LEADER GUIDE DECEMBER range to bottom edge He s Here! JANUARY God s Guide Book FEBRUARY Decisions, Decisions X WINTER 2010-11
Session Title He Was Promised Week of december 5, 2010 Bible Passage Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 11:1-5; Micah 5:2 Level of Biblical Learning (Jesus) God planned for Jesus from the beginning of time. Bible Truth God promised to send the Savior. Life Application I can know that God promised to send the Savior. Memory Verse A child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 Isaiah spoke and wrote seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus. While most of the Book of Isaiah was a message of judgment for sin, it also offered the hope of salvation. An interesting feature of many of the prophecies of Isaiah is that they told of a soon-to-happen event and a distant future event at the same time. So it s possible that Isaiah 7:14 held present meaning for King Ahaz, to whom Isaiah was speaking in this chapter (see v. 3), and future meaning for all of God s people. Isaiah 9:6 is a further development of the seed planted in Isaiah 7:14. It establishes not only that a child would be born but also that the child would be a perfect ruler over God s people. Look at the descriptive names for the Messiah in Isaiah 9:6 and determine which name tells us He is: n God Himself n A just and peaceful ruler n Timeless n The one who gives the right advice This verse also connects the birth of an earthly child to the personhood of God and His eternal kingdom. Some believe this makes a connection between Jesus first and second comings. In the first five verses of Isaiah 11, God revealed that the Messiah would be a descendant of David. But instead of stating it directly, the verse refers to David s father, Jesse, a man who lived in humble obscurity. By the time Jesus was born, the house of David had returned to its humble roots; neither Joseph nor Mary came from prominent homes. But from obscure beginnings this tender new branch of Jesse s family tree would grow. Empowered by the Spirit of the Lord, this new leader would become the ultimate example of justice (v. 3-4). He would do this, said Isaiah, by wrapping himself in two important qualities. Read verse 5 to learn what those qualities are. The fourth prophecy in today s study is found in the Book of Micah. Hundreds of years before Jesus birth, Micah accurately predicted He would be born in Bethlehem (see Micah 5:2 and Luke 2:4-7), appropriately known as the city of David. Bethlehem literally means the house of bread, so it s fitting that the person who is known as the Bread of life would be born there (John 6:48). Using these passages of Scripture can help you to tell preteens that God, through the prophets Isaiah and Micah, told of God s promise for the coming Savior. 6 bible teaching experience for preteens
Extend This Session (page 7, use before or after session) Preteens will create slogans using the first letters of the books of Major Prophets. Excite (page 7, 5-10 minutes) An active categories game introduces the Bible story and life application. Experience The Bible (pages 8-9, 25-30 minutes) Bible passages research, a scrambled word memory verse activity, and a prophecy/fulfillment activity will help preteens know that God promised to send the Savior. Express Yourself (pages 10-11, 20-25 minutes) RGirls: Pack Your Bags RBoys: God s Promised Savior Concentration RBoys and Girls: Road Trip Memories Game DIRECTOR OR TEACHER Mini Bumper Stickers 1. Bible Books Poster (Pack Item 2). Attach the poster to a focal wall. Direct preteens attention to the books of the Major Prophets on the poster. 2. Distribute a half sheet of paper to each preteen. 3. Guide preteens to design bumper sticker slogans using silly mnemonic sentences. The words of the sentence should begin with the first letters of the books of the Major Prophets (I Isaiah, J Jeremiah, L Lamentations, E Ezekiel, D Daniel). Examples: Isn t jogging lazy exercise, dude? or I just love eating donuts. RPack Item 2 Rhalf sheets of paper Provide one for each preteen. DIRECTOR AND/OR TEACHER ABC Billboard Game 1. Form two teams. Designate a preteen from each team to keep score. 2. Lay the alphabet cards in order faceup on the floor. 