Heroes of the Bible - Children's Curriculum

Unit 1 - 13 Lessons from the Patriarchs and Judges

Unit 2 - 13 Lessons from the Kings and Prophets

Unit 3 - 13 Lessons from Champs and Chumps of the New Testament

Unit 4a & 4b - 14 lessons for the Holidays - ALL NEW - 14 lessons that include Advent (4 lessons) Thanksgiving & New Year, Lent (5 lessons), Palm Sunday, Easter and Pentecost.

Please E-mail me to order the e-version. $2 per lesson or $25 per quarter.

In this curriculum you'll find lessons that feature real Bible persons. Each were just regular people like me and you. They had no idea someone would be reading their story 2000-5000 years later. But as we learn about them, we see them as "Heroes, Heroines, Champs and Chumps." We'll be exploring all four types, because even those who didn't follow Christ had lives that we can learn from if we are interested in growing more like our Savior.

TIPS FOR LEADING A CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

PREPARING FOR YOUR LESSON - Look at the lesson as early as possible. I recommend beginning to look at your material at least one week prior to it's start. Be in prayer so God can lead you which elements of the lesson you should use. Try to read the focus scripture every day during the week so you're familiar with what the Bible says about the lesson you're about to lead. Looking over the lesson each day during the week and beginning to gather needed supplies early make it easier to prepare and more fun as you lead the children.

THE COMPONENTS OF HEROES, HEROINES, CHAMPS AND CHUMPS - Each lesson includes four sections: Setting up the Lesson, Presenting the Lesson, Making it Real to the Kids and Wrapping it up and Sending it Home. You'll also find a section at the end of every lesson to help you develop a relationship with the kids in your ministry. Kids will respond to your lesson even more when they know how much you care about them. Here's an overview of the four sections:

Setting up the Lesson: Here you'll find a short illustration to begin to introduce the lesson

Presenting the Lesson: Don't forget to review this part several times during the week so you can read it as little as possible. You may use the story you'll find in the Bible, read it directly from scripture or tell the story in your own words. If you do use your own words, be sure to emphasize the part of the story that ties in with the Key Phrase and Theme. Throughout the lesson you'll see (allow for answers). Getting feedback from the kids will help keep their attention. Anytime they seem to be losing interest, you can interject a question for them to answer to bring them back to focus on the lesson. In addition, be sure to keep your voice "interesting." Get loud and soft where appropriate and use hand gestures to demonstrate your excitement. All of this will help the children to stay involved and attentive.

Making it Real: Depending on your time frame there may be more here than you can use each week. Choose the activities that you are most comfortable with. If you are the sole leader, mix up your choices a bit from week to week. If you're working with a rotating team, chances are you can choose your favorites every time because others in your rotation will probably have different favorites. Additionally, if you have another activity of your own that will reinforce the Key Phrase or Theme, use that instead. Don't skip "The Teaching Moment" even if you use your own idea. The Teaching Moments help reinforce the lesson and will help bring the lesson to mind every time the children encounter a similar activity.

Wrapping it Up - Sending it Home: Clean up is a very important aspect. Being responsible for their own mess is a great lesson for every child. Encourage them to put things away and push in chairs. Finally, don't ever miss an opportunity to pray with the children. Your prayer not only blesses them, it also helps them learn to pray. When you move into prayer time, you can have all the children sit in their seats or gather in a circle and hold hands. If some children don't want to participate, that's OK. Don't force them to join in prayer time. However, help them understand that they must stay still and quiet during prayer time so all of the other kids can concentrate on their prayer. If you have time, ask the children for prayer requests or have them pray aloud at the end of your prayer. Encourage them to pray for each other. Don't be afraid to cut them short if they begin to get carried away with their requests. Remind them that they can tell you later or say their own prayer quietly because Jesus will still hear. You'll find a prayer at the end of every lesson; however, feel free to pray spontaneously if you feel comfortable.

Leading a Child Monday through Saturday: Each week you'll find suggestions on how you can develop real relationships with these kids. The more they know you care, they more they'll want to learn all that you know.

LEADING A CHILD TO CHRIST ~ One of our main goals in leading children is to bring them to a real relationship with Jesus Christ. You'll be amazed at how young a child can accept Christ as his Savior. Never dismiss a child as too small to understand. It's proven that the majority of children who don't accept Christ before age 17, never will. I would venture to say that age is growing younger by the minute. So, to help you in your efforts, this is a simple plan to help children make a decision for Christ:

1. Make sure that they understand that God created them, and they are special to Him.

2. Help them see that no matter how hard we try to be good, we can't be good enough all by ourselves. (Romans 3:23)

3. Be sure they understand that Christ was perfect, and only a perfect sacrifice can make us good enough to live with God forever. (Romans 5:8)

4. Tell them that if we believe in Christ's death on the cross for our sins, if we believe that He died and rose again and if we ask God to forgive our sins, we can be saved. (1 John 1:9-Romans 10:9)

5. Lead them in a prayer that includes something like this: "I believe that you died for my sins. Forgive me for . . . . Please be my Savior." There are no special words or magic formula, just a sincere heart.

6. It's very important we share our new faith with someone. Tell them to make sure they tell the Pastor, their parents or grandparents or their friends.

The First Quarter is taken from the Old Testament
I call it "The Patriarchs and Judges"
It includes 13 lessons based on these ordinary people from the Bible:

- Abram
- Isaac
- Lot
- Jacob
- Joseph
- Moses
- Caleb
- Joshua
- Deborah
- Gideon
- Samson
- Ruth
- Samuel

Check the link above to get the e-book or the print version!

In the second quarter we'll meet some of the Kings and Prophets of the Bible:

- Saul
- David
- Solomon
- Elijah
- Jehosophat
- Elisha
- Joash
- Hezekiah
- Jeremiah
- Ezekiel
- Daniel
- Ezra & Nehemiah
- Esther

And the third Quarter features these everyday people
- 12 Apostles
- The mother of James and John
- Jairus and the Woman with an issue of blood
- The Woman at Jesus' Feet
- The Ten Lepers
- Zacchaeus
- The Seven Chosen to Serve
- Stephen
- Saul (aka Paul)
- Peter
- Dorcas and Lydia
- Priscilla & Aquilla
- Paul's Nephew