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As the people of God approached the land of Canaan that God had promised them, Moses took a census to record the number of people in the twelve tribes. A representative from each of these tribes entered into the land of Canaan to spy it out. When the spies returned, ten of them reported that the Canaanites were too big and strong to overcome. Only two spies, Joshua and Caleb, had confidence that God would help them conquer the land. The Israelites were then made to wander in the wilderness for forty years as a consequence of their lack of faith.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Numbers 1-3, 13-14

Outline:

1. Moses organised the tribes and camp. (Numbers 1-3)
2. Twelve spies checked out the land and then reported back. (Numbers 13)
3. The Israelites rejected God’s plan and received punishment. (Numbers 14)

Tips for teaching children:

• Talk about the tribes using a pizza as a visual aid. Cut into 12 slices and place on small plates. Place a cup or coloured plate in the centre of the table and then arrange the plates around the cup to mimic the placement of the tribes around the tabernacle. After this, you can use the pieces to represent the 12 spies. Then, of course, eat the pizza!
• If adults are meeting in another room from the children, then ask the children to be spies and obtain information. For example, find out how many people are wearing black shoes or how many purses are in the room. Children will enjoy trying to do this without adults seeing them. Make sure you let the leader of the adult group know before you do this.
• Depict giant grapes by blowing up purple balloons and tying them together to form a cluster.

Tips for teaching adults:

•  Bring grapes and pomegranates to class for the students to eat while you are teaching.
• Since this story is probably too long to read in class, ask the class to read Numbers 13-14 the week before, or alternatively, you can summarise the story during class time. 
• If the class is large enough, appoint twelve people to stand before the class and represent the spies.  Two of the twelve will act the parts of Joshua and Caleb. Each group should try to convince the class of their point of view.  As the teacher, encourage each group to refer to the Scripture for their argument. 
• A smaller class might focus on the opposing positions of the spies.
  • The ten believed Israel should not try to take the land.  Be sympathetic to their position and discuss why you think they make sense to many people.  
  • Why was it so difficult for Joshua and Caleb to change the people’s minds? 
• Ask the class to discuss some things that they are afraid of and how that affects their lives—their decisions, choices, and actions. Follow up with, “How do you handle your fear? How should you handle your fear?”
• Pray about these fears.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson:  Twelve Tribes and Twelve Spies  

Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock),  Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com 

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God wanted everyone to know He was holy. Moses told the priests and the people how to worship God through sacrifices and offerings. God then revealed His presence by appearing as fire in the Tabernacle, in the Holy of Holies. Instead of worshipping the Holiness of God, Nadab and Abihu made their own fire. This disrespect was so great that the fire of the Lord consumed them and their fire.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Leviticus 10

Outline:

1. Nadab and Abihu disrespect God and die (Leviticus 10:1-3)
2. Nadab and Abuhu’s bodies are carried out and buried (Leviticus 10:4-7)
3. New Laws about priests respecting God (Leviticus 10:8-20)

Tips for teaching children:

• Tell the story using a big candle representing God and matches representing Nadab and Abuhu’s fire.
  Refer to missionbibleclass.org for complete instructions.
• Talk about the holiness of God as it relates to the lives of the children you teach. How does God want us to respect Him at school, on the playground, and at church?
• Print or write “God is Holy” in the centre of a paper. Guide the children in gluing red, yellow and red tissue paper around the border for decoration. Alternatively, children can draw, colour or paint a border of their choice.

Tips for teaching adults:

• Read the story in class using three or four readers.  To do a dramatic reading, choose one person to read the narrator’s part, another God’s voice, another Moses’ and another Aaron’s.  
• For greater understanding, I suggest the class watch the Bible Project video on Leviticus (8 min).  It sets the story in the context of the book. Following the video, lead the class in a discussion of the video.  Some conversation starters might be as follows:
  • How does looking at the whole book of Leviticus help us understand the story of Nadab and Abihu better? 
  • What does this story have to teach us today as followers of Jesus about holiness and taking God seriously?  
  • What are some specific things we can do this week to live as a people who are set apart for God? In our home? Our work? Our communities? And at church?  
  • How can we honour and show our respect for God?

