God uses people like you and me.

Praise Jesus! God Speaks to Gideon Lesson 10 Bible Point God uses people like you and me. Bible Verse Don t let anyone think less of you because you are young (1 Timothy 4:12). Growing Closer to Jesus Children will n learn that God has special plans for each person, n discover unique and special personal qualities, and n find out how God can use them. Teacher Enrichment Bible Basis n God speaks to Gideon. Judges 6:11-24 Today s passage opens on a mild-mannered Israelite farmer named Gideon, who was in the midst of threshing wheat at the bottom of a wine press a pit dug into rock to hide the grain from the wicked Midianites (6:11). The Midianites were distant relatives of the Israelites, whom the Israelites considered enemies (see Numbers 25:16-18). Although threshing during the harvesting process was usually done out in the open so that the wind could begin separating the wheat from the chaff, relief from Midianite oppression was apparently more important to Gideon than having a little wind while threshing. He was feeling a lot safer hiding out below ground. Imagine Gideon s surprise, then, to be suddenly addressed by the angel of the Lord with the greeting, Mighty hero, the Lord is with you! and to be told that he would be the vessel through which God would rescue his people from the Midianites. To say that Gideon reacted with disbelief is an understatement. He simply could not grasp how a small, inconsequential man like himself could be used by the Lord for a great purpose. But the angel assured him that he was indeed God s man for the task. You ll note that the text alternates between referring to the angel as the angel of the Lord and the Lord himself (verses 14, 16, and 18). Does this mean that the angel was God himself in angelic form? We don t know, but it may suggest that the angel was the Lord s special messenger. God was choosing to speak through an angel to Gideon. In today s lesson, you and your students will learn how God can work through ordinary people like us! to accomplish his purposes. Prayer Read John 15:16. God might never pick you to lead an army, but he has fashioned you for a specific purpose. What are some ways God can use you at this time? Pray: God, like Gideon I am a weak but willing vessel for your use. As I teach these students, please use me for your special purposes by 117

Lesson 10 Before the Lesson n Collect items for the activities you plan to use, referring to the Classroom Supplies and Learning Lab Supplies listed in the chart. n Make photocopies of the Growing Together handout (at the end of this lesson) to send home with your children. n Pray for your students and for God s direction in teaching the lesson. This Lesson at a Glance What Children Will Do Classroom Supplies Learning Lab Supplies Welcome Welcome! Receive a warm welcome from the teacher, and make name tags. God s Servant Name Tags (p. 126), scissors, markers or crayons, tape or safety pins Attention Grabber Bible Exploration & Application Animal Tag Play a game that makes them feel as if everyone s against them, and learn that at times all people feel they don t fit in. God Used Gideon Learn from Judges 6:11-24 that God used Gideon even though Gideon didn t feel very important. I m Special Make unique designs and a colorful puzzle to illustrate the concept in Ephesians 4:11-13, 16 that we all work together as special members of Christ s body. God Can Use Anyone! Act out a character while wearing a special mask, and talk about what it s like to feel special. Bible Bible, markers, different-colored pens, paper Anyone? Anyone! handout (p. 127), scissors, basket, CD player Closing Princes and Princesses Hear 1 Timothy 1:17, and be crowned with a name that reflects a special God-given characteristic. God s Creations Recognize that God made them special even though they sometimes feel unimportant. Bible, Coronation Decree handouts (p. 128), markers, scissors 118

