Putting God First: Remembering What God Has Done



Putting God First: Remembering What God Has Done

Week 8: Remember How God Blesses You and Others

This includes:

Leader Preparation

Lesson Guide

LEADER PREPARATION

BIBLE BASIS

These two passages provide a contrasting view of the value placed on family. In Genesis, we see Esau give up his rights as the firstborn son to his brother, Jacob, for nothing more than a pot of stew. In Ruth, by contrast, we see Naomi blessed tremendously by her daughter-in-law Ruth. Ruth remained faithful and loyal to Naomi even though she didn’t have to and ultimately gave her a place in a very important family line—the line of Jesus himself. Use this lesson to help your kids remember what a blessing and a treasure their families are and to remind kids that God can bless them through their families or use them to bless their families.

DISCOVERY POINT

Remember how God blesses you and others.

BIBLE FOCUS

Genesis 25:19-34; Ruth 4:14-22

KEY VERSE

“But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith” (1Timothy 5:8).

TEACHING PREP

The short overview below is designed to help you prepare for your lesson.

Supplies You’ll Need: Putting God First: Remembering What God Has Done (Year 2/Quarter 8) CD, LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 2) DVD, CD player, TV/DVD player, “BioPoem” handout, “God’s Big Plan” handout, “Isaac Bible Bio” handout, paper, pencils, Bibles, construction paper, and markers

Before This Lesson

• Print one “BioPoem” handout for each child.

• Print the “God’s Big Plan” handout. You’ll need one copy per crew of four kids.

• Print the “Isaac Bible Bio” handout. You’ll need one copy per crew of four kids.

• Assemble Bible Exploration Kits (one per four kids): Bible; “Isaac Bible Bio” handout; “God’s Big Plan” handout; paper, pencils, construction paper, markers, and a copy of the “BioPoem” handout for each child.

• Review Genesis 25:19-34 and Ruth 4:14-22.

• Cue "Into the Bible" (Track 1) on the Putting God First: Remembering What God Has Done (Year 2/Quarter 8) CD or (Quarter 8/Track 1) on the LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 2) DVD.

• Huddle briefly with your volunteers beforehand. Answer any questions they have. Encourage them and pray.

PARENT EMAIL

We’ve provided you with a “Family Devotion” handout to send the Bible learning and faith discovery home. When kids and parents have faith discussions regularly, kids’ faith multiplies.

So we’ve given you two options:

• Print the “Family Devotion” handout and make enough copies for each child to take one home.

• Email the “Family Devotion” to families before or after the actual lesson.

Or why not do both? That way you’ll double the opportunities for parents to actually get the handout.

Putting God First: Remembering What God Has Done

Week 8: Remember How God Blesses You and Others

LESSON GUIDE

WELCOME!

Supplies: Putting God First: Remembering What God Has Done (Year 2/Quarter 8) CD, LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 2) DVD, CD player, TV/DVD player, assembled Bible Exploration Kits

1. Play “Into the Bible” (Track 1) from the Putting God First: Remembering What God Has Done (Year 2/Quarter 8) CD or (Quarter 8/Track 1) from the LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 2) DVD as kids arrive.

• “Into the Bible”

Makes me wanna jump!

Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump!

Makes me wanna sing! Hallelujah!

It’s the greatest book.

Come and take a look.

Makes me wanna shout!

Shout! Shout! Shout! Shout!

So that everyone will see

I’m getting into the Bible

And the Bible...is getting into me!

We’re discovering a brand-new world

As we dig a little deeper (deeper),

Finding out about who God is.

Open it up and see it (see it)!

There’s nothin’ like

God’s Word, and I get

So excited.

It makes me wanna,

Makes me,

Makes me wanna jump!

Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump!

Makes me wanna sing! Hallelujah!

It’s the greatest book.

Come and take a look.

Makes me wanna shout!

Shout! Shout! Shout! Shout!

So that everyone will see

I’m getting into the Bible

And the Bible...is getting into me!

“Into the Bible” by Jay Stocker. © 2006 Group Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission to use lyrics granted for local church use only. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

2. Have kids get into their Bible Crews. SAY: Your Bible Crew is going to be your family for today! To start with, you need to get to know your family members. Take a piece of paper and a pencil from your Bible Exploration Kit, and write down as many things as you can that all members of your Bible Crew have in common. Make sure that everyone has these things in common, not just two or three of you. For example, maybe you all like pizza or all of you play soccer.

