LOWER ELEMENTARY SUNDAY SCHOOL - Microsoft

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LOWER ELEMENTARY SUNDAY SCHOOL

CONTENTS

Welcome to Hearts Alive / 4

Week 1: Living in Wisdom:Song of the Beloved / 9

Week 2: Living in Wisdom:Justice and Mercy / 23

Week 3 : Living in Wisdom:Wisdom’s Invitation / 36

Week 4 : Living in Wisdom:The Wise Wife / 45

Week 5 Esther’s Bravery / 54

Week 6 Job’s Sorrowful Test / 65

Week 7 Job’s Lament / 77

Week 8 Job’s Conversation with God / 91

Week 9 Job’s Restoration / 103

Week 10: Restoration:Ruth and Naomi / 115

Week 11: Restoration: Ruth and Boaz, and Baby Obed / 125

Week 12: Restoration: Hannah’s Prayer / 136

Week 13: Restoration: David’s Final Prayer / 146

HEARTS ALIVE

The Rev. Charlie Holt, Director; Ginny Mooney, General Editor; Joni Tapp, Project ManagerWriters: Sara Buffington, Christopher Caudle, Caryn Rivadeneira, David Sanford, Marci Strickland; Editors: Pam Lagomarsino, Ginny Mooney, Karalee Reinke, Joni Tapp; Bible Backgrounds: Nancy Beise, Ellen Ceely, Mark Filiatreau, David Sanford, Jill Turner

WELCOME TO

HEARTS ALIVE

In the line of Christian formation resources for children,

the Hearts Alive curriculum is something brand-new!

We have listened to the desire of churches to have a

fully integrated weekly worship experience in which

children and adults are engaged in exploring the same

scriptural texts. Each lesson in both the Sunday school

and Children’s church curricula is built on one or more

readings taken from the Revised Common Lectionary

(RCL), a three-year cycle of Bible readings used by

churches across denominations and around the world

to guide weekly worship. By aligning the lessons of

Hearts Alive to these common readings, families are able

to have cross-generational discussions related to the

worship service message, Sunday school, and Children’s

church teachings.

While Hearts Alive is a natural fit for churches in

the liturgical tradition that incorporate regular use

of the RCL, its appeal is much broader. Hearts Alive

is evangelical in its interpretation of Scripture and

contemporary in its teaching style and life application.

By using a sequential approach to Scripture teaching,

Hearts Alive seeks to help churches train up young

disciples in the whole Word of God, emphasizing a high

view of scriptural authority and a gospel focus. The

weekly age-specific lessons support and even elevate

liturgical traditions as well as important observances in

the church calendar while using clear and contemporary

teaching techniques to present the Word of God in

ways that will produce lifelong followers of Christ.

Hearts Alive is flexible enough to fit any congregation,

no matter how large or small, of any Christian

denomination.

4

HEARTS ALIVE IS:

Gospel-centered, emphasizing the story of salvation through Jesus Christ in every lesson.

Scriptural, teaching the full scope of the Bible over a 3-year span following the RCL.

User-friendly, making it easy for teachers and Christian educators to implement.

Fun and engaging for children, offering age-appropriate storytelling, crafts, and activities.

Family-oriented, providing a Take-Home page so parents and children can apply the lesson with activities throughout the week.

Varied, offering both small- and large-group moments so children stay interested and engaged.

Cost-effective for both small and large churches, available for quarterly purchase with price adjustments for volume.

Downloadable, in a format that is easy to share with a whole team of leaders and volunteers.

HEARTS ALIVE

What Each Lesson ProvidesEach weekly Hearts Alive lesson provides two hours of material for children ranging from Pre-K/

Kindergarten through Grade 6. The curriculum is divided into two categories: Sunday school and

Children’s church. These two distinct curricula offer different themes for each week’s lesson so that

children participating in both programs have fresh, engaging material in each class.

