Take a look below to see what our Kids Ministry learned this past Sunday!
In the Lima Campus 34’s and 5K’s classroom and the Henrietta Campus Preschool classroom: LESSON 3 | God Has Plans For Us
Bible Basis: Genesis 12 – 18; 21; 24 – 25
Bible Verse: Jeremiah 29:11: “ ‘I know the plans I have for you,’ announces the Lord. ‘I want you to enjoy success. I do not plan to harm you. I will give you hope for the years to come.’
Bible Point: God had plans for Abraham. God also has plans for me.
Resource: The Beginner’s Bible
“A New Home”(pages39–45)
“The Visitors”(pages46–51)
“A Bride for Isaac” (pages 52 – 57)
TABLE TALK: Use the Table Talk questions below to start a discussion around the Table at dinner.
- Do you have any plans for today? For when you grow up?
- What kinds of plans do you think God has for you? For your family?
- What was God’s plan for Abraham? (To move to a new land and have a son.)
- How can you be like Abraham? (Love God, obey God, talk with God, follow God no matter how scary it feels sometimes.)
LIVING FAITH: Living Faith activity is designed as a drama to help your child remember the Bible lesson.
Have your child select one of the Bible stories from this week and act it out for you as you read the story aloud from Beginner’s Bible. Have your child reenact some of the conversations between two people. Your child can use dolls, puppets, stuffed animals, or even you to reenact some of these situations:
- Abraham’s helpers and Lot’s helpers argue and light about the land.
- Abraham and Lot each choose their own land and they move away.
- Abraham speaks with three visitors.
- Abraham tells his servant to find a bride for his son Isaac.
- Rebekah meets Abraham’s servant at the well.
When you come to the place(s) in the story where a Bible character speaks, instruct your child what to say. If possible, have your child perform the Bible drama for other family members in person, via Skype, or using a video camera.
EXTRA MILE: Extra Mile provides interactive ways for your child to connect with the story.
- Abraham and Sarah were blessed by the birth of Isaac. Tell what a blessing it was when your child was born. Tell how you chose your child’s name and those of any siblings. Use the Internet or a baby name book to look up the meaning of each name. Show any pictures or a baby book from that time.
- Rebekah watered the servant’s camels. If you have pets, put your child in charge of keeping the water dish full.
- Abraham and Lot had trouble sharing the same land. Sometimes siblings sharing a room or a home have trouble getting along too. Talk with your children about behaviors that will make it easier for them to get along and share the same space. Use a piece of construction paper to write out some ground rules for sharing space and post them.
- Sing the popular children’s song “Father Abraham” with the accompanying body movements. Explain how Abraham is considered to be the father of many sons (and daughters) in the nation of Israel. [FAMILY NOTE: Abraham had one biological son with Sarah, one with Hagar, and six with Keturah.]
Father Abraham had many sons Many sons had Father Abraham I am one of them, and so are you
So let’s all praise the Lord.
Right arm! (Wiggle your right arm while you continue to sing.)
Father Abraham had many sons Many sons had Father Abraham I am one of them, and so are you
So let’s all praise the Lord.
Right arm, left arm! (Wiggle both arms while continuing to sing.)
Father Abraham had many sons Many sons had Father Abraham I am one of them, and so are you
So let’s all praise the Lord.
Right arm, left arm, right foot! (Keep wiggling; add a new body part each time.)
Father Abraham had many sons Many sons had Father Abraham I am one of them, and so are you
So let’s all praise the Lord.
Right arm, left arm, right foot, left foot!
Father Abraham had many sons Many sons had Father Abraham I am one of them, and so are you
So let’s all praise the Lord.
Right arm, left arm, right foot, left foot, Chin up, chin down!
Father Abraham had many sons Many sons had Father Abraham I am one of them, and so are you
So let’s all praise the Lord.
Right arm, left arm, right foot, left foot, Chin up, chin down, turn around!
Father Abraham had many sons Many sons had Father Abraham I am one of them, and so are you
So let’s all praise the Lord.
Right arm, left arm, right foot, left foot, Chin up, chin down, turn around, sit down!
In the Lima and Henrietta Grade School classroom: I am never alone!
Kids will learn that the Holy Spirit is a real person who lives inside each believer and they can develop a real, daily friendship with the Holy Spirit and experience that they are never alone.
IN THE CAR: Ask your child what happened in class this week on the drive home, here is what they learned:
In the Small groups we talked about Psalm 91:14-16 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. 15 When they call me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. 16 I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”
Here are some questions to process with your child on the ride home:
What do these passages tell you about the character of God?
How do these passages change your perspective of God’s role in your life when you are lonely or afraid?
What are we told to do when we are lonely or in trouble? (Vs 15)
HANGING OUT:
Take time as a family to remind each other that you are never alone! A play these fun games
Three-Legged Race
Equipment: Bandanna, tube sock or another piece of fabric to tie legs together, stopwatch
Have two partners stand shoulder to shoulder and gently tie their inside legs together. Designate a starting line and a finish line and see how quickly the teams can move from point A to B! If you have large open space, such as outside, all the teams can run at the same time. In a smaller space, such as inside on a rainy day, they can run one at a time while keeping track of time with a stopwatch. Make sure the wrap is tied tightly enough to keep them close together, but not so tight to restrict movement or hurt their ankles. Have each team start at the starting line and get everyone as you all say ‘Ready, Set, Go!’
Variations to try:
Go Blindfolded
Equipment: Blindfold, bandanna
To make the race more challenging, add blindfolds to both partners and have bystanders give them directions from one side of the yard to the other. Or make it a trust exercise by giving only one partner a blindfold so the pair has to rely on the sighted partner to give them directions. Be sure to switch the blindfold so both partners get to try it.
Run an Obstacle Course
Equipment: Household objects, pool noodles, hula hoops, cones, jump ropes, bandanna
Make a simple obstacle course to run as a three-legged pair. Even hopping over a pool noodle, crawling on hands and knees under a broomstick or turning sideways to fit between two trees is challenging when you are tied together!
Walk Backwards
Equipment: Bandanna
Walk the entire race backward as a fun, giggle-worthy variation on this already tricky task!
Carry a Balloon
Equipment: Inflated balloon or a water balloon and bandanna
Blow up or fill up a balloon and have each three-legged pair hold the balloon gently between their sides as they move from the starting line to the finish line. If they pop the balloon, use their hands or drop the balloon, they have to return to the starting line and start again.
Flip Directions
Equipment: Bandanna
Have one partner facing forward and one partner facing backward before tying the legs together, race to one end of the yard and back so both partners have the chance to run forwards and backward.
Human knot
Have all family members stand in a circle, facing inward.
Tell everyone to reach their right arm towards the center and grab someone else’s hand. Make sure no one grabs the hand of the person right next to them.
Next, have everyone reach their left arm in and grab someone else’s hand. …
Now, the fun begins! Without letting go of each other’s hands work together to unknot yourself back into a circle!
AT BEDTIME:
Ask your child the best and worst of their day, really take the time to listen and enjoy that simple time with them. Encourage and emphasize the great characteristics you see in your children and speak over them the great things you see about their God-given personality as you tell them you love them and tuck them in at night.
PARENT TIME:
What you need to know:
Kids take their lead from you; share your story of how God has taught you that you are never alone and that the Holy Spirit is still working in you. Use silly, good, and bad experiences for your children to get a glimpse into your own history. That level of vulnerability with your child may help them to open up to you when they are struggling with a problem or they just want to share special moments with you. With your support, your child will see you are the best person to open up to.
