Youth Group Discussion: Issac and Rebekah

Game:  In honor of  Superbowl: Teddy Bear Football,  two hand touch below the waist  

Bible Verse 1: Genesis 24:1-5, 9-28

         

Video:  Isaac and Rebekah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrwZrMzX09o

Bible Verse: Genesis 24:50-59, 63-67

Five Questions:

1.     In the Bible reading Abraham’s servant is told he must travel to get Isaac a wife.  What a task!  How would you feel if someone told you “Hey I need you to go find my son a wife.”?

2.     In the video it shows the servant traveling alone, but he would have travelled in a caravan with other people.  When he arrives at the community well what’s the first thing he does?  (Prays to God for help.)

3.     When Rebekah shows up she answers his prayer by her actions.  What else do her actions tell us about this beautiful young woman?

4.     Rebekah was young and beautiful and yet she felt led by God to go with this man she doesn’t know. What does this tell you about her?

5.     Rebekah married Isaac and became a great woman of the Bible.  Her faith and trust in God was amazing.  Do these stories help you learn to trust God’s promises?

Close in prayer and ask for prayer requests.

Children's Church Lesson: Jacob

Story

Say: Have you ever wrestled someone before?  What sounds to wrestlers make when they are wrestling?  (Let the children make wrestling noises/grunts).  In today’s story there is a wrestling match.  When I get to the wrestling part I need you to make those noises.  We are not going to wrestle each other, just make the sounds ok? 

Read  story of Jacob in any children's story bible.  Pause during the wrestling scene. 

Lesson

Jacob made a bad choice didn't he?  What bad choice did Jacob make? (Tricked his father, took what belonged to his brother).  Did God give up on Jacob? (No) What did God do for Jacob? (God blessed him after they wrestled).

A blessing is a special gift.  God has given us all a special gift to, through his son Jesus.  The bible tells us that our bad choices separate us from God.  God has blessed us because Jesus takes away the bad things that we have so we can we with God forever!  If you want to know more about how Jesus did that, ask your parents, or pastor, or Mr. Chad and Mrs. Laura.   

Memory Verse

God loved the world so much, he gave his only son so that anyone who believes in him will live forever. – John 3:16.    

Big Idea

God blessed Jacob even after he made bad choices.  God blesses us through Jesus, in spite of our bad choices. 

Prayer- Ask for Joys and Requests

Take a minute to see if the children have any prayer requests of joys.  Say short prayer thanking God for forgiving us when we make bad choices.  

Craft

Children will decorate their very own wrestling and wrestling uniform: http://www.dltk-kids.com/world/mexico/mpaperdoll-luchalibra.htm

Youth Group Discussion: Jacob and Rachel

From Michael Walden
Director of Youth Ministries
Rockford United Methodist Church

Bible Verse 1: Genesis 29: 9-14

         

Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_Auc1x5MII    Straight up story of the text.

Bible Verse: Genesis29: 15-35

Five Questions:

1.     Who is this guy Jacob?  Tell me all you can about him.

2.     So Abraham’s son Jacob has fallen in love with a beautiful woman, Rachel. He has been working for his relative Laban and for pay he asks for Laban’s daughter Rachel as payment.  How does that sound to you?

3.     Have you ever wanted something so badly it consumed your life?  Would you have work 14 years or even 7 years to get what it was you wanted?

4.     Jacob gets “tricked” by Laban into marrying Leah, he was angry but remained married to her and worked another 7 years to get Rachel. Do you think he was wise and faithful or just stubborn?

5.     Jacob was the “trust” child of Abraham and Sarah.  He knows God’s promise to his father to create a whole people from him. He learns to trust God even though Laban tricks him.  Rachel his wife will also learn to trust God.  Do these stories help you learn to trust God’s promises?

