Preschool Bible Lesson - Helping Others: The Story of Naaman

Overview

9:45     sign-in, free play

10:05   opening prayer, introduction

10:15   Bible lesson in flannel

10:30   Bible lesson craft: Obedient Naaman

10:45   Snack:  

11:15   Bible story retold: Naaman’s Servant Girl

11:20   lent activity: Get well Cards

11:30   closing prayer, free play time, coloring page

11:45   pick-up

Bible Story: Naaman (Story used with permission from www.missionarlington.org)

Back in Elisha’s time, there were other countries besides Elisha’s country of Israel.

One of Israel’s neighbors was Aram. The people of Aram would sometimes raid Israel

and take things back to their country. There was a famous hero in the country of Aram.

His name was Naaman. He was the commander of the army and had won many battles or

victories. He was very respected in his country.

Even though Naaman was a powerful man, he still had problems. He caught an awful

disease called leprosy. This disease affected the skin. It caused the person to have white

spots that were like big sores. The disease was also contagious, so others could get it from

you!

Naaman had a special little girl that helped his wife in their home. She loved God and

worshiped Him only. One day, the little girl told Naaman’s wife that she wished he could

visit Israel and see the prophet Elisha. She knew that he could help cure Naaman’s leprosy.

When Naaman heard this news, he immediately went to the king for his support. The

king gave Naaman a letter to take to the king of Israel asking for a cure. Naaman packed

much gold and silver and even clothes to take as payment for the cure. When the king of Israel read the note, he was upset. He did not know what to do. He did not think

to call Elisha. However, Elisha heard the news and sent a note to the king asking Naaman to come to his house.

Naaman eagerly traveled to Elisha’s home. His horses and chariots raced as fast as they could.

When Naaman knocked on the door, he got a surprise. Elisha did not greet him. Elisha sent his helper to the door to tell Naaman what to do. He instructed Naaman to dip 7 times in the Jordan River and he would be cured.

Naaman was furious! He stormed off very upset. He couldn’t believe that Elisha would not

personally come to the door and help him. After all, he was a very important man and he expected people to treat him that way. He also thought Elisha would stand over him and wave his hands and pray to God.

As Naaman and his helpers were traveling back to his country, his helpers came to him and

convinced him to do as Elisha said. So, Naaman stopped at the little Jordan river. It was dirty but he dipped into the water 7 times like Elisha said. When he finished the 7th dip, his skin was clean!! He was well! God had healed him!

Naaman went back to Elisha’s house and thanked him for his kindness. He told Elisha that he

knew that God was the only true God. He offered the gold, silver, and clothes to Elisha but Elisha refused. He wanted Naaman to see that it was God, not him, who did the miracle.

Naaman traveled back to his country a different person inside and out. Outside, his skin was clean. He was well. Inside, he knew in his heart that God was the only real and true God. He trusted Him and began to follow God alone.

We can also learn from our lesson how to help others know about God. The little girl spoke up and told her friends about God and how to find Him. We can do the same thing!

Bible Craft: Obedient Naaman

Materials:

Craft stick

Naaman paper man

Scissors

Wax crayons

Tape

Paper cup

Directions:

Have the children color the man and then color the paper cup to look like water. Get them to cut out the man and then tape the craft stick to the back of him. Cut a hole in the bottom of the cup so that the children can “dip” Naaman up and down in the cup.

Song for them to dip obedient Naaman: To the Tune of (Here we go around the mulberry bush)

Seven times did Naaman dip, Naaman dip, Naaman dip;

Seven times did Naaman dip, and then God made him clean.

Activity For Lent:

Jesus said that we can show love to God by helping others. Jesus said that when we help other people, we are helping him.

Thinking back to our Bible story about Naaman's servant girl, does anyone have any ideas of what we can do now to help the sick people that we know? Even though we are little, there are some big things that we can do.

One thing that we can do to help sick people in our parish is to make a get well card for them. Each of you will make one and then I will collect them and give them to Father. We will then make sure that they go to the people who need them. The cards that you make will make the sick people happy to know that you care.

Preschool Bible Lesson - Power of Prayer: Peter Escapes from Prison

Overview

9:45     sign-in, free play

10:05   opening prayer, introduction: chains

10:15   Bible lesson in flannel

10:30   Bible lesson game: Garden door craft

10:45   Snack

11:00   Bible lesson game: Quiet escape

11:15   Bible story retold: Rhoda the Servant Girl

11:20   coloring sheet

11:30   closing prayer, free play time

11:45   pick-up

 Bible Story: Peter in Prison

A few years after Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, the disciples were teaching others about Jesus and about Jesus’ teachings. The disciples were getting together people who believed in Jesus into groups called churches.

The leaders of the Jews got mad at this. They talked to King Herod and asked Herod to kill all the disciples. Herod wanted to please the Jewish leaders so he agreed. Herod captured Simon Peter and put him in prison. Herod planned to kill Peter at the end of the Passover feast.

Peter was kept in prison with 16 guards, four at a time guarding him.  All of the church prayed for Peter. They prayed that God would free him.

On the night before Peter was to die, he was sleeping with a guard chained to each of his hands. Two more guards were watching the doors. Suddenly a bright light shone in Peter’s cell and an angel of the Lord stood by him. The angel touched him on the side to wake him up and said “rise up quickly”.

As Peter stood up, the chains silently fell from his hands. The angel told him to get dressed.

Peter did what he was told and followed the angel. They passed by the first guard and then the second one. No one tried to stop them. They came to the big gate of the prison and it opened as if moved by an invisible hand. They went out of prison, into the city and onto a street. The angel left Peter as suddenly as it had appeared.

By this time Peter was fully awake and said “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hands of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

Peter thought about what to do and went to the mother of his friend, Mark. Many people were praying for Peter at her house. Peter knocked on the garden door.

A little servant girl named Rhoda answered the door and heard Peter’s voice. She was so excited that she forgot to open the door. She ran into the house saying “Peter is here! Peter is here!”

None of the people who were praying for Peter’s freedom believed her. They thought she was just hearing things. Peter kept knocking. Rhoda insisted that it was Peter, so the people went to the door and opened it. To their surprise they saw Peter was standing there.

He told them all that had happened to him and told them to send word to the other disciples and apostles. Then Peter went to a place where Herod and his men could not find him.

That night the church learned a great deal. They learned that God does answer prayers. They had prayed for Peter’s freedom and God, himself, sent an angel to answer that prayer.

Remember, God does know what we need before we ask, and he will answer. Sometimes the answer is “yes”, sometimes the answer is “no” and sometimes the answer is “later.” And like Rhoda, we need to believe that God will answer our prayer.

Bible Craft: Garden Door Craft

Garden Door Craft

8 ½ x 11 piece of cardstock with a door cut to swing out

6 craft sticks

Crayons

Foam garden shapes such as trees and flowers

Paper with a man on it

Craft glue

Have the children glue the paper with the man on it to the back of the cardstock so that man faces door when door is opened. The children can glue craft sticks to the front of the door. Decorate the cardstock to make it look like a garden by using crayons and stickers.

While children are making this craft, they can also be told about how Jesus knocks on the door of our hearts wanting us to let him in. (Behold! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Revelations 3:20)