God s Unfolding Story

Transcription

1 Bible Story: Joshua Explored the Promised Land (Numbers 13:1-33; 14:6-9) Bible Phrase: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). Bible Truth: I can trust God to help me do what is hard. Old Testament Unit 7: Joshua Lesson 1: Joshua Explored the Promised Land God s Unfolding Story 1. God created everything. 2. People disobeyed God. 3. God chose a special people. 4. God sent Jesus to help us. 5. Jesus began the Church. 6. Jesus is preparing heaven for us. Suggested Schedule: Arrival Centers 25 minutes Clean-up Time 5 minutes Bible Story Time 15 minutes Craft Time 10 minutes Snack Time 10 minutes Game Time/Dismissal Hour B Unfolding God s Story for Teachers Several years ago, my husband and I went on a mission trip to Haiti where our church supports an orphan village. Each plane we boarded was smaller than the last, and my faith seemed to follow a similar pattern! This was the first time I had flown internationally, and I was totally out of my comfort zone. By the time we landed, I was a total wreck! The language, armed soldiers, poverty, smell, devastation, and sense of darkness were overwhelming. I yearned to catch the next plane back home! I felt trapped, and every aspect of the week ahead seemed daunting. I didn t think I could survive seven days! I faced a crisis of belief. Please read Numbers 13:1-33; 14:6-9, where the Israelites faced a mighty test of faith. God had promised to give them Canaan, but it would not come on a silver platter. God wanted to show them His power, His presence, and His provision as they claimed the land. They would have to fight but would not be alone. God s command to scout out the land would give the spies the opportunity to literally touch, taste, smell, and see firsthand why it was called the promised land, a land flowing with milk and honey (Num. 13:27). In their journey they saw the beauty and the beasts. The fruits were amazing, but the men were like giants. They believed the land would devour them. Everyone in the group except for Caleb and Joshua lost his focus. God knew that they would see the giants and the large cities. But He wanted them to believe He was bigger than what their eyes could see. God wanted them to believe they served a God who could and would conquer. Yet sadly, that day the majority ruled, and the people did not go into the promised land. Many Israelites died, and the rest wandered in the wilderness for forty years. But Caleb and Joshua were rewarded for their faith. At the end of the forty years, Joshua led the tribes into the promised land. Caleb became a conquering warrior. Months before our Haiti trip, God had burdened me to go and teach our precious orphans about Him. With His words, go and teach on my heart, I made the necessary preparations. These involved a passport, shots, pills, packing, and praying! His words drove my preparation. Yet when I began to face the giants after the trip began, I lost focus of why I was there and of the One who had sent me. God led me to Haiti for more than the children; He wanted to show me He was big enough! Every moment I prayed, because I couldn t make it without Him. The experience with the children was beautiful, but the lessons of God s faithfulness, protection, and grace were equally wonderful. I left Haiti with a sense of calmness and peace, knowing my God was able. Joshua said, The LORD is with us. Don t be afraid of them! (Num. 14:9). Fears will come, our faith will be tested, but our God is bigger than the giants. They are as grasshoppers to Him. Lesson Plan Arrival Greet children at eye level and express how happy you are to see them. Be sure each child has a name tag and the security measures of your church are followed. Label all coats and personal belongings. Strongly encourage children who have brought items from home, such as toys and books, to place them on a shelf while they are working with other materials. Assure children their items will be safe and they can take them home at the end of the session. Help each child make a choice where he or she would like to begin his or her Center Time. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright SundaySchoolZone.com OT07 Lesson 1 Hour B Page 1

