Use Week of: 1/20/19 Bread from Heaven BIBLE PASSAGE: Exodus 15 17 STORY POINT: God gave His people food and water. 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 82 PAGE 84 PAGE 86 Additional resources are available at gospelproject.com. For free training and session-bysession help, visit www.ministrygrid.com/web/thegospelproject. 78 Preschool Worship Guide
LEADER Bible Study The Israelites future looked bright. The Lord, through Moses, had rescued them from slavery in Egypt. He fought for them, displaying His power by parting the Red Sea and subsequently destroying Egypt s army. God was working out His plan to bring the Israelites to the promised land, the land God promised to Abraham s family. 1 But the journey from Egypt to Canaan was not direct. The Lord led His people into the wilderness. The Israelites bright future seemed to fade. Their dry mouths and rumbling, empty stomachs produced complaints and accusations. They doubted the Lord s goodness. The Israelites traveled three days into the wilderness and were unable to find water. When they found water at Marah, they must have rushed to it only to find the water was too bitter to drink. The people grumbled to Moses. Of course, Moses had no power to change the water. But the Lord did. Moses cried out to the Lord, and He showed Moses a tree. Moses threw the tree into the water, and the water became drinkable. Then the Israelites moved farther into the wilderness. Their hunger produced despair: If only we had died by the Lord s hand in the land of Egypt Instead, you brought us into this wilderness to die of hunger! (Ex. 16:3). Again, the Lord gave the Israelites what they needed. Moses and Aaron explained the purpose behind the Lord s provision: You will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt (Ex. 16:6). God sent bread from heaven and quail for the Israelites to eat. They ate manna in the wilderness for 40 years. The Lord is our Provider. Like He provided for the physical needs of His people in the wilderness, He provided for our spiritual needs by sending His Son, Jesus the Bread of life (John 6:35) so we can live forever. Toward the Promised Land 79
The BIBLE Story Bread from Heaven Exodus 15 17 Moses led the people away from the Red Sea, and they came to the wilderness. When they could not find good water to drink, they complained to Moses. God told the people, If you obey Me and do what is right, I will not punish you like I punished the Egyptians. Then the Israelites came to a place called Elim (EE lim) where there was plenty of water, and they camped there. The Israelites left Elim and went out into the wilderness. When they got hungry, they complained to Moses. We are starving! they said. You brought us out here to die! But Moses had not brought them out there to die. God knew what He was doing. God said to Moses, I heard the Israelites complaining. Tell them that they will eat meat for dinner, and in the morning they will eat bread until they are full. Then they will know that I am their God. That evening, quail came into the camp and the people ate meat for dinner. In the morning, fine flakes like frost were on the ground. What is it? the Israelites asked. It is bread, said Moses. The Lord has given you bread to eat. 80 Preschool Worship Guide
The Israelites called the bread manna, which means what is it? God gave the people instructions for eating the bread. He told them to gather only what they needed to eat that day. If they gathered too much, the leftovers went bad. On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much so they could rest on the seventh day. The seventh day was the Sabbath day, a day to rest. The Israelites did not always do what God said to do. Sometimes they gathered too much manna, and sometimes they tried to gather manna on the Sabbath day. Moses was upset that the Israelites did not trust God and obey Him. For many years, the Israelites traveled in the wilderness, going wherever God told them to go. One day, they stopped to camp but they had no water. Moses, give us something to drink, they said. But Moses did not have any water. Lord, what should I do? Moses prayed. God showed Moses a rock and told him to hit the rock with his staff. When he did, water came out of the rock and the people drank the water. God was with His people. Christ Connection: When God s people were hungry and thirsty, God gave them food and water. Later, God sent His Son, Jesus. Jesus said, I am the bread of life (John 6:35). Bread and water give people life for a little while, but Jesus gives people life forever! Bible Storytelling Tips Use props: Place a feather, piece of bread, and a bottle of water in a gift bag. Pull them out as you tell the parts of the story about God providing meat, bread, and water. Thumbs up or down: Show children how to thumbs up for something good and thumbs down for something not good. Name a few items and have the children signal whether it is good or not good. Encourage children to signal thumbs up or thumbs down to different parts of the Bible story. Toward the Promised Land 81
TEACH the Story SESSION TITLE: Bread from Heaven BIBLE PASSAGE: Exodus 15 17 STORY POINT: God gave His people food and water. 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 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. Bible Story Picture Poster from Unit 4, Session 6 Bible Bread from Heaven video (optional) Bible Story Picture Poster Story Point Poster Giant Timeline Bible Key Passage Marker Key Passage Poster Your Heart, Soul, and Mind song Watch or tell the Bible story Show the Bible story picture from last week s session The Red Sea Crossing. Briefly review the Bible story. SAY Wow! Don t you think the Israelites never worried or complained about anything ever again after they saw God divide the sea just to save them? [Allow responses.] Not long after God rescued His people, they started to complain! They actually said they wished they were back in Egypt! Listen to the Bible story to hear what happened. Open your Bible to Exodus 15. 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 Place the key passage marker at Matthew 22:37. Invite a volunteer to open your Bible to the key passage. Read the 82 Preschool Worship Guide
