3rd & 4th grade guide sunday school edition -...

Sunday School Edition

SCHEDULE

Connect5–10 minutes

Gather20–35 minutes

Respond15–20 minutes

Engage15–20 minutes

Bless5–10 minutes

L E S S O N

3rd & 4th Grade Guide

God Is Lord Over All of My Life

1.5

REMEMBER VERSEThe Lord is my shepherd,

I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides

me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

Psalm 23:1–3

Environment: KNOWINGThis lesson highlights the environment of KNOWING in the sovereignty of God for the plans regarding the birth of Jacob and Esau and His plans for us to know Him too.

Bible Passage: Genesis 25:19–34; 27(Jacob and Esau)

date:

© 2013 David C Cook. T ruResources are developed in partnership with ROCKHARBOR Church and a national network of family and children’s ministry leaders. All rights reserved.


2

1.5

© 2013 David C Cook

Sunday School EditionCONNECT | GATHER | RESPOND | ENGAGE | BLESS

InspireThe classic hymn “It Is Well with My Soul” came from a man who understood pain. Horatio Spafford had sent his wife and four daughters ahead of him to England on a family trip. Tragically, their ship collided with another and sank in just minutes. Spafford’s wife survived, but their daughters did not.

Shortly after, Horatio sailed to meet his wife. While floating past the place where his daughters died at sea, he wrote the famous hymn. The first stanza reads:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,When sorrows like sea billows roll;Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,It is well, it is well with my soul.

In the midst of his darkest pain, Spafford acknowledged that he was at peace because of Christ. Though this first stanza addresses his grief, the others focus on Christ’s redemptive work on the cross. The third stanza reads:

My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought!My sin, not in part, but the whole,Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul!

God is surely the Comforter. But the even more exciting truth is that God is bigger than our situations. He is the Redeemer, the Savior, and the lover of our souls. In the midst of messy circumstances and painful relationships, even if we lose everything, God is still Lord over our lives.

Tori FunkhouserTruStory Team

N O T E S :


3

1.5


Sunday School Edition

N O T E S :

CONNECT | GATHER | RESPOND | ENGAGE | BLESS

EquipGod is Lord over everything and everyone who has ever existed or will ever exist. And He was Lord over Jacob and Esau, the sons of Isaac and Rebekah. In the culture in which Jacob and Esau lived, the birthright and the blessing were special privileges bestowed upon the oldest son. The birthright gave the oldest son the privilege of a double portion of the inheritance as well as the title of priest, judge, and leader of the family.

The blessing, on the other hand, was intangible and spiritual. The patriarch could speak the blessing only once because the words could not be undone. Because Isaac had spoken his blessing over Jacob instead of Esau, he had no blessing left when Esau begged him “Bless me—me too!” (Genesis 27:34)

The Old Testament biblical blessing was a prayer and public declaration intended to bestow upon the older son favored status with God. It was a sign of special favor, which was to result in prosperity and success. Culturally, there was a great deal of importance placed upon blessings and curses in the Bible that modern readers may miss.

Rebekah seemed to understand the importance of the blessing. She said she would take a curse upon herself if Isaac found out her plan to give Jacob the blessing instead of Esau. Jacob may have also understood the spiritual significance of the blessing—more so than Esau, who in despising his birthright (Genesis 25:34) also despised his spiritual heritage.

As the story of Jacob unfolds in the following chapters of Genesis, we see a young man humbled and changed by a powerful personal encounter with God and by circumstances that force him to depend on God. Through it all, God is shaping Jacob into the kind of man He wants Jacob to be.

Environment of KNOWINGWe live in a world that denies absolute truth, and yet God’s Word offers just that. As we create an environment that upholds and displays God’s truth, we give children a foundation based on the knowledge of God, His Word, and a relationship with Him through Christ.

The 10 Environments guide us in creating a climate that puts God on display. Encourage your families to discover more about creating the environment of KNOWING in their homes by checking out HomeFront: A Spiritual Parenting Resource and Spiritual Parenting by Michelle Anthony.


4

1.5


Sunday School EditionCONNECT | GATHER | RESPOND | ENGAGE | BLESS

SupportIn Romans 9, Paul adds an interesting perspective to the narrative of Jacob and Esau. In verses 11–16, Paul writes, “Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls—[Rebekah] was told, ‘The older will serve the younger.’ Just as it is written: ‘Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.’ What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.”

