SERIES DESCRIPTION
The psalmist wrote, The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, (NIrV). God is the author of creation, and God has entrusted us to care for and cultivate it. We do that by taking responsibility. From the work we need to accomplish to people we meet to the words we use; life is filled with moments where we can decide to reflect God’s character, take responsibility, and use what we have wisely. When we follow through and do what needs to be done, we can point others to Jesus, the One who took the ultimate responsibility for us and made it possible for us to be with God forever.
January Curriculum:
Week One (January 3)
The Greatest
Today’s Bible Story: The Greatest (The Greatest Commandment) • Matthew 22:36-40
Today’s Key Question: What are things you’re expected to do?
Today’s Bottom Line: Love God. Love others.
Monthly Memory Verse: Suppose you can be trusted with something very little. Then you can also be trusted with something very large. Luke 16:10a (NIrV)
Monthly Life App: Responsibility—Showing you can be trusted with what is expected of you
Basic Truth: I should treat others the way I want to be treated.
Key Question: What are things you’re expected to do? Even kids and preteens have responsibilities. As they start to name them, they’ll start to realize that those expectations aren’t there to frustrate them. Each of us has things we need to do—including our responsibility to love. We pray that kids will take Jesus’ words to heart as they discover how to show God’s love to others.
We kick off the New Year in Matthew 22:36-40. The religious leaders were always trying to trap Jesus with His own words. This moment was no different. They asked Jesus, out of hundreds of laws they were to follow, which were the most important. Jesus simplified everything, and made love the top priority. The most important responsibility is to love God, and love your neighbor as you love yourself.
Bottom Line: Love God. Love others. These are four simple words, but they are not always simple to put into practice. We hope that, as kids discover more about responsibility, they start to understand the ways they can love God and love the people God has put in their lives.
K3 Worship
Alive Again
Good Grace
456 Worship Files
Week Two (January 10)
Give It Away
Today’s Bible Story: Give It Away (Bigger Barns) • Luke 12:13-21
Today’s Key Question: What do you have that you can share?
Today’s Bottom Line: Share what you have.
Monthly Memory Verse: Suppose you can be trusted with something very little. Then you can also be trusted with something very large. Luke 16:10a (NIrV)
Monthly Life App: Responsibility—Showing you can be trusted with what is expected of you
Basic Truth: I should treat others the way I want to be treated.
Key Question: What do you have that you can share? From an early age, most kids are taught to share. As they get older though, the stakes get higher and it can take more effort to share. As we ask this question, we pray that preteens will see that they can share more than their stuff. They can share their time, their friendship, and their talents.
In week two, we head to Luke 12:13-21 where we find a parable Jesus told about a rich man who was focused on the wrong thing. As a successful farmer, his land produced a large amount of crops. He decided to build bigger and bigger barns to collect it all. He might have a had a lot for himself, but he failed to think about how he could have helped the people around him.
Bottom Line: Share what you have. Sometimes we are on the receiving end of someone’s generosity, but other times we get to show responsibility by sharing and being generous to others. When we realize that God has given us everything we have, we’re more likely to share with others. We pray that as kids learn more about the parable of the rich man, they’ll discover ways they can be responsible with how they share what they have.
K3 Worship
Through It All
Let Go
456 Worship Files
Week Three (January 17)
Ants Marching
Today’s Bible Story: Ants Marching (Ant and Sluggard) • Proverbs 6:6-8
Today’s Key Question: When have you had to work hard?
Today’s Bottom Line: Work hard.
Monthly Memory Verse: Suppose you can be trusted with something very little. Then you can also be trusted with something very large. Luke 16:10a (NIrV)
Monthly Life App: Responsibility—Showing you can be trusted with what is expected of you
Basic Truth: I need to make the wise choice.
Key Question: When have you had to work hard? When it comes to hard work, kids tend to want to avoid it at all cost. However, when they remember how God has helped them work hard in the past, it can encourage them to work hard with whatever they’re facing now.
For week three, we take a closer look at Proverbs 6:6- 8. Think about the ant! Consider its ways and be wise! (NIrV). God created ants to take responsibility and work hard storing up for the winter months. We can look to them as an example, as we take responsibility and work hard.
Bottom Line: Work hard. God has created us to work, yet often we try to do whatever we can to avoid it. We pray that this simple bottom line will be a reminder for kids to take responsibility when they have a job to do. God can give them the strength they need to follow through and get the job done.
K3 Worship
I Choose You
Who You Say I Am
456 Worship Files
Week Four (January 24)
Golden Slumbers
Today’s Bible Story: Golden Slumbers (Parable of the Bags of Gold) • Matthew 25:14-30 (NIV)
Today’s Key Question: How can you use what you’ve been given?
Today’s Bottom Line: Make the most of what you’ve been given.
Monthly Memory Verse: Suppose you can be trusted with something very little. Then you can also be trusted with something very large. Luke 16:10a (NIrV)
Monthly Life App: Responsibility—Showing you can be trusted with what is expected of you
Basic Truth: I need to make the wise choice.
Key Question: How can you use what you’ve been given? Kids are often so focused on what they want, that they don’t think about how to use what they already have. Whether we have a lot or a little, it’s important for us to use what we have wisely. We hope that preteens will start to realize that what they have—talents, time, or possessions—comes from God. We pray they’ll discover how they can use them to point others to Jesus.
Next, we discover another one of Jesus’ parables found in Matthew 25:14-30. A businessman went on a journey and left three of his workers in charge of some of his money. Two of the workers turned a profit while the third buried his portion, did nothing with it, wasted his opportunity for growth, and ended up having it taken away.
Bottom Line: Make the most of what you’ve been given. God has given each of us responsibility over something—money, talents, even our stuff. Kids will discover some of the ways they can remember that everything we have comes from God. We pray kids discover how they can use those things wisely.
K3 Worship
Only Way
Wide Open
456 Worship Files
Week Five (January 31)
Say What You Need to Say
Today’s Bible Story: Say What You Need to Say (Use Words Wisely) • Ephesians 4:29
Today’s Key Question: Why do your words matter?
Today’s Bottom Line: Use your words wisely.
Monthly Memory Verse: Suppose you can be trusted with something very little. Then you can also be trusted with something very large. Luke 16:10a (NIrV)
Monthly Life App: Responsibility—Showing you can be trusted with what is expected of you
Basic Truth: I need to make the wise choice.
Key Question: Why do your words matter? Preteens are starting to be aware of the impact their actions have on their relationships, including the words they use. We hope that kids will start to think about the importance of words and how they can use them to help others.
We finish the month with something Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:29. Paul writes, Don’t let any evil talk come out of your mouths. Say only what will help to build others up and meet their needs, (NIrV). Our words have power to help or hurt others. When it comes to our rules for life, what we say and how we speak matters.
Bottom Line: Use your words wisely. Words are important, but even as adults we tend to use them without thinking. We hope that as kids hear more about what Paul wrote in Ephesians, they’ll understand that how they use their words can show God’s love to others.