R38611 IBL Rock Solid Faith by Rose Publishing

This is a Preview of Instant Bible Lessons for PreTeens Rock Solid Faith Get a full version at www.rosekidz.com

Rock Solid Faith Mary J. Davis

These pages may be copied.

Permission is granted to the buyer of this book to photocopy student materials for use with Sunday school or Bible teaching classes.

An imprint of Rose Publishing, Inc. Carson, CA www.Rose-Publishing.com

In memory of two precious Christian workers: Heidi and Lynette. To Bill and Sue—May your heart for missions work continue to bless you and those around you.

RoseKidz® An imprint of Rose Publishing, Inc. 17909 Adria Maru Lane Carson, CA 90746 www.Rose-Publishing.com Cover Illustrator: Jennifer Kalis Interior Illustrator: Apryl Stott Scriptures are from the Holy Bible: New International Version (North American Edition), ©1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

Permission is granted to the buyer of this book to photocopy student materials for use with Sunday school or Bible teaching classes. All rights reserved. Except as noted above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of Rose Publishing. Printed in the United States of America

Contents Introduction ..................................5 How to Use This Book ..........................................5

Chapter 1: Building a Solid Foundation ......................................7 More Than a Building ............................................8 ID Tags....................................................................10 Scripture Hunt ......................................................11 We Are the Church................................................12 Construct-a-Puzzle ................................................13 Door Greeting........................................................14 Journal....................................................................15

Chapter 2: True Faith ..................17 Examples of Faith ................................................18 Impossible! ............................................................20 What We Do Not See ............................................22 Faith Flower Pot ..................................................23 Guess and Win ......................................................24 Journal....................................................................26

Chapter 3: Faith Changes Everything ....................................27 A Changed Man ....................................................28 New Life Plate ......................................................31 Changed for Christ................................................32 Changed Attitude ..................................................33 Big Changes ..........................................................34 Journal....................................................................35

Chapter 4: Teaching the Truth ..37 On Trial ..................................................................38 Only in the Name ..................................................40 Answering the Challenge ....................................41 Step with Courage ................................................42 What We Have Seen..............................................43 Standing Up for Truth ..........................................44 Journal....................................................................46

Chapter 5: Be the Salt and the Light ............................................47 See for Yourself ....................................................48

Verse Challenge Poster ........................................50 Memory Verse Kitchen Set ..................................51 Emergency Light Kit ............................................52 What Others Should See ......................................53 Light Catchers ......................................................54 Journal....................................................................56

Chapter 6: Serving with Humility ..57 Hands-on Lesson ..................................................58 Wheel of Example ................................................59 Serve with Humility ..............................................60 Because ..................................................................61 Humility Zone ........................................................62 Serving One Another ............................................63 Journal....................................................................64

Chapter 7: Sharing in the Lord’s Supper..................................................65 Mural Story ............................................................66 Examine Yourself ..................................................68 Remember..............................................................69 Remembrance Banner..........................................71 Which Are You? ....................................................72 Journal....................................................................74

Chapter 8: Giving My All for Jesus ..75 Put It in Order ......................................................76 Journal....................................................................79 All for Jesus ..........................................................80 I’ll Give My All ......................................................81 Big Sponge Pointing Finger ................................82 Leave Everything ..................................................83

Chapter 9: More Activities..................85 Clip Art ..................................................................85 Graffiti Wreath ......................................................88 Sand Capsule ..........................................................90 Morse Code Neck Chains ....................................91 Journal Cover ........................................................92 Themed Checkers ................................................93

Answer Key ........................................95

Introduction Let’s face it: the preteen years are a struggle. Bodily changes, emotional highs and lows, and hormones run amok are just some of the challenges of this age. The world bombards our preteens with unsavory messages at every turn. They need encouragement and opportunity to put God’s Word into their hearts and minds. The best tools we can give our preteens to survive in the world today are God’s Holy Word and our guidance. In Rock Solid Faith, preteens will learn how to develop faith that will help them navigate life’s challenges, both great and small. Each of the first eight chapters includes a Bible story, a memory verse, alternative means of learning the lesson theme, and a variety of activities to help reinforce the truth in the lesson. The ninth chapter contains miscellaneous projects that can be used anytime during the study, or at the end to review the lessons. The most exciting aspect of Instant Bible Lessons for Preteens is its flexibility. You can easily adapt these lessons to a Sunday school hour, a children’s church service, a Wednesday night Bible study, or family home use. Because there is a variety of reproducible ideas from which to choose, you will enjoy creating a class session that is best for your group of students, whether large or small, beginning or advanced, active or studious, all boys/all girls/co-ed. The intriguing topics will keep your students coming back for more, week after week.

