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The following are the Scripture, stories, and teaching points for ALPHABET ANIMALS. Animals for the wall, and coloring book of animals are in a folder on top of the Jr. Church file cabinet. Show the animal at the beginning of class, and place it on the wall. Coloring book is used for craft at the end of the lesson. GO DIRECTLY TO THIS LESSON (click it):
ALPHABET ANIMALS
LETTER: D
ANIMAL: Dog
PRINCIPLE: Enduring to the end
BIBLE STORY:
Numbers 13 1. Jehovah now instructed Moses, 2. ``Send spies into the land of Canaan--the land I am giving to Israel; send one leader from each tribe.'' 3. (The Israelis were camped in the wilderness of Paran at the time.) Moses did as the Lord had commanded and sent these twelve tribal leaders: Shammu-a, son of Zaccur, from the tribe of Reuben; Shaphat, son of Hori, from the tribe of Simeon; Caleb, son of Jephunneh, from the tribe of Judah; Igal, son of Joseph, from the tribe of Issachar; Hoshea, son of Nun, from the half-tribe of Ephraim; Palti, son of Raphu, from the tribe of Benjamin; Gaddiel, son of Sodi, from the tribe of Zebulun; Gaddi, son of Susi, from the tribe of Joseph (actually, the half-tribe of Manasseh); Ammiel, son of Gemalli, from the tribe of Dan; Sethur, son of Michael, from the tribe of Asher; Nahbi, son of Vophsi, from the tribe of Naphtali; Geuel, son of Machi, from the tribe of Gad. 16. It was at this time that Moses changed Hoshea's name to Joshua. 17. Moses sent them out with these instructions: ``Go northward into the hill country of the Negeb, 18. and see what the land is like; see also what the people are like who live there, whether they are strong or weak, many or few; 19. and whether the land is fertile or not; and what cities there are, and whether they are villages or are fortified;… 25. After forty days of exploration they returned from their tour. 26. They made their report to Moses, Aaron, and all the people of Israel in the wilderness of Paran at Kadesh, and they showed the fruit they had brought with them. 27. This was their report: ``We arrived in the land you sent us to see, and it is indeed a magnificent country--a land `flowing with milk and honey.' Here is some fruit we have brought as proof. 28. But the people living there are powerful, and their cities are fortified and very large; and what's more, we saw Anakim giants there! 29. The Amalekites live in the south, while in the hill country there are the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites; down along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and in the Jordan River valley are the Canaanites.'' 30. But Caleb reassured the people as they stood before Moses. ``Let us go up at once and possess it,'' he said, ``for we are well able to conquer it!'' 31. ``Not against people as strong as they are!'' the other spies said. ``They would crush us!'' 32. So the majority report of the spies was negative: ``The land is full of warriors, the people are powerfully built, 33. and we saw some of the Anakim there, descendants of the ancient race of giants. We felt like grasshoppers before them, they were so tall!''
The name “Caleb” means “dog-hearted.” That means they don’t quit no matter what. God told Caleb the land was promised to Israel and Caleb wouldn’t quit no matter what.
WHAT DOES “DOG-HEARTED” MEAN TO US? Matthew 10: 22. "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
POINT TO OUR STORY: God has a Promised Land for us, it is called Heaven. Not only do we need to trust and love God, we must not quit on God no matter what giants or troubles we might face.
KID QUESTIONS: 1. HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO DO SOMETHING AND REALLY FELT LIKE QUITTING? 2. DID YOU? 3. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DON’T QUIT? 4. HOW CAN WE LET GOD KNOW WE’LL NEVER QUIT ON HIM?
ALPHABET ANIMALS
LETTER: E
ANIMAL: Elephant
PRINCIPLE: Remembering what God has done
BIBLE STORY: Once, the people in the world became so bad that God had to wash away all the people in a great flood. But he found one good man and his family, who was named Noah. God had Noah build a big boat, called an ark, that would allow Noah to live through the great flood that was coming. Our story starts after the flood was over and it was time to come out of the ark. Genesis 8 1. God didn't forget about Noah and all the animals in the boat! He sent a wind to blow across the waters, and the floods began to disappear, 2. for the subterranean water sources ceased their gushing, and the torrential rains subsided. 3. So the flood gradually receded until, 150 days after it began, the boat came to rest upon the mountains of Ararat. 5. Three months later, as the waters continued to go down, other mountain peaks appeared. 6. After another forty days, Noah opened a porthole 7. and released a raven that flew back and forth until the earth was dry. 8. Meanwhile he sent out a dove to see if it could find dry ground, 9. but the dove found no place to light, and returned to Noah, for the water was still too high. So Noah held out his hand and drew the dove back into the boat. 10. Seven days later Noah released the dove again, 11. and this time, towards evening, the bird returned to him with an olive leaf in her beak. So Noah knew that the water was almost gone. 12. A week later he released the dove again, and this time she didn't come back. 13. Twenty-nine days after that, Noah opened the door to look, and the water was gone. 14. Eight more weeks went by. Then at last the earth was dry. 15. Then God told Noah, ``You may all go out. 17. Release all the animals, birds, and reptiles, so that they will breed abundantly and reproduce in great numbers.'' 18. So the boat was soon empty. Noah, his wife, and his sons and their wives all disembarked, along with all the animals, reptiles, and birds--all left the ark in pairs and groups. 20. Then Noah built an altar and sacrificed on it some of the animals and birds God had designated for that purpose. 21. And Jehovah was pleased with the sacrifice and said to himself, ``I will never do it again--I will never again curse the earth, destroying all living things, even though man's bent is always toward evil from his earliest youth, and even though he does such wicked things. 22. As long as the earth remains, there will be springtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night.'' … 9 8. Then God told Noah and his sons, 9. ``I solemnly promise you and your children and the animals you brought with you--all these birds and cattle and wild animals--that I will never again send another flood to destroy the earth. 12. And I seal this promise with this sign: 13. I have placed my rainbow in the clouds as a sign of my promise until the end of time, to you and to all the earth. 14. When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will be seen in the clouds, 15. and I will remember my promise to you and to every being, that never again will the floods come and destroy all life. 16. For I will see the rainbow in the cloud and remember my eternal promise to every living being on the earth.''
