Leader’s manual AD4 Living in God’s family Jesus’ teaching from Matthew
Contents How it works
4
Unit introduction
6
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
9
The people God blesses
Matthew 5:1–12; 8:1–3
Showing the light
Matthew 5:14–16
15
Anger and making peace
Matthew 5:9,21–26,38–42
23
Love for others, giving to others
Matthew 5:43–6:4
33
Prayer, God hears his children
Matthew 6:5–8; 7:7–11
41
The Lord’s prayer
Matthew 6:9–13
51
Don’t worry
Matthew 6:25–34
59
Being humble before God
Matthew 18:1–5
69
Forgiving others
Matthew 18:21–35
79
Jesus birth, the wise men
Matthew 1:18–2:12
85
Adventure
Adventure
How it works How the sessions are structured Bible passage: All sessions are Bible-focused
Aim This is the ‘big idea’ to be taught during the session. It is child-oriented.
Outcomes These statements break down the aim into ‘do-able’ chunks. There are generally only three, so that the leader can keep them in mind and check up later whether or not they were achieved. They are broken up into: • knowledge – information, concepts, beliefs • understanding – more personal ways of grasping the concepts in the session • life application – ways of making links between knowledge and children’s lives, and reflecting on what kind of change might happen in response to God’s word.
Memory verse This verse is usually based on the CEV Bible and will be taught during the session.
Notes
Get ready
These notes for the leader give Bible context and background. There are hints regarding the theology of the passage, where it fits in salvation history and how it may properly be applied to both leader and child. There might also be comments about the management of the session content and special comments when needed about visual aids and activities.
This section gives hints about important preparation to be done before the session starts.
Leader’s prayer This section links to the aim and outcomes, mentioning the way this session will actually call for a response from the child and make a difference in their lives.
Start up During this time activities occur that introduce the theme, aim and ideas of the session. There may be a few activities to choose from. Each activity has a specific purpose. Your choice of activities will often depend on the children in your group and the space available.
Gear
Chat time
A summary is given at the beginning of the session of all the equipment needed by the leader and when it will be used. Some items will be given as optional. The gear needed for the Start up and concluding Activities is given with the particular activity. Leaders should choose these in advance to ensure that they have all that is needed. It is advisable to try out any unfamiliar activity before the session to make sure it works.
This short section is when the activities are over and the leader and children reflect on what the activities were about and how they lead into the Bible focus time. This will often involve a few open-ended questions.
Adventure
Bible focus
Music spot Various songs, on readily available CDs, are suggested to link into the session and to provide a high-interest flow to the activities.
Links ?
Links are made with the previous sessions. Connections with life are raised and the children are encouraged to discuss ‘real life’ situations they face. We will raise the issue here and it will be drawn to a conclusion during Bringing it together.
NOTE: Sometimes during Bible focus time there will be a special comment to the leader about an issue that may come up during the session.
Bringing it together
Teaching time This is the body of the session. It involves teaching and learning activities. The story time has as its central focus the explanation of the Bible text in an age-appropriate way so that the aim of the session is reached. The activities ensure that all the session outcomes are achieved.
This section is really important. The leader is encouraged to allow enough time for this as connections are discussed that impact the children’s lives.
What the leader actually says to the children is presented in bold text. Directions to the leader are in normal type. In this part of the session the children are helped to understand the Bible. Concepts and activities are designed to be age-appropriate. The activities are designed to reinforce this by enabling the teacher to revise the main concepts and test the children’s recall. Application is an important part of this section and it is done carefully, while being true to the passage and to the developmental needs of the children. Adventure 5-7s builds on what the child has learnt in Serious play 3-5s as well as at home and in school Religious Education classes. Foundations continue to be laid for further knowledge and understanding. Regardless of the stage of their faith, they can be called on to respond and can be encouraged to know how God’s word challenges them to love and trust Jesus as their Saviour and Lord. This icon shows where in the session the Bible will be read to the children so they can listen to and interact with the word of God.
There may be open-ended questions that encourage children to respond in their own terms. We are aiming for honest responses from the children. The Memory verse is often taught during this part of the session.
