Names of God #12 - Pinna - Cornerstone

Ro’sh Pinna/Kephale Gonia – Chief Cornerstone

Open

Each table receives a bag of blocks which they will be using throughout the class. One block is a triangle. Ask each table to try to make a square using the triangle as one of the corners…does it work? Now have them replace the triangle with a square.

Explain the purpose of a Cornerstone – kept things straight when building.

Group Activity: Building Blocks

(As the leader takes the group through the following scriptures they will be creating a corner and 2 walls of a building. Start with the block that has “Pinna” on the left side and “Gonia” on the right

Ro’sh Pinna – Hebrew used in Psalms 18:22, Isaiah 28:16-17 and Zechariah 10:4

Kephale Gonia – Greek used in Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10 and Luke 20:17 (all same), Acts 4:11, Eph 2:20 and 1 Peter 2:6-7

                Some Greek translate to Capstone – discuss difference

Psalm 118:22 to Luke 20:17 and Acts 4:11

Psalm is celebrating God’s love and the everlasting security found in it – His love endures forever. Read Psalm 118:19-23

                Jesus quotes this as He is explaining the Parable of the Evil Farmer in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke – Read Luke 20:0-19

                Note: Ideally your build on a cornerstone (or use a capstone to hold it all together) But some trip and fall on it…You have a choice: Confess your sins and place them on the Cornerstone/Jesus or you can Stumble on Him…resulting in receiving His judgement/being crushed. Leaders saw the Truth and so they wanted to Silence him!

                Peter and John use this same quote when they are testifying on where their power comes from after they were arrested for healing – Read Acts 4:1-12

Isaiah 28:16-17

                Background to Isaiah 28 – Judah was afraid of the Assyrians so they had turned to other sources for security…Is it work selling out what you believe in for temporary protection against evil?

                Read Isaiah 28: 14-19 – discuss

Pulling them together with 1 Peter 2:6-7

                Prophecies fulfilled in Jesus – Read 1 Peter 2:4-10. Each of us is a stone on the wall – write your names in a stone

                

            Each bag of blocks has 4 rectangle blocks with the words Justice, Righteous, Mercy and Judge. Tables need to decide which wall of their building, Old Testament or New Testament, illustrates these characteristics of Jesus.

Take Home Names of God Crossword Puzzle http://www.biblewise.com/kids/fun/and-his-name.php

Names of God #11 - Immanuel - God With Us

Opening Skit:

Option 1: Missing the point of Christmas (From Tony Evans video) Man walks in and sees his cousin sitting at the bar with a glass of alcohol. He walks up and orders a glass of water. He takes out a tube with 2 worms, putting one in each cup. He asks his cousin how his week has been, etc. After about 2 minutes he notes that the worm has died in the cup of alcohol but is still alive and well in the cup of water. He asks his cousin if he understands what this mean. His cousin replies – YES! If I keep drinking alcohol I won’t get worms!!

Option 2: Mother and Daughter – Daughter is singing secular Christmas carols on the floor waiting for mom. Mom walks in with an arm full of presents and the daughter jumps up all excited saying presents presents presents! Mom talks to her about why we give presents at Christmas, to show our love, to remember the gift God gave us, etc. The daughter pauses and then asks for the mother’s hat (which she is wearing). She runs from the room and comes back with a present for the mom. When the mom opens the present it is her hat!

Immanuel – means “God with us”

                Used in Isaiah 9:6 and Matthew 1:23

Group Activity: 3 W’s of God with us all year round

(Children get to make candles of their choice…fun to see different versions…and they will be writing on each one. With each candle the group will sing a Christmas carol. Take time to look at the words – the meanings in each one.)

                Candle #1: Welcome – Sing “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”

Behind “Welcome” write  “Baby AND the King” (point –many come to church on Christmas because they are in awe of Jesus as a baby, yet they don’t want to submit to Jesus the King or let Him be Lord of their life.)

                Candle #2: Worship – Sing “O Come All Ye Faithful”

Behind “Worship” write “Today and with my life” (point – we are to worship Christ all year long with everything we do – have people share ways they do this)

                Candle #3: Witness – Sing “Go Tell It on the Mountain”

Behind “Witness” write “Action and Words”and share ways that people have witnessed to others recently.

