Big Idea: God helps me be brave.
Bible Basis: Joshua 2
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.
+ Hide and Spy
- Supplies: None
- Directions: Tell the child(ren) that you are the king of Jericho and they are the good spies of Israel. Have the child(ren) hide around the room while you cover your eyes and count to 10. When ready, begin looking for the hidden children while repeatedly saying, “I search up high, I search down low, to spy the spies in Jericho.” When you find a child, say (for example), “I spy a spy behind the chair!” The child you find must now come out of hiding until the next round. Play for as long as time and interest allow.
- Say: You little spies were great at hiding! In today’s true story, the king of Jericho goes looking for some hidden spies, but God uses a brave woman to keep them from being found. 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 felt brave? Why did you feel brave?
+ Spies of Jericho (Application Activity)
- Supplies: Blanket or bed sheet
- Say: In today’s true Bible story, Rahab was very brave. She hid the good spies from Israel in her house while the king’s men looked for them. Let’s play a game that helps us remember the brave thing Rahab did.
- Directions: Choose one child to be Rahab. Tell everyone else to sit down and to close and cover their eyes. While their eyes are closed and covered, lead them in continually saying, “I search up high, I search down low, to spy the spies in Jericho.” While saying the rhyme, Rahab must quietly tap a child on the head. When tapped, the child becomes a spy. The spy must quietly follow Rahab and hide under the blanket. Once hidden, have all of the children open their eyes and guess who the spy is by looking to see who’s missing from the group. When the spy is revealed, have the child answer the question below. Play additional rounds. For each round, choose someone else to be Rahab.
- Question:: When you feel scared, you can pray to God. What do you think you would say to God when you feel scared?
+ I Spy A Spy (Application Activity)
- Supplies: None
- Say: In today’s true Bible story, Rahab did something very brave—she hid the good spies of Israel from the king’s men. God helped Rahab be brave and He helps us be brave too! Let’s play a game that helps us remember that.
- Directions: Have everyone sit down. Say, for example, “I spy a spy with a blue shirt.” Everyone with blue shirts must stand up and say, “God helps me be brave.” Choose one of the people who are standing to answer the question below, then have everyone sit down. Repeat the above instructions, each time choosing a different attribute such as brown hair, wearing sandals, is a boy, is a girl, etc. Continue for as long as time and interest allow.
- Question: When do you need God to help you be brave?
+ 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?
+ Brave Like Rahab (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 the children to draw a picture of Rahab with the 2 spies. While they’re drawing, ask the children to tell about something that scares them.
- Say: In today’s true Bible story, God helped Rahab be brave. He helps us be brave too! Let’s say a prayer to God. We can tell Him about the things that scare us and ask Him to help us be brave like Rahab.
- Prayer: Begin by asking if any of the children 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 when the scary things they shared about happen.
+ 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 Rahab, would you have helped hide the good spies of Israel from the king’s men? Why or why not?
- Question: Do you think you could be as brave as Rahab? Why or why not?
(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 Rahab in your child’s favorite Bible storybook.
Say this week’s Bible verse every morning with the actions (see above).
Read the account of Rahab and the Spies from the Bible in Joshua 2 with your child.
Do more of the activities above!
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LESSON?
Leave them in the comments below!