TEACHER BIBLE STUDY 4 th -6 th Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Before God rescued His people from the Egyptians, He made a promise. God promised to bring the Israelites back to the land He had given to Abraham so many years ago. (Exodus 3:8) God was leading the Israelites to the promised land. When they were close, God instructed Moses to send spies into the land to scout it. The spies traveled around the land for 40 days, and it was just as God had promised. There was one problem; the people in the land were big and strong. Caleb, one of the spies, announced, We must go up and take possession of the land because we can certainly conquer it. Caleb understood that God was with them. With God s help, they could do anything. Joshua and Caleb understood who God is. When God promises to do something, He will do it. (Numbers 23:19) But the other men were afraid. That night all of the people wept loudly. They despaired because they did not believe God s promise to lead them into the promised land. The people plotted to find a new leader who would lead them back to Egypt. God was not happy with Israel. They had turned away from Him and trusted in themselves. God wanted to destroy the people, but Moses interceded for them. God struck down the spies except for Caleb and Joshua, and He declared that anyone who had sinned against Him would not enter the promised land. The Israelites would wander in the desert for 40 more years. Help the kids you teach understand that the Israelites sinned when they believed God was not in control. Point out that Joshua s obedience to God, which resulted in his leading the Israelites into the promised land, reminds us of Christ s life of obedience leading to His finished work on the cross, making the way into the promised land of eternity. LESSON OVERVIEW/SCHEDULE Session Title: Joshua and Caleb Bible Passage: Numbers 13:1 14:38 Big Picture Question: What happens when God s people sin? Sin has a price, but God forgives when people seek forgiveness. Key Passage: Exodus 20:1-17 Unit Christ Connection: God instructed His covenant people how to live holy lives in an unholy world. This sustained their relationship with God until the perfect plan was revealed through Jesus Christ. Transition Time Welcome time Activity Sheet/Table Centers Session starter (10 minutes) 1
Lesson Countdown Introduce the session (2 minutes) Big picture question (1 minute) Tell the Bible story (10 minutes) The Gospel: God s Plan for Me (optional) Discussion starter video (5 minutes) Sing (5 minutes) Timeline map (1 minute) Key passage (4 minutes) Prayer (2 minutes) Table Time Bible story review & Bible skills (10 minutes) Key passage activity (5 minutes) Activity choice (10 minutes) Prayer (5 minutes) THE BIBLE STORY/OVERVIEW Joshua and Caleb Numbers 13:1 14:38 God told Moses, Send men to scout out the land of Canaan (KAY nuhn) I am giving to the Israelites. God instructed Moses to send out one leader from each family tribe. Moses sent them from the wilderness just as God commanded. All the men were leaders in Israel. When Moses sent the men to scout out the land of Canaan, he told them, Go up this way to the Negev (NEH gehv), then go up into the hill country. See what the land is like, and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. Moses had a lot of questions he wanted answered: Is the land good or bad? Are the cities they live in camps or forts? Is the land fertile or unproductive? Are there trees in it or not? Moses said to the men, Be courageous. So the men went and scouted out the land. They traveled around the land for 40 days. When they were in the valley, they cut down a cluster of grapes and carried it on a pole. Then they went back to Moses, Aaron, and the Israelite community. They reported to Moses: We went into the land where you sent us. Indeed, it is flowing with milk and honey. However, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities they live in are large and fortified. We saw groups of people living in the land and along the sea. Caleb, one of the spies sent to scout out the land, said, We must go up and take possession of the land! We can certainly conquer it with God s help! But the other men disagreed. We can t go up against the people; they are stronger than we are! We looked like grasshoppers compared to them! 2
