NCCP KidsX Complete Leader Guide Elementary (Vol 1) by nccpumc

LEADER GUIDE

ELEMENTARY â&#x20AC;¢ QUARTER 1

ELEMENTARY QUARTER 1

LEADER GUIDE

Loveland, Colorado group.com/SimplyLoved

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior written permission from the publisher, except where noted in the text and in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information, visit group.com/permissions. This creative team is simply honored to create Simply Loved for you: Laura Baldwin-Stout, Mollie Bickert, Jody Brolsma, Adam Bohlmeyer, Jessica Goldsmith, Becky Helzer, Jennifer Hooks, Charity Kauffman, Mikal Keefer, Jan Kershner, Steve Kyle, Joani Schultz, Peggy Naylor, Jeff Storm, Rodney Stewart, and Andrea Zimmerman. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. ISBN 978-1-4707-6256-8 Printed in the United States of America. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 25 24 23 22 21 20

Co�tents Welcome to Simply Loved! ............................................................... 4 How It Works ................................................................................... 5 Our Strategic Approach .................................................................. 7 Helping Elementary Kids Become Rooted in Faith...................... 8 Supply Closet Inventory...................................................................9 Take-It-Home Flyer Tips..................................................................10 Unit 1: In the Beginning Lesson 1: God Creates the World ................................................. 11 Lesson 2: God Creates People ....................................................... 21 Lesson 3: Sin Enters God’s World .................................................. 31 Lesson 4: A Flood Covers the Earth ............................................. 41 Unit 2: God Has a Plan Lesson 5: God Calls Abram ............................................................ 51 Lesson 6: Isaac Is Born ................................................................... 61 Lesson 7: Jacob Steals Esau’s Blessing ......................................... 71 Lesson 8: Jacob and Esau Make Peace ........................................ 81 Unit 3: Good News for Outsiders Lesson 9: Shepherds Hear About Jesus’ Birth ............................ 91 Lesson 10: Jesus Befriends Zacchaeus ......................................... 101 Lesson 11: Jesus Welcomes Children............................................ 111 Lesson 12: Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman ...................... 119

Contents

Welcome to Simply Lo�ed! Welcome to Simply Loved Sunday school—where you and your team simply experience God’s love and share it with kids.

“Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.” (1 John 4:11-12)

With Simply Loved, you, your helpers (we call them Crew Guides), and your kids explore a foundational, Jesus-centered journey through God’s story of Love. We believe that faith isn’t a subject to be mastered; it’s a relationship to grow! So every single component of Simply Loved sets the stage for you to more intentionally grow friendship with Jesus and each other. Keep reading to find out what that’ll look like in your classroom. Join our Simply Loved Facebook community to learn from children’s ministry leaders just like you! facebook.com/groups/simplylovedteacherslounge

Welcome to Simply Loved!

Ho� It Works Simple Volunteer Roles

You’ll need the following volunteers: Leader: (That’s you!) The one person in each teaching space who has looked over the lesson and will direct all activities. The glance-able, structured lessons in this guide allow leaders to spend more time interacting with kids and less time glued to scripts.

Unit 1 | Week 1 In the Beginning

Genesis 1:1-25

Crew Guide: A helper who simply shows up and participates with kids. Crew Guides don’t need to be Bible experts—simply people who love Jesus and kids! 020 G roup

A Simple, Flexible Lesson!

m clock? The aroma of the tone for what’s to come.

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“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.”

Simple Prep for Leaders

r “origins.” This first book Unit 1 | Week 1 (Ephesians 3:18) for us. Consider how we Go� Crea�es of God’s creation. Gravity t�e Wo�l� e atmosphere keeps us alive. e cuddle of a puppy, God’s unending love—love that Prayer Set beginning. up one—or both—of these intro activities to start your time together. Each activity connects kids to the ive us a new Bible Point and to each other. Cut apart the Option and place one by eachfiactivity you choose. Crew God, yourCards, awesome name lls the Guides will follow the directions and build friendships with kids as they make discoveries together! earth. It’s amazing to think that you, the ntary kids? Well, creation Creator, care for me. Thank you. And hnology, and mathematics thanks for caring for the kids I’ll lead Help kids discover that God today. May they see your love in our to do, but to meet our needs world and in my life. Amen. In the Beginning

Genesis 1:1-25

Open�n� Op�ions

The word genesis means “beginning” or “origins.” This first book of the Bible begins God’s story of love for us. Consider how we benefit from each microscopic detail of God’s creation. Gravity keeps us on the ground. Oxygen in the atmosphere keeps us alive. From the nutrients in vegetables to the cuddle of a puppy, God’s creation gives us life and shows us his unending love—love that ultimately sent Jesus to our world to give us a new beginning. How does God’s creation affect elementary kids? Well, creation is filled with science, engineering, technology, and mathematics (STEM)—topics kids explore in school. Help kids discover that God created it all—not just for something to do, but to meet our needs and show us his goodness and love.

Prepare your heart and pray for the kids before each lesson. Plus, check off supplies as you gather them!

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Purpose

How’d your day begin? A buzzing alarm clock? The aroma of freshly brewed coffee? Beginnings set the tone for what’s to come.

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God always loves us…and gives us all we need to live.

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.”

Bible Point

(Ephesians 3:18)

Prayer

God, your awesome name fills the earth. It’s amazing to think that you, the Creator, care for me. Thank you. And thanks for caring for the kids I’ll lead today. May they see your love in our world and in my life. Amen.

Prep

Opening Options

Sing & Play

Option Cards*

countdown video*

Lego Worlds: Legos

Simply Video DVD*

Paper Creations: art supplies such as construction paper, stickers, crayons, scissors, glue sticks

Savanna Bible Memory Buddy poster*

media player

Bible (bookmark Ephesians 3:18)

Bible Discovery & Friendship Finale

“God Creates the World” Bible Story poster*

Savanna Bible Memory Buddy stickers* (1 per child)

Take-It-Home Flyers* (Unit 1, Week 1) (1 per child)

Bible (bookmark Genesis 1:1-5, 9-10, 11-12, 25)

paper

pencils or pens

Apply-It Options

Explore More: Bibles, clear plastic cups, water, shaving cream, blue food coloring

Game: paper slips, pens, two containers

* in your Simply Loved Kit 11

Bible Discovery & Friendship Finale

Play

tdown video*

Opening Options

Explore More: Bibles, clear plastic cups, water, shaving cream, blue food coloring

Set up one—or both—of these intro activities to start your time together. Each activity connects kids to the Bible Point and to each other. Cut apart the Option Cards, and place one by each activity you choose. Crew Guides will follow the directions and build friendships with kids as they make discoveries together!

ly Video DVD*

nna Bible Memory dy poster*

a player

Savanna Bible Memory Buddy stickers* (1 per child)

Take-It-Home Flyers*

Le�o Wo�l�s (Unit 1, Week 1) • Legos

Pa�e� Crea�ions

(1 per child)

Supplies

Le�o(bookmark Wo�l�s Bible Genesis 1:1-5, 9-10, What would your perfect Lego world 11-12, 25) be like?

Build a Lego “world.”

Supplies • Legos

Choose from two opening activities—both introduce the day’s Bible Point. Each unit creatively uses the same supplies all four weeks. That means you’ll need to gather Opening Options supplies only once a month! If you’d like, set up these Opening Options as activity stations in your room. Simply cut apart the cards you’ll find in each lesson and place one at each station to guide activity and conversation. Or, do one or both activities with all kids together. You choose!

Game: paper slips, pens, two containers

• construction paper, stickers, crayons, scissors,

Pa�e� Crea�ions glue sticks

Open�n�

Build a Lego “world.”

What would your perfect Lego world be like?

Supplies

Create something to give to someone you love.

• construction paper, stickers, crayons, scissors, glue sticks Create something to give to someone you love.

What’s the coolest thingWhat’s someone has the coolest thing someone has made for you? Tell why. In our Bible story, we’ll discover how God made made for you? Tell why. God always loves us. God made our beautiful our amazing world. God always loves us. We can world so we can see his love all around us. God’s love in the world around us. In our Bible story, we’llseediscover howaGod made great time for Opening Options. Choose one—or both—to introduce paper Now’s our amazing world. God alwaystoday’s loves us. Wediscoveries. can God always loves us. God made our beautiful Bible see God’s love in the world around us. world so we can see his love all around us. 12

countdown video

Open�n�

Sing & Play

Now’s a great time for Opening Options. Choose one—or both—to introduce today’s Bible discoveries.

Si�g & Pl�y

• Bible

Help kids transition, clean up the activities, and sit with Connect Crews. A Connect Crew is a small group of kids with one Crew Guide.

• media player

Si�g & Pl�y

Supplies • Bible

Hey, friends! It’s time to get moving and have a little fun. Let’s start with a song! • media player Hey, friends! It’s time to get moving and have a little fun. Let’s start with a song!

“Let’s Get a Little Crazy” music video

We’re going to have a blast discovering that God always loves us. That’s our Bible Point today, so every time you hear someone say, “God always loves us,” I want you to respond in a special way. Do what I do! ● Open hands on either side of your face and say, “Wow, God!”

• Simply Video DVD “Let’s Get a Little Crazy” music video “One Thing Remains” music video “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” music video

● Repeat several times. We’re going to have a blast discovering that God always loves us. That’s our Memory Buddy God always loves us. (Wow, God!) Let’s celebrate God’s love with another song. video (Week 1) • Savanna Bible Bible Point today, so every time you hear someone say, “God always loves us,” Memory Buddy poster I want you to respond in a special way. Do what I do! Savanna Bible

Repetition cements learning, so be sure to say today’s Bible Point A LOT. Have fun with it! Kids will love listening for it and responding with “Wow, God!”

● Open hands on either side ofRemains” yourmusic face “One Thing videoand say, “Wow, God!” ● Repeat several times.

Wow, G

God always loves us. (Wow, God!) Let’s celebrate God’s love with another song. Repetition cements learning, so be sure to say today’s Bible Point A LOT. Have fun with it! Kids will love listening for it and responding with “Wow, God!”

• Simply Video DVD

“Let’s Get a Little Crazy” music video “One Thing Remains” music video

“He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” music video Savanna Bible Memory Buddy video (Week 1) • Savanna Bible Memory Buddy poster

Circle Up & Connect

Supplies • Bible • “God Creates the World” Bible Story poster

“One Thing Remains” music video

Bible Discovery

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Bible Discovery

Let’s circle up and spend a little time simply getting to know each other in smaller groups called Connect Crews.

• paper

● Divide kids into Connect Crews with one helper—or Crew Guide—per group.

• pencils or pens

● Invite kids to sit in knee-to-knee circles with their Connect Crews. ● Have kids give their Crew Guides and each other fist bumps.

● Have kids take turns saying their names and answering the following question. Crew Guides go first.

Experience the Bible Story

We call helpers Crew Guides. If you lead a small class, you can be the Crew Guide. Simply circle up with the kids. If you have helpers, form smaller groups so each child can be known— and so kids can befriend your helpers, too!

Circle Up & Connect

Which would you rather have for a pet, a lion cub or a parakeet? Why?

Gather kids to sing and discover the Bible Point. Plus, a Bible Memory Buddy connects the Bible verse to kids’ everyday lives.

Supplies

countdown video

(bookmark sians 3:18)

Apply-It Options

“God CreatesOp�ions the Open�n� World” Bible Story poster*

Bible Discovery We’ve given you lots of options, but don’t skip this part! It’s the “meat” of the lesson where kids experience God’s greatest gift in an interactive, hands-on way. There’s no time to be bored as kids and Connect Crews follow the Leader through a memorable Bible experience. You’ll read directly from the Bible throughout the Bible Discovery, so be sure to mark your place ahead of time and choose a kid-friendly translation to read from.

Let’s circle up and spend a little time simply getting to know each other in In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth—including lions and smaller groups called Connect Crews. parakeets. They’re both pretty cool. We can read about them and other things Let’s explore a story from the Bible. But instead of just listening to a story, you’ll actually help me tell it and play an important part!

God made in the first book of the Bible—Genesis! The word genesis means “beginning.” Genesis is the beginning of God’s story of love for us.

● Divide kids into Connect Crews with one helper—or Crew Guide—per group.

The world began because God made it. Let’s take an imaginary field trip and explore the world God made. I’ll be our tour guide! First let’s imagine we’re going outside. Don’t forget your jackets! Have everyone pretend to put on and zip up jackets. Let’s read what God made first.

● Invite kids to sit in knee-to-knee circles with their Connect Crews.

Read aloud Genesis 1:1-5.

● Have kids give their Crew Guides and each other fist bumps.

God began by separating light from dark. Then God spoke and made sky. First stop on our imaginary field trip? The sky! Let’s pretend we’re soaring through the sky! Have everyone hold out their arms like wings and veer from side to side. Call out puffy cloud formations you “see” along the way. Whew! That was quite the flight. I’m out of breath! Let’s take a few deep breaths and take in some oxygen. Have everyone take several deep, dramatic breaths.

● Have kids take turns saying their names and answering the following question. Crew Guides go first.

Which would you rather have for a pet, a lion cub or a parakeet? Why?

As your tour guide, I have some fun facts to share with you. Did you know that air is a mixture of a lot of nitrogen, some oxygen, and a little bit of other gases? God gives us just the right amount of oxygen we need to live. That’s because God always loves us. (Wow, God!) Time for a new imaginary destination. We’re off to the beach! Don’t forget sunscreen. Have everyone pretend to lather up. Let’s imagine we’re sitting on the beach and listening to the ocean waves. Ah!

Experience the Bible Story

Let’s explore a story from the Bible. But instead of just listening to a story, 15 you’ll actually help me tell it and play an important part!

Supplies • Bible

• “God Creates the World” Bible Story poster • paper

• pencils or pens 13

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth—including lions and parakeets. They’re both pretty cool. We can read about them and other things God made in the first book of the Bible—Genesis! The word genesis means “beginning.” Genesis is the beginning of God’s story of love for us. The world began because God made it. Let’s take an imaginary field trip and explore the world God made. I’ll be our tour guide! First let’s imagine we’re going outside. Don’t forget your jackets! Have everyone pretend to put on and zip up jackets. Let’s read what God made first. Read aloud Genesis 1:1-5. God began by separating light from dark. Then God spoke and made sky. First stop on our imaginary field trip? The sky! Let’s pretend we’re soaring through the sky! Have everyone hold out their arms like wings and veer from side to side. Call out puffy cloud formations you “see” along the way. Whew! That was quite the flight. I’m out of breath! Let’s take a few deep breaths and take in some oxygen. Have everyone take several deep, dramatic breaths. As your tour guide, I have some fun facts to share with you. Did you know that air is a mixture of a lot of nitrogen, some oxygen, and a little bit of other gases? God gives us just the right amount of oxygen we need to live. That’s because God always loves us. (Wow, God!)

How It Works

Apply-It Options

Ap�ly-It Op�ions Choose one—or both—of these activities to support kids’ learning after Bible Discovery.

Ap�ly-It Op�ions Ex�lore Mo�e

Ga�e

Supplies: Bibles, clear plastic cups, water, shaving cream, blue food coloring, wet wipes

Supplies: paper slips, pencils or pens, two containers

Distribute Bibles, and help kids find and read Genesis 1:6-8 together.

God separated land and sky. He created our atmosphere and weather. Let’s create sky cups!

● Have each child write on a slip of paper something God made. ● Fold papers, and divide them equally between two containers. ● Form two teams, and give each team a container of “creations.”

Fill a cup ¾ full of water. both containers on one side of the Choose one—or both—of●●these activities to support● Place kids’ learning after Bible Discovery. playing space. Each team gathers in a line at Add shaving cream “clouds” to the top of the the opposite side.

water to create “sky.”

● Drop a few drops of blue food coloring “rain” on top of the shaving cream, and watch it fall into the water.

Ex�lore Mo�e

● Choose two children—one from each team—to run, choose a “creation,” then run back to their teams and silently act out their words.

Ga�e

Would you rather have a rainy day or a sunny day? Tell why.

● Those children high-five the team members who guess correctly. Then the next child on each team runs and chooses another paper.

Sometimes we refer to hard times in life as “dark” or “stormy” times.

● Have kids act out all the “creations” and then celebrate with high-fives.

Tell about a “stormy” time in your life. Supplies: Bibles, clear plastic cups, water, shaving Did God’s love make a difference? Why or why not? cream, blue food coloring, wet wipes

Consider your time frame, and take your pick: a game or an activity that lets kids practice Bible skills! Each option applies the Bible Point to everyday kid life.

Supplies: paper slips, pencils or pens, two containers

What was it like guessing the creations?

How is that like or unlike seeing God’s love

for us in his creation? ● Have each child write on a slip of paper Whether it rains or shines, God always loves us. always loves us. The more we watch for and something God made. Distribute Bibles, and help kids find and read God pay attention to glimpses of God in his creation, the better we’ll understand who he is and how much he loves us! Genesis 1:6-8 together. ● Fold papers, and divide them equally between two containers. God separated land and sky. He created our ● Form two teams, and give each team a atmosphere and weather. Let’s create sky cups! container of “creations.” ● Fill a cup ¾ full of water. ● Place both containers on one side of the playing space. Each team gathers in a line at ● Add shaving cream “clouds” to the top of the the opposite side. water to create “sky.” ● Choose two children—one from each team—to ● Drop a few drops of food coloring “rain” 18 blue Elementary | Quarter 1 | Unit 1 | Week 1 run, choose a “creation,” then run back to their on top of the shaving cream, and watch it fall teams and silently act out their words. into the water. ● Those children high-five the team members Would you rather have a rainy day or a who guess correctly. Then the next child on sunny day? Tell why. each team runs and chooses another paper.

Friendship Finale

● Have kids act out all the “creations” and then celebrate with high-fives. What was it like guessing the creations?

• Take-It-Home Flyers (Unit 1, Week 1) (1 per child)

● Ask a willing child to help you demonstrate the following actions.

Take-It-Home Flyer

● While holding the Buddy Memory Buddy sticker, Crew Guides stretch arms up like tall trees. Kids pretend their arms are a giraffe’s neck as they reach up to receive the sticker. ● As they give each child a Bible Memory Buddy sticker, Crew Guides say, “[Child’s name], God always loves you.” ● Crew Guides give thumbs-up when everyone has received a sticker.

God Creates the World Genesis 1:1-25

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.” (Ephesians 3:18)

God always loves us… and gives us all we need to live.

It’s an amazing world you live in, and nobody knows that better than Jesus.

Why? Because from the very beginning of the beginning, he helped create it.

He knows what you need to feel safe and loved in this life. Those moments you feel warm and wrapped up in a hug? That’s him letting you know you’re loved! And those moments your stomach does flip-flops, or you’re lonely or afraid about what’s coming next? He’s with you then, too.

He’s next to you, slipping his hand into yours. And there’s nothing the two of you can’t tackle together. Jesus is your friend, and he’s with you through thick and thin. No matter what you’re going through, he gives you what you most need to live: the gift of himself.

Tell about a time Jesus helped you when your stomach was doing flip-flops.

Try This @ Home

Jesus will give you what you need this week. During your spelling test, at your practice, and when you’re feeling stuck, he’s with you! So when you need something, ask him! Simply say, “Jesus, here’s how I’m feeling and what I need...” and then go from there. He’s listening!

may you have

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power to God always loves us.theThe more we watch for and understand, as pay attention to glimpses of God in his creation, all God’s people should, how who he is and how the better we’ll understand wide, how long, much he loves us! how high, and

Invite kids to sit in knee-to-knee circles with their Connect Crews. Talk Starter

Saying each child’s name in a loving way helps kids simply experience God’s love through you!

Wrap up your lesson with a gospel-centered Jesus connection, and equip kids to continue faith conversations at home! Plus, affirm kids by name as you give each child a Bible Memory Buddy sticker at the end of each lesson.

How is that like or unlike seeing God’s love for us in his creation? “And

Whether it rains or shines, God always loves us.

Our Bible Memory Buddy Savanna helps us remember God always loves us. (Wow, God!) You’ll each receive a Savanna sticker to help you remember God’s love throughout your week. Crew Guides will give each child a sticker like this:

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I’m so glad our Creator made our world and gives us what we need to live! Our God always loves us. (Wow, God!) Have one side of the room say the Bible Point and the other echo. Repeat several times.

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(Ephesians 3:18)

• Savanna Bible Memory Buddy stickers (1 per child)

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Supplies

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.”

Invite kids to sit in knee-to-knee circles with their Connect Crews.

how deep his love is.”

(Ephesians 3:18)

Spelling Test

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Sometimes we refer to hard times in life as “dark”

or “stormy” times. Fr�e�dsh�p about a “stormy” time in your life. Fi�a�e Tell Did God’s love make a difference? Why or

Supplies

• Savanna Bible Memory Buddy stickers (1 per child)

• Take-It-Home Flyers (Unit 1, Week 1) (1 per child)

Explore More @ Home Yes, Jesus was there at Creation! See John 1:10.

The Bible says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Want to hear something cool? Jesus was there, too! God later showed his love for us by sending Jesus to our world to rescue us from sin and be our friend.

I’m so glad our Creator made our world and gives us what we need to live! Our God always loves us. (Wow, God!) Have one side of the room say the Bible Point and the ● Read the first section of the Unit 1, Week 1 Take-It-Home Flyer. other echo. Repeat several times. ● Now I’ll give you one of these flyers to help you talk about Jesus’ love in Elementary, Quarter 1, Unit 1, Week 1

your Connect Crews and at home, too.

● Distribute Take-It-Home Flyers to Crew Guides. Have them share about their own friendship with Jesus as they answer the “Talk Starter” question and then invite kids to share. ● Kids share prayer requests—things they’d like to tell Jesus—in their Connect Crews. ● Connect Crews pray together. ● Crew Guides distribute Take-It-Home Flyers and follow the directions to help kids fold the papers to “ﬂy” home.

● Ask a willing child to help you demonstrate the following actions. ● While holding the Buddy Memory Buddy sticker, Crew Guides stretch arms up like tall trees. Kids pretend their arms are a giraffe’s neck as they reach up to receive the sticker.

As they each Elementary | Quarter 1 ● | Unit 1 | give Week 1 child a Bible Memory Buddy sticker, Crew Guides say, “[Child’s name], God always loves you.” ● Crew Guides give thumbs-up when everyone has received a sticker.

Take-It-Home Flyer God Creates the World

Genesis 1:1-25

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.” (Ephesians 3:18)

God always loves us… and gives us all we need to live. It’s an amazing world you live in, and nobody knows that better than Jesus. Why? Because from the very beginning of the beginning, he helped create it. He knows what you need to feel safe and loved in this life. Those moments you feel warm and wrapped up in a hug? That’s him letting you know you’re loved! And those moments your stomach does flip-flops, or you’re lonely or afraid about what’s coming next? He’s with you then, too. He’s next to you, slipping his hand into yours. And there’s nothing the two of you can’t tackle together. Jesus is your friend, and he’s with you through thick and thin. No matter what you’re going through, he gives you what you most need to live: the gift of himself.

Talk Starter

Saying each child’s name in a loving way helps kids simply experience God’s love through you!

A Simple, Flexible Format!

Tell about a time Jesus helped you when your stomach was doing flip-flops.

Try This @ Home Jesus will give you what you need this week. During your spelling test, at your practice, and when you’re feeling stuck, he’s with you! So when you need something, ask him! Simply say, “Jesus, here’s how I’m feeling and what I need...” and then go from there. He’s listening!

Spelling Test

Explore More @ Home Yes, Jesus was there at Creation! See John 1:10.

Elementary, Quarter 1, Unit 1, Week 1

Age-Graded Classrooms

It’s simple! You’ll need one prepared leader and at least one helper (we call helpers Crew Guides) for each teaching space. We recommend having a media player handy in each space for music and each week’s Bible Memory Buddy video. ● Read the first section of the Unit 1, Week 1 Take-It-Home Flyer.

● Now I’ll give you one of these flyers to help you talk about Jesus’ love in your Connect Crews and at home, too.

● Crew Guides distribute Take-It-Home Flyers and follow the directions to help kids fold the papers to “ﬂy” home.

Age-Graded Classrooms With a Multi-Age Opening It’s simple! Lead the Sing & Play section with all ages together. Set up a media player in your gathering area so that when you’re all together, you can sing along with music videos, introduce the Bible Point, and meet the Bible Memory Buddy! Then, disperse to age-graded classrooms for Bible Discovery, Apply-It Options, and the Friendship Finale. You’ll need one prepared leader and at least one helper (we call helpers Crew Guides) for each teaching space. One (big or small) Room With Multi-Age Kids It’s simple! You’ll need one prepared leader plus at least one helper (we call helpers Crew Guides). Ideally, you’ll have one Crew Guide for every five to eight kids, but it can work with your church’s volunteer-to-children ratios. We recommend having a media player handy for music and each week’s Bible Memory Buddy video.

How It Works

Our Strategic Approach

There are “whys” behind every lesson component, and we want to share them with you! Here are the guiding principles behind the creation of Simply Loved Sunday school curriculum. You may have heard…

But we’ve found…

That’s why…

“It’s hard to recruit volunteers.”

When volunteers need less prep time, have fun, and feel like they’re making a difference, they’ll make serving a priority.

Simply Loved volunteer roles are important, but easy!

“Kids need to be entertained.”

Kids need to be noticed and loved.

Simply Loved lessons are designed to help you listen to kids and get to know them.

“You need a lot of supplies.”

You need only a few supplies used in creative ways.

Simply Loved incorporates minimal supplies each unit but uses them in innovative ways to introduce and apply the day’s lesson.

“We need helpers— any warm body will do.”

Helpers don’t just assist. Even though they don’t need to prep, they serve an important relational purpose and make a big difference in kids’ lives.

Simply Loved helpers have a name and an elevated role: they’re “Crew Guides”! They participate along with the kids, play a meaningful role in lessons, and make a difference by building friendships with kids.

“Kids are rarely able to remember Scripture.”

Creating a visual and emotional connection to Scripture dramatically helps kids remember and understand why the Bible matters in their everyday lives.

Simply Loved incorporates kid-friendly videos featuring Bible Memory Buddies (animals God created) to help them understand Bible truths and trigger Scripture memory. And Bible Memory Buddies help discoveries stick! (wink, wink)

“Teachers are Bible experts.”

Teachers are channels of friendship who help children understand and experience Jesus’ love.

Simply Loved uses human relationships to communicate God’s love in a tangible way. Built-in conversation starters help teachers share their personal stories and their own friendship with Jesus.

“Covering a lot of information is intimidating.”

Reaching children is simple when you focus on one Bible Point.

Simply Loved repeats key Bible Points in different ways so truths sink deep. And it combines the repetition of a Bible Point with an auditory and physical response that will stick with kids long after your lesson ends.

“Success requires getting through the whole lesson.”

You’ll clearly communicate the key Bible Point no matter how far you get.

With Simply Loved, a palette of Bible-Point-supporting options gives you the freedom to choose what works for your kids and your time frame. So no matter how much of the lesson you complete, the Truth from God’s Word shines through.

“Kids’ll get bored if you repeat something they’ve heard before.”

Kids appreciate routine and repetition when it’s done in a fun way.

Simply Loved’s scope and sequence intentionally repeats the Bible verse and Point for four weeks. This strategically cements Bible learning no matter how often kids attend.

