REMEMBER VERSE Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

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1 date: Nov 5/6 Bible Passage: Exodus (The Building of Tabernacle) REMEMBER VERSE Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matw 11:29 God s Spirit Dwells with His People Schedule Anticipate 5 10 minutes Celebrate & Respond Large Group minutes Respond & Bless Small Group minutes Environment: MODELING Biblical content needs a practical living expression in order for it to be spiritually impacting. This environment serves as a hands-on example of what it means for to put ir faith into action. Modeling puts flesh on faith and reminds us that ors are watching to see if we live what we believe.. TruResources are developed in partnership with ROCKHARBOR Church and a national network of family and s ministry leaders. All rights reserved.

2 Equip God dwelled with His people in desert after He freed His people from Egypt. And when God called Moses to go up Mt. Sinai, He revealed His instructions for tabernacle, ark, and or structures as well as Ten Commandments and over six hundred laws (sometimes referred to as book of law). The tabernacle was to be place where He dwelled among people He had claimed as His own. In fact, much of book of Exodus covers preparation and building of it. The instructions for tabernacle, found in Exodus, are magnificently detailed. Through Moses, God gave His people exact measurements, weights, sizes, colors, proportions, etc., for every curtain, hook, beam, covering, and decoration to go in tabernacle, including details like which way to twist curtains to cover it, and where to carve or draw depictions of cherubim. If tabernacle was where God dwelled among His people, ark of covenant was Most Holy Place (Exodus 25:33), where God met with priests within tabernacle. It might be tempting to suppose that God dwelled within ark, but mental image Exodus gives us is God s presence hovering above it. As God dwelled above ark of covenant, His presence could be seen by all of Israelites at all times. It must have been reassuring that God was with m, but also a fear-inspiring reminder that y had agreed to follow and obey His laws as His covenant people. The tabernacle was a model for both physical temple and spiritual temple, which was to come. Just as God s Spirit dwelled in tabernacle and His glory filled temple after Solomon s dedication, Paul says, [We] are God s temple and that God s Spirit lives in [us] (1 Corinthians 3:16a). 3

3 ANTICI PATE C E LE B RATE R E S P O N D B LE S S SMALL Group SECTION Anticipate// Small Group Leaders An energizing time for parents and kids to start engaging with material that will be presented in lesson. It is intentionally designed to spark curiosity and cultivate a sense of awe and wonder about God. Encourage parents to participate in this time with ir kids min. Blueprints When God gave Israelites instructions for tabernacle, y might have felt like construction workers following blueprints. During this Anticipate, help kids through an activity in which y try to build a pulley or to fold an origami dog face by only following directions (see Resource Folder), without knowing what y are making. SUPPLIES Option 1 (for older kids): Simple Pulley wire coat hangers wooden spools or toilet paper rolls string, scissors weight (such as a book) directions sheet (see Resource Folder) Option 2 (for younger kids): Origami Dog Face origami or regular paper, cut into perfect squares directions sheet (see Resource Folder) SET UP AND ENGAGE Option 1: Cut bottom of coat hanger in middle. Slip newly cut wires through opening at each end of spool. Note: Once through, fold down ends of wires so y don t slip back through spool. Hang coat hanger onto something sturdy like a doorknob. Loop string once around spool. Tie a weight, such as a book, to end of string. Pull string to lift weight. Consider separating older kids into two teams, and have each team race to build a working pulley within a certain time limit. Option 2: Have younger kids start with a square piece of paper, and fold it once diagonal to turn square into a triangle. Turn triangle upside down and fold down two corners to look like dog ears. Then have m draw eyes, a nose, and a mouth on face of dog (see directions sheet in Resource Folder). Earning Rocks After your Blueprint activity, see if any have earned any rocks for Rock Wall today. Children who memorized last week's memory verse (Matw 11:29), who brought ir Bible, who brought a friend. Pass out rocks in small group before heading over to large group time. 6