3. Call out categories such as Christmas food, songs, decorations, or gifts. When you call out a category, one team will race to shout a word in that category that begins with each letter of the alphabet. Allow one minute per category. Play will continue with the second team calling out responses to the second category. 4. Transition to Experience. Comment that many items listed are things preteens may have seen advertised on TV or billboards. Remind them that God did not use a billboard to advertise His promise to send a Savior. Instead, He sent the message through His prophets. Rindex cards Write each letter of the alphabet in large print on a separate card. EXCEPTION: Alphabet Cards (CD-ROM) Week of december 5, 2010 7
Week of december 5, 2010 RPack Items 3, 4, 6 Prior to class, post the Old Testament Division signs around the room. RTeaching Picture 1 Rlearner guide (pages 3, 4) Ryellow poster board Scramble each word of Isaiah 9:6. Write the scrambled words on a piece of poster board. EXCEPTION: Isaiah 9:6 (CD-ROM) Rtwo 3-foot lengths of white craft paper Draw black vertical dashes down the center of each sheet to make it look like a highway. In the corner of one sheet write Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Micah 5:2. In the corner of the other sheet write Isaiah 11:1-5. ROPTION: Life Application Video: Can Do Cameron (www.lifeway.com/worshipkidstyle) DIRECTOR 1 INTRODUCE THE UNIT AND THE SESSION. R December Title Banner (Pack Item 3). Tell preteens that even though the title banner refers to the birth of Jesus, today s study takes place hundreds of years before His birth when God spoke through prophets. Define prophet as one who speaks for God. 2 PRACTICE BIBLE SKILLS. R Old Testament Division Signs (Pack Item 6). Invite preteens who completed the Extend activity to recall the books of the Major Prophets. As you call out book names, lead preteens to move around the room and stand beneath the sign for the division in which each book is located: Daniel, Exodus, Joshua, Psalms, Ezekiel, Deuteronomy, 1 Kings, Proverbs, Genesis, Isaiah. 3 hear the word. R God s Promise Through the Prophets (learner guide). Set up the Bible study by sharing the first two paragraphs of God s Promise Through the Prophets in your own words. Encourage preteens to read the entire story at home. Form two groups. Distribute prepared craft paper and markers. Direct preteens to read the Bible passages with their group and list each promise about the Messiah they find in the verses on the highway. Offer help as needed. RDebrief. Call for each group to read its list of promises. Clear up any misinformation. 4 REVIEW. 8 R Paved with Promises (learner guide). Guide preteens to complete the activity and compare it with the lists they made in step 3. Allow them to add to their lists any promises they omitted. bible teaching experience for preteens
Ask the review questions for this session (page 30). 5 know the word. RIsaiah 9:6 memory verse (Pack Item 4). Lead preteens to read the verse and count how many promises it contains. (seven) RMemory verse scramble. Cover the memory verse poster and hold up the yellow scrambled memory verse poster board. Challenge preteens to recite the verse, using the scrambled words poster as a guide. Take away both posters and lead preteens to say the verse from memory. 6 do the word. RTeaching Picture 1. Display the teaching picture. Comment that even the birthplace of Jesus (Bethlehem) was correctly prophesied, even though it was only a small village and neither Mary nor Joseph lived there. Ask: How does this help you know that this event was planned by God? Help preteens understand that the Messiah s coming was not only promised, it was planned. It was no accident or afterthought. Comment that today s passages will help preteens know and understand that God promised to send the Savior. 7 Pray and FORM EXPRESS GROUPS. Lead in prayer, thanking God for His promise to send the Savior. Then dismiss preteens to their Express groups. Week of december 5, 2010 9
