1. family and parenting
2. children

Fall 2012
DIRECTOR GUIDE
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Copyright © 2008, 2009, 2012 Concordia Publishing House
3558 S. Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, MO 63118-3968
1-800-325-3040 • www.cph.org
All rights reserved. Unless specifically noted, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House.
The purchaser of this publication is allowed to reproduce the marked portions contained herein for use with
this curriculum. These resources may not be transferred or copied to another user.
Edited by Pamela Nielsen and Tom Nummela
Scripture quotations from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by
Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Quotations marked LSB are from Lutheran Service Book, copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. All
rights reserved.
Small catechism quotations are from Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation, copyright © 1986, 1991
Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved.
The Director Guide for Growing in Christ® is published quarterly by Concordia Publishing House. Your comments and suggestions concerning this material are appreciated. E-mail us at sundayschool@cph.org.
Manufactured in the United States of America
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Contents
(Items marked with an asterisk are also included on the Director CD and may be reproduced.
Items marked with double asterisks are found ONLY on the CD.)
Garden Tools: The Director Packet
4
Helping Teachers Use the Growing in Christ Curriculum
5
* Quarter-at-a-Glance
6
Growing in Worship: Sunday School Opening Devotions
7
Sunday School Opening Checklist and Suggestions
8
* Order of Opening Worship for Sunday School
9
* Seedlings Devotional Talks
10–22
** Bible Words for All Levels and Reproducible Resource Pages
** Digging in the Word
** Growing in Christ Bulletin Notes
** Preparing the Lesson Commentaries
** Rally Day Service
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Garden Tools: The Director Packet
Using Growing in Christ Materials—For the New User
The GROWING IN CHRIST DIRECTOR GUIDE AND PACKET is published quarterly and is filled
with the tools you will need to lead, plan, organize, and carry out Sunday School in your parish.
Features of the Director Guide
■■ Quarter-at-a-Glance: An easy-to-read chart with common
information for each lesson
■■ Order of Opening Worship: A reproducible worship service template
for use in your openings
■■ Seedlings Devotional Talks: Child-friendly devotional messages
for each week in the quarter
In addition to these regular features, the following will appear each quarter to help you
grow and strengthen your Sunday School:
Features of the Director CD
■■ Digging in the Word: A Bible study outline for this quarter’s lesson texts
■■ Growing in Christ Bulletin Notes: Brief notes about the lesson for the church bulletin/
newsletter
■■ Growing in the Word: One-page Bible commentaries for each of the thirteen lessons
■■ Musical recordings of songs and hymns
■■ Musical scores for songs and hymns
■■ Order of Opening Worship
■■ Rally Day Service (fall quarter only)
■■ Reproducible certificates and forms: Attendance, teacher appreciation, etc.
Features of the Director Packet
■■ Sunday School Publicity Posters
The Growing in Christ Sunday School curriculum is unified and integrated from level to
level. All levels share the same Bible texts and Key Points, making it easy for you as the director
to lead a staff discussion about the weekly lessons. All Teacher Guides are designed to use the
following four-part lesson structure:
■■ Opening
Opening greetings and class rituals are observed.
■■ God Speaks
The Bible story is presented and taught.
■■ We Live
The Bible story and its Key Point are applied to the students’ lives.
■■ Closing
The lesson is summarized, clarified, and concluded in Christ.
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Helping Teachers Use the
Growing in Christ Curriculum
An Overview
The Growing in Christ Sunday School curriculum is a unified curriculum. As you introduce
the materials to your staff, walk them through the four-part lesson structure. Discuss the goals
and flow of the lesson. Examine how each level is unique in the Teacher Tools and Student
Stuff that it employs to help the children learn about their Savior, Jesus Christ. The four-part
structure is outlined below.
Opening
■■ Opening rituals are observed.
■■ Students are greeted and icebreaker
activities are used.
■■ Opening devotions are held for a
large group or in individual classes.
We Live
■■ The Bible story and Key Point are
applied to the students’ lives.
■■ The Law and Gospel in the text is
applied to the students’ lives.
■■ Student birthdays and baptismal
birthdays are celebrated.
■■ Connections are made to the
catechism, liturgy, and hymns of the
Church.
■■ The lesson theme for the day is
introduced.
■■ Our relationship to Christ as Savior is
emphasized.
God Speaks
■■ The Bible story is read and told.
■■ The Key Point of the story is brought
out.
■■ The Law/Gospel dynamic in the text is
highlighted.
Closing
■■ The lesson is summarized, clarified,
and concluded in Christ.
■■ Closing rituals are observed.
■■ The session ends in prayer.
■■ The story details are reviewed.
At each level, the four parts have the same purpose and follow the same lesson texts
and Key Points. Level-specific items include the Teacher Tools and Student Stuff, which are
designed for the age group being taught. The Teacher Tools contain a variety of age-appropriate resources to use and choose from. Take time to explore the materials and become familiar
with them. Each Teacher Guide has an introductory section that describes the
materials and their use.
