CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN

Church School Program

CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAINMARVELOUS MOUNTAIN MEANDERS

INTRODUCTIONIn this series of Children’s Church lessons we will be

hearing the stories of some of the Mountains mentioned in the Bible and learning what the events on these mountains have to teach us about our great and wonderful God and His dealings with man.

The first session describes the preparations and packing for the mountain tour. The importance of Bible reading and prayer are highlighted and the mountain climbers’ kit compared to the Biblical Armor of God.

The children are issued with their backpacks containing their Mountain Log Book and Songbook and tickets for the events at the mountains.

The Mountains to be visited will be Mt. Ararat to see Noah and his family, Mt Moriah to learn about Abraham and Isaac and Covenant relationship with God, Mt Sinai to meet Moses and hear about him receiving the Ten Commandments, The Mount of Olives, Mt Calvary to hear of Jesus death on the Cross and His glorious resurrection.

During each session we will locate the mountain to be

visited on the map and the children will stick a star on the map in their log, set our watches back to the correct Biblical time (Old Testament or New Testament), learn a Bible Memory Verse, draw a “photo” of the event and send a “telegram from the top” telling what we have learned about God on that mountain.

CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAINMARVELOUS MOUNTAIN MEANDERS

PACKING TO GOMEMORY VERSE : Psalms 121:1-2 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills. Where does my help come from?My help comes even from the Lord who made heaven and earth.

TALK to the children about their week and pray for the session and any special needs they would like to pray about.ASK if any of them have ever been camping or hiking or gone to the mountains and listen to their stories.PUPPET PLAY about a group of small Australian animals who go up a mountain to meet with God.DISCUSS what would have to be packed to go to climb a mountain Use visual aids to show the things that would be included in a mountain climber’s kit.BRAINSTORM On a white board or large sheet of paper compile a list of things to take as the children say them. Be sure to include : warm clothes, strong hiking boots, map, compass, food, Teddy Bear, camera, log book, Bible, special mountain climbing equipment (show photos) Teacher unpacks their own pack to show the contents.TALK about GETTING PHYSICALLY FIT and do some running on the spot, star jumps, toe touching etc.DISCUSS difficulties involved in climbing mountains (crevasses, steep tracks, avalanches etc.) Discuss the fact that God is always there to help us when things are difficult and Learn the Memory Verse. Talk about Singing DISTRIBUTE the Back packs to the children. Get them to turn to the section Pack to Go and make up their lists of what to take with them. The younger groups can colour the pictures of the equipment to take.Sing Climb up Sunshine Mountain. Close in prayer.

CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAINMARVELOUS MOUNTAIN MEANDERS

MT. ARARATMEMORY VERSE : 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your cares on Him for He cares for you.Leader: Well I’m glad to see you have all come to climb Mt Ararat with us.Let’s see if you are all here. (Mark the roll and issue the backpacks) Check if they remember the memory verse from last week. Those who can recite the verse receive a Mountain Memory certificate.This time the mountain we will be traveling to is here (Locate it on the map. Children stick a star on the spot on the map in their log book.)Remember we have to adjust watches. Today we have to set them back to Old Testament time (Chorus a backwards countdown from 5-0 and play a whirring sound)Well, here we are and yes, here is our guide for today’s tour – it’s Noah himself!Noah: Yes that’s me – Noah. And I can prove it too. See my name here on the tag N O A H No R! Everybody ready? All got all the things you need for climbing mountains? All ready to learn something about God? Good, then we are ready to start.This is where my adventures began. This is where God said to me “Noah, there’s going to be a flood” and he told me to build an ark – that’s a great big boat. He told me just how it had to be and how I had to make it – out of gopher wood and sealed inside and out with pitch so that it would be watertight. You should have a picture of it in your hiker’s log books.So I started to build it here and all my neighbours came pouring out of their houses to jeer and laugh at me.

