Early Childhood | Week of January 31

Hi GrowKids! Last week, we learned about treasures on Earth and treasures in heaven.

Bible Story

SCRIPTURE | II Corinthians 9:1-15

INSTRUCTIONS: Introduce the story of Paul and then read the “letter” from Paul below. Before you begin, write/print the letter on a long piece of parchment paper then make a show of unrolling the paper as your read it for the kids.
In today’s Bible story, Paul, who is someone who taught people about God, is writing a letter to a church in a city called Corinth. Paul is asking them to share their gifts with other churches who need their help. Let’s see what Paul wrote to them!

“Dear friends in Corinth. I’m so glad you offered to help because there are some churches that could really use your help! I know giving isn’t easy, but please don’t feel grumpy about giving. Choose to be happy about giving instead! When you give cheerfully, God will bless you with everything you need. Plus, when you give, you’re not just helping others —you’re showing God how thankful you are. When you give to help others, people will see that and praise God, too! And God will always take care of you. Love, Paul.”

Wow! Paul’s letter says that giving is great, but also that we should give with happy hearts – not just because we are forced to!

Prayer

Pray this Prayer: God, You give us good things. Help us to give to others happily so that people may come to know you and love you like we do. We trust that You will do amazing things with our gifts!

Memory Verse

MEMORY VERSE | I Peter 4:10 (NIV)

INSTRUCTIONS: Stand in the middle of the room with your eyes closed, and give the kids ten seconds to choose a corner of the room to run to. When time is up, point to a random corner of the room, still with your eyes closed. Everyone who is standing in that numbered corner must repeat the memory verse after you! Repeat as many times as desired.

Big Idea

THE BIG IDEA | We can trust God with our gifts.

We have made it to the end of our “Unboxed” series, where we’ve talked about the good gifts God gives us. Today, we’re going to learn a brand new Big Idea. If you’re ready to hear it, let me hear you make the loudest drumroll ever!
INSTRUCTIONS: While kids pat their legs and stomp their feet, open the big box of Big Ideas and take out the last weekly box, and share the Big Idea with the group.

Our Big Idea is: We can trust God with our gifts!

Activities

Activity: TREASURE STOCKPILE

Most treasure hunters look for precious things so they can keep it and get rich. But God wants us to do different things with all the gifts we have. . . God wants us to give them away!
INSTRUCTIONS: Place an open treasure chest at the front of the room. One at a time, invite the kids to come up and stand three feet away from the treasure chest. Encourage them to toss the coins into the chest.

# TODDLER HACK: Have kids toss ball pit balls or bean bags instead of small coins, and make sure the box is fairly large.

Activity: TREASURE COLLECTION

Paul encouraged his friends to not only give, but to be happy about giving. Giving should make us happy! Let’s practice happy giving right now!
INSTRUCTIONS: Give each kid five gold coins. Tell the kids to walk around, giving their coins to someone else. When they do, tell them to say, “I’m happy to share my treasure with you!” Instruct the recipient of the coins to say, “Thank you for sharing your treasure with me!”

Didn’t it feel so good to share with your friends? You were all such happy givers!

Activity: THUMBS UP, THUMBS DOWN

INSTRUCTIONS: Tell the kids to give a ‘thumbs up’ if it’s something God wants us to do or a ‘thumbs down’ if it’s something God wouldn’t want us to do.
Does God want us to share our gifts?
Does God want us to share because we HAVE to?

Does God want us to give to others happily?
Should we complain when someone tells us to share? Should we trust God with our gifts?

SNACK-tivity

Snack Time: GIVING A GIFT

INSTRUCTIONS: Pass out a snack of your choice in a smiley face snack bag and ask them to sit and listen while they eat. Your discussion will be more effective when they’re busy sitting and snacking!
What is something you were happy to give to someone?

Why were you excited to give them that?
How did you feel giving something instead of getting something?

Elementary | Week of January 30, 2021

Welcome to GrowKids Online!
This morning we are rapping up our series, UNBOXED, where we are learning about the amazing gifts God has given us!

DISCUSSION: Generosity
Read: 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

  • Who was Paul writing the letter to, and why?
  • What kind of attitude should we have when giving?
  • How did the little boy trust Jesus with his gifts?
  • Read 2 Corinthians 9:7-8. What happens when you give cheerfully and not just because you have to?
  • Name some of your gifts that you can trust God with.
  • Why do you think God wants us to share our gifts?
  • What is one thing you think God can do with your gifts?

ACTIVITIES

MEMORIZE IT | Memory Verse Pop Quiz!
INSTRUCTIONS: Test your knowledge! Ask your parent or sibling to quiz you on your memory verse! Go around to each person in your house and show them the motions and show them how well you know the verse!

