Lesson #2-5

1 © 2014-2019 Spirit and Truth Publishing—All Rights Reserved

Key Verse:

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Deuteronomy 6:5

The Point:

We are called to love God and others.

Making Connections:

Responding to God’s Love

Bible Nuts & Bolts:

What is the Torah?

Spiritual Practice:

Service

Lesson #2-5

Sunday, October 6, 2019

Deuteronomy 5:1-21; 6:4-9 3rd-6th

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© 2014-2019 Spirit and Truth Publishing—All Rights Reserved

Lesson #2-5 (3rd-6th) October 6, 2019

Guess the commandment.

Activity Sheet #2-5.A

Living a life of love.

Bible Whiteboard or mural paper Marker

Make a graphic novel of the story.

Activity Sheet #2-5.B White copy paper Markers or crayons Staplers

Share how we love others.

None

Learn the Key Verse with hand motions.

Bible Activity Sheet #2-5.C

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Make a heart sun catcher.

Waxed paper Crayons Pencil sharpener or crayon sharpener Iron Towels Scissors Hole punch Ribbon or string

Enjoy heart-shaped cookies.

Heart-shaped sugar cookies Frosting Red sprinkles Paper plates Plastic knives

Optional ongoing activity.

Bible Book page (found at end of lesson) Cardstock or plain paper Pens Markers or crayons Optional: three-ring binders, hole punch

None



Making Connections Last week, students explored the story of Moses and the burning bush. This week’s story is a continuation of the story of Moses, after the Israelites have escaped slavery in Egypt. In this story, God continues to speak to the Israelites through Moses, teaching them how to respond to God’s love by loving God and loving each other.

Story Summary: Love the Lord Your God The text in Deuteronomy 5:1-21 is a restatement of the Ten Commandments as found in Exodus 20. God speaks through Moses to the Israelites, reminding them of the covenant that God created with them. They are then instructed to love the Lord their God and to love and respect their neighbors. The second portion of the story, found in Deuteronomy 6, gives the Israelites a great and important commandment: they are to love God with all of their heart, soul, and strength. These commandments are repeated again and again throughout Scripture, particularly in the New Testament. In Matthew 22:36-38, Jesus reminds us that loving God is the greatest commandment. Then, in verse 38, Jesus reminds us that the second greatest commandment is to love others.

The Point We are called to love God and others. Many people hear the Ten Commandments and understand them as ten important rules we should follow. However, the Ten Commandments are more than just ten big rules. The Commandments give us guidelines on how to live. We are asked to respect God by not worshipping anyone other than our God, and by only using God’s name in affirming and helpful ways. We are asked to respect other people by being kind to them, honoring them, and respecting their lives and property. God has made a covenant to love and respect us, and we respond to this covenant by returning the love and respect to our Creator. In the New Testament, we are told that the greatest commandment is to love God, and the second greatest is to love our neighbor. As Christians, we continue to live out these commandments through our words and actions.

Bible Nuts & Bolts: What is the Torah? The different books of the Bible can be classified into different sections. The first five books of the Bible (Genesis through Deuteronomy) are known in the Hebrew tradition as the Torah. The word “Torah” means “instruction” or “teaching.” The stories and commandments in these first five books provide teaching for the people of God. Specifically, the books of the Torah give God’s people guidelines on how to live lives of love.

Spiritual Practice: Service How do we live out God’s commandments to love God and to love other people? One way to answer this question is by thinking about how we can show our love for others through acts of service. When we serve others, we respond to God’s call to love one another.


Lesson #2-5 (3rd-6th) ⚫ October 6, 2019

Guess the commandment. You will need: Activity Sheet #2-5.A

During class:

1. Last week, we heard about Moses and how God asked him to free the Israelites from Egypt. In today’s story, the Israelites are out of Egypt and travelling to the Promised Land. While they are on their journey, God gives them some commandments.

2. What is a commandment? Do you know? [Accept all answers.] A commandment is like an instruction. What are some instructions that people give you?

3. Hold up a copy of Activity Sheet #2-5.A for the class to see. There are many commandments in the Bible. I am going to read some commandments off of this sheet of paper. After I read a commandment, your job is to figure out if it is a commandment in the Bible. Let’s see how many we can guess.

