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The Gospel Story by Shapes

CTA - Christ to All /Jul. 20, 2020
The Gospel Story by Shapes

Create a number of colorful geometric shapes on construction paper or poster board. Include simple shapes younger children will be able to name (for example, circle, square, triangle). Also include more complicated shapes that older children may or may not yet know (for example, rhombus, octagon, trapezoid).

Also prepare larger versions of the four shapes you will use to tell the Gospel Story. You can find a PowerPoint of the four shapes for this story, as well as a song written to help learn the words and share this story in the Resource & Idea Center at ctainc.com

Devotion

I have been thinking about shapes and how we use them. Who knows what this shape is called? Yes, it’s a circle. Where do we use circles? (Let volunteers suggest that many clock faces are circular, for example, as are the tops of some tables and the bottoms of some ice cream cones.)

How about this shape? Yes, it’s a square. How do we use squares? (Accept reasonable responses. For example, children play the game Four Square on a square court and some cupboard doors are square.)

Continue asking the children to name each shape you brought along. Then ask for examples of how and where each is sometimes used.

Getting to the Heart

The shapes we have been talking about are geometric shapes. We use geometric shapes to make a lot of the stuff we use every day.

Today I brought along four other shapes. These shapes will help us tell a story. It’s a story we need to hear and remember every day. I am going to tell you the story. Then you can use the shapes to repeat the story back to me. Listen carefully so you are ready when it’s your turn.

(Hold up the smiling sun.) What is this shape? Yes, it’s the sun. Does the sun really smile? No, not really. But I put a smile on it because I wanted it to remind us that when God first made the world, it was good. In fact, it was very good! God made his very good world to be a perfect home for you and me.

Here’s a rhyme about that: The world God made was bright and new. He made it all for me and you. (Have the children repeat the rhyme once or twice.)

(Hold up the broken heart.) What is this shape? Yes, it’s a heart. What is wrong with it? Yes, this line through it breaks it into two pieces. What does it mean when someone says, “My heart is broken”? Does that person need to superglue his or her heart back together? No, that’s silly! “My heart is broken” means that I’m very, very sad.

The world God made didn’t stay wonderful and perfect, did it? It is still very beautiful and wonderful, but not nearly as beautiful and wonderful as it once was. That’s because people disobeyed God. And when they did, all kinds of sad and hurtful things started to happen. What things? (Let volunteers name some.)

I have a rhyme about that, too. You can say the first part of the story with me. Then I will tell you the next part of the story:

The world God made was bright and new. He made it all for me and you.

But people disobeyed God’s voice. We made a sad and hurtful choice.

(Have the children repeat these words with you once or twice more before moving on.) So far, this is a pretty sad story, isn’t it?! The story doesn’t stay sad, though. Here comes a happier part.

(Hold up the cross.) What shape is this? Yes, it’s a cross. The cross reminds us of Jesus and what he did for us. What was that? Yes, Jesus died on the cross. Why did he do that? Yes, Jesus died in our place. He was punished for all the wrongs we do. That was sad for Jesus. Very sad! But it was good for us. Very good! You can say the rhyme with me:

The world God made was bright and new. He made it all for me and you.

But people disobeyed God’s voice. We made a sad and hurtful choice.

In Jesus, God forgives our sin. He makes us whole and new again.

(Have the children repeat the new words with you once or twice before moving on. Then hold up the tree.) What shape is this? Yes, it’s a tree. It helps us remember the last part of the story—the part where God gives us faith in Jesus and keeps that faith growing and growing and growing so that it stays strong and healthy all our life long. When faith is strong like that, we want to tell others about Jesus and his love. Here’s the rhyme for that; you can say the parts you know:

The world God made was bright and new. He made it all for me and you.

But people disobeyed God’s voice. We made a sad and hurtful choice.

In Jesus, God forgives our sin. He makes us whole and new again.

God gives you faith and helps it grow! Now, go tell everyone you know!

(Have the children repeat the full rhyme with you once or twice.)

There is a verse in the Bible that reassures us that this message is true. It’s found in Ephesians 2:8 (NLT): “God saved you by his grace.” Let’s say that verse together. Now, turn to the person next to you, say their name, and then tell them this verse.

Let’s pray: Dear God, thank you for making the whole, wonderful world for us. Teach us to take good care of it! Thank you for sending Jesus to die for our sins. Teach us to live in love as your friends. Thank you for giving us faith in you. Help us always, always to trust in you. Use us to share the very best story ever—the story of Jesus! Amen.

Editor’s note: Today’s devotion is adapted from the Ministry Message written to be used with CTA’s Gospel Story by Shapes line. These products are easily mailed and you’re welcome to share the song recording with the children in your ministry, as well.

You are welcome to copy this article for one-time use when you include this credit line and receive no monetary benefit from it: © 2018 CTA, Inc. Used with permission.