date: Bible Passage: Genesis 6 9 (Noah) REMEMBER VERSE Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Psalm 90:2 God Is a Covenant Keeper (Part 1) Schedule Anticipate 5 10 minutes Celebrate & Respond Large Group 35 55 minutes Respond & Bless Small Group 20 25 minutes Environment: STORYTELLING In this lesson we see the environment of STORYTELLING through God s faithfulness to keep His covenants, giving us confidence for the hope we have in Christ s return.. T ruresources are developed in partnership with ROCKHARBOR Church and a national network of family and children s ministry leaders. All rights reserved.
Inspire The summer after college, I worked on a palm tree farm in Kauai. While I worked on that farm, God began to uproot weeds of sin that had long been choking my spirit, my soul, and my life. The gracious thing about this experience was that I wasn t even fully aware of the extent to which I needed God to weed my soul. At the time, I only knew that this experience felt like a deluge of pain and grief. Now I know that it was God s gracious act of saving me from myself that realigned my relationship with Him. In the account of Noah and the flood, God was uprooting the pandemic of evil and violence that had infected mankind. God did this in order to redeem them. His flood was a terrifying display of His power and His sovereignty. It was also a gracious display of His love and His desire to correct, uproot, and heal a situation that had gone terribly wrong. God literally drowned the evil and sin that had permeated so deeply in order to bring redemption to the people He had created to bring them back into right relationship with Him. In doing this, God made a lasting covenant that He will always keep a covenant wholly based on His loving mercy. Tori Funkhouser TruStory Team 2
Equip Simply put, the word covenant as used in the Bible refers to a promise, agreement, or contract. There are four major covenants in Scripture: Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, and the New covenant. These are sometimes referred to as the Redemptive covenants in that it is in these covenants where God defines His relationship with mankind, and where God progressively reveals more about the structure and scope of His plan of redemption. The Noahic covenant introduces the idea that God is entering into a contractual relationship with mankind. It is somewhat of a preview of the four major redemptive covenants to come. The context in which God establishes a covenant relationship with mankind is that of sin and God s judgment on sin. God had created the earth and blessed it, but human rebellion had jeopardized that blessing to the point that God nearly wiped out the entire planet. It is here that we see God promising that despite the continued sin by man, He would never destroy them completely. And it is here we see the purpose of God in establishing covenants with man. God s holy nature requires punishment for sin. Man s fallen nature ensures that he will continually fall into sin therefore, man would always be in danger of the wrath of God falling upon him. So God establishes covenants with man, promising him initially that He would not destroy the earth in the same way again and then, through a series of covenants known as the redemptive covenants, promising that an ultimate way of salvation from that ever-present sin would be provided. Environment of STORYTELLING The power of The Big God Story impacts our lives by giving us an accurate and awe-inspiring perspective into how God has been moving throughout history. It further compels us to see how God is using every person s life and is creating a unique story that deserves to be told for God s glory. The 10 Environments guide us in creating a climate that puts God on display. Encourage your families to discover more about creating the environment of STORYTELLING in their homes by checking out HomeFront: A Spiritual Parenting Resource and Spiritual Parenting by Michelle Anthony. 3
Support This portion of The Big God Story invokes both the terror and awe of a sovereign and all-powerful God. However, it also invokes gratitude and love for a God who kept (and continues to keep) a covenant He made with sinful people a God who offers us the chance for redemption even when we don t deserve it! God wants relationship with us. He loves people (who hurt Him), entrusted Noah with the responsibility of repopulating the earth, and made a lasting covenant, which He remembers forever. How does this make you feel to know that you serve a God who is this gracious, powerful, and loving? As you lead kids through this awesome portion of The Big God Story, pray they will also understand how deep and wide God s love is. Pray that they hear, deep in their hearts, that God s covenant with Noah was also meant for them. Pray they feel gratitude to be a part of The Big God Story. TIMELINE ADAM & EVE NOAH ABRAHAM ISAAC JACOB JOSEPH MOSES JOSHUA DAVID SOLOMON 400 YEARS OF WAITING MARY JOSEPH JOHN THE BAPTIST JESUS CENTURION NICODEMUS PETER LAZARUS PAUL YOU & ME OUR FUTURE WITH JESUS 4
