UPPER ELEMENTARY SUNDAY SCHOOL

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UPPER ELEMENTARY SUNDAY SCHOOLYear B | Spring | Week 1First Sunday in Lent

LessOn OverviewGod judged the world because of sin, but showed mercy and grace to Noah and his family, giving the rainbow as a sign of his promise. God has not broken his promise to Noah and will never break his promises to us. Through his Son Jesus, God has given us a new covenant. He promises that those who believe in Jesus and follow him will be saved, not judged. God shows us mercy and grace. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are signs of this covenant of grace. We celebrate Christ’s death; we rejoice in his resurrection. The rainbow reminds us that God will keep his covenant of salvation with us just as he kept his covenant promise to Noah.

Upper Elementary | Sunday School | Year B | Spring | Week 1

GOd’s COvenant with NOah

Genesis 9:8–17

Big Idea: God made a promise to Noah and

every living creature to never again destroy the earth with a flood. In fact,

his plan was to one day save the world through Jesus.

MemOry Verse: “I have put my rainbow in the clouds. It will be a sign of the covenant between

me and the earth.” Genesis 9:13

Upper Elementary | Sunday School | Year B | Spring | Week 1HEARTS ALIVE

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Week 1 Lesson Plan Activity and Supplies To Prepare

Welcome Activity

(10 minutes)

Review: Noah and the Flood Fill-in-the-BlanksPrintables: Noah and the Flood Fill-in-the-Blanks (one for each child)

• Bibles for the class (NIRV preferred)• Pens or pencils

Lesson Introduction

(10 minutes)

Rainbow Science• 1 piece of white paper• Tape• Flashlight• Child-safe mirror• Large glass bowl of water

Practice the rainbow science activity (see text for details). Set the bowl of water on the table. Tape the piece of paper to a wall opposite the table. Cover any windows in the classroom so that the room is dark. If the classroom size is large, set up two stations for this activity.

Scripture Story(5 minutes)

God's Covenant with Noah• Bibles for the class (NIRV preferred)• Optional: Laptop or overhead projector

Discussion(10 minutes)

Snack(5 minutes)

Rainbow Treats• A rainbow-themed snack such as rainbow layered

cake, frosted cupcakes with rainbow sprinkles, or rainbow colored breakfast cereal• Small water bottles or juice boxes• Paper plates and forks• Napkins

Make or purchase a rainbow-themed snack. (Have gluten-free option available if needed.)

Craft(15 minutes)

Rainbow Ribbon Bookmark• Narrow ribbon (1/8- or1/4-in. wide) cut into 14-in.

lengths in the following colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet (one set of colors for each child)• Light colored cardstock, cut into 2- x 6-in. strips (one

strip for each child, plus one for the leader)• Hole punch• Fine-tip markers

Cut 14-in. lengths of ribbon in each of the six colors (each child will receive six different colors). Cut on the diagonal to minimize fraying. Cut out the 2- x 6-in. strips out of cardstock (one strip for each child). Punch a hole at an end of the cardstock strips.

Closing (5 minutes)

PrayerPrintables: Take-home page (one for each child)

Make enough copies of the Take-home page for each child.

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Upper Elementary | Sunday School | Year B | Spring | Week 1 HEARTS ALIVE

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Bible BackgrOund fOr Leader

In today’s lesson, the Lord spoke to Noah and his family, proclaiming a covenant between God and mankind, and extending that covenant to protect

birds, livestock, and wild animals. Never again would God destroy the earth with a flood or bring mankind and animal life to the verge of extinction. This covenant would last through every generation. God told Noah that every rainbow after a storm would become a sign of the covenant, a reminder that God remembers his pledge. “When the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it. I will remember that my covenant will last forever” (Genesis 9:16).

