Children's church lesson: The Sheep and Goats

Story

Say: Today we are going to read a story Jesus told his disciples.  The story shows us how important it is to help other people.  There are two different types of animals in today’s story.  The first is sheep.  What sound do sheep make? (B-A-A-A) That’s right.  The second type of animal is goats.  What sound do goats make? (M-A-A-A)  You got it.  Every time you hear the word Sheep you need to make a “B-A-A-A and every time you hear the word Goat you need to make a “M-A-A-A” sound.

Read “Sheep and Goats” in the any children's story bible pausing when appropriate for “B-A-A’S” and “M-A-A’s”.

Lesson

Say:  When did Jesus say his followers were like sheep? (When they cared for each other)  That’s right.  When would they be like goats? (If they didn’t care)  What did Jesus say it was like every time his followers cared for someone (It was like they were caring for Jesus)  What did Jesus say would happen if they cared for others (they would be welcomed into heaven)

In this story Jesus was saying that we show our love for him and his father, God when we love and care for others.  We love others by helping them when they need it.  In the story what were some of the ways Jesus’ disciples had helped others (visiting them in prison, feeding them and giving them clothes) how would you feel if you were hungry and someone gave you something to eat? (Let them answer)  What are some ways that we can help other people like Jesus wants us to? (Give them plenty of time to answer)  That’s right; these are all great ways to help others. 

Helping others is important, so I have a homework assignment, let’s see if we can all do something to help someone this week! 

Memory Verse

We should love one another. – 1 John 3:11

Big Idea

Helping others is important because we show Jesus our love for him when we help others.

Prayer (Take prayer joys and requests)

Say a short prayer asking God to help us to care for other people like he wants us to.     

Craft

The children will glue cotton balls onto a sheep picture. 

Game Options

Play sheep, sheep, goat (duck, duck, goose)

Children's church lesson: King Solomon

Story

Say: Today we are going to talk about wisdom.  Having wisdom means that someone is able to make good choices.  The bible tells the story of the wises person ever, King Solomon.   

Read the story of King Solomon from any children's story bible.

Lesson

Say: In today’s story we met a very wise person didn’t we?  What did Solomon as God to give him? (To be wise)  What wise choices did Solomon make in today’s story?  (Figured out how to find how who was really the mother and he built a house/temple for God)  Why did Solomon build a temple for God (So there would be a place to worship God)

The story of Solomon teaches us that wisdom, the ability to make good choices, comes from God.  What are some ways God gives us wisdom (going to church, reading the bible, adults).  Those are all great answers!  God helps us make good choices through His words in the bible, through what we learn at church and from our parents and other adults who teach us how to make good choices.  

Craft

Have the children color/decorate a paper crown.  

Children's Church Lesson: Mothers Day-Baby Moses

Story

Say: What is today? (Mother’s Day!)  That’s right.  Today is the day we honor or mothers for all the wonderful things they do for us.  What are some of the great things are mom’s do for us? (Give the children plenty of time to answer).  Those are all good answers!  Today we are going to read a story about a mother from the bible and a wonderful thing she did for her baby son, Moses.

Read “Baby Moses” in any children's story bible.

Lesson

Say: What was Pharaoh afraid of and why? (God’s People, the Hebrews; he thought they would try to become more powerful than him)  What did the Pharaoh do? (Make the Hebrews very hard and demanded that all the Hebrew baby boys be drowned)  What did Moses’ mother do (protected him by making a floating basket and hiding him in it) what happened to baby Moses? (He was protected and grew up in Pharaoh’s palace)

Moses’ mother was pretty amazing wasn’t she?  Our mothers are a lot like her.  Just like Moses mother protected him and took care of him our mothers protect us and take care of us.  We should be thankful for our mothers and we should honor and obey them.

Big Idea

God gave us mothers to take care of us.  We should be thankful for our mothers and we should honor and obey them.  

Memory Verse

Honor your mother and father. – Ephesians 6:2

Prayer

Say a short prayer thanking God are mothers and asking for help to obey are parents.  

Children's Church Lesson: Jesus Feeds 5,000

Story

Say: What are some things that God wants us to do? (Give the children time to list various things).  One of the things that God wants us to do is to give to the church so God’s work can be done.  Do you have a lot of money that belongs to you that you can give to the church? (The answer for most children should be no).   Even if we don’t have a lot of money we can give we can still find ways to give to God.  Today we are going to read a story about how Jesus took something small that a boy gave and used it to do something amazing!

Read “Jesus Feeds 5,000” in any children's story bible.

Lesson

Say: What problem did Jesus and his disciples have? (There was a huge crowd of people who needed to be fed)  What did they have for the people to eat? (5 small loaves of bread and two fish)  What did Jesus do? (He fed all 5,000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish!)  What happened after everyone ate (12 baskets of leftovers were collected!)