Children's church lesson: Ruth

Story

Say: Raise your hand if you have every felt sad.  Now raise your hand if you have ever felt happy.  Today’s story is about a woman named Ruth.  Just like us, Ruth had sad times and happy times.  When we read about something sad I am going to stop reading for a moment and we are going to act sad.  When I read about something happy we are going to pause and act happy. 

Read “Ruth” in any children's story bible.

Lesson

What happened to Naomi’s family in Moab? (Husband died, sons married Moabite women, sons died) Which daughter-in-law refused to leave Naomi? (Ruth) How did Boaz show Ruth kindness? (Gave her food, told her to stay in his field, protection, water)

God took care of Naomi and Ruth.  God used Boaz to help and care for Ruth and Naomi.  God will take care of us like He took care of Ruth and Naomi.  God wants to use us to help others like he did Boaz.

Memory Verse

Trust the Lord with all your heart. – Proverbs 3:5a  

Big Idea

God will take care of us like He took care of Ruth and Naomi.  God wants to use us to help others like he did Boaz.

Prayer- Ask for Joys and Requests

Take a minute to see if the children have any prayer requests of joys.  Say short prayer asking God to help us trust Him, and help others.

Craft

Children will decorate cut out and assemble a Ruth TP craft (Directions: http://www.dltk-bible.com/mruth.html  , Template: http://www.dltk-bible.com/t.asp?b=m&t=http://www.dltk-bible.com/images/bruth.gif) 

Children's Church Lesson: Esther

Story

Say: Before I read the story I your help to tell it, ok?  This story has three important people in it; Ester, Haman and Mordecai

When you hear me say the name Ester I need you to shout “Hurray for Queen Ester!”  When you hear me say the name Haman I want you to shout “Not Haman!”  When I say the name Mordecai shout “Yeah Mordecai!”  (Practice each name)

Read “Esther” in any children's story bible.  Pause after each name.     

Lesson

Why didn’t Haman like Esther and Mordecai? (Because they were Jews, followers of God)  Even though it could have gotten Esther in big trouble, she was a brave follower of God and let everyone know it!  What would you have done if you were Esther? (Allow time for responses). 

Just like Esther found out in the story, sometimes it’s not easy to be a follower of God.  We can all be brave followers of God, just like Esther, when we follow God no matter what! 

As Gods followers we should act in a way God wants us to act.  How do you think God wants us to act? (kind to others, lend a helping hand, share, tell others about God, etc.)  Lets make a decision today to follow God no matter what, OK?  

Big Idea

We can all be brave followers of God, just like Esther, when we follow God no matter what! 

Memory Verse

Trust the Lord with all your heart. – Proverbs 3:5a 

Prayer- Ask for Joys and Requests

Take a minute to see if the children have any prayer requests of joys.  Say short prayer asking God to help us follow him no matter what.  

Craft

Children will decorate a scepter top and attach it to a popsicle stick (using tape or glue stick) to make their very own scepter: http://www.daniellesplace.com/imagesApat/scepters.gif

Game Options:

Follow the leader 

Children's Church Lesson: Abraham and Sarah

Story

Have you ever made a promise? Do you keep your promises?  Have you ever not kept a promise? 

Do you think that God keeps His promises?  Today we are going to read a story about some promises God made to Abraham and Sarah.

Read the Story of Abraham and Sarah in any children's story bible

Lesson

What did God ask Abraham and Sarah to do?  (Leave his home in Ur and move to another country).  What promises did God make to Abraham and Sarah? (That he would show them the way to a new land, that he would give them the land around them, that they would have many descendants, that they would have a child)
God made many promises to Abraham and Sarah.  Did he keep those promises? (Yes)  Has God made promises to us? (Yes)  What are some promises God has made to us? (He will take care of us, that we can live with him in heaven, etc.) 

God kept the promises he made too Abraham and Sarah.  God has promises for us to, and he will keep those promises just like he kept his promises for Abraham and Sarah. 

Memory Verse

Trust the Lord with all your heart. – Proverbs 3:5a 

Big Idea

God has promises for us and he will keep those promises just like he kept his promises for Abraham and Sarah.  

