Lesson 3 : The Laws of God
Lesson 3 : The Laws of God
Bible Story : The Ten Commandments
Bible Scriptures: Exodus 19:1-24; 20:1-17.
Objective : To teach children that God gave Moses the Ten Commandments to
show people everywhere how to worship and serve Him.
Memory Verse : Exodus 19:5 “Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own people”
Introduction
Talk about rules. The children should be able to tell you about their school rules. Why do we have rules? One answer is to help us to live together in peace.
Tell the Story
Tell the bible story in your own words and by showing pictures.
Place the wordstrip “Loss of Freedom—Unhappiness” on one wall of the classroom and the wordstrip “Freedom—Happiness” on the other. Explain that although Satan often makes it look like fun to break the commandments, all the choices we make have consequences. When people follow Satan’s plan, at first it seems to give them more freedom. But as they continue to make wrong choices, the consequences begin to bind them. For example, if people lie and cheat, they are not worthy to be in the presence of God. People who choose to keep the commandments may at first feel restricted. But as they continue to make right choices, their lives begin to open up to greater freedoms.
Main Points of the Lesson
(Teacher should concentrate on one or two truths in this lesson so that children steadily come to know more about God)
- Moses was leading a large number of people in the desert and they needed some rules to show them how to live together and most of all how to serve God. Three months after the Israelites left Egypt, they came near a mountain called Sinai in the desert. God spoke to Moses there and gave him a promise.
- God said He would show Himself to the people but they had to prepare themselves first, 19:9-12.
- God called Moses to the mountain and gave him the Ten Commandments which were written on large stones. These are the laws God gave Moses.
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- Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
- Do not worship anything or anyone else.
- Do not use God’s name for any evil purposes.
- Remember to keep the Sabbath day holy.
- Honour your father and mother.
- Do not commit murder.
- Do not commit adultery.
- Do not steal.
- Do not lie.
- Do not be greedy for other peoples’ belongings.
Our Response to the Story
LOOK
Take one or two of these commands and explain what they mean. Commandments number 5, 8, 9 or 10, could be demonstrated easily. Explain that although God gave them to the Israelites, they still tell us today how to serve God and the people around us.
LISTEN
It makes God sad when we disobey Him, so when we make a mistake we need to say sorry to God and to the person you’ve wronged. Then, pray to God and ask His forgiveness and do your very best not to do it again.
LIVE
The rules are there to help us and make our lives easier. God loves us so He gives us rules, and they will help us to love God and others if we obey them.
Game/Activity
LIMBO
Use a broomstick and let the children line up and go under the stick. No bending forward! Move the stick lower and lower, making it harder to pass under it. This can demonstrate the difference between the world’s standard (easy) and God’s standard (impossible). With the stick very close to the ground, it is impossible for us to go under it, just like it is impossible to keep all the commandments, even though we try with all of our might. We need the help of Jesus to do the things God has commanded us to do. God will enable us to do what He wants us to do.
Prayer Time & Wrap-Up
Lead the children in a prayer of thanksgiving for His commandments and His help to keep them.
