Big Idea: God helps me be brave.
Bible Basis: Numbers 13:1-14:10
Key Verse: “Be strong (flex muscles) and brave (power pose with fists on hips). Don’t be afraid (shake head and wag finger “no”)…I will be with you (hug yourself) everywhere you go (march in place). Joshua 1:9 (extend hands like you’re holding a book).
OPENING PRAYER
Lord, open now my heart to hear, And through your Word to me draw near. Let me your Word ever pure retain; Let me your child and heir remain. All this I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
BIBLE LESSON VIDEO
ASK THESE QUESTIONS:
What is your favorite part of this Bible lesson?
How does God help you be brave?
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
Choose one (or more) of these activities to do with your child.
+ I Spy a Giant
- Supplies: Giant Person pictures (1 set of 10)
- Preparation: Print the 10 Giant Person pictures on 8½ x 11 paper and cut apart. The giants look the same, but vary in size. Ahead of time, tape the giants in various locations around the room. Make some of them easy to find and some a little harder.
- Directions: Tell the children to search the room for the hidden giants. Some will be easy to find and some a little harder. Continue searching until you have found all 10 giants.
- Say: Way to go! We spied all 10 giants! In today’s true Bible story, there are two very brave spies who spied some giants in a giant land. We’re going to hear that story in just a little bit and learn that God helps me be brave.
- Question: Can you remember a time you were brave? What happened?
+ Fear Disappear (Application Activity)
- Supplies: Coffee filters (1 per child), washable markers, eye dropper, cup of water
- Directions: Give your child a coffee filter and some washable markers. Tell them to think of something they’re afraid of and draw it on their coffee filter. When finished, have them show what they drew and share why that scares them.
- Say:: When you’re a little kid, there are a lot of things that can make you feel afraid, but God is with us and He helps us be brave. We’re going to do something now that will help us remember that when we pray to God, He can make our fears disappear.
- Directions: Have your child suck up water with the eye dropper and drip it onto their fear picture. The picture will slowly disappear.
+ Fear Fighters (Application Activity)
- Supplies: “Scary Things” picture set, paper (1 piece per child), tape (1 roll)
- Preparation: “Print each of the 5 “Scary Things” pictures on a separate piece of paper. Fold each piece in half so the picture stands up like a tent card. Using a roll of tape, create a “throw” line about 5–6 feet from where the picture will be placed.
- Say: In today’s true Bible story, the two brave spies said, “Don’t be afraid, God is with us!” Let’s play a fun game that helps us remember to say that when we feel scared.
- Directions: There are 5 “Scary Things” pictures. Each picture will be folded so that it stands up like a tent card. One at a time, stand the pictures on a table or chair. For each picture, ask the children if that thing ever makes them feel afraid, then ask them why. Next, give each child a crumbled piece of paper and have them stand behind the “throw line.” Lead the children in saying, “Don’t be afraid, God is with us!” then prompt them to throw their crumpled paper at the picture in an attempt to knock it down. If they miss, have them retrieve their paper and try again. If they knock it down, set up the next picture and repeat the above steps. Continue until all of the pictures have been knocked down.
- Question: What do you think you could say to God when you feel afraid?
+ Copy That (Bible Memorization Activity)
- Supplies: None
- Today's Bible Verse: “Be strong (flex muscles) and brave (power pose with fists on hips). Don’t be afraid (Shake head and wag finger “no”)…I will be with you (hug yourself) everywhere you go (march in place). Joshua 1:9 (extend hands like you’re holding a book).
- Directions: Practice the verse together several times. When ready, tell your child to say the verse with you while copying your action. For example, spin around, or hop on one foot, or hold your tongue, or do a silly dance. When finished, allow your child to be the leader, then have everyone say the verse while copying them. Take turns several times to reinforce the memory verse.
+ Story Bop (Bible Story Review Activity)
- Supplies: Balloon, music player
- Directions: Have the everyone stand in a cluster, then begin playing music. As the music plays, everyone must continually bop the balloon into the air. Let the music play for 5 to 20 seconds before pausing it. When the music stops, everyone must try to catch the balloon. Ask whoever who catches it, “What happened first in today’s Bible story?” Only allow them to tell a small part of the story. Allow the others to help answer if needed. When finished, begin playing the music and bopping the balloon in the air again. Ask the next person who catches the balloon, “What happened next in the story?” Repeat this until the whole story has been told!
- Question: What was your favorite part of this story? Why did you like that part?
+ Be Brave (Response to God Activity)
- Supplies: GO! Home Guide (1 per child), markers or crayons
- Directions: Give each child a GO! Home Guide and some crayons or markers. The sheet will have a space for your child to draw. Tell your child to draw a picture of something that makes them feel afraid. When finished, ask the child to share their picture and to tell about it.
- Say: In today’s true Bible story, Joshua and Caleb were brave because they knew God was with them. God is always with us, so we can be brave too. Let’s say a prayer to God. We can tell Him about the things that make us afraid and ask Him to help us be brave.
- Prayer: Begin by asking if anyone would like to pray. Allow any children who want to pray the opportunity to do so. When they’re finished, close the prayer by praying for the children individually and asking God to help them be brave during the situations depicted in their drawings.
+ Coloring Sheet (GO! Deeper Activity)
- Supplies: Bible story coloring sheet, markers or crayons
- Directions: Give each child a Bible story coloring sheet and some crayons or markers. While the children are coloring, ask the following questions to help them go deeper into the story.
- Question: If you were one of the spies, how would you have felt when you saw the giant people? Why would you feel that way?
- Question: Why do you think Joshua and Caleb were brave when all the other spies felt afraid?
(Due to copyright restrictions, the printable materials described in the activities above are only available to those who have registered for Our Savior’s Kids. To register your child(ren), click the button below)
CLOSING PRAYER
Dear God, You are bigger than all of the things that scare me. Please help me to be brave when something scary happens. Amen.
DURING THE WEEK
Read the account of the two brave spies in your child’s favorite Bible storybook.
Say this week’s Bible verse every morning with the actions (see above).
Read the account of the two brave spies from the Bible in Numbers 13-14 with your child.
Do more of the activities above!
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LESSON?
Leave them in the comments below!