Church School Lesson: What Kind Are You?

Psalm 119:11
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Objective:
To teach the children that they must not only hear God's Word but also let it sink into their minds and hearts and believe it.

Lesson:
A farmer sowed seed in his field (the field were poorly prepared in those days). Seed were scattered by hand, not all seeds grow. The seed is the Word of God.
Some hearers have hard hearts - seeds fell on hard footpath
Some hearers have shallow hearts - seeds fell on thin layer of dirt over flat rock
Some hearers have crowded hearts - seeds fell among thorns
Some hearers have prepared hearts - seeds fell on good soil
Let God's Word sink into your heart.

I wanted to remind the children in order to grow, we must be in good soil. So, I use hand print to print a flower.

Craft:
1. Prepare stem and leaves, let the children colour in different green colour on the paper.
2. While waiting them to dry, paint the hand (any colour, choice of the children) and then print it on the paper then stick the stem and leaves on it.
3. Prepare a yellow circle as sun (optional), just to show the children we need sun to grow (sun = The Word of God)
4. Finally, paste a heart shape at the palm as centre of our life. This represent we have Christ in our growth.

Church School Lesson: Lost and Found

Isaiah 53:6
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turn to his own way.

Objective:
To use the parable of the three lost things to teach that people outside of Christ are lost in sin and in great danger - they need to be found by the Saviour.

Lesson:
The Lost Sheep - (some don't mean to be lost)
The shepherd had 100 sheep, one missing. He knew it was in danger and searched until he found it.  He gathered his neighbour for a party.
The Lost Silver - (some don't know they are lost)
A woman lost one of ten coins. She lit a candle and swept the floor. When she found the coin, she told her friends.
The Lost Son - (some only have themselves to blame, they chose to be lost)
A young man was fed up with life on a farm. He asked for money and left home. He wasted the money and his friends left him. He looked after pigs. He felt sorry and decided to go home. His father welcomed him and forgave him.
Everyone is lost in sin until they trust in Christ.

Craft:
1. Prepare the head and legs on sugar paper (or any black colour paper) then a body. I got this template from All Kids Network.com.
2. Cover the sheep’s body piece with glue.
3. Stick the 4 legs onto the bottom of the body.
4. Cover the rest of the sheep with cotton balls.
5. Glue the sheep’s head onto the body (on top of the cotton balls).
6. Glue the googly eyes on the head. Glue the red foam on the sheep’s face to make a smiling mouth.

Church School Lesson: Surprise Story

Matthew 22:39
Love your neighbour as yourself.

Objective:
To teach that God wants His children to so love people of all races that we will be ready to help them, no matter what it costs us.

Lesson:
The story of the Good Samaritan woman. The road to Jericho was steep and dangerous. A traveller was robbed and beaten. A priest came and passed by, a Levite looked and then went away. Both were religious men and Jews. A Samaritan treated the man's wounds and took him to an inn and paid money to get people to take care of him until he return. He had love in his heart. He did more than anybody would expect. He was a true neighbour. We should love and help people of all races.

Craft:
1. Draw a heart shape on a paper.
2. Get the children to roll some creep paper and stick on the heart shape. You can have your choice of colour.
3. Write down the verse on the paper and let the children to decorate the paper freely.

Merdeka Craft for Toddler

A very simple flag making craft for toddler.

Material:
1. Empty toilet roll (the cylinder shape).
2. Measure the height of the toilet roll and prepare the rectangle shape paper.
3. Prepare a star and a crescent.
4. Red and white creep paper.

1. First of all, get the children to colour the rectangle paper in blue using poster colour. After they've done, wait for it to dry. (Remember not to put too much water, it will take time to dry)
2. While waiting the blue one, colour the crescent and star in yellow. Then wait for it to dry.
3. While waiting for the yellow one, stick the blue paper on the empty toilet roll then follow by the crescent and star.
4. Then follow by the red and white creep paper (alternate the colour). We do not need to have exactly 14 strips just around the toilet roll. Just to let them know the colour of our flag.
5. Finally, punch a hole and put a string on it.
There you go... you can hang it up and celebrate the National Day! ;)

Church School Lesson: God First

Matthew 6:33
but seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.

