21 July 2013

Kelas Balita
Sesi 1 = Coach Yosi
             (asst. Tasya)
 
Sesi 2 = Coach Jemimah/Dewi K
             (asst. Laila)
 
Kelas 1 - 3
Sesi 1 = Coach Lily Bun

Sesi 2 = Coach Iwan (Asst. Dedy)
 

Kelas 4 - 6  
Sesi 1 = Coach Kezia
Sesi 2 = Coach Yungcien

Psalm 23: My Good Shepherd gives me new life

1. Lesson (based on Psalm 23:3) 

HOOK

• Have you ever messed your room or home up really, really bad? Maybe you didn’t pick up all your toys. Your clothes are all over. Your books area spread out on the floor. You can’t even walk through it without stepping on something. It’s a great big mess!
• Some people’s lives are also great big mess. Sometimes they don’t know it’s a mess. But they are feeling lost and lonely, hurt and sad. Unlike the mess in the room, they can’t clean up their lives on their own. They need Someone to come and help them. To take out the garbage, to disinfect and arrange everything back neatly. They need a fresh and brand new start.
• Jesus is that Person who can do all that for us. He gives us new life and His right way of living. 

• Psalm 23
• In Psalm 23, David talks about our Good Shepherd who provides everything we need and invites us to rest in Him.
• Do you remember what the first 2 verses of the psalm are? <revise with actions>
• Psalm 23:1-2 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 

• He then goes on to talk about how the Good Shepherd gives us new life.
• Psalm 23:3 
  He refreshes my soul. 
  He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 

• He refreshes my soul 
• Sometimes sheep get tired and dirty and messed up. They have thick curly wool that makes it difficult for them to get up if they fall over on their side. Then they’re stuck there, with their legs in the air, bleating and crying. 
• The shepherd has to then restore the sheep, by turning the sheep over, lifting it up, massaging its legs and helping it find its balance. <demonstrate for kids>
• When we have fallen and are bogged down by sin and sadness, our Good Shepherd is there to help us. He lifts us by His grace, holds us and reassures us — He refreshes our soul!
• More than just cleaning up our mess, our Good Shepherd gives us a brand new life! It’s not just patched up and repaired. But completely brand new. We become brand new creations with refreshed souls!

•  He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake 
• When He cleans us up, our Good Shepherd doesn’t just leave us on our own to find our way.
• No. He guides us. Along the right paths.Along His way. Not the way that leads them off the cliff where they would fall and hurt themselves. Not the way the traps them and makes them fall down and get injured. His way. The best way. When we follow the Good Shepherd, we will never get lost!
• Why? For His name’s sake. He is Good Shepherd. He wants to take the best care of his sheep. When people see His sheep, they know who their Shepherd is.

• So today, we learn that:
• Our Good Shepherd cleans us up and gives us new life.
• He leads us on the right paths. The best paths.
• When we follow the Good Shepherd, we know that He is always there to help us when we fall, and to guide us in the right way to go.

2. Suggested Activities:

• Memory Verse with actions: 
• Psalm 23:1-3 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 
  He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

14 July 2013

Kelas Balita  
Sesi 1 = Coach Junita
             (asst. Kasey & Fenny)
 
Sesi 2 = Coach Carrie
             (asst. Adeline)
 
Kelas 1 - 3 
Sesi 1 = Coach Eko

Sesi 2 = Coach Agus Rianto  

Kelas 4 - 6  
Sesi 1 = Coach Savitri  
Sesi 2 = Coach Lusiana

Psalm 23: My Good Shepherd provides me everything

1. Lesson (based on Psalm 23:1-2)

• Last week, we started looking at Psalm 23. Who can remember the first verse? The Lord is my Shepherd.
• Why do you think sheep need a shepherd? <get kids to answer> 
• People say sheep are a bit dumb. Left on their own, they’ll just walk and eat and walk and eat until they get lost. Even if they are near good food, they’ll just eat whatever is in front of them, even lousy grass.
• David tells us that when the Lord is our shepherd, He provides everything for us.

• Psalm 23:1-2 (NIV)
• The Lord is my shepherd, 
  I lack nothing. 
  He makes me lie down in green pastures,
  he leads me beside quiet waters, 

•  When the Lord is our Good Shepherd, we lack nothing
• Nothing means nothing.
• Other versions say “I shall not want”. Means we will never have a need for anything else.
• Our Lord is our supply. When we have Jesus, we have everything.
• Many people are chasing money, position, power in life, because they think all that can fill their lives and make it meaningful. But they often end up sad, disappointed and empty.
• We don’t need to look here and there; we just need to look to Jesus for all we need and all we want.
• The Lord is my Shepherd. I lack nothing.