Girls RPack Items 4, 7 Make one copy of Pack Item 7 for each girl. R10 small paper bags Rindex cards Rlarge Christmas gift bag Rsnack-sized candy bars Provide one for each girl. TEACHERS Girls: Pack Your Bags RIsaiah 9:6 memory verse (Pack Item 4). Direct girls to use the memory verse poster as a reference and choose which of the characteristics of Jesus tell that He is: 1. God Himself (Mighty God) 2. A just and peaceful Ruler (Prince of Peace) 3. Timeless (Eternal Father) 4. The One who gives the right advice (Wonderful Counselor) R Map It! (Pack Item 7). 1. Guide girls to use their Bibles and work in pairs to complete the activity. As they work, discuss their responses. (Wonderful Counselor 1, 6, 7; Mighty God 3, 4; Eternal Father 8, 9; Prince of Peace 2, 5, 10) 2. Distribute 10 index cards and small paper bags. Instruct girls to write each of the 10 references on a separate card along with some keywords from the verse(s). 3. Place each completed card in a separate paper bag then place the small bags in the large gift bag. 4. Instruct girls to turn their Map It sheets facedown on the table. Girls will take turns drawing a small paper bag, removing the card, and sharing which of the Isaiah 9:6 characteristics Jesus demonstrated in that Scripture. Wrap Up. Discuss how comparing events from Jesus ministry with the prophecy of Isaiah 9:6 helps girls know the Savior s coming was not only promised, it was planned. Give each girl a piece of candy as she leaves. Boys RPack Item 7 Make one copy for each boy. RWrite the words of Isaiah 9:6 on a large sheet of paper and display it on the wall. Rconstruction paper Provide 20 sheets of one color RGiant Game Floor Mat (optional) Boys: God s Promised Savior Concentration RMatch Scripture traits. Direct boys to use the prepared Isaiah 9:6 poster as a reference and choose which of the characteristics of Jesus tell that He is: 1. God Himself (Mighty God) 2. A just and peaceful Ruler (Prince of Peace) 3. Timeless (Eternal Father) 4. The One who gives the right advice (Wonderful Counselor) 10 bible teaching experience for preteens
R Map It! (Pack Item 7). Guide boys to use their Bibles and work in pairs to complete the activity. As they work, discuss their responses. (Wonderful Counselor 1, 6, 7; Mighty God 3, 4; Eternal Father 8, 9; Prince of Peace 2, 5, 10) RCreate a concentration game. 1. Distribute construction paper and markers. 2. Make a list of the top 10 keywords or phrases from today s study. (Suggestions: Immanuel, virgin, Bethlehem, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace, Isaiah, Micah, prophet) 3. Guide boys to make 2 sets of the 10 words by writing each word in large letters on separate sheets of construction paper. 4. Mix up the 20 construction paper sheets and place each sheet facedown on the floor, creating a grid of 5 rows and 4 columns or use the Giant Game Floor Mat. 5. Form two teams and play concentration. Players from each team will take turns turning over two sheets. If the words match, he keeps the set. If not, he turns them facedown and the next player takes a turn. When a player makes a match, he must tell what he learned about that term during today s study. The team with the most matches wins. Wrap Up. Discuss how studying the verses from Isaiah and Micah helps boys know the Savior s coming was not only promised, it was planned. Boys and Girls: Road Trip Memories Game R Road Trip Memories Gameboard (Pack Item 5). 1. Explain the rules printed on the pack item. 2. Form two teams. 3. Play the game using this week s review question cards. 4. When all the review questions have been answered, continue play using only the questions on the gameboard. RMatch Scripture traits. Direct boys and girls to use the memory verse poster as a reference and choose which of the characteristics of Jesus tell that He is: 1. God Himself (Mighty God) 2. A just and peaceful Ruler (Prince of Peace) 3. Timeless (Eternal Father) 4. The One who gives the right advice (Wonderful Counselor) Wrap Up. If neither team landed on space #7 on the gameboard, read the question and invite several preteens to respond. Lead preteens to discuss how studying the verses from Isaiah and Micah helps them know the Savior s coming was not only promised, it was planned. Week of december 5, 2010 Boys and Girls RPack Item 5 RPrior to class, write this week s review questions (page 30) on separate index cards. Do not include the answers. EXCEPTION: December Review Questions Without Answers (CD-ROM) 11