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Game Plan: a 4-Week Teaching Series for Children's Ministry TOPIC: David SCRIPTURE: 1 & 2 Samuel DECORATING THEME: Sports AGE GROUP: Elementary (Get the Preschool version here !) On your mark, get set, go! When a shepherd named David became king, it was a whole new ballgame! He had some big wins and some big losses, too, but he also had a great plan for how to overcome his challenges. In this 4-week series, kids will team up with David and learn that making peace, following God, showing kindness, and forgiveness are all part of God's game plan for us! BIG IDEAS & BIBLE STORIES Making peace is part of God's game plan. (David and Abigail: 1 Samuel 25:2-35; Psalm 33:12-22) Following God is the best game plan. (David and the Ark: 2 Samuel 6:12-22; Psalm 34:1-8) Showing kindness is in God's game plan. (David and Mephibosheth: 2 Samuel 9:1-13; Psalm 34:9-14) Forgiveness is always God's game plan. (David and Nathan: 2 Samuel 11:26-12:13; Psalm 34:15-22) WEEKLY CURRICULUM SUMMARIES: This week, kids see how Abigail made peace with David. To play a sport, you'll need a great coach with a good strategy to help you reach your goals. This week, we'll take a look at the time Abigail stepped in to bring peace between David and her husband, Nabal. By trusting God and sticking to the winning strategy, Abigail shows us how making peace is part of God's game plan. This week, kids see how David celebrated when the ark of God was brought into Jerusalem. Not only do coaches need a good strategy, but they have to place their players in the right field positions. This week, we'll explore the story of David and The Ark and see how God gave David a specific role in leadership. As he celebrated while some disapproved, David's dedication to God's plan reminds us that following God is the best game plan. This week, kids see how David showed kindness to Saul's descendant, Mephibosheth. There's more to playing a game than winning-you'll need good sportsmanship, too. This week, we'll take a look at the time when David was a "good sport" by showing kindness to Saul's descendant, Mephibosheth. Even though Mephibosheth's family once caused David great pain, David's care for Mephibosheth inspires us to remember that showing kindness is in God's game plan. This week, kids see how Nathan confronts David to make him realize his wrongdoing. Once the game is over, teams will often put aside whatever happened on the field and settle their differences by shaking hands. This week, we'll take a look at the time when Nathan rebuked David for what he did to Uriah and Bathsheba until David repented for his actions. David's confrontation with Nathan helped him discover firsthand that forgiveness is always God's game plan. MEMORY VERSE: "But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations." - Psalm 33:11 (NIV)

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