Onesimus' Changed tife

ObjectiveEach child will understand that an encounter with Jesus is a life-changing encounter.

II Corinthians 5: 17; Philemon 1-19(Onesimus and Paul)

II Corinthians 5: 17

t{-~-"oFor the First Meeting of the Week, hang black or gray crepe paper streamers from the ceiling to create a "jail cell." Cut

the Two Boys visual from Bible Teaching Resources sheet 5. For the Second Meeting of the Week, put a rock into a lunch-sized paper sack and staple shut. Make one for each child. Cut several circles from construction paper.

o Three other colors of crepe paper 0streamers

o Paper fastenerso

_OPTIONS I 0o All-Stars Bible News for Meeting 9

for each childo Student Award Book for each child

Refreshments: juice, cookies, papercups, napkins, stick of butter, flour

All the Best Songs for Kids Songbook& Late Elementary CDs, CD player

o Optional Early Elementary CDso Prepared paper sack for each childo Cookies, napkins, Bible, tapeo Prepared construction paper circleso Crayons or markers, pencilso 'Chalkboard or whiteboardo Craft: spring clothespins; white and

yellow tempera paint; paint brushes;white and yellow pom-poms; wiggleeyes; orange, pink, and white craftfoam; scissors; glueGame: two soft foam balls

~ Second Meetlng Options ~

_OPTIONS Io Song Time

Sing HOW GREAT, HOW GLORIOUS; IWILLSING OFTHEMERCIES; 0 HOWl LOVEJESUS(optional); and KIDS UNDER CONSTRUCTION(optional) from All the Best Songsfor Kids. Optionalsongs are on the Early Elementary CDs.

Spring Nl-Stars for Jesus Explorers MULTI-USE'" Meeting 9

o Chalkboard or whiteboardo Bibles and pencils, praise musico MP3 or CD player, chairsBIBLE APPLICATIONo CrayonsBIBLE LEARNINGo Crayons or markers, glue stickso Scissors, sharpened pencilso Two large paper plates for each

child

o Bible Journeys for Meeting 9 for eachchild

o All-Stars Bible News for Meeting 9 foreach child

o Archie and Baldy Eagle PuppetsGETTING STARTEDo Bible Teaching Resources sheet 5o Chalkboard or whiteboardo Butcher paper and tapeBIBLE LESSONo Black or gray crepe paper streamers

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(Allow 10-20 minutes)

o Prayer TimeHave everyone sit in a circle. Starting with you, go around the

circle and have volunteers finish this prayer: "Jesus, please forgive me for__ ." Close by praying, Jesus, thank You that You forgive us whenwe ask. Help us to do what's right. In Jesus' name, amen.

o Theme IntroductionBefore the meeting, cut the Two Boys visual from Bible Teaching

Resourcessheet 5. Have a volunteer hold it up. Ask, What do you thinkis going on here? Pause for responses. Point to the child wearing acap and backpack. Say, This boy decided not to go to school today.He didn't do his homework last night. Now he's afraid to go to classwithout his homework done. Raise your hand if you think that was abad idea. Calion children to tell you the bad decisions the boy made.(running away from school, not doing his homework) Have an olderchild print them on the chalkboard or whiteboard. Ask, What aresome bad decisions that you have made? Have another child print onthe board the bad decisions made by the children. Ask, When we dobad things, we want to hide them, don't we? Have a volunteer helpyou tape butcher paper over the list on the board. Say, There. Nownobody knows where they are, right? Ler the children point out thatthey are still there. Say, Hmm. You're right, they are still there. OurBible story today is about a man who ran away and tried to hide hismistakes. Let's find out what happened.

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OPTIONSJ. Getting Stafted (Cont)

~ Second Meeting Options ~

o Theme IntroductionBefore the meeting, put a rock imo a lunch-sized

paper sack and then staple the sack shut. Make one foreach child. You will also need a cookie and napkin foreach child. Hand out the paper sacks to the children.Ask, What do you think is in your paper sack? Pausefor responses. Say, If you would like, you can trade yourpaper sack for a cookie. Let any child who wishes to makethe trade give you his sack, and then hand him a cookie(on a napkin) in return. When all trades have been made,let the children who kept their paper sacks open them and,after a volumeer thanks God for the cookies, let the otherseat their cookies. Ask the children who traded, Are youglad you made the trade? Why? Then ask the childrenwho kept their sacks, Are you glad you kept your sack?Why not? Give the children who kept their sacks anotheropportunity to trade in their sacks for cookies. Have awastebasket that the children can toss their napkins imo.Then say, Our Bible story today is about a man whotraded his unhappy life for eternal life in Jesus. Doesthat sound like a good trade? Pause for responses. Say,Let's find out what happened.

