4050 Lee Vance Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80918 U.S.A.
Integrity Music Limited, a Division of David C Cook Brighton, East Sussex BN1 2RE, England
DAVID C COOK®, the graphic circle C logo and related marks are registered trademarks of David C Cook.
All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes, no part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form without written permission from the publisher.
Illustration and Design: Sergio Cariello, Rhion Magee, Brian Mellema, Macy Bennett, Susan Murdock, Chris Beaumont, Dale Myers
Writing and editorial: Brock Eastman, Marianne Hering, Stephanie Bennett, Judy Gillispie Cover Designer: Jason Jones
Printed in the United States of America First Edition 2025
Welcome …
… to an exciting adventure of exploring God’s Word through your own creativity, imagination, and wit� In the 100-plus activities inside this book, you will find a wide variety of challenges and experiences that we hope will lead you to spend more time with God and better understand His story for you�
Each of us was made uniquely by God, so we have different ways of viewing the world, as well as different abilities when it comes to solving problems and expressing ourselves creatively� So the huge variety of activities in this book will appeal to all parts of your brain� We’ve tried to make sure there’s something in here for everyone�
Most of the pictures in this activity book were taken from The Action Bible� The colorful artwork by Sergio Cariello helps bring the Bible to life� And Sergio created new illustrations just for this book!
You can use this activity book on its own, but it’s even better with your Action Bible Study Bible (NIV or ESV translation)� That way you can dig into God’s Word and apply it to your life while you’re having fun!
Here are the types of features to look for in every activity:
Read the Origin Story directs you to the key Bible passages behind the activities and connects you to stories in The Action Bible.
See the Story in Action points you to an inspiring story from The Action Bible that’s related to the activity� You will also find hints to help you solve the puzzles and challenges in these stories�
Experience the Story gives you a QR code that takes you to deeper thoughts about the activity through devotionals, Bible passages, questions, challenges, and prayers� Plus you’ll find videos, games, and additional activities�
Live the Story brings you to the why and how: Why does this part of the Bible matter to me, and how can I make it happen in my life? Try the ideas suggested in these spots!
Did You Know moments give you fascinating Bible background facts� Ask your friends and family if they knew these cool factoids�
Jokes are spread throughout the book� Look for animals that will make you laugh, and then see if you can get a smile from someone you meet using these silly jokes and riddles�
What do you think? Please send us one of your own jokes or a photo of your completed craft or coloring page� You can reach us by emailing info@theactionbible com or visiting TheActionBible com
We pray you will find joy in these activities as you grow to know our awesome God better and better�
The Action Bible Team at David C Cook
the story in see the story in action action
Garden Variety
Can you spot 12 differences between these two images of Eden’s paradise?
Why was Adam known as a famous runner? Because he was first in the HUMAN RACE
When the Fruit Falls
Poor Eve! She has a bad reputation because the serpent duped her She disobeyed God, and made a bad choice Okay, it was an EPIC bad choice But guess what Eve may have been the first person to give in to temptation, but she certainly wasn’t the last
Who else in the Bible made bad choices?
Fill in the puzzle on the next page to find 17 more Bible folks who made a poor decision�
At the end, you’ll know a special name for Eve�
1� This guy lived in Persia and was out for blood—Jewish blood� He was hanged on gallows he made for Mordecai� Yuck! (Hint: Page 522 of The Action Bible or Esther 7:9–10�)
2� This man challenged Moses’s leadership, and he got “swallowed” by the earth along with his family and followers� No way! (Hint: Page 189 of The Action Bible or Numbers 16:31–33�)
3� What government official “washed his hands” of Jesus’ death?
(Hint: Page 699 of The Action Bible or Matthew 27:24–25�)
4� Which king of Israel chose to support the 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel instead of following the Lord God? (Hint: Page 402 of The Action Bible or 1 Kings 18:19–20�)
5� This king of Judea had all the male babies in Bethlehem killed� W hat!?
(Hint: Page 570 of The Action Bible or Matthew 2:16�)
6 This firstborn son of Jacob participated in the plot to throw Joseph into a pit T hen this son tried to make a better choice and rescue Joseph, but it was too late—Joseph had already been sold into slavery
(Hint: Page 97 of The Action Bible or Genesis 37:19–29 )
READ the ORIGIN
STORY STORY
7 This military commander under King David chose to support David’s son Adonijah as the new king instead of David’s son Solomon� T his poor decision cost him his life�
(Hint: Page 368 of The Action Bible or 1 Kings 2:28–29�)
8� A governor of Rome, this man and his wife heard the apostle Paul share the gospel for two years, but there is no record that he or his wife chose to become Christians� Boo!
(Hint: Page 803 of The Action Bible or Acts 24:24–27�)
9� This disciple of Jesus betrayed him with a kiss in the garden of Gethsemane� (Hint: Page 691 of The Action Bible or Matthew 26:47-49�)
10� This evil queen followed Baal and killed as many of God’s prophets as she could� T he prophet Elijah predicted her death� For real! (Hint: Page 438 of The Action Bible or 1 Kings 18:4 and 21:32�)
11� This man was the first king of Israel, but he kept making bad choices, so God chose a different king� (Hint: Page 316 of The Action Bible or 1 Samuel 10:1 and 16:1�)
12� Which son of King David chose to kill his older brother Amnon and tried to take the throne by force? (Hint: Pages 349 and 352 of The Action Bible or 2 Samuel 13:28–20 and 15:10�)
13 Samson loved this woman—a friend of the Philistines—who plotted his downfall by cutting his hair Rats! (Hint: Page 244 of The Action Bible or Judges 16:18–19 )
14 This queen said no to King Xerxes, and her choice threatened the entire Persian social structure (Hint: Page 511 of The Action Bible�)
15� This son of Adam and Eve killed his brother Abel out of jealousy� (Hint: Page 24 of The Action Bible or Genesis 4:1–8)�
16� Who lied to the apostle Peter—and to God—about the money he earned from selling a field? That choice put him in an early grave� (Hint: Page 732 of The Action Bible or Acts 5:1–6)�
17� This very tall Philistine mocked God and met his end at the hands of a brave young man who trusted God� Way to go! (Hint: Page 290 of The Action Bible or 1 Samuel 17:41–50)�
Peek inside Noah’s Ark
Want to know what it might have been like to live on the ark? Shine a flashlight through the back of the next page to find out
Did you know?
The ark was a bit longer than a football field and half as wide� It stood three stories tall
God gave the rainbow as a sign and promise of hope to Noah and his family�
Create the colors of the rainbow and discover something about water too� It’s easy enough to do in your kitchen�
Gather
• 6 clear glasses or plastic cups that hold about a cup (8 ounces)
• 3 full-size paper towels (11 by 11 inches) or 6 half-size towels (11 by 5 5 inches)
• Red, blue, and yellow food coloring (gel or liquid)
•
Did You Know?
Go
1 Arrange the 6 cups in a circle Make a note of which one is number 1
2� Fill the odd-numbered cups (1, 3, and 5) nearly to the top with water� Don’t put any water or color to the evennumbered cups�
3� Add 3 squirts of red gel coloring or 10 drops of red liquid coloring to cup number 1� Stir�
4� Moving clockwise, add 3 squirts of yellow gel coloring or 10 drops of yellow liquid coloring to cup 3� Stir�
5� Add 3 squirts of blue gel coloring or 10 drops of blue liquid coloring to cup 5� Stir�
6� If you have full-size paper towels, cut them in half lengthwise� You will need 6 paper towel strips 11 by 5�5 inches, or thereabouts�
7� Fold your 6 sheets of paper towels in half lengthwise� T hen fold them in half again lengthwise�
8 To help the water transfer quickly, trim your paper towel sheets so they are about 5 to 8 inches long Make sure the end of the paper towels can reach the bottom of each cup they connect If you have taller glasses, you may need to leave your paper towels their full length�
9� Place half of your folded paper towel in cup 1 and place the other half in cup 2� T hen place another paper towel from cup 2 and into cup 3� T his continues with cup 3 to cup 4 and so on until the last paper towel connects cup 5 with cup 6�
Here’s the easy part� Watch what happens� (It takes about 2 minutes to start and 10 minutes to complete the water transfer�)
WHAT HAPPENED?
The red, yellow, and blue waters were absorbed by the paper towels, and the water drained into the empty cups�
Where the colors met and mixed, they created secondary colors: orange, green, and purple
WATER RISING
After 10 minutes, look at the water levels of all the cups� T hey are nearly equal� Do you know why? The paper towels created a current of water, and water pressure likes to even itself out or “level�” So once the cups were filled to equal amounts, the water flow stopped�
THE FULL SPECTRUM
Now remove the paper towel from between the red cup and the purple cup� Slide the cups into a line with the red one on the left and the purple on the far right� T hey are now in the order of the colors of the rainbow� Or are they?
Is this activity missing a color of the rainbow? Yes! Where did you go, indigo?
A true rainbow or color spectrum contains seven colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and purple� Indigo is a dark purple color mixed with blue� T hink of a dark denim color, and that’s it�
You can make indigo by taking 3 cups and filling cups 1 and 3 with water� Put a little bit of red into cup 1 (1 squirt of gel or 5 drops of liquid red color) and add A LOT of blue to cup 3 (5 squirts of gel or 15 drops of liquid blue coloring) Stir Now, connect them to cup 2 with 2 paper towel segments as you did before� W hat happens?
If your middle color is still purple, mix in more red or blue food coloring and stir until you have a dark blue color with just a hint of red�
see the story in see the story in action action
SCAN THE QR CODE EXPERIENCE THE STORY
Language Lookout
Before God confused the people who built the Tower of Babel, they spoke only one language� Currently, more than 7,000 languages are spoken in the world�
Here are the names of 10 languages� Can you find them in the puzzle? They are hidden up, down, forward, backward, or diagonally�
READ the ORIGIN STORY STORY
“A Babbling Tower” page 40
BONUS:
Unscramble the name of this computer language and find it in the puzzle too!
NPOYHT
Match each language with how to say “I love you�”
Draw an arrow from the language to the matching phrase�
Je vous aime�
Mahal kita�
Ich liebe dich�
German
French
English
I love you� Tagalog
S’agapo�
Greek
Ti amo� Mandarin
Seni seviyorum�
Wo ai ni�
Ek het jou liefe�
Turkish
Italian
see the story in see the story in action action
Four Corners Fun
When Abram and Lot needed more room for their herds, Abram allowed Lot to choose the land he wanted�
Play this game with a sibling or friend, and pretend you are Abram and Lot marking the boundaries of your land�
GAME 1
Rules of the game:
1� The youngest player will be Lot and move first
SCAN THE QR CODE EXPERIENCE THE STORY
2� For each turn, a player will use a pen or pencil to connect two dots across or down but NOT diagonally�
READ the ORIGIN
STORY STORY
3� When a player closes a complete box with four lines, the player writes either an A for Abram or an L for Lot in the box, depending on which person the player represents�
4� Players get a free turn for each completed box�
5� Af ter all the boxes are completed, count the boxes with an L and the ones with an A � T he winner is the player who has initialed the most boxes�
Did Abram or Lot receive the most land in your game?
