God rewards those who trust him.

Praise Jesus! Simeon and Anna See Jesus Lesson 4 Bible Point God rewards those who trust him. Bible Verse But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31). Growing Closer to Jesus Students will n explore the difficulty of waiting, n understand that God s timing is worth waiting for, and n discover ways to help them wait for God. Teacher Enrichment Bible Basis n Simeon and Anna see Jesus. Luke 2:21-38 Joseph and Mary s trip to Jerusalem to have Jesus consecrated was in accordance with the Law as given in Exodus 13:1-2. The sacrifice was a symbolic remembrance, looking back to the Exodus, when the firstborn of Israel were spared as all the Egyptian firstborn were slain. The sacrifice symbolized the buying back of the firstborn son, who belonged to God. Because this ceremony was required for all firstborn sons in Israel, there must have been many babies brought to the Temple every day. God s shepherding of these events is evident, as God brought Simeon to the Temple on this particular day to see this particular child to give his thanks and praise to God for what this child would do. Anna, a prophetess, apparently spent most of her time at the Temple. The Greek text isn t clear about whether she was 84 years old or if she had been a widow for 84 years. In either case, since she was married for only seven years, we know she had been worshipping devoutly at the Temple for a long, long time. She must have seen thousands of babies being brought for consecration during those years. Yet, when Mary and Joseph arrived with Jesus, she knew that this was the baby who would save Israel, and she gave thanks to God for him. Other Scriptures used in this lesson are Philippians 4:6-7 and Romans 8:27-28. Prayer Read Psalm 100:4. How can you praise and honor Jesus more in your life? Pray: Lord, help me to show you praise and honor each day. Help me to show the children I teach how to praise you by the way I 45

Lesson 4 Before the Lesson n Collect the necessary items for the activities you plan to use, referring to the Classroom Supplies and Learning Lab Supplies listed on the chart. n Make photocopies of the Hands-On Fun at Home handout (at the end of this lesson) to send home with your students. n Pray for your students and for God s direction as you teach the lesson. This Lesson at a Glance Attention Grabber What Students Will Do Classroom Supplies Learning Lab Supplies We re Waiting! Name things that are hard to wait for. Bible Exploration & Application Do You Think You ll Live to See? Suggest future inventions, and read Luke 2:21-35. Bibles, paper, pencils, CD player While You Wait Compare waiting quietly with doing something while they wait, and discuss Luke 2:36-38. Bibles The Waiting Game Give advice about waiting based on Isaiah 40:31; Romans 8:27-28; and Philippians 4:6-7. Bibles, The Waiting Game handout (p. 53), scissors Closing The Reward Get a treat as a reward, and commit to trusting God. Treats 46

Welcome As kids arrive, ask them which Fun at Home activities they tried. Ask questions such as, What special place in your home did you use to welcome Jesus? and What baby gifts did you and your family think Jesus would like if he were born today? Explain to the kids that whenever you ring the clanging bell, they are to stop talking, raise their hands, and focus on you. Explain that it s important to respond to this signal quickly so the class can do as many fun activities as possible. Attention Grabber n We re Waiting! SUPPLIES: none Form a circle and give each student a neon loop. Take two neon loops, and show kids how to attach them to make a chain. Follow the margin illustrations to fold one loop over another and then pull the first loop through itself and pull it tight. Say: Think of something that s hard for you to wait for. For example, you might have had a hard time waiting for Christmas or waiting for your turn in a game. Let s make a waiting chain. When it s your turn, name the thing that s hardest for you to wait for and add your loop to the chain. Then pass the chain to the person on your right. That person will repeat what you said and add something else that s hard to wait for. The next person will repeat what the first two people said and so on. I ll go first. It s hard for me to wait for our class to meet because I m so excited to see all of you! Ask: What thoughts went through your mind as you waited for the chain to come to you? (I tried to think of something no one else had said; I was nervous that I wouldn t be able to remember what everyone had said.) How was waiting for the chain like waiting for other things in life? (Sometimes I get nervous waiting; it s hard to wait.) What s it like to wait for good things, like Christmas? (Sometimes I felt like it would never come; it was hard to think about anything else.) Why is Christmas worth waiting for? (Because I always get lots of pres ents; because I see all my cousins; because we celebrate Jesus birth.) Say: We spend lots of time waiting. Usually the things that are hardest to wait for are the things we re really looking forward to. Waiting takes patience, and we hope whatever we re waiting for will be worth it. Sometimes we have to wait for things to happen in God s time, even though we d like to have them happen sooner! But we know the results will be worth the wait. God rewards those who trust him. Dismantle the chain, and return the loops to the kids. Say: Hang your loop on one of your ears. You re going to need it later for something special. Trust me it ll be worth it. Simeon and Anna See Jesus It s important to say the Bible Point just as it s written in each activity. Repeating the Bible Point over and over throughout the lesson will help kids remember it and apply it to their lives. 47

