Lesson 1: Moses and the Burning Bush

Leader Guide for One Room

Classroom: LCC WEB

Exodus 3:1–4:17

09/20/2020

Kids sing songs of praise to God.

Kids watch a video and discuss the Bible point.

Kids look for evidence that God is real in Exodus 3 and 4.

Kids try to memorize two different collections of photos.

Kids make “flames” to hang in their doorways.

Kids do an active prayer.

Music Video

[10 min]

One True God

Supplies

• “One True God” (watch or download here)
• “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” (watch or download here)
• “Let Us Bow Down in Worship” (Psalm 95:6-7) (watch or download here)

Tip

• Don’t have internet in your classroom? That’s okay! You can download the videos before class using the “download” button at the link provided, or just purchase this quarter’s DVD here. 

Sing Songs to God

            Sing the three songs in any order.

Talk-About Video

[10 min]

Fact or Fiction?

Supplies

• “Fact or Fiction?” teaching video (watch or download here)

Tip

• Don’t have internet in your classroom? That’s okay! You can download the videos before class using the “download” button at the link provided, or just purchase this quarter’s DVD here. 

Discuss and Watch “Fact or Fiction?”

            Say: We’re learning that God is real.

            Ask: • How do you know God is real?

            Say: Let’s watch a video that will test how well you can tell what’s real and what’s not! Let’s play Fact or Fiction?

            Watch “Fact or Fiction?”

            Ask: • Which things sounded really real…but they were fiction?

            • How can you tell the difference between what’s real and what’s made up?

            Say: We may not always be able to tell the difference between fact and fiction when it comes to silly animal facts, but we can always know God is real. God showed up for Moses in a very real way, and he’s real today, too!

Core Bible Discovery

[20 min]

Moses and the Burning Bush (Exodus 3:1–4:17)

Supplies

• Adapted Option (for video chat, pre-recorded video, or parent-led lessons)
  • Bibles
  • paper
  • markers
  • pencils (1 per person)
  • cups of water (1 per person)
• In-Class Option (for meeting at church)
  • Bibles
  • construction paper (various colors)
  • scissors
  • transparent tape

Tips

• We’ve provided two options for this Bible Experience. The at-home option is specifically designed for video calls, pre-recorded videos, or parent-led lessons during the COVID-19 crisis. The in-class option is meant for your standard, at-church Sunday School class. Use whichever one works best for you during this season!
• If you’re leading this as a video, tell families to pause when you ask questions so they can discuss them.
• If you’re using the Adapted Option for non-traditional circumstances and want a longer lesson, we would recommend choosing from these additional activity blocks: Opening, Talk-About Video, Music Video, Low-Energy Game, or Life Application Wrap-Up. These blocks should be easily adapted into a different setting.

• This experience may bring to the surface some deeper questions about why we can’t actually hear, touch, and see God. Check out Deeper Bible for a great way to address those concerns with kids!

Adapted Option

Discuss Evidence

            Say: You have 30 seconds to find as much evidence as you can that the people in your family are real. Ready? Go!

            (Children’s Ministry Directors: If you’re leading this over video, count to 30 and then make a buzzer sound when time is up.)

            Ask: • What evidence did you find that your family members are real? Everybody call out your answers.

            Say: It’s pretty easy to prove someone standing right here is real. You can see them, touch them, and hear them.

            But today we’re learning that God is real. What evidence is there that that’s true? After all, we can’t see him, hear him, or touch him the way we could with our families.

            Let’s look at an encounter Moses had with God and search for evidence that God is real.

Hear God

            Say: One way you know your family members are real is that you can hear them. And we’ll see that Moses heard from God!

            It all started when Moses saw a bush that was on fire…but it wasn’t burning up! As Moses got closer to check it out, this is what he heard.

            Read Exodus 3:4-6.

            Ask: • How does this show that God is real?

            Say: Not only did Moses hear God say his name, plus identify himself as God, but God went on to tell Moses a lot. He told Moses he was going to rescue the people of Israel out of Egypt, where they were slaves. He told Moses he’d give the people of Israel a new place to live with plenty of food. He gave Moses specific instructions on what to do!

            Let’s see what it would be like to hear God speak that clearly.

            Have one person in each family close his or her eyes while the other family members each say the first person’s name and gives a simple command that can be followed with eyes closed. For example, a partner might say, “Omar, clap your hands three times.” Make sure everyone gets a turn to hear and do commands. (Children’s Ministry Directors: If you’re leading this over a pre-recorded video, have families pause the video to do this experience. If you’re leading it in a live video call, say the names and give commands yourself!)

