FOR THE LEADER

Session 7: God Gave the Law

God Gave the Law Exodus 19–20

Through Moses, God had led the people out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, and through the wilderness of Sinai, to a mountain where the people camped. The traditional site of this mountain, called Sinai or Horeb in the Bible, is on the peninsula between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. The peak considered to be Jebel Musa, or the mount of Moses, is one of three peaks in this range. The surrounding landscape is rocky and unforgiving. It was here God called for the people to stop and where God called Moses to the top of the mountain.

Moses did as God instructed and climbed the mountain where he talked directly with God Himself. God’s message to Moses was simple: Go down the mountain and tell the people they had seen the great things God had done. There should be no doubt that God is powerful. God had chosen this people as His, and He was to be their God and bless them. Moses returned to the people and announced God’s message. The Israelite leaders agreed to do what God had said and follow Him.

Moses called the leaders and the people together and prepared them to meet with God. The people were called to clean themselves, for on the third day they were to meet with God and hear from Him the ways they could live to honor Him. On the third day, God announced His arrival with thunder, lightning, a thick cloud, and the sound of a trumpet. God called Moses up the mountain to give him a warning about the people breaking through the cloud and coming up the mountain. God sent Moses back down the mountain to share God’s commands for the people to follow.

The commands God gave defined ways to be in relationship with Him by honoring only God and not creating idols that would distract from worship of Almighty God. God-honoring relationships with others would be possible as well if people loved their neighbors through truthful actions, mutual respect, honoring marriage promises, and a lack of greed for things others have.

Session 7

55Session 7: God Gave the Law© 2020 LifeWay

OVERVIEW

SESSION FOCUSBIBLE PASSAGE: Exodus 19–20

MEMORY VERSE: Joshua 22:5

BIBLE VERSE: Exodus 19:5

TEXT TRUTH: God gave His people the law.

BIBLE SKILLS SPOTLIGHT: Knows the Bible teaches people how God wants them to live.

BIBLE STUDY (35 MINUTES)

¨ Jump In: “Ten Commandments” and “Text Truth 7” (Slides)

¨ Examine the Text: Bibles, “The Gospel” (Printables)

¨ Play the Video: Explore the Bible on Location video

¨ Memory Verse: “Joshua 22:5” (Poster Pack), trash can or bucket, paper, scissors, marker

¨ Prayer: Family Cards, “The Gospel” (Printables)

APPLY THE TRUTH (20 MINUTES)

¨ Explorer Guides: Bibles, Explorer Guides, pens, “The Gospel” (Printables)

¨ Review: “Review Questions” (Printables), gift bag

¨ Tech Connect (Optional): a device with the LifeWay for Kids app

ACTIVITIES (20 MINUTES)

¨ Bible Skills: “Honor God/Love People” and “Commandment Hearts” (Poster Pack), tape, Bibles

¨ Move: “Fishing Commandments” (Poster Pack), paper clips, round magnets, wooden dowel rod, string, scissors

¨ Make: plastic or paper cups (brown or green), flower stickers, cotton batting, glue, scissors, “Tablets” (Printables)

¨ Explore: “Nache Photos” (Printables)

Leaders, grow on the go! Listen to session-by-session training every week on Ministry Grid, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, LifeWay’s Digital Pass, or visit goexplorethebible.com/kids-training.

56 Explore the Bible: Younger Kids© 2020 LifeWay

BIBLE STORY

DON’T FORGET TO SEND HOME THESE FAMILY RESOURCES EACH WEEK:•“ExploretheBibleatHome”

(Printables)•ExploretheBible:Kids

FamilyCards

CHRIST IN CONTEXT:The Book of Exodus is the story of God at work through Moses to rescue His people from bondage. In a greater way, Jesus was sent to rescue us from the bondage of sin. In Exodus the Passover lamb was sacrificed to save the Israelites. Later, Jesus would sacrifice Himself as the final Passover lamb, paying for our sin once and for all.

GOD GAVE THE LAWExodus 19–20

God used Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. The Israelites traveled to Sinai and camped at the bottom of the mountain. Moses went up on the mountain and talked with God. God told Moses to tell the people, “You have seen all that I have done and how I kept you safe. Now, if you will obey Me, you will be a special nation.” Moses told the people, and they agreed to obey God.

Moses returned to the mountaintop to tell God what the people said. God told Moses that He would come in a thick cloud. God said to get the people ready for Him.

Thunder and lightning started, and a thick cloud covered the mountain. The people heard a great trumpet sound. God spoke and the people listened. God told how the people should behave.

Do not worship anyone but God. God is the only God.

Do not worship anything you have made.

Always say God’s name in a nice way.

Work on six days. On the seventh day, rest and worship God.

Honor and respect your mother and father.

Do not kill anyone.

Husbands and wives should keep their wedding promises.

Do not take something that belongs to someone else.

Do not tell lies about other people. Always tell the truth.

