Mosaic books:combined index of the 8 books in date order of printing.
Mosaic Books:For small groups of children with a wide age range.
Each book has 12 sessions for small groups with a wide age range 3-14 and most have a bonus All Age Service.
A small group with a wide age range need not grow in number. But with God’s help and your committed leadership, it can grow in depth of understanding, in breadth of relationships, and in heights of faith. Enjoy the blessings.
God with Us 2012
Units
Illustrated Letters – Pauls letters to the young churches Philippians, Philemon and 2 Timothy
Peter and Jesus, with All Age bonus session on Peter
Elisha the prophet
Case study – Glass half empty? Looking at the benefits of a smaller group
Mosaic Clinic Points – Top tips from ministry practitioners to the make the most of your small group with a wide range.
Encourage the older children (set up, mentors, helpers) and the younger ones.
Have activities that respect the older children and help them to grow in faith. By encouraging them to help and take responsibility, you demonstrate your willingness to take a risk and trust them.
Be aware of the needs of the younger children – try to assign a leader to help them each day as they are still dependent on adults. Remember they take things literally, so be careful and accurate.
God is Good2012 Reprinted 2014
Units
In God’s Hands – Discover how God protects David in his early life
Bonus All Age Service – the Lord is my shepherd
Jesus Challenges Us – Jesus parables confront us with challenges about how we should live.’
Adventures with God – Stories from the early chapters of Acts, finding out about our God who communicates.
For Adults
Case Study on Mosaic for Rural Churches
Mosaic Clinic Points
Get to know each child well. Encourage the wider congregation to get to know them to.
Think and plan ‘Family’ not ‘Class’
Make any time with them fun and good; you can offer some activities much more easily in a small group like cooking, going for a walk or watching a laptop computer screen.
Spot the God moments – because you know them well you will be able to help them take their next step of faith.
Structure gives security. A planned programme that is going to work frees you to spend more time building relationships and nurturing the children’s faith rather than worrying about what is coming next.
Celebrations 2013
Christmas – Be amazed at the extent of God’s love in sending Jesus
Bonus All Age – It’s the Nativity
Easter: Learn why Jesus died and rose again.
Pentecost: Discover how to live life to the full with God’s gift of the Holy Spirit.
Case Study for Leaders – Shine Like Stars.Page 46 and 47.Wherever our small corner is God has called us to shine like stars Phil 2:15. Your light may be the only one those children encounter for miles around and is therefore crucial to growing God’s Kingdom. Able to tailor children to where they are at in their spiritual journeys. Our work has eternal consequences. Children’s work is never easy. It is often costly and requires hard work. We often don’t see the results of the seeds we sow. It is God who is responsible for growing it. 1Cor 3:6. In many countries there are 3 generations of people who have had little or no contact with the church. Sowing God’s story back into the hearts and minds of children is crucial if they are ever going to have the freedom to decide whether to follow Christ or not. Mosaic helps children to engage with God’s word in the Bible in an accessible way regardless of age. It also offers extension activities for the younger and older ends of the spectrum.
Everyone is called to shine like stars but those of us whom God asks to shine before children have a unique and privileged opportunity to generate lifelong disciples full of life and love, equipped to serve God wherever they end up in the world.
Mosaic Clinic
What do you need in a programme?
Session Structures
Preparing a programme
Shaping a programme from printed resources
Shaping a programme using Mosaic online
Mosaic -God’s Power 2013
Creation be astonished by the creativity and love of God
Jesus in Command – discover the power of God shown in Jesus
Joshua- be encouraged to know God is with us.
Bonus All Age Service - remember, remember – Joshua, Luke and 1 Corinthians
For Adults
Case Study – Making Connections Dave Martin considers how small, rural congregations can nurture their children. If the gospel is to make sense, then the ideas and illustrations and exercises need to apply Scripture to his experience of life. Mosaics material is really adaptable and focussed on real life-situations, applying biblical insights and gospel truths.
Mosaic Clinic – Facilities
The provision of good facilities says something about how the YP are valued. Nobody wants to be put into a cold, cramped corner or to sit somewhere dreary and uncared for.
