We are sure this book will be helpful for children as they grow up in today's society. It will teach them to shun the evil things and choose the good. This book can be used in Sunday school, Vacation Bible School or anywhere children need positive teaching. "Even a child is known by his doings whether they be pure of whether they be right." (Proverbs 20:11)
Shaping Little Minds for the Future
By Elnora Holloway Connie LambAuthorHouse
Copyright © 2009 Elnora Holloway and Connie Lamb
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4389-7277-0Contents
Obedience Pays (Genesis 2:15-3:19)......................................1Jesus Taught from the Mountainside (Matthew 5:1-11).....................5Follow the Good Shepherd (John 10)......................................9Zacchaeus, Come Down (Luke 19:1-9)......................................13Good Fruit! Bad Fruit! (Matthew 7:18-19)................................17Children Can Work for God (Ecclesiastes 12:1)...........................21The Widow and the Unjust Judge (Luke 8:1-8).............................25Jealousy Causes Pain (Genesis 4)........................................29Tempted (Matthew 4:1-10)................................................33Just for You and Me (Matthew 27:1-5)....................................37The Miracle Worker (Mark 8:1-10)........................................41Jesus Loves Children (Matthew 18:1).....................................45A Blind Man Made Happy (Luke 18:35-43)..................................49The Red Sea Miracle (Exodus 14:21-30)...................................53The Power of God in Creation (Genesis 1)................................57Answer Sheets...........................................................61Glossary................................................................65
Chapter One
Obedience Pays (Based on Genesis 2:15 - 3:19)
In the beginning of time God created the first man whose name was Adam. Later God decided to make Adam a helper, the first woman, her name was Eve. God placed Adam and Eve in a beautiful garden which was called the Garden of Eden. They were placed there to enjoy God's beautiful creation of trees, flowers and other plants. Not only were the trees beautiful to look at, some of them produced tasty fruit.
The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was located in the middle of the garden. Adam and Eve had been given special instruction to eat from any of the trees except of the one in the middle of the garden.
Adam and Eve sampled the fruit from all the other trees. Their curiosity was aroused when an old serpent came along to deceive Eve. With his smart voice, he asked Eve if God had said do not eat from any of the trees? Even told the serpent God said enjoy the fruit from all the trees except the one in the middle of the garden, or they would "surely die". The serpent said again in his smart voice - "You will not surely die; God just knows you will be as smart as He is if you eat from that tree." Eve was really curious now!
Eve decided to try some of the fruit - it was good, so she gave some to Adam. Immediately Adam felt ashamed, naked, and guilty. He exclaimed, "Oh Eve, we have disobeyed God!"
When God appeared in the evening He said, "Adam where are you?" Adam replied, "I am hiding because I am naked." God said, "How do you know you are naked? Did you eat from the tree in the middle of the garden?" Adam said, "Eve gave the fruit to me and I ate it." Eve said, "The serpent fooled me and I ate it." Adam, Eve, and the serpent had to suffer the consequences for this great act of disobedience.
God told the serpent he would have to crawl on its belly and eat dust from now on. He told Adam he would have to work hard and grow his food. Eve would have pain during child birth. This punishment was passed down to all generations just because Adam and Eve failed to obey in the garden.
There are always consequences for every action. When you obey, you are rewarded with good things. Disobedience brings punishment, guilt and shame.
Discussion Questions
1. What does the word consequences mean?
2. Who should you obey?
3. Who/what is our serpent?
4. Which voice should you obey
Activity #1
Use yellow construction paper to make happy/sad faces. Cut out a circle three inches in diameter for each child. On one side of the circle have children draw features for a happy face. Draw features for a sad face on the other side. Attach the happy/sad face to a Popsicle stick or tongue depressor then read the following statements: Show the happy face when the statement describes obedience, show the sad face when the statement describes disobedience.
a. Always do as you are told.
b. Tell lies
c. Ride your bike in the street
d. Always tell the truth
e. Talk back to parents, teachers and other adults
f. Share with your friends
Activity #2
Play Simon Says - Instruct children to only do what Simon says. If they do something that Simon did not say, they are out of the game. Play the game long enough for the children to get the concept of obedience. Command suggestions are as follows:
Clap your hands, Walk in place, wave good-bye, Give me a smile, Stamp your foot, rub your head, Close your eyes, nod your head, turn around, sit down
Chapter Two
Jesus Taught from the Mountainside (Based on Matthew 5:1-11)
Would you like to be happy? One beautiful day Jesus sat down on the side of a huge grass covered mountain and began to teach His disciples how to be happy. A large crowd of other people wanted to hear how to be happy too so they gathered around and listened. Jesus was a great teacher and he taught many good lessons about living with one another. Even though this was a long, long time ago, we can still do the things Jesus taught to be happy.
He said we can be happy when we have a good attitude. Attitude is the way we feel or act toward something or someone. We need to always think about good things. We should always build others up and not be selfish. We should even be nice to those boys and girls that are not nice to us. When we remember to do these things we can be happy almost always.
Jesus said that we would be sad sometimes. But He also said that he would never leave us alone, so we must remember when we feel sad Jesus is right there by our side. We must also remember to do all the things Jesus taught if we want to be happy. When we do these things Jesus is happy and we can look to live with Him one day.
Discussion Questions
1. What are some things Jesus taught us to do to be happy?
2. Who can help us to learn and do what Jesus taught?
3. What does the word attitude mean?
Activity 1
Make a copy of the following statements for each child. Have the children draw a happy face beside the statement that makes Jesus happy and a sad face beside the statement that would not make Jesus happy.
1. Clean up your room when you are told
2. Pick a fight with a classmate
3. Share your toys or snacks with a friend
4. Tell a lie to cover some bad act
5. Come when mom or dad calls
6. Give someone a hug
7. Cheat while playing games
8. Make a mess and leave it for mom to clean up
Activity 2
Happy Mountain Climbing
Use brown poster paper to make a mountain shape. Divide it into four sections. Cut out four rocks for tags. Write these words on the rocks: SHARING, LOVING, HELPING, and CARING. Place one rock on each section of the mountain. Let children write sentences to demonstrate each word and place...
