Leader’s manual OT12 The hope of the nations God’s plan of salvation
Contents
How it works
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Unit introduction
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Spoilt by sin
Genesis 1–3
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Built with pride
Genesis 11:1–9
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Chosen by God
Genesis 12:1–9
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For all nations
Isaiah 2:1–5; 49:6
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God’s promised king
2 Samuel 7:1–16; Psalm 2
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God’s special servant
Isaiah 52:13–53:12; Matthew 27:41–50
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The king comes
Mark 8:29–31
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Go and tell
Matthew 28:16–20; Acts 1:6–11
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Power to obey
Joel 2:28,29; Acts 2
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Hope for the future
Galatians 3:26–28; Ephesians 4:1–6; Revelation 7
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This is the one!
John 1:1,14–18
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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 this 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 will be based on the CEV Bible and will be taught during the session.
Notes 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.
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.
Gear A list is given at the beginning of the session including all the equipment needed by the leader and when it will be used. Some items will be given as optional.
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 specified purpose.
Chat time 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. 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.
Get ready This section gives hints about important preparation to be done before the session starts.
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Bible focus
of the stage of their faith, they can be called on to respond and encouraged to know how God’s word challenges them to change. Application should always be ‘grace-oriented’ and ‘gospel-based’.
Links ?
Links are made with previous learning which may involve the Memory verse or a previous session.
This icon shows you where in the session the children will be reading, listening to and interacting with the Bible.
Links with life will also happen at this introductory part of the session. 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.
Digging deeper This section has suggested extension learning activities for older or more able children. It still seeks to be directed by the aim and outcomes. It will usually be Bible-based.
Teaching time This is the body of the session. It involves teaching and learning activities. Activities are usually integrated into this time rather than having them as an add-on later. During this time the aim and the outcomes of the session are directing the activities. 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 we aim to have the children interacting with the Bible themselves. We seek to unpack the Bible passage in its context and place it in the big picture of salvation history. Concepts and activities are designed to be ageappropriate and not too abstract. It is understood that such a wide age-range is a great challenge, so in many ways we aim for the middle group of nine and ten year olds. Older or more able children will be challenged by the Digging deeper activities. 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. There must be a ‘crunch’ for the child – a place where ‘the rubber hits the road’ in their lives. They are called to respond to the challenge of the passage, without ever being manipulated or inappropriately pushed into an uncomfortable situation. Regardless
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.
Bringing it together 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. There may be open-ended questions that encourage children to respond in their own terms. We are aiming for honest responses from the children.
Prayer This will normally follow Bringing it together and allows for the issues highlighted by the children to be prayed about. Leaders will model prayer and also teach children how to pray – both for themselves and for others, and for issues in the wider world.
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.
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The hope of the nations
Unit introduction
God’s plan of salvation
Unit aim To teach the children about God’s great plan of salvation and encourage them to be part of God’s plan by believing in Jesus.
Unit outcomes By the end of this unit the children will: • know about God’s great plan of salvation, as it stretches from Genesis to Revelation, from creation to re-creation • understand how we can be part of God’s great plan by belonging to Jesus • have opportunity to respond to the challenge of belonging to Jesus – receiving forgiveness for sin, the help of God’s Spirit and a great hope for eternity with Jesus.
Memory verses Sessions 1–3 You perform great wonders because you alone are God. Psalm 86:10 (CEV) Sessions 4,5 You, the Lord God, are kind and merciful. Psalm 86:15a (CEV) Sessions 6–9 You willingly forgive, and your love is always there for those who pray to you. Psalm 86:5 (CEV)
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Where this fits in God’s plan of salvation
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Session 10 Our God, who sits upon the throne, has the power to save his people, and so does the Lamb. Revelation 7:10 (CEV)
We encourage the children to understand that Jesus is the ‘centre-piece’ of God’s plan and that we can also be part of the plan by having faith in Jesus ourselves.
