God Is Sovereign. Supplies. God is in control

Week 4 ” God is in control God Is Sovereign Supplies Obtain and Prepare Before Class ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ Paper cup Small bag of M&Ms® Wide...
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Week 4 ” God is in control

God Is Sovereign Supplies Obtain and Prepare Before Class ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ

Paper cup Small bag of M&Ms® Wide mouth bottle Water Matches or lighter Strip of paper about 2 inches wide and 6-8 inches long. Nickels or pennies (a couple of handfuls) Spatula Sixteen ounce plastic bottle with cap Water Balloons Drinking straw Tape Index card Jar or drinking glass

Provided in the Kit ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ

Lab glasses Lab coat Three balloons String

Bible Point God is in control.

Bible Verse: I know that You can do all things, and that no thought or purpose of Yours can be restrained. Job 42:2 (Amp)

Bible Passage Psalm 18 I Samuel 19

Overview When we say that God is sovereign, we mean that he has control over the entire universe. He has absolute authority. When we realize that God is in control, it frees us to trust Him and the fact that He has the right to plan our lives. It frees us from worries.

God is in control ” Week 4 PP

Dr. Beaker

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Balloon in a Bottle

Supplies ƒ Lab Glasses ƒ Lab Coat ƒ Small bag of M&Ms®

Supplies ƒ Wide-mouth bottle ƒ Balloon ƒ Water ƒ Matches or lighter ƒ Several strips of 2x6 paper

(M&Ms are seen flying through the air. Have someone in a hidden place throwing the M&Ms. Dr. Beaker appears looking harried and worn out.)

Fill the balloon with water until the balloon is the size of a tennis ball. Tie the balloon securely. Make sure that the bottle is clean without any sticky residue inside it. Also, make sure that the balloon is bigger than the mouth of the bottle.

Stop it! Erlenmeyer and Dynamo. Stop it, I say. (M&Ms stop flying about.) Thank you. I have asked those two to stop having M&Ms wars in the lab. But, they just don’t listen very well. If an M&Ms were to get in the wrong place, it could mean disaster. Just think what it would do to a highly sensitive experiment. Just think what it could mean to a piece of equipment. Why, my scientist friend at NASA told me that the astronauts had to stop taking M&Ms into space because they would let them float about. The M&Ms were getting lodged in the consoles, which could have caused some major problems.

Smear some water around the mouth of the bottle. Set the strip of paper on fire. This works easier if you have another adult help you do this. Quickly put the burning strip into the bottle. Cover the mouth of the bottle with the balloon. The balloon will start shaking and will be pulled into the bottle. If you are using a plastic bottle, the side of the bottle may collapse a bit, making a loud noise when the balloon falls in. Did you think it was possible to get the balloon into the bottle? Often, things seem impossible to us. However, we need to remember that God is always in control. And with God, all things are possible.

All of these problems make me think of my experiment. I am exploring the characteristic of sovereign. PP

Lab Demonstration

My best scientific definition of sovereign: Sovereign means to have complete control of something.

Upside Down Water Supplies ƒ Water ƒ Index card ƒ Jar or drinking glass

Ha! I definitely do not have control of my lab. (Another M&M flies through the air, hitting Dr. Beaker if possible) Erlenmeyer and Dynamo, that is enough. It is time for me to take control of this lab!

Fill the jar with the water. Cover the opening with the index card. Hold the

(Dr. Beaker goes marching off in a huff.)

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card in place and turn the card and jar upside down. Does it seem possible that the card is not falling off? You could be really brave and hold it over someone's head. Be careful! Sometimes water will start leaking out between the jar and index card. This experiment again demonstrates that some things seem impossible. Who would guess that you could turn a jar of water upside down and the water wouldn’t fall out? But with God in control, we know that anything is possible.

We often want to be in control of everything so we know what to expect. However, life is not like that. But, when things happen that we are not expecting, God knows about them. He is in control and He will be with you through the unexpected things in your life. Newspaper Rips Supplies ƒ Two pages of news paper I need two volunteers for this experiment. (Choose two kids.)

Crazy Balloons

You will give one of the kids a newspaper facing sideways. Give the other child the newspaper facing the right direction.

Supplies ƒ Two-4 feet long pieces of string ƒ Two balloons

When I say begin, I want you to rip your newspaper in a straight line. Ready? Begin.

Blow up both balloons and tie them closed. Tie one end of the string around the knot of the balloon. Repeat this with the other string and balloon. Hang both balloons from a door post or other area where they can hang freely, side by side. Make sure that the balloons are the same height from the floor.

The child holding the newspaper sideways should have a hard time keeping the newspaper tearing in a straight path.

Who can help me with this experiment? (Choose a volunteer.) I want you to stand in front of the balloons. When I say go, I want you to blow in between them. Ready? Go. The balloons should move together. You might want to try this a couple of times with different kids. Did you expect the balloons to move together when ________ blew in between them? Or did you think that they would blow apart? Do you ever have unexpected things happen to you?