4. Read the commandments one by one on the Activity Sheet. In between reading commandments, give students a chance to guess if it is a commandment from the Bible. Once students guess, reveal the answer and move on to the next one.

5. In today’s story, we are going to hear about some of the commandments that God gives. We can find these commandments in the Bible.



Living a life of love. You will need: Bible White board or mural paper Marker

During class:

1. When you go to school, what are some of the things you learn? Let’s make a list. 2. Invite students to share some of the things they learn about while they are at school.

Write these ideas down on the whiteboard or mural paper. 3. Wow. We learn a lot! What are some of the tools we use to learn these things?

[Books, computers, talks, worksheets, etc.] Write these ideas in a new list on the whiteboard or paper.

4. There are many tools that teach us the things we learn in school. We have teachers who help us learn. We have books to read, or the Internet or papers that show us new things. All of these things teach us.

5. Show students the Bible. Can we learn things from the Bible? [Yes.] 6. Open the Bible to today’s story. Today’s story comes from the book of

Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy is in a part of the Bible called the Torah. The word “Torah” means “teaching.” What are some things that the Bible might teach us? [Accept all answers.]

7. The Torah is a tool that teaches people. The Bible teaches us many things about how to live our lives, and many of these teachings come from the Torah. Most importantly, the Torah teaches us how to live lives of love. We learn in the Torah how to love God and love other people.

8. Let’s hear the story and find out what commandments will teach us these things.



Make a graphic novel of the story. You will need: Activity Sheet #2-5.B White copy paper Crayons or markers Staplers

Before class:

1. Make one copy of Activity Sheet #2-5.B for each student. During class:

1. Give each student three sheets of white copy paper. Invite them to fold the papers into halves. One sheet will be the cover; the other two will be pages numbered 1 through 8. Give each student some crayons or markers.

2. Read the story off of Activity Sheet #2-5.B. At the end of each section, pause and allow students to color an image that illustrates that portion of the story in the appropriate numbered section.

3. After concluding the activity, use the following questions to discuss the story: • What were some of the commandments that God gave the Israelites? [Answers

will vary, but may include: only worship God, honor your parents, don’t steal, don’t hurt people, etc.] • Why do you think God gave the Israelites these commandments? [Answers will

vary, but may include: to remind them to love God, to remind them to love other people, to remind them to be kind, etc.]

• Even though God gave these commandments to the Israelites a long time ago, do you think God still wants us to follow them? [Yes!]

4. These commandments were given to God’s people a long time ago. At the start of the story, Moses reminds the people that even though God gave these commandments to their ancestors, they should still remember and follow them. God asks us to follow these commandments, too. These commandments help us live lives of love: they help us love God and love each other.

5. Staple the pages together, if desired. Send home a copy of Activity Sheet #2-5.B for each student along with their graphic novel.



Share how we love others.

You will need: Nothing

During class:

1. Divide the class into pairs. 2. In today’s story, we heard God instruct us to love other people. One way that we

love other people is by serving them. 3. What are some ways that we might serve people? [Accept all answers.] 4. There are many ways that we can serve people. With your partner, think of one

special way that you might follow God’s commandments and love another person through service. Create a skit that demonstrates your idea.

5. Encourage pairs to create skits. Give students about ten minutes to work. If needed, help partners think about how they can love others through service.

6. After time is up, invite the large group to come together. Invite partners to share their skits.

7. Great job, everyone! We all can love others by living lives of service.



Learn a Key Verse with hand motions. You will need: Bible Activity Sheet #2-5.C

Before class:

1. Make a copy of Activity Sheet #2-5.C for each student. 2. Practice the hand motions. You can view videos of each hand motion by using an ASL

dictionary, such as the one at http://www.handspeak.com/word/. During class:

1. Open a Bible to Deuteronomy 6:5. Read the verse to the class. 2. This verse is one of the commandments that God gives the Israelites. We hear

this commandment in many different places of the Bible. Jesus even talks about this commandment in the New Testament! Let’s learn this Bible verse by using hand motions.

3. Hand each student a copy of Activity Sheet #2-5.C. Go through the verse picture by picture, learning the hand motions together. This may be easiest if you show the students the hand motions first, and then have them repeat the words and motions back to you.

4. After learning the verse, say it a few times together with the hand motions. 5. Great job! Take these sheets home and continue to practice the verse. Soon you

will know this commandment by heart!



