter’s mother-in-law’s response to her healing. What is the fi rst thing she does? She gets up and serves Jesus and Peter! Why does she do this? It is a sign of gratitude. She is thankful for her recovery. Your children will participate in a prayer of thanks for those who have done things for them. Today your children will learn not only about following Jesus but also about responding to the good we are given in our lives.

The next thing that happens in the story is that Jesus heals all those sick that have come to him that day. Again we are shown that Jesus is there for all who need him. What a lot of information in a short little story.

We have been learning about Jesus growing and maturing. In today’s story we see Jesus step forth in the power that comes from God through the Holy Spirit.We have been learning about Jesus growing and maturing. In today’s story we We have been learning about Jesus growing and maturing. In today’s story we We have been learning about Jesus growing and maturing. In today’s story we see Jesus step forth in the power that comes from God through the Holy Spirit.see Jesus step forth in the power that comes from God through the Holy Spirit.

Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.

see Jesus step forth in the power that comes from God through the Holy Spirit.see Jesus step forth in the power that comes from God through the Holy Spirit.


see Jesus step forth in the power that comes from God through the Holy Spirit.see Jesus step forth in the power that comes from God through the Holy Spirit.We have been learning about Jesus growing and maturing. In today’s story we see Jesus step forth in the power that comes from God through the Holy Spirit.










☐ Get Ready

☐ Fun Beginnings

☐ Gather Round


For Everyone


☐ Learn a New Song


For Nonreaders

☐ Peter’s Mother-in-law


☐ Helping-the-Sick Drawing

For Skilled Readers

☐ Jesus Heals


For Everyone

☐ Get-Well Kit

☐ Get-Well Card

☐ Bible Verse Notes

☐ Make a Thank You Prayer Chain


☐ Sign the Second Half of the Bible

Verse

☐ Sing and Pray







• Play “Leap of Faith” in the background (on the CD-ROM or, if you are using the music video, the DVD) as the children arrive.




Jesus Review Game Supplies: Jesus Review Game Cards (Resource Pak—p. 16); timer, optional: envelope

If you have not done so, punch out the cards. Select the cards of Jesus as a toddler, the twelve-year-old Jesus, the baptism shell, Jesus preaching, the fishermen’s net, and Peter’s Mother-in-law on the mat. Set the other cards aside.



Say: These cards show Jesus at different times in his life. Jesus was always growing and maturing and his life was important at every age. Let’s figure out what Jesus was doing or what happened to him at various times in his life.


• Everyone is to work together to name one thing the Bible says that happened to Jesus or one thing Jesus did that can relate to the card. But the group has only thirty seconds to come up with an answer.

• If the children give a reasonable answer, give them the matching card you are holding. If they cannot come up with an answer, pick the card up from the table and keep the matching card.

• When round four is completed, ask the children how many cards they are holding.

Resource Pak—p. 2






When you . . . , It Helps If . . .

Say: When someone we know is sick, there are often small things we can do to help the person feel better. I will give you a situation and then say, “It helps if . . . ,” and you will tell me what helps. For example, I might say, “When you sneeze, it helps if . . . ,” and you might respond “someone says God bless you.” Let’s try.

• Read each of these statements:

If someone has a bad cough it helps if . . .

If someone has a broken leg, it helps if . . .

If someone is in the hospital, it helps if . . .

If someone has something contagious and can’t come to school, it helps if . . .

• Challenge the children to come up with a couple of situations of their own.

Say: Today’s story is about Jesus, performing a miracle and curing a woman who is sick. We can’t perform miracles, but we can provide comfort.






PRay: God, thank you for Jesus who heals. Help us to show your love for people who are sick. Amen.

Proclaim the Word For EveryoneAct Out the Bible StorySupplies: Bibles, Activity 11a, a piece of paper for a bookmark


• Assign the parts of Speaker 1, Speaker 2, and Bible Reader. Give all the readers, including the Bible Reader, a copy of “Peter’s Mother-in-law.” Give the Bible reader a Bible and a piece of paper for a bookmark.

TIP: If you have enough good readers, you can have two different Bible Readers.

• Ask the Bible Reader to look up both Scriptures from Matthew and mark them.

• Assign everyone else to be part of the audience.

Say: Jesus has called disciples to follow him, and one of those disciples is Peter.Activity 11a




• Have the story read, pausing where indicated for the Bible to be read.

aSK: What do we know about Peter’s family? (He was married and had a brother, Andrew.) Who asked Jesus to heal Peter’s mother-in-law? (No one. Jesus decided to do it when he saw that she was sick.)

Say: Healing is important. We can’t heal people in the way Jesus did, but we can show people who are sick that we care.

Learn a New SongSupplies: Lyrics (Resource Pak—p. 14), CD-ROM or DVD and player

• Introduce “Jesus Teaches,” a new song for the unit.