You can play more games on the bonus grids on page 244 or download them by scanning the QR code on the next page�
Have a rematch with your friend of sibling, or challenge someone new� T he choice is yours�
GAME 2
see the story in see the story in action action
“Insufficient Sons” page 53
Befuddled Birth Orders
Are you a middle child? The youngest? Who is the oldest child in your family or your extended family? In Bible times, birth order mattered for legal reasons� T he firstborn usually carried on the family line and received the largest inheritance�
Fill in this crossword puzzle to discover the names of Bible characters with a special birth or birth order� We’ve filled in 4 Across to get you started� (BTW: It was the hardest one!)
ACROSS
4� While he and his twin brother were being born, he had a red string tied onto his wrist to show he was first� Then the birth order changed!
SCAN THE QR CODE EXPERIENCE THE STORY
(Hint: Genesis 38:30)
7� This second son of Joseph was given a firstborn blessing by his grandfather Jacob�
(Hint: Genesis 48:14)
8� This boy’s mother was Hannah� She made a vow that if God would bless her with a son, she would “give him to the L ORD for all the days of his life ” This boy grew up to be a priest, prophet, and judge of Israel
(Hint: 1 Samuel 1:20)
READ the ORIGIN
STORY STORY
9� This infant boy was going to be killed by order of Pharaoh� But his mother and sister hid him in a basket along the river� (Hint: Exodus 1:10)
11� One of Jesus’ disciples had a younger brother named John� T hese two sons of Zebedee asked to be honored by Jesus, to sit at His right and left hands in heaven� W ho was the older brother?
(Hint: Mark 10:35) (BTW: Jesus said no�)
12� Jacob wanted to marry Laban’s second daughter� But on the wedding night, Laban tricked Jacob and gave him the firstborn daughter instead� W ho was the older sister?
(Hint: Genesis 29:16)
15 Manoah and his wife had no children Then an angel told them they would have a son who would be dedicated to God and never cut his hair�
(Hint: Judges 13:24)
16� This son tricked his older brother out of his birthright� T hen he stole the family blessing by faking the identity of his older brother� W ho was the younger brother, the favorite of his mother, Rebekah?
(Hint: Genesis 27:42)
DOWN
1� Who was the only woman to win Jacob’s heart? She was the younger sister of the answer to 12 across�
(Hint: Genesis 29:16)
2� Made from one of Adam’s ribs on the sixth day of creation, she was the first woman�
(Hint: Genesis 3:20)
3� A hunter and a hungry man, this oldest son gave up his birthright for a bowl of stew�
(Hint: Genesis 25:34)
5 Leah and Jacob had six sons together W ho was the oldest brother—Simeon, Judah, Reuben, or Levi?
(Hint: Genesis 29:32–35)
6� Sarah’s slave Hagar bore a son to Abram� God promised to make a nation out of his descendants�
(Hint: Genesis 16:15)
10� This man is the twin brother of 4 Across� He was a son of Judah, and King David came from his family line�
(Hint: Genesis 38:29)
11� This New Testament man’s birth was foretold in the Old Testament� His parent were Elizabeth and Zechariah� He became the one who prepared the way for Jesus�
(Hint: Luke 1:13)
13� This man probably didn’t have a belly button! Why? Because he was the first human and was created from dust
(Hint: Genesis 5:1)
14� This special son was born to Sarah and Abraham when she was 90 and he was 100!
(Hint: Genesis 21:5)
Unscramble the letters in the yellow boxes to discover a special name� Do you know who it belongs to?
see the story in see the story in action action
Message in the Stars
God made a promise about Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar, in Genesis 21:18� To find out what the promise was, grab some markers and connect the stars to make letters and words�
Find the message hidden in the stars�
“I will make him …
“Hagar’s Journey” page 60
SCAN
Clues
Genesis 22:13
Deuteronomy 14:15–17
1 Samuel 17:34
Job 39:13
Psalm 42:1
READ the ORIGIN STORY STORY
Matthew 7:6
Matthew 10:31
Wildlife Wrangle
A ram was the star in Isaac’s story� In fact, the Bible is full of animals� A nimals are a big part of stories like the garden of Eden and Noah’s ark� But not EVERY animal is mentioned� C ircle the animals that are named in the Bible� L ook up the verses for clues�
the story in see the story in action action
the story in see the story in action action SCAN THE QR CODE EXPERIENCE THE STORY “A Father’s Sacrifice” page 64
THE QR CODE EXPERIENCE THE STORY Genesis 22:1–18
the ORIGIN STORY STORY
the ORIGIN
Ram to the Rescue
Abraham found a ram tangled in a bush to sacrifice instead of his son Isaac�
Make a reminder of God’s loving care by making this ram cube craft�
Plus, listen to the audio version of this story by scanning the QR code while you build the cube craft�
What’s a ram’s favorite letter?
Carefully cut out the shapes on the next page�
First, get an adult to help you�
Carefully cut out the shapes on this page with scissors� Use a hobby knife to slit the white lines labeled with letters ( You don’t need tape or glue ) Follow the directions on the cube
Daily Bread … and Fruit, Nuts, Honey …
Would you eat like Isaac?
What did he eat anyway?
What was Rebekah’s favorite food?
What did she feed her twins, Jacob and Esau? You can try out some authentic Bible foods!
Gather
1� Make a list of Bible foods you want to try from the choices on these pages�
2 Decide if you want to add anything from the Extras list
Go
1 Go shopping for your chosen foods with an adult
2 Wash any fresh produce
3 Carefully cut up the bread and any large items
4 Get a serving plate and arrange a plenteous platter of Bible food!
5 Invite some friends over to experience the new (and old favorite) flavors W hile you snack, tell them an exciting Bible story or listen to the audio story by scanning the QR code�
Extras
• What should you drink? Water, milk, and grape juice are authentic options!
• For a bigger experience, choose one of these meats� W ith a parent, cook it up with some of the seasonings� Add it to your platter!
• Meat choices: Lamb, goat, fish, venison, or beef
Get an adult to help you with the shopping and chopping!
Bible Foods
• Pita bread (without yeast)
• Wheat or barley bread (with yeast)
• Raisins
• Figs
• Almonds
• Pistachios
• Grapes
• Apples
• Pomegranates
• Cucumbers
• Olives
• Cheese or cheese curds
• Eggs (hard-boiled)
• Honey (for dipping)
Olive oil with salt and herbs
Did You Know?
All the foods on the list are in the Bible!
Look up these verses to find some of them:
Genesis 43:11
Exodus 12:39
Numbers 13:23
2 Samuel 17:29
Song of Songs 2:5
Matthew 23:23
Luke 11:11-12
Why don’t grapes get lonely?
Because they come in bunches
Steps to Wisdom
God gave Jacob an amazing dream at a place called Bethel� W hen Jacob woke up, he said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it�”
To find out what God told Jacob that gave him hope, solve this puzzle� F irst, unscramble the letters of the words on the ladder� Next, write the letters from the yellow boxes in the right-side boxes with the same number�
God told him, “I
Who’s Got Your Goat?
Jacob offered Laban a deal� Jacob would get to keep any speckled or spotted sheep and goats in return for his work (Genesis 30:31–33)� L aban said, “Let’s shake on it!” and smiled� L aban smiled because he knew that practically none of his flocks had blemishes� He figured he wouldn’t have to pay Jacob much for all his hard work�
But then enter God� Suddenly the flocks of sheep and goats produced baby animals with speckles, spots, and blotches� So Laban’s tricks didn’t pay off, and Jacob became a rich man�
see the story in see the story in action action
“Leavin’ Laban” page 86
Jacob versus Angel
How long did Jacob wrestle an angel? ALL � NIGHT� LONG� At dawn, Jacob still had hold of the angel� ( Who does that?!) Jacob demanded a blessing—and got one, along with a hurt hip and a new name: Israel� Color in this amazing battle scene�
Craft of Many Colors
Jacob gave his son Joseph a coat of many colors� T his idea seemed like a good idea at the time because Joseph was his favorite� But giving a special coat to just 1 of 11 sons sparked sibling rivalry� S o when you make this craft, maybe include all your brothers and sisters!
Go
DAY 1
“Joseph’s Dreams” page 93
Gather
LISTEN UP! This is a 3-day craft because of drying time�
• clean, solid-color cotton T-shirt or cotton shorts
• craft glue: white or blue gel
• paper and pencil to sketch your design
• fabric paints of many colors
• paint brush
• disposable plastic bowl
• glass of water
• paper towels
• scrub brush or old toothbrush
1� Sketch your design ideas on the paper, or use our included template�
2� Draw your design on your cotton item with a pencil
SCAN THE QR CODE EXPERIENCE THE STORY
READ the ORIGIN STORY STORY see the story in see the story in action action
3� Open the glue bottle and practice making glue lines�
4� Do you want wide lines between colors? Thin ones? Adjust the tip to get the right amount of glue flow
5 Draw your design with glue on your T-shirt If your hands get tired from squeezing, take a break
6 Let it dry overnight
DAY 3
1� Soak the T-shirt in a tub or sink of very warm water�
2� Let the item soak for 1 to 2 hours�
3� Gently scrub/peel the glue off with a scrub brush or old toothbrush�
4� Clean up the glue bits�
5� Dr y the T-shirt in the dryer with an old towel or hang it to dry�
6� Optional: Turn the T-shirt inside out and iron on medium to set the paint and smooth out wrinkles
7 Show off your many-colored shirt or shorts!
DAY 2
1� With an adult, prepare a workspace so paint won’t ruin your table or floor� Be sure to cover yourself too!
2� Set out the paints� If you want a custom color, mix it in a plastic bowl�
3� Paint your design on your item�
4� Wash off the brush in between colors so the colors don’t mix W ipe off the brush with paper towels before dipping into a new paint
5 Let the paint dry overnight
see the story in see the story in action action
“dreamer for sale” page 97
All in the Family
How many kids is too many? Five, seven, twelve, one? Well, Israel wanted a bunch of kids! Israel was God’s new name for Jacob�
Fill in this crossword with the names of Jacob, his 12 sons, and their 4 mothers�
SCAN THE QR CODE EXPERIENCE THE STORY
You can find the names in the word bank on the next page
We’ve done one to get you started�
see the story in see the story in action action
READ the ORIGIN STORY STORY
SCAN THE QR CODE EXPERIENCE THE STORY
READ the ORIGIN STORY STORY
Genesis 37:12–36
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Dream Themes
Joseph had a dream job—he was able to understand the dreams of two fellow prisoners� A nd then Pharaoh’s dream too!
Try your hand at the art of interpretation with … art interpretation�
Dribble some paint on the center of the next page� (Not too much or you’ll have a blob!)
