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Sticking With God: Knowing His Love

Week 13: We Thirst for God’s Love

This includes:

Leader Preparation

Lesson Guide

LEADER PREPARATION

BIBLE BASIS

Kids know what it’s like to want a cold glass of water on a hot summer day. Like all living things, we need water to live. God wants us to understand that our need for him is even greater than our need for water. Use this lesson to help kids discover how to thirst for something even better than water. Help them thirst for God’s love.

DISCOVERY POINT

We thirst for God’s love.

BIBLE FOCUS

Psalm 42:1-8

KEY VERSE

“As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God” (Psalm 42:1).

TEACHING PREP

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

Supplies You’ll Need: Sticking With God: Knowing His Love (Year 1/Quarter 3) CD, LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 1) DVD, CD player, TV/DVD player, “Waaaatttteeeerrrr” handout, crackers, paper cups, Bibles, pitcher of water, washable markers, snack, plastic bowls, tape, white construction paper, 1 small paintbrush per child, newspaper or towels, yarn, scissors, water bottle, bowl, pretzels, and fruity candy

Before This Lesson

• Print the “Waaaatttteeeerrrr” handout. You’ll need one copy per team of four kids.

• Assemble Bible Exploration Kits (one per four kids): one Bible, “Waaaatttteeeerrrr” handout, washable markers, two-foot piece of yarn, tape, plastic bowl, five small paintbrushes, newspaper or towels, and five pieces of white construction paper.

• Pour water into two small paper cups for each child. Prepare a pitcher of water to use throughout the lesson.

• Choose a snack you know your children will enjoy. It can be as simple as M&Ms candies or a more elaborate homemade treat. Place it in a box or cover it with a cloth so kids can’t see it.

• Fill a bowl with enough pretzels for each child to have at least one. You’ll also need fruity candies.

• Review Psalm 42:1-8.

• Cue "Into the Bible" (Track 1) on Sticking With God: Knowing His Love (Year 1/Quarter 3) CD or (Quarter 3/Track 1) on the LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 1) 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.

Sticking With God: Knowing His Love

Week 13: We Thirst for God’s Love

LESSON GUIDE

WELCOME!

Supplies: Sticking With God: Knowing His Love (Year 1/Quarter 3) CD, LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 1) DVD, CD player, TV/DVD player, prepared cups of water, crackers

1. Play “Into the Bible” (Track 1) from the Sticking With God: Knowing His Love (Year 1/Quarter 3) CD or (Quarter 3/Track 1) from the LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 1) 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. As kids arrive, give them each three crackers and tell them to eat them right away as fast as they can.

After everyone has arrived and eaten crackers, elaborate on and draw out the following statement. SAY: Have you ever come inside after playing in the hot sun and wanted a nice, cold drink of water? Your face was hot. Your mouth was dry. You were so-o-o thirsty you could hardly wait to taste that nice cool water.

3. Ask kids to share how it feels after eating the crackers. Give children each a cup of water, but don’t let them take a drink yet. Have them look at their water. (Since paper cups will be used for several activities, keep extras nearby in case children need to replace theirs.)

ASK:

• What does it feel like after eating those dry crackers and having water right in front of you?

• What do you do when you’re thirsty?

• Why is it important to get a drink of water when you feel thirsty?

4. SAY: You know what it’s like to be very thirsty. When your mouth is dry, all you can think about is how great it would be to have a drink of cool, fresh water. Thirst is our body’s way of telling us it needs water. God wants us to feel thirsty—not for water, but for him. We thirst for God’s love even more than we thirst for a nice cold drink of water.

Have kids drink their water and talk about how it feels to quench their thirst. Have them keep their cups for use in the next activity.

LET’S EXPLORE!

Supplies: cups from Welcome!, prepared pitcher of water, assembled Bible Exploration Kits, snack, Sticking With God: Knowing His Love (Year 1/Quarter 3) CD, CD player

1. Have kids form Bible Crews of four, and give each crew a Bible Exploration Kit. SAY: We thirst for God’s love. That means we can learn about God, talk to God, and grow closer to him every day. Just as eagerly as we look for a refreshing drink of water when we’re thirsty, we can seek after God. Show me how you look when you’re really thirsty. Then we’ll take turns searching for some water.

2. Have Bible Crews take out the brushes and construction paper from their kits. As they find their supplies, pour a small amount of water into their paper cups. SAY: A drop of water isn’t very much, but let’s see if you can find it on your papers without looking. One at a time, you’ll close your eyes while someone on your crew uses a paintbrush to add a small drop of water somewhere on your paper. Move your hand slowly across the paper until you find the drop of water. Make sure each person has a turn.

When everyone has found the water on their papers,

ASK:

• What did you have to do to get closer to the water?

• How do we get closer to God?

• How is searching for a drop of water like thirsting after God?

