Faithfulness Bible Story Joshua s Final Choice Joshua 23:1 24:33 Teacher & Parent Connection God s Word You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. Joshua 23:14 For Younger Children: God s promises never fail. God promises to faithfully love and be with us for our whole lives. Most of us have seen the bumper sticker that chortles We re spending our children s inheritance! While that might bring a smile, it also declares a new attitude. It was once considered honorable to leave something behind to help and enrich a child. But nowadays, the feeling of some seems to be I ll spend what I have! While the idea of leaving a material legacy may be a dying one, Joshua knew the power and importance of a spiritual legacy. Moses had given him a substantial inheritance: Not only was Joshua given an entire nation, but he was also given the example of Moses trust in God. Now, at the end of Joshua s life, Joshua had his own rich spiritual legacy to pass on. He reminded Israel of how God had cared for them and carefully explained how to maintain a relationship with Him. He recounted the story of what God had done for Israel and challenged them to follow God only, no matter what the Canaanites around them did. As teachers, we leave a spiritual legacy to each child we teach. That legacy grows or diminishes with every interaction. Will we leave our children spiritually well-off or spiritually impoverished? Like Moses and Joshua, our most powerful way to leave a legacy is not only with our words but also with our lives. Seek God s help to make your responses, your attitudes, your solutions to problems Christlike ones that will leave behind a solid spiritual legacy for each child you know. 2012 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Summit Seekers 213
Planning Page Choose which centers you will provide and the order in which children will participate in them (see pp. 14-18 for schedule tips and pp. 24-25 for guidelines in combining older and younger children). Also plan who will lead each center (for staffing tips see pp. 19-21). Use the reproducible planning sheet (p. 240) to record your plans. Bible Story Center Bible Story Joshua s Final Choice Joshua 23:1 24:33 Backpack Discovery (Younger Child) Hold up photo and stuffed animal as suggested and lead children to go for a walk outside Backpack Discovery (Older Child) Lead children to go for a walk outside Art Center Younger Child Option Dip nature objects into paint and then paint designs on paper Materials Bible, tempera paint, shallow baking pans, large sheets of paper, marker, nature objects to use as painting tools, paper towels or sponges Older Child Option Draw pictures or write words on T-shirt outline as a reminder of God s love and power Materials Bibles, large sheets of white construction paper, pencils, scissors, markers Game Center Younger Child Option Play a game like Pin the Tail on the Donkey Materials Bible, Lesson 13 Pattern Page (p. 224 or Summit Seekers CD-ROM), masking tape, blindfold Older Child Option Run a relay using balloons Materials Bibles, balloons, masking tape Coloring/Puzzle Center Younger Child Option Review the verse while completing the coloring page Materials Lesson 13 Coloring Page (p. 225) for each child, crayons Older Child Option Review God s faithfulness and complete the puzzle page Materials Lesson 13 Puzzle Page (p. 226) for each child, pencils Worship Center For the Younger and Older Child Participate in large-group activities to review Bible verse and to worship God together Materials Bibles, Summit Seekers CD-ROM and CD player, song charts (pp. 251, 254), small object, large sheet of paper, marker 214 2012 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Summit Seekers
Bonus Theme Ideas Bonus Theme Ideas can be used at any time during this session: as an additional activity center, to extend the session for a longer time, or for added theme excitement. Name that Tune! Sometimes when people are hiking in national parks, they like to whistle or sing to pass the time. Let s see what songs you can whistle or hum! Start by whistling or humming the first phrase of a simple song children will recognize. Have them call out the name of the song. Then allow volunteers to come up and whistle or hum songs, which the group will try to identify. Luscious Ladybugs To make a ladybug, children push the end half of a red grape onto a toothpick and the other half of the toothpick into the top of a hulled strawberry. Add spots by gently pressing mini chocolate chips, pointy tips down, into the strawberry. Post a note alerting parents to the use of food. Also, check registration forms for possible food allergies. Summit Seekers Awards Use a certificate (see pp. 229-232) to create a Summit Seekers Award for each child who attended Summit Seekers. Also create thank-you awards for leaders and helpers. Present the awards to children and leaders as part of a large-group gathering, or as children are dismissed. Show video or display pictures of children participating in the activities of Summit Seekers. 2012 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Summit Seekers 215