Then fold the page in half lengthwise, press firmly, and open it again� W hat do you see? A bug? An umbrella? Jonah inside the big fish?
SCAN THE QR CODE EXPERIENCE THE STORY
Write your interpretation of the image here�
READ the ORIGIN
STORY STORY
L et the paint dry, and fill in the details of your artwork with an ink pen or markers� see the story in see the story in action action
EXPERIENCE THE STORY
Because he served in Pharoah’s court�
How do we know that Joseph played tennis?
“Jailhouse Shock” page 102
see the story in see the story in action action
Prince of Egypt
Fill in the grid on the next page using the special code below, and you’ll reveal a Bible hero�
Jacob’s 12 sons grew into the tribes of Israel� Because of God’s plan and Jesus’ work on the cross, all people of faith are grafted onto His family tree�
READ the ORIGIN
Who’s on your family tree? Draw pictures of your family members and then write their names below You could include pets too! You may have to do a bit of research or interview your parents or grandparents for the information�
To make it fun, act like you’re a news reporter uncovering the story of YOU�
Did you know?
see the story in see the story in action action
“Baby in a Basket” page 118
Basket Weaving 101
A tisket, a tasket, a baby in a basket … Moses’s mother and sister got to work to protect the youngest member of the family from certain death�
Make this fantastic basket, and use it as a reminder of God’s protection over your family and friends�
Gather
SCAN THE QR CODE EXPERIENCE THE STORY
• white craft glue—lots of it
SCAN THE QR CODE EXPERIENCE THE STORY
LISTEN UP! This craft takes 2 days to make�
• 1- cup round plastic or glass container (such as a yogurt or sour cream container or a glass storage cup)
• jute string, about 25 to 30 feet (Yarn works too, but it soaks up double the amount of glue and takes an extra coat of glue to stiffen the basket�)
• plastic wrap
• 1-inch paint brush (or just use your fingers)
• blank piece of paper
• pencil
• scissors Go
DAY 1
READ the ORIGIN STORY STORY
1� Create a craft space that won’t be ruined by spilled glue�
2 Cover the outside of the container with plastic wrap Set it upside-down on your craft space
3 Squeeze a large dab of glue on the flat part (the outside of the bottom) of the container
Tightly woven friendships are the best!
READ the ORIGIN
STORY see the story in see the story in
4� Coil some jute to about an inch in diameter�
5� Press the coil into the dab of glue� S queeze more glue around the coil’s edges�
6� Circle more jute around the coil to increase the diameter of the coil�
7� Push each strand of the coil tightly against the one next to it�
8� Pay special attention to the coils that transition to the side� Use lots of glue and press firmly�
9 Repeat steps 4, 5, and 6 until you reach the bottom (which used to be the top) of the container
10 Snip the end of the jute with scissors and glue it down
11� Paint over top of the entire basket with a lot of glue� You can also smear it with your fingers� T he basket should now be white�
12� Let it dry overnight�
13� Repeat steps 10 and 11 if the basket seems flimsy�
14� Lift the basket off the plastic and show it off!
4� Store the slips of paper in the basket� Keep it near your bedside� DAY 2
1� Be sure all the glue is dry�
2� Tear a piece of paper into strips so you have at least a dozen scraps�
3� Write the names of family members and friends on the papers�
Moses’s mother, Jochebed, covered her basket in pitch, a coating of tar or tree sap� W hat other Old Testament object used pitch? (Hint: see Genesis 6:14�)
see the story in see the story in action action
Want to play a game? Scan the QR Code
5� Select one name every night, and pray for God’s protection over that person�
Can you make a lid for your basket? How?
see the story in see the story in
Path for a Prince
God had a dramatic plan for Moses’s life that no one could have imagined �
Follow the letters through the maze to spell out a Bible verse� T here is only one right path, though there are lots of tempting wrong ones� Af ter you figure it out, write the letters in the order below T hen you’ll
“Prince on the Run”
Moses’s Burning Question
Moses met someone in a bush, and that bush burned and burned and burned … but didn’t burn up!
It was God, and He revealed His special name to Moses� Shine a flashlight on the back of this page to find what God said about His own name�
see the story in see the story in action action
Snapping Snake
S-s-s-sometimes a s-s-s-snake is a s-s-s-super s-s-s-symbol—like it was in Exodus-s-s� T he Lord made Moses able to turn his staff into a snake—a miracle! But Pharaoh wasn’t impressed by God’s power and refused to obey Him� Pharaoh ended up lower than a snake�
S-s-structure this-s-s s-silly s-s-snapping s-s-snake with these s-s-simple ins-s-structions of s-s-squares-s-s�
Gather
• two sheets of 8�5 x 11-inch paper in blue and yellow (or any two colors you like)
• ruler
• pencil
• scissors
• glue stick
SCAN THE QR CODE EXPERIENCE THE STORY
1� Fold each paper in half lengthwise� T hen fold it again� T hen fold it once more T he folds will show your cut lines
2 Unfold each paper Use the ruler to draw straight lines right on top of the folds Make sure the sections are all the same width Cut on the lines to make strips� You should end up with 8 blue strips and 8 yellow strips�
READ the ORIGIN STORY STORY
Glue
3� Rub a glue stick on one end of a blue strip� Place the end of a yellow strip on top so that the corner and edges match and form a square T he strips will look like an upside-down V Make sure the glue sticks them together well
the story in see the story in
4� Now you will start folding the two strips crisscross back and forth to keep forming squares, like this: Pick up the connected strips with the yellow on top� Fold the blue strip up and over the yellow strip so that it reaches out to the opposite side Make sure the edges form a square, and press together to crease (Don’t glue it ) The blue is now on top
5� Fold up the yellow strip so that it reaches over to the opposite side� L ine up the edges, and press� T he yellow is now on top�
6� Fold the blue strip over top of the yellow to the opposite side� T he blue is on top again� S quare it off and press�
7� Keep folding the strips over top of each other, forming squares� W hen you get near the end of the strips, glue another strip of the same color to the end� T hen keep folding!
8� Once you’ve glued then folded all the strips together, rub glue on the last square, and fold over the last color to attach it� You might have a short piece sticking out� If so, fold it, but don’t glue it down�
9� Your snake body will look something like this!
10� Now, add a snake face� Cut a small pear shape from another piece of paper to make the head� Draw on eyes, or add google eyes, and nostrils� Cut out a forked red tongue and glue it under the mouth spot� Glue this head to the end of your snake or on the short piece of sticking out�
Wonder-Working Power
Just how powerful is God, anyway? God sent Moses to tell the ruler of Egypt to free God’s people from slavery� W hen Pharaoh said no, the Lord rolled up His sleeves and got busy� T hrough signs, wonders, plagues, and miracles, He showed His power over nature, creatures, life and death, false gods, and a mighty army�
Find words about the Lord’s power through the plagues in this word search�
BLOOD
BOILS
DARKNESS
DEATH
EGYPT FLIES
LIVESTOCK LOCUSTS
GNATS
HAIL
PASSOVER
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“The Plagues” page 137
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“The Plagues” page 137
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Buggy Miracles
Many of the 10 plagues God brought to punish Egypt were invasions of small creatures�
Look for hidden frogs, flies, and locusts� Can you find 10 of each pest? As a bonus, find the cow and the crocodile!
READ the ORIGIN
STORY STORY
Why are frogs so happy?
Fool’s Gold
Aaron’s idea to forge a golden calf for the Israelites to worship was a bad idea from beginning to end, horn to hoof, tip to tail�
W ind your way through this maze to find the answer to the question below�
A Holy Home
What kind of house would God choose? We don’t have to ask because we know from the book of Exodus what He told the Israelites� (Hint: Think precious metals, special woods, and colorful fabrics�)
The tabernacle was God’s special dwelling place while the Israelites meandered in the Sinai dessert T he priests of Israel did their sacred duties there, like praying while incense was burning or offering sacrifices
Here’s a list of 31 words about the tabernacle Can you find them in the puzzle? The words are forward, backward, downward, upward, and diagonal�
The leftover letters will spell out a
(Exodus 40:34)
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Then challenge yourself with the 9-number Sudoku!
Cloud of Love
Miriam learned her lesson the leprosy way� She and Aaron were taught not only to stop complaining about Moses but also to appreciate their “baby” brother, the number-one leader of Israel�
Make a list of 10 people—like siblings, parents, other family members, teammates, classmates, or friends� T hen look at the word cloud� Draw lines from the positive words to the names of the people who have those traits�
This week, tell at least three people one thing you appreciate about them
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“Sibling Rivalry” page 183
Circle any words that are part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23)� READ the ORIGIN
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Two versus Ten
Have you heard of Caleb and Joshua? Well, these are two heroes from the Bible who believed in God’s promise, despite their fellow soldiers’ doubts� Do you know the names of the ten men who rebelled against God’s direction? Here they are on the Wall of Ten� But some of the names are missing letters�
Solve the math equations to reveal the number related to each letter� Then solve the equations in the names� F ill in the letters to complete the names in the Wall of Ten�
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READ the ORIGIN STORY
WALL OF TEN
“Spy vs. Spy” page 185
This Mule Is No Fool
God always has a way to communicate His purpose for us� In this story, He uses a donkey� T he fact is, Balaam’s donkey was more obedient than he was�
L isten to the audio version of this story by scanning the QR code, while you make the donkey cube craft�
What language did Balaam’s donkey speak?
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Carefully cut out the shapes on the next page�
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Carefully cut out the shapes on the next page with scissors Use a hobby knife to slit the white lines labeled with letters ( You don’t need tape or glue�) Follow the directions on the cube� GE T AN ADULT TO
Numbers 22:21–35
“a stubborn mule—and his donkey” pAGE 199
Cords of Friendship
Rahab and the two Israelite spies made a pact to help each other� T he spies escaped Jericho by climbing a red rope down the city wall� T his red cord hanging from Rahab’s window was a signal that friends lived there� Her family was spared when the Israelite army invaded�
Find a trustworthy friend and experiment with slip knots, which are used by mountain climbers, fishermen, arborists, surgeons, knitters—and possibly were used by the two spies in their rope� Then make matching slip-knot bracelets� Wear them as a promise to look out for each other�
Go GATHER
• 24 inches of parachute cord, leather lace, waxed string, or embroidery thread—red if you have it� Just make sure the material can slide�
1� Make a loop� T he tail pointing to the right should be longer than the left� It should also lie on top�
3� Bring the right tail over the tip of your index finger� Wrap it around, and bring the tail through the hole toward you� L ift the right tail up again�
5� Bring the tail toward you� Slip the knots off your finger, and slide the tail through the loops left to right�
• Scissors
• Candle, matches, or lighter (with an adult’s permission)
2� Pinch the intersection with the index finger and thumb of your left hand� Hold the left tail with your remaining three fingers
4� Wrap the right tail around the same way two more times�
7� Adjust the bracelet to the size it should be on your wrist� T ie a knot at the end of each tail, making sure the tails are about the same length� Trim the ends�
6� Gently tighten the knot� Check that the knot slides� (If it doesn’t, no worries— just try again!)