We are kind of like the boy in our story aren’t we?  We don’t always have a lot to give.   Just like the boy in the story we do always have something we can give.  Do we have some money, even if it is not a lot (yes).  Did you know that there are other things we can give to God besides money?  The boy shared his food, what are some other things we can give to God (things we have that we don’t need anymore, things we are good at/talents, etc).  Even if we don’t have a lot of money we have things that we can give to the church so God’s work can be done.  Just like in today’s story God can take the small things we have to give and use them to do amazing things!  

Memory Verse

Good people will be generous to others and will be blessed for all they do.  - Isaiah 32:8

Big Idea

God can take the small things we have to give and use them to do amazing things!

Prayer

Say a short prayer thanking God for the things he has given us and asking him to help us be generous giving back to Him some of the things he has given us.  

Children's Church Lesson: The Widow's Offering

Story

Say: What are some things that God wants us to do? (Give the children time to list various things).  One of the things that God wants us to do is to give to the church so God’s work can be done.  Do you have a lot of money that belongs to you that you can give to the church? (The answer for most children should be no).   Even if we don’t have a lot of money we can give we can still find ways to give to God.  Today we are going to read a story about a woman who did not have a lot of money but gave to God anyway. 

Read “The Widow’s Offering” in any Children's Bible.

Lesson

Say:  What did the rich man do as he was giving his money?  (Show off, draw attention to himself)  Why did he give his money in a showy way?   How much money did the old woman have and how much of that did she give?  Who did Jesus say gave more? (The woman)  How do you feel about giving everything you have? (give plenty of time for answers).

We are kind of like the lady aren’t we, we don’t have a lot of money to give.   Just like the woman we do have things we can give.  Do we have some money, even if it is not a lot (yes).  Did you know that there are other things we can give to God besides money?  What are some other things we can give to God (things we have that we don’t need anymore, things we are good at/talents, etc).  Even if we don’t have a lot of money we have things that we can give to the church so God’s work can be done.

Big Idea

Even if we don’t have a lot of money we have things that we can give to the church so God’s work can be done.

Memory Verse

Good people will be generous to others and will be blessed for all they do.  - Isaiah 32:8

Prayer

Say a short prayer thanking God for the things he has given us and asking him to help us be generous giving back to Him some of the things he has given us.  

Craft

Students will decorate piggy bank cubes (http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/cube-model.html) with stamps, stickers and crayons.  They will then cut them out and assemble them using glue sticks (or scotch tape). You will need to use an exacto-knife or box cutter to make coin slots ahead of time.  

Activity 

Have the children share some the things they can give for God.

Youth Discussion: The Great Commission

Bible Verse 1: Isaiah 42: 10-12

                                                                                                     

Video: Gospel in Six Words

Bible Verse 2: “The Great Commission” Matt 26:18-20

Five Questions:

1. Once we become Christians, we must share our faith, Isaiah tells us to “Sing a new song”.  And Jesus challenges us to “go and make disciples of all nations”.   What does sharing your faith mean to you?
2. Is there a right way or a wrong way to share your faith? (Show “Hell Over Coffee” Skit Guys video)

3.     How would you feel if a person approached you about accepting Christ like the guy in the video?

4.     The Gospel is “Good News”.  What do you do with good news?  How do you share good news with someone?

5.     There is a tendency to want to tell people about their faith in a one sided way.  Tell me what it would look like if you shared your faith with a friend.

How Peter Served Jesus

Story 

Say: Today’s story is about Jesus’ disciple Peter.  Who can tell me something they know about Peter? (Give the children plenty of time to answer).  Today we are going to read a story about the things Peter did after Jesus went to heaven.  

Read the story of Peter and the early church in any children's bible.  

Lesson

Say:  Who did Peter help and what did he do to help them? (Peter helped a man who couldn’t walk and a woman, Tabatha, who was dead.  Peter healed the man-by the power of Jesus and Peter brought Tabitha back to life.)  What did the Temple leaders think about Peter, and what did they do?  (They didn’t like Peter telling people about Jesus.  They arrested Peter).  In our story, what happened when Peter was arrested by King Herod? (Jesus’ followers prayed for him and an angel helped Peter escape.

Jesus used Peter to do some help people and tell people about Jesus!  Jesus wants to use us like he used Peter, to help people and to them about Jesus.  Who are some of the people that you can help and that you can tell about Jesus? (Give children plenty of time to answer). 

Big Idea

Jesus used Peter to do some help people and tell people about Jesus!  Jesus wants to use us like he used Peter, to help people and to them about Jesus.  

Memory Verse

Go and make followers for Jesus. – Matthew 28:19

Prayer

Take time to see if children have any prayer requests or prayer joys.  Say a short prayer thanking God for sending Jesus to save us and asking him to help us be helpers to others and talk to them about Jesus like Peter did.  

Game Ideas

Jesus Says (Simon Says)