Timothy Hears About God s Word Scripture Passage: Acts 16:1-2; 2 Timothy 1:5, 3:14-16 Lesson Objective and Application.................................. Children will learn that Timothy was taught God s Word as a young child from his mother and grandmother. They will also know that when Timothy grew up he taught others about God s Word, the Bible. At the conclusion of this lesson, the children will name one person who teaches them about God s Word and thank God for that person. Supply List........................................................... Bible Lesson Bible Lesson Visuals 1-3 Two or three brightly colored shoelaces Scripture Memory Bible Medium-sized rubber ball Game Time BASIC GAME No additional supplies needed ADVANCED GAME Items to make approximately 5 different sounds such as: Bell Wooden spoon on pan Whistle Ticking timer Bible Lesson......................................................... Introduction Boys and girls, have you learned to tie your shoes all by yourself? Allow time for response. How did you learn to tie your shoes? Allow time for response. Tying your shoes is a very hard thing to learn to do. That is why we need someone to teach us how to do it. I remember when I was about your age I I Will Hear God s Word and Do It Lesson 3 13
wanted to learn how to tie my shoes all by myself. I tried and tried, but I couldn t do it. Teachers should adjust this to fit their personal situation. Finally, my older sister helped me. She taught me how to tie my shoes! Now learning to tie shoes is an important thing, but today we are going to hear about a man who learned something even more important than how to tie shoes. I am going to open my Bible to the book of 1Timothy. Let s listen to find out who this man was and what important thing he learned. Let s pray and ask God to help us understand the Bible lesson. Ask God to help each one be a good listener so they can learn more about God s Word, the Bible. Lesson Timothy s mother and grandmother both loved God very much. They wanted Timothy to know and love God, too. Show Visual #1. So when Timothy was a young child, his mother and grandmother read him God s Word, the Bible. Timothy heard God s Word and learned about the Bible from them. Earlier, boys and girls, we talked about who taught you how to tie your shoes. Now let s think about someone who teaches you about the Bible. Who are some people who teach you about the Bible? Allow time for response. Not only did Timothy have a grandmother and a mother, he also had a good friend whose name was Paul. Just like Timothy s grandmother and mother, Paul loved God. He told many people about God. Paul wrote a letter to Timothy. We can read what the letter says because it is part of the Bible. In Paul s letter he tells Timothy, Do not forget the things that you have learned. Show Visual #2. Do you know what? Timothy did not forget. He traveled to many places and taught God s Word, the Bible to others. Show Visual #3. I am happy, boys and girls, because I am able to help you learn more about God s Word each week at Gopher Buddies, just like Timothy s grandmother and mother helped him learn God s Word. I am also happy because I know there are other people who teach you about God, too. Now, before we say a prayer, I want to share with you one of the important things Paul did not want Timothy to forget. Let me tell you what the Bible says God has done for us. Application The Bible, God s Word, tells us that we have all done wrong things. God calls the wrong things that we do sin. God says we have to be punished when we sin. Sin is what keeps us from God. But God sent Jesus, His Son, to take the punishment in our place. Jesus came to earth. He died on the cross for our sin. But Jesus did not stay dead. Three days later, He came back to life. Now Jesus is in Heaven. In Romans 10:9 the Bible says, read Romans 10:9 aloud to the children. Have you told God that you are sorry for the wrong things that you have done? Have you asked Him to forgive you and be your Savior? If you would like a teacher to help you understand more about asking Jesus to be your Savior, please come and talk to me after the lesson. Have a teacher ready for counseling. For detailed invitation instructions and an explanation concerning 14 I Will Hear God s Word and Do It Lesson 3
