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This web-site is for everyone interested in learning more about the Bible.
This section helps Sunday school teachers find new ways of teaching familiar materials. Our goal is to augment lessons you may already have in your Sunday school curriculum. In the New Year, let’s encourage our children, pupils and each other to use the Bible as our daily problem solver and to turn to God, "a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” When there is so much competition in the world and peer pressure to do things inappropriate or wrong, it is helpful to teach our children that the only approval they need is God’s. It makes life so simple! Before doing something, ask yourself, Does this action that I’m about to take please God?
The entire Activities section is divided into Memory Work, Activities, and Discussion Questions. You can go to any of these sections and select what best works for your pupils.
You can now download all three sections for ease in using these materials for teaching. |
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MEMORY WORK |
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Teachers and Parents
This month, our theme is taken from II Tim 2:15: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." It is so important to encourage our little ones as well as ourselves to memorize Bible verses and stories – to become so familiar with the passage or story that its timeless relevance appears to us more and more clearly with every retelling. A major difference was evident between Sunday school pupils required to tell the story versus those who gave nodding recognition to the same story. Two years ago, our pupils were asked to tell Bible stories to the pre-school children. Now they ask all the time when it’s their turn to tell a story. We can not overlook the significance of memorizing a verse or story.
Consider sharing with your Sunday school pupils and parents ways to help little ones learn the verse and understand the impact of the message on their lives.
- Write out or type this week’s Bible verse on a card and place it on a mirror the child uses each day.
- Place the verse for the week in his/her lunch box.
- Ask the child to recite the verse before or after grace at the dinner meal.
- Practice as a family at dinner, going around the table with each one saying a word until the verse is complete.
- Put the verse to music. Create your own tune for each Bible verse. Create pictures to help remember the verse.
- Write it in a Bible verse notebook as many times as you can.
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Bible Verses
Work with your child and your students to learn each verse. Then, discuss the meaning of the verse and how it can be applied to our everyday lives. On Sundays during class, riding in the car, or at dinner, it's fun to share stories of how the children have used the verse in their lives that week.
We provide memorization verses for each week. You can add your own.
Sunday January 7
Col 3:10 put
put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
- What does it mean to put on the “new man?”
- How is that possible?
- Who created you?
- How do your spiritual goals for 2007 relate to this “new man?”
Sunday January 14
II Tim 1:7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
- What does it mean to have a “sound mind?”
- Are you afraid of anything?
- How do you overcome fear?
- If God hasn’t given us fear, why are we afraid?
Sunday January 21
II Tim 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
- From whom do you seek approval?
- Why should you only seek approval from God?
- Will life be easier if you only seek God’s approval? Why?
- How do we divide the word of truth?
Sunday January 28
II Tim 4:7
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
- What is the “good fight?”
- What course is finished?
- What is faith?
- How have you kept the faith?
Sunday February 4th
II Tim 1:3
I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
- Who are the “forefathers?”
- What is a “pure conscience?”
- Who do you pray for every day and night?
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Bible Stories
This month we look at individuals who learned to gain approval from God.
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ACTIVITIES |
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This month we are reviewing the stories related to seeking God’s approval. There are many more you could add. Ask your students which Bible characters sought God’s approval.
Bible Overview covers the letter to II Timothy. |
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Exercise:
A new year – a new view – a new song – new opportunities to seek God’s approval. If you have done this activity in the past, ask the students to review their spiritual goals from last year and see what kind of progress they made. I just did an assessment with my class and most of the goals had been accomplished. A few were so-so. So the class made a new list. It was a more realistic list of goals. Help pupils to write goals that are achievable and assess them once a month. Sometimes they need help in accomplishing those goals. One pupil last year enlisted to pray daily. When I asked how she was coming with that goal, she confessed she really didn’t know how to pray. This opened wonderful teachable moments.
Col 3:10 put
…put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
As we ring in the New Year, we can help our pupils see the differences between the old person we were this past year and the new person we want to be in the new year.
Ask the students to make a list of the past year’s mental garbage they are willing to throw away and what new qualities or concepts they want to replace it with for the new year. Find the labels that seem to fit the “old you” and pull them off and replace them with your goals for the new year – what will the “new you” do instead?
In the past, middle school and high school students have shared the following ideas:
Fear – I was afraid of being alone at night, but now I want to trust God more.
Jealousy – My best friend has all the guys in school drooling over her, but I want to be grateful for who I am.
Comparisons – I want to stop comparing my life (body, complexion, grades, clothes) with my friends and be grateful for how God made me.
Criticism - I sometimes find more things wrong with life than is right. This next year, I want to find the good and be less critical.
Gossip – I have a tendency to share bits and pieces of information about people without really knowing what’s true. I want to stop spreading gossip and only tell the truth about people.
Complaining – I complain about everything, my teachers, my parents, sister, brother, friends, classes, food at school, my allowance (what allowance?) no car, you name it. This is going to be a tough one to stop, but I want to see how much more I can praise the people in my life.
Stupid mistakes – I want to totally forget all the dumb things I did this past year trying to be someone I’m not. I really want to be happy with being me.
Cheating – I want to quit thinking someone else has better answers and trust what I know.
You might also work on making a list of goals for the new year.
Goals
To:
- Forgive
- Be a better athlete
- Use wisdom about what I eat
- Master the unsaid, rather than be a slave of the said
- Be kinder
- Be more thoughtful
- Be a better student
- Be nicer to my siblings
- Tell the truth to my parents
Help them discover what states of thought they have outgrown. A poem by Samuel Longfellow concludes: “The Life that makes all things new.” Help them see how God is making them “new” moment by moment. They never have to wait for January 1 to be made new. It takes place hourly. |
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Exercise:
Supply each student with a small spiral notebook with three or more divided sections.
