The Jesus and Me curriculum introduces Jesus as the Son of God in familiar terms so that young children can see Jesus in their own day-to-day experiences as a storyteller, teacher, friend, and healer.
Curriculum Goals:
Jesus and Me is very interactive and experiential, using music, art, movement, as well as individual and group activities. Recognizing that parents and guardians are responsible for the faith development of their children, the Jesus and Me program requires their participation and encourages parent-child interaction.
Stories are an important part of learning and this program utilizes the “Jesus Scroll Craft,” a hands-on component that builds from lesson to lesson and helps children tell their story of Jesus and me together.
Children will learn what it means to be a storyteller, learn that Jesus was the Son of God, identify people in their lives who are storytellers, and learn to be a storyteller themselves.
“And Jesus told them many things in parables.” - Matthew 13:3
Children will learn the characteristics of a teacher, learn to see Jesus as their teacher, identify people in their lives who are teachers, and learn to be teachers themselves.
“Then Jesus went about among the villages teaching.” - Mark 6:6
Children will learn what it means to be a friend, learn to see Jesus as a friend, name people in their lives who are friends, and learn what it means to be a good friend.
"I have called you friends.” - John 15:15
Children will learn the characteristics of a healer, identify Jesus as a healer, name people in their lives who are healers, and learn how to be a healer themselves.
“Jesus cured all who were sick.” - Matthew 8:16
The God and Me curriculum is designed to help children become best friends with Jesus and tell their story of “God and Me” together. Children will tell their story of “God and Me” by starting with the creation story. Children will learn that God is their Creator and that God calls them by name, and they will give praise to God. Their story will continue as they learn of God’s love through Jesus. As they tell parallel stories of their own birth and the birth of Jesus, they will proclaim that Jesus was born to be their Savior. Their story will grow as children learn that God wants them to pray. Children will be encouraged to talk and listen to God as they share from their heart. Their story of “God and Me” will wrap up with the parable of the lost sheep. As children learn to lean on God as their Good Shepherd, they will be challenged to reach out and be “good shepherds” to those around them.
Children will make a game in each lesson and keep their games in a GAMEBox (God And Me Exploring BOX). These games will reinforce the Bible lessons and provide opportunities for families to explore God's love together.
Introduction
Jesus Blesses the Children – Matthew 19:13-15
Section 1: God Created Me - Children will study the creation story and learn that God was pleased with all creation. They will acknowledge God as Creator and give praise to God.
Section 2: Jesus is God’s Gift to Me - Children will learn of God’s love through Jesus. As they tell parallel stories of their own birth and the birth of Jesus, they will proclaim that Jesus was born to be their Savior.
Section 3: I Can Talk with God - Children will learn how important prayer was to Jesus and that God wants them to pray. They will learn four parts of prayer to help them share their thoughts with God. Children will be required to memorize the Lord’s Prayer.
Section 4: Because God Cares for Me, I Can Care for Others - As children learn to lean on God as their Good Shepherd, they will be challenged to reach out and be “good shepherds” to those around them.
A typical schedule for completing the God and Me curriculum might include five different sessions (an introductory meeting plus four sessions to complete the four lessons).
Girls and boys in grades 1, 2 & 3 are eligible to participate in the God and Me program even if they do not belong to a Girl Scout, Boy Scout or Camp Fire group (church youth and Sunday School members are eligible to participate in this program). Each participant must have his or her own copy of the Student Workbook. A pastor's signature is required on the application/order form.
Parents have the option of enrolling in the God and Me Adult Mentor Program. In this program, the parent is an active learning participant alongside the child. The parent would have lessons and projects to complete in the Mentor Workbook just like the child, and then both parent and child would work on the student curriculum together. The mentor program is designed to provide the adult with additional opportunities to model his or her Christian faith and to help a young child talk about his or her belief in God.
Order these booklets online at www.praypub.org or call 1-800-933-7729.
Students must complete all the requirements before ordering any awards. The last page in the Student Workbook is the Award Application Form. This form must be submitted to P.R.A.Y. (awards are not available in local scout shops).
Visit God and Me to view the awards.
The following items are available for the adult leading the program. These items may be purchased in advance so that the counselor may wear them while teaching the class.
The God and Family curriculum is designed to help youth understand the importance of family and God’s role in a healthy family. The God and Family Program provides an opportunity for young people and their families to explore their faith together. Children will read about different families in the Bible, which can teach them about God’s plan for strengthening families. To remember these lessons, children will compare families and "pizza." The six steps for making pizza will give students a concrete, "hands-on" model on which to build their understanding of God’s love for their families. They will make a pizza as they study how families can grow together in God’s love, and they will choose "family projects" to be done with their family at home.
Joshua’s Family Will Serve God – Joshua 24:14-15
Step 1: Crust-Foundation – We are God’s Family
Every pizza needs a crust or foundation. Families need foundations, too. Students will read passages from Deuteronomy and Matthew to learn how families need to build their foundations on God and on God’s love.
