Story Telling

*For the purpose of this blog post, we will be focusing on a younger audience, between the ages of 4-10.

 This blog site is full of ideas for lessons that are designed to help you teach the Bible to children. Each lesson has crafts, games and activities, and coloring pages. At the beginning of each lesson there is an overview of the story. It is always stressed that you as the story teller need to familiarize yourself with the passage. While a brief story summary is included in the lesson, simply reading that summary is not enough to make you a good story teller. By taking the time to read through this blog post, you will hopefully gain some valuable tools to help you become a better story teller.

Think back through your life and pick out one or two of your all time favorite story tellers. This person could be a school or Sunday school teacher, your mom or dad, a pastor, or anyone who drew you into the story you were hearing. Now, thinking of that person(s), try to make a list of all the qualities that you feel make that person a great story teller. Maybe your list looks something like this: charismatic, energetic, funny, engaging and so on. Did you find it hard to make that list? Sometimes it is harder to pinpoint what is good than what is bad. The bad often sticks out like a sore thumb. So, try this: make a list of all the qualities that would make someone a bad story teller. For example: boring, monotone, does not know the story, does not make sense, goes on and on and on, and makes things overly complicated. This is probably just the tip of the iceberg on the list that you have! When you compare these two lists, it is obvious which camp you want to be in as a story teller!

Foundational to all story telling is understanding your audience. One amazing thing about the way we were all created is that we all develop in a predictable manner. What that means is that throughout the course of our lives, there are certain milestones that we can anticipate happening during specific periods of our life. The areas of our lives that these milestones can take place in include, but are not limited to, the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. So, what does this mean in story telling? A simple example can be seen in a person’s attention span. It has been noted that a person’s attention span is usually equal to their age. (Of course this has its exceptions depending on how much a person likes what they are doing.) So, if you have a class full of 4-10 year old, you have about 4 to 10 minutes to tell your story and still retain the attention of the children. No matter how good of a story teller you are, if you neglect this simple fact, you will lose your audience and they will not retain most of what you were telling them.

Another example has to do with people’s level of energy. Children are full of energy! Typically, little boys are wigglier than little girls. Keeping this in mind, do not expect children to sit still for a long length of time. Even 5 minutes can seem like an eternity to a child who has been asked to sit still. Many things can be done to help overcome this potential hurtle. For example, you can incorporate the children in telling the story by acting it out. This simple activity is engaging and gets the children up out of their seats, helping to focus some of their energy.

Let’s take a look at the way children develop spiritually. What do you need to know about a child’s spiritual development that will help you develop your story telling skills? In Matthew 9:14, Jesus tells his disciples that the kingdom of heaven belongs to those like the children. In saying this, Jesus is acknowledging that children have a simple faith. They believe what you tell them. When you tell the children that God created everything, they believe that God created everything. When you tell them that Jesus died for them, they believe Jesus died just for them. Children have simple faith. It is not obstructed by the same things that cause unbelief in adults. They enjoy coming to church and being in Sunday school. These are things that we need to take advantage of, as well as take very seriously. We should be studying the word of God in our personal lives so that when we share God’s word with the children, we are correctly handling the Word of Truth (2 Tim. 2:15).

Having a basic knowledge of child development in our arsenals, we can now ask the question that has brought you to this blog post in the first place. What does it take to tell a good Bible story? First and foremost, we must have a covering of prayer. As obvious as this is, spending time in prayer before we begin preparations for telling the Bible story can help clear our minds to hear the message that God wants you to be sharing with the children. Next, and again quite obviously, you must know the story! This means you must read the story. And then read it again. And if necessary, read it again! The better you know the story, the easier it will be to tell. Do not assume that just because you have read the story in the past that you do not need to read it again in preparation for your lesson. Knowing the story well helps to remove a certain degree of anxiety you may have about sharing in public. Also, the children will be looking to you as the expert on the story. They will believe whatever you tell them regarding the story. This makes it very important, as was mentioned in the paragraph above, to be presenting the Bible in a way that is honoring to God. As you are studying the story, practice telling it in your own words. The more you practice, the more confident you will become. As you practice, keep in mind the time it takes you, as well as the complexity of the words you are using. Remember the ages of the children with whom you are sharing the story!