All of the Israelites started crying, and they cried all night. They thought Moses and Aaron had brought them to Canaan to die. They said, Let s appoint a new leader and go back to Egypt! Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all of the Israelites. Joshua and Caleb, who were among those who scouted out the land, tore their clothes and said to the Israelite community, The land we passed through and explored is extremely good land. If the Lord is pleased with us, He will give it to us. Don t be afraid of the people living in the land; God is with us! How long will these people despise Me? God asked Moses. How long will they not trust Me? God wanted to destroy all the people, but Moses said, Please pardon the wrongdoing of the people. I know You are great, faithful, and loving. God replied, Since you have asked, I will forgive them. But none of them who despised Me will live to see the promised land of Canaan. Since Caleb and Joshua had followed God completely, God decided to let them enter the promised land. God said that the people who did not trust that God would help them would face consequences for their sin for 40 years. They would wander in the wilderness and not enter the promised land. Out of all the spies who went to scout out the land, all of them died except for Joshua and Caleb. Christ Connection: Even though Joshua was not perfect, he lived a life of obedience to God. Joshua was faithful and was going to lead the people into the promised land. His accomplishments point to Christ s finished work on the cross defeating Satan, setting people free from sin, and making the way into the promised land of eternity. TRANSITION TIME Session Title: Joshua and Caleb Bible Passage: Numbers 13:1 14:38 Big Picture Question: What happens when God s people sin? Sin has a price, but God forgives when people seek forgiveness. Key Passage: Exodus 20:1-17 Unit Christ Connection: God instructed His covenant people how to live holy lives in an unholy world. This sustained their relationship with God until the perfect plan was revealed through Jesus Christ. Welcome time Use this time to collect the offering, fill out attendance sheets, and help new kids connect to your group. Invite the group to share about its week. Ask if anyone had to be courageous during the week. Activity page (5 minutes) Table Centers (Miscellaneous Activities) It Starts With / Follow the Camel Steps activity page, 1 per kid pencils Help kids identify the missing letter and place it in the space provided on the activity page, It Starts 3
With. After kids discover the message the Israelites ignored, lead kids to list things that have led them to ignore the same message. Say The Israelites chose to ignore this message from God. Ignoring a message from God always has a price. The Israelites paid a very sad price for their choice. If time permits, discuss the definitions of the words found on the Follow the Camel Steps activity page. These are words you will be studying during this lesson. Use the activity page to review the words with the children. Session starter (10 minutes) Option 1: Grasshopper leap Cards with letters for the phrase: milk and honey Whiteboard Whiteboard markers Mix up the cards. Option: Create more than one set of cards and play the game with teams. (2 sets of cards are provided in each classroom) Explain that everyone will take turns drawing a letter card and grasshopper leaping (hopping) across the room to write it on the whiteboard. After all the letters are revealed, instruct the group to unscramble them to find a clue to today s Bible story. If the group needs help unscrambling the letters correctly, guide kids to look up Number 13:27. Say The word grasshoppers is found in today s Bible story. Has anyone ever had a task or job to do and you just didn t think you could do it? What did you do? Did you have someone to help you? The Israelites had a task or a job to do and God promised to help them. Listen to find out what the Israelites did and what grasshoppers, milk, and honey have to do with today s story. Option 2: Promised land taste test Bibles, 1 per kid honey milk grapes small cups for milk spoons for honey napkins for grapes pomegranates or pomegranate juice (optional) figs or fig preserves (optional) Tip: Post an allergy alert sign for parents to see when they drop off their kids. Also check with kids and your kids ministry staff about any allergies kids may have. Say God told Moses that the land He was giving the Israelites was flowing with milk and honey. That was a way to describe the land as very good. Milk, honey, and grapes had a role in today s Bible story. When you hear the Bible story, listen for these three items. 4
