GO Serve

 

Our program is run by caring volunteers who believe that investing in children is one of the great opportunities we have as a church. Whether you are 12 or 72, if you aren't investing in future generations, we invite you to start ... or start again.  

Our schedule is very flexible - you decide how often you serve (typically staff serve 1-2 Sundays per month) and you decide when to serve (you sign up by the month on a first-come-first-serve basis).

Information about JOINING OUR TEAM

Some of the ways you can become part of something great in a child's life are:

  • Greeting parents and registering children into a kids program.
  • Leading kids in the nursery.
  • Directing kids in the toddlers room.
  • Supporting our youth team as they lead stations in GO Kids.
  • Helping in the background making decorations or preparing materials and supplies.
  • Serving at any of our special events.

If you're interested in putting a smile on a child's face and helping equip them for life, give us a call @ 780-594-5542 or email us.

Application Forms

As a mandatory requirement to serve in ANY of our programs all our staff, paid and unpaid, must be screened.

Application form - adults       Application Form - Youth

 

vbs volunteer - adults       VBS Volunteer - Youth

 

Criminal Record Check - please get a letter from our office to show at the RCMP station.

As part of the screening process every staff must be trained in our GO Protect - Child Protection Plan.  This can be done on-line. To get ahead of the process, select the GO Protect option below. This is a yearly training, since certification is only valid for a year.

Information about KIDS IN LEADERSHIP
Information if you are ALREADY ON OUR TEAM
Staff Handbook
Serving in Kids Church - everything you need.
Game Station
Tips
Social Distancing Games
Regular Games - Possible Socially Distanced Friendly
13 quick games

Link HERE

Balloon Games
Balloon Balance

Give each child a balloon. See who can balance their balloon on their finger the longest without it losing contact with their hand. Then see who can balance a balloon on the end of a pool noodle the longest.

Blow, Blow, Blow!

This can be played as a relay, or every child can go at the same time. Designate a starting and ending line. Give the child an empty balloon. Have the child blow up the balloon, then let it go in the direction of the finish line. The child then goes to wherever the balloon landed, picks it up, blows it up again, and lets it go. Whoever gets his/her balloon across the finish line first wins!

Don’t Touch the Ground! 

Give each child a blown-up balloon and designate a start and finish line. On the word ‘go’, each child must hit his/her balloon in the air and hit it to the finish line. If the balloon touches the ground, the child must go back to the start. No holding the balloon allowed! The first child across the finish line wins! If you want to make this game harder for older children, the referee can call out different positions for the child to compete in, such as crab walking or hopping on one foot, or have the children only hit the balloon with their heads or their feet. 

Obstacle Course 

Set up a simple obstacle course and have each kid get on his/her hands and knees. Have the kids try to blow the balloon through the course. You can also have the kids put their balloons in-between their legs and try to complete the course that way.

Waddle Relay 

Pair the children up into pairs of two. Have the children stand face to face and put a balloon in-between them so that their stomachs are holding it in place. Have the pairs move from the starting line, to a designated spot across the room, and then back to the starting line without dropping the balloon. If a pair drops the balloon, they have to start over from the beginning!

Blanket Flip

Materials: two blankets of the same size and type. A good size is 5 X 5.

Recruit 6-10 volunteers per team. Have them lay the blanket out flat on the ground. Everyone stands on the blanket. They must turn their blanket over without any team member touching the physical floor under the blanket or around it.

Taken from: http://www.childrenandyouth.co.uk/children/group-game-ideas/

Box Out

This game is simple enough for younger children and can also challenge older kids as they learn to use strategy to win.

Draw a large board that is 10 blocks by 10 blocks (outside with chalk is fastest, or use tape inside) - the grid spaces need to be big enough for kids to stand inside them.

Give each player a piece of chalk and assign them a corner to start. (inside give them pieces of paper)

The first player will move to a connecting square and then cross out the square that they came from with their color chalk. Players take turns moving from one square to the next crossing out boxes as they go. After a box is crossed out no one can step in that box again for the entire game.

If a player is stuck and cannot move they must forfeit their turn.

The winner is the one who can move last after all the players are “stuck”. Use the same grid over and over by using an X to cross out the squares for the first round, an O for the second round and color in the square for the third game.

Bubble Games
Bubble Sword Battle

Give each child a foam sword (pool noodle) and let them pop the bubbles with it. Pretend the bubbles are a bubble dragon or a thick forest them must conquer.

No Hands Allowed

Have the kids try and pop bubbles without using their hands.  They can use their heads, elbows, legs, feet, knees, etc. 

Bubble Lift

See how long the kids can keep their bubbles in the air by having them blow underneath them to keep them from popping.

Bubble Tag

Played like the regular game of tag except "it" has a bottle of bubbles and to tag someone they must blow bubbles on the other player.  When a player gets tagged they take the bubbles and try and tag someone else.

Chalk Games
Eraser

Have the children color in a large rectangle (4 x 6 feet) with different colors of sidewalk chalk.  Then fill small squirt bottles with water and place the nozzle to "stream".  Let the kids spray the rectangle with water to create a picture.

Faces

Draw lots of oval shapes on the ground and let children fill in the heads with eyes, noses, hair, mouths, ears, hats, etc.  

Snail Hopscotch

This game is a lot of fun!  Draw a large circle (about 10 - 12 inches) on the ground and then draw a very large spiral board on the concrete starting at the circle and spiraling out to look like a snails shell.  The spirals of the snail shell need to be about 8 - 12" apart.  Make 3 or 4 large spirals around the center circle.  Divide the spirals into spaces about 12 - 14" apart and number them.   The first player hops on one foot from the center circle to the outside and back.  If they make it without stepping of a line or losing their balance they can use sidewalk chalk to mark ANY space they want with their initials. 

No one is able to jump on that space the rest of the game.  The next player must hop on one foot from the center and back but must jump over the space that is marked with initials.  If they make it then they may write their initials on any square they choose.   This is a simple game, but it gets crazy when kids have to hop all the way across the board to an empty space near the end of the game.  The person with the most initialed squares wins. 