Now, you can simply tell the Bible story to the children using just your words. It is possible, with practice, to become fun and exciting enough with your words to keep the children engaged.  However, the more senses you can interact with while telling the story, the more likely the children will remember the point of the story. Some of the things that you may consider using while telling the story include picture Bibles, short videos, props and costumes (to act out the story), and object lessons. Some of these ideas are included in the lessons that have been posted on this blog site. Also consider visiting the resources tab on this site for addition tools.

This has been a very brief intro to Bible story-telling. My prayer for you is that in some way this has been helpful and that the children to whom you minister will be reached with the Gospel of Christ as you learn and grow in your story-telling abilities.

The Sign of Jonah

Passage

Familiarize yourself with the following passages:

Matthew 12:38-45, 16:1-4; Mark 8:11-13; Luke 11:29-32

Jesus had been doing many miracles. Now, the Pharisees and teachers of the law wanted Jesus to do a special miracle just for them. Jesus called them wicked! He said only one sign was going to be given to them; the sign of Johan. Johan was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights. Jesus said just like Jonah, He would be in the belly of the earth for three days and three nights. Jesus said when Nineveh heard of their impending destruction, the repented of their sinful ways, but now someone far greater than Jonah was here and no one is repenting. The people of Nineveh will be present with the people of Jesus’ time and condemn them for their unbelief. Jesus also told a short parable of a man who had a demon. When the demon left the man it searched the earth for a new place to live, but could find nothing. The demon decided to return to his former home. When he arrived back to the man, he found that everything had been cleaned up and put in order. So, the demon went and found 7 other more wicked demons to go and live in the man. Now the demon possessed man is worse off than he was before. This is how it is with the wicked generation that lives with Jesus.

Object Lesson:

Mud Balls

Supplies Needed:
• 2 glass bowls
• 8 squishy balls
• Bucket of muddy water
• Cleaning rags
• Large ball that fills bowl (basket ball)
Directions:
1. Before class, put the squishy balls in the muddy water. Take one ball out and put it in a glass bowl.
2. When all the children are sitting, place the bowl with the muddy ball in the center for all to see. When you tell the children about the man with the demon, roll the ball around in the bowl until the bowl is pretty dirty. Remove the ball when the demon leaves the man. Put the ball back into the bucket of muddy water with all the other balls.
3. Take a rag and begin cleaning the dirty bowl. The story says the man cleaned up and put everything back in order. Show the children the now clean bowl.
4. Bring forward the bucket of muddy water. Take out the first ball and put it in the clean bowl. Add the rest of the muddy balls when you tell the children that the first demon invited 7 more wicked demons to live with him.
5. Ask the children which was better, the one ball, or the 8 balls.
6. Ask the children how we can prevent all the dirt from getting into our bowls. Tell the children that only Jesus has the power to make and keep us clean, because on our own, we will continue to do dirty things. Take the large ball and put it in the second glass bowl.
7. Tell the children that there is no way for the muddy balls to get into this bowl as long as the large ball is here.

Memory Verse:

Matthew 12:40

For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Jesus Connection:

In this passage, Jesus is predicting his resurrection. He would indeed die and be buried, but three days later he would come out of the grave! Jesus has power over this wicked, sinful world and over death!

Songs

Hey Jonah

To the tune of ‘Jesus Loves Me’

Jonah, Jonah, have you heard?
Said the Lord, "Go preach my Word."
Jonah said, "That's not for me!"
Took a ship and fled to sea.

Hey, Jonah, Jonah!
Hey, Jonah, Jonah!
Hey, Jonah, Jonah!
You should obey the Lord.

Though he thought he'd get away,
Soon the ship began to sway.
Jonah said, "It's for my sin!
Pick me up and throw me in."

Hey, Jonah, Jonah!
Hey, Jonah, Jonah!
Hey, Jonah, Jonah!
You should obey the Lord.

When it seemed that he would drown,
Came a fish and gulped him down.
Jonah prayed, "Lord, I'll obey;
Tell the folks about your way."

Lord, I'll obey You!
Lord, I'll obey You!
Lord, I'll obey You!
I will obey the Lord.

Games/Activities

Fill the Bucket

Supplies Needed:
• 2 buckets
• Lots of balls/paper balls
Directions:
1. Place all the balls in a large pile at one side of the room and the two buckets on the other side with some space between them.
2. Divide the class into two teams. Everyone will throw the balls as fast as they can into the buckets. In order to throw the balls, they must be standing behind the line where the ball pile is located. They may run forward to retrieve balls that missed the buckets, but they cannot throw it until they return to the throwing line.
3. The team with the most balls in their respective buckets wins.

