3-5s
Theme:
Paul is so excited that the Thessalonians are trusting Jesus and loving each
other that he wants them to do it more and more
Aim: That
they want to trust Jesus more and love each other more
Intro
'What do you
want to be when you grow up?' - have some pictures of typical things and get
them talking (maybe colouring in said pictures). Paul wants the Thessalonian
church to keep growing in trust of Jesus and love for each other.
Or baby
animals when they grow up - some look different, some look the same. Paul wants
us to keep trusting Jesus and loving each other.
Teaching:
Recap last
week - Paul wanted to get to Thessalonica to find out how they were all doing
but he couldn't so he sent Timothy instead. [have a picture of Terry the
Thessalonian up]
Paul was
feeling sad and worried [have a worried face] because the Thessalonians, whom
he loved so much, may have stopped following Jesus. Paul had been praying day
and night that they would keep trusting Jesus. Then Timothy returns with a
message about how they are doing. [leader 2 dressed as Timothy(?) goes across
to Terry and returns with a message about the church in Thessalonica]. Paul
would have wondered what was in the message; how were the church getting on?
Were they alright? Let's find out [open the message]
They've been
longing to see Paul just as he's been really wanting to see them! How exciting
[turn the worried face over to reveal a happy face]
They are
still trusting Jesus, still loving each other! What great news. Paul is so
happy.
So he turns
and he prays for them [picture of Paul praying]. What does he pray? He prays
that they'd keep loving Jesus [stick on a heart with 'Jesus' onto Terry] and
that they would keep loving each other [stick arrows flowing out from the
heart]. Read 3v10-13.
So the most
important thing when you grow up is that you keep loving Jesus and keep loving
each other. It would be great to be a fireman [etc.] but its even better to be
a follower of Jesus.
Pray that
each child would grow in love for Jesus and in love for each other
Stick picture
onto the old letters
Craft:
- An outline (or photo) of each
child - stick on a heart with Jesus in the centre and arrows out (love for
others)
- Prayer cards - 'Dear ___, we
prayed today that you would grow in love for Jesus and for others.'
- Flip-stick - one side Paul's
worried face, the other Paul's happy face
Songs:
- He overflows with Love (from J is
for Jesus)
- Jesus loves the little children
-------
5-11s
Theme:
Paul is so excited that the Thessalonians are trusting Jesus and loving each
other that he wants them to do it more and more
Aim: That
they want to trust Jesus more and love each other more
Intro:
'When I grow
up' game
Baby animal
quiz - some look really different, Paul wants us to keep doing the same thing.
Teaching:
Recap from
last week - Paul sent Timothy to Thessalonica [set one child up as Terry the
Thessalonian, another as Timothy and a third as Paul]. While Timothy is away,
Paul is busy praying. What's he praying?: Paul reads 3v10.
Paul is
desperately praying that they keep trusting Jesus. That's the most important
thing for them. Not that they're well, or healthy, or not being treated badly
for following Jesus. No, he prays that they wouldn't give up.
Then Timothy
returns with a message from them [Timothy returns and open message]. The
message says that they are longing to see Paul too and that they are carrying
on trusting Jesus and loving one another! Paul is so excited. He writes in his
letter: Paul reads 3v6-9.
Do you see
what was most important to Paul? That they were carrying on trusting Jesus and
loving each other. [Stick a heart with 'Jesus' on Terry, with some arrows
flowing out from the heart]. For Paul this was much more important than doing
really well at school or getting a great job or being brilliant at football.
Trusting Jesus and loving others was his number one priority for them.
So what do
you thin he prays for them? That they would be great at football? That they
would be healthy and happy and safe? That they would all get great jobs now
they trust Jesus? No, that's not what Paul prays for at all. Paul reads v11-13.
Paul prays that they would keep growing in faith and love. This is something
that we can pray for each other. [Get each child to choose another child in the
room and lead them in a prayer based on v11-13 for each other].
Table time
Knowledge
- What was Timothy's message from
the Thessalonians?
- What did Paul pray for the
Thessalonians?
Understanding
- Why was Paul so excited to hear
the message?
- Why did Paul pray what he did for
the Thessalonians?
Application
- What do you pray for your friends
and family? What does Paul want you to pray?
- What do you want to be in the
future?
Prepare a
prayer card with 3v12-13, for a friend
Stick heart
with 'Jesus' and arrows flowing out onto the old letter
Pray for
persecuted church
Memory verse
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