What is the purpose of these activities?

Lesson Goal: The children will learn God has a plan for our lives. They will also learn that it is our job to be obedient and constantly seek His will. Main Point: God Provides A Plan For Our Future! Bible Story: Noah s Ark (Genesis 6). Bible Verse: Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (NLT) What is the purpose of these activities? Animal Games (General Opening Activity) This activity will introduce the Main Point through animal themed games. Rain, Animal, Boat (Specific Opening Activity) This activity will introduce kids to elements from the Bible Story. The General Opening Activity is an added feature in this Elevate series. You can use multiple opening activities or pick the ones your kids will most enjoy. Skit and Bible Story (Large Group Activity) The Skit and Bible Story teach children that God has a plan for our lives. They will also learn that it is our job to be obedient and constantly seek His will. Bible Story Safari (Small Group Activity) This activity will help the children review the Bible Story. Follow the Tracks (Small Group Activity) This activity will help the children find the Bible Verse and help them apply today s lesson. I Love It When A Plan Comes Together (Small Group Activity) This activity will show the kids that we have to follow God s plan one step at a time. Noah s Ark (Small Group Activity) This activity will show your kids that God has a detailed plan for our lives and we need to be obedient to His plan. Stick To The Plan (Small Group Activity) This activity will show the kids that God makes plans for their lives and they can seek His plan by praying, reading their Bible, and coming to church. Sunny Sam s Super Safari (Large Group Activity) This is a strategic time to review and reinforce the content of the lesson. 2007 Fellowship Church

LESSON 8: GOD PROVIDES A PLAN FOR OUR FUTURE! Teacher & Co-Teacher version - Perform DVD Performing the Bible Story and Skit live Purpose Statement: This Skit and Bible Story teach children that God has a plan for our lives. They will also learn that it is our job to be obedient and constantly seek His will. Materials/Props Needed: Costumes for Noah, Noah s Sons, Noah s Wife, 1 hammer, 1 printed or drawn small boat, printed or drawn panels of water. (artwork for small boat and water is available on the Environmental Graphics CD Rom) 1 # 1 2 # 1 3 Lead the children through the opening activity Animal Games and/or Rain, Animal, Boat. Begin Worship Time. Note: This script uses Soundtrack CD # 2. Teacher (CD Track # 1) It s our last week here at the zoo, my friends. We ve learned a lot about how God provides for us and a lot of that we ve learned through the animals of the Bible. Let s kick off our last week of the right way. Everybody up! Teacher and Co-Teacher lead the children in singing the song. (CD Track # 1) That was great! I m really going to miss that song. CO- So what are we talking about today? I m glad you asked, because today we are talking about one of the coolest things that God provides for us. CO- (getting excited) Really? Yep, today we re talking about our future and God s plan for us. And that is today s Main Point: God Provides A Plan For Our Future! Everybody stand up so we can shout this Main Point with the motions. Teacher leads the children by first demonstrating the Main Point with motions. Then have the children repeat the Main Point two or three times. 1 2 3 (CONT D) Now that was some loud shouting! (to Co-Teacher) God has a plan 2007 Fellowship Church

for our lives. Pretty cool huh? CO- Yeah! And if God has a plan for my life, then that means that everything is going to be easy and perfect from now on! That s great news! Thanks, Teacher! Wait, you re getting ahead of yourself again. Yes, God has a plan for our future. Yes, that s very good news. However, just because God has a plan doesn t mean everything will be easy or even seem perfect. We have to work and obey step by step to learn what God s plan is for us. There s no telling what God s plan is for your life and future but it could be something challenging. 4 # 43 5 # 44 6 7 CO- Challenging? I don t have the energy for that! If it s going to be a challenging life then what is the point of God having a plan? I thought plans were supposed to make things easier. God s plan may not make things easier for us but they definitely make things better for us. And I know an amazing Bible story that illustrates this point for us. It s the story of Noah. (pulls out Bible) It s in the book of Genesis in chapter 6. Listen to this. Note: Play Bible Story Intro Video chapter 4. (CD Track # 43) We all make plans for ourselves. We plan out what we ll do later today, tomorrow, next week and even next year. Sometimes things happen exactly like we plan, but sometimes things change. The bottom line is that no matter how much planning we do, we can t predict the future. However, even though we don t know what is going to happen, we do know that God has a plan for our future. One amazing story about God s plan for the future is (5) found in the book of Genesis chapter 6. It s the story about a man named Noah. (CD Track # 44) (6) At the time of Noah s story, the world wasn t doing so well. People were not being obedient to God. God observed humans and their wickedness and found, that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. Humans had stopped caring about God and the earth was full of violence. God was sorry that he had created human beings. His heart was broken and He decided to send a flood to wipe out every living thing on land. However, not everyone was evil. (7) There was one man who found favor in God s eyes, his name was Noah. The Bible says that Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. God told Noah, 4 5 6 7 8 8 God (8) I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have 2 2007 Fellowship Church

filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth! Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out. 9 # 45 10 11 12 13 14 God proceeded to give Noah plans for the entire boat including measurements and how each deck should be constructed. The boat was going to be huge! Its measurements were 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high! The reason the boat needed to be so big is that Noah wasn t going to be the only one on it. (9) God was bringing two of every animal to Noah so they could be saved as well. And Noah obeyed God. He started building the ark with his sons and it took him 120 years! The ark was finished and the animals had come. Noah, his family and all the animals went into the ark. There were big animals like lions, and there were little animals like chipmunks. There were bugs, birds, baboons and buffaloes! There were giraffes, goats, gazelles and geckos! There were cows, crows, fuzzy caterpillars and even flying squirrels! It was an entire zoo in a single boat! God s plan to save humans and animals was working. Everything was ready and then it started to rain (CD Track # 45) (10) It rained for forty days and forty nights. Streams became rivers. Lakes became seas. Oceans grew until every bit of land was covered with water! The only ones who survived were Noah, his family and the animals on the ark. The floodwaters covered the earth for 150 days and then the boat stopped and came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. Now Noah had to wait. The boat wasn t going anywhere, but they still couldn t leave. The water was only starting to dry up. (11) After forty days Noah released a dove from a window in the ark. He was hoping the dove would be able to find dry ground. But the dove found nowhere to land and came back to the boat. Seven days later Noah sent the dove out again. This time something wonderful happened. The dove came back with a fresh olive leaf in its beak. A leaf meant plants, and plants meant dry ground! Noah waited another seven days and released the dove again. This time it did not come back. (12) Eventually, enough of the water dried up that God told Noah to release all of the animals and to leave the ark. In a sense life was starting over with Noah and the animals. After they exited the Ark, God made a promise. He promised that He would never flood the world again. (13) And as a sign of His promise, God put a rainbow in the sky. You see, God wasn t finished with human beings. He had a plan for Noah s life and He has a plan for you and me as well. And like Noah, if we are obedient to God and continually seek His will, He will reveal that plan to us. Always remember that God loves you and has a plan for your life. (story end) 9 10 11 12 13 14 CO- Wow! That was a really strange and yet amazing plan that God had for Noah! Yes but the plan wasn t just for Noah. That was a plan that saved 3 2007 Fellowship Church

15 the entire human race from dying out! And even though God might not want us to build huge boats for tons of animals, He still has specific plans for each and every one of us. And our Bible verse for today reminds us about that. Check it out: 15 Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (NLT) CO- Wow, that s a cool verse. I think so too. CO- However, I m still having some issues with this. You say that even though God has a plan for us we still need to obey him and seek His will, right? Yes. CO- Don t get me wrong. I like the idea that God has plans for us and our future. But I don t like the idea that the plan is something that might involve a lot of hard work. Couldn t I just go with my own plan in life? I mean couldn t I just do what s easy? What s the worst that could happen? Hmmm... well, yes. You could just do what is easy. But there s no telling how things might turn out and I know that your future wouldn t be as good as the one God originally planned for you. As for your other question about the worst thing that could happen, I have an idea. CO- Wait a second. We re going to imagine a pretend version of the Bible story aren t we? 16 # 46 Yes we are. (to children) It s time to use our imagination again. We just heard the story of Noah and the Ark but now we re going to imagine the story a little differently. We re going to see what might have happened if Noah hadn t followed God s plan and had just done what was easy. It s time for! Note: Play Intro Video and Narrator Video 1 chapter 16. NARRATOR (In video) (CD Track # 46) This week on we are talking about Noah. In a world full of wicked people, Noah was the one 16 4 2007 Fellowship Church

