Early Childhood | Week of July 26

Hey GrowKids! We hope you’re enjoying learning about the Fruit of the Spirit! Today we are going to talk about how God created us to be gentle. Gentleness isn’t a sign of weakness; it takes great strength to be gentle.

Bible Story

  • What do you think of when you hear the word gentleness?
  • What are some things you need to be gentle with?
  • What does Jesus say about being gentle in this passage?
  • How was Jesus gentle to us?
  • Is there someone you need to be gentle with this week?

Prayer

Pray this Prayer: Dear God, Give us the strength to be gentle. Help us to be gentle to someone in need this week. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Activities

Activity: OPERA FRUITS

  • Have the kids sing the memory verse like an opera singer. Post a video for us to see the silliness 🙂

Activity: GENTLENESS TAKES STRENGTH

  • Give each child a plastic Easter egg. Using markers, decorate the outside to make it look like a pineapple. You can also use some green construction paper or pipe cleaners to make the leaves on top. Inside, put some cotton. Let it be a reminder that gentleness takes strength.

SNACK-tivity

Snack Time: Pineapple Pudding Dip

  • Ingredients:
    • 8oz. cream cheese, softened
    • 8oz. Cool Whip or sweetened whipped cream
    • 16oz. can crushed pineapple with juice
    • 1 (3.4oz) box Jell-O Cheesecake flavored Instant Pudding
  • Instructions:
    • Mix together the cream cheese, pudding mix (dry) and pineapple with juice
    • Fold in the Cool Whip
    • Serve with fruit or graham crackers
    • Refrigerate leftovers

Connect with Us!

Thank you for continuing to tune in with us online to complete your lessons and activities! We can’t wait to see you this week!

Elementary | Week of July 26

Welcome to GrowKids Online! This summer we are learning the Fruits of the Spirit and this week’s Focus Fruit is GENTLENESS!

DISCUSSION : Rest For The Weary
Read : Matthew 11:25-30

  • What does Jesus say about being gentle in this passage?
  • How was Jesus gentle to his enemies?
  • Why does it take strength to be gentle?
  • Is there someone you know who needs a little gentleness?
  • How can we find the strength to be gentle?

ACTIVITIES

MEMORY VERSE | Memory Verse Toss
INSTRUCTIONS: Find a friend, parent or sibling to play this game with you! Using a ball, frisbee, or anything you can toss, pass the object back and forth. Every time the object is caught, shout out a Fruit of the Spirit.

“But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
(Watch the Memory Verse video to learn the motions to our verse, Galatians 5:22-23)

CREATE | Strong Outside, Gentle Inside
INSTRUCTIONS | Find a plastic Easter egg or two Dixie cups. Using markers, decorate the outside to make it look like a pineapple. You can also use some green construction paper or pipe cleaners to make the leaves on top. Inside, put some cotton balls. Tape together the Dixie cups, leaving a small opening. Just like the outside of this pineapple is strong and hard, the inside is gentle and soft. Let it be a reminder that gentleness takes strength.

THINK ABOUT IT | Being Gentle Takes Strength
When we think of gentleness, we often think of mothers with newborn babies, not weight lifters tossing around heavy weight. But being gentle takes a strength that is more than lifting 50 pounds.
It takes real strength to answer someone’s hateful words with love. It takes strength to be kind when someone is yelling at you, calling you names, or treating you with cruelty. People who yell and get angry expect we will yell and get angry back. The more we yell, the more they yell, until everyone is screaming at the top of their lungs. But what happens if you are gentle to someone who is cruel to you? They might yell some more, but they won’t keep yelling. Gentleness shows them you care. It encourages them to simmer down. It shows them you are listening.

Gentleness takes strength. It’s nothing weak to be gentle. It’s the most powerful way to defuse an angry person, be present for someone who is hurting, and to love like Jesus loves.

