LESSON OVERVIEW FOR ADULTS
In Exodus 3:1-4, we find Moses tending his father-in-law’s sheep when he encounters a bush that burns but does not consume itself. God speaks to Moses from this burning bush and calls him to return to Egypt to lead the Israelites out of slavery. Moses responds with doubt and fear, focusing on his weakness in speaking rather than on God’s power. In Exodus 4:1-17, Moses continues to make excuses about his inability to speak well, saying his tongue is slow and heavy. God reminds Moses that He is the Creator who made his mouth, and promises to be with him and teach him what to say. When Moses still resists, God provides Aaron as a helper to speak for Moses. God demonstrates His power through signs, turning Moses’ staff into a snake and causing his hand to become leprous and then heal.
Despite his speech difficulty, Moses became the greatest prophet in Israel’s history according to Deuteronomy 34:10-12. God used Moses to perform incredible miracles before Pharaoh and lead an entire nation to freedom. Moses learned to rely on God’s strength rather than his own abilities. This teaches us that God does not require perfection from us, but rather willingness to trust Him. When we focus on what God can do through us instead of our limitations, He accomplishes mighty things. God specializes in using ordinary people with weaknesses to display His extraordinary power.
OPENING ACTIVITY 10:15-10:30 | Mouth Matching Game
Items Needed:
- Animal Mouth Match Cards (1 Set, Cardstock)
Show children pictures of different animal mouths and talk about how God made each one special. Play a simple matching game where children match animals to their mouths. Emphasize that God made Moses’ mouth too, and God makes all our mouths special and different. Some people talk fast, some talk slow, some don’t talk at all, and some can only say a few words, but God made them all.
BIBLE VERSE GAME 10:30-10:40
Memory Verse: 2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Have children stand up and strike “strong” poses (flexing muscles, standing tall, superhero poses) while saying parts of the verse. Divide the verse into sections:
- “My grace” (flex one arm),
- “is sufficient for you” (flex other arm),
- “for my power” (stand tall with hands on hips),
- “is made perfect in weakness” (sit down small, then jump up strong).
Repeat several times with enthusiasm, helping children connect God’s power with the words.
SONG 10:40-10:50
BIBLE STORY 10:50-11:00 a.m.
Question 1: Where is this found in the Bible? Exodus
Question 2: Is this in the Old Testament or New Testament? Old Testament
[Hold up a shepherd’s staff or stick]
Boys and girls, today we’re going to hear about a man named Moses! Can you say “Moses”? [Wait for response] Great! Moses had a special job—he took care of sheep! [Make sheep sounds – “Baa! Baa!”] Can you say “Baa!” like a sheep? [Let kids respond]
One day, Moses was watching the sheep in the desert, walking, walking, walking [march in place—have children march too]. Suddenly, he saw something VERY strange! He saw a bush that was on fire! [Make big eyes, hands around face] Can you make a surprised face? [Wait for kids to make faces]
But this wasn’t a normal fire. The bush was burning, but it wasn’t burning up! [Wave hands like flames] Let’s make our hands look like fire! [Do motion together] Moses said, “I need to look at this!” [Hand over eyes like looking far away] Let’s look together! [Do motion]
[Speak in a deep, gentle voice] Then God spoke from the bush and said, “Moses! Moses!” Can you say “Moses”? [Wait] God said, “I want you to help My people. They are stuck in Egypt, and I want you to go tell the king to let them go free!”
[Make a worried face] But Moses felt worried. Can you make a worried face? [Let kids make faces] Moses said, “B-b-but God, I don’t talk so well. My words get stuck. I can’t do it!”
Have you ever felt like you can’t do something? Maybe you can’t tie your shoes yet? Or reach something high? [Reach up high—have kids reach] Moses felt like that about talking.
[Hold up the stick/staff] God said, “Moses, what’s that in your hand?” Moses said, “It’s my stick, my shepherd’s staff.” God said, “Throw it on the ground!” [Drop the stick] Let’s all pretend to drop our sticks! [Mime throwing down]
When Moses threw down his staff, it turned into a SNAKE! [Make a hissing sound “Sssss”] Can you hiss like a snake? [Let children hiss] Moses jumped back! [Jump back—have kids jump back too] Let’s jump back!
