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SSTN # 69- June 28, 2002
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IN THIS ISSUE OF THE SSTN e-NEWSLETTER:
1) Discipline problems
2) Noah's Ark Musical?
3) Left Behind Lesson
4) Sunday School Kickoff
5) No building...can't decorate...what to do
6) No building can't decorate
7) Motivating My Teachers
-> W.W.J.S.? Gospel Catchers
8) Back to School Splash
9) Jr/Sr. High Lessons?
10) No building---can't decorate
11) Sharing the Gospel through Flower Bulbs
12) Craft book
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1) Discipline problems
I've had quite a few of those in my class. Things have gotten a lot better
for me since I've incorporated two things into my class. One is spiritual
warfare and the other is a behavior modification program. Ephesians 6
tells us that we have to recognize the enemy and be prepared to fight. For
we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and
wickedness in high places. I know that you pray for your class and that
you pray before you prepare lessons, but you need to be aware of spiritual
warfare. By teaching the next generation you are violating the god of this
world and he is not happy. You must gird up. Bind the enemy's hand and
activities. Matthew 18:18 says that whatever you bind on earth will be
bound in heaven, and whatever is loosed on earth will be loosed in heaven.
Bind up that contentious, disobedient spirit and loose the spirit of God
in that situation. Pray and fight! The other thing I've done is to
implement a behavior modification program. I created a table to chart the
students' progress. For attendance, each child receives a blue mark worth
2 points. If the child has a stellar performance, they've earned a green
mark worth five points. A weekly total of 7. If I've had to speak with
them during that class, they've earned a yellow mark which is worth -1
point. 2+ -1= 1, they've earned a weekly total of. If the child has been a
disciplinary problem they've earned a red mark, which is worth -2 points,
2+ -2 = 0, they've earned a weekly total of 0. In addition to this, the
first time a student receives a red mark, they (depending on their age)
have to write a bible verse 50 times. The 2nd time they receive a red
mark, they have to write 75 times. If there is a third occurence, a
meeting will be set up with the parents and the child. The children are
able to chart their own progress, each week they receive a certificate
showing how many ! points they received. Children are also able to earn
extra points by participating in games, learning verses, etc. The progress
is charted for four weeks, at the end of the four weeks children get to
pick prizes based on the amount of points they have accumulated.
I hope this helps, Min. Tikoya Lanier
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2) Noah's Ark Musical?
Hello Sarah, thank you so much for your newsletter. It is always an
inspiration for me and I am using many advises. I'd like to contact Maree
Queensland from Australia, who spoke of a musical of Noah's ark
(Newsletter SSTN 61) that was presented in her church last year. Could I
have more details about this musical? I'd like to know how they did the
whole thing. Thanks in advance for forwarding my request.God bless your
ministry, Lydia, Netherlands
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3) Left Behind Lesson
I did a lesson on the start of the Left Behind book with my young teens
last year. We focused on not waiting to accept Christ because you don't
know what is going to happen tomorrow.
I read a couple of excerpts from the book around the time everyone
disappeared from the plane and asked them what they though had happened.
We
then looked at verses from Revelations (mainly) - I found most of the
verses I wanted to use out of the book itself.
There wasn't much of a lesson plan that day as I didn't know which way the
lesson would go - thankfully the Holy Spirit was in control!
After the discussion I asked if anyone wanted to make a committment to
Jesus. Those that did, prayed the sinner's prayer after me aloud.
I'd been teaching Sunday School for about 13 years and never thought I'd
attempt a lesson with any age on Revelations - but it was the most
rewarding and humbling lesson ever as I watched God touch these kids
hearts.
Sandy - Jimboomba Australia
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4) Sunday School Kickoff
>I know it is still a little ways off yet, but I was looking for ideas on
>how to kickoff the new Sunday School year in September. We don't have
I found a reference in a Religion Teachers magazine a few years back where
part of the September issue used a New Years; theme. I thought that was a
great idea for back to school. It is the beginning of a new year, time
with a new teacher, new opportunities to learn about God and our part in
His church. We all wear party hats, talk about new beginnings, have party
foods and drinks at the end and we spend a few minutes at the end making a
"joyful" noise unto the Lord with noisemakers or mini instruments
purchased at our local dollar store (or you could make them!). I have
used a few different bible stories about new beginnings or celebrations,
but you can choose based on your age groups or what you will be studying
that year (if you have topics or themes based on the age group). Have fun
with it and it sets a tone for the year - We can learn and love and have
fun at the same time when we celebrate with Jesus!
Deb-IN
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5) No building...can't decorate...what to do
>Hope someone can help here. I attend a small church that started last
>fall. We don't have our own building, but rent a few rooms from another
>organization. My problem is that I can't decorate a room, or set up
We do not have our own classrooms for our Religion Classes, but we have
permission to leave a few storage cabinets in the building we use and we
keep our supplies there. It would be nice to have a place to display our
work and decorate, but we hang things up each week and make the best of
it. Keep praying for a solution - God will respond!
Deb-IN
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6) No building can't decorate
I had a problem also when we rented a building. I went to a furniture shop
and asked for thier biggest boxes and a few of them(refrigerator size)
worked very well to fold like a screen I decorated for the lesson set up
and used then folded and stored in closet. It was really nice to move it
around in the class room also had one covered with
felt good luck Nena Harrell Lehigh Acres Fla.
