UNIT 1. BE A LEADER / PRESCHOOL SESSION 2 - JOSHUA LED THE PEOPLE BIBLE PASSAGE: Joshua 3:1 4:7 LIFE POINT: God wants people to obey Him. CHRIST FOCUS: Jesus always obeyed God. BIBLE VERSE: Listen to what God says. Joshua 3:9 (Paraphrase) Listen to the words of the Lord your God. Joshua 3:9 (HCSB) Hear the words of the Lord your God. Joshua 3:9 (KJV) Listen to the words of the Lord your God. Joshua 3:9 (NIV) Listen to the words of the Lord your God. Joshua 3:9 (ESV) Hear the words of the Lord your God. Joshua 3:9 (NKJV) Production Notes p From simple to involved, you can tailor Worship for Life to your kids and leaders: Short on supplies and leaders? For an easy prep, enlist a host, a music leader, and prepare the Connection Point game. Then show the videos for the worship songs and other segments. Do you have musicians who would like to lead worship songs? Check out the lead sheets on the DVD-ROM or substitute your songs! v This symbol denotes that the segment or song is available on video. h This symbol indicates props that will be needed for today s session. 1
Schedule and Props v This symbol indicates that a video is provided on the DVD-ROM. p This symbol indicates that the activity is host or leader-led no video for this activity. Ups (Optional) p Huddle People: Small Group Leaders Supplies: large rubber ball (1 for each small group), Joshua Led the People Coloring Sheet (DVD-ROM), crayons or washable markers Intro v Backstage 1-2 minutes People: Stage Manager Props: headset, clipboard and Welcome v Countdown 1-5 minutes People: Host Props: none Song v Worship 3 minutes People: Worship Leader and/or Worship Team Point Game p Connection 5-10 minutes People: Host, everyone Props: none Story v Bible 5-6 minutes People: Storyteller Props: Bible Song v Worship 3 minutes People: Worship Leader and/or Worship Team Set-up, v Host Briana and Friends Video 2 minutes People: Host p Closing 2 minutes People: Host Props: none Outro v Backstage 1-2 minutes People: Stage Manager Props: headset off ears and around neck, car keys Ups (Optional) p Huddle People: Small Group Leaders FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 2
t TECH m music Video and/or audio capabilities Be a Leader Microphones for singers Everywhere I Go Lights (optional) God s Love Optional sound effects available (see sound effects file) I Give All My Thanks to You Jesus Is Alive We Can Love Jesus Need help planning your session? Additional training for Worship for Life: Kids is available at ministrygrid.com/web/biblestudiesforlife. FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 3
p HUDDLE UPS (OPTIONAL) Optional huddle ups are for churches that have a drop-off time before the session begins. There are multiple ideas for interaction during this time, such as simple games that preschoolers can play on the floor or within whatever arrangements you gather your kids. (Print the following for your small group leaders.) Roll It Invite kids to sit in a circle. Pick a category such as food and then roll a large rubber ball to one child. That child will name a food quickly and then roll the ball to someone else in the circle, who then names a food and rolls it to the next child. When you get all the way around the circle, pick another category and start over. Ideas could be animals, toys, names, and so forth. Color Joshua Led the People Coloring Sheets Tell preschoolers that today they will have the opportunity to learn that God wants people to obey Him. Distribute coloring supplies and coloring sheets to the preschoolers. Allow them to color on their pages while they wait for the session to begin. If the kids prefer to use blank paper, they can color on the back of the page. FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 4
v BACKSTAGE INTRO c Estimated time: 1-2 minutes Tech: Video option available, t Session Title slide p People: Stage Manager h Props: headset, clipboard (Show video or act out the following.) STAGE MANAGER (Show Session Title slide.) (walks in, distracted; looks around on floor) Hey, guys,. I m sorry, I just can t I can t find my car keys! I drove here this morning. I got out and closed the door, but I don t remember what I did after that! I ve looked in all of the places that I think they would be, but I just can t remember what I did I m so distracted today! Wait, what? (listens to headset) What do you mean retrace my steps? (listens to headset again) Oh! (to audience) The team is saying that I should retrace my steps and go back to all the places that I ve been today to see if I ve left my keys there. Does that sound like a good idea? OK! Now, I just have to remember where I ve been! While I do that, you guys can get started, OK? Good! You know what that means PLACES! (runs offstage) FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 5
