Sower and the Seed Exercise

Teachers: Bring a packet of seeds to church. Have the children toss some seeds on the ground - parking lot, grass and then have a special pot with soil for them to plant some seeds. You can tend to it and bring it each Sunday or give the children their own little cups or pots with seeds. On the next Sunday, what happened to the seeds?

• Look for the seeds on the parking lot, did they disappear or grow?
• What about ones over by the rocks?
• What about around the grass?
• How are the seeds in the pot growing?

Go back over the parable as you explain our faith and love for God. Are we ready to let our love for God take root and grow deep?

View possible discussion questions

Poems for Children to Learn the Order of the New Testament Books

Print/ Download Questions -- Poems to Learn New Testament Books

Daydream 1

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

Took their trusty Acts

And tried to chop a maple down

To pay the Romans tax.

This all led to a battle,

Which the good Corinthians One,

But Two Corinthians wondered how,

While they were on the run.

From A Pillar of Pepper by John Knapp II

Daydream 2

A, E, I , O,

But chuck away the U.

The first four vowels are useful;

Now I’ll show why this is true:

There’s A’s in those Galatians;

E starts Ephesians right;

I fills up Philippians

Which puts the end in sight;

The O’s found in Colossians

Number only two.

Now closely look at letter T

Since off I threw the U:

If you please, there are five T’s

That are arranged just so:

Thessalonians One and Two

Start an alphabetic row;

First and Second Timothy

Next line up beside us;

Now I can end my second dream,

If I only mention Titus.

From A Pillar of Pepper by John Knapp II

Daydream 3

Philemon counted Hebrews;

What more letters will there be?

James has one and Peter two

While John has even three.

Now don’t be rude to tiny Jude,

Who without hesitation,

Dreams a dream that now must end

Just like this Revelation.

From A Pillar of Pepper by John Knapp II

Events in Jesus’ Life

Give each child notebook paper. The first set should consist of four pieces of paper – one for each Gospel.

On each sheet have them label:

Events; People; Healings; Teachings; Places;

We’ll start with the sheet for Matthew. Before the end of each Sunday school class, ask them to write down what they learned that week and fill in the grid.

If they don’t complete the grid before the end of Sunday school, assign it as homework and make certain they bring back the sheet. You might call or email them on Saturday or Sunday morning, so they have it with them. Help them create a notebook of their grids and discover more about Jesus’ life.

Jesus as a Healer

This is an exercise adapted from In Jesus’ Time.

Choose one of the healings in the book of Matthew. You may need some research books to help you with your responses.

Print Version of Jesus as a Healer

Bible Healing  ___________________________________________
Scripture          ___________________________________________

1. What is the problem to be healed? Where does it occur?
   
   _____________________________________________________
   
2. In the healing account, does the author indicate what might be in the thought of the patient? Explain those qualities.
   
   _____________________________________________________
   
3. Describe the environment in which the healing takes place. Does anyone resist this healing taking place?
   
   _____________________________________________________
   
4. What rituals, traditions, or customs does Jesus break (if any)?
   
   _____________________________________________________
   
5. From the account in Matthew, what is Jesus’ thought about this situation? [Ex. Jesus was moved with compassion]
   
   _____________________________________________________
   
6. What specifically does Jesus say or do in order to bring about the healing?
   
   _____________________________________________________

Healing Journal

It is a good idea to keep a log or journal of your healings. Record what needed healing. What did you think or pray? What was the result? If you used Bible verses or stories to help you, jot down the citations. BibleWise is always happy to receive your healing messages to post on BibleWise. Sometimes if we forget to keep a record of our healing messages, we sometimes forget the good God is pouring out to us on a continual basis. Having this record reminds us of God’s constant care for us.

The Sermon on the Mount – Rules to Live By

Beatitudes - First Four of Jesus’ beatitudes, Last Five of Jesus’ Beatitudes

Print/ Download -- Teaching the First Beatitude
Print/ Download -- Teaching the Second Beatitude
Print/ Download -- Teaching the Third Beatitude
Print/ Download -- Teaching the Fourth Beatitude
Print/ Download -- Teaching the Fifth Beatitude
Print/ Download -- Teaching the Sixth Beatitude
Print/ Download -- Teaching the Seventh Beatitude
Print/ Download -- Teaching the Eighth Beatitude

Six commands (some you may not want to discuss in SS depending on the age of your group)

• Words on murder/anger Matt 5:21-26
  • Why should we hold anger in check?
  • How do we begin to keep our tempers from boiling over?
  • What did Jesus ask people to do? [go to the altar and forgive]
  • How important is forgiveness to heal anger?
    • Forgiveness requires us to do more than give lip-service to "I’m sorry," it is a change of heart.
    • How often do we say, “Sorry,” and not really mean it?
  • In that day, if you threatened to kill someone you could be arrested because your words were the same as deeds.
    • How would that work today?
    • Would you watch what you said more if you knew you could be arrested for just saying it?
• Words on adultery/lust Matt 5:27-30
• Look at the words and deeds. Jesus said to even think the sin is the same as committing it.
• Could you get arrested for what you’re thinking?
• Who might arrest your thinking? Who knows your thoughts?
• Words on divorce Matt 5:31-32
• On the taking of oaths/truthfulness of every word Matt 5:33-37
  • What does Jesus mean by letting all our conversations be yea, yea or nay, nay?
  • What would that sound like?
  • How important is it to know what to say “Yes” to and what to say “No” to?
    • Give examples
• Loving one’s enemies Matt 5:43-48
  • How easy is it to love your enemies?
  • Do you have any enemies?
  • Why might it be difficult to love them?
  • What’s our reward for loving our enemies?
  • Does God love you and your enemies?
  • How do you know that He does? [Matt 5:45]

Living the Sermon on the Mount
Take all the commands from the Sermon on the Mount and put them on note cards. Have each student draw a card and give an example of how to live this command today.

Example:

You can also do this with Jesus’ parables and healings. This way they have an opportunity to think in depth about each lesson, event, and healing.

Living the Sermon on the Mount Quiz

Print/ Download -- Living the Sermon on the Mount Quiz

The lessons from the Sermon on the Mount guide us in how to treat one another morally and ethically. After reading Jesus’ words from Matthew, how would you handle the following challenges? There are some answers listed. Discuss each one and then add your own.

Matt 5:43,44 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

1. A girl at school has been telling lies about you. What do you do?
   1. Get some friends together and start your own lies about her.
   2. Tell your teacher.
   3. Invite her over to bake cookies and get to know her better.
      
      
2. Your best friend copied your homework and you got blamed for cheating. What do you do?
   1. Since you can no longer trust him, don’t be friends any longer.
   2. You take the blame and let your friend off the hook.
   3. You forgive your friend and ask him to tell the teacher the truth.
      
      
3. Someone stole your new iPod and you know who it is.
   1. Call the police.
   2. You get your toughest friends together and go and teach him a lesson.
   3. Talk to him and offer him you’re older mp3 player.
      
      
4. You just became a member of a new group at school. To be initiated, you need to shoplift a CD at the local electronics store.
   1. You tell the principal.
   2. You go ahead and do it because you want to be part of the group.
   3. You explain to them that you can’t break the law to be a member of their group.
      
      
5. Kids at school make fun of you for believing in God.
   1. Don’t ever tell anyone again that you believe in God.
   2. Find something about them to tease and taunt them.
   3. Ask them why they don’t believe in God and be willing to be a witness for God.