Tuesday, 1 April 2008

A Special Star - The Sun

According to God’s Word, the Bible, the sun did not always light the earth. It wasn’t made till Day 4 of Creation Week, while the earth was created on Day 1. This refutes ideas like ‘God used evolution’ and ‘God created over billions of years’, because they all assert that the sun arose before the earth.1 For the first three days of existence, the earth was lit by the light created on Day 1 (Genesis 1:3), while the day/night cycle was caused by the earth’s rotation relative to this directional light source. Then according to Genesis 1:14–19:

‘And God said, Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to divide between the day and the night. And let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth. And it was so. And God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the smaller light to rule the night, and the stars also. And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night; and to divide between the light and the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.’

And in the New Jerusalem, there will also be no need for the sun, because God will provide the light once again (Revelation 21:23). But meanwhile, we can appreciate the wonder of the star God has provided for us.

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editors note

The Creation Story for Sunday School
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Recent research has called the sun ‘exceptional’. Our sun is among the top 10% (by mass) of stars in its neighbourhood. It is actually an ideal size to support life on earth. The sun is in an ideal environment. It is a single star—most stars exist in multiple-star systems. A planet in such a system would suffer extreme temperature variations. The sun’s position in our spiral Milky Way Galaxy is also ideal. Its orbit is fairly circular, meaning that it won’t go too near the inner galaxy where supernovae, extremely energetic star explosions, are more common.

Creation vs evolution

Tuesday, 25 March 2008

The Bible Our Blueprint for Today

The greatest manual/resource you could ever imagine is in your very own hands. Why not make the most of that book and use it the way it was intended by God? This book can open worlds of history packed with events that include everything from true love, war, total dedication, days in prison, beasts, hardships, to promises, and so much more. Use them to teach your children about history! That book, of course, is the Bible. Every page is filled with the exciting things mentioned above and lots more that will intrigue kids and adults alike. The Bible is the blueprint of how God wants us to live our lives daily, nothing has changed although it was written so long ago. It is still our blueprint for today.

As a child grows up going to church, they particularly start learning about the Bible in preschool. They are often taught "Bible stories," that teach important lessons, but the word "stories," is usually the phrase they hear repeatedly and it will undoubtedly become embedded in them. Children, especially at an early age, can understandably come to believe that that Bible is a book of stories, just as if they were reading books by Dr. Seuss or Eric Carle. You as a parent have the wonderful task of explaining to your child that the Bible is actually a history book, not a book of tall tales and fables with a good lesson at the end. The lessons they learn from the Bible are based on actual facts and explain why your family chooses to live according to the Bible.

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Editors note

Bible lessons
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The first step to making the Bible real to children is deleting the word "stories" from your own vocabulary when discussing the Bible with them. Choose words like events in history, Bible times, or adventure. These are great substitutes for calling biblical events stories.

If your child receives take-home papers or makes a craft to bring home at the end of Bible/Sunday School that goes along with what they learned that day, take time to talk about how what they learned really happened in history. How in-depth you go with this conversation will, of course, depend on your child's age. Young children will need a much more basic talk than older children who can really grasp the concept of Bible times and their place in history. Discussing each biblical event like The Flood, Creation, and Daniel in the Lions Den will have a whole new meaning to your child when they see that you believe these happenings really occurred.
So, you see, children can learn that Bible events in history are real, which in turn empowers them to become more solid in their faith. They can live the way God intends for us to live, and feel comfortable in doing so, knowing that they are following a true blueprint for their lives, and not just some "story" that they learned about in church and how to apply that "story" to their lives. Taking the extra time to teach them the history surrounding what they've learned will make the Bible real to them and, thus, make it easier to live for God.

Sunday school lessons

Friday, 21 March 2008

Learning Memory Verses in Sunday School

The use of memory verses is a great tool for reinforcing lessons and Bible stories to your Sunday school class. The ability at remembering and retaining memory verses is easier for the older children, but preschoolers need a little more time. The following tips will help you teach your Sunday school children the memory verses, while retaining the lesson.

Keep it simple:

Keeping it as simple as possible is the first rule of thumb when teaching your class a new memory verse. The use of small simple word for Preschoolers is essential as they simply do not have the ability to remember long, complicated verses. Simple is always better. Look for scripture that has a single sentence or just a few words that gets the point of the lesson across. Examples of easy to remember memory verses include Luke 12:34: For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also. Or, Psalms 148:3: Praise ye Him, sun and moon praise Him, all ye stars of light. These are just two examples of how simple you can keep the memory verse for the children to remember.

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Editors note

Sunday school lessons for 3-11 year olds
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Have fun with it:

Its important, in order for preschoolers to retain a memory verse, that you have fun with it and not repeat it over and over again. Repetition can be boring at this age, so think of ways to incorporate the verse into your weekly activities. For the above examples, you could make a star and moon mobile for the children to take home, or stamp stars and moons in a black sheet of paper in glow in the dark paint. Make sure you include the memory verse on every craft, too.

