God takes care of those who follow him.
Praise Jesus!
Paul Is Shipwrecked • Lesson 3 Bible Point
God takes care of those who follow him.
Bible Verse “The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him” (Nahum 1:7).
Growing Closer to Jesus Students will n react to a surprise disaster, n act out Paul’s stormy voyage, n hear how God can work through disastrous situations, and n affirm their trust in God.
Teacher Enrichment Bible Basis
n Paul is shipwrecked.
Acts 27:9-44
After waiting for more than two years for a fair trial, Paul was finally transported to Rome to be tried before Caesar. But the journey was complicated by a terrible storm. We don’t know exactly what the sailors did with the ropes to try to keep the ship together, but they may have wrapped them around the hull in an attempt to keep it from coming apart. After days of the storm, all aboard the ship must have felt certain that they were going to die. But the message Paul received from God via an angel told them otherwise. Paul was obviously confident that they would all be saved. Once the ship had run aground and began breaking up, the soldiers realized that their prisoners might escape as they all abandoned ship and tried to get to shore. The soldiers’ intent to kill the prisoners was typical because if a guard allowed a prisoner to escape, the guard’s own life was taken. However, the centurion in charge put an end to the soldiers’ plan, probably because of his gratitude to Paul for his prayers and encouragement. They all reached land safely, just as the angel had told Paul they would. Other Scriptures used in this lesson are Psalm 23 and Romans 8:28.
Prayer • Read Jeremiah 29:11-13. • How does knowing that God has good plans for your life help you during times of crisis? • Pray: Lord, help me trust you, even during stormy times. Help me show my confidence in you to my students by…
Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Grades 3 & 4 31
Lesson 3
Before the Lesson n Collect the necessary items for the activities you plan to use, referring to the Classroom Supplies and Learning Lab Supplies listed on the chart. n Make photocopies of the “Hands-On Fun at Home” handout (at the end of this lesson) to send home with your students. n Pray for your students and for God’s direction as you teach the lesson.
This Lesson at a Glance Attention Grabber Bible Exploration & Application
What Students Will Do
Classroom Supplies
What Happened?—React to an unexpected disaster in their meeting area.
Snacks
An Unexpected Storm—Act
Bible, CD player, masking tape, water
Troubled Times—Hear how God took care of other kids, and discuss Romans 8:28.
Bibles, CD player
My Shepherd—Read Psalm
Bibles, newsprint, marker, hymnals or books, tape
God’s Love—Read Nahum 1:7,
Bibles, CD player
out Paul’s shipwreck in Acts 27.
23, and think about how they’ll follow God and how God will take care of them.
Closing
32
and listen to a song based on the verse.
Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Grades 3 & 4
Learning Lab Supplies
Paul Is Shipwrecked
Welcome As kids arrive, ask them which “Fun at Home” activities they tried. Ask questions such as, “How did knocking down your marshmallow wall help you knock down your fears about sharing the news about Jesus?” and “Who did you tell about Jesus last week?” Tell kids that whenever you sound the groan tube, they are to stop talking, raise their hands, and focus on you. Explain that it’s important to respond to this signal quickly so the class can do as many fun activities as possible. The Bible Point for this lesson is God takes care of those who follow him.
Module Review Use the casual interaction time at the beginning of class to ask kids the following module-review questions: • How have your actions this week been a light to people around you? • Did you talk to any friends about Jesus? How did they respond? • How have you used your abilities to serve God this month? • What’s your favorite thing you’ve learned in the past few weeks? Why? • How is your life different as a result of what we’ve learned this month?
It’s important to say the Bible Point just as it’s written in each activity. Repeating the Bible Point over and over throughout the lesson will help kids remember it and apply it to their lives.
Attention Grabber n What Happened? Supplies: snacks Before class, create a “disaster” in your classroom. Turn over tables and chairs, pile all your classroom furniture in the center of the room, and then close the door. Greet kids outside the room. As kids arrive, tell them that something has happened to the room. When most of the students have arrived, open the door to let them into the room. Say: Wow, our room is a mess. What do you suppose happened? Pause to let kids respond, and then continue: Well, we can’t have our class in this disaster area. We’ll have to clean it up. We’ll take about three minutes to put everything back where it belongs, and then we’ll get started. After about three minutes, sound the groan tube. Wait for kids to respond, and then say: Good job. Cleaning up a disaster like that is hard work. Let’s relax and have a snack before we go on with our lesson. Distribute snacks. As kids are eating, discuss the following questions: • What were you thinking when I made you wait outside before coming in? (I was wondering what kind of surprise you had planned; I thought you were tricking us.)
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If your class meets in an open area that doesn’t have a door, put a sign that reads “Disaster Area” on the pile of furniture. Let the kids wander around and examine the mess, but don’t offer any explanation or discussion until most of your class has arrived.
Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Grades 3 & 4 33
Lesson 3
• What was your first reaction when you saw the room? (I was mad that someone had trashed our room; I was shocked.) • When we walked into our room, it was a disaster! What are some other disasters you might face? (Forgetting my homework; breaking my sister’s stereo; my parents getting a divorce; natural disasters like tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes.) • We responded to the disaster in our room by cleaning up the mess. What are some other responses to disasters? (Panic; screaming; crying; helping each other.) Say: People respond to disasters in many different ways. We may be scared, angry, or sad when a disaster happens, but as Christians, we know that God takes care of those who follow him. Today we’re going to find out what happened to our friend Paul when he trusted God in a disaster. Make sure kids clean up any mess left by their snacks before going on with the lesson.
Bible Exploration & Application n An Unexpected Storm Supplies: Bible, CD player, masking tape, water Say: Our story today comes from the book of Acts. track 14 Open your Bible to Acts 27 and show kids the chapter. Last week we heard how Paul and Silas told others about Jesus while they were in prison. After Paul left prison, he traveled to other cities to spread the news about Jesus. When Paul reached the city of Jerusalem, some people who didn’t believe in Jesus tried to get Paul in trouble. He was arrested and spent more than two years in prison waiting for a fair trial. Finally, Paul was sent by ship to Rome to be tried by Caesar, the emperor. That’s where we’ll pick up Paul’s story today. Have kids help you use masking tape to make a boat shape on the floor. Make sure the boat is large enough for all the kids to fit inside. Assign kids the following roles. If you have a large class, assign more than one student to each role. • Paul • Soldiers • Prisoners • Sailors • Anchors • Waves and Wind Give the Sailors the mini-telescope and neon laces. Give the Waves and Wind the water-filled squirts. Have everyone sit inside the boat shape except the Waves and Wind. Say: Listen carefully to this story about Paul’s trip to Rome so you’ll know what your characters should do. They sailed slowly for many days toward the city of Cnidus [NI-des]. They had a hard time because the wind was blowing against them. They had lost
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Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Grades 3 & 4
Paul Is Shipwrecked
much time, and the sailing was getting dangerous. So Paul stood up and warned the ship’s crew (pause for Paul to stand up), “I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on—shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our own lives as well.” But the captain didn’t agree with Paul, so the ship sailed on. When a good wind began to blow from the south (pause for Wind to blow), the sailors on the ship thought, “This trip isn’t going to be so much trouble after all, now that we have the wind we wanted.” But then a very strong wind called a northeaster started to blow. The ship was caught in it and could not sail against it. The ship and everyone on it were tossed back and forth by the wind. Pause for everyone in the boat to rock back and forth. The sailors had to tie the lifeboat to the ship so the storm wouldn’t destroy it. Pause for the Sailors to use the neon laces to tie an imaginary lifeboat to the ship. Start “Storm Sounds” (track 14) on the CD, and then continue: The next day, the storm was blowing so hard that they had to throw some of the cargo overboard. Pause for kids to pretend to throw things overboard. The day after that, the storm was worse, and they threw out the ship’s equipment. Pause for kids to throw imaginary equipment overboard. Eventually, the storm got so bad that they couldn’t tell if it was night or day. They kept a close watch on the sky (pause for kids to look up at the sky), but they couldn’t see the stars or the sun and were beginning to lose hope. After they had been lost at sea for several days, Paul stood up and said (pause for Paul to stand up), “You should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss. But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. For last night an angel of God stood beside me and said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. But we will be shipwrecked on an island.” On the 14th night, they thought they were approaching land, so they tested the depth of the water. It was getting shallower. They were afraid they might hit a rock, so they threw the anchors into the water and prayed for daylight to come. Pause for kids to “throw the anchors into the water.” Encourage the Waves to “swallow up” the Anchors and squirt them with water from the squirts. Some of the sailors wanted to leave the ship and sneak away, so they lowered the lifeboat, pretending they were throwing out more anchors. Pause for the Sailors to use the neon laces to pretend to lower the lifeboat. But Paul told the soldiers, “You will die unless the sailors stay aboard.” So the soldiers cut the ropes (pause for the Soldiers to cut the ropes) and let the lifeboat fall into the water. That night, just before dawn, Paul persuaded everyone to eat something. They had been so busy worrying and watching the storm that they’d forgotten to eat. So they all ate (pause for everyone to pretend to eat), and then they threw the extra food overboard to make the ship lighter. Pause for kids to pretend to throw food overboard. When daylight finally came, they looked out and saw land. Pause for kids to look for land, taking turns with the mini-telescope. So the sailors cut the ropes
Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Grades 3 & 4 35
Lesson 3
Stand near the CD player as you read so you can stop the CD when the storm sounds stop.
Bible Insight Luke says that Paul and his entourage were in the Sea of Adria (Acts 27:27), which some translations have interpreted as the Adriatic Sea. Some believe, however, that Adria, or Hadria, was a reference to the section of the Mediterranean between Greece, Italy, and Africa.
