Leader Guide

Leader Introduction

Today’s Bible story reinforces and expands on the previous three lessons about Noah and the ark that God told him to build. Noah obeyed God completely even though he could not have fully understood all God asked him to do.

Meanwhile, one evening at Quantum Labs, Widget is excited to read a new book from her favorite book series. Miss Tina insists that Widget rests to recharge her batteries for the big soccer game the next day. Widget has an idea how she can obey Miss Tina and read her books too.

Today’s lesson is about obedience. Obedience means to cheerfully do what you are told, right away – not just part—all!

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

Optional Opening Game

What can you sometimes see in the sky after it rains, and the sun comes out? A rainbow.

God put the first rainbow in the sky when Noah and the animals came out of the ark onto dry land after the flood. It was a reminder of God’s promise to Noah and to us. We will talk more about that later. We are going to play a game to find the different colors of the rainbow and a cloud.

Hold up two matching rainbow cards. There are two cards for each rainbow color and a cloud.

Separate the two cards. Players get two turns to find a match for one band of the rainbow or a cloud.

When a pair is found, we will put the two cards together and tape them on the wall.

Each player takes a turn to select one card and shows the card to the class. The same player selects a second card and shows it to the class. If the cards match, the player places them together to form the rainbow band and then the leader will tape the cards together. The cards can be taped to the wall or placed on the table. If the cards don’t match, they are turned face down again in the same position.

Continue this way until all the matching cards are found.

Note: For an easier/faster game, leave unmatched cards face up on the table.

Conclusion: Each card is only part of the rainbow. You need every part to make the rainbow.

Hold up the Rainbow and Cloud Page. Here is the complete picture.

The lesson today is about obedience, to be obedient, you must do every part of what you are told to do, not just a part.

Object to GO!

Show the soccer ball or hold up the image. Lead a discussion with the questions below:

· What kind of a ball is this? Soccer.

· Raise your hand if you like to play soccer. Children respond.

· What do you do with this ball to play soccer, do you hit the ball with a bat? No, you kick it (throw it, pass it).

· In today’s video, one of the robots is about to play in a big soccer game. Do you think it is Gears, Widget, Rig, Gizmo, or Doodad? Children respond.

· Let’s watch the video to find out who the soccer player is!

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

Play Video (Woodwind)

Woodwind

After the video, ask the following discussion questions:

● What was Widget excited about doing at bedtime? Reading her new book

● What did Miss Tina tell Widget that made her feel sad? It was time to go to bed, she would need to wait another day to read her books.

● Was Miss Tina being unfair? No, she knew Widget needed to rest for the game.

● Did Widget obey Miss Tina? No, she stayed up all night to read.

● What happened because Widget didn’t obey? She was tired and fell asleep at the game.

Widget thought she knew a way to read and rest instead of doing exactly what she was told. Miss Tina told her to turn off the lights and rest. Widget did get in bed but did not power down completely and read her books instead.

To do just part of what you are asked to do is not being obedient. Sometimes it may seem like adults are being unfair, but most times when they ask you to do something, it is to help and they want what is best for you. Obedience means to cheerfully do what you are told, right away – not just some, but all you are asked to do!

Video Lesson

Play Video (Bible Story)

Bible Story

In today’s video, Noah saves his family and the animals by obeying all of God’s instructions.

Teaching Time

Have children sit arm’s length from one another.

A long time ago, people on the earth thought evil thoughts and did evil things. They did not listen to God or obey Him. Because the people in the world were evil, God decided to destroy all living things on the earth with a flood.

There was one man who was different. Do you remember his name? Noah.

Yes, Noah was a friend to God and he was faithful to walk and talk with God. Noah listened to God and obeyed Him. God saw that Noah did what was right. God did not want to punish Noah and his family in the flood. So what did God tell Noah to do? Build an ark, a big boat.

Yes, God told Noah to build a giant boat called an ark to keep Noah, his family, and all the animals safe during the flood. This must have been a surprise to Noah! The world had never seen a flood!

The Bible says “It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before.” (Hebrews 11:7a (NLT)).

God told Noah exactly how to build the huge boat. He told Noah what kind of wood to use.

He told Noah how high to make the boat. Hold arms to the sky on tip toes with the children standing.

God told Noah how long to make the ark. Hold arms sideways as far as possible with the children and remain standing.

God told Noah how to make the ark waterproof so it wouldn’t sink. Pinch nose and crouch to the ground to pretend sinking in water.

God told Noah to leave an opening under the roof all around the boat so air could come in and Noah, his family and all the animals could breathe. Let’s practice breathing! Take a deep breath and slowly exhale two or three times with the children.

Raise your hand if you believe breathing is important! Children respond.

Yes, God gives us the air we breathe to keep us alive!

The Bible says: “Let everything that breathes sing praises to the LORD! Praise the LORD!” (Psalm 150:6 (NLT)). So, since we are alive and breathe let’s jump up and down and shout “Praise the Lord!” Praise the Lord!