Our Strategic Approach

Helping Elementary Kids Become Rooted in Faith As their Leader, you get to show elementary-age children what loving Jesus looks like! And Simply Loved will help. Simply Loved incorporates the following Age-Level Teaching Tips to create a rich environment where elementary kids grow a lasting friendship with Jesus. Go Deeper As kids get older, we may be tempted to throw more Bible stories and Bible information at them. But elementary kids don’t need more things to learn; they need to dig deeper into the truths they’ve been introduced to. That’s why Simply Loved explores one Bible Point for four weeks and why open-ended questions meet kids right where they are—no matter their grade or prior knowledge of the Bible. Make It Fun You know, we often differentiate between “fun” and the “meat” of our lessons. We think that if we incorporate a game or free play, then we’re making time for fun. But with Simply Loved, Bible discoveries are as fun as game time, and prayers are as fun as videos! Keep It Simple Kids benefit from messages that are short, sweet, and relevant to their everyday lives. That’s why Simply Loved Bible lessons center around one short, simple, memorable Bible Point. Repetition cements learning, so repeating Bible truths helps kids remember them when they need it the most. Build Friendships Friendship matters to elementary kids. So Simply Loved builds friendships by allowing time for kids to talk and get to know each other. Plus, Simply Loved encourages you to break up into smaller groups called Connect Crews. That way each child is seen and known, and when a question is asked, everyone has a chance to talk and share. Be Authentic In order to build real friendships with kids, you need to let them see leaders as real people. That’s why, when asking a question, Simply Loved encourages Leaders and Crew Guides to share from their own lives first and model the answer. When you go first, you’re honestly telling kids about your own struggles and experiences—and even hard-to-reach kids will follow your lead. Connect to Emotion God has wired us with emotions, and the Bible is filled with stories of real people who experienced fear, sadness, joy, doubt, fatigue, and confusion. That’s why Simply Loved identifies and evokes key emotions each week. Connecting to emotion cements learning and helps elementary kids know that Jesus understands their feelings and is with them, no matter what. Point Out Kids’ Purpose Kids don’t need to wait until they’re grown up to fulfill God’s purpose for their lives; they can do it right now! That’s why Simply Loved intentionally incorporates time each week for Leaders to affirm and encourage kids as they grow closer to Jesus.

Helping Elementary Kids Become Rooted in Faith

Elementary—Quarter 1 Have these items handy for some hands-on fun this quarter!

Program Essentials

(Ephesians 3:18)

Toys & Goodies

Bible

Legos

Buddy Video DVD*

small toy cars

Music Video DVD*

Bible Story posters*

small individually wrapped bags of Skittles (optional)

Bible Memory Buddy posters*

small mirrors

Bible Memory Buddy stickers*

balloons

Take-It-Home Flyers*

timer (optional)

media player

water

shaving cream

Art Supplies

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.”

c. Group Publishing, In

Supply Closet In�e�tory

blue food coloring

construction paper

aluminum foil

stickers

baby name books, print or digital

crayons, including multicultural crayons

basketballs

child-safe scissors

tennis balls

glue sticks

handkerchief

masking tape

foam balls

chenille wires

small plastic toys

paper plates

picture of a baby

markers, regular and fine-tipped

dry-erase markers

yarn

wet wipes

clear tape

tissues

paper

straight pins or thumbtacks

pencils or pens

clear plastic cups

washable paint in various colors

containers

index cards

adhesive nametags

craft sticks

resealable gallon-size bags

Glue Dots

rubber bands

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Odds & Ends

* in your Simply Loved Kit

Supply Closet Inventory

Take-It-Home Flyer Tips

Follow these steps to get Take-It Home Flyers off the ground effectively so they’ll cruise on a direct flight home. 1. Follow your Simply Loved Leader Guide. The end of each elementary lesson is strategically written to incorporate these flyers. 2. Read the first page to your whole group of kids first. This is meant to be a quiet prayer time that intentionally connects kids to their friend Jesus. 3. Next, ask the “Talk Starter” question aloud, and give time for kids to discuss and pray in Connect Crews. 4. THEN, and only then, distribute Take-It-Home Flyers to kids. If you choose to forgo this strategic order, prepare to have papers whizzing by your head before you’re ready for them. 5. Be sure to point out the challenge on the top of the folding instructions page. That’ll really motivate kids to make sure this page gets home. 6. Be sure to give each helper a copy, too—not to fold for themselves, but so kids can reference the instructions once folding begins.

Prepare for takeoff! Help your ministry to families really take off with these specially crafted Take-It-Home Flyers. After reading each Jesus-centered flyer and talking with their Connect Crews, kids will follow the directions and fold these flyers into 3-D masterpieces! Once home, they’ll transport meaningful opportunities for Jesus-centered family fun.

Cool questions help family members tell stories about their own friendship with Jesus!

Kids and families will love these practical ways to live out faith at home.

After kids make Bible discoveries at church, families can explore more about each lesson’s Bible content at home.

Unit 1 | Week 1 In the Beginning

God Creates the World How did your day begin? A buzzing alarm clock? The aroma of freshly brewed coffee? Beginnings set the tone for what’s to come. The word genesis means “beginning” or “origins.” This first book of the Bible begins God’s story of love for us. Consider how we benefit from each microscopic detail of God’s creation. Gravity keeps us on the ground. Oxygen in the atmosphere keeps us alive. From the nutrients in vegetables to the cuddle of a puppy, God’s creation gives us life and shows us his unending love—love that ultimately sent Jesus to our world to give us a new beginning. How does God’s creation affect elementary kids? Well, creation is filled with science, engineering, technology, and mathematics (STEM)—topics kids explore in school. Help kids discover that God created it all—not just for something to do, but to meet our needs and show us his goodness and love.

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Purpose

God always loves us…and gives us all we need to live.

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.”

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Bible Point

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Genesis 1:1-25

(Ephesians 3:18)

Prayer

Prep

Opening Options

Sing & Play

Option Cards*

countdown video*

Lego Worlds: Legos

Buddy Video DVD*

Paper Creations: art supplies such as construction paper, stickers, crayons, scissors, glue sticks

Music Video DVD*

Savanna Bible Memory Buddy poster*

media player

Bible (bookmark Ephesians 3:18)

Bible Discovery & Friendship Finale

“God Creates the World” Bible Story poster*

Savanna Bible Memory Buddy stickers* (1 per child)

Take-It-Home Flyers* (Unit 1, Week 1) (1 per child)

Bible (bookmark Genesis 1:1-5, 9-10, 11-12, 25)

paper

pencils or pens

Apply-It Options

Explore More: Bibles, clear plastic cups, water, shaving cream, blue food coloring

Game: paper slips, pens, 2 containers

* in your Simply Loved Kit 11

Opening Options

Set up one—or both—of these intro activities to start your time together. Each activity connects kids to the Bible Point and to each other. Cut apart these Option Cards, and place one by each activity you choose. Crew Guides will follow the directions and build friendships with kids as they make discoveries together!

Lego Worlds

Paper Creations

Supplies

• Legos

• construction paper, stickers, crayons, scissors, glue sticks

Build a Lego “world.” What would your perfect Lego world be like?

Create something to give to someone you love. What’s the coolest thing someone has made for you? Tell why.

In our Bible story, we’ll discover how God made our amazing world. God always loves us. We can see God’s love in the world around us.

God always loves us. God made our beautiful world so we can see his love all around us.

Opening Now’s a great time for Opening Options. Choose one—or both—to introduce today’s Bible discoveries.

countdown video (1 minute) Help kids transition, clean up the activities, and sit with Connect Crews. A Connect Crew is a small group of kids with one Crew Guide.

Si�g & Play Hey, friends! It’s time to get moving and have a little fun. Let’s start with a song!

“Let’s Get a Little Crazy” music video

Bible Point We’re going to have a blast discovering that God always loves us. That’s our Bible Point today, so every time you hear someone say, “God always loves us,” I want you to respond in a special way. Do what I do! ● Open hands on either side of your face and say, “Wow, God!” ● Repeat several times. God always loves us. (Wow, God!) Let’s celebrate God’s love with another song. Repetition cements learning, so be sure to say today’s Bible Point A LOT. Have fun with it! Kids will love listening for it and responding with “Wow, God!”

Supplies • Bible • media player • Buddy Video DVD Savanna Bible Memory Buddy video (Week 1) • Music Video DVD “Let’s Get a Little Crazy” music video “One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails)” music video “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” music video • Savanna Bible Memory Buddy poster

“One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails)” music video

Wow, G

Bible Memory Buddy & Verse Let’s meet our Bible Memory Buddy, Savanna the giraffe! Show the Bible Memory Buddy poster. How much do you know about giraffes? Let’s find out with a This-or-That Challenge! You’ll hear two fun facts about giraffes. It’s up to you to decide which one is true—this fact or that!

Savanna

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.” (Ephesians 3:18)

Is a baby giraffe called a calf or a kid? ● Have everyone moo like a cow to vote for this (a calf) or cry like a human baby to vote for that (a kid). ● Make a drumroll sound by patting your thighs or the floor. ● Dramatically give the answer: It’s a calf! ● Watch the Bible Memory Buddy video to meet Savanna.

Savanna Bible Memory Buddy video (Week 1) Show the Bible. The Bible is God’s true story of love! It’s one big book that’s filled with a bunch of little books. Our Bible Memory Verse comes from Ephesians 3:18. Let’s say the verse together. I’ll say a line, and then you repeat after me. “And may you have the power (make muscles with arms) to understand, (point to head) as all God’s people should, (sweep hands in front of you) how wide, (spread arms wide) how long, (move arm in front like tracing a long line) how high, (stretch up with hand above head) and how deep (crouch down) (God’s) love is.” (hug yourself) (Ephesians 3:18) God always loves us. (Wow, God!) And he’s got the whole world in his hands!

“He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” music video

Elementary | Quarter 1 | Unit 1 | Week 1

Bible Discovery Circle Up & Connect

Let’s circle up and spend a little time simply getting to know each other in smaller groups called Connect Crews. ● Divide kids into Connect Crews with one helper—or Crew Guide—per group.

Supplies • Bible • “God Creates the World” Bible Story poster • paper • pencils or pens

● Invite kids to sit in knee-to-knee circles with their Connect Crews. ● Have kids give their Crew Guides and each other fist bumps. ● Have kids take turns saying their names and answering this question. Crew Guides go first.

Which would you rather have for a pet, a lion cub or a parakeet? Why?

Experience the Bible Story Let’s explore a story from the Bible. But instead of just listening to a story, you’ll actually help me tell it and play an important part!

Read aloud Genesis 1:9-10. On the third day of Creation, God separated land and water. With land comes gravity! Gravity keeps us from floating off into space. Let’s do some gravity experiments. Have everyone spread out, jump up, and try to stay off the ground. Hmm. What goes up must come down. God likes order, and he’s thought of everything we need, like gravity! Enjoy gravity’s force as you sit on the floor and hear what God created next. Read aloud Genesis 1:11-12. God always loves us. (Wow, God!) Now let’s imagine we’re in a garden. Everybody up! Don’t step on the tomato plants—and go ahead and pull a few weeds while you’re at it! Have everyone pretend to eat a few fruits and veggies as they pull weeds in an imaginary garden. God made plants that produce fruits and vegetables for us to eat. Did you know that eating plants that have vitamin A, like carrots, is good for our eyes? And eating oranges or broccoli keeps your teeth and gums healthy! Living without teeth or eyes is difficult! Cover your teeth with your lips and say, “God always loves us.” Act surprised when you’re not understood. Then have everyone cover their teeth with their lips and tell a friend beside them what they ate for breakfast. God always loves us, (Wow, God!) and he gives us what we need to live. On to the next stop on our imaginary field trip! Now let’s go to outer space. Strap on your spacesuits! Five, four, three, two, one…blastoff! I spy something round and shining in the night sky. What could it be? Invite responses. Genesis 1:14-19 tells us that God also made the moon, the stars, and the sun. Did you know moon’s gravity affects the earth, too? It causes the ocean tides. God always loves us. (Wow, God!) He created the scientific forces needed for us to survive. It’s time for our last stop on this imaginary field trip through God’s creation. Let’s go to the zoo! Read aloud Genesis 1:25. God made fish and birds and animals to live in the world he created. Shout out some of God’s creations with me. On the count of three: ● Shout out a kind of fish. ● Shout out a kind of bird. ● Shout out a kind of bug. ● Shout out a kind of animal.

Elementary | Quarter 1 | Unit 1 | Week 1

Show the Bible Story poster. God made everything we need to survive and enjoy life on this earth. And God said it was good. Creation shows us his love. God always loves us. (Wow, God!) We see God’s love everywhere! God gives us everything we need to live—including good friends to talk to. Let’s talk again in our Connect Crews. Crew Guides, you share first.

What’s your favorite thing God made? Why do you like it?

The Heart of the Matter Okay, friends. Now it’s your turn to create something. Picture a space that was made just for you. Perhaps it’s your bedroom or your classroom at school. Now let’s draw the rooms we’re thinking of. ● Distribute paper and pencils or pens. ● Draw a picture of that room, showing or listing what’s inside. ● Circle up in Connect Crews and show each other your pictures, explaining the design and what’s inside.

Why did your parent, family member, or teacher put those things in your room for you?

How is your special room like the world God created? ● Crew Guides give thumbs-up when everyone has shared. Consider this: Like people in your life create a special place for you, God made a special place for us. He put everything in order and gave us the things we’d need because he loves us! God always loves us. (Wow, God!) God purposefully designed a wonderful world for us to live in. Now’s a great time for Apply-It Options. Choose one—or both—of the following reinforcement activities to support today’s Bible discoveries before the Friendship Finale.

tes God CreaWorld the Genesis 1:1-25

Apply-It Options Choose one—or both—of these activities to support kids’ learning after Bible Discovery.

Explore More

Game

Supplies

• Bibles, clear plastic cups, water, shaving cream, blue food coloring, wet wipes

• paper slips, pencils or pens, two containers

Distribute Bibles, and help kids find and read Genesis 1:6-8 together. God separated land and sky. He created our atmosphere and weather. Let’s create sky cups! ● Fill a cup ¾ full of water.

● Add shaving cream “clouds” to the top of the water to create “sky.”

● Place both containers on one side of the playing space. Each team gathers in a line at the opposite side.

● Drop a few drops of blue food coloring “rain” on top of the shaving cream, and watch it fall into the water.

● Choose two children—one from each team—to run, choose a “creation,” then run back to their teams and silently act out their words.

Would you rather have a rainy day or a

● Those children high-five the team members who guess correctly. Then the next child on each team runs and chooses another paper.

sunny day? Tell why.

Sometimes we refer to hard times in life as “dark” or “stormy” times.

Tell about a “stormy” time in your life.

Did God’s love make a difference? Why or why not?

Whether it rains or shines, God always loves us. (Wow, God!)

● Have kids act out all the “creations” and then celebrate with high-fives.

What was it like guessing the creations? How is that like or unlike seeing God’s love for us in his creation?

God always loves us. (Wow, God!) The more we watch for and pay attention to glimpses of God in his creation, the better we’ll understand who he is and how much he loves us!

Invite kids to sit in knee-to-knee circles with their Connect Crews.

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Supplies

Co py righ t

Frie�dship Fi�ale

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.”

(Ephesians 3:18)

• Savanna Bible Memory Buddy stickers (1 per child) • Take-It-Home Flyers (Unit 1, Week 1) (1 per child)

I’m so glad our Creator made our world and gives us what we need to live! Our God always loves us. (Wow, God!) Our Bible Memory Buddy Savanna helps us remember God always loves us. (Wow, God!) You’ll each receive a Savanna sticker to help you remember God’s love throughout your week. You can wear your sticker or collect your stickers at home! Crew Guides will give each child a sticker like this. ● Ask a willing child to help you demonstrate the following actions. ● While holding the Buddy Memory Buddy sticker, Crew Guides stretch arms up like tall trees. Kids reach up to receive the stickers, pretending their arms are giraffe necks. ● As they give each child a Bible Memory Buddy sticker, Crew Guides say, “[Child’s name], God always loves you.” ● Crew Guides give thumbs-up when everyone has received a sticker.

Take-It-Home Flyer God Creates the World

Genesis 1:1-25

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.” (Ephesians 3:18)

Saying each child’s name in a loving way helps kids simply experience God’s love through you!

Jesus is your friend, and he’s with you through thick and thin. No matter what you’re going through, he gives you what you most need to live: the gift of himself.

arter Talk St

Tell about a time Jesus helped you when your stomach was doing flip-flops.

Spelling Test

Explore More @ Home Yes, Jesus was there at Creation! See John 1:10.

Elementary, Quarter 1, Unit 1, Week 1

I’d like to read you something about our friend Jesus. As you listen, give yourself a little space so no one is right beside you. Pause as kids move. Now lie back, close your eyes, and imagine you’re looking up at a night sky filled with stars. Pause. Keep quietly stargazing as I read about Jesus. ● Read the first section of the Unit 1, Week 1 Take-It-Home Flyer. ● Now I’ll give you one of these flyers to help you talk about Jesus’ love in your Connect Crews and at home, too. ● Distribute Take-It-Home Flyers to Crew Guides. Have them share about their own friendship with Jesus as they answer the “Talk Starter” question and then invite kids to share. ● Kids share prayer requests—things they’d like to tell Jesus—in their Connect Crews. ● Connect Crews pray together. ● Crew Guides distribute Take-It-Home Flyers and follow the directions to help kids fold the papers to “fly” home.

Unit 1 | Week 2 In the Beginning

God Creates People Perhaps you’ve heard the saying, “Save the best for last.” That’s exactly what God did when he created people. We’re special because we’re made in God’s image. He created us to be like him, take care of his world, and show what he’s like. We don’t always live out that purpose, though. If only we always showed God’s love, his care, and his grace! We often get so focused on ourselves that we forget about our ultimate purpose on earth. But God always loves us, and he sent his Son, Jesus, to show what perfect love, grace, and forgiveness look like. Today, you’ll help kids discover what it means to be made in God’s image. You’ll inspire them to live out their God-given purpose, and you’ll remind them that Jesus is with them and will help them.

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Purpose

God always loves us...and gives us a special purpose.

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.”

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Bible Point

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Genesis 1:26–2:4

(Ephesians 3:18)

Prayer

Dear God, thanks for creating me in your image. Jesus, please help me as I show the kids in my class what God is like through this lesson. I love you. In your name, amen.

Prep

Opening Options

Sing & Play

Option Cards*

countdown video*

Lego People: Legos

Buddy Video DVD*

Paper Portraits: art supplies such as construction paper, stickers, crayons, scissors, glue sticks

Music Video DVD*

Savanna Bible Memory Buddy poster*

media player

Bible (bookmark Ephesians 3:18)

Bible Discovery & Friendship Finale

“God Creates People” Bible Story poster*

Savanna Bible Memory Buddy stickers* (1 per child)

Take-It-Home Flyers* (Unit 1, Week 2) (1 per child)

Bible (bookmark Genesis 1:26, 27; 2:1-3)

small individually wrapped bags of Skittles (optional) (1 per child)

Apply-It Options

Explore More: Bibles

Game: no supplies

* in your Simply Loved Kit

Opening Options

Lego People

Paper Portraits

Supplies • Legos

Supplies • construction paper, stickers, crayons, scissors, glue sticks

Form people out of Legos. Think of people who live in another part of our world. What might be different about their lives? What might you have in common? God always loves us, and God loves our differences! Even though we don’t look the same and we all come from different places, all people are made in God’s image.

Draw a picture of someone’s face: a friend, a leader, or someone in your family. It can be realistic or silly! Tell about a portrait or picture you’ve seen of someone. Who was it? What did the picture show about the person? The Bible says God made people in his image. He made us to worship him and show the world what he’s like. That’s why we’re special and why God always loves us.

Opening Now’s a great time for Opening Options. Choose one—or both—to introduce today’s Bible discoveries.

countdown video (1 minute) Help kids transition, clean up the activities, and sit with Connect Crews. A Connect Crew is a small group of kids with one Crew Guide.

Si�g & Play Hey, friends! It’s time to praise God and have some fun. Let’s start with a song!

“To God Be the Glory” music video Think of someone you really love. ● Briefly describe someone in your life, and tell why you love that person so much. ● Have kids turn to a partner and tell that person who they really love.

Bible Point Get this: God feels that way about you—and me, too! We’re his special creation, and God always loves us. That’s our Bible Point today. Every time you hear someone say, “God always loves us,” you’ll respond like this. Do what I do! ● Open hands on either side of your face and say, “Wow, God!”

Supplies • Bible • media player • Buddy Video DVD Savanna Bible Memory Buddy video (Week 2) • Music Video DVD “To God Be the Glory” music video “Made for This” music video “One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails)” music video • Savanna Bible Memory Buddy poster

● Repeat several times.

God always loves us. (Wow, God!) Today, we’re discovering that God made us for a special purpose. Let’s sing about that!

Repetition cements learning, so be sure to say today’s Bible Point A LOT. Have fun with it! Kids will love listening for it and responding with “Wow, God!”

Wow, G

“Made for This” music video

Bible Memory Buddy & Verse Say hello to Savanna the giraffe. She’s our Bible Memory Buddy! Show the Bible Memory Buddy poster. How much do you know about giraffes? Let’s find out with a This-or-That Challenge! You’ll hear two fun facts about giraffes. It’s up to you to decide which one is true—this fact or that!

Savanna

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.” (Ephesians 3:18)

Are giraffe spots all different, or are they all the same? ● Have kids raise their right arm like a tall giraffe neck to vote for this (different) or raise their left arm like a tall giraffe neck to vote for that (the same). ● Make a drumroll sound by patting your thighs or the floor. ● Dramatically give the answer: They’re all different! ● Watch the Bible Memory Buddy video to find out more about Savanna.

Savanna Bible Memory Buddy video (Week 2) Show the Bible. The Bible is God’s true story of love! The Bible has two main sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament. Our Bible Memory Verse comes from Ephesians 3:18 in the New Testament. Let’s say the verse together. I’ll say a line, and then you repeat it after me. “And may you have the power (make muscles with arms) to understand, (point to head) as all God’s people should, (sweep hands in front of you) how wide, (spread arms wide) how long, (move arm in front like tracing a long line) how high, (stretch up with hand above head) and how deep (crouch down) (God’s) love is.” (hug yourself) (Ephesians 3:18) God always loves us. (Wow, God!) No matter what we do—or don’t do—God’s love will never go away. Let’s celebrate God’s love with a song.

“One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails)” music video

Elementary | Quarter 1 | Unit 1 | Week 2

Bible Discovery Circle Up & Connect

Let’s circle up and spend a little time simply getting to know each other in smaller groups called Connect Crews. ● Divide kids into Connect Crews, with one adult helper—or Crew Guide— per group. ● Invite kids to sit in knee-to-knee circles with their Connect Crews. ● Have kids cheer and clap for their Crew Guides. ● Have kids take turns saying their names and answering this question. Crew Guides go first.

If you could come up with a new name for a giraffe, what would you call it? Why?

The Heart of the Matter Today we’ll hear about the first person God created. His name was Adam. It was Adam’s job to name the animals and take care of them. But first I need your help to put things in order. In your Connect Crews, you’ll imagine that you have three things in front of you. I’ll tell you what they are, then you’ll decide with your Connect Crew how you’d order them.

Supplies • Bible • small individually wrapped bags of Skittles  (optional) (1 per child) • “God Creates People” Bible Story poster  Allergy alert! Check for food allergies or limitations before serving. We call helpers Crew Guides. If you lead a small class, you can be the Crew Guide. Simply circle up with the kids. If you have helpers, form smaller groups so each child can be known—and so kids can befriend your helpers, too!

The first topic is meal planning. Put these things in the order you’d typically eat them: spaghetti, chocolate cake, and salad. ● Give Connect Crews 10 seconds to determine their order. ● Hold up one, two, and three fingers as all Connect Crews shout out their answers together.

Why would you save the third thing for last? Invite a few responses. Kids might not all order items the same way. That’s okay! This simple activity will help you learn more about each other.

The second topic is your birthday party. Put these gifts in the order you’d open them: a big wrapped box, a card in an envelope, and a gift bag. ● Give Connect Crews 10 seconds to determine their order. ● Hold up one, two, and three fingers as all Connect Crews shout out their answers together.

Why would you save the third thing for last? Invite a few responses.

Here’s the last topic—candy! You’ve opened a bag of Skittles. Put these colors of candies in the order you’d eat them: red, yellow, and orange. ● Give Connect Crews 10 seconds to determine their order. ● Hold up one, two, and three fingers as all Connect Crews shout out their answers together.

Why would you save the third color for last? Invite a few responses. If you’d like, give each child a small individually wrapped bag of Skittles to enjoy. What a fun and surprising way to delight your young friends!

Each of you had an opinion about what order to put things in. God had an opinion, too! God created the world, and he saved the best for last: people! God loves you, and he made you and all people in an extra-special way and for a unique purpose. We’re all his favorite!

Experience the Bible Story Let’s explore a story from the Bible. But instead of just listening to a story, you’ll actually help me tell it and play an important part! God had just created everything in the world. Well, all the non-people things. Light, sky, land, seas, plants, sun, moon, stars, fish, birds, and animals. Whew! That’s a lot to accomplish in a week! Have everyone make tired faces as if they’ve just worked for a long time. But God wasn’t tired yet. Like I said, he’d saved the best for last! Listen to what he made next. Read aloud Genesis 1:26. I’ll need two friends to help me tell this story. In Genesis 3, we find out the names of the first two people God made: Adam and Eve. Choose two willing kids to be Adam and Eve. Everyone else will be animals. So think of your favorite animal, and you’ll pretend to be that animal. Choose whatever you’d like—maybe an aardvark or a giraffe like Savanna! Pause for kids to choose animals. When I count to three, I want you to go wild as your animal for the next 10 seconds. You can move, make noise, and basically do whatever your animal would do—but be sure to keep your paws to yourself. Adam and Eve, you’ll hold your hands up above your heads and slowly bring them down like a volume controller. Animals, watch Adam and Eve. You’ll stop horsing around when their hands are on the floor. Ready? One, two, three! Count down from 10 as Adam and Eve slowly lower their hands, eventually signaling the “animals” to be quiet again. Nice work, humans. God created you to care for his creation. That’s a special job! God put people in charge of his creation and told them to take care of it. All of it—not just animals. The Bible put humans in charge of the fish of the sea. Think of a fish you like—a clown fish or even a shark. When I count to three, swim from one side of the room to the other. Adam and Eve, you can swim, too! One, two, three! Pause as kids pretend to swim. The Bible mentions birds in the sky. Ready to fly across the room, everyone? One, two, three! Pause as kids pretend to fly across the room and then return to their seats.

Elementary | Quarter 1 | Unit 1 | Week 2

Livestock…we need to hear livestock noises like cows, goats, and sheep! Ready? One, two, three! Pause. And finally, the small animals that scurry along the ground. Crouch down, and when I count, pretend to scurry in a circle. One, two, three! Pause as kids scurry, then have them sit down again. Way to go! Now let’s see why else God created people.

God Crepaletes Peo 1:26-2:4 Genesis

Read aloud Genesis 1:27. Show the Bible Story poster. God always loves us. (Wow, God!) He saved the best for last: people! God made people in his image. So one reason God made us is to show the world what he’s like. That’s our purpose!

