My Senses

by Kimber Bailey Scott

Genesis 1, Psalm 139:13-15, Matthew 19:19

BEGIN:
Have soft children's music playing. What do you hear? God gives us ears to hear nice music.

LOOK:

Give each kid a mirror. Ask them to look at their nose, mouth, ears, eyes and hands.

SING:

(tune: London Bridge) - point to each body part when you sing

Eyes & ears, nose & mouth

Nose & mouth, nose & mouth

Eyes & ears, nose & mouth

Thank you God for making me.

RHYME:

(point to each body part)

My eyes, my ears, my nose, my mouth

My hand and feet so small.

My arms, my legs, my tummy, my head,

I know God made them all!

                                ~Sylvia Tester

PRAY: (ask children to repeat you)

God, thank You for giving us eyes, ears, noses, mouths and hands. Amen.

LESSON + SNACK:

Hold up an apple for the kids to see. What is this? God made apples for us to enjoy. God gave us eyes, noses, hands, mouths and ears so we can learn about and enjoy apples and lots of other things. Give each child an apple but tell them not to eat it yet.

The Bible tells us that God made the whole world and that God made all people. God made you and me. God made each one of us different and special, because He loves us. God made our eyes. Use your eyes to look at the apple you are holding. What does it look like?

God also made our hands and fingers. Use your hands and fingers to rub your apple. How does your apple feel?

God made our mouths and tongues. Use your mouth to bite into and taste your apple. How does it taste? Is it sweet and juicy?

God also made our ears. Use our ears to hear your apple when you bite into it and chew it. It sounds crunchy.

I am so glad that God gave us eyes, noses, hands, mouths and ears so we can enjoy everything He has made! Have them finish their apples and have them throw it in the trash. Let them wash their hands. 

APPLY:

What do we use our eyes for? What do you like to look at?

(optional: have pretty pictures and ask them if they like it)

What do we use our ears for? What do you like to hear?

(optional: Have them close their eyes. Clap your hands, snap, etc. Ask them what they hear.)

What do we use our noses for? What do you like to smell?

(optional: Have things they can smell like a rose.)

What do we use our hands and fingers for? What do you like to feel?

(optional: Have things they can touch with different textures. Which one do they like to touch the most?)

MEMORY VERSE:

Who made our bodies? The Bible tells us "God made us." Let's say those words together. "God made us." Let each kid hold their own Bible and help them turn to Psalm 100:3 then say it together. "God made us."

GAME:

"God Says" - like Simon Says

Touch your nose, mouth, ears, etc. Wiggle fingers, blink eyes, raise up your arms, stomp your feet, etc.

ART:

Give them each some play dough. Show them how to flatten it out. Then make impressions of your features. They'll have to press hard, you might have to help them. Ears, nose, mouth, teeth, fingers, hands, fingernails, etc.

YOU'LL NEED:

Soft children's music

Mirrors

Apples

Bible

Play dough

Pretty pictures

Things that smell: rose, cookies, etc.

Things they can touch like water, cotton, crepe paper, fur, etc.

I Share

by Kimber Bailey Scott

John 6:1-13

STORY TIME & SNACK:

Before you start, place lots of goldfish and oyster crackers in a basket. Lay a napkin on top of these. On top of the napkin, lay 5 rolls on top. Also have a small whole fish from the grocery story on a plate.

There were a lot of people who were hungry. Ask them to pretend to be the people, rubbing their hungry tummies. Was there anyone that could share their food? There was! A boy came to Jesus. He had 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. (as you tell the story, pull out the basket with the bread on top. Lay the fish on a plate beside the basket. The boy shared his food with Jesus. Jesus took the food and made enough for everyone to eat! Pray like Jesus did. Take the napkin off to reveal the crackers underneath. Pass out on a napkin and eat.

ART:

Copy a set of the sandwich pieces for each child and cut them out. (I got mine free at: http://familyfun.go.com/assets/cms/pdf/kaboose/sandwich.pdf ) Ask each child to glue their pieces on top of each other to make a paper sandwich. Cut the sandwiches in half. Ask each child to share one half with the sibling to their right (or with you). Each ends up with 2 halves that they glue onto paper plates. Why is it a good idea to share? How does God feel when we share? How do other people feel when we share? Who shared in our story? What did they share?

SCIENCE:
Give each kid a paper lunch sack. Take a walk outside. Gather things God shares with us that we can share with others (rocks, flowers, leaves, etc.). Then give each child a large piece of clear contact paper. Peel the backing off halfway and lay the plastic sticky side up. Let the child set his nature objects on the sticky plastic. Peel off the rest of the backing. Fold the sticky sides together with the objects in between. The children can take the pictures & share them with each other, Daddy, a friend, someone at church, etc. What are some things that God shares with us? What are some things we can share with other people? How does God feel when we share? What did the people in our story share?

SNACK #2:
Give each kid a paper plate, 4 large cheese crackers and 2 thin slices of apple. Show the children how to make sandwiches by placing the apple between the cheese crackers. Each child makes 2 cheesewiches. They share one with the person to their right. That way they have shared one but they get another one so they'll still have 2 but one's from someone else. What does it mean to share? How does it feel when someone shares with you? Tell about a time when you shared your food with someone else (homeless, family in need, etc.). Why does God want us to share? Who shared in our story? What did they share?