Lesson 4 Bible Exploration & Application n Do You Think You ll Live to See? SUPPLIES: Bibles, paper, pencils, CD player Set out the remaining neon loops, paper streamer roll, track 8 spin tops, and pine cone. Form four groups, and give each group a sheet of paper and a pencil. (A group may be one person.) Number the groups from 1 to 4. Ask: What inventions do we use today that people years ago might not have been able to imagine? (TV; computers; cell phones; video games.) Say: Each group is now an invention team. Your job is to think of new inventions you d like to see in the future. Team 1, your job is to invent something that could be used in a doctor s office or a hospital. Team 2 will invent something that could be used in a school. Team 3 will invent something that could be used in a church. Team 4 will invent something that could be used at home. You may use any of the Learning Lab items I ve set out to represent your invention or just to spark your imagination. You ll have three minutes to come up with your ideas. Then we re going to guess what you invented. As kids are working, play Inventor s Workshop (track 8) on the CD. After three minutes, ring the clanging bell. Wait for kids to respond, and then say: Now we ll see if the other groups can guess what your inventions are. I want each group to think of a way to act out your invention. For example, if you just invented the bicycle, one person could be the rider, two people could be the wheels, and one person could be the handlebars. You can pantomime the motion of your invention or link hands and form the shape of it. You ll also be allowed to give one clue. If you invented an automatic eraser, your clue might be, Our invention will help you when you make a mistake. You ll have a few minutes to plan your presentations. After two or three minutes, ring the clanging bell again. Have groups take turns presenting their inventions to the class. Have kids try to guess each invention as it s presented. If no one guesses, have the group describe its invention. After all the groups have presented their inventions, collect the Learning Lab items. Ask: How long do you think you d have to wait for these things you created to actually be invented? (I don t think it will ever happen; all my life; 50 years.) Say: People in Bible times had been waiting anxiously for the Savior to arrive. Let s read about one of those people now. Distribute Bibles, and ask kids to look up Luke 2:21-35. Have a volunteer read the passage aloud as the rest of the kids follow along in their Bibles. Ask: What do you think it would be like to wait for something your whole life? (Hard; exciting; frustrating.) How do you think Simeon felt after he saw Jesus? (Glad his long wait was over; excited; thankful.) 48

Simeon and Anna See Jesus Have you ever waited and prayed a long time for something? Explain. (I waited for my dad to get a job; I waited for my little sister to get well.) What was it like when what you were waiting for finally happened? (I was excited; I felt happy; I felt relieved; I was thankful.) Say: It s exciting to think about all the great inventions people will think of in the next 100 years. But it s even more exciting to watch for the wonderful things God will bring into our lives. Simeon spent his whole life waiting for God s Son, and he wasn t disappointed. The Holy Spirit told Simeon he wouldn t die before he saw Jesus, and that s just what happened. Simeon trusted God, and God rewards those who trust him. n While You Wait SUPPLIES: Bibles Help kids form two lines. Set one half of the clay in front of each line. Say: We re going to have some fun with this clay. When it s your turn, you ll have 30 seconds to make something with the clay that represents something you ve been waiting for, such as a new puppy or a room of your own. The rest of you will stand in line and quietly wait your turns. Don t talk or move around we don t want to bother the people who are working with the clay. When you finish your turn, go to the end of the line and wait with the others. After all the kids have had a turn, ring the clanging bell to regain their attention. Wait for kids to respond, and then have them sit in their lines. Ask: What was it like to stand in line and wait quietly? (Boring; not very fun.) What thoughts went through your mind as you were waiting? (I wished my turn would come soon; I hoped that our next activity would be more fun.) Say: We ve already heard how Simeon waited to see Jesus. The book of Luke tells us about another person who was waiting for Jesus. Have kids look up Luke 2:36-38 in their Bibles, and have a volunteer read it aloud. Then ask: What did Anna do while she waited for God to send Jesus? (She lived at the Temple; worshipped God; fasted; prayed a lot.) Do you think the way she spent her time made waiting easier? Explain. (Yes, because she got closer to God; she was prepared to see Jesus.) Say: Let s try our activity again, but this time I ll give you something to do while you re waiting for your turn with the clay. And this time, make something with the clay that makes you joyful! Have kids stand in their lines. Give one of the following directions to the lines each time someone new has a turn with the clay. Give everyone high fives, jumping as high as you can. Shake hands with everyone, and say, God loves you! Link elbows with another person. Walk around the room with that person as you both repeat, I m glad you re my friend. Tell two people about the last really good book you read. Ask the person behind you to pray for you or someone you know. If you have more than 12 students in your class, end the first round after three minutes. Bible Insight Luke did not call Simeon a prophet or a priest. Instead, he said that Simeon was a righteous and devout man (Luke 2:25). With this description, Luke stressed that Simeon was filled with the Holy Spirit, who led him to the Temple to find Jesus. God uses and rewards those who trust him. 49

