AUGUST

W-3
2

PRELUDE

Chief Executive Officer

Reggie Joiner
Creative Team
Kristen Ivy
Mike Clear
Molly Boylan
Elloa Davis
Elizabeth Hansen
Jessica McKee
Brandon ODell
Greg Payne
Phil Pierce
Dan Scott
Jon Williams
Contributing Writers
Matt Bell
Jodi Blackwell
Sharon Carey
Emily Meredith
Becky Jarrett
Julie Tiemann

SOCIAL

15 MINUTES

Editors
Molly Boylan
Elloa Davis
Dana Wilkerson
Illustrations & Graphic Design
Brian Bascle
Mike Davis
Joe Goode
Technical & Web Support
Hadley Brandt
Orange Specialists
Amy Grisham
Joy Bowen
Abbey Carr
Amy Fenton
Leslie Galema
Misty Phillips
Stephanie Porter
Courtney Templeton

STORY

25 MINUTES

WORSHIP
10 MINUTES

Statement of Faith
ABOUT GOD
God is the one and only true God, yet He exists in three
persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy
Spirit. God is the Creator, so everything belongs to Him
and is under His control. God is holy, so He is righteous,
majestic, and loving. God is all knowing and purposeful, so
Hes at work to bring about His will. No person, thing, or idea
compares to God.
ABOUT THE SCRIPTURES
God reveals Himself to us through the Bible, and it is 100%
accurate, reliable, and authoritative.
ABOUT PEOPLE
People are made in Gods image and for His pleasure. But
everybody falls short of Gods intention, or ideal, for people.
In other words, everyone has sinned. As a result, we are
all separated from Him, even though He wants an intimate
relationship with each of us.
ABOUT SALVATION
Thats why JesusGods Soncame and lived on this earth,
died, and rose again. God offers His free gift of salvation
to all who believe in Jesus and accept Him as Saviorthe
only way to be forgiven and reconciled to God. Anyone who
accepts this gift is adopted as a son or daughter into Gods
family and will live with Him forever in heaven.

GROUPS

GRADES

K-5

25 MINUTES

HOME

User Agreement
Orange gladly grants permission to churches, schools,
and other licensees to tailor 252 Basics materials to fit
their unique leadership requirements, locale and format
preferences, and physical environment needs. However, if
you wish to edit the content substantively, including Bible
stories, learning activities, scripts, and any other content
in which biblical principles and concepts are presented,
you are obligated to do so within the doctrinal guidelines
weve expressed in our Statement of Faith. These resources
are intended to be downloaded and printed for use by
the subscribing entity only and may not be electronically
transferred to or duplicated by other non-subscribing
entities. Any unauthorized reproduction of this material or
incorporation into a new work is a direct violation of US
copyright laws. 2015 The reThink Group. All rights reserved.
252 Basics and the 252 Basics logo are trademarks of
Orange and the reThink Group.
Scripture marked NIrV is taken from the NEW
INTERNATIONAL READERS VERSION. Copyright 1996,
1998, 2014 Biblica. All rights reserved throughout the world.
Used by permission of Biblica.
Scripture marked NIV is taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW
INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973,
1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All
rights reserved worldwide.

AUGUST

W-3
2

PRELUDE

SOCIAL

15 MINUTES

STORY

25 MINUTES

BOTTOM LINE

K-5

GROUPS

25 MINUTES

HOME

SOCIAL: Providing time for fun interaction

Ideas for Early Arrivers
My Morning Routine

25

STORY: Communicating Gods truth in engaging ways

Opener
Worship
Bible Story
Prayer
Closer

MINUTES

MINUTES

10
MINUTES

Work at everything you do with

all your heart. Work as if you were
working for the Lord.
Colossians 3:23a, NIrV

15

When you see people in need,

dont wait for someone else to
help them.

MEMORY VERSE

10 MINUTES

PRELUDE: Setting the tone for the experience

For Leaders Only
Create the Environment

BIBLE STORY

Return Policy
(Nehemiah helps the poor)
Nehemiah 5:1-12

WORSHIP

GRADES

25
MINUTES

LIFE APP

WORSHIP: Inviting people to respond to God

Look at Me from Walk This Way
I Will Follow from Zapped
GROUPS: Creating a safe place to connect
Help, Please
Kids Showing Initiative
Verse Painting
Prayer
HOME: Prompting action beyond the experience
GodTime
Parent Cue

Initiativeseeing what needs to

be done and doing it.