GAME:
Seat all your kids in a circle but one will be in the middle. Give a hat to every child in the circle including the child in the middle. Use as many different kinds of hats as you can gather. Turn on some kid friendly music and have the kids pass the hats but the child in the middle is not passing, he/she is wearing their hat. When you stop the music, each child puts on the hat they are holding. The child in the middle chooses the hat the other kids are wearing they like most of all. The child wearing that hat SHARES, giving it to the child in the middle. Then they trade places. Keep playing.
What do you share here at home? What do you share with your friends? How does it make God feel when you share? Who shared in our story? What did they share?

MEMORY VERSE:
Who wants to share? The Bible tells us "Share with others." Let's say those words together. "Share with others." Take turns sharing a Bible and ask each to say "Share with others." Hebrews 13:16

YOU'LL NEED:
2 whole fish (from butcher section of grocery store - buy the day of or the day before)
5 rolls of bread or French bread broken into 5 pieces
Goldfish crackers
Oyster crackers
napkins
basket
plate
different kinds of hats
music/cd player/Ipod player
apple
knife
plates
large cheese crackers
lunch sacks
clear contact paper
copies of sandwich patterns
glue/glue sticks
scissors
paper plates
Bible

God Cares for Me

by Kimber Bailey Scott

Exodus 6:2-8, 12:31-38; 13:17-22; Genesis 6:8-22, 7, 8:1-20, 28:10-17

SING:

(tune: Here we go 'round the mulberry bush)

God cares for *me**all the time,

All the time, all the time

God cares for me all the time.

Thank you, High God!

*insert names of children

**Wherever I live

Wherever I go

When the sun is out

When the stars are out

RHYME:

God is near when the sun shines bright. (raise arms above head to form sun)

God takes care of me all through the night. (rest cheek against hands)

God is with me when I play. (pretend to push toy truck or rock a doll)

God is with me every day! (clap hands)

                        ~Mildred Merkel

PRAY:

Let's talk to God. (Ask them to repeat what you say.) Thank you, God for caring for us day and night, when we play and when we sleep. In Jesus' name, Amen.

MEMORY VERSE:

When you prayed, did you say that God cares for you? How did you know He cares for us? The Bible tells us that God cares for us and everything in the Bible is true. The Bible says, "He cares for you." Can you say those words with me? Say them louder. Give each one a Bible or share and ask each to say "He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

LESSON:

(Hold us the pillar of cloud and fire visual aid.) What does this look like? This side is a cloud. (turn it around) This side is fire. Let me tell you how God used these things to show His people where to go.

There was a time when God's people were in Egypt. The king of Egypt made the people work very, very hard. They could not leave Egypt. Perhaps they prayed "Help us, God, help us!" God heard His people. He sent a man named Moses to help. Moses talked to the king and asked him to let God's people go. At first, the king said "NO!" but finally he changed his mind.

All of God's people hurried to pack their belongings. They gathered baskets to put their things in. Give each child a basket or bag. Let's pretend we're packing to leave Egypt. Let's put all our things in the baskets; our clothes, dishes, toys and don't forget some food. Have them put things in their bags/baskets. Now pick up your basket and let's go!

When the people left Egypt, God let them in the daytime with a big cloud. All day the cloud moved and the people followed. They didn't have cars or vans. They didn't have wagons. So they had to carry their belongings as they walked. Lead them around the house with the cloud side facing them. When it got dark, God sent a big fire to light the night and show the people which way to walk. Lead the kids around the house again but this time with the fire side facing them.

When the fire stopped, the people stopped to eat and to sleep (pretend to do so).

God took care of His people all day and all night long. God will take care of you too.

APPLY:

God cared for His people by sending something to show them which way they should go. What did God send? God cared for His people day and night. The Bible says "He cares for you." How does God care for you in the daytime? (food, water, home, parents, etc.) How does God care for you at nighttime? (keeps me safe, helps me not to be afraid, etc.)

ART:

Before you start, glue sheets of black and blue paper together. Give each child one. Give them a sun to glue on the blue side of their paper. Also the words "He cares for you...in the daytime." God gave us the sun to shine during the day because He cares for us.

Turn over to the black side and give them the moon and stars to glue on. Also the words "He cares for you...at nighttime." Even though it is dark, God can see us at night. God never stops caring for us. The Bible says "He cares for you." Who cares for you? Yes, God cares for you!

GAME: 

Sit in a circle. Say "He cares for you" several times. Then roll a large ball to one child and say the first word of the Bible verse "He" The child can roll the ball to a second child (or you) while saying the word "cares" Children can continue rolling the ball to each other (you) and saying one word of the Bible verse each time. Help them with the words as needed. During the course of the game ask: Who cares for us? Who cares for you? That's right, God cares for us. The Bible tells us "He cares for you."

