252 Groups
October 2012, Week 1
Small Group, 4-5
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, 4-5
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. Family Matters
What You Need: pencils and paper
What You Do:
Invite each kid to make a list of all of the people in his or her family (as many as they want to list) and
something unusual about each one. After they’ve done this, invite them to share.
What You Say:
“Fun! Thanks for sharing those, guys! [Transition] You all have some pretty unusual people in your
families. You know that everybody does, right? Because there aren’t very many people in this
world who are really (make air quotes) ‘normal.’ Let’s go to Large Group and learn about
someone else who came from a family that wasn’t typical for his time.”
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, 4-5
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.
* 1. Family Story (application activity / review the Bible story)
What You Need: 2 bags of props
What You Do:
Divide kids into two groups and give each group a bag of props that symbolize people and things from
the Bible story: a Bible (for what Timothy was taught when he was young), old-lady glasses (for his
grandma), an apron (for his mom), big dark moustache (for his Greek dad), and a rock (for when the
people stoned Paul). Invite kids to have a look at their items and figure out what each item symbolizes.
Teams retell the Bible story using the props (with each kid taking a prop and telling his or her part). Talk
about the differences in each team’s retelling.
What You Say:
“That was fun! Timothy had an unusual family, didn’t he? Or did he? The thing is, nowadays almost
everybody’s family is a little unusual. That’s what makes all of our life stories so unique. [Apply] What
was unique about Timothy’s family was a negative in their culture. Jews weren’t supposed to
marry Greeks. But God used it for good. Timothy could reach more people being from both
backgrounds. When God saves us, He can take anything about us, good or bad, and weave it
into His story. What we do to become part of God’s story goes something like this:
“God LOVED us. God has loved you since before you were even born. But something called ‘sin’
separates you from Him. Sin is the stuff you do wrong. Because God is perfect, sin keeps you from
having a relationship with God.
“God GAVE us Jesus. He knew that your sin would keep you out of His family forever, so He gave the
most important thing He had: His Son, Jesus, to pay the price for your sins and heal your broken
relationship with God. Jesus gave up His life on the cross to pay for your sin and make a way for you to
be part of God’s family again.
“We BELIEVE in Jesus. Believing simply means to trust. To accept the gift that God gave you, you
trust Jesus with your whole life knowing His death gave you a new life, one completely free from sin.
“We RECEIVE the gift of eternal life. That means you get to spend forever with God in a place that
He made perfect. And once you receive this gift, it can never be taken away. There is nothing you can do
to lose your place in God’s family.
[Personalize] (Tell a little about your family background and who in your life knew God and
helped you want to have a personal relationship with Him.) “That’s how God has used my story to
make a difference. Now [Impress] Jesus wants to use your story to make a difference.” (If you
have additional time, you could ask for volunteers who want to share a little bit about the people in their
families who know God and want them to know Him too.)
©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, 4-5
Optional 5th Grade Discussion Questions
If you lead fifth graders, consider asking these discussion questions:
 Timothy’s mom was married to someone who wasn’t Jewish, but she was faithful to teach
Timothy about her God and the Scriptures from the time he was very young, and so was his
grandma. Whatever the challenges, God worked Timothy’s story for the good. Can you see the
possibility of God working challenging things from your background for good? How?
 When Paul was teaching, some people believed, but others tried to kill him. There was a huge
difference in how people responded. What was special about Timothy that might have made it
easier for him to know Paul’s message about Jesus was true? (Likely it was the fact that he was
exposed to God’s Word regularly from a very young age. The more we know the Bible, the
better we understand truth when it is put in front of us.)
 Timothy heard Bible stories as a kid. As a young man, he lived a life that became part of the
Bible. Now you are reading the Bible as a kid. The Bible tells us that nothing can be added to it,
and we believe that is true, BUT imagine just for a moment that you lived back in Timothy’s time
and your life would be part of a Bible story like his was. If that were to happen, how do you think
it would go?
Pray and Dismiss
What You Need: paper and writing utensils
What You Do:
Divide the kids in your group into pairs. Ask kids to talk to their partners about their life stories and how
they think God will use them. [Apply] With the help of their partners, kids will write down things
they hope to do or become. Encourage them to try to build off the things that they presented in
the Timeline activity. If they can’t think of anything, they can even ask for God to make sense of
their story and show them how to use what is unique about them to serve Him. Once kids have
finished writing, they can pray the words they’ve written. Challenge them to pray or their partners
as well. Close the prayer when you see they have all finished.
What You Say:
“You are great, Father, and You always have a plan. You give us hope, and You know all about our
future before we even get there. Please use everything in our lives—the past, the present and the
future—to develop us into the people You want us to be. In Jesus’ name, amen.
[Impress] “Jesus wants to use your story to make a difference. You know that, right? No one is
here without a purpose. I want you to think about that. There are things only you are meant to do. I pray
you will discover them, do them, and find joy. As a reminder, take these prayers you’ve just written
home with you and hang them next to your iFrame (this month’s widget). If you don’t want anyone to
see what’s written on them, fold them in half first.”
Give each child a GodTime card. Pass out Parent Cue cards as adults arrive to pick up.
©2012 The reThink Group, Inc. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com
Adapted by New Life Fellowship, October 2012.
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