Chasing after God s word MEMORY VERSE FOR UNIT 11 God you give strength to my heart. You are everything I will ever need. PSALM 73:26B Turn to Page 56 for Memory Verse Center tips and suggestions. Summer Quarter, Week 6 Gideon and the Fleece [ ] Your Children Will Learn: o God heard Gideon pray God hears you pray, too Truth for Your Children Today s Bible Passage: Judges 6:25-40 That same night the Lord spoke to Gideon. He said, Get the second bull from your father s herd. Get the one that is seven years old. Tear down the altar your father built in honor of Baal. Cut down the pole that is beside it. The pole is used to worship the goddess of Asherah. Then build the right kind of altar. Build it in honor of the Lord your God. Build it on top of this hill. Then use the wood from the Asherah pole you cut down. Sacrifice the second bull as a burnt offering. So Gideon went and got ten of his servants. He did just as the Lord had told him. But he was afraid of his family. He was also afraid of the men in the town. So he did everything at night instead of during the day. In the morning the men in the town got up. They saw that Baal s altar had been torn down. The Asherah pole that was beside it had been cut down. And the second bull had been sacrificed on the new altar that had been built. They asked each other, Who did this? They looked into the matter carefully. Someone told them, Gideon, the son of Joash, did it. The men in the town spoke to Joash. They ordered him, Bring your son out here. He must die. He has torn down Baal s altar. [continued on page 56 sidebarj] Truth for You...A Meditation for Leaders Have you ever put out a fleece the way Gideon did? Gideon s faith was weak and he was insecure. The angel of God had already visited him and promised him that God would help him. God knew that Gideon needed to learn to trust Him. So God graciously answered Gideon s prayer, not once, but twice! There may be times in our lives when we need to know definitively if God is really asking us to do something for Him. We can pray and ask for a sign or pray for something more specific, like Gideon did. Have faith and confidence that God will answer you. Remember, God heard Gideon pray and God hears you pray, too! PAGE 55
[ Leaders: Pray ] Ten minutes before the children arrive, gather together to pray for your class time. Invite the Holy Spirit s presence and ask Him to fill you up. Truth for Your children Today s Bible Passage Judges 6:25-40 continued from page 55 He has cut down the Asherah pole that was beside it. But Joash replied to the angry crowd that was around him. He said, Are you going to try to stand up for Baal? Are you trying to save him? Those who stand up for him will be put to death by morning! Is Baal really a god? If he is, he can stand up for himself when someone tears down his altar. That s why Gideon was called Jerub-Baal to that day. He said, Let Baal take his stand against him. Gideon had torn down Baal s altar. All of the Midianites and Amalekites gathered their armies together. Other tribes from the east joined them. All of them went across the Jordan River. They camped in the Valley of Jezreel. Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Gideon. So Gideon blew the trumpet to send for the men of Abiezer. He told them to follow him. He sent messengers all through Manasseh. He called for the men of Manasseh to fight. He also sent messengers to the men of Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali. So all of those men went up to join the others. Gideon said to God, You promised you would use me to save Israel. Please do something for me. I ll put a piece of wool on the threshing floor. Suppose dew is only on the wool tomorrow morning. And suppose the ground all around it is dry. Then I will know that you will use me to save Israel. I ll know that your promise will come true. And that s what happened. Gideon got up early the next day. He squeezed the dew out of the wool. The water filled a bowl. Then Gideon said to God, Don t let your anger burn against me. Let me ask you for just one more thing. Let me use the wool for one more test. This time make the wool dry. And cover the ground with dew. So that night God did it. Only the wool was dry. The ground all around it was covered with dew. Greet the Children and Parents Greet each child by name as they arrive. Learn the names of their parents, too. 7Greet one another with a kiss of love. Romans 16:16 Give children visiting for the first time a small gift such as a special sticker or a colorful bookmark. Welcome the children to your classroom and introduce yourself to their parents. Creative Activity Centers........ 40 min. Choose two or three activities from the Table-Top Activity Guide. The Activity Guide on page 57 has everything you need to provide hands-on, creative activities that directly reinforce the lesson. Make open-ended play centers (such as blocks, housekeeping and imaginative dress-up) available as well. Memory Verse Center... 