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    13 Very Cool Stories and Why Jesus Told Them
    13 Very Cool Stories and Why Jesus Told Them
    13 Very Cool Stories and Why Jesus Told Them
    Ebook162 pages1 hour

    13 Very Cool Stories and Why Jesus Told Them

    By Mikal Keefer

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    About this ebook

    If you want kids to do God’s Word and not just hear it—you’re in exactly the right place.
     
    Each session focuses on one key Bible truth—kids will discover it, think about it, talk about it, pray about it, and apply what they learn. You’ll drive that point home through Bible exploration, fun discussions, giggle-worthy games, and oh-wow activities that engage kids in multiple ways.
     
    Just add an adult or teenage leader to these easy-to-lead sessions to keep kids engaged, entertained, and growing in their faith! Each session is
    • Flexible—sessions work for 1 or 2 kids, 12 kids, or more
    • Multi–aged—suitable for all elementary kids
    • Low–prep—using easy-to-find supplies
    • 45 minutes of fun—with time stretchers to fill an hour
    • Relational—children grow close to Jesus and each other
    Perfect for any children’s ministry program—Sunday school, children’s church, and more!

    Help kids discover the faith-building, life-changing truths tucked into 13 of Jesus’ very cool stories. They will meet a lost and found son, a rich fool, disgruntled vineyard workers, a pretty good Samaritan, and many others. And along the way, kids will explore the eternal truths Jesus wrapped in those stories—and what those truths mean in their lives.
     
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDavid C Cook
    Release dateApr 1, 2018
    ISBN9780830773008
    13 Very Cool Stories and Why Jesus Told Them

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      Book preview

      13 Very Cool Stories and Why Jesus Told Them - Mikal Keefer

      13 VERY COOL STORIES AND WHY JESUS TOLD THEM

      Published by David C Cook

      4050 Lee Vance Drive

      Colorado Springs, CO 80918 U.S.A.

      David C Cook U.K., Kingsway Communications

      Eastbourne, East Sussex BN23 6NT, England

      The graphic circle C logo is a registered trademark of David C Cook.

      All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes, no part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form without written permission from the publisher.

      All scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

      LCCN 2017952628

      ISBN 978-0-7847-2123-0

      eISBN 978-0-8307-7300-8

      © 2018 David C Cook

      Developed by Standard Publishing.

      The Team: Lindsay Black, Amy Konyndyk, Rachael Stevenson, Abby DeBenedittis, Susan Murdock

      Cover Illustration/Design: Dennis Jones

      I will speak to you in parables. I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world.

      Matthew 13:35

      Contents

      How to Use These Sessions

      SESSION 1 The Story of the Good Shepherd

      Trust Jesus.

      John 10:11–15

      SESSION 2 The Story of the Good Samaritan

      We can help our neighbors.

      Luke 10:30–37

      SESSION 3 The Story of the Vineyard

      Life’s not fair—but God is always loving.

      Matthew 20:1–15

      SESSION 4 The Story of the Lost Coin

      God wants you—a lot!

      Luke 15:8–10

      SESSION 5 The Story of the Found Son

      God is forgiving.

      Luke 15:11–32

      SESSION 6 The Story of the 10 Talents

      Use your talents to serve God.

      Matthew 25:14–29

      SESSION 7 The Story of the Rich Fool

      Keep God first!

      Luke 12:16–21

      SESSION 8 The Story of the Two Builders

      Obey Jesus.

      Matthew 7:24–27

      SESSION 9 The Story of the Vine & Branches

      Stay connected to Jesus.

      John 15:1, 4–5

      SESSION 10 The Story of the Mean Servant

      We can forgive others.

      Matthew 18:21–35

      SESSION 11 The Story of the Wedding Feast

      You’re invited to God’s party!

      Luke 14:16–24

      SESSION 12 The Story of the Mustard Seed

      God helps our faith grow.

      Matthew 13:31–32

      SESSION 13 The Story of the Precious Pearl

      Jesus is worth everything.

      Matthew 13:45–46

      How to Use These Sessions

      First, thanks. Thanks for caring about children and for helping your kids dig into 13 cool stories that Jesus told. You’ll get to share with kids the meaning behind theese stories and what they tell us about Jesus, the kingdom of heaven, and our place in God’s big story.

      Welcome to Easy

      These sessions for elementary kids are carefully designed to make your life easy. They’re light on supplies, quick to prepare, and long on fun. You’ll find most supplies in the church’s supply closet or kitchen or at home in your garage, pantry, or junk drawer—no need to spend time ordering materials online.

