What Kids Are Learning April 19, 2020

SGL Guides

What Kids are Learning Sunday April 12, 2020

BOTTOM LINE
Jesus is alive.

BIBLE STORY
Easter
Matthew 26:20-50;
27:1-2; 28:1-7

MEMORY VERSE
"I am alive for ever and ever!" Revelation 1:18, NIV

KEY QUESTION
Who is alive?

BASIC TRUTH
Jesus wants to be my friend forever.

SAY THIS
Jesus put us first.

BIBLE STORY
Jesus is Crucified,
Buried, and Resurrected
John 18:12 – 20:23

MEMORY VERSE
“Don’t do anything only to get ahead. Don’t do it because you are proud. Instead, be humble. Value others more than yourselves.”
- Philippians 2:3, NIrV

LIFE APP

Humility:
Putting others first by giving up what you think you deserve.

What Kids Are Learning Sunday April 5, 2020

Preschool

BOTTOM LINE
Jesus is alive.
BIBLE STORY
Palm Sunday
Matthew 21:1-11, 15-16
MEMORY VERSE
"I am alive for ever and ever!" Revelation 1:18, NIV
KEY QUESTION
Who is alive?
BASIC TRUTH
Jesus wants to be my friend forever.

Elementary

SAY THIS
Put others first.

BIBLE STORY
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
Matthew 26:36-56
(Supporting: Luke 22:39-46)

MEMORY VERSE
“Don’t do anything only to get ahead. Don’t do it because you are proud. Instead, be humble. Value others more than yourselves.”
- Philippians 2:3, NIrV

LIFE APP:

Humility -
Putting others first by giving up what you think you deserve.

SGL Prayers for Parents

Guide to Prayers for Parents

Please have your prayers to Brianna by February 23

What You as the SGL Need to do:

Take 5 post it notes and write 5 different prayers for the families of your few (1 prayer per post it). If you have more prayers, that would be terrific!

Prayers should be general, not specific to any one child or family.

‘Praying that we the church can help parents to intentionally and diligently equip their children for life with God.’

‘In the midst of challenges families face, Lord, help them to remember that God wants an abundant life for them. John 10:10 – A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.

‘Good, good Father, we pray that you will be with our parents and give them good things when they ask. Matthew 7:9-11’

March Madness Questions for SGLs

How long have you been a member/attending FUMC?

How long have you been serving in Kids Ministry?

When you are not busy influencing the faith of the next generation, what do you do? Do you work a 9-5? Retired?

Do you serve on other ministry teams at FUMC?

Do you serve in other areas of our community?

What is the most rewarding part of being a SGL?

What is the most fun part of being a SGL?

Would you recommend being a SGL to other members of FUMC?

What is your favorite or one of your favorite Bible verses?

Mistakes You Might Be Making When It Comes to Understanding Kids

I wanted to share this post from Orange Leaders with my SGLs because it’s a good reminder to us.

Don’t let these assumptions limit or reduce your impact on your few:

Don’t assume kids have the same perspective as you! Remember you are who you are because your life experiences have shaped you and your perspective!

Do you ever find yourself in conflict with a kid because they see things differently than you? Maybe you have trouble understanding your toddler’s nonsensical meltdown or your teenager’s immature decision. Is it possible that you’re looking at life through your own lens and expecting kids–with their underdeveloped lenses—to see what you see?

Don’t assume that you know what it’s like to be a kid because you were a kid! Things have changed. Elementary age kids’have access to all types of information and opportunities for learning that some of us are only just now discovering as adults’.

Here are safe assumptions:
1. Kids are going to act like kids. Yes they are going to make the wrong choice. Yes they are going to act crazy and annoying. That doesn’t make it okay. It’s still important to set expectations. But don’t freak out when a kid acts like a kid.
2. Kids are living today!

That means their world looks very different from the one you grew up in. Thankfully, we have a secret and we are going to share it with you. Come close. Okay, here it is . . . you are living today too!
You can study social media, check out the latest hit movies, books and music, and generally work to understand what it might be like to grow up in the golden age of smartphones and all-the-time internet access.
This is the best news of all, really. You once were a kid. Check. You live today. Check. You have the wisdom of an adult. Check. Your powers combined pack a pretty strong punch.