Paul reminds us in these verses that God is sovereign. The situation with Jacob doesn’t make sense; some of us may be furious with Jacob for his deceit and his treachery, and we may wonder why God would allow this imperfect man to benefit from God’s blessings. But Paul reminds us in Romans that God is in control and that God calls whomever He wants to call. God is merciful, and He wants us to desire Him. And let’s face it: We really can’t judge Jacob too harshly. There is a little bit of Jacob in all of us.

As you lead the kids through this lesson, remind them that God is sovereign and good. God is Lord over everything, and He is Lord of our lives—even when situations are hard, when things don’t make sense, and when relationships are hurtful. Offer your children grace as you pray over the difficult situations in their lives. Encourage parents to pray through the trials in their families together with their children.


5

1.5


Sunday School Edition3rd & 4th Grade Guide

Connect// 5–10 min.

Designed to allow children to develop relationships with their leaders and one another.

My Week• My Week template (see tru.davidccook.com)• pencils or pens

Gather// 20–35 min.

Children will gather to experience and learn more about God through communal and personal prayer, a creative telling of the day’s portion of The Big God Story, an investigation into God’s Word, and more.

Prayer• none

Storytelling• Bibles (1 per child)• smooth, flat rocks (10; each about 4”x 4” surface)• Jacob and Esau images

(see tru.davidccook.com)• scissors (1 pair)• decoupage medium and foam brush• red permanent marker• large basket

Investigate• Bibles (1 per child)

Remember Verse• Remember Verse cards (see tru.davidccook.com)

Respond// 15–20min.

Kids will worship collaboratively, individually, through many different media, and with an eye toward the greater faith community. The “So what? Now what?” component.

Journaling My Life• journals (1 per child; suggestion: search “composition

notebook” at officedepot.com) • pencils or pens

Engage// 15–20min.

Kids will engage with one another through various forms of play, including interactive games and activities, engaging projects and experiments, and more.

Who Has the Button?• button

Bless// 5–10 min.

Sends the kids out with a sense of peace and blessing so they can be a blessing to their families and others.

• Bible• HomeFront Weekly (1 per child;

see tru.davidccook.com)• HomeFront: A Spiritual Parenting Resource

(1 per family; see tru.davidccook.com or HomeFrontMag.com)

Lesson Overview

Experience Time Summary Supplies/Prepare (Master Supply List at tru.davidccook.com)


*To make metric conversions, search the Internet for a metric conversion chart or calculator.

http://www.officedepot.com

http://HomeFrontMag.com


6

1.5



God knew everything about Esau and Jacob, and He knows everything about our lives too. God is always with us, every minute of every day and for every event that takes place. God is Lord over all of our lives.

CONNECT QUESTION: Welcome and greet children. Open your time by asking this question: What is your favorite part of the day?

My WeekSUPPLIES• My Week template (see tru.davidccook.com)• pencils or pens

PREPARE AHEADPrint a copy of the My Week template for each child.

RELATEToday, invite your third and fourth graders to participate in an activity during which they get to think about the events of the past week and remember some of the week’s highlights. As children look back, they can be reminded that God was Lord of everything—both big events and small events.

Give a My Week template to each child and give kids a few minutes to fill out something that happened each day during the past week. It can be a big and exciting event like a birthday party or a winning game in soccer, or it can be something simple such as trying olives on pizza for the first time. Anything goes! When the children finish filling out their templates, have the kids break into groups of two or three and share their responses with each other.

Connect// 5–10 min.

ConneCt encourages kids to develop relationships with their leaders and one another. Within a free-flowing setting that utilizes simple supplies and conversation starters, ConneCt gives kids and leaders the opportunity to get to know one another better.


Leader TipLearning about what goes on in the daily lives of your children can give you a window into their lives. It also gives an opportunity for leaders to know what questions to ask kids and even ways they can be praying for kids throughout the week.


7

1.5



PrayerGather your children into a circle. Encourage them to hold their hands in front of them, palms up, as a posture of receiving what God might speak to them today. Before you pray, designate a leader (or two) to open and close the time of prayer. Tell the children they are encouraged to participate in this time of prayer if they would like to. Remind them that praying is simply talking and listening to God, and that He always hears us when we pray.

As you pray, leave space between prayers for the children to take the opportunity to pray, in case some may be apprehensive and need a little more time. Pray that God would bless the day’s lesson as you are in His Word. Pray that God would speak to the hearts of His children, revealing to them the truth of today’s Ponder Point, that God Is Lord Over All of My Life.