v COUNTDOWN AND WELCOME c Estimated time: 1-5 minutes Tech: Countdown video, Life t Point slide, Bible Verse slide p People: Host h Props: none HOST (Play Countdown video. Host walks out at around 30 seconds.) Hey, guys! You know what to do, say it with me! 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Awesome job! How many of you have to obey your parents? What about your teachers here at church? Do you ever have to obey even when you don t want to? I ve had to obey when I didn t want to and it was hard! We ve all had to obey, haven t we? Well, did you know that God will help us obey Him? God knows how to help us obey Him, and He will help us if we ask Him. Today we want you to know that God wants people to obey Him. (Show Life Point slide.) Let s say that again together. (Repeat with slide.) God wants people to obey Him. Our Bible verse today helps us remember that we should listen to what God says! Let s say this together: (Show Bible Verse slide select preferred version.) Listen to what God says. Joshua 3:9 (Paraphrase) Listen to the words of the LORD your God. Joshua 3:9 (NIV) Listen to the words of the LORD your God. Joshua 3:9 (HCSB) Listen to the words of the LORD your God. Joshua 3:9 (ESV) Hear the words of the LORD your God. Joshua 3:9 (KJV) Hear the words of the LORD your God. Joshua 3:9 (NKJV) Let s stand and sing! (Host leaves as worship team gets in place.) FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 6
v SONG c Estimated time: 3 minutes Music or lyric video, mics t fortech:singers, lights (optional) People: Worship Leader p and/or Worship Team h Props: none Music: Everywhere I Go (lead m sheet available on DVD-ROM) or worship song of your choice (Show video or give the following to your worship leader.) LEADER (Music begins.) When you have to obey, isn t it nice to know that God is with us all the time and He will always help us obey? That s a reason to worship God, isn t it? Let s do that now and sing this with all we ve got! (Show the music or lyric video.) (Lead kids to sit as song ends.) Now, let s get ready for Connection Point! FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 7
p CONNECTION POINT GAME c Estimated time: 5-10 minutes Tech: Connection Point slide, t Connection Point theme music p People: Host, everyone h Props: none Game Instructions This game is for two or more competing teams. The Host stands at one end of the playing area and the teams stand on the other end. When the Host calls out a movement, the first players in line must move to the Host while doing the movement. If the Host says Freeze, players must stop in their tracks and listen for the next command. As soon as a player returns to the starting line, the next player in line goes. The first team to finish wins. Think of motion/command ideas (such as hop on one foot, crab walk, skip, spin, march, crawl, walk backward, tiptoe, hop like a frog, and so on). host (Play Connection Point theme music and show Connection Point slide.) (enters after theme music plays) Hi everyone, welcome to Connection Point! Our game today is for everyone! The first thing we need to do is form some teams! (Form equal teams of kids. Assign a leader to each team. Guide teams to line up at the starting point. The number of teams will be based on your number of kids and leaders). In today s game, all you have to do is get from that side of the room, over to me, and back to the next person in line. When you get back, you tag the next person and it s their turn to go. Easy, right? Well, there s a catch. When it s your turn, you can only move the way I say. So I may tell you that you have to hop on one foot or march like a soldier. But, if I say Freeze, then what do you have to do? That s right, stop and don t move. Then, when I say the next thing, like hop like a frog, you can start again. As soon as you get back to the next person in line and tag them, they can go! Are the first players ready? Here we go! (As the game is played, the Host will bring excitement by calling out of different movements while the teams and leaders are cheering each player on.) Great job, everyone! You all did a great job listening to the instructions and following the leader! Do you know who our leader is in life? It s God! He s the one we get to obey! We are going to hear more about that today. (Theme music/slide to transition. Host leads into next segment.) FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 8
