UNIT 2. DO THE RIGHT THING / PRESCHOOL SESSION 1 - GIDEON BIBLE PASSAGE: Judges 6-8 LIFE POINT: God wants people to do what He says. CHRIST FOCUS: God sent Jesus to earth so we could be with Him foreer. BIBLE VERSE: I am your God. I will make you strong. I will help you. Isaiah 41:10 (Paraphrase) I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you. Isaiah 41:10 (HCSB) I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee. Isaiah 41:10 (KJV) I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you. Isaiah 41:10 (ESV) I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you. Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV) Production Notes p From simple to inoled, you can tailor Worship for Life to your kids and leaders: Short on supplies and leaders? For an easy prep, enlist a host, a music leader, and prepare the Connection Point game. Then show the ideos for the worship songs and other segments. Do you hae musicians who would like to lead worship songs? Check out the lead sheets on the DVD-ROM or substitute your songs! This symbol denotes that the segment or song is aailable on ideo. h This symbol indicates props that will be needed for today s session. 1
Schedule and Props This symbol indicates that a ideo is proided on the DVD-ROM. p This symbol indicates that the actiity is host or leader-led no ideo for this actiity. Ups (Optional) p Huddle People: Small Group Leaders Supplies: Gideon Coloring Sheet (DVDROM), crayons or washable markers Intro Backstage 1-2 minutes People: Stage Manager Props: stuffed animal, headset (doesn t hae to work; hide end of cord in pocket) Countdown and Welcome 1-5 minutes People: Host Props: none Worship Song 3 minutes People: Worship Leader and/or Worship Team Point Game p Connection 5-10 minutes Song Worship 3 minutes People: Worship Leader and/or Worship Team Set-up, Host Briana and Friends Video 2 minutes People: Host p Closing 2 minutes People: Host Props: none Outro Backstage 1-2 minutes People: Stage Manager Props: stuffed animal, headset off and around neck Ups (Optional) p Huddle People: Small Group Leaders People: Host, 2 kids Props: tape to mark tightrope lines Story Bible 5-6 minutes People: Storyteller Props: large piece of lambs wool (wool or a Sherpa blanket); large jar, pot, or pitcher; battery operated candle; trumpet (optional) FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 2
t m TECH music Video and/or audio capabilities Angel s Lullaby Microphones for singers Born in Bethlehem Lights (optional) Let Us Adore Him Optional sound effects aailable (see sound effects file) Do Do Do The Right Thing The Right Thing Listen and Obey a message from Anthony Eans Kids are always told, Do the right thing in eery situation. Do we remember to tell them that it really is the best thing? Following God s plan always results in the best outcome for the situation and in our hearts. Sometimes it is hard to remember this when no one is watching and it seems like the wrong thing might be good. Thankfully, God gies us plenty of hope in His promises and the strength that we need to trust Him. The Bible is full of examples of people who did the right thing and plenty of people who didn t. Oer the next few weeks, kids will hae the opportunity to take to heart how much better it is to Do the Right Thing with God. FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 3
p HUDDLE UPS (OPTIONAL) Huddle ups are for churches that hae a drop-off time before the session begins. There are multiple ideas for interaction during this time, such as simple games that preschoolers can play on the floor or within whateer arrangements you gather your kids. This time can continue for a few seconds een after the stage manager addresses the crowd. (Print the following for your small group leaders.) The Name Game Hae kids sit in a circle. One by one, go around the circle and hae each child say their name. Once they say their name, they will also say their faorite food. Continue around the circle like this until all children hae had a turn. Then, begin the game again with their name and their faorite TV show, etc. This is a great way to learn names and make new friends! Color Gideon Coloring Sheets Tell preschoolers that today they will hae the opportunity to learn about a time God was with Gideon. Proide coloring supplies and coloring sheets to the preschoolers. Allow them to color on their pages while they wait for the session to begin. If the kids prefer to use blank paper, they can color on the back of the page. FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 4
