The Fiery Furnace Lesson 45 - Clover Sitesstorage.cloversites.com/waipunachapel/documents/Lesson45.pdfChildren move around inside the yarn circle as music plays. When you stop the

© 2011 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Discovering God’s Love Leader’s Guide • 385

Lesson 45

God’s Word“I trust in the Lord.” Psalm 31:6 God’s Word and MeI love God and I know He will care for me.

The Fiery FurnaceBible StoryDaniel 3

Teacher ChallengeDaniel’s three friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had made the choice early on that they would be loyal to God and trust Him. These government officials chose to put their lives on the line and stand when everyone else bowed to Nebuchadnezzar’s statue.

➥ When have you chosen to obey God in a difficult situation?

➥ What gave you confidence to do that?

Daniel’s three friends had confidence in their powerful God. You, too, can know that your obedience presents God with the opportunity to work mighty things on your behalf, no matter how frightening the situation—when it seems that relationships, jobs or even lives are on the line. When a difficult sit-uation confronts you, show that you love and trust God as you speak kindly, act justly and show love to others.

Teacher’s Planning1. Choose which centers you

will provide and the order in which children will participate in them. For tips on schedule planning, see page 9.

2. Plan who will lead each center, making sure to have one adult for approximately every six children. For staffing tips and ideas, see page 12.

Lesson 45


386 • © 2011 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only. Discovering God’s Love Leader’s Guide

Play to LearnActive Game Center: Circle Walk

CollectBible, Preschool Music #1 CD and player, yarn, rhythm instruments.

PrepareOn floor use yarn to outline a circle large enough for several children to walk around in. Lay rhythm instruments on floor around the outside of the circle.

Do1. Play “God Cares About You” (track 2 on CD) for 10 to 12 seconds. Children move around inside the

yarn circle as music plays. When you stop the music, call out a color. All children wearing that color jump outside the circle.

2. Children who jumped outside the circle then select a rhythm instrument and say “One, two three! God cares for me!” while they play instrument. After 5 to 10 seconds children lay instruments on floor and return to circle. Repeat for several rounds, varying the color you call out and the way chil-dren move around the circle (in slow motion, like robots, like animals, backward, etc.).

3. To extend the activity, ask a volunteer outside the circle to tell a way God cares for him or her (Food. Friends. Family.).

Talk About➥ The Bible says, “I trust in the Lord.” “Lord” is an-

other name for God. Trusting God means we know He always cares for us. We know God will always love and help us. Let’s play a game and talk about ways God cares for us.

➥ Elizabeth, who takes care of you at home? (Grandma. Dad. Sister.) God gives you people to take care of you!

➥ God cares for each of us! We can tell God how much we love Him. Pray briefly, Dear God, we love You. We trust in You.

For Younger ChildrenInstead of jumping outside the circle when the music stops, children simply freeze when the music stops.

For Older ChildrenWhen the music stops, children say the words of the Bible verse, “I trust in the Lord” while playing instrument.

Lesson 45



Play to LearnArt Center: Trust Collage

CollectBible, tissue paper in a variety of colors, glue, small bowls, water, paintbrushes, white construction paper or poster board, marker.

PrepareTear tissue paper into strips, approximately 2-inches (5-cm) wide. Pour some glue into small bowls, and thin glue by adding water. On each sheet of construction paper or poster board print “God cares for _____.”

Do1. Give each child a prepared sheet of paper or poster board. Children write their names to complete

the printed sentence.

2. Children use paintbrushes to spread glue onto paper or board around writing. Then children place tissue paper strips on glue in a design of their choice.

Talk About➥ The Bible says, “I trust in the Lord.” “Lord” is

another name for God. Trusting in God means we know that God will take care of us and help us. Let’s make pictures with lots of different colors and talk about ways God cares for us.

➥ Andrew, what colors are in your picture? God cares for us by giving us eyes to see. I love God. I am so glad He cares for us.

➥ God takes care of us in many ways. Olivia, who takes care of you? God gave each of us people to take care of us.

➥ Pray briefly, Thank You, God, that You take care of us. We love and trust You.

For Younger ChildrenInstead of using paintbrushes and glue, children use gluesticks. Print children’s names to complete sentence.

