December 29, 2013

OT 01 God Creates the Universe

Reference: Genesis 1

Story Summary:
   In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. He created it all in six days and made it all appear simply by speaking.
   On the first day, God created the light. He called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” On the second day, God separated the water on the earth, putting some in the sky and the rest on the earth. The water above the earth was called the “sky” and the water below, the “sea.”
   On the third day, God made land appear and filled it with all kinds of plants. On the fourth day, God created lights for the day and night: the sun, moon, and stars.
   On the fifth day, God created birds to fill the skies and fish to fill the seas. On the sixth day, God created animals to fill the land. He also created people, which we’ll read more about in our next lesson.
   After looking at all he made, God said that it was very good. And on the seventh day, he rested, not because he needed a break, but because he was finished with his work and wanted to teach us to rest, too.

Big Idea and Motions: God spoke and created everything in six days and it was good.
God - point up
Spoke - make your hand talk like a puppet
Created - pretend to mold something with your hands
Everything - gesture your arms in wide circles
Six - hold up six fingers
Good - two thumbs up

Verse / Motions: Genesis 1:1, ESV - In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Beginning - place your palms together, then open them like a book
God - point up
Created - pretend to mold some playdough
Heavens - point up and jump
Earth - reach down and smack the floor

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
What did God create on day 1? // The heavens, the earth, day, and night
What did God create on day 2? // He separated the sky and sea
What did God create on day 3? // Land and plants
What did God create on day 4? // The sun, moon, and stars
What did God create on day 5? // Birds and fish
What did God create on day 6? // Land animals and people
What did God do on day 7? // He rested
How did God create all these things? // He spoke and they happened
What is today’s big idea? // God spoke and created everything in six days and it was good.
What is today’s Bible verse? // Genesis 1:1, ESV - In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/NtC1Ie
Resources - http://goo.gl/MWHgNm

December 22, 2013

NT 05 Magi Visit Jesus

Reference: Matthew 2:1-12

Story Summary:
   The magi were wise men from the east. They studied lots of things, including the stars. One day, they saw a special star God placed in the sky. They were certain that this meant a new king for the Jews had been born.
   The magi followed this star to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?” When evil King Herod heard about this, he asked the Bible experts where the Christ, the savior and king God had promised to send, would be born. They said, “In Bethlehem.” Herod told them to go and find the child. Herod secretly began planning how to get rid of him.
   The magi followed the star until it stopped over a house. Inside, they found a child named Jesus and his mother, Mary. There they bowed down and worshipped him, and gave him expensive gifts for a king: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Later, God warned them in a dream to not return to Herod, but to go back home by a different route.

Big Idea and Motions: Jesus is the Christ: our Savior and our King!
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
Christ - pretend to anoint your own head with oil
Savior - do the baseball “safe!” sign
King - pretend to put a crown on your head

Verse / Motions: Philippians 2:10-11, ESV - ...every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord...
Knee should bow - drop to your knees, then stand up
Heaven - reach up high and jump
Earth - reach down and pat the ground
Under the earth - pretend to dig with a shovel
Tongue - grab your tongue
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
Lord - pretend to put a crown on your head

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who were the magi? // Wise men who looked at the stars to learn about God and the future.
What did the magi think the special star in the sky meant? // A new king for the jews was born.
Who was upset when he heard the magi were looking for a new king? // King Herod
Where did the Bible experts say the Christ was going to be born? // Bethlehem
What does “Christ” mean? // The anointed one; the savior and king God promised to send
Over whose house did the star stop? // Jesus’ house.
What did the magi do at Jesus’ house? // Bow down and worship, give him gifts for a king
What did God tell the magi to do in their dream? // Don’t go to Herod, go home a different way
What is today’s big idea? // Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and our King.
What is today’s Bible verse? // Philippians 2:10-11, ESV - ...every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord...

Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/wY4Um4
Resources - http://goo.gl/eNu6Iv

December 1, 2013

NT 03 The Birth of Jesus

Reference: Luke 2:1-7

Story Summary:
   Caesar Augustus made a law requiring everyone to return to their hometown. They had to sign their name on a list so that they could be taxed.
   So Joseph and Mary returned to Bethlehem, Joseph's hometown. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born. Mary gave birth to a son. She named him Jesus, the name the angel had told her to give him.
   Mary wrapped Jesus in swaddling cloths. Since there was no room for them to stay at the inn, she laid him in a manger, a box normally used to hold food for animals.
   Jesus is God's Son. He came to earth as a human being because he had a special mission. He came to save us from our sins.
   When Jesus grew up, he finished his mission by dying on the cross. He died to pay the punishment for the sins of others.

Big Idea and Motions: God sent his Son, Jesus, to save us from sin
God - point up
Son - pretend to cradle a baby
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
Save - make the baseball “safe” sign
Sin - two thumbs down

Verse and Motions: Matthew 20:28, ESV - ...even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Son - pretend to cradle a baby
Man - flex your muscles like a manly man
Not - wag your finger "no"
Be served - pretend to take an object from someone else
To serve - pretend  to give an object  to someone else
Give his life - hold your arms out like Jesus on the cross
Ransom - pretend to swipe a credit card
Many - gesture your arms in a wide circle

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
What did Caesar Augustus make everyone do? (Go and sign a list so they could be taxed.)
What town did Mary and Joseph need to travel to? (Bethlehem.)
What happened to Mary while they were in Bethlehem? (Time for the baby to be born.)
What did they place Jesus in when he was born? (A manger.)
Why did they have to place Jesus in a manger? (Because there was no room in the inn.)
What does Jesus’ name mean? (Savior.)
What did Jesus come to save us from? (Sin.)
How did Jesus pay the price to save us from sin? (By dying on a cross.)
What is today’s big idea? (God sent his Son, Jesus, to save us from sin.)
What is today’s Bible verse?  (Matthew 20:28 - ...even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. ESV)

Google Docs Links
Lesson - http://goo.gl/y5AB86
Resources - http://goo.gl/W6UQE3