• Read through the words of the song. Use the CD-ROM (Track 5), or photocopy the lyrics for each child (Resource Pak—p. 14).

• Play the song, encouraging the children to sing along. If you are using the DVD, the children can imitate the dance moves of the children shown there.





Say: Today in Leaper’s Pointe, the mayor is feeling sick. Gabby, Harley, Furleen, and Mondo offer a variety of remedies. Let’s listen in to discover what helps.


For NonreadersPeter’s Mother-in-lawSupplies: Activities 11b, crayons

• Give each child a copy of “Peter’s Mother-in-law” and some crayons.

Say: Today, we learned about Peter’s mother-in-law. She was sick, and Jesus healed her.

• Invite the children to color the picture.

Activity 11b





For Beginning ReadersHelping the Sick DrawingSupplies: paper, crayons

• Give each child a piece of paper and some crayons.

SAY: Today, we learned about Peter’s mother-in-law. She was sick, and Jesus healed her. We have all been sick or know somebody who’s sick.

• Invite the children to draw a picture of a child helping someone who is sick.

For Skilled ReadersJesus HealsSupplies: Bibles, Activity 11c, pencils

• Give the children Bible, “Jesus Heals,” and a pencil.

SAY: Jesus helped Peter’s mother-in-law because she was sick. But Jesus healed a lot of sick people. Use your Bibles to match the Scripture with the person healed, what the person’s illness was, and what Jesus said or did.

• Encourage the children to work together to solve the puzzle.

TIP: To reduce the time needed, encourage the children to each look up a different Scripture and then tell the others what he or she has found.

Serve With Love For EveryoneGet-Well KitSupplies: Activity 11d; scissors; crayons; glue; paper bags; items to put in the bags such as stress balls, pipe cleaners, moldable clay, any inexpensive item that can occupy the time of a sick person

SAY: Sometimes people in our Sunday school class or in our church get sick for two or three weeks or more. We’re going to make a get well kit to have on hand in case someone gets really sick. We can then give them the kit to show them we care and to give them something to do until they get better. The first thing we will do is decorate paper bags to put our get well items in.

• Give each child a paper bag, a copy of Activity 11d, and some crayons.

• Ask each child to pick out which decorations she or he would like to use to decorate the bag his or her bag.

• Ask the older children to help the younger children cut out the younger ones’ chosen decorations and then to cut out the ones they themselves have chosen.

Activity 11c

Activity 11d



• Allow the children to put their decorations on the bags.

• Encourage the children to use the crayons to help decorate the bag.

• Have everyone work together to put the items in the bags, making sure that each bag has the same items.

Get Well CardSupplies: Activity 11e, construction paper, crayons, scissors, glue

Say: Every good get-well kit needs a get well card. We are going to make a get well card for every get-well kit.

• Give the children a copy of Activity 11e, a piece of construction paper, scissors, and glue.

• Ask the children to fold the construction paper in half.

• Have the older children help the younger children cut out the get-well message to fit on the front of the construction paper.

• Ask the children to color the letters on the front of the card.

• Ask readers to write, “We miss you” or some other message on the inside of the card, leaving space for signatures.

Say: We will put a card in each kit. When someone is sick, before we give the person a kit, whoever is here will sign the card.

• Have the children put one finished card in each bag.

TIP: The skilled readers may wish to design their own card and message.

Bible Verse Notes Supplies: Activity 11f, scissors, ribbon or yarn

• Have children cut apart the Bible Verse Notes, one set per get-well bag.

• Cut ribbon or yarn into small strips.

• Ask the children to roll up each note like a scroll and tie it with a ribbon.

TIP: This activity will work better if the children work together. One child can hold the rolled note while the other wraps the ribbon or yarn once around the scroll and makes a bow.

• Put a set of Bible verse notes in each get-well bag.

• This completes your kit.

TIP: You may need to finish the kits next week. When finished, put the get well kits in a safe place until someone in the church gets sick or injured and needs one.

Make a Thank You Prayer ChainSupplies: Activity 11g, scissors, clear adhesive tape

Copy and cut apart the thank you prayer strips (Activity 11g), one or two for each child.

Activity 11e

Activity 11f

Activity 11g





Say: Peter’s mother-in-law was so grateful to Jesus for curing her that she got up and immediately served them. Let’s think about the people in our lives who have helped us. We are going to make a Thank You Prayer Chain for our closing worship.

• Give each child a prayer strip. (Some may want two strips.)

• On the prayer strip, ask the children to write the name of a person who has helped him or her when he or she needed help. Older children may write the name on the strip for the non-readers.

• Tape these thank you strips together in an interlocking chain.

• Bring the chain to the worship area.

