FAMOUSDADS

LESSON SNAPSHOT

FAMOUS DADS LESSON

BOTTOM LINE: Dads are not perfect, but they love their kids and want the best for them.

OBJECTIVE: Kids will learn to appreciate how much their dads care for them. KEY PASSAGE: Genesis 37:2-4. Jacob gives his son a coat. Proverbs 2:1-8. Solomon’s message to his son. John 3:16. MEMORY VERSE: “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction.” - Proverbs 1:8A (NIV)

SUMMARY: Dads can go overboard. They can be demanding, and they can drive you nuts. But Dads love their kids, and even if your earthly father doesn’t, your heavenly Father al-ways will. SIMPLE PRAYER: Dear God, Thank you for fathers, and thank you for being our Heavenly Father. We pray that you will be a guide to our dads as they strive to guide us in how to live for you. In Jesus’ name,Amen

FAMOUSDADS

MEMORY VERSE

FAMOUS DADS LESSON

“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction.” - Proverbs 1:8A (NIV)

“My son, listen to your father’s advice.” - Proverbs 1:8A (NIrV)

LARGE GROUP: Divide the room in half. Pick one side to start and have them all shout the first word, then the other side shouts the second word, and so on until they finish the verse.

SMALL GROUP: Put each word of the memory verse on a card. Have the kids rearrange the cards and put the words in order.

FAMOUSDADS

MEMORY VERSE

FAMOUS DADS LESSON

“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction.” - Proverbs 1:8A (NIV)

“My son, listen to your father’s advice.” - Proverbs 1:8A (NIrV)

LARGE GROUP: Divide the room in half. Pick one side to start and have them all shout the first word, then the other side shouts the second word, and so on until they finish the verse.

SMALL GROUP: Put each word of the memory verse on a card. Have the kids rearrange the cards and put the words in order.

FAMOUSDADS

SKIT

FAMOUS DADS LESSON

BEST DADS IN THE BIBLE

ITEMS NEEDED: Some photosA coat of many colors

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN: 9M

(Note: This can be performed with one narrator and two additional actors covering the remaining roles.)

CHARACTERS: NarratorMosesEddie - Moses’ sonJonahWally - Jonah’s sonJosephReubenSolomonJesus

The Narrator enters.

NARR: Dads expect a lot from their kids. Just ask Moses’ son, Eddie.

Eddie and Moses enter.

EDDIE: How about that, dad? FIfty-five seconds, a new team record!

MOSES: Fifty-five seconds? You call that a good time?

SKIT

FAMOUS DADS LESSON

EDDIE: It’s a team record!

MOSES: When I was your age, I could cover that distance in ten seconds!

EDDIE: It’s a little different, Dad!

MOSES: Why?

EDDIE: Because I can’t part the waters in the pool!

Moses and Eddie exit.

NARR: Some dads tell tall tales. Just ask Jonah’s son, Wally.

Wally and Jonah enter. Jonah is looking at some photos.

WALLY: Not bad, huh?

JONAH: Not good either.

WALLY: What are you talking about? That’s a fifty-pound bass! I bet you never caught one that big!

JONAH: Are you kidding? I caught a fish big enough to swallow a man.

WALLY: What kind of bait did you use?

JONAH: I was the bait!

Wally and Jonah exit.

NARR: And some Dads just cause problems. Just ask Jacob’s son Joseph.

Joseph enters with a coat of many colors.

JOSEPH: This coat is so cool! I can’t believe my Dad gave me such a cool coat. Look, it’s red and yellow and green and brown and purple and blue and pink and russet and burnt sienna and--

Reuben enters, seething.

JOSEPH: Hey, Reuben, have you seen my awesome and amazing coat of many--Reuben grabs Joseph, puts his hand over his mouth, and drags him away.

SKIT

FAMOUS DADS LESSON

EDDIE: It’s a team record!

MOSES: When I was your age, I could cover that distance in ten seconds!

EDDIE: It’s a little different, Dad!

MOSES: Why?

EDDIE: Because I can’t part the waters in the pool!