BACKSTAGE INTRO c Estimated time: 1-2 minutes Tech: Video option aailable, t Gideon slide People: Stage Manager p (holds stuffed animal; wears headset) Props: stuffed animal, headset h (doesn t hae to work; hide end of cord in pocket) (Show ideo or act out the following.) STAGE MANAGER (Show Gideon slide.) Hey, eeryone! I m so glad you are here today. You re a great looking group! We e just about got eerything in place and are ready to get started, but first I want to introduce you to my ery special friend. (holds out stuffed animal proudly) This is my faorite buddy. I e had him since I was just a little bitty baby, and I take him eerywhere I go! He neer leaes my side! Well, now that I e introduced you guys, let s get started. I can t wait to hear an incredible Bible story today about a man named Gideon. It s going to be a great day! Let me just check with eeryone and make sure we re ready to go. (speaks into headset) Lighting team? You guys ready? (waits) Great. How about you audio? (waits) Perfect. And last but not least, ideo team? (waits) Glad to hear it! (addresses the kids) We re ready to go! So you know what that means PLACES!! (runs offstage) FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 5
COUNTDOWN AND WELCOME c Estimated time: 1-5 minutes Tech: Countdown ideo, Life Point t slide, Bible Verse slide p People: Host h Props: none HOST (Play Countdown ideo. Host walks out at around 30.) Hey, guys! It s time for our weekly countdown, so stand to your feet and let s do this together 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Great job! Oer the next seeral weeks we are going to be learning about seeral people from the Bible. Some of the coolest stories come from the Bible, and I m so glad that we re going to get to learn from them! Today, we want you to know that God wants people to do what He says. (Show Life Point slide.) Let s say that again together. (Repeat with slide.) God wants people to do what He says. Today we ll hear about a man named Gideon and how he did what God asked him to do. (Show Bible Verse slide select preferred ersion.) Our Bible erse today is from God Himself. It lets us know that God is with us and will help us. Let s say it together: I am your God. I will make you strong. I will help you. Isaiah 41:10 (Paraphrase) I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you. Isaiah 41:10 (HCSB) I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you. Isaiah 41:10 (ESV) I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee. Isaiah 41:10 (KJV) I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you. Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV) Why don t you guys stand up and we ll sing together to God? (Host leaes as worship team gets in place.) FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 6
SONG c Estimated time: 3 minutes Tech: Music or lyric ideo, mics for t singers, lights (optional) People: Worship Leader and/or p Worship Team h Props: none Music: The Right Thing (lead m sheet aailable on DVD-ROM) or download Eerlasting God LEADER Did you know that you can choose to do the right thing and that Jesus will help you? Let s sing to Him together and ask Him to guide us in making good choices. (Show the music or lyric ideo.) (Lead kids to sit as song ends.) Now, it s time for Connection Point! FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 7
p CONNECTION POINT GAME c Estimated time: 5-10 minutes Tech: Connection Point slide, t Connection Point theme music p People: Host, 2 kids h Props: tape to mark tightrope lines Game Instructions: This game is designed for 2 competing players (boys s. girls), onstage with the Host. The object of the game is for the players to walk a tightrope (tape on floor). This will be done in 3 repetitions, changing the walk (normal walk, tip toe, hop). Host (Play Connection Point theme music and show Connection Point slide.) I ll explain the rules for our Connection Point game in just a minute, but before I do, I need a couple of olunteers. Today, we hae a ery exciting eent! We hae two ery special tightrope walkers with us! They are going to show us some amazing stunts! (Introduce kids as world famous tightrope walkers.) Our world famous tightrope walkers will first be showing us a simple walk across. They will put one foot in front of the other and walk slowly across. Are you ready, tightrope walkers? On your marks, get set, go. (applauds for players) That was amazing! For their second trick, our tightrope walkers will tip toe across! Ready, go! (applauds for players) Fantastic! And now for their third and final trick, our world famous, and fearless tightrope walkers will make their way across by hopping. 1, 2, 3, go! (applauds for players) You guys did a great job! You had to do some serious moes while you were walking on that tightrope, huh? Following directions is important! Today, in our story, Gideon had to follow specific directions from God. God used seeral different ways to show Gideon that He was with him. We ll hear more about that in our Bible story right now, so let s listen carefully. (Theme music/slide to transition. Host leads into next segment.) FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 8
