All through History

All through History 6 week SU Programme “Things that we have heard and known, that out fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.” Psalm 78: 3-4

“Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you.” (1 Samuel 12: 24 - ESV

What can we learn about God’s faithfulness and his power from the stories through History?This series is based on the four core values of an SU group: Community, Bible, Discipleship and Mission. The programme is designed that you can pick and choose activities to suit your group depending on time, ability, existing knowledge and resources. We recommend that you choose one activity from each core value.

Community: will seek to have games and activities to build relationships with the pupils and get to know each other better.Bible: will be the main focus of each session, engaging with God’s word in creative and different ways to discover what it means to follow Him by looking at examples of those who followed Him. Discipleship: is about the application of what we have been learning and this could take place through a craft, small group discussion or quiz.Mission: is being outward focused and passing on what we have learnt about the great things God has done all through history and today to those around us in school, at home and in our community.

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Programme Outlines

Week 1: Noah (Genesis 5:32 - 9:17) Page 5

Week 2: Moses (Exodus 13:17 - 14:31) Page 6

Week 3: David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17) Page 7

Week 4: Daniel and the Lion’s Den (Daniel 6) Page 8

Week 5: Jesus on the cross (various references) Page 9

Week 6: Living for God (2 Corinthians 5:15-17, Romans 8:28 & 38-39) Page 10

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Copyright Information

Songs A copyright licence is required to display the words of the following songs. A licence is available from www.ccli.co.uk.

While these songs are all available on YouTube, please note that technically it is in breach of the terms and conditions of the YouTube service to download and / or display them. In order to avoid this, we suggest that in each case you purchase the track from iTunes and create your own PowerPoint version of the words.

All Through History From the album: Big Family Of God by Nick & Becky Drake Author: Becky Drake Copyright: Song Solutions Daybreak

God Is Good All The TimeFrom the album: God Is Good by Dan Moen Authors: Dan Moen & Paul Overstreet Copyright: Integrity’s Hosanna! Music

Never Be ShakenFrom the album: Ultimate Kids Worship by Kids Shout Praises Author: Jared AndersonCopyright: Integrity Worship Music

Shine (From The Inside Out)From the album: Kids Praise Party: Vol. 3 by Spring Harvest Author: Nick JacksonCopyright: Powerpack

Movie Clips While clips from these DVDs are available on YouTube, it is technically in breach of the terms and conditions of the YouTube service to download and / or display them. In order to avoid this, we suggest that in each case you purchase your own copy of the DVD.

Prince Of Egypt DVD Produced By: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Jesus Storybook Bible DVD Produced by: Zondervan

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Week Community Bible Discipleship Mission

Week 1: Noah - Genesis 5:32-9:17

1. Introduce the theme of God’s faithfulness by teaching the song ‘All Through History.’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGbSK5zRTtA

Here is the video to teach the actions - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ixs2l2hzv4

2. Discuss: Has anyone ever made you a promise and never kept it? How did that make you feel?

Explain what it means to be faithful.

3. The stories in the Bible teach us that God is who He says He is, and that He does what He says he will do. Let’s look at some of the amazing things God did for his people… today we are learning about Noah.

4. Setting the Scene: See attached script.

Explain where to find the story in the Bible and encourage the children to turn to it, if they have Bibles with them.

5. A-Z game: In groups ask the children to write down a different animal from A-Z. The first team to finish wins. (Maybe give them some of the difficult ones at the beginning eg. N - newt, X - x-ray fish, Y - yak.)

6. Teach: Tell the story of Noah - focusing on God’s timing. (7: 6, 7:12, 7: 24) God was faithful to Noah and kept his promise even though it took a long time. (See attached teaching script.)

7. Picture This: Ask each child to draw a picture that represents a part of the story and teaching point and put them together in a powerpoint or video to watch next week. (See attached list for suggested pictures.)

8. Small group questions: • Imagine you were Noah, what do

you think it would have been like on the ark with all the animals?

