Elementary K-3
What happens down in Elementary Harvestland?
Kids are challenged every Weekend in Harvestland to trust God, make wise choices, and build lasting friendships. Here's what a typical morning in Harvestland looks like.
Welcome: Each child is greeted at their classroom by on of our awesome staff members. Kids participate with their small group in an activity meant to welcome the child and get comfortable with their surroundings. Rather it is a game of Wii bowling or connect four, children will feel welcome and valued.
Large Group Environment: Shortly after arriving, kids are moved to their large group environment where they hear the Bible story. We use costumes, props, and characters from the story - anything that makes the Bible come to life. We also carve out time each week for kids to sing as loud as they want and tell God how much they love Him.
Small Group Environment: After participating in worship, kids travel back to their small group area where their leaders help them understand how the day's bottom line can fit into their everyday life. Small group leaders in Harvestland are serious about having fun with kids and passionate about teaching the TRUTH. We want kids to see how God's word fits into their lives, to learn how to talk to Him, and to build friendships that will last. Every weekend they connect with the same small group of kids and the same small group leader. That way they get connected and we have the best chance to establish a relationship that's going to matter when they need it most.
Curriculum
We use 252 Basics, a web-based curriculum for K-5th graders. Based on Luke 2:52, the curriculum is built around our Three Basic Truths.
1. Wisdom: I need to make the wise choice.
2. Faith: I can trust God no matter what.
3. Friendship: I should treat others the way I want to be treated.
The Three Basic Truths are amplified through 36 monthly virtues (such as kindness, generosity and faith) and 150 Bible stories. Every week there is a key TRUTH or bottom line that we drive home. It's the ONE THING we want kids to understand and grab onto during their hour in Harvestland.
What we are studying:
What in the World Are You Doing?
Can you hear your mother's voice saying that? Go ahead: let those words run
through your mind a few times, trying out those different parental voices. With
a touch of exasperation: What
in the world are you doing? Perhaps in her last-straw,
you-have-gotten-on-my-very-last-nerve voice: WHAT
in the world are you DOING?! Or even in amusement: What in the world are you doing?
Inflection, emphasis, tone of voice, they all communicate meaning as much as
the words themselves. Here's what we mean by those words: What. In the world.
Are you. Doing
What = A word used to ask for more
information, often about the purpose of something or the nature of somebody.
In the world
= Can refer to planet Earth; the earth, including all its
inhabitants and the things in it; society as a whole; or particular areas of
human activity.
Are you
= Meaning an individual you're conversing with or people in
general.
Doing
= This agile little word can refer to things that one does every
day, as in "Everyday doings." It can suggest actions that require
more out of us than the everyday stuff, like "That will take a great deal
of doing." It can also mean a position of accountability: "This is
your doing, your responsibility."
Put it all together and you get: Tell
me more about our nature and purpose here and what we're meant to do and be.
Sounds like a big hairy philosophical question, doesn't it?
What about
our nature and purpose? God said we are made in His likeness and that we are to
"fill the earth and bring it under [our] control" (Genesis 1:28,
NIrV). But what does that mean exactly? Is the earth ours, to do with however
we please? Or is it God's, even though He's made us accountable for it? Genesis
1 has some answers (which we will examine in week 1), so the question of the
day will be: What in the world are you doing to take care of what God made?
But there's more than one kind of "natural resource." Because God
created each of us in His image, we have certain qualities like His and certain
abilities like His. Therefore, each of us has talents, abilities, and
possessions that God has entrusted to us and that He wants put to good use.
Jesus even told a parable about that (Matthew 25:14, the Bible lesson for week
2). So what in the world are you doing to use what God gave you?
Words, like talents, abilities, and possessions, can be used wisely or
unwisely. They can be leveraged to build or to tear down. Ephesians 4:29 (the
lesson for week 3) says, "Don't let any evil talk come out of your mouths.
Say only what will help to build others up and meet their needs. Then what you
say will help those who listen" (NIrV). What in the world are you doing
to encourage others with your words?
Jesus said, "'You are the light of the world'" (Matthew 5:14, NIrV).
That's what God means for us to be: lights atop a dark hillside that draw
people in, to God. In week 4 we'll explore what that looks like in a kid's
world. What in the world are you doing to show others God's goodness?
So, what... in the world... are you... doing? We'll explore those and related
ideas in a special edition of 252 Basics.
June 5-6
Groundwork
Virtue: Responsibility-showing you can be trusted with what is expected of you.
Memory Verse: "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much." Luke 16:10a, NIV
Bible Story: Groundwork (in the beginning) • Genesis 1:27-28
Bottom Line: What in the world are you doing to take care of what God made?
June 12-13
Natural Resources
Virtue: Responsibility-showing you can be trusted with what is expected of you.
Memory Verse: "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much." Luke 16:10a, NIV
Bible Story: Natural Resources (the parable of the talents) • Matthew 25:14-29
Bottom Line: What in the world are you doing to use what God gave you?
June 20-21
Pep Talk
Virtue: Responsibility-showing you can be trusted with what is expected of you.
Memory Verse: "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much." Luke 16:10a, NIV
Bible Story: Pep Talk (words matter) • Ephesians 4:29
Bottom Line: What in the world are you doing to encourage others with your words?
June 26-27
Light Bright
Virtue: Responsibility-showing you can be trusted with what is expected of you.
Memory Verse: "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much." Luke 16:10a, NIV
Bible Story: Light Bright (Jesus says to be light) • Matthew 5:14-16
Bottom Line: What in the world are you doing to show others God's goodness?
