Praise Jesus! Joshua Spares Rahab Because She Helped the Spies Lesson 13 Bible Point True heroes encourage others to follow God. Bible Verse When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours (Romans 1:12). Growing Closer to Jesus Students will n find out how it feels to encourage others and to be encouraged, n explore what the Bible says about encouraging others to follow God, and n reward one another for true heroism. Teacher Enrichment Bible Basis n Joshua spares Rahab because she helped the spies. Joshua 2:1-21; 6:1-27 This story reminds us how important encouragement is. Joshua secretly sent spies to Jericho. When they arrived, they went to the place where they would most likely hear gossip the house of a prostitute. This may be a suspicious place for the spies to go, although the word for prostitute can just as accurately be translated innkeeper. Rahab, who lived there, knew all about the Israelites and feared them and their God. She offered to hide the spies in return for safety for her family. She hid the spies at great personal risk. In Hebrews 11:31, Rahab was commended for her faith. Encouraged by a visit from God, Joshua directed the defeat of Jericho through unconventional means. Joshua s armed men silently marched around the town every day for six days. On the seventh day, they blew their horns and shouted, and the walls of Jericho fell. Rahab and her family were spared the plight of the rest of the town, just as the spies had promised. Without encouragement, the spies would not have been successful and Jericho would not have been taken. Other Scriptures used in this lesson are Matthew 5:14-16; 28:19-20; Titus 2:7-8; James 3:17-18. Prayer Read 2 Timothy 4:1-2. In what ways is God calling you to encourage? Pray: Dear God, I want to do my best to encourage others. Help me to see those who need it. Show me ways to encourage my kids in this class in ways that will lead them closer to you. In Jesus name, amen. 145
Lesson 13 Before the Lesson n Collect the necessary items for the activities you plan to use, referring to the Classroom Supplies and Learning Lab Supplies listed on the chart. n Make photocopies of the Hands-On Fun at Home handout (at the end of this lesson) to send home with your students. n Pray for your students and for God s direction as you teach the lesson. This Lesson at a Glance Attention Grabber What Students Will Do Classroom Supplies Learning Lab Supplies All-Out Encouragement Encourage each other while they play a game. Bible Exploration & Application Teamwork Perform tasks while linked in a circle, and read Joshua 2:1-21 and 1 Thessalonians 2:11 12. Tumbling Down Act out the story of the battle of Jericho from Joshua 6:1-27. Bibles Bibles Closing Superheroes Look at Bible maps and a globe, brainstorm ways to encourage others around the world to follow God, and read Matthew 5:14-16; 28:19-20; Titus 2:7-8; and James 3:17-18. Hero Awards Read Romans 1:12, decorate awards, and participate in an awards ceremony. Bibles, Hold Up the Light handout (p. 155), pencils, newsprint, markers, tape Bibles, CD player, celluclay shapes from Lesson 12, scissors, markers, yarn or string, construction paper 146
Welcome Joshua Spares Rahab Because She Helped the Spies As kids arrive, ask them how they applied last week s lesson to their lives. Ask questions such as What did the Bible passages teach you about following God s directions? and What happened when you followed God s directions this past week? Tell kids that whenever you blow the trumpet twice, they are to stop talking, raise their hands, and focus on you. Explain that it s important to respond to this signal quickly so the class can do as many fun activities as possible. It s important to say the Bible Point just as it s written in each activity. Repeating the Bible Point over and over throughout the lesson will help kids remember it and apply it to their lives. Module Review Use the casual interaction time at the beginning of class to ask kids the following module-review questions. Did you have to stand up for what you believe in the past weeks? If so, how did you find the courage and strength to do it? What worries can you trust God with? How does trusting God help you handle your worries? Have you experienced any good results because you followed God s directions? Explain. What is the most important thing you ve learned in this class during the past few weeks? Why? How is your life different because of what we ve learned in class this month? Attention Grabber n All-Out Encouragement SUPPLIES: none Have kids form three teams, and give each team a piece of curling ribbon about 3 or 4 feet long. Evenly distribute the pompoms among the three teams. Say: Form a circle on the floor with your curling ribbon. Then have everyone in your team stand around the circle about six feet back. When I say, You can do it! take turns tossing your pompoms into the circle. Each pompom may be tossed only once. If one lands outside the circle, you must leave it there. After one minute, I ll blow the trumpet twice. Then you ll count the number of pompoms inside your circle. Pompoms outside the circle don t count. There is only one more rule: You have to encourage each other for the entire minute. Say things such as Good job, Good throw, and That s OK. You can do it next time. Ready? You can do it! Use whatever length of curling ribbon you have left from previous activities, as long as the three teams each get about the same length. If you don t have any pieces as long as 3 feet left, use regular string or yarn for this activity. While kids are playing the game, join in with encouraging words such as Nice try! and Wow! What a shot. Encourage students to affirm each other for the entire time. 147
