Video Ideas for teaching the Body of Christ

Create Video of Church Members

Have someone make a home video of different church members serving in different ways (be sure it is well edited). Children love seeing parents & grandparents & themselves on screen.
Peace,
Lisa

Posted by Psalm_77

Wee Sing DVD - "Wee Sing in Sillyville"

There is a video called Wee Sing in Sillyville. The characters live in a coloring book, but the main character finds that she has lost her colors (her clothes are rainbow) because the colors are squabbling. Eventually all the colors make up and she gets her color back.
The concept I thought of was how wonderful and beautiful it is when the body of Christ works together. When the family is quarreling, things just aren't right.

Wee Sing: Wee Sing In Sillyville (1989), 60 minutes, age 1-8, Universal Studios, 2004 re-relased on DVD. Wee Sing Website has DVD

Posted by Amy Siegert

"You Are Special" (Wemmicks)

We are using a 26-min. video that I found at our local library called You are Special, based on the book by Max Lucado. It isn't exactly what I had in mind, but it does contain the idea that each individual is special and needed.

"A Bug's Life"

For those with more time, show A Bug's Life (Disney) because it shows how much we can accomplish when we work together.

Science and Demonstrations Ideas to teach The Body of Christ

Posted by Jaimarie

Use an Energy Ball

There is a science toy, a ping-pong type ball that lights up and make a sound when a circuit is made (find it on Steve Spangler's website.) It works when everyone holds hands but doesn't when someone's "missing." You could show how important we all work together.

Additional ideas:

Give everyone one instruction for an activity or one component and they have to each give their part to accomplish the task.

Energy Stick

An "Energy Stick" by  Be Amazing Toys works the same as the "Energy Ball" above but rather than being in a small ping pong ball shape, it's a 7.5" tube.

It's also available at Steve Spangler Science website.

Below is how Luanne incorporated the Energy Ball (Energy Stick) into their lesson.

Energy Ball (Stick) Demonstration

Scriptures

1 Corinthians 12:12 - "The body is a unit, though it is made of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body.  So it is with Christ".

1 Corinthians 12:27 - "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it".

Directions

1. Stand and ask the children to join you forming one big circle (don't hold hands yet).
2. Say we are going to go around the circle and introduce ourselves by saying:
   "My name is _____________.  God created me and I am special.  I love Jesus and I am a part of the body of Christ, the church."
3. The rest of the circle will say
   "(Name of that person) _______________ welcome to the body of Christ."
4. Teacher is the first to go followed by student on her/his left.  Go all the way around the circle.
5. Say:
   “We belong to a big group that includes people who lived over 2000 years and people who aren’t even born yet.  It’s called the church and includes everyone who has ever believed in or will believe in Jesus Christ.  We can’t meet with all the Christians on the earth, but when any group of Christians meet that is called the church, it’s means us, not the building we meet in.  As individuals we are only like a piece of a puzzle.  When the pieces are put together they are all held together by Christ.  By going to church, being part of a church community our power is much stronger.  As a group we can pray for each other, and learn from each other.  We can offer encouragement when someone is feeling down.  When we sing praises to God together the sound is so sweet God smiles from ear to ear."
6. Do: Pull energy ball (stick) from your pocket or apron.
7. Say: I have what's called an energy ball (stick) here that will give you an idea of what I mean by "We are the Body of Christ.  We are the Church."
8. Say, “I hold it in my hand and nothing happens.  It's just a ball (stick), just as I am just a part of the church.“
9. I'm going to pass it to each of you.  You will take it in your right hand, hold it, say,
   "I'm a part of the church", then pass it directly to the right hand of the person standing on your left, we will keep passing it until it is back in my hand.
10. Now I want to show you the bond we have when we are together here at Sunday school and we become "The Church".  I will take (child standing on your left) _____________ hand.   _____________ will take  (child on their left) __________________ hand.
11. Before you take the last child's hand on your right say,
    "When we take all the parts”, say your name, then have each child add their name - when last child says his name, say “together with Christ we form a powerful bond as the church”
12. Take last child's hand making sure it will land on the one metal piece (you have your finger on the other metal piece).  Also, make sure the flashing light will be facing towards the kids (if using the ball).  (May want to practice with someone, joining hands.)
13. Select different pairs of side by side students to let go of their hands - ball is quiet - say "apart we are only a part of the church".
14. Have those pairs rejoin their hands - say, "Together, We are the Church."
15. Continue letting different pairs release and then hold hands again to see affect to energy ball (stick).

Science behind the Energy Ball (Stick) – demonstrates open circuits and closed circuits.  Inside the energy ball (stick) is an open circuit.  When the group all hold hands and in the group two people are touching the sensor on each side (ball) or ends (stick) the circuit is closed and electrons flow through everyone’s bodies.  Materials like our bodies are good conductors, meaning they pass electrons easily.

Teaching the concept of the Body of Christ to preschool children

Note: Dana had asked the question about ideas for simple activities on planning this lesson - I Corinthians 12:27-31 - for 2/3 year olds. She didn't pick this story specifically for that age group, but their older kids were doing this story and they like all the kids to be learning the same story.

These replies could work for Preschool.

Ken Wezeman replied...
How about looking at how people have different jobs? I'd probably work with fire fighters, police officers, farmers, grocery store people, gas station workers, restaurant workers, etc. I'd work toward emphasizing how everybody is important to us. You can do this with play, trying on hats and costumes, building things with blocks, letting them experiment with different "jobs." Along the way I'd get in something about different "jobs" in the church being important. (I'd keep it as close to their level as possible, such as teachers, kitchen helpers, people who clean or fix things, cut the grass, etc.) There are lots of "job" related books for small children.

jcarey replied...

