Jesus’ Friends Jesus’ Love God’s World NG SEEDS OF F ANTI AITH OOD PL IN EARLY CHILDH Spring Quarter 2017

Practice Makes Perfect ...... 2 5 Essentials for the Pre-Primary Classroom ...... 3 Pre-Primary Resources ...... 4 Basic Supplies for Pre-Primary Teachers ...... 5 Getting Started! ...... 6 Leading a Young Child to Christ...... 7 Jesus’ Friends UNIT 1 OVERVIEW...... 8 March 5, 2017 Dorcas Helps Others ...... 10 March 12, 2017 Peter and John Help a Lame Man ... 18 March 19, 2017 Philip Tells about Jesus ...... 27 The Doctrinal Basis of Our Curriculum March 26, 2017 Lydia Serves God’s Helpers ...... 36 A more detailed statement with references is available upon request. Jesus’ Love • The verbal, plenary inspiration of the Scriptures UNIT 2 OVERVIEW ...... 44 • Only one true God April 2, 2017 Jesus Teaches the People...... 46 • The Trinity of the Godhead • The Holy Spirit and His ministry April 9, 2017 Jesus Goes to Jerusalem ...... 55 • The personality of Satan April 16, 2017 Jesus Dies and Lives Again ...... 64 • The Genesis account of creation • Original sin and the fall of man April 23, 2017 Jesus Meets with His Friends ...... 73 • The virgin birth of Christ April 30, 2017 Jesus Tells Peter to Serve Him ..... 83 • Salvation through faith in the shed blood of Christ May 7, 2017 Jesus Goes Back to Heaven ...... 92 • The bodily resurrection and priesthood of Christ • Grace and the new birth God’s World • Justifi cation by faith UNIT 3 OVERVIEW ...... 101 • Sanctifi cation of the believer • The security of the believer May 14, 2017 God Makes Day and Night, Sky, • The church Land, and Plants ...... 103 • The ordinances of the local church: baptism by immersion and May 21, 2017 God Makes Sun, Moon, and Stars, the Lord’s Supper Fish, Birds, and Animals...... 112 • Biblical separation— ecclesiastical and personal May 28, 2017 God Makes People ...... 121 • Obedience to civil government • The place of Israel • The pretribulation rapture of the church • The premillennial return of Christ • The millennial reign of Christ Regular Baptist Press • Eternal glory in Heaven for the righteous 3715 North Ventura Drive • Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004-7678 Spring 2017 • Vol. 64, No. 3 • © 2009 by Regular Baptist Press • Printed in U.S.A. • Eternal torment in Hell for the wicked Janis Salzman, Editorial Manager • King James Version Practice Makes Perfect

What would you do if you saw a student trying to glue Encourage Practice paper fl owers onto a card project, but there is more glue Use these teaching practices to help your students on the table than on the card? Instinctively you might develop their skills. offer, “Here, let me do that for you.” When you come to • Start with what students already know. If the a child's rescue, you may think that you are helping students can write a few letters of their names, let them him—not to mention saving time, preventing a mess, write their names on their papers. You can write their completing a task, and making his craft presentable. names below their writing. But what is the child learning from the experience? • Help students experience success. Give chil- He is learning that you can do it better than he can, and dren age-appropriate responsibilities. Be realistic about therefore, why should he try to do it when someone else what they can do. Pre-primaries can hand out snacks, is more successful. Doing projects that require the same but they probably can’t pour drinks without spilling. skill set is an ideal way for pre-primaries to learn. When you sweep in to perform tasks for them, you are cutting • Build skills step-by-step. If students have dif- short their learning experiences. fi culty doing actions while singing, help them learn the song’s words before gradually adding movement. Value Practice • Show, not tell. When teaching a new skill, show Practice helps pre-primaries develop coordination. students how to do it. Children often learn better by The children gain knowledge rapidly, but their eye-hand watching than by listening. coordination often lags behind their thinking ability. • Assist with verbal clues. Instead of doing a task This gap between knowledge and coordination is frus- for students, give them suggestions; for example, “This trating for parents, teachers, and pre-primaries. Practice card is long and skinny. Try folding it the other way.” does make perfect. The more students have the oppor- • Be fl exible. Students may take more time to fi n- tunity to use their hands and bodies, the better their ish a task than you anticipate. To a young child, doing coordination will become. the project is just as fulfi lling as fi nishing it. Bible time is Another advantage of encouraging students to do a priority, but avoid too rigid a schedule. more on their own is that they will have opportunities • Stop before frustration. Young children get to become more responsible, cooperative, and teachable. tired and hungry. Don’t push them to “try again” if you Some students have a tendency to be dependent. If you sense they are reaching their limit. Accept their efforts continue to rescue those children in their attempts to and express appreciation to them for trying. perform certain tasks, they will always ask for your help. Encouraging pre-primaries to “try” takes time and When children face diffi cult tasks and persist to complete patience. Pray for your students. Ask the Lord for wisdom them, they learn how to problem solve. By giving your as you plan your Sunday School lesson and interact with students responsibility at an early age, you are helping students. The Lord can use you to give pre-primaries a them develop positive lifetime patterns. great start in loving Christ and living for Him.