Lesson 13 After a minute, blow the trumpet twice, and wait for kids to respond. Say: Good job, all of you pompom tossers! Now count the number of pompoms inside your circle. See which team tossed the most pompoms into its circle. Then have all students clap for themselves and say, Way to toss! Place the pompoms and curling ribbon out of sight. Gather kids in a circle, and ask: What was it like to encourage each other for one minute? Explain. (Great, I like making people feel good; I couldn t think of encouraging things to say; it was fun.) How do people encourage you in real life? (They re interested in what I do; they compliment me; they love me and care for me.) What do people who love you encourage you to do? (Study; practice my piano lessons; be friendly; write letters to my grandparents.) Say: Our family and friends encourage us to do many good things. It s especially good when they encourage us to follow God. Ask: How do people encourage you to follow God? (They re interested in what I learn at church; they invite me to fun events at their churches; they pray for me.) Say: We can encourage each other to follow God in the same way that you encouraged each other to play the game well. True heroes encourage others to follow God. Today we re going to learn how we can do that. Amazing things happen when we encourage each other. Right now, let s find out how encouragement changed Rahab s life and how it affected an entire city. Bible Exploration & Application n Teamwork SUPPLIES: Bibles Distribute Bibles, and help kids find Joshua 2:1-21. Ask volunteers to read aloud three verses each. Encourage others to follow along in their Bibles. Ask: How did Rahab help the spies? (She hid them on the roof; she sent the king s men off in a different direction; she helped them escape from the city; she helped them climb down a wall with a rope.) What encouraged Rahab to follow the Israelites God? (She had heard of the miracles God did to help them; she knew God had dried up the Red Sea; she knew how strong and powerful God is.) Say: Rahab wanted to follow God because she had heard about all the miraculous things he had done for the Israelites. Rahab helped the spies, and Joshua and the Israelites were able to defeat Jericho. Now let s practice a little helping and encouraging ourselves. Gather the kids in a circle and say: Let s link ourselves together by linking elbows with the people next to us. Then I ll give you a task to perform. Encourage and help each other. Work as a team so everyone accomplishes the task together. Read the following tasks, and add some of your own. Feel free to adapt them to fit your classroom. Walk to the center of the room, sit down, stand up, and walk back to where you started. 148
Walk to a table, sit under it, shout Good job! and then walk back to where you started. Walk around a chair five times. Say, You can do it! each time around. Walk quietly out of the room to a drinking fountain, let each person get a drink, and then walk back. When the tasks have been completed, have kids sit in a circle and unlink elbows. Ask: What was it like to accomplish these tasks together? (It was fun; I liked working together; it was hard to do everything together.) How did you help and encourage each other? (We talked to each other; we went slowly; we said good things to each other.) How was the way you helped each other like the way Rahab helped the spies? (She was nice to them; she helped them; she worked with them.) Say: Let s read what the Bible says about how to encourage friends. Read aloud 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12. Ask: How do you help and encourage others to follow God? (I tell them about God; I invite them to Sunday school and other things at church; I read Bible stories to my little brother.) Say: True heroes encourage others to follow God. We can do that by telling others about God, by letting God s love shine in all we do, and by working together with other Christians as we did in our game. Rahab helped and encouraged the spies, and Joshua and his people were able to conquer the city. Joshua was also a true hero who encouraged others. Let s read more about Joshua. Joshua Spares Rahab Because She Helped the Spies n Tumbling Down SUPPLIES: Bibles Choose a volunteer to be Joshua, and have the rest of the class form these sound effects groups. Group 1: the people inside Jericho Group 2: the trumpet blowers Group 3: the walls Group 4: the Israelites Have the groups each read Joshua 6:1-27 and