Old Testament. Today’s story takes place after God brought judgment upon the earth. God saw that sin had completely corrupted mankind. He planned to send a flood to destroy the sin on the earth. Simultaneously, God spoke to a righteous man, Noah, and gave him a task—to build an “ark” and take representatives of all birds and land animals into the ark. Noah built the ark and filled it with the animals and supplies. Then God sent a great rain to destroy mankind. The ark drifted and Noah’s family looked for land. In the seventh month, they found dry land and God told Noah to release all the animals, allowing them to produce offspring and become numerous. After leaving the ark, Noah built an altar and made a sacrifice to the Lord. God was pleased and blessed Noah’s family, encouraging them to have children and fill the earth.

Jesus. This passage shows us that God has always wanted peace with mankind. But because he is holy and mankind is sinful, the two became enemies

(Romans 5:10). Peace between God and mankind required a sacrifice because “without the spilling of blood, no one can be forgiven” (Hebrews 9:22). Even so, “it isn’t possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4), so it became necessary for Jesus to die in order for God to be at peace with mankind. “The blood of Christ has made us right with God. So we are even more sure that Jesus will save us from God’s anger” (Romans 5:9). The peace that God promised Noah looked forward to a day when God would send his own Son to die on a cross and the angels would proclaim, “may glory be given to God in the highest heaven! And may peace be given to those he is pleased with on earth!” (Luke 2:14).

The Church and the World. God told Noah that every time a rainbow appeared in the sky, it would be a witness of God’s covenant with mankind. God also said that he himself would see it and remember his vow to spare the earth. Of course, we know God cannot forget his promises, so we should read this part of the passage as an underscoring of God’s faithfulness—as if God renews his promise every time a rainbow appears. Indeed, God told Noah that he had “set [his] bow in the cloud” (Genesis 9:13 ESV). In the Ancient Near East, a bow was the weapon of kings. Thus, the rainbow becomes a vivid metaphor of the highest King putting away his weapon of war and seeking peace with mankind. Notice the direction the rainbow points, away from the earth and not toward it. The bow has thus turned from a weapon of wrath toward mankind to an arc of God’s loving protection.

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12Upper Elementary | Sunday School | Year B | Spring | Week 1HEARTS ALIVE

1 WelcOme ActivityReview: Noah and the Flood Fill-in-the-Blanks

Distribute the printables along with pencils or pens. Have the children read the

instructions and work to fill in the blanks. Help them as necessary.

Noah and the Flood Fill-in-the-Blanks Answer Key:

1. The people on earth were very sinful. But Noah pleased God.

2. God told Noah to build an ark out of wood because he was going to destroy

the earth with a flood.

3. God told Noah to bring two of every living thing into the ark.

4. God told Noah to store food on the ark for his family and the animals.

5. Noah obeyed God.

6. After the ark was built and the animals were gathered, Noah, his wife, his three

sons and their wives went into the ark.

7. God shut the door of ark and the rain started to pour down.

8. Rain fell until even the mountains were covered, but the ark floated. Noah

and his family and the animals were safe in the ark.

9. Finally, the rains stopped. After many days, the flood went down and the ark

rested on a mountain.

10. When the ground was dry, God told Noah to have everyone leave the ark.

11. Noah built an altar and offered a sacrifice to honor God.

12. God was pleased and said, “I will never destroy all living things again. As long

as earth lasts, there will always be a time to plant and a time to gather the crops;

there will always be cold and heat; there will always be summer and winter, day

and night.”

13. God made a covenant with Noah. He said that he would never again destroy

the earth with a flood. God put a rainbow in the sky as a sign of his covenant.

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2 LessOn IntrOductiOnRainbow Science

Say: Have you ever searched the sky for a rainbow after a rainfall? Under the right conditions, beautiful arch-shaped rainbows can form in the sky, seeming to stretch from one end of the earth to the other. Maybe you have learned about rainbows in your science class at school. Who can tell us what two things are needed to make a rainbow? Allow the children to

respond. That’s right, water and sunlight. Who can tell us when God put the first rainbow in the sky? Yes, it was after the great flood, during the time of Noah. We will hear more about that in our lesson today. But first, we are going to do a science activity and talk about how rainbows are formed. When light passes through raindrops, the water causes the light to bend and refract, or separate, allowing us to see the colors that make up a beam of light. This is what we call a rainbow. I am going to use a mirror, a flashlight, and some water to demonstrate how it happens.