Body of Christ ART idea:

Summary of Lesson Activities:

To create a bulletin board from self-portraits drawn on blank puzzle pieces

Supplies:

• Puzzle pieces- one inside puzzle piece per child.
• Order Color Me Imagination Puzzle pieces from S & S Worldwide 1-800-228-9941 or go online: https://www.ssww.com/item/colo...ation-puzzle-PE1246/
• Markers, crayons
• Double stick tape
• Bulletin board paper

Talk to the children about how we are all individuals; we all have our own strengths and talents. We can use those talents, our gifts from God to work together as one body of Christ.
Tell them that Paul wrote a letter to the people of Corinth and told them that the church is like the human body. The human body is made up of many different parts-. Ask the children to name different body parts and write them on the board. Then ask them what the different parts do.
Say: Just like the human body, the church is made up of different parts. Ask: Can you think of some different parts? ( You can give them a hint with the fingerplay “ Here’s the church, here’s the steeple, open the doors and here are the people").  Tell them that just as the body has many parts that perform different functions, the church has many people who bring different talents and gifts to the church. And those many different people make up one church.

Give each child a 4” X4” puzzle piece to draw a self-portrait. Try to make sure that the children draw on their puzzle piece in the same direction so that when the puzzle is put together the children are all upright. You can use markers, crayons or any other medium that doesn’t smear. Make sure they write their names on the front.

Have the children put heavy duty double stick tape on the back of their puzzle pieces and attach pieces together on the paper on a large bulletin board where the rest of the congregation can see it.

Headings for the bulletin board: made by using two rows of the straight edge and corners of the puzzle. Above the assembled puzzle have the heading: In bold print: One Body… Many parts… Below the assembled puzzle: In smaller print: …and so it is with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12

Be sure to leave enough room between the headings and the body of the puzzle so each class can attach their puzzle pieces to the bulletin board. In the end you will have one large puzzle with all of the children’s self-portraits on it. You can leave the edges free-form or you can make the edges straight and create a border using the edge pieces.

This is a great way to create something BIG! Plus, children (and their parents and other grownups) LOVE to see their portraits as they walk down the hallway.

Video Workshop

Body of Christ

Summary: Uses "Mr. Potatoe Head" Video Clips on the 'Body of Christ" from YouTube, plus a body part drawing activity and a Lego building activity.

Note: This is something I wrote for our church newsletter. It includes ideas that I took from the rotation website which are not specifically credited. What follows is a description of the class I designed for our school age children to explore the concept of the Body of Christ. I made an effort to teach using several different intelligences.

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 12:12-27

Leader Preparation:

• Read the scripture for this lesson.
• Gather the materials.
• Preview and download the YouTube videos noted below,
  Tip: Check here if you need help downloading from YouTube, or understanding how to show a downloaded video even without internet connection.

Supplies:

• a way to view YouTube videos
• table for activities
• white paper and markers
• Lego

Opening

I had a broadly graded class of elementary students with a high school student helper. We
began by singing with motions “Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes.”

Dig

We then gathered around a table with Bibles. I asked them where the New Testament was. We opened to Matthew, I mention the first four books were called Gospels and then turned back to the Epistles, explaining that an Epistle was a letter. I named some of them – Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians. I then asked the students to name the town they lived in – Cleveland Heights, South Euclid, Mentor. I said if there were books named after these towns they might be called Cleveland Heightians, Mentorians, etc.

We then found 1 Corinthians 12:12-27.

Video Clip #1

I then showed a YouTube video with Mr. Potato Head
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMt7-SVZc-U&NR=1

We then discussed what the Body of Christ meant.  That it took all parts to function well, and that we were those parts. I asked, “What would Jesus have us do?” Children replied: be kind, love God, attend worship, don’t make fun of those who are different.

Activity #1: Draw a Body Part

I then gave each child a piece of paper and something to write/color with. I asked them to
spread out around the room and draw one body part, but not to show others what you have drawn.

We then assembled our body parts by laying the sheets on the floor. We had extra eyes, no hands.  (We also had a derriere. I considered it a risk by being open ended and just laid it where it belonged on the body). So we discussed the importance of the missing parts and about how we could be those missing parts. I gave examples of things the hands could do to support the Body of Christ. Cleaning up, writing.

Video Clip #2

We then gathered at the table again and I showed the following YouTube clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egkRSJtNwjU
This one shows words on the screen but has no sound. I had the class read along out loud.

Activity #2: Lego ~ Build a Body

We then got out Legos and I encouraged them to build a body. I left it up to them if they wanted to do something together or each build a part or whole bodies.

Option: Find a bucket of Mr. Potatoe Heads at a local thrift store or dollar store.  Have the kids team up and explain the body of Christ, to each other, using a Mr. Potato Head.

Anne's Lesson Review: When a parent came and I encouraged the child to tell his dad what we had talked about, he promptly said, “The Body of Christ”. And when asked what was the Body of Christ, he replied “Us!” So I considered it a success.

Ann Randall
Noble Road Presbyterian Church
Cleveland Heights, OH

Editor reformatted to improve readability by adding headings, summary, supply list, and embedded suggested videos.

*Here's another Mr Potato Head video on the Body of Christ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...k5uo&feature=related

There are several fun & serious YouTube videos out there. Some were very good, some more appropriate for an older group. Just beware of the ones that take the fun a little too far . . .

Ann Randall