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Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. ~ Proverbs 22:6 KJV

  • Sunday School Lessons

    Find Sunday School Lessons - Teach kids of all ages with these easy to follow bible stories and lessons.

  • Sunday School Coloring Pages

    Find Sunday School Coloring Pages - Print these FREE coloring pages to use with your lessons or as time fillers.

  • Sunday School Games

    Find Sunday School Games - Teach kids about the bible and help them learn their bible verses with these easy to follow bible games.

    Tuesday, August 19, 2014

    Yes, it is a bit early, but Christian children's plays can be hard to find, especially free ones. It can also be hard to find a play to suit younger and older children together. Use the free Christmas play script below alone or add to it to incorporate older children. Following the simple steps will have children on the stage and performing in no time.



    Sunday School Ideas for Christmas Play

    An older child can be the narrator while younger children can speak their parts into a microphone. If several older children will be in the play, add Bible verses for them to read. Have children dress in Bible time costumes and act out the play as they go. Another alternative to acting out the play is to have the children line up on the stage. Each child can walk to the microphone to say their parts, then return to line.

    Often, parents buy their children a new holiday dress or suit which could also be an alternative to costumes. Have children hold items instead such as: a large star, a shepherd's crook, gold, frankincense, myrrh, a kings crown, and so on.

    Download Music Online

    Several songs can be used during the play. Download music online and make several copies to hand out to children who will be singing solos. The children can learn the songs at home which will make it easier to concentrate on lines and directing of the other children during practices.
    During the songs have children use motions such as: holding a baby, putting their hands together by their heads for sleeping, and, so on. The motions do not need to be elaborate. Keep it simple and fun for the kids.

    Find Costumes for the Play!!

    Christmas Play Script

    Sing "Away in a Manger" to open up the Christmas play*.

    Narrator:
    Our story begins long ago.
    An angel tells Mary she will have a baby.
    The baby will be God's Son.
    Mary is to name the baby, Jesus.

    Child One: Mary and Joseph must travel to Bethlehem to be counted. They will have to walk around 50 miles to get there.

    Child Two: Mary and Joseph couldn't find a place to stay. There was no room for them in the inn.

    Child Three: The only place for them to rest was a stable where the animals were kept.

    Narrator:
    It was time for baby Jesus to be born.
    Mary and Joseph made their way to the stable.
    Most stables were not barns in those days, but caves.
    There Mary gave birth to a baby boy named Jesus.

    Child Four: The shepherds were watching their flocks by night in a field.

    Child Five: An angel appeared to the shepherds telling them of Jesus' birth. The shepherds went to the stable to see the young king.

    Child Six: Mary did not wrap baby Jesus in a warm blanket. She wrapped him in strips of cloth called swaddling clothes.

    Child Seven: Mary laid baby Jesus not in a bed, but in a manger. A manger is where the animals eat their food.

    Sing "Silent Night"

    Narrator:
    A wicked king heard about Jesus' birth.
    He wanted to kill all the baby boys who lived near him.
    An angel came to Joseph in his dreams to warn him.
    The angel told Joseph to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt until it was safe.
    When the bad king died, Mary and Joseph returned to Nazareth.

    Child Eight: The wise men did not come to the stable. The star led the wise men to Jesus' house.

    Child Nine: The Bible says that wise men came to see Jesus. It does not say there were only three.

    Child Ten: The wise men who did come to worship Jesus brought gifts. The gifts they brought were gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

    Child Eleven: Jesus grew up with his brothers and sisters. Joseph taught Jesus how to be a carpenter.

    Child Twelve: When Jesus was 33 years old he died on the cross for our sins. Now, we can go to Heaven to live forever.

    Finish the play by singing one last song, "Joy to the World". After all, it is an amazing miracle that happened that night so long ago in Bethlehem.

    Read the story of Jesus' birth. It is found in the book of Luke chapter 2 to get a better grasp on the play. Use the verses to add to the play, if needed.

    Tips for a Stress Free Christmas Play

    Rehearse the play in a room that will not be used for the play several times before moving the children to the main area. This will keep it new to them and will hold their attention longer. Once the play is over, remove costumes and hang them up. If the children are allowed to wear their costumes out into the audience after the play, the costumes may be damaged or worn home.

    A Pre-teen could say the part of the narrator. If more parts are needed, break-up the narrator's parts. Use these parts for other children. Take pictures before the play and during the play while the children are more focused.

