Elementary | Week of April 18, 2021

Welcome to GrowKids Online!
Today we continue the conversation of what happened after Jesus conquered death and appeared to His disciples!

DISCUSSION: The Miraculous Catch of Fish
Read:John 21:1-17

  • What did Peter do that made him discouraged?
  • How many fish did the disciples catch before Jesus showed up?
  • What did Jesus ask Peter when he made it back to shore and talked with him?
  • Read Psalm 4:1. What can you do to find mercy and encouragement from God?
  • What can you do to encourage someone who is feeling down?
  • Can forgiving someone be a type of encouragement? How?
  • When are some times you need encouragement? Where can you find it?

ACTIVITIES

MEMORIZE IT | Memory in Motion
Check out this song by JumpStart3! A great way to memorize verses is by using music and motions. Practice this song and these motions and then go perform what you learned for your siblings and parents!

“If you declare with your mouth” – Cup hands around mouth
“‘Jesus” right arm up
“Is” – Left arm up
“Lord” both arms in goal pose
“and believe” – swing arm around from head to heart
“in your heart” – make heart with hands and motion a heartbeat
“that God raised Him from the dead” – swing arms up and then flip hands over
“you will” – point both fingers out front
“Be Saved” – open arms wide
“Romans 10:9” – open hands like book

DO IT | Connected Chain
INSTRUCTIONS: Use this site for reference. Print a mountaineer printable for each kid onto card stock and cut it out. Tell the kids to color the climber. Cut two, short lengths of plastic drinking straws and tape each vertically (parallel to each other) onto the back of your climber’s body. Under them, tape a penny for weight. Now, cut a long length of yarn. Thread it up one straw and down through the other. Tie a pony bead on each end of the yarn. This will prevent the yarn from slipping back through the straws. Now, place the loop above the head of the climber over a door handle. With each end of the yarn in one hand, pull the yarn apart and watch your climber travel up toward the door handle. That’s the summit!

PRETEEN HACK:Give preteens an extra long length of string and hold amountain climbing race once everyone has made their mountaineers.

SPECIAL NEEDS HACK:Have a couple already completed that can be decorated with crayons or painted for those unable to process the directions within the time frame.

Being kind and saying encouraging words will go a long way to lift up the people around you, just like you are able to lift up your mountaineer with a simple string! Just like Jesus gives us encouragement, let’s give encouragement to others!

READ IT | 1 John 1:1-4
INSTRUCTIONS: Read Psalm 4:1-2
Can you imagine what would have happened to Peter if God didn’t show mercy? God is a good God and shows us mercy.
Jesus encouraged Peter and told Peter there was a plan for his life even though Peter had done something disappointing. Jesus used this moment as a time to encourage Peter with words and actions.
Who do you need to show mercy and encouragement to today?

PRAYER

Dear God,
Thank you for encouraging us. You show us mercy and love even when we don’t deserve it. Help us to show each other mercy. We want to be encouraging and loving like you.
Amen.

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Early Childhood | Week of April 18, 2021

Welcome to GrowKids Online!
Today we are learning all about what Jesus did after He beat death!

READ IT | TODAY’S BIBLE STORY

Read together the amazing story of Jesus appearing to His disciples, grab a Bible and read John 21:1-17 together!

Have you ever disobeyed your parents and you knew that they were not happy with you? How did that make you feel?oWhen Jesus was captured and taken away, Peter was afraid that the same thing would happen to him! So when people asked him, he said he didn’t know who Jesus was at all!oPeter knew that what he did made Jesus sad. He was probably worried that Jesus would be angry with him.
One day, the disciples were out fishing. They had been fishing for a long time, but they didn’t catch anything. oThen, someone appeared and told them to cast the net on the other side of the boat. The net filled with a bunch of fish!oThey knew only one person was able to do something this amazing –it had to be Jesus!
Peter was so excited to see Jesus. Peter jumped out of the boat and swam to shore. When Peter got to shore, Jesus invited Peter to sit and eat. The other disciples followed after they broughtthe boat to shore.oJesus simply asked Peter if he loved Jesus. Of course Peter did!oJesus gave Peter a mission to take care of Jesus’ followers everywhere.
It didn’t matter what Peter had done. Jesus wanted Peter to know he still loved him and wanted him to tell everyone else about Jesus!

ACTIVITIES

MEMORIZE IT 
INSTRUCTIONS: Watch the memory verse video and learn the motions to this month's
 memory verse. Then, make your own memory verse video! You say the words and do the motions of Romans 10:9!

DO IT

INSTRUCTIONS: Ask your parent to help you go on an adventure! 1) Pitching a tent out of a large blanket or sheet and chairs, 2) Making a campfire using toilet paper tubes and red, yellow, and orange tissue paper. 3) Packing s’mores by eating two graham crackers, 1 marshmallow, and a chocolate square and 4) Stargazing by spotting all the star stickers you put on the ceiling or a wall using a flashlight

PRAY IT

Dear God, thank you so much for sending Jesus to encourage us. We all make mistakes, but you forgive us when we do. Thank you for picking us back up and keeping us going. We love You. Amen.