Unit 7 Session 5 UNIT 7 SESSION 5 Use Week of: JOSHUA S FINAL ENCOURAGEMENT Joshua 23:1 24:28 Joshua 1:9 MAIN POINT: We can trust God. BIBLE PASSAGE: KEY PASSAGE: The Bible Story Joshua 23:1 24:28 BIBLE STORY FOR TODDLERS When Joshua was old, he gathered all the people. Joshua said, You have seen everything God did for you. God kept all of His promises to us. Be very strong. Obey all of God s words. Love God. Then Joshua reminded the people about the promises God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and how God helped His people. Joshua said, Choose today whom you will follow. My family and I will follow God. The people promised to worship God too, but Joshua knew they would not always obey God. Only Jesus obeyed God all the time! Joshua wrote down the people s promise to obey God. Then Joshua sent the people home. BABIES GOSPEL GEMS **Joshua told the people to love God and obey Him. **The people promised to love and obey God. **Jesus always obeyed God. Additional resources for each session are available at gospelproject.com. For free training and session-by-session help, visit http://www.ministrygrid.com/web/thegospelproject. 22 Babies and Toddlers Leader Guide Unit 7 Session 5 2015 LifeWay
Babies Activities LOOK IN THE BIBLE Provide hand-size Bibles for babies to hold and turn the pages. Open your Bible to Joshua 23. Show the Bible story picture as you say the Gospel Gems. You may read the key passage card. SAY: Joshua told the people to love and obey God. Jesus always obeyed God. WE CAN TRUST GOD! [Pray for the babies.] SING A SONG Sing to the tune of Are You Sleeping? : God is with you, God is with you everywhere, everywhere! God is always with you. He will never leave you. Trust in God. Trust in God! SAY: God kept His promise to be with Joshua, and He will keep His promise to be with you, too. WE CAN TRUST GOD! MAKE TRUST GOD ART Cut heavyweight paper into simple house shapes for each baby. Write My family will trust God! on each house, and then place them in ziplock bags with a squirt of paint. Seal the bags with duct tape and invite babies to spread the paint. Allow the art to dry. SAY: The people promised to love and obey God. WE CAN TRUST GOD. BUILD A HOUSE Provide soft blocks or pool noodles cut in 1-inch circles for babies to stack with you. Assist babies as needed. SAY: You built a house! Joshua said that his house his family would love and obey God. WE CAN TRUST GOD too! Check diapers, serve bottles if needed, and release babies to parents according to your church s security guidelines. Give parents today s big picture card. Repeat the Gospel Gems and Bible-learning activities for babies who stay a second hour. 23
Toddler Activities CIRCLE TIME (5 MINUTES) Provide Bibles for toddlers to hold. Read the key passage card and guide toddlers to say it. Open your Bible to Joshua 23. Show the Bible story picture as you tell the story. SAY: Joshua told the people God had kept every promise He made. Joshua trusted God, and WE CAN TRUST GOD too. [Pray.] MAKE A BOOK Provide half-sheets of white paper and jumbo crayons. Invite toddlers to write on their paper. Fold the artwork in half to make a simple book. Write the main point on each book. SAY: Joshua wrote God s words in a book. Joshua trusted God. WE CAN TRUST GOD. READ ABOUT CHOICES Read books about making choices. Talk about Joshua s choice to love and obey God. SAY: Joshua told the people to love and obey God. WE CAN TRUST GOD too. WHERE IS IT? Provide a favorite toy for toddlers to handle. Cover the toy with a blanket or towel and forget where you put it. Invite toddlers to show you where it is. SAY: Joshua told the people to remember their promise to love and obey God. Jesus always obeyed God. WE CAN TRUST GOD too. PLAY OUT A FAMILY Provide baby dolls, dress-up clothes, toy dishes, and so forth. Invite toddlers to play out a family scene. SAY: The people promised to love and obey God. They promised their families would love God only. WE CAN TRUST GOD. 24 Babies and Toddlers Leader Guide Unit 7 Session 5
Bonus Teaching Hour JOSHUA S FINAL ENCOURAGEMENT Joshua 23:1 24:28 KEY PASSAGE: Joshua 1:9 MAIN POINT: We can trust God. BIBLE PASSAGE: TRANSITION ACTIVITY: MAKE A CHOICE Set up two favorite activities or games for toddlers to play. Invite toddlers to choose which activity to do. After a few minutes, invite toddlers to switch. SAY: God made us able to think and make choices. The people had a choice to make. The people promised to love and obey God. WE CAN TRUST GOD! TAKE A WALK If weather permits, take a walk to the outside play area or push toddlers in a stroller outside to look at trees. Leave a note explaining where you are going. SAY: Joshua brought the people to a big tree. Joshua said that God had kept every promise He made. WE CAN TRUST GOD too. SING A SONG Invite toddlers to hold hands and walk in a circle as you say to the tune of Ring Around the Roses : God is always with me. He will never leave me. I can trust, I can trust, I can trust God! [Sit down.] SAY: WE CAN TRUST GOD. God is good, and He loves us very much. Check diapers, serve a snack if needed, and release toddlers to parents according to your church s security procedures. Give parents today s big picture card to reinforce today s Bible story, Main Point, or Gospel Gems throughout the week. 25
Joshua s Final Encouragement (Joshua 23:1 24:28) Unit 7, Session 5 2015 LifeWay OK to Print
God is with you. Joshua 1:9 (HCSB) God is with thee. Joshua 1:9 (KJV) God is with you. Joshua 1:9 (ESV) God will be with you. Joshua 1:9 (NIV) Babies and Toddlers Leader Guide Unit 7 2015 LifeWay OK to Print Key Passage Cards Instructions: Print and cut apart the cards. Laminate them or cover them with clear contact plastic. Use the translation of your choice as directed in the Babies and Toddlers Leader Guide.