The Passover. February 3, s and 4 s

Transcription

1 The Passover. Bible Passage: Exodus 5-12 Memory Verse: 4 But I have been the LORD your God ever since you came out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me. Hosea 13:4 Bottom Line: Because nothing is too hard for God, I can believe that I am His and that heaven is my home. Big Picture Question: Is there anything God cannot do? God can do all things according to His character. Christ Connection: By His grace, God spared the Israelites from judgment by requiring the blood of a lamb. Jesus is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. His death was the ultimate sacrifice, and those who believe in Christ are under His saving blood and will be passed over in the final judgment. LEADERNOTES: CONTEXT God had a plan to rescue the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt. He chose and called Moses for the task and allowed Moses brother, Aaron, to help him. Moses and Aaron faced a huge obstacle in leading the Israelites out of Egypt, and his name was Pharaoh. Pharaoh did not recognize the Lord s authority: Who is the LORD that I should obey him by letting Israel go? (Ex. 5:2) Pharaoh hardened his heart against the Lord, but all of this fit into God s plan to reveal to Pharaoh and all of Egypt who He is. First, God sent a series of plagues that wrecked Egypt. The plagues were acts of judgment designed to show the Egyptians who God is and the Egyptians learned their lesson. Read Exodus 8:19; 9:20,27; and 10:7. The tenth plague was the most severe and had the greatest impact on the Egyptian people. God told Moses that around midnight, every firstborn male in Egypt would die. But God gave specific instructions to the Israelites. They were to slaughter a lamb or goat and put its blood on their doorposts. The blood on the doorpost would be a distinguishing mark. When God saw the blood, He passed over the house. The Israelite people were sinful, and they deserved death just as much as the Egyptians did. But God graciously provided a way out. By marking their doorposts with the blood of a lamb, they were spared from the judgment and death they deserved. The lamb was killed instead. The heart of the gospel is found in the story of the Passover: Jesus never sinned, but He was crucified for our sins. We deserve death, but He died instead. As you teach kids this week, highlight the Passover and help them look ahead to the true spotless lamb Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). TEACHING FOCUS (Exodus 5-12) Can you imagine everywhere you go, all you see is frogs? Why do you think God sent plagues to Egypt? What did the plagues teach the Egyptians and the Israelites? [Allow kids to respond.] God showed that He is the one true God. You see, the Egyptians worshiped false gods. They had a false sun god, a false river god, a false god for this, and a false god for that. Pharaoh and his magicians thought their false gods were just as powerful as the Israelites God, but the plagues showed the Egyptians that the Lord is the one true God. God used the plagues to judge Pharaoh and the Egyptians for their sin of worshiping false gods. God also wanted to confirm to the Israelites that He is the one true God. The land of Goshen the area of Egypt were the Israelites lived did not experience most of the plagues. For three days, the Egyptians lived in total darkness. But the Israelites had light where they lived. God showed His power to the Israelites. The most severe plague was the tenth plague: death of the firstborn. God warned Moses about what would happen, and He instructed the Israelites about how to get ready. The Israelites fixed a meal with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They marked their doorways with the blood of a lamb. They were dressed and ready to go.

2 When the Lord passed through Egypt, the firstborn in every house died except for the houses marked by blood. God passed over them, and then Pharaoh let the people go. God delivered His people and proved that He is the one true God. TODAY S TAKEAWAYS God used miracles or plagues to rescue of His people from Egypt. He didn t bring the plagues to hurt people but to teach them that He is God. Pharaoh could have avoided all of the loss if he let God s people go. BL: Because nothing is too hard for God, I can believe that I am His and that heaven is my home.. God sent Jesus to free us from sin. Like the blood on the doorposts protected God s people, so the blood of Jesus protects all who believe in Him. Social: Providing Time for Fun Interaction (15 minutes) Activities that encourage preschoolers to enter the classroom and begin engaging with peers and Small Group Leaders by providing age appropriate and hands on fun while introducing new concepts they will hear in the day s Bible story. Prepare to offer the following activities to 3-, 4-, 5- year olds as they arrive. Duck, Duck, Goose (or More, More, Most) What you Need: no supplies needed Sit the kids in a circle on the floor. Ask for a volunteer to stand outside the circle. Guide her to walk around the outside of the circle, tapping (gently) each child on the shoulder while calling duck duck duck until finally calling goose. The child she tapped last will get up and chase the volunteer around the circle, trying to tag her to determine who will be It next. You could change the words up and use more more more and then most as way to relate to the Bible story and Joseph with his brothers and dad. What You Say: When we play games, like duck, duck, goose, it reminds us that sometimes we win and sometimes God has other plans. Our story the next few weeks should help us see that God can do anything, even when people seem to mess up or make different plans. He made a way for our Savior to be born, in the middle of some really impossible situations. Worship Time Gather children on a rug or in a specific area of the classroom to tell the story. Some kids (especially the younger ones) may wander. That s okay. They re still listening and learning! Play the DVD of All Star Kids worship (choose 1 song for today)