8 With an adult’s help, singe the ends with a lighter or candle flame so they don’t fray�
Visible Vibrations
God had a sound plan to make the walls of Jericho fall� W hen the priests’ shofar horns blasted and the men in Israel’s army shouted, a lot of sound waves hit Jericho’s stone walls�
T he walls crashed! KA-BOOM!
Through this once-in-history strategy, God saved the Israelites from having to stage a long siege and helped them capture the first city in the Promised Land
That miracle shows the mighty power of God� To understand more about the power of sound, try this experiment�
Gather
• empty jar, about 3 to 6 inches wide
• plastic wrap
• rubber band large enough to go around the mouth of the jar
• pinch of sea salt
Go
1� Stretch a square of plastic wrap over the jar’s opening�
2� Stretch a rubber band around the jar to hold the plastic wrap in place�
Make sure the plastic wrap is on tight and flat with no wrinkles�
3� Sprinkle just a pinch of salt on top of the plastic wrap�
4 Warn anyone nearby that you’re going to make a lot of noise
5 Now, put your head next to the container and, without letting your breath touch the salt, shout, “MY GOD IS AN AMAZING GOD!”
What do trumpets have in common with pirates?
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What happened?
DID YOU KNOW?
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Joshua announced that no one should rebuild Jericho’s foundations or gates—never ever But if anyone did, that person’s family would be cursed (Joshua 6:26) For more than 500 years, the city of Jericho was unprotected, a reminder of God’s mighty power� T hen Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt the foundations and gates (1 Kings 16:34), and the curse fell on him�
READ the ORIGIN STORY STORY
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The sound waves from your voice vibrated the plastic wrap, and the salt danced!
Now try playing a loud song� W hat happens?
Want to play a game? Scan the QR Code
“The Walls of Jericho” page 210
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“Stop
Catch Some Rays
Do you ever want more time with friends? More time to sleep? More time to study before that math test?
Late in the afternoon, one special day, God stopped the sun right where it was� A nd for the entire day it shined brightly� W hy did God do that? Joshua prayed for more light so the Israelite army had time to conquer their enemies� W hat a miracle!
But a moving earth also shows the glory of God’s creation� Make this simple sundial to learn how to keep track of time following the earth’s movements around the sun�
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Gather
SCAN THE QR CODE
• Thick, white paper plate
• Sturdy plastic straw
• Markers
• Scissors
• Clear tape
READ the ORIGIN
• Compass or smartphone
STORY STORY
• Optional: protractor, cardboard or foam board
At the QUACK of dawn
Bonus
To have a more accurate sundial, ask an adult to help you figure out your latitude Then use the protractor to lift the sundial at the star position Cut a wedge of foam board or cardboard to the correct angle, and prop up your sundial with it�
Go
1� Carefully tear out this page, with the circle template� Cut out the template�
2 Ask an adult if your region is in daylight savings time or on standard time Many places are on daylight savings time March through October�
Tip
Because the time regions span so many miles, your sundial will not exactly line up with the time on your watch� It may be off by as many as 14 minutes, depending on your longitude and where your time zone begins�
Did You Know?
Sundials are mentioned in the Bible! King Ahaz had a sunclock system set up on a castle stairway (Isaiah 38:8; 2 Kings 20:9)�
3� Glue the template to the back/bottom of a paper plate�
4� Punch a hole through the center of the plate with scissors�
5� Decorate the rest of the plate with markers, making sure the numbers on the template are clearly visible�
6 Cut three or four slits in the bottom of the straw Make sure the slits are the same length
7� Poke the straw through the hole� Splay the cut portions of the straw so they are flat against the underneath side of the plate� Tape them down�
8� Head outside right before noon for standard time If it’s daylight savings time in your region, this will be one o’clock in the afternoon� A sk an adult to set up a smartphone with the compass app or to show you how to use a compass�
9� Find a flat, safe place to leave your sundial� Be sure it’s in full sun� Eyeball the straw, and adjust it so it’s as straight as you can make it
10 Use the phone’s compass app to find north T hen lay the phone down on the template to adjust the sundial so the star is pointing north�
11� Move the straw so its shadow aligns with the compass�
12� Put rocks on the plate to hold the sundial in place� A lso put rocks at the base of the straw to hold it at the correct right angle (90 degrees)�
13� Come back in 30 minutes� W here is the shadow now? Mark that time on the sundial� W here is the shadow after an hour? Mark that time� Continue to mark times throughout the day and tomorrow morning� You’ll soon have a customized sundial that will be reasonably accurate for a couple of weeks�
Something to Shout Sing About
The Israelites had no metal weapons� But they had a leader with mettle—strength of spirit, or in Deborah’s case, strength of the Holy Spirit� God honored Deborah’s faith, and the Israelites defeated a much stronger enemy who had bronze weapons�
While you’re coloring this picture, think about a time when God has given you strength to accomplish something difficult�
“The Song of Deborah” page 224
What has a neck but no head?
What has a head but no brain?
Samson stumped the Philistines with his riddle about honey in a lion’s carcass� Challenge your friends and family members with these classic brain teasers�
What’s special about these words? Revive, grammar, dresser, banana, potato, uneven�
I am an odd number� Take away a letter, and I am even� W hat number am I?
Forward I am heavy� Backward I am not� W hat am I?
How can 8 + 8 = 4?
Which is the top view?
What always runs but never walks, often murmurs but never talks, has a bed but never sleeps, has a mouth but never eats?
My life can be measured in hours� I serve by being devoured� T hin, I am quick� Fat, I am slow� W ind is my foe� W hat am I?
What goes up a chimney down, but won’t go down a chimney up?
What is the only number that, when spelled as a word, has all the letters in alphabetical order?
What is full of holes but still holds water?
A candy bar and a gumball together cost $1�10� T he candy bar costs $1 more than the gum� How much does the gumball cost?
and
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“Ruth’s Redeemer” page 254
What’s in the Wheat?
Boaz made sure Ruth was protected while she was gleaning wheat from his fields. Find the nine hidden letters in this wheat field. Write them here:
Then unscramble the letters to find out what city Boaz lived in.
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(There are some mice hiding in the stalks too. How many can you find?)
Did You Know?
If Ruth and Boaz met today in North America, they would find lots of wheat fields in these places: Canada, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, and South Dakota�
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“Wake-Up Call” page 260
Say What?!
Samuel rocked the job as judge of Israel�
But it didn’t happen by accident� His mother prayed for him even before he was born, and God listened to her cries for a child� L ater, young Samuel obeyed God’s call by learning to listen to His voice�
Sometimes it’s difficult to understand God’s direction� Here’s an activity to show what it’s like when we’re just guessing at what He wants for us�
1� Find a friend or family member, and ask them to suggest words to fill in this story�
2� Fill in the words, but don’t read it out loud as you go�
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3� Af ter all the words have been entered, read the story out loud�
Hints:
• A n adjective describes a person, place, or thing, such as “green” or “soft�”
• A verb shows action, such as “runs” or “sings ”
• An adverb (ad + verb) is added to a verb and describes action, such us “runs quickly ” or “sings melodiously�”
• When the story has a # sign with a number in the prompt, repeat it when you fill in the story words
Af ter you’re done laughing at that silly story, compare it to the real deal:
READ the ORIGIN
In the days before kings, the tabernacle was in Shiloh� A n old priest named Eli lived there�
STORY STORY
One day, a faithful woman named Hannah brought her young son, Samuel, to the tabernacle�
Samuel served Eli at the tabernacle�
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One night, Samuel lay in his bed� He heard a voice call softly, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and walked to Eli� “Did you call me?” Samuel asked�
“No,” said Eli� “Go back to bed�” This happened two times�
The next time this happened, Eli said confidently, “That must be God speaking to you� The next time you hear Him, say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening�”
So Samuel went back to his bed� For the fourth time, he heard the loud voice call “Samuel!”
Samuel said, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening ”
In the days before , the was in noun + s famous building #1 any city
A(n) named lived there. adjective occupation man #1
One day, a(n) woman named brought her adjective woman’s name son, , to the served adjective man #2 famous building man #2 at the . male name #1 famous building #1
One night, lay in his . He heard a man #2 piece of furniture #1 noun call , “ .” adverb man #2 got up and to . “Did you man #2 verb +ed man #1 verb me?” asked. man #2
“No,” said . “ back to .” This man #1 verb piece of furniture #1 happened times. The next time it happened, number said , “That must be man #1 adverb man #3 to you. The next time you hear , say, verb +ing man #3
“ , for your is .” verb man #3 occupation verb + ing
So went back to his . For the time, man #2 piece of furniture #1 number + nd or th heard the call “ !” man #2 adjective noun man #2
said, “, , for your is man #2 verb man #3 occupation . verb + ing
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Drama King
Saul was the first king of Israel� F ind out more about him in this word search� Search the letter grid for the names of people and places that are connected to Saul’s story� But—oops!—not all the words are listed� You’ll have to figure out some of the clues before you can look for the answers in the puzzle� ( The words you need to find are in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS� A ll the Bible hints are from 1 Samuel�) The words are down, across, backward, and diagonal�
KISH (Saul’s father; 9:1–2)
(Animals Saul was looking for; 9:3)
BENJAMIN (Saul’s family’s tribe; 9:21)
SAMUEL (Prophet who told Saul he would be king; 9:15–17)
GIBEAH (Town where Saul prophesied before becoming king; 10:10) of God (What came upon Saul; 10:10)
NAHASH (Brutal Ammonite warrior defeated by Saul; 11:2, 6, 11)
JABESH GILEAD (Place that Nahash captured but Saul freed; 11:1, 9)
(Place where Samuel anointed Saul as king of Israel; 11:14–15)
(Saul’s age when he became king (13:1)
FORTY-TWO (Number of years Saul reigned; 13:1)
BURNT OFFERING (What Saul offered instead of waiting for Samuel, which angered God; 13:7–14)
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STORY
(Name of Saul’s warrior son; 13:16)
SWORD (Weapon that only Saul and Jonathan had; 13:22)
SPEAR (Another weapon that only Saul and Jonathan had; 13:22)
PHILISTINES (Archenemies of Saul; 14:46–47, and many others)
(Commander of Saul’s army; 14:50)
AMALEKITES (Another enemy of Israel; 15:3, 7)
AGAG (King of the Amalekites; 15:32)
EVIL SPIRIT (What tormented Saul after God took away His Spirit; 16:14)
(Son of Jesse who played music for Saul; 16:23)
(Name of the Philistine giant Saul was too afraid to fight; 17:4, 11)
HELMET (Bronze item Saul put on David’s head before the fight with Goliath; 17:38)
MICHAL (Saul’s daughter who married David; 18:17)
NOB (Where the priests lived who helped David and whom Saul killed; 22:11–19)
DESERT OF MAON (Place where David hid from Saul; 23:24–25)
READ the ORIGIN STORY STORY
(Place where David had a chance to kill Saul, but only cut his robe; 24:3–4)
HAKILAH (Another place where David had a chance to kill Saul, but only took his spear; 23:1, 12)
(Place where Saul asked a medium—who spoke to dead spirits against God’s command—to help him speak to Samuel; 28:7)
TAMARISK (Tree under which Saul was buried after dying in battle with the Philistines; 31:12–13)
Bitter Words Over Sweet Honey
Has a parent ever told you, “No dessert till after dinner,” but you sneaked a cookie anyway? What did your parents do? I’m sure they forgave you� Am I right?