3-5 min. Practice the verse together every week during activity center time, small group 8 God you give time or before worship time. strength to my heart. Here is a tip: Sing the memory verse. Use You are everything I a familiar tune, such as Are You Sleeping, Are You Sleeping? or one that you make will ever need. up. Practice by singing the verse over Psalm 73:26b and over. Clean Up and Prepare for Worship... 5 min. [ ] Time to Worship! (10 min.) o If you have a worship team to lead the children, gather everyone together to praise Jesus! o If you lead worship, learn one or two simple songs. Allow time for children to share praises and prayers. Dance, sing, worship! o Model worship for the children by being an active participant! J PAGE 56
1. Building by Moonlight: Glue stones cut from gray construction paper and a white paper moon on a sheet of purple construction paper. Finish the picture with a few sparkly star stickers. Please see the Pattern Pages for complete directions. What s the Point?: Gideon had an important job to do. But he was afraid of his family. He was also afraid of the men in the town. So he did everything at night instead of during the day. (Judges 6:27b) Gideon built a new altar for the real, true God. An altar is a special place to worship God. Say to the children: God heard Gideon pray; God hears you pray, too. Supplies: Purple construction paper White scrap paper Gray construction paper Glue sticks Star stickers 2. Crayon Resist Painting: Scribble all over a sheet of white paper with a white or light colored crayon. Then cover the paper with darkcolored watercolor paint. The waxy crayon will repel the paint and remain dry. The paint will only color the paper that is not covered by the crayon marks. What s the Point?: This activity will show the children how the fleece remained dry, although the ground was wet, when Gideon prayed to God for a sign. Say to the children: God heard Gideon pray; God hears you pray, too. Supplies: White paper White and light colored crayons Watercolors and brushes Paint smocks Table-Top Activity Guide Week 6: Gideon and the Fleece Note To Leaders: Please choose 2 or 3 table-top activities. Most of the activities can be adapted for any age. Have fun! Let the children do it! Don t forget to copy... Home the page 3. Praying Hands Bible Bookmark: Trace a child s hand on colored construction paper and cut it out or help them cut it out. Tape an 8 piece of crepe paper to the bottom of the hand. The hand can be decorated with crayons and markers. Write the child s name and the date on the crepe paper. What s the Point?: This activity will remind the children, and their moms and dads, to pray when they read their Bible. Say to the children: God heard Gideon pray; God hears you pray, too. Supplies: Colorful construction paper Markers and crayons Scissors Colorful crepe paper Tape 4. Decorate Gideon s Horn: Copy the horn on white cardstock and cut out one per child. Tear scrap paper in different colors and textures into small pieces. The children can decorate the horn with a collage of the torn paper. Punch a hole at the dot and push a piece of yarn through it. Make it long enough for the children to wear around their necks. Please see the Pattern Pages for complete directions. What s the Point?: When the Spirit of God came on Gideon, he was filled with courage to blow the horn and call his army. Be sure to read the entire passage in Judges 6:25-40. Say to the children: God heard Gideon pray; God hears you pray, too. Supplies: Copy Horn outline from Pattern Pages on white cardstock Colorful scrap paper Glue sticks Yarn Hole punch PAGE 57
Story Time Introduction I Can Do That! Hi boys and girls! Last week, you heard a story from the bible about the angel of God who visited a man. Do you remember the man s name? (Let the children answer.) That s right! His name was Gideon! Gideon met the angel of God under an oak tree. God sent the angel to encourage Gideon. God helped Gideon be brave. Gideon wanted to obey God. EASY IDEAS FOR CREATIVE STORYTELLING: Judges 6:25-40 10 minutes (Age 3) 15 minutes (Ages 4 & 5) Demonstrate! Cut 2 pieces of quilt batting about 6 x 6. This will be the fleece. You will also need a cake pan, water, and a bowl. Bible Story Storyteller: The lesson from the Bible starts here. See the I Can Do That sidebar on this page for storytelling ideas. Well, God spoke to Gideon again! He said, Gideon, your dad built an altar to a fake god named Baal so he could worship it. This is against my rule that says, Don t worship any other gods. I want you to tear that altar down. I want you to build a new altar to the Me because I am real, true God! GOD