WorshipSign the Second Half of the Bible VerseSupplies: DVD and player

• Remind the children to sign this month’s Bible verse, John 3:2.


• Together practice signing a portion of this Bible verse.

Sing and PraySupplies: Unit 3 Bible Verse Poster (Resource Pak—p. 24), CD-ROM, CD player

• Play “Jesus Teaches” (CD-ROM Track 5) as the children gather near the worship table.


• Ask a volunteer to read John 3:2.

Say: We are thankful that Jesus brings healing to all of us. We also want to thank those who have helped care for us.

• Have one or two volunteers place the thank you prayer chain on the worship table.

PRay: God, thank you for loving us and taking care of us. Thank you for being with us in good times and in bad times. Thank you for sending Jesus to teach us how to care for others. Help us to be caring when others are sick. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.




Jesus Teaches the BeatitudesBible Verse




Before You Begin

I n the Sermon on the Mount, we are given a summary of many of Jesus’ teachings. The sermon begins with a set of teachings we call the Beatitudes.

They deal with the difference in attitude between what the world says and what happens in the kingdom of God, a difference that can be hard to understand.

In the CEB version of the Bible, each beatitude begins with the word “happy.” In other versions, they begin with “blessed.” Both words mean “happy beyond being glad about something.” This happiness is a happiness that comes from having inner peace and knowing that God is with us.

The Beatitudes turn the world’s way of thinking inside out and upside down. How can people who grieve be happy? Jesus teaches us through the Beatitudes that it is a person’s spirit, a person’s relationship with God, that keeps us going, that gets us to the future. We know that in God’s kingdom things will be different. Perhaps thinking of the Beatitudes as now and what is to come will help your children. We can be happy knowing that though we grieve now, there is a time yet to come when we will be made glad.

All of this is very abstract for your children. But the Beatitudes are a key part of what Jesus taught us. Use the activities in today’s session to familiarize your children with the Beatitudes. Let them know it’s OK if they don’t understand everything. What is important is that they work on their “Bee Attitude”—that is, an attitude of trusting and loving God now, because God will keep God’s promises.

Work with your readers on reading the Beatitudes in various ways. For your nonreaders, concentrate on the “attitude” portion of the session.

We introduce the beehive to the children in this session. Why? The beehive is an ancient symbol for the church, a community working together for the good of all. The bee is used to help your children remember that the Beatitudes are mostly about having an attitude of happiness because we trust God and are part of a loving community.mostly about having an attitude of happiness because we trust God and are part mostly about having an attitude of happiness because we trust God and are part of a loving community.of a loving community.

Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2013 Abingdon Press.

mostly about having an attitude of happiness because we trust God and are part










☐ Get Ready

☐ Fun Beginnings

☐ Gather Round


For Everyone

☐ Bible Reading: Now and Yet to Come


For Nonreaders

☐ Beatitudes

For All Readers

☐ Match the Beatitudes

For Everyone

☐ Beatitude Ring Toss

☐ Beatitude Poster


☐ A Bee Reminder


☐ Sign the Second Half of the Bible Verse

☐ Sing and Pray





Grow TogetherGet ReadySupplies: Attendance Chart & Unit 3 Bible Verse Poster (Resource Pak—pp. 2, 24), CD-ROM or DVD and player


• Play “Leap of Faith” in the background (on the CD-ROM or, if you are using the music video, the DVD) as the children arrive. Encourage the children to sing along if they wish, and join them in the singing.




Unusual EntrySAY: Today we’re going to talk about God’s kingdom being different from what the world tells us. So today you must enter the room in a different way than you usually do.

• As each child arrives, give him or her the above explanation and ask the child to enter the room in an unusual way (backwards, on his or her knees, skipping, or doing an unusual motion).

• If another child has already entered in a way a child wants to use, ask the entering child to try to think of yet a different way to enter.

Opposites Match GameSupplies: Opposites Cards (Resource Pak—p. 17)

Separate the Opposites Cards.

SAY: Today we are going to learn some things Jesus taught us. These teachings are often the opposite of what our culture teaches us. So before we begin, we’re going to match some things that are opposites.

• Lay out all Opposites Cards face down on the table in a grid.

• Have the children play a traditional matching (memory) game, only this time they must turn up cards that are opposites. If a player gets two cards that are opposites, the player keeps the pair of cards.

• Play the game as time allows.

Resource Pak—p. 2






Jesus Review Game Supplies: Jesus Review Game Cards (Resource Pak—p. 16); timer, optional: envelope

• Separate the cards into two sets.


SAY: These cards show Jesus at different times in his life. Jesus was always growing and maturing, and his life was important at every age. Let’s look at the various times of Jesus’ life to remember what Jesus’ life has taught us.


• The children are to work together to name one thing they have learned from this time in Jesus’ life. But they have only thirty seconds to come up with an answer.

