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FALL 2012 PRESCHOOL WORSHIP GUIDEEd Stetzer • General EditorTrevin Wax • Managing Editor

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The Gospel Project for Kids: Preschool Worship Guide (ISSN Applied for; Item 005508637) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President. © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.

For ordering or inquiries, visit www.lifeway.com, or write LifeWay Church Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0113.

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

NOTE: Some Internet addresses given in this periodical are outside the LifeWay Internet domain. At the time of this posting, the specific pages mentioned were viewed and approved by LifeWay editorial staff. Because information on these pages may have changed by the time of your viewing, the LifeWay editorial staff cannot be held responsible for content on pages outside their control. Specific page addresses referenced in this periodical possibly may link to inappropriate material.

The Gospel Project for Kids: Preschool Worship GuideA guide for teaching Bible truths to Preschoolers

Volume 1, Number 1Fall 2012

Production & Ministry Team Timothy Pollard Publishing Team Leader Helen Owens Content Editor Alyssa Jones Content Editor Rachel Myrick Production Editor Jackie Jones Graphic Designer Jeremy Cornelius Graphic Designer Bill Emeott Ministry Specialist Klista Storts Ministry Specialist Jerry Vogel Ministry Specialist

Send questions/comments to: Timothy Pollard, Publishing Team Leader

One LifeWay PlazaNashville, TN 37234-0172

or make comments on the Web at www.lifeway.com

Management PersonnelLance Howerton

Director, LifeWay KidsCindy Landes

Director, Kids Ministry PublishingLandry Holmes

Manager, Kids Ministry PublishingDavid Francis

Director, Sunday School

Printed in the United States of America

These Christian leaders were part of a team who consulted on the creation of The Gospel Project.

The Gospel Project Advisory Council MembersD.A. Carson—Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, ILMatt Chandler—Pastor at The Village Church, Dallas, TXJames MacDonald—Senior Pastor at Harvest Bible Chapel, Chicago, ILDaniel Akin—President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC

J.D. Greear—Pastor at The Summit Church, Raleigh, NCEric Mason—Pastor of Epiphany Fellowship, Philadelphia, PAKimberly Thornbury—Dean of Students at Union University, Jackson, TNJay Noh—Director of Missional Leadership and Mobilization, Chicago Baptist AssociationJoe Thorn—Pastor of Redeemer Fellowship, St. Charles, ILJuan Sanchez—Pastor of High Pointe Baptist Church, Austin, TXCollin Hansen—Editorial director, The Gospel Coalition / editor-at-large, Christianity Today

CONTENTSUnit 1: In the Beginning

Session 1: God Created the World and People .................................. 4

Session 2: Sin Entered the World ..................................................... 14

Session 3: Noah and the Ark ............................................................ 24

Session 4: The Tower of Babel ........................................................ 34

Session 5: Job.................................................................................... 44

Unit 2: God’s Covenant with People

Session 1: God’s Covenant with Abraham ...................................... 56

Session 2: The Sons of Abraham ..................................................... 66

Session 3: God Tested Abraham ...................................................... 76

Unit 3: The Covenant Renewed

Session 1: The Promise Reaffirmed ................................................. 88

Session 2: The Stolen Blessing ........................................................ 98

Session 3: Jacob’s New Name ....................................................... 108

Session 4: Joseph Sent to Egypt .................................................... 118

Session 5: Joseph’s Dreams Came True ........................................ 128

Unit 1: In the BegInnIng

Big Picture Questions

Session 1: Who made everything? God made everything.

Session 2: What is sin? Sin is breaking God’s law.

Session 3: Why does sin separate people from God? God is holy.

Session 4: What happens when people sin? Sin separates people from God and one another.

Session 5: Who is all-powerful? God is all-powerful.

Preschool Worship Guide

Fall 2012

Unit 1: In the BegInnIng

Unit Description: God’s story begins with the creation of all things. God did not have to create but chose to. Even more incredible, He made people for the purpose of glorifying Him. Man was created different from all other forms of life on the earth and as such was created in the image of God. God intends for people to be in fellowship with Him; however, people are affected by sin and need redemption.

Unit Key Passage: Genesis 1:27

Unit Christ Connection: God knew we would sin, and Jesus, our Creator, came to redeem us and protect us from the wrath of God by suffering for us.

Session 1: God Created the World and People Genesis 1–2

Session 2: Sin Entered the World Genesis 3–4

Session 3: Noah and the Ark Genesis 6:5–9:17

Session 4: The Tower of Babel Genesis 11:1-9

Session 5: Job Job 1–42

All of creation began with a word. God said it, and it happened. This method of creation is referred to as ex nihilo or “from nothing.” God the Father wasn’t the only One involved in creation, though. Check out Colossians 1:16-17 and John 1:1-3. Jesus was not only present at creation, He was involved. Jesus was God’s agent of creation. All things were created by Him and through Him.

The Bible also tells us that all things were created for Jesus. Have you ever wondered why butterflies exist or why the setting sun fills the sky with such vivid colors? For Jesus!

God’s creation was perfect, totally unaffected by sin. His plan was to fill the earth with all the things He saw were good: large sea-creatures, winged birds, crawling animals, livestock, and wildlife.

God’s ultimate act of creation was creating people. God created people different from everything else He created. Not only do people have a special purpose—to glorify God (Isaiah 43:7)—but we were also made to know and love God. God blessed Adam and Eve and commanded them to be fruitful and multiply.

Creation is the beginning of God’s gospel story, the story that reveals how a great God redeemed a fallen people by sending His Son, Jesus, to be the perfect sacrifice. Every story in the Bible is a snapshot of a bigger story, a story that begins at creation.

Pray for the boys and girls you teach as you prepare to share the gospel story with them. Help kids understand that they were created for a special purpose and that God desires for them to know and love Him. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you share with kids the story of God’s plan to send Jesus to earth to offer salvation to sinners. This story changes everything.

Teacher BIBLe StUDY

Preschool Worship GuideUnit 1 • Session 1

In the Beginning

Session Title: God Created the World and PeopleBible Passage: Genesis 1–2Big Picture Question: Who made everything? God made everything.Key Passage: Genesis 1:27Unit Christ Connection: God knew we would sin, and Jesus, our Creator,

came to redeem us and protect us from the wrath of God by suffering for us.

Large Group Worship (15–20 minutes)

Small Group Activities(25–30 minutes)

Large Group Closing(10+ minutes)

Preschool WorShIp oVerVIeW

God Created the World and PeopleGenesis 1–2

In the beginning, there was nothing but God. There was no sun, no dirt, no creeks, no animals, and no people. God began to do something that no person could ever do. God began to make the world … out of nothing!

First, God made the heavens and the earth. The earth was covered with water, and it was dark. God said, “Let there be light!” And there was light. God saw that the light was good. God called the light day, and He called the darkness night. That was the first day ever—Day 1.

On Day 2, God made the sky. On Day 3, God gathered the water on earth into oceans. Now there was

dry land. God saw that it was good, and He kept on working. He made all kinds of plants and trees. Every plant and tree had seed from which would grow more of the same kind of plant or tree. And God saw that it was good. Everything God makes is good.

On Day 4, God made lights in the sky for day and night. He made the sun for daytime, and the moon and stars for night. Later, people would watch these lights to see when to plant crops and when to celebrate special holidays. God looked at what He had made, and God saw that it was good.

On Day 5, God made animals that live in the water and fly in the sky. He made fish and whales and sea horses and octopuses that move in the water. He made birds that fly in the sky. He made each kind of animal different, and God saw that it was good. So God blessed the animals and told them to have baby fish and baby birds so there would be more of them on earth.

On Day 6, God made animals that live on earth, all different kinds. He made wild animals, like lions and giraffes and foxes. He made animals that crawl on the ground, like alligators and caterpillars. He made animals that help people, like cows and camels and sheep. And God saw that it was good.

But God was not through yet. The last thing God created was the most special of all. He made people. The people would take care of the earth God had made. They would take care of the plants and animals too. God saw all that He had made, and it was VERY good!

The BIBLe StorY


In the Beginning

The first man’s name was Adam. God gave Adam a job. He would take care of the garden, and he would give names to all the animals. Adam looked at each kind of bird and animal, both wild and tame, and he gave each kind the right name—dog, giraffe, pelican, aardvark—on and on until every animal had a name. But there was no other creature like Adam. So God made Adam sleep, and He took a rib from Adam. God used Adam’s rib to make a woman. God brought the woman to Adam. Adam named her Eve. Adam was very happy! God loved them very much.

On Day 7, God rested. He had done everything He planned to do. He said this day would be holy—a special day to rest, celebrate, and enjoy what He had made.

Christ Connection: Colossians 1:15-22 reveals that Christ is ruler over all of God’s creation. All of creation was created through Him, by Him, and for Him. Everything was created to give glory to Christ, but people would choose not to give Him glory. The rest of the Bible reveals how Jesus would restore the relationship between God and man.


Welcome and singUse the countdown video to signal that it is time to assemble. Sing a familiar song that your kids know such as “You Are God Alone,” “My God Is So Big,” or “I Can Say Hello.”

Practice the key passage and a Bible skillIf your group is small, you might play the “Switch Places” game to rearrange kids who listen better when separated. Say • This month, we will learn a verse from the Bible.

You can read it right here in Genesis, the first book in the Bible. [Hold up the Bible; point to the verse. Read the verse on the key passage poster in the translation you choose.]

When the Bible says “man,” it sometimes means “men and women” or “people.” “Male and female” also means “men and women.”

God created man in His own image. People cannot do everything God can do, but people can think, love, decide things, and know what is right and wrong. People

• Play “You Are God Alone” in the background as you welcome incoming preschoolers; follow your church’s security procedures.

• Set out an offering basket.

• countdown video (optional)

• “My God Is So Big”• “I Can Say Hello”

• BibleKey Passage Poster

Tip: To play the “Switch Places” game, call names of two children to switch places. Then call two more. Continue until everyone has switched places at least once and the seating is arranged as you wish.



Large Group WorShIp


In the Beginning

are special. God did not create anything else in His own image except people.

Practice saying the verse two or three times together. Say it loudly and softly.

Watch or tell the Bible storyIf this is the second time today that some kids have heard the Bible story, ask what they remember about it.

If you tell the Bible story, introduce it by asking, “Do you remember how to make the sign for the word good?” If they have not heard the Bible story, teach them the “good” sign and practice it together.

Tell the Bible story and ask them to make the sign when they hear the word good in the story, or show the Bible story video “God Created the World and People.”Say • Who made everything? God made everything!

Worship with song and prayPray, something like “Thank You, God, for making us and our world. Thank You for the Bible that tells us what You did.”

Pass the offering basket.Sing a praise song such as “How Great Is Our God.”

Teach preschoolers to sing the line “How great is our God” when they hear it. If you sang with the DVD, talk about pictures you saw that show great things God made.

Transition to small groupsDescribe the activities you have chosen to set up, and explain how you will organize working in them.

• Bible• “God Created the World and People” video

• Find an online video of the American Sign Language two-handed sign, or see “Hand Signs for Good and Bad”

• “How Great Is Our God”

• offering basket

Tip: Do activities one of these ways:

• at the same time as a group

• in small groups that rotate through each activity

• set up as centers, allowing preschoolers to browse and choose

Small Group actIVItIeS

Small Group Activities (25–30 minutes)During each activity, ask the big picture question; guide the boys and girls to respond together with the answer. Send a few kids at a time to do an activity or choose one to do.

Go on a colors huntHold up a color, ask kids to name the color, and send them around the room to find and point to something that color. When everyone has found something, call them back to you and name the items they found. Repeat with a different color.Say • God made everything good. He filled the world with

beautiful colors.

Play a matching game Use two copies of the creation pictures. Mix up the cards and lay them facedown in 4 rows of 4 cards each. Taking turns, kids turn over 2 cards for everyone to see and keep matching cards.

With younger children, avoid talking about “winners” and “losers.” For very young children, place the cards faceup and look for matches.

Tip: Select from the activities those you can staff and which suit your class’s interests.

• Plan how many kids can work an activity at the same time.

PREPLOW

• construction paper, 1 sheet each of several different colors

• Print 2 copies of the “Creation Pictures” on heavyweight paper, laminate them to construction paper, and cut them apart.




In the Beginning

Say • Who made the _____ [name something in the picture]? • Who made everything? God made everything!

Stamp circles Put a thin layer of each color paint in a shallow pan or plate. Help preschoolers dip the lip of a cup or lid in a paint color and stamp a circle of it on her paper. Use paintbrushes to add details. Possible circle pictures could be a yellow sun, white moon, green trees, tan faces, red flowers. Say • Who made everything? God made everything!

Pretend to go ice fishingPlace in a bucket or pail the fish shapes with something attached that a magnet will hold; cover them with cotton balls to resemble ice. Boys and girls take turns fishing.Say • God created the fish. Did God make ice? Yes! Ice is

frozen water! • Who made everything? God made everything!

Play zoo charades Pretend you are at the zoo. Each child takes a turn pretending to be an animal and making the animal’s sound for the other children to guess. Be prepared to suggest animals for children who need an idea.

Transition to large group closingCall for attention in whatever way you have chosen (playing the countdown video, flipping the light switch, ringing a bell, clapping a rhythm for kids to repeat, or whispering “If you can hear me, raise your hand.”) Move to your circle for the closing activities while you wait for parents to pick up their kids.

• plastic cups or lids of different sizes

• several colors of washable tempera paint

• plates or shallow pans

• paper • paintbrushes• painting smocks

• cutout fish shapes with paper clips or chenille stems attached

• cotton balls• bucket or pail• magnetic wand or a “fishing pole” made of dowel, string, and magnet

PREPLOW


Large Group Closing (10+ minutes)

ReviewAsk a couple of boys and girls to point to the beginning of the timeline and tell you what happened first in the whole Bible. Show them the first book in the Bible, name the book (Genesis), and read the first verse.

Invite the kids to say the key passage with you again. Repeat it, assigning the words God, created, man, and image to different children who jump up and say their word at the appropriate spot in the verse. Listen to the key passage song “In His Own Image.” Say • Whom did God make in His own image? (people,

Gen. 1:27) • Who made everything? God made everything!

Talk about a missions activity If your preschool and children’s ministry is planning a large-scale missions activity, introduce the activity and talk about the reasons for it. If you do not have a missions activity planned for now, talk about inviting friends to church.

• Bible• Use the timeline from the Timeline Map or Small Group Visual Pack.

• Key Passage Poster • Big Picture Question Poster

• “In His Own Image”



Large Group cLoSIng


In the Beginning

Say • God made everything, including people. But some people don’t know God made them, or that He loves them! We know God loves people because He said so in the Bible, and God always tells the truth. Who can you invite to church to hear the wonderful news? (family, friends at school, neighbors)

Sing “I Can Say Hello” and comment that being friendly to guests at church will help them want to return and learn more about God.

Play a gamePlace a selection of items on the floor (toy car, plastic food, toy animal, doll clothing, and so on) representing things God made and things people made. Cover them with a towel. Remove one item secretly along with the towel. Children guess which item is missing. Determine whether it represents something God made or not. Repeat.

If a child says that God made everything, and a car is something, you might point out that God made the materials and gave man the creative brain to make the car.

Distribute “The Big Picture Cards”Each quarter the Preschool Activity Pack includes a set of “The Big Picture Cards for Families: Preschool” to help families reinforce the biblical content each week. Be sure each family receives a set of cards when parents pick up their kids.

• “I Can Say Hello”

• various items representing things God made

• man-made items• towel

Tip: Follow church security rules when parents pick up their kids. Tell teachers arriving for a following session what they need to know about kids who are present.

Adam and Eve enjoyed all that was good in the garden of Eden. The Lord gave them only one restriction: “You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,” and the punishment was severe: “You will certainly die” (Genesis 2:17).

Before the fall, Adam and Eve enjoyed a loving, two-way relationship with God. It was a true paradise. God filled the garden with good gifts, so that they might enjoy the good and give thanks to God; this glorifies God. All of that changed when they gave in to the serpent’s temptation. Eve believed the lie that leads many of us to sin: Maybe God is holding out on me.

Adam and Eve desired something more: the wisdom the fruit offered. But when their eyes were opened, they were aware of their nakedness and felt ashamed. Surely the Lord’s heart broke at their act of disobedience and rebellion. Their sin left them cast out of the garden. Though they did not die right away, they would die and their lives and their children’s lives would be forever affected by their choice.

Adam and Eve’s sons, Cain and Abel, were no exception to the effects of sin. Cain and Abel were born into sin. Their story brings to light the deep effects of uncontrolled sin. Cain murdered his brother. God’s creation was never meant to be this way.

Sin is a big problem that needs a big solution. The primary purpose of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection was to deal with sin. Matthew 1:21 says, “You are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” As the kids you teach become increasingly aware of the bad news, that we are all sinners from birth, rejoice with them over the good news: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).

Teacher BIBLe StUDY


In the Beginning

Session Title: Sin Entered the WorldBible Passage: Genesis 3–4Big Picture Question: What is sin? Sin is breaking God’s law.Key Passage: Genesis 1:27Unit Christ Connection: God knew we would sin, and Jesus, our Creator,






Sin Entered the WorldGenesis 3–4

God had made a beautiful garden for the man He had made. It was in Eden. The trees were pretty, and their fruit was good to eat. God gave the man, Adam, a rule: He could eat fruit from every tree in the garden except one; if he ate that fruit, he would die. What a lot of good and tasty fruit to pick and eat! Then God made a woman, Eve, to enjoy the garden with Adam. Adam was very happy! And God loved them very much.

Now Satan came into the garden. He was tricky, and he played a very bad trick on the woman. [Make the “bad” sign.] Satan told the woman that she really could eat the fruit of the tree even though God had told Adam not to eat it. Satan said that God had not been telling the truth. That fruit would make Eve as smart as God. Oh no! Satan is the one who does not tell the truth, and what God says is always true. But the woman believed Satan instead of God. She ate some fruit, and then she gave Adam some fruit to eat.

Suddenly, Adam and Eve knew they had done a bad, bad thing. [Make “bad” sign.] They knew they were naked, and they sewed leaves together to make clothes for themselves. Then they heard God walking in the garden in the pleasant evening. They tried to hide from God, but God knew what they had done. The man said, “The woman made me eat the fruit.” The woman said, “Satan tricked me and I ate the fruit.”

God told Satan that no one would ever like him. God also told Adam and Eve that because of their bad choices [make “bad” sign] their work would be hard.

From then on, Adam and Eve would sometimes make bad choices. [Make “bad” sign.] Sometimes they would do what God said not to do. Sometimes they would not do what God said to do. That is called sin.

Since Adam and Eve chose not to believe what God had said, they could no longer live in the wonderful garden God had made for them. Sin had separated them from God. But God still loved Adam and Eve. God made clothes for them and sent them out of the garden of Eden to live and work.

The BIBLe StorY


In the Beginning

God also gave them children: Cain, Abel, Seth, and other sons and daughters.

Sin still separates people from God. Every person who has ever been born since Adam and Eve, except Jesus, has made bad choices [make “bad” sign]. But God loves us. He has a plan to make everything right again. Jesus is the plan!

Christ Connection: Adam and Eve failed to give God glory when they introduced sin into the world, but God didn’t leave them without hope. God sent His Son Jesus to live as Adam didn’t—perfectly sinless. Jesus was God in the form of a man sent to rescue people from sin.


Welcome and singGreet newcomers. Collect offerings at the door from those who brought them. Show the countdown video to signal that it is group time. Sing a favorite song such as “My God Is So Big” or “How Great Is Our God.”

Practice the key passage and a Bible skillTalk about “books” in the Bible. Point to the key passage—Genesis 1:27—in the Bible. Say • Where in the Bible can we find the key passage?

What is the name of the first book in the Bible? Go around the room saying the verse together, substituting each child’s name for man and him when you come to those words. Each child may stand as you say his or her name. Listen to the key passage song “In His Own Image.” Play it again and sing as much as you can with the music.