• God rescued Noah and his family, just like he promised He would… What do you think Noah and his family said to God?

• In the same way that God rescued Noah from sin in the world, God rescued us from our sin and punishment by sending Jesus to die on the cross, just like He promised He would. What would you say to God about what He did for us?

• God ALWAYS keeps his promises, how does that make you feel? What does that mean to you?

9. Prayer Response: Recap the main points… God is faithful, God rescues and God keeps His promises

Ask children to write a prayer of thanks to God on a boat (see attached template) and stick it onto the sea.

10. Invite: Is there someone you can invite to SU next week?

You could create invitations with information about SU and ask the children to write a friends name on it and give it to them so that parents know the information.

11. Memory Verse: Learn a memory verse about God’s faithfulness to help the children remember the lesson so that they can share it with someone else. (e.g. 1 Samuel 12:24)

12. Song: Option to repeat ‘All Through History’ if they didn’t already know it or choose another song to finish. (e.g. ‘God Is Good All The Time.’ See Youtube for various versions.)

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Week Community Bible Discipleship Mission

Week 2: Moses - Exodus 13:17-14:31

1. Introduce theme by singing ‘All Through History’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGbSK5zRTtA

2. Recap last week by watching the video / PPT of the story of Noah through pictures.

3. Share a time when you were really scared to do something but you did it anyway. e.g. going down a large slide / rollercoaster /treetop assault course etc. Ask the children to share with you too.

4. Setting the Scene: see attached script Explain where to find the story in the Bible and encourage the children to turn to it, if they have Bibles with them.

5. Read: Using the attached reading (CEV) teach the actions and tell the story of Moses crossing the Red Sea.

6. Focus on verse 31…“Because of the mighty power he [God] had used against the Egyptians, the Israelites worshiped him and trusted him and His servant Moses.”

7. Watch: Option to watch the crossing of the Red Sea from ‘The Prince Of Egypt’ movie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNGgsHbzWPs

8. Ask: • How do you think the people of

Israel felt when they reached the red sea and saw the Egyptians coming behind them?

• How do you think Moses felt? • What did God do to teach the

people to trust him? • What does this story teach you

about God? • Link back to the song ‘All

Through Hstory’… ‘Moses led the people through the sea, taking them away from slavery. The Lord was good, the Lord was strong and Moses lived his life for Him.’ How was the Lord good to the Israelites? How was He strong?

• What was their response? (Verse 31 - worship and trust.)

• How has the Lord been good to us and been strong for us?

• And what is your response to God’s goodness? (Encourage children to worship God and put their trust in Him.)

9. Create: a video of the SU children teaching the actions of the song to be used in assembly. Share one line about the story of Noah, one line about the story of Moses and invite others to come and hear the other stories.

10. Memory Verse: Repeat memory verse from last week about God’s faithfulness. (e.g. 1 Samuel 12:24) This could be done on footprints as a reminder of how God led his people through the sea.

11. Pray for a friend who doesn’t come to SU that they would trust God the same way that Moses did.

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Week Community Bible Discipleship Mission

Week 3: David and Goliath - 1 Samuel 17

1. Recap theme and first two sessions by singing ‘All Through History’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGbSK5zRTtA

2. Quiz: Would you rather…? • McDonalds or Burger King • Ketchup on the side or on

top of chips • crisps or chocolate • pizza or chicken nuggets • TV or internet • cat or dog • PE or Music • be a teacher or a policeman • be a shepherd or a

salesman • fight with a sword or a stone

3. Character introduction: Have someone dress up as David the shepherd.

Explain: • shepherd (16:19) • youngest brother (16:11) • skilled at playing (16:18) • the Lord was with him

(16:13 & 18)

4. As you read (1 Samuel 17) compare the two characters. Using wall paper: Draw around a pupil in the group and on a separate roll of wall paper draw Goliath at approximately 3 metres.