“Each of you” Point at multiple people with your pointer finger 
“should use whatever” swing both arms open wide 
“gift you have received” Open arms in front of you as if receiving a large gift 
“to serve others.” cup hands together and motion as if you are offering something in front you you
“1 Peter 4:10” Open hands like book

MAKE IT | Treasure Lists
INSTRUCTIONS: ​Grab a piece of paper and some markers. Take time and go through each letter of the alphabet, starting with A and name something good God has given them that starts with that letter. Decorate the rest of the paper however you’d like!
You came up with a lot of things, didn’t you? But there are still way more good things God gives us that we haven’t even thought of. These gifts show how much God loves us and cares for us. Imagine all the wonderful things God can do when we give our gifts back to God!

READ IT | John 6:5-13
INSTRUCTIONS:Read or paraphrase John 6:5-13.
Once, Jesus was speaking to a large crowd –more than five thousand people! –and Jesus asked his disciples what they should feed them. The disciples looked at one another. None of them had a clue. Where would they get all the money? Where would they get that much food?
Then, a little boy came up to one of the disciples, Andrew, with all that he had in his lunchbox —five small pieces of bread and two small fish. That was barely enough food for one person! But Jesus tookthe boy’s gift of the fish and bread, gave thanks to God, and started to pass out the food to the crowd.
Do you know what happened next? Not only did Jesus give five thousand people enough to eat, there were twelve baskets of bread left over when they were done!
The little boy trusted God with what he had. Then God did something amazing with it. That’s what it’s like to trust God with our gifts!

PRAYER

Thank You, God, for all the gifts You’ve given us. Please take our gifts and use them however You’d like. We can trust You, God, with our gifts, so please take them and do great things with them, like Jesus did with the little boy’s fishes and bread.
In Jesus’ name, amen!

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All Things New in 2021

Hey GrowPoint!

Who’s excited about “All Things New” in 2021?! We believe this is going to be a wonderful, exceeding-all-expectations type of adventure! Already, we can see how God is laying the groundwork for us to engage and pursue His presence like never before! Every day that breath fills our lungs, our Heavenly Father will continue to call us deeper in our relationship with Him! 

Last Sunday, we threw a plethora of information and updates your way; and as promised, we are circling back around to give a refresher on everything we covered! Buckle up, get your calendar, palm pilot, etch-a-sketch, or post-it and pen in hand, and let’s do this; in chronological fashion: 

Saturday Night at GrowPoint | January 30 at 6pm

We’re excited this year to be launching,”Saturday Night at GrowPoint!” Replacing our 5th Sunday on-site services, we will gather for ONE in-person Saturday Night service. GrowKids will be celebrating with a Pajama Party! Plan to join us THIS Saturday, January 30th at 6pm!

January 31st, service will be available ONLINE ONLY at 9am & 11am service times. 

Saturday Nights at GrowPoint in 2021: January 30, May 29, August 28, October 30

NEW Service Times and Format | Beginning February 7

Breakthrough Prayer with Worship | 9am

We are taking a NEW approach with our Sunday morning gatherings! As a continuum from the 21-day fast, our newly formatted 9am service will be launched on February 7! Believing that God is calling us to a deeper pursuit, the 9am service will be purposefully focused on seeking God for breakthrough in our personal life and community! We will pray. We will receive prayer. We will come with a hunger for God’s presence. We will come expecting breakthrough!

*Children are welcome to this service, but please note GrowKids will only be available at 10:30am.

Worship & The Word | 10:30am

Following the Breakthrough Prayer time, we will gather for our “typical” morning service at its new time of 10:30am! (Understanding that there’s nothing typical about GrowPoint services!).

*GrowKids will be available for all children ages 6 weeks through 5th grade.

UpNext Sunday | February 7 at 10:30am

Every year is a year to remember, and with 2020 being such a unique year, we get to express huge gratitude to our Heavenly Dad for the way He worked through GrowPoint in unique ways!  It was a year that looked different than any of us could have expected, but God moved and showed us how to bless people with the love of Jesus! Come celebrate what God did in 2020 and hear where He is leading us in 2021!

Early Childhood | Week of January 24

Hi GrowKids! Today, we’re learning about gifts that are like treasures to us. The Bible talks about two kinds of treasures — one kind of treasure can break and one kind of treasure can last forever.

Bible Story

INSTRUCTIONS: Put your Bible inside of a treasure chest without the kids seeing you do so. Then read Matthew 6:19-24.
Look at the treasure chest. One very important thing we should care about is in this treasure chest. Do you want to know what it is? I need you to come up, close your eyes, and reach into the treasure chest and take it out. What is it? It’s a. . . Bible!