4 ANTI C I PATE CE LE B RATE R E S P O N D B LE S S LARGE Group SECTION Celebrate// min. Host/Storyteller Kids get to be a part of faith community of God s family. They participate in traditions and share m with newcomers, connect through fun and interaction, and experience The Big God Story through storytelling. Welcome and Traditions Open Celebrate with allowing to add any rocks y may have earned to rock wall! After everyone is gared toger as a large group, open with Traditions. During Traditions, you are helping kids work toward a common goal and giving m mementos to celebrate things like memorizing Remember Verse, inviting a friend, or bringing ir Bibles. REMEMBER VERSE This is a good time to introduce or remind kids of Remember Verse. As y arrive, open a Bible and read it toger if time allows. Remember Verse cards, slides, and animation can be found in Resource Folder. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matw 11:29 Review memory Matw 11:29. Write it on over it with blocks,. Mementos can beverseanything, such as rocks, marbles, gumboard, balls, go or connecting Erase it and see if can still say it. etc. Once kids have been awarded ir mementos, direct m to put mementos into a clear container or to add m to a building effort. When common-goal tradition is complete, have a celebration! Birthdays A Group Tradition Prayer of Release At end of Connect, pray a Prayer of Release. This is a time for kids and leaders to pause, be still, and ask God to quiet ir hearts and minds. If you would like, encourage kids to hold ir hands out in front of m in a spirit of releasing ir worries and distractions in order to better receive what Holy Spirit might have for m. Encourage kids to quiet ir voices and take a seat. Then ask m to pray with you. Each week, invite month, invite with upcoming recent birthdays up for a up group-singing First weekend of orwith November birthdays for a of a birthday song and a blessing from leader. Encourage with in which group-singing of a birthday song and a blessing from leader. Make thistoasing tradition feel loved by ir faith community! ir whole hearts and really celebrate special day. Make this a tradition kids will look forward to one in which y will feel loved by ir faith community. Connect Give visitors a very specialplay, welcomeresounding clap! and have volunteers high-five m! Connect is a time to laugh, and enjoy each or s company. Engaging questions, Then introduce everyone to today's connect question (below). to get to know each or. energizing games, and creative activities encourage community Invite kids to ask each or following question or one of your own. Encourage m to ask someone y might not know yet. After a minute or two, ask several kids to tell group ir friends answers. (See Connect Question slide in Resource Folder.) Question Describe coolest building you ve ever seen. 7

5 ANTI C I PATE CE LE B RATE R E S P O N D B LE S S N OT E S : The Big God Story Storyteller During The Big God Story, take kids on a journey through Exodus and building of tabernacle. Though this part of The Big God Story can be delivered verbatim, read it before lesson, so you can personally interact with material. Share stories from your life, and speak with your own style by varying your intonation and gestures. Tip Before sharing about how God s Spirit dwells with His people, point out that what y are about to hear is true and is recorded in Bible. Open your Bible to passage and leave it open and visible throughout The Big God Story. Establish a consistent place to keep this Bible every week. Invite kids to open ir Bibles and follow along in Exodus 25:8 26, 35:21 35 as you storytell. Encourage adult volunteers to watch for kids who need help finding Scripture passage, and allow enough time for each child to locate passage. You may even want to project reference on a screen or write it in large print on a poster board or whiteboard. God s Spirit Dwells with His People Visual Aids You will find JPEGs of various visual aids in Resource Folder for every lesson of TruStory. Please use se files in whichever format works best for your church, Show images from previous wher you use lessons computerto help remind media, an overhead -Desert projector, or poster board. -Ten Commandments SUPPLIES Bible Timeline slide and animation, images of an ancient tent, gold, yarn (blue, purple, and red), goat hair, olive oil, spices, incense, seal hides (see Resource Folder) SET UP Cue Timeline, animation, and images. So in past few weeks, we have heard about how God freed Israelites from slavery and took care of m in desert. We have also heard about how God, through Moses, gave His people Ten Commandments. But re is one thing we did not hear about, which was when God actually called Moses to climb Mt. Sinai to give Moses commandments and or instructions He wanted His people to follow. Some of most important instructions God gave to His people were about how to build a tabernacle. Who has heard word tabernacle before? In biblical times, a tabernacle was basically like a tent (show image #1, an ancient tent). For Israelites, 8