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Notes Bible background This unit is designed to give a bird’s-eye view of what the Bible is about. It seeks to provide a framework for understanding biblical theology with a focus on God’s redemptive activity through his Son, Jesus Christ. The intention is to encourage children to understand, accept and become part of God’s community, the church, by trusting in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. The first session builds on existing knowledge of God by showing that his perfect creation was marred by human rebellion with the introduction of sin and spiritual death into the experience of mankind (Genesis 1–3). The second session shows mankind’s failed attempt at usurping heaven by its own unaided effort (Genesis 11). Against the Bible’s negative evaluation of human striving for salvation, the third session shows a loving God offering a covenant of grace to Abraham (Genesis 12). The promises of land, descendants, a blessing and being a blessing to others provide the major theme of the rest of the Bible. Session 4 focuses on the prophet Isaiah who reveals that this covenant is not restricted to Abraham’s physical descendants, but that it will bring salvation to all nations (Isaiah 2,49). Two aspects of this saving activity are taught in Sessions 5 and 6 – Messianic kingship (Psalm 2; 2 Samuel 7) and suffering servanthood (Isaiah 52:13–53:12). Session 7 is the pivotal session where these promises are shown to have their fulfilment in Jesus Christ. God’s beloved Son became incarnate in order to defeat evil and death by the perfect offering of himself as the one sufficient atoning sacrifice. We are called to have faith in him as our Master and Lord (Mark 8:29–31). Sessions 8 and 9 look at the responsibilities of believers (Matthew 28:16–20; Acts 1) and the empowerment God gives us through his Holy Spirit (Acts 2). Finally, Session 10 explores the hope we have as we wait for Jesus’ return. There is also an additional Christmas session based on John 1.
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 faith for each child at their own pace. No matter where each child is at in their faith development, they can be challenged to respond in faith to God and in obedience to the way he wants them to live.
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.
Special features Visual aids The Leader’s pack includes: • the Leader’s manual with ten sessions plus an additional Christmas session • two full-colour A3 posters featuring the components of the God’s great plan wall-display • five full-colour posters, including four Memory verse posters and one additional Leader’s poster • a sample Backpacker’s guidebook. Extra guidebooks may be purchased from CEP so every child can complete a page each session. • a set of photocopiable masters to cover the topic of each session.
Backpacking theme This unit is characterised by a backpacking theme. The child’s take-home component is a Backpacker’s guidebook. The guidebook contains follow-up activities for each session. These activities help apply the truths learned in the session to real life situations. It is suggested that the leader bring along a backpack each session. The leader can keep the visual aids, posters and suggested objects inside the backpack. Many of the suggested activities involve use of a backpack. For extra impact, a small tent could be set up and used during each session.
Bibles It is intended that during each session the children will read the Bible for themselves and think about how they can respond to its message. It is strongly recommended that children begin to handle the Bible for themselves, learn their way around it and discuss what it means. The Digging deeper segment of each session is a Bible-based activity for older or more capable children. The Contemporary English Version (CEV) is recommended as it uses everyday language that should be easy for the children in this age group to understand.
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Prayer and world awareness
Activities
Each session includes time to pray with the children. Use this time to model prayer and encourage the children to pray for the needs of others.
Each session contains many suggested activities, either to begin the session in Start up or to reinforce the Teaching time. When choosing the activities you will include in each session, consider the number of children in your group, their individual skills, as well as the time and 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.
As this unit is all about God’s great plan to include people from all nations, there will be a special segment to hear about Christians from other nations and pray for them. We will focus on Christians who are persecuted for their faith. It might be possible for your group to do something practical for Christians in other countries. There are many possibilities such as raising money for Bibles, writing letters and cards, praying, speaking in church about what the children learn, making a church banner, talking to a missionary, talking to a Christian from a different ethnic background and so on.
Celebration Hosting a party during Session 10 is one way to emphasise the joys and celebrations of living with Jesus for eternity. There are suggestions for a party in Session 10. Make sure this is planned in advance.
