KIDSLOT

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

WEEK 1 – INTRODUCTION TO THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

Today’s Objective The major point of tonight’s lesson is to introduce the 10 commandments to children as laws God gave to His people about loving God and loving His people. They were given to guide us in living our lives, and for our protection and good. God wants children to understand and obey His commandments. Because we do not always obey His commands He sent Jesus to forgive our sins. (In future weeks each commandment will be discussed individually in an age appropriate manner). Scripture Exodus 20:1-17 The Ten Commandments passage Deuteronomy 5:29 Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all

my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Kids Slot Activities

1. Only begin when children are sitting in a circle with you or around a table. Make sure they are sitting next to someone who will be a help to them, or who they can help.

2. Have children share about their week. You share about yours too! 3. Have several children pray and ask Jesus to speak to each one tonight and

help them to hear what He has to say to them.

4. Introductory Activity – Things that Protect Before children talk about how the 10 commandments were given for their protection, and to help them live a successful life, children will talk about other things that are for their protection or safety. Cut apart the page with 12 different pictures of items that protect in some way before Kidslot. If you have young children hide the pictures ahead of time and have children find them and bring to your gathering time. As each child shows the picture(s) they found ask “How does this keep you safe?” If you have older children put the pictures face down in a pile and have them draw one at a time and tell how that item protects. (For the bicycle picture, the handbrakes are the item of protection) When finished, ask children if they know why laws are given? See if they can name any laws and talk about the way they protect and are given for the good of people. Tell children that tonight they are going to

learn more about some laws or “commandments” that God gave for their protection and to help them love God and His people.

5. Have children find and read Exodus 20:1-17, Deuteronomy 5:29 and Deuteronomy 6:6-7. Discuss these verses for a few minutes introducing them to the 10 commandments. Or, instead of reading the Exodus 20 passage, you may want to use the signs of the 10 commandments instead. If you have preschool or younger elementary children you may even want to use the page attached to this lesson with all 10 commandments on using simplified wording. Important Note: Please do not talk about or explain about each commandment tonight! We will be talking about them individually over the next 10 weeks in ways that children can understand and are age appropriate! Point out from these scriptures that:

• God gave laws for them to follow for their good and the good of others around them.

• That these laws tell us how to love God and other people • That He wants us to obey His commands and have a good life • That He wants children to learn about these things and parents and

children to talk about these things in their daily life.

6. Discussion Questions – Use some of the following questions to guide your discussion time. Be sure to end with the FINAL question. Questions that can be used with preschoolers or young children are bolded.

• What kind of rules do you have at home? • Do you have a bedtime? • Are you allowed to do anything you want? • What would happen if there were no rules? • Who gives you permission to do the things you want to do? • What happens if you disobey your mom or dad? • Do your parents forgive you when you do wrong? • Does Jesus want you to obey your parents? • Does Jesus want you to obey Him? • Does Jesus forgive you when you don’t obey Him? • Does your mom and dad teach you how to obey God? • Do you listen when someone is teaching you about God or

Jesus? • How do you obey God? • Would Jesus tell us to do something that is wrong or bad? • Does Jesus want to you to hurt others? • Does Jesus want you to love others? • What happens when you hurt someone else? • Does Jesus give us rules to keep us safe or to hurt us? • Do you want to obey Jesus? • Why are rules or laws made? To help us or to hurt us? • Who are laws made to protect? • What would happen if there were no rules or laws? • What would traveling by car be like if there were no laws?

• Do people break the law? How? • What can happen when people break the law driving? • Why did God give His people the 10 commandments? • Do people always obey God? • What should you do if you fail to follow God’s commands? • Who did God send to pay for our sins? • What does God say will happen to us according to Deut. 5:29 if we

keep His commands? • When does Deut. 6:6-7 say you should talk about God’s commands? • Does your family talk about following God and His commands at

home? • Do you listen to your parents when they talk to you about following

God? • Why do you think your parents want you to follow God’s commands? • Do you want what’s best for our life? Who knows best what is good

for you? Should you listen to Him? • Do you think of rules are things that keep you from doing what you

want or things that help protect you? • Have you ever heard the phrase “Rules are made to be broken?” Is

this true? Why or why not? • FINAL question – In what way do you find obeying God the

hardest?

7. Creative Application – A-Maze-ing Grace Set up a simple maze by positioning chairs, pillows, books and any other unbreakable things in the room where you are meeting. Children can wander between chairs, crawl under tables, walk around large furniture etc. At the beginning of the maze place the paper that says “God gave us loving laws to keep us safe. They lead us to Jesus” at the beginning of the maze. At the end of the maze place the picture of Jesus. Have one child lead another child who is blindfolded through the maze. Give each child a chance to lead and a chance to be blindfolded and led. When finished point out to children the picture of Jesus at the end of the maze. Once again remind children that sometimes they don’t always follow Jesus and obey. They sometimes wander around on their own, blinded, choosing not to follow God. However, God knew that they wouldn’t follow perfectly so He sent Jesus to die for their sins so that they could be forgiven. His grace is a-maze-ing! He also gives us other believers who can help us follow better as we walk together.

8. Prayer – Have children huddle together in the middle of the room. Using the 10 papers with the 10 commandments on them, make a circle of God’s laws around them. Tell children that God has given them these rules to help protect them. God desires the best for them and when they follow Him and His laws their life will go better. Encourage children to spend time praying for each other to follow God and his commands. Be sure to pray for any

other requests the children may have as well as for their friends who do not yet know Jesus.

9. Report back to the adults and have children share about their time together

tonight. Be sure the adults also share about their facilitation time.

#1

You shall have

no other gods

before me.

Exodus 20:3

#2

You shall not

make for

yourself an

idol.

Exodus 20:4

#4

Remember

the Sabbath

day by

keeping it

holy.

Exodus 20:8

#3

You shall not

misuse the

name of the

Lord your

God.

Exodus 20:7

#6

You shall not

murder.

Exodus 20:13

#5

Honor your

mother and

father.

Exodus 20:12

#10

You shall not

covet.

Exodus 20:17

#9

You shall not

give false

testimony

against your

neighbor.

Exodus 20:16

#8

You shall not

steal.

Exodus 20:15

#7

You shall not

commit

adultery.

Exodus 20:14