* How to Use This Book * Each chapter begins with a Bible story. You may simply tell the story from the story page, or use the first activity to discover the lesson in a more involved way. To prepare for each lesson, duplicate the story page. Read the Bible Scriptures and the story written on the page to get a good background of the lesson you will teach your students. Jot down any thoughts that will help you teach the Bible story. Use the discussion questions to spark conversation.

bulletin board

craft

express yourself

song

puzzle

skit 5

game

group

teacher help

think

• Chapter 1 •

Building a Solid Foundation Memory Verse The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Acts 11:26 * No Hammers Required

The book of Acts tells about the beginning of the church. After Jesus returned to heaven, His disciples were ready to begin building God’s church. No, they didn’t gather together materials to stock a building with robes, communion trays, and the other items that we see when we attend worship services. Why not? Because the church is not a building. The church is God’s people worshipping, serving, and witnessing. And that’s just what the disciples began to do. The disciples gathered together on the day of Pentecost. That’s when they received the promised gift of the Holy Spirit to help them go into the world to tell others about Christ. Then Peter began to preach the Word of God and tell about the life and sacrifice of Christ. Large crowds gathered. As people heard about God’s love for them and Jesus’ sacrifice for their sins, they believed and repented. Thousands were added to God’s family in just one day! The perfect example of a church is in Acts 2:42-47. In early church days, all the believers shared everything they had with one another. They sold their possessions for food and other supplies. The believers met together in the temple courts, and even in each other’s homes. Each day, more people joined God’s church. Antioch is just one of the many towns where the believers preached. Everywhere the Word was taught, more and more people believed and became part of God’s family. And it’s still happening today as people learn about Jesus and come to believe in Him as their Savior.

Based on Acts 1 and 2; Acts 11:26

Discussion Questions

1. Many people today say they “don’t need” God or church. What kinds of things can we do to get people interested in Jesus and the church? 2. Why do you think the early believers sold their possessions and shared everything? Would you be willing to do that today in order to spread the Good News?

* More Than a Building * group What You Need • pages 8 and 9, duplicated • scissors • glue • construction paper

What to Do 1. Cut the construction paper into thirds. Then cut out each phrase from the pattern pages and glue onto a paper strip. 2. Give each student at least one phrase strip. 3. Say, The early church was a group of people, not a building. Even today, we are still the church by what we do, not where we go. The church is the people who worship and serve there. 4. Have the students take turns reading the phrases from the phrase strips. They should read them in order, calling out the number and letter of each one.

Church

1A. The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching. (Acts 2:42) 1B. My family attends church every Sunday to hear the pastor’s sermon. 1C. I attend Sunday school to learn from God’s Word. 2A. The believers devoted themselves to the fellowship. (Acts 2:42) 2B. I get involved with youth activities for my age. 2C. Our family attends the fellowship activities at church. We have fellowship with others in their homes and in ours. 3A. The believers devoted themselves to the breaking of bread. (Acts 2:42) 3B. We take part in communion at church. 4A. The believers devoted themselves to prayer. (Acts 2:42) 4B. Our church prays for others. 4C. My family keeps a prayer list to pray for friends, our church family, and our country’s leaders. 5A. The believers were in awe of wonders and signs. (Acts 2:43) 5B. Our church rejoices when God answers a prayer. 6A. The believers had everything in common. (Acts 2:44) 6B. We share our struggles and joys with each other.

7A. The believers sold their possessions to give the money to anyone in need. (Acts 2:45) 7B. Our church takes food donations for those in need of food. 7C. My family helps others we know are in need, without bragging to others or embarrassing the needy family. 8A. The believers met together every day in the temple courts. (Acts 2:46) 8B. Our church meets together for worship, for Bible studies or small groups, and for other meetings to learn more about God. 9A. The believers met together in homes, broke bread and ate together with glad hearts. (Acts 2:46) 9B. My family sponsors a Bible study, where we share the Word and fellowship together. 9C. My family invites our new neighbors to church. 10A. The believers praised God together. (Acts 2:47) 10B. Praising God is natural to my family. We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hide that we are Christians. 11A. The Lord added to their number daily. (Acts 2:47) 11B. It is always a special occasion to see someone accept the Lord. Our church welcomes new Christians. 11C. My parents send "welcome" cards to new members of our church. We often invite the new members to our home. 12A. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. (Acts 11:26) 12B. I am proud to call myself a Christian. 12C. Our pastor says a Christian is one who follows Christ. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s me!