Navigating This Lesson Below you ll find descriptions of terms you may encounter throughout the lessons. Leader Tip: Suggestions for programming and classroom management. Programming Note: Suggestions for modifying or adjusting programming to best fit your service schedule. Partner Church Comments: Insightful comments, suggestions, and variations offered for activities and programming provided by our national network of children s and family ministry leaders. Optional: Suggestions of ways you can adapt the activities and games to best fit your own church and group of kids. Host: The Host offers the same spirit of hospitality, generosity, and inclusiveness to the kids that the host of a party would offer to the guests at her home or gathering. Programming Note Always feel free to adjust the lesson to fit your service schedule. If you run out of time, consider cutting an activity. To fill time, consider adding a game to CONNECT or adding more worship time to large group RESPOND. If you need to end the lesson early, consider skipping to the BLESS section to send out the kids with a sense of peace so they can be a blessing to others. Small Group Leader: The Small Group Leader shepherds the kids through questions about the portion of The Big God Story and biblical truths, engages them in community-building activities, helps them create a remembrance of their experience, and blesses them before they leave. Ideally, Small Group Leaders work week after week with the same group of kids, giving them the opportunity to develop lasting relationships with each child. Worship Leader: The Worship Leader facilitates individual and corporate worship by listening to the direction of the Holy Spirit and inviting others into the worship experience. Storyteller: After active involvement with the Scriptures and the lesson, the Storyteller recounts the Bible passage for the kids in an engaging way. He leads out of an overflow of his own life, telling personal stories as prompted and guiding the kids into a time of natural worship response. AV Technician: This person facilitates the behind-the-scenes aspects of programming, including sound, lighting, slides, etc. The AV Technician makes sure things run smoothly and is willing to help with anything including stepping into any of the other leader roles. 5
Lesson Overview Experience Time Summary Supplies/Prepare (Master Supply List at tru.davidccook.com) Anticipate// Small Group Check-In Celebrate// Large Group A Storytelling video is available for this lesson. See page 12 for details. 5 10 min. 20 35 min. Encourages interaction among kids, leaders, and parents; engages the kids in curiosity and anticipation of the lesson; and creates an inviting atmosphere. Establishes community and tells stories both personal and biblical in a fun and engaging way. Option 1: Floating Origami Boat origami boat instructions (see tru.davidccook.com) paper (1 sheet per child) markers or colored pencils Option 2: Stained-Glass Rainbows contact paper (1 section about 3 5 long) tissue paper (various colors; several sheets per child) optional: glass or crystal prism Traditions mementos for your church Traditions (rocks, marbles, gumballs, etc.) Remember Verse cards, slide, and animation (see tru.davidccook.com) Connect Question Connect Question slide (see tru.davidccook.com) Connect Activity: I Spy Connect Activity slide (see tru.davidccook.com) The Big God Story Bibles (1 per child) Timeline slide and animation (see tru.davidccook.com) butcher paper (5 6 ) tape markers image: blueprints (see tru.davidccook.com) *To make metric conversions, search the Internet for a metric conversion chart or calculator. 6
Lesson Overview Experience Time Summary Supplies/Prepare (Master Supply List at tru.davidccook.com) Respond// Large Group Respond// Small Group Bless// Small Group 15 20 min. 15 20 min. Creates space for children to respond to the Holy Spirit in worship and community as a large group. Discusses truth, reflects on the lesson, engages in relationships, and creates a project or a piece of art individually or together. 5 min. Sends the kids out with a sense of peace and blessing so they can be a blessing to their families and others. butcher paper (about 6 ) marker paper in the colors of the rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple; 1 sheet of each color per 5 6 kids) pencils or pens tape or glue optional: scissors (1 pair), Worship Response Station of your choice, worship music Reflect: God Is a Covenant Keeper Bibles (1 per child) Create: Rainbow Mosaic fruity O -shaped cereal misc. colorful craft supplies (beads, sequins, small pom-poms, glitter, etc.) poster board (white; 1 sheet) glue colored pencils or markers Bible HomeFront Weekly (1 per child; tru.davidccook.com) HomeFront: A Spiritual Parenting Resource (1 per family; tru.davidccook.com or HomeFrontMag.com) *To make metric conversions, search the Internet for a metric conversion chart or calculator. 7