Crafts

Whale Stained Glass

Supplies Needed:
• Whale and Jonah tracing template
• Blue paper, full pages cut in half
• Black paper
• Scissors
• Yellow and orange tissue paper cut into small squares
• Glue
• Contact paper cut into the sizes of the blue paper
Directions:
1. Trace the whale template onto blue paper. Cut out the whale so that the outside remains whole. Discard the inside. Trace the Jonah template onto black paper. Cut out Jonah.
2. Taking one piece of contact paper, peel off the backing, laying it adhesive side up in front of you. Take the yellow and orange tissue paper and stick it to the adhesive side of the contact paper.
3. Place Jonah in the center of tissue paper page. Cover the tissue paper page with a second page of contact paper, adhesive side down.
4. Take the two blue papers with the fish cut out and hold them up so that they line up the same.
5. Place one blue fish on each side of the tissue paper contact page. Glue the blue pages to the contact paper.
6. Turn the completed craft over, so you can no longer see Jonah. Hold up to the light to reveal Jonah inside the fish!

Coloring Page

A Bleeding Woman and A Dead Girl

Passage

Familiarize yourself with the following passage:

Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56

Jesus and his disciples had sailed across the sea. When their boat reached the other side, a great crowd gathered around Jesus. A ruler from the synagogue, named Jarius, found Jesus and asked him to come to his house and heal his daughter who was dying. Jesus agreed to come. On their way to Jarius’ house, a woman who had a problem with bleeding was in the crowd. She had tried every possible thing to cure her aliment, and had spent all her money doing so, but she only got worse. Upon hearing that Jesus was nearby, the woman went looking for him, thinking that if she could just touch he clothes she would be healed. The woman pressed through the crowd and touched the edge of Jesus’ clothes. As soon as she did this, she could feel in her body that she had been healed. Jesus also knew immediately that power had flowed out from him. He asked the crowd who had touched him. The disciples thought Jesus was crazy for asking this, since there were so many people crowded around and pressing against Jesus. Jesus insisted that he had been touched, and continued to look for the person. Finally the woman who had been healed bowed down before Jesus and confessed that she had touched Jesus. Jesus told her that her faith had made her well. As this conversation was happening, someone from Jarius’ house came to tell him his daughter was dead. Jesus told Jarius to not be afraid, just believe. Upon arriving at the house, Jesus told the mourners to leave because the girl was not dead, only sleeping. He took three disciples and the girl’s parents into the house, took the hand of the girl and told her to get up. Instantly the girl stood up and walked around and Jesus encouraged the parents to give her something to eat.

Object Lesson:

The Sense of Touch

Supplies needed:
• Dark plastic bags
• A piece of satin cloth or binding
• A pencil
• An apple
• An ice cube
• Ect…
Directions:
1. Put your objects into dark plastic bags.
2. Tell the children that we gather information through our senses. Today we will explore the sense of touch.
3. Have the children reach into a bag and describe what they feel without looking at it. (soft, hard, long, sharp, cold, wet…) They do not have to guess (unless you want them to), but simply describe.
4. Ask the children what they think it must have felt like for the woman who touched Jesus’ clothes.

Memory Verse:

Mark 5:34

He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

Jesus Connection:

Jesus has the power, not only to heal, but to save us from death. Jesus spoke to the little girl and she was raised to life. If you have not been saved by Jesus, then you are like the little girl who was dead. (Ephesians 2:1) Without Jesus we cannot live a life that is pleasing to God. We are full of sin. Sin leads to death and that death separates us from God. God loves us so much that he does not want us to die. He sent us Jesus to die in our place. Jesus was buried and 3 days later was raised from the dead. Jesus died so that we do not have to. We must take Jesus’ advise when he says, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” (Mark 5:36)

Songs

Only Believe

http://www.sermons4kids.com/only_believe_songsheet_2.pdf
Only believe,
Only believe,
All things are possible,
Only believe.

Only believe,
Only believe,
All things are possible,
Only believe.

Games/Activities

Just Believe Balloon Popping

Supplies Needed:
• 22 balloons
• 2 pieces of paper
• Marker
• Scissor
• 2 large bags
Directions:
1. Before class, write the words “Just Believe” on two pieces of paper. Be sure to write the words so that none of the letters are touching. Cut out the letters like a puzzle, being sure to keep the two sets of pieces separated. Put one letter into each balloon and fill the balloon with air. Place each set of balloons into its own large bag, to keep them separated.
2. Divide the class into two teams. Give each team one bag of balloons.
3. When you say go, have the children race to pop all their balloons, retrieving the papers that are in each balloon. Tell them to put all the pieces of the puzzle together to reveal the secret message, “Just Believe”.

