Grades 1-3 and 4-6 LEADER GUIDE

FALL 2012 F BIBLE TEACHING FOR KIDS Grades 1-3 and 4-6 LEADER GUIDE SEPTEMBER: God s Message OCTOBER: Following Jesus NOVEMBER: The Power of God!

Concept Area Bible God s Message Session Title and Scripture Memory Verse Life Application Week of September 2 Trust God s Word Jeremiah 36 2 Timothy 3:16 Because God inspired the Bible, I can trust His Word. Week of September 9 Respect God s Message 2 Kings 22:1 23:3 Psalm 119:89 I can respect God s message. Week of September 16 Read God s Message Nehemiah 8:1-12 Luke 11:28 I can read God s message daily. Week of September 23 Know God s Message Luke 4:1-13 2 Samuel 22:31 I can work to know God s message. Week of September 30 Obey God s Message Deuteronomy 5 6:9 Psalm 119:34 I can obey God through His message. Children learn in a variety of ways. Change the types of activities to better engage all children. Use pack items and other visuals to keep the children s attention. Activities designed for moving will help children who are more physical. If you have too few children for groups, complete the activity as a whole group. If needed, a TEACHER HELPS teacher may be a member of a group. Individuals may complete the activity instead of a team. Partners may be sets of threes instead of twos. If you only have enough children for one team to complete a relay activity, let them compete against the clock instead of another team. September 2012 5

Bible Passage Jeremiah 36 Bible Truth God inspired people to write His Word. Life Application Because God inspired the Bible, I can trust His Word. Memory Verse All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV) All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16 (HCSB) For a link to a life application video that supplements and supports this week s teaching, go to EXTRA! (www.lifewayextra. ning.com), and click on Kids Leaders. September 2, 2012 6 Bible Teaching for Grades 1-3 and 4-6 Trust God s Word Personal Bible Study Jeremiah, sometimes called the weeping prophet, shared God s message with the people of Judah during the reign of five kings. In the fourth year of King Jehoiakim s reign, about 605 B.C., Jeremiah received a word from God. Read God s message in verses 2-3. According to verse 3, why did God want Jeremiah to record His messages in writing? Baruch was a scribe. Scribes were primarily responsible for copying portions of Scripture and thus would have intimate knowledge of God s Word. Baruch was given the honor of writing down the words of God as Jeremiah dictated what God had told him during the previous 20 years. Jeremiah asked Baruch to take the completed scroll to the temple and read it to the people. Why did Jeremiah not go to the temple himself (verse 5)? According to verse 7, what did Jeremiah hope would happen when Baruch read God s Word to the people? Baruch took the scroll to the temple and read God s message to the people. What happened when the officials heard the message Baruch read from the scroll (verses 14-15)? According to verse 16, what was the reaction of the officials when Baruch read from the scroll again? Verse 19 makes it clear that the officials wanted Baruch and Jeremiah to go into hiding for their own safety. The officials put the scroll in the office of Elishama, the scribe. Then they went to see the king. King Jehoiakim immediately sent his messenger Jehudi to retrieve the scroll. Jehudi read the scroll to the king as the officials stood nearby. What did the king do as Jehudi read the words (verses 22-23)? The king s actions show how far from God the people had drifted. The king was angry and ordered the capture of Jeremiah and Baruch. However, God had hidden the prophet and his scribe. After the king destroyed the scroll, God had another word for Jeremiah to pass along to Jehoiakim. As you read verse 28, think about how you might have felt if you had been in Jeremiah s place discouraged, depressed, scared, or hopeful? What message did God tell Jeremiah to give directly to the king (verses 29-31)? According to verses 30-31, what price would Jehoiakim and his descendants pay for ignoring God s Word? Jeremiah and Baruch worked together again to record God s messages. The king learned that you can destroy a scroll, but you cannot ever stop God s message. God s Word is indestructible and permanent.

