Three Year Olds Summer Lesson 7 Bible Passage: Jonah 1 4 (Jonah) Our God Saves LESSON OVERVIEW 8:15-8:45 8:45-9:05 9:05-9:25 9:25-9:45 9:45 - end 10:30-11:00 11:00-11:25 11:25-11:40 11:40-12:00 12:00 - end Be in class for CONNECT/ CHECK-INS - playtime - coloring pages GATHER: - Welcome - God s Big Story RESPOND - 2-3 prepared crafts/activities WORSHIP BLESS and Snack - playtime until end *see Resources 2018 David C Cook. TruResources are developed in partnership with ROCKHARBOR Church and a national network of family and children s ministry leaders. All rights reserved. Reproducible for church use only.
LEADER PREP Each week you ll find encouraging articles that help you prepare your heart to present the lesson. Inspire Shares personal stories from fellow ministry leaders about how God has worked in their lives From a long way off I could see my children leaping and shouting. They began dragging a long, tangled mess of seaweed across the sand to the place where I was sitting on my towel. Surely this excitement wasn t over seaweed! As they drew near, I saw why they were excited. A tiny octopus had been captured in this sea net and washed up onto shore. Can we keep it? they asked. Can I put it in my room? What does an octopus eat? They all hoped this would be their new pet. In a great act of parental and environmental discipline, I told them that not only could we not take this octopus home, we needed to save this creature by putting it immediately back in the water. I explained that there was no way it would survive otherwise. So with much grumbling and sorrow, we carefully carried the mass of seaweed out a few feet into the water and sent the octopus back to the life it was meant to live. I m reminded of our God. He is mighty to save us this same way. He notices us when we re living outside of our relationship with Him. He knows that we won t survive long in a world without Him, and so He comes for us, rescues us, and saves us from the death that will come outside of being with Him. Even amidst our tangled messes, He is trustworthy. God has the power and the desire to bring us back to where we belong. Amy Palmerton ROCKHARBOR Church Equip Offers perspective and context to the lesson s Bible passage God chose Abraham and his descendants to proclaim His truth and identity to all people. However, the gift of relationship with God was never intended to be for Abraham s descendants alone; it was to come from Abraham s line to bring salvation to the world. God would often send His message through prophets to awaken the people so they would be moved to repentance and restoration. Jonah, a prophet of God, was given a message to take to the Gentile people of Nineveh. God said, Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me (Jonah 1:2). But Jonah ran from the Lord. He boarded a boat manned by a small crew with plans to travel to Tarshish. During King Solomon s reign, when he sent ships to Tarshish, he didn t expect their return for three years. This indicates a trip of significant time and distance. Jonah tried to flee from the Lord because he was aware of the purposes behind God s message (Jonah 3:10 4:3). Nineveh was an important city in the Assyrian Empire. Although the Assyrians and the Israelites had a tumultuous relationship for many years, at this time, the Israelites had been free from Assyrian rule for approximately 50 years. Regardless, Jonah fled, for he knew God would call this Gentile city to repentance. It seems strange to think a prophet of God would flee from His clear commands especially when the goal of the message was to bring repentance and grace to its recipients. It s possible Jonah s response was reflective of the heart of the Israelite people. Perhaps he was jealous for the relationship his people had with God and didn t relish the thought of the Lord extending grace and compassion toward the enemies of Israel. After hearing and believing his message, the people of Nineveh repented and were shown grace and mercy by the Lord. Support Provides reflection and assessment through encouragement, prayer, and time in God s Word God is able to save us from a life of separation from Him. He wants to save us from having to figure out life on our own terms. Without a daily relationship with Jesus, we might be tempted to go our own way or take back control of areas best left in the hands of a loving God. It isn t comfortable for some of us to think about giving up control of our lives. It also isn t comfortable for some of us to pray with other people who desire for God to save them. Maybe it would be helpful for you to develop your own simple prayer of salvation to remind you that God s desire is for everyone to know Him. Take time this week to think about how you d pray with someone who wants to let God take control of his life.
!! Children develop relationships with their leaders and one another through simple activities and conversation starters. - Playtime - Coloring Pages Children experience and learn more about God through traditions, song, and storytelling from The Big God Story. Welcome Bible Story Spots Hamilton puppet Magnetic fishing pole and a fish Ponder Point: Our God Saves Hi, kids! Welcome! I m so excited to be here with you. It s time to hear a part of The Big God Story. On the count of three, let s call Hamilton the Hedgehog. Are you ready? One, two, three. Hamilton, where are you? Encourage kids to call for Hamilton. Hamilton walks out of his house holding the fishing pole and fish. Hamilton, were you fishing? Hamilton nods and whispers in the Storyteller s ear. Hamilton said that we re going to hear about a great big fish in the part of the story we re hearing today. Are you ready to hear this part of The Big God Story? Hamilton nods excitedly. Me too! Do you know where we can find The Big God Story? Hamilton nods his head and gestures to the Bible. That s right the Bible. But before we dig, dig, dig right into God s Word to find out what He has to say to us, let s all stand up and sing our Bible Song together. Bible Song (sung to the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb ) Now it s time to hear God s Word Hear God s Word Hear God s Word Now it s time to hear God s Word So let s look in the Bible As the song ends, have the children return to their Story Spots. Hamilton can model this for the children by sitting quietly as he listens to The Big God Story. The Big God Story The Big God Story is written for a three-year-old audience. It can be told in its entirety or shortened if the class is on the younger side. Jonah Our God Saves Jonah 1 4
