bible passage: acts 11:19–30 (church in...

3.11date:____/____/____

SERVICE SCHEDULE

Explore::Welcome & Engage

10–15 minutes

Discover & Respond:: Large Group

30–40 minutes

Respond & Bless::Small Group

20–35 minutes

© 2011 David C. Cook. TruResources are developed in partnership with ROCKHARBOR Church and a national network of family and children’s ministry leaders. All rights reserved.

God’s Love Helps Us to Respond

Bible Passage: Acts 11:19–30(Church in Antioch)

ENVIRONMENT: LOVE AND RESPECT Without love, our faith becomes futile. Children need to experience love and respect in order to receive and give God’s grace. Innate in this environment is the value that children are respected because they embody the image of God. We must speak to them not at them, and we must commit to an environment where love and acceptance

are never withheld due to one’s behavior.

REMEMBER VERSE

Love one another. You must love one another, just as I have loved you. John 13:34 (NIrV)

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© 2011 David C. Cook

Inspire

When my daughter, Chantel, was five years old, our family took a one-day trip to Mexico with our church. We spent the day with the families from the community helping to bathe and clothe the children. At the end of the day, when all of the clothes had been given away and the water tanks had been shut down and put on the trucks, my five-year-old noticed that one child had not been given a bath or clothes. Chantel became outraged—right there in the middle of everyone. The idea that this child had gone without was completely unacceptable to her. She began—much like a vigilante and almost disrespectfully—fighting to see that justice was done for this girl. “Turn the water back on; get some clothes out here!” she cried. At one point, someone tried to tell her that we were all out of clothes, but my daughter passionately responded, “Then everyone needs to start donating something!”

I looked around in amazement to see several grown men and women following the prompting of this five-year-old child. They were lugging out the heavy water tanks and bath products as well as scrounging to find clothes for the eight-year-old child who Chantel was fighting for—and still she wasn’t finished. She went to our car—completely unprompted—and took out her brand-new pink fluffy jacket and gave it to the little girl. Neither my husband nor I told her to do this. She was simply responding to the love of God within her. The Holy Spirit was leading my daughter in her passionate fight of respect and justice for one child.

During our trip home, I was curious as to what Chantel’s reaction would be after the events of the afternoon had settled in. Nothing but cheerful conversation and “remember whens” came from the backseat. She never mentioned the pink coat as a personal loss. Instead, this day remains one of her favorite childhood memories.

I’ve often reflected on the compassion and justice my daughter showed that day, and the way she ensured a young girl in Mexico would be shown love and respect. When my daughter encountered a different culture and a challenging circumstance, she responded with the love of a God who knows no boundaries of culture, language, or circumstance … His love simply overflows.

God’s love helps us to respond.

Michelle AnthonyTruWonder Team

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Equip

In the early days following Jesus’ ascension, many people were coming to faith. The gathering of believers was growing and true community was developing. A young man named Stephen was among seven men appointed by the 12 apostles to serve communities with the distribution of food and supplies to needy widows. As he served, Stephen was filled with God’s grace and power, performing many miracles in His name. When word of this reached some men of the synagogue, they approached Stephen and began to debate with him. Seeing that Stephen would not back down, the leaders seized Stephen and stoned him to death.

Stephen’s death was the first of a great wave of persecution that swept over the church in Jerusalem, and followers of “The Way” scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. These followers preached the Word of God to the Jews. However, some believers went to the city of Antioch and preached the good news of Jesus to the Gentiles. “The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21 NLT).

Antioch enjoyed a prosperous economy due to its strategic location at the crossroads for trade routes to the south (Palestine and Egypt), east to Persia, and west to the Asia Minor Peninsula. Antioch was ranked the third-greatest city in the Roman Empire, after Rome and Alexandria, with a population of over 500,000. It was a blend of many cultures, beliefs, and practices. The city, referred to as “Queen of the East,” was also known for its extravagant, wasteful, and reckless behavior.

