NIV. 1 East Bode Road Streamwood, IL U.S.A. (630) awana.org 2016 Awana Clubs International

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1 1 East Bode Road Streamwood, IL U.S.A. (630) awana.org Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. NIV

2 2.2 THE BIBLE HELPS US KNOW GOD: LESSON OPENER (5 MINUTES) OPTION 1: SPECIAL GUEST Notes: WHAT YOU LL NEED: Paper and pens or whiteboard and dry erase markers (optional: cell phones, computer, and video equipment) LEADER PREP: Ask a guest your kids don t know to chat with your kids WITHOUT using verbal communication. (Possible methods of nonverbal communication include chatting online, video chatting using signs, or typing to communicate instead of sound, texting, or writing messages on a whiteboard or paper.) ACTIVITY: STEP 1: Encourage kids to get to know the unknown guest by asking him or her questions (e.g., What is your name? How old are you? What do you do for a job?). The guest will respond by using only electronic or written communication. If you are using smartphones or an online communication device, give any necessary instructions to kids. STEP 2: After kids have communicated with the guest, ask: What was unusual about the communication between you and the guest? (Kids got to know this person without ever hearing his or her voice talking to them. They only communicated through the words he or she wrote or typed.) STEP 3: Transition to the main lesson by explaining, We don t have to hear a person s voice to get to know him or her. We can also get to know them through the words they write. God gave us His written words in the Bible so that we can know Him. STEP 4: Open in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you and the kids into God s truth through the lesson activities. Transition to main lesson.

3 2.2 THE BIBLE HELPS US KNOW GOD: MAIN LESSON (10 MINUTES) OPTION 1: ROVING REPORTERS WHAT YOU LL NEED: Bible bookmarked to 2 Timothy 3:16 and John 20:31; Bibles for kids; Who? What? Why? handout (Resource Bundle); pens or pencils; John 20:31 written in a visible place in the room (optional: a cordless microphone or toy microphones, whiteboard, or posterboard) LEADER PREP: Print the Who? What? Why? handout from the Resource Bundle and make a copy for each child and adult leader. Choose several of the following biblical events: creation (Genesis 1-2), the flood (Genesis 6-8), the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14), the battle of Jericho (Joshua 6:1-24), the death and resurrection of Christ (John 19, 20). Assign an event to each adult leader and give each of them a copy of the handout. Ask them to be prepared ahead of time to act as experts on their events and to answer questions about God based on their assigned event. Instead of breaking into groups with leader experts, you may choose to stay together as one large group for the activity. ACTIVITY: STEP 1: Ask kids: How did God write His words to us in the Bible? (Kids should remember learning about the process of biblical inspiration in the Start Zone.) After kids share what they think, open your Bible to 2 Timothy 3:16 and read it to the kids. Share these key concepts: A. God-breathed means that all the words of the Bible came from God, but He didn t actually take a breath and speak all the words to us out loud. And He didn t write them in the way you or I sit down to write a note or a letter. B. Rather, God chose at least 40 different men to write the Bible for Him. The Holy Spirit (who is God) told those men what He wanted them to write, and they wrote down the words exactly as God told them. C. God made sure the men did not make any mistakes. So we can be sure the words in the Bible are exactly what God wants us to know about Himself! STEP 2: We can get to know God better by reading what He tells us in the Bible about Himself and what He has done. Divide kids into small groups. (Optional: Give groups a cordless microphone to share.) Tell kids to pretend to be roving reporters who must investigate an incident (something that happened) and see what they can learn about God through that incident. Explain that good reporters study information about the incident and then question experts to help them better understand the event they are reporting. Distribute several Bibles to each group and a handout to each kid. Assign an event and corresponding expert to each pair or group. Optional: Rather than dividing into groups, you may remain in a large group. Choose one or two biblical events for groups to read and complete the handout together. You or another leader can serve as the expert. STEP 3: Have reporters carefully read the events of the passage, question their experts, and work as a group to discuss what they have learned about God based on that event. Encourage them to record their findings on their worksheets. After about seven or eight minutes, have a reporter from each group present their findings. (Optional: Have one or more reporters from each group record their findings about God on a whiteboard or posterboard.) Discuss these key concepts together: A. People might tell you things about God and you can learn about Him by looking at what He created, but the only way for you to really get to KNOW Him (like you would get to know a friend) is by reading what He tells us about Himself in the Bible. B. God s words in the Bible tell us who He is and what He has done so we can get to know Him. C. Everything God tells us about Himself in the Bible is true. D. The Bible is a big book with a lot of information. Every bit of it can help you know God better, and you have the opportunity to know God better by faithfully studying His Word. STEP 4: Give one reporter a last assignment. Instruct him or her to read aloud from your Bible the memory verse for the week, John 20:31. Explain that the word these in the verse refers to God s words in the Bible book of John. Point all the reporters to where you have the verse written in the room so they can look at it as they answer these questions: PAGE 1 OF 2

