who is our god?...about god 23 proverbs cards leader tip! the bible is your most important tool....

FOR THE LEADER

Who Is Our God?Romans 1:18–11:36

Paul’s letter to the Romans continues by examining the nature of God. Paul began his discussion of God by telling the Jews to whom he wrote that God’s wrath was evident among the Gentiles. Paul knew that many Jews thought since they were God’s chosen people that God would grant them special favors that were not granted to the Gentiles. Paul finished his chastisement of the Gentiles by telling the Jews that they were no better off since, like the Gentiles, Jews also were guilty of sin.

God is a just God and must judge sin. The difference between God’s judgment and man’s judgment is that God’s judgment is based in truth. Paul highlighted God’s truthfulness as one of the examples of God’s character. God does not show favoritism to anyone. Every person has sinned, so all are equally guilty before God.

God is a loving God and God’s love is pure. God demonstrated His love for us when He sent His Son, Jesus, to die in our place as a punishment for our sin. Even in our sin, God loved us enough to send Jesus in our place. God loves all people and asks that, in turn, they show love to others. God sent Jesus—the one who perfectly fulfilled God’s law—to be condemned on our behalf.

Because of the work of Christ, we are called God’s children. As any parent who loves his children would, God gives good things to His children. God takes the time and care to make sure that His plans for each person’s life are fulfilled and work for good. Even when we struggle, God is available with help and comfort. As true sons and daughters of God, we are heirs of His kingdom and co-heirs with Jesus.

Romans 11 records a song of praise that Paul offered up to God. This song shows many of the attributes boys and girls will study about God. Paul praised God’s knowledge and wisdom, His perfect judgments, and the fact that He is the giver of all things. Because He is God, we should worship Him and glorify Him forever.

Session 2Session 2: Who Is Our God?

Explore the Bible: Babies & Toddlers Leader Guide14 © 2018 LifeWay

OVERVIEW

SESSION FOCUSTEXT TRUTHPaul taught people about God.

BIBLE STORYRomans 1:18–11:36

BIBLE VERSERomans 5:8

CHRIST IN CONTEXTThe Book of Romans affirms that we became sinners through one man, Adam, and we will be saved through one man, Jesus. Through Jesus, sinful man is reconciled to holy God.

BIBLE SKILLS • Help open the Bible. Say the word Bible.• Hear that people in the Bible told about God.

OFF TO A GREAT START! ▸▸ First impressions are important. Help each child and family feel special and welcomed at church.

▸▸ Greet each child individually and personally.

▸▸ Briefly mention to families and their preschooler an activity you have ready for children to enjoy at church.

TEXT CONNECTION

• Paul continued his teachings to the Roman churches by highlighting the doctrine of God. Paul taught the Romans that no excuse existed for not knowing God, since God had revealed Himself in many ways. Because of Who God is, God requires judgment for sin.

• Though God requires judgment for sin, He is also patient with sinners. Thankfully Jesus paid our true penalty for sin and death. Through the sacrifice of Christ, believers are justified through faith in Him.

• God sent His Holy Spirit to lead people to understand God’s desires and help us know when we sin and need forgiveness.

• God sent Jesus as an example for believers to follow. Mark 2 shares a story of healing and friendship and clearly identifies Jesus as the Son of God and one with God. Jesus’ ability to heal proved His authority as God, and His life exemplified the nature of God that Paul taught the Romans.

FAMILY AT HOMEPrint this week’s devotional page (Enhanced CD) to give to families.

EXPLORATIONS FOR BABIES• Turn Bible Pages• Chant & Clap• Pull Ribbons from a Box

EXPLORATIONS FOR TODDLERS• Scoot on a Riding Toy• Tear & Stick Tissue Paper• Toss Beads in a Bucket• Feel & Guess

Session 2: Who Is Our God? 15© 2018 LifeWay

BABIES EXPLORE THE BIBLE

BIBLE STORY NUGGETS• Paul loved God.• Paul loved his friends and taught them. • Paul said God loves people.

BABIES EXPLORE THE BIBLEBabies are sensory learners, and they are relational. They learn best when teachers engage them through conversation and play. Prepare two or three activities for babies to enjoy as they explore the Bible.

TURN BIBLE PAGESTools: Bible, Proverbs Cards (Pack) and a few paper heart shape cutouts

• Place the Proverbs Cards between several pages of the Bible.

• Hold a baby in your lap or sit on the floor next to a baby. Put the Bible in the baby’s lap. Guide the baby to open the Bible and turn pages.

• Quietly sing about the Bible. Make up a tune for these words: The Bible, the Bible, the Bible is for me. The Bible, the Bible, I read that God loves me.

• When the baby finds a card, say: “You found a heart shape in the Bible. The heart reminds me of love. We read in the Bible that God shows His love for us. God loves you.”

CHANT & CLAPTools: Bible, Story Picture: Paul Talked About God (Pack)

• Tape the Story Picture low on a wall near where babies will play. Place the Bible nearby.

• Sit across from a baby. Tap the Bible as you clap and chant these words: Paul loved his friends and taught them how to share*, Paul said God loves people everywhere*.

