Beauty is Fleeting. Tips for Teachers

4C NIV Beauty is Fleeting www.truthopolis.com presented by TruthQuest® Ministries www.truthquest.net www.truthopolis.com presented by TruthQuest® M...
Author: Magnus Mason
1 downloads 2 Views 9MB Size
4C NIV

Beauty is Fleeting

www.truthopolis.com presented by TruthQuest® Ministries www.truthquest.net

www.truthopolis.com presented by TruthQuest® Ministries www.truthquest.net

• Have Fun! Be silly! The more fun you make this lesson, the more effective it will be!

Queen Esther: Beauty that Lasts (adapted from the book of Esther)

• Connect With the Children! Make eye contact with the kids, address them by name, and befriend them. Involve shy and bold children alike so that everyone is actively involved. The kids will respond better if they know that you care about them.

An object lesson with Scripture to show how leaves lose their outward beauty, pointing out that outward beauty is fleeting, but a godly life has effects that last forever.

• Exaggerate Your Voice Inflections! Exaggerated voice inflections can make the lesson more interesting to a child. • Repeat Children's Answers to Your Questions! Repeat all children's answers to ensure that everyone can hear them. • Give Children Hints! For Preschoolers who might struggle with answering questions, gently lead them along with hints. • Be Prepared! Review this lesson, gather any needed supplies, and practice before you teach! • Use Your Bible! Although Bible passages used in this lesson are printed in the lesson itself, keep your Bible open and in front of you for reference and visual impact. • Pray! Pray as you prepare for, open, and close this lesson!

Memory Verse: Proverbs 31:30b Beauty is fleeting; but a person who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Lesson Includes: Two-page lesson "Withering Away" Object Lesson Sheet

Needed, but Not Included: A Bible for the Teacher Transparent tape A wet paper towel

Photocopy the Take-Home Worksheet onto WHITE paper and send a copy home with every child so that he/she may continue to learn during the week.

Photocopy the Poster Sheet onto a SEPARATE sheet of paper (not on the back of the Worksheet) and send a copy home with every child to give to his/her parents so that they may study along with their child.

NIV Copyright Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references included in these materials are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All Notice rights reserved. The "NIV" and "New International Version" trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by the International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of the International Bible Society.

©2005 TruthQuest® Ministries. All rights reserved. | www.truthopolis.com | www.truthquest.net

Tips for Teachers...

Beauty is Fleeting Today's Story:

Queen Esther: Beauty that Lasts Adapted from the book of Esther

O

nce there was a king who was looking for a new queen. King Ahasuerus had the most BEAUTIFUL women brought to his palace so that he could choose one of them to be his queen. One of the women he chose was a young Jewish girl named Esther. Now the Jews were not well liked in the kingdom. Esther’s cousin, Mordecai, who had raised her like his own daughter, worked for the king. He warned Esther to keep it a secret that she was a Jew. Esther was brought before the king. She was so BEAUTIFUL that King Ahasuerus chose her above all the other pretty ladies to be the new queen! Q. Did the king notice Esther because she was pretty? A. Yes! ow Mordecai, Esther’s cousin, was hated by Haman, who was second in command of the kingdom under King Ahasuerus. Mordecai refused to bow down before Haman, because only God was supposed to be worshipped. This made Haman very angry. Since all Jews refused to worship anyone besides God, Haman decided to trick the king into killing all of the Jews.

N

Q. Is it right to worship anyone besides God? A. No! aman went to the king and told him that a group of people in the kingdom refused to obey the king’s laws and that they were a threat to the kingdom. Upon hearing this, the king became very angry. Haman told the king to let him make a law that would give him the power to have all the Jews killed. Haman sent letters all over the country letting everyone know that all the Jews were going to be killed on a certain day in the near future. When Mordecai learned of Haman’s evil plot, he sent a message to Queen Esther. He asked Esther to go beg the king to allow the Jews to live. He told her that now was the time to let everyone know that she was Jewish. That might make the king not want to kill the Jews. But Esther was afraid to do what Mordecai had asked. You see, there was a law that said if anyone–even the queen– came before the king without being first invited, they could be killed. Esther could be killed if she went to the king! But, it was the only hope for saving all the Jews from being killed.

H

Directions:

4C NIV

During the story, the whole clas s should perform special action s whenever they hear the Keywo rds below. Explain and practice these keyword actions, and then read the Bible story.. When you hear: Do This: BEAUT Y/BEAUTIFUL. Stand up, say "Pretty inside!" and sit down. When you hear: Do This: HAMAN . Frown and shout "Ugly inside !".

Q. Esther could have been killed if she went to the king. Do you think Esther was scared? A. Yes! fter three days of praying, Esther went to visit the king. When the king saw BEAUTIFUL Esther, he allowed her to speak even though she had broken his law. He told her he would give her anything she wanted, even up to half of his kingdom. Esther asked the king and Haman to come to a special dinner that she would prepare. There at the dinner, Esther would let the king know what she wanted. After two special dinners, the king asked Esther again what it was that she wanted. With Haman standing there, she told the king how he had been tricked by Haman into condemning her to death and all of her people. Realizing that he had been tricked by Haman, the king ordered that Haman be killed, and that all the Jews be saved. Hooray!

A

Q. A. Q. A.

Was Esther pretty on the outside? Yes! Was Esther even prettier on the inside? Yes! That's what matters most!

Because of Esther’s courage and kindness, all of the Jews were saved. Her outward BEAUTY may have won a king’s heart, but her inner BEAUTY saved a whole nation of people. Although Esther is remembered for being a BEAUTIFUL woman, she is mostly remembered for her courage to save all of the Jews. Her true BEAUTY was her faith in God and her willingness to serve others. YOUR beauty should be the same as Esther's!

Beauty is Fleeting

4C NIV

Memory Verse: Proverbs 31:30 (paraphrased) Beauty is fleeting; but a person who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Q. So each year, trees are only pretty for a short time? A. Yes. Trees are very nice, but not just because they have pretty green leaves. Trees are nice because they give us shade, and they give animals places to live and all kinds of other neat stuff. Q. What do you think is the best thing about trees; their pretty leaves, or the nice things trees do for people and animals?

Introduction: To begin, comment to the children on how nice they all look today. Tell them how appropriate it is that they all look so good today, because we're talking about beauty today. Q. Who do you think is the most handsome man or the most beautiful woman in the world right now? A. (Cartoon characters, movie stars, etc..) Q. Why do you think these people are handsome or beautiful? Are they in good shape? Do they have nice hair? Do they have pretty eyes? Well, those are some good-looking people you mentioned, but while we're talking about beauty, I want to talk about some other things that are very beautiful, and those are TREES. The reason I want to talk about trees is because they can teach us a lot about beauty. Q. Do you think trees are pretty? Q. What are some reasons why trees are pretty? A. (The color of the leaves, the shape of the leaves, they give shade, etc.) Action: Show the class the leaf you cut out from the "Withering Away" Object Lesson Sheet and comment on how pretty leaves are. Something happens to trees in the fall. Their leaves change color, and then the leaves fall off and die. In the winter, most trees don't have their pretty leaves anymore. Q. Are trees as pretty in the winter as they are in the summer? A. No.

The things that make trees pretty go away. But the nice things that trees do DON'T go away. People are like that too. The things that make us pretty or handsome go away. Let's listen to a Bible verse so you can see what I mean: Proverbs 31:30b (paraphrased below): Beauty is fleeting; but a person who fears the LORD is to be praised. Now that we've heard our Bible verse, we're going to do some motions with it. Action: Have everyone stand up and do the motions below with the Memory Verse. For the remainder of this lesson, EVERY TIME you read Proverbs 31:30b, you and your class should do these motions. Now, go over the Memory Verse several times with the class using the motions below for each part of the verse. Proverbs 31:30 (March in place.) Charm (Make a pillow with your hands, rest your face on it, and bat your eyelashes.) is deceptive (Cover your eyes with your hands.) and beauty (Primp your hair and smile.) (Make a "safe" signal like a baseball umpire.) is fleeting but a person (Point to yourself.) who fears the Lord (Pretend to pray.) is to be praised. (Lift your hands up to heaven.) "Fleeting" means that it "only lasts for a moment." It means that something doesn't stay around for very long. So our Memory Verse says that beauty doesn't stay around for very long. Let's read it again:

Continued on Next Page...

©2005 TruthQuest® Ministries. All rights reserved. | www.truthopolis.com | www.truthquest.net

Lesson Preparation: Prepare the "Withering Away" Object Lesson Sheet according to the directions given there. Also have a wet paper towel on hand.

Beauty is Fleeting

4C NIV

Q. Can we obey God by praying to Him? A. Yes!

Proverbs 31:30b (below): Beauty is fleeting; but a person who fears the LORD is to be praised.

If we do those kinds of things, we'll be obeying God. That makes us beautiful and handsome on the INSIDE! And being pretty on the INSIDE lasts a lot longer than looking nice on the outside.

Our verse talks about a person who fears the Lord. That doesn't mean we're AFRAID of God, but it DOES mean that we love Him and obey Him. Let's listen to the verse again:

Q. So, who wants to be beautiful or handsome on the INSIDE?

Proverbs 31:30b (below): Beauty is fleeting; but a person who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Good! Then obey God by obeying your parents, being nice to others, and talking to God. And remember our Bible verse!