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson:  Nadab and Abihu  

Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock),  Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com 

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On their journey to the land of promise, God instructed the Israelites to build a tabernacle. This tent structure, its furnishings and even the clothes worn by the priests serving in it were special and beautiful. When asked to give supplies and use their skills to build the tabernacle, the people were so willing and generous that Moses finally had to tell them to stop. When all the work was completed, the presence of God filled the tabernacle and was visible to the people as a cloud by day and a fire by night. When the cloud moved, Israel knew it was time to pack up the Tabernacle along with the rest of their belongings and move to the next stage in their journey.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Exodus 35:4 through 40:38

Outline:

1. Moses assembles the supplies and workers to build the tabernacle (Exodus 35:4-36:7)
2. Constructing the individual parts of the tabernacle (Exodus 36:8-39:43)
3. Moses sets everything in place in the tabernacle (Exodus 40:1-33)
4. God’s presence fills the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-38)

Tips for teaching children:

• Show illustrations of the tabernacle and the related parts (furnishings, priest clothing, etc.)
• Discuss generosity and then explore ways the children might donate or participate in a benevolent project. This might include donations to a food bank or clothing for those in need.

Tips for teaching adults:

• This is a large section of Scripture.  As a teacher, I would be prepared to summarise all of it instead of reading the entire text.  You may want to print the outline above and give copies to the class members.
• Show this online Virtual Tour of the Tabernacle.  Be sure to click on the ‘About’ tab at upper right of that website for helpful information about using this free material in public.
• Discuss Exodus 40:34-35 and what it means in our lives for God to be present among his people.  Encourage class discussion by asking questions such as:
  • How is God present among his people today?
  • How is this seen in our lives?

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson:  The Tabernacle 

Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock),  Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com 

For questions or comments email: [email protected]

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Moses was on a mountain receiving the Ten Commandments from God. Down below, the people became anxious that Moses had been gone for so long. They begged Aaron to make a god for them to worship. He collected their gold jewellery and made a golden calf. When Moses came down from the mountain, he found the whole camp partying around the idol. Moses threw down the stone tablets and broke them. Moses ordered a serious punishment for this serious rejection of God. It was only after Moses begged God that God forgave His people.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Exodus 31:18-34:35

Outline:

1. The Israelites have Aaron build a golden calf (Exodus 32:1-6)
2. Moses begs God to have mercy on the people (Exodus 32:7-14)
3. Moses breaks the tablets and punishes the people (Exodus 32:9-35)
4. Moses continues to intercede for the people (Exodus 32:30-34:28)
5. Moses descends from Mount Sinai with new tablets from God (Exodus 34:29-35) 

Tips for teaching children:

• God is more important than anything or anyone. Talk about how treating something as more important than God is like worshipping an idol. For example, if we choose video games over God, then the video game is like an idol that we choose to worship.
• Younger children can make tablets out of Play-Doh and “write” commands on them.
• One craft you should NOT ask the children to make is a golden calf. God told them not to make an idol, so asking the children to do that very thing in class would not be a good idea.

Tips for teaching adults:

• This section is probably too long to read aloud in one class session.  I suggest you assign readers to read sections as follows:
  • Exodus 32:1-35
  • Exodus 33:18-34:7
  • Exodus 34:29-35
• There are several good points of discussion in this story. Choose one or more of the following for your class session:
  • Discuss how our culture shapes our views of God and how we relate to him.  
  • Discuss Moses and God’s relationship, especially Moses’ willingness to intercede on behalf of God’s sinful people.  What does this say about God?  About Moses?  
  • Compare and contrast Moses and Aaron in this story. When are you like Moses?  When are you like Aaron?
• Challenge the students to do acts of loyalty to God this week (putting God and things of God first). They should be prepared to share their experience the next time you gather.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson:  The Golden Calf  

Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock),  Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com 

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The Lord knew that His people would need rules so that they could get along and they would know how to love and obey Him. When the Israelites came to Mount Sinai, Moses went up on the mountain, and the Lord laid out his covenant with his people, which included the Ten Commandments and laws for life and worship. As the people watched Moses ascend the mountain into God’s presence, they heard thunder and trumpet sounds and saw lightning and smoke. The Lord wrote the commands on tablets of stone and gave them to Moses for the people.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Exodus 19:1-20:21 and Exodus 24:1-24

Outline:

1. God prepares the people to receive the Law (Exodus 19:1-25)
2. The 10 commandments (Exodus 20:1-21)
3. Formal agreement and stone tablets (Exodus 24:1-18)

Tips for teaching children:

• Play the memory game: Write the commandments on ten individual index cards and then make a duplicate set. Lay the cards face down on a tabletop and mix them up. Children take turns turning over two cards in hopes of making a matching set.
• Read John 15:14 together and discuss how obedience relates to love.
• Make “stone tablets” from salt dough or clay.

Tips for teaching adults:

• Use either ten pieces of paper or ten index cards and write one commandment on each.  Turn the ten papers facedown on a flat surface and then mix them up.  Have the students take turns turning a paper over. Once the commandment is revealed, the student should tell the others which commandment it is (first, second, third, etc.). They can refer to the Bible for the answer if needed. Once answered, turn the card back over and mix it in with the others. Students continue to turn cards over and answer until they are familiar with all of the commandments. Finish off by turning all of the cards over and putting the commandments in order.
• Challenge the class members to find ways to do the commandments during the week.  As they go about their lives, they should look for specific ways that obeying God impacts their own life and the lives of others. Ask them to be prepared to share their experiences during your next gathering. 
  • For instance, “You must not have any gods except me”.  How have they practised this?  
  • Or “you must not steal.”  How can you practice the positive counterpart to this, “You must be generous?”  

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson:  The Ten Commandments  

Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock),  Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com 

For questions or comments email: [email protected]

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Within days of leaving bondage in Egypt and heading toward the land God had promised them, the people began to grumble and pine for the comforts of their old life. Despite their complaints, the Lord provided for their needs over and over. He caused bitter water to become sweet and even led them to an oasis to camp during the journey. He fed them by providing meat via large flocks of quail that flew into their camp each evening and a miraculous dew in the mornings, which turned into flakes of sweet bread (manna) for them to eat. A larger portion of these were provided one day each week so that the people could rest and observe the Sabbath the next day.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Exodus 15:22-16:36

Outline:

1. God provides the Israelites with water (Exodus 15:22-27)
2. God provides the Israelites with food (Exodus 16:1-36)

Tips for teaching children:

• Memorise Philippians 4:19
• Guide children in drawing pictures or listing things that God has provided them with.
• Pray and thank God for what He has provided us with.

Tips for teaching adults:

• Using the outline above, assign two readers to read from the Bible.
• Challenge the students to consider the following: 
  • When faced with a crisis, what is our first response?  
  • If grumbling or complaining is our default response to a crisis, what practical steps can we take to develop a response of trust and thankfulness?
• This story introduces the wilderness experience of Israel, where God tests the people.  To give more context and understanding to the theme of testing, watch the Bible Project video on Testing.  Following the short video, reflect on it (especially focusing on the section related to our story today) and ask the class:
  • What new things have you learned?
  • In what ways might this affect your everyday life or attitudes?