      Because these sessions are created so beginning teachers or mature teenagers can lead them confidently, you won’t need highly trained teachers. And the variety of options in each session will snag the attention—and hold it—of first-grade through six-grade children, including the boys!

      Best of all, you’ll see kids grow in their faith as they open their hearts to what God shares with them through these 13 sessions.

      Welcome to Simple Learning

      Preparation is easy too. Each week you’ll focus on one key Bible truth, which children will explore and apply. You’ll drive that point home through Bible exploration, fun discussion, giggle-worthy games, and Oh, wow! activities that engage kids in multiple ways through multiple learning styles.

      Welcome to Deep Bible Discovery

      Each week, your children will actually experience a Bible story. They’ll discover it, ponder it, talk about it, pray about it, and apply what they learn. If that’s what you’re looking for—for your children to do God’s Word instead of just hear it—you’re in exactly the right place. And here’s a tip: supersize the learning by using a kid-friendly version of the Bible to make sure the stories are understood by children.

      Welcome to Flexibility

      We get it: sometimes you have to punt. A sermon goes long … or short. Kids are quick to dive into a lesson or need some time to warm up to being together. Older kids might zip through an activity while their younger friends take longer.

      Relax. We’ve got you covered.

      You can use these sessions with kids in practically any setting: in Sunday school, children’s church, evening programs, or while kids’ parents are attending an adult class or small group. There’s maximum flexibility because each session is written to last 45 minutes and then provides enough extras to fill a full hour. These sessions stretch to fit exactly what you need, when you need it. They’re …

      • multi-aged—suitable for mixed ages of elementary children;

      • easily adapted—sessions work for just a couple kids or a packed classroom;

      • relational—children grow close to Jesus and one another

      • flexible—brimming with options to fit varying time frames; and

      • fun—even easily distracted kids can engage, learn, and grow!

      So are you ready for some fun? Let’s dive in!

      SESSION 1

      The Story of the Good Shepherd

      The Point: Trust Jesus.

      Scripture Connect: John 10:11–15

      Supplies for all Session 1 activities options: pencils, prepared poster, identical spoons (metal or plastic, at least 1 per child), Bible, 1 penny or nickel for each child (to keep), paper

      The Basics for Leaders

      Quick! When’s the last time you saw a shepherd leading a flock of sheep around the countryside? Ever?

      In Jesus’s day, it was a common sight—so common that when Jesus painted a word picture of his relationship with his followers, he chose the image of a shepherd and sheep.

      And not just any shepherd—Jesus claimed the role of a shepherd who owns the flock, who’ll risk anything to protect his sheep … including his life.

      That kind of commitment is rare. Think about who in your life is literally willing to die for you. For most of us, it’s a short list.

      As you share this story with your kids, you’ll help them discover just how deep Jesus’s love is for his followers—for us—and that we can trust Jesus too!

      OPENING ACTIVITY—OPTION 1

      HOWZITGOIN’

      Time: about 5 minutes, depending on attendance

      Supplies: pencils, prepared poster

      Before kids arrive, draw a line on a poster. Write a 1 on the left end of the line, a 10 on the right, and a 5 in the middle. As kids arrive, ask them to pencil in their initials on the line.

      Say: If this past week was so awful you wish you’d slept through it, place your initials by the 1. If it was a great week you wish you could repeat, put your initials by the 10. Place your initials anywhere on the line that shows how you feel about this past week—except exactly on the 5. Because there’s no such thing as a week that’s exactly half good and half bad!

      After kids have signed in, give them 30 seconds each to explain why they placed their initials where they did. Be sure to include your own initials and explain your placement on the line. Kids will begin to express themselves more over time, and hearing their stories will help you adapt this lesson to make it relevant to your kids’ lives.

      OPENING ACTIVITY—OPTION 2

      A SPOON BY ANY OTHER NAME

      Time: about 10 minutes

      Supplies: identical spoons (metal or plastic, at least 1 per child)

      Raid the kitchen! You’ll want as many spoons as possible—but the spoons must be identical, all made in the same style. No metal spoons? A fistful of plastic spoons (or forks) will work.

      Place the spoons in a pile on the floor. Say: If I were a shepherd, I’d have one very big challenge: I can’t tell the sheep apart. They all look the same, like these spoons look the same. But if you look closely, you’ll find differences.

      Ask each child to take a spoon and study it. Challenge everyone to carefully examine his or her spoon for scratches, bumps, dents, or anything that makes the spoon distinctive. You can do the same with your spoon.

      Next, ask children to name their spoons. Name yours Fluffy. Gather the spoons and mix them up. Toss them back on the floor with a rattle.

      Say: Our goal is

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