NEW BEGINNINGS

THE LESSON PLAN

A NEW IDENTITY
AC TIVA TE 2 0 MIN
LESSON 1: CHILD OF GOD
1. Welcome children

Overview of the Lesson Choose an activity from 7 ways to welcome children.

Prepare games for children so that they can join in as they
Bible passage: John 3:1-21
arrive. Play games they may be familiar with.
Memory Verse: John 1:12
Main idea: We become a new person when we 2. Leader personal story
begin a friendship with Jesus. Leader welcomes children and tells a story about the
circumstances around their own birth. Ask if any children
M ED I TAT E have interesting birth stories to share.
Spiritual renewal happens as a result of becoming a child
of God. To belong to God’s family we need to enter into a 3. Song suggestion
personal relationship with Jesus as our Savior. This is the Sing; “Behold what manner of love the Father hath given
only way to heaven. This story from the New Testament unto us (that we should be called the sons of God.)”, or
shows how Jesus explained to Nicodemus, a learned but choose a song that celebrates becoming and being a child
curious and humble Pharisee who approached Jesus, how of God.
to become a child of God.
4. Activity: Quick makeover
How did you first come to know and believe in Jesus?
What was your experience of being born again? Form teams with even numbers of about 10 children. Line
up the teams at one end of the room and place a set of
PREPARE clothing for each team at the other end of the room. (For
example a hat, shirt and pair of big shoes for each.) This is
Things you will need in the following sections:
a race where each child puts on all the clothes (over their
„ Activate: A 7 ways to welcome children own) and then quickly takes them off so the next person in
activity. 1 big shirt, hat and pair of the team can put them on. The referee will decide if the
shoes for every 10 children for player has successfully put on all the articles of clothing.
‘Quick makeover’ activity. Until the referee says ‘OK’, the child cannot remove the
„ Communicate: A Bible and an activity from 7 clothing and run back to their team to tag the next player to
ways to explore a Bible story. begin being a ‘quick change artist.’

„ Investigate: Read 7 ways to ask questions for Debrief questions 

questioning ideas.
„ Were you able to put on all the articles of clothing
„ Commit: A white or blackboard, markers or easily in the right order?
chalk and duster. Choose an
activity from 7 ways to memorize „ What delayed your quick makeover?
Scripture, 7 ways to pray and 7 „ Did all your team members follow the instructions
ways to dismiss children. carefully?
„ How did you feel in your new clothes?
Leader Tip: Leading a small group
Leader says: You all did a great job at being quick-change
Keep children close to you. Sit them in a circle
artists. When we follow Jesus we begin life again. We are
and sit at the same height as them. Let the
given a whole new identity. We become his children. He
discussion flow. Sometimes you will ask questions will change us completely because our lives are now open
that occur to you from the children’s answers. This to Him. We are born again to walk a new and changed,
keeps the discussion flowing. Spirit filled life.