6 ANTI C I PATE CE LE B RATE R E S P O N D B LE S S The Big God Story N OT E S : *Emphasize Exodus 25:8- God's purpose for this place is that it will be a place where He can dwell among m. After showing images, pause and ask - "So why did God request people to bring se offerings? What was he going to do with all of se things like gold, olive oil, and goat hair?" (answer: He was going to use each of se things to build Tabernacle- place where He and Israelites could dwell toger)... This pause will help kids follow along with all of details. "Now let's see how all of se different pieces are going to come toger..." Partner Church Comments Read through Exodus 26 in an engaging, descriptive voiceas if each of We added animation of what elements God lists so precious and tabernacle may is have looked like. important to this great structuregiving The kids really responded, and had emotion of awe and wonder lots of questions. and beauty! The Garing Then show image/video of tabernaclepoint out different elementsthe outer courtyard The Holy Place (where our materials we just discussed were used) Then show Holy of Holies- "And THIS is where ark of covenant was placed" and read Exodus 25:22 Make clear here that we're talking about Ten Commandments- which discussed last week. tabernacle was important because it would be a sanctuary for [God], [so that He could] dwell among m (Exodus 25:8). As you will see, tabernacle would not only be God s dwelling place among His people, but way He would lead m through wilderness. God wanted His people to build His tabernacle, so He said to Moses, Tell Israelites to bring me an offering. He did not force people to give. He told Moses to only receive offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give (v. 2). Here is some of what God wanted from His people so that He could dwell among m (show images #2 #8): gold, yarn (blue, purple, and red), goat hair, olive oil, spices, incense, and seal hides. Every item on list had a special purpose or use in building of tabernacle. For instance, goat hair would cover outside of structure to keep out rain, and olive oil would be used to light lamps inside tabernacle. All of se things were special to God, but especially to Israelites, who had very little and not much to spare. What types of things do you own that you would be willing to sacrifice for God? After God gave m list of materials for constructing tabernacle, He commanded m to Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like pattern I will show you (v. 9). The instructions God gave were extremely detailed like directions you followed in Anticipate. (Ask kids to turn with you in ir Bibles to Exodus 26, and read it out loud, emphasizing detailed nature of instructions read until instructions become tedious, or continue with following narrative.) God gave m instructions about how tall and wide structure should be and exact number of curtains and loops, how to twist and wrap curtains, how long y should be, how wide y should be, and which materials to make m out of! And God not only gave m instructions for building and furnishing it, but He also told m to cover it with gold so that it would symbolize God who dwelled among m. Wow! But, re was anor thing God told His people to make something that was just as important, if not more important than tabernacle itself. It was called ark of covenant. God said, Above cover between two cherubim that are over ark of [covenant], I will meet with you and give you all my commands for Israelites (Exodus 25:22). So ark was place where God would show His presence on earth. Because of this, ark sat in Most Holy Place of tabernacle Holy of Holies. In front of this place, God told Israelites to hang a curtain so that ark and His presence on earth could be separated from everything else. And like He did for tabernacle, God gave detailed instructions about how to build ark. Then God wanted laws and commandments that He gave m to be put inside. 9

7 ANTI C I PATE CE LE B RATE R E S P O N D B LE S S The Big God Story N OT E S : Emphasize- God USED tabernacled to DWELL/to BE with his people- in physical form! He wasn't re in a human body- He was like a cloud (during day) and at night like a fire (so y could see Him). THIS WAS THE CLOSEST Israelites had ever been to God!!! *Remind - Israelites were still traveling around in desert- tabernacle was not a permanent tent, but was moveable. So when God (in form of a cloud and of fire) moved, Israelites packed up tabernacle, followed Him until He stopped and n set it back up again. "God came in anor physical form hundreds of years later, didn't he? What form was he later on? (that's right, in form of a human! He came as a human being- Jesus Christ!) *Point out curtain separating Holy of Holies- explain how significant it was that re was no need anymore for a special meeting place, and a 'holy of holies' section Be sure to emphasize this personal connection- Be auntic with! Emphasize... God's dwelling place now... is in YOU! The Bible says, Everyone whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to Lord (Exodus 35:21), and anyone who was skilled in building, sewing, sculpting, spinning yarn, or doing any or craft helped. After all of materials had been collected, all of decorations made, all curtains twisted into place, all of structure covered with gold, all elements washed as a symbol of holiness, and all of work was done, just as God had commanded, Bible says, Then cloud covered Tent and glory of Lord filled tabernacle (Exodus 40:34). Wow! Just close your eyes for a second and imagine what that might have looked like. The Bible says that when God s glory filled tabernacle, it was so powerful that, Moses could not enter [ tabernacle] because cloud had settled upon it, and glory of Lord filled tabernacle (v. 35). Wow! We ve heard how God used tabernacle as place where His Spirit dwelled. God also used tabernacle as a sign for His people to follow. The Bible says, The cloud of Lord was over tabernacle by day, and fire was in cloud by night, in sight of all house of Israel during all ir travels (Exodus 30:48). So that, Whenever cloud lifted from above Tent, Israelites set out; wherever cloud settled, Israelites encamped (Numbers 9:17). Throughout many years Israelites lived in wilderness of desert, y watched for God s presence above tabernacle and literally followed Him wherever He went! I imagine this might have been like how it feels during a fire drill when alarm comes on, you jump up and go! The Israelites, too, rushed to leave and go whenever cloud of God s presence moved. What is even more amazing is that hundreds of years later, God drew even closer to His people by actually coming to live with m through His Son, Jesus Christ. And when Christ died, rose, and sent Holy Spirit, God came even closer to His people to point of dwelling in ir lives! The Bible says that when Jesus Christ died, curtain that separated Holy of Holies in tabernacle ripped in two, from top to bottom, symbolizing that we no longer need to be separated from God s presence. Now, wherever we go, God goes with us! Just as God dwelled with Israelites, God dwells with us. (Share about a time when you realized that God dwelled with you. Specifically, share about how that realization changed you.) Like tabernacle was alight with God s Spirit at night, Bible says those who believe in Christ are light of world. Because this is true, we take God to our schools, our neighborhoods, on to our soccer fields, and to our grocery stores. Because God s Spirit dwells in those who believe, God uses us to model for ors love relationship between God and His people. God uses us to show His presence on earth. 10