If you have fewer than 10 students in your class, form pairs or trios for the discussion.
to the anchors and left the anchors in the sea. Pause for the Sailors to do this. They raised the front sail (pause for the Sailors to do this) and sailed toward the land. But on the way, the ship hit a sandbar. The front of the ship stuck on the sandbar and couldn’t move, but the back of the ship began to break up because of the waves crashing against it. Pause for the Waves to “attack” the back of the boat and squirt everyone inside. The soldiers decided to kill the prisoners (pause for the Prisoners to run away from the Soldiers) so none of them could swim away and escape. But one of the officers wanted to let Paul live, so he stopped the soldiers from killing the prisoners. Pause for the Prisoners to sigh with relief. Instead, he ordered everyone who could swim to jump into the water and swim to land. Pause for kids to jump out of the boat and pretend to swim. The rest followed using wooden boards or pieces of the ship to float to safety. Pause for any remaining kids to float to shore. All the people on the ship made it safely to land, just as Paul had said. Stop the CD player. Collect the mini-telescope, neon laces, and squirts, and place them out of sight. Applaud the kids for their roles in the story. Have them remain in their character groups to discuss the following questions. Have the child playing Paul join the smallest group. Pause after you ask each question to allow time for discussion. Ask: • How do you think the people on the ship felt during the storm? (Scared; confused; worried that they might drown.) • Do you think Paul felt the same way? Explain. (No, because he knew God would take care of him; yes, he might have been scared even though he trusted God.) • What do you think the people on the ship thought when Paul told them about the angel’s message? (That Paul was crazy; they wanted to throw him overboard, too; they hoped he was right.) • Why do you think God let the ship crash? (So he could save the people on the ship; so people would have to trust him for their lives.) Sound the groan tube to let kids know it’s time to wrap up their discussions. Wait for them to respond, and then invite them to share the responses they discussed. Say: Paul faced all kinds of disasters after he became a Christian. He was chased out of town, people tried to stone him to death, he was put in prison, beaten, and shipwrecked more than once, just to name a few! So why did he put up with all that? Because he knew that God takes care of those who follow him. And he knew that nothing was more important than his relationship with Jesus Christ and sharing that relationship with others. Paul was willing to put up with anything if it meant he could tell others about Jesus! Say: We don’t always understand why disasters happen, but we do know that God takes care of those who follow him. Because Paul trusted God, God took care of Paul and everyone else on that ship. Let’s hear about what happened when some other people trusted God.
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Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Grades 3 & 4
Paul Is Shipwrecked
Hands-On Bible Give each student a sheet of paper, a pen, some newspaper, and a plastic soft-drink bottle, rinsed and dried. Also bring tea bags and an electric coffee maker, a hotplate, or a thermos of hot tea and a pan. Make sure kids have their Hands-On Bibles. Have students turn to Acts 27 in their Bibles and complete the “Shipwrecked!” activity found near there. As you are waiting for the papers to dry, ask: • How has God cared for you during a scary or hard time? (God protected me during a storm; he kept me safe during a car accident; he comforted me when my grandma died.)
n Troubled Times Supplies: Bibles, CD player Form pairs. Say: The people on the ship with Paul probably thought they were all going to drown. But God protected them, tracks 15, 16, 17, 18 and they all made it to shore safely. We’re going to hear from some kids who thought they were headed for disaster before things turned out OK after all. I’ll stop the CD player periodically so you can talk with your partner about what you hear. Play the first “Troubled Times” story (track 15) on the CD. Then stop the CD, and have kids discuss the following questions with their partners: • How would you feel if you were in that situation? (Scared; confused; worried; glad to know God would help me.) • What would you do for or say to someone you knew who was in that situation? (I’d ask if I could do anything to help; I’d pray for the person; I’d tell the person about God’s protection.) Play the other stories (tracks 16, 17, and 18), stopping the CD after each track so kids can discuss the questions above. At the end of track 18, ask pairs: • How did these kids show their trust in God? (They didn’t get discouraged in bad situations; they kept trying and didn’t give up.) • Why do you think God lets bad things like disasters happen? (So we’ll learn to trust him; to make us appreciate all the good things he’s given us.) After pairs have discussed the questions, sound the groan tube to regain their attention. Wait for kids to respond, and then invite them to share the responses they discussed with their partners. Say: We don’t know exactly why bad things happen to us, but we do know that if we trust God, he will take care of us. God takes care of those who follow him, and nothing can happen that’s too big for God to handle. Distribute Bibles, and help kids look up Romans 8:28. When everyone has found the verse, ask a volunteer to read it aloud. Ask: • How can God be working for our good when bad things happen? (Sometimes bad things make us stronger; sometimes things that seem bad can actually turn out to be good in the end; sometimes bad things make good things happen.) • When has a bad situation turned into a good situation for you? (We had
Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Grades 3 & 4 37
Lesson 3
to move to another city, and that’s where I met my best friend; I had to go to a new school, and I got a really good teacher.) Say: God takes care of those who follow him. That doesn’t mean nothing bad or scary or unexpected will ever happen to us. But if we trust God, he can bring good things out of even the worst situations.
