Basic training for those guiding children around the world to follow Jesus like the twelve disciples Part of the 1 for 50 family of training resources Table of Contents CORE LESSON OPTIONS (1 hour each) 1-0 Jesus’ Heart for Children 2-0 Jesus and the Children’s Leader 3-0 Characteristics of Children 4-0 Building Relationships with Children 5-0 Preparing to Teach Children 6-0 Building Bridges of Holistic Outreach to Children 7-0 Presenting the Gospel to Children 8-0 Talking with Children about Following Christ 9-0 Helping Children Grow as Disciples 10-0 Helping Children Experience God’s Word 11-0 Engaging Families 12-0 Building the Kingdom Together (networking/partnership) ENRICHMENT/EXTRA LESSONS (30 minutes each) 3-1 Needs of A Child 3-2 Understanding Our Children’s World 3-3 Considering children in Crisis 4-1 Communicating with Children 4-2 Building Relationships with Children through Play 4-3 Conversation Starters 5-1 Managing Classroom Behavior 6-1 Outreach Ideas 6-2 Overcoming Outreach Obstacles 7-1 More Gospel Tools 8-1 Answering Children’s Difficult Questions 9-1 Prayer Experiences for Children 9-2 Worship Experiences for Children 9-3 Helping Children Share Jesus with others 9-4 Growing Attitudes of the Disciples 9-5 Involving Children in God’s Big Story 10-1 Object Lessons-Demonstrations 10-2 Preparing and Presenting a Bible Story 10-3 More Bible Verse Ideas 10-4 Drama Experiences 10-5 Classroom Games 11-1 Spiritual Growth for Families 11-2 Outreach Ideas for Families 12-1 Connecting with the Church in Your Community 12-2 Involving Children in the church Instructor’s Guide LESSON 1-0 Jesus’ Heart for Children Objectives Participants will need: ñ To discover what scripture says about Jesus’ heart for children and the ñ Bibles world. ñ Participant notes ñ To consider important elements to prepare leaders for work with ñ Writing utensils children. ñ To lead participants to commit to children’s work as an extension of Illustration Options: God’s heart for children and the Great Commission. ñ Erasable board and writing supplies ñ Three large cooking stones and a pot ñ 100 cotton balls, or substitute; at least one Lesson Overview for each participant Welcome & Warm Up 5 minutes ñ God’s heart objects: What do people say about children? 5 minutes cross, heart, friends- What did Jesus teach about children? 10 minutes links, candle, hands What is God’s heart for children? 15 minutes ñ Car (or photo of one) How will we prepare for work with children? 10 minutes The Great Commission & Children 5 minutes Media Options: Wrap Up 5 minutes ñ Power Point slides for this lesson ñ It’s Time to Wake Up Before You Begin ñ Pray. Ask God to open the hearts of participants and to help you to share from your heart about this important topic. ñ Gather all materials (see right). Make substitutions as necessary. ñ Read through the lesson to find places where you will be asked to give a personal story or thought. Plan ahead to choose powerful examples. page 1 TWELVE Core Training Instructor’s Guide LESSON 1-0 Jesus ‘ Heart for Children Welcome & Warm Up (5 minutes) Play a game: Twelve Months Welcome participants to the training! Introduce yourself. Invite everyone to begin with a quick game of introduction to each other. This is TWELVE Core Training. So let’s begin with a game using 12. Ask each participant to think about the month in which they were born. On the count of three, people are to find others that were born in the same month. After groups form, instruct people to introduce themselves and share one interesting fact about their childhood. Invite everyone to be seated and find their workbooks, Bible, pens, etc. Today’s lesson lays a very important foundation in our work with children. We will be exploring what Jesus’ heart is for children and the world. We will also be reminded about what this has to do with the 12 disciples. THE HAND: It fits with the “Heart of the Leader” focus What do people say about children? (5 minutes) Discuss proverbs or sayings about cHildren Share some common expressions from your community and some countries that you have visited. See the participant notes for a few examples. Ask participants to each write 1-2 local proverbs about children in their community. Ask several people to share these with the class. How are these the same as (or different from) the way people think about or treat children within the Christian community or church? What did Jesus teach about children? (10 minutes) WHat did Jesus say about cHildren? People brought