Bible Verse Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. (Proverbs 8:33) FaithPoint God provides people who help us know how to live.

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1 Deborah Bible Verse Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. (Proverbs 8:33) Bible Story Judges 4:1 5:3 FaithPoint God provides people who help us know how to live. What You Need to Know Session 1 September 5 The story of Deborah is in Judges 4 in prose form and then retold in Judges 5 in poetic form. It occurs during the period of the judges, approximately 1,200 years before Christ. The Israelite tribes were often in conflict with the inhabitants of Canaan during this period. They had no real organized government, but were a loose federation of tribes ruled by judges. Deborah, whose name means bee, was a prophetess and judge over the tribe of Benjamin. As a prophetess, she stood in good company. Miriam, the sister of Moses, is described as a prophetess, as is Huldah, the woman who authenticated the Scripture, which began the great reform movement under King Josiah. (See 2 Kings 22:14.) Deborah was a charismatic leader who inspired the Israelites to rally against General Sisera in battle. Even though only half the Israelites showed up, the victory was still theirs, thanks to a torrential rainstorm. The rainstorm was seen as a sign from God, further reassuring them that God had indeed chosen them and that God was their champion. Deborah was an unlikely military hero, but her courage helped free the Israelites from the oppression of the Canaanites. The Bible does not often portray women in roles of power, much less women as military leaders. Deborah must have been an outstanding woman to be included in this category. God helped her rise to the challenge. Children may be like Deborah, uncertain at first of doing things beyond their capabilities. But it is good for them, like Deborah, to know that people are behind them, supporting them and caring about them and wanting them to succeed. Just as the Israelites were reassured that God was their champion, the children today need to understand that when they work for the right and good for all of God s people, God will be there with them. God was with the people of long ago. God is with us today. Activities marked with contain options to use recycled or repurposed materials. Fall 2010 Session 1 IAmRockSolid.com Activities marked with require extra preparation. 5

2 Arrival There are more activities than your session time allows. Select activities based on time, group size, and available supplies. Welcome SUPPLIES: Resource Pak pp. 9 & 24, markers or stickers, offering basket Welcome the children and have them mark their attendance. If any have brought an offering, have them place it in the basket. Invite the children to select a Time to Begin activity. PREPARE THE MINI Separate all pages of The Mini, placing the pages for each session in separate folders or large envelopes. Time to Begin Choose one or more of these activities and prepare as needed. Bible Puzzles SUPPLIES: NRSV Bibles, Bible Brain Pak pp. 3-4, pencils Complete the puzzles to discover today s Bible verse and faith message. Bible Skills SUPPLIES: NRSV Bibles, Leader s Guide pp , scissors Photocopy and cut apart the Old Testament Books cards. Mix them up and place face-up on a table. Work together to put the books of the Bible in order, using the Bible s Table of Contents as a guide. Create a Tree SUPPLIES: brown butcher paper, green construction paper, scissors, markers, clear tape, masking tape Have the children create a tree by cutting a trunk and branches out of brown paper and leaves out of green construction paper. Write wise sayings on the leaves (look both ways before crossing the street, brush your teeth, say your prayers, etc.) and place them on the tree. Help your children feel more comfortable using their Bibles by offering a Bible Skills activity each week. Some sessions will recommend specific activities, while other sessions will allow you to choose an activity. See pages for possibilities. 6 September 5 ROCK SOLID: Older Elementary, Leader s Guide

3 Hall of Fame Wall SUPPLIES: camera, printer, construction paper, scissors, markers, masking tape or pushpins, glue, decorative items Throughout the quarter, you will be creating a Hall of Fame Wall that will include the people in the Bible stories, as well as the children in your group. Have the children make a Hall of Fame sign by either cutting out letters or writing the words on construction paper and then attaching them to a wall or bulletin board. Take a photo of each child. If you are able to print the photos immediately, have each child make a frame by gluing strips of construction paper around his or her photo, decorating as desired, and gluing onto a larger sheet of construction paper. Have the children write their name above the photo and a characteristic or word that describes them below it. If you cannot print the photos at this time, have the children make their frames next week. Let s Talk Have the children tell about something that happened this week. Acknowledge any who are celebrating a birthday this week. Pray for your group. Bible Time Get Ready SUPPLIES: Leader s Guide pp. 3, 83; Optional: CD and CD player Invite the children to bring their Bibles to the storytelling area. Have extras for those who need one. Play music (see p. 3) to bring the group together. SAY: Today begins a new year of learning and growing together as God s children. We ll begin with some of the judges, whose stories are in the Old Testament. PRAY: Dear God, as we learn the stories of our faith, help us grow in wisdom and in understanding. Amen. This prayer is repeated each week before the Bible Story. Make a photocopy of the prayer on page 83, cut on the lines, and display it so the children may pray it together. Fall 2010 Session 1 IAmRockSolid.com 7