Write on the boy paper that David was shepherd, youngest etc. v 40 - David takes off armour, lifts 5 stones and sling.

On the Goliath paper write / draw: v 5-8 - Goliath was wearing a helmet and a coat of armour; was carrying a javelin, a spear, a shield and a sword; was shouting, was a trained soldier and a giant.

5. Watch: “A Young Hero and a Horrible Giant” from the Jesus Story Book Bible. “This is God’s battle and God always wins his battle.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0KUCQGqSZE

6. Focus on 1 Samuel 17: 45 & 47. “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, whom you have defied.”

At this point, you may want to write in a different colour over Goliath (sword, spear, javelin) and over David (name of the LORD almighty, the God of Israel) to emphasise that this was all David needed and that the battle is the Lord’s.

v 47 “All those who gather here will know that it is not by the sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the LORD’s and He will give all if you into our hands.”

7. Ask how David was able to trust that God would give him the victory?

8. Giants: We all have giants, maybe not 9 feet tall men but we all have something that seems too big for us…something we are scared about. (e.g. fighting with a friend, trouble at home, big school tests, moving school etc.)

Write them on post-it notes and stick it on Goliath poster.

Go back to verse 45 again and explain that all David needed was God and the Bible teaches that we too have God on our side. He loves us, cares about us and is always with us, even when our “giants” seem really big.

If you wanted - you could write “GOD” over these ‘giants’ that the children are facing

9. Recap memory verse again: 1 Samuel 12:24.

10. Talk: Remember the great things that God has done in the stories we have learnt so far…Noah, Moses and David. God was faithful and good to them, keeping His promises and He is faithful and good to us too.

11. Pray for other people you know who are sick, worried, scared that they might know God and know that He is with them.

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Week Community Bible Discipleship Mission

Week 4: Daniel and the Lions Den 6:5-23

1. Recap the stories so far and sing ‘All Through History’. Highlight God’s great deeds and his faithfulness to his people.

2. Emoji’s: Pick an emoji to describe you, hold it up and explain why.

Have lots of different emojis printed out. Explain that we go through lots of different emotions every day. We have lots of highs (happy emoji) and lots of lows (sad emoji), some good times and some bad times. In todays’ story we see a character who faced some very happy times and some very sad times but God was with him through it all.

3. Set the scene: Explain that Daniel and his friends were followers of God, and that an army had come in and taken them away to a foreign land in Babylon.

• What do you think Daniel and his friends would have felt?

• What might it have been like for them?

Life in Babylon was very different, they had to go to school and learn all about Babylon and how to live there.

4. Freeze frame drama: Act out story (see drama script attached) pausing at different moments to ask how Daniel and Darius were feeling, What emoji would you use to describe these feelings?

5. Look close: Display verses 26-27 on the screen. Darius recognised that only God could have rescued Daniel. Look at what he says about God: • living God • lives forever • His kingdom will never end • He rescues • He saves • He does great things in heaven and on

earth • He saved Daniel from the lions

8. Memory Verse: Repeat memory verse from last week about God’s faithfulness. (e.g. 1 Samuel 12:24)

9. Sing: Never Be Shaken https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8kPpAW11IY

6. Craft: Make hand print lions with verses 26-27 on them.

! 7. Ask: • Why did Daniel choose to pray to

God instead of the King? • How do you think Daniel felt in

the lion’s den? • How did Daniel survive? • What did this show to Darius &

the rest of the land? • What does this story teach us

about God? • In the same way that God was

with Daniel in all his good and his bad times, God is also with us in our good and bad times. How does that help us?

• What do you think Daniel said to God after God rescued him?

• God rescued us from sin and death by sending Jesus, what to you want to say to God for rescuing us?

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Week Community Bible Discipleship Mission

Week 5: Jesus died to take away our sin (Various texts)

1.Recap theme and previous sessions by singing ‘All Through History’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGbSK5zRTtA

2. Share: Ask 4 people to share the 4 stories so far and what they have taught us about God - Noah, Moses, David, Daniel.