For Older ChildrenChildren tear the tissue papers into pieces before gluing them onto the construction paper.

Lesson 45



Play to LearnBlock Center: Block Travel

CollectBible, blocks, postcards or travel magazines, scissors.

PrepareCut out pictures of vacation or tourist destinations.

Do1. Show children postcards or pictures of vacation or tourist destinations. Children talk about things

they see in pictures that show God cares for them.

2. Children use blocks to outline different modes of travel (bus, airplane, car, etc.) and pretend to visit the pictured locations.

Talk About➥ The Bible says, “I trust in the Lord.” This verse means that we know God loves us and will

always take care of us. God takes care of us, even when we go on vacation.

➥ Dominic, what can you see in this picture that reminds you God cares for you? That’s right, God cares for us by giving us good food to eat!

➥ Another way that God takes care of us is by giving us moms and dads and grandmas and grandpas who care for us. Mia, what does your grandpa do to care for you? (Reads a bedtime story. Cooks food for lunch. Gives hugs.)

➥ I’m glad God cares for me. I love God! God cares for each of us! We can tell God how much we love Him. Pray briefly, Thank You, God, for caring for us. We love You!

For Younger ChildrenPlace chairs in rows as if seats on a bus. Children place blocks in large outline around chairs to make a bus.

For Older ChildrenChildren place postcards or pictures on floor around block area and build block roads connecting pictures. Children use toy vehicles to visit the different locations.

Lesson 45



Play to LearnScience Center: Measuring Fun

CollectBible, several rulers, yardsticks and measuring tapes.

DoChildren measure small and large items, including block stacks, doorways and classroom furniture.

Talk About➥ In our Bible story today a king made a statue of

himself. His statue was very tall and covered in gold. It was a big statue! Let’s measure some big and small things in our classroom.

➥ The king wanted people to bow down and pray to the statue. But Daniel’s friends would pray only to God. So they said no, even though it made the king angry. Daniel’s friends trusted God to take care of them. God kept them safe.

➥ God gives us people to care for us and keep us safe, too. Who are some of the people God gave to take care of you? (Doctors. Parents. Babysitters.)

➥ The Bible says, “I trust in the Lord.” To trust God means we know that God will take care of us.

For Younger ChildrenProvide a ruler or yardstick for each child, so that they do not have to wait for a turn.

For Older ChildrenChildren predict which item will be the tallest. Children compare sizes of items.

Lesson 45



Listen to LearnDaniel 3

CollectBible, Bible Story 23 pictures from God’s Story for Me Poster Pack #1, Preschool Music #1 CD and player, ball.

Greet Each OtherChildren sit in a circle. Let’s play a game to help us remember the names of our friends. Call out one name. Named child skips around the circle and then returns to his or her place in the circle. (Reece) trusts in God. Repeat game, naming a different child for each round.

Tell the StoryOpen your Bible to Daniel 3. Tell the story using the pictured motions (keywords in bold) or show Bible Story 23 pictures.

What are the names of some of your friends? Listen to hear what happened to three friends.

Daniel and his three friends worked for King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. One day, the king decided to make a big statue covered with shiny gold. It was a statue of himself. The statue was set up in a place where everyone could come and see it.

The king’s messenger told the people, “When the music plays, bow down and pray to this statue. If you do not bow down, you will be thrown in a furnace and be burned up!”

But Daniel’s three friends would not pray to a big statue. They would only pray to God! The music began to play. Everyone else bowed down low, but the three friends did not bow down. They stood tall. When King Nebuchadnezzar heard that they had not bowed to his statue, he was angry! The three friends were brought to the king. The king roared, “If you don’t bow NOW, you’ll be thrown into the furnace!”

The three friends said, “O king, our God is able to save us from the fire.” That made the king really angry!

The soldiers tied up the friends. They threw the three men into the middle of the hot flames. Then the king looked in the furnace. He saw the three friends walking in the middle of the hot, hot fire. And there was someone else in there, too. It was an angel God sent to keep the three friends safe.

