Putting God First: Serving

Putting God First: Serving Week 3: God Can Help Us Be Kind to Everyone

This includes: Leader Preparation Lesson Guide

LEADER PREPARATION

BIBLE BASIS Crippled, alone, and waiting for the final axe to fall on him, Mephibosheth was miserable. Aren’t we the same? Crippled in sin, alone without God—we’re unable to sit in the presence of our Master until he touches our lives and extends his infinite kindness and grace. Until Jesus extends to us his gracious invitation, we’re so often like Mephibosheth. That’s what grace means, what grace is all about. It’s something we don’t deserve, yet God freely gives it to us through Jesus Christ. Use this passage to help kids understand that they can show a piece of the grace and kindness God showed to them through their kindness to others, especially those who don’t “deserve” it.

DISCOVERY POINT God can help us be kind to everyone.

BIBLE FOCUS 2 Samuel 9

KEY VERSE “Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone” (1 Thessalonians 5:14).

TEACHING PREP The short overview below is designed to help you prepare for your lesson.

Supplies You’ll Need: Putting God First: Serving (Year 3/Quarter 12) CD, LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 3) DVD, CD player, TV/DVD player, bowls, individually wrapped candies, Bibles, “Guide to Kindness” handout, pencils, newsprint, markers, tape, large bowl or tub of water, and pebbles

Before This Lesson • Prepare a bowl of individually wrapped candies for each Bible Crew of four. Set the bowls at one end of your meeting area, spaced a few feet apart. Make sure the distance from the bowls to the opposite wall is enough that a line of four kids holding hands and stretching across the room cannot reach a bowl. • Print the “Guide to Kindness” handout. You’ll need one for each crew of four kids. • Assemble Bible Exploration Kits (one per four kids): one Bible, “Guide to Kindness” handout, pencils, long piece of newsprint, and markers. • Review 2 Samuel 9. • Cue "Into the Bible" (Track 1) on the Putting God First: Serving (Year 3/Quarter 12) CD or (Quarter 12/Track 1) on the LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 3) DVD. • Huddle briefly with your volunteers beforehand. Answer any questions they have. Encourage them and pray. PARENT EMAIL

We’ve provided you with a “Family Devotion” handout to send the Bible learning and faith discovery home. When kids and parents have faith discussions regularly, kids’ faith multiplies.

So we’ve given you two options:  Print the “Family Devotion” handout and make enough copies for each child to take one home.  Email the “Family Devotion” to families before or after the actual lesson.

Or why not do both? That way you’ll double the opportunities for parents to actually get the handout. Putting God First: Serving Week 3: God Can Help Us Be Kind to Everyone

LESSON GUIDE

WELCOME! Supplies: Putting God First: Serving (Year 3/Quarter 12) CD, LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 3) DVD, CD player, TV/DVD player, prepared bowls of candy

1. Play “Into the Bible” (Track 1) from the Putting God First: Serving (Year 3/Quarter 12) CD or (Quarter 12/Track 1) from the LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 3) DVD as kids arrive.

• “Into the Bible” Makes me wanna jump! Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump! Makes me wanna sing! Hallelujah! It’s the greatest book. Come and take a look. Makes me wanna shout! Shout! Shout! Shout! Shout! So that everyone will see I’m getting into the Bible And the Bible...is getting into me!

We’re discovering a brand-new world As we dig a little deeper (deeper), Finding out about who God is. Open it up and see it (see it)! There’s nothin’ like God’s Word, and I get So excited. It makes me wanna, Makes me,

Makes me wanna jump! Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump! Makes me wanna sing! Hallelujah! It’s the greatest book. Come and take a look. Makes me wanna shout! Shout! Shout! Shout! Shout! So that everyone will see I’m getting into the Bible And the Bible...is getting into me!

“Into the Bible” by Jay Stocker. © 2006 Group Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission to use lyrics granted for local church use only. No unauthorized duplication permitted. 2. Have kids form Bible Crews of four, and ask crews to gather on the side of the room opposite the bowls of candy you set out. Make sure the distance between the crews and the bowls is far enough that crews cannot reach them by holding hands and stretching across the room. SAY: Your goal with your Bible Crew is to reach the bowl of candy on the opposite side of the room. Here are the rules: • One person has to stay at the beginning, where you are now. • You have to hold hands and stretch across the room. • You have 30 seconds. Go!

3. Allow time for crews to try. Kids will quickly find out that they can’t reach the candy the way the game is set up. When they realize this, SAY: In your Bible Crew, come up with one way I can show you kindness in this situation, without moving the candy. After a minute or so, ask crews to share their ideas, then choose one you can do. For example, if they suggest that you let them lie down and hold each other’s ankles, let them do that. Most suggestions will lead to the candy. If they don’t, let crews brainstorm one other way you can show kindness.