3. Discuss: If you could be best friends with somebody famous, who would it be and why?

4. Link: It’s highly unlikely that we are going to be best friends with Messi or Little Mix. A lot would have to happen for us to even get close to them to become friends.

It was a little like that with God, except that it was the bad things we have done that stopped us from being friends with Him. People didn’t want him and so they broke God’s laws and made their own bad choices. This made God very sad so God did something about it - He sent someone to make things right!

5. Watch ‘Jesus’ Rescue - God’s Story’. https://vimeo.com/49018353 (Stop before the quick version.)

6. Teach: Get the kids to match the verse with the questions first of all in groups.

• Why did Jesus come? - to save the lost. Luke 19:10 “The son of man came to seek and save the lost.”

Share a story about something you have lost that was of great value.

• Why did He die? - for our sins. 1 Corinthians 15:3 “Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.”

Object lesson: Show that there is no way to connect the two poles of a magnet that are the same; this is like the sin that separates us from God. Jesus died to take away my sin so that I can connect to God and be His friend.

• What does that mean to us? - the gift of God is eternal life. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Object lesson: What was the greatest gift you have ever received?

• What do we have to do? - believe and say. Romans 10:9 “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Illustration: Use an example of saying something that you don't really mean and that you know in your heart isn’t true.

7. Play the quick version at the end of the video.

8. Respond: Ask the children if any of them want to become friends of God for the first time. Don’t ask them to put their hands up, but do explain what they need to do and invite them, if they wish, to speak to you afterwards so that you can help them further.

9. Write prayers to God on pieces of coloured paper and put them at the foot of the cross.

10. Create an SU notice board that shares what we have learnt so far. Have ‘All Through History’ in the middle and the 5 stories with pictures summarising what we have learnt already about the great things God has done through history and about God’s faithfulness.

11. Memory Verse: Repeat memory verse from last week (e.g. 1 Samuel 12:24).

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Week Community Bible Discipleship Mission

Week 6: We will live our lives for him.

1. Sing All Through History https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGbSK5zRTtA

2. Runaround Quiz to recap: (see attached)

3. Ask the children what story they liked best. (Maybe get them to move to a different part of the room.)

Ask what it was that stood out to you about that person? (The leader should guide the children to see that the running theme is their trust in God.)

4. Recap: What did it mean for these characters to live their lives for God?

Noah trusted God to keep his promise. How was he able to do that? He listened to God.

Moses trusted in God’s rescue. He saw that God was good and worshipped him.

David trusted God to help him. He knew that God was stronger than Goliath.

Daniel trusted that God was with him. He stood up for God and what he believed in even when it was hard.

Jesus trusted in God’s plan. He was obedient even to death.

5. Because of Jesus’ death we can be friends with God and live our lives for him.

How can we listen to God?

How can we worship God?

How can we look to God for help?

How can we stand up for God?

How can we obey God?

6. Reflective Prayer based on Proverbs 3: 5-6

7. Song: Shine From The Inside Out

Highlight living our lives for God.

8. Memory Verse: 1 Samuel 12: 24

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Additional Resources

Week 1: Noah (Genesis 5:32 - 9:17) Page 12 • Setting The Scene • Teaching Script • Suggested Picture List • Boat Template

Week 2: Moses (Exodus 13:17 - 14:21) Page 17 • Setting The Scene • Teaching Script

Week 4: Daniel and the Lion’s Den (Daniel 6) Page 20 • Drama Script

Week 6: Living for God (2 Corinthians 5:15-17, Romans 8:28 & 38-39) Page 23 • Runaround Quiz

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Noah: Setting the Scene God had created the world and it was good, he made people and they were very good. But people turned from God and his ways and did things their own way, that’s what Adam and Eve did when they took the fruit from the tree they shouldn’t have. But it wasn’t just Adam and Eve all people were choosing their own way instead of God’s way. The Bible says in Genesis 6:5 God saw that the people were wicked and every thought was wicked. They thought evil and nasty things, did evil and nasty things from morning to night - and this broke God’s heart.