4 The Bible Story SUPPLIES: NRSV Bibles, The Mini pp. 1-2, Resource Pak p. 3, scissors, marker, masking tape or pushpins Cut out the Hall of Fame card of Deborah. SAY: The judges of the Old Testament in some ways are similar to the judges of today. However, God specifically chose people to serve as judges because they were considered wise, fair, and trustworthy. The first judge we will talk about is a woman named Deborah. Have the children locate Judges 4:1 5:3 in their Bibles. Have the children turn to Deborah Leads the Way, and ask volunteers to read the parts of Mrs. (or Mr.) Mack, Emma, Clara, William, Terry, Natalie, Anna, and Brian. ASK: What did Deborah tell Barak God had told her to do? (Have Barak lead ten thousand warriors to Mount Tabor to battle the Canaanite army.) Why was Barak afraid? (He didn t think he was prepared.) What did Barak say he wanted Deborah to do? (Go with him.) Who did Barak think the woman would be who would capture Sisera? (Deborah) Who was the woman who captured him? (Jael) SAY: Jael s help was unexpected because she was not an Israelite, but God used her as well as Deborah and Barak to bring peace back to the land. Thank God for wise judges and those willing to listen to their wisdom. During the quarter, the Bible story will be told through conversations of a Sunday school leader and the children in the group. Show the children the Deborah Hall of Fame card, and talk about a characteristic of Deborah that made her so special. Write it on the card. To begin your Hall of Fame Wall, have a volunteer place Deborah on the far left side below the sign. Deborah, May I? SUPPLIES: Leader s Guide p. 84, scissors Photocopy and cut out the Deborah, May I? cards and lay them face-down on a table. Assign one child the role of Deborah, and have the others take turns drawing a card and asking permission to do what is on the card. You may need to monitor Deborah to make sure wise advice is being given. Intervene if necessary. 8 September 5 ROCK SOLID: Older Elementary, Leader s Guide

5 Deborah responds with either a yes or a no, depending on whether or not the request is wise. Let other children play the wise judge. Thanks for Your Wisdom SUPPLIES: NRSV Bibles, construction paper, markers, scissors, decorative items, glue Have the children make a thank-you card for someone whose wisdom has helped them learn and grow. Have them write today s Bible verse on the card and decorate as desired. Live God s Word Trusted Advisers SUPPLIES: The Mini p. 3, Leader s Guide p. 85, pencils Have the children turn to Trusted Advisers and circle the people they would trust to give them wise advice. SAY: God gave Deborah the gift of wisdom, and God gives people today that same gift. These are the people we know we can trust to be fair. Sometimes, we might find that there are some people we trust to help us with one thing, and others who give better advice about others things. Have each child complete Best Advice by putting an X under each person they would trust for advice in each of the categories. Trusted Helpers SUPPLIES: The Mini p. 4, pencils SAY: In some situations, all we need is someone who can help us decide what would be the best thing to do. In other situations, we need more than just advice. Have the children turn to Trusted Helpers and talk about how Deborah helped Barak do what he was called to do. Talk about the people the children trust to help them do what God calls them to do. Hall of Fame Today SUPPLIES: photos, masking tape or pushpins If the children were able to complete their photos for the Hall of Fame today, they may place them on the wall or bulletin board, starting a row below Deborah. If not, add the photos when completed. Fall 2010 Session 1 IAmRockSolid.com 9

6 Sending Forth Worship SUPPLIES: NRSV Bible; Leader s Guide p. 3; Optional: CD and CD player, candle, matches or lighter Play music (see p. 3) to call the children to worship. Have a volunteer light the candle, if this is permitted in your room. Have a volunteer locate and read Proverbs 8:33. SAY: Deborah is one of those special people whose actions show us what it means to trust God. She was given the gift of wisdom. God called Deborah to be there for the Israelites and, because they listened to her, their lives were changed. They no longer lived under the control of the Canaanites. Have the children think again about the people God has provided to help them know how to live. Encourage them to offer a silent prayer of thanksgiving for these trusted advisers and helpers. PRAY: Thank you, God, for Deborah, who judged wisely, and for Barak, who trusted enough to listen and do as he was instructed. Thank you for the people who help us know how to live. Amen. Go in Peace Blow out the candle. If the children made Thank-You Cards, encourage them to deliver them this week. Peek at Next Week 10 Bible Skills: Write the category titles on paper slips (see p. 12). Praying Hand Reminder: Photocopy the Five-Finger Prayer (Leader s Guide p. 86) for each child, and cut on the lines. The Bible Story: Cut out the Hall of Fame cards of Hannah and Eli (Resource Pak p. 3). Prayer Hopscotch: Tape off a hopscotch grid on the floor. Write prayer categories on index cards (family, friends, school, church, etc.) and tape one card in each square. September 5 ROCK SOLID: Older Elementary, Leader s Guide