252 Groups
October 2012, Week 1
Small Group, K-1
FOR LEADERS ONLY
GOD VIEW: the connection between INDIVIDUALITY and God’s character,
as shown through God’s big story
God is a unique, one and only God. There is nothing and no one like Him in the entire universe. It only
makes sense that everything He creates is also unique and one-of-a-kind. Spend a few minutes
watching Animal Planet® and you’ll quickly be amazed by the intricacies of each animal God created.
No two are alike and every one is created with special abilities and characteristics.
But God’s creativity doesn’t end with the animals. God made every person one of a kind. No two people
are exactly alike. Even identical twins have uniquely different fingerprints. We are each an original—
even you! God create you to be uniquely who you are. Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:10 that “we are
God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us
to do.” (NIV)
An amazing thing about being uniquely created is that you have “good works” that only you can do.
Every day you get opportunities to make a difference by doing something specially designed for you.
No one else can combine your experiences, your abilities, and your relationships to follow God’s
leading and make a difference in your world.
This month, let’s think about how:
(1) God is the one and only, one-of-a-kind God.
(2) God made you unique. No one else has your story, your gifts and your relationships.
(3) You are uniquely positioned to play a roll in God’s story of redemption.
Remember: A Life App is something God does in us to change the world around us.
This week, we’re discovering:
Our Bible story introduces us to Timothy, a young man who makes a big difference. In Acts 14:1-23 we
read about Paul’s missionary journey to Timothy’s hometown. This is the point at which Timothy
decides to connect his story to God’s story.
Our Bottom Line is Jesus wants to use your story to make a difference. We’ll get a sneak peek into
Timothy’s family to see that he is uniquely situated to be used by God. Timothy’s story helps kids
identify what is unique about their story. What are we able to do because of where we come from and
what we’ve experienced?
This month’s Memory Verse hints at some of the impact Timothy was able to make. It is Paul’s
encouragement to Timothy as he strives to do that for which he was uniquely made. “Don’t let anyone
look down on you because you are young. Set an example for the believers in what you say and
in how you live.” 1 Timothy 4:12a, NIrV
©2012 The reThink Group, Inc. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
Adapted by New Life Fellowship October 2012.
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252 Groups
October 2012, Week 1
Small Group, K-1
I’m a Believer
Bible Story: I’m a Believer (Timothy becomes a believer) • Acts 14:1-23; 16:1,3b, 2 Timothy
1:5; 3:10-11
Bottom Line: Jesus wants to use your story to make a difference.
Memory Verse: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. Set an example
for the believers in what you say and in how you live.” 1 Timothy 4:12a, NIrV
Life App: Individuality—discovering who you are meant to be so you can make a difference.
Basic Truth: I can trust God no matter what.
Plug In: Focus the Energy (Small Groups, 10-15 minutes)
Focus the energy on today’s Bible story in a Small Group setting with an engaging discussion question
and an interactive opening activity.
Before students arrive, pray for each regular attendee by name. Pray for those who might visit your
class for the first time. Pray that God would help the kids identify what makes their story unique. Pray
they’ll be able to see how their experiences can help them make a difference in other people’s lives.
2. Stand up for Individuality
What You Need: no supplies needed
What You Do:
Ask kids to put their offering in the container.
Kids will jump up and stand when you call out an attribute that describes them. Kids will sit down when
you repeat the same attribute. After a few rounds, two attributes will be called. Fewer kids will stand at
a time. (You can say things like hair color, sports you know some of your kids play, you can described
their personalities: funny, energetic, athletic, helpful, quiet, etc. You could also say more obvious things
like colors kids are wearing, or types of shoes they have on.) After another few rounds, call three to four
attributes that uniquely describe individuals in your group so only one or two will kids stand. The last
attribute will end with everyone standing.
What You Say:
“Jump up and stand if what I say describes you. Be careful not to bump into anyone. Stand if you are a
boy. Stand if you are a girl. Sit if you are a girl. Sit if you are a boy. Stand if you have a dog. Sit if you
have dog. Stand if you have red, dark hair and brown eyes. (Continue until all kids have stood several
times. End the game with “Stand if God made you a unique individual meaning there’s no one else
exactly like you.”) [Transition] That’s right! God made us all totally unique individuals, with
different looks, likes and stories. Let’s go to Large Group and hear about a unique young guy
with a special story.”
Lead your group to the Large Group area.
©2012 The reThink Group, Inc. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
Adapted by New Life Fellowship October 2012.
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252 Groups
October 2012, Week 1
Small Group, K-1
Catch On: Make the Connection (Small Groups, 25-30 minutes)
Make the connection of how today’s Bible story applies to real life experiences through interactive
activities and discussion questions.
