Leader’s Guide for Episode 9 - Vision Video | Christian ... · PDF fileLeader’’s guide for ... Here are the lyrics with actions and performance suggestions so that you can face

Leader’s Guide for Episode 9

Leader’’s guide for Jovis Bon-Hovis and the Creation Crew

Welcome to the fun-filled world of Jovis Bon-Hovis and the Creation Crew!

We are so happy you have decided to share the goodtimes with us! We created this DVD and teachingseries to plant and nurture the seeds of a relationshipwith God that children can relate to, using fun, com-edy, drama, songs, and arts and crafts to revealGod’s truth and goodness to kids in relevant scenar-ios they can make sense of.

Within these programs you will find a treasure troveof helpful teaching, especially created to enable chil-dren to connect with the Christian faith andunderstand it in the context of their everyday lives.

Inside this guide you will find a range of fun and helpful activities, engaging questions,and leader’s notes to help you and your kids get the most out of the time you spend withJovis Bon-Hovis and the Creation Crew!

These resources are geared for children 3-7 years old, but you may feel they are suitablefor older children, too.

FFun and Faith, Hand in Handun and Faith, Hand in Hand !!

SHORTER OR LONGER SESSIONS:

We’ve created these lessons to be flexible and easy to use, with minimal preparationrequired. Just check the ‘Preparation’ section in advance, and you’ll find deliveringthese sessions straightforward and enjoyable, with all the hard work done for you!

Each guide will contain various elements which will amount to well over 90 minutesworth of material, allowing you to select and tailor your sessions to fit your time slot,teaching preferences, and group requirements.

Apart from the DVD, which will take up about half an hour of group time, all of the ele-ments of this study guide can be expanded and contracted, and used or discarded asrequired.

Leader’s Guide to accompany the DVD Jovis Bon-Hovis and the Creation Crew: Episode 9

Episode 9: How Do I Pray? 2

Episode 9:How Do I Pray?

THEME: Mr. Bon-Hovis is struggling to communicate with God, and he’s trying allsorts of funny ways to get in contact!

LEARNING OUTCOMES:• Prayer is not about impressing God or using a special technique.• The Lord wants prayers which are truthful, honest, and which don’t go against his

nature.• We can talk to God through Jesus as a friend, not because we deserve him or

because we are special people, but because he loves us and wants to spend timewith us.

• God is kind and righteous and loving, so he will answer prayers which come from agood, kind, right and loving heart.

PREPARATION:1. For the Arty Crafty Time slot you will need 8.5 x 11" paper, colored pens or pencils

and sticky tape.2. For the bonus activity you will need bendy straws, craft tissue paper, glue, scissors,

sticky tape and fine cotton thread. Consider groups with different abilities needingmore or less preparation for this tricky activity.

3. For the game you will need a soft ball.

*TOP TIP* Practice making the paper plane and the kite yourself first; it will be veryhelpful if you know how to make a successful flyer already!

SECTIONS/ELEMENTS FOR THIS EPISODE:

• DVD VIEWING• GUIDED DISCUSSION QUESTIONS• OPEN DISCUSSION QUESTIONS• ARTY CRAFTY TIME ACTIVITY• SONG TIME WITH DANCE ACTIVITY• SCRIPTURE TIME SHARED STUDY• COLORING FROM STORY TIME• BONUS ACTIVITY: MAKE A KITE!• GAME-TIME ACTIVITY

*TOP TIP* Can you think of any personal examples of when God has answered yourprayers? Share these with the children to really bring the message home!



DVD VIEWING

Introduction to today’s show: Tell the children that as ever, Mr. Bon-Hovis is having someproblems today. We all know that Mr. Bon-Hovis is a good person, and today he’s tryingvery hard. In fact, he wants to spend more time with God. There’s nothing wrong with thatof course! But see if you can spot how Jovis may have got himself a little mixed up!

Tell the children you’re going to stop for a time of sharing about the show, so they shouldkeep their eyes and ears open!

Play the DVD until 9:43, just as the ‘Story Time’ stars appear on the screen.

