by Noni McVey INTRODUCTION 2 PREPARATION 5 DISCIPLINE 7 THE STORYTELLER 9 SONGS 11 GAMES 12 LESSON 1: BELT OF TRUTH ZACCHAEUS 14 CRAFTS 16 ACTIVITY PAGES 17-20 LESSON 2: BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS GOOD SAMARITAN 21 CRAFTS 23 ACTIVITY PAGES 24-28 LESSON 3: FEET SHOD WITH THE GOSPEL OF PEACE WIDOW’S OIL 29 CRAFTS 31-33 ACTIVITY PAGES 34-38 LESSON 4: HELMET OF SALVATION & SHIELD OF FAITH FAITH OF A CENTURION 39 CRAFTS 41-43 ACTIVITY PAGES 44-47 LESSON 5: SWORD OF THE SPIRIT THE APOSTLES PERSECUTED 48 CRAFTS 50-52 ACTIVITY PAGES 53-56 LESSON 6: PRAYER & SUPPLICATION HANNAH’S SPECIAL PRAYER 57 CRAFTS 59 ACTIVITY PAGES 60-63 The book of Ephesians is a letter that WHERE DOES GOD TELL US ABOUT HIS was written by Paul and sent to the ARMOR? church at Ephesus. In this letter Paul God tells us about His armor in Ephesians does not confront a problem but rather 6:10-20. A Christian is to “be strong in the describes the wonderful gifts we all Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full have received through Christ. He refers armor of God so that you can take your stand to the church as a body, temple, bride against the devil’s schemes” (verses 10, 11). and soldier. All of his examples paint a picture of a church that is driven and WHY DOES A CHRISTIAN NEED ARMOR? united in purpose because each member Satan is a powerful being. Satan cannot be is doing his or her part to bring about in more than one place at a time, but he has a strong and united church. He con- demons to help him out. Satan is a strong cludes his letter with a warning about enemy that is a lot more powerful than you our most dangerous enemy, Satan. He and I. The good news is that he is not greater is dangerous to us individually and as a or more powerful than God. God’s way is the church. Satan is focused on destroying only way we will defeat our enemy, Satan. We the church, the individual and family. are soldiers in God’s army. We are not fighting God has not left us ill equipped. He has against “flesh and blood” but “against the rul- provided us with His armor. “Put on the ers, against the authorities, against the pow- full armor of God so that you can take ers of this dark world and against the spiritual your stand against the devil’s schemes” forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (verse (Ephesians 6:11). Putting this armor on 12). The only way we can win the battle not only protects us as individuals, but against Satan is if we do what our also as a church family. Commander-in-Chief tells us to do. God has provided each of us with our own special DESCRIBE WHAT ARMOR IS armor that will protect us and when used cor- To begin your class, ask your students what rectly we will defeat our enemy, Satan. armor looks like. Armor is a protective cover- ing. There are several professions that wear WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO DO WITH special coverings such as astronauts, deep- THE ARMOR? sea divers and football players. Explain to God says in verse 13 that He wants you to your students that during New Testament “put on the full armor of God.” He doesn’t times Roman soldiers wore special protection want you to use just a part of the armor, but when going into battle. In Ephesians 6 Paul, all of the armor. He has made you responsible the writer of the book, uses the Roman for putting it on and using it. God has made soldier’s armor as an object lesson. During you a promise--if you put His armor on each the Feast of Tabernacles, we are going to day when evil comes “you may be able to come to a greater understanding of how the stand your ground” (verse 13). armor God provides for us to stand against our enemy— Satan. 2 THE ARMOR OF GOD INTRODUCTION WHAT DOES GOD’S ARMOR LOOK LIKE? cept Jesus Christ as your personal savior. God Since God has given us the command to take forgives you of your sins (Ephesians up His armor, we need to know what that 4:32). God graciously credits you with righ- armor looks like. As spiritual armor cannot be teousness because Jesus sacrificed His life for seen, the apostle Paul compared each piece yours. “God made Him who had no sin to be of God’s armor with the armor a Roman sol- sin for us, so that in Him we might become dier would wear. the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). You put on the breastplate of righ- BELT OF TRUTH teousness when you live your life right before A Roman soldier would wear a wide strong God. God made us with the ability to choose belt around his middle. This belt would pro- between right and wrong. When you choose tect his vital organs and it provided a way to to tell the truth and not lie, to be kind and keep the other parts of his armor in place. not hateful, to obey and not disobey, you are Knowing that his armor was secure the soldier choosing the right way of life that protects could move with confidence. The Chris- your heart with the Breastplate of Righteous- tian puts on the Belt of Truth by attending ness. church, Bible School, studying his Bible daily and memorizing scripture. When faced to do FEET SHOD WITH THE GOSPEL OF battle with Satan you are confident that God PEACE will be with you. Why? Because you know If your feet hurt, it is difficult to walk or run, what the Bible says in Hebrews 13:5, “Never let alone go into battle. A Roman soldier will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” You wore shoes different than the ones we wear know God loves you, John 3:16, “For God today. When a soldier went into battle it was so loved the world that He gave His one and important that his