2 Essentials for the Pre-Primary Classroom

Have you ever heard the expression “the tyranny of to move; e.g., sing action songs, march around the room, do the urgent”? That phrase describes what happens when stretching exercises, use action rhymes, act out the story. immediate needs scream for attention. In managing the crisis of the moment, important areas may be overlooked. Essential A routine “The tyranny of the urgent” often takes place when #3 Children thrive when the classroom has order. working with young children. It’s easy to overlook the Establish the basic layout of events during your Sunday essentials that provide a positive learning environment. School time and stick to that sequence. Once you discover Take some time to refl ect on the following essentials. Are the best way to distribute handcraft materials or to clean they part of your classroom? up, repeat the procedures from week to week. Children will soon learn to anticipate what they should do next. Essential A Spirit-fi lled teacher #1 What motivates you to teach? Do you teach to Essential The right supplies get recognition, to fulfi ll a duty, or to get “warm fuzz- #4 Adequate and appropriate supplies can make ies” from the children? Hopefully, you teach because you the difference between having an organized classroom or love children. That love comes from God (1 John 4:7). sheer chaos! The social skills of waiting for turns, shar- How is your love relationship with God? Are you reading ing materials, and allowing others to have fi rst choice are His Word, talking to Him during the day, and obey- diffi cult for young children. Think through your Sunday ing His teachings? If so, your patience, kindness, and School session. Does each student have a chair and table understanding will show through as you work with the space? Do you have extra handwork pages for visitors? Is children. Another factor to consider is your need for rest. the supply of crayons, Play-Doh, and glue sticks adequate Are you pacing your schedule on Saturday so that you for your class? Can you locate supplies quickly and con- will wake up refreshed on Sunday? veniently? Many behavior problems disappear when children have the supplies they need in hand. Essential A child-centered approach #2 A gap exists between an adult’s perception of Essential A well-prepared plan the world and a young child’s outlook. Put yourself in #5 This essential seems to be a given, but it may the children’s shoes and plan your Sunday School time be shortchanged in the busyness of your personal life. accordingly. Do you have a plan for when the children fi rst walk • Attention span. As you know, the children’s atten- through the door until they leave the room hand-in-hand tion span is short! Plan accordingly. with their parents? Your RBP teacher’s guide walks you • Visual fi eld. Place your wall hangings and bul- step-by-step through the Sunday School session. Are you letin board displays on the children’s eye level. For your familiar enough with the plan so that you do not have to displays, choose bright colors and objects that children refer to it often? You may want to change the plan to fi t enjoy; e.g., animals, people, food, toys, etc. your particular group of students. If so, make sure you • Eye-hand coordination. Pre-primaries’ small motor know what you are doing and when you are doing it. Jot coordination is still developing. Rejoice in your students’ down your classroom routine on a notecard and keep it participation rather than the appearance of their fi nal with you. products. Go back to the basics of teaching—and enjoy a • Activity level. Plan activities that allow your students well-managed classroom!

3 Pre-Primary Resources

Your Bible PLANTING FAITH Pre-Primary Teacher’s Guide SPRING QUARTER 2017 (2290) Order one guide for each superintendent and teacher in Sunday School and Church Time each quarter.

PLANTING FAITH Pre-Primary Teaching Resources SPRING QUARTER 2017 (1240K) Order one packet for each group of students in Sunday School and Church Time.

PLANTING FAITH Handwork for Pre-Primaries BOOKS 1 AND 2 (2291, 2292) Order one handwork book for each teacher and child in Sunday School each quarter. Order book 1 for pre-kindergarten students; order book 2 for children who are in kindergarten.

PLANTING FAITH AT HOME Take-home Papers SPRING QUARTER 2017 (2293) Order one set of cards for each teacher and child in Sunday School and Church Time each quarter.

Attendance Charts and God Made the World Stickers SPRING QUARTER 2017 (2294) Charts and stickers are packaged together by fi ves. Order one package for every fi ve students.

Ordering Information All materials—except your Bible—are available from Regular Baptist Press • 3715 North Ventura Drive, Arlington Heights, IL 60004-7678 • Web: www.RegularBaptistPress.org • E-mail: [email protected] • Toll-free orders in the United States: 1-800-727-4440 • Fax: 1-847-843-3757 • Canada: Contact your distributor. 4 Basic Supplies for Pre-Primary Teachers