• If the group gives a reasonable answer, give them the matching card you are holding. If the children cannot come up with an answer, pick the card up from the table and keep the matching card.

• When round four is completed, ask the children how many cards they have.






PRAY: God, thank you for Jesus Christ, who teaches us how to live and be happy. Help us to grow in faith, proclaim your Word, and serve with love. Amen.





Proclaim the WordFor EveryoneBible Reading: Now and Yet to Come

Supplies: Bibles, Activity 12a


• Assign the reading of the first sections of the Beatitudes (now) to one skilled reader, and the second section (yet to come) to another skilled reader.

• Give each reader a copy of Activity 12a.

• Have the children find Matthew 5:3-12 in their Bibles.

SAY: This is where today’s Scripture is found. Today we are reading the first part of the Sermon on the Mount. In this sermon, Jesus teaches us things that are important for every disciple to know.

• Explain to the two readers that you will be reading the introduction to today’s Bible reading and that when you say, “Now,” the person reading the “happy” statement will read one line. Then you will say, “Yet to come,” and that person will read the “because” portion of the same line. This will be repeated until each of the “happy” and “because” statements have been read in order.

• Ask the other children to listen carefully for the beginning and end of each beatitude.

SAY: What we have just read is called the Beatitudes, and Jesus used them to teach us about the kind of attitude we should have—an attitude of love for God, trusting in God to fulfill God’s promises.





SAY: Today in Leaper’s Pointe, Rosie is refinishing an old table. She’s taking something old and making it new again. Let’s listen in and find out what happens when Ernie drops by.

• After your visit to Leaper’s Pointe, enjoy the song “Jesus Teaches” again with the kids on the DVD.

Activity 12a




For NonreadersBeatitudesSupplies: Activity 12b, crayons

Give each child a copy of “Beatitudes” and some crayons.

SAY: The beehive is a symbol of the church with everybody working together for the good of everybody.


For All Readers Match the BeatitudesSupplies: Bibles, Activity 12c, pencils

• Give each child a Bible, a copy of “Match the Beatitudes,” and a pencil.

SAY: We have heard the Beatitudes read once. Let’s see whether we can remember how they went. Please work together to match the first half of each beatitude with the second half of the beatitude. If you need help, look up Matthew 5:3-12 in your Bibles.

• Encourage working together to complete this activity.

• Go over the answers together.

For EveryoneBeatitude Ring TossSupplies: Activities 12d and 12e, eight bottles, one or more paper plates with the center cut out (to be the rings for tossing), scissors, tape

Copy the Beatitude Ring Toss Cards, cut them apart, and tape one to each of the eight bottles.

• On the floor or table at one side of the room, set the bottles with the Beatitudes taped to them.

• Have the children line up.

• Give the first child one to three paper plate rings (considering your time limit and the size of the group).

• Show the first child where to stand.

TIP: How far a child stands back from the bottles will depend on the child’s age and size. Younger children will have to stand closer. Each child should have a chance to succeed; but the older the child, the more challenging the game needs to be.

• When a child manages to get a ring on any of the bottles, ask everyone to read together what it says.

Activity 12c

Activity 12d

Activity 12e

Activity 12b




Bee-Attitude PosterSupplies: Bee-Attitude Poster (Resource Pak—p. 19)

• Post the Bee-Attitude Poster in a prominent place in the room.

• Keep the Bee-Attitude Poster posted throughout the remainder of the year to have a reminder of the importance of the Beatitudes.

NOTE: The poster is saved for posting at this time so that the preceding activities will be more challenging for readers.

Serve With Love A Bee ReminderSupplies: Activities 12f and 12g; paper-towel tubes cut in half or in thirds; yellow, black, and white cardstock; scissors; stapler and staples; glue

SAY: Sometimes we need to be reminded of the kind of attitude we should have. So today, we are going to make “Bee Reminders” to take home to have a reminder of the Beatitudes.

• Give each child a set of craft supplies.

• Follow the directions on “Bee Reminder” (Activity 12f) to make the bee reminders.

• Younger children will need some help with this craft activity.

OPTION: If you cannot easily get cardstock, use different colors of heavy construction paper.

Activity 12g


Activity 12f




WorshipSign the Second Half of the Bible VerseSupplies: DVD and player





• Play “Jesus Teaches” (CD-ROM Track 5) as the children gather near the worship table.



SAY: Today we have learned that we are to have a different attitude—an attitude that brings us closer to God and makes us happier. This week we are going to try to have a “Bee Attitude.”

PRAY: God, thank you for loving us and taking care of us. Thank you for being with us in good times and in bad times. Thank you for sending Jesus to teach us how to live. Help us to live this week with a “Bee Attitude.” In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.