When the Jerusalem church heard of the growing number of believers in Antioch, they sent Barnabas—a godly and faith-filled man—to visit. During his first stay, Barnabas witnessed the blessing of God upon these believers; many turned and put their faith in the Lord. Barnabas left Antioch long enough to return with Saul—who had once persecuted and killed followers of The Way—and they stayed for a year teaching the Word of God.

It’s from this time of God’s Spirit moving in Antioch that we see the beginning of the Gentile movement: the first Gentile church, the first missionaries, and the first act of generous financial giving for another local church community. It’s here in Antioch that believers were first named Christians (Christianoi), or “partisans of Christ.” What citizens of the city may have intended as a coining in jest, the followers of The Way embraced as a fitting title to describe their new identity.

Further Resources

Remember Verse Motions Inspired by American Sign Language; demonstrated at signingsavvy.com and http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/browser .htm

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Support

Have you ever watched a makeover show of any kind on television? You know, the type of show with the compelling story of someone who was in great need, and as a result of the work of those involved with the show, their life is completely turned around? Or how about the people who wait so patiently outside the grocery store collecting money for various philanthropic organizations—have you seen them? Or have you ever heard a story of great life change in a sermon at church? When you do, what’s your gut reaction? Is the Holy Spirit calling you to action? What’s your response?

This week, when you find yourself in a situation where you’re having your “heartstrings” tugged, or you experience that fiery feeling in the core of your body after hearing or seeing something in particular, stop and pause for a moment. Is God saying something to you specifically? What is His love calling you to? How will you answer?

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© 2011 David C. Cook 5

Lesson OverviewExperience Time Summary Supplies/Prepare

(Master Supply List under Resource Tab)

Explore::Welcome & Engage

10–15 min.

Exploration stations create space intended to transition children—to lead them from the external world into an environment where they can commune with God, just as they are with all that they are.

Focus Station: Woven Together in Love(per table)• cutouts of various-sized hearts and people (see

Resource Folder; 1 of each per child)• yarn, thin ribbon, or laces• hole punch• masking tape• optional: crayons• Explore bin

(Optional) Station 2: Books of Love(per table) • various children’s books about love (suggestions:

My Valentine for Jesus, The Berenstain Bears: God Loves You!, I Know Jesus Loves Me, Love You Forever, Guess How Much I Love You, Bear Hugs, The Way I Love You, Never Too Little to Love)

• optional: throw pillows

Discover::Large Group

20–25 min.

Facilitate interactive games, songs, and storytelling, allowing children to participate in discovering God’s Word.

• Chloe (puppet or person)• Chloe’s Rules video or script (see Resource Tab)• preschool program theme song• 2 upbeat worship songs (suggestion: “Welcome

to the Playhouse,” TruWorship Songs from the Playhouse)

• optional: countdown video• Mail Time intro clip and slide (see Resource Tab)• Remember Verse slide and cards (see Resource

Folder)• Mail Time envelope art printed and attached to a

large envelope (see Resource Tab)• Bibles (your personal and large children’s)• mailbox• Wardrobe of Wonder intro clip and slide (see

Resource Tab)• Wardrobe of Wonder• Wardrobe of Wonder sound effect (see Resource

Tab)• optional: silly hats for prop/hat box• 2 small stools or chairs

(Continued)

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Lesson OverviewExperience Time Summary Supplies/Prepare

(Master Supply List under Resource Tab)

Discover::Large Group

(Continued)

• What’sIt: A Picture of People, the Church (suggestion: picture of kids in your large group program to represent the church; see slide in Resource Folder)

• The Big God Story intro clip and slide (see Resource Tab)

• map of Jerusalem and Antioch, Barnabas and Paul figures (see Resource Folder)

• easel with paper or dry-erase board• markers (regular for paper or dry-erase)

Respond::Large Group

10–15 min.

Create space for children to respond to the Holy Spirit in worship and community.