Tell the Bible storyExplain that something sad happened in today’s Bible story. Practice expressive faces as you sing “Make a Face.”




• Bible• Key Passage Poster • “In His Own Image”

• “Make a Face”



Large Group WorShIp


In the Beginning

If you tell the Bible story, consider using this introduction shortened from the Sunday School hour.Say • Do you remember who made everything? God made

everything! Every time God looked at something He made, God saw that it was good. [Review hand sign for good.]

Today, is everything in the world good? No! Sometimes bad things just happen. Let’s learn the sign for bad. It begins like the sign for good, but this time we make a face like something tastes bad. [Teach hand sign for bad.]Show the Bible story video “Sin Entered the World.” If

you tell the Bible story instead, ask kids to make the sign for bad when they hear something bad that happens in this true story from the Bible.

What is sin? Sin is breaking God’s law.

Worship with a song and prayListen to the unit song “You Are God Alone.” Ask the boys and girls to listen to the lines “You are God alone / Before time began.” Talk about the words, play the song again, and sing along with those words.

Pass the offering basket.Practice singing the line “How great is our God,” and sing

along with the praise song “How Great Is Our God.” Say • Even though we sin when we break God’s law, God

still loves us and wants us to talk with Him in prayer. Let children who want to pray briefly do so. Close the prayer by thanking God for sending Jesus to save us.

Transition to small groupsIntroduce the activities you have set up.

• “Sin Entered the World” video

• “Hand Signs for Good and Bad” or in a video in an online American Sign Language dictionary

• “You Are God Alone” • “How Great Is Our God”

• offering basket

Tip: Do small group activities one of these ways:





Small Group Activities (20–25 minutes) During the activities, review the big picture question.

Good choice/bad choice gameDescribe choices such as these. Kids move to the happy or sad face to show whether the choice was good or bad.

• Adam and Eve ate fruit that God said not to eat. • Olivia’s mom said, “Come to breakfast so we can be on time to Sunday School.” Olivia kept playing with her dolls and did not go to the breakfast table. • Bailey’s dad was working hard in the heat. She took him a cup of water. • Lucas felt grumpy. His friend had built an airport with blocks. Lucas kicked it down.

Say • Do bad choices please God? Choosing to sin is always a bad choice. [Review the big picture question.]

Choose colors for a scribbleAsk kids to draw a large scribble on their papers. They can choose different colors to fill in the sections of the scribble.

Tip: Select activities you can staff and which interest your class.

• Limit the number who can work an activity if necessary.

PREPLOW

• happy face sign (posted on a wall)

• sad face sign (posted on opposite wall)

• tape

• paper• washable markers or crayons




In the Beginning

Say • God made Adam and Eve able to choose. You can choose, too. You are choosing colors!

Play “What Happened Next?” Place the Bible story pictures in the Giant Game Floor Mat or tape them to the floor, spaced apart and in sequence. Identify each picture; kids haven’t yet heard two of the stories. (Creation; Sin Entered the World; Noah and the Ark; The Tower of Babel)

As they take turns throwing the beanbag on a picture, help kids identify the pictures. Use words like before and after to help establish sequence.Say • In the beginning, the world was good and perfect. It

was never perfect again because of what happened in today’s Bible story. People broke God’s law. • What is sin? Sin is breaking God’s law.

Plant bean seedsHelp preschoolers fold a paper towel in fourths and place 3 or 4 beans on top. Fold another paper towel and cover the beans. Dampen the paper towels with spray. Slide the paper towels with beans between them into a quart-size ziplock bag. Close the bag, leaving a little air inside. Read the care instructions aloud and tape a copy to each bag. Print names on the bags.Say • God helped Adam and Eve learn to grow food.

Pretend to take care of babiesSet the tub on a towel. Kids can take care of the baby dolls: bathing, feeding, rocking, washing, and playing with them. Say • God gave Adam and Eve babies. What were their

names? (Cain, Abel, Seth) Adam and Eve took care of them.

• “What Happened Next?” pictures (laminate; save to use in “The Tower of Babel” session)

• Giant Game Floor Mat, available at www.lifeway.com or 800.458.2772 (optional)

• bean bag

• dry lima beans, soaked overnight in cold water

• spray bottle of water

• paper towels• ziplock bag• “Caring for Your Lima Beans” instructions

• washable baby dolls• baby doll clothing • diaper bag supplies• towel, washcloths• 1 inch of water in tub


Review and Pray Gather the preschoolers from the small-group area. Play “In His Own Image” in the background as children come to sit down. Show the key passage and big picture question posters.Say • What did God say about everything He created? (It

was good!) • Who created people? (God) • How did He create them? (in His image, male and female, able to make good or bad choices) • What did they choose to do? (disobey God) • What do we call it when we choose to disobey what God tells us in the Bible? (sin) • What is sin? Sin is breaking God’s law.

Read the key passage poster and show the children where to find the passage in the Bible. Repeat the verse together. Sing the key passage song.

Show the timeline. Ask a child to point to last week’s story picture and this week’s picture. Remind them that these true stories are about the beginning of the world.


• Bible• “In His Own Image”• Key Passage Poster • Big Picture Question Poster

• Use the timeline from the Timeline Map or Small Group Visual Pack.



Large Group cLoSIng


In the Beginning

Say • Thank You, God, for creating us in Your image. Help us to always choose to obey You.

Missions Story: The Wrong Things I DoMissionary Sarah teaches Xhosa (KOH-sah) children at a primary school in South Africa. Primary school is like elementary school in the United States. One child asked Miss Sarah, “When I do something wrong, does God hate me?”

Miss Sarah explained that when we sin—when we do something wrong—we must be punished, and our punishment is to be separated from God. But God loves us and wants to be with us. God sent His own Son, Jesus, to take our punishment and die. Three days after He died, Jesus was alive again!

Doing good things will not make up for the wrong things we do. We need to ask God to forgive us and trust that Jesus’ death takes care of the punishment we deserve.

Give thanks to God that Miss Sarah had a chance to tell the children in her class about Jesus. Pray for the Xhosa children to keep on asking questions about God. Tell God how thankful you are that He loves us.

Sing a fun song and play “Creation Ovation”Pretend to be actors and make faces while you watch the video and sing “Make a Face” again.

Name things God made, such as a tree, a cloud, a person, a kitten, the color green. Kids who have seen what you named during the past week can stand up and cheer. Continue playing the game until all children have been picked up.

• “Make a Face” video


God is serious about sin. Because God is holy, He cannot be around sin. He hates sin, and He will not leave sin unpunished. As the earth grew more populated, Scripture describes a deplorable situation: “Man’s wickedness was widespread on the earth and … every scheme his mind thought of was nothing but evil all the time” (Genesis 6:5).

God planned to punish the sinful people by starting over. He planned to send a flood to wipe out everything on the earth. God is just, and He is also loving. God chose to save one man: Noah. Even though sin was rampant, God recognized Noah as a righteous individual. One of the most ringing endorsements of Noah is “Noah walked with God.”

God chose Noah to build an ark to save Noah, his immediate family, and male and female pairs of animals. Imagine the taunting that Noah and his family may have received. Noah remained faithful and stayed true to the task God had given him. When the ark was complete, God poured out His wrath on humanity by sending the flood. Because God is holy and cannot allow sin, He must punish sin. He did so dramatically in this story.

After saving them, God issued a covenant to Noah, his family, and all inhabitants of the earth for all time. God gave the sign of a rainbow to ratify His covenant. When people see the rainbow, it reminds them of the covenant God made with Noah and everyone after him.

God is the great deviser of rescue plans. Just as God chose to save Noah, He had an even greater plan: to save all people from the punishment for sin by sending His Son, Jesus. Instead of killing many and saving one man, God would sacrifice one man and save many. Pray that the kids you teach would hear the gospel this week and someday trust in Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

Teacher BIBLe StUDY


In the Beginning

Session Title: Noah and the ArkBible Passage: Genesis 6:5–9:17Big Picture Question: Why does sin separate people from God? God is

holy.Key Passage: Genesis 1:27Unit Christ Connection: God knew we would sin, and Jesus, our Creator,






Noah and the ArkGenesis 6:5–9:17

Adam and Eve had children and grandchildren until there were many people in the world. Every one of them did just what Adam and Eve had done—they made bad choices. They did not choose to do what God said. Most of the people in the world sometimes did mean things and thought bad thoughts. God was very sad.

God is holy and perfect. He was sorry He had made all these sinful people. God is powerful. He decided to send a gigantic flood to clean up the world.

Only one man in the world tried to do what was right. His name was Noah. God told Noah to build an ark—a huge boat. God told Noah His plan to send the flood. (God tells His plans to people who will listen.) In the ark, Noah’s family and two or more of every kind of bird and animal that lived on the earth would be safe from the flood.

Noah did what God said and began to build the ark exactly as God had told him to build it. He worked for many years until the ark was finished. He filled it with food for his family and the animals, just as God had told him. A male and female of every kind of animal came to the ark. Noah, his family, and the animals entered the ark and waited. God closed the door of the ark. Noah and his family were safe inside the ark.

The rain began. [Make rain sounds.] It rained for 40 days and 40 nights until water covered even the highest mountains. [Make louder rain sounds.] And the rain stopped. [Stop the rain sounds.]

Do you think that Noah’s family and all the animals left the ark when the rain stopped? No! The water was very deep. God sent a wind, and the water went down until the ark landed on a mountaintop. Those in the ark waited some more. A year after the rain began, the earth had dried out. God told Noah to bring his family and all the animals out of the ark. Noah gave an offering to thank God. God had saved Noah, his family, and the animals from the flood because God is good. Noah’s family and the animals could not save themselves.

The BIBLe StorY


In the Beginning

God told Noah’s family to spread out and live in different places, have children, and take care of the world. God promised Noah that He would never again send a flood over the whole world. He would put a rainbow in the clouds to be a reminder of the promise.

Is God still keeping His promise never to send a flood over the whole world? Yes! He is God. He always keeps His promises.

Christ Connection: The story of the flood shows us how serious God is about sin. He will not leave sin unpunished. But the story of Noah also shows us how loving God is. He provided a rescue plan for one righteous man—Noah. And the rescue was extended to Noah’s family. This story points ahead to a greater rescue! Jesus, the only perfectly righteous person, came to take the punishment for sin. We trust His act of obedience, and, like Noah and his family, we are saved from the punishment our sin deserves.


Welcome and singAt the door, collect offerings that kids have brought. Play “How Great Is Our God” or the countdown video as they assemble. Teach the phrase “How great is our God” from the refrain of “How Great Is Our God.” Play the song and lead in singing the phrase every time it appears in the song. Say that today’s Bible story shows us how great God is. Practice the key passage and a Bible skill Read the key passage from the poster. Ask the boys and girls where in the Bible to find the verse—beginning, middle, or end. (Genesis; the beginning of the Bible) Show the verse. Read the passage again and pause to talk about the words God, man, image, male, female.Say • Who created people? (God) Whom did God create

in His own image? (people; man) In this verse, does man mean only men or also women, boys, and girls? (all) What is male? (men and boys) What is female? (women and girls)





• Bible• Key Passage Poster




Large Group WorShIp


In the Beginning

Watch or tell the Bible storyTell the children that today’s Bible story is about the worst rainstorm ever. Practice making rain sounds by patting knees gently, building up to a vigorous rainstorm sound, and then backing down as the rain subsides. Show the Bible story video “Noah and the Ark,” or tell the Bible story. Use rain sounds in the story if you are telling it.

Review the Bible story. Say • Something had separated people from God. What

separates people from God? Sin separates people from God.

• Why does sin separate people from God? God is holy. • What did God do to punish a whole world full of sinful people? (He sent a great flood.) • What was God’s plan to keep some people and animals safe from the flood? (the ark) • What is God’s plan to make us holy and not be separate from Him? (God sent Jesus to make us holy.)

Worship with a song and prayPray, using language such as “Thank You, God, for saving Noah and the animals on the ark. Thank You for loving us and giving us Jesus.” Pass the offering basket.

Sing “My God Is So Big” or “How Great Is Our God.”

Transition to small groupsDescribe the activities you have chosen to set up and explain how you will organize working in them. Pretend to jump across puddles as you go to the activities:

Step – step – step – jump across a puddle. Step – step – step – jump across a puddle.

• “Noah and the Ark” video

• Big Picture Question Poster

• “My God Is So Big”• “How Great Is Our God”

• offering basket






Small Group Activities Time (25–30 minutes)

Make watercolor picturesUse washable markers to draw pictures or designs on coffee filters. Spray the filter lightly with water and let it dry.Say • God loved the people He made, but they chose not to

love Him. They wanted to live separate from God. • Why does sin separate people from God? God is holy.

Check the height of the arkAttach the cord to the balloon. Go outdoors and watch the balloon go up the total 45 foot height. Kids can help hold the cord. (Note: The ark was 45 feet high, 75 feet wide, and 450 feet long. Noah built it without modern technology!)Say • Noah did everything that God had commanded him.

He loaded on the ark his family, all the animals that God sent to him, and food enough for all of them. God said to get on the ark because the rain would come in seven days. Do you think it would take seven days to load all those animals on the ark? Noah had a big job!


• Ask the Big Picture Question.

PREPLOW

• coffee filters• washable markers• spray bottles of water

• helium balloon• 45 feet of cord





In the Beginning

Fill colors in a rainbowSketch a rainbow using markers to outline concentric arcs an inch or two wide. Begin with the outside, topmost arc (red) and continue in order with orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Tape the poster to the wall or tabletop. Show how to fill in the rainbow by cutting small shapes from each color and gluing the shapes in the matching color arcs. For younger children, cut the small shapes in advance.Say • When do we see a rainbow in the sky? (after rain)

Why did God put it there? (to remind us of His promise)

Play with waterPlace the tub of water on the towel on the floor or table. Limit the number of kids who can play at the same time. If a line forms, use a timer to limit the play time. Suggest making bubbles under the water with the baster since water during the flood also came from the watery depths. Predict and test which items will float and sink.Say • God sent the flood because of sin in the world.

Make a storm in a jarFill each jar with water. Add 2 drops of liquid soap and 2 drops of food color to each jar. Show kids how to tear small bits of aluminum foil to roll into balls. Drop the balls into the water. Tape around the lid or put glue inside each lid to seal the jar. When the glue dries, turn the jar upside down and shake it.Say • The storm lasted for 40 days and nights. Water came

from everywhere! God sent the flood because all the people were wicked. They were sinning. • Why does sin separate people from God? God is holy.

• white poster board or large sheet of white paper

• construction paper (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple), 2-3 sheets of each

• markers (same colors)

• child-size scissors• glue• tape

• towel• tub with 2-3 inches of water

• measuring cups• plastic toys for water play (water wheel, toy boats, funnels, turkey baster)

• items that will sink• 5-minute timer or kitchen timer (optional)

• aluminum foil• clear plastic jars with lids

• glue and/or masking tape

• liquid soap• blue food color• water


ReviewLook at the timeline and see that people had become sinful. Read the key passage. Remind preschoolers that God is holy and perfect. He has to punish sin, but He loves us. Today’s Bible story is about punishing sin, but it is also about how God kept a family safe.Say • Why does sin separate people from God? God is

holy.

Pray • Thank You, God, that You are holy. Thank You that You sent Jesus to fix our relationship with You.

Missions story: Saving the ToadsHere is a true story about people helping animals. It reminds us of how God helps people.

In the springtime in Germany, toads migrate by the thousands to ponds, where they will lay their eggs. They do this every single night, and some of the toads have to cross streets to get to the ponds. It’s really dangerous for the toads. German people want to protect them, so they put nets






Large Group cLoSIng


In the Beginning

along the side of the road. Volunteers spend hours scooping up the toads in buckets and carrying them across the street. Toads do not know that they face danger and need a “savior” to deliver them safely to the other side of the road.

Many people, like these toads, are going through life not understanding the danger of sin and living without Jesus as their Savior. Pray that they will hear the good news of Jesus Christ. Pray for missionaries in Germany who tell them about Jesus.

Sing a fun songSing “My God Is So Big” or an active song that your kids may know and enjoy such as the “Arky, Arky” song.

Play “Animal Basket Turnover”Assign an animal name to each child. Ask kids to sit in a circle. Call out two animals. Kids trade places when you call their animal.

If you want more to do, pair off the boys and girls and let them pick an animal pair to be. Set a couple of chairs in one end of the room to mark off a pretend ark doorway. Let the “animals” move and make animal noises as they approach the ark. If church clothes would not be at risk, spray water from spray bottles in the air to gently fall on the children. Remind them that the real rain did not begin until all the animals and Noah’s family were safe on the ark.

Or, play “Noah Says.” Explain that you will give certain commands. If you say “Noah says, ‘Bark like a dog,’ ” boys and girls obey. If you do not begin the command with “Noah says,” they should not do the command.

• “My God Is So Big”


Following the flood, God wanted to have a fresh start. God commanded Noah in Genesis 9:1 to “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” This command echoes the one given to Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:28. God intended the paradise of the garden to spread into the whole world, but sinful people had other desires. God always blesses in order to be a blessing to others.

Genesis 10 accounts for the nations that spread out in the land after the flood. (Genesis 10:32) As the people moved east, they found a valley in the land of Shinar and settled there. This story continues the cycle of disobedience to God and a choice to sin that will be a constant reminder of our need for a Savior. In Genesis 11:2, Scripture indicates that instead of filling the earth as commanded, these people chose to settle. A single language enabled them to devise a plan to build a large tower into the heavens.

Read Genesis 11:4. The people’s motive was clear: “Let us make a name for ourselves.” God had commanded them to fill the earth, but the people didn’t want to be scattered. They didn’t believe God would give them what was good if they obeyed. They sought to obtain for themselves what they thought was good.

Babel, better known by the name Babylon, means “gate of the gods.” The people, trying to build a monument tall enough to reach into heaven, the dwelling place of God, succeeded only in separating themselves from God and from each other.

This week you have the opportunity to tell the kids you teach about God’s better plan: His plan not for people to reach up to Him, but His plan to reach down to people by sending His Son, Jesus, to live the perfect life we couldn’t live and die the death we don’t want to die. That is the gospel. Pray that the kids you teach would have open hearts to receive it.

Teacher BIBLe StUDY


In the Beginning

Session Title: The Tower of BabelBible Passage: Genesis 11:1-9Big Picture Question: What happens when people sin? Sin separates

people from God and one another. Key Passage: Genesis 1:27Unit Christ Connection: God knew we would sin, and Jesus, our Creator,






The Tower of BabelGenesis 11:1-9

Do you remember what God told Noah’s family to do after the flood? Did God say to settle down and build a great city? No. God said to move out to different places and have many children.

But what do you think the people did? They moved to a valley that looked good to them. They said to one another, “We are great. We do not want to be scattered over the earth. Let’s build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky. It will show how great we are.”

The people were not doing what God had told them to do after the flood. They wanted to be as important as God. They were saying “Look how great we are” instead of “Look how great God is.” They wanted glory for themselves instead of God. But God is greater than anyone.

Do you think the people could build a tower with its top in the sky? Do you think that even people who live today can use big machines to build a tower that tall? The tallest buildings in the world are very tall, but God can look down at them!

God came down to look at the tower. God said, “If they are doing this, they will keep thinking up more bad things to do. We need to stop them. Here is what we will do. We will mix up their words.” When people tried to make plans, they could not understand what other people were saying. If one workman said, “Hand me another brick,” nobody else knew what he wanted. They had to stop building the city.

Isn’t God smarter than people? He had such a great idea to stop the people from building that tower! Who else could have created many different languages? Families had to move away from each other to live with people they could understand. God had made it so the people did just what He had told them to do after the flood. They were scattered all over the world. The city with the unfinished tower was called Babel (BAY buhl), or Babylon. It means “confused,” because the people were confused when they tried to talk to one another. Because the people chose to disobey God, their sin separated them from one another.

