Exploring The Parable of the Sower

April 30, 2021Leave a comment

As we come further into spring, it’s a great time to tell the parable of the sower and to think about how we grow as disciples.

Here are some helpful resources to help you to do this:

Use the Parable of the Sower Playdough Mat (above). Click here to print off and use. For repeated use, it really helps to laminate the sheet!

Think about how seeds might grow on different types of ground by testing it out! Make ‘seed balls’ and then throw them into your garden and watch what happens as nature takes its course. This is a great set of instructions to help you to get started. Be aware that it might get messy!

Go into the garden and look at where plants are growing and where they aren’t. What do you notice?

Watch this video of the story, using photos taken in Israel of the 4 different types of land.

Use junk to make a model of something that really sticks out to you from the story. Share what you have made and why.

Talk about:

What helps plants to grow?
What helps people to grow?
What helps us to grow in knowing more about Jesus?

Pray:

Eat some fruit and ask God to help us grow in knowing about and loving Jesus and in loving each other.

Jesus Calls the Disciples Story Video

January 31, 2021January 31, 2021Leave a comment

If you are looking at the story of Jesus calling the disciples, here is a short stop motion video to help. Click here to go to the Youtube link for the video.

Here are some other ideas for exploring the story:

Spinning fish prayers

Discipleship sandal craft

Take home sheets

Make a magnetic fishing game

The Parable of the Pearl Lesson

May 29, 2018May 29, 2018Leave a comment

When you have a range of ages in a children’s group, it’s great to provide a range of activities that are more open-ended that children can choose from. This means that children are more likely to find something they can get on and do independently and to their own level! Here is a session we used this month with a group of children ranging in age from 2-12.

First we organised a hunt for coloured paper squares which we had hidden around the room. Children worked in small teams to find specific colours.

Next, we told the parable of the pearl. I used my Godly play set, but a version from a children’s Bible or a video of the story would work just as well.

Children could then choose from a range of related activities that helped them to explore the story themes of ‘treasure’, searching for something precious and what the kingdom of God would be like…

Making pearl ‘treasure’ biscuits. Click here for the link to show you how.

Drawing a picture of the story
Using play dough to make a scene from the story or to make a ‘treasure’

Using a range of collage materials to make ‘treasure’

searching in moon sand for ‘treasure’ (glittery foam shapes, buttons, pom poms)

As the children created, we used the time to talk to them about heaven, treasure, what it must be like to give up everything for something incredibly precious and what they would have done if they had been in the story. We had some fascinating conversations!

Tabitha/Dorcas Lesson

April 27, 2016Leave a comment

Here are some activities to help children to explore the story of Tabitha (or Dorcas, depending on your preference!) in Acts 9. They will work well with a range of ages as there is scope for creativity!

Game: ‘jigsaws’ made of robes drawn on coloured card. This could easily be done as a race with children putting together one particular colour jigsaw per team.

Read the story from a good children’s Bible or act the story out.

Talk about:

what was your favourite part of the story? How do you think Tabitha’s friends felt when she had died? What about when she came back to life? Why do you think Peter wanted to help? What would you think about God’s power if you had been one of Tabitha’s friends? Have you ever seen or felt God do something amazing? (adults share any testimonies here!)

Use a blank T shirt template and get children to design a T shirt that reflects the story they have heard e.g. with a picture of their favourite part of the story or with colours and shapes that reflect a ‘miracle’ or show something of God’s amazing power. Use pens, pencils and any kind of collage material
Poke holes in paper plates and then let children use plastic needles and wool to sew patterns (reflecting Tabitha’s skill at sewing). Think about skills they have to help others and thank God for them
Use this play dough mat to think about people who use their skills to help us. Click here to print out the play dough mat

Prayers: If you could pray for God to do something amazing to help other people, what would it be? Draw on a T shirt shape and peg onto a washing line

8-11s: Psalm 139 Session Ideas

May 31, 2015May 31, 2015Leave a comment

Psalm 139 is full of wonderful images to explore. Here are some ideas for reflecting on what it has to say…

Reflect on the words of the psalm and write/ draw your responses in a wordcloud:

For a copy of the word cloud, click here.

Use clay to make symbols of what is special about you and thank God for truly knowing who you are.

Try this ‘Fearfully and wonderfully made’ craft and prayer activity:

Use finger labyrinths to reflect on how we might follow God’s ‘everlasting way’. Click here to find some labyrinths to print out or make and try.

8-11s: Lord’s Prayer Session

May 30, 2015May 30, 2015Leave a comment

Here are some ideas for helping children to connect with the Lord’s Prayer.

Lord’s prayer ordering game– How well do you know the prayer?

Prayer printed out and cut into strips, mixed up so they can be put in the correct order. We made this a race!

‘Hallowed be your name’: Play names of God dominoes, exploring the different names and characteristics of God. Click here to print out the dominoes.

‘Your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven’: Talk about road signs in this country- triangle signs are warnings and circle signs are orders. If God made some order signs to show how He wanted people to live, what would be on them? Let children draw them in the circles.