SNACK:

Peel bananas and slice into crescents. That is your moon. Cut Star Fruit slices; those are the stars. (or maybe cut stars from slices of apples) Put on blue party plates. Are you afraid of the dark sometimes? What are you scared of? Who takes care of you when you sleep? Mommy & Daddy? Do you know God also takes care of you when you sleep? God loves you and takes care of you.

YOU'LL NEED:
Bible

Pillar of cloud & fire visual aid

       example: http://kidsandthebible.blogspot.com/2009/07/pillar-of-firecloud-craft.html

baskets & bags or grocery sacks

stuff around the house (toys, clothes, fruit, etc.)

Blue & black construction paper glued together

Colored shapes and words (sun, moon, stars, etc.) - see ART

glue

large ball

blue party plates

star fruit or apples

bananas

knife

Jesus Calms the Storm

by Kimber Bailey Scott

LESSON:

Make sailor hats out of newspaper or wrapping paper.

     AHOY, boys & girls! Today our story is going to have us sailing in a boating adventure! So put on your life jackets (pretend), hold onto the side of the boat (pretend) and away we go!

     Hey, look over there! (point) Someone is standing inside a boat talking - who is it? It is Jesus! He must be teaching all about God. Now He and His friends are taking the boat out sailing. It looks like He is lying down to...to take a nap. He must have been talking for a long time because He is tired! Do you want to follow the boat Jesus is in? Okay, let's go!

     Uh Oh! Here comes a big wind. (blow) Oh no! The water and waves are moving all around us! (sway) Do you think Jesus is still taking a nap? Let's look. He is! His friends seem to be scared. The boat is filling up with water! They are running over to wake Jesus up. "JESUS WAKE UP! Don't you care if we drown?!"

     Jesus is standing up. He's speaking to the wind and water "QUIET! BE STILL!" (stop swaying)

     Everyone stopped! He's looking at His friends and says "Why were you afraid? Didn't you remember I was here with you?"

     WOW! Jesus was able to make the wind and the waves do what He wanted. That was amazing! There is something else that is important too. Jesus wanted His friends and us to know that whenever we are scared, we can trust Him to be with us. Even though we can not see Him, we can believe that He is there for us. Remember each day that Jesus is there for you.

ACTIVITY: 

Make thunderstorm sounds: bang on cookie sheets or pots and pans, blow for wind, clap for rain, pound on a table, etc.

Have a conch sea shell so they can hear the sounds of the waves.

SNACK:

Blue jello in clear cups for each kid. Use a toothpick to poke gummy or Swedish fish into each. Sprinkle blue colored sugar on top.

CRAFT:

Make a storm in a bottle with big waves: Fill plastic bottle 2/3 full of water. Add 1 t salt, 7 drops Dawn dish liquid & 2 drops blue food coloring. Shake. Add oil to top. Super glue cap on. Shake to form funnel like storm or move back and forth slowly to create waves like in the ocean.

EXPERIMENT:

Will it float or will it sink? - Fill a large clear bowl with water. Give each child something (rice, pasta, coins, bar of soap, cork, craft stick, leaves, bath toy, etc.) Ask them if it will float or sink? Let's see! One at a time have a child place their item in the bowl of water. Did it float or sink?

SING:
TUNE

With Jesus in my boat I can

Smile in the storm (repeat 3x)

With Jesus in my boat I can

Smile in the storm when I'm sailing home.

When I'm sailing home (clap 2x) (repeat 2x)

With Jesus in my boat I can

Smile in the storm when I'm sailing home.

YOU'LL NEED:

Newspaper

Cookie sheets or pots/pans

Conch sea shell (if available)

Blue Jello (clear gelatin & blue juice/sports drink instead of water works great!)

Clear plastic cups

toothpick

Gummy fish

Blue colored sugar

Spoons

Clear plastic sport drink bottles with labels torn off

Water

Salt

Dawn liquid dish soap

blue food coloring

Oil

Super Glue

Large clear bowl

water

Items like rice, pasta, coins, bar of soap, cork, craft stick, leaves, bath toy, etc.

My Feelings

by Kimber Bailey Scott

1 Samuel 16:11-13, 18; Psalm 23, 31:9, 14, 15, 56:3-4

SING:

(tune: London Bridge)

Angry, mad, happy, sad

Happy, sad, happy, sad

Angry, mad, happy, sad

Thank you God for making me

RHYME: (point to body parts)

God made me special, there's only one of me.

One nose like mine, one mouth like mine,

One chin like mine, two eyes like mine,

Two ears like mine, two hands like mine.

There's only one of me. I'm special as can be! 

                               ~Karen Leet

PRETEND:

Set up a "doctor's office" before you start. Try to focus their thoughts on how your children might be feeling. Are you afraid to go to the doctor to get a shot? It's ok to feel afraid sometimes. God can help us not feel afraid. You might feel sad because this baby doll is sick. God made our feelings. He knows when we feel sad. God can help us to feel happy again. Allow them to be the doctors and help the baby dolls (or stuffed animals). Or use your pet as Canaan did.

