H e l lo ! ! !
IN THIS . TOPZ ..
My Shepherd I once spent the funniest hour of my life sitting on a hill in Scotland in the winter, watching Page 3 some very silly sheep running across the grass, Some fun for ewe! slipping and sliding across a big patch of ice Page 16 that had formed because it was so cold. My friend and I laughed until we cried! So, whenever Seeds and weeds I read about Jesus as my Shepherd, or read Page 17 Psalm 23, it reminds me of that day. Whatever you picture when you think of Jesus on the hill shepherds or sheep, I hope the opening pages of Page 22 this exciting Topz will help you to understand just how much God loves you and cares for you. Topz Bitz: Readers’ We are also looking at some interesting Own Club Pages characters in the Bible – Jacob, Esau and page 35 Samuel – plus a time when Jesus was up a big hill. The Gang are involved in some gardening The big decision exploits, it’s time for school sports day, and one Page 44 of the Dixons makes a big decision. The Gang’s big decisions Get reading, readers: each page is packed full of fun and life-changing truth. Enjoy! Page 49
Jacob and Esau Page 50 ‘The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need. He lets me rest in fields of green grass and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water. He gives me new strength. He guides me in the right paths, as he has promised.’ Psalm 23 v 1–3
A growing prophet Page 59 On your marks Page 66
Answerz and Topz Order Form Page 73
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the bible books OLD TESTAMENT Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Songs Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah MicaH Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi
new TESTAMENT Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelation
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How to use It may be that some of you haven’t looked inside a Bible very much before. If so, here are a few helpful hints:
1: Each day in Topz there’s a Bible reading. It’s shown like this:
Genesis
25 v 2–5
2: To find this, turn to the Contents page near the front of your Bible and look for the name of the book – which in the example above is Genesis. Now find the page this book starts on and turn to it. 3: Y ou will have to turn on a few pages now to get to the right chapter.
4: Now look for the verse numbers which will be in smaller type. The chapter and verse will look like this:
Chapter
Verse
5: A fter reading the Bible passage, go back to the Topz page and see what it says. Each day ends with a prayer and sometimes an action point too. To solve the puzzles in Topz you will need a Good News Bible. If you don’t want to turn to the Contents page of your Bible all the time, you will see we’ve listed all the Bible books in order for you (see left). The ones you’ll be reading from in this Topz are highlighted with a star . Use this Topz Marker to keep your place in Topz. Cut it out and stick it to a piece of card to strengthen it.
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MY SHEPHERD Mum told me to imagine I'm counting sheep when I can’t sleep. I’ll try it.
Five minutes later.
John dreamt he was a shepherd. He pictured himself looking after his sheep, with Gruff as his trusty sheepdog! That’s how he overcame his ‘sheepless’ night! The Bible talks about God as a shepherd ...
LET'S
TAKE
A
LOOK. 3
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TUESDAY
Looked-after lambs
1th MAY Isaiah
40 v 10–11
He takes a lot of looking after!
He’s so sweet!
Josie went to visit her cousin on a farm ...
The pet lamb needed lots of care and Josie’s cousin spent a lot of time looking after it. Who looks after us?
1.
7.
G
2. O
5. O
S
6.
1
4
3.
E
2
3
4
Doctor, I think I’m turning into a sheep!
D Baa-aad!
D
5
Thank You, dear God, that You always take care of me. Amen.
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oke
How do you feel?
4. Match the numbers to the letters to find out.
enny’s
The Bible says God is our Shepherd and we are His sheep!
6
7
Sheep dip Which king began his working life as a shepherd? See 1 Samuel 16 v 10–13.
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WEDNESDAY
My provider
2ND MAY Psalm
23 v 1–6
A shepherd in Old Testament times, provided his flock with everything it needed. He had some ‘tools’ to help him:
name Match the ob ject with its and purpose:
Oil – to heal the sheep’s wounds or scratches.
A Club – to drive off wild animals that kill sheep.
A Staff – to guide sheep and lift them out of dangero us places.
A Sling – for hurling stones at wild animals.
God is our Shepherd. He takes care of us when we are frightened or ill. He guides us through our lives and shows us which way to go. He protects us and helps us escape from temptations. Heavenly Father, thank You for being my Shepherd, and protecting me. Amen.
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Do you trust God to provide all that you need?
5
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THURSDAY
3RD MAY Psalm
23 v 1–6
Follow the leader
Make words from the mixed-up letters to find out some of the things a shepherd provides for his sheep. A _ _ _ _ _ v 2 (Answers on page 73) S S G R TERWA
_ _ _ _ _ v 2
VE OL
_ _ _ _ v 6 Make a list of some of the things God has provided for you.
_ _ _ _ _ v 3
SPA HT Here are two things God the Shepherd uses to guide and protect us today. Cross out the Xs to find out what they are: XBXIXBXLXEXAXNXD XPXRXAXYXEXRX
Thank God for the things on your list. 6
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Psalm 23 is well known. Pick a verse from it to learn, or more if you can.
