Waterbrook Partner Review: The Inventions of God (and Eva) by Dave Connis Art by: Amy Domingo

 

What I Like About the Book:

• The concept- that God invented Eva, and Eva invents things too, I believe an attempt to build STEM education with a biblical worldview perhaps?  
• The Artwork has personality, style, life, and definitely builds style in the text and concepts of the book. 
• The book connects how God views Eva and the reader/listener. 
• The author's perspective and tone to share from Eva's perspective (a creative kid). 
• The concepts communicated through the book- God made Eva to be like Him, God makes all things new, even the hint at what makes God happy.  
• The book has a good kid perspective with fun words like "whirligig, loofapus, dazzle, pizzazz,...) As well as the character's facial expressions that sell her thoughts. 

What I Wonder About the Book:

• The art on some pages is so bright and busy, it distracts me, will it distract the littles who are the intended audience?  I think the style of the book will encourage re-reads, and noticing the details, so I'm not sure. 
• The 'third' comparison is a bit awkward to me, we hear about God- He's compared to Eva- and Eva's compared to her creations, repeated in what she likes, what God likes, etc.  I'm just not sure that it doesn't need a different transition- I can't quite put my finger on it, but there is an element that is a bit awkward to me.  

Thankful to partner with Waterbrook and read a physical copy of the book.  It was released in November, but my new job has distracted me a lot from reviewing books.  

thegoodbook partner review: Two New Books by Steph Williams

Little Me Big God Series ...by Steph Williams

These books are 6.7" by 6.7"inch books.  Made of thick paper, and the perfect size for little hands.

What I like about the book:

• Physical size, structure, illustrations, limited words per page, illustrations. 
• 1st page: A story Jesus told or a true story from the Bible.
• well-done illustrations- friendly, warm, unique. The stories have life. 
• Note for grownups in the back- so helpful and clear. 
• Scripture Text included in full. 

What I wonder about the books:

• how many more will there be? 
• how the author makes the concepts so relatable and within a child's grasp and understanding.  

goodbook partner review: New Testament Seek and Find

 

What I like about the book: 

• Great Bible Events Featured  
• Baby Jesus is Born.
• Jesus in the Temple Court
• A Paralysed Man is Healed
• Jesus Calms a Storm
• Jesus Love the Little Children.
• Zacheus Meets Jesus
• The Special Meal
• Jesus is Alive
• Bible References for each Biblical Event. 
• The cover pages feature extra items to hunt for in each event. 
• Counting up items for each event, 1... 2...
• Each description ends with a clear truth about Jesus. 

What I wonder about: 

• English spellings and language use, may not be recognized in the States.  

Educational Connections:

• counting to figure out the 450 items- Math concepts!
• What else could you add to count as items that fit in the event?  

Thankful to partner with goodbook company and read an advanced pdf.  

Netgalley/IVP partner review: A Spacious Life: Trading Hustle and Hurry for the Goodness of Limits by Ashley Hales

 

Oh my, it's not often that you read a book, relate well, and are sad that it ended. This book is that kind of book for me. I will re-read this book. I found it to be biblical, relatable, and created a picture of a gospel-focused life with the beauty and surrender it entails. It challenged me, it resonated with me, and it has me thinking and is pushing me to grow in my own relationship with the Lord. That's a book worthy of high honor in my opinion.

This book focuses on gospel living. It's focused on life in the limits of Our Good and Gracious God, Jesus' work on the cross for us, His sending of the Holy Spirit, who lives within us, and brings us much space. It's focused on real community, real abiding in Jesus, real life, and a real invitation to live like Jesus models for us. The author shares relatable aspects of learning her limits, with scripture concepts and examples of Jesus living and teaching on earth, and the larger concepts of gospel living in real authentic community, with all the sacrifice that brings.

At the start of the book-this concept, I identified with: "What I didn’t know, at least not then in a deep-in-your-bones sort of way, was that these limitations on my time, body, and affections were actually an invitation. Instead, I fought them. For years I fought God about the gap between my imagined life and my given one. My crash course in acknowledging my limits was parenthood."

"We are made by Love for love, and love joyfully accepts constraints in order to love others particularly and fully."

"The goodness of gathered salt is that it shows us how food works and tastes best. Might the people of God show us how we work best as humans—not overly individualistic, but bearing a communal identity of love? Might we be more concerned about enhancing the flavor of others than enamored with our own saltiness? May the people of God minimize bitterness, temper saccharine sweetness, and heighten the aroma of Christ. What does this look like? Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. To be the gathered salt of God, we must consent to the constraints of community."