There was one more reason the ark needed an opening for fresh air and for the air in the ark to go outside. What was in the ark with Noah and his family? Animals!

Yes, there were lots and lots, and lots of animals inside the ark. Have you ever been in a barn or the zoo and smelled something unpleasant? What do you do when something stinks? Hold our noses and say pee-ew, etc.

Noah knew it was important to obey all that God told him to do.

Did Noah obey some of God’s instructions or did he obey all? All.

Yes, Noah didn’t do only what was easy to do, he did all God said. Let’s stand and shout all! All!

The Bible says: “So Noah did everything exactly as God commanded him.” (Genesis 6:22 (NLT)).

When the ark was built, God sent lots of animals to enter the ark, two by two—a mommy animal and a daddy animal so someday they could have baby animals! Let’s hold up two fingers on both hands and shout two by two! Children hold up fingers and shout two by two!

God sent the rain. Have children make the sound of rain by rapidly slapping their knees.

It rained for forty days and forty nights! It rained so long that even the highest mountains were covered by water! But because Noah obeyed God, it was dry and safe inside the ark.

When the rain stopped, God sent a strong wind to dry the land.

Obedience means to cheerfully do what you are told, right away. Noah obeyed God and built the ark.

The animals obeyed God and came two by two into the ark. The rain came and then stopped when God told it to. The wind came and dried up the land when God told it to. Noah was not done obeying God! Noah waited until God told him it was safe to leave the ark.

The animals obeyed God too! They went out of the boat, just like they came into the boat—two by two! Hold up fingers and shout two by two!

The first thing Noah did on dry land was to build an altar to worship God. Noah thanked Him for keeping his family and the animals safe. God then put a rainbow in the sky as a sign of His promise to never again flood the whole earth.

Now, whenever we see a rainbow in the sky, remember that God always keeps ALL of His promises! Not just some, but all! Let’s shout “God always keeps ALL His promises!” Children respond.

Now, let’s jump and shout, “I will obey ALL God tells me to do! Children respond.

Conclusion: Noah obeyed all God told him to do. Because he obeyed, Noah and his family were saved from the flood. God wants to save you from your sins. He said if you believe that Jesus died on the cross for you that you will be saved! Will you obey God today and believe?

Verse to GO!

James 1:22 (NLT)

Today’s memory verse from the Bible is James 1:22:

But don’t just listen to God’s Word. You must do what it says. 

Let’s learn today’s memory verse together using some motions.

Have the children stand and lead them in repeating the phrases and imitating the motions.

But don’t… shake head no.

just listen to God’s Word… cup a hand behind an ear.

You must do... hold hands, palms out, in front of you. Wave hands side to side and wiggle fingers.

What it says… cup a hand around each side of mouth as if to shout.

Do this one more time then slowly say the entire verse together.

Noah didn’t just listen to God, he did all that God asked. It is good to hear and know God’s Word, but don’t stop there! You also need to obey it!

Prayer Time

Close the lesson in a simple prayer to thank God for His presence in our lives.

For example: Dear Heavenly Father, help us to trust and obey, even when we might not understand. Thank You for sending Jesus to save us from our sins. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Music Time

Obey

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

Create your own motions for the song or use the suggested motions for the chorus as seen in the Quantum Karaoke “Obey” under Resources

Play the video song and teach the chorus and motions of “Obey” to your students.

Obey, Obey… Walk in place.

I want to go God’s way… Raise both arms and point to the sky.

The children may want to imitate the robots and Miss Tina’s motions during the verses of the song or dance and move freestyle!

Obey

Singing Activity

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

“MY FRIEND NOAH HAD AN ARK” -- Lead the children in singing a song to the tune of “Old McDonald Had a Farm,” but change the words to be, “My friend Noah had an ark.” For each verse, have a different child suggest different animals to sing about, such as chickens, sheep, cows, dogs and cats; then fill in the blanks with the appropriate sound that the animal makes.

My friend Noah had an ark, E-I-E-I-O.

And on that ark he had some ________ (chickens)

E-I-E-I-O.

With a ________ _________ (cluck, cluck) here,

And a ________ _________ (cluck, cluck) there,

Here a ___________ (cluck)

There a __________ (cluck)

Everywhere a ________ _________ (cluck, cluck).

My friend Noah had an ark, E-I-E-I-O.

The children may also want to dance and move to the verses of the song.

Take Home Coloring Page

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

· Why was it so important for Widget to go to sleep on a Friday night? She had a big soccer game the next day.

· Did Widget obey all that Miss Tina asked? No, she tried to read and rest at the same time.

· What happened at the soccer game because Widget did not obey Miss Tina? She was tired and didn’t play well, she fell asleep.

· Does being obedient mean doing only some of what you are asked to do? No, doing it all.

· What does it mean to obey? To cheerfully do what you are told, right away.

Widget tried to read while resting. She didn’t completely shut down like Miss Tina told her to do. The Bible tells us that Noah did everything that God asked him to do. That is what it means to obey!