HEARD GIDEON PRAY GOD HEARS YOU PRAY, TOO When you get to the part in the story where Gideon prays, show the children the quilt batting. After Gideon prays the first time, have the children lay down, close their eyes, and pretend to go to sleep. While their eyes are closed, soak the quilt batting with water and lay it in the cake pan. Wake the children up and let them feel the wet quilt batting. Then squeeze the water out into the bowl. After Gideon prays the second time, have the children lay down, close their eyes, and pretend to go to sleep again. While their eyes are closed, sprinkle water in the cake pan and get the other piece of dry quilt batting. Wake the children up and show them the dry piece of quilt batting and the wet cake pan. So, Gideon did exactly what God told him to do. He took ten servants and a bull with him. They tore down the altar built for the fake god, Baal. Then they built a new altar for the real, true God. It took them all night long, but they got the job done! Gideon was afraid his family would be mad at him. He was afraid the men in the town would be mad at him, too. He knew that no one was going to be happy with him for tearing down the altar to the fake god, Baal. The next day when the men saw that their altar to the fake god had been torn down, they were not too happy. They were mad! They shouted, Who did this? Somebody yelled back, Gideon did it! So some men went and told Gideon s dad! They said, Bring your son out here! He tore down the altar that we built to worship the fake god, Baal. He needs to die! But Gideon s father said, Hold up! Are you trying to save Baal? If he is a god, he can fight for himself. Well, after that happened, all the enemy armies got together. They were the enemies of Gideon and God s people. The enemy armies were camped not far from God s people. They were planning to attack God s people! But God s spirit filled Gideon with power. Gideon took out a horn and blew it really long and really loud. Men came from all over the land to join him. PAGE 58
Story Time [cont.] But Gideon wanted to be sure that God would help them. So he prayed, Oh God! Will You really save us? Please do something for me to help me know for sure. I will put some sheep s wool on the ground tonight. (Show the children a piece of the quilt batting.) If You will, make the wool wet with dew and leave the ground dry. Then I will know for sure that You are with me. I will know for sure that You will help me to save Your people. (Have the children lay down, close their eyes, and pretend to go to sleep. While their eyes are closed, soak the quilt batting with water and lay it in the cake pan.) (Wake the children up.) Well, Gideon got up the next morning and guess what? The wool was all wet, but the ground around it was all dry. (Let the children feel the wet batting.) Gideon squeezed all the water out of the wool and it filled a whole bowl! (Squeeze the water out of the quilt batting into the bowl.) God heard Gideon pray. And God answered him! But Gideon still wanted to be sure. He said to God, Please, God, don t be mad at me. But I need one more sure sign that You will help me. I will put the wool back out on the ground tonight. If You will be with us and save us, then make the wool dry, and make the ground wet in the morning. (Have the children lay down, close their eyes, and pretend to go to sleep again. While their eyes are closed, sprinkle water in the cake pan and get the other piece of dry quilt batting.) (Wake the children up.) Well, Gideon could hardly wait for morning to run outside to see that piece of wool. Would it be dry or wet? Gideon went over to the wool and picked it up. The wool was dry, and the ground around it was all wet! (Show the children the dry piece of quilt batting and the wet cake pan.) God heard Gideon pray. And God answered his prayer! So, Gideon knew that God was with Him. And he knew that God would save His people when they went into battle with the enemy army! And boys and girls, just like Gideon, you can pray to God when you are afraid. You can pray to God when you need to be strong. And you can pray to God when you need help to do what God wants you to do. God hears you pray, too! Go to Wrap It Up! in the sidebar. Great Big Holy Bible The text and pictures in the Great Big Holy Bible follow your Bible lesson closely. You may choose to use it during the Bible lesson segment of your class, or use it at the end to reinforce your dramatic storytelling. Wrap It Up! o Storyteller: If you are teaching 3 s, simply repeat the points to them one more time. If you are teaching 4 s and 5 s, repeat the points AND use these questions to help the children relate the story to their own lives. oo Today we learned that: o God heard Gideon pray. (Did God answer Gideon s prayer? What happened?) o God hears you pray, too. (Does God answer your prayers? Will you share with us?) PAGE 59