Lesson 4 Store the clay in a resealable plastic bag to prevent it from drying out. After kids have completed the last instruction, call for their attention by ringing the clanging bell. Collect the clay for use in future lessons. Ask: What was it like to have something to do while you waited? (Good; not as boring; I almost forgot I was waiting for something.) How are the things you did while you waited to work with the clay like the things Anna did while she waited for God to send Jesus? (Anna prayed a lot, and we listened to what other people wanted us to pray about; Anna was probably happy, and we had fun encouraging each other.) What have you learned from this experience that could help you when you re waiting for God to work things out? (I ll look for good things to do while I wait; I ll pray and read the Bible; I ll worship God; I ll encourage other people.) Say: We may not like to wait, but waiting can be a good thing! The story of Anna shows us that we don t have to just sit around as we wait we can get to know God better, take positive action, and learn to trust God. Then we ll find out for ourselves that God rewards those who trust him. Say: We ll talk more about how God rewards those who trust him, but for now let s think about how God rewarded Simeon and Anna with the greatest reward of all: Jesus! God s people had been waiting for thousands of years for the promised Messiah, and Simeon and Anna were rewarded with the honor of seeing our Savior, Jesus! HANDS-ON BIBLE You don t need supplies for this activity, other than one or more doorways for kids to take turns using. Make sure kids have their Hands-On Bibles. Have students turn to Isaiah 40 in their Bibles and complete the Strength to Fly activity found near there. When kids have finished, ask: What things do you get tired of waiting for? (Vacation from school; a family member to get healthy; my dad to find a new job.) How can trusting God give you new strength? (I can t do anything about the situation anyway, so I might as well just trust God; God will give me peace; trusting God will let me relax.) n The Waiting Game SUPPLIES: Bibles, The Waiting Game handout (p. 53), scissors Before class, photocopy The Waiting Game handout, and cut the sections apart. You ll need one copy for every three students. Have kids turn in their Bibles to Isaiah 40:31, which reads: But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Ask a volunteer to read the verse aloud while others follow along in their Bibles. Then say: 50

Simeon and Anna See Jesus Does anyone know how eagles soar so high in the sky? Eagles don t spend a lot of energy flapping their wings to fly. Instead, they catch the air currents and simply soar on the wind. How do you think trusting in God can bring you new strength and help you soar like an eagle? (If I trust in God, I ll stop spending my own energy flapping my wings in worry; if I relax and trust God, I can soar on his power.) Help kids form three groups. A group can be as small as one person. Give each person in Group 1 a photocopy of part 1 of The Waiting Game handout. Give a photocopy of part 2 of the handout to the people in Group 2, and give part 3 to the people in the third group. Say: Choose one person in your group to read the first paragraph on your handout aloud. Another person can read the Scripture passage. Then you can all discuss the questions together. After three minutes, ring the clanging bell. Then say: Form trios with people from the other two groups. In your trios, take turns telling about the situation you discussed, the Scripture you read, and the advice you came up with. After about five minutes, ring the clanging bell to bring everyone together. Ask: What s the best piece of advice you heard in your trio? (To pray instead of worrying; to trust God to work things out for the best.) What s one thing you learned from the Bible today that will help you when you face waiting situations in the future? (That I can trust God to work things out; that God wants me to pray instead of worrying.) Say: It s great to know that God rewards those who trust him. Some people may have to wait a lifetime, like Simeon and Anna did. Some wait a few months or weeks. But I can tell you this for sure: If you trust in God, you ll never be disappointed! Always discuss each activity with your students. Don t skip over the discussion part of an activity in order to complete additional activities. The activities allow children to experience Bible truths. The printed discussion questions and summary statements help students explore their feelings, discover important principles, and decide how to apply these principles to their lives. Closing n The Reward SUPPLIES: treats Say: Remember the neon loops I gave you at the beginning of the lesson? Let s see if they re still hanging on your ears. If they are, you re in luck because I have a treat for you. Distribute treats. Then ask: How did you feel when I asked you to wear the neon loops on your ears? (Weird; a little embarrassed.) Why did you go ahead and wear them? (Because you told us to; because we trusted you when you said it would be worth it.) How is the way you trusted me like the way God wants us to trust him? (God wants us to trust him even if we have to wait a long time for him to work things out; God wants us to trust him to keep his promises.) What are some ways that God rewards those who trust him? (God gives us new strength; when we trust him, we can have peace and stop worrying; God keeps his promises.) 51