* ID Tags * craft What You Need • duplicated page • transparency sheets • craft foam • scissors • tape • plastic lacing • hole punch • pencils • clear glue • permanent markers

What to Do 1. Duplicate the pattern page on transparency sheets, one for every two children. 2. Cut the duplicated transparency sheets in half so each student has one set of tags. 3. Have the students cut out their ID tag pieces. 4. Have each student trace one ID tag piece onto two colors of craft foam. 5. Show how to punch a hole in each of the foam pieces and in the transparent pieces at the marked dots. 6. Have the students glue their foam ID tag pieces together.

➣

Church

What to Do, continued ➣ 7. Show how to glue the two clear pieces, one to the front and one to the back, on the foam stack of ID tag pieces. 8. Have the students use permanent markers to write their names on the fronts of their ID tags, and the name of your church on the back sides. 9. Show how to thread a 2-foot length of plastic lacing through the hole of an ID tag and tie at the back. 10. Say, Many people wear ID tags – soldiers, doctors, factory workers, and others. Your ID tag proudly announces that you are part of God’s church. 10

* Scripture Hunt * Acts 11:26

____________________________________

Acts 12:5

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Acts 14:23

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Acts 14:27

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Acts 15:41

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Acts 16:5

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Acts 20:28

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Romans 16:1-16

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1 Corinthians 4:17

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1 Corinthians 12:28

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1 Corinthians 14:12

____________________________________

1 Corinthians 14:26

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1 Corinthians 16:19

____________________________________

Ephesians 5:23

____________________________________

Colossians 1:18

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Colossians 1:24

____________________________________

1 Thessalonians 1:1

____________________________________

2 Thessalonians 1:1

____________________________________

1 Timothy 5:16

____________________________________

1 Timothy 5:17

____________________________________

puzzle What You Need • duplicated page • Bibles • pens or pencils

What to Do 1. Divide the class into groups. Give each student a duplicated page. Have plenty of Bibles handy. 2. Assign several of the verses to each group. 3. Say, Each of the verses has something to do with God’s church. Look up the verses and tell what each says about the church. Some tell what the church does, others tell about Jesus and the church. 4. After the students have looked up the verses and written notes about each verse, have the students take turns telling what they learned about the church.

Church

* We Are the Church * bulletin board What You Need • duplicated page • instant or digital camera • construction paper • stapler

What to Do 1. Duplicate the pattern page and fasten it onto a bulletin board. 2. Take pictures of the students doing things in the church, such as listening, singing, praying, preparing communion, cleaning, doing group activities, etc. 3. Fasten the pictures to the bulletin board. 4. Have the students make labels for the pictures that give the students’ names and what they are doing in the pictures, then attach the labels to the board.

Church

* Construct-a-Puzzle * puzzle What You Need • duplicated page • chalkboard or whiteboard • pens or pencils

What to Do 1. Give each student a duplicated puzzle grid. 2. Say, We are the church. It is a privilege to be called God’s church. We’re going to make our own puzzles with the names of everyone in our class. 3. Write all the students’ first names on the chalkboard or whiteboard so everyone knows the correct spellings. 4. Have the students write the names of all class members in their grids to form puzzles. 5. Remind the students that the names can go any direction, as long as they are in straight lines. Using all capital letters will make the puzzles easier to write and decipher. 6. Have the students trade puzzles with each other to solve.

Church

* Door Greeting * craft What You Need • duplicated page • card stock • construction paper scraps • scissors • glue • pencils • markers • glitter (optional)

What to Do 1. Duplicate the page on colored stock. 2. Say, Being a part of God’s church is great! What a privilege it is to be called “the church.” These hangers will remind us that the church is not a building, but Christians who love and serve ➣ to use construction the Lord. paper scraps to add 3. Have each student color to their cut out a door churches. They can hanger, a cross, a also use markers or church door, and a glitter to decorate their hole for hanging on hangers. a doorknob. 6. Have each student sign 4. Each student every other student’s should glue the door greeting hangers. door and cross 7. Remind the students onto the church that each one of them building portion of is a part of God’s the door hanger. church. 5. Allow the students

What to Do, continued

➣

Church

* Journal *

I am the Church

express yourself

I have been called by God to be part of His church.

What You Need

How does this make me feel?

• duplicated page • pens or pencils

What to Do

____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________

How can I show my love to God? ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________

1. Give each student a journal page. 2. Say, It is a privilege to be called “God’s church.” Each of us has been called by God to be part of His church. Use the journal page to write your thoughts about how much God must love you to have called you to be part of His church. How can you show your appreciation and love to God? 3. In chapter 9, the students will make covers in which to keep their journal pages from the lessons in this book.