Crafts

Only Believe Picture

Supplies Needed:
• Only believe craft template
• Paper brads
• Colors
• Scissors
Directions:
1. Color the craft template.
2. Cut the excess paper off following the lines provided. Set aside the bed.
3. Cut out the little girl. Cut her in half along the line provided.
4. Fasten the little girl to the bed by using a paper brad.
5. The children can retell this part of the story using their picture. The girl can be laying down on the bed, sitting up, or standing beside the bed as they tell the story.

Coloring Page

The Call of Paul and Barnabas

Passage

Familiarize yourself with this passage:

Acts 13:1-12

Paul and Barnabas have returned to the church in Antioch, with John Mark, after having delivered gifts of help to the church in Jerusalem. Now the church in Antioch was praying and fasting to see what God would have them do next. During this time of prayer, the Holy Spirit speaks to the church and tells them to set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work God had prepared for them. The Spirit promised to guide them to the right places. So Saul and Barnabas sailed to the island of Cyprus. They arrived at Salamis and shared the gospel with the Jews there. They then traveled all throughout the island preaching the Good News, until they finally arrived in Paphos. Once in Paphos, the proconsul, Sergius Paulus called for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. (This is where Saul starts referring to himself as Paul, using his Roman name instead of his Jewish name) They received opposition in the form of a man named Elymas, a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet. Elymas tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. Paul became filled with the Spirit and proclaimed to Elymas that he would become blind for a time because of the evil deeds he was doing for the devil. Immediately, Elymas became blind! When the proconsul saw this he became a believer in Jesus Christ because of the teaching about the Lord.

Object Lesson:

Pack Your Bags

Supplies needed:
• White board
• Dry erase markers
Directions:
1. Before class, draw a suit case on the white board.
2. During class, start your story time by directing the children’s attention to the drawing on the white board.
3. Tell the children that they are going on a trip, but they will not know where they are going or how long they will be gone. Assuming there will be food and water wherever they go, ask the children what items they would pack in their suit case. Draw these items on the white board, in and around the suit case. (ie: passports, clothes, camera, bible, journal and pens, favorite toy, phone, a map…)
4. Tell the children that they are about to hear a story of some men who when on a trip without knowing where they were going or how long they would be gone.

Places on the Map

*This activity is used for those who are going through the book of Act, story by story.  It is intended to show the children the key locations of the stories as well as to track Paul’s missionary journeys.
Supplies Needed:
• String
• Scissors
• Sticky tack, tape, or thumb tacks
• List of the cities from today’s story:
          Antioch
          Salamis
          Paphos
          Cyprus
Directions:
1. Before class, make sure the map you are using as today’s story locations written in their appropriate places. If you are using a map you made, be sure to write in these locations.
2. Pre-cut the lengths of strings needed to fit between the cities in the order that they appear in the story.  Set aside the string for future stories. (You will want to use the same color string for the entirety of each missionary journey.
3. During the story, point out the cities on the map as you mention them to the children. As Paul moves from place to place during the story, take the appropriate string segment and fix it to the map. (ie: from Antioch to Salamis; from Salamis to Paphos).
4. Save your newly edited map for future lessons!

Memory Verse:

Acts 13:2

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “ Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Jesus Connection:

God has placed a call on everyone’s life. Just like when Jesus appeared to Saul and called him to repentance, everyone everywhere has been called by God to repentance. (Acts 17:30) The proconsul heard Jesus calling in his heart and responded to Jesus’ call by believing in him! (Acts 13:12) For those who respond to God’s call to repentance, God also calls them to serve him. The Holy Spirit called Paul and Barnabas to a work that God had prepared for them. (Acts 13:2) They responded to this call by going into all the world, sharing the Good News of Jesus with everyone they met, allowing those who heard of Jesus to respond to God’s call on their lives.

