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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 January, we are rejoicing in freshness and newness that we can feel every day, not only when a new year begins.
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
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. 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 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.
January 6
(KJV) Rev 21:5 (to .) And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.
- Who is making everything new?
- What can we make new?
- How do you go about starting a “new” life?
January 13
(KJV) Ps 40:3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.
- What is the “new song”?
- Are we singing the “new song”?
- Why would we want people to hear the “new song”?
January 20
(KJV) Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
- What is meant by the “first heaven and the first earth”?
- Describe the “new heaven”.
- What is the “new earth”?
January 27
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
- Who gave the “new commandment”?
- How is it possible to love as Jesus loved?
- What will you do this year to love as Jesus loved?
February 3
(KJV) Gal 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
- What law is fulfilled when we love?
- Why is it important to love ourselves?
- How can we love our neighbors if we can’t love ourselves?
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Bible Stories
This month we are looking at newness. How can we help our pupils set fresh goals in their lives? There are Bible stories about individuals who changed their lives, and got a fresh opportunity to do things better. Help them put off their old ways of doing things and accept a new concept of themselves. For instance, because readers have reported that we put too much on BibleWise each month, we plan to reduce the number of stories and exercises in the coming year. BibleWise now has over 10,000 pages on this site. All you need to do is go to archives in each section to find additional materials. There is plenty of materials for teachers to use.
Bible Stories - Look for the “new” views for each of the characters. There are many Old Testament characters you can include in this review of “newness”. For example: Abram and Sarai receive new names; Jacob’s name change; Moses new revelation of God as I Am; Moses gives the new laws. We will be using four New Testament stories to look at new ways of thinking.
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ACTIVITIES |
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Bible Overview covers the second part of the book of Revelation.
This month’s Hot Topic handles Second Chances.
Make A Difference reminds us to stand up for what is right.
Teen Time Question and Answer helps deal with stress.
Kids Korner offers puzzles, games, and stories about “newness.”
Parenting with the Bible looks at a Letter about YOU. |
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This month, we are celebrating freshness, new beginnings, and spiritual goals.
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 were achieved. The few that weren’t were “almosts”. 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. Sometimes they put goals on their lists that they think you want to hear. Make sure they are specifically designing ones for themselves. One girl last year wanted to develop more confidence. Her family told me what progress she made on that one, but she feels she needs to keep it as a priority.
Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.
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 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: Spiritual goals for 2008
- What kind of spiritual goals have you set for this year? (studying the Bible, praying each day, forgiving, planned acts of kindness, etc.)
- How will these goals improve your ability to help others?
- How will your goals improve your contribution to family? Church? Friends? School? Sports? Hobbies?
- If any of these goals are about character change, talk about the importance of asking God if these are goals He has for them.
- Are the Ten Commandments goals? How so?
- What's the difference between a law and a goal?
- Is the speed limit a goal or a law?
- What would keep us from achieving our goals?
- How can we guarantee that we will be successful in achieving our goals?
- What does prayer have to do with our desire to be better?
- What qualities do you want to express this year?
- What kinds of goals does God have for us? (look at the goals for different figures of the Bible: Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Gideon, Samson, Deborah, Ruth, Esther, Job, Samuel, Saul, David, Solomon, Hezekiah, Daniel, Meshach, Shadrach, Abednego, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jonah, Mary, John the Baptist, and Jesus,)
Teachers: You might want to put each name of the Bible characters above (and add others) on index cards and let children draw them out of a stack. Their responsibility is to tell a little bit of the character's story and what kind of goals God gave him or her. This may take a few Sundays. It is a great review and shows our accountability all year to be in service to God.
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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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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. If they find appropriate pictures, they can add the Bible verse and turn it into a poster. Here’s an example using this year’s theme of “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
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| THY WORD IS A LAMP |
UNTO MY FEET, |
AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH. |
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Ps. 119:105 |
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, otherwise it just appears to be words or busy work. |
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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. Help them create pneumonics to help remember. Discuss why it is important to be able to find each book of the Bible and to understand why it’s included in the Bible. |
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Exercise: Sing or read the new song for your life.
