Keeping the message simple today. If we accomplish this one thing, all the other things will fall into place! Based on Mark 12:30,31 For a free coloring page version, right click on the image belo…
When God gave the Holy Spirit to the early church (Acts 2:1-21) it changed everything. This important Sunday is celebrated with the name Day of Pentecost. Coloring Pages Free Pentecost Coloring Pages for Kids
This week following on from a mini series of sessions for the relating to the life of Paul starting a month ago at the last Children's Church. I don't believe I have posted that session due to camera issues. Play The pallet boat/ shipwreck formed the main focus of the room, and later allowed us to tell the story through drama including the children. During the play session, the children decorated the wood pallet with pens and played with the scene. The main writing on the pallet read "The good ship sinker and peace maker" Shipwrecked Scene using the wonderful tuff stop/ builders tray containing sand, blue fabric and playmobil shipwreck (added wooden people also) Play with wooden harbour set that I have used for many water story and is great for linking bible stories to modern situations/ experiences. Sensory Water and boats (small people were added) Alongside the boats blueish jelly with snakes and sea creatures in it. (Snakes relating to the snake that bit Paul on the island of Malta) Craft: Tights???? For more snakes of course Playdough to make snakes (and whatever else but once one person starts the others follow) And I do believe we had some rather beautiful snakes this week. The play dough invitations to play are always so very popular that I am trying to put a play dough activity every session. Wooden boats, although these were not fully able to be undertaken by the children they were popular and children enjoyed decorating them. Because they were able to float they provided great opportunity to follow up story at home. (I will see if I can find some pictures of completed boats) Food: (always a food activity- always popular) Biscuits, with icing with brown sugar for sand, flapjack ship, cocktail stick with tape for sail and of course a jelly baby for Paul We did not have a game this session, we were going to have snakes and ladders but unfortunately were unable to find one :(
Game On VBS Craft Ideas - Lifeway just released their VBS theme for 2018, and it's going to leave you cheering and ready to get in the game!
Use the Jesus Calms The Storm Decoder as a fun activity for your next children's sermon.
This Philip and the Ethiopian Story Illustration will help children better understand how to talk to others about Jesus and why it is so important.
These Rocky Railway VBS Decor Ideas will help you climb aboard and set the scene for VBS and get you on track to have the best VBS yet!
Begin with reading the Love God and Love People devotional. Talk about what it means to love others like Christ loves us. Read the suggested Bible verses together out loud. Look at the pictures and read about the children in the Who is My Neighbor? story. Talk about neighbors near and far and what kinds…
“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” — Matthew 16:16 (KJV) The word ICHTHUS (ἰχθύς), which simply means “fish” in Greek, has …
Most of us don't realize the amount of church jargon that has crept into our conversations. When we ask children to "open their hearts to Jesus" or tell them that "Jesus paid the price for your sins", we often leave them victims of confusion. We need to learn how to share the gospel with a child clearly and without spiritual jargon.
I've been away for a while moving house but now I am back online! Here is a colourful activity to help children celebrate God's love for u...
FREE - Interactive, engaging and all inclusive Bible lesson for Early Childhood aged children.
This also includes a song by Jeanne Dickson! The preschool and early elementary lesson and printables are both included. Let’s study a miracle that Jesus did. Jesus proved His power and that He is the Son of God. Jesus had been healing people. They came to Him in great crowds. It was evening and Jesus saw all the people around Him. There was a certain scribe nearby and he told Jesus that he would follow Jesus wherever He was going. Jesus told the scribe that “Foxes have holes and birds that fly in the air have nests. But He didn’t have anywhere to rest.” A disciple asked Jesus if he could go bury his father, and Jesus replied to follow Him. The disciples went in the boat with Jesus and He told them to “Cross over to the other side”. Matthew, Mark and Luke write about this event that happened and we are not told how many disciples are there. Mark states that they left the crowd and took Jesus in a boat. Mark also tells us there were other small boats with them (vs. 36). They launched the boat and headed for the other side of the Sea of Galilee. All of a sudden, a powerful windstorm came! The waves were crashing into the boat and the boat began to fill with water! It was dangerous and the disciples were afraid. They went to Jesus, but He had fallen asleep. Jesus was sleeping on a pillow in the back of the boat (the stern [Mark vs. 38]). The disciples woke Jesus up and told Him that they were perishing! They said “Save us! Don’t You care that we are perishing?” Jesus asked them “Why are you so worried? Where is your faith? Why do you have so little faith?” Jesus stood up and rebuked the winds