Jesus Calls the Disciples- Luke 5-6- January 28 - February 11
Jesus Calls the Disciples (Luke 5-6)- January 28 – February 11
When Jesus started his ministry he called people to follow after him. They became his disciples. There were twelve who became his closest friends. This month, we’ll explore the story of Jesus calling the disciples from Luke 5 and 6.
Hear the Story (January 28 – February 4)
We encourage you to share the story of Jesus calling the disciples with your child throughout the week. Read them the story from their Children's Story Bible. You might watch this video of Jesus calling Peter (2.5 minutes- this one if from John). or this one (2.5 minutes) about Jesus calling Matthew. This video (2.5 minutes) shows Jesus calling the disciples from Luke 5. This video might be better with your older children.
Music! Do you like to sing? Then try this Twelve Disciples Song, or perhaps this rockin’ version!
Engage/Live the Story (February 4 - 11)
This week we encourage you to engage/live the story of the baptism of Jesus with your kids. We have several great opportunities to learn here. Feel free to explore things with your children in a way that works for your family.
- Do you like to color? Here is a nice coloring page to try. Or you could use this one which can be cut out so you have all twelve disciples!
- Do you think you know all the names of Jesus’ twelve disciples from the song you leaned? Well, check yourself with this Bingo game. Or use it to help you remember!
- Looking for a craft project? Then you might try this cool Twelve Disciples paper chain craft.
- If you want to share a full lesson with your kids, this is a great one to follow.
- Being a disciple means playing follow the leader with Jesus. Going where he goes and doing what he does. Play a game of follow the leader with your family with everyone taking turns leading. Talk together about the things Jesus does (loving others, helping others) that you could do as a family to follow him as disciples.
Share the Story
We invite you to share with us how you have covered this as a family. Send us pics of what you and your children have created. Let us know if there was some big discovery you had. We’d love to share what you are doing with our larger church family. E-mail these things to pastorstjohnely@southslope.net You can also post to our Facebook page if you prefer.
Baptism of Jesus- Luke 3- January 14 - 28
Baptism of Jesus- Luke 3- January 14 - 28
Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. It was an important event for Jesus. One that changed his life.
As you share the story of the baptism of Jesus as a family, think about all the baptisms you’ve seen or participated in. How were they like this baptism? How were they different?
Hear the Story (January 14 - 21)
We encourage you to share the story of the Baptism of Jesus with your child throughout the week. Read them the story from their Children's Story Bible. You might watch this video on the story of the Baptism of Jesus (1.5 minutes) with your younger children. This video (2 minutes) might be better with your older children.
Parents! Here is a link to a discussion of the baptism of Jesus from the Bible Project. A five minute deep dive. Worth looking into.
Like to sing? Here is a quick song to sing about the baptism of Jesus!
Engage/Live the Story (January 21- January 28)
This week we encourage you to engage/live the story of the baptism of Jesus with your kids. We have several great opportunities to learn here. Feel free to explore things with your children in a way that works for your family.
- Here are some coloring pages for this story. Or you could try these activity sheets!
- Create your own puzzle. Print and cut out this picture to create your own puzzle.
- Can you spot the differences between these two pictures of Jesus’ baptism? What about the objects hidden in this picture?
- Looking for a craft project? This is a really cool paper plate craft.
- Maybe take some time as a family and look at pictures and share the story of when you were baptized. How was it like the baptism of Jesus? How was it different? What funny or memorable stories were there around the baptism of you or one of your family?
Share the Story
We invite you to share with us how you have covered this as a family. Send us pics of what you and your children have created. Let us know if there was some big discovery you had. We’d love to share what you are doing with our larger church family. E-mail these things to pastorstjohnely@southslope.net You can also post to our Facebook page if you prefer.
Jesus as a Boy- Luke 2- December 31 - January 14
Jesus as a Boy- Luke 2- Dec. 31 – January 14
Jesus was raised as a devout Jew by Mary and Joseph. Each year they would travel to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival.
