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Preschool track
Overview of Ephesians
Right from the start, this letter is all about the wonderful things God has done. It begins by saying that God has blessed us (Ep 1:3). This letter explains how we can understand and enjoy these spiritual blessings.
The letter tells the Christians in Ephesus that their sin made them spiritually dead (Eph 2:1). Because they were human, they broke God's teaching and rebelled against God. But God reached out to them. When they were dead. God gave them new life in Christ. God raised them up and made them right with God. This was a gift they didn't deserve. God did all of this because of God's love (Eph 2:4-10)! The same is true for us. Although we have sinned against God, God reaches out to us. God offers us the gift of new life in Christ.
New life from God changes us. We begin to think and act more like God wants us to act. It's as if we put on fresh clothes every day (Eph 4:20-24). This new life changes how we talk (Eph 4:29-32), how we love people (Eph 5:1-20), and how we get along with our families (Eph 6:1-4). Ephesians shows us how to enjoy new life in Jesus.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
The letter tells the Christians in Ephesus that their sin made them spiritually dead (Eph 2:1). Because they were human, they broke God's teaching and rebelled against God. But God reached out to them. When they were dead. God gave them new life in Christ. God raised them up and made them right with God. This was a gift they didn't deserve. God did all of this because of God's love (Eph 2:4-10)! The same is true for us. Although we have sinned against God, God reaches out to us. God offers us the gift of new life in Christ.
New life from God changes us. We begin to think and act more like God wants us to act. It's as if we put on fresh clothes every day (Eph 4:20-24). This new life changes how we talk (Eph 4:29-32), how we love people (Eph 5:1-20), and how we get along with our families (Eph 6:1-4). Ephesians shows us how to enjoy new life in Jesus.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
Bible Readings
Welcome to the Family (Ephesians 1:3-14) Reading
First, the apostles shared the sad news about Jesus' death. Then they shared the amazing good news of God raising Jesus form the dead. When people all over the world heard these stories, they started worshiping Jesus. The church was brand new!
Paul wrote a letter to people who started a new church in a city called Ephesus. He told them about how Jesus welcomes all of us into God's family.
Dear Ephesians,
Praise God! God has always been with us. Even before God made the world, God was thinking of you and me. God gives us a wonderful gift called GRACE. With God's grace, all our sins are forgiven. With God's grace, no matter what we do, we are loved!
How do we know about God's grace? Through Jesus! Jesus died and came back to life for YOU and ME. Because of Jesus, we KNOW God gives us grace. We KNOW God forgives us. We KNOW we are part of God's family.
Jesus taught us about God's promise - to bring EVERYONE together. To be ONE family. To LOVE and CARE for each other in the mane of God.
When you were baptized, you were marked as a child of God. You became part of God's family. And God gave you GRACE!
Go and tell others about God's amazing gift. Go and bring new people into our family in Christ.
Your Friend,
Paul
*Taken from Whirl Story Bible: Classroom Edition
Paul wrote a letter to people who started a new church in a city called Ephesus. He told them about how Jesus welcomes all of us into God's family.
Dear Ephesians,
Praise God! God has always been with us. Even before God made the world, God was thinking of you and me. God gives us a wonderful gift called GRACE. With God's grace, all our sins are forgiven. With God's grace, no matter what we do, we are loved!
How do we know about God's grace? Through Jesus! Jesus died and came back to life for YOU and ME. Because of Jesus, we KNOW God gives us grace. We KNOW God forgives us. We KNOW we are part of God's family.
Jesus taught us about God's promise - to bring EVERYONE together. To be ONE family. To LOVE and CARE for each other in the mane of God.
When you were baptized, you were marked as a child of God. You became part of God's family. And God gave you GRACE!
Go and tell others about God's amazing gift. Go and bring new people into our family in Christ.
Your Friend,
Paul
*Taken from Whirl Story Bible: Classroom Edition
You Are Part of the Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:1-16) Reading
Before phones and computers, people communicated over long distances by letter. Many letters were saved and are in the Bible. Some letters were written to persons. Other letters were written to the church. This letter was written in the name of the apostle Paul to the church in Ephesus. You can read more about Paul in other stories in this book. This is how the letter begins:
To the people who follow Jesus in Ephesus.
Grace and peace to you from God and Jesus.
You have been called by God to be a follower of Jesus. Live so you show that God is in you. Treat others with kindness. Think of what you can do for others before you think about yourself. Love one another.
Be together in peace. The church is one body, and God has given you one hope. There is one God and one baptism. Jesus Christ has given each of you gifts to help you spread God's love. Some have the gift to speak God's word to you. Some have the gift to tell people about God and Jesus Christ. Others have the gift to teach. Christ gives a gift to each one. God uses everyone's gifts. With your gifts you can work together to help one another do God's work in the world.