SAY: When we thirst for God, we’ll find him, just as you found the drop of water on your paper. Searching for water isn’t as exciting as seeking after God, but it reminds us that when we move closer to God we will feel his presence and know he is with us.

3. Have the Bible Crews take the Bibles out of their Bible Exploration Kits, and help them find Psalm 42:1-8. Let a child from each crew read the first two verses aloud to his or her crew. When everyone is finished reading,

ASK:

• How do you think a deer might look and feel as it longs for a stream of water?

• Why does a deer need to be close to water?

• Why do you need to be close to God?

SAY: A deer can’t live very long without water. All living things get thirsty but only people get thirsty for God. We thirst for God’s love.

4. Invite the kids to use markers to create a picture of a deer beside a stream of water. Then have them use the brushes and water to blend the colors together. Play music from the Sticking With God: Knowing His Love (Year 1/Quarter 3) CD as you give kids five minutes to paint their pictures. After five minutes, stop the music and have kids share their pictures with each other.

ASK:

• How are people who thirst for God’s love like the deer in Psalm 42?

• How do people look and feel when they thirst for God’s love?

• Why is it good to thirst for God’s love?

SAY: A deer needs to stay close to water, and we need to stay close to God. We thirst for God’s love. People who thirst for God’s love want to spend time with him, talk to him, and learn about him. Ask the children to set their pictures aside to dry.

5. Show kids the package containing the surprise snack. Give kids a few specific clues that will help them anticipate the treat.

SAY: One way to show God how much we thirst for his love is by carefully reading and listening to his Word. We don’t read the Bible for a treat, but God does promise to bless those who draw close to him. We thirst for God’s love and get excited about knowing him even more than we look forward to eating our favorite snack. As we read Psalm 42:3-8, let’s slowly crawl around the room like we’re thirsty and wandering through a hot desert. When the last verse is read, wherever you are, crawl as fast as you can to the table with the treat.

Have an older child read Psalm 42:3-8. When the last verse is read, share the snack with your children. As they enjoy the snack,

ASK:

• What were you thinking about as you got closer and closer to the snack?

• How is that like thirsting after God?

6. Have crews find the “Waaaatttteeeerrrr” handout and supplies for the activity in their Bible Exploration Kits. (The “Waaaatttteeeerrrr” handout calls for food coloring, but we don’t include it as a supply here. If kids ask about the food coloring, explain that the activity can be done without it. If you choose to use coloring, lay down newspaper and caution kids to be careful using it. Also keep in mind that some children may be allergic to food dyes.) Instruct children to follow the directions. When everyone is finished with the experiment, SAY: All living things need water to live. God wants us to understand that our need for him is even greater than our need for water. We know what it’s like to want a cold glass of water on a hot summer day, but we can thirst for something even better than that. We thirst for God’s love.

LET’S PRAISE!

Supplies: Sticking With God: Knowing His Love (Year 1/Quarter 3) CD or LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 1) DVD, CD player or TV/DVD player, prepared cups of water, water bottle

1. Have kids take a fresh cup of water and join you in a large group for worship. Explain that the writer of Psalm 42 felt happy and sad at the same time. He was discouraged because he couldn’t worship with God’s people the way he once had. He wanted to feel close to God but he was far away in another land where his enemies made fun of him for loving God. Then he remembered that God shows his love day and night no matter where we are. That made him glad. SAY: We can praise God even when we’re sad. All we have to do is remember that every day God pours his love on us.

2. Invite the children to sing with “parched praises” as they think about how sad the psalmist felt as he thirsted for God and longed to be in his homeland. SAY: When the psalm writer was feeling sad, he described himself as a thirsty deer looking for a stream of water. He knew that we thirst for God’s love. Make your voices sound sad as we begin our song. When I hold the water bottle in the air, take a sip of water and sing out refreshed and joyful as you think about God’s love.

3. Set up the Sticking With God: Knowing His Love (Year 1/Quarter 3) CD or the LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 1) DVD. PLAY:

• “His Great Love” (Romans 5:8) (CD Track 5) (DVD Quarter 3/Track 5)

God loves us.

God sent his Son to die for us

Because of His great love.

God loves us.

God sent his son to die for us

Because of His great love.

(Chorus)

His great love,

God showed his great big love

By sending Christ to die for us

While we were still sinners.

His great love,

God showed his great big love

By sending Christ to die for us

While we were still sinners.

(Repeat)

His great love,

His great love,

His great love,

His great love,

His great love.

“His Great Love” (Romans 5:8) by Ben Glover. © 2005, 2011 Group Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission to use lyrics granted for local church use only. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

• “Love Is” (1 Corinthians 13:4-5) (CD Track 2) (DVD Quarter 3/Track 2)

Love is patient,

Love is kind,

It does not envy,

It does not boast,

It is not proud.

It is not rude,

It's not self-seeking,

Not easily angered,

It keeps no record of wrongs. (No!)