TEXT TRUTHPaul taught people about God.

BIBLE STORYPaul Talked About GodRomans 1:18–11:36

BIBLE VERSE PARAPHRASE God shows His love.Romans 5:8

PACK ITEMS 2 Story Picture: Paul Talked

About God23 Proverbs Cards

LEADER TIP!The Bible is your most important tool. Keep 2 or 3 Bibles in your room to use with babies. Let babies see, touch, and turn Bible pages.


BABIES EXPLORE THE BIBLE

NEXT HOUR (MORE EXPLORATIONS FOR BABIES)

• Continue and repeat activities from the first hour. Babies

learn through repetition and practice.

• As you cuddle, rock, soothe, and tend to babies’ needs, talk

about the Bible. Say Bible words and phrases.

• Use the Bible with babies. Let them see, touch, and turn

Bible pages.

• Substitute other words such as care/everywhere or what to do/like you.

• Encourage the baby to clap his hands when you repeat the chant.

• Open the Bible to the Book of Romans and say: “Paul wrote about God. Paul said, ‘God shows His love.’ ”

PULL RIBBONS FROM A BOXTools: Bible, Diaper Bag Card, square tissue box, tape, bright-colored ribbons, 3 or 4 plastic toy people figures

• Tape the Diaper Bag Card to one side of the tissue box. Tie the ribbons together end to end. Stuff the ribbons into the box, leaving one ribbon showing.

• Help a baby pull on the end of the ribbon. As more ribbons appear, name the colors. Point to similar colors on the Diaper Bag Card or nearby toys.

• Give a people figure to the baby to hold. Point to people shown on the Diaper Bag Card. Say: “Paul told people about God. Paul said God loves people. God loves you.”

• Sing the song “God Is So Good” or another song about God while the baby plays.

• Open the Bible to Romans and find God’s name. Help the baby touch the Bible page. Say: “The Bible tells about God.”

DON’T FORGET! Give every child this week’s Diaper Bag Card and Preschool Family Card.


TODDLERS EXPLORE THE BIBLE

TEXT TRUTH Paul taught people about God.

BIBLE VERSE PARAPHRASEGod shows His love.Romans 5:8


About God18 Book: The Bible Tells Me

EXPLORATION STATIONS (45-60 MINUTES)

SCOOT ON A RIDING TOY

Tools: Bible, toddler’s riding toy or child’s wagon, Diaper Bag Card, a few

wooden blocks

• Invite a child to sit on the riding toy and “haul” the Bible and blocks

to a destination. As the child scoots and moves, remark that God

made him grow and be able to do many things.

• Show the child the picture on the Diaper Bag Card. Point to the

people, telling the child that Paul talked to many people and told

them about God. Paul said that God shows His love to people.

• Open the Bible to Romans 5:8 and point to the words. Say: “God

wants us to know that He loves and cares for us. God is good.”

PAUL TALKED ABOUT GODRomans 1:18–11:36

Paul’s church friends in Rome worked together to tell people about Jesus. Paul wanted to remind the friends about God and His plan for people.

“God wants everyone to obey Him and love His Son. God wants people to believe Jesus is the Helper God promised He would send,” said Paul.

Paul wanted his friends and all people to know about God’s goodness and love.

Paul helped the church friends know that people who love God and obey Him are His children. God cares about His children and guides them. Paul said, “Nothing can keep us away from God’s love.”

Everything Paul did and said showed how much he loved God.

EXPLORATION STATIONSToddlers are on the go and ready to learn. They learn best through playful exploration and discovery. Offer three or more multisensory activities to lead young preschoolers to discover and learn Bible truths.


TODDLERS EXPLORE THE BIBLE

TOSS BEADS IN A BUCKET

Tools: Bible, plastic bucket or

dishpan, plastic pop beads, gift

bag, Story Picture: Paul Talked

About God (Pack), Book: The

Bible Tells Me (Pack)

• Put the bucket on the floor

and put the pop beads

in the bag. Lay the Bible,

picture, and book nearby.

• Invite toddlers to toss

beads into the bucket.

Comment on the sounds

the beads make. Thank

God for ears to hear.

• Remark: “Paul talked to

many people about God.

The people listened to what

Paul told them about God.”

• Show children the Story

Picture and point to

Paul, then the people.

Summarize the Bible story.

• Show where the story is

located in the Bible. Say:

“The story is in the Bible in

the Book of Romans.”

TEAR & STICK TISSUE PAPER

Tools: Bible, colorful tissue paper, clear contact plastic, tape, paper strips with today’s Bible verse written on them

• Cut the plastic into 12-by-12-inch squares (one per child). Peel the paper back away, and tape the plastic to the table with the sticky side up.

• Lay several pieces of tissue paper and the Bible in the center of the table.

• Give a piece of tissue paper to a child and guide him to tear it into small pieces. (Or tear pieces ahead of time for younger children.)

• Suggest that the child place tissue paper on his plastic to make pretty designs. Give him a Bible verse strip to put on the plastic. Read the words on the strip.

