Putting God First: My Life

Putting God First: My Life

Week 11: Show Mercy

This includes:

Leader Preparation

Lesson Guide

LEADER PREPARATION

BIBLE BASIS

David had an opportunity to harm his enemy—without getting caught! Saul had unjustly driven David into the wilderness and hunted him like a fugitive. And now, in the darkness of a cave with Saul unguarded and sound asleep, David has the opportunity to kill his mortal enemy. Instead David responds mercifully and spares Saul’s life. This account can be a model to today’s child who deals with bullying at school and pesky siblings at home. Use the lesson to help them know that showing mercy rather than revenge is one way we put God first.

DISCOVERY POINT

Show mercy.

BIBLE FOCUS

1 Samuel 26

KEY VERSE

“Now may the Lord value my life, even as I have valued yours today” (1 Samuel 26:24).

TEACHING PREP

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

Supplies You’ll Need: Putting God First: My Life (Year 1/Quarter 4) CD,LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 1) DVD, CD player, TV/DVD player, masking tape, candies, paper, Bibles, “Sand Comics” handout, newspaper, 1 tray or cookie sheet with raised edges per 4-5 kids, sand, resealable bags, pencils, balloons, markers

Before This Lesson

• Use masking tape to make a long starting line at one end of your room. Place one piece of candy for every child in a pile at the opposite end of the room.

• Print the “Sand Comics” handout. You’ll need one copy for each child.

• Assemble Bible Exploration Kits (one per fourkids): one Bible, pencils, one balloon per child, markers, one cookie sheet or tray with raised edges, one large resealable bag filled with sand, newspaper, and one copy of the “Sand Comics” handout prepared above for each child.

• Review 1 Samuel 26.

• Cue"Into the Bible"(Track 1) on Putting God First: My Life (Year 1/Quarter 4) CD or(Quarter 4/Track 1) on the LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 1) 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: My Life

Week 11: Show Mercy

LESSON GUIDE

WELCOME!

Supplies: Putting God First: My Life (Year 1/Quarter 4) CD, LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 1) DVD, CD player, TV/DVD player, masking tape line, candies, paper

1. Play “Into the Bible” (Track 1) from the Putting God First: My Life (Year 1/Quarter 4) CD or (Quarter 4/Track 1) from the LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 1) DVD, as 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. Have kids form a line behind the starting line, and give each child a piece of paper. SAY: I have some candy for you today! But you’re going to have to earn it. Have kids put the paper on their heads and not touch it. Explain that in order to earn the candy, they’ll have to walk fast to the other side of your meeting area and pick up a piece of candy without dropping the paper or touching it. Anyone who drops the paper will have to return to the starting line and try again. Tell kids that this isn’t a relay, so as soon as one person starts going, the next person can go.

Make sure everyone understands how to earn the candy, then begin the game. If kids walk fast, they’ll have trouble keeping the papers on their heads.

3. When kids start having trouble, stop the game. SAY: It looks like you’re having trouble earning your candy. Let’s change the rules a little bit. This time, you can touch the paper. Ready? Go!

4. When kids have finished the race and received a piece of candy, start the “Clock Countdown” (Quarter 4/Countdown Track 2)on the LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 1) DVD, and turn the volume way up. Lead children in counting along. Then gather them near you, and SAY:I’m so glad you’re here today! We’re going to explore what it means to show mercy.

ASK:

• What is mercy?

• How did I show you mercy in our game?

LET’S EXPLORE!

Supplies: assembled Bible Exploration Kits, Putting God First: My Life (Year 1/Quarter 4) CD, CD player

1. SAY: Weshow mercy when we do something nice for someone who doesn’t deserve it or didn’t earn it, or when we forgive someone who was mean to us. Let’s listen to an example of someone who really knew how to show mercy.

Play “David and the Playground Bully” (Track 19)from the Putting God First: My Life (Year 1/Quarter 4) CD.When the skit ends,

ASK:

• Why did David show mercy to the bully?

