Putting God First: My Life Week 3: Turn to God for Courage LEADER PREPARATION

Transcription

1 Putting God First: My Life Week 3: Turn to God for Courage This includes: Leader Preparation Lesson Guide LEADER PREPARATION BIBLE BASIS Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, but he died before they entered the Promised Land. After Moses death, God called Joshua to cross the Jordan River and lead the people into the land God had promised them. The land was full of promise but threatening with danger. God strengthened Joshua for the task ahead with the words, Be strong and very courageous. The passage this week ends with For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Encourage your children to turn to God for courage because he is with us wherever we go. DISCOVERY POINT Turn to God for courage. BIBLE FOCUS Joshua 1:1-9 KEY VERSE Be strong and very courageous (Joshua 1:7). TEACHING PREP The short overview below is designed to help you prepare for your lesson. Supplies You ll Need: Putting God First: My Life (Year 1/Quarter 4) CD, LIVE Children s Curriculum (Year 1) DVD, CD player, TV/DVD player, Bibles, scissors, paper, pens, tape, Barbells of Bravery handout, 2 balloons per child, markers, candy, trash bag, one roll of toilet paper, several sheets of newspaper, and one squirt toy or spray bottle per 4-5 kids Before This Lesson Fill one squirt toy or spray bottle with water for each crew. Print and cut apart the Barbells of Bravery handout. You ll need one copy per team of four kids. Assemble Bible Exploration Kits (one per four kids): one Bible, a Barbells of Bravery handout, one roll of toilet paper, paper, pens, tape, two balloons per child, several sheets of newspaper, markers, and one piece of candy per child. Review Joshua 1:1-9. Cue "Into the Bible" (Track 1) on Putting God First: My Life (Year 1/Quarter 4) CD or (Quarter 4/Track 1) on the LIVE Children s Curriculum (Year 1) DVD. Huddle briefly with your volunteers beforehand. Answer any questions they have. Encourage them and pray.

2 PARENT We ve provided you with a Family Devotion handout to send the Bible learning and faith discovery home. When kids and parents have faith discussions regularly, kids faith multiplies. So we ve given you two options: Print the Family Devotion handout and make enough copies for each child to take one home. the Family Devotion to families before or after the actual lesson. Or why not do both? That way you ll double the opportunities for parents to actually get the handout.

3 Putting God First: My Life Week 3: Turn to God for Courage LESSON GUIDE WELCOME! Supplies: Putting God First: My Life (Year 1/Quarter 4) CD, LIVE Children s Curriculum (Year 1) DVD, CD player, TV/DVD player, assembled Bible Exploration Kits, 1 water-filled squirt toy or spray bottle per Bible Crew, trash bag 1. Play Into the Bible (Track 1) from the Putting God First: My Life (Year 1/Quarter 4) CD or (Quarter 4/Track 1) from the LIVE Children s Curriculum (Year 1) DVD, as kids arrive. Into the Bible Makes me wanna jump! Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump! Makes me wanna sing! Hallelujah! It s the greatest book. Come and take a look. Makes me wanna shout! Shout! Shout! Shout! Shout! So that everyone will see I m getting into the Bible And the Bible...is getting into me! We re discovering a brand-new world As we dig a little deeper (deeper), Finding out about who God is. Open it up and see it (see it)! There s nothin like God s Word, and I get So excited. It makes me wanna, Makes me, Makes me wanna jump! Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump! Makes me wanna sing! Hallelujah! It s the greatest book. Come and take a look. Makes me wanna shout! Shout! Shout! Shout! Shout! So that everyone will see I m getting into the Bible And the Bible...is getting into me! Into the Bible by Jay Stocker Group Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission to use lyrics granted for local church use only. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