Moses and Eddie exit.

NARR: Some dads tell tall tales. Just ask Jonah’s son, Wally.

Wally and Jonah enter. Jonah is looking at some photos.

WALLY: Not bad, huh?

JONAH: Not good either.

WALLY: What are you talking about? That’s a fifty-pound bass! I bet you never caught one that big!

JONAH: Are you kidding? I caught a fish big enough to swallow a man.

WALLY: What kind of bait did you use?

JONAH: I was the bait!

Wally and Jonah exit.

NARR: And some Dads just cause problems. Just ask Jacob’s son Joseph.

Joseph enters with a coat of many colors.

JOSEPH: This coat is so cool! I can’t believe my Dad gave me such a cool coat. Look, it’s red and yellow and green and brown and purple and blue and pink and russet and burnt sienna and--

Reuben enters, seething.

JOSEPH: Hey, Reuben, have you seen my awesome and amazing coat of many--Reuben grabs Joseph, puts his hand over his mouth, and drags him away.

SKIT

FAMOUS DADS LESSON

NARR: But in spite of their flaws, every father wants the best for his kids. Just ask Solo-mon.

Solomon enters.

SOLOMON: My son, My son, listen to your father’s advice. Don’t turn away from your mother’s teaching. What they teach you will be like a beautiful crown on your head. It will be like a chain to decorate your neck.

Solomon exits.

NARR: And there’s nothing a loving father wouldn’t sacrifice for his kids.Jesus enters.

JESUS: God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.

FAMOUSDADS

OBJECT LESSON OR KIDS SERMON

FAMOUS DADS LESSON

ITEMS NEEDED: Ties

Who wants to win a prize for Dad this morning? I have prizes for the first three kids who can successfully tie a tie on themselves.

Open it up to volunteers. You can have three ties going at once, but give each kid just one chance to do the tie. First three get a prize for dad - like a coupon for a free donut or something else cool.

Where did you all learn to tie those ties?

We learn a lot of things from Dad, don’t we? What’s one useful thing your Dad taught you?

Dads are special people. They can be crazy, playful, and a bit demanding. But at the end of the day, all Dads want the best for their kids. Dads have a lot to teach you. They were kids once, and they have insights into growing up. They also have lessons to share about work, family, God, and life in general. They love us, and there’s nothing they wouldn’t do for us.

God the Father showed us the ultimate example when he sent his Son to die for our sins. Let’s thank God for the fathers we have, and pray that God will use them to teach us how to be people who live our lives for God!

FAMOUSDADS

OBJECT LESSON OR KIDS SERMON

FAMOUS DADS LESSON

ITEMS NEEDED: Ties Who wants to win a prize for Dad this morning? I have prizes for the first three kids who can successfully tie a tie on themselves. Open it up to volunteers. You can have three ties going at once, but give each kid just one chance to do the tie. First three get a prize for dad - like a coupon for a free donut or something else cool. Where did you all learn to tie those ties? We learn a lot of things from Dad, don’t we? What’s one useful thing your Dad taught you? What’s one gross thing that Dad taught you, something that probably got you both in trouble with Mom? What’s something valuable your Dad taught you? Dads are special people. They can be crazy, playful, and a bit demanding. But at the end of the day, all Dads want the best for their kids. Dads have a lot to teach you. They were kids once, and they have insights into growing up. They also have lessons to share about work, family, God, and life in general. They love us, and there’s nothing they wouldn’t do for us. God the Father showed us the ultimate example when he sent his Son to die for our sins. Let’s thank God for the fathers we have, and pray that God will use them to teach us how to be people who live our lives for God!

FAMOUSDADS

LARGE GROUP GAME

FAMOUS DADS LESSON

TIED UP

ITEMS NEEDED: A bunch of old ties

INSTRUCTIONS: Choose two teams of two. Have one member of each team stand 20 feet away from their partner. The other two stand beside the bundle of ties. The contestants by the ties must tie those ties end to end until they have a long enough tie to toss to their partner and reel them in. First team to connect via tie rope and reel in the second player wins.