n My Shepherd Supplies: Bibles, newsprint, marker, hymnals or books, tape Before class, set up “stairs” with books or hymnals. Each step should be 3 to 4 inches wide. You’ll need to make the stairs at least five steps high—enough so the rainbow spring can “walk” down several steps. Practice sending the rainbow spring down the steps several times to make sure your stairs work well. Also before class, write the following assignments on newsprint. Psalm 23:1-2 • What does a shepherd do? How is God like a shepherd? • Tell about a time you were nervous or afraid. How can God help you be calm in scary or unexpected situations? Psalm 23:3-4 • Tell about a time God gave you strength to do something hard or scary. • How does God help you do what’s right? Psalm 23:5-6 • The writer of these verses had blessings that were overflowing. Tell about some of the good things God has given you. • What do you think the verse means when it says, “I will live in the house of the Lord forever”? Say: We’re going to read a passage from the Old Testament about God’s love and protection. Paul knew the Old Testament, and he might have known these verses. Let’s see what they have to say about how God takes care of us. Form pairs, and have kids look up Psalm 23. Display the instructions you’ve prepared, and assign each group one set of verses and questions to read and discuss. It’s OK if more than one group has the same assignment. After pairs have had time to discuss their questions, sound the groan tube to regain kids’ attention and wait for them to respond. Have one person from each pair go to one side of the room and the other person in each pair go to the opposite side of the room. Say: Talk with the people in your new group about the verses you just discussed. After several minutes, sound the groan tube again. Wait for kids to respond. Then invite them to share insights they gained from their discussions. As you say this next sentence, send the rainbow spring down the “stairs” you set up. Say: The person who wrote this psalm knew that God takes care of those who follow him. Just as the rainbow spring followed the path of the books (or hymnals), we can follow God’s path. I’d like you to think about one thing you can do to follow God and one way God might take care of you if you follow him. Then we’ll do an activity.
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Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Grades 3 & 4
Paul Is Shipwrecked
Give kids a minute to think, and then give the rainbow spring to the student wearing the most white. Have kids take turns sending the rainbow spring down the Bible (or hymnal) path, sharing one way they’ll follow God this week and one way God might take care of them. After each person has had a turn to share, say: God takes care of those who follow him. Let’s remember to follow God this week and watch for ways that he takes care of us.
Closing n God’s Love Supplies: Bibles, CD player Say: God takes care of those who follow him. God track 19 took care of Paul through travel, imprisonment, and a shipwreck. Even though Paul experienced many disasters, he was absolutely convinced that God would take care of him. Help kids find Nahum 1:7 in their Bibles. When everyone’s found the verse, lead the kids in reading it aloud together: “The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him.” Repeat the verse with the kids a few times. Play “He is Good” (Nahum 1:7) (track 19) on the CD, and encourage kids to listen closely to the lyrics. The lyrics are found in the back of this teacher guide. At the end of the song, stop the CD player. Say: I’m going to play that song one more time. This time I want you to listen prayerfully, thinking about how you can trust God no matter what circumstances come your way. Play the song again. Close with a prayer similar to this one: Dear God, thank you for loving us and taking care of us. Help us to trust you when things are going well and when things are going badly. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Growing closer to Jesus extends beyond the classroom. Photocopy the “Hands-On Fun at Home” handout (at the end of this lesson) for this week, and send it home with your kids. Encourage kids and parents to use the handout to spark meaningful discussion on this week’s topic.
Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Grades 3 & 4 39
LLesson esson 13 3
God takes care of those who follow him. “The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him” (Nahum 1:7). Make a secret-garden box using a shoe box and old greeting cards. Cut pictures from the greeting cards, making sure one of the pictures represents you. Leave a quarter-inch tab at the bottom of each picture. Cut a round hole in one end of the shoe box so you can see in, and cut a square hole in the shoe-box lid to let in light. Bend back the tabs on the pictures, and glue them to the bottom of the box so the pictures stand up. Put the lid on the box, and look through the round hole at the secret garden.
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Read Psalm 121. Tell someone about the dangers God protects you from. Write the word “God” on a sheet of paper, and tape it to the ceiling over your bed to remind you that God watches over you while you sleep.
Whenever you get scared or need God’s help, look at the picture that represents you. Pretend that the box is God’s protection surrounding you in your secret garden. Thank God for keeping you safe and taking care of you.
Read Isaiah 25:4-5. For Isaiah, God’s protection was like a shelter from storms. What is God’s protection like for you? Complete this sentence: “God’s protection is like…”
Collect several large rocks, and pile them up. Read Exodus 33:19-23. God protected Moses by putting him in a crack in the rocks. Make a person shape with toothpicks or craft sticks, or use a small toy person, to represent yourself. Hide the toothpick person in a crack between the rocks. Pray for God to protect you as he protected Moses. Tell God about each thing you need protection from, and ask him to cover you with his hand to keep you safe.
Read 1 Peter 5:7. What worries can you give to God? Write them on a piece of paper, and put the paper in an envelope addressed to God. Put the envelope in your Bible. In a few weeks, open the envelope, and write down what God did with each worry.