Sunday School Curriculum:The Hearts Alive Sunday school curriculum is designed to be used during the Sunday school or

Bible study hour of a church’s weekly worship time. It is divided into three separate age groups and

perfect for use in classroom-sized group settings. The age divisions are: Pre-K/Kindergarten, Lower

Elementary (grades 1–3), and Upper Elementary (grades 4–6).

Children’s Church Curriculum: The Hearts Alive Children’s church curriculum offers a weekly church experience tailored just for

young followers of Jesus. It is intended for a larger, age-inclusive setting for children from pre-K

through grade 5 (ages 4 through 11) designed to help them learn the basics of an adult worship

service, including Welcome, Worship, Scripture Reading, Lesson, Creed, Prayer, and Offering. The

larger group setting encourages children of varying ages to worship together, mirroring the

generational integration of the church. At the close of each lesson, an age-specific breakout time

ensures that every child, from the youngest to the oldest, can take part in a follow-up game,

craft, or activity that will help them apply the week’s lesson to their own lives. Many churches

hold Children’s church during the first part of the adult worship service. After Children’s church

concludes, there is time to welcome the children into the adult service for the final portion, often

the celebration of Communion/the Eucharist.

How To Use The Hearts Alive CurriculumHearts Alive follows the 3-year cycle of the RCL. Because liturgical dates vary from year to year,

specific dates are not assigned to the lessons. Instead, lessons are numbered and an accompanying

online chart identifies which lesson falls on which calendar date for that specific year. In the

heading of each lesson, you will find the Lectionary Year, Season, and Week number, plus the

associated liturgical day (if applicable) and lectionary reading. This information can help you design

your entire congregation’s weekly worship experience around shared themes all year, providing a

fresh unity to your congregation’s spiritual focus and growth.

The first page of each Sunday school and Children’s church lesson includes Lesson Title, Key

Scripture, Big Idea, Memory Verse, and Lesson Overview. The Big Idea summarizes in one or two

sentences the main point you want the children to learn from that day’s lesson. The Lesson Overview

provides a more in-depth explanation of the key points of the lesson.

Lower Elementary | Introduction 5

HEARTS ALIVE Lower Elementary | Introduction 6

Next, there is a Lesson Outline chart to help you stay organized. It tells you what happens when.

On this chart, you’ll find each lesson component along with a time estimate for how long it will

take, a list of the supplies you will need, and a list of the things you’ll need to prepare before class

for that activity.

A unique Bible Background study is provided for each lesson to help you prepare your heart and

mind as a leader or volunteer before class. It aims to provide a thorough understanding of the

biblical setting of the day’s passage along with any helpful information to help you field questions

the children may have about the lesson. (Detailed explanations of each lesson component follow

below.)

Anything that needs to be printed and possibly copied for each lesson (the “printables”) are

included in the download of each lesson. They are designed to be effective using simple black and

white printing on standard-sized paper.

Finally, each lesson has a Take-Home page designed to be copied and sent home with the child.

The resource is directed either toward parents (Sunday school) or children (Children’s church). Either

way, parents are encouraged to use the resource to talk with their child about the week’s lesson. The

page also suggests ways to apply scriptural lessons all week through family discussions and activities.

The Sunday School CurriculumThe Sunday school curriculum is divided by age group into: Pre-K/Kindergarten, Lower Elementary

(grades 1–3), and Upper Elementary (grades 4–6). The lessons are designed for use in small group

settings of approximately 10–12 children. If you expect more than 18 children in a room, we

recommend dividing into smaller groups so all children feel engaged in the activities. If your group is

smaller than 9 or 10, the games and activities can be adapted for fewer children.

Each weekly Sunday school lesson contains the following sequential Lesson Elements:

Welcome Activity – An attention grabber designed for the beginning

of class as you wait for latecomers to arrive.

Lesson Introduction – A group activity to start the children thinking

about the Big Idea and its application.

