Junior Teacher Guide – May 2018

Table of Contents

Junior Teacher Guide – May 2018

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Lesson Warm Up Story Activity Page May 6 – Giving Is God (based on Exodus 35: 20-29; 2 Corinthians 9:7)

Discuss how materials were used to build the tabernacle

Zion and Zaya Talk about Giving from a Generous Heart

Make a priestly stole

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May 13 – Giving Your Best (based on Leviticus 23: 9-14, 22)

Discuss how important grains are in different parts of the world

Zion and Zaya Talk about Giving God the Best Gifts

Make a special gift

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May 20 – Take Care of the Land and Yourself (based on Leviticus 25: 1-12)

Discuss the difference between getting proper rest and not getting proper rest

Zion and Zaya Talk about Sabbath and Jubilee

Make a parachute for a recycled bag

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May 27 – Who Can Help? (based on Psalm 34: 1-10; Hebrews 2: 17-18)

Sing “Come on and Bless the Lord with Me”

Zion and Zaya Talk about Praise and Thanksgiving

Make an emoji with a “praise face”

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Appendices Title Page

Appendix A Home Bible Study Questions 13

Appendix B Lesson 1 Warm Up Activity 14

Appendix C Recycling Game Cards and Recycling Bins 15

Appendix D Lesson 13 Key Verse Stickers 18

Appendix E Praise Face Template 19

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Lesson 10 – May 6, 2018 | Exodus 35: 20-29; 2 Corinthians 9:7

Giving is God

Get Excited!

Below are the instructions for the warm-up activity – Building the Tabernacle. Ask students to look at the materials the Israelites gave to build the tabernacle and the ask them to share how they think the materials were used. Images of the materials are in Appendix B of this guide. Review the Message Bible version of Leviticus 35:4-29 for answers.

Key Verse Exercise

Read the verse to remember aloud. God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Ask students to decode the verse to remember. G O D L O V E S A 7 15 4 12 15 22 5 19 1 C H E E R F U L G I V E R 3 8 5 5 18 6 21 12 7 9 22 5 18 Read and Learn!

Read Zion and Zaya Talk about Giving from a Generous Heart aloud. Zion and Zaya Talk about Giving from a Generous Heart Zaya – Do you know what a tabernacle is? Zion – I’ve heard the word before, but I’m, not sure what it is. Zaya – A tabernacle was a portable temple/place of worship. The Israelites wandered in the wilderness

so they could not have a permanent worship center. Guess what? God gave Moses detailed instructions for building the tabernacle, making its furnishings as well as the garments of the priests.

In Exodus chapters 25-31, God gave Moses every detail concerning the layout, structure, source materials and furnishings for the Tabernacle. God also gave Moses instructions on how the high priest and priests should dress and how the sacrificial rituals of worship were to be handled.

But the building project, furnishings, and garments needed to be financed. The people were told what kind of materials would be needed for the building of the Tabernacle. They were urged to make offerings of the materials – gold, silver, brass, and acacia wood. An assortment of fabric – blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen was needed for coverings and curtains. Olive oil and spices were also needed for rituals, and precious stones and fabric for the garments of the priests. The people were asked to bring goat hair, ram skins dyed red, and hides of sea cows. Moses also requested that all who were skilled make everything the Lord had commanded.

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After hearing what was needed to build and furnish the Tabernacle, everyone who was willing made a generous donation. They brought gold jewelry. They provided everything that was needed. The women used their weaving skills and brought fabric they had spun. The leaders brought precious gems for the priests’ garments. They brought spices and olive oil for light, for anointing, and for incense.

Zion – Since the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness, where did they get all of their supplies and materials, especially the gold and silver?

Zaya – They brought it with them. Don’t you remember that before they left Egypt, they asked the Egyptians for gold and silver jewelry: brooches, earrings, rings, and ornaments?

Zion – So the Israelites had what God needed and gave it to God with a generous heart. Zaya – In 2 Corinthians 8:1-7, Paul wrote about the generosity of the Macedonians. Although they were

living in extreme poverty, they gave generously to the church at Jerusalem. They counted it a joy to share the little they had. But much more than resources, they gave themselves to the Lord. Paul called on them then and us now to ‘excel in this grace of giving’ (8:7).