"But to be the gathered salt of God, we must consent to the constraints of community—of being for others instead of using others—often through limiting our time, desires, and even those secondary identities we hold dear."

"Rich community in the church, that first family that Jesus adopts us into—like a beef bourguignon or homemade pasta—builds and grows in its flavor only through constraints. It happens slowly. To build thicker communities, we’ll have to stick around, live under gracious and loving authority, forgive each other, and choose to spend time together, rather than making the best choice for any one individual."

"Rich community happens through diverse people, layered and simmering together."

"We crave the goodness of gathered salt. But to actually be the community we crave, we must limit ourselves. We limit ourselves by choosing to show up when at times we’d rather not. We limit ourselves when we give of our time to listen, talk, and pray. We limit ourselves when we participate in weekly liturgy even when we do not feel like it. "

"Part of our work as followers of Jesus is resisting the limit to create our own purpose and instead to receive the one God gives us, even if it doesn’t look like what we imagined. . . Jesus, who limited himself for love, asks us to follow him: to steward our limits for others. Limits create conditions for community."

Thankful to partner with IVP through Netgalley and read an advanced copy of this book. Off to purchase a hard copy!!

A few other quotes: 

“Limits create for us a home; they create the condition for flourishing.”

“Limits, given to the world by a loving God, are the conditions for life.”

New Growth Press Partner Review: The Acrostic of God by Jonny Ransom & Timothy Brindle

 

What I like about this book:

• Scripture on each page to go with the Letter about God. 
• The size of this book is a good size for reading aloud. 
• The QR code that links you to a rap to listen to of the whole book!
• The content and the purpose of the acrostic are to help children learn who God is, be better able to pray and talk to God. 
• Word Choice- uses accurate and biblical terminology, enhances the main concept well, and defines the concepts.  
• Images connect to the concepts and are simple.  
• It comes with an audiobook version of the book- and it is read with rhythm.  

What I wonder about this book:

• Word Choice- the book is for 5-11-year-olds, the vocabulary is complex, and some of the words are defined with words that may still challenge the younger children, but with rap and repetition, it may work! 
• what the kids will think of the rap-- I love the minute you hear of the chorus- and it will make it so much easier to learn about God!  
• I wonder what the CD or download really consists of- I expected the music I heard in the ad to be what you would hear when you used the QR code, but it's just the book being read aloud, complete with the pages turning heard.  

Thankful to partner with New Growth Press and read a pdf of the book.  

The Goodbook Partner Review: Do Great Things for God Gladys Aylward

What I like about the book: 

• Another new woman from history with such an interesting life.  Now I want to go on and read more about her story since my curiosity has been peaked.  
• Gladys decided at a young age, she wanted to be a missionary in China, and she stayed fixed on that goal, despite a struggle to get there.  She is a great example of resilience, overcoming several obstacles that got in the way of her goal.  This is a socially emotional-appropriate concept for this generation.  This would be a great educational connection.  
• I love that we know she was a little woman, many girls need to know that size doesn't matter, you can still impact the world in your own way.  
• The adventure that Gladys went through to even get to China, sounds completely unreal.  But yet it is true.  I love that this book will spur discussions about how you can get on a train to China, and it ends in Siberia.  So much can be done to extend the learning about what Gladys's experience could have been like.  
• Gladys Aylward's story will bring discussions of binding a girl's feet, orphans in a way moving to safety, why Gladys couldn't go back to China, how she ended up in Japan, and it's overshadowed with the constant in her life, reading exciting bible stories wherever she went.  

What I wonder about the book:

• Will these short books for littles, spur a series with more details for older readers or even adults?  
• How does the author chose these woman?  

 Thankful to partner with the Goodbook company and read an early copy to review. 

Good Book Partner Review: Do Great Things for God Betty Greene by Laura Caputo-Wickham Illustrated by Heloise Mab

 

What I like about the book:

This biography is of a person whose desire was to become a pilot like her brother.  

