A New Leader 1 Bible Focus: Deuteronomy 34:5-9; Joshua 1:1, 2, 5-8, 16, 17 Bible Memory: Joshua 1:9 Life Focus: Heart to Heart Can you imagine how Joshua must have felt as he took over leadership from Moses? Overwhelmed? Humbled? Inadequate? Teaching children can sometimes affect us with the same feelings. Yet Joshua stands as one courageous example. Joshua had full confidence that he would be divinely enabled to do God s will. God will do the same for you, even if you must do a job following someone who was very popular. When God calls, He makes no mistakes. Lesson 1 at a Glance Step 1 Focus In Use one of these activities to help kids learn what is meant by God s will. Quick Step What Happens Next? Option Digging In Act It Out HeartShaper situations from this section Other index cards, Bibles, pencils, reusable adhesive Step 2 Explore His Word Use all three of these activities to help kids explore how Joshua followed God s will and develop Bible skills. Bible Exploration Following the Leader Bible Memory Be Strong and Courageous Read Activities for Lesson 1; the last time line panel from Resources Sheet 2 fall quarter; Resources Sheet 2, CD Tracks 2 and 3, Bible Library from Bible Charts & Maps printable files, Bible Time Line Cards printable file Bibles, pencils, pushpins or reusable adhesive, CD player, inflated balloon, fine-tip black marker, envelopes Bible Skill Builder Batting 1,000! Step 3 Make It Real Use one of these activities to help kids consider how God helps us do His will. Quick Step Our Helper Option Bridge to God s Will Game Action photocopies of the poem from this section index cards, pencils, markers Step 4 Live It Out Use one of these activities to help kids select and determine to do one action within God s will. Quick Step Prayer Card Option Share and Care Write Service Project Activities for Lesson 1 copies of p. 95 pencils or pens white board, dry-erase marker, Bible, pencils or markers Middle Elementary Teacher, Unit 1, Lesson 1 7
Focus In (10 minutes) Life Focus Step 1 Use one of these activities to help kids learn what is meant by God s will. Quick Step What Happens Next? Read the following situations in which kids might be involved. Ask students to discuss and act out ways to respond to each situation. Help kids see the differences between ways that are and ways that are not God s will. This will help students begin to understand the meaning of God s will. Situation One: You are playing basketball during gym. Someone knocks you down, and you scrape your elbow. You are really hurt and angry. What happens next? Situation Two: A group of girls is talking about a new girl at school. You are in on the conversation when someone makes a mean remark about her clothes. What happens next? Situation Three: During math class a boy who is very quiet and shy asks a question that has an obvious answer to you and those around you. Your friends start to giggle. What happens next? Situation Four: There is a boy who lives on your street whom most of the neighborhood children either ignore or make fun of behind his back. He wants to ride bikes with you. What happens next? Situation Five: Your mom is very busy doing projects that have to be done. She asks you to gather your laundry and take it to the laundry room and then help with the dishes at mealtime. What happens next? Situation Six: Your brother is older and you would like for him to play with you. You ask and he says no. What happens next? Situation Seven: Your friend asks you to a neighborhood party. The party is at the same time as youth group activities at your church. What happens next? If you have a large class, you may want to make up more everyday situations in which the students might find themselves. Now let s see whether the people in our Bible lesson today chose to do God s will. situations from this section Teaching Tip Act It Out The idea of God s will can be very abstract to children. Emphasize the specific will of God. Doing good, following what is written in God s Word, being kind, church attendance, resisting evil, and not cheating are all things that kids can learn. Option Digging In Give each student or group of students an index card on which you have printed one of the following Scripture references: 1 Peter 2:15; Ephesians 6:1; Psalm 40:8; John 7:17; Colossians 1:9; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 4:29; James 1:19. Students should find and read the verse printed on their index cards. Students are to find one or two words from their assigned Scriptures that teach about God s will. They can write these words on their index cards. (Answers: do good; obey; do; choose; knowledge; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness; helpful; listen.) Let kids use reusable adhesive and attach their cards around the room to provide a visual reminder of the many ways people can choose to do God s will. Do we have a choice to do God s will or not do it? (Yes.) How do we find out what God s will is? (read the Bible, attend worship and Sunday school, pray) Now let s see whether the people in our Bible lesson today chose to do God s will. index cards, Bibles, pencils, reusable adhesive 8 A New Leader, Lesson 1
