15th April 2012

BIBLICAL REFERENCE

Psalms 119.163 and 2 Kings 5.5-27

PURPOSE OF THE LESSON

Teach children that lying displeases God and brings serious consequences.

VERSE TO MEMORIZE

“I hate and detest falsehood…” (Psalms 119.163)

INTRODUCTION

Biblical Educator, start the class by asking: Who here ever told a lie? (Wait for their participation). We all here know that lying is a very ugly thing and those who are of God cannot live lying, right? In today’s story we will talk about a man who “got his fingers burned” for being a liar. Do you want to know what happened? Then pay attention.

CONSEQUENCES OF LYING

NAAMAN WAS a very important man in Syria’s army but quite sick. He had leprosy, a skin disease that at that time had no cure. Naaman heard that the prophet Elisha could heal him and he decided to look for him.

Prophet Elisha told Naaman to dive seven times into the Jordan and he did everything right; he dove and at the seventh time he was healed. What a joy! He was cured and his skin looked like baby’s skin, so clean.

Naaman was so happy that he decided to please Elisha, giving him gifts. The Prophet didn’t take them for he knew that God did the miracle and only He should be worshiped.

Gehazi, servant of Elisha, heard the conversation and decided to receive the gifts in his place. What a bad attitude, isn’t it little friends? Gehazi was listening to the conversation only to take advantage. When Naaman was leaving, Gehazi ran after him and asked for those gifts saying: My master, Elisha, sent me to tell you that two disciples just arrived from traveling and he would like you to give them a silver coin and two fine clothes.

Naaman was very happy thinking that the prophet had changed his mind and gave him two silver coins and two fine clothes. After that, Gehazi went home to hide the gifts. Elisha met him and asked him where did you go and Gehazi, lying once again, replied that he had not gone anywhere.

Elisha knew what he had done and, because of so many lies, Gehazi got sick of the same disease with the one Naaman had been cured of. His skin was full of leprosy and even his children would be born as lepers. In the book of Psalms 119.163 it’s written: “I hate and detest falsehood…” In this verse the psalmist reveals that he hates lying and we also must hate it.

CONCLUSION

Kids, the person who wishes to get rid of lies must make an effort and determine that they won’t lie anymore. God sees everything and lying will always be revealed. It can be hidden for a while but there comes a time when it shows. Understand? We must say nothing but the truth, Amen?

FUN CHAT

Biblical Educator, take to the class a ball of wool (any colour). Tie the tip of the wool to a pencil. Start the Fun Chat by saying: Let’s imagine that this wrapped wool (show it) is a lie that a kid told to his/her mother. (Biblical Educator, quickly wrap the wool around the pencil while talking). The person who has a habit of lying does it with such certainty that, sometimes, they end up believing in their own lie. But those who wish to have Jesus inside their hearts know that lying displeases God and makes an effort not to do it. (Biblical Educator, don’t stop wrapping the wool around the pencil and keep talking).

Kids, it is written in the Word of God, in the book of John 8.44 that the devil is the father of lies, that’s right, so we shouldn’t lie for we are God’s children, ok?

We always reap what we plant; liars harm themselves, just as Gehazi who was always lying and had terrible consequences from his lies (biblical educator, stop wrapping the wool and say). Note that every time the wool was wrapped around the pencil it was increasing (show the pencil). Do you remember at the beginning I told you the wool in this pencil (show it) was a lie that a kid told to his/her mother? See now, how is the pencil?, much more wrapped than at the beginning, right? As well the person who lies! They will lie over and over again until they lose control of their own lies. Children, God is not pleased with lies, so always tell the truth.

Make a prayer with the kids reprimanding the spirit of lying and determining that, from that day on, they all will be truthful. After the prayer, ask the kids to sit down and make a debate using the following questions:

1. What do you think about Geahzi’s attitude?

2. In your opinion, why did Gehazi lie?

3. Do you think it is right to deceive people? Justify your answer.

4. Gehazi served the prophet of God. In your opinion, how did God feel with Gehazi’s attitude?

5. Who here had the habit of telling lies but, from now on, will change your behaviour?

Allow children to express themselves and give the opportunity for those who wish to speak but check out the time to avoid delaying other steps of the class.

ACTIVITIES for the week

(Make copies of the drawings from the Educator’s Magazine)

Age 2-3

SUNDAY- Colouring. Paint very well Will, daddy and mommy. (Page 12)

MONDAY- Hunting letters. Find the letters in WILL.Obs: Biblical Educator, help the kids in need.(Page 13)

WEDNESDAY- Working with modelling clay. Biblical Educator, take to the class office paper and modelling clay. Ask the kids to create flowers with it.