When we try to take control of our lives, we are like the newspaper that tore crooked. However, when we acknowledge that God is in control and trust Him with our lives, He makes our paths straight just like the newspaper that tore straight.

Lab Experiments

PP

Experiment 1 - Tower Building Supplies ƒ Nickels or pennies (a couple of handfuls) ƒ Spatula

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God is in control ” Week 4

string. We head the right direction, not out of control.

Let the kids see how high they can make a coin tower without the tower tumbling down. They can also make a tower and then see if they can move the bottom coin out of the bottom of the tower without making the coins tumble down. Using a spatula will often work best.

PP

Psalm 18 I Samuel 19

Sometimes the world seems like the tower, leaning precariously and dangerously one way or the other. Perhaps, it seems like all around us things are going bad. However, we need to remember that no matter what happens, God is in control.

The Lord protected David. Supplies ƒ None

PP

Experiment 2 - Balloon Launch Supplies ƒ Balloons ƒ Drinking straw ƒ Tape ƒ String PP

Cut about 10 feet of string. Tie one end to a chair. String the straw onto the string. Tie the other end of the string to another chair, making the string taut between the two chairs.

I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. (1-3) Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O Lord; I will sing praises to your name. He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever. (49-50) David wrote this psalm as he reflected back on how the Lord had protected him.

Have the kids blow up the balloons and let them go. Did you have control of your balloon? What happened to your balloon?

Bible Story

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Now, have them blow up their balloons again and one by one tape them to the straw and let them go. What happened? Which way were the balloons under better control? Why were they more controlled?

After David had killed Goliath, King Saul had him come live with him. He enjoyed having David available to play the harp. King Saul also sent David out with the army. However, something happened that turned King Saul against David. One day, when King Saul and David were returning from battle, the women came out to welcome them home. They were dancing, playing tambourines and singing. It was the song that got to King Saul. The women were singing

When we do not rely on God, we are like the balloons out of control, flying everywhere in the room. When we rely on Him, we are like the balloon on the

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went sailing. It went right over David’s head and landed behind him. Jonathan and David told each other good-bye. They knew that David must leave and go hide somewhere far away.

“King Saul has killed his thousands but David has killed his ten thousands.” Ten thousand is a whole lot more than a thousand. King Saul got very jealous. These women were singing praises to David that were higher than the praises they were singing to the king. PP

From that moment on, King Saul had it out for David. It did not matter that David was King Saul’s son, Jonathan’s best friend. It didn’t matter that David had married King Saul’s daughter, Michal. All King Saul knew was that everything David did succeeded and he wanted to get rid of him. He was jealous of David. King Saul did not just want to send David out of the kingdom, he wanted to kill him. One day, David was playing the harp. King Saul was overcome by his feelings about David. He picked up a spear and threw it at David. But God was protecting David and he was able to escape. Not long after that King Saul sent his men to David’s home to capture him. However, David’s wife heard about this and helped David escape. Jonathan came to the place where David was hiding. He told David that he would find out if his father, King Saul, was still set on killing David. He told him that if he found that King Saul was still angry that he would shoot an arrow past where David was hiding. If he found out that King Saul had changed his mind about David, he would shoot the arrow in front of David. The day came when Jonathan was supposed to bring the information to David. What do you think David was thinking? King Saul had already tried to kill him several times. Would he give up and welcome David back? Or would David have to run for his life?

God had decided that David would be king. Remember that Samuel had anointed David as the future king. It must have looked impossible to David. Here the King was trying to kill him and he was going to have to leave the country and go into hiding. But, God still had things in control. He had placed people in the right places to help David. David’s wife had saved his life. Jonathan had saved his life. God has His own timing. Often when we look at things and think they are impossible, God is working it all out.

Prayer

PP

Ask the Lord to help the children depend on Him, knowing that He is always with them. Also, pray that the children would keep the Lord in the center of their lives, knowing that He is the ruler of the whole universe.

Object Lesson/ Modern Day Story PP

Supplies ƒ None Jim Elliot was known as a man who wanted to do God’s will above all else. He went to Ecuador to become a missionary to the Auca Indians. Do you remember what a missionary is? A missionary is someone who goes to another place to tell other people about Jesus.

Jonathan pulled out his bow, put an arrow in it and let it fly. The arrow

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While in Ecuador, Jim married Elisabeth. Together, they had a desire to reach the Auca Indians, who had never heard of Jesus. Plans were made with other missionaries to try and befriend the Aucas. They started out by dropping gifts from an airplane as it would fly over a village. Finally, they decided to go into the area where the Aucas lived. Jim and four other missionaries landed on a beach. They were able to make some friendly contacts with some of the Indians in the first few days. Then after two days, the five men were attacked and killed with spears. All the years of work preparing to be a missionary and all the time spent befriending the Indians might have seemed wasted to some people. But God is sovereign. Out of this horrible event, some wonderful things happened. Life magazine carried the story in their magazine. Millions of people read about Jim Elliott and the other missionaries. They learned of the missionaries’ love for God and their desire that others might know Him. Because of this, many people became interested in being missionaries. But the most amazing thing that came of this was that many of the Indians later came to know Christ. Jim’s wife, Elisabeth, took her young daughter and went to live among the Indians. She was able to complete the work that her husband had started. God is in control. Many people must have looked at this situation and thought it was hopeless. But God brings good things from bad.