Explain to the children that we're going to see what lasts the longest; outward beauty, or the inner beauty that comes from fearing the Lord.

Now, go over the Memory Verse several times with the class using the motions below for each part of the verse. Proverbs 31:30 (March in place.) Charm (Make a pillow with your hands, rest your face on it, and bat your eyelashes.) is deceptive (Cover your eyes with your hands.) and beauty (Primp your hair and smile.) (Make a "safe" signal like a baseball umpire.) is fleeting but a person (Point to yourself.) who fears the Lord (Pretend to pray.) is to be praised. (Lift your hands up to heaven.)

Action: Now, show the class the leaf again, but this time, with a wet paper towel, rub the ink off of the leaf. The ink will smear or come off because of the transparent tape you put on it. The words, "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting." will also be gone. The only thing that will remain is "but a woman [or man] who fears the Lord is to be praised."

Conclusion: There are two kinds of beauty. Being beautiful on the outside is nice, but it won't last. Outward beauty withers and fades away, like the leaves of a tree. TRUE beauty comes from working hard to obey God and to help the world around you, like the work trees do to provide us with oxygen and food. Only the beauty of a godly spirit will last.

So, our verse says that beauty doesn't stay around for long, but a person who loves and obeys God will be praised. Action: Show the leaf from the "Withering Away" object lesson sheet to the class again.

Q. What happened to the leaf? A. Its color went away. Q. Is the leaf as pretty now as it was? A. No. You see? The pretty color in this leaf went away. That happens to most trees in the fall. The green goes away from the leaves, and they turn all different colors. Then, all the leaves fall off and die. The things that make trees and people pretty on the OUTSIDE don't last. But, if we obey God, we'll be pretty or handsome on the INSIDE! Q. A. Q. A.

Can we obey God by obeying our parents? Yes. Can we obey God by being nice to others? Yes.

©2005 TruthQuest® Ministries. All rights reserved. | www.truthopolis.com | www.truthquest.net

Continued from Previous Page

“Withering Away” Object Lesson Sheet (Level 1) Directions Preparation: 1. Print out this sheet and then place a BLANK sheet on top of it. 2. Using the underlying sheet as a guide, place strips of transparent tape on the BLANK SHEET in the area where the leaf shape will print. (as shown below). DO NOT put tape over the area where the BLACK LETTERING appears beneath the leaf. 3. Feed the blank sheet with tape into your printer and print this page on the taped sheet. The leaf shape below will print on the tape (so the ink can later be rubbed off). The BLACK LETTERING, however, should not be on the tape, but instead on the paper. tape a blank sheet where the leaf will appear... ...then print on the taped sheet. The leaf will print on the tape, but the black type won’t.

4. Cut out the leaf shape and have a wet paper towel ready. KEEP THESE DIRECTIONS. Object Lesson Directions: 1. Place the leaf face-up on a table. 2. With a wet paper towel, rub the ink off the leaf shape. 3. The ink will come off of the leaf and the pink lettering (because the ink wasn’t absorbed by the transparent tape), but the BLACK LETTERING will remain on the paper, because it WASN’T taped.

Ch

ar

eptive and beauty is flee s dec i m t

i ng

but a woman (or man) who fears the Lord is to be praised. • Proverbs 31:30

On a blank sheet, tape where the leaf will print, but leave this area UNTAPED. Then, print the leaf on the taped sheet.

Beauty is Fleeting

4C NIV

Hey Kids! Visit Truthopolis online at www.truthopolis.com TruthQuest® Ministries • www.truthquest.net

Color this picture to remind you of what you learned today!

but inner beauty from loving God STAYS!

Memory Verse:

Proverbs 31:30b s the LORD is to be ar fe ho w on rs pe a t Beauty is fleeting; bu praised.

Help your child to memorize this Bible verse. Each day this week, twice a day, act out this week's Memory Verse with your child using the motions below: Proverbs 31:30b Beauty is fleeting but a person who fears the Lord is to be praised.

(March in place.) (Primp your hair and smile.) (Make a "safe" signal like a baseball umpire.) (Point to yourself.) (Pretend to pray.) (Lift your hands up to heaven.)

©2005 TruthQuest® Ministries. All rights reserved. | www.truthopolis.com | www.truthquest.net

Outward Beauty doesn't last...

©2004 TruthQuest® Ministries. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution is prohibited.

4C NIV

Beauty is Fleeting

www.truthopolis.com presented by TruthQuest® Ministries www.truthquest.net

www.truthopolis.com presented by TruthQuest® Ministries www.truthquest.net

Tips for Teachers... • Have Fun! Be silly! The more fun you make this lesson, the more effective it will be!

• Connect With the Children! Queen Esther: Beauty that Lasts (adapted from the book of Esther)

Make eye contact with the kids, address them by name, and befriend them. Involve shy and bold children alike so that everyone is actively involved. The kids will respond better if they know that you care about them.

• Exaggerate Your Voice Inflections! Exaggerated voice inflections can make the lesson more interesting to a child.

An object lesson with Scripture to show how leaves lose their outward beauty, pointing out that outward beauty is fleeting, but a godly life has effects that last forever.

• Repeat Children's Answers to Your Questions! Repeat all children's answers to ensure that everyone can hear them.

• Be Prepared!

Proverbs 31:30 [brackets added] Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman [or man] who fears the LORD is to be praised.

• Use Your Bible! Although Bible passages used in this lesson are printed in the lesson itself, keep your Bible open and in front of you for reference and visual impact.

• Pray!

Two-page lesson "Withering Away" Object Lesson Sheet Copy of the "Beauty is Fleeting" poster sheet

Pray as you prepare for, open, and close this lesson!

About the Team Competition Format... If your church is implementing the TEAM COMPETITION* format for Truthopolis (where boys compete with girls or "Alphas" compete with "Omegas"), then the following symbols in this lesson are worth points: Watch for

and

Lesson Includes:

!

When you come to a QUESTION or a BIBLE DRILL, announce it to your class, and then present the QUESTION or the BIBLE DRILL verse. The first child who thinks he/she can answer the QUESTION (or, in the case of a BIBLE DRILL, the first child who finds the BIBLE DRILL verse in their Bible) should STAND UP to be called on by the teacher. To ensure fairness, DO NOT repeat the QUESTION or the BIBLE DRILL verse once a child stands up. This child should then answer the QUESTION or read the BIBLE DRILL verse out loud. If the answer or verse is correct, the child earns one point for his/her TEAM† on the SCOREBOARD SHEET**. In the event of an incorrect response to a QUESTION or BIBLE DRILL, select a member of the OPPOSING TEAM to respond. If neither team responds correctly, give the answer and move on without awarding any points. *If your church is NOT using a team competition, do all of the above EXCEPT for awarding points.

Needed for Lesson, but Not Included:

A Bible for the Teacher and a pen or marker Scoreboard Sheet* (see note below) A disposable cereal bowl 1/2 cup liquid bleach Transparent tape

Photocopy the Take-Home Worksheet onto YELLOW paper and send a copy home with every child so that he/she may continue to learn during the week.

Photocopy the Poster Sheet onto a SEPARATE sheet of paper (not on the back of the Worksheet) and send a copy home with every child to give to his/her parents so that they may study along with their child.

†If using the optional D.O.C. Database, team affiliations are indicated on the lower right corner of each child's name tag.

**Scoreboard Sheets with directions can be printed from any Truthopolis series disc, or from the D.O.C. Database.

The D.O.C. (Database Of Children) is an optional software tool available separately on the Truthopolis Support Disc. D.O.C. tracks children's points, birthdays, and more and produces helpful tools such as name tags and Scoreboard Sheets.

*NOTE: See the "About the Team Competition Format" section on this page!

NIV Copyright Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references included in these materials are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All Notice rights reserved. The "NIV" and "New International Version" trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by the International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of the International Bible Society.

©2005 TruthQuest® Ministries. All rights reserved. | www.truthopolis.com | www.truthquest.net

Memory Verse:

Review this lesson, gather any needed supplies, and practice before you teach!

Beauty is Fleeting Today's Story:

Queen Esther: Beauty that Lasts Adapted from the book of Esther

O

nce there was a king who was looking for a new queen. King Ahasuerus had the most BEAUTIFUL women brought to his palace so that he could choose one of them to be his queen. One of the women he chose was a young Jewish girl named Esther. Now the Jews were not well liked in the kingdom. Esther’s cousin, Mordecai, who had raised her like his own daughter, worked for the king. He warned Esther to keep it a secret that she was a Jew. Esther was brought before the king. She was so BEAUTIFUL that King Ahasuerus chose her above all the other pretty ladies to be the new queen! (1 point): Was Esther chosen as queen because of her beauty? Answer: Yes! ow Mordecai, Esther’s cousin, was hated by Haman, who was second in command of the kingdom under King Ahasuerus. Mordecai refused to bow down before Haman, because only God was supposed to be worshipped. This made Haman very angry. Since all Jews refused to worship anyone besides God, Haman decided to trick the king into killing all of the Jews.