REFLECTION:

Give each child a mirror. Ask them to look at their faces. When I look at your faces, I can tell how some of you are feeling. Show me your happy face, sad, angry, silly, etc. Now show me the face you'll make when: you go to the park to play, your at your birthday party, you have to each spinach, you got in trouble, someone hit you, you get a prize, etc. 

LESSON:

When I tell you, make those faces during the story. There was a man in the Bible, who had the same types of feelings as we do. His name was David. Sometimes, he was happy or sad. Sometimes he was afraid or angry. Give each child a colored scene or make your own. Also give them 5 sheep (cotton balls) each.

As I tell the story, I want you to pretend to be David and these (hold up a cotton ball) are your sheep. Put your sheep in the pen on your picture. Then listen so you will know when to move your sheep around in your picture. Also make the faces I ask you to.

David was a shepherd. His job was to take care of his father's sheep. Every morning, David would lead his sheep out of their pen to the green grass. (Show them how to move the sheep to the grassy area.) David felt happy. Can you show me your happy face? When the sheep were finished eating the green grass, they needed a drink. So David would walk the sheep over to the water and they would drink. (Walk sheep to stream) Then the sheep would lie down in the grass and sleep while David played his harp and sang songs to God. (move sheep back to grassy area) David felt very happy. (ask them to show you their happy face)

Suddenly, a lion came out of the bushes and tried to catch one of David's sheep! David felt angry! Can you show me your angry face? He took a stone and his sling and chased the lion away.

David and his sheep started to walk home. (walk sheep to pen) Oh no! One of the sheep got caught in the thorns and is hurt. Dave felt sad for the sheep. Can you make a sad face?

Finally, David and his sheep were safely back home. (put all sheep in the pen) Let's count our sheep to make sure they all go back home. 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 Oh good! David counted his sheep and all of them were there. He had not lost any sheep. David felt happy again. (show happy faces)

You did a great job taking care of your sheep, just like David did.

MEMORY VERSE:

Who made our feelings? The Bible tells us "God made us." Let's say those words together. "God made us." Let each kid hold their own Bible and help them turn to Psalm 100:3 then say it together. "God made us."

SNACK:

Give each child a plate. Give them 2 grapes each, a lengthwise split banana and a strawberry. Ask them to put the strawberry in the middle of the plate (it's the nose), the two grapes at the top of the plate but spread apart (those are the eyes), and the banana at the bottom of the plate (happy or sad mouth). What does it look like? That's right! A face. Have them make a sad face and then a happy face. Would eating this make you happy? Let's eat! When you're done, have them throw their own plate away. Obeying mommy makes me happy and makes God happy too. Wash hands.

GAME:

What makes you happy or sad? Give each child a happy/sad face. This can be as simple as a paper plate with a sad face drawn with a permanent marker on one side and a happy face on the other side. Ask them to show you which makes them happy or sad...You fall down and scrape your knee. You get to eat ice cream. You go to the zoo. You have to take a nap. Your friends come over to play. I let you pick out some candy at the grocery store. Etc.

YOU'LL NEED:

Mirrors

Dress up clothes (or doctors coats) - optional

Baby dolls or stuffed animals

Blankets

Strips of cloth for bandages or band-aids

Toy doctor's kit (optional)

Mats or blankets or towels

Scenes (and crayons?)

Cotton balls

Bible

Plates

Grapes or Cherries

Bananas

knife

strawberries

paper plates

permanent marker

CHRIST CAME TO MAKE THINGS FAIR

For 3rd - 6th graders

Sooner or later most people struggle with anger toward God. Some wouldn't even be able to admit it but for many this anger drives them away from God. There's plenty in this world to get angry about. There's plenty of pain and evil and injustice to go around. And what's really at the base of it? EVIL.

ILLUSTRATION

Share a personal story about a time when you were mad at God. Be honest. Don't wrap it up into a neat package either with a happy ending. BUT then you saw the reason for it all! Your transparency on this will set up a safety zone for your kids to wrestle with questions most of them struggle with.

ACTIVITY

Give a pencil and a piece of paper to one of your kids to be a scribe or have one of the kids write on the black or white or poster board then ask them to make a list of all the things in the world that seem unfair. Explain that these can be global issues (starvation, etc.) or they can be personal issues (divorce, fights, etc.). Encourage them by adding some of your own personal issues.

REFLECTION

Give each an index card and have them write their biggest gripe about God. What one thing makes them frustrated or mad at God or makes them doubt Him the most? Don't ask them to share this and let them know they won't be asked to. They can be completely candid with God. Tell them they can phrase it like I'm bugged that.... or Why did You allow this to happen?

READ

Psalms 10 & 77

Read these Psalms in a dramatic way, full of anger. It would be cool to divide the verses into a reader's theatre and have two or three dramatic readers. Some of your kids might be uncomfortable with this presentation of a Bible passage which would be great!

Why does bad stuff happen?

First, we have to realize that we don't always get to know the reason.

Christians have a way of trying to settle on a reason for every unfair thing. That's not always possible and forcing a fake reason doesn't do us any good.

