lesson 2 hour a · *w. gary phillips, holman old testament commentary, vol. 5: judges, ruth,...

Unfolding God’s Story for TeachersOur story today is an example of how God can give us courage despite our fears. When we acknowledge our doubts and uncertainties and submit to His Lordship, God is able to do powerful and mighty things though us. Judges 6:1-2 tells us that because God’s people did evil in His sight, “the LORD handed them over to Midian for seven years, and they oppressed Israel.” Here we see the cycle of sin and judgment. God did not immediately swoop down and relieve oppression when He heard His people’s cries. Instead He sent a prophet to remind them of His past faithfulness and to underscore their defiance and its consequences. God later moved to deliver Israel through Gideon. God’s angel appeared to Gideon as he was threshing wheat. His greeting, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior,” had little effect on Gideon. He did not see himself as God saw him and even questioned God’s presence because of the current state of Israel. God directed Gideon to deliver Israel, but Gideon offered excuses. He saw himself as the youngest of a weak clan, but the angel persisted and promised God’s presence. He wanted Gideon to realize that, as one commentator put it, “The effectiveness of the Lord’s deliverance does not depend upon the ability of the human deliverer.”* Because Gideon was not there yet in his journey of faith, he needed a sign. God sent fire from heaven to consume Gideon’s offering. Instead of assuring Gideon of God’s presence, however, the incident terrified him. Again in His grace, God communicated His peace, and finally Gideon was ready to step out in faith. God told Gideon to take the hard yet necessary step of ridding his own backyard of idols. Though he faced death threats from whose worship centers he destroyed, God protected him. Gideon moved ahead and in the strength of the Holy Spirit gathered an army. Even though he was surrounded by thousands of soldiers as well as the Lord’s presence, Gideon grew apprehensive again. Twice at Gideon’s request, God used a fleece to give Gideon a sign, so the reluctant military leader

once again was encouraged to move forward. He assumed he would march into battle with these troops, but God wanted to make sure Gideon recognized victory came from Him alone. God reduced Gideon’s army in order for Gideon to know that victory comes, “‘Not by strength or by might, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD” (Zech. 4:6). With no swords or spears—just trumpets, torches, jars, and shouts—God used a once fearful Gideon to courageously lead a tiny army to victory. The glory and honor went to God! We all face battles, yet if the cause be righteous, we are God’s “warriors.” Our own strength and ingenuity will fail us. We must understand this without cowering in fear. Instead, we go forth in the presence of God.

Old Testament Unit 8: Judges and Ruth Lesson 2: God Helped Gideon to be Courageous

1. God created everything.

2. People disobeyed God.

3. God chose a special people.

4. God sent Jesus to help us.

5. Jesus began the Church.

6. Jesus is preparing heaven for us.

God’s Unfolding StoryBible Story:

God Helped Gideon to be Courageous

(Judges 6–7)Bible Phrase:

“‘Not by strength or by might, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord”

(Zechariah 4:6).Bible Truth: God will

give me courage when I am afraid.

Arrival• Greet children at eye level and express how happy

you are to see them.• Be sure each child has a name tag and the security

measures of your church are followed.• Label all coats and personal belongings. Strongly

encourage children who have brought items from home, such as toys and books, to place them on a shelf while they are working with other materials. Assure children their items will be safe and they can take them home at the end of the session.

• Help each child make a choice where he or she would like to begin his or her Center Time.

Hour A

Lesson Plan

Suggested Schedule:

ArrivalCenters – 25 minutes

Clean-up Time – 5 minutes

Bible Story Time – 15 minutes

Craft Time – 10 minutes

Snack Time – 10 minutes

Game Time/Dismissal

God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT08 Lesson 2 Hour A

*W. Gary Phillips, Holman Old Testament Commentary, Vol. 5: Judges, Ruth, (Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 2004), 97.

