REMEMBER & CELEBRATE

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1 February 24, 2019 REMEMBER & CELEBRATE Feast of Harvest Remembering and Celebrating God s Abundant Provision Schedule CONNECT REMEMBER CELEBRATE BLESS 1

2 Leader Prep Each week you ll find a list of resources along with encouraging articles that help you prepare your heart to present the lesson. Further Resources A Festival Investigation is available for this lesson. Download the following resources to help you plan and lead TruStory lessons: Customizable copy of Lesson Scope and Sequence TruStory How It Works document HomeFront Weekly: Lesson 13 is provided for this lesson. The weekly for the next lesson to be sent home for preteaching by parents is found in BLESS. For more information regarding the Old and New Testament significance of the biblical Feasts and Festivals, visit truministry.com. Inspire Shares personal stories from fellow ministry leaders about how God has worked in their lives My mom has a holiday tradition of asking questions while we sit around the dinner table. Each person poses a question, and the others answer. We ask questions such as, Where do you see yourself in five years? or What is your favorite childhood memory? Some questions elicit laughs; some evoke tears. A few years ago, my family gathered at my parents cabin in the woods. Together we remembered the questions we d asked the year before. That year, we had wept together as we shared our hopes for the future, including the desire of my brother and his wife for a child. Now, we celebrated God s gracious answering of our prayers my brother s baby boy was there. In Ecclesiastes 3:1 and 4 we read, There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. During our time together as a family, God made it possible for me to remember and celebrate His provision during both a period of weeping and a period of laughing. Tori Funkhouser TruStory Team Equip Offers perspective and context to the lesson's Bible passage Feast of Harvest: A Feast Celebrating God s Abundant Provision This festival, also known as the Feast of Pentecost or Weeks, corresponded with the nation s harvest season. Pentecost, which means 50, was celebrated 50 days after Passover and recognized when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. During this festival, the Israelites celebrated a season of gladness and thanked God for abundantly providing for their physical and spiritual needs including a way into relationship with Him. 2

3 Support Provides reflection and assessment through encouragement, prayer, and time in God's Word Philippians 4:8 reads, Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things. In this verse, Paul encouraged the Philippians to continually remember and celebrate the good things that God has done and the good things He s created. He encouraged them to remember that God the provider had already given them many things over which to celebrate. Take some time today and make a list, on paper or in your head, of the good things God has done for you. Then make a list of the good things you see around you in nature, in your community, in your home, in the lives of your friends and family. Then praise God for these things, because He is the provider and the creator of everything good. CONNECT// 10 min. Children are invited to eat together with their parents and engage with the day's biblical feast or festival. Feast of Harvest Festival Banner (see Resources) Scissors Tape Food, drinks, plates, cups, utensils, and napkins Name tags (1 per person) Markers PREPARE AHEAD Encourage families to bring festival-themed goodies to the feast. Invite them to create the foods found on the Recipe Cards passed out the previous week. Print, cut out, and assemble the Festival Banner. SET UP Tape the banner in a prominent place. Place the food, drinks, and other supplies on the feasting table. Put the name tags and markers near the entrance to the room. The Feast of Harvest is one of the spring holidays that God s people celebrated every year. When the spring crops had been harvested, the Israelites would travel to Jerusalem to the temple to celebrate God s provision. They would bring offerings and rejoice because God had provided grain for them! The Feast of Harvest was a very joyful holiday, and everyone was invited to celebrate. It was a time to provide for the poor and the strangers who lived in Israel. Everyone got to enjoy God s great provision by celebrating the Feast of Harvest! 3