One year when Jesus was 12, just an adult in Jewish custom, Mary and Joseph found that Jesus was not with their travel group on the way home. Jesus was lost! In Jerusalem! This is the story of what they discovered when they “found” Jesus again.
Hear the Story (Dec. 31- January 7)
We encourage you to share the story of Jesus as a boy with your child throughout the week. Read them the story from their Children's Story Bible. You might watch this video on the story of Jesus as a child (3 minutes). This story of Jesus as a kid (4 minutes). This video is just the story of Jesus in the Temple.
Sing a Song! If you enjoy singing, you might enjoy learning this song together.
Engage/Live the Story (January 7- January 14)
This week we encourage you to engage/live the story of Jesus as a boy with your kids. We have several great opportunities to learn here. Feel free to explore things with your children in a way that works for your family.
- Do you like to color? Here is a nice coloring page to try.
- Help Mary and Joseph get to Jesus with this Maze activity!
- Create your own puzzle. Print and cut out this picture to create your own puzzle.
- Looking for a craft project? Scroll to the bottom of this page for the I Spy Jesus bottle.
- Here is both a pre-colored and color your own map to tell the story of Jesus’ journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem.
- Talk as a family about times you were lost. How did it feel to be the one who was lost? How did it feel as the one searching for someone who was lost? Have you ever had an experience like Jesus, where someone thought you were lost, but you felt just fine?
- You could hide a paper Jesus somewhere in the house and try and find him, then share the story again of his parents trying to find Jesus.
- You could also build an temple with Legos, Lincoln Logs, recyclables, or anything you have around the house. Have your child retell the story with their creation.
Share the Story
We invite you to share with us how you have covered this as a family. Send us pics of what you and your children have created. Let us know if there was some big discovery you had. We’d love to share what you are doing with our larger church family. E-mail these things to pastorstjohnely@southslope.net You can also post to our Facebook page if you prefer.
Jacob the Blessing and the Dream- Genesis 27-28- November 12 - 19
Jacob and his older twin Esau are the sons of Isaac and his wife Rebekah. As with most families, their relationships were…complicated. Isaac liked the big, strong, hairy Esau. Rebekah loved her smart, gentler Jacob. These stories tell how Isaac stole his father’s blessing and then was granted a vision by God promising to be with the younger son of Isaac.
It’s interesting that the craftly Isaac would give birth to an equally crafty son.
Hear the Story (November 12 - 19)
We encourage you to share the story of Isaac and Rebekah with your child throughout the week. Read them the story from their Children's Story Bible. You can watch one of the following videos. Here is the video of Isaac’s Blessing (1 minute). This video tells the story of Jacob’s Dream (1 minute). This video (4 minutes) tells the full story of the life of Jacob and his brother Esau.
Sing the Story!
Here is a fun version of Jacob’s Ladder.
Engage/Live the Story (November 19-26)
This week we encourage you to engage/live the story of Jacob’s blessing and dream with your kids. We have several great examples here, but feel free to explore things with your children in a way that works for your family.
- Jacob saw angels moving up and down an ladder. How do you think angels would move today? Draw a picture of how angels would get around today.
- Jacob had this vivid dream. Talk as a family about some dreams that you remember. They could be silly, scary, strange, or wonderful. After you talk, have everyone draw something from the last dream they remember.
- We might wonder how Isaac could be tricked by a piece of goat skin. Play a game together as a family with a blindfold to see who can guess what each item is without looking. You could use items like: a wooden spoon, a toy dinosaur, a bath sponge, a pinecone, or a soft ball. See who can guess the most!
- Here are some coloring sheets and activity sheets you can print for your child to use.
Share the Story
We invite you to share with us how you have covered this as a family. Send us pics of what you and your children have created. Let us know if there was some big discovery you had. We’d love to share what you are doing with our larger church family. E-mail these things to pastorstjohnely@southslope.net You can also post to our Facebook page if you prefer.