Welcome SUPPLIES: God s Servant Name Tags (p. 126), scissors, markers or crayons, tape or safety pins Greet each child individually with an enthusiastic smile. Thank each child for coming to class today. As children arrive, ask them about last week s Growing Together discussion. Use questions such as How did your invisible note remind you that God guides his people? and In what ways did you follow God s guidance last week? Say: Today we re going to learn that God uses people like you and me. Help children make name tags. Photocopy the God s Servant Name Tags, and follow the instructions. Help children write their names and attach the name tags to their clothing. Tell the children you ll raise your hand to get their attention. They should respond by raising their hands and focusing their attention on you. Rehearse this signal, and encourage the children to respond quickly so you ll have plenty of time for all the fun activities in this lesson. Attention Grabber n Animal Tag SUPPLIES: none Play this game in a large open area. Say: Let s play Tag. Who d like to be It? For this game, we ll use the name Noser for It. Choose a volunteer to be Noser, and have him or her put on the animal nose. Say: In our game of Tag, Noser doesn t tag everyone else we get to tag Noser. However, Noser can speed walk the rest of us can take only baby steps. [Name], when you feel like one of your classmates is getting too close, toss the animal nose to someone else. Then that person will be Noser. We ll play until I twirl the twirling groaner to call time. Ready? Go! Play the game for several minutes. Then call time by twirling the twirling groaner. Raise your hand to get children s attention. Wait until the children raise their hands and stop talking. Then have them sit down. Retrieve the animal nose, and put it on while you discuss these questions. Ask: How did you feel when you had the animal nose? (Like everyone was attacking me; scared; excited; I wanted to get rid of it.) Have you ever felt like everyone was against you in real life? (Yes, once my family teased me so much it hurt my feelings; yes, sometimes kids pick on me; yes, once everyone in my class was mad at me because I let the hamster out of its cage.) Say: At times we all feel that the whole world is after us just as everyone was trying to tag you in the game. We may feel like we don t fit in because we don t do something very well or because we re different. Right now, I feel like I don t fit in because I m wearing the animal nose. It makes me feel different from everyone else. But I have good news for all of us: God God Speaks to Gideon It s important to say the Bible Point just as it s written in each activity. Repeating the Bible Point over and over will help children remember it and apply it to their lives. To avoid spreading germs, have children wear the animal nose on their foreheads, or make a fist and wear it on their hands. 119

Lesson 10 loves us all no matter what we look like, no matter how well we fit in, and no matter how talented we are. God uses people like you and me. Today our story is about a man who didn t think he was very important. But God had great plans for him. Let s find out what happened. Set the animal nose and twirling groaner out of sight. Keep in mind some of the following characteristics that pertain to the physical development of your first- and second-graders at this stage of life. They have high energy levels, which demand a lot of physical activity such as jumping and running. They are industrious; they like to make things and complete projects. And they are more interested in the finished product than the process. Bible Exploration & Application n God Used Gideon SUPPLIES: Bible Form two groups. Say: When I point to Group 1, the children in Group 1 will say, Who, me? and point to themselves. Have Group 1 say the words and do the action. Then Group 2 will answer, Yes, you, and point to Group 1. Have Group 2 say the words and do the action. Then the children in Group 1 will say, Who says? and hold their hands palms up. Have Group 1 say the words and do the action. Group 2 will answer, God says! and point up to heaven. Have Group 2 say the words and do the action. Practice the dialogue several times until children know exactly what to say and do. Then show children the story in Judges 6:11-24. Say: Today s Bible story is about a man who believed what God said. As you listen to the story, be ready to begin the response when I point to Group 1. One day Gideon was harvesting grain by separating wheat kernels from the stalks. Gideon was hiding in a wine press because he was afraid that soldiers from Midian would come and steal the grain from him. As Gideon was working, an angel came and sat down under a tree. The angel said, Mighty hero, the Lord is with you! Point to Group 1 to begin the dialogue. Remind Group 2 to answer. Continue: Gideon said to the angel, Sir, if the Lord is with us, then why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn t they say, The Lord brought us up out of Egypt? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites, who keep stealing our grain and fighting us. Then the Lord turned to Gideon and said, Gideon, go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you! Point to Group 1. Remind Group 2 to answer. Gideon said, But Lord, how can I rescue Israel? I m not very strong. In fact, my family is the weakest family in my tribe. And I am the weakest member of my family. God replied, I will be with you. You will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man. Don t worry, Gideon, it will be easy for you because I ll be with you! Point to Group 1. Remind Group 2 to answer. Then Gideon said to God, If you re truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it is really the Lord speaking to me. Don t go away until I come back and bring my offering to you. 120

