How To Use The Show & Tell Bible
(A sample lesson plan for Homeschools or Bible classes)
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You may want to preview the DVD and choose questions to ask. Note scriptures to be read by older students.
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During class, show the DVD story to all the children at once. To view subtitles, go to the Main Menu > Options. Also make sure subtitles are turned to ON, in your DVD player menu.
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View a second time, pausing on selected pictures. Ask questions about the pictures. You may also want to have older children read any scriptures that pertain to the picture.
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Find on a map where the event took place.
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Note on a timeline when the events of this book took place, and what happened before and after the event.
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Do the activity book as a final step. Younger children can answer the easy questions, while older children should spend more time on the thought questions. Sometimes you may want them to research their answers.
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Other activities, depending upon age of child, may include the coloring pages, applying the lesson to their life, an object lesson, or a “debate” between you and the child, having him practice defending his faith.
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If an important question comes up, like “Did Moses sin?” stop your lesson and answer it. Children need to know that there are Biblical answers to their questions. If you don’t know the answer, say so. Then look it up, ask a preacher (Church of Christ preachers always have answers), or research it with the child.
Sample Lesson Plan: Jacob's Ladder
Looking at Jacob’s ladder, we ask, “What was happening here that I want to focus on?” Examining Jacob’s life, we find that he is a schemer. He has tricked others to get what he wanted. Now he has been banished from the family to keep his brother, Esau, from killing him. He is not only leaving his family, he is leaving the land promised to the family by God. He probably figured he would never return.
In those days it was a common belief that your “god” only controlled or protected your land area. Jacob may have thought that he was leaving God. So Jacob needed reassurance that God would be with him, and bring him back to the land. God not only gave him a vision as an object lesson, God repeated the land promise to him and promised to bring him back.
Jacob’s vision was of angels, busy coming and going about their work for God, helping the people who follow God. This assured Jacob that they would be helping him. Jacob responded by promising one-tenth to God.
You can use a grocery list as an object lesson. Parents are like God’s angels, actively working in the lives of their children to take care of them.
For practical application, tell the child: “Know that God cares for you no matter where you go. He is able to strengthen you. He has plenty of angels to take care of everyone.”
The theme and application are often similar. The theme is not what happened in the event, but what it teaches. Jacob’s ladder teaches about God’s loving care being with you wherever you go. Practical application makes the lessons meaningful to the child. You might need to apply the lesson to your life first, then adapt that to the child.
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