Jesus Calms the Storm Bible Verse




Before You Begin

The miracle of Jesus calming the storm is a short but dramatic story. As with many of the stories of Jesus and his disciples, water plays an important part.

Jesus and his disciples board a boat and set sail for the other side of the lake. Jesus falls asleep. Gale-force winds sweep down on the lake. The boat is fi lling up with water, and they are all in danger.

We are not told exactly what the disciples are thinking, but we know they are afraid. They wake Jesus and tell him that they are going to drown. Jesus gets up and orders the wind and the violent waves to subside. The storm dies down, and the sea is now calm. And what does Jesus say? “Where is your faith?” This story is about trust. Do the disciples trust Jesus with their lives?

The disciples, of course, are fi lled with awe. They begin to understand that Jesus has some special connection to God. Not just anyone can command the waves.

Jesus teaches us that we are to trust God. For children there can be great misunderstanding of what this trust means. Children, especially young children, are very concrete in their thinking. From this story they might think that trusting God means they will never drown in a boat or that no harm will come to them.

In reality, trusting God means that we trust that God will be with us no matter what situation we might be in. We will never be alone. What do the disciples do when they become afraid? They wake Jesus up. They want their master to know what is happening. The very presence of Jesus in their lives is comforting. The same is true for us. Just trusting that God and Jesus are with us brings us comfort when things are diffi cult.

Don’t overanalyze the story for your children. Let them relate to it on whatever level of understanding they have now.

Just let them know that Jesus teaches us we can trust God and get comfort from God. And because God is with us we can be with other people, comforting them.









☐ Get Ready

☐ Fun Beginnings

☐ Gather Round


For Everyone

☐ Make Ocean Drums

☐ Participate in the Bible Story


For Nonreaders

☐ Jesus Calms the Storm

For All Readers

☐ Missing Alphabet Letters

For Everyone

☐ Jesus Review Game


For Nonreaders

☐ Symbols-of-Comfort Strip Banner

For All Readers

☐ Words-of-Comfort Strip Banner


☐ Sign the Second Half of the Bible Verse

☐ Sing and Pray







• Play “Leap of Faith” in the background (on the CD-ROM or the DVD if you are using the music video) as the children arrive. Encourage them to sing along if they wish, and join them in the singing.

• Greet each child, mark each child’s name on the attendance chart.



Become a Storm Supplies: metal, disposable pie tin

SAY: Today’s story is going to be about a storm and about being comforted. Let’s create a storm that can be stopped only when you hear words of comfort.

• Encourage the children to choose to be different parts of the storm. (They will make the sound that part of the storm would make.)

• Storm components include wind (blowing air through the mouth or making whistling noises), wave (patting hands on lap), thunder (strike hand on table, lightening (scrunch the pie tin so that it makes a cracking noise).

SAY: You are to begin the storm when I say, “Storm,” and you are to stop immediately when you hear me say comforting words.

• Give signal to begin.

• Give comforting words.

• Have the children switch storm parts with one another and begin the storm again.

• Repeat two more times.

• Words of comfort include: “Do not be afraid,” “God is with you,” “God loves you,” “Have faith,” and “Trust God.”

Resource Pak—p. 2





Musical BoatSupplies: Activity 13b, CD-ROM, CD player, blue construction paper

Make five or six copies of Activity 13b.

• On the floor lay out a circle consisting of several sheets of blue construction paper and five to six copies of the “Musical Boat” (Activity 13b). Intersperse the boats with the plain sheets of construction paper.

• Have the children each stand on a paper in the circle. To begin, it doesn’t matter whether they are standing on a boat or on the construction paper.

SAY: When you’re in a storm on a lake, you’d better be in a boat. I’m going to play music. While the music plays, you are to step from paper to paper. When the music stops, you must stop moving. Anyone standing on a boat will remain in the game. Anyone standing on the blue paper representing water is out of the game. Only one person can be on a piece of paper at a time.

• Begin the music, and let the children walk for a minute. Then turn off the music. Check to see whether anyone is out of the game.

• Remove one of the boats.

• Play another round, shortening the length of time they move around the circle.

• Repeat, removing a boat each time.

SAY: Today’s story is about a time when the disciples thought that being in a boat wasn’t going to save them.

Gather RoundSupplies: birthday chart used earlier (Leader Guide—p. 15)





PRAY: God, thank you for Jesus, who teaches us that we are to trust God. Help us to grow in faith, proclaim your Word, and serve with love. Amen.

Activity 13b




Proclaim the WordFor EveryoneMake Ocean DrumsSupplies: Activity 13c, aluminum pie plates, tape or plastic lids, plastic beads

SAY: For today’s Bible story, you are going to be the waves of the storm. To become the waves, you will need an ocean drum.

• Read the explanation of an ocean drum at the top of Activity 13c.

• Follow the simple directions on Activity 13c to make the ocean drums.