Step 2: Sauce – Family Heritage, Spiritual Heritage
Every pizza has sauce (which has simmered over time). Like the sauce, a family’s heritage grows over time. A family’s heritage, especially its Christian heritage, is an important part of its identity. Students will learn about Ruth (how she came to faith through marriage) and Jesus (how he was brought up in the faith from infancy on) and realize that even though our faith journeys may differ, our faith in Christ is the same.
Step 3: Toppings – Our Talents and Gifts Strengthen Our Families
The toppings on a pizza make each pizza unique. Like the toppings, the individual members of a family bring unique gifts and talents that strengthen and make their family special. Students will read about Moses and Aaron, two brothers with very different gifts, and Timothy, a young man with the gift of faith. Students will be challenged to name their own gifts and the special gifts in each member of their family.
Step 4: Cheese – In God’s Family We’re Loved No Matter What! Because We’re Loved, We Follow Rules
The cheese on a pizza covers everything and holds it together. Families need to be held together, too. Christian rules and guidelines can help families relate to each other and live together as God’s family. Students will study Jesus lost in the temple and the parable of the prodigal son and discuss WHY we need rules. They will then be required to memorize the Ten Commandments.
Step 5: Bake – Being in God’s Family Helps Us When Things Are Tough
When pizza comes out of a hot oven, it’s better than ever! Families can be like pizza: by relying on God, families can come through the heat of tough times and be even stronger. Students will study Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace, and Paul and Silas in prison, and be challenged to name the "faith tools" that can help their families in tough times.
Step 6: Eat, Share, Enjoy! – In God’s Family, We Share as a Response to God’s Love
Pizza tastes good: it nourishes our bodies and satisfies our hunger. Pizza is fun to share: everybody loves a pizza party. Families are like pizza: they need to provide spiritual nourishment for family members, and they need to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those around them. Students will read about the feeding of the five thousand and the Great Commission to learn the importance of sharing God’s love with other people.
A typical schedule for completing the God and Family curriculum might include seven different sessions (an introductory meeting plus six sessions to complete the six lessons).
Girls and boys in grades 4, 5 & 6 are eligible to participate in the God and Family program even if they do not belong to a Girl Scout, Boy Scout or Camp Fire group (church youth and Sunday School members are eligible to participate in this program). Each participant must have his or her own copy of the student workbook. A pastor's signature is required on the application/order form.
Parents have the option of enrolling in the God and Family Adult Mentor Program. In this program, the parent is an active learning participant alongside the child. The parent would have lessons and projects to complete in the Mentor Workbook just like the child, and then both parent and child would work on the student curriculum together. The mentor program is designed to provide the adult with additional opportunities to model his or her Christian faith and to help a young child talk about his or her belief in God.
Booklets may be ordered online at www.praypub.org or call 1-800-933-7729. They may also be available at your local council store.
Visit God and Family to view the awards.
The God and Church program will lead young people on a journey. It will be a faith journey with three parts: meeting Jesus, worshiping God, and witnessing and ministering for Christ. Participants will create either a video or a photo album to share what they have learned on their faith journeys. Young people will have the opportunity to work with their pastor or other Christian adult as they study the church's structures and objectives and participate in service projects that will give them a better understanding of the mission of the church.
God Promises to be with Joshua as Joshua Leads the People of God into the Promised Land – Joshua 1:1-9
Lesson 1: Meeting Jesus, the Person
Students will be challenged to see Jesus as a real person who shared our humanity. They will study scripture to understand why it is important that Jesus was human and become familiar with major events in the life of Jesus.
Lesson 2: Meeting Jesus, the Son of God
Jesus is more than just an historical figure. Jesus was fully divine. Students will study what Jesus said about his true identify and read the testimonies of people in the Bible to understand that Jesus is the Son of God. They will hear the Good News of Jesus!
Lesson 3: Meeting Jesus, the Head of the Church
Students will read about the birth of the church at Pentecost and learn that Jesus invites us into relationship with the church. They will then study the history of their own congregation and denomination and be required to memorize a creed, statement of belief, or significant passage of scripture.
Project: Daily Bible Reading
The best way to get to know Jesus is to read the Bible. Students will read their Bible every day for at least three weeks. Their counselors will help them choose a plan.
Lesson 4: Learning how Christ Worshiped God
Students will discover how Jesus worshiped God in his everyday living. They will also learn about prayer.
Lesson 5: Exploring How My Congregation Worships God
Students will explore the different worship opportunities in their congregation and attend a worship service with their counselor. They will study the different parts of a worship service and the special celebrations in the church year.
Project: Discovering How I Can Worship God
Planning an outdoor worship service, visiting other churches, and preparing a devotion for a Sunday school class are some of the choices that students have for Project II.
