Lesson Eight: Sunday, August 4thMain Point: I Can Be Friends with God!

Welcome/Prayer/Announcements/Offering 9:15 11:00Worship/Communion/Large Group Teaching 9:20 11:05Huddle Time 10:00 11:45Classroom Checkout 10:30 12:15

9:15 + 11:00

Bible Story Recap of the Life of AbrahamGenesis 12-19

Memory Verse Galatians 3:9Huddle Activities Best Friends

What Makes God So Great! Bonus: Review Questions

City StreetsThe Musical

Purpose: This is a strategic time to review and reinforce the content of the lesson. Materials needed: DVD “Street Sweeper!” lesson 8 chapter.

Ask the following questions and ask for volunteers to answer. If they answer correctly, hit “play” on the DVD.

1. This series has been about following God. Name three things we should do as followers of God.

2. True or false? We can be followers of God, but we can’t be friends with God. A. True. We can never be friends with God. B. False. Through salvation we can be friends with God. 3. What are the ABC’s of salvation? A. Authorize, Benefit, Constant. B. Answer, Burden, Change. C. Admit, Believe, Choose. D. Admit, Believe, Cancel.

4. In today’s Bible Story, what was Abraham called? A. The Great Shepherd. B. A friend of God. C. An enemy of God. D. A friend of sinners.

5. In our musical today, Michelle told Molly and Zane about something very important. What was it? A. The story of Abraham and Lot. B. The history of the Old Testament. C. The story of Jesus and salvation. D. The story of Daniel and the Lions’ Den.

6. Fill in the blanks. “So all who put their faith in ____________ share the same blessing ____________ received because of his faith.” Galatians 3:9 NLT

A. the Lord, Absalom. B. God, Adam. C. Jesus, Abram. D. Christ, Abraham.

Street Sweeper Review GameLarge Group Activity

Lesson 8 - I Can Be Friends With God!

Page 2

Purpose: This activity will introduce the children to the theme of the day, God is the best friend you will ever have.

Description: The children will describe the attributes of a friend and compare them to God’s attributes. Materials needed: For this activity you will need this help sheet, a large sheet of paper, and a marker. Optional: You might choose to use a white board and a marker.

Note: Have the large paper set up so the children will be able to see as you draw.

To introduce the activity say: Welcome! I am glad to see all of you today! 1. This morning I was thinking about some of my friends and how special they are to me. 2. I started wondering how I would describe what makes up a really good friend. 3. Do any of you have a best friend? 4.

For detailed instructions on how to do the activities, see the DVD.

Note: Draw an outline of a child on the paper.

To lead the activity say: We are going to imagine this drawing is the best friend we can think of. I am going to add to the 1. drawing some of the best things about my friend, and then we will add some of the best things about your friends.

Note: Write attributes on or next to the child, either choose a few key words or draw a small picture. For example, you could write “shares snacks” or draw a quick outline of some cookies and a glass of milk.

She likes to do the things I like, so we get to hang out together. 2. She shares with me and we like to eat together. 3. He’s funny and we laugh a lot together. 4. What are some of the great things about your good friends? 5. (Play with me, He shares snacks, she plays dress-up with me, she helps me with my hard math problems.)

Continued on page 2 Page 1

Best FriendOpening Activity

Lesson 8 - I Can Be Friends With God!

Note: Add the attributes the children suggest to the paper.

After the activity say: When can you talk to your friend? 1. (At school, at soccer practice, etc.) When can you be with your friend?2. (During recess, at home, at activities, after school.) What kinds of things does your friend do for you? 3. (Laugh, we play together, she helps me with homework.) It sounds like you have some wonderful friends. I am glad that you have great friends like that. 4. I love my friend, and she is definitely a gift from God. 5. But no matter how great our friends are, they have limitations. Do you know who is the best friend 6. ever? (God, Jesus.) That is right. God is the best friend you will ever have. God is the perfect friend. 7. He will always be there for you. He is always with you. 8. He will never leave you. 9. You can talk to Him anywhere and anytime. 10. God loves you more than anyone you know, more than your mom, or your dad, or 11. your grandparents. In fact, God loves you so much that He gave up His Son for you. 12.

Closing statement: Today we will be learning that we can be friends with God. I hope you never forget that God can be your best friend. Let’s go learn about the perfect friend, God!

Continued from page 1

Page 2

Best FriendOpening Activity

Lesson 8 - I Can Be Friends With God!

Purpose: This activity will encourage the children to explore God’s character in their Bibles and discover that God is the best friend that they can have.

Description: The children will look up scriptures about qualities and characteristics of God and list them as qualities of a good friend.

Materials needed: For this activity you will need this help sheet. For each child you will need a pencil, a Bible, and a copy of the “God Is A Good Friend List Lesson 8” from the Lesson Materials CD-ROM.

To introduce the activity say: God is the very best friend that we could ever have. 1. Isn’t that amazing? The God who made everything, space, the earth, mountains and oceans, all the 2. animals, that God wants to be our friend? One of the best ways to get to know God is to read about Him in the Bible. 3. Right now we are going to think about God and what He is like. 4.

For detailed instructions on how to do the activities, see the DVD.

To lead the activity say: I have some Bible verses that have special things to say about God and what He is like. 1. You are going to look up the Bible verses and think about what they say about who God is, and 2. what He is like. Here are the Bible verses and a Bible so you can look up the different verses. 3.

Note: Hand out the sheets, Bibles, and pencils. Be ready to help any child who needs help.

After the activity say: Wow! God is pretty amazing, isn’t He! 1. We have learned some great things about God today. 2. What did you learn about God that you might not have known before? 3. (He is kind, He is compassionate.) Good job! Those are some wonderful things that you can know about your best friend! 4.

Closing statement: No one can be a friend to us like God. When you have a best friend, you continue to learn new things about them. God wants to be your very best friend. One of the exciting things about God is that we can continue to learn new things about Him. You can do that by spending time learning about God from the Bible, coming to church, and praying. It is great to be best friends with God!

What Makes God So Great?Application Activity

Lesson 8 - I Can Be Friends With God!

God Is A Good Friend List Lesson 8

God is a good friend!God is my best friend because:

God is ______________________ Psalm 103:8

God is ______________________ 1 John 4:8

God will ______________________ Deuteronomy 31:8

God is ______________________ Deuteronomy 7:9

God is ______________________ 2 Samuel 22:3

God is ______________________ Joshua 4:24

God is ______________________ Exodus 15:11