Give “families” a few minutes to write their common lists. Start the “Fireworks Countdown” (Quarter 8/Countdown Track 1) on the LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 2) DVD on the DVD to signal crews to start the activity. When families have had a few minutes to write encourage them to share a few of the things they wrote.

ASK:

• Why were you or weren’t you surprised at how many things you have in common?

• Why do you think it’s important for family members to have things in common?

• What things do you have in common with your real-life family?

• How might the things you have in common be a blessing to your family and to others?

SAY: We can remember how God blesses you and others. One of the biggest ways God gives us blessings is through the love and loyalty of our families, and our families can then pass those blessings on to others. Today we’ll be checking out two different families—one included a man named Esau, who didn’t really value his family very much, and one included a woman named Naomi, who was richly blessed by her relationship with her family. Let’s dig into God’s Word and discover what happened.

LET’S EXPLORE!

Supplies: assembled Bible Exploration Kits

1. SAY: We can remember how God blesses you and others, especially through our families. Today we’ll look at a couple of different family situations, beginning with the family of Isaac. Have Bible Crews take supplies out of their Bible Exploration Kits: Bible, construction paper, markers, “Isaac Bible Bio” handout, and the “BioPoem” handout.

Help kids find the “Pass It On” activity at the bottom of the “Isaac Bible Bio” handout. SAY: Take turns reading the information in your crew. While you’re reading, listen for facts about Isaac and his family life.

2. When kids have finished reading, have them use the “BioPoem” handout as a template to create Isaac’s biopoem. Encourage them to write rough drafts on the handout and then use the construction paper and markers to write a polished version.

3. Have Bible Crews share their biopoems with the rest of the group. Then SAY: We’ve found out a lot about Isaac. Now let’s find out more about his family, especially his sons Jacob and Esau. This Bible passage deals with a very special family treasure, called the birthright. If a son, usually the oldest, had the birthright, he would be the family leader when he grew up and he would get most of his family’s land, animals, and money. This was a big deal because it meant the oldest son would be able to take care of his family and provide everything they needed.

Before we read the Scripture, I want you in your “family” to use your bodies to create something that represents your treasure, something that is really important to you. Combine the commonalities you thought of before into an image using all of your bodies together to symbolize your treasure.

4. Give kids some time to create, making sure all kids are involved in the creation. Then SAY: OK, now I’ll tell you about Jacob and Esau. Read Genesis 25:19-34. Then SAY: Wow! I can’t believe Esau gave up his birthright for a bowl of stew! Let’s look at your family treasures here. Let’s imagine that you’re really hungry.

5. ASK:

• Would you give up any portion of your treasure?

• What if someone was making fun of you or your family? Would you be willing to give up any part of your treasure to make the teasing stop?

• Why do you or don’t you feel like Esau valued his family and showed them they were important to him?

• How do you show your family that you value them?

6. SAY: We don’t understand Esau’s choices, but we do know that God had a plan for the lives of Esau and his entire family. God had a plan for another very special family as well. Let’s hear about them. Have crews take the “God’s Big Plan” handout from their Bible Exploration Kits. SAY: God wants us to remember how God blesses us and others. Let’s do an activity to help us think about how God blesses us and our family members. Have kids follow the directions on the handout.

ASK:

• How did God bless Naomi through her family?

• How does God bless you through your family?

• How can God use you to bless your family?

SAY: It’s so exciting to realize that God has a perfect, wonderful plan for each of our family members, and God uses those plans to bless us and others. All we need to do is trust and follow and take care of our families.

LET’S PRAISE!

Supplies: Putting God First: Remembering What God Has Done (Year 2/Quarter 8) CD, LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 2) DVD, CD player, TV/DVD player

1. SAY: Let’s praise God for our families! As we sing, I’d like you in your “families” to put your arms around each other and sway to the music to help you remember the close bonds you have with your real-life families.

2. Set up the Putting God First: Remembering What God Has Done (Year 2/Quarter 8) CD or the LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 2) DVD. PLAY:

• You Gave (John 14:19) (CD Track 4) (DVD Quarter 8/Track 4)

Lord, I want to be

Pleasing to you

In everything I do.