VARIATION: Use a shorter distance for smaller kids, and give assistance where needed tying knots.

FAMOUSDADS

LARGE GROUP LESSON

FAMOUS DADS LESSON

BOTTOM LINE: Dads are not perfect, but they love their kids and want the best for them.

OBJECTIVE: Kids will learn to appreciate how much their dads care for them. KEY PASSAGE: Genesis 37:2-4. Jacob gives his son a coat. Proverbs 2:1-8. Solomon’s message to his son. John 3:16.

INTROWhat word comes to mind when you hear the word, “Dad”? Dads mean a lot of things to their children. Dads can be fun, funny, and adventurous. Dads can be firm and demanding. Dads can be compassionate. They can be distant. They can be light hearted, and they can be serious. They can be the strictest discipli-narians in the house, and they can also be the guys who get in the most trouble with Mom. I hope that all of you have a good dad you can celebrate on this special day, but if you don’t, we all have God as our heavenly Father and we can thank him for loving us no matter what. Being a Dad is no small feat. God created Dads to be spiritual leaders, mentors, comforters, caregivers, providers, and on occasion, entertainers. They are responsible for passing their faith on to their children and setting an example for how to live a godly life. If your dad isn’t always the perfect father, take heart - no one in the Bible had a perfect Dad either. Every father has his strengths and weaknesses, and the Dads of the Bible are no different. Adam had no clue what he was doing when he became a Dad. Abra-ham and his son Isaac had their own unique issues, and Isaac in turn played favorites with his boys.

FAMOUSDADS

LARGE GROUP LESSON

FAMOUS DADS LESSON

BOTTOM LINE: Dads are not perfect, but they love their kids and want the best for them.

OBJECTIVE: Kids will learn to appreciate how much their dads care for them. KEY PASSAGE: Genesis 37:2-4. Jacob gives his son a coat. Proverbs 2:1-8. Solomon’s message to his son. John 3:16.

INTROWhat word comes to mind when you hear the word, “Dad”? Dads mean a lot of things to their children. Dads can be fun, funny, and adventurous. Dads can be firm and demanding. Dads can be compassionate. They can be distant. They can be light hearted, and they can be serious. They can be the strictest discipli-narians in the house, and they can also be the guys who get in the most trouble with Mom. I hope that all of you have a good dad you can celebrate on this special day, but if you don’t, we all have God as our heavenly Father and we can thank him for loving us no matter what. Being a Dad is no small feat. God created Dads to be spiritual leaders, mentors, comforters, caregivers, providers, and on occasion, entertainers. They are responsible for passing their faith on to their children and setting an example for how to live a godly life. If your dad isn’t always the perfect father, take heart - no one in the Bible had a perfect Dad either. Every father has his strengths and weaknesses, and the Dads of the Bible are no different. Adam had no clue what he was doing when he became a Dad. Abra-ham and his son Isaac had their own unique issues, and Isaac in turn played favorites with his boys.

LARGE GROUP LESSON

FAMOUS DADS LESSON

Today we’re going to look at three Fathers from the Bible, beginning with Isaac’s least favorite son Jacob. We’re going to see that Dads aren’t perfect, but that they play a very special role in our lives. READ Genesis 37:2-4 Poor poor Joseph. You’d think Jacob would have learned from his father not to play favorites. Jacob couldn’t help himself. He loved Joseph so much, he bought him a flashy coat. Jacob loved his son, but his favoritism drove his other sons to sell Joseph into slavery. It was all a part of God’s plan to save Jacob’s family, of course, but it still teaches a valuable lesson. Dads can go a little overboard. They go too far, they make mistakes, and their kids pay the price. It may be because they love their kids, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do. Our next dad is the wisest man who ever lived. He loved his son so much, he wrote a whole book of advice for his son. READ Proverbs 2:1-8 Dads have a lot to teach us, everything from how to crawl to how to catch a baseball to how to manage your money. It can be overwhelming at times, and sometimes Dad’s advice isn’t welcome. Dads can be overprotective and overzealous, but for the most part, you’re going to find out that father knows best. Whatever you’re going through, he’s probably been through too. Now, you remember when I said there was no perfect Dad in the Bible? That’s not entirely true. There is one perfect Father, and this Father is looking out for all of us. We are his children, and this Father sets the standard for all Fathers to follow. READ John 3:16 MAIN POINTThis verse explains how God set the standard for Fathers. God loved us so much, he gave up his son, Jesus, for us. He sent Jesus to take the punishment for sin on himself so we could spend forever with him in heaven. Jacob was a bit overboard, and Solomon was demanding, but no one can deny that these two fathers loved their sons. A good father puts his kids ahead of his own inter-est. He wants them to be happier, more successful, and closer to God than he was as a child. A father who seeks to encourage his children to love God deserves all the love and thanks we can give him.