The Bible also tells us that the promised land contained figs and pomegranates. (Numbers 13:23) This was a good land that God was giving the Israelites. Allow the kids to taste the food and drink provided. Lead boys and girls to look up God s promise to Moses and the Israelites about the land He was leading the Israelites to. (Exodus 3:8,17; 13:5) Say What other ways did God describe the land? (good and spacious, Exodus 3:8) Transition to large group LESSON Session Title: Joshua and Caleb Bible Passage: Numbers 13:1 14:38 Big Picture Question: What happens when God s people sin? Sin has a price, but God forgives when people seek forgiveness. Key Passage: Exodus 20:1-17 Unit Christ Connection: God instructed His covenant people how to live holy lives in an unholy world. This sustained their relationship with God until the perfect plan was revealed through Jesus Christ. Countdown countdown video (insert provided DVD with lesson videos and worship) Show the countdown video as you clean-up table centers, set up classroom chairs for lesson, and set it to end as large group time begins. Introduce the session (2 minutes) camel trek attire [Enter wearing khaki slacks or shorts, a white or light-colored loose-fitting shirt, a canteen, binoculars, and hiking shoes.] Leader How is everyone? Have you had a good day so far? I am glad you came to join us on our camel trek today. So far we have followed the Israelites path from Egypt, across the Red Sea, and to Mount Sinai. At Mount Sinai the Israelites received the Ten Commandments. God also gave His people instructions on how to build the tabernacle and how and why they should offer sacrifices. Like the Israelites, we also need forgiveness for our sin. Unlike the Israelites, we have no need to offer a sacrifice to gain forgiveness. Jesus gave His own life as the sacrifice for our sin. Jesus became our atoning sacrifice. After the Israelites left Mount Sinai, God led them to the land He promised to give them. This was the land that God had promised Abraham his descendants would live in. The land God promised the Israelites was a land of milk and honey. That reminds me of an interesting fact about camels. Camels are not only used for transportation in desert regions, but camels are also a source of food. The meat of a young camel can be eaten. The fat that a camel stores inside its hump can be melted to become a butter. Camels also produce milk that people drink and make cheese from. Have any of you ever eaten 5
camel s cheese? No. What about camel s milk? Have you ever had camel s milk? How many of you enjoy drinking cow s milk? Cool, that is a lot of hands. Milk is used to describe the land God gave the Israelites because that was a way of saying the land was really good land. Big picture question (1 minute) 11x17 poster provided Leader Although God was ready to give the Israelites the promised land and everything seemed very positive, our Bible story today is actually very sad. The Israelites made a horrible decision to sin. That leads me to today s big picture question. Anyone want to guess what today s big picture question is? Any guesses? Oh, those are interesting guesses. I like those questions; maybe we can use them one day. Today s big picture question is, what happens when God s people sin? Listen closely as we open our Bibles to Numbers 13. What book of the Bible comes before Numbers? Good, it is Leviticus. What book comes after Numbers? Deuteronomy is correct. Excellent answers! Did everyone find Numbers 13? Here we go. Tell the Bible story (10 minutes) Joshua and Caleb video Bibles, 1 per kid Big Picture Question: What happens when God s people sin? - 11x17 poster provided Bible Story Picture 11x17 poster provided Open your Bible to Numbers 13 and tell the Bible story in your own words, or show the Bible story video Joshua and Caleb. Leader Has anyone ever found themselves trying to make the right decision when everyone else is saying not to? Standing up for what is right is hard to do. Joshua and Caleb were so concerned with following God and obeying His commands, they weren t worried about whether or not the people liked them. In fact, they were heartbroken or extremely sad that the people did not choose to do the right thing and obey God. Joshua and Caleb tried to remind the people that if God was with them, nothing and no one would stop them from conquering the land God promised them. They tore their clothes, which was a sign that they mourned the Israelites choice to disobey God. Moses, once again, was a mediator for the Israelites and asked God to forgive them for their disobedience. God did forgive the Israelites, yet their sin still had a price. They still had to live with the consequences. Sadly, the people who refused to obey God would never enter the promised land, a land flowing with milk and honey. The people would never live in the very good land. Instead, they would die in the wilderness during the next 40 years. For 40 years, the people wandered through the wilderness waiting for the day when they would again have the opportunity to enter the promised land. Because of their trust in God s promise, Joshua and Caleb would be allowed to enter the promised land. Caleb followed God completely, and Joshua was also obedient to God s plan. Joshua was not perfect, but his life points us to Jesus. Joshua was faithful and obedient, which point us to Christ s perfect faithfulness and obedience to follow God s plan for Him to give His life as a sacrifice for our sin. One day, if you are a Christian, you will get to enter the promised land of eternity with Jesus. 6