When you speak the truth to others in loving ways, you will all grow in Christ. So each of you should do your part as you are joined together in the body of Christ. You are the hands and feet, and Christ is the head of the body of Christ. Everyone is important, and no one is too small to help the body of Christ.
*Taken from Growing in God's Love: A Story Bible by Elizabeth Caldwell
To the people who follow Jesus in Ephesus.
Grace and peace to you from God and Jesus.
You have been called by God to be a follower of Jesus. Live so you show that God is in you. Treat others with kindness. Think of what you can do for others before you think about yourself. Love one another.
Be together in peace. The church is one body, and God has given you one hope. There is one God and one baptism. Jesus Christ has given each of you gifts to help you spread God's love. Some have the gift to speak God's word to you. Some have the gift to tell people about God and Jesus Christ. Others have the gift to teach. Christ gives a gift to each one. God uses everyone's gifts. With your gifts you can work together to help one another do God's work in the world.
When you speak the truth to others in loving ways, you will all grow in Christ. So each of you should do your part as you are joined together in the body of Christ. You are the hands and feet, and Christ is the head of the body of Christ. Everyone is important, and no one is too small to help the body of Christ.
*Taken from Growing in God's Love: A Story Bible by Elizabeth Caldwell
I Wonder....
- where is Ephesus?
- how do I know my gift(s)?
- if Paul meant a real body?
- how will we know the truth?
- what does Paul mean when he says "in loving ways"?
Discussion Questions
- What are some of your talents and gifts?
- How do you use your talents and gifts to help others and to show God's love in the world?
- Talk with your family about ways you can work together to show God's love in the world.
- Who is part of your church family?
Videos
This video is 6:25 minutes long
Songs
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Teamwork Makes the Dream Work! by Featuring Blackberry Jam and Jack Hartman
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Early Childhood Worship (Ephesians 3:20) by Lifetree Kids
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This song is 2:51 minutes long
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This song is 1:08 minutes long
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Teamwork Song by Blippi
This song is 2:32 minutes long
Art Project
Body of Christ Project
Materials:
Adult Preparation:
Instructions:
- Construction Paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Goggly Eyes
Adult Preparation:
- Gather materials
Instructions:
- Create your own body like the one in the book read above
Tips for Adults
This letter helped early Christians praise God for bringing both Jewish people and Christians into a relationship with God. The letter was read among many churches because it told them why they could have a new life with God.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
Elementary Track
Overview of Ephesians
Right from the start, this letter is all about the wonderful things God has done. It begins by saying that God has blessed us (Ep 1:3). This letter explains how we can understand and enjoy these spiritual blessings.
The letter tells the Christians in Ephesus that their sin made them spiritually dead (Eph 2:1). Because they were human, they broke God's teaching and rebelled against God. But God reached out to them. When they were dead. God gave them new life in Christ. God raised them up and made them right with God. This was a gift they didn't deserve. God did all of this because of God's love (Eph 2:4-10)! The same is true for us. Although we have sinned against God, God reaches out to us. God offers us the gift of new life in Christ.
New life from God changes us. We begin to think and act more like God wants us to act. It's as if we put on fresh clothes every day (Eph 4:20-24). This new life changes how we talk (Eph 4:29-32), how we love people (Eph 5:1-20), and how we get along with our families (Eph 6:1-4). Ephesians shows us how to enjoy new life in Jesus.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
The letter tells the Christians in Ephesus that their sin made them spiritually dead (Eph 2:1). Because they were human, they broke God's teaching and rebelled against God. But God reached out to them. When they were dead. God gave them new life in Christ. God raised them up and made them right with God. This was a gift they didn't deserve. God did all of this because of God's love (Eph 2:4-10)! The same is true for us. Although we have sinned against God, God reaches out to us. God offers us the gift of new life in Christ.
New life from God changes us. We begin to think and act more like God wants us to act. It's as if we put on fresh clothes every day (Eph 4:20-24). This new life changes how we talk (Eph 4:29-32), how we love people (Eph 5:1-20), and how we get along with our families (Eph 6:1-4). Ephesians shows us how to enjoy new life in Jesus.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
This video is 8:56 minutes long
Bible Readings
Welcome to the Family (Ephesians (1:3-14) Reading
First, the apostles shared the sad news about Jesus' death. Then they shared the amazing good news of God raising Jesus from the dead. When people all over the world head these stories, they started worshipping Jesus. The church was brand new!
Paul wrote a letter to people who started a new church in a city called Ephesus. He told them about how Jesus welcomes all of us into God's family.
Dear Ephesians,
Praise God! God has always been with us. Even before God made the world, God was thinking of you and me. God gives us a wonderful gift called GRACE. With God's grace, all our sins are forgiven. With God's grace, no matter what we do, we are loved!
