The teacher's apple
Children's Activity
Object:
Teachers or Parents: Teachers are important to children and
generally esteemed. Jesus is our great teacher and the lesson he
taught was the one he lived: He was God's only Son given to all
who believe so that they might have eternal life!
* Graduation time is coming and many will celebrate the passage from one set of teachers to another: from pre-school to kindergarten; kindergarten to first grade; first grade to second, and so forth. You may have children who are not in school who wonder what this "school" thing is all about.
* You may even have high school or college people who are graduating in your congregation this morning. Ask one of them to give the children's sermon or come to Sunday school and talk about what school was like and how school and learning from a teacher is much like church and learning from the great teacher Jesus.
* You may even have recognition of graduates this Sunday in worship. Tie in the reality that all of life demands continuing learning. The same is true of our spiritual life. If your Sunday school program does not meet in the summer, continue to stress the need for continual learning through worship attendance, Bible reading, prayer, and talking with parents, friends, and fellow members of the congregation.
* Recognize and celebrate teachers!
* Have the children memorize John 3:16. (Put each of the words of the text on a single piece of paper and have the children decide the order as best they remember it. Post the result on the wall and then compare/correct it according to the text.)
* Discuss impressions of what heaven might be like.
Sunday school assembly opening:
* Sing Trinitarian hymns celebrating Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
* A number of hymns written on John 3:16 are available and appropriate for Sunday school opening. Several are titled "For God so Loved the World."
* Have a prayer with the children that begins, "Dearest teacher Jesus...."
* Bring three small candles together. Though three, they produce but one flame -- like the Trinity.
* A clover leaf helps explain the Trinity.
* Graduation time is coming and many will celebrate the passage from one set of teachers to another: from pre-school to kindergarten; kindergarten to first grade; first grade to second, and so forth. You may have children who are not in school who wonder what this "school" thing is all about.
* You may even have high school or college people who are graduating in your congregation this morning. Ask one of them to give the children's sermon or come to Sunday school and talk about what school was like and how school and learning from a teacher is much like church and learning from the great teacher Jesus.
* You may even have recognition of graduates this Sunday in worship. Tie in the reality that all of life demands continuing learning. The same is true of our spiritual life. If your Sunday school program does not meet in the summer, continue to stress the need for continual learning through worship attendance, Bible reading, prayer, and talking with parents, friends, and fellow members of the congregation.
* Recognize and celebrate teachers!
* Have the children memorize John 3:16. (Put each of the words of the text on a single piece of paper and have the children decide the order as best they remember it. Post the result on the wall and then compare/correct it according to the text.)
* Discuss impressions of what heaven might be like.
Sunday school assembly opening:
* Sing Trinitarian hymns celebrating Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
* A number of hymns written on John 3:16 are available and appropriate for Sunday school opening. Several are titled "For God so Loved the World."
* Have a prayer with the children that begins, "Dearest teacher Jesus...."
* Bring three small candles together. Though three, they produce but one flame -- like the Trinity.
* A clover leaf helps explain the Trinity.