God’s Word, the Bible, is a very special treasure. It’s a special book that tells us all of God’s stories and all about God’s love!
You see, the stuff that we care about – our toys, our games, our clothes, our food – they can all one day go missing, get chewed up by little critters, or fall apart. But the things God cares about, like loving one another, last forever. Since they’re not stuff, they won’t break or disappear! That’s what it means to store your treasure in heaven. It means to care about what God cares about!

Prayer

Pray this Prayer: Dear God, thank You for caring more about us than our things. Help us to care about the things You care about by focusing on things that last forever.

Memory Verse

MEMORY VERSE | I Peter 4:10 (NIV)

INSTRUCTIONS: Print the memory verse so that it takes up a full page. Memory Verse

Then cut or tear the memory verse image into 6-8 rectangular pieces. Then have them work together to put the puzzle together. Once it is complete, have them recite the verse together a few times.

Big Idea

THE BIG IDEA | We can care about what God cares about!

INSTRUCTIONS: Today’s Big Idea is: We can care about what God cares about.
Have you ever lost or broken something? Yes, I think we all have before, right? [Share a story about a time when you lost or broke something that was dear to you.] Even though it’s important to take good care of our things, things don’t last forever. But the things God cares about? They DO last forever. Let’s see what might be!

Activities

Activity: MY FAVORITE THING

INSTRUCTIONS: Give the kids two paper plates, one with a happy face written on it and one with a sad face written on it. Tell the kids to hold up which feeling they have when you ask the following questions.

# TODDLER HACK: Play “I Spy” with the kids by putting together a sensory bin of items that kids can identify, such as an artificial flower, a plush animal, play food, people action figures, a mirror. Say, “From all of these things, what is your favorite? What do you think is God’s favorite? It’s YOU!” [Show them their face in the mirror.]

How many of you have a favorite toy at home? How does it make you feel when you play with that toy?
Imagine if your favorite toy was lost or broken. How would you feel?
Let’s say you and your friend both want to play with the same toy. Maybe you end up fighting over the toy and become very upset. When you care about what God cares about, you can share the toy, and let your friend play with it first. God cares more about you than about your toy!

God cares about forever things and we should, too, because we can care about what God cares about.

Activity: GOD’S TREASURES

INSTRUCTIONS: Have kids sit in a circle around a basket or treasure chest. Give each kid a handful of gold coins. Tell them to place a coin inside the basket for each answer they give. Feel free to prompt them with suggestions.

# TODDLER HACK: Pass out a coin to each kid and say, “God cares about you,” as you do. Have kids put their coins in the treasure chest as they say, “God cares about me.”

Today, we heard a story about the things God cares about. Those are things God wants us to care about, too.
What are things you think God cares about?
What people does God care about?

We’ve added a lot of gold coins to our treasure chest! That means God cares about a lot of things. We can care about what God cares about, too.

Activity: CARE COPIES

INSTRUCTIONS: Have two kids face each other, about a foot apart. Have one kid do an action, and have the other kid try to copy it exactly, like they are looking in a mirror. Repeat so every kid has a chance to lead and copy.
Was it fun trying to copy each other? Sometimes it’s not that easy, but when it comes to copying God, we need to try our best to do what God does! That way, we can care about all the things God cares about!

SNACK-tivity

Snack Time: SHARING IS CARING

INSTRUCTIONS: Have bowls of a variety of snacks, as many as there are kids, if possible. Give each kid one type of snack, and put them in charge of passing them out to the others.
Great job sharing with everyone! What do you think God cares about more, your snack or you sharing your snack?

Elementary | Week of January 24, 2021

Welcome to GrowKids Online!
This month we are diving into the Spiritual Gifts that God has given us!

DISCUSSION: Treasures in Heaven
Read: Matthew 6:19-24

  • What could happento treasures on Earth?
  • Where does Jesus say to store our treasures?
  • What does it mean that the eye is the lamp of the body?
  • Read Matthew 6:21. Why do you think our heart is where our treasure is?
  • What do you think are some examples of heavenly treasures?
  • What do you think Jesus meant when he said he was the light of the world?
  • How can we be a light to the people around us in our everyday lives?

ACTIVITIES

MEMORIZE IT | Memory Verse Puzzle
INSTRUCTIONS: Write the memory verse on a piece of paper and cut it into multiple sections. Once that paper is cut, mix the pieces up! Time yourself to see how fast you are able to piece the puzzle back together. Play multiple rounds!

“Each of you” Point at multiple people with your pointer finger 
“should use whatever” swing both arms open wide 
“gift you have received” Open arms in front of you as if receiving a large gift 
“to serve others.” cup hands together and motion as if you are offering something in front you you
“1 Peter 4:10” Open hands like book

MAKE IT | Treasure Lists
INSTRUCTIONS: Use a poster board or regular piece of paper and divide the poster board into two columns. Think about all the things that you deeply care about. Write them on the poster board in the first column. Then, think about what God cares about and write those in the second column.
What do you think God cares about? How about being kind, obeying Him, sharing, standing up for what is right, believing in Jesus, telling others about Jesus, getting along with others! Those are just a few to get you started, think deeper about what He cares about. If you need help read Matthew 5:2-12.

