Onesimus' Changed tife
Objective
Each child will understand
that an encounter
II Corinthians 5: 17; Philemon
(Onesimus and Paul)
with Jesus is a life-changing
1-19
II Corinthians
encounter.
5: 17
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For the First Meeting of the Week, hang black or gray crepe paper streamers from the ceiling to create a "jail cell." Cut
the Two Boys visual from Bible Teaching Resources sheet 5. For the Second Meeting of the Week, put a rock into a lunchsized paper sack and staple shut. Make one for each child. Cut several circles from construction paper.
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Bible Journeys for Meeting 9 for each
child
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All-Stars Bible News for Meeting 9 for
each child
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Archie and Baldy Eagle Puppets
GETTING STARTED
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Bible Teaching Resources sheet 5
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Black or gray crepe paper streamers
Chalkboard or whiteboard
Butcher paper and tape
BIBLE LESSON
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Three other colors of crepe paper
streamers
0 All the Best Songs for Kids Songbook
& Late Elementary CDs, CD player
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Chalkboard or whiteboard
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Prepared paper sack for each child
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Prepared construction
Bibles and pencils, praise music
MP3 or CD player, chairs
BIBLE APPLICATION
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Scissors, sharpened pencils
Two large paper
child
plates
Cookies, napkins, Bible, tape
and
yellow tempera paint; paint brushes;
white and yellow pom-poms; wiggle
eyes; orange, pink, and white craft
foam; scissors; glue
for each
Paper fasteners
I 0o
_OPTIONS
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All-Stars Bible News for Meeting 9
for each child
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Student Award Book for each child
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Game: two soft foam balls
Refreshments: juice, cookies, paper
cups, napkins, stick of butter, flour
Second Meetlng Options ~
_OPTIONS
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(Allow 10-20 minutes)
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Prayer Time
Have everyone sit in a circle. Starting with you, go around the
circle and have volunteers finish this prayer: "Jesus, please forgive me for
__
." Close by praying, Jesus, thank You that You forgive us when
we ask. Help us to do what's right. In Jesus' name, amen.
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paper circles
o Crayons or markers, pencils
o 'Chalkboard or whiteboard
o Craft: spring clothespins; white
Crayons
BIBLE LEARNING
Crayons or markers, glue sticks
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Optional Early Elementary CDs
I
Song Time
Sing HOW GREAT, HOW GLORIOUS; I WILL
SING OFTHEMERCIES;
0 HOWl LOVEJESUS
(optional); and KIDS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
(optional) from All the Best Songsfor Kids. Optional
songs are on the Early Elementary CDs.
Spring Nl-Stars for Jesus Explorers MULTI-USE'" Meeting 9
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Second Meeting Options ~
J. Getting Stafted
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lIT
(Allow 15-20 minutes)
_OPTIONS
I 11"''''''
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Before the meeting, hang black or gray crepe paper streamers from
the ceiling in a corner of the room to create a "jail cell." Make sure it
is large enough to hold one third of the children. Divide the class into
three groups. Group 1 will be Philemon; Group 2, Onesimus; and
Group 3, Paul. Give each child a short length of crepe-paper streamer
(each group should have a different color). Say, When I say the name
of your group's person, I want your group to stand up and wave
your streamers. Let each group practice once. Ask a good reader to
bookmark II Corinthians 5: 17 in his Bible.
ONESIMUS'
CHANGED
LIFE
(II Corinthians 5:17; Philemon 1:1-19)
Onesimus Runs Away
The Bible tells about a Christian man named Philemon (prompt
Group 1 to wave their streamers now and each time you say Philemon),
who had a servant named Onesimus. (Prompt Group 2 to wave their
streamers now and each time you say Onesimus.) Onesimus did not
want to be a slave anymore, so he may have stolen some things from
Philemon and run away. Do you think those were good decisions?
(Have a volunteer lift up the butcher paper cover while another
volunteer prints, "ran away" and "may have stolen" on the board.)
Onesimus Meets Paul
Onesimus ran to a big city called Rome. The Apostle Paul (prompt
Group 3 to wave their streamers now and each time you say Paul)
was in jail in Rome for telling people about Jesus. (Ask Group 3 to
MULTI_USE™
Theme Introduction
Before the meeting, put a rock imo a lunch-sized
paper sack and then staple the sack shut. Make one for
each child. You will also need a cookie and napkin for
each child. Hand out the paper sacks to the children.