Teaching Aids Scissors Offering container Sharp points for teacher Jesus Lives puzzle (RBP5603, $3.49) Blunt ends for children God Made Me puzzle (RBP5604, $3.49) Flannelboard Offi ce Supplies 26" x 36" (6063) Paper clips Pocket chart (8664, $19.99) Brass fasteners Sentence strips (8677, $5.99) Paper punch CD player Cellophane tape Music Double-stick tape Masking tape Growing Songs for Children No. 1 (7827, Stapler $4.99) X-acto knife Master Chorus Book No. 1 (7828, $10.99) Master Chorus Book No. 2 (7832, $9.99) Bulletin Boards Salvation Songs Favorites (7837, $4.99) Green letters (8509, $4.99) Paper Products 9" x 12" and 12" x 18" construction paper Miscellaneous in all colors Play-Doh White copy paper Clear Con-Tact paper Butcher paper Chenille wires Poster board Yarn 4" x 6" index cards Cotton balls Self-adhesive labels Craft sticks (regular and jumbo size) White table covers Lunch-size paper bags 6" and 9" paper plates Markers Premoistened towels Pencils Hand sanitizer Large crayons Old plastic tablecloth for art projects Black and colored felt-tip markers Clean plastic tablecloth for food projects Adhesives Paper cups, plates, and napkins Ziplock bags Glue sticks Craft glue Plasti-Tak

Mother’s Day Mother’s Day is May 14. There is no speci c Mother’s Day lesson, however, the role moth- ers play in serving is emphasized throughout the quarter. You may want to save the Michael and Emily story “A Gift for Mommy” (lesson 4) to read that day during Books and Puzzles time. Children may give their mothers their potted  owers from Creative Activity (see page 104).

5 Getting Started!

Did you recently agree to teach the pre- voice infl ection and gestures. Think of primary class in your Sunday School and ways to involve the children in the story now you wonder what you’ve agreed to do? itself. Or maybe you’re a substitute, pressed • Go through the session in your mind. Jot into duty at the last minute. down the general outline of the morning. What’s a fi rst-timer or substitute • Get a good night’s sleep on Saturday so to do? you are rested and alert for Sunday. Take a few minutes to become familiar On Sunday morning with all the materials. Look through this book to get a feel for how it is designed • Arrive early and arrange your materials and how lessons are laid out. Look at the for easy access. handwork book and take-home leafl ets. Go • Greet each child and parent warmly. through the resources that are included in • Follow the standard procedure for check- the packet. Check out the resources on the ing in children. (Find this out ahead CD and listen to the music CD. of time. Some churches use ID bands Preparing the lesson or pagers in their early childhood departments.) • Pray, asking God to guide the prepara- tion process. • Accept each child’s level of participa- tion in an activity; some children become • Read and meditate on the Scripture immediately involved; others take a little text(s)—even if the Bible story is familiar longer to enter in. to you. • Remember that children enjoy repeti- • Look at the lesson and topic and tion. If you need another activity, repeat a theme; keep them in mind during your song, action rhyme, or story play. preparation. • Plan to keep the children occupied for the • Read the lesson. Decide what activities entire Sunday School hour or until the you will use and what ideas of your own end of Church Time. you can add. Always keep the desired stu- dent response in mind. Plan to have more • Don’t be discouraged if the morning to do than the time in which to do it. did not go exactly as you had planned. Preschoolers are not always predictable. • Gather the materials you need for the Remember that teaching God’s Word is a activities you have chosen. spiritual ministry; leave the results with • Practice telling the story out loud. Add God!

6 Leading a Young Child to Christ

Little children can be saved, but we • Use Romans 3:23 and talk about sin. must be very careful in presenting the plan Make sure the child understands and of salvation to them. A child from a home admits that he is a sinner. with strong spiritual training will be ready • Use Romans 5:8 and explain that God long before a child from a home with little loves us so much that He sent Jesus to or no spiritual nurture. We do not sug- take the punishment for our sin. Jesus gest giving invitations to young children took our punishment when He died on because they want to do what they think the cross. will please you. Their “decision” may be • Ask the child if he understands that he is to make the teacher happy rather than to a sinner and that Jesus died for him. Ask receive Christ as Savior. him if he is ready to have Jesus forgive But what about a child who expresses his sin and be his Savior. Have the child an interest in accepting the Savior? What express this desire to God in prayer. Scripture verses will you use? How will you deal with the child? The following sugges- • Use Romans 10:13 to help the child real- tions will help you. ize that God has promised to save all who call on Him. • Talk to the child in an undistracted set- At some point in dealing with a child, ting. Use questions that require more you may sense that he is not ready or does than yes and no answers. not understand what salvation means. Do • Ask him why he wants to be saved. (More not be discouraged. Rejoice in the spiritual than one child has been motivated by a interest the child has shown, and trust the desire to participate in the Lord’s Supper Holy Spirit to continue His work of convict- or be baptized.) ing of sin.

7 UNIT 1 OVERVIEW Jesus’ Friends

Date Lesson Title Bible Verse Lesson Topic Lesson Theme Desired Student and Text Response

3/5 Dorcas Helps “Serve the LORD Helping others God is pleased Each student will Others with gladness” when we help name ways he can Acts 9:36–42 (Ps. 100:2). others. be a helper this week.

3/12 Peter and John “The LORD our Helping others God helps us help Each student will Help a Lame Man God will we serve” others. identify ways he Acts 3:1–12, 16 (Josh. 24:24). can help at church and at home.