Make a heart sun catcher. You will need: Waxed paper Crayons Pencil sharpener, crayon sharpener, or grater (several) Iron Towels Scissors Single-hole punch Ribbon or string

Note: Practice care when using an iron during class. Before beginning this activity, instruct

students to stay away from the iron unless you instruct otherwise. You may also wish to set up the iron on a different table to keep students away from the hot surface.

During class:

1. In today’s story, we are commanded to love God with our whole heart. Let’s make a reminder of this commandment.

2. Give each student a sheet of waxed paper cut to 12” in length. Invite them to fold the paper in half, and then open it back up.

3. Using the pencil sharpener, crayon sharpener, or grater, shave the wax off of different colored crayons onto the waxed paper. If you opt to use pencil sharpeners, secure small, handheld ones that can be used solely for this purpose.

4. Refold the paper in half over the crayon shavings. 5. Place a towel on the table to protect your surface. One at a time, place each student’s

folded waxed paper on top of the towel. Place a second towel on top of the waxed paper. Place the iron on a medium heat setting and press the iron on the towel until all of the crayons inside the paper are melted.

6. Set the waxed paper to the side to harden. 7. Once hardened, cut the waxed paper into the shape of a heart. Use a single-hole punch

to punch a hole in the top of the heart, and thread through ribbon or string to create a hanging.



Enjoy heart-shaped cookies. You will need: Heart-shaped sugar cookies Frosting Red sprinkles Paper plates Plastic knives

Before class:

1. Bake or order enough cookies so each student will have one. 2. Before serving any food, always check with participants or caregivers for students who

have food allergies. Provide an alternative if necessary. During class:

1. Today we talked a lot about love: God’s love for us, and our love for other people. To help us remember to love each other, we are going to share a snack of heart-shaped cookies. You will be able to decorate your cookie before you eat it.



Optional ongoing activity. You will need:

Bible Book page (found at end of lesson) Cardstock or plain paper Pens Markers or crayons Optional: three-ring binders, hole punch

Before class:

1. Make copies of this week’s Bible Book page on cardstock or copy paper for each student.

During class:

1. Hand out Bible Book pages. 2. What are some of the important things we have learned from today’s story?

[Answers will vary.] 3. On the bottom of your page, please write one or two important things that you

have learned from the story today. In the middle of the page, draw a picture from the story or illustrate one of the important things you’ve learned. Don’t forget to put your name on the back of the page, please!

4. Optional: Collect and three-hole punch the pages, and put them in individual binders for each student to be kept at church until the end of the year. If you wish, you can investigate other options for binding the Bible books through a local print shop at the end of the year instead of using a three-ring binder.



Before ending class, make a point to come together to pray. Use the following or say your own prayer. Allow any students who would like to include a petition to do so at the appropriate time. Dear God, You gave your people commandments to love God and love each other. We know you instruct us to love God and love other people, too. Help us remember these commandments and live them out every day. Amen.

1.

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Lesson #2-5 (3rd-6th) ⚫ October 6, 2019 Activity Sheet #2-5.A

Guess the commandment.

Commandment Is it in the Bible? If yes, where is it found?

Love God.

Yes

Deuteronomy 6:5

Do not seek revenge on people.

Yes

Leviticus 19:18

Ride horses everywhere you go.

No

Say a blessing to God while eating.

Yes

Deuteronomy 8:10

Do not be kind to other people.

No

Be jealous of everything your neighbor has.

No

Give money to help other people.

Yes

Deuteronomy 15:8

Use God’s name in bad ways.

No

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Lesson #2-5 (3rd-6th) ⚫ October 6, 2019 Activity Sheet #2-5.B

Make a graphic novel of the story.

Panel Line of Story

1

Today we hear a story from the book of Deuteronomy. We have given it the title “Love the Lord Your God.” In this story, we will hear some important commandments that God gave to God’s people.

2

Moses gathered all of God’s people together. He told the people of Israel that they should follow all of the commandments that he was about to give them.

3

Moses reminded them that these commandments were given to their ancestors by God many, many years ago. He told them that these commandments were a covenant, or promise, that God made with their ancestors, and that they still should follow this covenant today.