Ask, What do you think is in your paper sack? Pause
for responses. Say, If you would like, you can trade your
paper sack for a cookie. Let any child who wishes to make
the trade give you his sack, and then hand him a cookie
(on a napkin) in return. When all trades have been made,
let the children who kept their paper sacks open them and,
after a volumeer thanks God for the cookies, let the others
eat their cookies. Ask the children who traded, Are you
glad you made the trade? Why? Then ask the children
who kept their sacks, Are you glad you kept your sack?
Why not? Give the children who kept their sacks another
opportunity to trade in their sacks for cookies. Have a
wastebasket that the children can toss their napkins imo.
Then say, Our Bible story today is about a man who
traded his unhappy life for eternal life in Jesus. Does
that sound like a good trade? Pause for responses. Say,
Let's find out what happened.
Pap.r.
Explore the Bible Lesson
All-Stars for Jesus Explorers
OPTIONS
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Theme Introduction
Before the meeting, cut the Two Boys visual from Bible Teaching
Resourcessheet 5. Have a volunteer hold it up. Ask, What do you think
is going on here? Pause for responses. Point to the child wearing a
cap and backpack. Say, This boy decided not to go to school today.
He didn't do his homework last night. Now he's afraid to go to class
without his homework done. Raise your hand if you think that was a
bad idea. Calion children to tell you the bad decisions the boy made.
(running away from school, not doing his homework) Have an older
child print them on the chalkboard or whiteboard. Ask, What are
some bad decisions that you have made? Have another child print on
the board the bad decisions made by the children. Ask, When we do
bad things, we want to hide them, don't we? Have a volunteer help
you tape butcher paper over the list on the board. Say, There. Now
nobody knows where they are, right? Ler the children point out that
they are still there. Say, Hmm. You're right, they are still there. Our
Bible story today is about a man who ran away and tried to hide his
mistakes. Let's find out what happened.
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(Cont)
Meeting
9
Explore the Bible Lesson
(Ask the children to stand, and lead them in doing
• the actions in paremheses as you tell the Bible story.
Bookmark II Corimhians 5: 17 in your Bible.) A long
time ago there was a man named Philemon who was a
Christian (put hands together in prayer and bow head).
He had a servam named Onesimus who wasn't a Christian
(wave one hand in from of you and shrug in a gesture of
disbelief). One day, Onesimus may have stolen some of
his master's things, but we know that he ran away from
his master (stomp your feet on the Aoor and pump your
elbows). He ran for a very long time, umil he came to the
city of Rome (shade eyes with hand and look around).
The Apostle Paul was in Rome, too. He was in
prison for telling people about Jesus (hold "prison bars"
in from of you). Onesimus visited Paul in prison. Paul
told Onesimus all about Jesus (make storytelling motions
with arms). Being in prison wasn't going to stop Paul from
telling people about Jesus, was it? Onesimus believed in
Jesus as his Savior (bow head and pray) and loved Jesus
so much that Paul wamed to keep Onesimus with him
as a helper. But Paul knew that Onesimus belonged to
Philemon, and that he should go back home (pretend to
poim to Philemon's house).
Paul wrote a letter to Philemon (pretend to write
a letter), and urged him to take Onesimus back. He
told Philemon that if Onesimus needed punishmem
for running away and stealing, Paul would take the
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Second Meeting Options~
,"tit
_OPTIONS
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sit in the crepe paper "jail celL") Onesimus visited Paul, then Paul told
Onesimus about Jesus. Onesimus believed in Jesus as his Savior, and was
thankful to be forgiven of all the bad decisions he had made.
Onesimus
Returns Home
Paul wanted Onesimus to travel with him and tell others about
Jesus, but Onesimus was still a slave and belonged to Philemon. Paul
wanted to do the right thing. He decided to return Onesimus to
Philemon so he could be a faithful servant. Paul knew that Onesimus
was a believer in Jesus. Paul wrote a letter to Philemon and asked him
to forgive Onesimus for running away, and to take him back. Paul even
said that he would pay back any money Onesimus may have stolen
from Philemon. (Collect the streamers and have everyone return to
their seats.)
