Are You a Good Person?

I want to share this video animation by Way of the Master.  It is about sharing the gospel to our kids ( I think even adults will like it.)  Using video is a good way of capturing the attention of kids while imparting to them biblical truth. 

This video uses the 10 Commandments as a tool for explaining why we need Jesus as our Savior.  I believe this will help the kids realize that no one is good enough, so everyone needs Jesus in their lives.

Hope this will be helpful in your ministry.

The Gardener and the Vine

Note: I am a member of a group of reviewers of Christian books. I thought of sharing this new children's book with you because I think it is a nice resource help for telling Bible stories to kids. This picture book of The Gardener and the Vine by Andrew McDonough, I like it very much.  I haven't seen a children's story book about this teaching of Jesus - The Gardener and the Vine ever published.  This book gives us a fresh story to tell to children about a truth that is a bit difficult to explain but with the aid of this book, it becomes much easier and fun, too. You can browse a portion of the book by clicking the book cover icon below. I also made the accompanying lessons like Memory Verse and Kids Activity, as I usually do in each post (Please see below after the book description).

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Andrew McDonough

and the book:

The Gardener and the Vine

Zondervan (January 15, 2010)

***Special thanks to Pam Mettler of Zondervan for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Andrew is the creator, writer, and illustrator of the Lost Sheep series. Way back in 1989 as a young Bible college student, Andrew was asked to give the dreaded “children’s talk” at a large church. Andrew possessed one talent: he could draw sheep. He bought some overheard projector sheets and drew up the story of Cecil and the Lost Sheep. The congregation loved it, so Andrew continued to draw stories to use with kids and adults. Other student, pastors, and teachers started borrowing the stories.



Product Details:

List Price: $4.99
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (January 15, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310719461
ISBN-13: 978-0310719465

PRESS THE BROWSE BUTTON TO VIEW THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Z

Browse Inside

Browse

Info

Add

The story of The Gardener and the Vine can be found in the teaching of Jesus in John 15:1-8 and the grafting imagery is taken from Romans 11.

REFLECTION:  (You can use these simple questions and answers to discuss the lesson to the kids.  Having the book above really simplifies the presentation of this lesson to the kids)

1.  Who is the Gardener? (God, the Father) What does the Gardener do?  (Takes care of the Vine in the garden, makes sure that the branches are clean and attached to the vine to bear fruit.  He can also graft into the vine any branch so that it will also bear fruit). 
2.  Who is the true Vine? (Jesus) What does the Vine do? (Bears fruit)
3.  Who are the branches? (We are)  What does the branches do?  (Bear fruit also)  Can the branches bear fruit if it is cut off from the vine?  (No)
The branches need to remain in the vine so that they will bear fruit.  Just like branches, we need to trust the Gardener (the Father) who gave Jesus to die for our sins.  We also need to trust Jesus (the true Vine) to enjoy a fruitful life.




MEMORY VERSE:  John 15:1, 5
I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener.  I am the vine, you are the branches.


KIDS ACTIVITY
I Can Bear Fruits.  Using purple colored paper, ask the children to draw 1-inch circles (at least 10 each, more is better) and cut them out (You may have to do this for very small children) then paste them onto a bond paper forming a cluster of grapes.  You can draw a leaf on top of the grapes if you wish.   Then write this line above or below the picture "I Can Bear Fruits."

Jesus is the vine, we are the branches.  On a piece of cartolina, draw some vines like the 2nd picture to the left .  Then, print out leaf templates (these are maple leaves but it looks close to grape vine leaves) cut them and ask the kids to color and write their names on one leaf.  After that, ask them to glue the leaves one by one onto the vine on the cartolina.

The Cross

Do you know, girls and boys, that long ago the cross was the most repulsive thing in the world?. It had none of the charm and beauty that is now woven about it. But from the day that Jesus was crucified on the cross it took on new meaning, and it has grown in charm and power until I think we all agree that it is the most beautiful sight in the world.

Out in Colorado, high up the side of a mountain, where the snow never melts in the crevices, may be seen two long ravines, one straight up and down, the other straight across. The snow is packed into those ravines all through the year, and lifting the eyes one may see upon the lofty mountain side the Holy Cross.

In the summer seas, one of the things that mariners are guided by and that tourists look for, is the Southern Cross. There it is, fashioned by the position of the stars in the clear skies of the tropics.

There are many men who wear a cross as a watch fob. There are women who wear a cross as a pendant about the neck. This is an outward sign of an inner devotion. The important thing, my dear young Christians, is to have the cross, its power and meaning, stamped upon one's heart. Is that where you wear the Saviour's cross?

REFLECTION:  Ask or tell the kids what does the cross mean.  How can Jesus' death on the cross be meaningful to them?

MEMORY VERSE: I Corinthians 1: 18

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto them which are saved it is the power of God.

KIDS' CRAFT: Some craft with the Cross theme in mind that kids can do.  See particular link for instructions.
Simple Cross Coloring Page
Egg carton cross

Yarn Crosses
More Cross crafts for kids from Danielle's Place.

Does This Railroad Lead To Heaven?