Relationships As children of this age grow in faith, their relationships with other Christians will be very important. Be warm and genuine in your relationships with the children. Pray for them and their concerns. Invite other Christians of various ages to visit and meet the group. It would be helpful for young people to meet them. Help the children see where they are heading as part of the community of God’s people. For older children, you could include a question and answer time in Session 6. Collect any questions the children have and invite the minister or youth leader to come along and answer them during Session 7. Encourage church members to come to the session and share a short testimony about what God is doing in their lives. These contacts help the children know they are significant members of God’s community.
Digging deeper
A Memory verse activity is included in each session and presented in an interactive way so that the children will begin to build their own personal store of Bible verses.
Photocopiable masters The set of photocopiable masters includes Memory verse ideas, templates for craft activities and worksheets. Purchase of the Leader’s kit entitles you to make one copy for each member of your group.
Music spot The sessions recommend songs from these CDs, all available from CEP. • Promises, promises, CEP • Practise being godly, Colin Buchanan • Remember the Lord, Colin Buchanan • 10,9,8 … God is great, Colin Buchanan • Follow the Saviour, Colin Buchanan • The King, the snake and the promise, Emu Music
God’s great plan wall-display This unit covers big Bible themes. A wall-display is built up each session to help the children grasp these themes. Each session the leader should cut out the appropriate components of the wall-display from the God’s great plan posters. Each session, the leader or children can add the new components to the wall-display. If possible, leave the wall-display set up from session to session, or if necessary reassemble it each session. A diagram of the completed walldisplay is included in the Backpacker’s guidebook (pages 8,9) and also on page 92 of this manual.
This section is designed for more able children who want to dig deeper into the session content. These activities are usually Bible-focused and involve good reading skills and literacy. If you have a multi-aged group, these ideas can be used to challenge children who feel they have ‘heard it all before’.
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Spoilt by
sin
Genesis 1–3
Aim To help the children understand how God’s good creation was spoilt by sin.
Outcomes By the end of this session the children will: • know how sin entered the world and spoilt God’s good creation • understand the effects of sin • identify aspects of our present experience which show how sin spoils things.
Memory verse You perform great wonders because you alone are God. Psalm 86:10 (CEV)
Notes Read Genesis 1–3. The first chapters of the Bible are very important. They teach us that God is the sovereign creator of everything and the amazing beauty and complexity of our world is from God. We also learn that humans are significant and different from all other creatures – we are made in the image of the creator and are able to relate to him. Before sin entered creation, the relationship enjoyed by man and woman was beautiful, without shame and a perfect partnership. People were given the role of caretaker of God’s good world as God’s representative. Genesis 1,2 paints a wonderful picture of God’s creation and mankind’s significance within that creation. Genesis 3 shows an amazing contrast, revealing the deep problem of human existence – sin. Sin is rebellion against God, the good creator. Sin is evident in our lives when we do not trust God’s word, do not believe in his goodness and act against his command. The woman and man proudly asserted themselves and rebelled against God. The result was a broken relationship with God, a spoilt relationship with each another, and pain and suffering in their role as caretakers of creation.
These chapters of Genesis give us a framework to understand how and why we experience brokenness, pain and disappointment in our lives. They explain the evil, injustice and hatred we see in relationships around us – whether one-to-one or nation-tonation. The question is: ‘What can be done about it?’ Mankind is helpless to fix the problem – only God can solve it. The rest of the Bible reveals God’s dealings with mankind as he solves the problem of sin. God’s justice and mercy are at work from the very beginning. He punishes, but he does not destroy. In Jesus’ death, God’s justice and mercy met to provide the way to deal with sin (Matthew 1:21). This session sets the scene for the rest of the unit in terms of Bible concepts and group activities. The concept of sin is introduced during this session and reinforced in Session 2. Although this session focuses on the sad story of sin and brokenness, it also teaches about God’s mercy and the beginnings of his great plan of salvation.