____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________

Church

• Chapter 2 •

True Faith Memory Verse Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:1

* Heroes of the Faith * We all need air to live. But if air is calm and not moving, how do we know we can still breathe? In the same way, on a cloudy night, how do we know that the stars are in the sky even though we cannot see them? We have faith. Faith is knowing that what we hope for is there. Faith is believing, even when we cannot see. Hebrews 11 gives examples of Bible-times people who had great faith. Noah built an ark and did all that God commanded him, faithfully working without question. Noah also had faith that God would keep his family safe in the ark. Abraham showed great faith when God told him to take everything and travel far away to a land he didn’t know. Abraham had faith in God’s promise to give him and Sarah a son, even in their old age. Abraham showed faith when he followed God’s instructions to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, only to find that God had a plan in place and provided a ram for the sacrifice instead. Moses’ parents had faith that God would protect their baby son as they placed him in a basket in the Nile. God caused an Egyptian princess to find the baby and keep him safe until he was grown. Other Hebrew baby boys were killed by order of the Pharaoh, but Moses was kept safe, through the faith of his parents. Under Moses’ leadership, the people of Israel passed through the Red Sea on dry land through faith. Can you imagine crossing the sea with the water forming a wall on each side of you? Many others in the Bible showed faith, too. Christians need to remain confident that God will carry out His will. We show obedience by our faithfulness.

Based on Hebrews 11

Discussion Questions

1. In what ways is it difficult for you to have faith? 2. How can you show others your faith in God, especially during difficult times? 17

* Examples of Faith * group What You Need • pages 18 and 19, duplicated • scissors • glue • Bibles

What to Do

1. Before class, cut out 18 gingerbread shapes. Also cut out the verse strips. Glue a verse strip onto each gingerbread shape. 2. Hide the gingerbread shapes around the room. 3. Say, There are 18 men hidden in this room. Do you have faith that this is true? Okay, then look around the room for the 18 men! 4. After the students have found the 18 gingerbread shapes, say, See, there really were 18 men hidden in the room. You had faith and looked for the men. 5. Have the students ➣ gingerbread shapes until all the shapes are distributed. 6. Have pairs of students look up the verses. Beginning with the pair that open their Bibles has shape 1, ask one person in each pair to read aloud the phrase on to Hebrews 11. their gingerbread shape. The other student in the pair should read Give each student aloud the verses from the Bible. at least one of the ➣ 7. Have all students recite Hebrews 11:1 together.

What to Do, continued

faith

1. Hebrews 11:1 What is faith? 2. Hebrews 11:3 We have faith the world was created by God. 3. Hebrews 11:4 Abel offered God an acceptable sacrifice, by faith. 4. Hebrews 11:5 By faith, Enoch was taken from this life without experiencing death. 5. Hebrews 11:7 Noah built an ark in faith to save his family and two of every living creature. 6. Hebrews 11:8 By faith, Abraham left his home and made a new home in a foreign country, as God led him to do. 7. Hebrews 11:11-12 Abraham had faith in God’s promise to give him and Sarah a son. God was faithful in the promise to make Abraham’s descendants a great nation. 8. Hebrews 11:17-19 By faith, Abraham followed God’s instructions to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham was rewarded for his faith, when God provided a ram for the sacrifice. 9. Hebrews 11:20 By faith, Isaac, in his old age, blessed his two sons, Jacob and Esau. 10. Hebrews 11:21 Jacob, by faith, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshipped God. 11. Hebrews 11:22 Joseph, by faith, spoke about the exodus of God’s people from slavery in Egypt. 12. Hebrews 11:23 Moses’ parents, by faith, saved him from being killed by Pharaoh, who ordered all Hebrew baby boys to be killed. 13. Hebrews 11:24-28 When Moses was an adult, he chose, by faith, to be mistreated along with his own people. He left Egypt by faith and kept the Passover, by faith. 14. Hebrews 11:29 By faith, God’s people passed through the Red Sea on dry land. 15. Hebrews 11:30 By faith, Joshua and God’s army followed God’s instructions to march around the walls of Jericho – then the walls fell. 16. Hebrews 11:31 Rahab, by faith, helped the spies from God’s army, and saved her own family. 17. Hebrews 11:32 Others, through faith, did great things for God. 18. Hebrews 11:39-40 All these people were rewarded by God for their faith. All things that happened were planned by God, who used those who had faith. 19

* Impossible! * puzzle

____ ____ ____ 1 2 3

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

What You Need

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ 11 12 13 14 15

• pages 20 and 21, duplicated • pens or pencils

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

What to Do 1. Give each student a puzzle page. 2. Say, We are going to solve a puzzle to find out what is impossible. Follow the letter code to place the correct letters in the blanks. For example, letter B will be written in spaces 27, 41 and 71. 3. When the puzzles are solved, have someone volunteer to read the verse out loud. Ask, What is impossible? (The students can turn in their Bibles to Hebrews 11:6 to check their work.)

