Directions:
Hi Parents, this week’s online lesson is the first of more self-directed lessons. Where you can engage in the lesson and go through it with your children in whatever way you would enjoy for your family.
There is also a shoutout from me (Joelle) and the talk-about it video as well as the music videos your children hopefully love to sing along with!
Watch and Worship Together
Watch: Good in Every Way
No Not One
I’m Trusting You
Shoutout from Joelle
Kid’s Sunday Lesson
Open a Bible to Genesis 21, and say: It’s great when people are kind to us. But did you know God is kind, too? In fact, his kindness is greater than any of the kind things you just shared about! Let’s look at one example in the Bible of when God showed kindness to some very sad people. The Bible is one example of God’s kindness—he gave us his own words for us to read! That means the Bible is true, and we can read it to hear from God. Let’s start by talking with God. (Pray as a family).
Talk About it Video & Questions:
Say: We’re learning that God is kind. One way we often see God’s kindness is through people he puts in our lives.
Ask: Tell about a person you know who has shown you God’s kindness. Share your own example first.
Say: Let’s see how a group of teenagers got to see God’s kindness in action—and be a part of showing God’s kindness to others.
Watch: https://vimeo.com/showcase/6827563/video/415792073
Ask: • What were some of the kind things you noticed in this video?
• Why do you think God often shows his kindness through people?
Say: God is kind. In our Bible story, God showed his kindness to Hagar by sending an angel to comfort her and provide for her. Sometimes God shows his kindness by asking people to do things like that for each other! Just think, you could be a part of someone experiencing God’s kindness!
Say: Today’s story begins with someone going through a hard time. Let’s experience some of the struggles she felt.
Give each child an ice cube. Invite kids to hold their ice cubes with their arms lifted over their heads and stand on one foot as you continue.
Say: Our story is about Hagar and her son, Ishmael. Hagar was a servant in Abraham and Sarah’s house. But Sarah didn’t like Hagar. Ishmael even made fun of Sarah’s son, Isaac.
Ask: • Tell about a time someone hurt your feelings by making fun of you. Share your own example first.
Say: It must’ve been hard for Hagar to see her son being a bully and making fun of someone. No mother wants to see her child be a bully!
But then things got worse.
Read Genesis 21:9-10.
Say: Hagar was being kicked out of her home, rejected by the people she’d spent many years serving. That must’ve been hard, too!
Ask: • Tell about a time you felt rejected or not included. Share your own example first. After a few kids have shared, check in with kids about how they’re feeling with the ice cubes and the awkward position. Then continue.
Say: Emotionally, Hagar was having a hard time. But then when she got kicked out of her home, she had a hard time physically! She had to wander around in the desert with no real place to go. Eventually, she ran out of water. Hagar was worried Ishmael would die.
Read Genesis 21:15-16. Tell about a time you worried about someone, like Hagar worried about Ishmael.
Ask: • Tell about a time you worried about someone else.
Say: Hagar felt hurt, tired, worried, thirsty, and hungry. Plus, she was hopeless! She gave up. But God is kind, and something good happened next.
Read Genesis 21:17-18
Say: God is kind, and he sent an angel to bring Hagar and Ishmael comfort.
Go around and collect the ice cubes, and allow kids to stand normally and stop raising their hands.
Receive Comfort
Say: You just had to stand uncomfortably and hold a cold ice cube for a long time!
Ask: • How did you feel during that experience?
Say: Sometimes life is hard. It can be [use some of the words kids used to describe how they felt]. That was the case for Hagar! But God is kind, and he comforted Hagar. So now it’s time for you to find some comfort.
Set out blankets and pillows, and let kids get comfortable. (Don’t have anything that soft? At least let kids sit in chairs in a comfortable position.)
Say: God brought Hagar comfort. And he also provided for her.Read Genesis 21:19.Distribute snacks and water, and let kids eat.
Ask: • How do you feel now that you have food, water, and a comfortable place to sit?
• How does that remind you of what Hagar experienced?
Say: When life is hard, we can remember that God is kind. He’s with us, and he wants to bring us comfort. Hagar and Ishmael didn’t get to return home, but everything worked out okay for them.
Read Genesis 21:20-21.
Receive Hope
Say: God not only provided for Hagar and Ishmael’s physical needs but also brought them hope. I want to do that for you as you finish your snack. I’m going to read some Bible verses that bring hope. Listen for the one that’s especially meaningful to you. Pause briefly for reflection after each verse below.
Read Jeremiah 29:11: “ ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’ ”
Read Romans 8:28: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
Read the second part of Hebrews 13:5: “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
Read Ephesians 1:3: “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.”
Read Philippians 4:13: “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
Read 2 Corinthians 1:3: “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.”
Ask: • Which of these Bible verses is the most meaningful to you? Don’t expect kids to know references or have verses memorized, but encourage kids to paraphrase words that stood out to them. Then you can tell them which reference those words came from if they want to write it down and look it up later.
Say: God is kind. He can comfort us through the Bible, just as he comforted Hagar by sending an angel. When life is hard and uncomfortable for us, God is there, showing us his kindness and helping us get through the hard times.