shoes were not slippery. A only Son…” God has also promised victory, I Roman soldier wore shoes made of leather Corinthians 15:57, “But thanks be to God! He with hobnails in the soles. The hobnails would gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus secure the soldier to the ground and stop Christ.” Another way to put on the Belt of him from slipping. The Christian puts on the Truth is to be honest and truthful. Satan is a shoes of the Gospel of Peace by praying each liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). When day and asking for God’s peace. The Bible you obey God and do all of the above, you says, “He [Jesus] is our peace” (Ephesians are becoming like Jesus Christ. When you are 2:14). We gain this peace by accepting Jesus tempted to lie, turn to Christ for help. Christ is as our savior and accepting His gift of salva- the way to truth (John 14:6). He will protect tion. “Therefore, since we have been justi- you if you ask. fied through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…” (Romans BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS 5:1). As you walk through each day, real- A Roman soldier’s breastplate would cover ize that God loves you and all people. You him from his neck to his waist both front and will walk in peace when you do your best to back. It was usually made of leather coated be kind and loving to your brother. “Do not with a thin layer of metal for added protec- let any unwholesome talk come out of your tion. Some soldiers would wear a square mouths, but only what is helpful for build- piece of bronze over the chest and under the ing others up according to their needs, that leather coat as a heart guard. Just as the Ro- it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians man soldier needed to protect his heart, you 4:29). You will be walking in peace by doing too need to and you do this through righ- all of these things because you will be putting teousness. Jesus in your life. The Bible says “there is no one righteous, not SHIELD OF FAITH even one” (Romans 3:10). “All have sinned A Roman soldier’s shield was either made of and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans wickerwork (flexible thin twigs woven to- 3:23). The good news is that God no longer gether) or leather stretched over a wooden looks down on you as a sinner when you ac- frame. The shield would give him protection 3 THE ARMOR OF GOD INTRODUCTION from his enemies’ arrows. Knowing the shield SWORD OF THE SPIRIT was made of wood, the enemy would often A Roman soldier’s sword was normally a long set his arrows on fire before shooting them. broad knife with a handle. Some swords were The Roman soldier would soak his shield in sharp on both sides while others only on one water before going into battle to stop it from side. They were carried in a sheath on the left catching on fire. Shields were also made with side. The more a soldier used his sword, the hooks on the side. Soldiers could line up and more frequently he would need to sharpen it. hook their shields together to make a wall of protection. Our sword is the Word of God. Unlike the Ro- man soldier’s sword that becomes dull with Satan throws fiery arrows and darts at us use, our sword becomes sharper and more through temptations, insults and desires of effective as it is used. We keep our sword the flesh. You put on your shield of faith by sharp when we study the Word of God and never doubting God, trusting Him completely. memorize scripture. When you memorize You must believe that God is able to work scriptures, they become a powerful weapon problems out for you and that He loves you against Satan when he attempts to tempt you and is always with you. You hold up your with wrong thoughts or actions. “All Scripture shield of faith by doing what is right and is God breathed and is useful for teaching, standing up for what you believe God wants rebuking, correcting and training in righteous- you to do even when you have doubts. When ness” (2 Timothy 3:16). The last important you are weak or waver, lock arms with your part to our armor is… Christian friends. “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION faithful. And let us consider how we may spur A Roman soldier would always keep in con- one another on toward love and good deeds” stant contact with his commander. This is (Hebrews 10:23, 24). especially true when a soldier is in battle. As a soldier in God’s army, you need to keep HELMET OF SALVATION in constant contact with your Command- A Roman soldier would wear a helmet to pro- ers— God the Father and Jesus Christ. They tect his head. In New Testament times, sol- are your spiritual leaders. You keep in contact diers’ helmets were made of bronze. In order by praying daily. to protect your head, you must put the things of God inside and allow good thoughts to con- trol the way you think. Satan wants to attack your mind so that he may lead you astray. Jesus paid the punishment for sin Romans 8:1. Jesus is there for you to have power over sin, “I can do everything through him [Jesus] who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13) You put on the helmet of salvation when you are careful about what you allow to enter your mind. Another way to put on the helmet of salvation is to appreciate the gift of salva- tion that God and Jesus Christ have given you. Believe and have confidence that you will be delivered from sin and protected from the enemy Satan. “Since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet” (2 Thessalonians 5:8). You now have all the armor of God on. What is