A NEW IDENTITY | LESSON 1: CHILD OF GOD | PAGE 1

 NEW BEGINNINGS
COMMUN ICA TE 15 MIN
5. Read John 3:1-21 Nicodemus
Choose one activity from 7 ways to explore a Bible
story. This may be done in a big group or a small group.
Suggestion: Way 5. Story telling with flannel graph or a
blackboard or Way 6. Act it out
I N V ES T IGA T E 15 MIN
6. Small group discussion
Gather the children in small groups to discuss these
questions.
„ Why do you think Nicodemus wanted to know about
becoming a child of God and belonging to God’s
Kingdom?
„ Was he convinced with the answer Jesus gave
him? Why?
„ Is it easy to follow Jesus and His way?
„ How do you know that you are following Jesus?
„ How can you know what Jesus wants you to do with
your life?
Use the 7 ways to ask questions guide for more ideas.
Important
Help the children realize that being friends with
Jesus will change our whole life. It will be so
different that it is like being born all over again.
7. Activity: Follow your leader obstacle race
Form two teams with a leader in each. Both leaders are
given instructions written on a piece of paper. Others in
the team have to closely watch the leader and do the
same to finish the race. Place three tasks between the
start and finish point of the race.
Suggestions for written instructions:
„ place one rock in the bowl.
„ climb over the table and go ahead.
„ hop between the lines and finish the race.
All others in the team have to follow their leader by close
observation and run their race. The team that does
everything correctly and finishes first wins the game.
Debrief questions
A NEW IDENTITY | LESSON 1: CHILD OF GOD | PAGE 2
„ What did you have to do to win the race?
„ Was it easy to follow the leader?
„ Did you try any easy way or short cut to win the
race and was your short cut approved?
„ Did your leader show you clearly the way to finish
the race?
„ How would you know more about the leader and his
plan to lead his team to win?
When we accept Jesus as our personal Savior, we need to
follow our leader and do all that He has done. Passionate
and devoted followers would naturally do things that their
leader does.
COMMIT 10 MIN
8. Memory Verse
Yet to all who received him, to those who
believed in his name, he gave the right to
become children of God. John 1:12 (NIV)
Make the children read the Memory Verse 2 – 3 times.
Using a small white board write out the Memory Verse with
a lot of blanks. Ask the children to fill in the blanks. Or
choose a Memory Verse activity from 7 ways to
memorize Scripture.
9. Prayer
Choose an idea from the 7 ways to pray with children.
10. 7Day Challenge
This is the first of your 7Day Challenges. It’s called 7Day,
because it’s meant to help us live differently every day of
the week. Every morning say to yourself, ‘I am a child of
God’.
11. Dismiss
Choose an activity from 7 ways to dismiss children.
Dismiss the children, thank them for coming. Encourage
the children to invite their friends.
CON T INU E
12. Prepare for next week
Gather other leaders to pray and prepare.
 NEW BEGINNINGS
 

A NEW IDENTITY THE LESSON PLAN

LESSON 2: NEW CREATION AC TIVA TE 2 0 MIN

1. Arrival activity
Overview of the Lesson
Choose an activity from 7 ways to welcome children.
Bible passage: Luke 19:1-10 Prepare games for children so that they can join in.
Memory Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:17
2. Leader personal story
Main idea: Jesus has come to bring salvation to
us, and when Jesus saves us, we Share a time when you did naughty things as a child.
become and new person, a new
creation. 3. Activity: Misspelled word

Write a complete sentence while misspelling a single word

M ED I TAT E in it. For example use the ‘main idea’ sentence from
Zacchaeus is a wealthy tax collector who was transformed above. Begin talking about a subject and allow time for the
by Jesus. He changes from a greedy tax collector to a children to spot the misspelled word.
generous giver. Zacchaeus wanted to meet Jesus and
realized he needed change in his life. „ When someone does notice it, first pretend that you
just don't see what they're talking about.
We all have sin in our lives that we must not deny or try to „ Next argue that it is the correct spelling; have
hide. We need to confess our sin, and allow Jesus to someone look it up in a dictionary.
change us. What do you need to bring to God right now? „ After discovering that it is spelled wrong, tell them
How might God want to transform your life? that's just the way you want to spell it. Let them
argue their point.
PREPARE
„ Next agree that it is spelled wrong, but just cover it
Things you will need in the following sections: up with a piece of paper or your hand. Finally ask
them what they would have you do about it.
„ Activate: Choose an activity from 7 ways to Hopefully they'll say, "Erase it and write it correctly!"
welcome children. Large paper
and markers or blackboard and Explain that these are the same ways people treat sin in
chalk. Balloons. their lives:
„ Communicate: A Bible and an activity from 7
1st- we pretend we don't see it.
ways to explore a Bible story.
2nd- we argue that it's right.
„ Investigate: Prepare questions. 3rd- we decide we don't care what the rules say; we're
„ Commit: Choose an activity from 7 ways to going to do it our way anyway.
memorize Scripture, 7 ways to 4th- we agree it's wrong, but just try to cover it up.
pray and 7 ways to dismiss
children. Divide Memory Verse Say to the children: God, however, wants to erase our
into separate words and write one mistakes for us. First we must see that sin is wrong, agree
on each piece of paper, tape or re- with God that it's wrong, turn away from it to make it right,
useable putty to stick words up on and ask God to forgive us or erase it.
a wall or board.
Questions after the activity
Leader Tip: Be a fair leader
„ How did you feel when the incorrect word wasn’t
Children will notice if you are unjust as a leader. fixed, but argued about and hid?
Do not have favorites. Try to notice new children „ How did you feel about the leader writing the
each week and encourage them. Pray for children misspelled word?
who annoy you. „ Have you ever done the same thing with sin in you
life?
 