8 ANTI C I PATE C E LE B RATE R E S P ON D B LE S S LARGE Group SECTION Respond// Host/Worship Leader This is a time for kids to worship through silence, prayer, singing, giving, sharing, thanksgiving, and many or ways. Make plans for your worship time but prepare yourself and your team to hold m loosely if Holy Spirit leads group in a different direction. IT S OKAY IF Help kids understand that God speaks to us in many ways mostly through His Word, prayer, and ors. Encourage m to ask God for ability to hear His voice, but also give m freedom to know that it s okay if y do not always experience Him in ways that or people do min. God, Where Are You Moving? How Can I Follow? SUPPLIES Worship Response Stations (see How It Works under Resource Tab) paper, pens, or markers SET UP AND ENGAGE When God s Spirit dwelled in and above tabernacle, Israelites were always watching for what He was doing. Wherever God s Spirit moved, y followed. Today, God dwells with us. We can still be watchful for what He is doing, and follow where His Spirit leads us. This might sound more complicated than it is. This can be simply asking Him where you can be a light in world. Since our response is to pay attention to what God is doing and where He s working, let s spend some time listening to God. Maybe God will lead you to be kind to someone, or tell that God music is re Maybe God is Play Worship Stations CDsomeone for some thoughtful in for m. background while nudging to someone. kids have you timeto toapologize visit Worship Stations. Give kids an opportunity to spend time with God, and listen to where God might be leading m. Have m ask God question: God, where are you moving? Give m a minute to sit in silence. Afterward, have m ask God question: How can I follow? Encourage m to visit Worship Response Stations and continue worshipping God. Worship Through Music After spending time at Worship Response Stations continue large group Celebrate with a time of singing music. Near North can use DVD Videos to worship, Campuses can use Partner Church Audio CD (lyric sheets provided).comments 1. Worship Lord We loved that this lesson points out how God is continually trying to draw closer 2. Found to His people. The response time was amazing. The kids were absolutely silent 3. Happy Day for two to three minutes, n wrote requests for Prayer Wall. It was clear by what y wrote that y had heard from God. One of our favorite weeks. Then exit Large Group to spend time applying things from today in a small group setting. Brookwood Church The kids and leaders really liked large group Respond. The kids were very engaged; it really encouraged m to reflect and respond to God. Good Shepherd Church 11

9 ANTI C I PATE C E LE B RATE R E S P ON D B LE S S SMALL Group SECTION Respond// Small Group Leaders A time to engage in relationship, reflect on lesson with spiritual conversation, and/or create a meaningful project or piece of art. Partner Church Tip We use a soft, blow-up ball with review questions printed on it. The kids love it; y throw it back and forth, asking and answering questions. It s a fun, interactive review. Impact Church If you don't have time for Create section that's okay! Just end service with your discussion on "How can we show that we are God's dwelling place this week? What is something we can do to act out God's love to ors?" - discuss as a group and come back next week to see if anyone lived out challenge! min. Reflect: God s Spirit Dwells with His People After God made a covenant with His people at Sinai, y obeyed His instructions by building Him a tabernacle so that He could dwell among m. God gave m perfectly detailed instructions to follow. And once y had finished building, His glory filled temple in form of a cloud or fire. Now that God dwelled among m in this way, y only needed to camp near His presence or follow Him if He moved on. (Leaders, encourage kids to open ir Bibles and find Scripture references for questions below.) Questions for Younger Kids Why did God want His people to build a tabernacle? (Exodus 25:8) What is ark of covenant? (Exodus 25:21 22) What is a tabernacle? (a tent used in biblical times by Israelites as a sanctuary for ark of covenant during exodus and until building of temple) What did tabernacle look like? (Exodus 26:1 36) How did Israelites know when to move camp? (Exodus 40:36 38) What do you think it would be like to follow God to actually see Him moving? How does God dwell with us today? Questions for Older Kids What is a tabernacle? (a tent used in biblical times by Israelites as a sanctuary for ark of covenant during exodus and until building of temple) Why did God want His people to build a tabernacle? (Exodus 25:8) What things did people do to build tabernacle? (Exodus 25:1 7) What was kept inside of ark of covenant? (Exodus 25:16) What happened when tabernacle was finished? (Exodus 40:34) How did Israelites know when to move camp? (Exodus 40:36 38) What do you think it would be like to follow God to actually see Him moving? How is God closer to us than He was with Israelites? How does God dwell with us today? How does God use us to model His love to ors? Create: Modeling God s Love SUPPLIES body outline (see Resource Folder) paper, colored pens, pencils, or markers 12