God Told Jeremiah What to Write Get a scroll, God told Jeremiah, and write on it all the words I have spoken to you. Baruch (BAY rook), the scribe, helped Jeremiah write all the words God had spoken. Jeremiah asked Baruch to read the scroll in the temple. When all the people were in the temple, Baruch read the words on the scroll to them. The king s officials sent for Baruch to come and read the scroll to them. Baruch read God s Word from the scroll to the officials. They replied, We must tell King Jehoiakim (jih HOY uh kim)! Baruch, take Jeremiah with you and hide! The officials reported everything to the king. The king sent for the scroll to be read to him. King Jehoiakim sat in front of a fire as he listened to the Word of God being read from Jeremiah s scroll. The king did not want to hear these words! The king did not want to hear that God was not pleased with the way the people in Judah were living. He did not want to hear God s warning about punishment for not obeying God s Word. The king began cutting the scroll and throwing God s words into the fire. He sent for Baruch and Jeremiah to be arrested, but God safely hid Baruch and Jeremiah. Take another scroll and write on it all the words that were written on the first scroll, God told Jeremiah. Jeremiah obeyed God. Baruch wrote the words from God on the new scroll. Jeremiah 36 SESSION AT A GLANCE Grades 1 3 1 Preview: Major Prophets Card Game 2 Power Up: Be a Scribe 3 Plug In: Boys and girls will learn a memory verse by completing a learner guide activity, hear today s Bible story, review the Bible story, and apply what they learned as they hear and discuss a story on the CD. 4 Personalize Choice 1: A Sign of Trust Choice 2: Record God s Word Grades 4 6 1 Preview: Major and Minor Prophets Scramble 2 Power Up: Write What You Are Told 3 Plug In: Children will learn a memory verse by playing a tossing game, hear today s Bible story, review the Bible story by playing a Trust or Don t Trust game, and apply what they learned as they thank God for His inspired Word. 4 Personalize Choice 1: Bowling for Promises Choice 2: Bible Spinner September 2, 2012 7

Grades 1 3 Preview learner guides 5 index cards per child pens Option: Print the names of the Major Prophets from the CD-ROM. Grades 1 3 Give each child the Bible Books Chart from the back of the learner guide, index cards, and a pen. On separate index cards he will print the names of the books of the Major Prophets. Children will choose one of the following activities using his Major Prophets card set: 1. Mix the cards and put them in the correct order. Ask someone to close his eyes. Remove one card. Ask the child to open his eyes and guess which card is missing. 2. Place the cards facedown. Choose a card. Name the book before and after the one on the card. 3. Choose a card. Find the book in the Bible. 1 the Preview Bible Study Use with children who arrive early. Grades 4 6 Preview learner guide pages index cards pens On separate cards write the names of the books of the Major and Minor Prophets (CD-ROM). Grades 4 6 Place the Bible book cards facedown on the table. Tell the children that today s Bible study is from one of the Major Prophets in the Old Testament. Lead the boys and girls to turn the cards over and select the five books of the Major Prophets and arrange them in order. Challenge the children to arrange the remaining twelve books of the Minor Prophets in order. Challenge them to memorize the order of these two divisions. Use the Bible Books Chart on the back of the learner guide to check their work. 8 Bible Teaching for Grades 1-3 and 4-6

Grades 1 3 A scribe is a person who writes down what is said or happens. Choose one scribe at a time to come to the drawing tablet. Whisper one word to the scribe. The task of the scribe is to draw on the tablet the word or term he heard. When another child guesses the word, select another scribe and go on to the next word. List of words/terms: sun, birthday party, bear, school, cat, rainstorm, ship, shoe, movie, baseball game, house, mall. s You have just played a game in which you drew what you were told to draw. Today you will learn about how men wrote what God told them to write. This is called inspiration. God inspired men to write every word in the Bible. Today s Bible story is from the Book of Jeremiah. God told Jeremiah what to write. Grades 1 3 Power Up marker board or large drawing tablet erasable markers or markers Set up a drawing station at the marker board or with the tablet and markers. Option: Use an easel. 2 Power Up for Bible Study 5-10 minutes Start at the time designated by your church for Sunday School to begin. Grades 4 6 Guide each child to find a partner. Number the teams. One partner will be the speaker, and the other will be the writer. Give each speaker a strip of paper in order by number. The speakers will whisper to their partners (loudly enough for their partners to hear, but quietly enough that no one else can hear) the words written on their papers. The writers will write down what they hear. After the writers finish their statements, direct writers to read aloud their statements, in order, to all of the children. Explain that this is similar to how the Bible was written. God spoke to men He chose, and the men wrote exactly what God told them to write. Today you will learn how the Bible was inspired by God. The writers of the Bible wrote exactly what God told them to write. Grades 4 6 Power Up paper strips marker On separate strips of paper print each of the following statements (CD-ROM): 1. The Bible is inspired by God. 2. God told men what to write. 3. Men wrote what God told them. 4. The Bible is God s Word. 5. The Bible is true. Teaching Tip: If you have more than 10 children, create more statements about God s Word. Be sure to keep them brief. September 2, 2012 9

