A New Year
Verse of the month
for the littles
2 Corinthians 5:17
“In Christ, the old is gone and the new has come.”
Motions:
• “In Christ,” 👉 Point up
• “the old is gone,” 👋 Push hands behind
• “and the new has come.” 🌟 Spread arms wide and lift up
for the olders
2 Corinthians 5:17
“If anyone belongs to Christ, then he is made new. The old things have gone; everything is made new.”
Motions:
• “If anyone belongs to Christ,” 👉 Point up
• “Then he is made new.” 👐 Spread hands wide
• “The old things have gone;” 👋 Brush hands behind
• “Everything is made new.” 🌟 Big circles / raise hands
Theme: We don’t know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future.
Object: Two calendars — last year’s and the new year’s.
Scripture: (Have a child read the scripture) “Since no man knows the future, who can tell him what is to come?” Ecclesiastes 8:7
Lesson 1
Objective Lesson to Explain the Scripture:
Say to the kids, Today I brought two calendars.
This old one is from last year. It’s full of marks showing things I did. It helps me remember the past, but I can’t use it anymore.
This new one is for the new year. All the pages are clean. I’ll write down plans, birthdays, and important things as the year goes on.
It’s good to make plans, but the Bible reminds us that we don’t really know what will happen in the future. We can write things on our calendar, but the only day we truly have is today.
Some people get scared because they don’t know what’s coming. But we don’t have to be afraid. Even though we don’t know the future, God does. He holds the future in His hands, and He takes care of us.
We can’t be sure about tomorrow, but we can live today the way God wants us to — trusting Him and doing our best.
Review a few characters in the Bible that can maybe relate to the scripture:
Here are some great Bible characters whose lives clearly connect to Ecclesiastes 8:7 because they had to trust God without knowing what would happen next.
1. Abraham: Abraham is one of the best examples. God told him to leave his home and go to a place he had never seen. Abraham didn’t know what the future held, but he trusted God anyway.
Why he fits:He walked into the unknown simply because God said, “Go.”
2. Moses: Moses didn’t know how things would turn out when God told him to speak to Pharaoh. He felt unsure and afraid, but he obeyed God even without knowing the outcome.
Why he fits:He faced a huge task with no guarantee of success except God’s promise.
3. Esther: Esther risked her life by going to the king to save her people. She had no idea what would happen, but she trusted God’s plan.
Why she fits:She stepped into danger without knowing the future, believing God was in control.
Activities
Move onto activities, here is the review with small group during activity:
Littles- Review with small group during activity:
Sometimes Mommy or Daddy says, ‘Come on, hold my hand. Let’s go this way.’
You might not know where you’re going, but you follow them because you know they love you and want to keep you safe.
If you keep looking back or trying to go your own way, you might get lost.But when you hold their hand and walk with them, they help you get exactly where you need to go.
That’s just like trusting God. We don’t always know what’s ahead, but we can follow Him just like we follow Mommy or Daddy.
Review this little chant with the littles:
God knows! (point up)
I’m safe! (hug yourself)
No fear! (shake head ‘no’)
Hold His hand! (reach out like holding a hand)
He knows the way! (march in place)
Middles- Review with small group before activity:
What may be a few things we can think about that we may take with us and remember when we go home or anywhere?
Allow children to answer….
We don’t have to pretend we know everything.
We don’t need to be scared about what we don’t know.
We can trust God, because He knows what’s coming even when we don’t.
You can provide them with another example:
It’s like walking with a grown‑up in the dark. You might not see where you’re going, but you hold their hand because they know the way.
Mid Week Fun day one
7:45 Prayer/Worship
7:55 Bathroom
8:10 Surprise Kids Pizza Time!
8:30 Game Time (may not get to do all games)
Theme: Neon New Years Glow Party
(Special delicious appearance Pizza🤫🤫)
Decoration, game prep, and Pizza
Games:
There are 5 games on this link boys vs girls if enough or just split into even teams
https://youtu.be/onSNOA9vWQo?si=jhXP-yVy8xyT6106
Winning team gets a 1 prize from the Bible buck box I will pull the prizes
Lesson 2
Theme: How to have a happy New Year.
Object: A calendar (optional)
Scripture: (Have a child read the scripture) “For I decided to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” — 1 Corinthians 2:2
Question: Anyone remember from studying the books of the Bible who wrote this book if you were with us during that lesson? Allow a couple of kids to answer.
Answer: Paul
Question: anyone remember who Paul was?Allow a couple of kids to answer
Answer: One of Jesus’ Disciples .
Well when reading this verse, I think of the Bible character who fits this verse, and it is actually Paul himself.
Why Paul?
• He wrote the verse.
• He used to know a lot of things, he was very smart, trained as a Pharisee, and knew many rules.
• But after meeting Jesus, he decided the most important thing in his whole life was Jesus and the cross.
• Paul traveled, preached, and even suffered because he wanted everyone to know Jesus.
There is something that people may do in the beginning of a new year, such as making resolutions—promises about things they want to do better. Instead of the usual ones, here are some fun ones that help us grow and stay close to God:
Don’t think about it to much but hearing these word you may think how can we use them in a good way…. Your crazy… you may think no way you just told me to do the thinks we are not to do.. but I want you to listen how I am using them and try to turn them around to use them for the good…. Are you ready to hear these words….
LIE,CHEAT,DRINk,SWEAR,STEAL.(look at the kid as and gasp loud after you say these words then laugh)
Review what you mean by these words.
• LIE back and relax. Don’t worry so much. Take time to rest.
• CHEAT failure. Try new things even if they seem hard. That’s how we learn.
• DRINK in knowledge. Listen to people who can teach you good things.
• SWEAR to do your best. Try your hardest in everything you do.
• STEAL time for God. Spend a little time with God every day.
