2.8. God Changes Hearts. Bible Passage: 1 Samuel (David and Abigail) Schedule

Transcription

1 date: Bible Passage: 1 Samuel (David and Abigail) REMEMBER VERSE Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10 God Changes Hearts Schedule Anticipate 5 10 minutes Celebrate & Respond Large Group minutes Respond & Bless Small Group minutes Environment: KNOWING This lesson highlights the environment of KNOWING by showing how God used Abigail to remind David of the truth that God desires pure hearts from His people. Today, when we know God and His truth and have a relationship with Him through Jesus, He transforms our hearts through the power of His Spirit.. TruResources are developed in partnership with ROCKHARBOR Church and a national network of family and children s ministry leaders. All rights reserved.

2 Inspire NOTES: For years I worked with a middle school youth group, and I saw many kids come and go. But one particular group of kids stood out. They were a tight-knit community unique in the way they cared about each other both in church and outside of church. Once these kids ventured to high school, I continued to keep tabs on them. Some were doing great thriving in their schools, serving as leaders on their campuses, and making a great impact for God s kingdom. I was so proud of them, much like a beaming mother. But some kids weren t doing well. They got involved in the party scene, started experimenting with drugs, and made other decisions that weren t healthy or honoring to God. This made my heart sad. I wanted to confront the kids, give a motivational speech and convince them to turn back to the Lord. But there was nothing I could do but pray. Though I wanted to change them, the real work and transformation could only come from God. After a year, a shift occurred. One student who had experimented with the most serious drugs realized he wasn t being the person God had created him to be. God broke him and changed his heart. Because of this, he returned to his faith community and boldly shared with his peers that God had transformed his life. God is always working in people s lives, even when it seems like He s far away. He s the One with the power to bring people back to Him. Though I would like to have the power to change people, only God can transform their hearts. RaeLynn Lott TruStory Team 2

3 Equip It s amazing how God changes people s hearts. Though David s journey to become king was anything but easy, God used it to form David into a man whose heart worshipped only Him. As a shepherd and the youngest of his father s sons, David was an unlikely candidate to become king. But we read in Scripture that after David s anointing, the Spirit came upon him in power (1 Samuel 16). As a result, David stood up against Goliath, the Philistine hero, and defeated him with only a slingshot (1 Samuel 17). Because of this God-given victory, the king of Israel, Saul, became jealous and sought to kill David (1 Samuel 18 19). David was forced into hiding to protect his life. During this time, Saul s son, Jonathan, protected David many times from his father s hand (1 Samuel 19 20). Though David had the opportunity to kill Saul and take the crown that he d been promised, he continued to run and wait until it was God s time for him to become king. Though David s journey was difficult, his heart remained faithful to God while he waited for God s promise to be fulfilled. In the time leading up to David s reign, God used unlikely people such as Abigail, the wife of a wealthy businessman named Nabal, to change David s heart so he wouldn t sin. God did this so David s reputation would remain unblemished, and one day he would be known as a man after God s own heart. Environment of KNOWING Nothing could be more important than knowing and being known by God. We live in a world that denies absolute truth, and yet God s Word offers just that. As we create an environment that upholds and displays God s truth, we give children a foundation based on knowing God, His Word, and a relationship with Him through Christ. God is holy, mighty, and awesome, yet He has chosen to make Himself known to us! The 10 environments give us ways to create a climate that puts God on display. Encourage your families to discover more about creating the environment of KNOWING in their homes by checking out HomeFront: A Spiritual Parenting Resource and Spiritual Parenting by Michelle Anthony. 3

4 Support As practitioners, we might feel the temptation to see immediate results in the hearts of the kids in our ministry. We want to know that what we re doing is making a difference. But because the spiritual journey is full of ups and downs, we know we can t cause heart change or always see results. Heart change sometimes happens overnight. Often it takes years. Most certainly, it comes only from the work of the Holy Spirit. We do our job, but He transforms. Spend some time before the Lord, and ask Him to speak to you. Where in your life are you trying to force a heart change? Ask Him if any areas of your heart need to be changed. Bring these before the Lord, recognizing that He alone can change your heart. If you re trying to change certain people in your life, bring them before the Lord, and ask Him to transform their hearts. Bow before the Lord, and meditate on His Word, remembering that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion (Philippians 1:6). TIMELINE ADAM & EVE NOAH ABRAHAM JACOB JOSEPH MOSES JOSHUA EHUD DEBORAH GIDEON RUTH JONATHAN ABIGAIL ELIJAH ELISHA JONAH HABAKKUK MARY JOSEPH JESUS PARABLES OF JESUS GOOD SAMARITAN WORKERS IN THE FIELD LOST SHEEP/COIN/SON WISE/FOOLISH BUILDERS UNMERCIFUL SERVANT PETER MARTHA & MARY THIEF ON THE CROSS MARY STEPHEN BARNABAS PAUL EPHESIANS 1 PETER ROMANS 7 CHURCHES YOU & ME OUR FUTURE WITH JESUS 4