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Week 4 ” God is in control

Time Stretchers Craft Cup-N-Bead Game Supplies ƒ Small bathroom cups (Dixie cups) ƒ Ribbon ƒ Tape ƒ Twenty inch ribbon or string ƒ Large bead ƒ Scissors ƒ Markers or other items to decorate cups Decorate cups with markers or other items. Cut a small x in the bottom of the cup. String the ribbon through the cut and tie a knot in the ribbon inside the cup. On the other end of the ribbon, string the bead and tie a knot to secure it on the ribbon. Toss the bead into the air, trying to catch it in the cup. The bead looks like it is out of control; however, the ribbon keeps it within reach of the cup. God works on us the same way. We often do not seem to land where He wants us to land. However, He is still in control, hanging on to us and not letting us wander far.

Memory Verse I know that You can do all things and that no thought or purpose of Yours can be restrained. Job 42:2 (Amp)

Cut apart the pieces of paper. Lay them down on the floor. Let the kids take turns taking a straw, placing it on top of a paper and inhaling. Being careful to control their breathing, they must pick up the paper and place it in their hand. When all the pieces are collected, work together to put the verse in order.

Game Maze Supplies ƒ Masking tape Make a complicated maze on the floor with masking tape before the children arrive. Let the children take turns trying to figure out the maze. Often our lives seem like the maze. It may seem hard to know which way to go. But even when we are in the middle of what may seem like an impossible situation, God is still in control. He can see the whole “maze” and knows which way we need to go. He knows where the beginning is and where the end is. We just need to pray and listen closely to Him. He will always guide us.

Supplies ƒ Drinking straw for each child ƒ Copy of verse words (page 10)

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God is in control ” Week 4

Snack Marshmallow Towers Supplies ƒ Miniature marshmallows ƒ Paper plates Give each child a handful of marshmallows. Let them try to build towers with the marshmallows on their plates. Discuss how the towers toppled as they were being built and how it was hard to control the tower of marshmallows. Compare this to how God is always in control.

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Week 4 ” God is in control

Dr. Beaker M&Ms are seen flying through the air. Have someone in a hidden place throwing the M&Ms. Dr. Beaker appears looking harried and worn out. Stop it! Erlenmeyer and Dynamo. Stop it, I say. (M&Ms stop flying about.) Thank you. I have asked those two to stop having M&M wars in the lab. But, they just don’t listen very well. If an M&M were to get in the wrong place, it could mean disaster. Just think what it would do to a highly sensitive experiment. Just think what it could mean to a piece of equipment. Why, my scientist friend at NASA told me that the astronauts had to stop taking M&Ms into space because they would let them float about. The M&Ms were getting lodged in the consoles, which could have caused some major problems. All of these problems make me think of my experiment. I am exploring the characteristic of sovereign. My best scientific definition of sovereign: Sovereign means to have complete control of something. Ha! I definitely do not have control of my lab. (Another M&M flies through the air, hitting Dr. Beaker if possible) Erlenmeyer and Dynamo, that is enough. It is time for me to take control of this lab! (Dr. Beaker goes marching off in a huff.)

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God is in control ” Week 4

Memory Verse Cards

I

know

that

you

can

do all

things

and that

no

thought

or purpose

of yours

can

be

restrained

Job 42:22

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Week 4 ” God is in control

Together Time God is Sovereign Bible Point God is in control

Bible Verse I know that You can do all things, and that no thought or purpose of Yours can be restrained.. Job 42:2 (Amp)

Bible Passage Psalm 18 I Samuel 19

Discussion How does it help you feel to know that God is in control? Share with the family a time when you knew you were not in control of something and it made you feel nervous. How could you have trusted God more during that time?

Family Fun Play King of the Hill. Have one member of the family stand on something soft (like a stack of pillows). All members of the family try to pull the king off the hill.

When we say that God is sovereign, we mean that he has control over the entire universe. He has absolute authority. When we realize that God is in control, it frees us to trust Him and the fact that He has the right to plan our lives. 11 It frees us from worries.

God is in control ” Week 4 This page is intentionally blank

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God is…

God is Sovereign Definition of Sovereign: Complete Control of Something

Lab Demonstration

Lab Time! Be safe and follow all instructions. Dr. Beaker

Lab Time!

Bible Story

Bible Story

“I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.” Psalm 18:1-3

“Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O Lord; I will sing praises to your name. He gives his king great victories; He shows unfailing kindness to His anointed, to David and his descendants forever.” Psalm 18:49-50

Kaboom! Lesson 4

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Bible Story

Bible Story

Jim Elliot Missionary to Ecuador

God is…

Kaboom! Lesson 4

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