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Jan. 5, 2020 God Cares for Me and the things He has made.

DATE PONDER POINT

THE BIG GOD STORY REMEMBER VERSE

Jesus Tells of God’s Love

Matthew 6:25-34; Luke 12:22-31

CELEBRATE GOAL: Worship & welcome is all about engaging kids and helping them enter into worship, letting them know that class has begun preparing their minds for what they are going to hear. Establishes community and engages kids, drawing them in and preparing them to hear God’s word. 8:45-9:05 Play (15 minutes): Kids play in playroom while parents drop off kids. 9:05-9:20 Welcome, Rules, Worship & Connect (15 minutes): Establishes community and en-gages kids, drawing them in and preparing them to hear God’s word. WELCOME & RULES - 4 minutes

IMAGE: Welcome We are so glad you are here at Critter Land today. Personalize your welcome. Relate

to what’s happening such as holidays, school year, church camp, etc. Pique the curiosity about today’s Ponder Point/Story, tell a joke, do something to draw in the attending of the kids and mention any announcements!

RULES VIDEO: Sheriff Hawk If you brought offering, go put it in the squirrel feeder while we worship!

WORSHIP - 3 minutes (Worship Leader)

WORSHIP VIDEO: Jesus By My Side Direct kids to get with their groups and circle up with their small group leader before sitting

down

SMALL GROUP CONNECT QUESTIONS - 4 minutes VIDEO: 4 minute countdown What is your favorite bird? How do birds make their nests? What is your favorite flower? What do you worry about?

I Will Sing of the Lord’s Great Love

Forever.” Psalm 89:1

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GOAL: Worship & welcome is all about engaging kids and helping them enter into worship, letting

them know that class has begun preparing their minds for what they are going to hear. Establishes

community and engages kids, drawing them in and preparing them to hear God’s word.

WARDROBE OF WONDER - 5 minutes

What’sIt: Bird and flowers

VIDEO: Wardrobe of Wonder Intro

Choose 1 volunteer. Volunteer picks two hats from wardrobe one for himself, one for host. Tell other kids to put on their “imaginary thinking caps”. Volunteer peeks in the What’s It box. Host gives 3 clues, kids get to vote on what they think it is.

Then as host you say….

If you think our clue is a , raise your hand.

If you think our clue is a , raise your hand.

If you think our clue is a , raise your hand.

Let the child volunteer tell which answer is correct!

I wonder why there is a ________ in the wardrobe? Let’s find out in the Big God

Story!

9:20-9:35 The Big God Story (12-15 minutes): Creates space for children to hear God’s word.

BIG GOD STORY (Storyteller see page 3 and following)

VIDEO: The Big Story Intro

9:35-9:42 Mail Time & Worship (7 minutes): Teaches the importance of memorizing scripture.

MAILTIME

VIDEO: Mail Time Intro

Choose 2 kids one to hide and one to find the mail

Way to say your verse! Now let’s all keep standing and sing a song!

WORSHIP

WORSHIP VIDEO: Hosanna Rock

WORSHIP VIDEO: Jesus I Will Follow

Dismiss to Small Groups

9:42-9:58 Small Groups (16 minutes): Kids respond in small groups to what they heard in the Big God Story.

9:58-10:00 Dismiss (2 minutes): Allows children to practice their memory verse and be sent out with a sense of peace so they can be a blessing to others.

(See page 8 for 10:15 schedule and rotations.)

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Point out that what kids are about to hear is true and is recorded in the Bible. Open your Bible to

the passage and leave it open and visible throughout The Big God Story. Invite kids to open their

Bibles and follow along as you story tell. Children respond to what the Holy Spirit is teaching

them as they reflect on the day’s portion of The Big God Story.

STORYTELLING - 12 minutes (Storyteller)

If you had a pet bird, what would you do to take care of it? If you had a garden, how would

you take care of the flowers? Listen to hear what Jesus told us about the ways God cares for

birds and flowers—and us!

One day Jesus was teaching His friends out on a hillside. A very big crowd of people wanted to hear what

Jesus said. The people pushed and shoved. They were all trying to get close to Jesus so that they could hear

what He was saying. Jesus gathered His friends close around Him.

“Look at those birds up in the sky,” Jesus said. “Just think about those birds.”

Jesus’ friends watched as the birds flew high in the air. The birds ate the grain

that grew in the fields. At night they had a place to sleep in the trees.

“Those birds don’t plant the seeds they eat,” Jesus said. “But God, your Father in

heaven, feeds each one. He cares about them.”