Isaac and Rebekah- Genesis 24-25- October 29 - November 12
Isaac is the beloved son of Abraham. To carry the promise God made with Abraham to have many descendants, Isaac needed to get married. This story tells how Isaac came to meet and marry his wife Rebekah. It’s a story of answered prayer, but also a story of the hospitality of a woman to a stranger (interesting that’s the answered prayer).
It’s not a big, flashy story. But Isaac is the father of Jacob, who is the father of the 12 boys who will become the twelve tribes of Israel.
Hear the Story (October 29 – November 5)
We encourage you to share the story of Isaac and Rebekah with your child throughout the week. Read them the story from their Children's Story Bible. You can watch one of the following videos. This video (1.5 minutes) tells the story in a way kids can understand. This video (4 minutes) is probably better for older children.
Engage/Live the Story (November 5 - 12)
This week we encourage you to engage/live the story of Isaac and Rebekah with your kids. We have several great examples here, but feel free to explore things with your children in a way that works for your family.
- It can be hard to talk about a story where a prayer is answered, like this one! We’ve all had times when our prayers weren’t answered. At least, not in the way we wanted. If they are old enough, use this story to talk with your child about times when God may not answer our prayer, or that God’s answer is different from what we want. Good examples to use are times when you have had to say, “no” to them or even, “not now”.
- It’s interesting that the answer to the servant’s prayer for God to show which woman should be Isaac’s wife is the one who shows hospitality to strangers. This is a value of God and certainly of Jesus. Take some time to think about a way you can be hospitable to someone close to you. Maybe you make cookies together to take to a neighbor. Maybe you
- How much water do you think it took to water ten camels? Look up camels together on the computer and see their size. Camels can drink up to 30-40 gallons at a single stop. Take out a gallon jug and fill it with water. Have your kids try and carry that jug around. Can you imagine having to do that 30-40 times for ten camels!?
- Here are some coloring sheets and activity sheets you can print for your child to use.
Share the Story
We invite you to share with us how you have covered this as a family. Send us pics of what you and your children have created. Let us know if there was some big discovery you had. We’d love to share what you are doing with our larger church family. E-mail these things to pastorstjohnely@southslope.net You can also post to our Facebook page if you prefer.
The Tower of Babel- Genesis 11- October 15-29
The story of the Tower of Babel is a fun story to tell. It explains why there are different languages and people in the world. It also shows that even after the Flood, people were still trying to outdo God and go their own way. To take credit for all that exits. Instead of sending another Flood (God promised not to!) God made it harder for them to do such things by making them speak different languages. As they went away, they also developed different cultures.
Hear the Story (October 15-22)
We encourage you to share the story of the Tower of Babel with your child throughout the week. Read them the story from their Children's Story Bible. You can watch one of the following videos. This video (1 minute) is from the Beginner’s Bible. This is another simple video (1.5 minutes) that tells the story. This video (3 minutes) goes into a little more detail on the story, it has a good summary at the end.
Engage/Live the Story (October 22-29)
This week we encourage you to engage/live the Tower of Babel story with your kids. We have several great examples here, but feel free to explore things with your children in a way that works for your family.
- Take some time to build a tower together. You could make it easy and build a tower from plastic cups you have in the house. You could make it harder and build a tower with found items in the house (cushions, chairs, etc.). You would use marshmallows (toothpicks makes it easier) or balloons! You could even build pancake towers if you are hungry! Get creative and then talk about what made building the tower easy. What made it difficult. Now imagine that you had to build it without being able to talk to one another! Maybe test your family communication and try building another tower without talking to one another!
- One way to overcome the problem of different languages is to learn another language. Decide as a family on one word you want to learn in other languages and then see how many languages you can learn that word in. For example, you could choose “Thank you!” and then learn that in French, German, Italian, Japanese, etc. It would be fun to start using that in your family conversations!
- Here are some coloring sheets and activity sheets you can print for your child to use.
Share the Story
We invite you to share with us how you have covered this as a family. Send us pics of what you and your children have created. Let us know if there was some big discovery you had. We’d love to share what you are doing with our larger church family. E-mail these things to pastorstjohnely@southslope.net You can also post to our Facebook page if you prefer.