# 47 17 18 19 20 21 righteous man. God gave Noah a huge task and Noah was obedient until the task was completed. But what if he hadn t been? Let s see what might have happened... (CD Track # 47) Noah enters. Note: Play God Voice 1 chapter 17. Noah. God (In video) Noah (looks around and realizes) Oh. Yes, Lord? Note: Play God Voice 2 chapter 18. GOD (In video) I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth! (overwhelmed) But but but I...but I...But I ve been trying to be obedient! I know that everyone else around here is a big jerk but what about me? Note: Play God Voice 3 chapter 19. GOD (In video) Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar inside and out. (confused) Large boat? Cypress wood? Tar? Your not making any sense. And what does this have to do with not wiping me out? Note: Play God Voice 4 chapter 20. GOD (In video) Then construct the decks and stalls throughout its interior. Make the boat 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. Wait...am I supposed to be writing this down? I don t have anything (scrambles for paper) Hold on. You re not making any sense. Why a boat? Why so huge? Why me?! Note: Play God Voice 5 chapter 21. 17 18 19 20 21 GOD (In video) So enter the boat - you and your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring a pair of every kind of animal - a male and female - 5 2007 Fellowship Church

22 # 48 23 # 49 into the boat with you to keep them alive during the flood. Note: Play Narrator Video 2 chapter 22. Narrator (In video) Building a giant boat. Two of every animal. This was a huge task. Noah (CD Track # 48) (talking to himself) This is crazy. I m just one man. I can t build a boat that big! There has to be an easier way. (thinks and gets idea) Wait a second, I ve got it! I can still make a boat, but not a big one. I can make a boat just for me! This is gonna be a lot easier. Noah exits. Note: Play Narrator Video 3 chapter 23. NARRATOR (In video) And so Noah decided to go an easier route instead of being obedient to God and His plan. Noah set about building his boat for one. Noah enters with a few boards, a hammer and some nails. Alright, time to build me a boat. (starts putting wood on the ground and pounding in nails randomly) (CD Track # 49) Son 1 and Son 2 enter. Son 1 & Son 2 (in unison) Hey, Dad! Dad! Hey...Hey, Dad...hey...hey. Dad! (annoyed) What do you want? 22 23 Whatcha building? Son 1 (moves to shield his work) Nothing. Son 2 Seriously Dad, what is this? (sighs) It s a boat. What s it for? Son 1 6 2007 Fellowship Church

Floating. Floating on what? SON 2 (sighs) It s for floating on water. I m making a boat big enough for my wife and me so when God floods the world, we ll be okay. SON 1 God is going to flood the world?! Son 2 You re building a boat for only you and mom?! NoaH Look, guys...i love you. I really do. But making a boat big enough for all of you would be a lot of work. Besides if I make it big enough for me, my wife and you, well I d have to go ahead and make it big enough for your wives as well. SON 1 Well I would think so! And if I built it big enough for me, my wife, you guys and your wives, well what s next? I d have to make it big enough to hold all the animals in the boat, and then I d have to build it big enough to hold all the food for us and the animals. Well then you would find out we re stuck in a project that could last 120 years! SON 1 Please reconsider, Dad. Please let us come with you. Son 2 Yes, please. We ll help you build it. Really we will. NoAH Sons, sons, sons. (hugs sons) Nothing would please me more than to have you guys help me out and come with me. (hesitates) But I had to draw the line somewhere and unfortunately I drew it between me and you guys. Now if you ll excuse me I have to get back to building. But, how could you?! Son 1 Son 2 Come on, let s go tell mom! Sons 1 and 2 exit. 7 2007 Fellowship Church