• Have the children practice starting off with gentle waves and then make bigger and louder waves. (See the directions on Activity 13c.)

• Ask them to bring their drums to the storytelling area.

Participate in the Bible StorySupplies: Activity 13a

Invite the children to the storytelling area.

SAY: Two weeks ago, we talked about how Jesus performed a healing miracle when he made Peter’s mother-in-law well. Today we are going to hear about a different kind of miracle.

• Assign the parts of the Narrator, Jesus, and Disciple.

• Give everyone a copy of Activity 13a.

• Explain that when it says, “Everyone,” they are all to speak. Practice the line so that nonreaders will know what to say.

SAY: Please hold your ocean drums very quietly on your lap. When you see me begin to move my drum, I want everyone to move his or her drum. When I put my drum on the floor (or table), everyone is to put his or her drum down so that it won’t make noise.

• Be sure that everyone understands the directions.

• Ask the readers to begin.

SAY: When Jesus calmed the storm, he asked the disciples to have faith. To have faith means to trust. Jesus was asking us to trust him and to trust God.





Activity 13c

Activity 13a




SAY: Today in Leaper’s Pointe, Gabby is outside painting a portrait of the mayor. Unfortunately, a thunderstorm is heading their way. Merrilee is really worried about the storm. Let’s listen in.


For NonreadersJesus Calms the StormSupplies: Activity 13d, crayons

• Give each child a copy of Activity 13d and some crayons.

• Encourage the children to color the picture of Jesus calming the storm.

ASK: Have you ever been in a storm that scared you? Who comforted you?

For All ReadersMissing Alphabet LettersSupplies: Activity 13e, pencils

• Give each child a copy of “Missing Alphabet Letters” and a pencil.

• Go over the instructions for solving the puzzle to discover what Jesus teaches us in today’s story.

ASK: Have you ever been in a storm that scared you? Who comforted you?

For EveryoneJesus Review GameSupplies: Jesus Review Game Cards (Resource Pak—p. 16)

• Mix up the cards and place them face down in a grid on a table.

SAY: These cards show Jesus at different times in his life. Jesus was always growing and maturing, and his life was important at every age. Let’s look at the various times of Jesus’ life to remember what Jesus or Jesus’ life has taught us.


• A child turns over two cards; if the cards match, the child gets a chance to say one thing Jesus teaches us.

• If the answer is reasonable, the child keeps the matched pair of cards.

Activity 13d

Activity 13e





• If the cards do not match, they are turned back over and play proceeds to the next player.

TIP: To help those who have not been there or a shy child, a player may ask any other child for help in coming up with something Jesus taught.

Serve With Love For NonreadersSymbols-of-Comfort Strip BannerSupplies: Activity 13f, small dowel rod, scissors, wide ribbon, yarn, scissors, needle, thread, glue

Copy and cut apart one set of Symbols Comfort Strips for each nonreader. Loop the end of the ribbon over the short dowel rod, so that the back of the ribbon can be sewn to the front by sewing a couple of stitches with a needle and thread. Tie a long length of yarn to both ends of the dowel rod, creating a yarn hanger for the banner. Repeat for each child’s banner.

• Give each child a set of Symbols of Comfort strips (Activity 13f) and a length of wide ribbon.

SAY: Jesus comforted the disciples, and we can comfort one another. These are some things that can comfort us and help us comfort others. We’re going to make a Symbols-of-Comfort Strip Banner to take home and hang in our rooms to remind ourselves of God’s comfort. Also, look at it to remind yourself to comfort someone who is sad, hurt, or lonely.

• Help the children glue the symbols from top to bottom down the ribbon.

TIP: Let each child choose the order in which they want the symbols to be placed.

For All ReadersWords-of-Comfort Strip BannerSupplies: Activity 13g, small dowel rod, scissors, wide ribbon, yarn, scissors, needle, thread, glue; optional: markers, construction paper

For each child, loop the end of the ribbon over the short dowel rod so that the back of the ribbon can be sewn to the front by sewing a couple of stitches with a needle and thread. Tie a long length of yarn to both ends of the dowel rod, creating a yarn hanger for the banner. Repeat for each child’s banner.

• Give each child a copy of “Words of Comfort Strips,” scissors, a ribbon banner, and glue.

Activity 13g

Activity 13f




SAY: Jesus comforted the disciples, and we can comfort one another. These are some things that can comfort us and help us comfort others. We’re going to make a Words-of-Comfort Strip Banner to take home and hang in our rooms to remind ourselves of God’s comfort. Also, look at it to remind yourself to comfort someone who is sad, hurt, or lonely.

• Show the children how to attach the Words of Comfort strips from top to bottom down the ribbon.

OPTION: Have construction paper available, and encourage the readers to add their own words of comfort to strips of paper to attach to the ribbon banner.