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson:  God Provides Manna and Quail  

Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock),  Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com 

For questions or comments email: [email protected]

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God’s people were finally on their way to their own land, Canaan! A pillar of cloud led the way by day, and a pillar of fire guided them at night. As the Israelites arrived at the edge of the Red Sea, Pharaoh and his army caught up with them. Pharaoh had changed his mind yet again! The Lord protected His frightened people. The pillar of the cloud moved between the Israelites and the Egyptian army. Moses then stretched his hand across the sea, and the Lord caused a great wind to part the water and hold it back while the estimated two million Israelites passed through. When the Egyptians followed them, the Lord caused the water to flood and kill all of them.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Exodus 13:17-14:31

Exodus 15:1-21

Outline:

1. God directs the Israelites to the edge of the sea (Exodus 13:17-14:4)
2. Pharaoh’s army follows, and the Israelites doubt (Exodus 14:5-14)
3. The Israelites cross the parted sea. The Egyptians follow and drown. (Exodus 14:15-31)
4. Celebration and Worship (Exodus 15:1-21)

Tips for teaching children:

• Look for “exit” signs and talk about how “exodus” means “exit”.
• Write names and words from the story on cards. Children take turns drawing a card and then dancing in a way that makes the others guess what was written on the card (similar to charades)
• Ask the children to share something this story teaches us about God.
• Write a song or poem about God’s strength.
• For a simple craft have the children decorate a cloud and a pillar of fire.

Tips for teaching adults:

• Choose participants to read the following passages aloud for the class:
  • Exodus 13:17 – 14:31 
  • Exodus 15:1-18.  
  • If time is more restricted, choose either to read either Exodus 13:17-4:31 or Exodus 15:1-18
• Begin the class by singing one or two songs with the theme of victory, battle, and warfare.  For instance, you could sing “The Battle Belongs to the Lord” or “Onward Christian Soldiers”.
• Here’s a link to a map that helps one to see possible routes of the Exodus from Egypt.    Download Map 8.
• For something different, use this YouTube link to a modern Hebrew composition of the song in Exodus 15.  It is sung in modern Hebrew but has Hebrew and English subtitles and a video background. 
• This event is told as a military victory with God as the victorious warrior-king who defeated the oppressive enemy.  Ask the class to discuss how the death/resurrection of Jesus can be described and understood as the victory of God over an oppressive enemy.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson:  Crossing the Red Sea  

Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock),  Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com 

For questions or comments email: [email protected]

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During the final and terrible plague upon Egypt, the firstborn children and even the firstborn of the livestock died as death passed through Egypt. Only those who followed God’s specific instruction to mark their doors were safe. As the angel of death passed over their homes, the Israelites ate the first Passover Meal. This last plague convinced Pharaoh to release the Jews they quickly left Egypt by night. Four hundred and thirty years of bondage were finally over.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Exodus chapters 11-12

Outline:

1. Moses and Aaron warn the Pharaoh a final time (Exodus 11:1-10)
2. The first Passover meal (Exodus 12:1-28)
3. Death of the firstborn (Exodus 12:29-30)
4. God’s people leave Egypt (Exodus 12:31-51)

Tips for teaching children:

• Reenact the Passover meal (complete with food).
• Consider the seriousness of the story by listing who we know to be the firstborn in their family. This could even include pets.  If the Passover was happening now, then we would certainly want to obey God’s instructions.
• A fun idea is to eat French fried potatoes (or anything else in long strips). After enjoying the snack then show the children how to form a door frame with the fries. To re-enact the Passover instruction, add ketchup (or tomato sauce) to the “top of the door frame.”

Tips for teaching adults:

• Plan and prepare to celebrate a Passover.  This should be done in an intergenerational setting that involves all families in the class (or church) from the children to the grandparents.  There are several written Passover cereomonys to choose from.  Here are a couple of links on celebrating the Passover as followers of Jesus:  https://messiahinthepassover.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Family-Messianic-Haggadah_Digital.pdf  and  https://www.celebratemessiah.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Celebrate-Messiah_Haggadah_2019_final-1.pdf
• Read Luke 22:7 – 30 and discuss how Jesus’ celebration of the Passover fulfils the Passover celebration

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson:  The Death of the First Born 

Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock),  Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com 

For questions or comments email: [email protected]

