Big theme: passing on
the baton of the gospel
3-5s
Theme: Keep trusting
and loving Jesus
Intro:
·
Make chains for the Paul puppet out of strips of
silver card
·
Make popsicle characters for Phygelus,
Hermogenes and Onesiphorus
Teaching:
[You’ll need two
puppets, one for Paul (in chains) and one for Timothy, and the popsicle
characters from the intro and an envelope]
Today we’re going to meet someone called Timothy. Timothy
was a young man who was in charge of a church in a place called Ephesus. It was
hard work being in charge of a church and so Paul wrote Timothy a letter which
is now in our Bibles.
Paul was writing to Timothy from prison where he was in
chains. He’d been telling people about Jesus and so they’d put him in prison
[put chains on puppet]. This meant that other people thought, ‘O-oh, I don’t
want to end up in prison like Paul,’ and so lots of people had left him and
given up on following Jesus.
Paul sends a letter to Timothy [pass letter across the
table]. In that letter Paul says, ‘Don’t stop following Jesus, don’t give up!’
[They repeat, ‘don’t give up!’]
It may mean you end up in prison Timothy, but God has made
you His! You belong to Jesus so don’t give up.
Paul reminds him of how his mummy and grandma used to read
Bible stories to him [have picture of mummy reading Bible stories]. This was to
say to Timothy, ‘Don’t give up.’
Paul reminds him of how certain he is that he’s a follower
of Jesus. This was to say to Timothy, ‘Don’t give up!’
And Paul tells Timothy about some people. He tells Timothy
about Phygelus and Hermogenes [have popsicle characters]. They had given up on
Paul because he was in prison [move characters away]. And they’d given up on
being Jesus’ friends. Paul says, don’t be like them, don’t give up!
Paul also tells Timothy about Onesiphorus, he came and
helped Paul in prison. He brought Paul food and drink in prison. Be like him,
Timothy and ‘don’t give up!’
We should love being Jesus’ friend today and tomorrow. We
should always want to be Jesus’ friend because it’s brilliant.
Pray
Craft:
·
Badges or stickers – ‘Don’t give up!’
·
Colouring – Timothy learning Bible stories with
Lois and Eunice
Songs:
·
Follow, follow and Two Little Eyes (from Very,
very Big God)
5-11s
Theme: Don’t give up
following Jesus because its hard
Aim: That they see how
wonderful and important it is to keep trusting Jesus
Intro:
·
Relay race with baton with ‘gospel’ written on –
make sure they don’t drop it
Teaching:
[you will need a relay
baton from the opening game, silver card chains and a large envelope]
I wonder whether you’ve ever found it really hard following
Jesus? Maybe you’ve known that Jesus wants you to obey him, but you’d much
rather do something else? Maybe other children have said things to you because
you go to church? [Let them make suggestions]
Paul was in that situation. He had been put in prison for
telling people about Jesus. [set up a ‘Paul’ in chains in the corner]. And
everyone had abandoned him in prison because he was just a little bit too
embarrassing.
So Paul writes a letter to someone he loves. See if you can
hear who it is and how he is described. [Read 2 Tim 1:1-2 and take suggestions.
Then write on the envelope, ‘From Paul, To Timothy.]
Let’s listen to the first thing that Paul writes to Timothy
[read v3-7]. Did you hear what Paul said? He gives thanks for Timothy’s faith.
Timothy has been handed the gospel [give a ‘Timothy’ the relay baton]. Who has
passed the gospel on to him? [His mum and grandma, and also Paul (v6)]. So he
had better make sure he had not drop the baton! Paul is worried that Timothy is
going to give up because its hard being Jesus’ friend. But God has given
Timothy His Spirit, a Spirit that gives us courage and love for Jesus and the
self-control not to run away.
So, what does Paul tell Timothy to do? [Read v8-12]. Timothy
is not to be ashamed about Jesus. He’s not to be embarrassed, but to be sure of
the gospel that has been handed to him; that Jesus has died to save him and
brought new life by rising from the dead. So Timothy is to guard the gospel
baton that has been passed on to him [read v13-14].
Paul then tells Timothy about 3 people, 2 of whom have run
away. Phygelus and Hermogenes [have on screen] have abandoned Paul. They’ve
found it too embarrassing seeing Paul in prison and have given up. They’ve
dropped the gospel baton. But Onesiphorus, well he’s gone and visited Paul in
prison, even though it was dangerous and embarrassing. [Read v17-18].
So, who has passed you the gospel baton? [take answers] We
would be really gutted if you gave up because you were embarrassed or because
you found it too hard. You’ve been given something amazing; forgiveness and new
life in Jesus, there is nothing better than that!
Pray
Pray for church leaders and others who have passed the baton
to us.
Table time: [younger ones stick on letters of ‘gospel’ onto
a baton for each answer]
Knowledge
·
Where was Paul writing from?
·
Who had given up following Jesus?
·
Who had visited Paul in prison?
Understanding
·
Why had people given up following Jesus?
·
Why should Timothy carry on trusting Jesus?
Application
·
What would make you tempted to stop following
Jesus?
·
Who has read the Bible to you?