Scripture Story – An engaging way to tell the story of the Key

Scripture passage. It may include visual aids, drama, costumes, simple

experiments, or props.

Story Discussion – Discussion questions varied according to age group.

We provide suggested answers for some of the trickier questions to

aid you in your discussion with the children.

HEARTS ALIVE

Variable Elements – The below elements are variable to keep each

week’s approach fresh.

• Memory Verse Activity• Snack – If there is a common allergen in the recommended

snack (gluten, nuts, etc.), we will point that out and

recommend an alternative for sensitive children.

• Craft – Step-by-step directions and illustrations are provided

at the end of each lesson.

• Music – You may choose to find your own recordings or sing

the songs with instrument accompaniment or without musical

background.

• Game• Other Lesson Application Activities

Closing Activity – A simple and quick activity that allows you to bring

the lesson to a close. Hand out the “Live It All Week” Take-Home page

during this part of the lesson, and make sure children take home any

crafts or activity pages.

A Special Note to LeadersCongratulations on your role in helping to shape young hearts and minds in the Christian faith.

Sunday school is a time-honored tradition of inviting the youngest of Christ’s family to get to

know their Savior, their church family, and their place in the Kingdom of God through weekly

teaching and hands-on participation. We have specifically designed the Hearts Alive curriculum to

be everything you need to confidently lead an engaging time of worship, learning, and fun in the

service of Christian formation. Here are a few specifics about the curriculum to help you in your

role:

• Hearts Alive uses the New International Reader’s Version (NIrV) of The Holy Scriptures,

believing it is the easiest translation for children to read and understand while remaining

faithful to the original text. If you choose, you may use a different version in your lessons.

• We have included a unique Bible Background section specifically to help you get familiar with

the background of the week’s passage of Scripture. It provides the setting of the passage in

the overall story of the Bible, the connection to the life and work of Jesus Christ, and how the

passage speaks to the church today. We recommend taking some time to read, pray through,

and digest this information to help you be prepared for questions and good discussion.


HEARTS ALIVE

• Much of the Lesson Content is bolded and prefaced by words like “Say:” or “Continue:” These

sections are designed for you, the leader, to speak aloud. However, we suggest that you use

the words as a guide rather than reading directly from the page. The most effective way to

communicate with children is by making eye contact. Try reading the lesson several times to

get a good idea of what you want to say and the main points of the Bible teaching. You may

want to highlight the sections you want to be sure to mention specifically. Other parts you can

put into your own words. Have the lesson handy to refer to on paper or electronic device as

you go.

• Feel free to adapt the curriculum to meet the needs of your class. If a different approach to

the lesson works better, go for it! For example, you may choose to swap out drama for a visual

aid in the lesson or vice versa. Use what is written as a guide to present the beauty and power

of God’s Word to your group of children in the most effective way possible.

Jesus said to “let the children come to me.” What greater calling can there be than helping to lead

precious young souls to the heart of God and the joy, peace, and power of living the Christian faith?

We pray that you will find the Hearts Alive curriculum an exciting and effective way to bring the

wonderful message of salvation to the children of your congregation and community even as your

entire church body unites in the weekly exploration of God’s Word as one.


HEARTS ALIVE

Living in Wisdom:

SOng Of the BelOvedSong of Songs 2:8–13

Big Idea: God gives us wisdom. He tells us of

Jesus’s love, care, and concern for the church.

MemOry Verse: “Lead a life of love, just as Christ did.

He loved us. He gave himself up for us. He was a sweet-smelling offering and

sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:2

LOWER ELEMENTARY SUNDAY SCHOOLYear B | Fall | Week 1Proper 17, Lectionary 22

LessOn OverviewIn today’s lesson, the children will learn about King Solomon. They will discuss the many relationships and examples of love in everyday life. They will also hear how Christ loved the church and calls us to love others as ourselves.