Do not wish for things that belong to other people.

57Session 7: God Gave the Law© 2020 LifeWay

BIBLE STUDY

TOOLS:• Jump In: “Ten

Commandments” and “Text Truth 7” (Slides)

• Examine the Text: Bibles, “The Gospel” (Printables)

• Play the Video: Explore the Bible on Location video

• Memory Verse: “Joshua 22:5” (Poster Pack), trash can or bucket, paper, scissors, marker

• Prayer: Family Cards, “The Gospel” (Printables)

BIBLE STUDY (35 MINUTES)

Need an Opening Activity? Choose one of the activities in the Activities section and adapt it to introduce the session.

JUMP IN• Say: “I hope you are all good rule followers because today I have some

new rules to share with you.”• Give the kids funny rules to follow. (Examples: You must have one hand on

the floor at all times. You aren’t allowed to talk unless you moo for permission and I moo back. You must close one eye every time you smile.)

• Give the kids a few minutes to try to follow all the silly rules.• Ask: “Do any of you have rules to follow at home or at school?” (Allow the

kids to share some rules they must follow at home or school.)• Say: “My list of rules was silly and just for fun, but usually rules are put

in place to help you. Moms and dads and teachers make rules for your own good, to help you be successful and stay safe.”

• Display the “Ten Commandments” slide. • Say: “There is an amazing church in Egypt that is built in a huge cave. The

cave has carvings all over it that show different parts of the Bible.”• Ask: “Does anyone think they know what this carving is a picture of?”

(The Ten Commandments)• Explain that the Ten Commandments are a list of rules that God gave to

His people after He brought them out of Egypt.• Say: “The Ten Commandments is a list of rules that God gave us to show

us how to live. His rules aren’t silly—they are designed to help us.”• Display the Text Truth: God gave His people the law.• Explain that the Ten Commandments also help us see how often we

disobey God, because no one on earth could ever perfectly keep all of the Ten Commandments—no one except Jesus.

EXAMINE THE TEXT• Guide the kids to open their Bibles to Exodus 19. Explain that Moses

wrote all of these things down for us so that we would know what happened after he led the people out of Egypt.

• Read Exodus 19:1-5.• Remind the kids that Exodus is one of the first five books of the Bible,

which are the books of the Law. • Tell the Bible story in your own words. A Bible story page has been

provided for you to use as a guide.• Say: “Following Jesus is not about following rules. But God’s rules

do show us the very best way to live. We will never keep the Ten Commandments perfectly, but we can use these rules to help us understand how to honor God with our lives.”

58 Explore the Bible: Younger Kids© 2020 LifeWay

BIBLE STUDY

• Use “The Gospel” printable to help the kids understand that the reason Jesus had to come and die for us is because we can’t keep God’s rules perfectly. The Bible tells us that we deserve punishment for our sin, and we needed Jesus to come and perfectly keep the Ten Commandments and all of God’s commands and then take the punishment that we deserved.

PLAY THE VIDEO• Play the Session 7 video.• Ask: “Who did Joel meet today? What did they talk about? Why are

God’s rules good?”

MEMORY VERSE ¨ Bible Verse Option: The Memory Verse activity each week is focused on the

monthly Memory Verse, Joshua 22:5. If your kids quickly memorize the Memory Verse, you may opt to challenge them to learn an additional weekly Bible Verse. This week’s Bible Verse is Exodus 19:5.

¨ Write out two copies of the Memory Verse and cut apart each word.

• Display the “Joshua 22:5” poster.• Lead the class to read it together.• Say: “We can’t keep God’s commands perfectly, but we can depend on

Jesus to help us follow Him and obey God.”• Group the kids into two teams.• Using a trash can or bucket and some paper that is crumpled into a ball,

guide the teams to race to make a basket with their crumpled paper. • Each time the team makes a basket, they earn one word of the Memory

Verse. Allow the kids to race to see which team is the first to earn all of the words and put them in order.

PRAYER• Review “The Gospel” with boys and girls. Provide a chance for kids to ask

questions or speak with another leader individually.• Say: “The Bible tells us that when we don’t follow God’s commands

perfectly, we are sinning. Remember, Scripture tells us we all have sinned. When we sin, we can talk to God and ask Him to forgive us.”

• Lead the kids in a short time of silent prayer, encouraging them to confess their sins to God and ask for His forgiveness.

• Say: “I am so happy that Jesus is perfect when we aren’t. We need Jesus.”• Give the kids Family Cards and encourage them to teach their families

about the Ten Commandments.