This was an incident that happened while journeying on a train. At a station, a small girl about 8 years old came aboard, carrying a bag under her arm. She looked eagerly at the passengers' faces, but all were strange to her. She looked tired, so she put her bag for a pillow to try and get some nap. Soon, the conductor came by collecting tickets and fare. The following was their conversation.

Little girl: "May I lie here?"

Conductor: "Yes, you may. Where is your ticket?

Little girl: "I don't have any."

Conductor: "Where are you going?"

Little girl: "I am going to heaven,

Conductor: "Who pays your fare?"

Little girl: "Mister, does this railroad lead to heaven, and does Jesus travel on it?"

Conductor: "I think not. Why did you think so?"

Little girl: "Why sir, before my mama died, she used to sing of a heavenly railroad. You looked so nice and kind that I thought this was the road. My mama used to sing of Jesus on the heavenly railroad, and that He paid the fare for everyone. The train stopped at every station to get people aboard. But my mama doesn't sing to me any more. Nobody sings to me now; and I thought I'd take the train and go to my mama. Mister, do you
sing to your little girl about the railroad that goes to heaven? You have a little girl, haven't you?"

Conductor: (weeping) "No my little dear. I have no little girl now. I had one once; but she died some time ago, and went to heaven."

Little girl: "Did she travel this railroad? Are you going to see her now?"

By this time, everyone was upon their feet, and most of them were weeping.

Passenger 1: "God bless the little girl."

Passenger 2: "You are an angel."

Little girl: "Yes, my mama used to tell me that I would be like an angel someday."
(To the conductor) "Do you love Jesus? I do, and if you love Him, He will let you ride to heaven on His railroad. I'm going there and I wish you'd go with me. I know Jesus will let me into heaven when I get there and He will let you in, too, and everyone that will ride on His railroad. Wouldn't you like to see heaven and Jesus, and your little girl?"

These words, so innocently spoken, brought everyone to tears, but much so from the conductor. Some who were traveling on the heavenly railroad cried out loud for joy.

Little girl: "Mister, may I rest here until we get to heaven?"

Conductor: "Yes, dear, yes."

Little girl: "Will you wake me up then so that I may see my mama, your little girl and Jesus?" "I really want to see them all."

Conductor: (In broken accents but tender words) "Yes, dear angel, yes. God bless you."

Passengers: "Amen!"

Little girl: (To the conductor) "What shall I tell your little girl when I see her? Shall I tell her that I saw her papa on Jesus' railroad? Shall I?"

This brought anew flood of tears from all present. The conductor knelt by her side, and, embraced her weeping unable to say a word.

We learn from this incident that from the mouths of even babes God has ordained strength, and that we should to be willing to represent the cause of our blessed Jesus even in a railroad coach.



LESSON IDEA:
This lesson can be dramatized. The chairs can be arranged and the children can pretend that they are riding a train. The children can mimic the sound of a train. Choose 2 children to act out as the conductor and the little girl. Afterward, answer the following reflection questions with the kids. How do you get to heaven? Are you going to heaven?


MEMORY VERSE: John 14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

KIDS ACTIVITY:
If you have some building blocks, you can ask the children to play and build toy trains out of the blocks.

The Child Heroine of New Brunswick

One late autumn, there were three little children who wandered alone in a gloomy region of New
Brunswick. The sun had already set and evening was spreading itself over the surrounding country.

The night came on fast. The eldest girl, who is only 6 years old, felt sure that they could not get home before morning. So Mary quietly placed the two little ones, Johnny and Lizzie, in a sheltered corner on the sea-beach; and fearing that the younger children would get cold that night, she took off most of her own clothes to keep them warm.

Afterwards, she set off to gather dry sea-weed, and anything else she could find to cover them with. After having tenderly made for them a nest, she at last fell down exhausted, half bare in the cold, chilly night.

That evening, the loving father and tender mother sat up wondering where their children have gone. The hours dragged slowly with anxious watching and silent listening for the long-familiar little pattering feet. But the fond parents waited in vain.

Finally, they woke up the neighbors with their anxious questions about their lost ones. All that night passed in searching and in tears. Until early in the morning, they found little Johnny and Lizzie lying fast asleep and somewhat numbed with cold.

But oh! a touching sight lay near them. Their young savior was stiff, cold, and dead on the sea-weed she is trying to pull into the nook where they were sleeping. The poor little child-heroine died to save those she so deeply loved. Thus, this small New Brunswick girl died in her successful and self-sacrificing effort to save her brother and sister.

Does not this remind us the love of the Lord Jesus Christ to us? Mary went to the full extent of human love in dying for her little brother and sister. "Greater love has no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Even so, the Lord Jesus laid down his life for his enemies; for "hardly for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man some would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Behold what manner of love Jesus has for us. Yet how many listen to this story with more emotion and interest than they do to the story of the cross, where the love of Jesus, the Son of God, is told in letters of blood!

MEMORY VERSE: John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

KIDS CRAFT: How to make an origami heart
Use colored or patterned paper in this project. After making the origami heart, ask the children to write a personal thank you letter to Jesus for His great love for them and slip it into the side pocket or just glue it to the heart. An alternative is to put a photo of the child and write "Jesus loves me."