N

(1 point): The Jews would not worship Haman. Is that why Haman wanted to kill the Jews? Answer: Yes! aman went to the king and told him that a group of people in the kingdom refused to obey the king’s laws and that they were a threat to the kingdom. Upon hearing this, the king became very angry. Haman told the king to let him make a law that would give him the power to have all the Jews killed. Haman sent letters all over the country letting everyone know that all the Jews were going to be killed on a certain day in the near future. When Mordecai learned of Haman’s evil plot, he sent a message to Queen Esther. He asked Esther to go beg the king to allow the Jews to live. He told her that now was the time to let everyone know that she was Jewish. That might make the king not want to kill the Jews. But Esther was afraid to do what Mordecai had asked. You see, there was a law that said if anyone–even the queen– came before the king without being first invited, they could be killed. Esther could be killed if she went to the king! But, it was

H

Directions:

4C NIV

During the story, the whole clas s should perform special action s whenever they hear the Keywo rds below. Explain and practice these keyword actions, and then read the Bible story.. When you hear: Do This: BEAUT Y/BEAUTIFUL. Stand up, say "Beauty is fleeting," and sit down. When you hear: Do This: HAMAN . Frown and shout "Ugly inside !". the only hope for saving all the Jews from being killed. (1 point): Esther could have been killed for going to the king. Do you think she was scared? Answer: Yes. fter three days of praying, Esther went to visit the king. When the king saw BEAUTIFUL Esther, he allowed her to speak even though she had broken his law. He told her he would give her anything she wanted, even up to half of his kingdom. Esther asked the king and Haman to come to a special dinner that she would prepare. There at the dinner, Esther would let the king know what she wanted. After two special dinners, the king asked Esther again what it was that she wanted. With Haman standing there, she told the king how he had been tricked by Haman into condemning her to death and all of her people. Realizing that he had been tricked by Haman, the king ordered that Haman be killed, and that all the Jews be saved. Hooray!

A

Q. Did it help Esther to be beautiful? A. Yes. Q. Why is Esther a hero; because she was beautiful, or because she trusted God and put others lives before her own? A. Because she trusted God and risked her life to save others. Q. What's more important; being pretty on the outside, or trusting and obeying God? A. Trusting and obeying God. Because of Esther’s courage and kindness, all of the Jews were saved. Her outward BEAUTY may have won a king’s heart, but her inner BEAUTY saved a whole nation of people. Although Esther is remembered for being a BEAUTIFUL woman, she is mostly remembered for her courage to save all of the Jews. Her true BEAUTY was her faith in God and her willingness to serve others. YOUR beauty should be the same as Esther's!

Beauty is Fleeting

4C NIV

Proverbs 31:30 [brackets added] Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman [or man] who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Lesson Preparation: Prepare the "Withering Away" Object Lesson Sheet according to the directions given there. Test the object lesson before your teaching time arrives to determine whether to use Directions "A" or Directions "B" from the Object lesson sheet, and then prepare the object lesson accordingly. Introduction: To begin, comment to the children on how nice they all look today. Tell them how appropriate it is that they all look so good today, because we're talking about beauty today. Discussion Questions (no points): Q. Who do you think is the most handsome man or the most beautiful woman in the world right now? A. (Movie stars, singers, athletes, models, etc.) Q. Why do you think these people are handsome or beautiful? Are they in good shape? Do they have nice hair? Do they have pretty eyes? Explain: Well, those are some good-looking people you mentioned, but while we're talking about beauty, I want to talk about some other things that are very beautiful, and those are TREES. The reason I want to talk about trees is because they can teach us a lot about beauty. Discussion Questions (no points): Q. Do you think trees are pretty? Q. What are some reasons why trees are pretty? A. (The color of the leaves, the shape of the leaves, they give shade, etc.) Q. Are trees as pretty in the winter as they are in the summer? A. No. Q. Why not? A. Because in the fall, their leaves fall off and die. Q. So each year, trees are only pretty for a short time? A. Yes. Q. What's the most important thing about trees; how pretty they are, or what they do for the world around them? A. What they do for the world is more important.

Beauty is Fleeting... Let's talk about some of these handsome men and beautiful women we mentioned earlier. (1 point): Will they always be as handsome or beautiful as they are now? Answer: No. Their good looks will fade away, just like the beauty of a tree. Action: Show the children the leaf shape from the "Withering Away" Object Lesson Sheet. (This should have been taped and cut out according to the directions on the Object Lesson Sheet). Comment: This leaf is kind of pretty, isn't it? Don't you think so? Well, let's see what the Bible says about beauty. Proverbs 31:30 (below): Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Explain: "Charm" means "cute." "Deceptive" means "not what it seems to be." (1 point): What does our Memory Verse say about charm? Answer: It's deceptive, or not what it seems to be. Proverbs 31:30 (below): Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Explain: "Fleeting" means that it "only lasts for a moment." (1 point): What does our memory verse say about beauty? Answer: It's fleeting. It only lasts for a moment. Proverbs 31:30 (below): Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Explain: Proverbs 31:30 says a woman [or man] who fears the Lord is to be praised. (1 point): According to our memory verse, what lasts longest; charm, beauty, or the beauty that comes from fearing the Lord? Answer: The beauty that comes from fearing the Lord.

Continued on Next Page...

©2005 TruthQuest® Ministries. All rights reserved. | www.truthopolis.com | www.truthquest.net

Memory Verse:

Beauty is Fleeting

4C NIV

"Withering Away" Object Lesson, Steps 1 and 2: On the "Withering Away" Object Lesson Sheet, find the yellow boxes which have Object Lesson Directions "A" or Object Lesson Directions "B," (depending upon which directions you found work best. At this time, follow Steps 1 and 2 of the appropriate directions. Explain: Explain to the children that we're going to see what lasts the longest; outward beauty, or the inner beauty that comes from fearing the Lord. 1 Peter 3:3-4 (below): Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. (1 point): What kind of beauty is God more interested in; a beautiful appearance on the outside, or having a beautiful spirit on the inside? Answer: Having a beautiful spirit on the inside. 1 Peter 3:3-4 (below): Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. (1 point): Unfading" means that it doesn't disappear. Will the beauty of having a gentle and quiet spirit disappear? Answer: No, it will stay. "Withering Away" Object Lesson, Step 3: The results listed under Step 3 of the "Withering Away" Object Lesson Sheet will take place. The end result will be that the color of the leaf will fade or disappear, along with the words "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting." The only thing that will remain is "but a woman [or man] who fears the Lord is to be praised." Discussion Questions (no points): Q. What happened to the leaf? A. Its color went away. Q. Is the leaf as pretty now as it was? A. No. Q. Part of the verse faded away too. The part that said, "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting" disappeared. Did the beauty of this leaf last?

A. No. It faded away. Q. There were some black words with our leaf which said, "but a woman [or man] who fears the LORD is to be praised." Did THAT fade away? A. No. (1 point): So what lasts longer and is more important; a beautiful appearance on the outside, or a beautiful spirit which obeys and fears the Lord? Answer: A beautiful spirit on the inside which obeys and fears the Lord. Now, go over the Memory Verse several times with the class using the motions below for each part of the verse. Proverbs 31:30 (March in place.) Charm (Make a pillow with your hands, rest your face on it, and bat your eyelashes.) is deceptive (Cover your eyes with your hands.) and beauty (Primp your hair and smile.) (Make a "safe" signal like a baseball umpire.) is fleeting but a person (Point to yourself.) who fears the Lord (Pretend to pray.) is to be praised. (Lift your hands up to heaven.) Conclusion: There are two kinds of beauty. Being beautiful on the outside is nice, but it won't last. Outward beauty withers and fades away, like the leaves of a tree. TRUE beauty comes from working hard to obey God and to help the world around you, like the work trees do to provide us with oxygen and food. Only the beauty of a godly spirit will last.

©2005 TruthQuest® Ministries. All rights reserved. | www.truthopolis.com | www.truthquest.net

Continued from Previous Page

“Withering Away” Object Lesson Sheet Preparation: The first thing you need to do for this lesson is to TEST IT to see which set of directions you need to follow. Follow the steps below. 1. Print this sheet on a COLOR INKJET PRINTER. (NOT a laser or toner printer.) 2. Cut out the leaf shape below and submerge it in a bowl of bleach. 3. If the colors FADE or disappear after a few minutes, use Directions “A” below. If the ink DOES NOT FADE, use Directions “B” below. 4. KEEP THESE DIRECTIONS AFTER YOU CUT OUT THE LEAF. YOU’LL NEED THESE DIRECTIONS DURING THE LESSON! Cross out the directions you WON’T use.

Directions “A”

Directions “B”

Preparation: 1. Print this sheet out on a COLOR INKJET PRINTER. 2. With transparent tape, tape over the BLACK LETTERING as shown here.

Preparation: 1. Print out this sheet and then place a BLANK sheet on top of it. 2. Using the underlying sheet as a guide, place strips of transparent tape on the BLANK SHEET in the area where the leaf shape will print. (as shown below). DO NOT put tape over the area where the BLACK LETTERING appears beneath the leaf. 3. Feed the blank sheet with tape into your printer and print this page on the taped sheet. The leaf shape below will print on the tape (so the ink can later be rubbed off). The BLACK LETTERING, however, should not be on the tape, but instead on the paper.