Story of Noah and the Flood- Genesis 6-9 – October 1-15
The story of Noah and the Flood reminds us that God’s love for us is greater than God’s frustration with us when we do bad things. It also shows the even when it is difficult or causes other people to make fun of us, being obedient to God can save our lives.
The story of Noah and the Flood ultimately reminds us that God’s desire for us and all of creation is life and we see that promise every time we see a rainbow in the sky!
Hear the Story (October 1-8)
We encourage you to share the story of Noah and the Flood with your child throughout the week. Read them the story from their Children's Story Bible. You can watch one of the following videos. This video (2 minute) tells the story in a way kids can understand. This video (4 minutes) is probably better for older children.
Like to sing? You might also try these simple and fun songs about Noah- There is this rockin' song (Noah's Song) or the well known The Lord Said to Noah - Kids Praise & Worship Bible Song, you can find the lyrics here.
Engage/Live the Story (October 8 -15)
This week we encourage you to engage/live the story of Noah and the Flood with your kids. We have several great examples here, but feel free to explore things with your children in a way that works for your family.
- Create your own Puzzle: Print and cut out the already colored puzzle or kids can color their own! This can be a fun way to explore the story again.
- Noah's Ark Story Spinner: Another fun craft project and aid to telling the story of Noah and the Flood.
- God is Faithful Rainbow hanging craft: A relatively simple and beautiful craft you can hang in your child's room, on their doorknob, even use as a Christmas ornament if you wish
- Here are some coloring sheets and activity sheets you can print for your child to use.
Share the Story
We invite you to share with us how you have covered this as a family. Send us pics of what you and your children have created. Let us know if there was some big discovery you had. We’d love to share what you are doing with our larger church family. E-mail these things to pastorstjohnely@southslope.net You can also post to our Facebook page if you prefer.
Story of Adam and Eve- Genesis 2-3 – September 17 – October 1
The story of Adam and Eve tells us why our relationship with God is not what it should be. It shows us how Adam and Even went from a life lived so close to God that God would walk in the Garden in the cool evening breeze, to a life now lived apart from God. A distance that God has tried to bridge ever since.
The story of Adam and Eve shows us what happens when we think we know better than God. When we think we have the wisdom of God. It shows us the dangers of that kind of thinking, and the root cause of sin and death in our world.
Hear the Story (September 17-24)
We encourage you to share the Adam and Eve story with your child throughout the week. Read them the story from their Children's Story Bible. You can watch one of the following videos. This video (3 minute) tells the story in a way kids can understand. This video (4.5 minutes) this video is an illustrated reading of scripture and is probably better for older children. This video (4 minutes) explores the story following the theme of obeying God.
Like to sing? This is a simple song to pick up about Adam and Eve.
Engage/Live the Story (September 24-October 1)
This week we encourage you to engage/live the story of Adam and Eve with your kids. We have several great examples here, but feel free to explore things with your children in a way that works for your family.
- The story of Adam and Even is a good springboard for a conversation about rules and boundaries. As parents, we have rules and boundaries for our children because we love them and want what is best for them. So, even though they may not like it, we make them brush their teeth every night because we want them to not get cavities. We make them look both ways before crossing the street because we don’t want them to get smooshed.
- Talk with your children about things they already do that have rules and boundaries. Can they name why those rules and boundaries are important? Is it okay to break and rule or boundary because you think it’s okay? Why do some people break a rule or boundary? What happens when they do?
- If they are struggling with God punishing Adam and Eve, remind them that consequences for behavior don’t mean they aren’t loved. God does love us, but God also has set consequences for our actions. This is the same thing that happens when you punish them for breaking rules. You love them, but there are consequences for their actions.
- Adam got to name all the animals. Doesn’t that sound kind of cool? Sit down with your kids and a computer and show them pictures of various animals and have them tell you (or write down if they are old enough) what name they would have given this animal! What is the best renaming of an animal you had?