Adam and Eve, God made you in his image to show his love through a smile. Give us a big grin. And Adam and Eve, God made you in his image to show that he’s a relational God who really cares about people. Give a few friends a high-five. And God made you in his image to be creative—to come up with cool stuff that makes our world a better place. Our creativity can bring glory, or praise, to God. Why don’t you each go ahead and create a fun dance move for us to do with you! Invite Adam, Eve, and kids to dance. God created men and women in his image—to show what he’s like and to glorify and praise him. God always loves us. (Wow, God!) And he made us for a purpose. He told Adam and Eve to start a family and take care of the earth. After saving the best for last and giving instructions, God looked over everything he had made and said that it was good. Then he did one last thing. Read aloud Genesis 2:1-3. God created a special day for his special creation to rest and honor him. He saved the best day, a rest day, for last! Thanks, Adam and Eve; why don’t you go back among the animals, and everyone will take a little nap. Enjoy a time of rest. Ahh! Pretend to nap for 10 seconds. God always loves us. (Wow, God!) We’re made in his image so we can show the world who God is. That’s special! But it’s not always easy, so we need God’s help. ● End with a prayer. Have kids mirror what you do, and pause briefly after each action. ● Place hands on both sides of your face. God, even when people make me mad, please help my face show your forgiveness and grace. ● Extend your arms. God, when I want to clench my fists and fight back, please help my hands be open and ready to show your love and care. ● Walk in place. And when my feet want to stay away from someone who needs help, please help me be ready to show your kindness and strength. ● Extend your arms above your head. Thanks for making us, for always loving us, and for giving us a purpose. We love you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Now’s a great time for Apply-It Options. Choose one—or both—of the following reinforcement activities to support today’s Bible discoveries before the Friendship Finale.

Apply-It Options Choose one—or both—of these activities to support kids’ learning after Bible Discovery.

Explore More

Game

Supplies

Play “Would You Rather” as you move around the room.

• Bibles Genesis, the first book of the Bible, tells how God created people. Later a king and poet named David praised God for making people in such a special way. istribute Bibles, and help kids find and read D Psalm 139:13-16 together. Read these fun facts about human bodies, and have kids do each experience. ● Our noses can smell a trillion different scents. Take time to find and identify at least two smells in your room. ● Your mouth makes enough saliva each day to fill half a soda bottle! Lick your lips. ● Your ears are shaped in a special way to collect sound waves. Have kids say “God always loves you” to a partner and then take a step away from each other. Have them continue this until they can’t hear or are across the room.

Since we’re made in God’s image, what do our “wonderfully complex” bodies tell us about God?

God always loves us. (Wow, God!) He made us in a marvelous way to show how special he is!

● Have kids listen to the question. ● Kids will choose which way they’d rather move, then move in laps around the room in that way. ● When you say “Stop!” kids freeze and listen to another question. ● Continue as time allows, repeating or making up additional questions as needed.

Would you rather have wings like a bird or hooves like a deer? (Flap arms like wings, or prance like deer.)

Would you rather have 16 legs like a

caterpillar or eight legs like a spider? (Link arms with seven friends or three friends—or crawl on all fours with fewer friends.)

Would you rather have no bones in your

body or horns on your head? (Flop as you walk, or hop on one leg.)

Would you rather hop like a frog or walk

like a crab? (Crouch and hop, or walk on hands and feet.)

Would you rather have knees that don’t

bend or heels that don’t touch the ground? (Walk without bending knees, or tiptoe.)

God always loves us. (Wow, God!) There are lots of ways God could have made us, but he decided to make people just the way we are!

Tell about a special way God made you.

Our Bible Memory Buddy Savanna helps us remember God always loves us. (Wow, God!) We’re his special creation. You’ll each receive a Savanna sticker to help you remember God’s love throughout your week. You can wear your sticker or collect your stickers at home! Crew Guides will give each child a sticker in a special way like this.

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.”

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● Have kids take turns shouting out emotions kids commonly feel, such as scared and happy, and places kids frequent, such as school and playgrounds. After each emotion or place named, lead everyone in shouting the Bible Point and “Wow, God!”

• Take-It-Home Flyers (Unit 1, Week 2) (1 per child)

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God created people for a special purpose, and God always loves us. (Wow, God!)

Invite kids to sit in knee-to-knee circles with their Connect Crews.

• Savanna Bible Memory Buddy stickers (1 per child)

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Frie�dship Fi�ale

Supplies

(Ephesians 3:18)

● Ask a willing child to help you demonstrate the following actions. ● Crew Guides ask each child to hold out a hand to receive a sticker and then sit back down. ● As they give each child a Bible Memory Buddy sticker, Crew Guides say, “[Child’s name], you’re God’s special creation, and God always loves you.” Take-It-Home Flyer

● Crew Guides give thumbs-up when everyone has received a sticker.

God Creates People

Genesis 1:26–2:4

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.” (Ephesians 3:18)

Saying each child’s name in a loving way helps kids simply experience God’s love through you!

God always loves us… and gives us a special purpose. You’re not an accident. Or a mistake. You’re who you are, where you are, because Jesus put you there on purpose. From the beginning of time, Jesus had you in mind. And you’re one of a kind! Nobody else laughs quite like you. Or has your blend of skills, hopes, and dreams. Nobody else sees the world quite like you see it.

One of the reasons God created people was to show the world what he’s like. But that’s not always easy to do. Sin gets in the way, and that’s why we need Jesus. Jesus showed the world God’s never-ending love. I’d like to read you something about our friend Jesus. As you listen, give yourself a little space so no one is right beside you. Pause as kids move. Now imagine your friend Jesus is sitting there beside you. Go ahead and place your hand on the spot next to you as if you’re inviting him to sit next to you. Pause. Now keep your hand there and close your eyes as I read about Jesus.

Jesus has so many things he’s looking for you to do. So many adventures! And only you can do them because only you are...you. And in case you were wondering, you are wonderfully made!

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What’s something Jesus has given you the ability to do well? How can you use that ability to honor God and help others?

Try This @ Home People are created in God’s image, so take a look at the people around you this week. Notice a cool way God made them, and tell them what you see. You never know how Jesus can speak through your words to remind someone else about their awesomeness.

Explore More @ Home

Some Scriptures to look up later: Psalm 139:14 and Ephesians 2:10.

You’re really creative!

Thanks for being so kind!

Elementary, Quarter 1, Unit 1, Week 2

● Read the first section of the Unit 1, Week 2 Take-It-Home Flyer. ● Now I’ll give you one of these flyers to help you talk about Jesus’ love in your Connect Crews and at home, too. ● Distribute Take-It-Home Flyers to Crew Guides, and have them share about their own friendship with Jesus as they answer the “Talk Starter” question and then invite kids to share. ● Kids share prayer requests—things they’d like to tell Jesus—in their Connect Crews. ● Connect Crews pray together. ● Crew Guides distribute Take-It-Home Flyers and follow the directions to help kids fold the papers to “fly” home.

Unit 1 | Week 3

Si� Enters God’s World

In the Beginning

Purpose

Let’s face it—sin gets the best of all of us. We want to be in charge of our own lives. The core of our sinful condition is selfishness— choosing our way instead of God’s way. We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The story of sin entering God’s perfect world is such a monumental lesson—and not just for kids. Even as adults, we still hear the subtle whisper of the enemy, assuring us that we don’t need God, we’re actually good enough on our own: the original lie leading to original sin. What a powerful opportunity to help kids learn to recognize that lie in their lives. To learn to lean on God and not on their own limited understanding. To trust that God always has their best interests at heart. And to be comforted by knowing that even when they sin—and they will—our loving God will still care for them. Will still love them. Will always love them!

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God always loves us…even when we want to be in charge.

Bible Point

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“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.”

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Genesis 3:1-24

(Ephesians 3:18)

Prayer

God, thank you for your never-ending love! Thank you for still loving us despite our sin. Please help the kids I’ll lead today turn away from sin when they’re tempted. And please help them know that even when they do wrong, they can turn to you for forgiveness and love. Please give me the words to say to help kids grow closer to you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Prep

Opening Options

Sing & Play

Option Cards*

countdown video*

Lego Buildings: Legos

Buddy Video DVD*

Paper Hearts: art supplies such as construction paper, stickers, crayons, scissors, glue sticks

Music Video DVD*

Savanna Bible Memory Buddy poster*

media player

Bible (bookmark Ephesians 3:18)

Bible Discovery & Friendship Finale

“Sin Enters God’s World” Bible Story poster*

Savanna Bible Memory Buddy stickers* (1 per child)

Take-It-Home Flyers* (Unit 1, Week 3) (1 per child)

Bible (bookmark Genesis 3:1-3, 4-5, 9-11)

index cards (1 per person)

masking tape

worship music (optional)

media player (optional)

Apply-It Options

Explore More: Bibles, sheets of aluminum foil (1 per child)

Game: no supplies

* in your Simply Loved Kit 31

Opening Options

Set up one—or both—of these intro activities to start your time together. Each activity connects kids to the Bible Point and to each other. Cut apart these Option Cards and place one by each activity you choose. Crew Guides will follow the directions and build friendships with kids as they make discoveries together!

Lego Buildi�gs

Paper Hearts

Supplies • Legos

Supplies • construction paper, stickers, crayons, scissors, glue sticks

Build a Lego building. Then invite a friend to knock it down. What was it like when you watched your Lego building being destroyed? God created a perfect world for the people he made and loved. Then they disobeyed God, and sin upset his plan for people. But God still cared for them, just like he cares for us. God always loves us.

Who’s someone who loves you no matter what? Draw a big heart and decorate it. Cut it out, then fold it in half like a card. Write something nice inside to give to someone you love. You’ll give your card to someone you love. God loved the people he made and gave them a beautiful garden to live in. Even so, they disobeyed God. God still cared about them, though, because God always loves us.

Opening Now’s a great time for Opening Options. Choose one—or both—to introduce today’s Bible discoveries.

countdown video (1 minute) Help kids transition, clean up the activities, and sit with Connect Crews. A Connect Crew is a small group of kids with one Crew Guide.

Si�g & Play Hey, friends! We were made to praise God! Let’s sing and have some fun.

“Made for This” music video

Bible Point It’s such good news that God always loves us! That’s our Bible Point, so every time you hear someone say, “God always loves us,” you’ll shout, “Wow, God!” like this! ● Open hands on either side of your face and say, “Wow, God!” ● Repeat several times. Repetition cements learning, so be sure to say today’s Bible Point A LOT. Have fun with it! Kids will love listening for it and responding with “Wow, God!”

Supplies • Bible • media player • Buddy Video DVD Savanna Bible Memory Buddy video (Week 3) • Music Video DVD “Made for This” music video “To God Be the Glory” music video “One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails)” music video • Savanna Bible Memory Buddy poster

God always loves us. (Wow, God!) Let’s celebrate God’s love with a praise song.

“To God Be the Glory” music video

Wow, Go

Bible Memory Buddy & Verse Let’s say hi to our friend Savanna. Show the Bible Memory Buddy poster. Savanna the giraffe is our Bible Memory Buddy. Now it’s time to learn another fascinating fact about giraffes! Are you ready for today’s This-or-That Challenge? You’ll hear two fun facts about giraffes. Then you’ll vote on which one you think is true—this fact or that!

Savanna

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.” (Ephesians 3:18)

How big is a giraffe’s heart—is it 6 inches long (demonstrate 6 inches with your hands) or 2 feet long (demonstrate)?

● Have everyone hold their hands about 6 inches apart to vote for this (6 inches) or 2 feet apart to vote for that (2 feet). ● Invite everyone to make a drumroll sound by patting their thighs or the floor. ● Dramatically give the answer: It’s 2 feet! ● Now let’s watch the Bible Memory Buddy video to find out more!

Savanna Bible Memory Buddy video (Week 3) Show the Bible. The Bible is God’s true story of love! Even though God inspired people to write the Bible a long time ago, it still matters in our lives today. Our Bible Memory Verse comes from Ephesians 3:18. Let’s say the verse together. I’ll say a line, and then you repeat after me. “And may you have the power (make muscles with arms) to understand, (point to head) as all God’s people should, (sweep hands in front of you) how wide, (spread arms wide) how long, (move arm in front like tracing a long line) how high, (stretch up with hand above head) and how deep (crouch down) (God’s) love is.” (hug yourself) (Ephesians 3:18) God always loves us. (Wow, God!) His love never gives up on us.

“One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails)” music video

Elementary | Quarter 1 | Unit 1 | Week 3

Bible Discovery Circle Up & Connect

Let’s circle up and spend a little time simply getting to know each other in smaller groups called Connect Crews. ● Divide kids into Connect Crews with one adult helper—or Crew Guide—per group.

Supplies • Bible • “Sin Enters God’s World” Bible Story poster • index cards (1 per person) • worship music (optional)

● Invite kids to sit in knee-to-knee circles with their Connect Crews. ● Have kids give their Crew Guides and each other hand hugs like this: Place your palms against the palms of a friend like you’re giving a high-five, and then wrap your thumbs around the other person’s hand for a hug! ● Have kids take turns saying their names and answering this question. Crew Guides go first.

Tell about the most beautiful place you’ve ever seen. What did it look like?

The Heart of the Matter I’m putting someone in charge of each Connect Crew. You’ll play a quick game together, and the person in charge gets to make up the game. ● Choose one child from each Connect Crew to be “in charge.” ● Have that person make up and explain a game that can be played in the Connect Crew circles. It’s okay if kids take a little while to come up with a game and explain it. ● Give kids five minutes to play the games.

For those who weren’t in charge, how did you feel letting someone else decide what you’d do?

How is this experience like or unlike letting God be in charge of our lives?

Oftentimes, we want to do things our way. We may think we know what’s best, and we want to be the one in charge of our lives. In the Bible, we’ll discover how sin came into God’s perfect world because people chose their way instead of God’s way.

Experience the Bible Story Lead kids in this fun, interactive Bible story skit, demonstrating the actions throughout. In today’s Bible story, we’ll travel back to a beautiful place. In fact, it was a perfect place! I’ll need your help to tell this story. But don’t worry, I’ll tell you what to do.

Well, this perfect place was the garden of Eden. God filled it with wonderful fruit trees and amazing animals. Best of all, the first two people God created lived there. The man was named Adam. Let’s have all the boys wave to each other. Pause. The woman was named Eve. Okay, girls, time to wave. Pause. Every morning when Adam and Eve woke up, beautiful things greeted them. Pretend to wake up; let’s yawn and stand up and stretch. Pause. What should Adam and Eve eat for breakfast? Maybe they should munch on a mango. Let’s pretend to pick and eat a mango. Pause as kids respond. Or maybe they’d rather pick a pineapple. Go ahead and pretend to pick and eat a pineapple. Pause. God allowed Adam and Eve to eat from any of the trees—except for one. They weren’t allowed to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Place a chair or another classroom object beside you to be the “tree.” Imagine this object is that one tree. Let’s move away from this tree so we aren’t tempted to eat its fruit. Together, move away from the tree to another area of your room and sit down. Now the snake was the shrewdest of all the wild animals God had made. That means it was smart and clever…but also tricky! One day the snake came slithering up to Eve and whispered in her ear. Let’s read their conversation. Read aloud in a whisper Genesis 3:1-3. “You won’t die!” hissed the snake. Let’s hiss like a snake. Pause. Read aloud Genesis 3:4-5. “Hmm,” thought Eve, looking at the tree. Look over at the tree. “That fruit does look yummy.” Let’s move a little closer. Together, take a few steps toward it. No, no! We should do what God says. Together, move a few steps back. “Ooh! But I bet the fruit’s delicious. And I am hungry.” Are you hungry? Together, take a few steps toward the tree. No, no, no. It’s not about what we want—it’s what God wants. Together, move a few steps back. Perhaps Eve wondered what it’d be like to be as smart as God. It’d be pretty cool to be like God. Let’s go for it. Together, go to the tree. Eve took some of the fruit and ate it. Mmm, take a bite. Pause. Then she gave some to Adam, and he ate it. Take another bite. Pause. Oh no! Suddenly they felt shame. Cover your eyes with your hands. Pause. Later they heard God coming. Now what? So they hid from God among the trees. Crouch down and hide! Pause. Oh no! Here he comes! Pause. Of course, you can’t really hide from God, right? God found them. Let’s find out what he said. Read aloud Genesis 3:9-11. Adam said, “It was Eve who gave me the fruit!” Boys, point at the girls. Pause. Eve said, “The snake tricked me! It’s the snake’s fault!” Girls, point at the snake. Wait! Where’d it go? Point up and down and all around. Pause.

Elementary | Quarter 1 | Unit 1 | Week 3

God was totally in charge of what happened next. God told the snake that it would have to crawl on its belly in the dust from then on. Then God told Adam and Eve that they’d have to leave the beautiful and perfect garden he’d made for them. Have everyone get up and move near the door of your room, then sit down. Sigh. Adam and Eve’s actions must have broken God’s heart. Although God could have unfriended Adam and Eve, he still loved them. So he made clothes for them out of animal skins. And he still watched over them, even though they had to leave the perfect garden. Whether we realize it or not, our bad choices usually happen because we want to do what we want to do instead of what God wants. That’s sin. It’s choosing our way instead of God’s way. Let’s talk in our Connect Crews. We’ll have Crew Guides answer a question, then kids, you’ll draw your answers on an index card.

Tell about a time you did something wrong and chose your own way

over God’s way. Invite Crew Guides to share first, giving them about a minute to share.

● Distribute index cards to Crews, enough for each person to have one. You all have an index card. Think of a time you did something wrong, and with your finger, write or draw what happened. We don’t need to tell everyone, so we’ll use imaginary ink. Pause for about 30 seconds. God always loves us. (Wow, God!) He loves us even when we choose our way over God’s way and what he wants for us. That’s why he sent Jesus. Jesus never sinned. God sent him to earth to die on the cross and forgive us so we don’t have to carry our sin around anymore. We can be close to God again. Have everyone stand and move to place their index cards by the tree. While there, huddle up for a quick prayer. God, thank you for always loving us, even when we want to be in charge and we choose our way instead of yours. We love you, too. Amen.

Sin Enters God’s Wsios 3r1-l2d 4 Gene

Now’s a great time for Apply-It Options. Choose one—or both—of the following reinforcement activities to support today’s Bible discoveries before the Friendship Finale.

Apply-It Options Choose one—or both—of these activities to support kids’ learning after Bible Discovery.

Explore More Supplies • Bibles, sheets of aluminum foil (1 per child) God created a beautiful garden for Adam and Eve. It was perfect!

● Form a line with kids’ hands on the shoulders of the child in front. ● The last child in line is the snake’s tail. The first child in line is the snake’s head. ● The snake’s tail tries to catch the snake’s head.

● Look at your reflection on the shiny side of a piece of foil. You can see yourself clearly!

● Everyone in the middle tries to keep connected so the line doesn’t break.

● Now crinkle the foil into a loose wad.

● If the tail catches the head, the tail player takes the front position and becomes the new head. Everyone else moves back one position.

● Flatten out the foil as best you can. ● Now look at your reflection. ● No matter how you turn the foil, you won’t be able to see your reflection. It’s gone! When Adam and Eve decided to choose their own way, they brought sin into every human’s life. The perfect world was perfect no more!

If you could say one thing to Adam or Eve right now, what would it be?

Think about a time you’ve messed up. What words would be helpful to hear?

Look up and read Romans 5:17-19 together. Even when we choose our way instead of God’s way, God still loves us. God always loves us! (Wow, God!) In fact, he loves us so much he sent Jesus to beat sin and death once and for all. Thank you, God!

Game

In this game, the snake’s tail moved all around, trying to catch the person at the front of the line.

How is that like or unlike what happens when we want to be in charge?

God will always love us. (Wow, God!) God is way more powerful and wise than we are—and that’s a good thing! Through Jesus, we can be close friends with the God who’s in charge of everything. How cool is that!

Frie�dship Fi�ale Invite kids to sit in knee-to-knee circles with their Connect Crews. Even when we want to go our own way and be in charge, God always loves us. (Wow, God!) There’s simply nothing we can do on our own to get rid of the sin in our lives. Sin is like a sickness that leads to death. But love makes all the difference. God loves us so much that he sent his only Son, Jesus, to take away our sin. ● Make a masking-tape cross on the center of your floor. ● Have Crew Guides and kids stand on opposite ends of the cross.

Supplies • masking tape • Savanna Bible Memory Buddy stickers (1 per child) • worship music (optional) • media player (optional) • Take-It-Home Flyers (Unit 1, Week 3) (1 per child)

Jesus loves us so much that he died so we don’t have to! He died on a cross and made a way for us to be forgiven and live with him forever in heaven.

● Crew Guides give thumbs-up when everyone has received a sticker.

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● After receiving stickers, kids will sit in Connect Crew circles.

● Crew Guides will hand each child a Bible Memory Buddy sticker and say, “[Child’s name], God will always love you!”

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.”

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● Kids take turns walking along the upright beam of the cross to get to their Crew Guides. If you’d like, play worship music softly in the background.

(Ephesians 3:18)

Saying each child’s name in a loving way helps kids simply experience God’s love through you! Take-It-Home Flyer

Savanna, our Bible Memory Buddy friend, is a good reminder that God always loves us. (Wow, God!) You can wear or put your Savanna sticker someplace special to you. It can remind you that God loves you so much that he sent Jesus to take away your sin. Friends, Jesus always has your back. That means he’s a friend we can lean and depend on. As you listen to me read, I’d like for you to sit back to back with someone near you. Please move now, so you’re sitting with your back up against a friend’s back. Pause while kids move. Thanks! Now close your eyes and listen as I read to you about our friend Jesus.

Sin Enters God’s World

Genesis 3:1-24

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.” (Ephesians 3:18)

God always loves us… even when we want to be in charge. Sometimes you want to be in charge. You want to pick the game, claim the biggest cookie, call the shots. But the truth is that when it comes to the big stuff, Jesus is in charge—and that’s a good thing. It’s the best thing. That’s because Jesus is a friend who sticks with you. Who stays close when bullies show up, your parents fight, or you have problems at school. Plus, he’s the all-powerful, all-wise Creator. Exactly the sort of friend you need in your corner! Even when we try to be in charge, he loves us. Even when we forget about him for a while, he sticks by our side, always calling us back into friendship. So relax. You’re safe. Jesus has your back.

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Try This @ Home

Tell about a time that knowing Jesus was in charge helped you feel safe when life got hard.

Look for someone in charge this week: a school principal, a crossing guard, or a coach. Thank that person for leading you!

Explore More @ Home

● Read the first section of the Unit 1, Week 3 Take-It-Home Flyer.

How safe are you when you ask Jesus to be in charge? Read Romans 8:31-39.

Elementary, Quarter 1, Unit 1, Week 3

● Now I’ll give you one of these flyers to help you talk about Jesus’ love in your Connect Crews and at home, too. ● Distribute Take-It-Home Flyers to Crew Guides, and have them share about their own friendship with Jesus as they answer the “Talk Starter” question and then invite kids to share. ● Kids share prayer requests—things they’d like to tell Jesus—in their Connect Crews. ● Connect Crews pray together. ● Crew Guides distribute Take-It-Home Flyers and follow the directions to help kids fold the paper to “fly” home.

Unit 1 | Week 4

Have you ever needed a fresh start? Perhaps you said something you regret. Or you typed an exasperated message to a family member, thought better, then deleted your words and tried again. If only we could fix every mistake we make. We long for do-overs. When sin entered God’s perfect world, there was no turning back. The Bible says that the earth was filled with corruption and violence—two ingredients that ruined God’s perfect creation. Something had to be done. On one hand, God sent a devastating flood that deleted life, except for Noah and his boat mates. On the other hand, he blessed Noah with a do-over and made a loving commitment to never again destroy the earth with a flood. Kids may read Noah’s story and be intrigued by the boat building, 600-year-old Noah, or the amount of

Prayer

God, you are great, powerful, and just. And you are loving, merciful, and trustworthy. I trust this lesson to you. Love your children through me today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.”

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Purpose

time spent living on the boat. What a story! But this text also raises some tricky questions: “How could all those animals fit in one boat?” or “If God loves people so much, why didn’t he save more of them?” It’s hard to wrap our minds around God’s love and his justice. As you teach this fascinating but difficult story, remember: Jesus is with you. Jesus changes everything. Let his presence and the power of the Holy Spirit guide your time together.

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God always loves us…and gives us do-overs.

Bible Point

Genesis 6:9–9:17

Co py righ t

A �lood Co�ers the Earth

In the Beginning

(Ephesians 3:18)

Prep

Opening Options

Sing & Play

Option Cards*

countdown video*

Lego Boats: Legos

Buddy Video DVD*

Paper Rainbows: art supplies such as construction paper, stickers, crayons, scissors, glue sticks

Music Video DVD*

Savanna Bible Memory Buddy poster*

media player

Bible (bookmark Ephesians 3:18)

* in your Simply Loved Kit

Bible Discovery & Friendship Finale

“A Flood Covers the Earth” Bible Story poster*

Savanna Bible Memory Buddy stickers* (1 per child)

Take-It-Home Flyers* (Unit 1, Week 4) (1 per child)

Bible (bookmark Genesis 6:9, 11-13; 7:11-12; 8:1-5)

piece of paper and marker

small mirrors (1 per Crew)

dry-erase markers (1 per Crew)

wet wipes (1 per Crew)

Apply-It Options

Explore More: Bibles, construction paper in various colors, crayons, glue sticks

Game: slips of paper, pen, container, timer (optional)

Opening Options

Lego Boats

Paper Rainbo�s

Supplies • Legos

Supplies • construction paper, stickers, crayons, scissors, glue sticks

Build a boat out of Legos. Tell about a time you were on a boat. God always loves us, and God told Noah how to build a big boat. He’d need it because God would send a huge flood to get rid of sin in the world.

When have you seen a rainbow? Rainbows remind us of fresh starts and God’s promises. God always loves us!

Opening Now’s a great time for Opening Options. Choose one—or both—to introduce today’s Bible discoveries.

countdown video (1 minute) Help kids transition, clean up the activities, and sit with Connect Crews. A Connect Crew is a small group of kids with one Crew Guide.

Si�g & Play Hey, friends! It’s time to get moving. Let’s sing a song!

“Let’s Get a Little Crazy” music video

Bible Point Think about a time life felt a little out of control. Maybe you moved to a new town, had two big tests on the same day, or did something you later regretted. Let’s make waves with our arms to represent times life felt crazy.

Supplies • Bible • media player • Buddy Video DVD Savanna Bible Memory Buddy video (Week 4) • Music Video DVD “Let’s Get a Little Crazy” music video

● Have everyone move arms like ocean waves.

“We Can Trust Him” (Psalm 33:4) music video

● Even when life is flooded with change, worry, or bad choices, God always loves us. That’s our Bible Point, so every time you hear someone say, “God always loves us,” you’ll shout, “Wow, God!” like this!

“One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails)” music video

● Open hands on either side of your face and say, “Wow, God!” ● Repeat several times.

• Savanna Bible Memory Buddy poster

Repetition cements learning, so be sure to say today’s Bible Point A LOT. Have fun with it! Kids will love listening for it and responding with “Wow, God!”

God always loves us. (Wow, God!) We can trust him no matter what. Let’s sing a song about that.

“We Can Trust Him” (Psalm 33:4) music video

Wow, Go

Bible Memory Buddy & Verse Savanna the giraffe is our Bible Memory Buddy. Giraffes are fascinating! It’s time for today’s This-or-That Challenge. You’ll hear two fun facts about giraffes. Then you’ll vote on which one you think is true—this fact or that! ● Show the Bible Memory Buddy poster.

Savanna

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.” (Ephesians 3:18)

How do giraffes defend themselves from predators like lions or crocodiles? Do they head-butt or karate kick?

● Have everyone spread out and then swing their heads from side to side to vote for this (head-butt), or karate kick the air to vote for that (karate kick). ● Make a drumroll sound by patting your thighs or the floor. ● Dramatically give the answer: It’s a karate kick! ● Let’s watch the Bible Memory Buddy video to find out more!

Savanna Bible Memory Buddy video (Week 4) Show the Bible. The Bible is God’s true story of love! The word Bible means “book,” and this is God’s special book. Our Bible Memory Verse comes from Ephesians 3:18. Let’s say the verse together. I’ll say a line, and then you repeat after me. “And may you have the power (make muscles with arms) to understand, (point to head) as all God’s people should, (sweep hands in front of you) how wide, (spread arms wide) how long, (move arm in front like tracing a long line) how high, (stretch up with hand above head) and how deep (crouch down) (God’s) love is.” (hug yourself) (Ephesians 3:18) God always loves us. (Wow, God!) God’s love goes on and on and on! Let’s sing about that.

