Patience • Waiting Until Later for What You Want Now
March 2021 • Week 2
Today's Bible story: Sitting, Waiting, Wishing (Golden Calf) • Exodus 32:1-35
Monthly memory verse: Wait for the Lord. Be strong and don't lose hope. Wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14 (NIrV)
Life Application: Patience-Waiting until later for what you want now
Suggested songs: "King of My Heart", "Yes and Amen" and "Oceans"
Praise & Pray: Sing along with the provided worship videos and pray. Access Songs Here.
What you might pray: "Dear God, waiting can be hard. Help me to understand that when I am waiting instead of getting frustrated that I can remember all the love you have shown me. In Jesus' name I pray, amen."
Read God's Word together: Exodus 32:1-35 (Need a kid-friendly Bible? Check out our suggestions.)
Family Devotional & Discussion
What you do: Watch the complementary video together as a family and discuss today's question.
What you discuss: "Impatience can have consequences. As soon as the Israelites had to wait on God they turned their back on God. They forgot what was true. They forgot the miracles of how God had provided for them. They forgot how God had loved them so much he rescued them from slavery. We should always be reminding ourselves of how good and powerful God is. What can you think about when it is hard to wait?"
Bible Story Review
What you need: Bible
What you do: Hand out Bibles and ask kids / family members to open to Exodus 32:1-35 and read together.
What you say and questions to ask:
- Why did the Israelites want Aaron to make a god for them to worship? (They didn't think Moses was ever coming back and wanted a god to take care of them and lead them out of the desert.)
- What is a mediator? (Someone who stands in the middle and speaks on behalf of one group to another.)
- How was Moses the mediator for Israel? (He spoke to God on behalf of the Israelites so that God wouldn't destroy them.)
- How did God show mercy on the Israelites? (He didn't destroy them when they sinned.)
- If you had been on the scene when the Israelites started planning the golden calf construction project, what could you have said to help them go back to what was true and do the right thing?
- What do you think are some of the best reasons to be patient?
- What are some things you believe, without a doubt, to be true about God?
- What can you think about when it's hard to wait?
- When you're in a tough situation and you have to wait for answers-like when a family member is sick or when a parent loses a job-how does it help you to know that God keeps His promises, loves you, has a plan for you, etc.?
Pray and bless your family
What you need: Paper and pencil (Classroom:Whiteboard and whiteboard marker)
What you do: Ask for prayer requests
- Ask the kids:
- Do you remember what the Israelites did when they were waiting on Moses?
- Do you think they remembered what was true?
- What is something you know that is true about God? Write down children's responses.
- Wrap up by praying and thanking God for the truths on the list.
What you might pray: "Dear God, in this season of Covid where we experienced a lot of waiting, there are times when we just wish we didn't have to wait. We thank You for teaching us today that [Bottom Line] when you have to wait, remember what's true. Each time we need to be patient this week, help us focus on the things we know are true about You, like (insert a few of the truths that kids wrote on the white board)! Thank You for helping us stay strong and trust You in the waiting. Pray for prayer requests. We love You! In Jesus' name, amen!"
Additional Activities
What you need: Prepared "Red Light, Green Light Signs" Activity Pages (DOWNLOAD HERE), music, music player
What you do: Mark a start line on the floor.
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- Instruct the kids / family members to stand behind the tape line, spacing themselves out as much as possible.
- About 25-30 feet away (if possible), tape a finish line.
- Explain that you will play a special edition of "Red Light, Green Light" with music.
- Stand at the finish line and instruct the kids / family members to dance toward you when you show the "Green Light" sign.
- Tell the kids / family members that they must stop/freeze when you hold up the "Red Light" sign.
- Explain that if they get caught moving on a red light, they have to go back to the beginning AND share something about God that they know is true.
- If you find that the kids / family members aren't going back to the beginning, move the signs more rapidly to catch the kids off guard.
- Here are some examples of things that are true about God:
- God loves us.
- He sent Jesus for us.
- God always keeps His promises.
- We can talk to God any time.
- I can trust God, no matter what.
- God is always with me.
- When a kid / family member shares a truth, respond by saying, [Bottom Line] "when you have to wait, remember what's true."
- Continue until you have a winner.
- Play again as time allows.
- Classroom Adaptation: The red light green light signs will be uploaded on Pro Presenter.
- Kids will stand and dance staying on their 'X'.
- When the red light is shown, kids must stop/freeze.
- Explain that if a kid gets caught moving on a red light, they will need to sit down on their 'X' AND share something about God that they know is true.
- If you find that the kids aren't getting caught moving on a red light, move the signs more rapidly to catch the kids off guard.
- Repeat the game until you have a winner or as long as interest allows.
What you say: "What are some of the things we said are true about God? (Pause for responses.) Right! [Bottom Line] When you have to wait, remember what's true. It's not always easy to wait-and sometimes it might feel like God has forgotten about what you're waiting on, but that's why we need to focus on what's true. When we remember what is true about God-that He loves us, that He always keeps His promises, He is always with us-it will help us trust Him while we wait!"
What you need: "De-Coded" and "Code Cards" Activity Page (DOWNLOAD HERE)
Parents, please note there are 2 versions of the De-Coded activity page. One version is using the NIrV Bible and the second version available is using the NIV Bible, Bibles, pencils, clipboards
What you do:
Pass out a "De-coded" half page, the "Code Card", and a pencil, and a clipboard to each kid.
- Instruct kids / family members to use the 'Code Card' to fill in the blanks on their paper by matching the number below the blank with the letter associated with it on the code.
- For example, 12 = W. Anywhere there's a 12 under a blank, they should write "W" in the blank.
- When each kid / family member is finished, hand them a Bible to check if they cracked the code correctly.
What you say: "Let's look at our codes and read the verse together. Ready? (Read the verse out loud with the kids.) Great! Let's do it one more time. (Read the verse out loud with the kids.) The verse is clear: God wants us to wait for Him! [Bottom Line] When you have to wait, remember what's true." [Make it Personal] (Tell your group about a time you had to wait for the Lord.)