5 NOTES: Lesson Overview Experience Time Summary Supplies/Prepare (Master Supply List at tru.davidccook.com) Anticipate// Small Group Check-In Celebrate// Large Group 5 10 min min. Encourages interaction among kids, leaders, and parents; engages the kids in curiosity and anticipation of the lesson; and creates an inviting atmosphere. Establishes community and tells stories both personal and biblical in a fun and engaging way. Sheep OPTION 1: Making Sheep (for Younger Kids) black construction paper white colored pencil or chalk cotton balls glue scissors googly eyes images of sheep and goats (see tru.davidccook.com) OPTION 2: Sheep Shearing (for Older Kids) sheep shearing facts sheets (see tru.davidccook.com) sheep shearing true or false sheet (see tru.davidccook.com) images of sheep and goats (see tru.davidccook.com) tape OPTION 3: Separating Sheep from Goats (for Younger and Older Kids) goat and sheep cards (see tru.davidccook.com) scissors Traditions mementos for your church Traditions (rocks, marbles, gumballs, etc.) Remember Verse cards, slide, and animation (see tru.davidccook.com) Connect Question Connect Question slide (see tru.davidccook.com) Connect Activity: Hide and Seek item to hide in the room (e.g., stuffed animal, shoe) Connect Activity slide (see tru.davidccook.com) optional: stopwatch The Big God Story Bible Timeline slide and animation (see tru.davidccook.com) images: caves of En Gedi, surprised face, Abigail, sheep, angry face, food on donkeys, woman bowing, David (see tru.davidccook.com) binder rings, pipe cleaners, or other fasteners 5

6 NOTES: Lesson Overview Experience Time Summary Supplies/Prepare (Master Supply List at tru.davidccook.com) Respond// Large Group min. Creates space for children to respond to the Holy Spirit in worship and community as a large group. God Changes Hearts to Be Like His butcher paper or poster board tape colored paints (red, blue, and yellow) paintbrushes bowls tarp or plastic tablecloth heart cutouts (see tru.davidccook.com) pens or pencils optional: easel Respond// Small Group min. Discusses truth, reflects on the lesson, engages in relationships, and creates a project or a piece of art individually or together. Reflect: God Changes Hearts Bibles questions Create: God Can Change Our Hearts OPTION 1: God Molds Our Hearts (for Younger Kids) Bibles play dough colored tissue paper squares large piece of cardboard OPTION 2: The God Who Changes Hearts (for Older Kids) Bibles poster board or whiteboard markers or dry-erase markers camera Bless// Small Group 5 min. Sends the kids out with a sense of peace and blessing so they can be a blessing to their families and others. Bible (for the blessing) HomeFront Weekly (1 per child; see tru.davidccook.com) HomeFront: A Spiritual Parenting Resource 6

7 SMALL Group SECTION Anticipate// 5 10 min. Small Group Leaders An energizing time for parents and kids to start engaging with the material that will be presented in the 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 their kids. Sheep Nabal was a wealthy man who owned three thousand sheep. He made his money during the harvest season, when his servants would shear the sheep and sell the wool. The wool would later be used to make useful things such as fabric for clothing. SUPPLIES OPTION 1: Making Sheep (for Younger Kids) black construction paper white colored pencil or chalk cotton balls glue scissors googly eyes images of sheep and goats (see tru.davidccook.com) OPTION 2: Sheep Shearing (for Older Kids) sheep shearing facts sheet (see tru.davidccook.com) sheep shearing true or false sheet (see tru.davidccook.com) images of sheep and goats (see tru.davidccook.com) tape OPTION 3: Separating Sheep from Goats (for Younger and Older Kids) goat and sheep cards (see tru.davidccook.com) scissors SET UP OPTION 1: Making Sheep (for Younger Kids) Print the images. OPTION 2: Sheep Shearing (for Older Kids) Print a few copies of the sheep shearing facts sheet and tape them to the walls around the room. Print the sheep shearing True or False sheet (one copy per child). Print the images and tape them around the room. OPTION 3: Separating Sheep from Goats (for Younger and Older Kids) Print the goat and sheep cards and cut them apart. Make sure you have a card for each child. ENGAGE OPTION 1: Making Sheep (for Younger Kids) David and his men made sure that Nabal s sheep were safe from local enemies. This way, Nabal s servants could shear the flock during harvest time and not worry about attacks. 7