“One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails)” music video

Elementary | Quarter 1 | Unit 1 | Week 4

Bible Discovery Circle Up & Connect

Let’s circle up and spend a little time getting to know each other in smaller groups called Connect Crews.

Supplies • Bible • piece of paper and marker • “A Flood Covers the Earth” Bible Story poster

● Divide kids into Connect Crews, with one adult helper—or Crew Guide— per group.

• small mirrors (1 per Crew)

● Invite kids to sit in knee-to-knee circles with their Crews. ● Have kids give their Crew Guides and each other double high-fives.

• dry-erase markers (1 per Crew)

● Have kids take turns saying their names and answering this question. Crew Guides go first.

• wet wipes (1 per Crew)

Tell about a time you were sick. How did you get better?

Experience the Bible Story God always loves us. (Wow, God!) He wants to be close to us. But our sin is like a sickness; it gets in the way and separates us from God. ● Have kids all hold out their right hands like one side of a balance. ● On one hand, God always loves us. (Wow, God!) ● Have kids all hold out their left hands, too, like the other side of a balance. ● But on the other hand, God doesn’t love sin. Today we’ll explore a story in the Bible. Instead of just listening to the story, you’ll actually help me tell it and play an important part!

Choose someone to be Noah. Quickly draw seven stick figures on a piece of paper and give it to Noah. Noah, here’s your family. You’ll need to keep them with you. Let’s read what the Bible says about Noah. Read aloud Genesis 6:9. Wow! What a compliment! Pat Noah on the back. Noah wasn’t perfect, but he walked closely with God. God has nice things to say about us, too, because God always loves us. (Wow, God!) And Noah loved God. Noah was righteous. That means he tried to do what was right. Everyone else in the world? Not so much. Let’s see what was written about them. Read aloud Genesis 6:11-13. People were corrupt. That means they had gone bad. Sin had made them sick and rotten. Show me the face you’d make if you bit into a rotten apple. Pause. Yuck! What once was good had become quite bad.

Sin is like a rotten sickness with no cure. We can’t make ourselves good again. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death…” And that’s what happened in Noah’s story. God told Noah he was going to send a flood that’d make all living things die. Hold out your right hand. On one hand, sin leads to death. Hold out your left hand. But on the other hand, God’s love lives forever. God always loves us, (Wow, God!) and he showed his love to Noah, his family, and two of every kind of animal.

overs A Flood C rth the Ea 9 1 6:9– : 7 Genesis

Pause. Good. Keep going.

Show the Bible Story poster. God told Noah to build a boat. Some Bible translations call it an ark. Go ahead, Noah, and act out what I say. First, chop down some trees. Pause. Now saw them into boards. Pause. Now hammer the boards together.

Motion to the rest of the kids. Speaking of animals…that’s you! While Noah keeps working on the boat, find a partner nearby and decide together what kind of animal you’ll both be. We need two of every kind of animal…or at least a few different kinds. You have 10 seconds to decide…go! Count down from 10 seconds. Great. We have our animals two by two, and it looks like our boat is ready. It’s over there! Designate one area of your room as the “boat.” Noah, take your family and board the boat. Pause while Noah walks over to the boat area. Okay, animals. Two by two, you’ll move and make your animal noises as you join Noah and his family in the boat. Gather everyone to sit down in the “boat” area. This place smells like a zoo. Whew! Let’s read what happened next. Read aloud Genesis 7:11-12. The floodwaters got really deep. You couldn’t even see the mountains anymore. Because of sin, all living things died. The people and animals on the boat were the only survivors. Have kids turn to the person beside them, give a comforting pat on the back, and say, “We’re okay.” Let’s find out what happened after the flooding stopped. Read aloud Genesis 8:1-5. God remembered Noah. But he, his family, and the animals had to stay on the boat for a while. Maybe it was like being on a really long road trip, or in this case, a boat trip. Hmm…what can we do to pass the time? I know! Let’s play “I Spy.” I spy with my little eye something… Choose and say the color of something in your room. Invite kids to guess until they’re correct. Let’s see if the floodwaters have gone down. Choose a child to be a raven, and have the child pretend to fly out of the boat and come back. Nope. Still flooded. Let’s keep playing. Play another round of “I Spy.” Let’s check on the flood again. Let’s send a dove this time. Choose a child to be a dove, and have that child coo and pretend to fly out of the boat and come back.

Elementary | Quarter 1 | Unit 1 | Week 4

Nope. Still flooded. Play another round of “I Spy.” Okay, time to send out a dove again. Choose a child to be a dove, and have that child coo and pretend to fly out of the boat, find and pick up something green, then come back to the boat. The dove brought us a green leaf! It’s almost time to leave the boat. Get this: The Bible says Noah was 600 years old when the flood started, and he and his family were on the boat for about a year. So before we get off this boat, let’s help Noah celebrate his 601st birthday and sing “Happy Birthday” to Noah. Sing “Happy Birthday” together. Okay. Let’s send out one more dove. Choose a child to be a dove, and have that child coo and pretend to fly out of the boat and then find a seat outside the boat. Hooray! The dove found a place to land. Finally, let’s get out of this boat and back to our seats. Have everyone move back to their Connect Crews. Hold out your right hand. On one hand, God gave the world a fresh start. Hold out your left hand, too. But on the other hand, like a yucky flu bug, sin sickness has a pesky way of coming back. God knew that’d happen. So God made a promise to Noah to never destroy everything with a flood again. And a rainbow reminded God’s people of his love for them. We still see that sign in the sky today.

The Heart of the Matter Let’s talk about this question in our Connect Crews.

Think back to that time you were sick. What were your symptoms?

Tell a story from your own life. Perhaps you had a cold and your symptoms included feeling really tired and having a runny nose. Then give time for Connect Crews to talk. As they talk, give each Connect Crew a small mirror, a dry-erase marker, and a wet wipe.

Sin is like a sickness. And we see symptoms of sin in our lives every day. Because of our sin sickness, we may choose to tell a lie instead of telling the truth. Use a dry-erase marker to make a dot on a mirror. And because of our sin sickness, we say mean things to friends or family members. Make another dot on the mirror. In your Connect Crews, let everyone have a turn making a dot on the mirror. Those dots represent the symptoms of our sin sickness that show up in our lives every day. Pause.

Now pass around the mirror and look at yourself. What do you see? It looks like you’re sick with a yucky rash. We can’t get rid of sin on our own. We need Jesus. God loves us so much, he sent Jesus. Hold out your right hand. On one hand, sin leads to death. Hold out your left hand, too, then extend both arms out to make the shape of a cross with your body. On the other hand, Jesus paid the price for our sins when he died on the cross. And Jesus beat death when he came back to life. He gives us new life and a fresh start every time our sin sickness gets the best of us. Jesus washes away our sin. Have Connect Crews use wet wipes to erase the dots. Now pass around the mirror and look at yourself again. God always loves us, (Wow, God!) and this is how he sees you— clean, forgiven, and simply loved!

Now’s a great time for Apply-It Options! Choose one—or both—of the following reinforcement activities to support today’s Bible discoveries before the Friendship Finale.

Apply-It Options Choose one—or both—of these activities to support kids’ learning after Bible Discovery.

Explore More

Game

Supplies

• Bibles, construction paper in various colors, crayons, glue sticks

• slips of paper, pen, container, timer (optional)

Distribute Bibles, and help kids find and read Genesis 9:12-15 together. Rainbows remind us of God’s loving promise. Let’s make a rainbow out of a mess! Torn paper pieces look like a mess—but they can be made new. Create a mosaic rainbow. Draw several curved lines with crayons, then tear up pieces of paper and glue them to the lines.

When have you had to start fresh in your life? How did God help you?

God always loves us. (Wow, God!) He’ll help us through every new beginning in our lives.

Write the same animal name on two different slips of paper. Make enough animal “pairs” so each child has a slip of paper. Choose animals that make a recognizable sound. ● Mix up the paper slips and place them in a container. ● Have everyone choose a paper slip and then spread out around the room. ● Give everyone 30 seconds to try to find their matching animal friend by making their chosen animal’s sound. ● Celebrate when all pairs find one another. ● Collect paper slips and play again. Give less time each round. ● If you have a smaller class, have kids close their eyes as they move and link arms with their match. We found our animal partners by listening for the sounds they make. And Noah listened for God’s instructions so he’d know how to prepare for the flood.

How do you think Noah knew what God’s voice sounded like?

How do we know what God’s asking us to do today?

God always loves us. (Wow, God!) Sometimes it’s hard to figure out what God wants us to do. But the closer friends we become with God, the more we’ll hear and understand his voice.

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. g, Inc Publishin

Supplies

Co py righ t

Frie�dship Fi�ale

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.”

(Ephesians 3:18)

Invite kids to sit in knee-to-knee circles with their Connect Crews.

• Savanna Bible Memory Buddy stickers (1 per child) • Take-It-Home Flyers (Unit 1, Week 4) (1 per child)

Savanna, our Bible Memory Buddy friend, is a good reminder that God always loves us. (Wow, God!) God loves us and gives us do-overs. ● Have kids hold their hands together like a boat and picture a time sin made a mess in their lives. Maybe they told a lie and got caught or talked back to a family member and got in trouble. ● Ask a willing child to help you demonstrate the following actions. ● As kids hold out their hands like a boat, Crew Guides place a Bible Memory Buddy sticker in each child’s hands and say, “[Child’s name], God always loves you.” ● Crew Guides give thumbs-up when each child has received a sticker to wear or keep. Saying each child’s name in a loving way helps kids simply experience God’s love through you! Take-It-Home Flyer

Sin is like a nasty virus or sickness. We can’t heal ourselves, but Jesus can! I’d like to read you something about our friend Jesus. As you listen, think of the place you’re sent to when you get in trouble. Maybe it’s your room or a certain chair. Wherever it is, close your eyes and imagine you’re sitting in that spot. Pause. It’s not a super fun spot, is it? Now, keep your eyes closed and listen to me read about our friend Jesus.

A Flood Covers the Earth

Genesis 6:9–9:17

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.” (Ephesians 3:18)

God always loves us… and gives us do-overs. Jesus knows we do bad things. Think mean thoughts. That sometimes we’re selfish and disobedient. He knows that’s true about us because it’s true about everyone. So when we make lousy choices, let’s talk with Jesus about it. It isn’t as if he’ll be surprised—he already knows all about what happened. If we’re truly sorry, he’ll forgive us. And he’ll go with us when we try to make things right. When we say “I’m sorry” to that friend whose feelings we hurt. Or when we return something we took that wasn’t ours to take. As we become closer friends with Jesus, we’ll grow to be more like him. More patient, kind, caring, and forgiving. We’ll still mess up sometimes. And he’ll still be our friend when we do. Because he’s not our friend only when things go well; he’s our friend all the time.

● Read the first section of the Unit 1, Week 4 Take-It-Home Flyer. ● Now I’ll give you one of these flyers to help you talk about Jesus’ love in your Connect Crews and at home, too. ● Distribute Take-It-Home Flyers to Crew Guides, and have them share about their own friendship with Jesus as they answer the “Talk Starter” question and then invite kids to share.

arter Talk St

Tell about a time Jesus helped you bounce back from a hard thing in life.

Try This @ Home Time to give the kitchen sink a do-over! Find out how it’s usually cleaned, and then clean it. Sweep the kitchen floor, too. You’ve just given your kitchen a “do-over,” the chance to look fresh and new again! When Jesus give us doovers, we get to feel fresh and new again, too!

Explore More @ Home It’s true—Jesus gives you doovers! Read 1 John 1:9.

Elementary, Quarter 1, Unit 1, Week 4

● Kids share prayer requests—things they’d like to tell Jesus—in their Connect Crews. ● Connect Crews pray together. ● Crew Guides distribute Take-It-Home Flyers and follow the directions to help kids fold the paper to “fly” home.

Unit 2 | Week 1 God Has a Plan

Genesis 12:1-8; 15:1-6

God Calls Abram

“For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does.”

Bible Point

We can trust God…even when we don’t understand.

(Psalm 33:4)

Purpose

Remember learning algebra? Or trigonometry? Maybe it came naturally for you. But there may also have been frustrating moments when you just didn’t understand. You believed there was a solution but had no idea how to get there. Perhaps that’s how Abram felt. God gave him the answer: “You’ll get land plus a big, blessed family.” But Abram wondered how to get there. Despite wondering and some wandering, too, Abram believed. He trusted God. And we can, too. Elementary kids are developing critical thinking skills. They ask questions so they can understand, and they become frustrated when they just don’t get it. As you lead, look for opportunities to help kids know we may never fully understand God and his ways. But there are things we do know: God’s trustworthy. He loves us. And he has a plan for our lives.

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Prayer

God, you are beyond my comprehension. And yet, I trust you. Thanks for guiding me through your plans for my life and your plans for my time with your kids. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Prep

Opening Options

Sing & Play

Option Cards*

countdown video*

Painted Road: gallonsize resealable bags, washable paint in various colors, masking tape, small toy cars

Buddy Video DVD*

Music Video DVD*

Rae Bible Memory Buddy poster*

Craft Stick Stars: craft sticks, Glue Dots, rubber bands, markers

media player

Bible (bookmark Psalm 33:4)

Bible Discovery & Friendship Finale

Apply-It Options

“God Calls Abram” Bible Story poster*

Explore More: Bibles, paper, pens or pencils

Rae Bible Memory Buddy stickers* (1 per child)

Game: no supplies

Take-It-Home Flyers* (Unit 2, Week 1) (1 per child)

Bible (bookmark Genesis 12:1-3, 6, 7; 15:1-3)

star drawn on a large piece of paper

snowman drawn on a large piece of paper

paper

pencils

* in your Simply Loved Kit 51

Opening Options

Painted Road

Craft Stick Stars

Supplies • gallon-size resealable bags, washable paint in various colors, masking tape, small toy cars

Supplies • craft sticks, Glue Dots, rubber bands, markers

Squeeze a blob of paint into the bottom corners of the bag. Seal the bag, then tape sides to a table. Use your hand to distribute the paint throughout the sealed bag. Then drive toy cars over the bag to make roads. Tell about a road trip you took. Where did you go? Who went with you? In our Bible story, we’ll hear about Abram’s journey to a new home. He went because God told him to. Abram trusted God, and we can trust God, too. He’ll be with us wherever we go.

Use Glue Dots or rubber bands to shape craft sticks into a star. Use markers to decorate your star. If you could name a star, what would you call it? Why? Today we’ll hear about God’s promise to a man named Abram. God said Abram would have as many family members as there are stars in the sky. That’s a big family! We can trust God to keep his promises.

Opening Now’s a great time for Opening Options! Choose one—or both—to introduce today’s Bible discoveries.

countdown video (1 minute) Help kids transition, clean up the activities, and sit with Connect Crews. A Connect Crew is a small group of kids with one Crew Guide.

Si�g & Play Hey, friends! Trust me, we’re going to have a blast today. Let’s start with a song!

“To God Be the Glory” music video

Bible Point Today we’re discovering we can trust God. That’s our Bible Point today, so every time you hear the words “We can trust God!” point up and say, “Trust God!” Let’s try that together. ● Point up and say, “Trust God!” ● Repeat several times. Repetition cements learning, so be sure to say today’s Bible Point A LOT. Have fun with it! Kids will love listening for it and responding with “Trust God!”

Supplies • Bible • media player • Buddy Video DVD Rae Bible Memory Buddy video (Week 1) • Music Video DVD “To God Be the Glory” music video “We Can Trust Him” (Psalm 33:4) music video “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” music video • Rae Bible Memory Buddy poster

God is always at work. He has a plan for our lives—and it’s a good one! Let’s sing and celebrate that we can trust God. (Trust God!)

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“We Can Trust Him” (Psalm 33:4) music video

Bible Memory Buddy & Verse

Rae

Let’s meet our Bible Memory Buddy, Rae the giant manta ray. Show the Bible Memory Buddy poster. How much do you know about manta rays? Let’s find out with a This-or-That Challenge! You’ll hear two fun facts about giant manta rays. It’s up to you to decide which is true—this fact or that!

Why must manta rays keep moving all the time? Is it so

“For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does.”

they don’t fall asleep or so they can keep breathing?

(Psalm 33:4)

●

Have everyone pretend to fall asleep to vote for this (so they don’t fall asleep) or take a deep breath to vote for that (so they can keep breathing).

●

Make a drumroll sound by patting your thighs or the floor.

●

Dramatically give the answer: It’s so they can keep breathing!

●

Watch the Rae Bible Memory Buddy video.

Rae Bible Memory Buddy video (Week 1) Show the Bible. The Bible is God’s true story of love! The Bible was written by people who wrote just what God wanted them to say. Our Bible Memory Verse is Psalm 33:4. Let’s say the verse together. I’ll say a line, and then you repeat after me. “For the word of the Lord (cup hands around mouth) holds true, (give thumbs-up) and we can trust (pretend to grab on to something with both hands) everything he does.” (spread hands in front of you) (Psalm 33:4) We can trust God. (Trust God!) What he says is true, and he has the whole world in his hands. Let’s sing and celebrate that together!

“He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” music video

Elementary | Quarter 1 | Unit 2 | Week 1

Bible Discovery Circle Up & Connect

Let’s circle up and spend a little time simply getting to know each other in smaller groups called Connect Crews. ● Arrange kids into Connect Crews with one helper—or Crew Guide—per group. ● Invite kids to sit in knee-to-knee circles with their Connect Crews. ● Have kids give their Crew Guides and each other high-fives.

Supplies • Bible • star drawn on a large piece of paper • snowman drawn on a large piece of paper • paper • pencils • “God Calls Abram” Bible Story poster

● Have kids take turns saying their names and answering this question. Crew Guides go first.

What’s something you’d want to take with you on a long journey? Why?

The Heart of the Matter Let’s start with a big picture challenge! ● Form pairs. ● Designate one person in each pair to be the “Director” and the other the “Artist.” ● Give each “Artist” a piece of paper and a pencil, and have pairs sit back to back with the Artist facing away from you. ● Hold up the picture of a star for only the Directors to see.

● Directors, it’s your job to describe how to draw this shape without saying what it is. In other words, tell your partner what to draw without giving the big picture. Artists, no talking and no peeking! ● Give kids about two minutes to draw. Then compare the Artists’ pictures to yours. If time allows, have kids switch roles and repeat the activity, using your snowman drawing as a guide.

What was it like to follow directions when you couldn’t see the big picture? Invite a few responses from the whole group.

We can trust God. (Trust God!) But it’s hard to trust when we don’t see the big picture. In today’s Bible story, we’ll hear about a man who trusted God even when he didn’t fully understand.

Experience the Bible Story During Opening Options, ask one expressive child to play the part of Abram, and have that child join you in the front of the room now. “Abram” will lead kids in the actions you describe. Explain that everyone will follow Abram’s actions and do everything he does. Let’s meet a man who trusted God even when he didn’t understand exactly what God was doing. His name is Abram, and here he is now! Let’s wave! Pause. As you hear this story, do everything Abram does. Abram was getting up there in years. See how he’s sort of hunched over? Pause. And see how he squints when he’s looking around? Pause. We know he’s rich because Abram has lots and lots of sheep. Everyone, let’s hear your best sheep sounds. Pause. Perfect! One day, God told Abram to pack up and go to a land God would show him. Listen to this. Read aloud Genesis 12:1-3. That sounded great! God would bless Abram. That means he liked Abram and he had special plans for him. Motion to everyone. And by the way, God likes you all and has good plans for you all, too. Go ahead and give your neighbor a pat on the back. Pause. Back to Abram. Abram trusted God, so he pulled out a suitcase. Pause. And threw in his underwear. Pause. And his sandals. Pause. And all his robes. Pause. Wait—hadn’t you better fold those? They’ll get wrinkled. Pause. He also tossed in his tents. Pause briefly, and then quickly move through the following list. And his tools and his toothbrush and his cooking pots and his bowling trophies and even his family. He thought about tossing in his sheep, but that would be silly. They could just walk. And, boy, did they walk! See Abram trudging to the left? Pause. God is leading, but Abram doesn’t understand where they’re going. The sheep are following along, so baa to your left. Pause. Now Abram’s trudging to the right. Pause. Baa to your right, sheep. Pause. Abram looks so tired he can hardly move. Pause. And the sheep are so tired that when they baa, it sounds like they’ll fall over. Everyone, let’s hear some tired “baas”! Pause. At last Abram stops and sets up camp, then sits down. Pause. Let’s find out where he stopped. Read aloud Genesis 12:6. There in the land of Canaan, Abram, his wife, his nephew, and all his sheep stretched and yawned and settled in for the night. Pause. Almost at once there’s soft snoring in the air. Pause.

Elementary | Quarter 1 | Unit 2 | Week 1

Then God appeared to Abram—enough snoring! Here’s what God said! Read aloud Genesis 12:7. Abram’s trust in God paid off. God promised that he’d give Abram and his family that land someday. That sounded great to Abram, so he built an altar to thank God. Then the journey continued. He and his sheep continued traveling for a loooong time. Abram, keep marching in place for a while, and I’ll jump ahead to the next part. God had promised to make a great nation out of Abram, but that was years ago—and Abram still didn’t have any kids. Sometime later, God spoke to Abram again. Let’s see what he said.

s God Call Abram1-8 15: -6 : Genesis 12

;

Read aloud Genesis 15:1-3. Abraham didn’t quite understand God’s plan, did he? Let’s look at some stars. Let’s see you all shine by raising your “jazz hands.” Pause and demonstrate by raising your hands, palms out and fingers splayed, and shaking your hands. Show the Bible Story poster. God told Abram to go outside and look at the stars. Pause. “That’s how many descendants you’ll have,” God said. As Abram looked at all the glittering stars, his heart was so happy. Abram believed God. Abram trusted God! And we can trust God, too! (Trust God!) Give yourselves a hand! Lead kids in applauding their efforts, and point “Abram” back to a seat. We can trust that God is who he says he is and that he’ll do what he says he’ll do. Let’s talk about this in our Connect Crews.

What’s something you’re trusting God for in your life right now? ● Invite Crew Guides to share first. ● Crew Guides give thumbs-up when everyone has shared. Remember the drawing activity we did earlier? The big picture was clear right away. That’s how it was with Abram. God didn’t promise to give Abram everything he’d ever wanted exactly when he wanted it. But God did promise to give him land and a special family. God promises us things, too. God promises to love us and always be with us. And through Jesus, God’s promised to give us forever life with Jesus. Those things are amazing! We can trust God (Trust God!) and his promises. Now’s a great time for Apply-It Options! Choose one—or both—of the following reinforcement activities to support today’s Bible discoveries before the Friendship Finale.

Apply-It Options Choose one—or both—of these activities to support kids’ learning after Bible Discovery.

Explore More

Game

Supplies

Play a game like Simon Says, but add a “Savanna” and “Rae,” too!

• Bibles, paper, pens or pencils Distribute Bibles, and help kids find and read Genesis 12:3 and Matthew 1:1. God promised to bless the world through Abram’s family. And he did! ● Explain that a genealogy lists all the generations in a family. ● Look at Jesus’ genealogy in Matthew, noting Abraham at the top of the list and Jesus at the bottom. ● Abram didn’t understand it at the time, but all along, God planned to bless the world through Jesus. ● Have everyone list their genealogies. They don’t need to be long. Near the bottom of the paper, have kids write their names, siblings’ (or stepsiblings’) names, then their parents’ (or stepparents’) names above that, then their grandparents’ names above that.

How has Jesus blessed your family? God had a plan for Abram’s family, and he has a plan for our families, too. We can trust God. (Trust God!)

● Explain that if you say “Simon Says,” everyone does that action. If you say “Savanna Says,” kids do the opposite of that action. If you say “Rae Says,” kids must stretch arms out like a giant manta ray and do the spoken command. As usual, everyone should not do the action if a command is given without a name. ● Play several rounds. If you’d like, you can choose two additional kids to stand beside you and represent “Savanna” and “Rae.” ● Fun ideas include: ● Lift your left foot as high as you can. ● Play air guitar. ● Start singing. ● Pretend to climb a ladder. ● Go for a walk around the room.

What was it like to keep track of who said to do what?

How is that like trusting God when other people may tell you to do other things?

Life can be confusing. One person tells us one thing, and someone else gives the opposite advice. But one voice is always true: God’s. We can believe and trust what God says. We can trust God. (Trust God!)

Frie�dship Fi�ale Have kids sit in knee-to-knee circles with their Connect Crews.

“For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does.”

(Psalm 33:4)

Co p

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Grou p Publishing, Inc.

Supplies • Rae Bible Memory Buddy stickers (1 per child) • Take-It-Home Flyers (Unit 2, Week 1) (1 per child)

Our Bible Memory Buddy friend Rae reminds us that we can trust God. (Trust God!) You’ll each receive a Rae sticker to help you remember to trust God throughout your week. You can wear it now or collect your stickers at home. Crew Guides will give each child a sticker like this. ● Ask a willing child to help you demonstrate the following actions. ● All kids stand and stretch out their arms and legs so their bodies resemble a star. Crew Guides will give each of their “star” friends a sticker. ● As they give each child a Bible Memory Buddy sticker, Crew Guides say, “[Child’s name], we can trust God.” ● Crew Guides give thumbs-up when everyone has received a sticker. Saying each child’s name in a loving way helps kids simply experience God’s love through you!

Take-It-Home Flyer God Calls Abram

Genesis 12:1-8; 15:1-6

“For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does.” (Psalm 33:4)

Did you know that Jesus eventually came from Abram’s family? In Genesis 12:3, God told Abram all the families on earth would be blessed through him. Jesus’ birth made that promise come true.

We can trust God… even when we don’t understand. There’s a lot kids don’t understand. That’s why there’s school. And soccer practice. And online videos. Well, here’s a secret: There’s at least as much that adults don’t understand. They’re just better at hiding it. Adults like to feel smart and in control...even when they aren’t. Don’t believe it? Ask an adult to explain “time” to you. Or give you a really good explanation about how brains work. You’ll see.

I’d like to read you something about our friend Jesus. As you listen, please put your chin on your hand—like you’re really thinking about something. Show the kids what you mean. Now close your eyes and listen as I read about Jesus. ● Read the first section of the Unit 2, Week 1 Take-It-Home Flyer. ● Now I’ll give you one of these flyers to help you talk about Jesus’ love in your Connect Crews and at home, too.

Here’s another secret: God actually does understand stuff—because he made it. All of it. You can trust God when things you don’t understand show up in your life. Or when people you love are in trouble. Or when you feel like nobody loves you, or when something scary is knocking at your door. In those moments, trust God. He understands—and he loves you, too. That means he’ll walk with you through anything...even those things you don’t understand.

arter Talk St

Tell about a time you didn’t understand what was happening, but you decided to trust God. What happened?

Try This @ Home Go find a sturdy wall and lean against it. While you’re there, think about this: How is leaning on the wall like leaning on and trusting God? Tell him what you think—he’ll want to hear your thoughts!

Explore More @ Home

Trusting God is a great idea! Read Daniel 3:16-18 to meet three tiptop trusters!

Elementary, Quarter 1, Unit 2, Week 1

● Distribute Take-It-Home Flyers to Crew Guides, and have them share about their own friendship with Jesus as they answer the “Talk Starter” question and then invite kids to share. ● Kids share prayer requests—things they’d like to tell Jesus—in their Connect Crews. ● Connect Crews pray together. ● Crew Guides distribute Take-It-Home Flyers and follow the directions to help kids fold the paper to “fly” home.

Unit 2 | Week 2 God Has a Plan

Genesis 18:1-15; 21:1-7

Isaac Is Born Bible Point

“For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does.”

