Sunday, November 19, 2017 Lesson #4-11 God s Light Shines in Darkness Isaiah 9:1-7 PK-2 nd Key Verse: The Point: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Isaiah 9:2a The prophet promises the people a new king, one that will be the presence of God s light in the world. Making Connections: Promises of Hope Bible Nuts & Bolts: The Messiah Spiritual Practice: Prayer 1
Activities Supplies Play with light and darkness. A dark place (e.g. table covered with a blanket) Battery-operated light sources and glow sticks Make light and dark pictures. Create glowing bracelets. Black construction paper White crayons Glow in the dark paint Glow in the dark stickers Chenille craft stems Glow in the dark pony beads Experience darkness. Optional: various light sources (nightlight, flashlight, light bulb, etc.) Learn the meaning of Messiah. Bibles Bottle or pitcher of oil The people in darkness see a great light. Activity Sheet #4-11.A Items to represent light (see suggestions below) Black construction paper or dark cloths Optional: Activity Sheet #4-11.B, white or yellow construction paper, scissors 2
Use lights to share prayers of thanksgiving. Candles or other light sources Matches or lighter Sing a song. None Create a reminder of God s light. Activity Sheet #4-11.C Clear plastic cups Tissue paper Paint brushes Glue Water Paper cups Battery-operated tea lights Bless each other to serve. Move to the Bible passage. Optional ongoing activity. Olive oil Small dish Towels or hand wipes Recording of the For unto us a child is born chorus from Handel s Messiah Music player Bible Book page (found at end of lesson) Cardstock or plain paper Pens Markers or crayons Optional: three-ring binders, hole punch None 3
Background for Teachers Story Connections Today your class continues on our journey through the Hebrew prophets with Isaiah 9:1-7. This text is often heard during Advent as a promise of the coming Messiah. Prophetic language can be difficult to understand, and it is important to remember that it is often the language of poetry and therefore the images should be understood symbolically. Story Summary: God s Light Shines in Darkness God s people were experiencing a dark time. Although the precise audience and time period who originally received this prophesy is debated by scholars, the people Isaiah refers to have definitely experienced difficulty. The darkness that the people have lived and walked in is not literal darkness, but figurative language. This is addressed to a people who have known oppression and violence (Isaiah 9:4-5), and most likely hunger due to famine or destruction of crops (verse 3). Yet in the midst of this darkness, God promised the coming of a Messiah who would bring light, peace, and joy. This Messiah is promised to bring an ever-expanding and everlasting kingdom in which will be justice and righteousness. This will be the final and complete fulfillment of this prophecy, begun at the Incarnation of Jesus and awaiting completion at the Messiah s return as described in Revelation 21 and 22. Both in the spread of Jesus love here and now and the future coming together of heaven and earth, the light of God shines and destroys the darkness. The Point The prophet promises the people a new king, one that will be the presence of God s light in the world. God sent a prophet to speak a word of comfort to the people living in darkness. Life will not always be full of suffering and oppression. The prophet Isaiah tells the people that God is sending a child, a king. While the prophecy may indeed refer to King Hezekiah as a king who will soon bring the people peace, the forever aspect of the promise can only be fulfilled by the promised Messiah. Bible Nuts and Bolts: The Messiah This lesson will introduce the meaning of the word Messiah, which means Anointed One in Hebrew. Samuel marked David as the new king of Israel by pouring oil on his head, or anointing him. Anointing was the way that the Israelites set apart their kings, priests, and prophets for the work God had given them. However, God had given promises throughout the Scriptures of a coming Servant who would bring salvation to God s people and peace to the world. This Servant was understood as the promised Messiah. This Messiah was revealed in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, who in the common Greek language of the time was called the Christ, which is Greek for Anointed One. Spiritual Practice: Prayer There are a variety of ways to pray. Today, students will name persons for whom they are thankful, and pray a responsive prayer of thanks for their light and influence. 4