• Is shares her story, flying as a woman in World War 2, helping train pilots, and then becoming the first MAF (Missionary) pilot.  
• The illustrations are well done with facial expressions that enhance the biography, engage the reader, and bring it to life.  
• I like that this explanation of her life shares that she was brave, calm in stress, and relied on God.  
• I liked meeting a new historical figure who lived as the exception for a woman in her lifetime. 
• I like the integration in an authentic way of her trust in God, as well as the recognition she got to combine her favorite things flying and love of God.  
• I liked the connection that I got after reading Corrie ten Boom, Betsey Stockton,  now Betty Greene and knowing that this is a series of stories of women for young children seeing how women have served God in unique ways.  

What I wonder about the book: 

• The author English spelling for practice which is practise, so my only concern is that a teacher or parent notices the change and comments that it is still spelled correctly, to our American children.  

Partner Review: Trapped in a Hot Air Balloon by Mark Wainwright Abeka publisher

 

This book was sent to me by the author directly.  It's such fun to read a book by someone you know.  The book is geared toward middle-grade readers, and it's a suspenseful novel.  

What I liked about the book:

• Such details, about the characters, hot air balloon facts, and amazing descriptive language.  
• Reading the story, made me feel as if I was experiencing being trapped in the balloon flying adrift and lost over the earth.  It's believable. 
• The characters came to life (and there are moments where you do not like their selfishness and attitude, but it was very relatable and true to their ages/development.)  
• One of the reasons the characters came alive was the author did such a good job sharing their metacognition- or the thinking going on in their heads- which made them likable and awful depending on the moment, but this also brought their spiritual lives out and helped the reader process how the Lord Our God is with those who believe in any situation.  Jenny's thinking about scripture and God was authentic and realistic.  
• The back story is integrated across the timeline of the two lost children floating out away from

What I wonder about the book: 

• could you really float as high up as the kids did and survive?  I haven't researched it for myself.  
• will this become a series of books?  You get to know the characters well and it would be interesting to find them again.  

Teaching Connections:

• Research on the atmosphere, oxygen level, temperature, etc. as well as research as to what speed the balloon must have flown and what level of wind you would need to travel up and across the way the kids did.  Has this type of accident happened? if so when, where? So many possibilities and so many research or science experiment-type questions to pursue. 
• This book would be an excellent writing model for style and using descriptive language in your writing.  

Thankful to read a copy of this book and review it, all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

New Growth Press Partner Review: Jesus is Bigger than Me (A beginner's Gospel Storybook) by Jared Kennedy Illustrated by Trish Mahoney

 

This book by Jared Kennedy is actually a collection of stories that are in his full bible story book called: The Gospel Story Bible.  

I love the bible story book and have used it for our preschool Sunday School program.  this is an 8.75 by 8.75 inch board book.  So it is the same size as the full storybook bible, but a board book.  It is 26 pages, and just under half a pound.  

Jesua is bigger than me contains these stories: 

• Jesus Goes to a Party from John 2:1-12, 
• Jesus Calms the Sea from Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:36-41, Luke 8: 22-25, 
• Jesus Heals the Blind Man from Mark 10:46-52, Luke 18:35-43, Isaiah 29:18, 
• Jesus Wakes Lazurus from Death from John 11:1-44

thankful to partner with New Growth Press and read a pdf of the book. 

What I love about this book:

• designed for preschool ages, but would also be enjoyed by independent readers I think.  
• the illustrations, simple, realistic, but child friendly.  
• simple print, of different sizes and colors.  
• good size book for reading to a group.  
• Statements of truth- mostly about God- each story has ONE! 
• Party: Jesus is good and powerful!
• Storm: Jesus is truly God!
• Blind Man:Jesus can heal sick people!
• Lazurus:Jesus can bring dead people back to life!
• Every story ends with a question that applies to the child: 
• Party: Why do we celebrate and throw parties? 
• Storm: Who do you call when you are afraid? 
• Blind Man: What do you do when you are sick? 
• Lazurus:Are you afraid of death? people fear death, but we don't need to because Jesus is stronger than death!  
• Every story has a learning concept that is age appropriate to also discuss as you read! 
• Party: Empty/Full, count the jars
• Storm: a storm 
• Blind Man- blind and needing help
• Lazurus: waiting
• Great teaching- theologically appropriate and understandable- but real truth for kids who need it about our Savior and Rescuer- Jesus!!

What I wonder about this book? 

• Will people purchase these separate books over the full 52 story book?  The big difference is the board book pages and the weight, the storybook is 2.65 pounds, and the board book is .45 pounds and has thick pages.  
• When will Jared Kennedy expand his very well done children's gospel stories/events? 