In section one – list Spiritual Goals and Progress. This is where the new year of achieving the spiritual goals begins.
Section two can include Bible verses or stories or phrases from sermons that help them move forward in their understanding of God. These often make good bumper stickers for their rooms. After reviewing their entries, you might suggest making post-it notes of verses or phrases that will inspire them throughout the week.
One of my pupils needed encouragement about a relationship challenge. We found Bible verses that helped her change her thinking, then we made post-it notes for her mirror, school notebook, lunch box, and locker as places to remind her to maintain her joy and keep on loving.
Section three should list healings or lessons learned or whatever you deem appropriate for your age group. Sometimes I’ve had them list what they are learning about God and God’s Word. The point is to inspire them to maintain a record of their spiritual journey.
Last week, I pulled some journals from the shelf and the students compared their progress from three years ago when they were in a different class. Everyone expressed joy about his or her progress. No one was disappointed. In fact, the teacher must be vigilant in establishing a regular review and support in helping achieve those goals. |
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Exercise:
January is often a good time to review memorizing the books of the Bible. Ask the students to name the books in order. If they are still struggling, help them find a way to learn each book. Start with smaller chunks: Torah or first five books of the Bible; followed by some history of moving into the Promised Land, having judges for the people and then the people wanting kings instead of judges. See what happens when we try to live life our way and not God’s way. From the history move into literature and then the prophets. That covers the Old Testament. In the New Testament – learn the Gospels and then look at the beginning of the Christian church through acts of the apostles and the letters. |
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Exercise:
Read the story about Jesus healing the paralyzed man in Mark 2:1-12.
Discuss the kind of friends that the man had. Find the differences in the picture Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man.
 Print/Download Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
Print/Download Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man Answer Sheet
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Exercise:
Read the story of the wise and foolish builders in Matt 7:24-27. Use the connect-the-dot exercise, A Story Jesus Told, to drive home the point of the difference between the wise and foolish builders.
Print/Download A Story Jesus Told
Print/Download A Story Jesus Told Answer Sheet
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Exercise:
Review the story of Balak and Balaam Numbers 22:1-35. Use A Talking Donkey to find the hidden message.
Print/Download A Talking Donkey
Print/Download A Talking Donkey Answer Sheet
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Exercise:
Help students follow a maze, Good Neighbor, while you discuss the qualities needed to be a good neighbor, and be reminded to seek God’s approval for all our actions.
Print/Download Good Neighbor
Print/Download Good Neighbor Answer Sheet
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Exercise:
Reading the Bible through in a year or a couple of years. This is a great task to help students increase their awareness of the Bible.
With younger classes, take one of the toddler or pre-school Bibles we use in Kids Korner. Ask the parents to read at least one story (or more a week) to their children. Discuss this story in class each Sunday. With older children, use an Adventure Bible or Hurlbut’s Kid’s Bible. Give specific reading assignments for each week. For teens, use Eugene Peterson’s The Message or a translation of their liking. The important thing is to begin this wonderful journey. Don’t let getting behind keep you from finishing this goal. There are rich rewards for completing this assignment. If it takes two or three years to accomplish, stay with it. Look at Bible Overview for different ways to read through the Bible. |
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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS |
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Hannah
I Samuel 1-2 The Little Boy Promised to God
- Why was Hannah praying?
- What did she promise God if she had a child?
- What did Eli think was wrong with her?
- What did she do every year after she gave Samuel to Eli?
- Do you think you could promise your first child to God?
- What lessons do we learn from Hannah?
- How did she show she wanted to be approved by God?
- Could you do what Hannah did?
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Samuel
I Samuel 3:1-11 God Calls Samuel
- Who is Samuel?
- What did Samuel hear?
- Who was speaking to Samuel?
- Who did Samuel think was calling him?
- What did Eli tell Samuel to do?
- Have you ever heard God call your name?
- What happened after Samuel told God he was listening?
- Are you willing to listen to God?
- Memorize the verse: I Sam 3:9 Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.
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A Time for Everything
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 A Time For Everything
- What is time?
- Why do people want more of it?
- What are these citations from Ecclesiastes telling us?
- What is time to God?
- Is time a factor in seeking God’s approval?
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The need to listen
Numbers 22:1-35 What Happened to a Wise Man who Tried to Disobey God
- Who is Balak?
- Who is Balaam?
- What did Balak want Balaam to do?
- Why did Balaam refuse?
- Who else spoke to Balaam?
- Who did God send to trouble Balaam?
- What did the donkey do?
- What did Balaam almost do to the donkey?
- What did Balaam do to the donkey?
- What did the donkey say?
- Why did the donkey talk?
- Whose approval was Balaam seeking?
- Do you ever seek approval from someone other than God?
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Build on the Rock
Matt 7:24-27 Two Houses and The Wise and Foolish Builders
- What is a parable?
- What is the parable Jesus is telling?
- Who does Jesus consider to be wise?
- Who does Jesus say are the foolish?
- What does this parable teach us about what we do in our lives?
- Do you know anyone who builds on sand?
- What happened to that house on the sand?
- What kind of foundation are you building on?
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Philip
Acts 8: 26-39 The Man from Ethiopia and The Man Reading in the Chariot
- Who told Philip to meet with the Ethiopian?
- What was the Ethiopian reading?
- How did Philip help the Ethiopian?
- What did the man want Philip to explain?
- What did the Ethiopian want to do?
- Was Philip an example of seeking God’s approval?
- Are we willing to help people understand God’s Word?
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Don’t forget to read Hot Topic on Government; Make a Difference; the Guest of the Month, Teen Q & A ; Bible Overview's Books of the Bible and Bible Characters about The Pastoral Letters, and Question and Answer about the “Marcionism”.
Encourage your pupils to find ways to ask God to keep them safe. |
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