Month: May 2021

Welcome to GrowKids Online!
We are going to spend this month talking about the legacy that Jesus has left for us . . . which is the Holy Spirit!

DISCUSSION: Life in the Spirit
Read: Romans 8:12-17

• What good news did Paul give the Romans?
• How can we be children of God?
• How do God’s children live?
• Think about our memory verse this month. How do we know who God’s children are?
• What is your favorite part about belonging to God’s family?
• How can you show others you are part of God’s family?
• How can you invite others into God’s family?

ACTIVITIES

MEMORIZE IT | Slapstick Memory Verse
INSTRUCTIONS: Write on index cards some funny ways to say the memory verse. Draw a card, and say the verse without laughing while doing what the card says!

• Say the verse with your tongue sticking out.
• Plug your nose.
• Stand on one leg.
• Say the verse with your head touching your feet.

“For those who are led” Both arms out in front, motioning a winding road 
“by the Spirit” Left fully extended up
“of God” Right arm fully extended up 
“are the children” “Wrap left arm around self
“of God.” wrap left arm around self 
“Romans 8:14” open hands like book

DO IT |  Family Frame
INSTRUCTIONS: Make a cardboard frame and find a handful of steampunk decorations (e.g.,steampunk stickers, small craft gears, brads, feathers, etc.). Let kids decorate their frame by gluing on items around their frame. If possible, glue a photo of your family that fits the frame, or draw your family.
What has the Holy Spirit taught you about God’s family?
Everyone is welcome. Everyone is accepted. Everyone is loved. All of us are a part of God’s family because of the Holy Spirit.

READ IT | John 3:5-7
INSTRUCTIONS: Read John 3:5-7.
In this story, a guy named Nicodemus asked Jesus about being a part of God’s family.
Jesus answered Nicodemus and told him he needed to be born again. Now, we know Jesus doesn’t actually mean being born again like a baby.
What it means is when you become a follower of Jesus, you get a chance to start life over again because you are forgiven. Just like we talked about earlier, when we are part of a new family, we no longer have to follow the rules that we had. We can embrace the way our new family lives!

PRAYER

Dear God,
Thank you for making us a part ofyour family. No matter where we come from or where we have been, you give us the Holy Spirit. Thank you for the people in our lives whose legacy has been shared with us.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Hey Parents! Make sure you’re staying up to date with all things Grow Kids by clicking the “like” button on our Facebook page and following us on Instagram!

Welcome to GrowKids Online!
We are going to spend this month talking about the legacy that Jesus has left for us . . . which is the Holy Spirit!

DISCUSSION: The Holy Spirit Appears at Pentecost
Read: Acts 2:1-21

• Where were the disciples when the Holy Spirit appeared?
• What happened when the peoplewere filled with the Holy Spirit?
• What did people think about the disciples when they heard them speaking their own languages?
• Re-read Psalm 139:7-10. Where is the Holy Spirit?
• If you could learn to speak another language, what would it be?
• How does knowing that the Holy Spirit is for everyone affect how you treat others?
• What is one way the Holy Spirit can change you?

ACTIVITIES

MEMORIZE IT | Memory Verse
Practice saying the memory verse out loud multiple times, when you feel confident, try saying the verse backwards!
“For those who are led” Both arms out in front, motioning a winding road 
“by the Spirit” Left fully extended up
“of God” Right arm fully extended up 
“are the children” “Wrap left arm around self
“of God.” wrap left arm around self 
“Romans 8:14” open hands like book

DO IT | Decoder Gadget

INSTRUCTIONS: Print off the Decoder printable, scissors, and a brad. Have them cut out the two circles, overlap them at the middle, and bind them together by poking the brad through the middle. Have kids rotate the circles and line up the letters in any position you want. The bigger circle is for the letters in the original text, and the smaller circle will be the code letters.
Write today’s Big Idea: The Holy Spirit is for everyone.
Then under it, write the message in code, using your new decoder. Once you line up the letters, keep it in that position for the whole code!