• title slide (see Resource Tab) or worshipful video loop

• worship song of children’s choice (have favorites ready)

Respond:: Small Group

15–30 min.

Further process the story through discussion and interaction with others, and respond to God in worship through creative expression.

Connect: Share, Share, Share Alike(per small group) • cheerful music (suggestion: Mary Rice

Hopkins, “Sharing Comes ’Round Again,” or “Little Is Much”)

• 10 pennies• packet of instant oatmeal• a sock• small pouch or bag (to fit pennies, oatmeal,

and sock)

Create: Givin’ It Away(per table/small group) • drawing paper cut into half sheets• crayons• butcher paper or poster board• double-sided tape, glue dots, or glue sticks

Wonder Questions

Bless::Small Group

5 min. Bless the children that they may experience God fully and be a blessing to others.

• Blessing/Remember Verse• HomeFront Weekly

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Explore:: 10–15 min.

Host/Small Group Leaders

EXPLORE | DISCOVER | RESPOND | BLESS

SmallGroupS E C T I O N

Exploration stations create space intended for wonder—to pique children’s curiosity and allow them to engage in hands-on experiences as they begin their time in worship.

Invite children to participate at the Focus Station (or optional stations, if available). Explore the materials with the children and engage them in open-ended questions about their observations. This will encourage them to explore and form questions on their own throughout the lesson.

Station 1: Woven Together in LoveSUPPLIES (per table)• cutouts of various-sized hearts and people (see Resource Folder; 1 of each per child)• yarn, thin ribbon, or laces• hole punch• masking tape• optional: crayons• Explore bin

PREPAREGather all materials. Use the hole punch to punch a few holes around the perimeter of each shape. Cut one-foot lengths of yarn, ribbon, or laces. Seal each end of yarn by wrapping masking tape around it. Place in an Explore bin.

SET UPPlace Explore bin on table with yarn inside. Arrange heart and people shapes in the center of the table.

ENGAGEWelcome children to the exploration station. Encourage children to weave the items together using the lengths of yarn. Demonstrate in-and-out techniques as needed, or simply wrapping the shapes together. Ask: What does the heart shape mean to you? What does the people shape mean to you? What could it mean if you weave the two shapes together? Give children time to color their shapes if they would like.

Focus

Station

Partner Church Comments

The kids loved the lacing of the hearts and people. We had the children see the lacing as a “groundhog” who goes underground and out of his hole and they got it!

—The Beacon


Lacing hearts and people was engaging and brought up good discussion.

—Maple Valley Presbyterian Church

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(Optional) Station 2: Books of LoveSUPPLIES (per table)• various children’s books about love (Suggestions: My Valentine for Jesus, The

Berenstain Bears: God Loves You!, I Know Jesus Loves Me, Love You Forever, Guess How Much I Love You, Bear Hugs, The Way I Love You, Never Too Little to Love. Check your local library for copies or ask leaders to bring copies from home.)

• optional: throw pillows

PREPAREPlace the various children’s books about love on a table. If you want to create a comfy reading environment, bring in a few pillows and toss them on the floor.

ENGAGEWelcome children to the exploration station. Encourage them to look through the books or make yourself available if they would like to read a story with you. Have fun. Talk about the stories and how love is shown by the characters. Have them look at the pictures with a friend and find images of love. What is your favorite story of love? How do people or animals in the books show their love? Show us your favorite picture of love from one of the books. How does your mom, dad, or grandparent show they love you? Would anyone like to tell us a story of love?

N O T E S :


They loved reading the books on love. It was a great activity. Kids love being read to.

—The Rock Church

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Discover:: 20–25 min.Host/Worship Leader/Storyteller

Children move into a large group setting and participate in discovering God’s Word through storytelling, worship, and interactive experiences.


LargeGroup

S E C T I O N

REMEMBER VERSE


The following instructions have been condensed, but if you’d like more information about any of the components of the large group program, please see Putting It Together in the Resource Tab.