_OPTIONS I 11-"''''''

o Explore the Bible Lesson(Ask the children to stand, and lead them in doing

• the actions in paremheses as you tell the Bible story.Bookmark II Corimhians 5: 17 in your Bible.) A longtime ago there was a man named Philemon who was aChristian (put hands together in prayer and bow head).He had a servam named Onesimus who wasn't a Christian(wave one hand in from of you and shrug in a gesture ofdisbelief). One day, Onesimus may have stolen some ofhis master's things, but we know that he ran away fromhis master (stomp your feet on the Aoor and pump yourelbows). He ran for a very long time, umil he came to thecity of Rome (shade eyes with hand and look around).

The Apostle Paul was in Rome, too. He was inprison for telling people about Jesus (hold "prison bars"in from of you). Onesimus visited Paul in prison. Paultold Onesimus all about Jesus (make storytelling motionswith arms). Being in prison wasn't going to stop Paul fromtelling people about Jesus, was it? Onesimus believed inJesus as his Savior (bow head and pray) and loved Jesusso much that Paul wamed to keep Onesimus with himas a helper. But Paul knew that Onesimus belonged toPhilemon, and that he should go back home (pretend topoim to Philemon's house).

Paul wrote a letter to Philemon (pretend to writea letter), and urged him to take Onesimus back. Hetold Philemon that if Onesimus needed punishmemfor running away and stealing, Paul would take the

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lIT(Allow 15-20 minutes) Pap.r.

o Explore the Bible LessonBefore the meeting, hang black or gray crepe paper streamers from

the ceiling in a corner of the room to create a "jail cell." Make sure itis large enough to hold one third of the children. Divide the class intothree groups. Group 1 will be Philemon; Group 2, Onesimus; andGroup 3, Paul. Give each child a short length of crepe-paper streamer(each group should have a different color). Say, When I say the nameof your group's person, I want your group to stand up and waveyour streamers. Let each group practice once. Ask a good reader tobookmark II Corinthians 5: 17 in his Bible.

ONESIMUS' CHANGED LIFE(II Corinthians 5:17; Philemon 1:1-19)

Onesimus Runs Away

The Bible tells about a Christian man named Philemon (promptGroup 1 to wave their streamers now and each time you say Philemon),who had a servant named Onesimus. (Prompt Group 2 to wave theirstreamers now and each time you say Onesimus.) Onesimus did notwant to be a slave anymore, so he may have stolen some things fromPhilemon and run away. Do you think those were good decisions?(Have a volunteer lift up the butcher paper cover while anothervolunteer prints, "ran away" and "may have stolen" on the board.)Onesimus Meets Paul

Onesimus ran to a big city called Rome. The Apostle Paul (promptGroup 3 to wave their streamers now and each time you say Paul)was in jail in Rome for telling people about Jesus. (Ask Group 3 to

All-Stars for Jesus Explorers MULTI_USE™ Meeting 9

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1 Bible Application

sit in the crepe paper "jail celL") Onesimus visited Paul, then Paul toldOnesimus about Jesus. Onesimus believed in Jesus as his Savior, and wasthankful to be forgiven of all the bad decisions he had made.Onesimus Returns Home

Paul wanted Onesimus to travel with him and tell others aboutJesus, but Onesimus was still a slave and belonged to Philemon. Paulwanted to do the right thing. He decided to return Onesimus toPhilemon so he could be a faithful servant. Paul knew that Onesimuswas a believer in Jesus. Paul wrote a letter to Philemon and asked himto forgive Onesimus for running away, and to take him back. Paul evensaid that he would pay back any money Onesimus may have stolenfrom Philemon. (Collect the streamers and have everyone return totheir seats.)

