Page Turner- Week 1
Page-turners are exciting books, the kind you don’t want to put down, the kind you would stay up extra late to read. Books are exciting when we can find ourselves in the stories and imagine being a part of the adventure. This month we are going to look at some of the page-turning stories of the Bible. Each of these stories has something valuable to teach us about our patient and powerful God who prepares us to fight temptation and celebrates us, the heroes in our own real-life adventures!
Click HERE to watch this month’s memory verse video!
God celebrates us.
MEMORY VERSE: "But the Lord is faithful and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one." II Thessalonians 3:3 (NIV)
TODDLER MV- "God protects me and gives me strength." II Thessalonians 3:3
READ: Parable of the Lost Son: Luke 15:11b-32
WATCH:
Preschool- Teaching Video
Elementary- Teaching Video
SONG: My God is Powerful
ACTIVITY:
Read Luke 15:11b-32 together before doing this activity.
It’s time to put on your imagination caps! Have you ever thought about what it would be like to shrink? What if we were the size of our fingers? What if we were the size of a blade of grass? That would be wild to be that small, wouldn’t it? The whole world would look so different! We would need somewhere really small to live instead of a giant house, right? Where would you want to live if you were the size of your pointer finger? [Hold up your pointer finger. Give your kids time to share their ideas.]
I like those ideas! Here is another idea: what about an envelope? [Hold up an envelope and open the flap.] Look! This is just like a little house!
Let’s recreate our Bible story using these materials. Don’t forget to draw some balloons and party decorations! The father was so glad for his younger kid to be home! He celebrated big time!
INSTRUCTIONS: Gather envelopes, paper, popsicle sticks, and
markers to create this craft to represent today’s Bible story. Have your kids draw each of the Bible characters on popsicle sticks, make the envelope look like a house, then glue the envelope onto
a piece of paper.
COLORING: Parable of the Lost Son
DISCIPLE:
Read Luke 15:11b-32.
Just like the dad in our story celebrated the return of his son when he went away, God does the same for us.
No matter where we go and what we do, we are God’s kids and God will always be happy to see us!
Imagine we live in a land where every single day is your birthday. Wouldn’t that be awesome? What’s your favorite thing about your birthday?
Here’s another awesome part about this land. . .It isn’t just your birthday, every single day is everyone’s birthday!
INSTRUCTIONS: Give your kids a piece of construction paper and strips of scrap paper. Help them make their own scrap paper birthday cake cards. Set out decorating supplies.
Use the piece of paper and drawing supplies to create a birthday card for someone who makes you feel special. It could be for your friend, mom, grandpa, aunt, or your small group leader.
Draw them pictures to show them how much you love and appreciate them. Let’s celebrate the people who make us feel special!
How do your friends and family members make you feel special?
Other than this card, how can you make others feel special?
If God were to write me a birthday card, I think God would say, “I am proud of you. You are thoughtful and kind. I love you.” What do you think God would say to you?
God celebrates us and reminds us that we are special. God also wants us to celebrate others.
Pray: Dear God, thank you for loving and celebrating me! Thank you for forgiving me when I make bad choices. Help me remember that every time I come back to you, you have a party waiting for me. Amen.
DISCUSSION:
What did the younger son ask for?
How do you think the father felt while the younger son was gone? What about the older brother?
What happened when the son came back?
Read II Corinthians 5:17-19. How did reconciliation happen between God and us?
Describe a way we might lose our way and wander from God. What can we do if this ever happens to us?
What can we do to reconcile with someone?
How can we celebrate others as God celebrates us?