Cooties

Link HERE

Drop Dead Dice Game

Link HERE

Hands Down

Students gather in a circle on their hands and knees. Everyone will place their right hand in between the hands of the person to his/her right. If done correctly, everyone’s hands will be inter-woven and overlapping.

The leader starts by slapping their hand on the ground which starts a domino effect. The hand immediately to the right must slap the ground and then the hand immediate to that hand must slap the ground, and so on. If someone slaps the ground twice in a row then the direction of the ground slapping domino effect reverses.

Taken from: http://www.childrenandyouth.co.uk/children/group-game-ideas/

Hand Tricks

Link HERE

Hoola Hoop Games
Circle Run

sponges (or some other soft item) - 3 for each player
Set up hula hoops in a large circle - one hoop for each player.  The more players the more fun!  Players place their bean bags on the ground inside their hoop. 

On "go" all players have to run on the outside of the circle of hoops to another players hoop and grab 1 bean bag.  They then run back to their hoop.  When a player is inside their hoop a bean bag can not be taken from them.   Players continue each round taking bean bags from other players until there is only one player with bean bags inside their hoop.   On each round a player must leave their hoop and bring back a bean bag or they are out.   Fast paced and lots of laughs!

Colors

Different colored hula hoops - can put coloured paper inside if your hoops are not different colors, or don’t have enough diff colors.

This is a fun tag game with a twist!   Players try to avoid being tagged by running to the color of hula hoop that is called.  Choose one player to be "it" and one player to be the "color caller".    The Color Caller calls out a color of one of the hula hoops and all the players have to run and get inside a hoop of that color before they are tagged.   Then another color is called and the players have to run to that color hula hoop.  For large groups try to have at least 2 hoops of each color so that they can all fit inside.  If tagged a player is frozen until all players have been tagged.   Last player tagged becomes the new “it". 

Rolling Race

Individuals (or teams) compete to see who can roll their hula hoop the farthest from the starting line.   One by one players roll the hoop across the play area and when it falls over and stops moving the distance is marked with a piece of tape or a flag. 

Snake

Divide players into teams and each team gets 1 hula hoop.  Players line up one after the other and hold hands.  Players cannot let go of each others hands during the game.  The first person in line takes the hula hoop and passes it over their arm, over their head and legs and then over their other arm to the next player - without letting go of their teammates hands.  The hula hoop has to go down the team line and then back again to the starting player.  First team to finish and not let the hoop touch the ground wins!  If the hula hoop touches the ground it has to be passed back to the front of the line and the team starts over.  

Variation:  For a larger game area have the first player run to the end of the line after they move the hula hoop over themselves so that the line advances to a finish line.  Have each player run to the end of the line after their turn until the whole line finishes. 

Just for fun and no teams: Have players stand in a circle and hold hands. 

Team Stash

1 bean bag for each player

Set out hoops an equal distance apart in a square pattern - one hoop at each corner with at least 20 feet between hoops.  Divide players into 4 equal teams.   Teams stand at their hoop and place their bean bags on the ground inside their hula hoop.   Set a time limit - 5, 7, 10 minutes.  On "go" all players run to another teams corner and try to grab a bean bag.  They then bring it back and place it inside their teams hula hoop.  Play continues until the time is up!   The team with the most bean bags in their hoop at the end of the timer wins!   Players can only carry one bean bag at a time.  

Tic Tac Toe Race

Bean Bags in 2 colors

You will need 9 hula hoops set on the ground in rows of 3 x 3.  This is the tic tac toe board.   Teams line up at least 25 feet from the board.  On go the first players from each team run to the tic tac toe board and place one of their team beanbags in a hoop.  Then they run back and the next players in line run and place their beanbag in an attempt to get three bean bags either across, down or diagonal for a tic tac toe.   Fast paced and lots of fun!  Play lots of rounds.

How Long is a Minute?

Link HERE

Huckle Buckle

Have everyone find a partner. Once everyone is paired up send one partner to one side of the room and the other partner to the opposing side. Partners will line up across from each other.

The leader will call out, “huckle buckle” followed with a body part. For example, “huckle buckle knees!” The teammates race as quickly toward each other as they can and match their knees up to each other making contact knee to knee.

If the leader yells, “huckle buckle buckle” they will run toward each other, turn back to back, lock arms and sit down. (If you wish: The last pair to correctly match up sit out). At each round you send the pairs back to their opposing lines to start the new round.

Here are some things you can call out; elbows, foreheads, fingers, fists, feet, shoulders, you get the picture.

 

Taken From: http://www.childrenandyouth.co.uk/children/group-game-ideas/

Jousting

Link HERE

Look Up, Look Down - Needs 10 or More Players

A fun game for all ages, Look Up, Look Down can be played on any occasion. Whether at a party, picnic or school, children will love playing this game.

You will need: Place to form a large circle

How to play: Have players form a large circle and stand a couple feet apart

All the players look down.

When 'it' shouts out “Look up,” the players have to look up and immediately look at another person in the circle.

If the person they are looking at also looks at them at the same time, they scream together and leave the circle.

The remaining players stand in their place and continue to stare at the person they have been looking at until 'it' says “look down.”

The game continues until there are no more than two to three players left in the circle.

Parachute Games
PARACHUTE PLAY AND SAFETY
  • Always be sure to check the ground underneath the chute.Outdoors, dry grass is the best play surface. Wet grass can be slippery.
  • Space children and adults evenly around the edge of the chute.
  • Before play review parachute rules. Remind children to play safely– to listen to instructions– and not bump heads or run into each other.
  • When facilitating play, a second adult is helpful in fielding children and balls, etc.
FYI: STORAGE OF THE CHUTE…

A parachute is best stored by taking hold of the center in one hand and then twisting the chute loosely into a rope. Roll it up and stuff it into a bag/sack. The thin nylon sacks sold for the storage of sleeping bags work well.