These “silly” words help us remember important things.
And the most important thing of all is keeping our eyes on Jesus, just like the Bible says!
Littles activity: New year resolution Paper Link
Supplies:
Coloring supplies
Stapler
Scissors
Review while doing the craft the things it says on each link get the littles to think about goals they can set for themselves. Just because they are little doesn’t mean they cannot do these things.
Middles: Flip book
Review with the kids in short on each page of the flip book.
Mid Week Fun day TWO
‼️Review the Memory Verse‼️
Cookie Decorating
Supplies will be given on day of class
Lesson 3
‼️Review the Memory Verse‼️
Theme: Jesus erases our mistakes and gives us a clean start.
Object: A whiteboard, a dry erase marker, and some whiteboard cleaner.
Scripture: (Have a child read the scripture)
"“You might wash yourself with cleanser. And you might use much soap. But I can still see the stain of your guilt,” says the Lord God.” (Jeremiah 2:22).
"Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow" (Psalms 51:7).
Today I brought a whiteboard with me. When we write on it, we can erase our mistakes with a simple wipe. But after using the board for a long time, little stains start to stay on it. Even if we wash it with soap and water, the stains don’t come off. That’s why we need a special whiteboard cleaner. When we spray it on, the stains disappear and the board looks brand‑new again.
A great Bible character who fits this lesson is David.
David is a perfect example because he made mistakes, just like we do. Sometimes he made big mistakes—things that made his heart feel “stained,” like the marks on the whiteboard.
But here’s the important part:
• David didn’t try to hide his mistakes.
• He went to God and asked for forgiveness.
• God cleaned his heart and gave him a fresh start.
That’s why David prayed, “Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7).
He knew only God could erase the stains of sin—just like only the special cleaner can erase the stains on the whiteboard.
Imagine you say something unkind to a friend. Right away, you feel bad inside—like there’s a little stain on your heart. Even if you try to forget about it, the feeling doesn’t go away.
But when you say, “I’m sorry,” and then ask God to forgive you, that heavy feeling disappears. Your heart feels clean again—just like a whiteboard wiped fresh.
That’s what happened to David, and that’s what Jesus does for us too.
As we start a new year, it’s a good time to think about our own “mistakes.” Sometimes we do things we shouldn’t—things God tells us not to do. Those things are called sin, and they leave stains on our hearts, just like the marker stains on the board. And no matter how hard we try on our own, we can’t clean those stains away.
But God gives us something better than soap—He gives us Jesus. When we ask Jesus to forgive us, He wipes away every stain of sin. He makes our hearts clean again, “whiter than snow,” just like the Bible says.
So as we begin this new year, remember:
Jesus erases our mistakes and gives us a clean, fresh start—just like a brand‑new whiteboard.
Mid Week Fun day Three
‼️Review the Memory Verse‼️
Dress in pajamas/ will place karaoke screens on the tvs and will request extra mic from Rudy if possible
Will also request the colorful lights for the night
Lesson 4
Theme: Set new goals for the New Year
Object: None, or show how a foot race works
Scripture: (Have a child read the scripture) “I do not mean that I am already as God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal. But I continue trying to reach it and to make it mine. Christ wants me to do that. That is the reason Christ made me his. Brothers, I know that I have not yet reached that goal. But there is one thing I always do: I forget the things that are past. I try as hard as I can to reach the goal that is before me. I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize. That prize is mine because God called me through Christ to the life above.”
Philippians 3:12-14
Lesson: Have you ever been in a race? One thing that slows runners down is looking back. When you look behind you, you lose time and you lose focus. You stop paying attention to the finish line.
Paul talks about this in the Bible. He says he hasn’t reached his goal yet, but he keeps pressing forward. He doesn’t look back at his mistakes or the things he didn’t finish. Instead, he reaches toward what’s ahead—toward Jesus.
As we start a new year, we can do the same thing. Maybe there were things you didn’t do last year—like listening better, reading your Bible more, or being kinder. Don’t stay stuck on the past. Set new goals and keep moving forward.
A great Bible character that fits this lesson about not looking back and pressing toward new goals is Paul himself—but if you want a story kids can picture, the best match is the story of the Israelites leaving Egypt.
1. Paul is the one who wrote the verse, and his whole life shows what it means to “press on.”
• Paul had a rough past.
• He made mistakes and even hurt Christians.
• But once he met Jesus, he didn’t look back.
• He set new goals: to follow Jesus, teach others, and finish the race God gave him.
Paul shows us that your past doesn’t stop you—keep moving forward with Jesus.
2. The Israelites Leaving Egypt — When God rescued the Israelites from Egypt, He told them to move forward to the Promised Land.
But what did they keep doing?
• They looked back at Egypt.
• They remembered the past instead of trusting God for the future.
• Looking back slowed them down and made the journey harder.
Think of one goal you want to work on this year. And remember Paul’s words:
Don’t look back—press on toward the prize!
And our prize is Jesus.
Littles:
Middles
🏃♂️ “Don’t Look Back” Obstacle Race (Indoor Version)
What You Need
• A hallway or open space
• A few simple obstacles (pillows, cones, books, tape lines, etc.)
• A finish line (tape or a chair)
How It Works
1. Set up a short obstacle path the kids must walk or run through.
2. Tell them the rule:
“You must keep your eyes forward. If you look back, you lose 1 second!”
3. Let each child take a turn.
4. After everyone goes, talk about what happened:• Was it harder when they looked back
• Did they slow down
• Did they lose focus
Connect It to the Lesson
Explain:
“Paul said he doesn’t look back—he keeps moving forward toward the goal. When we look back at old mistakes, it slows us down. But when we look forward to Jesus, we can reach our new goals.”
Mid Week Fun day four
‼️Review the Memory Verse‼️
LW Kids Cinema