4 2.2 THE BIBLE HELPS US KNOW GOD: MAIN LESSON (10 MINUTES) A. What can we learn about Jesus from this verse? (He is the Christ, the Son of God.) B. Why were God s words written in the book of John? (They were written so that we would believe in Jesus.) Notes: C. What happens when we believe in Jesus? (We have life in His name. This is eternal life, which lasts forever.) STEP 5: Explain that the most important thing God wants us to know about Him when we read the Bible is how to have a relationship with Him through believing in His Son, Jesus Christ. We start a relationship with Jesus when we make the choice to believe, or trust, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and came alive again so we could have life forever with Him. PAGE 2 OF 2

5 2.2 THE BIBLE HELPS US KNOW GOD WHO? WHAT? WHY? INSTRUCTIONS: Your leader will assign to you one of these events to study: creation (Genesis 1-2), the flood (Genesis 6-8), the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14), the battle of Jericho (Joshua 6:1-20), the death and resurrection of Christ (John 19, 20). Answer the following questions as you study. 1. Who are the main people involved in the incident? 2. What are some of the things God did in the Bible verses you read? 3. What are some of the things God said in the Bible verses you read? 4. Why do you think God told us about this incident in the Bible? 5. What can you learn about God from the things He did and said in these verses? What is God like? NAME:

6 2.2 THE BIBLE HELPS US KNOW GOD WHO? WHAT? WHY? INSTRUCTIONS: Your leader will assign to you one of these events to study: creation (Genesis 1-2), the flood (Genesis 6-8), the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14), the battle of Jericho (Joshua 6:1-20), the death and resurrection of Christ (John 19, 20). Answer the following questions as you study. 1. Who are the main people involved in the incident? 2. What are some of the things God did in the Bible verses you read? 3. What are some of the things God said in the Bible verses you read? 4. Why do you think God told us about this incident in the Bible? 5. What can you learn about God from the things He did and said in these verses? What is God like? NAME:

7 2.2 THE BIBLE HELPS US KNOW GOD: LESSON OPENER (5 MINUTES) OPTION 2: FAST FACTS Notes: WHAT YOU LL NEED: Image and basic facts about a famous person that kids would know about (e.g., a president, movie star, athlete) STEP 1: Hold up an image of the famous person and give kids one minute to call out fast facts about that person (e.g., his or her name, famous accomplishments). STEP 2: Hold up the picture of a T&T leader. Give kids one minute to call out fast facts about the leader. STEP 3: Explain to kids that while they know about the famous person in the picture, they really cannot claim to know him or her personally. They could get to know him or her if they wrote personal letters back and forth or talked with him or her. STEP 4: Remind kids that many people claim to know God, but they only know about Him. We can only get to know God by reading His personal Word to us the Bible. STEP 5: Open in prayer, asking God to help your kids truly KNOW Him personally through reading His Word. Transition to main lesson.

8 2.2 THE BIBLE HELPS US KNOW GOD: MAIN LESSON (10 MINUTES) OPTION 2: FIND OUT MORE WHAT YOU LL NEED: Bibles, Bible for teacher, individually wrapped candy, gold card stock or yellow construction paper, scissors, tape, paper and pens LEADER PREP: Cut strips of gold card stock or yellow construction paper. The strips should be the right size to tape around the candy pieces. Print one of the following Bible verse references on each of the strips two times: 1 John 1:5, Matthew 5:48, John 3:16-17, Isaiah 45:18, Numbers 23:19, Psalm 147:5. (Print the verses two times so they can be visible from either side of the candy piece.) Wrap a strip of prepared paper around each piece of candy and tape securely. (If you have a large club, make several sets.) Hide wrapped candies around the room. Set one aside as a model to show the class. STEP 1: Ask kids: How can you get to know a new kid in your class at school? (Answers might include spending time with him, asking him questions, inviting him over.) Remind them that it takes time and effort to get to know someone, but once we get to know him or her, we have the opportunity to become friends with the person. C. Everything God tells us about Himself in the Bible is true. D. The Bible is a big book with a lot of information. Every bit of it can help you know God better, and you have the opportunity to know God better by faithfully studying His Word. STEP 4: Explain that one of the greatest treasures that God offers to us is a relationship with Him. Read John 20:31 and discuss with kids what believe means. Remind them that God s words were written to tell us who He is, what His Son has done for us, and how we can have a relationship with God through believing in His Son, Jesus. Hold up your Bible and tell kids that each verse that teaches us more about God is a treasure of truth, worth more than the greatest riches in all the earth. The more we seek the truths in God s Word, the more we will get to know Him. Notes: STEP 2: Read aloud Psalm 19:7-10 and explain that God s Word is to be desired more than gold. Hold up the prepared candy and instruct kids to search for the treasures hidden around the room. Tell kids they can only find one treasure. (Note: Have leaders participate if there are an uneven number of kids.) Have kids sit near other kids who found the same references. STEP 3: Give the groups Bibles and instruct kids to look up the verses and write what those verses say about God. Ask leaders to offer guidance as needed. After several minutes, ask kids to reveal their treasures with the club. Discuss these key concepts: A. People might tell you things about God and you can learn about Him by looking at what He created, but the only way for you to really get to KNOW Him (like you would get to know a friend) is by reading what He tells us about Himself in the Bible. B. God s words in the Bible tell us who He is and what He has done so we can get to know Him.