Bible Story Center for younger children Joshua 23:1 24:33 Introduction Hold up picture of Old Faithful. Look at this picture. Who has seen a geyser? Children respond. A geyser is a hot spring that shoots water into the air. This geyser is at Yellowstone National Park. It s called Old Faithful because it shoots water into the air so regularly. Faithful describes someone or something that always does what it is expected to do. Today we re going to talk about God, the most faithful Person EVER! Tell the Story Backpack Discovery In a backpack, place Bible, the Daily Promise paper (printed from Summit Seekers CD-ROM), a photo of Old Faithful (in Pattern Pages folder on CD-ROM) and a stuffed animal. Use photo and stuffed animal as suggested below. At the point in the story where God s people gather to listen to Joshua at Shechem, lead children to an outdoor location at your church facility. If possible, children sit on a grassy area as you tell the rest of the story. (Optional: Ahead of time, place a rock near a tree. During story time, lead children to sit near the tree. Refer to rock when you talk about Joshua setting up a rock as a reminder to the Israelites.). (Open Bible. Include children in actions when appropriate.) Joshua led God s people for many years. There were many battles with other armies, but God helped them win them all! (Clap and cheer.) Joshua helped God s people love and serve God every day. But every year, Joshua got older and older. When Joshua was 110 years old, he knew it was almost time for him to stop being the leader of God s people. But first Joshua wanted to make sure God s people knew how important it is to love and serve God. Joshua knew that some of the people had started to worship false gods, or idols. The people who used to live in the Promised Land worshiped idols. (Hold up the stuffed animal.) Worshiping an idol is like worshiping and praying to this stuffed animal. Isn t that silly? Toys can t hear a prayer. Toys can t do anything. Joshua called a meeting of all the moms, dads, aunts and uncles, boys and girls ALL God s people! They came to Joshua s meeting. (Walk in place.) Joshua reminded the people of how God had taken care of them. Then he said, You can t serve both the one true God and the false gods. Choose whom you will serve. Me and my family will serve God. Then Joshua asked the people an important question. Will you worship God? Yes! Yes! the people shouted. (Nod head.) Josha said, Throw away the false gods and promise to love and obey the one true God of Israel. The people said they d get rid of any false gods. Joshua had a huge stone rolled under an oak tree next to where God s people went to pray. The stone was put there to remind the people they had chosen to serve the one true God. Joshua also recorded in a book what the people said. Now it was in writing: an agreement between the people and God. The Bible says, God s promises never fail. Remove Daily Promise paper from backpack and hold up. We don t have to be scared or worried, because we can trust God to help us. God always keeps His promises. Pray, Dear God, thank You for promising to faithfully love and be with us for our whole lives. In Jesus name, amen. 216 2012 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Summit Seekers
Bible Story Center for older children Joshua 23:1 24:33 Introduction What s the biggest project you ve ever worked on? How do you feel when you finish a big project? Children respond. Today in our Bible story, we are going to learn about how Joshua finished his job as leader of the Israelites. Tell the Story Backpack Discovery In a backpack, place Bible, Map Poster from Summit Seekers CD-ROM, the Daily Promise paper (printed from CD-ROM), a large sheet of paper and a marker. Use marker to write numbers on the large sheet of paper as indicated in the story. At the point in the story where the people of Israel gather to listen to Joshua at Shechem, lead children to an outdoor location at your church facility. If possible, children sit on a grassy area as you tell the rest of the story. (Optional: Ahead of time, place a rock near a tree. During story time, lead children to sit near the tree. Refer to the rock when you talk about Joshua setting up a rock as a reminder to the Israelites.) A Job Well Done Joshua led the Israelites in their new land for many years. The Israelites had one victory after another as Joshua and the people loved and served the one true God and followed His commands. God helped them defeat 31 different kings! (Write 31 on paper.) Joshua divided the land among all 12 tribes so that each group of families had its own portion. (Write 12 on paper.) More Work Necessary By the time Joshua finished all this work, he was 110 years old. (Write 110 on paper.) Joshua knew he was growing old. His long life as leader of the Israelites was coming to an end. But there was still a lot of work to do. There were still groups of Canaanites living in the land. Even though God had told Joshua to take over the land, Joshua couldn t get rid of ALL these people because of a promise he had made. What do you remember about the promise Joshua made to the Gibeonites? Joshua had forgotten to ask God for wisdom and help when the Gibeonites