We can trust God…because God keeps his promises.

Purpose

(Psalm 33:4)

“A promise made is a promise kept.” That little idiom so succinctly describes God’s track record of promise making. When God makes a promise, he always follows through. God is who is says he is, and he’ll do what he says he’ll do—but not necessarily when we want him to do it. God had promised Abraham and Sarah that they’d not only have a son but also countless descendants (Genesis 17:2). And yet when three mysterious visitors arrived at their home, the reality of her situation made Sarah chuckle at the thought of God’s promise actually coming true. God doesn’t always give us what we want when we want it. But he does promise that he’ll guide us when we trust him with all our heart (Proverbs 3:5). You’ll share this truth with elementary kids today. As you do, look for ways to help them find joy in the waiting.

Co p

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Grou p Publishing, Inc.

Prayer

God, you word holds true. I trust everything you do in my life and in the lives of the kids I lead. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Prep

Opening Options

Sing & Play

Option Cards*

countdown video*

Painted Food: gallonsize resealable bags, washable paint in various colors, masking tape

Buddy Video DVD*

Music Video DVD*

Rae Bible Memory Buddy poster*

Craft Stick Sillies: craft sticks, markers

media player

Bible (bookmark Psalm 33:4)

Bible Discovery & Friendship Finale

“Isaac Is Born” Bible Story poster*

Rae Bible Memory Buddy stickers* (1 per child)

Take-It-Home Flyers* (Unit 2, Week 2) (1 per child)

Bible (bookmark Genesis 18:12-14; 21:1-2)

materials for a fun activity of your choice

picture of a baby

Apply-It Options

Explore More: Bibles, baby name books in print or digital (1 per Crew), construction paper in various colors, markers

Game: no supplies

* in your Simply Loved Kit

Opening Options

Painted Food

Craft Stick Sillies

Supplies • gallon-size resealable bags, washable paint in various colors, masking tape

Supplies • craft sticks, markers

Squeeze a blob of paint into the bottom corners of the plastic bag. Seal the bag, then tape sides to a table. Use your hand to move paint throughout the bag. Then use your finger to draw pictures of your favorite food. If God came to your house for dinner, what food would your family prepare? We can trust God. We may not be able to invite God for dinner, but we can trust that he’s always with our families.

Use markers to write jokes on craft sticks. Write the question on one side and the punchline on the other. Then put the sticks in a pile, pick one to read, and laugh (or groan) together. Who’s the funniest person you know? Today we’ll hear about a woman named Sarah who thought God was joking—but he wasn’t. We can trust God, even when he works in surprising ways.

Opening Now’s a great time for Opening Options. Choose one—or both—to introduce today’s Bible discoveries.

countdown video (1 minute) Help kids transition, clean up the activities, and sit with Connect Crews. A Connect Crew is a small group of kids with one Crew Guide.

Si�g & Play Hey, friends! I’m so glad you’re here today. Let’s start with a song!

“Made for This” music video

Bible Point Today we’re discovering we can trust God. That’s our Bible Point, so every time you hear the words “We can trust God!” point up and say, “Trust God!” Let’s try that together. ● Point up and say, “Trust God!” ● Repeat several times. Repetition cements learning, so be sure to say today’s Bible Point A LOT. Have fun with it! Kids will love listening for it and responding with “Trust God!”

Supplies • Bible • media player • Buddy Video DVD Rae Bible Memory Buddy video (Week 2) • Music Video DVD “Made for This” music video “We Can Trust Him” (Psalm 33:4) music video “One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails)” music video • Rae Bible Memory Buddy poster

God always keeps his promises, and sometimes he comes through in surprising ways. Share a way that God recently surprised you. I promise, no matter what comes our way, we can trust God. (Trust God!) Let’s sing a song about that!

“We Can Trust Him” (Psalm 33:4) music video od

T r us t G

Bible Memory Buddy & Verse

Rae

Let’s visit with our Bible Memory Buddy. It’s Rae, and she’s a giant manta ray. Show the Bible Memory Buddy poster. How much do you know about manta rays? Let’s find out with a This-or-That Challenge! You’ll hear two fun facts about giant manta rays. It’s up to you to decide which is true—this fact or that!

The name manta comes from a Spanish word. Does

“For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does.”

manta mean “blanket” or “float”?

●

Have everyone stand and hop once to vote for this (blanket) or hop twice for that (float).

●

Make a drumroll sound by patting your thighs or the floor.

●

Dramatically give the answer: Manta is the Spanish word for blanket!

●

Watch the Rae Bible Memory Buddy video to find out more.

Rae Bible Memory Buddy video (Week 2) Show the Bible. The Bible is God’s true story of love! Each book of the Bible is made up of chapters and verses. Chapters are longer, and verses are usually about one sentence. Our Bible Memory Verse is Psalm 33:4. Let’s say the verse together. I’ll say a line, and then you repeat after me. “For the word of the Lord (cup hands around mouth) holds true, (give thumbs-up) and we can trust (pretend to grab on to something with both hands) everything he does.” (spread hands in front of you) (Psalm 33:4) We can trust God. (Trust God!) We trust that he loves us no matter what. Let’s celebrate God’s love with another song.

“One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails)” music video

Elementary | Quarter 1 | Unit 2 | Week 2

Bible Discovery Circle Up & Connect

Tell about a time you laughed a lot. What was so funny?

The Heart of the Matter

Supplies • Bible • “Isaac Is Born” Bible Story poster • materials for a fun activity of your choice • picture of a baby We call helpers Crew Guides. If you lead a small class, you can be the Crew Guide. Simply circle up with the kids. If you have helpers, form smaller groups so each child can be known— and so kids can befriend your helpers, too!

Think of a five-minute activity your kids would enjoy. You could go outside, play a favorite game, eat a yummy snack, or a watch a fun video. Plan to do this activity later in the lesson. I’m going to make you a promise. ● Tell kids that you’ll do your chosen activity today. ● I’m curious: Do you want to [insert name of chosen activity] now or later? Raise your hands if you want to do it later. Pause. Raise your hands if you want to do it now. Pause. ● Thanks for your votes, but I have a plan. We’ll do it later. ● Allow kids to react for a few moments. ● In today’s Bible story, God promised he’d do something for a special family. But they had to wait a while for it to happen. We’ll need to wait a while for [insert name of chosen activity], too. But I promise my plans for us will happen. We can trust God. (Trust God!) But it’s hard to trust when we don’t understand. In today’s Bible story, we’ll hear about a man and woman who didn’t quite understand God’s promise.

Experience the Bible Story ● Ask everyone to stand and imagine incredibly important people are about to visit your room. ● In an excited voice, ask kids to join you in making the room ready.

● Urge kids to join you in a cleaning frenzy that includes sweeping the floor (mime using a broom), washing windows (pretend to clean glass with large circular motions), dusting the ceiling fans (reach over your head), and dusting baseboards (pretend to dust ankle-high woodwork); then pretend to take a shower (pretend to soap up your body and shampoo your hair). Feel free to add more tasks—just keep things moving quickly. ● Have kids sit again, then continue. We meet Abraham in the book of Genesis in the Bible. His name used to be Abram, but God changed it when he made Abram a special promise. God said Abraham would have a big family and they’d play a special part in God’s plan. Hold up a picture of a baby. It’d start with a baby! Let’s pass this picture around to everyone in the room. But first we need to spread out a little. Have everyone scatter around the room; then give the picture to a child. He or she will walk and pass the picture to another child, who will then walk and pass the picture to the next child. Add some commentary as the picture slowly moves around the room. It took a loooong time for the promise to come true. Day after day. Year after year. Abraham and Sarah got older and older. Waiting and waiting to have a baby. It may have seemed like God had forgotten. Move to receive the picture from the last child. Then one day, something happened. That’s where today’s Bible story begins. Three important visitors showed up when Abraham wasn’t ready. He had to...well, I’ll show you. Imagine Abraham is sitting in the doorway to his tent. Suddenly Abraham looks up and sees three very important visitors. Abraham leaps to his feet and runs and bows to them. Let’s all take a bow like Abraham. Pause. Then Abraham invites them to have a meal with him. The visitors agree, so Abraham runs home and tells Sarah to bake bread. Abraham takes all the food to the visitors, and they eat the feast. Let’s pretend to chow down. Pause. One of the visitors says, “I’ll be back this time next year. And by then you and Sarah will have a son.” Now, Sarah is in another tent eavesdropping. She’s got her hands behind her ears so she can hear better. Let’s listen with Sarah. Have everyone put their hands behind their ears and listen. So much time has gone by, and Sarah’s way past the age where she can have kids. When she hears what the visitor says, she laughs to herself. Show the Bible Story poster. Let’s all laugh to ourselves. Pause. Now let’s laugh out loud, please. Pause. Even louder than that! Pause. Nice job laughing! Let’s find out what Sarah said to herself as she chuckled. Read aloud Genesis 18:12-14. Nothing is too hard for God. That’s why we can trust God. (Trust God!) Abraham and Sarah had been waiting and waiting, but it just didn’t seem like the promise would come true. Maybe you know what that’s like. Maybe you’re waiting and trusting God right now for something to happen. Let’s talk in our Crews.

Elementary | Quarter 1 | Unit 2 | Week 2

● Have Connect Crews sit in knee-to-knee circles.

What’s something you’re waiting for? Invite Crew Guides to share first. ● Crew Guides give thumbs-up when everyone has shared. No matter what we’re waiting for, we can trust God. (Trust God!) Well…back to the story. The visitors finish eating and go on their way. Bye, visitors! Let’s wave goodbye. Pause. But a year later, guess what Sarah is doing? She is rocking a little baby boy in her arms, that’s what! Let’s all babble like babies. Pause. How’d that happen? Let’s find out. Read aloud Genesis 21:1-2. Sarah named her son Isaac, which means “he laughs.” No wonder Sarah trusted God—God kept his promise to her! We can trust God. (Trust God!) God always keeps his promises! And I’ll keep my promise, too. ● Remind kids of the promise you made earlier.

How did you feel when you heard you’d have to wait? Invite a few responses from the whole group.

How is that like or unlike Abraham and Sarah waiting for God’s promise to come true? Invite a few more responses.

● Tell kids they don’t have to wait any longer. Do your chosen activity together before moving on to the next part of your lesson. Now’s a great time for Apply-It Options! Choose one—or both—of the following reinforcement activities to support today’s Bible discoveries before the Friendship Finale.

Born Isaac Is18 ; Genesis

:1-15 21:1 7

Apply-It Options Choose one—or both—of these activities to support kids’ learning after Bible Discovery.

Explore More

Game

Supplies

Play this game in Connect Crews.

• Bibles, baby name books in print or digital (1 per Connect Crew), construction paper in various colors, markers Distribute Bibles, and help kids find and read Genesis 17:4-6, 15-16. Names were a big deal in Bible times. They told who someone was, but they also hinted at what that person would become. Abram means “the father is exalted” and Abraham means “father of many nations.” Sarah’s name changed, too, from Sarai to Sarah—and Sarah means “princess.” God’s promise changed their lives—and their names, too. Let’s find out what our names mean. ● In Connect Crews, look up each person’s name, either in a name book or digitally. ● Have kids each design a poster that includes their name, their name’s meaning, and drawings to show who they are and hope to be. ● As kids hold their posters, pray a blessing over everyone, and thank God for his promises to always love and be with them. ● Remind kids we can trust God. (Trust God!)

● Each Connect Crew stands in a circle. ● Choose one person in each Connect Crew to stand in the center of his or her circle. ● The person closest to the Leader will begin by asking a silly question or telling a joke. ● Without smiling or laughing, the person in the center must answer, “I love ya, friend, but I can’t laugh.” ● Kids continue asking questions around the circle until the person in the center smiles or laughs. ● Choose a new person to be in the middle, and play again.

Why was it hard not to laugh? We can trust God. (Trust God!) In our Bible story, Sarah laughed because what she heard sounded ridiculous; she couldn’t help but laugh to herself. The visitors reminded Abraham and Sarah that nothing is too hard for God. What seemed silly came true!

Frie�dship Fi�ale Have kids sit in knee-to-knee circles with their Connect Crews.

“For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does.”

(Psalm 33:4)

Co p

yr ig h

t©

Grou p Publishing, Inc.

Supplies • Rae Bible Memory Buddy stickers (1 per child) • Take-It-Home Flyers (Unit 2, Week 2) (1 per child)

Our Bible Memory Buddy friend Rae reminds us that we can trust God. (Trust God!) You’ll each receive a Rae sticker to help you remember to trust God throughout your week. You can wear it or keep it! Crew Guides will give each child a sticker like this. ● Demonstrate the following actions. ● Have Crew Guides walk around the outside of their Connect Crew circles and surprise kids by giving them their stickers in random order. ● As they give each child a Bible Memory Buddy sticker, Crew Guides say, “[Child’s name], you can trust God.” ● Crew Guides give thumbs-up when everyone has received a sticker. Saying each child’s name in a loving way helps kids simply experience God’s love through you!

Take-It-Home Flyer Isaac Is Born

Genesis 18:1-15; 21:1-7

God told Abraham and Sarah that they’d have a baby! Later in God’s story, God promised his people that another baby would be born. This baby would be extra special because he’d save people from sin. It was Jesus! I’d like to read you something about our friend Jesus. As you listen, please lock your pinky fingers together like you’re making a pinky promise between you and Jesus. Pause and show kids how to lock their pinkies together. Now close your eyes and listen as I read about Jesus. ● Read the first section of the Unit 2, Week 2 Take-It-Home Flyer. ● Now I’ll give you one of these flyers to help you talk about Jesus’ love in your Connect Crews and at home, too.

“For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does.” (Psalm 33:4)

We can trust God… because God keeps his promises. If you’ve ever had someone not keep a pinky promise, you know the truth: Some promises aren’t worth much. People mean to keep their promises, but sometimes it just doesn’t happen. A promise is only as good as who makes it, and God’s promises can be trusted! God has kept his promises no matter what. He’s never fumbled or forgotten a promise. A long time ago, God promised to send a Rescuer to save people from their sins. He kept that promise when he sent his only Son and our friend, Jesus. And here’s good news: God has made promises to you! Jesus promised to love his friends. To give them peace and joy. And to never, ever forget them. You can trust Jesus to keep his promises…every promise, every time!

arter Talk St

Jesus has promised that he’s with his friends now and forever. Share a story about something happening in your life that’s hard or scary and why you’re glad Jesus is keeping his promise.

Try This @ Home Make a promise to do something for someone you live with. Tell a parent, brother, sister, or pet hamster what you’ll do, and then…do it! Keeping promises is a great thing. Aren’t you glad your friend Jesus keeps his promise to love you?

Explore More @ Home

Find out more about those promises God made to his friends by reading these passages: 1 John 4:16; Matthew 28:20; and Romans 15:13. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc. Permission to photocopy this page granted for local church use. | group.com/SimplyLoved

Elementary, Quarter 1, Unit 2, Week 2

● Distribute Take-It-Home Flyers to Crew Guides, and have them share about their own friendship with Jesus as they answer the “Talk Starter” question and then invite kids to talk. ● Kids share prayer requests—things they’d like to tell Jesus—in their Connect Crews. ● Connect Crews pray together. ● Crew Guides distribute Take-It-Home Flyers and follow the directions to help kids fold the paper to “fly” home.

Unit 2 | Week 3

Jacob Steals Esau’s Blessi�g

God Has a Plan

Genesis 25:19-26; 27

“For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does.”

Bible Point

We can trust God…because he’s in control.

(Psalm 33:4)

Purpose

We say it when someone sneezes: “Bless you!” And we talk about blessings on holidays: “Time with family is such a blessing!” Blessings come up a lot, but what are they exactly? Whatever they are, Rebekah wanted them for Jacob. After all, that’s the way God said it’d be. So she took it upon herself to make sure Isaac blessed Jacob and not Esau. Yet God was still in control, and he still worked through this messy family. Sometimes, like Rebekah and Jacob, we forget the source from whom all blessings flow and try to manipulate blessings into existence ourselves. But we don’t need to. Instead, we can trust God. He’s in control. When do kids take matters into their own hands? Perhaps they try to force friendships, take what isn’t theirs, or decide it’s their job to try to make family members get along. Help take that pressure off, and encourage kids in your class to trust God for the blessings they’re praying for. He’s their source, and he’s yours, too.

Co p

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Grou p Publishing, Inc.

Prayer

I praise you, God. You’re the source of all my blessings, and you’re in control of this lesson. May my leadership and love bless kids’ lives and draw them closer to you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Prep

Opening Options

Sing & Play

Option Cards*

countdown video*

Painted Mix-Up: gallonsize resealable bags, washable paint in various colors, masking tape, small toy cars

Buddy Video DVD*

Music Video DVD*

Rae Bible Memory Buddy poster*

Craft Stick Families: craft sticks, markers

media player

Bible (bookmark Psalm 33:4)

Bible Discovery & Friendship Finale

“Jacob Steals Esau’s Blessing” Bible Story poster*

Rae Bible Memory Buddy stickers* (1 per child)

Take-It-Home Flyers* (Unit 2, Week 3) (1 per child)

Bible (bookmark Genesis 25:22-23; 27:8-10, 32-35)

tissues (1 for every 2 kids)

index cards, each with a dollar sign drawn on it (1 for every 2 kids)

Apply-It Options

Explore More: Bibles, index cards, markers

Game: handkerchief

* in your Simply Loved Kit 71

Opening Options

Painted Mi�-Up

Craft Stick Families

Supplies • gallon-size resealable bags, washable paint in various colors, masking tape, small toy cars

Supplies • craft sticks, markers

Squeeze two blobs of diﬀerent-colored paint into opposite corners of the bag. Seal the bag, then tape sides to a table. Use a toy car to mix the paint colors to create a new color. Then use your finger to draw fun pictures of whatever you choose. Tell about a time something got mixed up or mistaken for something else. Maybe you wore two different colors of socks, or you poured water on your cereal instead of milk.

Design craft-stick people to represent your family members. Who’s in your family? Sometimes families and friends don’t always get along. Today we’ll hear about a family in the Bible who ended up hurting each other. We can trust God to help our friendships with family members.

Opening Now’s a great time for Opening Options! Choose one—or both—to introduce today’s Bible discoveries.

countdown video (1 minute) Help kids transition, clean up the activities, and sit with Connect Crews. A Connect Crew is a small group of kids with one Crew Guide.

Si�g & Play Hey, friends! It’s so good to see you. Let’s start with a song!

“He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” music video

Bible Point Our Bible Point today is we can trust God. So every time you hear the words “We can trust God!” point up and say, “Trust God!” Let’s try that together. ● Point up and say, “Trust God!” ● Repeat several times. Repetition cements learning, so be sure to say today’s Bible Point A LOT. Have fun with it! Kids will love listening for it and responding with “Trust God!”

No matter what happens, God is in control. But sometimes we forget, and we try to make things happen our own way. Here’s the good news, though. Even when we go our own way, God will never let us down. We can trust God. (Trust God!) Let’s sing a song about that!

Supplies • Bible • media player • Buddy Video DVD Rae Bible Memory Buddy video (Week 3) • Music Video DVD “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” music video “We Can Trust Him” (Psalm 33:4) music video “Let’s Get a Little Crazy” music video • Rae Bible Memory Buddy poster

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“We Can Trust Him” (Psalm 33:4) music video

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Bible Memory Buddy & Verse

Rae

Rae the giant manta ray is our Bible Memory Buddy. Show the Bible Memory Buddy poster. How much do you know about giant manta rays? Let’s find out with a This-or-That Challenge! You’ll hear two fun facts. It’s up to you to decide which is true—this fact or that!

Sometimes manta rays hang out in groups while they

“For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does.”

eat. Are groups of giant manta rays called “squadrons” or “schools”?

●

Have everyone make jazz hands to vote for this (squadron) or pretend to drive a school bus to vote for that (schools).

●

Make a drumroll sound by patting your thighs or the floor.

●

Dramatically give the answer: A group of giant manta rays is called a squadron!

●

Watch the Rae Bible Memory Buddy video to find out more.

Rae Bible Memory Buddy video (Week 3) Show the Bible. The Bible is God’s true story of love! The Bible was originally written in three languages. Today it’s written in hundreds of languages so people around the world can understand it. Our Bible Memory Verse is Psalm 33:4. Let’s say the verse together. I’ll say a line, and then you repeat after me. “For the word of the Lord (cup hands around mouth) holds true, (give thumbs-up) and we can trust (pretend to grab on to something with both hands) everything he does.” (spread hands in front of you) (Psalm 33:4) We can trust God. (Trust God!) Even when life gets messy, God has a plan. Let’s celebrate with another song. It’s about to get a little crazy in here!

“Let’s Get a Little Crazy” music video

Elementary | Quarter 1 | Unit 2 | Week 3

Bible Discovery Circle Up & Connect

Let’s circle up and spend a little time simply getting to know each other in smaller groups called Connect Crews. ● Arrange kids into Connect Crews with one helper—or Crew Guide—per group. ● Invite kids to sit in knee-to-knee circles with their Connect Crews. ● Have Connect Crews each come up with a special handshake to give their Crew Guide and each other.

Supplies • Bible • tissues (1 for every 2 kids) • index cards, each with dollar sign drawn on it (1 for every 2 kids) • “Jacob Steals Esau’s Blessing” Bible Story poster

● Have kids take turns saying their names and answering this question. Crew Guides go first.

Have you ever mistaken someone for somebody else? What happened?

The Heart of the Matter In today’s story we’ll read about a mother and son who tried to force things to happen the way they wanted them to go. Let’s see if we can force something to go the way we want. ● Form two groups. Invite one group to line up on one side of the room and the other to line up on the other side facing the first group.

● Have the groups stand 4 to 5 feet apart in their lines and directly across from a person in the other group. ● Tell everyone they must stay in their spots; they can’t move their feet at all. ● Give each member of one group a tissue. ● Challenge kids to toss the tissue to the person directly across from them in line. They cannot crumple the tissue—it needs to stay as clean and fresh as possible. ● Give about a minute for kids to try to control the tissue toss. Remind them not to move their feet.

How did you feel as you were trying to control the tissue? When things feel up in the air, we’re tempted to take matters into our own hands.

What area of your life do you wish you had more control over? Share

an example from your own life. Perhaps you wish you could choose a college close to home for a son or daughter, or you wish you had more friends at work. Now you’ll answer the question as you toss the tissue another way.

● Have kids crumple the tissues and toss them to the person across from them. ● As they throw, have kids call out their answers. Have kids stop throwing after about a minute.

Hold up a crumpled tissue. When we take matters into our own hands, we can end up ruining things—like relationships. That’s what happened to Rebekah and Jacob in today’s Bible story. Let’s dive in! Collect the tissues, holding on to a few of them for later in the lesson, and have kids remain in their lines as they sit down.

Experience the Bible Story Instead of just listening, you’ll help me tell the story and play an important part! You can read Isaac’s whole story in the book of Genesis in the Bible. This is a story about siblings: a younger brother and an older brother. If you’re an older brother or sister or the only child in your family, please stand up. Pause. Thanks, you can sit down. In Bible times, older kids like you usually received a blessing and got all the good stuff. Point to the group lined up to your left. Let’s imagine you all in this line are Esau, the older brother in our story, and I’ll give you something now. Give each person in the Esau group an index card. These cards represent your inheritance—the blessings and money you’ll get from your family someday. Turn to the other line. Younger brothers and sisters were still cool and all, but they didn’t get the special blessing their older siblings received. Let’s pretend you all are Jacob, the younger brother in our story. Shrug, and show your empty hands. Uh, sorry. I don’t have anything for you. It wasn’t super fair that your older brother got the blessing, but that’s the way it was. The parents’ names were Isaac and Rebekah. God blessed them with twin boys. Even before they were born, those brothers struggled to get along. Let’s try something. Have kids move to stand back to back with the person in the group across from them. Have each pair lock arms while facing away from one another. Okay, with your arms locked, follow my directions. Clap your hands. Pause while kids try unsuccessfully. Pretend to throw a football. Pause. Act out something you like to do. After a few seconds of struggle, have kids unlock arms and sit in lines facing each other again.

Why was it hard for you to do those actions? Sometimes we struggle to get along. You and your pretend sibling couldn’t both do what you wanted to do. And from the very beginning, the brothers in our Bible story struggled to get along. Check this out. Read aloud Genesis 25:22-23. Usually the younger child served the older one. But God told Isaac and Rebekah the opposite would be true. If you’re a younger sibling in your family, now you stand up. Pause. Thanks! You can sit down again. God often works in ways we don’t expect or can’t control. Even so, we can trust God. (Trust God!)

Elementary | Quarter 1 | Unit 2 | Week 3

The boys didn’t get along as kids, but let’s fast forward to when they got older. By now, the dad, Isaac, was old and couldn’t see well. One day Isaac told his oldest son, Esau (point to the Esau line), to go hunt some wild game and make him a meal. When Esau got back, Isaac would give him a blessing. Have the “Esaus” wave their blessing cards.

Jacob Steals sing Esau’s sisB2l:es6 2

Esau set out at once. Have the Esaus stand and walk a few feet away from the other group. Meanwhile, the mom, Rebekah, had overheard Isaac’s words. She decided to help her other son, Jacob, get that blessing instead. Have the “Jacobs” rub their hands together as if they’re scheming.

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Even though Esau and Jacob were twins, they didn’t look anything alike. Esau was covered with hair, and Jacob had smooth skin. Rebekah and Jacob whispered softly so Isaac couldn’t hear. Whisper. Listen to what Rebekah said. Read aloud in a whisper Genesis 27:8-10. Return to your speaking voice. Rebekah cooked up two goats and fixed Isaac’s favorite meal. Show the Bible Story poster. Jacob put goat hide on his arms and neck so he’d be hairy like Esau. Have the Jacobs rub their arms as if they feel hairy. And he wore one of Esau’s stinky old robes so he’d smell like Esau. Pee-uuu! Have the Jacobs make faces and wave their hands over their noses as they say “Pee-uuu!” Jacob took the food to his dad. Isaac sat up and asked if it was Esau serving him a meal. “Sure,” said Jacob. Jacob’s choice was really going to drive these brothers apart. Have the Jacobs take a few steps away from the Esaus. Isaac put his hand on Jacob’s arms and then his neck. “Well,” Isaac says, “you’re hairy like Esau.” Isaac sniffed Jacob. Let’s all sniff. Pause. “And you smell like Esau,” said Isaac. “And you brought me food, so you must be Esau. Here’s your blessing!” Aha—the younger son got the blessing! Jacobs, go take the index cards from the Esaus across the room. Pause while the Jacobs take the index cards and then move back across the room to their line. When Esau got back from hunting, he took the food to Isaac. That’s when he and his father discovered the truth: Jacob had tricked his dad and stolen the blessing! Let’s read what happened. Read aloud Genesis 27:32-35. Esau was hurt…and furious! Esaus, stand up and stomp your feet as you take three steps toward the Jacobs. Pause.

Except Jacob was outta there. Rebekah sent him to live with her brother. Jacobs, hurry! Stand up and move five steps away from the Esaus. Pause. But Esau hoped for a chance to get even sooner or later. Esau decided that he’d watch...and wait...and one day he’d pay Jacob back for what he did. Have kids make cliffhanger sound effects like at the end of a movie. Lead kids in applauding their efforts as they return to their seats. Collect the index cards from the Jacobs. Hold up a few of the crumpled tissues from earlier. This family was a mess. Lying, scheming, stealing—yikes! God’s in charge of everything. Like Rebekah and Jacob, sometimes we think it’s up to us to make things happen. But our plans only lead to more struggles and hurt feelings. Let’s talk in our Connect Crews. Circle up, and let’s chat. ● Have Connect Crews form knee-to-knee circles.

