God Forgives the People of Nineveh • Lesson 13 Bible Point ...

[Pages:12]God Forgives the People of Nineveh ? Lesson 13

Bible Point God forgives us because he loves us.

Bible Verse

"The Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others'' (Colossians 3:13b).

Growing Closer to Jesus

Children will n learn that God forgives us because he loves us, n understand that God loved Jonah even when Jonah was angry, n help Pockets understand how much God loves us, and n see that God keeps loving and forgiving us, even when we're angry.

Teacher Enrichment

Bible Basis

n God forgives the people of Nineveh.

Jonah 4:1-11

It is apparent that Jonah's experience in the belly of the whale had changed his course of action but it hadn't changed his heart. Essentially he told God, "I told you so!'' Jonah hadn't really wanted the Ninevites to be saved from destruction, but God saved them anyway, and now Jonah was angry.

God's response to Jonah's anger is the key to this entire story. God had spared Jonah's life when he disobeyed and continued to provide for him even after he had expressed his anger toward God. When Jonah whined about the destruction of the vine--which God had miraculously provided--and said he wanted to die, God had had enough!

God sorrowfully acknowledged that Jonah still hadn't gotten the point: God loves all people, even those who are not like us, and God wants us to have the same compassion for them that he has.

Prayer

? Read John 3:16. ? How has your relationship with Jesus helped you to show love to others? ? Pray: Thank you, Jesus, that you want everyone to have a relationship with you! Help me to show love this week as

I...

Before the Lesson

n Collect the necessary items for the activities you plan to use. Refer to the Classroom Supplies and Learning Lab Supplies columns to determine what you'll need.

n Make photocopies of the "Today I Learned...'' handout (at the end of this lesson) to send home with your children.

n Pray for the children in your class and for God's direction in teaching the lesson.

Hands-On Bible Curriculum--Pre-K & K, Ages 5 & 6 173

Lesson 13

This Lesson at a Glance

What Children Will Do Classroom Supplies

Welcome Welcome!--Receive name tags, Time and be greeted by the teacher.

"Family Name Tags" (p. 23), crayons, markers, tape or safety pins

Let's Get Started

Direct children to one or more of the

optional activities until everyone arrives.

Option 1: Clay Capers--Make clay figures to review the story of Jonah in the Bible.

Option 2: Jonah Puppets-- Make Jonah puppets to use later in the lesson.

Option 3: Tumbling Tumblers--Learn about forgiveness while playing a fun paper-cup game.

Modeling dough, vinyl place mats

Craft sticks, glue sticks, scissors, crayons, markers, "Jonah" handout (p. 158)

Disposable cups, masking tape, markers

Bible Skills

Pick Up Our Toys--Sing a song CD player as they pick up toys and gather for Bible Story Time.

Bible Story Setting the Stage--Flip a coin Pennies Time and learn that only God knows

how things will work out.

Bible Song and Prayer Time--Sing a song, bring out the

Bible, and pray together.

Bible, construction paper, scissors, CD player, basket

Hear and Tell the Bible Story--Use their Jonah puppets to help tell the story of Jonah

from Jonah 4:1-11.

Bible, Jonah puppets from Option 2, CD player

Do the Bible Story--Play a fun "Big Fish" handout (p. 159),

game of musical fish, and actively paper, marker, tape, CD player,

review the story of Jonah.

fish-shaped crackers, wet wipes

Closing Fishing for Forgiveness--

Help teach Pockets about God's

love and forgiveness.

Stick-and-string fishing rod, gummy worms

Learning Lab Supplies

Happy Hearts--Decorate edible hearts; then pray and sing a Bible verse song.

Bible, cookies, icing, sprinkles, plastic knives, wet wipes, CD player

*See the end of this lesson for extra-time ideas and supplies.

174 Hands-On Bible Curriculum--Pre-K & K, Ages 5 & 6

God Forgives the People of Nineveh

Welcome Time

n Welcome!

SUPPLIES: "Family Name Tags'' (p. 23), crayons, markers, tape or safety pins ? Bend down to make eye contact with children as they arrive. ? Greet each child individually with an enthusiastic smile. ? Thank each child for coming to class today. ? As children arrive, ask them about last week's lesson. Ask questions such as "What did

Jonah tell the people of Nineveh?'' and "How were you forgiven last week or who did you forgive?'' ? Say: Today we're going to learn that God forgives us because he loves us. ? Hand out the "Family'' name tags children made in Lesson 1, and help them attach the name tags to their clothing. If some of the name tags were damaged or if some of the children weren't in class that week, have them make new name tags using the photocopiable patterns. ? Direct the children to the Let's Get Started activities you've set up.

It's important to say the Bible Point just as it's written in each activity. Repeating the Bible Point again and again will help the children remember it and apply it to their lives.

Let's Get Started

Set up one or more of the following activities for children to do as they arrive. After you greet each child, invite him or her to choose an activity.