            Ask: • How well could you hear your family members?

            • Compare that to how well you hear God.

            Say: Sometimes it can be hard to hear God the same way we hear a human voice. In fact, you may even start to wonder if God is real. But we just saw evidence that God can speak as clearly as your partner spoke to you. Plus, God still speaks today! It might not always be a voice we can hear, but God speaks to us through the Bible, through other people, through what we feel and sense in our hearts, and through his creation. We know God is real because Moses heard him, and we can listen for him today, too.

Touch God

            Say: Another sign your family is real is that you can touch the people in your family! We can’t touch God, but God did ask Moses to partner with him to do the work of freeing people from slavery. God said this.

            Read Exodus 3:8-10.

            Say: Here’s the thing: Moses didn’t really want to partner with God. The job seemed hard! But God had chosen Moses to be his leader. Moses didn’t get to touch God, but he did get to work with God…and that’s almost the same thing!

            Let’s see how well you can work with a partner.

            Family members will form pairs and take turns leading each other across the room while one person has his or her eyes closed. To lead each other, partners will link arms. (Children’s Ministry Directors: This is another great time to have families pause the video.)

            Ask: • What was it like working with your partner?

            • What’s something you think you could partner up with God to do?

            Say: God is real. When you and your partner linked up, you could work together to accomplish something. Even though we can’t touch God, we can work with him to do important work like telling people about Jesus or showing his love. When we do God’s work, we often feel his power working through us!

See God

            Say: A third sign your partner is real is that you can see your partner. I’m looking around our room, and I can’t see God. But let’s look for visual evidence of God in Moses’ story—and make visuals we can see, too.

            Explore these four visual signs from God as follows. (Children’s Ministry Directors, if you’re leading this on video encourage families to participate with you as you set the example for each sign. Just tell them upfront what supplies they’ll need so they can pause the video and get the supplies.)

• Burning bush (read Exodus 3:1-3): Have everyone draw flames on a piece of paper, then set their papers on a couch or table to make it appear on fire.
• Snake staff (read Exodus 4:1-5): Everyone will throw a pencil to the floor and see if it turns to a snake. Then they’ll hold it between two fingers, right in the middle of the pencil, and wiggle it back and forth so it looks like it’s bending.
• Snowy hand (read Exodus 4:6-7): Everyone will dip their hand in a cup of water so it’s wet, then hold it behind their back and wipe it on their shirt so they can show that it’s dry.
• Bloody water (read Exodus 4:8-9): Everyone will color a scrap of paper bright red, then dip the paper in a cup of water and swirl it around until the water turns red. (If red is not available, use a different color instead.)

            Say: Wow! God is real! Moses didn’t see God himself (at least not in this Bible story), but he sure saw a lot of miraculous signs that proved God is real! We made silly imitations of the signs, but they were nowhere near as amazing as the real signs from our real God!

            But you know, I think we see signs around us that God is real, too. They’re called God Sightings. God Sightings aren’t times we see God like we see a person, but they’re times we see evidence that God is real and at work around us. Share your own example of a way you’ve seen God at work in everyday life. It could be as big as a miraculous event or as simple as a beautiful sunset or a dog’s tail wag.

            Ask: • Tell about a God Sighting you’ve seen.

            Say: When we see these God Sightings—whether they feel big or small—they’re signs that God is real. They’re ways to see God!

            So Moses got to the burning bush where he saw a sign that God is real. Then he heard God and had a whole conversation with him about how to set the Israelites free from slavery. Then God gave him even more visual ways to prove that he’s real. And after that whole experience, Moses went on to partner with God to do something amazing.

            God is the same real God today that he was for Moses. In fact, God told Moses a name that shows God is the same all the time.

            Read Exodus 3:14.

            Ask: • What do you think the name “I Am” means?

            • How does that name show God is real today like he was in Moses’ time?

            Say: “I Am” is a name that shows God is always the same. He just is! So we can pay attention to how God is real as we listen for him, work alongside him, and look for God Sightings.

In-Class Option

Discuss Evidence

            Have kids form mixed-age pairs.

            Say: You have 30 seconds to find as much evidence as you can that your partner is real. Ready? Go!

            After 30 seconds, get kids’ attention.

            Ask: • What evidence did you find that your partner is real?

            Say: It’s pretty easy to prove someone standing right here is real. You can see them, touch them, and hear them.

            But today we’re learning that God is real. What evidence is there that that’s true? After all, we can’t see him, hear him, or touch him the way we could with our partners.

            Let’s look at an encounter Moses had with God and search for evidence that God is real.