Chloe’s RulesHost/Worship Leader

Begin large group by using Chloe (a puppet or person) to review the rules of your program. It’s a great time to remind children how we can all be part of a loving community through the words we speak, sitting with our small group, and sharing. Add a theme song to your program for a fun way to help give identity to your large group program. Also choose two upbeat worship songs from a worship album that fits. The supplies you’ll want to gather for this section are the Chloe’s Rules video or script (see Resource Tab), Chloe (a puppet or person), your preschool program theme song, worship music (suggestion: “Welcome to the Playhouse,” TruWorship Songs from the Playhouse), and a countdown video (optional).

Mail Time Host/Worship Leader

Have children retrieve mail (the current Remember Verse from the Bible) from their mailbox. Review the meaning of the verse and any unfamiliar words with the children as they prepare to memorize it. Supplies to gather include the Mail Time intro clip and slide, Remember Verse slide (for projection and Mail Time envelope), Remember Verse cards (print and distribute along with HomeFront Weekly), Mail Time envelope art printed and attached to a large envelope, a Bible, a large children’s Bible, and a mailbox.

God’s Love Helps Us to Respond

Ponder Point

love: caring deeply about someone, and being patient and kind

one another: your family, friends, neighbors, classmates, all the people you know (even the difficult ones!)

Remember Verse Definitions

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Wardrobe of Wonder Storyteller/Host/Worship Leader

Hide the What’sIt connected to The Big God Story within the wardrobe. Together as a community, the children will discover the identity of this object as they begin to ask questions from their observations and experiences. You’ll need to have ready a Wardrobe of Wonder, Wardrobe of Wonder intro clip, slide, and sound effect (see Resource Tab), silly hats for the prop/hat box (optional), and two small stools or chairs. For this What’sIt you’ll need a picture of people, the church (see optional slide available in Resource Folder). Note: At some point during last week’s large group portion of your kids’ worship service, you should have taken a picture of the children. This picture can be used as your What’sIt for this lesson.

ASKWhat is this we’ve found in the Wardrobe of Wonder today? (Children will respond; interact with their answers.) A picture of a group of people. In this case we would call this special group of people “the church.” Does that sound kind of funny? Have you always just thought of the church as a building you go to? Of course you’re right, that building is called a church. Calling a group of people the church means they’re people gathered together who love and believe in Jesus. Guess what? We’re the church! We love Jesus! What does it look like these people are doing? I wonder where we’re going to hear more about the church as people in The Big God Story. Are you ready to find out? (Children answer.) Me too! Do you know what time it is?

What’sIt: A Picture of People, the ChurchThe church in Antioch was the first church established for Gentiles. The Spirit of God was moving in powerful ways and getting the message of the good news to all who would hear and receive. The growth of the church was marked by the number of people who were coming to faith. We know it’s really people who make up the church, and not the buildings in which we meet and gather.

Love: Cross arms over chest.

one another: With both hands in a “thumbs up” position, turn your hands so the tip of the thumb on each hand is facing the other. Pin hands in a circular motion rotating thumbs one over the other.

You must: Extend your arms in front of your body with index fingers pointing forward.

love: Cross arms over chest.

one another: With both hands in a “thumbs up” position, turn your hands so the tip of the thumb on each hand is facing the other. Pin hands in a circular motion rotating thumbs one over the other.

just as I: Extend arms straight above your head. Use your index fingers to point to heaven.

have loved: Cross arms over chest.

you: Extend your arms in front of your body with index fingers pointing forward.

RememberVerse Motions


The kids loved seeing pictures of themselves in the wardrobe!