Educational Connections: 

Jesus turns water into wine (Lesson 32 in BGSB) 

32. Jesus Goes to a Party	Jesus is good and powerful	Why do we celebrate and throw parties?	We celebrate Jesus
John 2:1-12

Concepts: Miracle -a surprise- that only God can do.  It shows His power. 

Celebrate:  party- recognize an accomplishment- a birthday, wedding, Christmas, Easter,

Option:  Hang streamers in class so that when the children return from singing- they ask are we having a party?  Maybe have music playing on the cd player or your phone- to set the mood.  

Links: 

• Coloring Pages
• Craft at ministry to children
  
• True-Way Kids even in several different languages!
• Resources Well- The Worship, The Word, The Way 

Jesus Calms the Storm

34. Jesus Calms the Sea	Jesus is truly God	Who do you call when you are afraid?
Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:36-41, Luke 8:22-25

Visual Storytelling with props—either a pretend boat, blue sheets as water, streamers, toy boat, etc.

Coloring or Craft Option:  Coloring the storm picture OR make a popsicle stick boat/wave  Ideas in Pouch/Bag

 Links:

• For active reading aloud: FaithSprouts
• Teach us the Bible Ideas
• Trueway Kids 

Jesus Heals the Blind Man

36. Jesus Heals the Blind Man	Jesus can heal sick people	what do you do when you are sick
Mark 10:46-52

Blindfold the kids so that they can experience blindness.  Or use sunglasses with duct tape to experience blindness and color their coloring page.  

Links:

• Trueway kids
• Sunday School Zone

Jesus Raises Lazuras from the dead

39. Jesus Wakes Lazarus from Death	Jesus can bring dead people back to life!	Are you afraid of death?	Jesus is stronger than death
John 11:1-44

Concepts: Jesus is powerful, Death- Jesus has power over death—Jesus is God.

Act out the story.  

Links: 

• Truewaykids
  
• https://www.resourcewell.org/children-ministry

Goodbook Partner Review: Pre-Order Any time, Any place, Any Prayer by Laura Wifler and Catalina Echeverri

The Goodbook company remains at the top of my list for finding high-quality, biblically sound, and relevant children's books.  As a reviewer, the company is kind enough to send me a copy of the books I choose to review at no cost.  But yet, I still have an account on their website, and still, end up purchasing their books.  Sometimes by the case, as gifts for those in my life and community.  

This review is for a book that will be published in September, and I've already pre-ordered a copy so that I had access to the special gifts for pre-ordering it, and because I know I can trust that it will be excellent.  Then I realized I was sent the pdf version of the book to start promoting it before my copy will even arrive.  

This book is part of the Tales that Tell the Truth series.  This book is designed for ages 3-6.  

Here are sample pages from the book.  

What I like about the book:

• the illustrations are unique, almost childlike drawings,  appealing, and expressive.  
• Sin- is not only identified "they chose not to trust and obey him, and this is called sin." 
• Separation from God because of sin is explained simply and appropriately. 
• Prayer is clearly defined, explained, and brought in with practical strategies, and feelings. 
• Who God is- one who wants to communicate with people- is a clearly presented message. 
• Biblical examples are pictured and captioned, plus the references to their events in history are listed with the image. 
• The book teaches the concept of the hypostatic union clearly (without the official term) the book presents and repeats that Jesus is both God and man.  
• The book presents the gospel message clearly: God created man, man sinned, that separated him from God, God made a way because He loves us so, he sent his Son, Jesus, to live a sinless perfect life as God and Man, died on the cross for to pay for our sins, and was raised from the dead, and when Jesus went to be with God, He gave us the Holy Spirit to live in us.  
• The book has small humorous quips that will make the kids giggle.  
• It references known people of prayer as well as biblical connections. 
• It reinforces, teaches clearly, and emphasizes how and what to pray to God, as well as the anytime, anyplace concept.  I won't spoil too much of the book, but I love it.  

What I wonder about the book:

• It is 32 pages, it covers so much doctrine and so many concepts beyond prayer.  Will it be too much for the littles it is intended for? or because of the humor, the simplicity, the illustrations, will it just be a read again, read again, again book for the littles, and they will grasp it all with repetition.  