the process of leading Early Learners to Christ, please see the appendix in this Bible Study. Prayer Time Suggestion............................................ Thank God for the Bible, God s Word. Thank God for sending His Son Jesus to take the punishment for our sins. Review Questions................................................... Place two or three colorful shoelaces in the middle of the table. Tell the children that when they think they know the answer to a question, they should grab one of the shoelaces. Let the children who grab the shoelaces first answer the question. Make sure that each child that wants to answer gets the opportunity to answer a question. 1. What was the name of the young man in our Bible lesson today? (Timothy) 2. Who read God s Word, the Bible, to Timothy? (His mother and grandmother) 3. Who wrote a letter to Timothy? (Paul) 4. What did Timothy do when he grew up? (He told others about God.) 5. What does the Bible say God has done for you? (Answers will vary. Lead the children to discuss that God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins.) Snack Time.......................................................... Timothy Treats Serve pre-packaged crackers or cookies in people shapes. Discussion Suggestion: As the children enjoy snack time, review the lesson with them. Talk about how Timothy s mother and grandmother read and taught him God s Word when he was a child. Encourage the children to name someone who teaches them about the Bible. I Will Hear God s Word and Do It Lesson 3 15
Timothy Cookies Serve sugar cookies in people shapes. You may also want to frost the cookies in advance or allow the children to decorate them if time allows. Discussion Suggestion: As the children enjoy snack time, review the lesson with them. Talk about how Timothy learned God s Word as a child from his mother and grandmother. Encourage the children to name someone who teaches them about the Bible, God s Word. Discipleship Time................................................... Use Activity Sheet (I Will Hear God s Word and Do It Lesson 3) Questions for Further Discussion: 1. What did Timothy learn as a young child? (God s Word) 2. How did Timothy learn about God s Word? (His mother and grandmother taught him.) 3. Name one person who teaches you about God s Word, the Bible. (Answers will vary.) Prayer Time Thank God for all the people who help us learn more about God s Word. Suggested sentence prayer Dear Jesus, thank you for the Bible. who teaches me about Scripture Memory Time............................................. Verse: James 1:22 Scripture Explanation: Read the verse aloud from the Bible in the version that the children will be learning. God wants you to obey His Word, the Bible. When Timothy heard God s Word, when he was a child just like you, he obeyed it. Say the verse, including the reference, aloud several times. Then, ask the children to repeat it with you a few more times. 16 I Will Hear God s Word and Do It Lesson 3
Activity Bouncing Ball Have the children form a circle. Tell the children that you are going to call out someone s name and bounce the ball to them. They are to catch the ball and then call out someone s name and gently bounce the ball to them. That person is to catch the ball and then the three children will stand in the middle of the circle and say the memory verse. Be sure to help them if they need it. When they have finished reciting the verse, they should go back to their places in the circle. The last person to catch the ball is the first person to bounce the ball. Again, the children should bounce and catch the ball until three children have done it. Then those three children go in the middle of the circle and say the memory verse. Continue to play until all children have had a turn. Game Time........................................................... Mother May I? Have the children line up facing the leader (mother). The mother then chooses a child and says their name along with a command. For example: Emily, take three steps forward. Joel, take three giant steps. The child must then ask, Mother, may I? Mother then says, Yes, you may. The child then performs whatever the command is. If the child carries out the action/command without first asking Mother, may I? they are sent back to the starting line. Be sure that each child has an opportunity to move forward. Continue as time allows. Learning Link: Ask the children whose mother we talked about in today s Bible Lesson. Talk about how Timothy was taught God s Word by his mother and grandmother. Encourage the children to thank their parents and others who help teach them God s Word. I Will Hear God s Word and Do It Lesson 3 17
Sounds Around You will need items to make approximately five different sounds. Examples would be a bell, a wooden spoon with a pan, a whistle, and a ticking timer. Seat the children in a circle. Have them close their eyes. Then make two sounds. When they open their eyes, find out how many thought the sounds were the same. Ask how many thought the sounds were different. You may want to see if they can guess what the sounds were. You may want to allow each child to take a turn making the noises. Repeat as time allows or until all the children have had a turn. Learning Link: Discuss with the children that just as they heard the different sounds you made, Timothy heard the Word of God. Encourage the children to pay close attention to God s Word as they do their Quiet Time in the coming week, just as they listened closely to the sounds in the game. 18 I Will Hear God s Word and Do It Lesson 3