Gather the children together around the materials. Darken the classroom by

turning off the lights and covering any windows. Submerge a mirror (at an angle)

into the bowl of water. Ask a volunteer to shine a flashlight onto the mirror. The

mirror (adjust the tilt of the mirror as necessary) will reflect the light through the

water, creating a rainbow on the white paper on the wall. Point out and name with

the children the colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet.

Allow the children to take turns (two at a time) making a rainbow. If you have a

large number of children, divide the children into two groups to try the experiment

at different stations.

3 Scripture StOryGod's Covenant with Noah

If possible, project the verses onto a screen or have the children follow along in

their Bibles (NIRV version preferred). Have extra Bibles available for children who

do not have their own copy. Prior to reading, say: I want you to listen carefully as I read aloud from Genesis 9:8–17. Listen for the word covenant and remember that a covenant is like a promise or an agreement. Alternatively,

assign verses for the children to read aloud.

Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons who were with him. He said, “I am now making my covenant with you and with all your children who will be born after you. I am making it also with every living creature that

To Prepare:Set the bowl of water on the table and practice the instructions below. Tape the piece of paper to a wall opposite the table. Cover any windows in the classroom so that the room is dark. If the classroom size is large, set up two stations for this activity.

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was with you in the ark. I am making my covenant with the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals. I am making it with all the creatures that came out of the ark with you. In fact, I am making it with every living thing on earth. Here is my covenant I am making with you. The waters of a flood will never again destroy all life. A flood will never again destroy the earth.” God continued, “My covenant is between me and you and every living creature with you. It is a covenant for all time to come. Here is the sign of the covenant I am making. I have put my rainbow in the clouds. It will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Sometimes when I bring clouds over the earth, a rainbow will appear in them. Then I will remember my covenant between me and you and every kind of living creature. The waters will never again become a flood to destroy all life. When the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it. I will remember that my covenant will last forever. It is a covenant between me and every kind of living creature on earth.” So God said to Noah, “The rainbow is the sign of my covenant. I have made my covenant between me and all life on earth.” Genesis 9:8–17

4 DiscussiOnLet’s see if you can help me answer these questions from our story:

X What sign of his covenant did God give Noah? (Rainbow) Say: That’s right, the rainbow was the sign; it was and still is a reminder that God will never again destroy the world with a flood.

X How long was God’s covenant to be in effect? (Forever)

Say: Let’s talk about this covenant and what it has to do with us. Let’s look back at the story of the great flood. Turn in your Bibles to Genesis 6:17–19. The story of the great flood is a sad story, isn’t it? But it teaches us some important truths. Let’s read these together.

“I am going to bring a flood on the earth. It will destroy all life under the sky. It will destroy every living creature that breathes. Everything on earth will die. But I will make my covenant with you. You will go into the ark. Your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives will enter it with you. Bring a male and a female of every living thing into the ark. They will be kept alive with you.” Genesis 6:17–19

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Say: This is when God first spoke to Noah about the covenant.

X We know that God hates sin and he will judge and punish sin, but what else do we know about God? (Allow the children to suggest answers.)

X Is God merciful? (Yes)

X Does God forgive? (Yes)

X God judged the earth by sending the flood, but he also showed mercy. To whom did God show mercy? (God showed mercy to Noah and his

family.)

X After the flood, God told Noah that he would never again destroy the whole earth with a flood. What sign did God give Noah as a reminder of that promise? (Rainbow)

X Was Noah perfect? (No) Do you think that Noah sinned after the flood? Yes, he did, God knew that people’s hearts were sinful and that they would continue to sin (Genesis 8:21). Even though Noah obeyed God, Noah still sinned and so did his children.