decide on a group sound effect. For example, the people inside Jericho could make a slamming sound and a shivering-infear noise, the trumpet blowers could use the trumpets from the Learning Lab, the walls could grunt when they re standing firm and then say crash when they re falling down, and the Israelites could make marching sounds and cheer when the walls fall down. Have Joshua say shh at the appropriate places in the story and You can shout! the seventh time the people march around the city. After kids read the story and decide on their sound effects, blow the trumpet twice, and wait for kids to respond. Then say: Now that we re familiar with this story, let s put sounds to it. Position groups a few feet apart from each other. Have Joshua stand near the Israelites and the trumpet blowers. Give the trumpets to the trumpet blowers. Tell the following story, and have kids perform their sound effects when you pause. 149
Lesson 13 It s OK to have one child per group. If you have fewer than five kids, have one child take more than one part. If you have time, switch sound effects roles. If you do this, have a bowl of soapy water and a towel close by so you can wash the trumpets before other kids use them. The people of Jericho were afraid of Joshua s army because they had heard what God had done for the Israelites. Pause. The people closed the gates to their city and didn t come in or go out. Pause. God planned to give the city of Jericho to Joshua and the Israelites. God told the Israelite people to march around the city of Jericho once a day for six days. Pause. The people of Jericho were still afraid, even though their city stood and the Israelites hadn t attacked. Pause. On the seventh day, Joshua, the priests, and the Israelites began marching around the walls of Jericho again. The trumpets sounded as the people marched around the walls of Jericho the first time that day, but the city walls stood firm. Pause. Joshua told his people, Don t say a word until I tell you. Pause. The Israelites marched a second time around the walls of Jericho. The people kept perfectly quiet. Pause. The trumpets sounded as the people marched. Pause. Still the walls stood firm. Pause. The people in Jericho were still afraid. Pause. Joshua reminded his people not to say a word. Pause. The people continued marching three, four, five, six times around the city. Pause. The trumpets sounded as the people marched. Pause. Still the walls stood firm. Pause. The people in Jericho were still afraid. Pause. During the seventh time around, Joshua commanded, The Lord has given you this city. This time, when the trumpets sound, you can shout! When you get into the city, spare Rahab and her family. As soon as the trumpets sounded again (pause), the people let out a mighty shout! Pause. The walls of Jericho fell with a loud crash. Pause. God helped the Israelites defeat Jericho. Joshua remembered how Rahab had helped and encouraged the spies. So he sent the two spies to get Rahab, her father, mother, brothers, and all those with her and take them to a safe place outside the city. Rahab and her family then lived with the Israelites. After the skit, put the trumpets away, and have the children give themselves a standing ovation for their outstanding performances. Have them remain standing, and say: Raise your hand when you think of an answer to each of the questions I m about to ask you. I d like to hear lots of different, interesting answers. When someone gives an answer you thought of and you don t have anything more to add, you may sit down. When everyone is seated, I ll ask you all to stand again for the next question. Ask: Why do you think the Israelites wanted to follow Joshua? (Because he followed God; they trusted him; he was their leader.) How do you think the Israelite army felt when the walls of Jericho came tumbling down? Explain. (Good, because God was faithful; surprised, because they didn t know what God would do; a little scared, because they had never seen anything like that before.) How do you think Rahab felt knowing she had helped the Israelites? (Glad she had helped them; happy her family was safe; thankful she had made the right decision.) What do you think makes Joshua a hero? (He trusted God; he led the people in the right way; he listened to God.) 150
Joshua Spares Rahab Because She Helped the Spies Say: True heroes encourage others to follow God. That s what made Joshua a hero! Ask: What heroes do you know who are like Joshua? (None; my parents; my pastor.) Say: Joshua encouraged others to trust that God would help them knock down Jericho s walls. Let s learn more about encouraging others to follow God. Say: Joshua and Rahab were heroes because they encouraged others to follow God. Jesus, though, is the ultimate hero. He encouraged everyone he encountered to trust God. Everything he said and did showed trust in God. Jesus took his encouragement to greater lengths than anyone to show us how to follow God. HANDS-ON BIBLE Give each student a paper plate and knife, several graham crackers, and enough marshmallow creme to share. You ll also want cleanup cloths or