Year 1 Theme: I Am Special To God

Exiting times. This year we have been able to offer to our community a biweekly Wednesday morning preschool childrens church ministry called King's Kids Childrens Church.

The theme this year is: I am Special To God

During the course of the year we will be studying the Bible topics: God made me a special world, God's special gift to me, God' special love for me and the special place God is making for me. We will also be learning about how God made each person special, not like anyone else.

We will be learning Bible stories of creation, Baby Jesus, Noah's Ark, Jonah and the Whale, Abraham and Lot, and a selection of parables that Jesus taught. We will be singing songs, making crafts and doing activities all related to our theme.

Come and join us in our fun. Online curriculum will be available the Monday before each class.

For now, please enjoy this year's theme song.

Preschool Bible Lesson - Why Should I Believe in God?

Overview

9:45     sign-in, free play

10:05   opening prayer, introduction

10:15   Bible lesson in flannel: What God has Done For Me

10:30   Snack:

10:45   Bible Lesson Craft: Creation Booklet

11:05   Circle Time: Songs

11:15   Bible Lesson Activity: Mansion in Heaven

11:30   Circle Time: The Salvation Book

11:45   pick-up

Overview
 

What has God ever done for me? Why should I follow his laws and pray to him? These are questions that all of us have and today, we are going to learn about what God did and what he is doing for us today.
 

1.      God chose us as his special people. Before he created the world, he knew that he was going to create people. So he created a very special world for us here on earth.

The Book of Genesis tells us that at the start of the world, there was only darkness, water and wind. God took seven days to create our special world. On day 1 He created light (so that we can see the world around us.) On day 2 He created sky (air so that we can breath). Day 3 He created land, trees, grass, flowers, vegetables, fruits, grains and other plants (so that we can live and eat). Day 4 he created the sun, moon and stars (so that we can tell day from night). Day 5 He created fish and birds. Day 6 He created animals (for companionship) and then the world was ready and He created us.

2.      God loved us so much that he sent his son to the world to live with us and to save us from our sins.

After Adam and Eve (the first man and woman) sinned, the world was lost and forgot about God. But God did not give up on us. He loved us so much that he sent his son Jesus to us. Jesus taught us about God’s love and then he gave his life for us by dying on the cross and taking the sin of the world with him.

In the Book of Matthew it says that Jesus stands at the door to our hearts and knocks. We need to ask him to come into our lives and fill every room in our heart.  We need to believe in Jesus. We need to believe that he died on the cross for our sins and that he rose again. Then we need to ask Jesus into our heart to forgive us for the bad things that we do. Once we ask Jesus into our hearts, we become God’s children. God becomes our Father, our Dad. And like our Dad’s here on earth, God wants us to talk to him, listen to him, and obey him.

3.      In the Book of Ephesians the Bible tells us that God adopted us as his children through Jesus Christ. Once we ask Jesus into our hearts and become a child of God, God gives us gifts just because he loves us. The main gift that he gives us is his Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit brings you more gifts too. With God, it is like it is your birthday every day. God gives you the daily gifts of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These gifts allow us to live a very rich and happy life. We will never feel alone or lonely because God is always with us.

4.      Death is not the end. Because we are God’s children, our spirit will go to heaven when we die. When Jesus ascended into heaven, he told his disciples that he was going to prepare a place for us. A mansion for each one of us in Heaven.

In the Book of Revelations we are told what heaven looks like: The mansions, really big houses, are made of pure gold. City walls are made of precious stones such as jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carnelian. Gates are made from pearls and streets are made of pure gold that looks like glass. There is a river that runs through the middle of the tree of life. There will be no need for sun or lamps because God will give us light. There will be no tears, no sickness, no dying.

We are so blessed to be God’s special people. And for all this, we should praise and worship him and follow the little that he asks us to do.

Preschool Bible Lesson - Helping Others: The Story of Esther

Overview

9:45     sign-in, free play

10:05   opening prayer, introduction: Hair bows and Scepters

10:15   Bible lesson in flannel

10:25   Snack:

10:30   Bible craft: jewelry, medals, flowers, crowns

11:00   Bible craft: decorate your own cupcake

11:15   Bible lesson retold: Veggie Tales The Story of Esther

11:45   pick-up, coloring sheets

Bible Story: Esther

The king of Persia needed a new queen. The royal decree rang throughout the land. Every young pretty lady needed to come to the palace at once. This included a beautiful orphan girl named Esther.

Esther was lovely to look at and had a wonderful personality. But she had a big secret. She was a girl from Israel, a Jew. Her cousin Mordecai told her not to tell anyone this because Jews were foreigners in Persia and a lot of people did not like them.

Esther stayed at the palace and took lessons teaching her how to act like a queen. For 12 months she stayed there learning about manners and learning how to do her hair and makeup just right.

Finally the year was up and all the ladies went to see the king. As soon as the king saw Esther he fell in love with her. Taking the royal crown, he placed it on her head and made her the queen of Persia.

One day Esther told the king that Mordecai overheard two servants making plans to kill the king. The king believed Esther and arrested the men. Then he had it written down in his book of records that Esther and Mordecai saved his life.

Some time later the king made a man named Haman his chief minister to rule the land. Haman made all the people bow down to him. Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman because God had said that people should only bow to God. This made Haman made. He told the king that the Jews would be trouble for the kingdom and that the king should get rid of them. Because the king trusted Haman he told Haman to do whatever he thought was best for the kingdom.

Mordecai found out that the Jews were going to be killed so he went straight to Esther. He told Esther that God had made her queen for this very reason – only she could talk to the king and save God’s people of Israel.

Even though it was against the law for the queen to see the king without him calling her, Esther put on her finest clothes and went to see him. The king was very happy to see her and said that she could have whatever she asked for – even half of the kingdom.