But here’s what happened to Jonathan� After he ate some forbidden honey by mistake, King Saul found out and wanted to execute Jonathan—his own son! Talk about bad parenting!
Saul wanted to enforce his no-eating rule because of pride and stubbornness� He should have responded with words as sweet as the honey his son ate!
Find out about healing words by completing this maze� After you’ve worked through the twists and turns, write down every letter in order on the spaces below�
“Honeycomb Argument”
Lyre, Lyre, Pacifier
David played the lyre, and his music pacified King Saul� Here’s a code based on music notes and symbols that spell out a super-soothing Bible verse� Can you solve it?
(Psalm 23:2) READ the ORIGIN
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Goliath Goes Down
Make a list of the “giant” problems in your life� F ind a smooth stone� Put the list on your dresser or bedside, and place the stone on top of it� Every time you see the list and stone, say a prayer of thanks that God is on your side, working to topple your problems in His way and in His time�
Who’s Faithful?
Few of David’s soldiers believed they could wallop the Philistines at Keilah� But with the Lord’s help, David rallied his troops and the Philistines fell to David’s army�
Study this picture, and find these items:
mice
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dog 2 honey pots 5 apples Live the Story
In the blank space, draw yourself� Would you have fought alongside David? Fill in the speech bubble with words of faith�
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“God’s New Capital” page 332
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A Way through the Waters
Joab led a special team through the waterways underneath Jerusalem� Unlike when Jericho was captured, Joab’s soldiers took over Jerusalem without much bloodshed� G o with Joab and his cohorts as they travel through the tunnels to capture the new capital�
Live the Story
God calls Jerusalem His city In Isaiah it’s also called “the city of righteousness” (Isaiah 1:26) Take a minute to write out a set of rules for the government of a city that God would be happy with Would you want to live there? Why or why not?
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READ the ORIGIN STORY STORY
READ the ORIGIN STORY STORY
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Woe Is David
When David felt sad or anxious, he let God know about it� W hen he felt happy, he let God know about it� But he also wrote down his experiences with how wonderful God is�
On the lines below, write your own psalm to God� You can tell Him anything� If you have music in your soul, sing your psalm out loud� God loves to hear your heart—and your voice�
My Psalm to God
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“Temple Dreams”
Memorable Moments
The prophet Nathan’s words about David’s wrongdoings pierced his heart like a lightning bolt� David finally realized he’d broken not just one but two commandments! (How could David have forgotten them?!) Nathan’s visit was certainly a memorable moment, a turning point in David’s life�
Let’s see how good your own memory is� Study the picture of Nathan and King David for 60 seconds� Look at objects and people, numbers and colors� T hen turn the page and see what you can remember�
“David’s Punishment” page 342
KING DAVID NATHAN
1� W hat is David holding in his hand?
2 How many strings are on the lyre?
3� W hat color are the curtains?
4� Describe the rug:
5 How many bands make up each of David’s bracelets?
6� Does Nathan have a beard?
7� W hat is outside the window?
8 W hat is inside the pink pot?
9� W hat time is it? Night or day?
10� How many feet are shown?
11 W hat colors are Nathan’s clothes?
12� If it rains, what will happen?
Live
the Story
Nathan told King David that his sin was forgiven But David still penned this verse: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10)�
Read the entire psalm� T hen spend some time in prayer, asking God to reveal any of your wrongdoings to you� T hey can be either actions or attitudes� On a separate piece of paper, write down all those things� Now tear up that paper into tiny pieces, and do one (or all) of the following:
• Flush a few tiny pieces down the toilet�
• Bury some of the pieces in the yard�
• Put some in the trash�
• With a parent’s supervision, burn the slips of paper on the grill like an Old Testament sacrifice�
• Line the cat’s litterbox with them�
No matter what you do with them, remember that God’s forgiveness is permanent� T hose sins are kaput, destroyed, and wiped from the record—blotted out! (See Psalm 51:1�)
Counsel of Confusion
In King David’s feud with his son Absalom, figuring out who was on whose side was like a giant game of Red Rover� Who would leave David and go over to Absalom’s side? One teamswitcher was Ahithophel� To protect himself from this traitor, David prayed, “L ORD, turn Ahithophel’s counsel [to Absalom] into foolishness�” (2 Samuel 15:31)�
Bring order to this chaotic letter jumble, and then turn foolishness into a Bible verse� ( We’ve done the first one for you�)
1� Solve the clue, and find the answer in the letter jumble� C ircle or cross out those letters�
2� Find the extra three letters� Write them in order on the dashes at the right�
3 Copy those same letters below in order, and you’ll know the rest of this verse:
Spies” page 357
“David’s
Ancient Wisdom
Solomon was given great, great wisdom as a young man� He wasn’t a professor� He wasn’t an old monk on a mountaintop� He was just a guy who sought God’s wisdom� He wrote some of his insights from God in the book of Proverbs�
L earn to write the word proverb in Hebrew—the language Solomon wrote in� Hebrew is written from right to left� S o start with the letter on the right side� Write the letter to its left, then again further left, and so on� Form the letters by following the arrows to make the strokes in the correct order and direction�
LIVE THE STORY
You can seek God’s wisdom too One way is to study Solomon’s proverbs P ick a chapter of Proverbs between chapters 10 and 31, and read it carefully� T hen tell someone your favorite proverb from that chapter�
Lamed
“Solomon’s Proverbs” page 377
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Stone Stacking
King Solomon’s first great task was to build the temple of the Lord! He made sure they collected the finest stone, wood, cloth, gold, and gems� T hen came the part that needed all of Solomon’s wisdom�
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80,000 stone cutters
70,000 laborers
3,300 supervisors
90’ long x 30’ wide x 45’ tall
7 years
3 stories 1 temple
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Imagine you’re a supervisor and need to direct the workers laying the stones� You receive a note from Solomon:
Did you hear about the rock collector who stole diamonds?
He was found guilty in a quartz of law
Stack the stones in groups of eight following these four simple rules:
1� One block is stacked between the two black blocks�
2� Two blocks are stacked between the two gray blocks�
3 Three blocks are stacked between the two white blocks
4� Four blocks are stacked between the two brown blocks�
How would you do it?
Gather
• Scissors
• Paper: white, black, gray, and brown
• Optional: black, gray, and brown markers
Go
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1� Cut your paper into eight similar-size rectangles (to look like stones or blocks)
2� A s an option, if you don’t have colored paper you can color two of them black, two of them gray, and two of them brown�
L eave two of them white
3� Arrange the blocks until you can meet Solomon’s orders�
“Solomon’s Temple” page 379 READ the ORIGIN
1 Kings 5:1–7; 6:1–14; 8:22–30
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Stretching Resources
Imagine if God supplied you with an endless box of mac ’n’ cheese or a package of chicken nuggets that never ran out� You’d know God was loving and powerful�
T hat’s what the widow in Zarephath learned when God allowed Elijah to miraculously stretch their little bit of oil and flour to last through a THREE-YEAR drought�
You can make something s-t-r-e-t-c-h with this amazing paper trick�
A ll you need is a pair of scissors�
1� Grab the next page and cut out the rectangle outline on the solid black line�
2� Fold the paper in half on the solid center line�
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3� Carefully cut the dotted green lines� Don’t cut too far�
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4 Open it up carefully Cut across the interior 6 folds Don’t cut the folds on the two outside ends
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5� Holding the two folded ends, carefully stretch open the paper� You should have connected strips that form a circle!
Could you imagine you would be able to create a stretching circle out of a single flat piece of paper?
READ the ORIGIN
Live the Story
It can be easy to forget how God takes care of us each day� Keep the stretched paper in your room (or somewhere else that you’ll see often), look at it, and memorize Philippians 4:19: “God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus�”
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the ORIGIN
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Why do the best foods in life have flour?
READ the ORIGIN STORY STORY
Because it makes everything dough-licious�
“Elijah’s Flour Power” page 400
Write the Whispers
When the prophet Elijah got depressed about the things happening in his life, God asked him to hike to Mount Horeb� T here God spoke to him in a whisper� Hearing from God made Elijah feel better�
We can get sad or overwhelmed too� W hat is God whispering to you? Find out by keeping a journal for seven days in a row Follow the instructions on each day
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Day 1
Go to a quiet place, say hi to God, and then listen to God for 1 minute� W hat did He tell you, or what verse did He remind you of?
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Day 2
Sit outside in a pretty place or look through a window at the sky or landscape for 2 minutes� W hat does nature say about God?
What’s a quiet Hawaiian laugh?
Day 3
What have been the “earthquakes” in your life? What have you learned from them? List these things for 3 minutes�
Day 4
Listen to God in prayer for 4 minutes� W hat did He tell you? How was it the same as or different than day 1?
What do you call a silent sheep?
Day 5
For 5 minutes, write the names of everyone who has ever shown you kindness� If you run out of names, write down the names of people you’ve been kind to�
Have you ever played quiet tennis?
It’s just like regular tennis but without the racket
Day 6
Journal about the last time you felt overwhelmed or defeated� Do this for 6 minutes� T hen write 6 reasons you have for thanking God�
Day 7
For 7 minutes listen to God as you pray� W hat did He tell you? Is there a recurring theme, or did He say something new?
Well done!
You’ve been increasing your prayer time each day� Don’t stop journaling now� You can continue this practice of writing to God and increasing your time in prayer� Can you get to 10 minutes? 15? 30?
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Grape Expectations
King Ahab is one of the bad boys in the Bible� In fact, he set a record for badness: 1 Kings 16:30 says “Ahab … did more evil in the eyes of the L ORD than any of those [kings] before him�”
The most famous bad thing King Ahab did was take part in a murder plot to steal a vineyard� God vowed to wipe out Ahab’s family line as punishment�
But there is a good (though brief) moment in Ahab’s story that’s not often told� To find out what it is, complete the Bible verse below using the code clues� We’ve done one letter for you�
“The word of the L ord came to Elijah …: “Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself …”
Did You Know?
There are more than 10,000 kinds of grapes in the world! Different kinds are used for eating, cooking, winemaking, and drying for raisins� W hat kind of grapes do you like best?
