Leader Guide

Leader Introduction

Welcome students as they arrive with their parents.
OPTIONAL: As they arrive, play the song “Self Control.”

Today’s Bible story reinforces and expands on Lessons 1- 4 about Daniel and his friends. The four men of God used self-control as they served the king while exiled in Babylon. In this lesson, we will learn how God protected Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when they were in a fiery furnace after they chose to worship God instead of the king’s gold statue.

In the next video, Widget loses her temper while trying to clean the window in her bedroom loft. In this lesson, children learn the importance of self-control—to resist temptation and do what you know is right, especially when dealing with emotions and feelings. Emotions can be defined to young children as what you feel on the inside.

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

Optional Opening Game

Raise your hand you have played a game called “Hot Potato.” Children respond.

The game we are about to play is like “Hot Potato” and is called “Hot Toss.”

Have you ever picked up something that was hot and you couldn’t wait to let go of it?

Can you name something that would be too hot to touch? A coal in a fire, a hot oven or stove, hot BBQ grill, hot water, hot chocolate, etc..

Have children form a large circle standing at arm’s length from each other on both sides.

Hold up a bean bag and pass it around the circle so everyone has a chance to hold and pass it.

This bean bag is not really “hot”—but in this game, you will pretend that it is, like a hot coal! Remember, we are only pretending!

I am going to play the Self-Control song as you pass the bag to the person beside you. I will start the music and you will play until the music stops. You want to pass the bag as quickly as you can so you don’t get caught holding it when the music stops! Oh, one more thing, to make this even more fun, you will pass two bags around the circle at the same time.

Optional: The child holding the bag when the music stops sits out for the next quick round.

Start the music and give a player the first bean bag to pass (clockwise) to the next player. Start the second bag around the circle after a short delay when the first bag is passed a few times.

Stop the music after about 10–15 seconds. Continue starting and stopping the music at longer and shorter intervals. Play as long as time allows.

Conclusion: Wow, you did a great job passing the pretend hot coal so quickly! (Smile) No one burned their hands, right? You will find out why we pretended the bean bags were hot a little later.

Object to Go

Hold up the sponge or image and lead a discussion with the comments and questions below:

● Who knows what this is? A sponge

● What is a sponge used to do? To clean things

● If you have used a sponge, what did you use it for? Children respond.

● A sponge can soak up or absorb something that has spilled.

● Optional: Place the sponge in the bowl so it absorbs some water and then squeeze it out

● You can use a sponge with soap and water to clean things in the home, or a car or bike.

● In the video, Widget uses a sponge to clean something. What do you think she uses a sponge to clean; is it a dish, a floor, her tablet screen, or a window? Children respond.

● Let’s watch the video to see what he cleaned.

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

Today we are going to visit Widget in her bedroom loft. She is having trouble cleaning something and it looks like she may even lose her self-control!

Play Video (A Smudge Ugly)

A Smudge Ugly

Hold up the Object to Go! sponge or image. What was Widget trying to clean with a sponge? A window.

● Was Widget able to clean her window? No.

● What invention by Gears did Widget use when two sponges didn’t work? The Jack-Sponge.

● What happened when Widget didn’t use self-control and lost her temper? She threw down the Jack-Sponge.

● Who was hit by the Jack-Sponge when Widget got mad? Gizmo.

● How long did Gears say it took him to invent the Jack-Sponge? Five minutes.

● Gizmo said that self-control is very important, especially when controlling what? Our emotions. Emotions are what we feel on the inside, like being happy, sad, disappointed, afraid, frustrated, angry, or excited. What emotion or feeling didn’t Widget control? Anger.

● What did Widget tell herself to do to control her emotions? Slow down and take a breath.

● Why couldn’t Widget clean her window with all the different sponges? The dirt or smudge was on the outside of the window.

Conclusion: How you show emotions or feelings is difficult to control sometimes, especially anger. One thing you can do is to slow down, take a breath, and ask for God’s help. When you lose self-control, feelings on the inside, like anger, can quickly be seen or felt.

Video Lesson

Daniel and Friends

Now, let’s watch a video about Daniel’s three friends named Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They chose to do the right thing even when facing an angry, evil king.

Play Video (Bible story)

Bible Story

Teaching Time

Make one copy of each of the three Bible Story Pages with eight images on cardstock, in color or black and white.
Cut out the eight individual cards and follow these instructions:

• Cut the other paper towel tube into three 2-inch sections, for three short tubes.

• Tube #1: Glue, tape or staple the #1-A Happy King card on one side. Make sure the bottom of the card is positioned just above the bottom of the tube so it will stand flat on the table. On the other side of that same tube, attach the #1-B Angry King card.

· Tube #2: Attach the #2-A Serious Friends card on one side, then on the other side put the #2-B Rescued Friends card.

· Tube #3: Attach the #3 Jesus in the Fire card.

· Flame Box: Glue, tape or staple the Flame card on the box front. Position the flame so the top portion of it is one inch over the top edge of the box. This is important.

Tell the Bible story slowly using the bullets provided and the Image Tubes you’ve made. Keep the Image Tubes not being used at one end of the table, moving them in and out as the teaching progresses. Bold words suggest actions to do with the tubes. For example, when the King is excited or happy, make the #1-A tube “jump” up and down. When Jesus appears and is walking with the three friends in the furnace, slide the #3-B tube back and forth. Engage the children with questions. Vary facial expression, voice, and volume level to add interest to the story.

Prior to class, practice telling the story using the Image Tubes so the teaching flows smoothly.

● (Use Tube #1-A Happy king) There was a king who ruled over Babylon. This king worshiped idols instead of the one true God we serve and worship.

● The king was felt so excited he could not control himself. Make king jump up and down.