Write your own new song. Psalms 96:1 O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth. What new song are you ready to sing. Here is an example of a lower grade pupil:
- I am new everyday -, because God made me this way. I sing, work, and play - I don't forget to pray - because God made me this way. I'm so grateful for everything, God is gracious that's why I sing, "I am okay because, God made me this way." Yea!
- When you write your song, what do the words tell us about you and the new year?
- What kind of changes do you want to make with your life?
- Are their any old habits that need to be broken?
- Is it possible to start brand new?
Viewing others:
- Who do you want to see in a new light? Why?
- How can you consistently do this?
- How do we allow others to become "new”?
- Do we ever get in the way of someone letting go of the past?
- Are we the devil's book-keeper (always reminding people of their past mistakes)?
- Why not make "praising good when you see it" one of your goals for this new year?
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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS |
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Nicodemus seeks Jesus Read John 3:1-21
- Who was Nicodemus?
- Why did he come at night?
- Why was it unusual for him to visit Jesus?
- What did he want?
- What did Jesus tell him?
- The word “again” in Greek means from above.
- Jesus was telling Nicodemus he had to be born from above.
- How does that relate to us?
- Who else was born from above?
- What was the import of Jesus’ message to Nicodemus?
- What does Jesus’ message say to you today?
- Is this story Jesus’ way of telling us of his true nativity?
- Are we all born from above?
- How can we recognize that connection?
- What instructions did Jesus give Nicodemus that we can follow today?
- What “new” concept was Jesus asking Nicodemus and us to consider for today?
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Peter and John heal the Beggar Read Acts 3:1-11
- Where are Peter and John going in this story?
- What time of day is it? [9th hour = 3PM]
- What is significant about that time? [Jesus died on the cross, the veil in the temple was ripped in two]
- Who stops them on their way into the temple?
- What does the man want?
- Has his malady allowed him to become a professional beggar?
- What does Peter say to the man?
- Why is this significant?
- What if the two disciples had given him money -- what would it have done for him?
- Do we try to give people what they want or what will bless them?
- How can we tell the difference?
- How might we put this story into practice today?
- What was “new” for the lame man?
- What would keep us from healing the situation?
- Doubt? Fear? Lack of faith? Lack of understanding? Just not wanting to?
- How would you address those negative responses?
- What would you replace them with?
- Are you willing to go out and serve God like Peter and John?
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Saul’s Conversion Read Acts 9:1-22
- Who is Saul?
- What was he doing to Christians?
- Who had he just seen die?
- Describe the character of Saul.
- Is he someone you’d want for a friend?
- Why did he hate Christians so much?
- What happened to him on his way to Damascus?
- Who talked with him?
- What did Jesus say?
- What does Jesus’ appearance tell us about him?
- Did the people around see the same great light or hear Jesus speak?
- What is Saul told to do?
- Why was Saul made blind?
- What would blindness do to help?
- Who is sent to restore Saul’s sight?
- Would you go and help a Christian murderer receive his sight?
- What gave Ananais the courage to go see Saul?
- When is Saul’s name changed to Paul?
- Were the disciples afraid of Saul?
- How would you greet someone like that?
- How did Saul handle what was “new” in his life?
- Can we feel the “newness” of the Christ touch in our lives?
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Peter and Cornelius Read Acts 10:1-11:18
- Who appeared to Cornelius in a vision?
- What time of day did this vision take place?
- Is that time significant?
- What was he told to do in the vision?
- How did he respond?
- What appeared to Peter?
- Describe what his trance was about.
- What do you think the message was for Peter?
- How was Peter being prepared to meet Cornelius?
- What “new” thing was Peter learning about his “old” ways?
- What is the message we learn from this story?
- How does this apply to our developing of “new” views of our relationship to God?
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