lesson17:lkt 4/13/10 4:14 pm page 161 escape to egypt...

Escape to EgyptBible StoryMatthew 2:1-15

Teacher ChallengeNotice the way God arranged circumstances to protectyoung Jesus! He displayed a unique star and positionedsome curious men to notice it. He gave them a desire to find and worship the King of that star, and then ledthem to His exact location (without GPS!). He sent adream to keep them from returning to Herod. Godarranged details of astronomy, history, geography andpsychology to perfectly prepare these international visitors for a vital role in protecting Jesus’ life!

� Look back at this week: What details did you notice God arranging in your life?

� In what ways did God protect you? Propel you forward? Surprise you?

God arranges the details of our lives in ways just as amazing as He did for the wise men—if we’ll pauseto notice! See how He has surrounded you with His love in great and small ways. Tell these stories toyour children; help them become aware of the many ways God cares for them! And as you tell how Godhas cared for you, express your heartfelt gratitude!

Teacher’s Planning1. Choose which centers you

will provide and the order in which children will par-ticipate in them. For tips on schedule planning, see page 9.

2. Plan who will lead each cen-ter, making sure to have oneadult for approximately everysix children. For staffing tipsand ideas, see page 12.

© 2010 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Growing with God Leader’s Guide • 161

Lesson 17

God’s Word“The Lord your God is with you.”Zephaniah 3:17

God’s Word and MeI can thank God that He is always with me.

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Play to LearnActive Game Center: Follow the Star

CollectBible, small doll or unbreakable nativity-scene figure of Jesus, flashlight.

PrepareHide doll or nativity-scene figure of Jesus in classroom.

Do1. Shine the flashlight on the floor, moving it along a path for the children to walk. Children follow

the light around classroom to the doll or figure.

2. Children close eyes while you hide doll or figure again. Repeat as time and interest allow.

Talk About� Today’s Bible story tells about some

wise men who saw a bright star shin-ing in the sky. The wise men packedspecial gifts and started on a long tripto find God’s Son, Jesus. Let’s play agame where we follow a light!

� The Bible says, “The Lord your God iswith you.” We can thank God that Heis always with us. Pray briefly, ThankYou, God, for loving us and alwaysbeing with us.

For Younger ChildrenInstead of using a flashlight, cut a star out of yellow card stock. Hold the star above your head. Chil-dren follow you around the room.

For Older ChildrenChildren take turns hiding the doll.

162 • © 2010 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Growing with God Leader’s Guide

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Play to LearnArt Center: Travel Time

CollectBible, Lesson 17 Travel Time Car Pattern fromGrowing with God CD-ROM for each child, markers.

DoFold and open Travel Time Car Pattern for eachchild.

DoChildren fold Travel Time Car Pattern and draw their family inside the car. Children color outside of car.

Talk About� In today’s Bible story, Mary, Joseph and Jesus

went on a long trip to a country called Egypt. InBible times, when people went on trips, they usu-ally walked. When we go on trips, we usually ridein a car.

� Brooke, where have you gone on a trip with yourfamily? God is with you when you go to yourgrandma’s house.

� The Bible says, “The Lord your God is with you.”God is with us everywhere we go! I’m glad God isalways with me. Pray briefly, Dear God, thank Youfor always being with me.

For Younger ChildrenAsk children to name the people they draw. Label each person.

For Older ChildrenChildren name a place their family goes in the car. Assist children in writing the place name on the Car Pattern.


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Lesson 17Play to LearnConstruction Center: Wrapping Gifts

CollectBible, blocks, a variety of boxes (shoe boxes, shirtboxes, empty food boxes, etc.), scissors, severalrolls of Christmas wrapping paper, tape.

PrepareAttach short pieces of tape to a nearby table edgefor children to use.

DoChildren wrap blocks and boxes in wrapping paper. Children act out giving gifts to each other.

Talk About� In today’s Bible story some wise men

went on a trip to visit Jesus. Theypacked gifts to give to Jesus. At Christ-mastime, we give each other gifts, too.Let’s pretend we are wrapping gifts!

