2012 the year to soar – faith family finances

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2012, The Year to Soar – Faith, Family, Finances | Shalom Ministries

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SHALOM MINISTRIES – CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

MINISTRIES – TEACHER GUIDE, FOCUS: ISAIAH 40

Series Introduction:

This series of Bible lessons for children will cover Isaiah 40. Our goal as ministers and teachers should not be for children to hear Bible stories and learn these truths. Instead, it should be for

children to know and experience the God of the universe, the God we have dedicate our lives for in service to Him. I challenge you to believe that our children have a high level of spirituality, and because of this, they can learn deep truths about God in spite of their cognitive level. We can use the truths about their cognitive level to aid in lesson planning, but it should not limit what God can show them through His word.

In order to teach with this in mind, I encourage you to study and pray through the verses taught each week. God has a purpose for each verse of Scripture. I desire to be true to the Scripture as much as possible and teach them what God intended to be gleaned from the verses, not what I

believe children can understand.

The Exegetical Idea at the beginning of each lesson summarizes what the passage meant to those it was written to in biblical times.

The Pedagogical Idea summarizes what this passage means to us here and now. After studying the verses, incorporate what you have personally experienced with God in the particular lesson you are teaching. Strive to help them experience wonder and awe at our great God.

As teachers, we have a responsibility to nurture children’s faith in such a way that it becomes

an integral part of their lives. My goal is not primarily for the children to learn moral laws and ways to live, but to know God intimately. We are setting the foundations of the knowledge of

God in children, and this foundation can be firm or shaky.

Each lesson consists of four steps. Step one, Kindle Curiosity, is a time to spark interest and catch the children’s attention to an aspect of God or an illustration of the lesson. Step two, God revealed, is a time to dive into Scripture to discover God. Step three, Personal Pursuit, brings

out why this Scripture is important in our lives, and more specifically, in the lives of the children. Step four, Daily Knowing, helps the lesson go one step further, striving to send God’s

word with the children as they leave the classroom. I believe that repetition of this style of teaching will allow the children to grow in their ability to comprehend and experience deep

truth from the Bible.

These lessons are designed as the teacher’s resource and copies are not to be given to the children. However, the teacher is to take the information from this packet, tailor it to the children’s needs, and always incorporate the Bible.

For example, from each lesson, the children should: 1) Find the scripture reference in the Bible – Every

session the teacher should say: “This is the Bible. It is God’s Word. He wrote it, so we know everything in it is true. It is divided into two parts- the Old Testament and New Testament.

Today’s lesson is from the …”, 2) Read along the scripture lessons, 3) Write out the memory scripture on paper, tablets, booklets, or 3 x 5 cards 4) Be engaged with the activity and active learning techniques incorporated each lesson.

Each lesson is highly interactive and provides the teacher the opportunity to incorporate his/her own ideas, concepts, and imagination to build the children’s knowledge of God.

Ministry Focus:

Isaiah 40:29-31

Mount Up with Wings like Eagles

Summary

All human effort has limits, but with God people can run and not grow weary; they are given

eagles' wings.

Analysis

Human effort is seen here both in its limits and its possibilities. To be sure, even strong young people eventually grow tired--not to mention those who have been victimized and oppressed--

but God gives power to the powerless enabling them to renew their strength and take off like eagles.

In Old Testament thought, the eagle is an unclean animal (Leviticus 11:13) and cannot be eaten;

this text is the only positive eagle reference in the prophetic books. Still, "unclean" does not mean that the eagle is not pronounced "very good" along with the rest of creation (Genesis 1:31)--indeed, good enough that both God and Moses can compare God to the eagle (Exodus 19:4; Deuteronomy 32:11-12). Just as God bore Israel on eagles' wings at the first exodus (Exodus 19:4), now, in the second exodus--the return from exile--God's people are given power

to mount up themselves with wings like eagles.

Lesson #1

God’s Word is Eternal

Bible Passage: Isaiah 40:6-8; 1 Peter 1:23, 25; James 1:9-11

Bible Lesson Title: God’s Word is Eternal Target Age Group: 5-12 years old Target Time Frame: 30-45 minutes

Lesson One: God’s Word is Eternal (30-45 minutes)

Scripture: Isaiah 40:6-8; 1 Peter 1:23, 25; James 1:9-11

Exegetical Idea: God declares through Isaiah that people are frail and fading, but the Word of the Lord is durable and eternal.

Pedagogical Idea: God desires for us to understand that we are nothing and dead without Him,

and it is only in His eternal word that we may gain life.

Cognitive Aim: Children will understand that who we are and what we do will eventually fade away, but God’s eternal word can give us life and eternal beauty.

Affective Aim: Children will feel joy knowing God can grant to them life.

Behavioral Aim: Children will memorize Isaiah 40:8

Memory Verse: Isaiah 40:8, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of the Lord lasts forever.”