POINT OF THE STORY: God remembers us, He has even given us a sign- every time we see a rainbow, it is a sign God remembers us. But we must also remember God. That’s why Noah built an altar- so he’d always remember how God was kind to him.
KID QUESTIONS: 1. WHAT’S THE GREATEST THING YOU CAN REMEMBER GOD DOING FOR ANYBODY? 2. CAN YOU REMEMBER SOMETHING GOD DID FOR YOU? 3. IF YOU REMEMBER WHAT GOD DID IN THE PAST, DOES IT HELP YOU TRUST HIM RIGHT NOW? 4. WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU SAW A RAINBOW? 5. CAN YOU REMEMBER WHAT THE RAINBOW MEANS?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ALPHABET ANIMALS
LETTER: E
ANIMAL: Eagle
PRINCIPLE: God can brings us through any troubles
BIBLE STORY: The people of Israel were slaves for years and years in the land of Egypt. It is hard to live as a slave. Other people tell you what to do, and you have to do it. They don’t care about you and make you do the hard work no one else wants to do. They don’t even care if you die doing that hard work. The people of Israel cried to God about being slaves, and God heard them and made the powerful Egyptians let them go, even though they didn’t want to. God can do anything!
Exodus 19: 1. The Israelis arrived in the Sinai peninsula three months after the night of their departure from Egypt. 2. After breaking camp at Rephidim, they came to the base of Mt. Sinai and set up camp there. Moses climbed the rugged mountain to meet with God, and from somewhere in the mountain God called to him and said,``Give these instructions to the people of Israel. Tell them, 4. `You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I brought you to myself as though on eagle's wings. 5. Now if you will obey me and keep your part of my contract with you, you shall be my own little flock from among all the nations of the earth; for all the earth is mine. 6. And you shall be a kingdom of priests to God, a holy nation.'''
Imagine what it would be like to climb on the back of a giant bird, like an eagle and soar high up in the sky. All you would hear is the wind swishing through the giant feathers. All you would feel is the breeze on your face. And where ever you were going; you’d go there really fast, because you are flying.
That’s how God lifted the nation of Israel out of slavery. Even though it had been going on for years and years; when it was time for God to save them, he did it really quickly.
POINT OF THE STORY: When you see a big bird soaring in the sky, remember that God can lift you out of the biggest problems, just like a giant eagle in the sky.
KIDS QUESTIONS: 1. HAVE YOU EVER SEEN AN EAGLE? WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? 2. HOW FAST DO YOU THINK AN EAGLE CAN FLY? HOW HIGH? 3. IS GOD STRONGER THAN AN EAGLE? 4. CAN YOU THINK OF A PROBLEM GOD HELPED YOU WITH? 5. HOW DID HE DO IT? 6. DO YOU THINK HE WOULD HELP YOU AGAIN?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ALPHABET ANIMALS
LETTER: F
ANIMAL: Fish
PRINCIPLE: God provides
BIBLE STORY: John 6 1. After this, Jesus crossed over the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. 2. And a huge crowd, many of them pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for the annual Passover celebration, were following him wherever he went, to watch him heal the sick. So when Jesus went up into the hills and sat down with his disciples around him, he soon saw a great multitude of people climbing the hill, looking for him.Turning to Philip he asked, ``Philip, where can we buy bread to feed all these people?'' 6. (He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do.) 7. Philip replied, ``It would take a fortune to begin to do it!'' 8. Then Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up. ``There's a youngster here with five barley loaves and a couple of fish! But what good is that with all this mob?'' 10. ``Tell everyone to sit down,'' Jesus ordered. And all of them--the approximate count of the men only was 5,000--sat down on the grassy slopes. 11. Then Jesus took the loaves and gave thanks to God and passed them out to the people. Afterwards he did the same with the fish. And everyone ate until full! 12. ``Now gather the scraps,'' Jesus told his disciples, ``so that nothing is wasted.'' 13. And twelve baskets were filled with the leftovers!
