instructor’s guide lesson 1-0 jesus’ heart for...

RevisedOct.2017

page1TWELVECoreTraining

Participantswillneed:• Bibles• Participantnotes• WritingutensilsIllustrationoptions:• Erasableboardand

writingsupplies• 100cottonballs,or

substitute(beans,stones,etc.)

• God’sheartobjects:cross,heart,chain,candle,towel

• Threestonesandapot• Sticksforfirewood,

coloredpaper(orsubstitute)forfire

• Car(orpictureofone)Mediaoptions:• PowerPointslidesforthis

lesson• “Introductiontothe4/14

Window”video(iftranslatedintothelocallanguage)

Instructor’sGuideLESSON1-0Jesus’HeartforChildren

Objectives• TodiscoverwhatScripturesaysaboutJesus’heartforchildrenand

theworld.• Toconsiderimportantelementstoprepareleadersforworkwith

children.• Tocommittochildren’sworkasanextensionofGod’sheartfor

childrenandtheGreatCommission.

LessonOverviewWelcome&WarmUp 5minutesWhatdoPeopleSayAboutChildren? 5minutesWhatdidJesusTeachAboutChildren? 15minutesWhatisGod’sHeartforChildren? 15minutesHowwillwePrepareforWorkwithChildren? 15minutesTheGreatCommissionandChildren 5minutesWrapup 5minutes ApproximateTotalTime: 65minutes

BeforeYouBegin• Pray.AskGodtoopentheheartsofparticipantsandtohelpyoushare

fromyourheartaboutthisimportanttopic.• Gatherallmaterials(seeright).Makesubstitutionsasnecessary.• Readthroughthelessontofindplaceswhereyouwillbeaskedtogivea

personalstoryorthought.Planaheadtochoosepowerfulexamples.

Instructor’sGuideLESSON1-0Jesus‘HeartforChildren


RevisedOct.2017

Playagame:TwelveMonths(Welcomeparticipants,introduceyourselfandinviteeveryonetostandforaquickgametogettoknowoneanother.Becausethisis“TWELVECoreTraining,”beginwithagameusingtwelve.Askparticipantstothinkaboutthemonthinwhichtheywereborn.Onthecountofthree,peoplearetofindothersthatwereborninthesamemonthandformagroup.Aftergroupsform,instructpeopletointroducethemselvesandshareoneinterestingfactabouttheirchildhood.Whenfinished,inviteeveryonetobeseated.Explainthatthistrainingwillequipchildren’sworkerstohelpchildrentofollowJesuslikethetwelvedisciples.)

Videooption:Show“Introductiontothe4/14Window”videoanddiscusswhat

standsoutfromthevideoaswethinkofchildren’sministry.(https://1for50share.net/media/introduction-to-the-4-14-window-movement-video/)

Discussproverbsorsayingsaboutchildren(Sharesomecommonexpressionsaboutchildrenfromyourcultureand/orsomeculturesthatyouhavevisited.Seeparticipantnotesforexamples.Thenaskparticipantstoformgroupsofthreeorfourpeopleandtaketwominutestodiscussandlistlocalproverbsaboutchildren.Haveseveralpeopleshareexamples.Summarizekeypoints.)HowaretheseattitudessimilartoordifferentfromthewaypeoplethinkaboutortreatchildrenintheChristiancommunityorchurch?(Discussasalargegroup.)

WhatdidJesussayaboutchildren?WhenpeoplebroughtchildrentoJesus,thedisciplestriedtosendthechildrenaway.HowdidJesusrespond?ReadMatthew19:14together.(HaveparticipantscircleinparticipantnotestheimportantkeywordsthatJesussaidaboutchildren.Discoverwordslike“come,”kingdom,”“donothinder,”etc.)

WhatdoPeopleSayAboutChildren? (5minutes)

WelcomeandWarmUp (5minutes)

WhatdidJesusTeachAboutChildren? (15minutes)

Today’slessonlaysaveryimportantfoundationinourworkwithchildren.WewillbeexploringwhatJesus’heartisforchildrenandtheworld.THE1for50HAND:Thislessonfocuseson“TheHeartoftheLeader.”



RevisedOct.2017

Jesususedthisopportunitytocorrectthedisciples’notionthatchildrenshouldbekeptawayfromhim.Heinstructedhisfollowerstonotkeepchildrenawayfromthekingdomandfromhim.ChildrenareimportanttoGod.

WhatelsedidJesusteachhisdisciplesaboutchildren?

(AskavolunteertoreadMatthew18:1-14slowlyandclearlyinthelocallanguage.HaveparticipantslistenforthedifferenttruthsJesusstatedaboutchildren.Thenhaveparticipantsworkinpairsorsmallgroupsfor5-10minutesgoingthroughtheScripturepassagetolisttruthsthatJesuswasteachingthedisciplesaboutchildren.Shareanswersasalargegroup,listingthemonaboard.)