God Speaks to Gideon When God agreed to wait, Gideon hurried and cooked a young goat, made soup, and baked lots of bread. Gideon took the food and gave it all to the angel. The angel said, Put the meat and the bread on this rock, and pour the soup over it. Point to Group 1. Remind Group 2 to answer. Gideon did what the angel told him to do. Then the angel touched the meat and the bread with a stick. Fire jumped up from the rock and burned the meat and the bread until nothing was left! Then the angel disappeared! Then Gideon built an altar there to worship God. He named the altar The Lord Is Peace. Gideon didn t feel that he could do anything important for God, but God knew better. And maybe you don t feel you can do anything really important, but God knows better. Point to Group 1. Allow Group 2 to answer. Ask: Why do you think God picked Gideon? (Maybe God knew more about Gideon than Gideon did; maybe Gideon was better than he thought he was.) Have you ever felt like Gideon? Tell us about it. (Yes, I don t think I m very smart; yes, I don t do math very well; no, I do most things pretty well.) Say: God asked Gideon to do something special. Gideon got scared because he didn t think he could do the job. Sometimes we get scared, too, when we re asked to do things that are new or hard. But God uses people like you and me. When God made us, he gave us everything that we will need to do what he asks of us. Let s learn more about how God created us. Gideon, a true hero of the faith, is a good example for children of how God can use us, no matter what our age is, to accomplish what seems impossible. If we re seeking God, he ll be with us! n I m Special SUPPLIES: Bible, markers, different-colored pens, paper Before class, put an X on the back of each puzzle piece. Say: I have a beautiful puzzle that I d like to show you. Show children the blank puzzle. Ask: What do you think of this puzzle? (It s boring; it s all the same color; I don t think it s very pretty.) Give each child a puzzle piece. If you have more children than puzzle pieces, cut some of the pieces in half. Distribute markers, and have each child decorate the front side of his or her puzzle piece. As children finish their puzzle pieces, direct them to a table on which you ve placed the design maker and a stack of paper. Show the children how to put one of the wheels inside one of the large holes, put a pen inside one of the small holes, and manipulate the wheel to create a design. Let children create designs on paper and write their names on them. Encourage the children to use different-colored pens to create their designs. When all the children have made designs, have them put the puzzle together. Gather the children on the floor and show them the puzzle. Ask: What do you think of the puzzle now that we ve decorated it? (It s more interesting now; it s prettier.) Have each child point out his or her puzzle piece. Ask: What would happen if some of the pieces were missing? What if we didn t have this corner piece or this middle piece? (There d be a hole in the puzzle; it would look funny.) If you have many children waiting for the design maker, have them start working on putting the puzzle back together, or direct them to the Time Stuffer on page 112. If there s time, have children organize themselves so they re sitting in the same order as their puzzle pieces. Have them all link arms or hold hands so they re connected to each other. 121

Lesson 10 Why are all the pieces important? (Because otherwise the puzzle picture doesn t make sense; because everyone worked on it.) Say: Just as each piece is important to the puzzle, each of us is important to God. Read Ephesians 4:11-13, 16. God uses people like you and me. Just as the puzzle needs each piece to be complete, God needs each of us to work together to do good things for his kingdom. Lay out the drawings the children made with the design maker. Point out the drawings similarities and differences. Reread Ephesians 4:11-12. Say: God made us to work together, and he gave each of us different gifts. None of us is exactly like another person, just as none of your designs is exactly like anyone else s. Sometimes we re surprised about the special gifts God has given us. Gideon knew he was a good farmer, but he didn t know God could make him a great soldier. Let s try an activity now that shows us that God can use anyone even you and me to do special things for him. Return the design maker and blank puzzle to the Learning Lab. n God Can Use Anyone! SUPPLIES: Anyone? Anyone! handout (p. 127), scissors, basket, CD player Before class, photocopy the Anyone? Anyone! handout, and track 12 cut apart the cards. Put them in a basket, and set them aside. Ask for two volunteers to stand in front of the class. They will be your actors. Have volunteers put on the foam funny masks. Have another student draw a slip of paper from the basket and hand it to you. Whisper the name of the character on your slip of paper to the pair, and allow them 30 seconds to come up with a short skit to act out the character. They may use word clues or actions, but they must work together to get the rest of the class to guess the character. Allow the class three chances to guess the character, and then share the answer with the class. Then choose two new volunteers to wear the masks, and choose a new slip of paper. Continue until everyone has had at least one turn. Put the foam funny masks away. Gather the class, and ask: What was it like to act as if you were someone else? (It felt funny; it was fun to act like someone else; it was hard not to be myself.) When God chooses someone to do something special for him, whom does he choose? (Special people; people who are really smart; ordinary people.) What special things can you do for God? (Tell my friends about Jesus; help my mom; play with my sister.) Say: Gideon didn t think he was special enough or talented enough to do anything very important, but God used Gideon to do amazing things. You are very important, no matter who you are or how young you are, and God can use you, too! Listen to what our Bible verse for today says about that. It comes from 1 Timothy 4:12: Don t let anyone think less of you because you are young. God doesn t just need really smart people or really strong people or people who are a certain age. God uses people like you and me! Let s listen to a special song about that. 122