Songs

This Little Light of Mine

This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

All around the neighborhood,
I'm gonna let it shine.
All around the neighborhood,
I'm gonna let it shine.
All around the neighborhood,
I'm gonna let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel, NO!
I'm gonna let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel, NO!
I'm gonna let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel, NO!
I'm gonna let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Don't let set Satan [blow] it out,
I'm gonna let it shine.
Don't let Satan [blow] it out,
I'm gonna let it shine.
Don't let Satan [blow] it out,
I'm gonna let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Let it shine till Jesus comes,
I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine till Jesus comes,
I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine till Jesus comes,
I'm gonna let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Games and Activities:

Memory Verse Game:

Supplies needed:
• White board
• Dry erase markers
• Tape
• Soft balls
Direction:
1. Divide the memory verse into 10-12 segments (2-3 words in each segment).
2. Before class, make some squares on the floor at one end of the room with tape. Make the same number of squares as you divided the memory verse into. Put numbers in each square to correlate with the number of segments in your verse.
3. Have the children stand of the opposite side of the room, behind a line of tape.
4. Give the children a chance to throw the soft balls at the squares on the floor. One child at a time and one throw per child.
5. If a ball lands inside a square, write the appropriate segment of the verse on the board. If the ball lands outside the squares, or in a square that has already been revealed, that child is finished and goes to the back of the line to try again next time.
6. Repeat throwing the ball until all segments of the verse has been revealed.

God is Calling:

Supplies Needed:
• Bibles
• Verse passages for people who were called by God
Exodus 3:1-2, 10
1 Samuel 3:1, 10
Judges 6:11,14
Isaiah 6:1-8
Jonah 1:1
Matthew 4:18-22
Matthew 19:16,21
Ect….
Directions:
1. Write each reference on a separate small piece of paper before class.
2. Make sure each child, or small group of children has a bible.
3. Give each child of small group of children a reference to look up. If your children are too small to read or find the verses by themselves, you can look up the verse and read them for them.
4. Tell the children that the Bible is filled with stories of men and women who were called by God to do special thing. They are going to discover a few of those people today.
5. Read each set of verses out loud, one at a time. After the children hear the verses, ask them who God called.
6. After all the verses have been read, remind the children that God calls all of us for special things, just like he called these men and women of the Bible a long time ago.

Crafts:

Sponge Boats

Supplies Needed:
• Dish sponges
• Straws
• Duct tape in various colors
• Scissors
• Foam stickers
• Permanent markers
Directions:
1. Using scissors, cut two corners off of the dish sponge so that there is a point on one long end. Your sponge should now look like a house.
2. Using scissors, fold the sponge in half the long way, and make a small cut in the course side of the sponge, big enough for the straw to stand in, but not all the way through the sponge.
3. If you are using bendy straws, cut of the top part of the straw that has the bend. Discard this part.
4. Choose a color of duct tape. Tear off a long piece. Fold the tape in half so that you now have half the length.
5. Using scissors, fold the tape in half the long ways and make two small cuts, one near the top and one near the bottom, big enough for the straw to fit through.  This is the mast of the boat.
6. Decorate the mast with foam stickers and permanent markers.
7. Fit the straw through the cuts in the mast. Work the straw into the cut in the sponge. You now have a tiny sail boat that is fully water proof!

Coloring Page:

Paul and Silas in Ephesus

Passage

Familiarize yourself with the following passage:

Acts 19

Paul and Silas traveled to the city of Ephesus. They started by preaching the Good News in the synagogue, trying to persuade their fellow Jews to believe in Jesus. They did this for three months, but when some of these men started speaking out against Jesus, Paul and Silas left the synagogue. They began meeting every day with the true disciples. They did this for two years! Eventually ever person in the province of Asia, both Jew and Greek, heard about Jesus.
During this time, God was using Paul to perform amazing miracles. Some of the Jews saw this and began saying to evil spirits, ‘I command you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches!’ In one such time, a demon responded to these Jews by saying , “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” The man who was filled with the evil spirit then leaped on the Jews and hurt them badly. Everyone in the area heard this things and gave praise to Jesus. They turned from their evil ways and practices and worshiped Jesus instead.
In the city of Ephesus there was a man named Demetrius who made idols out of silver to fake gods. When Demetrius heard of all that Paul was doing, and that people were turning to God rather than to the idols he was making, he became angry. He encouraged others to rise up with him and start a riot. There became so much confusion, that the city clerk had to calm the people down. God protected Paul and Silas, and the clerk spoke calming words to the people and sent them each to their own homes.