The BIBLe StorY


In the Beginning

God’s plan to be with His people is much better than the plan of those who built the tower. They were trying to reach up to God and make a great name for themselves. But God’s plan was to reach down to us and make a great name for Himself. The good news is that Jesus brings us to God and makes us friends again.

Christ Connection: Instead of glorifying God, people chose to ignore God’s plan and glorify themselves. This didn’t stop God’s plan to scatter the people and to form nations. Eventually one of these nations would become God’s chosen people. Through the nation of Israel, Christ would come to save the world.


Welcome and singCollect offerings at the door; hold them until time to collect the offering. Consider using the countdown video as kids assemble. Sing “My God Is So Big” or “I Can Say Hello.”

Practice the key passage and a Bible skillWatch and sing with “In His Own Image.” Read the key passage. Review the main words in the passage: God, image (a thing or person that looks like or is like something or someone else), man (means everyone), male, female. Ask whom God made in His own image? (people, all of us)

Practice saying the key passage, emphasizing the main words. Make it fun. Point to the reference on the key passage poster.Say • This is where to find this verse in the Bible:

Genesis 1:27. The Bible is divided into two parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament. [Show the parts.]

The Old Testament tells about things that happened before Jesus was born. The New Testament begins when




• “My God Is So Big”• “I Can Say Hello”

• “In His Own Image” video

• Bible• Key Passage Poster




Large Group WorShIp


In the Beginning

Jesus was born. Is Genesis at the beginning of the Bible, in the Old Testament, or the end of the Bible, in the New Testament? (the beginning)

Show where to find the key passage in the Bible. Point to the verse as you read it aloud with the children.

Watch or tell the Bible StorySay • If you have already heard the Bible story today, tell

what the people decided to do. (build a tower) How tall did they plan to make the tower? (up to the sky) Everyone stretch as high as you can, like a tall tower.

Now let’s sit and hear the Bible story to see what happened when the people sinned.

Tell the Bible story in your own words, or watch the Bible story video “The Tower of Babel.”Say • What happens when people sin? Sin separates

people from God and one another.

Worship with a song and prayPlay “You Are God Alone” as you pass the offering basket.

Highlight a phrase from “How Great Is Our God” for all the kids to recognize and sing. Clap or move to the music.

Pray something like this: Thank You, God, for creating us and for loving us. Thank You for sending Jesus to earth to keep us from being separated from You because of our sin.

Transition to small groupsDescribe the activities you have chosen to set up and explain how you will organize working in them. Remind the children that God made the people building the tower speak different languages so they could not understand each other. Return to small groups in a nonsense conversation (babbling).

• “The Tower of Babel” video


• “You Are God Alone”• “How Great Is Our God”

• offering basket






Small Group Activities (25–30 minutes)During each activity, ask the big picture question; guide the boys and girls to respond together with the answer. Limit the number of kids who can do an activity at the same time.

Build paper cup towersSpace children apart on a table or on the floor. Show how to build a small tower beginning with an upside-down paper cup, adding a right-side-up cup, alternating to three or four levels. You might place an index card between each level to make it easier. Knock down your tower with a beanbag or paper wad and rebuild. Allow kids to use as many cups as they wish but only knock down their own towers.Say • The people in Babel began an impressive tower, but

God stopped them.

Make a planPut the materials in one corner of the room. Challenge the boys and girls to figure out a way to move the numerous items to the opposite corner of the room easily. Point out that they are talking together to make a plan. Let them try out their plan.

Tip: Select activities you can staff and which suit your group’s interests.

• small paper cups• beanbags or firm paper balls made from whole sheets of paper

• index cards (optional)

PREPLOW

• sturdy box with hand holds

• piece of rope• collection of things in the room that would take many trips to move if carried a few at a time (toy kitchen equipment, play food, construction toys)





In the Beginning

Say • God stopped the people from a bad plan by making them talk in different languages. They could not work together any longer. Their sin had separated them.

Make a tower pictureSketch a page-size outline of a tower (a simple rectangle) on a piece of paper for each child. Explain that sometimes people in Bible times decorated buildings with colorful designs. Kids can cut small shapes out of colored paper to glue on the tower. They can draw scenery if they wish.

Make a domino spiral Describe ancient towers: like pyramids with a flat top for ceremonies. To get building supplies or ceremonial items to the top, they built long staircases up a side or ramps that wound around the building. Show a (flat) spiral design: stand blocks on the floor or use dominos on the table. Begin with the center of the spiral and work outward, spacing dominos close enough for one to hit the next one when it falls. Knock over the outermost block and watch them fall. Say • The builders were very smart to think of how to build

the building, but God is smarter than anyone in the world. He knew how to stop the building.

Make sun-dried mud bricksPut in a tub a soil/gravel mixture from a garden store. Give each child a paper cup to make a mud mixture of soil and water (not too watery). Stir with craft stick. Form into brick. Put into ziplock bag to dry at home. Put a note on the bag: Open bag to dry. Remove from the cup and examine the dried mud brick.Say • The people made strong mud bricks for their

building.

• different colors of construction paper

• child-size scissors• glue or glue sticks• markers

• dominoes or blocks of the same size

• soil/gravel mixture from a garden store

• paper cups• plastic spoons or craft sticks

• ziplock bags to hold cups

Large Group Closing (10+ minutes)Gather the kids in a group. Place each child’s possessions and artwork at the door. Station a teacher at the door to greet parents and follow your church’s security plan for releasing children.

ReviewChoose a couple of children to point to today’s story on the timeline.Say • In our Bible story today, all the people got together

and decided not to listen to God. They wanted to make the greatest tower in the world and be famous. God stopped their plan. • What is sin? Sin is breaking God’s law. • Why does sin separate people from God? God is holy. • What happens when people sin? Sin separates people from God and one another.

Missions story: They Speak a Different LanguageShow a world map and talk about missionaries who study hard to learn a new language so they can tell people about






Large Group cLoSIng


In the Beginning

Jesus. A missionary kid in Africa named Logan, age 6, tells about himself and his sister, Elizabeth, age 4:

“We are Kids on Mission in Togo, West Africa. We live at a school in Togo where Africans from a lot of different countries come to learn about Jesus and the Bible. They move here with their families, so my sister and I have a lot of other kids to play with. We love to play soccer and throw rocks at the mango trees so that we can knock down the mango fruit and eat it. My sister likes to play dolls and climb trees.

“The hard part is that none of our friends speak English. They all speak French in this part of Africa. We are learning to speak French so that we can talk to them. Will you pray that God helps us to learn this language? My sister and I really want to be able to tell our friends about Jesus.” Say • God loves all people and wants them to worship Him

no matter what language they speak.

Play a GameWhile you wait for parents, play one of these games:

• Talk gobbledy-gook for 10–15 seconds then ask whether anybody understood anyone else. • Sing “I Can Say Hello” and practice the actions. • Play “Tall Tower/Small Tower”: Stretch high for “tall tower.” Touch toes for “small tower.” And bend over halfway for “medium tower.” Call out “tall,” “small,” or “medium” several times, getting faster and faster. • Play the “What Happened Next?” game from the “Sin Entered the World” session if you have access to it. Or point to pictures on the timeline. Emphasize the sequence of these early events in the Bible and how they connect.

• “I Can Say Hello”• “What Happened Next?” game or saved from “Sin Entered the World” (session 2)


What? Job? Why now? Most biblical authorities believe, based on subject matter and language, that Job was a contemporary to the patriarchs. Job fits chronologically into this period of history.

The story of Job helps Christians see God alone is all-powerful, sovereign, and good. Job’s story is one all people can relate to, as everyone will suffer in his or her lifetime. God’s dialogue with Job reveals His characteristics clearly.

Have you ever in your life commanded the morning or assigned the dawn its place? (Job 38:12) God is all-powerful! Does the eagle soar at your command and make its nest on high? (Job 39:27) God is sovereign. Who provides the raven’s food when its young cry out to God and wander about for lack of food? (Job 38:41) God is good.

Throughout all of Job’s suffering, Job never stopped trusting God. Listen to Job’s response to God’s questions: “I am so insignificant. How can I answer You?” (Job 40:4) Job didn’t understand his suffering, but he understood who God is. While the Book of Job speaks volumes to the problem of human suffering, it is also an important picture of how a suffering person should relate to God. Though Job sometimes doubted God, he never turned away. Job’s suffering actually brought him closer to God.

Pray that you will help the kids you teach understand the story of Job and its implications. Point them to the true suffering servant, Jesus, who was truly innocent yet suffered greatly so that we could be brought closer to God in both our suffering and in our joy. Job reminds us that following Jesus will be worth it. God is good, present, and in control. We can trust Him when we don’t understand the pain we have to endure. At the cross God used the ultimate pain to bring about the ultimate good, our future and final salvation from sin.

Teacher BIBLE STUDY


In the Beginning

Session Title: JobBible Passage: Job 1–42Big Picture Question: Who is all-powerful? God is all-powerful.Key Passage: Genesis 1:27Unit Christ Connection: God knew we would sin, and Jesus, our Creator,





Preschool WorShIp oVErVIEW

JobJob 1–42

Job was a good man who loved God. God even said so. But big troubles began to happen to Job, and Job didn’t know why. Robbers stole all the animals on his farm. Job’s seven sons and three daughters were eating at the oldest brother’s house. A big storm blew down the house and killed them all. Job became sick with bad sore places all over his body. He felt terrible.

Job had been kind to people, helped poor people, earned respect from people in the city, and given good advice to others. But after all the bad things happened to him and he became sick, people began to make fun of him and be mean to him.

[If you were sick, how would you like for your friends to treat you? Would you like for them to say, “I’m sorry you feel so bad. Can I bring you some ice cream or lend you a DVD? I will pray for you.”]

Job’s three friends were not like that at all. They told him that trouble only happens to people who do bad things. They said that people who do good things live a good and easy life. Job felt terrible, but Job knew they were wrong. His friends did not pray for Job, offer to help Job, or say they were sorry for his trouble. They made Job tired and angry. He said, “I have not done what you say. I wish I could ask God some questions and prove to Him that I have been good.”

Then another friend came along. His name was Elihu (ih LIGH hyoo). Elihu told Job’s three friends they were wrong. He said Job’s problem was that Job was complaining to God. Job complained that God was not treating him fairly. Job thought he did not deserve to have so much trouble. Elihu was more right than Job’s other friends.

Just then, God came in a whirlwind to talk with Job. God did not answer Job’s questions. Instead, God asked Job a lot of questions: “Where were you when I created the earth? Can you measure how big it is? Can you send out lightening bolts? Do you make horses strong? Does an eagle build its nest where you say?

The BIBLE STorY


In the Beginning

“I made the most powerful animal in the world. Can you capture it? Can you catch a crocodile, with its terrible teeth, and let your children play with it?”

Job realized that God is much greater than people. God is mighty and strong and wise. He knows how to make the world run right. He is more powerful than things people think are scary. People cannot always understand what God is doing, but people can always trust that God is good.

Job’s story ends happily for Job. God told Job’s friends that they had been wrong about Job. God made Job well, and Job became richer than he had been before. Job had more children. He lived a long and happy life and enjoyed seeing his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren grow up.

Christ Connection: Job’s suffering and his request for a mediator give us a glimpse of our Savior, Jesus. Neither Job nor Jesus experienced suffering because they had sinned. Unlike Job, Jesus never questioned why He had to suffer. Jesus understood that we needed Him to pay the price for our sin and be our mediator before God.

Large Group Worship (15-20 minutes)Welcome and singWelcome newcomers. Collect offerings in the basket as kids arrive. Play the countdown video to assemble the group. Sing “My God Is So Big,” “How Great Is Our God,” or another praise song of your choice.

Practice the key passage and a Bible skill Listen to the key passage song, “In His Own Image.” Read the key passage and ask kids to repeat it with you. Then say it together in different voices: a bass man’s voice; a higher-pitched woman’s voice; a high-pitched child’s voice; a whisper; a booming voice. Say • All the Bible stories we have heard so far have been

in Genesis. Do you remember where Genesis is in the Bible? (at the beginning) Is it in the Old Testament or the New Testament? (Old Testament)

This Bible story is also in the Old Testament, but it is in a whole book by itself. If it is in the Old Testament, did it happen before or after Jesus was born? (before)

Show the Book of Job in the Bible.

• Play “You Are God Alone” in the background as you welcome incoming kids; follow your church’s security procedures.



• “My God Is So Big”• “How Great Is Our God”

• Bible• Key Passage Poster • “In His Own Image”



Large Group WorShIp


In the Beginning

Learn a new wordIntroduce the word whirlwind. Describe a whirlwind as a small windstorm that moves in a circle. Ask kids to make a whirlwind motion by waving a hand quickly in a circle. Tell them that God spoke to Job from a whirlwind.

Watch or tell the Bible storyWith your Bible open to Job, tell the Bible story, or, if you choose, show the Bible story video “Job.” Ask the big picture question and lead kids in answering the question.Say • Who is all-powerful? God is all-powerful. [Repeat,

emphasizing the name God.]

Worship with a song and prayPlay “You Are God Alone” as you pass the offering basket. Sing “My God Is So Big,” with motions. Mention that strong and mighty are words that mean “powerful.” God is “all-powerful.”

Pray, using words such as “Thank You, God, for sending Jesus to suffer in our place. Thank You for being so good, and more powerful than anyone or anything else.”

Transition to small groupsDescribe the activities you have chosen to set up and explain how you will organize working in them. Send a few preschoolers at a time to do or choose an activity. Call them by number of children in their families: 1, 2, 3, 4, and on until you have called all of the children.

• Bible• “Job” video• Big Picture Question Poster

• “You Are God Alone”• “My God Is So Big” • offering basket





Small Group acTIVITIES

Small Group Activities (25–30 minutes)

Push and pullPair up the children. Partners sit on the floor facing each other and holding hands. As they sing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” they push and pull back and forth. Suggest that Job’s friends and Job were arguing back and forth saying “You did something bad.” “No, I did not do something bad.” The children can continue the back and forth motion saying “Yes, you did-No, I didn’t, Yes-No, Yes-No.”

Make Job’s armsCover the forearms of each kid with paper. Cut each piece of paper in half to fit between the wrist and elbow. Kids can stick red dots all over one half-sheet of paper to represent sores and cover some of the dots with adhesive bandages or with pieces of masking tape. Tape one half around each forearm. Compare the arms.Say • Which arm looks like Job’s arm at the beginning of

the Bible story? Which looks like his arm when he felt terrible? Which looks like his arm at the end of the story?

Tip: Select activities you can staff.



PREPLOW

• white, tan, or brown construction paper, 1 per kid

• scissors• red stick-on dots or red crayons/markers

• cheap adhesive bandages

• masking tape




In the Beginning

Guess and countLet each child guess how many items are in a jar. Then dump them on the table and count them. Show how to move items from one pile to another so you won’t count anything twice. Repeat with other jars.Say • Jesus said that God has counted the hairs on your

head. (See Matt. 10:30.) Could you count the hairs on anybody’s head? I couldn’t. God knows more than anyone in the world. Job learned to trust God.

Make fingerprint animalsCreate animals by inking thumb or forefinger and stamping it on the page. Immediately wipe the fingers clean. Kids can add details with markers. For fun, older kids might want to make combination animals, such as a cow-cat, and figure out what the animal might say (“moo-meow”).Say • When God talked to Job, He reminded Job of

the many kinds of animals He created: big, little, friendly, scary, bothersome, helpful. God is more powerful than even the biggest, scariest animal. Job said, “Now I understand how great You really are. You know more than I do. You can do things I cannot do. You are all-powerful.” • Who is all-powerful? God is all-powerful.

Play “Good or Bad Advice”Read the sentences on the “Good or Bad Advice” page. Add sentences of your own.Say • Sometimes friends give good advice. Job’s friends

gave him bad advice. Listen and turn thumbs up when you hear good suggestions and thumbs down for bad ones. Tell why a bad idea is bad.

• jar or jars containing 5–15 small items (pennies, paper clips, crayons)

• plain white paper• ink pads• thin washable markers

• damp cloth or hand wipes

• examples of fingerprint animals

• “Good or Bad Advice”


ReviewSing “Make a Face” or another fun song.

Point to the key passage in the Bible. Say the key passage aloud with the group.

Ask kids to take turns pointing to Job on the timeline. Ask the big picture question. Pray: “Thank You, God, for

the story of Job in the Bible. Thank You for teaching us that You are all-powerful and that You take care of us when bad things happen.”

Missions story: Created for Good Works Watch this video about Madagascar to see a place on the

other side of the world and some of the unusual animals God created that live there.

• Bible• Key Passage Poster • Use the timeline from the Timeline Map or Small Group Visual Pack.


• “Created for Good Works” video



Large Group cLoSIng


In the Beginning

Play “Good Day, Bad Day”Play a game while waiting for parents. Sketch a smiley face sign and a sad face sign. Hang them on opposite walls. Line kids up along the smiley face wall. Say • Job had mostly good days until a lot of bad things

happened. It is easy to get discouraged when bad things happen. Job was having very bad days. He became angry.

Guide the children toward the sad face sign by giving directions like “Walk three steps forward. Walk two steps backward. Hop four hops forward.” When children reach the sad face, they can turn around and face the smiley face sign. Say • But when Job learned more about God, he wasn’t

angry any longer. God gave Job his health, his animals, his friends, seven sons, and three daughters. Most of the rest of Job’s days were good.

Give directions to go forward toward the smiley face. Add an occasional backward direction.

Thank parents for bringing their child to church. Tell them something positive you have noticed in their child this week at church such as “he showed kindness” or “she had such a positive attitude!”

• smiley face sign• sad face sign• tape

Unit 2: goD’S coVEnanT WITh pEopLE


Session 1: Why did God choose Abraham? God chose Abraham to be part of His plan.

Session 2: Who always keeps His promises? God always keeps His promises.

Session 3: How can we show we believe God’s plan? We obey God.


Fall 2012

Unit 2: goD’S coVEnanT WITh pEopLE

Unit Description: After sin entered the world, God’s plan to redeem His people began through the person of Abraham. God gave Abraham specific promises related to his offspring. God revealed His plan for redemption through Jesus Christ, a descendant of Abraham. God’s promises to Abraham are still being fulfilled today.


Unit Christ Connection: Jesus is the true Son of promise whom God provided as the ultimate sacrifice for sin.

Session 1: God’s Covenant with Abraham Genesis 12:2-3; 15:1-21; 17:1-9

Session 2: The Sons of Abraham Genesis 16:1-16; 17:15-22; 21:1-7

Session 3: God Tested Abraham Genesis 22:1-19

To understand today’s story, it is important to know that Abram, a descendant of Noah’s son Shem (Gen. 11:10-26), came from a family who were pagans. Unlike Noah, they worshiped other gods. (See Josh. 24:2.) God communicated with Abram, who became the next person to take a very prominent role in God’s plan of human redemption.

In Genesis 12, God spoke to Abram, calling him to leave behind his family and his lands to go to a place God would show him. God promised to make Abram into a great nation and to make his name great. By faith, Abram obeyed.

Genesis 15 starts with God’s promising a great reward to Abram. Notice Abram’s response: “What can You give me, since I am childless?” That’s when God made a great promise to Abram: Your offspring will be as numerous as the stars.

God also promised to give Abram land, and God gave specific instructions to Abram for confirming the covenant. In Abram’s time, when a covenant was made between two people, the animals would be split and both parties would walk through them as if to say, “If I do not hold up my end of the covenant, may I be like these dead animals.” What is different about this covenant? Only the smoking fire pot and flaming torch passed through, symbolizing that God alone would be responsible for upholding the covenant.

Years passed and Abram still had no children. God was serious about the covenant. In fact, He changed Abram’s name, which means “The Father Is Exalted,” to Abraham, which means “Father of a Multitude.”

