Sept 6 Younger - Clover Sites

[Pages:16]Sunday,

Sep t 6,

2015

Kidzone KG and 1st Grade Small Group

TEACHER BIBLE STUDY

Christ's Return Is Anticipated

2 Thessalonians 1?3

In Acts 2:20, Peter describes the Day of the Lord with words that translate to "great," "glorious," "magnificent," "remarkable," and "awesome." The Bible says that the Day of the Lord will be a time of judgment for evildoers (Mal. 4:1) and a time of salvation and deliverance for believers (Rom. 11:26). The Day of the Lord will come quickly (Zeph. 1:14).

So imagine getting word that the Day of the Lord had already come. This is what happened to the church at Thessalonica. Some were convinced that they had missed Jesus' second coming, and they stopped working. But the Day of the Lord had not yet come.

Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church to address this misunderstanding and to encourage the believers in their faith. Paul reminded the believers that no one knows when Jesus will return. Only God Himself knows. Believers must continue to work hard--doing God's work and providing for themselves--until the moment Jesus comes. Paul even commanded the believers to stay away from people who lived irresponsibly.

Like many early Christians, the believers at Thessalonica faced persecution for their faith. Paul encouraged them not to fall away. He told them to stand strong in what they believed about Jesus. He encouraged them to "not grow weary in doing good" (2 Thess. 3:13). Life was probably difficult for the new believers, and Paul assured them that God would reward those who are faithful to Him and punish those who are against Him. (2 Thess. 1:5--7)

Paul prayed that the gospel would spread quickly, and he asked the church to pray as well. He prayed that in the midst of confusion and persecution, the Lord would give them peace.

As you teach, help kids grasp the main ideas behind Paul's letter. No one knows when Jesus will return except God Himself. Believers can stand firm through persecution and live in peace because on the great and glorious Day of the Lord, unbelievers will be punished for their sin and those who trust in Jesus will be saved.

YOUNGER KIDS BIBLE STUDY OVERVIEW

Session Title: Christ's Return Is Anticipated

Bible Passage: 2 Thessalonians 1?3

Big Picture Question: When will Jesus return to earth? No one knows when Jesus will return except God Himself.

Key Passage: Revelation 22:12--13

Unit Christ Connection: Jesus is making all things new.

Unit 36 Session 2

? Younger Elementary

1

Sunday,

Kidzone KG and 1st Grade Small Group

Sep t 6,

2015

Small Group Time

Welcome time

Bible story review (10 minutes)

Activity page (5 minutes) Session starter (10 minutes)

Activity choice (10 minutes) Journal (5 minutes)

Key passage activity (5 minutes)

Prayer (5 minutes)

THE BIBLE STORY

Christ's Return Is Anticipated 2 Thessalonians 1?3

Paul had started the church at Thessalonica (thess uh loh NIGH kuh) about 20 years after Jesus died and rose from the dead, but Paul could not stay there long. Paul checked up on the church and wrote a letter to teach the believers there and encourage them.

Paul thanked God for the believers in Thessalonica. They loved God and each other, and their faith was growing. Even though the people in the church were being hurt or killed for believing in Jesus, they did not give up. Paul said that God would reward them in heaven for their suffering on earth. He said that God will punish those who don't know Him or who don't obey the gospel of Jesus.

Now Jesus had promised that He would return to earth someday. Some people were saying that He already had, that the Day of the Lord had come. Paul told the believers that this was not true; Jesus had not yet come. No one knows exactly when Jesus is coming back except God Himself.

Paul encouraged the believers to stand strong in their faith. He wrote in his letter, "God has chosen to save you." Then Paul prayed for them: "May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word."

Paul asked the believers in Thessalonica to pray for him and the other teachers. "Pray that the Lord's message may spread quickly, and that we may be safe from people who are wicked and evil, who do not believe," he said. Paul knew that the Lord is faithful. He trusted God to give strength and safety to His people.

Finally, Paul gave a warning to people who were not working hard. "If anyone is not willing to work, he should not eat." Paul said this because some people in the church were not working. Not only that, they were keeping others from working hard too.

"Do not grow weary in doing good," Paul said. "May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with all of you."

Christ Connection: No one knows when Jesus will return, but Christians should be ready for Him. When Jesus returns, unbelievers will be punished for their sin and those who trust Jesus as Lord and Savior will be saved.