Permission to photocopy this handout from Group’s Hands-On Bible Curriculum®, Grades 3 & 4, granted for local church use. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538. group.com
Paul Is Shipwrecked • Lesson 3 Bible Point
God takes care of those who follow him.
Bible Verse “The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him” (Nahum 1:7).
Growing Closer to Jesus Students will n react to a surprise disaster, n act out Paul’s stormy voyage, n hear how God can work through disastrous situations, and n affirm their trust in God.
Teacher Enrichment Bible Basis
n Paul is shipwrecked.
Acts 27:9-44
After waiting for more than two years for a fair trial, Paul was finally transported to Rome to be tried before Caesar. But the journey was complicated by a terrible storm. We don’t know exactly what the sailors did with the ropes to try to keep the ship together, but they may have wrapped them around the hull in an attempt to keep it from coming apart. After days of the storm, all aboard the ship must have felt certain that they were going to die. But the message Paul received from God via an angel told them otherwise. Paul was obviously confident that they would all be saved. Once the ship had run aground and began breaking up, the soldiers realized that their prisoners might escape as they all abandoned ship and tried to get to shore. The soldiers’ intent to kill the prisoners was typical because if a guard allowed a prisoner to escape, the guard’s own life was taken. However, the centurion in charge put an end to the soldiers’ plan, probably because of his gratitude to Paul for his prayers and encouragement. They all reached land safely, just as the angel had told Paul they would. Other Scriptures used in this lesson are Psalm 23 and Romans 8:28.
Prayer • Read Jeremiah 29:11-13. • How does knowing that God has good plans for your life help you during times of crisis? • Pray: Lord, help me trust you, even during stormy times. Help me show my confidence in you to my students by…
Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Grades 3 & 4 31
Lesson 3
Before the Lesson n Collect the necessary items for the activities you plan to use, referring to the Classroom Supplies and Learning Lab Supplies listed on the chart. n Make photocopies of the “Hands-On Fun at Home” handout (at the end of this lesson) to send home with your students. n Pray for your students and for God’s direction as you teach the lesson.
This Lesson at a Glance Attention Grabber Bible Exploration & Application
What Students Will Do
Classroom Supplies
What Happened?—React to an unexpected disaster in their meeting area.
Snacks
An Unexpected Storm—Act
Bible, CD player, masking tape, water
Troubled Times—Hear how God took care of other kids, and discuss Romans 8:28.
Bibles, CD player
My Shepherd—Read Psalm
Bibles, newsprint, marker, hymnals or books, tape
God’s Love—Read Nahum 1:7,
Bibles, CD player
out Paul’s shipwreck in Acts 27.
23, and think about how they’ll follow God and how God will take care of them.
Closing
32
and listen to a song based on the verse.
Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Grades 3 & 4
Learning Lab Supplies
Paul Is Shipwrecked
Welcome As kids arrive, ask them which “Fun at Home” activities they tried. Ask questions such as, “How did knocking down your marshmallow wall help you knock down your fears about sharing the news about Jesus?” and “Who did you tell about Jesus last week?” Tell kids that whenever you sound the groan tube, they are to stop talking, raise their hands, and focus on you. Explain that it’s important to respond to this signal quickly so the class can do as many fun activities as possible. The Bible Point for this lesson is God takes care of those who follow him.
Module Review Use the casual interaction time at the beginning of class to ask kids the following module-review questions: • How have your actions this week been a light to people around you? • Did you talk to any friends about Jesus? How did they respond? • How have you used your abilities to serve God this month? • What’s your favorite thing you’ve learned in the past few weeks? Why? • How is your life different as a result of what we’ve learned this month?
It’s important to say the Bible Point just as it’s written in each activity. Repeating the Bible Point over and over throughout the lesson will help kids remember it and apply it to their lives.
Attention Grabber n What Happened? Supplies: snacks Before class, create a “disaster” in your classroom. Turn over tables and chairs, pile all your classroom furniture in the center of the room, and then close the door. Greet kids outside the room. As kids arrive, tell them that something has happened to the room. When most of the students have arrived, open the door to let them into the room. Say: Wow, our room is a mess. What do you suppose happened? Pause to let kids respond, and then continue: Well, we can’t have our class in this disaster area. We’ll have to clean it up. We’ll take about three minutes to put everything back where it belongs, and then we’ll get started. After about three minutes, sound the groan tube. Wait for kids to respond, and then say: Good job. Cleaning up a disaster like that is hard work. Let’s relax and have a snack before we go on with our lesson. Distribute snacks. As kids are eating, discuss the following questions: • What were you thinking when I made you wait outside before coming in? (I was wondering what kind of surprise you had planned; I thought you were tricking us.)
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If your class meets in an open area that doesn’t have a door, put a sign that reads “Disaster Area” on the pile of furniture. Let the kids wander around and examine the mess, but don’t offer any explanation or discussion until most of your class has arrived.
Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Grades 3 & 4 33
Lesson 3
• What was your first reaction when you saw the room? (I was mad that someone had trashed our room; I was shocked.) • When we walked into our room, it was a disaster! What are some other disasters you might face? (Forgetting my homework; breaking my sister’s stereo; my parents getting a divorce; natural disasters like tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes.) • We responded to the disaster in our room by cleaning up the mess. What are some other responses to disasters? (Panic; screaming; crying; helping each other.) Say: People respond to disasters in many different ways. We may be scared, angry, or sad when a disaster happens, but as Christians, we know that God takes care of those who follow him. Today we’re going to find out what happened to our friend Paul when he trusted God in a disaster. Make sure kids clean up any mess left by their snacks before going on with the lesson.
Bible Exploration & Application n An Unexpected Storm Supplies: Bible, CD player, masking tape, water Say: Our story today comes from the book of Acts. track 14 Open your Bible to Acts 27 and show kids the chapter. Last week we heard how Paul and Silas told others about Jesus while they were in prison. After Paul left prison, he traveled to other cities to spread the news about Jesus. When Paul reached the city of Jerusalem, some people who didn’t believe in Jesus tried to get Paul in trouble. He was arrested and spent more than two years in prison waiting for a fair trial. Finally, Paul was sent by ship to Rome to be tried by Caesar, the emperor. That’s where we’ll pick up Paul’s story today. Have kids help you use masking tape to make a boat shape on the floor. Make sure the boat is large enough for all the kids to fit inside. Assign kids the following roles. If you have a large class, assign more than one student to each role. • Paul • Soldiers • Prisoners • Sailors • Anchors • Waves and Wind Give the Sailors the mini-telescope and neon laces. Give the Waves and Wind the water-filled squirts. Have everyone sit inside the boat shape except the Waves and Wind. Say: Listen carefully to this story about Paul’s trip to Rome so you’ll know what your characters should do. They sailed slowly for many days toward the city of Cnidus [NI-des]. They had a hard time because the wind was blowing against them. They had lost
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Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Grades 3 & 4
Paul Is Shipwrecked
much time, and the sailing was getting dangerous. So Paul stood up and warned the ship’s crew (pause for Paul to stand up), “I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on—shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our own lives as well.” But the captain didn’t agree with Paul, so the ship sailed on. When a good wind began to blow from the south (pause for Wind to blow), the sailors on the ship thought, “This trip isn’t going to be so much trouble after all, now that we have the wind we wanted.” But then a very strong wind called a northeaster started to blow. The ship was caught in it and could not sail against it. The ship and everyone on it were tossed back and forth by the wind. Pause for everyone in the boat to rock back and forth. The sailors had to tie the lifeboat to the ship so the storm wouldn’t destroy it. Pause for the Sailors to use the neon laces to tie an imaginary lifeboat to the ship. Start “Storm Sounds” (track 14) on the CD, and then continue: The next day, the storm was blowing so hard that they had to throw some of the cargo overboard. Pause for kids to pretend to throw things overboard. The day after that, the storm was worse, and they threw out the ship’s equipment. Pause for kids to throw imaginary equipment overboard. Eventually, the storm got so bad that they couldn’t tell if it was night or day. They kept a close watch on the sky (pause for kids to look up at the sky), but they couldn’t see the stars or the sun and were beginning to lose hope. After they had been lost at sea for several days, Paul stood up and said (pause for Paul to stand up), “You should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss. But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. For last night an angel of God stood beside me and said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. But we will be shipwrecked on an island.” On the 14th night, they thought they were approaching land, so they tested the depth of the water. It was getting shallower. They were afraid they might hit a rock, so they threw the anchors into the water and prayed for daylight to come. Pause for kids to “throw the anchors into the water.” Encourage the Waves to “swallow up” the Anchors and squirt them with water from the squirts. Some of the sailors wanted to leave the ship and sneak away, so they lowered the lifeboat, pretending they were throwing out more anchors. Pause for the Sailors to use the neon laces to pretend to lower the lifeboat. But Paul told the soldiers, “You will die unless the sailors stay aboard.” So the soldiers cut the ropes (pause for the Soldiers to cut the ropes) and let the lifeboat fall into the water. That night, just before dawn, Paul persuaded everyone to eat something. They had been so busy worrying and watching the storm that they’d forgotten to eat. So they all ate (pause for everyone to pretend to eat), and then they threw the extra food overboard to make the ship lighter. Pause for kids to pretend to throw food overboard. When daylight finally came, they looked out and saw land. Pause for kids to look for land, taking turns with the mini-telescope. So the sailors cut the ropes
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Lesson 3
Stand near the CD player as you read so you can stop the CD when the storm sounds stop.
Bible Insight Luke says that Paul and his entourage were in the Sea of Adria (Acts 27:27), which some translations have interpreted as the Adriatic Sea. Some believe, however, that Adria, or Hadria, was a reference to the section of the Mediterranean between Greece, Italy, and Africa.