9Lower Elementary | Sunday School | Year B | Fall | Week 1

HEARTS ALIVE


Week 1 Lesson Plan Activity and Supplies To Prepare

Welcome Activity

(10 minutes)

The Real SolomonPrintables: Solomon Stories

• Optional: Story props (i.e., crowns, robes, ragged shirt, toy sword, etc.)

Make one copy of the Solomon Stories printable script. Cut the sections apart and distribute among the three volunteer actors.

Lesson Introduction

(5 minutes)

Love Is . . . Printables: Coloring Box Sheet (one for each child)

• Pencils

Make enough copies of the Coloring Box Sheet printable for each child.

Scripture Story(10 minutes)

Walking in Wisdom: Song of the Beloved• Bible

Discussion(5 minutes)

Memory Verse Activity (5 minutes)

Love Works TogetherPrintables: Memory Verse (one for every two children)

• Rubber balls (one for every two children)

Make one copy of the Memory Verse printable for every two children.

Snack(10 minutes)

The Wedding Feast• Danish wedding cookies (Look for the Keebler brand.)

Craft (10 minutes)

Wisdom Story Stones• Smooth, clean stones (one for each child)• Washable paints• Paint brushes• Paper• Cups for water• Wipes for quick clean-up• Bibles (several)

Closing (5 minutes)

The Wisdom of the ScripturesPrintables: Take-home page (one for each child)

Make enough copies of the Take-home page for each child.

1

2

3

4

6

5

7

8

HEARTS ALIVE

Bible BackgrOund fOr Leader


The Song of Solomon is well known as a romantic poem that gives the reader a glimpse into the hearts of two lovers. We see a king in love with a

young woman; he is enamored with her beauty, and she is struck by his strength and stature. In today’s passage, early in the poem, the lover approaches the beloved, “leaping across the mountains” to get to her (Song of Songs 2:8); she hears him coming even though she does not yet see him. It is a lovely account of human love, of which readers can generally relate. As part of the inspired Word of God, this love poem is also revered for its spiritual metaphor—that of Christ and his Bride, the church. Viewed this way, Solomon’s Song of Songs illustrates many spiritual truths about the love between God and his people.

Old Testament. In the poetry of the Song of Songs, the Holy Spirit weaves a picture of the love of God for his people, of Christ for his church. The Old Testament believers heard echoes of the Lover (Christ) coming, but they remained separated by their sin; they heard his call and promise of springtime joy, yet he was hidden. The Beloved hears him, she eagerly awaits him, and she knows that he is pursuing and wooing her. (Living in wisdom is living in response to God’s love for us.) She knows that he is calling her to follow and that the morning of his call is a morning of promise, as illustrated by a change of season—winter to spring—and all the new life offered in that change. Just like the Beloved in the Song of Songs, the Old Testament saints longed for and listened for the voice

of their Messiah. Throughout the history of God’s people, one can see both their longing and his calling. They looked for him and knew that they were his chosen ones.

Jesus. Jesus is the Lover and we are the Beloved. He is calling us into relationship and into a season of promise and life with him. His call, “Come with me” (Song of Songs 2:10), demonstrates that he desires to be in relationship with us. His words “my beautiful one” (v. 10) express love, value, and worth to each soul who longs to be in relationship with him. Just as Jesus said that his sheep know his voice (John 10:3), so the Beloved in the Song hears the voice of the Lover and knows him. The promise of spring and the passing of winter is the same promise Jesus extends in the gospel—by coming with him, our dark souls flourish into new life.

The Church and the World. Just as the Old Testament saints heard the Lover’s voice from behind the wall, we the church still have a separation in our relationship with Jesus—the separation of our earthly flesh. They heard his voice through the prophets and priests, and we through his Word and Spirit; they looked forward to his coming as Messiah, we to his coming as King. The church, as the Beloved of Christ, is wise to respond to the Lover’s call, following his voice now and preparing to soon be united with him for eternity.

