Embedded Files
Introduction
Introduction
What do you remember about Joshua? (Answers can include that he was one of the 12 spies from when Moses sent the 12 spies out, he was one of the two of those spies that trusted God and brought back grapes to Moses, when Moses passed away he is the one that takes command, Rahab and how she helped the two spies that Joshua sent into the promise land, they crossed the Jordan River with God's help, and last week we learned about the walls of Jericho falling down!)
Teacher Guide Title: The Day the Sun Stood Still
Bible Passage: Joshua 10:1-15
Big Picture Question: What does God do when we pray? God answers our prayers.
Key Passage: Joshua 24:15
Connection: Joshua was a representation of Christ, leading the Israelites to victory in overcoming Canaan as Jesus leads us to victory in overcoming the world.
The story: The Gibeonites were a deceitful people. They lied to Joshua about where they were from because they did not want Israel to attack them. (See Josh. 9:3-6.) Even though God had warned Joshua not to make treaties with anyone (Deut. 7:2), the Gibeonites convinced Joshua to make a peace treaty with them. When Joshua found out he had been tricked, he was mad. When the king of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had captured Ai and made peace with Gibeon, he was very afraid because Gibeon was a great city. The king of Jerusalem called to the four other kings in the land, and the kings formed a coalition and made war against Gibeon. The men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua and said, “Please come help us!” God reassured Joshua that He would be with him in defending the Gibeonites. God fought for the Israelites! He threw the five kings’ armies into confusion. While the armies fled, God threw down large hailstones from heaven, and they died. God killed more men with hailstones than the Israelites killed with their swords. Joshua and the Israelites were still in battle, but time was running out. It would get dark soon. So Joshua prayed to God: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon.” God made it happen. The sun stood still for almost a full day. The Israelites won the battle and returned to their camp. What an exciting story! Joshua’s name, which means, “Yahweh is salvation” testifies to the Lord’s saving hand. God fought for the Israelites and made them victorious over their enemies. This story points ahead to another time when God saved His people in an even greater way. God sent His Son Jesus to fight the battle against sin and death. Jesus died, taking the punishment for sin, and then rose again triumphantly. Because of our faith in Jesus, we too are victorious over sin and death.
Bible Story Questions • Who was Joshua? • Who are the Israelites? • What is the land of Canaan? • What was your favorite part of the story? • What happened when Joshua prayed to God about the sun and the moon? Connection Questions • Do you think God listens to your prayers? Why or why not? • Why do you think God listened to Joshua?
God loves you! God cares about you and is always listening to you. YOU are important to God, just like every person is important to God! God answers our prayers and can do great and mighty things! God may not answer our prayers in ways that we expect, but we can trust that God is always there for us.
Activities
Activities
Activity 1 "Sun Mosaic"
Activity 1 "Sun Mosaic"
Time: 10-20 minutes
Materials needed from the cart:
Black construction paper
Cut up squares of yellow, orange, and blue squares
Glue
Scissors
Get the details by clicking here!
Directions
Give each child a black, orange, yellow, and blue sheet of construction paper.
Have them cut the orange, yellow, and blue pieces into tiny squares to make mosaic tiles.
On the black piece of construction paper, have the kids paste down the mosaic tiles they just made to make a sun as pictured in the picture above.
Activity 2 "Prayer Bracelet"
Activity 2 "Prayer Bracelet"
Time: 10-20 minutes
Materials needed from the cart:
White construction paper
Scissors
Tape
Markers
Get the details by clicking here!
Directions
What you do:
• Cut a strip of paper about 1-1.5 inches wide
• Draw a sun near the middle of the strip.
• Draw a moon near the sun.
• Measure your child’s wrist, cut off any excess paper, and tape the ends together. Make sure the sun and moon are facing outward.
• Talk about how we can pray to God anytime of the day – morning or night! God is always listening to us, and what we have to say is important to God!
Activity 3 "Off-Lesson Fun Games"
Activity 3 "Off-Lesson Fun Games"
Time: 10-20 minutes
Materials needed from the cart:
Varies depending on the game
Get the details by clicking here!
Musical Chairs
Grab the black chairs out of the closet (so that they are lighter to move around) and have the kids play musical chairs!
The 60 second game
This is a great game for settling a group down. Ask everyone to stand up and put their hands behind their back. Tell them they need to silently guess how long one minute is and sit down when they think it’s up. You do need a clock or watch so you can tell when the time is up. This game can be adjusted to a shorter period for younger children, but I’ve been surprised how well it works even with a Kindergarten group.
Cup stack races
Keep a stack of cheap plastic cups in your bag to pull out for a quick game. Two children can race each other in making the highest or biggest pyramid of upside-down cups in one minute.
Heads or tails
If you’ve got a coin handy, this is a quick and easy game that involves no skill. Children need to make their choice before the coin is flipped. They either put their hands on their head or hands on their ‘tails’ to indicate their choice. Those who guessed correctly stay standing, the rest sit down. Play a few rounds until there is a final winner.
Activity 4 "Dance it out"
Activity 4 "Dance it out"
Time: 10-20 minutes
Materials needed from the cart (varies based on the game you choose):
christian just dance videos below
If they don't want to play the Christian Just Dance game they can play follow the leader.
Wrap It Up!
Wrap It Up!
**Snacks can be given at this time, if needed**
**Snacks can be given at this time, if needed**
-Come together and sit in a circle to talk about what they learned today. Ask them the same questions that you asked at the beginning of the day. How are their answers different now that they know more? Talk about what they can go home and tell their family. This is also a time they can update their journals (big kids only) or color the pictures (littles).
-Come together and sit in a circle to talk about what they learned today. Ask them the same questions that you asked at the beginning of the day. How are their answers different now that they know more? Talk about what they can go home and tell their family. This is also a time they can update their journals (big kids only) or color the pictures (littles).
-Ask if anyone has a prayer request/praise report. Pray over requests.
-Ask if anyone has a prayer request/praise report. Pray over requests.
-Worship time- Have the kids go find a spot to themselves and have some time with God (play the song below for around 3/5 minutes).
-Worship time- Have the kids go find a spot to themselves and have some time with God (play the song below for around 3/5 minutes).
Worship
Worship
Energy Release!
Energy Release!
Last Minute Filler Ideas
Last Minute Filler Ideas
-Have them gather around the table and draw a picture or write a letter to their families about what they learned today.
-Play a game of some sort. (If you have the hula hoops, have them join hands in a circle and pass the hula hoop around the circle without breaking their hands)
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