Lesson 9 ULTIMATE LEADERSHIP Loved and Led God s Word In In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. Exodus 15:13 For Younger Children: God will lead and guide His people. (See Exodus 15:13.) Jesus Connection God provided clouds and fire to lead the Israelites. God gave us Jesus so that we can follow Him! Exodus 13:21-22; 15:22-27 Teacher & Parent Connection There is a classic game of trust where one person is blindfolded and led on a walk by another person. Perhaps you ve played this game at a retreat or with your children. It takes a lot of trust for the blindfolded person to follow where he or she is being led. For all they know, they could be walking into a wall or off of a ledge! The children of Israel must have been feeling very much this same way when they left Egypt. After all, they didn t have a map, a GPS or even the name of their destination! All they knew was that God had promised to lead them to a beautiful land that would be their home. All they knew was that God said to go, and so they went! In our lives, there will be times when we feel like the children of Israel, wandering in the desert. Or perhaps like we re walking around blindfolded! Following Jesus can feel this way sometimes. We don t know exactly where we re going or how we re going to get there. But we must trust that Jesus knows the best way and keep following Him. Even when we feel like we re lost in the desert, God will provide comfort and guidance, if we look for it. His guidance comes in many forms a passage from the Bible, prayer, friends, a small whisper, a feeling in our gut, and yes, even a vision. We just have to be ready, always watching and listening. Sadly, we often forget that God knows what is best for us, and so we begin to take control and lead ourselves. We need to be reminded through God s Word, prayer and other Christ-followers that it is Jesus who is in control and who truly knows what is best for us! 157 2013 Gospel Light. Permission to o photocopy gr granted to original purchaser only. Wrangler Roundup Lesson 9.indd 157 2/7/13 2:28 PM
Lesson 1 9 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: Ultimate Leadership: Loved and Led Exodus 13:21-22; 15:22-27 Younger Child Option: Story Trunk Children use motions to act out the story Older Child Option: Story Trunk Children complete an acrostic using key words from the Bible story Game Center Younger Child Option: Children play a game like Follow the Leader Materials: Bible, Wrangler Roundup CD-ROM and player, fiberfill batting, powerful flashlight Older Child Option: Children play a game like Pin the Tail on the Donkey Materials: Bible, Lesson 9 Pattern Page (p. 168), crayons or markers, scissors, masking tape, butcher paper, bandanna or blindfold Worship Center Art Center Younger Child Option: Children use empty cans to make designs on sheets of paper Materials: Bible, newspaper, empty cans in a variety of sizes, duct tape, paint, paint trays, large sheets of construction paper Older Child Option: Children make hanging pictures to remind them to follow where Jesus leads them Materials: Bible, Lesson 9 Pattern Page (p. 168), crayons or markers, scissors, 19 jumbo craft sticks and 2 craft sticks for each child, glue, twine Coloring/Puzzle Center Younger Child Option: Review the Bible verse while completing coloring page Materials: Lesson 9 Coloring Page (p. 169) for each student, crayons Older Child Option: Review the Bible verse while completing puzzle page Materials: Lesson 9 Puzzle Page (p. 170) for each student, pencils For the Younger and Older Child: Participate in large-group activities to review Bible verse and to worship God together Materials: Bibles, Wrangler Roundup CD-ROM and CD player, song charts (pp. 250, 253) 158 2013 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Wrangler Roundup
Less Lesson sson n9 1 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. Ridin High Seats Dusty Yogurt For each chair in the classroom, cut a large sheet of butcher paper to fold over both sides of chair backs, stapling left and right edges of paper together to create a chair slipcover. Before class cut Western shapes (cacti, cowboy hats, horseshoes, cowboy boots, Sherrif s badges, horses, saddles, etc.) from colored card stock or fun foam, or have children cut shapes during class. Children choose and glue Western shapes onto backs of slipcovers. Before class, place Post a note alerting diced canned pears parents to the use (drained) in a paper of food. Also, check bowl. Pour cinnamon registration forms into another paper for possible food bowl. Give each child allergies. a bowl of vanilla yogurt, a graham cracker, a