3/19 Philip Tells “I believe that Salvation Jesus is the way to Each student will about Jesus Jesus Christ is the Heaven. be able to repeat Acts 8:26–39 Son of God” the simple truths of (Acts 8:37). the gospel.

3/26 Lydia Serves “Only fear the Serving others God wants us to Each student will God’s Helpers LORD, and serve serve others. demonstrate ways Acts 16:12–15, 40 him in truth with to serve others. all your heart” (1 Sam. 12:24).

Unit Bulletin Board Cover the bulletin board with yellow paper or fabric. No border is necessary. Print a copy of verse visual 40-V9 (hands), cut out, and place it in the center of the board. Print color patterns 40-P30—P35 (helping pictures) from resource CD 1240. Arrange pictures as shown in the sketch. Take each child’s picture sometime during the morning on March 5. Or ask parents to provide a photo of their child. Complete the display on March 12. Teaching Props In addition to teaching resources 1240 you will need these items. • Handmade item of sentimental value to you; fabric, needle, thread (lesson 1) • A few coins for each child (lesson 2)

658 Additional Supplies Lesson 3: cheese slices, minicrackers, juice These supplies are needed for parts of the lesson other than the Bible story. Lesson 4: sliced bananas, juice • Large beads or painted pasta; craft foam; two Bible-time costumes; coins; Preparation Suggestions towel or rug (lesson 2) • Print all the patterns and songsheets • Child’s wagon (lesson 3) from the resource CD at one time. This • Paper towel tubes; coffee filters; Bible- will save time later. time costumes; purple scarf or fabric • Make all the sample crafts at the begin- (lesson 4) ning of the unit. A week in advance, have a helper or teen do all the cutting of pat- Books and Puzzles terns or craft items that children cannot do. Check your church or local library for • Secure volunteer help for games or crafts books and puzzles on these themes: that will need additional supervision. • where fabric comes from (e.g., sheep, • Always have a few optional activities cotton plant, silk worm), native dress ready to use; e.g., rhymes, review games, around the world (lesson 1) playacting, motion songs. Sometimes the adult church service goes longer than • community helpers, helping (lesson 2) usual, or you do not have enough children • Jesus’ death and resurrection, salvation to play the recommended game. (preschool level) (lesson 3) • Check the necessary supplies two weeks • Paul, purple fabric (lesson 4) in advance of each lesson so that you are not caught by surprise if something is Snacks missing or there is not enough for each The snacks are developed to go along student. with the lessons. Lesson 1: pretzels, apple slices, juice Lesson 2: grapes, cheese and crackers, juice Pre-Primary Music CD #1240 To help you easily locate songs once the music CD is in the CD player, we are including this list of the song tracks. The first number is the vocal rendition; the second number is the instrumental rendition.

1 & 23: Creation Song 9 & 31: He Is Risen! 17 & 39: My God Is So Great 2 & 24: Friends 10 & 32: Helping 18 & 40: Praise Him, Praise Him 3 & 25: God Cares for Me 11 & 33: I Love Him 19 & 41: Springtime 4 & 26: God Cares 12 & 34: I’ll Be a Helper 20 & 42: Thank You Song 5 & 27: God Has Made Them All 13 & 35: I’ll Be Kind 21 & 43: The Wonder Song 6 & 28: God Loves and Cares for Me 14 & 36: I’m Happy Today 22 & 44: Yes, God Made All Things 7 & 29: God Made Adam and Eve 15 & 37: I’ve Come to Church 8 & 30: God Made the World 16 & 38: Jesus Loves Me 669 UNIT 2 OVERVIEW Jesus’ Love

Date Lesson Title Bible Verse Lesson Topic Lesson Theme Desired Student and Text(s) Response

4/2 Jesus Teaches “Your heavenly God’s care God cares for birds, Each student will the People Father knoweth fl owers, and people. name ways God Matthew 6:25–33 that ye have need cares for him. of all these things” (Matt. 6:32).

4/9 Jesus Goes “Hosanna; blessed Praise God is pleased with Each student will to Jerusalem is he that cometh our praise. praise God in Matthew 21:1–11, in the name of the prayer, in song, and 15, 16 Lord” (Mark 11:9). in word.

4/16 Jesus Dies “Christ died for our Jesus’ death and Jesus died and rose Each student will and Lives Again sins; . . . he was resurrection again to take away know Jesus died for Matthew 27:1—28:10 buried, . . . he rose our sins. him and will desire again the third to accept Him day” (1 Cor. 15:3, 4). as Savior (when ready).

4/23 Jesus Meets “Christ died for our Jesus’ resurrection People saw the Each student will with His Friends sins; . . . he was risen Christ. thank God that John 20:19–29 buried, . . . he rose Jesus is alive today. again the third day” (1 Cor. 15:3, 4).

4/30 Jesus Tells Peter “Serve the LORD Service God wants us to Each student will to Serve Him with gladness” love and serve Him. name ways he can John 21:1–17 (Ps. 100:2). serve God.

