The Sunday School Teacher's Network Newsletter - Great ideas for children's ministry!


The Place for Christian Education Communication Consistently ranks among the top Christian education websites! Children need the Lord...teach them about Jesus!
Issue #47 - November 11, 2008 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. ~ Jesus
To reply or to post a new topic: Please TITLE your email to reflect the content of your message. When replying, highlight the text that is pertinent to your response, then hit reply. NEED PRAYER? Visit our Prayer Board. Scroll to the bottom of the newsletter for details.
In this issue of the SSTN Newsletter: Scroll down the page to view articles. 1) Combined Classes? 2) Pre-teen Help? 3) SSTN House Keeping...PLEASE READ! 4) Story-telling Technique Invite your friends and coworkers to join us. Click here! 5) Ten Ways to Pray for the New President 6) Conversations with God / Scholastic Books 7) Christmas Skits, Plays, Dramas 8) Senior High Games & Activities?	Home Search for Ideas Support SSTN PCM Discount 15% OFF Ministry Resources Bible-4-Life Curriculum Gospel Fun Activities Holidays & Holy Days Make N' Take Downloads E-books F-R-E-E Resources Bible Games Christian Crafts Christian Skits Object Talks Missions For Kids Recycling Ideas

1) Combined Classes? I would like ideas on combined classes. I have ages 4---13. And a very small class. Any ideas would be appreciated.. Thanks, Rose --from SSTN: The Bible-4-Life curriculum has been written for multiple aged groups: http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/Bible-4-life.html In addition, make sure you search past issues (the archives) of SSTN for "multi-aged" and "multiple ages". The "Search for Ideas" link is listed, above, in the bright, green box.
2) Pre-teen Help? I teach a Sunday school class of pre-teens. I have noticed recently that they want to pick on each other. Do you have any lesson ideas or classroom strategies that might help? Thank you, Tammy Morrell --from SSTN: make sure you also check the archives and search for "bullies or bullying". The Search link is listed at the top of this newsletter in the bright, green box. Also, Christian writer, Frank Perreti, has a video with leaders guide entitled, "The Wounded Spirit". In this Peretti vividly chronicles how he became the object of negative attention in a gym class, after a horrific medical condition that he grappled with as a child caused his growth to slow. Winding throughout his personal story is a thoughtful look at how culture shapes our perception of the worth of individuals--and how events from Columbine to the movies reflect this. You can find his video and book in our affiliate bookstore by typing the title into the search box at: http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/bookstore.html	*A great gift for kids and families!* If you like Racko ®, you'll love Bible-Stack-O™!
3) SSTN House Keeping...PLEASE READ! We've been receiving a number of emails with an SSTN address that is not from us. This happens when someone's computer has a virus and then duplicates his or her address book, which in turns sends out false emails with legitimate email addresses. PLEASE, before participating ANYWHERE online, make sure your virus software is up-to-date and you have scanned your computer for viruses. In addition, snopes.com has confirmed a virus attached to a Fedex or UPS email: http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/ups.asp Thank you for your prompt attention to updating your virus software and scanning your computer!
4) Story-telling Technique Sometimes we bring our large tent from home and the kids enjoy hearing stories from that, (if tents are mentioned in the story) and one time when the weather was especially cold and the heater was not working we brought our sleeping bags that they shared with each other. They could imagine how cold it was for people when they sat around a campfire telling stories of Jesus. One of the lessons was on the workers in the vineyards and we bought a lot of grapes, put them in large bins, had the children stamp the grapes with their bare feet. It is a lesson they never forget. Don't forget the camera! God bless, Joni in California.
5) Ten Ways to Pray for the New President http://fireinmybones.com/index.php?col=110508%7E10%20Ways%20to%20Pray%20for%20Barack%20Obama
6) Conversations with God / Scholastic Books Dear SSTN, Regarding your recent newsletter note on the "Conversations with God" books supposedly being promoted and distributed by Scholastic Books. This internet hoax came to my email box approximately 2 years ago. Rather than blindly forwarding the email as so many of us do, I contacted the Scholastic Book Company myself to see if this report is true. It is not! The same email hit my inbox once again last week, forwarded to me by our associate pastor. I encouraged him to also directly contact the Scholastic Book company. Once again, they verified that this is a false report! Another false rumor hitting the email circuit, once again, is that there is a proposed FCC ban on religious broadcasting, encouraging people to "Sign a petition" to stop the ban - another false rumor that has been circulating since at least 1997. The majority of these types of emails are a hoax and should never be forwarded. As a Christian, I am completely ashamed that these false rumors continue to be spread. This is sin! It is bearing false witness and it makes us out to be rumor-mongers and gossips. Just this week I was talking to my Sunday School class about the fact that gossiping is listed in the same sentence as murder in the Bible when God is talking about sin. I ask you to please verify these false rumors by going directly to the source before you print them in your newsletter. I also encourage you to print a retraction in your next newsletter. Sincerely, Juli Taylor --from SSTN: Dear Juli, It is always a good practice for us to verify emails before they are sent. I have found a good source to be snopes.com. However, regarding this issue of who publishes and distributes it, snopes didn't have any information. I have now dug a bit further and discovered that Scholastic did in fact have a hand in publishing it at one time. The good news is Scholastic no longer publishes or distributes it. This being said, you make a very good point: that we should make sure we do not unwittingly participate in spreading false rumors. For that I am sorry. Kindly, Sarah Keith <>< SundaySchoolNetwork.com
7) Christmas Skits, Plays, Dramas Christmas skits such as: "Bethlehem Drive", "The Christmas Tree Narrative" or "No Room In the Inn", can be found in the F-R-E-E Resources section in the bright, green box near the top of this newsletter.
8) Senior High Games & Activities? I am looking for some activities\games that I can do with my senior high Sunday School class. Nothing real lengthy or difficult. I want it to coincide with the Bible lessons I teach. Half of the class is "into" the teachings but the other half are not really "into" it. It seems that they think they are too macho or they are just there because their parents make them go. I am looking for a way to reach them with the gospel in a fun way. I want the class to be more interactive with a hands-on approach. Can you help me? God Bless --from SSTN: make sure you check out our Bible Games section (bright, green box, above). Ideas such as "Survivor-Temptation Island" or "The Amazing Psalm 23 Race" are fun Bible game ideas. There are dozens more to choose from as well. Also, check out our affiliate Bookstore for our Teen Ministry Resources. See especially "The 24-7 Experience": http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/bookstore.html
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