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Get Their Attention! (5-10 min) Materials: Option 1 - A chair for each child, timer (such as a stopwatch on a phone), Option 2- Whiteboard and Marker

Option 1: Sit Here Arrange the chairs in a circle. You should have one for each child plus one. Invite the kids to sit on a chair. Ask them to make sure their Sonpasses or check-in stickers are visible. This game is a round robin style get-to-know-you game. How to play:

• Guide the child who’s sitting to the left of the empty space (provide help as necessary) to invite another child to sit beside him by saying (for example), “Eleanor, will you sit by me?”

• To which “Eleanor” replies, “Thank you, Javier,” and moves to the empty space.

o Important Note: Direct the kids who’ve changed seats to fold their hands, cross their arms, touch their knees, or do another motion to signal that they’ve had a turn.

• The child who’s now sitting to the left of the empty space (again, provide help as necessary) then invites another child to sit beside him.

• The game continues until each child moves once. • For a challenge, time the kids for additional rounds to see if they can

beat their best record. Way to go! You did a great job welcoming new friends to sit beside you. In our Bible story today, we’ll hear about someone who also did a good job welcoming a new friend. Option 2: New Kid Chat To get a good discussion going:

1. Ask the kids to raise their hand if they started a new school this year. Write the number of kids who raise their hand on the white board.

2. Ask the kids who are not at a new school to raise their fingers to show how many new kids are in their class this year (kids in their class that were not at the school last year). Add that number to the number on the board and write the new total.

3. Ask the kids who are new to a school this year to share what the most difficult things have been.

4. Ask the children who have new kids in their class this year what the most difficult things have been with the new kids.

Kids like to feel accepted. To feel accepted in a classroom would mean that the teacher and other kids take you in and make you feel like you belong there. They do not reject you. They say and do things to show that they care. Today, we are going to talking about a guy named Paul. He knew what it was like to feel rejected.

Younger Elementary

Small Group

September 16/17

Bottom Line

Friends accept one another.

Bible Lesson Accept One Another Romans 15:7; Acts 9:1-25, 26:12-18

Materials ! Option 1 - Chair

for each child, plus one & Timer (such as phone stopwatch)

! Option 2 – Whiteboard & marker

! Bibles ! Coloring page (1

per child)

! Markers or colored pencils

! Galatians 5:14 pin

! Whiteboard and marker

! Beanbag ! September Bible

reading bookmarks

! Baggie prepared with 2 separated colors of paint (yellow and red)

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Bible Lesson (10-15 min) Materials: Bibles, coloring page (1 per child), markers or colored pencils

Pass out Bibles and assist the children in finding Romans 15:7. Explain that Paul wrote the words found in Romans 15:7. We’ll be talking about Paul a lot today.

Read Romans 15:7 as the children follow along. Then, ask the following questions:

1. What 3-word commandment do we see right at the beginning of the verse? (Accept one another.)

2. Whose example are we supposed to follow? (We are supposed to follow Jesus’ example “…just as Christ accepted you...”)

3. What does it mean to accept someone? (Encourage discussion.) 4. How has Jesus accepted you? (Encourage discussion.) 5. When we accept others, who gets the praise? (God!)

Paul definitely knew what it was like to be accepted by Jesus? Paul had lived his life, for many years, trying to hurt Christians. At that time, he went by the name Saul. Saul had a reputation for doing whatever he could to stop Christians from spreading the good news of Jesus – he even had Christians killed. Jesus accepted Saul and changed his life, but most Christians were still afraid of him. They weren’t ready to accept Saul.

Pass a coloring page to each child and provide markers or colored pencils. As I read, you may color the picture or follow along with the words I am reading on the other side. Be sure to listen carefully to learn more about a man named Ananias who chose to obey God and accept Paul.

Read the summary provided on the back of the coloring page. After reading, ask the following questions:

1. What did God tell Ananias to do? (Go to a certain house to pray for Saul)

2. Why was Ananias afraid of Saul? (Saul had tried to stop Jesus’ followers and put them in jail.)

3. God told Ananias that He had big plans for Saul. Saul would share the good news about Jesus with many people. Did Ananias obey God and go to pray for Saul? (Yes)

4. What should we do when are scared to accept people or be friendly to people who have been mean? (Encourage discussion.)

It took a while for other Christians to accept Paul. One of the friends God gave Saul was Barnabas. You’ll hear more (or heard) about him in the Way Station. Because Jesus accepted Saul, Barnabas accepted Saul too, even when his other friends rejected Saul. It takes more than just being a nice

Younger Elementary

September

16/17 Bottom Line

Friends accept one another. Bible Lesson Accept One Another Romans 15:7; Acts 9:1-25, 26:12-18

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person to be accepting of everyone, especially when it comes to someone who hasn’t been nice in the past or someone you don’t really get along with. To do that, we need to rely on the love of Jesus to help us. When we remember how Jesus has accepted us, the Holy Spirit can help us to reach out to and accept those who are different from us. So remember this: [Bottom Line] Friends accept one another.

Memory Verse Practice (5-10 min) Materials: Whiteboard and marker, beanbag, September Bible reading bookmarks, Galatians 5:14 pins

Ask if anyone came prepared the recite the verse. Allow time for kids to do so, and award a Galatians 5:14 to any child who recites the verse accurately.

Write the verse on the whiteboard. Go over the verse together.

Direct the group to stand in a circle. You will toss the beanbag across the circle to another player while saying the first word of the verse. The child who catches the beanbag should say the second word as he or she tosses the beanbag to someone else. Continue until you reach the reference. Then, erase two or three words and play again. Play a few rounds.

Distribute September Bible reading bookmarks.

Application Activity (10 min) Materials: Baggie prepared with 2 separated colors of paint inside – red/yellow

Color of Friendship

I have two colors of paint in my bag: red and yellow. Right now, the paints are on opposite sides of the bag. They haven’t accepted each other, have they? What do you think will happen if the red and yellow come together and accept each other as friends? Pause for answer. Squeeze the bag to mix the two colors. Wow! When the red and yellow came together and accepted each other they made something new: orange!

When we accept others who are different from us, good things happen. The best thing that happens is that people see God’s love in us.

Lead kids in prayer, thanking God that when we accept others, people can see God’s love in us. Ask God to help both you and the kids love and accept others this week. ©2017 The reThink Group, Inc. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com Adapted by Christ Fellowship September 2017

Elementary Small Group

January 17/18

A Sinner is

Saved Need To Know My Words Can Help or Hurt! Bible Lesson

Zacchaeus is Saved Luke 19:1-10

Younger Elementary

September

16/17 Memory Verse

For the entire law is fulfilled in

keeping this one command:

“Love your neighbor as

yourself.”

Galatians 5:14