God s Unfolding Story - PDF Free Download

Bible Story: Abraham Had a Son (Genesis 17:19,21; 18:1-15; 21:1-5) Bible Phrase: Is anything too hard for God? (Genesis 18:14) Bible Truth: God can do anything He says He will do. Old Testament Unit 3: Abraham Lesson 4: Abraham Had a Son God s Unfolding Story 1. God created everything. 2. People disobeyed God. 3. God chose a special people. 4. God sent Jesus to help us. 5. Jesus began the Church. 6. Jesus is preparing heaven for us. Suggested Schedule: Arrival Centers 25 minutes Clean-up Time 5 minutes Bible Story Time 15 minutes Craft Time 10 minutes Snack Time 10 minutes Game Time/Dismissal Hour A Unfolding God s Story for Teachers A Christmas memory we will never forget occurred when our oldest daughter was only 9 months old. On Christmas Eve we were placing gifts around the tree. Unknown to us, Jennifer had crawled out of the bed and was standing in the doorway. We turned around when we heard the word, doll! We laughed as we held our daughter and placed her first doll in her arms. From that moment, Jennifer wanted to be a mommy. As she grew older, collecting baby dolls and caring for them consumed hours of her play. Even when she was a young married adult, one of her greatest desires was to be a mom. God had placed this desire in her heart, and she believed one day God would honor that hope. However, after seven years and countless medical procedures, she and her husband still were childless. There was much disappointment and sadness, but they never stopped believing God would give them a family. Finally, in God s perfect timing, their first child was born, and in the next seven years, three more precious children were born! Is anything too hard for God? That question is one of the greatest questions found in the Bible. It was spoken by the Lord himself to Sarah when she denied laughing about having a son in her old age (see Gen. 18:9-15). But this was no joke to God, and within a year God would bring it to pass. Please read our story from Genesis 17:19,21; 18:1-15; 21:1-5. When Abraham was first called by God, God promised to make him the father of a great nation. Later in Abraham s life, God was more specific about how He would fulfill His promise. In this week s story, we learn when the fulfillment occurred. Abraham surely told Sarah about God s plan, but apparently she did not fully believe or had given up hope. God s timing is always perfect, and in waiting we are tested. In Sarah s mind, the wait solidified her inability to have a child. God often allows a situation to become impossible before He acts. What man cannot achieve, God can accomplish according to His power and will. Within a year from the time God said Sarah would give birth, baby Isaac was born. The child Isaac, whose name means laughter, surely brought much joy to his family. Isaac, a baby miraculously born, was a forerunner of the Christ child the Ultimate Son of Promise born miraculously to Mary. Isaac became the next generation through which the seed of Genesis 3:15 would come to the whole earth. As a culture we are bombarded with promises. Promises are made that we will loose weight, live longer, grow hair, get a spouse, get rich, look younger, feel more energy, and the list goes on. Sadly, many promises never come true. Also, families are torn apart because of broken promises. Preschoolers need to hear that God always keeps His promises, and nothing is too hard for Him. Lesson Plan Arrival Greet children at eye level and express how happy you are to see them. Be sure each child has a name tag and the security measures of your church are followed. Label all coats and personal belongings. Strongly encourage children who have brought items from home, such as toys and books, to place them on a shelf while they are working with other materials. Assure children their items will be safe and they can take them home at the end of the session. Help each child make a choice where he or she would like to begin his or her Center Time. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT03 Lesson 4 Hour A Page 1