Show kids how Jesus fulfilled God’s promise to Abraham. Jesus would bless all people by causing them to turn away from their sins. (See Acts 3:25-26.)

Teacher BIBLE STUDY


God’s Covenant with People

Session Title: God’s Covenant with AbrahamBible Passage: Genesis 12:2-3; 15:1-21; 17:1-9Big Picture Question: Why did God choose Abraham? God chose

Abraham to be part of His plan.Key Passage: Genesis 17:7Unit Christ Connection: Jesus is the true Son of promise whom God

provided as the ultimate sacrifice for sin.





God’s Covenant with AbrahamGenesis 12:2-3; 15:1-21; 17:1-9

Abram and his wife Sarai lived very long ago. They were rich. They lived near their relatives and friends. One day, something very unusual happened to Abram. God spoke to him! God chose Abram out of all the people in the world and made a covenant —very special promises—with him. We can read them in the Bible.

God told Abram to move to a place he had never been. There, Abram would have many descendants. That meant Abram would have many children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He would have so many descendants that they would become a whole nation of people. They would have land to live on, and everyone would know who Abram was.

Abram obeyed God. He did what God told him to do. But he did not have any children.

Another time, God spoke to Abram. God promised Abram a great reward. Abram said to God, “Whom will I give that reward to when I die? I have no children. Whatever I have will belong to one of my servants.”

God took Abram outside and showed him the sky. “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you can. That is how many descendants you will have someday.” Abram was getting to be an old man, but Abram believed it would happen because God said it would.

God also said, “I will give you this land, too.” “How will I know that I will have this land?” asked Abram.So God made a special ceremony. He told Abram to bring a 3-year-old

cow, female goat, and ram, and also a turtledove and a young pigeon. Abram arranged them as God told him to. Then Abram went to sleep, and God spoke to him as he was sleeping. God told Abram things that would happen to his descendants for many years in the future.

God said to Abram, “Your descendants will live in a land that does not belong to them; they will be slaves for 400 years. But I will judge the nation they serve, and afterward they will leave that land with many possessions. After that, they will come back to this land.”

The BIBLE STorY



When the sun had set and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the animals Abram had brought. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram. God said, “I give this land to your descendants.”

When Abram was 99 years old, God came and talked with him again. God said, “I am changing your name to Abraham. You will be the father of many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. They will become many nations. Some of them will be kings. I will give them the land where you are living, and I will be their God. My promises will last forever.”

Christ Connection: God chose Abraham to be the father of the nation in which Jesus would be born. In this way, Abraham would bless all nations, as God had promised. God also saw Abraham’s faith in God’s promises and counted it as righteousness. It is our faith in Jesus’ perfect righteousness that brings salvation to God’s people.


Welcome and singGreet any preschoolers who have just arrived, and sing a song such as “I Am a Friend of God” or “Step by Step.”

Practice the key passage and a Bible skill Point to the new key passage verse in Genesis 17:7. Say • Our key passage for Bible stories about Abraham is

in the first book of the Bible. What is the name of that book? (Genesis)

[Read the key passage. Explain covenant: A special promise that two people make or that a person and God make.]

In today’s Bible story God made a special promise, or covenant, with Abraham.

Sing “I Will Keep.”

Watch or tell the Bible story Whether you tell or watch the Bible story, keep the Bible opened in your lap to show that this story is from the Bible. Say • I will tell you something that will happen at the end

• Play “Promises” in the background as you welcome incoming preschoolers, following your church’s security procedures.

• Provide an offering basket.

• “I Am a Friend of God”

• “Step by Step”

• Bible• Key Passage Poster • “I Will Keep”

• Bible• “God’s Covenant with Abraham” video




Large Group WorShIp



of Bible study today. Somebody will pick you up from this room. If one of your parents will pick you up, stand up. If a grandparent or aunt or uncle will pick you up, stand up. If someone else that you know about will pick you up, stand up. [All sit back down.]

I can tell you what will happen this morning, but do you think I could tell you what will happen to you next year? No! But in today’s story, God told Abraham what would happen to Abraham’s family hundreds of years later. God had a plan, and He told Abraham part of the plan.

Tell the Bible story, or show the Bible story video.

Review Ask the big picture question and look at the timeline map. Point to the timeline and say that we will learn more about God’s promise to Abraham.Say • Why did God choose Abraham? God chose

Abraham to be part of His plan.

Worship in song and prayPass the offering basket.

Sing “I Am a Friend of God.” Tell the kids that God called Abraham His friend (Isa. 41:8); we are friends of God when we obey Him (John 15:14). Sing the chorus of “Do What God Says” which talks about obeying God and Jesus.

Pray, thanking God for loving us and for keeping His promises to Abraham.

Transition to small groupsDescribe the activities you chose to set up and how many can work together at one time



• offering basket• “I Am a Friend of God”

• “Do What God Says”




• set up as centers, allowing preschoolers to browse and choose the ones they prefer


Small Group Activities (25–30 minutes)

Sing “Father Abraham” or “Make a Face”Stand and have fun singing this silly favorite if you know it. Say • This song is called “Father Abraham” because God

chose him to begin the family that grew too big to count.

If you do not know “Father Abraham,” sing “Make a Face”; talk about faces Abraham might have made in this story. Pair kids to play the mirror game, where one makes a face and the other mirrors (copies) it.

Prepare for a babyPretend a new baby will be coming, and the boys and girls must clean to get ready for the new baby: fold baby things, sweep, dust, or squirt and mop hard surfaces.Say • God told Abraham that he would have a son,

even though he was old. He would have so many descendants—grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and so on—that nobody could count them. • Why did God choose Abraham? God chose Abraham to be part of His plan.



• “Father Abraham Lyrics”


PREPLOW

• water in squirt bottles

• wash cloths or paper towels

• child-size mop or broom

• toy baby supplies






Work puzzlesMake puzzles using the Bible story coloring picture. Laminate them to poster board and cut them into 6 or 8 pieces. Pile pieces to a child’s left and challenge her to put together the puzzle without the picture. If you are offering a boxed puzzle, hide the picture of the completed puzzle at first. Talk about how it is hard if we don’t know how the picture is supposed to look. Say • God always keeps His promises. He has a plan and

He can make it happen. God told Abraham what would happen, even though Abraham could not see how it could happen.

Make paper doll “descendants”Cut the paper dolls apart. To make a string of paper dolls, prepare them in advance using the instructions on the pattern. Color the paper dolls like Bible times people. Say • God said Abraham would have many descendants. If

we made paper dolls every day, we could not make as many as Abraham’s descendants. Abraham’s most special descendant is Jesus.

Stamp facesChildren draw faces on foam circles using a ballpoint pen, and pressing firmly. Color over the whole circle with a washable marker and press it on the paper. Color again and press again. Continue coloring and stamping several faces.Say • God promised Abraham that he would have many,

many descendants. Can you count the number of descendants that you stamped?

• Bible story coloring page

• poster board• scissors

Tip: If you do not have the time and tools to make story-related puzzles, you can cut fronts of cereal boxes into puzzle pieces. (Also, brand recognition is a pre-reading skill.)

• “Paper Dolls” pattern , 1 copy per kid

• string of paper dolls using “Paper Dolls” pattern)

• paper• crayons• child-size scissors (optional)

• paper• washable markers• ballpoint pens• bottle-cap size circles cut from foam plate, 1 per child


Review Signal for kids to gather for the closing time. Read the key passage again. Say it together two or three times. Say • What did God promise Abraham in this covenant? (to

be his God)Sing a song about God’s covenant—“I Will Keep.”

Thank God for each child present today. Thank Him for keeping His promises in the Bible.

Talk about a missionaries Guide children to find their country or state on the globe or map. Identify a missionary as a person chosen by God to travel to a far off place to tell other people about God and Jesus. Talk about how missionaries get to the places where God calls them (airplane, boat, bus or car, on foot).Say • God chooses missionaries to go and tell others about

God’s love. God chose Abraham to go to a new land. Abraham obeyed, even though he didn’t know where God wanted him to go!

• countdown video or other signal (optional)

• Bible• Key Passage Poster • “I Will Keep”

• globe, atlas, or map containing a view of the continents/countries

• See www.imb.org and www.namb.net for additional missions resources.

• list of missionaries from your church and where they serve (if possible)




Large Group cLoSIng



• Why did God choose Abraham? God chose Abraham to be part of His plan.

Pray for missionaries from your church or whom you know about.

Sing a fun songSing the “Wiggle Song” or “Do What God Says.”

Play a gameSay • God told Abraham His plan. Abraham told it to his

descendants. Let’s play “Pass It On.” I will whisper something in your ear. [Whisper it as many times as needed. The goal is to communicate the simple idea correctly.] You whisper it to the person sitting next to you. We’ll go around the circle that way.

If the message gets messed up, start it again from the other direction or ask another teacher sitting in the group to start it again. Whisper this message: “God said, ‘I will be your God.’ ”

If you are still waiting for parents or next-session teachers, sing “Father Abraham” again.

• “Wiggle Song”• “Do What God Says”

• “Father Abraham Lyrics “

Abraham and Sarai had been living in Canaan for 10 years. Even though God had promised them more descendants than they could count, they still didn’t have a child! So Sarai devised a plan to help God out. She gave her slave, Hagar, to her husband as a second wife (concubine).

The taking of a concubine by the husband of a barren woman was not unheard of in that day. It was a way to carry on the family name. Since Hagar was a slave in the household, Hagar’s child would be Abraham’s heir.

When Hagar became pregnant and began to disrespect Sarai, Sarai mistreated her until Hagar ran away. Hagar was probably returning to Egypt when the Angel of the Lord found her in the wilderness. He asked her what she was doing and instructed her to return to Abraham and Sarai. The Angel also gave Hagar a promise: She would have a son named Ishmael, because the Lord had heard her cry of affliction.

Thirteen years after Ishmael was born, God changed Sarai’s name to Sarah to reaffirm His promise of a son for Sarah. Sarah became pregnant and gave birth to Isaac, just as God had said.

Abraham and Sarah had waited 25 years for the son of promise. Even though Sarah tried to “help” God’s plan, God was faithful to His promise. God can always be trusted.

Help the kids you teach understand that God fulfilled His promise to Abraham by giving him a son. Isaac was the hope of Abraham and Sarah for a future and a legacy. God also promised to send the Savior, Jesus Christ, through Abraham’s family. Jesus ultimately fulfilled God’s promise to Abraham, and He is the hope of the world for salvation and redemption.

Teacher BIBLE STUDY



Session Title: The Sons of AbrahamBible Passage: Genesis 16:1-16; 17:15-22; 21:1-7 Big Picture Question: Who always keeps His promises? God always

keeps His promises.Key Passage: Genesis 17:7Unit Christ Connection: Jesus is the true Son of promise whom God






The Sons of AbrahamGenesis 16:1-16; 17:15-22; 21:1-7

Abram and Sarai waited and waited for God to keep His promise that they would have a baby, but no baby was born to them. Abram and Sarai believed God. They had moved when God told them to move from their home. But they were very old, and they could not imagine how God could keep His promise about the baby. They wanted a baby, as God had promised. So they thought and thought, trying to think of their own plan to make God’s promise come true.

First, they thought that one of Abram’s servants who was already a grown man could be like a son, even though he was not their son. But God said no, that was not His plan. Then, they thought that maybe Hagar (HAY gahr), one of Sarai’s servants, could have a baby who would be Abram’s son. Hagar found out she was going to have a baby; soon she began to make fun of Sarai because she was going to have a baby and Sarai wasn’t going to have a baby. Sarai was upset. Sarai began to treat Hagar badly, and Hagar ran away.

But the angel of the Lord was watching Hagar running away through the desert. He asked Hagar what she was doing. Hagar said, “I am running away from Sarai.” The angel of the Lord said, “Go back and do not say mean things to Sarai. You will have a son and many grandchildren and many, many great-grandchildren. Name your son Ishmael (ISH may el).” Hagar did what the Lord wanted her to do. But Hagar’s baby was not the baby God had promised Abram and Sarai.

When Ishmael was 13 years old and Abram was 99 years old, The Lord came to Abram and changed his name to Abraham. He changed Sarai’s name to Sarah and promised to bless her. She would have a son. Her descendants would make nations, and some of them would be kings.

Abraham fell facedown and laughed. He was thinking, “Can a 100-year-old man and a 90-year-old woman have a baby?” Abraham said to God, “If only you could use Ishmael for your plan.”

But God said, “No. Your wife Sarah will have a son and you will name him Isaac. I will tell him My promises about his future descendants. Now

The BIBLE STorY



about your son Ishmael, I will bless him and make his descendants into a great nation, too. But the promises I have made to you will be the same promises I will make to Isaac. Sarah will have the baby this time next year.”

What do you think happened a year later? Did Abraham and Sarah have a baby even though they were very old? Of course they did! He was born just when God had promised. Abraham named his son Isaac, as God had told him to do. Isaac means “he laughs.” Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears will laugh with me. Who would have said to Abraham that I would have a baby? Yet I have had a son for him in his old age.” Isaac was the son God had promised them.

Who always keeps His promises? God always keeps His promises.

Christ Connection: God fulfilled His promise to Abraham by giving him a son. Isaac was the hope of Abraham and Sarah for a future and a legacy. God fulfilled His promise to the world by giving us His Son. Jesus ultimately fulfilled God’s promise to Abraham, and He is the hope of the world for salvation and redemption.


Welcome and singSing “H-A-P-P-Y.” Tell the children that God had a plan for Abraham and Sarah and that He has a plan for their lives, too. Sing the song again.

Practice the key passage and a Bible skill If you have enough Bibles for kids to share, distribute the Bibles and help them find the Book of Genesis. Do not use Bible storybooks or New Testaments they have brought to church since they won’t be able to find Genesis in them. Show that Bible begins with a B. Help them locate Genesis, which begins with a G and is in the front of the Bible (after the title page and a few introductory pages).Say • Who remembers what covenant means? (a promise

between two people or between a person and God) Read the key passage. Say it together. Ask the big picture question.

• Who always keeps His promises? God always keeps His promises.

• Play “Promises” in the background as you welcome incoming preschoolers; follow your church’s security procedures.


• “H-A-P-P-Y”

• Bible(s)• Key Passage Poster • Big Picture Question Poster

Note: The story of Abraham’s name change occurred in last week’s lesson. To avoid confusion he is referred to as Abraham throughout this lesson.




Large Group WorShIp



Watch or tell the Bible story Ask what God promised Abraham and Sarah. Hold up the picture of the baby. Ask why having a baby seemed impossible. (Abraham and Sarah were very old.) Tell the Bible story, or show the Bible story video “The Sons of Abraham.”Say • Who always keeps His promises? God always keeps

His promises.

Sing a worship song and prayRepeat that God always keeps His promises. Talk about how Abraham and Sarah learned the truth of the words “There’s nothing my God cannot do” in “My God Is So Big.”

Pass the offering basket.Choose and sing other worship songs your kids enjoy

such as “Step by Step” or “How Great Is Our God.” Take prayer requests. Pray, mentioning each request,

or let volunteers pray. Do not insist that each child pray. Conclude by thanking God that He always keeps His promises.

Transition to small groupsDescribe the activities you chose to set up and explain how you will organize working in them. Move to the small-group area.

• “The Sons of Abraham” video

• picture of a baby or timeline picture from the Timeline Map or Small Group Visual Pack


• “Step by Step• “My God Is So Big”• offering basket






Small Group Activities (25–30 minutes)Include the big picture question in conversation with kids.

Draw something wonderfulSay • A baby was the best gift Abraham and Sarah could

receive. Draw the best gift you could ever receive, or draw the family you might like to have someday. When you are grown, what do you think you might name your kids? What did Abraham and Sarah name their child?

Play out God’s visitsAssign parts: Abraham, Sarah, three visitors. Set up a tent. Read from the Bible about two visits God made to Abraham when people laughed at what He said.1. God came to Abraham: Genesis 17:15-17 2. Three visitors came to the tent: Genesis 18:9-12a,13-153. The baby was named Isaac, which means laughter:

Genesis 21:5-6Repeat and let other children play the parts.



PREPLOW

• paper• crayons

• Bible times dress-up clothes (if available)

• sheet or blanket thrown over a table to create a tent or an indoor tent

• table






God knows the right timesExplain that “The Right Time” clock face is a clock of seasons of the year. Ask a child to point to winter. Talk about what people do in winter and holidays falling in winter. Move around the clock, talking about spring, summer, and fall. Say • God put the sun, moon, and stars in the sky to show

the time and the seasons. That’s what He planned before He created the world. • God promised Abraham and Sarah they would have a baby. They didn’t want to wait for the right time, but Isaac was born at just the time God promised. • God knows you and me and has plans for us, too.

Count items hidden in sandAdd small items to a bottle of sand, seal the top, and shake to scatter the items through the sand. Kids try to count them. Say • God promised Abraham would have as many

descendants as the stars in the sky or the sand on the seashore. Could you count the sand in this bottle? The sand on a beach? Jesus was one of Abraham’s family. Abraham has many, many descendants in our world today!

Identify promise cube picturesPrint the cube on heavyweight paper. Fold tabs, stuff with paper, and tape the edges. Kids roll the cube and identify Bible stories that turn up. Use the answer key as needed. Kids haven’t heard all the stories on the cube yet. Identify Isaac, Abraham’s son, and Jacob, Abraham’s grandson. Say • Who always keeps His promises? God always keeps

His promises.

• “The Right Time”

• 2-liter bottle filled 2/3 full of sand

• 10–20 small items (such as colored paper clips or buttons)

• “Promise Cube and Answer Key”

• heavyweight paper• tape

Tip: Save the promise cube to use in Bible Study Unit 3, “The Covenant Renewed.”.


Review the Key PassageLook on the timeline at the picture of the sons of Abraham. Identify the sons in the picture. (Ishmael, Isaac) Which is Isaac? Mention that these two sons have many, many descendants in the world today.

Show the key passage poster and point to each word as you read the verse. Ask the boys and girls to say it with you. Ask the boys to stand and say it. Then ask the girls. Repeat, asking who can say it louder, the boys or girls. Conclude by singing “I Will Keep.”

Show the big picture question poster. Ask the question and cue the children to respond with the answer. Who always keeps His promises? God always keeps His promises.

Pray, asking God to bless each child present this week. Thank Him for keeping His promise to send Jesus as a descendent of Abraham.



• “I Will Keep”




Large Group cLoSIng



Missions story: Where God Wants Us to LiveOn his way to school one morning Clint* turned to his parents and said, “I want to live in America.” When they asked why he wanted to live in America, Clint said that America was “less noisy and looked nicer.” Well, those things were true, but it made his parents sad to hear Clint speak this way. Though he normally did not complain, even as a 5-year-old Clint had noticed that the huge city he lived in was crowded, noisy, dirty, and poor.

Clint’s dad asked him a wise question. “Clint, where does God want us to live?” Clint answered, “South Asia.” Clint then went on to school and did not mention it again.

When God calls moms and dads to be missionaries, the children have a chance to serve God in that foreign country, too. Please pray for Clint and missionary kids everywhere that God would help them love the place and people where they live—the place where God has called their whole family to serve.Say • God sometimes calls us to do tough things. We know

we can trust God, though; He always keeps His promises.

Sing a fun songSing “H-A-P-P-Y,” or think of a favorite animal and sing the “Wiggle Song.”

Play a gameLead kids in a motion, such as patting your head. When everyone is doing it, change motions without saying anything, until everyone is doing the same thing. After two or three changes, ask a volunteer to be the leader. If several children want to be the leader, give each one time for two or three changes and then choose another child.

• *Name changed

• “Wiggle Song”• “H-A-P-P-Y”

When Abraham was well over 100 years old, he got another message from God. It was a test, actually. God instructed Abraham to take his son Isaac, the son of promise, and sacrifice him on a mountain God would tell him about. Abraham had waited so many years for this child!