Grades 1 3 Plug In Pack Item 1, Picture: God Told Jeremiah What to Write Pack Item 14, CD Pack Item 17, September Title Banner Pack Item 18, September Memory Verses paper markers tape Step 2 Print on separate sheets of paper these words and their definitions (CD-ROM): inspiration of God, inspired by God: given by God profitable: useful doctrine: teaching reproof, rebuking: pointing our mistakes instruction in righteousness: teaching how to live to please God Grades 1 3 1 Introduction Display and direct the children s attention to today s session title on the September Title Banner. Explain that today the boys and girls will learn about how God s Word is inspired. Inspiration means God told the men who wrote the Bible what to write. 2 Memory Verse Display today s memory verse, 2 Timothy 3:16. Read it aloud. Guide the children to read through the Word Meanings. Urge the children to read aloud 3 Plug In today s memory verse with you. Stop at each section and help the children understand what it means. Repeat the verse. Say the verse a third time, urging the boys and girls to repeat it after you. 3 Bible Story Display today s teaching picture. Invite the boys and girls to describe the part of the Bible story illustrated. (Baruch is writing down everything Jeremiah tells him.) Whose words inspired what was written on the scrolls? (God told Jeremiah what to write.) Open your Bible to Jeremiah 36. Tell the Bible story in your own words. Grades 4 6 Plug In Pack Item 1, Picture: God Told Jeremiah What to Write Pack Item 17, September Title Banner Pack Item 18, September Memory Verses pencils tape foam ball Grades 4 6 1 Introduction Display the September Title Banner. Read aloud today s session title. 2 Memory Verse Gather the children into a circle. Display the memory verse, 2 Timothy 3:16. Prompt the children three times to read aloud the verse. Toss the ball to one child as you guide her to say the first word of the memory verse. She will then toss the ball to someone else in the circle who will say the next word of the verse. Continue tossing the ball around the circle until the children complete the verse. As the children are able to say the verse with ease, invite them to toss the ball faster. s God gave people His Word; therefore, we can trust it is true. The Bible gives people a set of spiritual and moral rules to follow, as well as truths about God and His Son, Jesus. 3 Bible Story Display today s teaching picture. Open your Bible to Jeremiah 36. Tell the Bible story in your own words. s Everything God told Jeremiah would happen did happen. 10 Bible Teaching for Grades 1-3 and 4-6

4 Review s What does the memory verse mean? (All Scripture is from God. He uses it to correct and remove our sin or wrongdoing so we can live a life that pleases Him.) Did burning God s Word make it not true anymore? (No. God s Word lasts forever.) Continue to review the Bible story with the questions on page 46. 5 Application Play Dakota s Story (Track 1). Discuss how Dakota s actions showed he trusted God s Word. Help the boys and girls understand that trusting God s Word did not change the fact that Dakota had to move away. But trusting God s Word helped Dakota through the situation. He trusted that God had a plan. He did not need to be afraid. God would be with him wherever he went. 6 Personalize Introduce today s Personalize choices. Explain that both choices will help the children identify times in their lives in which they can trust God s Word. to Bible Study 25-30 minutes Group the children together to study the Bible content and to worship. Because God inspired Jeremiah what to write, Jeremiah trusted what God told him. Because God inspired all the writers of Scripture, you can trust His Word. 4 Review Form two teams to play a game called Trust or Don t Trust. Ask a team a question from page 46. The team may answer or ask for help from the other team. The other team should be trusted to give an honest answer. Teams will earn a point for each correct answer. Assisting teams who give honest answers will earn a point for being trustworthy teams. s During this game, you had to decide whether or not to trust the other team. This was just a game. In real life, trust is a very important thing. 5 Application Because God inspired, or told, the men of the Bible what to write, you can always trust God s Word. Lead the children to pray, thanking God for His inspired Word. 6 Personalize Introduce the Personalize choices. Emphasize that each activity will help the boys and girls know they can trust God s Word. September 2, 2012 11

