ARMOR OF GOD / SHIELD OF FAITH: Abraham
Eph 6: 10-17; Gen 15:1; Gen 21:5; Heb 6:13-16
HALLWAY POSTERS/LIFE-SIZED TRACINGS:
MATERIALS: Life-sized tracings mounted on the wall in the hallway; skin tone crayons.
Before entering the classroom, position each child beside their tracing (completed last class). If a student does not have a tracing, ask them if they would like to make one now. If so, send them with an adult to make the tracing. Direct the other students to color their faces with skin-tone crayons. The Instructor helps them choose the corresponding crayon by comparing the crayon colors to their hands.
PRAISE GOD IN THE GATES (at the classroom door):
- Declare together: GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES!!!
WORKTABLES:
- Materials: Step-by-step drawing packet; blank worksheets; pencils or markers
- Text: HOLD ONTO GOD’S PROMISES
- Drawing lesson: SHIELD
- The SHIELD reminds us to HOLD ON to God’s promises!
CIRCLE SONGS:
- Transition: Criss Cross Applesauce
- Call to worship: I Hear the Blowing of the Shofar Calling me to Worship God!
- God Covers Me in Armor
- OPTIONAL: I Will Trust You God (YouTube video song; teach actions to chorus only; kids can try to follow along with video)
BIBLE LESSON / STORY:
- The SHIELD OF FAITH reminds us to HOLD ONTO GOD’S PROMISES!!!
- The WORD OF GOD (Bible) tells us about the many promises that God has made to His people. We can trust His promises because He ALWAYS KEEPS HIS PROMISES!
- God promised a man named Abraham that he would have a son with his wife Sarah. He promised Abraham would become the father of many nations… and through him, all the nations of the earth would be blessed! Wow, that was a BIG promise to Abraham and Sarah who were very old and had NO CHILDREN!
- But Abraham held onto God’s promise. God gave him a son when he was 100 years old! (gen 21:5)
- Read: ABRAHAM AND SARAH by LDF pdf OR retell the story using manipulatives pdf (see partial storytelling example here)
- Teach the ASL for PROMISE and TRUST. God promises if we believe in Jesus, we will be SAVED! HOLD ONTO GOD’S PROMISES and put your TRUST in JESUS!
ARMOR OF GOD/TRUTH VS LIE CHALLENGE:
Decide which statement is TRUTH (God always tells the truth) and which one is a LIE (Satan is the father of lies).
Print 2 sentence strips…
- “Abraham and Sarah would have a son”
- “Abraham and Sarah were too old to have a baby”
Use the SWORD to cut through the lie (tear the sentence strip and throw it in the trash).
PRAYER SUGGESTION: pdf
- Walk around the circle to each child and declare over them: “Father, thank You for Your faithful promises to _________ (child’s name)”.
- Pray over the whole class: “Father, thank You for these children. Let FAITH RISE UP in us, in the name of JESUS!”
PLAY IN CENTERS:
- Release the children one at a time to get their play cards and choose a center
- Call the children one at a time to work on the armor art project: THE SHIELD OF FAITH
- Step 1: glue cardboard layers, weight on top during drying to prevent warping
1 MINUTE WARNING:
- Set a timer to indicate the end of PLAY TIME. When the timer rings, announce, “1 more minute to finish playing” (students CANNOT switch centers once the timer has sounded).
CLEAN-UP:
Students must tidy up the centers where they were playing when the timer rang. Teachers/Helpers oversee this activity. Students learn to sort and return items to their proper place. In so doing, they are learning to take care of the classroom. It also helps them be prepared for dismissal. Once the centers are tidy, students move to the BOOK NOOK and quietly look at books.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CLASSROOM BOOK NOOK:
Bookmark classroom Bibles with the Birth of Isaac story.
GAME:
If parents have not arrived after 5 minutes of quiet reading, lead the children in a game (such as Bean Bag Toss, Duck Duck Goose, Doggie Doggie Who Has My Bone, Armor Action Cards, Father Abraham Action Song, I Spy, etc). Game supplies are available in the classroom.
DISMISSAL:
Assign an adult to greet parents/guardians.
Call students ONE AT A TIME when families arrive. Prompt the remaining student to call out, “GOODBYE (student’s name).”
Families check mailboxes. Today’s TAKE HOME: Shield worksheet / Abraham and Sarah booklet pdf
CLOSING DOWN THE CLASSROOM:
- Wash brushes and close paint jars
- Turn off the battery-operated keyboard
- Stack chairs and carpet mats
- Vacuum area rug (rechargeable vacuum plugged into corner outlet)
- Turn off the heat and lights
- Place garbage can outside the classroom door
- Return teaching materials to the packet
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
DRESS-UP STATION: Abraham and Sarah outfits, baby doll, walking stick, backpack for journey
EASEL: Full Armor of God
BEFORE NEXT CLASS:
- Glue one more layer to the shield with the handle attached. Weigh down to dry.
- Spray paint blue