October 14-15
Big Idea: God made serving him fun!
Key verse: Eph. 2:10 "For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."
Initial thoughts: We want to communicate how much fun we have when we serve God. This is our purpose: to serve God! And its a blast! Just like a phone's purpose is to make/receive calls, our (every human's) purpose is to serve God, which is fun. For the small group time we want the kids to realize that they serve God by serving people ("do the good things"). It may be weird to think about, but according to the Bible the way we serve God is by serving people. The first 4 of the 10 commandments in Ex. 20 focus on putting God first, then the last 6 are about how a person putting God first will treat other people (also see Matt. 25:34-46 for how people are judged). And when we serve people "as to the Lord," not selfishly it is so much fun. This is why it is so key for the kids to see the joy we get by serving them!
Key verse: Eph. 2:10 "For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."
Initial thoughts: We want to communicate how much fun we have when we serve God. This is our purpose: to serve God! And its a blast! Just like a phone's purpose is to make/receive calls, our (every human's) purpose is to serve God, which is fun. For the small group time we want the kids to realize that they serve God by serving people ("do the good things"). It may be weird to think about, but according to the Bible the way we serve God is by serving people. The first 4 of the 10 commandments in Ex. 20 focus on putting God first, then the last 6 are about how a person putting God first will treat other people (also see Matt. 25:34-46 for how people are judged). And when we serve people "as to the Lord," not selfishly it is so much fun. This is why it is so key for the kids to see the joy we get by serving them!
posted by Andrew Rillera at 10:07 AM
7 Comments:
THIS IS FROM AN EMAIL RITA SENT ME!:
With the verse: I love to do fill in the blanks for the kids, they have to look up the verse in the Bible and fill in the missing words. Only for 3rd and 4th Also I will print out the verse and cut it apart word by word and have them glue it on a note card in the correct order,,,,aslo looking up the verse in the Bible,,,this is something they like alot. Again, the younger kids can't do this. Another fun thing I have done with the verse is print it out using different colored paper, cut apart the words and hid them around the room. I then assign teams to the color and they have to find the hidden words and arrange then in order.
I was thinking this would be a great charade game asking the kids how serving God is fun. Then act it out. Or we could have ideas already for them to act out and the kids can try and guess them.
I think illustrating things like phones or anything else where we can ask them what the purpose of thing is.
We can illustrate to them the beauty of playing/operating things the way the person who created it designed it to work. You don't want to play with something that doesn't work, that's why you have to follow directions so that you can have the maximum ammount of fun with whatever it is.
In the same way, God designed humans to operate in a certain way (serving Him) which makes life so good. By serving God we get the most out of life (John 10:10).
This way it also indirectly teaches them that when you don't operate something the way it was intended to operate, then it doesn't work and things not working is never fun.
WARNING!!! THIS IS LONG, please read through it all because this turned into an encouragement letter to you all.
In order to save on time in the big group and to allow for more time to discuss things in the small group, I think the parable would be more benificial for the small group times. This way we can explain it in terms that is appropriate for whatever age we are doing. By doing this, you don't run the risk of it going over some kids heads or they get tired from sitting too long. But if you can do in less than 7 mins, and its really simple, then go for it! Just really by mindful of the time.
So please everyone, if you can think any story that you think would be good to go over share it with us all!
Another thing to keep in mind is that our typical definition of fun is not what is meant by God made serving him fun. Our view of fun is bent on ourselves feeling "good," rather than bent on GOD and how He intended life to be lived. The biblical view of fun is doing what you were made to do, or living in a way that is consistant with how God made us, namely, reflecting His image (Gen. 1:27). Jesus said that His purpose is to give us the best life ever(John 10:10), which to me can be translated into kid as: Jesus came to make life fun again! Kids at this age aren't really familiar with "ups and downs" as we are. Yes they experience them, but they don't think abstractly as if life can be likened to a roller coaster of ups and downs.
This is again why the kids need to be able to see our joy when we are serving them! We will be an example for them. Just as God told Cain in Gen. 4 that if you do what is right you wont be downcast! This doesn't mean that doing good wont be hard or wear you out (This for the encouragement for all of us adults who stuggle like Chase said in times when serving doesn't seem fun, this isn't intended for you to tell the kids :) ). Paul says in Galations 6:9, 10 "let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith."
Be encouraged by the word of God my brothers and sisters. Blessings to you all and may God keep us persevering in faith so that we may bless those around us to share in the inheiritance we have in Jesus our Lord!
Andrew
Scott, I love the way you think. The point about going to the kids level and not expecting them to become adults is cool. Even something as kneeling down when you ask a kid a question or when they are telling you something is just one way which you can act out going to their level. Thank you for your insight.
Rita, Adam and Eve is a PERFECT example! Thank you for that. They were blessed by God, then the serpent deceived Eve into thinking that here eyes would be opened which would make her more happy. But what happened? There eyes were opened! But what did they see? Their nakedness!! complete shame! Thats no fun. Whereas they could have lived forever in perfection by filling the earth with more people and enjoying total imtimacy with God and with other humans and enjoying taking care of all creation, which is the ultimate fun!
I like your idea of implementing the Adam and Eve story Jim! Great thoughts everyone.
I thought we would do it in the big group. Do you think that that would take to long? Stuffed animals would be good or we can use more kids and have them act like animals even thought they do that naturally :)
Ill email you something and tell me what you think.
Ya I think thats what Rita and I were thinkin too (the skit/story in small groups). I like your idea because it gets the point accross without confusing them.
Don't forget everyone, we are starting group worship TEN mins in to service, not 20 so be mindful of the clock.
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