Children's session

Read Bible notes on Matthew 10:24-39

There are some very challenging words in this passage; Jesus presents some stark imagery about sharing our faith. How do you think Jesus is perceived today? What is society’s view of him and the church?

Think about times and places when you have noticed a conflict between the demands of your faith and the demands of the secular world. Were you able to speak out about your faith? Were people hostile, open or indifferent? Even in our church communities we don’t always speak out as much as we might.

Consider how the children can share their own story and experience of faith while being respectful of other people’s beliefs and experiences.

What are you afraid of? W E 

Read the story and pause at the  to share these points with the children (see Stop and share below). Then use the activity to explore the passage together. (10 mins)

Click on the image to view a PDF.

 Stop and share

• Good disciples remember their teacher’s example, even if their message is not heard.
• Do you know how many hairs there are on your head? What does that tell you about God?
• Although things may be tough, Jesus says that we should not be afraid, we can rely on God

Action mimes W E

• Encourage mime actions for the following words: hidden, dark (hand over eyes), secret (finger on lips), whisper (whispering), shout (shouting), sparrows (flap arms), hair (point to hair), tell, say (talking).

Risk it for a biscuit E 

A game exploring what is worth the risk?

You will need: a variety of biscuits and challenge items, examples given below.

Put the children into two teams and see if they can win biscuits for their team. Have some age-appropriate challenges ready for your group. Thingslike: recite the alphabet backwards, recite your 12 times tables, stand on one leg for 30 seconds, put your hand in a bowl of jelly, have a hopping race with someone else, stack a tower with 15 bricks, draw a dog, recite a tongue twister with no mistakes.

• Explain that they can choose to accept a challenge and ‘risk it for a biscuit’. Start with simple challenges and plain biscuits but then raise the stakes and excitement with some more exciting biscuits.
• Have a conversation about what biscuits are worth taking the risk for - you might find people are passionate about their favourite type of biscuit!

Bird finger puppet 15 mins E

Make a chatterbox to help children think about what they can share about their faith this week.

You will need: instructions, squares of paper (cut from A4), scissors, crayons.

• Make a bird finger puppet. Practise beforehand, so you can demonstrate to the group how to make the folds. Take each step slowly. The example provided is a toucan; you could make your birds into sparrows if desired.
• Invite the children to talk to the bird about God.

Sing

'As the sun rises' - FREE! download(s) from Same Boat Music.

Talk together and talk to God

Use these questions to discuss the Bible passage and then bring your thoughts together by praying to God.

Talk together

• Have you ever spoken out about your faith? What happened?
• What do you think about God when you hear that even the hairs on your head are counted?
• When might we be able to find opportunities to share our faith this week?

Talk to God: Are we busting to tell? W E

Pray about sharing faith

• Talk about what you would want to say about God to your family and friends this week. Play a game of ‘telephone’, in which children take turns to share what they want to say by whispering along the line. The final person calls out the message. Check that they got it right. If not, ask the first person to repeat it. All say ‘Amen’.
• Finish by praying that there will be opportunities to have conversations about faith this week. 

Activity sheet 

• We have good news to share but sometimes it isn’t easy. God says, ‘Do not be afraid’. Stand the children in two rows, A and B, facing each other, making sure there is a good, large step-length between them. Ask row A to take a big step towards their partner and, as they do, they all say ‘Do not be afraid’. Then tell the partner something they want to say about God this week. Then step back and repeat with the other person stepping forward.

Go with God 24/7

Encourage the children to put their faith into action

Jesus said, do not be afraid. Remember this if you have chance to speak out about your faith this week. W A

Thrive

Before you finish,
give out the Thrive
resource to encourage
faith at home.