Leader Guide

Leader Introduction

Today’s Bible story reinforces and expands the lesson from the previous two lessons about Abraham and Sarah. God made a covenant with Abraham, promising his wife Sarah would give birth to a son. The covenant went beyond that, with God promising that Abraham’s descendants would number more than the stars in the sky. After waiting one year, God’s promise was fulfilled. This lesson teaches children the benefits of waiting on God and trusting His promises.

*Scripture is quoted from the New Living Translation unless noted.

Optional Opening Game

Shuffle the cards and place them in a pile.

Before class, hide the cards face down around the room. Make some more visible and some less visible. Don’t place cards inside drawers or cabinets or under heavy or breakable objects. The game should be fun and challenging but not frustrating.

Be sure to write down or remember the location of the star cards to assist any child who has difficulty finding one.

In the Bible story, God made a promise to someone about the stars in the sky. In this game, you are going to look around the room to find cards with stars on them. Point to a card.

When you find one, you will get to place the star card on the wall so we can all see it.

But... not every card has stars on it. Some cards have pictures of other things that you see in the sky. Can you name things you have seen in the sky? Clouds, birds, sun, moon, etc.

The first player takes a turn. When a player finds a card without stars, hold it up and ask children to raise their hands if they have ever seen that object in the sky. Set the card aside.

The same player continues to search until a star card is found. Place a small strip of tape on the card and have the player attach it to a wall with the star visible.

Repeat this process until all children have found a star card.

Optional: copy additional Star Card Pages to give children more chances to find the stars.

Remove the tape from the cards and play again if time permits. Painter’s tape can be easily removed.

Optional: For an easier and quicker game, use only the Star Cards.

Stand by the stars on the wall. Look at all the stars! You were patient and didn’t give up even when you found a card without a star. This is a lot of stars, but there are so many more in the sky at night. Let’s watch our video now to see.

Video Lesson

Abraham and Sarah

In this lesson, we will learn the importance of trusting and patiently waiting on God to do what He has promised. Let’s watch today’s Bible story to see who received a promise from God, even though it took a year of waiting. God is faithful and can be trusted to always do what He says!

Play Video (Bible Story)

Bible Story

Teaching Time

Abraham and Sarah

Text: Genesis 17:1–8; 18:1–15; 21:1–7

Tell the Bible story slowly using the bullets provided. Bold text signals an action to perform; pause for children to imitate it. Add interest to the story by varying facial expression, voice, and volume level and engaging the children in questions and responses.

● Do you remember the man’s name in the Bible story? Abraham.

● Abraham was ninety-nine years old. If you think that is an old age, stand up tall! Children respond.

● You can sit down now. Yes, someone who is ninety-nine has lived a very long life.

● Abraham loved and trusted God, so he was very wise. Point to your head.

● Do you remember the name of Abraham’s wife? Sarah.

● You are correct! Sarah was not the same age as Abraham, but she was still old. (Genesis 17:17) Does anyone remember how old Sarah was? She was 89.

● God loved Abraham. So, He made a promise to him. What is that promise called? Covenant. Let’s stand and shout "covenant" together on the count of three: 1,2,3! Stand and shout, Covenant!

● In the video, what did Rig think the word covenant was? Covered in ants.

● Rig is silly, isn’t he? That would not be a blessing; it would be awful to be covered in ants!

● Miss Tina told us what covenant means. Do you remember what she said? A big promise.

● God’s promise surprised Abraham. Open mouth wide and put hands on cheeks in surprise.

● What did He promise to give to Abraham and Sarah? A son; a baby boy.

● God promised that Abraham would have more children than something in the sky. Do you remember what those things in the sky were? Stars.

● Somebody was listening in her tent. Cup one hand over an ear.

● Who was it? Sarah.

● Do you think she believed God’s promise? No!

● No, Sarah thought it was impossible for her to have a baby when she was so old. Instead of trusting God, what did Sarah do? She laughed quietly.

● Sarah quietly laughed! Cover your mouth and giggle quietly.

● God knows and hears everything! This is why He even hears what we think! So, God asked Abraham why Sarah laughed. Cover your mouth and giggle quietly.

● God said that nothing is too hard for Him to do. He then promised Abraham again that Sarah would have a son in one year! Point to the sky and shake your head "yes."

● God kept His promise. Do you remember how long Abraham and Sarah waited for God’s promise to come to pass? One year.

● Yes, one year later, Sarah gave birth to a baby boy. Cradle and rock a baby in your arms.

● Do you remember the baby’s name? Isaac.

● “Isaac” means “laughter”! Sarah laughed again, but this time, it was very different. Sarah didn’t laugh quietly; she laughed out loud this time. Laugh out loud.