How do we know about God's grace? Through Jesus! Jesus died and came back to life for YOU and ME. Because of Jesus, we KNOW God gives us grace. We Know God forgives us. We KNOW we are part of God's familt.
Jesus taught us about God's promise - to bring EVERYONE together. To be ONE family. To LOVE and CARE for each other in the name of God.
*Taken from Whirl Story Bible: Lectionary Edition
Paul wrote a letter to people who started a new church in a city called Ephesus. He told them about how Jesus welcomes all of us into God's family.
Dear Ephesians,
Praise God! God has always been with us. Even before God made the world, God was thinking of you and me. God gives us a wonderful gift called GRACE. With God's grace, all our sins are forgiven. With God's grace, no matter what we do, we are loved!
How do we know about God's grace? Through Jesus! Jesus died and came back to life for YOU and ME. Because of Jesus, we KNOW God gives us grace. We Know God forgives us. We KNOW we are part of God's familt.
Jesus taught us about God's promise - to bring EVERYONE together. To be ONE family. To LOVE and CARE for each other in the name of God.
*Taken from Whirl Story Bible: Lectionary Edition
You Are Part of the Body of Christ (Ephesians (4:1-16) Reading
Before phones and computers, people communicated over long distances by letter. Many letters were saved and are in the Bible. Some letters were written to persons. Other letters were written to the church. This letter was written in the name of the apostle Paul to the church in Ephesus. You can read more about Paul in other stories in this book. This is how the letter begins:
To the people who follow Jesus in Ephesus.
Grace and peace to you from God and Jesus.
You have been called by God to be a follower of Jesus. Live so you show that God is in you. Treat others with kindness. Think of what you can do for others before you think about yourself. Love one another.
Be together in peace. The church is one body, and God has given you one hope. There is one God and one baptism. Jesus Christ has given each of you gifts to help you spread God's love. Some have the gift to speak God's word to you. Some have the gift to tell people about God and Jesus Christ. Others have the gift to teach. Christ gives a gift to each one. God uses everyone's gifts. With your gifts you can work together to help one another do God's work in the world.
When you speak the truth to others in loving ways, you will all grow in Christ. So each of you should do your part as you are joined together in the body of Christ. You are the hands and feet, and Christ is the head of the body of Christ. Everyone is important, and no one is too small to help the body of Christ.
*Taken from Growing in God's Love: A Story Bible by Elizabeth Caldwell
To the people who follow Jesus in Ephesus.
Grace and peace to you from God and Jesus.
You have been called by God to be a follower of Jesus. Live so you show that God is in you. Treat others with kindness. Think of what you can do for others before you think about yourself. Love one another.
Be together in peace. The church is one body, and God has given you one hope. There is one God and one baptism. Jesus Christ has given each of you gifts to help you spread God's love. Some have the gift to speak God's word to you. Some have the gift to tell people about God and Jesus Christ. Others have the gift to teach. Christ gives a gift to each one. God uses everyone's gifts. With your gifts you can work together to help one another do God's work in the world.
When you speak the truth to others in loving ways, you will all grow in Christ. So each of you should do your part as you are joined together in the body of Christ. You are the hands and feet, and Christ is the head of the body of Christ. Everyone is important, and no one is too small to help the body of Christ.
*Taken from Growing in God's Love: A Story Bible by Elizabeth Caldwell
I Wonder....
- where Ephesus is?
- how do I know my gift(s)?
- if Paul meant a real body?
- how will we know the truth?
- what does Paul mean when he says "in loving ways"?
Discussion Questions
- What are some of your talents and gifts?
- How do you use your talents and gifts to help others and to show God's love in the world?
- Talk with your family about ways you can work together to show God's love in the world.
- Who is part of your church family?
Video
This video is 6:25 minutes long
Songs
|
Early Childhood Worship (Ephesians 3:20) by Saddleback Kids
This song is 1:08 minutes long
|
Stand Together by Lifetree Kids
This song is 2:48 minutes long
|
Made For This by Lifetree Kids
This song is 2:57 minutes long
Art Project
Body of Christ Project
Materials:
Adult Preparation:
Instructions:
- Construction Paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Goggly Eyes
Adult Preparation:
- Gather materials
Instructions:
- Create your own body like the one in the book read above
Content for Adults
This letter helped early Christians praise God for bringing both Jewish people and Christians into a relationship with God. The letter was read among many churches because it told them why they could have a new life with God.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
Each Sunday there will be a class addressing the reading for that week. The classes will engage the particular Bible book for that week, paying specific attention to a theme or topic. These classes are hybrid and will meet each Sunday, in-person (EM307/308) and on Zoom, at 10:05am. The Zoom link is at the bottom of this email and is the same for each week.
This video is 59:17 minutes long