A key word is choice. Every week, each class needs to study the Bible story and discover
the Law and Gospel Points and the Key Point in the text. We recognize that the teacher is the
best person to decide which of the Teacher Tools and Student Stuff to incorporate into the
lessons to enhance learning. The materials are designed with flexibility in mind. Some weeks,
students are on task and ready to learn; other weeks, there is less energy or interest. Each child
learns differently, and so the many teaching pieces are designed to reach children in different ways. Choose what works; skip what doesn’t! Don’t be afraid to pick and choose or move
things around in the lesson—the Teacher Guide is just that, a guide. The teacher is the expert
in the classroom!
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Quarter-at-a-Glance
LSB=Lutheran Service Book; HS98=Hymnal Supplement 98; LW=Lutheran Worship; TLH=The Lutheran Hymnal; LL=Lower Levels
Lesson Calendar Title and
Number Date
Bible References
6
Hymns
1
9/2/2012
Worship in the Tabernacle
(Exodus 40)
O Lord, Open My Lips (LSB, p. 219; LW 236; TLH 32);
LL Greet the Rising Sun (LSB 871; HS98 902)
2
9/9/2012
The Twelve Spies in Canaan
(Numbers 13–14)
Have No Fear, Little Flock (LSB 735; LW 410);
LL Greet the Rising Sun (LSB 871; HS98 902)
3
9/16/2012
The Bronze Serpent
(Numbers 21:4–9)
Drawn to the Cross, Which Thou Hast Blessed (LSB 560; LW 356; TLH 390);
LL Greet the Rising Sun (LSB 871; HS98 902)
4
9/23/2012
Entering the Promised Land
(Joshua 3:1–5:12)
Oh, How Great Is Your Compassion (LSB 559; LW 364; TLH 384);
LL Greet the Rising Sun (LSB 871; HS98 902)
5
9/30/2012
The Fall of Jericho
(Joshua 6)
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (LSB 656; LW 298; TLH 262);
LL O Sing to the Lord (Cantad al Señor) (LSB 808; HS98 900)
6
10/7/2012
Deborah
(Judges 4–5)
Lord of Our Life (LSB 659; LW 301; TLH 258);
LL O Sing to the Lord (Cantad al Señor) (LSB 808; HS98 900)
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10/14/2012
Gideon
(Judges 6:11–7:25)
Entrust Your Days and Burdens (LSB 754; LW 427; TLH 520);
LL O Sing to the Lord (Cantad al Señor) (LSB 808; HS98 900)
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10/21/2012
Samson
(Judges 16)
Jesus Loves Me (LSB 588);
LL O Sing to the Lord (Cantad al Señor) (LSB 808; HS98 900)
9
10/28/2012
Ruth
(Ruth)
O Christ, Our Hope, Our Hearts’ Desire (LSB 553; LW 151);
LL Praise and Thanksgiving (LSB 789; LW 403)
10
11/4/2012
God’s Servant Samuel
(1 Samuel 1–3)
Speak, O Lord, Your Servant Listens (LSB 589; LW 339; TLH 296);
LL Praise and Thanksgiving (LSB 789; LW 403)
11
11/11/2012
Saul Becomes King
(1 Samuel 8–10; 11:12–15)
Before You, Lord, We Bow (LSB 966; LW 500; TLH 575);
LL Praise and Thanksgiving (LSB 789; LW 403)
12
11/18/2012
David and Goliath
(1 Samuel 17)
O Little Flock, Fear Not the Foe (LSB 666; LW 300; TLH 263);
LL Praise and Thanksgiving (LSB 789; LW 403)
13
11/25/2012
David and Jonathan
(1 Samuel 18:1–5; 20:1–42)
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (LSB 338; LW 22);
LL Praise and Thanksgiving (LSB 789; LW 403)
Growing in Christ® Director Guide © 2012 Concordia Publishing House. Reproduced by permission.
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Growing in Worship:
Sunday School Opening Devotions
Fall quarter occurs during “the time of the Church,” when the post-Pentecost season
brings the Church Year to its close. The color for the season is green, except for festival
Sundays, which use red or white. Two significant festival days are celebrated: Reformation
Sunday and All Saints’ Day. For many churches, the Sunday of the Faithful Departed and the
Last Sunday of the Church Year are celebrated as minor festivals. The tone and tenor of this
season in the Church’s calendar draws God’s people to think on the last things, on heaven,
and about those who have gone before us. It is a season rich with the comfort of the Gospel
and the certain hope of heaven pointing us to the second coming of Christ and the start of
Advent.
The Sunday School lessons for fall quarter do not follow the appointed Gospel readings in
the Church’s worship, as they do in the winter and spring quarters. The reason for this deviation is to provide a sequential study of the Old Testament for the children. However, there are
opportunities for you to make a connection to the readings in church and the lessons that are
being taught. Sunday School flows out of the Church’s worship, in which Word and Sacrament
are offered to the people of God. Help the children to make connections with the congregation’s worship.
The Sunday School devotions provided in the Growing in Christ curriculum are designed
to teach children how to worship. These devotions are similar to the Sunday morning worship
service that is found in Lutheran hymnals and followed in many congregations. Using this pattern of worship in Sunday School will help teach children that the Church’s worship is their
worship.
