252 Groups
May 2014, Week 4 Compact K-5
FOR LEADERS ONLY GOD VIEW: the connection between ENDURANCE and God's character, as shown through God's big story Jesus said, “In the world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jesus never promised that life would be easy. In fact, He assured us of the exact opposite. But as Jesus lived without sin and defeated death through His resurrection, He proved that He could overcome the world! Now, our belief in His strength and power helps us stay strong even during the hard times. Before Jesus ascended back into heaven, He left His disciples with the monumental task of telling the world about Him, His life, death, and the resurrection that makes it possible to be with God forever. Throughout the New Testament we get a glimpse of what life was like for these men and women as they lived out Jesus’ Great Commission. We can also read letters sent to the first churches to encourage believers who were enduring through humiliation and persecution as they struggled to live their faith and tell others about Jesus. Many of these first Jesus followers were thrown into prison or even put to death for their faith. Yet they continued to spread the message of Jesus from village to city and from city to the world. There was no way they could have done that without help from the Holy Spirit and a lot of endurance. Endurance is sticking with what you started even when it gets tough. It assumes that parts of life are going to be hard, yet in spite of that we can have hope and never give up. Through endurance we learn to trust God’s promises so we can experience the joy of completing what we began. We keep going because there will be a reward for having endurance. Often that endurance has the power to encourage others. When they see us stick with it even when we’re tired or make mistakes or when we feel alone or discouraged, they may come to realize they can have endurance during their tough times, too. This month, let’s think about how: (1) Endurance is a response to God, knowing He has given us His Spirit to help us. (2) Endurance is a response to the mission Jesus gave us as His followers. (3) Endurance will show others how much we trust God through difficult times. (4) Showing endurance is part of the process of helping God restore the world.
This week, we’re discovering: In this week’s Bible story, Jesus promises His followers the ultimate reward of eternity in heaven. (John 14:1-4; Revelation 21:1-8, 22-27; 22:1-5) Throughout history and in different parts of the world, Jesus’ followers have had to endure persecution. It would be easy for them to give up and take it easy, but Jesus promised them that sticking with it would be worth it when they would be with Him forever. Our Bottom Line is I can stick with it because God knows the end of the story. Life is hard, but God knows the end of the story and wants the best for us. We can trust that even though it’s difficult now, eventually everything will be made right. For now, we have to remember that we don’t always see things the way God sees them. God knows the end of the story, and in the meantime, we need to trust Him and stick with it. The monthly memory verse is: “Let us not become tired of doing good. At the right time we will gather a crop if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9, NIrV Endurance is worth it. The hard work and effort of sticking with it will seem small in comparison to the end that God has promised.
252 Groups
May 2014, Week 4 Compact K-5
Don’t Stop Believing Bible Story: Don’t Stop Believing (Jesus promises heaven) • John 14:1-4; Revelation 21:1-8, 22-27; 22:1-5 Bottom Line: I can stick with it because God knows the end of the story. Memory Verse: “Let us not become tired of doing good. At the right time we will gather a crop if we don't give up.” Galatians 6:9, NIrV Life App: Endurance—sticking with what you started even when it gets tough. Basic Truth: I can trust God no matter what.
Plug In: Focus the Energy (Small Groups, 10-15 minutes) Before kids arrive, pray for each regular attendee by name. Pray for those who might visit your group for the first time. Pray that the kids will listen to and understand today’s message. Ask God to give kids the hope that comes with knowing that He is in control and knows the end of our stories. 1. Early Arriver Idea What You Need: An offering container What You Do: Invite the kids to place their offerings in the container and then ask: What is your favorite place to go? What makes it your favorite place? How often do you go there? TO ADAPT FOR OLDER KIDS: Ask the kids to think of their favorite place. Select a child to be “it” and sit in the middle of the circle. Let the kids play “20 Questions” to try and figure out that child’s favorite place. Play as many rounds as time allows. 2. Exiled! What You Need: Hula-hoops or construction paper cut into island shapes, upbeat worship music What You Do: Set the hoops or islands around your environment. Guide the kids to move around your area as you play the music. When you stop the music, lead the kids to stand in a hoop or on an island. On each successive play, remove a hoop or an island. By the end of the game, the kids will be a giggling mass as they attempt to squish into one hula-hoop or contort to touch one island. What You Say: [Transition] “In our Bible story today, we’ll hear about a man who was sent to an island. Let’s go to Large Group to learn more.”