Lesson #4-11 (PK-2nd) November 19, 2017 Lesson Plan Story Centers are mini-activities designed specifically for preschool and kindergarten students. Depending on the size of your class, you can set these up as centers for in-class rotations or do them as a whole class one after another. In most preschool and kindergarten classes, these centers along with a snack, the Learning the Story activity, and the Living the Story activity will fill the education time, but feel free to choose any activity you think would be fun and appropriate for your class. Light in the Dark Provide a dark place, such as a table covered with a dark sheet or blanket. Also provide an assortment of flashlights, battery candles, camping lanterns, and lots of glow sticks or bracelets. Light and Dark Pictures Make light in the darkness pictures. Provide black construction paper and glow in the dark paint, markers, or crayons; or white crayons. Glow in the dark star stickers would be a fun addition to the pictures. Glowing Bracelets Make simple bracelets with glow in the dark beads and chenille craft stems. 5
Experience darkness. You will need: Optional: various light sources (nightlight, flashlight, light bulb, etc.) During class: 1. What is it like to be in the dark? How do you feel when you are in the dark? [I don t like it. It s scary. I can t see.] 2. There is nothing wrong with darkness, but people, grownups and kids, often do not like the dark because you cannot see very well. When people write stories or make movies, they often use the word dark to mean that something is bad. 3. Now, how might you, or your parents, solve the problem of your bedroom being too dark at night? [You can put in a nightlight.] If you walk into a dark room? [Turn on the light.] If the lights go out during a storm? [Use a flashlight, light a candle.] If you have the optional light sources, pull them out when students mention each as a solution, or make up your own questions so that your items are the solution to the dark problem. 4. In our Bible story today, God s people were going through what we sometimes call a dark time. Things were bad for them. There was a lot of fighting going on, they were hungry, and other people were being mean to them. Let s listen to the story and find out how God turned on the light for them. 6
Learn the meaning of Messiah. You will need: Bibles Bottle or pitcher of oil During class: 1. Several weeks ago, we learned about Samuel following God s instructions and choosing the next king of Israel. What did Samuel do to David to mark him as the next king? [Anointed him with oil, poured oil on his head.] 2. Samuel marked David as the next king by anointing him with oil, which simply means to pour oil on his head. Pretend to pour the oil on someone s head. This was how God told the people of Israel to mark their kings. 3. They did not use the word Anointed because that is an English word. The people of Israel used the word Messiah. So, a messiah was someone who was anointed to be a king. 4. However, God promised many times to the people of Israel that a very special person would be coming to be a very special king. This Messiah would represent God in a very special way. There is a promise of this Messiah here in our Isaiah passage for today. 5. Look up Isaiah 9:1-7 in the Bible. Help younger children find it as needed. Read the passage to the students, or invite older volunteers to read. 6. Different people had different ideas of who this Messiah would be. Hundreds of years after our Bible story today, some of the people spoke a different language, called Greek. Do you know what word they used to mean Anointed or Messiah? They said Christ. Who do you think the Messiah is? [Jesus!] Yes, Jesus is the promised Messiah of God! 7. Let s listen for the promise of the Messiah in today s Bible story. 7
The people in darkness see a great light. You will need: Activity Sheet #4-11.A Items to represent light (see suggestions below) Black construction paper or dark cloths Optional: Activity Sheet #4-11.B, white or yellow construction paper, scissors Before class: 1. Make copies of the story on Activity Sheet #4-11.A for students to take home with them. 2. Collect an age-appropriate item for each student that can represent or produce light. Suggestions include: small flashlights, glow sticks or bracelets, battery-operated tea lights, unlit candles, or stars cut out of white or yellow construction paper (see template on Activity Sheet #4-11.B). 3. The black construction paper or dark cloth is to represent the darkness and provide something to each student to cover up their lights. Any type of item that can cover up the light and represent darkness will do. 4. The lights and the darkness for each student can be collected at the end of the activity or sent home with the students. During class: 1. Today we are going to hear a story of how things were really bad for the people of Israel, but God promised to turn on the light. 