Use Week of: 2/3/19 The Ten Commandments BIBLE PASSAGE: Exodus 19 20 STORY POINT: God gave rules to show how to love Him and others. KEY PASSAGE: Matthew 22:37 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What is God like? God is holy, good, and loving. TEACH THE STORY EXPERIENCE THE STORY REVIEW THE STORY (15 20 MINUTES) (25 30 MINUTES) (10+ MINUTES) PAGE 102 PAGE 104 PAGE 106 Additional resources are available at gospelproject.com. For free training and session-bysession help, visit www.ministrygrid.com/web/thegospelproject. 98 Preschool Worship Guide
LEADER Bible Study As the rescued people of Israel traveled toward the promised land, God gave them laws to guide them in how to live and to help them understand God s perfect holiness. God s laws covered every part of their lives and were summed up in the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments can be grouped into two categories: The first four laws deal with a person s relationship with God and the last six laws deal with a person s relationship with others. God did not give laws for the sake of giving laws; the laws had a purpose. Not only did they show what righteous living looks like, they were part of the covenant God made with Israel, known as the Mosaic covenant. (See Ex. 19:3-8.) God had promised Abraham that all the peoples on earth would be blessed through him. (See Gen. 12:3.) Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness (Rom. 4:3). God s promise to Abraham would be fulfilled in Jesus. But God gave the law to guide people until Jesus came. 3 As you teach, avoid presenting the Ten Commandments as a burden a list of laws they must try to keep to earn God s favor. God s rules are good and are meant to help us, but the Bible is clear that we are all sinful and fall short of God s standard for holiness. Our obedience can t save us. Point preschoolers to Jesus and help them understand that God is pleased with us because He looks at Jesus, who never sinned. Because of Christ, we have a right relationship with God. He gives us power through the Holy Spirit to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind and to love your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 22:37-39). Toward the Promised Land 99
The BIBLE Story The Ten Commandments Exodus 19 20 After the Israelites escaped from Egypt, they came into the wilderness and set up camp at the base of a mountain called Mount Sinai. God wanted to make a covenant, or special agreement, with His people. Moses went up the mountain. God said to Moses, Tell the Israelites these words: You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I rescued you. If you listen carefully to Me and keep My covenant, you will be My people. Moses went back to the people and told them what God said. The Israelites said, We will do everything the Lord said. Moses went back to the Lord. God said to Moses, I am going to come to you in a thick cloud. Get the people ready to hear Me speak to you so that they will believe you. Moses got the people ready. Three days later, Moses brought the people to the bottom of the mountain. God came down the mountain in a fire, and smoke covered the mountain. The mountain shook, and they heard a loud trumpet sound. God said, I am the Lord your God. I brought you out of the land of Egypt. I set you free from slavery. 100 Preschool Worship Guide
Then God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. The first four commandments told the Israelites how to have a right relationship with God: Do not have other gods besides Me. Do not make an idol for yourself. Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. The last six commandments told the Israelites how to have a right relationship with other people: You must honor your father and mother. You must not murder. You must keep your marriage promises. You must not steal. You must not lie. You must not want what belongs to someone else. When the people heard God talking to Moses, they were afraid. Do not be afraid, Moses said. God wants you to fear Him so that you will not sin. The Israelites stood back, and Moses went up the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for many days. God gave Moses more laws. When God was finished speaking to Moses, He gave Moses two stone tablets. God had written on the tablets with His own finger. Bible Storytelling Tips Use sound effects: Download a loud trumpet sound effect. Play at the appropriate moment in the Bible story. Consider leading children to play out the ground shaking as well. Count to 10: As you say each commandment, hold up a finger until you have all 10 fingers up. Say the commandments again, leading preschoolers to hold up their fingers with you. Christ Connection: God gave us rules to show that He is holy. Our sin keeps us away from God, but Jesus came to bring us back to Him. Jesus is holy; He never sinned. We can trust Him to forgive our sin. Toward the Promised Land 101