SMALL Group SECTION Anticipate// 5 10 min. Small Group Leaders An energizing time for parents and kids to start engaging with the material that will be presented in the lesson. It is intentionally designed to spark curiosity and cultivate a sense of awe and wonder about God. Encourage parents to participate in this time with their kids. Programming Note The activity option in ANTICIPATE is designed to take place during your check-in time. Your time frame may range from five to ten minutes, depending on your church s facility and service-time setup. You can choose the option above or add an idea of your own. This section is also created to be flexible according to your facility. If it works best to direct kids and their parents to individual small group rooms for this time, set up activities in each room. And if you check kids directly into your large group space, arrange your ANTICIPATE activities accordingly. Encourage parents to join their children in the activity. This helps with transition, introduces parents to the lesson, and supports parents as the primary nurturers of their children s faith. Option 1: Floating Origami Boat SUPPLIES origami boat instructions (see tru.davidccook.com) paper (1 sheet per child) markers or colored pencils SET UP Print the instructions and follow them to make a sample origami boat ENGAGE In today s lesson we ll hear about a man named Noah. God gave Noah specific instructions for building a boat able to hold Noah s family and at least two of every animal. Let s follow the instructions to make our own boats. Give each child a sheet of paper and point out the markers or colored pencils. Encourage the kids to decorate their papers however they d like. After a few minutes, show children the sample boat you made. Then take a fresh piece of paper and demonstrate each step as kids follow your lead. Pause between each step to help kids as needed. Option 2: Stained-Glass Rainbows SUPPLIES contact paper (1 section about 3 5 long) tissue paper (various colors; several sheets per child) optional: glass or crystal prism 8
SET UP Place one long sheet of contact paper in the center of the group or table. Provide several pieces of colored tissue paper for each child. ENGAGE Today we ll hear about a man named Noah. God made a covenant with Noah. What s a covenant? (Allow answers.) Good thinking. A covenant is an extra special promise, and when God makes a promise, He keeps it! God confirmed His promise to Noah by sending a rainbow. Rainbows are beautiful and are made of many colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Today you ll work together to create a colorful stained glass window full of beautiful rainbows. Place the contact paper on the table, sticky side up. Then encourage children to make arching rainbows by crumpling, tearing, and then layering colored tissue onto the contact paper. Once they ve finished creating their rainbows, cover the contact paper with another sheet of contact paper. Ask children to help by holding the edges as you gently place the sticky sides together. Once the sides stick together, the rainbow will look like stained glass when the kids hold it up to the light. Leader Tip You may have chosen to create a timeline of The Big God Story in your room last week. If so, make sure all of your kids have had the opportunity to add their names and some information about themselves to the timeline, helping them to see that they re a part of The Big God Story too. Optional: Hold a glass or crystal prism up to a light source, causing refraction to create a rainbow against the wall or floor. 9
LARGE Group SECTION Celebrate//20 35 min. Host/Storyteller Kids get to be a part of the faith community of God s family. Welcome and Traditions After everyone gathers as a large group, open with Traditions. During Traditions, you re helping the children work toward a common goal and giving them mementos to celebrate accomplishments such as memorizing the Remember Verse, inviting friends to church, or bringing their Bibles. They participate in traditions and share them with newcomers, connect through fun and interaction, and experience The Big God Story through Storytelling. REMEMBER VERSE This week s Remember Verse comes from the environment of STORYTELLING, which says God has a big story, and I can be a part of it! The environment changes every four weeks. As the children arrive, open a Bible and read the verse together. You ll find Remember Verse cards, slide, and animation at tru.davidccook.com. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Psalm 90:2 Mementos can be any object, but some examples include rocks, marbles, gumballs, and connecting blocks. Once the children receive their mementos, have them put the objects into a clear container or add them to a structure they re building. If you have multiple services, use separate containers or building stations for each service. Once the kids fill their container or finish their structure, hold a celebration! Hoppin High Fives A Community Tradition Have the children hop on one foot and give as many high fives as they can to other children before putting their other foot down for balance. Each time they give someone a high five, they should say, High five, [child s name]! After Traditions, if you have time, choose one or two child volunteers to share praise reports, testimonies, or funny or intriguing events. Or sing familiar worship songs with corresponding motions. Connect Connect gives children time to laugh, play, and enjoy each other s company. Engaging questions, energizing games, and creative activities encourage the members of your community to get to know one another. Invite the children to ask each other the following question or one of your own. Encourage them to ask someone they may not know. After a minute or two, ask several children to tell the group their friends answers. (See the Connect Question slide at tru.davidccook.com.) 10
Question When was the last time you saw a rainbow? Where did you see it? Activity: I Spy SUPPLIES Connect Activity slide (see tru.davidccook.com) ENGAGE Get children moving with this active version of the classic game I Spy. Be It first to model for children how to play. Start by saying, I spy with my watchful eye something [color of an object in the room]. Have all the children move about the room and stand next to something that color, touching it gently with their hand. Everyone touching the same object should share their answers to the CONNECT Question with each other. Then walk over and tag one of the children touching the object you were referring to. He will be It next. If none of the children choose the correct object, go again, this time choosing a different color and object. Continue to play until many of the children have had a chance to be It. Prayer of Release The Prayer of Release allows children and leaders to pause, be still, and ask God to quiet their hearts and minds. Before you pray, you might ask the kids to hold out their hands, palms up, in a spirit of releasing their worries and distractions in order to better receive what the Holy Spirit might have for them today. Then encourage the kids to quiet their voices, take a seat, and pray with you. Using Signals For a fun way to let your kids know a change will soon happen, use a signal. This helps create predictability and energy for the next experience. Some signal ideas: Energetic music or audio clip Video clip from a movie (replace the audio with energetic music) 11
The Big God Story During today s portion of The Big God Story, the children will learn about Noah and the global flood. Though this part of The Big God Story can be delivered verbatim, read it before the lesson so you can personally interact with the material. Share stories from your life, and speak with your own style by varying your intonation and gestures. Resource Tip A Storytelling video is available for this lesson. Premium, Unlimited, and Combo users may access this resource at tru.davidccook.com. Leader Tip Before sharing this part of The Big God Story, tell your kids they re about to hear a true story that s recorded in the Bible. Open your Bible to the passage and leave it open and visible throughout The Big God Story. Establish a consistent place to keep this Bible every week. Invite the children to open their Bibles and follow along in Genesis 6 as you storytell. Encourage adult volunteers to keep an eye out for kids who might need help finding the passage, and allow enough time for each child to locate each passage. You may even want to project the reference on a screen or write it on the whiteboard. Visual Aids Many TruStory lessons offer visual aids for The Big God Story. Please use these files in whichever format works best for your church, whether you use computer media, an overhead projector, or poster board. Ponder Point: God Is a Covenant Keeper Bible Passage: Genesis 6 9 Storytelling Technique: Participants Illustrating the Narrative SUPPLIES Bibles (1 per child) Timeline slide and animation (see tru.davidccook.com) butcher paper (5 6 ) tape markers image: blueprints (see tru.davidccook.com) SET UP Tape the butcher paper to the wall at the front of the room. Make sure every child will be able to see it. Put the markers nearby. ENGAGE Last week we heard about the beginning of the best story ever The Big God Story. In the beginning, only God existed, and He created everything in the whole universe! What are some other things that have beginnings? (Allow answers; interact with responses.) The first people, Adam and Eve, lived in perfect relationship with God. Sadly, they disobeyed Him, and their sin separated them from God. But God had a plan to restore this broken relationship. 12
