During the lesson, the information for you to know is written in regular type, and what we suggest speaking or reading aloud to children is in bold. All resources for this lesson, including the Teacher Guide and Student Page, can be downloaded in a ZIP file by clicking on the following link:
In some lessons you will find "resource articles." These are articles written by experts from around the world to help equip you for your work with children and adolescents. Share them with parents or guardians if you consider it appropriate.
Before class, use the stick to draw a circle in the dirt. The circle should be just large enough for all the children to stand in. The circle should be crowded when all the children stand in it together. Then draw a second, slightly larger circle outside the first circle. The children should have a little more room to stand in this circle. Finally draw a third circle outside the other circles. The children should have more space in this circle.
After that, [Jesus] poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
John 13:5
Let children’s families know that this week, their children will learn that leaders are faithful in everyday life. Encourage them to ask their children what circles of influence are.
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
Greet your children with a warm smile. This lets them know you care and are excited to see them. This helps them get excited about coming to class.
The last few weeks we have learned about being a leader. Today we will learn more about being a leader and how leaders influence others.
Point out the smallest circle.
This circle represents a circle of influence. Everyone come stand in the smallest circle.
Children should all crowd into the smallest circle.
The people you influence most are the people you see every day or almost every day. They might be your family members and friends. These people are in your smallest, closest circle of influence. This circle of influence has the people closest to you, those you see every day.
As you stand in the inner circle, you are probably touching the people next to you. This is like your inner circle of influence. Everyone turn around 3 times and clap your hands.
As the children turn around and clap, remind them to stay within the smallest circle if possible.
As you moved, it affected the people next to you. This is what influence is like. Your words, actions, and attitudes directly affect the people in your inner circle of influence just as your movements affected the people next to you.
Everyone shout the names of some of the people who are in your inner circle of influence.
Children may answer things like family members, classmates, or close friends.
How do your words, actions, or attitudes affect the people in your smallest circle of influence?
Allow children to share their ideas.
Have children step into the middle circle.
This middle-sized circle represents a larger circle of influence. This influence is with people you know but are not as close to as with those in the inner circle. Everyone kneel down and stand up 3 times.
Allow the children to do the actions. Remind them to continue to stand in the middle circle when they are done.
You may have still bumped into others, but you had more room around you, so your actions did not affect those around you as much. This is what it is like with this circle of influence. The people in this circle of influence are those you see often but for shorter periods of time. Your words, actions, and attitudes can affect them but not as directly as they affect those in your inner circle. These are people such as neighbours or children in a different grade at your school.
Everyone shout the names of some of the people in your middle circle of influence.
How could your words, actions, or attitudes affect the people in your middle circle of influence?
Allow children to share their ideas.
Have children step into the largest circle. Ask them to do 5 jumping jacks and then sit down in this circle.
The people in your outer circle of influence are those you only see occasionally. In this circle, you have more room around you so you did not bump into others as much when you did the jumping jacks. In the same way, you have less influence on the people in this circle of influence.
The people in this circle of influence are people who are not part of your everyday life. You may or may not know their names, but you would probably recognize their faces. These people may be shopkeepers, village or community leaders, and people in your community who visit the same places as you or walk on the same roads.
Who are some of the people in your outer circle of influence?
How could your words, actions, or attitudes affect the people in your outer circle of influence?
Allow children to share their ideas.
Each one of us, including you, influences the people around us. For this reason, we are all leaders because leaders influence others. Good leaders lead well in big things such as leading countries or communities. But they also lead well in small, everyday things. Today we will read a short Bible story about people who led well in their circles of influence.
The Bible tells us something important about how to be a good leader. Listen to this verse:
If you are using the Memory Verse Poster, show it to the students.
Don’t act as if you were a ruler over those under your care. Instead, be examples to the flock.
1 Peter 5:3, NIrV
God is clear that we lead in our circles of influence through our words, actions, and attitudes. Like you, the people in the Bible had circles of influence too. Listen to this story from the Bible about Peter and Tabitha. As you listen, think about the circles of influence that these 2 people had.
Peter was a disciple of Jesus. Today’s story took place after Jesus had died, been raised to life, and had returned to heaven. His disciples continued teaching others about Him. When our story takes place, Peter was in Lydda visiting with the believers there.
If possible, read Acts 9:36–42 directly from a Bible. It is also printed here:
Optional: If possible, share the image from The Action Bible.
In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!” Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers,especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.
Acts 9:36–42
Now let’s talk about Tabitha and Peter’s circles of influence.
How did Tabitha act as a leader?
She did good and helped the poor.
Who was in her closest circle of influence?
The other believers and the poor people she had helped.
How did Tabitha influence those in her circles of influence?
She helped and cared for others. She did what she could in small ways.
How did Peter act as a leader?
He went with the disciples to try to help, listened to others, and prayed and believed God for help in the situation.
In which of Peter’s circles of influence were the disciples who sent for him? Why do you think this is true?
They were probably in his outer circle of influence. They had heard of Peter, but the Bible does not say that they had met him.
How did Peter affect the disciples and Tabitha in this outer circle of influence?
Peter’s actions were used by God to bring Tabitha back to life. Many people became Christians when they heard what God had done through Peter.
Leaders can influence people in their inner circle, as Tabitha did. Leaders can also influence people in their middle and outer circles of influence, as Peter did. When you are a leader, in big or little ways, others will be influenced by your words, actions, and attitudes.
Divide the class into groups of 3 children. Ask the small groups to discuss the following questions. Give the groups about 2 minutes to discuss before you ask the next question.
Optional: If you are using the Student Pages, there is space for children to write and draw how they can be leaders in their circles of influence every day.
Remember the things we have learned about being a leader. Good leaders are servants to those they lead, such as Nehemiah. Sometimes we have unexpected leaders, such as Deborah. Good leaders listen to God and follow His way as Gideon did. Good leaders affect others in their circles of influence in big ways as Peter did and in everyday ways as Tabitha did. When you are a leader, in big or little ways, others will be influenced by your words, actions, and attitudes.
Close class by speaking the following blessing from 1 Peter 5:3 over the children.
Blessing: With God’s help, may you be a faithful leader every day in all of your circles of influence in big and small ways. May you lead by your example.
Lead the children in singing this quarter’s song, if possible.
Life on Life ©2020 David C Cook. Reproducible for home or classroom use only. All other uses require written permission from David C Cook [email protected]. All rights reserved.