Leader’s prayer Praise God for the way his amazing power and creativity is shown in creation. Pray that the children will begin to understand the impact of sin in their world.
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Gear Backpack containing a map, Bible, two pairs of boots and two pairs of socks World map Noticeboard Coloured drawing pins Small sign with ‘China’ written on it Newspaper page (see Get ready) A small cardboard card for each child Coloured pens, pencils and crayons A copy of the Creation wheel for each child (page 16) or large sheets of paper Scissors (optional) A split pin for each child (optional) Dark-coloured cellophane or black washy paint CEV Bibles Prepared Memory verse cards (see Get ready) CD player and CD of choice A Backpacker’s guidebook for each child Prepared God’s great plan – Session 1 walldisplay (see Get ready) String Hole punch Gear for chosen activities in the Start up section
Get ready Before the session, attach the world map to a noticeboard. Choose a newspaper page that shows headlines about a variety of the world’s needs and problems. Write each word of the Memory verse on a flashcard. Place these in the backpack ready to use during the Memory verse activity. Be ready to begin the God’s great plan wall-display. Cut the shapes for Session 1 from the poster, including ‘Spoilt by sin’ and ‘Sin spoils God’s good creation’. Punch holes in the shapes and join with string. For more information, see the God’s great plan diagram in the Backpacker’s guidebook (pages 8,9).
NOTE: What is sin? Sin is rebellion against God. We are rebels. Our actions and attitudes flow from this deep attitude of rebellion. We don’t want God to be in charge of us. We don’t want to believe his word. We act in ways that break God’s good rules. We sin by our actions and attitudes toward others – selfishness, lying, stealing, hating and hurting. But sin is more than acts or thoughts. Sin is our natural tendency to want to be in charge of our lives instead of listening to God. We can’t help being sinful – we are born that way. But we also make deliberate choices to rebel against God. The result of sin is that we are cut off from friendship with God. We are helpless to fix this. God must help us with our sin problem. He does this through Jesus.
Start up Choose one or more of these activities for the time you have available. These are fun and interesting activities designed to introduce the topic or theme of the session. Please note that Chat time is an important component of the session and should be completed immediately before moving into Bible focus.
Choose a question Purpose: This activity enables the group to begin the unit in a relaxed and fun manner. Gear A copy of the Questions photocopiable (page 15), cut into strips A plastic bowl or container Invite the children to sit in a circle on the floor. Ask one child to select a question from the bowl, then read and answer it. The child may then ask two other children from the group to answer the question. Some questions are more personal than others, so you may like to allow a child to put a question back into the bowl and choose another if they have difficulty answering it. Remove the question from the bowl once it has been answered.
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Mr Squiggle Purpose: To introduce the idea that God created this amazing world from nothing. Gear Chalkboard and chalk, whiteboard and marker, or sheets of paper and pens Draw three large rectangular ‘frames’. Choose a child to be ‘Mr Squiggle’ and draw a squiggle in each ‘frame’. When ‘Mr Squiggle’ has finished drawing the squiggles, ask him or her to leave the area. Choose three children to spend two minutes turning the squiggles into finished drawings. When the time is up, invite ‘Mr Squiggle’ to come back into the room to choose a favourite drawing. The child who drew the favourite picture becomes the next ‘Mr Squiggle’. Every drawing was made from a squiggle. However, when God created our world he made it all from nothing.
Chat time Show the children your backpack. Allow one or two children to pick it up and try it on. If I was about to head off on a long bushwalk, what are some of the things I would need to put in my backpack? (Accept responses.) One of the most important things I would need for the journey is a map of the area I am going to travel in, as well as the roads and tracks I can follow. Take out the map from the backpack and show it to the children. We are about to go on a journey together. Take out the Bible from the backpack and show it to the children. This journey will take us from the first page of the Bible to the last. Don’t worry, we’re not going to read every word! But we are going to read some important parts along the way. The Bible is God’s guidebook about how life started, why our lives are like they are now, how we can follow him and what God’s plans are for the future. One thing I need when I go on a bushwalk is a good pair of boots! Take out the pairs of boots from the backpack and show them to the children. I also need a nice thick pair of socks to protect my feet.