[Pick up stick] Then God said, “Pick it up by the tail!” Moses was scared, but he obeyed God. And when he picked it up [pick up stick], it turned back into a staff! God was showing Moses, “See? I can do amazing things! I will help you!”
But Moses still said, “P-p-please God, send someone else. I don’t talk good. My mouth doesn’t work right.” [Point to mouth] Point to your mouth! [Wait]
[Speak as God] God said, “Moses! Who MADE your mouth? I did! I made EVERY mouth! I made mouths that talk fast [talk very fast] and mouths that talk slow [talk very slow]. I made YOUR mouth, and I will help you speak!”
God gave Moses a helper named Aaron. Aaron could help Moses with the talking. But you know what? Even though Moses said he couldn’t talk well, God used Moses to do AMAZING things!
[Count on fingers] Moses talked to the king! Moses led ALL of God’s people out of Egypt! Moses did miracles! God even called Moses His friend! Moses became the GREATEST prophet ever because he let God work through him!
[Stand up with kids] Let’s all stand up strong! [Strike a strong pose] Moses learned that when we feel weak, GOD makes us strong! When we can’t do something, GOD can! Let’s say together: “God makes me strong!” [Have kids repeat]
The Bible says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” That means God’s power works BEST when we know we need His help!
You might not be able to do something yet. Maybe you can’t read big words, or maybe you get scared sometimes. But guess what? God can help you! When you feel small [crouch down small], God is BIG! [Jump up with arms wide] Let’s do that! Small [crouch], then BIG with God! [Jump up]
THEOLOGICAL QUESTIONS:
- Who spoke to Moses from the burning bush? (God spoke to Moses from the bush)
- Who made Moses’ mouth? (God made Moses’ mouth—God makes everything!)
LIFE APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
- What is something hard for you to do that God can help you with? (Accept various answers—tying shoes, sharing, being brave, etc.)
- When you feel like you can’t do something, who can you ask for help? (God! We can pray and ask God to help us, and He will!)
PRAYER:
“Dear God, thank You for making Moses and making us. Help us remember that when we feel weak, You make us strong. We can do all things because You help us. Amen!” [Everyone shout “AMEN!”]
BIBLE CRAFT 11:00-11:15 a.m. | Strength Shield Craft
Items Needed:
- Shield shape (On Cardstock)
- Construction paper
- Stickers
- Markers
- Glue
Give each child a pre-cut shield shape. Children can decorate with construction paper pieces, stickers, and markers. Add a handle on the back using using the strip on the printout. Children can hold their shields and remember that God protects and strengthens them.
BIBLE MOVIE AND SNACK
Handout snacks and allow kids to eat while they watch the Bible story video.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Exodus 3:1-4 (KJV) “Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.”
Exodus 3:10 (KJV) “Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.”
Exodus 4:1-17 (KJV) “And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee. And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: That they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee. And the Lord said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow. And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh. And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign. And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land. And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God. And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.”
Deuteronomy 34:10-12 (KJV) “And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, In all the signs and the wonders, which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV) “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
PARENT TAKE HOME SHEET
Today’s Key Takeaway: God Gives Strength
What I learned today: We learned about Moses, who thought he couldn’t talk well, but God used him anyway. God told Moses that He made his mouth and would help him speak. Even though Moses felt weak, God made him strong and Moses became the greatest prophet ever. When we feel like we can’t do something, God can help us because His power works best in our weakness.
Questions to ask me:
THEOLOGICAL QUESTIONS:
- Who spoke to Moses from the burning bush? (God spoke to Moses)
- What did God turn Moses’ staff into? (God turned it into a snake)
- Who made Moses’ mouth? (God made Moses’ mouth)
- Who did God send to help Moses talk to the king? (God sent Aaron to help Moses)
- What was Moses’ job before God called him? (Moses was a shepherd who took care of sheep)
LIFE APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
- What is something that is hard for you to do? (Accept child’s answer—tying shoes, reading, being brave, etc.)
- Who can help you when something is too hard? (God can help me! I can also ask parents, teachers, or others)
- How can we talk to God when we need help? (We can pray to God)
- What did Moses learn about God’s power? (God’s power is strong even when we feel weak)
- Can you think of something God made special about you? (Accept child’s answer—maybe they’re kind, good at sharing, funny, creative, etc.)