� Luke, who do you deliver gifts to atChristmas? God is with you when youride to your cousin’s house to delivergifts.

� Maria, God is with you when you are atthe store buying gifts. God is with useverywhere we go!

� The Bible says, “The Lord your God iswith you.” God is with us all the time.Lily, what are some words we could sayto show our thanks to God? (“Thank You.”“I love You.”) Pray briefly, Thank You, God,for being with us. We love You!

For Younger ChildrenProvide Christmas gift bags and tissue paper. Children fold tissue paper around blocks and place blocksinto gift bags.

For Older ChildrenChildren arrange gifts by size or pattern.




Play to LearnDramatic Play Center: Passenger Travel

CollectBible, Lesson 17 Passenger Travel Tickets from Grow-ing with God CD-ROM, chairs, travel objects (smallsuitcases and/or backpacks, maps, travel brochures,cameras, compasses, postcards, pencils, etc.).

PrepareCopy and cut out Passenger Travel Tickets. Set outchairs in rows for airplane.

Do1. Children pack travel objects into suitcases and/or backpacks. Children show tickets to a child or

helper pretending to be airline personnel and then pretend to fly on the plane.

2. When children arrive at pretend destination, children go on a walking tour and use cameras andcompasses. Children can write postcards to family describing their trip.

Talk About� In today’s Bible story, some wise men went

on a long trip to Bethlehem. Mary, Joseph and Jesus went on a long trip to Egypt. Let’spretend we’re going on a trip, too!

� Enrique, what are some things people do to get ready for a trip? Packing is an importantthing to do before a trip. What kinds of thingsdo you want to take with you on your trip?

� Jessica, where are you going on your trip? God will be with you when you go to the beach. God is with you always.

� The Bible says, “The Lord your God is with you.” God is with us everywhere we go! I’mglad God is always with me.

� Let’s thank God for always being with us. Pray briefly.

For Younger ChildrenProvide only suitcases and/or backpacks and two or three other travel objects. Children pack suitcasesand/or backpacks, walk around the room, and then unpack suitcases and or/backpacks.

For Older ChildrenProvide magazine pictures of different locations (mountains, beaches, amusement parks, etc.). Chil-dren glue pictures to sheets of construction paper to make their own travel posters and/or brochures.


Lesson 17




Listen to LearnMatthew 2:1-15

CollectBible, Bible Story 30 pictures from God’s Story forMe Poster Pack #2, Preschool Music #2 DVD or CDand player, beanbag or ball.

Greet Each OtherChildren sit in a circle. Play “Welcome, Hello!”(track 1 on CD). Children pass beanbag or ballaround the circle. After beanbag or ball has beenpassed to several children, stop the music. Childholding the beanbag or ball when the music stopstells a place he or she goes.

Tell the StoryOpen your Bible to Matthew 2:1-15. Tell the story using the pictured motions (keywords in bold) orshow Bible Story 30 pictures.

How many stars do you think are in the sky? There are too many stars for anyone but God tocount! Let’s listen to our story and hear about one very special star.

Jesus had been born in Bethlehem. And God wanted some men far away to knowabout Jesus’ birth.

So God put a very bright star in the sky. The star showed the wise men that a greatnew King had been born!

“Let’s go and find this King!” the wise men said. “We’ll take special gifts to give thenew King.” The wise men packed their camels. They rode for days and days.

The wise men went to King Herod’s palace. They asked King Herod, “Where is thenew King? We saw His star. We want to worship Him.”

King Herod got angry! He wanted to be the ONLY king! King Herod asked hishelpers where this new King would be born.

“God’s Word says He will be born in Bethlehem,” they said.

King Herod told the wise men, “Go. Find the child. Then come and tell me. I want to worship Him, too.” But King Herod really wanted to hurt Jesus!

The wise men went to Bethlehem. They saw the bright star right over Jesus’house! When the wise men saw Jesus, they bowed. They gave Him the specialgifts they’d brought. Then God told the wise men in a dream, “Do NOT go back to King Herod.” The wise men went home by another road. They never told KingHerod where Jesus was!