Lesson 4 As you teach third- and fourthgraders, keep in mind the following aspects of their physical development: They work quickly and with good fine-motor coordination. They want frequent repetition of activities they ve enjoyed. They are interested in active games and organized activities. Have kids form a circle. Say: God rewards those who trust him. Think back on all the things we talked about that are hard to wait for. Then choose one thing you re waiting for. If you want to stop worrying about it and trust God instead, toss your neon loop into the circle and say, God, I trust you. When all the neon loops are in the center of the circle, close with a prayer similar to this one: Lord, thank you for keeping your promise to Simeon and Anna. Thank you for caring about our concerns. We trust you and ask you to give us patience as you work things out. Help us to use our waiting time wisely. In Jesus name, amen. Collect the neon loops for use in later lessons. Growing closer to Jesus extends beyond the classroom. Photocopy the Hands-On Fun at Home handout (at the end of this lesson) for this week, and send it home with your kids. Encourage kids and parents to use the handout to spark meaningful discussion on this week s topic. 52

Jessica is the only child in her family. She s always wanted a little brother or sister. Jessica s parents decided to adopt a child, and now they re on a waiting list for a baby, but they don t know when they ll get one. Jessica thinks about the baby all the time. She wonders if it will be a boy or a girl, if it will cry a lot, and if she will be a good big sister. Read Philippians 4:6-7. What advice could you give Jessica from these verses? What could Jessica do to make the waiting easier? What do you think Jessica might learn as she waits? Jim has played on the same park-district basketball team for two years. Last year his team ended up in second place. This year they have a good chance of winning the championship. Last Thursday Jim sprained his ankle in a scuffle for the ball. The doctor said it could take quite awhile to heal. Jim is worried about getting well in time for the playoffs. Read Isaiah 40:31. The Clarksons live in a small apartment. Tony, who s in fourth grade, and Mikey, who just turned 3, have to share a bedroom. Tony is tired of Mikey getting into his stuff, and he s tired of tiptoeing around after Mikey goes to bed. The Clarksons have been saving money and looking for a house they can afford. Sometimes Tony feels like he ll never get a room of his own. What advice could you give Jim from these verses? What could Jim do to make the waiting easier? What do you think Jim might learn as he waits? Read Romans 8:27-28. What advice could you give Tony from these verses? What could Tony do to make the waiting easier? What do you think Tony might learn as he waits? Permission to photocopy this handout from Group s Hands-On Bible Curriculum Grades 3 & 4 granted for local church use. Copyright Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538. group.com 53

Lesson 4 God rewards those who trust him. Bible Basis: Simeon and Anna see Jesus. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31). Read Isaiah 40:31. Remember taking a family trip and asking your parents over and over, When are we going to get there? Turn the tables, and take your parents on a trip. You might lead them on a walk or a bike ride. Choose a place you think they d like to go, but don t tell them exactly where you re going. Count how many times they ask you where they re going or when they ll get there. When you arrive at your destination, talk about whether it was hard for them to be patient. Give them a big hug and a treat for being good travelers. Name one way God could help you when you re tired of waiting. Read 1 Corinthians 13:7. Name one area of your life in which you d like to be more patient. Read Hebrews 6:11-12. What s one good thing you could do while you wait? Sweet Treats Honey Cookies Ask a parent to help you make a sweet treat for your family. Follow the recipe to make delicious honey cookies. While you re waiting for the cookies to bake in the oven, talk about how sometimes God asks us to wait, too. Just as we have to wait for yummy cookies to bake before we can enjoy them, we may have to wait for the good things God has planned for us. 1/2 cup honey 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cup softened butter 1 egg 11/2 cups flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 2. Mix ingredients in order. 3. Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. 4. Bake until lightly browned. Ask your parents to purchase a blank book to use as a family prayer log. Once a week or once a month, sit down together to record your prayer concerns. Write prayer concerns on one page, and keep the facing page blank for writing God s answers to your prayers. You ll be excited as you fill up the answer pages and discover how God is working in your lives! 54 Permission to photocopy this handout from Group s Hands-On Bible Curriculum Grades 3 & 4 granted for local church use. Copyright Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538. group.com