children to Jesus. The disciples tried to send them away. What did Jesus say? Read Matthew 19:14. Circle the important key words that Jesus aid about children. Discover words like “come”, kingdom”, “do not hinder”, etc. Jesus used this opportunity to correct the disciples’ notion that children should be kept away. He instructed his followers to do nothing to keep them away from the kingdom and from him. Children are important to God. page 2 TWELVE Core Training Instructor’s Guide LESSON 1-0 Jesus ‘ Heart for Children WHat else did Jesus teacH His disciples about cHildren? Take a closer look by reading Matthew 18:1-14 Ask someone to read the passage slowly and clearly (in the local language, if possible. Ask participants to listen for the different things that Jesus was saying about children. Afterwards, work in pairs to list truths that Jesus was teaching the disciples about children. After a few minutes, share answers as a class, listing these on an erasable board. These thoughts from Jesus are just the beginning of understanding what scripture says about children. Find tHe Lost SHeep (Before class, hide one cotton ball “sheep” somewhere in classroom or nearby hallway) One of the most powerful parts of this passage is the story of the lost sheep. Review the story, asking participants to confirm the details of how many sheep, how many sheep were missing, etc. Explain that you have a lost sheep (a hidden cotton ball) and need to find it. What would we say if one were missing? On the count of three, ask everyone to search for this sheep. Offer a prize to the participant who finds it. Celebrate. Show the one sheep joining the others. What would the story be like if we were to insert today’s statistics? Globally, about 1/3 would be “in the fold” and about 2/3 would be “lost sheep”. Move the cotton balls so people can see this visualized. Refer to worksheet. Invite people to work alone or in pairs to draw a quick picture showing how many “sheep” they believe are “lost” or “found” in their community. If the shepherd was willing to go looking for just one sheep, what might he be willing to do for so many who need to be found? What might he want us to do? Review Matthew 18:14. Let God’s Word touch your hearts. What is God’s heart for children? (15 minutes) Discover God’s heart for children – from Scriptures From what Jesus taught his disciples, fill in the blanks in student notes as you explain each of these. (Assign each of the main scripture verses to a different person to read aloud as the corresponding word is discussed.) page 3 TWELVE Core Training Instructor’s Guide LESSON 1-0 Jesus ‘ Heart for Children ñ To KNOW Him (2 Peter 3:9) To help children make a decision to follow Christ as their Savior. Story of the Lost SHeep (Matthew 18:10-14; God is not willing that even one of these little ones should perish) Emphasize that this is all about the child understanding the gospel and coming to a place of personal decision to follow Christ. Does the word “all” in 2 Peter include children? Yes. ñ To LOVE Him (Matthew 22:37-38) To help children grow a personal relationship with Christ, loving God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. Story of David (a man after God’s own heart) Explain that this is all about helping children grow in friendship with Christ. This tenderness needs to grow in children through worship and prayer. David’s young life is a great example. ñ To FELLOWSHIP Together (Romans 12:5) To invite children to belong and function in the Body of Christ, especially to love one another. Story of Timothy (He grew in faith as if he were Paul’s son) Children need to be included in the Church and in relationship with other believers. This is how they are mentored to grow. ñ To HONOR Him (Matthew 5:16; 1 Timothy 4:12) To teach children to live lives of obedience, making choices that honor God. Story of Daniel (he chose to follow God’s ways, even in an ungodly nation) Around the world, people want good behavior from children. To honor God, is to do more than behave well because others are enforcing the behavior. It is doing right when others are not watching; making right choices from the heart. ñ To SERVE Him (1 Peter 4:10) To help children learn how to serve and grow in gifts. Story of JosepH (he served faithfully at home, in captivity, in prison and finally in Pharaoh’s palace) ñ All of these dreams, together, become a focus on making disciples . ñ All these pieces of discipleship represent what God wants to see filled up in the life of the child.