Zion – I will be like the Macedonians and give myself to the Lord and I will share my allowance. Zaya – In 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, Paul reminded us that we will reap what we sow. I will sow generously by

using my time, talent, and treasure/resources (allowance). Zion – I think we are on to something good!

Rise Up!

Answers to questions in What Do You Think are underlined. What does “You can’t beat God giving” mean? (Answers will vary. Just emphasize the offering we give will never out do all that God does for us.) How did God prepare His people to be able to give? They brought supplies with them when they left Egypt and gave what they had to God with a generous heart.

Complete the Superhero Challenge if time permits. Tell students the Zion and Zaya want to always be cheerful givers. Come up with examples of when someone is giving a gift willingly (out of love and enthusiasm) or giving a gift begrudgingly (out of peer pressure and reluctance) to help Zion and Zaya remember how to be cheerful givers.

Below are the instructions for the Time to Create activity – Make a priestly stole. Materials needed: Large sheets of newsprint paper or long strips of fabric (at least ½ yard in length), scrap pieces of construction paper or fabric, fabric markers, glitter glue, craft glue, scissors

Instructions: Cut the long, rectangular pieces of newsprint paper or fabric before class so that each student will have a blank stole to design. Show the students pictures of stoles or have a stole on display in the classroom. Allow students to decorate their stoles with the other materials.

Close the lesson with prayer. Lord, we know you love cheerful givers. Help us to value generosity. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!

Final note for this session. The home assignment for this month is a family bible study. Give each student a copy of Appendix A for parents/guardians to use as a guide.

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Lesson 11 – May 13, 2018 | Leviticus 23: 9-14, 22

Giving Your Best Get Excited!

Below are the instructions for the warm-up activity – An Agrarian Economy. Share the definition of an agrarian economy. (An agrarian economy in one in which the wealth and resources of a country are based on the production of crops). Then use any of the links below to show students different types of grains and discuss how grains are used and why grains would be considered a “good offering” in different parts of the world.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVHD9wGlbho (Agriculture Rocks Our World, 7 min) • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVRCfT-_958 (Agrarian Vocabulary Video, 1 min) • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9G7XzgG6So (The Grain Chain, 3 min) • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqgU3co4vcI (Grow Food | Appetite for Change, 5 min)

Key Verse Exercise

Read the verse to remember aloud. You shall bring…the first fruits of your harvest… . (Leviticus 23:10)

Ask students to find the words in the verse to remember.

Y O U S H A L L

B O T W A J H F

R F U Q R E K I

I D M R V X U R

N C T H E K O S

G B N P S S F T

F R U I T S P Z

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Read and Learn!

Read Zion and Zaya Talk about Giving God the Best Gifts aloud. Zion and Zaya Talk about Giving God the Best Gifts Zion – One of my favorite hymns is “Give of Your Best to the Master,” #672, A. M. E. Zion Bicentennial Hymnal. Zaya – Yes. The words of that hymn emphasize bringing our best gifts to the Lord – “the strength of

your youth,” ” your loyal devotion,” “first place in your heart,” and “first place in your service.” In today’s lesson, you will learn about one of the three feasts God required that His people

observe annually. These feasts were Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Firstfruits/Pentecost/Harvest, and the Feast of Tabernacles/Booths.

God gave specific instructions for the observance of the feast of Firstfruits. This feast was related to the beginning of the harvest. Before the Sabbath, after the Passover, no one could begin his harvesting or eat the new grain. In preparing for the offering to God, samples of grain from several fields were bundled together in a sheaf. The sheaf was presented to the priest who waved it at the altar before the Lord. The priest waved it in four different directions NEWS (North, East, West, and South) as on a compass. He then threw part of it into the fire on the altar and the rest of it he reserved for himself. The action of the priest represented people’s dependence on God. It also reminded the people that the land itself and all that it produced was a gift from God.

As we think about events in the New Testament, this feast pointed to the resurrection of Christ Jesus who rose from the dead on the same day the Israelites offered their Firstfruits.

In addition to the sheaf wave offering, the people were to present an offering of two wave loaves made of fine flour, a little more than 10 pounds each. Note that these loaves had leaven/yeast as a tribute to God for their “daily bread.” This was unlike the unleavened bread of the Passover feast that was a memorial to their hasty departure from Egypt.