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7) Motivating My Teachers
> >the teachers seem content with who they have in their classes.
> >My concern is that they are not reaching the unsaved.
> >Their level of commitment is not very high. They do like to
Boy - do I know where you're coming from. I've worked in Christian
Education for 20 years, and the problem remains the same. Yes, I do
believe we have a lot of teachers teaching out of guilt or a sense of duty
- some even wanting just to teach the class that their "Susie" is in.
They are wonderful people, but not necessarily called. My philosophy,
over the years, has come to be that GOD WILL CALL INTO SERVICE THOSE WHOM
HE HAS GIFTED FOR THE MINISTRY. This means, that at times we have had to
cancell an otherwise great program. Scripture tells us that God will
always provide the resources for the job He wants done. What I have done
is start by praying that God will speak to the individuals that He wants
in the Sunday School. Then, I never approach people to teach, but rather
set the needs before the church, ask people to pray and then approach me
if they feel this is what God is saying to them. My teachers need to feel
a calling. A truly called-out teacher will minister to the flock he/she
has, reach out to others and (here's the best part) never burn out -
because they are teaching for the right reason. Of course, once they
have accepted the calling from God, it is our job as leaders to provide
resources, prayer support and encouragement. Hope this helps you. "Never
tire of doing good"
Debbi, Manitoba, Canada
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W.W.J.S.? Gospel Catchers
There's something much worse than cooties...it's called sin! Now kids can
make Gospel Catchers rather than Cootie Catchers! A fun and innovative way
for kids to learn to share their faith with their friends! Includes 4
Gospel Catcher patterns to make: the Colors of Christ (Gospel Colors), the
Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, and the Promises of God. Follow this
link to learn more:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/kt_kit.html
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8) Back to School Splash
I am the Preschool - Children's Director at Southside Baptist Church in
Johnson City, Tennessee and in regards to the back to school bash idea..
try this sometime....We have a "back to school splash" the weekend in
August before school starts. We rent the local community swimming pool
(Saturday evening after they close to the public our price includes 2
lifeguards) We then invite all the children from Kindergarten through 6th
grade to come "splash" and they can bring a friend. The pool allows us to
bring our grill and we cook hot dogs and burgers, have chips, sodas and
cookies, and just an all around good time. The adults of our church
chipped in last year and we made up a goodie bag of school supplies for
each kid who attended the splash. It included a pack of notebook paper, a
1 subject notebook, a mechanical pencil, a pen, a highlighter, a plain
folder, a folder with pictures, a candy bar, note pad, ruler, and a 16
count pack of crayons... We also included a devotional book for the month
of August and September. This event is a huge success and we've had many
parents come up and say how much they appreciate the goodie
bag because it helped so much with the expense of back to school supplies.
Hope you can use this idea sometime...It has become an annual event for us
as well as a great outreach tool. For additional information you can
contact me at coxdk@etsu.edu
God bless in your ministry,
Ms Debbie
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9) Jr/Sr. High Lessons?
I need help on some ideas for Jr High & High School Sunday school lessons.
I am the sunday school superentendent and the teacher of this class. Our
church is a small church approx. 100 people but our Sunday Scchool has
only been averaging around 25 or so, there is so much of a potential for
the others to come to Sunday school before the Sunday A.M. worshipo
service. I am also looking for a way to revive this program, any ideas?
Thanks for all and any help. Pam
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10) No building---can't decorate
Getting around decoration problems--This doesn't exactly fit the request
made for decorating rooms you can't modify at all, but it will fit the
needs of a number of people out there. In our church there is an
occsaionally-used, all-purpose kind of room in the education wing. It is
large, with those great white, antiseptic walls. I convinced my husband
to drill a hole for a toggle bolt in each corner of the room so that wire
can be strung around the ceiling edge on every side. We bought newsprint
end rolls from the city newspaper for $1-$3 each. We staple newsprint
sheets over the wire at the top and cut them where they touch the floor.
When enough sheets have been hung for the desired space, we overlap them a
bit and glue the edges together, making one big sheet. Then we paint or
use markers, following a design projected on overhead. That room has been
a jungle with a mountain waterfall, a collection of portraits from the Old
Testament and currently houses a kid-friendly mission center on five
countries/areas of the world. When we finish a particular use of the
room, we take down the newsprint, pack up the freestanding items, and
voila, the church ladies have their extra room back again! Grace
Wisthoff
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"Get em' in the LOOP!"
L-eading kids to Christ,
O-ffering advice
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11) Sharing the Gospel through Flower Bulbs
> I was wondering if anyone has ever heard of a story that uses the process
> of a flower bulb growing into a flower to explain the death and
> resurrection of Jesus? Thanks!
The Parable of the Lily by Lizz Curtis Higgs is a wonderful story that
relates the death of Jesus to a dead bulb and how the Easter Lily comes
from it in reference to the Resurrection.
Sherri, in Ohio
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into the search box:
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12) Craft book
Book: "New Testament Bible Story Crafts" by Linda Standke
On page 44-46 is a GREAT craft for this. My kidsa love it.
In Christ,
Nancy Kitts
--from SSTN: it too is available in our Bookstore. Just type the title
into the search box:
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