5/7 Jesus Goes Back “[Jesus] was Jesus’ ascension Jesus is in Heaven Each student will to Heaven received up into today, but He is know that Jesus is Matthew 28:16–20; heaven, and sat on coming back again. in Heaven and will Acts 1:9–11 the right hand of show ways to be God” (Mark 16:19). ready for Jesus to return.

Unit Bulletin Board Keep the yellow paper or fabric backing. You do not need a border. Use green letters to make the caption “JESUS’ LOVE.” (See page 5 for ordering information.) Print an 40-P01 40-P02 extra copy of verse visual 40-V6 on gray construction paper. Place the visual in the

center of the board. Print color patterns 40-P04 40-P03 40-V6 40-P01—40-P04 from resource CD 1240. Add the pattern copies to the board on April 9.

448 Teaching Props • Blue construction paper; cotton balls; large squares of white batting (lesson 10) In addition to teaching resources 1240, you will need the following items for effec- Books and Puzzles tive teaching each week. Check your church or local library for • Pictures of things that illustrate God’s books and puzzles on these themes: care of us; e.g., food, clothes, shelter, water, parents (lesson 5) • birds and fl owers (lesson 5) • Palm branches made by children; picture • Easter, RBP puzzle “Jesus Lives” of a palm tree (optional) (lesson 6) (lessons 5–9) • Bubble solution and wand (lesson 8) • Jesus (lesson 7) • Any available fi shing gear (lesson 9) • spring, fi shing (lesson 9) Additional Supplies • Jesus, Easter, clouds (lesson 10) These supplies are needed for parts of Snacks the lesson other than the Bible story. The snacks are developed to go along • 20 silk fl owers with stems, 2 fl owerpots with the lessons. with dry beans (lesson 5) Lesson 5: unpopped corn kernels, popped • Old bathrobes; live or silk palm branches; popcorn, juice heavy paper plates (e.g., Chinet brand); dry beans; hot glue gun for teacher’s use Lesson 6: apple slices, cheese cubes, juice only (lesson 6) Lesson 7: spring cupcakes or cookies • Small treats for baskets (lesson 7) • Bubble solution—store-bought or home- Lesson 8: cream cheese sandwiches, juice made—and wands (lesson 8) Lesson 9: fi sh-shaped crackers, juice • Child’s swimming pool or piece of blue plastic; fi shing poles as described on Lesson 10: mini-marshmallows, raisins, pages 86 and 87 (lesson 9) yellow M&Ms, water

459 UNIT 3 OVERVIEW God’s World

Date Lesson Title Bible Verse Lesson Topic Lesson Theme Desired Student and Text Response

5/14 God Makes Day “The voice of the Creation God spoke, and the Each student will and Night, Sky, LORD is powerful” world was made. be able to answer Land, and Plants (Ps. 29:4). the questions, Who Genesis 1:1–13 made the world? and How did He do it?

5/21 God Makes Sun, “[God] made Creation God made the world Each student will Moon, and Stars, heaven, and earth, and everything in it be able to answer Fish, Birds, and the sea, and all that in six days. this question: In Animals therein is” how many days Genesis 1:14–25 (Ps. 146:6). did God make the world?

5/28 God Makes “Thus saith the Creation God made people. Each student will People LORD, . . . I have realize he is special Genesis 1:26–28; made the earth, because God made 2:1–7 and created man him unique from upon it” everyone else. (Isa. 45:11, 12).

Unit Bulletin Board Keep the yellow backing or fabric. You do not need a border. Use green letters to make the caption “GOD’S WORLD.” (Let- ters are available from Regular Baptist Press; see page 5.) Use blue masking tape or painter’s tape to divide the board into six equal sections as shown in the accompanying sketch. Print a copy of pattern 40-P45 (numbers) from resource CD 1240; cut apart. Put a number in each section of the board. Each week, add one or more creation circles to the board (patterns 40-P46—40-P51). You may choose to add another object to each segment of the board as well: (1) black felt/ glow-in-the-dark yellow paper; (2) pictures of the sky; (3) silk fl owers; (4) glow-in-the- dark stars; (5) small plush fi sh or bird; (6) small plush animal and plastic action fi gure. Use Plasti-Tak, Velcro, or long pins to attach the various objects to the board.

