YEA Lesson Library
What a Day!
About This Lesson
This lesson teaches that, since God created the Sabbath and made it holy, the student should keep the sabbath holy, going to church and worshipping God each sabbath.
Scriptures
Genesis 2:1-3
Exodus 20:8-11
Exodus 31:14-15
Exodus 31:15
Deuteronomy 5:12-14
Psalm 92:1
Isaiah 56:2
Matthew 12:10-12
Mark 3:2-4
Words to Know
CELEBRATE - having a good time to mark a special time
HEALED - made well
HOLY - without sin, set apart to worship
WORSHIP- showing our love to God in prayer, songs, and offerings
The Lesson
What is your most special day? Is it your birthday? Is it the first day of school, or the last? Is it the day you leave for vacation? Some people like to celebrate their special day.They may have a party with decorations. There may even be gifts!
God had a special day, too. He was done making the world and everything in it. Adam had work to do. He was to take care of God’s garden and all the animals. Then God made one very special day. It wasn't His birthday. God always was - He wasn't born like you and me. God's special day is the Sabbath.
How many days did it take God to make everything? The Bible says ti took six days. After those six days God was done. Look outside. How many things do you see that God made? Let's make a list: grass, trees, clouds, sun. . . you name the rest.
Sabbath means rest. God rested on the seventh day. It wasHis special day for you. But, how did He make it special? God didn't have a party or gifts. He celebrated by making the day holy, and He rested!
God gave man and animals everything they needed. They had food and a place to live. The sun kept them warm. They had cool, clear water to drink. But God knew they needed something else. They needed rest.
God felt better after He rested on the Sabbath day. He rested on the seventh day to make it special and show man he needed to rest. God even made the Sabbath day different from the other days. He said we shouldn't work on the Sabbath.
Would you like to go to school every day of the week? Would your daddy like to work every single day? Wouldn't you get very tired? We all need a break, even the animals. So God made a special day for it.
But, God also made theSabbath day holy. It's the day we worship God. We come together to pray. We sing songs that worship God. We do kind things for other people.
Jesus always did kind things for other people. One Sabbath day He met a man who couldn't see. Jesus picked up a handful of dirt. He spit on it and made some mud. Jesus put the mud on the man's eyes. He told the man to wash his eyes in the pool of Siloam. After that the man could see! Jesus healed him.
One Sabbath Jesus saw a man who couldn't walk. He had to be carried everywhere. The man was sitting by a pool of water. Jesus told the man to "Get up! Pick up your bed and walk." Just like that, the man was well!
Think about your own special day - your birthday. What if no one even noticed that it was your birthday? What if no one even said, "Happy Birthday." What if no one gave you a gift or a card? What if no one even sang "Happy Birthday To You." If everyone acted like you weren't there, how would you feel? Wouldn't you be sad?
Now think how God must feel. He gave us a special day to worship Him. But, people go to work. They work in the yard. They work in the house. They don't talk to God in prayer. They don't sing songs to Him. They don't say"Happy Sabbath" to anyone. They forget all about Him. Don't you think God is sad?
God wants us to rest on the Sabbath day. It is a holy day to worship Him. He even promised to bless people who keep the Sabbath holy. Don't you want to be a part of that blessing?
Student Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for giving us the Sabbath - your special day. Help me think of ways that I can worship you, and kind things I can do for others on the Sabbath.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday - Exodus 20:11
Monday - Exodus 31:14-15
Tuesday - Deuteronomy 5:12-14
Wednesday - Psalm 92:1
Thursday - Isaiah 56:2
Friday - Matthew 12:10-12
Saturday - Mark 3:2-4
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, children will be able to:
1. State that Sabbath means rest.
2. Tell what God did on the seventh day.
3. Recite what we are supposed to do on the Sabbath.
4. Name some things they can do to honor God on the Sabbath.
Topics & Themes
Creation
Creator
God, Eternal
God’s Provision
Holy
Jesus, His Miracles
Healing
Rest
Sabbath
Sabbath Conduct
Ten Commandments, Sabbath
Worship God
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA Students' and Teacher's books, attendance and memory verse charts, stars or stickers, songbook, CD, music player, dowel rods, 81⁄2" × 14" paper, yarn or ribbon, crayons or markers, tape, party hats, streamers, napkins, gift-wrapped box, cupcakes, butcher's paper
Preparation
Primary-age children are beginning to develop a set of personal values. Many of these are learned from their parents and other adults in their lives. It is important, at this time, to teach them biblical standards to help them make lifestyle choices. Keeping the Sabbath should be taught at an early age so that its importance will be impressed on their hearts and minds.
Background - In teaching lessons on the creation, it is important that we remember, "the Sabbath came into being after the creation of man, not to make him a slave of rules and regulations but to ensure his physical and spiritual well-being. The welfare of man, then, is not restricted but guaranteed by its proper observance" (Sabbath to Sunday, by Samuele Bacchiocchi).
Before class, cut small dowel rods into ten-inch pieces (one for each child in class). Also, cut yarn or ribbon into 15-inch pieces so that each child will have one.
How to Teach This Lesson
Begin today's lesson by asking: What is your favorite, most special day of all? Answers may include birthdays, July 4th, Thanksgiving, one of the festivals, or some other holiday. Tell children that you are setting today aside to celebrate one special day. Let the children choose which day they want to celebrate.
Ask: What would make this day special? Have each student draw one thing on the butcher's paper that would make a day special, such as: special meal, gift, fireworks, etc. Provide party hats, plates, napkins, streamers, gift-wrapped box, and cupcakes.