3. Tape the BACK SIDE of this sheet where the BLACK LETTERING appears also. There should be tape covering BOTH SIDES of the paper where the black lettering is. 4. Cut out the leaf shape along the black dotted line. KEEP THESE DIRECTIONS. 5. Have a regular-sized cereal or salad bowl and 1/2 cup of bleach ready. Disposable bowls are recommended to reduce cleanup. Object Lesson Directions “A”: 1. Place the leaf face-up in the bowl. 2. Pour about 1/2 cup of liquid bleach into the bowl until the leaf shape is submerged in bleach. Gently swish the bleach around in the bowl to make sure that all of the leaf shape is covered in bleach. 3. The bleach will slowly alter the ink colors. The pink lettering will disappear, and the leaf will fade or turn yellow. The BLACK LETTERING, however, because it is protected by the transparent tape, will not be affected.

Ch

ar

tape a blank sheet where the leaf will appear... ...then print on the taped sheet. The leaf will print on the tape, but the black type won’t.

4. Cut out the leaf shape and have a wet paper towel ready. KEEP THESE DIRECTIONS. Object Lesson Directions “B”: 1. Place the leaf face-up on a table. 2. With a wet paper towel, rub the ink off the leaf shape. 3. The ink will come off of the leaf and the pink lettering (because the ink wasn’t absorbed by the transparent tape), but the BLACK LETTERING will remain on the paper, because it WASN’T taped.

ceptive and beauty is fl e d s eet mi

i ng

For Directions “A”: Cover this area, including all the black lettering, with transparent tape on the front AND back of this sheet.

For Directions “B”:

but a woman (or man) who fears the Lord is to be praised. • Proverbs 31:30

On a blank sheet, tape where the leaf will print, but leave this area UNTAPED. Then, print the leaf on the taped sheet.

Beauty is Fleeting Hey Kids! Visit Truthopolis online at www.truthopolis.com

4C NIV

TruthQuest® Ministries • www.truthquest.net

numbers. oxes ( ) by the kb ec ch e th in EM OFF t and CHECK TH ee sh ave them is th n o gs uff, and then h e thin st o!) th is f o th o EE d R H to T u NAME there to elp yo h R d U dit! O an Y Do AT LEAST u te yo ri d w in (and rn it in for cre to rem it tu id ad d d D n r u a o s yo li t o om a p M o to Truth to show th Ask your me you come at the bottom ti t e m ex a n n e ir th e u th Sign et with yo NED Workshe IG S is th g in Br

GIVE your Mom or Dad the Poster Sheet we sent home with you today. That way, they can learn the same stuff YOU learned!

ANSWER these question s

Proverbs 31:30 [brackets added] Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman [or man] who fears the LORD is to be praised.

"Deceptive" means "not what it seems to be." Is charm what it seems to be? "Fleeting" means, "it only lasts for a moment." How long does beauty last? According to our Memory Verse, what is to be praised? What lasts longer; being beautiful on the outside or having a beautiful spirit?

APPLICATION Challenge : Talk with your parents about what happens to our bodies when we get old. They don't look as nice. Then, ask your parent work as well or s to help you think of some things you can do to be beautiful on the inside by obeying God. Draw a picture of yourself doing things that make God happy so you're bea utiful on the inside!

With your PARENTS, READ from the Bible and PRAY EVERY DAY. (If your parents can't read to you every day, you can at least PRAY every day!)

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday

Thursday Friday Saturday

fy that your child made an Please sign your name below to veri lly. This sheet is to be returned effort to learn and grow Spiritua time your child attends. to Truthopolis for credit the next

AST THREE This Week, My Child Did AT LE Sheet. of the Things Listed on This

Parent Signature: My Child's Name:

©2005 TruthQuest® Ministries. All rights reserved. | www.truthopolis.com | www.truthquest.net

IZE MEMORrse this ve

©2004 TruthQuest® Ministries. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution is prohibited.

4C NIV

Beauty is Fleeting

www.truthopolis.com presented by TruthQuest® Ministries www.truthquest.net

www.truthopolis.com presented by TruthQuest® Ministries www.truthquest.net

Tips for Teachers... • Have Fun! Be silly! The more fun you make this lesson, the more effective it will be!

• Connect With the Children! Queen Esther: Beauty that Lasts (adapted from the book of Esther)

Make eye contact with the kids, address them by name, and befriend them. Involve shy and bold children alike so that everyone is actively involved. The kids will respond better if they know that you care about them.

• Exaggerate Your Voice Inflections! Exaggerated voice inflections can make the lesson more interesting to a child.

An object lesson with Scripture to show how leaves lose their outward beauty, pointing out that outward beauty is fleeting, but a godly life has effects that last forever.

• Repeat Children's Answers to Your Questions! Repeat all children's answers to ensure that everyone can hear them.

• Be Prepared!

Proverbs 31:30 [brackets added] Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman [or man] who fears the LORD is to be praised.

• Use Your Bible! Although Bible passages used in this lesson are printed in the lesson itself, keep your Bible open and in front of you for reference and visual impact.

• Pray!

Two-page lesson "Withering Away" Object Lesson Sheet Copy of the "Beauty is Fleeting" poster sheet

Pray as you prepare for, open, and close this lesson!

About the Team Competition Format... If your church is implementing the TEAM COMPETITION* format for Truthopolis (where boys compete with girls or "Alphas" compete with "Omegas"), then the following symbols in this lesson are worth points: Watch for

and

Lesson Includes:

!

When you come to a QUESTION or a BIBLE DRILL, announce it to your class, and then present the QUESTION or the BIBLE DRILL verse. The first child who thinks he/she can answer the QUESTION (or, in the case of a BIBLE DRILL, the first child who finds the BIBLE DRILL verse in their Bible) should STAND UP to be called on by the teacher. To ensure fairness, DO NOT repeat the QUESTION or the BIBLE DRILL verse once a child stands up. This child should then answer the QUESTION or read the BIBLE DRILL verse out loud. If the answer or verse is correct, the child earns one point for his/her TEAM† on the SCOREBOARD SHEET**. In the event of an incorrect response to a QUESTION or BIBLE DRILL, select a member of the OPPOSING TEAM to respond. If neither team responds correctly, give the answer and move on without awarding any points. *If your church is NOT using a team competition, do all of the above EXCEPT for awarding points.

Needed for Lesson, but Not Included:

A Bible for the Teacher and a pen or marker Scoreboard Sheet* (see note below) A disposable cereal bowl 1/2 cup liquid bleach Transparent tape

Photocopy the Take-Home Worksheet onto PINK paper and send a copy home with every child so that he/she may continue to learn during the week.

Photocopy the Poster Sheet onto a SEPARATE sheet of paper (not on the back of the Worksheet) and send a copy home with every child to give to his/her parents so that they may study along with their child.

†If using the optional D.O.C. Database, team affiliations are indicated on the lower right corner of each child's name tag.

**Scoreboard Sheets with directions can be printed from any Truthopolis series disc, or from the D.O.C. Database.

The D.O.C. (Database Of Children) is an optional software tool available separately on the Truthopolis Support Disc. D.O.C. tracks children's points, birthdays, and more and produces helpful tools such as name tags and Scoreboard Sheets.

*NOTE: See the "About the Team Competition Format" section on this page!

NIV Copyright Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references included in these materials are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All Notice rights reserved. The "NIV" and "New International Version" trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by the International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of the International Bible Society.

©2005 TruthQuest® Ministries. All rights reserved. | www.truthopolis.com | www.truthquest.net

Memory Verse:

Review this lesson, gather any needed supplies, and practice before you teach!

Beauty is Fleeting Today's Story:

Queen Esther: Beauty that Lasts Adapted from the book of Esther

O

nce there was a king who was looking for a new queen. King Ahasuerus had the most BEAUTIFUL women brought to his palace so that he could choose one of them to be his queen. One of the women he chose was a young Jewish girl named Esther. Now the Jews were not well liked in the kingdom. Esther’s cousin, Mordecai, who had raised her like his own daughter, worked for the king. He warned Esther to keep it a secret that she was a Jew. Esther was brought before the king. She was so BEAUTIFUL that King Ahasuerus chose her above all the other pretty ladies to be the new queen! (1 point): What was it about Esther that made the king choose her to be his new queen? Answer: Her beauty. ow Mordecai, Esther’s cousin, was hated by Haman, who was second in command of the kingdom under King Ahasuerus. Mordecai refused to bow down before Haman, because only God was supposed to be worshipped. This made Haman very angry. Since all Jews refused to worship anyone besides God, Haman decided to trick the king into killing all of the Jews.

N

(1 point): Why did Haman want to kill all the Jews? Answer: Because they would not worship Haman. aman went to the king and told him that a group of people in the kingdom refused to obey the king’s laws and that they were a threat to the kingdom. Upon hearing this, the king became very angry. Haman told the king to let him make a law that would give him the power to have all the Jews killed. Haman sent letters all over the country letting everyone know that all the Jews were going to be killed on a certain day in the near future. When Mordecai learned of Haman’s evil plot, he sent a message to Queen Esther. He asked Esther to go beg the king to allow the Jews to live. He told her that now was the time to let everyone know that she was Jewish. That might make the king not want to kill the Jews. But Esther was afraid to do what Mordecai had asked. You see, there was a law that said if anyone–even the queen– came before the king without being first invited, they could be killed. Esther could be killed if she went to the king! But, it was

H

Directions:

4C NIV

During the story, the whole clas s should perform special action s whenever they hear the Keywo rds below. Explain and practice these keyword actions, and then read the Bible story.. When you hear: Do This: BEAUT Y/BEAUTIFUL. Stand up, say "Beauty is fleeting," and sit down. When you hear: Do This: HAMAN . Frown and shout "Ugly inside !". the only hope for saving all the Jews from being killed. (1 point): What could happen to Esther if she went and asked the king not to kill the Jews? Answer: She could be killed. fter three days of praying, Esther went to visit the king. When the king saw BEAUTIFUL Esther, he allowed her to speak even though she had broken his law. He told her he would give her anything she wanted, even up to half of his kingdom. Esther asked the king and Haman to come to a special dinner that she would prepare. There at the dinner, Esther would let the king know what she wanted. After two special dinners, the king asked Esther again what it was that she wanted. With Haman standing there, she told the king how he had been tricked by Haman into condemning her to death and all of her people. Realizing that he had been tricked by Haman, the king ordered that Haman be killed, and that all the Jews be saved. Hooray!