• The Good Shepherd provides us with the best and rest: He makes me lie down in green pastures
• What do sheep eat? Grass
• Sheep need grass for survival. And the Good Shepherd brings his sheep to the green pastures —with the very best grass.
• The sheep don’t just walk past and nibble a bit at the grass. The Good Shepherd lets them lie down in the green pastures. They not only get to eat, but they also get to rest.
• For sheep to rest in the pastures, they must be assured that it is a safe place. The Good Shepherd is there to keep watch and protect the sheep from wolves and bears.
• When the Lord is our Good Shepherd, we don’t have to worry about anything. He provides us with the best. He makes us rest.
• He makes me lie down in green pastures.

• The Good Shepherd leads us and fills us: He leads me beside quiet waters 
• Sheep need water. But they cannot drink from fast-moving streams as they might fall in and drown (their wool will soak up a lot of water like a sponge). They need quiet waters to sip from.
• The beautiful picture in this psalm is of the Good Shepherd leading us, His sheep. He knows where the best grass is. He knows where the quiet waters are. All the sheep needs to do is to follow His leading.
• The Bible tells us that Jesus is the source of Living Water. Jesus invites us who are thirsty to come to Him and drink, and His spirit will come and fill us up (John 7:37-39). Whoever drinks this water will never be thirsty again (John 4:13); they don’t have to go look for something/someone else to fill them.
• He leads me beside quiet waters.

• So today, we learn that:
• Our Good Shepherd provides us everything. 
• He gives us the best, and He makes us rest.
• He leads us, and He fills us.
• Whatever we’re going through at home or in school, if we’re tired or in lack, look to Jesus —the source and supply of ALL we need.

2. Suggested Activities:

• Memory Verse with actions:
•  Psalm 23:1-2 
  The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 

7 July 2013

Kelas Balita  
Sesi 1 = Coach Susan
             (asst. Felicia)
Sesi 2 = Coach Dewi
             (asst. Laila)
 
Kelas 1 - 3

Sesi 1 = Coach Susi Tjio
Sesi 2 = Coach Shevica (Agus Siswanto)  

Kelas 4 - 6  
Sesi 1 = Coach Swanky  
Sesi 2 = Coach Andy T.

 

Psalm 23: The Lord is my Shepherd

1. Lesson (based on Psalm 23:1)

• Today we’re going to look at a psalm of David. 
• What’s a psalm? A psalm is a Hebrew poem or song, usually played on a harp or a string instrument. 
• Do you remember who David was? David was the shepherd boy who took down Goliath with a slingshot and some smooth stones.  
• David became King of Israel. But he was also a musician and liked to write poems and songs.  He was a famous psalm writer or psalmist. 
• This particular psalm is about God being his Shepherd-King.
• Psalm 23 is one of the more famous psalms written by David. We’re going to learn and meditate on this psalm in the next few weeks. And by the end of it, all of you will be able to memorise the psalm. 

• Psalm 23:1  The Lord is my shepherd.

• Let’s look at the verse: The Lord is our shepherd
• The Lord = who’s the Lord?  
• The Lord is our Almighty God 
• What do you know about the Lord?  
• He’s the creator of heaven and earth. He’s all powerful (omnipotent). He’s everywhere (omnipresent). He knows everything (omniscient). <get kids to tell you about what they know about God>
  <Idea: show pix of universe to explain the greatness of God>

• Is = what does this tell us? 
• Present tense. Not past. Not future. It is true for today!

•  Our = whose shepherd is he? 
• Our = us; you and me. The Lord of the whole universe is the Lord for you and for me. 
• Can you imagine if the king of the country knows you by name?  Wouldn’t that be great?
• Wouldn’t it be greater to know that the King of the whole universe knows you by name?
• He’s not just all powerful, all present, all knowing … He’s also YOUR Lord and YOUR shepherd.

• Shepherd = what does a shepherd do? 
• <get kids to answer. Idea: show pix of shepherds taking care of sheep> 
• David was a shepherd boy. So he understood what a shepherd does for his sheep. David took care of sheep. He made sure they had the best food and that they were safe.
• Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11). And that’s what Jesus did. He laid down his life on the cross for you and for me!

