As kids leave, ask them why they made rainbow chains!

We’ve been learning about how we all need a rescuer, and the story of Noah shows us who that rescuer is–God!

July 23-24, 2016

Genesis 5-9

Movie Unit: Noah

God is a rescuer.

FOLLOW THE LEADER RELAY● Split kids into two even groups and have them stand in two lines.● Choose one volunteer to be the leader and stand at one end of the room while the

two lines stand at the other end.● When the leader calls out a command (Like hop on one foot, crab walk, spin

around, etc.) the first kid in each line must do exactly what the leader says while trying to reach the leader and then get back to their line.

● For example, if the leader says, “Crabwalk!” the kids have to crabwalk to the leader. If the leader says, “Hop on one foot!” the kids have to hop on one foot as they reach the leader, etc.

● When the leader says “Freeze!” ALL the kids in the room have to freeze where they are until the leader gives a new command (The leader should do this periodically.)

● When each kid arrives back to their group they should go to the back of their line and let the next kid start following the leader. Let each kid in both lines get a turn!

● Whenever a kid starts their turn, they should be doing whatever the leader called out last (For example, if the last kid was crabwalking when they returned to the line, the next kid should start crabwalking.)

● Here’s some suggestions for the leader to do:○ Crabwalk○ Walk on one foot○ Walk backwards○ Crawl○ Skip○ Spin around○ Act like an animal○ Walk in a zig zag line○ Scoot on your tummy○ Roll across the floor○ Dance

TALK ABOUT IT●●

Goal: Kids will (1) understand why Noah needed to be rescued, (2) recognize that God is our rescuer, and (3) identify something specific from which we need to be rescued.

Why? Every single one of us has something that we need to be rescued from, even those of us who seem to have it all together! This is a time to help kids understand that it’s okay to be vulnerable and admit when you need help.

Tip: Focus on the rescue in today’s story, and how it illustrates that God came up with a rescue plan for us too!

REVIEW THE STORY1. What did God ask Noah to build? (A giant ark/boat in the middle of dry land.)2. What do you think Noah’s friends thought of him when he was building this ark? (Let

kids speculate.)3. What did God ask Noah to put inside the boat? (Two of every animal in the world,

along with Noah and his family.) 4. What happened after Noah obeyed God and built the ark? (It rained/flooded for 40

days and 40 nights, and the whole earth was covered with water. Noah, his family and the animals were safe on the ark.)

5. Why did God rescue Noah? (Because Noah obeyed and followed God.)6. What do you want God to rescue you from?

MAKE IT PERSONAL ● Ask: Why did God put a rainbow in the sky after the flood? (It was God’s promise

not to flood the earth again. It reminds us how He rescued Noah just like he said!)● Say: God promised to make a special rescue plan to save us from all the wrong

things in the world too, just like he came up with a rescue plan for Noah!● Give each kid 6 strips of paper (1 of each color: red, orange, yellow, green, blue,

and purple.) Set out tape and markers.● First, tell kids to think of some things they need God’s help with, things they need to

be rescued from. Here’s some examples:○ You are angry at your sibling for being mean to you, and now you feel mad all

the time.○ You feel lonely at school, or someone is bullying you.○ You need help to stop making a wrong choice, like lying or disobeying.

(Continued on next page.)

● Write or draw a picture of them on 1 (or more) of the paper strips.● Now we’re going to make a rainbow chain!

○ Make a circle out of a paper strip and connect it with a piece of tape.○ Now put the next paper strip through the first circle and connect it with a

piece of tape. Do this for each piece of paper.● Kids can make a chain using all their strips of paper, or just some of their paper

(Depending on how much time you have left.)● Here’s an example:

Extra time? See if kids want to connect their chains into a giant group chain!

*Click to play intro music.● Welcome: Hi everybody! Welcome to Kids’ Club. We’re so

glad to have you here!● Ask: Following the leader looked pretty fun; did you like

playing that game? Have you ever played it before? (Let kids respond.)

● Ask: What were some of the craziest things you had to do? (Let kids respond.) Yep, those sound kind of silly! But you had to do them no matter what, because you had to follow the leader!

● Ask: What if you just decided all on your own that you DIDN’T have to follow the leader? What would happen then? (Let kids respond.) Yeah, you probably wouldn’t finish the game. You would hold up your whole team!

● Say: Let’s do a mini game of follow the leader right now. But instead of following, you have to do the opposite of what I say! Everybody...sit down! (Let kids stand up.) Now...stand up! (Let kids sit down.) Now...open your eyes! (Let kids close their eyes.) Now....close your eyes! (Let kids open their eyes.) Now...sit completely still and don’t dance at all. (Let kids dance and move around.)

● Say: Okay, everybody sit down! Good job NOT following me!

WELCOME AND INTRO

Main Goal: Review Connect Time and introduce the lesson.

Notes:

● Ask: Have you ever had trouble following someone? Maybe you didn’t want to do what your teacher or a grown up asked you to? (Let kids respond.) Yeah, me too.

● Say: Today we’re going to talk about the most important person we could ever follow. Do you know who it is? (Let kids respond: God!) Yep, we should always follow God, which means obey him! He created us, and loves us more than anything.