Teacher Notes: Incorporate your own activity and discussion on faith, family, and finances

Lesson Overview

1. Kindle Curiosity (5 minutes) Description: Shows the children how flowers will all eventually die. Supplies: Dead flower or withered grass

2. God Revealed (7 minutes) Description: Read Isaiah 40:6-8 using visuals. Supplies: Dead flower from Step 1, Bible, visuals (see details in Step 2 below)

3. Personal Pursuit (20 minutes) Description: Supplies: Dandelions, fresh flower. 4. Daily Knowing (10 minutes) Description: Childrens will work on memorizing Isaiah 40:8

using body motions. Supplies: Bibles, note cards with Isaiah 40:8 to give to parents, vanilla.

1. Kindle Curiosity (5 minutes)

Show the children the dead flower(s) or withered grass.

Question: What do you see? What do you think happened? Why? Does this happen to all plants?

Say: All plants will eventually die for some reason, whether it is lack of water, sunlight, good soil, or just old age. Today we are going to begin to know God better through

Isaiah chapter 40 (hold up your Bible and show them the “I” for Isaiah and the number 40) We will be learning from verses 6, 7, & 8 (help them recognize these numbers in the

Bible). Isaiah was a prophet. Can you say prophet? A prophet was a person chosen by God to

speak His words to the rest of the people. Remember how special and important God’s word is to us!* Get ready to hear God’s amazing words by turning off your mouths and on your ears! (Demonstrate by placing your hand over your mouth and turning your

earlobes. Encourage the children to follow your example).

2. God Revealed (5 minutes)

Before you read the verses, give each child visuals (Such as an open mouth for the words “call out,” a pictures of grass, flowers, dead grass and flowers, and a Bible) to hold up when they hear the word describing their picture. You will most likely have to

prompt them. Read Isaiah 40:6-8 God tells Isaiah to call out or cry out. This means that what He wanted Isaiah to tell the

people was so important that he needed to speak it so that everyone could hear! (Read v.8 again, but yell it out and invite the children to join in!)

Say: God said that people are like grass. Do you remember what God says will happen to the grass? (Show them the dead flowers or grass from the beginning of the lesson).

Ask: So if people are like grass, what do you think God meant? (This is an abstract question, but some children may make the connection. If they are confused and unsure,

help them arrive at the biblical truth).

Share with the children something about what God revealed to you as you studied this

passage. Children love hearing personal stories about their teachers!

3. Personal Pursuit (10 minutes)

This is a dandelion. Isn’t it beautiful? Look at the details God put in each tiny little part. (Allow each of them to examine it closely. Tell them not to blow the dandelion yet because we will do it all together soon.)

Let’s see what happens when we all blow together on this dandelion! One, two, three blow! (Gasp) What happened?! This dandelion isn’t so beautiful anymore. It’s just a

stem! Sometimes we think that we do very important things, things that make us beautiful and

special like singers or princesses or superheroes. However, God shows us in these verses that we are nothing without Him, we are like the stem of this dandelion. When we really know Him, it is like His breath blows on us and we see that everything about us we thought was special becomes nothing (as you are saying this blow on another dandelion to demonstrate this thought)!

But, when we believe in God and love Him with all of our hearts, we become truly beautiful (have a fresh flower or dandelion ready and present it) and the beauty that

comes from loving our God never dies or withers. It lasts forever! He is always our beauty! The words in this Bible will never fade, and they are our source for true life, to

God, to eternal beauty. What do you think about that?

Have a time to pray and thank God for the Bible, through which we can know God and have eternal beauty. Encourage the children to say their own prayers with their arms

spread open and their faces to the sky! (There is no certain way to pray; many times in Scripture, it says they “lifted their eyes to the heavens.” Allow children to express their prayers to God creatively, wondrously, and however they would like).

4. Daily Knowing (10 minutes)

Say: It is so important to know God’s word because that is how we come to know Him and obtain eternal beauty; He is our beauty. Today we are going to do something special to help you know God’s word!

Read Isaiah 40:8 with the children. You will be memorizing this verse together using body motions. Allow them to think up motions that will help them memorize this verse.

When you have several motions, repeat the verse and motions until they seem to have it. Make sure you review with them the next week or when you have encounters during the week one-on-one.

Encourage them to share this verse with their parents when they pick them up so their

parents will be able to help them practice at home. Provide each parent with a notecard that has Isaiah 40:8 written on it*.

Lesson #2

God Is Our Shepherd

Bible Passage: Isaiah 40:11; Psalm 23

Bible Lesson Title: God Is Our Shepherd Target Age Group: 5-12 years old Target Time Frame: 30-45 minutes

Lesson Two: God is Our Shepherd (Time: 35-45 minutes)

Exegetical Idea: God is like a shepherd and will care for His people as a shepherd cares for his flock.

Pedagogical Idea: God is our Shepherd and will care for us as His sheep.

