Format of each session - King's Church Catford · Bible and they are quite simple. It has lovely...

What really transforms us is getting to know Jesus and spending time with Him.

As parents/carers we have a responsibility to share Jesus with our children. It’s not always easy. These weekly sessions fit together with the Transformed preaching series, starting on Sunday 31st January. The notes have been prepared to help families come together and have some God-time with one another.

The way these notes work is that you can do all the sections or you can pick and choose the bits you want to do. They will always follow the same structure. They don’t all have to be done at the same time either. You can spread them over the week if that suits your family better.

The time spent on each of these activities will vary depending on the age of your child(ren). Please feel free to simplify or extend the activities, as you feel necessary.

We are covering seven parables, using Mick Inkpen’s and Nick Butterworth’s book Stories Jesus Told. These parables are told in a really accessible way for children of all ages.

We encourage families to buy this book as it will be a really helpful tool on which to base each session. Where possible we have linked it to the Transformed theme, but just by spending time together as a family and looking at God’s Word, our hope is that you will see transformation in your own life and that of your child(ren).

Format of each session Family introduction 3-5 minutes

Bible story 5 minutes

Object lesson 5 minutes

Craft 10-15 minutes

What should I remember this week 2 minutes

Prayer 2 minutes

Here is a list of Bibles you could use with your children

Recommended TRANSFORMED family book We are suggesting you use the book Stories Jesus Told with your children during the Transformed series. It contains eight stories which have been written in a really child-friendly way. We are using all these stories in our family transformed notes. Although very simply written, it brings alive some tricky parables and so is relevant for under 9s.

Other suggested Bibles for children These Bibles we either use in our children’s work at King’s or have been recommended by families. Please remember our aim is to show children the Bible is a fun, interesting book that can impact their lives. We want them to enjoy reading it. Make it a relaxed and comfortable time.

The Beginner’s Bible Really colourful, well written, aimed at under 6s.

The Candle Read and Share Bible This contains a lot of the stories from the Bible and they are quite simple. It has lovely illustrations and is aimed at young children, probably under 6s.

The Lion First Bible This is another great Bible. It gives more detail from the text – suitable for children aged 5-8.

The Jesus Storybook Bible This Bible is beautifully written and gives a lot of detail as to what the characters may have been feeling. Most stories link to Jesus and who He is and what He did. The detail is brilliant. Aimed at children 7+.

The Lion Bible for Children This is a larger-sized book. It has good illustrations and again is well written. Aimed at 7+.

The Action Bible This Bible is written as a comic. It is really good at helping children see how the characters might have felt. If your children enjoy super heroes and reading comics, they will relate to this. Probably children aged 8+.

Note to consider when choosing a Bible All the above Bibles are specifically aimed at children and so do not contain the whole Bible. The stories chosen are those that the editors feel are suitable for children. They are a brilliant start to encouraging your children to read their Bibles and see that the Bible is a really exciting life-changing book. As children grow, introduce them to a complete Bible.

The Good News Version The International Children’s Bible

These are the two child-friendly translations of the New Testament and the Old Testament, suitable for those children who are confident readers, probably 8/9+.

Bible apps There are also some excellent Bible apps for children. Check out the following FREE apps, available to download from Google, Amazon or Apple Store:

bible.com/kids Bible app for kids under 7.

guardiansofancora.com This app is a game which takes the children on adventures to discover Bible stories. For 8-11yrs.

https://www.bible.com/kids

http://guardiansofancora.com

Week beginning Sunday 31st January 2016

SPIRITUAL HEALTH The Precious Pearl

FAMILY INTRODUCTION • Use Resource Sheet 1 and ask, Why is Jesus so special?

• Ask the children to write or draw their thoughts. They can do this on their own or with you.

Example of the type of things the children might share:

He loves us

He’s our friend

He will never leave us

He always forgives us

BIBLE PASSAGE – The Precious Pearl (Matthew 13 v 45-46) Read from or act out from Stories Jesus Told – The Precious Pearl.

Questions to ask Is the pearl like God? Why?

What does this story mean? This parable tells us that living a life following Jesus is the best, most exciting way to live. There are lots of things in life which seems really important, but putting Jesus first is the best way to live.

When we find God we should do everything we can to follow Him.

OBJECT LESSON Using Resource Sheet 2

• Underneath the heading on Resource Sheet 2, list/draw all the things that are important to us.

• Talk about how Jesus wants to be first in our life. He wants us to enjoy life and we will have the best life (spiritual health) if we put Jesus first and see Him as more important than all these other things.

• After writing or drawing all these things, cut them out and stick them on Resource Sheet 2A underneath Jesus. We are aiming to show that Jesus is more important than these other things.