10 ANTI C I PATE C E LE B RATE R E S P ON D B LE S S N OT E S : SET UP Set out materials for kids to use. ENGAGE It was amazing that God came and dwelled among His people in tabernacle, which y made according to His instructions. What is even more amazing is that, now, God s Spirit lives with us! We take Him everywhere we go and, because of this, He can lead us and guide us from inside out. He can use us to model for ors what a relationship with God looks like to be a light to world like He was a light to Israelites. **If you notice any outlines that are exceptionally meaningful or special, ask child if you could keep it for one week just to make a copy! and n you'll have it for m next week. We want to be collecting some of more meaningful moments and pieces to highlight during Remember and Celebrate!! Give any copies to your service coordinator to hold on to until our next Remember & Celebrate which will be last week of November. Pass out paper to older kids, and have m draw an outline of mselves. When y are done, ask m how God can use m to model His love to ors. Have m write ir answers within ir body outlines. Then have m consider, as a group, modeling one thing, in a tangible way, throughout coming week. Give younger kids preprinted body outline from Resource Folder, and ask m to draw inside things that represent God to m (e.g. hearts for love, sunshine for light of Spirit, fruit for fruit of Spirit). Help m think through what symbols to use and why each one is important to m. Remember to collect a few of outlines to display during next Remember & Celebrate weekend. 13

11 ANTI C I PATE C E LE B RATE R E S P O N D B LE S S SMALL Group SECTION Bless// 5 min. Small Group Leaders Leader Tip A blessing can be a prayer of commission, a portion of Scripture, or words of encouragement or guidance. A blessing can be offered in order to ask God s Spirit to overflow from child s life to bless ors or prayed over a child for purpose of declaring God s protection, joy, or wisdom. The blessing can be done in many ways, but more intentional you are about it, more powerful it will be. Depending on wher parents are able to join in at this time, you may want m to put ir hands on ir child s head or kneel and look him in eye as y bless him. Leaders, be sure to model how you envision blessing working in your church so your volunteers and parents become comfortable with it. As kids are blessed, tell m y have opportunity to also be a blessing to ors. Encourage m to freely share with ors joy and love y have received from God. Encourage kids to hold ir hands in front of m, palms up. This posture is meant to symbolize a willingness of heart to respond to God s Holy Spirit and receive what God has for m. Invite m to remain in this posture as you bless m. Encourage parents to come early in order to read blessing over ir child. Open a Bible and read 1 Peter 1:3 6a (NLT): All praise to God, Far of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on last day for all to see. So be truly glad. Check kids tags with parent's security code before releasing. Campuses- send each child HomeFront Weekly: Be sure to send home HomeFront home with Take Home Weekly sheet. Near North- parents will be given take Weeklyweekly for next week s This preteaching tool for home sheet fromlesson! security person as y enter hallway. parents encourages families to spend time in God s Word Small Group Leaders andarrive Kids at should be cleaning up all materials and supplies from toger before church. Lesson. Storyteller should clean up all teaching and large group supplies. All supplies go back in your service bin and given to your service coordinator. HomeFront Monthly: Every four weeks we highlight one of 10YOU environments. For each newtruth environment, parentsof OUR LORD WITH THE KIDS THANK FOR SHARING THE AND LOVE shouldweekend! receive HomeFront Monthly. This resource gives families ideas THIS WE ARE THANKFUL FOR YOU!! for how to create fun, spiritually forming times in ir homes setting aside a sacred space for family in midst of ir active, everyday lives! 15