—Mt. Paran North Churchof God

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The Big God StoryActs 11:19–30Storyteller

SUPPLIES• The Big God Story intro clip and slide (see Resource Tab)• Bible (adult or children’s to use during teaching)• What’sIt: A Picture of People, the Church (see slide in Resource Folder)• map of Jerusalem and Antioch, Barnabas and Paul figures (see Resource Folder)• easel with paper or dry-erase board• markers (regular for paper or dry-erase)

Hello, friends! It’s so good to see you today! Before we jump into The Big God Story, let’s stop and ask God to teach us. Let’s quiet our voices and rest our hands and feet as we close our eyes and talk to God. (Lead children in a Prayer of Release.)

Today in The Big God Story, we get to hear about God’s big love. His love grew in people’s hearts until they were so full of His love that they had to do something about it—let’s take a look. (Open your Bible and begin to storytell.) After Jesus went back up to heaven, His very special disciples—called the apostles—were very busy teaching the people of Jerusalem all about Jesus. Jerusalem was the city they all lived in. (Point to Jerusalem on map.) Each time they taught about God’s love and His forgiveness, many people decided to trust in Jesus and follow God. When those people who decided to believe in Jesus moved out of Jerusalem, they told all the people they met about Jesus. More and more people believed in Him. The power of God, or the Holy Spirit, was with those who believed in Jesus. The good news about His love was reaching people in many different cities.

There was one city that was one of the very first to hear about God’s love. That city was Antioch. (Point to Antioch on map.) Can you say that with me? An-ti-och. Good job! You see, there were so many people choosing to follow Jesus in Antioch that the church, or the followers of Jesus, in Jerusalem was hearing about it. They wanted to know about the things God was doing in the lives of those people far away. So, they sent a man named Barnabas to check it out. Can you say his name with me? Bar-na-bas. That’s right. Barnabas was a good man who trusted God and loved Him very much. When Barnabas arrived in Antioch, he saw how much God had blessed this new church. Barnabas was excited and filled with so much joy he just couldn’t help but tell even more people about Jesus.

The church—those who loved Jesus—continued to grow and grow. One day, Barnabas left Antioch because he wanted to bring his friend Paul back to the city

Prayer of Release

A Prayer of Release is a time for children and leaders to pause, be still, and ask God to quiet their hearts and minds. As you pray, encourage children to hold their hands out in front of them as if releasing their worries and distractions. This posture also shows they’re open to receive what the Holy Spirit might have for them.


The Storyteller did an excellent job. Kids really enjoyed the interaction, and the dry-erase board worked well.

—Good Shepherd Church

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with him. (Demonstrate this on the map with the figures.) Both Paul and Barnabas stayed with the church in Antioch for a whole year teaching God’s Word to large crowds of people. While Paul and Barnabas were in Antioch, prophets came to visit the church. They told the people there was going to be a famine soon. Do you know what a famine is? (Allow children to answer.) You’re right; it’s a time when there isn’t enough food to go around. Often there is no rain so food cannot grow … and that means many people wouldn’t have the food and the other things they needed. So the people from the church in Antioch all gave as much money as they could. They took up a huge offering, like we do in our services. They asked Paul and Barnabas to take what they had gathered to the church in Jerusalem to help care for the people there. Why do you think the church in Antioch gave money to the church in Jerusalem? (Allow children to answer.) Because the people in Jerusalem were going to need things like food and clothes, yes, that’s right. The church in Antioch loved God so much, and He had given them so much, they wanted to respond to God’s love by sharing and giving to others. God’s love helped them to respond to the needs of the church in Jerusalem.

God’s love also helps us to respond! What are some ways God’s love helps us to respond? (Allow children to answer and interact with their responses by making a list of their answers on the easel. Consider drawing a picture of each suggestion and write the word underneath the picture.) Great thinking! These are all ways that God’s love helps us to respond! He has given us so much love. Now we can share that love with others!

