Teaching 2 Timothy 1

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?