4 2. When everyone has arrived, play the Stand Up Countdown (Quarter 4/Countdown Track 1) on the LIVE Children s Curriculum (Year 1) DVD, turn the volume way up, and lead kids in counting along. SAY: This week, we ll continue exploring how we can put God first in our lives. Let s start with a game called Squirt That Fear! Sometimes we face scary or difficult situations in life. What are some scary or difficult things we face in our lives? SAY: Well, in this game, we re going to face off with our fears and play Squirt That Fear! 3. Form Bible Crews of four kids, and give each crew a Bible Exploration Kit. Have each crew take the roll of toilet paper and piece of newspaper out of the kit. Tell crews to roll out a length of toilet paper that will fit on the newspaper. Then ask kids to take turns using a marker to write or draw on the toilet paper scary or difficult situations they face. For example, someone might write tests. Another person may choose sharing about Jesus. Allow time to write, and offer help to any crews that need it. 4. When kids have finished writing, ask the crews to gently carry their toilet paper strips outside or to an area in your church that can get wet. Take a trash bag with you to pick up the pieces. (Can t make it outside for this high-energy activity? Try this indoor, mediumenergy version! Give each group a cup half full of water. Have them put their toilet paper in the water then try to pull it out in one piece. Continue with the regular discussion questions.) When you get outside, give each crew a squirt toy or spray bottle, and direct each person to squirt his or her toilet paper for several seconds until it starts to dissolve. Make sure everyone gets a chance to squirt. What s it like to see your fears dissolve? How is that like or unlike what happens to our fears when we turn to God for courage? SAY: We all have fears. There are difficult or scary things we face sometimes. But we can turn to God for courage in those situations. Let s find out about a time someone in the Bible turned to God for courage. Have kids pick up the wet pieces of toilet paper and put them in the trash bag. Then head inside to continue the lesson. LET S EXPLORE! Supplies: assembled Bible Exploration Kits, Putting God First: My Life (Year 1/Quarter 4) CD, CD player 1. Have kids stay in their Bible Crews. SAY: We often find ourselves in situations where we need courage and strength to put God first. Let s get to know a guy in the Bible who really needed courage to do what God was asking him to do. When Moses died, Joshua became the new leader of the Israelites. God gave Joshua some instructions as the new leader. Your next task is to find out what those instructions were. The answer lies in Joshua 1:1-9. Have crews find Joshua 1:1-9, and ask them to read the passage, looking for at least three important things God told Joshua to do. Encourage them to write them down so they remember. When crews have finished,

5 What were God s instructions to Joshua? What can we learn from these instructions? 2. SAY: Let s find out how Joshua might have felt facing this scary situation of leading the Israelites into a strange land. Play I.M. From God (Track 17) from the Putting God First: My Life (Year 1/Quarter 4) CD. Tell about a time you ve felt like Joshua might ve felt when God asked him to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. What helped Joshua feel better? What can help you feel better? When do you need to turn to God for courage in your life? 3. SAY: Joshua learned that he could turn to God for courage. When he did, God gave him the courage to lead the Israelites across the Jordan into the Promised Land. We can turn to God for courage in our lives, too. Think of a time in your life when you need to be strong and very courageous, as Joshua 1:7 says. For example, maybe you need courage to stand up for God at school or to do the right thing when everyone else is tempting you to sin. Allow about 30 seconds for kids to think. SAY: Now tell your group about the situation you thought of. When it s not your turn to share, make sure you re listening so you can pray for others. Allow two minutes for kids to share with their crews, and then encourage crews to turn to God for courage together. SAY: One way God gives us courage is by sending friends who will stand with us in times of trouble. Pray for your crew members this week so they can have courage in difficult situations. 4. SAY: Let s make something to help us remember to be strong and very courageous, as our Key Verse, Joshua 1:7, says. Have crews find the Barbells of Bravery handout in their Bible Exploration Kits. Show them how to tightly roll a piece of paper to substitute for the paper towel tube, and help kids blow up their balloons if they have trouble or if time is short. (WARNING: Choking Hazard Be sure to pick up pieces of any broken balloons and dispose of them immediately.) When kids finish their barbells, have them hold them over their heads in a weightlifter pose as they answer the following questions. What s easy or hard about holding your barbell above your head? What s easy or hard about turning to God for courage? SAY: When we turn to God for courage, all we have to do is pray and ask! Then we need to trust God to give us that courage. 5. SAY: Let s try something to see what it means to have courage in a scary or hard situation. Have each crew choose one person to start out blindfolded. Tell each crew to use a small amount of toilet paper to blindfold the volunteer. Then direct someone in each crew to place a piece of candy on the opposite side of the room. Explain that the blindfolded person will follow the instructions of the rest of the crew to find the candy. Have crews repeat the activity so everyone has a chance to try it. Then have them talk about the following questions in their groups. Why did you need courage in this game?

6 How important was trusting your crew in this game? Why is it important to trust God when we turn to him for courage? SAY: We can turn to God for courage as we put him first in our lives and we can trust God to give us courage because God wants to help us. Let s praise God for giving us courage in our lives. LET S PRAISE! Supplies: Putting God First: My Life (Year 1/Quarter 4) CD or LIVE Children s Curriculum (Year 1) DVD, CD player or TV/DVD player 1. SAY: Whenever we re afraid, we can turn to God for courage. God will give us courage to face difficult or scary situations. Joshua had a big job ahead of him, but God gave him the courage to do it. As we sing, thank God for the courage he gives you. 2. Set up the Putting God First: My Life (Year 1/Quarter 4) CD or the LIVE Children s Curriculum (Year 1) DVD. PLAY: Wherever You Go (Joshua 1:9) (CD Track 2) (DVD Quarter 4/Track 2) Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; Do not be discouraged, For the Lord your God will be with you (Repeat twice.) Wherever You Go (Joshua 1:9) by Jay Stocker. 2006, 2008 Group Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission to use lyrics granted for local church use only. No unauthorized duplication permitted. For the Glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31) (CD Track 7) (DVD Quarter 4/Track 7) (Chorus) So whether you eat or drink, Or whatever you do, Do it all For the glory of God. Hey!! Whether you eat or drink, Or whatever you do, Do it all For the glory, the glory of God, For the glory of God! For the glory of God! Spoke/sung: For the glory, for the glory of God. For the glory, for the glory of God.