CRAFT When we decide to put Jesus first, it is important to spend time with Him, reading our Bible, praying and singing songs to Him.

Use Resource Sheet 3. Get your child(ren) to draw around their own hand and inside write their name. Around the outside write truths like:

Jesus is my forever friend

Jesus never leaves me

He loves me

He is King

WHAT SHOULD I REMEMBER THIS WEEK? JESUS IS WITH ME ALL THE TIME (WK 1 – SPIRITUAL HEALTH)

PRAYER Thank you Jesus that you are with me. Thank you that You know me and will always be with me. Help me always to always put You as number one in my life.

(Give time here for your child/children to pray also.)

How to stay close to Jesus • Read our Bible everyday

• Pray – anytime, anywhere

• Go to church

• Talk to others who love Jesus; learn from them

• Share Jesus with our friends

• Sing worship to Jesus

Week beginning Sunday 7th February 2016

PHYSICAL HEALTH The Good Stranger

FAMILY INTRODUCTION Together discuss what we can thank God for.

Using Resource Sheet 4, ask the children to draw pictures or write down things they are thankful for. Encourage them to think about their health and their bodies, e.g. that they can walk, run, dance, hop, jump, etc.

BIBLE PASSAGE – The Good Stranger (Luke 10 v 30-37) Read the story together – and even act it out.

Questions to ask? Who was the one who acted in the best way? Why?

How does Jesus want us to act towards others?

What does this story mean?

Jesus is loving and kind and wants us to be the same to others.

If we spend time with Jesus we will become more like Him.

OBJECT LESSON • Get children to do something physical – maybe dance to a CD, run around outside, do 10 star

jumps, hop on one leg 10 times, jog on the spot for 30 seconds, etc.

• How do they feel afterwards? They will probably say tired!!

• In the Bible it says that when we are weary and tired God will help – we can trust Him. Ask Him for help – He will always help us. He loves to spend time with us and He is always there for us.

CRAFT Cut out paper dolls with all hands joined (See Resource Sheet 5). Ask the children to colour them in and write on them.

Thank you God for looking after me and my family.

OR

Find a large piece of wallpaper and draw around the child, then decorate and write, Thank you God for looking after me!

WHAT SHOULD I REMEMBER FOR THIS WEEK? Jesus is with me all the time (Wk 1 – Spiritual health)

TRUST HIM – HE WILL ALWAYS HELP US (WK 2 – PHYSICAL HEALTH)

PRAYER Thank you Jesus that you are with me all the time, that You love me all the time and that You will help me all the time. Amen.




• Go to church





MENTAL HEALTH The House on the Rock

FAMILY INTRODUCTION On Resource Sheet 6 saying THOUGHTS, write:

What are some of the feelings we have? E.g. happy, sad, worried, fearful, confident.

BIBLE PASSAGE – The House on the Rock (Matthew 7 v 24-27) Tell or act out the story from Stories Jesus Told.

Questions to ask Which was the best house? Why?

What does the story mean? The wise man’s house was the best because he built his house on solid ground. The rock was strong and would not let his house sink.

God wants us to know that He is strong like the rock, so He wants us to trust Him and He will not let us down. We are like the house – we are safe when we trust God.

OBJECT LESSON • If you have building bricks at home, you could try building on different surfaces.

• To represent the sand you could lay a piece of material or jumper down and try building on that. To represent the rock you could use a table.

• If you don’t have building bricks, use hardback books, Tupperware tubs, plastic cups, etc.

• Talk to the children about which was the best structure and why?

• Remind the children of all those feelings we mentioned earlier? If we build on sand it’s like we let feelings of worry and fear come in, but if we build on rock it’s like we are listening to God – remembering His truth that He loves us and that we can trust Him.

CRAFT Make a sliding house from Resource Sheets 7 and 7A.

WHAT SHOULD I REMEMBER FOR THIS WEEK? Remember Jesus is with me all the time (Wk 1 – Spiritual health)

Trust him. He will always help us (Wk 2 – Physical health)

ASK JESUS TO HELP US NOT TO WORRY OR BE SCARED BUT TO TRUST HIM ALWAYS (WK 3 – MENTAL HEALTH)

PRAYER Thank you Jesus that you are with me all the time, that You love me all the time and that You will help me all the time. Amen.




• Go to church




Week beginning Sunday 21st February 2016

EMOTIONAL HEALTH The Lost Sheep

FAMILY INTRODUCTION Using Resource Sheet 8, write/draw around the word some of the emotions/ feelings that we have, e.g. happy, sad, scared, nervous, joyful, apprehensive, anxious, glad, angry

BIBLE PASSAGE – The Lost Sheep (Luke 15:3-7) Read the story from the Mick Inkpen book, or act it out.