READ IT | John 8:12
INSTRUCTIONS:Look up the Bible verse and read it aloud.
The Bible says Jesus is the light we need to be guided safely. When we are following Jesus, we don’t need to follow anyone or anything else!
Is money forever? No, it’s not. Money can run out, get stolen, or be destroyed by fire. Can our cool toys and electronics last forever? Or what about being popular? Nope! Only God’s promises are forever.
We need to follow the light, which is Jesus, to see what God cares about and, ultimately, what we can care about, too!

PRAYER

Dear God, light my path so I can see the things You care about. Help me remember that You care about things that are forever. Thank You for loving us and caring about us so much that You gave us the Bible to light our path and show us the way to a happy life.
In Jesus’ name, amen!

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Early Childhood | Week of January 17

Hi GrowKids! Today we will talk about a different kind of gift…and that gift is called a blessing! What’s special about blessings? You get them from God and then you can give them to other people!

Bible Story

SCRIPTURE | Matthew 5:1-16

INSTRUCTIONS: Read Matthew 5:1-16 with the kids. A kid-friendly version, such as the NIRV, will help the kids understand the story clearly. Emphasize the word “blessed” each time, as you read the Bible passage for the kids.
What word did you hear a lot in our story today?

Does anyone know what that word means?

In the Bible, we learned a blessing is something God gives us because God is so kind to us. God doesn’t have to give us blessings, but God chooses to.
God loves to bless us, especially when we do things that make God happy. Some things that make God happy are telling the truth, saying I’m sorry, being kind to others, and standing up for what is right.

Sometimes, a blessing is something you need for today, like clothes or food, but other times, a blessing is something that lasts forever, like God’s love!

Prayer

Pray this Prayer: Dear God, Even when it’s hard to do, help us to do things that make You happy. Thank you for all Your blessings!

Memory Verse

MEMORY VERSE | I Peter 4:10 (NIV)

INSTRUCTIONS: Say the memory verse for the kids, but pretend to sneeze each word of the memory verse. When you are finished, tell the entire group to say, “Bless you!” Have kids try along with you.

Big Idea

THE BIG IDEA | Blessings Are Gifts God Gives Us.

INSTRUCTIONS: Open the bags of Big Ideas and take out this week’s numbered bag, and share the Big Idea with the group.
Today’s Big Idea is: Blessings are gifts God gives us.

Activities

Activity: BALLOON VOLLEY

INSTRUCTIONS: Tell the kids to stand in a circle. Toss an inflated balloon to one kid and encourage the group to work together to keep the balloon in the air. The goal is for the balloon to not hit the ground. Make sure every kid gets a chance to bounce the balloon. You can toss in more balloons for an added challenge.

# TODDLER HACK: Blow bubbles for toddlers to catch instead of volleying a balloon. Encourage them to catch and pop the bubbles before they land on the ground.

Activity: BLESSING CARDS

Have you ever been sick and someone sent you a card, balloon, or teddy bear as a get well gift?
When we’re feeling down and someone shows us they care, that’s a gift to us, isn’t it? God does this for us, too. When we want to feel happy again after feeling sad, God blesses us with peace and joy to help us feel happy again!

INSTRUCTIONS: Set out the card making supplies and assist the kids in making cards that will be a blessing to someone in need. You can mail your cards to us at GrowKids PO BOX 146, Amherst, OH 44001 and we will mail them out to shut-in congregation members, local nursing homes, shelter residents, or missionaries.

Activity: COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

What are the different blessings God has given you?
INSTRUCTIONS: Set out scrapbook paper. Help the kids write as many blessings they can think of on the paper. Save the finished papers for the next activity. Offer suggestions to get the kids started, such as family, friends, their house, their pets, yummy food, school, clothes, etc.

# TODDLER HACK: Help kids think of someone and/or something they’re thankful for and write it on heart-shaped cutouts. They can use these for the next part of the activity.

SNACK-tivity

Snack Time: WHOLE LOTTA BLESSINGS

INSTRUCTIONS: Fill a large jar with one kind of treat (e.g., M&Ms, cheerios, gummy bears, etc.) after having counted them all. Ask kids to guess how many they think are in the jar. After a few attempts, tell them the correct number, then open the jar and pass some out to each kid.
There are blessings all around us every day! Things like watching the sunrise or sunset, eating a yummy treat, spending time with a friend, or playing outside are all blessings that we should be grateful for.