v BIBLE STORY c Estimated time: 5-6 minutes Tech: Christ Focus, Life Point, and t Bible Story slides; Bible Story video p People: Storyteller h Props: Bible (Play the Bible Story video or tell the following Bible story.) STORYTELLER (Show Bible Story slide.) Hi, friends! Do your parents ever give you special instructions? (allows for responses) Maybe your ball rolls out into the street and your mom says Don t go into the street. Would it be important for you to obey your mom s instructions? (allows for responses) Yes, because your mom might see a car that is coming and she wants you to be safe. It s important for you to obey your parents instructions because they know what is best for you. In today s Bible story, we will hear how God s people obeyed Him. Give me a thumbs up and a smile if you are ready to hear this true story. Do you remember Joshua from last week? Joshua was the leader of God s people, the Israelites. Joshua and the Israelites were camping near the Jordan River. God was ready to take His people to the Promised Land, but they would have to cross the Jordan River first. The river was deep and overflowing with water. How were God s people going to get across? They had no boat to help them, but God had a plan. God gave Joshua special instructions for His people to cross the river. (Open Bible and read Joshua 3:9.) Joshua told the Israelites, Come closer and listen to the words of the Lord your God. Joshua told the people the instructions that God had given. God said the priests must carry the ark of the covenant, a special gold-covered box that held the Ten Commandments, into the river first. When they obeyed, the water in the river stopped flowing and it all piled together in one place. Now there was dry ground for everyone to walk on. God s people walked across the Jordan River on dry ground. It was a miracle! Let s shout, hooray! (allows for responses) When all of God s people made it to the other side, God told Joshua to choose 12 men to go back to the middle of the river and pick up 12 stones. Let s count to 12 together, ready? (counts out loud with kids) Good. Do you think the 12 men obeyed God? Yes, the 12 men carried the stones to the land where all the Israelites were waiting. Then they placed the stones on the ground to help them remember what God had done for His people. God s people could look at these stones and remember that God had pushed back the waters that day at the Jordan River. Friends, did God have instructions for Joshua and His people? Did God want His people to obey? Yes, God wants people to obey Him. Let s say that together: God wants people to obey Him. (Show Christ Focus Slide.) Did you know that even Jesus obeyed God? Jesus was perfect, but He always obeyed God even when it was hard! It s so important to obey our moms and dads and God, too! Let s pray. God, help us to obey You every day. We love You. Amen. FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 9
v SONG c Estimated time: 3 minutes Music or lyric video, mics t fortech:singers, lights (optional) People: Worship Leader p and/or Worship Team h Props: none Music: I Give All My Thanks to You m (lead sheet available on DVD-ROM) or worship song of your choice (Show video or give the following to your worship leader.) LEADER (Music begins.) The Israelites took stones and put them on the ground to help them remember what God had done for them. Right now, think of something that God has done for you whether it s helping your family or helping a sick friend feel better. Let s worship God by singing to Him and thanking Him for all that He s done. (Show the music or lyric video.) (Lead kids to sit as song ends.) FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 10
v HOST SET-UP, BRIANA AND FRIENDS VIDEO c Estimated time: 2 minutes t Tech: Briana and Friends video p People: Host h Props: none HOST Today we learned that God wants people to obey Him. Let s talk to our friend Briana about it. Listen carefully and remember, when she asks you a question, be sure to say your answers aloud! (Play video.) FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 11
p CLOSING c Estimated time: 2 minutes Tech: Session Title slide, t Bible Verse slide p People: Host h Props: none HOST (Show Session Title slide.) Joshua and the people saw God do a miracle when He stopped the river water. When we obey God, He does great things for us, too. When you leave today, ask your parents about times when they have obeyed God and what God did for them! (Show Life Point slide.) Remember, God wants people to obey Him. Let s say that one more time so we don t forget it. (Repeat with slide.) God wants people to obey Him. Optional Giving Segment: Part of obeying God means that we are thankful for all He does for us. When we re thankful to God for what He does, it should make us want to give back to Him! If you d like to give to God today, (Give your own directions for how the kids can give to God. Perhaps you have buckets in the back of the room, a chest up front, or an envelope that each small group leader passes.) (Show Bible Verse slide select preferred version.) Let s go over our verse one more time to remind us that we should obey God. Listen to what God says. Joshua 3:9 (Paraphrase) Listen to the words of the LORD your God. Joshua 3:9 (NIV) Listen to the words of the LORD your God. Joshua 3:9 (HCSB) Listen to the words of the LORD your God. Joshua 3:9 (ESV) Hear the words of the LORD your God. Joshua 3:9 (KJV) Hear the words of the LORD your God. Joshua 3:9 (NKJV) FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 12
