Family Lesson 3 of 4 - God Made Families Part 1...Family Lesson 3 of 4 – God Made Family Part 1...

Timothy Club (P1-3) Year 3

Copyright ©2016 by GKidz, FCBC Page 1

Family Small Group Leader’s Guide

Date: 22/23 October 2016 Family Lesson 3 of 4 – God Made Family Part 1 Series Overview Families are God’s idea – He created them and planned for them to bear His image. Children need to know that families are uniquely created by God, and that includes their own family! This lesson series will take them through a four-week overview of the roles that fathers, mothers, children and extended family play in a family. They will also understand that they are God’s unique creation, made male or female in His image. Series Memory Verse – Matthew 19:4-5 (NIRV) Jesus replied, “Haven’t you read that in the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’? He said, ‘That’s why a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. The two will become one.’ Date Lesson Lesson Focus Family Devotion Focus 24/25 Sep Lesson 1 God Made Me Male or

Female Talk with your child about the man or woman they want to be when they grow up, using the worksheet. Pray over their dream that God will shape them into a godly man or woman

1/2 Oct Lesson 2 God Made Marriage Option 1 – tell your child the story of how you and your spouse met. Ask your child to say a prayer for your marriage. Option 2 – Pray for the marriages in your extended family

8/9 Oct Children’s Day Service 15/16 Oct Children’s Day Harvest (GKidz GO) - 22/23 Oct Lesson 3 God Made Family Part 1 –

Parents and Children Read the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) together. Talk about the unconditional love that parents show to their children.

29/30 Oct Lesson 4 God Made Family Part 2 – Siblings and Extended Family

TBD



Lesson Overview • The children will learn that family is created by God and reflects who He is • The children will learn about the roles that parents and children are to play in the

family Bible Passage: Psalm 27:10, Luke 15:11-32 Leader’s Guidelines for the Lesson Series Questions – Talking about these topics may lead to questions from the children, which is natural and part of them expressing curiousity in the subject matter.

• If the question is genuine and beneficial for the whole group to learn from, answer the question during small group time

• If the question is genuine but specific to the child’s needs, or if you want to take further time to find out more, either get your co-leader to speak to the child one-to-one, or make time to speak to them after the lesson is over

• If the question is inappropriate, see paragraph below. Inappropriate Comments – If a child makes an inappropriate comment, e.g., calling out the names of private parts, you may want to:

• Ignore the comment, especially if it is attention seeking, or • Tell the child that some people may feel uncomfortable or upset when they use such

words, and to instead show kindness and self-control • Your co-leader may want to speak to the child separately, away from the group

Ministry Time – Do be sensitive to issues in the children’s lives that God may surface through this lesson series, as we cover topics on gender, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, and other family members. Pray each week that God will alert you to the specific children whom He wants you to minister to. Follow up on these issues in the weeks that follow as well, and highlight them to the TL/pastor. Leader’s Guidelines for This Weekend’s Lesson This week we are teaching what was God’s design for parents and children. There may be children in your small group who come from imperfect families, either because of death, divorce or separation, or where their fathers or mothers have not lived up to the ideal in God’s word. For families affected by either of the parents passing away, by divorce, or families where the father and/or mother fall short of God’s standard and ideal for parents, reassure the child of the Heavenly Father’s unconditional, unchanging love for them.



PLATFORM TEACHING (15 mins) Leaders required: Teacher 1 (A) and Teacher 2 (B) platform teacher

A: Wow B, I had such a great time the past two weekends at church! How about you? B: Yup, me too! Last weekend, I had so much fun at the indoor playground, there were

different activities to do and I had fun playing with my friends! [animated actions] A: Yes, I really enjoyed the indoor playground too! And that’s not all, the previous

weekend we had our Children’s Day service, and there were children everywhere – on stage singing, doing announcements, serving in the hospitality and security teams, praying for people… It felt like one big church family!

B: Hey A, I can tell that children are really important to God and to our church. Do you

know that children also have a really important role to play in a family? Over this and next week, we are going to continue our lesson series on Family and learn about the different people who make up a family - parents, children and other family members!

A: That’s right! Do you know that God created families? Yes? Ah, but do you know why

He created families? B: Because children need a lot of people to take care of them? Someone’s gotta bathe

them, change them, feed them, put them to sleep… A: Yes, there’s a lot that goes into taking care of children, but sounds like you just need

a baby sitter… That’s not the only reason why we need fathers and mothers… B: Er, is it because some children have a lot of energy, so they need one dad to hold

their right hand, and one mom to hold their left hand, so they won’t run around and hurt themselves? [pretend to try and get away, but hands held back]

A: Sounds like children need a bodyguard to protect them… That’s not the reason why

we need fathers and mothers… B: Hmm, I don't know… Can you tell me why we need fathers and mothers? A: Well, I think one big reason is that God planned that children can experience

unconditional love through their daddies and mommies. Have you ever heard this phrase “unconditional love” before?