For Games Click HERE

Pizza Box Relay

Link HERE

Pool Noodle Games
Beach Ball Relay

Beach balls

Divide into teams and line players up one after the other.   At the opposite end of the playing field set up a cone or chair as a turn around point.   One at a time players take 2 pool noodles and move the beach ball across the field, around the turn around point and back.  They then hand off the noodles and ball to the next player in line.  Winning team is the first one to have all their players complete the course.  

Variation:  Have players use only one pool noodle.

Crazy Team Tag  **  Please be responsible and not let this game get out of hand - game is meant to be fun for everyone, not just the overly excited but rough players.

2 colors of Pool Noodles - one color for each team, large outdoor space

Divide into teams.   On "go" teams try to tag each other by hitting the other teams players below the waist with their pool noodle.  If a player is tagged them must sit down right where they are tagged.   They can be untagged if a team member tags them with their noodle.  Play continues until one team has tagged all the other teams players.

Marble Destruction

Marbles, sidewalk chalk or other tall objects that can be knocked over - can use ping pong balls instead of chalk. 

Players roll marbles through the hole in the center of their pool noodle and try to knock down sidewalk chalk pieces that are standing on their ends.  Players must be at least 7 feet away from the chalk.   The first player to knock over their 5 pieces of chalk wins!

Tip:  Place a pool noodle behind the chalk to catch the marbles so they don't roll too far. 

Sword Bubble

Bubbles

Have kids practice their sword moves by popping bubbles!

Toppling Tubes

1. Have kids stand in a circle facing each other.

2. Give each person a pool noodle to hold in front of his or her body so it stands up with the end touching the ground.

3. Leader can decide which direction everyone will move in the circle.

4. At your cue, everyone will let go of his or her pool noodle and move to the next pool noodle in the chosen direction.

5. The goal is for everyone to get to the next pool noodle, grab it, and help it stand up before it falls over.

6. Keep things fun and interesting by playing a round or two where kids take steps back to spread out the circle more and increase difficulty.

Protect the Pizza - need an empty pizza box per participant.
Protect The Pizza

The object here is to knock off other people’s pizza boxes while not losing your own.

Players have to balance the box with one hand from the bottom. If it falls, they’re either out, or  they need to do something else to get back in.

You could either play elimination style (last person standing with a box wins) or teams, last team team with boxes wins, or protect the president where everyone has boxes but there is one player the team has to protect and if they lose their box that team loses. 

Squirt Gun Games
Boat Attack

Kiddie pool filled with water, small boat, 2 pieces of string

Fill the pool with water and tape a piece of string across the top of the pool about 1/4 of the way from each players side high enough so that the boat can float underneath them.  Place the boat in the center of the pool.  Players use their squirt guns to move the boat back and forth trying to get it to pass under their opponents goal line (string).  When the boat is moved completely behind the string the player earns 1 point and the boat is placed back in the center of the pool.   Play to 15 points.   

Variation: Play individually or with 2 - 3 players on a team.  The bigger the pool the more challenging the game.  

Tip: If you don't have a boat a ping pong ball or any ball that floats will work!

Freeze Tag

Played just like the game of tag.  One player starts out with a squirt gun and they tag others players by squirting them with water.  If a player is tagged they must freeze in place.   Other players can unfreeze frozen players by crawling through their legs.  But be careful!  If the player gets tagged while trying to unfreeze another player then both players are frozen!   When all players have been frozen the player with the water gun chooses a new player to use the squirt gun and all players are unfrozen for a new round of play!

Melt Down

Large pan, water, small plastic toys

The night before the game fill several (one per player or per team) half way with water.   Add the plastic toys to the pan and fill the pan with cold water.  Freeze over night.  The toys should be in the center of the ice the next morning.   

Pop the ice out of the pan in one piece and set on the grass (or game area).  Give each team or player a squirt gun and have them squirt water at the ice block until all the toys are free from ice.   Players can only use water from the squirt gun to melt the ice - no hands.  First team (or player if playing individually) to free all their items from the ice wins! 

Ping Pong Targets

pool noodle or box, ping pong balls, golf ball tees

Stick tees in pool noodle or box.  

Place ping pong balls on top.

Mark off a shooting line with tape or sidewalk chalk for the players to stand behind while they try and shoot the ping pong balls off the bottles with their squirt guns.   

Variation:  Set up bottles in rows or a pyramid.   Increase the distance between the shooting line and the targets for each round of play.

String Race

Plastic drinking cups, string

Set up the game by punching 1 hole in each bottom of the cups about 1/2 inch from the side.   Tie the string onto a tree and then thread the end of the string through the hole in the bottom of the cup.   Tie the other end of the string a distance away about 4 - 5 feet from the ground.   Make a separate string and cup so that teams can play or more tracks for individual games.   

The players fill up their water guns and shoot at the inside of the plastic cup to make it move down the string.  First player to get their cup to the other end wins!

String Race Double Challenge

Set up the game the same as the above String Race game only instead of threading one cup on the string thread two cups onto the string.  One cup facing one way and the other cup facing the other way.   Mark the middle of the string with a permanent marker.   4 feet on each side of the strings middle mark place a mark.  This mark is each sides goal line. 

At the same time players try to shoot water into the cup facing them to move both cups down the string to their opponents goal line.   Each time one player moves both cups down the string past their opponents goal line they win 1 point.   Then reset the cups to the middle mark and play to 10 or 15.

Water Gun Relay

Ping pong balls (2), plastic jug or container with an opening large enough that the ping pong ball can be placed inside easily.

Set up the containers with a ping pong ball at the bottom of each one at one end of the playing field.   Teams line up at the other end of the playing field and one at a time fill up the water gun, run to their container and squirt the water into their container.   Then they run back to their team and the next player repeats the steps until one team can make the ping pong ball in their container float to the top and fall to the ground.