Prayer This will normally follow Bringing it together and allows time to pray for the issues highlighted by the children. Leaders will model prayer and also teach children how to pray – both for themselves and for others, and for the issues in the wider world.
Activities After the more formal learning time the leader is encouraged to choose one or more of the activities included in each session as a way of reinforcing the main learning ideas. This also allows the children to interact with the adult leaders and their fellow group members. It provides time for the leader to talk informally with the children to hear their responses to the learning. NOTE: The Links in each session help children to recall what they have already learnt. Leaders may wish to include a reflective session also.
Think about it
Think ahead
Here the leader is encouraged to think through issues that occurred in the session and reflect on possible strategies for the future.
This is a very brief indication of what the leader will need to plan ahead for next session. It may involve equipment, people and so on.
Adventure
Living in God’s family
Unit introduction
Jesus’ teaching from Matthew
Unit aim To help the children to understand that God sent Jesus to teach us how we are to live as members of God’s family, in our relationships with God and with others.
Unit outcomes By the end of this unit the children will: • know that God sent Jesus to save his people from their sins • know that God promises blessings for those who love and obey him • know that we should act like God and show his love and forgiveness to others • understand that Jesus welcomes children into his kingdom • be encouraged to pray to God about their concerns and needs • be encouraged to follow Jesus and live God’s way.
Memory verses Sessions 1–3 God blesses those people who depend only on him. They belong to the kingdom of heaven! Matthew 5:3 (CEV) Sessions 4–5 You must always act like your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:48 (CEV) Sessions 6–7 Our Father in heaven, help us to honour your name. Matthew 6:9b (CEV)
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Timeline Bi
Where this fits in Jesus’ ministry
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Sessions 8–10 The people I treasure most are the humble – they depend only on me. Isaiah 66:2b (CEV)
We encourage the children to understand that Jesus, our King, wants us to share in his kingdom, both now and forever. As they learn about the kingdom, they will see that both the King and the kingdom are worth knowing. The children will be encouraged to listen to Jesus, to worship and praise him, and above all, to accept his gift of friendship. Adventure
Notes
The Lords prayer (Matthew 6:9–13) is studied and the children will see that we can approach our heavenly Father and be confident that he knows our needs. Forgiveness (verse 12) is also dealt with from the point of view that God’s people should act like their Father in heaven (see Matthew 5:48).
Bible background This unit largely focuses on the teaching of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount with additional teaching from Matthew 18. The Sermon on the Mount is the name commonly given to the teaching of Jesus found in Matthew 5–7. The teaching is largely directed at those who are followers of Christ, and not to the world. Care needs to be taken that this teaching is not seen as a set of rules to be followed to gain entrance into the kingdom, but is a set of behaviours that should flow as a result of being a member of God’s kingdom through faith in Christ. The first session deals with two of the Beatitudes: God blesses those who want to obey him (5:6) and God blesses merciful people (5:7). It is important to note that God does not show mercy because we show mercy, or that God blesses us with salvation because of our obedience. However, mercy and obedience should be the outcome of gratitude to God who ‘loved us first’ (1 John 4:19). This thought of acting out of gratitude to God underpins much of the teaching in these sessions. Sessions 2–4 largely deal with our relationship to others as a result of being members of God’s family. The second session deals with Christians being like light for the world. The children are challenged to live God’s way so that others will come to know God and praise him. The third and fourth sessions look specifically at ways we may live as Christ’s disciples. Jesus called his disciples to a righteousness that surpassed the outward observance of the law (see Matthew 5:17). The children will be taught that not only do we need to take care with our actions, but also our attitudes, especially in regards to anger, loving others and giving. The children will be lead towards the understanding that Jesus’ disciples should live God’s way here on Earth because they are already members of his kingdom. The theme of the next three sessions is prayer. Jesus made it possible for believers to be in relationship with God, and part of that relationship means that we may talk to God in prayer. In Session 5 the children will see that Jesus prayed to God and that as his children, we may also pray to our Father in heaven who gives good things to his children.