! The Big God Story images #1 6 (see Resources) Card stock (6 sheets, white) Hamilton puppet Hamilton s fishing pole and a fish PREPARE AHEAD Print The Big God Story images in color onto the card stock. Set The Big God Story images within reach of the Storyteller. Before we get started, let s pray and ask God to teach us. Lead children in a Prayer of Release to pause, be still, and ask the Holy Spirit to quiet their hearts and minds. There once was a man named Jonah. Show The Big God Story image #1. God talked to Jonah, and Jonah believed God s words. One day, God said, Jonah, go to Nineveh. Nineveh was a busy place full of people. The people there didn t love God. They didn t know God, and they were doing bad things. They needed Jonah to visit them and tell them about God. But Jonah didn t want to go to Nineveh. So guess what. Jonah ran away. He got on a boat and went far, far away. Show image #2. Jonah tried to run away from God. Do you think God saw Jonah on the boat? Allow children to respond. Yes, God saw Jonah, because He is always with us. While Jonah was on the boat, God sent a great storm. The boat began to rock back and forth, back and forth. Encourage kids to rock back and forth as if they re on the boat. Everyone on the boat was so afraid. Can you show me your scared faces? Make a scared face and encourage children to do the same. Jonah knew that God sent the big storm since he was trying to run away from God. Jonah said to the other people, Throw me off the boat, and God will stop the storm. So the people on the boat threw Jonah into the sea. Show image #3. All of a sudden, the big storm stopped. God saved the men on the boat, but Jonah was in the deep sea! Do you think God saved Jonah too? Allow children to respond. Yes, our God can save. Hamilton holds out his fishing pole with the fish on the end. Hamilton, why do you have that? Hamilton whispers in your ear. Oh, Hamilton says God sent a great big fish to swallow Jonah. Show image #4. Jonah was safe in the fish s belly for three days and three nights. Can you help me count to three? Count with children. One, two, three. Great job! When Jonah was inside the fish, he prayed to God. Jonah was sorry he ran away. Guess what happened next? The fish spit out Jonah onto the sand. Show image #5. God talked to Jonah again and gave him another chance to obey. Do you think Jonah listened and obeyed this time? Allow children to respond. Yes, he did. Show image #6. Jonah went to Nineveh. The people heard about God and believed God s words. Who saved the men on the boat? Allow children to respond. God did! Who saved Jonah? Children respond. God did! Who saved the people of Nineveh? Children respond. God did! Do you think God can save you and me when we ask Him for help? Children respond. Yes, He can! Our God saves! Have the children say good-bye to Hamilton as he goes back into his house. Thank him for coming and being a part of The Big God Story. Children reflect on what the Holy Spirit is teaching them and respond to God through creative activities and games. Craft: Great Big Fish! To remind them of how a big fish swallowed Jonah, children color a paper plate fish and tape a picture of Jonah in its belly.
Fish and Jonah template (see Resources) Card stock (1 sheet per child, white) Scissors Stapler Paper plates (1 per child) Crayons Double-sided tape PREPARE AHEAD Print the Fish and Jonah template onto white card stock, one per child. Cut out the fish parts and Jonah figures. Create a fish for each child by stapling the fish s fins to the sides of each paper plate and the tail to the back. Place a paper-plate fish at each child s seat. Place crayons in the middle of the table. Invite children to join you at the table. Today we heard about a great big fish swallowing Jonah. We each have a fish in front of us. Can you color your fish? Encourage children to use the crayons to color their fish. When you re finished, I ll give each of you a picture of Jonah. We re going to put Jonah in the middle of our fish s belly. When children are finished coloring their fish, give them a Jonah to color. As they finish, help them tape Jonah to the middle of the fish s belly. Activity: Should We Run Away? Jonah ran away from God instead of obeying him. Children play a game where they practice obeying directions. Masking tape Create a large circle on the floor with the masking tape. Invite children to join you around the circle. Can everyone find a spot on the circle? Thank you! God asked Jonah to go and tell people about Him. Did Jonah obey God? Allow children to respond. No, he ran away. We re going to play a game. When I say, run, you ll run around the circle. When I say, stop, you ll stop running. Then, I ll ask you to do something else. Let s practice listening. Start playing the game. You can include other actions such as crawl, skip, hop, walk, or sing. Game: Pin Jonah on the Fish Children play a game where they try to put Jonah in the fish s belly to help them remember how a big fish swallowed Jonah after he disobeyed God. Jonah Game template (see Resources) Jonah Game Fish template (see Resources) Paper (one 11" x 17" sheet and one 8 ½" x 11" sheet) Scissors Double-sided tape Marker Optional: blindfold PREPARE AHEAD Print the Jonah Game Fish template onto the 11- by 17-inch sheet of paper and the Jonah Game template onto the 8½inch by 11-inch sheet of paper (print enough for one Jonah picture per child). Cut out the pictures of Jonah.
! Tape the fish up on the wall within children s reach. Use the marker to write each child s name on a Jonah. Put a piece of tape on the back of each Jonah. Invite children to join you near the fish game. In The Big God Story, the people on the boat threw Jonah off the boat and into the sea. A big fish came and swallowed him. We ll take turns trying to put Jonah in the fish s belly. I ll turn you around three times so you re a little dizzy. Then you can try to put Jonah in the belly. Assist children as they walk over to the fish to tape Jonah to the belly of the fish. For an added challenge, have children close their eyes or cover their eyes with a blindfold. WORSHIP// 9:25 and 11:40 2 s - In your classroom 3 s - in the worship room, unless combined with 2 s Children receive a blessing from their leaders and sometimes one another. A blessing can be a prayer of commission, a portion of Scripture, or words to encourage and guide. At Home Weekly 4.5 4.8 (see Resources) Bible Place a hand on the shoulder or head of each child as you speak the following blessing: (Child s name), our God saves. May you know He is always with you and that you can call on Him when you need help. Open a Bible and read Galatians 3:26: So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. Send home the At Home Weekly 4.5 4.8 with any families who may need one.