Questions to ask Why did the shepherd keep searching for the sheep?

How did the shepherd feel when he found the sheep?

What does this story mean? God has made everyone on the earth and each person is important to Him.

He searches for us and wants us to be in His family with Him.

He celebrates when we come to Him.

OBJECT LESSON • When do we have celebrations? Birthdays, Christmas, etc.

• What makes Jesus celebrate is when we decide to follow Him. He is like the shepherd looking after His sheep, and when we decide to follow Him, there is a huge party in heaven.

• Play a couple of party games – musical bumps, statues, dance – have fun together.

CRAFT Make a party hat – see Resource Sheet 9.


Trust Him – He will always help us (Wk 2 – Physical health)

Ask Jesus to help us not to worry or be scared but to trust Him always (Wk 3 – Mental health)

JESUS LOVES ME AND WANTS ME IN HIS FAMILY (WK 4 – EMOTIONAL HEALTH)

PRAYER Thank you Jesus that You love me and want me to be in Your family.

At this stage you might want to talk to your children about following Jesus, if they would like to be his friend forever – here are some helpful points and a prayer you could pray with your children.

BECOMING JESUS’ FOREVER FRIEND • Remember Jesus died on the cross so that we can know God.

• Jesus died on the cross so that we can be forgiven for all the things we have done wrong.

• Jesus wants to be our friend forever.

PRAYER Remember that children can pray this prayer more than once – just keep encouraging them.

Adults to pray: Thank you so much Jesus for _____________ life. _____________ knows that they have done things wrong and need to be forgiven. Thank you for dying on the cross for them. _____________ would like to be your friend forever.

Then ask the child/children to repeat after you:

Dear God, I know that I have done things wrong. I know that You sent Jesus to be my forever friend, and that He died on the cross to take the punishment for the things I have done wrong. I know that Jesus rose from the dead and is coming back someday. Please forgive me for the things I have done wrong, and come into my heart, help me live a life with You as number one and I pray that I will always know You love me and are my forever friend. Amen


RELATIONAL HEALTH The Two Sons

FAMILY INTRODUCTION Look at a range of scenarios from Resource Sheet 10 together – talk with one another about which ones show people being faithful.

You could ask the children to cut them out and put into two piles – faithful and non-faithful. Or you could ask them to draw a smiley face on the faithful situations and a sad face on the non-faithful ones.

Together decide what being faithful means.

‘Faithful’ is an adjective that means loyal and reliable. ‘Faithful’ describes someone who is reliable and consistent.

BIBLE PASSAGE – The Two Sons (Matthew 21 v 28-31) Read and /or act out The Two Sons

Questions to ask? Which son was most faithful? Why?

What does this story mean? What we do is more important than what we say. Jesus wants us to answer, ‘Yes’ when He tells us to ‘Love one another’, but what He really wants is for us to love one another. He wants us to answer ‘Yes’ when He says ‘Follow Me’, but what He really wants is for us to follow Him – not just say it!

OBJECT LESSON • A good friend is faithful. God is our good friend. He is always faithful to us and wants us to be

faithful to Him and to others.

• Make paper chains using Resource Sheet 11. Children draw pictures of themselves and their friends on each of the chains or write their names.

• God is always faithful to us, He will not let us down. We want to be faithful to God but also faithful with our friends.

CRAFT Decorate and colour in the memory verse, Proverbs 3v3-4 GNT – Resource Sheet 12

“Never let go of loyalty and faithfulness. Tie them around your neck; write them on your heart. If you do this, both God and people will be pleased with you.”




Jesus loves me and wants me in His family (Wk 4 – Emotional health)

BEING A FAITHFUL FRIEND AND BEING FAITHFUL TO GOD IS REALLY IMPORTANT (WK 5 –RELATIONAL HEALTH)

PRAYER Using the paper chains that they made, pray for each of the children and themselves to be a faithful friend and faithful to God.




• Go to church




Week beginning Sunday 6th March 2016

MIND THE GAP! We’re pausing the series

In order to celebrate Mother’s Day and

Dedications, we have a one-week

break from the TRANSFORMED

preaching series on Sunday March 6th.

We suggest that for this coming week

you take a break from the daily

devotionals and the family devotionals,

reflect on previous readings/weeks or

do some catching up if you’ve missed

any. The devotionals will continue next

Sunday, 13th March, with the Parable

of the Rich Farmer in the family

devotionals and day 36 in the

Transformed book.

Or if you are feeling extra motivated,

here are some ideas for this week:

• Thank God for Mums/people who

look after us.