Prayer- Ask for Joys and Requests

Take a minute to see if the children have any prayer requests of joys.  Say short prayer thanking God for keeping his promises.  

Children will color, cut out and assemble a “toilet paper baby” because God kept his promise to give Abraham and Sara a baby http://www.dltk-teach.com/rhymes/farmer/mbaby.htm (directions) http://www.dltk-teach.com/t.asp?b=m&t=http://www.dltk-kids.com/members/images/bbaby.gif (template) 

Children's Church Lesson: Deborah

Story

Say: I need your help.  Can you act out parts of the story with me? 

Read: “Deborah” in the Spark Story Bible (Pages 106-109). 

Do these motions:

·         The prayed to god… (fold their hands and repeat prayer)

·         Deborah sat under the palm tree…(wave hands back and forth

·         The Israelites one (make a “V” for victory) 

Lesson

What was Deborah’s job? (Judge, help people, give God’s messages, make peace) Deborah was a leader for God’s people to do all of those things.  Deborah was wise and brave.  Who was with Deborah everywhere she went? (God!)  God was with Deborah under the palm tree, when she delivered God’s messages and when she went up Mount Tabor.  The people followed Deborah, and Deborah followed God.  What a good leader!  God used Deborah to take care of the Israelites.  God takes care of us too. He wants us to pray and share our needs with Him. He will listen and help us with our needs.

Memory Verse

I am the resurrection and the life. - John 11:25

Big Idea

God used Deborah to take care of the Israelites.  God takes care of us too.

Prayer- Ask for Joys and Requests

Take a minute to see if the children have any prayer requests of joys.  Say short prayer thanking God taking care of us.

Craft

Children will decorate cut out and assemble a palm tree (like Deborah  sat under): http://www.dltk-teach.com/t.asp?b=m&t=http://www.dltk-teach.com/books/chicka/bcoconuttree.gif 

Youth Group Discussion: Great Women of Faith Part 1: Sarah

 Courtesy of Michael Walden

Bible Verse 1: Genesis 12: 1-5a; 17: 1-6, 15-16

         

Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd32EFK-LAA   Best Bible Stories for Kids-The Story of Abraham and Sarah.  Play it from about 5 minutes and it will be less confusing.

Bible Verse: Genesis 18:1-4

Five Questions:

1.     Has God ever promised you anything?  How did you know?

2.     When God promised Abraham and Sarah that they would have a child, they doubted Him.  Sarah even laughed at the idea. Why wasn’t’ God angry with them?

3.     Sarah was 89 years old when God told her she would have a child.  To have children was very important to her, but she laughed.  Do you think it was nervous laughter?  Do you think she was afraid?

4.     Abraham and Sarah saw men physically at their campsite, they heard them speak.  They heard God’s promise with their own ears.  What ways does God “speak” to us today?

5.     Sarah had to learn to trust God the hard way.  She had heard God’s promise but doubted.  We have God’s promises in the form of a book

called the Bible.  How can we learn to trust God’s promises?

Close in prayer and ask for prayer requests. 

Rebekah and Isaac

Story

Has anyone here ever heard the story of Cinderella? Of course you have! I doubt if there is anyone in the world that hasn't heard that story. It is a beautiful fairy tale about poor Cinderella who spends her days woking like a slave for her wicked stepmother and two stepsisters.  Cinderella falls in love with the Prince and lives happily ever after.  It is a beautiful love story. 

Today, I want to tell you another beautiful love story. It is the story of Isaac and Rebekah.