• Children, we have a all powerful, all present, all knowing God who is YOUR shepherd. One who takes care of you. One who loves you and laid down His life for you. Isn’t that amazing?
• As you go through the week ahead, whatever may happen, remind yourselves every morning:
• The Lord: Almighty and powerful 
• IS 
• MY
• Shepherd: who takes care of me and protects me

2. Suggested Activities

• Memory Verse:
• Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd (younger kids)
• John 10:11 “Jesus is the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (older kids)

30 Juni 2013

Ibadah Gabungan

Sesi 1

Coach : Savitri
WL : Fenny & Junita
Ice Breaker & Games : Kasey, Junita, Tasya

Sesi 2
Coach : Iwan
WL : Yosi
Ice Breaker & Games : Adeline, Dedy, Agus

God will take care of my problems

1. Hook:  

• Ever thought you had such a big problem you couldn’t solve? Maybe someone is giving you a hard time in school eg your classmate made fun of  you or your teacher said something that made you  sad or angry. Or maybe it’s something that happened at home.
• You feel that there is nothing you can do. You don’t even know what to do. 
• But do you know that there’s nothing too difficult for God. He knows the problem you have and He is with you. He loves you and He will take care of you. 

2. Story: (Based on Joshua 6) 

• God told Joshua  that He will give him and the Israelites the Promised Land. God promised that He will be with Joshua and Joshua will be succeed in taking over the land.
• The first city that Joshua was to conquer was Jericho. Now the king of Jericho and his people knew that the Israelites were coming to take over their city. So they made sure that the gates of the city were safely locked. No one was allowed to go out and no one was allowed to come in to the city.
• In those days, do you know what weapons they use to fight their enemies with? (Response) They didn’t have planes, bombs or tanks. They used spears, bows, arrows, spears to fight and shields to protect themselves. So people who wanted to protect themselves built high walls, with guards and gates at the door or the city, the only place where you could enter or get out of the city. Near the top of the walls, they have special platforms built for the soldiers stand and keep guard and if the soldiers see people coming to attack them, they could shoot them with arrows or throw big rocks on them.
• Was it tough to attack Jericho? Yes, but God knew that. He knew Joshua’s problem. God told Joshua what to do.
• God told Joshua? “I have given Jericho, itsking and people to you. March around the city once with all your fighting men. Have seven priests carrying trumpets march in front with the ark. Do this for six days”.
• How many times round the city? One time. How many days? Six days.
• “Then on the seventh day, march around the city seven times. Get the priests to blow the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will fall down and everyone of you will go straight in to Jericho.”
• What a funny thing to do. Wouldn’t all these big strong grown-up men look really silly walking around the city for six days? Wouldn’t the people in Jericho laugh at the funny sight?
• But Joshua and the people trusted God. Joshua told them, “Be very, very quiet. Don’t say a word. March silently!”
• Let’s try it out and see if we can do that too. (Get kids to stand up and march on the spot as quietly as they can) Very good. Now sit down quietly also. 
• So the seven priests with their seven trumpets, and all the fighting men, marched round and round the city, one round for six days. 1-2-3-4-5-6! Good!
• Then on the seventh day,  how many times were they supposed to go round the city? (Seven!) Right! 1-2-3-4-5-6-7!
• Once they completed the seventh round, the priests sounded the trumpet! Let’s sound the trumpet! (Get kids to put hands in front of their mouths and make sound like trumpets)
• Then Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!”  (Get kids to shout, “Shout!”) 
• When the trumpets sounded and the army shouted, do you know what happened next? The walls of the city came crumbling down! The great big thick, high wall just came down like a sandcastle in the sea! 
• And the Israelites ran in and conquered the city. The only ones who survived was Rahab and her family — all who were in her house, because she trusted God and hid the spies.
• God is so powerful that He is able to make the city walls of Jericho fall down.  So you see, no problem is too big for God. No matter how big your problem is, God is bigger than your problem. He is able to help you. No matter how difficult things are, Jesus is with you as He promised- He will always be with you and will never leave you. 

3. Activity suggestions: 

• Bedsheet wall 
• Get a bedsheet. Have some children stand holding the bedsheet in front of them, as though they are encompassed by a wall. Get the other children to march around them. Some can be fighting men. Some can be priests. At your cue, get the kids to say, “Shout!” Then the ones holding the bedsheet can drop the bedsheet and squat down.