HEARTS ALIVE


1 WelcOme ActivityThe Real Solomon

Recruit three volunteers to be actors. Explain that they will dress up and act

like Solomon. They should do their very best to convince the class of their new

“identity.” However, only one of them is acting as the true Solomon. Allow several

minutes for them to prepare and practice. Offer assistance as needed. Then say:

Good morning, and welcome to the game show: Who Are YOU? Today we have a guest named Solomon. Actually, we have three guests named Solomon! However, only one of our guests is the real Solomon of the Bible. You must listen to each Solomon’s story and then decide which one is telling the truth, naming that guest the REAL Solomon. Are you ready? (Allow time

for any questions.) Have the first Solomon come to the front and read their story to

the class. Allow the second and third volunteers to follow. Once all three volunteers

have read their stories to the class, say: Now it’s time to pick one Solomon as the real Solomon. Does anyone have any idea who the real Solomon is? (Allow the children time to discuss and decide who they think is the real Solomon.)

Ask the class for their final decision. If they are correct, congratulate them and ask

how they came to that conclusion. If they are incorrect, congratulate the Solomon

that convinced the class. If no one knows the answer, encourage them to continue

listening throughout the lesson. Ask the volunteers to bow, receive applause, and

return to their seats. Say: Today we are going to talk about King Solomon. Solomon’s request for wisdom gave him insight into many life experiences.

2 LessOn IntrOductiOnLove Is...

Distribute the printable and pencils. Say: Let’s play the “first thing that comes to your mind” game. I’m going to say a word and you draw the first picture you see in your mind. Let’s practice. If I say school, what picture comes to your mind? (Allow the children to respond.) So, if you thought books, you would draw a book in the space labeled number one. If you thought friend, you would draw a friend in the space. Any questions? Keep the pictures simple, as we will draw several of them. Let’s give it a try. Ask:

X What’s the first thing that comes to mind when I say the word animal? Draw a picture in box number 1.

X What’s the first thing that comes to mind when I say the word love? Draw a picture in box number 2.

To prepare: Make one copy of the Solomon Stories printable script. Cut the sections apart and distribute among the three volunteer actors.

To prepare: Make enough copies of the Coloring Box Sheet printable for each child.

HEARTS ALIVE


X What’s the first thing that comes to mind when I say the word wisdom? Draw a picture in box number 3.

X What’s the first thing that comes to mind when I say the word Jesus? Draw a picture in box number 4.

Briefly discuss the pictures they have drawn. Say: In today’s lesson, we get to hear some of King Solomon’s reflections. God has given us Solomon’s words of wisdom in the Bible to help us better understand how to live in God’s world.

3 Scripture StOryWalking in Wisdom: Song of the Beloved

Say: King Solomon was young. He began his reign following his father, David, who was Israel’s most famous king. David left the kingdom to Solomon. God had solemnly promised King David that his descendants would always rule on the throne. Solomon began his reign by asking God for wisdom: the ability to live well in the world, to understand situations, and to recognize the difference between right and wrong. God was pleased by Solomon’s prayer and made him very wise. Solomon became famous for his insight and understanding. In fact, his wisdom was even written down in books, which are now a part of our Bibles! Display the Bible. They are described as the wisdom books. They share Solomon’s thoughts on life, love, suffering, frustration, and wisdom.

Open the Bible to the Song of Songs and display the title page. Say: Today, we join Solomon as he reflects on God’s gift of love to our families. Solomon describes a scene and shares the words of two people who are happy being together.

Open your Bible and read Song of Songs 2:8–13:

Listen! I hear my love! Look! Here he comes! He’s leaping across the mountains. He’s coming over the hills. The one who loves me is like an antelope or a young deer. Look! There he stands behind our wall. He’s gazing through the window. He’s peering through the screen.

He said to me, “Rise up, my love. Come with me, my beautiful one. Look! The winter is past. The rains are over and gone. Flowers are appearing on the earth. The season for singing has come. The cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig trees are producing their early fruit. The

HEARTS ALIVE


flowers on the vines are giving off their sweet smell. Rise up and come, my love. Come with me, my beautiful one.”

