Thanks to Caitlyn and Justina for this week's lesson! :)

Session 3: Fellowship

Hook: The 'Hot Seat' game

-Write the names of all the individuals in your group at the top of different pieces of paper

- Pass them around the group and have everyone anonymously write (except for their own piece of paper) a phrase or sentence that begins with,'This is one reason why i'm thankful God put you in my life...'

- After it has gone one round, everybody gets their own pieces of paper back and reads them (reading aloud is not required))

Begin by doing a recap of the points on how to have effective Christian fellowship covered in the video i.e. the 5 building blocks

1. In short, what is fellowship?

Loving others.

2. Why should we fellowship (love others)?

1 John 3:14-18

God first loved us and so we should love him back (as covered in the previous lesson on worship). If we love him enough, we should learn to love the things (or rather people) he loves as well. Since he loves others, we should learn to love them as well.

Edification is also another reason why fellowship is important in the church. If we commit to building each other up with the love of Jesus Christ, we will be better able to face up to the strains our world has on our christian life.

*If your kids are anything like mine, they would be quick to disagree to the point that if we love someone, we tend to love the people they love. Ask them, then, 'How does your reluctance to love others (especially those who are difficult to love) reflect of the extent of your love for God?' Try not to spend too much time here though.

3. Within this TTB group you are in, how can you achieve the 5 building blocks?

Highlight 2 in particular: How do we help each other to share our true feelings; and how do we help each other to grow spiritually? Are they willing to commit to being honest and available to each other while keeping things that are shared confidential? Even doing something simple like encouraging each other in today’s hook can be a step towards true fellowship.

4. Most of us have a few groups of friends (from church, school etc.) Are these groups from friends different from their friends in church? As a Christian group, what should make us different from other groups?

Remember one of the 5 building blocks is unity? What are we united in?

We want to build a relationship that is not just of social nature where we meet up to have fun or be together because we have to work together. It is the ‘comrade relationship’ that we want to achieve: to laugh, to cry, to suffer together and to know that the common goal that we share is Jesus Christ.

5. Ask the Sec Ones what kind of relationships do they want to build in this group? Is it just another social group?

Encourage the kids to make a commitment to treat sun classes as more than just Sunday school, learning about the bible. Are they willing to help one another grow in faith and maturity? What about the times when they just don’t feel like it? Let them know that they will be held accountable to what they have said in response to this question.

End activity

**As the school holidays begin, take time out to plan an outing with your kids to build effective fellowship within your group! **