In a journal or on a piece of paper, draw the outline of a pineapple. On the inside write “gentleness” and write ideas of how YOU can be gentle. (Ex. listening when someone is sad/angry, letting a friend know they can talk to you, loving your sibling after they say something hurtful, having compassion…)

PRAYER

Dear God,
Only You can give us the strength it takes to be gentle. Would you show us who in our lives we need to be gentle to this week? We want to grow to be more like you!
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

We love learning about the Fruit of the Spirit with you, Grow Kids!

Hey Parents! Make sure you’re staying up to date with all things Grow Kids by clicking the “like” button on Facebook and joining in on GrowPoint’s Summer Bucket List!

Early Childhood | Week of July 19

Hey GrowKids! We loved seeing you on Sunday at the BIG tent outside! It’s been such a beautiful summer getting to be together in unique ways.

Bible Story

https://youtu.be/minGCL8Y5qg
  • Why was David hiding from Saul?
  • What did David’s men tell him to do when Saul walked in the cave?
  • Why didn’t David kill Saul?
  • What does it mean to be faithful?
  • How can we be more faithful to God?

Prayer

Pray this Prayer: Dear God, Give us faithful hearts so we can be more like you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Activities

Activity: BANANAS

  • Have the kids cut out some banana shapes from construction paper. On each shape, write something they have to do this week for at home – a project, a chore, a music lesson. Have the kids cut out a second set of banana shapes. Each time they fulfill a commitment this week, they can cover that item until they have covered the whole bunch!

Activity: GOD’S PROMISES

Rainbow PrintableDownload
  • Supplies: Rainbow Printable, Cardstock, Q-Tips, Plate, Paint
  • Instructions:
    • Print out the God Always Keeps His Promises Rainbow PDF on to cardstock.
    • Squeeze paint onto a plate.
    • Use Q-Tips to dot the paint onto the rainbow.
    • Dry completely before hanging up.

SNACK-tivity

Snack Time: FRUIT (OF THE SPIRIT) PIZZA

  • Supplies: Your favorite sugar cookie dough (can use pre-made or homemade), 8 oz. Cream Cheese, 5 TBSP Butter, 1 TSP Vanilla Extract, 2 Cups Powdered Sugar, Fresh Fruit (of various colors)
  • Instructions:
  1. Form your sugar cookie dough into balls and follow the instructions on your recipe for baking time & temperature.
  2. Allow the cookies to cool completely before frosting.
  3. To make the frosting, cream the butter and then add the cream cheese and mix until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and mix until fully combined.
  4. Frost cookies with cream cheese frosting and top with fruit.

Connect with Us!

Thank you for continuing to tune in with us online to complete your lessons and activities! We can’t wait to see you this week!

Elementary | Week of July 19

Welcome to GrowKids Online! This summer we are learning the Fruits of the Spirit and this week’s Focus Fruit is FAITHFULNESS!

DISCUSSION : David Spares Saul’s Life
Read : 1 Samuel 24

  • Why didn’t David kill Saul when he had the chance?
  • What does it mean to be faithful?
  • How is keeping our word to other people a faithful thing to do?
  • Why is it hard to stay faithful when other people are making poor choices?
  • How can we be more faithful in our walk with God?

ACTIVITIES

MEMORY VERSE | Memory Verse Pass
INSTRUCTIONS: Write the memory verse word for word on different index cards. Use a hula hoop (or draw a circle on the ground with chalk) and a paper plate. Toss the paper plate like a frisbee and try to get it to land in the hula hoop! Every time the plate lands in the hula hoop, give yourself an index card. Once you have received all the index cards, work to put the memory verse in the correct order.

“But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
(Watch the Memory Verse video to learn the motions to our verse, Galatians 5:22-23)

CREATE | Faithful in the Day to Day
INSTRUCTIONS | Cut out some banana shapes from construction paper. On each shape, write something you have to do this week for school or at home – a project, a chore, a music lesson. Cut out a second set of banana shapes. Each time you fulfill a commitment this week, you can cover that item until they have covered the whole bunch!

THINK ABOUT IT | Thank you God, for goodness!
Faithfulness means we don’t follow the crowd. We follow Jesus. We stick to the path God shows us, and we see it through to the end. Faithfulness to God will not only bring us closer to Him, it will help us grow all the Fruits of the Spirit.