needed next is the tool to fight Satan with. 4 During the Feast of Tabernacles, you will have Knowing the Word does not automatically the privilege of leading your students to a bring about living the truth. We must be obe- greater understanding of what it means to dient to what God has revealed to us through put on the whole armor of God. While God’s His Word. armor is spiritual, Paul has made our job easy by comparing it to the armor of a Roman Your job here at the Feast is to do more than soldier. just teach Biblical information, facts and help your students memorize scripture. It is im- Why do we take the time to teach our chil- portant you help your students understand dren God’s Word at the Feast of Tabernacles? how what they are learning here at the Feast The answer is that we desire them to walk applies to their lives. Do not stress perfect in obedience to God with the ultimate goal recitation of scripture, but rather help your of them receiving the gift of eternal life in students to comprehend the meaning of scrip- God’s family and Kingdom. To reach that goal ture and explore how it applies to their life. we must teach and rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us and those we teach. We want our students to realize that the Word of God is to be lived. They must know that As your students are learning about the armor the Bible is not just about memorizing facts of God, they will also be instructed about the and information, but it is the truth that they gift of salvation and how understanding and should be living. applying scripture in their life is of vital impor- tance. The Feast of Tabernacles is a perfect You need to have the freedom to develop and time to teach that salvation is the means by create your lessons to meet the real needs which God, through Christ, saves man from of your students. The Word of God must be the penalty of sin and gives him eternal life. communicated at the level of the students’ This is so because this festival analogously understanding. Activities and experiences acts out the Millennium. It is a time when the need to be incorporated to encourage them to source of evil, Satan, will not be around. live God’s way in their daily lives. The great truth that we want our students to This Festival Planner has been designed to grasp at the Feast of Tabernacles is that God help you, the teacher. Use the materials in does indeed speak to us through His Word. this book to give you creative ideas and guid- The Bible is the inspired Word of God and ance. We pray that the tools we’ve provided there are no errors. In addition, if God is to will help make your ministry effective to the be known as our loving Heavenly Father, we children in our church. must know His Word. However, just knowing His Word is not enough. 5 THE ARMOR OF GOD PREPARATION HOW TO USE There are six lessons provided for the Feast. As you prepare for Sabbath school, go to God Prior to the Feast of Tabernacles read the in prayer, asking He prepare your heart and lessons, go over the activity pages and craft mind. The children you’ve been entrusted ideas. to teach are waiting to hear about God from you. As in past years, it is our prayer that we have a different teacher each day. With six teach- ers, no one person is sacrificing the oppor- tunity to hear the sermon and participate in worship service. Once everyone has chosen a day to teach and you know the lesson you are responsible for, choose the craft project(s) and go shopping for the supplies. The more you prepare, the greater success you will have. Since we do not know how many children will attend Sabbath school at the Feast, it is best to prepare for a greater number of students. In order to save time, activities that require using scissors to cut out shapes should be done in advance. Once again, this depends on the age of your students. The crafts are an important part of the teaching process and the children really enjoy the craft time. The crafts help you guide your students in making abstract ideas such as trust, faith, love and obedience concrete. All the activity pages are in the Planner. I will provide copies for each of the lessons so there is no need for you to make copies of the activity pages. The activity pages contain puzzles, coloring pages and activities that cover the armor of God. Emphasize with your students they are expected to bring their Bible to class each day. Basic supplies, such as; paper, construction paper, crayons, felt tip pens, pencils, scissors and glue will be available for your use with your students. Do not get discouraged if everything you do isn’t a success. We, as teachers, are work- ing toward being mature and complete. You will reach your highest potential as a teacher when you teach by example. Let your love for God, your Christian joy and your worshipful attitude inspire your students and help them joyfully worship and experience the love of God. 6 As we teach our children about the things of brews 12:5-11. When God disciplines, He is God we can help them become aware of the always motivated by love. His purpose in cor- foundation of godly behavior. We can prevent rection is to develop self-motivated obedience confusion and frustration by helping them and righteousness. understand what God requires of us. The first step is that they need to know the rules. In new situations children are not always sure about what is expected of them. Knowing A frequently asked question is, “how do you what they should do gives them a sense of handle discipline problems in the classroom?” security. There are times children