The Order of Opening Worship for Sunday School and the Seedlings Devotional Talks in
this guide are designed to be used in a common opening for all classes of the Sunday School
during the quarter. Suggestions for individual class opening and closing devotions are provided in the Teacher Guide at each level.
As you plan and work with your Sunday School teachers, take time to prepare the worship
aspect of your program carefully. In it, you will plant the seeds for active and meaningful worship on the part of the children for years to come. May the Lord bless your worship!
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This Director Guide comes with a CD filled with resources and music for use in the Sunday School openings. The music comes in downloadable notation with simple accompaniments and has also
been recorded by a children’s choir to aid in teaching the songs and hymns of God’s people.
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Sunday School Opening Checklist
and Suggestions
Preparing Your Worship Space
You will need the following:
■■ A simple table to use as an altar
■■ White cloth to cover the table
■■ Green cloth (use same color as on your
church’s altar)
■■ Two candles, lighter, and candle snuffer
■■ Cross or crucifix
■■ Bible
■■ Chairs, pews, or carpet squares
■■ Hymnbooks or song sheets
■■ Copies of the order of worship
■■ Piano or other musical accompaniment
■■ Offering basket
Involving Children in Worship
Children learn by doing. Sunday School
worship is the perfect setting to teach
children by allowing them to help set up,
participate, lead, and serve. Here are some
ideas to involve children in your Sunday
School worship:
■■ Select a child to light the candles.
■■ Ask a child to be an usher.
■■ Select a child to collect the offering.
■■ Invite a child to read the Bible text.
■■ Ask an able child to play the piano.
■■ Invite other instrumentalists to play.
■■ Let a class design and make a banner.
■■ Ask a class to sing a hymn or song.
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Order of Opening Worship
for Sunday School
Leader and students may make the sign of the cross
in remembrance of their Baptism.
L: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
L: in the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice;
C: In the morning I prepare a sacrifice for You and watch.
(Psalm 5:3)
L: My mouth is filled with Your praise,
C: And with Your glory all the day. (Psalm 71:8)
L: O Lord, open my lips,
C: And my mouth will declare Your praise. (Psalm 51:15)
L: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
C: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Hymn of the Day
Bible Reading
Catechism Reading
Seedlings Devotional Talk
The Apostles’ Creed (optional)
The Lord’s Prayer (sung or spoken)
General Prayers
Luther’s Morning Prayer
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You
have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep
me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You.
For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your
holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
(Small Catechism)
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(The Hymn of the Day may be found on the chart on page 6 of the Director Guide. The Lord’s Prayer music may be found on the Director CD.)
Growing in Christ® Director Guide © 2012 Concordia Publishing House. Reproduced by permission. Scripture: ESV®. Catechism quote: © 1986 CPH. All rights reserved.
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SEEDLINGS DEVOTIONAL TALKS
Who’s Driving?
November 18, 2012
Pentecost 25
Liturgical Color: Green
Text: Mark 13:1–13
Hymn of the Day: Have No Fear, Little Flock (LSB 735; CD 7)
Visual Helps: a toy car
Hold up the car. How many of you can drive a car? If I put you in the driver’s seat of a car and told you to get
on the freeway and drive to another city, how many of you could do it? Wait for answers. What would happen if
you tried to drive on the freeway by yourself? Yes, you’d be really scared, and you’d probably have an accident.
You don’t know how to drive yet.
What if we did something different? You could sit in the passenger seat, and I would do the driving. Would
you feel safer then? Allow answers.
In our Gospel reading for today, Jesus talks about a scary situation: persecution. Persecution is the word we
use to describe what happens when other people treat us badly because we belong to Jesus. In some countries
even today, being a Christian means you can get hurt or even killed.
In our country, things are much better, but there will still be times when your faith in Jesus will cause trouble for you. People may make fun of you because you go to church. Your friends may ask you to do something
you know is wrong, and they may give you a hard time when you say no. Even adults like teachers and bosses
may give you trouble for following Jesus.
Those are hard times. You might not know what to do. Or you might know what to do, but you’re too
scared to do it.
It’s like driving a car on the freeway. Trying to handle it on your own won’t work. It’s too scary. It’s too hard.
You need someone to help you. You need someone to do the driving for you. You need Jesus.
Jesus warned us that we will have hard times because we belong to Him, but He also promised to be right
there with us. He will not leave us alone. He will give us the Holy Spirit to help us know what to do and what
to say. He will help us when we are afraid and upset. He can do this because He has suffered Himself. He suffered death in order to save all of us, and then He overcame the power of death by rising to life again. He came
through suffering for our sake, and He can bring you safely through it too.
Today in your Sunday School classes, you’ll be learning about a time when God’s people needed help. God
sent a rescuer for them, just as He did for us in His Son, Jesus.
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Growing in Christ® Director Guide © 2009, 2012 Concordia Publishing House. Reproduced by permission. This is also found on the Director CD.
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