Leader Guide

Leader Introduction

In today’s video, Gears can’t wait to unveil his new invention: the Wait-Be-Gone Time-Span Accelerator. Actually, Gears has a hard time waiting for anything, which is exactly what his new invention is supposed to solve. There is a big problem, though: the new Time-Span Accelerator doesn’t work, and Gears must wait on a new part to fix it!

Gizmo streams Miss Tina’s Bible story about Abraham and Sarah to Gear’s phone as Gears impatiently waits for his package at the Post Office. The bots discover that patience is a Fruit of the Spirit that God grows inside us. Even though waiting can be hard, it is often necessary to receive God’s blessings in our lives. In today’s lesson, children will learn the importance of patience, which means to trust and wait without complaining.

*Scripture is quoted from the New Living Translation unless otherwise indicated.

Optional Opening Game

Raise your hand if you have played a game called “Simon Says.” This game is like that but called “Sarah Says.” Sarah is a person in today’s Bible story. In this game, you will only do what Sarah says when you hear “Sarah says—1, 2, 3” and then an instruction. If you don’t hear those words and numbers, then just stay very still! Are you ready?

Have the children stand. Give each direction below. Begin some by saying, “Sarah says—1, 2, 3” and other directions without saying it to see if the children are really listening!

If a child doesn’t follow directions, do not have them sit “out” for the rest of the game.

Optional: Slow down or speed up the 1,2,3 count to vary the time children have to anticipate and wait.

Use the following instructions or add your own. [Sarah says—1, 2, 3]

Clap your hands.

Jump up and down.

Blink your eyes.

Laugh out loud.

Shout, “GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES!”

Twirl around three times.

Pat your head.

Look surprised.

Put your hands on your knees.

Pat yourself on the back.

Make a big muscle with your arm.

Shake your head, "Yes."

Pretend to kick a soccer ball.

Shout, “WAIT FOR IT!”

Pat your tummy.

Shout “AMEN!”

Reach for the stars in the sky.

Wave goodbye.

Add other instructions until it is time to do the next activity.

Optional: “Sarah” stands in the circle of children to give directions. This is a good choice for a small room.

Conclusion: Was it hard to wait and not follow the instructions right away? It's not easy to be patient and wait your turn, especially when you are excited to do something!

Today’s lesson is about patience. Patience means to trust and wait without complaining.

In today’s video, we will join Miss Tina and the robots at Quantum Labs, where Gears is excited about his new invention and can hardly wait to share it with everyone. Let’s watch and see if his invention works like it is supposed to!

Video Lesson

Play Video (The Fast and the Gear-ious — Opening Dilemma)

The Fast and the Gear-ious - opening dilemma

Optional discussion following the video:

● What was Gears's new invention supposed to do? Make time go faster.

● Why was this invention so important to Gears? He doesn’t like to wait.

● What did Gears first try to do with his new invention? Boil water on the stove.

● Who stole Gears's invention? Professor Spectrum.

● What was Gears waiting for at the mailbox? A part (motivator) to fix his invention.

● What did Spectrum tell Gears was the reason he wore sunglasses at night? He was tired of waiting for it to be bright out.

Object to GO!

Hold up the bottle or the image and discuss it using the questions and comments below.

● Do you know what this is called? A baby bottle.

● Is it easy or hard for a baby to be patient and wait on this? Hard.

● Why is it hard for a baby to wait? Because he/she is hungry and wants it now. 

● What does a baby often do if they need to wait long for a bottle? Cry.

● Raise your hand if you have ever fed a baby with a bottle. Children respond.

Babies are a blessing and a miracle from God! Each of us came into this world as a baby. In today’s Bible story, a baby is born to a man and a woman named Abraham and Sarah. Do you think this baby is a boy or a girl? Let’s watch the video to find out the answer and learn why this baby’s birth was such a special surprise!

Play Video (Bible Story)

Bible Story

Teaching Time

Today, let’s tell the Bible story together.

Point to the cards. On each card is a picture that represents someone or something important that happened in the Bible story.

Choose a volunteer to turn over Card #1 and hold up the image for everyone to see. Ask the child if he/she knows what the picture means or represents in the story.

If the child doesn’t know or answers incorrectly (or if the response could be expanded on), allow other children to contribute. Ask questions to engage children as much as possible. Give clues as needed and connect all of the elements using the information below. Repeat this process until all seven cards have been revealed and discussed.

Card #1: Abraham and Sarah—Abraham and Sarah were married and followed God. They had wanted to have a son for many years but were not able to.

Card #2: Heart—A heart often represents love. God loved Abraham and Sarah.

Card #3: Ants—This represents a covenant, which means a very serious promise. When Rig heard Miss Tina say the word covenant, he thought she said, “covered in ants.” The word for God’s big promise is really “covenant.” God made a covenant with Abraham.