Helpful Hint

In your discussion at the end of The Big God Story, children may give answers such as “pray” or “sing songs” as a means of response. Add these to the list of possible responses. Consider saying: Yes, we can pray and sing to God as we respond to Him. What are some ways we can respond to people? The church in Antioch responded to God’s love by giving money to help care for others. What are some ways we can respond to help people? Allow kids to respond. If they’re having trouble, give an example: I think the next time I see someone sitting by themselves in church or at school, I’ll invite them to sit with me, play a game with me, or come play with me and my friends. What do you think?

N O T E S :


The kids loved responding and seeing their ideas on a big board for others to see … validation for them and for the leaders that they got it.

—Voyagers Bible Church

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Respond:: 10–15 min.

Children have the opportunity to respond to God and to what they have heard and experienced through His Word. Special attention should be given to create space for the Holy Spirit to minister to each child.

Worship Leader

LargeGroup

S E C T I O N

The worship response time in large group varies from week to week. Some weeks children will respond in worship through music, while other weeks are designed for more specific interactive expressions of response. This time is intended for children to freely express their worship as God’s Spirit leads them.

SUPPLIES• title slide (see Resource Tab) or worshipful video loop• worship song of children’s choice (have favorites ready)

Worship-through-ResponseAs you’ve been leading children in creating a list of ways God’s love helps us to respond to others, you’ll be able to naturally transition into a time of worship response. Review and discuss the list the children just created.

Lead children into worship response: All of these are great ways for us to worship God by loving others. Did you know that when we do things for other people, it’s a way we can worship God? What are some ways we can respond to God right now, using some of the ideas on our list? Take suggestions from children. How do you want to respond to God right now? Allow children to answer. If they need help, read some of their suggestions from the list. Great, let’s do that right now. Example: Let’s pray together. Would you like to pray? Invite the child who suggested prayer, for example, to lead everyone through prayer. Continue to ask children for ways they would like to respond to God now, in this moment. If children suggest singing, ask them what song they would like to sing, and sing together, letting your voices be the music. (Consider having a worship song ready to use as needed.)

Close this time in a prayer of corporate blessing. Remind children to place their hands out, palms up in front of themselves to receive the blessing as it is prayed over them.


We have started to bless at the end of large group because the leaders felt it was too hard to gather the kids together at the end because our small groups are too large. It works well in large group.

—Mountainbrook Community Church

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Respond:: 15–30 min.

Children have an opportunity to reflect (within the faith community) on what they have heard, and to respond to God individually or corporately. This time is focused on the wonder of God and the foundational Truth of His Word.

Small Group Leaders


Your small group time is designed to encourage conversations between you and your children about what God is doing in them. Some children will be more responsive when they’re engaged in something artistic. Others will be more open once their bodies get moving. Choose from the options given here or use your own ideas. The Wonder Questions may be used to start conversations during any of these activities or in a quieter, more contemplative time.

Connect: Share, Share, Share Alike(Optional Game: 5–10 min.) After a time of responding to God on a personal level, increase the energy by allowing time and space for children and leaders to connect with each other in a lively large-motor-skills activity. Fun and challenges foster unique opportunities for conversation and growing your faith community.

SUPPLIES (per small group)• cheerful music (suggestion: Mary Rice Hopkins, “Sharing Comes ’Round Again,” or

“Little Is Much”)• 10 pennies• packet of instant oatmeal• a sock• small bag or pouch (to fit pennies, oatmeal, and sock)

PREPAREGather all materials. Place pennies, oatmeal, and sock in the small pouch. Set all materials inside a bin.

Optional: Print pictures of 10 or more items that could be shared with others (such as money, jacket, food, house, book, pencil, toy, bike, Bible, pet, etc.). Place in the bag to be discussed.

SET UPClear floor space for children to sit in a circle.

ENGAGEInvite children to join you by sitting in a circle on the floor. Explain to the children how the game is played. When the music starts, the children will pass the bag or pouch around the circle from one person to the next. When the music stops, the person holding the bag will reach inside and take out one item. They will name the item and share one way that item can be used to respond to the potential needs of others. For young children, encourage the group to think of ideas together. After children have shared an idea, replace the item in the bag and start the music again. Repeat as time allows.