4 Invite everyone to put on a name tag and then work together to set up the feast. Give the children, leaders, and parents separate jobs. For example, allow the kids to set the table while leaders fill the cups with water and parents set out the food. Reassign the jobs for each Remember & Celebrate gathering so everyone gets to be involved in a different part of the feast preparation. Together, engage in the activities found in the following section. These conversation starters and activities will help your kids and parents connect with old friends and get to know new friends. They will also help your faith community interact with the day s festival. Optional: As your parents and kids eat and talk, invite them to decorate the Festival Banner before hanging it in the room. Connect Games Straw House Connect Questions cards (see Resources) Card stock Scissors Straws (50 100) Masking tape (2 rolls) PREPARE AHEAD Print the Connect Questions cards onto card stock and cut them apart. Divide the group into two teams. Give each team an equal number of straws and a roll of masking tape, and invite them to build the tallest structure they can with their straws in one minute. At the end of the minute, the team with the smaller structure gets to answer a question. Play until everyone has had a chance to interact with the questions. Connect Questions What is your favorite place you have visited? What place would you love to visit? Why? What is your favorite thing about spring? What are some things you have that you might be able to give to someone who needs them? If you could grow any crop, what would you grow and why? What would you do with that food? REMEMBER// 30 min. Children reflect on what they've learned about God in The Big God Story, who He is, and what He's doing in their own lives. Remember Verse Spend time remembering the previous weeks Remember Verses. Encourage the children to stand and say the verses together. 4

5 Lessons 7 9: He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Isaiah 40:29 Lessons 10 12: How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you. Psalm 31:19 Remembering and Celebrating God in Our Family Bibles In Leviticus 23, God commanded His people to celebrate festivals throughout the year. During each festival, the Israelites stopped to remember what God had done for them and to celebrate His goodness to them. What does the word provide mean? Explain that the word provide means to make something available; to give something or to help someone. If someone provides or gives provision, it means that he is helpful and helps you with what you need. What comes to mind when I say, God provides? Leaders and parents, feel free to share examples from your own lives. The Feast of Harvest gave the people an opportunity to remember and celebrate God s abundant provision. This was a time to thank God for the harvest, bring an offering to Him, and celebrate together. Describe some events or passages from the Bible that show how God provides. Leaders, feel free to give some brief examples to get the conversation started. For example, God provided food and water for the Israelites in the desert, He provided the land of Israel for them, and He provided Jesus to die for our sins. Describe a time God showed His provision in your family or for someone you know. Leaders and parents, feel free to share examples from your own lives. Our Faith Community Bibles Whiteboard Dry erase marker 5

6 Spend some time during this section helping your kids remember and celebrate some of what they ve experienced and learned about God. The questions below will help the kids remember about what they learned about God and how it affected their daily lives. Lesson 7, God Is Strength: Joshua 1; 3 4 Invite a volunteer to come up to draw. Whisper the word strong to him, and have him draw pictures representing this word for the kids to guess. Once strong is guessed, discuss: The Israelites were about to enter into the Promised Land, but they still had to cross the Jordan River. God spoke to a man named Joshua and told him that he was the one who would help lead the people. God told him to be strong and courageous. Joshua told the people to prepare themselves because God was going to do something amazing. What happened then? Pause for responses. Yes, God stopped the waters of the Jordan River, and all of His people crossed over safely. The people took stones from the river and made a memorial right on the banks of the river so they would always remember the amazing things God had done. God is strength! How has God given you strength and courage? Lesson 8, God Is Powerful: Joshua 6 10 Choose another volunteer and whisper Promised Land in the child s ear. She can then draw while others guess. Hint: She can give the kids clues that it is two words and give the starting letters for both words. Once Promised Land is guessed, share: Once the Israelites entered the Promised Land, they had to fight many battles in order to live in the land God had given them. Where was their first battle? Invite responses. Yes, a town named Jericho. God did an amazing miracle there the walls of the city fell down, and God s people went in. Then the Israelites went to the city of Ai. The Israelites tricked the king of Ai. They chased the king s soldiers away from the city, and then the Israelites who were hiding went into Ai and took over! After that, the five kings of five tribes became very confused, and then God Himself threw down hailstones so that the Israelites could win the battle. God showed that He had power over all of creation people and nature. God is powerful! How has God shown His power in your life? Lesson 9, God Is Victorious: 1 Samuel Invite a new volunteer to draw, and whisper sling (or slingshot ) to the child so she can draw while the others guess. Once sling is guessed, discuss: When in The Big God Story did someone use a slingshot? Invite responses. That s right! David used a slingshot to fight the giant Goliath! God chose David to be the king after Saul, and God prepared David for the job. David was a shepherd, and he often saved his sheep from big predator animals. One day, he brought food to his brothers who were fighting the Philistines. He saw that Goliath was disrespecting God. David knew that God was the one true God! He decided to fight Goliath. God was victorious in that battle. David killed Goliath, and God used David to show that He can defeat all His enemies. God is always victorious! What are other ways God has been victorious throughout The Big God Story? Lesson 10, God Is Sovereign: 2 Samuel 2; 5 7 Invite a new volunteer to draw. Whisper ark of the covenant in his ear. He can then draw while the others guess. Once ark of the covenant is guessed, share: David had to wait quite a while to be king. But he trusted God, and eventually he was made king over all of Israel. One of the first things David did when he became king was getting the ark of the covenant. The ark represented God s presence in Israel. 6

