Week 2, Spring 2008 Children's Teaching Materials

27th January 2008

 

Introduction:    

 

During John’s Revelation (who can remember why it’s called Revelation?) of Christ, he is told by the Lord to write to the seven churches (who can remember where they were?) of Asia, each in turn.

The first one John is told to write to is the church in Ephesus.

 

Suggested activity:        Ask the children if they know of any other books of the Bible which relate to Ephesus?

                                    Clue: People from America are called Americans, from Belgium = Belgians, Australia = Australians.

                                    People from Ephesus were called Ephesians.

                                    Paul wrote a letter to the same church that John is told to write to – the book of Ephesians in the Bible.

                                    Look quickly at Pauls’ other letters:

                                                Romans = Rome.

                                                1 & 2 Corinthians = Corinth.

                                                Galatians = Galatia.

                                                Philippians = Philippi.

                                                Colossians = Colossae.

                                                1 & 2 Thessalonians = Thessalonica.

                                    Look at map (see attached file) to see where these places were.

                                    Can anybody think of any other places where the people have similar ‘an’ suffixes for their common name?

 

(Note Nicolaitans from v.6. A group of people who followed someone called Nicolas – who encouraged a bad lifestyle. Compare with those (us) who follow Christ – Christians.)

 

The key passage for us to look at today is v. 4-5. Re-read this passage.

Here the Lord tells John to write about what the Ephesians are doing which displeases Him.

They have forsaken their first love.

What does this mean?

(This is quite hard to explain to young people!)

Maybe from personal experience, talk about ‘first love’. – The excitement of new love, how we can’t think of much else – the love becomes all-consuming.

This first love is not necessarily only connected with love for another person.

Possibly similar feelings from, say, a pet or a holiday destination or even a favourite game(?)

 

 

Suggested activity:        Ask the children to discuss ‘first’ things in their memory.

                                    Suggestions: First pet, holiday, Christmas.

Talk about how these ‘first’ things seem somehow better than subsequent ones.

Maybe a first holiday still clouds all following ones – the hotel was better, the weather was better, the activities were better?

Somehow holidays now never quite match up.

 

The Lord tells John to write and tell the Ephesians that He knows they have forsaken their first love.

The first love He is talking about is a love for God.

The time we first encounter God is a special time, and we get very excited about knowing Him, and our lives easily become focussed on Him – with prayer, bible reading and worship becoming priorities for us.

Maybe a new game can be like this – we’re excited by it when it is new, but after a while it seems familiar and even boring, so we play it less.

It is REALLY important we don’t get like this with our relationship with God.

The Ephesians are told to ‘remember the height from which you have fallen.’ (v.5)

Again, God knows that the Ephesians used to be excited by their love for Him.

He urges them to remember what this felt like – how lifted up they felt (spiritually, emotionally), and to recognise how low they’ve now fallen.

Remembering is such a special thing to do – especially where God is concerened.

 

Suggested activity:        Ask the children to recall times when God has worked in their family.

                                    Talk about how good it is to remember these times, how the act of remembering encourages us (reminds us!) that it is good to involve God in ALL we do.

                                    Suggest the children start a journal to record things God does in their lives – maybe like visions or ideas from time spent with God (as at the last cluster?).

 

Suggested Craft:           Bring along some simple note books which can be decorated as ‘God Journals’ – or similar name.

                                    Perhaps you could write a dedication inside the cover for the children, or get the kids to ‘buddy-up’ and write something for their ‘buddy’. Recall the sharing of burdens from December cluster? Buddies can share in good times too!

 

An important aspect of this passge, not to be overlooked, is that God knows all this stuff about the Ephesians.

The Lord appears (is revealed) to John and just tells him to write this stuff.

Look at v.2-4. ‘I know’ your deeds, hard work, perseverance – ‘I know’ you cannot tolerate wicked men, and have tested those claiming to be apostles – (I know ) you havepersevered & endured hardships, & have not grown weary – (I know) you have forsaken your first love – (I know) the heights from which you have fallen.

God knows all about them!

He knows all about everybody.

No matter what we are going through – good or bad – God knows about it.

God loves us, and rejoices when we do good things, and cries when we do bad things.

By the sink in the kitchen at SMB is a small notice asking people to wash their tea & coffee cups up. There is a jokey last line, which says ‘P.S. Remember Jesus is watching you!!)