Unit 36 Session 2

? Younger Elementary

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Sunday,

Sept 6,

2015

Kidzone KG and 1st Grade Small Group

SMALL GROUP OPENING

Session Title: Church Responsibility

Bible Passage: 1 Corinthians 1?16

Big Picture Question: What is the purpose of the church? The church exists to worship God, teach believers, and make disciples of Jesus.

Key Passage: Revelation 22:12--13

Unit Christ Connection: Jesus is making all things new.

Welcome time:

Arriving Activity: Hold a plank

Tip: Kids may also form a plank position with their knees on the ground. Whether on knees or on toes, kids must keep abs in tight to support their back.

Show kids how to form a plank position by moving into the starting position for a push--up (hands directly under shoulders, toes on the floor while tightening your abdmoninal muscles to support the back).

Encourage kids to keep a straight line from the crown of their heads to their heels, like a plank of wood. Instruct kids to hold the position until you say stop. Do not tell them how long they will need to stay in that position.

Say ? Did your body get weary or tired while you were holding a plank? Were you able to stay in position until I told you to stop? In our Bible story today, Paul encouraged the church in Thessalonica not to grow weary or give up while they waited for Jesus to come back.

Activity page (5 minutes)

? "When Did It Happen?"activity page, 1 per kid

? pencils

Guide boys and girls to complete the activity page.

Say ? Those were some tough dates to figure out! In our Bible story today, we will hear about a special day that only God knows when will happen.

Unit 36 Session 2 ? Younger Elementary

3

Sunday,

Kidzone KG and 1st Grade Small Group

Sept 6,

2015

Session starter (10 minutes)

Option 1: What time is it?

Choose a child to be It. Everyone else should line up against a wall. It will stand on the opposite side of the room with her back turned. The rest of the players say, "What time is it?" If It answers, "It's three o'clock," players take three steps forward. If she answers, "It's one o'clock," players take one step forward, and so on. The players may take any size step they want. If It says, "It's time to run!" she turns around and chases the other players back to the starting line. If It catches someone, he becomes the next It.

Say ?In this game, you did not know what time It was going to call out. In our Bible story today, people did not know when Jesus was going to come back. They were afraid they missed His return!

Option 2: Return it

? paper

? masking tape

Form two teams. Use tape to mark the middle of the play area. Assign each team a side.

Provide the same number of sheets of paper for each team. Explain that when you say go, each team must crumple its sheets of paper into wads and toss them to the other team's side. The goal is to get all the paper wads on the other team's side. As paper wads land on each side, kids immediately toss the wads back toward the other group. Call "stop" and count how many paper wads are on each side. The side with fewer wads wins. Redistribute the paper wads and play again as time allows.

Say ? Returning the paper wads to the other side was fun! In our Bible story today, we are going to learn about the most important return, the day Jesus will return to earth.

SMALL GROUP LEADER

Session Title: Church Responsibility

Bible Passage: 1 Corinthians 1?16

Big Picture Question: What is the purpose of the church? The church exists to worship God, teach believers, and make disciples of Jesus.

Key Passage: Revelation 22:12--13

Unit Christ Connection: Jesus is making all things new.

Unit 36 Session 2 ? Younger Elementary

4

Sunday,

Kidzone KG and 1st Grade Small Group

Sept 6,

2015

Key passage activity (5 minutes)

? Key Passage Slide or Poster

? dry erase board and markers (optional)

? index cards

? shredded paper

? boxes, 2

? marker

? boxes of shredded

paper

Make sure the key passage, Revelation 22:12--13, is visible for each child, either as the printed poster or written on a dry erase board. Read the verses together.

Say ? Our key passage speaks about Jesus' return to earth. Jesus said He is coming quickly. To us, it may not seem like Jesus is coming quickly, but He is. As Paul reminded the church at Thessalonica, we should be working hard as we wait for Him to return.

Based on the number of kids in your group and their skill level, separate the key passage into phrases. Write each phrase on an index card. Make two sets of index cards. Hide each set of cards in its own box of shredded paper. Place boxes on one end of the room. Form two teams on the other side of the room.

When you say "go," one member from each team will run to the box, search to find an index card, and bring the card back to the team. The next team member runs to the box to finds another card, and so forth. Team members must work together to put the phrases of the key passage in order. The first team to put the key passage in order is the winner. For beginning readers, number the words in order on the back of the cards.

Bible story review (10 minutes)

? Bibles, 1 per kid

? Small Group Visual

Pack

? Big Picture Question

Slide or Poster

? copies of the Bible Story Picture, 1 per

4 kids

Encourage the kids to find 2 Thessalonians in their Bibles. Help them as needed.

