EEK W Abigail Makes Peace 10 With

BIBLE POINT BIBLE BASIS God shows us how to love others. While camped in the Desert of Maon, David and his men had protected shepherds who worked for a man named . In ancient SCRIPTURE times, such shepherds might’ve been vulnerable to Bedouin raiders Abigail makes peace with David. and even lions. So David had done quite a favor for Nabal. In return, (1 25:1-35) David sent some men to ask Nabal for food or “any provisions you might have on hand.” But Nabal refused to be hospitable and BIBLE VERSE responded with a harsh rebuke. When David heard this, he angrily told his men to strap on their swords in preparation for an attack. “The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry Fortunately, Nabal had a wise wife: Abigail. When she heard what had and filled with unfailing love” happened, she quickly gathered enormous quantities of food and (Psalm 145:8). wine and sent the supplies to David’s camp. She approached David humbly, begging his forgiveness and mercy. David, touched by her kind spirit, praised her and called off the attack. Abigail had brought peace where hatred could’ve flourished.

Some people are hard to love. They seem to go out of their way to be disagreeable, and it takes great effort to show them compassion or grace. This is an excellent time to teach kids to seek God as they look for ways to love others. Help children see that God sets the ultimate example in the way he loves and cares for us. Use the activities in this lesson to show kids that God is our guide when we don’t know how to respond to those who are hard to love.

HANDS-ON WORSHIP 93 YOU’LL NEED EASY PREP • Bible Gather in Crews. If you have more than four children, form Crews • Hands-On Worship Sing & Play of two or more children. Keep the Crews as consistent as possible Music CD week to week. Designate an older child as the Crew Leader in each Crew. Relationships will strengthen as the junior leaders get to know • Hands-On Worship Sing & Play their Crew members, everyone will learn names, and all children will Music Video DVD be able to share in discussion times. (See the introduction to this • CD player Leader Guide for more details.) • DVD player Get ready for God Sightings. Each week, children will report • “God Sightings” poster their God Sightings to their Crew. Each Crew Leader will write the • tape God Sightings on a 3x5 card and tape the card to the “God Sightings” • markers poster. As the weeks progress, you may need to add another sheet of • 3x5 cards (1 per Crew) poster board to hold more God Sightings cards. (See the introduction to this Leader Guide for more details.) • offering basket • table Create the environment. On a table along one side of the room, • tablecloth place all the snack supplies. Cover them with the tablecloth so kids will be surprised during the Bible Experience. • napkins • cups (1 per child) • pitchers of water • snacks (such as crackers, cheese, and grapes)

BONUS IDEA: YOU’LL NEED • Bible • 3x5 cards (3 per child) • markers

94 WEEK 10: ABIGAIL MAKES PEACE WITH DAVID SING & PLAY

WELCOME Play the Hands-On Worship Sing & Play Music CD to side for “slow to get angry.” Then have kids hug or DVD in the background to create a welcoming themselves once again for “and filled with unfailing atmosphere. As children arrive, have them gather with love.” their Crews. If guests arrive, help them join Crews. Crew members can introduce themselves to each Say: Today we’ll learn about a person in the other and tell about their week. Bible named Abigail. Abigail faced David and his men, who were very angry, but Abigail was When you’re ready to begin, greet kids warmly. Say: kind to them. She showed God’s love to them Welcome, everyone! Today we’ll learn that by bringing them gifts. God shows us how God shows us how to love others! (“Thank to love others… (“Thank you, God!”) even if those you, God!”) Lead kids in punching their fists in the air people aren’t being loving to us! Abigail was as they shout the response words. Show love to wise in how she dealt with David and his men! your Crew members by saying a person’s name Let’s sing a song about wisdom. If we need and then saying “You’re awesome!” When you wisdom, we just need to ask God! say “awesome,” face each other and give each other a double high five. Pause while kids do this. Now let’s sing a song of praise to our God who TRACK Lead kids in singing “If Anyone loves us so much! God’s always there for us! 6 Lacks Wisdom” (James 1:5). He’s only a prayer away!

TRACK Lead kids in singing “Only a 12 Prayer Away.”

BIBLE VERSE AND SONG Say: I love singing praises to God who’s only a prayer away! God loves us so much, and God shows us how to love others! (“Thank you, God!”) Today’s Bible verse tells us a bit more about God’s love for us. Hold up a Bible. Today’s verse is found in Psalm 145:8: “The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.”

Teach these motions to help everyone remember the Bible verse. Have everyone hug themselves for “The Lord is merciful and compassionate.” Have them put their fists on their hips and shake their heads side

HANDS-ON WORSHIP 95 BIRTHDAYS AND GOD SIGHTINGS Say: God’s so good to us! He gives us wisdom, offering will go to at the end of the quarter, and then and God shows us how to love others. (“Thank collect the offering. you, God!”) Let’s show a little love to some special people. Birthday people, come over by me! Say: We can be God Sightings to everyone we meet. Let’s sing a song about God watching Have kids who have a birthday this upcoming week over all of his people. God watches over us, and stand by you. Sing a song together. You and the God watches over people we’ll help with our birthday people lead the first part of the song, and offering. God loves everyone so much! have everyone else sing the second part.

TRACK Lead kids in singing “Watching Have the birthday people help Over You.” TRACK 10 you lead kids in singing 9 “Stand Firm.” After the song, say: I’m so thankful God’s watching over all of us. God loves us, and God shows us After the song, say: What a fun song! What a fun how to love others. (“Thank you, God!”) Let’s head bunch of people! You’re God Sightings to me. into a Bible experience where we learn about a When I hear you singing and I see how much fun person who showed love to others. you’re having, I see God’s love for me! Let’s talk about some God Sightings!

