God the Father
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God
is love and cares for each of us personally and intimately. He is accepting
and trustworthy. God gives us good things and has special plans for our
lives.
1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Peter
1:17; John 1:1-2,18;
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Birth +
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Jesus
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Associate
every teachable moment with Christ’s love and care as demonstrated through
the family, nature (especially animals), Jesus’ life and ministry. Be sure to
include teach the children that Jesus is their Friend, Creator, Source of
Life, Divine, Comforter, Healer, Helper, Savior, etc.
John 1:1-18, 32-34 51;
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Birth +
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Prayer
(Reverence)
(The Lord’s Prayer)
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Teach
how to pray by praying with and for the child. Consistently require reverent
prayer posture. When the child is able to actively participate teach them
when to pray and various different kinds of prayer such as: The prayer of
thanksgiving, peace, for help, forgiveness.
Deuteronomy 6:5-9; 1
Thessalonians 5:17
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Birth +
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Reverence
(Holiness of God)
(Jesus is God’s Son)
(Righteousness of Christ)
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Develop
the habit of group worship time, especially set aside for songs and Bible
stories. Teach proper deportment for worship. Model personal time for worship
and teach the value of private devotional and prayer time. Be purposeful in
teaching about the sovereignty of God, His Son and how we should behave
inside the Lord’s House.
Leviticus 19:30 & 26:2;
Psalm 89:7
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Birth +
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Sabbath
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Form
the habit of Sabbath keeping early. Teach the purpose of the Sabbath day,
from where it originated proper preparation, observance and the need for
corporate worship services.
Exodus 20:8-11; Leviticus 19:30
& 26:2
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Birth +
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Law
of God
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Learning
right from wrong and the value of rules is a life skill. Begin teaching these
early with love and patience. God’s 10 commandments and health laws are
principles that should guide us in all that we say, think, feel and do.
Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 6:5-9;
Leviticus 11
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4-6 months +
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Obedience
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Learning
to listen and do. Learning that only in obedience can one be truly happy.
Ephesians 6:1; Exodus 20:12; 1
Samuel 15:22
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6 months +
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Creation
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Nature
and its laws can help teach any spiritual concept. Creation, the fall, the flood, re-creation
after the flood and re-creation after Christ’s second coming.
Romans 1:20; Isaiah 65:17; 2
Peter 3:13;Revelation 21:1;
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12 months +
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Angels,
Ministry of
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Angels
help us; protect us; take our prayers to Heaven. Every person has an angel
from God. Two kinds of angels.
Psalm
34:7; Hebrews 13:2
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2 years +
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Service
(Call of God)
(Dedication & Consecration)
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We
all belong to Jesus. He made us; He made everyone. Jesus asks us to serve
others. We can serve others in many different ways through our habits of
thoughtfulness, helpfulness, carefulness, order, thoroughness,
follow-through, missionary activities and acts of kindness for those less
fortunate.
1 Samuel 1:11, 27-28
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2 years +
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Salvation
(Forgiveness)
(God’s Power to Save)
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Disobedience
(Sin) brings unhappiness. Sin is anything that weakens our ability to follow
Jesus. Obedience to Jesus brings happiness. Repentance is the willingness to
turn from sin. Forgiveness is the love of God accepting our repentance and
teaching us new ways to live.
1 Samuel 15:22,23
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2 years +
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Scripture
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Read
stories from scripture. Use songs to help memorize Bible verses. Teach
respect for God’s Book and how to use Bible stories to learn life lessons and
make decisions.
Psalm
119:105; 2 Timothy 2:16-17
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2 years +
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Stewardship
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Teach
faithfulness in tithes and participation with the giving of liberal offerings
for celebrations and missions. Teach altruism and self-forgetfulness by
encouraging self-denial through giving to help others.
Malachi
3:8-10
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2 years +
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Satan
(Two Kinds of Angels) (Guardian Angels) (Lucifer,
Fallen Angel)
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There
is an angel that does not love Jesus. He will try to make us think bad
thoughts; he will try to make us do bad things; he will try to make us say
hurtful words. Only Jesus can save us from Satan. Jesus will help us every
time you ask.