In Session 8 the children’s attention is drawn to God’s care for his creation and to the fact that God will do more for his people. Verse 30 shows that worry is incompatible with faith in Christ. In Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 18, the children will see that greatness in God’s kingdom is not based upon any worldly qualification but is found in trust in Jesus and dependence upon God. Jesus’ example of the need for humility as a child as a prerequisite for entrance to the kingdom of heaven is examined (Matthew 18:3,4). The story of the unforgiving servant is investigated from the standpoint that God’s people are to act like him. Once again, this flows out of relationship with Jesus. Throughout all the sessions, the children will be drawn to look at the actions and attitude of Jesus and will see that he acted like his Father on all occasions (see John 8:28b). The unit is completed by a session dealing with the Christmas story as seen through the eyes of Matthew. This session makes the point that Jesus came to tell people the good news of God’s kingdom.
Faith development Children grow and develop physically, emotionally, cognitively and spiritually at different rates and in different ways. This unit aims to encourage growth in their relationship with Jesus, the Son of God. No matter what the stage of their faith development, they can be challenged to respond to God in Christ and to live in the way he wants us to. Faith has been described as having four aspects: believing, imagining, trusting and doing. (See Children Finding Faith by Francis Bridger, SU, England, 2000, available from CEP.) Believing involves having faith in the truth of the gospel and a reliance on the promises of God in Christ. Imagining involves creatively exploring our beliefs. Trusting involves the relational side of faith. Doing is the way we act as an outworking of our faith. Children, like adults, benefit from learning approaches that involve exploring faith from each of these four aspects. These sessions have been written with this in mind.
Adventure
Special features
Activities
The Leader’s pack includes:
Children all learn in a variety of ways. Adventure 5-7s is for five to seven year olds who are beginner readers and actively learn through a range of activities. These have been selected to provide variety and to cater for the preferred learning styles of all children.
• the Leader’s manual with ten sessions • eight full-colour A4 Leader’s posters (cut from four A3 posters) • two full-colour A3 Leader’s posters • four full-colour A3 Memory verse posters • a sample of the full-colour children’s A3 Pop-up card • a set of photocopiable masters • a variety of Visual aids and activities for each session.
When choosing the activities you will include in each session, consider the number of children in your group, their individual skills and the space you have available. Try to encourage a wide range of activities so that the different learning skills of the children will be catered for.
Jesus’ teaching Each session the children will act as disciples of Jesus and listen to teaching from the Bible. It is recommended that a team leader or church member dresses as Jesus each session for this segment. However, you may act this part yourself. It is suggested that the children wear a simple headdress each session to add to the atmosphere. This can be made simply from a small towel and strip of material.
At this stage children are learning how to relate to God through his word, the Bible, and also through prayer. It is important that the leaders model this behaviour and encourage the children to follow their personal example. A Memory verse activity is included in each session and is presented in an interactive way so that the children will begin to build their own personal store of Bible verses.
Photocopiable masters
Each sessions Bible Focus is concluded with the children looking at specific examples from Jesus’ ministry on earth that reinforce the concepts covered during the lesson.
The set of photocopiable masters include Memory verse ideas, templates for craft activities and worksheets for children who finish more quickly than some of the others in the group. Purchase of the Leader’s pack entitles you to make one copy for each member of your group.
Footprints
Music spot
As a way of revising and reinforcing the concepts taught in this unit it is recommended that you do the Footprints activity at the end of each session. Refer to For extra impact on page 10.
Often the music helps children to remember the significant learning that has taken place in the session. CDs that will appeal to children include:
Looking at Jesus
Pop-ups The children’s Pop-up is a series of pictures designed to be used in making a diorama. Each child will need a manila folder. Each sesison the children will add an item to their diorama to remind them of the Bible teaching. You will need to store the folders each session.
• • • • • • • • •
Promises, promises, CEP Earth movers, CEP Practise being Godly, Colin Buchanan Follow the Saviour, Colin Buchanan Jesus rocks the world, Colin Buchanan Baa baa doo baa baa, Colin Buchanan The King, the snake and the promise, Emu Music Lovely jubbly, Doug Horley Whoopah wahey!, Doug Horley
These CDs are available from CEP.
Adventure
1
The people God
blesses Matthew 5:1–12; 8:1–3
Aim To help the children understand that Jesus showed us how to live by loving his father and showing love to others.