BASIC TRUTH

I should treat others the way I

want to be treated.

2015 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. www.ThinkOrange.com

If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).

PAG E 2

AUGUST

W-3
2

PRELUDE

SOCIAL

15 MINUTES

BIBLE STORY

Return Policy
(Nehemiah helps the poor)
Nehemiah 5:1-12

STORY

25 MINUTES

WORSHIP
10 MINUTES

GRADES

K-5

GROUPS

25 MINUTES

HOME

Note: This version of the curriculum is designed especially for churches with
fewer leaders and kids. You may want to use it if you have just one or two
leaders and if you combine all your kids in both Large and Small Group time.

GETTING READY
SOCIAL: PROVIDING TIME FOR FUN INTERACTION
(Choose one or both of these activities.)

BOTTOM LINE
When you see people in need,
dont wait for someone else to
help them.

MEMORY VERSE

Work at everything you do with

all your heart. Work as if you were
working for the Lord.
Colossians 3:23a, NIrV

LIFE APP

Initiativeseeing what needs to

be done and doing it.

Early Arriver
An offering container
My Morning Routine
Print the My Morning Routine Chart Activity Page; 1 for each child
Crayons or markers

STORY: COMMUNICATING GODS TRUTH

IN ENGAGING WAYS
1. Opener/Closer
WHAT YOU NEED:
Assistant
Dirty Jobs costume for Assistant (same as from week 1):

o Overalls, jump suit, or other work crew looking attire

o Surgical mask

o Yellow rubber gloves
4 empty bins (the same ones you used the last two weeks)
Lots of baby diapers (Note: since these will get trashed during the game, get
the cheapest store brand you can find)
30-second countdown (available on a free site like http://www.onlinestopwatch.com/countdown-timer/)
Table (optional)

BASIC TRUTH

Music and Sound Effects (SFX):

Upbeat music to use as kids enter and exit the room

I should treat others the way I

want to be treated.

Large Group Visuals (downloadable from the website):

Initiative Slide
Memory Verse Slide
Bottom Line Slides

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PAG E 3

AUGUST

W-3
2

PRELUDE

SOCIAL

15 MINUTES

STORY

25 MINUTES

WORSHIP
10 MINUTES

GROUPS

25 MINUTES

GRADES

K-5
HOME

WHAT YOU DO:

Download the slides and have them ready to use. If you do not have CG capabilities, you have Oranges permission to
enlarge and print the slides on paper.
Download the music from a resource such as iTunes and have it ready to play.
Prep the diaper game. To give the diapers some weight, pour water into the diapers and then use the tape to close them
up into a ball. Distribute the wet diapers evenly into two of the bins.

2. Bible Story
WHAT YOU NEED:
Leader
Assistant
Bible
Nehemiah costume for Assistant (traditional Biblical costume)
2 chairs
Broken-down Jerusalem tableau from previous weeks:

o Scrim or other thin white sheet

o Spotlight or large flashlight

o Large blocks (like preschool blocks) or boxes
Large Group Visuals (downloadable from the website):
Bottom Line Slide
WHAT YOU DO:
Download the slides and have them ready to use. If you do not have CG capabilities, you have Oranges permission to
enlarge and print the slides on paper.
Put the two chairs on the stage, but out of the way.
Make a little progress on the rebuilding of the wall. It should still be somewhat torn down, but it should be obviously
improved.

3. Worship
WHAT YOU NEED:
Leader(s)
Music and Sound Effects (SFX):
Look at Me from Walk This Way*
I Will Follow from Zapped*

*Live lyrics video available from https://amberskyrecords.com/
WHAT YOU DO:
Download all songs (available on AmberSkyRecords.com) and have them ready to use.
Download and print this weeks tech sheet for everyone helping with Large Group.
2015 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. www.ThinkOrange.com
If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).

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AUGUST

W-3
2

PRELUDE

SOCIAL

15 MINUTES

STORY

25 MINUTES

WORSHIP
10 MINUTES

GROUPS

25 MINUTES

GRADES

K-5
HOME

4. Additional Resources
GET REEL: This month with Get Reel 2.0, the kids will be challenged to take initiative in their everyday lives. Well ask
them to go the extra step of not just seeing what needs to be done, but doing it too!
This week, we recommend playing the Live Loud video to inspire the key faith skill of Worshiping with Your Life.
Also on Get Reel 2.0, you can enhance your environment with themed audio transitions (instrumental) to help you
move between segments in your Large Group production.