Center Time

Puzzle Center: Work PuzzlesSupplies:

• Offer a variety of non-fantasy wooden or cardboard puzzles for children to work.

• Small basket or boxWhat to Do: Empty the puzzle pieces of two different puzzles into a small basket or box. Place the basket between the empty puzzle trays. Invite each of two preschoolers to choose a puzzle piece and decide in which puzzle tray it will fit. Encourage preschoolers to take turns. Affirm children as they work together to complete the puzzles. Link to the Bible Story: As children work, look for opportunities in conversation to say the Bible phrase or to briefly tell the Bible story.

Bible Learning Center: Dot to Dot

Supplies: • Copies of Activity Page: Dot to Dot, “A Jar, a

Torch, and a Trumpet” (Reproducible)• Washable markers or crayons

What to Do: Preschoolers should be directed to connect the dots to reveal objects from the Bible story.

Link to the Bible Story: As children work on this activity, talk about the Bible story. Express that God chose a young man

named Gideon to lead an army to fight the Israelites’ enemy. God told Gideon He would help the Israelites win. As the objects are

revealed, talk about how they were used in the Bible story. For instance: “God told Gideon to give each soldier a

jar, a torch, and a trumpet. The men were to blow the trumpets, break the jars, lift up the torches, and shout.

God used the noise and the lights to scare the enemy, making it possible for Israel to win the

battle.”

Art Center: Drawing with ChalkSupplies:

• Black construction paper• Colored chalk

• Small cups for waterWhat to Do: Invite children to draw a picture

with the chalk. To reduce the chalk dust, you can provide small cups of water to dip the chalk in

before drawing. Link to the Bible Story: As preschoolers draw, talk

about Gideon and his army from today’s Bible story. Explain that God thought Gideon’s army

was too large, so he gave the men a test. He asked Gideon to take them to the river for

a drink of water. God told Gideon if a man drank by scooping up some water in his

hand and then lapping it from his hand could be in Gideon’s army, but if a man

bent down and drank right from the river, he could not.

Block Center: Build with Blocks

Supplies:

• Wooden blocksWhat to Do: Provide a small carpet

if possible. Blocks are best located in a corner of the room away from the traffic

flow. Link to the Bible Story: As preschoolers

build with blocks, use teachable moments to share the Bible Phrase, Bible truth, or a portion of the Bible story.


Home Living Center: Role PlaySupplies:

• Small rocking chair, sink and stove unit and small table and chairs; plastic dishes, child pots and pans; pretend food items; doll, doll bed, and doll accessoriesWhat to Do: Home living items naturally encourage children to act out roles and activities they observe at home. Link to the Bible Story: As you observe preschoolers working and playing together, listen for opportunities to connect their conversations to the Bible story, Bible truth, or Bible Phrase.


Clean-up Time

Introduction• Show the God’s Unfolding Story Cube. Express to the boys and girls that even though we find many stories in the Bible, the Bible really tells one big story, and all the little stories are a part of the big one we can call God’s Unfolding Story. Tell children that each picture represents a chapter in God’s Unfolding Story. Turn the cube and talk about each part of the story. (Refer to page 1.) Express that every story from the Bible is from one of these main chapters. Today’s story is from the third one, God chose a special people.• Express the following in your own words.

“Have you ever been afraid to do something but did it even though you were afraid? [Allow for responses, but keep the dialogue on track.] How were you able to have the courage to do what you needed to do? In our Bible story today, God asked a young man named Gideon to do something he was afraid to try. Listen to hear how God helped Gideon have courage.”