Do you think Philemon forgave Onesimus and took him back intohis house? How do you think Onesimus may have felt to be forgiven? (Askyour reader to read II Corinthians 5: 17.) Did Jesus change Onesimus'life? (Take the butcher paper cover off the board and have volunteers taketurns erasing each bad decision.) Jesus is the only One who can forgiveus of every thing we've ever done wrong. Jesus can change your life, too!(See "Leading a Child to Christ" in the Easter Meeting.)

o Study the Bible LessonHand out pencils and the Bible Journeys Activity Sheets for Meeting

9 to the children. Have them look at the first page. Read the directionsand make sure everyone understands what to do. Have Baldy EaglePuppet help the children as necessary. (Answer: Jesus FORGAVEOnesimus and made him a new person.)

Have volunteers read aloud the Bible story from the All-Stars BibleNews Take-Home Papers for Meeting 9. Encourage the children to readthe Bible story again at home or have it read to them. If you handout All-Stars Bible News at your Second Meeting of the Week, let thechildren know they'll get a copy at their next meeting.

o Bible Memory VerseII Corinthians 5: 17 - "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new

creature: old things are passed away; behold, allthings are become new. " (KJV)

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone,the new has come!" (NIV)

Before the meeting, print the memory verse and reference on theboard. Arrange chairs back to back in rwo lines, using one less chairthan the number of children. Recite the verse together several times,pointing to each word as you say it. Say, When you accept Jesus as yourSavior from sin, He gives you a new life with Him. He will alwaysbe with you and will help you to live for Him. Play musical chairs.Have the children stand in a circle around the chairs. Have Archie EaglePuppet start playing praise music. As the music plays, have the childrenwalk around the chairs. At some point, have Archie stop the music.

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~ Second Meeting Options~

_OPTIONS ,"tit""'~

punishment for him (hold out hands and kneel). Paulasked Philemon to accept Onesimus as a brother whowould be with him forever (hug the person next to you).(Ask the children to return to their seats.)

Remember our rocks that we exchanged for cookies?That was a good trade, wasn't it? Onesimus traded hissinful heart for a brand new heart in Jesus, and eternallife forever. Raise your hand if you think this was a goodtrade. (Have a child read II Corinthians 5: 17.) Onesimuswas a new man in Jesus. We can be, too, if we ask Jesusto forgive us and come into our hearts.

o Review the Bible LessonBefore the meeting, cut several large circles from

colored construction paper. Make sure each child has onecircle. Hand our crayons or markers and constructionpaper circles. Say, Draw a picture of the face of someoneyou would like to tell about Jesus so his or her life canbe changed or of someone you would like to invite toan All-Stars for Jesus meeting. Ask each child to printthe name of his person on the front of the circle, nearthe picture, and his own name on the back. Let earlyfinishers help you tape the circles on the wall. When allhave finished, gather in a circle and pray for each name.Afterward, remove the circles and give them to the oneswho made them, challenging them to make it a point oftelling this person about Jesus or All-Stars for Jesus.

You may want to have older children read the Biblestory from All-Stars Bible News for Meeting 9. Thechildren may complete the activities on pages 2-3 at thistime. (Answers: I-stolen; 2-letter; 3-sinner; 4-new.)

o Review the Memory VerseBefore the meeting, write the memory verse on

the chalkboard or whiteboard. Recite the verse with thechildren two or three times. Then erase each word anddraw a blank line in its place. Discuss what it means tobe a new creature (creation) in Christ. Have the childrentake turns going up to the board and writing a word to theverse on its corresponding blank line. Prompt as necessary.Make sure they know to fill in the reference, too. Repeat

• several times until all the children can say the verse.

OPTIONS 1If"I'"'"

o Apply the LessonHand out pencils and All-Stars Bible News for

Meeting 9. The children may complete the activities onpages 1 (for younger children) and 4 (for older children) atthis time. (Page 1 answers: I-bat; 2-shovel; 3-jump; 4-toes;Tell them about Jesus. Page 4 answers: I-courage; 2- Isaiah40:29, strength; 3-Matthew 21 :21, faith; 4- Luke 24: 17, 52,joy; 5- Colossians 3:8, 14, love; 6- John 14:27, peace.)

All-Stars for Jesus Explorers MULTI_USE™ Meeting 9

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OPTIONS tIT•..•.....

3. lUble Application (ConI.)

o RefreshmentsAsk helpers to hand out napkins, cookies, and juice.