But instead of reacting harshly, Abraham obeyed. He got up early the next day and left for his trip. Not waiting around to see if God would change His mind, he saddled the donkey, took the wood, two servants, and his son, and left on the journey God commanded.

Can you image the conversation on that three-day journey? Scripture leads us to believe that they didn’t talk about their destination until after the site had been revealed.

Was Isaac excited about going to sacrifice with his father? We soon get a glimpse into Isaac’s thoughts when he questioned Abraham about the lamb for the sacrifice. Abraham answered that God Himself would provide. And God did indeed.

By this point, Abraham had supreme faith that God was able to do anything. Hebrews 11:17-19 gives us a peek inside Abraham’s mind: “He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead.”

God provided a ram for the burnt offering, and after what we might imagine was quite a worship service, Abraham and Isaac returned home.

The parallel to Christ in this story is very clear. You can almost see the cross of Christ in the background. God provided a real lamb for Abraham, but for all of humanity He has provided the Lamb: His Son, Jesus Christ—the ultimate sacrifice for sin.

Teacher BIBLE STUDY



Session Title: God Tested AbrahamBible Passage: Genesis 22:1-19Big Picture Question: How can we show we believe God’s plan? We obey

God.Key Passage: Genesis 17:7Unit Christ Connection: Jesus is the true Son of promise whom God






God Tested AbrahamGenesis 22:1-19

Abraham and Sarah were very old when their son Isaac was born. God had promised they would have more descendants than anybody could count—as many as the stars in the sky! All of the people on earth would be blessed because of Abraham and Sarah’s family. So their son Isaac was very, very special.

Later God made a test to prove that God was really more important to Abraham than anything or anyone else. God told Abraham to do something that sounded strange. Abraham was to take Isaac to a special mountain and offer him to God.

Long ago, in the Bible, people gave offerings to God to show they loved Him, to thank God for something, or to say to God “I’m sorry; please forgive me.” These offerings were called sacrifices. When the offering was an animal, the animal was killed when it was sacrificed. People offered God the best animal from their flocks. This time, though, God told Abraham to give Isaac as a sacrifice.

What could that mean? Abraham loved Isaac very much. God had said that Isaac would have children—Abraham’s grandchildren. How could that happen if Abraham gave Isaac as a sacrifice?

Abraham believed that God would make things turn out right. He did not know how God would do it, but Abraham believed God would keep His promises about Isaac. So Abraham obeyed.

Early in the morning, Abraham, Isaac, and two helpers took a donkey and the supplies they needed. They walked for three days until they came to the place God had told Abraham about. Then Abraham and Isaac went by themselves up the mountain.

“What are we going to sacrifice to God?” asked Isaac. Abraham replied, “God will give us a lamb to sacrifice.” Abraham built the altar and prepared to offer Isaac to God.

A voice called to them from heaven and said, “Abraham, I see that you were willing to do what I said. You do not have to offer your son Isaac.” Abraham looked up and saw a fine sheep caught in the bushes. God had

The BIBLE STorY



sent a lamb to sacrifice instead of Isaac. God, Abraham, and Isaac could see that Abraham loved God most of all.

God said to Abraham, “Because you obeyed, you will have as many descendants as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. All the world will be blessed because you obeyed Me.”

How did Abraham show that he believed God’s plan? Abraham obeyed God.

How can we show we believe God’s plan? We obey God.

Christ Connection: Abraham showed his faith in God when he was willing to sacrifice Isaac. Isaac also showed he was ready to do what his father said. This is a clear picture of God who was willing to sacrifice His only Son, and of Jesus who was willing to do what was necessary for God’s plan of salvation. Isaac’s life was spared because God provided a substitute. We need a perfect sacrifice as our substitute for sin. God provided a perfect sacrifice in His Son, Jesus Christ.


Welcome and sing Greet friends who are arriving. Tell them that God called Abraham His friend. Sing “I Am a Friend of God.”

Practice the key passage and a Bible skill Read the key passage from the poster.Say • Where can we read the key passage? (Genesis, in the

Bible) [Show the verse in the Bible. Recall the meaning of

covenant. (a promise) Sing “I Will Keep.”]What was God’s promise to Abraham in this covenant?

(to be his God)[Look at the timeline and point to Abraham. Remind

the kids about the number of descendants God promised Abraham (like the number of stars in the sky—can’t count them).]

Many, many people today all over the world are descendants of Abraham. Do you remember the name of Abraham and Sarah’s baby son? (Isaac) Do you remember how happy Abraham and Sarah were when

• Play “Promises” in the background. Welcome incoming preschoolers, following your church’s security procedures.

• Provide an offering basket.

• “I Am a Friend of God”

• Key Passage Poster • Bible• “I Will Keep”• Use the timeline from the Timeline Map or Small Group Visual Pack.





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their son Isaac was born? All of the people on earth would be blessed because of the family of Abraham and Sarah. Their son Isaac was very, very special.

Watch the Bible story video or tell the Bible story:Ask what a test is. Give examples, such as a doctor’s test for an infection, testing bath water to see whether it is cold or hot, testing a cake to see whether it is done.

Tell the Bible story, or show the Bible story video “God Tested Abraham.” Say • When he obeyed God, Abraham showed that he

believed God’s plan, and many other people have been blessed because he did. How can we show we believe God’s plan? We obey God.

Sing a worship song and prayPass a basket to collect the offering. Lead the preschoolers in singing worship songs. Consider singing the first stanza and refrain of “Do What God Says” or repeat “I Am a Friend of God.” If you note a difficult word, talk about it and sing the song again.

Pray, including words such as these: “Thank You, God, for blessing us through Abraham. Thank You for Your plan to bless us by sending Jesus. Thank You for Jesus’ obedience. Help us to believe Your plan for us.”

Transition to small groupsDescribe the activities you chose to set up and explain how you will organize working in them. Continue singing the worship song as you move to the small-group area.

• “God Tested Abraham” video

• offering basket• “Do What God Says”• “I Am a Friend of God”






Small Group Activities (25–30 minutes)Talk with the kids as they play in these activities. Work the big picture question into your conversation.

Play with farm animalsLet the preschoolers play freely with the toy farm animals.Say • Abraham was a rich man. He had many flocks and

herds of animals. What kind of animal did Abraham take on his trip to obey God? (a donkey)

Create sand designsPut sand into a pan for the teacher’s use. Squirt glue onto a shallow pan and give each preschooler a paintbrush with which to paint a glue design on the paper. When the design is complete, sprinkle sand over it. Gently tilt the paper to return excess sand to the sand pan. Lay the paper flat to dry. Say • God promised Abraham that he would have as many

descendants as the sand on the seashore.

Test—Will it sink or float?Spread a towel on a table and place the tub of water on the towel. Tell kids to predict whether an item will sink or float




• blocks• plastic farm animals

• paper• glue• shallow pans• paintbrushes• sand or “Colored Sand Recipe” (optional; enhanced CD)

• plastic tub of water• towel• assorted items (some that sink, some that float)






and then test it. Explain that the test is to see what will float.Say • God tested Abraham to see if Abraham really

believed what God said. God gave him a really hard thing to do. Abraham began to do what God told him to do, and God did not make Abraham finish the job.

Make a wrap-around patternGive each kid a grid and five markers in each of four colors or shapes (total of 20 markers). Tell them to make a pattern of three and tape it to the top of the page as a guide. Starting in the top left corner square, a child should lay the first color/shape of his pattern, the second in the next square to the right, and continue around the square. She will have to turn corners to keep the pattern going. Say • Your pattern is a plan. You followed the plan you

made. Abraham followed the plan God told him to follow. How can we show we believe God’s plan? We obey God.

Play “What doesn’t belong?”Collect items or ask the kids to work in pairs to collect items of similar color or kind. Put them in a box. Place five or six items together on the floor; all but one should have the same characteristic. For example, lay out five pieces of toy food and a toy car, or five red things and one blue thing. Give hints if necessary. Ask which item doesn’t belong. Can kids figure out what your plan was? (all red things, all cars, all squares)

Transition to large group closingSignal for attention. Move to your circle for closing activities while you wait for parents to arrive.

• Wrap-Around Pattern Grid

• stack of 1-inch squares or other markers in four different colors or shapes

• tape and scissors

Note: This activity is more suitable for older kids. Younger kids can make a left-to-right pattern of 3 colors and repeat it left to right.

PREPLOW

• 5 or 6 similar items in several categories (toy food, plastic animals, colored construction toys, crayons)

• box

• bell or countdown video (optional)


ReviewShow the key passage poster and point to each word as you read the verse. Ask the boys and girls to say it with you. Ask the boys to stand when they hear I, Me, or My. Then ask the girls to stand when they hear you, or your (KJV thee). Talk about who is I/Me/My and who is you/your. Sing “I Will Keep.” Conclude by saying the verse together with expression.

Show the big picture question poster. Ask the question and cue the children to respond with the answer: How can we show we believe God’s plan? We obey God.

Pray, asking God to help us believe His plan to send Jesus.

Missions Story: Life of a ChameleonMissionary kids (MKs) are kind of like chameleons. You know what a chameleon is, don’t you? A chameleon’s skin changes color to match its surroundings. If it sits on a green leaf, its skin will be green. If it moves to the brown branch of the tree or bush, its skin changes to brown. It can “adapt.”


• “I Will Keep”




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MKs have lived in so many different places and learned about other cultures that they can adapt, too. No, they don’t turn green. But they learn to be comfortable eating American hamburgers or exotic, unusual foods. They can go to school with a big class, be homeschooled, or do their schooling on the computer. Their house or apartment might be just like yours, or they might live in a village hut.

Sometimes, it’s “pretty cool.” But it can be a little hard, especially when they come back to the U.S. to visit. One missionary family with six children serves in South Africa. Please pray that these MKs will be comfortable when they come to the U.S. to live for a while until the family returns to South Africa. Pray that they will be able to make friends. They will still be homeschooled but want to join a homeschool group and take part in sports. Pray for the MKs—they are excited about telling their stories of life in South Africa and of how the people need to know Jesus.

Sing a fun songTalk about the different ways Abraham and Isaac might have felt during this story from the Bible. Sing “Make a Face” and suggest which of these faces might have fit the story.

Play silly gamesSing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and stand like a 5-pointed star: arms out and legs spread. Twinkle fingers as you sing. After twinkling, sit and make up silly rhymes for the first line of the song, such as “Twinkle, twinkle, little star / I don’t think you are a jar.” Nonsense words are OK.

If you have more time to fill, remind kids that Abraham spied the ram in the bushes. Play “I Spy.”


Unit 3: ThE coVEnanT rEnEWED


Session 1: How did people know God’s plan? God told people His plan.

Session 2: What can stop God’s plans? Nothing can stop God’s plans.

Session 3: What new name did God give Jacob? God changed Jacob’s name to Israel.

Session 4: Who is always with us? God is always with us.

Session 5: Why did God send Joseph to Egypt? God sent Joseph to Egypt to save his family.


Fall 2012

Unit 3: ThE coVEnanT rEnEWED

Unit Description: God’s covenant with Abraham to bless all people was renewed with Isaac and again with Jacob. God continually reminds His people of the covenant He made with Abraham. Through the line of the patriarchs, God brought His ultimate plan for salvation.


Unit Christ Connection: Despite difficult circumstances, God remained faithful to the people to whom His promise was given, in preparation for the salvation that would come through Jesus Christ.

Session 1: The Promise Reaffirmed Genesis 25:19-26; 26:1-6; 28:10-22

Session 2: The Stolen Blessing Genesis 25:27-34; 27:1-45

Session 3: Jacob’s New Name Genesis 32–33

Session 4: Joseph Sent to Egypt Genesis 37:1-36; 39:1–41:57

Session 5: Joseph’s Dreams Came True Genesis 42:1–46:34; 50:15-21

The covenant that God issued to Abraham is a significant and important event. Compare Genesis 22:17-18; 26:4; and 28:14. What do you make of the significance that God gave Abraham a covenant, then reaffirmed it with both Abraham’s son and grandson?

Abraham likely reminded Isaac about the promise God had made. But just to make sure, God retold the promise to Isaac, too. (See Gen. 26:23-24.)

Isaac was 60 when he fathered the twins, Jacob and Esau. God shared some information with Rebekah about her twins’ futures. (See Gen. 25:23.)

Another famine in the land forced Isaac to move. He planned to move to Egypt, but God told him to stay where he was because the land he was on would be the land God would give to his many offspring. (See Gen. 26:4.) God reaffirmed the covenant with Isaac.

Isaac blessed Jacob, and Jacob moved away to the land of his uncle, Laban. While spending the night en route, he dreamed about a ladder or stairway with angels ascending and descending the stairway. God Himself stood by Jacob and reaffirmed the covenant He had made with Abraham and Isaac.

In the morning when he awoke, Jacob took the stone he had slept on and anointed it with oil to use as a stone of remembrance. He renamed the place Bethel (house of God) and made a vow to God—the only patriarch to make a formal vow.

God’s plan was clearly communicated to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob would become the father of the twelve tribes of Israel, the nation through which God would fulfill His covenant promise by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to be the Savior of the world.

Teacher BIBLE STUDY


The Covenant Renewed

Session Title: The Promise ReaffirmedBible Passage: Genesis 25:19-26; 26:1-6; 28:10-22Big Picture Question: How did people know God’s plan? God told people

His plan.Key Passage: Genesis 28:15Unit Christ Connection: Despite difficult circumstances, God remained

faithful to the people to whom His promise was given, in preparation for the salvation that would come through Jesus Christ.





The Promise ReaffirmedGenesis 25:19-26; 26:1-6; 28:10-22

God had a wonderful plan for Abraham. Abraham would never have thought up God’s plan by himself. God chose Abraham and his descendants to be a special family and nation that would bless the whole world. “Blessing the world” meant helping other people everywhere know that God loves them. God told Abraham His plan so that Abraham and his descendants would know the plan.

We know God’s plan, too, because we can read God’s promises to Abraham in the Bible. Many years after Abraham lived, God’s Son, Jesus, was born into Abraham’s family. Jesus was a great-great-great grandson of Abraham. He would be a descendant of Abraham.

God told Abraham’s son Isaac and Abraham’s grandson Jacob the same plan that He had told Abraham, and He made the same promises to each of them. They did not have to guess what God would do.

God promised that Abraham would have so many descendants—children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren—that nobody could count them all; they would become a great nation. A nation of people needs land to live on; God promised that the land Abraham moved to would belong to his descendants. And God promised that people everywhere in the world would know Abraham’s name and be blessed because of him. They would be blessed because Jesus would come.

Abraham probably told his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob what God had promised their family. But God Himself told Isaac and Jacob these promises, too.

God spoke to Isaac during a time when there was no rain and food did not grow. God told Isaac not to move his tents and family to look for food in another place because the land where they were living would belong to his descendants someday. God had promised that same land to Abraham. Isaac would have as many descendants as there are stars in the sky. And people all over the world would be blessed by Isaac’s descendants.

God also made the promises to Isaac’s son Jacob. Jacob was running away from home because he had tricked his brother Esau, and Esau was

The BIBLE STorY



very angry with him. When night came, Jacob lay down on the ground with a rock for a pillow. He fell asleep and dreamed of a giant stairway reaching from earth to heaven. Angels were moving up and down the stairway. God was standing beside him. God made the same promises to Jacob that He had made to Abraham and Isaac. God also said to Jacob, “Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go.”

Early the next morning, Jacob took the stone that was near his head and set it up as a marker to remember where God had spoken to him. He poured oil on top of it and named the place Bethel. Jacob said, “If God will be with me and watch over me on this journey, … then the Lord will be my God. This stone that I have set up as a marker will be God’s house.”

In many places in the Bible, God is called “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” God wanted their descendants, the people He had chosen to be His people, to remember that God had a plan and He had made promises to them.

Christ Connection: God’s wonderful plan to Abraham extended well beyond his lifetime. The plan was shared with Rebekah, Isaac, Jacob, and eventually an entire nation leading to the birth of a baby boy named Jesus. Jesus fulfilled God’s plan to provide salvation and redemption for all of God’s people.

Large Group Worship (10-15 minutes)

Welcome and sing Hold the Bible high enough for children to see from their seats.Say • Today, we will learn a new key passage. Like the

others we have learned, we can also find this key passage in Genesis. Where can we find the Book of Genesis in the Bible? (the Old Testament, front of the Bible)

[Show the boys and girls how to locate Genesis 28:15 in your Bible.]

In today’s Bible verse, God spoke to Jacob and gave him a very special promise. Let’s read it together.

[Point to each word of the key passage as you say it aloud. Invite the children to repeat it after you, then say it with you two or three times. Listen carefully to the song “Look!” and then sing it together.]

Listen for the key passage in today’s Bible story.

• Play “Starry Night” in the background as you welcome incoming preschoolers, following your church’s security procedures.

• Set out an offering basket

• Bible• Key Passage Poster • “Look!”




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Watch or tell the Bible storyShow the tent and rock. Ask kids to listen for where these two items occur in the Bible story. Tell the Bible story, or show the video “The Promise Reaffirmed.”Say • Whom did God instruct not to move his tents? (Isaac)

• Who used a rock for a pillow? (Jacob) God told both of these men His plan for them. • How did people know God’s plan? God told people His plan.

Worship with song and praySelect and sing a couple of songs that praise God or reinforce that God is always with us.

Pass the offering basket.Pray, using language from the key passage or from the big

picture question, such as “Thank You, God, for promising that You are always with us, wherever we go. Thank You for telling about Your special plan in the Bible.”

Transition to small groupsDescribe the activities you have chosen to set up and explain how you will organize working in them. Send a few preschoolers at a time to do or choose an activity. Call them by number of children in their families: 1, 2, 3, 4, and on until all have been called. (Young preschoolers may miscount, but correct counting is not the goal!)

• “The Promise Reaffirmed” video


• Fold a sheet of construction paper in a tent shape, or cover a table with a blanket to be a tent.

• a medium-size, smooth rock

• “Every Move I Make”• “Everywhere I Go”• “Beyond My Imagination”

• offering basket






Small Group Activities Time (25–30 minutes) Provide only those activities that you can manage in your space and with the teachers you have.

Count to 12Practice counting to 12 by doing simple exercises. Volunteers may suggest what to do and lead an exercise. Count aloud. Children do not have to stand in a circle, but make sure there is plenty of room to move around. Say • Abraham’s family grew quickly: Ishmael had 12

sons. Jacob (Abraham’s grandson) had 12 sons and a daughter. Each of them had children. The family grew as God had promised.

Talk with walkie-talkiesPoke a small hole in the center of the bottom of each cup. Thread the string through each hole and tie a knot in each end so the strings will not slip out. The children must pair up. Each child takes a cup; the pair walk far enough apart to stretch the string tightly. One child holds his cup to his ear while the other talks into his cup. Try it out in different parts of the room.

Tip: Limit the number who can work an activity if necessary.

• Mention the key passage or ask the big picture question.

• Play the key passage song in the background.

PREPLOW

Tip: Try jumps (2 feet), hops (1 foot), twisting arm swings, tapping shoulders with fingers, or tossing a beanbag from hand to hand.

• plastic cups, 2 per set

• 5-to-7-foot piece of cotton string

• decorating supplies (optional)






Say • Take turns asking and answering the big picture question in your walkie-talkies: How did people know God’s plan? God told people His plan.

Plan a tripBuild roads for a trip. Print and cut out the road signs; tape them to blocks to use on the roads. Remind the kids that Jacob traveled alone with no road signs. Push cars along the road.Say • Wherever we go, God is always with us. God told

Jacob, “I am with you everywhere you go.”

Polish rocksSort stones by size or color. Shine stones using oil and cloths or cotton balls. Be sure to wash hands after working with oil.Say • Jacob poured oil on the stone when he set it up as

a marker. He did that to mark the place where God talked to him and so people would know the place was special.