Take Home: Have Nativity scene craft from Oriental Trading (changes from year to year their options) and write “Immanuel” on the hay in the manger.

Names of God #10 - Jehovah Rohi - Shepherd God

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Shepherding game with ballons and ping pong paddles (children try to head "sheep" balloons from one end of the room to the other)

Sheep are like balloons: dumb – defenseless – dirty and can’t clean self – dependent (need to be led)

Jokes for kids: 

                Why was the sheep arrested on the freeway? For making an illegal ewe-turn

                What do you get when your pet sheep takes Karate? A Lamb chop

 Jehovah Rohi-  

                                Jehovah Rohi – Sherpherd God

                                VERB – action – TO SHEPHERD; to tend

                                The root = a friend or companion – the Lord is my friend

Psalm 23

                Kids have craft on Psalm 23 (again, the scratch off I used is no longer available, but another option is here from Oriental Trading)

                All of us go through Verse 1; then tables go thru remainder using worksheet

The Lord is my shepherd

                Start by reading it emphasizing one word at a time

The Lord              Who is your Shepherd?

                             What are you letting guide you?

IS                          God is PRESENT

MY                        He’s a personal God – has an individual relationship with me

                               He knows what I need

                               He calls me by name

Shepherd            He takes care of ME

I shall not want – discuss

Table Worksheets – Verse by Verse

Discuss together after

  

Is the Lord Your Shepherd

                How do you know if the Lord is your Shepherd?

                John 10:1-18; 25-28 and 1 John 2:3-6

                Sheep KNOW their Shepherd – they recognize His voice – the Truth

                Sheep FOLLOW their Shepherd – they OBEY him

                What did Jesus say about entering the sheepfold?

                What is a good Shepherd willing to do for His sheep?

                What are we reassured of in vs 28? **note the no one else can snatch you  - yet it’s your decision to follow/stay

Take Home:

Other Shepherd psalms Psalm 22 – Psalm of the Good Shepherd – Laying Down your life and Psalm 24 Psalm of the Chief Shepherd – Jesus coming again

Name of God #9 - Jehovah Tsur - the Lord is My Rock

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Option #1: Have cement blocks with rope tied between – the kids try to walk across the valley

                Then kids walk across rocks to reach the other side

                Compare/Contrast…ropes and sand are fun to play in but not secure…rocks are sure footing

Option #2: Have pillows on each table and building blocks. Everyone needs to help build a (hollow) house on top of the pillow. The group leader walks around as visiting and bumps various tables to see if the house can withstand the "storm."

                 Tables can then put the pillow on the floor and build a new house on top of the table.

Jehovah Tsur – the Lord is my Rock

                                First used by Moses in his song in Deuteronomy 32; also used by Hannah in her song of Thanksgiving in 1 Sam 2:2 and in SEVERAL Psalms

Building on the Rock – Matthew 7:24-27

                Read together

                Discuss what it means

                First line – those who “hear these words of Mine and act on them…” So what were Jesus’ words to build on?

Praising the Lord our Rock

                Young kids will go to back room to learn “Jesus is The Rock and He Rolls my Blues Away” (option to have the children sing the song to open the worship service)

                Handout on Songs in the Bible: Hannah’s 1 Sam 2:2 (worksheet answers)

Take Home:

                Craft (I used one from Oriental Trading which is no longer available.) 

Name of God #8 - Jehovah Rapha - God the Healer

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Lemon water in pitcher with dixie cups…imagine traveling for 3 days with no water and you finally see WATER – YEAH!!! But…taste it..EWWWWWW! This is what happens to the Egyptians in our story today

                Jehovah Rapha -              

                         First spoke by Moses in Exodus 15:22-26

                         Used 5 other times in OT; while Healer used several times throughout both OT and NT

Exodus 15:22-26

                Background – 3 days since parting of Red Sea; 3 days of traveling with no water

                Read story

1.       Complaining= Bitter Hearts

2.       God was testing them – WHY?

a.       Tests are to see if you paid attention to what you have learned

b.      Opportunity to show something new – We will miss what God wants to show us if we are complaining through the test

c.       What did God ask for BEFORE He would help? (Obedience)

3.       God’s unusual solution

a.       Stick in water (remember Moses raised stick to part waters)

b.      Stir your water with the (sugar) sticks at your table 

God’s Medicine and Reward

1.        When has been a time you have been mad at God for something?

2.       Has there been a time when you were tired of waiting for God or didn’t like what was happening so you took things into your own hands?