Take out the pairs of socks from the backpack and show them to the children. Select two children to put on the socks and boots. (Allow them to leave their own socks on and put the larger pair over the top.) Divide the rest of the group into two equal teams. Play a relay game. The children who are wearing the socks and boots must run to the end of the area then back again. They then take off the boots and socks. The next child in the team puts them on and runs to the end of the area and back, and so on.
Bible focus Links ?
Each session we will be learning about God’s people in another part of the world. Today we will learn a little about Christians in China. Stick the coloured drawing pin and ‘China’ sign into the world map. Read the following information to the children. Many people are becoming Christians in China. But they can get into trouble for being Christian. Sometimes Christians who meet together in houses are arrested and put in gaol. Even though it is dangerous, more and more people keep becoming Christians. One church leader asked for one million Bibles to be sent to China as soon as possible! Many Christians want to own a Bible, but it can be very hard to get one. Some Chinese Christians travel around the countryside telling others about Jesus and helping new believers meet in Bible study groups. There are hundreds of thousands of these travelling Christians in China. Hoang is a ten year-old Chinese boy. He lives in a town in the big city of Beijing. Hoang’s father heard a man in the town talking about how to find forgiveness for all he had ever done wrong. He invited this man back to their house where he stayed for a week. This man read to them from a Bible. He told them about Jesus’ life and how he died for them. Hoang’s father and mother became Christians. They invited their relatives and neighbours to come and listen to this man. Some others also became Christians. The man left them two Bibles to share and now they are a little church that meets in Hoang’s house.
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Sometimes it is dangerous to meet to read the Bible and pray. The government does not want people to be Christians. Sometimes the government sends people to threaten the Christians. Hoang knows his father could even be arrested and put in gaol because the Christians meet in his house. The Christians want additional Bibles more than anything else. If they could just have one each it would be wonderful! They are waiting for the Christian preacher to come and visit them again. He might be able to give them two more Bibles. Hoang’s life has changed so much. He knows that God has forgiven him and that Jesus is with him no matter what the danger might be. We can pray that the Christians in China will be bold and continue to trust and obey Jesus even when it is dangerous. We can also pray that God will help those who bring Bibles to China. There are some things that happen in the world each day that make me feel sad, angry or disappointed. Show the newspaper page and read a few of the headlines. The world is in a big mess. People are not kind to each other. There is a lot of sickness and sadness. It makes me feel sad and angry. Give each child a small cardboard card and a pen or pencil. What are some things in the world that make you sad or angry? (Ask the children to write an answer on their cards, then show them to the group. Tell the children that you will look at these cards again later in the session.)
Teaching time Choose either the Creation wheel or Creation design activity, depending on the time available and the age of the group. The Creation design is more appropriate for older children and will take much longer to complete.
Creation wheel Give each child a copy of the Creation wheel (page 16). Invite the children to colour, cut out and use a split pin to construct their Creation wheel. Discuss how each segment represents part of the Genesis 1 creation account, spinning the top wheel around to reveal each picture.
NOTE: Later in the session you will add a piece of coloured cellophane to the window of the top wheel to show how sin has spoilt God’s good creation.
Creation design Attach a large sheet of paper to a wall and divide it into seven segments. Invite the children to use thick crayons to create a large, collaborative design showing aspects of creation from Genesis 1,2. You could refer to the pictures on the Creation wheel (page 16) for ideas. Tell the children they will need to show the following scenes: • a roaring ocean, the Spirit of God moving over the water (Genesis 1:2) • sky, ocean, land (Genesis 1:6–9) • plants (Genesis 1:11,12) • sun, moon and stars (Genesis 1:16) • birds and ocean creatures (Genesis 1:20) • animals (Genesis 1:24) • people (Genesis 1:26,27).