Tell about a time your friends or family struggled to get along. ● Give Connect Crews a few minutes to discuss. Thanks for sharing. Even though this family struggled, God was in control. And God has plans for our families, too. Jacob and Esau’s stories weren’t over yet, and ours aren’t, either. Even when we forget God and think it’s up to us to make things happen, God still loves us and is in control of our lives. We can trust God. (Trust God!) Now’s a great time for Apply-It Options. Choose one—or both—of the following reinforcement activities to support today’s Bible discoveries before the Friendship Finale.

Elementary | Quarter 1 | Unit 2 | Week 3

Apply-It Options Choose one—or both—of these activities to support kids’ learning after Bible Discovery.

Explore More

Game

Supplies

• Bibles, index cards, markers

• handkerchief

Blessings are like prayers. When you bless someone, you ask God to help and watch over that person. We can trust God. (Trust God!) You can bless people by asking for God’s blessings in their lives. Let’s explore the blessing Isaac prayed for Jacob.

Play a game like Steal the Bacon.

Distribute Bibles, and help kids find and read Genesis 27:27-29. Isaac prayed for good land, for power and leadership, and for people to like and respect Jacob. We can bless and pray for people, too. Do this with me. ● Take an index card and a marker.

Who would you like to pray a blessing for? ● Write the person’s name on one side of the card. ● On the other side, draw or write blessings you’d like to ask God to give that person. Ideas include health, family, peace, and food. ● Give your cards to the people you thought about this week as a way to bless them.

● Form two teams, and have teams stand on opposite sides of the room. ● Have each team number off. ● Place a handkerchief in the center of the room. ● Shout out a number. The kids with that number must run and try to grab the handkerchief and run back to their team without be tagged by the other person. ● Play several rounds, calling out different numbers. Depending on the size of your group, you may call more than one number at a time.

How did this game remind you of our Bible story?

In our game, “stealing” the handkerchief was a good thing. But in our Bible story, stealing Esau’s blessing wasn’t so good. Jacob’s trickiness caused a lot of hurt and anger. Even when we’re hurt by something that feels out of our control, we can trust God. (Trust God!) God is in control, and he’ll keep working for our good.

Supplies • Rae Bible Memory Buddy stickers (1 per child) • Take-It-Home Flyers (Unit 2, Week 3) (1 per child)

Frie�dship Fi�ale Have everyone sit in knee-to-knee circles with their Connect Crews.

“For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does.”

(Psalm 33:4)

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Grou p Publishing, Inc.

Our Bible Memory Buddy friend Rae reminds us that we can trust God. (Trust God!) You’ll each receive a Rae sticker to help you remember to trust God throughout your week. You can wear it or collect your stickers at home. Crew Guides will give each child a sticker like this. ● Ask a willing child to help you demonstrate the following actions. ● Have kids hold out their hands like a plate. Crew Guides will drop stickers onto each “plate” as if serving a tasty meal. ● As they give each child a Bible Memory Buddy sticker, Crew Guides say, “[Child’s name], you can trust God.” ● Crew Guides give thumbs-up when everyone has received a sticker. Take-It-Home Flyer Jacob Steals Esau’s Blessing

Genesis 25:19-26; 27

Saying each child’s name in a loving way helps kids simply experience God’s love through you!

“For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does.” (Psalm 33:4)

You know, we don’t have to be like Jacob and Rebekah. We don’t have to figure out things on our own. Jesus is with us. He’s in control. I’d like to read you something about our friend Jesus. As you listen, close your eyes and hold out your hand like you’re a little kid again, waiting for someone to help you cross the street. Pause. Now listen as I read about Jesus.

We can trust God… because he’s in control. Imagine you’re standing next to a busy street. Cars flash by in both directions, horns blaring. There’s no crosswalk or stoplight, and you’ve got to get across. Now imagine you can’t see. Who would you trust to lead you into and across those four lanes of traffic? For sure nobody careless, distracted, or who didn’t like you. It would have to be someone you trusted enough to put your life in his or her hands. Well, that’s Jesus. He’s not careless or distracted, and he not only likes you, he loves you. You can’t see what’s coming at you in life, but he can. The question is whether you trust him enough to do what he says to do and go where he says to go. Will you give Jesus control?

arter Talk St

Try This @ Home

Tell about a time you chose to do something Jesus wanted you to do even if you weren’t sure how it would turn out. What was the situation, and what happened?

Open a Bible to Matthew 6 and 7 and look over some of the things Jesus says to do.

● Read the first section of the Unit 2, Week 3 Take-It-Home Flyer.

Explore More @ Home

No kidding: Matthew 6 and 7 is a great spot to see how Jesus wants his followers to live. Read it today!

Elementary, Quarter 1, Unit 2, Week 3

● Now I’ll give you one of these flyers to help you talk about Jesus’ love in your Connect Crews and at home, too. ● Distribute Take-It-Home Flyers to Crew Guides, and have them share about their own friendship with Jesus as they answer the “Talk Starter” question and then invite kids to talk. ● Kids share prayer requests—things they’d like to tell Jesus—in their Connect Crews. ● Connect Crews pray together. ● Crew Guides distribute Take-It-Home Flyers and follow the directions to help kids fold the paper to “fly” home.

Elementary | Quarter 1 | Unit 2 | Week 3

Unit 2 | Week 4

Jacob a�d Esau Make Peace

God Has a Plan

Genesis 32:3-12, 22-32; 33:1-11

“For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does.”

Bible Point

(Psalm 33:4)

We can trust God…to help us get along.

Purpose

You know that feeling. Your stomach does flip-flops. Your mind races through different scenarios. You feel nervous and worried, but there’s no avoiding it: You’re about to face conflict head on. Perhaps Jacob felt that way when he prepared to face Esau after years of avoidance. Confrontation isn’t fun, but when we trust God, we don’t face fears alone. He’s with us, and he’s still at work. Elementary kids get caught in confrontations, too. A teacher may confront their behavior. A friend may tell them about their hurt feelings. These conversations can lead to conflict, or they can bring about peace. In this lesson, you’ll help kids trust God when they come face to face with confrontation, and you’ll give them a friendship they can always hold on to—with Jesus!

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Prayer

God, give me wisdom to know how to respond when kids in my class don’t get along. Help me share your peace with kids today. I trust you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Prep

Opening Options

Sing & Play

Option Cards*

countdown video*

Painted Handprint: gallon-size resealable bags, washable paint in various colors, masking tape

Buddy Video DVD*

Music Video DVD*

Rae Bible Memory Buddy poster*

Craft Stick Boom: craft sticks

media player

Bible (bookmark Psalm 33:4)

Bible Discovery & Friendship Finale

“Jacob and Esau Make Peace” Bible Story poster*

Rae Bible Memory Buddy stickers* (1 per child)

Take-It-Home Flyers* (Unit 2, Week 4) (1 per child)

Bible (bookmark Genesis 32:3-5, 9-12, 24-28)

balloons (1 per Crew)

clear tape (1 roll per Crew)

straight pins or thumbtacks (several per Crew)

Apply-It Options

Explore More: Bibles

Game: no supplies

* in your Simply Loved Kit 81

Opening Options

➊

➋

➌

➍

Painted Ha�dprint

Craft Stick Boom

Supplies • gallon-size resealable bags, washable paint in various colors, masking tape

Supplies • craft sticks

Squeeze two blobs of diﬀerent-colored paint into opposite corners of the bag. Seal the bag, then tape sides to a table. Use your open palm to mix the colors together. Then make handprints in the paint. Would you rather give someone a high-five or a fist bump? Why?

Follow the photos to make an exploding boomerang. Tip: Place the first three sticks over the edge of a table to help you move the other sticks into place. Once it’s put together, step away from people and throw the boomerang. Try to make it explode when it hits the ground. When have you seen something explode?

In our Bible story today, a younger brother expected his big brother to give him a notso-friendly fist bump. But that’s not what happened. We can trust God to bring peace.

Today we’ll hear about two brothers who had an argument. The younger one thought his brother would explode with anger when they saw each other again. We can trust God to bring peace to explosive situations.

Opening Now’s a great time for Opening Options. Choose one—or both—to introduce today’s Bible discoveries.

countdown video (1 minute) Help kids transition, clean up the activities, and sit with Connect Crews. A Connect Crew is a small group of kids with one Crew Guide.

Si�g & Play Hi, friends. Are you ready for some fun? Let’s start with a song!

“To God Be the Glory” music video

Bible Point We can trust God. That’s our Bible Point! Every time you hear the words “We can trust God!” point up and say, “Trust God!” Let’s try that together. ● Point up and say, “Trust God!” ● Repeat several times. Repetition cements learning, so be sure to say today’s Bible Point A LOT. Have fun with it! Kids will love listening for it and responding with “Trust God!”

Supplies • Bible • media player • Buddy Video DVD Rae Bible Memory Buddy video (Week 4) • Music Video DVD “To God Be the Glory” music video “One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails)” music video “We Can Trust Him” (Psalm 33:4) music video • Rae Bible Memory Buddy poster

It’s easy to trust God when things are good. But what about when life isn’t so good? Like when people argue or don’t want to be our friends? Even when things aren’t going well, we can trust God. (Trust God!) His love will never go away. Let’s sing about that!

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“One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails)” music video Go

Bible Memory Buddy & Verse

Rae

How fast can manta rays swim? 15 mph or 25 mph?

“For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does.” (Psalm 33:4) Copyright © 2020 Group Publishing, Inc., Loveland, CO • group.com • Printed in the United States of America • 1210000316059

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Have everyone march in place to vote for this (15 mph) or run in place to vote for that (25 mph).

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Make a drumroll sound by patting your thighs or the floor.

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Dramatically give the answer: It’s 15 mph!

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Watch the Rae Bible Buddy video to find out more.

Rae Bible Memory Buddy video (Week 4) Show the Bible. The Bible is God’s true story of love! Every part of the Bible is there for a reason, showing us God’s loving plan for us. Our Bible Memory Verse is Psalm 33:4. Let’s say the verse together. I’ll say a line, and then you repeat after me. “For the word of the Lord (cup hands around mouth) holds true, (give thumbs-up) and we can trust (pretend to grab on to something with both hands) everything he does.” (spread hands in front of you) (Psalm 33:4) We can trust God. (Trust God!) Let’s sing about that!

“We Can Trust Him” (Psalm 33:4) music video

Elementary | Quarter 1 | Unit 2 | Week 4

Bible Discovery Circle Up & Connect

Let’s circle up and spend a little time simply getting to know each other in smaller groups called Connect Crews.

Supplies • “Jacob and Esau Make Peace” Bible Story poster • balloons  (1 per Crew)

● Arrange kids into Connect Crews, with one helper—or Crew Guide—per group.

• clear tape (1 roll per Crew)

● Invite kids to sit in knee-to-knee circles with their Connect Crews.

• straight pins or thumbtacks (several per Crew)

● Have kids come up with special handshakes to give their Crew Guides and each other. ● Have everyone take turns saying their names and answering this question. Crew Guides go first.

If you could give yourself a new name, what would it be? Why?

Experience the Bible Story Instead of just listening to our Bible story, you’ll help me tell it and play an important part! ● Ask for two willing people to play the roles of Jacob and Esau. Explain that half the room will follow Jacob’s actions, and half will follow Esau’s actions. So kids will always do what their leaders, Jacob and Esau, do. ● Say that throughout the Bible story, you’ll freeze the action and kids will all pretend they’re on a jury, deciding what happens to these two characters. ● Place Esau on one side of you and Jacob on the other. Kids on the Jacob half of the room will follow his actions, and kids on the Esau half will do the same.

 Balloon warning: To avoid choking hazards, be sure to pick up pieces of any broken balloons promptly. We call helpers Crew Guides. If you lead a small class, you can be the Crew Guide. Simply circle up with the kids. If you have helpers, form smaller groups so each child can be known—and so kids can befriend your helpers, too!

This trial has officially started. Standing in front of you are Jacob and Esau. Their story is found in the Bible book of Genesis. Esau is accusing Jacob of being a terrible brother. Like, the world’s worst brother. You’ll decide if that’s true. Here’s what you need to know: While they don’t look a lot alike, Jacob and Esau are twins. Esau, raise your hand. Pause. Esau is an outdoorsy, take-a-bath-once-a-month sort of guy. See how he’s stroking his shaggy, red beard? Pause while Esau and the kids on his side stroke imaginary beards. He can’t wait to get out of this courtroom to go hunt with his bow. Pause. And catch fish with his bare hands. Pause. And hike up and down mountains. Pause. Jury, let’s give Esau a round of applause. Pause. Jacob, raise your hand. Pause.

Jacob’s a little different. He’s classier than his brother. See how he’s slicking back his hair? Pause while Jacob and the kids on his side slick back their hair. He’s the sly brother, the one always figuring out how to get ahead. But is he really the worst brother in the world? Once, Jacob pretended to be his brother to trick their dad into giving him a blessing meant for Esau. If that’s a worst brother thing to do, give a thumbsdown. Pause. If you think it’s okay, give a thumbs-up. Pause. Jacob skipped town and lived far away for a while. If running away instead of taking your punishment is a worst-sort-of-brother thing to do, give a thumbsdown. Pause. If running away is okay by you, give a thumbs-up. Pause. Looks like Jacob was an awful brother, all right. Time to punish him. Except... wait...something’s happening! Jacob is taking one step toward Esau. Pause. That’s because after 20 years, Jacob is trusting God and moving back home. He’s bringing his family and his herds of sheep with him. Let’s read about it. Read aloud Genesis 32:3-5. Jacob’s taking another step toward Esau. He’s feeling pretty nervous. Pause. A messenger told him Esau was coming toward him with 400 men. Jacob is so nervous he’s shaking. Pause. He’s so scared his teeth are chattering. Pause. But Jacob is trusting God no matter what! Let’s read what he prayed. Read aloud Genesis 32:9-12. Jacob trusted God. He was holding on to the promise God had made to his family. Jury, what do you think? Is that a good move or a bad one? Thumbs up or down? Pause. The next part of the story is a little unexpected. Jacob was camped out by himself, trying to get some sleep before meeting up with his brother. Pause while Jacobs pretend to sleep. Have you ever tried to go to sleep, but your stomach was too tied up in knots? Like your brain was wrestling with what to do? Jury, give a thumbs-up if that’s ever happened to you. Pause. Well, the Bible says Jacob actually wrestled. With a man sent from God. Perhaps it was God. Whoa. Check this out. Read aloud Genesis 32:24-28. This random wrestling match gave Jacob a bad hip and a new name. Israel is a name that shows up again and again in the Bible. Jacob’s family would be known as the “Israelites,” God’s special people. They’d need to trust and hold on to God—even when it was a struggle. Let’s circle up and talk in our Crews.

When have you or your family had to hold on to God during a tough time?

● Invite Crew Guides to share first. ● Give Connect Crews several minutes to talk.

Elementary | Quarter 1 | Unit 2 | Week 4

● Pray briefly as a whole group, thanking God we can trust and hold on to him, no matter what. Okay, let’s get back to the trial. Jacob and Esau, take your places on either side of the room, please. It’s morning, and Jacob is walking toward Esau. Pause.

sau Jacob and E e Make P-ea2c32 33:1 12, 2 - ; Genesis 32:3

-11

Esau sees Jacob coming and slowly heads out to meet him. Pause. What’s going to happen now? There could be trouble! What if Esau won’t forgive Jacob?

Have you ever been afraid someone wouldn’t

forgive you? What was that like? Shout out words to describe how you felt. Pause.

Closer and closer they get to one another. Pause. Step by step. Pause. Inch by inch. Pause. Then, they’re about an arm’s length apart, and Jacob bows to Esau. Pause. Jacob gives gifts to Esau. Pause.

And Esau—the angry big brother—does something amazing: He makes peace with Jacob! Esau gives Jacob a hug. Pause. Show the Bible Story poster. Nobody saw that coming! And it means that even if Jacob was a horrible brother, God had a plan to make peace. Esau didn’t tackle Jacob or hurt him. He hugged him instead. Looks like there’s no need for us to judge Jacob, so—court dismissed! Applaud your actors as they return to their seats.

The Heart of the Matter Hold up a pin and a balloon that’s halfway inflated; don’t overinflate the balloon.

What do you expect to happen when these two things meet? Welcome a few responses.

● Let’s see what happens, but we’ll add one more step. ● Give each Crew Guide a balloon, clear tape, and some pins or thumbtacks. ● Have Crew Guides blow up the balloons a little bit and then tie them off. ● Have kids take turns putting pieces of tape onto the inflated balloons. ● Have Crew Guides gently hold the balloons and insert pins through the tape and into the balloons. If you have older kids, they may carefully insert pins as Crew Guides hold the balloons.

What happened when the tape came between the balloon and the pin? How does our friendship with God help us when we have conflicts with other people?

Jacob was nervous because he expected an angry reaction from Esau. He was surprised when there was peace instead. We can trust God (Trust God!) to help us make peace.

Now’s a great time for Apply-It Options. Choose one—or both—of the following reinforcement activities to support today’s Bible discoveries before the Friendship Finale.

Apply-It Options Choose one—or both—of these activities to support kids’ learning after Bible Discovery.

Explore More

Game

Supplies

Play a game like Rock, Paper, Scissors.

• Bibles istribute Bibles, and help kids find and read D Philippians 4:6-7.

How does our friendship with Jesus help when we’re worried or anxious?

Think of a time you had to face a friend who you were upset with or who was upset with you. How could these verses help you in those situations?

Pause for a few moments to tell God about a current situation and ask for his help. Talking to God helps us when we are worried about making things right with a friend. We can trust God (Trust God!) to help us make peace.

● Play this game in Connect Crews. ● Have each Connect Crew form a line. ● Choose two kids to square off and go first. They’ll face each other and, on the count of three, make the hand motion for rock (fist), paper (flat hand), or scissors (two fingers out). ● Rock wins over scissors, scissors wins over paper, and paper wins over rock. ● The “winner” faces off with the next child, while the other child goes to the end of the line. ● Kids will keep rotating through their lines. Play for about five minutes.

How was facing off with people in our game like or unlike Jacob and Esau’s face-off?

When facing off with Esau, Jacob didn’t know what was going to happen. He was prepared for the worst. Instead of a fist, he received a hug. Sometimes we have difficult confrontations with people, too. When we do, we can trust God. (Trust God!)

Frie�dship Fi�ale Have everyone sit in knee-to-knee circles with their Connect Crews.

“For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does.”

(Psalm 33:4)

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Supplies • Rae Bible Memory Buddy stickers (1 per child) • Take-It-Home Flyers (Unit 2, Week 4) (1 per child)

Grou p Publishing, Inc.

Our Bible Memory Buddy friend Rae reminds us we can trust God. (Trust God!) You’ll each receive a Rae sticker to help you remember to trust God throughout your week. You can wear it or keep it! Crew Guides will give each child a sticker like this. ● Ask a willing child to help you demonstrate the following actions. ● Have Crew Guides stand face to face with each person in their Crew. ● As they give each child a Bible Memory Buddy sticker, Crew Guides say, “[Child’s name], you can trust God.” ● Crew Guides give thumbs-up when everyone has received a sticker.

Take-It-Home Flyer Jacob and Esau Make Peace

Genesis 32:3-12, 22-32; 33:1-11 “For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does.” (Psalm 33:4)

We can trust God… to help us get along. What’s the slipperiest thing you can think of…something that would be super hard to hold on to if it were tossed to you?

Saying each child’s name in a loving way helps kids simply experience God’s love through you!

A greasy watermelon? A slippery, slimy eel? A bowling ball dipped in chocolate? Whatever it is, it’s the exact opposite of holding on to Jesus—because he’s also holding on to you! Jesus wants you as a forever friend. He won’t move away, get tired of your stories, or toss you aside because you sometimes mess up. Our friendship with him is secure, even when other friendships feel like they’re slipping away. The Bible says Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), so ask for his help when friendships get slippery. Hold on to Jesus, and he’ll help you know when to walk away from an argument with a friend. And he’ll give you wisdom when you aren’t sure how to say you’re sorry to someone you’ve hurt. Jesus is a friend you can hold on to, and he’ll bring peace to our other friendships when we need it the most.

Do you remember when you were younger and you didn’t want to let go of a parent or family member? Maybe you were being dropped off for preschool or you had to go to the doctor and get stitches. Close your eyes, make a fist, and imagine holding on tightly to that person’s hand. Pause. Jesus is also a friend we can hold on to. Keep holding on with your eyes closed as I read about our friend Jesus.

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Tell about a time you asked someone to forgive you. How did Jesus help you start that conversation?

Try This @ Home Wrap your arms around yourself and give yourself a hug. Really— give it a try. That’s what it’s like to be held by Jesus. He doesn’t grab you in a death grip; he folds you up in his love and acceptance, and you find the warmth of a new life, a fresh start, and a forever home. So hang on to Jesus—there’s nothing better!

Explore More @ Home Read Isaiah 9:6 to see some of Jesus’ other names.

Elementary, Quarter 1, Unit 2, Week 4

● Read the first section of the Unit 2 Week 4 Take-It-Home Flyer. ● Now I’ll you one of these flyers to help you talk about Jesus’ love in your Connect Crews and at home, too. ● Distribute Take-It-Home Flyers to Crew Guides, and have them share about their own friendship with Jesus as they answer the “Talk Starter” question and then invite kids to talk. ● Kids share prayer requests—things they’d like to tell Jesus—in their Connect Crews. ● Connect Crews pray together. ● Crew Guides distribute Take-It-Home Flyers and follow the directions to help kids fold the paper to “fly” home.

Unit 3 | Week 1

Shepherds Hear About Jesus’ Birth

God, thank you for sending Jesus—not just for people I’m close to, but for everyone. Give me eyes to see kids who need an extra dose of your love today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”

(John 13:34) Publishing, Inc.

Whether shepherds were family members or hired nomads, they found themselves on the outside a lot. While everyone else was nestled inside the neighborhood, shepherds were out in the fields watching over their flocks by night. Yet they were the first to hear about Jesus’ birth. Imagine their excitement! Proximity didn’t matter when it came to seeing and celebrating the Savior. Jesus loves everyone!

Prayer

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Sheep were treasured in Bible times. The Israelites needed sheep for milk, wool, and meat. For families who lived in the countryside, it was common for a son or daughter to watch over the flock. City folks were a little different, though. They hired shepherds to watch over their sheep outside the village.

Jesus loves each child in your class. You may notice some kids who are on the fringes, outside of friend groups or new to your church family. Like the angels sought out the shepherds, pursue them with Jesus’ life-changing love.

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Purpose

Even if it’s not Christmastime, the story of shepherds hearing about Jesus is a wonderful example of Jesus’ love for everyone, any time of the year!

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Jesus loves everyone…even if we feel like outsiders.

Luke 2:8-20

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Bible Point

Good News for Outsiders

Prep

Opening Options

Sing & Play

Option Cards*

countdown video*

Merry Pipe Cleaners: chenille wires, childsafe scissors

Buddy Video DVD*

Music Video DVD*

Decker Bible Memory Buddy poster*

media player

Bible (bookmark John 13:34)

Paper Plate Sheep: paper plates, construction paper, child-safe scissors, markers, yarn, clear tape, glue sticks

* in your Simply Loved Kit

Bible Discovery & Friendship Finale

“Shepherds Hear About Jesus’ Birth” Bible Story poster*

Decker Bible Memory Buddy stickers* (1 per child)

Take-It-Home Flyers* (Unit 3, Week 1) (1 per child)

Bible (bookmark Luke 2:8-9, 10-12, 16)

wet wipes

construction paper

markers

timer

Apply-It Options

Explore More: Bibles, “To God Be the Glory” music video, media player

Game: no supplies

Opening Options

➊

➋

➌ ➎ ➍

Merry Pipe Clea�ers

Paper Plate Sheep

Supplies • chenille wires, child-safe scissors

Supplies • paper plates, construction paper, child-safe scissors, markers, yarn, clear tape, glue sticks

Twist chenille wires into Christmas shapes like candy canes, stars, and trees. What’s a favorite Christmas tradition in your family? We’re celebrating Christmas today! Jesus loves everyone every day, and it’s never too soon or too late to remember Jesus’ birth.

Create a spiral sheep. Draw a spiral shape on your plate, then cut along the line. Then cut a sheep head, ears, eyes, and legs from construction paper and tape them to the spiral. Add yarn to hang. If you could care for any animal, what would you choose? Tell why. In our Bible story, we’ll hear about shepherds who cared for sheep. Jesus loves everyone, including shepherds.

Opening Now’s a great time for Opening Options. Choose one—or both—to introduce today’s Bible Discovery.

countdown video (1 minute) Help kids transition, clean up the activities, and sit with Connect Crews. A Connect Crew is a small group of kids with one Crew Guide.

Si�g & Play Hey, friends! I’m so glad to see everyone today. Let’s get started with a song.

“To God Be the Glory” music video God has done great things! What are some great things God has done for you? Go ahead and shout them out. Invite a few responses from the whole group.

Bible Point Glory to God! I have good news of great joy to share with you. Jesus loves everyone. That’s our Bible Point today. Every time you hear the words “Jesus loves everyone!” cross your hands over your heart like this (demonstrate) and say, “Thank you, Jesus!” Let’s try that together. ● Cross your hands over your heart and say, “Thank you, Jesus!”

Supplies • Bible • media player • Buddy Video DVD Decker Bible Memory Buddy video (Week 1) • Music Video DVD “To God Be the Glory” music video “Made for This” music video “One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails)” music video • Decker Bible Memory Buddy poster

● Repeat several times.

“Made for This” music video

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Jesus loves everyone. (Thank you, Jesus!) We each get to share his love with others; in fact, we were made for this! Let’s sing about that.

Kids remember what they repeat! So be sure to say today’s Bible Point A LOT. Have fun with it! Kids will love listening for it and responding with “Thank you, Jesus!”

J u, o y Th a n k

Decker “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” (John 13:34)

Bible Memory Buddy & Verse Let’s meet our Bible Memory Buddy, Decker the decorator crab! Show the Bible Memory Buddy poster. How much do you know about crabs? Let’s find out with a This-or-That Challenge! You’ll hear two fun facts about decorator crabs. It’s up to you to decide which is true—this fact or that!

How many limbs does a crab have, 8 or 10? ●

Have everyone hold up eight fingers to vote for this (8) or 10 fingers to vote for that (10).

●

Make a drumroll sound by patting your thighs or the floor.

●

Dramatically give the answer: It’s 10!

●

Watch the Bible Memory Buddy video to meet Decker.

Decker Bible Memory Buddy video (Week 1) Show the Bible. The Bible is God’s true story of love! The Bible may seem like a big book just for grown-ups, but it’s for everyone! Our Bible Memory Verse comes from John 13:34. Let’s say the verse together. I’ll say a line, and then you repeat it after me. “So now I am giving you a new commandment: (hold hands out like a tray) Love each other. (give a friend’s shoulder a squeeze) Just as I (point up) have loved you, (point forward) you should love each other.” (give another friend’s shoulder a squeeze) (John 13:34) Jesus loves everyone. (Thank you, Jesus!) No matter who you are or what you do, Jesus’ love won’t stop.

“One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails)” music video

Elementary | Quarter 1 | Unit 3 | Week 1

Bible Discovery Circle Up & Connect

Let’s circle up and spend a little time simply getting to know each other in smaller groups called Connect Crews. ● Divide kids into Connect Crews with one helper—or Crew Guide—per group. ● Invite kids to sit in knee-to-knee circles with their Connect Crews. ● Have kids give their Crew Guides and each other fist bumps.

Supplies • Bible • “Shepherds Hear About Jesus’ Birth” Bible Story poster • wet wipes • construction paper • markers • timer

● Have kids take turns saying their names and answering this question. Crew Guides go first.

Would you rather play inside or outside? Why?