3.       Video Clip from Tony Evans, Knowing the Names of God series on Media Shout Jehovah Rapha 35:10-44:05

(children can color during video)

4.       Proverbs 4:20-22 (What is it that will be life and health? How has the Word of God given you health?) and Jer 3:17

5.       Exodus 15:27

6.       Try your water now!

7.       Prayer/Activity to let God heal our bitter hearts

Service Project

          Have cards and names of shut ins from the church family on each table along with handouts with Bible verses for healing. Ask each table to write notes of encouragement on the card while the children draw their own picture or include one of the pictures they colored during video time.

Names of God #7 Jehovah Nissi

Jehovah Nissi – The Lord is My Banner

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             Jehovah Nissi -

                                Nes = Banner or Flag – Armies would carry a banner on a pole on the front line to give their army hope and a focal point to follow - show example of a kingdom crest 

                                Banners show WHO we are – WHOSE we are

                                God is our Banner of Encouragement – our Hope – our Focal Point

                                Moses was the only to use this name in Exodus 17

Exodus 17:9-16

                Background – This was the Israelites first battle (against human forces) since they escaped Egypt

                Read story

a.       How did God again use Moses?

b.      How did others help him?

c.       What did Moses mean when he used Jehovah Nissi?

d.      **The War is the Lord’s!! WE are his vessels!!

e.      The Amalekites were a constant battle for the people of Israel. What is a constant battle we today face?  What gives us strength or protection in this war?

f.        How can we compare that back to the “banner” Moses lifted?

A look at Banners in the Bible/Family Craft

Each table will receive a worksheet with some questions.

Adults can select one or two verses to lead the children at the table thru, but then children will work on their Family Banner. I gave each family a larger piece of material to work on together, but then each child also received a smaller piece of material to make their own personal banner to wave during worship. I had two handouts, gathered from the web, to give ideas of what to put on the banners.

The LORD is our Banner

1.       We are part of HIS army

a.       By this shall all men know that you are my disciples – that you love one another – John 13:35

b.      Our banners need to be showing love

2.       HE leads us into Battle

a.       We FOLLOW

b.      We DON’T run ahead

c.       We DON’T run to another line

3.       He WILL always be visible to us – Look to HIM when confused – not the world

Take Homes

                Kids – His Banner Over Me is Love – based on Songs 2:4

Names of God #6 Jehovah Jireh

Jehovah Jireh – God Provides

Open

Each table is leaving on a trip tomorrow morning – as a table make a list of items to take with BUT you can only take with what each person can carry walking

Draw slips out of a cup – each one with a different destination – are you prepared?

Ex 12:11; 31-39 – What the Israelites took as they left on their trip

 Jehovah Jireh

             Jehovah Jireh – God Provides

             Genesis 22:14 – Abraham named the mountain where he was tested to sacrifice Isaac and God provided the ram

Manna in the Desert

                At tables make a chart – God’s Part/Command vs Israelites Part

                Exodus 16: 1-7; 13-31

                Go over charts together quickyl as large group

                2 Cor 8:13-15 as evidence to explain Ex 16:18 and to lead into providing for others

Providing for Others

                At tables tie blankets for Project Ignite Light  or any other ministry that is close by your church.

Names of God #5: El Shaddai God Almighty

El Shaddai – God Almighty

Open

Dictionary as group

Cards are things only God can do (examples: blind can see, rising Lazarus from the dead, Jonah and the whale, Crossing of the Red Sea, etc)

What are somethings that you can’t do that God can do?

What are somethings that God leaves to you to do?

How do you react to those in your life that are more powerful than you?

                El Shaddai -        

                                El Shaddai – God Almighty

                                Websters says Almighty is “having absolute power of all; having complete power; having a great deal of power or importance.