Do you think Philemon forgave Onesimus and took him back into
his house? How do you think Onesimus may have felt to be forgiven? (Ask
your reader to read II Corinthians 5: 17.) Did Jesus change Onesimus'
life? (Take the butcher paper cover off the board and have volunteers take
turns erasing each bad decision.) Jesus is the only One who can forgive
us of every thing we've ever done wrong. Jesus can change your life, too!
(See "Leading a Child to Christ" in the Easter Meeting.)
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Study the Bible Lesson
Hand out pencils and the Bible Journeys Activity Sheets for Meeting
9 to the children. Have them look at the first page. Read the directions
and make sure everyone understands what to do. Have Baldy Eagle
Puppet help the children as necessary. (Answer: Jesus FORGAVE
Onesimus and made him a new person.)
Have volunteers read aloud the Bible story from the All-Stars Bible
News Take-Home Papers for Meeting 9. Encourage the children to read
the Bible story again at home or have it read to them. If you hand
out All-Stars Bible News at your Second Meeting of the Week, let the
children know they'll get a copy at their next meeting.
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Bible Memory Verse
5: 17 - "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all
things are become new. " (KJV)
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone,
the new has come!" (NIV)
II Corinthians
Before the meeting, print the memory verse and reference on the
board. Arrange chairs back to back in rwo lines, using one less chair
than the number of children. Recite the verse together several times,
pointing to each word as you say it. Say, When you accept Jesus as your
Savior from sin, He gives you a new life with Him. He will always
be with you and will help you to live for Him. Play musical chairs.
Have the children stand in a circle around the chairs. Have Archie Eagle
Puppet start playing praise music. As the music plays, have the children
walk around the chairs. At some point, have Archie stop the music.
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punishment for him (hold out hands and kneel). Paul
asked Philemon to accept Onesimus as a brother who
would be with him forever (hug the person next to you).
(Ask the children to return to their seats.)
Remember our rocks that we exchanged for cookies?
That was a good trade, wasn't it? Onesimus traded his
sinful heart for a brand new heart in Jesus, and eternal
life forever. Raise your hand if you think this was a good
trade. (Have a child read II Corinthians 5: 17.) Onesimus
was a new man in Jesus. We can be, too, if we ask Jesus
to forgive us and come into our hearts.
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Review the Bible Lesson
Before the meeting, cut several large circles from
colored construction paper. Make sure each child has one
circle. Hand our crayons or markers and construction
paper circles. Say, Draw a picture of the face of someone
you would like to tell about Jesus so his or her life can
be changed or of someone you would like to invite to
an All-Stars for Jesus meeting. Ask each child to print
the name of his person on the front of the circle, near
the picture, and his own name on the back. Let early
finishers help you tape the circles on the wall. When all
have finished, gather in a circle and pray for each name.
Afterward, remove the circles and give them to the ones
who made them, challenging them to make it a point of
telling this person about Jesus or All-Stars for Jesus.
You may want to have older children read the Bible
story from All-Stars Bible News for Meeting 9. The
children may complete the activities on pages 2-3 at this
time. (Answers: I-stolen; 2-letter; 3-sinner; 4-new.)
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Review the Memory Verse
Before the meeting, write the memory verse on
the chalkboard or whiteboard. Recite the verse with the
children two or three times. Then erase each word and
draw a blank line in its place. Discuss what it means to
be a new creature (creation) in Christ. Have the children
take turns going up to the board and writing a word to the
verse on its corresponding blank line. Prompt as necessary.
Make sure they know to fill in the reference, too. Repeat
• several times until all the children can say the verse.
1 Bible Application
OPTIONS
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Apply the Lesson
Hand out pencils and All-Stars Bible News for
Meeting 9. The children may complete the activities on
pages 1 (for younger children) and 4 (for older children) at
this time. (Page 1 answers: I-bat; 2-shovel; 3-jump; 4-toes;
Tell them about Jesus. Page 4 answers: I-courage; 2- Isaiah
40:29, strength; 3-Matthew 21 :21, faith; 4- Luke 24: 17, 52,
joy; 5- Colossians 3:8, 14, love; 6- John 14:27, peace.)
All-Stars for Jesus Explorers
MULTI_USE™
Meeting 9
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Secolld Meetillg OptiOllS~
3. lUble Application
(ConI.)
OPTIONS
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Let the children scramble to sit in a chair. The child left standing has
to recite the memory verse. Prompt as necessary. Play several rounds.