Imagine catching two little fish in the lake, and feeding all the people in Heritage Lake with those two little fish! That’s crazy, right? But Jesus came to show us all things are possible with God. God takes care of our needs no matter how big.
Did you see how Jesus did it? First he saw the need. All those people were really hungry and someone had to feed them. Then He used what God had brought his way- a few loaves and fish. He thanked God, even though it didn’t seem like much. And then He began passing out the food. He put what He believed into action. And then God provided. He gave everyone what they needed. Not what they wanted, but what they needed. Do you have a need today, or do you know someone who has a big need? How could you help like Jesus?
POINT OF THE STORY: God will meet our needs, even when it seems impossible. But we must trust God to do it His way.
KIDS QUESTIONS 1. DO YOU LIKE TO EAT FISH? WOULD YOU IF YOU WERE REALLY, REALLY HUNGRY? 2. HOW DO YOU THINK JESUS FED ALL THOSE PEOPLE WITH SUCH LITTLE FOOD? 3. DID YOU EVER KNOW A PERSON WITH A BIG PROBLEM, WHO PRAYED FOR GOD TO HELP THEM? 4. WHAT HAPPENED? 5. DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WITH A BIG PROBLEM WE COULD ASK GOD TO HELP… RIGHT NOW?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ALPHABET ANIMALS
LETTER: F
ANIMAL: Frog
PRINCIPLE: Fully Rely On God
BIBLE STORY: Exodus 8 1. Then the Lord said to Moses, ``Go in again to Pharaoh and tell him, `Jehovah says, ``Let my people go and worship me. 2. If you refuse, I will send vast hordes of frogs across your land from one border to the other. 3. The Nile River will swarm with them, and they will come out into your houses, even into your bedrooms and right into your beds! Every home in Egypt will be filled with them. They will fill your ovens and your kneading bowls; you and your people will be immersed in them!''''' 5. Then the Lord said to Moses, ``Instruct Aaron to point the rod toward all the rivers, streams, and pools of Egypt, so that there will be frogs in every corner of the land.'' 6. Aaron did, and frogs covered the nation. 7. But the magicians did the same with their secret arts, and they, too, caused frogs to come up upon the land. 8. Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and begged, ``Plead with God to take the frogs away, and I will let the people go and sacrifice to him.'' 9. ``Be so kind as to tell me when you want them to go,'' Moses said, ``and I will pray that the frogs will die at the time you specify, everywhere except in the river.'' 10. ``Do it tomorrow,'' Pharaoh said.``All right,'' Moses replied, ``it shall be as you have said; then you will know that there is no one like the Lord our God. 11. All the frogs will be destroyed, except those in the river.'' 12. So Moses and Aaron went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and Moses pleaded with the Lord concerning the frogs he had sent. 13. And the Lord did as Moses promised--dead frogs covered the countryside and filled the nation's homes. 14. They were piled into great heaps, making a terrible stench throughout the land. 15. But when Pharaoh saw that the frogs were gone, he hardened his heart and refused to let the people go, just as the Lord had predicted. 16. Then the Lord said to Moses, ``Tell Aaron to strike the dust with his rod, and it will become lice, throughout all the land of Egypt.'' 17. So Moses and Aaron did as God commanded, and suddenly lice infested the entire nation, covering the Egyptians and their animals.
Can you imagine frogs everywhere! Frogs in your cereal bowl. Frogs in your bathtub. Frogs in your shoes when you go to put them on! -Slimy, cold little frogs everywhere! Uck!
All the frogs came, because Pharaoh, the leader of Egypt didn’t believe God. So God used the frogs to show the great leader, who was really in control. It was God. And then it looked like Pharaoh learned his lesson, but just as soon as the frog problem went away- Pharaoh forgot. And so an even worse problem came- lice! -Itchy, crawly, can’t get rid of them- lice. It pays to learn quickly who is really in control, and who really is boss of the whole world. It is God.
POINT OF THE STORY: God is in control and we should always trust Him. When you see a frog remember this- F – R – O – G. “Fully Rely On God”
KIDS QUESTIONS: 1. HAVE YOU EVER TOUCHED A FROG? 2. WHAT DID IT FEEL LIKE? 3. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF A FROG JUMPED ON YOUR LUNCH? 4. THE BIBLE SAYS PHAROAH, THE LEADER OF EGYPT HAD A HARD HEART; WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT MEANS? (He refused to listen to God.) 5. HAVE YOU EVER NOT LISTENED TO SOMEONE WHO CARED FOR YOU- YOUR MOM, DAD, OR MAYBE A BIG SISTER OR BROTHER? WHAT HAPPENED? 6. HOW CAN KIDS “RELY” ON GOD? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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