Improve your surroundings – A few colourful rugs or throws can soften bleak rooms. Extra light can brighten a small space. Zoning areas for particular types of activity can make a large space more comfortable. Allow space for everything if you have space!
Be flexible with what you have – Consider having age appropriate corners in your space, especially for the youngest, with activities, books and toys for learning through play. Be realistic about their attention span and have enough variety and changes of activity to keep them interested, involved and occupied.
Think about how you can split the group into at least two age-appropriate huddles for some activities. About the age of 8, children go through a major development stage as they begin to understand moral questions of right and wrong, to begin to think in abstract ways and have a clearer grasp of symbolism and language.
Discipline Appropriately Children aren’t necessarily naughty – they may just be incapable of what is being asked. The opposite may also be true. They may be a lot more capable than what is on offer and are bored or think the activity silly.
Create opportunities for children to practise life skills such as sharing, helping or cooperation.
Use your knowledge of the kids to prevent difficult situations before they occur. If you can see a situation brewing, distract the child, intervene, negotiate – or change the situation so it can’t happen. Offer quieter activities for the shy, visuals for the poor readers, discussion and negotiation and being more flexible for the moaners.
Mosaic - God is Love 2014
God’s Plan for Joseph 4 sessions. Come with Joseph through many adventures, dangers, good and bad times, and see how his life was a part of God’s plan.
Jesus the Healer 4 sessions Jesus demonstrates his love and compassion when he meets people who need the healing help that only he can provide
Ruth 2 sessions God’s love and provision is displayed in the life of Ruth
Jonah the runaway 2 sessions God’s goodness and mercy are explored through the story of Jonah.
Mosaic Clinic – Rites of Passage
1 Make a list of all the changes people in your church community (or group) have had to face in the last year.
2 Work out where God fits into the idea of ‘rites of passage’
3 Consider the support and training your church provides.
Mosaic - God Rescues 2014
Moses in Egypt – 4 sessions - Moses and God’s People discover that God loves them and will keep them safe, as he rescues his people from Egypt.
Stories Jesus Told – 4 sessions – God is always seeking those who are lost and rejoicing when they are found and rescued.
Sharing the Good News – 4 sessions – The news of Jesus is good news for everyone and Paul sets out to tell as many people as he can.
Mosaic Clinic – Cookery Activities
Easier to do with a small group than a large, it still needs organising.
Why Cook?
Safety Issues
Hygiene
Equipment Safety
Allergies and Food Safety
Where do I start?
Organisation is the key
Mosaic - God is Great- 2015
Solomon -2 sessions -The example of Solomon shows us how God can, and will, help us know what to do.
Elijah the Prophet- 4 sessions- We meet Elijah and find out how God showed his care for him, and continues to show his care for us.
Jesus Shows God’s Love - 4 sessions – John’s Gospel gives a unique portrait of Jesus, helping us encounter and understand his care for each of us.
Daring Daniel - 2 sessions- Daniel shows the uniqueness of God. God’s desire to rescue his people is illustrated in the life of Daniel.
Bonus ALL-AGE Service – Turning up the heat! A decision to stand up for what we know is right is always tough. This service for people of all ages together is about three young men who took that stand.
Daniel3; Isaiah 43:1-7 and Exodus 20:4-6
Mosaic Clinic – Handling Awe and Wonder
Lost in Wonder
The ‘wow’ factor
Created in the image of God
Children and awe and wonder
Offer some experiences
Offer appropriate spaces to be quiet
Tell awesome stories
Have spiritual conversations
Above all, be an encourager
Mosaic - God is Here- 2015
Jeremiah, the Prophet – 4 sessions – The lordship and foreknowledge of God ar explored through experiences in the life of his prophet Jeremiah.
How Should We Pray? - 4 sessions – Explore and answer this question and discover that God speaks and listens to us.
Jesus, the friend – 4 sessions – God’s love and compassion are seen in Jesus’ encounters with four individuals. (John 3-5)
Mosaic Clinic
God Followers together
The family Model
Shepherds of God’s flock.