God Gives the Ten Commandments

God Gives the Ten Commandments Exodus 19-24, Exodus 20:3-17 Oct. 25, 2015

The kids will understand: • The account of God giving Moses the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai. • That God wanted to give His people laws or guidelines to live by. • That, out of obedience, we should follow the Ten Commandments with love toward God and others. • Rules are given because God loves us!

As kids enter let them make their 10 commandment cootie catchers. Instructions will be printed out!

Parker Woods Skit Supplies: canteen sign handkerchief backpack

Parker Woods is a character who will be carried through the quarter, so you’ll need the same actor playing him any time he appears (if you choose to open your lessons this way). The skits have an outdoors setting where Parker battles the elements while introducing and/or demonstrating the park element in some way. Parker should be dressed in outdoor gear to the hilt with plenty of camping supplies around him. He is well meaning and serious in wanting to “show the kids the ropes” about safe and enjoyable camping in the park, but he often runs into some kind of humorous difficulty.

Make a park sign that says, “Do not pick the wildflowers.” Rig it so it looks like it’s stuck in the ground. Parker is wearing hiking boots and is hiking up a big hill with a backpack and gear while he talks.

Parker: (winded, to himself) Whew, this is steeper than I thought! Especially carrying all these supplies on my back! Boy, it’s hard to talk when I’m going up … (stops at the wildflower sign, then turns to audience) Ohhhh, well, hi there. (he gets out his canteen and takes a big swig)

Yeah, nothing like taking a little breather and having a gulp of cold water when you’re on a hike! (takes a cloth out and wipes forehead and face) Yesirree, Parker has to take a little break!

(reads the sign) Don’t pick the wildflowers. I agree wholeheartedly with that sign. Those wildflowers are pretty and they smell good too, but if everyone picked some to take home, no one would be able to enjoy them! See, no one’s watching. (look around) Slick Ol’ Parker could pick ‘em and no one would know, right? Well, that wouldn’t be right, now would it? In fact, that would be downright selfish! And besides, God would see me! But, I obey because I want the other hikers and the animals to be able to enjoy the flowers, too! Yep, I love people and animals. That’s why I don’t have any problem following the rules!

(He takes another long drink out of the canteen and spills some water down the front of his shirt. He tries to wipe it off with a handkerchief.) Whoa! Looks like Parker made a mess! It’s a good thing I’m alone out here so no one will see … oh wait, you’re all out there and saw me spill the water … oh well, accidents happen! Well listen, I got my breath back and I better get back to climbing this hill!

Remember Parker’s tip for today—follow the laws and rules whether the rules are in the park, at school, or they’re God’s laws for living your life. Rules are made for our own good and for the good of others. Follow the rules with an attitude of love and respect for God and others!

You know, this hill is a steep one, but someone climbed something a lot steeper and higher than this! His name was Moses. He climbed a mountain and talked with God for 40 whole days! That’s more than a month he spent on that mountain. Boy, talk about an extreme hiking and camping trip! That Moses put Ol’ Parker to shame!

(turns to start hiking up the hill again) Okay hill, it’s either you or me and I’m not planning on given’ up! See ya later kids!

Object Lesson Supplies: misc. game pieces taken from random games box

You will need to gather miscellaneous game pieces from different games. Examples are: Twister game mat, a pair of dice, Monopoly money, Candy Land cards, some Jinga blocks, and a video game controller. Choose 5 volunteers to play a game. Place the box on the floor and tell the kids to go ahead and play the game. Tell them that you cannot answer any questions about the game. Give the kids a few moments to sort through the pieces as they react with confusion. After total frustration has set in, or until they really do start to get crazy with the pieces … have mercy and call an end to it.

Discuss: • Who won the game? Why didn’t anyone win? • What was the problem with this game? • What didn’t you like about the game?

That was frustrating and confusing, wasn’t it? It was downright chaotic! The biggest problem is that there weren’t any directions or rules, right? The rules give you instructions and guidelines to play. Without rules you aren’t confident about what you can or can’t do. You’re not sure if what you’re doing is right. You also don’t know who wins!

Back in the Bible days, God saw that His people needed some guidelines, rules, and laws to live by. He wanted to help them know what was pleasing to Him and what wasn’t. He didn’t want a disorganized, chaotic mess like we had here! God wanted His people to know how they could live and win! God created some laws and gave them to His people in a very interesting way. Let’s find out in the Bible account what God did!

Bible Account – Video Supplies: video

Beforehand, download the YouTube video called “God Gives Moses the Ten Commandments”, submitted by EasyEarPiano. We have provided a separate instruction file for both Mac and PC users if you have difficulty downloading. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgynB22xIn0

Show the video to give the kids an overview of God giving Moses the Ten Commandments on the tablets of stone. for PSers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs1eop9MNgU called “Moses The Ten Commandments” submitted by Steve Chan.