4. Once kids retrieve the candy, let them enjoy the treats. ASK: • How was this game like or not like kindness in our lives? • Why should we show kindness to others? • When is kindness hard? SAY: Being kind to others isn’t always easy. Sometimes there are opportunities to be kind to people we don’t like. And that’s when it gets kind of hard to be kind. God can help us be kind to everyone. There’s a man who many might have thought didn’t deserve a king’s kindness, but the king chose to be kind anyway. Let’s explore that situation!

LET’S EXPLORE! Supplies: assembled Bible Exploration Kits, tape

1. Give each Bible Crew a Bible Exploration Kit. Have crews take the handouts, pencils, and Bibles out of their kits and turn to 2 Samuel 9. SAY: David was a powerful king. Mephibosheth was a disabled man who was related to the man—Saul—who tried to kill David several times. ASK: • What do you do when someone tries to hurt you? SAY: Well, the passage you’re about to read took place several years after Saul tried to kill David. Let’s see how David acted toward Saul’s family. To do that, use the “Guide to Kindness” handout in your Bible Exploration Kits as a guide to help you read the passages and answer the questions.

2. Allow up to 10 minutes for crews to explore the passage and complete the handout. ASK: • On a scale from 1 to 10, how much kindness would you say David showed to Mephibosheth? Talk to your crew about your rating. • Tell your crew about a time you chose to treat someone with kindness when the person may not have “deserved” your kindness. Why did you make that choice? SAY: David didn’t have to show Mephibosheth any kindness. He didn’t even know Mephibosheth existed. But he chose to seek him out. David knew he had a responsibility to treat Mephibosheth with kindness because of the great kindness God had shown him. David needed to pass that kindness on, and David knew that God would help him be kind even to Saul’s grandson Mephibosheth.

3. Have crews take the long piece of newsprint from their kits. Ask kids to work in their crews to create a sad or lonely person on their newsprint. Explain that there are many people who feel left out the way Mephibosheth may’ve felt. Maybe they don’t have friends or they don’t dress in the “right” style. Tell crews to draw a person on their sheets of paper and to write things that would make that person feel left out or lonely.

4. Allow time for crews to create. Then have them introduce their people to everyone else. After each introduction, tape the person to the wall, and lead kids in brainstorming ways to show kindness to someone with the traits or characteristics the crew presented. Write each idea near the trait it would go with. For example, if a trait is a shy personality, some kindness ideas could be talking to that person, inviting that person over, or sitting next to that person at lunch. Continue for each person. ASK: • Think of someone you know who may feel sad or left out. Why would God want you to show kindness to that person? • How can God help us be kind, even to people we don’t like? SAY: God can help us be kind to everyone. God worked through David to show a needy, sad young man true kindness, and he can work through each of us to show kindness to people who really need it.

5. SAY: A few minutes ago, you thought of someone who might feel sad or left out. God can help us be kind to everyone. What is one way you can be kind to the person you thought of this week? Pause as kids think. Then have kids find a partner and each tell their partners one way they can show kindness to the person they thought of who might feel left out. SAY: Because of King David’s kindness, Mephibosheth’s life was suddenly a lot better. How awesome! And God can work through your kindness to change others’ lives for the better, too.

LET’S PRAISE! Supplies: Putting God First: Serving (Year 3/Quarter 12) CD, LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 3) DVD, CD player, TV/DVD player

1. SAY: David went out of his way to show great kindness to Mephibosheth because of the great love and kindness God had shown to him. How awesome! Let’s celebrate kindness! To do that, work with your crew to create a quick Kindness Cheer. Give crews a minute to create and practice their cheers, and then have crews huddle up and yell out their kindness cheers one team at a time.

2. Set up the Putting God First: Serving (Year 3/Quarter 12) CD or the LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 3) DVD. PLAY: • “Use Your Whole Body” (Romans 6:13) (CD Track 2) (DVD Quarter 12/Track 2) So use your whole body as an instrument To do what is right for the glory of God. Everybody’s got one, now whatcha gonna do with it? Are you gonna use it for good, for the glory of God?

Come on, everybody, let’s do this right; Clap your hands, and keep it tight. Come on, everybody, let’s move your feet; Stomp ‘em real hard, stomp ‘em right on beat. Come on, everybody, let’s do both things; Do it for the glory of our great King.

So use your whole body as an instrument; To do what is right for the glory of God. Everybody’s got one, now whatcha gonna do with it? Are you gonna use it for good, for the glory of God?

O-o-oh, o-o-o-o-oh (echo) O-o-oh, o-o-o-o-oh (echo) Yea-h-h-h-h (echo) Ah, ah, ah, ai-oh (echo)

Come on, everybody, let’s do this right; Clap your hands, and keep it tight. Come on, everybody, let’s move your feet; Stomp ‘em real hard, stomp ‘em right on beat. Come on, everybody, let’s do both things; Do it for the glory of our great King.