Healthy Friendship Conversation Guides – Elementary

ELEMENTARY HEALTHY FRIENDSHIPS CONVERSATION GUIDE FOR SGLs

Every kid needs tribes over time to give them belonging. And
your small group is a great place for that kind of connection to
take place! As a small group leader, you’re a significant member
of a kid’s tribe. So keep in mind your conversations about
friendship matter. Your words could serve as the foundation
of how a kid views and forms their own friendships.

Elementary schoolers are all about fun. And nothing is more
fun than friends! At this age, friendships can change from
week to week. Sometimes they change from day to day! But
their importance isn’t marginalized by their inconstant nature.
Not getting invited to a sleepover or being the last kid picked
for the kickball game can be heartbreaking to a kid. Even the
seemingly small things, like not sitting by your favorite friend
at lunch, can be a big deal to an elementary schooler.
And as the phases progress, so does your group’s capacity to
compel one another. To shape one another. To critically affect
one another. So take care with how you approach the topic of
friends—even during this early phase of elementary school.
No fight is too silly or disappointment too small to unpack.
Here are a few ideas of what to say—and what to avoid
saying—when leading discussions about healthy friendships
with elementary schoolers:

WHAT TO SAY:
• “What’s your favorite show, book, or movie about friends?
How are they good friends to each other?”
• “Tell me about how you met your best friend. What kind
of things do you enjoy doing together?”
• “Name three words that describe a good friend.”
• “Think about a time a friend has made you angry or sad.
What happened?”
• “If you wanted to become a friend with someone new,
what would you do?”
• “Have you ever felt like you needed to “tattle” on a friend?”
• “Have you ever wanted something a friend had?
What happened?”
• “Friends forgive one another. What does it mean
to forgive someone?”
• “If you saw your friend being mean or rude to someone,
what would you do?”

WHAT NOT TO SAY:
• “Everyone should be your friend.”
• “You can only have one best friend.”
• “If you don’t have lots of friends, maybe you aren’t very nice.”
• “If someone hurts your feelings, you shouldn’t be their friend.”
• “Don’t be friends with _____________________. They’re not a good
influence.”
• “________________ isn’t a good friend.”

Healthy Friendship Conversation Guide – Preschool

PRESCHOOL HEALTHY FRIENDSHIPS CONVERSATION GUIDE FOR SGLs

Every kid needs tribes over time to give them belonging. And
your small group is a great place for that kind of connection to
take place! As a small group leader, you’re a significant member
of a child’s tribe. So keep in mind that your conversations about
friendship matter—even during this early phase of preschool.
Your words could serve as the foundation of how a kid views
and forms their own friendships.

A marker of the preschool phase is that everyone is a friend.
The mailman. The neighbor down the street. The cashier at the
grocery store. The family dog. To a preschooler, friends come
in all shapes, sizes, genders, and species. The key to discussing
friendships with a preschooler is to keep it basic, specific, and
concrete—keeping your focus on what it looks like to be a
good friend. Acting out situations, playing games, and funny
stories are the best teachers in this phase.

Here are a few ideas of what to say—and what to avoid
saying—when leading discussions about healthy friendships
with preschoolers:

WHAT TO SAY:
• What does it mean to be a friend?
• Do you watch any shows or read any books about friends?
How do they treat one another? What type of things do
friends do together?
• Friends are kind and loving to one another. What does it mean
to be kind and loving?
• Good friends ask one another questions. Let’s take turns asking
each other questions like friends.
• Friends share with one another. Who shares with you?
Who do you share with?
• Friends use nice words when they play together. What are some
examples of nice words?
• Has a friend ever made you sad or hurt your feelings?
What did you do? What did you say?
• Have you ever seen someone sitting or playing by themselves?
What did you do? How could you be a friend to them?
• Friends forgive one another. What does it mean
to forgive someone?

WHAT NOT TO SAY:
• If someone hurts your feelings, they’re not a good friend.
• You should choose one friend and that’s it.
• If you don’t have lots of friends, maybe you aren’t very nice.

SGL Prayer Calendar

You know how important it is to consistently pray for the kids or students in your
small group. You also know that life is busy – and, that as a small group leader, it’s likely
your life is busier than busy. Creating additional margin to pray with intentionality can
sometimes feel impossible.
That’s why we’ve created this simple tool – a prayer calendar. Week-to-week, follow the
prompts as a guide during your prayer time. Talking to God about your leadership and
your few has the potential to be life-changing. Not only for them, but for you.
SGL Prayer Calendar download