The Greatest Commandment
Hi kids! At home, we obey our parents, make our beds and clean our rooms because our parents know best. In school, we know to raise our hands and wait patiently for our turn to speak. We wait in line to buy groceries at the store and stop at red lights to keep everyone on the road safe. We follow a lot of different rules in life because we know they are good for us. Like our parents and teachers, God knows best. He gave us two rules to follow, the most important rules of all: Love God with all your heart and love your neighbour as yourself. This means that above all, we must love and care for others. In this issue of Just for Kids, you’ll read about junior soldiers! In The Salvation Army, we enrol junior soldiers in a special ceremony at church where they make a promise to always love God, follow His rules and show His love to others. If you are interested in becoming a junior soldier, talk to your corps officer!
Your friend, Abby
Matthew 22:34-40
t the time when the Bible was written, the A Pharisees were religious leaders who cared about rules and the law. They challenged Jesus and tested Him with a question. “Teacher,” one Pharisee said, “You tell us to obey God’s commandments, but what is the most important one?” Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with your soul. Love Him with all your mind. This is the first and most important commandment. And the second is similar. Love your neighbour as you love yourself. All of God’s rules are based on these two commandments.”
Help the soldier get to the castle. ISSU
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Twins
Which two are identical?
The Lord’s Army!
What’s Happening, Canada and Bermuda?
In Winnipeg, Heritage Park Temple enrolled six junior soldiers. Let’s congratulate these awesome kids on their commitment to be a soldier in God’s Army! Front, from left, Deacon Moulton, Harrison Howard, Luke Hoeft, Rosie Allen, Isabella Akpan and Erva Deacon, junior soldiers. Back, from left, Paul Nelson, holding the flag; Captains Tina and Josh Howard, corps officers; and Debbie Clarke, junior soldier sergeant.
Soldier Word Search A P P Y J R P U K E
T R R G S R C J H V
R E M Z A G W E W O
U K C Y Q T S D J L
ARMY LOVE SOLDIER CHRISTIAN
S S O L D I E R O P
T A W C M G F W F G
O Q B O B W H V F B
PRAY TRUST
A O R W V M V Q K A
Y P R Y G S B W F I
N A I T S I R H C J
GOD PROMISE
The Junior Soldier Promise 31-08/06/22 Just for Kids is a Ready to Explore resource, published weekly by The Salvation Army, Canada and Bermuda, 2 Overlea Blvd, Toronto, ON, M4H 1P4. Phone: (416) 422-6119; fax: (416) 422-6217; email: justforkids@salvationarmy.ca. Brian Peddle, General; Commissioner Floyd Tidd, territorial commander; Geoff Moulton, editor-in-chief; Abbigail Oliver, editor; Rivonny Luchas, designer. International Headquarters, 101 Queen Victoria Street, London, England, EC4P 4EP. Subscription for one year, Canada $12 (includes GST/HST); USA $15; foreign $17. Agreement No 40064794. All Scripture references from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version, unless otherwise stated. Illustrations: stock.Adobe.com and gettyimages.ca unless otherwise stated. ISSN 2368-626X
Every junior soldier makes a promise that they will trust in God, pray and read their Bible. They promise to think, speak and act as a Christian, to not participate in harmful activities and to tell others about God’s amazing love. The junior soldier signs their Junior Soldier Promise and receives a special pin, declaring that they are a soldier of God.
Which two watering cans are the same?
Hi kids! In the spring, I started my very own garden. I planted cucumbers, peas, tomatoes, raspberries, strawberries and tons of watermelons. Each plant began as just a seed. Then, the seeds started to sprout. They grew tall stems and, leaf by leaf, they turned into a plant. Now my plants give me lots of yummy fruits and vegetables to eat. I’ve never gardened before, but I made sure to give my plants everything they need to live, such as water, rich soil and sunlight. It was a lot of work, and that was only one garden! Can you imagine creating the entire earth? In the very beginning, God created the earth and heavens. He gave us water, land, air and sunlight. Then He created vegetation—trees and plants that would produce food and nourishment for us, just like my little vegetable garden. God is smart. He put everything on earth that we would need to survive, including each other. He put humans on earth to love and care for one another and to care for the earth that He created.
