Putting God First: Remembering What God Has Done

Putting God First: Remembering What God Has Done

Week 1: Remember God Made All of Us

This includes:

Leader Preparation

Lesson Guide

LEADER PREPARATION

BIBLE BASIS

Naaman thought he was special—too good for a dirty river. But God used a dirty river to teach Naaman a valuable lesson about his pride. When Naaman went to Elisha to be healed from his leprosy, Elisha told Naaman to take a swim in the muddy Jordan River—not once, but seven times. Though Naaman resisted, the result was healing—and a lesson in humility. Use this lesson to help kids remember that God created each person to be special and unique. We should not get too puffed up about who we are or what we do.

DISCOVERY POINT

Remember God made all of us.

BIBLE FOCUS

2 Kings 5:1-19

KEY VERSE

“Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us” (Romans 12:3).

TEACHING PREP

The short overview below is designed to help you prepare for your lesson.

Supplies You’ll Need: Putting God First: Remembering What God Has Done (Year 2/Quarter 8) CD;LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 2) DVD; CD player; TV/DVD player; “Take a Dip!” handout;“Naaman Bible Bio” handout; red, yellow, and blue food coloring; pitcher of water; clear plastic cups; Bibles; resealable plastic bag; dirt;newsprint; and 2 bowls for every 5 kids; pitcher of water; paper towels; pepper; liquid dish detergent; baby wipes; 1 pen, 1 index card, and 2 six-inch lengths of string per child

Before This Lesson

• Print the “Take a Dip!” handout. You’ll need one copy per crew of four kids.

• Print the “Naaman Bible Bio” handout. You’ll need one copy per crew of four kids.

• Fill a 2-quart pitcher of water, and add three drops each of red, blue, and yellow food coloring to turn it slightly brown. Fill clear plastic cups with the brown water.

• Fill the resealable bags with dirt. You’ll need one bag of dirt for every Bible Crew of four kids.

• Put a piece of newsprint on the wall where kids can reach it easily. The newsprint should be large enough so everyone can put a handprint on it.

• Assemble Bible Exploration Kits (one per four kids): Bible; “Take a Dip!” handout;“Naaman Bible Bio” handout;one resealable bag of dirt; two bowls; paper towels; and one index card, one pen, and two 6-inch lengths of string per child.

• Review 2 Kings 5:1-19.

• Cue"Into the Bible"(Track 1) on the Putting God First: Remembering What God Has Done (Year 2/Quarter 8) CDor(Quarter 8/Track 1) on the LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 2) DVD.

• Huddle briefly with your volunteers beforehand. Answer any questions they have. Encourage them and pray.

PARENT EMAIL

We’ve provided you with a “Family Devotion” handout to send the Bible learning and faith discovery home. When kids and parents have faith discussions regularly, kids’ faith multiplies.

So we’ve given you two options:

Print the “Family Devotion” handout and make enough copies for each child to take one home.
Email the “Family Devotion” to families before or after the actual lesson.

Or why not do both? That way you’ll double the opportunities for parents to actually get the handout.

Putting God First: Remembering What God Has Done

Week 1: Remember God Made All of Us

LESSON GUIDE

WELCOME!

Supplies: Putting God First: Remembering What God Has Done (Year 2/Quarter 8) CD,LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 2)DVD, CD player, TV/DVD player, cups of brown water

1. Play “Into the Bible” (Track 1) from the Putting God First: Remembering What God Has Done (Year 2/Quarter 8) CD or (Quarter 8/Track 1) from the LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 2)DVDas kids arrive.

• “Into the Bible”

Makes me wanna jump!

Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump!

Makes me wanna sing! Hallelujah!

It’s the greatest book.

Come and take a look.

Makes me wanna shout!

Shout! Shout! Shout! Shout!

So that everyone will see

I’m getting into the Bible

And the Bible...is getting into me!

We’re discovering a brand-new world

As we dig a little deeper (deeper),

Finding out about who God is.

Open it up and see it (see it)!

There’s nothin’ like

God’s Word, and I get

So excited.

It makes me wanna,

Makes me,

Makes me wanna jump!

Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump!

Makes me wanna sing! Hallelujah!

It’s the greatest book.

Come and take a look.

Makes me wanna shout!

Shout! Shout! Shout! Shout!

So that everyone will see

I’m getting into the Bible

And the Bible...is getting into me!

2. As kids arrive, give each person a cup of brown water, and encourage kids to drink as much of it as they want. If kids resist, simply encourage them to try it. Have kids talk about what the water tasted like and what they think made it brown.