Hear God

            Say: One way you know your partner is real is that you could hear your partner. And we’ll see that Moses heard from God!

            It all started when Moses saw a bush that was on fire…but it wasn’t burning up! As Moses got closer to check it out, this is what he heard.

            Read Exodus 3:4-6.

            Ask: • How does this show that God is real?

            Say: Not only did Moses hear God say his name, plus identify himself as God, but God went on to tell Moses a lot. He told Moses he was going to rescue the people of Israel out of Egypt, where they were slaves. He told Moses he’d give the people of Israel a new place to live with plenty of food. He gave Moses specific instructions on what to do!

            Let’s see what it would be like to hear God speak that clearly.

            Have the younger partner in each pair close his or her eyes while the older says the first partner’s name and gives a simple command that can be followed with eyes closed. For example, a partner might say, “Omar, clap your hands three times.” After a few commands, partners can switch roles.

            Ask: • How well could you hear your partner?

            • Compare that to how well you hear God.

            Say: Sometimes it can be hard to hear God the same way we hear a human voice. In fact, you may even start to wonder if God is real. But we just saw evidence that God can speak as clearly as your partner spoke to you. Plus, God still speaks today! It might not always be a voice we can hear, but God speaks to us through the Bible, through other people, through what we feel and sense in our hearts, and through his creation. We know God is real because Moses heard him, and we can listen for him today, too.

Touch God

            Say: Another sign your partner is real is that you can touch your partner! We can’t touch God, but God did ask Moses to partner with him to do the work of freeing people from slavery. God said this.

            Read Exodus 3:8-10.

            Say: Here’s the thing: Moses didn’t really want to partner with God. The job seemed hard! But God had chosen Moses to be his leader. Moses didn’t get to touch God, but he did get to work with God…and that’s almost the same thing!

            Let’s see how well you can work with your partner.

            Have partners link arms and then work together to gather a Bible, construction paper, scissors, and tape.

            Ask: • What was it like working with your partner?

            • What’s something you think you could partner up with God to do?

            Say: God is real. When you and your partner linked up, you could work together to accomplish something. Even though we can’t touch God, we can work with him to do important work like telling people about Jesus or showing his love. When we do God’s work, we often feel his power working through us!

See God

            Say: A third sign your partner is real is that you can see your partner. I’m looking around our room, and I can’t see God. But let’s look for visual evidence of God in Moses’ story.

            Form four mixed-age groups. Assign each group one of the following signs, and have group members read the verses about it. Then they’ll work together to use the construction paper, scissors, and tape to create a visual representation of the sign. Let groups be creative, and make sure everyone is involved. If needed based on small class size, form fewer groups and give them two signs each. Allow about five minutes, and then have groups show off their signs.

• Burning bush: Exodus 3:1-3
• Snake staff: Exodus 4:1-5
• Snowy hand: Exodus 4:6-7
• Bloody water: Exodus 4:8-9

            Say: Wow! God is real! Moses didn’t see God himself (at least not in this Bible story), but he sure saw a lot of miraculous signs that proved God is real!

            You know, I think we see signs around us that God is real, too. I like to call them God Sightings. God Sightings aren’t times we see God like we see a person, but they’re times we see evidence that God is real and at work around us. Share your own example of a way you’ve seen God at work in everyday life. It could be as big as a miraculous event or as simple as a beautiful sunset or a dog’s tail wag.

            Ask: • Tell about a God Sighting you’ve seen.

            Say: When we see these God Sightings—whether they feel big or small—they’re signs that God is real. They’re ways to see God!

            So Moses got to the burning bush where he saw a sign that God is real. Then he heard God and had a whole conversation with him about how to set the Israelites free from slavery. Then God gave him even more visual ways to prove that he’s real. And after that whole experience, Moses went on to partner with God to do something amazing.

            God is the same real God today that he was for Moses. In fact, God told Moses a name that shows God is the same all the time.

            Read Exodus 3:14.

            Ask: • What do you think the name “I Am” means?

            • How does that name show God is real today like he was in Moses’ time?

            Say: “I Am” is a name that shows God is always the same. He just is! So we can pay attention to how God is real as we listen for him, work alongside him, and look for God Sightings.

Object Lesson

[10 min]

Getting Our Attention

Supplies

• “What Do You Remember?” handout (1 per child) (download here)
• index cards (2 per child)
• paper
• pens
• clock or cellphone timer (optional)

Easy Prep

• Cut each “What Do You Remember?” handout in half along the dotted line.
• Make a stack of Collection 1 copies and a stack of Collection 2 copies.