GROUPS: CREATING A SAFE PLACE TO CONNECT

(Choose as many of these activities as you like.)
* If you dont have time to do all these activities, be sure to do activity #1.
*

1. Help, Please (application activity / review the Bible story)

Print the Object Cards Activity Page and cut apart; 1 set for each Small Group
Butcher paper
Pencils or markers

2. Kids Showing Initiative (application activity)

Print the Jen Rubinos Story Activity Page; 1 for each Small Group Leader
Print the Card-Making Strategy Activity Page; 1 for each Small Group Leader
Cardstock (8.5x11 cut in half); 1 half sheet for each kid
Decorating materials, such as: stickers, stamps, ink, markers, tissue paper, glue, ribbon, stencils, scissors, construction/
colored paper
Envelopes (you do not need envelopes for the cards being mailed to CFHK; see below)
3. Verse Painting (memory verse activity)
Q-tips
Washable paint
Paper plates
Construction paper or cardstock
Markers
Bibles
Prayer
Cards kids made in Activity #2
Additional Resources:
Make copies on cardstock of this weeks GodTime and Parent Cue cards.
Tell parents about our additional family resources: Studio252.tv, CUE Box, and the Parent Cue app. To find out more
about these great resources, go to http://www.Studio252.tv/leaders.

2015 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. www.ThinkOrange.com

If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).

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AUGUST

W-3
2

PRELUDE

SOCIAL

15 MINUTES

STORY

WORSHIP

GROUPS

GRADES

K-5
HOME

SOCIAL: PROVIDING TIME FOR FUN INTERACTION

(SMALL GROUPS, 15 MINUTES)

Welcome kids and spend time engaging in conversation and catching up. Get ready to experience todays story.
Before kids arrive, pray for each regular attendee by name. Pray for those who might visit your group for the first time. Ask
God to help kids see and notice the needs of others. Pray that your eyes would also be open to the needs of those around
you. Also ask God to give kids ideas and opportunities to meet others needs as they see them.

1. EARLY ARRIVER IDEA

WHAT YOU NEED: An offering container
WHAT YOU DO:
Invite kids to put their offerings in the offering container as they arrive.
Ask kids how they have helped someone in need. Maybe someone in their class needed help with homework, or they
helped someone carry something to their car.
Can they think of a time they were in need and someone showed initiative and helped them?

2. MY MORNING ROUTINE
WHAT YOU NEED: Morning Routine Chart Activity Pages, crayons and markers
WHAT YOU DO:
Talk about the tasks they have to do every morning before heading out the door for school. (making the bed, brushing
their teeth, combing their hair, getting dressed, eating breakfast, grabbing their backpack, etc.)
Hand out the Morning Routine Charts.
Go down the list of morning jobs and ask the kids to draw a simple picture in the right hand column to represent each
morning job, like a toothbrush for brush your teeth or a pair of pants and a shirt for get dressed.
WHAT YOU SAY:
Looks like you have a few things to do before you head out the door for school in the morning! In order to help you see
what needs to be done, I want you to hang this chart in your room or somewhere that you can see it every morning for the
next week to help you show initiative and get the job done! [Transition] Lets head to Large Group and find out how
Nehemiah showed initiative in todays Bible story.
Lead your group to the Large Group area.

2015 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. www.ThinkOrange.com

If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).

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AUGUST

W-3
2

PRELUDE

SOCIAL

STORY

25 MINUTES

WORSHIP
10 MINUTES

GROUPS

GRADES

K-5
HOME

STORY: COMMUNICATING GODS TRUTH IN ENGAGING WAYS

(LARGE GROUP, 35 MINUTES)

Engage kids hearts through a dynamic and interactive Bible story, worship, and prayer experience in a Large Group
setting.
SFX: Play high-energy music as kids enter.