Findthelostsheep(Beforeclass,hideonecottonball“sheep”somewhereintheroom.)Oneofthemostpowerfulpartsofthispassageisthestoryofthelostsheepinv.12-14.(Reviewthestory,usingthecottonballsorsubstitutetoillustrate,askingparticipantstoconfirmthedetailsofhowmanysheeptherewere,howmanysheepweremissing,etc.Explainthatyouhavelostasheep–thehiddencottonball–andneedtofindit.Whatshouldwedoifoneismissing?Haveeveryonestandupandhelpsearchforthissheep.Celebratewhenitisfound.Showthecottonball“sheep”joiningtheotherninety-nine.)Whatwouldthestorybelikeifweweretoinserttoday’sstatistics?Globally,about1/3oftheworld’spopulationwouldbe“inthefold”andabout2/3wouldbe“lostsheep.”(Putallthecottonballsonatableanddividethecottonballstotwopilessopeoplecanseethestatisticsvisualized.)Howmany“sheep”are“lost”or“found”inyourowncommunity?(Allowparticipantstoworkaloneorinpairs,writingtheirresponseintheboxonp.2oftheparticipantnotes.)

RereadMatthew18:14(inparticipantnotes).“YourFatherinheavenisnotwillingthatanyoftheselittleonesshouldperish.”MayGod’sheartforchildrenalsobeinourhearts.

ThesethoughtsfromJesusarejustthebeginningofunderstandingwhatScripturesaysaboutchildren.

IftheshepherdwaswillingtogolookingforjustONEsheep,whatmighthebewillingtodo(andwantusashisfollowerstodo)aboutsomanywhoneedtobefound?



RevisedOct.2017

DiscoverGod’sheartforchildren–inScripture(Optional:Fiveobjectsgoalongwiththefivepointsinthissection:KnowGod=cross,LoveGod=heart,Fellowship=chain,HonorGod=candle,ServeGod=towel.Showobjectsasyouexplaineachpoint.Youalsomaycreatehandmotionstoremembereachpoint.)

Thereareover1700referencestochildrenandchildhoodintheBible.TheyrevealGod'spriorityandloveforchildren.FromwhatJesustaughthisdisciplesandfromotherScriptureswelearnmuchaboutGod’sheartanddreamsforthespiritualnurtureofchildren.(Gothrougheachofthefivepoints.Statethepoint,explainthepoint,haveavolunteerreadthekeyverseforthepointandexplain,givethebiblicalstoryofachildthatillustratesthepoint,andshowtheobject/motiontohelprememberthepoint.Aseachpointispresented,gobackandreviewwiththeobject/motion.)

1.GodwantschildrentoKNOWGod(KeyVerse:2Peter3:9)

KnowingGodismorethanhavingheadknowledgeaboutGod.Godwantschildrentoknowhimpersonally,tomakeadecisiontofollowChristastheirSavior.ThisisallaboutthechildunderstandingthegospelandcomingtoaplaceofpersonaldecisiontofollowChrist.Doestheword“everyone”in2Peter3:9includechildren?Yes.Story:theLostSheep(Matthew18:10-14;Godisnotwillingthatevenoneoftheselittleonesshouldperish.)Object/Motion:makeacrosswitharms

2.GodwantschildrentoLOVEGod(KeyVerse:Mark12:30)GoddesiresthatchildrengrowapersonalrelationshiporfriendshipwithChrist,lovingGodwithalltheirheart,soul,mindandstrength.Thistendernessneedstogrowinchildrenthroughworshipandprayer.CanchildrenloveGodwithalltheirheart,soul,mindandstrength?Yes.David’slifeisagreatexample.Story:David(ayoungboyafterGod’sownheart)Object/Motion:heart/crossarmsoverchest

3.GodwantschildrentoFELLOWSHIPTogether(KeyVerse:Romans12:5)ChildrenneedtobeincludedintheChurchandinrelationshipwithotherbelievers.Thisishowtheyarementoredtogrow.GodcallsustoinvitechildrentobelongandfunctionaspartoftheBodyofChrist.AstheyreceivelovefromtheBodyofChrist,theylearntoextendthatlovetoothers.Story:Timothy(whogrewinfaithasifhewerePaul’sson)Object/Motion:chain(beingstrongtogether)/holdinghands

WhatisGod’sHeartforChildren? (15minutes)



RevisedOct.2017

4.GodwantschildrentoHONORGod(KeyVerse:1Timothy4:12;Matthew5:16)Parentsandchurchleaderswantgoodbehaviorfromchildren.TohonorGodistodomorethanbehavewellwhenothersareenforcingthebehavior.Itisdoingrightwhenothersarenotwatching,makingrightchoicesfromtheheart.Wewanttoteachchildrentolivelivesofobedience,makingchoicesthathonorGod,andbeingexamplestoothers.Story:Daniel(hechosetofollowGod’sways,eveninanungodlynation)Object/Motion:candle(tietoMatt.5:16)/armsraised

5.GodwantschildrentoSERVEGod(KeyVerse:1Peter4:10)ChildrenhavebeengiftedbyGodtoserve,andhedesiresthattheylearnhowtoserveandgrowinusingtheirgifts,eveninchildhood.Story:Joseph(heservedfaithfullyathome,incaptivity,inprisonandfinallyinPharaoh’spalace)Object/Motion:towel(Jesuswasheddisciples’feet)/armsforward