LARGE GROUP LESSON

FAMOUS DADS LESSON

DRIVE IT HOMEToday is a great day to let Dad know you love him. We give Dad gifts, we eat at his fa-vorite place, we do what he wants, and we tell him we love him. If you’ve been blessed with a godly father, don’t let your thanks and appreciation end when the day is over. Tell Dad you love him tomorrow. Pray for him every day. Let him know when some piece of advice he gave you helped out. Dads love to hear that kind of thing. Above all else, be sure to give thanks for your Heavenly Father today. Thank him for Jesus. Thank him for the gift of fathers. And thank him for being there, always and for-ever. No matter what is going on with you and your earthly father, you can always count on your Heavenly Father. Dads have a tough job. They deserve all the prayers and thanks we can give them. Let’s make today a great day for the dads in our lives and let them know they are loved!

CLOSE WITH A SIMPLE PRAYERDear God, Thank you for fathers, and thank you for being our Heavenly Father. We pray that you will be a guide to our dads as they strive to guide us in how to live for you. In Jesus’ name,Amen

FAMOUSDADS

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION (K-2ND)

FAMOUS DADS LESSON

ICEBREAKERIs your dad a tie guy or not a tie guy?

SMALL GROUP GAME/ACTIVITYBring a pair of men’s shoes (the bigger the better). Have the kids put the shoes on and try walking in them. Say now you know what it’s like to be in your dad’s shoes! (you could bring 2 pairs and have a race!)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONSRead Genesis 37:2-4 What did Jacob do to show everyone he loved Joseph? Read Proverbs 2:1-8 What did Solomon do out of love for his son?

Read John 3:16

What did God do to show his love for us, his children?

Does anyone want to share something your dad has done to show his love for you?

How can we tell our dads we love them today? SIMPLE PRAYERDear God,Thank you for giving us dads. Help us to listen when we need to listen, and let us never forget to show Dad how much we appreciate him.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

FAMOUSDADS

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION (3-5TH)

FAMOUS DADS LESSON

ICEBREAKERIs your dad a tie guy or not a tie guy?

SMALL GROUP GAME/ACTIVITYBring a pair of men’s shoes (the bigger the better). Have the kids put the shoes on and try walking in them. Say now you know what it’s like to be in your dad’s shoes! (you could bring 2 pairs and have a race!)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONSRead Genesis 37:2-4 Why do you think dads go over the top sometimes? Read Proverbs 2:1-8 What kind of advice does your dad like to give you? Read John 3:16 What did God do to show the world that he loves us? How does your dad express his love to you? What can we do to encourage our dads today?

SIMPLE PRAYERDear God,Thank you for giving us dads. Help us to listen when we need to listen, and let us never forget to show Dad how much we appreciate him.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

FAMOUSDADS

POWERPOINT REVIEW GAME

FAMOUS DADS LESSON

Which dad did it?