Our big picture question is, what happens when God s people sin? Sin has a price, but God forgives when people seek forgiveness. Sin always, always has a price. We may not see the price immediately, but sin has a price. Ultimately sin separates us from God. Thankfully, God is gracious and loves us. He will forgive us when we seek His forgiveness. The Gospel: God s Plan for Me (optional) Bibles, 1 per kid Share with kids the gospel plan using the guide provided and your Bible. Ensure kids have the opportunity to talk through any questions or decisions they need to make by providing counselors to speak with kids one-on-one. Discussion starter video (5 minutes) Choose Your Group video (on provided DVD) Leader Joshua and Caleb understood that obeying God was always the right choice. It can be hard for us to know how to make the right choice sometimes. Watch this video and afterward we ll talk about what you think should happen or what you would do. Show Choose Your Group video. Leader Have you ever been in a situation where you had to choose whether or not to do what your friend was doing? What did you choose to do? What drink do you think the kid in the video should go with? What about a choice of whether or not to follow your friends and sin? What should we do if we make a choice to sin? Our big picture question is, what happens when God s people sin? Sin has a price, but God forgives when people seek forgiveness. How could our big picture question help you know what to do when you sin? Thank kids for sharing with you their thoughts and ideas. Sing (5 minutes) Worship Song: Give You Glory (on provided DVD) Leader What s the name of our theme song this unit? ( Give You Glory ) How could the Israelites have given God glory in today s Bible story? If they had, would their story have turned out better or worse? That s an interesting idea. We have a choice every minute of every day whether or not we will give God glory. Join me in singing and I want you to think about the words as you sing. Sing Give You Glory. Timeline map (1 minute) Timeline Map (Posted on wall in classroom. Additional copies provided for Table Time Review) Leader We haven t visited our timeline map today. Remind me of what has happened to the Israelites. Point to a Bible story picture and the timeline and select a kid to share what happened during that Bible story. If you have time, review Bible stories from previous units. 7
Key passage (4 minutes) Key Passage Posters: Exodus 20:1-17 (2 cards, provided) Worship Song: Ten Commandments (on provided DVD) Leader Our key passage is the Ten Commandments. Have you been memorizing them at home and in your small groups? Keep working on them. I know that each one of you is capable of memorizing the entire key passage. Lead kids to review and sing Ten Commandments. Prayer (2 minutes) Leader I have enjoyed our trek to the edge of the promised land. I hope you will be back next week. I m excited to see where our camel trek takes us next. Close in prayer. Thank God for granting forgiveness when people ask Him to. Dismiss to small groups for Table Time The Gospel: God s Plan for Me Ask kids if they have ever heard the word gospel. Clarify that the word gospel means good news. It is the message about Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation. Use the following guide to share the gospel with kids. God rules. Explain to kids that the Bible tells us God created everything, and He is in charge of everything. Invite a volunteer to read Genesis 1:1 from the Bible. Read Revelation 4:11 or Colossians 1:16-17 aloud and explain what these verses mean. We sinned. Tell kids that since the time of Adam and Eve, everyone has chosen to disobey God. (Romans 3:23) The Bible calls this sin. Because God is holy, God cannot be around sin. Sin separates us from God and deserves God s punishment of death. (Romans 6:23) God provided. Choose a child to read John 3:16 aloud. Say that God sent His Son Jesus, the perfect solution to our sin problem, to rescue us from the punishment we deserve. It s something we, as sinners, could never earn on our own. Jesus alone saves us. Read and explain Ephesians 2:8-9. Jesus gives. Share with kids that Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again. Because Jesus gave up His life for us, we can be welcomed into God s family for eternity. This is the best gift ever! Read Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; or 1 Peter 3:18. We respond. Tell kids that they can respond to Jesus. Read Romans 10:9-10,13. Review these aspects of our response: Believe in your heart that Jesus alone saves you through what He s already done on the cross. Repent, turning from self and sin to Jesus. Tell God and others that your faith is in Jesus. Offer to talk with any child who is interested in responding to Jesus. 8