The Heart of the Matter Before we dive into our Bible story, you’ll each be assigned a job to do, and you’ll have three minutes to do it. Have Crew Guides assign one of the following jobs to each person in their Connect Crew. ● Spiffer-Upper—wipes down all the tables in your room. ● Creator—draws pictures or makes something out of construction paper. ● Encourager—remains seated and says nice things to everyone who’s working.

● Entertainer—sings or tells jokes to lighten the mood while everyone works. ● Watcher-Outer—Goes with a Crew Guide to quietly sit in the hallway outside your classroom, watching for people who may come and go. Okay, you have your jobs; now it’s time to get busy. ● Distribute wet wipes and construction paper. Designate the “Watcher-Outer” Crew Guide, then set the timer for three minutes and tell everyone to get to work. ● Call time when three minutes are up, and have everyone sit with their Connect Crews again. Almost “forget about” the Watcher-Outers, then call them in from outside. Let’s see what we accomplished! Comment on tables, artwork, jokes, and the kind words that were spoken.

Watcher-Outers, what was it like to sit in the hallway while all this happened in our room? Invite a few responses.

Let’s talk more in our Crews.

Tell about a time you felt like an outsider and you missed out on fun. Share a quick example from your own life first, then give Crews time to talk.

● Crew Guides give thumbs-up when everyone has shared.

We just explored what it’s like to be outsiders. Today we’ll hear how God gave a special message to people outside of town, and it was news that changed everything! We’ll discover Jesus loves everyone. (Thank you, Jesus!)

Experience the Bible Story Let’s explore a story from the Bible. But instead of just listening to a story, you’ll actually help me tell it—and play an important part! But first…turn to a neighbor and quickly tell that person a job you might like to have when you’re a grown-up, and tell about why you’d like that job. You have 30 seconds each to describe that job. Ready? Go! Set a timer for one minute, giving a 30-second alert when it’s time for the other partner to share. Now, with a show of hands, how many of you said you might like to be a teacher? Pause. Doctor? Pause. Actor, singer, or professional athlete? Pause. Shepherd? Pause. Well, that’s too bad, because for the next couple of minutes, you’re all grownups and you’re all shepherds. You’re in the hills outside a little village called Bethlehem, and as I describe what happens to you, I’d like you to act it out. You won’t say anything, and now and then I’ll yell “Freeze!” When I do that, freeze in place until I unfreeze you. Let’s give it a go! It’s late at night, and you and some other shepherds are relaxing. So, sit on the ground, lean back, and relax. Pause. You’re telling a few jokes and talking about nothing in particular. Pause. But then—WHAM! Suddenly a bright light appears and there’s an angel standing next to you! Show the Bible Story poster. This happened to shepherds in the Bible, too. Listen to what happened. Read aloud Luke 2:8-9. Shepherds! Your jaws drop. Your eyes bug out. Your knees shake. You are scared! Freeze!

Shepherds Hear ’ Birth About JesuLukse 2:8-2 0

The angel tells you to not be afraid and then says: Read aloud Luke 2:10-12. Okay, unfreeze. Pause. Then all at once there’s a whole herd of angels—an angel crowd stretching out as far as you can see. They’re all singing and praising God. You’re now terriﬁed, so you lie on the ground and cover your head with your arms. Pause. You can’t look! It’s too scary! Freeze! Quarter 1, Unit 3, Week 1 Illustrated by David Harrington. Copyright © 2020 Group Publishing, Inc., Loveland, CO • group.com Printed in the United States of America • 1210000316165

Elementary | Quarter 1 | Unit 3 | Week 1

You lie there, overwhelmed by what’s happening, and then, as fast as it started, it’s over. You look around. You sit up. You look at your shepherd friends. And together you decide to go see the baby. Read aloud Luke 2:16. You all start running—running in place, that is. Pause. You run all the way to Bethlehem, and just like the angel said, there’s the baby, all bundled up in a manger. You stop running and kneel. Pause. You know you’re in the presence of royalty—the King of kings, the Lord of all, the great and good shepherd to his people. You pause to look at the baby. You nod at Mary and Joseph, and then you stand to leave. Pause. And on the way back to your flock, you tell anyone who’ll listen what’s just happened. You’re so excited that you jump up and down. Pause. You’re so excited that you keep pointing at where the manger is. Pause. You want everyone to know about Jesus! The angel was right: The Savior has finally come! What good news you have to share! Have kids sit down. Talk about joyful news! God sent a Savior! Woohoo! That’s not just good news; it’s great news! That news means we don’t have to be stuck in sin. It means we have a way to have a forever friendship with God. Let’s think about jobs again. God could have given the news to teachers called Pharisees. He could have sent angels to doctors or kings. But he didn’t. Instead, God told shepherds—people who spent their time outside of town with sheep. Why? Because Jesus loves everyone. (Thank you, Jesus!) This savior baby came for everyone: teachers, doctors, famous people, shepherds, and people like you and me. Stand up again, and turn to someone next to you. Give that person a highfive. Pause. Turn to someone else, and give that person a low-five. Pause. Now give high-fives to as many people as you can by the time I count to 10! Count loudly to 10. That’s how excited our shepherd friends were when they found out what you already know: that Jesus has come and that we are loved. Now’s a great time for Apply-It Options. Choose one—or both—of the following reinforcement activities to support today’s Bible discoveries before the Friendship Finale.

Apply-It Options Choose one—or both—of these activities to support kids’ learning after Bible Discovery.

Explore More Supplies • Bibles, “To God Be the Glory” music video, media player istribute Bibles, and help kids find and read D Luke 2:13-14 together. The angel chorus said, “Glory to God.” The word glory comes from the Latin word gloria. It means “famous”! The angels celebrated God’s greatness and fame—there’s no one like him! We sing songs about giving glory to God today. It’s our way for everyone to celebrate that God’s the best! ● Play the “To God Be the Glory” music video again. But this time, imagine you’re angels, singing the song to the shepherds.

What’s a great thing God has done in your

life? Share a quick story from your own life to begin the conversation.

Jesus loves everyone. (Thank you, Jesus!) And the good news of great joy given to the shepherds still brings glory to God today!

Game ● Designate one person to be the “Wolf” and another person to be the “Shepherd.” If you have a large group, choose several Wolves and Shepherds. ● All other players are “Sheep.” ● Play a tag game. When tagged by a Wolf, Sheep must freeze and “baa” until a Shepherd comes to tag and unfreeze them. ● Play for several minutes, then switch roles before playing again.

Shepherds, what was it like to watch over all your sheep?

Tell about a time you watched out for a friend who needed help.

The Bible calls Jesus the good shepherd. He came to earth and gave up his life to rescue us from sin. Jesus loves everyone. (Thank you, Jesus!) When we’re his friends, we share his love when we watch out for others who need his love and help.

Supplies

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Publishing, Inc.

(John 13:34)

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Frie�dship Fi�ale

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”

Invite kids to sit in knee-to-knee circles with their Connect Crews.

• Decker Bible Memory Buddy stickers (1 per child) • Take-It-Home Flyers (Unit 3, Week 1) (1 per child)

Our Bible Memory Buddy friend Decker helps us remember Jesus loves everyone. (Thank you, Jesus!) You’ll each receive a Decker sticker to help you remember Jesus’ love throughout your week. You can wear it now or keep it for later. Crew Guides will give each person a sticker like this. ● Demonstrate the following actions with a Connect Crew. ● Have Crews stand in close circles facing outward. Have Crew Guides walk around the outside of the circle and give a sticker to each child. ● As they give each child a Bible Memory Buddy sticker, Crew Guides say, “Jesus loves everyone…including you, [Child’s name].” ● Have kids sit down but remain facing out in their Crew circles. Take-It-Home Flyer

Saying each child’s name in a loving way helps kids simply experience Jesus’ love through you!

I’d like to read you something about our friend Jesus. As you listen, close your eyes and keep facing toward the outside of the circle, imagining you’re sitting in a field outside of town and watching sheep.

Shepherds Hear About Jesus’ Birth

Luke 2:8-20

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” (John 13:34)

Jesus loves everyone… even if we feel like outsiders. There are about eleventy-zillion ways to feel like an outsider—and none of them feel good. You move to a new neighborhood. Start at a new school. Don’t make the team. Do make the team. Everyone around you gets a joke and you don’t. You tell a joke and nobody gets it. And boom: Instant outsider. You feel silly, small, and alone. Like everyone’s looking but nobody cares. But here’s the truth: If you know Jesus, you’re never an outsider because Jesus turns outsiders into insiders. He invites you into a friendship with him and into friendships with his other friends. It’s instant family—with Jesus at the very center. You never have to feel like an outsider again when you’re a friend of Jesus!

● Read the first section of the Unit 3, Week 1 Take-It-Home Flyer. ● Now I’ll give you one of these flyers to help you talk about Jesus’ love in your Connect Crews and at home, too. ● Distribute Take-It-Home Flyers to Crew Guides, and have them share about their own friendship with Jesus as they answer the “Talk Starter” question and then invite kids to talk.

arter Talk St

Who in your life is also friends with Jesus? How does having a shared friendship with Jesus help your friendship?

Try This @ Home At school look for someone who’s an outsider—someone who doesn’t seem to have a friend nearby. Say “hello” and have a conversation. You’ll help turn an outsider into an insider—just like Jesus did with you!

Explore More @ Home

Hi! What’s your name?

Instant family? Yup—it’s true! Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, 25-26; and Ephesians 2:18-19.

Elementary, Quarter 1, Unit 3, Week 1

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Unit 3 | Week 2

Jesus Befrie�ds Zacchaeus

Good News for Outsiders

Luke 19:1-10

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”

Bible Point

(John 13:34) Publishing, Inc.

Jesus loves everyone…and sees our potential.

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Purpose

That’s because Jesus sees who we are and what we can be. He sees world-changers instead of screw-ups, and helpers where others see bossy pants. He sees us as his friends instead of his servants. (John 15:15) Wouldn’t it be cool to wear glasses that allow you to see all the kids in your class the way Jesus sees them? These magic lenses may not exist, but you can still ask Jesus to give you a better view. You may be surprised at the friendships that form as a result.

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We all have our not-so-friend-like moments: times we choose ourselves over others, say things we later regret, or take something without asking. It seems Zacchaeus had a lot of those moments, yet Jesus still wanted to be his friend. Jesus still wants to be your friend, too.

Prayer

Jesus, help me see kids the way you see them. Bring affirming words to my mind, and give me courage and clarity to speak them over kids’ lives. Thanks for seeing my potential, too. It’s in your name I pray, amen.

Prep

Opening Options

Sing & Play

Option Cards*

countdown video*

Pipe Cleaner View: chenille wires, childsafe scissors

Buddy Video DVD*

Music Video DVD*

Decker Bible Memory Buddy poster*

media player

Bible (bookmark John 13:34)

Paper Plate Trees: paper plates, construction paper, child-safe scissors, markers, clear tape, glue sticks

Bible Discovery & Friendship Finale

“Jesus Befriends Zacchaeus” Bible Story poster*

Decker Bible Memory Buddy stickers* (1 per child)

Take-It-Home Flyers* (Unit 3, Week 2) (1 per child)

Bible (bookmark Luke 19:2, 5-6, 8-10)

Apply-It Options

Explore More: Bibles, tennis balls (1 per Crew), basketballs (1 per Crew)

Game: 1 or 2 foam balls or paper wads

* in your Simply Loved Kit

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Opening Options

Pipe Clea�er View

Paper Plate Trees

Supplies • chenille wires, child-safe scissors

Supplies • paper plates, construction paper, child-safe scissors, markers, clear tape, glue sticks

Twist chenille wires into eyeglasses to wear. Have you ever gone to the eye doctor? What did you like or dislike about your visit? Jesus loves everyone—people with glasses and without. Today we’ll hear about a man who couldn’t see Jesus very well. We’ll find out what he did to get a better view!

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Make a tree. Tear pieces of construction paper, and tape them to a plate to make leaves. Then trace your arm onto a piece of construction paper to make the tree trunk. Imagine you’re creating a one-of-a-kind treehouse. What surprise features would you include? In our Bible story, we’ll hear about a man who climbed a tree to see Jesus. When Jesus saw him, he did something surprising that showed Jesus loves everyone. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc. | group.com/SimplyLoved

Opening Now’s a great time for Opening Options. Choose one—or both—to introduce today’s Bible discoveries.

countdown video (1 minute) Help kids transition, clean up the activities, and sit with Connect Crews. A Connect Crew is a small group of kids with one Crew Guide.

Si�g & Play

Supplies • Bible • media player

Hello! It’s so great to see everyone today. Shield your eyes with your hand like you’re on the lookout, and take a look around at everyone. Pause while kids look. We’re all looking good! Now let’s get moving with a song.

• Buddy Video DVD

“He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” music video

• Music Video DVD

Bible Point Jesus loves everyone. That’s our Bible Point today. Every time you hear the words “Jesus loves everyone!” cross your hands over your heart like this (demonstrate) and say, “Thank you, Jesus!” Let’s try that together. ● Cross your hands over your heart and say, “Thank you, Jesus!” ● Repeat several times. Repetition helps kids remember! So be sure to say today’s Bible Point A LOT. Have fun with it! Kids will love listening for it and responding with “Thank you, Jesus!”

Decker Bible Memory Buddy video (Week 2) “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” music video “We Can Trust Him” (Psalm 33:4) music video “To God Be the Glory” music video • Decker Bible Memory Buddy poster

It’s easy to love people who love you back; it’s harder to love people who are mean to us. But even when people let us down, Jesus never will. He’s a friend who’s got our backs no matter what. And he gives us the strength we need to share his love even with big meanies. This is because Jesus loves everyone. Let’s sing a song to tell about our friendship with Jesus.

s su Thank you, Je

“We Can Trust Him” (Psalm 33:4) music video

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Decker “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” (John 13:34)

Bible Memory Buddy & Verse Decker the decorator crab is our Bible Memory Buddy! Show the Bible Memory Buddy poster. Crabs can be kind of pinchy. I know I’d rather not step on one—ouch! How much do you know about crabs? Let’s find out with a This-or-That Challenge! You’ll hear two fun facts about decorator crabs. It’s up to you to decide which is true—this fact or that!

Do crabs have an exoskeleton (a skeleton on the outside of the body) or an endoskeleton (a skeleton on the inside of the body)?

●

Have everyone wave their hands high to vote for this (exoskeleton) or wave their hands close to their bodies to vote for that (endoskeleton).

●

Make a drumroll sound by patting your thighs or the floor.

●

Dramatically give the answer: Crabs have an exoskeleton!

●

Watch the Bible Memory Buddy video.

Decker Bible Memory Buddy video (Week 2) Show the Bible. The Bible is God’s true story of love! The Bible is made up of different types of writing, including history, poetry, and even letters. Our Bible Memory Verse comes from the Gospels in the New Testament; it’s John 13:34. Let’s say the verse together. I’ll say a line, and then you repeat it after me. “So now I am giving you a new commandment: (hold hands out like a tray) Love each other. (give a friend’s shoulder a squeeze) Just as I (point up) have loved you, (point forward) you should love each other.” (give another friend’s shoulder a squeeze) (John 13:34) Jesus loves everyone. (Thank you, Jesus!) Let’s praise God for sending Jesus to earth to show us what real love looks like.

“To God Be the Glory” music video

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Elementary | Quarter 1 | Unit 3 | Week 2

Bible Discovery Circle Up & Connect

What’s a characteristic you’d like others to see in you—and why?

The Heart of the Matter

Supplies • Bible • “Jesus Befriends Zacchaeus” Bible Story poster

Beforehand, think of something the kids in your class really like to do: perhaps it’s running technology, getting to eat the first piece of a snack, or taking attendance. I’m looking for a volunteer to help me [say the activity you’ve chosen]. Pause while kids raise hands. But before you volunteer, you need to listen to what the qualifications are. Ready? ● You need to always wash your hands after you use the restroom. ● You need to always pray before you eat. ● You need to always wear matching socks. ● You need to have a Snickers bar in your pocket for me right now. ● You need to be able to drive a car. Does anyone meet all those qualifications? If you do, raise your hand.

How does it feel to be disqualified for something you want to do? Invite a few responses. Let’s talk a little more in our Connect Crews.

● Have everyone circle up in their Connect Crews.

Tell about a time your behavior disqualified you from something cool.

Share a quick story from your own life to begin. Perhaps you got a penalty when playing soccer and had to sit on the bench, or you procrastinated doing homework or housework and missed out on going to a movie with your friends or family.

● Have Crew Guides give thumbs-up when everyone has shared. In our Bible story today, we’ll meet a man named Zacchaeus. The people who knew Zacchaeus thought he should be disqualified from being friends with Jesus. They didn’t think he was good enough. But Jesus had other ideas. Since Jesus loves everyone, (Thank you, Jesus!) Jesus sees who we are and what we can be—his friends! Let’s dive in to our Bible story and see what happened to Zacchaeus.

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Experience the Bible Story We all have happy days...and sad days. And some days have both happy and sad in them. I’m going to tell you a story from the Bible about a guy who had one of those happy and sad days. But instead of just listening to a story, you’ll actually help me tell it and play an important part!

riends Jesus Bef Zacchu ea9e1us L k 1 :1- 0

Ready? Let’s jump into this story from the Bible. We’ll hang out with our buddy Zacchaeus—we’ll call him Zach for short—as he goes through his super-good, super-hard day. As you share this story, be sure to use lots of energy, emotion, and excitement. Read aloud Luke 19:2.

Zach lived in a town called Jericho. Zach had a job there—he was the chief tax collector, which meant he made a lot of money. Zach made his money by collecting taxes for the Romans, but he also cheated and took extra money for himself. His neighbors knew Zach was cheating them, so they didn’t like him. Zacchaeus may have had a lot of money, but he wasn’t very popular. Let’s see how it feels to be all alone. Have kids spread out around the room so they can’t touch anyone else. They should all face away from you as they sit with their heads in their hands, as if no one wants to hang out with them. Then Jesus showed up. Slowly walk around the room as if you’re Jesus walking through town. One day Jesus came through town, and people lined up to see him. Zach wanted to see Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd, and he couldn’t reach Jesus. Without moving from your spots, try to reach me as I walk by. Zigzag around kids, avoiding them as they reach out to you. Zach couldn’t reach Jesus, so Zach climbed a tree.

How do you think Zach—a grown-up—felt about climbing a tree? Invite a few responses from the whole group.

How do you feel about climbing trees? Invite responses from the whole group.

Let’s pretend to climb a tree. Have kids stand and make climbing motions. Look! We can see now! When Jesus walked by the tree, he looked up at Zach. And he called out to Zach using Zach’s name. Read aloud Luke 19:5-6.

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Elementary | Quarter 1 | Unit 3 | Week 2

Zach scrambled out of that tree and took Jesus to his house. Well, some other folks weren’t so thrilled about that. They grumbled, “He has gone to be Zach’s guest? Everyone knows Zach is a sinner!” Let’s talk in our Connect Crews for a bit. Go ahead and circle up.

Why do you think people didn’t like Jesus going to Zach’s house? When have you been upset because someone who was mean got something nice?

● Give Crews several minutes to discuss. Thanks for sharing. People didn’t see Zach’s potential. They may have thought, “Once a meanie, always a meanie.” But Jesus loves everyone. (Thank you, Jesus!) He sees potential when others see a lost cause. And guess what? After spending some time with Jesus, Zacchaeus wanted to change. He didn’t want to be a cheater anymore. Here’s what he said. Read aloud Luke 19:8-10. Zacchaeus found a friendship with Jesus. Jesus wasn’t just kind to Zach when everyone else was mean to Zach; he also let Zacchaeus know he was simply loved. You are simply loved, too. Jesus loves you, and you’re never alone. As I call your name, come walk with me and welcome everyone to be friends. Walk around the room again. This time, call kids by name, and offer each child a hand to stand and join you as you move toward the next child. Once everyone is up, gather for a huddle and shout, Jesus loves everyone! (Thank you, Jesus!) Now’s a great time for Apply-It Options. Choose one—or both— of the following reinforcement activities support today’s Bible discoveries before the Friendship Finale.

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Apply-It Options Choose one—or both—of these activities to support kids’ learning after Bible Discovery.

Explore More

Game

Supplies

• Bibles, tennis balls (1 per Crew), basketballs (1 per Crew)

• 1 or 2 small foam balls or paper wads

istribute Bibles, and help kids find and read D Luke 19:9-10 together. Jesus saw what Zacchaeus could be—his friend. When Jesus is our friend, we have even more potential to do great things for him! It’s like the science of potential energy. Try this in your Connect Crews. Round One: ● Drop a tennis ball and see how high it bounces. Round Two:

● Place balls in the middle of your playing area, and have kids spread out around the balls. ● On “go,” kids rush in to grab a ball and throw it at other players. ● If a player is hit by a ball, that player must stay in place and act out a profession he or she would like to work in someday (as if playing charades). Ideas include a basketball player, a baseball player, a ballerina, a surgeon, and so on. ● In order for the player to be free to play again, a fellow player must correctly guess the profession that player is acting out.

● Hold a basketball with one hand.

● Play as time allows.

● Hold a tennis ball on top of the basketball with the other hand.

● If you have a larger group, add more balls to your playing area.

● Drop the balls at the same time, and observe how high the tennis ball bounces.

What was the difference between the two rounds?

Tell about a time a close friendship with

Jesus helped you do more than you expected. Share a quick example from your own life to begin the conversation.

Jesus loves everyone. (Thank you, Jesus!) When we’re close friends with Jesus, he’ll change our lives in amazing ways!

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In our game, your friends helped you by seeing who you are and who you want to be. Jesus does that, too! Jesus loves everyone! (Thank you, Jesus!) When we’re friends with Jesus, he’s there to help us and see our potential.

Tell about something good you see in a Connect Crew friend.

Supplies

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roup

Publishing, Inc.

(John 13:34)

op yr ig

Frie�dship Fi�ale

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”

Invite kids to sit in knee-to-knee circles with their Connect Crews.

• Decker Bible Memory Buddy stickers (1 per child) • Take-It-Home Flyers (Unit 3, Week 2) (1 per child)

Decker, our Bible Memory Buddy, helps us remember Jesus loves everyone. (Thank you, Jesus!) You’ll each receive a Decker sticker to help you remember Jesus’ love throughout your week. You can collect stickers you receive each week or wear yours now. Crew Guides will give each child a sticker like this: ● Have Crews sit in knee-to-knee circles. ● Demonstrate the following actions with a Connect Crew. ● In their Crews, kids will take turns standing up to receive a Bible Memory Buddy sticker from their Crew Guide. ● Crew Guides say, “[Child’s name], you have potential. Jesus loves everyone… including you!” That child will then sit down as the Crew Guide moves to the next person in the circle.

Take-It-Home Flyer Jesus Befriends Zacchaeus

Luke 19:1-10

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” (John 13:34)

Jesus loves everyone… and sees our potential. Here’s the thing about how Jesus sees you: He doesn’t see just what others see. He sees your potential, too. He sees what you’ll become if you hang around him and let him lead your life. Because you really bloom when you stay close to Jesus. That’s when you become the person he created you to be. When you’re his friend, Jesus opens your heart to love others and yourself. Opens your mind to what’s true. Opens you up to feel joy. If you want to be all you can be, be his. Give yourself to Jesus, and he’ll give you back the best life you could possibly have!

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Saying each child’s name in a loving way helps kids simply experience Jesus’ love through you!

Tell about something you want to do in life—something that’s hard but you think you can do if you get some help.

Try This @ Home Look at yourself in a mirror. That’s how everyone else sees you, but Jesus looks past your outside to see your heart. And he loves what he sees! Ask him to help you see yourself as he sees you.

Explore More @ Home

There’s no reaching your full potential without Jesus. But with him? Wow! Read John 15:5.

I love that Jesus was willing to reach out to someone other people didn’t like. And I love that Jesus still reaches out to people—to you, to me, to everyone. We can all be friends with Jesus! Jesus loves all of us.

Elementary, Quarter 1, Unit 3, Week 2

I’d like to read you something about our friend Jesus. As you listen, close your eyes, hold your hand in front of your face, and imagine you’re looking in a mirror. Pause. As you look, imagine you’re seeing yourself like Jesus sees you. ● Read the first section of the Unit 3, Week 2 Take-It-Home Flyer. ● Now I’ll give you one of these flyers to help you talk about Jesus’ love in your Connect Crews and at home, too. ● Distribute Take-It-Home Flyers to Crew Guides, and have them share about their own friendship with Jesus as they answer the “Talk Starter” question and then invite kids to talk. ● Kids share prayer requests—things they’d like to tell Jesus—in their Connect Crews. ● Connect Crews pray together. ● Crew Guides distribute Take-It-Home Flyers and follow the directions to help kids fold the paper to “fly” home.

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Unit 3 | Week 3 Good News for Outsiders

Jesus Welcomes Children

Luke 18:15-17

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”

Publishing, Inc.

(John 13:34)

Bible Point

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Jesus loves everyone…and pays attention to us. op yr ig

Purpose

Let’s face it; even as adults, we can run into cliques: at work, in the neighborhood, even at church—people who make us feel unwanted and like outsiders. It’s not a pleasant feeling. But it’s even worse for kids. Friendships change by the day or even by the hour in their world. And they don’t have the benefit of years of experience to help them remember that Jesus is always with them and always loving them. Use this lesson to help kids understand that no matter what’s happening in their lives, Jesus is always with them, always paying attention, and always loving them—and will never leave them.

Prayer

God, there are kids in my group who are feeling left out, isolated, or ignored. They may not identify themselves as such, but they’re there. And they’re hurting. Please lead me into conversation and relationship with those kids. You alone know their needs. Please love them through me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Prep

Opening Options

Sing & Play

Option Cards*

countdown video*

Pipe Cleaner People: chenille wires, childsafe scissors

Buddy Video DVD*

Music Video DVD*

Decker Bible Memory Buddy poster*

media player

Bible (bookmark John 13:34)

Paper Plate Emojis: paper plates, construction paper, child-safe scissors, yarn, markers, tape, glue sticks

Bible Discovery & Friendship Finale

“Jesus Welcomes Children” Bible Story poster*

Decker Bible Memory Buddy stickers* (1 per child)

Take-It-Home Flyers* (Unit 3, Week 3) (1 per child)

Bible (bookmark Luke 18:15-17)

Apply-It Options

Explore More: Bibles, construction paper, pencils, child-safe scissors, glue sticks, tape, markers

Game: markers

* in your Simply Loved Kit

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Opening Options

Pipe Clea�er People

Paper Plate Emojis

Supplies • chenille wires, child-safe scissors

Supplies • paper plates, construction paper, child-safe scissors, yarn, markers, tape, glue sticks

Create chenille wire people; make some small like kids and one bigger like an adult. Have the “kids” interact with the “adult.” In today’s Bible story, Jesus welcomes a group of kids. Who do you feel welcomed by? Why? Where do you most feel welcome? It feels good to be welcomed. We’re always welcomed by Jesus because Jesus loves everyone. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc. | group.com/SimplyLoved

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Make emoji faces on paper plates. Tell about a time you felt happy or excited. Tell about a time you felt sad or disappointed. When we feel happy, sad, disappointed, or excited, Jesus loves us. Our loving faces can show people that Jesus loves everyone!

Opening Now’s a great time for Opening Options. Choose one—or both—to introduce today’s Bible discoveries.

countdown video (1 minute) Help kids transition, clean up the activities, and sit with Connect Crews. A Connect Crew is a small group of kids with one Crew Guide.

Si�g & Play Welcome, friends! It’s great to see you! Let’s have some fun together. We’ll start with a song!