just forget This is an important question to answer the boundaries and there are other times they because the teaching and learning process will completely ignore the boundaries. As a can be greatly hindered when member(s) of teacher, you need to be aware of why your a class are out of control. To begin, you need students are stepping outside the rules and to have a clear understanding about the dif- deal with the situation accordingly. ference between discipline and punishment. Next, you need to have a set of rules that you Fortunately, God keeps the rules pretty sim- have gone over with your students and that ple—love Him, love others. He not only gives they understand. this code of conduct (the Ten Command- ments), but He will help the humble heart The purpose of discipline is to help the stu- to understand that His commandments are dent develop self-control and grow in Chris- genuinely holy, just and good—just like Him. tian maturity. In order for discipline to work, the student needs to have a positive attitude It is important you be firm with your students, toward the rules and the standard of conduct not harsh. You do not want to appear to be that is expected of him. Eventually the exter- unkind or unloving toward any of your stu- nal controls put on the student are replaced dents. It will be impossible for you to com- with inner controls because the student has municate God’s love if you do not love your internalized the values and standards. students. The purpose of punishment is that a child Children want to know the rules and they do suffers the consequences for wrong behavior. respect and enjoy the security rules provide. This is not the same as discipline. Discipline The rules may be effectively communicated is used to conquer rebellion and bring a child by the inflection in your voice. Shouting is to the point of submitting to the rules and au- not necessary. Always follow through on the thority. Discipline is about prevention, correc- directions and commands you have given. By tion and guidance. Punishment is the conse- all means, be consistent. quences for doing wrong or sinful actions that have already taken place. Jesus lived by the Ten Commandments and the rule to love God and love others. As He God disciplines those whom He loves, He- lived the code of conduct, He revealed the 7 THE ARMOR OF GOD DISCIPLINE true depths of God’s Law. He explained very hesitate to talk to the parents of a child that clearly that He did not come to do away with is having a behavior problem in your class- the Law but to fulfill it. And He was very clear room. You should not fear the parents’ reac- about the intent of the Law. “Love the Lord tion. Parents can give insights as to why their your God with all your heart and with all your child may be acting up. They also can correct soul and with all your mind. This is the first the problem because they have the ultimate and Greatest commandment. And the sec- authority. ond is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39). Jesus truly fulfilled the During your private prayer time, ask God for spirit of this great law of love by His life. the direction and strength you need to love and help even the most unruly child. A child Some discipline techniques for when a child that is habitually out of control needs help. becomes out of control are as follows: Talk to God about the child and He will give the wisdom you need to meet every child’s “And Patrick, after Zacchaeus climbed the tree needs. A child that is a continual problem he…” This tells Patrick you are well aware he should not be looked at like a problem but as is having a problem with self-discipline. one who needs help. If you are walking around the room, casually Whether we want to admit it or not, teachers walk over to a disruptive child and put your can at times be the source of the problem. hand gently on his shoulder and shake your Therefore, you hold the key to the success of head, no. The child will know what you are your classroom and solving any problems that doing. may arise. Evaluate yourself first and then the surroundings. Ask yourself, “are there When a child is working on a craft project too many children for the space? Is the room at the worktable and is out of control, reach clean and tidy? Is there disruptive noises over and put your hand carefully on his and coming from outside? Am I constantly being make eye contact. Continue the eye contact interrupted? Do I have plenty of materials so until he changes his behavior. my students don’t have to wait so long to use the scissors or crayons? Above all never lose control and lash out physically or with verbal ridicule. Always show As a teacher of God’s Word, use the following the child respect. certificates to help your students understand the rules you expect them to follow. Make a There are times it is necessary to remove a copy for each student to sign. A good time child from the room and talk with him about to hand out these certificates is on the first his behavior. day of class. Go over the rules so everyone is aware of what is expected. The key to success as stated before is in the preparation. The better prepared you are the more confidence you will have. It will also be obvious to your students that you take your Bible teaching seriously. Applying godly principles to our lives is a lifetime process. We need to absorb them into our hearts and minds in order to introduce them into action. When disruption occurs, you will be able to do something as simple as making eye contact or saying a child’s name and continue the