King Nebuchadnezzar was so surprised! Quickly, he shouted for the men to come out of the fire. When the three friends came out of the furnace, everyone crowded around to look at them. The friends were not burned at all. They didn’t even smell like smoke! God had kept them safe, even in the fire. King Nebuchadnezzar knew God had kept the men safe, so he praised the one true God.


Lesson 45

Talk About the StoryWhat happened when the men were thrown into the fire? (They weren’t burned.) God took care of these men who loved Him. Who does God give to take care of us? (Parents. Family.)

Sing to GodLet’s sing a song about the times we can pray to God. Lead children in singing “I Can Talk to God” (track 12 on CD). When can we talk to God? (Before we eat. At bedtime. Anytime.) We can talk to God and tell Him how we feel. We know He will help us and care for us!

Hear and Say God’s WordHolding your Bible open to Psalm 31:6, say verse aloud. “Lord” is an-other name for God. When we trust in the Lord, we are sure He will always love us. What does God do to help you and care for you? (Gives us parents to take care of us. Makes sure we have food to eat.) Lead children in saying the Bible verse together a few times. Ask all children with a certain characteristic to say the verse together (ev-eryone wearing shoes that tie, everyone with blue eyes, everyone with a ponytail, etc.). Repeat the Bible verse several times, each time using a different characteristic.

Pray to GodWe pray to God because we love Him. We know He takes care of us in the very best ways. Lead children in prayer, telling God you love Him and know He will do what is best for you and the children.

Praise to GodChildren sit in a circle on the floor. Roll ball to a child. Say God loves and cares for (Devon). Named child rolls ball across circle. Repeat, inserting each child’s name until all children have been named. I’m glad God loves us and cares for us!

Option: If you take an offering during this time, explain to chil-dren that giving mon-ey is one way to show we love and trust God.

Option: Volunteers pray, telling

God they love Him and thanking

Him that He will take care of them.

Lesson 45


Talk to LearnBible Story Activity Pages CenterCollectA copy of Activity 23 from The Big Book of Bible Story Activity Pages #1 for yourself and each child, scissors, tape, crayons or markers; optional—red plastic food wrap.

DoLead children to complete pages following the instruc-tions. (Optional: Children tape strips of plastic wrap over the flames in the picture.) Use the conversation suggestions as children complete their pages and retell the story.

Preschool Puzzle CenterCollectCopies of Puzzles 89 and 90 (p. 185 and p. 187 from The Big Book of Kindergarten Puzzles) for each child; pencils, crayons or markers.

DoChildren complete the puzzles and color pages. Use the conversation suggestions on the pages.

Read-Aloud Story CenterCollectA copy of Story Picture 45 from The Big Book of Read-Aloud Stories #1 for yourself and each child, crayons or markers.

DoRead the story and distribute pictures. Use the conversation suggestions as children complete their pages.

© 2009 G

ospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to the original purchaser only.The Big Book of Bible Story A

ctivity Pages #199

�

Name ______________________________

“I trust in the Lord.” Psalm 31:6

• Child colors page.• Teacher cuts off angel figure and helpschild tape figure over page at X.• Child flips figure to retell story action.

• What did God do to show His love and care for the three friends? • Where does God care for you?

X

X

�

Bible Story Activity 23

185

© 2001 Gospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted. The Big Book of Reproducible Kindergarten Puzzles

Puzzle 89

BONUS

IDEA!

Read the clues to find out which of these men were thrown into the

fiery furnace.

Find the word trust on the clothes of the men who were thrown into the furnace.

Then color those men.

God kept these men safe.

They loved God and trusted Him.

We can show that we love God, too.

Our Bible says, “I trust in the Lord“ (Psalm 31:6).

1. The men do not have hats on.

2. The men are tall.

How many men were thrown into the furnace?

© 2011 G

ospel Light. Permission to photocopy granted to original purchaser only.The Big Book of R

ead-Aloud Stories #1

Story Pic

ture

45

95

“I trust in the Lord.” Psalm 31:6Connect the dots. Color the picture.

Documents

The Fiery Furnace Lesson 45 - Clover Sitesstorage.cloversites.com/waipunachapel/documents/Lesson45.pdfChildren move around inside the yarn circle as music plays. When you stop the