Count stepsTape a long sheet of paper to the wall. Draw a ladder from the floor up the wall for several feet. Space rungs a foot apart. Kids take turns throwing the beanbag (or a tight paper wad) at the ladder. Mark the place where the beanbag hit, and count the steps up from the floor to the height of the hit.Say • Jacob saw a ladder or stairway with angels going up

and down. The ladder connected him to heaven. God told Jacob part of His plan in that dream.

Tip: Make sure the string is tight. The tight string will pick up voice vibrations.

• blocks• toy cars (if available)

• paper• washable markers• masking tape• “Road Signs”

• stones/rocks (picked up or purchased) large enough to be safe

• olive or baby oil• cotton balls, pieces of soft cloth, old towel

• hand sanitizer• paper towels• painting smocks (optional)

• beanbag or tight paper wad

• masking tape• long paper, marker• tally sheet

Tip: If you have wall space, instead of a ladder, draw or tape large stair steps, perhaps 7-inch rise, 10-inch horizontal depth per step.


Review and prayLook at the timeline to recall the name of Isaac’s father and another Bible story about Isaac. Practice answering the big picture question.

Show the key passage poster and point to each word as you read the verse. Encourage the kids to repeat the words after you. Sing the key passage song “Look!”Say • We can remember this promise from God when we

are afraid, lonely, or sad. Pray • Thank You, God, for always being with us wherever

we go. Thank You for showing us Your plan in the Bible.

Missions Story: Make a promise to prayReview the promises God gave Abraham.Say • Did you know some people in far away places do

not even know about God and His promises? They are called “forgotten people groups.” God hasn’t forgotten them at all! In fact, God has a plan for them to hear about Jesus and His love for them. We can

Tip: Continue until every child has been picked up. The last kids left might help you straighten the room.

• Use the Timeline Map or Small Group Visual Pack timeline.

• Big Picture Question • Key Passage Poster • “Look!”

Note: Over 3,000 forgotten people groups have been identified that have no one to share with them about Christ. They may have few Bibles or none at all in their language. Choosing to pray for a forgotten people group will help fulfill God’s plan for them.




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pray that God will send people (missionaries) to tell them about God and Jesus!

Share information you collected about a specific group. If you choose, set a time period to pray for the forgotten people group and send a reminder home with the children. Even seven days of prayer can make a huge difference!

Play “Going on a Journey”Sit in a circle. Like “Going on a Bear Hunt,” pat both hands on your legs and clap in rhythm (pat, clap, pat, clap). Children will repeat each line with actions after you say it.

We’re going on a journey! God will lead the way. (Look at the sky.)Don’t need a map. (Shake your head.)What’s that up ahead? (Squint.)Looks like a mountain!Can’t go under it. (Shake your head.)Can’t go around it. (Shake your head.)Let’s climb over it. (“Climb” slowly up; walk quickly

down.)Continue, adding new obstacles such as these:

• Looks like a desert. Let’s walk through it. (Plod slowly. Pretend you’re hot.)• Looks like the moon. I guess it’s time to rest now. (Yawn and stretch.) A rock will be my pillow. (Pretend to sleep, snore.)• Looks like a ladder Going up to heaven! (Point to sky.) Look at all the angels! [Open your palms, touch

shoulders, then roll hands forward and up to resemble wings. (American Sign Language sign)]

God is watching over me! Thank You, God!

Tip: Find resources and information about forgotten people groups online. Help kids pray for forgotten people groups by

• choosing a people group;

• finding basic info about the people group such as its language and geographic region;

• finding the group’s prayer needs;

• and committing to pray for a set amount of time (such as a week or a month)

Jacob and Esau were typical sibling rivals. Rebekah had a difficult pregnancy because the twins struggled in her womb. Outside the womb, things didn’t seem to get much better—strife still ruled their lives.

Once, when Esau was hungry, Jacob offered to give him some stew in exchange for his birthright. The birthright was an important part of the patriarchal culture. Upon the death of his father, Esau, as the older brother, would be given twice as much property and goods as Jacob. Esau satisfied his hunger and left, despising his birthright.

The Hebrew term baza (baw-zaw’) can have any number of meanings, but basically it means to undervalue. Esau was more concerned with his grumbling stomach than with his right to succeed his father as family patriarch.

Isaac, blind and getting older, planned to bless Esau before he died. With instructions to cook savory food, reminiscent of the stew Esau received earlier, Esau “went on the hunt.”

Not to be outdone, Rebekah took up the cause of her favored son and set into motion a plan that would ensure that Jacob, not Esau, received the blessing from Isaac. After finding out about the deception, Esau planned to kill his brother. Jacob left home and lived with his uncle, Laban.

Similar to other stories we’ve seen, when people make their own plans and try to “help” God, their plans never prosper. Share with kids that God’s plans are always perfect, and nothing can stop God’s plans, even when we get in the way. God’s plan from the creation of the world was to send Jesus Christ to be the Savior. No matter what plans people make to circumvent God’s plan, His plan is always the best.

Teacher BIBLE STUDY



Session Title: The Stolen BlessingBible Passage: Genesis 25:27-34; 27:1-45Big Picture Question: What can stop God’s plans? Nothing can stop

God’s plans.Key Passage: Genesis 28:15Unit Christ Connection: Despite difficult circumstances, God remained






The Stolen BlessingGenesis 25:27-34; 27:1-45

Everyone in today’s Bible story either wanted the wrong things or tried to get good things the wrong way. A father in Bible times would give his oldest son two important things: the birthright and a blessing. When his father died, the son who received the birthright would receive more money and property than his brothers. That son would become the leader of the family. He would make all the family decisions. When someone received a blessing, it could not be changed.

Esau was older than Jacob, so Esau would expect Isaac to give him the birthright and the blessing. But before Esau and Jacob were born, God told their mother, Rebekah, that Esau would serve Jacob. That meant that God planned for Jacob to become the head of the family instead of Esau.

As Esau grew up, he became a very good hunter. Isaac liked to eat the meat Esau brought home. Esau did not seem to care much about things like birthrights and blessings. Jacob liked to stay at home better. His mother loved him. She taught him how to cook. Jacob did care about birthrights and blessings. He wanted them even though he was not the older brother.

One day, Jacob was cooking stew. It smelled wonderful! Esau came home from hunting. He was very hungry and asked for some stew. But Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” Esau replied, “What good is a birthright if I am so hungry I’m about to die?” So he promised to trade his birthright for a bowl of stew. Was Esau really about to die because he was so hungry? No! But right at that moment, Esau cared more about eating than about his birthright. His birthright would have been important for the rest of his life. Esau made a bad choice.

When Isaac was old, he sent Esau out hunting and told him to come home with meat to make a delicious meal. Then Isaac would give Esau his blessing. Rebekah heard what Isaac told Esau. She wanted Jacob to have the blessing. She made a plan to trick Isaac and get the blessing for Jacob. She made a tasty stew, and she dressed Jacob in Esau’s clothing. She put goat skins on Jacob’s hands and neck to make him seem hairy, like Esau.

The BIBLE STorY



She told Jacob to pretend to be Esau. Rebekah and Jacob were doing a bad thing.

Jacob took the stew to Isaac. Isaac could not see well, and he was surprised that Esau had come home so quickly from hunting. He wasn’t quite sure that the person in the room was really Esau, because the voice sounded like Jacob’s. But Jacob said, “I am Esau,” which, of course, was not true. Jacob smelled like Esau and felt like Esau. Isaac blessed him with a wonderful blessing for wealth, success, and leadership of the family.

When Esau returned and learned what Jacob had done, he was very, very angry. He begged Isaac for a blessing. Isaac said Esau would have a hard life, he would fight a lot, and he would serve Jacob. Esau was so angry that wanted to hurt Jacob, so Rebekah and Isaac sent Jacob away until Esau would not be so angry.

Everybody in Isaac’s family had sinned. They all chose to make their own plans instead of waiting on God to work out His plan. Did that change God’s plan? No! God always knows what He is doing.

What can stop God’s plans? Nothing can stop God’s plans.

Christ Connection: Jacob is a perfect example of why a Savior was needed. Like Jacob, we seek a birthright and blessing that is not ours, but we cannot lie, deceive, or trick to receive it. Instead Jesus shared His birthright and blessing with us when He paid for our sins on the cross and gave us His righteousness.


Welcome and singGreet children and sing a song such as the “Wiggle Song” or “H-A-P-P-Y.”

Practice the key passage and a Bible skill Tape the key passage poster to a wall or easel so you can have your hands free. Sing “Look!” Ask the children to help you find the key passage in the Bible. Pretend you have forgotten how to use the Scripture reference.Say • Does anyone remember where our key passage can

be found? (Genesis, the front of the Bible)[Exaggerate the motions of flipping to the beginning of

the Bible.]Now that I’ve found Genesis, I think there is supposed

to be a verse number to help me find it. Raise your hand if you know where it is. If I call on you, point to the number on the key passage poster. (Genesis 28:15)

• Play “Starry Night” in the background as you welcome preschoolers, following your church’s security procedures.

• Provide an offering basket

• “Wiggle Song”• “H-A-P-P-Y”

• Bible• Key Passage Poster • “Look!”• tape• easel (optional)




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[Call on a child who raised his hand to come up and point to the Scripture reference. Locate Genesis 28 in the Bible.]

Can someone else help me find the small number 15? If the children cannot recognize numbers yet, count

aloud until you get to the verse, or find it dramatically yourself. The key is to demonstrate how to use the Scripture reference. Once you have found the verse, encourage the kids to say it with you.

Watch or tell the Bible storySay • Somebody in today’s Bible story loved food more

than he loved God. Listen to find out who.Tell the Bible story, or show the Bible story video “The Stolen Blessing.”Say • Who loved food more than God’s blessing? (Esau)

The people in Isaac’s family did not always treat each other well, but God used them in His plan anyway. • What can stop God’s plans? Nothing can stop God’s plans!

Sing worship songs and praySing praise songs such as “Beyond My Imagination,” “Step by Step,” or “How Great Is Our God.”

Pass the offering basket.Pray, including words such as “Thank You, God, for

loving us and wanting us. Thank You that nothing and nobody can stop Your plans.”

Transition to small groupsDescribe the activities you have chosen to set up and explain how you will organize working in them. Send kids to small group activities in an orderly way.

• “The Stolen Blessing” video

• “Beyond My Imagination”

• “Step by Step”• “How Great Is Our God”

• offering basket






Small Group Activities (25–30 minutes)Remember to repeat the big picture question and answer during these activities.

Play “Find the Animals”Choose two finders/herders and assign each to a corner of the room in which to gather their flocks or herds. Tell one of them to listen for and gather sheep; the other will listen for and gather cows. Whisper to each of the other kids an animal sound to make, either sheep (baa) or cow (moo). Assign an equal number of “sheep” and “cows.”

When you give the signal, the “animals” mill around, making their sounds. The finders will listen, separate their animals out, and herd them to their corner of the room. Continue, choosing different herders and assigning different sheep and cattle. Say • Isaac could not see, so he had to listen carefully.

What did he hear that made him think something was wrong when Jacob and Rebekah tricked him? (The hands and smell were Esau’s, but the voice was Jacob’s.)



• Mention the key passage or ask the big picture question.

PREPLOW

Tip: If you have a large group, divide the children into two “herds” with two finders.






Make a birth announcementBefore class, secure a list of kids’ full names and birth dates. Print each child’s information on an announcement. Assist kids in making thumbprints to decorate their page. Wipe off the ink quickly when they finish.Say • What were the names of the twins in today’s story?

Would their birthdays be on the same or different days?

Play with play doughPut a hunk of play dough at each place at the table. Tell children to begin by making cooking pots. They may make pinch pots or coil pots. When they have finished making a pot, allow them to make whatever else they choose.Say • Jacob, Esau, and Rebekah all cooked tasty food.

Sometimes they used food to get in the way of God’s plan, but nobody and nothing can stop God’s plan.

Sniff and thinkLet the kids sniff different smells and say where they might smell those smells. Ask who in the Bible story used his sense of smell? Why? (Isaac; he could not see.)

Play hide-and-seekIf your room has good hiding places, play hide-and-seek. When It finds a player, It will say, “I see you, (player),” and tap that person lightly. The first person found will become It in the next round. It continues searching until all the players are found. Say • Jacob’s mother helped him run away because Esau

was angry and Jacob was afraid. Jacob was gone from home for many years.

• crayons• ink pad• hand sanitizer• paper towels • Birth Announcement

• play dough• Pinch pot: roll play dough into a ball; press thumb into middle of ball; pinch around sides of pot to enlarge hole; flatten the bottom.

• Coiled pot: roll play dough into a “snake”; coil it around to make base and sides; smooth coils together to build sides of pot.

• small containers or ziplock bags of aromatic things (coffee, soap, sawdust, aftershave, pine needles, spices, cotton balls soaked in vanilla or perfume)

Alternate hide-and-seek idea: Let kids take turns hiding colorful toys. Seekers will close their eyes while items are being hid.


ReviewAssemble kids in a group. Point to Jacob on the timeline. Explain that the key passage verse was a promise God made to Jacob. Point to each word on the key passage poster as you read the verse. Encourage the kids to repeat the words after you. Show the children the American Sign Language sign for with: Make both fists with thumbs pointed up, hold your fists a little way apart, and bring them together as you say “with.”Say • The sign for with will help us remember that God is

not far away when we need Him; He is close to us. He is with us wherever we go.

Sing the key passage song “Look!”

Pray Point to and say the big picture question and answer.Say • Thank You, God, for giving us Jesus as a friend.

Thank You that nothing and nobody can stop Your plans.

• countdown video or bell (optional)

• Key Passage Poster • Use the timeline from the Timeline Map or Small Group Visual Pack.

Tip: Check out the motions for the American Sign Language sign online.

• “Look!”





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Missions Story: Last to EatEsau was really hungry. Jacob traded him soup for his birthright. Have you ever been so hungry, you would give up anything just to eat? Children in Mali are often hungry.

If you went through a Bamako neighborhood in Mali, you would see children playing everywhere, smiling and laughing! But keep looking. Some children have reddish, almost orange hair. Their skin is dry and grayish. These children are malnourished. They don’t have enough to eat.

In their culture, the children eat last. Dinner is usually a large bowl of millet (a kind of grain) or rice topped with a sauce of vegetables; they eat meat, if they have it. They eat the meal outside in the yard where goats, sheep, and chickens run free and flies swarm.

The adults sit around the bowl, dipping into the bowl with their right hand. They eat separately—men around one bowl and women around another. Each eats just the section directly in front of them. If there is any meat, they pinch off a piece and then scoot the rest towards their neighbor.

The children are the last to eat—of what’s left. Pray for good rains so the crops will grow and there will be enough food to eat and water to drink. Ask God to send people to tell people in Mali that Jesus loves them, maybe even when they eat together.

Play “Where Are You Going?”Jacob had to leave home. He walked. Hand a toy car to a child and ask “Where would you go in the car?” They can describe real or silly places. Take turns giving the car to different kids.

When parents arrive, make sure to mention something positive you have noticed about their child today. If teachers arrive, quietly tell them anything they need to know.

• toy car

After living in a foreign land for several years, God instructed Jacob to get up and go home. Jacob settled with his father-in-law the wages he was owed, then Jacob and his family left.

Jacob sent his servants ahead to meet his brother Esau. The servants returned with the message that 400 men accompanied Esau as he came to meet Jacob. Consider the past and what prompted Jacob’s leaving. How would you feel to hear this news? How do you think Jacob felt? Read Genesis 32:7.

Jacob was concerned; the Bible says he sent extravagant gifts, hoping that whatever hatred Esau still had for him might dissipate with these gifts. Guarding against complete annihilation, Jacob sent the servants and part of the animals ahead and stayed with his family and the rest of the animals. Soon Jacob sent his wives and children across the river.

While Jacob was alone, God Himself came down and wrestled with Jacob. By morning light, God blessed Jacob and changed his name to Israel, which means “He strives against God.” This name not only indicated the struggle the night before but also, as the future name of God’s covenant people, indicated the life they would live in constant struggle against God.

From this moment on, God changed not only Jacob’s name but also his heart and attitude. In the morning Jacob changed his plan which he had made in fear, struck out ahead of his family, and met Esau with open arms.

This story clearly illustrates that God’s plan for redemption through Jesus Christ culminates in a change of heart and attitude. When a person becomes a Christian, God changes both and makes a new creation. Jacob’s new name would become the name of God’s special people, the Israelites. From the nation of Israel, Jesus would come to earth to be our Savior.

Teacher BIBLE STUDY



Session Title: Jacob’s New NameBible Passage: Genesis 32–33Big Picture Question: What new name did God give Jacob? God changed

Jacob’s name to Israel.Key Passage: Genesis 28:15Unit Christ Connection: Despite difficult circumstances, God remained






Jacob’s New NameGenesis 32–33

When Jacob tricked his father and brother, Esau was very angry. Rebekah thought Jacob should go visit her relatives, far, far away. She suggested to Isaac that Jacob could find a better wife there than marrying a woman from nearby. Off went Jacob. He was running away from Esau. On the way, you will remember that Jacob had a dream. [What did he see in his dream? Right. A staircase to heaven, angels going up and down, and God beside him.]

After many days, Jacob arrived at his uncle’s home. Jacob lived with his uncle Laban for 20 years. Jacob married and became very rich. Eleven of his 12 sons were born, and he had daughters. He had many sheep and goats. His uncle Laban did not treat Jacob fairly. God finally told Jacob that it was time to move his family home, so they began the long trip with their children, animals, and possessions.

Do you remember that God had said to Jacob, “Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go”? On his way home, Jacob saw God’s angels again, and he knew God was with him. But Jacob was afraid of Esau. Esau had been very angry when Jacob tricked him. Jacob learned that Esau was coming to meet him with 400 men. Jacob made a plan to protect his family. He prayed to God, “You have been kinder to me than I deserve. I am afraid of Esau. Please rescue me.” Then Jacob sent some of his servants to meet Esau with a gift of many animals from his flocks. He sent his family ahead of him, and he spent the night alone.

While Jacob was left alone, he wrestled all night with a man. Jacob knew this was not an ordinary man. In the night, the man touched Jacob’s hip so that Jacob limped for the rest of his life. In the morning, Jacob said to the man, “I will let you go if you bless me.”

The man asked, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he replied. “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” said the man. “It will be Israel

(IZ ray el) because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.”

The BIBLE STorY



Jacob asked Him, “Please tell me Your name.” But the man answered, “Why do you ask My name?” And He blessed him there. Jacob knew the man was God. Jacob named the place Peniel (pih NIGH el), “For I have seen God face to face,” he said, “and I have been delivered.” After that, Jacob knew that God was stronger than he was, and he learned to trust God’s plans. The sun shone on Jacob as he passed by Peniel.

Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming with his 400 men. Jacob went ahead of his family to meet Esau. What a surprise! Esau was not mad at Jacob. He was glad to see Jacob’s family. He did not want Jacob’s gift. But Jacob said, “Yes, you must take the gift,” because Jacob was so happy. He knew God was taking care of him and his family.

Jacob and his family moved to a place where he built a house and settled his family. He built an altar to God. God had changed Jacob and given him a new name, Israel. When Jacob’s family grew large, it became a nation. The nation is called Israel.

Christ Connection: Jacob’s meeting with God changed his life as reflected in his new name, Israel. Jesus came so that we might have a changed life, forgiven of sin (2 Cor. 5:17). Jesus’ death and resurrection provided sinful people with the way to be adopted into God’s family. When we are adopted into the family of God we also receive a new name—children of God (John 1:12).


Welcome and singGreet new arrivals; be sure parents sign them in according to your church’s security procedures. Sing a song such as “Step by Step” or “Every Move I Make.”

Practice the key passage and a Bible skillCall the boys and girls up one at a time so they can see where the key passage can be found in the Bible. Encourage them to touch the verse in the Bible if they would like. Say • Now that we have reviewed where to find the key

passage in our Bible, let’s say it together!Say the key passage together, and then sing the key passage song “Look!”