    If parents wish to have pictures, send them pictures through e-mail or set up a slide show to be shown at a later date. Avoid giving the children a sweet treat before the play. Instead, feed them a nutritious snack. If treats will be given, save them until after they perform to take home.


    Merry Christmas!!

     

    Monday, August 18, 2014

    Fundraisers don't need to always be about selling something like T-shirts, hats, popcorn, candy, cookies and so on. Many fundraisers do a lot better without items to sell. Below are several ideas for your church fundraiser that are sure to bring in lots of cash.



    Creative Fundraising Idea: Pickin' & Grinnin' 
      
    For a creative fundraiser for church, start by getting the church family involved. Begin by asking to borrow items such as gingham table cloths, rocking chairs, bales of hay, metal buckets, wagon wheels or anything else you might find on a front porch or in a front yard. Next, schedule a work day to decorate the area you will be using for the fundraiser. Your goal is to make it look like a front porch. If possible, add a few glider swings to the area.

    After you have decorated the area, add some old time games to the tables like checkers for people to play. Schedule the event on an evening that the congregation will not need to rush off. Announce to the congregation that anyone who plays an instrument should bring theirs to the fundraiser. While the musicians sit around pickin' and a grinnin', the rest of the congregation can sit back and enjoy the show.

    Enlist the children of the church to be waiters for the evening. Plan on serving something simple and cheap like spaghetti and garlic bread. If possible, buy the food in bulk to save yourself some money. There are three ways you can make money. First, have a donation box set up around the musicians as they play. Second, have small metal buckets on each table for donations for the dinner or collect $5 per person who comes through the door. Third, don't serve dessert. Instead, ask the ladies of the church to make homemade pies and auction them off after the meal.

    How to Raise Money

    Years ago, unwed females would fix a lunch or supper for two and put the meal into a decorated container. The men would bid on the food and whichever man won the bid, he would have the honor of eating the meal with the female cook. Of course, he didn't know what female made what food in the baskets. It was a surprise of sorts. I wonder if this is where the "blind date" originated as well?

    This same concept can be used for a church fundraiser, except not use it for match-making. Instead, box up meals that will feed two people and others that will feed a family. Let the church family prepare the food that will be used in the boxes. Some may be sandwiches while others may be fried chicken and baked beans. All boxed meals will go for different prices, but all will be added to the fund raising money.

    Creative Fund Raising Ideas
    One last idea for raising money is to have a sports fund raiser. At this event, decide on how many different sports you will need such as baseball, basketball, volleyball, soccer, horse shoes and so on. Invite other churches to join in this creative fundraising idea by scheduling a day that all churches can attend. Next, set a price for each sporting event.

    Players will pay $5 to $10 apiece to play in the game of their choice. The winning team of each sport will get to eat free while the losing team will have to pay an extra dollar for their meal. This is all in good fun and most churches will be happy to join in the festivities, especially if the money will be used to glorify God.


    Use the money you raise to help spread the Word of God.


    Mark 16:15 KJV
    Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
     
     
     
    *Image courtesy of Doug Kerr.

    Sunday, August 17, 2014


    Sunday School Lesson
    Date: August 11
    Length: 1 hour
    Audience: Adults
    Lesson: Matthew 21:12-17
     
    Opening Prayer
    Introduction                                                                                                                       15 Minutes

    Have the students read the short story below. After reading, have them answer the question at the end of the story.

    It’s Friday!! It’s payday and I’m on cloud 9. It’s going to be a great day. Traffic is light; there are no slow people out driving.  Wait, what was that sound? Oh no, I think I popped a tire. I don’t have time for this. I’m going to be late. What’s that sound? Who’s calling me? Oh no; it’s the boss. Why is he calling me?
    Hello.  Hey boss. No, I’m on the way. No, the file is on my desk. It’s  not? Wait, it’s in the car. I took it home to make some final corrections. I’m sorry; I’m on the way.
    Well thank God; I’m here, and only an hour late. What else could go wrong? Spoke too soon; here comes “head down Helen.” She is always looking for someone to pick her up. Well, today is not my day. In fact, I’m going to take the stairs.

    Did I do something  wrong?

    (Allow for open discussion for about 5 minutes)
    Answer: I should never allow my anger to interfere with a chance to witness for Christ.
    Answer: I should not allow anger to define or consume me.
    Ask the class to comment on a time when they made someone angry.
    Specifically:
    How soon did they apologize?
    How fast did they want you to forgive them?
     
     



    The title of this Sunday School lesson is: Dealing With Your Emotions.