NOTE: Later in the session you will paint a black watery wash over the design to show how sin has spoilt God’s good creation.
Bible quiz Ask the children to sit together to revise the creation story from Genesis 1,2. Distribute the Bibles and ask the children to answer the following questions. The leader should read the verses while the children follow in their Bibles. Read Genesis 1:31–2:4 from a CEV Bible. What did God think about his creation when it was finished? (Accept responses. He thought it was very good.) Read Genesis 2:7–9 from a CEV Bible. How did God make man? (Accept responses. From a handful of soil that he breathed on.) Where did God put the man? (Accept responses. In a garden called Eden.) What were the two special trees in the garden? (Accept responses. The tree of life and the tree of the power to know right and wrong.) Read Genesis 2:15–17 from a CEV Bible. What was the man’s job in Eden? (Accept responses. To look after the garden.)
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What was God’s command to the man? (Accept responses. Not to eat from the tree with the power to know right and wrong.)
Memory verse
Read Genesis 2:18–23 from a CEV Bible.
Pull out the Memory verse cards from your backpack. Ask the children to help you arrange them in order and read the verse together.
What did the man need? (Accept responses. A partner.)
You perform great wonders because you alone are God. Psalm 86:10 (CEV)
Who was the right kind of partner? (Accept responses. Woman.)
God performed great wonders when he created our world. It seems like such a mess now that God’s good world is spoilt by sin. But God is so powerful that he can do something about it. He performs great wonders. He has a great plan.
How was she made? (Accept responses. From the man’s rib.) Read Genesis 3:1–6 from a CEV Bible. The woman listened to the snake and believed what it said, instead of listening to God and believing what he said. She ate fruit from the tree. She broke God’s rule. The man followed her example. This was how sin came to be in God’s good creation and how it came to spoil everything. From that time on the man and woman stopped being perfect friends. They began to argue, fight and hurt each other. From that time on it was hard and painful work just living, finding food and having children. God sent Adam and Eve out of the garden. Death came into their lives for the first time. God was no longer their best friend, they became God’s enemies. Something terrible had happened. Let’s look at your cards. Read each of the cards from Bible focus to the group. Each of these things happen because God’s good world has been spoilt by sin – nothing is perfect now. If you did the Creation wheel activity, add a piece of cellophane to the window on the top wheel. Show the children how it colours and changes all of God’s good creation. If you did the Creation design activity, paint a black watery wash over the display to show how sin spoils everything in God’s good creation. Sin darkened and spoilt all of God’s good creation. Sin is still with us today. It darkens and spoils our good world. What a sad way for the Bible to start! But the rest of the Bible tells us what God has done to fix up this mess caused by sin.
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Digging deeper Discuss the curse described in Genesis 3:14,15. These verses explain God’s promise regarding what would happen to Satan because he brought temptation into the Garden of Eden. Mary’s son, Jesus, is the woman’s descendant who strikes a deadly blow to Satan. Ask the children to read Mark 1 and identify how Jesus struck deadly blows to Satan and the effects of sin. • When John baptises Jesus, God announces that Jesus is God’s own Son – someone powerful enough to strike a deadly blow to Satan (Mark 1:9–11) • Jesus was tempted by Satan in the desert, but he did not give in to Satan (Mark 1:12,13) • Jesus preached with real authority and showed he had power over evil spirits (Mark 1:21–27) • Jesus healed many people and cast out demons. He reversed the effects of sin and showed he is stronger than Satan (Mark 1:32–34) • Jesus came to preach good news to God’s people and show he is more powerful than Satan (Mark 1:38,39) • Jesus healed the leper. He showed how loving he is and that he can overrule sickness (Mark 1:40–42) You could encourage the children to create a giant mind map to show these concepts. You could write ‘Jesus conquers’ in the centre of a large sheet of paper, then ask the children to draw pictures around this, drawing lines between the words and the pictures.