Watch the Bible story video or tell the Bible storySay • Have you ever heard a story about somebody who

ran away? The Bible has a few stories like that. In today’s Bible story, somebody ran away from home, and he was gone for a long time. On his way home, God gave him a new name.

• Play “Starry Night” as preschoolers assemble for worship.


• “Step by Step”• “Every Move I Make”


• “Jacob’s New Name” video

• Bible




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Tell the Bible story, with your Bible open, or show the video.Say • When God gave Jacob a new name, God showed that

He still planned to bless Jacob and his family. • What new name did God give Jacob? God changed Jacob’s name to Israel.

Worship in song and praySing praise songs such as “Beyond My Imagination,” “How Great Is Our God,” or “Every Move I Make.”

Pass the offering basket.Pray, using language such as “ Thank You, God, for Your

Word, which tells us about Jacob and about how You kept Your promise to him and his family. Thank You that You promise to be with us, too, wherever we go.

Transition to small groupsDescribe the activities you have chosen to set up and explain how you will organize working in them. Send a few preschoolers at a time to an activity.



• “Every Move I Make”• offering basket






Small Group Activities (25–30 minutes)Remember to review the big picture question during activities.

Build an altarBuild an altar of blocks. It should have a flat top. Explain that an altar was a place where people offered sacrifices and gifts to God. An altar could be made of dirt, bricks, stone, bronze, gold. People built altars where they had met God. Recall people who built altars: Noah (Gen. 8:20); Abraham (Gen. 12:7-8); Isaac (Gen. 26:25); Jacob (Gen. 33:20).Say • After God gave Jacob a new name, Jacob built an

altar to say thank You to God.

Create name artPrint each child’s first name in large block letters on paper and lead him to draw around his name. He may draw pictures of things such as his interests, favorite toys, and favorite foods.Say • What new name did God give Jacob? God changed

Jacob’s name to Israel.



PREPLOW

• blocks

• paper• crayons






Review the timelinePrint the first letter of each word or name to fill two-thirds of a page. Print the word or name across the bottom of the page: Beginning, Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, Joseph. Distribute the pages. Ask each child to stand and show her page. Examine each one, sounding out the first letter of each word. (Most of these words begin with the sound of the letter name.) Find where each word or name belongs on the timeline. Match husbands and wives. Talk about who came first and who came next. Explain that they will hear stories from the Bible about Joseph, one of Jacob’s sons, next week.

Play a name game Make two masking tape lines several feet apart. Divide into two teams, and line up both teams behind one of the lines. The first person in each line will run touch the other line, say his name for everyone to hear, run back to the next person in line, say his name and the next person’s name, and give a high five.Say • Your name is important because it lets people know

what to call you. In Bible times, a person’s name described what that person was like. When God changed Jacob’s name, He showed that Jacob himself had changed.

Move the familyPack kitchen or doll items in the room into wagons or boxes with string for pulling. Transport the household goods across the room. Talk about Jacob’s moving his family to Shechem. If you have the Genesis and Exodus map from two sessions ago, move the Jacob puppet from Haran to Shechem and talk about moving a whole family that far.

• timeline from Timeline Map or Small Group Visual Pack

• paper• markers

PREPLOW

• masking tape

• shoe boxes with a string or yarn pull tied to one end

• things to move• “Genesis and Exodus Map” or saved from “The Promise Reaffirmed,” unit 3, session 1


ReviewAsk a child to point to today’s Bible story picture on the timeline. Read the story title, “Jacob’s New Name,” and let them answer the big picture question.

Sing “Look!” Point to each word in the key passage poster as you read the verse. Encourage the preschoolers to repeat the words after you.Say • Jacob was worried when he found out Esau was

coming to meet him. He was afraid Esau would still be angry with him. But Jacob quit being afraid when he learned that God really was right there with him! We know God is with us because He said so, and God always keeps His promises.

Pray • Thank You, God, for changing us and making us part of Your family through Jesus. Thank You for always keeping Your promises to Jacob and to us.

Missions Story: Secret BelieversEvery week all over the United States, children laugh and clap and sing songs about Jesus. You thank God for getting

• Timeline Map or Small Group Visual Pack


• Key Passage Poster • “Look!”




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to spend time with your Christian friends. You or your teacher tell stories about the life of Jesus. You pray for your families and friends. That’s what you do at church, right?

But in some places in the world people are not allowed to listen to stories of Jesus or sing songs about Him. In one of those countries, parents tell their children about Jesus anyway. They know they might get in trouble, but they believe the Bible, which says “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29b). The children laugh and clap and sing with the same excitement you do. Praise God for these Christians and their small church.

Most parents in this country won’t let their children go to church at all. Please pray that they will have a chance to read a Bible or hear the stories of Jesus.

Say • Do you remember what God promised Jacob? [Point

in the Bible to Genesis 28:15. Read the key passage.] Do you think God is with the people in that faraway church?

Play a mirroring gameAsk pairs of kids to stand face to face, as if they are looking in a mirror. Kids take turns making a silly face for the other partner to mirror (match). Say • Esau was angry at his brother Jacob. Make angry

faces like Esau’s. [Pause.] Jacob was afraid when he heard Esau was coming with 400 men. Make

scared faces! [Pause.] When Jacob realized Esau had forgiven him, he was happy to see his brother. Make faces that show how happy Jacob and Esau were.

[Pause. Repeat silly faces.]If there is time, sing “Make a Face.”

• Key Passage Poster • Bible



Joseph, his father’s favorite son, was the son of Rachel, his favorite wife. Jacob gave his son Joseph a gift that the other boys did not get. Of course this did not endear him to his siblings. Can you imagine that strife was a constant at their home?

After sharing his dreams with his brothers and father, Joseph was rebuked by his brothers and his father. In Bible times God often spoke to people through dreams. Joseph’s dreams were hard for his family to “swallow” and believe.

Once Joseph was sent to Egypt, God blessed him in the house of Potiphar, a wealthy and influential man in Egypt. Remaining faithful to God, Joseph ended up imprisoned for quite some time.

After Joseph had spent years in prison, Pharaoh had a dream which he could not understand. When he described the dream to Joseph, Joseph shared the divine interpretation with Pharaoh. Joseph was made the master of the storehouses and an important official within Egypt. Can you imagine going from prison to Pharaoh’s second in command … overnight?

Joseph had two sons whose names were significant to his ordeal. Manasseh means “God has made me forget all my hardship in my father’s house,” and Ephraim means “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” Joseph recognized who had been with him during his years of separation.

Joseph was falsely accused of a crime, which caused him to be sent to prison. Joseph was violently mistreated, ridiculed, and rejected by his family. This was a foreshadowing of how Jesus Christ would be violently mistreated, ridiculed, and rejected by His people. Jesus was also falsely accused of a crime, leading to His death on the cross. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, anyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

Teacher BIBLE STUDY



Session Title: Joseph Sent to EgyptBible Passage: Genesis 37:1-36; 39:1–41:57Big Picture Question: Who is always with us? God is always with us.Key Passage: Genesis 28:15Unit Christ Connection: Despite difficult circumstances, God remained






Joseph Sent to EgyptGenesis 37:1-36; 39:1–41:57

Do you remember Jacob, who dreamed of the stairway to heaven? Jacob had 12 sons and some daughters. Jacob liked his next-to-youngest son, Joseph, the best. Jacob gave Joseph a beautiful coat. Joseph’s older brothers did not like Joseph. God sent two dreams to Joseph. Both dreams meant that Joseph’s family would bow down to Joseph. Joseph’s brothers did not like hearing those dreams.

One day Joseph’s brothers were away from home tending the sheep. Jacob sent Joseph to find out how they were doing. Joseph walked many miles before he found them. When they saw him coming, they had a terrible idea. “Let’s kill him,” they said. “We can throw him into a deep hole and tell our father that an animal ate him!” Reuben, the oldest brother, said, “Let’s not kill him.” Reuben planned to rescue Joseph later.

The brothers took Joseph’s beautiful coat and threw him into the deep hole. Along came some traders on their way to Egypt. Some of the brothers sold Joseph to the traders as a slave. They put goat’s blood on Joseph’s coat, took it back to Jacob, and told him that Joseph had been killed by an animal. Jacob was very sad.

In Egypt, the traders sold Joseph to an important man named Potiphar (PAHT ih fuhr). The Lord was with Joseph, and Joseph did a good job in Potiphar’s house. Potiphar put Joseph in charge of everything he owned. But Potiphar’s wife tried to get Joseph in trouble, and she succeeded. Potiphar put Joseph in jail.

In jail, the Lord was still with Joseph. The prison guard put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners. Two prisoners had been servants to the king. Each one had a dream. Nobody could tell them what their dreams meant. The men were unhappy. Joseph said, “God tells what dreams mean. What did you dream?”

The first man told his dream. Joseph said, “Your dream means that in three days you will go back to your job in the palace. Please tell Pharaoh (the king) about me. I am in jail, but I did nothing wrong.” Then the second man told his dream. Joseph said, “Your dream means you will die in three

The BIBLE STorY



days.” Two dreams. Both dreams came true.The man who went back to his job forgot to tell Pharaoh about Joseph.

Two years later, Pharaoh had two dreams. Nobody could tell him what they meant. At last the man remembered to tell Pharaoh about Joseph. Joseph was called to see Pharaoh. Joseph said, “I cannot tell you what your dream means, but God can. What did you dream?”

In Pharaoh’s first dream, seven fat cows were grazing beside the Nile River. Seven thin cows came and ate up the fat cows. In the second dream, a thin stalk of wheat with seven pitiful heads of grain swallowed a stalk that was growing seven good, ripe heads of grain.

Joseph said, “These dreams mean the same thing. God has shown you what He is about to do. There will be seven years of good harvests. For the next seven years after that, not much grain will grow. People will be hungry.

“Here is what you should do. Find a man to collect part of the grain during the seven good years and store it in cities. Then, during the seven bad years, there will be food enough for people to eat. The people in Egypt will be saved.”

Pharaoh said, “God is with you. You are intelligent and wise. I want you to be the man in charge of collecting and storing the grain. Everyone in Egypt will do what you say. You will be the most important man in the land except me.” Pharaoh gave Joseph a wife. They had two sons.

Joseph did his job well. Joseph had been faithful at every job God had given him, and now he was faithful at a very big job. God had been with him in bad times and in good times. Who is always with us? God is always with us.

Christ Connection: God sent Joseph to Egypt and blessed him, so that he rose to a position of great power. In that position, he was God’s instrument for saving his family and many others in the world from death by starvation. Jesus gave up his position of great power to be God’s instrument for saving people. Christ’s life and death made a way to save people from spiritual death, which is the penalty of sin.


Welcome and singAssemble and sing one of the songs provided, such as “Step by Step” or “Every Move I Make.”

Practice the key passage and a Bible skillShow the Bible in one hand and a “made-up story” book (such as one with talking animals) in the other so kids can see both. Say • Can someone tell me which of these books has made-

up stories, and which of these books has true stories? (The Bible is always true.) How do we know the Bible is always true? We know because the Bible is God’s very own words for us, and God always tells the truth.

[Hold the Bible open to the key passage on your lap. Point to the key passage poster. Show the reference in your Bible.]

God promised He would be with Jacob wherever Jacob went. We can read that in Genesis 28:15.

[Say the key passage with the children several times and sing the key passage song “Look!”]

• Greet incoming preschoolers; follow your church’s security procedures.


• “Step by Step”• “Every Move I Make”

• Bible• story book• Key Passage Poster • “Look!”



Large Group WorShIp



Watch the Bible story video or tell the Bible storyDoes anyone in your group have as many brothers and sisters as Joseph? Do you think that a family in the Bible would be a perfect family? Listen to how Joseph’s brothers treated one another. Tell the Bible story, or show the Bible story video “Joseph Sent to Egypt”Say • Sometimes brothers and sisters do not get along; they

fight and argue. Joseph’s brothers sold him and sent him far away! They didn’t think they would ever see him again. How do you think that made Joseph feel? (scared, lonely, upset) • Who was always with Joseph when he felt scared, lonely, or upset? (God!) • Who is always with us? God is always with us.

Worship with song and praySing the key passage song and one or two worship songs, such as “How Great Is Our God.”

Pass the offering basket.Pray • Thank You, God, for Your Word, which is always

true. Thank You for making Joseph great so he could save his family. Thank You for sending Jesus to rescue us.

Transition to small groupsDescribe the activities you have chosen to set up and explain how you will organize working in them. Send a few preschoolers at a time to do or choose an activity. Tell them to walk straight and tall, like Joseph.

• “Joseph Sent to Egypt” video


• “Look!”• “How Great Is Our God”

• offering basket






Small Group Activities (25–30 minutes)Repeat the big picture question to cement it in kids’ minds.

Jump and squatReview today’s Bible story. Kids jump for the ceiling when things go well for Joseph. Slap the floor when they don’t. (1) Jacob gave Joseph a beautiful coat. (2) His brothers were mad. (3) In dreams God gave Joseph, his family bowed to him.(4) His whole family was mad. (5) Joseph’s brothers threw him in a pit. (6) His brothers sold him as a servant in Egypt. (7) Joseph became manager of the house and property of

Potiphar, a powerful man in Egypt. (8) Potiphar’s wife lied about Joseph; he was put in prison. (9) Joseph was given an important job in prison. (10) Joseph waited and waited to be let out of prison. (11) Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams. (12) Joseph became the second most important man in

Egypt. Say • Joseph knew God was always with him.

• Who is always with us? God is always with us.



PREPLOW





Dress Joseph Cover the table with newspapers. Cut out a paper doll for each child. Fold a coffee filter in half; lay the coat pattern with shoulders at the fold. Cut out the coat through both thicknesses; cut a slit for the head. Open the coffee filter and let the child paint the coat. Remind the boys and girls to change brushes when changing colors. Hang the filter up to dry. Dress Joseph.Say • Joseph’s brothers were jealous of Joseph.

Mix colorsAdd equal drops of two food colors to the small jar of water. Predict what color the water will become and observe the beautiful colors. Guide the boys and girls to begin with combinations of primary colors: red + blue; yellow + blue; red + yellow; red + yellow + blue. Empty and refill the jar after each test.

Put Joseph in the pitSay • Joseph’s brothers did something mean to Joseph.

They put him down in a deep hole. Pretend that the bucket is the deep hole and the doll is Joseph. Show how you think they got him in and out of the hole. What do you think Joseph was doing and feeling while his brothers ate?

Play with shadowsSay • Your shadow is always with you when you are in the

sun. God is better than a shadow. He is with you all the time.

Dim the room lights. Experiment with making a kid’s shadow change, becoming long or short as the light moves.

• 8-inch coffee filters• newspapers to cover the table

• paint smocks• 3 or 4 bowls of very diluted tempera paint

• paintbrushes for each bowl

• “Paper Dolls” pattern

• small, clear glass jar• pitcher or jug of water

• set of food colors• plastic spoon

• bucket• yarn or string• “man” doll

• strong flashlight or spotlight


ReviewShow the key passage in your Bible. Point to each word as you read the verse from the poster. Encourage the preschoolers to repeat the words after you. Listen to the key passage echo song “Look!” and sing along with it.Say • Joseph’s brothers sent him to Egypt. Joseph had to

work as a servant in Potiphar’s home; then he was sent to prison for something he didn’t do. It was unfair, but Joseph knew God was always with him.

Pray • Thank You, God, that you are always with us [or list the people in the room by name] wherever we go.

Mission Story: He’s a lot like you …The people in Egypt respected Joseph, but they did not believe in God as Joseph did. Sometimes people today do not live where their friends believe in God.

In West Africa lives a very friendly MK (missionary kid) boy. He loves to play soccer and do flips on the trampoline. He has many friends where he lives, but not one of them is a Christian. This MK can talk to his young friends in a way

• countdown video or bell (optional)

• Bible• Key Passage Poster • Big Picture Question Poster

• “Look!”



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his missionary parents can’t. It really helps that he is the same age and likes the same things as his friends!

One night this 10-year-old MK, who was born in West Africa, prayed during family devotions. “Dear God, help us not to be shy to tell our friends about You. We love You and we want them to love You too.”

Please pray for MKs. Ask God to make them strong in their faith and courageous enough to tell their friends about Jesus. Pray that West African children and youth will listen and learn that Jesus wants to be their closest friend.

Play a caravan gameAssign a teacher to greet parents or next-session teachers.

Sing the fun song “Everywhere I Go.” Ask kids how people in the Bible traveled. (walking, with donkeys, on camels)Say • In Bible times, when people traveled over long

distances, they would travel with a bunch of people to stay safe. The large group of people that traveled together is called a caravan. I’m going to travel around the room. If I touch your shoulder, you can join my caravan and copy me.

Walk around the room in a winding path. As you get more children in your caravan, make up different motions for them to follow such as twirling, flapping your arms, or taking tiny steps as you walk along.

• “Everywhere I Go”

Once Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent his sons to Egypt, except for Benjamin. No one in Canaan knew how long the famine would last, and later clues lead us to believe that it was early into the famine when Jacob sent his sons to Egypt.

Joseph recognized his brothers immediately, but they did not recognize him. Through several rounds of tests, Joseph determined that his brothers’ hearts had changed and that they were sorry for selling him into slavery.

Jacob was hesitant to let his sons return to Egypt for more grain, especially with Benjamin in tow. He reluctantly let Benjamin go with Judah’s promise of protection for him. Can you image Jacob’s fear after losing Joseph?

Joseph’s final test involved Benjamin; it played heavily on his brothers’ concern for their father and Jacob’s desire not to lose another son. Unable to hold his composure any longer, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers.

Focus now on Genesis 45:4-8. Joseph explained why God allowed him to be taken to Egypt. Even though his brothers intended this for his harm, God actually intended this for good. Have you ever struggled to see how bad situations in your life can lead to positive results? Joseph told his brothers they would be set apart as a remnant for “a great deliverance.”

God told Abraham many years before about what would happen. (See Gen. 15:13.) Little did Joseph know that his brothers and their families would be in Egypt for the next 400 years.

Joseph was to go to Egypt to prepare a place for his family to survive and become a great nation—the nation of Israel. God’s plan of redemption through Jesus Christ was sustained through the remnant left in Egypt for 400 years.

Teacher BIBLE STUDY



Session Title: Joseph’s Dreams Came TrueBible Passage: Genesis 42:1–46:34; 50:15-21Big Picture Question: Why did God send Joseph to Egypt? God sent

Joseph to Egypt to save his family.Key Passage: Genesis 28:15Unit Christ Connection: Despite difficult circumstances, God remained






Joseph’s Dreams Came TrueGenesis 42:1–46:34; 50:15-21

A great famine occurred in many countries. Not enough grain grew to feed everyone. But in Egypt, Joseph had stored grain for seven years for Pharaoh. Hungry people from all around came to Joseph to buy grain. Joseph’s father, Jacob, sent his 10 older sons to Egypt to buy grain. Jacob kept his youngest son, Benjamin, at home; he didn’t want anything to happen to Benjamin.

When the 10 brothers arrived in Egypt, they had to talk to Joseph about buying grain. They did not know it was Joseph. He was 20 years older than when they had sold him to the traders, and he looked like an Egyptian. Joseph knew who they were. Joseph’s brothers had been cruel to him and to their father, Jacob. Joseph tested them to see whether they had changed. He acted angry. They were afraid of him. “You are spies,” Joseph said. “No,” they said. “We are brothers. Our youngest brother is at home with our father.”

Joseph said, “One of you must go home and bring back your youngest brother so that I will know you are telling the truth.” Then Joseph put his brothers in the dark prison. After three days, he said, “One of you will stay here in prison while the rest of you go home and bring your youngest brother.” He kept Simeon in jail. Joseph’s brothers said to one another, “We are being punished for what we did to our brother.” They did not know that Joseph understood what they were saying.