Cognitive Aim: Children will learn and understand that God is our Shepherd and we are His sheep.

Affective Aim: Children will find comfort and joy in the fact that God will care for us as a

shepherd cares for his sheep.

Behavioral Aim: Children will memorize Psalm 23:1

Memory Verse: Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”


Lesson Overview

1. Kindle Curiosity (5 minutes) Description: Show children pictures of sheep 2. God Revealed (10 minutes) Description: Childrens will discover the connection between

their pretend play and who God is through following you as their pretend shepherd and hearing verses from Isaiah 40:11 and Psalm 23. Supplies: Same as step one, along with your Bible to read or notecards with the verses written down for you to read (See this

explained further in the “Before Class” note below). 3. Personal Pursuit (10 minutes) Description: Reflect on God as our Shepherd.

4. Daily Knowing (10 minutes) Description: Review memory verse from last week and memorize Psalm 23:1 with body motions. Supplies: Notecards for parents with Psalm

23:1 written down, sheep made during the personal pursuit to take home

The following verses correspond to each place:

Green pastures: Psalm 23:2a; Pond: Psalm 23:2b; Valley of Death: Psalm 23:4

Have these verses taped nearby each corresponding spot or have them memorized or have

them with you. Also, have Isaiah 40:11 ready to read or recite as well. **


Prepare yourself with a staff and shepherd costume (a staff is sufficient, but be as creative as you would like) to greet the children as they come in. Allow them to ask questions, but keep

your identity a mystery until everyone has arrived.

Ask: How do you hear God? Our classroom is now going to become pastures for us to journey through together.

Illustrate how everyone listens to God for his or herself – not following others voices –

but follow the voice of God in your life - use your listening ears in order to hear God’s voice. There are dangerous places we may have to go through together, and if you are

not listening to God’s voice, he will not be able to protect you and keep you safe. There are also wonderful places you will go, but if are not listening, you may get lost and not

get to enjoy these wonderful places. Also, what we are doing will help us to know God deeply, so turn your ears up as high as they will go! Are you ready to follow your

shepherd?!


As you begin the journey, read aloud Isaiah 40:11, “Like a shepherd, God will tend His flock. In His arms, God will gather the lambs (sheep) and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.”

Call each child by name to follow you, especially when they seem to be distracted. As you are walking around the classroom (you could take this around the church as well or outside), turn around and count them ever so often to make sure none have gotten lost.

First, walk through the “green pastures,” and as you do, say aloud Psalm 23:1-2a, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures.”

Encourage your sheep to take a rest in the green pastures by lying down or just sitting for a few moments. While they are sitting, provide them with a snack.

After walking for a little while longer (calling them by name and counting as you go), lead them to the blue water. As you do say aloud Psalm 23:2b-3a, “God, as my

shepherd, leads me beside waters of rest. He restores my soul.” As they sit again, provide them with water to drink.

Say: Now we are about to go through the dangerous part of journey, the Valley of

Death. It is dark and scary there. (Point to the black places and use voice inflection). You will not be hurt if you stay close to God and listen to His voice. I am going to turn out the

lights and take you through this dark place. Do not be afraid, because I am God is your shepherd, and I will keep you safe.

After turning out the lights, instruct them to hold hands. As the shepherd, you hold the hands of the closest child to you. Say aloud Psalm 23:4 as you guide them through the

Valley of Death, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for God, you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.” Call

out their names to make sure everyone is present and following. Once you have made it through the valley, turn on the lights and count everyone again.

Give every child a hug as you say aloud Isaiah 40:11 once more, “Like a shepherd, God will tend His flock. In His arms, God will gather the lambs (sheep) and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.”

Have a time to pray to God, our Shepherd, emphasizing the aspects of Him brought out as they followed you. Encourage the children to say their own prayers on their knees

with their faces turned upwards. (Allow children to express their prayers to God creatively, wondrously, and however they would like!)


Get out your Bible. Say: This is the Bible. It is God’s Word. He wrote it, so we know everything in it is true. Today I wanted you to see how God is our Shepherd by pretending to be your shepherd! Remember, we are learning who God is through Isaiah 40 (show them the book and chapter number). In verse 11 (point), it says, “Like a shepherd, God will tend His flock. In His arms, God will gather the lambs (sheep) and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes” (explain what a ewe is)

Just as I led you, God leads us. What things did I do as your shepherd? (called us, counted us, led us, protected us, fed us, etc.) Prompt them if they have trouble

recalling. God is our Shepherd and we, even me, are His sheep. God says this in the Bible over and

over again. It’s kind of silly to think of ourselves as sheep, but God wants us to know that He calls our names and we have to listen to His voice in order to stay on the right

paths just as a shepherd does to their sheep. He protects us through the dark valleys or hard times we go through and never leaves us, just as I did as your pretend shepherd. He provides us with strength and cares for our needs, like hunger and thirst, just as I

gave you food to eat, water to drink, and time to rest. God wants us to know Him more by understand that He is our Shepherd and we are His sheep.