Faithfulness means we are people who keep our word. If we commit to doing something, whether it’s with a group or just by ourselves, we do it. When we say we will participate in a service project, we show up and serve. If we commit to doing part of a group project at school, we do it to the best of our abilities. If we commit to making time to read God’s Word by ourselves every day, we do it without fail.

Faithfulness can be a lonely path at times, but the more faithful we are, the more fruit we will have in our lives. Let’s be faithful followers every day of the week, not just on Sundays. Let’s be faithful to God, to our families, and our loved ones.

PRAYER

Dear God,
Help us to be faithful to You. Give us faithful hearts so we can be more like You. We want to bring you honor and glory, by being faithful to what You say.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

We love learning about the Fruit of the Spirit with you, Grow Kids!

Hey Parents! Make sure you’re staying up to date with all things Grow Kids by clicking the “like” button on Facebook and joining in on GrowPoint’s Summer Bucket List!

Elementary | Week of July 12

Welcome to GrowKids Online! This summer we are learning the Fruits of the Spirit and this week’s Focus Fruit is GOODNESS!

DISCUSSION : Jesus Heals and Forgives
Read : Mark 2:1-12

  • Why did Jesus forgive the paralyzed man?
  • Why did he then heal the man and tell him to walk?
  • Why do we need Jesus to give us goodness?
  • How can we have goodness in our hearts?
  • How can we share that goodness with others this week?

ACTIVITIES

MEMORY VERSE | Memory Verse Pass
INSTRUCTIONS: Find a family member or friend to play this game with you. Grab a ball and pass the back around in a circle or back and forth. Each time you catch the ball, say one word of the memory verse in order. Pass the ball back and forth until you complete the verse! Want a challenge? See how fast you can complete the verse while passing the ball each word.

“But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
(Watch the Memory Verse video to learn the motions to our verse, Galatians 5:22-23)

CREATE | God Makes Good Things
INSTRUCTIONS | Fold a piece of paper in half, creating a mini-booklet. Cut out or draw and color a ripe, good-looking piece of fruit on the inside. Then close the book and trace the fruit shape on the front cover. Color or make a piece of rotten fruit for the outside. Show your family how God takes things that are bad and makes them good.

THINK ABOUT IT | Thank you God, for goodness!
The good news in today’s story is that we can become good. If we give our hearts to Jesus, if we spend time with him daily, if we follow the Bible and live the way Jesus lived, goodness will grow in us like fruit on the vine. We will be good to others. We will do good for our community. We will choose good things over sin.

People are born sinful, but we can do good if we give our lives to Jesus. Ask God to fill your heart with goodness. Read his Word so you can know how to live in a way that pleases him. Let goodness come from your heart so you can share God’s goodness with the people around you.

In your journal, write “GOODNESS” at the top of the page. Goodness comes from living God’s way.
Thank God for choosing to send His Son so that we can have a heart full of goodness.

PRAYER

Dear God,
Help us to do good to everyone we meet, no matter what differences we may have. Teach me to love others and share your goodness with them.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

We love learning about the Fruit of the Spirit with you, Grow Kids!

Hey Parents! Make sure you’re staying up to date with all things Grow Kids by clicking the “like” button on Facebook and joining in on GrowPoint’s Summer Bucket List!

GrowKids Outdoor Services Update

Please note these changes to our services based on the Governor’s order.

  • Face masks are required for those 10 years and older until seated safely 6ft apart.
  • Face masks are required If you enter the building for restrooms or are moving between your car and your seat.

GrowKids ministry will be offered for K-5th grade. Families will worship together under the large tent and K-5th graders will be released to the GrowKids tent, located behind The Point, for a lesson and activities. GrowKids service will be outside, so please make sure to send your child with their own labeled water bottle and make sure they have sunscreen applied if needed. In order for your child to participate in GrowKids, we ask that you use the Church Center App to pre check-in your child prior at home or on your way to church. Once your family arrives and prior to the start of service, please locate the tent with GrowKids check-in signage and follow the protocol below on how to use our touchless check-in system to receive your child’s sticker name tag and claim tag.  