damp paper towels to clean up. Make sure kids have their Hands-On Bibles. Have students turn to page 217 in their Bibles and complete the Falling Walls activity found there. When kids are finished, ask: When have you needed God s power? (For a test; when my parents fight; when I don t get along with my friends.) Bible Insight Some scholars believe that the city of Jericho was Joshua s most important capture during his conquests. But most evidence suggests that Jericho was comparatively small among conquered cities. The significance of its capture is probably due more to its strategic location on the Jordan shore and the fact that Joshua dedicated it completely to Yahweh. n Superheroes SUPPLIES: Bibles, Hold Up the Light handout (p. 155), pencils, newsprint, markers, tape Before class, make a photocopy of the Hold Up the Light handout for each child. Inflate the inflatable globe from the Learning Lab. Make sure each child has a Bible. Help kids find maps of Bible times in the back of their Bibles. Kids might need to share if not all the Bibles have maps. While kids are looking at the maps, ask: What do you notice about the maps in your Bible? (They show the places that we learn about; they show journeys of different people in the Bible; they show how the different places changed.) Pass around the inflatable globe, and ask: How are the maps in your Bible different from this globe? (The globe shows more countries; the names of the places are different.) The world has changed so much since Bible times. Does that change the need for people to follow God? Why or why not? (No, everyone needs to know about God; yes, more people need to follow God; yes, people don t think they need God anymore; no, God still wants everyone to follow him.) Have kids scatter around the room. 151
Lesson 13 If groups have trouble getting started, offer these ideas: Matthew 5:14-16 Do good things or Live a good life. Titus 2:7-8 Be an example and do good or Speak the truth. James 3:17-18 Help people who are troubled or Be peaceful. Say: Now it s our turn to be superheroes. The Bible tells us to share God s Word with the whole world. So we re going to do that right now. Explain that you re going to bop the inflatable globe around the room. Each time children bop the globe, they should say one way they can share God s Word with the world. For example, they could say, Send Bibles to other countries, Be a good example, or Show Jesus love to others. Make sure kids stand firm and pass the globe carefully. Give kids a few minutes to pass the globe. When it sounds like ideas are beginning to thin out, gather kids back together and place the inflatable globe out of sight. Give each child a Bible, and help kids find Matthew 28:19-20. Have a volunteer read the verse aloud, and then ask: How can we use the Bible to tell the world about Jesus? (We can send the Bible to people; we can help others understand what the Bible says.) How does sharing the Bible with others make us heroes? (We save their lives by helping them turn to Jesus; we have to be strong to encourage others to follow Jesus, because it can be hard.) Say: Let s see what else the Bible says about encouraging others to follow God. Give each person a pencil and a photocopy of the Hold Up the Light handout. Form groups of three and assign each group one of these passages: Matthew 5:14-16; Titus 2:7-8; or James 3:17-18. It s OK if more than one group has the same Bible passage. Say: On your handout, put a check mark next to the Bible passage I assigned to your group. Read your passage aloud together, and then discuss what it says about how we can encourage others to follow God. Write your group s message in the space on your handout. Then, inside the light bulb, write or draw one way you can light the way and encourage someone to follow God this week. For example, you might write, I ll bring my friend to church next Sunday. Sign your initials on the superhero s chest as a symbol of your commitment. While kids are working, tape a sheet of newsprint to a wall. Write Ways to encourage others to follow God on the newsprint. After four minutes, blow the trumpet twice, and wait for kids to respond. Gather kids in front of the newsprint. Have volunteers from each group read their passages. Have other volunteers share their groups ideas about what the passages say about encouraging others. Then have volunteers share how they ll encourage someone to follow God this week. Write all the ideas on the newsprint. Ask: Why does God want us to encourage others to follow him? (So they can know God; because the Bible says so; because God loves everyone.) How have people encouraged you to follow God? (By teaching me about Jesus; by taking me to church; by praying for me; by telling me about the Bible.) How do you feel about encouraging someone to follow God? Explain. (Good, because I know I m pleasing God; nervous, because I might mess up.) Say: True heroes encourage others to follow God. You ve each come up with some great ways to be a true hero this week by encouraging someone to follow Christ! Now let s have our own awards ceremony for the true heroes we have in our class. 152