Object Lesson

Supplies needed:
• Bowl
• Water
• Pepper
• Wooden spoon
• Dish soap
• Paper towel
Directions:
1. Filled the bowl with water. Sprinkle pepper on the top of the water.
2. Remind the kids of the Jews who tried to cast out an evil spirit. They themselves did not believe in Jesus. They only wanted to use the power that they saw Paul using. Because they did not believe in Jesus, they were not protected when the evil spirit attacked them.
3. Take a wooden spoon and dip it in the pepper water. As you pull the spoon out, the pepper should stick to the spoon. Just like the Jewish men were not protected from the evil spirit, the spoon was not protected from the pepper in the water.
4. Add some more pepper to the bowl of water. Clean off your spoon with a paper towel.
5. Remind the kids of how God protected Paul and Silas from the angry mob in Ephesus.
6. Rub a little bit of dish soap to both sides of the wooden spoon. Dip the spoon into the pepper water. As you pull the spoon out, the spoon should be clean of pepper. Just like God protected Paul and Silas, the soap on the spoon protected the spoon from being covered with pepper.

Memory Verse

Romans 8:38-39
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus Connection:

God desires our full devotion. It is not good enough to just know of Jesus (Acts 19:15). We must have a living and active relationship with our Savior. When we have this kind of relationship with him, we do not need to fear evil. While this relationship with Jesus does not necessarily protect us from physical harm, it does protect us from spiritual harm. With Jesus in our lives, “nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!” (Romans 8:38-39)

Songs

He’s God the Whole World In His Hands

He's got the whole world
In His hands
He's got the whole world
In His hands
He's got the whole world
In His hands
He's got the whole world in His hands

He's got the mommies and the daddies
In his hands
He's got the mommies and the daddies
In his hands
He's got the mommies and the daddies
In his hands
He's got the whole world in His hands

He's got the brothers and the sisters
In His hands
He's got the brothers and the sisters
In His hands
He's got the brothers and the sisters
In His hands
He's got the whole world in His hands

He's got [insert child's name]
In His hands
He's got [insert child's name]
He's got [insert child's name]
He's got the whole world in His hands.

Games/Activities

In Jesus’ Name

Supplies needed:
• Wooden blocks (or other non connecting blocks)
• Soft balls
Directions:
1. Before class, on one side of the room, set up a large structure using the wooden blocks. Use your imagination; have fun.
2. Have the children gather on the opposite side of the room from the block structure.
3. Explain to the children, that when we believe in Jesus and call on him name, evil strongholds are destroyed!
4. One at a time, give each child a soft ball. Before they can throw the ball, they must say something they believe about Jesus. (Jesus is God! Jesus is alive! Jesus loves me! Jesus took away my sins!....) After they make their declaration, they can throw their soft ball at the block structure. Continue through all the children until they have all had a chance to throw a ball, or until the structure you built has been completely destroyed.
5. If the structure is destroyed before all children have had an opportunity to go, rebuild quickly (with the kids help if there is time) and continue.

My Protector

Supplies needed:
• Dice
• A random object
Directions:
1. Before class, pre designate various parts of the room into 6 spots to correlate to the 6 numbers on the dice.
2. Start by handing one child the random object you brought with you to class.
3. Before each dice roll, the children can stand in any section of the room they choose.  When you roll the dice, announce the number that is rolled and the children in that section of the room are out. (They can join you in the center of the room and you can even give them the chance to roll the dice next.)
4. If the child with the random object is in the group that is rolled out, that child is saved by the object and continues to play.
5. After each roll, give a different child the random object.
6. Play until you have one child left who win.

Crafts

Coloring Page

Paul and Silas in Jail

Passage

Familiarize yourself with the following passage:

Acts 16:16-40

Paul and Silas had been staying at the house of Lydia in Philipi. One day, they were on their way to prayer when they met a slave girl who had and evil spirit in her that caused her to give predictions of the future. She followed Paul and Silas around for several days, telling people that these men were preaching about the Most High God and proclaiming the way of salvation. Paul became annoyed and commanded the spirit in her to come out in the name of Jesus. The spirit came out right away. The man who owned the slave girl became upset because he saw that his chances of making money were now gone. So he dragged Paul and Silas to the city market place and started making accusations to get them arrested. Soon a mob of people joined in and attacked Paul and Silas until finally they were put into a cell, deep in the prison,  bound up with chains and stocks on their feet.
About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing to God, there was a violent earth quake. All the cell doors were opened and everyone’s chains fell off. When the jailer saw this, he was about to kill himself because he thought everyone had escaped. However Paul and Silas stopped him and assured him everyone was still there. The jailer then asked Paul and Silas what he needed to do to be saved. They responded, “Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved!” They shared the gospel with the jailer and his family and they all became believers! They all rejoiced together. The next morning, when Paul and Silas were released from jail, they demanded to be escorted out and apologized to for the way they had been treated. After they left the jail, they said goodbye to Lydia and the other believers and left that town.