WORSHIP
LEADER: Hey, everybody! Its so good to see you here today. Lets get things started. Stand to your feet. Are you guys
ready to sing and get loud? (Pause for response.) This song is about others being able to see Jesus when they look at us.
Thats a big thing to strive for, but its what God desires. Lets have some fun and sing out Look at Me.
SFX: Look at Me / track 5 from Walk This Way
Yeah, that rocked! You guys are awesome. Proverbs 4:18 says: The path of those who do right is like the sun in the
morning. It shines brighter and brighter until the full light of day. (NIrV) Lets sing this and pray that God would help us to
follow Him and His path for us. Sing along.
SFX: I Will Follow / track 9 from Zapped
Leaders exit.
Assistant enters, wearing the same outfit from Week 1 and a surgical mask around his neck. Hes carrying a
bin of dirty diapers.

OPENER
ASSISTANT: Hey, everyone, glad you could join us for another exciting week at [your environments name]. Weve been
having fun together as we do some dirty jobs. Now, why would we do dirty, messy jobs in [your environments name]?
Because were talking about initiative!
CG: Initiative Slide
Initiative is seeing what needs to be done and doing it. Does that mean we always get to pick and choose which job we
want to do? (Pause for response.) No! Thats right! It might be a dirty job, but we arent scared of a dirty job, are we? If
theres a job to do, we do it! Right? (Pause for response.) Right! Im really glad to hear you say that because today might be
the messiest of all dirty jobs.
Pull the surgical mask over your face and pull a diaper out of the bin. Then drop it back in and pull the
mask down again.
Ewwwww, right?! And theres more where that came from. (Go backstage and bring out the other bins.) A lot more.
In todays game, you guys are going to see how good you are at tossing dirty diapers into the trash. I need two kid

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PAG E 7

AUGUST

W-3
2

PRELUDE

SOCIAL

STORY

25 MINUTES

WORSHIP
10 MINUTES

GROUPS

GRADES

K-5
HOME

volunteers, along with their Small Group Leaders. (Note: If you dont have two SGLs, any willing adult will work, or in a
pinch, use the oldest kids you have instead of SGLs.)
Bring the four volunteers on the stage. Give the SGLs the empty bins, and position them on one side of
the stage, facing the kid volunteers. Position each kid behind a bin of dirty diapers.
You can probably guess how this works. Kids, you guys are going to throw the diapers into the empty bin your Small
Group Leader is holding. Small Group Leaders, you guys can move around to try to catch them, but you cant take more
than two steps at a time, and you cant get any closer to the kids than you are now. Were going to set the timer for 30
seconds and you guys will see how many diapers you can get into the bins. Here we go in three two one GO!
CG: 30-second countdown
After the 30 seconds are over, count the amount of diapers in each bin and congratulate the winning
team.
That was indeed a messy job, but you guys once again showed that youve got some serious initiative. You see a dirty job
as a challenge and you rise to the occasion. Im gonna get these off the stage now before we have a smelly situation on
our hands!
Assistant exits, carrying the bins. Leader enters with a Bible and moves the two chairs to the center of the
stage.
LIGHTING: If the light behind the scrim isnt on, turn it on now
SETTING UP THE STORY
LEADER: All month long weve been talking about Nehemiah. He was an incredible guy! Nehemiah was a Jewish man, so
even though he had never been to Jerusalem, he cared about it because it was his homeland. He was serving as the king
of Persias cupbearer when his brother and some other men arrived from Jerusalem with some bad news about the city.
After years of exile, some of Gods people had finally been allowed to return to their homeland, but they were struggling
in Jerusalem. The citys wall had fallen and the gates were burned down, leaving the people in the city open to enemies on
every side.
Nehemiah had asked God for help, and then he asked the king to let him leave to go help the Israelites rebuild the city.
The king allowed it and Nehemiah left to get the job done. But what happened next? Well, Ive got good news for you.
Nehemiah himself(stage whisper) okay, its not REALLY Nehemiah, but, well, youll see. (Back to normal voice) Like I
was saying, Nehemiah himself is here with us today to tell us how things are going with the wall. Can you guys help me
welcome Nehemiah?
Leader leads the kids in clapping as the Assistant enters, dressed as Nehemiah. Leader and Nehemiah
have a seat in the chairs.

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PAG E 8

AUGUST

W-3
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PRELUDE

SOCIAL

STORY

25 MINUTES

WORSHIP
10 MINUTES

GRADES

K-5

GROUPS

HOME

Thank you for joining us today, [Assistants name] er I mean, Nehemiah!