Age 4-7

Sunday- Colouring. Paint it well. (Page 37)

Wednesday- Be smart. ( Page 40)

Friday- Maze. Find the right way. (Page 42)

Age 8-10

Sunday- Filling labels. Fill the labels with the right answer. (Page 73)

Wednesday- Crossword. Complete the crossword with the words of the story of the week. (Page 76)

Friday- Meditate and answer. Answer the questions below. (Page 77)

BIBLICAL REFERENCE

Proverbs 15.1 and John 8.1-11

PURPOSE OF THE LESSON

Teach the children that when we talk smoothly with people we avoid arguments.

VERSE TO MEMORIZE

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”(Proverbs 15.1)

INTRODUCTION

Start the introduction by saying : In today’s story we will talk about a girl who, with her good example, taught something very important to her friends. Let’s see what it was? Now pay attention, I’m about to tell you!

ANSWERING GENTLY

THERE WAS a beautiful little girl called Vivian. She was very kind and did

everything to help people. The Spirit of God lived inside her heart and because of

that, people wanted to be around her. Her family, teachers and friends loved her very

much. Vivian talked politely and was the calmest person in the class.

One time, when they were playing volleyball, Vivian stood in between a big argument because Rebecca threw the ball and, accidentally, hit Beth’s face who was

very angry and yelled at Rebecca. The argument began. While the

other girls thought that situation funny, the two argued endlessly and Vivian looked seriously at them until she said: Girls, don’t fight! You are friends! I’ve learned that

when we have something important to solve, we must do it calmly because this helps

the situation, however, if we respond angrily, we make our neighbour even more

furious.

Vivian took advantage of the situation and told her friends a story she heard in the Bible.

Jesus was teaching people when a man who knew the Word of God but didn’t obey arrived. They took Jesus to a married woman who had several boyfriends. In that time, if they knew a woman lived in that way, she could be stoned.

They were angry and with their hands full of stones to throw at that woman they

asked Jesus what to do.  And Jesus said very calmly: “Cast the first stone you who

made no mistakes”. Then the men left ashamed because all of them made mistakes.

Jesus forgave that woman and told her: Go and do no more mistakes.

CONCLUSION

Through this story, Vivian taught her friends how to solve problems with each

other, in other words, the way Jesus did it: with calmness and goodness. If the

person is acting rudely and poorly educated, you can turn a simple problem into a big

mess.

It is written in the bible: ”A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15.1)

FUN CHAT

Biblical Educator, use a black marker and write in big letters three times the sentence: I do love Jesus” on cardboard. Then, draw on office paper the punctuations: (.), (!) and (?); cut and put them aside.

Start by showing the cardboard and say: Children, let’s read what it’s written here: “I do love Jesus”, “I do love Jesus”, “I do love Jesus”. Observe that these sentences are without punctuations so they have the same meaning when we read

them. Now, see what happens when we put the punctuations at the end of the

sentences (biblical educator, stick adhesive tape behind the punctuations and place

at the end of the sentences).

Let’s read it again? “I do love Jesus.” “I do love Jesus!” “I do love Jesus?”

Do you see how different the sentences sound with the punctuation?

At first, I’m affirming my love for Jesus; second, I’m exclaiming, intonating admiration; and last, I’m asking myself if I love Jesus.

Class, as a sign can change the meaning of a sentence, so a rude word can

create a big argument. We have learned today through the verse of the week (show

the poster that comes with the Biblical Educator’s Magazine) that “ A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” .We must be wise and answer

calmly, especially when someone is upset wanting to cause trouble. We must be

different, treat everyone well for Jesus is inside our hearts. Biblical Educator, at the

end make a prayer with the class and ask the children to pray for those friends who

made them sad one day.

ACTIVITIES for the week!

(Make copies of the drawings from the book lesson)

Age 2-3

1-    Painting. Paint pretty well Vivian and her two friends.

2-    Playing with your friend. Take a stuffed animal or a doll to the class. Make a circle with the kids and start this moment by saying: Today we will learn that we cannot mistreat or respond roughly to our friends because Jesus teaches us that we must  be kind to all people. Let’s play a nice game! Everything I do to this animal (doll) you will do to the friend beside you, understand? Biblical Educator, cuddle the animal; hug it, care for it, shake hands, etc. To each care, ask the kids to do the same to each other. Change their position and be alert during the play. Encourage the kids to be nice and loving with friends. Repeat the play until they lose interest.

3-    Talking to the class. Make a circle with the kids. Start by saying: Vivian friends were fighting because of a doll. Ah, what a bad thing, isn’t it? Who here does not bother to borrow your toy for a friend? (Wait for them to participate). What is the toy you like the best? Biblical Educator, let the kids express but only one at a time. Show enthusiasm and interest in what they are saying and continue until all of them lose interest.

Age 4-7

      1-    Paint the scene  

2-    Mosaic ( Glue pieces of paper on the dress)

3-    Be smart ( Paint the correct scene)

Age 8-10

1-    Expanding (  Draw the picture to a bigger size.)

2-    Enigma (Find the verse of the week.)

3-    Analyzing ( Write a comment about the story.