God Gives Good Instructions - Teacher (Standard) (print)

Kids (ages 4-8) · Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Matthew 22:34-40 · Standard ·35 minutes

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Objective: Children explain that God gave His rescued people good instructions for loving Him and one another.

Read: Exodus 20:1-17, selected verses

Opening: Ask: What makes an instruction helpful rather than random?

Say:

God first reminded Israel that He had rescued them from Egypt.
Then God gave instructions for life as His people.
Some instructions focus on loyalty and worship toward God.
Other instructions protect people through honour, truth, faithfulness, and respect for what belongs to others.

Ask:

Do: Sort example cards under Love God and Love Others.

Close: Pray: God, teach us to love You and treat people truthfully and well.

Materials: Bible; Love God and Love Others sorting cards

4 minConnect. Use the opening prompt and invite two or three brief responses.
4 minContext. Introduce the passage setting, speaker or main characters, and genre in age-appropriate language.
8 minRead and observe. Read Exodus 20:1-17 in selected sections, beginning with God's rescue statement and grouping commands by God and neighbour. Ask: What does God say before giving the commandments? Which commands focus directly on loyalty to God?
7 minDiscuss. Sort the instructions and explain why rescue before law matters. Ask: Which commands protect relationships with people? When should a child tell a safe adult instead of following an instruction?
8 minActivity. Complete the Love God and Love Others Sort activity and review what it demonstrates. Activity: Love God and Love Others Sort. Printable: K1-L12-P01-love-god-love-others-sort.
4 minRespond. Review the objective, repeat the take-home line, and pray.

Materials: Command summary cards; Two heading cards

Low-resource option: Draw two columns and write or point.

Memory verse: Exodus 20:2

Prayer: Thank God for rescue and ask for truthful love toward God and neighbour.

Take-home line: God gave His rescued people instructions for loving Him and one another.