Your friend, Abby
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God the Creator
What do you call a cow that eats your grass?
Genesis 1-2
n the beginning, God created the heavens and earth. The earth was formless, only made Ilight of water and darkness. God said, “Let there be light,” and gave us light. He separated the from the darkness so that we would have daytime and nighttime. Then God said, “Let there be sky!” and He separated the waters, creating sky above it. And God said, “Let there be land!” and He let dry ground appear. He then said, “Let the land produce vegetation: plants and trees that produce all kinds of fruit.” God created the sun, the moon and stars to light the way day and night. Then He created animals. “Let there be living creatures in the water and birds in the sky. Let there be living creatures on land, creatures that move along the ground and wild animals, too!”
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A lawn-mooe
What kind of bean never grows in a garden?
ISSU
And once all of this was in place, God created humans, first Adam and then Eve. He blessed them and said, “I give you everything that I have created—the fish, the birds, every animal, plant and tree. You are responsible for everything I have created. Look after all of My creation.” God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. The heavens and earth were completed, and God rested from all His hard work.
A jellybean
Creating the World
ADAM ANIMALS CREATION EARTH EVE GOD HEAVENS HUMAN LAND LIGHT C O
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H R N O V U A E M Z U A E Q E N M A S L G A I
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F U V B G I
H T R A E K L S A D A M I F U D Z G S F Y
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G R T M T U H E A L Y N F D
L D T G L O S G O Z N J O L
P M R Z
Just for Kids is a Ready to Explore resource, published weekly by The Salvation Army, Canada and Bermuda, 2 Overlea Blvd, Toronto, ON, M4H 1P4. Phone: (416) 422-6119; fax: (416) 422-6217; email: justforkids@salvationarmy.ca. Brian Peddle, General; Commissioner Floyd Tidd, territorial commander; Geoff Moulton, editor-in-chief; Abbigail Oliver, editor; Rivonny Luchas, designer. International Headquarters, 101 Queen Victoria Street, London, England, EC4P 4EP. Subscription for one year, Canada $12 (includes GST/HST); USA $15; foreign $17. Agreement No 40064794. All Scripture references from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version, unless otherwise stated. Illustrations: stock.Adobe.com and gettyimages.ca unless otherwise stated. ISSN 2368-626X
When God created the world and everything in it, He put people in charge of looking after His creation. What do you think this means? How can we do our best to take care of God’s world?
Fill in the blanks so that every row, column and 4x4 box contains each of these items:
32-08/13/22
Picture Sudoku Help the bees get through the hive.
Hi kids! When God made our world, it was perfect. Adam and Eve, who lived in the Garden of Eden, had everything they needed. God gave Adam and Eve instructions for how to live there, but they didn’t listen to Him. This meant they had to leave His beautiful garden. Sometimes it’s hard to do what’s right, but you can ask God to help you. As the Bible says, “Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track” (Proverbs 3:6 The Message). And remember that God loves you, no matter what!
Adam and Eve Disobey God Genesis 3 ISSU
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dam and Eve loved the garden home God made for them. While Eve was working one day, a snake spoke to her.
Eve listened to what the snake said. She decided to eat the fruit and gave some to Adam. Later that day, when God came to the garden, Adam and Eve hid. They had never wanted to hide from God before. “Where are you?” God asked. “What have you done?”
Your friend, Abby
Adam told God that Eve gave him the fruit. Eve told God that the snake tricked her. By disobeying God, Adam and Eve brought suffering and death into the world. They could no longer live in the perfect garden God made for them.
What comes next?
But God promised to make a way for them to come back to Him. God sent Jesus, His Son, to earth. When Jesus died and rose again, He defeated death. Now, if we believe in Jesus, we can live forever with Him. Adapted from Boring Bible, Ballistic Beginnings by Andy Robb. Used with permission.
Find 10 Differences
In the Garden of Eden
Adam and Eve Word Search Why was Adam a famous runner?