When I was young, anytime I disobeyed my mum and dad, when I chose to say no and be cheeky, when I threw a strop or a tantrum because I didn’t get what I wanted, my mum and dad got angry and shouted at me. It doesn’t mean they didn’t love me but actually it’s because they love me that they had to teach me right and wrong. It’s because they love me and they knew better that I didn’t get everything I wanted.

And just like a dad and his son, it made God sad that the people he created were making bad choices, doing bad things and hurting each other. God had to teach right and wrong. It wasn’t a mistake that God made the world or made us…but God was sad and He hates the bad stuff people do and so He had to do something about it.

I want to tell you something really cool about the story of Noah that you might not have known before. Noah was a man who followed God and at the end of Genesis chapter 5 it tells us that he was 500 years old when He had his sons. Remember that - He is 500 years old. He is an old guy. He also lived in a country where there was no sea. There were other countries all around it. A bit like Switzerland - it’s a country that is surrounded by other countries and doesn’t have a sea. So it was a pretty strange thing when God said: OK Noah I want you to build a boat!

If I was Noah I might have said: Uh?? A boat? Are you serious? There is no water. Why do you want me to build a boat? But God tell’s Noah to build the ark, and so he does. And God says: Fill it with animals, and he does. 2 of every kind of animal and Noah had to keep them alive.

Now imagine Noah, an old guy with his wife, his sons and their wives all on this boat for a VERY long time! They were trapped on this boat with nowhere to go, with two of every kind of animal! Just imagine it!!

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Noah: Teaching Script What age do you think Noah was when the floods came?

In Chapter 7: 6 it says that Noah was 600 years old when the waters came - sometimes we hear this story and think God told Noah to build an ark, it rained straight away and then the water disappeared but there is so much more. So God spoke to Noah and he was building the ark and collecting all the animals for 100years.

I wonder what people might have said to him? I wonder what Noah might have been thinking in those 100years?

A lot can change in 100years - 100years ago - what did you think it was like 100 years ago in 1916?

In 1916 there was no internet, no mobile phones, no TV, no apps/tablets, we were in the middle of a world war and we were about to head into another one, the Titanic had just sunk, no one had landed on the moon yet… lots of things happen in 100years.

So Noah was 600 when the waters come and they were all on the ark with all the animals and how long did it rain for? Yes - it tells us in chapter 7: 12 that the rains fell for 40 days and 40 nights.

It wouldn’t be very nice to be on the boat for 40days and 40nights with all the animals. When I was younger I thought they were only one the boat for that length of time, for 40days and 40 nights and maybe a few days more at the end, but how long do you think they were on the boat for?

*You can ask the children to guess the number of days and say hotter or colder to guide them.

Read verse 24: “The waters prevailed on the earth 150 days.”

That is like being stuck on the Stenaline for 5 1/2months. That is from now until ___________________________!!

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Imagine that, imagine you were stuck on the Stenaline from now until _________________, but imagine all the animals as well. I am pretty sure that wasn’t nice at all.

I wonder how Noah and his family were feeling? They didn’t know when they were getting off, they didn’t know they were going to be on for 150 days! 8: 13 says: “By the first day of the first month of Noah’s 601 year, the water had dried up from the earth.” Noah was now 601.

We read this story and we know all the details, we know that God saved them, we know that the waters died down and they all got off the boat but during the time Noah and his family didn’t know anything for sure. All they knew was that God told them to do it. But remember God is faithful and god can be trusted. God is perfect and his timings are perfect! Sometimes things in our lives don’t come quick enough in our eyes but God and his timing is perfect and it was for Noah and his family.