101 Teaching Props Books and Puzzles In addition to teaching resources 1240, Check your church or local library for you will need the following items for effec- books and puzzles on these themes: tive teaching each week. • oceans, rivers, variety of plants; mothers • Pictures of natural water sources; variety and grandmothers (optional) of light-producing objects; a bouquet of (lesson 11) real or silk flowers (lesson 11) • birds, animals, planets (lesson 12) • Glow-in-the-dark adhesive-backed stars • children, RBP puzzle “God Made Me” (see (lesson 12) page 5) (lesson 13) • Pictures of various animals and pictures of people (lesson 13) Snacks The snacks are developed to go along Additional Supplies with the lessons. These supplies are needed for parts of Lesson 11: earth (butterscotch pudding the lesson other than the Bible story. and graham crackers) and water (blue • Potting soil and small annuals, small Jell-O cups) flashlight, pictures of sky, silk flowers for Lesson 12: mini-sandwich crackers, bulletin board (optional), camera (lesson 11) peanut butter, spreadable cheese, or marsh- • White feathers; white paper lunch bags, mallow creme glow-in-the-dark adhesive-backed stars, Lesson 13: people-shaped cookies small plush fish, bird, and animal for bul- (gingerbread or Keebler E.L. Fudge) letin board display (lesson 12) • Class picture in unbreakable frame; stamp pad to make fingerprints; action figure for bulletin board (optional) (lesson 13)

102 KJV Lesson 1 • March 5, 2017 Dorcas Helps Others

Teacher Preparation—Go Beyond the Hour! During the Week Dorcas served God because she loved Him. She served with Text a willing and cheerful spirit. It is not enough to help. God is looking Acts 9:36–42 for a heart attitude that puts others ahead of self. Dorcas obviously understood this, or she would not have been so sorely missed when she died. Model happy service for your students today. In addition to studying Acts 9:36–42, read Philippians 2:1–4, 14–16. Sunday Morning AsAs eacheach child arrives, have him put the waves sticker over the 1 on Memory Verse hishis attendance attendance chart. chart. Post thePost charts the on charts the wall on or thebulletin wall board. or bul-Children “Serve the LORD with mayletin give board. their offering Children at this time.may Directgive thetheir children offering to an activity at this you gladness” (Ps. 100:2). havetime. chosenDirect the to usechildren now. to an activity you have chosen to use now. Materials

Topic Activity Time Snack Time Helping others Patterns 40-P36 (sewing card) Pretzels; apple slices; juice; and 40-P37 (dot-to-dot picture) paper plates from resource CD 1240; 36" lengths of yarn; paper punch; Activity Time books about making fabric and Optional activities: pattern about native dress around the 40-P38 (cotton plant) from world; music CD 1240 resource CD 1240 and cotton balls; matching swatches of vari- Theme Bible Time ous fabrics; sewing cards Music CD 1240; Bible Picture God is pleased when Story Time we help others. Book; handmade item; piece of fabric, needle, thread; play Music CD 1240; Bible Picture dishes in empty dishpan and Book; Michael and Emily dish cloth; pile of toys; small Storybook; pattern 40-P21 broom and dustpan; unfolded (verse signs) and action rhyme towels in laundry basket; dust 40-A4 from resource CD 1240 cloth; baby doll and rattle; verse Craft Time Desired visual 40-V7; pattern 40-P21 Pattern 40-P39 (leaves) from (verse signs) from resource CD resource CD 1240; cupcake lin- Student Response 1240 Each student will name ers in pastel colors; narrow ways he can be a helper Handwork Time craft sticks; yellow pom-poms; this week. Lesson 1 handwork page and 5-ounce Styrofoam cups; perma- 2½" length of thin yarn for each nent markers in bright colors child Closing Time Today’s issue of Planting Faith at Home, the outer wrap, and insert no. 1 for each child; music CD 1240

10679 1168 Dorcas Helps Others

Activity Take each child’s picture Time 20 minutes sometime during the morning. Print the pictures Use the creative activity and/or books and puzzles to pre- this week. pare for Bible Time. CREATIVE ACTIVITY Preparation: Print pattern 40-P36 on card stock for each Use pattern 40-P36 (sewing child; punch holes where indicated on each card. Cut 36" card). lengths of yarn. Tape one end of each yarn length to the back of a sewing card. Wrap the opposite end of the yarn with a small piece of tape, forming a “needle.” Procedure: Give each child a sewing card. Demonstrate how to sew around the edge of the card. When the child n- ishes, tape the leftover end to the back of the card. In our Bible lesson today, we will learn about a woman

40-P36 who showed her love for others by sewing for them. BOOKS AND PUZZLES Provide books about making fabric and about native dress Use pattern 40-P37 (dot-to-dot). around the world. Children who like a quiet activity will enjoy the dot-to-dot activity (pattern 40-P37). As a signal to mark the end of Activity Time, play music CD 1240 or sing “Helping” (track 10). Direct the children to help clean up the Activity Time supplies and gather in the story area. The Bible Time teacher should be in the story “Helping” area, ready to greet each child as he arrives. Bible 40-P37 Time 25 minutes SONGS Welcome to our class today. I am so glad we can come “Praise Him, Praise Him”; together and sing glad praises to God. Let’s sing “Praise “Thank You Song” Him, Praise Him” (track 18). God loves us so much that He helps our mommies and daddies provide many good things for us. What do Mommies and Daddies do to take care of us? (Children’s answers should refl ect daily needs: food, clothes, home.) (Sing “Thank You Song” [track 20].) Jesus’ Friends Lesson 1 6912

PRAYER Thank God for His love and care and for people who care for us. Ask God to guide you as you teach.