ASSISTANT as NEHEMIAH: Youre welcome! It was hard to pull myself away from that wall (point over at the wall, which
is a little less destroyed than last week).
LEADER: Ah, yes, I can understand that. But it looks like things are coming along a bit.
ASSISTANT as NEHEMIAH: (Sigh.) Yes, were making progress, but it is not without pain, let me tell you.
LEADER: Pain? Do tell.
THE PROBLEM
ASSISTANT as NEHEMIAH: Well, the other day, I was walking along, doing my daily inspections of the wall, when people
started complaining to me. Apparently the nobles havent been doing their part of the work.
LEADER: Oh, thats not good. Oh, and I heard they werent treating the people fairly either. Something about charging
interest?
ASSISTANT as NEHEMIAH: Exactly. So the people were getting poorer and poorer.
LEADER: Oh, nohow could they pay for their food?
ASSISTANT as NEHEMIAH: Exactly! They were doing whatever they could to make money. It was a horrible time. The
nobles and officials were wrong so wrong. These people are Israelites, just like the nobles themselves. They were hurting
their own people!
THE SOLUTION
LEADER: So what did you do?
ASSISTANT as NEHEMIAH: Well, first I looked around to see if anyone could help these poor people. Then I realized
that I could.
LEADER: Wow. Thats really great of you. You saw what needed to be done, and you decided to do something about it!
So, what did you do? I imagine you had to confront the officials and nobles, huh?
ASSISTANT as NEHEMIAH: Indeed. Someone had to defend the poor Israelites, and since I saw the problem, I knew I
needed to be a part of the solution!
LEADER: What did you say to the nobles? Oh, wait, Ive got it right here! (Hold up the Bible.) Did you know that your
words are recorded in the Bible?
ASSISTANT as NEHEMIAH: You dont say.

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PAG E 9

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W-3
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PRELUDE

SOCIAL

STORY

25 MINUTES

WORSHIP
10 MINUTES

GROUPS

GRADES

K-5
HOME

LEADER: No but YOU do or did. Anyway, Ill read your speech to the nobles.
As Leader reads Nehemiahs words, Assistant should mouth some of the words and use hand gestures for
emphasis as though he is caught up in the moment, remembering the speech.
LEADER: (Open the Bible and read Nehemiah 5:7-8) I thought it over for a while. Then I accused the nobles and officials
of breaking the law. I told them, You are charging your own people interest! So I called together a large group of people
to handle the matter. I said, Our Jewish brothers and sisters were sold to other nations. Weve done everything we could
to buy them back and bring them home. But look at what you are doing! You are actually selling your own people! Now
well have to buy them back too! The people kept quiet. They couldnt think of anything to say. (NIrV)
(To Nehemiah) Wow, you really told them!
ASSISTANT as NEHEMIAH: I was just getting started!
LEADER: No joke. Lets keep going.
Assistant resumes mouthing the words and gesturing.
LEADER: (Read Nehemiah 5:9-10) So I continued, What you are doing isnt right. Shouldnt you show respect for our
God? Shouldnt you live in a way that will keep our enemies from saying bad things about us? Im lending the people
money and grain. So are my relatives and my men. But we must stop charging interest! (NIrV)
(To Nehemiah) So you told them to stop what they were doing right away. Good plan!
ASSISTANT as NEHEMIAH: Stopping was just the first part.
LEADER: Intrigue! (Continue reading Nehemiah 5:11) Give the peoples fields back to them. Give them back their
vineyards, olive groves and houses. Do it right away. Give everything back to them. Also give them back the one percent
on the money, grain, fresh wine and olive oil you have charged them. (NIrV)
(To Nehemiah) Man, Im impressed. You really stood up for the people! I bet those nobles were upset with you. I imagine
they didnt like giving up all that extra money and food they were stealing from the people.
MAKING IT HAPPEN
ASSISTANT as NEHEMIAH: I dont think they liked it, but they did listen to me. They told me they would do as I asked.
LEADER: Did you make them pinky promise?
ASSISTANT as NEHEMIAH: We left the pinkies out of it, but yes, I did make them promise. And things seem to be
looking up for EVERYONE now, not just the rich nobles and powerful officials.

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W-3
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PRELUDE

SOCIAL

STORY

25 MINUTES

WORSHIP
10 MINUTES

GRADES

K-5

GROUPS

HOME

LEADER: Nehemiah, youre awesome.