They trusted God and God gave them a new promise. The promise of a rainbow. The rainbow meant that God would never flood the earth again 9: 12-17. God has kept that promise and so whenever we see a rainbow it reminds us too that God is someone who can be trusted, He is someone who keeps his promises. He is faithful!

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Noah: Suggested Picture List Either as individuals or in groups, give the children one the following statement below and ask them to draw a picture of it and see what they come up with.Take photographs of their drawings and create either a powerpoint or movie which tells the story of Noah and God’s faithfulness through pictures. 1. Noah was an old man 2. The people were wicked and made bad choices and did bad things 3. God told Noah to build a boat 4. Noah built an Ark 5. Noah put two of every kind of animal on the boat 6. It started to rain 7. It rained and rained for 40days and 40nights 8. After the rain stopped the ark floated on top of the water for another 150days 9. Noah sent out a dove 10.The dove came back with a leaf in her beak, Noah knew it was time to get off 11.The ark stopped on top of a mountain 12. Noah, his family and all the animals safely got off the ark 13. God gave Noah a sign, a rainbow, which was a promise that he would never do that again 14. God keeps his promises, God can be trusted 15. God is faithful 16. God rescued Noah from the flood, and God rescued us from our sin because of the cross

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Noah: Boat Template

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Moses: Setting the Scene The people of Israel were crying out for help because they were slaves in Egypt. The Bible tells us in the book of Exodus 2:23-25 that God heard their groaning, he saw their pain and he remembered his promise that he made with his people and so God had a plan to rescue his people from being slaves in Egypt.

God’s plan was Moses. Exodus 6: 6-7 (CEV) “Here is my message for Israel: ‘I am the Lord! And with my mighty power I will punish the Egyptians and free you from slavery. I will accept you as my people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I was the one who rescued you from the Egyptians.’ ”

God sent Moses to speak to the Pharaoh in Egypt to see if Pharaoh would let the people go. Moses was scared, Moses didn’t want to do this. But God showed Moses that He would be with him. God did amazing miracles to show Moses His power. So Moses went and asked, but Pharaoh said no and so day after day Moses returned to ask Pharaoh and each time Pharaoh said no. And each time Pharaoh said no, God sent a plague to show Pharaoh just how powerful He was. There were rivers that turned to blood, there were frogs, flies, gnats, locusts, darkness, animals dying and eventually there was the worst plague of all…

All of the Egyptian firstborn children died. After this final plague the Pharaoh let Gods people go.

And so God’s people left Egypt and ran into the desert…but it wasn’t long before Pharaoh changed his mind and sent an army after them with chariots and horses…

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Moses: Teaching Script frightened - scared faces & biting nails help - “help help” brave - strong arms stretch / stretched - stretch arm out in front of you wind - blow walk / walked - walking action/walk with fingers down arm

When the Israelites saw the king coming with his army, they were frightened and begged the Lord for help. They also complained to Moses, “Wasn’t there enough room in Egypt to bury us? Is that why you brought us out here to die in the desert? Why did you bring us out of Egypt anyway? While we were there, didn’t we tell you to leave us alone? We had rather be slaves in Egypt than die in this desert!”

But Moses answered, “Don’t be afraid! Be brave, and you will see the Lord save you today. These Egyptians will never bother you again. The Lord will fight for you, and you won’t have to do a thing.” The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you keep calling out to me for help? Tell the Israelites to move forward. Then hold your walking stick over the sea. The water will open up and make a road where they can walk through on dry ground. I will make the Egyptians so stubborn that they will go after you. Then I will be praised because of what happens to the king and his chariots and cavalry. The Egyptians will know for sure that I am the Lord.”

All this time God’s angel had gone ahead of Israel’s army, but now he moved behind them. A large cloud had also gone ahead of them, but now it moved between the Egyptians and the Israelites. The cloud gave light to the Israelites, but made it dark for the Egyptians, and during the night they could not come any closer.

