Monday, 30 November 2015

Teaching Daniel 12

3-5s

Theme: Keep trusting God
Aim: That they see the example of Daniel who kept trusting God even through difficult times.

Intro:
Colouring/painting some pictures from the earlier stories - we'll use these to teach and remind them

Teaching:
[Much of this is a recap session - but using Daniel as an example of 12:13, 'But go your way till the end.']

Do you remember we have been looking at Daniel's dreams? Can you remember what we've seen? [recap from chapter 8 and remind them, particularly of the man in linen from chapter 10]

But what was Daniel to do? Well, there's one last bit of his dream: he sees two angels on either side of a river [set out blue paper and put an angel on either side]. And they asked the man in linen (Jesus), 'How long is it going to be?'

Daniel heard the answer but didn't understand. And nor do I! So he asked, 'What's going to happen?'

He was told that it would be hard trusting God, but to keep going.

That's just what Daniel had been doing. Do you remember the story of ... [use their paintings to illustrate Daniel and his friends trusting God even when it was hard and scary. Re-tell stories they have forgotten from a children's Bible, or just their favourites.]

We, too, should listen to Jesus as Daniel did and trust that God is in charge always. We should trust Him and put God first, too.

Craft:
  • Stick pictures from all the earlier stories - see if they can tell you about them
  • Paint a river and stick on angels and the man in linen

Songs:

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5-11s

Theme: Keep living trusting God because He is in control and we don't know when the end is.
Aim: That they see Daniel as an example of keeping trusting God

Intro:
Action game - like Captain's coming but shouting out actions of 'Storm', 'Earthquake', etc. and give them actions of how to respond if they know that thing is coming. 'What should we do if we know that Jesus is coming back?'

Teaching:
Recap all of Daniel - particularly last week and the man in linen (Jesus)

[set out a river with blue cloth and have one dressed in linen. Set out the two angels either side and have the angel asking the question of v6]

That's a good question! When's it all going to happen, all this stuff we've heard about a terrible time and people rising from the dead to go to be with God forever? What do you think the answer will be? take suggestions

Here is the answer Jesus gives: have a child read 12v7b

Does that help you? Probably not. It didn't help Daniel. have a Daniel read v8

Again, its a fair question from Daniel. So what is Jesus going to say?

Man in linen reads v9-12. In other words, Jesus is just saying, 'Things will carry on as they are now. Some people will trust me, some people will be wicked. Normal life will carry on through all of this and so should you.'

Man in linen reads v13. Daniel is just to carry on trusting God and waiting. He is just to carry on his life as he has been.

[Bring back pictures of chapters 1-6] How did Daniel trust God through horrible times here? [Do for each story]

Daniel was just to keep faithfully serving God wherever he ended up.

And the same is true of us today. We have an amazing future ahead of us if we trust in Jesus. We have a God who is in charge of all things now. We've seen that each week. But that means we carry on trusting Jesus in the normal things we do.

So we go to school [hold up picture]. How should we behave? We should trust God [talk about what that might mean]

We go playing or swimming or scouts [hold up picture]. How should we behave? We should trust God [talk about what that might mean]

We're at home with our mums and dads [hold up picture]. How should we behave?  We should trust God [talk about what that might mean]

Etc.

Pray

Table Time:
Knowledge
  • Who did Daniel see?
  • What was Daniel told?
Understanding
  • How was Daniel to carry on living?
  • What has been your favourite story from Daniel?
  • How has it shown Daniel quietly trusting God?
Application
  • What does this mean for you in school/home/play?

Pray for the suffering church
Memory verse


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