Love keeps no record of wrongs.

Love is, love is…

Love is, love is…

(Repeat from the beginning.)

Love is, love is…

Love is, love is…

"Love Is" (1 Corinthians 13:4-5) by Carol Smith. © 2003 Group Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission to use lyrics granted for local church use only. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

• “Go and Make Disciples” (CD Track 3) (DVD Quarter 3/Track 3)

The Bible says: “Therefore, go

And make disciples of all the nations” now.

The Bible says: “Therefore, go

And make disciples of all the nations” now.

Baptize them in the name of the Father,

The name of the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Baptize them in the name of the Father,

The name of the Son and the Holy Spirit.

(Repeat from the beginning.)

“Therefore, go

And make disciples of all the nations” now.

The Bible says: “Therefore, go

And make disciples of all the nations” now.

The Bible says: “Therefore, go

And make disciples of all the nations” now.

The Bible says: “Therefore, go

And make disciples of all the nations” now.

“Go and Make Disciples” (Matthew 28:19) by Ben Glover. © 2005, 2010 Group Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission to use lyrics granted for local church use only. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

LET’S PRAY!

Supplies: Sticking With God: Knowing His Love (Year 1/Quarter 3) CD, CD player

prepared bowl of pretzels, cups from Let’s Praise!, prepared pitcher of water, fruity candies

1. Choose three areas for prayer stations. At the first station, the children will bring their cups of water and gather together. In another area, set out fruity candies. At the third station, set out the pretzels you prepared before the lesson.

2. Gather the Bible Crews together at the first prayer station, and SAY: Our Bible passage uses the image of a deer longing for streams of water as a reminder of how we thirst for God’s love. I have some other reminders to help us think about what we discovered today. I’ll share them with you as we rotate around three prayer stations.

Ask a child to read Psalm 42:8 aloud as kids refill their cups. SAY: As you enjoy a drink of water, think of a way God has poured out his love for you today. Take a few moments to pray and thank God for his love as you listen to some music in the background. When you hear the music stop, look up, and we’ll move to another prayer station. Give the children time to pray as you play “Soft Music 1” (Track 17) from the Sticking With God: Knowing His Love (Year 1/Quarter 3) CD.

3. Gather everyone at the second prayer station, and give each child a piece of fruity candy. SAY: Because of God’s love, our sins can be forgiven if we believe in Jesus. That’s one important reason we thirst for God’s love. As you taste the sweet candy, think of the way God forgives your sin when we confess it to him. Encourage kids to pray while the candy melts in their mouths. Have them ask God to forgive words or actions they have done that are not pleasing to him. Play “Soft Music 2” (Track 18) from the Sticking With God: Knowing His Love (Year 1/Quarter 3) CD in the background.

4. Move the crews to the third station and give each child one pretzel. SAY: Eating salty pretzels can make us feel thirsty. Let’s tell God that we want to thirst for his love. Have the kids eat their pretzels as they pray. Play the instrumental version of “The Lord is Merciful” (Track 15) from the Sticking With God: Knowing His Love (Year 1/Quarter 3) CD in the background. When the music stops, have kids finish their prayers.

HIGH FIVES

Supplies: spray bottle filled with water

SAY: Give a friend a high five as you leave and tell him or her to “thirst for God.” I’ll spray each of you with a mist of water to help you remember that we thirst for God’s love.

FOR-EXTRA-TIME ACTIVITIES

Bottle Battle

Supplies: 1 water bottle per child

Have children lay water bottles on the floor in a cleared area. Divide the group into two teams. The object of the game is to get all the water bottles sitting in the same position. While one team moves around standing the bottles up, the other will lay them down again. Play for a few minutes, and then have teams switch roles. Point out that, like the game, thirsting for God’s love continues forever.

That Reminds Me

Supplies: water bottles, construction paper, markers, tape

Have kids use construction paper to make labels for their water bottles. Have them write on the labels “Thirst for God’s Love” and tape the labels around their bottles. Encourage kids to take the bottles home, put them in the fridge, and take a sip of water every day as a reminder that God wants them to thirst for his love.

Hiding It in Your Heart

Supplies: dry sponge, spoon, and bowl of water for each Bible Crew

Have kids open their Bibles to the Key Verse, Psalm 42:1, and read it aloud. Let them feel the dry sponge and talk about why we should thirst for God. As they take turns repeating the Key Verse, have them add a spoonful of water to the sponge. If space allows, have crews carry their spoons of water across the room to reach the sponges.

Create a Bible Dictionary

Supplies: paper, markers, dictionary, CD player, Sticking With God: Knowing His Love (Year 1/Quarter 3) 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—thirst and longing 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 Sticking With God: Knowing His Love (Year 1/Quarter 3) CD while kids work. Add each page to a three-ring binder, and watch the dictionary grow!

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