Game Supplies: copies of Match Game cards at end of lesson card stock

Beforehand make copies of the Match Game cards at the end of the lesson. Copy these onto card stock, then cut on the dotted lines. Mix up the cards. You will need a set for each group of 6 kids.

Each team will sit together with all their cards laying face down on the floor or table in front of them. The first player will turn over 2 cards. If the cards match—2 items that go together, such as a dog and leash—the player with shout, “They go together like the law and love!” That player will get to pick up the 2 cards. Play moves to the next person. If the 2 cards do not match, the player will turn the cards back over in the place where they originally were. Continue playing until all the cards have been matched and removed.

This game was all about matching items that naturally go together. This is the same with God’s law and love. You cannot separate the two. We obey God’s commands out of love for God. When we have God’s love in our hearts we will love and worship Him above all things. We will also treat people the way we would like to be treated and the way God treats them.

Puppets Supplies: 2 generic puppets

These puppets are used in several lessons throughout the quarter. Make or locate 2 small hats that look like ranger hats and 2 badges.

Ranger: Okay, ranger trainee, are you ready for a new day?

Trainee: (yawns and stretches) Uh, I think so ranger.

Ranger: You think so? Come on, show some life!

Trainee: Can I ask you a question?

Ranger: Sure you can. That’s what being trained is all about!

Trainee: How long have you been a ranger at Agape National Park?

Ranger: Oh, golly … let me think … 20 years now!

Trainee: Wow, that’s a long time! What keeps you going? Don’t you get tired of enforcing the rules and stuff?

Ranger: That’s a fair question. Bottom line is I love taking care of Agape National Park! I also love to help people and keep them safe. I don’t want either of them to be hurt! The rules are there to protect both! I have a saying I go by every time I have to make a hard decision. The law and love, you gotta’ have both!

Trainee: That’s pretty cool! I’ll remember that! Sometimes it’s hard to tell someone “no”, to get back on the path, not pick flowers, or to slow down. But, it’s not because I want to be mean—it’s because I care.

Ranger: You’re a pretty special trainee and you’re gonna make a fine ranger one day. Yep, the law and love, they go together like peanut butter and jelly.

Trainee: (looks at his tummy) Did you hear that? My tummy’s talking! Why did you have to go and talk about my favorite sandwich—PB & J? Is it too early for lunch?

Message Supplies PowerPoint slides tall glass or transparent container gallon jug of water #1 team foam finger

(show slide #2) The First 4 Commandments—Love toward God

The Ten Commandments were given to Moses to be guidelines of how people were to live to please God. The first 4 commandments are how to live toward God.

(show slide #3) 1. Don’t have any gods before me. 2. Don’t make idols. 3. Don’t take God’s name in vain. 4. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.

Commandments #1 and #2. God doesn’t want anything to take His place! Show a foam finger. How many of you have seen one of these at a game? God wants to be #1 in your life—before sports, before friends or family, before yourself! When you trust in anything over God, you create an idol of sorts.

Commandment #3. God also doesn’t want you to use His name disrespectfully or carelessly. His name is Holy! When you use God’s name in a careless way you dishonor or disrespect God.

Commandment #4. God created a day of rest for us called the Sabbath day. This is a day to worship Him and to physically rest and relax.

(show slide #4) The Next 6 Commandments—Love toward others

The last 6 commandments God gave us as laws or rules for living in relationship toward others.

(show slide #5) 5. Honor your parents. 6. Do not kill anyone. 7. Do not commit adultery. 8. Do not steal. 9. Do not lie. 10. Do not covet what someone else has.

Point to the commandment on the slide and briefly expound on the meaning.

Commandment #5. God wants us to show respect and honor and obey our parents—to treat them as valuable! God tells us that we will be blessed when we do!

Commandment #6. God wants us to value life and consider it precious, because He breathed life into man and created him in His own image. He does not want anyone to take someone else’s life carelessly or out of anger.

Commandment #7. God wants a man and woman who are married to stay faithful to each other and keep their promise to one another.

Commandment #8. God doesn’t want you to steal or take something that doesn’t belong to you.

Commandment #9. God wants you to tell the truth!

Commandment #10. In this last commandment God wants you to be thankful and content with what you have. He doesn’t want you to want (or covet) what others own. When you’re miserable and can’t be satisfied until you possess a particular thing, that’s coveting and a sin in God’s eyes.

All of these laws were given by God, so the people could have guidelines or boundaries for how to live with others.

(show slide #6) Bring the Love.

Kids will look up and read Romans 13:8-10. “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.”

I thought God didn’t want us to be in debt! Well, He doesn’t as far as money goes, but look at this … He wants us to forever be in debt or owe each other! What do we owe each other according to this verse? LOVE! All the last 6 commandments we just covered are summed up in this one sentence—Love your neighbors as yourself! There it is again—the love and the law go together!