Object Lesson:

Supplies needed:
• Pre-made paper chain (the two end links should be big enough for adult hands to fit in)
• The song “Deep and Wide” with actions memorized
Directions:
1. You will represent Paul and Silas imprisoned by wearing a paper chain on your hands.
a. Ask the children what are some things in our lives that could cause us to live like we are wearing chains. (ie: lying, talking bad to/about others, bad attitudes…)
2. Teach your children the lyrics and actions to the song “Deep and Wide”.
3. Begin by singing the song quietly and with small motions.
4. Repeat singing the song several times, each time growing louder and with larger motions.
5. On your last round of singing, break the paper chain on your hands while doing the motions.
6. Explain to the children, that when we worship Jesus through songs, it breaks the chains in our lives and gives us freedom, just like it did for Paul and Silas

Memory Verse:

Acts 16:31b
“Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.”

Jesus Connection:

Jesus loves to hear us worship him in song. He deserves our worship for all he has done for us on the cross. The benefit of worshiping Jesus is that He gives us freedom. Sometime that freedom is physical, like in the case of Paul and Silas. Other times that freedom is spiritual. (Romans 8:1-4) And when Christ sets you free, you are free indeed! (John 8:36)

Songs

*Since the lesson this week is about freedom found when worshiping Jesus, take the time to teach your children some fun worship song. Use some of these, or some of your favorites, but make sure they have lots of fun motions to get the kids moving. Encourage them to express their freedom through their movements!

Deep and Wide

Deep and wide,
Deep and wide,
There’s a fountain flowing
Deep and wide
(x2)

My God is so Big

My God is so big,
So strong and so mighty,
There’s nothing my God cannot do.
(x2)

The mountains are his,
The valleys are his,
The stars are his handy work, too.

My God is so big,
So strong and to mighty,
There’s nothing my God cannot do, for you!

I’m in the Lord’s Army

I may never march in the infantry
Ride in the cavalry
Shoot the artillery
I may never fly o’er the enemy
But I’m in the Lord’s army (Yes, sir!)

I’m in the Lord’s army (Yes, sir!)
I’m in the Lord’s army (Yes, sir!)

I may never march in the infantry
Ride in the cavalry
Shoot the artillery
I may never fly o’er the enemy
But I’m in the Lord’s army (Yes, sir!)

Games/Activities

Prison Break!

Directions:
1. Play this game as you would Red Light, Green Light.
2. You are the jailer. The children are the prisoners.
3. The goal of the children is to sneak their way to the jailer. When you say green light (and turn your back to them) they must sneak forward by tip toeing toward you. When you say red light (and turn to face them). They must freeze to avoid being ‘caught’ by the jailer. Anyone caught by the jailer must return to their cell (the start line).
4. Variations of this game can include crawling to freedom or having a path they must follow to escape.
5. After the first child has successfully reached you, they become the jailer and everyone else returns to the start as prisoners. Repeat as many times as time allows, until everyone has had a chance to be the jailer.

Junk in the Trunk

Supplies needed:
• Empty tissue box or small shoe box
• Thick string or rope
• Duct tape
• Ping pong
• scissors
• Sharpie
• A timing device
Directions:
1. If using an empty tissue box, clear away any plastic from the opening. If using a shoe box, cut a rectangular hole in the lid, similar to a tissue box, and tape the lid to the box.
2. Cut a length of rope or sting that is long enough to tie around your waist. Tape the rope to the back of the box so that the middle of the rope is taped down and equal lengths of the rope remain on either side of the box.
3. Draw a face on the ping pong ball and place it in the box. (This ball represents Paul and Silas and the box represents the jail.)
4. Tie the box to your waist so that the box is facing out from your back side.
5. Jump and shake until the ball has worked its way out of the box.
6. The person who does this in the fastest time wins!