Saran Wrap Ball Game

Link HERE

Strikerball

Link HERE

Water Balloon Games - if it's hot enough - I have a multi balloon filler thingy.

Link HERE

Yahtzee Relay

Link HERE

52 Kid Min Games

Link HERE

Craft Station
Tips
Before kids arrive:
  • Please come early to set up.
  • Set up tables and chairs.  Cover tables if needed (covers are in file cabinet drawer in supply room). 
  • Organize all supplies each table will need.
  • Have one bin per table with the needed supplies.  If there are supplies to be handed out after the instructions, have them well organized and sorted on your instructor's table.  Think about how you will hand those out quickly and effectively.
As kids arrive: 

Have them sit at the tables and get them ready to listen.  If need be, move kids to where you wish them to sit.  Don't be afraid to move them to certain spots.  For some crafts or number of leaders you have, you are better off having 12 kids at 2 tables, and other times it will be better to spread them over 3 or 4 tables.

Once kids are ready:

Once they are ready to listen, explain what they’ll be doing – keep it brief. Be sure all kids at all tables are listening.

  • Get rest of needed supplies to tables
  • Give other kids responsibility to help put names on crafts if help is needed  (they can use the name tags to help spell). 
  •  If anyone needs help don’t just go and help them.  This is an equipping center.  Ask children at the table if anyone is able to help other child.  (If no one volunteers, you assign someone OR you do it).   
  • If you have a child who needs lots of extra help, ask another child to help them.  If a child is helping another child, they do NOT HAVE to do the craft themselves.
As kids finish:
  • Direct them to put finished item on clothes rack. 
  • Make hand wipes available.
  • If finished, get them to help others if you see them able to do so. 
  • If finished and almost end of rotation, get them ready for next station. 
  • If finished, get them to help you clean up and set up for next group. 
  • If finished, give them a colouring page or if you are not busy with others, get to know them better or feel free to grab a book to read to them, or have an older child read to them, or let them pick their own book.
At end of service:

Clean up craft room putting supplies back into craft supply cupboard.  Vacuum and wipe down tables if necessary.   (feel free to grab a couple kids to come help you as they are waiting for parents to pick them up.  Just remember, leave door open between rooms or have another adult with you).   

Small Group Leader Handbook
CPR
c - CARE - For your own spiritual walk during the week
p - PRAY - For kids in your group 
r - READ - And know the bible stories ahead of time
Great Conversation Starters
  • Welcome to Kids Church!  My name is ….
  • Hi!  I’m __________. What school do you go to?
  • What kind of things do you enjoy?
  • Tell me about your family.
  • Tell me something about your week.
  • Tell me something fun you did this week.
  • Do you play any games/sports?
  • What are you doing after church today?
  • What is your favourite food / color?
  • What was the best part of school this week?
  • What was the worst part of school this week?
  • Do you have any pets?
  • Anyone have any birthday parties coming up?
  • I hope I get to see you next week!
How to encourage kids to answer questions
  • Reword the question
  • Make questions fun
  • Reference a specific kid (use their name)
  • Have them take a guess
  • Assist them when they are stumped
  • Hints - multiple choice.
  • What you would do (give own answer)
How to help kids belong
  • Be welcoming
  • Be fun
  • EEKK - elbow to elbow, knee to knee
  • Interact with the kids - try to get to know them - show that you are
  • Interested in them.
  • Do little things to model honour
  • Make your group a TEAM - do special things for your group!
  • Use the ‘older’ kids
  • Show love to ALL kids in your group
  • Try to include all kids - but don’t let them be manipulative with their
  • Moods.  Pray about it.
Identity
I AM Statements

Verse for this Study:

But those who trust in the Lord will receive new strength. They will fly as high as eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not grow weak. - Isaiah 40:31   (NiV)

I Am ...

  • Greatly loved by God! - John 3:16, Ephesians 2:4, 1 Thessalonians 1:4
  • God’s Child - John 1:12, 1 John 5:1
  • A prince or princess - John 18:37
  • A friend of Jesus - John 15:13-15
  • The light of the world - Matthew 5:14-15
  • Saved by grace - Ephesians 2:8-9
  • Amazingly and wonderfully made - Psalm 139:14, Collisions 1:17
  • Made by God for the things that he prepared for me to do - Ephesians 2:10
  • Able to do all things by the power of Christ who gives me strength - Philippians 4:13
  • Not given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind - 2 Timothy 1:7
  • Given everything I need to do what God wants me to do - 2 Peter 1:3, Ephesians 6:10-20
  • Redeemed - Galatians 3:13, Colossians 1:13-14
  • A joint-heir in Christ - Romans 8:17
  • Treated with compassion by Christ - Psalm 145:9,  Matthew 15:32
  • Gade to bear fruit - Galatians 5:22-23
  • Never alone - Psalm 139:1-12
  • Able to be strong and courageous - Joshua 1:9
  • NOT able to be separated from the love of God - Romans 8:38-39
  • Chosen by God before the creation of the world - Ephesians 1:4, Ephesians 1:11, Colossians 3:12
  • Given the one who is greater than the one who lives in the world - 1 John 4:1-4, Romans 8:31
  • An overcomer - 1 John 5:4-5, 1 John 2:14, Revelations 12:11
  • More than a conqueror - Romans 8:37, Daniel 3, Daniel 6, Esther, Death and Resurrection of Jesus
  • Victorious - 1 Corinthians 15:57, Revelation 21:7
  • Priceless - 1 Peter 1:18-19
  • Forgiven - Colossians 2:13, 1 John 1:9
  • Not forgotten - Isaiah 49:15-16, Psalm 139:17-18
  • Free from condemnation - Romans 8:1-2, Psalm 34:22
  • A spirit being - 2 Corinthians 5:17
  • A citizen of heaven - Philippians 3:20, John 14:2
  • An ambassador for Christ - 2 Corinthians 5:20
  • Sure that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him - Romans 8:28-29
  • Healed - Isaiah 53:5
  • A saint - Romans 1:7
  • Sure that God will complete the good work he has started in me - Philippians 1:6
Names of Jesus