A

Q. How did Esther use her outward beauty to honor God? A. She pleased the king so he would spare the Jews. Q. Why is Esther a hero; because she was beautiful, or because she trusted God and put others lives before her own? A. Because she trusted God and risked her life to save others. Q. What can you learn from Esther’s example? A. Use your beauty to honor God. Be more concerned with being beautiful on the inside instead of the outside. Because of Esther’s courage and kindness, all of the Jews were saved. Her outward BEAUTY may have won a king’s heart, but her inner BEAUTY saved a whole nation of people. Although Esther is remembered for being a BEAUTIFUL woman, she is mostly remembered for her courage to save all of the Jews. Her true BEAUTY was her faith in God and her willingness to serve others. YOUR beauty should be the same as Esther's!

Beauty is Fleeting

4C NIV

Proverbs 31:30 [brackets added] Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman [or man] who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Lesson Preparation: Prepare the "Withering Away" Object Lesson Sheet according to the directions given there. Test the object lesson before your teaching time arrives to determine whether to use Directions "A" or Directions "B" from the Object lesson sheet, and then prepare the object lesson accordingly. Introduction: To begin, comment to the children on how nice they all look today. Tell them how appropriate it is that they all look so good today, because we're talking about beauty today. Discussion Questions (no points): Q. Who do you think is the most handsome man or the most beautiful woman in the world right now? A. (Movie stars, singers, athletes, models, etc.) Q. Why do you think these people are handsome or beautiful? Are they in good shape? Do they have nice hair? Do they have pretty eyes? Explain: Well, those are some good-looking people you mentioned, but while we're talking about beauty, I want to talk about some other things that are very beautiful, and those are TREES. The reason I want to talk about trees is because they can teach us a lot about beauty. Discussion Questions (no points): Q. Do you think trees are pretty? Q. What are some reasons why trees are pretty? A. (The color of the leaves, the shape of the leaves, they give shade, etc.) Q. Are trees as pretty in the winter as they are in the summer? A. No. Q. Why not? A. Because in the fall, their leaves fall off and die. Q. So each year, trees are only pretty for a short time? A. Yes. Q. What's the most important thing about trees; how pretty they are, or what they do for the world around them? A. What they do for the world is more important.

Beauty is Fleeting... Let's talk about some of these handsome men and beautiful women we mentioned earlier. (1 point): Will they always be as handsome or beautiful as they are now? Answer: No. Their good looks will fade away, just like the beauty of a tree. Action: Show the children the leaf shape from the "Withering Away" Object Lesson Sheet. (This should have been taped and cut out according to the directions on the Object Lesson Sheet). Comment: This leaf is kind of pretty, isn't it? Don't you think so? Well, let's see what the Bible says about beauty. Proverbs 31:30 (below): Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. (1 point): What does "charm" mean? Answer: "Charm" means "cute" or pleasant to be around. (1 point): What does "deceptive" mean? Answer: "Deceptive" means "not what it seems to be." (1 point): What does our Memory Verse say about charm? Answer: It's deceptive, or not what it seems to be. Proverbs 31:30 (below): Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Explain: "Fleeting" means that it "only lasts for a moment." (1 point): What does our memory verse say about beauty? Answer: It's fleeting. It only lasts for a moment. Proverbs 31:30 (below): Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Explain: Proverbs 31:30 says a woman [or man] who fears the Lord is to be praised. (1 point): According to our memory verse, what lasts longest; charm,

Continued on Next Page...

©2005 TruthQuest® Ministries. All rights reserved. | www.truthopolis.com | www.truthquest.net

Memory Verse:

Beauty is Fleeting

4C NIV

beauty, or the beauty that comes from fearing the Lord? Answer: The beauty that comes from fearing the Lord. "Withering Away" Object Lesson, Steps 1 and 2: On the "Withering Away" Object Lesson Sheet, find the yellow boxes which have Object Lesson Directions "A" or Object Lesson Directions "B," (depending upon which directions you found work best. At this time, follow Steps 1 and 2 of the appropriate directions. Explain: Explain to the children that we're going to see what lasts the longest; outward beauty, or the inner beauty that comes from fearing the Lord. 1 Peter 3:3-4 (below): Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. (1 point): What kind of beauty is God more interested in; a beautiful appearance on the outside, or having a beautiful spirit on the inside? Answer: Having a beautiful spirit on the inside. 1 Peter 3:3-4 (below): Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. (1 point): These verses refer to an "unfading beauty." What does "unfading" mean? Answer: It doesn't go away. 1 Peter 3:3-4 (below): Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. (1 point): According to these verses, what has an "unfading beauty?" Answer: A gentle and quiet spirit. "Withering Away" Object Lesson, Step 3: The results listed under Step 3 of the "Withering Away" Object

Lesson Sheet will take place. The end result will be that the color of the leaf will fade or disappear, along with the words "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting." The only thing that will remain is "but a woman [or man] who fears the Lord is to be praised." Discussion Questions (no points): Q. What happened to the leaf? A. Its color went away. Q. Is the leaf as pretty now as it was? A. No. Q. Part of the verse faded away too. The part that said, "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting" disappeared. Did the beauty of this leaf last? A. No. It faded away. Q. The beauty of the leaf disappeared, but what DIDN'T disappear? A. The part of the verse which says, "but a woman [or man] who fears the Lord is to be praised." Explain: That's how it is with us. Our charm and beauty will fade away and disappear, just like the charm and beauty of our leaf disappeared. But, the beauty that comes from fearing the Lord will stay! (1 point): So what lasts longer and is more important; a beautiful appearance on the outside, or a beautiful spirit which obeys and fears the Lord? Answer: A beautiful spirit on the inside which obeys and fears the Lord. (1 point): Is it wrong to try to make yourself look good? Answer: No. (1 point): But what should we be more concerned about; our outward beauty, or our inner beauty (whether our lives are pleasing to God)? Answer: We should be far more concerned about making our lives pleasing to God. That's out inner beauty! Conclusion: There are two kinds of beauty. Being beautiful on the outside is nice, but it won't last. Outward beauty withers and fades away, like the leaves of a tree. TRUE beauty comes from working hard to obey God and to help the world around you, like the work trees do to provide us with oxygen and food. Only the beauty of a godly spirit will last.

©2005 TruthQuest® Ministries. All rights reserved. | www.truthopolis.com | www.truthquest.net

Continued from Previous Page

“Withering Away” Object Lesson Sheet Preparation: The first thing you need to do for this lesson is to TEST IT to see which set of directions you need to follow. Follow the steps below. 1. Print this sheet on a COLOR INKJET PRINTER. (NOT a laser or toner printer.) 2. Cut out the leaf shape below and submerge it in a bowl of bleach. 3. If the colors FADE or disappear after a few minutes, use Directions “A” below. If the ink DOES NOT FADE, use Directions “B” below. 4. KEEP THESE DIRECTIONS AFTER YOU CUT OUT THE LEAF. YOU’LL NEED THESE DIRECTIONS DURING THE LESSON! Cross out the directions you WON’T use.

Directions “A”

Directions “B”

Preparation: 1. Print this sheet out on a COLOR INKJET PRINTER. 2. With transparent tape, tape over the BLACK LETTERING as shown here.

Preparation: 1. Print out this sheet and then place a BLANK sheet on top of it. 2. Using the underlying sheet as a guide, place strips of transparent tape on the BLANK SHEET in the area where the leaf shape will print. (as shown below). DO NOT put tape over the area where the BLACK LETTERING appears beneath the leaf. 3. Feed the blank sheet with tape into your printer and print this page on the taped sheet. The leaf shape below will print on the tape (so the ink can later be rubbed off). The BLACK LETTERING, however, should not be on the tape, but instead on the paper.

3. Tape the BACK SIDE of this sheet where the BLACK LETTERING appears also. There should be tape covering BOTH SIDES of the paper where the black lettering is. 4. Cut out the leaf shape along the black dotted line. KEEP THESE DIRECTIONS. 5. Have a regular-sized cereal or salad bowl and 1/2 cup of bleach ready. Disposable bowls are recommended to reduce cleanup. Object Lesson Directions “A”: 1. Place the leaf face-up in the bowl. 2. Pour about 1/2 cup of liquid bleach into the bowl until the leaf shape is submerged in bleach. Gently swish the bleach around in the bowl to make sure that all of the leaf shape is covered in bleach. 3. The bleach will slowly alter the ink colors. The pink lettering will disappear, and the leaf will fade or turn yellow. The BLACK LETTERING, however, because it is protected by the transparent tape, will not be affected.