A NEW IDENTITY | LESSON 2: NEW CREATION | PAGE 3
 NEW BEGINNINGS
4. Song
Sing: “I am a new creation, no more in condemnation” or
choose a song that celebrates the renewal and re-creation,
the changes that happen in a life that has been saved from
sin, and a sinful life by Jesus.
5. Stack up relay
Form teams with about 10 children in each. Each child is
given a balloon. The first child runs with the balloon to the
end of the room and back and gives their balloon to the
next child. They have two balloons to carry. Each child in
the team has an extra balloon to try and carry in the relay.
„ What number of balloons became too difficult to
carry?
„ How is this like life?
COMMUN ICA TE 15 MIN
6. Read Luke 19:1-10 Zacchaeus
Choose one activity from 7 ways to explore a Bible
story.
Suggestion: Way 2. Interview or Way 3. Draw main events
or Way 5. Storytelling. Tell the story in an exciting and
realistic way making every attempt to be as detailed as
possible.
Use a flannel board, Flash Cards or puppets to tell the
story to smaller kids.
I N V ES T IGA T E 15 MIN
7. Small group discussion
Gather the children in small groups to discuss these
questions.
„ Why did Zacchaeus climb up a tree?
„ How did the religious people feel? Does Jesus love
even people who sin?
„ Do you think Jesus wants to come and transform
your life? Why?
„ What areas of your life need to be changed by
Jesus? Why?
„ Share about something that Jesus changed in your
life.
Use the 7 ways to ask questions guide for more ideas.
A NEW IDENTITY | LESSON 2: NEW CREATION | PAGE 4
Important
Help the children realize that Jesus wants them to
be a new person and live the way God wants
them to live.
COMMIT 10 MIN
8. Memory Verse
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation; the old has gone, the new has
come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
Write the Memory Verse in large writing on several pieces
of paper (Therefore/ if anyone is in Christ/ he is a new
creation/ the old has gone/ the new has come! / 2
Corinthians 5:17). Do this for both teams.
Divide the children into 2 teams. A volunteer from each
stands blindfolded by the wall closest to their team. Take
the Memory Verse and stick (with cello tape) to the
opposing walls in a scrambled fashion. On ‘GO’, the
blindfolded members find the pieces of the Memory Verse
and stick them in the right order. Others shout directions
from their teams.
9. Prayer
Prayer ideas are in the 7 ways to pray.
10. 7Day challenge
The leader challenges the children to do things in the next
week that show their changed heart (kindness to others,
generosity, telling the truth, obeying parents, etc.)
11. Dismiss
Choose an activity from 7 ways to dismiss children.
Dismiss the children, thank them for coming.
CON T INU E
12. Contact
Try to visit at least one child during the week. There may
be ways you can offer to help them. You could pray with
the parents and share the worries with the family.
13. Prepare for next week
Gather other leaders to pray and prepare.
14. Children in your group to pray for:
 NEW BEGINNINGS
 

THE LESSON PLAN

A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AS
AC TIVA TE 2 0 MIN
LESSON 3: OUR LOVING FATHER
1. Welcome children

Overview of the Lesson Choose an activity from 7 ways to welcome children.

Prepare games for children so that they can join in.
Bible passage: Luke 15:11-32
Memory Verse: 1John 3:1a 2. Leader welcome
Main idea: God is a loving Father and is always Ask children to tell you what activities they like doing with
waiting with open arms if we come their father. The leader can also share what they liked to
back to Him with a repentant heart. do with their own dad.