“To God Be the Glory” music video

Bible Point We’re going to have a blast exploring how Jesus loves everyone. That’s our Bible Point today, so every time you hear the words “Jesus loves everyone,” I want you to respond in a certain way. Do what I do! ● Cross hands over your heart and say, “Thank you, Jesus!” ● Repeat several times. Repetition cements learning, so be sure to say today’s Bible Point A LOT. Have fun with it! Kids will love listening for it and responding with “Thank you, Jesus!”

Supplies • Bible • media player • Buddy Video DVD Decker Bible Memory Buddy video (Week 3) • Music Video DVD “To God Be the Glory” music video “Let’s Get a Little Crazy” music video “One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails)” music video • Decker Bible Memory Buddy poster

I’m so glad that Jesus loves everyone. (Thank you, Jesus!) Let’s have a little fun celebrating his love with another song.

“Let’s Get a Little Crazy” music video

s su e J Thank you,

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Decker “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” (John 13:34)

Bible Memory Buddy & Verse Decker the decorator crab is our Bible Memory Buddy. How much do you know about decorator crabs? Let’s find out with a This-or-That Challenge! You’ll hear two fun facts about crabs. It’s up to you to decide which is true—this fact or that!

Do decorator crabs attach starfish or sea sponges to their shells?

●

Have everyone crab walk their hands in the air to vote for this (starfish) or crab walk their hands on the floor to vote for that (sea sponges).

●

Make a drumroll sound by patting your thighs or the floor.

●

Dramatically give the answer: They attach cool creations like sea sponges to their shells!

●

Watch the Decker Bible Memory Buddy video.

Decker Bible Memory Buddy video (Week 3) Show the Bible. The Bible is God’s true story of love! It’s a book that’s been helping people grow closer to God for thousands of years—and it can help us today! Our Bible Memory Verse is John 13:34. Let’s say the verse together. I’ll say a line, and then you repeat after me. “So now I am giving you a new commandment: (hold hands out like a tray) Love each other. (give a friend’s shoulder a squeeze) Just as I (point up) have loved you, (point forward) you should love each other.” (give another friend’s shoulder a squeeze) (John 13:34) I love that God’s Word helps us know how to live and love! And I’m so glad to know that Jesus loves everyone. (Thank you, Jesus!) His love will never give up on us. Let’s celebrate with a song!

“One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails)” music video

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Elementary | Quarter 1 | Unit 3 | Week 3

Bible Discovery Circle Up & Connect

Let’s circle up and spend a little time just getting to know each other in smaller groups called Connect Crews.

Supplies • Bible • “Jesus Welcomes Children” Bible Story poster

● Have kids form Connect Crews with one helper—or Crew Guide—per group. ● Invite kids to sit in knee-to-knee circles with their Connect Crews. ● Have kids give their Crew Guides and each other backhand high-fives. ● Have kids take turns saying their names and answering this question. Crew Guides go first.

Who’s the most welcoming person you know? Why?

Experience the Bible Story I need your help describing something that happened in the Bible. I’m going to put you in two groups. Select at least two kids, and place your hands on their shoulders. You’re one group, and you’ll be at the front of the room facing me. Everyone else is the other group. You’ll sit toward the back of the room. Position the second group at the back of the room so kids are facing front, then return to the front of the room. Simple so far, right?

The group in the back will play the part of little kids who are maybe a year or two old. You can walk, but you sort of toddle around like you’re about to fall down. Let’s see you toddle. Pause. And you’re still sucking your thumb. Let’s see a little thumb-sucking action. Pause. Perfect. You’re great little kids! Keeping acting out what I say along the way. Imagine you’re with your parents, standing in a crowd that’s listening to someone really important: Jesus. Stay there for now. To the first group: The rest of you are Jesus’ disciples—his closest friends. And I’ll play the part of Jesus. You disciples have been with me all day, and you’re tired of people interrupting me...and that happens a lot. When I come to a town, lots of people want to be with me. There are sick people who want to be healed, people with problems who want my help, and always a huge crowd that wants to hear what I say. So sometimes you disciples act like you’re my bodyguards. Stand like you’re bodyguards keeping people away from me. Pause. You want to keep people from interrupting me. At least, unimportant people—like those kids back there. Look at them—still sucking their thumbs. Pause. And they’re waving at us, too. Pause. And now what are they doing? They’re jumping up and down! Pause.

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Jesus Welcomes Child18 1r5-en Luke

You disciples, turn around and face the back of the room. Keep an eye on those kids—they might wander up here and distract me Let me know if they come toddling in this direction. Here’s what the Bible says happened on one particular day. Read aloud Luke 18:15.

Uh-oh. Here come those kids and their parents. They’re walking toward us. Pause. Jesus may not see that as a problem, but you disciples do. So lock elbows to form a wall to keep those kids away. Pause. The Bible says the disciples scolded the parents for bothering Jesus. Wave your fingers at those parents, disciples. Pause.

The Bible says when Jesus saw what was happening, he was upset with his friends. Take a look at this. Show the Bible Story poster. And listen to what Jesus said. Read aloud Luke 18:16-17. You heard it! Better let the kids through, disciples. Pause as kids move toward you, and gently pat the “kids” on their heads. Thank you, actors! Everyone take a seat!

The Heart of the Matter Jesus’ disciples wanted to keep the kids away from Jesus. They didn’t want them to bother Jesus, and they didn’t want them around. Talk about this in your Connect Crews.

When have you felt like someone didn’t want you around? What was that like?

● Give Connect Crews a few minutes to talk. ● Invite a few willing kids to share their answers with the whole group. It can hurt when someone doesn’t want us around. But Jesus is never like that. Jesus loves everyone. (Thank you, Jesus!) And Jesus is always paying attention to us. He cares about us all the time. You have people here at church who care about you, too. Let’s talk about this in Connect Crews. Now’s a great time for Apply-it Options. Choose one—or both—of the following reinforcement activities to support today’s Bible discoveries before the Friendship Finale.

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When is a time you’re especially glad to know that Jesus loves and cares about you? Invite Crew Guides to share first.

● Give Connect Crews several minutes to discuss. Remember, Jesus is always paying attention to you. Jesus knows everything that happens to you. He always cares, and he always loves you!

Elementary | Quarter 1 | Unit 3 | Week 3

Apply-It Options Choose one—or both—of these activities to support kids’ learning after Bible Discovery.

Explore More

Game

Supplies

• Bibles, construction paper, pencils, child-safe scissors, tape, markers

• markers

Distribute Bibles, and help kids find and read Romans 8:38-39 together.

What surprises you about this passage? How does it make you feel?

How amazing! Nothing—absolutely nothing—can separate us from the love of God that’s in Jesus! ● Cut paper into strips that are each about 3 x 11 inches. ● Fold a paper strip into thirds. ● Trace two handprints on a sheet of paper, and cut them out. ● Tape a handprint to each end of the paper strip, fingers facing out. ● In the center of the paper strip, write “Jesus loves everyone!” ● Fold the handprints inward so the fingers intertwine in a hug.

Let’s pretend these markers are priceless treasures. ● Have each Connect Crew pair up with another Connect Crew. ● One Connect Crew surrounds the “treasure,” facing out. ● Another Connect Crew tries to grab the treasure while the first Crew tries to keep them away from it. ● Have Connect Crews switch roles and play again.

How did it feel to be kept away from the treasure?

In our game, people tried to keep you away from the treasure in the center. That’s kind of like how Jesus’ disciples tried to keep children away from him. And Jesus really is a treasure! Thankfully, Jesus loves everyone. (Thank you, Jesus!) With Jesus, we’re always welcome.

Show your craft to someone at home, and tell that person Jesus loves everyone. (Thank you, Jesus!)

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Publishing, Inc.

(John 13:34)

• Take-It-Home Flyers (Unit 3, Week 3) (1 per child)

Frie�dship Fi�ale

• Decker Bible Memory Buddy stickers (1 per child)

op yr ig

Supplies

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”

Invite kids to sit in knee-to-knee circles with their Connect Crews. Decker, our Bible Memory Buddy friend, can help us remember that Jesus loves everyone. (Thank you, Jesus!) You’ll each receive a Decker sticker to help you remember how much Jesus loves you. You can wear it now or collect your stickers at home. Crew Guides will give each person a sticker like this. ● Ask a willing Crew Guide to help you demonstrate the following actions. ● While holding the Decker sticker, Crew Guides stretch arms out wide like a giant welcome, then place a sticker in the child’s cupped hands. ● As they give each child a Bible Memory Buddy sticker, Crew Guides say, “[Child’s name], Jesus loves you!” ● Crew Guides give thumbs-up when finished.

Take-It-Home Flyer Jesus Welcomes Children

Luke 18:15-17

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” (John 13:34)

Jesus loves everyone… and pays attention to us.

Today’s Bible story shows how much love Jesus has for kids—kids just like you! But he doesn’t love just kids; Jesus loves everyone! (Thank you, Jesus!)

Jesus…sees you. There’s not a moment in your day he forgets about you or shuffles you aside because you’re just a kid. To Jesus there’s no such thing as “just” a kid. Back when Jesus was on earth, leaders like Jesus usually ignored kids and talked with just their parents. But when his disciples tried to shoo away children, Jesus told them to knock it off. Not only did Jesus want to spend time with children, he wanted his disciples to be more like them. More like you. He wanted them to trust him like children trusted him. To turn to him like children turned to him. To be his friends like children were his friends. So rest assured: Jesus sees you. He’s listening to you. He loves you. Today and always.

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Try This @ Home Practice your welcoming skills! Look someone in the eye, smile, and say, “I’m glad to see you.” Then listen to whatever the person wants to tell you!

Tell a story about an adult who really listens to you—either now, as a kid, or when you were a child.

Explore More @ Home

WELCOM E

I’d like to read you something about our friend Jesus. As you listen, close your eyes and imagine you’re hanging out with Jesus. Maybe you’re on a couch in your living room or eating lunch at your kitchen table. Pause. Can you picture it? Now listen as I read. ● Read the first section of the Unit 3, Week 3 Take-It-Home Flyer.

How important are kids to Jesus? Read Matthew 21:15-16.

Saying each child’s name in a loving way helps kids simply experience Jesus’ love through you!

Elementary, Quarter 1, Unit 3, Week 3

● Now I’ll give you one of these flyers to help you talk about Jesus’ love in your Connect Crews and at home, too. ● Distribute Take-It-Home Flyers to Crew Guides, and have them share about their own friendship with Jesus as they answer the “Talk Starter” question and then invite kids to talk. ● Kids share prayer requests—things they’d like to tell Jesus—in their Connect Crews. ● Connect Crews pray together. ● Crew Guides distribute Take-It-Home Flyers and follow the directions to help kids fold the paper to “fly” home.

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Elementary | Quarter 1 | Unit 3 | Week 3

Unit 3 | Week 4 Good News for Outsiders

Jesus Talks With a Samarita� Woma�

John 4:1-42

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”

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roup

Publishing, Inc.

(John 13:34)

op yr ig

Bible Point

Jesus loves everyone...and wants us to believe in him.

Purpose

Signs of division between groups of people unfortunately run rampant in our society. Conflict and accusations abound in the news every day. While those situations may feel somewhat removed from us, it’s easy to get caught in the subtle trap of our own isolationism. We have our busy schedules, our friends and coworkers, our routines. There’s not much room for more. Let this lesson remind you that Jesus not only loves everyone, but he also wants everyone to believe in him. That includes the person handing you your coffee, the cashier at the grocery store, and the parents of “that kid” in your child’s class. Be open to letting Jesus use you to spread his good news.

Prayer

Lord, please help me teach kids the truth that absolutely everyone needs you. Please use this lesson to help kids walk away knowing that every person they see is someone Jesus already loves and someone Jesus wants to believe in him. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Prep

Opening Options

Sing & Play

Option Cards*

countdown video*

Pipe Cleaner Surprise: chenille wires, childsafe scissors

Buddy Video DVD*

Music Video DVD*

Decker Bible Memory Buddy poster*

media player

Bible (bookmark John 13:34)

Paper Plate Masks: paper plates, construction paper, scissors, yarn, markers, clear tape, glue sticks

Bible Discovery & Friendship Finale

“Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman” Bible Story poster*

Decker Bible Memory Buddy stickers* (1 per child)

Take-It-Home Flyers* (Unit 3, Week 4) (1 per child)

Bible (bookmark John 4:10, 13-14, 26)

Apply-It Options

Explore More: Bibles, adhesive nametags (1 per child), finetipped markers

Game: foam balls or paper wads (1 for every 3 kids)

* in your Simply Loved Kit

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Opening Options

Pipe Clea�er Surprise

Paper Plate Masks

Supplies • chenille wires, child-safe scissors

Supplies • paper plates, construction paper, child-safe scissors, yarn, markers, clear tape, glue sticks

Make a surprise creation. In today’s Bible story, Jesus surprises someone. When is a time you were surprised?

Create a mask. What’s fun about wearing a mask?

The person Jesus surprised was happy because she learned that Jesus loves everyone.

Masks hide our faces. In today’s Bible story, we’ll discover that we can’t hide anything from Jesus. Jesus knows everything about everyone, and still, Jesus loves everyone!

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Opening Now’s a great time for Opening Options. Choose one—or both—to introduce today’s Bible discoveries.

countdown video (1 minute) Help kids transition, clean up the activities, and sit with Connect Crews. A Connect Crew is a small group of kids with one Crew Guide.

Si�g & Play Hello, friends! Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here! I hope you brought your voices because we’re going to start with a song!

“He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” music video

Bible Point I can’t wait to discover more about how Jesus loves everyone. That’s our Bible Point today, so every time you hear someone say the words Jesus loves everyone, I want you to respond in a certain way. Do what I do! ● Cross hands over your heart and say, “Thank you, Jesus!” ● Repeat several times. Repetition cements learning, so be sure to say today’s Bible Point A LOT. Have fun with it! Kids will love listening for it and responding with “Thank you, Jesus!”

Supplies • Bible • media player • Buddy Video DVD Decker Bible Memory Buddy video (Week 4) • Musc Video DVD “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” music video “Made for This” music video “To God Be the Glory” music video • Decker Bible Memory Buddy poster

I’m so thankful that Jesus loves everyone. (Thank you, Jesus!) Let’s show Jesus we love him by singing another song. We were made to praise him!

“Made for This” music video

s su e J Thank you,

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Decker “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”

Bible Memory Buddy & Verse Let’s check in with our Bible Memory Buddy. It’s Decker the decorator crab. How much do you know about decorator crabs? Let’s find out with a This-or-That Challenge! You’ll hear two fun facts about crabs. It’s up to you to decide which is true—this fact or that one!

Do decorator crabs keep the same shell their whole lives or grow a new shell?

(John 13:34)

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Have everyone make crab hands near their heads to vote for this (keep the same shell) or make crab hands near their feet to vote for that (grow a new shell).

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Make a drumroll sound by patting your thighs or the floor.

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Dramatically give the answer: Decorator crabs grow new shells!

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Watch the Bible Memory Buddy video.

Decker Bible Memory Buddy video (Week 4) Show the Bible. The Bible is God’s true story of love! It’s filled with all kinds of amazing things God wants us to know about him and how we can live in friendship with him. Our Bible Memory Verse is John 13:34. Let’s say the verse together. I’ll say a line, and then you repeat after me. “So now I am giving you a new commandment: (hold hands out like a tray) Love each other. (give a friend’s shoulder a squeeze) Just as I (point up) have loved you, (point forward) you should love each other.” (give another friend’s shoulder a squeeze) (John 13:34) I love God’s Word! It helps me remember that Jesus loves everyone. (Thank you, Jesus!) Jesus loves us so much, he gave his life for us. Let’s sing about that!

“To God Be the Glory” music video

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Elementary | Quarter 1 | Unit 3 | Week 4

Bible Discovery Circle Up & Connect

Let’s circle up and spend a little time getting to know each other in smaller groups called Connect Crews.

Supplies • Bible • “Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman” Bible Story poster

● Have kids form Connect Crews with one helper—or Crew Guide—per group. ● Invite kids to sit in knee-to-knee circles with their Connect Crews. ● Have kids give their Crew Guides and each other wavy high-fives. ● Have kids take turns saying their names and answering this question. Crew Guides go first.

What’s your favorite thing to do with friends?

The Heart of the Matter Choose a color you’re wearing that only some of the kids are wearing. For the purposes of this lesson, we said green. But choose whatever color you want as long as only some kids are wearing it.

I can’t wait to share today’s Bible story with you! But…well…this is a little awkward…but…I can’t share it with all of you. Just with the people wearing green. If you’re wearing green, come on up! If you’re not, well, sorry. Pause as kids wearing green come forward. Then continue speaking to everyone. The thing is, I like people who wear green. Motion to the kids wearing green. They’re just like me. They look like me, don’t you think? All that beautiful green. Plus, they think like I do, especially about important things like what color to wear. No offense or anything, but I just don’t quite trust people who aren’t wearing green. I usually don’t even talk to them. Gather the kids wearing green into a huddle with you. Whisper together about anything, such as what movies they like, their favorite sports, favorite pizza toppings, and so on. As you whisper, periodically stand up and look at the other kids briefly. Then go back to whispering for a total of about two minutes before speaking to the whole group again. You all look kind of lost out there. Maybe just this one time I can talk to everyone, not just the people wearing green. Have kids wearing green sit back down with their Connect Crews.

If you weren’t wearing green, how did it feel to be left out by me? Talk in your Crews.

If you were wearing green, what was that like? Call out your answers. In today’s Bible story, we’ll meet someone who was used to being left out— until she met Jesus, that is. Let’s see what happened.

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Experience the Bible Story I’ll need your help with this story. Hop up and do what I do. One day Jesus and his disciples were walking through the region of Samaria. (walk in place) They kept walking, and walking, and walking, and walking some more. (keep walking in place) Finally, they decided to take a break. (stop walking) They were tired. (stretch and yawn) And they were hungry. (rub your belly) Jesus sent his disciples to a nearby town to buy some food. (point into the distance) Then Jesus sat down by a well to wait. (pretend to look at a wristwatch) Soon a Samaritan woman came to the well to get some water. (walk in place as if carrying a bucket) Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” He must have been thirsty from all that walking. (hold throat as if thirsty) The woman was surprised! (make surprised face) Usually Jews refused to have anything to do with Samaritans. (place hands in front of you, facing away) The woman said to Jesus, “You’re a Jew, and I’m a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” (shrug shoulders as if confused) Read aloud John 4:10. Show the Bible Story poster. “But sir, you don’t have a rope or bucket, and this well is very deep,” said the woman. (pretend to pull a heavy bucket from a well) Read aloud John 4:13-14. “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water!” (bend one knee and pretend to plead)

Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman -42 John 4:1

Jesus said, “Go and get your husband.” (point into the distance) “I don’t have a husband,” the woman said. (hold out empty hands) Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have

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Elementary | Quarter 1 | Unit 3 | Week 4

a husband—for you have had five husbands. You told the truth!” (hold up five fingers) “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” (point to head) Read aloud John 4:26. Just then the disciples came back and scolded Jesus for talking to a Samaritan woman. (shake index finger) Meanwhile, the woman believed Jesus. She ran back to the village, telling everyone, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! I think he might be the Messiah!” (run in place) Lots of people came from the village to listen to Jesus, and lots of them believed in Jesus as the Messiah! (give high-fives) Thanks for your help! You can sit down with your Crews now. In this Bible story, Jesus’ disciples didn’t want him to even talk to the Samaritan woman. Have kids talk in their Crews. Crew Guides can go first.

When is a time you’ve seen people not want to have anything to do with another group of people?

Has there ever been a time in your life when someone didn’t want to be

friends with you, even though they didn’t know you? What was that like?

It’s hurtful when people don’t want to be our friends. In our Bible story, the Jews didn’t want to be friends with the Samaritans because they were different from each other. And feelings like that still happen in our world today. But Jesus isn’t like that. Jesus loves everyone! (Thank you, Jesus!) And Jesus wants everyone to believe in him.

How would the ending of this story have been different if Jesus hadn’t

talked to the Samaritan woman? Call out your answers. Welcome several responses from the whole group.

If Jesus had refused to talk to the Samaritan woman, she would never have known that he’s the Messiah. She was one of the first people to believe that Jesus was special—that he was God’s Son! And she would never have run to the village to tell all the other people about him, so they would never have believed in Jesus. That’s why it’s important to tell everyone about Jesus—because everyone needs him.

What’s one thing about Jesus you could tell a friend or neighbor? Crew Guides, you can share first. Pause.

It’s so important to tell others about Jesus. Jesus wants everyone to follow him because Jesus loves everyone! (Thank you, Jesus!)

Now’s a great time for Apply-it Options. Choose one—or both—of the following reinforcement activities to support today’s Bible discoveries before the Friendship Finale.

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Apply-It Options Choose one—or both—of these activities to support kids’ learning after Bible Discovery.

Explore More

Game

Supplies

• Bibles, adhesive nametags (1 per child), fine-tipped markers

• foam balls or paper wads (1 for every 3 kids)

Distribute Bibles, and help kids find and read John 13:34-35 together. Your love for other people shows that you follow Jesus. Make and decorate a nametag for yourself as a follower of Jesus.

Do you think people know right away

from your words and actions that you’re a follower of Jesus? What could you do better to show your love for Jesus?

Jesus loves everyone. (Thank you, Jesus!) His love isn’t based on your actions, and you can’t earn it. But the more you get to know Jesus, the more you’ll want to follow him.

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Form trios and play Keep Away. One player stands in the middle, and the other two players toss a ball back and forth, trying to keep it away from the player in the middle. Change positions so everyone gets a chance to be in the middle.

What was it like to be in the middle? In our Bible story, Jesus’ disciples didn’t understand why Jesus would talk to a Samaritan woman. But if Jesus hadn’t talked to the Samaritan woman, she and lots of other people wouldn’t have believed in him. Jesus doesn’t want anyone to be kept away from him, because Jesus loves everyone. (Thank you, Jesus!)

Supplies

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“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”

Have kids sit in knee-to-knee circles with their Connect Crews.

• Decker Bible Memory Buddy stickers (1 per child) • Take-It-Home Flyers (Unit 3, Week 4) (1 per child)

Decker, our Bible Memory Buddy friend, can help us remember that Jesus loves everyone. (Thank you, Jesus!) You’ll each receive a Decker sticker to help you remember Jesus’ love for you throughout your week. You can wear it now or keep it for later. Crew Guides will give each person a sticker like this. ● Ask a willing person to help you demonstrate the following actions. ● Have the person stand with his or her back to you. Tap the person on the shoulder to turn around, as if you were Jesus tapping the Samaritan woman to ask for a drink. Then place the Decker sticker in his or her open hands. It’s like turning to Jesus! ● As they give each child a Bible Memory Buddy sticker in the same way, Crew Guides say, “[Child’s name], Jesus loves everyone, and that means you.” ● Crew Guides give thumbs-up when finished. Take-It-Home Flyer

Saying each child’s name in a loving way helps kids simply experience Jesus’ love through you!

Jesus didn’t reject the Samaritan woman like his disciples wanted him to. Jesus never rejects anyone! That’s because Jesus loves everyone. (Thank you, Jesus!) No matter how you feel, and no matter what’s happening in your life, please remember that Jesus loves you. Always and forever. He’ll never reject you, he’ll never leave you, and he’ll always love you. I’d like to read you something about our friend Jesus. As you listen, turn away from your Crew members. Pause as kids move. Now imagine your friend Jesus is behind you. Pause. Close your eyes and listen as I read about Jesus, then turn around to join your Crew members to show that Jesus loves everyone.

Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman

John 4:1-42

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” (John 13:34)

Jesus loves everyone… and wants us to believe in him. Sometimes it’s hard to believe in Jesus. After all, you can’t see him. It would be so much simpler if he’d just stayed on earth so you could stop by and chat with him. That would have helped everyone believe in him. But Jesus didn’t do that. Instead, he asks you to believe even though you can’t see him. You can talk to him—that’s what prayer is all about—but everything else you take on faith. You see the beauty of his creation. You see how knowing him changes people. You watch him work in the world. There are lots of ways to know he’s real, but if sometimes you wonder...talk with him about it. Tell him you’re not sure, and ask for help. He’ll give you what you need. Because he totally believes in you.

arter Talk St

Why do you believe Jesus is real?

Try This @ Home Sit on a chair. Wait—you can’t because your body is mostly...nothing. Atoms making up your body are 99.99 percent empty space. Same for the chair. So you’ll simply fall through the chair, right? Wrong—because electrons orbiting your atoms push against one another making you and the chair feel solid. You have to take all that on faith, just like you take so many things you can’t see on faith. Jesus asks you to take him on faith, too—faith that will be rewarded with eternal life!

Explore More @ Home

One of Jesus’ own disciples at first didn’t believe Jesus would come back to life. And some people Jesus met only sort of believed at first. Jesus still loved them! Read John 20:24-29 and Mark 9:20-24. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc. Permission to photocopy this page granted for local church use. | group.com/SimplyLoved

Elementary, Quarter 1, Unit 3, Week 4

● Read the first section of the Unit 3, Week 4 Take-It-Home Flyer. ● Now I’ll give you one of these flyers to help you talk about Jesus’ love in your Connect Crews and at home, too. ● Distribute Take-It-Home Flyers to Crew Guides, and have them share about their own friendship with Jesus as they discuss the “Talk Starter” question together and then invite kids to share. ● Kids share prayer requests—things they’d like to tell Jesus—in their Connect Crews. ● Connect Crews pray together. ● Crew Guides distribute Take-It-Home Flyers and follow the directions to help kids fold the paper to “fly” home.

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Keep your Sundays simple—and your kids delighted—with Simply Loved. This Elementary Leader Guide provides a step-by-step, simple-to-follow plan for Simply Loved Quarter 1 lessons. Featuring memorable, hands-on, friendship-focused activities, each lesson easily adapts to your unique Sunday school format while guiding kids on a foundational, Jesus-centered journey through God’s story of love.

This quarter’s Bible discoveries: Unit/Week

Unit Theme

God Creates the World (Genesis 1:1-25)

Unit 1/Week 1 Unit 1/Week 2 Unit 1/Week 3

Focus: God always loves us…and gives us all we need to live. God Creates People (Genesis 1:26–2:4) In the Beginning— God always loves us.

Unit 2/Week 3

Focus: God always loves us…and gives us do-overs.

Unit Theme

Focus: We can trust God…even when we don’t understand. Isaac Is Born (Genesis 18:1-15; 21:1-7) God Has a Plan— We can trust God.

Unit 3/Week 3 Unit 3/Week 4

Focus: We can trust God…because God keeps his promises. Jacob Steals Esau’s Blessing (Genesis 25:19-26; 27) Focus: We can trust God…because he’s in control. Jacob and Esau Make Peace (Genesis 32:3-12, 22-32; 33:1-11) Focus: We can trust God…to help us get along.

Unit Theme

Lesson Theme Shepherds Hear About Jesus’ Birth (Luke 2:8-20)

Unit 3/Week 1 Unit 3/Week 2

Lesson Theme God Calls Abram (Genesis 12:1-8; 15:1-6)

Unit 2/Week 4

Unit/Week

Sin Enters God’s World (Genesis 3:1-24) A Flood Covers the Earth (Genesis 6:9–9:17)

Unit 2/Week 1 Unit 2/Week 2

Focus: God always loves us…and gives us a special purpose. Focus: God always loves us…even when we want to be in charge.

Unit 1/Week 4

Unit/Week

Lesson Theme

Focus: Jesus loves everyone…even if we feel like outsiders. Good News for Outsiders—Jesus loves everyone.

Jesus Befriends Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10) Focus: Jesus loves everyone…and sees our potential. Jesus Welcomes Children (Luke 18:15-17) Focus: Jesus loves everyone…and pays attention to us. Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman (John 4:1-42) Focus: Jesus loves everyone…and wants us to believe in him.

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