Life Focus Explore His Word (25 minutes) Step 2 Use all three of these activities to help kids explore how Joshua followed God s will and develop Bible skills. Bible Background for the Teacher For a long time the people of Israel were slaves in Egypt, which is located south of the Mediterranean Sea. Then God sent Moses to help the Israelites escape and to lead them to the land east of that sea. There they would become an independent nation. The people went a roundabout way and traveled slowly. They camped in one place for nearly a year while God gave them His laws for their new nation. It took almost two years to reach the border of the land God had promised them. The people living in that promised land were so wicked that God wanted the Israelites to destroy them or drive them far away. But those wicked men looked big and strong, and they had high walls around their cities. The men of Israel were scared. They did not trust God enough to feel sure He would give them victory. They wanted to go back to Egypt and slavery instead of fighting for their new land. Because the Israelites were afraid, God said they must live in the desert for 40 years and learn to trust Him before they could have that country He wanted to give them. The Israelite men who had been so badly frightened all died during those 40 years. Their sons took their places, and they learned to trust God as they followed His leading. This lesson brings us to the end of those 40 years in the desert. The people of Israel came again to the border of the promised land. This time they camped east of the Jordan River, ready to cross it and battle for the land beyond. Moses had led his people well for 40 years, but now he was 120 years old. He died there east of the Jordan. God chose Joshua to be the new leader. He promised to be with Joshua as He had been with Moses, and the people promised to do God s will and follow Joshua as they had followed Moses. Bibles, Activities for Lesson 1, the last time line panel from Read Resources Sheet 2 fall quarter, finetip black marker, pencils Note A classroom Bible Dictionary and Bible Charts & Maps are included on the Resources CD! Bible Exploration Following the Leader The last panel of the time line from last quarter illustrates today s Bible Focus Joshua succeeds Moses. Point out the scene and ask a student to write Do God s will in the space provided. Today we re going to learn how Joshua learned to do God s will. Read the Scripture together as a class, either from Bibles or Activities for Lesson 1. You may want to designate an adult or good reader to read the words spoken by God in Joshua 1:2-8. Have the class read together the people s response to Joshua (Joshua 1:16, 17). According to our Scripture, what was Moses physical condition as he led the people? (His vision and strength remained throughout his life until his death at age 120.) How was God s wisdom passed from Moses to Joshua? (Moses laid his hands on Joshua.) After the death of Moses, God spoke to Joshua and told him how to lead God s people. Let s find the promises and commands God gave to Joshua. Lead students in completing Following the Leader in Activities for Lesson 1. Joshua 1:2 Joshua 1:6 Joshua 1:7 B. C. A. Now let s discover different ways we can do God s will. Middle Elementary Teacher, Unit 1, Lesson 1 9
Explore His Word (continued) Life Focus Bible Memory Be Strong and Courageous Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lo r d your God will be with you wherever you go. Display Resources Sheet 2 on a wall or bulletin board. Joshua became the new leader of Israel after Moses died. God wanted Joshua to trust Him to take care of him and the Israelites as He led them to the promised land. The trip would not be easy. God told Joshua three times to be strong and courageous. Write Joshua 1:9 on the board. Have students locate Joshua 1:6, 7, and 9 in their Bibles. Ask students to read aloud the first four words in verse 6, the first five words in verse 7, and the first nine words of the Bible Memory, Joshua 1:9. Then have all students read aloud all of verse 9 together from their Bibles or Resources Sheet 2. If your parent or a teacher tells you to do something three times, do you think it might be really, really important for you to do what they say? Students may respond with examples of important instructions adults have repeated to them, such as Wait for the green light, or Don t touch that hot stove, and so on. Let students complete the Bible Memory puzzle, Fear Not, in Activities for Lesson 1. As they work, play the song HeartShaper quietly in the background. Students may look up Joshua 1:9 in their Bibles or look at the Bible Memory poster to check their answers. Joshua knew what God wanted him to do because God told Joshua. Today we will discover different ways that we can know and do God s will. Bible Skill Builder Batting 1,000! Is it possible to do God s will by reading the Bible? (Absolutely! God is pleased when we show that we love Him and take time to read His words to us in the Bible.) We re going to spend time now learning more about the Bible. Distribute copies of Chart 1, the Bible Library, from Bible Charts & Maps. Direct students attention to page 1, The Old Testament Bible Library. Give kids a few minutes to look over the division of Law and read the names of the books that are in that division. Pronunciation helps as well as the division theme are on page 3 of the Bible Library. Have kids stand and form a circle. Bat the balloon to one student as you say the first book of Old Testament Law. The student to whom the balloon is directed should bat the balloon to another student while saying the second book of Old Testament Law. Continue until the five books have been said. Continue to play until students can say the books of Old Testament Law without hesitation. Collect the copies of Chart 1 and save them for use next week. Resources Sheet 2, CD Tracks 2 and 3; pushpins or reusable adhesive; Bibles; Activities for Lesson 1; pencils; CD player Note The Bible Memory verses in the King James Version are included on the Resources CD. Resources CD Bible Library from Bible Charts & Maps printable file, inflated balloon, the last time line panel from Resources Sheet 2 fall quarter, Resources CD Bible Time Line Cards printable file, pencils, envelopes for storing cards Bible TIme Line Direct students attention to panel #18 on the fall quarter s Bible time line. Distribute one God Calls Joshua Bible Time Line Card to each student. Review the Fast Facts on the card and ask students to write their names and Do God s will on their cards. Collect the cards and store them for future use. 10 A New Leader, Lesson 1