READ IT | Psalm 139:7-10

INSTRUCTIONS:Read Psalm 139:7-10 together.
Who is the spirit that is being talked about here?
This psalm reminds us that the Holy Spirit is everywhere –we can’t hide from the Holy Spirit.How does that make you feel?
Maybe it makes you feel a little afraid because you think God is just waiting around for you to make a mistake. But that’s not the case. The Holy Spirit is everywhere because God loves you and wants to be with you. And there’s no place that is out of reach for the Holy Spirit.
This is how we know that the Holy Spirit is for everyone.

PRAYER

Dear God, we are so grateful your love includes all of us. Thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit, so we’re never truly alone. Help us to be the ones who remind the world that the Holy Spirit is for everyone.
Amen.

Hey Parents! Make sure you’re staying up to date with all things Grow Kids by clicking the “like” button on our Facebook page and following us on Instagram!

Welcome to GrowKids Online!
We are going to spend this month talking about the legacy that Jesus has left for us . . . which is the Holy Spirit!

DISCUSSION: A New Apostle is Chosen
Read: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

• Why did the disciples need to pick a new member for their team?
• How did the disciples decide who to choose and what was his name?
• Who helps us do God’s work?
• According to I John 5:12-13, who can have eternal life?
• How can you help a friend find Jesus?
• What stops you from being coached by the Holy Spirit?
• How can you allow Jesus to coach you?

ACTIVITIES

MEMORIZE IT | Memory Verse
Write the memory verse on the whiteboard and erase one word at a time, say the verse out loud each time before erasing words, eventually you should have a blank white board and be able to say the whole verse together! 
“For those who are led” Both arms out in front, motioning a winding road 
“by the Spirit” Left fully extended up
“of God” Right arm fully extended up 
“are the children” “Wrap left arm around self
“of God.” wrap left arm around self 
“Romans 8:14” open hands like book

DO IT | Geared Up For God
INSTRUCTIONS: Print and use the Geared Up printable, pencils, scissors, and crayons or markers. Inside the first gear, write one thing they could do for God when they’re older. Inside the second gear, write one thing they could do for God this week. Color then cut out their gears. Tape or glue the gears onto an 11×17 piece of paper, making sure you interlock them with neighboring gears (like this). Think of 3-4 ideas for each category and write each of them down. Grab a piece of poster paper, and have them create their own arrangement of gears.

The Holy Spirit helps us do God’s work. Remember our activity from earlier when we predicted what you would do in the future? Those were all made up but the one thing that is not made up is that you can definitely work for God in amazing ways later on! Think about yourself in the future —if you knew you could do one thing for God when you grow up, what would you want to do?
Maybe you would . . .

• Care for people who are sick.
• Be a part of a group that helps orphans find families.
• Become a teacher.
• Take care of parks and other outdoor spaces.
• Be a first responder.
• Become a mom or a dad.
• Help people who don’t have permanent homes.
• Listen to people who are hurting Invent a solution for a big problem.

But wait –we don’t have to wait until the future to do God’s work. What is one thing you can do for God right now? The Holy Spirit gives us all our own unique gifts and abilities. To do something big for God, we don’t have to be a pastor or have the entire Bible memorized. We can all do God’s work in whatever we do, especially since the Holy Spirit helps us every step of the way!

READ IT | I John 5:9-13
INSTRUCTIONS: Read I John 5:9-13 (NIV).
One day, we get to live in Heaven forever because God gave us Jesus. These verses remind us we will live forever with Jesus and we should share this great news with everyone!
The word that keeps coming up in this Bible passage is the word “testimony.” A testimony is a true story about God, especially about what God has done for you. When you share your testimony with others, you are doing God’s work!

PRAYER

Dear God,
Help us to be brave so we can share the most important message in the world with others. Help us remember that because we have the Holy Spirit, we can do your work!
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Hey Parents! Make sure you’re staying up to date with all things Grow Kids by clicking the “like” button on our Facebook page and following us on Instagram!