Soon after the wise men left, an angel talked to Joseph in a dream. ”Get up,” theangel said. “Take Mary and Jesus to Egypt. King Herod wants to hurt Jesus.” Josephgot right up. He woke Mary and they packed a few things. Mary, Joseph and Jesusstarted for Egypt in the quiet nighttime. They traveled for many days. Finally, theywere in Egypt. Joseph and Mary and Jesus were safe!


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Talk About the StoryWhere did the angel tell Joseph to take Mary and Jesus? (Egypt.) God kept Joseph, Mary andJesus safe by sending the angel to tell them to go to Egypt. They must have been very thank-ful that God was with them. God is always with us, too! Where do you like to go with yourfamily? God is with you when you go to the park!

Sing to GodLet’s sing a song that reminds us of the night Jesus was born. Lead children in singing “Christ-mas Joy” (on DVD or track 5 on CD). When the wise men found Jesus, He was no longer a baby.Jesus was a little boy!

Hear and Say God’s WordHolding your Bible open to Zephaniah 3:17,say verse aloud. God shows His love for usby being with us all the time! Lead childrenin repeating the verse. Children point up onthe words “Lord” and point to a differentchild in the class on the word “you.” Repeatseveral times.

Pray to GodWe can thank God for always being with us. Invite each volunteer to pray this brief thank-youprayer: Thank You, God, for being with me always.

Praise to GodChildren stand on one side of classroom. In our Bible story today, God was with Joseph, Mary,and Jesus. I’m glad that God is with us wherever we go. Let’s walk across the room in differ-ent ways, showing different places we go. Lead children in walking across the room in a variety of ways: slowly as if carrying heavy bags from the grocery store, skipping and pretending to hold a beach ball as if going to the beach, tiptoeing quietly as if walking in the library, etc.


Lesson 17

Option: Children experiment with singing thewords of the verse to familiar tunes (“MaryHad a Little Lamb,” “Are You Sleeping?” etc.).


Talk to LearnBible Story Activity Pages CenterCollectA copy of Activity 30 from The Big Book of Bible Story ActivityPages #2 for yourself and each child, crayons or markers.

DoLead children to complete pages following the instructions.Use the conversation suggestions as children complete theirpages and retell the story.

Preschool Puzzle CenterCollectCopies of Bible Story Puzzle 17, Bible VersePuzzle 17 and/or Challenge Puzzle 17 fromThe Big Book of Preschool Puzzles #2 for eachchild; pencils, crayons or markers.

DoChildren complete the puzzles and color pages.Use the conversation suggestions on the pages.

Read-Aloud Story CenterCollectA copy of Story Picture 17 from The Big Book of Read-Aloud Stories #2 for yourself and each child, crayons or markers.

DoRead the story and distribute pictures. Use the conversation suggestions as children complete their pages.


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Bible Story Activity 30

127

“The Lord yourGod is with you.”

Zephaniah 3:17

�

•What did God use to show the wise men where to go? •God is always with you. Where do you like to go?

• Teacher cuts slit in rolled page (see sketch on back of this page).• Child colors page and adds Bag stickers to cover gifts.• Child cuts off star strip, folds page and strip and slides strip intoslit to review story action.

fold

© 2010 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to the original purchaser only. The Big Book of Bible Story Activity Pages #2

• Teacher cuts slits in rolled page (see sketch on back of this page). • Child colors page.• Child cuts off star strip, folds page and strip and slides strip into slitto review story action.

Name ____________________________

“The Lord your God is with you.”Zephaniah 3:17

In the box, draw what Matthew made for his grandpa.Tape wrapping paper on the box. Draw decorations on the Christmas tree. Color the picture.

(Tape at top only.)

Story Pic

ture

17

© 2010 G

ospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only.The Big Book of R

ead-Aloud Stories #2

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lesson17:lkt 4/13/10 4:14 pm page 161 escape to egypt...

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