TEACH the Story SESSION TITLE: The Ten Commandments BIBLE PASSAGE: Exodus 19 20 STORY POINT: God gave rules to show how to love Him and others. KEY PASSAGE: Matthew 22:37 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What is God like? God is holy, good, and loving. Holy God (Holy, Holy, Holy) song Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah song Bible The Ten Commandments video (optional) Bible Story Picture Poster Story Point Poster Giant Timeline Bible Key Passage Marker Key Passage Poster, 2 scissors (adult use) marker tape (optional) Your Heart, Soul, and Mind song Welcome and worship with song Greet preschoolers with a smile. As preschoolers arrive, sing an action song such as Holy God (Holy, Holy, Holy) to engage them and help them feel welcomed. Begin worship by leading preschoolers in Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah. Watch or tell the Bible story Hold up 10 fingers and lead children in a series of 10 actions. SAY In today s Bible story, God gave His people 10 special rules to show us that He is holy. God gave rules to show how to love Him and others. Open your Bible to Exodus 19. Show the video or tell the Bible story using the provided storytelling tips. Use the bolded version of the Bible story for young preschoolers. Practice the key passage and a Bible skill Print an extra copy of the key passage poster. Cut the poster into 10 strips. Number each strip. Hide the strips around the room or tape them under chairs. Place the key passage marker at Matthew 22:37. Invite a few volunteers to come up one at a time and open your Bible to the key passage. Guide preschoolers to locate the 10 strips. Work together to 102 Preschool Worship Guide
put the strips in order. Lead preschoolers in saying the key passage as you point to each word. SAY Our key passage is what Jesus said when some teachers of the law asked Him which commandment was the most important. Jesus said loving God with everything that we are is the most important thing we can do. Jesus even helps us to love God! Sing the key passage song Your Heart, Soul, and Mind. Learn the big picture question and answer SAY Our big picture question is, What is God like? God is holy, good, and loving. The Ten Commandments show us how holy God is. We are sinners. We break God s laws, but God is loving and good. He sent Jesus. Jesus kept all God s commands perfectly so that when we put our trust in Him, God forgives us. Respond through song and prayer SAY God gave rules to show how to love Him and others. God s rules show us that He is holy. Our sin keeps us away from God, but Jesus came to bring us back to Him. Jesus is holy; He never sinned. We can trust Him to forgive our sin. Sing Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah and One Heart as preschoolers move with the music. Prepare for prayer by singing Trust in Jesus. You may also collect an offering. SAY God, thank You for giving us your rules to show us what You are like and how we can love You and others. Thank You for Jesus, who died for us to take away our sin. Please help us obey Your rules. Amen. Transition to experience the story Big Picture Question Poster Story Point Poster Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah song One Heart song Trust in Jesus song offering basket countdown video (optional) Toward the Promised Land 103
EXPERIENCE the Story SESSION TITLE: The Ten Commandments BIBLE PASSAGE: Exodus 19 20 STORY POINT: God gave rules to show how to love Him and others. KEY PASSAGE: Matthew 22:37 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What is God like? God is holy, good, and loving. paper plates, 1 per child green and red construction paper Suggested silly rules: Eat pizza every day. Sleep with your shoes on. Do not brush your teeth. Ten Commandments printable, 2 scissors (adult use) No rules driving Provide a paper plate steering wheel for each child. Allow children to drive around the room. After a few minutes, instruct them to go around the room in a circle in the same direction. After a few minutes, tell everyone to stop. SAY What happened when I added the rule? God gave rules to show how to love Him and others. God made everything, so He knows how life works best. Our lives work best when we obey God s rules. Learn the commandments Give each preschooler a sheet of green construction paper and a sheet of red construction paper. Explain that you will call out rules. Children should hold up the green paper for God s rules and the red paper for all other rules. Intersperse the Ten Commandments with silly or real rules. SAY We have lots of rules at home, at church, and at school. God s rules are most important. God gave rules to show how to love Him and others. Play a matching game Print two copies of the Ten Commandments printable and cut out the cards. Set out the cards faceup in a grid so children can view the cards. For older preschoolers, turn 104 Preschool Worship Guide
