Class: 4-7 year olds

Biblical Reference

Psalms 32.7 and Daniel 3.1-30

Lesson’s Objective

Teach the children that God protects and delivers us from our afflictions (problems).

Verse to Memorize

"You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble;" (Psalm 32.7)

Introduction

Start by asking: Who has already displeased someone so you could do the will of God? (Wait for their participation). Today we will learn about three young men who had to displease a powerful king so they could please God; Let’s see what happened?

Delivered from the furnace

There was a king named Nebuchadnezzar, and he practiced a lot of wrong things.

One day he displeased God, Do you know why? (Wait for their participation). The king Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue, and the people were forced to worship it. He said that everyone who did not worship it would be thrown into a large furnace.

The king met the most important person and raised the golden statue in a field where everyone could see it, and from that day, provided that when the trumpets were played, the harp and other musical instruments, people should obey and worship the image.

In that city lived three young men, Shadrach Meshach and Abednego. They obeyed and feared God, and therefore decided not to obey the king's order.

One day, someone told the king that the three were disobeying his order. Nebuchadnezzar became furious and so angry that he asked to call them immediately.

When Shadrach Meshach and Abednego came, they received orders from the king to kneel before the statue and worship, since the instruments were being played. But the three, very brave and trusting in God, said they would not worship that image, that they only worship the true and living God. Nebuchadnezzar threatened them, saying that they would be thrown in the furnace with the fire seven times stronger. But they were determined and remained steadfast in the faith that God would deliver them.

Do you know what happened? (Wait for their participation). The three were tied and thrown inside the furnace while people were looking from the outside.

God sent an angel inside the stove and nothing bad happened to them, they were dancing and singing happily. Amazed, Nebuchadnezzar ordered they should be taken out and gave another order to the people that from that moment on everyone should only worship the living God. Their God!

Conclusion

How wonderful! Shadrach Meshach and Abednego believed in God, and He protected them from that terrible situation. They were faithful. Psalm 32.7 says that God is our hiding place and frees us from affliction. Just as the three young men in the story of today, we must trust God and live to please Him, this way is also our hiding place and protection!

Fun Chat

Take to the class the illustration of various toys, bikes, dolls, remote car control, computers, etc. Paste the pictures on a cardboard. Write as poster title: "What do you have to do to earn these gifts? Write on slips of paper: "lie", “would take the toy from my friend”, "do only what pleases God." Start now by asking a child to hold the poster. Educator, ask the question on the poster, get the class to listen and the children to answer. Then show the written paper "lie" and say: Should you lie to win these gifts? (Aim for the toys on the poster).

Do the same with the other papers and wait for their participation. Then say: We learned today through the story of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego that we should always do the will of God, for they knew that if they worship the image, they would be displeasing God and the same applies to us.

Make a prayer with them asking God to deliver them from the troubles (problems), family illnesses, the evil friends from school, etc.

Activities

Sunday

Game: Right or Wrong. You will need white cardboard, tape, scissors, markers and straws. Cut the cardboard into pieces of 15cmx15cm. You will need eight cards (flags). Write "NO" in the middle of the flags and "YES" in on the other side. With tape, stick the straw in the cardboard. Take the flags ready for class.

Start the game by dividing the class into four groups. Give a flag "YES" and a "NO" for each group. Ask each team to choose two leaders to support their group. Tell them that you are going to say a few sentences and, according to what you say, the leaders of each group (the ones holding the flags) should lift the right flag. Educator start the game by saying a few words below, you can create others as well. Note the involvement of the groups. The group who answers correctly more often, will win the competition.

1. Obey parents 2. Swearing 3. Helping others 4. Disobeying parents. 5. Read the Bible 6. Being faithful to God 7. Not helping at home 8. Not studying

9. Praise God 10. Play at school...