===================================================================== Title: Primary Sabbath School Program, June 12, 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, GOD SAVES HIS PEOPLE ===================================================================== Lesson Aim: God will be with His people in times of trouble. Memory Verse: "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31, NIV GETTING THEIR ATTENTION - CONSTRUCT A GALLOWS Materials needed: Chunks of scrap wood Hammer Nails 1 Dowel stick 1 tongue depressor Hot Glue Gun 1 shoestring (6 inches) WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) Drill a hole in one of the chunks of wood, big enough for the dowel stick to insert down into. Assemble the remaining materials on a flat work surface that the children can reach easily. Keeping in mind the materials you have on hand, draw a simple diagram of a gallows. WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: Ask the children if they know what a gallows is. (Many may not since it is not the method of execution in our country today.) Show the diagram to the children and let them take turns "building a gallows". 1. Nail a platform together using the chunks of wood. (Make sure and save the chunk with the hole drilled in it for the top piece. 2. Insert the dowel stick into the hole in the top chunk of wood. 3. Punch a small hole in one end of the tongue depressor using a nail. (It needs to be big enough for one end of the shoestring to fit through.) 4. Hot glue the tongue depressor onto the top of the dowel stick. 5. Insert the shoestring through the hole at the end of the tongue depressor and tie a knot in it. 6. Make a noose on the other end of the shoestring. In our story today a gallows is built to hang someone on. But the person it is intended for is not the person who ends up on it. GO STRAIGHT INTO THE BIBLE STORY. Keep the gallows visually available. It will be used in the next activity. GETTING INTO SCRIPTURE - LESSON RE-ENACTMENT Materials needed: Barbie/Ken dolls Gallows (from previous activity) Horse figure Doll furniture (table, pretend food, chairs) Scepter (wrap a large nail in aluminum foil) Small paper scroll (Royal records) Fancy doll robe (for Mordecai to wear when being led on horse) A crown for one Ken doll to wear on his head WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) The first thing to remember is that the dolls do not have to look "Biblically correct" in order for the children to understand and appreciate its meaning and value. Whether the story looks "Bible times" or "modern times" is irrelevant. Whether or not the children understand the implications and lessons is relevant. Dress the dolls as conservatively as possible. Refer to them as figures instead of dolls when you work with the children. Place the other props close at hand. WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: Have the children use the figures to re-create the story as you narrate it. Don't allow silliness or disrespect with the props or figures. If your Sabbath school is larger, break into small groups for this activity so each child can manipulate a figure at some point during the lesson. (Boys may decline to participate at first, but will enter in if not forced to do so from the beginning. The story and plot make it irresistible to them.) GETTING INTO SCRIPTURE - MEMORY VERSE REVIEW Materials needed: A baton or a dowel stick covered in aluminum foil WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) Obtain a baton or prepare a dowel stick to represent the king's scepter. WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: Divide the group into two teams. Stand the children on team 1 in a horizontal line. Stand the children on team 2 in a horizontal line facing team 1 about 2-3 feet apart. Assign team 1 the first five words of the memory verse, "If God is for us...." Assign team 2 the last five words of the verse, ..who can be against us?" Give the scepter to anyone on team 1. They say their portion of the verse and pass the scepter to anyone on team 2. That person completes the verse and passes the scepter back to someone new on team 1. After he says the first portion of the verse, he passes the scepter to someone on team 2 again. This pattern continues until everyone has had a turn. On the second round, have the teams swap portions of the verse. You may desire to time the children to add excitement to the activity. Be sure and talk about what the verse means. ACTING ON SCRIPTURE - PROMISE KEYS Materials needed: 1 sheet of bright neon poster board Key Scissors Hole puncher WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) Trace around the key and make 3-4 poster board "keys" for each child. Cut them out. WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: Give each child 3-4 keys depending on their age and writing ability. Have them write the following words on their keys: "If God is for you, who can be against you? Leave an area in the top of the key where a hole can be punched out. Encourage the children to share the keys with people they come in contact with this week. Whenever they use their keys and see this special one they can remember that God opens up all kinds of possibilities to them if they will work along with Him.