8 NOTES: Before they re sheared, sheep have incredibly thick fur that covers their bodies. Today your kids will get to create their own sheep. Have the kids trace their hands on the black construction paper using a white colored pencil. Then have them turn the paper upside down so the thumb becomes the sheep s head and the other four fingers become the sheep s legs. Have the kids dab cotton balls with glue and stick them all over the body of the sheep, leaving the head and the legs uncovered. Finally, have the kids glue the googly eyes onto the sheep s head. OPTION 2: Sheep Shearing (for Older Kids) During the time of David, many people made a living by raising sheep. At harvest time, farmers would shear their flock and then sell the thick wool. People buying the wool would use it to make woolen fabric. This was a very profitable business. Encourage your kids to learn a little bit about the sheep-shearing process by reading the facts you ve taped to the wall. Afterward, have them test their knowledge by answering fact-based true and false questions. OPTION 3: Separating Sheep from Goats (for Younger and Older Kids) Sheep and goats make different sounds, but they re very similar animals. Today engage your kids in a game that separates the sheep from the goats. Have the kids practice the sound a goat makes Neah and the sound a sheep makes Baa. Then give each child a card. Explain to the kids that, on your signal, they should make the sound of the animal on their cards. As the kids make their sounds, the goats should herd together on one side of the room and the sheep on the other side. The first animal group to come together wins the game! 8

9 LARGE Group SECTION Celebrate//20 35 min. Host/Storyteller Kids get to be a part of the faith community of God s family. They participate in traditions and share them with newcomers, connect through fun and interaction, and experience The Big God Story through storytelling. Welcome and Traditions REMEMBER VERSE This week s Remember Verse comes from the environment of KNOWING. The environment changes every four weeks. Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10 Connect Question Would you rather hide in a cave or a tree? Connect Activity: Hide and Seek When David and his men hid from Saul, they fled to the wilderness and disappeared inside of the caves of En Gedi. The caves protected them from danger and allowed them to remain unseen. Today play some Hide and Seek related games with your kids. In the World Videos A Video Tradition Every week before the service, look through the lesson. Think about the lesson title, digest the material in The Big God Story section, and imagine a video short that could introduce what the kids will hear. For instance, if the lesson talks about Noah and the flood, film your child responding to a rainbow she found in the sky. Or if the lesson discusses Peter walking on water, film yourself or a friend trying to walk on water something that would help the kids imagine some part of The Big God Story in the midst of their everyday world. Supplies item to hide in the room (e.g., stuffed animal, shoe) Connect Activity slide (see tru.davidccook.com) optional: stopwatch Engage OPTION 1 (for Small Groups) Designate one person to be It. Tell everyone else to hide while It counts to 10. Then It should yell, Ready or not, here I come! and try to find the hiders. When someone is found, the game ends and that person becomes It for the next round. OPTION 2 (for Large Groups) Have one child leave the room, and while she s gone, hide an item. When the child returns to the room, have her search the room for the item. The other kids can give her clues by saying, Hot if the child gets close to the item or Cold if she s far away from the item. Play a few rounds to see who can find the hidden item the fastest. OPTION 3 (for Large Groups) Play the classic game of I Spy. Choose a leader or child to stand in the front of the room and spy an item. Then have the person who chose the item say, I spy something blue (or refer to the item in another way). The rest of the group should try to guess the item. 9