The Big God Story Hundreds of years after Adam and Eve, their descendants children, grandchildren, and so on lived on the earth. The Bible says that during this time, all people had become very, very evil. (Encourage children to turn to Genesis 6:5 6, and ask a volunteer to read these two verses.) When God saw how wicked people had become, He was very sad! Let s look at verse 7 to see what God decided to do. (Read verse 7 aloud as children follow along.) God could not bear to see the people He had created destroying themselves through their evil lives, so He decided to destroy every living thing with one important exception: a man named Noah (and his family). The Bible says Noah was righteous and he walked faithfully with God (v. 9). A righteous person lives a life that pleases to God. Who would like to read verses 13 and 14 to find out what God said to Noah? (Have a volunteer read while the others follow along.) God told Noah to build an ark, or a big boat. Imagine you re Noah and God has asked you to build an ark. The first thing you need to do is draw your plans. What will the ark look like? How big will it be? Will it have windows or doors? (Ask three volunteers to come to the front. Point out the butcher paper and markers, and ask one child to draw the ark. Tell the other two children that at different points during the narrative you ll prompt them on what to draw next. For now, have them draw the sky, sun, trees, etc., surrounding the ark.) If you had a hammer, nails, and wood, would you be ready to build a huge ark? (Allow answers.) Probably not! Fortunately, God didn t leave Noah to figure out how to build the ark on his own. God gave him detailed building plans. (Show image of blueprints and tell about a time you had to assemble something.) God also told Noah to bring into the ark two of some kinds of animals and seven of other kinds of animals. (As the first child continues to draw the ark, ask the other two children to draw animals walking up to the ark.) God told Noah He was going to send a flood that would destroy all living things, but He wanted Noah and his family to enter the ark first. (As the first child continues to draw the ark, ask the other two children to draw people walking up to the ark. Then ask all three kids to finish their drawings. Give them a round of applause as they go back to their seats.) God said He would make a covenant with Noah (v. 18). A covenant is an extra special promise, and when God makes a promise, He never, ever breaks it! God keeps His covenant promises. (Ask the three children at the butcher paper to finish their drawings When everything was ready, God sent the flood. Genesis 7:11 says, On that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. But Noah and his family were safe inside the ark. Once the rain started, 13
The Big God Story Partner Church Comments The kids really seem to be identifying with The Big God Story. As we teach, we have the timeline in front of them and they can see themselves in the story. The Beacon The kids really took an interest in the promise God had for them. Creekside Church The lesson was awesome! Our Storyteller added having the kids make a thunderstorm with their hands, and that was incredible. Elmbrook Church it didn t stop for 40 days and 40 nights! Rain poured and poured until water was so high it covered the mountains! Even after the rain stopped, the earth remained covered by water for months! During this time, Noah and his family and all the animals stayed on the ark. But God hadn t forgotten them. (Have a volunteer read Genesis 8:1 aloud.) Almost a year after the flood started, the ark bumped up against a mountain and rested on it. God told Noah, his family, and all the animals to leave the ark. The first thing Noah did was worship God. From heaven, God saw Noah and was pleased with him. God said, Never again will I curse the ground because of humans [and] destroy all living creatures (v. 21). This was God s covenant with Noah! What is a covenant? (Allow answers.) A covenant is an extra special promise, and when God makes a promise, He never, ever breaks it. God keeps His covenant promises. And God promised never again to destroy all life on earth through a flood. In order to seal the covenant, God gave Noah a sign. Do you know what it was? (Allow answers.) Yes! A rainbow! Let s read Genesis 9:13 together. (Pause for kids to find the verse and then read it in unison.) God s covenant with Noah is also a covenant with us! When we see a rainbow we can remember that God is a covenant keeper. He always keeps His promises. And God kept His promise to send His Son, Jesus, to save us from our sins. Because of Jesus, we get to live with God forever. What a loving God! He always keeps His promises, He wants to have a relationship with us, and He invites us to be part of the big story He is still writing even today. 14
