INTRODUCTION

God Gives the Ten Commandments (Part 1)

Bible Point:

Obey God.

Key Verse:

“You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3).

Big Picture:

Children will show their love for God by following God’s rules.

God Gives the Ten Commandments (Part 1)

Exodus 19:16–20:21

Children are taught rules from infancy. Your 5- and 6-year-olds are beginning to understand that rules are good and useful. When kids are told the “why” behind a rule, they tend to be more willing to cooperate. Obeying rules is one way children can show their love for God. Use this lesson to help kids see that God’s rules are good for us and not stifling, as we often may think.

BIBLE TIME!

This week the Bible (Exodus 19:16–20:21) tells us that Moses received the Ten Commandments when God called him up to Mount Sinai. Your child learned that God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses and the Israelites because God loves us and wants us to live happy lives. By following the Ten Commandments, we can show God that we love him.

KEY VERSE

“Have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3).

BIBLE POINT

Obey God.

PLAY AND PRAY

Plan a day when you can take your child hiking if there are mountains or hills nearby. Explain that Moses went up a very high mountain to receive the Ten Commandments. Tell your child that we no longer have to go up to the mountains to receive rules from God because the rules are already written down in the Bible. Read aloud the Ten Commandments from a children’s Bible.

ASK

• What’s one good rule you can remember?

• How does it help us to follow God’s rules?

FAITHFUL FLAVORS

Let your child create a stone tablet similar to one the Ten Commandments were written on. Help your child make art dough by mixing 1 cup flour, 1/4 cup salt, and 1/3 cup warm water together in a large bowl. Knead the dough for 10 minutes and then let your child create his or her own stone tablet. Give your child a pencil to scratch a picture or words into the dough. When the creation is complete, bake at 300 degrees until hard, or air-dry the creation on wax paper for several days until it’s hard. Remind your child that God gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments because God loved them.

(From a recipe in Mudworks by MaryAnn F. Kohl, Bright Ring Publishing, Inc., 1989.)

READY, SET, GROW!

This week your child learned that we obey God. Your child committed to one of the following challenges to remember that he or she can obey God. Help your child weave faith into life this week and follow through on the challenge!

1. Do something kind for someone in your family, and talk with that person about how kindness is one way to be obedient to God.

2. Obey your mom or dad with a cheerful heart and no complaining when she or he asks you to do something.

3. Draw a picture of Jesus and you together doing a favorite activity. Hang it on the fridge. Tell your parents or caregivers how God is everywhere and God can help you obey these good rules.