wanted a treaty, and he had been tricked into making a poor decision! Now some of the Israelites were already being tempted to worship the false gods of the Canaanites! Joshua knew that the Israelites were going to have to make a choice about whom they would worship and serve. An Important Choice Made First, Joshua called the leaders of the people together. Read Joshua 23:3 to find out what Joshua reminded the leaders of. Joshua said, You all have seen everything God did for your sake; it was God who fought for you. Not one part of all of God s promises had failed. Then Joshua warned them to love and obey God. For it is the Lord your God who fights for you, he said, as He promised you. Joshua also warned them of the trouble that would come if they did not obey God. Then Joshua assembled all the Israelites together. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God. From every direction, the people came pouring into the area around Shechem (SHEH-kuhm). (Write 1000s on paper.) This was the place where Joshua 2012 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Summit Seekers 217
had set up God s Tabernacle. It was the place to gather to worship God. (Show location of Shechem on Map Poster.) So many people came to Shechem to listen to Joshua that they had to gather on the grassy slopes of Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, the mountains on either side of Shechem. The people came to hear Joshua speak to them for the last time. He reminded them of the wonderful ways God had taken care of them. You are here this day, he said, safe in the land, living in homes you didn t build and eating food you didn t plant. God has done all of this for you. You have to make up your minds, he said. You can t serve both the one true God and the false gods the people in this land worship. Read Joshua 24:15 to find out what Joshua said next. Joshua said, Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my household, we will serve God. Then Joshua asked the people an important question. He asked, Will you worship God? Yes! Yes! the people shouted. Or will you worship idols? No! Never! they shouted. Then Joshua challenged them by saying, You can t serve the Lord! You will worship other gods. But the people said to Joshua, No! We will serve the Lord. You have heard yourselves say it! Joshua said. You have chosen to obey the Lord! Yes! Yes! they all said. What did Joshua tell the people to do to show their desire to serve God? Read Joshua 24:23 to find out. Now then, said Joshua, throw away the false gods you have and give your hearts to the one true God, the God of Israel. (Write 1 on paper.) The people said they d get rid of any false gods they had, but Joshua knew that just saying the words was not enough. He had a huge stone rolled under the oak tree that was beside the Tabernacle. The stone was put there to remind the people of the choice they had made. Joshua also recorded in a book what the people said. Now it was in writing: an agreement between the people and God. The Israelites had made a promise to serve only God. God had made many promises to His people and ALWAYS did what He said He would do. God proved over and over again that He is faithful. Listen to today s verse. Read or ask a child to read Joshua 23:14 aloud. Display Daily Promise paper. God not only was faithful to Joshua and the Israelites, but He promises to be faithful to us, too. What are some reasons Joshua gave the people for choosing to serve and obey God? (God gave them food and water. God helped them defeat enemies. God is faithful to His people.) What does it mean to be faithful? (To always do what you say you are going to do.) How does God show He is faithful? (God keeps His promises. God always does what He says He will do.) What are some of the promises God has made? (To hear our prayers. To give us courage to do right. To help us know what to do when we need help. To forgive our sins when we ask.) Let s pray and thank God that He is faithful to all the members of His family. Pray with children, thanking God that He promises to faithfully love and be with us for our whole lives. Talk with interested children about becoming members of God s family (see Leading a Child to Christ on p. 12). 218 2012 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Summit Seekers
Game Center for younger children Joshua 23:1 24:33 Collect Bible, Lesson 13 Pattern Page (p. 224 or Summit Seekers CD-ROM), pine-tree pattern (p. 238), masking tape, blindfold (bandanna, T-shirt, scarf, etc.). Prepare Copy and cutout cards from Lesson 13 Pattern Page, making one for each child. Cut out cards and place a loop of masking tape on the back of each card. Enlarge pine-tree pattern (p. 238) and tape to wall at children s height. Prepare more than one pair of patterns if you plan to divide a large group into smaller groups. (Optional: Use markers or crayons to color pine tree and pinecone cards.) Do 1. Children play a game like Pin the Tail on the Donkey. 2. Children line up approximately five feet (1.5 m) from pine-tree picture. Blindfold the first child in line and hand blindfolded child a pinecone card. 3. Child says, God s promises never fail! and then walks to the pine-tree picture and tries to stick the pinecone on it. Child takes off blindfold to see where the pinecone landed, and then everyone says the words of the Bible verse aloud. 