Also, the Israelites were required to offer 7 lambs without blemish and under a year old, as well as one young bull and 2 rams for the burnt offering, a meat offering and a drink offering.

As part of the presentation of the Firstfruits, those who harvested the grain were to leave the corners of the field for poor to glean.

Zion – There is a famous painting titled “The Gleaners.” Zaya – Use your cell phone, tablet, or iPhone to see the work of art and describe what you see.

Rise Up!

Answers to questions in What Do You Think are underlined. How was the “wave” offering prepared and executed? Samples of grain from several fields were bundled together in a sheaf and presented to the priest who waved it at the altar before the Lord in four different directions. Then the priest threw part of the sheaf into the fire on the altar and reserved the rest for himself. What is one of Zion’s favorite hymns? Give of Your Best to the Master

Complete the Superhero Challenge if time permits. Tell students Zion and Zaya are participating in a mock debate. They must present an argument in favor of giving God your best gifts. Help them come up with reasons for their argument so they can win the debate.

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Below are the instructions for the Time to Create activity – Make a special gift. Materials needed: elastic string or gimp, various types of beads, scissors, tape, small gift bags or boxes (can be purchased from Dollar Tree or a party store), tissue paper Instructions: Give children the choice of making a bracelet or necklace for their mother or some other woman in the church for Mother’s Day. Cut a piece of string or gimp as appropriate for the project being made. Put tape on one end of the string or gimp so beads will not fall off while the project is being made. Allow children to select beads to design the necklace or bracelet. Tie the ends of the string or gimp together when the project is done. Make sure the knot is securely fastened. Wrap the bracelet or necklace in tissue paper and place it in a gift bag.

Close the lesson with prayer. Lord, help us to not be stingy and give our best. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!

Lesson 12 – May 20, 2018 | Leviticus 25: 1-12

Taking Care of the Land and Yourself Get Excited!

Below are the instructions for the warm-up activity – Getting Proper Rest Ask students to share the differences they feel when they get proper rest and when they do not get proper rest. Emphasize how children their age need at least 7 hours of sleep each night to get proper rest. This means they need to go to bed at a reasonable time.

Key Verse Exercise

Read the verses to remember aloud. When you enter the land that I am giving you, the land shall observe a sabbath for the Lord. (Leviticus 25:2)

Ask students to put the words in the verse to remember in correct order on the footsteps.

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Read and Learn!

Read Zion and Zaya Talk about Sabbath and Jubilee. Zion and Zaya Talk about Sabbath and Jubilee Zion – The word ‘Sabbath’ means rest. Zaya – Remember the creation story? God created the world and all that was in it in six days and on

the seventh day God rested. Zion – The fourth commandment tells us to ‘Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy’ (Exodus 10:8).

God commanded that the land have a sabbath, a period of rest every seven years. This sabbath gave the land an opportunity to renew itself. Six years of planting causes the soil to be depleted of minerals, so the land needed to remain unused to reinvigorate the productive power of the land/soil. The people were directed not to reap that which grew on its own during the sabbath year. After seven sabbath years or forty-nine years, the fiftieth year would be declared the year of Jubilee. Not only would the land remain unused, but prisoners and captives would be freed, slaves would be freed, and debtors would be wiped away. However, any natural produce would be shared by all without distinction.

To mark the year of Jubilee, the trumpet would sound on the day of Atonement. The sound of the trumpet would proclaim liberty throughout the land. Everyone would have their possessions returned to them and the people would be returned to their families.

When

am

you

enter

the

a

the

for

Sabbath

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During the year of Jubilee, no one would sow, reap, or gather. The Jubilee would be a holy observance to all.

Rise Up!

Answers to questions in What Do You Think are underlined. Why was it important to allow the land to rest? To give the land an opportunity to renew itself What was the significance of the year of Jubilee? Not only would the land remain unused, but prisoners and captives would be freed, slaves would be freed, and debts would be wiped away. Any crop the land produced naturally would be shared by all. Complete the Superhero Challenge if time permits.

