Lesson 2: Good gifts.
Passage: Luke 11:5-13 - Jesus tells a parable in which a man knocks on his friend’s door late at night to ask for bread. He says that even though the friend might say no at first, if the man continues to knock and knock, the friend will finally give in and give him bread. Jesus encourages his followers to ask God for things. He compares God to a parent who knows how to give good gifts to their children. All the more will God give good gifts to those who ask.
Big Idea: God invites us to ask.
For Teachers:
Lesson plan.
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Welcome Activity: — All Leaders
Have one leader greet the children with the iPad roster outside the classroom door. Check-in the children in your classroom as they arrive.
Have another leader invite the children in to sit in a circle on the circle time rug. Introduce yourselves.
Use this time to get to know the kids in the classroom and welcome them to church.
Leader: “Good morning friends! It’s so nice to see you! We are glad you are here today. We are going to play a little game to get started today.
Warm Up Activity: Stand Up, Sit Down — Activity Leader
Kids will sit down or stand up based on the directions given. For example: “If you have siblings, stand up,” or “If you are the youngest of your siblings, sit down.”
A list of examples will be provided in the classroom.
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Today we're talking about stories Jesus told to his friends and followers, to teach them important lessons! In today's story, Jesus talks about someone who knocks on their friends door late at night to ask for bread!
Have you ever tried asking for something you needed? Maybe you asked a friend or teacher or parent?
Do you usually get the things that you ask for? Have you ever asked God for things before?
Let’s watch our video to find out more about the story…
Video Lesson — Play Storytime Parables: Good Gifts from lesson playlist.
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader
What happened in Nana Alex's story from when she was a kid? What was the thing she was asking for?
Do you think God wants to give us good gifts when we ask for things?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader
"Dear God, thank you for the story of Jesus we learned about today and how it teaches us that you love it when we ask for things. You are a like a parent who loves us and wants to give us good gifts. We might not always get everything we want, but we know that you have good things for us and that it's okay to ask for the things we need or want. In Jesus' name, Amen."
Leader: Alright friends I think we should get up and move around a bit before our craft can everybody stand up?
Movement Activity: — Worship Song
Select a song from the Worship Playlist
Children can follow the actions and to sing
After the song finishes head to the craft tables for the activity.
Activity: Fall tree Q-tip painting
Kids will use Q-tips and washable paint to create a full fall tree.
If a child is not interested in the activity, allow them to move to free play.
Dismissal: Dismiss children using the roster iPad and checking that their care-givers code matches the code on the roster iPad.
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Welcome Activity: — All Leaders
Have one leader greet the children with the iPad roster at the front of the classroom. Check-in the children in your classroom as they arrive.
Have another leader invite the children to sit down on the carpet as they arrive.
Use this time to get to know the kids names and welcome them to church.
Leader: “Good morning friends! It’s so nice to see you! We are glad you are here today. We are going to play a little game to get started.
Warm Up Activity: Stand Up, Sit Down — Activity Leader
Kids will sit down or stand up based on the directions given. For example: “If you have siblings, stand up,” or “If you are the youngest of your siblings, sit down.”
A list of examples will be provided in the classroom.
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader
“Today we're continuing to learn about the stories Jesus told to his friends and followers, to teach them important lessons! In today's story, Jesus talks about someone who knocks on their friends door late at night to ask for bread!”
Have you ever tried asking for something you needed? Maybe you asked a friend or teacher or parent?
Do you usually get the things that you ask for? Have you ever asked God for things before?
Let’s watch our video to find out more about the story…
Video Lesson — Play the video from the lesson plan playlist: Storytime
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader
What happened in Nana Alex's story from when she was a kid? What was the thing she was asking for?
What did her parents say at first? Do you think her parents wanted to get her the bike when she asked? Why or why not?
Why do you think her parents eventually got her the bike that she wanted?
Do you think God wants to give us good gifts when we ask for things?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader
"Dear God, thank you for the story of Jesus we learned about today and how it teaches us that you love it when we ask for things. You are a like a parent who loves us and wants to give us good gifts. We might not always get everything we want, but we know that you have good things for us and that it's okay to ask for the things we need or want. In Jesus' name, Amen."
Activity: Fall Leaves Q-tip painting
.Kids will use Q-tips, and washable paint to decorate their tree printable.
Dismissal: Dismiss children by using the iPad roster and making sure to each child leaves with their care-giver.
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Welcome: All Leaders
Welcome the kids to class and use the roster iPad to check them in.
Warm Up Activity: — Find Someone Who Bingo
Kids will each need a pencil and a bingo sheet (located in the classroom)
Kids will try to find a person (including leaders) who fits the description in each square, and write there name in the square.
The first one to make a line 5 squares wins.
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Today we're continuing our new series on the parables of Jesus. That is, stories that Jesus told to teach his followers important lessons about life and God.
Today's story is about someone who went to their friend's house late at night to knock on their door and ask for bread!
What would you do if one of your friends was knocking on your door asking for something? Do you think you'd be annoyed? Would you try to help them and give them what they were asking for?
Have you ever had to ask for something, maybe from a friend or teacher or parent? Do these people usually give you the thing you ask for?
Let's watch today's video to find out more...
Video Lesson — Play the video from the Lesson Playlist: Storytime Parables: Good Gifts
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader
What was it that was happening in Nana Alex's story from when she was a child? How does it relate to Jesus' story about the person asking for bread?
Have you ever tried asking God for things before? Did God answer your prayers? What was that experience like?
Do you think that God likes it when we ask for the things we want or need? Why or why not?
What do you think it tells us about God that Jesus encourages us to ask and pray for things and to not be shy about asking?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader
"Dear God, thank you for the lesson we learned today from Jesus' parable about asking and praying. Thank you that you are like a parent who loves and cares for us and wants to give good gifts to all of your children. Thank you that we don't have to be shy or nervous about asking and praying for things, whether it's things that we need or things that we just want. You love it when we go to you in prayer. We might not always get everything we want, but we know that you give good gifts to those who ask. In Jesus' name, Amen."
Activity: Fall Leaves Q-tip painting
.Kids will use Q-tips, and washable paint to decorate their tree printable.
Dismissal: Dismiss children by using the iPad roster and making sure to each child leaves with their care-giver.
For Parents:
Follow-up questions.
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What was the story you learned about in class today?
What was it that Nana Alex was asking her parents for in the story from her childhood? What happened next?
Why do you think her parents said no at first? Do you sometimes ask for things but you can't get it right away?
In Jesus' story, what was it that the man knocked on his friends door late at night to ask for? How did that story end?
Do you think God is more like a parent who likes giving good gifts or like the friend in the story who got annoyed by their friend asking for bread? Why do you think that?
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What was the story you learned about in class today?
What was it that Nana Alex was asking her parents for in the story from her childhood? Why do you think her parents said no at first?
What happened in the end? Do you think that parents like to give good gifts to their kids if they can?
In Jesus' story, what was it that the man knocked on his friends door late at night to ask for? What did the friend say?
Do you think God is more like a parent who likes giving good gifts or like the friend in the story who got annoyed by their friend asking for bread? Why do you think that?
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What was the story you learned about in class today?
What was it that Nana Alex was asking her parents for in the story she told from her childhood? Do you think they wanted to get it for her if they could? Why do you think they said no at first?
And in Jesus' story, what was it that the man was asking his friend for late at night? How did the friend react?
What did Jesus say this story teaches us about what God is like and how we should pray?