Our kids really enjoyed the share game. I heard some good ideas coming from our little ones on how to share things like food, clothes, and money.

—Mt. Paran North Church of God


One little boy chimed in (he wasn’t even playing, but was off to the side) that his friend’s basement had flooded so he and his mom helped that family. The leader was so excited!

—Woodland Park Christian Church


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Create: Givin’ It AwayCreate is more than just a time to make a craft. It’s a hands-on opportunity for children to give artistic expression to what God is doing within them. What is created can then become a physical reminder of time spent responding to God.

SUPPLIES (per table/small group)• drawing paper cut into half sheets• crayons• butcher paper or poster board• double-sided tape, glue dots, or glue sticks

SET UPPlace a piece of paper at each seat. Set crayons in the center of the table.

ENGAGEInvite children to the table. Ask: Think of one person who you love very much. How do you share love with them? Draw a picture of what love looks like to you. Share an example from your life to which children can relate. (For example: My little girl was not feeling very well and I wanted to share love with her, so I made her some soup. Or maybe your sister was asleep on the couch and you covered her with a blanket.) As children begin to share stories with you, encourage them to draw a picture of what they think love looks like. When children have finished their picture, encourage them to stick it to the poster board or butcher paper.

Wonder QuestionsDiscuss the following questions with the children. Wonder Questions are meant to prompt further conversation about what children have been experiencing. They also invite children to ponder this truth and dwell with the wonder of God. Be sure to pause long enough after each question to allow the children time to wonder. Encourage them to share their unique perspectives with the group.

Today in The Big God Story, we saw how God’s love was filling people’s hearts. We also heard about the church in Antioch and how God’s love helped them to share His love with others.

I wonder … When was a time you felt really loved by someone? I wonder … How did it feel to be loved?I wonder … How can you respond to God’s love in your heart, or share it with

someone?I wonder … Is there a way you feel God wants you to give love to your family?

N O T E S :


We spent some time while still in large group brainstorming ways we could really show love to someone this week. The kids came up with good ones like hugging someone, sharing a toy with a friend, making something for a mom or grandma or sick person, being a missionary, etc. So when they went to draw they all had specific ideas to start with.

—Olathe Bible Church

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Bless:: 5 min.

A blessing can be a prayer of commission, a portion of Scripture, or words of encouragement and guidance. A blessing can be offered in order to ask God’s Spirit to overflow from the child’s life in such a way that blesses others, while it can also be prayed over a child for the purpose of declaring God’s protection, joy, or wisdom.

Small Group Leaders


Today, send your little ones out with a blessing by praying Scripture over them. The time of blessing is an opportunity for children to practice another physical posture of worship. Have children place their hands out in front of themselves, palms up as if cupping them together to hold water. This is a posture that demonstrates our expectancy in receiving what God has for each of us. Read the Remember Verse over the children and then close your time with a prayer of blessing. (You may choose to read through the Scripture more than once as God’s Spirit leads you.)

Children, Jesus tells us in His Word: “Love one another. Just like I love you, you love each other. This is how everyone will know that you are My disciples—when they see the love you have for each other” (John 13:34–35 paraphrase).

My prayer is that you will know God’s love and then show that love to others this week.


HomeFront Weekly: Be sure to send home the HomeFront Weekly for next week’s lesson! This preteaching tool for parents encourages families to spend time in God’s Word together before children arrive at church.

HomeFront Monthly: Every four weeks we highlight one of the 10 environments. For each new environment, parents should receive HomeFront Monthly. This resource gives families ideas for how to create fun, spiritually forming times in their home—setting aside a sacred space for family in the midst of their active, everyday lives!