Joseph sent nine brothers home to bring Benjamin back to Egypt. He also put money in each brother’s sack of grain. When they saw the money, they were really afraid. They thought the Egyptians would accuse them of stealing. “What is this that God has done to us?” they said. The brothers began to think about how mean they had been to Joseph and how sad they had made Jacob. They were changing to become kinder men.

When they returned home, they could not convince Jacob to let Benjamin go. Simeon stayed in jail. Finally, they needed more grain. The brothers said, “We can’t go to Egypt without Benjamin.” So Jacob said, “If you take Benjamin, also take the best gift you can to the man, and take twice as

The BIBLE STorY



much money. Maybe he will treat you well.”When they arrived in Egypt, Joseph saw Benjamin. Joseph told his

servant to prepare a meal for them. The brothers did not know what to think. They gave him the gift and bowed down before him, just as Joseph had dreamed when he was young. After the dinner, Joseph sent the 11 brothers home with grain. Joseph made another test to see what his brothers would do. He made it look as if Benjamin had stolen Joseph’s silver cup. The brothers were afraid Benjamin would have to stay in Egypt and be Joseph’s servant. They begged Joseph not to keep Benjamin. One brother, Judah, said, “Let me stay and be your servant instead of Benjamin. Our father could not bear to lose him.”

Joseph could tell that the brothers had changed. He sent his Egyptian servants out of the room and cried loudly. His brothers were frightened. Joseph said, “I am your brother Joseph. You sold me to be a servant in Egypt. But don’t worry. It was God’s plan to save your lives in the famine. It was not you who sent me here. It was God.” Joseph told them to move Jacob’s whole family to Egypt where Joseph could take care of them.

Joseph told Pharaoh what had happened. Pharaoh was glad for Joseph. He sent wagons to help them move. He promised them good land to live on. When Jacob heard that his son was alive and a ruler over Egypt, he could not believe it. But when he saw the wagons, Jacob was ready to move. God told Jacob that it was good for him to go to Egypt. His family would grow to become a great nation, and he would see his son Joseph again.

Joseph’s father lived 17 years in Egypt. Before he died, Jacob blessed each of his sons and also Joseph’s sons. His family stayed in Egypt for 400 years, as God had said they would. Jesus was a descendant of Jacob. God had saved Jacob’s family. Many years later, Jesus would be born into that family.

Christ Connection: Joseph recognized that though his brothers intended evil, God planned his circumstances for good—to establish a remnant of God’s people (Genesis 45:7). Likewise, though those who crucified Jesus intended it for evil, God’s plan for the sacrifice of His Son was for the good of all people. Through Jesus’ death on the cross, God again saved a remnant of people.


Welcome and singSing a welcome song such as “I Can Say Hello.”

Practice the key passage and a Bible skillPlace the Bible open on your lap to Genesis 28:15. Say • Right before God said that He would be with Jacob

wherever he went, Jacob had a dream. Does anyone remember the dream Jacob had? (Jacob was dreaming about the ladder going up to heaven.) Let’s say the key passage together.

[Say the key passage with the children several times. Sing it in the song “Look!”]

We learned last week that Joseph had some strange dreams that made his brothers angry. Do you think Joseph and his brothers remembered the strange dreams Joseph had? Today in our story, we find out that Joseph’s dreams came true, even after many, many years!

• Play “Starry Night” in the background as you welcome kids who are arriving. Follow church security procedures.


• “I Can Say Hello”





Large Group WorShIp



Watch the Bible story video or tell the Bible storyAsk what people do when they are hungry. (eat junk food; raid the refrigerator; cook; remain hungry) Instruct kids to listen for what hungry people in today’s Bible story did. Tell the Bible story, or show the video “Joseph’s Dreams Came True.”Say • Who helped many people in this Bible story when

they were hungry? (Joseph) • Why did God send Joseph to Egypt? God sent Joseph to Egypt to save his family.

Worship by singing and prayChoose and sing two or three praise songs such as “Beyond My Imagination,” “How Great Is Our God,” and “My God Is So Big.”

Pass the offering basket.Pray • Thank You, God, for Your Word, which is always

true. Thank You for using the bad things in Joseph’s life to bring about good. Thank You for using Your Son Jesus to bring about our good—to bring us to You.

Transition to small groupsDescribe the activities you have chosen to set up and explain how you will organize working in them. Send a few preschoolers at a time to an activity.

• “Joseph’s Dreams Came True” video



• “My God Is So Big”• offering basket


Small Group Activities (25–30 minutes)Practice the key passage as children play.

Build storehouses with blocksSet out blocks or other construction toys. Suggest building storehouses for grain. Joseph stored grain in several cities. Say • God gave Joseph a plan to save people from starving.

Play grocery storeChildren may work together to arrange food on shelves, bag the groceries, or play grocery store. Say • Joseph filled bags of grain for his brothers to take

home.

Make a suncatcherPlace a square of contact paper, sticky side up, on the table for each preschooler. Each child can drop or place confetti or pieces of tissue paper on the sticky paper. Cover the completed design with the second piece of contact paper and press them together. Cut the square suncatcher into a shape if you desire. Punch a hole to thread through with yarn for hanging. Mention that ancient Egyptians liked to

PREPLOW

• blocks or other construction toys

• grocery sacks• empty food boxes• plastic toy food

• 2 squares of clear contact paper per child (you choose the size)

• confetti or small pieces of colored tissue paper

• hole punch• yarn or ribbon• scissors






decorate their buildings with colorful designs.Say • Even though Joseph was far from home, the same sun

shone over him and his family, and God loved them.

Sort beansPlace each kind of dried bean in a different bowl. Give each child a plate and place a spoonful of each kind of bean on his plate. Encourage kids to sort the beans.

They might also count the beans into piles of seven and talk about the seven years of plenty and seven years of famine.Say • Why did God send Joseph to Egypt? God sent

Joseph to Egypt to save his family.

Play with toy carsEncourage children to make different kinds of roads. Prop one end of the cardboard or long block on a stack of blocks to make a ramp or mountain road. Scatter pencils or small rocks along a flat road to make a bumpy road. Make a bridge with blocks. Drive toy cars over different kinds of roads that you have built. Talk about whether Jacob’s family, using the carts Pharaoh sent to help them move, would have had a smooth or bumpy ride.Say • Why did God send Joseph to Egypt? God sent

Joseph to Egypt to save his family.

Transition to large group closingPlay the “Wiggle Song” as you clean up after activities and gather for closing time.

• 3 kinds of dried beans in distinctly different colors

• paper plates or bowls

• toy cars• small rocks• pencils• sheet of cardboard or a long rectangular block


• “Wiggle Song”


Review Sing the “Wiggle Song” and then settle down for review.

Find last week’s and today’s Bible stories on the timeline. Read the big picture question. Show the key passage poster and point to each word as you read the verse. If you would like, explain the American Sign Language sign for with (see Tip in margin) as you say the verse, emphasizing that God is with us. Sing “Look!”Say • Was God still with Joseph everywhere he went? Pray • Thank You, God, for sending Joseph to Egypt to

save his family. Thank You that Your plans are always good!

Missions Story: Boxes of FoodThis is another true story about hungry people. Children in some parts of the world are in the middle of wars.

In one country, war began three days after Christmas. Children didn’t get to go to school for a long time after Christmas. When they did get to go back to school, teachers were very happy that none of the students were hurt.

• “Wiggle Song”• Use the timeline from the Timeline Map or Small Group Visual Pack.

• Big Picture Question • Bible• “Look!”• Key Passage Poster

Tip: The American Sign Language sign for with is making two fists (thumbs up) and bringing them together in front of you. Review the video for the sign online.




Large Group cLoSIng



Thirteen windows were broken at the school, and some families were staying in one of the classrooms. Everyone worked hard to clean up the school.

Still, a few of the children were really sad when they came to school that first day. One child cried all day long. Please pray for children living in countries at war.

Before Christmas, before the war began, the school had given a box of food to every student’s family in the school and every teacher’s family. It was the first year the school had done that. God knew just what those families would need. Food was hard to find when the war started, and it wasn’t really safe to go to the store. Each box contained enough food to last a family for one month. Isn’t it great that they got those boxes!

People in our churches gave the money for the food boxes. Thank God for everyone who helped these hungry families just when they needed the help. Say an extra ‘Thank You, God’ for your dinner tonight!

Play “Grain, Grain, Cup”Play “Duck, Duck, Goose” but substitute the words “Grain, Grain, Cup.” Explain that It is Joseph’s helper, looking for the sack with Joseph’s cup in it. Kids sit in a circle, facing inward, while It walks around tapping each player in turn, saying “grain” until finally calling “cup” for somebody in the circle.

The “cup” person then chases It around the circle and tries to tag him, while It tries to return to and sit where the “cup” person had been sitting. If he tags the person, that person becomes It. Chase in a fast walk rather than a run.


A Christ-Centered Curriculum

Though they appreciate these offerings for their creativity and the way they connect to parents seeking to disciple their children, these leaders are concerned that the primary message we are giving our children is simply that they need to “be good.”

What sometimes gets lost in the journey through Bible stories is the good news of what Christ has done to save the lost. In other words, in focusing on behavior, we may be missing the heart-change brought about by the gospel.

The Gospel Project for Kids is an attempt to bring a gospel focus back to children’s curriculum. In walking through the Bible stories chronologically, we want children to discover several truths.

Truth #1The Bible tells one big story. When we take Bible stories out of context to glean moral lessons from them, we can leave kids with the impression that the Bible is much like Aesop’s fables—interesting tales with moral application.

But even though the Bible has moral application and does give us some terrific stories, it actually tells one overarching story. These stories fit together. They tell us the story of our world—where we’ve come from and where we are going.

We believe it’s important that children recognize how these Bible stories are connected.

Truth #2

The Bible is about God. Once we recognize that the Bible is telling us a great story, we discover that we are not the main characters. The Bible is first and foremost about God. He is the hero.

These stories provide us with moral application, yes. But before we get to application, we ought to ask, “What does this story tell us about God?” What attributes and characteristics of God are on display in this story?

If the Bible’s big story is about

If you are looking for creative,

fun-filled, and family-focused

approaches to children’s

discipleship curriculum, there

are plenty of options available.

But we’ve heard from a number

of children’s pastors who are

dissatisfied with what they’ve

seen.

Fall 2012

God’s bringing about redemption of His fallen world, then what picture of God do we see in the smaller stories?

Truth #3

The Bible points us to Jesus. A statement I like to make from time to time (for shock value, I admit!) is “Bible study won’t necessarily change your life.” What I mean is this: Just because you know the Bible doesn’t mean the Word will bear fruit in your life.

It is possible to know the Scrip-tures, read the Scriptures, revere the Scriptures, and study the Scrip-tures and miss the point entirely. Jesus told the Jewish leaders of the day that, even though they had meticulous knowledge of the Old Testament, they had missed the truth that the Old Testament is ultimately about Him (John 5:39).

Whenever we study the stories of the Bible, we need to ask how they point us to Christ. The reason God’s Word changes our life is not because of our personal study but because in the Scriptures we are introduced to Jesus, the Author.

Truth #4

The Bible calls for obedience that is grounded in the gospel

and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Now, back to moral principles and application. Does the Bible have them? Absolutely. But bibli-cal behavior should not

flow from obligation and compul-sion. God cares about our hearts. Our hearts are not changed by the commands of the Law. Our hearts are changed when they overflow with love for the Savior. As we ex-perience the grace of what God has done for us in Christ, our hearts are free to worship and obey.

It’s important that we take care not to give our children commands without showing them how the Holy Spirit, through the gospel, gives them the strength to obey these commands.

The purpose of our Bible study is to know God and make Him known. The Bible unveils Jesus Christ as the focal point of human history. All creation exists by Him, through Him, to Him, and for Him (Rom. 11:36; Col. 1:16). Our children’s curriculum should exist for Him too. That’s the only kind of Bible study that will change your life.

Trevin Wax is the managing editor of The Gospel Project.

The Bible is first

and foremost

about God. He is

the hero.


WHY teach kids to pray?

Jesus clearly taught His disciples that kids were important to Him and that they could be taught spiritual truths. Jesus rebuked His disciples when they tried to send away people with little children: “When Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the children come to Me. Don’t stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these’ … After taking them in His arms, He laid His hands on them and blessed them” (Mark 10:13-17).

Jesus welcomed the parents and the children. By taking time for the

children, Jesus showed the parents and the disciples that children are valuable and worthy of our time, relationships, and instruction.

Kids can and will learn about prayer and how to pray if the adults in their lives are willing to teach them. In the Old Testament, the child Samuel was a gift from God to a praying mother. As a result of this answered prayer, Samuel was taken to the temple to be taught by Eli the priest.

God spoke to Samuel at a very young age and gave him a difficult message for Eli. Eli encouraged Samuel to tell him the message from God, and Samuel did.

Samuel grew and the Lord was with him. (1 Sam. 3:17-19) We see that God placed value and importance on one small boy.

WHEN can we teach kids to pray?

Kids are born with the potential to have a relationship with their Creator. From birth, kids develop physically, mentally, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. Adults can nurture kids spiritually by teaching them that prayer is a way to talk to God, who created them.

We can teach very young kids

In a daily newspaper column,

Dr. Billy Graham received the

following question from a 7-

year-old boy. “Will God hear my

prayers, or does He just hear my

parents’ prayers?” This question

reminds us of the importance

of clearly, intentionally, and

knowledgeably teaching the

spiritual discipline of prayer to

the kids God has given to us.

Kids Can Learn to Pray

Fall 2012

about prayer by letting them hear us thank God for their very lives, daily provisions, and the gift of salvation from His Son Jesus Christ. “Thank You, God” should be the first prayer taught to kids. As kids grow, their prayers can expand.

HOW do we teach kids to pray?

We teach kids to pray by intentional instruction and through modeling. Begin by helping kids understand Jesus’ teaching on prayer (Matt. 6:9-15).

A seminary professor grew up in a very poor family. His mother gave him a grocery list and some money to go buy food. He asked if he could have money for shoes, which he needed. She replied, “Let’s pray.” They knelt together, and she asked God for money to buy him shoes.

The man who helped him at the grocery asked why he was not wearing any shoes, and he replied, “Because there’s no money for shoes.” The man filled the grocery list and gave him a note for his mother along with money for shoes. That afternoon they went to

purchase the shoes. When friends asked

where the shoes had come from, the young boy proudly answered, “From the Lord!” Years have passed and this professor still

remembers the need for shoes, the prayer of his mother, and the Lord’s provision.

We can teach kids to pray by • asking if they would like to

pray aloud;• explaining why we pray, what

we pray for, and how God hears and answers our prayers;

• inspiring them with stories about missionaries working around the world;

• prayer walking around the church and in neighborhoods;

• hearing about specific prayers answered by God.

As we teach kids, we must keep the big picture in our minds and hearts: “ ‘You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.’ ” (Jeremiah 29:12).

To prepare our kids to live for Christ in the world today, we need to equip them with the wisdom and power found in prayer.

Excerpted from in mINistry with kids, Volume 5 Number 1.

As we teach kids,

we must keep the

big picture in our

minds and hearts.


Bible Stories for Little Kids

As a mom, preschool Sunday School teacher, and LifeWay edi-tor, Psalm 78:1-8 is my “mission statement” or life psalm. The psalm instructs the Israelites to teach their children the praises of the Lord, “His might, and the wonderful works He has performed … so that a future generation—children yet to be born—might know.” Those children will teach their own children to put their confidence in God.

It’s a huge responsibility and calling and certainly not always easy. Some days in Sunday School,

despite how much I’ve prepared a session, the wheels fall off the proverbial bus and all I can do is recite the key passage over and over as I change diapers for my 2-year-olds. “Lord, you know my heart and what I had planned to say. Let some of it plant seeds!” I pray, dropping the next diaper in the pail.

Little Kids Will Listen

One Saturday, I was practic-ing my Bible story for Sunday as Gideon ate his lunch. I had told that story a million times: Adam and Eve’s first sin. I was reading it aloud. When I got to the part where the serpent appears, I said to Gideon in my snakiest voice, “Did God really ssssssay you can’t eat from any tree in the garden, sssss?” Gideon stopped using his sippy cup to squash his goldfish and looked at me, smiling.

I continued telling the story, using different voices for Eve and Adam. When God Himself asks Adam, “Where are you?” I covered my face with my hand towel, as Gideon loves to do when we play hide-and-seek. Gideon laughed and grabbed the towel, pulling

I fondly remember the days

when my son Gideon, now 15

months old, would quietly sit in

my lap and listen as my husband

or I read a chapter or two of the

Bible to him. With mobility came

distractibility, and I’ll be the first

to admit that I sometimes throw

in the towel with dismay after a

couple of verses when Gideon

takes off running.

Fall 2012

it away from my face. “You’re right, smart boy! We can’t hide from God!”

I used gestures to cov-er myself with fig leaves and pointed as I passed the buck from Adam to Eve to the serpent. Gideon was actively listen-ing. His eyes watched my every expression, my every movement. He listened to the whole story!

The following day, I used the same expressions and voices in 2-year-old Sunday School. Success! I still had to be flexible (and pause to redirect the attention of a few kids to the story), but I told the les-son in a fun, memorable way. Since I had practiced with Gideon, I felt prepared and confident.

Bigger Kids Will Listen

Much of the Gospel Project for Kids focuses on the Bible story or video and the role of you, the leader, as a storyteller. You can read the Bible story provided, or you can put it in your own words.

Places marked “Say” or “Leader” in text are used to steer activities and conversation towards the Key Passage, Big Picture Question, or Christ Connection. You certainly do not have to read the Christ

Connection word-for-word, but it will help you to familiarize yourself with it. Do try to teach kids the Key Passage for the unit and the answer to the Big

Picture Question for the session. While the kids you teach may be

too old for hide-and-seek, you can use other ways to keep them en-gaged such as facial expressions, ex-pressive voices, and hand gestures. Dressing up is a treat, too. Look for teaching tips and explanations often included in the margins.

Love the Bible Story … Love the Kids

Here are some other tips.1. Be prepared. Familiarize your-

self with session. The more you have a handle on what you’re going to teach, the more confidently you will convey it.

2. Keep your Bible open on your lap as you teach—even if the script lies in your Bible. Remind kids each week that the Bible is a special book of true stories about God.

3. Be flexible. Depending upon the ages and skill level of the kids in your class, you might need to adjust the Bible story to suit their needs.

Be joyful! … what

you’re telling is

good news. Tell it

with a glad heart!


4. Rehash bite-sized chunks of the Bible story during small group ac-tivities. Small group is also a great place to answer questions kids may have.

5. Be joyful. By telling Bible stories, you are teaching kids about God’s love for them and His plan to save them through His Son, Jesus Christ. What you’re telling is good news. Tell it with a glad heart!

Sure, I would probably look a little silly acting out a Bible story for adults the way I told it to Gideon or my class of 2-year-olds. But I don’t mind looking a little silly, if it means God’s wonderful gospel reaches the kids in a way they will listen and remember.

Rachel Myrick is the production editor for The Gospel Project for Kids. She has taught preschoolers at church for 14 years.

Use facial

expressions,

expressive

voices, and

hand gestures.

More Storytelling Tips

• Look directly at each child. Call their names occasionally as if to say, “Listen closely to what I say next!”

• Read the Bible story in dif-ferent translations to make sure details you might add are scriptural.

• Know the Ws: who, what, when, where, and what hap-pened before and after.

• Explain new words.• Use your voice and body. Your

voice can express emotions like excitement and fear. Your body posture, erect or slumping, can express confidence or exhaus-tion.

• Plan ways for kids to partici-pate in the storytelling: dis-tribute items mentioned in the story which kids can show at the right time; let them make story sounds such as “clip-clop” for hooves.

• Test what learners heard by using true statements about the story or silly false ones.

• Listen to kids’ comments and questions; do not underesti-mate their insights.

Adapted from articles by Lou Heath in Special Education Today, 2002–2003.

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