                                Well-known verse – “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Gen 18:14

                                Used 48 times in OT - 31 in Job alone!

                                Abram was the first in Genesis 17 as He and God talk about the Covenant between them again

Background to the Convenant

                Background       

a.        Genesis 12:1 – 25 years earlier – God’s promise to Abram (75 years old)

b.      Genesis 15 – no child yet

c.       Genesis 16 – Sarah’s idea to fulfill promise through Hagar

d.      Genesis 17 – Abram is now 100 years old and tired…loosing hope…things are a mess because of Sarah and his’ own attempt to fill God’s promise       

**SO El Shaddai has come in during a seemingly impossible situation

a.       God doesn’t want (or need) our help outside of His plan

b.      We often get in the way of the blessing and delay God

                Read story Genesis 17:1-10

a.       What were the 2 main parts of the covenant? God’s and Abram’s? (circumsion and to walk a holy life)

b.      God had already told Abram His own part of the promise back in Genesis 12 and 15 – why do you think this is the first time He is mentioning Abram’s part? (He is getting ready to fulfill it so preparing Abram for action)

c.       Is God’s condition for obedience one He still expects of us today? (Yes – 2 Cor. 6:17-18 and John 15:5)

                                                                                                   i.      Story of the Rechargeable Solar Lights…We are lights for God – first we need to stay charged with HIS power – second we need to walk in the Light…if Solar lights stay in the darkness, they lose their shine and burn out

d.      God’s side of the covenant had several promises…what are they?  (Father of many nations – fruitful – Kings – to be your God – Canaan) 

**List on white board)

Craft and a Look at How God fulfilled these promises

1.        Each table has materials to make a scene of Abram looking up at the stars. Your stars have verses to look up in the Bible

2.       As children cut and paste the stars in the sky, have someone read the story in the Bible and discuss what part of the promise it fulfills. Write this on a blank star and color both starts the same color

3.       Why is it important that we can identify these stories?? (We trust those who have shown their power…those who have kept their promises)

BLESSINGS from El Shaddai

                Note that God required both something from Abram but ALSO his descendants the Israelites….Blessings require us to react with obedience

                Quick illustration of fishing (from Tony Evans)…2 guys fishing…one kept catching HUGE fish but would throw them back. If he caught anything under 10”s, he would keep it. Finally  the other guy asked WHAT he was doing?! The first man said – well my frying pan is only 10 inches wide…

                WHAT is something El Shaddai is calling YOU to be obedient and do yet you may not feel you have the tools, the frying pan, to accomplish it?

Take Home for Adults: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H7706

Prayer Weeks - One Sunday Lesson, Followed by Prayer Stations

Prayer Wk 1

Opening Acts 

 Lords Prayer in a bag – give each table a bag and a piece of paper with the line written on it – for “posters” use banners they hold up

Lords Prayer Scriptures 

                Matthew 6:9-13 – look at in different versions on handout

Breaking it Down  

        Video: RightNow Media – ACTS prayer (3:40)

        Have Lords Prayer color books for younger kids on hand pin 

ACTS – Break the prayer apart into these four parts as a table

              Children can color the parts diff colors Lords PrayerColouring

1. Adoration    -  Praising, worshipping God, for Who He is
2. Confession    -  Asking God to cleanse us from sin
3. Thanksgiving    -  Believing, acknowledging God's grace
4. Supplication    -  Our specific prayer requests

Using the Lord’s Prayer as a Model 

What did Jesus say when He told us to pray like this? 

What are some downfalls of route prayers?

We have used the ACTS prompt to help us break down the Lord’s Prayer. What are some others?

Video: RightNow Media – What is Prayer – LOVE!

So remember…the Lord’s Prayer is a model! God wants CONVERSATION with us – He wants RELATIONSHIP with us!! The ACTS is simply a guide to make that happen. 

Have tables pray together in closing – using the ACTS if it helps – as a way of moving closer to God.

Take Home: Name of God Dominoes

The following Sunday we did Prayer Stations. Some stations had items to take home for families to make their own prayer stations, others had materials to make objects (like a balloon flower). For prayer station ideas, visit my Pinterest All Church Board.