lesson48:lkt 4/14/10 9:51 am page 409 crossing the jordan...

Crossing the JordanBible StoryJoshua 3—4:18

Teacher ChallengeA new generation of Israelites stood at the edge of theJordan River. Their parents had disbelieved God and,as a result, God had not allowed them to enter thePromised Land. For 40 years they had wandered in thedesert. And during that time, God had proven that Heis loving and trustworthy. So when God’s order came tomove out into a rushing river to see Him do the amaz-ing things He’d promised, they had to either seize this moment in faith or remain safely stuck on the far side of the river—in the land of reasonable unbelief.

� What amazing thing have you seen God do this week?

� How have you acted in obedient faith this week, trusting God for the outcome?

In our moments of decision-making, we must make that same choice: Obey and humbly trust God orstay far from Him in reasonable unbelief. Choose to follow Him and He will do things as amazing asparting the Jordan! Then both you and your little ones will rejoice and build monuments in yourhearts to His goodness!

Teacher’s Planning1. Choose which centers you

will provide and the order in which children will par-ticipate in them. For tips on schedule planning, see page 9.

2. Plan who will lead each cen-ter, making sure to have oneadult for approximately everysix children. For staffing tipsand ideas, see page 12.

© 2010 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Growing with God Leader’s Guide • 409

Lesson 48

God’s Word“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.” Hebrews 13:6

God’s Word and MeWhen I am afraid, God helps me.

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Play to LearnActive Game Center: Rock Collecting

CollectBible, length of blue paper, blue towel or blueplastic tablecloth, pompoms or cotton balls,masking tape.

PreparePlace blue paper, towel or tablecloth on floor incenter of playing area to represent a river. Scatterpompoms or cotton balls on river to represent rocks. Use masking tape to outline a 12-inch (30.5-cm) square a couple of feet away from one side of the river (see sketch).

Do1. Children line up a couple of feet away from river, on the opposite bank to the masking-tape square.

One at a time, children walk across the river, picking up a rock as they go. Children place rock inmasking-tape square and return to the back of the line. (Remove tape immediately after use.)

2. Repeat until all rocks have been picked up, or as time and interest allow.

Talk About� In today’s Bible story, Joshua helped God’s

people walk across the Jordan River. Godstopped the water so that the people couldwalk on dry ground. After they crossed theriver, some men went back to pick up somelarge rocks. They stacked the rocks on theother side of the river. Let’s play a game topick up rocks as we cross a river!

� The Bible says, “The Lord is my helper; I willnot be afraid.” God’s people must have beenscared to cross the river. But God helpedthem! God helps us, too.

� God is with us when we’re afraid. Kaitlyn,when is a time it would be good to rememberthat God helps us?

For Younger ChildrenChildren don’t wait for a turn. Children cross the river and pick up rocks at the same time.

For Older ChildrenAfter all rocks have been picked up, children place rocks in groups of 12.

410 • © 2010 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Growing with God Leader’s Guide

Lesson 48




Play to LearnArt Center: River Scene

CollectBible, large sheets of white construction paper,marker, blue collage materials, glue.

PrepareFor each child, draw a river outline on a sheet ofconstruction paper.

DoChildren glue collage materials to river outline to make river pictures.

Talk About� In today’s Bible story, God’s people needed

to cross a big river. There was lots of waterin the river. It was scary! They needed help.God helped the people. He stopped the riverso that His people could walk across on dryground.

� The Bible says, “The Lord is my helper; I willnot be afraid.” What can kids do when theyfeel afraid? (Pray, asking God to help. Singsongs about God.) When we are afraid, Godhelps us.

� Pray briefly, Dear God, thank You that Youhelp us.

For Younger ChildrenProvide glue sticks instead of glue bottles.

For Older ChildrenThin glue with water and add several drops of blue food coloring. Children use paintbrushes to paintglue onto papers before adding collage materials. Provide pieces of sandpaper or brown constructionpaper for river banks.


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Lesson 48Play to LearnConstruction Center: Buildings of Twelve

CollectBible, blocks.

DoChildren select 12 blocks and build objects usingall 12 blocks. Encourage children to build a varietyof shapes and objects using their 12 blocks.

Talk About� In today’s Bible story, Joshua led God’s

people across the Jordan River. As thepeople crossed the river, 12 men pickedup big stones from the riverbed. Thenthey stacked the 12 big stones to remindthe people of God’s power and help. Let’ssee what we can build with 12 blocks!

� Jack, what are you building? It’s fun to goto school. But sometimes we have feelingsthat don’t feel good. Sometimes we feelangry or afraid. God will help us ALL thetime. God helps us when we are afraid.

� The Bible says, “The Lord is my helper; Iwill not be afraid.” When we feel afraid,we can remember that God is with us. God helps us everywhere we go.

For Younger ChildrenChildren simply use blocks to build objects of their own choosing.

For Older ChildrenProvide additional building supplies (cardboard tubes, cereal boxes, Legos, etc.). Children select 12different items with which to build.



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Play to LearnDramatic Play Center: Bus Trip

CollectBible, chair, paper plates, masking tape.

Do1. Children arrange chairs like the seats in a bus.

To represent tires, tape four paper plates up-right against the chairs in the corners. Anotherpaper plate can be used as a steering wheel bythe child pretending to be the driver.

2. Children sit in the bus and pretend they are riding to different places. (Note: If you have a largeclass, encourage children to build more than one bus.)

Talk About� In today’s Bible story, God’s people trav-

eled to a new land. In Bible times, peopleoften walked when they traveled. Today,when we travel, we can ride in cars orbuses. Let’s use these chairs and plates to build a bus.

