Newsletter 72.
Newsletter 72 from Maurice Sweetsur
Welcome to my first Newsletter for 2009. I hope that you find something here of benefit to your ministry.
Below are two testimonies that I recently received. It is always encouraging to hear how my material is being used by others. If you find my Newsletters helpful, I would encourage you to make them known to other children's workers that you know of.
I have often had emails from people who have stumbled upon my web sites by accident, and subsequently asked to subscribe to my Newsletters. But the best way to make them more widely known is if my present subscribers tell others about them. ( www.mauricesweetsur.blogspot.com ).
You could also consider sharing about my children's web site "Kidzone" with the boys and girls that you teach. ( www.funatkidzone.blogspot.com ).
And if you live in New Zealand, you could consider making my ministry known to your church leaders. ( www.unclemaurice.blogspot.com ). Remember that I make no charge for taking programmes in the Greater Auckland area.
All my web site addresses are as follows:-
Children's ministry - www.unclemaurice.blogspot.com
All teaching material (All Newsletters) - www.mauricesweetsur.blogspot.com
Object lessons / Illusions - www.objectlessons.blogspot.com
Teaching tips - www.teachinglessons.blogspot.com
Stories, skits and puppet plays - www.christianstoriesandplays.blogspot.com
Kidzone (Children's site) - www.funatkidzone.blogspot.com
Kidzone - Archives. - www.kidzonearchives.blogspot.com
Maurice Sweetsur
Testimonies.
1. Maurice: Thank you for that wonderful article, “What Proof Would Satisfy.” It comes at a perfect time. I have been teaching apologetics in my church and wanted something to share during the Holiday season. This will work perfectly.
Pastor Wally LeyerleFirst Baptist Church The Colony, TX, USA.
2. I have never met you nor wrote to you before. BUT I have read all (or mostly all) of your newsletters and have learned much from them. I have travelled all over eastern Europe and Turkey teaching "Creative Evangelism" using my Christian clown character. I owe much of my knowledge and skills to YOU.
I thank you for your years of serving the Lord and passing on your knowledge to others like myself. The WORD continues to go forth because YOU have decided to share it. May the good Lord continue to bless you, your ministry, and your family.
Richard Huntley, Auburn, California.
Contents.
Teaching tip 49 - What children need to understand about God.
Story - "I give you me!"
The importance of children.
Ponderisms.
Laugh break - Walking by faith.
T.T. 49 - What children need to understand about God.
Before starting to teach a new class of children, it is a good idea to ask yourself "At the end of the year, what do I want these children to really understand about God?"
If we each wrote down a list of what we thought was really important for our children to understand about God, it would obviously depend upon the age of the children, their backgrounds and their previous 'Bible' teaching. However, our list of what we wanted them to learn would probably include such things as teaching them to recite John 3.16, the Lord's prayer, the Ten Commandments, and even the Books of the Bible. We would probably also want our children to be thoroughly familiar with some of the best known Bible stories, such as Easter, Christmas, David and Goliath, Daniel in the Lion's den, etc. And this is all good - as long as it is not an end in itself!
Unfortunately 'Knowing' something is not the same as understanding it. I have known children who, for example, could recite the Lord's prayer perfectly, but still having little understanding of what the prayer actually means! Rather, our aim should be to ensure that each child comes to an understanding of what God is really like. And this means explaining to the children what a particular Scripture or Bible story really teaches us about God. The Bible verses and stories are really tools which we can use to bring our children to a deeper understanding of the nature of God.
Here is a list of what I believe children really need to understand about God. You may wish to add to it, but keep it in mind during your teaching sessions.
1. God is always there. Wherever we go, God is always right there with us.
2. God always answers prayers. His answer may be "Yes", "No", or "Wait", but He will always answer us.
3. God always understands. No matter what is happening in our lives, no matter how we feel, God always understands about us.
4. God always forgives. No matter what we may have done, God will always forgive us if we are really sorry.
5. God always loves. We can never stop God loving us, because "He is love."
Story - "I give you me!"
A teacher wanted to teach his pupils the real meaning of "Christmas". He explained that Christmas was Jesus' birthday, and that as it was customary to give a gift to people on their birthday, he asked all the children to bring in a gift for Jesus on that special day. He explained that he would like the children to all think hard about their gift and that it should be a one that would be worthy to give to Jesus, the Son of God and Saviour of the world.
The teacher placed a large box in the centre of the classroom and, as the children arrived - many of them obviously carrying a gift - , asked them to come out one at a time and place their gift for Jesus in the empty box.
Matthew was the first to come forward, and the other children gasped to see him pushing his bicycle towards the box. Everyone knew how much Matthew loved his bike. He had been saving up for it for months, and after he finally had enough to buy it just a few weeks ago, he was seen riding it for hour after hour. Surely Matthew wasn't going to give his precious bike away? But no. Matthew lifted his bike into the box, clasped his hands together and prayed "Jesus, I give you my bike."
