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?