Grades 1 3 Personalize Choice 1 Pack Item 14, CD learner guide pages pencils heavyweight paper clear or colored transparenttype folder wide-tip dark permanent markers scissors hole punch small suction cup hangers Make triangle patterns out of heavyweight paper for the children to use to trace. Grades 1 3 Choice 1: A Sign of Trust Review Dakota s Story (Track 1) from Plug In. Distribute learner guide pages, Bibles, and pencils. Guide the boys and girls to complete All of His Words Are True! on the learner guide page. Can you think of a time when it would be helpful to trust these verses the way Dakota did in his situation? Guide each child to make a window sign. Help each child trace the triangle onto the folder. Tell the children to cut out the triangle carefully. On their triangles direct children to use the permanent markers to print the words Choosing to Trust. Each child will punch a hole in the top of his triangle to create a place to hang it. Grades 4 6 Personalize Choice 1 Pack Item 19, Bowling Promise Scriptures learner guide pages 10 clean, dry 2-liter drink bottles foam or rubber ball knife Cut a 4-inch slit in each bottle. Place a paper strip inside each bottle (1 will be empty). Place 2 of the bottles (1 being the empty bottle) at one end of the room. Arrange the empty bottle so children can hit it and possibly knock down the bottle containing the Scripture reference. 4 12 Bible Teaching for Grades 1-3 and 4-6 Personalize Grades 4 6 Choice 1: Bowling for Promises Each child will take a turn trying to knock down the first pin with the ball and make it spin and knock down the second pin. If the first pin falls but does not knock down the second pin, the player can try again to topple the second pin with the ball. If the player misses the second pin again, play goes to the next player. When the second pin falls, open the bottle and read aloud the Scripture reference. Distribute the learner guide pages and pencils. Each child should search for and read the Scripture reference and then record it beside the correct promise on the Bible Promises activity on the learner guide page. King David was Jesse s son. When the children complete the activity, discuss how that promise affects the way they trust the Bible. Continue play by replacing the bottle containing the Scripture reference with a bottle containing a different Scripture reference. Play until the children read all of the Scriptures or as time allows. Challenge the children to apply what they learned by reading their Bibles and praying daily as a way to build their trust in God and His Word.

Give each child a suction cup to use to hang his sign in a window. Children can apply what they learned today by using their window signs as reminders to trust God every day. Choice 2: Record God s Word Find Jeremiah 29:11 in your Bible. Direct one child to go to the posted paper and marker. Tell her that you are going to whisper each word of the verse to her, and she will write each word you say on the paper until she records all the words of the verse. Say one to three words at a time. Invite another child to record the words of Jeremiah 29:11. Guide the children to read the verse with you. How can you trust God? Continue in the same manner with Joshua 1:9, Ephesians 6:1, 1 Peter 5:7, and 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Make certain that every child has a learner guide page and a Bible. Call attention to the activity, All of His Words Are True. Remind them that God recorded every word in the Bible and they can trust Him. Encourage each child to apply what he has learned by finding different ways to learn Bible verses. Grades 1 3 Personalize Choice 2 learner guide pages pencils large sheet of paper marker tape Post the large sheet of paper on the focal wall. At Home: Ask the children to look for ways trusting God s Word helps them this week. Encourage them to share with others how trusting God s Word helps them. the Bible Study 20-25 minutes Each teacher should lead a Bible-learning activity and life-application activity from the choices given. Choice 2: Bible Spinner Provide each child with a learner guide page, a cardboard square, heavyweight paper, a laminate sheet, and a brass brad. Prompt each child to build a spinner as follows: ~ Trace around a cup or plate to make a 5-inch circle on the square cardboard. ~ Use a ruler to draw two lines to divide the circle into four sections, or four lines to make eight sections. ~ Cover the square with laminate. ~ Cut the spinner arrow from heavyweight paper. (See the illustration.) ~ Punch a hole in the center of the spinner arrow and the square. ~ Connect the spinner arrow to the square base, using a brass brad. Direct the children s attention to Bible Promises on the learner guide page. Prompt the children to each print one Scripture reference from the learner guide page in each space of his spinner base. Encourage the children to use the spinners to decide which Scripture references to search for first as they complete the activity. The children can apply what they learned today by using the Bible Promises to remember that they can trust God s Word to be true. Grades 4 6 Personalize Choice 2 learner guide pages cardboard squares heavyweight paper laminate sheets brass brads plastic cups or small plastic plates rulers pencils hole punch permanent markers scissors Teaching Tip: If spinners are made without the laminate sheet, the children need to use pencils to reuse the spinner. At Home: Ask the children to look for ways trusting God s Word helps them this week. Encourage them to share with others how trusting God s Word helps them. September 2, 2012 13