WorshipSign the Second Half of the Bible VerseSupplies: DVD (signing)





• Play “Jesus Teaches” as the children gather near the worship table.



SAY: Today we have learned that we can trust God and get comfort from God. And because God is with us, we can be with other people, comforting them.

PRAY: God, thank you for loving us and taking care of us. Thank you for being with us in good times and in bad times. Thank you for sending Jesus to teach us how to live and for teaching us to trust you. Help us to live this week in the way that Jesus taught us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

We would love to hear from you! A survey is available at GrowProclaimServe.com/survey.



120 Spring 2013 GROW • Proclaim • Serve • One Room Sunday School Leader’s Guide

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Explanations:

• Only Matthew and Luke tell the story of Jesus’ birth, and they tell different parts of the story.

• Caesar Augustus was emperor, and Quirinius was Governor of Syria.

• It is unlikely that a pregnant Mary would have ridden a donkey—too much jarring. They might have had a donkey carry food and clothing. The Bible doesn’t mention a donkey.

• A manger is a feeding trough for animals, so it has always been assumed there were animals present; but the Bible does not tell us.

• The Bible names three gifts, so we say three wise men. One tradition says there were twelve wise men.

• The Bible says that they visited Jesus in a house (Matthew 2). It is thought Jesus was a toddler by this time.

• The Bible does not say that the wise men traveled on camels, but camels were widely used for transporting goods.

• The wise men brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

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Optional DVD (One version for young

children; one for elementary children. Choose best fit for

your class.) The optional DVD has 13 episodes include:• the week’s Bible story told

by the residents of Leaper’s Pointe;

• a music video of the “Grow Proclaim Serve” theme song, “Growing in Leaps and Bounds;”

• “Leaper’s Pointe in Concert,” three additional music videos with lyrics, one for each month; and

• the Bible verse—written, spoken, and signed using signs from American Sign Language.

Welcome to Leaper’s Pointe!

Legend has it that a long time ago a thirsty man walked along an unfamiliar road, looking for water. When a frog jumped across the road in front of the man, he knew that the frog could lead him to water. Sure enough, the frog led him to a nearby spring. The man thanked God for the strength and courage that he had been given to continue looking for water. He was so grateful that he decided to live on that very spot near the pond.

And so, Leaper’s Pointe was founded. Today, it is a town in the middle of everywhere. Its citizens have continued to thank God for the many blessings they have, and to appreciate the leaps and bounds that led their founder to water. The town is a colorful, cartoon-like world, rich with tradition as well as humor.

Leaper’s Pointe is a place where people understand that God loves everyone, no matter what mistakes they have made. All of them make mistakes. The messes they make along the road of life and the lessons that they learn from those mistakes are all part of how they learn that God is the most important thing in their lives.

The Bible is the handbook of Leaper’s Pointe. The characters in this zany, colorful town have lots of stories to tell and lots of experiences to share—all related to the Bible in some way. Join the fun in Leaper’s Pointe, and see how your faith can grow in leaps and bounds as you become one of the people of Leaper’s Pointe.



Legend has it that a long time ago, a very thirsty man was walking along an unfamiliar road.

He was in need of water and kept looking for a stream or a pond from which he could drink. From a nearby forest, a frog jumped across the road in front of the man. He knew that where there is a frog, there is bound to be water. Sure enough, the frog led him to a pond of pure clean water, fed from a nearby spring. The man thanked God for the strength and courage that he had been given to continue looking for water. He was so grateful that he decided to live on that very spot near the pond.

And so, Leaper’s Pointe was founded. Today, Leaper’s Pointe is a town in the middle of everywhere. Its citizens have continued to thank God for the many blessings they have, and to appreciate the leaps and bounds that led their founder to water. The town is a colorful, cartoonlike world rich with tradition as well as humor.

Leaper’s Pointe is a place where people understand that God loves everyone, no matter what mistakes they might have made. All of them make mistakes. The messes they make along the road of life and the lessons that they learn from these mistakes are all part of how they learn that God is the most important thing in their lives.

The Bible is the handbook of Leaper’s Pointe. The characters in this zany, colorful town have lots of stories to tell and lots of experiences to share—and they all relate to the Bible in some way. Join the fun in Leaper’s Pointe and see how your faith can grow in leaps and bounds as you become one of the people of Leaper’s Pointe.

The People of Leaper’s PointeThe Mayor

Merrilee McAfee is a second-generation female leader of Leaper’s Pointe. She leads with “hearts and smarts” and is strong and courageous.

Ernie Meeks

As the mayor’s assistant, Ernie is here to learn. Prone to make mistakes here and there, Ernie is eager to be a leader.