ASSISTANT as NEHEMIAH: Thank you, but I was just [Basic Truth] treating others the way I want to be treated. Im
thankful for the chance God gave me to help others in need.
LEADER: Youre a master of initiative, Nehemiah. Thank you for taking the time to talk to us today.
Leader and Assistant stand up and shake hands and Assistant exits.
WRAPPING UP THE STORY
LEADER: That was great of [Assistants name] I mean NEHEMIAH to spend so much time talking with us today. I dont
know about you, but I am inspired by Nehemiahs initiative. That guy never ran from a problem. He saw that people were
hurting and he decided to be the one to do something about it. Thats the big thing you and I can take away from our
interview with Nehemiah today.
CG: Bottom Line Slide
[Bottom Line] When you see people in need, dont wait for someone else to help them.
Just think, if Nehemiah hadnt intervened to help those people, perhaps no one else ever would have. But because
Nehemiah helped them, he was a part of the solution, and the people of Israel would be stronger for it. Im glad Nehemiah
did something about it, but Im even happier that God stepped in and did something about OUR problem. Our sin
separated us from God, but He stepped in to help. He sent His Son to be our Savior, and because of that, we can live with
God forever if we just put our trust in Jesus.
And you know what, you guys? When we see people in need and we jump in to help them, were showing people that
Gods love is HUGE. We can shine His light to the people were helping and to everyone who sees what were doing. Lets
talk to God and ask for some help seeing and meeting the needs of others.

PRAY
LEADER: Dear God, thank You for seeing our need for a Savior and doing something about it. Please help us follow Your
lead in meeting the needs of those around us. Open our eyes to people who need our help, and give us wisdom as to how
we can meet their needs. We are excited to see what You will do through us. We ask these things in Jesus name, amen.
Assistant enters as self, as Leader exits.

CLOSER
ASSISTANT: That Nehemiah was a great guy, wasnt he? But you know what? Hes not the only one that can help others.
You can too! It feels good to help someone in need. You should try it sometime. Walk around one day, in your home, in
your school, in your neighborhood, wherever, and see if you can spot someone who is in need. If you can, offer to help. No
payback necessary.

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If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).

PAG E 1 1

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W-3
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PRELUDE

SOCIAL

STORY

25 MINUTES

WORSHIP
10 MINUTES

GRADES

K-5

GROUPS

HOME

Help a friend with their yard work. Help a neighbor bring in their groceries. Help your mom or dad vacuum or do the
laundry or change your baby sisters diaper. Ew. And if you want to really surprise someone, help them without being
asked. Just think of how youd feel if someone did that for you.
When you help someone without expecting anything in return, itll help you build a stronger relationship with them. And
youll feel pretty good about it, too. Thats true no matter who you are.
But if you follow Jesus, theres another reason to help others. Jesus said loving God is the most important thing. And the
second most important thing is to love others. And I think when we love otherswhen we love the people God created
its one way we can show God how much we love Him. Its just like our memory verse says
CG: Memory Verse Slide
Work at everything you do with all your heart. Work as if you were working for the Lord, Colossians 3:23a.
So the one thing to remember today is this.
CG: Bottom Line Slide
[Bottom Line] When you see people in need, dont wait for someone else to help them. Say that with me, like you
really mean it!
ASSISTANT and KIDS: [Bottom Line] When you see people in need, dont wait for someone else to help them.
ASSISTANT: It can be hard work, it can be a dirty job, and sometimes it can be downright scary. But its worth it. Now, if
youll excuse me, Im off to dispose of some dirty diapers. Hey, someones gotta do it!
Dismiss children to their Small Groups.
SFX: Play high-energy music as the kids exit.

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PAG E 1 2

AUGUST

W-3
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PRELUDE

SOCIAL

STORY

WORSHIP

GRADES

K-5

GROUPS

25 MINUTES

HOME

GROUPS: CREATING A SAFE PLACE TO CONNECT (SMALL GROUPS, 25 MINUTES)

Create a safe place to connect and learn how the Bible story applies to real life experiences, through interactive activities
and discussion questions.

