Leader Guide

Leader Introduction

Today’s Bible story expands on the previous two lesson’s theme of Saul meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus. Saul was a Pharisee who traveled about looking for Christians to arrest as he tried to halt the spread of the Gospel. Saul’s encounter with Jesus changed Saul’s heart and his passion.

At Quantum Labs, Widget warns Gears about the consequences of watching a scary TV show. When Gears ignores her warning, she can’t wait to say, “I told you so.” Children learn the importance of being humble: to care about the needs of other people and not to think you’re more important than anyone else.

*Scripture is quoted from the New Living Translation except as noted.

Optional Opening Game

Hold up the Stop Sign. When you see a sign like this, what do you do? Stop!

Hold up the Go Sign. When you see a sign like this, what do you do? Go!

In this game, when I hold up the green Go Sign, you will pretend to travel on a road.

Demonstrate each option and have children imitate. You can walk or run in place, hop on both legs, hop on one leg, balance on one leg, stand on tip toes and stretch to the sky, do jumping jacks, march, as long you do it safely and don’t touch other people.

Hold up the Stop Sign. When I hold up the Stop Sign, you will quickly stop and carefully crouch down like a frog or sit down until I hold up the Go Sign again. Then you can stand and move again.

Do several rounds encouraging children to vary their movements each time.

Optional: Call out a specific movement or pose for all children to do at the same time.

In today’s Bible story, a man was traveling on a road until he suddenly stopped and fell to the ground. Let’s watch the video and see why he did this.

Video Lesson

Saul

In today’s video, Saul is on the way to the city of Damascus to do what he thinks is right, but God has a very different plan for Him. Let’s watch the video to find out how God changed Saul’s plan and life!

Play Video (Bible Story)

Bible Story

Teaching Time

Saul knew he had a long trip from Jerusalem to Damascus—but he didn’t know that it would change his life forever! There are eight bags in the room. Inside each bag is an object that is a clue to help us tell the Bible story about Saul and Jesus. We’ll take turns finding a bag with the number I call out and then discuss the object inside.

Choose a child volunteer to find a bag with a number in sequence 1-8. Optional: show each child the corresponding number card so they know what the number looks like. The child will bring the bag to the table and remove the object. Ask the child to identify what the object is. Lead a discussion with all of the children to identify the important event the object represents in the story.

(Bag #1 Envelope — letter giving Saul permission to arrest Christians).

· What might be in an envelope like this? A letter, a card.

· In the Bible story, who asked the priest for a letter? Saul.

● What did the letter give permission for Saul to do? To search for and arrest Christians.

● Why did Saul want to arrest Christians? They loved Jesus and obeyed what He taught.

Saul was a Pharisee and believed keeping the Jewish Law was more important than people. When Jesus healed a man who was blind on a holy day, it made the Pharisees mad instead of glad. Jesus performed many miracles so people loved Jesus! This made the Pharisees angry and jealous of Jesus.

(Bag #2 Dirt and stones — road to Damascus)

● What did Saul travel on that might have had these on it? On the road (to Damascus).

● Did Saul ride a bike or a skateboard on the road? No, he walked or maybe rode a horse.

● Did Saul travel to Damascus by himself? No, he had men with him.

(Bag #3 Sunglasses — Jesus’ glorious appearance)

● What did Saul and his men see in the sky and all around them? A bright light.

● Do you think Saul wore sunglasses to protect his eyes? No!

No, I am being silly, people didn’t have sunglasses in Bible times. Glasses could not have helped Saul because the light was brighter than the sun!

(Bag #4 Blindfold or sleep mask —Saul’s blindness)

● What happened to Saul when he saw the bright light? He fell to the ground and was blinded.

● Who talked to Saul from heaven? Jesus.

● What did Jesus ask Saul? Why he was persecuting (hurting) Him.

(Bag #5 Hand Image – Ananias sent to lay hands on Saul and pray for him.)

● This clue is for two things that happened in the Bible story!