2 Puzzle Center: Work Puzzles Offer a variety of non-fantasy wooden or cardboard puzzles for children to work. What to Do: Invite preschoolers to work puzzles. Encourage children to finish puzzles before leaving the center. Give guidance rather than working the puzzle for the child. Link to the Bible Story: As children work, look for opportunities in conversation to say the Bible phrase or to briefly tell the Bible story. Home Living Center: Role Play Small rocking chair, sink and stove unit and small table and chairs; plastic dishes, child pots and pans; pretend food items; doll, doll bed, and doll accessories Optional: Bring some grapes from home. Also bring figs and pomegranates for the children to taste. What to Do: Be sure to post an allergy alert sign for parents if serving the fruit. Home living items naturally encourage children to act out roles and activities they observe at home. Encourage children to use the food items to prepare a pretend meal. Link to the Bible Story: Use both real and pretend foods to explain that in today s Bible story, Moses chose 12 men to spy out the land God would give them. Express that the men found the land to be full of grapes, figs, and pomegranates. The spies brought some back for the people to enjoy. Center Time Art Center: Favorite Fruit Mural Long white sheet of paper Crayons, washable markers or water color paints What to Do: Print the words, Favorite Fruits across the top of the paper. Use a marker to draw circles or boxes along the paper. Be sure they are large enough so that each child can draw or paint his or her favorite fruit. Print each child s name in his or her section of the mural. At the end of Center Time, display the mural for all the children to see. Tally up the numbers of each of the fruits and discover the class favorite. Link to the Bible Story: As preschoolers work, talk about today s Bible story. Express that Moses sent out 12 spies to look over the land God would give them. The spies found the land to be full of beautiful fruits, and they brought some back to the camp for the people to see and enjoy. Bible Learning Center: Counting Activity Copies of Activity Page: Counting, How Many? (Reproducible) Washable markers or crayons What to Do: Preschoolers should look at the pictures at the bottom of the page and try to find out how many of those objects are in the larger picture. Preschoolers can circle the correct numeral. Most preschoolers can count but they may need help recognizing the numerals. Link to the Bible Story: Express to children this is a picture from today s Bible story. Comment that Moses sent 12 men to spy out the land that God would give His people. Explain that the spies saw a good land, a land with all kinds of fruits but the cities had thick walls around them, and the people they saw seemed tall as giants. Block Center: Build with Blocks Wooden blocks What to Do: Provide a small carpet if possible. Blocks are best located in a corner of the room away from the traffic flow. Link to the Bible Story: As children play in the Block Center, listen for opportunities to share part of the Bible story, say the Bible Phrase, or refer to the Bible truth of today s lesson. Play a counting game with the blocks. Encourage children to try to stack 12 blocks without letting them fall. Comment that Moses chose 12 people to spy out the land that God wanted to give the Israelites. Invite children to build a wall with the blocks and talk about the thick walls built around the cities in the land that God wanted to give His people. Express that the tall, thick walls made the Israelites afraid to go into the land. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright SundaySchoolZone.com OT07 Lesson 1 Hour B Page 2

3 Clean-up Time Encourage preschoolers to help at clean-up time. Assign specific tasks for preschoolers to do such as placing all the crayons in the basket, throwing away the trash, gathering all the glue sticks, etc. Guide children to the Bible Story Time area. Bible Story Time Bible Teaching Picture Joshua Explored the Promised Land (Reproducible) God s Unfolding Story Cube (Reproducible/Cardstock) Introduction Show the God s Unfolding Story Cube. Express to the boys and girls that even though we find many stories in the Bible, the Bible really tells one big story, and all the little stories are a part of the big one we can call God s Unfolding Story. Tell children that each picture represents a part of God s Unfolding Story. Turn the cube and talk about each part of the story. (Refer to page 1.) Express that every story from the Bible is from one of these main parts in God s Unfolding Story. Today s story is from the third part; God chose a special people. Express the following in your own words. Have you ever been afraid to do something because it seemed too hard? Perhaps you would like to ride your bike without the training wheels but are afraid you will fall, or you want to sled down a snowy hill but are afraid the sled will tip over. Having help from a parent, friend, or family member makes us less afraid. Our Bible story is about a young man named Joshua. Joshua believed God would help him do something many others were afraid to do. Bible Story Joshua Explored the Promised Land (Numbers 13:1-33; 14:6-9) After the Israelites left Egypt, they traveled to the land where God had promised they would live. Other people already lived in the land, people who did not like the Israelites. What would they do? They would have to go to battle to claim the land. Moses told the people not to be afraid, because God would be with them. God told Moses to choose 12 strong men to spy out the land. This meant the men would go quietly into the land, watch the people, and see what the land was like. They would come back and tell what they had learned. A young man named Joshua was one of the 12 spies. Moses asked Joshua and the other men to find out everything they could about the people, the land, and its cities. Their job was going to be very important. Quietly the men entered the land. Wow! There was so much to see! Joshua and the other spies saw huge clumps of grapes, bright red pomegranates, and juicy figs. They gathered some of the fruit to take to the other Israelites. The land was indeed beautiful. It would be a wonderful place to live. But the spies also saw the cities and the people. The men seemed to be as tall as giants and very strong. They felt like grasshoppers next to the people. Also, the cities had thick high walls surrounding them. So Joshua and the other spies came back to the camp. The spies told Moses and the people what they had seen. They showed them the fruits from the land. Ten of them were afraid and did not want to go into the land that God had promised to give them. Joshua wasn t afraid, because he knew God would take care of them. He told the people, Don t be afraid, God will lead us through the land. The people decided not to go into the land, and God was not pleased with their choice. Joshua wasn t either. He trusted God, and later God used Joshua to help the Israelites take the land that He had promised to give them. Talk Time 1. Show the teaching picture for today s Bible story. Here are some questions you might use as you review. What were some of the good things Joshua and the other spies saw in the land? What made most of the spies afraid? Which spy thought they should go and take the land? Whom did Joshua remind the people would help them take the land? Did the Israelites choice please God? 2. Read the Bible phrase on the teaching picture. Say the phrase together, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). Express to children that Joshua might have been afraid when he saw the large cities and the men who looked like giants, but he knew God would give them courage to fight and claim their land. 3. Close the Bible Story Time by inviting the children to join you in prayer. Ask God to help each one trust Him and rely on Him for help to do what is right, even when it is hard. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright SundaySchoolZone.com OT07 Lesson 1 Hour B Page 3