Let’s look up a passage found in the New Testament. Direct the children

to Romans 3:23–24 and ask one of the children to read the passage aloud:

“Everyone has sinned. No one measures up to God’s glory. The free gift of God’s

grace makes us right with him. Christ Jesus paid the price to set us free” (Romans

3:23–24).

Say: All of us have sinned, too. No one is perfect and without sin. God always had a plan to save people from their sins. God’s plan was to give people a new covenant; a covenant of grace. He made us a promise of salvation, and he made the way for it to happen.

X Who can explain God’s plan of salvation? Allow the children to answer.

Yes, God’s plan was to send Jesus to live a perfect life, die on the cross, and take the punishment for our sins. Did you know that God decided to do this before the creation of the world? Isn’t that wonderful!

X Does God judge us if we trust Jesus as our Savior? (No) Even though we do deserve judgment, God will not judge us. This is called mercy. God also shows us grace. Grace is giving us what we don’t deserve.

X What do we deserve as sinners? (We deserve punishment for sin; we

deserve death.) What does God give us instead? He gives us eternal life.

X If God’s covenant of mercy and grace doesn’t depend on us, on what does it depend? (It depends on God’s grace and goodness.) Salvation is by

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grace. It is God’s gift to us through Jesus’s death on the cross.

X Can we do anything to earn salvation? (No. It is the free gift of God. [See

Ephesians 2:8–9.])

Today we learned that the rainbow is a sign of God’s covenant with Noah. What did God give us as signs/reminders of his new covenant of grace through Jesus? Allow the children to answer. Yes, God gave us the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Communion/Eucharist) as signs of his covenant of grace. Do these sacraments remind you of anything? Allow the children to answer. Baptism reminds us that our sins have been washed away. Communion reminds us that we are saved because Christ’s body and blood were given for us. We are forgiven and will live eternally because of Christ’s death and resurrection. Our memory verse for this week says: “I have put my rainbow in the clouds. It will be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth” (Genesis 9:13). What should you remember next time you see a rainbow? Allow the children to

answer.

5 SnackRainbow Treats

Serve one of the suggested rainbow snacks with water. Ask: What does God remember when he sees a rainbow? (His covenant) What does the rainbow remind us about God? (God is merciful and gives grace.)

6 CraftRainbow Ribbon Bookmarks

Demonstrate how the craft is made. Thread each of the six

ribbons through the hole at the top of the bookmark so that

they hang in order of the rainbow colors. Gently tie a knot

attaching the ribbons to the marker. The children should label

and decorate the marker: “God Always Keeps His Promises!”

To Prepare:Make or purchase a rainbow-themed snack. (Have gluten-free option available if needed.)

To Prepare:Cut 14-in. lengths of ribbon in each of the six colors (each child will receive six different colors). Cut on the diagonal to minimize fraying. Cut out the 2- x 6-in. strips out of cardstock (one strip for each child). Punch a hole at an end of the cardstock strips.

God Always

Keeps His Promises!

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7 ClOsingPrayer

Encourage the children to look for rainbows and to remember that God always

keeps his promises! You may want to tell them that next week they will be learning

about another covenant, the covenant God made with Abraham. Dismiss the

children with a prayer of blessing. Ask the children to close their eyes as you pray

for them. Say: May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. May you believe God and all of his promises. May you receive his gift of forgiveness and eternal life. Amen.

Children line up to meet their parents. As the children leave, hand out their Take-

home pages and remind them to bring home their crafts.

To Prepare: Make enough copies of the Take-home page for each child.

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1. The people on earth were very _______________. But _______________ pleased God.

2. God told Noah to build an ark out of wood because he was going to destroy

the _______________ with a __________________.

3. God told Noah to bring _______________ of every living thing into

the_______________.

4. God told Noah to store _______________ on the ark for his family and the animals.

5. Noah _______________ God.

6. After the ark was built and the animals were gathered, Noah, his

_______________, his three _______________ and their wives went into the ark.

7. _______________ shut the door of ark and the rain started to pour down.

