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

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September 12, 2012 -- Issue #30 - Volume 13


Ideas? Questions? Opinions? 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) Teaching Material for 3-6 year olds? 2) Searchable Database? 3) Gospel of the Older Testament 4) Praise One-Liners 5) Plain Thoughts for Boys & Girls	Get it F-R-E-E for a limited time!



1) Teaching material for 3-6 year olds? What teaching material do you have (for Sunday School) for 3 to 6 year olds. Thank You Barbara Tomlin --from SSTN: Hi Barbara, Thank you for asking. Our Bible-4-Life Curriculum is for K-5th grade, which is age-appropriate for your 5 and 6 year olds. You can look at our catalog and download samples on the following page: http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/Bible-4-life.html. Many of our download items would be age-appropriate for 3-6 year olds in general. For example, the Gospel Pictograms, Jesus Loves All Children Frame, Look & Learn Ten Commandments, Psalm 23 Keepsake Wall Hanging, Ten Commandments Video, Pilgrim & Indian Finger Puppets, and the Nativity Set. All of these can be found on our Make n' Take Downloads page at: http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/curriculum_downloads.html In addition, two other great Bible resources for younger children are the Pray & Play books (Vol. l and ll). Both are available on the home page of our affiliate bookstore at: http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/bookstore.html



2) Searchable Database? I do the children’s time as a part of the worship service. My quirky thing is to try to tie an object lesson or story to the “holiday” or special event day on the calendar. I am always looking for Bible based websites that are searchable. I find free websites as well as pay sites that have lots of children’s stories but I haven’t found a way to search them. For instance, references to ice cream or Grandparents or snow or pumpkins or toes or whatever holiday the calendars talk about. Any suggestions? Janice --from SSTN: Hi Janice, Our site has had a searchable database for over 10 years. You can use the search box in this newsletter, listed below, or from our home page: http://www.SundaySchoolNetwork.com. So try it out, search away for "snow, pumpkins, or toes!" And you can find specific newsletter issues from our archives page at: http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/archives.html



3) Gospel of the Older Testament Christianity, and specifically Jesus’ claim, "I am the way, the truth and the life (Jn. 14:6)." is often seen as being narrow minded or exclusive. The fact is, Jesus opened the way for all peoples, Jew and Gentile, to enter God’s Kingdom. Jesus and the Apostles taught from the Older Testament—they had no other Bible. Their teachings and writings in the Newer Testament are commentaries on the Older Testament. Therefore, when we read the New Testament, we must learn to read with "Jewish eyes" and make a habit of asking, "Where will I find this in the Older Testament?" Jesus' declaration that he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, is in agreement with the first commandment that says, Have no other gods. And why do you suppose God would make such an exclusive claim? Because he is the. . . Continue reading today's devotional at: http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/lesson_older-testament-gospel.html



4) Praise One-Liners Our church started its Fall programming last week. Has your church begun yours? Do you have an opening time? If so, please share what you do. At our church we gather as a group for announcements, sing songs, and then pray before releasing the children to our three separate groups (K-2, 3-4, and 5-6 grades). This week in the 3rd-4th grade group I will introduce Praise One-Liners. Before beginning our lesson, I will have the children sit in a circle and talk about the importance of beginning our prayers with praise. I will ask them to define praise (approving, bragging on, thinking or speaking favorably). And then read the following Psalms: My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long. PS 35:28, I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. PS 9:1 From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise. . . PS 8:2 The first Psalm tells us to speak or praise God for his righteousness (God is just and true, he deals fairly with all people). The second one tells us to tell of God's wonders (in our lives, homes, schools, country, creation). The third one tells us God's praises flow from the lips of children and infants! Challenge your kids to think of one thing they can praise God for, using one word or one sentence, then begin "bragging on" God. (Teacher starts the prayer, proceed around the circle, teacher ends prayer with Amen.) Your webservant, Sarah Keith <>< SundaySchoolNetwork.com



5) Plain Thoughts for Boys and Girls I came across an old book titled, Plain thoughts about great and good things for little boys and girls, written by William S. Plumer, a United States Senator and Governor (NH) in the 1800s. Even though the book title is a bit outdated, its content is amazingly current. It is charming and simply written. You probably won't want to read it to kids, but I know there are gems in it for children's ministry workers. So enjoy the link: http://www.archive.org/download/plainthoughtsabo00plum/plainthoughtsabo00plum.pdf Your webservant, Sarah Keith <>< SundaySchoolNetwork.com



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