God is Big

This is the first in a series of 5 teachings to help teach young children about God.  The target audiences are toddlers, preschoolers and young elementary; with plenty of room for you to adjust to the needs of your child.  I have taught this to my preschooler and toddler.  If I was just teaching it to my toddler I would have simplified it a little more.  I wrote this in a way to give ideas of how to talk when teaching children the Bible.  Going through the verses on your own first (as listed in the "Parent Preparation") is extremely helpful in teaching young children accurately. 

Theme Verse

"I am with you;" Isaiah 41:10 NASB

Song

"Bigger Than Big", by Jay Stocker on "Whirl and Worship" CD  Listen Here, Motion Ideas Here, iTunes

Supplies

Bible, List of God's names (print from here), items for "Bigger and Smaller", Print Teaching Here

Parent Preparation 

Isaiah 41:10, Jeremiah 23:23-24, Psalm 139, Hebrews 13:5, Numbers 23:19, John 4:24, John 1:18

Teaching Ideas 

Day 1

• (Play a short game of hide and seek.  Have each person have one turn to hide and be found)
• The Bible tells us about God.  (show your Bible)  God tells us "I am with you." Isaiah 41:10
• When we played hided and seek, you could hide from me and I didn't know where you were.  Can you hide from God?  Let's find out from the Bible.
• (Read Jeremiah 23:23-24, or parts of it) God asks us questions to get us thinking about Him.  Is God near?  Or is He far?  Is there anywhere you could go that God wouldn’t be with you?  No!  God is big. In this verse He says that He fills the heaven and earth.  God is so big that wherever you go He is going to be there with you!

Day 2

• Psalm 139 it tells us about how big God is.  God knows when you stand up (stand up with child) and when you sit down (sit down with child). He knows where you walk to (pretend to walk) and when you lie down (lie down). God knows what words that you say! (have your child say something). He is in front of you (have child find front) and behind you (have child find back). 
• If we go to a high mountain (pretend to climb a mountain) is God still with us? Yes! If we go far away in the the ocean (pretend to be on a boat in the middle of the ocean) is God still with us? Yes!
• Repeat after me our theme verse.  "I am with you." Isaiah 41:10

Day 3

• The Bible tells us Who God is.  Is God a person?  Lets read in the Bible to find the answer.  (Read Numbers 23:19a)
• If God isn't a man, what is He?  (read John 4:24)
• Can we see God?  (read John 1:18a)
• God has many names.  (show God's Name sheet, covered up names with post-its)
• Do you have different names?  (nicknames, daughter, sister, etc) He is called God, (have child remove the post-its use for today), LORD Jehovah, and Holy Spirit.  
• "I am with you." Isaiah 41:10  God is always with you. He never leaves you.    Even when I am not with you, God is with you. His is always there to take care of you because He loves you. Where do you sometimes go without me? (babysitter, in bedroom at night). God is still with you.

Activity Ideas

• Bigger and Smaller

Gather 5 items that are various sizes.  Give your child one of the  items and ask them to find something bigger than that item.  Continue to do this for all 5 items.  For the last item keep asking what is even bigger.  Keep going bigger (couch or house or world, etc) until they get to saying "God".

• Fear Not

If your child is afraid in a situation this week, read "Fear not, for I am with you." Isaiah 41:10  Talk about how we don't need to be afraid because God is with us.

 

"I Can Know God" Teaching Series

1. God is Big

2.  God is the Creator

3. God is Almighty

4. God is Love

5. He Cares For You

 "but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD." Jeremiah 9:24 NASB

© 2013, Brigette Hill