BIBLE STORY

“Dorcas Helps Others” Introduction (Acts 9:36–42) I brought something very special with me today. (Show your handmade item and tell a little about it.) It might not Tell the story from your open Bible. be worth a lot of money, but it is special to me because Use picture 40-11 when indicated in the story. (name of person) made it for me. Every time I see (use) it, I think of (person). It reminds me of (person’s) love for me. The Bible tells us about a very loving and kind woman who served others with a happy heart. Let’s find out what happened to the lady named Dorcas. Bible story (Demonstrate sewing with a small fabric scrap, needle, and thread.) In and out, in and out, in and out went the shiny needle as the lady sewed two pieces of cloth together. In and out, in and out, and a beautiful robe began to take shape. Day after day Dorcas sewed. Dorcas made clothes. But she did not make the clothes for herself. Dorcas loved and served God. One way she served God was by making clothes for other people. (Show picture 40-11.) In Bible times people didn’t go to a store to buy clothes like you do. Most of the time, mothers and grandmothers made clothes for their families. The Bible doesn’t tell us that Dorcas had a family. She made clothes for poor fami- lies who had no money to buy clothes. People loved kind 40-11 and helpful Dorcas. One day Dorcas became very sick. She was so sick she couldn’t sew. As the days went by, Dorcas’s sickness got worse and worse and worse . . . (pause) until she died. When the people found out that their special friend was dead, they began to cry. They went to her house, taking some of the clothes Dorcas had made and given to them. “Oh no; oh no! Dorcas is dead!” they cried. “Who will help us? Who will make clothes for us? What shall we do?” Some of the people knew that one of Jesus’ disciples, Peter, was visiting a town nearby. They sent two messen- gers to Peter. “Come quickly,” they said. “We need you.” Peter came to Dorcas’s house. Oh, how the women and children cried for their friend. They showed Peter some of the things Dorcas had made for them. Peter asked everybody to go outside. He knelt down and prayed. He asked God to make Dorcas live again! Peter 1370 Dorcas Helps Others

knew he could not make her alive again, but he knew God could. Then he looked at her dead body and said to her, “Dorcas, get up!” As Peter watched, Dorcas blinked her eyes and then sat up! He smiled at her, then stretched out his hand and helped her up. Dorcas was alive again! Together Peter and Dorcas went out of the room. The crying people outside the house stared at them. Could this be Dorcas with Peter? The people could hardly believe their eyes. God had made their dear friend, Dorcas, alive again! Questions 1. Who was the woman who loved to sew? (Dorcas.) 2. Why was sewing such an important job? (There were no stores in which to buy clothes.) 3. Who did Dorcas sew clothes for? (Poor people who needed help.) 4. Why did Dorcas sew clothes for other people? (Be- cause she loved God and loved others.) 5. What happened to Dorcas? (She died.) 6. Who came to help? (Peter.) 7. What did Peter ask the people to do? (Leave the house.) 8. What happened when Peter prayed to God? (Dorcas came alive again.) 9. Who made Dorcas alive again? (God.)

MAKE IT REAL Preparation: Display as many of the following items as possible: (1) play dishes in an empty dishpan with a dish cloth; (2) a pile of toys on the oor; (3) a small broom and dustpan; (4) unfolded towels in a laundry basket; (5) dustcloth; (6) baby doll and rattle. I will ask a question about today’s lesson. If you answer it correctly, choose something that shows a way you can “serve the LORD with gladness” at church or home and show us how to do it. SONGS God is amazing! Let’s sing “My God Is So Great!” “My God Is So Great”; “Helping” (track 17). (Do so.) Each of you can be a good and kind helper. Let’s sing about ways you can help. (Sing “Helping” [track 10].) PRAYER “Dear God, Thank You for people who love us and care for us. Help us love You by helping others. In Jesus’ name, amen.” Jesus’ Friends Lesson 1 1471

MEMORY VERSE Read Psalm 100:2 from your open Bible. Display visual 40-V7. Teach the signs (pattern 40-P21) to the children. Say and sign the verse two or three times.

40-P21 Handwork 10 Time minutes 40-V7 Distribute the lesson 1 handwork sheet and yarn to each child. Guide the children in completing the handwork sheet by following the instructions on both pages. Continue to empha- size that helping is a way to show our love. Cleanup 15 Time minutes Let the children know it is time to clean up and go to the restrooms. Make sure each child washes his hands. The children who leave at this time need all their projects and belongings, including today’s issue of Planting Faith at Home.