GUIDED DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Here are some examples of the sorts of questions you might want to share with the chil-dren. Feel free to ask your own, but don’t go too far into resolving all the issues at thispoint. Keep the questions focused on the activity that’s just taken place rather than themeaning and theology of prayer. Please note, these questions are only suggestions. Feelfree to explore the show in your own way and with your own style.

• What was Mr. Bon-Hovis trying to do today?• Why did he put a moustache and a monocle on?• Why did he stand on a chair?• Does God live in the sky? Where then?• What are Stripy Monkey and Booky Worm thinking?• Why did he put a bucket on his head?• Why did he sing his prayer?• Stripy Monkey said singing wasn’t the silliest thing he’d done. Why do you think that was?• The Creation Crew Kids made paper “Prayeroplanes.” What do you think they are?

*TOP TIP* Why not ask some of the children if they’d like to say a prayer? It’s alwaysa good time to pray!

Play the DVD until 19:21, just as the song finishes.

Story Time: No School Tomorrow!Teacher’s notes: It’s difficult to assure children that God will always give them theanswers that they want or expect from prayer, so what this story seeks to illustrate isGod’s desire to answer prayers which are properly motivated.

The children in the story are being wrongly and cruelly oppressed by selfish, unkindadults, and the prayer they offered was righteous and wholesome, and in line with whatwe understand of God’s nature.

Try to help the children understand that prayer is not the same as wishing for ‘stuff’ wewant, but is about bringing the kingdom of heaven into the world.



GUIDED DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• At the start of the story, Billy Whistlestop thought they were getting good news!What did he think was happening?

• What was actually happening?• What did Billy want to be when he grew up?• What wacky idea did Billy’s dad have?• What happened in the end?• The song said ‘Pray to God from a good heart.’ What does that mean?• Could that be why God answered Billy Whistlestop’s prayer?• What does the song mean when it says ‘anytime, anywhere’?• What did Dora Mouse say to Jovis?• How do you think Jovis will pray next time?

Play the DVD until the end.

OPEN DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Having watched the whole DVD together now would be a great time to talk more gener-ally and openly about what you’ve learned. Encourage the children to talk not just aboutthe show but about real life and real experience.

• Do you ever pray on your own?• Why does God want us to pray?• Does God answer prayers? What kind of prayers do you think?• What is prayer for?• How should we pray, what sort of things should we pray about?• What do you think would happen to us if we never prayed at all?• How often do you think we should pray?• Should we only pray about big things, or little things too?• Why is it good to say ‘In Jesus’ name’?• Should we pray for ourselves, or just other people?

Prayer is, of course, a big topic, and you won’t cover it all today! Just ensure that thechildren leave feeling comfortable that they are able to and welcome to pray to God, andthat they have some idea of why and how.

*TOP TIP* Why not encourage the children to write a prayer diary? Could your groupprovide some simple note pads for the children to take home? Younger children coulddraw pictures to represent what they prayed about!





ARTY CRAFTY TIME ACTIVITY: PAPER PRAYEROPLANES!

This is an activity which always goes over big with children. You’ll need to keep a closeeye on where the children put their folds. There’s nothing as disappointing as a planethat doesn’t fly!

*TOP TIP* Why not get everybody outside for a prayeroplane competition? You couldcompete for distance, time spent in the air, as well as the quality of the plane!

A picture prayer is just fine for any children who aren’t writing yet. Perhaps they coulddraw a picture of a person they love especially for God?

You may want to go back to the start of the activity, and play/pause as you work alongsideJovis Bon-Hovis with your children. All the activities are made very simple and easy tofollow.

SONG TIME WITH DANCE ACTIVITY

Select the song from the DVD menu and play.

Following the leader (you!) as they do the actions is great fun for the kids. Just play thesong and read along below, doing the actions as they are written. Ask the kids to copyyou! Don’t worry about looking silly! Kids just love to dance and move about. Theywill just think it’s great fun and will respond much better if you lead with energy.