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Gather
Great Balls of Fire
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Elisha came with Elijah on his final journey� T he two crossed the Jordan River, and then Elijah was taken to heaven in a chariot of fire�
Craft your own chariot of fire, pulled by two flaming horses�
• template page
• colored pencils
• scissors
• tape
• 2 paper fasteners
• 1 wide straw
• 1 narrow straw
• 1 popsicle stick
1 Cut out and color the elements on the template page
2� Cut out the chariot parts and two flaming steeds (horses)�
3� Cut the dotted lines along the base of the chariot to create a fringe�
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4 Fold the flaps (fringe) of the chariot base and tape to the floor section of the chariot
5� Cut the larger straw so it is as wide as the base of the chariot�
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6� Tape the larger straw under the base of the chariot�
7 Insert the fastener pins at the center and from the outside (colored area) of each wheel
8� Cut the small straw an inch longer than the wider straw�
9� Insert the narrower straw through the wider straw�
10 At tach the wheels to the ends of the smaller straw with tape
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11� Insert the popsicle stick through the slit at the front of the chariot and attach with tape�
12 Use tape to secure a horse on either side of the unused end of the popsicle stick�
Why did the horse cross the road?
Because somebody shouted “Hay!”
“Chariots of Fire” page 420
Horse
Chariot Wheels Chariot Base
Chariot Wall
On Fire for God
Elisha saw his mentor, Elijah, whisked away to be with God�
Color in this “hot” illustration� READ
An Un-bear-able Insult
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Some young men found out the hard way not to call people names—especially a mighty prophet of God� T his cube craft will help you “bear” that lesson in mind�
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L isten to the audio version of this story by scanning the QR code, while you make the bear cube craft�
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2
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GE T AN ADULT TO HELP YOU!
Carefully cut out the shapes on the next page�
What do you call a bear with no teeth?
A gummy bear!
DID YOU KNOW?
First, get an adult to help you� Carefully cut out the shapes on this page with scissors� Use a hobby knife to slit the white lines labeled with letters� ( You don’t need tape or glue�) Follow the directions on the cube�
Syrian brown bears live in Israel� Females can weigh up to 300 pounds� L ike most brown bears, they have a hump on their back� But don’t you dare call that bear “fatty�” That hump is a group of muscles that make them stronger for hunting, climbing, and defending themselves�
“A Rash of Miracles” page 423
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Believe Your Eyes
God used Elisha to display His power through some practical yet mind-boggling miracles� Read about them in your Bible using the Scripture references in “Read the Origin Story” or in your Action Bible with the page number in “See the Story in Action�”
What if some animals were watching these miracles? Imagine how they would react� How would they describe what happened? Have fun writing their conversation in the speech bubbles�
“A Rash of Miracles” page 423
Dip Your Toes
What do you like to do in water? Swim, boat, fish, float …? Or are you like Naaman, who said NO to a dip in the Jordan River? People in the Bible did many activities in water, and this board game will tell you about some of them�
Gather
• Pennies or other handy coins, around 25 per player
• Basket or wooden bowl to serve as a bank
• Game token for each player to mark progress
• Spinner or number cube with 4-6 numbers
G0
1 Turn the page to find the board game
2� Place all the coins in a basket or bowl “bank�”
3� Give each player 3 coins to start�
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4� Players take turns rolling the number cube or flicking the spinner and moving their tokens that number of spaces�
5� Each player follows the direction on whatever space they land on� If a space directs them to go back or forward to another space, they don’t do what’s on that second space�
6� The winner is the one who collects the most coins� T hen the winner—and everyone else—celebrates by “giving” their coins to the apostle Paul for his next missionary trip (returning them to the bank)� Or decide together to give them to your Sunday school offering or a nearby ministry See w ho collected the most to give!
DID YOU KNOW?
The Jordan River is the lowest river in the world! Its water begins on Mount Hermon, the highest point in Syria at over 9,200 feet tall T hen it flows south through the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea, which is the lowest land-based elevation on the planet
Make some waves with water game fun
Naaman Tag
Play like regular tag with these changes:
• All players are “Naaman” except for the one who is “Gehazi” (the tagger)
• All players have to run while swinging their arms like swimming�
• Players can avoid being tagged by dipping in the Jordan River like Naaman—stooping down—before Gehazi tags them� But any stooping player has to be touched by another Naaman before standing up again�
• Anyone tagged while standing becomes the new Gehazi (tagger), while the first Gehazi becomes another Naaman�
live the story
Naaman doubted God’s command� W hat about you?
Write down the easiest and hardest Bible teaching for you to follow� Pray and ask Jesus to give you faith to do both!
catch the fish
This cooperation game needs a pillowcase or sheet folded in half and a lot of small balls of any type (could even be paper-wad balls, beanbags, or fuzzy pompoms)
• Two players (fishers) hold the pillowcase or folded sheet by the two ends T his makes the net
• All other players have the balls� T hese are the fish�
• Start with the players 5 giant steps back from the net� Take turns tossing fish at the net while the fishers try to catch them�
• If the catching is too hard or easy, try taking a couple steps closer or farther away�
• The fishers keep caught fish in the net, trying to catch more without losing any already caught�
• See how long it takes you to catch and keep 3 fish, 5 fish, 10 fish!
Why did the cantaloupe jump into the river?
It wanted to be a water-melon�
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“Invisible Army” page 430
Look Again
Elisha called on God for military help to fight the Arameans� At first his servant couldn’t see the army and thought they were doomed� But then Elisha told him to look again, and the servant saw the miracle�
Take a second look at these two pictures� Can you find 12 differences?
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Live the Story
When you’re afraid, what do you do?
Hide under the covers
Hol ler for a hug Ta lk to Jesus
Hug an animal (whether your pet or stuffed) Say a Bible verse
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Fold a Fish
Jonah got folded into a fish� Now it’s your turn to do the fish-folding!
Gather
• Scissors
• A ruler with a metal or hard plastic edge to help make the folds
1� Cut out the square on the following page� Turn the square so one corner is straight up�
2� Fold the paper along both diagonals and press the folds� T hen open�
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4� Fold that rectangle in half to make a square� T he loose corners should be at the top left� Gently pull the top layer by the top left corner toward the right�
3� Fold the paper along the vertical center� Press the fold, then open� Fold it along the horizontal center� Press the fold and leave it closed�
5� Press the fold and flatten to a triangle�
7� Push bottom right corner inward, and pull creased edge to the left to create another triangle�
6� Turn the paper over�
8� Fold right front corner along the fold line� ( This makes a back fin�)
9� Fold the top piece of the bottom flap, again across the dotted line, so it overlaps the first fin� (This makes the second back fin�)
Fishy
10� Turn the paper over� Draw eyes, scales and other fishy features on your origami project
Download more origami sheets at the QR Code�
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Prophet Mishmash
What do you think of when you hear the word prophet? Did you picture an old man with long white hair wearing a dingy robe saying, “Repent or die!” Well, think again T he prophets were all different ages and had different messages (though the robe part is spot on)
Match the prophets with the details of their lives� P ick a color for each prophet� Use those colors to draw a line from each description to the prophet it belongs to�
• Preached to the region of Judah about the Day of the Lord�
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• Chose to forgive�
• Used a crooked wall as an example (metaphor)
• Preached to both Judah & Israel�
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• Theme was “God loves you no matter what�”
• Wrote a book of only 3 chapters
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• Predicted Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem�
• Cared about the poor�
• Prophesied an outpouring of God’s Spirit�
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Cherubim Chatter
Cherubim are a special kind of angel that serve at God’s throne� Ever wonder what they talk about?
To find the answer, fill in the shapes below by using the color code� Your coloring will reveal what the angels say!
Avenging Angel
Some angels are messengers� S ome comfort� S ome protect� S ome will help judge in the end times� But this angel? This was a warrior who helped the Israelites conquer the Assyrian army� Color in this amazing angel�
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Scripture Map
How could something so old relate to something so new? Isaiah wrote more than 600 years before Jesus was born, yet the Holy Spirit inspired him to prophesy that the Messiah would suffer and die for our sins� Jesus Christ did just that�
In the final days of His suffering, Jesus went all over Jerusalem and the surrounding area� Can you put His events in order? The map shows how Jerusalem may have looked in the time of Jesus� Put the events in the correct order by writing a number in front of each line, from 1 to 10� T hen use the coordinates to find the events below on the map� T hink about what Jesus did at each place�
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in garden of Gethsemane
On trial before the high priest, Caiaphas G 13
Shares the Last Supper in the upper room F 14
Buried in a tomb—but rises from the dead! H 4
Crucified on Golgotha F 8
On trial before the Roman governor, Pilate F 11
A ppears to His hiding disciples F 14
Live the story
Because Jesus suffered when He lived on earth, He understands all the hard things we go through� T his means we can talk to Him about anything—He’ll understand and care� Wha t will you talk to Jesus about today? Ascends to heaven as His followers watch
“Isaiah 53: A Prophecy” page 466
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Put the Wheels in Motion
Ezekiel certainly had bizarre visions: spinning wheels inside of wheels� Four-faced angels� A nd dry bones being renewed with muscles and skin�
Here is one of Ezekiel’s key verses—but the last part is in code� To solve it, construct the cypher wheel� T hen use it to match the symbols with letters� To start, match to the letter A �
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh� A nd I will put my Spirit in you and …
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Gather
• thin cardboard, like a cereal box
• paper fastener
• scissors
• glue Go
1 Cut out the circles on pages 119 and 121 T he one on page 119 has two sides
2� Trace the larger circle (p� 121) on cardboard, and cut it out�
3� Glue the larger paper circle onto the cardboard circle�
4� Let the glue dry� Now you have two wheels, one cardboard and one paper�
5� Use scissors to punch a small hole in the center of each wheel�
6� Put the smaller wheel (symbols side up) on top of the larger one�
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(Ezekiel 36:26–27)
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7� Poke the paper fastener through the holes and bend open loosely to make sure the smaller one can spin�
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8� Turn the wheel to match the symbols to the letters� Write the letters in the puzzle on the matching blanks to finish the verse�
“Ezekiel’s Exile” page 478
Let the Games Begin!
Daniel and his friends were young men who lived through some really tough times T hey were taken from their homeland and made to serve an enemy king Yet they continued to trust God
T hey showed their trust by obeying His teachings, spending time with Him in prayer every day, telling others about Him, and remembering His love� W hen you’re in tough times, dare to be like Daniel and follow his example�
Be Brainy Like Daniel
Daniel 1:4, 20 says Daniel and his friends were wise, studied hard, and kept on learning� Here are three activities to test your brain power�
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Daniel and his friends had Hebrew names� T he king of Babylon gave them new names—in his language� Test your language knowledge by looking up Daniel 1:6–7 and writing the teens’ new names beside their original names
Daniel Hananiah
Mishael
Azariah READ the ORIGIN STORY STORY see the story in see the story in
SPAGHETTI TOWER CHALLENGE
Find at least one friend, and put your heads together to figure out how to build a tower with only a box of thick spaghetti (uncooked) and a bag of marshmallows�
Hint! First figure out a sturdy base Here are two ideas
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Eat Healthy Like Daniel
After eating only vegetables and water for 10 days, Daniel and his friends were able to perform far better than the other young men who were eating the king’s food Do you think you could compete that well after eating only salads for over a week?