resealable sandwich bag and a spoon. Child places the graham cracker in bag and crunches it with fist or spoon, then pours the graham cracker crumbs into the yogurt, sprinkles a pinch of cinnamon into the yogurt and adds diced pears. H-O-R-S-E Divide group into two teams. Play a ball-tossing game similar to H-O-R-S-E. Children stand about 5 feet (1.5 m) from a large container (storage bin, ns attempting empty trash can, etc.) and take turns t. Each time to toss a soft ball or beanbag into it. the ball lands in the container, the tossing team gets one letter of the word horse. The first ay team to complete the word wins. Play rds or additional rounds to spell other words est, phrases such as, cowboy, Wild West, Ultimate Leadership, etc. 2013 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Wrangler Roundup Lesson 9.indd 159 159 2/7/13 2:28 PM
Bible Story Center for younger children Exodus 13:21-22; 15:22-27 Story Trunk Before class, print out Lesson 9 Ultimate Leadership Ultimate Point and Lesson 9 Bible Story Art from Wrangler Roundup CD-ROM. Place in a trunk with a Bible and a water bottle. Introduction Who wants to guess what s in our trunk today? Children respond. Open trunk to remove printouts and water bottle. Hold up water bottle. What is this? What s in it? When do you take water bottles with you? Children respond. In today s story, we re going to hear about a time the Israelties were very thirsty, but they didn t have any water bottles like this that were full of water. Remove Bible from trunk and hold up. We know today s story is true because it s found here in God s Word, the Bible. Tell the Story The Israelite people were so happy! (Smile and clap hands.) God had helped them cross the Red Sea by making a dry path right through the middle of all the water! It was so surprising! (Make a surprised face.) The people celebrated and sang songs of praise to God. (Jump up and down and pump your fists in the air.) But now it was time to get going. God s people needed to walk to their new home, the land God had promised to give them. So all the big kids and little kids and grown-ups gathered together and began walking. (Walk in place.) They walked along with all the animals that came with them. The problem is, they didn t even know where they were going! (Shrug sholders.) Not even Moses knew where they were going. But God knew. (Tap forehead with finger.) And He had a plan to get them there. Every day, all day long, God provided a HUGE cloud. This big, white, fluffy cloud moved in front of the people and showed them where to go. (Point forward.) The cloud was so HUGE, that even this large group of people could see and follow that big cloud! (Show Lesson 9 Bible Story Art.) Nightime is dark. The Israelites couldn t see the cloud! (Shake head no.) So God sent a gigantic pillar of fire to guide them by night. Not only did the fire give them light to see where to go, but it helped to keep them warm. So that s how God led His people through the desert. Moses followed the cloud and fire in the sky and all the thousands and thousands of Israelite people followed Moses. So the Israelites traveled on day after day. To get to the land God had promised to give them, the Israelites had to walk through a desert. Now a desert is VERY hot and VERY dry. (Fan self.) It is mostly sand and rocks. The sun got hotter and HOTTER. (Fan self again.) There isn t much water in a desert. It had been three days since the people had filled their water bags. (Hold up three fingers.) And all their water was just about gone. Everyone was hot and THIRSTY. Then someone shouted, Look! WATER! The people hurried to the edge of the cool water. They took big drinks but then, they stopped. YUK! This water tastes BAD! (Make an icky face.) What are we going to do, Moses? the people asked. We re THIRSTY! Moses knew God loved His people, so Moses asked God what to do. God showed Moses a special piece of wood. He told Moses to throw the wood into the water. And Moses did! (Pretend to throw wood.) Slowly, someone leaned over and took a sip. (Lean over and pretend to drink.) It tastes GOOD! the people shouted. Everyone drank and drank! They splashed their faces and filled their water bags and brought their animals to the water s edge to drink and drink! God s Word & Me God took care of His people and led them where they needed to go. The Bible tells us, God will lead and guide His people. God loves us as much as He loved the Israelites! He will always lead us and guide us. Show Ultimate Leadership printout and read aloud. Whenever we need help and don t know what to do, we can pray to Jesus and He will help us. Pray briefly, Dear Jesus, thank You for loving and leading us every day. Help us as we try to follow You. We love You. In Your name, amen. 160 2013 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Wrangler Roundup