Why not consider practicing the song over a few sessions and doing a performance at thefront of your church?

Younger children can follow the dancing; older children may enjoy following the wordson-screen and singing along.

*TOP TIP* This is a slow, gentle song, so try broad, sweeping movements and steps.

Here are the lyrics with actions and performance suggestions so that you can facethe group:

Pray to God from a good heart, (kneel and pray head down, lift head, and touch your heart)Anytime, anywhere. (stand up and spin around)Pray to Jesus from a loving place, (sway from side to side with your hands together)And he will hear your prayer. (cup your ears, then hands together again)

‘Cause surely Jesus wants good for us, (clap hands and jump around celebrating!)And that’s what we want too. (reach out, grasp, then hands on heart)All good people want what’s good for each other, (point around the room, big thumbs up)Ask: ‘What would Jesus do?’ (touch your head, kneel and pray)



Surely God wants good for us, (gentle sway, then arms out and turn)Surely we want the same as God? (gentle sway, lift hands and faces upwards)

Pray to God from a good heart, (kneel and pray head down, lift head and touch your heart)Anytime, anywhere. (stand up and spin around)Pray to Jesus from a loving place, (sway from side to side with your hands together)And he will hear your prayer. (cup your ears, then hands together again)

‘Cause surely Jesus wants good for us, (claps hands and jump around celebrating!)And that’s what we want too. (reach out, grasp, then hands on heart)All good people want what’s good for each other, (point around the room, big thumbs up)Ask: ‘What would Jesus do?’ (touch your head, kneel and pray)

Surely God wants good for us, (gentle sway, then arms out and turn)Surely we want the same as God? (gentle sway, lift hands and faces upwards)

‘Cause surely Jesus wants good for us, (claps hands and jump around celebrating!)And that’s what we want too. (reach out, grasp, then hands on heart)All good people want what’s good for each other, (point around the room, big thumbs up)Ask: ‘What would Jesus do?’ (touch your head, kneel and pray)

SCRIPTURE TIME SHARED STUDY

Remind the children that Mr. Bon-Hovis opened his Bible up, and suggest it might beexciting to see just what Mr. Bon-Hovis saw!

Matthew 6:9-13

9 “This, then, is how you should pray:‘Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name,

10 your kingdom come,your will be done,on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today our daily bread.12 And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.’

*TOP TIP* See if anybody in the group can remember the Lord’s prayer, and share itwith the rest before you read it again!



EXTRA REFERENCES FOR LONGER STUDY:

Psalm 95:2 “Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;let us make a joyful noise to him with songs ofpraise!”

Explanation for little ones: Prayer can be veryjoyful and happy. We thank God because he givesus everything we have, so singing and celebratingcan be a great way of talking to God!

James 5:13-14 “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them prayover him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”

Explanation for little ones: God wants us to come and talk to him about everything, ifwe’re singing or crying, whether we are poorly or well. God wants a friendship with uswhich fills all the areas of our life.

Scripture Time Questions for discussion:

• What does ‘hallowed be your name’ mean?• What does ‘your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in

heaven’ mean?• What does ‘forgive us our debts’ mean?• Read the prayer again and talk about why you think it’s in that order. Is that

the order you should pray?• Does Jesus mean we should repeat those exact words?• Think of some other ways you could say some of the things Jesus prayed

about.

COLORING FROM STORY TIME

Have some fun coloring the drawings from the Story Time (found atthe back of this guide). Remind the children as they color what thestory was about and what they’ve learned from it.



BONUS ACTIVITY: MAKE A KITE THAT REALLY FLIES!

We’re enjoying a bit of an aerial theme today, and it’s all about sending your prayers upto God, and how prayer is a joy and a pleasure! Connecting prayer with happy activitieslike kite flying and making paper planes positively strengthens children’s feelings aboutthe deep pleasure of prayer, what it means and how it feels to pray. It connects them withGod on their level, as children, and doesn’t demand that they be something they can’treally relate to yet.

So today, let's cover a few simple rules to ensure you can make easy kites which actuallystand a chance of lifting, even though it's only the length of a bendy straw! It should befairly easy to work from the simple diagram.

