RESET
WELCOME TO WEEK 2
What are you afraid of? Being in the front of the roller coaster ride? Being first to try a new dish mom made? Or being the leader of your team? We need courage to do things we’ve never done before or lead others to God. This week we will see a story about Gideon, who needed to use God’s courage to face a battle that seemed impossible.
BIBLE STORY
Listen to the following things and tell me if they are scary or not. If you think it is scary, make a scared face or show your scared face emoji picture. If you don’t think the item is scary make a smiley face or show your smiley faced emoji picture.
-a snake
-a shadow on the wall
-a teddy bear
-a large forest
-a tarantula
-a clown
-balloons
-a slice of cake
-jellyfish
-a shark
Sometimes we are scare or afraid of things we see or even things we can not see. We may be afraid to be first in class when presenting a story or afraid to stand up for a kid who is being teased. We have fears during times when we may need to lead, but God can give us courage to lead with His help. This week we will read about Gideon who needed courage to trust God to help him lead his army to victory.
Materials: printed emoji face (optional)
Read or listen to the Bible verse for this week: Judges 7
Why did the Lord tell Gideon he had too many people? (Israel might brag that they won the victory themselves)
Who did Gideon send home first? (Those who are fearful)
Where did God tell Gideon to take the men? (Down to the water)
How did he separate the men into those who would return home and those who would go to battle? (Those who lap the water with their tongue went home and those who kneel to drink would go to fight for God)
How many men were left with Gideon? (300)
When Gideon and Purah went to spy on the Midianite camp, what did he hear? (A man telling his dream and the other man saying God was handing the Midianite camp to Gideon)
What did Gideon do when he returned to his camp? (Told the 300 men God was giving the Midianite camp to them, and to follow him when he blew the trumpet and shouted for Yahweh and Gideon)
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
Gideon did not know what God’s plans were and he could not see how he would defeat a large army with just 300 men, but he trusted and obeyed God. Gideon had the courage to lead others because God was leading him.
Activity
Use the attached shadow picture as a guide to make images on a wall near a lamp. Ask your child what animal or object they see in the shadow you are making. Sometimes shadows look like something that they are not in reality. I was able to make my hands look like a different object in the shadow. Some shadows can be scary, but when we realize that the shadow is not what is in reality, we realize we don’t have anything to be afraid of. Gideon was afraid of what he could not see. He could not see how they would win the battle with only 300 men, but God sees everything and can give us the courage to lead with Him guiding us.
Materials: example of shadow pictures
Alternate
Print and cut out the strips of paper that contain challenge activities. Place the challenges into a bowl and take turns picking out a challenge to complete. Did it take courage to try the challenges that were written on the sheet. God is with us when we are afraid. There is no place we can go that God is not there to give us courage and strength.
Materials: printed challenge activities, scissors, bowl
Independent activity:
Complete the following activity sheet
Materials: printed activity sheet, pen/pencil, crayons
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
Make a trumpet horn. Have your child decorate the construction paper with pictures and stickers. Trim an arch at the top of the paper to give a curve when it is rolled into a megaphone shape. Staple or tape the sides to stay in a trumpet shape. Fold a pipe cleaner in a circle and then attach to the side of the horn as a handle.
Materials: Stapler, crayons or markers, construction paper, pipe cleaner or strip of cardboard
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
If you were Gideon, would you have been scared going into battle?
When you are scared, what do you do?
Who do you call on when you need help?
How can you call on God for courage?
What do you need courage to do?
How can God help you have courage to lead others?
Practical Application at Home
Being a leader at home can mean we do things without being asked to do them. When we see a job needs to be completed, we don’t wait for someone to tell us to do it, but we do it on our own. Being a leader means we take responsibility for the things around us. This week look for ways you can be a responsible leader at home.
Try to complete one or more of these tasks this week without being asked to do them.
-take your plate from the table to the sink after your meals
-on trash day, pick up the trash around the house and take it to the trash bin (if its not too heavy)
-make your bed
-clean your closet and hang up all of your clothes
-wipe the table or counters after dinner
-pick up any stray toys or books from the living room
-help your younger brother or sister get ready for bed
-when mom or dad is folding clothes, sit next to them and help them fold the laundry
-sweep your front porch or step outside
-pull weeds out of the garden or flower bed
-ask to water the outside plants
-sweep the floor after dinner
There are many other ways to be helpful but also be a leader at home. When we choose to help when we have not been asked, we are showing leadership. We are not waiting to be told what to do but doing things we already know need to be completed.
Additional Resources
Outings to Reinforce Lesson
Donate to a local food shelter or toy drive this Christmas season. As a family, volunteer together or pick out toys you think another child your age might enjoy.