Revelation
12:3,4,7-9
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2.5/3 years +
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Idols
(Witchcraft) (Pride, Stubbornness)
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Seeking
after or praying to anything or anyone other than God makes it an idol.
Anything that is more important than God is an idol, even pride and
stubbornness. Eventually, idol worship can be equated to love of self and show,
always wanting one’s way, and disobedience.
1
Kings 21:25-26; 2 Kings 23:24; Psalm 106:36-39; Ezekiel 14:3; 36:22-31
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2.5/3 years +
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Jesus’
Death & Resurrection
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Use
the world of nature to help explain life and death; spring and fall;
resurrection, eternal life and life in Heaven. Explain how Satan tried to
kill Jesus, but Jesus is alive and in Heaven, preparing a home for us.
Acts
13:28-35; Ephesians 1:20:23
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3 years +
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Eternal
Life & Second Coming
(Faith) (God’s Promises) (Heaven)
|
Only
Jesus can give life to people, plants and animals. Only Jesus can heal our
ouches and hurt feelings. Only Jesus can take away pain, anger and sadness.
We trust in Jesus because He has promised to come take us to Heaven. We are
looking forward to His coming. We are looking forward to being in Heaven.
Acts 16:31; 17:31
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3 years +
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Fruit
of the Spirit
(Book series: Ladder of Life)
|
Becoming
a Christian requires the use of prayer, songs and the Bible. Teach how to
live close to Jesus; to be like Jesus; to treat others as Jesus would treat
them.
Galatians5:22-23;
Ephesians 5:9-10; 2 Peter 1:5-7
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3 years +
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Healthful
Living
|
Young
children enjoy learning about their body, family and community. Temperance
and regularity help us take care of our bodies. Being healthy helps make good
decisions.
Leviticus
11;17:12; Genesis 35:2; Deuteronomy 12:22-25;14;23:12-13;
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3 years +
|
Tools
for Life
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Teach
young children how to behave and treat others with respect and dignity. How
to: Greet, speak, listen, problem solve, become a friend, serve others, pray,
study the Bible.
Exodus
20:12-17; 22:21; 23:9; Leviticus
19:9-37; 23:22; 25:35-37; Isaiah
1:16-18; Matthew 5:21-48
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3 years +
|
Baptism
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When
we ask God to forgive us, He washes away our sins. When we are baptized, we
are making a promise to follow Jesus; to be like Jesus. (Symbols
of baptism: The OT Sanctuary laver and foot-washing.)
John
13:3-17;
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3.5 years +
|
Heaven
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Describe
the glories of Heaven and who we must be in order to enter. Describe Heaven
before the entrance of sin, what is happening now and what we can expect
after Christ’s second coming.
John
14:1-3
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3.5 years +
|
Beatitudes
|
Following
Jesus can be very difficult when other people are not kind. Jesus promised
that even when people are not kind to us, we will be happy because we will
know that we are doing what is right and good.
Matthew
5:1-16
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3.5 years +
|
Communion
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We
must forgive and be forgiven our sins; we are to love and serve others; we
are to be followers of Jesus.
Matthew
26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; 1 Corinthians 11:24-29
|
3.5 years +
|
Old
Testament Sanctuary
|
The
articles of furniture in and around the Sanctuary are all symbols of Jesus
and His ministry of salvation.
Leviticus 26:2; John 14:6; John 9:5; John 6:48; Revelation 8:4
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3.5 years +
|
Pillars
of Faith
|
Biblical
teachings/concepts often known as doctrines. God speaks through His Word, the
Bible and His prophets.
Numbers
11:29; Amos 3:7; 2 Timothy 3:16-17
|
3.5 years +
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© 2008. Christine Gillan Byrne. Young Child Ministries. 406 Polk Rd. 78, Mena, AR 71953. www.youngchildministries.com
Portions
adapted from Donna J. Habenicht and Larry Burton. (2004, Feb/Mar). Theology
for Children. Journal of Adventist
Education, 66(3), 35-40.
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