and the sea! Jesus told the storm “Peace, be still!” Instantly, the winds and the sea waters were calm. It was a great calm! It wasn’t just a storm that had naturally died down, it was instantly stopped by the power of Jesus! That means the waves even stopped rolling when normally after a storm, it takes time for them to slow down and stop. Jesus asked His disciples why they were so afraid. Why didn’t they have faith? They were very scared of the storm, but they saw the power Jesus had over the wind and the sea, they were amazed by what Jesus could do! They had been so afraid and they were so amazed they said “Even the winds and the water obey Jesus when He commands them to stop!” Jesus is amazing! For a hands-on experiment about the water and waves, I had this container with water in it. I used a plastic boat and let it float about and started to move it to the other side. Then I swished the water and created waves and let the boat rock about in the water. We talked about Jesus commanding the wind and water to stop. So, I stopped playing in the water, but of course the water was still choppy and water was filling the boat. Jesus can make the storm and waves stop instantly, but we can’t. Jesus is awesome! Just like He watched over His disciples, He watches over us. (boats were @ Dollar Tree 3 for $1.00 or Hobby Lobby summer toys or Oriental Trading has some.) If you want to let the students play create waves in the water, leave enough room for the waves to stay in the bucket and have towels ready to dry off hands, arms and boats. A special thank you to Jeanne Dickson for sharing these songs! This includes the one-page black & white song printable and the color flipchart. There is a Jesus and a boat that can be printed on cardstock and attached to large craft sticks to use. These are plain and can be used as different resources. Click here to download. The kids love standups. They can be used as a visual, review visuals, let the students retell the lesson, and/or a take home. Jesus is on one standup and you just turn Him around. The boats are on one also. Print on cardstock and fold the backgrounds in half and they are ready to use. Print Jesus on cardstock, cut around the sold outside line and fold on the center dotted line to use. Click here to download. The worksheet for this lesson includes the worksheet, application scripture worksheet and Scripture Posters. These discuss God's power (mostly over the seas). Answers are included. Click here to download. Click here to print the preschool lesson. Click here to print the early elementary lesson. Click here to download the visuals. The pictures to color are the same as the visuals, but they are black & white. Also, this set includes the three extras as seen below. Click here to download the pictures to color.
FREE - Interactive, engaging and all inclusive Bible lesson for Early Childhood aged children.
FREE - Interactive, engaging and all inclusive Bible lesson for Early Childhood aged children.
FREE Printable Sports-Themed Valentines with Bible Verses – perfect for your kids to use to share God’s love with their friends this Valentine’s Day!
The easiest of activities to make is a horn. This is a simple design that only requires a few items. Construction paper, marker...
Reformation movement in the classroom helps students in the lower elementary understand this important moment in faith history.
Enjoy this collection of Christian symbols, including pictures and descriptions of the most easily recognized markings and signs of Christianity.
Outer Space Snack Ideas Galactic Starveyors VBS
Bible Activities for Teachers | Worksheets, Quizzes, Puzzles & Coloring Pages
This is a DIGITAL FILE! If you are interested in a finished product we have this book as a professionally finished book as well. colored hand bell book. Songs Include: Beautiful Savior Choose The Right Way Do As I'm Doing Family Night Love is Spoken Here Fun To Do I Am a Child of God I Believe in Being Honest I Have a Family Tree I Hope They Call Me on a Mission I Know My Father Lives I Like My Birthdays Father Up Above I Am Like a Star Jesus Loved the Little Children Repentance Jesus Once Was a Little Child Pioneer Children Sang As They Walked Popcorn Popping Stand For the Right The Oxcart Thank Thee, Father Mother Dear Teach Me To Walk In The Light The Holy Ghost We'll Bring the World His Truth IDEAS for the bells Pre-schoolers/Early Childhood: • Basic color recognition activities • Beginning lessons to music and movement • Hand-eye coordination • Literacy! (Reinforces well known songs) • Rhyming skills put to music Music Teachers: • Introduction to music sounds • Introduce basic to complex rhythms • Learn and review note names • Explain scales and pitch • Reinforce lesson material • Variety in music lessons (specifically for younger children) • Variety to music/piano recitals/school performances o Students learn to keep tempo with other students o All piano levels can participate • Great resources for elementary school teachers Church/Family: • Sunday school activities/ youth group resources • Singing time resource • Family Home Evening Create music in any family setting!
The free, printable Bible bookmarks for kids provided on SundaySchoolZone.com are professionally-designed bookmarks with a Bible verse, phrase, or truth on them. Each 8 1/2 X 11 inch sheet typically has three or four bookmarks on it, and sometimes more. Simply print and cut the number you need!