10 NOTES: The Big God Story Leader Tip Before sharing this part of The Big God Story, tell your kids they re about to hear a true story that s recorded in the Bible. Open your Bible to 1 Samuel 24 25, and invite kids to follow along in their own Bibles as you storytell. God Changes Hearts SUPPLIES Bible Timeline slide and animation (see tru.davidccook.com) images: caves of En Gedi, surprised face, Abigail, sheep, angry face, food on donkeys, woman bowing, David (see tru.davidccook.com) binder rings, pipe cleaners, or other fasteners SET UP Print the images and stack them in order. Punch two holes in the upper corners of the stack and thread a binder ring or other fastener through each hole. Optional: Don t print the images and instead show them as slides. ENGAGE Hey, kids! Before we start, turn to the person next to you and share a time when you really wanted to do something you knew you shouldn t do and someone changed your mind before you could do it. (Encourage kids to share with each other.) Okay, let s hear some of your stories. (Have a few kids share in front of the group, or share a story of your own.) Today we re going to hear about how David almost made a bad decision, but God brought along someone to change his mind and his heart. Last week, we heard about David and his friendship with Jonathan. Jonathan, the son of King Saul, was next in line to the throne. But God promised the throne to someone else. Who? (Encourage kids to answer.) That s right, David! But Jonathan didn t get angry about this. Instead he laid down his right to be the next king because he knew David was God s choice. Although Jonathan played an important part in The Big God Story by laying down his own desire for greatness, his father, King Saul, did the opposite. Saul became jealous of David and wanted to kill him. This forced David to go into hiding. 10

11 The Big God Story Partner Church Comments We had a giant banquet table onstage, with donuts, bagels, fruit, chocolate milk, and orange juice. The kids were excited to see it. But we only allowed half of the kids to come up and eat (at first), much like Nabal and his friends and family would have been eating. The rest of the kids had to watch and feel left out like David and his men would have had to do. Of course, we did let all the kids eat eventually. It really helped the kids understand how David might have been feeling. Mountainbrook Community Church NOTES: Today s part of The Big God Story begins with David and his men hiding in the wilderness. To escape King Saul, David and his men disappeared inside the caves of En Gedi. (Flip to the image of caves or show the caves slide.) When King Saul heard that David and his men were hiding there, they went to look for them. Amazingly, Saul entered the exact cave in which David was hiding! David was very surprised to see Saul in the cave. (Flip to the image of the surprised face or show the surprised face slide and ask the kids to make surprised faces.) David s men pressured him to kill Saul and take his rightful place on the throne (1 Samuel 24:1 4). Even though David had the perfect opportunity to kill Saul, he chose not to. David knew he didn t have to kill Saul to become the king because God would make him king at the right time. So David spared Saul s life. During their time in the wilderness, David and his men protected some shepherds who were watching the sheep belonging to a wealthy businessman named Nabal. Nabal, a hard-hearted and evil man, was married to a beautiful and wise woman named Abigail (1 Samuel 25:3). (Flip to the image of Abigail or show the Abigail slide.) David and his men did Nabal a great favor by looking after his sheep and protecting them from nearby enemies. They did this for an entire season until the harvest time, the time when the sheep would be sheared their wool cut off to make fabric for clothing (flip to the image of the sheep or show the sheep slide). Once the sheep had been sheared, people would celebrate by having a feast. At this time, David sent 10 of his men to Nabal to ask if they could have some food (vv. 7 8). As wealthy as Nabal was, it would have been easy for him to share the food with David and his men. Plus, it would have been a kind way for Nabal to thank David and his men for their service. But Nabal didn t have a generous heart. When David s men brought his request to Nabal, he insulted David! Who is this David son of Jesse? he asked (v. 10). Nabal refused to welcome David and his men to the feast. So David got angry. (Flip to the image of the angry face or show the angry face slide and ask the kids to show their angry faces.) He told his men to put on their swords and get ready to fight (v. 13). Nabal had offended David, and David wanted revenge. David s anger got the better of him, so he made a vow that he would go back and kill Nabal as well as every man and boy in his household (v. 22)! When Abigail, Nabal s wife, heard how her husband had responded to David s request, she knew they were all in danger. So Abigail gathered together a lot of food bread, wine, meat, grain, raisins, and cakes of figs and loaded them onto donkeys (flip to the image of the food on donkeys or show the food on donkeys slide). She sent her servants to deliver the food and followed them to go meet David and his men (vv ). 11

