RiverKids (3 years old – 6th grade)

This week we learn:

God made people in his own image.

Attribute:

God is creative.

Scripture Verse:

Genesis 1:26-31

Memory Verse:

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:27

Video:

Don't' forget the three questions:

1. What did you hear?
2. What did you learn about God's Heart?
3. How does this connect to us?

Activity:

It's time for Playdough. I know it's every clean house's worst nightmare. But it is a great hands on activity to get creative. If you don't have any, here's a recipe to make some. You can make it with your kids, and talk about how God creates.

Have your kids create a person out of playdough. Talk about God made us in his image. Spend some time wondering what God is like? What parts of God did He put in your child. Talk about how this changes the way we see ourselves, the way we treat each other.  We are God's masterpiece. His favorite part of creation. What's your favorite part of creation. Make it out of playdough.

This week we learn:

Loving others shows love to God.

Attribute:

God is love.

Scripture Verse:

Luke 10:25-37

Memory Verse:

Jesus asked: “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him."
Luke 10:25-37

Video:

Don't' forget the three questions:

1. What did you hear/see in the story?
2. What did you learn about God's Heart?
3. How does this connect to you?

Activity:

As a family come up with two specific people in your neighborhood or near you who you could show love to. Make a plan to show love with action. You can make cookies, cards, pull weeds, bring flowers, have a driveway party, etc. Share your plan and pictures of it's execution on facebook/or instagram with your Riverside family. It's not bragging, it is a way to encourage each other and spur one another on to love and good deeds.

This week we learn:

God wants us to be quick to listen.

Attribute:

God is patient.

Scripture Verse:

James 1:18-27

Memory Verse:

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.
James 1:199

Activity:

This week the activity is first. You will need a plate and spoon for each participant and toothpaste (one tube for each or you can share). Once you have these, click the video and do it together.

How to be a good listener:

Parents, we teach our kids how to listen through modeling. Watch this video with your kids and make an effort to show warmth, respect and empathy as you listen to them, and others this week. Practice with each other. YOU are teaching your children how to be Jesus followers.
They are watching. Now more than ever.

This week we learn:

God is doing something new.

Attribute:

God is personal.

Scripture Verse:

Isaiah 43:1-21

Memory Verse:

But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new.
 See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
Isaiah 43:18-19

Bible Story

Activity:

Keep building your paper chain. Your paper chain should tell the story of God's faithfulness in the life of your family. Parents, ask the Lord to bring to mind moments in your life where God really showed up for you. Big or small.

If you are able carve out some time with one of your kids and share with them a time of God's faithfulness in your own life.

This week do something you've never done before. God is doing a new thing. Eat a food you've never tried, try to learn a new skill (cartwheel, or learn a new song). Remind your family that God is always on the move! Doing new things, ask for eyes to see!

This week we learn:

God wants his children remember how he rescues them.

Attribute:

God is Ominiscient.

Scripture Verse:

Exodus 13:14-22

Memory Verse:

In days to come, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ say to him, ‘With a mighty hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
Exodus 13:14

Bible Story

Activity:

Make a paper chain with your family. Write about ways that God has come through for you. Parents share stories from your past about God rescuing you. Build your chain all summer long!

This week we learn:

God is with us in hard times.

Attribute:

God is Omnipresent.

Scripture Verse:

Daniel 3

Memory Verse:

Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him.
Daniel 3:28

Three Questions:

1. What did you hear in the story?
2. What did you learn about God's heart?
3. How does this connect to you?

Bible Story

Activity:

If you want to, act out the story with your family. You can have a narrator or you can just replay the video and act it out. Here is a link to a coloring page. Some of your kids love to color if you have a printer, print it out, after you color it you can cut it out and turn it into a puzzle.

This week we learn:

God always has a plan and we can trust Him.

Attribute:

God is Omnipresent.

Scripture Verse:

Jeremiah 29:1-10

Memory Verse:

This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.
Jeremiah 29:10

Bible Story

Activity:

Play Hide and Seek OR "Hot & Cold" (hide an item in the house and only one person can give Hot or cold clues to the guesser).

Gather around and discuss...

• Who was the best "hider"?
• What is the key to being a good "hider"?
• (Find a place you think no one will look or know about.)
• If you were playing "Hide and Seek" or "Hot and Cold" with God--who would win every time?
• (God) Why? (There's no place we can hide where God is not already there.)
• Who was the best "finder?"
• What is the key to being a good "finder?"
• If you played the "Hot and Cold" game: How did it feel when you weren't the "hider" or the "seeker" and you had to be quiet while the "seeker" was looking?
• Was it hard not to give hints?
• Was it frustrating watching the "seeker" get close to the object but still not see it?
• How do you think God might feel when He sees us looking for help, love, friendship or strength and He is right there ready to help, but we keep looking at the wrong things and don't see Him?
• Sometimes people want to play "hide and seek" with God. Why do you think a person would want to hide from God?

