===================================================================== Title: Primary Sabbath School Program, June 5, 1999 From: NAD Children's Ministries (author: Lisa Seeders) Date: May 1, 1999 Abstract: Activities to use in place of program helps to teach the lesson, A NEW QUEEN ===================================================================== Lesson Aim: God has a plan for my life just as He had for Esther's life. Memory Verse: "Who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14, NIV GETTING THEIR ATTENTION - #1 BEST SELLER Materials needed: Poster board Write on/wipe off board OR chalk board OR newsprint pad Magazines Scissors Glue sticks OR Elmers WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare in advance) Write the following words on the write on/wipe off or chalk board. SPIES, BEAUTIFUL WOMEN, A PALACE, A STARVING OR ORPHANED CHILD, AN IMPORTANT LOOKING BUSINESS MAN Fold the piece of poster board in half and print the words, FROM ORPHAN TO QUEEN on the front cover. WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: Explain to the children that they are making an advertisement for a #1 best-selling book. Show them the cover and have them read the title with you. Read the words on the chalk board to the children. Pass out the magazines and ask the children to find pictures to represent any of the words on the board. They cut them out and glue them anywhere inside the opened poster board "book". When the advertisement book is done, open it and tell the children that the story part of the book has already been written. It can be found in the Old Testament of the Bible. GO STRAIGHT INTO THE BIBLE STORY. GETTING INTO SCRIPTURE - RHYME TIME Materials needed: None WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) There are no advance preparations necessary WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: The students will review the story by volunteering words to complete the end of each rhyme. It was time for the Jews to return to their home They'd been in Babylon for 70 years But many decided to stay where they were Leaving friends, homes and work brought great____________(fears) God was sad when they stayed for that wasn't His plan He knew there was trouble ahead He made a new plan which included a girl and a plot and the King, in___________(stead) Mordecai, who worked at the king's palace gate Brought Esther to his house to stay She was a young orphan with nowhere to go And was glad for his kindness that _________(day) The king called for women to be brought to his court He wanted a queen that was new Mordecai told Esther to go along too But tell no one that she was a _________(Jew) The king picked young Esther to be his new bride He saw that her beauty was rare Then she and Mordecai uncovered a plot and the life of the king they did _________(spare) A man named Haman was not much impressed with Esther or Mordecai the Jew especially when they refused to bow down to him like everyone had been told to __________(do) He thought of a plan to get rid of them both He told the king, "Jews don't obey" "Let's send out a letter and make a decree That all Jews will die on one __________(day) Now what will happen to God's chosen few Is this the end of their fate? If you read the story in your quarterly this week For this answer you won't have to __________(wait) ACTING ON SCRIPTURE - GOD'S PLANS TRAVEL GAME Materials needed: 21 sheets of paper Permanent marker A spinner from a game OR one dice WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) Write the following statements on seven of the twenty-one pieces of paper. Write boldly with a permanent marker. 1. God might have plans for you to be a missionary far away. Will you go? If so advance 2 steps. 2. God might use you to help someone quit smoking. Will you do what He asks? If so advance two steps. 3. God might have plans for you to be a pastor. Would you say yes? If so advance two steps. 4. God might have plans for you to be a church musician. Would you be willing? If so advance two steps. 5. God's plans might include you losing your job, so others around you could learn more about the Sabbath. Are you willing to leave your job to be a witness? If so advance two steps. 6. God's plans might include having you live with someone you really don't get along with, so that you can show them His love. Will you do it? If so advance two steps. 7. God might have plans for you to give away a lot of your money and treasures to others who need it. Can you part with your things? If so advance two steps. Place the 21 sheets of paper in a path-like pattern around the room, designating a definite start and finish. The seven sheets with statements on them should be inserted in the path in a random fashion. WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: All children begin at the designated start area. They take turns rolling the dice or spinning the spinner and advancing the indicated number onto the paper path. When they come to a statement paper, they read it out loud (or you may desire to do the reading) and decide whether they should advance or not. If they elect not to advance, they simply wait until their next turn, spin the spinner and proceed forward. Each child gets only one turn whether they advance or not. The goal of the activity is not to reach the designated finish first. Winners are all children who answer the questions honestly whether or not they ever reach the destination. At the end of the activity have a prayer mentioning the name of each child. Ask God to show each of them His plans and help them be willing to follow them. ACTING ON SCRIPTURE - GOD'S MY ARCHITECT T-SHIRT Materials needed: A T-shirt for each child Fabric paints OR fabric markers WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare in advance) 1. On the front of each T-shirt write the following words in a catchy manner with a pencil: God Is My Architect 2. On the back of each T-shirt write the following words in a catchy manner with a pencil: His Plans Are Perfect WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: Before the students trace over the words on their shirt with the fabric medium of your choice, discuss with them how God is an architect. An architect is someone who plans and designs places and things for people so it will suit them perfectly. God has plans and designs for each of our lives that will suit us perfectly if we will follow them.