Bring out the “God Sightings” poster, 3x5 cards, tape, and markers. Say: Each week, we’ve been looking for God Sightings—ways we see God loves us and is with us—all around us. God Sightings are evidence of the one true God all around us every day!

Give a 3x5 card and marker to each Crew Leader. Ask kids to sit in a circle with their Crew and share God Sightings such as listening to an evening prayer or seeing a rabbit hopping through a meadow. Allow time for Crews to share and for Crew Leaders to write on their Crew’s card. Have kids or Crew Leaders tape the cards to the “God Sightings” poster for everyone to see.

Read a few of the God Sightings from the poster, and then hold up the offering basket. Say: You can be God Sightings to others through your offerings, too. The money you bring in will help others know how much our one true God loves them! Remind children about the outreach project the

96 WEEK 10: ABIGAIL MAKES PEACE WITH DAVID BIBLE EXPERIENCE

A BIG PROBLEM Have Crews gather around you, hold up a Bible, and Have Crews sit down around the snacks, and say: say: There’s a big, big problem today that the Wow! You collected and delivered a lot of food! Bible tells us about. And big, big trouble, too. I hope we did it in time! Let’s check out the Here’s what happened. David was a powerful Bible to see what happened. soldier and leader. He and his soldiers traveled all over Israel. They traveled through an area Open your Bible to 1 Samuel 25:32-35, and read the owned by a really rich guy named Nabal. You passage aloud. know a funny thing? Nabal’s name means fool, and boy, was that fitting! ASK: • Why do you think David praised God for Abigail? When David’s men were on Nabal’s property, they helped protect Nabal’s shepherds. David’s • How did Abigail show God’s love to David? soldiers didn’t take anything or treat anyone badly. Then it was time to shear the sheep— As everyone eats the snacks, say: Today’s that meant to give the sheep all haircuts and Bible verse is: “The Lord is merciful and take all the wool. It was like a big party. So compassionate, slow to get angry and filled David’s men went to Nabal’s house and asked with unfailing love.” “Merciful” means kind the servants to give them some food as a way or forgiving. While you eat the snacks, think to say “thanks for keeping the shepherds safe.” about times it’s hard to be kind or forgiving. When someone is compassionate, it means Nabal made fun of David! Remember, David was that person understands how you feel or wants a powerful soldier and leader! (I told you Nabal to help you. Think of someone who’s been was a fool!) Well, when David heard what Nabal compassionate to you. When we’re done with said, he was pretty mad! He told his men to put snacks, we’ll head into a prayer time. on their swords! And you know how powerful David was! He killed the giant, Goliath, with just a stone. If David came after the people in Nabal’s household, they’re doomed! ABIGAIL TO THE RESCUE Say: Nabal’s wife, Abigail, was a lot smarter than ol’ Nabal. But let’s pretend she needs our help! Abigail needs us to help her gather up some food and supplies and take them to David’s men—and fast! Abigail wants peace, not war!

Take the tablecloth off the snacks. Ask kids to collect the supplies and bring them to the center of the room. Someone can lay the tablecloth on the floor, and then others can bring the napkins, snacks, and cups of water.

HANDS-ON WORSHIP 97 PRAYER PLACE

Clean up after the snacks, and then have Crews sit together. Say: Abigail showed God’s love to David with her gifts. David was so mad at how mean her husband was, but Abigail was able to calm David. God shows us how to love others. (“Thank you, God!”)

ASK: • Tell your Crew about a time you showed God’s love to someone.

After Crews discuss, ask a few children to report to the large group.

Say: Let’s say a prayer for people who might need God’s love. Think of one person who needs to feel God’s love or God’s friendship or even God’s forgiveness. You might think of people you thought of during the snack time. Maybe it’s your brother or sister, your parents, a friend, or a neighbor. Then everyone in your Crew will have a chance to pray for the person he or she has thought of. Crew Leaders will start by praying, “God, help us show your love to…” Then each of you will take a turn saying someone’s name. Have each Crew join hands, and ask the Crew Leaders to start their prayer time. Allow time for Crews to pray. Close the prayer time by saying: In Jesus’ name, amen.

Say: Let’s show God’s love to everyone. God shows us how to love others. (“Thank you, God!”) We can do that by praying, showing kind actions, and being helpful. When we show God’s love to others, we’re being God Sightings to them. When you leave today, remember to look for things God has done or made. We’ll talk about God Sightings when we meet again next week. You are God Sightings to me. I thank God for you!

Give any other announcements, and then dismiss the children. Play the Hands-On Worship Sing & Play Music CD or DVD in the background while they leave.

98 WEEK 10: ABIGAIL MAKES PEACE WITH DAVID BONUS IDEA LOVE BUCKS DID YOU KNOW… Abigail didn’t hold back Set out 3x5 cards and markers. when she sent supplies to David. Her gifts of “clusters Gather everyone and read aloud Psalm 145:8, which says that God is of raisins” and “fig cakes” “filled with unfailing love.” Say: Some Bibles say this means “rich were valuable to a traveling in love.” army because they not only tasted good, but they also ASK: kept for many days without • What do you think it means to be “rich in love”? spoiling. Abigail’s example is another reminder to Say: God has a lot of love, and he wants us to help share it! give our best when we’re God shows us how to love others. (“Thank you, God!”) demonstrating God’s love.

Give each child three 3x5 cards. Encourage children to design three “Love Bucks.” Tell kids to give a Love Buck (along with a hug, a kind word, or a helpful deed) to someone who needs to feel God’s love.

HANDS-ON WORSHIP 99