Verse for this Study:

The name of the Lord is a strong tower.  The righteous run to it and they are safe. - Proverbs 18:10  (NKJV)

Names of Jesus

  • Strong Tower - Prov 18:10
  • The Word - John 1  (Genesis 1)
  • I am - John 8:58
  • Alpha and Omega, First and Last, Beginning and the End - Rev 1:8, 21:6, 22:13
  • Gate - John 10:9
  • Good Shepherd - John 10:14
  • Light of the World - John 9:5, John 8:12
  • Everlasting Father - Isaiah 9:6
  • Wonderful Counselor - Isaiah 9:6
  • Mighty God - Isaiah 9:6
  • Prince of Peace - Isaiah 9:6, Phillipians 4:4-7
  • King of Kings and Lord of Lords - Revelation 17:14, 19:16
  • Immanuel - Matthew 1:18-25
  • Living Water - John 4:14  (4-15)
  • Bread of Life - John 6:35  (25-71)
  • True Vine - John 15:5
  • The Way - John 14:6
  • The Truth - John 14:6
  • The Life - John 14:6, Genesis 2:7
  • The resurrection and the Life - John 11:25
  • Author of our faith - Hebrews 12:2
  • Finisher of our faith - Hebrews 12:2
  • Son of God, Son of Man - Daniel 7:13-14, Mark 14:61-62
  • Blameless One - 1 John 2:1-2
  • Advocate - 1 John 2:1-2
  • Lamb of God - John 1:29
  • Passover - 1 Corinthians 5:7
  • Anchor - Hebrews 6:19
  • High Priest - Hebrews 4:15
  • The Rock - 1 Corinthians 10:4
  • Healer - Isaiah 53:4
  • Redeemer - Job 19:25
  • Amen - Revelation 3:14
Reasons to serve in nursery
What's in the bible summaries

DVD 7 - Episode 1

Bible divided into 2 sections:  Old Testament, New testament.

Old testament = 4 sections

Pentateuch

Historical Books - cover 1000 years of history

Prophets

Wisdom

Today look at Ezra and Nehemiah == historical books.

Empire = bunch of countries and bunch of people all ruled by one king.

 

First True empire = Assyrian Empire

It overthrew the northern Kingdom of Israel (722 BC)

Why did this happen?  

People ignored God – the creator of heaven and earth – and followed other made up gods.

 

Ninevah = capital of Assyrian Empire

(Jonah and the big fish)

 

Babylon Empire (608 BC)

It overthrew the southern Kingdom of Judah  (586 BC)

King Nebuchadnezzar

 

Bible is true and trustworthy

= in all that it teaches – no mistakes in what it teaches.

Can have numbers rounded, king’s name could be spelled different ways…

 

Babylon Empire did not last forever.

God announced through prophet Isaiah what was going to happen.

Through Isaiah and Jeremiah, God told Israelites they would be in Babylon for 70 years.

Till a new king = Cyrus

 

Persian empire took over near the end of the 70 years = king’s name = Cyrus

 

Ezra and Nehemiah tell the story of the Israelites coming back to Judah and rebuilding Jerusalem.

EZRA 

King Cyrus tells people they can go home to rebuild their homes.

Rebuilt the temple – the place where they could meet with God.

 

Took 20 years to rebuild.

Their neighbors tried to stop them

Israel had been divided into 2 kingsdoms

North – capital = Samaria

South – capital = Jerusalem

They did not get along.

While Assyrians had taken all of the Israelites, they sent new people.  They ruled all of Israel from Samaria.

Samaria people were worried about Jerusalem being rebuilt and wanting its power back!!

King Darius of Persia gave go-ahead to build and then not pestered by neighbor anymore!

 

EZRA – priest of Israel still living in Babylon

Expert in teaching God’s law

King Artaxerxes sends Ezra back to Jerusalem to help Israelites learn God’s law again.

Doesn’t like what he sees – on the same road as history that caused them to get exciled into Babylon!

Ezra called out to God and calls for people to repent!

People joined also.

 

Repent = to change your ways, to turn away from what you are doing wrong.

NEHEMIAH

Talks about rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls.

Was cupbearer to King Artaxerxes = was in charge of kings drinks.

Nehemiah found out that walls were in terrible shape.

He asked king to be able to go rebuild walls and all the supplies to do so.

King let him go.

But pesky neighbors didn’t like it.

They sent threatening letters.

Use soldiers to attack the workers!

Finished the walls in 52 days.

Now Jerusalem was safe!

Nehemiah became their governor, and Ezra became their priest.

Ezra reads law of Moses to people.

God is true to his promises, even when we mess up.  He even uses people who don’t follow him!!  And repentance is important.
DVD 7 - Episode 2

Rebuilt the Temple, then Esther, Then rebuilt wall.

Esther – happened in Susa – one of the capitals of Persian Empire

17th book in the bible.

539 BC - King Cyrus – Captured Babylon – let Israelites go home

486 BC - King Ahasuerus (Xerxes 1 - Greek) – grandson of king Cyrus 

Bad habits – bad temper, took bad advise

Bad attack on Greece

Temper – get army across river, bridge hit by lightening = mad, behead engineers, whip the river 300x.

King Xerxes having party – Queen Vashti = beautiful.

King and friends wanted Vashti to come out to show off her beauty.

But she said “no”.

Xerxes being ill tempered threw her out.

Now look for a new more beautiful queen – one of them was Esther.

Esther = Jew  

first time they were called Jews – before were called Israelites

Israel was Jacob had 12 sons who made up the 12 tribes of Israelites in Kingdom they called Israel.  Then split into Israel and Judah.  The people of Judah kept worshiping God in Jerusalem (along with the Benjamites).  The other 10 tribes began to worship idols in the north.   People of Judah were carried off to Babylon.   While in Babylon, people began to call them Jews because they were from Judah. 