Say: Solomon describes a woman who is happy because the man she loves is nearby. He calls to her, inviting her to marry him. They are both very happy! The verses describe a nearly perfect day—with birds singing, flowers blooming, and fruit growing on trees. It’s nice to be close to the people we love. When do you like to be close to the people you love? (Allow

the children to respond.)

The Bible shows many examples of love between people: between husbands and wives, parents and children, friends, or between kind strangers who help each other in need.

The best example we have of love in the Bible is God’s love for the world in Jesus Christ. Jesus shows us God’s strong and powerful love.

Jesus loves his church like a husband loves his wife. Jesus loves his children like a father loves his children. Jesus loves his disciples like a faithful brother loves his siblings. Jesus loves his companions like heroic friends love one another. Jesus loves the nations like a good king loves his people. Jesus’s love is greater than any other examples of love we see.

Jesus’s love is greater because he loved us first, even while we were enemies against him. His love is greater because he sacrificed his life for us. Jesus’s love is perfect even on an imperfect day. Jesus loves us perfectly and forgives us of all of our sin. Solomon’s writings point us to this kind of love—they paint a picture of God’s boundless love to his people. The apostle Paul also said that the love shared between a husband and a wife points to the love of Jesus for the church.

4 StOry DiscussiOn X Who was Solomon and why is he well-known in the Bible? (He was the son

of David, the king. He was a very wise king.)

X What imagery does Solomon use to describe love? (He describes the love

between a man and a woman.)

X How is the love that Jesus has for the church greater than the love that we have for each other? (Jesus’s love is greater because he loved us first, even

while we were enemies of his.)

HEARTS ALIVE


X Why do you think God gives us examples of how to love others? (God

shows us how to love others like Jesus loves. God says that the greatest two

commandments are to love God and to love others. We can love others out of

thankfulness for God’s great love for us.)

5 MemOry Verse ActivityLove Works Together“Lead a life of love, just as Christ did. He loved us. He gave himself up for us. He was a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:2

Divide the children into pairs. Distribute a rubber ball and memory verse to

each pair. Say: In relationships, whether husbands and wives, parents and children, or brothers and sisters, all the people must work together to make the relationship work. For this memory verse challenge, you will work together to recite the memory verse. First, read the verse aloud and work together to memorize it. When you feel confident, take turns tossing the ball back and forth to each other, as you speak the words. For example, I will say the first word and toss the ball to my partner, and then they will say the next word and toss the ball back to me. Make sense? Let’s do it!

If time allows, you can time each team to see who is the fastest. At the end of the

challenge, congratulate everyone and say: God gives us wisdom to know how to work together. Jesus shows us, by his example, how to love and care for each other as he loves and cares for the church.

6 SnackThe Wedding Feast

Ask the children if any of them have attended a wedding. Ask what they

remember about it. (Allow time for them to answer.) Say: A wedding is a special time. In Solomon’s writings today, we heard how the man and woman couldn’t wait to see each other. In the New Testament, Jesus is described as loving the church this way. The Bible says that Jesus loves the church as a husband loves his wife. Sometimes we see people who do not love each other well. This is one of the hard things about living in a sinful world. But we can always to look to Jesus and follow his example. He loved the church so much that he left heaven to rescue it. He is the Savior who loves us perfectly, even though we do not yet love him perfectly. One of the best parts of a wedding is the feast at the end. The couple shares their first

To prepare: Make one copy of the Memory Verse printable for every two children.

HEARTS ALIVE


married meal with all their loved ones. Distribute the wedding cookies. When Jesus comes back, the Scriptures say that there will be a wedding feast. Jesus will share a meal with his beloved and all of heaven. Let’s imagine what that might be like with a little wedding treat. Enjoy the cookies and allow

the children time to imagine what the wedding feast may be like.

