Picking Jesus
WELCOME TO WEEK 4
We can choose to follow God and keep His commands. When we do it will lead us on the path He has set for us. This week we will see what the Bible says about choosing God and following His ways.
BIBLE STORY
Listen to these choices we make almost every day. We all have an order of doing things so that things are not done backwards or out of order. Decide which activity you would choose to do first.
Wash your face or brush your teeth?
Put on your show or put on your socks?
Put on your pajamas or unmake your bed?
Comb your hair or get in bed?
Ride your skateboard or put on your helmet?
Hit the baseball or run the bases?
Eat a cookie or eat your dinner?
Do your homework or watch TV?
We make lots of choices each day based on the order things should be done, or by how important we think it is. Things that we think are important we do first. Choosing to spend time with God is important, it is how we get to know him and grow closer to Him. We can choose to spend time with God at any point of the day, there is not just one specific time that we have to choose. This week we will see why God wants us to know and follow His word. God knows what is best for us and has a plan for your life.
Read or listen to the scripture Proverbs 3:1-8
What are we to keep in our hearts? (God’s commands)
What will God’s commands and teachings do to our lives? (Prolong our lives, bring peace and prosperity)
What should we bind around our necks? (Love and faithfulness)
When we keep love and faithfulness, what will we have? (Favor and a good name in the sight of God and man)
Who should we trust with all our heart? (In the Lord)
What should we not lean on? (Our own understanding)
When we submit to God, what will happen? (God will make our paths straight)
When we fear the Lord and shun evil, what will it bring? (Health to your body and nourishment to your bones)
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
Activity
We all have activities and things we have to do each day. Sometimes our days can feel really busy, but even when we have busy lives, we can still choose to spend time with God. Cut out the following activity cards and decide which activities you do each day, then place the cards in order for the day. Did you put worshiping God at the front of your line? Were you able to fit it in during your day? We may not always be able to spend time with God in the early morning, but we can choose to spend time with God during our busy day. Alternative: place cards in order of importance. Things that must get done should be the cards in the front of the line, and then order the other things that are not as important
Materials: activity cards printed and cut into squares
Alternate
Guide your child into making cookies. Follow your favorite recipe and help them read and follow the instructions. What would happen if wee did’t have a recipe? Would we be able to make these delicious cookies? Would they have turned out the same? That’s how life is, we can follow our own thoughts and choices or we can follow God’s. He has the best plan and He already knows how it will all turn out. When we follow God’s plan for us, we can trust that His plan is better than ours. Optional: make cookies without a recipe allowing your child to decide a reasonable list of ingredients and the amounts. Bake the ‘cookies’ and discuss what happened. Then bake cookies using a recipe or the recipe in your head
Materials: ingredients for cookies
Independent activity:
Spending time in prayer is a good way to choose to spend time with God. We can pray for ourselves but God also wants us to pray for others as well. We can pray for the people in our family as well as for leaders at church, school and our nation. Trace your hand on a sheet of construction paper. On thumb, write the name of a family or friend; on the pointer finger write the name of teacher; on the middle finger write the name of leaders or principals; on the ring finger write the name of someone who is sick; on the pinky write your name. This week use this hand to guide your prayers.
Materials: construction paper, pencil, crayons/markers
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, scissors
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
What are some things you pray about?
When do you pray more, when you are in trouble or when you are rejoicing?
When does God want to hear about our needs and wants?
Who can you pray with?
Why is it important to also pray with others?
How can prayer help us keep God’s commands?
What should we bind around our neck?
Who can help us have love and faithfulness?
Practical Application at Home
We can also choose God by choosing to spend time with Him in prayer. We can share our troubles, our rejoicing, and our sins with God in prayer. God wants to hear about all of our life. He doesn’t just want to hear about the bad, He wants to rejoice with us as well.
Write out the following pryer and complete the missing parts with your prayer.
I am thankful for….
Lord, I know that you are able to….
Please help me with…
Thank you for blessing me with…
Lord, be with my friend _____ who needs help with…
Additional Resources
Outings to Reinforce Lesson
Enjoy the cool weather and take a nature walk. Observe the things God created and how they work together in His plan. What part do each of us play in God’s plan for us?