Children's Ministry

Toddlers & 2s

God Made Me

For the next four weeks, the toddlers and 2s class will be learning about the Bible. The children will use their five senses to learn that God gave us the Bible and that the Bible tells us about God and how God wants us to live.

Tips for Ts and 2s

Scribbles, dribbles, and mud pies. Toddlers are masters at creative messes. But very young children are also eager to help clean if someone special asks them to. Have fun with your little helper as he or she helps you clean just as Josiah cleaned the Temple. And take time to gently polish and pat the Bible and thank God for giving us this book that tells us what God is like.

Together Time

Play hide-and-seek using paper cups and a small toy such as a doll or a car. Turn three paper cups upside down. Show your child the toy, then slip it under a paper cup. Move the cups around. Encourage your toddler to choose the cup he or she thinks is hiding the toy, then let your child peek under the cups. Have your child hide the toy for you to find. Mention that God helped a young king named Josiah find something very important—God’s Word.

Shop for a special Bible storybook with your toddler. Then find a cozy spot to snuggle and look at the colorful pictures. As you read the stories, ask your child to point to special things in the pictures, such as animals, flowers, trees, and people. Tell your child that God gave us the Bible to show us how to live, and we want to read it every day so we can learn more about God.

Sing this song from class with your toddlers:

The Bible is God’s Book

(Sung to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell”)

The Bible is God’s book. The Bible comes from God. The Bible helps us learn.

Heigh-ho, the derry-o Heigh-ho, the derry-o Heigh-ho, the derry-o

The Bible is God’s book. The Bible comes from God. The Bible helps us learn.

Here Comes the Church

Bible Truth: The Church is God’s family of believers who have received Jesus as Savior.

Verse-a-month Club Verse: “”Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it”

(1 Corinthians 12:27)

This unit will help early elementary children:

Begin to understand that the Church includes all people who have received Jesus as Savior and who live obediently for God.

Discover ways that the Church lives for God and helps others come to Jesus.

Feel glad for the church and want to be part of it.

Become part of the Church by receiving Jesus as Savior.

Take part, as they are able, in the worship and work of the Church.

Faith Words

CHURCH—The Church is God’s family of believers who have received Jesus as Savior. The Church with a capital C is all believers everywhere. The church with a small c means believers who worship together. The church can also mean a place of worship.

BELIEVERS, SALVATION and SAVIOR—These are review words for this unit.

“It’s time for church.”

“We had 300 people at church last week.”

Many ways we use the word church convey the idea that it is a place. And, since children are concrete thinkers, they readily identify a special place of worship as the church. But the Church is far more than this: it is God’s people.

As the children hear stories of how God’s people told others the Good News, they can begin to grasp what the Church really is, and is about. Most important, they can belong and contribute to the Church—now!

Pre-teens

OPEN LETTER TO STUDENTS:

If you have never studied the Bible before, this is a great place to start. This will give you a strong foundation in understanding who God is and His awesome power.

If you feel you have studied Genesis and the beginning of Exodus before, take heart—this is a fresh approach that brings the whole Bible into play. There is so much to cover in these chapters: the creation of the universe, the forming and fall of man, the start of civilization and languages, and the humble beginnings of the Jewish people. Even more than this, you will be getting the background for understanding passages throughout the Bible.

Jesus is emphasized from beginning to end. Every story points to Him! God knew the plan for salvation and set it in motion from the beginning of time. It is as if God is saying, “I don't want you to miss Jesus when He comes. I will point towards Him this way, and if you miss that, I will point to Him another way.” The sad reality is that although God pointed to Jesus from every possible angle, there are many who still miss Him. May you not be one of them.

1st and 2nd Graders

4’s & 5’s

Stories Jesus Told

This unit will help children become familiar with some of the stories Jesus told.

Bible Truth: God hears and answers prayers.

Unit Bible Verse: “The LORD our God is near us every time we pray to him” (Deuteronomy 4:7, NIRV)

Faith word: PRAYER: Is talking with God

God hears and answers prayer. What a privilege we have as followers of Jesus Christ to come before God, our Creator and Sustainer, in prayer. We can talk with Him anytime, anywhere, about anything.. We can enter His presence with the confident assurance that He listens and cares for us.

During these lessons, children will learn first to praise God, thanking Him for who He is, for His love, and for His care. They will learn to thank God for the many good things they have; including family, friends, home, clothes, and food. They will learn of people in the Old Testament who petitioned God. They will discover that Hannah prayed to God when she was sad, Hezekiah prayed when he was sick, and Daniel prayed during a frightening situation.

Watch for Growth!

Does your child identify Bible characters who prayed and trusted God?

Does he/she participate in prayer?

Middlers

THE CHURCH IS BORN

Bible Truth: The Holy Spirit provides the love and power the Church needs to grow and help others.

Verse-a-Month Club Verse: “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it”

(1 Corinthians 12:27)

This unit will help middle elementary children

Realize that the Holy Spirit enabled the Early Church to grow and be effective

Begin to understand what Christian fellowship is

Grow in concern for other Christians and for those who don’t yet know Christ as Savior

Take part in the ministries of their church, as they are able

Through these lessons, we witness the power of the Holy Spirit. A lame man is healed, a prisoner’s chains are broken, and ordinary men acquire the courage to face the angry threats of powerful religious leaders.

This unit is also about the power of Jesus’ love. His love made provision for the forgiveness of sin and gives the Church its evangelistic mission. His love binds the Church together in Christian fellowship. It motivates us to pray for one another, to care and share, and to be a part of corporate worship.