Worship – Sanctuary Bible Story – Video
252 Groups
May 2014, Week 4 Compact K-5
Catch On: Make the Connection (Small Groups, 25-30 minutes) * 1. The End (review the Bible story / great for active learners) What You Need: two copies of “Beginnings and The Ends” (Activity Page), cut apart and separated What You Do: Divide your group into two teams. Place the two sets of the ending statements in two piles about 15-20 feet from the kids. Have the two teams line up one behind another in two rows at a pre-determined start line. Tell kids that each sentence strip you hand them is missing the end. You will hand the beginning of one statement to the first kid in line and when you yell “Go!” the first kid from each team will race to the pile of endings and find the correct ending to the statement they have. (e.g., the person who wrote about heaven in the Bible is … John.) The first team to correctly match all their statements with the endings wins! Come back together as a group and have kids read the statements from today’s story. Discuss any questions they have. TO ADAPT FOR YOUNGER KIDS: Be prepared to stand with the sentence strips and help early readers to find the correct ending statements. You could also number each set of strips (the beginning and the end with the same number) to help them find the match. What You Say: “Great job finding the ends to the statements about our story today! Doesn’t it feel good knowing that God has a plan and knows the end of the story? [Apply] Not only that, but because of what John wrote, we know the end is GOOD! Sometimes life gets tough. John especially knew this to be true. But we can all be encouraged by John’s words and know, [Impress] I can stick with it because God knows the end of the story.” 2. Heavenly Drawings (application activity) What You Need: Paper, pencils, markers, crayons What You Do: Pass out one piece of paper to each child. At the top of their piece of paper, instruct the kids to write, “I can stick with it because God knows the end of the story.” You may need to help early readers complete this statement on their papers. Then, using the pencils, crayons and/or markers, draw a picture of what heaven might look like. Ask kids what kinds of things they will do in heaven. What will they see? What will they look like? Encourage them to add any detail they think might be true about the end God has made for us. After a few minutes, invite kids to share with the group what they draw and discuss what heaven looks like to them. [Personalize] Draw and share your own interpretation of heaven. Note: This can be a scary topic for anyone, especially for children who are concrete, literal thinkers. Remind kids that the Bible says there will be no sadness in heaven. And while we cannot know exactly what heaven looks like until we get there, one thing we know for sure is that it will be a happy place! Let their imaginations roam free; anything that makes us happy might be a part of heaven! If your group is struggling to think of what to draw, read Revelation 22:1-4. They can draw a few of the things that are specifically mentioned in this passage.
252 Groups
May 2014, Week 4 Compact K-5
What You Say: “Sometimes life can be hard. There are times when we can’t seem to do anything right; when we’re always getting in trouble. And times when school is just really hard. Or times when our parents aren’t really getting along. [Apply] But the story we just heard today reminds us that God knows the end of the story. God knows what heaven is like AND God knows how our situations are going to turn out. So we can feel better about whatever is going on and keep enduring and sticking with it because God knows the end of the story. [Impress] I can stick with it because God knows the end of the story.”
Pray and Dismiss What You Need: No materials needed What You Do: Sitting in a circle, show kids how to say “thank you” in sign language. (With one hand, touch your fingertips to your chin; then let your hand fall away from your face and stop when your elbow is bent at a 90-degree angle and your palm is face up.) Let kids practice this motion a few times. What You Say: “How awesome is it that God not only knows the end of the story but that it is such a GOOD ending? Let’s take a minute to say ‘Thank You!’ to God for thinking up and creating this wonderful place for us. Bow your heads and each time you hear me say the words ‘Thank You,’ do the sign we just learned! “Dear God, thank You for this reminder from John today. Thank You for making heaven and for showing us how awesome the end of the story is. When we get discouraged and want to give up, we can think of heaven and John’s words. Thank You for loving us enough to create such an awesome place for us. We love You! In Jesus’ name, amen. Give each child a GodTime card. Pass out Parent CUE cards as adults arrive for pick-up.