2. As an option, practice the refrain (in bold print) from Activity Sheet #4-11.A for the first part of the story with the students so they can say it with you. 3. Hand out the light objects and the darkness objects and explain to the students that while the story is talking about darkness, they need to keep their lights covered up. But when God turns the light on, then they should uncover their lights and hold them up high. It might be helpful if you or a helper models the behavior during the story. 4. To add further drama to the story, you can have the classroom lights out and read the story using a small flashlight, making the students lights brighter. For non-light-producing objects, you can turn on the classroom lights at the right time. 8
5. Read the story from Activity Sheet #4-11.A, cuing students on the refrain and actions as you read. 6. If there is time, read and act out the story a second time so that the students can learn it better. 7. Send home copies of Activity Sheet #4-11.A and encourage students to act out the story for their families. 9
Use lights to share prayers of thanksgiving. You will need: Red, orange, and yellow construction paper Mural paper Tape Scissors Before class: 1. Post mural paper on the wall at a height children can comfortably reach. 2. For younger students, you may want to cut or tear flame shapes from the construction paper ahead of time. During class: 1. God is the one who brings every good thing into our world. We are going to take some time to pray to God and thank God. We are going to use this construction paper to make lots of flames. Then on each flame, I want you to write or draw a picture of times and people where you have seen God s light. We usually see God s light in anything that is happy, good, or beautiful. 2. Give students time to each draw on a number of flames. 3. When students are done, invite them to come forward one at a time. Help them tape their flames to the mural paper as they share what they wrote or drew. As each student finishes, have the rest of the class respond: Thank you, God, for light. 4. End the activity by praying together, inviting students to echo after you: Dear God, (echo) Thank you for people (echo) Who show us your light. (echo) Help us to be light (echo) To people around us. (echo) Amen. (echo) 10
Sing a song. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. Everywhere I go, I'm gonna let it shine Everywhere I go, I'm gonna let it shine Everywhere I go, I'm gonna let it shine Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. Jesus gave it to me, I'm gonna let it shine Jesus gave it to me, I'm gonna let it shine Jesus gave it to me, I'm gonna let it shine Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. 11
Create a reminder of God s light. You will need: Activity Sheet #4-11.C, cut into strips. Each student will need one strip. Clear plastic cups Tissue paper Paint brushes Glue Water Paper cups Battery-operated tea lights Before class: 1. Make copies of Activity Sheet #4-11.C and cut the words into strips to fit around the cups. Make enough for one per student. 2. Cut tissue paper into small 1 squares. You may choose to use only red, orange, and yellow. 3. Mix glue and water 1:1 in small paper cups. Students can share these. During class: 1. Give each student a clear plastic cup and a paintbrush. Make sure each student has access to the glue and water mixture. 2. We are going to make a reminder that God s light shines in darkness. We will turn these cups into reminders that shine like light, and then add our lesson theme to help us remember. 3. Show students how to brush glue onto the cup and then place tissue paper to create a stained glass look. 4. When students have completed gluing tissue to their cup, give each a strip from Activity Sheet #4-11.C, and glue over the tissue paper. 5. Set cups aside to dry. 6. If possible, send a battery-operated tea light home with each student. 7. When you see these candles glowing in their holders, remember that let s say it together God s light shines in darkness. 12
Bless each other to serve. You will need: Olive oil Small dish Towels or hand wipes During class: 1. Put the oil in a small dish and make sure that towels or hand wipes are easily available. 2. Today we learned that the words Messiah and Christ both mean Anointed. As followers of the Messiah, we are also anointed. We are anointed by the Holy Spirit, and we are often even anointed with oil at our baptisms. The Bible even says that we are a kingdom of priests (1 Peter 2:9). Now we are going to be anointed as a reminder of our mission to love and serve other people as representatives of Jesus. 3. Dip your finger in the oil and trace a cross on each student s forehead. While you do this, say: Go and spread the light of Jesus everywhere you are. 4. As an alternate, you can have the students sit or stand in a circle and pass around the dish of oil and the towel or wipes and have each student anoint the person next to them, saying the same words. Be sure to let the last one anoint you as well. 13