� Savannah, I see you are letting Elijah geton the bus first. Thank you for helping.You know how to be a helper.

� Isaiah, where do you want to go as youdrive the bus? God is our helper when weare at the park!

� The Bible tells us, “The Lord is my helper;I will not be afraid.” “Lord” is anothername for God. When we feel afraid, we can remember that God helps us. When is a time you might need to remember God is our helper?

For Younger ChildrenChildren select a doll or toy to take along on a pretend ride.

For Older ChildrenAfter a few moments of pretending to ride the bus, ask children to leave through the doors, walk all theway around the bus and then enter the bus again, with a different child as the driver. Switch drivers inthis manner several times.


Lesson 48




Listen to LearnJoshua 3—4:18

CollectBible, Bible Story 18 pictures from God’s Story forMe Poster Pack #2, Preschool Music #2 DVD or CDand player, stone.

Greet Each OtherChildren sit in a circle. Play “Welcome, Hello!”(track 1 on CD). Children pass beanbag or ballaround the circle. After beanbag or ball has beenpassed to several children, stop the music. Childholding the beanbag or ball when the music stopssays, “I know God will help me!”

Tell the StoryOpen your Bible to Joshua 3. Tell the story using the pictured motions (keywords in bold) or showBible Story 18 pictures.

How do people get across rivers? Let’s hear about an unusual way God’s people crossed a river.

God’s people were glad! They were almost to their new land. They were camped by ariver. Their new land was on the other side of that river.

Joshua was their leader. He told the people God’s instructions. “Get ready. Tomor-row God will do amazing things!”

The people got ready. But then they looked at the river. The water moved fast. Itlooked scary! No one could swim across that fast river! How would they cross theriver and get to the new land?

God had told Joshua just what to do. When it was time to cross the river, Joshuasaid, “Follow God’s leaders!”

The leaders, called priests, came to the edge of that rushing river. The priests’ feettouched the water. Then something amazing happened! The water stopped rushingby! All the water stopped far away from where the people were standing.

The people could see the water. It was standing up in a big wall!

“God did this!” the people shouted. “We can walk across! Thank You, God!”

All of God’s people walked across the river. Their feet didn’t even get muddy! As theywalked across, each family leader picked up a big stone from the riverbed.

The priests stepped out of the riverbed last. And then, WHOOSH! The water camerushing back! God’s people stacked up the stones they had taken from the riverbed.Whenever the people saw those stones, they remembered how God had helped themcross the river. They told how God had made the water stand up like a wall. Theytold about God’s power and help!


Lesson 48




Talk About the StoryWhy did God’s people need God’s help? (The river was full of rushing water. They didn’t know howto get across the water.) God helped His people get across the river, even though it was full ofrushing water. They must have been very scared. God helps us when we are scared, too. God isour helper all the time. When is a time that it might be good to remember that God helps us?

Sing to GodLet’s sing a song about God. Lead children in singing Play “My Helper” (on DVD or track 14 on CD).This song tells us that we don’t have to feel afraid. God is our helper!

Hear and Say God’s WordHolding your Bible open to Hebrews 13:6, sayverse aloud. “Lord” is another name for God.God helps us when we are afraid. God helpsus ALL the time! Children sit in a large circle.Lead children in repeating the verse severaltimes. When saying the words “The Lord is myhelper,” children stand. When saying the words“I will not be afraid,” children sit down.

Pray to GodAsk the children to stand up. Say the following prayer, inserting the name of a child into the prayer:Dear God, thank You for helping Aiden and Cailee and Noah. As you say each child’s name, he or she sits down. Continue naming each child in your class.

Praise to GodAs you play “How Good It Is” (track 17 on CD), children pass stone around the circle. After a few mo-ments, stop the music. Child holding the stone says the Bible verse or names a time when it would begood for him or her to remember that God helps us (when it’s dark at night, when they are in a busystore, when someone on the playground is mean to them, etc.). Repeat several times.


Lesson 48

Option: If you take a weekly offering duringthis worship time, explain to children thatthe money is used to help people learn aboutGod and the ways He helps us.


Talk to LearnBible Story Activity Pages CenterCollectA copy of Activity 18 from The Big Book of Bible Story ActivityPages #2 for yourself and each child, crayons or markers, scis-sors; optional—small pieces of sandpaper, glue.

DoLead children to complete pages following the instructions.(Optional: Children glue sandpaper to dry riverbed.) Use theconversation suggestions as children complete their pages and retell the story.

Preschool Puzzle CenterCollectCopies of Bible Story Puzzle 48, Bible VersePuzzle 48 and/or Challenge Puzzle 48 fromThe Big Book of Preschool Puzzles #2 for eachchild; pencils, crayons or markers.

DoChildren complete the puzzles and color pages. Use the conversation suggestions on the pages.

Read-Aloud Story CenterCollectA copy of Story Picture 48 from The Big Book of Read-Aloud Stories #2 for yourself and each child, crayonsor markers.

DoRead the story and distribute pictures. Use the conversation suggestions as children complete their pages.


Lesson 48

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Name ____________________________________�

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.”

Hebrews 13:6

• Child colors page.• Child cuts page and inserts slits into each other to makestand-up story scenes.• Child retells story by showing scenes.

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Bible Story Activity 18

© 2010 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to the original purchaser only. The Big Book of Bible Story Activity Pages #2 79

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.” Hebrews 13:6Draw two birds in the tree. Color the picture.

© 2010 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. The Big Book of Read-Aloud Stories #2

Story Picture 48

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