key passage aloud. Create motions for preschoolers to use as they say the key passage. Use the key passage song video for inspiration. SAY Your heart, soul, and mind make up all of you. Our key passage tells us that God wants us to love Him with all of us. God loves us so much He sent His Son, Jesus, to give us life forever with Him! Sing the key passage song Your Heart, Soul, and Mind together. Learn the big picture question and answer SAY Our big picture question is, What is God like? The answer is God is holy, good, and loving. God showed the Israelites that they could trust Him. He is good. He gives His people what they need. God loves His people and is always with them. He hears our prayers and always does what is best. God loves us and cares for us. Respond through song and prayer SAY When God s people were hungry and thirsty, God gave His people food and water. Later, God sent His Son, Jesus. Jesus said, I am the bread of life. Bread and water give people life for a little while, but Jesus gives people life forever! 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 always giving us what we need. Thank You most of all for sending Jesus. 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 83
EXPERIENCE the Story SESSION TITLE: Bread from Heaven BIBLE PASSAGE: Exodus 15 17 STORY POINT: God gave His people food and water. KEY PASSAGE: Matthew 22:37 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What is God like? God is holy, good, and loving. dry erase board or chart paper marker paper markers or crayons Make a list Ask preschoolers to name ways they know God loves them. Make a list of preschoolers answers on chart paper or a dry erase board. Number the list to introduce preschoolers to the concept of list-making. SAY This list is a great reminder of how God loves us. In our Bible story, God showed He loved the Israelites when God gave His people food and water. God always gives us what we need. God gave us what we needed most of all when He sent Jesus. Bread and water give people life for a little while, but Jesus gives people life forever! Make a handprint quail Trace a child s hand with fingers pointed to the right on a sheet of paper. Encourage him to draw an eye and beak on left side of the handprint and draw feet on the bottom of the handprint to create a quail. Write the story point on each child s paper. SAY You used your hands to make a quail! God gave His people food and water. God heard the prayers of the Israelites and provided food for His people. When you look at your quail, you can remember to thank God for taking care of us. 84 Preschool Worship Guide
Gather manna Scatter pom-poms around the room. Give each preschooler a plastic spoon and a cup. Direct preschoolers to use only their spoons to pick up as much manna as they can and put it in their cup. Consider timing older preschoolers. SAY God gave His people food and water. God provided bread called manna for the Israelites. I wonder if the Israelites collected their manna as fast you did? Jesus said, I am the bread of life. The manna gave people life for a little while, but Jesus gives people life forever! Taste bread and drink water Post an allergy alert. Wash hands. Provide several types of bread for children to taste. Serve water to drink. SAY When God s people were hungry and thirsty, God gave His people food and water. Later, God sent His Son, Jesus. Jesus said, I am the bread of life. Bread and water give people life for a little while, but Jesus gives people life forever! Experiment with water Cover a table with towels. Help preschoolers use a funnel to place sand, small rocks, and water in empty plastic water bottles. Secure tops on the bottles with duct tape. Allow a child to shake the bottle and observe what happens. SAY God made water come out of a rock so the people would have water to drink. God gave His people food and water. Water gives people life for a little while, but Jesus gives people life forever! Transition to review the story pom-poms plastic spoons, 1 per child cups timer (optional) Allergy Alert download different types of bread plates napkins cups water hand sanitizer towels empty plastic water bottles water funnel rocks sand duct tape countdown video (optional) Toward the Promised Land 85
REVIEW the Story SESSION TITLE: Bread from Heaven BIBLE PASSAGE: Exodus 15 17 STORY POINT: God gave His people food and water. 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. Who led the people in the wilderness? (Moses) 2. How did God provide bread for His people? (He sent fine flakes like frost on the ground for them to gather.) 3. How did God provide water for His people? (Moses hit a rock. God made water come out from the rock.) 4. Who is the bread of life? (Jesus) 5. Who gives people life forever? (Jesus) 6. What is God like? God is holy, good, and loving. SAY God had not brought His people out of Egypt only to let them go hungry and thirsty. God gave His people food and water. God wanted the Israelites to know that He was the One who had rescued them from the Egyptians. He would be the One to give them everything they needed. Later, God gave us what we need even more than food or water Jesus! Jesus is the bread of life because anyone who trusts in Him will have life forever with God. Sing the theme song Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah or the key passage song Your Heart, Soul, and Mind. 86 Preschool Worship Guide
Pray Invite preschoolers to tell you any prayer requests they have. SAY God, thank You for always taking care of us and giving us what we need. Thank You for helping Your people and providing food for them. Jesus said, I am the bread of life. Bread and water give people life for a little while, but Jesus gives people life forever. Amen. Missions moment SAY God gave the Israelites what they needed, and He gives us what we need today. Pastor Jamie started Reborn Community Church in Illinois. God has used the church to give the people who live in that community the things they need. Most of all, they are telling people the good news about Jesus. Let s watch how they helped one man named Frank. Show the I Am Not Alone missions video. I Am Not Alone missions video Play Rock, Manna, Quail Show preschoolers how to make different hand signals for rock, manna, and quail. For rock, make a fist. For manna, lay hand flat. For quail, flutter fingers. Call out rock, manna, or quail, and guide preschoolers to do the appropriate signal. Vary the speed and order of the commands. Challenge older preschoolers to use the hand signals to play Rock, Manna, Quail like Rock, Paper, Scissors. Let rock beat quail, manna beat rock, and quail beat manna. SAY God gave His people food and water. Bread and water give people life for a little while, but Jesus gives people life forever! Toward the Promised Land 87