You can at least add some veggies to your day with this tasty, fun idea� Invite friends to enjoy it with you! And while you’re munching, read Daniel 1:11–15�
Create a raw vegetable tray with three dips, and give them Daniel-related names:
• Lion Tamer Dip: a small bowl of peanut butter or a non-nut butter (like sunflower seed butter)
• Babylon Dip: a small container of hummus
• Dreamer Dip: a small bowl of ranch dressing or bleu cheese dressing
Grab paper and pencils� Each player writes these two names at the top of their page:
DANIEL, NEBUCHADNEZZAR
Set a timer for four minutes Everyone tries to make as many words as possible from the letters in those two names� S ee who formed the most words that no one else got� The winner gets high fives� T he loser has to say “Nebuchadnezzar” five times fast� You can play a second time with the names of Daniel’s three friends� see the story in see the story in
Remember to have a parent with you for shopping and chopping!
TRAIN Like Daniel
Daniel and his friends were required to keep in shape with healthy food and exercise so they could better serve the king� T hey probably did racing, wrestling, and calisthenics Maybe they even played sports
PASS-THE-BALLOON TEAMWORK
Daniel’s friends supported each other in the fiery furnace Together read Daniel 3:16–27 Inflate some balloons of different shapes and sizes L ine up a few giant steps apart with the balloons on one end� T he goal is to use teamwork to bat the balloons, one at a time, to the other end of the line without allowing them to touch the “furnace”— the walls or floor� Every player has to bat every balloon before it reaches the end� S ee if you can improve your time and skill with each balloon�
DREAM AN OBSTACLE COURSE
Daniel interpreted dreams with God’s help � Dr eam up an indoor obstacle course using handy household items � (Check with a parent first�) Yo u might include crawling under chairs, jumping over pillows, and weaving around items � A ward points for the fastest competitor, the player with the most style, and anyone who can do the course walking or crawling backward �
LIGHT IN THE DARK
Daniel shed some light on a dark message that the king read on a wall (see Daniel 5) Clear a room of obstacles, close curtains or blinds, and turn off lights One player holds a flashlight, and the rest wear thin blindfolds� T he light shiner moves around the room shining the flashlight clearly� T he other players try to touch the light shiner� Whoever can tag that person becomes the new light shiner�
Did You Know?
Working out is in the Bible! At least, the apostle Paul used exercise as a metaphor for how to train in our spiritual life: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize� Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training� They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (1 Corinthians 9:24–25)�
Fill in the open space in the picture by drawing people doing the kinds of athletic activity you think they did� T hen try these games of athletic skill with friends!
Have a relay race to four sides of a large room or part of a yard or park� Use a large spoon for each team (even if there’s just one person on each team)� Use any handy balls to carry on the spoons— bouncy balls, rubber squeeze balls, cotton balls� Determine start and finish lines … and race!
PRAYER DRAW
Gather your friends around a table with blank paper and markers � Read Daniel 6:6–10� Take a minute to let everyone think about things they ask or thank God for� Keep them secret for now� Then take turns sketching one idea while the others guess what it is
OPPOSITE SEEK
Play Hide and Seek backward! One person hides while all the others seek� A s each player finds the hider, they squeeze into the same spot and hide too� S ee how many can hide together, and see who’s the last to discover the bunch�
SIDEWALK BOWLING
In a nearby park or on your own sidewalk, set up plastic bottles with an inch of water in them� Take turns rolling a tennis ball or similar ball to knock them down� Remember to be safe if playing near cars or roads�
When Lions Fly
Daniel had some scary visions—worse than the kind you get before the first day of school or after eating too much dessert� Here’s how Daniel described one of the creatures he dreamed about: “The first was like a lion and it had the wings of an eagle” (Daniel 7:4)�
W hen you see this winged lion cube craft, remember that all your thoughts and dreams are important to God� Be sure to pray about everything that’s on your mind�
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You can listen to the audio version of this story by scanning the QR code, while you make the winged lion cube craft�
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Did You Know?
Lions flying? Well, they did in Daniel’s vision But that’s not all he saw� He dreamed three other beasts: a ferocious bear; a four-headed, four-winged leopard; and a beast with iron teeth! Scan the QR code to see illustrations of these four beasts�
the ORIGIN
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Carefully cut out the shapes on the next page�
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First, get an adult to help you�
Carefully cut out the shapes on this page with scissors� Use a hobby knife to slit the white lines labeled with letters ( You don’t need tape or glue ) Follow the directions on the cube�
the ORIGIN
Mysterious Message
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Have you ever heard the expression “the writing is on the wall”? It’s not talking about your sibling scribbling on the walls of your house, but instead it’s saying that the outcome of a situation is imminent or evident� A nd in the case of Belshazzar, it was the direst reality— God sent a hand to write a message on the wall for this evil king of Babylon�
Use the key to color in the message on the wall and discover what Belshazzar failed to do� T hen enjoy coloring the rest of the picture�
Writing on the Wall” page
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Clothes for a Queen
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Esther primped and preened to look spectacular� (A ll that means is that Persian queens were into makeup, clothes, and serious spa time�) Add to that her stunning beauty and politeness, and Esther won the favor of all who saw her (Esther 2:15)�
Cu t out the two-sided backdrop� Use the first side for the scenes when Esther meets with the king� Us e the other side when Esther is talking with her uncle Mordecai outside the palace�
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Have fun experimenting with this paper wardrobe for the queen of bravery� T hen try creating other props to reenact the story�
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Did You Know?
Esther’s story is told as a rowdy play during the Jewish holiday of Purim� T he audience boos and cheers during the play and eats cookies shaped like hats�
Esther 2:1–18; 5:1–8
Download more Esther clothes to color by scanning the QR code!
Purim is a joyful holiday celebrated by the Jewish community every year� You can plan a Purim party too! Here are five things you need to know to get started planning�
1. When is Purim?
Purim is traditionally celebrated on the fourteenth day of the Jewish month of Adar� ( That’s February or March, depending on the year�) But you can have a Purim party anytime�
2. What does Purim mean?
It’s an Akkadian word that means “dice” or “to cast lots ” (Akkadian was the language spoken in Persia in Esther’s day ) In E sther 3:7, Haman cast lots for his evil plans, and today Jewish people have redeemed it for a holiday�
3. Is there a Bible reading at a Purim party?
in action action
One central activity is to read aloud a special version of the book of Esther ( You can find these versions online S earch for “Purim play script ”) Every time the name Haman is spoken, the audience boos or uses noisemakers (called groggers) to show disapproval� The louder, the better!
4. Is there dancing?
Yes! Traditional Jewish and Israeli songs and dances go with the holiday However, you can also create your own playlist of lively songs and dance
5. What is the food like?
Purim usually involves dinner and vegetable dishes is challah, a yummy braided bread Special cookies are served for dessert (See the recipe on the next pages
Haman’s Hat Cookies
Many Jewish families celebrate Purim with homemade cookies that have three corners and look like a hat T hey were not in fashion during Esther’s era, and Haman probably never wore one� T he cookies—known as hamantaschen—are a fun tradition anyway�
Bake these tasty treats, and you’ll see why this recipe is so well loved� But plan ahead� The eggs and butter should come out of the fridge a couple hours before mixing� And the dough needs to chill three hours before baking�
INGREDIENTS
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1∕ 3 cups margarine or butter, best at room temperature
• 2 large eggs, best at room temperature
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• 1 tablespoon water
• 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour (420 grams)
• ½ cup filling: fruit preserves or puree in any flavor—it can even be a sweet, nutty filling
• Kitchen utensils: hand or stand mixer, bowls, measuring spoons, spatula, parchment paper, plastic wrap, cookie sheets, wire cooling rack
Did You Know?
Hamantaschen is a German recipe that was developed around 1500 T hen Emperor Napoleon of France made the tricorne hats so popular that the trend came to colonial America, where they were in fashion in the 18th century ( Think Paul Revere and other leaders of the American Revolution�)
INSTRUCTIONS
1� Put these ingredients in large bowl: the sugar and the butter or margarine� Mix with an electric mixer for 2 minutes on medium� T he batter should become pale and fluffy�
2� Add the eggs, and continue mixing on medium speed for 30 seconds more�
3� Add the vanilla and water� Beat for 30 more seconds�
4� Sift the flour� T hen stir it into the bowl� Mix until the dough forms a smooth ball� If it seems sticky, add flour by the tablespoon until the dough is moist but clings together�
5 Remove the dough from the bowl, and completely cover it in plastic wrap Put it in a clean bowl, and set it in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours� Overnight is fine� Any longer than that and the dough may dry out�
6� Take the dough out of the fridge� Cut some parchment paper into two 4-inch squares�
7� Prepare the oven by putting the baking rack in the middle slot and preheating to 375 degrees� Prepare the cookie sheets by covering the bottoms with parchment paper
8� Pinch off balls of dough, and roll them until they are about the size of a golf ball� L ightly sprinkle them with flour�
9� Put a ball of dough between the two pieces of parchment paper� Roll the ball with a rolling pin until it is about 3 inches in diameter� Or squash it with a glass� W hichever method you use, the dough should be about ¼ inch thick�
10� Move the dough circle to the baking sheet� Repeat steps 8 and 9 until the cookie sheets are filled�
11� Put a teaspoon of filling in the center of each cookie�
12 Dip your fingers in flour so they won’t stick, and pinch the dough together to form a three-cornered box� Make sure the corners are pinched tightly so the filling doesn’t leak�
13� Bake one sheet at a time for 15 minutes or until the dough is slightly brown at the edges�
