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POlNerful GospelPresentations!

:)Ministry Direction...

"ACCORDING TO THE

PUBLICATION COMMUNICATION

BRIEFINGS, PEOPLE FORGET 40

PERCENT OF A SPEAKER'S

MESSAGE WITHIN 20 MINUTES.

THEY FORGET 60 PERCENT

AFTER A HALF DAY. AND AFTER A

WEEK THEY LOSE 90 PERCENT."

~ THOM AND JOANI SCHULTZ,WHY NOBODY LEARNS MUCH

OF ANYTHING AT CHURCH:

AND HOW TO FIX IT.

How can you make yourpresentations so powerful that childrenwill remember and apply the Biblicalprinciples that you arepresenting?

In Children's Church: TurningYour Circus into a Service, Dick Grubershares the following about making gospelpresentations to kids:

. A gospel presentation is not adynamic illustration or a creativevisual. It is a message from Godtransmitted by you to each child.Such a message cannot comeentirely from a curriculum. Acurriculum might give you theScripture text or an idea for thevisualpresentation. But you mustpray and meditate daily to findwhat God would say specificallyto the childrenand how He would

have you to present His message.There should always be threeportions to the gospelpresentation: a Scripture verse,Bible story, and illustratedsermon.

The message is more importantthanthe method. Lookto God for

the message, then determinewhatmethods willbest present God's

.

.

.

message. Role play, drama, mime, chalktalks, gospel illusions, object lessons,storytelling,costumedcharacters,video clipsare just some of the methods that can beused to effectively share the Gospelmessage.Involvethe childrenin your presentation.Achild who participates will be more apt torememberand apply that lesson throughoutthe week.Invite childrento act on God's message tothem. The invitation may be an altarinvitationgivingchildrenthe opportunitytoreceive salvation, sanctificationor seekthebaptism of the Holy Spirit, help with aproblem,or askingGodto supply a need. Orthe invitation might be a challenge.Challengethe childrento obeythe messagethey have heard. For example, ifthe gospelpresentation was on witnessing, challengethe childrento share the "good news" witha ftiend or familymember duringthe week.

.

Ideas You Can Use!

IVIUI~II)()~IEMaterials Needed: Paper cups, small toys, change,nails or screws, plant in cup of soil, pitcher of water.

Presentation:

Can anyone tell me why this paper cup wasmade? What is its purpose? Yes, it was made todrink out of. That is its purpose. Everything that hasbeen created has a purpose, a reason for being made.

Paper cups are used in many other ways too.Sometimes kids like to keep their favorite things inpaper cups. You might keep bottle caps or marblesor special rocks in a paper cup. Some people collecttheir loose coins in a paper cup. Others keep smallthings like nails or screws or buttons in a paper cup.A paper cup can even be used as a tiny garden. Youcan put soil in the cup and plant seeds in the soil andsoon you will have a cup full of plants.

But was the paper cup made to hold bottlecaps or coins or nails? Was it made to be a miniaturegarden? No. It was made to provide a cool drink tosomeone who is thirsty. (Pour water into a paper cupand take a drink.)

The paper cup reminds me ofeach of you. You too were made for avery special purpose. (Let the childrenfind and read Matthew 22:37.) Whatdoes this verse tell us about our

purpose, our reason for existing. Yes,each of you were made to love God andto serve Him.

The paper cup has no choice inhow it will be used, but you can choose.Will your life be spent doing what youwant to do? Will you spend your lifedoing what others want you to do? Or,will you choose to love God and serveHim? God wants to fill your life withHis love so that you can share it withothers. (Pour water into another cup andgive a drink to one of the children.)

Will you fulfill God'spurpose? It's your choice.

11)()lrIE~lrIIA\ILMaterials needed: 12 inch balloon,balloonfor each child,black permanentmarkers.

Presentation:

The other day I went to thestore and bought this balloon. Thepackage said that this was a 12 inchballoon.Butwhen I opened the packageand took out the balloon, I was verydisappointed. This isn't a 12 inchballoon. Why it isn't even a 4 inchballoon. I thinkI've beencheated.Whatdo you think? (Let children respond.)What? Oh, you mean that in order forthis to becomea 12-inchballoon, I haveto do something? I have to blow theballoon up? Let's see if you are right.(Blowthe balloon up completely.)

I wasn't cheated after all! Thisis a 12inchballoon. You know, each ofus is like this balloon. We have

POTENTIAL.Wehave the ability to beall Godhasplannedfor us to be. But wemust work with God to reach our

potential.(Ask each child to get with a

partner then give each one a balloon.Ask the pairs to think of ways they canwork with God to become all He hasplannedforthemto be. When they havethought of two ways, they are to blow

the balloons.)Bring the group back together.

Ask them to share some of their ideas.

Conclude by asking each child to tosshis balloon up in the air. While theballoon is in the air the child is to prayasking God to help him reach hispotential.

'CIIlI()II'IJEPreparation:

Create three paths. Make onepath with coins. At the end of the pathplace a sign that reads, "Wrong Way."Make another path with bright beads orcolorful candy pieces. At the end of thatpath, place a sign that reads, "DeadEnd." Make another path with driedbrown beans. At the end of that path,place a bag of treats (enough for eachchild in your group). If space permits,make the paths complex. If not, thepaths can simply wind around the frontof your meeting room. However, makesure the end of each path cannot be seenuntil reached.

Divide the children into three

groups. Show them the beginning ofeach path. Ask each group to choose apath and follow it to the end then returnwith whatever they find at the end.

Presentation:

Discuss the following: Whatmade you choose this path? How didyou feel whenyou got to the end of thepath? If you could choose again, whatpath wouldyou choose?Why?

In the Bible, (Matthew 7:13,14) Jesus reminds us that there are twopaths we can choose to follow duringour lives. (Read these verses to thechildren in an easy-to-understandtranslation of the Bible, such as theNIV.) What are the two paths? Whatdoesthe broad path lead to? What doesthe narrow path lead to? Why do youthink many people follow the broadpath? Which paths that you followedwere like the broad path? Why? Whichpath was like the narrow path? Why?How can we choose to follow thenarrowpath? Yes,thenarrowpath is thepath that we followwhen we choosetolive for Jesus.

The group who chose to followthe plain path received a reward at theend. I'm going to give each member oftheir group one of the rewards. (Pass outa treat to each group member.) But thereare still rewards left to share with each

of you. (Pass out remaining treats toother groups.) You were all blessedbecause some people made the rightchoice. When we choose to follow Jesushow are others blessed?

Conclude by reviewing the twopaths. Invite the children to choose tofollow Jesus.

Resource Review..................................................................................................................................

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