3. When everyone has arrived and had a chance to drink the brown water, start the “Fireworks Countdown” (Quarter 8/Countdown Track 1) on theLIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 2)DVD. When you have everyone’s attention,

ASK:

• What did you think when I offered you brown water to drink?

• Why did you or didn’t you drink the water?

• What is the strangest thing someone has ever asked you to do? Explain why you did or didn’t do that strange thing.

SAY: You could have gotten clean, clear water from a water fountain or out of a sink, but most of you still decided to drink the brown water I gave you. Today we’ll learn about someone who had to do something with icky, dirty water. He didn’t want to at first, because he thought he was too good for that brown water. But when he finally did, he was glad he did. Let’s find out why. His story will help us remember God made all of us.

LET’S EXPLORE!

Supplies: assembled Bible Exploration Kits, newsprint, pitcher of water, pepper, liquid dish detergent

1. Have kids form Bible Crews of four, and give each crew a Bible Exploration Kit and a piece of newsprint. Assign each group a section of the story as follows: 2 Kings 5:1-6; 2 Kings 5:7-10; 2 Kings 5:11-14; and 2Kings 5:15-19. (It’s OK to repeat verses if you have more than four Bible Crews or to combine verses if you have fewer crews.) Tell kids to take turns in their crews reading the passages from the Bible. Then have kids make mud by combining a small amount of water with dirt in one of their bowls. (The mud recipe works best with one part water to two parts dirt. If you use potting soil, it works best with one part water to one part soil.) Explain that crew members will use their fingers and the mud to paint a picture on a piece of newsprint. The picture should summarize the crew’s part of the story.

2. As kids paint, circulate to offer ideas for pictures that represent the passage they read. Then have kids wipe the mud off their fingers and set the bowls of mud aside for use later in the lesson. When everyone has finished painting, have crews present their summary pictures in order of the passages.

3. ASK:

• What did you think about using mud to tell this story?

• How is that like or unlike what Naaman thought about dipping himself in the muddy Jordan River?

SAY: Sometimes we need to remember God made all of usand we’re not better than others. Naaman thought he was too good for such a muddy river. He even suggested several other, cleaner rivers. But to be healed, he had to realize that he wasn’t too good for Elisha’s instructions. When he finally followed those instructions, he was amazed at how God healed him.

4. SAY: Let’s do a fun experiment to see how God washed away Naaman’s leprosy. Have Bible Crews take the “Take a Dip!” handout from their Exploration Kits. Make the liquid dish detergent, pepper, and water available for crews to try the experiment. Then have groups discuss the following questions. After each question, ask volunteers to share their group’s responses aloud.

ASK:

• What can we learn from God using a muddy river to heal Naaman?

• Why is it important to remember God made all of us?

SAY: God made all of us special, and not one of us is more special than anyone else. We’re all unique and special in different ways. Naaman had to learn that lesson with a dip in a dirty river. But we can learn it right now.

Have Bible Crews find and read Romans 12:3 in their groups.

5. SAY: Let’s make something to remind us of this verse and help us remember God made all of us.Have crews take the “Naaman Bible Bio” handout from their Exploration Kits and direct them to the “Seeing Spots” activity on the bottom of handout. Have kids use supplies from the Bible Exploration Kits to complete the activity there. When kids have finished, have them write the last sentence of Romans 12:3 around the outside of their card.

ASK:

• What do you think about when you hear God made all of us?

• What is one thing you’ll do this week to help you remember that you’re not better than anyone else?

LET’S PRAISE!

Supplies: Putting God First: Remembering What God Has Done (Year 2/Quarter 8) CD,LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 2)DVD, CD player, TV/DVD player, newsprint, mud from Let’s Explore!

1. As you sing the first song, have one member from each Bible Crew bring its bowl of mud to the front of your meeting area. SAY: We can remember God made all of usto be special and unique. Let’s praise God for loving us all and creating us all to be special.

Set up the Putting God First: Remembering What God Has Done (Year 2/Quarter 8) CD or the LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 2)DVD.PLAY:

• All Authority (Romans 13:1) (CD Track 2) (DVD Quarter 8/Track 2)

Everyone must submit to governing authorities.
For all authority comes from God.
Everyone must submit to governing authorities.
For all authority comes from God.
God has placed people in authority for his reasons.
When we respect those in authority,
We are brave,
We are strong,
And we are honoring God.
(Repeat from the beginning.)
All authority,
All authority comes from God.
All authority,
All authority comes from God.
All authority,
All authority comes from God.
All authority,
All authority comes from God.