B: Unconditional love! [do one big action – do a star jump]

Unconditional love! [do another big action –make a heart shape over your head] Unconditional lurrrrve!!! [do another big action – hug yourself tightly]



[pause and think] Er, A, what is unconditional love?

A: [slide] Unconditional love means love that does not have any conditions. It means the parents will always love their child, no matter whether they did right and became the model student, or whether they did wrong. They love them always simply because they are the parent’s child.

B: Oh oh oh! I know an example of unconditional love! [do one of the three actions

everytime you say unconditional love] When I was young, I did something really bad. [B share very briefly something wrong that you did as a child, that your parents found out about] Even though I did something really bad, and it made my parents very angry, and I got a big scolding and punishment, it never changed their love for me. They continued to take care of me, provide for me, and give me second, third and many many chances to change.

A: Yup that’s a great example. God planned that in a family, a child would be able to

grow up safe and secure, because of their parents’ unconditional love. [do one of the three actions everytime you say unconditional love]

Are there times that you have experienced your parents’ unconditional love for you? Or times when you felt that you didn’t have that unconditional love from your parents? I’m going to give you a few minutes, and I want you to write or draw this out.

[Leaders to help give out pieces of paper for the children to write/draw. Children to hold on to these pieces of paper] B: A, I have a question… How about families where there aren’t both fathers and

mothers? I know of some families where there’s only one mother or one father, or where the child is adopted. Does it mean that they are less loved or the love for them is not unconditional?

A: No, it doesn’t. Sometimes fathers and mothers make mistakes or bad decisions that

causes the family to be missing one father or one mother. Though this isn’t how God planned families to be like, it doesn’t mean that these families are any less loved, or that the children are any less loved by God.

[slide] There is an amazing verse in the Bible found in Psalm 27:10 “Even if my

father and mother abandon me, the LORD will take care of me.”

Even if our families aren’t perfect, or our father and mother have disappointed us, God reassures us that He will take care of us, He will never leave us or give up on us.

B: So we can always count on God, our Father in Heaven, for unconditional love, even if

our real parents let us down?



A: Yup, isn’t that great news? Not only that, He often provides other people in our life to provide that unconditional love, if our own parents don't. People like grandparents or aunts and uncles, or even our GKidz leaders or our parents’ cell leaders.

B, we’ve talked a lot about what parents are supposed to do. What do you think is the role that children are supposed to play in families?

B: Bring joy to everyone by being cute? [strike an “act cute” pose] A: Haha. Besides that, [slide] children are called to honour their parents. To honour our

parents means to treat them with respect because they are our parents. Just like God wants parents to love their children unconditionally, God wants children to honour their parents unconditionally too. Even if they make mistakes, God wants us to love and honour them still.

We are going to break into our small groups to learn more about what God had in

mind when He created fathers, mothers and children. But first, let me say a prayer for everyone here.

“Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for creating families. Thank You for our

father and mother, or the people You have provided to love us unconditionally, just like You do. Help us to honour them. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen!”

CONNECT / ICEBREAKER – 1-2-3-4 (5 mins)

• Sit in a circle • Leader to say the number as the instructions are given

• (1) Everyone to put out their left hand, palm facing up • (2) Everyone to point their right hand index finger up • (3) Everyone places their right hand index finger on the left hand of the person

seated on their right • When the leader shouts “4”, everyone to try to grab their friend’s index finger using

their left hand • Play a few rounds

BIBLE PASSAGE (15 mins)

Based on Luke 15:11-32

Leader to say: Does anyone remember from the teaching on stage what God wants fathers and mothers to show to their children? It is two words, the first starts with U and the second with L. That’s right, it’s unconditional love.



Can someone explain to me the meaning of unconditional love? • Love that doesn’t stop no matter what you do • Doesn’t mean that you don’t get disciplined when you do wrong, but a person who

has unconditional love for you will keep loving you, even when you do wrong, and even when they are angry and upset with you

We are going to listen to this story that tells us about a father’s unconditional love for his son.

Jesus once told a story about a father who had two sons. They worked on a farm together with their dad.

One day, the younger son said to his father, “Dad, one day when you die, all your money will be shared between my older brother and me. But it will be a long time before you die, and I want to have fun NOW. Give me my half of your money now!”

The father gave the younger son half his money and then the younger son set off from home. The father prayed in his heart that he would see his son again.

The younger son went to a country far far away, and spent his time having fun. He played all day from morning till night with his friends. Slowly, his money began to run out. And one by one, his friends left him.



He was left without a single cent, with no place to sleep, and nothing to eat. He went to work for a pig farmer. His job was to feed the pigs. One day, when he was feeling very hungry, he thought to himself, “Even the servants in my father’s farm have a better life than me. I should head back home and see if I can work for my father.”