• Open the Bible to the Book of Romans. Say: “This verse is in the Bible. Paul wrote the words. Paul said that God is good.”

FEEL & GUESS

Tools: Bible, chunk crayon, plastic cup, puzzle piece, small toy car, shape sorter piece, pop bead, cloth or paper bag, Diaper Bag Card or Preschool Family Card

• Put the items on the floor. Ask toddlers how they use the items at church.

• Drop the items in the bag. Guide a child to put her hand in the bag to feel an item. Ask her to guess what the item is.

• Say: “It is something that helps you learn about God. Paul helped people learn about God. Paul talked to many people.”

• Show the picture on the Diaper Bag Card and point to Paul. Say: “Paul helped people in churches know about God. Paul said, ‘God shows His love.’ Paul told the people to obey God.”

• Help the child turn to Romans 5:8. Point to God’s name and the word love.


TODDLERSCIRCLE TIME

CIRCLE TIME TOOLS• Bible• cardboard pieces (approx.

81/2-by-11 inches in size)• Enhanced CD


About God24 Family Picture

LEADER TIP!Use the Bible. Open the Bible to the Scripture passage while you tell the story. That way toddlers will know the story comes from the Bible.

GATHER• Play the Enhanced CD. Walk

around the room and give each child a piece of cardboard. Direct toddlers to take their cardboard to the Circle Time area.

• When everyone is in the circle, tell children to put their cardboard on the floor and sit on it.

• Listen for a song about God. Sing together and clap to the music.

HEAR THE BIBLE STORY• Show children the Family Picture

(Pack). Say: “Families do many things together. One thing your family does is come to church to learn about God. Our Bible story is about someone who taught about God.”

• Open the Bible to Romans 1 and show children the page. Remark that Paul wrote to church people in Rome. The Bible story is from the letter Paul wrote to the church.

• Tell the Bible story, then show preschoolers the Story Picture (Pack). Point to the people listening to Paul. Comment: “You are sitting and listening to me. You are learning about God, just like the people in Bible times did.”

PRACTICE BIBLE SKILLS• Invite toddlers to hold hands

as they stand on their pieces of cardboard.

• Say: “Let’s say an important Bible verse together.”

• Lead children to repeat the Bible verse two times.

PRAY• Say a brief sentence prayer. Pray:

“Dear God, thank You for the Bible. We know the Bible helps us learn about You and how much You love us.”

• Call on toddlers who are eager to pray.

• End Circle Time by singing the song “God Is So Good.” Lead toddlers to sing and clap.

CIRCLE TIME (2-5 MINUTES)

Your toddlers may be ready for a simple circle time. You decide when and how long to have a group experience.


TODDLERS NEXT HOUR

DON’T FORGET! • Make a final diaper check.• Put a Diaper Bag Card and

Preschool Family Card in each child’s bag.

• Release children to authorized adults.

ROLL BALLS THROUGH A TUBE

Tools: Bible, 2 or 3 small foam balls, mailing tube or long box with both

ends opened, Diaper Bag Card

• Slip the Diaper Bag Card in the Bible at Romans 1.

• Suggest that a toddler roll the ball through the tube toward a

friend sitting at the opposite end.

• After a few turns of rolling and retrieving the balls, pick up the

Bible and hand it to a child. Ask her to find the card. Identify

Paul and the people listening to him. Tell the child that Paul

often traveled to towns to talk to church friends about God.

• Touch the Bible page and point to the words Paul and Romans.

Comment: “Paul wrote a letter to people in Rome and told them

to obey God. Paul said, ‘God shows His love to us. God is good.’ ”

NEXT HOUR (MORE EXPLORATIONS FOR TODDLERS)

OPTION 1 Continue activities from first hour. (Kids learn through repetition!)

OPTION 2 Try something different. Choose two or three new activities.

MAKE A STICKER PICTURE

Tools: Bible, paper, assorted colorful stickers,

washable marker

• In the center of each child’s page, write

the name God. Use large manuscript

letters.

• Guide toddlers to choose stickers to put

on their papers. Point to God’s name and

say it. Tell children that God loves people

and is good to them.

• Turn to the Book of Romans while

children work on their pictures. Find

God’s name. Then find Paul’s name.

• Remark: “Paul wrote letters to church

friends in Rome to help them know that

God loved them.”

CARRY BIBLES IN BAGSTools: 2 or 3 Bibles (different sizes), small cloth bags or purses in which the Bibles can fit, Story Picture: Paul Talked About God (Pack Item 2)

• Invite a child to choose a Bible and find a bag in which to put it. Say: “Some people bring Bibles to church in bags or purses.”

• Help other children fit Bibles into bags and walk around the room with them.

• Finally, sit down with toddlers and encourage them to turn Bible pages. Talk about the Bible. Say: “We read the Bible to learn about God. A man named Paul wrote part of the Bible. Paul said God is good and He loves us.”

• Show the Story Picture and point to Paul.

Look for printable Next Hour helps on the Preschool Enhanced CD.


who is our god?...about god 23 proverbs cards leader tip! the bible is your most important tool....

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