Ch

ar

tape a blank sheet where the leaf will appear... ...then print on the taped sheet. The leaf will print on the tape, but the black type won’t.

4. Cut out the leaf shape and have a wet paper towel ready. KEEP THESE DIRECTIONS. Object Lesson Directions “B”: 1. Place the leaf face-up on a table. 2. With a wet paper towel, rub the ink off the leaf shape. 3. The ink will come off of the leaf and the pink lettering (because the ink wasn’t absorbed by the transparent tape), but the BLACK LETTERING will remain on the paper, because it WASN’T taped.

eptive and beauty is flee s dec i m t

i ng

For Directions “A”: Cover this area, including all the black lettering, with transparent tape on the front AND back of this sheet.

For Directions “B”:

but a woman (or man) who fears the Lord is to be praised. • Proverbs 31:30

On a blank sheet, tape where the leaf will print, but leave this area UNTAPED. Then, print the leaf on the taped sheet.

Beauty is Fleeting Hey Kids! Visit Truthopolis online at www.truthopolis.com

4C NIV

TruthQuest® Ministries • www.truthquest.net

numbers. oxes ( ) by the kb ec ch e th in EM OFF t and CHECK TH ee sh ave them is th n o gs uff, and then h e thin st o!) th is f o th o EE d R H to T u NAME there to elp yo h R d U dit! O an Y Do AT LEAST u te yo ri d w in (and rn it in for cre to rem it tu id ad d d D n r u a o s yo li t o om a p M o to Truth to show th Ask your me you come at the bottom ti t e m ex a n n e ir th e u th Sign et with yo NED Workshe IG S is th g in Br

GIVE your Mom or Dad the Poster Sheet we sent home with you today. That way, they can learn the same stuff YOU learned!

ANSWER these question s

Proverbs 31:30 [brackets added] Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman [or man] who fears the LORD is to be praised.

According to our Memory Verse, is charm what it seems to be? According to our Memory Verse, how long does beauty last? According to our Memory Verse, what is to be praised? What lasts longer; being beautiful on the outside or having a beautiful spirit?

APPLICATION Challenge : Talk with your parents about what happens to our bodies when we get old. They don't look as nice. Then, ask your parent work as well or s to help you think of some things you can do to be beautiful on the inside by obeying God. Draw a picture of yourself doing things that make God happy so you're bea utiful on the inside!

READ your BIBLE and PRAY EVERY DAY! Check off each day here: Sunday Thursday Monday Friday Tuesday Saturday Wednesday

fy that your child made an Please sign your name below to veri lly. This sheet is to be returned effort to learn and grow Spiritua time your child attends. to Truthopolis for credit the next

AST THREE This Week, My Child Did AT LE Sheet. of the Things Listed on This

Parent Signature: My Child's Name:

©2005 TruthQuest® Ministries. All rights reserved. | www.truthopolis.com | www.truthquest.net

IZE MEMORrse this ve

©2004 TruthQuest® Ministries. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution is prohibited.

4C NIV

Beauty is Fleeting

www.truthopolis.com presented by TruthQuest® Ministries www.truthquest.net

www.truthopolis.com presented by TruthQuest® Ministries www.truthquest.net

Tips for Teachers... • Have Fun! Be silly! The more fun you make this lesson, the more effective it will be!

• Connect With the Children! Queen Esther: Beauty that Lasts (adapted from the book of Esther)

Make eye contact with the kids, address them by name, and befriend them. Involve shy and bold children alike so that everyone is actively involved. The kids will respond better if they know that you care about them.

• Exaggerate Your Voice Inflections! Exaggerated voice inflections can make the lesson more interesting to a child.

An object lesson with Scripture to show how leaves lose their outward beauty, pointing out that outward beauty is fleeting, but a godly life has effects that last forever.

• Repeat Children's Answers to Your Questions! Repeat all children's answers to ensure that everyone can hear them.

• Be Prepared!

Proverbs 31:30 [brackets added] Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman [or man] who fears the LORD is to be praised.

• Use Your Bible! Although Bible passages used in this lesson are printed in the lesson itself, keep your Bible open and in front of you for reference and visual impact.

• Pray!

Two-page lesson "Withering Away" Object Lesson Sheet Copy of the "Beauty is Fleeting" poster sheet

Pray as you prepare for, open, and close this lesson!

About the Team Competition Format... If your church is implementing the TEAM COMPETITION* format for Truthopolis (where boys compete with girls or "Alphas" compete with "Omegas"), then the following symbols in this lesson are worth points: Watch for

and

Lesson Includes:

!

When you come to a QUESTION or a BIBLE DRILL, announce it to your class, and then present the QUESTION or the BIBLE DRILL verse. The first child who thinks he/she can answer the QUESTION (or, in the case of a BIBLE DRILL, the first child who finds the BIBLE DRILL verse in their Bible) should STAND UP to be called on by the teacher. To ensure fairness, DO NOT repeat the QUESTION or the BIBLE DRILL verse once a child stands up. This child should then answer the QUESTION or read the BIBLE DRILL verse out loud. If the answer or verse is correct, the child earns one point for his/her TEAM† on the SCOREBOARD SHEET**. In the event of an incorrect response to a QUESTION or BIBLE DRILL, select a member of the OPPOSING TEAM to respond. If neither team responds correctly, give the answer and move on without awarding any points. *If your church is NOT using a team competition, do all of the above EXCEPT for awarding points.

Needed for Lesson, but Not Included:

A Bible for the Teacher and a pen or marker Scoreboard Sheet* (see note below) A disposable cereal bowl 1/2 cup liquid bleach Transparent tape

Photocopy the Take-Home Worksheet onto LIGHT BLUE paper and send a copy home with every child so that he/she may continue to learn during the week.

Photocopy the Poster Sheet onto a SEPARATE sheet of paper (not on the back of the Worksheet) and send a copy home with every child to give to his/her parents so that they may study along with their child.

†If using the optional D.O.C. Database, team affiliations are indicated on the lower right corner of each child's name tag.

**Scoreboard Sheets with directions can be printed from any Truthopolis series disc, or from the D.O.C. Database.

The D.O.C. (Database Of Children) is an optional software tool available separately on the Truthopolis Support Disc. D.O.C. tracks children's points, birthdays, and more and produces helpful tools such as name tags and Scoreboard Sheets.

*NOTE: See the "About the Team Competition Format" section on this page!

NIV Copyright Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references included in these materials are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All Notice rights reserved. The "NIV" and "New International Version" trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by the International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of the International Bible Society.

©2005 TruthQuest® Ministries. All rights reserved. | www.truthopolis.com | www.truthquest.net

Memory Verse:

Review this lesson, gather any needed supplies, and practice before you teach!

Beauty is Fleeting Today's Story:

Queen Esther: Beauty that Lasts Adapted from the book of Esther

Directions:

4C NIV

During the story, the whole clas s should perform special action s whenever they hear the Keywo rds below. Explain and practice these keyword actions, and then read the Bible story.. When you hear: Do This: BEAUT Y/BEAUTIFUL. Do a "cat call" whistle When you hear: Do This: HAMAN . Boo and hiss.

O

nce there was a king who was looking for a new queen. King Ahasuerus had the most BEAUTIFUL women brought to his palace so that he could choose one of them to be his queen. One of the women he chose was a young Jewish girl named Esther. Now the Jews were not well liked in the kingdom. Esther’s cousin, Mordecai, who had raised her like his own daughter, worked for the king. He warned Esther to keep it a secret that she was a Jew. Esther was brought before the king. She was so BEAUTIFUL that King Ahasuerus chose her above all the other pretty ladies to be the new queen! (1 point): What was it about Esther that made the king choose her to be his new queen? Answer: Her beauty. ow Mordecai, Esther’s cousin, was hated by Haman, who was second in command of the kingdom under King Ahasuerus. Mordecai refused to bow down before Haman, because only God was supposed to be worshipped. This made Haman very angry. Since all Jews refused to worship anyone besides God, Haman decided to trick the king into killing all of the Jews.

N

(1 point): What did Haman want to do to the Jews? Answer: Kill them. (1 point): Why did Haman want to kill all the Jews? Answer: Because they would not worship Haman. aman went to the king and told him that a group of people in the kingdom refused to obey the king’s laws and that they were a threat to the kingdom. Upon hearing this, the king became very angry. Haman told the king to let him make a law that would give him the power to have all the Jews killed. Haman sent letters all over the country letting everyone know that all the Jews were going to be killed on a certain day in the near future. When Mordecai learned of Haman’s evil plot, he sent a message to Queen Esther. He asked Esther to go beg the king to allow the Jews to live. He told her that now was the time to let everyone know that she was Jewish. That might make the king not want to kill the Jews.

H

But Esther was afraid to do what Mordecai had asked. You see, there was a law that said if anyone–even the queen– came before the king without being first invited, they could be killed. Esther could be killed if she went to the king! But, it was the only hope for saving all the Jews from being killed. (1 point): Why was it dangerous for Esther to go before the king? Answer: She could be killed if she showed up uninvited. fter three days of praying, Esther went to visit the king. When the king saw BEAUTIFUL Esther, he allowed her to speak even though she had broken his law. He told her he would give her anything she wanted, even up to half of his kingdom. Esther asked the king and Haman to come to a special dinner that she would prepare. There at the dinner, Esther would let the king know what she wanted. After two special dinners, the king asked Esther again what it was that she wanted. With Haman standing there, she told the king how he had been tricked by Haman into condemning her to death and all of her people. Realizing that he had been tricked by Haman, the king ordered that Haman be killed, and that all the Jews be saved. Hooray!