While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him. He was filled with tender love for his son. He ran to him. He threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattest calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. This son of mine was dead. And now he is alive again. He was lost. And now he is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

Questions based on the story

• How would you describe how the younger son treated his father? [Ans: he was selfish and greedy. He did not show honour to his father or care for him, he only cared about the money his father could give him.]

• What did the younger son think would happen when he went home after spending all the money? [Ans: he thought that he would just work as a servant]

• How did the father treat him instead? [Ans: The father ran and hugged him. He forgave all the wrong that the younger son did. He threw him a party and made him part of the family again.]

Leader to say: The father showed the younger son unconditional love. Even though the son did things that made the father very sad, it did not change the father’s love for his son.



Sharing Questions [Leader to set some ground rules, that this is for the children to share how they are feeling, not to badmouth their parents or to tease or judge other families. Whatever is shared in small group time should be kept private]

• When are some times that you felt your parents’ unconditional love for you? Maybe after you did something wrong?

• Are there times that you didn’t feel unconditionally loved? What happened?

[Leader to assure the children that getting scolded doesn’t mean that they aren’t loved, point to how their parents continue to love them. For those children whose parents have fallen short in some way, point them to God’s perfect, unconditional love for them]

MINISTRY RESPONSE TIME (25 mins) [TL or pastor to anchor ministry time at platform]

TL/pastor to say: Some of us during small group time shared about our parents’ unconditional love for us, and others shared how maybe their parents’ love didn’t feel very unconditional. The story that we just read together in our small group is a picture of God’s unconditional love for us as His children, and also the unconditional love that He wants parents to show their children. We are going to watch this music video based on this story and then we are going to pray for us each to receive God’s unconditional love for us. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RCun69OXX4 (When God Ran - 5:30 mins) [Standby instrumental music in the background for ministry time] 1. Prayer to receive the Heavenly Father’s love

• This ministry time should focus on praying for children who want to receive the Heavenly Father’s love for them, particularly those whose parents may have disappointed them in some way – e.g., parent left the family, or missing from their life

• Have the leaders stand up in front of the stage, females on one side, males on the other side

• Children who respond to the ministry call to go to one of the leaders in front who are the same gender as them.

• Leaders to give the children a ministering hug, representing the Heavenly Father’s love for them, as you pray over the children.

• Children who are not responding to the ministry call to sit quietly and respect that this is a serious moment for their friends.



Some suggested verses to anchor the ministry time

Psalm 27:10 (NLT) “Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close.”

Joshua 1:5 (NIrV) “I will never leave you. I will never desert you. Psalm 103:8-17 (NIrV) – choose the specific verses that are more relevant The LORD is tender and kind. He is gracious. He is slow to get angry. He is full of love. 9 He won’t keep bringing charges against us. He won’t stay angry with us forever. 10 He doesn’t punish us for our sins as much as we should be punished. He doesn’t pay us back in keeping with the evil things we’ve done. 11 He loves those who have respect for him. His love is as high as the heavens are above the earth. 12 He has removed our sins from us. He has removed them as far as the east is from the west. 13 A father is tender and kind to his children. In the same way, the LORD is tender and kind to those who have respect for him. 14 He knows what we are made of. He remembers that we are dust. 15 The life of human beings is like grass. People grow like the flowers in the field. 16 When the wind blows on them, they are gone. No one can tell that they had ever been there. 17 But the LORD’s love for those who have respect for him lasts for ever and ever.

2. Prayer to confess if they have not honoured their parents

• Children to come forward and respond if they want to confess and repent if they have

not been treating their parents in a way that is honouring • Leaders to pray and release God’s forgiveness over the children

Thank You Heavenly Father for forgiving us for the times that we did not honour our parents with our actions and words. Thank You for giving us a fresh start. Help us to honour our parents the way you want us to.



3. Prayer for parents Let’s end this time of ministry by praying a prayer of declaration over our parents. We want to pray God’s blessing for them, so that they will be the best parents they can be. [slide]

REVIEW MEMORY VERSE (5 mins) Memory Verse: Matthew 19:4-5 Jesus replied, “Haven’t you read that in the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’? He said, ‘That’s why a man will leave his father and mother

and be joined to his wife. The two will become one.’

• Sit in a circle, with hands place palms up in front of themselves. All to place their right hand on top of the left hand of the person sitting on their right.

• The children to take turns to say one word in the memory verse and pass the current by using their right hand to hit the hand of the person on their left. They say the next word as they hit their friend’s hand.

• Leaders to let the children know that they will receive a small reward for memorizing the memory verse next week (leader to provide)

Family Lesson 3 of 4 - God Made Families Part 1...Family Lesson 3 of 4 – God Made Family Part 1...

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