I signed up for a Training Children Effectively class with Child Evangelism Fellowship. When I am done I get a certificate that says I can lead children through an hour of bible study, song and game, verse memorization and gospel presentation. I signed up because I've been praying for God to show me who He wants me to serve, and children are number one on that list, with a significant second place for women. I would love to go on a mission this summer and this is a step to ensure I am as useful to the LORD as possible.
I'm praying hard though because Saturday morning I have to stand up in class and give the practicum for about a third of that hour presentation. Historically I get sick at the thought of public speaking, I just hate it beyond all known breadth. I don't know what is wrong with me. Kids are okay for me, and maybe after a long time, I can handle this? I know that it is easier for me to raise my hand in class and speak... maybe I am growing up? I sure hope so. I'm trying not to gag, as I prepare it.
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Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. He chose the lowly things of the world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him. (1 cor 1:26,28)
Thursday, February 19, 2009
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6 comments:
The verse which I am being asked to present is Acts 16:31, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved."
We start off getting the kids' interest for the hour by a short story.
Mine is going to be something along these lines:
Kids, have you seen the trees outside your house? What are they missing? They're missing leaves, aren't they! I remember last summer they had leaves on them, but now there's none. I believe that by the time we're ready to set up the swimming pool again - this tree - will be covered with green leaves again! All we have to do is watch and wait, and we'll see them start to come out but right now those leaves have been made on the inside of the tree. Look closely. Can you see them yet? No. Still, we know that there is something very special that has happened on the inside.
In the same way as this tree here, there is something very special that can happen inside of you! It is hidden just like the leaves are hidden right now. Then maybe one day like a leaf it will start to come out of you, too! But even if you can't see that something special is inside of you, you can know that it is there. Just like I know what has happened inside this tree.
Today I'm going to tell you how you can invite that special something to happen inside of you, like the leaves inside this tree.
I am trying to get the story's points theologically correct. Kids might not notice. But oh well. It matters to me.
I don't know many children's songs and excepting enthusiasm I'm no good for games either. That is going to be a tougher section when it comes up. But I am having loads of fun with this part!
:D
I like your analogy! I hope your gag reflex is under control. :)
Hi Missy,
I hope it is too. Well, I'll probably be alright. Long as I have about five cups of coffee first. Nothing will stop me then. :D I suppose you don't share this difficulty huh?
I'm getting caught trying to explain the word "saved" to children. It's so simple, but I think Betty is expecting me to define it. How can I without introducing the issue of sin? So, I said, "What does this word, "saved" mean? Have you ever seen it before? It means that we are kept safe from danger. God wants to keep you safe from danger,
too."
But it still lacks its point, as Betty replied, "I wonder if the children will understand what "danger" means. Saved from what? Because sometimes dangerous or awful things do happen in this life but we are saved from being punished from our sins."
Yes but I still can't think around it. Blue letter bible isn't stirring up the answer for me so far, either:
here
How do I do an accurate definition to the word "save" while stopping short of giving the gospel message? Hmm. Well, I'm still going.
Thanks for stopping in, Michele
Readers,
It went really well! I didn't have to give it in front of a bunch of people, I got to do it in front of just Betty and another woman from my church. She gave me high marks on everything! She really liked my parable or whatever, of the tree. She appreciated me mentioning "what" and "who" Jesus did as a cliffhanger for "believing." I thought she might.
:D
So here is the finished product of the intro to the bible hour:
(INTRODUCTION)
"Kids, have you seen the trees here outdoors lately? What are they missing? They're missing leaves, aren't they! I remember last summer they had leaves on them, but now there's none. Would you believe that right now there are already leaves on the inside of the tree? Can you see the leaves, yet? No. But I believe in just a little while they will come out where everyone can see them. There will be green leaves all over that tree just like last summer."
(PRESENTATION)
"I want to show you a verse about believing. I have it on a big piece of paper so you can see it. Can I read it for you? It says 'Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.' Acts 16:31. I read this paper but I want to show you where this verse comes from. It comes from this book called the Bible. Have you heard about the Bible before? God wanted us to know all about Him so he gave us this book, and it has His own words in it, isn't that wonderful? Because it has God's words, it doesn't have any lies in it and it is 100% true. That means it is different from any other book you can find!
Did you see this part of the verse, 'Acts 16:31'? It is like an address to tell you where the verse is, just like your address tells other people where your house is. See, Acts is like the city you live in. You live in the city of Salem, right? So first we look for the book of Acts inside this library of books in the bible. Here it is. Next is this number 16, and that is like when you tell people what street you live on. I know many of you live on Liberty Street, right? So inside the city of Salem we look for Liberty Street, and in the book of Acts we look for chapter 16. And this part, the 31, that is like telling people which house is yours. Right now we are in house number '125,' on Liberty Street in Salem, so in the book of Acts, in chapter 16, we look for verse 31. There it is. I'm going to read what it says: [verse] is that the same things as what is on this paper? [read verse] Yes it is! So this verse on this paper is 100% true and it is from the Bible, right?
Excellent!"
(EXPLANATION)
"Did you notice this bigger word, 'Believe'? What does it mean? Remember, we were talking about the trees which don't have any leaves on them. And I told you that I believed that in a little while there would lots of green leaves on them. Well? Do you think that I said something true? Do you think there will be leaves on that tree just like there were leaves on it last summer?
That is what 'believe' means in this verse, too! It means that we know it is really going to happen, or did happen. So this verse says 'Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.'"
(APPLICATION)
"Now, some of you might have heard about the Lord Jesus and have already believed in Him. Maybe you could tell us some times when you believed in the Lord Jesus to help you, and He did? If that is true, that's wonderful! Did you know that God is pleased when you believe in Him? It's true. Today you will have an opportunity to thank Him for what He has done inside of you.
Others of you have not yet had the chance to believe in Jesus, and be saved. If that is any of you, you are going to hear in our bible story in just a little bit about the Lord Jesus. You will hear about who He is, and what He has done, so you too can believe in the Lord Jesus and know you are saved, today."
(I decided to skip defining "saved" for the kids - it was too messy and complicated, and I think most children of any age understand what "saved" means in the every day sense. Even adults who have been Christians for a long time sometimes struggle to understand that when God "saves" us, as in gives us salvation/eternal life, He is not also promising to make our lives saved from all kinds of distresses. So the kids don't need to know this now, especially in a pre-gospel discussion.)
Yay! :D
Excellent, Michele! I'm sorry I didn't get back to you. I must admit, defining "saved" for the kids without a more complicated explanation of what & how was difficult. I did think of you in church yesterday while someone read from Colossians 1, particularly vs. 13. "Rescued" was the word that kept coming back as I thought of it - but then I thought, how do you explain to the kids "from what"?? This verse says darkness - but even that would need more explanation, huh?
Anyway, I thought this was really great!
Missy,
Thanks for the praise especially the prayers. I actually shed a tear of frustration the night before because I despise rote and cling to inspiration in the moment to get stuff said and done. Somehow, you know, and that is the power of God at work in my moment when tested! So I was very happy to share that.
Yeah. I'm glad you see, and rescued.... exactly. How do you do that? You could tell the kids they need to be "rescued" and that'd be fine, but to go any further makes me wanna just say the whole gospel. Eh.
I hope you'll comment on my new post, The CEF Gospel. I have some thoughts about it too.
Thanks for the encouragement. I'll have to see how your bible study is doing, too.
:D Michele
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