M ED I TAT E 3. Activity- Help

God loves us so much. Never forget that we have a loving Tell the children that you have an alpha-numeric
Father in Heaven who is always watching over us, loving combination in mind. (There need to be about 15-20
us and is always waiting with open arms to receive us, numbers and letters in the combination and arranged in a
even when we turn our backs on Him. very difficult way so that no one will guess it. For example;
(JG8SJS9GK4J7S9S6SH). All children stand. They need
If you think about your life as a journey like the prodigal
to guess the combination correctly to be able to sit down.
son, where are you on the journey right now? What do you
(The leader writes down the combination on paper and
need to say to your heavenly father? How will His
keeps it in his pocket.) The leader also tells them that if
unconditional love change your perspective today?
they need help they can ask the leader for help. The
children start guessing the combination. After a little while
PREPARE
remind them they can ask for help if they need it. The
Things you will need in the following sections: children who ask for help are then called up and shown the
combination and asked to sit. Let the game continue
„ Activate: Paper and pen, a 7 ways to following the same method. If the game does not end with
welcome children activity. all the kids asking for help stop the game after about 10
„ Communicate: An activity from 7 ways to explore minutes.
a Bible story.
Debrief Questions
„ Investigate: Prepare questions.
„ Commit: Memory Verse on paper crosses, „ How did you like this game?
scissors and choose an activity „ Did anyone discover the combination on their own
from 7 ways to memorize (without asking for help?)
Scripture, 7 ways to pray and 7
ways to dismiss children. „ Why didn’t you ask for help?
„ To those who asked for help, did you find it easy or
Leader Tip: Leading a child to God difficult to ask for help?
„ What did you learn from this game?
Encourage kids who have no father to know that
they can always look to their Heavenly Father to
„ Do you think you can ask God to help you at all
times and in all situations?
take care of them and be their model to follow.

4. Activity: Repent
 
One child stands at one end of the play area which
represents the ‘wrong way’. All other children stand on
the opposite side with arms locked to each other; the
‘right way’. At the word ‘GO’, the children who have arms
locked must start walking to the opposite side. Before they
reach the other end the teacher will shout ‘repent’ and all

A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AS | LESSON 3: OUR LOVING FATHER | PAGE 5

 NEW BEGINNINGS
the children will unlock their arms and run back to the side
which represents the ‘right way’. The child who is standing
in the ‘wrong’ side will try to tag as many children as
he/she can before they get back to their side. All those
who are tagged will now join the child who is standing at
the end representing the ‘wrong way’. Now with more
catchers the game continues until there are only a couple
of children left in the side representing the ‘right way.’
The children on the ‘wrong way’ cannot move until ‘repent’
is yelled. The last player left on the right side wins the
game.
Debrief Questions
„ How did it feel moving from right to wrong?
„ How did it feel when you got tagged by the child
from the wrong way? Was it good to stay right?
„ In life, is it easier to go the right or the wrong way?
„ How can a person going the wrong way get back to
the right way?
Say to the children: We are always in conflict about
choosing between the right and the wrong way. More often
it is easier to choose the wrong way. But the wrong way
leads to destruction. The only person who can really help
us is God Himself. God is our Loving Father always calling
us to live His way.
5. Song suggestions
Abba Father or Behold what manner of love
COMMUN ICA TE 15 MIN
6. Read Luke 15:11-31 The lost son
Choose one activity from 7 ways to explore a Bible
story. Do this as a big group.
Suggestion: Way 4. Story telling
I N V ES T IGA T E 15 MIN
7. Small group discussion
„ Why do you think the younger son wanted to take
his inheritance and leave home?
„ How do you think the Father would have felt?
„ Why do you think the Prodigal Son missed home?
„ What reaction do you get from your parents when
you do the wrong thing?
„ Do you think that our Heavenly Father will accept us
no matter how sinful we are?
A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AS | LESSON 3: OUR LOVING FATHER | PAGE 6
Important
Help the children realize that God is their loving
heavenly Father. He will always welcome His
children home again.
Use the 7 ways to ask questions guide for more ideas.
COMMIT 10 MIN
8. Memory Verse
How great is the love the Father has lavished
on us, that we should be called children of
God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1a
Divide children into groups of about 10. Cut out big
crosses from paper and write the Memory Verse on one
side of each of the crosses. Cut each cross into 10 pieces
and give a set to each group. Ask them to put the pieces
together. Children learn the Memory Verse together as a
group. You could make it a competition.
Alternatively choose a Memory Verse activity from 7 ways
to memorize Scripture.
9. Prayer
Pray with the kids telling God that we are sorry for all the
wrong choices we have made. Ask Jesus to save us and
forgive us.
Or find ideas in the 7 ways to pray with children.
10. 7Day challenge
Challenge children to stay with their heavenly Father every
day by talking to Him anytime they can in prayer. Pray
while you walk, play and work.
11. Dismiss
Choose an activity from 7 ways to dismiss children.
CON T INU E
12. Contact
Try to visit at least one child during the week. There may
be ways you can offer to help them. You could pray with
the parents and share the worries with the family.
13. Prepare for next week
Gather other leaders to pray and prepare.
 NEW BEGINNINGS
 