Snack Time...10 min. Small Groups...5-10 min. GAMES BEACH BALL PRAYERS You will need: a beach ball o Have the children sit in a circle with their feet stretched forward and their legs apart. o Say: Let s think of things that we can pray to God about. When I roll the beach ball to you, share one thing that you would like to pray to God for. I ll go first! I pray to God that. o Roll the beach ball to a child. You can prompt each child by saying, I pray to God that. Then the child who prayed will roll the ball to another child. o Continue playing the game until each child has had a turn to pray to God for one thing. Then say to the children: God heard Gideon pray and God hears you pray, too. How to Make it Happen: Divide the children into small groups. 1. Say: Today we learned that God heard Gideon pray and that God hears you pray, too. 2. Ask: Do you pray to God? Does God hear you when you pray? Does God answer your prayers? 3. Pray: Dear God, thank You that You heard Gideon when he prayed. And thank You that You hear us when we pray. Amen. GOD HEARD GIDEON PRAY The Purpose of Small Groups: TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE CHILDREN TO RECAP THE LESSON OR POINTS TO REVIEW THE MEMORY VERSE TOGETHER Time To Go! Dismiss the children to parents or guardians only! Keep our children safe! Please Remember! Photocopy The Home Page before church. Hand it to the parents when they pick up their children. GOD HEARS YOU PRAY, TOO Home the page...see page 61 PAGE 60
Home the page Memory Verse for Unit 11 God you give strength to my heart. You are everything I will ever need. Psalm 73:26b Summer Quarter, Week 6 Gideon and the Fleece Your Children Will Learn: o God heard Gideon pray o God hears you pray, too MONDAY Read & Do Read Judges 6:25-40. Ask your child: Did God answer Gideon s prayer? Does God answer your prayers? TUESDAY ResT Take a break and surround yourself and your child with a few soft, fluffy pillows. Read the story of Gideon together. Describe the fleece in the story so your child knows it is the soft, fluffy hair from a sheep. Pretend your pillows are soft, fluffy sheep and rest together. WEDNESDAY Art Make a fleece picture with cotton balls. Write out a prayer on a piece of paper and decorate it with a border of soft cotton balls. Talk about the prayer that Gideon prayed. God heard Gideon pray. God hears you pray, too. THURSDAY Snack Gideon obeyed God by building an alter to the real, true God. Have fun by using pretzel sticks and mini-marshmallows to build little altar structures. Talk with your child about what an alter is. An alter is a special place to worship God. Say a prayer, then enjoy your altar snack together. FRIDAY Pray & Praise God heard Gideon pray and He hears us pray, too. Ask your child: What would you like to pray to God about today? Spend some time praying together with your child. End your prayer time by saying the memory verse out loud to God. SATURDAY Just for Parents... Have you ever put out a fleece the way Gideon did? Gideon s faith was weak and he was insecure. The angel of God had already visited him and promised him that God would help him. God knew that Gideon needed to learn to trust Him. So God graciously answered Gideon s prayer, not once, but twice! There may be times in our lives where we need to know definitively if God is really asking us to do something for Him. We can pray and ask for a sign or something more specific like Gideon did. Have faith and confidence that God will answer you. Remember, God heard Gideon pray and God hears you pray, too! CHASING AFTER GOD S WORD PAGE 61
[ ] 6 PATTERN oweek P AGE Activity #1 Building by Moonlight BEFORE CLASS: Cut 2 circles out of gray construction paper. Make the circles lumpy and irregular to look like stones. Cut 2 circles out of white scrap paper to look like the moon. Cut one per child. DURING CLASS: The children can glue the gray paper stones on the purple construction paper so they look like they are piled up, like an altar. The children can glue the white moon over the gray paper stones. (Please see the diagram.) Add sparkly star stickers to the sky. The children s pictures will look something like this: PAGE 62
[ ] 6 P ATTERN oweek PAGE BEFORE CLASS: Copy the horn on cardstock and cut out one per child. Tear different colors and textures of scrap paper into small pieces. DURING CLASS: The children can use glue sticks to cover their horn Activity #4 Decorate Gideon s Horn with a collage of different colors of paper, arranged any way they choose. Punch a hole at the black dot. Push a piece of yarn through the hole. Make the yarn long enough for the children to wear around their necks. Punch the hole for the yarn at the black dot Copy the horn on cardstock and cut out one per child PAGE 63