TABLE TIME LEADER Session Title: Joshua and Caleb Bible Passage: Numbers 13:1 14:38 Big Picture Question: What happens when God s people sin? Sin has a price, but God forgives when people seek forgiveness. Key Passage: Exodus 20:1-17 Unit Christ Connection: God instructed His covenant people how to live holy lives in an unholy world. This sustained their relationship with God until the perfect plan was revealed through Jesus Christ. Bible story review & Bible skills (10 minutes) Bibles, 1 per kid Timeline - small group visual pack Review the Bible story by instructing kids to stand up when they know who said the statement that you read. If the kids need help remembering or they are not all in agreement, guide kids to use a Bible to find the correct response. Send men to scout out the land of Canaan I am giving to the Israelites. (God, Numbers 13:1-2) Be courageous. (Moses, Numbers 13:20) We can certainly conquer it! (Caleb, Numbers 13:30) We can t go up against the people; they are stronger than we are! We looked like grasshoppers compared to them! (the 10 spies, Numbers 13:31-33) Let s appoint a new leader and go back to Egypt! (the Israelites, Numbers 14:4) Don t be afraid of the people living in the land; God is with us! (Joshua and Caleb, Numbers 14:9) Please pardon the wrongdoing of the people. I know You are great, faithful, and loving. (Moses, Numbers 14:19) Since you have asked, I will forgive them. But none of them who despised Me will live to see the promised land of Canaan. (God, Numbers 14:20-23) Say Why did the Israelites refuse to listen to Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb? What are some reasons people might refuse to listen to someone encouraging them to obey God? Are any of those reasons a good reason to disobey God? What happens when God s people sin? Sin has a price, but God forgives when people seek forgiveness. God promised the Israelites that He would give them this land. If God promised them the land, could strong people and fortified cities stop Him from keeping His promise? The people refused to obey God and sin has consequences. How does Joshua point us to Jesus? (His accomplishments point to Christ s finished work on the cross defeating Satan, setting people free from sin, and making the way into the promised land of eternity.) 9
Key passage activity (5 minutes) Key Passage Posters Make a Motion Instructions Form groups or pairs and instruct each group to create motions for each of the commandments. After a couple of minutes, allow each group to share their motions with the rest of the small group. Say This week at home, try practicing the motions as you work on memorizing the key passage. If you are having trouble, try working on the first half of the passage this week. Activity choice (10 minutes) Option 1: Grape smash purple or green balloons strips of paper, 15 chairs to sit on to smash the grapes (optional) Write the key statement and two Scriptures from The Gospel: God s Plan for Me on separate slips of paper. Place each slip of paper inside a balloon and inflate the balloons. Say The bunch of grapes the spies brought back to show the people was a sign of how good the promised land was. We are going to smash grapes to review God s way to the promised land of eternity with Jesus. Kids must take turns speedwalking across the room and sitting on a grape to smash it. Once all the grapes have been smashed and all 15 pieces of paper collected, kids must match each statement with the right Scriptures. Review The Gospel: God s Plan for Me. Encourage kids who have questions to talk to you or another Christian adult. Urge kids to share the gospel with friends and family. God rules. God created and is in charge of everything. (Gen. 1:1; Rev. 4:11; Col. 1:16-17) We sinned. Since Adam and Eve, everyone has chosen to disobey God. (Rom. 3:23; 6:23) God provided. God sent His Son Jesus to rescue us from the punishment we deserve. (John 3:16; Eph. 2:8-9) Jesus gives. Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again so we can be welcomed into God s family. (Rom. 5:8; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 3:18) We respond. Believe that Jesus alone saves you. Repent. Tell God that your faith is in Jesus. (Rom. 10:9-10,13) Say What happens when God s people sin? Sin has a price, but God forgives when people seek forgiveness. Option 2: Empty the circle painter s tape or cones 30 50 small foam noodles pieces, small balls, or small balloons Tips: To make pool noodle pieces, cut pool noodles in half and slice 2-inch pieces. Determine the number of items needed based on the size of your small group. Option: Limit kids outside the circle to using only one hand during the game. Tape a circle on the floor or use cones to outline a circle. Select two kids to stand inside the circle. Everyone else will play the game outside the circle. Place foam noodle pieces outside the circle and 10
