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Knowing God’s LoveLarge GroupLarge Group

Knowing God’s Love

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UNIT 1 MEETING 4

God’s LoveThrough the Bible

Learning to Pray

Bible Study AimsClub members will:• know how willing God is to

give us good things.• sense God wants to hear

from them.• pray for a request they have.

ScriptureLuke 18:1-7

Prayer of PreparationLord, I know You are a God who listens to prayer. Teach me to pray, even as I am in the midst of teaching Your children. Amen.

Supplies NeededBible, songs related to prayer or praising God. Option: judge’s wig, robe, gavel or special chair.

Plan AheadGather supplies.

OPENING 5-10 Minutes

Welcome! Make announcements.

SingSing songs about prayer or praising God.

reviewLet’s show we know the books of the Bible! Have club members stand where they are or come up front, by age-groups, to recite or sing the books of the Old and New Testaments. Praise each group for what they’ve learned.

PrayLord, thank You for giving us time to learn about You. Thank You that You care about us and want to hear from us. Thank You for hearing us as we pray. Help us want to spend time with You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

bIbLE EXPLOrATION 10-15 Minutes

IntroductionLet’s play a game to help us think of some things we’re thankful for. I’ll draw something God has given us. Before you start, set rules about how to answer, based on the size and abilities of your group. Should club members raise hands and wait to be pointed at or just call out answers?

Draw on a board, easel pad, or projection system. Ideas: food, Bible, toy, home, parent, cross. Let the audience guess what you are drawing. Option: Have volunteers come up to take a turn.

God is happy to give us these good things—and much more! Our story today will show us that God wants us to talk to Him about our needs and to ask Him about things that are important to us.

ScriptureYou have learned that God speaks to us through the Bible.

• Who knows how we speak to God? Call out your answer. (Prayer.)

The Bible tells us that God loves to hear us pray. Our story today, a story Jesus told his followers to teach them to keep praying, is in Luke 18.

• Is Luke in the Old or New Testament? Call out your answer. (New.)

Read Luke 18:1-7.

So, over and over the woman came to the mean judge. “Judge, listen to me!” she said, again and again.

• Did the judge care about her? (No.)

That’s right, he did not really care. But he did get tired of listening to her complain—so tiredthat he helped her, just to get her to go away.

Let’s see what might happen if we had a similar judge here at Pioneer Clubs today. Ask for an older volunteer to be the judge. Option: Have props for the judge, like a wig, robe, gavel, or special chair. The woman in the story wanted fairness for something she really cared about. To make sure the people going before our judge are pleading for something they really care about, our judge will decide who gets to have snack today and who doesn’t!

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Learning to Pray Quietly instruct the judge to refuse to allow snacks several times, but then to let each person have permission after he or she has asked repeatedly. Let the judge have fun with the part!

Ask for volunteers to come up and ask the judge if they can have snack today. Remind each of them: You must keep on asking the judge, no matter what happens. After the role play, say:

• Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt like one of the volunteersor like the woman in the Bible story, asking for somethingover and over again.

• Tell someone sitting next to you what you were asking for.

• Is God like the mean judge, who only wants us to go away and leave Him alone? (No.)

God used the mean judge as a bad example, saying that even a mean judge would give in to someone who keeps asking. God is our good example! God wants to talk to us and hear what we have to say. God wants to give us good things.

ApplicationJesus wanted this story to teach us something about praying.

• Put your hands on your head if you think God never wants us to pray to him.

• Put your hands in the air if you think God wants you to pray every once in a while.

• Stand up if you think God wants to hear from you all the time.God is very different from the mean judge. God is good and loves us! Because God loves us, God wants us to ask for what we need. God wants to help us, so we should come to God for everything.

Let’s do a cheer.

Give me a P! (P!)Give me an R! (R!)Give me an A! (A!)Give me a Y! (Y!)What does it spell? (Pray!)

• When you need something, what should you do? (Pray!)

• When you don’t get what you want, what should you do? (Pray!)

• When you’re thankful for something, what should you do? (Pray!)

• When you’re sorry or sad about something, what should you do? (Pray!)

• When you think God is great, what should you do? (Pray!)

By reading the Bible and praying, we can talk with God and understand what God wants for our lives. God always knows best and we can trust Him to answer our prayers in the very best way.

CLOSING PrAyEr

We can put today’s lesson to work right away! Say this prayer after me: Lord, thank you / for speaking to me / in the Bible. / Please teach me / to pray and talk to you. / I want to know you more. / Amen.

DISMISS TO SMALL GrOUPS

SMALL GROUP LEADERPLANBOOK

Knowing God’s Love

Hiker

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Meeting 3The Bible Tells About Jesus

UNIT 1God’s Love Through the Bible

Bible Study AimsClub members will:• know how willing God is

to give us good things.• sense God wants to hear

from them.• pray for a request they

have.

