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Welcome to LVC Children's Ministry Online! You can access all of the awesome material that you’d find at church right here! Here’s how you can enjoy these church videos and use the content provided as a family:
1. Start with some worship! Watch the "I AM YOURS" and "RECEIVE" videos to dance and worship with your kids at home! 2. Complete the lesson "Can you do a 180?" Read the activity and lesson material below. Gather your kids and complete the lesson. 3. Download more tools, resources, and activities to go with the lesson. Included are a couple of activities for your kids; an image search and a coloring page with a tracing activity. |
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CAN YOU DO A 180?
Children will have fun learning about the phrase “180” and how it applies to our relationship with God.
By Kristy Thorton
TOPICS: Behavior, Confession, Holy Spirit, Repentance
MATERIALS: Protractor, Whiteboard, dry erase markers in different colors
DURATION: Approximately 15 minutes
***Lesson ***
WHAT YOU WILL DO:
Use the protractor to create the diagram in the picture above on the whiteboard. Make a box and label it God or Jesus on the left end of the line. On the other side of the line make a box and label it Satan or sin. As you manipulate the line with the marker(s), you will narrate a story while pretending to be a child.
WHAT YOU WILL SAY:Show the class the protractor and ask if any of them know what it is. Explain that this tool is used to measure or draw different degrees or angles. Inform the class that you will be telling them a story, which will teach them about different degrees and how they affect their walk with God.
Narrative:
I try my hardest to live my life according to God’s ways and His plan for me. Yet, some days are harder than others. (Big sigh.)
This diagram represents me and my walk with God. (Place your whiteboard marker at one end of the diagram next to God.)
This morning I chose to watch TV and not spend time with God. (Look frighted.)
Then I got mad at my sister and I called her a name. (As you are talking, keep moving your marker away from the side that is labeled God.)
(Look sad.) When I got in the car to go to church, I lied to my dad about brushing my teeth. I was feeling badly about myself. Out of my frustration, I told my brother that I didn’t like him. I was going down the wrong path. I knew that I was making mistake after mistake, but I didn’t know which direction to go until I remembered this scripture in the Bible, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,” Acts 3:19 (NIV). I confessed my sins before God and repented of all the wrong things I had done this morning.
(Look refreshed and happy.) Once I repented, I felt refreshed and clean. Then I remembered the second portion of the scripture, “Turn to God.” My behavior needed to change by a 180-degrees in order to turn back to God.
(Look shocked.) Most of us just go right back to making the same bad choices and the cycle starts over again, just like the Israelites. Once you confess your sins, you have to turn away from them and go in the opposite direction. You do not continue down the same path or kind of go back by only doing a 150-degree turn, so you can continue in sin. (Show students where they would end up if they only did a 150-degree turn. Not God’s plan.)
No, we need to do a complete 180. (Use your marker and show that with each Godly decision you get closer to God and His ways.)
I knew that I needed the Holy Spirit to help me make that turn. I asked the Holy Spirit to help me turn from my wicked ways and lead me into the way of the everlasting, to lead me towards Jesus and God, not away from them.
The next day I woke up and said a small prayer to God thanking Him for this day. (Move the marker line closer to God.)
I brushed my teeth and then told my brother that he was the best brother anyone could have. My dad asked me if I brushed my teeth. In a proud voice, I said, “Yes.” Then he asked, “Did you take out the garbage like your mom asked?”
(Pause and look puzzled.) I thought for a minute about the 180-degree turn I had made and I didn’t want to return to my evil ways. So I responded, “No, Dad. I didn’t take the garbage out, but I will do it right now.” My dad smiled with approval because he knew I could have lied, but I choose not to. This day ended up being a good and godly day.
End of Narrative.
Each day there are new challenges and evil desires that we will face. We may try our best to stop from sinning, but we can’t do it in our own strength. Our flesh is weak. It is impossible for us to overcome our sinfulness, turn towards God, or walk in His ways without the Holy Spirit empowering us to do so. We need to keep our eyes on God and turn away from Satan.
Is there anyone here today who needs to make a 180 degree turn? If so, we can make that turn together by confessing our sins and asking the Holy Spirit to help us turn to God.
Use the protractor to create the diagram in the picture above on the whiteboard. Make a box and label it God or Jesus on the left end of the line. On the other side of the line make a box and label it Satan or sin. As you manipulate the line with the marker(s), you will narrate a story while pretending to be a child.
WHAT YOU WILL SAY:Show the class the protractor and ask if any of them know what it is. Explain that this tool is used to measure or draw different degrees or angles. Inform the class that you will be telling them a story, which will teach them about different degrees and how they affect their walk with God.
Narrative:
I try my hardest to live my life according to God’s ways and His plan for me. Yet, some days are harder than others. (Big sigh.)
This diagram represents me and my walk with God. (Place your whiteboard marker at one end of the diagram next to God.)
This morning I chose to watch TV and not spend time with God. (Look frighted.)
Then I got mad at my sister and I called her a name. (As you are talking, keep moving your marker away from the side that is labeled God.)
(Look sad.) When I got in the car to go to church, I lied to my dad about brushing my teeth. I was feeling badly about myself. Out of my frustration, I told my brother that I didn’t like him. I was going down the wrong path. I knew that I was making mistake after mistake, but I didn’t know which direction to go until I remembered this scripture in the Bible, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,” Acts 3:19 (NIV). I confessed my sins before God and repented of all the wrong things I had done this morning.
(Look refreshed and happy.) Once I repented, I felt refreshed and clean. Then I remembered the second portion of the scripture, “Turn to God.” My behavior needed to change by a 180-degrees in order to turn back to God.
(Look shocked.) Most of us just go right back to making the same bad choices and the cycle starts over again, just like the Israelites. Once you confess your sins, you have to turn away from them and go in the opposite direction. You do not continue down the same path or kind of go back by only doing a 150-degree turn, so you can continue in sin. (Show students where they would end up if they only did a 150-degree turn. Not God’s plan.)
No, we need to do a complete 180. (Use your marker and show that with each Godly decision you get closer to God and His ways.)
I knew that I needed the Holy Spirit to help me make that turn. I asked the Holy Spirit to help me turn from my wicked ways and lead me into the way of the everlasting, to lead me towards Jesus and God, not away from them.
The next day I woke up and said a small prayer to God thanking Him for this day. (Move the marker line closer to God.)
I brushed my teeth and then told my brother that he was the best brother anyone could have. My dad asked me if I brushed my teeth. In a proud voice, I said, “Yes.” Then he asked, “Did you take out the garbage like your mom asked?”
(Pause and look puzzled.) I thought for a minute about the 180-degree turn I had made and I didn’t want to return to my evil ways. So I responded, “No, Dad. I didn’t take the garbage out, but I will do it right now.” My dad smiled with approval because he knew I could have lied, but I choose not to. This day ended up being a good and godly day.
End of Narrative.
Each day there are new challenges and evil desires that we will face. We may try our best to stop from sinning, but we can’t do it in our own strength. Our flesh is weak. It is impossible for us to overcome our sinfulness, turn towards God, or walk in His ways without the Holy Spirit empowering us to do so. We need to keep our eyes on God and turn away from Satan.
Is there anyone here today who needs to make a 180 degree turn? If so, we can make that turn together by confessing our sins and asking the Holy Spirit to help us turn to God.