A

Q. How did Esther use her outward beauty to honor God? A. She pleased the king so he would spare the Jews. Q. Why is Esther a hero; because she was beautiful, or because she trusted God and put others lives before her own? A. Because she trusted God and risked her life to save others. Q. What can you learn from Esther’s example? A. Use your beauty to honor God. Be more concerned with being beautiful on the inside instead of the outside. Because of Esther’s courage and kindness, all of the Jews were saved. Her outward BEAUTY may have won a king’s heart, but her inner BEAUTY saved a whole nation of people. Although Esther is remembered for being a BEAUTIFUL woman, she is mostly remembered for her courage to save all of the Jews. Her true BEAUTY was her faith in God and her willingness to serve others. YOUR beauty should be the same as Esther's!

Beauty is Fleeting

4C NIV

Memory Verse: Proverbs 31:30 [brackets added] Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman [or man] who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Discussion Questions (no points): Q. Isn't it a waste to put a gold ring in a pig's snout? A. Yes! Q. Isn't it a waste to be beautiful on the outside if your life isn't pleasing to God? A. Yes! Beauty is Fleeting... Let's talk about some of these handsome men and beautiful women we mentioned earlier.

Introduction: To begin, comment to the children on how nice they all look today. Tell them how appropriate it is that they all look so good today, because we're talking about beauty today. Discussion Questions (no points): Q. Who do you think is the most handsome man or the most beautiful woman in the world right now? A. (Movie stars, singers, athletes, models, etc.) Q. Why do you think these people are handsome or beautiful? Are they in good shape? Do they have nice hair? Do they have pretty eyes? Explain: Well, those are some good-looking people you mentioned, but while we're talking about beauty, I want to talk about some other things that are very beautiful, and those are TREES. The reason I want to talk about trees is because they can teach us a lot about beauty. Discussion Questions (no points): Q. Do you think trees are pretty? Q. What are some reasons why trees are pretty? A. (Allow for various answers.) Q. Are trees as pretty in the winter as they are in the summer? A. No. Q. Why not? A. Because in the fall, their leaves fall off and die. Q. So each year, trees are only pretty for a short time? A. Yes. Q. What's the most important thing about trees; how pretty they are, or what they do for the world around them? A. What they do for the world is more important. Proverbs 11:22 (below): Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

Action: Show the children the leaf shape from the "Withering Away" Object Lesson Sheet. (This should have been taped and cut out according to the directions on the Object Lesson Sheet). Comment: This leaf is kind of pretty, isn't it? Don't you think so? Well, let's see what the Bible says about beauty. Proverbs 31:30 (below): Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. (1 point): What does "charm" mean? Answer: "Charm" means "cute" or pleasant to be around. (1 point): What does "deceptive" mean? Answer: "Deceptive" means "not what it seems to be." (1 point): What does our Memory Verse say about charm? Answer: It's deceptive, or not what it seems to be. Proverbs 31:30 (below): Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. (1 point): What does "fleeting" mean? Answer: "Fleeting" means that it "only lasts for a moment." (1 point): What does our memory verse say about beauty? Answer: It's fleeting. It only lasts for a moment. Proverbs 31:30 (below): Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Continued on Next Page...

©2005 TruthQuest® Ministries. All rights reserved. | www.truthopolis.com | www.truthquest.net

Lesson Preparation: Prepare the "Withering Away" Object Lesson Sheet according to the directions given there. Test the object lesson before your teaching time arrives to determine whether to use Directions "A" or Directions "B" from the Object lesson sheet, and then prepare the object lesson accordingly.

(1 point): Will they always be as handsome or beautiful as they are now? Answer: No. Their good looks will fade away, just like the beauty of a tree.

Beauty is Fleeting

4C NIV

(1 point): According to our Memory Verse, what is to be praised? Answer: A woman [or man] who fears the Lord. (1 point): According to our memory verse, what lasts longest; charm, beauty, or the beauty that comes from fearing the Lord? Answer: The beauty that comes from fearing the Lord. "Withering Away" Object Lesson, Steps 1 and 2: On the "Withering Away" Object Lesson Sheet, find the yellow boxes which have Object Lesson Directions "A" or Object Lesson Directions "B," (depending upon which directions you found work best. At this time, follow Steps 1 and 2 of the appropriate directions. Explain: Explain to the children that we're going to see what lasts the longest; outward beauty, or the inner beauty that comes from fearing the Lord. 1 Peter 3:3-4 (below): Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. (1 point): What kind of beauty is God more interested in; a beautiful appearance on the outside, or having a beautiful spirit on the inside? Answer: Having a beautiful spirit on the inside. 1 Peter 3:3-4 (below): Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. (1 point): These verses refer to an "unfading beauty." What does "unfading" mean? Answer: It doesn't go away. 1 Peter 3:3-4 (below): Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

(1 point): According to these verses, what has an "unfading beauty?" Answer: A gentle and quiet spirit. "Withering Away" Object Lesson, Step 3: The results listed under Step 3 of the "Withering Away" Object Lesson Sheet will take place. The end result will be that the color of the leaf will fade or disappear, along with the words "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting." The only thing that will remain is "but a woman [or man] who fears the Lord is to be praised." Discussion Questions (no points): Q. What happened to the leaf? A. Its color went away. Q. Is the leaf as pretty now as it was? A. No. Q. Part of the verse faded away too. The part that said, "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting" disappeared. Did the beauty of this leaf last? A. No. It faded away. Q. What DIDN'T disappear? A. The part of the verse which says, "but a woman [or man] who fears the Lord is to be praised." Explain: That's how it is with us. Our charm and beauty will fade away and disappear, just like the charm and beauty of our leaf disappeared. But, the beauty that comes from fearing the Lord will stay! (1 point): So what lasts longer and is more important; a beautiful appearance on the outside, or a beautiful spirit which obeys and fears the Lord? Answer: A beautiful spirit on the inside which obeys and fears the Lord. (1 point): Is it wrong to try to make yourself look good? Answer: No. (1 point): But what should we be more concerned about; our outward beauty, or our inner beauty (whether our lives are pleasing to God)? Answer: We should be far more concerned about making our lives pleasing to God. That's out inner beauty! Conclusion: There are two kinds of beauty. Being beautiful on the outside is nice, but it won't last. Outward beauty withers and fades away, like the leaves of a tree. TRUE beauty comes from working hard to obey God and to help the world around you, like the work trees do to provide us with oxygen and food. Only the beauty of a godly spirit will last.

©2005 TruthQuest® Ministries. All rights reserved. | www.truthopolis.com | www.truthquest.net

Continued from Previous Page

“Withering Away” Object Lesson Sheet Preparation: The first thing you need to do for this lesson is to TEST IT to see which set of directions you need to follow. Follow the steps below. 1. Print this sheet on a COLOR INKJET PRINTER. (NOT a laser or toner printer.) 2. Cut out the leaf shape below and submerge it in a bowl of bleach. 3. If the colors FADE or disappear after a few minutes, use Directions “A” below. If the ink DOES NOT FADE, use Directions “B” below. 4. KEEP THESE DIRECTIONS AFTER YOU CUT OUT THE LEAF. YOU’LL NEED THESE DIRECTIONS DURING THE LESSON! Cross out the directions you WON’T use.

Directions “A”

Directions “B”

Preparation: 1. Print this sheet out on a COLOR INKJET PRINTER. 2. With transparent tape, tape over the BLACK LETTERING as shown here.

Preparation: 1. Print out this sheet and then place a BLANK sheet on top of it. 2. Using the underlying sheet as a guide, place strips of transparent tape on the BLANK SHEET in the area where the leaf shape will print. (as shown below). DO NOT put tape over the area where the BLACK LETTERING appears beneath the leaf. 3. Feed the blank sheet with tape into your printer and print this page on the taped sheet. The leaf shape below will print on the tape (so the ink can later be rubbed off). The BLACK LETTERING, however, should not be on the tape, but instead on the paper.

3. Tape the BACK SIDE of this sheet where the BLACK LETTERING appears also. There should be tape covering BOTH SIDES of the paper where the black lettering is. 4. Cut out the leaf shape along the black dotted line. KEEP THESE DIRECTIONS. 5. Have a regular-sized cereal or salad bowl and 1/2 cup of bleach ready. Disposable bowls are recommended to reduce cleanup. Object Lesson Directions “A”: 1. Place the leaf face-up in the bowl. 2. Pour about 1/2 cup of liquid bleach into the bowl until the leaf shape is submerged in bleach. Gently swish the bleach around in the bowl to make sure that all of the leaf shape is covered in bleach. 3. The bleach will slowly alter the ink colors. The pink lettering will disappear, and the leaf will fade or turn yellow. The BLACK LETTERING, however, because it is protected by the transparent tape, will not be affected.

Ch

ar

tape a blank sheet where the leaf will appear... ...then print on the taped sheet. The leaf will print on the tape, but the black type won’t.