Moses stretched his arm over the sea, and the Lord sent a strong east wind that blew all night until there was dry land where the water had been. The sea opened up, and the Israelites walked through on dry land with a wall of water on each side.

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The Egyptian chariots and cavalry went after them. But before daylight the Lord looked down at the Egyptian army from the fiery cloud and made them panic. Their chariot wheels got stuck, and it was hard for them to move. So the Egyptians said to one another, “Let’s leave these people alone! The Lord is on their side and is fighting against us.”

The Lord told Moses, “Stretch your arm toward the sea—the water will cover the Egyptians and their cavalry and chariots.” Moses stretched out his arm, and at daybreak the water rushed toward the Egyptians. They tried to run away, but the Lord drowned them in the sea. The water came and covered the chariots, the cavalry, and the whole Egyptian army that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them was left alive. But the sea had made a wall of water on each side of the Israelites; so they walked through on dry land.

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Daniel: Drama Script (adapted from biblebasedassemblies.com)

Props: crown, 3x speech bubbles, smiley emoji, sad face emoji, dressing gown, Characters needed: Daniel, Darius, 3 enemies (one of which is the man with the plan),

Narrator: A long time ago in a distant land, many hundreds and thousands of years ago, there was a man called Daniel, and a great king called Darius.

Daniel had worked for the king all his life but unlike many other men at the palace he always spoke the truth. Also Daniel knew that God was wise, strong, loving, the greatest.

Every day, morning, midday and evening he would talk to God like a friend, tell him about his day, about problems at the palace, what sort of mood the king was in, anything and everything and God listened. (Daniel kneels and talks to God)

King Darius liked Daniel and listened to everything he said carefully. (hold up ‘smiley face’)

Daniel always spoke the truth and because God had give him good advice, he was always having brilliant new ideas. The king always took notice of what Daniel said and it wasn’t long before Daniel had a very important job ruling over the whole land. All the other important people in the palace became more and more annoyed. (all other pupils make angry faces)

Enemy 1: Who does he think he is? (hold up speech bubble)

Enemy 2: He makes us look stupid! (hold up speech bubble)

Enemy 3: I don’t like him. (hold up speech bubble)

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Narrator: And they began huddling together in corners of the palace grounds, trying to come up with some idea about how to get rid of Daniel. (3 enemies of Daniel huddle together and whisper)

Eventually one man, came up with a plan. Although King Darius liked Daniel’s honesty, he also liked people saying nice things about him.

One morning, when Daniel was out seeing to some important business for the king, the man with the plan went to the King, bowed down (act this out) and said:

Man with a plan: O Great and Wonderful Majesty, the people know you are handsome, strong and very wise. But perhaps they do not know quite HOW WONDERFUL you are. Why don’t we make a new law which says the people can only pray to you and to no one else for the next thirty days?

Narrator: The king thought was an excellent idea.

King: Let’s do it.

Narrator: By the time Daniel came back to the palace, a new law had been written and sealed by the king and was to be enforced by the palace guards. Daniel heard about this new law as he reached the palace gates. The king welcomed him as usual and told him about the new law that people could pray only to the king.

Daniel: Ah, what will happen to those who disobey?

King: Anyone praying to someone other than me will be thrown into a pit of lions.

Narrator: The next morning, everyone started praying to the king, but Daniel talked to God instead. At midday, when everyone else was praying to the king, Daniel was talking to God. In the evening when everyone else was still praying to King Darius, Daniel was still talking to God. All the people were too afraid to disobey the king. But Daniel could not disobey God, his oldest friend.

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Of course, this is what Daniel’s enemies wanted. They sneaked round to Daniel’s house to spy on him. Daniel made no secret of what he was doing. He sat by the open window, talking to God, as usual, like a friend.

After they saw this, his enemies went and told the king that Daniel was still praying three times a day. The king looked very serious and sad (hold up sad emoji) when they told him what had happened, but had to agree that Daniel had broken the new law. Daniel was arrested and bundled off to the king.