● Why was he so excited? Because he had his workers make a statue of him, and it was finally finished!

● (Add Tall Tube – Golden Statue) This statue was big, really big, bigger than big, it was HUGE! The statue was 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide. And it was made of gold!

● The king loved his statue so much that he wanted everyone in his kingdom to love it too. And, he wanted everyone to bow down and worship it. This was bad, really bad!

● Anything that is worshiped instead of God is called an idol. God is the one true God, and He is the only one we should worship!

● But the king ordered all of his people to bow down and worship his statue when the music started to play. Optional: kids pretend to play instruments, drums, tambourine, trumpet, etc.

● The king said that anyone who did not obey his command to bow down to worship the idol would be thrown into a blazing hot furnace!

● (Add Tube #2-A Serious Friends) This was a big problem for Daniel’s three friends named Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They felt sad and probably afraid when they heard the king’s order. They knew they could only worship God–even if it meant being thrown into the blazing hot furnace!

● The music began to play. Optional: kids pretend to play instruments.

● Do you think Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego bowed down and worshiped the statue? No.

● These three men exercised self control to trust and obey God, even when it was dangerous!

● (Turn Tube #1-A Happy King, to show #1-B Angry King) Do you think the king used self-control and forgave the three men for not obeying his order? Children respond.

● (Add Flame Box) No, he didn’t! He was so angry that he lost control and told his men to make the fire in the furnace seven times hotter! Use fingers to slowly count aloud to seven with children.

● (Put Tube #2-A Serious Friends into Flame Box) The king ordered his soldiers to tie the three men up and throw them into the furnace that was seven times hotter!

● (Add Tube #3 tube Jesus in the fire) The king looked into the furnace and couldn’t believe what he saw. He rubbed his eyes and looked again. How many men are in there now?

● Let’s count them! 1, 2, 3, 4! The king only put three men in the fire; how can there be four?

● (Move Tubes #2 and #3 back and forth behind the flames.) And the men were tied up—but what are they doing now? Walking around in the fire!

● The king said the fourth man looked like a god. Who do you think the fourth man in the fire was? God, Jesus.

● It was the one true living God that the three men worshiped!

● (Turn Tube #1-B Angry King, to show #1-A Happy King) The king was excited. He saw that the living God was able to protect Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego because they trusted in the Lord!

● The king shouted “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, come here!” Say this in a deep voice as you move the king up and down.

●(Remove Tubes # 2 and #3 from furnace. Display #2-B Rescued Friends by king in front of the furnace. Place #3 Jesus at far side.) The three men stepped out of the fire. The fire had not touched their bodies or their clothes. Not even one hair on their heads was burnt!

· The king then declared that the Most-High God is truly the Lord, and no one could rescue like Him. (Optional: push statue tube over).

Conclusion: In the Bible story, the king did not show self-control. He couldn’t control his anger and tried to hurt the three men. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego showed self-control and chose to trust and obey God in a very scary time. Jesus rescued the three men because they resisted temptation to do what everyone else was doing and bow down to the gold statue. The three men did what they knew was right. God sent Jesus to rescue and save us from our sins. He is the only one who can do that! Jesus was with the men in the fire and He is always with you too.

Verse to GO!

Nahum 1:7 (CEV)

Today’s Bible memory verse is Nahum 1:7. Say the Bible verse slowly.

The Lord … protects those who trust him in times of trouble.

We learned this Bible verse last time; let’s say it with the motions.

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

The Lord protects … Hold your arms across your chest.

Those who trust Him in times of trouble. Hold both hands up.

When we go through a hard time, should we get upset and worry and doubt? Or should we use self control to pray and trust God?

Pray and trust God.

Repeat slowly with motions several times.

In our Bible story today, why did Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego need protection? If they didn’t bow down to the gold statue, they would be thrown into a fiery furnace.

Did they give in to the king and bow down? No.

Did they panic and run away? No.

Or did they use self control to stand firm as they trusted and obeyed God? Yes!

Remember, if you are facing a problem or a hard situation, don’t panic, don’t get angry, and don’t be afraid. Use your self control to pray, and remember our verse! Let’s say it one more time!

The Lord … protects those who trust him in times of trouble. Repeat slowly with motions.

Note: Preschool children may not be able to memorize the entire verse and may simply repeat it with you. Be sure children understand what a spiritual gift is, and that God gives these gifts to help others.

Prayer Time

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

For example: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the Bible with instructions to keep us safe and to help us make good choices to please You. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Music Time

Self Control

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 “Self-Control” under Resources, or under “Extras! in the DVD main menu.

Play the video song “Self-Control.”

Encourage children to sing the words and do the following motions during the chorus:

Self-control… point to self with one thumb.

Self-control… point to self with the other thumb. With index finger.

Mind Your head… point to head with index finger.

Your heart… place hands over heart.

Your hands… hold both hands in front, palms out.

Self-control… point to self with both thumbs.

Note: this song is fun and challenging because it speeds up.

Self Control

Take-Home Coloring Page

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

● Who are the men in this picture? Daniel’s friends (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego).

● Who ordered the king’s guards to put them in the furnace? The king (of Babylon).

● Why was the king so angry and lost control? The men refused to bow down and worship his gold idol/statue.

● What happened to the men after they were thrown into the furnace? Nothing, they were not hurt. God protected them.

● How many men did the king see in the furnace? Four men.

● Who was the fourth man? God/Jesus.

● Who kept the three men safe? God.

Game

Game

Play the Optional Opening Game “Hot Toss” at the beginning of this lesson.

Play the game “Better Choices!” from Lesson 1. 

Play the game “Stay Balanced” from Lesson 2 

Play the game “Stop, Slow, Go!” from Lesson 3 

Play the game “Daniel Says” from Lesson 4