Crafts

Paper Chains

Supplies needed:
• Colored paper
• Scissors
• Markers
• Today’s memory verse
• Tape or staplers
Directions:
1. Have the children cut several strips of colored paper, any color they wish, until they have enough strips for their memory verse for the day, one strip per word. (Make just one strip for the whole reference.)
2. Using markers, write one word of the bible verse on each strip of paper.
3. Link the strips together so that the words of the verse are in order and each word is visible. Fasten the chain links together with tape or staples.

Coloring Page

Joseph Is Revealed

Passage

Familiarize yourself with the following passage:

Genesis 42-50

Joseph is now the second most powerful person in all Egypt.  Pharaoh has charged Joseph to take care of Egypt in preparation for and during the famine that was coming. Pharaoh also gave Joseph a wife, from which two sons were born. During the next seven years, there was great prosperity in Egypt. Joseph took a portion of everyone’s harvest and stored it away for the famine to come. When the famine finally started, it was severe. There was no food anywhere in Egypt. Pharaoh told the people to go to Joseph and do what he told them. Joseph began selling people the stored food. Soon the famine became so great that even Joseph’s family in Canaan began to search for food. They heard there was food to be purchased in Egypt. All of Joseph’s brothers, except Benjamin, went to buy food for their families. Jacob would not let Benjamin go for fear that he would lose him, just like Joseph. When the brothers arrived in Egypt, Joseph saw them, but the brothers did not recognize him. Joseph was harsh with them, even accusing them of being spies. To prove their innocence, they were required to leave one brother in jail and return to Egypt with Benjamin.  Jacob did not like this. He refused for a long, until at last they had run out of food. Finally, Jacob agreed to send Benjamin. Judah promised to return him safely. When Joseph saw Benjamin, he was overjoyed. Still, he continued to test his older brothers to see if they had truly changed. He sent them on their way with bags full of food, placing a special cup in Benjamin’s bag. After they left, Joseph sent soldiers after the brothers and accused them of stealing. The brother agreed that the one who was found with the cup would become a slave. Benjamin was found with the cup. All the brothers returned to Joseph and begged for mercy. Judah even pleaded to take Benjamin’s place. Seeing the heart of his brothers had changed, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers. They were all amazed. Joseph invited his brother to return to Egypt with their families to live for the rest of time of the famine. Upon their final return, Joseph was reunited with Jacob. And Joseph took care of his family during the famine.

Object Lesson:

A Heavy Bag

Supplies Needed:
• A large bag
• Many heavy items, such as rocks or books
Directions:
1. Select a volunteer. Have the child hold the empty bag.
2. Explain that each heavy item represents an angry or hurt feeling. Have the child walk around the room for a little bit while holding the heavy bag. Explain that when we hold onto anger and hurt, it becomes a heavy burden to us. When we forgive others the burden will be gone and we will feel better. Take the heavy items out and have the child walk around with the empty bag. Talk about how it feels to have the heavy load verses the light load. Encourage the children to forgive people, just like Joseph forgave his brothers.

Memory Verse:

Genesis 50:20

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Jesus Connection:

As we continue to read the story of Joseph, we continue to see the connection between the brothers and us, and Joseph and Jesus. Like Joseph’s brother did to him, we have all done some pretty horrible things to Jesus. We continually sin against him. And like Joseph, Jesus has forgiven us of those evil things we have done to him. We intend harm, but God works all things together for the good of those who love him and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Songs

Father Abraham

Father Abraham had many sons
Many sons had Father Abraham
I am one of them and so are you
So let’s all praise the Lord
Right arm!
….Left arm!
….Right foot!
….Left foot!
….Chin up!
….Turn around!
….Sit down!

Games/Activities

Find the Cup

Supplies needed:
• A small cup (Dixie cup size)
• 3 identical buckets or large bowls
Directions:
1. Turn all three buckets upside down on a smooth table.
2. Place the cup under one of the buckets.
3. As fast as you can mix up the order of the buckets.
4. Have a child try to guess which bucket the cup is under.
5. Repeat the game for as many children as you have. You may even allow the children to mix up the order of the buckets to have more involvement.

Crafts

Royal Cup

Supplies Needed:
• White paper cups (if you have the budget to do so, get some cheap, plain, white ceramic coffee mugs)
• Sharpies
• Decorations (glitter, stickers, gems)
Directions:
1. Decorate the cup using sharpies.
2. If you are using paper cups, use other decorations, such as glitter and gems to make the cup look more special.
3. If you are using ceramic cups, bake the cup at 250 degree Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. Cool completely. Do not put in dishwasher.

Coloring Page