THE LESSON PLAN

A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AS
AC TIVA TE 2 0 MIN
LESSON 4: THE PROVIDER
1. Welcome children

Overview of the Lesson As children arrive welcome them with a small gift – a
sticker, candy, flower or label.
Bible passage: Matthew 15:32-39
Memory Verse: Philippians 4:19 Or choose an activity from 7 ways to welcome ideas.

Main idea: God generously provides all that we

need. We can trust Him.
M ED I TAT E
Sit in a quiet place and read the passage. The story of the
feeding of the 4000 men (beside women and children) –
happened some time after the miracle of the feeding of the
5000. Jesus was providing many things that people
needed. People needed healing and He healed them.
People needed wisdom and He taught them. He led them
and listened to them. After a day on a hillside together they
needed food because it was late. The food was simple but
it satisfied them all. When Jesus gives it truly satisfies us.
PREPARE
Things you will need in the following sections:
„ Activate: A small ‘gift’ for each child, and a 7
ways to welcome children
activity.
„ Communicate: A Bible and an activity from 7
ways to explore a Bible story.
„ Investigate: Prepare questions.
„ Commit: Prepare ‘numerish’ code, pens and
paper for each group, and choose
an activity from 7 ways to
memorize Scripture, 7 ways to
pray and 7 ways to dismiss
children.
Leader Tip: Bring out the best in children
To bring out the best behavior in children, notice
them when they are doing the right thing. You may
praise them in front of others or give them a
friendly gesture. What often works best is a quiet
word of encouragement one to one.
2. Activity: Trust Lean
Divide children into pairs. Partners stand facing each other
with their hands in front of their chests with their palms
facing each other. They then both lean forward so they
both lean against each other’s open hands. Each of them
then moves one small step back and they lean again. They
continue to move 1 step back after every successful lean
until they are no longer confident to step back any further.
Debrief questions
„ How did you feel when you were told you had to
lean against the other person?
„ How confident were you in the other person?
„ Did you find it easy to trust the other person to hold
you up?
„ Why did you stop stepping back?
„ What did you learn from this activity?
3. Song suggestion
Jehovah Jirah
4. Activity: Guess my thoughts
Tell the children that they are about to play a game where
they are going to try to read your mind. Tell them that you
will think of a number (between 1 and 50,000) along with a
letter. Tell the children that they can ask for help if they
need it. Then think of the combination e.g. 584H and get
the kids to stand and start guessing the combination you
thought of. Let the guessing be done in turn and in an
orderly manner. Any child who asks for help will be told the
answer silently and can take their seat. Stop the activity if
after 5 minutes there are children still standing.
Debrief questions

A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AS | LESSON 4: THE PROVIDER | PAGE 7

