Body of Believers (old) – 1 Corinthians 12 | Story

 
If you want the teacher sheet then click HERE

Today we are not looking at just one hero, but the Body of Believers and how individual heroes are part of a bigger picture.

Essential Teachers notes:
Teaching bible truths is always harder than a straightforward story. The time for reflection is more important, as children grapple with how this affects their faith. If you want to separate the time for reflection then use the worksheet.

This story is heavily inspired by an original Godly play lesson written by Tanja Rouintree for Faith Village at First Presbyterian Church, the original version can be found HERE.

For this story you will need a picture of a body and the overlay sheets of body parts. You’ll also need a bible. The story is told by making pictures on the floor, so make sure you have a flat space before you start and that all the children can see well. Encourage the children not to touch the story pieces until the story is over. Directions are in brackets, images are attached to the teachers sheet PDF. (I have made the images, the lesson symbol in the top left corner can be used to line up positions, remember to split sheet 2 across the middle).

Main Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:12-26
  Please note this will not cover the spiritual gifts verses at the end of this chapter.
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tell this story or a similar one of your choice

I wonder where we learn about God?
(let the children answer, when the bible is mentioned bring one out from your bag flick through the pages as you speak)
The bible has lots of stories, stories of great adventures, but it also has words of wisdom too.
Today are going to hear some of those words of wisdom from the Bible, they can be found in 1 Corinthians 12.
(Show children where the passage is in the Bible, leaving it open place it slightly to one side.)

(As you speak slowly lay out the pieces of the body pages 1& 2, touch the parts of the body you mention)
The body is one whole thing, but it’s made up of many parts.
Feet and legs and knees…
Hands and arms and elbows…
Eyes, ears, nose mouth…

I wonder how many parts our bodies have, even though they are all different we still only have one body.
Like the body, In the church we are all different, but we are all part of one church.
We are each different, like the parts of a person’s body are all different, but they all work together to be one body.
(if the children are quiet, pause here for a second, sit back and think about it)

The foot might say, “I am not a hand. So I am not part of the body.” (Remove the foot)
But saying this would not stop the foot from being a part of the body. (Bring the foot back)

The ear might say, “I am not an eye. So I am not part of the body.” (Remove the ear)
But saying this would not make the ear stop being a part of the body. (Bring the ear back)

Imagine if the whole body were an eye, the body would not be able to hear.
If the whole body were an ear, the body would not be able to smell anything.

(Bring out the overlay covered in hands) I wonder, If each part of the body were the same part, would it still be a body?

(return to the normal picture)
God put the parts in the body, as he wanted them. He made a place for each one of them. There are many many parts, but just one body.

(Take out the picture of the children in the shape of a cross.) We are all together in the body of this church
(Place the cross in the centre of the body.) Each one of you is a part of this body.
(again, if the children are quiet, pause here for a second, sit back and think about it)
The body is not complete without each one of you.

(Finish with a time of reflection using the worksheet, either corporately or in small groups. or lead straight into a craft time)