In north had Samaria and they did not get along with Judah were eventually called Samaritans.

She was raised by her older cousin Mordecai.  They were both Jews.

King Xerxes picked Esther to be queen.

Then Haman was made Xerxes right hand man.

He wanted everyone to bow to him, and Mordecai would not.  So he went to king to ask to kill Mordecai, but asked to kill all Jews.  

Why did he hate jews so much?

Haman was an Agagite = descendant of King Agag. King Agag was killed by the Israelites after King Saul beat them in Battle.   Mordecai was a descendant of King Saul, the man who defeated King Agag.   So Haman might have been getting even for his great … grandfather’s death.

King Xerxes said okay, and Haman cast lots to see what day the killing would begin.

But if all Jews would be killed, Jesus would never be born of the Jews.

Queen Esther now had to try to save the Jews.

She had to risk death and approach King uninvited.  King welcomed her.

She invited king and Haman to banquet.  Then another banquet.  At second, she told king that she and her people were going to be killed by Haman.  King got mad and ordered that Haman be hanged instead of Mordecai.  God saved people through Esther.

When you try to stop God’s rescue plan, bad things are going to happen!

Feast of Purim – celebrate every year in Feb or March to remember how God used Esther to save the Jews.  

Pur = one Lot (Haman cast lots to decide when to start killing the Jews in Persia)

Purim = more than one pur.

At feast they read the book of Esther.

Now to end of Historical books = 12 books that cover 1000 years of Israels history.

Joshua – leading Israelites to the promised land.

Through the time of Judges, the Kings, the broken Kingdom, Exile, and finally the return to Judah with Ezra and Nehemiah.

What do we learn from all those books and history?

God is King, King over everything and he keeps his promises.

Covenant – promise that goes both ways.  They are true to God, good things will happen, if they ignore and go to other gods, bad things would happen.

If they broke covenant with God by worshiping fake Gods, they couldn’t stay in the promised land.

God is always with his people.  

If the kings didn’t follow him, he would have others like the prophets – Samuel, Elijah, Elisha

Even in Exile, he raised up Cyrus to free them.

What was it like for the people to live up to God’s standards.  We can’t do it, that is why we need a savior, a Messiah.

Why did God let them try to live up to the standards for 1000 years and then give us all that history in the old testament.

For us to learn from – who God is and who We are.

We have learned that God is really loving, he always keeps his promises, he is always with us, 

We have also learned how holy God is:  how high his standards are.

BUT he is both – incredibly loving and holy.

Reading about how Israel tried and failed for 1000 year. We will do the same.  We need someone to help us out.  WE will never be good enough.  WE can’t reach God on our own.  We are ready for a savior, a messiah, and new covenant.

DVD 8 - Episode 1

Today our poems usually rhyme – Ancient world poetry was different.

 In bible there are 5 books that are mostly poetry – the Writings.

 Most often – parallelism (seconding sequence)

= when two lines of poetry work together to communicate one idea.

Eg. Psalm 19:1  The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork  = the beauty of the stars and sunset point to the God who made it all.

= when two lines are opposites to communicate an idea

eg.  Proverbs 10:1  A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.   = same idea from two opposite sides.

 Why need to know if it is a poem or not

Depending on how they are written depends on how we understand it – don’t take it literal.  Words are used to paint a picture.

JOB

= story of wealthy man who loses everything and wonders why.

He is a righteous man, and is blessed by God.

He loves God and he follows God’s rules.

Satan = adversary, accuser, anyone who is trying to stop you or oppose you.

God tells him ->  look at Job.  Satan wants to see if he really does love God.

Job loses everything!  (still says blessed is the Lord).

Then he also loses health.

Wife tells him to curse God and die.  But he won’t do it.

Now friends show up, and when they start talking start want to try to figure out why Job is being punished.   – Job must have done something terrible, Job must have done something bad, Job is proud and won’t admit and so deserves these things.

Job gets mad and wonders why God doesn’t stand up for him

Whirlwind comes along, and voice is in it – God’ voice.  Who is asking questions about whether I am doing the right thing or not.  Questioning my wisdom????  I created all and you question me?  Job felt sorry, and knew that God was just and wise.  And friends learned that there was more going on than anyone knew about.

God restored all of Job’s stuff and family.

It is written in writings, so poetry.  They speak in fancy poetry.  Take a real person, and wrote about his life in poetry. 

We can trust God’s wisdom  -  There is more than we can see or understand.

PSALMS

= Israels song book

= book of songs

150 different psalms

ïLament – someone was sad or in trouble and wrote a song to bring their troubles to God.

ïPraise – songs praising God for who he is and what he has done.

ïThanksgiving – 

ïGod’s Law – celebrating his law

ïWisdom – 

ïRoyal - about Israel’s Kings

ïHistorical - about history of God and his people

ïProphetic – repeat messages diff prophets had brought.

Who wrote them.  - Psalmist – Many but David wrote 73 (some of these were written about him or for him).

Longest book of the bible (150 chapters) and quoted in bible more than other old testament book.

Psalms give us words to talk to God.

DVD 8 - Episode 2

Proverbs – all about making good choices

Ecclesiastes – all about when life is frustrating and seems meaningless.

Song of Solomon – romantic love between a man and a woman.

Proverbs:

= a short saying stating a general truth or piece of advise.

= make you wise.

Smart = having a lot of knowledge and being able to solve problems in math, science, ….

Wise = being able to make good choices in life.

Opposite = foolish

Lots of cultures wrote proverbs.

Solomon wrote over 3000 proverbs – over 500 of his sayings are in book of proverbs

The fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom – respecting God’s holiness brings wisdom

Proverbs are principles, not promises.

Ecclesiastes:

= person who gathers people together (the preacher)

= a sermon given by someone to a group of people in Israel

Telling people of his search for meaning of life and happiness in a world that can be unkind and confusing.

Vanity – vapor – puff of smoke but it vanishes when you try to grab it.