 NEW BEGINNINGS
„ How did you feel when you could not guess the
correct answer?
„ What were the methods you used to try and find the
answer?
„ Who asked for help? Why?
„ Why did you not ask for help?
„ What did you think of those who asked for help?
„ Do you think you could have found the answer
without help?
Like in the last two activities, there are times in life when
we don’t see a way out and have to trust someone for
help. But there are still other times when the only person
who can help is God Himself. Below is one such true
incident that happened during Jesus’ life here on earth.
COMMUN ICA TE 15 MIN
5. Read Matthew 15:32-39 Jesus feeds 4000
Choose one activity from 7 ways to explore a Bible
story. This may be done in a big group or a small group.
Suggestion: Way 2. Interviews or Way 4. Still frame drama
scene.
Or have one leader tell the story to another leader. Some
questions that children might have in their minds are both
asked and answered.
I N V ES T IGA T E 15 MIN
6. Small group discussion
Gather the children in small groups.
„ Why were the disciples unsure where Jesus could
get the food?( He had already fed 5000)
„ Is it hard to believe that God can meet our needs?
Why?
„ Can God meet your needs? Why?
„ Does anyone want to share of a time when God met
your needs? (This will help other kids who do not
believe that God can provide for our needs). (The
leader can share a testimony)
Important
Help the children realize that we can trust God
with our whole lives. He can provide everything
we need.
Use the 7 ways to ask questions for more ideas.
A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AS | LESSON 4: THE PROVIDER | PAGE 8
COMMIT 10 MIN
7. Memory Verse
And this same God who takes care of me will
supply all your needs from his glorious
riches, which have been given to us in Christ
Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (NLT)
Numerish: Assign a number for every letter in the
alphabet e.g. A=1, B=2, C=3 etc and write the entire verse
using only numbers. For example the words, “AND THIS
SAME GOD,” will be written as 1,14,4 20,8,9,19
19,1,13,5 7,15,4… Then divide the children into 4
teams and let them work as teams to translate the verse
from Numerish to English.
Or choose a Memory Verse activity from 7 ways to
memorize Scripture.
8. Prayer
Choose a prayer idea from the 7 ways to pray with
children. Suggestion: Way 2. Small group prayer with
each person thanking God for something He has given.
9. 7Day challenge
Encourage the children to try to say the Memory Verse
every day. The 7Day challenge is to write a list of all the
ways God has provided for you. Thank God for all He has
done.
10. Dismiss
Choose an activity from 7 ways to dismiss children.
Dismiss the children, thank them for coming.
CON T INU E
11. Contact
Try to contact 2 or 3 families during the week.
12. Prepare for next week
Gather other leaders to pray and prepare.
13. Children in your group to pray for:
 NEW BEGINNINGS
A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AS
LESSON 5: THE PROTECTOR
Overview of the Lesson
Bible passage: Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, Luke
8:22-25
Memory Verse: Hebrews 13:6a
Main idea: Jesus is Lord of all. We don’t need
to fear because He protects us.
M ED I TAT E
Jesus is Ruler of all creation. He can control storms and
weather, physics and time. He is God. He demonstrated
this with His disciples and in front of large crowds of
followers. It is interesting that Jesus didn’t try to bring
attention to Himself and ‘show off.’ He often told people
who had been healed to tell no one. Why do you think He
calmed the storm and walked on water?
PREPARE
Things you will need in the following sections:
„ Activate: A 7 ways to welcome children
activity. Paper, cardboard, ice-
cream sticks, paint and brushes,
scissors and glue.
„ Communicate: A Bible and an activity from 7
ways to explore a Bible story.
„ Investigate: Prepare questions, supply paper
and pens for each groups’ list.
„ Commit: Pens, paper for each child, a small
box for the Memory Verse, and
choose an activity from 7 ways to
memorize Scripture, 7 ways to
pray and 7 ways to dismiss
children.
Leader Tip: One to one leadership
When you have time in the busy lesson, find time
to relate to children one-to-one. The best way to
do this is to be same height as the child and ask
them a question. Try to remember little things
about their life. Always stay in sight of the whole
group when you are speaking alone with a child.
A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AS | LESSON 5: THE PROTECTOR | PAGE 9
THE LESSON PLAN
AC TIVA TE 2 0 MIN
1. Welcome children
Choose an activity from 7 ways to welcome children.
2. Activity: Fish-Fish
You need a large room or large play area for this game. All
the children line up horizontally on one side of the room or
play area. Draw a line and let the children stand behind it.
One child volunteers to be the catcher and is now in the
middle. The children are all the fish and they have to cross
the sea and run to the opposite side which is the shore.
Mark a line on the other side which if they cross they are
safe. The child in the middle is now the catcher and he/she
calls out “Fish, Fish come out to sea or I will catch you
swimming to me”. All the children must then run to the
other side and all children who are tagged by the catcher
must join the catcher in the middle. They now hold hands
and form a net. However, now only the two children at the
two ends of the net can tag and the net must not be
broken- (meaning the children must not let go of holding
each others’ hands). The game continues till the last one is
caught. The one who is caught last is the winner of the
game.
Debrief Questions 
„ How did you feel when you got tagged by the
catcher?
„ Were any of you reluctant to go to the other side?
Why?
„ How did you feel when there were more catchers in
the middle?
„ What was the strategy the winner used to win the
game?
Explain how the disciples must have been so scared and
worried when they came to the middle of the sea and then
got caught in a huge storm. Mention also that though they
were strong fishermen who were used to the sea and
storm they were so afraid, they thought they were all going
to drown.
3. Activity: Build a boat
Divide the children into two or three groups and ask them
to make a boat with Jesus and His disciples on it. Do not
give too many ideas so children can use their own
imagination to do this.
 NEW BEGINNINGS
 
