Top-Secret Spies

Dear Teacher,I don’t know about you, but I love the story of Israel’s journey to Canaan! Everything about this trek fascinates me: God’s provision, the Is-raelite’s disobedience, the thrilling faith of a few choice men! The whole journey can be summa-rized in the 12 spies’ report about the Promised Land—a 10:2 ratio of unbelief to faith!

Sometimes it is hard for me to understand why after EVERYTHING God had done for them, the Israelites still let their fear disqualify them from God’s promise! But when I reflect on my life, I wonder, How often am I like the 10 spies? God has proven Himself worthy, yet I sometimes doubt His love and provision.

Like the trusting two, I want to step out in faith. Even when those around me fearfully see with their own eyes, I want to faithfully see God’s abil-ity to conquer the impossible! Oh, to be like Ca-leb and Joshua and enter that Promised Land! There IS a spot for you and me, but it requires wholehearted faith. I’ll meet YOU there!

Kristina FucciEditorial Assistant

Connecting You to Jesus Even when facing giants, Joshua and Caleb trusted in God and had faith in His promises. Joshua’s faith points us to Jesus, and so does his name. “Joshua” means “the Lord saves,” and the Greek form of the name is “Jesus.” Just as Joshua led the people into the Promised Land, Jesus leads all of us—His followers—to salvation and eternal life in heaven.

Prayer (5 minutes)

Invite volunteers to tell prayer requests as you write them on the whiteboard. Then pray with students about the needs and concerns they mention.

Distribute Lesson 10 Family Fridge Fun papers as students leave.

CD-ROM Lesson Extras! Help your kids learn the order of the 1.

books in the Bible by playing Pick and Choose. Use the first 22 books of the Old Testament for this lesson.

Students discover today’s Bible verse 2. by completing “The Jig Is Up” puzzle.

Numbers 13:1—14:35

Big IdeaEven when others choose not to, I will keep trusting God.

Action PlanIdentify words and actions that show I trust in God.

Bible Verse“In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Psalm 56:11

Fall • Lesson 10 Elementary Small Group Guide

Prayer Tip As students tell prayer

requests, keep a record of the requests in a notebook

or on a sheet of paper. Keep track of God’s

answers, too!

Big IdeaEven when others choose not to, I will keep trusting God.

Fall • Lesson 10

© 2012 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Teacher Guide Grades 3 & 4

The Jig is UpPsalm 56:11Match the shapes to �nd the letters that belong in each

jigsaw shape. Write in the words to read the verse.

God

Psalm56:11

I

I

will

trust,can

be to

“Inafraid;

what

do me?”

not man

4

Review (5 minutes)

Welcome your group and ask the following questions to review large-group activities.

• What are some things that are easy to do alone?

• What are some things that are hard to do when no one else is doing them?

Sometimes trust isn’t easy. But God wants us to trust Him, no matter what! Even if other people don’t trust God or our situation makes us afraid, God is trustworthy, and He will keep His promises!

Big IdeaEven when others choose not to, I will keep trusting God.

TIPAs your students arrive from large-group time, greet them and ask,

What’s a place you’ve visited, and what souve-nir did you bring back?

Action PlanIdentify words and actions that show I trust in God.

Whiteboard Time (5 minutes)

We are going to talk about today’s Bible verse in a very different way: back-wards! On whiteboard, draw a pyramid. Divide it into three horizontal sections. In the top section, write “What can man do to me?” Invite students to tell things that people do that can hurt someone else. In the middle section, write “I will not be afraid.” Invite volunteers to name things that scare kids. In the bottom section, write “In God I trust.” Even though we can be afraid of people or scary things or cir-cumstances, we can always trust God! God is at the bottom of our pyramid be-cause He is our foundation! No matter what, we can trust Him above ALL else!

Kid Talk Cards (10 minutes)

Distribute Lesson 10 Kid Talk Cards and ask students to look at Side 1. Read verse together. Students draw lines to match the words to the people who said them.

• What did most of the spies say? (“Don’t go into the land God had promised.”) What did Caleb and Joshua say? (“Go into the land God had promised.” “God will give us victory!”)

• Why do you think the 10 spies disagreed with Joshua and Caleb? (They were afraid.)

Students look at Side 2 of Kid Talk Cards and use the code to fill in the blanks and discover ways to trust God, no matter what!

• When might it be hard to do what is right in front of your friends? (When all my friends want to watch a movie I know I’m not allowed to watch. When other kids are making fun of someone who needs help.) How does trusting God help you in that sort of situation? (God gives me courage to do what is right.)

• What are some things you can do to trust God, even when other people aren’t trusting Him? (Remember that God loves me. Pray to Him. Ask for His help to obey His Word. Believe that God’s promises are true.)

• Show chair. Like we can trust a chair to hold us when we sit, we can trust God! Even when things seem impossible, God is ALWAYS trustworthy!

We can do it!

The Lordis with us.

Name:

We should go!

“In God I trust, I will not be afraid; what can man do to me?”

Psalm 56:11Draw lines to match the words to the people who said them.

There areGIANTS!

They are strongerthan we are!

Do not be afraid.We shouldn’t go.

We are likegrasshoppersin their eyes!

© 2012 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Elementary Small Group Guide2 3

Fall • Lesson 10Fall • Lesson 10