Next to come forward was Amanda. Again their was a gasp from the other children as they saw her carrying her favourite Barbie doll. She was rarely seen without her precious Barbie doll. But she placed it in the box and prayed "Jesus, I give you my Barbie doll."
Next up was Big Joe. Everyone knew how much Joe liked chocolate. But there he was, carrying, a large box of chocolates to give to Jesus. How hard that must have been for Joe to give his chocolates away. And so it went on. Each child had obviously thought long and hard about their gift and gave up something that they were bound to miss.
Finally, there was only Poor Jimmy left. He was know as 'Poor Jimmy' because he obviously was very poor. He never seemed to wear any nice clothes, or have very much in his lunch box. In fact, sometimes, he didn't bring any lunch with him at all. It was said that his father had died, and that his mother didn't have much money to look after Jimmy and his brothers and sisters. What sort of gift would Jimmy give to Jesus?
"It's your turn now, Jimmy" said the teacher. "Bring your gift to Jesus." Slowly, Jimmy got up and started walking towards the box. A few children giggled and whispered "He's not got anything. Look. There is nothing in his hands. Jimmy is carrying nothing to give to Jesus." Eventually Jimmy arrived at the box. He hesitated for a moment, and then jumped right into the box and sat down. "Jimmy, What on earth are you doing" asked the teacher. But Jimmy just put his hands together and prayed "Jesus, I give you me! I give all of my life to you."
Question. Which of those children gave the best gift to Jesus? That's right, Jimmy did.
Jesus told us that when we are giving to others, we are actually giving to Him. Some people give money to Jesus (Perhaps when they give to the church offering, or to a charity), some give up some of their time or talents (abilities) to help others. And that is good. But what Jesus wants each one of us to give to him is all of our Lives, just like Jimmy did. He gave his life for us, and he wants us to give All of our lives back to him. He will never be satisfied with a little bit of our money, time, talents, or anything else we can offer him. No, He wants All of us.
What does this mean in practice? It means living for Jesus. It means putting Him first all the time. It means that our attitude should be not, "What is best for me, or what do I want to do?" but rather "What is best for Jesus. What does He want me to do?" That is giving yourself to Jesus.
Prayer. "Jesus, I give all of my life to you. I may not have a lot, but what I do have, I give it all to you. Help me to use my money, time, talents and everything else I have in a way that pleases you. Amen."
The importance of children.
According to a publication of the "US Centre for World Missions"
85% of all people worldwide who decide to accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour are between 4 and 14 years old.
90% of all pastors and missionaries got to know the Lord while they were children, and had a responsibility in church while they were children.
The Christian churches lose more children of Christian parents, than they gain new converts by means of evangelistic efforts. (In other words: Churches would grow more if they suspended all evangelistic events completely, and instead focused on evangelizing their own children.)
Source http://www.altisimo.net/
We all need churches to become aware of this potential. Generally they invest very little or nothing in ministering to children compared with other areas of the church.
Ponderisms.
I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die of natural causes.
The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.
Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Have you noticed since everyone has a camcorder these days no one talks about seeing UFOs like they used to?
How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?
Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, "I think I'll squeeze these dangly things here, and drink whatever comes out?"
Who was the first person to say, "See that chicken there? I'm going to eat the next thing that comes out of its bottom ."
Do illiterate people get the full effect of Alphabet Soup?
Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?
Laugh break - Walking by faith.
One day a 6 year old girl was sitting in a classroom. The teacher was going to explain evolution to the children. The teacher asked a little boy: Tommy do you see the tree outside?
TOMMY: Yes.TEACHER: Tommy, do you see the grass outside?
TOMMY: Yes.
TEACHER: Go outside and look up and see if you can see the sky.
TOMMY: Okay. (He returned a few minutes later) Yes, I saw the sky.
TEACHER: Did you see God up there?
TOMMY: No.
TEACHER: That's my point. We can't see God because he isn't there. Possibly he just doesn't exist.
A little girl spoke up and wanted to ask the boy some questions. The teacher agreed and the little girl asked the boy: Tommy, do you see the tree outside?
TOMMY: Yes.
LITTLE GIRL: Tommy do you see the grass outside?
TOMMY: Yessssss!
LITTLE GIRL: Did you see the sky?
TOMMY: Yessssss!
LITTLE GIRL: Tommy, do you see the teacher?
TOMMY: Yes
LITTLE GIRL: Do you see her brain?
TOMMY: No
LITTLE GIRL: Then according to what we were taught today in school, she possibly may not even have one!
"FOR WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT"
II CORINTHIANS 5:7
(Forwarded by Helen Setser).