If you have fewer than 10 students in your class, form pairs or trios for the discussion.
to the anchors and left the anchors in the sea. Pause for the Sailors to do this. They raised the front sail (pause for the Sailors to do this) and sailed toward the land. But on the way, the ship hit a sandbar. The front of the ship stuck on the sandbar and couldn’t move, but the back of the ship began to break up because of the waves crashing against it. Pause for the Waves to “attack” the back of the boat and squirt everyone inside. The soldiers decided to kill the prisoners (pause for the Prisoners to run away from the Soldiers) so none of them could swim away and escape. But one of the officers wanted to let Paul live, so he stopped the soldiers from killing the prisoners. Pause for the Prisoners to sigh with relief. Instead, he ordered everyone who could swim to jump into the water and swim to land. Pause for kids to jump out of the boat and pretend to swim. The rest followed using wooden boards or pieces of the ship to float to safety. Pause for any remaining kids to float to shore. All the people on the ship made it safely to land, just as Paul had said. Stop the CD player. Collect the mini-telescope, neon laces, and squirts, and place them out of sight. Applaud the kids for their roles in the story. Have them remain in their character groups to discuss the following questions. Have the child playing Paul join the smallest group. Pause after you ask each question to allow time for discussion. Ask: • How do you think the people on the ship felt during the storm? (Scared; confused; worried that they might drown.) • Do you think Paul felt the same way? Explain. (No, because he knew God would take care of him; yes, he might have been scared even though he trusted God.) • What do you think the people on the ship thought when Paul told them about the angel’s message? (That Paul was crazy; they wanted to throw him overboard, too; they hoped he was right.) • Why do you think God let the ship crash? (So he could save the people on the ship; so people would have to trust him for their lives.) Sound the groan tube to let kids know it’s time to wrap up their discussions. Wait for them to respond, and then invite them to share the responses they discussed. Say: Paul faced all kinds of disasters after he became a Christian. He was chased out of town, people tried to stone him to death, he was put in prison, beaten, and shipwrecked more than once, just to name a few! So why did he put up with all that? Because he knew that God takes care of those who follow him. And he knew that nothing was more important than his relationship with Jesus Christ and sharing that relationship with others. Paul was willing to put up with anything if it meant he could tell others about Jesus! Say: We don’t always understand why disasters happen, but we do know that God takes care of those who follow him. Because Paul trusted God, God took care of Paul and everyone else on that ship. Let’s hear about what happened when some other people trusted God.
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Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Grades 3 & 4
Paul Is Shipwrecked
Hands-On Bible Give each student a sheet of paper, a pen, some newspaper, and a plastic soft-drink bottle, rinsed and dried. Also bring tea bags and an electric coffee maker, a hotplate, or a thermos of hot tea and a pan. Make sure kids have their Hands-On Bibles. Have students turn to Acts 27 in their Bibles and complete the “Shipwrecked!” activity found near there. As you are waiting for the papers to dry, ask: • How has God cared for you during a scary or hard time? (God protected me during a storm; he kept me safe during a car accident; he comforted me when my grandma died.)
n Troubled Times Supplies: Bibles, CD player Form pairs. Say: The people on the ship with Paul probably thought they were all going to drown. But God protected them, tracks 15, 16, 17, 18 and they all made it to shore safely. We’re going to hear from some kids who thought they were headed for disaster before things turned out OK after all. I’ll stop the CD player periodically so you can talk with your partner about what you hear. Play the first “Troubled Times” story (track 15) on the CD. Then stop the CD, and have kids discuss the following questions with their partners: • How would you feel if you were in that situation? (Scared; confused; worried; glad to know God would help me.) • What would you do for or say to someone you knew who was in that situation? (I’d ask if I could do anything to help; I’d pray for the person; I’d tell the person about God’s protection.) Play the other stories (tracks 16, 17, and 18), stopping the CD after each track so kids can discuss the questions above. At the end of track 18, ask pairs: • How did these kids show their trust in God? (They didn’t get discouraged in bad situations; they kept trying and didn’t give up.) • Why do you think God lets bad things like disasters happen? (So we’ll learn to trust him; to make us appreciate all the good things he’s given us.) After pairs have discussed the questions, sound the groan tube to regain their attention. Wait for kids to respond, and then invite them to share the responses they discussed with their partners. Say: We don’t know exactly why bad things happen to us, but we do know that if we trust God, he will take care of us. God takes care of those who follow him, and nothing can happen that’s too big for God to handle. Distribute Bibles, and help kids look up Romans 8:28. When everyone has found the verse, ask a volunteer to read it aloud. Ask: • How can God be working for our good when bad things happen? (Sometimes bad things make us stronger; sometimes things that seem bad can actually turn out to be good in the end; sometimes bad things make good things happen.) • When has a bad situation turned into a good situation for you? (We had
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Lesson 3
to move to another city, and that’s where I met my best friend; I had to go to a new school, and I got a really good teacher.) Say: God takes care of those who follow him. That doesn’t mean nothing bad or scary or unexpected will ever happen to us. But if we trust God, he can bring good things out of even the worst situations.