God Speaks to Gideon Play Because You Are Young (1 Timothy 4:12a) on track 12 of the CD. Lyrics can be found at the end of the teacher guide. If time permits, play the song a second time, and encourage the children to sing along. Say: Let s talk more about what makes each of us special. HANDS-ON BIBLE For this activity, you ll need 10 index cards, a pen, and a bag or basket. Before class, write out two cards for each of the following words: speech, life, love, faith, and purity. Place the cards in a bag, and set it aside. Have children open their Hands-On Bibles to 1 Timothy 4 and find the activity called Good Examples on page 1192. Say: Today we are learning that when it comes to doing special things for God, God uses people like you and me. And it doesn t matter how young or old we are, either. If we are willing, God can do all kinds of important things through us. Let s read more about this. Read 1 Timothy 4:12 as children follow along in their Hands-On Bibles, and then read aloud the Good Examples activity. Have children form pairs. Have each pair draw an index card from the bag, and then act out a situation in which they can be a good example of what s listed on the card. When everyone has had at least one turn, ask: What was hardest or easiest about the word you acted out? (It was hard to act out faith because it s not something you can see and touch; acting out love was easy because you can show love through a hug.) What s one thing you can do this week to be a good example to others, even if they think you re young? (I can be nice to my big sister; I can open the door for my mom; I can help my neighbor in her yard.) Have children agree with their partners on one thing they can do this week to be a good example to others. n Princes and Princesses SUPPLIES: Bible, Coronation Decree handouts (p. 128), markers, scissors Before class, photocopy and cut apart the Coronation Decree handout for each child, plus a few extras for visitors. On each decree, write a child s name, and then complete the sentence with a positive quality for each student. For example, write King Brandon the Joy- Giver, Queen Ming Lee of Smiles, or King Juan, Lover of Animals. Keep the completed decrees out of sight in the Learning Lab. Say: Think about the special talents and gifts you have that God could use. I m going to pass around the foam visor. When it comes to you, draw a symbol on it and tell us what talent or gift you thought of. Give each child a marker. Pass the foam visor around, and have each child add a decoration that represents a special talent or gift. Say: Long ago, kings and queens were given extra names, like nicknames. When kings and queens did good things, they were given nicknames like 123

Lesson 10 If you have concerns about hygiene in sharing the headgear among the students, you may wish to simply hold the crown over each child s head when it is his or her turn. King Leo the Good. When they did bad things, they had nicknames like King Ivan the Terrible. Today each of you will be crowned and given a special good name. Put the visor crown on each child s head in turn, and say: Hear ye, hear ye. I crown you As you crown the children, hand them each their coronation decrees. Then set the foam visor aside, and ask: Did you think you would get a special name like that? Explain. (Yes, my mom always tells me I smile a lot; no, it surprised me that people think I m smart.) What was it like to be crowned with a special name? (It felt good; it made me happy; it made me feel special.) Say: Gideon felt a little like you did today. He didn t realize he was somebody special. Sometimes we re so busy with everyday things that we forget we really are part of a royal family God s family! And God is a king. Listen to what the Bible says. Read 1 Timothy 1:17. Ask: How does this Bible verse describe God? (God is the eternal King; God is the unseen one who never dies.) What are children of a king called? (Princes and princesses.) Say: God uses people like you and me. Even though we look like ordinary people, God makes us his children when we love him and obey him. And when we put our faith in his Son, Jesus, we become part of God s royal family, too. If we believe in Jesus, we will live with the King in heaven one day. That s really special! Today you talked about some of the special gifts God has given you. Someday you may use those gifts to do great things for God, just as Gideon did! To avoid spreading germs, have children wear the animal nose on their foreheads, or make a fist and wear it on their hands. Closing n God s Creations SUPPLIES: none Ask: What did you learn today? (That I m special; that God has a plan for me; that God uses people like me.) Have the children sit in a circle. Pass around the animal nose. Say: As the animal nose comes to you, put it on and think of something that makes you feel as if you re not very smart, talented, or special. You don t have to say what it is. Then take the nose off, and say, I m not perfect, but God made me special. God uses people like me. When the animal nose has gone all the way around the circle, put it aside and pray: God, thank you for using people like us to do great things for your kingdom. Sometimes we feel as if we re not very special, but we know that you have created each of us in a wonderful way. Because of you, each of us is a special person. Thank you for making us special. In Jesus name, amen. 124