Noah’s gone daftHe’s building a raftOr some sort of craftWith cages fore and aftHow will it be staffed?Will he hold a draft?And they laughedAnd they laughed And they laughed.Have you ever had people laughing at you? It’s not very nice, is it? But I just had faith in God that if He said there would be a flood there would be a flood and if He said build an ark then I must do it and that if God was for me then who would be against me? I just had to Walk by Faith Do you know that song? We could sing that as we walk up the mountain (All line up behind Noah and march, singing I Walk by Faith)So then I finished the ark and God said He wanted me to take animals on board- two of most kinds and seven of some others – so I did that (Noah describes all the different types of animals coming onto the ark) Then we all went into the ark and God sealed up the door. And it started to rain!And boy did it rain! I’ve never seen anything like it in my life! Thunder and lightning (Noah describes storm, flood waters rising etc.) And boy was I scared! I was frightened! I was terrified! Have you people ever been scared of anything? (Keep prompting until some of the children say they have been afraid then say -) Well I think your teacher might have something that can help us. (Teach the Memory Verse 1 Peter 5:7)Noah : Thank you that did help. That’s exactly what helped me when I was in the Ark with all those animals. I knew that God was caring for me and protecting me.

It kept on raining for forty days and forty nights and then it stopped and gradually the flood waters started to go down. The Ark came to rest here on the top of Mt Ararat. I sent out a raven to find out if there was any land above the waters but the raven didn’t come back. So then I sent out a dove and the dove returned with a piece of olive branch in its beak. We waited a bit longer and then we opened up the ark and let all the animals stream out (Noah describes all the animals walking, running, leaping, slithering etc.)We were all so thankful to God for taking care of us and keeping us safe that we built an altar out of piled up stones and said thank you to God. And God put a beautiful rainbow in the sky as a promise that He would never flood the whole world again.Children draw a picture of the story in the Take a Photo section and write what they have learned about God in the Telegram from the Top section. Close in prayer.

CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAINMARVELOUS MOUNTAIN MEANDERS

MT. MORIAHMEMORY VERSE : Micah 4:2 Come and let us go up to the mountain of the LordLeader: Today we are going to visit Mt. Moriah. We’ll check that you are all here (mark the attendance) (Check whether the children remember last week’s memory verse. Those who can recite the verse receive a Mountain Memory certificate)Locate Mt Moriah on the map and the children stick a star on the map in their logbooksSet the time to Old TestamentLearn today’s Memory Verse. Mt. Moriah is the place where God made a Covenant with AbrahamExplain Covenants Explain OT need for sacrifices to make sins right with God and that now Jesus has provided Himself as the sacrifice and we do not need to make sacrifices Read the story of Abraham and IsaacChildren draw a picture of the story in the Take a Photo section and write what they have learned about God in the Telegram from the Top sectionClose in prayer.

CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAINMARVELOUS MOUNTAIN MEANDERS

MT SINAIMEMORY VERSE: Exodus 20:22And the Lord said unto Moses; Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven

Leader: Today we are going to visit Mt. Sinai. We’ll check that you are all here (mark the attendance) Learn today’s Memory Verse. Locate Mt Sinai on the map and the children stick a star on the map in their logbooksSet the time to Old Testament Mt. Sinai is the place where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments for us to live by.Meet up with Moses who will explain how he received the Ten CommandmentsTeach the mnemonic pictures for remembering the order of the Commandments Sing The Perfect TenChildren draw a picture of the story in the Take a Photo section and write what they have learned about God in the Telegram from the Top sectionClose in prayer.

CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAINMARVELOUS MOUNTAIN MEANDERS

MOUNT CARMELELIJAH AND THE PROPHETS OF BAALMEMORY VERSE: Joshua 24:15Choose you this day whom ye will serve .

Leader: Today we are going to witness a contest between Elijah, the prophet of The One True God and the prophets of Baal 1 Kings 18:17-46 We’ll check that you are all here (mark the attendance) Mark the attendance roll. Check who has remembered the previous Memory Verse and award Mountain Memory certificates to the children who can recite it.Locate mountain on the map and children stick a star on the map in their logbook.Set timer to Old TestamentMeet the visitors who witnessed the contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal and tell the exciting story

Children draw a picture of the story in the Take a Photo section and write what they have learned about God in the Telegram from the Top section Do the worksheets Close in prayer.

CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAINMARVELOUS MOUNTAIN MEANDERS

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT ITHE BEATITUDESMEMORY VERSE: Isaiah 52:7How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, announcing peace, proclaiming good news of salvation and saying unto Zion your God reigns

.Leader: Today we are going to talk to some people who listened to Jesus giving the Sermon on the Mount. We’ll check that you are all here (mark the attendance) Mark the attendance roll. Check who has remembered the previous Memory Verse and award Mountain Memory certificates to the children who can recite it.Locate mountain on the map and children stick a star on the map in their logbook.Set timer to New TestamentMeet the visitors who have been listening to Jesus giving The Sermon on the Mount who will share The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) with the children.Children draw a picture of the story in the Take a Photo section and write what they have learned about God in the Telegram from the Top section Do the worksheets that relate to the Beatitudes.Close in prayer.

CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAINMARVELOUS MOUNTAIN MEANDERS

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT IITHE LORD’S PRAYERMEMORY VERSE: 1Thessalonians 5:17Pray without ceasing

Leader: Today we are again going to talk to some more people who listened to Jesus giving the Sermon on the Mount. We’ll check that you are all here (mark the attendance) Check who has remembered last week's Memory Verse and award Mountain Memory Awards to those who can remember it.Learn today’s Memory Verse.Locate mountain on the map and children stick a star on the map in their logbook.Set the time to New Testament Meet the visitors who have been listening to Jesus giving The Sermon on the Mount who will share The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 5:9-15) with the children.

Children draw a picture of the story in the Take a Photo section and write what they have learned about God in the Telegram from the Top section Do the worksheets that relate to the Lord's Prayer.Close in prayer.

CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAINMARVELOUS MOUNTAIN MEANDERS

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT IIIDON’T WORRYMEMORY VERSE : Philippians 4:6Be careful for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God

Leader: Today we are again going to talk to some people who listened to Jesus giving the Sermon on the Mount. We’ll check that you are all here (mark the attendance) Check who has remembered last week's Memory Verse and award Mountain Memory Awards to those who can remember it.Learn today’s Memory Verse.

Locate mountain on the map and children stick a star on the map in their logbook.Set the time to New Testament Meet the visitors who have been listening to Jesus giving The Sermon on the Mount who will share Jesus teachings about Not worrying about possessions (Matthew 6:24-34) with the children.

Children draw a picture of the story in the Take a Photo section and write what they have learned about God in the Telegram from the Top section Do the worksheets that relate to Not worrying about Possessions.Close in prayer.

CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAINMARVELOUS MOUNTAIN MEANDERS

MT. CALVARYMEMORY VERSE : John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life

Mark the attendance roll. Check who has remembered the previous Memory Verse and award Mountain Memory certificates to the children who can recite it.Locate Mt Calvary on the map and children stick a star on the map in their logbook.Set timer to New Testament

Listen to tape of The Centurion’s song or have a guest appearance monologue from The Centurion or read the story of Good Friday from a book of Children's Bible Stories.Children draw pictures in Take a photo section and write a Telegram from the TopClose in prayer.

CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAINMARVELOUS MOUNTAIN MEANDERS

REFERENCES OF SOURCES

CONNOLLY, Peter Living in the time of Jesus of Nazareth Israel, Steimatzky, 1993

HUNT, Patricia J All colour book of Bible stories London, Octopus, 1978

The Lion handbook of the Bible Oxford, Lion, 1973

PARKER, Victoria The Old Testament London, Anness, c2001

READER’S DIGEST Jesus and his times New York, Reader’s Digest, c1987 Sir Oliver’s Song coloring book Minneapolis, Bethany Fellowship

WEBSITE REFERENCEShttp://www.biblegateway.com/ www.oneyearbibleblog.com/ http://www.childrenschapel.org/biblestories/baal.html

WIKIPEDIA REFERENCES

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Hebrew_Bible_mountains http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Ararat http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountains_of_Ararat http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Searches_for_Noah%27s_Ark http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Horeb http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_Mount_Sinai http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Carmel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_David http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Ebal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Gerizim http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Gilboa http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goath http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Hazor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Hermon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mizar_(mountain) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moriah http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Nebo_(Jordan) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_of_Olives http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Pisgah_(Bible) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Sinai http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Sodom http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Tabor