n My Shepherd Supplies: Bibles, newsprint, marker, hymnals or books, tape Before class, set up “stairs” with books or hymnals. Each step should be 3 to 4 inches wide. You’ll need to make the stairs at least five steps high—enough so the rainbow spring can “walk” down several steps. Practice sending the rainbow spring down the steps several times to make sure your stairs work well. Also before class, write the following assignments on newsprint. Psalm 23:1-2 • What does a shepherd do? How is God like a shepherd? • Tell about a time you were nervous or afraid. How can God help you be calm in scary or unexpected situations? Psalm 23:3-4 • Tell about a time God gave you strength to do something hard or scary. • How does God help you do what’s right? Psalm 23:5-6 • The writer of these verses had blessings that were overflowing. Tell about some of the good things God has given you. • What do you think the verse means when it says, “I will live in the house of the Lord forever”? Say: We’re going to read a passage from the Old Testament about God’s love and protection. Paul knew the Old Testament, and he might have known these verses. Let’s see what they have to say about how God takes care of us. Form pairs, and have kids look up Psalm 23. Display the instructions you’ve prepared, and assign each group one set of verses and questions to read and discuss. It’s OK if more than one group has the same assignment. After pairs have had time to discuss their questions, sound the groan tube to regain kids’ attention and wait for them to respond. Have one person from each pair go to one side of the room and the other person in each pair go to the opposite side of the room. Say: Talk with the people in your new group about the verses you just discussed. After several minutes, sound the groan tube again. Wait for kids to respond. Then invite them to share insights they gained from their discussions. As you say this next sentence, send the rainbow spring down the “stairs” you set up. Say: The person who wrote this psalm knew that God takes care of those who follow him. Just as the rainbow spring followed the path of the books (or hymnals), we can follow God’s path. I’d like you to think about one thing you can do to follow God and one way God might take care of you if you follow him. Then we’ll do an activity.
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Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Grades 3 & 4
Paul Is Shipwrecked
Give kids a minute to think, and then give the rainbow spring to the student wearing the most white. Have kids take turns sending the rainbow spring down the Bible (or hymnal) path, sharing one way they’ll follow God this week and one way God might take care of them. After each person has had a turn to share, say: God takes care of those who follow him. Let’s remember to follow God this week and watch for ways that he takes care of us.
Closing n God’s Love Supplies: Bibles, CD player Say: God takes care of those who follow him. God track 19 took care of Paul through travel, imprisonment, and a shipwreck. Even though Paul experienced many disasters, he was absolutely convinced that God would take care of him. Help kids find Nahum 1:7 in their Bibles. When everyone’s found the verse, lead the kids in reading it aloud together: “The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him.” Repeat the verse with the kids a few times. Play “He is Good” (Nahum 1:7) (track 19) on the CD, and encourage kids to listen closely to the lyrics. The lyrics are found in the back of this teacher guide. At the end of the song, stop the CD player. Say: I’m going to play that song one more time. This time I want you to listen prayerfully, thinking about how you can trust God no matter what circumstances come your way. Play the song again. Close with a prayer similar to this one: Dear God, thank you for loving us and taking care of us. Help us to trust you when things are going well and when things are going badly. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Growing closer to Jesus extends beyond the classroom. Photocopy the “Hands-On Fun at Home” handout (at the end of this lesson) for this week, and send it home with your kids. Encourage kids and parents to use the handout to spark meaningful discussion on this week’s topic.
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LLesson esson 13 3
God takes care of those who follow him. “The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him” (Nahum 1:7). Make a secret-garden box using a shoe box and old greeting cards. Cut pictures from the greeting cards, making sure one of the pictures represents you. Leave a quarter-inch tab at the bottom of each picture. Cut a round hole in one end of the shoe box so you can see in, and cut a square hole in the shoe-box lid to let in light. Bend back the tabs on the pictures, and glue them to the bottom of the box so the pictures stand up. Put the lid on the box, and look through the round hole at the secret garden.
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Read Psalm 121. Tell someone about the dangers God protects you from. Write the word “God” on a sheet of paper, and tape it to the ceiling over your bed to remind you that God watches over you while you sleep.
Whenever you get scared or need God’s help, look at the picture that represents you. Pretend that the box is God’s protection surrounding you in your secret garden. Thank God for keeping you safe and taking care of you.
Read Isaiah 25:4-5. For Isaiah, God’s protection was like a shelter from storms. What is God’s protection like for you? Complete this sentence: “God’s protection is like…”
Collect several large rocks, and pile them up. Read Exodus 33:19-23. God protected Moses by putting him in a crack in the rocks. Make a person shape with toothpicks or craft sticks, or use a small toy person, to represent yourself. Hide the toothpick person in a crack between the rocks. Pray for God to protect you as he protected Moses. Tell God about each thing you need protection from, and ask him to cover you with his hand to keep you safe.
Read 1 Peter 5:7. What worries can you give to God? Write them on a piece of paper, and put the paper in an envelope addressed to God. Put the envelope in your Bible. In a few weeks, open the envelope, and write down what God did with each worry.
Permission to photocopy this handout from Group’s Hands-On Bible Curriculum®, Grades 3 & 4, granted for local church use. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538. group.com
