The Gift of Bravery
WELCOME TO WEEK 3
This week we are learning to be brave. Have you ever needed to be brave? It’s easier to be brave if we know we have someone on our side that can protect us. We can be brave because we have God on our side. This week we will read about 3 Hebrew boys who were brave because they knew God could save them, even if he chose not to.
BIBLE STORY
What do you think the word brave means? Can you think of a time you’ve seen someone else display bravery or a time you’ve had to show courage? Make your own acrostic poem using the word ‘Brave’. Heres an example:
B- bold to stand up for God
R-ready to help others in need
A-angels stand to protect us
V-vision, God’s plan for me
E-Eager to step up
Let’s read or listen to our story in Daniel 3
What did King Nebuchadnezzar build? (An image made of gold)
What did the king tell every person to do when the music began to play? (Bow down and worship the golden image)
When the King gave Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego another chance to bow dow, how did they respond? (That their God was able to save them from the furnace but even if he didn’t, they would not serve any other God)
What happened after the boys were thrown into the furnace? (The soldiers died from the heat but the 3 boys walked around inside the furnace with a 4th person)
Who did King Nebuchadnezzar say the 4th person in the furnace looked like? (The son of gods)
After the King had the boys brought out of the furnace what did he decree? (That no one was to speak against the God of Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego or they would be cut into pieces).
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
Activity
Draw a large tic-tac-toe outline onto a large sheet of paper, whiteboard, or poster board. Print the following cards and lightly tape one to each square of the tic-tac-toe board. Play a game of tic-tac-toe by turning over the taped question and answering the question correctly before marking the box with their X or O, using an erasable marker or pencil. Continue to play new games by moving the questions to different areas around the board or using the unused cards.
Materials: tic tac toe cards
Alternative:
Scenario cards of standing up for what is right.
Materials: Scenario cards
Create:
Watch the following demonstration video of the 3 Hebrew Boys not being consumed by fire. This demonstration can be done at home but only with parent help as it involves using fire.
Materials: Cardboard, Lighter, alcohol, person template traced on cardboard, shallow bowl
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
Print the coloring image and coloring in the picture, cut out the picture. To make the fire pit, use a half sheet of black paper and color a brick wall using a white crayon or chalk. Then glue on the cut-out coloring page to the bottom center of the wall. Next, cut out strips of “fire” using red, orange and yellow construction paper or tissue paper. Then glue on the strips of fire to the bottom of the page in front of Jesus and the three boys.
Materials: printed coloring sheet, scissors, glue, crayons, yellow, orange, red construction paper/tissue paper
CRAFT 2
Coloring Page
Materials: Coloring sheet printout, Crayons or Markers
FOLLOW-UP
This month we have been learning about bible characters who needed God to give them peace, strength, and courage. Gideon needed assurance from God that He would give them victory. Joshua needed God’s strength to knock down the walls of Jericho. Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego needed God’s courage to be able to stand up to the King and be thrown into a fiery pit. God gives us peace, strength, and courage today as well. Read Psalm 46:1-2
Who is our refuge and strength? (God)
When can we trust that God will be there? (in our time of trouble)
As things around us change, fail and fall away, what should we not do? (Fear)
Can you think of any thing going on around you that would cause you to fear? The end of the verse says even though the mountains are carried away, we should not fear. Can you imagine watching the mountains being carried away? Watching that happen might give us cause to be concerned. But the Bible says even then we should not fear.
On a sheet of paper, write in pencil the things you may be concerned about right now. Things that you may see on the news or things that may be happening in your neighborhood or even in your own home. Then in a large colorful marker or dark crayon, write this verse, Psalm 46:1-2, boldly over top of your list. You can post this list and verse so that it can be a reminder to you not to worry about what may fail in this life. God will give us courage to withstand it because He has already delivered us.
Materials: Sheet of paper, pencil, dark crayon or marker
Practical Application at Home
God asks us to have courage to stand up for him, but He is the one that can give us that courage. Think of some ways you can have courage this week.
Be kind to someone who has not been kind to you
Make a friend with someone who doesn’t look like you
Try your best at something new that might be hard
Choose not to follow your friends who are not making good choices
Stick up for someone who is being picked on
Be friends with someone who no one else is becoming friends with
Tell someone you forgive them for doing something wrong to you.
Tell a friend who doesn’t go to your church, about your church and why you like it
Additional Resources
Outings to Reinforce Lesson
Go to a park and spend time in worship and prayer. Ask God to show you ways to trust him and listen to his voice.