ScripureLuke 18:1-7

Prayer of PreparationLord, I know You are a God who listens to prayer. Teach me to pray, even as I am in the midst of teaching Your children. Amen.

Supplies NeededBibles, pencils, markers; for each member: Memory Verse Sticker.

Plan AheadGather supplies.

Meeting 4I Learn to Pray

BIBLE EXPLORATION 10-15 Minutes • How does God talk to us? (The Bible.)• How do we talk to God?• What different ways do people pray? Show

us. (Silently or out loud, standing up, sitting, kneeling, like talking to a friend, etc.)God loves to hear you pray. Help club mem-

bers find Luke 18. Ask which testament it’s in. Here is how Jesus ended his story about the woman and the judge. Read verses 6-7.• The verse asks, “Will God answer us when we

cry out to him day and night?” What’s the answer? (Yes!)

• The verse asks, “Will God put us off?” What’s the answer? (No!)

• What do you think Jesus wanted to teach us about praying? (God wants to listen and an-swer us; keep praying; etc.)

• Show me with your face how you think the woman felt when the judge kept saying no.

• Show me with your face how you think she felt when the judge gave her what she asked for. Let’s do Bible award requirement 4, “I Learn

to Pray,” part 1, “Decode the Message,” in your Kids Handbook on page xx. Help club members follow the instructions.

Application• Do we always get everything we pray for?

Why not? (May ask for things that aren’t good for us, don’t know what is best.)God always knows the right thing to do for

us, even if we don’t. He wants us to trust Him. • What else can we pray about besides asking

for things? (Our day, good things He’s done for us, important things inside us, etc.)God doesn’t get tired of our prayers. He

won’t laugh at us. He wants us to keep praying, even if we say the same thing again and again. God wants to hear from us!

Explain part 2, “Spend Time with God,” of requirement 4. Hand out markers, and let club members draw. Say that in a few minutes they’ll have time to pray for this thing.

• Why do you suppose it’s good to include pray-ing in our quiet times with God? (It helps you get to know Him better; it gives you opportu-nities to see how He answers your prayers; it’s obeying Jesus’ teaching to keep on praying.)

BIBLE MEMORY 5-7 MinutesReview the books of the New Testament. Play

a game where you sing the song, stop in the middle of a line, and point to a club member to finish it.

Hand out Memory Verse Stickers.

CHART PROGRESSCheck off God’s Love Through the Bible Bible

award requirement 4 and Bible memory on your Award Record Sheet.

PRAYER 3-5 MinutesLet volunteers tell the requests they drew

for the Bible award requirement. Take other requests. Jot them down. Allow time for silent prayer. Then read the prayer requests one at a time, ask for someone to pray, and let him or her pray. If needed, suggest a simple prayer, such as “Dear Jesus, please help _______ with _________.” Or pray yourself.

ACTIVITY

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4. Learning to Pray

Read or listen to Acts 18:1-7. Find the important lesson by crossing out all of these letters: Q X Z.

Part 1 – Decode the Message

Part 2 – Spend Time with God

Books of the New Testament

How are you doing at having a regular time to read or listen to the Bible? Make praying a part of that special time. Draw 1 thing you need to ask God for. Pray about it in each of your regular times with God.

REVIEW:

Q N X X E Z Q V E Z X R Q

X S T Z Z O X Q P

P Q X R A Y X Z I Z N Q Z Q G

Handbook

Knowing God’s LoveKnowing God’s Love

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4. Learning to Pray

Read Luke 18:1-7. Make up a commercial based on Jesus’ story to get people to pray. Be sure to tell them why it’s important.

Part 1 – Create a Commercial

Part 2 – Spend Time with God

Books of the Old Testament

REVIEW:

How are you doing at having a regular time to read the Bible? Make praying a part of that special time. On an index card, write or draw one thing you need to ask God for. Put the index card in your Bible. Use it to pray in each of your regular times with God.

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4. Learning to Pray

Read Luke 18:1-7. Commercials on TV often present a problem and then tell a solution. Make up a commercial based on this problem:

“Sometimes it’s hard to pray!” Tell when it might be hard to pray and what could help.

Part 1 – Create a Commercial

Part 2 – Spend Time with God

Books of the Bible

REVIEW:

How are you doing at having a regular time to read the Bible? Make praying a part of that special time.

On an index card, make a prayer chart like the one shown. Write one thing you need to ask God for. Pray about it in each of your regular times with God. See what God says to you about it. Write His answer. (Sometimes His answer could be “no” or “wait awhile.”)

When you get an answer, write a new prayer request, and do the same thing.

I will pray for: Answer

1.

2.

3.

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Artist Skill AwardTo earn this award, complete appropriate activities for each requirement:

o 1. God’s Art

o 2. 2D Art

o 3. 3D Art

1. GOD’S ARTRead Romans 1:20. Discuss with club members what they can know about God through His creation. Have club members think of what people can learn about them by what they make.

