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February 3, 2021 Large Group/Small Group February 3, 2021 Bible Passage: 2 Kings 5 (Elisha and Naaman) God Is the Lord of Life Remember Verse Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD— that you alone are the Most High over all the earth. Psalm 83:18 LESSON OVERVIEW Mementos for your church Traditions Connect Option 1: Basic Human Reflect (for younger kids) Activity: Bandaged Needs Praying for Others SUPPLIES SUPPLIES SUPPLIES Connect Question image* Healthy snack foods (e.g., trail Leaf template* Connect Activity image* mix, fruit, vegetables, granola Construction paper (various bars) Adhesive bandages (1 per child) colors) Bowls (approx. 12oz.; 1 per Scissors child) Trash cans (1–3) Markers Disposable cups (2 oz.; 1 per Poster board (white or green) child) The Big God Story Tape or glue sticks Water (approx. 2 oz. per child) SUPPLIES Optional: projector, Tree Fort supplies (e.g., blankets or Timeline image* image* sheets, pillows, chairs, Timeline animation* clothespins, large boxes; 2–3 Images: Elijah Going Up to of each) Heaven, Map of Israel and Paper (3 sheets) Aram, Naaman, 2 Kings 5:8, 2 Marker (dark-colored, 1) Kings 5:10, Jordan River, SUPPLIES River of Damascus, Naaman Remember Verse cards* Option 2: Electricity in Jordan River* At Home Weekly: Lesson 11* Experiment (for older kids) Audio: 2 Kings 5:15* Bible Bible Small bowl or bucket SUPPLIES Scrap cloth (approx. 12'' x 12'') Water Warm fluorescent light bulb or Disappearing ink Cloth or gauze from Worship tube Bowl of water as Response (1 piece per Balloon (1 per group) child) Optional: Wool (approx. 1' × 1') Worship as Response Further Resources SUPPLIES To help you plan and lead Verse images* Customizable copy of Lesson 10 Cloth or gauze (approx. 4'' x 4'' 2018–19 Scope and Sequence per child) Scissors TruStory How It Works Traditions and Remember Chalkboards or marker boards Small Group Enhancement (4 small, portable) Verse At Home Weekly: Lesson 10 Chalk or dry erase markers SUPPLIES The weekly for the next lesson—to Optional: chairs or stools (4) Remember Verse image* be sent home for preteaching by Remember Verse animation* parents—is found in BLESS. © 2018 David C Cook. TruResources are developed in partnership with ROCKHARBOR Church and a national network of family and children’s ministry leaders. All rights reserved. Reproducible for church use only. *see Resources LEADER PREP Each week you’ll find a list of resources along with encouraging articles that help you prepare your heart to present the lesson. Inspire Shares personal stories from fellow ministry leaders about how God has worked in their lives One of my favorite places is the zoo. Following a recent trip to the world-renowned zoo in San Diego, I couldn’t stop thinking about the incredible experience. It was like a dream. From the chimpanzee somersaulting on the grass and the polar bear diving backward into the water to the koala hugging the eucalyptus tree, each creature was beautiful and unique. Each animal showed a different facet of the awesome, fearsome, and creative God we serve. It’s overwhelming to consider that God is the Lord of all of this diverse life. I stood in awe at every detail, from the orange stripes of the tiger and the fierce gaze of the bald eagle to the pattern on the diamondback and the black lining of the flamingo’s pink wings. What’s even more amazing is that I get to be in relationship with the creative One who fashioned each creature with its own distinct beauty. Praise God, the Lord of all life, for His majesty, His beauty, His love. Praise God, the One who is more beautiful than anything ever created. : Tori Funkhouser Tru Team Equip Offers perspective and context to the lesson’s Bible passage In 2 Kings 5 we see an amazing illustration of how God is the Lord of Life. In the passage, we read how God healed a Gentile warrior named Naaman through the prophet Elisha. Naaman was a Syrian general who went to Elisha for healing from his disease of leprosy. This great army commander had no idea with whom he was dealing. A little background on Elisha can help us understand this prophet of God a little better. Elisha learned his trade from the powerful prophet Elijah. While Elijah was still alive, Elisha boldly asked for a double portion of what Elijah had (2 Kings 2:9). In response, Elijah told his successor that if Elisha could see Elijah while he, Elijah, was being taken up to heaven, Elisha would receive that double portion. As Elijah neared the end of his ministry, he told Elisha to hold back and wait for him while he went on. But Elisha refused to leave his