explain that the kids inside the circle will attempt to keep out all the noodle pieces. Kids outside the circle will attempt to get all the noodle pieces inside the circle. Play for a few minutes before pausing to select two new kids to play inside the circle. Say Was it difficult to be inside the circle? How hard was it to be part of the group outside the circle? In our Bible story, did Joshua and Caleb worry about standing up against the crowd? What were they concerned about? (the Israelites choice to sin) When you choose whom to follow, remember what we learned from Joshua and Caleb. If what you are doing honors and glorifies God, He will be with you and help you, even if it is difficult. What happens when God s people sin? Sin has a price, but God forgives when people seek forgiveness. Prayer and Clean-Up (5 minutes) Say What happens when God s people sin? Sin has a price, but God forgives when people seek forgiveness. God s forgiveness is an example to us that we should also forgive. Ask children to think about these two questions: Do you need to forgive someone? Do you need to ask God or someone else for forgiveness? Close in prayer. Clean up room. Dismiss 11
TM Instructions: Write in each blank the missing letter to learn the message the Israelites ignored when they chose to disobey God. _eer _range et _range _oe _ee _agle _pple _rog _abbit _pple _guana _eer oat _range _eer _guana _nake _ater _guana _ree _at _mbrella _nake Letter Bank Name some things that have stopped you from following this message and obeying God. A G R B H S D I T E N U F O W UNIT 6 Session 4 Older Kids Activity Pages. The Wilderness
Instructions: Follow the camel footprints to match each word with its definition. praise, honor, and respect breaking God s law the ability to control all things and accomplish whatever He pleases one who helps two people reconcile their relationship a group of people who were born and lived at about the same time a promise two people make, or a promise a person and God make something brought to God to express love, obedience, thanksgiving, or the need for forgiveness to pay a price in order to get something back UNIT 6 Session 4 Older Kids Activity Pages TM. The Wilderness
Family Journal Page The Wilderness Moses instructions to the 12 to me ga the t nec on C nt. hu ger ven d Hide some objects for a sca about the people, farmland, fruit, an ort rep d an d lan sed mi pro the gh ou spies to look thr e story, such as a doll, toy food, ibl B the to ate rel t tha s ng thi ing hid fortifications. Consider List the items and why t). me hel e bik a as ch (su n tio tec pro grapes, and something representing they were important. Session Title: Joshua and Caleb Bible Passage: Numbers 13:1 14:38 Big Picture Question for preschoolers: What happens when God s people disobey Him? Sometimes bad things happen when people sin, but God will forgive. Big Picture Question for kids: What happens when God s people sin? Sin has a price, but God forgives when people seek forgiveness. Key Passage: Exodus 20:1-17 Christ Connection: Even though Joshua was not perfect, he lived a life of obedience to God. Joshua was faithful and was going to lead the people into the promised land. His accomplishments point to Christ s finished work on the cross defeating Satan, setting people free from sin, and making the way into the promised land of eternity. 6/*5 r 4FTTJPO TM. OK TO PRINT
And God spoke all these words, saying, 1. You shall have no other gods before me. 2. You shall not make for yourself a carved image. 3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain. 4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 6/*5 r,fz 1BTTBHF 1PTUFS &47 TM -JGF8BZ $ISJTUJBO 3FTPVSDFT OK TO PRINT The Wilderness
5. Honor your father and your mother. 6. You shall not murder. 7. You shall not commit adultery. 8. You shall not steal. 9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 10. You shall not covet. Exodus 20:1-17 UNIT 6 Key Passage Poster (ESV) TM 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources. OK to print The Wilderness