• Love Is (1 Corinthians 13:4-5)(CD Track 3) (DVD Quarter 8/Track 3)

Love is patient,
Love is kind,
It does not envy,
It does not boast,
It is not proud.
It is not rude,
It’s not self-seeking,
Not easily angered,
It keeps no record of wrongs. (No!)
Love keeps no record of wrongs.
Love is, love is…
Love is, love is…
(Repeat from the beginning.)
Love is, love is…
Love is, love is…

2. SAY: As we continue to praise God, come dip your hands in the mud and press your handprints onto the piece of newsprint. Notice how each handprint is unique and special. When you finish, leave the mud on your hands without touching anything. We’ll use it during prayer time.(It’s easy for kids to forget that their hands are dirty. Help them keep their hands off their clothes or others by encouraging them to raise their hands in praise.)PLAY:

• Let Us Bow Down in Worship (Psalm 95:6-7) (CD Track 6) (DVD Quarter 8/Track 6)

Come, let us bow down in worship.
Let us kneel before the Lord.
Let us bow down in worship.
Let us kneel before him.
For he is our God,
Yes, he is our God.
We are always under his care.
He is always there.
(Repeat from the beginning.)
For he is our God,
Yes, he is our God.
We are always under his care.
He is always there.

Always there,

He is always there.

“Let Us Bow Down in Worship” (Psalm 95:6-7) by Ben Glover and Jay Stocker. © 2004 Group Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission to use lyrics granted for local church use only. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

LET’S PRAY!

Supplies: Putting God First: Remembering What God Has Done (Year 2/Quarter 8) CD,CD player, baby wipes

1. Have kids sit in a circle with their dirty palms up. SAY: We all need to be reminded sometimes to let go of our pride the way Naaman did. We’re all special and unique, and no one is better than anyone else. During our prayer, help your crew members know how special they are by helping them clean their hands.As we pass the wipes around the circle, take a wipe, clean the hands of the person on your left, and thank God for making that person special. Remember: God made all of us special and unique.

2. Play the instrumental version of “Let Us Bow Down in Worship” (Psalm 95:6-7) (Track 14) from the Putting God First: Remembering What God Has Done (Year 2/Quarter 8) CDas you pass the baby wipes around the circle. When everyone has had a chance to pray, SAY: Thank you, God, for creating us all to be special and unique. In Jesus’ name, amen.

3. ASK:

• What was it like to have someone serve you?

• What were you thinking as you cleaned the hands of the person next to you?

• How can you remember to show someone else this week that God made each of us to be special and unique?

SAY: God made all of us special and unique. When you cleaned the hands of the person next to you, you were showing that you didn’t see yourself as better than that person. When someone cleaned your hands, it made you feel special.

Show kids where to throw away the baby wipes.

HIGH FIVES

Supplies: none

SAY: Before you leave, give a high five to seven people. Each time you give a high five, say, remember God made all of us!

FOR-EXTRA-TIME ACTIVITIES

Dirty and Clean

Supplies: none

Divide kids into two groups. Have one group come up with a list of things you can do with dirty water, such as gross people out. Ask the other group to come up with things you can do with clean water, such as wash dishes. Then have the two compare lists. Talk about the differences and why Naaman really didn’t want to take a bath in dirty water.

Strange Directions

Supplies: none

Have kids form a circle and face in. Give several strange directions for them to follow, such as acting like a monkey, barking like a dog, or making a funny face. Then talk about why they did or didn’t want to follow directions, and discuss why they should always follow God’s directions, even if they seem weird.

Hiding It in Your Heart

Supplies: one balloon per person

Give each person a balloon, and SAY: We’re going to have a balloon-blowing contest. You have 10 seconds. Go!Choose the person with the smallest balloon as the winner. SAY: The best isn’t always the biggest or fastest. Read Romans 12:3 aloud. We’re all the best in God’s eyes.

Create a Bible Dictionary

Supplies: paper, markers, dictionary, CD player, Putting God First: Remembering What God Has Done (Year 2/Quarter 8) CD

Ask kids to create one or more pages, each with a new word, for a Bible dictionary. Have kids suggest words from today’s lesson—pride and humble are two suggestions. Have them write each word on a sheet of paper in fun letters, add a definition, list Scripture references, and make illustrations. Play “The Books of the Bible Song” (Track 8), from thePutting God First: Remembering What God Has Done (Year 2/Quarter 8) CD while kids work. Add each page to a three-ring binder, and watch the dictionary grow!