LARGE Group SECTION Respond// 15 20 min. Host/Worship Leader This time allows kids to worship through silence, prayer, singing, giving, sharing, thanksgiving, and other ways. Make plans for your worship time, but prepare yourself and your team to hold them loosely if the Holy Spirit leads the group in a different direction. SUPPLIES butcher paper (about 6 ) marker paper in the colors of the rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple; 1 sheet of each color per 5 6 kids) pencils or pens tape or glue optional: scissors (1 pair), Worship Response Station of your choice, worship music SET UP Using the marker, draw the outline of a large rainbow on the butcher paper. Tear (or cut) each sheet of paper into six pieces. Keep the paper sorted in separate piles, by color. ENGAGE Rainbows are beautiful. However, rainbows are even more beautiful if you know what they represent. Rainbows represent the fact that God made a covenant and will keep it forever. God also promises that we get to be a part of His story! Today we re going to worship God and show our gratitude for the fact that His promises last forever. As you respond to Him, if you want, tell Him you re thankful for keeping His promises and inviting you to be a part of His story. Invite the kids to each choose a piece of colored paper (or a few pieces, if you have a smaller group). Have them write their names on each piece of paper. Then encourage them to respond to what the Holy Spirit may have spoken to them today by taping or gluing the papers with their names on them onto the butcher paper, filling in the outline of the rainbow. You might play soft worship music during this time. Leader Tip Save today s butcher paper rainbow to display during the upcoming REMEMBER & CELEBRATE weekend (Lesson 1.6). After the children have filled in the rainbow, spend time worshipping through music or by visiting one of the Worship Response Stations. IT S OKAY IF Help children understand that God speaks to us in many ways mostly through His Word, but also through prayer and other ways. Encourage the kids to ask God for the ability to hear His voice, but also give them the freedom to know that it s okay if they don t always experience Him in the ways other people do. 15
Worship Response Stations Worship Response Stations give children the opportunity to worship God both corporately and individually. Choose from the examples below or create your own Worship Response Stations, and make them fixed features in your large group space. Find photos and more detailed ideas for constructing these stations in the How It Works document at tru.davidccook.com. (If you re just getting started with these stations, the Prayer Wall and Prayer Journal may be the easiest to build and introduce to your kids and families.) World Prayer Map Kids and their families place star stickers on a world map, marking places (countries, cities, etc.) they sense God calling them to pray for. They can spend time praying for the people, leaders, governments, etc., in those places and also commit to praying for them at home. Prayer Wall Children and their families write prayers on sticky notes or small squares of colored paper and secure them to a corkboard, magnet board, whiteboard, or other memo board. Periodically you ll need to remove the prayers and place them in a book or journal, which can be passed around to others for intercessory prayer. Prayer Journals Children and their families express their thoughts and prayers by writing in a journal or notebook. You can make the notebooks available at the Prayer Wall or create a separate box or stand labeled Prayer Journals. Giving Boxes Children and their families give money offerings as an act of sacrificial worship. Giving Boxes introduce kids to the concept of tithing. Encouragement Cards Children and their families write notes of encouragement, love, or affirmation to their friends, family members, and others. Note: Remember to display the Worship Response Stations on Remember & Celebrate weekends. 16
SMALL Group SECTION Respond// 15 20 min. Small Group Leaders A time to engage in relationship, reflect on the lesson with spiritual conversation, and/or create a meaningful project or piece of art. Resource Tip Science Experiments activities are available for this lesson. Premium, Unlimited, and Combo users may access this resource at tru.davidccook.com. Reflect: God Is a Covenant Keeper The rainbow reminds us that God always keeps His covenants and loves us very much. (Tell a story of a time you saw a rainbow. Then ask the following questions, encouraging the kids to look up the Scripture references in their own Bibles.) Questions for Younger Kids How did Noah respond to God when he left the ark? (Genesis 8:20) What was the sign of the covenant God gave Noah? (Genesis 9:12 13) With whom did God make His covenant? (Genesis 9:16) How do you think you