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Moses and Aaron told Pharaoh that the Lord wanted His people to stop being slaves and to leave Egypt. Pharaoh became angry and treated the Israelites even more harshly. One after another, the Lord sent ten different plagues upon the Egyptian people. Sometimes, Pharaoh tried to bargain with Moses, but each time Moses caused a plague to stop, Pharaoh’s heart would harden, and he would say the people could not go.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Exodus 4:20-23 and 4:27-10:29

Outline:

1. God’s Plan to Save His People using Moses and Aaron (Exodus 4:20-31)
2. First request to Pharaoh (Exodus 5:1-21)
3. Second time to make the request of Pharaoh (Exodus 5:22-7:13)
4. The Plagues upon Egypt (Exodus 7:14-10:29)

(The final plague in the next episode)

Tips for teaching children:

• Use reflection questions so that the children can engage the story:
  • What is something you wonder about this story?
  • Which of the 10 plagues would you have most hated experiencing?
  • How do you think the Egyptian people felt about their Pharaoh?
• Discuss the fact that God heard the people’s cries and helped them.  Encourage the children to share their struggles, and then everyone pray together.
• Give each child a chenille wire (pipe cleaner) and show them how to make a staff and then a snake.

Tips for teaching adults:

•  Set up the class to watch two brief videos that will give some background to the story of the Exodus, particularly the story of the 10 plagues. After watching these, discuss the connections you can make between these videos and the story of Pharaoh and the Exodus. Why would Pharaoh continue to harden his heart in the face of these increasingly destructive plagues?  
  Here are the links: 
  • The goddess Ma’at (3 min)
  • Gods & Goddesses of Ancient Egypt (4 min)
• Have the class read the following Scriptures. After reading, discuss ways to keep our hearts from getting stubborn or hard?  Finish this discussion with a prayer.
  • Psalm 1
  • Psalm 40:6-8
  • Deuteronomy 10:12-22

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: Let My People Go! 

Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock),  Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com 

For questions or comments email: [email protected]

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Even though Moses grew into adulthood in the Pharaoh’s palace, he always knew he was a Hebrew. After killing an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave, Moses fled to Midian for his own safety. During the next forty years, he married and helped care for his father-in-law’s sheep. One day, the Lord spoke to him. The Lord’s voice came from a bush that was full of flames but did not burn out. The Lord told Moses that he had been chosen to lead his people out of Egypt, but Moses offered up many excuses. The Lord gave Moses everything he needed to be a leader and even appointed Moses’ brother, Aaron, to help him.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Exodus 2:11-4:17

Outline:

1. Moses kills an Egyptian (Exodus 2:11-15)
2. Moses Escapes to Midian (Exodus 2:16-22)
3. God talks to Moses (Exodus 2:23-4:17)

Tips for teaching children:

• Draw a vertical line down the centre of a piece of paper to create 2 columns. Write the title “God said” at the top of one column and “Moses said” at the top of the other. Add to each column as you talk about the story. Younger children will need more guidance, but older children can find the answers straight from the Bible. Instead of paper, use a whiteboard or chalkboard if you prefer.
• Use the fun marble painting method to create a painting of the burning bush.
• Make a texture map. Draw a map showing Egypt, Midian and Mt. Sinai. Glue on sandpaper for the land and blue cellophane for the water. 

Tips for teaching adults:

• Draw a vertical line down the centre of a piece of paper or whiteboard to create two columns.  On the left-hand column, write “Moses’ excuses” and on the right, write “God’s response.”  Locate the five excuses from our text, Exodus 3:7 - 4:17 and discuss what Moses is really saying deep down in these excuses. How is God the answer to each one?
• Consider your own life. Have you ever offered any of these excuses to God?  What would God say to you?
• Pray for one another that each would be obedient to God and not offer excuses.
• Measure the distance between Midian and Egypt. Follow the link below to find a number of useful maps. If using the maps in class, be sure to read the copyright information first. https://www.knowingthebible.net/bible-maps

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson:  The Lord Speaks from a Burning Bush  

Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock),  Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com 

For questions or comments email: [email protected]