Outcomes By the end of this session the children will: • know that God wants us to depend on him and obey him • understand that Jesus showed us how people in his family should live when he was kind to the man with leprosy • discuss and dramatise ways in which they can show kindness to others.
Memory verse God blesses those people who depend only on him. They belong to the kingdom of heaven! Matthew 5:3 (CEV)
Notes
who want to obey him (verse 6) and those people who are merciful or kind (verse 7).
Read Matthew 5:1–12; 8:1–3 Jesus began the Sermon on the Mount – probably the most influential lesson ever taught – with an outline of how radically different life is inside God’s kingdom compared to outside. We must understand the impact of Jesus’ teaching on the original audience. Large crowds followed Jesus, causing him to withdraw with his disciples (Matthew 5:1,2). The Bible states that ‘He taught them like someone with authority, and not like their teachers of the Law of Moses’ (Matthew 7:29). Jesus introduced new teaching to people other than the twelve disciples, that looked ahead to the period after his death, resurrection and ascension when the kingdom of heaven was to be established. His teaching called on his hearers to cease relying on the Mosaic Law for their acceptance by God (an impossible task because of human sinfulness) but rather to accept God’s gracious and unmerited saving work that he was about to complete on the cross. The Beatitudes are guidelines for how Christ’s followers should live under his rule as they await his return. This session deals with three of the Beatitudes: God blesses those who depend on him (verse 3), those
God does not show mercy because we show mercy, nor does God bless us with salvation because of our obedience. However, mercy and obedience should be the outcome of gratitude to God who ‘loved us first’ (1 John 4:19). As these are abstract ideas which children of this age might have trouble understanding, we have included the short account of Jesus and the leper, from Matthew 8:1–3. In the way Jesus deals with this man he demonstrates mercy and kindness. Jesus reaches out and touches the man who has come to him in an attitude of need and dependence. Jesus is such a powerful model of mercy and kindness. This is how people in God’s family are to act. Those who depend on God’s mercy and kindness are compelled to show mercy and kindness to others. The children will be encouraged to consider real life ways they can show this kindness to others.
Leader’s prayer Thank God for each of the children in your group and for the opportunity to teach them about Jesus. Pray that the children will love God and show their thankfulness to him by following Jesus all their days.
Adventure
Gear q A Pop-up 1 (scenery) for each child and one for the teacher q A manila folder for each child and one for the teacher q Simple headdresses for the children to wear during Teaching time (for example tea towels); coloured fabric (optional) q A CEV Bible marked at Matthew 5:3,7 and 8:1–3 q Leader’s posters 1 and 2 q Memory verse poster 1 q Theme music for Looking at Jesus in Teaching time (your choice of appropriate music) q CD player and CD of choice q A copy of the footprints photocopiable (page 14) for each child q Gear for chosen activities in Start up and Activities sections
Get ready Complete today’s Pop-up activity using your own folder and the teacher’s copy of the Pop-up 1 (scenery). You will use this later to demonstrate to the children what they have to do for today’s activity. Alternatively, you may choose to complete the activity in front of the children to help them to see what they need to do. The front part of the folder needs to be folded in half lengthwise, so it will ‘sit up’. This forms the background for the picture you are creating. Popup 1 is glued on the bottom half of the inside front cover, as shown on page 12. See page 82 for a diagram of the completed scene. You will probably need to fold all the covers of the children’s folders for them. At the end of the session when you collect all the folders, fold them down flat again for storage. Ask another leader, or church member, to act as Jesus during the Teaching time. They should wear simple biblical dress. For extra impact Draw a large footprint on a sheet of cardboard approximately 30cm long. Cut out the footprint and use it as a template to draw ten footprints on brightly coloured paper. Cut out these footprints and display them on a wall in your area. Add a sign at the beginning of the footprints: Followers of Jesus will … Leave these footprints on display throughout the unit if possible. They are to represent following Jesus.
Start up Choose from the following warm-up activities to suit your group and the time you have available. These activities are designed to introduce content and concepts that form part of the session. Please note that the Chat time is an important component of the session and should be completed immediately before moving into the Bible focus. For future reference, tick the activities you use.