Closing n Hero Awards SUPPLIES: Bibles, CD player, celluclay shapes from Lesson 12, scissors, markers, yarn or string, construction paper Help kids find Romans 1:12 in their Bibles. Read the track 15 verse aloud together: When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Say: Today we learned that true heroes encourage others to follow God. Let s close our time together by practicing being heroes as we encourage each other in our faith. Have kids gather by the celluclay shapes from the last lesson. Say: Last week we made these shapes to help us remember how God loves and cares for us. Now that the shapes are dry, we can use markers to decorate them as medallions. When you re finished, I ll cut a piece of yarn for you to thread through your shape. Tie the ends of the yarn together, and make a medallion necklace like award-winning people receive. Supply colorful markers, and have kids decorate their shapes. Have construction paper and markers available for kids who didn t make clay shapes last week. Let those kids each draw a medallion on their paper, decorate it, and cut it out. When kids finish, supply different lengths of colorful yarn or string. Help children thread the yarn through the hole in the shapes and tie the two ends together. Say: We re going to hold an awards ceremony for all the heroes in this classroom. First, form pairs for this activity. Have partners stand next to each other in a circle. Then say: And now for our awards ceremony. One at a time, affirm your partner by saying, [Your partner s name] encourages others to follow God. What a hero! Then put your partner s medallion around his or her neck. Then your partner will do the same for you. We ll go around the circle until everyone has received a hero award. Play Hero Award (track 15) on the CD while kids present their awards. After everyone has accepted a medallion, say: True heroes encourage others to follow God. True heroes stand up for what they believe, trust in God, and follow God s directions. Isn t it great to be in a room full of friends who are true heroes? Have kids join hands in the circle. Pray: Dear God, as we wear our medallions home, help us encourage others to follow you. We thank you for loving us and caring for us every day. In Jesus name, amen. Joshua Spares Rahab Because She Helped the Spies 153
Lesson 13 Growing closer to Jesus extends beyond the classroom. Photocopy the Hands-On Fun at Home handout (at the end of this lesson) for this week, and send it home with your kids. Encourage kids and parents to use the handout to spark meaningful discussion on this week s topic. 154
You are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14a). Place a check mark in the box next to the passage you ve been assigned. q Matthew 5:14-16 q Titus 2:7-8 q James 3:17-18 Read your passage together. What does your passage say about how you can encourage others to follow God? Write your ideas below: Now, think of one way you can be a light for Christ and encourage others to follow him. Write or draw your idea in the light bulb. Write your initials on one hero s chest as a commitment that you ll pursue your idea this week! Permission to photocopy this handout from Group s Hands-On Bible Curriculum, Grades 3 & 4, granted for local church use. Copyright Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538. group.com 155
Lesson 13 True heroes encourage others to follow God. When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours (Romans 1:12). Give each family member a pencil and a sheet of paper. Have family members each think of a friend who doesn t follow God. Ask them to write four ways they can encourage these friends to follow God, such as inviting them to church or Sunday school or telling them about God s love. Say, Each day this week, pray for your friend. Then use one of your suggestions to introduce the person to your true friend, Jesus. Each night this week before bedtime, set aside 10 to 15 minutes for family Bible-reading time. Read about different Bible heroes who encouraged others to follow God. For example, read about John the Baptist (Matthew 3), the crippled man (Acts 3:1-10), Philip (Acts 8:26-40), Lydia (Acts 16:13-15), Apollos (Acts 18:24-28), Timothy (Philippians 2:19 22), and Paul (Acts 9:1-19). Talk about how these heroes led so many people to God. Thank God for these super, extraordinary Bible heroes, and ask God to help your family learn from their examples. Read 1 John 3:7. How can you tell the difference between someone who wants to lead you to God and someone who wants to lead you away from God? Read Proverbs 10:17. How does accepting correction lead us toward God? Read 1 Corinthians 11:1. How can you be an example of Christ? True heroes encourage others to follow God. How do your family members encourage each other to follow God? What can your family do together to encourage others to follow God? 156 Permission to photocopy this handout from Group s Hands-On Bible Curriculum, Grades 3 & 4, granted for local church use. Copyright Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538. group.com