Objective:
To lead our children to have the right attitude towards things, so they will love and trust God rather than money or anything else.

Lesson:
Jesus warned about being greedy. A rich farmer had good crops, he planned to keep everything for himself. He foolishly thought only of this life. Christian should not worry about food and clothes. God provides for birds and flowers. We should think of ways to please God and our treasure stored in Heaven. Those who put God first know true happiness.

Craft:
1. Get the children to trace their hand print.
2. Write down GOD FIRST in big font in the middle.
3. You can use creep paper (roll it) or any form of decorative items and stick on the word to make GOD FIRST stand out.
Suggestion: For younger toddler (e.g. 3) I suggest to use creep paper (roll it, small one) as their hand print is small, the wording cannot be too big. Not enough place.

When they complete the craft, Hi-5 with them and shout "GOD FIRST" :)

They like it! and whenever they Hi-5, they will remember "GOD FIRST"!

Church School Lesson: Shine For Christ

Matthew 5:16

let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven

Objective:

To teach that by doing good things to others we can show them we belong to Jesus, and we might also lead them to trust in Jesus too.

Lesson:

I first get them to taste the salt. Every children get to taste it. I use organic salt. The children were excited. :) I then tell them the use of salt in olden days when they have no fridge, it helps to preserve food, it gives flavour to food. Just a little bit and the food will taste good. Salt is important; but it the salt is not salty, then it's no use already. Then I continue ask them about light. Is light important? Light to help us see, we can hide light, it shines in the darkness. I then get each child to hold a candle, off the light and light up the candle. Children were excited. When we're in darkness, the light shine, people around can see. (Story based on Matthew 5:13-16)

Craft:

Props/Materials:

For each child, two star shapes and a stick, different yellow poster colour, glittering decorative items, glue/double sided tape.

1. Before the class started, cut out all the stars and get your props ready.

2. First, let the children colour the two stars with different yellow colour. Brighter yellow, darker yellow, etc. (you may want to place some old newspaper on the table if you don't want the children to dirty it.) After finishing one let it dry then continue with the other. By the time you completed both, the first one should be dry by then. (tips: do not put too much of water, it will takes longer time to dry)

3. The children can start decorating the star with those glittering items. Put some glue on the star and start decorating. (tips: do not put too much glue, it will takes longer time to dry)

4. After decorating both stars, wait for it to dry. While waiting, you can usher the children to wash their hands.

5. After both stars are dried. You can either put double sided tape or glue behind the star, put the stick in between the stars and stick them together.

The children loves this. They feel they're like a fairy, some feel they're like a magician :) but I told them this one is to remind them to do good things for God and shine for Christ.

I find this craft is suitable for children from 2+ and above. Abigail was 2 years 9 months when she did this craft. She is able to colour the star by herself and put the decorative items herself. She only need help when she need to put the two stars together.

Church School Lesson: Alive After Dying

John 11:25
I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.

Objective:
To teach that there is life after death; that some time the bodies of all the dead will be raised, and Christians will go to be with Jesus forever.

Lesson:
Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick. His sister expected Jesus to come quickly. Jesus said the sickness wouldn't end in death and waited two days. He told the disciple Lazarus was dead and they went to see him. Martha and Mary wondered why Jesus didn't come immediately to save Lazarus. Jesus said Lazarus would rise again. He said Christians never really die. Jesus wept as He went to the grave He told them to take away the stone Lazarus came out when Jesus called him. All Christians' bodies will be raised and face judgement when Jesus returned.

Craft:
1. Prepare two circles (different colour) and one ice-cream stick for each child. I chose yellow as happy face and blue for sad face. You can have your own choice of colour.
2. First let the children roll the creep paper and stick on the circle paper as eyes, then let them colour it using poster colour.
3. I use red foam for my mouth. You can cut any shapes you like, as long as it shows happy or sad expression.
4. Then get the children to stick both side of faces together. You can use glue or double sided tape.
That's it! Another simple craft for toddler.

Whether we're happy or sad, Jesus knew and understand us. He can help us no matter what situation we're in. Trust in HIM.