13/12/11 15:59:04
Pleasant pastures
FRIDAY
4th MAY Ezekiel
34 v 1–6, 14–15
God called the leaders of His people ‘shepherds’. He wanted them to be good shepherds like Him, but the leaders in today’s reading weren’t ... Join the right person to the right answer: THE LEADERS WERE ... (v 1–6)
TAKERS
CRUEL
SELFISH WAS ... (v 11–15)
O HARD -W
KIND
RKING LAZY
A GIVER
CONCERNED ABOUT THE SHEEP
God wants leaders to care for the people they lead, in the same way He cares for people.
Look, Mum, there’s a shepherd in church. Where are the sheep?
Pray for the leaders of your church. Ask that they would be good shepherds.
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He’s a bishop! He carries a crook to show he’s a shepherd of God’s people.
Are you a leader of a team, or a Cub or Brownie pack? Ask God to help you to be a good, kind leader.
7
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SATURDAY
5th MAY Ezekiel
34 v 17–22
Good from bad The teacher has left the class for a few minutes ...
Those who have done their work can go out to play. The rest of you will be getting extra work.
Some of the class did as they were told and some did not! Yesterday, we read about some shepherds who were not good leaders. Today, we see that there are other people who aren’t so good either. (The sheep are really people!) Find the words E F G H I J P K L M S about the bad A B S H E E B U T T E D S sheep in the L G O P Q R S A S B C D P L wordsearch: O T R A M P L E D H B U T S T TRAMPLED S H E T L S G G R E E D Y P L PUSHED O M E S M E A N O D T R A T D BUTTED O T L F S E L F I S H F G W GREEDY SELFISH MEAN God the Shepherd was not pleased with this kind of behaviour. Do you ever behave like this?
8
Oh Lord my Shepherd, help me to be a ‘good sheep’. Amen.
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(Answer on page 73)
Which nasty man owned 3,000 sheep? Read 1 Samuel 25 v 2–3.
13/12/11 15:59:15
Baa, baa black sheep
SUNDAY
6th MAY Matthew
18 v 12–14
Sarah is very upset. Saucy is lost ...
Three days later.
SAUCY! Here puss ...
Josie! I’ve found Saucy! I’m asking Topz to come round to celebrate!
Meow!
Look how much Sarah did to find Saucy! See how fast you can run your pen along this path to help find the lost sheep:
DON’T SLIP OFF THE PATH! Jesus loves each one of us and He doesn’t want us to wander away from Him. Dear Jesus, help me to follow You and not wander away from You. Amen.
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How closely are you following Jesus your Shepherd?
9
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MONDAY
7th MAY John
10 v 2–5
The Dixons are trying to catch Gruff ...
I know ewe! Here, doggy ...
Gruff!
Heel!
Gruff knows his name and he knows John’s voice. He knows John is his master and he would not follow the Dixons! BAASIL
BAABARA
BAARNEY
A shepherd in New Testament times knew each of his sheep by name, and the sheep knew their shepherd’s voice. Give the two nameless sheep names.
Write your name here. Jesus knows your name!
10
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for dying for me. Amen.
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How might Jesus speak to you?
13/12/11 15:59:27
Here comes the wolf!
TUESDAY 8th MAY John
10 v 11–16
Sheep were always in danger from wild animals. Which beast gets this sheep?
(Answer on page 73)
It was the shepherd’s job to protect the sheep. A good shepherd was willing to die to keep them safe. Who died to save us? _ _ _ _ _ What sorts of things might get in the way of keeping us close to Jesus? Colour them in:
Colour the things that will keep you close to Jesus in a different colour. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for dying for me. Amen.
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Read verse 16 again. All Christians are part of the same flock – the Church.
11
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WEDNESDAY
9th MAY Mark
6 v 34
Shepherd-less!
Topz and some friends are trying to start a team game ...
I’ll be in goal.
You be in my team!
We’re not getting anywhere. Let’s pick two captains.
No, I am!
I want him.
The captains picked their teams and soon the game started. s Bible reading. There is a large crowd in today’ m? Why did Jesus feel sorry for the
p was shut. q a) They were hungry and the chip sho hospital. q b) They were poorly and there was no they c) Their lives were unhappy because q didn’t know God. (Answer on page 73)
Like a captain or a shepherd, Jesus began to lead these people ... MANY START HE THEM HIMSELF. TAUGHT ABOUT THINGS
Lord, every day, help me to keep learning about You. Amen. 12
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Can you introduce a friend to your Leader, Jesus?
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..
Like a lamb
THURSDAY 10th MAY Isaiah
53 v 6–8
God made people to be His friends, and at first everything was good. Then people turned away from God and became like lost sheep. But God had a plan ...
Ooo, I had some lovely lamb for dinner!
Yuk! I’m a vegetarian.
Do you know what a vegetarian is?
(Answer on page 73)
Some people choose to be vegetarians, but many people do eat meat. One of Jesus’ names is ‘Lamb of God’. Today’s reading tells us about God’s plan to bring us back to Himself. Jesus came to earth to die for us ... ‘like a l_______ about to b__ s_______________’ (fill in the gaps from verse 7) He died for the sins of everyone in the world. Put these words in the right order: 1: Jesus’ 3: means 5: can 7: be 9: friends 8: God’s 6: now 4: we 2: death S h ee p d
Dear God, thank You for sending Jesus. Thank You, Jesus, that You came. Amen.
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How many sheep did King Solomon’s court eat each day? Read 1 Kings 4 v 22–23.
ip
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