StorytellingBible Passage: Genesis 25:19–34; 27 Storytelling Technique: Storytelling Rocks

SUPPLIES• Bibles (1 per child)• smooth, flat rocks (10; each about 4”x 4” surface)• Jacob and Esau images (see tru.davidccook.com)• scissors (1 pair)• decoupage medium and foam brush• red permanent marker• large basket

PREPARE AHEADPrint and cut out the Jacob and Esau images and glue each one onto a rock using the decoupage medium. Color one rock red to represent Esau.

SET UPBefore you begin today’s portion of The Big God Story, pass out the rocks among the children. Let the children know that as you storytell, you will ask them to hold up the rock that corresponds with that part of the narrative. The children will need to hold up the rocks for the class to see and then place the rocks in the basket and return to their seats.

God made a covenant promise with Abraham promising, among other things, that he would have lots of children. After Abraham and Sarah waited for many years, God provided them with a son. What was his name? (Allow answers.) Right. Isaac. (Ask the child with the “Isaac” rock to show it and place it in the basket.) Abraham’s family

Gather//20–35 min.

During Gather, kids will experience and learn more about God through communal and personal prayer, a creative Storytelling of the day’s portion of the Big God Story, and an investigation into God’s Word, which may include word studies, crossreferencing, and a look into the context surrounding the passage.

In this section, your children will often act as detectives and investigators—working together to understand the mysteries and truths found in the Bible.



8

1.5



continued to grow, and Isaac got married and had children. What was the name of Isaac’s wife? (Have kids open their Bibles and read Genesis 25:20.) Right. Her name was Rebekah. (Ask the child with the “wedding rings” rock to show it and place it in the basket.) Years later, Rebekah became pregnant with twins. Before they were born, they started wrestling with each other while they were still inside their mother. Rebekah asked God, “Why is this happening to me?” (v. 22). (Read Genesis 25:23 to your group.) Before they were born, God knew everything about Rebekah’s sons and had a plan for their lives.

When the twins were born, they were very different. What were their names? (Have kids look at vv. 25–26.) Right! Esau and Jacob. Esau, the twin born first, was very red and had thick hair. (Ask the child with the red rock to show it and place it in the basket.) Jacob, the second born, had smooth skin. He was holding on to his brother’s heel when he was born. (Ask the child with the “Jacob” rock to show it and place it in the basket.) As they grew up, Jacob and Esau had different interests and personalities. Esau loved hunting and being outdoors. (Ask the child with the “bow and arrow” rock to show it and place in the basket.) Jacob was quieter and didn’t like the outdoors as much as his brother; he preferred to stay close to home. (Ask the child with the “tent” rock to show it and place in the basket.)

As the firstborn, Esau had a special job of caring for the family. It was called a birthright. When his father died, as the oldest, Esau would receive a double portion of inheritance—usually money, land, and other things—as well as become the spiritual leader of the household. Being the firstborn was an honor as well as a huge responsibility.

(Have kids turn to Genesis 25:29 and follow along.) One day, after a long day of hunting, Esau came home tired and hungry. Jacob was cooking stew, and Esau said, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m [very hungry]!” (v. 29). (Have the child with the “stew” rock show it and place it in the basket.) How did Jacob reply? (Read Genesis 25:31 for your group.) In that moment, Esau didn’t care about his birthright; he just cared about food. So he promised to give his brother his birthright. Remember how we just talked about how special a birthright was? Do you think Esau was wrong to give it up so easily? (Allow answers.) Yes. Esau should have cared more about his birthright, but the Bible says he didn’t think it was very important. (Read Genesis 25:34 for your group.)

Now, Isaac was getting old (have the child with the “cane” rock show it and place it in the basket) and knew he would soon die. Before a father died, he passed on a special blessing to his oldest son. It was a very serious prayer over the son that his son would have success and that his family would be safe. So Isaac called for his son Esau to prepare a feast for him so that Esau could receive Isaac’s blessing.


N O T E S :


9

1.5



While Esau hunted, Rebekah made a plan to help Jacob trick his father so he could get the firstborn blessing. Esau was much hairier than Jacob, so Jacob put on his brother’s clothes and covered his arms and neck with animal fur to help disguise himself. (Ask the child with the “fur” rock to show it and place it in the basket.) Then Rebekah made some tasty food for Jacob to take to Isaac.

Jacob went before his father. (Read Genesis 27:18–19a as the kids follow along in their own Bibles.) Jacob lied to his father! Isaac couldn’t see very well, so he asked Jacob to come close so he could touch him. (Read vv. 22–24 as the kids follow along.) Jacob lied again, and Isaac blessed Jacob with Esau’s firstborn blessing! (Ask the child with the “blessing” rock to show it and place it in the basket.)