Life Focus Make It Real (15 minutes) Step 3 Use one of these activities to help kids consider how God helps us do His will. photocopies of the poem from this section Action Quick Step Our Helper Distribute copies of the following poem to your class. Divide students into three groups. Ask one group to make up motions for the ways this poem says God helps us do His will. Ask another group make up a cheer. Ask the third group to set the poem to a familiar song tune or create a rhythm. Our Helper God hears our prayers. He answers too. That s how He helps both me and you. He gives the Bible we can read and lets us know that He will lead. His Spirit comes to help us see how we should act, who we should be. Just like Joshua, we can choose to do God s will and we won t lose! So hear His Word. So hear His voice. Put trust in God! Make Him your choice! According to this poem, how does God help us do His will? Can you think of other ways God helps us do His will? Let s make a plan to do God s will this week. index cards, pencils, markers Expert Tip Game If kids aren t having fun, they probably aren t learning. And if kids are interested and engaged in the lesson, they probably aren t misbehaving. Steven James Option Bridge to God s Will Divide the class into groups of four. Give each student eight index cards. Instruct each student to write the following words on his cards: school, home, playground, store, parents, teachers, friends, brothers/sisters. Students should write only one word per card, leaving the other side blank. Have each group of four students shuffle their cards together, creating a deck of 32 playing cards. Guide the class in playing a simple card game. Place the deck in the center of the four students. Students will take turns drawing and discarding, each trying to gather a set of all eight cards. If a student gets two of one card, he should discard one of them. For each card a student decides to keep, he must answer this question: How does God help me do His will in this place or with these people? You may need to give one example of a way God helps us do His will in each place and with each person to stimulate the students thinking. Students may draw and discard on each turn. Then the play passes to the student on the left. The first student to gather a set of all eight cards wins. Let s make a plan to do God s will this week. Middle Elementary Teacher, Unit 1, Lesson 1 11
Live It Out (10 minutes) Life Focus Step 4 Use one of these activities to help kids select and determine to do one action within God s will. Quick Step Prayer Card Have students turn to the Prayer Card in Activities for Lesson 1. Write on your prayer cards how you plan to do God s will this week. You may need to give kids ideas on what to fill in. This could be anything from getting along with brothers and sisters, friends, and parents to doing better on schoolwork. Encourage students to be specific and remind them to pray each day for this specific request. Close your session with a prayer, asking God to help your students and you to do His will. Activities for Lesson 1, pencils or pens Write Option Share and Care Have a student find James 1:27 in his Bible and read the verse aloud. How does this verse tell us we can do God s will? (Take care of orphans and widows.) Let s name ways we can do God s will by helping to care for orphans and widows or other individuals who need special help. Help students think of ways. Perhaps there are persons in your congregation who need help. Your class may decide to pray regularly for these people. Maybe your class can make crafts and deliver them to residents of nursing homes or orphanages. Your students may wish to bring nonperishable food items to share with needy persons, or they may want to save their money for several weeks and shop together as a class for food items to share with others. Decide a way your students will work together throughout the coming weeks to do God s will. Distribute copies of page 95 and pencils or markers. If a project has been decided, have students write on the flyer the information needed to do the service project to give to their parents. Close your session with a prayer, asking God to help your students and you to do His will. Evaluate What are ways students found to do God s will? How did students show an understanding of God s power to help them as they do His will? white board, dry-erase marker, Bible, copies of p. 95, pencils or markers Kidz Chat Service Project Reinforce this unit s Bible Memory with the word search in today s Kidz Chat. Encourage kids to collect all the puzzles & posters pages. Kids can put them together to make two fun posters! Be sure parents know about the Faith & Family devotional guide available online to print and use with their kids at home. Go to www. heartshaper.com. 12 A New Leader, Lesson 1