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Inspire (for parents) When my oldest daughter was four, she was very sick with one infection after another. First, it was her ears but then it became more mysterious. She would suddenly be struck with swollen glands and high fevers that would cause her to hallucinate, landing us in the local hospital ER. The doctors didn’t know what was wrong. Invasive tests, IV needles, ice water baths, and all kinds of other unpleasantness ensued. As parents you just keep hoping you are making the right decision each time you authorize a new test, a new drug, a new procedure.

After nearly a year and several hospitalizations, the doctors decided to take her tonsils out. She had not tested positive for tonsillitis and they looked healthy from the outside but our pediatrician was suspicious nonetheless. At this point I trusted that God was answering our prayers. The surgeon said her tonsils were so bad on the inside that her body was being constantly bombarded with infection and her kidneys could not keep up. She would have never gotten well had they not removed them. It took two more years for her to fully recover.Having a sick child is one of the hardest parts of being a parent. Our

children trust us absolutely and depend on us to take care of them. And, usually, we are quite capable of taking care of them. But when they are sick, we can’t always make things better. It is a helpless feeling. Those are the times when we can go to the Great Physician. We can pray and ask God for wisdom and direction. And we can boldly pray for healing. The same Jesus who healed the sick and lame and blind in the New Testament still heals today. He may choose to use doctors and medicine, or He may heal supernaturally. Jesus is healer.

by Janet Lee

Equip (for parents)A significant part of Jesus’ ministry was healing those who came to Him in faith. He performed many healings and miracles throughout His ministry and was concerned for both the spiritual and physical healing of people. In Luke 8:40–56 we can read the accounts of two very different people who experienced healing from Jesus. The first was the 12-year-old daughter of Jairus, a synagogue official who would have been a prominent figure in the Jewish community. The other was a woman who had a condition of blood that had made her constantly bleed, for ironically the same twelve years. In the Jewish socioeconomic culture, this woman would have been considered “ceremonially unclean,” meaning she would have been excluded from Jewish society and unable to worship in the temple, attend social gatherings, and was even unable to touch another person for fear that they too would become unclean. As different as their backgrounds were, they did share something extremely significant—both experienced the healing love of God.

In both cases of healing we see the incredible amount of love and respect Jesus showed each individual. Jesus showed no favoritism or discrimination between either of these “daughters.” He regarded them as valuable and loved by the Most High God. Jesus made no distinction in the people He healed. His healing not only demonstrated His divine power, but it showed the love and compassion He had for even those who were otherwise marginalized in society.

Jesus made no distinction in the people He healed.

Support (for parents & kids)JUST FOR FUN Choose a night this week to read this part of The Big God Story at bedtime. Talk about how many sick people have to spend time in bed because they don’t even have the strength to get up. Then together read Mark 5:21–43. After reading, ask your children what was the one thing that was the same in both of these healings. Tell them that both the woman and the synagogue ruler believed that Jesus had the power to heal. Remind your children that Jesus has that same power to heal today. Then, pray together as a family for someone you may know who needs to healed, and thank Jesus that He is Healer.

Remind your children that what they just heard is true and part of The Big God Story that they’ll learn more about in church this week.

© 2011 David C Cook. TruResources are developed in partnership with ROCKHARBOR Church

and a national network of family and children’s ministry leaders. All rights reserved.

PRESCHOOL &KINDERGARTENKIDS & FAMILIES

Having a sick child is one of the hardest parts of being a parent.

Getting StartedScripture: Luke 8:40–56 (Healing of the Woman and Jairus’ Daughter)Main Point: Jesus Is Healer

This resource is designed to allow your family to have time in God’s Word before your children attend church. Because God’s plan is for parents to be the spiritual nurturers of their children’s faith, we know that as you grow spiritually, your children will grow spiritually as well.

REMEMBER VERSE

date

Love one another. You must love one

another, just as I have loved you.

John 13:34 (NIrV)


The blessing was very special as they were eager to receive it. They held out their little hands and they smiled as they received it. Amazing growth!

—The Beacon

bible passage: acts 11:19–30 (church in...

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