OBJECT LESSON

Pass out one puzzle piece to each kid. Explain that this puzzle piece is a lot like our lives. We get to see some of the picture, some of the colors, but we don't get to see how it all fits together – at least not always. Sure, we can look at the picture on the front of the puzzle box which in this case would be the Word of God and all God's revealed truth. And we can get enough info to understand what the basic subject of the puzzle is. But we usually don't get to see the whole picture. Maybe give them a piece of yarn to wrap around the puzzle piece and make a bracelet out of it to remind them.

READ

Romans 8:28-39

Point out that this scripture doesn't say “God causes bad stuff to happen.” It does say God takes all things bad and good and uses them for good in our lives. Unfortunately it doesn't say we get to know all the details of the plan.

Psalm 46:10

God has everything under control. Reminding ourselves of this truth will help us deal with our anger.

Bad things happen because actions have consequences.

This is touchy because sometimes we end up suffering consequences from someone else's evil!

God had 2 options when He created us

He could have made us like robots – pure all the time, quick to worship him and quick to do what's right. But with no real choices.

OR

He could and did decide it was somehow better for Him and us to allow us to choose between good and evil.

We make unhealthy decisions, and we have to live with the consequences.

DISCUSSION

Ask them if they know the consequence these Bible people had to live with as a result of their choices.

David's sin with Bathsheba (Their first born child died)

Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the forbidden Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. (They had to leave the garden.)

Cain killed his brother Abel. (He had to wander the land, never to settle down.)

Lot's wife looked back as she was fleeing from Sodom. (She was turned into a pillar of salt.)

Judas betrayed Jesus. (He was branded as a traitor for all time.)

OBJECT LESSON

Display a few ingredients to make cookies (chocolate chips, butter, flour, salt)

Ask if they would like to eat some flour. Or some butter. If you can get one of your crazy kids to do it – go for it!

Now pass out chocolate chip cookies and ask everyone to hold them for a minute. Explain no truly normal person would want to consume the ingredients separately – this will be a badge of honor for any kid who took you up on eating ingredients.

You might like eating a cup of chocolate chips, but you probably don't want to eat the flour or salt or butter separately. It's a mix of all the flavors together that makes the cookie so good. In the same way God loves to use the sweet things and the bitter things in life to bring about a wonderful result.

REVIEW

Most people get angry with God from time to time. God can handle that! We can't always see the reason for bad stuff because we can't see everything from God's perspective. Sometimes bad stuff happens just because there's evil in the world – which God allows and will use for our good. Sometimes bad stuff happens to us as a consequence to our own bad choices and sin. But God still wants to turn that into good stuff!

REFLECTION

Have them pull out those cards and look at them again. Explain that God knows what we feel. He knows if we're angry or sad. We have to trust God wants to use that bad thing for good somehow. If they are willing to trust God on this or willing to try, ask them to write GOD IS IN CONTROL on top of their earlier writing and put it in a safe place as a reminder.

END WITH

Do you think God ever did something mean to you on purpose?

Is it okay to be angry with God?

So why does bad stuff happen to us?

People make unhealthy decisions all the time. Who's to blame when bad stuff happens then?

What's one of the worst things you've seen on the news lately? Did God make it happen?

Why can't we see how the puzzle fits together?

PRAYER

Think of one thing no matter how small that you can let go of that's not fair in your life. Allow God to be God and trust He has a plan for you and will make it turn into something good, somehow.

GOD WANTS US TO OBEY

For ages 3rd grade to 6th grade

Most kids hate to be told what to do. So the idea that God has rules for us to follow can get pretty boring! most non-Christians view Christianity as a restrictive set of rules. Nothing more. Sadly many Christian kids live with a similar view.

What would happen if in the middle of the day all the fences at the zoo collapsed and the animals began to run free through the city?

Many people perceive fences as negative. Fences hold them in. They block their path. They create boundaries that limit their freedom. If we think of the rules God has for us as fences -- we often have the same reaction: God's the party pooper putting up random fences to mess up our lives and make them boring.

What do I mean by fences? What are some of the fences god puts around our lives?

What or who suffers when we hop over God's commands for us?

When we ignore God's commands, how can we get hurt?

When we ignore God's commands, how can we hurt those around us?

When we ignore God's commands, how does it affect God?

When we run free, we hurt others!

What would happen to an elephant running loose in a big city?

God puts fences up in our lives in the form of his commands and scriptural advice. This godly instruction keeps us out of places we shouldn't be and in places that are safe.

It isn't because the zookeeper wants to ruin the elephant's life that he keeps the elephant from running around the city.

What are some of the fences God doesn't want us to hop over?

ILLUSTRATION:

A train is unlike a car in the sense that it's forced to follow the train tracks. On one hand that might seem like a bummer and like a lack of freedom. But think of the other option. Take a speeding train off the tracks and what do you have? You have a horrible train wreck with cars piled on top of each other. The tracks are the guides that keep the train from destroying itself. God's commands are our guides -- to keep us from destroying ourselves.

What danger does the elephant who's running through the city pose to others?

When we break through God's guidelines for our lives, those around us get hurt.

OBJECT LESSON:

Show them an owner's manual.