the cards facedown after they have viewed them. Allow children to take turns flipping over two cards at a time to find a match. Read the commandment on each card as preschoolers play. Play until all the cards are matched. SAY God gave rules to show how to love Him and others. God s rules show us that He is holy. Our sin keeps us away from God, but Jesus came to bring us back to Him. Jesus is holy; He never sinned. We can trust Him to forgive our sin. Bowl for commandments Set up 10 plastic bottles like bowling pins. Number the bottles 1 10. As children bowl, read the corresponding commandment for every pin they knock down. SAY Each pin represented one of God s commandments. God gave rules to show how to love Him and others, but we do not always obey God s rules. When we sin, we can ask God to forgive us and He will because of Jesus. Jesus is holy; He never sinned. Make a beaded bookmark Give each preschooler 1 foot of yarn with one end tied off. Invite children to choose six of one color bead and four of another color. Guide preschoolers to string the beads on their yarn. Tie off the loose end when a child finishes. Show him how to place his bookmark at Exodus 19 in a Bible. SAY The first four commandments are about loving God. The last six commandments are about loving people. God gave rules to show how to love Him and others. Transition to review the story plastic bottles or bowling pins, 10 marker Bible yarn scissors (adult use) beads, at least two colors countdown video (optional) Toward the Promised Land 105
REVIEW the Story SESSION TITLE: The Ten Commandments BIBLE PASSAGE: Exodus 19 20 STORY POINT: God gave rules to show how to love Him and others. KEY PASSAGE: Matthew 22:37 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What is God like? God is holy, good, and loving. Bible Bible Story Picture Poster Giant Timeline Story Point Poster Big Picture Question Poster Key Passage Poster Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah song (optional) Your Heart, Soul, and Mind song (optional) Review Point to the giant timeline as you review today s Bible story. Ask the following review questions: 1. What is a covenant? (a special agreement or promise God made with His people) 2. How many commandments did God give His people? (10) 3. Why did God give the Ten Commandments? (God gave rules to show how to love Him and others.) 4. What did God use to write the Ten Commandments on the tablets? (His finger) 5. What is God like? God is holy, good, and loving. SAY God made a covenant with His people. God said if the Israelites obeyed Him, they would be His people. The Israelites said they would do everything the Lord said. God gave the Ten Commandments to the Israelites to show them what it looks like to love Him and others. We will learn that God s people did not keep their part of the agreement. People are sinners. We break God s laws, but God sent Jesus to bring us back to Him. Jesus is holy. He never sinned. We can trust Him to forgive our sin. Sing the theme song, Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah or the key passage song, Your Heart, Soul, and Mind. 106 Preschool Worship Guide
Pray Invite preschoolers to tell you any prayer requests they have. SAY God, thank You for giving us the Ten Commandments to show us what You are like and how life works best. Your rules show us what it looks like to love You and others. God, we confess that we do not always obey Your rules. Thank You for sending Jesus, who always obeyed You. Thank You, Jesus, for dying on the cross to rescue us from our sin. Help us to trust in You. Amen. Missions moment SAY When Demaj (dih MAH jay) went to a church in his neighborhood for help with his school work, he also learned about God. God gave rules to show how to love Him and others. Now, Demaj loves Jesus. Watch this video to see how he is loving his neighbors by inviting them to church. Show the My Neighborhood missions video. Pass a beanbag Form a circle on the floor. Explain that everyone will pass the beanbag to the person next to her as quickly as possible according to a rule you call out. When you call out a new rule, children must play by the new rule. For younger preschoolers, simply change the direction the beanbag travels. SAY Good job following the rules. The Ten Commandments are the most important rules. God gave rules to show how to love Him and others. God made the world. He knows how life works best. We can ask God to help us keep His rules. My Neighborhood missions video beanbag Suggested rules: Pass the beanbag to your right. Pass the beanbag to your left. Pass the beanbag with one hand. Pat the beanbag before you pass it. Toward the Promised Land 107