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ 32 33 34 35 36 37

____ ____ 18 19

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ 48 49 50 51 52 53

____ ____ ____ 54 55 56

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ 57 58 59 60 61

____ ____ ____ 64 65 66

____ ____ ____ ____ 67 68 69 70

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 ____ ____ 82 83

____ ____ 62 63

____ ____ ____ ____ 78 79 80 81

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ 84 85 86 87 88 89

____ ____ ____ ____ 93 94 95 96

____ ____ 30 31

____ ____ ____, 38 39 40

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ 41 42 43 44 45 46 47

____ ____ ____ 90 91 92

____ ____ 97 98

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 ____ ____ ____ 111 112 113

faith

____ ____ 16 17

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ 106 107 108 109 110

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122

____ ____ ____ ____ 123 124 125 126

____ ____ ____. 127 128 129 20

—Hebrews 11:6

Write the letter A in spaces 1, 12, 35, 44, 48, 80, 90, 95, 102, 115. Write the letter B in spaces 27, 41, 71. Write the letter C in spaces 43 and 57. Write the letter D in spaces 3, 40, 92, 104. Write the letter E in spaces 29, 34, 37, 42, 47, 53, 60, 72, 75, 77, 83, 84, 98, 100, 110, 114, 118, 124, 125. Write the letter F in space 11. Write the letter G in space 38. Write the letter H in spaces 7, 15, 55, 64, 79, 82, 94, 97, 107, 112, 127. Write the letter I in spaces 5, 13, 16, 18, 20, 26, 65, 74, 86, 128. Write the letter K in space 126. Write the letter L in spaces 28, 33, 73, 121. Write the letter M in spaces 21, 59, 66, 67, 129. Write the letter N in spaces 2, 49, 52, 91, 117. Write the letter O in spaces 8, 23, 31, 39, 51, 56, 58, 63, 108, 113. Write the letter P in spaces 22 and 32. Write the letter R in spaces 99, 103, 116. Write the letters S in spaces 19, 24, 25, 36, 46, 61, 69, 87, 89, 105, 109, 119, 123. Write the letter T in spaces 6, 10, 14, 17, 30, 62, 70, 78, 81, 88, 93, 96, 106, 120. Write the letter U in spaces 9, 45, 68. Write the letter V in space 76. Write the letter W in spaces 4, 54, 101, 111. Write the letter X in space 85. Write the letter Y in spaces 50 and 122. 21

*What We Do Not See * craft What You Need • duplicated page • construction paper • Blow Pops™ • scissors • hole punch • glue • markers

What to Do

1. Have each student cut out a verse rectangle. 2. Show how to fold a piece of construction paper in half to form a card. 3. Instruct the students to glue their verse rectangles to the inside rights of their cards. 4. Show how to punch two holes on the inside left of a card, as close to the center of the page as possible. The top hole should be about two inches above the other. 5. Instruct the students to write “Faith” on the fronts of their cards. 6. Give each student a Blow Pop™ to insert in his or her card’s holes. 7. Say, We can read

➣

faith

What to Do, continued ➣ the label on the Blow Pop and know what is inside. But what if the label didn't say what was inside the wrapping? We would guess it is a lollipop of some sort, but wouldn't know the nice surprise inside. Our lesson teaches us that true faith is believing, although we do not see. We are sure that Jesus is there, even though we do not see Him. 22

* Faith Flower Pot * craft What You Need • duplicated page • terra cotta or plastic flower pots, 4-6" high • scissors • glue • markers • acrylic paints • paint brushes • craft sticks • potting soil • flower seeds

What to Do

What to Do, continued finished craft

➣ think about the memory verse and what faith means to you. 23

1. Give each student a duplicated page. 2. Have the students cut out the folding verses. 3. Show how to fold the verse rectangle in half over a craft stick, then glue the rectangle shut, leaving about 1 inch of craft stick inside the fold. 4. Have the students paint their flowers pots. 5. When the pots are dry, help the students fill their pots with soil. Allow them to plant a few flower seeds in each. 6. Say, As you watch the seeds grow into flowers,

➣

faith