Card #4: Stars—God promised to bless Abraham with a son and that he would have descendants. That means that his children would grow up to have children, and then those children would grow up to have more children, and so forth—and over the years, they would become an entire nation with more people than there are stars in the sky! That’s a lot of stars!

Card #5: Laughing—Sarah laughed when she heard God’s promise. She laughed because she thought she and Abraham were too old to have a baby! Maybe she didn’t know that God can do miracles. And God heard her laugh!

Card #6: Time/one year—An hourglass represents time. God told Abraham that in one year, His promise would come true!

Card #7: Fulfilled promise of a son—God kept His promise or covenant with Abraham, and Sarah gave birth to a baby boy named Isaac!

Hold up the bottle from Object to Go! Did you guess that the baby was a boy? If you did, you guessed correctly!

Optional Review Questions

What did Sarah do when she heard God’s promise to Abraham? She laughed.

Why did Sarah laugh? She was too old to have a baby.

How long did it take for Sarah to see God’s promise come to pass? One year.

Is there anything too hard for God to do? NO!

Can we always trust that God will keep His promises? Yes!

What God promises, He will do. He always keeps His Word, no matter what! When we have patience and wait on God, we will see God’s blessings and promises in our lives!

Verse to GO!

Hebrews: 10:36 (CEV)

Play Video (Verse to Go)

Verse to Go

We are learning about patience. Patience means to trust and wait without complaining.

Stand facing the children and lead them in repeating phrases and imitating the motions.

Are you ready to learn the first part of today’s memory verse? Children respond.

Here is the first part: Learn to be patient.

Before we say it, let’s practice being patient together. I will slowly count to three with you, and then we will say it out loud together. Let’s try it!

Slowly count to three, holding up a different finger for each count. ONE, TWO, THREE! Learn to Be Patient.

Great job being patient! Now let’s add some motions to the words.

Learn… Point to your head with one index finger.

To be patient… Lift both hands palm down and then slowly push down.

Repeat a few more times slowly.

It isn’t always easy to be patient. Being patient is a choice we make. When we choose to be patient, God will help us do it because He grows patience inside us!

Note: Preschool children may not be able to memorize the entire verse. They may simply repeat it with you. Be sure all children understand its meaning.

Prayer Time

Close the lesson with a simple prayer to encourage children to demonstrate patience.

For example: Dear Jesus, thank You for always keeping Your promises like You did for Abraham and Sarah. Help us to be patient each day as we wait our turn or wait for things that we need or want. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

Music Time

Use the described lyrics and motions found here under “Music Time.”

Create your own motions or use the suggested motions for the chorus as seen in the Quantum Karaoke, “Patience in Waiting,” under Resources, or “Extras!" in the DVD main menu.

Patience in Waiting

Play the video song “Patience in Waiting.”

Encourage the children to sing with Miss Tina and the robots during the chorus and imitate playing the piano with Miss Tina during the verses.

Sing the chorus together:

Patience in waiting, 

God is working,

Patience in waiting,

God is turning to you, 

and He’s heard your cry.

Optional motions for the last line: 

(Turning) Children spin around one time.

(Heard) Cup ears with hands.

(Cry) Place hands on both sides of mouth as if to shout.

Singing Activity

If You’re Patient and You Know It

Optional: Invite someone to play the guitar or piano and lead the children in singing this song about patience to a familiar tune. Or, simply lead it a capella. (A good key for children’s voices is G.)

Lead the children in singing a song to the familiar tune of “If You're Happy and You Know It,” but change the words for each verse as described below.

If you’re patient and you know it, clap your hands. Clap, clap.
If you’re patient and you know it, clap your hands, Clap, clap.

If you’re patient and you know it, and you really want to show it,

If you’re patient and you know it, clap your hands. Clap, clap.

Optional: Follow the pattern of Verse 1 but make the following changes:

Verse 2: If you trust God and you know it, stomp your feet. Stomp, stomp!

Verse 3: If Jesus is your Savior, say Amen! “Amen!”

Take Home Coloring Page

As children color, review today’s lesson using the discussion points below:

● What was the name of Abraham’s wife? Sarah.

● God made a big promise to Abraham. What is this promise called? A covenant.

● What did God promise to give Abraham? A son.

● How long did Abraham and Sarah need to wait for this promise? One year.

● What does the word patience mean? To trust and wait without complaining.

OPTIONAL TRADING CARD:

Optional: Hand out GizmoGO! trading cards for ABRAHAM AND SARAH, one per child. These are available for purchase under Products. Explain that there is a different trading card for each of the three lessons, so if they come back to Sunday school each week, they can collect all three! (Save the cards for PATIENCE and PROFESSOR QUANTUM for Lessons 2 and 3.)