T H E F I E R Y F U R N A C E | S U N D AY, A P R I L 2 6 , 2 0 2 0 BIG PICTURE: God keeps me safe.
BIG POINT: When we stand for God, God stands for us.
BIG STORY: Read Daniel 3
BIG WORD: Excerpts from Psalm 16 Early Childhood: Psalm 16:1 (NIRV)
My God, keep me safe. I go to you for safety.
Elementary: Psalm 16:1–4a (NIRV)
My God, keep me safe. I go to you for safety. I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord. Without you, I don’t have anything that is good.” I say about God’s people who live in our land, “They are the noble ones. I take great delight in them.” Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.”
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the conclusion of this lesson, children will: • Know that God is with me and keeps me safe. • Understand that when we obey God and stand with him, God stands with us. • Understand our boldness for God can point others to him.
THE BIG QUESTIONS (to discuss with your kids)
1. Why didn’t Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego bow to King Nebuchadnezzar’s statue? Because they followed God and his Word that tells us that God is a jealous God. He wants us to love and worship him only and to not worship any other gods or images (Exodus 20:3–4). 2. What keeps us from standing up for God? Primarily fear.
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3. How do we know God will stand with his people? His Word tells us he will. Below are just a few of the many verses; see if you can find more! Deuteronomy 3:22, Joshua 1:9, Psalm 46:1–2, Proverbs 18:10, Isaiah 41:10, Nahum 1:7, 1 Peter 5:8–10, Romans 8:38–39, Hebrews 13:6 4. Parents, share with your kids about a time when you took a stand for God and what happened when you did. Kids, what is God asking you to do to stand for him? What is something you could do as a family to stand together for God?
AT-HOME ACTIVITIES: ELEMENTARY
Sword Drills Ephesians 6 calls the Word of God the Sword of the Spirit, so we call this exercise “Sword Drills.” Have kids hold a Bible (the sword) over their heads and when you give them a Bible reference, see how fast they can find it in the Bible. You can start with the verses in Question 3 above. Fiery Furnace Bag Craft Supplies needed: Brown paper bag or gift sack; red, orange, and yellow construction paper or tissue paper; straws; scissors; crayons, markers, or colored pencils; tape or glue; Bible character resource on page 4. Directions: Stand up the bag with the opening on the table. Cut a circle in the front center panel of the bag. Make flames out of the colored paper, or use white paper and color it. Glue or tape your flames inside the bag at the bottom of the circle cut-out and to the top of the bag. Print the Bible characters resource (Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and the Lord) and have kids cut the characters out and color them, or they can draw their own characters (about 2” tall). Tape the characters onto a straw. Lift the characters up through the bag opening (bottom) and dance them around in the fiery flames.
Choose one of the following verses to write on the front of your bag: • “Blessed be the God who delivered his servants who trusted in him.” Daniel 3:28 (paraphrased) • “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:17–18 (NIV)
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AT-HOME ACTIVITIES: EARLY CHILDHOOD Fiery Furnace Paper Plate Craft
Supplies needed: Paper plate; red, orange, and yellow construction paper or tissue paper; glue; scissors; Bible character resource on page 4. Directions: Cut off the bottom fourth of the plate so that the finished project is able to stand up. Have children glue colored paper squares onto the paper plate for fire. Print the Bible characters resource (Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and the Lord) and have kids cut the characters out and color them. Glue the characters onto the plate on top of the flames. Big Word Activity “My God, keep me safe. I go to you for safety.” Psalm 16:1 (NIRV) Everyone jumps and dances around like they are in the hot, fiery furnace while the verse is read over and over. Every now and then stop at a random point in the verse and have everyone freeze and fill in the next word. Modification for multiple players: If anyone is moving when it’s time to freeze, then they are out! Then they can help say the verse. Play until everyone is out and you are all saying the verse together. Coloring Page Let children color the coloring sheet on page 5 while they retell the story.
PRAYER Dear God, help us not to be fearful, but to be willing and bold to follow your Word, and to take a stand for you, knowing that we can trust you to protect us and keep us safe. Use our actions to point others to your son Jesus. Amen.
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This coloring page is provided by azcoloring.com