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Bringing it together
Music spot Choose from the following songs. God’s mega-plan, track 2 on CEP’s Promises, promises CD. Creation song (track 3), Things started off great (track 4), God rules! (track 5), God hates sin (track 6) on The King, the snake and the promise CD.
Backpacker’s guidebook Distribute the Backpacker’s guidebooks. Ask the children to write their name on the cover. Invite the children to complete the Passport details (page 1) before working on the Spoilt by sin acrostic (page 2). The acrostic should be used to describe the events of Genesis 1–3. The children should complete the acrostic by writing a part of the story next to each letter. Following is an example of how these letters can be used to summarise Genesis 1–3. Such a beautiful world Parrots, whales, trees, frogs and stars Only a powerful God Is able to make all this Look at it all! The man and woman are caretakers
What were some of the good things God created? (Accept responses. Encourage the children to think of the many aspects of God’s beautiful creation.) What are some of your favourite parts of God’s creation? (Accept responses. Share your own favourite things – animals, plants, food, places, people and so on.) What went wrong to spoil God’s creation? (Accept responses. The snake tempted Eve to rebel against God. She believed what the snake said, instead of what God said. She broke God’s rule about eating from the special tree. Adam followed her example. Sin entered God’s creation.) What sin happens in our own lives each day? (Accept responses. Discuss sin between people, such as being mean to others, not being friends, not wanting to make up after a fight, lying, stealing, hating and so on. Also talk about sin in our attitude to God, such as wanting to be boss of our own lives instead of listening to God, not trusting God to care for us, not keeping God’s rules and so on.) What does God tell us to do about sin? (Accept responses. If we are truly sorry, we should ask God to forgive us. God promises to forgive us when we ask him to.)
But You know that Satan creeps into the garden In a flash sin spoils everything Nothing is perfect now
Prayer
Collect the Backpacker’s guidebook at the end of this activity.
God’s great plan During each session a part will be added to the God’s great plan wall-display. A diagram of the display is shown in the Backpacker’s guidebook (pages 8,9).
Invite the children to join you in the following prayer. Lord God, our Father, we get sad and angry when we see the mess in the world. We feel sad about our own problems too. We know that we sin by being mean to others. We also sin when we don’t trust you or keep your rules. We are truly sorry. Please forgive us. Amen.
Attach the ‘Spoilt by sin’ and ‘Sin spoils God’s good creation’ components to the display (see Get ready).
Think about it
Think ahead
Are the children beginning to understand the concept of sin?
Prepare your backpack for Session 2. Place bricks, a compass and the Memory verse cards inside the backpack.
Do they understand that the Fall is only the beginning of the story and that they will be learning more about God’s great plan to be friends with us?
See Get ready in Session 2 (page 18).
Over 14 the top
Where would you most like to go for a holiday and why? If you could have any pet at all, what would it be and why would you choose it? What is you favourite memory? If you could surprise your family with one present, what would it be? If you were the class teacher at school for a day, what are some things you would do? What did you have for breakfast? What do you wish you had for breakfast? If you could change your name, would you? What new name would you choose? What is your favourite smell? What is your favourite colour? Which famous person would you like to meet? What would you ask them? What is one thing you wish you were really good at? Spell your middle name backwards. What scares you most? What do you like doing most: reading, watching a movie or playing sport? What is one question you would like God to answer? What is one thing you would like God to do? Š CEP 2003 The purchaser of the Over the top OT12 manual is entitled to photocopy this page for use with his or her group. Over 15 the top
v26, 27
v2
6 v1
v 20
v24
v 11 , 12
v9
Š CEP 2003 The purchaser of the Over the top OT12 manual is entitled to photocopy this page for use with his or her group. Over 16 the top