"Do not worry or be upset about anything," Jesus said. "Don't worry about what you are going

to eat when you are hungry. And don't worry about what clothes you will wear. There are many

things that are more important than food and clothes."

“Think about the way the flowers grow,” Jesus said. “Flowers don’t sew their leaves onto their

stems with a needle and thread. Yet even kings do not wear clothes as beautiful as this flower.”

Jesus’ friends listened.

Jesus looked at His friends and the crowd of worrying people. He asked them. "You are more

important to God than the birds in the sky! Don't worry or be upset about anything. God loves

you. He will take care of you!"

The Prayer of Release allows children and leaders to pause, be still, and ask God to quiet their

hearts and minds. Before you pray, you might ask the kids to hold out their hands, palms up, in a

spirit of releasing their worries and distractions in order to better receive what the Holy Spirit

might have for them today. Then encourage the kids to quiet their voices, take a seat, and pray

with you. Supplies for Story:

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All over the hillside were wildflowers in the tall grass. Jesus looked down at the grass and flowers. Perhaps He bent down and picked a flower. "Think about the flowers," He said. "They don't sew clothes for themselves, do they? No! But look

around. The richest king never had clothes as beautiful as these flowers have."

Jesus' friends listened carefully as Jesus continued to speak. "If God gives these little flowers such beautiful clothes, don't you think He will be sure you

have clothes, too? Yes! You are even more important to God than the

flowers."

Then Jesus said, “God makes beautiful flowers. And He cares about

them. He sends rain. He sends the warm sun to help the flowers grow. If

God does that for the flowers, He will surely take care of you!

“God loves you much more than birds and flowers. Do not worry about what to eat or what to wear. Our Father in heaven knows just what you need. Al-

ways try to love and obey God. He will take care of you. He loves you.”

Let’s remember our story today by doing a finger play.

I’m a tiny seed in the earth so low. God sends sun and rain and then I start to grow. Up, up, up, slowly I grow, Then my leaves and flowers show!

Storyteller @ 10:15

Talk About the Story

What does God give the birds? What does He give the flowers? (Food to eat. Beautiful col-ored petals.) Jesus wanted people to know how much God cares for each of us. God cares for you and me and ALL the things He has made! What has God given to show His care for you?

Work on Memory Verse The Bible says, "I will sing of the Lord's great love forever." Repeat Bible verse with children several times.

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GOAL: Kids respond in small groups to what they heard in the Big God Story.

Talk To Learn

SUPPLIES

• Activity Page (one per kid)

• Bible

• Crayons

• Activity Stickers (one set per kid)

ENGAGE

Hand out Talk Time activity pages and demonstrate how to complete the page. Distribute sticker

pages and crayons or markers. As children complete their own page, talk about the items on the

page.

Make sure children do front and back sides of their activity page.

After kids finish their papers use the following questions to keep the kids talking and to give them

review of the Bible story.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• What does God give the birds?

• What does God give the flowers?

• Jesus wanted people to know how much God cares of each of us God cares for you and me and ALL the things He has made!

• What has God given to show His care for you ?

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Host will welcome kids to Critter Land. Worship Leader will lead kids in a time of worship and allow kids to give offering.

Play Station (Play)—Kids will have time to play and enjoy each others company.

Different play options will be provided.

Big God Story (BGS)—The storyteller will present the Bible lesson and Work on memory Verse.

Read Aloud Story (RA Story) (In 10:15 Bin)

1. Pass out coloring sheet and set crayons on the table.

2. Read Aloud the Story while children color their page. (In 10:15 Bin)

3. Bathroom Break—Give children the opportunity to go to the bathroom and

get a drink from the water fountain

4. Make sure children have their name on their coloring page.

Kids will regather in Large

Group space for pick up

time.

Transition DVD/Video:

10:30 - 10:43 10:45 - 10:58 11:00 - 11:15

Owls Play (113) BGS (114) RA story (115)

Bunnies RA story (116)

Turtles RA Story (115) Play (113) BGS (114)

Frogs RA Story (116)

Snails BGS (114) RA Story (115) Play (113)

Squirrels RA Story (117)

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Teacher Challenge

Do you find yourself worried and tense? In a world

full of things to worry about, Jesus says that as

a believer in Him, you don’t have to be weighed

down with a load of worry. He will carry that load

for you. You can be confident that your loving Father

will take care of your needs when you seek Him first.

➥ What do you worry most about?

➥ What keeps you from trusting God to take care of you?

God takes care of the birds and the flowers. How much more will He take care of you! Trust Him to

do what you cannot. Rest in His promise. Share with the children in your classroom the fact that

God provides everything you need and that He will take care of them, too.