4 Craft Time: Spy Glasses Copies of Spy Glasses (Reproducible, 1 copy for every 2 children, cardstock recommended) Small stickers such as happy faces, stars, colorful dots, fruits Chenille sticks (two per child) Crayons What to Do: Cut out the glasses and punch holes where indicated. Children can color their glasses and decorate them with stickers. Use chenille sticks to make earpieces for the glasses. Link to the Bible Story: Review the Bible Phrase with the children. Remind children that Joshua believed God would help the people to claim the land God wanted give them, even though they might be afraid. Talk about things we might not want to do because they seem too frightening or too hard, such as: going to school or to a new school for the first time; riding a bike without training wheels; moving to a new city; flying on an airplane; going to bed without a nightlight; getting shots at the doctor s office; etc. Express to children that they can pray and ask God for courage to do the right thing, even if it is hard. Snack Time Be sure to wash hands or use hand sanitizer. Say a thank-you prayer to God for the snack. When snack time has ended, encourage preschoolers to help with cleaning up. Game Time / Dismissal I Spy Teaching Picture, Joshua Explored the Promised Land (Reproducible) What to Do: First, play the game, I Spy using the teaching picture. Choose something in the picture to describe. Begin the game by saying, I spy something that is. Describe the object by its color, shape, or purpose. Have children guess what you are describing. Next, broaden the game to the classroom. Give children the opportunity to describe an object. Remind children that in today s Bible story, Moses sent out 12 spies to look over the land and the people. Comment that even though the men were giants and the walls of the cities were thick and high, Joshua knew God would help them take the land, even though they might be afraid. Dismiss children as parents arrive. Be sure to follow the security procedures of your church. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright SundaySchoolZone.com OT07 Lesson 1 Hour B Page 4

5 Resources and Supplies Old Testament Unit 7: Joshua Lesson 1: Joshua Explored the Promised Land Hour B Standard Art Supplies (Supplies that are generally in the room) Washable markers Crayons Child scissors Playdough and accessories Drawing paper Easel (optional) Glue/glue sticks Tempera paint, 4 colors Tape/masking tape Pencils/colored pencils Hole punch Teacher scissors Stapler/staples Permanent markers Watercolors Paintbrushes Yarn Standard Equipment (Equipment that is generally in the room) Bible Small beanbag for Bible Story Time Assorted wooden/cardboard puzzles Set of wooden blocks Small cars and trucks Doll bed Baby doll (soft plastic) Stove/sink unit Play dishes/pots and pans Small table and chairs Small carpet for block area Play food items Storage shelf for blocks Tables and chairs for art, puzzles, and Bible Learning Center CD player/children s Worship CDs Reproducibles (Included with the lesson plan downloads) Activity Page: Counting, How Many? (1 copy per child) Spy Glasses (1 copy for every 2 children, cardstock recommended) Teaching Picture: Joshua Explored the Promised Land (1 copy per class) God s Unfolding Story Cube (Cardstock 1 copy per class) Parent Page (1 copy per child) Coloring Page, Joshua Explored the Promised Land Additional Art Materials Long sheet of white paper Additional Home Living Materials Optional: Fruit tray of figs, grapes and pomegranates Additional Craft Materials Small stickers such as: happy faces, stars, colorful dots, fruits Chenille sticks 2 per child God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright SundaySchoolZone.com OT07 Lesson 1 Hour B

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7 Spy Glasses Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 Craft Spy Glasses Instructions: One copy for every 2 children. Cardstock recommended. Cut out spy glasses and punch holes where indicated. Color glasses and decorate with stickers. Use chenille sticks to make ear pieces. OT07 Lesson 1 Hour B Craft Time God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright SundaySchoolZone.com

8 God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright SundaySchoolZone.com God s Unfolding Story Cube Instructions: Cut out on dotted lines, fold on solid lines. Glue or tape to form a cube.

9 Coloring Page Joshua Explored the Promised Land Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 OT07 Lesson 1 Optional God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright SundaySchoolZone.com