See how the manufacturer took time to write down all the instructions? We're given the dos and don'ts so we won't ruin the object and so we can know how it works. God has given us His instructions in the Bible so we know how relationships work and so we won't mess them up and hurt others.

What is the elephant's caretaker thinking and feeling while the elephant is running around hurting others in the city?

God has given us commands so we'll remain close to Him. His commands are there to protect our relationship with Him. If we break His commands and jump the fence, we can become distant from God.

Why are some of God's fences in our best interest? Be specific.

REFLECTION:

have them spend a couple of minutes in silence, thinking about which of God's fences they've been jumping lately. Invite them to ask forgiveness and to pray about staying within God's boundaries.

ACTIVITY:

Pick up a NO TRESPASSING sign. After they spend time in silent prayer, offer them the opportunity to sign, using a permanent marker, the sign as a show of spiritual commitment. Hang the sign up somewhere as a reminder. 

God has given us commands and rules for a reason. They protect us. They protect those around us. And they keep our relationship with God our caretaker strong. If we don't understand this, we'll probably jump the fence because we don't understand its purpose. The result is that our lives will run recklessly out of control and away from the safety of God's loving arms.

In what way is the Bible the instruction book for our lives? God has said if we keep His commands, we will remain close to Him. Why is that so important?

Is staying on God's side of the fence that big of a deal?

SHARE:

Share a time in your life when you went trespassing over a fence God has commanded us not to cross and either you or someone around you got hurt - physically or emotionally.

How would your life be different, positive or negative, if you never ever crossed one of God's fences?

What are some of the ways we can help each other stay within God's commands?

How can we know God's commands better?

Is there someone you've hurt by fence jumping recently? What can you do to make it right?

How can you be more obedient to God?

READ:

Matthew 5:17-20

Matthew 22:34-42

1 John 5:1-3

BOOK:

(taken from copyrighted 2012 ACU Leadership Camps curriculum)

The Song of the King by Max Lucado

Who is the King? (God)

How does a person know which voice is the right voice to listen to? (know the true voice so well that you cannot mistake it - in the story, choosing the right companion - Jesus - who could teach us to hear the King)

What or who are voices in your lives? What happens if you choose the wrong voice to listen to? (lost in the forest - separated from God)

What happens if you learn to hear the right voice? (you will find your way)

END WITH:

(taken from copyrighted 2012 ACU Leadership Camps curriculum)

If we are going to honor Jesus' prayer "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" then we must be obedient in every way to God's commands. We've got to love God more than anything or anyone else in a way that changes the way we think and live. We've got to love others in ways that are different than the way the world loves people. And we've got to recognize that our obedience is how we show our love to God. He wants more than just an I love you note - He wants to see it in our lives.

PLANS & PLANES

by Kimber Bailey Scott

MEMORY VERSE

Jeremiah 29:11 "I know the plans I have for you," announces the Lord. "I want you to enjoy success. I do not plan to harm you. I will give you hope for the years to come."

God keeps us safe and even when we're in trouble, He has His own plans for us so we should not be afraid.

Hebrews 13:6 & Psalm 118:6 The Lord helps me. I will not be afraid. What can a mere man do to me?

WHEN YOU GET TO THE AIRPORT

• Grab one of those airline baggage tags and give each of your children one. Let's pretend like it's your ticket to get on the plane. Tell them when going through security, they have to show their ticket to them. Usually the security officers are more than happy to pretend along and "sign" their ticket. The tags are great because they can put it around their wrist.

BEFORE YOU GET ON THE PLANE

• Get to the airport early and after checking in and going through security, walk the airport. This will tire them out and make you very happy on the airplane. Talk about the airplanes. Watch them take off and land. Say the memory verse.

• Get a drink and have a "coffee break." Talk about where you've been and where you're going and why. Say the memory verse.

WHEN YOU BOARD & DURING TAKE OFF

• Right before boarding, talk about the plans you've had and the plans you do have today. Say the memory verse again several times with them and/or sing the song. There are several. Ryan & I know a children's song with the Jeremiah 29:11 verse but I couldn't find that version online. Another kid's version is by The Wonder Kids (100 Bible Verses Every Kid Can Sing and Know) in Itunes or on their website. 
• Sit at the back of the plane by a window to be able to see the back of the wings. Some kids like to watch the flaps move when taking off and landing. Talk about how the engineers made plans and designed to build this plane likewise how God made and designed each one of us. How the airline people and the government have rules and plans to keep the airplanes and us safe likewise God keeps us safe too.
• If you see another plane coming before take off, ask them where they think those people have been. Where do you think they are going? The answers could be immediate time or broader. Canaan said that they aren't home and aren't going to work. I asked where to then. He said, "Hawaii!" Do you think we're a little excited about going to Hawaii in two months?! God knows where we've been and where we're going. He'll guide us and help us to get there if we let Him.
• Pray out loud, thanking God for allowing us to have had a great time where we were and now getting to our destination - home or other. Ask God to keep you safe and healthy on the airplane and in the car. Allow them to talk to God if they desire to and encourage them gently if they do not. 
• Watch the scenery during take off. Talk about - and make it fun - how God keeps us safe in the sky and through the clouds. 

