After completing this Sunday school lesson, the children will learn that God desires to communicate with us and how important it is for us to listen.
TOPICS
Moses, Holiness, Listening, Will of God
AS KIDS ARRIVE (15 minutes)
Ways to Communicate:
As the children arrive, hand them a blank sheet of paper and a pencil and have them write down as many ways or things they can think of that people use to communicate. Give one or two examples (see below). After everyone has arrived, and jotted down a few things, write their unique answers on the board. Include any additional items of your own they could not think of. Then take a vote by a showing of hands which item the kids believe is the best or most effective way and the least effective way to communicate. Close the activity by saying, "There are many great ways to communicate, some are more effective than others, but God can communicate with us in miraculous ways. Today we will discover one unforgettable way God talked with Moses.
Examples: Radio, Television, Books, Magazines, Loud speakers, Prayer, Angels.
OPENING PRAYER AND PRAISE (5 minutes)
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MEMORY WORK (6 minutes)
"My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121:2 NIV
The kids should be familiar with this verse from last week. Today, have the kids sit in a circle, and call out one name. That child will say the first part of the verse. The child to his left (clockwise) must say the second part of the verse, and the next child to the left say the reference. Do this several times so everyone has a chance to say part of the verse.
SCRIPTURE READING AND DISCUSSION (15 minutes)
Introduction:
Last week we learned about how God protected Moses by having the Pharaoh's daughter raise him as her own child. God had a plan for Moses from the time he was born. Now Moses is a married man, and it is time for God to tell Moses what to do. During this time, the Israelite people who are living in Egypt are being treated very badly. The Egyptians are using them like slaves to do all the hard work. However, the Israelites are God's chosen people, so God is going to use Moses to free them from their suffering. Our lesson begins with Moses tending the sheep belonging to Jethro his Father-in-law.
Read Exodus 3:1-15 (The story of Moses and the Burning Bush)
Discussion Questions:
1. What was strange about the bush that Moses saw in the mountain? (It never stopped burning.)
2. Why do you suppose God chose a burning bush as a way to speak to Moses? (To get the attention of Moses and to show His fearsome power.)
3. Why did God tell Moses to take off his sandals? (Because he was on holy ground.)
4. How did Moses react to God's request? (He didn't think he was worthy and asked, "who am I.")
5. How was God going to help Moses deliver His message? (God would be with him.)
6. Who was Moses to say sent him, if asked by the Israelites? (Moses was to say "I AM has sent me.")
CLASS EXERCISE (10 minutes)
What Can I Hear? (Object Talk) Click here
ALTERNATE CLASS EXERCISE (10 minutes)
Old Time Telephone (Game)
Have the kids either sit in a circle or line up, and play the old telephone game (also known as Chinese Whispers) to show how important it is to listen carefully to the Word of God. You can use the following phrases or make up your own:
1. When God spoke to Moses, He did it in a very strange way, by using a bush.
2. Moses was not prepared to hear what he heard up in the mountain.
3. God has a special plan for all of us, so we need to listen carefully to what the Word of God says.
APPLICATION (4 minutes)
God desires to communicate with us all the time. Sometimes however we are just too busy to listen to God. Perhaps we feel God has more important things to do than talk to us. But that cannot be further from the truth. God loves us very much and wants to tell us many things. That's why we need to take time to pray, and hear what God has to say. Let's pray now, and ask God to help us to listen to Him.
NEXT WEEK
If you really wanted to do something, what would make you change your mind? Next week we will learn about a man who wouldn't change his mind even when he was covered with flies and other creepy things.
CLOSING PRAYER (2 minutes)
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TAKE HOME PAGE
Give one copy to each child at the end of the class to take home. Click here for NIV or KJV [PDF]