Sing the verse:

Another great idea to help your children remember their memory verse is to come up with a simple song or poem that they can sing or say. Look for artist’s that have put together children’s songs that sing a scripture. Simply saying the verse may not do the trick, but put it with a catchy tune, and you may find they are able to remember it much faster and easier.

Give out rewards:

You might also want to consider giving out rewards for remembering memory verses. Having introduced them to the verse send them home to practice and learn it. If the child can repeat the verse the following week, let them add a sticker to a memory verse chart or get a small treat out of a prize box. Remember have realistic expectations of the children. On average, you can expect preschoolers to remember and retain one memory verse a month.
It is not impossible for your preschoolers to remember memory verses. Help them along by presenting these verses in a fun, easy to remember manner.

Printable Sunday school material

Tuesday, 18 March 2008

Is Change Good or Bad for Sunday School?

Is change good or bad in itself?

Everything we did yesterday was not wrong or inferior. The best change usually comes after going back to study the past—evaluating what we did right and appreciating what is worth preserving. Then we can make adjustments and new connections to reach people with the gospel. Looking at Sunday school yesterday helps us to look forward to how we can change it in the future.

People show initial interest because they have needs, or feelings of doubt, incompleteness, and questions. If they are seeking, they are looking for something they do not have. We must be willing to change to attract them and make them comfortable with us. However, we must not change so much that we endanger what we have now that they need.

Sunday school teachers have a demanding role as knowledgeable change agents. Their ministry is helping children to know who they are, where they came from, and how they fit in some on-going system of meanings and relationships, change, and continuity. Some change may be necessary in order to facilitate this. We should never be afraid of evaluating how we teach. What must not change is the basis of our biblical truths.

Sunday school resources for 3-11 year olds

Saturday, 15 March 2008

Parents too can be involved in Sunday School

Parents can be more responsive than you think.

Ask for help: It may be obvious and you may be surprised that simply asking for help is a great way to get help in the classroom. Many parents don't mind helping, but need someone to tell them what needs to be done.

Teach them the lessons: Again one of the best ways to get parents involved in your Sunday school classroom is to let them know exactly what you are teaching. It is a good idea to give the kids a simple newsletter listing the Bible lessons, songs and activities that took place that day in class. You might also consider listing what will happen next week as well. This will give parents the opportunity to talk to their children about what they learned that day and what they will learn the following week. You may even find that there are some parents that enjoy particular lessons and are willing to come in and offer their expertise.

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Editors note

Sunday school lessons for 3 - 11 year olds
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Let your parents become guests: When you plan your Sunday school lessons, think about ways to invite the parents into your room as "guests". Perhaps you could invite one in to read a story to the classroom, or if you have someone willing, maybe one of your parents could dress up as a Bible friend and perform a skit. If you are talking about careers, cooking or gardening, find a parent that is particularly interested in that field and ask them to be a guest teacher for the day. The parents will enjoy it and so will the kids. You will also find that every kid will want their mom or dad to be the special guest and this will put gentle pressure on your parents to help.

Send stuff home: Parents can help even if they cannot come into the classroom on Sunday mornings. How about sending materials home for parents to prepare. If you are doing a craft project and need paper, craft foam or felt cut into shapes, let someone take it home and then bring it back to you. Most mums and dads are more than willing to help when they can do it on their own time.

Once you get your parents involved in your Sunday school classroom, you will create an organized and cohesive class.

Object lessons for Sunday School

Wednesday, 12 March 2008

Keeping the Sabbath Sabbath

In todays world is not the threat of war, not the race issue, not the spread of violence and crime. I believe the gravest peril to any country today is secularism!

I believe the great symptom of this is seen in the secularization of the Lord's Day. It is this symptom, perhaps more than any other, which betrays the fact that the role of religion has been steadily diminishing.

Encroachments upon the Lord's Day have been gradual, subtle and devastating. Attitudes and practices regarding the Lord's Day have changed drastically over the past half century - and the trend has been in the direction of de-emphasis, rather than emphasis - upon the Lord's Day as a day of rest and worship.

This brings us back to the fourth commandment: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy." (Exodus 20:8)

Remember is the key word here the tendency has been to forget. It is then a simple matter to liberalize the spiritual meaning and purpose of this Day. Then the next step is easy to appropriate it for ourselves instead of devoting it to God.

The sabbath (Lord's Day) is a reminder of God's place of primacy in the universe, in the nations, and in our individual lives. To neglect this reminder is to forget God's centrality, and thus, by default, to shunt him off to the periphery of life.