Whatisimportantaswepreparetoworkwithchildren?(Setoutthreestones,potand“fire”anddramatizewiththegroupasyoudescribeathree-stonecookingfire.)Thethree-stonefireremindsusofimportantprinciplesinpreparingtoworkwithchildren.Insomecultures,foodiscookedoverafireusingthreestones.Thestonesarepositionedaroundthefireinthecenter.Thesestonesmustbeevenlysizedandstableortheywillnotholdthepotoffoodplacedonthem.Ourministrytochildrencanbecomparedtoathree-stonefire.ThefireinthecenterrepresentsGod’sheartandpassionforchildren.God’sheartmustbeburningwithinusifwewanttohaveavitalministrywithchildren.(Fillinblanksinparticipantnotes.)Thethreestonesrepresentthechildren’steacherandthreeessentialcomponentstheymusthavetopreparetodochildren’sministrywell.

Stone1:SKILLSreferstocreativity,principles,teachingskills,ideas,

storytelling,etc.,thatweusetoteachchildren.Mostpeoplethinkskillsaretheonlyrequirementtoprepareforministrytochildren.Butskillsareonlypartofwhatisrequired.

HowwillwePrepareforWorkwithChildren? (15minutes)

Together,allofthesedreamsbecomeafocusonmakingdisciples.Isthisthevisionandheartyouhaveforthechildreninyoursphereofinfluence?Takeamomentandreflectonyourheartandvisionforchildren.PrayandaskGodtoputhisheartforchildreninyou.



RevisedOct.2017

Stone2:BIBLEKNOWLEDGEmeansknowingGod’sWord,havingitliveinyourheart,andbeingabletoteachaccurately.Manypeoplesaythatchildren’sworkersare“onlyteachingchildren”sotheydonotneedalotofBibletraining.Butchildrenmustbetaughtwelltobuildastrongfoundationoftruthforthefuture.

Stone3:SERVANTLEADERSHIPreferstobeinganexampleofChrist,

beingapersonofcompassionandintegrityoutsideofclass,notjustwithchildren.Itmeanslivingoutwhatyouareteachingthechildren.

• Shouldeachofthesethreeareasbestrongandbalanced?Why?• Whathappenswhenoneofthethreeareasisweakormissing?

Shareanexampleofateacherwhowasnotbalanced(i.e.,hadteachingskillsandBibleknowledgebutlackedtheexampleofaservantleader).Asyoushare,pulloutthestonethatwaslacking.

ThepotrepresentsthechildandeverythingthatgoesintodisciplingthemtobefollowersofJesus.(Usethefiveobjectsfromtheprevioussectiontoillustratewhatgoesinthepottomakedisciples.)Justascookingrequiresattention,time,andaddingingredients,makingdisciplesofchildrenalsotakestime,attentionandcontinualteaching.

TheCircle:Essentialsofministrytochildren

Asweputthiswholelessontogether,weseethreeveryimportantplayers:

GOD:ThefirstisGodatthecenter,whoseheartforchildrenandheartfortheworldisthe“fire”thatdrivesitall.LEADERS:Nextarethechildren’sleadersandworkerswhoneedtopreparewithskills,biblicalknowledgeandaChrist-likeexample.CHILDREN:Finally,God’sheartforchildrenisthattheygrowasdisciples–notjustbequietandstillinclassorsaymemoryverses,butbecomefollowersofJesusinthisworld.

SohowdoesaneffectiveministrytochildrenrelatetotheGreatCommission?



RevisedOct.2017

TheGreatCommissionReadMatthew28:19-20.(Haveparticipantsunderlinewordsintheparticipantnotesthatapplytochildren’sleadersandcirclewordsthatapplytochildren.

Discover:go,makedisciples,allnations,baptizing,teachingtoobey,“Iamwithyoualways”

Noticethatallwordsapplytobothchildrenandtheirleaders!)

Whatimpactcanchildren’sleadershaveonthefulfillmentoftheGreatCommission?

TheChurchislikeacar

(Showatoycarorapictureofacar.)Ministrytoandwithchildrenislikeoneofthewheelsonacar.Children’sministryisnotmeanttobelikeasparetire,hiddenawayinthetrunkuntilneeded.Justaseachwheelisneededtomakethecarmoveforwardeffectively,ministrytochildrenisneededfortheChurchtogrowstrong.Afocusonchildrencanhelpchurches:

• Makemoredisciples• ReachmorepeopleforChrist• Growstronger• Andmore!

DopeopleseeyourworkwithchildrenasanessentialpartoftheGreatCommission?

Evenifyouareoneofthefewwhounderstands,younowknowthatthisisJesus’heartforchildren.HowwillyourespondtowhatGodissayingtoyou?(Spendtimeinprayertogetherorinsmallgroups.PrayforoneanothertogrowanevendeeperunderstandingofGod’sheartforchildren.PraythateachpersonwouldunderstandwhatGodwantsthemtodoandhavethecouragetoobey.)

TheGreatCommissionandChildren (5minutes)

WrapUp&Prayer (5minutes)

instructor’s guide lesson 1-0 jesus’ heart for...

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