Resources Needed

Resources needed:

Laptop or computer tablet to show media clip
Craft Resources – box templates (find online), ribbons, stickers/crayons to decorate
Chocolate coins (and dairy-free alternative)
‘Bingo man’ game card (see last page), large foam dice and stickers

Title / Transformed Life: Gifted to serve Him / Learning Objectives / God wants us to use the things we are good at to show how great He is!
Session Overview / We continue with the penultimate session in our special ‘Transformed Life’ teaching seriesbased on Ephesians 1–3.
These chapters of the Bible help us find the answers to three of life’s biggest questions:
‘Who am I? Where do I fit? What am I living for?’
Each week, we have been looking at a New Testament character who was transformed in a special way through knowing Jesus.Throughout this series, we have also been building a firm foundation in the children’s lives of how our God has transformed us in Christ.
Let’s be TRANSFORMED by Jesus as we find out how the answers to the life questions above affect how we live each day for Jesus!
In this session, we learn that when God made us, He gave us all specialabilities.We are ALL good at something! He wants us to use the things we are good at to show how GREATGod is! / Key Bible
Verses / This is the Bible verse for the whole series:
Ephesians 1:11
‘It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for’(The Message)
Please read and encourage the children to repeat this verse each time you are leading one of the Transformed Life sessions.
This week’s verses:
Ephesians 3:8 ‘But he [Jesus] gave me this gift—to tell the non-Jewish people the Good News about the riches Christ has. These riches are too great to understand fully.’ (ERV)
This week’s characters: Jesus’ Disciples learn they are gifted to serve Him.
Matthew 25:14–23 Story of the talents.
Timing / Activity / Instructions
20 mins
10 mins
(during free-play time) / Free Play/Craft
Craft – ‘Gifted box’ /
5–10 mins / Refreshments and catch up on the week / Sit the children down and give out drinks and biscuits.
Ask the children about how they are doing with their parents at home doing the Transformed Life activities in their Activity Books during the week (based on last week’s session, ‘Belonging to His family’).
(You can see last week’s notes at )
5 mins / [You can access all session notes in the ‘Transformed Life’ series at in the Resources tab.]

Bible teaching – The story of the man who gave his servants different gifts

/ Begin with the series memory verse and encourage them to repeat the words:
Ephesians 1:11 ‘It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for’ (The Message)
In the book of Ephesians (in the Bible) it says that when we are IN CHRIST, God gives us GIFTS!
Gifts are special things we can do. We sometimes call them giftings or talents.
You are all VERY, VERY special and there are things that you are good at, things that only you can do.
As you grow older, you will discover more and more things that you are REALLY good at that God has gifted you!
Begin by asking the children to tell you what they are good at. If a child finds this difficult, make sure you have a few things you can tell them they are good at (e.g. you’re always smiling; you are great at clearing up the toys; I saw that you were really kind today,etc).
Jesus told a story to his friends:
A man decided to go on a long holiday, so he called his servants and asked them to take care of his house, his stuff and his money.
Now show the cartoon clip via the iPad/laptop:
The parable of the talents cartoon: (2:20)
5 mins /

Game: ‘What’s your gift? Bingo’

You will need the Bingo man card, a dice and some stickers.
Depending on the age of the children, a large foam dice might be best. / Now let’s play the Gift Bingo game.
Sit in a circle and place the picture of the ‘bingo man card’ in the middle (find at the end of these notes).
Take it in turns to throw some dice and place a sticker over the corresponding number.
How quickly can you cover all the numbers?!
Say the phrase which corresponds to each number every time a sticker is placed on the man and talk about each GIFT as you all play the game.
3 mins / Follow-Up / In the story today, Jesus was saying that God wants us to keep doing the things we are good at. And then He will give you more!
He doesn’t want you to be like the man who didn’t use his gift.
Give out a chocolate coin to every child (be sure to use dairy-free replacements as necessary!).
Remind the children that God has given them all special gifts. Recap on the gifts highlighted in the Bingo game, as well as what the children identified as their own gifts when you talked about these before the story.
Finish by saying, ‘God has gifted you ALL so much!
Let’s all shout “Thank You, God!”’
5 mins / Worship –‘You are shaped for serving God’ by Doug Horley or find another fun worship song for the children to join in with
See at:
All join in the highlighted words / If you walk like a model or walk with a waddle;
You are, you are, you're God's indeed
If you're very, very funny or good at making money;
You are, you are, you're God's indeed
God had a brilliant plan when He created man; He knew just how each one would serve Him.
Wonderful indeed, gave you gifts you need; To work on earth for Him
You are shaped for serving God x3; Holy, holy is His name
If you laugh like a donkey or your hair's a little wonky;
You are, you are, you're God's indeed.
If you're really good at caring or a little brave and daring;
You are, you are, you're God's indeed
If you're good at origami or can make a great salami;
You are, you are, you're God's indeed
If you're fast like a whippet or really good at cricket;
You are, you are, you're God's indeed
2–3 mins /

Prayer Time – Thank You, Lord, for all my gifts!

This would be great to do in small groups of 5 or 6.
Encourage the children to say ‘Thank You’ to God for the things they are good at.
Use the suggested prayer printed here too if you would like. / Begin by asking the children to tell you what they are good at (again, be ready to encourage and support if anybody struggles!). Encourage the children to say ‘Thank You’ to God in their own words for the thing(s) they are good at.
You could finish with this prayer:
‘Thank You, Lord, for all the special talents you have given to each of us.
Help us to learn what they are and to always think of ways to use them for you and for others and not ourselves.
In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!’
Partnering with parents:
‘TRANSFORMED Life’ booklet / Encourage the children to do the activities with an adult in their family and find out more about the Jesus and being part of His family.

Matthew 25:14–23 (ERV) A Story about Three Servants

‘At that time God’s kingdom will also be like a man leaving home to travel to another place for a visit. Before he left, he talked with his servants. He told his servants to take care of his things while he was gone.He decided how much each servant would be able to care for. The man gave one servant five bags of money. He gave another servant two bags. And he gave a third servant one bag. Then he left.The servant who got five bags went quickly to invest the money. Those five bags of money earned five more.It was the same with the servant who had two bags. That servant invested the money and earned two more.But the servant who got one bag of money went away and dug a hole in the ground. Then he hid his master’s money in the hole.

After a long time the master came home. He asked the servants what they did with his money.The servant who got five bags brought that amount and five more bags of money to the master. The servant said, “Master, you trusted me to care for five bags of money. So I used them to earn five more.”

The master answered, “You did right. You are a good servant who can be trusted. You did well with that small amount of money. So I will let you care for much greater things. Come and share my happiness with me.”

Then the servant who got two bags of money came to the master. The servant said, “Master, you gave me two bags of money to care for. So I used your two bags to earn two more.”

The master answered, “You did right. You are a good servant who can be trusted. You did well with a small amount of money. So I will let you care for much greater things. Come and share my happiness with me.”

Then the servant who got two bags of money came to the master. The servant said, “Master, you gave me two bags of money to care for. So I used your two bags to earn two more.”