Move to the Bible passage. You will need: A recording of the For unto us a child is born chorus from Handel s Messiah Music player Before class 1. Using CDs, YouTube videos, or other recordings, play all or part of the chorus For unto us a child is born so that students can hear today s Bible passage put to music. Several YouTube videos are available that include the lyrics. During class: 1. The words for our Bible passage today are very familiar to people, and have even been set to music by a famous composer named Handle. When composers write music, they try to make the music create feelings in the listener. We are going to listen to listen to the music that Handle wrote for this Bible passage, and I want you to move in whatever way the music makes you move. 2. Encourage students to move to the music. 3. Close by asking: How did this music make you feel? Did you recognize the words from the Bible? 14
Optional ongoing activity. You will need: Bible Book page (found at end of lesson) Cardstock or plain paper Pens Markers or crayons Optional: three-ring binders, hole punch Before class: 1. Make copies of this week s Bible Book page on cardstock or copy paper for each student. During class: 1. Pass out Bible Book pages. 2. Read the bottom of the Bible Book page aloud, reminding students of what they learned in the lesson. 3. Have them put their names on their pages, and draw a picture of something they particularly liked or remember from story in the middle of the page. 4. Optional: Collect and three-hole punch the pages, and put them in individual binders for each student to be kept at church until the end of the year. If you wish, you can investigate other options for binding the Bible books through a local print shop at the end of the year instead of using a three-ring binder. 15
Before ending class, make a point to come together to pray. Use the following or say your own prayer. Mighty God, Prince of Peace, Thank you for shining the light of your goodness and peace throughout the world. Help us to love the people around us so that we shine with your light, bringing light to others. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. 16
Activity Sheet #4-11.A Lesson #4-11 (PK-2nd) November 19, 2017 Turning on the Light The people in darkness see a great light. A long, long time ago in the land of Israel, there lived the people of God. God told these people, the Israelites, the best way to live. They should be kind and show love. They should be fair and peaceful. They should love God and love each other. They should live in God s light! But they didn t do that. Instead of being kind, the Israelites were mean. And bad things happened to them! People from far away came into their land and fought the Israelites and beat them. The people were hurt, and the land seemed dark. They did not go back to God. Instead of being loving, the Israelites were selfish. And bad things happened to them! The people from far away took their food. The people were hungry, and the land seemed very dark. They still did not go back to God. Instead of being fair, the Israelites were greedy. And bad things happened to them! The people from far away took their things. The people were sad, and the land seemed very, very dark. They still did not go back to God. Instead of being peaceful, the Israelites were violent. And bad things happened to them! The people from far away attacked them. The people were scared, and the land seemed very, very, very dark. Even though the Israelites were being bad and things seemed very dark, God still loved them. God had not forgotten about them. God sent a prophet to bring good news to the people. God is turning on the light! said the prophet Isaiah. God is sending a very special child, anointed to be king! This child will bring light to the people in darkness. With this very special king, everyone will be loved, happy, and safe! Who is this king? It is Jesus! 17
Activity Sheet #4-11.A Lesson #4-11 (PK-2nd) November 19, 2017 Turning on the Light The people in darkness see a great light. 19
Activity Sheet #4-11.A Lesson #4-11 (PK-2nd) November 19, 2017 God Shines Candle Holder Create a reminder of God s light. God s Light Shines in Darkness Isaiah 9:1-7 God s Light Shines in Darkness Isaiah 9:1-7 God s Light Shines in Darkness Isaiah 9:1-7 God s Light Shines in Darkness Isaiah 9:1-7 God s Light Shines in Darkness Isaiah 9:1-7 God s Light Shines in Darkness Isaiah 9:1-7 God s Light Shines in Darkness Isaiah 9:1-7 21