At what time of day was Adam created? A little before Eve
Just for Kids is a Ready to Explore resource, published weekly by The Salvation Army, Canada and Bermuda, 2 Overlea Blvd, Toronto, ON, M4H 1P4. Phone: (416) 422-6119; fax: (416) 422-6217; email: justforkids@salvationarmy.ca. Brian Peddle, General; Commissioner Floyd Tidd, territorial commander; Geoff Moulton, editor-in-chief; Abbigail Oliver, editor; Rivonny Luchas, designer. International Headquarters, 101 Queen Victoria Street, London, England, EC4P 4EP. Subscription for one year, Canada $12 (includes GST/HST); USA $15; foreign $17. Agreement No 40064794. All Scripture references from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version, unless otherwise stated. Illustrations: stock.Adobe.com and gettyimages.ca unless otherwise stated. ISSN 2368-626X
st in Because he was fir the human race
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ADAM
EVE
GARDEN
SNAKE
DISOBEY
FRUIT
JESUS
TRICK
F R U I T P D U
B M A D A I B E
F A E H S G D H
S V S O O A R K
E N B U O R G C
P E A V S D U I
Y A R K G E L R
I Z R Q E N J T
Hi kids!
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If you’ve ever moved to a new house, a new city or a new school, you know that it can sometimes be scary. I moved into a new house last year— two hours away from my previous home! I was worried about leaving my friends. It’s hard to go someplace new and unfamiliar. But even when we’re facing uncertainty, we can trust that God has a big plan for our lives. Jeremiah 29:11 says: “ ‘I know the plans I have for you,’ announces the Lord. ‘I want you to enjoy success. I do not plan to harm you. I will give you hope for the years to come.’ “ In the Bible, there was a man named Abram who was called by God to go on a long journey. Abram was 75 years old when God asked him to leave behind his home to walk far, far away to a new place, bringing his whole family and all his animals with him. But God promised Abram that he would have a good life in his new home, and God always keeps His promises.
Your friend, Abby
God Calls Abram to a New Home
Genesis 12
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bram was a man who loved and obeyed God. One day God said to him, “Abram, I want you to leave your home. I will give you a new land. I will show you how to get there. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you. All nations on earth will be blessed because of you.” So Abram left, just as the Lord had told him. Abram and his nephew, Lot, had many sheep, goats, cows, camels and donkeys. They also had many helpers to take care of all their animals. Everyone worked hard to get ready for the move. And then Abram, his wife, Sarah, Lot and all their helpers and animals started out on their long trip to the new land. Every day they walked and walked. Finally, after many weeks, God told Abram, “This place will be your new home.” Abram and his helpers put up their tents. Then Abram built a special place to pray to God. Abram thanked God for bringing him, his family and all the helpers safely to the new land called Canaan. God was very good to Abram and his family.
Co n n e c t t h e Dot s
Did You Know?
Abram Travels to Canaan
When you look up at the night sky, you’re seeing stars that have been there for a long, long time— even before Jesus was born. The average star is between one and 10 billion years old!
Count the Stars!
Find 10 Differences
God had a big plan for Abram. When Abram was sad that he had no children, God told him to count the stars in the sky because that’s how many children he would have. How many stars can you count in this issue of Just for Kids?
34-08/27/22
What kind of stars wear sunglasses? Movie stars!
Just for Kids is a Ready to Explore resource, published weekly by The Salvation Army, Canada and Bermuda, 2 Overlea Blvd, Toronto, ON, M4H 1P4. Phone: (416) 422-6119; fax: (416) 422-6217; email: justforkids@salvationarmy.ca. Brian Peddle, General; Commissioner Floyd Tidd, territorial commander; Geoff Moulton, editor-in-chief; Abbigail Oliver, editor; Rivonny Luchas, designer. International Headquarters, 101 Queen Victoria Street, London, England, EC4P 4EP. Subscription for one year, Canada $12 (includes GST/HST); USA $15; foreign $17. Agreement No 40064794. All Scripture references from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version, unless otherwise stated. Illustrations: stock.Adobe.com and gettyimages.ca unless otherwise stated. ISSN 2368-626X