4. Remove pinecone card. Blindfold the next child in line so that they can have a turn. Continue until each child has taken a turn. Talk About God s Word You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. Joshua 23:14 For Younger Children: God s promises never fail. God promises to faithfully love and be with us for our whole lives. It s fun playing games like this one! God is with us now as we play our games. In fact, God will be with us for our whole lives! When is a time someone made a promise to you? Children respond. God has made many promises. And God keeps every promise He makes. The Bible says, God s promises never fail. For our whole lives, we know that God loves us and keeps His promises. Pray briefly, Dear God, thank You for promising to faithfully love and be with us for our whole lives. In Jesus name, amen. For Older Children Draw a line to divide pine tree in half horizontally. Assign different point values to the page: 1000 points for the top of the tree, 500 points for the bottom half of the tree and 250 points for the rest of the page. Divide children into teams. Children earn points for their team based on where they stick the pinecone. 2012 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Summit Seekers 219
Game Center for older children Joshua 23:1 24:33 Collect Bible, balloons, masking tape. Prepare Blow up one balloon for every two children. Blow up extra balloons in case any balloons pop during play. Place two masking-tape lines 10 feet (3 m) apart on opposite sides of the playing area. Do 1. Lead children in a relay using balloons. Divide class into teams of no more than six children. Children on each team pair up. Teams line up behind one of the masking-tape lines. 2. Give the first pair in each line a balloon. At your signal, children tap the balloons back and forth with their partners as they move across the playing area to the other masking-tape line. Children return to the starting line in the same manner and tag the next pair in line. 3. Play continues until all pairs have finished. The first team finished answers one of the discussion questions from the Talk About section. Talk About Read Joshua 23:14 aloud. What do you learn about God and His promises from Joshua 23:14? (God always keeps his promises. God doesn t fail.) God s Word You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. Joshua 23:14 For Younger Children: God s promises never fail. God promises to faithfully love and be with us for our whole lives. How can we find out about God s promises? (Read the Bible. Talk to others who love God and follow Him.) Name one of the promises from God we ve been talking about in our class. (Wisdom. Strength. Courage. Guidance. Salvation. Refuge. Loving Care. Power. Eternal Life. Love Forever. Answered Prayer. Confidence. Faithfulness.) Which of God s promises do you want to thank God for today? Allow a few minutes for silent prayer. Then close in prayer, thanking God for promising to faith-fully love and be with us for our whole lives. For Younger Children Instead of running a relay, each child taps a balloon to keep it up in the air while walking to the maskingtape line and back. 220 2012 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Summit Seekers
Art Center for younger children Joshua 23:1 24:33 Collect Bible, tempera paint, shallow baking pans, large sheets of paper, marker, nature objects to use as painting tools (feather, twigs, flower petals, bark, stones, leaves, etc.), paper towels or sponges. Prepare Pour a 1 2 inch (1.3 cm) layer of paint into several baking pans. (Optional: Set up painting area outdoors. Lead children on a nature walk to collect nature objects before painting.) At the top of each sheet of paper, print the version of the verse intended for younger children. Do 1. Children dip nature objects into paint and then paint designs on paper. 2. Invite children to experiment with all the nature objects but help them to choose and use one object to paint with at a time. Talk About God s Word You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. Joshua 23:14 For Younger Children: God s promises never fail. God promises to faithfully love and be with us for our whole lives. The Bible says, God s promises never fail. We can trust God s promises. Jake, what is one of God s promises? Maddy, who loves you? Your mommy loves you and God loves you, too. God promises to love you! Because God never fails to keep His promises, that means God will love you for your whole life. Pray briefly, Dear God, thank You for promising to faithfully love and be with us for our whole lives. In Jesus name, amen. For Older Children Children use markers to write God is faithful on their individual papers or on one large sheet of butcher paper before using nature items to paint designs. 2012 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Summit Seekers 221