Bringing it to a close

The great thing about God is that He doesn't try to hide from us! He is EVERYWHERE all the time, and He wants us to find Him!

We can never escape the presence of God.

This week we're going to talk about the fact that God is EVERYWHERE, all the time. As you go about your day, talk to him, save a place for him at the table. God is already there, invite him to be a part of your day.

This week we learn:

Jesus died on the cross and came back to life 3 days later to save us from our sins!

Attribute:

Jesus is the Rescuer.

Scripture Verse:

John 20:1-31

Memory Verse:

But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 20:31

Bible Story

Activity:

Hey families, Did you know that in many countries the week after Easter is called Bright Week? For a week families celebrate the Resurrection, school is cancelled and feasting goes on late into the evenings. Of course the celebrations are done in community. Can I tell you, in our culture, we kind of stink at Bright Week. We have Christmas pretty locked in, but so many times Easter is just a blip on the calendar and we move back into the business of spring. Let’s take advantage of this strange situation we find ourselves in and stop and celebrate the Risen Jesus! Let it go into the week. Here are some ways you might consider doing that.

Let some of the everyday rules slide. On Easter, Jesus turned the world upside-down, and by relaxing household rules we can give children a small taste of that. Maybe kids are allowed to eat anything they want, and watch as much TV as they want. This doesn’t happen at any other time of year, not even for birthdays, which makes it really exciting for them, and helps to make sure the sweets disappear quickly (how convenient!). This may not work with every family the same way, but the principle is to create an atmosphere of freedom and joy. Play together. Show grace to each other. Indulge… make cookies. Make a Bright Taco Tuesday Fiesta! Stay up later, sleep in longer. Be silly. Whatever your family loves.. Do it. Love outrageously.

Christ is Risen!
Miss Megan

This week we learn:

Jesus came to Rescue us!

Attribute:

Jesus is the King of Kings!

Scripture Verse:

John 12:12-19

Memory Verse:

They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,” Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the king of Israel!”

Watch this video and then ask your kids these three questions:

1. What did you hear in the story?
2. What did you learn about God’s heart?
3. How does this connect to us?

Activity:

Write the memory verse on squares of paper (or palm branches if you are feeling fancy). Play a concentration game. Make a set of cards. Have them take turns turning over the cards. They must turn the cards over in order to spell out the Bible verse. If a person turns a leaf over in the wrong order, the next person takes a turn turning over the cards.

Holy Week activities:

This week is Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter. In our story we heard that if God’s people would not praise Him the very rocks would cry out! Have you ever heard Rocks speak? Me neither.

Artist Patti Rokus has figured out how to make Rocks speak! She uses rocks to tell the story of Jesus.

Watch this video.

This week get outside and find some rocks. Use them to tell the story of Jesus.
You can write praises on them and put them on your dining room table.

This week we learn:

God knows what we need, we do not need to worry.

Attribute:

God is provider.

Scripture Verse:

This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God and I trust Him. Psalm 91:2

Kids,
This week you guys are gonna be the teachers! A lot of adults are really worried and stressed right now.
You can help them by showing them how to trust.
Sometimes grownups learn how to trust and obey God from watching kids!
You guys can show them how to follow Jesus.

Remember King David? He wrote a psalm (Psalm 91) about trusting God when we feel scared or worried.
Jesus also told people not to be scared or worried.
Watch the video called Don’t Worry. Where Jesus tells us how God is our provider.
He gives us everything we need.

Activity:

Parents talk to your kids about things they might be worried about, fears they might have.

Then watch the Guided Prayer Video:

Parents: if your kids are struggling with fear and anxiety, consider checking out these resources.

Activity:

1. Print the Bible verse on a piece of long material in big letters. Wrap up a child with the material starting with the end of the verse. Get creative: toilet paper, an old sheet, fabric scraps, tape paper strips together, old school printer paper. Post online pics of what you are using.
2. Hold the material at the beginning of the verse. Have the child turn in circles as you pull gently and back up to reveal the verse.
3. Have your children say the words to the verse as the words are revealed. If you have room on your floor, you can place the material on the floor with the verse showing.
4. Have a child lay down at the end of the verse and hold onto the end of the material and then roll towards the other end of the fabric to wrap himself up. Have someone hold the end of the fabric as the child unrolls revealing the verse. Have your children say the words to the verse as the words are revealed.