Lesson 6: Learning How Christ Witnessed and Ministered to Others
Witnessing and ministering go hand in hand. Students will learn of Jesus’ compassion for people who are hurting.
Lesson 7: Exploring How My Congregation Witnesses and Ministers to Others
Students will study the structure of their congregation and learn about the outreach programs of their church.
Project: Discovering How I Can Witness and Minister to Others
The final project requires young people to do service hours for their congregation as well as for their community. They are also required to invite a friend or acquaintance to church (or to participate in a service project).
The God and Church program can take from three to five months to complete. The program is very flexible and can be structured in a number of different ways. Ideally, the youth will complete this program in his or her own church under the supervision of his or her own pastor. However, it is possible to teach the course to a group of young people who belong to different denominations. In this situation, the individual churches should be contacted ahead of time. The pastors need to be invited to the class sessions that deal with specific church history and doctrine. The young people can benefit from this type of comparative study and learn to appreciate the unique aspects of their own denomination.
The God and Church curriculum was developed without theological bias; yet it was designed to permit the introduction of particular theological and denominational viewpoints on the material being studied. It is the responsibility of the counselor to provide this specific instruction. Therefore all students use the standard God and Church curriculum regardless of church membership.
It is at the God and Church level (when students study their specific denomination), that the following denominational logos are available on 3/4" Pins to be pinned into the ribbon of the God and Church medallion: African Methodist Episcopal, Anglican (ACNA), Baptist, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Episcopal, Lutheran, Nazarene, Pentecostal, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Presbyterian Church in America, and United Methodist. Information on ordering these recognition items is contained in the Student Workbook. (Note: These denominational items are available only at the God and Church level.) Click here to see the Denominational Logos Available that are available.
Girls and boys in grades 6-8 are eligible to participate in the God and Church program even if they do not belong to a Girl Scout, Boy Scout or Camp Fire group (youth group and Sunday School members are eligible to participate in this program). This program requires that students have original workbooks and present their work to the pastor for final approval.
The God and Church Adult Mentor program is an optional program for parents. Rather than having just their children go through the program by themselves, parents may choose to work on the program alongside their children. In the Adult Mentor program, parents have a workbook with lessons and projects to complete just like the child. Parents will be challenged to learn more about their faith and to talk about their faith with their children.
Visit God and Church to view the awards.
To provide opportunities for young people to:
The God and Life curriculum is the final program in the P.R.A.Y. series. After being introduced to Jesus as their best friend (God and Me), learning how the family is to grow strong in God’s love (God and Family), and studying the church as the body of Christ (God and Church), students in the God and Life program will seek to understand their call to a life of discipleship. The God and Life curriculum will focus on the life of the Apostle Paul as recorded in Acts 9:1-31. This is a brief account that describes how Paul encountered Christ and was changed forever. Five chronological "events" out of this story will be highlighted and used as the focus for the five different sections in this program. Each section will illustrate a key element in learning how to live one's life for Christ:
Samuel is Called by God – 1 Samuel 3:1-10
Section 1: God Calls All Kinds of People
Before his conversion, Paul persecuted Christians. God does not call perfect people. God calls ordinary people and transforms them.
Section 2: God Doesn’t Expect Us to Do It On Our Own
After his conversion, Paul was helped by Ananias and Barnabas. The Christian life needs the help and fellowship of Christian believers.
Section 3: Each of Us Must Make a Personal Response to the Call of God.
After his encounter with Christ on the Damascus road, Paul was baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. He responded and accepted God’s call for his life. The Holy Spirit is at work in our lives – we just need to respond!
Section 4: God Gives Strength to Face Adversities.
Paul led a difficult life: many people wanted him dead. God does not promise a life free from difficulty and suffering. On the contrary, the times of difficulty and suffering may strengthen our dependence on God and prepare us for greater service. God does not guarantee an easy life, but God does promise to be with us.
Section 5: God Can Accomplish Great Things Through Those Who are Willing to Do God's Will.
Because of Paul, the church was strengthened and it grew in numbers. God can use each of us for God’s purposes!
A typical schedule for completing the God and Life curriculum might include 11 different sessions (an introductory meeting plus ten sessions to complete the five lessons).
Youth in grades 9-12 are eligible to participate in the God and Life program even if they do not belong to a Girl Scout, Boy Scout or Camp Fire group (church youth and Sunday School members are eligible to participate in this program). Each participant must have his or her own copy of the student workbook. A pastor's signature is required on the application/order form.
Parents have the option of enrolling in the God and Life Adult Mentor Program. In this program, the parent is an active learning participant alongside the child. The parent would have lessons and projects to complete in the Mentor Workbook just like the child, and then both parent and child would work on the student curriculum together. The mentor program is designed to provide the adult with additional opportunities to model his or her Christian faith.
Visit God and Life to view the awards.