Have a moment of reflection by encouraging the children to close their eyes, be silent, and, in their heads, think about this question: How does it make you feel to know God is

your Shepherd? Emphasize the silent thinking part because children will automatically begin sharing. Do not be afraid to sit and be silent before the Lord for more than 10

seconds. Draw it out and think on God yourself. You will find the silence is diff icult, but it something lacking in many ministries today. We have forgotten how to just sit and think

on God.


Review the memory verse from last week using body motions as prompts, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of the Lord lasts forever.”

Say: Remember that it is so important to know God’s word because that is how we come to know Him. Today we are going to use body motions again to help us learn God’s word in Isaiah!

Read Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” Explain that “I shall not want” means that God will take care of all of our needs. Allow the children to think up motions to help them memorize this verse.

Encourage them to share this verse with their parents when they pick them up so their parents will be able to help them practice at home. Provide each parent with a notecard

that has Psalm 23:1 written on it*.

As the children leave, give them their note cards and ask to: “Take this home and put it in a special place that you can see every day. This note card will remind you that God is our Shepherd and He loves His sheep (you!) deeply!”

Lesson #3

Our God is Mighty

Bible Passage: Isaiah 40:9-10; 12

Bible Lesson Title: Our God is Mighty Target Age Group: 5-12 years old Target Time Frame: 30 minutes

Lesson Three: Our God is Mighty (Time: 37-47 minutes)

Scripture: Isaiah 40:9-10; 12

Exegetical Idea: The Israelites can depend on the glorious, mighty God and Him alone for their deliverance.

Pedagogical Idea: God is mighty and His power is unlimited for us today just as it was when Isaiah wrote this book.

Cognitive Aim: Children will know God is mighty and His power is unlimited.

Affective Aim: Children will feel wonder and awe towards our mighty God.

Behavioral Aim: Children will memorize Isaiah 40:10a.

Memory Verse: Isaiah 40:10a: “Behold, the Lord GOD will come with might…”


Lesson Overview

1. Kindle Curiosity (5 minutes) Description: Have a discussion about the strongest person children know of to introduce them to the lesson’s topic. Supplies: the Bible

2. God Revealed (10 minutes) Description: Children will hear Isaiah 40:12 and learn of God’s might in creation; Supplies: Pictures of the ocean, the sky, sand, and mountains; bucket of

water, measuring cup, balance).

3. Personal Pursuit (10 minutes) Description: Make the connection to their lives by sharing what knowing God in His might has revealed in your life, make a mountain; Supplies: Any

materials you might be able to use to make a mountain, such as balled up paper, cardboard boxes, or blocks.

4. Daily Knowing (10 minutes) Description: Review memory verses, learn Isaiah 10:a; Supplies: Notecards, paper, markers


Gather the children around you on the floor or at a table.

Ask: Who is the strongest person you know? (Give time for answers and discuss them. If

children talk about superheroes, emphasize the fact that superheroes are just pretend. We want to make a distinction between God and fictional characters so they understand

God is real and not the same as Superman, Sports Figures, or Movie and Music Stars.) State: Today we will continue to know God through Isaiah 40. We will learn today that

God is stronger and more mighty than anybody that we just talked about. There is nothing He cannot do because of His power and might. Remember that this is the Bible

(hold up your Bible). God wrote it, so we know that everything in it is true. God is not

pretend like superheroes; He is real! Today we are going to come to know Him more through learning of His might.


State: We will be reading Isaiah 40 verse 12 (show them the numbers; let them see exactly

where you will be reading). Isaiah is going to ask some questions to help the people hearing him understand how mighty God is. Let’s turn on our listening ears and turn off our mouths so we can hear about God’s power and might! Everyone gather close so you can listen really well!

You will be using props and hand motions as you read, so look for the directions in

parentheses. Read softly and emphatically: “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand (hold up your hands as if holding water), and marked off the heavens

by the span (point to the sky)? And calculated the dust of the earth with three fingers (hold up your thumb and two fingers), and weighed the mountains in a balance (have a

balance nearby to hold up in order to show them what that indicates)?” State: This first verse is showing us the mighty things God did as the Creator of the

world. (Hold up a picture of an ocean). All of the water in all of the oceans God can measure in His hands! How big do you think God’s hands must be? (Give time for response.) Let’s see how much water we can hold in our hands. (Allow children to scoop a handful of water out of a bucket and pour it into a measuring cup). Compared to our mighty God, we can hold little water in our own hands!

State: Let’s go outside to view something only our mighty God could have made! (If you cannot go outside, have a picture of the sky). Let’s hold hands and look straight up at

the sky! It goes on forever and ever. But to God, the heavens are only as big as His hand! Let’s pray together now to our mighty God! (Pray first in praise and awe to God, and

then invite the children to join you). Go back to the classroom, sit down, and show a picture of sand stretched out for miles.