• Blow down the Wall 
• Materials: Uno Stacko, low table
• Get kids to build a wall using Uno Stacko 
• Then each kid gets a chance to try to blow down the wall
• Those who succeed get a prize

• Memory Verse:  “For nothing is impossible with God.”  (Luke 1:37)
• Reinforcement: “God will take care of my problems.” 

23 Juni 2013

Kelas Balita
Sesi 1 = Coach Susan
             (asst. Fenny)
 Sesi 2 = Coach Carrie.
             (asst. Jevelyn)

Kelas 1 - 3

Sesi 1 = Coach Susi Tjio
Sesi 2 = Coach Shevica (asst. Agus Siswanto)

Kelas 4 - 6
Sesi 1 = Coach Andy T.
Sesi 2 = Coach Lusiana

 

God fights the battle for me!

1. Hook:

• Option 1: Ready, Get set, Go!
• How many of you like to run? Who thinks they can run the fastest?
• Imagine you have to take part in a race. It’s a big competition. All the best runners will be there. What do you do? 
• You exercise every day. [get kids to do some stretching exercises, e.g. right hand over head and bend to the left, 1-2-3-4; the other side, 2-2-2-4; the other side, 3-2-3-4 etc] 
• You train hard. [get kids to run on the spot for 10 seconds]
• You build up your strength [get kids to show you their muscles. Biggest muscles or most creative pose wins prize?]
• [get kids to sit down. Give everyone a clap] 

• Option 2: Biggest, strongest, tallest
• Get children into 2 or more groups.
• Issue a challenge and each group has to send their best contender. Each kid can only come up once until all have had a chance to participate.
• Examples of challenges: the longest hair, the biggest smile, the widest palm, the largest shoe etc.
• To make it more exciting (esp for older kids), you can just give the adjective first. E.g. “I am looking for the ‘longest’ … ”. Team contenders come forward. Then only you reveal, “I am looking for the longest hair.”
• The winning contender scores one point for his/her team. Team with most points wins.

• Conclusion: 
• Yes, when you take part in a competition or race, you want to be the strongest, fastest and the best.
• But do you know, children, that sometimes God uses the weakest and the slowest to do His work? 
• Why would God do that? Why doesn’t He choose the strongest, the fastest and the best?
• Because when the weak and the slow win, everyone will know that it’s God who won it for them!
• Today we will learn that God fights the battle for you and for me!

2. Story: (based on Joshua 5) 

• Last week we learned about Joshua and the Israelites crossed a great big river. After they crossed, how many stones did they take out from the river? (12 stones) That’s right. 12 big stones to remind them about what God had done for them.
• When the kings in the nearby lands heard about the Israelites crossing the Jordan, they were all very afraid! Do you think they dared to attack the Israelites? Of course not! They knew that the Israelites’ God was very, very powerful.
• But the Israelites still had a big challenge ahead of them. They were going to enter the Promised Land. And they had to cross the big, tall walls of the city of Jericho. And they had to fight the giants in the land.
• They should be very, very afraid. They should be exercising, They should be training hard. They should be building up their strength. 
• But God had other plans.
• God asked Joshua to circumcise the Israelites. What’s circumcise? Circumcise was to cut a part of the skin of the boys and men’s body.
• God first told Abraham to circumcise all the men in his family as sign of His covenant with him. Every time they see the cut skin, they remember that they are God’s special people.
• But because almost all of the Israelites had grown up in the desert for the past 40 years, they had not been circumcised yet. So God wanted them to be circumcised as a sign that they belonged to Him (that the shame of their past in Egypt is cut away from them.)
• Circumcision can be quite painful! And the boys and men will take a few days to rest and recover.
• Can you imagine, the whole army of Israel having to rest and recover for a week? They could not exercise. They could not train hard. They could not build up their strength. They could only lie down and rest.
• But God wanted them to know that they did not have to fight this battle on their own strength. It was not because they were so clever or strong or good. But because God was so clever, and strong and good.
• One day, as the men were resting, Joshua saw a man standing in front of him. He had a long drawn sword in his hand.  Who was that? The man answered, “I am the commander of the army of the Lord.” 
• God sent the commander of his army to show the Israelites that He is the one fighting for them, so that they know that they are not alone and they don’t have to fight by themselves.
• In fact, last time, God told Moses when the Egyptians were chasing the Israelites into the Red Sea, “The Lord will fight for you; you only need to be still.” (Exodus 14:14)
• God was going to fight the battle for the Israelites. And God fights the battle for you and for me!   

3. Activity suggestions:

• Memory Verse: Exodus 14:14 “God will fight for me; I only need to be still.”