teach- ing process. Cooperation from parents is essential if the best interest of the child is to be met. Do not 8 Using a story to teach is an art, not a sary details or if the action is slow. science. If storytelling were a science, everyone who volunteered to teach The climax of the story is usually one state- would be handed a formula and told to ment. It is the high point of the story—where follow it. To get the correct results in a the problem or conflict is resolved. math problem you must follow an exact formula; this is not true of teaching or Be brief with the conclusion. Don’t wrangle on storytelling. If, however, you are willing and on. Since the climax of the story has been to listen and put forth the effort, you can revealed, the conclusion should bring every- learn this “art.” thing together. PURPOSE OF A STORY PREPARING FOR THE STORY Every story has a purpose. Otherwise, why tell Preparation is the most important part of the story? Knowing the purpose of the story storytelling. It is the essential salt that spices will help you tell the story well. The purpose of up a good story because you know the story telling a Bible story is usually to convey infor- inside out. mation about people (or a particular person), crucial events, values, and appreciation for the It is important that you read the entire story truth of God. first. Read it for enjoyment. The second time you read the story take notes on how you PARTS OF A STORY want to adapt the story for your group of Every story has an introduction, progression of listeners. You may need to change the vocab- events, climax and conclusion. While sugges- ulary as the concepts may be advanced and tions and ideas have been provided in these need simplification. lessons, you may have a better idea. If you do, use it! Or, there may be facts in the story that you need to explain or remove because they hurt The introduction should be brief and create the flow of the story for your audience. Be interest in what you plan to teach. The intro- sure not to remove facts that are essential to duction must relate to the story, but not give the action of the story. the story away. Facts of a story are important, but it is the An introduction may be a question, a short understanding of how that story affects the illustration or it may tell about an event that students personally in their lives that will be takes place later in the story. The body of the most beneficial. story is where the progression of events takes place. You will have to determine how much or Your students need to understand how the how little of the progression of events you will story can be applied to their lives. Communi- tell. cate more than facts—communicate the mean- ing of the scripture. Keep in mind the age of your children. Young children will lose interest quickly with unneces- Older students may follow the story for 9 THE ARMOR OF GOD THE STORYTELLER themselves in their Bible. For younger chil- You may whisper, sing, speak sternly, shout, dren, let the characters, situation and time of laugh or cry. Do not, however, speak fast. story speak for itself. Effectively using your voice, facial expres- sions and gestures will come with practice and Preparation is the most time-consuming por- experience. tion of teaching because you will need to read and reread the story and think it through from Always use dignity when telling the Bible story. beginning to end. Remember the purpose of telling a Bible story is to teach the very Word of God. It is not your Practice by telling the story aloud. If you are purpose to merely entertain the children. inclined, tape yourself and then listen to the tape. Look at yourself in a mirror while telling Interruptions are usually unavoidable. When the story. What are your facial expressions? they occur, answer the student’s question or make a remark briefly, but go on with the Early on you will find that sitting in a quiet story. Sometimes a child gets caught up in the room at home in front of a mirror while a tape story and just blurts out a comment. Don’t records your story is far easier than in front of make a huge deal of it; just acknowledge it a group of wiggly, distracting children. and move on with the story. You at least know they are following the story and are inter- PRESENTING THE STORY ested. You are now well prepared to tell the Bible story. Prior to storytelling, pray for yourself and your Relax and enjoy sharing the story with your students. Ask God to help you prepare your students. This is what it is all about and it heart and mind for this important opportunity should be a delightful experience for you and to teach. Ask God to give you the understand- your students. ing and godly wisdom needed to teach. Ask that He guide you as you teach your students. As you tell the story, maintain good eye con- tact with all your students. When you do this Begin your prayer for guidance before you you are saying to them, “I am telling you the prepare to read the first story and continue story.” the prayer as you learn the art of storytelling. Be sure your students are comfortable. Many teachers prefer sitting with the children gath- ered round them in chairs or sitting on the floor. It gives a feeling of closeness. Some stories need gestures. By all means jump into action if needed. The most impor- tant thing is that you and your students are comfortable and connected. Your voice is an instrument. Use it effectively to communicate the story. Speak clearly and with enthusiasm. Enthusiasm does not mean loud. It does mean with sincerity and with interest. 10