God Speaks to Gideon Growing closer to Jesus extends beyond the classroom. Photocopy the Growing Together handout (at the end of this lesson) for this week, and send it home with your children. Encourage children and parents to use the handout to plan meaningful activities on this week s topic. Follow up the Growing Together activities next week by asking children what their families did together. 125

God s Servant Name Tags Photocopy this page, and cut apart the name tags where indicated. Have children decorate them and write their names in the boxes. Then help the children attach the name tags to their clothing. 126 Permission to photocopy this page from Group s Hands-On Bible Curriculum Grades 1 & 2 granted for local church use. Copyright Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Ave., Loveland, CO 80538. group.com

Anyone? Anyone! Photocopy this handout, and cut the sections into separate cards. SUPERMAN A TEACHER THE PRESIDENT SPIDER-MAN A MOTHER MR. INCREDIBLE A FATHER MICKEY MOUSE Permission to photocopy this page from Group s Hands-On Bible Curriculum Grades 1 & 2 granted for local church use. Copyright Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Ave., Loveland, CO 80538. group.com 127

Coronation Decree I hereby declare that shall now be known as. I hereby declare that shall now be known as. 128 Permission to photocopy this page from Group s Hands-On Bible Curriculum Grades 1 & 2 granted for local church use. Copyright Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Ave., Loveland, CO 80538. group.com

Gideon 10: God uses people like you and me. Bible Story God speaks to Gideon (Judges 6:11-24). Bible Verse Don t let anyone think less of you because you are young (1 Timothy 4:12). Hidden Colors Fold a coffee filter in half. Scribble 1 inch inside the rounded edge with a green marker. Make a second scribble with a black marker so the two marks are on the same side of the filter but not touching. Roll the filter to form a cone and secure with a paper clip. Stand the filter up in a saucer of water. Leave for about an hour. The black mark will separate into a rainbow of blue, yellow, and purple. The green mark will separate into a rainbow of blue and yellow. Talk about how no matter how we look on the outside, inside we re as beautiful and multicolored as a rainbow because God made us special. Bedtime Story Share this story with your child: People in a church planned to place a statue of Jesus in their garden. They finally selected one that was just right. The sculptor carefully packed the statue for shipping, but when it arrived at the church, both its hands and feet were broken off. The sculptor offered to travel to the church to repair the statue, but the church members decided that they d remember their jobs better if the statue stayed as is broken. Talk with your child about why the church may have made that decision. What does it mean to be the hands and feet of Jesus? Today your child learned that God uses ordinary people to accomplish great things. Only God knows the special future that is in store for your child. Use these activities to help your child learn that God has a great plan for him or her and that God uses people just like you and me. Kid Craft For each family member, cut out 4-inch squares of construction paper in four different colors. Cut each square into four triangles by matching opposite corners together, creasing the paper, and cutting on the fold lines. Give each family member 16 triangles (four triangles of each color) and an 8-inch square of construction paper. Have family members tape or glue their triangles to the 8-inch square to form a quilt block. When everyone has finished, compare the different blocks, and talk about how God has a separate and special plan for each of us. Have family members autograph their quilt blocks and share what they think God has planned for them. Personal Treats Melt 5 cups of marshmallows and 1/2 stick of margarine. Divide the mixture into bowls one per family member. Cool until the goo becomes sticky. Then let each person stir in Rice Krispies, M&M s, Red Hots, peanuts, chocolate chips, granola, or dried fruit. Have everyone wet his or her hands and mold the goo into shapes. Talk about how God gave different likes, dislikes, gifts, and talents to each person. Permission to photocopy this page from Group s Hands-On Bible Curriculum Grades 1 & 2 granted for local church use. Copyright Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Ave., Loveland, CO 80538. group.com 129