A spiritual program for a semester consisting of 10 devotionals based on biblical stories about specific individuals.
1st Semester - 10 afternoons - 1 weekend - 1 field trip
Title and Topic: Baker
Provisional Main Message:
Jesus—the Bread of Life
Activity:
Baking 3 King’s Cakes
Title and Theme: Sports Are Everything! Top Athletes
Main Message:
- God sees your heart (regardless of your performance)
- It doesn’t matter how good you are—you are valuable / loved
- The last will be first, Luke 22:24
- Put aside what is behind you (Phil. 3)
Activity:
Gym, Afternoon: 2:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Title and Theme: Old but Still Going Strong—Grandma
Main Message:
Sarah: Nothing is impossible for God
Hannah: God takes our prayers seriously
The oldest person and his life: Enoch, Genesis 5:22 (rather difficult)
God never changes! (Hebrews 13:8)
Activity:
- Little Theater
- Visit to a nursing home?
- Obstacle course: poor vision/hearing/mobility
- Invite someone to share a story from their life
Title and Theme: Pastor
Main Message:
Bible Topic: The Bible is reliable and true; it is a love letter from God to us, containing role models, stories from which to learn, and life stories (e.g., four about Jesus); Key Message: The Bible is true
It’s not just pastors—we, too, can have a relationship with God.
Activity:
- Bible quiz
- Smuggling Game
Title and Theme: A Stranger!
Prov. Main Message:
- How the Bible Treats Strangers (Old Testament: Genesis)
- Dealing with Strangers Today
- Ruth
- Joseph (at Pharaoh’s court)
- We are all loved by God! → Be kind
Activity:
- Invite someone (Key question: What is it like to leave your home and live in a completely new place?)
- Leaders speak a different language
- Invite children from the neighborhood who are new to the area for an afternoon snack—prepared together with the Sunday School children
Title and Theme: Vacation Pass Gold Diggers
Provisional main message:
The best thing we can have is God. (Pearl, Acker, Matt. 13:44)
Activity:
Crossing a rope bridge to gold-mining country to pan for gold
Title and Theme: He’s a Successful Businessman
Prov. Main Message:
- The Story of the Eye of the Needle
- Wealth and Jesus
- The Woman Who Seeks and Finds Her Coin (New Testament)
- Money doesn’t make you happy; God makes you happy
- The High Priest and the Widow Who Give Money at the Temple (Mark 12:40)
Activity:
- Trading with items/money
- “Doing business,” earning money
- Casino-style, earning money, buying/earning snacks
Title and Topic: A Poor Man
Prov. Main Message:
- The Blind Man from Jericho (Mark 10:46)
- Bartholomew
- Poor Yet Rich (Jesus gives us riches. How? Through what?)
Activity:
- Bringing joy (to each other? To whom?)
- Begging / Collecting (Experiencing what it’s like) Example game: Leaders are rich people; children must beg to buy food
PFILA
Title and Theme: When There’s a Fire Firefighter
Main message:
- When there’s a fire, Jesus/God is there for you—and even otherwise (David when he fled from Saul)
- Jesus saved our lives (just as a firefighter saves lives
- Jesus is never too late (firefighters sometimes are)
Activity:
- Visit to the fire station
- Fire drill (forest)
- Fire game (forest)
- Info: What to Do in Case of Fire
- Putting out a fire
Title and Topic: Where is my ...? e.g., money? Thief
Main Message:
- Achan (Joshua 7): God keeps His word (!) (Promises like threats)
- The criminal on the cross next to Jesus (Luke 23:39)
- Main Point: Forgiveness is always possible (even shortly before death)
- You shall not steal (Exodus 22)
- God loves all people equally, even thieves! (That doesn’t mean you should steal)
Activity:
- Closing with the 3rd graders
- Chase, track down the robbers, hand them over to the police
- Play the role of robbers (break into the “old house/barn”)
Discuss with the children (to prevent misunderstandings) - Chase
- Sneak-and-seek games
References
- Contents: Ameisli Romanshorn, 2008
