On The Trail Lesson 3

On The Trail Lesson 3
Read Exodus 13: 17-14:31 ( pick some passages to read to your children).
Everyone faces problems sooner or later, even your children. Our goal for your children today was for them to learn that when they face a problem they can choose to either focus on the problem or focus on God. We should always focus on God because he is powerful, trustworthy and he cares for us.
In our Bible story, we learned the story about God parting the Red Sea, found in Exodus 13:17 – 14:31. In this story the Israelites find themselves trapped between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army. The Israelites focused on the problem and begin to panic. Moses, on the other hand, focused on God and prayed to Him for help. God parted the waters
so the Israelites could escape. Moses showed us that when we face problems focusing on God, and His power, is better than focusing on the problem.
During our large group skit, Tex found a huge river blocking the path of the herd. Tex focused on the problem and then whined and complained. Cookie explained that this problem was no different than any other problem that God had helped them with. Cookie encouraged Tex to focus on God instead. Tex calmed down and prayed to God for help. God provided a way to get the cattle across the river. Just like Tex, we need to focus on God rather than our problems.
Our Bible story, skit and every activity in our small group time was used in order to teach your children that whenever they face problems, instead of worrying and complaining, they should focus on God.

You can help your child understand this concept be giving them examples of thiem this week when you had a problem and how you turned to God for for help. Ask your child if they had any problems this week they needed help with. Has how did the peson help them.

Barry <><

On The Trail Week 2

This past Sunday our focused upon obedience to God. Your children learned that it would’t make sense to tell God that we loved Him and then turn around and disobey his commandments.

Sunday we showed your children how the Bible teaches that in order to truly show God that we love him, we must obey.

On stage today we told the story of Moses and the ten plagues on Egypt found in Exodus 5-11. In this story Moses goes to Egypt and tells Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, to let the Israelites go and be free from slavery. Pharaoh refuses and makes life harder for the Israelite people. Moses goes back to Pharaoh and tells him once again to let the Israelites go, but again Pharaoh refuses. God then sent a plague of frogs on the Egyptians. Moses continued to go back to Pharaoh and demand freedom for the Israelites but every single time he did Pharaoh refused. Each time Pharaoh refused God sent another plague. Even though it got harder each time, Moses
never stopped obeying God. In this way Moses showed love for God.

The Bible tells us in John 14:15 “If you love me, obey my commandments.” (NLT)

Just like Moses showed love by being obedient, we should be obedient as well.
During our large group skit, Tex got the assignment of being a scout. He had to repeatedly run on ahead of the group, look around and report back. After a couple of trips Tex was exhausted! He wanted to quit but Cookie encouraged him to keep obeying the trail boss. Cookie explained that we are being obedient to God when we are obedient to the authority figures that God has placed in our lives. In the same way, the children show love to God by being obedient to their parents and teachers, that’s one reason why obedience is so important.
All of the elements of today’s lesson were for the purpose of teaching your children that the best way to show our love is by being obedient to God and to those in authority over us.

This week you can help your children understand the concepts we discusses by Reading the Bible story in Exodus 5-11. You may want to read selected parts because this is a lengthy passage. Explain to your children that even as an adult there are people that you have to obey. Try to give them specific examples of times that you are obedient, like when you are driving down the road there are traffic laws and speed limits that you have to obey.

Read John 14: 15 and explain that love is a large part of obedience.

Throughout the week share with your children times you have to be obedient to God.

On the Trail: The Calling of Moses

Our goal this week was for your children to understand that trust and obedience go hand in hand, especially when it comes to obeying God. We show that we trust God by being obedient.
In Bible storise by the campfire, we told the story of the calling of Moses found in Exodus chapters 3 and 4.

The story begins with God speaking to Moses from within a burning bush. God gives Moses the task of returning to Egypt to free the Israelites from slavery. God gives Moses signs to show that He will help Moses in his task. Moses trusts God and obeys Him by going to Egypt.

During our large group skit, your children were introduced to the characters Cookie the cook and Tex the cowboy. Tex had just gotten a job on a cattle drive and was having a lot of doubts about himself and the task ahead. Cookie encouraged him to trust in the trail boss because he will give him the help he needs. He also encouraged Tex to obey the trail boss by coming along on the drive.

It is important for your children to understand how you are being obedient to God in the same way. It isn’t enough to simply say that your trust. You show that trust by actually obeying. Discuss with your children ways you are obedient to God each day.

Our Bible story, skit and every activity in our small group time was geared toward teaching your children that the way we show our trust in God is by being obedient to Him and to those in authority over us.