State: God can measure all of the dust on the earth with just three fingers (as you hold something with your thumb and two fingers, Matthew Henry’s commentary). How big do you think His fingers must have been? (Give time for response.)

(Show a picture of mountains.) State: God can weigh mountains as if on a balance. (Show the balance again) Mountains are small compared to Him!

Say: There is no one who is as powerful and mighty as our God! There is nothing He cannot do.


Have the children transition into a time of making a mountain out of balled up brown paper or cardboard boxes. If you have neither of these, they can just use blocks. State: Now we need to make a big mountain because Isaiah tells us something very important we will need to shout out from the top of a mountain!

As they are building, make the connection between Isaiah 40:12 and our lives.

State: When you think about how mighty God is in the way He perfectly created everything in this world (the oceans, sky, dust of the earth, the mountains), things that

are huge to us but fit in His hands, how does this make you feel? (Give time for response).

Tell your own thoughts on what this knowledge of God’s might means to you (we can depend on Him completely for strength, for our safety and protection, for doing what seems impossible, etc.)

State: When we see these things God has created, it should make us say “Wow. What a mighty God we have!” Can we say that together? “Wow. What a mighty God we have!”

As they are finishing their mountain, state: Now in Isaiah 40 verses 9 and 10, Isaiah says this, “Get yourself up on a high mountain, O Zion, bearer of good news, lift up your

voices mightily, O Jerusalem, bearer of good news; lift it up, do not fear. Say to the cities of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’ Behold, the Lord GOD will come with might, with His arm

ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him and His recompense before Him.” Ask: Can we pretend to stand tall on this mountain and shout out to everyone, “Behold,

the Lord God will come with might”? Let’s do it together! (Do this several times with the children. It will help them learn this verse!)


Review Isaiah 40:8 and Psalm 23:1 with the children using hand motion prompts. Guess what? You have already practiced learning our verse for this week through

shouting on the mountaintop! Remember, it is important for us to learn God’s word because that is how we come to know Him more. Today we have come to know God as our mighty God. Let’s see if we need to come up with some motions for Isaiah 40:10, “Behold, the Lord God will come with might…” Make sure you review with them the next week or when you have encounters during the week one-on-one.

Encourage them to share this verse with their parents when they pick them up so their

parents will be able to help them practice at home. Provide each parent with a notecard that has Isaiah 40:10a written on it*.

Lesson #4

Our God of Wisdom

Bible Passage: Isaiah 40:13-14 Bible Lesson Title: Our God of Wisdom

Target Age Group: 4-5 years old (U.S. preschool & Kindergarten) Target Time Frame: 30 minutes

Lesson #4 - Knowing God through Isaiah 40 (37-47 minutes)

Scripture: Isaiah 40:13-14

Exegetical Idea: The Israelites can trust in God’s perfect wisdom in their captivity and

deliverance.

Pedagogical Idea: God’s wisdom goes from eternity past to eternity future. No one has ever instructed Him and never shall. We can trust Him to lead us in His perfect wisdom.

Cognitive Aim: Children will know God has perfect wisdom.

Affective Aim: Children will trust in God’s wisdom as He carries out His plans in their lives.

Behavioral Aim: Children will memorize Romans 11:33a.

Memory Verse: Romans 11:33a, “Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and the knowledge of God…”


Lesson Overview

1. Kindle Curiosity (5 minutes) Description: Begin to help children understand our lack of perfect wisdom as humans

2. God Revealed (7 minutes) Description: Children will hear Isaiah 40:13-14 and learn of God’s perfect wisdom; Supplies: Bible

3. Personal Pursuit (15 minutes) Help the children understand how our knowledge of God’s perfect wisdom allows us to trust Him

4. Daily Knowing (10 minutes) Description: Pray to God together; Review memory verses and memorize Romans 33:11a; Supplies: notecards


Gather the children around a table.

I have a very important question for each of you…do you know everything? (if they say yes, get specific until they have to say ‘no.’ For example, Do you know how many hairs

are on your head?) Continue on to the following question. There are a lot of things we do not know or know how to do. We have to ask others for

help or we have to read books to learn. There are some things you will probably never learn how to do! Did you know that God never has to ask anyone how to do anything?

He made this whole world without any help! He knows what to do and how to do it perfectly!


State: We will be reading Isaiah 40 verses 13 and 14 (show them the numbers, let them see exactly where you will be reading). This is the Bible. It is God’s word. He wrote it, so we know everything in it is true. Can we say that together? (Repeat). Isaiah is going to ask some questions to help the people hearing him understand more about who God is. Let’s turn on our listening ears and turn off our mouths so we can hear something very important about God! Everyone gather close so you can listen really well!

Read (from your Bible, stated here) Isaiah 40:13-14: “Who has directed the Spirit of the

Lord or as His counselor has informed Him? With whom did He consult and who gave Him understanding? And who taught Him knowledge, and informed Him of the way of understanding?”

