===================================================================== Title: Primary Sabbath School Program, December 12, 1998 From: NAD Children's Ministries (author: Lisa Seeders) Date: November 1, 1998 Abstract: Activities to use in place of program helps to teach the lesson, GOD CHOOSES ANOTHER KING ===================================================================== Lesson Aim: When I obey only halfway, I have disobeyed. Memory Verse: "Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it." Prov. 8:33, NIV GETTING THEIR ATTENTION - GAME WITHOUT DIRECTIONS Materials needed: Several religious board games or card games (one for every 4-6 children in the class) WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare in advance) Set-up the board or card games in different areas of the room. Be sure there are no directions on how to play any of the games. (Try to find games that are impossible to figure out without directions, such as Bibleopoly) WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: Explain to the children that they will play a game before Sabbath school begins. Begin playing by designating someone to go first. Try to keep the game moving, making up rules as you go, changing the rules whenever you want etc. If someone asks about directions, make a comment like, "who cares, we don't need them". After a few minutes of play when the children are getting increasingly frustrated, put the game aside and follow-up with these questions: 1. Why don't you like playing a game without directions? 2. Can you think of other things that go better when you follow directions? In our lesson today, King Saul decided it was not important to follow directions, not from Samuel and not even from God. GO STRAIGHT INTO THE BIBLE STORY. GETTING INTO SCRIPTURE - POM-POM BALL STORY Materials needed: Bag of Pom-Pom balls, assorted sizes and colors WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare in advance) There are no advance preparations necessary WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: Give out pom-pom balls in the following allotments. Whoever gets the allotment should get the entire amount. (Example - whoever gets the balls representing the Philistines should get all of them.) (The colors can change according to what you have available) 1 - Large black ball (represents King Saul) 1 - Large white ball (represents God) 1 - Large red ball (represents Samuel) 6-8 - medium brown balls (represents Philistine army and the Amalekites) 6-8 - medium blue balls (represents Israelite army) 1 - medium or small black ball (represents Amalekite king) 6-8 small white balls (represents animals) 1 - Large yellow ball (represents Jesse) 7 - small yellow balls (represents Jesse's sons) 1 - small orange ball (represents David) Have the children sit in a circle. Leave plenty of room in the center to arrange the pom-pom balls during the story. As you narrate the story have the child holding the ball/s representing that portion of the story arrange them accordingly on the floor. Periodically throughout the story, review who is represented by each color. The children may move the balls around as the narration changes. GETTING INTO SCRIPTURE - MEMORY VERSE REVIEW Materials needed: Half sheet of 8 « X 11 plain white paper for each child pencils WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) Write the following words on each child's paper exactly as shown. Or xerox this sample onto the paper. Ignore It Listen To My Instruction And Be Wise Do not Practice following these directions so you know how to direct the children as they follow them. WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: Tell the children that if they follow your directions exactly they will have a surprise that they have drawn at the end of the activity. Do the activity right along with them to show them by example how to do it. 1. Draw a circle around the word, "listen" and around the word, "to". 2. Draw an oval around the words, "my instruction and be wise". 3. Draw a "C" from the "L" in listen to the top of the oval. 4. Draw a backwards "C" from the "o" in the word to down to the top of the oval. 5. Draw a line above the words, "Do" and "Not". Extend it past the oval on the right and left a half an inch or so. 6. Put a triangle around the word, "ignore" and around the word, "it". The base of the triangles should rest on the tops of the circles. When the activity is complete, they should have a drawing that resembles an owl perched on a stick. An owl is considered to be wise. Wiser still is the child who learns to listen and follow instruction, especially God's instructions. ACTING ON SCRIPTURE - LEARN TO OBEY Materials needed: Half a stick of gum Half a cookie A Primary Treasure story cut in half Half a broken pencil (the eraser half) One old mis-matched sock or glove Half a picture WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) Place all the items above in a paper sack. Give volunteers opportunities to draw items out without looking. Have them show the item to the rest of the class. Have them keep their item until all objects have been drawn from the bag. Ask them what all the items have in common. They are all only half of something. Ask them if they have ever heard of the saying, "Well, half is better than none?" Which would they rather have, a half or a whole of what they have in their hand? God wants whole obedience from us, not half. Saul's half obedience was not acceptable to God. If we ask, He will give us the power to completely and wholly obey His instructions. With God, half is not better than none. NOTE: You can double up on some of the items from the materials list or add your own ideas.