We always strive to make health, safety, and cleanliness a top priority for GrowKids and our volunteers, but especially now more than ever. Here are some expectations moving forward.

1) Temperature – We will take your child’s temperature BEFORE the GrowKids portion of the service begins. If they are running an elevated temperature, you will be asked to return home and seek medical advice after receiving prayer. Please note: All volunteers will also have their temperatures checked. Please keep your family home if anyone has been sick, and worship with us online at www.growpoint.church/online and www.growpoint.church/kids.

2) Face Masks – We are requiring anyone 10 and older to wear a face mask while moving between locations.

3) Online Check-In – We are asking for each family to use our touchless online check-in system. You can check your child in from your phone before even arriving at church using the “Church Center App” and stickers will print off automatically from the printers upon your arrival by following these easy steps.

  • Steps to check-in your child(ren) from your mobile device:
    • Download the Church Center App to your mobile device
    • Create a login under GrowPoint using your email address
    • At the bottom of the screen, select the “Check-in” icon
    • You can select members of your household to check-in
    • Upon arrival, scan the barcode using the iPad at the check-in kiosk
    • Tear off the name tag as it prints out and place it on your child’s chest 

4) Hand Sanitizer – Before the GrowKids portion of the service begins, we will encourage children and volunteers to sanitize their hands. We will have hand sanitizer available.

5) Pick-Up – Please go to The Point entrance to pick up your child following the service. A volunteer will bring your child to The Point Cafe where claim tags will be verified before releasing the child to an adult. Parents are requested to not enter The Point at any time. The restrooms in The Point area will be reserved for children only.

6 ) Safety Team – As always, a Safety Team member will be assigned to the GrowKids area to ensure the safety of our GrowKids. 

We appreciate your grace and patience as we make adjustments as we go along. Please know that we are doing our best and are continually seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit as we make decisions and protocols. We love our GrowKids and are excited to get back to being together!

Early Childhood | Week of July 5

Hey GrowKids! I loved seeing you this week at Krieg’s getting ice cream with our church family. I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t like ice cream! Everyone seems to enjoy a delicious frozen treat every once in a while! Today’s lesson focuses on something else we can enjoy with others; the Fruit of Kindness! Today’s Fruit of Kindness shows us that we can be kind to others, even when they’re not kind to us! By being kind, we are spreading the love of Jesus!

Bible Story

https://youtu.be/KmFp95Ni_6A
  • What is the 5th fruit of the Spirit?
  • Who was Mephibosheth?
  • What did David do for Mephibosheth?
  • Why did David show kindness to Mephibosheth?
  • Why should we be kind even if people are mean to us?
  • How can we become kinder to others?

Prayer

Pray this Prayer: Dear God, Teach us to be kind to everyone we meet. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Activities

Activity: RAP IT OUT

  • Play a hip-hop beat on Youtube (like this one), and rap the memory verse with the kids, then have them try it on their own.

Activity: ACTS OF KINDNESS

  • Everyone stand in a circle. Turn to the left, and give the person in front of you a neck rub. Now turn the other way and give them a nice pat on the back. Then one by one, go around and take turns saying one nice thing about the other person. Then all come together for a group hug. Talk about how great we feel when we are kind to someone else.

Activity: KINDNESS MATTERS

  • Use a paper plate, glue, scissors and construction paper to create a flower.
  • On the paper plate, write “Kindness Matters”.
  • Have your child write on several “petals” with 1-2 words about a sibling, or themselves, and glue them onto the flower.
KINDNESS MATTERS SAMPLEDownload

SNACK-tivity

Snack Time: SNACK MIX OR FRUIT SNACKS

  • Talk about how it’s kind to share with others as you share a snack together.

Connect with Us!

We can’t wait to see you today for our ONE GIANT service at 10am! Then next Sunday, July 12th, we will be BACK at GrowPoint and we will see you for GrowKids together! We can’t wait to see you soon!