Daniel: I’m sorry for disobeying you, my lord king, but God is too good a friend to give up.

Narrator: The king understood, but Daniel’s enemies reminded him that the law had been broken, a law written and signed by the king himself.

King: May your God rescue you!

Narrator: And so Daniel was put into the pit where the lions lived. The entrance was sealed and the king went back miserably to the palace. All night King Darius walked up and down in his dressing gown. (act this out) In the morning the king was at the entrance to the pit at first light.

King: Daniel, Daniel,Was your God able to save you?

Daniel: Yes, your majesty, God sent an angel to shut the lions’ mouths. They did not harm me at all. Isn’t it wonderful? I knew God wouldn’t let me down.’

Narrator: The king was overjoyed to hear his friend alive and gave orders for Daniel to be pulled out of the pit. The lions roared ferociously but everyone could see that Daniel had not been hurt at all.

King: My dear Daniel, it is wonderful. This just goes to show that GOD IS THE BEST FRIEND TO HAVE after all.

Narrator: And so King Darius issued a decree that Daniel’s God, the God of Israel, the God who rescues should be worshipped.

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Runaround Quiz Divide the children into teams of at least six. Allocate an area of the room (e.g. a desk) to each team as their ‘den’. Give each team a paper cup to keep in their ‘den’.

Have the letters A, B, C and D spread along the front of the room with plenty of space in front of each letter. Have a table off to one side with a large bowl of dried peas (or similar).

For each question, roll a dice to decide how many children from each team should take part in that question. (Leaders should try to ensure that in each team all the children are selected to take part an equal number of times.)

Read out the questions below one at a time. The children taking part should not leave their dens until you have read out the question and all the possible answers. Having done so you should say ‘Go!’ and then those taking part should move to the letter representing the answer they think is the right one. You then call ‘run-around’ and give the children three seconds to move to another letter should they wish to do so. (This means the children can give any others they think are following them the ‘run-around’ and fool them into choosing the wrong letter.)

Once the answer is revealed, those children who have the answer right take a dried pea from the bowl and put it into the paper cup in their den. Those who have the answer wrong must go to the side of the room (rather than return to their teams) and sit out the next question – even if it means their team cannot make up the number on the dice.

The winning team is the one with the most dried peas in their paper cup at the end.

ROUND ONE: WHO DID WHAT?

A = NOAH B = MOSES C = DAVID D = DANIEL

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Who built an enormous boat? Who escaped from a den of lions? Who led the people of Israel across the Red Sea? Who fought a giant and won? Who was an advisor to King Darius? Who tried on a suit of armour? Who saw a rainbow for the first time? Who went to speak to King Pharaoh?

ROUND TWO: HOW MANY?

A = 1 B = 3 C = 5 D = 8

How many sons did Noah have? (3) How many people were saved on the ark? (8) How many stones did David need to kill Goliath? (1 – trick question!) How many stones did David take from the brook? (5) David was the youngest of how many brothers? (8) How many times did Daniel pray every day? (3) For how many days was Jesus body in the tomb? (3) How many verses are in the song All Through History? (5)

ROUND THREE: TRUE OR FALSE

A = TRUE C = FALSE

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Moses took two of every kind of creature into the ark. (False – it was Noah) Noah waited 100 years for the flood to come. (True) Noah was 500 years old when the flood came. (False – he was 600) God told Moses to tell king Herod to let the people of Israel go. (False – it was King Pharaoh) God sent a strong east wind to part the waters of the Red Sea. (True) David once fought a wolf when looking after his father’s sheep. (False – he fought a lion and a bear) Goliath was over nine feet tall. (True) Daniel prayed to God in secret. (False – he sat by an open window) King Nebuchadnezzar threw Daniel into the lion’s den. (False – it was King Darius) More than 500 people saw Jesus alive after He had died. (True)

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