"In the beginning God..." This simple statement refutes the atheist who says there is no God; refutes the agnostic who claims we cannot know God; refutes the polytheist, who worships many gods; refutes the pantheist who says that all nature is God; refutes the materialist who claims that matter is eternal and not created; and refutes the fatalist who teaches that there is no divine plan behind creation and history.

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Editors note

Sunday school lessons for 3 - 11 year olds
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What does creation reveal about God? His wisdom and power (Job 28:23-27), His glory (Psalm 19:1), His power and Godhead (Romans 1:18-21), His love for insignificant man (Psalm 8:3-9).

"And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done in creation. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all his work which he had done in creation." (Genesis 2:1-3)

The word "sabbath" simply means "to cease." God did not "rest" because he was weary, since God does not become weary. Rather, he ceased from his creative works; the task was not finished. He had blessed the creatures and man. Now he blessed the Sabbath by setting it apart as a special day.

God commanded it for a reason because we need to spend unhurried time in worship and rest each week. A God who is concerned enough to provide a day each week for us to rest is indeed a wonderful God. To observe a regular time of rest and worship in our hurried world demonstrates the importance of God in our lives while having the extra benefit of refreshing our spirits. This is a God who leads, who gives direction to life so it will bring a blessing to us.

To remember the sabbath day and to keep it holy is to remember God as Creator and Sustainer and to acknowledge that life continues under his reign and providence.

But do we forget? Today we see the turning of the Lord's Day into a fun day, forgetting that it is the day of the Lord, a day when we are to worship him. The sabbath should be different from other days. It shouldn't be simply given over to secular sports and business and work.

We have a God who cares and shares his love and power upon those who have been called by his name.

There is reason to remember the Lord's Day. We remember a God who reigns. We remember a God who guides. And we remember a God who loves us.

Printable Sunday school material

Saturday, 8 March 2008

Mistakes Sunday School Teachers Make and How to Avoid them (Part 5)

Teachers will tell you over and over the importance of getting to know parents. They can make or break your relationship with their child, because it is their responsibility to get their child to Sunday school each week! Contacting parents early on in the sessions opens the door to good communication throughout
the year. This good communication will encourage parents to make sure their child are in attendance each week. Supportive parents are also a great resource to help in the teaching and implementation of different ideas presented during Sunday school.

Teachers often forget the role that parents play in the development of their children’s spiritual lives. Ultimately, parents are the most important role model and influencer on their children lives. It is doubly important then for you, as a teacher and supplement to the education the children receive at home, to create and maintain a good relationship with those parents.

To create a good relationship with parents, there are several things you can do. During the first few weeks of the session, make a personal phone call home to talk to the parents about their child. Praise something unique that their child has done, such as, “Sally behaved so well in class last week, she got a reward!” or “John was extremely helpful in setting up the classroom for the day’s activity. I couldn’t have done it without him!” This will help parents to feel that their child is engaged, happy, and important to the overall classroom.

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Editors note

Sunday school lessons for 3-11 year olds
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Also, newsletters are a great way to stay in contact with parents. Send home a short newsletter once a month telling parents what events have just passed and what events are coming up. Let them know the lesson plans you have and the Bible passages that go along with the lessons, so that interested parents can read through the passages with their children before or just after the session. This is a good way for you to get extra help driving the ideas home to the children. Repetition is key to understanding, and if you can aid parents in repeating the lessons you have just imparted, the children will come back the
next session with a deeper understanding of the previous week’s lesson.
Schedule a meeting with all parents at the beginning of the sessions. When you have everyone together, tell them about yourself, your experience working with Sunday school or any other teaching setting, and tell them about your plans and goals for the year. Ask for their help and opinions. Parents know their children best, so take their advice and concerns seriously. Ask parents to contact you if something major changes in their home life that might affect their children. Often, you will notice a change in children, but without an involved parent to let you know the situation, you will not know the reason behind the change in behavior. Creating a relationship where parents feel comfortable sharing that information will help you and them, because it will better equip you to handle any changes in their child.

When dealing with parents, it also helps to have a documented log of any problems you have experienced with a child. If you jot down days and events when things have gone wrong, it will give you a better view of the entirety of a problem.

When you have to contact a parent about bad behavior, or perhaps when you meet with them for periodic conferences, you will have a record of any issues you have dealt with regarding their child. Parents often do not believe that their children are causing problems, so if you can show them a detailed account of each incident, they will be much more likely to believe you and give support in disciplining their child. This usually will not be a problem because of the environment of Sunday school, but you will always have problem children that you must handle. It is always easier to deal with these children with the help of their parents. Otherwise, the parents are likely to withdraw their child from your sessions or tell them that they need to continue going but provide no other support, leading the child to believe the sessions are worthless, and continuing the cycle of disruptive behavior.

Easter lesson for Sunday school