Mondo Solo

Owner of Leaper’s Pointe Theatre. A lover of “one-man shows.” Mondo has never met an audience he didn’t like. He loves to exaggerate but has a heart of gold.

Furleen Finnanfeathers

Owner of the pet store, The Leaping Frog—a place for ALL animals. You never know what animal sounds will come out of her pet store!

Rosie

Owner of the Old Stuff shop, a place where you can find, well…old stuff. She is the wise voice of Leaper’s Pointe.

Papa B

Owner of The Bookworm, Leaper’s Pointe’s bookstore. He is a gentle soul who loves to read. He and Rosie grew up together.

Gabby Gabbler

Gabby is in charge of the Leaper’s Pointe garden. She loves to grow things. She has a very sunny disposition and a green thumb.

Harley and Farley

The twins. Hard to tell apart. These mischievous and competitive brothers like to show up out of nowhere and keep things lively in Leaper’s Pointe.

Welcome to Leaper’s Pointe!


Scope and Sequence, Fall 2013–Summer 2014Fall 2013Unit 1: From Judges to Kings1. Deborah 2. Hannah 3. God Calls Samuel4. Samuel the Judge5. Choosing a King

Unit 2: David the King6. Samuel Anoints David7. David and Goliath8. David Dances9. David’s Son Builds the Temple

Unit 3: Prophets and Kings10. Elijah and the Ravens11. Elijah and the Prophets12. Elisha13. Josiah/Huldah

Winter 2013-14Unit 1: The Birth of Jesus1. A Child Is Born2. A Message to Mary3. A Message to Joseph4. Good News! 5. Simeon and Anna

Unit 2: The Life of Jesus 6. The Wise Men7. Jesus at the Temple8. Jesus’ Baptism 9. Jesus in the Synagogue

Unit 3: Jesus’ Ministry10. Jesus Calls Fishermen11. Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-law12. Jesus Teaches the Beatitudes13. Jesus Calms the Storm

Spring 2014Unit 1: The Way to Jerusalem1. Jesus and the Children 2. A Man Born Blind3. Zacchaeus4. The Lord’s Supper5. Praying in the Garden

Unit 2: In Jerusalem6. Peter’s Denial7. Palm Sunday8. Easter9. Road to Emmaus

Unit 3: Peter10. Peter’s Declaration11. Peter and John12. Peter and Tabitha13. Peter in Prison

Summer 2014Unit 1: Becoming the Church 1. The Promise of the Holy Spirit2. Pentecost3. Proclaim the Boldness4. Offering for Jerusalem5. One Body, Many Parts

Unit 2: Prayer and Praise6. Psalm 1007. Psalm 1508. Solomon’s Prayer9. The Tax Collector and the Pharisee

Unit 3: Peacemaking 10. Abraham and Lot11. David and Abigail12. Mephibosheth13. Blessed Are . . . 14. Love Your Enemies

Vol. 20 • No. 2 • Winter 2013-14

EDITorIaL / DESIgN TEaMMarcia Stoner ........................................Writer and EditorSusan Heinemann ................................. Production EditorRandall Butler ...................................................... Designer

aDMINISTraTIVE TEaMNeil M. Alexander .............................................. PublisherMarjorie M. Pon ................................Associate Publisher and Editor of Church School PublicationsPhillip D. Francis .................Senior Design Manager, CSPLeeDell B. Stickler ..... Senior Editor, Children’s Resources

Grow, Proclaim, Serve: Grow Your Faith bY leaPS and boundS, one room SundaY School, reProducible KidS’ booK (ISSN 1094-1355): Published quarterly by Abingdon Press, 201 Eighth Avenue, South, P.O. Box 801, Nashville, TN 37202-0801. This reproducible activities book is part of the One Room Sunday School resource kit that includes a Leader’s Guide Reproducible Kid’s Book, Resource Pak, and CD-ROM. Kit price: $65.99 per quarter—(ISSN 1094-1347). Copyright © 2013 by Abingdon Press. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.

If you have questions or comments, call Curric-U-Phone toll free: 800-251-8591. Or e-mail [email protected].

For information concerning permission to reproduce any material in this publication, write to Rights and Permissions, The United Methodist Publishing House, 201 Eighth Avenue, South, P.O. Box 801, Nashville, TN 37202-0801. You may fax your request to 615-749-6128. Or e-mail [email protected].

one room SundaY School, reProducible KidS’ booK, Winter 2013–14, © 2013. Permission is granted for original purchaser to reproduce activity sheets 1a–13g for use in the current Sunday school setting. Copyright notice must be included on reproductions.

Scripture quotations, unless noted otherwise, are from the Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 by the Common English Bible. All rights reserved. Used by permission. (www.CommonEnglishBible.com)

Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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We’ve created a special page on our website that is just for you!

Go to growproclaimserve.com/leaders and discover resources that will help you prepare

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