7 When David and the Israelites brought the ark back, everyone was so happy they worshipped and celebrated and danced as they brought the ark to Jerusalem. That night, God made a covenant with David. God promised that David s descendants would reign in Israel forever. Who is the most important descendant and king in David s family? Invite responses. That s right Jesus was a descendant of David. God kept His promise because He is sovereign in control! Why was David so happy to have the ark of the covenant back? Lesson 11, God Blesses: 1 Kings 1 6 Share the word crown with a new volunteer. She can draw for others to guess. Once crown" is guessed, discuss: Who was the wisest king in all of Israel? Invite the kids to respond. Yes, David s son Solomon was very wise because he asked God to give him wisdom. The Israelites went through a lot of trials. They were slaves in Egypt, then they wandered in the desert, and then they had to fight other tribes to get into the Promised Land. Then David became king, and he helped the Israelites get all of their Promised Land. After that, Solomon became king, and finally the Israelites could rest! God gave Solomon great wisdom, and there was peace in the land of Israel. They had money and wealth and plenty of food. It was a wonderful time of rest in Israel. God blessed them so much! What are some ways God has blessed you? How can you be a blessing to others? Lesson 12, God Is Trustworthy: 1 Kings 7 11 Invite a final volunteer to come up, and share the word temple with him. He can draw while others guess. Once temple is guessed, discuss: God gave Solomon wisdom, and he built God a temple. The temple was a huge building made from strong wood and gold. When the temple was finished, they brought the ark of the covenant inside, and God s glory filled the whole temple. The Israelites worshipped God and were so grateful for His presence! God is trustworthy, but eventually Solomon chose not to worship God alone and not to trust Him with all of His life. Solomon began to worship false gods and even built altars to them. This affected all of Israel, and many people began to disobey God. Eventually, God allowed the country of Israel to split in two. God is trustworthy. We can trust Him with everything in our lives. What do you think it was like to see the temple when it was built? My Life Ponder Point pennants (see Resources) Blank Pennant cutout (see Resources) Scissors Markers or colored pencils Tape PREPARE AHEAD Print a Blank Pennant cutout for each child and cut it out. Print the Ponder Point pennants and cut them out. Optional: Tape RESPOND pieces from previous lessons around the room. 7

