Sunday Curriculum | The Crossing

Date: June, 2023
Early Childhood Essential: God Made Everything.
Memory Verse: “…God created the heavens and the earth.” -Genesis 1:1, NIrV
Bible Story Focus: Creation Days 1-4 (Genesis 1:1-19)
Lesson Overview:

In this lesson children will learn about what God made the first four days of creation. Children will understand that only God can make something out of nothing; He is all-powerful. Children will also know that God made good things, in fact, the world God created was perfect. God made everything.

Date: June 4, 2023
Early Childhood Essential: God Made Everything.
Memory Verse: “…God created the heavens and the earth.” -Genesis 1:1, NIrV
Bible Story Focus: Intro Lesson (Genesis 1:1)
Lesson Overview:

In this lesson children will learn that before God made anything, there was NOTHING. No birds, no food, no planets, just nothing. This lesson will reinforce the idea that God made everything. By exploring the concept of nothingness children will be prepared to learn about all of the things that God created.

Circle Time Questions: (Preschool Purple Only)

Tell me about a time you made something. What did you make?

Activities:

“God Made…” Game

Date: June 4, 2023
Early Childhood Essential: God Made Everything.
Memory Verse: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” -Genesis 1:1
Bible Story Focus: Creation Introduction (Genesis 1:1-5)
Lesson Overview:

In this lesson children will explore the idea of the “beginning.” Unlike other stories where the “beginning” is just a jumping off point, the beginning of the creation story is truly the start of it all. Children will hear that God existed before anything else because God is the creator of everything we know. Throughout the summer children will learn that God created everything.

Circle Time Questions:

Tell me about a time you made something. What did you make?

I Wonder Questions (Snack Time Discussion):

Can we trust the Bible?
- Yes! The Bible is God’s word, so we can trust it is true.
What was there before God made the world?
- There was nothing before God made the world, only God.
Can we make something out of nothing?
- No! Only God can make something out of nothing.

Activities:

8:30am/11:00am: “In the Beginning” Bible Exploration and Water Color Memory Verse
9:45am: “God Made…” Game and Memory Verse Coloring Sheet

Date: June 4, 2023
Elementary Essential: God is good: He knows what is best.
Unit Overview:

In this unit, kids will examine the way The Gospel helps us to make sense of all of life—including art. Together we will enjoy high quality children’s literature, search for places where the beauty of the Gospel intersects and points to the greatest story of all and discover how to engage with our culture in winsome ways.

Children will learn:

That all great art contains an echo of Eden—memories of a good creation, the tragedy of our current condition, and a longing for redemption and restoration.

How to use quality literature to notice Gospel themes, find common ground with others, and discuss these truths in winsome ways.

To enjoy literature, engage in culture, and understand what it means to be created in the image of a creative God.

To learn how to “hunt and gather truth” in a variety of contexts.

The Gospel is not just for saving souls but reaching and redeeming all of creation.

Lesson Title: "What if Everybody Did That?" by Ellen Javernick
Lesson Overview:

When you do something that you shouldn’t or isn’t best, it may not feel like a big deal. But if everybody did what you did? The world would be a mess! This book reminds us that our actions matter because God has laws and we live in a world with a community at home, school, and even at church. The text points us to the Four Ls—our Crossing Kids expectations that help us remember how Sunday mornings work best.

Lesson Scripture: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your mind and with all your strength. Love your neighbor as you love yourself. There is no commandment more important than these.” -Mark 12:30-31
Activity: Kids will discuss ways to show love to God, to others, to learn, and to the building while in Crossing Kids and draw coordinating pictures.

Date: June 4, 2023
Unit: Apostle’s Creed
Elementary Essential: God is Immutable: He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He never changes.
Unit Overview:

This summer, 2nd and 3rd graders will take a closer look at The Apostles’ Creed. The Apostles’ Creed is the oldest, most widely used Christian creed in the world with its earliest versions dating back over 1,600 years ago. For centuries, parents and pastors have taught the Apostles’ Creed as “Christianity 101” to their children. The Creed states in simple, scriptural language the essential facts of our faith, from creation of the world to the coming of Christ and the eternal life promised to all who believe. Historically the creed has been used to correct error by reminding people of what’s true about the God of the Bible. These words not only shape and affirm what we believe but also connect us to other Christians who have spoken these words throughout the centuries.

Kids will:

Memorize the Apostles’ Creed to remember and affirm what is true about the God of the Bible.

Understand the difference between knowing about God and believing in him.

Identify each member of the trinity and examine their unique attributes and role they play in God's rescue plan.

Understand what it means to be part of the Church and Communion of Saints.

Lesson Title: What is a Creed?
Lesson Overview:

Kids will learn that a creed is a brief statement about what Christians believe. It comes from the Latin word “Creedo” which means, “I believe." They will learn that The Apostle’s Creed wasn’t written by the Apostles, but by church leaders who came after them who wanted to help remind people what was important to remember and believe about Christianity. Over the years, this creed has been used to fight against heresy, or untrue beliefs about who God is. Through repeating the creed, we are reminded that God’s Word doesn’t change. He is immutable—He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Lesson Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:15
Activity: Kids will decorate a frame and insert a copy of the Apostle’s Creed, which can be hung at home as a reminder of who God is that what is true about him never changes.

Date: June 4, 2023
Elementary Essential: God is Relational: He invites us to talk to him through prayer and worship him in spirit and truth.
Unit Overview:

4th and 5th graders will spend their summer in the Psalms. Each week, kids will explore one Psalm, be invited to dig deeper into what the Psalm teaches about God and learn how they can use the Psalm to respond to God in their everyday lives. They’ll learn that the Psalms are ancient Hebrew poems (translated into English) in the Old Testament. These poems were written for God’s people to read aloud to him in prayer and sing to him in worship.

The book of Psalms gives us many of the Bible’s so called greatest hits. Words of praise, words of lament, words of thanksgiving, words of doubt, words of repentance, and words of rejoicing. Psalms is the longest book of the Bible and captures every emotion and part of the human experience, ultimately showing us how God’s people can and should relate to him through it all. We will take a closer look at this important book for 13 weeks.

Kids will:

Gain a deeper understanding of who God is.

Understand what a Psalm is and how to read the genre of poetry in the Bible.

Know how to respond to God through worship and prayer during both good times and bad.

Lesson Title: What is a Psalm?
Lesson Overview:

Students will be introduced to various types of Psalms.

Kids will learn that:

1. We can pray the Psalms to express a range of emotions to God.

2. God is always listening.

3. We use the Psalms to worship him with our hearts.

Lesson Scripture: Psalm 102:1-11
Activity: In the movie, “Inside Out” by Pixar, there are five cartoon characters representing five emotions. Students will look at photos of the characters and compare them to a Grief Word List for a charade guessing game.