The Sunday School Teacher's Network Newsletter - Great ideas for children's ministry!



Issue #25 - Volume 13


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July 31, 2012 Today's articles are listed, below. When replying, highlight the text that is pertinent to your response, then hit reply. Title your message to reflect the content. 1) Bible Olympics 2) Muslims, Ramadan & Praying God's Word 3) Are You Saltshaker? 4) The Buzzard, the Bat, and the Bumble Bee 5) Surviving a Mt. Lion's Attack The Red Button indicates a teacher who needs your help.



1) Bible Olympics I just attended a Church School program with an Olympic theme. They used the colors of the five Olympic circles as follows: BLACK - Everyone has sinned (For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God Romans 3:23) RED - Jesus died to forgive our sin. (But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 BLUE - Baptism shows our new life in Christ (We were therefore buried with him through baptism...in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead...we too may live a new life. Romans 6:4) GREEN - Christians grow through bible study, prayer, witnessing and fellowship. (But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18) GOLD - God gives Christians a heavenly home on streets of gold. (I am going there to prepare a place for you....the city of pure gold. John 14:2 & Revelations 21:18) Wendi Prinse - Sunday School Superintendent - Cookes Church, Chilliwack, BC Canada --from SSTN: find this and other Olympic-themed ideas in the SSTN Archives at: http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/archives.html



2) Muslims, Ramadan & Praying God's Word Ramadan, a 30-day period of fasting and prayer for Muslims is currently under way; it is the emphasis of Open Doors, a ministry effort asking Christians to pray for persecuted Christians living in Muslim-dominated countries. Spokesperson Michelle Miller says "Muslims will be praying and fasting from sunup to sunset. What that means for Christians is if you're living in these places, it is very difficult because if they choose to partake in water or food during this time, it could be a time of suffering for them -- even greater than what they normally have." Open Doors is calling for international prayer regarding the persecution. "What we're doing is ... praying for Christians to be strengthened during this time, praying in particular through the Beatitudes," says Miller. "So we're using God's Word to pray for them so that they will be strong -- but we're also praying that they will also be a light to those around them because ... during this time Muslims are seeking God's face." Nine of the top 10 countries on Open Doors' 2012 World Watch List of the worst persecutors of Christians have Islamic governments. Open Doors also has a 30-day prayer calendar on their website providing tips on how to pray for Christians during Ramadan.




3) Are You Saltshaker? Scripture: Matthew 5:13(a) – “Ye are the salt of the earth…” Props: saltshakers and different types of salt – if you don’t have several kinds, be prepared to tell them about different types and their uses. For example; a table saltshaker – seasons our food; rock salt – used to melt snow and ice (and my family used it to melt ice in our crank ice cream freezer) – pretzel salt – a chunkier salt than used for the saltshaker; garlic salt – for cooking; Epsom salts – for soaking swollen joints; and huge blocks of salt - used for cattle and wildlife. Snack: Pretzels with big chunky salt on them. What do I have here to show you today? These are different kinds of salt. Can you tell me how you use salt? (Let the children interact, and then expound explaining how different types of salt are used. In the Bible, Jesus said, "Ye are the salt of the earth” in Matthew 5:13 Do you think Jesus thinks of us as Saltshakers? Maybe HE does! When Jesus spoke these words in the Bible everyone knew a lot about salt. They used salt in many different ways. In Bible time, salt was used as a covenant of friendship. A friend greeted with a piece of bread! If it were you back in Bible times, they would share read and salt with you as an expression of peace and of welcome. In Bible times, salt was used as a . . . to get the rest of this lesson click on "Are You a Saltshaker" in our "Anytime Bible Talks & Sermons" page at: http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/lessons-Bible.html



4) The Buzzard, the Bat, and the Bumble Bee THE BUZZARD If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top. THE BAT The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash. THE BUMBLEBEE A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out Through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself. In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up! That's the answer, the escape route and the solution to any problem...Just look up! Sorrow looks back. Worry looks around. But faith looks up! Give me your heart and let your eyes keep to my ways. (Proverbs 23:26) ~ Anonymous



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5) Surviving a Mt. Lion's Attack This video is a bit long, but well-worth your time! An excellent presentation for your teen youth group: http://www.lionkingministries.com/video.html

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