Bible Story Center for older children Exodus 13:21-22; 15:22-27 Story Trunk Before class, print out Lesson 9 Ultimate Leadership Ultimate Point from Wrangler Roundup CD-ROM. Place printout in a trunk with a Bible, large sheet of paper, markers, map and/or GPS (Global Positioning System). Before you tell the story, open trunk and remove large sheet of paper and markers. Tape paper to a wall near where you are telling the story. Print the word leadership in a vertical column on a large sheet of paper. As you are telling the story, print or choose a child to print words, phrases or sentences which describe story events and begin or contain a letter in the word leadership. (Several suggested entries are included in the story.) Introduction Open trunk and remove Bible, printout and map or GPS. Hold up map or GPS. What is this? What does it help us do? Children respond. We use maps and GPS (Global Positioning Systems) and the Internet to help us find our way when we are going on a trip. They lead us where we need to go. Today we re going to hear how God s people, the Israelites, were led to the land God had promised to them. Tell the Story The day the Israelites (Print Israelites on large sheet of paper, using the I.) crossed the Red Sea was both exciting and thrilling! The people were finally free from Egypt, and no one would be chasing them to bring them back! The people celebrated and sang songs of praise to God! They were so happy to have a powerful God who loved and helped them! But that was just one day of what was going to be a very long journey. (Print long journey on large sheet of paper, using the L.) And the Israelites didn t even know where they were going! They didn t have a map, a GPS or even the name of the place they were going to. All they knew was that God had promised to give them a land they could live in and be free. That the land would be full of wonderful things to eat and good land that they could farm and raise their animals on. Oh, the Israelites were so excited to be going to this new land. If only they knew how to get there! God knew where the people needed to go. And He had a plan to lead them where they were to go. Read Exodus 13:21 to find out what God s plan was. Every day, all day long, God provided a huge cloud that moved in front of the people. (Print cloud on large sheet of paper, using the D.) It was the same cloud that got between the Israelites and Pharaoh s army at the Red Sea! The cloud was so HUGE, that even a group of people as large as this one could see and follow that big cloud! At night, the Israelites wouldn t have been able to see the cloud. So God sent a gigantic pillar of fire to guide them by night. (Print fire on large sheet of paper, using one of the Es.) Not only did the pillar of fire help them see where to go, but it helped to keep them warm at night. Whether at night or during the day, God s people had a clear and visible sign of His love and guidance. Any time they wanted, they could look at the cloud or fire and feel God s presence. What a wonderful gift! So that s how God led His people through the desert. (Print desert on large sheet of paper, using the S.) Moses followed the cloud and fire in the sky and all the thousands and thousands of Israelite people followed Moses. Moses led the Israelites from the Red Sea into the Desert of Shur. For three days the people traveled in the desert without finding water. (Print water on large sheet of paper, using the R.) The bags of water they carried with them were beginning to dry up. There wasn t anything left to drink! The people began to worry. They needed water not only for themselves, but for all the animals they had with them, too! What would they do if they couldn t find any water? Finally, they came to a place called Marah. (Print Marah on large sheet of paper, using the A.) And there was water! The people must have been so excited! They must have rushed to the water, leaned over, cupped their hands to scoop water into their mouths. Read Exodus 15:23 to find out what happened next. When the people tasted it Yuck! They couldn t drink the water because it was bitter and tasted nasty. So the people began grumping and complaining. They whined to Moses, asking, What are we going to drink? Moses was worried, too. So he prayed to God and asked for His help. (Print prayed on large sheet of paper, using the P.) Once again, God told Moses just what to do. 2013 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Wrangler Roundup 161