And I want to love you more,

More than yesterday,

More than words can say.

‘Cause you gave your life;

You lived and died for me, for me.

You paid the price;

You sacrificed for me, for me.

Now the least that I can do

Is live my life for you.

Lord, I want to be

Pleasing to you

In everything I do.

And I want to love you more,

More than yesterday,

More than words can say.

‘Cause you gave your life;

You lived and died for me, for me.

You paid the price;

You sacrificed for me, for me.

Now the least that I can do

Is live my life for you.

“You Gave” (John 14:19b) by Jay Stocker. © 2006 Group Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission to use lyrics granted for local church use only. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

• I Will Never Fail You (Hebrews 13:5b) (CD Track 7) (DVD Quarter 8/Track 7)

God has given you everything

You will need,

And you don’t have to worry.

Be satisfied.

Don’t even try to get more,

For God has said,

I will never fail you

Or abandon you.

I will never fail you

Or abandon you.

(Repeat from beginning.)

I will never fail you

Or abandon you.

I will never fail you

Or abandon you.

“I Will Never Fail You” (Hebrews 13:5b) by Wallace and Rachel Fa’agutu and Jay Stocker. © 2006 Group Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission to use lyrics granted for local church use only. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

• God Loved the World So Much (John 3:16) (CD Track 5) (DVD Quarter 8/Track 5)

Here we are, here we are,

And we’re feeling alive

‘Cause Jesus saved our lives.

Jesus made us see.

God is love; God is good.

God is bigger than sin.

It’s easy to let him in.

All you gotta do is believe.

(Chorus)

God loved the world so much he gave his only Son.

God loved the world so much he gave his only Son,

So whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

We can try, we can try but it’s not enough.

We can’t earn God’s love because it’s already free.

So give it up, give it up,

Give your sin to the Lord.

You know you can be sure he’s all that you will need.

(Chorus)

Whoever believes in him, whoever believes in him, whoever believes in him

Will not perish, but have eternal life.

(Chorus)

“God Loved the World So Much” (John 3:16) by Jay Stocker. © 2007 Group Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission to use lyrics granted for local church use only. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

LET’S PRAY!

Supplies: none

1. SAY: God wants you to remember how God blesses you and others. We can remember this through the close bond of our families. Let’s bind ourselves together while we pray for our families. Have kids stand in a big circle, shoulder to shoulder, and hold out their hands to grab two other hands.

2. When everyone has two hands, have kids bow their heads and pray all at the same time for the family members they wrote on their family trees.

HIGH FIVES

Supplies: none

While kids are still in the knot, lead them in a “crew break.” Count to three and then yell in unison: remember how God blesses you and others. Then encourage kids to let go, throw their hands into the air, and give each other high fives.

FOR EXTRA-TIME ACTIVITIES

Bind Us Together

Supplies: none

Have kids form pairs, sit on the floor back to back, link elbows, and work together to stand up. Discuss whether they could have done it without each other’s help. Remind them that God often blesses them with the help and support of family and friends.

God Bless You!

Supplies: none

Have kids brainstorm about other times and places they might say “God bless you!” and wish God’s blessings for others besides when people sneeze.

Hiding It in Your Heart

Supplies: Band-Aids and Sharpie pens

Read the Key Verse, 1 Timothy 5:8, and discuss ways kids can avoid “denying the faith” and take care of their families. Have them write one or two word reminders to themselves on the Band-Aids. For example, they might write, “Be patient” or “Help out.”

Create a Bible Dictionary

Supplies: paper, markers, dictionary, CD player, Putting God First: Remembering What God Has Done (Year 2/Quarter 8) CD

Ask kids to create one or more pages, each with a new word, for a Bible dictionary. Have kids suggest words from today’s lesson—birthright and bless are two suggestions. Have them write each word on a sheet of paper in fun letters, add a definition, list Scripture references, and make illustrations. Play “The Books of the Bible Song” (Track 8), from the Putting God First: Remembering What God Has Done (Year 2/Quarter 8) CD while kids work. Add each page to a three-ring binder, and watch the dictionary grow!

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