8. Rain fell until even the _______________ were covered, but the ark _______________ .

Noah and his family and the animals were _______________ in the ark.

9. Finally, the rains stopped. After many days, the flood went down and the ark

_______________ on a mountain.

10. When the ground was _______________, God told Noah to have everyone leave

the ark.

11. Noah built an _______________ and offered a _______________ to honor God.

12. God was pleased and said, “I will never _______________ all living things again.

As long as earth lasts, there will always be a time to _______________ and a time

to gather the crops; there will always be _______________ and heat; there will

always be _______________ and winter, day and _______________ .”

13. God made a covenant with Noah. He said that he would never again destroy

the earth with a flood. God put a _______________ in the sky as a sign of his

_______________ .

Noah and the Flood Instructions: Open your Bibles to the story of Noah and the great flood in Genesis 6:6—8:22. Choose a word from the list to fill in the blanks. (Hint: Be on the lookout for synonyms.)

Word Bank:altararkcoldcovenantdestroydryearthfloatedfloodfoodGodmountainsnightNoahobeyedplantrainbowrestedsacrificesafesinfulsonssummertwowife

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HEARTS ALIVEUpper Elementary | Sunday School | Year B | Spring | Week 1 HEARTS ALIVE

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God’s Covenant with Noah } Scripture: Genesis 9:8–17 } Big Idea: God made a promise to Noah and

every living creature to never again destroy the earth with a flood. In fact, his plan was to one day save the world through Jesus.

} Memory Verse: “I have put my rainbow in the clouds. It will be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” Genesis 9:13

Table Talk

What Your Child Learned TodayGod judged the world because of sin, but showed mercy and grace to Noah and his family. He set a rainbow in the sky as a sign of his covenant to never again destroy the earth with a flood. He has not broken his promise to Noah and will never break his promises to us. Through his Son Jesus, God has given us a new covenant. He promises that those who believe in Jesus and trust him as Savior will be saved, not judged. God shows mercy—not giving us what we deserve (punishment)—and he shows grace—giving us what we don’t deserve (forgiveness and everlasting life). The sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Eucharist) are signs of this covenant of grace. We celebrate Christ’s death; we rejoice in his resurrection. The rainbow reminds us that God will keep his covenant of salvation with us just as he kept his covenant promise to Noah. God never breaks his promises.

Try ThisWrite out the memory verse at the top of a piece of paper. Then draw a picture to remind you of God’s faithfulness. Think of one way that God has kept his promises, either in the Bible or in your own life. Display this picture in a place where you will see it throughout the week. Thank God for always keeping his promises!

Something Else to DoMake a rainbow mobile. Your child should be able to do most of this project on their own, but they will have fun doing it with you! You will need:

�Strong thread or fishing line �Thread, ribbon, or thin cording �Beads of various shapes and colors (optional) �Small prisms with holes for hanging (can be of

various sizes and shapes) �A thin branch, approximately 12–18 inches

long �Ceiling hook

Cut as many lengths of thread, ribbon, or thin cording as you have prisms (cut pieces twice the length desired since they will be doubled when hung on the branch). Loop each thread or ribbon through the hole in a prism and tie close to the hole. Add beads of various shapes on the two sides of the ribbon. Secure the thread or ribbon on the branch. You may want to help your child use a knife to make a small notch in the branch so the ribbon or thread will not slide. Help your child use invisible thread or fishing line and ceiling hooks to secure the branch and hang it from the ceiling. Hang the mobile in front of a window or sliding glass door and enjoy the rainbows!

XDiscuss the similarities you see between Noah’s rescue and our salvation through Jesus. Hint: Noah was not perfect; he sinned like everyone else. God chose to save Noah and told Noah how he could be saved. God did the saving and promised to keep his covenant with Noah.

XSearch the Internet for New Testament Bible verses using the word covenant. Read the verses together as a family.

WEEK 1

Live It All WeeKUpper Elementary Take Home Paper for Families

Documents

UPPER ELEMENTARY SUNDAY SCHOOL