God showed Moses a piece of wood and told him to throw it in the water. Moses threw the piece of wood into the water, and the water became sweet. The people were so happy! They must scooped handful after handful of water into their mouths. They probably laughed as they led the animals to the water s edge to take long drinks of the cool, sweet water. The people may have thought God made a mistake by bringing them to Marah. But they didn t know what God s plan was. God was able to take the bitter water of Marah and make it sweet. The Israelite people should have realized God never makes mistakes! God just wanted them to trust His guidance and follow where He led them. God knew what was best for them! God told this to the people. He said, If you listen carefully to Me and do what I tell you to do, I will take care of you. You will not suffer the plagues that the Egyptians did because Pharaoh refused to obey Me. I will always heal you and help you. (Print heal and help on large sheet of paper, using the H.) When the people left Marah, the followed the cloud and fire to a place called Elim. (Print Elim on large sheet of paper, using one of the Es.) What was Elim like? Read Exodus 15:27 to find out. Elim was a beautiful oasis in the desert with 12 springs of fresh water and many palm trees for shade. The huge crowd of people and animals settled in to camp near the water of Elim. They must have felt so good, to know that God loved them and led them to a wonderful place where so many of their needs would be met. God s Word & Me The Israelites didn t know where they were going, but it didn t matter. God knew. All they had to do was follow where God led them! Show Ultimate Leadership printout. In the same way God led the Israelites, we can count on Jesus to lead us. In Matthew 4:18-20, we read how Jesus called some fishermen to be His disciples. Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men. The men didn t hesitate! At once they left their nets and followed Jesus. Jesus wants us to follow Him with that same enthusiasm and trust. We may not know exactly what God s plan for us might be, but we can trust that it s the very BEST plan! Read Exodus 15:13 aloud from your Bible. God led the Israelites through the desert to good places because He loved and cared for them. God loves us just as much as He loved the Israelites. That s why God sent us Jesus, so we could follow Jesus and live life the very best way. What are some ways that Jesus leads us? (Gives us examples of how to live that we can read in the Bible. Answers us when we pray. Gives us parents, teachers and other people to help us know good things to do.) What can we do when we feel lost and unsure of what to do? (Read the Bible. Pray to God. Talk to people who care for us.) Close in prayer. Dear God, thank You for using Your Ultimate Leadership to lead us where we need to go and to do what You want us to do. We re so glad that You love us! We love You. In Jesus name, amen. 162 162 2013 Gospel Light. Permission to to photocopy granted to to original purchaser only. Wrangler Roundup
Game Center for younger children Exodus 13:21-22; 15:22-27 Collect Bible, Wrangler Roundup CD-ROM and player, fiberfill batting, powerful flashlight Do 1. Play Go Down, Mo and other songs while playing game. 2. As music plays, hold up a large handful of fiberfill batting, pretending it is the cloud the Israelites followed. Children line up behind you and march along as you walk around the room. 3. When the song ends, put batting down and pick up flashlight. Turn flashlight on, lower or turn off lights in room and point flashlight up, pretending it is the pillar of fire. Lead children to walk around the room as you play another song from the CD. 4. Repeat, adding variety of motion as you walk (turn around as you walk, clap hands, squat and waddle, walk on tiptoe, etc.). Talk About In today s Bible story, God led His people using a big cloud and fire! Let s play a game in which we follow something that looks like a cloud, and something that shines like fire! God s Word In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. Exodus 15:13 For Younger Children: God will lead and guide His people. (See Exodus 15:13.) Jesus Connection God provided clouds and fire to lead the Israelites. God gave us Jesus so that we can follow Him! Our Bible says, God will lead and guide His people. How can I know the right things that God wants me to do? (Read the Bible. Listen to others read the Bible. Ask a trusted adult.) When God s Word tells me right things to do, I know that God will lead me to do what I am supposed to. What are some right things God wants us to do? (Obey parents. Be nice to little sisters. Tell the truth.) Pray briefly, Dear God, please lead me to know and do the right things that You want me to do. Thank You for loving us. We love You, too! In Jesus name, amen. For Older Children Choose volunteers to lead the group. If you have a large group of children, choose two older children and divide the rest of the group between them. One child leads using the batting for the cloud and the other leads using the flashlight as the pillar of fire. 2013 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Wrangler Roundup 163 163