• Talk about how God would like us to

show people we are grateful for

what they do for us.

• Pray for people you know who

spend their life looking after others.

• Write down/draw all the things you

have learnt/done over the last few

weeks during the TRANSFORMED

series, i.e. stories you heard,

activities completed, etc. – see how

much you can remember!


FINANCIAL HEALTH The Rich Farmer

FAMILY INTRODUCTION See Resource Sheet 13.

Being Generous – Ask your child(ren) what being generous is?

Ask children to draw or write how they can be generous, e.g. sharing sweets, letting people play with their toys, etc.

BIBLE PASSAGE – The Rich Farmer (Luke 12 v 16-21) Read/act out The Rich Farmer

Questions to ask What did the man do that was silly?

What does this story mean? God wants us to spend our lives being generous, not worrying about having lots of money, toys and stuff. Let’s spend our lives doing what God wants.

OBJECT LESSON Put some of the children’s toys around the room (small bits are best – Lego/bricks/jigsaw pieces, etc.). Play some music and go around together and collect the toys as quickly as you can. When the music stops, look at how many you have each collected. Encourage those with more to be generous to those with less. Ask how it feels to be given more and how it feels to be generous.

CRAFT Complete a chart listing what we need and what we want (Resource Sheets 14 and 14A).

Then talk to the children about the charity on the next page or another charity your family supports.

ASHES TO GLORY There is an orphanage in Goma called the Mama Jeanne Orphanage. There are 165 children who are looked after. Ebi Umeotuk from King’s runs a charity that supports the children there. It is called from Ashes to Glory. It would be really good if we can think about being generous to these children.

Talk to your children about how they could do this. It could be praying for them or maybe donating some money to the charity, or remembering how fortunate we are and being thankful for what we have. Here is the website for more information ashestoglory.org.





Being a faithful friend and being faithful to God is really important (Wk 5 – Relational health)

SPEND OUR TIME BECOMING WHO JESUS WANTS US TO BE (WK 6 –FINANCIAL HEALTH)

PRAYER Help me, Jesus, to be generous and live my life the way You want me to.

(Invite your child/children to pray too.)



• Go to church




http://ashestoglory.org


VOCATIONAL HEALTH The 10 Silver Coins

FAMILY INTRODUCTION Vocation – Trying our best to do what God wants us to do.

What do you think God wants us to do? (e.g. be kind, love people, share, sing to him, etc.)

Write/draw on Resource Sheet 15.

BIBLE PASSAGE – The 10 Silver Coins (Luke 15 v8-10) Read or act out the story (possibly hide coins around the room but keep one hidden then finally reveal the final coin).

Questions to ask How did it feel to find the final coin?

What does this story mean? We are like one of those coins – we are so valuable to Jesus. Jesus will search for us and celebrate when He finds us. This is the same for everyone!

Jesus knew us all before we were born. He sees all of us and knows us. He knows what we are good at and who we are, so what we do matters. Jesus sees who we can be and who we can become.

OBJECT LESSON • Re-visit the list of things that we think God wants us to do with our lives.

• On Resource Sheet 16, have your child/children draw a picture of themselves and write/draw what they are good at (including some of the things from the brainstorm).

• Talk together and uplift your children about their strengths; talk to them about how we can use them for God’s glory.

• God gave us these abilities/gifts so how can we use them for Him?

CRAFT Make and decorate a bookmark which thanks God for making them (Resource Sheet 17).





Being a faithful friend and being faithful to God is really important (Wk 5 – Relational health)

Spend our time becoming who Jesus wants us to be (Wk 6 – Financial health)

GOD MADE ME AND MADE ME GOOD AT LOTS OF THINGS AND I CAN USE THEM TO SERVE HIM (Wk 7 – Vocational health)

PRAYER Thank you God for making me and giving me lots of things I can be good at and that I can use them to serve You.



• Go to church




MAKING THE MOST OF THE SERIES To make the most of the TRANSFORMED series, we are encouraging everyone to:

BE AT CHURCH EACH WEEK – It’s only seven weeks, and if you miss a Sunday, listen online (kingschurchlondon.org/media) or via the free King’s app (kingschurchlondon.org/app).

BE PART OF A GROUP – It’s a great place to make friends and discuss the topics. You can sign up on Sundays or at kingschurchlondon.org/groups.

BE TRANSFORMED DAILY – Buy the Transformed book and do the daily devotionals – it’s available from the Welcome Desk for £7.

Let’s unite as a church and be transformed together.

http://www.kingschurchlondon.org/groups

Format of each session - King's Church Catford · Bible and they are quite simple. It has lovely...

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