Discuss different ways the children can serve God and show how they
are new creations in Christ. (witnessing, showing love to others, being a
helper, respecting parents, etc.)
(Allow 10-20 minutes)
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Apply the Lesson
Have the children turn to page 2 of Bible Journeys for Meeting 9.
Make sure they have crayons. Discuss the pictures on the left. (The
boy is laughing at the elderly woman because her groceries arefalling out
of the sack; the girl is watching TV instead of reading the Bible; and the
boy is stealing a candy bar instead of paying for it.) Have the children
draw a line from each child on the left through the picture of Jesus
to the picture on the right that shows how that child changed after
meeting Jesus. Have them use a different color for each child. Discuss
how Jesus changed the children. (The boy helps the elderly woman carry
her groceries; the girl reads her Bible; and the boy pays for his candy bar.)
(Answers: J-B; 2-C; and 3-A.)
(Allow 10-15 minutes)
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Bible Craft
Have the children turn to page 3 of Bible Journeys for Meeting
9. Provide two large paper plates for each child, crayons or markers,
scissors, glue sticks, and sharpened pencils. Have the children complete
the memory verse by printing "man," "be," and "creature" on the blank
lines if you use KJV or "one," "is," and "creation" if you use NIY. Have
them color the pictures, then cut out the circle on the solid black line.
Let them glue the story circle in the middle of one paper plate. Show
them how to cut a wedge shape out of the second paper plate ('4
of the circle). Then have the children punch a hole with a pencil in
the middle of the story wheel, through both paper plates. (Let older
children help the younger ones.) Instruct them to stack the blank plate
on top of the first plate and connect them with a paper fastener. Say,
Use your Onesimus Story Wheel to help you tell the story of Paul
and Onesimus to your friends and family.
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Closing Prayer
tIT
•..•.....
Clothespin Pals
Let each child decide ifhe will make a rabbit, a chick,
or a lamb. Give each child a spring clothespin, white or
yellow tempera paint, and a paint brush. Let the children
paint their clothespins (white for rabbits and lambs, yellow
for chicks). Be sure to leave time for the clothespins to
dry. (You may want to bring a hair dryer to speed up the
drying process.)
Once the paint is dry, give each child two pom-poms
to match the color of his clothespin and two wiggle eyes.
Provide glue and scissors. Have the children stand their
clothespin upright, "mouth" pointing up. Glue one pompom at the top of the clothespin as the head (make sure
it's not on the opening of the clothespin), and the other
right below it as the body. Glue the wiggle eyes onto the
top porn-porn. Let the children use craft foam to add
details such as feet, ears, and a beak. (Let older children
help the younger ones.) Show them how to clip a photo
• into the top of the holder. Say, Put a photo of a friend
or family member in your photo holder who does not
know Jesus. It will remind you to share God's Word with
them so they can be a new creation, too.
_OPTIONS
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Dodge Ball
Use a large room with no obstacles or go outside
if weather permits. Divide the children into two teams.
Mark a boundary down the middle of the playing field.
Have one team stand on each side. Give each team a soft
foam ball. Have a member from each team throw the
ball across the line at a member of the opposing team. If
a player is hit, he must sit out. The team with only one
player left standing at the end is the winner. Play again as
time permits. Say,We can't dodge or hide from the sins we
have committed, but God will give us a second opportunity
to do right if we ask Him to forgive our sins.
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Refreshments
Ask helpers to hand out napkins, cookies, and juice.
Thank God for the snack. Say, These cookies started
out as just a bunch of ingredients. (Show flour and
butter.) But they've been turned into something else something better. That's like what happens to us when
we accept Jesus as our Savior. We become better people.
I'm so glad that Jesus can give us a new life. Ask if any
children would like to talk further about accepting Jesus
as their Savior. Make a point to talk with them more
after class. (See "Leading a Child to Christ" in the Easter
Meeting.)
Ask the children to think of someone who doesn't know Jesus. Pray, Dear God, thank You that You change lives. Please
help (ask the children to whisper the name of the person they have chosen) to believe in Jesus as their Savior. In Jesus' name
we pray, amen. At the close of the First Meeting of the Week, remind the children to bring their award books to the second
meeting. Hand out All-Stars Bible News, today's craft, and Bible Journeys to each child.
All-Stars for Jesus Explorers MULTI_USE'"' Meeting 9
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