4. Cut out the leaf shape and have a wet paper towel ready. KEEP THESE DIRECTIONS. Object Lesson Directions “B”: 1. Place the leaf face-up on a table. 2. With a wet paper towel, rub the ink off the leaf shape. 3. The ink will come off of the leaf and the pink lettering (because the ink wasn’t absorbed by the transparent tape), but the BLACK LETTERING will remain on the paper, because it WASN’T taped.

eptive and beauty is flee s dec i m t

i ng

For Directions “A”: Cover this area, including all the black lettering, with transparent tape on the front AND back of this sheet.

For Directions “B”:

but a woman (or man) who fears the Lord is to be praised. • Proverbs 31:30

On a blank sheet, tape where the leaf will print, but leave this area UNTAPED. Then, print the leaf on the taped sheet.

Beauty is Fleeting Hey Kids! Visit Truthopolis online at www.truthopolis.com

4C NIV

TruthQuest® Ministries • www.truthquest.net

numbers. oxes ( ) by the kb ec ch e th in EM OFF t and CHECK TH ee sh ave them is th n o gs uff, and then h e thin st o!) th is f o th o EE d R H to T u NAME there to elp yo h R d U dit! O an Y Do AT LEAST u te yo ri d w in (and rn it in for cre to rem it tu id ad d d D n r u a o s yo li t o om a p M o to Truth to show th Ask your me you come at the bottom ti t e m ex a n n e ir th e u th Sign et with yo NED Workshe IG S is th g in Br

GIVE your Mom or Dad the Poster Sheet we sent home with you today. That way, they can learn the same stuff YOU learned!

ANSWER these question s

Proverbs 31:30 [brackets added] Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman [or man] who fears the LORD is to be praised.

What does our Memory Verse mean when it says that charm is deceptive? What does our Memory Verse mean when it says that beauty is fleeting? According to our Memory Verse, what is to be praised? What does 1 Peter 3:3-4 say about where our beauty should come from? APPLICATION Chall

Make a list of five ways to ma enge: ke your Spirit beautiful to God. Each day this week, pray for God to help you to have a beau tiful spirit by doing the things on your list. If you like, draw a picture of yourself doing thos e things. READ your BIBLE and PRAY EVERY DAY! Check off each day here: Sunday Thursday Monday Friday Tuesday Saturday Wednesday

fy that your child made an Please sign your name below to veri lly. This sheet is to be returned effort to learn and grow Spiritua time your child attends. to Truthopolis for credit the next

AST THREE This Week, My Child Did AT LE Sheet. of the Things Listed on This

Parent Signature: My Child's Name:

©2005 TruthQuest® Ministries. All rights reserved. | www.truthopolis.com | www.truthquest.net

IZE MEMORrse this ve

©2004 TruthQuest® Ministries. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution is prohibited.

4C NIV

Beauty is Fleeting

www.truthopolis.com presented by TruthQuest® Ministries www.truthquest.net

Tips For Game Time... • Use A Coach's Whistle! A whistle will help you to signal certain events during game play!

• Project Your Voice! Speak loudly and clearly so everyone can hear you! Upon scoring a point, the scoring team must ALSO recite today's memory verse in order to win the point.

• Break Up Longer Verses! If a memory verse is longer than about eight words, break it up into smaller chunks. Play the game with the first part of the verse until children get it, then add the second chunk, and so on, until finally the entire verse is required to score a point.

Atomic Clock: Children act as a clock by tossing a ball in a circle pattern while progressively reciting the Memory Verse Supplies Needed: One ball (tennis ball or foam ball) An open game area measuring at least 12 feet by 16 feet

• Review the Game Rules! Make sure everyone knows what to do!

• Promote Good Sportsmanship! While these games may be competitive, don't allow children to be poor sports–either as winners or as losers. Poor sports should be made to sit out the game.

• Be Encouraging and Have Fun! Encourage children during the game and have fun!

• Remember the Objective! The point of these games is to give children a fun way to memorize Scripture!

About the Team Competition Format... If your church is implementing the TEAM COMPETITION* format for Truthopolis (where boys compete with girls or "Alphas" compete with "Omegas"), then points scored by TEAMS† in these games should be MARKED on the SCOREBOARD SHEET. Each group who comes to you for Game Time will bring a SCOREBOARD SHEET with them, upon which you will record points scored in these games. Complete directions for using the Scoreboard Sheets are printed on those sheets. *If your church is NOT using a team competition, do all of the above EXCEPT for awarding points. †If using the optional D.O.C. Database, team affiliations are indicated on the lower right corner of each child's name tag.

**Scoreboard Sheets with directions can be printed from any Truthopolis series disc, or from the D.O.C. Database.

The D.O.C. (Database Of Children) is an optional software tool available separately on the Truthopolis Support Disc. D.O.C. tracks children's points, birthdays, and more and produces helpful tools such as name tags and Scoreboard Sheets.

Atomic Clock: Children act as a clock by tossing a ball in a circle pattern while progressively reciting the Memory Verse Supplies Needed: One ball (tennis ball or foam ball) An open game area measuring at least 12 feet by 16 feet

©2005 TruthQuest® Ministries. All rights reserved. | www.truthopolis.com | www.truthquest.net

• Memory Verse is Required for Points!

Beauty isis Fleeting Fleeting Beauty

4C NIV

Today's Game:

"Atomic Clock"

Catch the ball and remember your verse, or the clock will explode!

Memory Verse: Proverbs 31:30b Beauty is fleeting; but a person who fears the LORD is to be praised.

What You Need: • One ball (tennis ball or foam ball) • An open game area measuring at least 12 feet by 16 feet Preparation and Setup: 1. Have all of the children in your group stand in a circle. 2. Place yourself in the center of the circle to be the "Timekeeper."

Game Summary: 1. The "Timekeeper" will toss the ball to one of the children in the circle. That child must catch the ball. 2. When a child catches the ball, the Timekeeper will shout the first word from today's Memory Verse, and all the children will shout that word. 3. Then, the child with the ball will toss the ball back to the Timekeeper. 4. Upon catching the ball, the Timekeeper must shout the NEXT word from today's Memory Verse, and the children will all shout THAT word. The Timekeeper will then toss the ball to the NEXT child in the circle (moving clockwise). 5. Steps 1-4 are repeated continuously until a child drops the ball. When the Ball is Dropped... 1. ALL of the children should jump up in the air and shout "KABOOM!" The Atomic Clock has exploded! 2. All of the children must recite the entire Memory Verse together, and game play is resumed. Game Rules: 1. The ball must be tossed gently (underhand). 2. The ball must be tossed in a way that is catchable. Ending the Game: • The game continues for as long as your game time allows, cycling through the words of the Memory Verse as many times as your game time permits. As game play continues, children will get better at remembering the words of the verse.

©2005 TruthQuest® Ministries. All rights reserved. | www.truthopolis.com | www.truthquest.net

Before the Game: • Practice today's Memory Verse at least three times with the children until they become somewhat familiar with it.

Beauty is Fleeting

4C NIV

Today's Game:

"Atomic Clock"

Catch the ball and remember your verse, or the clock will explode!

Memory Verse: Proverbs 31:30 [brackets added] Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman [or man] who fears the LORD is to be praised.

What You Need: • One ball (tennis ball or foam ball) • An open game area measuring at least 12 feet by 16 feet

Before the Game: 1. Practice today's Memory Verse at least three times with the children until they become somewhat familiar with it. Game Summary (Read the Entire Sheet Before Starting the Game) : 1. The "Timekeeper" will toss the ball to one of the children in the circle. That child must catch the ball, shout the first word from today's Memory Verse, and toss the ball back to the Timekeeper. 2. Upon catching the ball, the Timekeeper must shout the NEXT word from today's Memory Verse and then toss the ball to the NEXT child in the circle (moving clockwise). 3. That child must then catch the ball and shout the NEXT WORD from the verse, and then toss the ball back to the Timekeeper. 4. Steps 1-3 are repeated continuously until a child either drops the ball or fails to shout the correct word from the Memory Verse. If any child fails to catch the ball or shout the correct word from today's Memory Verse... 1. ALL of the children should jump up in the air and shout "KABOOM!" The Atomic Clock has exploded! 2. The Teacher should then mark ONE POINT on the Scoreboard for the opposing team (the team opposite of the team represented by the child who dropped the ball or failed to shout the correct word from the Memory Verse). 3. Next, the Teacher should choose a new "Timekeeper" to stand in the center of the circle, and the game should be resumed as shown in the Game Summary section.

Game Rules: 1. The ball must be tossed gently (underhand). 2. The ball must be tossed in a way that is catchable. If a ball is uncatchable, the person who THREW the ball will be considered the one who dropped it. Starting the Game: 1. Play one round of the game as described under "Game Summary" while the TEACHER recites the Memory Verse for the kids. Each time a child catches the ball, the TEACHER (instead of the children) should recite one word from today's Memory Verse. Do this a couple of times, then proceed below. 2. Explain to the kids that you will no longer recite the Memory Verse for them. Each child who catches the ball must now shout out the correct word from the Memory Verse. The game will now be played as directed in the "Game Summary" section. Ending the Game: • The game continues for as long as your game time allows, cycling through the words of the Memory Verse as many times as your game time permits. As game play continues, children will get better at remembering the words of the verse.

©2005 TruthQuest® Ministries. All rights reserved. | www.truthopolis.com | www.truthquest.net

Preparation and Setup: 1. Have all of the children in your group stand in a circle. 2. Select a child to stand in the center of the circle and give that child a ball. This child is the "Timekeeper."