Gideon in the wine press: Telling the story with folded pictures

This week in our mid week group we're going to look at the story of Gideon in the wine press, trying to bring out the point that even if you feel small and that you can't do much, God sees you for who you really are and what you can really do with His help. Here's how we will tell the story...

I'm using an A4 sheet with simple drawings on it.

Before folding, the sheet looks like this:

Side 1

Side 2

The first picture is of a small sized Gideon (you will see how the folding works as the story progresses!

Gideon was an Israelite. The Israelites lived in a land that was invaded by people from another land who came and stole their food and everything they had. The Israelites cried out to God for help.

(Fold the paper over to hide Gideon inside the wine press)

One day, Gideon was in the wine press, threshing corn so that his family could have something to eat. He was doing it in the wine press so he could be hidden and the invaders would not come and steal it from him! An angel appeared an said 'God is with you, mighty warrior!'

Gideon, still hiding in the wine press said 'How can God be with us if He has let all of these bad things happen to us?'
God said 'I am sending you to go and save Israel!'

But Gideon replied, 'How can I save them? My family is the weakest family in this area and I am the weakest in my family!' (open again to show small Gideon)

But God said to him 'I will be with you and we will do it together!' (open paper out to full extent to show that with God's strength, Gideon can be more than he thinks possible!)

Comments

Button Prayers

If you are looking for an active, kinaesthetic, way of praying in a small group or even with the whole congregation, then this might be for you! You will need: A collection of buttons of different shapes, sizes and colours- at least one button for each person praying. Give everyone a button. Feel the hardness of the button and think about people who are going through hard times. Ask God to help them. Buttons are used to fasten clothes together. Ask God to bring together people who have fallen out and moved apart from each other. Pray that He will bring peace. Look at your button and see how many holes it has. Think of that number of things you would like to say thank you to God for and say Thank you prayers. Look at the colour of the button and say thank you to God for something that is that colour Find someone who has the same colour button as you. You might want to make a small group of people with the...

Trusting God: The Amazing Water Glass Trick!

I used this idea in an assembly yesterday, focussing on people we trust and what it means to trust God. This would work really well if you are exploring miracle stories or stories about trust. Suitable verses to use with it might be: Joshua 1:9: Remember, I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Psalm 56: 3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. John 14: 1 Jesus said, “Don’t be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me I have to admit that this trick is not an original idea. I found the trick in this book: Simple Science Object Talks by Heno Head Jnr and would definitely recommend getting cold of a copy if you can! You will need: A glass of water (about half- 2/3 filled) and an index card. This is what you do: place the index card over the top of the glass, making sure that the whole of the rim is covered by it, and press...

The Power of Prayer: Skittles Experiment!

This experiment with skittles is colourful, easy and makes a great statement about what we are asking God to do when we pray. In essence, prayers are a way of joining with God and asking him to have an effect on the world and situations around us. We pray because we believe that our prayers, through God's power, will make a difference to the world. In this activity, colour is released from the sweets into the surrounding water, creating a colourful picture, symbolic of how the prayers we raise to God are a way of us joining with Him to release the kingdom here on earth and have an impact. You will need: A bag of skittles, a plate, hot water (not hot enough to scald, but hot enough to make the colour run!) Arrange the skittles in the plate Pour some hot water onto the plate to cover its surface. Pour it carefully so that the skittles stay in place. Wait and the skittles will gradually release their colour Try an alternative... Cover the s...

Flame: Creative Children's Ministry

Search This Blog