Educational Connections:

• all the biblical references who modeled prayer. 
• the Lord's prayer. 
• Historical prayer warriors to explore. 
• think of all the fun you can have writing your own examples with the kids of any time, any place, any where stories and examples.  
• Jesus is God and Man. Hypostatic Union (this would make the book go with even older students). 
• The Gospel message.  

Thankful to partner with the goodbook company and encourage you to pre-order the book, get the bonuses, and look forward to its September arrival.  I am not an affiliate and do not make any money from the goodbook company- I just love their books and find them so helpful in my home and ministry.  

Goodbook Partner Review: God's Very Colorful Creation

 The Very Best Bible Story Series

Written by Tim Thornborough and Illustrated by Jennifer Davison

Every book in the series includes on the first page: "in this true story from the Bible."  This is a connection I made last year and I have started to try to change my vocabulary when sharing a lesson from the bible I try to say, today I have a biblical event to share with you.  And I've been trying to eliminate story from my teaching the Bible language.  It is easier for me to remember to tell children that each lesson from the Bible is true.  

What I like about the book:  

• The book opens with a discussion of how many colors are in the rainbow, and ask the reader to point out different colors on the page. 
• The illustrator uses bold colors, expressive people, and beautiful blending of colors, images, that are warm and friendly.  
• The author's use of descriptive language and alliteration. (He also introduces a lot of fun color words-puce, scarlet, papaya, cold gray light...) 
• This author has a gift for adding in a repeated phrase that reflects God- in this book it is "This is good," said God "It is so, so good."  
• The value God has in His creation- man in His image that are "beautiful and fabulous variety."
• Joy in creation!  

What I wonder: 

• When God made people, the image and text talk about ALL the diverse people He made, and I wonder how this page and the biblical text will be taught to the littles who hear the true story, will they be confused at all the people when Genesis 1 refers only to man and woman- Adam and Eve being made. 

Educational Connections:

• Colors- art, blending, primary, secondary, the color wheel
• Descriptive language
• Alliteration 
• Types of stars- giants, dwarf
• Counting as the days are clearly labeled
• Value in diversity- God made men and women with "beautiful and fabulous variety."  

Thankful to partner with the goodbook company and review this book. 

Goodbook Partner Review: Esther and the Very Brave Plan

 

The Very Best Bible Story Series

Written by Tim Thornborough and Illustrated by Jennifer Davison

Every book in the series includes on the first page: "in this true story from the Bible."  These books are geared for ages 2-6.  I love that the book starts by reminding us that this is a true event in history and mentioned in the Bible.  

What I like about the book:

• Hardback, colorful book with thick, semigloss pages, the illustrations show emotions and bring the event to life. 
• The font is fun, nice size print, and easy to read.  
• These books have fun openings, they bring meaning to the listener/reader.  Esther is about a plan- a horrible plan, but it's also about GOD's secret plan to rescue His people.  
• It's about God's plan, and the reader/listener's job is to 'spot how God is secretly at work to make his plan work, and the other plans fail.  
• More and more, I recognize the importance of seeing who God is through the lens of the Bible and I appreciate a children's book that introduces this important truth!  
• Author's word choice- dramatic kid words- horrible, wicked, special, secret plan, hated, danger, ...
• Repeating the theme of God working, working, working
• The truth taught:  God's plans always come true... God is always working, working, working

Things I wonder about the book:

• This book not only doesn't capitalize pronouns like his/him when referring to God, it does capital Word when it means the Word of the Lord which is inconsistent to me.  
• I wonder why we share a "true story from the Bible" and don't share the reference to read it in a physical or e-book Bible and check out the facts as an adult?  

Educational Connections:

• Plans- build on the theme of making plans, expand to 'secret plans.'  
• teach making lists to remember the plans
• discuss when it would be okay to make a 'secret plan.' for a celebration, to honor someone, for fun, but also discuss that secret plans from your parent could be problematic.
• Talk about who God is and how His plan always works for the good of those who love Him.  
• Pretend with a crown to be king and queen. Act out the courage Esther needed to approach the King uninvited.  

Thankful to partner with the Goodbook company and share another excellent resource for whispering the Word.  

Lessons on the Gospel- Go, Share, Missions, Witnesses

Some of the other lessons I used games and activities from the Bible App for kids website.  The website also leads to an OpenChurch website with their curriculum.  

I like the small group activities, the prop talks, and the connections to the Bible.  