1. This dad played favorites. Jacob*AbrahamSolomon

2. This dad was a father to his Heavenly Father. AdamJoseph*Moses

3. This dad wrote his wisdom down for his son. MosesSolomon*Jacob

4. This was the first dad in the Bible. AbrahamJacobAdam*

5. This dad gave his only son so we could be forgiven. God*JosephMoses

5 Simple Ways You Can Make This Lesson Stick With Your Kids

THIS WEEK’S LESSON: FAMOUS DADS

FAMOUS DADS LESSON

IN THE CAR:Ask your child what they learned about this week on the drive home:Today we talked about our dads. Dads are not perfect people, but they want the best for their kids. Our Heavenly Father gave his only son for us, and there’s nothing a loving father wouldn’t do for his kids either. HANGING OUT:Make this week’s lesson real:Share some stories about your dad this week. Share some silly stories and some seri-ous stories about your dad with your kids. AT DINNER:Here are some great discussion starters:This week let the kids ask Dad a few questions. - What’s the best advice your Dad ever gave you? - What’s something funny that you did with your Dad? - How can we thank you for being our Dad?

AT BEDTIME:Quiz your child on this week’s memory verse:“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction.” - Proverbs 1:8A (NIV) PARENT TIME:What you need to know:If you are able, call your Dad and tell him you love him. Thank God for the gift of fathers this week, and thank God for being your Heavenly Father.

5 Simple Ways You Can Make This Lesson Stick With Your Kids

THIS WEEK’S LESSON: FAMOUS DADS

FAMOUS DADS LESSON

IN THE CAR:Ask your child what they learned about this week on the drive home:Today we talked about our dads. Dads are not perfect people, but they want the best for their kids. Our Heavenly Father gave his only son for us, and there’s nothing a loving father wouldn’t do for his kids either. HANGING OUT:Make this week’s lesson real:Share some stories about your dad this week. Share some silly stories and some seri-ous stories about your dad with your kids. AT DINNER:Here are some great discussion starters:This week let the kids ask Dad a few questions. - What’s the best advice your Dad ever gave you? - What’s something funny that you did with your Dad? - How can we thank you for being our Dad?

AT BEDTIME:Quiz your child on this week’s memory verse:“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction.” - Proverbs 1:8A (NIV) PARENT TIME:What you need to know:If you are able, call your Dad and tell him you love him. Thank God for the gift of fathers this week, and thank God for being your Heavenly Father.

CUT O

N D

ASH

ED LIN

E

“Listen, my son, to your

father’s instruction.” - Proverbs 1:8A

(NIV

)

“Listen, my son, to your

father’s instruction.” - Proverbs 1:8A

(NIV

)

“Listen, my son, to your

father’s instruction.” - Proverbs 1:8A

(NIV

)

“Listen, my son, to your

father’s instruction.” - Proverbs 1:8A

(NIV

)

Dads of the Bible

ACROSS

2 Solomon's dad Matthew 1:6 6 Isaac's dad Matthew 1:27 David's dad Matthew 1:6 8 Ham's dad Genesis 5:32 10 Lamech's dad, Noah's

grandpa Luke 3:36-37

DOWN

1 Father of Obed, greatgrand-father of David Matthew 1:5

3 Esau's dad Matthew 1:24 Reuben's dad Matthew 1:25 John the Baptist's dad Luke 1:137 Jesus's earthly dad Matthew 1:169 Abel's dad Genesis 4:1-2

1

2 3

4 5

6

7

8

9

10

Dads of the Bible

ACROSS

2 Solomon's dad Matthew 1:6 6 Isaac's dad Matthew 1:27 David's dad Matthew 1:6 8 Ham's dad Genesis 5:32 10 Lamech's dad, Noah's

grandpa Luke 3:36-37

DOWN

1 Father of Obed, greatgrand-father of David Matthew 1:5

3 Esau's dad Matthew 1:24 Reuben's dad Matthew 1:25 John the Baptist's dad Luke 1:137 Jesus's earthly dad Matthew 1:169 Abel's dad Genesis 4:1-2

1

2 3

4 5

6

7

8

9

10

Dads of the Bible

1

B

O2

D A V3

I D

Z S4

J5

Z6

A B R A H A M

A C C7

J E S S E

C8

N O A H O9

A B A S

D R E

A I P10

M E T H U S A L E H

H