- God made Adam (whose name comes from the Hebrew word for earth or dirt) out of the dirt of the earth. Get some play doh, clay, or mud and make your own people.
- This page has some neat craft ideas. We especially like the “Hand Tree” for younger kids. This is a neat idea for making a snake out of pasta. This is a craft to make stick puppets for your kids to re-tell the story of Adam and Eve.
- When we hear the story of Adam and Eve, most of us conjure up an image of an apple as the forbidden fruit. However, the Bible only mentions the fruit of the tree of knowledge. This option encourages you to try different fruits with a favorite dip while you talk about the story of Adam and Eve. If you don’t have a favorite dip recipe, here are a couple of our family favorites. marshmallow version: https://www.saltysidedish.com/marshmallow-fruit-dip/ Caramel version: creamy-brown-sugar-apple-dip
- Here are some coloring sheets and activity sheets you can print for your child to use.
Share the Story
We invite you to share with us how you have covered this as a family. Send us pics of what you and your children have created. Let us know if there was some big discovery you had. We’d love to share what you are doing with our larger church family. E-mail these things to pastorstjohnely@southslope.net You can also post to our Facebook page if you prefer.
Seven Day Creation Story- Genesis 1-2 - September 3-17
Like most things, a good place to start our story of the Bible is at the beginning. The book of Genesis begins with the Seven Day Creation Story. This orderly account shows that God created all that exists. That God brings order out of chaos. That God finds this creation good. And that at the end, we as human beings are created in God’s image.
What does that mean? It might mean that like God we can create things, too. But this story always reminds us that no matter how many smartphones, computers, and AI we create… we can never top the beauty, breadth, and wonder of God’s creation. It reminds us that God is God and we are not.
Hear the Story (September 3-10)
We encourage you to share the 7-day creation story with your child throughout the week. Read them the story from their Children's Story Bible. You can watch one of the following videos. This video (1 minute) lists the seven days of creation very succinctly. This is another simple video (1.5 minutes)that tells the story. This video (3 minutes) goes through creation but doesn’t include humans.
Like to sing? Check out this 7 day creation story song.
This is a simpler song that might work well with younger children.
Engage/Live the Story (September 10-17)
This week we encourage you to engage/live the 7-day creation story with your kids. We have several great examples here, but feel free to explore things with your children in a way that works for your family.
- Genesis reminds us that God created all that exists. Go for a walk as a family and collect examples of what Genesis 1 says God made (a picture of the sunlight on the ground for light, a blade of grass or freshly turned earth for creation of land, etc.). Take some time to talk about your favorite things God created and then say a prayer of thanksgiving to God for those things.
- Make some creation story trail mix and eat it while listening to the creation story again.
- What you need:
- Day 1 - God created the light and dark: Yogurt covered raisins, mini Oreo cookies, Hershey hugs*
- Day 2 - God separated skies on top from the waters below: Popcorn or puffcorn clouds, marshmallows*
- Day 3 – God separated the dry land and plants: Frosted Mini Wheats, craisins, red and green M&M's*, stick pretzels
- Day 4 - God created the sun & the moon & the stars: Dried apricot “suns”, orange & yellow M&M's*, star shaped food
- Day 5 - God made the birds & the fish: Goldfish crackers, Swedish fish, anything egg shaped
- Day 6 - God made man & woman & all the animals that walk on the ground: Animal crackers, sour patch people.
- Day 7 - God rested on the 7th day: Marshmallows for 'pillows'
- God blessed the 7th day & made it holy God looked at everything he made & said, "That looks good!" Sit down with some paper and crayons, colored pencils, or other art supplies and have them draw a picture of each day of God’s creation as you tell the story again.
- Here are some coloring sheets and activity sheets you can print for your child to use.
Share the Story
We invite you to share with us how you have covered this as a family. Send us pics of what you and your children have created. Let us know if there was some big discovery you had. We’d love to share what you are doing with our larger church family. E-mail these things to pastorstjohnely@southslope.net You can also post to our Facebook page if you prefer.