Puzzle Center: Work Puzzles Offer a variety of non-fantasy wooden or cardboard puzzles for the children to work. What to Do: Encourage each child to finish a puzzle before leaving the center. Offer guidance rather than working the puzzle for the child. Link to the Bible Story: As children work, take advantage of opportunities to say the Bible Phrase or to briefly tell the Bible story. Art Center: Paint with Watercolors Coloring Page: Abraham Had a Son Watercolors, brushes, water, paper cups What to Do: Invite children to use the watercolors to paint today s Bible story picture. Link to the Bible Story: As children work, say today s Bible Phrase, Is anything too hard for God? (Genesis 18:14). Comment that in today s Bible story God promised Abraham he would have a child. Even though Abraham and Sarah were very old, Sarah had baby Isaac. Center Time Home Living Center: Role Play Small rocking chair, sink and stove unit, small table and chairs; plastic dishes, child pots and pans, plastic food items; and doll items such as baby doll, doll bed, doll bag, blanket, clothes, bottles, and diapers. Optional: Plastic dishpan, towel, washcloth, empty baby lotion or baby powder container What to Do: Home living items will encourage children to role play home activities such as cooking, cleaning, and caring for the baby. If optional items are available, place a small amount of water in the dish pan and invite preschoolers to give the baby doll a bath and ready it for bed. Link to the Bible Story: As children play, look for opportunities to engage in conversation about the Bible story, Bible Phrase, or Bible truth. Express that God gave Abraham and Sarah a baby boy; they loved and cared for baby Isaac. Bible Learning Center: Matching Copies of Activity Page: Which One Matches? (Reproducible) Crayons or washable markers What to Do: Invite children use a crayon or marker to circle the object in each row that is the same as the first one. Link to the Bible Story: As children work the activity, express that God made a promise to Abraham that he would have a son, Comment that God kept His promise and later Abraham and Sarah had baby Isaac. Block Center: Build with Blocks Wooden blocks What to Do: Provide a small carpet if possible. Blocks are best located in a corner of the room away from the traffic flow. Link to the Bible Story: As children build, listen for opportunities to share the Bible Phrase or to tell a part of the Bible story. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT03 Lesson 4 Hour A Page 2

Clean-up Time Encourage preschoolers to help at clean-up time. Assign specific tasks for preschoolers to do such as placing all the crayons in the basket, throwing away the trash, gathering all the glue sticks, etc. Guide children to the Bible Story Time area. Bible Story Time Bible Teaching Picture, Abraham Had a Son (Reproducible) Baby doll God s Unfolding Story Cube (Reproducible/Cardstock) Introduction Show the God s Unfolding Story Cube. Express to the boys and girls that even though there are many stories in the Bible and all of them are true, there is one overall story we can call God s Unfolding Story. Tell children that each picture on the cube represents a part of God s Unfolding Story. Turn the cube and talk about each point in the story. (Refer to page 1.) Express that every story in the Bible is from one of these main points in God s Unfolding Story. Today s story is from the third point; God Chose a Special People. Express the following in your own words as you hold the baby doll in your arms. Do you remember in our story last week God promised Abraham something very special? What did God promise Abraham? Our baby doll is a clue. God promised Abraham and Sarah that He would give them a son. Our story today is about God s keeping His promise. Bible Story Abraham Had a Son (Genesis 17:19,21; 18:1-15; 21:1-5) For many years, God had promised Abraham and his wife, Sarah, a son. Now they were very old, and they still had no children. But Abraham and Sarah continued to believe God would give them a son. One day Abraham was sitting outside his door, and three men came up to his tent. Abraham thought they were travelers who might need food and water or a place to rest. Abraham offered to make them a meal, and the men agreed to stay. Sarah made some bread while Abraham had the meat cooked. Finally the meal was ready and they served their guests bread, meat, and milk. While they were enjoying the meal, one of the men said, Next year your wife Sarah will have a baby. God was speaking through him. Sarah was still in the tent, but she heard what the man said. Sarah laughed because she thought she was too old to have a baby. Maybe for a moment she had forgotten God s promise. The man heard Sarah laugh, and he asked Abraham, Why did Sarah laugh? Then he said, Is anything too hard for God? Just as the man said, a year later, Sarah had a baby boy. Abraham named him Isaac, just as God had told him to do. Even though Abraham and Sarah were very old, God made it possible for Sarah to have a baby. God kept His promise to Abraham and Sarah. Talk Time 1. Show the teaching picture for today s Bible story. Ask questions like these. What did Abraham and Sarah do for the men? What did one man say would happen to Sarah? What did Sarah do? What did God give Abraham and Sarah a year later? 2. Say today s Bible Phrase together, Is anything too hard for God? (Genesis 18:14). Express the following in your own words. Mommies usually have babies when they are young. Sarah was probably older than most of your grandmothers. God can do anything He says He will do. God gave Sarah the ability to have a baby in her old age. 3. Close the Bible Story Time in prayer, thanking God that He is so powerful and can do anything. 4. Direct children to Craft Time. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT03 Lesson 4 Hour A Page 3