Kids crafts for each piece of the Armor of God.
FREE - Interactive, engaging and all inclusive Bible lesson for Early Childhood aged children.
Teaching little ones how to treat others is a big task for parents. Consistency and structure plays a big part, but I like to use the Fruit of the Spirit in the process. We talk a lot of how God wants us to treat others so using the Bible is key for us during
The AWANA program at our church has started for the fall. I am in charge of crafts for the Sparks group with students in Kindergarten through Second Grade. After the opening session, the kids come to my room for craft time and the listeners call them out a few at a time to work on
This craft is a visual illustration of the Philip and the Ethiopian. As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 3…
“I have given you an example to follow” – these are the words of Jesus to His disciples, to us, and the very core of discipleship. Jesus is our example of how to live and love, how to follow after …
This post is a request from a comment. I have listed the order of the lesson posts for Acts with the links for your convenience to find them. If you are teaching the book of Acts, this list of links help make finding everything easier. Please note: This has the list of original Acts lessons first. Newer versions will be listed also with the blog post photo, but both posts have different ideas & printables. Sorry, this page is missing pictures. They will be added soon. Click here to see the updated visuals for Acts. Click on the title to see the post: The Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost Ananias & Sapphira Newer lesson is here Stephen Newer lesson is here Philip & Ethiopian Eunuch Newer lesson is here Peter Freed From Prison newer lesson here Peter Heals Dorcas & Aeneas Newer lesson is here Cornelius & Peter's Dream Newer lesson is here Saul Blinded by the Light Newer lesson is here Paul Leaves Damascus by Basket Newer lesson is here Newest lesson is here Paul & Elymas the Sorcerer Newer lesson is here Paul & Barnabas in Antioch Newer lesson is here Paul Heals Crippled Man in Lystra Newer lesson is here Timothy Newer lesson is here Lydia Newer lesson is here or here newest lesson is here Paul & Silas in Prison Newer lesson is here newer lesson is here Paul Preaches @ Mars Hill in Athens Newer lesson is here Newest lesson is here Aquila & Priscilla Newer lesson is here Newest lesson is here Eutychus Newer lesson here Demetrius & Evil Books Burned Newer lesson is here Agabus Newer lesson is here Newest lesson is here Paul Captured in Jerusalem Newer lesson is here Paul's Nephew Saves Him Newer lesson is here Paul Before Felix Newer lesson is here Newest lesson is here Paul Before Festus & King Agrippa Newer lesson is here Newest lesson is here Paul Shipwrecked Newer lesson is here Paul Gets Bit by a Snake on Malta Newer lesson is here Paul Arrives in Rome Newer lesson is here Paul's Life Review Click here to see all the Acts worksheets. Click here for the ORIGINAL Acts passport link to print your weekly passport. The Travels of Paul Passport was updated! It is smaller to look like a real passport, easier to print, and has more printing options. Click here to see the newer version. The newest passport with stamps is here. Click here for the Acts lapbook printables. Click here for the visuals for each lesson that can be for a bulletin board, flip chart, etc.
This week in Bible we read the story of the prophet Elisha and the widow who God helped provide oil for. We read the story every mo...
This The Lord's Prayer craft will help your child learn how to pray.