* 1. HELP, PLEASE

(application activity / review the Bible story)

WHAT YOU NEED: Prepared Object Cards Activity Page, butcher paper, pencils or markers
WHAT YOU DO:
Review the story. Ask questions such as the following, but try to allow the kids to drive the review of the story.

o What were some of the needs of the people Nehemiah identified? (hungry, homeless, unprotected, didnt
have money)

o What did Nehemiah do? (he helped them, he showed initiative, he told people lending money to stop charging
interest, he had the nobles and officials give people back their property, he encourage everyone to work
together and help each other)
After reviewing the story, place a piece of butcher paper on the table or tape it to a nearby wall.
A kid will pick a card from the stack of Object Cards and, without showing the card to the group, draw the object on
the butcher paper. (Note: If you have mostly younger kids in your group, you can draw the pictures and have them guess
what it is.)
The group must guess what the object is and how they could show initiative, using the object, to help someone in need.
Examples could be: The object is a BAND-AID and you could use it to help a person who fell at recess. Or the object is a
book and you could teach someone how to read, or read to someone who is lonely.

2. KIDS SHOWING INITIATIVE (application activity)

WHAT YOU NEED: Jen Rubinos Story and Card-Making Strategy Activity Pages, cardstock, markers, decorating
supplies
WHAT YOU DO:
Read Jen Rubinos Story.
Emphasize that one way of showing initiative is providing encouragement to people in need.
Ask kids to think of someone they know who could use encouragement. Maybe they know someone who is in the
hospital, or a friend who has been sad. Maybe they have a friend who just moved and could use a card just to let them
know you are thinking of them.
Using the decorating materials, ask kids to show initiative by making cards to encourage someone they know.
WHAT YOU SAY:
You all can start showing initiative right now! [Bottom Line] When you see people in need, dont wait for someone
else to help them. Jump right in and show initiative! Nehemiah didnt wait for someone to help the people in Jerusalem.
He didnt say, Not my problem! Jen Rubino learned the value of encouragement and she didnt wait for someone else to
figure a way to encourage kids. Jen treated others the way she wanted to be treated. When we show initiative and help
people in need, we show them they arent forgotten and they matter to us and more importantly, they matter to God.
[Make It Personal] (Share an age-appropriate story of someone you want to encourage or of a time someone sent
you a card and what it meant to you.)
2015 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. www.ThinkOrange.com
If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).

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AUGUST

W-3
2

PRELUDE

SOCIAL

STORY

WORSHIP

GRADES

K-5

GROUPS

25 MINUTES

HOME

3. VERSE PAINTING (memory verse activity)

WHAT YOU NEED: Q-tips, washable paint, paper plates, construction paper or cardstock, Bibles, markers
WHAT YOU DO:
Guide kids to look up Colossians 3:23a in their Bibles.
Ask two or three kids to write out the verse on a piece of paper (and/or do so yourself).
Hand out the supplies.
Put the paint on the paper plates, making sure the colors are within reach of all the kids.
Give the kids some time to use the Q-tips to paint the memory verse onto their paper, using their Bibles or the
handwritten pages as a guide. Encourage them to be as creative and elaborate as possible.
WHAT YOU SAY:
This verse tells us that we need to work like we are working for the Lord. What does that mean to you? (Pause for
answers.) How does working for the Lord versus working for your parents or teachers change the attitude you have about
what you are doing or change the quality of the work you do? (Pause for answers.) God asks us to do our work well and
with a good attitude, just like we would do if He were standing next to us, asking us to do it for HIM. One of the jobs that
God gives everyone is to help others. So, [Bottom Line] when you see people in need, dont wait for someone else to
help them.

If you lead mostly older kids, consider asking these discussion questions:
What is the difference between something you need and something you want? (You can use the Social activity to
help with the discussion.) Were some of the items mentioned in Social really a want versus a need? Can you think of
something that might be a need in one situation but a want in another?
Give examples of people in need in our community or in the world.
Can you think of a time you were in need and someone showed initiative to help you? What did they do? Can you think
of a time you saw someone in need and helped them? What did you do? How would things have worked out differently
had you not been willing to help?

PRAY AND DISMISS

WHAT YOU NEED: Cards the kids made in the Kids Showing Initiative activity
WHAT YOU DO:
Sit in a circle and put the cards in the center of the circle.
Pray for the people who will receive the cards; pray they are encouraged and they realize how much God loves them.
WHAT YOU SAY:
Dear God, we really want to encourage the people we made these cards for this week. Please use our initiative as an
encouragement to them and to help them realize how much You love them. Show us if there is anything else we can do to
help them this week. Amen.
Give each child a GodTime card. Pass out Parent Cue cards as adults arrive to pick up.
2015 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. www.ThinkOrange.com
If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).

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