Bible StoryGod Helped Gideon to be Courageous (Judges 6–7)The Israelites had disobeyed God and were being ruled by another king. This was not God’s perfect plan for His people, but His people had disobeyed Him. The country that ruled over them destroyed their crops and took their cattle and sheep. The people had become very poor and were living in the caves of the mountains to protect themselves. The Israelites prayed and asked for help. Even

though they had disobeyed, God loved them and wanted to help. God’s helper would be a young man named Gideon. One day Gideon was outside his home working. Gideon was the youngest boy in his family. An angel of the Lord came and said to Gideon, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” The angel told him to go and deliver Israel from the enemy, but Gideon did not feel like a warrior at all. He felt afraid. He told the angel he was the youngest of his family and he could not go. The angel told Gideon that God would be with him and he would be able to defeat the enemy. Gideon obeyed, and God helped him to gather an army, but the army was bigger than God thought it should be. God told Gideon to send anyone home who might be too afraid. Lots of men went home. After that, Gideon thought God was ready for them to go to battle, but then God told him he still had too many soldiers. He asked Gideon to take the men to the river to get water. Some men bent down and drank water right from the river; others got some water in their

hands and drank it from their hands as a dog would drink water with its tongue. God told Gideon to take only those men who drank from their hands. There were only 300! Gideon was really frightened. How could he win a battle with only 300 men? The enemy had hundreds and hundreds of soldiers. God helped Gideon to not be afraid. He assured him that he would win the battle. What did God have in mind? Gideon and his men would circle the enemy camp during the night carrying torches, jars, and trumpets. When Gideon gave the command, they would blow their trumpets, break their jars, lift their torches, and then shout as loud as they could. When they did these things, the noise and lights confused the men in the enemy camp so much that that they started fighting each other! The Israelites won the battle! God gave Gideon courage, and God caused his army to win.

The soldiers did not even bring a sword.

Talk Time1. Show the teaching picture for today’s Bible story.

Review by using these or similar questions. “Why were God’s people in trouble? How was the king treating the Israelites? How did Gideon feel when the angel asked him to fight the enemy? What was one way God gave Gideon courage? How did God help His people win the battle?”

2. Read the Bible phrase on the teaching picture. Say the phrase together, “‘Not by strength or by might, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord” (Zechariah 4:6). Explain to the children that in today’s Bible story, the battle was not won by Gideon’s or his army’s strength or might, but by God’s power. God wanted Gideon to know He was his strength and power. Gideon could have courage because God was with him.

3. Close the Bible Story Time by inviting children to join you in prayer. Pray, thanking God that He

gives strength and courage to do what is right.

Bible Story Time

Supplies: Bible• Teaching Picture: “God

Helped Gideon to be Courageous” (Reproducible)• God’s Unfolding Story Cube

(Reproducible/Cardstock)

Encourage preschoolers to

help at clean-up time. Assign specific tasks for

preschoolers to do such as placing all the crayons in the

basket, throwing away the trash, gathering all the glue sticks,

etc. Guide children to the Bible Story Time area.

Snack TimeBe sure to wash hands or use hand sanitizer. Say a thank-you prayer to God for the snack. When snack time has ended, encourage preschoolers to help with cleaning up.

Game Time / Dismissal: Follow the CubeSupplies: “Follow the Cube” – (Reproducible, cardstock recommended)What to Do: Cut out the cube and fold on the lines to make a box. Secure with tape. The pictures on the cube represent the following actions:

The trumpet—Blow your pretend trumpet four times. The Bible—Say the Bible Phrase, “‘Not by strength or by might, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord” Zechariah 4:6).

The face with the open mouth— Shout “Amen” 3 times.The jar—Break your pretend jar by clapping loudly. The footprints—March in place.The torch—Wave your pretend torch in the air.

Invite children to sit in a circle in the Game Time area. Show the pictures on the cube to the children and explain the action that goes with each picture. Practice the actions. Select a child to begin the game by throwing the cube. He or she should perform the action represented in the picture. Allow each child to have a turn to roll the cube. The faster the cube is rolled, the more fun the activity. At the close of the game, talk about how God used the breaking of the jars, the shouts, the trumpets, and the torches to confuse the enemies of the Israelites and to help His people win the battle.