12 The Big God Story Partner Church Comments I continue to love how Tru weaves in parts of The Big God Story that kids have not traditionally heard in Sunday school in years past. The Beacon NOTES: Abigail wasted no time in making right her husband s wrongs. During this time in history, it was very rare for a woman to do something that went against her husband s decision. But Abigail was a woman who followed after God. Because of this, God gave her courage to meet David and help stop him from making an unwise decision. When Abigail saw David, she immediately got off the donkey and fell on her face before David as a sign of respect (flip to the image of a woman bowing or show the woman bowing slide and ask the kids to bow in a similar way). Then Abigail begged David to forgive her husband (1 Samuel 25:28). She told David that God had big plans for him as king and that God would be the One to defeat David s enemies. David needed to trust in what he knew about God and not act out of anger. Many men during this time would not have listened to a woman, but David could see that God had given Abigail wisdom. So David told Abigail, Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you May you be blessed for keeping me from bloodshed (vv ). God used Abigail s courage to help change David s angry heart! As the future king, killing innocent men would have stained his record forever. But God was able to change David s anger because God had a bigger plan for David s life. Eventually, as God had promised, David became the king of Israel (flip to the image of David or show the David slide). David was the best king Israel had ever had, and he was later described as a man after God s own heart (Acts 13:22). Though David made mistakes, he still knew the truth of who God is and desired to follow Him. God continued to change David s heart to be more like His. Just like God used Abigail to change David s heart, God still changes hearts today. He is a good and loving God with good plans for our lives. He wants us to know Him, have a relationship with Him, and have hearts that follow after Him. (Share a story of how God changed your heart.) 12

13 LARGE Group SECTION Respond// min. Host/Worship Leader This is a time for kids to worship through silence, prayer, singing, giving, sharing, thanksgiving, and many other ways. Make plans for your worship time but prepare yourself and your team to hold them loosely if the Holy Spirit leads the group in a different direction. Partner Church Comments We had the kids do large group RESPOND in their small group rooms. The kids signed their names on hearts to declare that they wanted God to change their hearts to be more like His. I hung up the hearts in our large group room. So cool to see all of the hearts around the room. Wooddale Church God Changes Hearts to Be Like His SUPPLIES butcher paper or poster board tape colored paints (red, blue, and yellow) paintbrushes bowls tarp or plastic tablecloth heart cutouts (see tru.davidccook.com) pens or pencils optional: easel SET UP Tape a section of butcher paper or sheet of poster board to the wall (or set it up on the optional easel). Spread the tarp or plastic tablecloth on a table. Print and cut apart the heart cutouts (at least one heart per child). Pour the paint in the bowls and place them on the table along with the paintbrushes and other supplies. ENGAGE God began a work in David s heart when he was young. In fact, David was often described as a man after God s own heart (Acts 13:22). But, just like us, David still struggled with anger and pride, and he needed God to work on his heart to make David s heart more like His. God used Abigail to change David s heart, preventing him from making a huge mistake. God still works on our hearts today, changing them so we become more like Him. Today we re going to experiment with some paint. We have different colors of paint on the table, but, as you may know, when you mix different colors together, you create new colors. (On the butcher paper or poster board, demonstrate how different combinations of colors can create new colors.) Just as colors can combine to make new colors, God can change our hearts to look more like His heart. First let s thank God for the work He s done in our lives and how He s changed us. If you re struggling right now, ask God to change your heart to be more like His. Then, when you re ready, take a paper heart and write or paint on it either what God has done to change your heart or what He is speaking to you now about changing your heart. (Invite the kids to take a heart and write or paint on it in any way God might be leading them.) 13

14 SMALL Group SECTION Respond// min. Small Group Leaders A time to engage in relationship, reflect on the lesson with spiritual conversation, and/or create a meaningful project or piece of art. Small Group Questions Twist Supplies scissors small bag or box Cut the questions into strips and put them into a small bag or box. Pass the bag around the room and have kids take turns pulling out a question and answering it. Resource Tip Classic Games activities are available for this lesson. Premium, Unlimited, and Combo users may access this resource at tru.davidccook.com. Reflect: God Changes Hearts In this part of The Big God Story, God used Abigail to change David s heart. In anger, David wanted revenge for Nabal s foolishness. But God didn t want David to have a bad reputation because he would one day be a king after His own heart. So God changed David s heart before he could make a huge mistake. (Leaders, encourage the kids to open their Bibles, and read the suggested passages.) Questions for Younger Kids Where is your favorite hiding place? What did David do when he saw Saul enter the cave? (1 Samuel 24:3 4) Why didn t David hurt King Saul in the cave? (1 Samuel 24:5 6) How did David feel when Nabal refused to have David s men come for the feast? (1 Samuel 25:13) How did God use Abigail in David s life? (1 Samuel 25:26 33) How has God changed your heart? Is there an area of your heart that you think God still wants to change so it will be more like His? Questions for Older Kids Where is your favorite hiding place? Why did David hide from Saul? What did David do when he saw Saul enter the cave? (1 Samuel 24:3 4) What would you have done? Why didn t David hurt King Saul in the cave? (1 Samuel 24:5 6) How did David feel when Nabal refused to have David s men come for the feast? (1 Samuel 25:13) What did Abigail do when she heard how her husband had treated David and his men? (1 Samuel 25:14 25) What would you have done if you d been in her position? How did God use Abigail in David s life? (1 Samuel 25:26 33) Has a friend or relative ever stopped you from making a bad decision? What happened? How has God changed your heart? Is there an area of your heart that you think God still wants to change so it will be more like His? 14