Game Center for older children Exodus 13:21-22; 15:22-27 Collect Bible, Lesson 9 Pattern Page (p. 168), crayons or markers, scissors, masking tape, butcher paper, bandanna or blindfold Prepare Photocopy Lesson 9 Pattern Page for each child. On large piece of butcher paper, draw the outline of a large barn. Hang paper on wall or bulletin board. Do 1. Children color and cut out animal pictures, and attach a masking tape loop onto the back of any one of the pictures. 2. Children play a game similar to Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Each child takes a turn getting blindfolded, spinning around three times, and trying to tape his or her animal picture to the butcher paper. Child whose picture lands closest to the barn door gets high fives or fist bumps from the other children. 3. Repeat as time and interest allow. God s Word In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. Exodus 15:13 For Younger Children: God will lead and guide His people. (See Exodus 15:13.) Jesus Connection God provided clouds and fire to lead the Israelites. God gave us Jesus so that we can follow Him! Pray briefly, Dear God. Thank You for giving us Ultimate Leadership. Help us to always follow where Jesus leads. In Jesus name, amen. For Younger Children Cut out cards ahead of time. Younger children may not want to be blindfolded. Ask these children to simply close their eyes. Do not spin younger children around. Talk About Why is it so hard to place the animal right on the barn door? (When we are blindfolded, we can t see where the door is.) If we can t see, we need someone to guide us. It s the same way in life. God wants us to trust Him to lead us where we need to go. Read Exodus 15:13 aloud. When our verse says God will lead us to His holy dwelling, it means that God will lead us in the way we should go in order to be close to Him. How can we know where God is leading us? (Read the Bible. Follow Jesus example. Listen to parents, teachers and other adults who love us.) 164 2013 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Wrangler Roundup
Art Center for younger children Exodus 13:21-22; 15:22-27 Collect Bible, newspaper, empty cans in a variety of sizes, duct tape, paint, paint trays, large sheets of construction paper Prepare Cover tables with newspaper. Remove labels from cans. Tape the open edges of cans. Pour paint into paint trays and place on newspaper-covered tables. Do 1. Children dip the bottoms of cans into paint and press cans onto sheets of construction paper in a design of their choosing. God s Word In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. Exodus 15:13 For Younger Children: God will lead and guide His people. (See Exodus 15:13.) Jesus Connection God provided clouds and fire to lead the Israelites. God gave us Jesus so that we can follow Him! Offer the following prayer: Dear God, thank You for promising to lead and guide us through Your Word, the Bible. In Jesus name, amen. For Older Children Children create abstract art by drawing designs that connect the circles created by the tin cans. Talk About Let s pretend that we are cowboys out on the trail. We ve just finished eating our beans. Let s have some fun with our empty cans and make a tin can painting. Cowboys rounding up stray horses have to lead the horses back to the ranch. How can a cowboy always remember how to get back home to the ranch? (Follow a map. Ask another cowboy. Look for the trail.) Our Bible verse says that God will lead and guide us. We can always know what God wants us to do. Samuel, when you listen to Bible stories and say Bible verses, you are learning from God s Word! 2013 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Wrangler Roundup 165