Craft Time: Bible Story Puzzle SticksSupplies: • Copies of “Bible Story Puzzle Sticks” (Reproducible, 1 copy for every 2 children, cardstock recommended)• Crayons or markers, children’s scissors

• Wide craft sticks – (6 per child)• Glue sticks• Something to hold puzzle sticks such as an envelope, plastic bag, or teacher-made paper envelope

What to Do: Cut around the outside of each puzzle square but allow the children to cut apart their puzzle sticks. Invite children to color the picture, then to cut along the dotted lines. Demonstrate how to glue each puzzle piece to a craft stick. Suggest to children that they mix up their puzzle sticks and practice putting the puzzle back together. Place puzzle sticks in a bag or envelope to carry home. Link to the Bible Story: Ask children to tell their favorite part of the Bible story. Talk about times when we need courage. Say the Bible Phrase together and remind children that God can give them the courage they need in times we are afraid.

Old Testament Unit 8: Judges and Ruth Lesson 2: God Helped Gideon to be Courageous


Resources and SuppliesStandard Art Supplies

(Supplies that are generally in the room)

Washable markersCrayons

Child scissorsPlaydough and accessories

Drawing paperEasel (optional)Glue/glue sticks

Tempera paint, 4 colorsTape/masking tape

Pencils/colored pencilsHole punch

Teacher scissorsStapler/staples

Permanent markersWatercolorsPaintbrushes

Yarn

Standard Equipment

(Equipment that is generally in the room)

BibleSmall beanbag for Bible Story Time

Assorted wooden/cardboard puzzlesSet of wooden blocksSmall cars and trucks

Doll bedBaby doll (soft plastic)

Stove/sink unitPlay dishes/pots and pans

Small table and chairsSmall carpet for block area

Play food itemsStorage shelf for blocks

Tables and chairs for art, puzzles, and Bible Learning Center

CD player/Children’s Worship CDs

Hour A

Reproducibles(Included with the lesson plan downloads)

Activity Page: Dot to Dot, “A Jar, A Torch, and a Trumpet” (1 copy per child)“Bible Story Puzzle Sticks” (1 copy for every child, cardstock recommended)Teaching Picture: “God Helped Gideon to be Courageous” (1 copy per class)

God’s Unfolding Story Cube (Cardstock—1 copy per class)“Follow the Cube” – (1 copy per class, cardstock recommended)

Parent Page (1 copy per child)Coloring Page, “God Helped Gideon to be Courageous”

Additional Puzzle MaterialsSmall basket or box

Additional Craft MaterialsWide craft sticks – (6 per child)

Additional Art Materials Black construction paper

Colored chalk – (sidewalk or regular)Small paper cups – (4 or 5)

Not by strength or by

might but by my Spirit

says the Lord.

Zachariah 4:6b

Activity page: Dot to Dot, “A Jar, A Torch, and A Trumpet”Instructions: One copy per child. Connect the dots to finish each picture. OT08 Lesson 2 Hour A Bible Learning Center

God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com

Dot to Dot

Craft Time: “Bible Story Puzzle Sticks” Instructions: Copy 1 for every 2 children, cardstock recommended. Cut around the outside of each puzzle square but allow the child to cut the strips. Glue the strips to craft sticks. Put the sticks together to form the puzzle picture.

OT08 Lesson 2 Hour A Craft TimeGod’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com

Game Time: “Follow the Cube”Instructions: 1 copy per class, cardstock recommended. Cut out the cube, fold on the lines to make a box and secure with tape. Follow the instructions in the Teacher Pages for using the cube.

OT08 Lesson 2 Hours A&B Game TimeGod’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com

BIBLE

AMEN

OT08 Lesson 2 OptionalGod’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com

Coloring PageGod Helped Gideon to be Courageous

“Not by strength or by might, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord. Zechariah 4:6

lesson 2 hour a · *w. gary phillips, holman old testament commentary, vol. 5: judges, ruth,...

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