2. 2D ART (CHOOSE 2)

Silly Circles SUPPLIES TO SHARE: • markers • different-sized round lids and cups

SUPPLIES FOR EACH CLUB MEMBER: • paper • pencil • ruler

Club members use ruler and pencil to make some lines across paper. Lines should slant different ways. They trace around different-sized lids and cups onto the paper, on and between lines. They color in every other shape in drawing or just color wherever they want.

Neon Drawings SUPPLIES FOR EACH CLUB MEMBER: • dark or black paper • white pencil • white and neon-colored chalk

Club members use white pencil to outline a picture on dark paper. They should draw lightly and keep design simple and bold. They carefully go over all pencil outlines with thick chalk lines in a neon color. They carefully rub along all lines with a finger to give the chalk a smooth look. Have them try not to smudge lines wider, though. To make design “light up,” club members draw a thin white chalk line down middle of each smudged line.

Sponge Art SUPPLIES TO SHARE: • sponges • paints • water

SUPPLIES FOR EACH CLUB MEMBER: • heavy drawing paper • pencil • felt tip pen or small paintbrush

Club members use pencil to lightly draw outline of their picture on drawing paper. They paint with sponges dipped in paint, using wide side of sponge to cover large areas and thin side for smaller details. They should use a different sponge for each color or wash paint out of sponge and wring dry before using another color. They should let paint dry thoroughly before using a second color over a previous paint color.

When painting dries, club members may use felt tip pens or small brushes to add details.

Abstract Salt Art SUPPLIES TO SHARE• masking tape • sponge • water • watercolors, paintbrushes • salt

SUPPLIES FOR EACH CLUB MEMBER: • watercolor paper

Tell club members that abstract art does not have to represent any actual object. It may have little or no resemblance to a real thing, so they should let their imaginations go.

Tape pieces of watercolor paper to a smooth surface like a table. Club members dampen their paper with wet sponge. Using watercolors, they paint over wet surface, one color at a time. Before paint dries, they sprinkle salt on paper. They can make a variety of patterns with salt.

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Chalk Lines SUPPLIES TO SHARE: • pine board(s) • nail(s) • string • chalk in many colors • hairspray • hammer

SUPPLIES FOR EACH CLUB MEMBER: • construction paper

Tie piece of string to nail hammered partway into large board. Club members coat string with chalk dust by rubbing chalk along it. They put paper on the wood and pull string tight with one hand while holding the end on edge of paper. They snap string onto paper with other hand. They repeat, repositioning paper and using different chalk colors as desired, until they’ve made a pattern they like. When designs are done, coat with hairspray to keep them from smudging.

Enlarged Picture SUPPLIES FOR EACH CLUB MEMBER: • photo or picture that can be written on • drawing paper • soft pencil • eraser • ruler

Club members use ruler and pencil to draw grid of at least four boxes on photo or picture. On blank paper, they draw same grid, but double the size. Then they draw each section of original picture into corresponding section on paper, using grid lines as guidelines. They fill in details and shading.

3. 3D Art (CHOOSE 1)

Lots of Shapes SUPPLIES TO SHARE: • construction paper • foam art shapes • glue sticks • scissors • optional: glitter glue, sequins

SUPPLIES FOR EACH CLUB MEMBER: • cardboard

Club members cut strips of construction paper in different widths and lengths--circles, squares, triangles, “springs.” They glue paper and foam shapes to piece of cardboard in any design they want. Option: Add glitter or sequins.

Fancy Sand Castle SUPPLIES TO SHARE: • plastic knives • sand • powdered tempera paint • glitter • large bowls or bins

SUPPLIES FOR EACH CLUB MEMBER: • nontoxic self-hardening clay

In large bowls or bins, mix one color of paint or glitter into each batch of sand. Club members model castles out of clay. They sprinkle or pat sand onto castles to color them. Option: Model whatever objects club members want.

Useful Stuff Holder SUPPLIES TO SHARE: • scissors • table knives • rolling pins • rulers • optional: pencils, marker caps, other small items

SUPPLIES FOR EACH CLUB MEMBER: • nontoxic self-hardening clay • construction paper

Club members cut out a construction paper rectangle, 3 by 15 inches (7.5 by 38 cm). They roll out clay and press rectangle onto it. They cut around rectangle and press two short ends of clay rectangle together to make a tube. They set clay tube on more rolled-out clay and cut around it as shown. They press edges of new piece of clay onto end of tube. Options: Press clay shapes onto holder to decorate it. Or make designs by drawing grooves in the clay with a pencil or by pressing in small items like pen caps.

Junk Art SUPPLIES TO SHARE: • glue • wire • paint, paintbrushes • optional: blocks of wood, nails, hammers, duct tape

SUPPLIES FOR EACH CLUB MEMBER: • recyclables

Club members glue and wire recyclables together into animals, people, or abstract shapes. They unify and decorate their piece using paint. They may mount it on block of wood with nails so it stands up properly. Option: Attach recyclables to each other with duct tape, and cover whole sculpture with duct tape.