Before class, cut out two sets of game cards and two sets of recycling bin images (found in Appendix C). Glue or tape the recycling bin images to the front of small paper lunch bags. Organize the class into two teams. Give each team a set of game cards and a set of recycling bins. Place the game cards in a pile face down. Each player draws a card and places it in the correct recycling bin. Teams earn one point for each item that is placed in the correct bin. The team with the highest score wins. (Answers: Aluminum bin = soda can, dog food can, tuna can, aluminum foil; Compost bin = apple core, banana peel, roses, weeds; Paper bin = newspaper, paper bag, magazine, envelope; Plastic bin = grocery bag, glue bottle, juice bottle, yogurt cup)

(Option: You can alternatively play a digital recycling game at http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-content/richmedia/1/1143/project/dist/desktop.html. Students can tell you which item to pick up and which bin you should place the item.)

Below are the instructions for the Time to Create activity – Make a parachute from a recycled bag.

Materials needed: Plastic grocery bag (one per student), string, scissors, small weight (like a Lego block or small toy soldier, one per student), tape Instructions: Before class, use a dinner plate to cut the plastic bag in a circle. You should have one circle per student. Make a small hole on the corner of each circle. Then cut four 12-inch pieces of string for each student.

Give each student a plastic bag circle and four pieces of string. Tie a piece of string to each hole in the plastic bag circle. If you are using a small toy soldier as the weight, tie the other ends of the strings around the waist or under the arms. If you are using a Lego block as the weight, tape a piece of string on each side of the block. Allow students to drop the parachute from mid-air so it floats to the ground.

Close the lesson with prayer. Lord, we know taking care of the land is part of our duty. Help us to be mindful of the things we waste. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!

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Lesson 13 – May 27, 2018 | Psalm 34:1-10; Hebrews 2:17-18

Who Can Help? Get Excited!

Below are the instructions for the warm-up activity – Sing “Come on and Bless the Lord with Me” Allow students to sing along and clap with the video, “Come on and Bless the Lord with Me” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOWDYoWG99k). The lyrics are below. Come on and bless the Lord with me Bless the Lord with me Come on and bless the Lord with me Bless the Lord with me Hal-le-lu-jah Hal-le-lu-jah Hal-le-lu-jah Hal-le-lu-jah Repeat by replacing “bless the Lord” with “clap your hands”

Key Verse Exercise

Read the verse to remember aloud. I will bless the Lord at all the times. (Psalm 34:1)

Give each student a set of key verse stickers in Appendix D. Ask them to glue the stickers to the missing words in the verse to remember.

Read and Learn!

Read Zion and Zaya Talk about Praise and Thanksgiving aloud. Zion ad Zaya Talk about Praise and Thanksgiving Zion – Do you know what an acrostic is? Zaya – An acrostic is a poetic form that uses each letter of the word to define or describe the word. Zion – I heard Pastor Z describe Psalm 34 as an acrostic poem, so I looked it up. Guess what I found?

Each line of the Psalm 34 begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Zaya – Wow! I would like to see what Psalm 34 looks like in Hebrew. Zion, Team ZZ, my Junior scholar

friends, send us an e-mail and let us know what you find. Our e-mail is [email protected]. Psalm 34 is a song of praise and thanksgiving. The author of the psalm is David who pretended to

be a madman before the king who drove him away from living among the Philistines. Verse 1, “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth,” is often

quoted in praise services. It is a verse that reminds us to practice praising now, since we will spend eternity praising the Lord. The world can only confuse us. We must look to Christ for our salvation and all we need. The Lord hears and answers the prayers of all people. He does not discrimination.

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David indicated that it was nothing he had done to calm his fears – it was God’s answer to his prayers. Just as God answered David’s prayers, God will hear and answer our prayers if we approach God with humility.

The angel of the Lord surrounds and protects those who fear/reverence/respect Him.

“O Magnify the Lord with me. Let us exalt His name together” (34:3). The psalmist invites those who are humble to join him in rejoicing at the goodness of God. Note, we cannot make God greater, but we can declare how great God is.

When we trust God’s presence, power, protection, and provision for our lives, we can share the joy of the psalmist: “I sought the Lord, and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears” (34:4).

We are commanded to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). God wants us to “savor” His presence. God wants us to take comfort in Him. As we meditate on God’s Word, we will come to a deeper understanding of who God is – His love, goodness, creativity, sovereignty, holiness, and faithfulness.