will respond the next time you see a rainbow? Questions for Older Kids Why did God cause the flood? (Genesis 6:11 12) Why did God save Noah and his family? (Genesis 6:9) What is a covenant? Why are covenants important in the Bible? How does God feel when people His very creation disobey Him? (Genesis 6:5 6) How does that make you feel? How did Noah respond to God when he left the ark? (Genesis 8:20) How do you want to respond to God today? Create: Rainbow Mosaic SUPPLIES fruity O -shaped cereal misc. colorful craft supplies (beads, sequins, small pom-poms, glitter, etc.) poster board (white; 1 sheet) glue colored pencils or markers ENGAGE God put a rainbow in the sky as a sign of His covenant with Noah. When we see those colors, we can remember that God always keeps His promises. Today we re going to make a colorful mosaic. As you work, think about God s promises to you and what you know to be true about Him. He is good and trustworthy! Encourage children to work together to create a colorful mosaic on the poster board. They can make a rainbow if they want, but leave this response time open-ended, allowing the kids to respond to whatever God may have been speaking them today. When finished, display the mosaic where others can see your group s finished work. Also consider displaying it at the next REMEMBER & CELEBRATE lesson (1.6). 17
SMALL Group SECTION Bless// 5 min. Small Group Leaders A blessing can be a prayer of commission, a portion of Scripture, or words of encouragement or guidance. Blessings can be offered in order to ask God s Spirit to overflow from the child s life to bless others or prayed over a child for the purpose of declaring God s protection, joy, or wisdom. Programming Note Depending on the structure of your end-of-service pick-up time, you might give this formal blessing at the end of small group, or you might move it to the end of large group RESPOND. If parents typically arrive to pick up their children at about the same time, involve them in the blessing. However, if parents tend to pick up their kids at staggered intervals, you might have each Small Group Leader bless her group before transitioning into the small group room. Leader Tip Every lesson ends with a blessing. This is a time for parents and leaders to speak truth over children s lives. The idea of the blessing is to transition the child from being blessed to being a blessing to others. The blessing can be done in many ways, but the more intentional you are about it, the more powerful it will be. Depending on whether parents are able to join this time, you may want them to put their hands on their child s head or kneel and look him in the eye as they bless him. Leaders, be sure to model how you envision the blessing working in your church so your volunteers and parents become comfortable with it. As kids are blessed, tell them they have the opportunity to also be a blessing to others. Encourage them to freely share with others the joy and love they have received from God. Encourage the children to hold their hands in front of them, palms up. This posture is meant to symbolize a willingness of heart to respond to God s Holy Spirit and receive what God has for them. Invite them to remain in this posture as you bless them. Encourage parents to come early in order to read the blessing over their child. Open a Bible and read Numbers 23:19: God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Explain to your kids that for the final portion of today s blessing, you will read a statement and they will respond with these words from Psalm 111:9: Holy and awesome is His name. Leader: God spoke the world into being and breathed life into man and woman. Children: Holy and awesome is His name. Leader: God placed a rainbow in the sky as a sign of His covenant with Noah and with all living creatures, including you and me. Children: Holy and awesome is His name. Leader: God fulfilled His promise to mankind, sending His own Son, Jesus, to earth to die so we might have a relationship with Him again. 18
Children: Holy and awesome is His name. Leader: Nothing can separate us from God s love, and He invites us to be a part of His story today! Children: Holy and awesome is His name HomeFront Weekly: Be sure to send home the HomeFront Weekly for next week s lesson! This preteaching tool for parents encourages families to spend time in God s Word together before children arrive at church. HomeFront: A Spiritual Parenting Resource: This magazine gives families ideas for creating fun, spiritually forming times in their homes setting aside a sacred space for family in the midst of their active, everyday lives! As the new issues become available each month, you may choose to print them for families or encourage them to visit HomeFrontMag.com to subscribe to have the magazine sent directly to their inbox. HomeFront is also available as an app for your iphone, ipad, or Android device. 19