Provide materials such as paper, ice-cream sticks, paint COMMIT 10 MIN
and brushes, scissors and glue.
8. Memory Verse
4. Song suggestion
So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is
Safe am I in the hollow of his hand
my helper. I will not be afraid.’ Hebrews 13:6a
(NIV)
COMMUN ICA TE 15 MIN

5. Read Matthew 8:23-27 Jesus calms the storm
Explore the Bible story by using the boat models the
children made to help tell the story.
Or choose one activity from 7 ways to explore a Bible
story. This may be done in a big group or a small group.
I N V ES T IGA T E 15 MIN
6. Small group discussion
Gather the children in small groups to discuss these
questions.
9.
„ Why were the disciples of Jesus, some of whom
were also fishermen, so afraid of the storm?
„ How come Jesus was asleep in the midst of such a
fierce storm?
„ Why do you think the disciples woke Jesus up?
„ Did the disciples think that Jesus could do anything
for their situation?
„ What did Jesus say the disciples had very little of
and why?
10.
„ The disciples were amazed that the winds and the
waves obeyed Jesus – what are all the things in the
world that Jesus can control? Make a list together.
Important
11.
Help the children realize that Jesus is Ruler of the
whole world and so we don’t need to fear if we
belong to Him.
Write the verse on a chart and keep it up so that the
children can read it. Keep an empty box in front of the
class. Give each child a slip of paper and ask them to write
down one or two of their biggest fears. Let each child
come to the front and read the verse and then put the
paper into the box. Explain to the children that the Lord
understands all our fears and since He is with us all the
time we need not fear any of these things because He will
protect us all the time.
Find alternate activities from 7 ways to memorize
Scripture.
Prayer
Close the session with prayer reminding the children to
ask God’s help to face all their fears and to know for sure
that the Lord is with them all the time and that He is
watching over them.
Choose a prayer idea from the 7 ways to pray with
children. Suggestion: Way 4. Whole group prayer or Way
6. Hands on prayer.
7Day challenge
Challenge children to give their fears to Jesus everyday.
Think of something that makes them scared and then say
the Memory Verse again for assurance.
Dismiss
Sing a song together or choose an activity from 7 ways to
dismiss children.

CON T INU E
Use the 7 ways to ask questions guide for more ideas.
12. Contact
7. Leader Story
Try to contact 2 or 3 families during the week.
Share of an experience when you were really afraid and
Jesus helped you to face that bravely. Give an opportunity 13. Prepare for next week
for children to share.
Gather other leaders to pray and prepare.

14. Children in your group to pray for:

  

A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AS | LESSON 5: THE PROTECTOR | PAGE 10