TO BE BRAVE
WELCOME TO WEEK 2
Welcome to week 2! What special gifts or talents do you have? Are you good at music or make friends easily? Do you enjoy connecting with people or find it easy to keep things organized? We all have different talents and God has a plan to use those talents to serve others. This week let’s think of the ways God has made you special!
BIBLE STORY
David learned to use a sling while he was a shepherd. Using a sling might sound like an easy tool, but it could be a little difficult to aim at a target. Let’s play a game by practicing using slings. Take a sock and place a small ball (like a tennis ball) inside the bottom of the sock. Your goal is to swing your sock-sling and see if you can get it into the bucket on the other side of the room. (Place a bucket on the other side of the room and give them several feet of distance to stand and swing. BE SURE YOU ARE IN AN OPEN SPACE NOT TO BREAK ANYTHING)
Did you find it was difficult to be accurate with your sling? Slinging a ball at a large bucket may be fun, but trying to hit a nine foot giant would be scarier. God was with David and gave David the strength he needed to face the giant.
Read or listen to the scripture 1 Samuel 17
What champion did the Philistines have on their side? (Goliath)
How many days did the Philistine Goliath confront the Israelites? (40 days)
What did the Israelites do when they heard Goliath? (They went running in fear)
Who decided to go fight Goliath? (David)
What had David killed while tending his father’s sheep? (A lion and bear with his own hands)
How did David defeat Goliath? (He put a rock in his sling and killed Goliath with one swing of his sling. The rock hit him in the head and he fell dead.)
Materials: Open space as to not break anything, sock, small ball like a tennis ball, several small bowls, buckets, or hula hoop rings
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
We each have different talents or skills God has given us. Some of our skills are natural talents that we easily learn and enjoy doing. Other skills we can learn and develop through teachers and lots of practice. God wants to use all of the talents and skills he has given us for His glory. David used a sling as a shepherd and practiced while protecting the sheep. God used the skill David already possessed to defeat Goliath. Even though David was good at using the sling, he knew God had given him the ability, courage, and strength to defeat Goliath. God can use whatever gifts and talents he has given you to overcome your obstacles or giants.
Activity
Gifts Bingo. Print the following bingo cards. With your family, go around the room and see how many of the spaces you can get signed by your family members. They must tell you they can do the talents listed in the box.
Materials: Printed Gifts bingo cards, pencil
Alternate
We all have obstacles we face whether they are big or small. Some obstacles may be a difficult test or class, a bully at school, saying no to peer pressure, or fear of sharing your faith in God. On a large sheet of poster paper or butcher paper, write obstacles you need courage to face. Post the paper on a wall or in a place that won’t damage anything. Then use a rubber band and bean to make a simple sling shot. Then aim and shoot the small bean into the paper to hit each written obstacle. (to use a rubber band as a sling, place your thumb and middle finger in the middle of the rubber band, then with your other hand place a small object on the front of the band and pull only the front band back towards you to create tension, then release the band and object together as you aim to a target)
Materials: Rubber band, beans, large sheet of poster paper or butcher paper, pens/pencils
Independent activity:
Complete the following activity sheet. Match people in the Bible who faced adversity with their statement of faith about God’s protection.
Materials: printed activity sheet
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
Davids sling. Using 2 popsicle sticks to create davids sling. Add 5 pom pom balls as stones. Add a pipe cleaner to finish the sling.
Materials: popsicle sticks, pom poms, pipe cleaner, glue
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
We have all been blessed with talents that God has given us to use to bless others around us. We may not have the same talents as the people around us, but God has given you special gifts to use that are specific for you. Read 1 Peter 4:10 it says that we are to use whatever gifts we’ve received to serve others. Being a steward of God’s grace means we….
What would happen if we didn’t use our gifts?
Could we switch gifts with someone else if we like their gift better?
Why is it important for people to have different gifts from each other?
Sometimes it’s hard to know what gifts we’ve been blessed with so we can use them to serve others. We may not see some of our gifts as important but even the simplest gifts when used to serve others, can be a huge blessing for those receiving it. Look at the examples below and decide if you think its something you are gifted with. Have a parent or family member help you determine your gifts if you are not sure.
—If you saw an elderly woman trying to get her groceries in the car would you….try to help or keep doing your own thing (helping others)
—if someone new came to your classroom, would you…be sure to introduce yourself and get to know them, or not want to walk up to a stranger (welcoming)
—If you saw a young mom who needed help with her young child at church, would you…offer to go play and entertain the child, or go back to being with your friends your age. (Childcare)
—If you heard the mission story and was moved in your heart to help somehow, would you…ask your teacher or parents for ways to help and then follow through or forget the story by lunchtime. (service)
—If you witnessed someone trip and fall and possibly injure themselves, would you…go to them and see if they need any help or look from a distance. (compassion)
—If you read an interesting scripture during your devotion that really touched you, would you…share it with your friends or keep it to yourself (Preaching)
—If you saw a friend in class struggling to understand the week's lesson, would you...Offer to help them after school with their homework or hope they are able to understand on their own. (teaching)
--If you had an idea for a project would you…gather your friends and have them work with you to get the project finished or assume no one will want to help you. (leadership)
—If your church needs someone to be a part of their music service each week, would you… gladly offer to participate using your musical ability or hope they don’t ask you (Music)
Practical Application at Home
When you have determined the gifts you have been blessed with, think of how you can use them to serve others. Make a list of your gifts and then write how you can use them this week. To help you get ideas, look at the scenarios below and determine what gift can be used to serve in the scenario.
-A Sabbath school class is short a helper and they need a volunteer to help the teacher pass out supplies and work with the little kids. (gift of service, child care)
-Praise team needs extra help with worship services and has asked for new volunteers. (music)
-Your school has a new club idea and needs someone to lead and organize the group after school. (leadership, organization)
-The youth pastor suggested a few young people could start a small bible study at their homes. (welcoming, preaching)
-Your mom is running late coming home from work and its dinner time. You decide to start dinner for her. (compassion, helping others)
-Your new neighbors are outside and you go over to their house to introduce yourself. (welcoming, friendly)
-An elderly woman is trying to lift her heavy things from her grocery cart to the trunk of her car. You ask her if she would like any help. (compassion, helpful)
Using a sheet of paper, make a list of your talents and gifts. Then below it, list all of the ways you can use those gifts to serve others in your home, neighborhood, and community.
Additional Resources
Outings to Reinforce Lesson
Spend time in nature watching how both living and non-living things have their own cycle and jobs to do. Watch how their job fits with the ecosystem and creates balance in nature. God had a plan for all of creation.