* 2. Thumbs Up Dot to Dot (application activity)
What You Need: blank paper, crayons, washable markers, baby wipes
What You Do:
Kids will create a dot-to-dot picture using their own thumbprints as the dots. Help them make up to 10
dots on their paper by coloring their thumb with a marker and pressing it down on random places on
their paper. (Kids will need to recolor their thumb every few thumbprints.) They will then wipe their
thumb clean and use a crayon to connect the dots to make a picture. (Hint: Younger kids may need
some suggestions of shapes that they could make—like a triangle, square, circle, or heart just to get
them thinking of options. You may need to even demonstrate if anyone still looks unsure.) Let
volunteers tell the group what they drew.
What You Say:
(After drawing) “All of our pictures are beautiful and different from each other’s, just like our lives and
our stories. [Apply] When you go home today, give your picture to someone else and tell them all
about the picture you made. Just like sharing our picture with someone else, we can share our
story with others. [Impress] Jesus wants to use your story to make a difference.”
3. Go Young! (memory verse activity)
What You Need: Bibles
What You Do:
Help kids find the memory verse in the Bible. Read the verse a few times and discuss what the verse
means. Discuss what it means to be young. Then divide the verse in half. Assign the first half of the
verse to the girls and the boys the second half. Teach the kids the motions for each of their halves of
the verse. Instruct them to say the verse and do the motions, starting with the girls and ending with the
boys. Repeat two to three times. Then switch parts, having the boys do the first half of the verse and
the girls do the second half. Repeat a few times. Conclude by having kids do the whole verse
altogether several times.
Finding verses with kindergartners: Guide children to open the Bibles to the marked page. Point to the words “1
Timothy” at the top of the page as you say “First Timothy” aloud. Then guide children to find the big number 4 on the
page. Explain that this is the chapter number. Finally, guide them to look under the big 4 for the little 12; this is the
verse number. Tell them to leave their finger on the verse as you read the verse aloud. Then lead everyone to say the
verse together.
Finding verses with 1st graders: Guide them to open their Bibles to the front and find the table of contents. (Hold
up a Bible opened to the table of contents to show the kids what the page looks like.) When the kids find the table of
contents, lead them to find 1 Timothy in the list under “New Testament.” You can help by telling them that there are
two books in the Bible named Timothy: First Timothy and Second Timothy. When the kids find First Timothy, lead
them to look at the page number beside the word. Explain that the number tells them on what page they can find First
Timothy. Help the kids find the page. When they find First Timothy, explain that the big numbers on the page are the
chapter numbers. Help them find chapter 4. Explain that the small numbers are verse numbers. Help them find verse
12 in chapter 4.
©2012 The reThink Group, Inc. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
Adapted by New Life Fellowship October 2012.
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252 Groups
October 2012, Week 1
Small Group, K-1
What You Say:
“Let’s put some motions to this verse to help us remember it. ‘Don’t (shake your head ‘no’) let anyone
look down (look down with your hand to your brow as if shielding your eyes) on you because you are
young (place your hand to your side by your knee palm down).’ Nice! Boys, your turn. ‘Set an example
for believers (place hands on hips and look very proud of who you are) in what you say (touch mouth)
and in how you live, 1 Timothy (hold up one finger and then use both hands to make an upper case ‘T’)
4:12a.’ Nice job!
“This month’s memory verse is all about you and how God wants you to make a difference. (Read your
preferred version of the memory verse to the kids.) [Apply] This is so important for us to remember
because it encourages you to make a difference even though you are young. What does it mean
to be young? Is it a good thing to be young? Is it ever hard to be young? This verse reminds
you that even if it might sometimes be hard to be young you can still make a difference.
[Impress] Jesus wants to use your story to make a difference.”
Pray and Dismiss
What You Need: kids’ dot-to-dot pictures; or: washable marker, scrap paper, and baby wipes
What You Do:
Kids will look at the dot-to-dot picture they made and reflect on how their picture is not like anybody
else’s. (If you didn’t make the dot-to-dot picture earlier, you can use washable markers and scrap paper
so that each child can make their thumbprint and compare with others—cleaning off with a baby wipe.)
Pray, asking God to use these kids and their life stories to help others know Him better.
What You Say:
“Let’s hold our dot-to-dot pictures and take a moment to look at them and think about how different they
all are. [Apply] Isn’t it amazing that there isn’t another picture just like yours? That’s the way
God planned it. He made us all unique individuals with different stories to tell just like Timothy.
And, [Recycle] we can trust God no matter what. Close your eyes, and let’s pray.
“Dear God, thank You for making no one else exactly like me. Help me to use my story to make a
difference so other people will know You. Amen.”
Give each child a GodTime card. Pass out Parent CUE cards as adults arrive for pick-up.
©2012 The reThink Group, Inc. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
Adapted by New Life Fellowship October 2012.
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