Read: “Rebekah and Isaac” in the any children's story bible

Lesson

Why didn’t Abraham want Isaac to marry a Canaanite woman? (Because Canaanites did not believe in God)  Where did Abraham send his servant to find a wife for Isaac? (Back to Haran where their relatives were living)  How did Abraham’s servant know which woman was the right wife for Isaac? (He prayed that the woman who gave him water and offered to water his camels also would be the right woman) 

Do you think that God cares about the BIG things in our lives? (Yes, He does!)  Do you think that God can take care of all the LITTLE things in our lives? (Yes, He can!)  God does care about us! He cares about all of the BIG things and about all of the LITTLE things. In this story, God took care of Isaac, of Rebekah, of Abraham, and of the servant! He watched over all of them and answered their prayers. God is so good to care about us and the Big and Little things in our lives.

Memory Verse

⁷ I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.. – 2 Timothy 4:7

Big Idea

God does care about us! He cares about all of the BIG things and about all of the LITTLE things.

Prayer- Ask for Joys and Requests

Take a minute to see if the children have any prayer requests of joys.  Say short prayer thanking God taking care of us.

Children will decorate cut out and assemble a camel (like Rebekah watered): http://learncreatelove.com/?p=4525

Children's Church Lesson: Finishing the Race

Scripture

Have you ever had a wrestling match with someone?  Was it hard?  Have you ever run a race or been in another competition? Have you ever won a prize for completing?  What was it like getting a prize? (Let the children respond)  Today’s bible lesson compares following God to competing and finishing a race.  Let’s read it now!

Read 2 Timothy 4:7 & 8

⁷ I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. ⁸ And now the prize awaits me -- the crown of righteousness that the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that great day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his glorious return.

Lesson

Say: When a person wins a race by running faster than the others in the race, that person gets a blue ribbon. It is a real honor to get a blue ribbon. It means that person is the champion. 

Some races are such big races that just to complete the race is something very important. I think of a marathon as an example of a race in which anyone who completes it has done something important. Does anyone know how far a marathon is? (Give time, then answer yourself by comparing the 26 miles of a marathon with a similar distance in your locality.) Anyone who can run that far deserves a ribbon! 

The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to a young man named Timothy, telling him that he has completed a great race. The race he speaks of is not really a race, but it's like a race -- a long race! It is the race of faith -- believing in Jesus. Like the marathon race, sometimes life can be hard and there are times when a person wants to forget about Jesus and living the Christian life. A person can get tired of being Christian sometimes. Sometimes people get bored with church. Sometimes Christians question the power of prayer -- we wonder if God hears us. Like a long, long race where you get tired and thirsty and wonder if you can keep going, our Christian faith can sometimes be hard. Just as some people give up and don't complete the marathon race, so some people give up on our Christian faith. When they get to the end of their lives, they no longer believe. 

I am glad you believe and I hope you live a long, long time. I hope you always keep believing like Paul did. Our Christian faith can be hard, but it is worth it! God gives us the gift of heaven! 

Memory Verse

⁷ I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.. – 2 Timothy 4:7

Big Idea

God made a promise to send Jesus to save the whole world.  God kept that promise, and Jesus was born! 

Prayer- Ask for Joys and Requests

Take a minute to see if the children have any prayer requests of joys.  Say short prayer thanking God for loving us and sending us his son.     

Youth Group Discussion: Running the Race

Bible Verse 1: I Corithians 1:1-13; 3:5-9

         

Video:  Skit Guys---“ Running the Race” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POn06NkO0ds

Bible Verse: II Timothy 4: 6b-8a

Five Questions:

1.     It’s a New Year and we all like to set goals in our life. Have you set any goals for your Christian life?

2.     If we had a choice we here at the church want you to think of your Christian life as your life.  How do look at the “Christian” stuff you do?

3.     Paul (in the Bible verse we read) and the Skit Guys, talk about running a race.  Sometimes life feels like a race, we used to call it a “Rat Race”. Do you feel like that?

4.     Name some prizes you can get for winning races.  What kind of prize did Paul say he would win?  What does that mean?

5.     Your “crown”, our crown is life.  Living forever with God and Christ.  How does that sound as a prize for running the race and what does that look like?

Close in prayer and ask for prayer requests.