Now that everything is ready to celebrate, what would happen if no one showed up? What if your friend said he had important things to do, such as clean the garage or play soccer, and he couldn’t take time out to celebrate with you? Or worse yet, what if he came to your house but wouldn’t speak to you? How would you feel?
Ask: On Mother’s Day, who are we supposed to honor? Wouldn’t it be bad if you played outside all day on Mother’s Day and didn’t even speak to your mother? What if you said you would rather spend the day with your friends instead of with your mother?
Let’s think about how God must feel. After He was finished creating things - the earth, grass, trees, flowers, animals, fish, birds, and every living thing - God made man.
God created things in order. He didn’t make fish before He made water. He didn’t make birds before He made trees. God knew what everything would need, and He provided them. When God made man, He knew man would need a time to rest. Not just night to sleep, God knew that man would need to take a break from his work. So, God made the Sabbath Day for man to rest. God even rested Himself to show man that he should rest.
But, the Sabbath is much more than a day of rest. It is a holy day set aside for man to worship God. We don't need party hats or decorations. But we do need to remember and honor Him. Ask: What can you do to honor and worship God on the Sabbath? (Remind children that it is His day and they need to talk with God and spend time with Him at Sabbath School and Sabbath services.)
Doing kind things for others is one way to honor God. Ask: What kind things can you do for others that will honor God on the Sabbath? (Help children think of something they can do, such as taking flowers or a card to encourage someone who is sick, reading a story to a younger child, visiting a nursing home, etc. You might even want to make one of these a class project.)
God promised to bless the people who keep the Sabbath. God promised to make them joyful. He promised that their prayers would be heard and their offerings accepted. God promised to make their name great (Isaiah 56:2-7).
God wants you to keep His Sabbath and be part of His blessing. God made the Sabbath for you to enjoy and to worship Him. What a Day!
Review Questions
1. What does the word “Sabbath” mean?
2. Why did God set the seventh day aside?
3. What are some good things that you can do on the Sabbath?
4. What are some things you should not do on the Sabbath?
5. What does God promise the people who keep the Sabbath?
Teacher-Directed Activity
Today the children will be making a Sabbath Day banner. Give each child an 81⁄2" × 14" sheet of paper, a 10" dowel rod and a piece of yarn. Turn the paper so that the 81⁄2" side is at the top. Tell them to write "Keep The Sabbath Holy"on the top of the paper (at least 2 inches from the top). Underneath, have them draw and color something that makes them think of the Sabbath (church, Bible, child praying, flowers, family, etc.). Fold the top of the paper over to form a one-inch pocket and tape down. Insert the dowel through the pocket. Tie the yarn to the ends of the dowel. Children can hang the banner on their door on the Sabbath.
REACH Activity
1. Do a sword drill. Use the Daily Devotional Scriptures in the YEA book, Color My World. Read out the Scripture reference. Then start the timer. When the child has found the verse, stop the timer. Read the verse and talk about how it relates to the lesson. Challenge the child to see how quickly he/she can find each of the verses in the Bible. The sword drill works well as a competition game if you have more than one child.
2. Using the sequence cards from the YEA Lesson One, add Day Seven—the Sabbath. Then mix up the cards and sequence them.
3. Write an acrostic poem for the word S-A-B-B-A-T-H. For each letter write things you like, enjoy, or know about the Sabbath day. Share it with your family on the Sabbath day. Remember to include the things from your Students’ book activity that you enjoy doing on the Sabbath.
4. Write your memory verse in glue on an 11 x 17 sheet of paper. Sprinkle glitter over the glue. Shake it back and forth to completely cover. Dry. Decorate with stamps or stickers.
5. Write in your Bible notebook: How does the Sabbath show God’s love for us? Read Mark 2:27.
6. When we worship God each Sabbath, we come to His banquet table. Sing: “His Banner Over Me is Love” on page 36 of Kids Classics Collection.
7. Keep a list of your weekly work by recording what you do each day of the week, except the Sabbath. Do you enjoy resting from your work? God did!
8. Ask each family member: What do you enjoy the most about the Sabbath day? What work are you most happy to be resting from?
9. How many Sabbaths are in the calendar year (not counting the annual Holy Days or Festival days)?
10. Encourage someone at church by making them a Happy Sabbath Day card or bookmark from construction paper or heavy cardstock. Include the verse from Genesis 2:3. Add a pretty ribbon to the card or bookmark.
11. Find a special Bible story to read, and share it with your family on the Sabbath. Practice reading it. Get help from someone if necessary.
12. Choose one or two special songs to sing with your family on the Sabbath. Have someone help you learn the words. Practice. Be ready for the next Sabbath.
13. Write a Sabbath prayer to read on the Sabbath. Thank God for His gift of the Sabbath day.
14. Time for the Sabbath. When does the Sabbath start this week? Check the newspaper or weather report and be ready to prepare for it. Ask family members how you can help them be ready for the Sabbath.
15. Plan a special Sabbath meal with Mom or Dad. Make Sabbath place mats for everyone in your family. Cover with clear contact paper. Celebrate and enjoy the Sabbath day by sharing your acrostic poem, prayer, story, and songs. Take pictures of this celebration. Frame them to display in your room or home.
Song
“Come Bless the Lord” is on page 85 of the Kids Classics Collection.
Closing Prayer
Ask one of the older children to lead in prayer thanking God for giving them the Sabbath to rest and worship Him.
Printable Pages