State: These three questions asked by Isaiah reveal to us that our God has perfect wisdom. Does anyone know what the word wisdom means? (time for answers). When we say that God has perfect wisdom, it means He makes perfect plans and carries out those plans perfectly. He never has to guess at what decision to make or ask anyone

what He should do. He always knows what to do, and what He does is always right. Everything God does is done in perfect wisdom.


State: God formed us in His perfect wisdom. Just as He formed us in His perfect wisdom, God also has planned out our entire lives in His perfect wisdom (Psalm 139:16). This means that God knows everything that is going to happen in your life tomorrow (name specific kids in the class). In fact, He knows everything that has happened in your life and everything that is going to happen, from the time that you were a little baby until you are as old as your grandmas and grandpas!

State: The knowledge of God’s perfect wisdom should allow us to put our faith in Him completely for our present and our future. He has planned everyday of our lives in His

perfect wisdom. We learned a couple of weeks ago that God is our Shepherd. What are some things a Shepherd does for his sheep? (time for answers) Do you think God takes

good care of His sheep? How? (time for answers and thoughts). State: We do not have to worry about what is going to happen, because we know that

God our good Shepherd who loves us sees and has planned everything that is happening in our lives. So even when bad things happen to us, we can know that our Good Shepherd sees it and in His perfect wisdom has planned it out! We can trust in Him and

His wisdom.


State: We can pray every day thanking God for what we know about Him. Today we learned that God has perfect wisdom and we do not. God will help us to have wisdom if

we ask Him, though His will always be greater than ours. Let’s pray to Him now, praising Him for His perfect wisdom and asking Him to help us be wise. (Allow children to

express their prayers to God creatively, wondrously, and however they would like!) Review Isaiah 40:8, Psalm 23:1, and Isaiah 40:10a with the children using hand motion

prompts. State: Remember, it is important for us to learn God’s word because that is how we

come to know Him more. Today we have come to know God has perfect wisdom. Romans 11:33, “Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and the knowledge of God…”

Make sure you review with them the next week or when you have encounters during the week one-on-one.

Encourage them to share this verse with their parents when they pick them up so their parents will be able to help them practice at home. Provide each parent with a notecard that has Isaiah 40:10a written on it*.

Lesson #5: There is No One Like God

Bible Passage: Isaiah 40:18-20; 25 (Also see Ex 15:11; 1 Samuel 2:2; Psalm 86:8) Bible Lesson Title: There is No One Like God

Target Age Group: 5-12 years old Target Time Frame: 30-45 minutes

Lesson 5: Knowing God through Isaiah 40 (32-42 minutes)

Scripture: Isaiah 40:18-20; 25 (Also see Ex 15:11; 1 Samuel 2:2; Psalm 86:8)

Exegetical Idea: No idol can compare to God; there is none like Him.

Pedagogical Idea: There is no one like God; therefore, all of our hearts and worship should be His alone.

Cognitive Aim: Children will understand that there no one who is like God and will realize He

alone deserves our love and praise.

Affective Aim: Children will feel awe at the God who alone deserves our hearts.

Behavioral Aim: Praise God through song; memorize Psalm 86:8

Memory Verse: “There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like

Yours” Psalm 86:8


Lesson Overview

1. Kindle Curiosity (5 minutes) Description: Show the children pictures of people worshipping idols in order to help them understand what an idol is. Supplies: pictures of

people worshipping idols (China, India, Thailand, etc.) 2. God Revealed (10 minutes) Description: Read Isaiah 40:18-20, 25. Discuss the meaning

of the passage. Supplies: Bible, pieces of gold (fake or real), silver (fake or real), and a small piece of wood or bark.

3. Personal Pursuit (10 minutes) Description: Learn a song to help them understand that there is no one like God. Supplies: Computer, CD player, or IPOD; song Who is Like You? by Tim Neufield – YouTube link attached – lyrics included in this lesson below

4. Daily Knowing (7 minutes) Description: Praise God together through prayer; Review past verses (if there is time) and memorize Psalm 86:8. Supplies: Notecards with Psalm

86:8 written on them.


After welcoming the children, have them come sit with you.

Hold up the first picture of people (person) worshipping an idol(s). Ask: Do any of you know what is happening in this picture? (Give time for answers, and continue to show

the pictures until they have a good idea of what idol worship looks like.) Point to the idols and state: These are called idols. Idols are things people worship

instead of God. They can be made out of many different things and look many different ways, but people choose to worship idols in their hearts over God. They believe these idols can do things for them, so they pray to them and do things for the idols, believing

them to be real and calling them gods. This is wrong, and this is sin. And idol worship does not just look like these pictures. We can all worship idols because an idol can be

anything that we love more than God. (Explain all of this slowly, because it is very important and can be difficult for them to comprehend. Show them the seriousness of

worshipping something else above God with your tone of voice and facial expression.)