● Say: Even though God knows what’s best for us, we all have trouble following him. You see, a long time ago, God created a perfect world. Everything was good. Can you give me a thumbs up? (Let kids respond.)

● Say: But then, people decided THEY knew what was best instead of God. They thought they didn’t need Him anymore. Can you show me with your face how that makes you feel? (Let kids respond.) Yeah, it makes me sad too.

● Ask: Do you think the story ends there though? (Let kids respond.) No way! There was still one guy left in the whole world who followed God, and his name was Noah. Can you say, “Noah!” (Let kids respond.) Great job.

● Say: We’re going to watch a video about Noah. There’s some pretty amazing parts to his story! But I want you to pay attention to the most important thing: How Noah obeyed God no matter what. Try to figure out what God asked Noah to do, and see if Noah obeyed him!

● Video: God’s Story / Noah● Ask: So what did God ask Noah to do first? (Let kids

respond.) Yep, he wanted Noah to build a giant ark/boat on dry land! It probably seemed kind of crazy because had never even rained. His friends probably made fun of him for it!

● Ask: What did God ask Noah to do next? (Let kids respond.) Yep, he told Noah to put two of every animal on the boat! Can you imagine if you had to get all those animals together? Animals like elephants and lizards and birds and lions! Do you think people probably thought that was crazy too? (Let kids respond.) I’m sure they did.

● Ask: What if God told YOU these things? What would you do? (Let kids respond with varying answers.)

NOAH

Main Goal: Introduce Noah and use a God’s story video show how he followed God no matter what.

Notes:

A BIG RESCUE PLAN

Main Goal: Understand that God asked Noah to trust and obey him, even when it sounded crazy.

Notes:

● Ask: Even though God’s plan to rescue Noah sounded a little strange, did Noah obey him? (Let kids respond.)

● Say: Yep, he sure did! And that’s how God was going to rescue him. Noah trusted God, even if the rescue plan sounded weird to other people, and even though he had NO idea what would happen next.

● Say: Sometimes it’s hard to follow God. We have to trust that he’ll do what he says he will do. Let’s watch a clip from the movie Despicable Me. In it, three little girls have to trust someone to save them, but it’s pretty scary. As you watch, pay attention to what the girls have to do before they can be saved!

● Video: Despicable Me / Leap of Faith● Ask: So what did the girls have to do to be rescued? (Let

kids respond.) Yep, they had to jump, even though it was really scary.

● Say: That’s exactly what Noah had to do. He had to take a big leap of faith and believe that God would do what he said and rescue them from a flood!

● Ask: After Noah finished building the ark and putting all the animals on it, what happened to the world? (Let kids respond.) Yep, it rained for 40 days and 40 nights. Have you ever seen it rain for that long? (Let kids respond.) Me neither!

● Say: God had a special rescue plan all along, even when Noah didn’t exactly understand all the parts of that plan.

● Ask: Do you think sometimes we need to trust God, even if we don’t understand everything he asks us to do? (Let kids respond.) Definitely! We can be like Noah, and have faith that God will rescue us just like he promised.

TRUSTING GOD CAN BE HARD

Main Goal: Understand that trusting God takes faith.

Notes:

● Ask: After Noah and his family were rescued from the flood, what did God do? (Let kids respond.)

● Say: That’s right, He showed them that there was land, and he put a rainbow in the sky as a promise that he would never flood the earth again.

● Ask: Do we need to be rescued too, like Noah? (Let kids respond.) Absolutely. (Continued on next page.)

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● Say: We all need to be rescued, because we live in an imperfect world. We all make wrong choices, or go through hard things that we can’t do on our own. Noah was facing a flood, but we face hard things too.

● Say: Right now, let’s all think of one thing that we need to be rescued from. Maybe school is really hard for us. Maybe we keep doing something wrong over and over again, and we’re not sure how to stop. Maybe we’ve been fighting a lot with our brother or sister. Maybe we just feel sad or angry about something that happened. Whatever it is, think about it in your head right now. (Give kids a few seconds of silence.)

● Say: Okay, got it? Whatever is in your head right now, God wants to help you with it! He has a rescue plan for you, and all we have to do is obey him! So if you’re ready, put your hands on your heart, and let’s all yell together, “God is our rescuer!” Ready? 1, 2...3! (Lead kids in repeating, “God is our rescuer!” If you have time, say it a few times in different silly voices.)

Tell me about Noah.How does God rescue us?

1. Summer Series Movie Unit Intro loop (KC/SM media videos songs>slides>summer series slides>movies)

2. Song slide: for when kids enter the room (All that You Need instrumental; mp3 only; can be downloaded on website)

3. Video: God’s Story / Noah (https://vimeo.com/67651166) 4. Video: Despicable Me / Leap of Faith (http://www.wingclips.com/movie-clips/despicable-me/leap-of-faith) 5. Music Video: You Are (https://vimeo.com/154219686) 6. Music Video: Jesus Loves Me (https://vimeo.com/44164426)

Follow the Leader Relay - No supplies needed

Per Group: Bible