I used ideas from: God's Good Gospel- Unit 19 and Journey's for Jesus Unit 9 on the Gospel and Missions.  

In Little Church and Children's Church, we did the prop talks from Journey's for Jesus- 

We looked at globes, and where we are, where Paul travelled, where Jesus lived, and where our missionaries live.   We then practiced saying, Go! Go! Go! Share Jesus! and we marched around chanting this!  

We had the traffic light and played a version of red light/green light, where when it was green- we knew we could, "Go! Go! Go! share Jesus (or share the Good News)"  As witnesses/missionaries like Paul.  

We also had a picture of a school, a home, park, and the world- and we asked, where can you share Jesus? anywhere!  or we picked a specific place and talked about sharing Jesus there!  

We then added in what we want to share as the Good News or the Gospel- which led us back to our images and tossing bean bags on all the aspects of the Good News- so that we could share that Jesus loves me, He died for me, He rose again so that I can have eternal life, He paid for my sin, He's preparing a kingdom for me, He sent the Holy Spirit (a dove symbol and we made our hands wings) to be our helper!  

We also sang our J-E-S-U-S song- because There is a name I love to sing and Jesus is His name. Yes! J-E-S-U-S, J-E-S-U-S, J-E-S-U-S and Jesus is His name Yes!  Because there is power in the name of Jesus- He is God and He lived as man without any sin!  

We did sing this song with the help of Youtube one or two weeks!  

We also sang, "This little light of mine!" and "The Bible" on occassion.  

We also connected throughout our Acts study that Peter and John shared the good news, and healed in the power of Jesus name!, that Philip taught the Good News to the Ethiopian Man, and we practiced sharing the Good News using head from the Ethiopian Man and Philip on popsicle sticks.  That come from another one of my favorite resources, BibleFunforKids, the author Debbie Jackson has been sharing and updating resources for years, and she does such a great job focusing on the verses that go with the event, as well as interactions that make it come alive.  I printed my teaching set full page, but for the kids I printed two pages per page, so that the heads were more reasonable size.  

Lessons on the Gospel- other resources I've incorporated into little church/children's church with pre-schoolers

 This spring, I've read the following books with our preschoolers at least once.  

This book defined words, shared the concepts, but doesn't have the same momentum-building connections as the other board books we read.  But it does present the concepts in a biblical, simple truthful way.  

This book I used at least twice. Once I read through the whole book, and another time we reviewed the gospel concepts by going through the story.  I think it's a better fit for the 5-7-year-old group as its pictures are more detailed, and a bit more intense with the artwork.  

Because I'm all about repetition but changing it up a little bit to keep the children listening, I also used this book.  It's a smaller book and the print is tiny and brief, so it was easy to work into our reading, and now it's in our bag of gospel books that are in our nursery/little church room.  

This is the last book that I shared in our unit, and probably the longest to read aloud, but the week I read the whole thing, we had a lot of our ages 4-6-year-olds present, and it's perfect for them.  

For me, it hits all the concepts I've been building in our preschool lessons:

·       God created the world, people. 

·       God loves us SO much. 

·       People sinned, separating us from God.

·       God loves us SO much- He had a plan- that plan is Jesus.

·       Jesus is God and man.  Jesus lived, died, and rose again so that we may have eternal life, be with God forever, made right. 

·       We want to be King of me!  and be in control.  But that doesn't work so well.

·       Jesus is Our King.  Jesus is working on His Kingdom, preparing it for those who believe in Him. 

·       Jesus loves you and me!  and I love Jesus!

·       I need to turn to Jesus (and to please Him I should stop sinning).

·       The Holy Spirit is God- and He is my Helper- to help me live with Jesus as King of me. 

·       This is the Good News! 

·       God's Word tells me that after I believe- I should share the Good News!  

So this was a perfect read-aloud after all the other books, and because it fit the concepts and themes we had been talking about for weeks, the littles listened better as it was familiar and review.  

Lessons on the Gospel: Teaching about turning from sin and loving King Jesus!

As we learned about the gospel, we had celebrated Easter in the months between the start of Acts and moving into the missionary journeys that Paul made.  When we discuss all the King Jesus has done, always using our hands to put a pretend crown on our head- to remember He is our King.  We talk about how sin separates us from God, and how Jesus is our Rescuer, who takes our sin on Himself, and is our sacrificial lamb.  