Art Center for older children Joshua 23:1 24:33 Collect Bibles, large sheets of white construction paper, pencils, scissors, markers. Prepare Draw the outline of a T-shirt on construction paper, making one for each child (see sketch). Do 1. Invite children to tell words or pictures which remind them of God and His faithfulness ( God is with you, cross, heart, God keeps His promises, etc.). 2. Each child cuts out a T-shirt outline and draws pictures or writes words on the outline as a reminder of God s faithfulness. (Optional: purchase [or ask children to bring] white fabric T-shirts. Children draw pictures and write words on the T-shirts with fabric markers.) Talk About What is something about God you want to always remember? Let s make T-shirts to remind us about God. Write whatever it is you want to remember about God on your T-shirt. What words would you use to describe God? You can write those words on your T-shirt, too. What pictures remind you of God s faithfulness? What other pictures do you want to draw on your T-shirt? Read Joshua 23:14 aloud. How can someone show they believe God will always keep His promises? (Become members of God s family. Tell God s Word You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. Joshua 23:14 For Younger Children: God s promises never fail. God promises to faithfully love and be with us for our whole lives. others they love God. Pray to God and thank Him for His promises.) Lead children in prayer, thanking God that He promises to faithfully love and be with us for our whole lives. For Younger Children Before class, cut out T-shirt outlines and print God s promises never fail! on each shirt. Provide stickers for children to use in decorating their paper T-shirts. If using optional idea to have children decorate T-shirts to wear, use permanent marker to write God s promises never fail! on T-shirts for them. Place fabric dyes in spray bottles, hang T-shirts from a clothesline in an outdoor area. Have children wear plastic gloves and let them spray one or more color of paint on their T-shirt. 222 2012 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Summit Seekers
Worship Center Joshua 23:1 24:33 Collect Bibles, Summit Seekers CD-ROM and CD player, song charts (pp. 251, 254), small object (pinecone, beanbag, marker, etc.), large sheet of paper, marker. Prepare Print Joshua 23:14 on a large sheet of paper and display for children to see. Team Game Play a game of Hot Potato. Children pass object around circle as you play I Worship You, Lord. After a few moments, stop the music. Child with object in their hand names a person who keeps their promises and then describes a situation in which that person kept a promise. Repeat several times, asking children to name people and describe situations that fit these categories: people who like you no matter what happens, people who listen when you need to talk, people who show up at the promised time, and people who tell the truth. We ve been describing the characteristics of faithful people people who keep their promises and are trustworthy. Today we ve been talking about how God is faithful to us. Younger Child Option: Instead of naming people and describing situations, have all children say the words of the verse when you stop the music. Bible Verse Game Invite volunteers to tell key words from Joshua 23:14 ( heart, soul, promises, God, etc.). Underline words on verse paper. Invite a volunteer to come forward. Whisper one of the words to volunteer. Volunteer uses whole body to make the first letter of the word while the group guesses the letter. Volunteer continues spelling the word until the group guesses the correct word. Repeat, using different words and volunteers. Song You, or another leader, lead children in singing I Worship You, Lord, adding motions and/or clapping if desired. Prayer Think of one of the many promises you know that God has given us. Invite volunteers to pray, completing the sentence, Thank You, God, for Your promise to... End the prayer time by thanking God for keeping all the promises He makes to us and that He promises to faithfully love and be with us for our whole lives. Song God s Word You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. Joshua 23:14 For Younger Children: God s promises never fail. God promises to faithfully love and be with us for our whole lives. You, or another leader, lead children in singing My God Will Meet All Your Needs, adding motions and/or clapping if desired. 2012 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Summit Seekers 223
Pattern Page 224 2012 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Summit Seekers
Coloring/Puzzle Center God s promises never fail. (See Joshua 23:14) God keeps His promises. What is your favorite promise from God? 2012 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Summit Seekers 225
Coloring/Puzzle Center Promises, Promises! Write the first letter of each item in the blank box below it. When you are done, you can read what Joshua learned about God. 1 3 6 8 7 4 2 5 Bonus! On the blanks, write the letters from the numbered boxes to find a message. When do you need to trust God to keep His promises? fa t fu! 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 226 2012 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Summit Seekers