Soon after, Esau came to his father with food that he had caught and prepared, and Esau was ready for his blessing. “Who are you?” Isaac asked. “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau,” he said (v. 32). Then Isaac realized he had given Esau’s firstborn blessing to Jacob!

The blessing of the firstborn was different from the blessings we do here. Back then, it was a responsibility and could not be undone. Esau became very angry that Jacob had taken his blessing, and he threatened to kill Jacob. Fearing for his life, Jacob ran away.

Before Esau and Jacob were born, God said He knew that Esau, the older brother, would serve his younger brother, Jacob. God was Lord over Jacob and Esau’s lives. He had total control of their lives. Rebekah and Jacob took things into their own hands, but they should have trusted that God knew what He was doing. God knew that through Jacob’s family line would eventually come the Messiah, Jesus.

Sometimes God’s plans can be hard to understand. We may go through difficult things and not understand why. The comforting thing is that God knows all, and He is still Lord over all of our lives. He is good, and we can trust Him because He knows everything about us. (Share a personal story about a time when you realized God cares about every part of your life.)

When you are finished reading today’s portion of The Big God Story, invite kids to use the rocks to put the events of the narrative in order and then retell it.


N O T E S :


10

1.5



InvestigateDiscussion Questions• What did God do for Isaac? (Genesis 25:21)• What did God say to Rebekah when she asked about the babies? (Genesis 25:23)• What does this tell you about God?• What were some of the differences between Esau and Jacob? (Genesis 25:27–28)• What is a birthright?• Why did Esau sell his birthright to Jacob? (Genesis 25:30)

Before You Were BornWhile Jacob and Esau were growing in Rebekah’s belly, they wrestled with each other. The Lord told Rebekah about their future and what kind of relationship the brothers would have—the older would serve the younger. God knew exactly what would happen because He knows everything about us.

Read Psalm 139:13–16 aloud.

• What are some things God knew about you before you were born?• What are some things God knows about you now?• How can you praise God for knowing you even before you were born?

In addition to the psalmist’s expression of being known by God before birth, God also shared His plans for another individual in the Old Testament—the prophet Jeremiah.

Read Jeremiah 1:4–5 aloud.

• What did God do for the prophet Jeremiah before he was born?• What things do you think God has prepared for you to do?• In what ways is this passage encouraging or helpful for you?

God Is Still Lord When …God is still Lord, even when life doesn’t go the way we plan or hope. He is still Lord when life is hard. He is in charge, and He knows everything that will happen.

Read Psalm 24:1–2 aloud.

• Why does the whole earth belong to God?


N O T E S :


11

1.5



Read Isaiah 55:8–9 aloud.

• Why is it good that God does things different from people? • What are some examples of God’s plan being better than man’s plan in The Big God Story?

Invite a volunteer to read Romans 8:28.

• What did you notice in this verse?• In what ways have you seen God working situations in your life for good?


N O T E S :


12

1.5



Remember VerseEach week children will spend time memorizing a portion of Scripture together. Each Remember Verse corresponds with one of the 10 Environments. This week’s lesson highlights the environment of KNOWING, which says “God knows me, and I can know Him.”

KNOWING Remember Verse: The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:1–3

Game: Acting OutSUPPLIES• Remember Verse cards (see tru.davidccook.com)

RELATEInvite your kids to learn the Remember Verse by acting it out. Review the actions with kids as they recite the verse. Repeat everything a few times, and then have the class do it together without having a leader demonstrate.

The Lord: Point to the skyIs my: Point to selfShepherd: Pretend to hold a staff in your handI lack nothing: Have kids wave their right pointer finger back and forthHe makes me lie down in green pastures: Have kids quickly lie down on the groundHe leads me beside: Have kids stand up and place a hand out in front of them, parallel to the floor, and take a few steps as if they are being led by someone Quiet waters: Have kids make a “Shhh” face by putting their index finger on their lipsHe refreshes my soul: Have kids cross their arms to their chest as if they are giving themselves a hugHe guides me: Have kids look left and right as if they are being guided somewhereAlong the right paths: Have kids hop like they are stepping on stonesFor His name’s sake: Have kids point to heaven


Space for the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit longs to speak to His children. Allow time and space for your kids to respond to what God might be speaking to their hearts.

To create space for children to hear from and respond to Him, ask the kids a few simple questions:

• After all you’ve seen, heard, and experienced today through God’s Word, what do you know about God?

• How does that make you feel?• What does this mean for your life?• How do you want to respond to God right now?

As you lead kids through this time of reflection, pause and ask God to give you the strength and faith to be flexible as you give kids the space to respond in the way God leads.