master’s side. Three times Elisha disobeyed his master in this. Because of his persistence and bold spirit, Elisha saw Elijah ascend to heaven in the chariot, and Elisha received the double portion of blessing. In Scripture, Elijah performed 14 recorded miracles, Elisha 28—and one of them posthumously (2 Kings 13:21)! When Naaman approached the house of Elisha, he undoubtedly expected a great and formal welcome because of his role as a great army commander. But Elisha didn’t even bother coming to the door. Instead, Elisha told Naaman through a servant to go wash in a river. Naaman became incensed. Yet God used His prophet to heal the army commander of his leprosy. Elisha was truly a prophet of God—a man whom God, the Lord of life, used to heal and give life to others. Support Provides reflection and assessment through encouragement, prayer, and time in God’s Word In John 10:10, Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” God is the only One who offers us real life, and He offers us the fullest, most complete life in Him. Spend some time in prayer before the Lord. Ask, “Where in my life am I not going to You—the ultimate Lord of life, satisfaction, comfort, and love?” Then take a piece of paper and write down what a “full life” of knowing God looks like. Put it in a place you see often, such as your bathroom mirror, to give you a constant reminder of the full life Christ offers. SMALL GROUP SECTION Children engage in fun, creative activities designed to pique their curiosity about the day’s portion of The Big God Story. Lead kids through an EXPLORE during which they engage with the idea of God providing everything we need for life. Option 1: Basic Human Needs (for younger kids) SUPPLIES Healthy snack foods (e.g., trail mix, fruit, vegetables, granola bars; approx. 1–3 Tbsp./bites per child) Bowls (approx. 12–oz.; 1 per child) Disposable cups (approx. 2-oz.; 1 per child) Water (approx. 2 oz. per child) Fort supplies (e.g., blankets or sheets, pillows, chairs, clothespins, large boxes; 2–3 of each) Paper (3 sheets) Marker (dark-colored; 1) SET UP Set out the food, water, and fort supplies at three different stations in your room. Label each station with the basic human necessity it represents. One sign should say “FOOD,” another should say “SHELTER,” and another should say “WATER.” RELATE Human beings need basic necessities like food, water, and shelter to survive. Today your kids will have an opportunity to interact with some of these basic needs. Take them through each station, explaining what basic needs the items represent. Invite children to snack on a few bites of food and drink a few sips of water. Ask kids why they think we human beings need food, water, and shelter. When you get to the shelter station, have them make their own shelter out of blankets, pillows, chairs, and any other creative supplies. Option 2: Electricity Experiment (for older kids) SUPPLIES Warm fluorescent light bulb or tube (1 per group) Balloon (1 per group) Optional: Piece of wool (approx. 1' x 1') SET UP Place the supplies on a table and have leaders nearby. Blow up the balloon and tie it closed. RELATE Today in The Big God Story we’re going to talk about how God is the Lord of Life. He created the air we breathe and the food we eat—and, most importantly, He offers us eternal life with Him. Many things in this world help us live, including things we use in our everyday lives, like electricity. With only a small electrical cord, we’re able to plug in something such as a lamp and have light and power. Today we’re going to try a creative way to generate electricity. Take a balloon and rub it against someone’s hair or a piece of wool cloth until you get a static charge. Then quickly shut off the lights and have a leader put the balloon against the light bulb. You should see small sparks. Make sure you use the part of the balloon with the greatest charge, as this will get you the best results. Have different kids help with the experiment. LARGE GROUP SECTION Children participate in discovering God’s Word through Bible verse memorization, interactive storytelling techniques, and worship as response. Traditions and Remember Verse SUPPLIES Remember Verse image (see Resources) Remember Verse animation (see Resources) Mementos for your church Traditions (rocks, marbles, gum balls, etc.) RELATE Give the children mementos (such as rocks, marbles, or blocks) for accomplishments such as memorizing the Remember Verse or bringing their Bibles. Have them put the objects into a clear container or add them to a structure and celebrate when it’s complete.
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