Thank God for the snack. Say, These cookies startedout as just a bunch of ingredients. (Show flour andbutter.) But they've been turned into something else -something better. That's like what happens to us whenwe accept Jesus as our Savior. We become better people.I'm so glad that Jesus can give us a new life. Ask if anychildren would like to talk further about accepting Jesusas their Savior. Make a point to talk with them moreafter class. (See "Leading a Child to Christ" in the EasterMeeting.)

o Clothespin PalsLet each child decide ifhe will make a rabbit, a chick,

or a lamb. Give each child a spring clothespin, white oryellow tempera paint, and a paint brush. Let the childrenpaint their clothespins (white for rabbits and lambs, yellowfor chicks). Be sure to leave time for the clothespins todry. (Youmay want to bring a hair dryer to speed up thedrying process.)

Once the paint isdry, give each child two pom-pomsto match the color of his clothespin and two wiggle eyes.Provide glue and scissors. Have the children stand theirclothespin upright, "mouth" pointing up. Glue one pom-pom at the top of the clothespin as the head (make sureit's not on the opening of the clothespin), and the otherright below it as the body. Glue the wiggle eyes onto thetop porn-porn. Let the children use craft foam to adddetails such as feet, ears, and a beak. (Let older childrenhelp the younger ones.) Show them how to clip a photo

• into the top of the holder. Say, Put a photo of a friendor family member in your photo holder who does notknow Jesus. It will remind you to share God's Word withthem so they can be a new creation, too.

_OPTIONS Io Dodge Ball

Use a large room with no obstacles or go outsideif weather permits. Divide the children into two teams.Mark a boundary down the middle of the playing field.Have one team stand on each side. Give each team a softfoam ball. Have a member from each team throw theball across the line at a member of the opposing team. Ifa player is hit, he must sit out. The team with only oneplayer left standing at the end is the winner. Play again astime permits. Say,We can't dodge or hide from the sins wehave committed, but God will giveus a second opportunityto do right if we ask Him to forgive our sins.

(Allow 10-15 minutes)

o Bible CraftHave the children turn to page 3 of Bible Journeys for Meeting

9. Provide two large paper plates for each child, crayons or markers,scissors, glue sticks, and sharpened pencils. Have the children completethe memory verse by printing "man," "be," and "creature" on the blanklines if you use KJV or "one," "is," and "creation" if you use NIY. Havethem color the pictures, then cut out the circle on the solid black line.Let them glue the story circle in the middle of one paper plate. Showthem how to cut a wedge shape out of the second paper plate ('4of the circle). Then have the children punch a hole with a pencil inthe middle of the story wheel, through both paper plates. (Let olderchildren help the younger ones.) Instruct them to stack the blank plateon top of the first plate and connect them with a paper fastener. Say,Use your Onesimus Story Wheel to help you tell the story of Pauland Onesimus to your friends and family.

(Allow 10-20 minutes)

o Apply the LessonHave the children turn to page 2 of Bible Journeys for Meeting 9.

Make sure they have crayons. Discuss the pictures on the left. (Theboy is laughing at the elderly woman because her groceries arefalling outof the sack; the girl is watching TV instead of reading the Bible; and theboy is stealing a candy bar instead of paying for it.) Have the childrendraw a line from each child on the left through the picture of Jesusto the picture on the right that shows how that child changed aftermeeting Jesus. Have them use a different color for each child. Discusshow Jesus changed the children. (The boy helps the elderly woman carryher groceries; the girl reads her Bible; and the boypays for his candy bar.)(Answers: J-B; 2-C; and 3-A.)

o Closing PrayerAsk the children to think of someone who doesn't know Jesus. Pray, Dear God, thank You that You change lives. Please

help (ask the children to whisper the name of the person they have chosen) to believe in Jesus as their Savior. In Jesus' namewe pray, amen. At the close of the First Meeting of the Week, remind the children to bring their award books to the secondmeeting. Hand out All-Stars Bible News, today's craft, and Bible Journeys to each child.All-Stars for Jesus Explorers MULTI_USE'"' Meeting 9 56

Let the children scramble to sit in a chair. The child left standing hasto recite the memory verse. Prompt as necessary. Play several rounds.Discuss different ways the children can serve God and show how theyare new creations in Christ. (witnessing, showing love to others, being ahelper, respecting parents, etc.)