7 (Verse 1) You could be a scientist; You could be a soccer player. It doesn t matter, as long as You do it all for the glory of God! (Sing chorus.) (Verse 2) You could be a brother or sister; You could be a best friend, too. It doesn t matter, as long as You do it all for the glory of God! (Sing chorus.) Spoke/sung: For the glory, for the glory of God. For the glory, for the glory of God. For the Glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31) by Jay Stocker Group Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission to use lyrics granted for local church use only. No unauthorized duplication permitted. All That I Am (Psalm 103:1) (CD Track 3) (DVD Quarter 4/Track 3) Yeah. With my hands (echo) I will serve you. (echo) With my feet (echo) I will go. (echo) With my voice (echo) I will sing (echo) Of your love (echo) That rescued me. Yeah. With my hands (echo) I will serve you. (echo) With my feet (echo) I will go. (echo)

8 With my voice (echo) I will sing (echo) Of your love (echo) That rescued me. Yeah. Yeah, I will praise his holy name. Oh, I will praise his holy name. All That I Am (Psalm 103:1) by Jeffrey B. Scott and Ami Sandstrom Shroyer. 2007, 2010 Group Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission to use lyrics granted for local church use only. No unauthorized duplication permitted. LET S PRAY! Supplies: Barbells of Bravery from Let s Explore! 1. Have kids find their Barbells of Bravery, and tell them to each find a place in your meeting area to spend some quiet time with God. SAY: Let s spend some time in prayer and turn to God for courage. I ll give you some instructions to help you during this prayer. First, pretend you re trying to pick your barbell off the floor, but it s too heavy. While you do that, tell God about one of the situations you need courage for that you wrote on your barbell. Allow 30 seconds, and then PRAY: Dear Lord, sometimes it feels like the situations everyone shared with you are too heavy for us to handle. Pause from the prayer, and SAY: Now pretend like you re slowly pulling it off the ground, and ask God to give you courage to face that situation. Allow 30 seconds, and then PRAY: God, we turn to you for courage in these situations. You are the God of strength and power. Pause from the prayer, and SAY: Now quickly hold your barbell over your head like a strong weightlifter. As you do that, thank God for giving you courage and tell him how you feel about his strength in your life. Allow 30 seconds, and then PRAY: Lord, you are the master of strength and courage. We can t face these situations without you. Thank you for giving us courage. We trust you to keep us strong. Pause from the prayer, and SAY: As you hold your barbell up, tell God what else you love about him. Ask him to give you courage to put him first. When you ve finished praying, slowly set your barbell down. I ll know you ve finished when your barbell is on the floor next to you. Allow a couple of minutes for kids to finish praying. Then SAY: In Jesus name, amen. 2. Have kids take their barbells home to remind them to turn to God for courage. HIGH FIVES Supplies: none

9 Encourage kids to make bodybuilder poses and give high fives to three people in a macho way as they say, Be strong and very courageous. FOR-EXTRA-TIME ACTIVITIES Champions of Courage Supplies: various craft supplies Have kids form three groups. Assign each group one of the following passages: Exodus 14:13-23; 1 Samuel 17:32-38; and Daniel 6:1-28. (If you have groups larger than seven students, double the number of groups.) Tell groups to read their passages and think about how the character in the passage showed courage. Then ask groups to create trophies for the Champions of Courage Award. Chain of Courage Supplies: none Say: When we turn to God for courage, he makes us strong like a chain. Have the kids stand in a line across the room and link arms to form a chain. Have the child on one end act as a leader and lead them, snaking through the room. Encourage kids to keep the chain strong. Hiding It in Your Heart Supplies: paper, markers Have kids read the Key Verse, Joshua 1:7, and write it at the top of a sheet of paper. Then have kids each draw a three-frame comic strip of a time they needed courage. The first frame should show how they felt in the situation without courage. The second frame should show a way to get courage, such as praying. The final frame should show what happens in the same situation with courage. Create a Bible Dictionary Supplies: paper, markers, dictionary, CD player, Putting God First: My Life (Year 1/Quarter 4) CD Ask kids to create one or more pages, each with a new word, for a Bible dictionary. Have kids suggest words from today s lesson courage and strong are two suggestions. Have them write each word on a sheet of paper in fun letters, add a definition, list Scripture references, and make illustrations. Play The Books of the Bible Song, (Track 8) from the Putting God First: My Life (Year 1/Quarter 4) CD while kids work. Add each page to a threering binder, and watch the dictionary grow!