Craft Time: Make a Bible Phrase Reminder Copies of Baby Isaac (Reproducible) Wiggly eyes (2 per child) Crayons and washable markers What to Do: Cut out each Baby Isaac. Invite children to color baby Isaac s blanket and add wiggly eyes and other facial features. Link to the Bible Story: Remind children of God s promise to Abraham that he and Sarah would have a child. Comment that even though they were old, God kept his promise and baby Isaac was born. Snack Time Be sure to wash hands or use hand sanitizer. Say a thank-you prayer to God for the snack. When snack time has ended, encourage preschoolers to help with cleaning up. Game Time / Dismissal Guessing Game 5 or 6 objects such as: crayon, block, baby doll, book, toy car, plastic dish, marker, scissors What to Do: Invite children to come to the Game Time area and sit in a circle. Identify the objects you have placed before you on the floor. Tell children to close or cover their eyes with their hands. Explain to children they will open their eyes when you will say the Bible Phrase, Is anything too hard for God? While children s eyes are closed remove an object. Children try to guess what is missing. Children also enjoy when you remove more than one object. After you play the game, say the Bible Phrase together. Remind children that nothing is too hard for God. Dismiss children when parents arrive. Be sure to follow your church s security guidelines. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT03 Lesson 4 Hour A Page 4

Resources and Supplies Old Testament Unit 3: Abraham Lesson 4: Abraham Had a Son Hour A Standard Art Supplies (Supplies that are generally in the room) Washable markers Crayons Child scissors Playdough and accessories Drawing paper Easel (optional) Glue/glue sticks Tempera paint, 4 colors Tape/masking tape Pencils/colored pencils Hole punch Teacher scissors Stapler/staples Permanent markers Watercolors Paintbrushes Yarn Standard Equipment (Equipment that is generally in the room) Bible Small beanbag for Bible Story Time Assorted wooden/cardboard puzzles Set of wooden blocks Small cars and trucks Doll bed Baby doll (soft plastic) Stove/sink unit Play dishes/pots and pans Small table and chairs Small carpet for block area Play food items Storage shelf for blocks Tables and chairs for art, puzzles, and Bible Learning Center CD player/children s Worship CDs Reproducibles (Included with the lesson plan downloads) Coloring Page: Abraham Had a Son (1 copy per child) Activity Page: Which One Matches? (1 copy per child) Bible Phrase Reminder (1 copy for every 2 children, cardstock) Teaching Picture, Abraham Had a Son (1 copy per class) God s Unfolding Story Cube (Cardstock 1 copy per class) Parents Connect (1 copy per child) Additional Art and Bible Learning Materials Paper cups for water color painting Additional Craft Materials Wiggly eyes (2 per child) Additional Home Living Materials Optional: Plastic dishpan, towel, washcloth, empty baby lotion or baby powder container God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT03 Lesson 4 Hour A

Which One Matches? Activity Page: Which One Matches? Instructions: Copy one sheet per child. Circle the object in each row that is the same as the first object. OT03 Lesson 4 Hour A Bible Learning Center God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com

Is anything too hard for God? Genesis 18:14 fold fold Craft: Bible Phrase Reminder Baby Isaac Instructions: One copy per child. Color baby Isaac s blanket. Add wiggly eyes and other facial features. OT03 Lesson 4 Hour B Craft Time God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com