God will provide our needs. God is referred to as Jehovah-jireh, our provider and He will “provide all our needs according to His riches in glory” (Philippians 4:19).

We must trust God and lean not on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).

Who can help us? JESUS!! In the verses from Hebrews 2, we are reminded that God relates to us through who Jesus is -- God in the flesh. Jesus experienced life as a human – hunger, poverty, neglect, torture, and even a gruesome death. Although God is omniscient and knew what humans experienced, God experienced first-hand through Jesus. Also, God through Jesus supports us because God understands temptation. Jesus suffered temptation after His baptism (Matthew 4:1-11), as well as in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39). As the result of His experiences with temptation in His own life, Jesus can help us overcome temptations in our lives.

Who can help us? JESUS!

Rise Up!

Answers to questions in What Do You Think are underlined. How does God provide? God makes sure our needs are met. Why is it that Jesus understands what we go through? Jesus experienced life as a human. Complete the Superhero Challenge if time permits. Tell students the Faithful Five want to make a positive impact on the world as they grow up. Then ask them to share how people have helped them to give the Faithful Five some examples to follow.

Below are the instructions for the Time to Create activity – Make an emoji with a “praise face.” Materials needed: Copies of the Praise Face template in Appendix E, small yellow paper plates (one per student), craft sticks (one per student), markers, glue, tape

Instructions: Give each student a pair of eyes and a mouth from the Praise Face template. Cut out the eyes and mouth and glue them to the yellow paper plate. Use markers to make the rest of the face

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(like eyelashes or eyeglasses). Remind students these praise faces should reflect blessings to God. Tape the craft stick to the back of the paper plate to make a handle. Allow students to hold their emojis in front of their faces while singing a praise song of their choice.

Close the lesson with prayer. Lord, help us to be confident in knowing you will give us the power to face any situation. Thank you for the people in our lives who help us when we need it. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!

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Appendix A | Home Bible Study Questions

Read Psalm 34:1-22 (The Message Bible).

1 I bless God every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise. 2 I live and breathe God; if things aren't going well, hear this and be happy: 3 Join me in spreading the news; together let's get the word out. 4 God met me more than halfway, he freed me from my anxious fears. 5 Look at him; give him your warmest smile. Never hide your feelings from him. 6 When I was desperate, I called out, and God got me out of a tight spot. 7 God's angel sets up a circle of protection around us while we pray. 8 Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see - how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him. 9 Worship God if you want the best; worship opens doors to all his goodness. 10 Young lions on the prowl get hungry, but God-seekers are full of God. 11 Come, children, listen closely; I'll give you a lesson in God worship. 12 Who out there has a lust for life? Can't wait each day to come upon beauty? 13 Guard your tongue from profanity, and no more lying through your teeth. 14 Turn your back on sin; do something good. Embrace peace - don't let it get away! 15 God keeps an eye on his friends, his ears pick up every moan and groan. 16 God won't put up with rebels; he'll cull them from the pack. 17 Is anyone crying for help? God is listening, ready to rescue you. 18 If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there; if you're kicked in the gut, he'll help you catch your breath. 19 Disciples so often get into trouble; still, God is there every time. 20 He's your bodyguard, shielding every bone; not even a finger gets broken. 21 The wicked commit slow suicide; they waste their lives hating the good. 22 God pays for each slave's freedom; no one who runs to him loses out.

David is the writer of this psalm. Why is he encouraging us to put our trust in God?

Use to bible passage to finish the statements. (Hint: review verses 17-19)

If your heart is broken, __________________________________________________.

If you’re kicked in the gut, ________________________________________________.

Disciples get into trouble, still _____________________________________________.

Look at the following videos and discuss how God delivered each person from their difficult situation.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8tXENptCSo (Daniel in the Lion’s Den) • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhF0JlvfOzw (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPOFWiGs3uU (Moses Crossing the Red Sea)

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Appendix B | Lesson 1 Warm Up Activity

acadia wood

bronze

gemstones

gold leather

linen

olive oil

silver

spices onyx

yarn

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Appendix C | Recycling Game Cards and Recycling Bins Source: www.lakeshorelearning.com

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Appendix D | Lesson 13 Key Verse Stickers

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Appendix E | Praise Face Template