Much of daily life – even for kids – now revolves around screens. What are the risks? What are the dangers? Is there a godly way to use technology? This series will answer these questions and challenge kids to use screens responsibly and for God's glory. In Screen Time 8-Week Children's Ministry Curriculum, kids will learn to honor God with their screen time.
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Screen Time Lessons Overview:
Memory Verse:
“So be very careful how you live. Do not live like people who aren’t wise. Live like people who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity. The days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIrV)
Lessons:
On Your Guard (Lessons 1-4)
First Things First
Scripture: Mark 12:28-34, Greatest Commandment; Matthew 6:33
Jesus tells us that we should love God with everything we have, and make his kingdom our top priority. How well do we do that? If we let them, screens can take up a lot of our time, and distract us from God, our first love.
Objective: Kids will understand that God should come first. . . even before screens.
American Idol
Scripture: Exodus 32:1-26, The Golden Calf
The Israelites were unhappy. They needed a distraction; so they had Aaron build a golden calf for them to worship. Has your screen become a source of distraction? Screens can change the way we think and the way we behave. What starts out as a little distraction can turn into something that we worship, if we are not careful.
Objective: Kids will consider whether they have made their screens an object of worship.
Eye Protection
Scripture: Matthew 6:19-24, Light for the Body
Jesus calls our eyes the lamp of the body. If you look on good things, your body will be full of light; if you look at bad things, your body will be full of darkness. Are the things you see on the screen filling your body with light or darkness? We cannot honor God if we are watching things that dishonor Him.
Objective: Kids will evaluate whether they looking at things on screen that they shouldn't.
Screen Test
Scripture: Exodus 20:1-17, The Ten Commandments; Matthew 25:31-45, The Sheep and the Goats
God has given us his Law, rules for us to live by. When we don't do things God's way, that is called sin. Has your screen time ever caused you to sin? Don't let your screen time cause you to dishonor your parents, lie to teachers, or fail to see those in need around you.
Objective: Kids will learn that screen time can actually lead them to sin.
Redeem the Screen (Lessons 5-8)
All The Time in the World
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-14, A Time for Everything
Screen time isn't bad in and of itself. The problem comes when the amount of time we spend in front of screen is out of balance with the rest of our lives. The Bible tells us that there is a right time for every kind of activity. Are you making time for all the stuff in your life? Kids will be challenged to consider the amount of time they spend looking at a screen and make a plan to create a better balance.
Objective: Kids will make a plan for managing their screen time responsibly.
Save the Game
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:18-23, All Things to All People
Paul loved to tell people about Jesus. He would use many different ways to share the good news, in order to help people see Jesus. How can you be like Paul with your screens? Whether it's talking about Jesus to your gamer community, writing about Jesus on your own blog, or uploading your own videos about Jesus, there are many ways that we can use the screen to share Jesus with others.
Objective: Kids will identify ways to use their screen time to share Jesus with others.
Un-virtual Reality
Scripture: Psalm 8:3-9, Consider the Heavens
God has created a great, big beautiful universe; and sometimes we are so focused on our screens we don't even see all the majesty around us. What would happen if you took time each day to look up and appreciate the beauty of what God has made? Kids will be challenged to give up a little virtual reality each day and embrace some real reality.
Objective: Kids will commit to make time to appreciate the beauty of God's world around them.
Better Than a Screen!?
Scripture: Luke 10:38-42, Mary and Martha
Whether it's screen time or something else, there is no doubt that there is an abundance of things in the world to distract us from God. But we know that we need to love God first and seek his kingdom. The best thing we can do is put away our distractions and commit to spend time with God.
Objective: Kids will assert their commitment to put God first over anything else, including screens.
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Each Lesson Includes:
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Make It Stick! Parent Sheet - so you can let mom and dad know what kids are learning each week and look like a rockstar teacher who's thought of everything.
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Memory Verse - so that you can make sure kids are getting Scripture in their minds and hearts every single week and you can feel like each lesson was a success even when it seems like 90% of your lesson time is spent saying things like "calm down", "let's be quiet", "hands to yourself!"
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Skit or Puppet Show - so you have a way to easily connect the lesson with your hands-on and visual learners. No drama team? No problem! Just hand the script to the kids. They'll have a blast and think you're the coolest.
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Craft Activity - so you can give kids a physical reminder of the Bible lesson (and give yourself an activity to keep them busy until mom and dad come back!)
- Game - so kids don't leave and say church was BORING! Games are so important to help keep kids engaged. Our large group games always include a "What's The Point" section to help you connect the game to the lesson.
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Large Group Lesson - so you can present the Bible story in a clear and fun way, which means now you can enjoy Saturday nights instead of stressing over putting a lesson together!
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Small-Group Discussion - so you can find out who was paying attention and who was talking to their neighbor. Just kidding, this is a great way for you build deeper relationships with your kiddos after each lesson, which means you're going to care about them so much you'll cry like a baby when they graduate and go to middle school :(
- More! - Yes, there is even more than all of that so that you can easily put together the perfect lesson for your ministry each weekend, which means no more agonizing over how to adjust complicated lesson plans.
About This Curriculum:
- Perfect for kids ages 6-12
- 8-weeks
- Includes large group and small group resources
- This curriculum is an instant download
- Download a free sample here
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