So use your whole body as an instrument To do what is right for the glory of God. Everybody’s got one, now whatcha gonna do with it? Are you gonna use it for good, for the glory of God? Are you gonna use it for good, for the glory of God?

“Use Your Whole Body” (Romans 6:13) by Jay Stocker. © 2011 Group Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission to use lyrics granted for local church use only. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

• “My Help Comes From the Lord” (Psalm 121:2) (CD Track 3) (DVD Quarter 12/Track 3) Sometimes I feel afraid; I need someone to help me find my way, Someone who holds me up And gives me strength To get me through the day.

My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. You are all I’ll ever need. My help comes from the Lord; I’m trusting in your name.

You are my God; It will always be true, My help comes from you. Sometimes I feel afraid; I need someone to help me find my way, Someone who holds me up And gives me strength To get me through the day.

My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. You are all I’ll ever need. My help comes from the Lord; I’m trusting in your name.

You are my God; It will always be true, My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. You are all I’ll ever need. My help comes from the Lord; I’m trusting in your name.

You are my God; It will always be true, My help comes from you, My help comes from you.

“My Help Comes From the Lord” (Psalm 121:2) by Jay Stocker. © 2011 Group Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission to use lyrics granted for local church use only. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

• “Servant of All” (Mark 9:35b) (CD Track 7) (DVD Quarter 12/Track 7) If anyone wants to be first, He must be the very last. If anyone wants to be first, He must be the very last,

And the servant of all, And the servant of all, And the servant of all, If you want to be first.

(Repeat from the beginning.)

If anyone wants to be first, He must be the very last. If anyone wants to be first, He must be the very last.

“Servant of All” (Mark 9:35b) by Uelese Fa’agutu, Rachel Fa’agutu, and Jay Stocker. © 2007 Group Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission to use lyrics granted for local church use only. No unauthorized duplication permitted. LET’S PRAY! Supplies: large bowl or tub of water, pebbles

1. Set out a large tub of water, and gather kids around it. SAY: God can help us be kind to everyone, and something that’s amazing about even a small act of kindness is the ripple effect it can have. It’s like throwing a small stone into a pool of water. When the stone hits the water, the ripples keep spreading much farther than just the little part that the stone hit. God was kind to David, and he in turn treated Mephibosheth with great kindness. We don’t know what happened next, but it’s quite possible that Mephibosheth went on to treat someone else with kindness. We can be part of this kindness ripple effect, too; when we treat someone with kindness, that person may treat someone else with kindness, and so on. In this way we can all, with God’s help, make this world a kinder place.

2. Give each child a pebble, and SAY: As you hold your pebble tight, think again of the person who might feel sad or left out. Think of why that person might feel like that. Pause as kids think. Then SAY: Now ask God to help you show kindness and love to that person. As you pray silently, lightly toss your rock into the water. Watch as the ripples go out from your pebble, and imagine how your act of kindness might inspire the person who receives your kindness to act in kindness to someone else. Allow kids time to pray and toss their pebbles. Encourage kids to wait until ripples fade after each toss before the next one. When everyone has tossed a pebble, close the prayer time.

HIGH FIVES Supplies: none

Have kids encourage each other as they leave by giving each other kind and gentle pats on the back.

FOR-EXTRA-TIME ACTIVITIES God’s Positioning System Supplies: paper and markers Have kids make “Kindness Life Maps.” Ask them to draw symbols and write phrases on a timeline to represent times in their lives when others treated them with kindness and times when they treated others with kindness.

Working Together Supplies: none Have kids think of some simple acts of kindness they can do for others right now, such as washing windshields of cars in the parking lot, picking up trash outside, or helping clean up an area of the church. Then have them do those things—right now!

Hiding It in Your Heart Supplies: none SAY: American Sign Language is a way people communicate through actions. We communicate kindness through actions, too. Have kids work together to create their own sign language motions for the three action phrases in the Key Verse, 1 Thessalonians 5:14. Then have them share their sign language with others. Create a Bible Dictionary Supplies: paper, markers, dictionary, CD player, Putting God First: Serving (Year 3/Quarter 12) CD Ask kids to create one or more pages, each with a new word, for a Bible dictionary. Have kids suggest words from today’s lesson—kindness and everyone are two suggestions. Have them write each word on a sheet of paper in fun letters, add a definition, list Scripture references, and make illustrations. Play “The Books of the Bible Song” (Track 8), from the Putting God First: Serving (Year 3/Quarter 12) CD while kids work. Add each page to a three-ring binder, and watch the dictionary grow!