    The lesson will be divided into 2 parts:
    (At the end of each section, allow time for questions.)
     

    Is there ever a right time to be angry? (12-13)                                                                    15 Minutes

    Jesus was upset for a number of reasons:

    ·         Poor people were being forced to buy defiled animals

    ·         Those guilty of the crime were the spiritual and well off

    ·         The crime took place in the temple

    Jesus was angry; but never allowed His anger to take control. Too often, we allow the anger to be more important than the reason we got angry. For us, we cannot and should not let this happen to us.
     

    Prolonged anger can interfere with your ministry (14-17)                                              15 Minutes

    No sooner than He was done cleansing the temple; Jesus was faced with society’s most vulnerable people; the disabled and the children. He could have very easily informed both that He had no time right now.  He could have told the lame to quit feeling sorry for themselves. He could have told the children that this was adult business, and He has no time right now. Instead, He stopped and made time for both.
    If we are not careful, the spiritually vulnerable will be at our door right after a heated discussion with your spouse or after you’ve found out that you were not chosen for a promotion. What will you do?

    Scriptures that will help you deal with your anger:

    ·         Ephesians 4:26-27

    ·         Matthew 18:21-22


    Summary                                                                                                                                             15 Minutes

    • Anger should never see the sunset.
    • When angry; be on the lookout for an opportunity to minister to someone.
    • Jesus did not allow His anger to conflict with your salvation.


    Closing prayer

    Author: Stephen Thomas

    Image courtesy of epSos.de

    Wednesday, August 6, 2014


    Sunday School Lesson
    Length: 1 hour
    Audience: Adults
    Lesson: 1 Corinthian 10:12-22
    Prayer

    Introduction                                                                                                                       15 Minutes

    Have the students read the short story below. After reading, have them answer the question at the end of the story.

    Friday was Bob’s last day. I was in charge of planning the event. Bob had been a great friend and mentor, and I wanted to send him out in style. I walked through the office making a list of all the people that planned on attending. It was going to be a first class; Christian affair.  We even planned to have prayer for Bob at the end of the party.
    I asked Mary if she planned on attending. Mary was recently saved, and I wanted her to feel a part of the Christian family at work. Mary was not convinced. She was a recovering alcoholic, and didn’t think it wise to attend. I told Mary that alcohol does not save or condemn. I encouraged her to come, because the safest place on earth was around believers. Mary nodded, and agreed to stop by.
    1 hour and 11 drinks later; Mary was drunk. She made a complete fool of herself, and totally ruined the party. She looked at me with tears in her eyes and said: “I shouldn’t have listened to you.”
    I felt bad. I only wanted her to be with us, and have a good time.

    Was what I did wrong?

     

    (Allow for open discussion for about 5 minutes)
    Answer: I should have respected the needs of the babe in Christ, and not tempted her into sin. As a Christian, I should have been more sensitive to Mary, and not put her in that position.
    (Ask the class to share a time when either they encouraged someone to do something they could not handle.)
    The title of the lesson is: It’s not okay! In it, we can and will measure ourselves against ourselves, and get a sense of where we are in our Christian walk. We will divide the lesson into 3 parts:
    (At the end of each section, allow time for questions.)

    Understanding your strengths (12-13)                                                                           10 Minutes

    Even strong Christians will face serious temptation. Those that are strong are sometimes more likely to fall because they let their spiritual guard down. As a Christian, it is never okay to fall; or to make excuses for falling. God does not give you more than you can handle.


    Understanding idolatry (14-19)                                                                                      10 Minutes

    Flee means run! Sometimes, in order to avoid sin, you have to run. In the 23 Psalms, David proclaimed that he sometimes had to walk through the valley of the shadow of death. David also said that God prepared a table before him in the presence of his enemies. God does not remove - He guides.

    About Idols:

    ·         They are not real.

    ·         The 10 Commandments warns against graven images.

    ·         Taking Holy Communion unifies our bodies with Christ; idol worship unifies us with the devil.

    ·         God cannot share space with evil.


    Understanding God’s wishes (20-21)                                                                              10 Minutes

    The Bible is full of examples of how the Israelites provoked God by doing wrong in His eyes.
    Read Numbers 25:9:  Mention how Israel fell due to idolatry.


    Summary                                                                                                                            10 Minutes

    The strong can sin by doing something that causes the weak to stumble.
    God is bigger than what you are going through.
    Closing prayer

    Author: Stephen Thomas