==================================================== Title: Primary Sabbath School Program, Apr. 22, 2000 From: NAD Children's Ministries (author: Rene Ammundsen) Abstract: Activities to use in place of program helps to teach the lesson, WHAT WILL HAPPEN BEFORE JESUS COMES BACK? ====================================================== Lesson Aim: Even if bad things happen in the world before Jesus comes back, His angels will be with me. Memory Verse: "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." Ps. 91:11 NIV GETTING THEIR ATTENTION ANTICIPATION GAME [Materials needed: None] [Directions: Ask the children what the word anticipate means. Next ask them what the word dread means. Usually when we anticipate something we look forward to it with great excitement. It seems like time moves very slowly and the special event will never occur. Other times when we dread something that will happen, the clock seems to move so quickly. Have the children hold up both hands and use their two index fingers to represent the hands on a clock. Tell them you are going to name an event. If it is something they would look forward to excitedly and anticipate eagerly they are to make their fingers move like a slow moving clock. If it is something they would dread happening they are to make their fingers move quickly. (The left index finger stays pointed toward the "12" while the right index finger does the actually moving in a clockwise motion.)] 1. Going to the dentist 2. Your birthday 3. A shot at the doctor's office 4. Spending the day at an amusement park 5. Driving across country to see your grandparents or someone else special 6. Waiting until your dad gets home to receive a punishment 7. Playing your piece in a piano recital The disciples were anticipating and dreading an important event that was to take place in the future. In our lesson today they wanted Jesus to tell them more about it so they would know what to expect. GO STRAIGHT INTO THE BIBLE STORY GETTING INTO SCRIPTURE ACTION-PACKED SIGNS [Materials needed: NIV Bibles; Following texts printed on a 3 X 5 card, one card for each child; Matt. 24:5, Matt. 24:6, Matt. 24:7, Matt. 24:10, ; poster board or write on/wipe off board; markers] [Directions: Print the above texts on a sheet of poster board or on a write on/wipe off board for all to see. Divide the children into groups with 5 children to each group. Pass out the 3 X 5 cards to each child and a pencil to write with. Give each group one of the above texts to look up. Have them think of a way to act out the end-time sign mentioned so that the rest of the group can guess what it is. After everyone has guessed, print the correct answer on the board and give the children a minute to copy it onto their 3 X 5 card beside the appropriate scripture reference. Encourage them to slip the 3 X 5 card into their Bibles at home to help them remember what they've learned.] ACTING ON SCRIPTURE HEADLINES [Materials needed: Newspapers or news magazines; scissors; glue; strip of paper with memory verse on it as follows: (one for each child); eH sha tup sHi slange ni hegarc fo oyu. Htye ilwl chatw roev oyu; 1 piece of card stock paper for each child;] [Directions: Give each child a flat surface to work on. Spread out the newspapers and news magazines, scissors, and glue so they are accessible to all. Instruct the children to look through the newspapers and magazines for pictures or headlines of events and happenings that remind them that Jesus' return is very soon. Have them arrange the pictures and headlines in some sort of a collage and glue them down. Next inform them that some late breaking news needs to be attached across the front of their page just like an "EXTRA' edition might be located across a real news article. The problem is the message is written in some sort of a "foreign language" that must be decoded first. They decode it by writing it correctly on the other side of the slip of paper. If they have trouble unscrambling the message, they may use their Bibles to help them. The message is then glued across the top of the collage of headlines.] TRUST BUSTERS [Materials needed: Balloons; (one for each child) large-headed pins; markers; ribbon (enough to tie all balloons together in a bunch;] [Directions: Give each child a balloon. Have them print a word or couple of words on the balloon that describes a fear they have or something they dread. (It can be something they learned about end-time events from the lesson or something they struggle with in their lives today.) Tie all the balloons together into one big bunch (more if you have a larger group) and tape them to a wall. Ask for a volunteer to repeat the memory verse. When they have done that they may go to the front and choose one of the balloons to pop with the pin. Continue asking for help in repeating the memory verse promise before each child may select a balloon to pop. Make sure and emphasize the concept that the angels are sent not to keep us from ever experiencing danger or trouble but to stay with us, comforting and guiding us through it.]