DURING THE FLIGHT

• If you walked enough in the airport (usually at least 45 minutes) before boarding, a newborn to six year old will probably be asleep within 10 minutes of take off. You maybe too :)

• If not, pull out their kid's scissors (yes, security will allow for children's scissors as long as they're rounded.), a sheet of paper (OR the back of the magazine could do), a glue stick and the airline magazine in the seat pocket. Allow them to cut and paste to make a collage of: a happy family going on vacation or at home, what heaven on earth looks like to them, all about airplanes, free form hearts and other shapes (you may have to help), etc.
• Allow them to listen to Faith Comes by Hearing Kidz audio Bible BibleStick (like an ipod)
• Give them an action figure to play with and keep safe during the flight.

• Minister together to someone sitting close to you.
• Just for fun - The fasten seat belt sign has flashed and the plane is about to begin its descent to your destination. You’ll need an empty plastic water bottle. Before the plane descends, open it and then cap the bottle tightly. Place the bottle somewhere the kids can see it. Rub your temples and stare at the bottle as the plane descends. The bottle will be crushed by the time the wheels hit the runway. Stop staring and shake your head as if coming out of a trance. TRICK: What’s going on is that when you sealed the bottle at the high altitude, the pressure on the inside of the bottle was equal to that outside the bottle. But when you moved from high in the atmosphere, where the outside pressure is not as strong, to the bottom of the atmosphere, where the pressure is very strong, the bottle was crushed.

WHEN YOU LAND

• Pray together out loud. DO NOT be afraid. Your kids need to see you pray (with respect - not loud like the Pharisees) in public...and not just when there's food.They need to know that God is #1 in your life and in turn in theirs. Thank Him for the safe trip, for the pilots, etc. 
• Talk about where you're going now and the plans you have this week. Say the memory verse again. What plans do you think God might have for us? Talk about being flexible because our plans aren't always God's plans. 

You may think that talking about being flexible because our plans aren't always God's plans is too heavy for a 3 year old or other ages but I assure you it's not. The more you talk like this with your kids and not freak out when things don't go as you planned, the more peace you and your children will have when plans change unexpectedly and expectations aren't met.This has been a great lesson even for me and can be for you too! I truly like everything to go the way I've planned and organized for it to go. BUT God's taught me to rely on Him and to still be relaxed and have a good time -- to roll with it happily. Although God's still teaching me to be better with this, each time I travel with the kids, it makes for a much better trip for everyone and yourself when you're calm, able to be flexible and not be high strung even when your baby is crying, the flight's delayed, the plane's a/c is broken, they won't serve snack/drinks because of the turbulence, someone else's kid next to you keeps touching you with their feet, etc. Yes, all of that's happened to Canaan & I and much more. Not only will you enjoy yourself more, but your kid's will too. Also your kids are watching you. They are learning and picking up everything you do because they'll remember more what you do than all the millions of words you say. Be patient and flexible when God allows your plans to change. Also you never know whose watching you and you may be ministering to them by your actions even if you never speak to them. Plant those wonderful seeds in others and in especially in your own children!

Jesus Healed Jarius' Daughter

by Kimber Bailey Scott
for 2-5 year olds

SONG: 

(tune: Frere Jacques)

Are you sleeping? Are you sleeping?

Little girl? Little girl?

Jesus is coming, He will help you.

Now you're well! Now you're well!

LESSON:

Tell the story with a towel/blanket and a doll that opens and shuts eyes OR act it out yourself.

Matthew 9:1, 18-26; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56

Have each kid be Jesus and go to the doll or to you. 

Have them say: She's only sleeping! Get up!

They pick up the doll and the eyes open OR have them "help" you up and your eyes open.

Why did Jarius come to Jesus? What did Jesus do?

PRAY:

When Jarius came to Jesus, he knelt down. Show them how to kneel if they don't already know how. During prayer time, have everyone kneel. Kneeling shows God that He is king and we respect and worship Him.

ACT:

Lay down a towel for each child. Have each kid lay on one. Kneel down beside each one and touch them saying You're only sleeping! Get up! Then have them walk around the room.

GAME:

Play pin the band-aid on the girl (you as the mom might be the only girl).

CRAFT:

Cut out a large shape of a child for each kid. Tell them what to color: eyes, mouth, nose, hair, ears, belly button, fingers, knees, etc. Give them band-aids and tell them where to place the band-aids: over the heart, on an eye, knee, elbow, tummy, etc. Talk about ailments and where we get hurt. Write on each: Jesus healed Jarius' daughter; He can heal me too!

ACTIVITY:

Have a bag of gauze. Loosely wrap a piece around each child; give them a choice: elbow, wrist/hand, knee or ankle.

SNACK:

Have a pop tart with strawberry filling for each child. Cut it to make it "bleed." Cut strips of fruit foll ups for them to use as band-aids.

YOU'LL NEED:

Blanket

Doll (opens & shuts eyes)

Bible

Towel for each kid

Picture or cutout of a child

Band-aids

Gauze

Strawberry filled pop tarts

Plastic knives

Plates or paper towels

Fruit roll ups

CHILD TRAINING BIBLE (and train yourself too)

When I first started this blog, a friend of mine Carissa from California told me about Child Training Bible.