N O T E S :


13

1.5



Journaling My LifeSUPPLIES• journals (1 per child; suggestion: search “composition notebook” at officedepot.com) • pencils or pens

RELATEGod knew everything about Esau and Jacob. Before they were born, He knew who they would be and the decisions they would make. God is Lord over every aspect of our lives too. He knows everything about us, and He loves us. How does it make you feeling knowing that God knew us before we were even born? (Allow answers.) Because God controls everything, we can trust Him with every part of our future.

We often write in journals to remind us of events and special moments we’ve shared with our family and friends. God is Lord over all of our lives—in the moments that have taken place and in the ones that haven’t even happened yet!

Invite your kids to spend some time thinking about how God has been with them throughout their lives. After they have been given a few minutes to ponder these things, pass out a journal and a pencil or pen to each child. Encourage the children to create a timeline of their lives. Instead of simply including main life events, have them also include ways that God was with them through those events. For example, they might write about how God was with them and gave comfort when their parents got divorced, or how God was with them when they first accepted Christ as their Savior.

When the students are finished, invite kids to break into small groups, and if they feel comfortable, have them share parts of their journals with one another. Before kids go home, encourage them to choose a time in the upcoming week to pray with their families and thank God for being Lord over every moment of their lives.

Developmentally SpeakingThird and fourth graders appreciate taking responsibility and working independently. Allowing the children time to journal and to continue this process throughout the week will likely be a welcome opportunity for your kids.

During reSponD, kids will have the opportunity to process what the holy Spirit has been teaching them.

they will be encouraged to demonstrate their response to God in a time of hands-on worship, to express themselves individually through the use of many media, and to worship collaboratively with a mindset focused on the greater community.

Respond// 15–20 min.


Resource Tip“Science Experiments” activities are available for this lesson. Premium, Unlimited, and Combo users may access this resource at tru.davidccook.com.

http://www.officedepot.com


14

1.5



Who Has the Button?RELATEIsaac was old and had very bad eyesight. Jacob was able to trick his father and steal his brother’s birthright because he knew his father couldn’t tell who he was.

Today, invite your third and fourth graders to play a game in which they can’t see everything happening and must guess who has the button. To play, have your kids sit together in a circle, as close to one another as possible. Give one child a button and have him pass the button to the person on his right or left. Share that the kids can choose how to pass it and which direction to pass it, and it can change directions several times. Have kids continue to pass the button until a leader says “Stop.” Then the child who began the game with the button will have to guess who now has it. The child can have three guesses to figure out who has the button. After that, the game can begin again with the new button holder.

the enGaGe section gives kids time to play, laugh, and explore together through interactive games and activities, engaging projects, experiments, and more.

Engage// 15–20 min.


N O T E S :


15

1.5



Gather the children and have them sit on the ground in a circle as you read the blessing from Psalm 139:1–3:

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.

Now invite children to pair up and bless one another. Have children think of two or three places their partners might go in the following week (school, home, playground, etc.) and bless their partners as they prepare to go to those places. For example, a child might say, “[Child’s name], may you know God is your Lord when you sit at your desk at school” or “[Child’s name], may you know God is your Lord when you play on the soccer field with your friends.”

Finally, offer one final blessing over the whole class before the kids leave:

May you know that God is over all things on this earth, including your life. May you know His presence each day.

Bless// 5–10 min.

as followers of Christ, we’ve been blessed to be a blessing to others. this BleSS time will allow children to take new steps toward living out their part of the Big God Story.

this time will lead kids to go out into the community and respond to what they’ve learned and received from God by sharing and giving away their knowledge and blessings to others.

HomeFront Weekly: Be sure to send home the HomeFront Weekly for next week’s lesson! This preteaching tool for parents encourages families to spend time in God’s Word together before children arrive at church.

HomeFront: A Spiritual Parenting Resource: This magazine gives families ideas for creating fun, spiritually forming times in their homes—setting aside a sacred space for family in the midst of their active, everyday lives! As the new issue becomes available each month, you may choose to print them for families or encourage them to visit HomeFrontMag.com to subscribe to have the magazine sent directly to their inbox. HomeFront is also available as an app for your iPhone, iPad, or Android device.


Invite Your FamiliesNext week we’ll be remembering and celebrating God as our Deliverer through Passover. Encourage the parents in your ministry to participate in the celebration by preparing and bringing food. Invitations and recipe cards can be found alongside this week’s resources at tru.davidccook.com. Make sure to send these home along with the HomeFront Weekly as the children leave today.

http://HomeFrontMag.com

3rd & 4th grade guide sunday school edition -...

Documents