Newsletter Issue # 24 --  August 9, 2016 

Mission Statement: SundaySchoolNetwork.com brings over 25 years of experience to children's ministry. Our Bible lesson plans and activities are designed to lead children to Christ, helping them grow in their faith, so they can proclaim the good news message to the next generation.  

In today's newsletter:

1) Inner City Outreach?
2) Lost Sheep Bible Game
3) BEE-liever Bible Verses
4) Psalm Series: God Knows You

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1) Inner City Outreach

Hi. We have started a small church in a store front in the inner-city of Camden, New Jersey. Could you give direction as-far-as getting the children to come to Sunday school. I'm sure the parents play a large part in the process. We have been going door-to-door inviting folks to church, but that has not born much fruit. We haven't as of yet concentrated on the children. Would a large banner with a Sunday school invitation be part of the message? I believe the children are so important in bringing families to the church.

We do have cook-outs on every other Friday nite during the summer. Also, we get a majority of homeless and drug using type people, not the families I believe we need. Our web is calvarycamden.org.

I appreciate any help in this matter. 

Blessings, 
Rich De Pasquale

--from SSTN: Rich, this is such an exciting opportunity. I hope the other teachers in the network will offer their expertise! In the meantime, use the search tool on our home page, or the bottom of this newsletter, to search out "Inviting," "Sunday School invitations," or "bring children to church." You might also consider taking lessons to children in their neighborhoods, at a nearby park, or even in their schools. To see what other teachers have done, search out "Bible club ideas" or "after-school Bible clubs." And for some Bible resources to use, check out our Bible Lessons page and our Bible Curriculum page. You could also start an after-school Drama Club whereby you have the children act-out Bible skits, and then perform for their parents! Parents might be interested in this! Please keep us posted as to how it goes! 

Your webservant,
Sarah Keith <><
P.S. maybe you've already done this, but if not, before even talking to the parents of the kids, walk the neighborhoods with some people in your ministry and pray for the families to have receptive hearts. 

2) Lost Sheep Bible Game

Begin by reading Luke 15:4-7, "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, `Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." 

Discussion
Who is the Shepherd? (Jesus)
Who is the Lost Sheep? (A person who doesn't follow Jesus.)
Who are the other sheep? (People who already follow Jesus.)

Object 
One player, the "sheep," will draw arrows using chalk to give clues as to where he or she can be found by the "shepherd," the rest of the players. (You might decide to have two players to be the sheep.) 

How To Play 
The sheep are given a head start, (2-5 minutes---decide time before playing). At the go, the sheep . . . 
Continue reading the Lost Sheep Bible Game.

3) BEE-liever Bible Verses

"Bee Kind" - 1 Thessalonians 5:15
"Bee Obedient" - Ephesians 6:1
"Bee" Content - 1 Timothy 6:6
"Bee" Thankful - 1 Thessalonians 5:18
"Bee" Wise - Proverbs 23:23
"Bee" Trusting - Psalm 9:10
"Bee" Loyal - Numbers 30:2
"Bee" Forgiving - Colossians 3:13
"Bee" Righteous - James 2:10
"Bee" Compassionate - Romans 5:6-8
"Bee" successful - 1 Chronicles 22:13

Find more Bee-liever ideas at:
http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/curriculum-buggie-for-Jesus.html 

4) Psalm Series: God Knows You

Object Lesson: God knows you and loves you. 

(You'll need a magnifying glass, and a sheet of paper with a small circle drawn at the center of it, approximately 1/4" in diameter. Inside the circle type or write "God Knows You" using the smallest text possible. Tape the paper to a wall opposite of where you'll present the lesson. If possible, give each child a small plastic magnifying glass to keep as a lesson reminder.)

The Psalms are a collection of prayer and praise songs written mostly by David, the King of ancient Israel, and were used during worship services to sing praises to God. Even today, many of our modern praise songs use portions of the Psalms in their lyrics.

In today's lesson we will learn that God knows us and loves us. (As you say the Bible point, have children use these motions: Knows: Point to your temple. Loves: Hug yourself.)

What does it mean to examine? (Listen for answers) Examine means to . . . 

Get the God Knows You lesson.

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