All Esther asked for was that the king and Haman be her guests and come over to dinner. Esther made a wonderful dinner. The king was so impressed that he told her again that she could have whatever she wanted. She asked him to come with Haman again for dinner the next night.

That evening before the king went to bed he had the book of records read to him. The announcer read about Mordecai saving the kings life. Haman knocked on the king’s door and the king asked him what reward he should give to a man he wanted to honor. Haman smiled to himself knowing that the king wanted to honor him. So he told the king “such a person should be dressed in the kings clothes, ride the kings horse and be given a parade in his honor.” The king liked this and told Haman to do this for Mordecai in the morning.

Haman was mad. He hated Mordecai and planned to kill him. He did what the king said, though and by supper he was furious. But he had to have supper with the king and queen. So he tried to look nice.

Once again supper was very pleasing to the king and he told Esther to tell him what he really wanted. This time Esther threw herself at the king’s feet and begged him not to kill her. She said that orders had been given and she and all her family were to die.

The king was alarmed and asked her  who would do such a thing. Who would dare kill his new, beautiful queen. Esther pointed at Haman sitting at the table.

The king got angry and punished Haman. He made Mordecai the chief minister and put him in charge of Haman’s house. He allowed the Jews to defend themselves against anyone wishing to hurt them.

Queen Esther had saved the Jews and they celebrated with Feasting and gladness, praising God, sending food to each other and to the poor. Mordecai decreed a feast called Purim “The Feast of Esther” was to be celebrated every year.

Even today, in the country of Israel Purim is celebrated in Esther’s honor at this time of the year. This is when we remember the beautiful girl named Esther that became queen and risked her life going to the king to save the lives of God’s chosen people.

Preschool Bible Lesson - Helping Others: The Story of Naaman

Overview

9:45     sign-in, free play

10:05   opening prayer, introduction

10:15   Bible lesson in flannel

10:30   Bible lesson craft: Obedient Naaman

10:45   Snack:  

11:15   Bible story retold: Naaman’s Servant Girl

11:20   lent activity: Get well Cards

11:30   closing prayer, free play time, coloring page

11:45   pick-up

Bible Story: Naaman (Story used with permission from www.missionarlington.org)

Back in Elisha’s time, there were other countries besides Elisha’s country of Israel.

One of Israel’s neighbors was Aram. The people of Aram would sometimes raid Israel

and take things back to their country. There was a famous hero in the country of Aram.

His name was Naaman. He was the commander of the army and had won many battles or

victories. He was very respected in his country.

Even though Naaman was a powerful man, he still had problems. He caught an awful

disease called leprosy. This disease affected the skin. It caused the person to have white

spots that were like big sores. The disease was also contagious, so others could get it from

you!

Naaman had a special little girl that helped his wife in their home. She loved God and

worshiped Him only. One day, the little girl told Naaman’s wife that she wished he could

visit Israel and see the prophet Elisha. She knew that he could help cure Naaman’s leprosy.

When Naaman heard this news, he immediately went to the king for his support. The

king gave Naaman a letter to take to the king of Israel asking for a cure. Naaman packed

much gold and silver and even clothes to take as payment for the cure. When the king of Israel read the note, he was upset. He did not know what to do. He did not think

to call Elisha. However, Elisha heard the news and sent a note to the king asking Naaman to come to his house.

Naaman eagerly traveled to Elisha’s home. His horses and chariots raced as fast as they could.

When Naaman knocked on the door, he got a surprise. Elisha did not greet him. Elisha sent his helper to the door to tell Naaman what to do. He instructed Naaman to dip 7 times in the Jordan River and he would be cured.

Naaman was furious! He stormed off very upset. He couldn’t believe that Elisha would not

personally come to the door and help him. After all, he was a very important man and he expected people to treat him that way. He also thought Elisha would stand over him and wave his hands and pray to God.

As Naaman and his helpers were traveling back to his country, his helpers came to him and

convinced him to do as Elisha said. So, Naaman stopped at the little Jordan river. It was dirty but he dipped into the water 7 times like Elisha said. When he finished the 7th dip, his skin was clean!! He was well! God had healed him!

Naaman went back to Elisha’s house and thanked him for his kindness. He told Elisha that he

knew that God was the only true God. He offered the gold, silver, and clothes to Elisha but Elisha refused. He wanted Naaman to see that it was God, not him, who did the miracle.

Naaman traveled back to his country a different person inside and out. Outside, his skin was clean. He was well. Inside, he knew in his heart that God was the only real and true God. He trusted Him and began to follow God alone.

We can also learn from our lesson how to help others know about God. The little girl spoke up and told her friends about God and how to find Him. We can do the same thing!

Bible Craft: Obedient Naaman

Materials:

Craft stick

Naaman paper man

Scissors

Wax crayons

Tape

Paper cup

Directions:

Have the children color the man and then color the paper cup to look like water. Get them to cut out the man and then tape the craft stick to the back of him. Cut a hole in the bottom of the cup so that the children can “dip” Naaman up and down in the cup.

Song for them to dip obedient Naaman: To the Tune of (Here we go around the mulberry bush)

Seven times did Naaman dip, Naaman dip, Naaman dip;

Seven times did Naaman dip, and then God made him clean.

Activity For Lent:

Jesus said that we can show love to God by helping others. Jesus said that when we help other people, we are helping him.

Thinking back to our Bible story about Naaman's servant girl, does anyone have any ideas of what we can do now to help the sick people that we know? Even though we are little, there are some big things that we can do.

One thing that we can do to help sick people in our parish is to make a get well card for them. Each of you will make one and then I will collect them and give them to Father. We will then make sure that they go to the people who need them. The cards that you make will make the sick people happy to know that you care.