Art Center for older children Exodus 13:21-22; 15:22-27 Collect Bible, Lesson 9 Pattern Page (p. 168), crayons or markers, scissors, 19 jumbo craft sticks and 2 craft sticks for each child, glue, twine Prepare Photocopy Lesson 9 Pattern Page for each child. Do 1. Distribute jumbo craft sticks and craft sticks to each child. Child glues three jumbo craft sticks together into a U shape (see sketch a). a. b. c. God s Word In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. Exodus 15:13 For Younger Children: God will lead and guide His people. (See Exodus 15:13.) Jesus Connection God provided clouds and fire to lead the Israelites. God gave us Jesus so that we can follow Him! d. 2. Child then glues seven jumbo craft sticks across the piece (see sketch b). 3. Child then carefully turns piece over and stacks and glues two more jumbo craft sticks on each side of the U shape (see sketch c). 4. Child stacks and glues two craft sticks onto the bottom of the U shape. Child glues five jumbo craft sticks across the piece to form the front of the animal stall (see sketch d). 5. Child cuts a length of twine and glues to the back of the animal stall to make a hanger. 6. While project dries, each child colors and cuts out cow or horse picture from Pattern Page. Child chooses a name for his or her animal and decorates the front of the animal stall. When stall is ready, child inserts animal into it. Talk About To make your animal stall, you needed to follow instructions. Why did you follow these instructions? (Wanted to finish the project. Wanted to do it right.) When might it be hard for kids your age to listen to instructions? (They think they know what to do. They don t like others telling them what to do.) When are some times that bad things might happen if a kid doesn t follow instructions? (Can t find an important book for school. Can t find the right house to go to a party. Get a bad grade on a test.) Our Bible verse today reminds us that God loves us and wants to lead us. Ask a child to read Exodus 15:13 aloud. When we listen to God s teachings and follow His guidance, we have hope for a good future. Pray, thanking God for loving and leading us every day. For Younger Children Children color animal pictures, cut them out, and attach them to jumbo craft sticks. Children play with animal puppets. 166 2013 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Wrangler Roundup
Worship Center Exodus 13:21-22; 15:22-27 Collect Bibles, Wrangler Roundup CD-ROM and CD player, song charts (pp. 250, 253) Team Game Play a game like Marco Polo. Ask a volunteer to stand on one side of the playing area. Blindfold the volunteer. Children quietly position themselves at random around the playing area. Volunteer begins calling Jesus leads... The rest of the children answer me. Blindfolded volunteer moves toward children, listening to their voices. As he or she continues calling Jesus leads... Children around the room must respond each time. When the volunteer finds and tags another child, that child is blindfolded for the next round. Continue game as time permits. Bible Verse Game Repeat Exodus 15:13 aloud with children. Then form two or more groups. Students in each group form a line. The first student in each line is the leader. Students place hands on hips of person in front of them. At your signal, children begin saying words of Exodus 15:13 aloud while leader leads the group around the room in a random pattern. When verse has been repeated three or four times, the leader goes to the back of the line and the next student in line becomes the leader. Repeat as time allows. Song You, or another leader, lead children in singing He Will Provide, adding motions and/or clapping if desired. Prayer God s Word In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. Exodus 15:13 For Younger Children: God will lead and guide His people. (See Exodus 15:13.) Jesus Connection God provided clouds and fire to lead the Israelites. God gave us Jesus so that we can follow Him! God provided clouds and fire to lead the Israelites through the desert. And God provides us with leadership through Jesus. No matter what s happening in our lives, we can trust that Jesus will lead and guide us. It s just up to us to follow Jesus! Allow a few moments for silent prayer, then close, asking Jesus for His Ultimate Leadership every day. Song You, or another leader, lead children in singing Psalm 57:9-10, adding motions and/or clapping if desired. Whatever is happening in our lives, we can thank God that He provides us with Ultimate Leadership! 2013 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Wrangler Roundup 167
Pattern Page 168 2013 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Wrangler Roundup
Coloring Page God will lead and guide his people. (See Exodus 15:13.) What is a way to follow Jesus? 2013 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Wrangler Roundup 169
Puzzle Page 170 2013 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Wrangler Roundup