August 12, 2015 -- Issue #25

In today's newsletter:

1) Good Shepherd Lessons

2) Bible Tic-Tac-Toe

3) Bible Fun Facts

4) Gospel in a Nutshell: John 3:16

1) Good Shepherd Lessons -- Psalm 23

Children can memorize just about anything without even trying. When my children were very young they loved to watch the same video programs over and over again. Before long they knew most of the dialogue word for word. The same can be done with Scripture memorization; so let us take advantage of this innate ability and plant God's Word into their hearts and minds as soon as we can! 

One of my earliest childhood memories is of the Twenty-Third Psalm. When my mom would tuck me in at night she would say the Twenty-Third Psalm, then pray with me. Eventually I could say it with her. I was only four years old at the time, yet I had memorized the entire passage just by hearing it repeated! If God's Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, then Scripture memorization should be at the forefront of children's ministry. After all, we are instructed to hide God's Word in our hearts so that we don't sin against him.

Get the Good Shepherd Bible Lessons.

Your webservant,
Sarah Keith <><

2) Bible Tic-Tac-Toe

For Two Players or Two Teams.

Write questions from your lesson or use Bible trivia questions. Divide the class into two teams: "X's" and "O's." Draw a large Tic-Tac-Toe grid on the board and number the squares 1-9. Players or teams take turns answering the questions called out by the teacher. Players may confer with their teammates to give an answer. If a correct answer is given, that player or team scores an "X" or "O" in one of the numbered positions of their own choosing on the grid. If a player or team is unable to answer a question, the opposing team may have an opportunity to answer it and score an "X" or "O." If no one is able to answer the question, the grid space remains blank and play continues as before. First player or team to get three in a row wins!

(From Bible Games Explosion. )

3) Bible Fun Facts

Did you know that the first Bible printed in America was NOT an English version. In fact, it was translated by pastor/missionary, John Eliot, and printed in the native Algonquin Indian Language in 1663. Read how the English Bible was printed.

And to learn some fun Bible facts such as, What's the shortest book in the Bible?; Which Gospel book was written first?; or How many years did it take to write the Bible? Download our Bible-Stack-O! game.

4) Gospel in a Nutshell - John 3:16

Lesson Objective: To help children understand and memorize John 3:16, the gospel in a nutshell. There is enough material from each lesson to fill approximately 30 minutes per class period. 

Ultimately, the gospel is much bigger than being condensed into a "nutshell." Gospel means "good news," it is more than Jesus dying and rising from the dead to give us eternal life. The gospel is an Old Testament promise that God would reclaim, restore, and push back the curse of sin and death to establish his rule and reign on earth, as it is in heaven. And until Jesus returns to earth, we live in the already and not yet of God's Kingdom rule.

Get the Gospel in a Nutshell Bible lessons

Have you written a Bible lesson, game, craft, or skit for children's ministry? 
Send it to: submissions@sundayschoolnetwork.com 

Join the conversation: Send your comments to: sstn@sundayschoolnetwork.com
When replying to this email, highlight the text that is pertinent to your response, then hit reply. 
Title your message to reflect the content.

Don't keep it to yourself!
Use the link at the bottom of the newsletter to forward it to friends and coworkers.

SEARCH SundaySchoolNetwork.com for ideas:

If you're not already subscribed to our newsletter, sign up on our home page: http://www.SundaySchoolNetwork.com

Copyright 1997 - 2015 / d.b.a. "S. A. Keith of Creative Imaginations Reproducing in any medium, commercial or noncommercial, is strictly prohibited without prior written permission. SSTN has contributors from all over the world who share their ideas. If you reprint any of the ideas from SSTN, SundaySchoolNetwork.com or ChristianCrafters.Com in any medium (websites, magazines, newsletters, etc.), you must contact the submitter, and website for reprint permissions. Any materials used must also include the submitter's name and where the ideas were gleaned from. The opinions expressed or advertisements displayed in the SSTN e-Newsletter are not necessarily endorsed by SundaySchoolNetwork.com or any of its affiliates. SSTN reserves the right to edit and or exclude information from the SSTN e-Newsletter.