59Session 7: God Gave the Law© 2020 LifeWay

APPLY

TOOLS:• Explorer Guides: Bibles,

Explorer Guides, pens, “The Gospel” (Printables)

• Review: “Review Questions” (Printables), gift bag

• Tech Connect (Optional): a device with the LifeWay Kids app

APPLY THE TRUTH (20 MINUTES)

EXPLORER GUIDES• Distribute Explorer Guides and help kids locate today’s pages, “The Ten

Commandments.”• Invite kids to read more about today’s object, “10 Commandments.”• Ask a volunteer to read “An 850-Year-Old-Statue!”• Help boys and girls solve the “Ten Commandments Crossword.”• Read about “Climbing Mt. Sinai.”• Lead girls and boys to draw the symbols in the “Gospel Review.” Display

“The Gospel” and discuss each statement with boys and girls as they draw.

REVIEW• Print the “Review Questions” and place them in a gift bag. • Ask the kids to sit in a circle and lead them in a song. • Tell the kids to watch you as they pass the bag around the circle. • When you stop singing, whoever is holding the bag will choose a

question from the bag. If they can answer it, they keep it. If not, it goes back in the bag.

TECH CONNECT (OPTIONAL)• Prior to Small Group, download the LifeWay Kids app. Use the activity

labeled “Explorer Plus” in the Explore the Bible: Kids section of the app.

60 Explore the Bible: Younger Kids© 2020 LifeWay

ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITIES (20 MINUTES)

• Select one or more of the activities to complete as time allows.

SORTING THE TEN

Tools: “Honor God/Love People” and

“Commandment Hearts” (Poster Pack), tape,

Bibles

• Ask:“WhichoftheTenCommandmentsdo

youthinkistheMOSTimportant?”(Allow the

kids to think it over and guess.)

• Say:“DidyouknowthatwhenJesuswason

earth,areligiousleaderaskedHimthatvery

question?”• GuidethekidstoopentheirBiblesto

Matthew22:36-39.

• Askavolunteertoreadtheversesaloud.

• Say:“JesusshowedusthattheTen

Commandmentscanallbesummedupin

thesetwoideas:HonorGodandlovepeople.”

• ExplainthateachoftheTenCommandments

addressesoneoftheseideas.

• Displaythe“HonorGod/LovePeople”

poster.Usingthe“CommandmentHearts,”

allowthekidstoworktogethertosortthe

TenCommandmentsintooneofthetwo

categories.• Allowthemtodoitontheirownfirst,andthen

discusswhydifferentcommandmentsgoin

differentcategories.

• Say:“God gave His people the law.God gave His people the law.The

BibleteachespeoplehowGodwantsthemto

live.”

FISHING FOR COMMANDMENTS Tools: “Fishing Commandments” (Poster Pack), paper clips, round magnets, wooden dowel rod, string, scissors

¨ Cut out the fish from the “Fishing Commandments” poster.

• Say:“God gave His people the law.God gave His people the law.Wearegoingtoplayagametoreviewpartofthelaw.”

• Clipapapercliptoeachfishandscatterthemonthefloor.

• Usingadowelrodwithamagnettiedtoastringlikeafishingpole,leadthekidstofishforcommandments.

• Asthey“catch”acommandment,askthemtoreaditandthensuggestonelovingactiontheycandotoliveoutthatcommandment.(For example: Keep your room neat to live out “Honor and respect your mother and father.”)

BIBLE SKILLS

MOVEEXPLORE

MAKE

BIBLE SKILLS

MOVEEXPLORE

MAKE

61Session 7: God Gave the Law© 2020 LifeWay

SMALL GROUP

MOUNT SINAI MODEL

Tools: plastic or paper cups (green or brown), flower stickers, cotton batting, glue, scissors, “Tablets” (Printables)

• Giveeachchildacupanddirectthemtoturn

thecupsupsidedown.ThiswillbeMountSinai.

• Showthemhowtogluetuftsofcottonbatting

tothetopofthemountaintorepresentthecloudofGod’spresence.

• Guidethekidstodecoratethebottompartof

themountainwithflowerstickers.• Askthekidstocutoutthetabletstoglueto

thetopofthemountain.(The tablets will be

sticking out of the cloud.)• Asthekidsfinishtheirmountains,reviewthe

storywiththemandchallengethemtotryand

rememberalloftheTenCommandments.• ReviewtheTextTruth: God gave His people God gave His people

the law.the law.

THE NACHE FAMILYTools: “Nache Photos” (Printables)

• RemindkidsofthecurrentmissionsfocusonMinnesota.

• Displaythephotosandaskkidstoreadthecaptions.

• Say:“ManyimmigrantsfromAfricacometoMinneapolisandSt.Paul.SincetheNachesalsocametotheUnitedStatesfromAfrica,theyareuniquelygiftedtoshareChristwiththeimmigrants.”

• AskkidstolookatthephotosandsuggestwaysthattheymightprayfortheNachesandthepeopletheyministertoinMinneapolis.

• Askavolunteertovoiceaprayerforseveraloftherequestsmentioned.

ACTIVITIES

BIBLE SKILLSMOVEEXPLORE

MAKE BIBLE SKILLS

MOVEEXPLORE

MAKE

62 Explore the Bible: Younger Kids© 2020 LifeWay