State: Hold up your Bible and say: This is the Bible. It is God’s word. He wrote it, so we know everything in it is true (repeat this until they can say it with you). Today we will be reading Isaiah 40 verses 18, 19, 20, and 25 (show them the numbers, let them see exactly where you will be reading). Isaiah is speaking to God’s people about idols in these verses. Let’s listen closely to see what Isaiah says to God’s people about idols, and I think we can discover something awesome and wonderful about God as well! Let’s

turn on our listening ears and turn off our mouths (demonstrate) so we can discover something new about God and get to know Him more!

Read the verses emphatically, then ask: what do people make idols out of that we heard

in these verses? (To help the children remember, hold up pieces of gold, silver, and wood that the children can each pass around and touch. This can be fake gold and silver

pieces, but it gives the children a visual and a chance to interact with their senses, which will help them have greater understanding).

When people made these idols out of gold, silver, and wood, they used the best of the materials they could find. If using wood, they tried to find a perfect piece of wood that

was not rotting or dying. Their idols would look perfect in every way. But no matter how perfect their idols looked, they could never come close to being like God! Why? (They are not real. They cannot speak; they cannot hear.) Idols are made by humans. Do you think something made by us could have power over us or the ability to help us? (no!) Do you think something made by human hands could be as great as God, so great that we should worship it? (no!) No one made God. He always was and He always will be. He has no beginning and no end. He is unlike anything or anyone on earth. There is no one like Him!


The personal pursuit is going to be a little different today. The children will be learning a

beautiful song about God that communicates who He is. It is called “Who is Like You?” based on Exodus 15:11.

State: I want everyone to stand up, and we are going to do something new! We are going to learn a song that will glorify God and help us know and remember that there is no one like God. In the song, it asks the question, “Who is like You (God)?” Does anyone know the answer to that question based on what we just read about from Isaiah? (No one!). Because there is no one like God, we can always trust in His greatness and power to be high above our own. This means that even though we are weak, God is always

stronger and there to help us. When we do not know what to do, God always knows and is there to guide us. Because there is no one like God, He alone deserves our hearts and

our praise. With this song, we will praise God for who He is. I am going to play the song a few times, and we will listen together and then try to praise God along with the singer.

(Encourage them to express their love to God through movement like dance or hand motions or swaying to the music. At this point, they will need some movement after

sitting and listening so long, and it is a neat way for us to learn from them in their creative expression of praise to God.)

Song link to YouTube:

Who is Like You? Tim Neufield

Who is Like You lyrics

The Lord is my strength & my song He has become my salvation

He is my God and I will praise Him I will lift Him up

Who is like You, majestic in holiness Awesome in glory, working wonders Who is like You, majestic in holiness Awesome in glory, working wonders

In Your unfailing love You will lead the people that You redeem And in Your strength, You will guide them

To Your holy place

Who among the gods is like You Who among the heavens


Today, I would like us to pray together on our knees with our foreheads touching the ground to show how great God is and how small we are. Does anyone want to pray today? Let’s go to God together, knowing He hears and listens to our prayers. (After allowing the children to pray, praise God in your prayer for being who is He, unlike

anyone, and be sure to bring up things before Him that may be going on in the children lives that need prayer).

Review the verses you can from the past lessons (Isaiah 40:8, Psalm 23:1, and Isaiah 40:10a, Romans 11:33a) using hand motion prompts.

Remember, it is important for us to learn God’s word because that is how we come to know Him more. Today we have learned that there is no one like God. We are going to

learn this verse Psalm 86:6, “There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like Yours” to help us remember what we know is true about God. Let’s

see if we can come up with some motions to help us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRZ_WFrXYzM

Make sure you review with them the next week or when you have encounters during

the week one-on-one. Encourage them to share this verse with their parents when they pick them up so their parents will be able to help them practice at home. Provide each

parent with a notecard that has Psalm 86:8 written on it*.

Lesson #6: God’s Strength is Everlasting

Bible Passage: Isaiah 40:27-31

Bible Lesson Title: God’s Strength is Everlasting Target Age Group: 5-12 years old Target Time Frame: 30-45 minutes

Lesson 6: Knowing God through Isaiah 40 (32 minutes)

Scripture: Isaiah 40:27-31

Exegetical Idea: The Israelites suffering is not hidden from the Everlasting God; Isaiah reminds the Israelites that God does not grow weary or tired; therefore, they can place their full trust in His strength

Pedagogical Idea: God will provide us with His everlasting strength as we trust in Him.

Cognitive Aim: Children will know God never grows tired, but we do. He will provide us with His

strength when we trust in Him.

Affective Aim: Children will trust in God’s strength.

Behavioral Aim: Praise God through song; Memorize Isaiah 40:31.

Memory Verse: Isaiah 40:31, “Those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.”