8 Show the children and parents each of the triangular Ponder Point pennants. Each Ponder Point highlights God and one of the things He was doing in that part of The Big God Story. Use these banners to help kids remember and celebrate. As you show the Ponder Point pennants, tape each one to the bottom of the Festival Banner and ask questions, such as: What has God done in your life? Then, give the children a chance to respond to what they ve learned about God and how it s affected their lives. Encourage the kids to write stories or draw responses to God on a Blank Pennant. For example, kids might write, God, thank You for Your gift of freedom, or they might draw themselves and an event that reminds them of God s freedom in their lives. After children have a chance to respond to God in this way, encourage them to tape the triangular banners like bunting to the bottom of the Festival Banner. CELEBRATE// 15 min. Through interactive games and activities, children will retell portions of The Big God Story together. Remember Roundup During Remember Roundup, kids will round up the people in The Big God Story whom they heard about during the past several weeks. 1st 6th: Guess and Guess Again The Big God Story People and Situations (see Resources) Bowl Scissors PREPARE AHEAD Print and cut apart The Big God Story People and Situations. Fold the illustrations and put them in a bowl. Invite the kids to sit on the floor. Ask a volunteer to come up and pick one of the people or scenarios from the bowl. Let all of the kids know that this game will have three rounds. The child can then begin to explain the person or situation to the rest of the kids, making sure he does not say the name of the person or the words of the situation. For example, he can say, This person killed a giant named Goliath. Once someone guesses David, the volunteer can sit down. Call up the next volunteer and continue to play in the same way until all of the people and situations have been guessed. Then, put all of the people and situations back in the bowl, and begin the second round. For this round, each child can only say one word that describes his person. For example, if David is chosen again, the child might say Goliath as the clue. The children will then have to use that clue to guess the correct person. Play through the second round that way. For the third round, put the people and situations back in the bowl, and when a child draws a person, she cannot speak at all she must act out the person. Play until all of the people have been guessed for the third time. (You may want to pair younger children with older children or help the younger children when it s their turn.) 8

9 After all of the people and situations have been guessed, invite everyone to gather in a circle and look at the people and situations from the bowl. Encourage them to share what they remember about each one. Festival Games Invite your children to play these fun and engaging games as they celebrate what they ve heard in The Big God Story recently. 1st 2nd: Pick-Up Sticks Festival Games questions (see Resources) Straws (10 20) Optional: traditional pick-up sticks game, candy prizes PREPARE AHEAD Print the Festival Games questions. Divide the group into two teams. Invite two volunteers from each team to come forward and sit opposite one another. Hold all of the straws upright in your hand. Let them fall onto the floor in a pile. Invite the first volunteer to attempt to pull a straw from the pile without moving any of the other straws. Then invite the child from the opposing team to do the same thing. If either child is able to grab a straw without moving any of the others, he gets to answer a question for his team. If he answers correctly, he gets a point for his team. Then invite two more children up, and drop the straws again. Play until every child on each team has had a chance to answer at least one question. Consider giving candy prizes to the winning team. 3rd 6th: Noodle Roll Festival Games questions (see Resources) Pool noodles with a hole in the middle (2) Marbles (2) Soup cans (4, empty) Masking tape Optional: candy prizes SET UP Make a starting line with masking tape and set the pool noodles behind the line. About three feet from the line, place the empty cans about six inches apart. Print the Festival Games questions. Form the kids into two teams and invite a volunteer from each team to sit down at the line and grab a pool noodle. Hand each child a marble. On your signal, each child should aim his pool noodle toward the can he is hoping to hit and place the marble in the hole. The goal is to get the marble to come out of the bottom of the pool noodle and roll toward a can. If one (or both) of the kids hits one of the cans with her marble, she gets to answer one of the questions. If she gets it right, she earns a point for her team. Continue playing until all of the questions have been answered. Consider giving candy prizes to the winning team. 9

10 BLESS// 5 min. Children receive a blessing from their leaders and sometimes one another. A blessing may be a prayer of commission, a portion of Scripture, or words to encourage and guide. HomeFront Weekly: Lesson 1 (see Resources) Bible During Remember & Celebrate lessons, encourage the parents to bless their children. Also encourage them to invite kids whose parents aren t present to join their groups. Invite the parents to pray the written blessing over their child and also to pray a special blessing over them in their own words. Place a hand on the shoulder or hand of your child. Say to him or her: (Child s name), may God provide for all of your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus (from Philippians 4:19). May God remind you each day that He loves you and provides for you. After the parents (and leaders) bless the kids individually, invite everyone to together for the communal blessing. Encourage a parent to read the blessing over the group from Psalm 111:9: He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever holy and awesome is his name. May our God provide you with love, joy, peace, and comfort this week! He is our abundant provider, and we can always trust Him! Send home the HomeFront Weekly with your kids. 10