Title: God’s Promise: Remembering Our Journey
Objective: To help children understand the significance of Sukkot and how it connects to God’s promises and our journey of faith.
Introduction:
Today, we are going to learn about a special festival called Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles. This is a time when we remember God’s promises and the journey the Israelites took as they traveled through the desert. Sukkot teaches us about faith, thankfulness, and God’s ever-present love.
Bible Verse:
Let’s start with a simple Bible verse. In Deuteronomy 8:2-3, it says: “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble and test you.” We want to remember that God is always with us, even on our difficult journeys.
Discussion:
1. What is Sukkot?
– Sukkot is a seven-day festival celebrated in the fall. It reminds us of the time when the Israelites lived in temporary shelters, called “sukkahs,” as they wandered in the desert after leaving Egypt.
– During this time, they depended on God for everything—food, water, and direction.
2. Building a Sukkah:
– Just like the Israelites, we can build our own sukkah! This is usually made of branches and leaves. It reminds us that God provided for His people.
– (Optionally, you could do a craft project where the children create a mini sukkah using pretzel sticks and green paper for leaves.)
3. Remembering Our Journey:
– Fast forward to today: How can we remember our own journeys? Sometimes our journeys can be tough, just like the Israelites faced challenges in the desert.
– We can remember how God helps us and guides us when we face tough times.
Activity:
Let’s think of things we are thankful for, just like the Israelites were thankful for God’s provision. We will create a “thankfulness tree.”
– Each child can write something they are thankful for on a leaf-shaped paper and stick it on a poster board that looks like a tree.
– This reminds us that we have so many blessings and that God is with us in our journey.
Conclusion:
As we conclude, let’s remember that Sukkot teaches us to celebrate God’s faithfulness. He keeps His promises and helps us through every journey we take. We can be thankful for all He has done and continues to do in our lives.
Prayer:
Let’s close our eyes and pray. “Dear God, thank You for Your promises and for always being with us. Help us to remember our journey and be thankful for Your love and guidance. Amen.”
Encourage each child to share how they might remember God’s goodness throughout the week.