Lesson Overview

1. Kindle Curiosity (5 minutes) Description: Run to demonstrate how our bodies are human and grow tired; learn a special sentence. Supplies: watch or clock

2. God Revealed (10 minutes) Description: Hear Isaiah 40:28-31, recall the special sentence Supplies: Bible

3. Personal Pursuit (10 minutes) Description: Share a personal story that demonstrates God’s everlasting strength. Supplies: Pictures that illustrate your personal story; Computer, CD player, or IPOD; song Who is Like You? by Tim Neufield

4. Daily Knowing (7 minutes) Description: Review past verses (if there is time) and memorize Isaiah 40:31. Supplies: notecards


Today the lesson will begin through a kinesthetic experience. It can be outdoor or indoor, but there needs to be plenty of space for running!

State: Today we are going to come to know God in another new way! To get us started, we are going to run as fast as we can for two minutes! (Line everyone up and have them run back and forth for two minutes as fast as they can). Now everyone stop right where you are and put your hand over your chest! (Demonstrate this for them.) What do you feel? (my heart beat, my chest moving) What do you hear? (My breath coming out fast, my heartbeat) These feelings are signs that our bodies are responding to running. When you run for just two minutes, you may not feel tired; but, the signs of breathing hard and a fast heartbeat shows us that we cannot run without getting tired because we are human. God designed our bodies to need exercise, but what happens if we were to run for hours? (We get tired!) Even people who can run long distances always get tired because we are human. God is different! Today we are going to come to know Him as our God who never grows tired! Here is a special sentence I want you to remember: God’s strength is everlasting! Can we say that together? “God’s strength is everlasting!” Great job!


Gather the children around you. Open up your Bible and state: This is the Bible. It is God’s Word. He wrote it, so we know everything in it is true (say until they can repeat it). Today we are reading from Isaiah 40:28-31 (show them the numbers, let them see exactly where you will be reading). The people Isaiah was writing to did not think God saw the bad things that were happening to them. Isaiah is going to tell them about how God never grows tired, and how this can help them trust Him. Let’s turn on our listening ears and turn off our mouths (demonstrate) so we can discover something new about God and get to know Him more!

Read Isaiah 40:27-31 State: In these verses, Isaiah told the people of Israel, God’s people, that if they wait or trust in

God, He will give them new strength. This new strength comes from God. It is His strength that He gives to His people when they trust in Him. And what do we know about God’s strength? (if they don’t remember the special sentence, remind them) God’s strength is everlasting!


State: Because God’s strength is everlasting, we can go to Him and ask for His strength when we feel weak. When we trust in His strength and not our own, we will “mount up on wings like eagles, run and not grow tired, walk and not grow weary.”

Share a personal story about a time in your life when you trusted in God’s strength, He provided it for you, and helped you get through. If you have pictures or visuals that you can use as part of the story, this will have an even greater impact on the children’s understanding. (For example, if the story is from when you were a lot younger, have a picture of yourself at that point in time.)

State: God will provide His strength to each of us when we ask Him and trust in Him as our Everlasting God. Let’s pray together, asking Him for strength and praising Him for being our Everlasting God! (Allow to pray creatively, and voice your praise of God openly for His strength)

Ask: Do you remember the song we learned last time? We are going to praise God together through song for who He is. The first words of this song are “The Lord is my strength.” This is what we learned today! Do you remember the answer to the question “Who is like you (God)?” (No one!) If you would like to dance while we sing, you can. God enjoys us when we dance and sing to Him with all of our hearts! (Begin the song).

Who is Like You? Tim Neufield (you can find it on YouTube or buy the song on CD or through

ITunes) Song link to YouTube:

Who is Like You? Tim Neufield

The Lord is my strength & my song

He has become my salvation He is my God and I will praise Him I will lift Him up

Who is like You, majestic in holiness

Awesome in glory, working wonders Who is like You, majestic in holiness

Awesome in glory, working wonders

In Your unfailing love You will lead the people that You redeem And in Your strength, You will guide them To Your holy place

Who among the gods is like You Who among the heavens

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRZ_WFrXYzM


Review the verses you have time for from the past lessons (Isaiah 40:8, Psalm 23:1, Isaiah 40:10a, Romans 11:33a, Psalm 86:6) using hand motion prompts.

Remember, it is important for us to learn God’s word because that is how we come to know Him more. Today we have learned that God’s strength is everlasting and that He will give us His strength when we trust in Him. Today our verse to help us remember this is Isaiah 40:31, the very last verse in Isaiah. “Those who wait (trust) for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not grow tired, they will walk and not grow weary.” I think it will be easy for us to come up with motions for this verse, what do you think? (Explain the concept of “wings like eagles” and/or the word “weary” if they do not understand.)

Make sure you review with them the next week or when you have encounters during the week one-on-one. Encourage them to share this verse with their parents when they pick them up so their parents will be able to help them practice at home. Provide each parent with a notecard that has Isaiah 40:31 written on it*.

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