Try to Memorize Two Collections of Photos

            Say: Today we’ve heard about when God did something amazing to show Moses—and us—that God is real. God’s miracle of the burning bush that wouldn’t burn up was an unusual sight, and it grabbed Moses’ attention. When something grabs our attention, we also usually remember it better.

            Ask: • What’s something you remember clearly from when you were younger? Share an example of your own first to help kids land on a memory of their own, such as a memory of a birthday party or a special Christmas celebration from your childhood.

            • Why do you think that memory is stored in your brain so clearly while we can forget things from just last week? Allow time for kids to think about this and offer ideas.

            Say: Scientists who study the human brain say there’s a reason some memories stay so clear for us. Those memories often have a strong emotion connected to them, like feeling very loved by your friends and family. Strong emotions lock memories in our brains. Let’s put that idea to the test and see how true it is!

• Give each person a copy of the Collection 1 handout, two index cards, and a pen. Distribute the handouts facedown, and have kids keep them that way until you tell them to turn over the handouts.
• When everyone has the supplies, challenge kids to turn over the handouts at your cue and study the images, trying to memorize everything on the page.
• Cue everyone to turn over the pages, and allow 10 seconds for studying. You can use a timer or just count in your head.
• Then call time, and have everyone place the handout facedown again. Then have each child write or draw on an index card everything he or she can remember from the handout. (Use paper instead of index cards for young kids, who will need more space to draw.) Assure kids that spelling things correctly doesn’t matter. Allow about a minute for kids to try to recall and record all they can on the index card.
• Have kids count how many things they could recall. Then have kids raise their hands if they remembered one thing, two things, three things, and so on up to 10.
• Hand out the Collection 2 copies, and repeat the experiment with a new set of images and index cards. The number of things most kids can recall should increase.

Talk About It

            Ask: • What did you notice about how many things you were able to remember from each set of images?

            Say: Most people who do an experiment like this are able to remember more from the second set of images. Remember, brain scientists think strong emotion helps lock things in our memories, so…

            Ask: • Why do you think the second set of images is usually easier to remember?

            Say: The pictures on the first handout were pretty boring, but the pictures on the second handout showed some things that most people are afraid of. Fear is a very strong emotion that grabs attention, and it helped the pictures stick in your memories.

            God got Moses’ attention by showing Moses something amazing. Moses might have even been a little afraid at first, and he probably felt lots of other strong emotions. With the burning bush, God did a very memorable thing that helped Moses—and us—know that God is real!

            Ask: • What helps you remember that God is real?

Craft

[20 min]

Flaming Door Curtains

Supplies

• red, orange, and yellow crepe paper streamers
• red, orange, and yellow construction paper
• glue sticks
• staplers
• washable markers

Easy Prep

• Make a sample craft to show kids.
• Cut out red, green, and orange construction paper triangles.

Make Flaming Door Curtains

            Show kids the sample craft you made. You might even hang it in your doorway and let kids walk through it. Set out the supplies to share, and have kids follow these directions to make flaming door curtains.

• Tear 12 long strips of crepe paper, four of each color. The strips should be long enough to hang in a doorway—at least 6 feet long.
• Tear one more strip of crepe paper that’s the width of a doorway. Use your classroom door to measure!
• Staple one end of each long strip to your doorway-width strip so the long strips hang down.
• If you have time, use markers to add flame shapes to your crepe paper strips, or glue “flame” triangles on.

Talk About It

            Ask: • What would you do if you saw a burning bush like Moses saw?

            • What would you do if you saw flames in your doorway…but your house wasn’t on fire?

            Say: God is real, and Moses saw that firsthand when he saw the burning bush. When you get home, you can hang these curtains in your bedroom doorway so you can walk through the flames every time you enter or exit your room! Whenever you walk through the flames, ask God to show you that he is real.

            Have kids take their doorway curtains home and hang them in their doorways. Remind kids that they should never play with real fire.

Life Application Wrap-Up

[5 min]

Pray and Listen

Pray With Motions

• Have kids put their hands up to their eyes like binoculars. Pray: God, because you are real, help us see you at work.
• Have kids rub their hands together. Pray: God, because you are real, help us feel you with us.
• Have kids cup their hands behind their ears. Pray: God, because you are real, help us hear your voice. Right now, we want to hear only your voice. We ask you to tell us something about who you are. We’re listening now. Pause for kids to listen. Then close the prayer.
• Ask any kids who heard God speak to share what they heard.
• Thank kids for coming, and encourage them to come back next week.

Foundations of Faith, Lesson 1: Moses and the Burning Bush, Design and base content Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc. Licensed for use with 1-20 students. Permission to reproduce granted for local church use only.