What are you? Purpose: To use a simple guessing game to introduce the idea of showing we belong to Jesus. Begin this game by acting as if you are a particular creature and asking the children to guess what creature you are. Invite three or four children to choose a creature and act it for the group. Some suggestions might be: frog, lizard, snail, cat, owl, chicken, elephant, and so on.
Do as I do Purpose: To help the children understand that Jesus gave us a good example to follow. Ask the children to look at you, pretend they are looking into a mirror and copy your actions. Place the children into pairs. Invite one child to act as the leader, while the other child copies their actions. After a short time, ask the children to swap roles.
Chat time How did we know what kind of creature each child was, in our guessing activity? (Accept responses. The actions told us what the creature was.) Discuss the concept that we can show by our actions what kind of people we are. Christians can show by their actions that they belong to Jesus’ family. What kinds of actions would show people we belong to Jesus? (Accept responses.) In the ‘Do as I do’ activity, how did we know what actions to do? (Accept responses. We had to copy the actions of someone else.) God tells us there is some one we can copy, if we want to know how to live as one of his people. Who can we copy? (Accept responses. We can copy Jesus.) Jesus taught many things. But he didn’t just talk about how we should live; he also showed us how to live by the way he acted.
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Bible focus
Jesus told the people that God blesses people who depend on him.
Links
When I sit on this chair I depend on the chair to hold me up.
Jesus told people how they could become a part of God’s family.
When I put on the light switch, I depend on the electricity flowing to make the light come on.
Jesus wants his people to follow him.
When I go to work and stand at the bus stop, I depend on the bus coming to take me there.
People in Jesus’ family should act like Jesus. God has even promised to help people to live his way.
Can you think of other examples of depending on something? (Accept responses.) Jesus said that his followers should depend on God. They should trust God to look after them, to keep on loving them, to forgive them when they make mistakes, and to help them live the right way.
Today, we will begin to learn how Jesus said people in his family should act.
Teaching time Each week we are going to hear about something that Jesus told his disciples, so they would know how he wants them to live as a part of his family. Explain that people who lived in the place where Jesus lived often wore headdresses. Ask the children to put on their headdresses so they can pretend to be in the crowd listening to Jesus. At this very moment, Jesus is teaching a crowd of people who have come from many different places to listen to him. Come with me to hear what Jesus has to say. Ask the children to follow you as you walk through your area to a place where ‘Jesus’ is teaching.
Let’s see what else Jesus told the people. Read Matthew 5:7 from a CEV Bible. Jesus says his people should be merciful. When we are very kind to others and help them when they need help we are being merciful. When we are gentle and caring to someone, we are being merciful. Let’s see if Jesus obeyed God too.
Looking at Jesus Refer to Leader’s poster 1 and play your chosen theme music. Listen to what Jesus said.
Ask the children to sit down.
Read John 6:38b from the Leader’s poster 1: I came to do what the Father wants me to do.
The leader acting as Jesus reads Matthew 5:3,6,7 from a CEV Bible.
Do you think Jesus was merciful? (Accept responses.)
We’ll come back next week to hear more of the things Jesus taught.
Let’s hear about a time when Jesus was merciful and kind to a man who was in trouble. He was in trouble because he had a terrible skin disease that meant he had to stay away from everyone, and he just got sicker and sicker.
But let’s go back now and talk about some of the things we heard today. Ask the children to follow you back to your initial teaching spot. The words we heard come from the book of Matthew in the Bible. Show the children where Matthew is found in the Bible. Many people wanted to hear Jesus’ teaching about God’s kingdom. Listen to one of the things that Jesus said. Read Matthew 5:3 from a CEV Bible.
Read Matthew 8:1–3 from a CEV Bible. Show Leader’s poster 2. Why did this man need help? (Accept responses. The man had leprosy.) What did he say to Jesus? (Accept responses. He asked Jesus to help him. He wanted to be healed of his disease.) Most people would have been afraid of this man. They didn’t want to catch his disease! They would have shouted at him, ‘Go away!’ 11 Adventure
1
What did Jesus do? (Accept responses. He touched the man and healed him.) How did Jesus show he was merciful and kind? (Accept responses. Jesus was so merciful and kind! He touched the man gently and lovingly.)
