This series is inspired by the wildly popular family-friendly video game called “Animal Crossing.” Biblical Crossing: 4-Week Children’s Ministry Curriculum will keep your students’ attention, help them grow in their faith, and encourage them to share the Good News. Children will find out what it takes to tend to their “faith island” by connecting with Jesus in daily life.

Download the free sample lesson or purchase the complete 4-week curriculum.

This curriculum is flexible enough to handle a wide range of age groups in even the smallest Sunday school. We have included “more than enough” with each lesson to help you adapt to every teaching situation. Use what you can to teach the main idea, even if your class time does not allow for all activities.

See more lesson plans for Sunday School from Jessa McClure.

ABOUT THIS CURRICULUM

• 82-page print-friendly download
• Perfect for ages 6 to 12
• Designed for small churches with simplified teaching activities
• Includes access to source files and easy-edit Microsoft Word files
  
• Unlimited permission to share directly with volunteers or families in your church
• NIV Translation Included, but adaptable to any Bible version

EACH LESSON INCLUDES

• Large group lesson
• K-1st small group discussion
• 2nd-5th small group discussion
• Memory verse activity
• Full color memory verse poster
• Multiple age-appropriate learning activities: craft, skit, or games
• Coloring sheet
• Parent take home sheet

4-Week Curriculum Overview

 Animal Crossing has become a popular social simulation video game that allows children (and adults) to escape to their own island where they are responsible for building relationships with other animals and maintaining a sense of community. It has lots of real-world applications, but it can also be a great symbol for building your relationship with Jesus after you accept him into your heart. When we are first saved, we are so excited, but then we realize that it takes work to build and maintain a relationship with Jesus. In this series, children will learn how to tend to this relationship so they can grow their faith and stay connected to Jesus.

 Week #1: GROW in your faith

• Just like in Animal Crossing, you will have to take care of your faith (island) to help it grow. If you let it sit unattended or stay where you’re comfortable, you’ll never get to experience the joy that comes with complete faith in your savior.
• Bible Story: The Vine and the Branches Parable. Jesus is the center of the Christian faith and the source of life and the way to eternal life.
• Memory Verse: John 15:5 “’I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him—this one bears much fruit—for apart from me you are not able to do anything.’”

 Week #2 DEBUG your life

• You must get rid of the things in your life that cause you to turn from God. When your island is overrun with bugs, it’s not healthy for anyone. This can happen to us in our walk with Jesus. If we let sin and worldly things get in the way of our relationship with Him, then we can’t follow the path he has for us.
• Bible Story: James preaches to early Christians. James was a leader of the early church who spent time preaching to Christians about how to move away from a worldly life of sin and stay close to God.
• Memory Verse: James 4:8 “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

 Week #3 SHARE your faith

• If you only shared your food and supplies with one villager on your island in Animal Crossing, you would not be successful at the game. This is true with our faith as well. We can’t keep the “good news” to ourselves. We need to share it with others so they can know Jesus, too.
• Bible Story: Phillip Evangelizes. Phillip knows the “good news” and shares it with others. Phillip preaches about how Jesus suffered and died on the cross to save people from their sinful nature.
• Memory Verse: Isaiah 53:1 “Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

 Week #4 GIVE the GIFT of salvation

• Just like in Animal Crossing, one of your goals is to give a special gift to the people (animals) around you. This is true in your faith walk as well. Once you have found people who want to hear about Jesus, you will help lead them to the gift of salvation.
• Bible Story: The Best Gift Ever. Jesus is the bridge to God. We were a sinful people and God sent his only son to die on the cross to give us the chance for salvation. We can help others know this truth and receive the best gift ever!
• Memory Verse: Romans 5:6 “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.”