LESSON OVERVIEW FOR ADULTS
In Exodus 35:4–40:38, God gave His people a remarkable assignment while they were traveling through the desert. He asked them to build Him a home. This special tent, called the Tabernacle, was to be placed right in the middle of the Israelite camp so that God could dwell among His people. Every detail of its construction was given directly by God to Moses, from the rich fabrics and golden furnishings inside, to the special clothing worn by the priests who served there. The tent was divided into two sections: the Holy Place, where priests carried out their daily duties, and the Most Holy Place, where God’s presence resided and only the High Priest could enter once a year. Inside was the Ark of the Covenant, a gold-covered wooden box holding the Ten Commandments and a jar of manna, along with a golden lampstand, a table holding twelve loaves of bread, and an altar where sweet-smelling incense burned continually.
What makes this story so remarkable is not just what was built, but how it was built. When Moses told the people what God was asking, they responded with extraordinary generosity. Men and women brought gold, silver, fine cloth, animal skins, and precious gems, everything they had carried out of Egypt. Skilled craftsmen volunteered their time and talents. The giving was so overwhelming that Moses eventually had to tell the people to stop because there was more than enough. When the Tabernacle was finally completed and set up exactly as God had commanded, the glory of the Lord filled it in the form of a cloud by day and fire by night. God had come to live with His people. This is a story about generosity, obedience, and a God who wants to be close to the people He loves.
OPENING ACTIVITY 6:00–6:15 | Build a Tent (Idea)
Items Needed:
- Popsicle sticks
- Small pieces of fabric or felt (blue, purple, red are ideal)
- Gold stickers or small gold craft gems
- Glue
- A sturdy paper plate as a base
Kids build their very own Tabernacle tent using popsicle sticks as the frame. Kids lay sticks int a triangle gluing them in place. Once the frame is set, they drape and glue small fabric scraps over the sticks to “cover” their tent. Kids then decorate their tent with gold stickers and gems. As kids work, teachers can say: “The people built a tent so God could live close to them. God loves being close to His people!”
BIBLE STORY 6:15–6:25
Object Lesson Prep: Bring a small pop-up tent or drape a sheet over two chairs to make a “tent.” Place a small battery-operated candle or flashlight inside.
Question 1: Where is this story found in the Bible? Exodus
Question 2: Is Exodus in the Old Testament or the New Testament? Old Testament
God’s people had been on a really long walk. They were walking through a big desert to find their new home.
Can you make a HOT face like you’re in the desert sun? [Model wiping sweat from forehead] [Let kids respond]
One day, God said to a man named Moses, [cup hands around mouth like you’re calling out] “Moses! I want to live with My people! I want them to build Me a special tent, a beautiful home right in the MIDDLE of the camp!”
Can you say TABERNACLE? [Say it slowly: TAB-er-NAH-kul] [Wait for kids to repeat] “That’s the fancy word for God’s special tent! TABERNACLE!”
This tent was going to be BEAUTIFUL. It would be covered in beautiful cloth — blue and purple and red!
And inside? It would have furniture made of GOLD! Real gold! Shiny, sparkly GOLD!
God told Moses, “Ask the people to GIVE. Ask them to bring their gold and their cloth and their best things to build My house.”
Do you think the people would share? [Pause and look at kids with a wondering face] [Let kids respond]
They DID! One by one, the people came and brought their BEST things!
They brought gold! They brought cloth! They brought jewels!
They gave SO much that Moses had to say “STOP! We have ENOUGH! Thank you!”
Lots of people with special skills (builders, sewers, artists) all worked together to build the Tabernacle. [Pretend to hammer, sew, and paint with big movements]
Hammer, hammer! [Pretend to hammer] Sew, sew, sew! [Pretend to sew] Paint, paint! [Pretend to paint]
They followed EVERY instruction God gave them.
And when it was all done? Moses set up the Tabernacle right in the middle of the camp.
And then… [slowly open the tent and turn on the candle inside] …something AMAZING happened.
GOD MOVED IN.
God’s presence came like a big CLOUD and filled the whole tent!
Can you make a cloud with your arms? [Model big round arms overhead] [Let kids respond]
At NIGHT, the cloud looked like FIRE — orange and glowing and beautiful!