How can this be? Because, when we really love people like we love ourselves, when we treat them like we want to be treated, we will automatically keep the law or fulfill it! Think about that!

(show slide #7) Jesus fulfilled the law.

Did you know that we can’t possibly keep the commandments? Oh yeah, we need to try and obey God’s laws and ask God for help, but guess what. If we just mess up once, whether we know it or not … we failed, we blew it!

Kids will look up and read James 1:10 (NLT), “For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws.” Wow, that’s rough, isn’t it? So we might as well give up. It’s hopeless, right? I’m a looser. I’m done. No! Thank God for sending Jesus to earth!

Jesus came to the rescue! He faced all the testing or temptations that we face, but He didn’t sin … not even once! Isn’t it cool that Jesus is the one who we come to for help and He knows what we’re going through because He went through it too! What does that mean to us that Jesus didn’t sin? It means EVERYTHING! Kids will look up and read Matthew 5:17, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

Jesus said He didn’t come to earth to get rid of the law but to fulfill it! What does “fulfill” mean? It means to fill full! Hold up a clear container. Let’s say someone is really, really good. Pour some water into the container to about halfway. Is this good enough? No. Remember, if we only mess up once we’re guilty of it all. You didn’t fulfill the law or fill it full. You didn’t meet the requirements. So here comes Jesus. Fill up the container to the top. Jesus fulfilled or filled the law full! So guess what? When we trust in what Jesus did instead of what we did, we meet the requirements. Hold up the container. Jesus’ righteousness becomes ours! This is what God sees when He looks at us—a full container!

LIFE GROUPS: : copies of the 10 Commandments sheet at end of lesson copies of Love cards at end of lesson Divide into two groups (PPT slide) Matthew 22:36, “’Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.’” Beforehand, make a copy of the Ten Commandment sheet at the back of the lesson for each team. Show the slide of Matthew 22:36. A religious leader tried to trick Jesus. He asked Him what the most important commandment was. Jesus replied that you must love God with everything you’ve got! Then He said the second greatest commandment was to love your neighbor like you love yourself. He said all the commandments HANG under these two headings. In other words, everything you do must be in love! Today, in this game we’re going to actually hang the commandments on love like Jesus was talking about! Your team’s yardstick is labeled “Love God” and “Love Others.” Yes, the law hangs on love. The two must go together!

Divide the class into 2 teams. On the two paper plates divide the commandments into those that talk about Loving God and those that talk about loving others. Ask which of the commandments from the Loving God pile is hardest for you to do? Ask which of the commandments from the Loving Others pile is hardest for you. Be prepared to share your own answer first!

1. Don’t have gods before me. 2. Don’t make idols. 3. Don’t take God’s name in vain. 4. Keep the Sabbath day holy. 5. Honor you parents. 6. Do not kill anyone. 7. Do not commit adultery. 8. Do not steal. 9. Do not lie. 10. Do not covet.

Game Supplies: PowerPoint slide of 10 Commandments horn

This is a word association game. You’re going to mention one of the words or short phrases listed below. Give the kids 5 seconds and then sound the horn. As soon as the kids hear the horn, they will hold up the number of fingers that belongs to the commandment they associate this word/phrase with. Everyone participates and is engaged at the same time. not true (9) parents (5) God first (1) swearing (3) statue (2) broken promise (7) take (8) jealous (10) worship (4) mom and dad (5) image (2) #1 (1) church (4) death (6) marriage (7) disrespecting God (3) snatching (8) not satisfied (10) rest (4) trusting something other than God (2)

Discuss: • What goes together with the law? • Why do we need laws or rules? • Can we keep all the commandments perfectly? • What if we are guilty of breaking just one commandment? • Who fulfilled the law? • Who never sinned so He fulfilled the Law?

Blessing May you always keep God’s law with love.

Snack Supplies graham crackers sandwich bags icing scissors napkins

Beforehand, put icing in some sandwich bags. The icing should be down toward one corner. Snip the very corner of the bag. You don’t want to cut very much off! A tiny cut will give you a thin line and a bigger cut will give you a thick line (and more icing used). Now you’ve made a piping bag like cake decorators use. The more of these icing bags you make, the greater number of kids who will be able to work at the same time.

Give each child 2 full graham crackers on a napkin. Show the kids how to push the icing down into the clipped corner and squeeze the bag to make a thin stream of icing come out. They will write with this piping bag. The two graham crackers represent the tablets of stone that God wrote the Commandments on. We’ve been talking about the Law—the 10 Commandments—but also that the Law needs something else with it. What is that? The Law and Love go together. See if you can write “Law” on one graham cracker, and “Love” on the other graham cracker.

While the kids enjoy their snack, talk about these questions. • What do you think it would be like to spend 40 days with God? • Do you think Moses was afraid to climb the mountain? • How would you describe your feelings if God had asked you to carry the Ten Commandments tablet safely down the mountain? Do you think you would’ve freaked?