Hand out Pop-up 1 and invite the children to paste the scenery in the appropriate part of their folder. Ask them to write their names on the folder.
Ask two children to act out the scene of Jesus and the leper, while you read the verses again. Ask the children to work in pairs or threes to think of a time when they could act with kindness to someone at school. Allow each group to express their suggestions. Now ask each pair or small group to act out a situation of being kind to someone at school. Give them two minutes practice time, and then have the children perform each skit.
Broken legs
When all the skits are over, ask the children: Is it hard to be kind to others? (Accept responses.) Jesus knows it is hard for us. What can we do when we have been unkind and mean to some one? (Accept responses. We can ask Jesus to forgive us. We can ask him to help us to be better next time.) God wants us to depend on him. He wants us to ask for help. God promises to help us obey him and help us be merciful and kind to others.
Music spot
Gear q A chair for each child Ask the children to sit on chairs and remove their shoes, placing them in front of their chairs. The children pretend that their legs are broken and set in plaster straight out in front. Now they are to try to put on their shoes without bending their legs. How will they do it? After they have tried for a while and if no one has suggested it, tell them it can only be done by helping each other. Ask the children: How could you get your shoes back on when your legs were in plaster? (Accept responses. You need someone to be kind to you and help you.)
Choose from the following songs. I will be with you, track 14 of CEP’s Promises, promises CD. More like Jesus, track 20 of Colin Buchanan’s Practise being godly CD.
We all have times when we need others to be kind to us. This is the way Jesus’ people will live – being kind to one another.
Psalm 75:1, track 14 of Colin Buchanan’s Baa baa doo baa baa CD.
Footprints Ask the children to stand in a line behind you. Tell them that they are to follow you by trying to put their foot exactly in the place where your foot was placed.
Activities Do the Pop-up activity first, and choose from the other activities if you have time.
Make it interesting by going in circles, going sideways and so on.
Pop-up Explain to the children that each week they are going to paste something inside their folder to make up a picture. This picture is to remind them of how Jesus taught the people about God’s kingdom. Gear
Store the folders for next session.
If you displayed the footprints in your area, read the sign with the children, Followers of Jesus will … . Jesus showed us how God wants his people to live. He was merciful and kind. We can follow Jesus’ example and be merciful and kind too. Write the words be merciful and kind on the first footprint.
q Pop-up 1 for each child q The Children’s Pop-up folders q Glue
12 Adventure
Bringing it together
Prayer
What things could you thank God for? (Accept responses.)
Dear God, thank you sending Jesus to teach people how to live your way. Help us to always trust Jesus and to show your love to other people. Amen.
How could you thank God for the things he gives you? (Accept responses. Lead the children to see that we can thank God by loving him and obeying his word.)
Invite the children to repeat the following prayer.
Take home
Jesus told the people that God blesses people in his family. What are some of the blessings God gives to people who trust in Jesus? (Accept responses. God loves, protects and cares for them. He gives them his Spirit. He gives them eternal life.)
Gear q A copy of the footprints photocopiable (page 14) for each child. q Coloured pens and pencils Hand out copies of the footprints photocopiable. Invite the children to draw themselves following Jesus. They may colour in the footprints.
Memory verse Write the words of the Memory verse on a large sheet of paper. Read the verse with the children. Use scissors to cut off the last two words. Read the verse again and see if the children can supply the missing words. Continue cutting off words until the children can say the verse.
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Display Memory verse poster 1 and read the verse with the children.
Think about it
Think ahead
Did the children begin to understand the concepts of ‘blessings’ and ‘mercy’? How can you further develop their understanding?
You will need a Pop-up 2 for each child and one for the teacher, Memory verse poster 1, and Leader’s posters 1 and 3. You will also need to cut out the people from the photocopiable (page 20), to use as visual aids. Bring a torch and a box the torch fits in. You will need to make a black and a white cardboard circle (see Get ready, page 16). Make sure you have the Children’s Pop-up folders stored for next session.
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W O L L O F Draw yourself following Jesus.
Š CEP 2004 The purchaser of the Adventure AD4 manual is entitled to photocopy this page for use with his or her group. 14 Adventure