In our regular preschool classes, we go through the entire Bible and look for Jesus in all of the Old and New testament.  I have been writing my own curriculum using my ideas and using ideas from bloggers that have shared their lessons for use in a home, school, or church environment. One favorite blog that often has great printable visuals to bring the story alive is Faith Sprouts.  I used many of her printables, songs, and ideas to build on and repeat in our study of Acts and in helping the littles learn to share the "Good News!" 

I've created and laminated many of the printables that this blogger shares.  During the pandemic, I delivered a laminated Jesus figure and the donkey to help families celebrate Palm Sunday and actively engage their children in Easter Week.  

Older kids in Pre-K would have already learned about John the Baptist and defined the word: "Repent" which is a big message that Paul repeats in his journeys and trials- that we need to stop, turn from sin, and love Jesus.  

The follow-up props to this lesson are found in Jesus loves the children and blesses them, and I have made up popsicle sticks that one side has a heart and one side has a stop sign, and we hold the figures of Jesus, as we stand up, talk about turning from our sin, and loving King Jesus!  

Of course, we also learned about Acts 3, and since the very beginning of our Acts study, we have chosen to sing every week, the song about J-E-S-U-S Name that Ms. Susanna shared.  It took us a few months before we used the letters of Jesus' name and clapped as we skipped letters marching around and sharing the name that brings the power to heal!  

After we had read the gospel books, studied our Acts lessons, we also had to learn how to share the Good News, and we started with a few of Ms. Susanna's ideas here, and we held laminated foam globes from the dollar store, or a beach ball globe, or laminated small earth. 

I can't take credit for any of the free printables or even the wording, but I can say that through well-done materials from bloggers like Ms. Susanna and authors that write books that are well done for our littles.  I will build a series of lessons, pull together and repeat, repeat, repeat the truth of the Good News until our littles can share and repeat it back.  I wish when I was little I had been taught the gospel message this clearly.  

So after we have said "No!" to sin, and turned to King Jesus.  We build on how King Jesus saved us.  

Littles can share:

• Jesus died on the cross so that I can my sins are forgiven!   
• Jesus rose from the grave, three days later, to show that He is God and to give us eternal life!
• Jesus is my King! (and we have a larger crown image.)  And we learned in Acts 1- that He ascended to Heaven, to sit at God's side, and to prepare His Kingdom for those who believe in Him.  (and we have a castle picture).  
• Then we review that Jesus didn't leave us alone, He sent us the Holy Spirit (a Dove), as we learned in Acts 2.  To be our helper, and be God with us.  

We also read, review key verses.  

Romans 3:23- For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God!  

Romans 5:8- But God demonstrates His love for us, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us! 

Romans 6:23- For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life. 

Romans 10:9- If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins.  

Romans 10:13- If anyone calls on the name of the Lord, he shall be saved.  

Acts 16:31- Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and You will be saved.  

I've been so encouraged at how even our two and three-year-olds have been able to interact in class, repeat concepts, and smile while we are having our class!  I feel a little in withdrawal, as I haven't been doing a full lesson and story the past few weeks for summer.  So after our family week away, I will choose a week and have a lesson or two to make sure the little retain the content!  

Lessons on the Gospel: Active Learning to Go! Share the Good News!

These are pages that I posted and reviewed each week as we discussed sharing the Good News!  I also printed the images on half sheets of paper, laminated them, and the children loved to toss their bean bags on a picture, and then share with the group what part of the Gospel this picture reminded us about.  This became one of our weekly activities, sometimes we'd also hold our laminated Jesus. Sometimes we set up our people and cat math counters so we had a group to share the good news with, other weeks we set up the women and guards from Easter finger puppets who needed to hear the Good News of Jesus.  We made megaphones to color and to help proclaim the good news. We sang J-E-S-U-S.  But mostly we practiced being witnesses or missionaries as the book of Acts has instructed believers to do!  I'm realistic I know not all the kids will remember this now, but I also know the power of memorization, especially when the Holy Spirit supports what is in our mind, and helps us in the right moment, at the right time, to find the Hope that is within us- and that Hope is Jesus!  But this has been the focus and fun of our lessons- with crown-wearing, foam worlds, beach ball world, bean bags, laminated images, songs, movement, and of course our Jesus soft plush that joined us somewhere at the end of May.  

I learned to wear a scarf with my outfit to tuck Jesus in as we shared the Good News! 

Stop! Repent! Turn from your sin

 and love Jesus!