• Why would you or wouldn’t you have shown mercy if you were in David’s place?

2. Have kids form Bible Crews of four, and give each crew a Bible Exploration Kit. SAY: Let’s learn about the real-life David and Saul. King Saul didn’t like David. In fact, he was David’s enemy. In this particular situation, David had a chance to get Saul back for all the terrible ways Saul had treated David. Let’s see what happens.

Have kids find the “Sand Comics” handouts in their Bible Exploration Kits, and guide them through the directions.

3. When the groups are done with their sand comics, have them carefully set the trays of sand aside for later use and form circles for discussion.

ASK:

• What chance was David taking when he chose to show Saul mercy?

• Why do you think it takes courage for us to show mercy?

• When does God want you to show mercy?

SAY: Tell your crew about a time that you showed mercy to someone. What was that situation like?

Allow two minutes for groups to share, then SAY: David showed Saul mercy; he valued Saul’s life the same way God valued David—and the same way God values us. In our Key Verse, 1 Samuel 26:24, David said to Saul, “Now may the Lord value my life, even as I have valued yours today.” When we show mercy, we value the other person, too.

LET’S PRAISE!

Supplies: Putting God First: My Life (Year 1/Quarter 4) CD or LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 1) DVD, CD player or TV/DVD player, assembled Bible Exploration Kits

1. Have kids stay in their Bible Crews and read Matthew 5:43-46.

ASK:

• According to these verses, what does mercy look like?

SAY: These verses tell us to love our enemies. When we show love and kindness to people who are mean to us, we’re showing mercy.

When we show mercy to others, we’re putting God first because we’re doing what pleases God. Let’s put God first in worship right now by telling him how we’ll show mercy to others. Then we’ll continue praising him with our voices.

2. Have crews find the balloons and markers in their kits. Have kids blow up their balloons and tie them off. Then have them write on their balloons ways they’ll show mercy to others this week.(WARNING: Choking Hazard – Be sure to pick up pieces of any broken balloons and dispose of them immediately.)

3. SAY: As we sing our praises to God, bat your balloons around to your crew members, and praise God for his mercy.

Set up the Putting God First: My Life (Year 1/Quarter 4) CD or the LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 1) DVD. PLAY:

• “Doin’ It for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23) (CD Track 4) (DVD Quarter 4/Track 4)

Woke up this morning,
Started thinking about all the things that I had to do.
Got busy real fast; then I realized that
I hadn’t even thought about * * * *
You.
I hadn’t even thought about you.
You said, Work willingly at whatever you do,
Whatever you put your hand to.
It’s not people that you’re doin’ it for.
No, you’re doin’ it for the Lord.
Yeah, you’re doin’ it for the Lord.
I went to my friends’ house.
They needed some help with somethin’ in their backyard.
Really wanted to play instead of workin’ all day,
But that’s when I thought about * * * *
You.
That’s when I thought about you.
You said, Work willingly at whatever you do,
Whatever you put your hand to.
It’s not people that you’re doin’ it for.
No, you’re doin’ it for the Lord.
You said, Work willingly at whatever you do.
Whatever you put your hand to.
It’s not people that you’re doin’ it for.
No, you’re doin’ it for the Lord.
No, you’re doin’ it for the Lord.
Yeah, you’re doin’ it for the Lord.

“Doin’ It for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23) by Jay Stocker. © 2007 Group Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission to use lyrics granted for local church use only. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

• “Wherever You Go” (Joshua 1:9) (CD Track 2) (DVD Quarter 4/Track 2)

Have I not commanded you?
Be strong and courageous.
Do not be terrified;
Do not be discouraged,
For the Lord your God will be with you
Wherever you go.
Wherever you go.
(Repeat twice.)
Wherever you go.
Wherever you go.
Wherever you go.