Say ? Is 2 Thessalonians in the Old Testament or New Testament? (New Testament) Second Thessalonians is found in the Letters division of the New Testament. Who wrote 2 Thessalonians? (Paul) To whom was 2 Thessalonians written? (the church in Thessalonica)

Use the small group visual pack to show kids where today's Bible story is on the timeline. Review the Bible story provided using the bolded text, or summarize the story in your own words. Make several copies of the Bible story picture. You will need one picture for every four children. Cut each picture into four pieces.

Unit 36 Session 2 ? Younger Elementary

5

Sunday,

Kidzone KG and 1st Grade Small Group

Sept 6,

2015

Make the cuts distinctive. Distribute the puzzle pieces to kids. Guide them to find three other

kids who have puzzle pieces that do not match each other. They should put their picture

together and sit as a teams. Ask questions about the Bible story. Kids should decide on answers

as a team. Tell kids to stand up as a team if they know the answer. The first team to stand up

and answer correctly gets a point. Play as time allows. The team with the most points wins. Use

the following review questions or create your own:

? Why did Paul write a letter to the Thessalonian church? (to teach the believers there and encourage them)

? Where did Paul say the Thessalonian believers would be rewarded for their suffering? (in heaven, 2 Thess. 1:5?12)

? What day were the Thessalonian believers afraid they had missed? (the Day of the Lord, Jesus' return to earth, 2 Thess. 2:1?4)

? When will Jesus return to earth? No one knows when Jesus will return to earth except God Himself.

? Whom did Paul say should not eat? (Those who do not work; 2 Thess. 3:2)

? What did Paul tell the believers not to grow weary of doing? (doing good, 2 Thess. 3:13)

Say ? Paul praised the believers for their love for God and each other. They stood strong in their faith even when it meant they may be hurt or killed for following Jesus. Paul prayed for the Thessalonian believers and asked them to pray for him. Show the big picture question slide or poster.

Say ? When will Jesus return to earth? No one knows when Jesus will return to earth except God Himself. One day Jesus will come back for those who trust in Him and punish those who do not.

Activity choice (10 minutes)

Option 1: What do you know?

? large sheet of paper

? dry erase board and markers (optional)

Make two headings on a sheet of paper or a dry erase board, "What We Know About Jesus" and "What We Want to Know About Jesus." While an adult writes, invite kids to name things they know about Jesus and things they would like to know about Jesus. Use the Bible story to help kids generate things they know. Consider searching for answers for things kids would like to know. Perhaps invite your pastor to class to answer kids' tough questions.

Say ? The Bible tells us many things about Jesus. The Bible does not tell us when Jesus will return to earth, but it does tell us only God Himself knows when. When will Jesus return to earth? No one knows when Jesus will return to earth except God Himself.

Unit 36 Session 2 ? Younger Elementary

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Sunday,

Kidzone KG and 1st Grade Small Group

Sept 6,

2015

Option 2: Make a boomerang

? "Boomerang Template"

? scissors

? pencil

? poster board

? markers

? stickers

Note: Several boomerangs may be made from one sheet of poster board.

Print and cut out the boomerang template. Trace the template onto poster board to make several heavier templates. Give a piece of poster board for each child. Guide kids to use a template to trace the boomerang pattern. Direct kids to cut out their boomerangs. Help kids write the big picture question and answer on the boomerangs.

Say ?When we play with our boomerangs and watch them come back to us, we can remember Jesus will one day return too. When will Jesus return to earth? No one knows when Jesus will return to earth except God Himself.

Journal and prayer (5 minutes)

? Journal Page,

1 per kid

? markers or crayons

? Bible Story Coloring

Page

Distribute each child's journal page provided with this session. Instruct the kids to draw a picture of the earth. Writers can write the big picture question and answer.

Say ? Let's say our big picture question and answer. When will Jesus return to earth? No one knows when Jesus will return to earth except God Himself.

If time remains, take prayer requests or allow kids to complete the coloring page provided with this session. Pray, thanking God for sending Jesus to save us from sin and for promising that Jesus will return to earth someday. Pray for each child by name, asking God to open their hearts to believe the gospel and to give them grace to serve Him faithfully until Jesus returns.

Dismiss to parents ? Make sure to check security tags when dismissing children.

Unit 36 Session 2 ? Younger Elementary

7

God's Plan for the Church Is Fulfilled UNIT 36 ? Session 2 ? Christ's Return Is Anticipated ? 2015 LifeWay

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