1: Using bendy straws will mean you cancreate the ESSENTIAL concave ‘boat’shape, which will give the kite balance inthe wind.

2: Notice that the tissue will be facing you.When the kite is in the air the straws willbe BEHIND the tissue.

3: Use thin, light cotton, not string!4: A tail is essential. Cut a 12-15 inch tail from the same tissue you used for the kite.5: As per the diagram, the length of the cotton forward of the knot is a little shorter than

behind the knot.6: Use a thin, light craft tissue.7: Keep the tissue as wrinkle free as possible. If you are very crafty, cut a tiny thin dart

or sliver along the rear spar to gather in excess loose tissue, and glue closed.8: Use glue to attach the tissue to the straws and tie the crossed straws together using

the same thread you will use for the line.9: Tie a single piece of thread to the front and rear parts of the straw that runs front to

rear. You will have to make a tiny hole in the tissue to do this.10: Use a tiny piece of tape (to keep it as light as possible) to stop the thread from sliding.11: The diagram shows tape at the ends of the spars for reinforcement. Use a small

amount of glue ALONG the spars too.

This activity will be quite simple if the leader understands it beforehand. The mostimportant things are the concave shape, the lightness of the tissue, the cotton thread, thetail on the kite, and the point at which the main line joins the front and rear thread. Youmay need to attempt a few different lengths to get it right. Using felt pens, follow thecross of the drinking straws to make a Christian cross motif on the kite! Talk to the chil-dren about what a pleasure it is to share our prayers with God.

Why not send us pictures of your kites?

*TOP TIP* How crafty are you? Cut a slot out of the straws at the point where theycross over and they will sit together more neatly. Show off your skills!



GAME-TIME ACTIVITY: ALL I NEED IS...

This fun, silly game will get kids thinking about how much we need God and how importantprayer is. It’s not really a game of right or wrong answers, just a fast speedy game whichshould cause lots of giggles. Speed is the key!

Have all the children sit in a circle. One child starts with the ball, and the leader calls out an‘All I need’ statement. (See examples below.) The children must complete the statement as fastas they can, and then quickly throw the ball to whomever they choose, who then also mustcomplete the same statement until nobody can think of anything else. At that point, the leaderintroduces another ‘All I need’ statement.

You will notice that in the list of suggestions below there is a liberal peppering of statementswhich accommodate faithful Christian answers. Try to do the same when you think some up!

There are no winners or losers in this game, it’s just an enjoyable time spent together. Try these:

• All I need for a great party is: • All I need when I’m praying is:• All I need when I’m poorly is: • All I need on a beach is:• All I need for the best ever pizza is: • All I need to go to space is:• All I need when I’m sad is: • All I need in a fashion parade is:• All I need to play my favorite sport is: • All I need to be a very good friend is:• All I need to get ready for school is: • All I need to be a good Christian is:• All I need when I go to church is:

*TOP TIP* Do any of the children have ideas of their own? Why not let them lead a few?

In conclusion:Prayer should be a happy and open everyday conversation with God. We don’t have todo anything clever or special, just grow our friendship with him by talking to himtruthfully and from the heart about everything.

Pray together to finish:Dear Lord, thank you for giving us prayer so that we can talk to you. You are a kind andloving God, and we pray that you will teach us and lead us into a wonderful friendship withyou through open, real. and honest prayers. In Jesus’ name, amen.

We would really enjoy seeing your photos and videos of your groups at work. Why notfollow Jovis Bon-Hovis on Facebook? You’ll find lots more regular games and activitiesto share with your kids, and it’s a great place to join together with other Christian teach-ers, caretakers, parents, and leaders who are raising children in the Christian faith.http://www.facebook.com/jovis.bonhovis or search Facebook for Jovis Bon-Hovis.

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Leader’s Guide for Episode 9 - Vision Video | Christian ... · PDF fileLeader’’s guide for ... Here are the lyrics with actions and performance suggestions so that you can face