Circulate among the children to offer help as needed and direct children's conversation toward today's lesson. Ask questions such as "What kinds of things make you feel angry?'' or "How do you feel when someone forgives you?''

n Option 1: Clay Capers

SUPPLIES: modeling dough, vinyl place mats Set modeling dough and vinyl place mats on a table. Invite children to make shapes

and characters found in the story of Jonah. Suggest that children make fish, boats, and Jonah figures. As children work, ask them to mention things in the story that made Jonah angry or afraid. Explain that today children will learn about a time Jonah was mad at God and how God forgave him. Tell children that God forgives us because he loves us.

Be sure to make enough puppets for everyone in your class. If you don't choose this option, make puppets before class. Puppets will be used in the "Hear and Tell the Bible Story'' activity.

n Option 2: Jonah Puppets

SUPPLIES: craft sticks, glue sticks, scissors, crayons, markers, "Jonah'' handout (p. 158) Before class, photocopy the "Jonah'' handout from Lesson 11. You'll need one figure

for each child in your class. Set out craft sticks, glue sticks, the Jonah figures, scissors, crayons, and markers. Invite children to make Jonah puppets by coloring and cutting out the Jonah figures and then gluing them to the craft sticks. As children work, ask questions such as "Have you ever forgiven someone or been forgiven?'' Tell children that today they'll hear how God forgave Jonah. Explain that God forgives us because he loves us.

Hands-On Bible Curriculum--Pre-K & K, Ages 5 & 6 175

Lesson 13 Bible Skills

n Option 3: Tumbling Tumblers

SUPPLIES: disposable cups, masking tape, markers Set out disposable cups, masking tape, markers,

the pretend rock, and the intertwine ball. Tape a starting line on the floor. Give each child a cup. Have children write their names on their cups and then set them on the floor about three feet in front of the starting line. Have children form a line behind the starting line. Each child will take a turn tossing the pretend rock and then the intertwine ball, trying to knock over as many cups as possible with these two tosses. After taking a turn, each child will move behind the cups and help set them up for the next child. As children work together setting up the cups, make comments such as "I'm happy that you're able to forgive each other when your cups are knocked over,'' and "Today we'll hear how Jonah learned that God forgives us because he loves us.'' Return the pretend rock and intertwine ball to the Learning Lab.

When everyone has arrived and you're ready to move on to the Bible Story Time, encourage the children to finish what they're doing and get ready to clean up.

n Pick Up Our Toys

SUPPLIES: CD player

track 2

Lead children in singing "Pick Up Our Toys" (track 2) with the CD to the tune of "Skip to My Lou." Encourage children to sing along as

they help clean up the room.

If you want to include the names of all the children in the class,

sing the song without the CD, and repeat the naming section. If you

choose to use the CD, vary the names you use each week.

We will pick up our toys. We will pick up our toys. We will pick up our toys, And put them all away.

There's [name] picking up toys. There's [name] picking up toys. There's [name] picking up toys, Putting them all away.

(Repeat.)

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God Forgives the People of Nineveh

Bible Story Time

n Setting the Stage

SUPPLIES: pennies Tell the children you'll clap your hands to get their attention. Explain that when you

clap your hands, children are to stop what they're doing, raise their hands, and focus on you. Encourage children to respond quickly so you'll have time for all the fun activities you've planned.

Before this activity, gather enough pennies so every pair of children in your class will have one. Have children sit together in a circle on the floor. Say: Let's have a coin toss! We'll form pairs, and I'll give each pair a coin. Hold up a penny. The side of the coin with the picture of a person's head is called heads. The other side is called tails. Have children find partners and give each pair a penny. Let partners decide who will be the Flipper and who will be the Guesser. Explain that the Guesser will predict whether the flipped coin will be heads or tails. Then have the Flipper toss the coin into the air and let it land on the floor. After three guesses and flips, have partners switch roles. Then ask:

? Were you able to guess how the coin would land every time? (No; we were wrong some of the time; we couldn't tell what would happen; yes, I guessed correctly each time!)

? How did guessing wrong make you feel? (Silly; mad; upset.) ? Do you think it's possible to tell what God's plans are? Why or why not? (No; we can't tell what God will do; only God knows his plans.) Say: Just like we couldn't always tell what the coin would do, we can't always tell what God's plans are. When God doesn't do what we think he should, we may get angry with God. That's what happened to Jonah. Jonah didn't think God should forgive the people of Nineveh. But God did forgive them. Today we're learning that God forgives us because he loves us. Now let's get ready for our Bible story.

Collect the pennies and set them aside.

n Bible Song and Prayer Time

SUPPLIES: Bible, construction paper, scissors, CD player, basket

track 3

Before class, make surprise cards for this activity by cutting construction paper in 2x6-inch slips. Prepare a surprise card for

each child plus a few extras for visitors. Fold the cards in half,

and then stamp the great fish stamp inside one of the surprise cards. Bookmark Jonah 4:1-11 in the Bible you'll be using. Return the great fish stamp and ink pad to the Learning Lab.

Have the children sit in a circle. Say: Now it's time to choose a Bible person

to bring me the Bible marked with today's Bible story. As we sing our Bible

song, I'll pass out the surprise cards. Don't look inside your card until the

song is over.

Lead children in singing "Read God's Book'' (track 3) with the CD to the tune of "The Muffin Man.'' As you sing, pass out the folded surprise cards.

Hands-On Bible Curriculum--Pre-K & K, Ages 5 & 6 177

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