Snack 10 Time minutes Preparation: Place two apple slices and a few pretzels on a small paper plate for each child. Pour half cups of juice. Place the plates and cups of juice on a table other than where the children eat. Seat the children by pairs, one across from the other, at the snack table. Procedure: Ask a volunteer to thank God for the snack. Show the children how to take turns serving each other. Encourage them to use dialogue such as, “Would you like apples and pretzels?” and “Yes, please” or “No, thank you.” Let the students take turns serving the snack and juice to each other by going to get the plates at the table. 7215 Dorcas Helps Others

Activity Time 20 minutes Use an activity from Sunday School or one of these activ- ities: (1) color a cotton plant and add cotton balls (pattern 40-P38); (2) cut out pairs of matching swatches of various fab- rics; place all the pieces in a basket; let the students match the pairs; (3) create several sewing cards out of basic shapes, pictures copied from coloring books, or old greeting cards. 40-P38 Story 20 Time minutes

SONGS Sing several of the children’s favorite songs, including “Helping”; “Thank You Song” “Helping” (track 10) and “Thank You Song” (track 20).

MEMORY VERSE Review the signs (pattern 40-P21) for today’s verse. Ask “Serve the LORD with gladness” (Ps. 100:2). volunteers to say and sign the verse individually.

BIBLE STORY REVIEW Show picture 40-11 and ask the questions on page 16 to review the story. 40-11 Use the rhyme “Dorcas” to further review the Bible story. “Dorcas” (40-A4) Since it is a short rhyme, you can repeat it several times.

PRAYER Encourage several children to pray. Guide them to thank God for those who care for them. Do not pressure a child into praying, but do offer the opportunity and guidance to all who would like to pray.

STORY Mommy hurried around the house. She put a few things “A Hurry-Scurry Sunday” away, wiped off the table, and tucked the last cereal bowl into the dishwasher. She always did this on Sunday morn- ings right before the family left for church. “Mommy, why do you always hurry-scurry around the house on Sunday morning?” asked Emily. Mommy laughed. “I don’t want to leave a mess in case someone comes over for lunch.” Jesus’ Friends Lesson 1 1673

“Is someone coming for lunch today?” asked Michael. “I don’t know. Maybe. If we meet new people, we might want to invite them to lunch. It shows them that we care and that Jesus loves them. I just like to have the house ready.” Michael ran up to Mommy after Sunday School. “Mommy, there was a new boy in my class this morning,” Michael whispered. “His name is Jason.” Daddy walked up to Mommy. A man and a woman with a baby followed him. “This is my wife,” Daddy said as he introduced Mommy. “And this is my son, Michael, and our daughter, Emily. This is Mr. and Mrs. Cho. They have a baby girl named Jasmine and a son named Jason.” “It is so nice to meet you,” said Mommy. “Is this your first time to visit our church?” “Yes,” said Mrs. Cho. “We moved here two weeks ago. We do not have many friends. We thought this might be a place for our son to meet someone his own age.” Michael smiled at Jason. Jason smiled back. “Would like to come for lunch? We were just planning to grill hamburgers in the backyard. We can get to know one another, and the boys can play.” “And I will help with your baby!” said Emily. After church the Cho family followed the Williams family home. It was a great afternoon. The boys played baseball while Daddy grilled hamburgers. Mrs. Cho even let Emily hold baby Jasmine for a few minutes. (Show picture 40-ME13.) After the Cho family left, Emily said, “I am so glad you hurry-scurried this morning, Mommy. Next Sunday I will help you. I liked having the new family come for lunch.” “I did too,” added Michael. 40-ME13 “Mommy does a good job serving others,” said Daddy. “She is always ready and happy to use our home to show Jesus’ love.” Questions 1. What did Mommy do every Sunday morning? (Made sure the house was neat.) 2. Who did the Williams family meet that morning at church? (The Cho family.) 3. What did Mommy invite the Chos to do? (Come for lunch.) 4. How is inviting someone to lunch a way to serve God? (It shows others that you care and that Jesus loves them.) 5. How can you serve others? 1774 Dorcas Helps Others

Craft 10 Time minutes

Note: You may want to make this craft in Activity Time so the  owers have time to dry. Use this time to nish the crafts and to use any of the optional activities on page 15. Preparation: Print pattern 40-P39 on green construction paper. Paint the craft sticks green. Use pattern 40-P39 (leaves). Procedure: Give each child six leaves to cut out. (You may want to pre-cut a few leaves for younger students.) Give each child three cupcake liners and three pom-poms. Show him how to glue the pom-poms inside the center of the liners. Glue the liners to the top of the craft sticks. Glue two leaves on each craft stick. Let dry. Turn the Styrofoam cup upside down. Help each child write, “Mommy, I love you,” and his name on the upside-down cup. Poke the craft sticks through the bottom of the cup to create a  oral display. What does your mommy do to help your family? Be sure to tell your mommy thank you and that you love her. Your mothers please Jesus when they help their families. Closing 10 Time minutes

Make sure you have taken each child’s picture before he leaves today. Help the children collect their belongings, including insert no. 1, outer wrap (parents’ letter and lesson outline), and today’s issue of Planting Faith at Home. Sing “Thank You Song” (track 20). Say and sign Psalm 100:2. Thank each child for coming to church today.

“Thank You Song”

Print the photos you took this week. Read the lesson 2 materials list on page 18 to help you prepare. Note that you need craft foam and large beads or painted pasta noodles in a variety of shapes.