Bible Book Lesson #4-11 (PK-2nd) November 19, 2017 God s Light Shines in Darkness Isaiah 9:1-7 The Point: The prophet promises the people a new king, one that will be the presence of God s light in the world. 23
The Story @ Home PK-2 nd Living the Word: Teaching Kids God s Story Narrative Lectionary, Year 4 (2017-2018) Lesson #4-11 Isaiah 9:1-7 Last Week Last week we began a new unit looking at God s promises. Through the story of Amos, we learned that even in difficult times, God remains with and protects God s people (Amos 1:1-2; 5:14-15, 21-24). This Week This week Isaiah reminds us that God is always with us, and that God s light will shine even in our periods of darkness. Story Summary God s people were experiencing a dark time. The darkness that the people have lived and walked in is not literal darkness, but figurative language. This is addressed to a people who have known oppression and violence (Isaiah. 9:4-5), and most likely hunger due to famine or destruction of crops (verse 3a). Yet in the midst of this darkness, God promised the coming of a Messiah who would bring light, peace, and joy. This Messiah is promised to bring an everexpanding and everlasting kingdom in which will be justice and righteousness. Practice: Prayer There are a variety of ways to pray. Today, students names persons for whom they are thankful, and prayed a responsive prayer of thanks for their light and influence. As a family, name those people who have been a light in your life. As each person is named, respond with, Thanks, God, for the light! Next Week The Point The prophet promises the people a new king, one that will be the presence of God s light in the world. Bible Nuts & Bolts The Messiah This lesson will introduce the meaning of the word Messiah, which means Anointed One in Hebrew. Samuel marked David as the new king of Israel by pouring oil on his head, or anointing him. Anointing was the way that the Israelites set apart their kings, priests, and prophets for the work God had given them. However, God had given promises throughout the Scriptures of a coming Servant who would bring salvation to God s people and peace to the world. This Servant was understood as the promised Messiah. This Messiah was revealed in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, who in the common Greek language of the time was called the Christ, which is Greek for Anointed One. Next week we continue to hear about God s promises of hope as Jeremiah paints a vision of a better future.
@ HOME Lesson #4-11 Isaiah 9:1-7 Family Discussions Use the questions below or other questions you think of to discuss today s Scripture reading (listed above) with your family. In what way does this text speak to our theme of Promises of Hope? What does this scripture have to do with our lives today? What part of this scripture is the most interesting to you? Why? Family Devotions As you hear and study these stories each week, consider what God has to say to you and your family. What is God s message to us? How should we respond? Sunday Read Isaiah 9:1-7 God s light shines in the darkness. Have each family member share a time when things felt dark to them, a time when they were sad, hurt, or sick. How did you move out of that time? Monday Read Isaiah 9:8-21 Isaiah's pronounces judgment against arrogance and oppression. There is a difference between self-confidence and arrogance. What are you good at? In what areas has God given you gifts? How could this self-confidence turn to arrogance? Tuesday Read Isaiah 11:1-9 Isaiah shares a vision of the peaceful kingdom. Isaiah paints a picture of what is sometimes called the Peaceable Kingdom. Have everyone close their eyes and imagine a world where there is no sickness, hurt, hate, or fear (animals don t even hunt each other). Instead there is only love, peace, and justice. Praise God for this future. Wednesday Read Jeremiah 1:4-19 Jeremiah is called. Pray for God to send you to spread Jesus love to the people in your life. Name one person to whom you think God can send you. Thursday Read Jeremiah 25:1-14 Jeremiah prophesies exile. These words of Jeremiah are quite dramatic. Take turns acting out how you think Jeremiah acted when he gave this prophecy. Friday Read Jeremiah 27:1-22 Jeremiah prophesies exile again. Jeremiah makes multiple references to yoking. Do an online search to learn what it means to yoke an animal. What is Jeremiah saying with this comparison? Saturday Read 2 Kings 25:1-21 Judah is taken into exile. Use blocks and small characters to act out this battle scene. Even in the midst of great destruction, God is with God s people.