The stories in the whole Bible, including both Old and New Testament stories, is connected to Jesus in some way. As we teach our children the different stories and poems, different characters and different events in the Bible, I hope we could pinpoint them to Jesus. If we could connect Jesus to every story they hear, they would understand how the plan of God unfolds from Genesis to Revelation.
I did not receive a review copy of this book The Gospel Story: Discovering Jesus in the Old and New Testaments, but when I saw the preview pages (embedded below), I thought of sharing this with you. This new beautifully illustrated Bible Story book does what I have mentioned above - connect Jesus to every story. In addition, at the end of every story, the author has put in simple questions for the kids to explore. This is certainly a wonderful resource for every Christian family who wants to teach their kids the Bible at home, for every Sunday School class or Christian school.
Free resources for Kids Sunday School and Children's Church
Showing posts with label New Testament. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Testament. Show all posts
Lesson on Trusting Jesus: Jesus Calms the Storm
One evening, Jesus and his disciples took a boat to get to the other side of the lake. Then, a storm came up and the waves broke over the boat so that the boat is nearly filled with water. Jesus doesn't seem to be bothered by the storm, he is sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then everything was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid?" Do you still have no faith?" The disciples were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"
This Bible story is found in Mark 4:35-41
REFLECTION: (You can use these simple questions to discuss the story to the kids)
1. What happened while Jesus and his disciples were in the boat?
2. How did Jesus feel? How did the disciples feel? If you were in the boat, what would you feel?
3. What miracle did Jesus do in this story? What does that tell us about Jesus?
4. What are some of the things you are afraid of? When you are afraid, what should you do?
KIDS SUNDAY SCHOOL SONG: With Christ in My Vessel. This song is perfect to to with this story. I have taught this to kids in Sunday school and they love to sing this song. We even play a simple game with it. We change words in the song with M. For example, we change all the Christ words with M and sing "With M in my vessel, I can smile at the storm...." Then, we change another word - vessel and sing With M in my M, I can smile at the storm...." We sing over and over until we've changed all these words - Christ, vessel, smile, and storm. The kids enjoy this.
MEMORY VERSE: Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
KIDS ACTIVITY
Free coloring page courtesy of Calvary William Sport dot com.
Make an origami boat. Click the link for instructions.
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:
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:
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.
Jesus and the Children
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 Jesus and the Children by Andrew McDonough will give the children a way to imagine how the story goes in a modern setting so that they can relate to the story. 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 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:
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 overhead projector sheets and drew up the story of Cecil and the Lost Sheep. T he congregation loved it, so Andrew continued to draw stories to use with kids and adults. Other students, 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: 031071947X
ISBN-13: 978-0310719472
Press the browse button to view the first chapter:
Some Questions to Ponder for the teacher.
What did the disciples do when children were brought to Jesus? Why did they respond that way?
What did Jesus say about it? What does this tell us about Jesus?
What does kingdom of heaven mean? Does Jesus want children to belong to the kingdom of heaven? How can children belong to the kingdom of heaven?
After the story, emphasize to the children that Jesus loves them no matter how naughty they are, or whatever they do, this would not make Jesus love them less. Jesus always has time for each of them because He loves them. And Jesus wants them to be part of his kingdom even as little children.
MEMORY VERSE: Matthew 19:14
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
KIDS ACTIVITY:Jesus Loves You Heart Balloon Craft. Click the link to find the instructions.
Jesus loves the children paper accordion. Click the picture on the right to enlarge and see the instructions below. Then, on another light-colored construction paper, paste the children holding hands together on the center. On top of the picture, write Jesus Loves Children. Below each child picture, you can write a name of a child. If you used white paper to make the cut out children, you can ask the children to color each child.
Jesus and the children coloring pages. Printable 1 and Printable 2.
Lesson on Sharing
One day, Jesus went up on a mountain with his disciples. He looked down and saw that there were many, many people in the crowd. Since it was already late, Jesus said, "Give them something to eat." The disciple Philip said, "Two hundred silver coins would not buy enough food for all of them." The disciples thought Jesus would send them to buy food in the nearby villages.
But Jesus said, "How much food is there? Go and see." The disciple Andrew answered, "There is a boy with five loaves of bread and two small fishes. But how can we feed so many people with so little food?"
Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." The disciples told the people to sit down in the green grass. There were about five thousand men in the crowd, and many women and children. Jesus took the bread and fishes. He looked up to heaven. Then He blessed the loaves and broke them. He handed the pieces to his disciples to give to the people. The fishes, too, were broken and given to the people.
Though the food was only a little, and the crowd was huge, there was plenty for everyone after Jesus blessed the food. When the people had eaten their fill, Jesus told his disciples to gather up the leftover pieces of bread and fish. They filled 12 big baskets with the pieces that were left after everyone had eaten.
Story Reference: John 6:1-14
REFLECTION WITH THE KIDS
1. What would have happened if the boy brought the 5 loaves of bread and the 2 small fishes did not share his food with Jesus?
2. What lessons can we learn from this story? What will happen if share what we have?
MEMORY VERSE: Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
KIDS' ACTIVITY:
Butterfly Craft and Sharing Hands Booklet
As the kids do this Butterfly craft or Sharing Hands booklet, they will learn the concept of sharing. Find the complete instructions for the Butterfly craft here and the Sharing Hands booklet here. As an option, instead of using colored tissue paper for the butterfly craft, you can also use colored construction paper.
But Jesus said, "How much food is there? Go and see." The disciple Andrew answered, "There is a boy with five loaves of bread and two small fishes. But how can we feed so many people with so little food?"
Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." The disciples told the people to sit down in the green grass. There were about five thousand men in the crowd, and many women and children. Jesus took the bread and fishes. He looked up to heaven. Then He blessed the loaves and broke them. He handed the pieces to his disciples to give to the people. The fishes, too, were broken and given to the people.
Though the food was only a little, and the crowd was huge, there was plenty for everyone after Jesus blessed the food. When the people had eaten their fill, Jesus told his disciples to gather up the leftover pieces of bread and fish. They filled 12 big baskets with the pieces that were left after everyone had eaten.
Story Reference: John 6:1-14
REFLECTION WITH THE KIDS
1. What would have happened if the boy brought the 5 loaves of bread and the 2 small fishes did not share his food with Jesus?
2. What lessons can we learn from this story? What will happen if share what we have?
MEMORY VERSE: Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
KIDS' ACTIVITY:
Butterfly Craft and Sharing Hands Booklet
As the kids do this Butterfly craft or Sharing Hands booklet, they will learn the concept of sharing. Find the complete instructions for the Butterfly craft here and the Sharing Hands booklet here. As an option, instead of using colored tissue paper for the butterfly craft, you can also use colored construction paper.
Use Your God-Given Talent
Jean came from a poor family, so he had to take work in the field and earn his bread "by the sweat of his brow." On Sundays, they don't work in the fields and the family went to the village church where the father was the leader of the choir. After church, friends and relatives sometimes came home to spend the afternoon with the family.
One Sunday, soon after coming from church, the bent figure of an old peasant slowly made his way along the street. There was something about the figure that captured Jean's attention. He took a piece of charcoal and hurriedly drew a sketch on the wall. Every movement and attitude was so perfectly illustrated that everybody laughed—everybody but the father. He sensed the gift possessed by his son. He had been watching his growing talent. "My Jean," he said, "I will no longer stop you from learning that which you are so eager to learn."
Jean Francis Millet, the boy's full name, became the artist of peasantry. He never made any other boast. His character was of the highest. He had a firm faith in God. He believed in the Bible as the Word of God. He looked upon his use of the brush as preaching upon canvas the purity and truth he believed.
"The Angelus" is the name of the best known picture that he painted. It shows two workers in a potato field, a man and a woman, who hear from the near-by village the faint tones of the Angelus bell calling them to prayer. They pause, stand erect, bow their heads and worship. It is a beautiful picture of devotion and worship to God.
MEMORY VERSE: Romans 12:6
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.
KIDS ACTIVITY: Role Playing
This lesson can be used to teach the Parable of the Talents found in Matthew 25:13-28. The kids can be asked to do role playing of this passage. After the play, it can be discussed with the kids that God wants us to use our talents and not be lazy. Ask the children what are their different talents or gifts that God has given them. How can they use it to serve God and others?
KIDS ACTIVITY: Role Playing
This lesson can be used to teach the Parable of the Talents found in Matthew 25:13-28. The kids can be asked to do role playing of this passage. After the play, it can be discussed with the kids that God wants us to use our talents and not be lazy. Ask the children what are their different talents or gifts that God has given them. How can they use it to serve God and others?
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