15 Partner Church Comments Everyone, even the boys, got into making the play dough heart and sticking the tissue paper into it. The activity engendered authentic conversation and discussion as well. Mt. Paran North Church of God NOTES: Create: God Can Change Our Hearts SUPPLIES OPTION 1: God Molds Our Hearts (for Younger Kids) Bibles play dough colored tissue paper squares large piece of cardboard OPTION 2: The God Who Changes Hearts (for Older Kids) Bibles poster board or whiteboard markers or dry-erase markers camera SET UP Set out the supplies. Note: The camera should only be used by leaders. ENGAGE While David waited to become king, he faced many challenges. While he confidently faced some of those challenges, other times he found it more difficult. God put people like Abigail in David s life to help change his heart before he could make bad choices. God used Abigail to change David s heart so he didn t sin. God still changes hearts today. Let s spend some time in Scripture talking a little bit more about how God changes hearts. Have the kids look up the following verses and read them out loud (consider choosing only a couple verses for younger kids and reading them aloud). Afterward, ask the questions and discuss the passages, making sure to ask the kids questions appropriate for their ages. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God. (Ezekiel 36:25 28) How do you feel knowing that God gives us a new heart? (Younger and Older Kids) What kinds of things has God cleansed from your life? (Older Kids) How do you feel knowing that God gives you His Spirit? (Younger and Older Kids) You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. (John 15:16) 15

16 NOTES: How do you feel knowing that God has chosen you? (Younger and Older Kids) I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5) What can we do without God? (Younger and Older Kids) How can we remain in God? (Older Kids) And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18) How does it make you feel knowing that God wants to make us more like Him? (Younger and Older Kids) How do you think God wants to make you more like Him? (Older Kids) For we are God s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10) What do you think it means to be God s workmanship? (Younger and Older Kids) What kinds of good works come from having a heart changed by God? (Older Kids) Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 What kind of heart does God want to create in us? (Younger and Older Kids) What does it mean to have a pure heart? (Older Kids) What areas of your heart do you think God needs to make pure or clean? (Older Kids) OPTION 1: God Molds Our Hearts (for Younger Kids) Ask your kids to think about the things God needs to change in them. Then, collectively, have the kids create a large heart on the cardboard using the play dough. Then have the kids wrap the tissue paper squares, one at a time, around their little fingers and push them into the play dough. Display the heart as a reminder of the things in our hearts God needs to change. OPTION 2: The God Who Changes Hearts (for Older Kids) Ask your kids to think of words that describe a God who changes hearts words such as holy or good. As the kids give their responses, write them on the poster board or whiteboard. Then have the kids brainstorm ways to make the words come to life by using their bodies (lying down or standing) to spell out the words! Have a leader take pictures of these words. Afterward, be creative about how you want to display the pictures as a reminder of who God is and how He changes hearts. 16

17 SMALL Group SECTION Bless// 5 min. Small Group Leaders 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 the child s life to bless others or prayed over a child for the purpose of declaring God s protection, joy, or wisdom. As you bless your kids, tell them they have the opportunity to also be a blessing to others. Encourage them to freely share the joy and love they have received from God. Encourage the kids to hold their hands in front of them, palms up. Then open a Bible and read Ephesians 1:18 19: I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. May God, who holds the power to change hearts, open the eyes of your heart. May you know His hope and His plans for your life. May you experience the power that comes from believing in Him. HomeFront Weekly: Be sure to send home the HomeFront Weekly for next week s lesson! This preteaching tool for parents encourages families to spend time in God s Word together before children arrive at church. HomeFront: A Spiritual Parenting Resource Every four weeks we highlight one of the 10 environments. For each new environment, parents should receive HomeFront: A Spiritual Parenting Resource. This resource gives families ideas for how to create fun, spiritually forming times in their home setting aside a sacred space for family in the midst of their active, everyday lives! 17