Glänzen! Leitfaden für Kleingruppen

We have put together a few suggestions to help you plan your at home, church or school Shine! Session for children and young people.  This is primarily for face-to-face sessions, not online!

There is no right or wrong way of doing this!  The most important thing is that you hear from our Heavenly Father as you prayerfully plan your time of worship and prayers for the “Light of the World” Movie vision.

For some, it may be a quiet time of listening, reading the Bible, prayers and occasional worship songs … for others, the sessions may be a more hands-on time with creativity, artwork, games and inspirational videos. 

Our prayer is that you are able to customize your plans to suit the children and young people that will be taking part so that they are inspired, engaged and encouraged.

We believe children are not just the Church of tomorrow – they’re the Church of today! – and there is no ‘Junior Holy Spirit!’

Our suggested goals for each Shine! gathering are that they include:

1. Prayer: Christ-centered prayer and worship – ‘Jesus at the Center’.
2. Mobilization: Unite children and families to pray for the “Light of the World” movie’s release and impact.
3. Inspiration: Empower children to see themselves as light-bearers and nation-changers, just like young John in the film.
4. Discipleship: Encourage follow-up discipleship through the Glänzen! Blatt zum Mitnehmen, the film’s free curriculum and Tyndale resources.
5. Mission: Pray for children everywhere to hear and respond to the Gospel through “Light of the World”.

"You are the light of the world… let your light shine!" – Matthew 5:14-16

As we have already said, it’s entirely up to you how you organize your Glänzen! program! What follows is one of a million possible options. We hope that it might help inspire you as you begin to plan. 
Above all… do be ready to discard your list when the Holy Spirit takes over!

Tips:

• Nuke any imagined pressures to pray long prayers – “God hears 5-word prayers!”
• Spread into small groups if necessary to give everyone the opportunity to pray & participate.
• Let children lead! They can welcome people, read verses, lead worship and pray.

See the website landing page for various resources:

• Glänzen! Prayer Guide – 7 themed prayer points with Bible verses
• ‘Why we are God’s Favorites’
• BLESS Card – Pray for 5 friends who don’t yet know Jesus
• S.H.I.N.E. Takeaway Sheet – 5 ways children can share Jesus in their everyday lives
• Video Playlist (The Light of the World story and Worship Songs)

Light of the World have some brilliant curriculum material that can be used one-off or for a series of 6 children and youth program activities.  Tyndale is publishing great family resources tied into LIGHT OF THE WORLD.

• Use a globe, flashlight or candles to pray for the nations
• Write “Jesus is the Light of the World” in different languages
• Play LIGHT-themed songs (e.g., “This Little Light of Mine”, “Way Maker”, “Shine, Jesus, Shine”)
• Build a paper lantern and write a prayer inside
• Use hand motions to act out your prayers
• Invite someone from a different church to lead worship / share a word / pray
• Provide art equipment so people can draw / paint what they hear God saying as they pray
• End with a “Glänzen! Cheer”:
• “Who Shines! for Jesus?” – (Kids yell) “We do!”
• “Where do we Shine?” – “Everywhere!”

Let your hour be full of joy, creativity, and the presence of Jesus!

You don’t need to be perfect. Just willing.
You don’t need to say fancy words. Just real ones.
You don’t need a big crowd. Just hearts ready to worship.

So… get ready to SHINE!