v BACKSTAGE OUTRO c Estimated time: 1-2 minutes Tech: Video option available, t Session Title slide p People: Stage Manager Props: headset off ears and h around neck, car keys (Show video or act out the following.) STAGE MANAGER (Show Session Title slide.) Guess what? (jingles keys) I found my keys! I prayed and asked God to help me. He helped me remember all the places I had been! And you know where I found them? (motions to corner of stage) They were right over there! I was carrying in so many things that I didn t even know that I had dropped them! But much more important than finding keys is what we ve been talking about today. It is so important to obey God and follow His plan! This week, ask God to show you His plan. Then look around for ways that you can obey Him. He will help you make the right decisions. Be sure to grab the One Conversation page on your way out. It will help you talk with your family about what you ve learned. Can t wait to see you next week! FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 13
p HUDDLE UPS (OPTIONAL) This time is designed for churches that have a pick-up time from a large room as parents arrive. It s a great time for follow-up conversations and questions from small group leaders about the session s content. You also can use the missions emphasis (below). (Print the following for your small group leaders.) What happened when the priests got to the edge of the Jordan River? (They stepped in and the waters parted.) What did the people do after the water separated? (walked across on dry land) How did God ask the Israelites to remember what had happened? (Twelve men carried stones from the river. They stacked the stones on the side of the river to remember what God did.) MISSIONS EMPHASIS (OPTIONAL) Review some facts about Steven Kunkel and his work in Japan. Comment that Steven learned to speak Japanese. Remark that kids can learn to say some words in Japanese, too. Teach the kids the words and help them practice their pronunciations. Hello konnichiwa (kon-ee-chee-wa) Goodbye sayonara (sa-yo-na-ra) Thank you arigato (ah-re-gah-toe) Jesus Iesu sama (ye-soo sa-ma) Awesome sugoi (su-goi) Jesus is awesome! Iesu sama wa sugoi! (ye-soo sa-ma wa su-goi!) Give kids time to practice saying the words to each other. Missions Story: Stibuno Steven Kunkel works as a missionary in Japan, but Steven has a special story. Steven likes to draw. He draws a manga character called Stibuno. Manga is a style of Japanese comic book that is very popular. The stories in these comic books usually are about violence, adventure, romance, and action. But Steven s character, Stibuno, is about the love of Jesus. In the stories Steven writes, Stibuno s greatest challenge is for him to live in a world that does not know about Jesus. Stibuno wants to become a leader and share the gospel. Steven s greatest challenge is to share the gospel using his gifts. Steven says: Stibuno reminds me a lot about my childhood and how God has been helping me grow. Steven s parents are missionaries in South America. Steven was diagnosed with autism when he was 1 year old. Autism is a brain disorder. Some people with autism are nonsocial they do not like to talk to people or be touched by people. But God helped Steven. He loves being with other people and serving God. Even though he was FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 14
told he could never speak another language, he can now speak five languages, including Japanese. I would never imagine that I would really speak Japanese and become a major part of this church in Japan, Steven says. In Japan, Steven works for a Filipino-Japanese church. He translates for the pastor, teaches English to Japanese kids, helps in the youth ministry, and plays keyboard in the church band. Steven says he is much like his character Stibuno. He has been given new armor. Being far away from his family, he has learned to depend on God for help. He knows he was made to serve God, tell people about Jesus, and tell people how God helped him. Steven wants people with disabilities to know that they can have the hope of serving God. Not everyone is made the same. Steven wants people to never give up or lose hope because God is working in their lives. FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 15