3 What You Say: Way to go! You are such amazing singers. Now let s sit down to learn from the Bible today. Story Time: Communicating God s Truth in Engaging Ways Engage kids hearts through a dynamic and interactive Bible story and prayer experience in a Large Group setting. Bible Story What You Need: Bible Place a bookmark at Exodus 5 in your Bible. Invite a preschooler to open it. What You Say: The Bible is God s Word, and God s Word is true! The Bible has 2 parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament tells about the things that happened before Jesus was born. Today s story is from Exodus, the second book in the Bible. Today s Bible story happened in real life. The Bible is God s Word, and God s Word is true! PLAY BIBLE STORY VIDEO Talk about the Bible Story: Pharaoh would not let God s people, the Israelites, go! SO God sent ten plagues, or troubles, to punish Pharaoh. Every time God sent trouble, Pharaoh asked Moses to make the trouble go away. Once the trouble went away, Pharaoh changed his mind about letting the Israelites go! God was going to send one last trouble. God told the Israelites to eat a special meal. They would cook the lamb and put its blood on the doorposts of their houses. When God saw the mark on their houses, He would pass over their house, and the people inside would be safe. The people had to eat fast, and they had to keep their sandals on their feet! God kept His people safe from the last trouble. Learn the Big Picture Question What You Say: The Israelites were slaves. It seemed as if they would never leave Egypt. But God sent the plagues to show His power. Is there anything God cannot do? God can do all things. Practice the Memory Verse Open your Bible to Hosea 13:4. Read the memory verse aloud several times. What You Say: But I have been the Lord you God ever since you came out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me. Hosea 13:4 Transition to small group.

4 Groups: Creating a Safe Place to Connect (25 minutes) Create a safe place to connect through activities that are written to reach every learning style while reinforcing the Main Point that was introduced during the Bible Story and applying it to real life experiences. In addition, these activities provide preschoolers with an opportunity to build relationships with their Small Group Leader. 1. Create Swarm Pictures What You Need: paper, markers, Plague Insects printable Give each kid a sheet of paper and markers. Show how to touch the tip of a marker to the paper to make small dots. As children add more and more dots, the picture will begin to look like a swarm of insects. Open the Bible to Exodus 8 and show the kids the place where this story is found. Show kids the Plague Insects page in your leader folder. Point to the picture of the swarm of flying insects. Talk about how it would feel to be in the middle of it. What You Say God sent swarms of insects to the Egyptian people as a punishment because the king would not let the Israelites go. God kept His people safe from the last plague, and God rescued His people. Many years later, God s Son, Jesus, took the punishment for sin when He died on the cross. Everyone who believe in Jesus is kept safe from the punishment of sin. 2. Practice signing the Memory Verse What you need: Memory Verse Poster Show the poster to the kids As you say the words point to them on the poster Create simple hand motions to teach toddlers the memory verse. Sample hand motions include But I have been the Lord your God (point to God),ever since you came out of Egypt. (act like you are riding a horse) You shall acknowledge (point to your head like you are thinking) no God but me (point to God), no Savior except me. (make the sign for Jesus [point to the holes in his hands, first left then right hand]) Hosea 13:4 Our memory verse comes from a prophet named Hosea. This prophet gives God s messages to His people. God wanted His people to know that He is the only God and Savior.

5 What You Say: Throughout Israel s history, God s messenger to His people would point back to the time they spent in Egypt and the wonderful way God rescued them. This story is the start of how God s people ended up in Egypt! All along, God was their God. He is the one true God, and only He can save. Pray and Dismiss: What You need: no supplies needed Pray- " God, thank You for displaying Your awesome power. Only You can save Your people. Give us courage to boldly proclaim the gospel. Help us live for Your glory. Amen. What You Say: Tell parents something that their child enjoyed doing or did well during the session. Send home Swarm Pictures and talk about how God can do anything.