4

Moses told the people about these commandments. He told them that we are commanded to love and respect God, and we should only worship God. We should treat God’s name with respect, too.

5

Moses told the people that God also commands us to spend time every week resting and worshipping God. For six days we should work, and on the seventh day we should rest.

6

Moses told the people that God also commands us to love and respect others. We are commanded to honor our parents and treat them with love and respect.

7

God commands us to respect other people by honoring their lives and their property. We should not hurt or harm them in any way, lie about them, or be jealous of what they have.

8

Moses told God’s people that, most importantly, they should love God with all of their heart, with all of their soul, and with all of their might. We are instructed to remember these commandments and keep them in our hearts all the time.

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Lesson #2-5 (3rd-6th) ⚫ October 6, 2019 Activity Sheet #2-5.C


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Lesson #2-5 (3rd-6th) ⚫ October 6, 2019 Activity Sheet #2-5.C


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Lesson #2-5 (3rd-6th) ⚫ October 6, 2019 Bible Book

Deuteronomy 5:1-21; 6:4-9

3rd-6th

Living the Word: Teaching Kids God’s Story

Narrative Lectionary, Year 2 (2019-2020) Lesson #2-5

Deuteronomy 5:1-21; 6:4-9


The text in Deuteronomy 5:1-21 is a restatement of the Ten Commandments as found in Exodus 20. God speaks through Moses to the Israelites, reminding them of the covenant that God created with them. They are then instructed to love the Lord their God and to love and respect their neighbors. The second portion of the story, found in Deuteronomy 6, gives the Israelites a great and important commandment: they are to love God with all of their heart, soul, and strength.

We are called to love God and others.

How do we live out God’s commandments to love God and to love other people? One way to answer this question is by thinking about how we can show our love for others through acts of service. When we serve others, we respond to God’s call to love one another. Choose one other family member, and plan a secret act of service to do for them this week.

What is the Torah? The different books of the Bible can be classified into different sections. The first five books of the Bible (Genesis through Deuteronomy) are known in the Hebrew tradition as the Torah. The word “Torah” means “instruction” or “teaching.” The stories and commandments in these first five books provide teaching for the people of God. Specifically, the books of the Torah give God’s people guidelines on how to live lives of love.

Last week the story picked up with the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the Israelites—enslaved in Egypt. God came to Moses in the form of a burning bush and sent Moses to deliver God’s people from slavery. (Exodus 1:8-14 [15–2:10]; 3:1-15)

Now that the people of Israel have been liberated from slavery, they need to be taught how to live in freedom. God speaks through Moses to show them how to live with each other and remain faithful to the LORD. (Deuteronomy 5:1-21; 6:4-9)

This week’s commands are directed to the people of Israel. Next week, we will see how non-Israelites will become a part of God’s story as well. The Moabite Ruth will take Israel’s God to be her own God, crossing ethnic lines. (Ruth 1:1-17)


Lesson #2-5 Deuteronomy 5:1-21;

6:4-9

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Family Discussions

Sunday—Read Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Love the Lord your God. Make and decorate paper hearts. Write on each heart on thing that you love about God.

Monday—Read Exodus 32:1-14 The golden calf. Put a stuffed animal in the center of the room or table as you read this passage. Talk about what it would be like to worship an object.

Tuesday—Read Deuteronomy 15:7-11 Help those in need. Donate to a local food shelf or shelter.

Wednesday—Read Deuteronomy 16:18-20 Pursue justice. Pray for local judges, that they may make wise decisions.

Thursday—Read Deuteronomy 17:14-20 What makes a good king? Make and wear crowns out of paper. Why would you be a good king?

Friday—Read Deuteronomy 24:17-22 Care for the vulnerable. Write notes or draw pictures for residents of a nearby senior care facility.

Saturday—Read Deuteronomy 26:1-11 The first fruits. Talk about giving money to church. How can you be more intentional about your giving as a family?

Use the questions below or other questions you think of to discuss today’s Scripture reading (listed above) with your family.

In what way does this text teach about the theme, Responding to God’s Love?

What does this scripture have to do with our lives today?

What part of this scripture is the most interesting to you? Why?

As you hear and study these stories each week, consider what God has to say to you and your family. What is God’s message to us? How should we respond?

Family Devotions

Lesson #2-5

Documents

Transcript of Lesson #2-5