Welcome to my first Newsletter for 2009. I hope that you find something here of benefit to your ministry.
Below are two testimonies that I recently received. It is always encouraging to hear how my material is being used by others. If you find my Newsletters helpful, I would encourage you to make them known to other children's workers that you know of.
I have often had emails from people who have stumbled upon my web sites by accident, and subsequently asked to subscribe to my Newsletters. But the best way to make them more widely known is if my present subscribers tell others about them. ( www.mauricesweetsur.blogspot.com ).
You could also consider sharing about my children's web site "Kidzone" with the boys and girls that you teach. ( www.funatkidzone.blogspot.com ).
And if you live in New Zealand, you could consider making my ministry known to your church leaders. ( www.unclemaurice.blogspot.com ). Remember that I make no charge for taking programmes in the Greater Auckland area.
All my web site addresses are as follows:-
Children's ministry - www.unclemaurice.blogspot.com
All teaching material (All Newsletters) - www.mauricesweetsur.blogspot.com
Object lessons / Illusions - www.objectlessons.blogspot.com
Teaching tips - www.teachinglessons.blogspot.com
Stories, skits and puppet plays - www.christianstoriesandplays.blogspot.com
Kidzone (Children's site) - www.funatkidzone.blogspot.com
Kidzone - Archives. - www.kidzonearchives.blogspot.com
Maurice Sweetsur
Testimonies.
1. Maurice: Thank you for that wonderful article, “What Proof Would Satisfy.” It comes at a perfect time. I have been teaching apologetics in my church and wanted something to share during the Holiday season. This will work perfectly.
Pastor Wally LeyerleFirst Baptist Church The Colony, TX, USA.
2. I have never met you nor wrote to you before. BUT I have read all (or mostly all) of your newsletters and have learned much from them. I have travelled all over eastern Europe and Turkey teaching "Creative Evangelism" using my Christian clown character. I owe much of my knowledge and skills to YOU.
I thank you for your years of serving the Lord and passing on your knowledge to others like myself. The WORD continues to go forth because YOU have decided to share it. May the good Lord continue to bless you, your ministry, and your family.
Richard Huntley, Auburn, California.
Contents.
Teaching tip 49 - What children need to understand about God.
Story - "I give you me!"
The importance of children.
Ponderisms.
Laugh break - Walking by faith.
T.T. 49 - What children need to understand about God.
Before starting to teach a new class of children, it is a good idea to ask yourself "At the end of the year, what do I want these children to really understand about God?"
If we each wrote down a list of what we thought was really important for our children to understand about God, it would obviously depend upon the age of the children, their backgrounds and their previous 'Bible' teaching. However, our list of what we wanted them to learn would probably include such things as teaching them to recite John 3.16, the Lord's prayer, the Ten Commandments, and even the Books of the Bible. We would probably also want our children to be thoroughly familiar with some of the best known Bible stories, such as Easter, Christmas, David and Goliath, Daniel in the Lion's den, etc. And this is all good - as long as it is not an end in itself!
Unfortunately 'Knowing' something is not the same as understanding it. I have known children who, for example, could recite the Lord's prayer perfectly, but still having little understanding of what the prayer actually means! Rather, our aim should be to ensure that each child comes to an understanding of what God is really like. And this means explaining to the children what a particular Scripture or Bible story really teaches us about God. The Bible verses and stories are really tools which we can use to bring our children to a deeper understanding of the nature of God.
Here is a list of what I believe children really need to understand about God. You may wish to add to it, but keep it in mind during your teaching sessions.
1. God is always there. Wherever we go, God is always right there with us.
2. God always answers prayers. His answer may be "Yes", "No", or "Wait", but He will always answer us.
3. God always understands. No matter what is happening in our lives, no matter how we feel, God always understands about us.
4. God always forgives. No matter what we may have done, God will always forgive us if we are really sorry.
5. God always loves. We can never stop God loving us, because "He is love."
Story - "I give you me!"
A teacher wanted to teach his pupils the real meaning of "Christmas". He explained that Christmas was Jesus' birthday, and that as it was customary to give a gift to people on their birthday, he asked all the children to bring in a gift for Jesus on that special day. He explained that he would like the children to all think hard about their gift and that it should be a one that would be worthy to give to Jesus, the Son of God and Saviour of the world.
The teacher placed a large box in the centre of the classroom and, as the children arrived - many of them obviously carrying a gift - , asked them to come out one at a time and place their gift for Jesus in the empty box.
Matthew was the first to come forward, and the other children gasped to see him pushing his bicycle towards the box. Everyone knew how much Matthew loved his bike. He had been saving up for it for months, and after he finally had enough to buy it just a few weeks ago, he was seen riding it for hour after hour. Surely Matthew wasn't going to give his precious bike away? But no. Matthew lifted his bike into the box, clasped his hands together and prayed "Jesus, I give you my bike."