● Saul could not see. How did he get to Damascus? The men with him led him by the hand.

● Who spoke to Ananias and told him to go to Saul? Jesus.

● What did Jesus tell Ananias to do? To lay hands on Saul and pray so he could see again.

● Was Ananias excited to go to Saul? No, he was worried because he knew Saul came to Damascus to arrest Christians.

● What did Ananias decide to do? He trusted God and went to Saul and prayed for him.

● What happened to Saul when Ananias prayed for him? He could see again. He was filled with the Holy Spirit.

(Bag #6 Water bottle — Saul is baptized in water)

● What happened in the Bible story with Saul and water? He was baptized.

Saul was baptized to show that his heart was changed and he was a new man who loved Jesus.

● Being baptized is an exciting thing we do when we become a Christian. Raise your hand if you have been baptized. Children respond.

(Bag #7 Name Tag — Saul becomes Paul)

● Have you ever worn a name tag; if so, were you at school, church or somewhere else? Children respond.

A name tag is worn so that people who don’t know us can call us by name. Saul didn’t wear a name tag, but he actually had two names. Saul was his Jewish name, and Paul was his name as a Roman citizen. After he gave his life to Jesus, Saul began to be called Paul, and he took the Good News about Jesus not just to Jewish people, but to other people who lived in many different countries.

(Bag #8 Bible — Paul preached about Jesus and wrote books of the Bible)

● What is written in the Bible? God’s Word.

The Bible tells us all about God and how we can live our lives to please the Lord. After Paul became a Christian, he began to travel to different cities and preach about Jesus. We know this because it is written in the Bible! In fact, Paul wrote many books of the New Testament in the Bible!

Saul was a man filled with too much pride. But after he met Jesus, Paul was a changed man who was filled with the Holy Spirit and humbleness!

Object to GO!

Hold up the Cell Phone or image. Lead a discussion with the comments and questions below:

● What am I holding? A (cell) phone.

● Raise your hand if you have ever talked on a cell phone. Children respond.

● What else have you seen someone use a cell phone to do? To text or email, take pictures, watch videos, listen to music, check what time it is, set an alarm, get directions, look up information on the Internet, etc.

● In our next video, one of the robots is using a phone to do something. Do you think the bot is making a phone call, sending a text message, or watching a show? Children guess.

● Good guesses. let’s watch the video to see how many of you guessed correctly.

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

Play Video (Time & Talent)

Revenge of the Clouds

● What kind of snack did Widget make for Gears? Popcorn

● What was Gears streaming on his phone? The Scary Cloud show.

● Raise your hand if you guessed a robot would watch a show. Children respond.

● Was Widget excited to watch the show? No, it was too scary and she didn’t want to watch it. She said it would give Gears bad dreams.

● Did Gears listen to Widget? No, he watched the show.

● What happened after Gears watched the show? He screamed and woke up with bad dreams.

● Was Widget humble about being right? No, she laughed and said “I told you so”.

● What did Gizmo tell Widget? She should not be happy about Gears feeling bad, that God wants us to be humble even when we are right.

● What did Widget do after listening to Gizmo? She asked Gears to forgive her.

● What did Gears and Widget watch instead of the scary show? A show about kittens.

When we are wrong or make a mistake, we need to be humble and admit it. We also need to be humble when we are right! No matter what, being humble is always the best choice.

Verse to GO!

Proverbs 11:2 (CEV)

Play Video (Verse to Go)

Proverbs 11:2 (CEV)

Verse to Go

Today’s Bible memory verse is Proverbs 11:2. Say the memory verse slowly.

“Too much pride can put you to shame. It's wiser to be humble.” Proverbs 11:2

We have practiced this verse in two parts. Today, we will say the whole verse together. If you missed learning one or both parts, you can learn the verse today!

Stand facing the children and lead them in to repeat phrases and imitate the motions.

Too much pride… Tilt head up with an arrogant look while pointing index fingers to self.