24 # 50 NoaH (calls after them) She already knows and she s on my side. (goes back to building) Note: Play Narrator Video 4 chapter 24. NaRRATOR (In video) And so Noah continued to build his boat for just himself and his wife. (CD Track # 50) Animals 1 and 2 enter 24 Ahem. (annoyed) Yes? Animal 1 NoaH ANIMAL 2 We re here to get on the boat so we can survive the flood. (looks around) Where is the boat anyway? I m sorry I thought everyone already knew. (points to the raft) This is the boat. ANIMAL 1 What? We can t fit in that! Exactly. This is just a boat for me and my wife. ANIMAL 2 But God s plan was for you to build a boat big enough for all of us. Yes, but the plan has now changed. We all get to build our own boats. Now if you ll excuse me. ANIMAL 1 (shocked) Build our own boats?! Yeah, otherwise you ll probably drown. You d better get started pretty soon. Unless you want to try and swim your way through the flood. ANIMAL 2 But we can t build a boat! Yes but I can. Which is why I m afraid I must end our conversation. 8 2007 Fellowship Church

(confused) Huh? ANIMAL 1 # 51 25 # 52 (stands up and shouts) Get out of here! Go away! Quit bothering me and go build your own boat! (CD Track # 51) Animal 1 and Animal 2 are startled and exit quickly. Note: Play Narrator Video 5 chapter 25. NarRATOR (In video) (CD Track # 52) Eventually, Noah finished his boat and he and his wife climbed aboard. Noah s Wife enters and they move the raft to center stage and they both sit on it. 25 Now we re ready? NoaH 26 # 53 NoAH S WIFE I guess so. Did you pack any food? This isn t a very comfortable boat. It s so cramped and small. Will it even float? Quiet, you! The S.S.S. Noah s Raft will float perfectly. Just you wait and see. Note: Play Narrator Video 6 chapter 26. NARRATOR (In video) And then the flood came. (CD Track # 53) Ahh, here we go. Flood waters begin to rise and soon Noah, Noah s Wife and the raft all sink. 26 27 # 54 NoaH (CONT D) It s not floating! IT S NOT FLOATING! Water is over Noah s head. Note: Play Narrator Video 7 and Skit Outro Video chapter 27. NarratOR (In video) (CD Track # 54) And Noah, his wife, his children, all the other human beings on the planet and all the animals...drowned. And you and I wouldn t be here. Thankfully we know that s not the real 27 9 2007 Fellowship Church

28 29 30 # 8 story. In the real story, Noah obeyed God s plan. Without Noah s obedience none of us would be here. God had a plan for Noah and he has a plan for you and me too. It s our job to be obedient to God s plan. (skit end) Note: Play Who s Fastest Video chapter 28. CO- So if Noah hadn t followed God s plan, none of us would be here. That s right. Now do you see why God s plans are always better? CO- Yeah, I think so. Building that ark was a ton of work but it was still the best plan. I m glad that Noah obeyed God and I m going to try and be more obedient myself. I want to know what God s plan for my life is and the only way to do that is to be obedient and to seek His will. Exactly. I m glad that we re on the same page. (to children) We re very lucky that God loves us enough to make a plan for our lives and for our future. We should also be thankful that God had a plan for Noah. Without that plan, none of us would be here. Let s take some time to thank God by worshipping Him with a song and with our offering. Everyone, please stand. Teacher and Co-Teacher lead the children in singing the song and then begin the offering time. OFFERING Teacher (CD Track # 8) Thank you for singing with us. We re going to continue worshipping God with our offering. This is a time when we give back to God part of what He has given to us. We do this to say, Thank You! to God for His many blessings. First, I ll lead us in prayer and then it will be your time to come up and give. Let s pray. 28 29 30 Lead the children in prayer. If you want to, include elements of the lesson you are teaching today. For instance, today we are talking about God providing a plan for our future. So you might say, God, thank You for loving us so much. Thank You for creating a plan for our lives and our future. Help us to be obedient to You and to always seek Your will so that we can follow Your plan for our lives. Amen. Take up the offering. 31 # 1 31 (CD Track # 1) Thank you, everyone. And now you re all going to learn a few ways that you can apply today s lesson to your life. It s time for Small Groups! 10 2007 Fellowship Church

32 SMALL GROUPS 32 Teacher greets the kids as they come back from their Small Groups. 33 Teacher Welcome back. It s time for our review game, Sunny Sam s Super Safari! Note: Lead the children through the questions. Hit play when a child has given you the right answer. 33 CLOSING # 1 Teacher (CD Track # 1) Thanks for coming. It was great to see all of you here. Don t forget our Main Point for today: God Provides A Plan For Our Future! See you next week when we start a brand new series! 11 2007 Fellowship Church