I was a little busy that day and didn't get a chance to look at it until my best friend, Leslie in Texas texted me about it and said they were having a sale that day. I got on and bought one immediately. I read through everything and ended up buying one for me too! What a great idea Mindy the inventor had!!! Amazing. Seriously, amazing! I strongly encourage you to get this for your kids and yourself too. 

GET INTO THE WORD

GET YOUR KIDS INTO THE WORD

Not only will you expand their knowledge, you'll expand your wisdom and knowledge as well.

Jesus Heals a Lame Man at the Pool

by Kimber Bailey Scott
for 2-5 year olds

ASK:
Sit on the floor and have a first aid kit. Open it and pull out bandages and band-aids. Put them on the kid(s). Do you ever get hurt? Where? Who helps you when you get hurt? What does _(mom?)__ do to make you feel better?

READ:

John 5:1-9. Have a clear bowl of water. Add a few drops of blue food coloring. Act out the story with a couple of their little action figures or as Canaan calls them "lil' mans."

GAME: 

Place a blue round plastic tablecloth on the floor as a pool. Everyone grabs an edge of the cloth and ripples it. Say/yell one of your kids names, they jump in the middle and everyone says SPLASH! Keep going until everyone has had a turn.

OR

Go to the bathtub and fill it half way with water. Have them put their hands in the tub to feel the water. Now take their hands out. Say one of your kids names, he/she puts their hands in the tub and splashes around as everyone else says, "SPLASH!" Repeat until each kid has had a turn. 

No legs race - Have them line up and race across the room except they can't use their legs.

SNACK:

Lame man at the pool - Plastic container of blue jello for each kid. (optional - Sprinkle colored blue sugar on top as "salt.") Give them mini marshmallows and small pretzel sticks to make a lame man at the pool.

YOU'LL NEED:

First aid kit

Bandages

Band-aids

Bible
clear bowl of water
blue food coloring
couple of their little action figures

Blue round plastic tablecloth or your tub in the bathroom (and maybe some towels)

Clear plastic containers or cups

blue jello (or clear gelatin and blue juice/sports drink instead of adding water works great!)

Blue colored sugar (sugar mixed with a couple drops of blue food coloring) - optional

mini marshmallows

small pretzel sticks

What I found after Canaan went down for a nap...

I love finding Canaan's toys where he leaves certain ones at times. Today was no exception except this was not a toy, this was his Bible that he carries with him. I found it like this after he had gone down for a nap.

Jesus Heals A Blind Man

by Kimber Bailey Scott
for 2-5 year olds

ASK: 

Sit on the floor & have a first aid kit. Open it and explain what each item is and why and what for. Lay them out. Have you ever been sick or gotten hurt? Who takes care of you? Doctors are smart people and they're smart because God gives them knowledge to help people.

READ:

Mark 10:46-52

This man's faith was in Jesus. He believed Jesus could heal him. All he had to do was ask and Jesus did it. Have you ever been sick? With what? Can Jesus heal you when you're sick?

GAME:

The man Jesus healed was blind, which means he couldn't see anything at all, even when his eyes were open and all the lights were on. Close your eyes tight...that's kind of what it's like to be blind. Open your eyes now. Let's play a game. Blindfold one kid at a time (or all if you're brave). Do things like Simon says and follow the leaders voice. Could you see anything with the blindfold on? Would you want to be blind all the time?

CRAFT:

Let's make something to help us remember that Jesus can heal us when we are sick or hurt. Touch and feel - Fill bags with lots of small objects of different textures. Have the children put their hand into the bag to feel it. Can they guess what it is? 

Have Zorro type masks for them and sticky notes on the backs to cover up the eye holes. Jesus healed the blind man and allowed him to see. Peel off the sticky notes and place the masks on their heads.

SNACK:

Draw eyes on a plate or butcher paper. Give them 2 Oreo cookies and have them place it on the eyes of the face. Tell the story again as they eat.

YOU'LL NEED:

First aid kit

Bible

Blindfold

Paper sacks

Small items with different textures (balloon, gummy bears, sand, rock, etc.)

Masks

Stick Notes

Plates or butcher paper

Permanent marker

Oreo or other round cookies

WHY do I need to write on my kid's hearts?

If we are to "write" God's Word on our children's hearts during the time we have with them, we CANNOT leave it up to their Sunday school teachers. Be their Godly parent and "start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it." (Proverbs 22:6)


Deuteronomy 6:6-9 says The commandments I give you today must be in your hearts. Make sure your children learn them. Talk about them when you are at home. Talk about them when you walk along the road. Speak about them when you go to bed. And speak about them when you get up. Write them down and tie them on your hands as a reminder. Also tie them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses. Also write them on your gates.

AND

Deuteronomy 11:18-20 says So keep my words in your hearts and minds. Write them down and tie them on your hands as a reminder. Also tie them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home. Talk about them when you walk along the road. Speak about them when you go to bed. And speak about them when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses. Also write them on your gates.