Today is St. John the Baptists's Day, a festival day celebrated around the summer solstice. In Freemasonry, this day should be used to renew and strengthen the ties between Brothers. This day falls on or near the Summer Solstice where the sun is at its zenith marking the shortest night of the year and the start of summer. John the Baptist belonged to the Jewish tribe of Levi. His father was a Temple priest named Zechariah and his mother was named Elizabeth, who was cousin to the Virgin Mary. John the Baptist was born six months before Jesus Christ, and he died about 6 months before Jesus. As he would later do with the Virgin Mary, the archangel Gabriel announced to Elizabeth the coming of her son, John. John lived in the mountains between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. John was a very religious man who had his own ministry. His ministry became so popular many began to wonder if he was the Messiah prophesied, but John declared Jesus the "Lamb of God" and when he baptized Jesus Christ, he told his disciples to follow the Nazarene. After the Baptism of Christ, these two never met again on Earth. John was murdered by King Herod after he had criticized their sinful lives. John was imprisoned before being beheaded. When Jesus was informed of the Baptist's death he responded by saying, "John was a lamp that burned and gave Light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his Light." The Baptist is best remembered for his baptism of Christ and his zealous virtue in keeping God's laws. In some sects of Christianity, John the Baptist is sometimes referred to as the Precursor or Forerunner. This day is the feast day for St. John not because he died on this date, as is the norm, but because this day was said to be his birthday. He was said to have been born 6-months prior to the coming of Jesus Christ; as Christ's birthday is near the Winter Solstice, this would place the Baptist's birthday near the Summer Solstice. It is claimed that during the rise of Christianity and the conversion of so many Roman pagans that pagan holidays were converted into Christian holidays where Saints were remembered that previously worshiped pagan gods and goddesses. With this theory, it is argued that St. John the Baptist was not born on or near the Summer Solstice, but was just another example of the Christianization of pagan solstice festivals. To some, this day is called "Setting of the Watch" where bonfires are lit at sunset and people would jump through the bonfires for good luck and some considered the fires to be a purifying and cleansing agent (remember, "the night is dark and full of terrors"). Some across Europe celebrate this holiday by wearing crowns of wildflowers, oak wreaths, and so on. All in all, the various celebratory ceremonies and rituals were used to celebrate the cycles of life and death. To our friends and Brothers, the sun at the heart of worship and considered the greatest power; by it the world was illuminated and heated; by it they were capable of observing the passage of time each and the changing of the seasons through the year; by it nourishing crops were grown. The ancient worship of the sun evolved into the personification of the sun in the form of sun gods In Freemasonry, it is strange that the Holy Saints John was selected as the Patron Saints of Freemasonry rather than St. Thomas who is considered the Patron Saint of Masonry. Masonic scholars state that these two were selected as St. John the Baptist represented the faith and zeal that should actuate every Mason while the Evangelist represents how our passions and actions should be tempered through reason and knowledge. Take together they represent the path towards enlightenment. In the Ahiman Rezon, the Constitution of the Antients it states, "the stern integrity of Saint John the Baptist, which induced him to forego every minor consideration in discharging the obligations he owed to God; the unshaken firmness with which he met martyrdom rather than betray his duty to his Master; his steady reproval of vice, and continued preaching of repentance and virtue. make him a fit patron of the Masonic institution." Bro. Gregory Stewart argued that St. John the Baptist was alchemically represented by the inverted pyramid, the symbol for the Element of Water, which he states represents spiritual and emotional love, as well as reminds us of the Baptism of Jesus Christ which St. John the Baptist presided over. This day and the Holy Saints John also remind us of the Masonic symbol the Point Within the Circle which represents the two saints on either side of a circle representing their place at each of the sun's orbit; two milestones in the astronomical year. This symbol is powerful and much more will be explained in a future article. For the present, it is necessary that this symbol is introduced in the Entered Apprentice degree, and Masons are reminded to study astronomy (one of the 7 liberal arts and science) in the Fellow Craft degree. It was through the study of the movement of the heavenly bodies that man was capable of understanding the habits of animals, best farming and harvest practices, even opportune times for warfare, and, finally, the creation of a calendar system. I see very few Lodges celebrating this day and I find that tragic. This day is one to forge our bonds not with our present Brethren, but also with those who have walked this world before us. This day is also important to Freemasonry as the first Grand Lodge was formed in London on this day in 1717. Brothers, let us keep to celebrating this day and strengthening the chain of the union of this venerable fraternity. References 1. Elam, P. G. (2000). St. John the Baptist, Patron Saint. Retrieved from Phoenix Masonry: http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/st_johns_day.htm 2. Hodapp, C. (2011, June 23). St. John the Baptist Day June 24th. Retrieved from Freemasons for Dummies: http://freemasonsfordummies.blogspot.com/2011/06/st-john-baptist-day-june-24th.html 3. Midsummer Day. (n.d.). Retrieved from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midsummer_Day 4. Point Within A Circle. (n.d.). Retrieved from Masonic Lodge of Education: http://www.masonic-lodge-of-education.com/point-within-a-circle.html 5. Saint John the Baptist. (n.d.). Retrieved from Masonic Dictionary: http://www.masonicdictionary.com/stjohnb.html 6. Stewart, G. (2008, June 20). Solstice and Saint John the Baptist. Retrieved from Masonic Traveler: http://masonictraveler.blogspot.com/2008/06/solstice-and-saint-john-baptist.html 7. Stewart, G. (2010). The Holy Saints John – Duality in the Construct of One. Retrieved from Freemason Information: http://freemasoninformation.com/masonic-education/esoterica/the-holy-saints-john-duality-in-the-construct-of-one/ 8. Sts. John Days. (n.d.). Retrieved from Masonic World: http://www.masonicworld.com/education/files/stjohndays.htm 9. Sts. John's Days. (n.d.). Retrieved from Masonic Dictionary: http://www.masonicdictionary.com/stjdays.html