Next to come forward was Amanda. Again their was a gasp from the other children as they saw her carrying her favourite Barbie doll. She was rarely seen without her precious Barbie doll. But she placed it in the box and prayed "Jesus, I give you my Barbie doll."
Next up was Big Joe. Everyone knew how much Joe liked chocolate. But there he was, carrying, a large box of chocolates to give to Jesus. How hard that must have been for Joe to give his chocolates away. And so it went on. Each child had obviously thought long and hard about their gift and gave up something that they were bound to miss.
Finally, there was only Poor Jimmy left. He was know as 'Poor Jimmy' because he obviously was very poor. He never seemed to wear any nice clothes, or have very much in his lunch box. In fact, sometimes, he didn't bring any lunch with him at all. It was said that his father had died, and that his mother didn't have much money to look after Jimmy and his brothers and sisters. What sort of gift would Jimmy give to Jesus?
"It's your turn now, Jimmy" said the teacher. "Bring your gift to Jesus." Slowly, Jimmy got up and started walking towards the box. A few children giggled and whispered "He's not got anything. Look. There is nothing in his hands. Jimmy is carrying nothing to give to Jesus." Eventually Jimmy arrived at the box. He hesitated for a moment, and then jumped right into the box and sat down. "Jimmy, What on earth are you doing" asked the teacher. But Jimmy just put his hands together and prayed "Jesus, I give you me! I give all of my life to you."
Question. Which of those children gave the best gift to Jesus? That's right, Jimmy did.
Jesus told us that when we are giving to others, we are actually giving to Him. Some people give money to Jesus (Perhaps when they give to the church offering, or to a charity), some give up some of their time or talents (abilities) to help others. And that is good. But what Jesus wants each one of us to give to him is all of our Lives, just like Jimmy did. He gave his life for us, and he wants us to give All of our lives back to him. He will never be satisfied with a little bit of our money, time, talents, or anything else we can offer him. No, He wants All of us.
What does this mean in practice? It means living for Jesus. It means putting Him first all the time. It means that our attitude should be not, "What is best for me, or what do I want to do?" but rather "What is best for Jesus. What does He want me to do?" That is giving yourself to Jesus.
Prayer. "Jesus, I give all of my life to you. I may not have a lot, but what I do have, I give it all to you. Help me to use my money, time, talents and everything else I have in a way that pleases you. Amen."
The importance of children.
According to a publication of the "US Centre for World Missions"
85% of all people worldwide who decide to accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour are between 4 and 14 years old.
90% of all pastors and missionaries got to know the Lord while they were children, and had a responsibility in church while they were children.
The Christian churches lose more children of Christian parents, than they gain new converts by means of evangelistic efforts. (In other words: Churches would grow more if they suspended all evangelistic events completely, and instead focused on evangelizing their own children.)
Source http://www.altisimo.net/
We all need churches to become aware of this potential. Generally they invest very little or nothing in ministering to children compared with other areas of the church.
Ponderisms.
I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die of natural causes.
The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.
Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Have you noticed since everyone has a camcorder these days no one talks about seeing UFOs like they used to?
How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?
Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, "I think I'll squeeze these dangly things here, and drink whatever comes out?"
Who was the first person to say, "See that chicken there? I'm going to eat the next thing that comes out of its bottom ."
Do illiterate people get the full effect of Alphabet Soup?
Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?
Laugh break - Walking by faith.
One day a 6 year old girl was sitting in a classroom. The teacher was going to explain evolution to the children. The teacher asked a little boy: Tommy do you see the tree outside?
TOMMY: Yes.TEACHER: Tommy, do you see the grass outside?
TOMMY: Yes.
TEACHER: Go outside and look up and see if you can see the sky.
TOMMY: Okay. (He returned a few minutes later) Yes, I saw the sky.
TEACHER: Did you see God up there?
TOMMY: No.
TEACHER: That's my point. We can't see God because he isn't there. Possibly he just doesn't exist.
A little girl spoke up and wanted to ask the boy some questions. The teacher agreed and the little girl asked the boy: Tommy, do you see the tree outside?
TOMMY: Yes.
LITTLE GIRL: Tommy do you see the grass outside?
TOMMY: Yessssss!
LITTLE GIRL: Did you see the sky?
TOMMY: Yessssss!
LITTLE GIRL: Tommy, do you see the teacher?
TOMMY: Yes
LITTLE GIRL: Do you see her brain?
TOMMY: No
LITTLE GIRL: Then according to what we were taught today in school, she possibly may not even have one!
"FOR WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT"
II CORINTHIANS 5:7
(Forwarded by Helen Setser).
posted by Maurice Sweetsur @ 12:20 AM
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