“Wherever You Go” (Joshua 1:9) by Jay Stocker. © 2006, 2008 Group Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission to use lyrics granted for local church use only. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

• “God Is Listening” (CD Track 6) (DVD Quarter 4/Track 6)

He knows you (he knows you).
He loves you (he loves you).
God is listening, listening, listening, listening.
He knows you (he knows you).
He loves you (he loves you).
God is listening, listening, listening, listening.
God knows every word
Before you even say it.
He hears every prayer
Before you even pray it.
So let him hear you now;
Let him hear you shout!
He knows you (he knows you).
He loves you (he loves you).
God is listening, listening, listening, listening.
He knows you (he knows you).
He loves you (he loves you).
God is listening, listening, listening, listening.
God knows every word
Before you even say it.
He hears every prayer
Before you even pray it.
So let him hear you now;
Let him hear you shout!
He knows you (he knows you).
He loves you (he loves you).
God is listening, listening, listening, listening.
He knows you (he knows you).
He loves you (he loves you).
God is listening, listening, listening, listening.
He knows you (he knows you).
He loves you (he loves you).
God is listening, listening, listening, listening.
He knows you (he knows you).
He loves you (he loves you).
God is listening, listening, listening, listening.
God is listening.

LET’S PRAY!

Supplies: Putting God First: My Life (Year 1/Quarter 4) CD, CD player, trays of sand from Let’s Explore!

1. Have kids stay in crews. Ask one person from each crew to carefully get the crew’s tray of sand, and have kids sit in circles around their trays.

2. SAY: Let’s say sand prayers now. Take turns drawing a symbol in the sand to show how you feel about showing mercy. Maybe it’s a happy face because you know it pleases God when we show mercy. Or it could be barbells because you need courage to show mercy.As you draw, tell God how you feel and thank him for helping you show mercy. Then carefully smooth out the sand so someone else can have a turn. I’ll know you’re finished when the sand is all smooth.

3. Play the instrumental version of “God Is Listening” (Track 14)from the Putting God First: My Life (Year 1/Quarter 4) CD as kids pray. When kids have all had a turn, stop the CD.

HIGH FIVES

Supplies: trays of sand from Let’s Pray!

Have kids give unique sand high fives. Tell them to make a handprint in the sand, and then give a high five to their crew members. It’s OK if the handprints overlap.

FOR-EXTRA-TIME ACTIVITIES

Fairy Tales on Trial

Supplies: fairy tale picture books such as Cinderella, Snow White, or Beauty and the Beast

Give a fairy tale picture book to each Bible Crew. (If you can’t find fairy tale books, write the names of fairy tales and what they’re about on index cards.) Have each group read the story and come up with alternate endings that show mercy to the bad guy. Bring all the groups together and allow each group to act out their new, merciful endings.

Steal the Spear

Supplies: pool noodle

Play this fun game to reinforce the account of David and Saul. Have one person be “Saul” and sit facing away from everyone. Place a pool noodle “spear” next to Saul, and have everyone else sneak up to take “Saul’s spear” without Saul noticing and tagging them. Talk about how David had mercy on Saul and left him alone when he could have done harm to him.

Hiding It in Your Heart

Supplies: large sheet of newsprint, marker, individually wrapped candies

Draw a silhouette of a child on a sheet of newsprint, and lay it on the floor. Set a pile of candies on the floor next to it. Have someone read aloud the Key Verse, 1 Samuel 26:24. SAY: When we show mercy to someone, we add value to that person, just like it says in the verse. Have the children brainstorm ways they can show mercy and add a piece of candy inside the silhouette for each idea they come up with.

Create a Bible Dictionary

Supplies: paper, markers, dictionary, CD player, Putting God First: My Life (Year 1/Quarter 4) 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—mercy and value 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 the Putting God First: My Life (Year 1/Quarter 4) CD while kids work. Add each page to a three-ring binder, and watch the dictionary grow!