The speaker tried to find meaning and happiness in hard work, friends, fun, money, pleasure, but poof they can vanish in an instant.

Then at death all is meaningless.

So what are we to do?

Fear God and follow his commandments.

Important – there will be times in life that life won’t make sense. This book shows us truth about this life, this broken life. So, trust God and follow him. Look beyond this world for answers.

Song of Solomon (song of Songs)

= love songs between a man and a woman.

Canon – official list of writings that make up the bible.

Some of the compliments would be insults today.

Learn: Marriage and romatic love are a part of God’s creation.

Romantic love is a powerful thing.

Use romantic love wisely!!

DVD 9 - Episode 1

The Prophets – 17 books – 16 prophets

Prophet = one who is called, one who speaks for someone else.

In OT, called by God to speak for him.

Major Prophets = longer books

Minor Prophets = shorter books

Empires:

Assyrian Empire

Babylonian Empire

Persian Empire

These empires caused crisis for Israel and Judah. = need for prophets to warn people.

See picture for order of the prophets in the empires.

Lamentations = book of lament = they lost Jerusalem

Lament = passionate expression of grief or sorrow. Can be a poem to express such emotions.

Written by Jeremiah??

Oracle = message from God (Thus says the Lord)

Ways God would speak to prophets:

In a dream

The word of the Lord came to me.

????

What kinds of messages or oracles were there:

Indictment – tells what you did wrong

Judgement – what will happen as a result of the bad thing you did

Instruction – Just gives a warning, but says what should have been done.

Not many in OT since the Penteteuch already told all instructions.

Aftermath – after your fine, hope for the future. New start.

Prophet would paint picture of the blessings coming to all the people and the rescue plan.

Could they predict the future?

They simply delivered message from God.

Telling what God was going to do.

DVD 9 - Episode 2

Info Here

DVD 10 - Episode 1

Review Old Testament - speaking about the rescue plan

400 years between end of OT and beginning of NT.

Fulness of Time - God’s perfect timing - God acts in History when the time is right.

Why wait so long?

Scholars think:  a blessing is coming and God needs it to spread to the whole world.

Need easy way to travel and communicate.

This was not available at end of OT.  But changed during the 400 years.

Alexander the Great - he conquered most of the world - undefeated.

But army wanted to go home, they were tired.  Then Alexander died at 32.

Alexander loved Greek Language and culture.

Spread them everywhere he went - people were learning to read and write Greek all over.

New Empire rose up - Roman Empire

Romans liked to build - roads.

The cities in Roman Empire became connected.

The Romans wanted peace, so roads helped them subdue any uprisings.

What did Israelites do during this time:

Jews started splitting up into little groups as they reacted differently to the empires.

Pharisees - most religious of the Jews - all about following God’s laws - even made up new laws to follow - and everyone 

Sagisees - Jewish leaders with most power and money - priest that ran the temple and jewish courts and cooperated with Romans who left them alone as long as everything went well.

Zealots - Jews who hated Rome - making plans to kick out Romans - wanted Messiah to come to teach Romans lessons - Sagisees did not like them at all

Asines - very spiritual - wanted to spend time reading and praying - other groups were driving them crazy - so they left and lived in desert.  Have them to thank for the bible.

Start with Gospels

Gospel = Good News

Matthew - wanted to add to Mark’s stories

Mark - written first - was a good friend of Peter - record of all stories peter told.

Luke - very bright (Doctor) - used half of Mark and added eye witness accounts.  He also wrote Acts.   = 1/4 of new testament.

John - one of Jesus’ closest disciples. Most popular book in bible.  Focuses on who Jesus said he was, tells events and focusses on meaning of these events.

Synoptic Gospels = Matthew, Mark, Luke

OT has no ending - teaches about sin and what it does to us. God wants to save us from the stain of sin, power of sin, and presence of sin.

NT has no beginning - fulfill the promises made in OT. In Jesus all promises come true.

Together they bring a full picture.

DVD 10 - Episode 2

Gospels – Matthew Mark Luke John

Gospel = Good News

Genealogy = person’s ancestry – parents/grandparents/great grandparents…

Abraham ------------ King David -------------- Jesus

= the promises made in Old Testament are coming true through Jesus

John the Baptist = first prophet sent to Israel since Old Testament.

Told people to repent from sins and to return to God

Baptized as a sign of their repentance.

People wondered if he was Messiah

Messiah would baptize in the spirit.

Jesus comes to be baptized. Then Spirit of God comes down on Jesus.

God the Father, Son, Holy Spirit

When Jesus was baptized, all three were there at once.

40 days in wilderness.

Tries to temp Jesus to take short cuts to what he will be doing.

Adam and Eve gave in to temptation.

Jesus did not give in – he overcame temptation with Scripture.

Kingdom of God = Good news

Jesus picks 12 men to be Disciples (follower of a teacher)

People were amazed

- he taught with authority, different than they heard before

- explaining things like he was God

- he started healing people

Pharisees

- group of people who were all about rules

- Jesus broke rules – healed on Sabbath, ate with sinners, forgave sins = God = Blasphemy

- Decided that Jesus was a problem and tried to trap him with tricky questions

- Went to Sadducees and let them know there was a new trouble maker

- Sadducees want peace, so can’t have trouble maker. Concerned that Jesus will get people believing that he is the Messiah and will stir up the Zealots and then Romans will have to send in troops to crack down on everybody.

- They try to figure out what to do.

Jesus in meantime continue to minister and showing his authority

Parables – teach about kingdom of God and how we should live

Authority over nature

Authority to create abundance from little

Authority over death

Authority over all that is wrong (sickness, hunger, death) with the world

Pharisees/Sadducees need to find a way to quietly get rid of Jesus. But he is continually surrounded by crowd. They don’t want a riot, cause then the Romans will get involved and possibly take away all that the Pharisees and Sadducees can do.

Everyone is wondering who Jesus really is?