Can put you to shame… Make a sad face, drop hands and lower head to look down.

It's wiser… point to head and smile.

To be humble… place hands together in front of you and lower head to look at hands as in prayer.

Repeat slowly a few more times.

Optional: Make sure the children understand what pride and shame means.

Too much pride can lead us to think we are more important than others.

Shame is feeling embarrassed or guilty about something.

Jesus doesn’t want us to be prideful or ashamed! Jesus is perfect and never sinned, yet He is humble. All of us make mistakes and are not perfect, so that reminds us to stay humble. And Jesus will forgive all our sins when we ask, so we do not need to be ashamed. Instead, we can be humble and happy, knowing that He is our Savior!

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 in a simple prayer to encourage the children to choose to be humble.

For example: Dear God, help us to be wise and choose to be humble like Jesus, even when we know that we are right! In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Music Time

Humble More

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 “Humble More” under Resources or under Extras! in the DVD main menu.

Humble More

Play the video song “Humble More”

Play the video song “Humble More.” Encourage children to create their own motions or imitate the motions of Miss Tina and the Quantum Lab crew. At the end of the chorus and verses, lead the children in counting on their fingers and shouting:

“One, two, three, four, brag less, humble more!”

Singing Activity

If You’re Humble And You Know It

Lead the children in singing a song to the tune of “If You’re Happy And You Know It, Clap Your Hands” [Public Domain], but with the words and motions below:

Vs. 1

If you’re humble, God will know it; clap your hands. [Clap, Clap]

If you’re humble, God will know it; clap your hands. [Clap, Clap]

If you’re humble, God will know it, and your life should really show it,

If you’re humble, God will know it; clap your hands. [Clap, Clap]

Vs. 2

If you’re humble, God will know it; jump for joy. [Jump, Jump]

If you’re humble, God will know it; jump for joy. [Jump, Jump]

If you’re humble, God will know it, and your life should really show it,

If you’re humble, God will know it; jump for joy. [Jump, Jump]

Vs. 3

If you’re humble, God will know it; say AMEN! [“Amen!”]

If you’re humble, God will know it; say AMEN! [“Amen!”]

If you’re humble, God will know it, and your life should really show it,

If you’re humble, God will know it; say AMEN! [“Amen!”]

Vs. 4

If you’re humble, God will know it; do all three [Clap, Clap, Jump, Jump, “Amen!”].

If you’re humble, God will know it; do all three [Clap, Clap, Jump, Jump, “Amen!”].

If you’re humble, God will know it, and your life should really show it,

If you’re humble, God will know it; do all three [Clap, Clap, Jump, Jump, “Amen!”].

When We’re Humble We Have Joy

Lead the children in singing a song about the joy of being humble to the tune of “Did You Ever See a Lassie” [Public Domain]. Any word followed by a dash should be held an extra beat.

When we’re humble, we have joy—,

Have joy—, Have joy—.

When we’re humble we have joy—

And serve others first.

For “J” is for Jesus

The “O” is for Others

And then last of all is “Y--” and that’s for Yourself!

Take-Home Coloring Page

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

● What did Widget make for Gears to eat? Popcorn.

● Why didn’t Widget watch the show with Gears? Because it was too scary.

● Why did Gears think he could watch the Scary Cloud TV show? Because he thought a TV show wouldn’t be as scary as a movie.

Gears had too much pride to listen to Widget’s warning about watching the scary show. But when it turned out that Widget was right and Gears had a bad dream, Widget was prideful and said, “I told you so!” That wasn’t kind. We should always be humble and loving!

Optional Take Home Trading Card Finish when trading cards are available

Optional: Hand out GizmoGO! trading cards for A LESSON IN HUMILITY, one per child; 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!

Game

Game

Play the Optional Opening Game “Stop and Go!” at the beginning of this lesson.

Play the game “Humble Hiding” from Lesson 1. 

Play the game “Where is Miss Tina?” from Lesson 2.