BIBLE STORY c Estimated time: 5-6 minutes ech: Christ Focus, Life Point, and t TBible Story slides; Bible Story ideo p People: Storyteller large piece of lambs wool h Props: (wool or a Sherpa blanket); large jar, pot, or pitcher; battery operated candle; trumpet (optional) (Play the Bible Story ideo or tell the following Bible story.) STORYTELLER Hey, guys! (places the jar, pot, and trumpet on nearby table) My name is and I m going to share a story from the Bible that is so cool. It s about a man named Gideon. During Gideon s time, God s people, the Israelites, were not being treated nicely by people called Midianites. God heard His people when they prayed and decided to rescue them. One day, Gideon was working in his father s field when an angel of the Lord came and sat down under an oak tree. Then the angel said to Gideon, The Lord is with you, mighty warrior! Gideon said, If God is with us, why has all this happened? The angel told Gideon to go and sae his people from the Midianites, but Gideon said he could not do it. God will be with you and gie you the ictory, the angel told him. Did you hear those ten words? Can you hold up 10 fingers? (demonstrates with hand) Now, let s say those 10 words. God will be with you and gie you the ictory. God told Gideon that He was sending him to delier the Israelites from the Midianites. Gideon was confused because he was the weakest person and the youngest person in his family. God answered with 5 words. I will be with you. Can you hold up the number fie? (demonstrates with hand) Yes! Can you say these 5 words with me? I will be with you. Good! God told Gideon He would be with him. First Gideon gathered a large army, but God told Gideon there were too many men. God told Gideon to let anyone who was afraid go home. Then God said there were still too many people. He told Gideon to hae all the men drink water from the rier. Some men drank the water like a dog. Gideon put these men in one group. Other men drank the water from their hands. Gideon put these men in another group. Then God told Gideon to send the first group home and keep the 300 men who drank the water out of their hands. These men became Gideon s army. When it was time for the battle, God helped Gideon know what to do. (holds up any items displayed) First, Gideon gae eeryone a pitcher with a torch in it. Then, Gideon and his men surrounded the camp of the Midianites. It was late at night and ery dark. When Gideon gae the signal, the men blew their trumpets and smashed their pitchers so the torches showed. The men yelled, For the Lord and for Gideon! Can you guys yell that with me? For the Lord and for Gideon! That s exactly what they yelled. The Bible says that when the trumpets sounded, the Midianites became confused. They began to fight each other and run away. God was with Gideon, and God was with all His people that day. He FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 9
freed the Israelites from the Midianites. (Show Christ Focus Slide.) You know, God helps people most of all by sending Jesus. God is always with His people and He made a way for His people to be with Him foreer. That way is Jesus! Just like God helped Gideon and was with him, He helps us and is with us. Will you pray with me? Dear God, thank You for helping us by sending Jesus. We are glad to know that You re always with us and will always help us when we ask You just like You did for Gideon and for Your people, the Israelites. In Jesus name, Amen. FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 10
SONG c Estimated time: 3 minutes Tech: Music or lyric ideo, mics for t singers, lights (optional) People: Worship Leader and/or p Worship Team h Props: none Music: Do Do Do The Right Thing m (lead sheet aailable on DVD-ROM) or download Foreer LEADER (Music begins.) Gideon did what God asked him to do. And we should do what God asks us to do, too. Let s sing to Him together! (Show the music or lyric ideo.) (Lead kids to sit as song ends.) FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 11
HOST SET-UP, BRIANA AND FRIENDS VIDEO c Estimated time: 2 minutes t Tech: Briana and Friends ideo p People: Host h Props: none HOST What does God want us to do? Yes, He wants us to do what He says! Let s listen carefully to Briana as she reiews the story. Remember, when she asks you a question, be sure to say your answers aloud! (Play ideo.) FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 12