Disciples are asked by Jesus and Peter answers that Jesus is the Messiah.

Don’t tell anyone – people are expecting Messiah to kick out Romans and become the people’s king.

Old testament – kingdom in a physical Isreal at specific time, specific people

New Testament – Kingdom is in people, open to anyone, anywhere.

Then starts teaching things that confuse people.

The first will be last, and last will be first

In order to be a leader in the new kingdom, you need to be a servant

In order to live the new life that he is offering, need to let go of own life.

And he would die soon (confusing cause then how will he be king??)

Go to Jerusalem for Passover. Palm Sunday.

Pharisees know they have to do something soon – too much risk for Romans to notice.

Passover meal – Jesus does some unexpected things

- one disciple will betray him - help Pharisees and sadducees will take him away

- bread = this is my body which is given for you

- cup = this cup that is poured out for you is the blood of the new covenant.

- = he is the Passover lamb, he will die so we will live = the blessing for the whole world

New Testament = New Covenant

Whole bible points to this moment. Whole bible is about this!!

Then Jesus goes to pray and Jesus is arrested.

Taken to Sanhedrin where Pharisees and Sadducees put him on trial for blasphemy. Punishment is death.

But Romans don’t allow Sanhedrin to put anyone to death = take to Pilate, the Roman Governor. He doesn’t believe Jesus has done anything wrong, but doesn’t want the Pharisees and Sadducees to complain to Rome like they have done with previous Governors.

So he gives in - crucified

Jesus says as he dies – father forgive them, for they do not know what they do.

- gets dark

- curtain in temple rips

In his life, Jesus did some important things

- shows us who God is - loving, good, powerful

- he announced the kingdom of God and showed us what it would be like

Jesus took all the sin when he died.

So Jesus died all alone. Away from God.

Jesus took punishment – he died alone so we don’t have to.

Three days later, tomb was empty!!

Jesus appears to people.

Power of sin and death were broken. Kingdom of God was real and we can be a part of it.

Go tell everyone!!

Jesus saves us from the

- stain of sin – keeps us away from God

- power of sin – ruins our lives and relationships

- presence of sin – have sickness and death

When will God wipe out all parts of sin – don’t know.

We are invited to be part of the kingdom of God – we decide to accept the invitation.

DVD 11 - Episode 1

Science – the study of nature

God created the natural world.

Supernatural – beyond nature = God

 What is the tool to study God?
  • Revelation – what God has revealed about himself
  • Bible – years of recorded events
  • Jesus – to see me is to see the Father
  • Testimony – the story of the way God changed your life

A great way to learn who God is - healer, makes broken people whole.

Luke – wrote book of Luke and Acts

Luke told story of Jesus

Acts told story of what happened after Jesus

Apostle = sent one – Jesus sent them into the world to share his message.

Acts starts with Gift of the Holy Spirit

 = fill them with Power  (supernatural power)

 = doing miracles, boldness to speak etc.

-      old testament certain people got HS at certain times

-      From now on, HS was for anyone who followed Jesus all the time.

-      Apostles began speaking in different languages – there were a lot of people in town because of Pentecost so lots of people heard message of Jesus

-      HS is not to show off but to move God’s plan forward

Pentecost – 50th– Jewish Holiday 50 days after Passover.

Apostles begin spreading news – Judea, then Samaria, then end of the earth (Roman Empire)

 -      Peter and John get arrested and brought before Sanheddran.  Pharisees tell them to not speak of Jesus ever again.  But they don’t listen.

-      Believers share meals together, help each other, fill needs for eachother…

-      The same apostles who were hiding before Pentecost, now thank God for getting beaten for speaking about Jesus!  Holy Spirit made them brave!!

-      We get same Holy Spirit when we follow Jesus.

-      Stephen – arrested – taken to Sanheddran – gets stoned to death. = dangerous for new believers. = spreading of Good News.

 Gentile = everybody else – not Jews.

Believers thought ends of the earth meant only to the Jews.  God chose Peter to change that mindset.  

Disciples did not want Jesus to leave – they wanted to continue to be with him and spend time with him.

BUT the Gospel couldn’t spread until Jesus left – he knew that if he left and sent the HS then Gods power could be everywhere and all the time with those who follow Jesus.

DVD 11 - Episode 2

Sin = putting ourselves before God

Holy = set apart, different from everybody else.

Messiah = someone who will pay penalty of sin once and for all

Salvation = save us from sinking in a sea of sin

Redemption = pay the debt we couldn’t pay so we can be free

= JESUS

In Acts, Jesus sends out followers to take the gospel to others.

But they think it is just for the Jews, so Jesus has to change their minds.

= Peter sees vision of animals in sheet. Voice tells him to go kill and eat the animals which is against Jewish law. But God tells him that he makes the rules. Then Peter ends up going to Cornelius’ house who is a Gentile. Peter’s eyes are opened to Jesus being for the Gentiles as well.

God had perfect person picked out to take the Gospel to the Gentiles.

Saul – a very strict Pharisee = Paul

Paul met Jesus on road to Demascus.

Saul ends up becoming a follower of Jesus.

Why is Paul the perfect person to take Gospel to the Gentiles.

o Jewish but grew up in Tarsus (the Greek world)

o Greek - could explain in a way that they could understand

o Smart – he knew old testament well so he could use that to show that it all points to Jesus

o Passionate – Does things fully (first to hunt down Christians, then follow Jesus)

o Roman Citizen – official member of Rome. = can travel in roman empire without troubles also, he could not be punished in certain ways like crucifixion. And if put on trial and not treated fair, could appeal to Ceasar to determine if they were being treated fairly.

Paul preached and taught and people could not argue with him. He made enemies with the Pharisees who wanted to kill him.

Christianos = followers of Christ (Greek) – made Jesus our King

Christ = anointed one (Greek) = Jesus is our King, our ruler.

Churches = Assembly – to gather together.

While Paul was in prison he wrote letters – the next 13 books of NT.

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