● Sarah laughed because she was happy and wanted everyone to hear what God had done to keep His promise! Jump up and down to celebrate and laugh out loud. (Genesis 21:6)

● Nothing is too hard for God! Say it with me aloud on the count of three: 1, 2, 3! Nothing is too hard for God!

Abraham and Sarah needed to show patience in waiting on God’s promise that took one year to come to pass. When we trust in God’s promises and wait on Him, we will never be disappointed!

Object to GO!

Hold up the teddy bear or image and lead a short discussion:

• What is this? A bear; a teddy bear.
• Raise your hand if you have a teddy bear or have ever had one. Children respond. 
• Many children have a soft stuffed animal like this bear or another animal to snuggle at bedtime.
• Miss Tina or one of the bots has a teddy bear in today’s video. Do you think it is Gears, Gizmo, Rig, Widget, or Miss Tina? Children guess.
• Good guesses! Let’s watch the video to see who it is!

Leave the question unanswered until it is revealed in the video.

Today we will visit a robot who is doing something very important, but the bot is having a hard time showing patience while doing it! Let’s watch the video and see if you sometimes have trouble showing patience when doing this, too!

Play Video (Patient Prayer)

Patient Prayer

Optional discussion following the video. 

• Raise your hand if you guessed that Widget had a teddy bear. Children respond.
• What was Widget doing in her bedroom? Praying.
• Who was Widget praying for? A friend.
• What did Widget keep doing as she prayed? She opened her eyes to see if God had answered her prayer yet.
• How long did Widget say she had been praying? Weeks.
• Why did Widget want to take a break from praying? She was tired and frustrated; nothing had happened; God hadn’t answered, and it was taking forever.
• Who visited Widget as she prayed? Gizmo.
• What did Gizmo say from the Bible that helped Widget not give up? He said that God gives strength to those who trust and wait on Him.

The Bible tells us to keep praying and never give up! (Luke 18:1). No matter how long it takes, God will give us the strength to trust Him and be patient. God hears every prayer we pray—even those we say silently! He will answer when the time is right!

Verse to GO!

Hebrews 10:36: (CEV)

Play Video (Verse to Go)

Romans 10:36 (CEV)

Verse to Go

We have been learning that patience means to trust and wait without complaining.

The last two times we met, we learned the memory verse in two parts.

Let’s do the first part again by slowly counting aloud to three together as we hold a finger up for each number. Then we will say the words together. This helps us practice showing patience! Let’s try it!

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

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

Now let’s practice the motions we learned the last time.

Learn… Point to your head with one index finger.

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

Repeat slowly a few more times.

Good! Now, here is the second part of the verse like we learned before:

So you will please God and be given what He has promised.

Let’s say it together and add actions to help us learn the words.

So you… Point finger to self.

Will please God… Make a big smile and point to the ceiling.

And be given… Hold one hand out with palm up (to receive).

What He has promised… With the other hand, point to the ceiling.

Repeat slowly a few more times.

You are doing so well! It's time to put the two parts together and say the whole verse.

Are you ready? Let’s go!

Learn… Point to your head with one index finger.

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

So you… Point finger to self.

Will please God… Make a big smile and point to the ceiling.

And be given… Hold one hand out with palm up (to receive).

What He has promised… With the other hand, point to the ceiling.

Repeat slowly.

Note: Some preschool children may not be able to memorize the entire Verse to Go. They may simply repeat it with you. Be sure all children understand that patience means trusting and waiting on God to do what He has promised.

Prayer Time

Close the lesson with a simple prayer to encourage children to pray and wait on God.

For example: Dear Jesus, help us to wait and trust in You no matter how long it takes! Thank You for hearing and answering every prayer that we think or speak. In Your name, we pray, Amen.

Music Time

Patience in Waiting

The lyrics and chords for this song are found in Resources.

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

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.

Patience in Waiting

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

Lead the children in singing the song “If You’re Patient and You Know It.” Additional instructions are located in the previous lesson here.

Take-Home Coloring Page

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

● Who are the three people in the picture you are coloring? Abraham, Sarah, and their son (Isaac).

● What is a covenant? A big, important promise (from God).

● At first, did Sarah believe God’s promise? No, she laughed; she thought she was too old to have a baby; she didn’t understand that God can do miracles!

● What did the stars in the sky mean (represent) in God’s promise to Abraham? He would have more children (descendants) in his family than the stars in the sky.

OPTIONAL TAKE-HOME TRADING CARD:

Optional: Hand out GizmoGO! trading cards for PROFESSOR QUANTUM—one per child. These are available for purchase under Products. Explain to the children 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! (Last time was the PATIENCE—THE FAST AND THE GEAR-IOUS card, and before that was SARAH AND ABRAHAM.)