p CLOSING c Estimated time: 2 minutes t Tech: Gideon slide, Bible Verse slide p People: Host h Props: none HOST (Show the Gideon slide.) Gideon and his small army won a battle by breaking some pots, playing an instrument, and yelling! God wanted the Israelites to know that HE was the One helping them and that He was with them. Optional Giing Segment: In Bible times, God s people gae animals, food, and money to God. Today we can gie God our money, not because He needs it, but because it shows Him how thankful we are for all He s gien us. If you d like to gie to God today, (Gie your own directions for how the kids can gie to God. Perhaps you hae buckets in the back of the room, a chest up front, or an enelope that each small group leader passes.) (Show Bible Verse slide select preferred ersion.) Let s say our erse together one more time before we go. Let me hear you say it loudly! I am your God. I will make you strong. I will help you. Isaiah 41:10 (Paraphrase) I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you. Isaiah 41:10 (HCSB) I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you. Isaiah 41:10 (ESV) I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee. Isaiah 41:10 (KJV) I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you. Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV) Remember this week God is with us just like He was with Gideon. See you soon! FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 13
BACKSTAGE OUTRO c Estimated time: 1-2 minutes Tech: Video option aailable, t Gideon slide p People: Stage Manager Props: stuffed animal, headset off h ears and around neck (Show ideo or act out the following.) STAGE MANAGER (Show Gideon slide.) Gideon heard God tell him, I will be with you. Isn t it awesome that God says that to us, as well? I m going to remember that this week. I hope you will, too! (holds out stuffed animal) I really like haing my special buddy with me eerywhere I go. You know, he s not really real, is he? I m so glad that God IS real. God is always with me, and He s always with you eerywhere we go! Be sure to grab the One Conersation page on your way out. It will help you talk with your family about what you e learned. Can t wait to see you next week! FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 14
p HUDDLE UPS (OPTIONAL) This time is designed for churches that hae a pick-up time from a large room as parents arrie. It s a great time for follow-up conersations and questions from small group leaders about the session s content. You also can use the missions emphasis (below). (Print the following for your small group leaders.) Who was the man we learned about today? (Gideon) What did God want him to do? (help rescue the Israelites from the Midianites) Why was Gideon confused about God using him? (He was the youngest in his family.) How did God help Gideon s army defeat Midian? (trumpets, pitcher with a torch, shouting) MISSIONS EMPHASIS (OPTIONAL) Tell the Seelen s missionary story. (below) Explain that Japan is on an island. Define earthquake as a sudden and iolent shaking of the ground and tsunami as a long, high sea wae, sometimes caused by an earthquake. Inite kids to recall ways the Seelen family is working to help the Japanese people recoer from the deastation in their country. Lead kids to pray for the Seelen family and the Japanese people. Missions Story: Seelens in Japan Colin and Hannah Seelen are teenage missionary kids liing in Japan. What s a missionary kid? That s a kid whose parents are missionaries! On March 11, 2011, an earthquake and tsunami hit Japan. Hannah had neer felt an earthquake and did not know what was happening. It was a terrible disaster and ery scary. The earthquake destroyed buildings, roads, cars, and people s homes. Now that Colin and Hannah are older, they understand what it means to minister to the people in Japan. Colin and Hannah are helping people affected by the earthquake with clean-up and rebuilding their homes. Colin and Hannah also are helping with people s physical needs by sharing clothes, food, water, and small toys for the kids. There is a lot of work to be done. One of the kids most important ways to minister is by giing kokoro no ka care, which means care of the heart. They loe the Japanese people and want them to know that they care and are there to help them. Charlie and Teresa Seelen, Colin and Hannah s parents, hae organized a ministry called Feet to the Street. They go out and meet and talk to the people. Then they try to build relationships with people by initing them to barbeques. Later, they tell them about Jesus. The family s motto is to Know Jesus, know God, so that we can make Him known. FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 15