Every day the people could look at the tent and KNOW God is HERE. God is WITH us.
Theological Questions:
- Why do you think God wanted to live right in the MIDDLE of His people’s camp?
- The people gave their very best things to build God’s home. Why do you think they wanted to do that?
Life Application Questions:
- Can you think of something YOU could give or share to show God you love Him?
- How does it make you feel knowing that GOD wants to be close to YOU?
Prayer:
“Dear God, thank You that You want to live close to us, just like You did with Your people in the desert. Help us to have generous hearts that love to give our best to You. Amen!”
WORSHIP IN SONG 6:25–6:35
PRAYER 6:35–6:45
Transition kids to sit on the floor together in a circle. Remind them that just like God lived in the Tabernacle and was close to His people, God is always close to us too, even right now in this room! Lead kids in prayer, thanking God for always wanting to be near us and asking Him to help us be generous with what He has given us, our toys, our time, and our kindness, just like the Israelites gave their very best to build God’s home.
BIBLE VERSE GAME 6:45–6:55 | Treasure Hunt Verse
Memory Verse: “God will make you rich in every way so that you can always give freely.” — 2 Corinthians 9:11
Items Needed:
- Gold coin cutouts hidden around the room
Kids go on a “treasure hunt” to find all the gold coins. Once all coins are collected, the group works together to put them in verse order. Then read the verse aloud together 3 times. This connects directly to the Israelites bringing their gold to God.
Note: Page 2 is a gold coin for the child to take home to practice the memory verse at home.
BIBLE CRAFT 6:55–7:10 | Cloud and Fire Mobile
Items Needed:
- Paper plates
- Cotton balls
- Orange and yellow tissue paper strips
- Yarn (12 inches per child)
- Hole punch
- Glue
- God is Always With Me Strips
Description: Cut a paper plate in half. Glue “God is always with me!” strips on one side of the plate. On one side, they glue cotton balls to make a fluffy cloud (daytime). On the other, they glue torn orange and yellow tissue paper to make fire (nighttime). Punch a hole and tie on yarn so they hang. Kids take home a reminder that God’s presence followed His people day and night.
SNACK TIME & BIBLE STORY VIDEO 7:10–7:25
Pass out snacks and allow kids time to eat while they watch the video.
BONUS ACTIVITY | OIL AND WATER LAMP EXPERIMENT
Items Needed
- Plastic Cup
- Vegetable Oil
- ALka-Seltzer
- Flashlight
Leaders and kids together fill a clear plastic cup with water, then slowly pour in a small amount of vegetable oil. Drop in a tiny piece of an effervescent tablet (like Alka-Seltzer) and watch it bubble and “glow” (add a flashlight under the cup for effect!). Talk about the golden lampstand that burned with oil ALL the time in the Tabernacle.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Exodus 40:34–38 (ESV)
“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.”
COLORING PAGE
PARENT TAKE HOME SHEET
TODAY’S KEY TAKEAWAY: God is with us
WHAT I LEARNED TODAY: Today we learned about a special tent called the Tabernacle that God asked His people to build so He could live right in the middle of their camp. The people gave their very best things and worked together to build it. When it was finished, God’s presence filled the Tabernacle.
QUESTIONS TO ASK ME:
Theological Questions:
- What was the Tabernacle? (God’s home in the middle of the people’s camp)
- How did the people know God was living in the Tabernacle? (There was a big cloud and at night it looked like fire on the tent)
- Who was the very first High Priest? (Aaron, Moses’ brother)
- What was kept inside the most special box in the Tabernacle, called the Ark of the Covenant? (The Ten Commandments and a jar of manna, the bread God sent from heaven)
- Why did God want to live in the middle of the camp? (Because He loves His people and wants to be close to them)
Life Application Questions:
- What is something you have that you could give or share to show someone you love them? (Answers will vary)
- The people gave SO much that Moses said “Stop, we have enough!” How does it make you feel to give so much that it’s more than enough? (Answers will vary)
- How do you know God is close to you, even though you can’t see a cloud? (Answers will vary)
- If you were going to help build something beautiful for God, what job would you want to do? (Answers will vary)
- God always wants to be near you. Does that make you feel happy, safe, or something else? (Answers will vary)