7 Craft

Wisdom Story StonesDistribute the stones and set out the supplies. Say: Today’s Scripture describes

some beautiful things happening in nature. Re-read the Scripture passage and

ask the children to name the specific nature references. Let’s pick one of these beautiful creations to paint on our stone. Pick something that will remind you of how Jesus loves you and cares for you. If you pick a flower, consider how Jesus was a sweet-smelling sacrifice to God. If you pick a mountain, remember that Jesus is our strength and our rock. (Allow the children time

to think about what they would like to paint.) Set several Bibles on the table. Tell

the children that they are welcome to re-read the verses. After several minutes,

invite the children to share their paintings and then say: Jesus loves the church very much. He cares for us daily and is waiting for the day when we can all be with him. Let your stone remind you that Jesus’s love for you is strong, beautiful, and will last forever.

8 ClOsing

The Wisdom of the ScripturesSay: Today we heard about many types of love mentioned in the

Scriptures. When we need help or answers to questions, we can go to the Bible to find answers. God has given us wisdom through the Scriptures and we can learn from them. Let’s finish our time with a prayer. (Allow

any children who are interested, the opportunity to pray.) When everyone has

finished, say: Heavenly Father, we are so thankful for your Scriptures and the wisdom they bring us. Help us to follow the example of Jesus as we love the people around us every day. Help us on the school bus, in line at the water fountain, on the playground, and at home with our brothers and sisters, to love others just like you love us. Give us wisdom and help us to follow your path in all our ways. We love you. Amen.

Children line up to meet their parents. As the children leave, hand out their take-

home pages and remind them to bring home their crafts.

To prepare: Make enough copies of the Take-home page for each child.

HEARTS ALIVE

17Solomon Stories Lower Elementary | Sunday School | Year B | Fall | Week 1

SOLO

MON

1

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HEARTS ALIVE

18Introduction Lower Elementary | Sunday School | Year B | Fall | Week 1

1 2

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HEARTS ALIVE

19Memory Verse Lower Elementary | Sunday School | Year B | Fall | Week 1

“Lead a life of love, just as Christ did. He loved us. He gave himself up for us. He was a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to

God.” Ephesians 5:2

“Lead a life of love, just as Christ did. He loved us. He gave himself up for us. He was a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to

God.” Ephesians 5:2

HEARTS ALIVE

HEARTS ALIVE


Walking in Wisdom: Song of the Beloved

} Scripture: Song of Songs 2:8–13

} Big Idea: God gives us wisdom. He tells us of Jesus’s love, care, and concern for the Church.

} Memory Verse: “Lead a life of love, just as Christ did. He loved us. He gave himself up for us. He was a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:2

Table Talk

WEEK 1

Live It All WeeKLower Elementary Take Home Paper for Families

What Your Child Learned Today Your child learned that God’s Word provides us with daily wisdom. We discussed how Jesus’s love is an example that we can follow to love others better. We were reminded that Christ’s love for us is strong, durable, and everlasting.

Try This Think of someone who displays love to your family. Discuss with your child how their kindness has blessed your family. Together, come up with some ways that you can show this person that your family loves them, too. It might be something as simple as sending a card or delivering flowers. It might be preparing them a meal and inviting them over for a family night of board games or a movie. This week, take a moment to remember acts of love given to your family and take the opportunity to share love with others.

Something Else to DoWhen you visit the grocery store, take a minute to look at the wedding cakes and discuss the meaning of a wedding. What kind of cake does your child like best? As you finish the conversation, remind your child that Jesus loves the church very much, just like a husband loves a wife. Jesus is longing for the day when we will all be together and have a great wedding feast.

X In 1 Corinthians 13, the Scriptures define love. At a family meal this week, read the passage and discuss the words your child may not understand, like boast or patient. Discuss what love is and how we can share love with others.

Documents

LOWER ELEMENTARY SUNDAY SCHOOL - Microsoft