14 Remove the cookies with a thin spatula and move to a wire cooling rack Serve them at a Purim party or just enjoy!
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“Wall Warriors” page 535
Fix the Fortress
The walls of Jerusalem had been broken for 70 years before Nehemiah got the big idea to restore them�
Cut out the parts of the wall on the next page� F it them in the grid to help Nehemiah and his friends finish the wall�
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Live the Story
While Nehemiah was enjoying a nice job serving the king of Persia, one of his brothers, Hanani, visited from Judah and told Nehemiah about the broken-down walls of Jerusalem T hat spurred Nehemiah to get the walls rebuilt L ater, Nehemiah gave Hanani a job managing the city because “he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do” (Nehemiah 7:2)� Make a list of qualities you’d want in someone helping you with a difficult task�
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Nehemiah 1:1–4; 4; 6:15
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Courageous Women
Women in the Old Testament acted out of God’s wisdom, God’s compassion, and God’s strength � B ut we hardly know some of their names! Look up the verse clues at the end of every rhyme, and fill in the name of the courageous woman who served God � E ach woman is named twice �
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1� The children of and Aaron, so blessed, became the first Levites, in holy service expressed� (Exodus 6:23; 28:1)
2� Jacob loved Rachel; his heart held her dear—more than his wife , who had very little cheer� (Genesis 29:30)
3 placed her baby in a basket with care; afloat on the Nile she left him there (Exodus 2:1–8; Numbers 26:59)
4� When evil queen Athalia sought to end her family line, saved her nephew Joash, to be king in time� (2 Kings 11:1–2)�
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5� When Sisera sought shelter from Israel’s sight, struck him down with a tent peg that night� (Judges 4:17, 21)
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6� King Xerxes sought to show his wife’s beauty to friends, but refused and would not make amends� (Esther 1:1–5, 9–12)
7� Isaac’s younger son wed first, it’s true; she had six sons and a daughter too� (Genesis 29:16–30; 30:19–21)
8 A prophetess named spoke with great might, warning the people God’s judgment was in sight (2 Kings 22:14–15)
9� Deborah judged and led Israel with wisdom and flair, when Sisera, an enemy, came to dwelling unaware� (Judges 4:4; 4:17)
10� wed Aaron, Moses’ dear older brother; the couple flourished, a bond strong together� (Exodus 6:23)
11� Moses’ wife was , a fine Midianite; she helped him find favor in God’s sight� (Exodus 4:24–26)
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12 knew Josiah’s fate would soon unfold, before Jerusalem fell, as the prophecy told (2 Kings 22:11–20)
13� Pharaoh’s daughter, with kindness in her heart, hired to care for her own son from the start� (Exodus 2:1–8; Numbers 26:59)
14� was queen of Persia with a beautiful face before King Xerxes chose Esther to take her place� (Esther 2:17)
15� moved with her husband and sons in tow from Midian to Egypt, where God’s plan would grow� (Exodus 2:21; 4:19–20)
16� hid baby Joash in the temple so near for six years in secret, away from all fear� (2 Kings 11:1–3) READ the ORIGIN
Military forces from Rome took over Israel in 63 BC � Jerusalem and the surrounding cities were then under Roman rule� A Roman soldier could legally force a Jewish person to do work for him, even carry the soldier’s gear for a mile� Jesus said if that happens, the person should show their heart for God by being helpful: “If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles” (Matthew 5:41)�
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Live the Story
Pretend you live in Jerusalem during this time ruled by Roman soldiers� For a week, if you’re asked to do a chore, do two chores� If you must babysit a sibling, offer to do it twice as long� Do the same with your teachers� How can you help them by “going the extra mile”? What is their response?
The angels were glorious! And they made the shepherds curious� The Savior sent from God? Let’s go see!
Color in this fantastic moment when the angels announced God’s good news to the shepherds� Write in what you think they could have said�
“Angel Promises” page 550
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Signs of Love
Some 34 million children worldwide suffer from hearing loss, making it difficult or impossible for them to hear the good news of new life in Jesus� But the Action Bible team at David C Cook and Pioneer Bible Translators wanted to do something about that�
Are you familiar with American Sign Language? This visual language is used by people who are unable to hear� A translator uses mainly hand motions and facial expressions to pass along what someone is saying�
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The Action Bible Sign Language (ABSL) brings the familiar stories right off the page into videos designed for the hearing impaired! Every Action Bible story has been translated into American Sign Language (ASL) by Deaf actors—including costumes that match the stories Because the words are read aloud and shown on the screen, both Deaf & hearing people can enjoy God’s Word together� F ind a friend or family member, and together learn these words in ASL � READ the ORIGIN
To sign “Jesus loves you,” follow these simple steps:
Have the tip of the middle finger of your right hand touch the center of your left palm Then switch and touch your left middle finger to your right palm ( This represents the nails in Jesus’ hands at the crucifixion�)
You can watch the first episode of ABSL by scanning this QR code� see the story in
Cross your arms over your chest, as if giving yourself a hug�
Point to someone with your right index finger�
“Angel Promises” page 550
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“Mary and Joseph” page 558
Set This Birthright Right
There are a whopping 300-plus Old Testament prophecies about Jesus the Savior-Messiah! Many of the prophecies foretold who His ancestors would be�
F irst there were:
• Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 26:2–5), and next,
• Judah (Genesis 49:10), and finally the Savior would be a King of
• David’s line (Psalm 89:35–37)�
Here is a chart showing the list of dads—plus a few famous moms—who are on Jesus’ family tree� But—OOPS—some of the names aren’t filled in! Use the clues to figure out where the six missing fathers belong: Ahaz, Nahshon, Perez, Solomon, Zadok, and Zerubbabel
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1� Zadok is not married to Tamar�
2� #30 and #15 are builders�
3� #15 built the (unscramble the letters) PLEMET�
4� Solomon, a builder, is not number #30 or #34�
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5� Nahshon was born before #15�
6� Judah was born before Nahshon
7� Zerubbabel is a builder�
8� Ahaz was born after Zerubbabel�
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“Birth
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Blanket for a Baby Savior
At Christmas, we focus on Jesus as a humble baby, born in a manger� He is also the King of Kings and our Savior! How can we show our love to Him?
Here’s a stanza from a famous poem about what we can give Jesus:
What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; If I were a wise man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him? Give my heart� (by Christina Rossetti)
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Move over red and green! Weave this birthday blanket tapestry in colors that represent Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords�
• Yarn: purple (for Christ’s royalty), white (for His purity), gold (to remind you of heaven and eternal life)
• Cotton twine (best) or thinner cotton yarn or embroidery floss
• A piece of sturdy cardboard about 8–10 inches square
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Needle with a hole big enough for the yarn
prep
1 At the bottom of your cardboard, make a mark every half inch Start from the left so the marks line up Repeat at the top
2� Cut half-inch slits in the cardboard at each mark� Don’t worry if they’re not exactly even� T hese cuts are just to hold the yarn in place�
3� Draw a line across the bottom of the cardboard about 3 inches from the notches� Mark this “start�” Draw another line about 3 inches from the top of your board� Mark this “stop�” You’ve just created your loom�
4� Select the yarn you’ll use for your warp string—the strings that go vertically� T ie the warp thread at the bottom-left notch of the loom�
5� Wrap the string around the top-left notch then the next bottom notch� T he long strands of twine stay on the front of the loom� Keep going till you can tie it off at the bottom-right notch
6� Slide the pencil underneath the warp thread on top of the “stop” line�
7� Measure out six portions of yarn the width of the loom, plus 4 inches� Carefully make each into a little wad that can fit under the warp strings�
GO
1 Start weaving by slipping yarn under the second warp string from the right� Move your thread over one warp thread and under the next all the way across� It’s easiest if you lead with a loop� L eave a 4-inch tail hanging out at the right�
2� The second row should be the opposite of the first row� If the yarn was over a string the first time, it goes under the string on the next row�
4� When you get near the end of your yarn, leave a 4-inch piece hanging at the end of the row�
5 Alternate rows of white, gold, and purple yarn until you reach the “stop” mark
3� Keep your yarn neat—but not too tight! The yarn should not pull on the side warp threads� Weave with an arch and then gently slide the row down after you’ve gone all the way across
6� Use a needle to lead the ends of the yarn into a vertical row to hide them
Keep your blanket as a reminder of Jesus’ purity and royalty, and especially of eternal life with Him
7� To lift the weaving off the board, loosen all the warp strings from the top and bottom Cut them at the bottom T hen tie together the first two from the left in a double knot T ie them in pairs until all the warp strings are tied Do the same thing at the other ends�
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“Magi from the East” page 570
A Moment with the Magi
The magi knew their Old Testament prophecies�
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No one alive today knows how many magi came from Persia to honor Jesus� But we do know they brought three gifts� Unscramble these words to find out what those gifts were�
READ the ORIGIN STORY STORY
DOGL RMYHR
READ the ORIGIN STORY STORY
EFSRNAENCKNI
Shine a light on the back of this page to read Micah 5:2, the reason the wise men came to Judea�
Out of [Bethlehem] will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.
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Matthew 3:13–17
Sign of the Dove
This paper dove can remind you of the Holy Spirit� Use it as a bookmark in your Bible� Or glue it to your school notebook� Or make a whole flock and give them to your friends� Or hang your flock from a coat hanger for a fantabulous mobile�
Gather
• Scissors
• A ruler with a metal or hard plastic edge to help make the folds
Go
Cut out the square on this page� Turn the square so one corner is straight up�
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“Baptized” page 579
Download more origami sheets at the QR Code� We even have different colors!
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STORY STORY
Step 1: Start with a square piece of paper
Step 2: Fold the paper in half by folding the top corner to the bottom corner� You should have an upside-down triangle�
Step 4: Turn the paper over
Step 3: Fold part of the top down so that the edge is about halfway down� Don’t make this flap too thin because this will become the wings of the top of the triangle Crease and unfold
Step 5: Take the bottom corner of the top layer and fold it up like this�
Step 6: Fold the figure in half by folding the left side over to the right�
Step 8: Fold the other wing back also�
Step 7: Now fold that same flap back like this to make one of the wings�
Step 9: Push the center of the head in and flatten� T his is called an inside reverse fold�
Step 10: And tada! Your dove is finished!
A Wide Net
Jesus knew that for His earthly ministry to grow, He needed people to work together with Him � H e chose 12 and included 2 named James! Find the names of the 12 disciples by searching for letters on the fish � E ach color and shape of fish is for a different disciple � U nscramble the letters to spell out their names �
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Spirit Fill-in Fun
It was a dark and spiritual night� Nicodemus came to Jesus with soul-searching questions� T he answers Jesus gave him are the most profound truths ever spoken�
Use the mixed-up word bank below to fill in the blanks with those amazing words� But watch out, there are five extra words!
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STORY STORY
Celebrate the day you became a Christian—your spiritual birthday� M ark it on your calendar, and plan to have a cake with candles for every year you have been a disciple� Invite your friends (especially ones who don’t go to church), and before you blow out the candles, tell three reasons you love Jesus If you don’t know that special day, ask your parents to help you guess �
Jesus [said], “Very I tell you, no one can see the of God unless they are again�”
“How can be born when they are ?” Nicodemus � “Surely they enter a time into their womb to be born!”
Jesus answered, “ truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of unless they are born of and the Spirit� Flesh gives birth to , but the Spirit gives birth to � You should not be at my saying, ‘You must be born � ’ The blows wherever it
� You hear its , but you cannot tell where it from or where it is � So it is with born of the �” (John 3:3–8)
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“Living Water” page 600
Well Wishes
The woman at the well had her life turned around by Jesus’ message� T he day she met Jesus was an ordinary workday focused on physical water� It became an extraordinary day refocused on spiritual water�
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READ the ORIGIN
Play this “turn around” puzzle by cutting out the squares on the next page�
Can you put them in the correct order to show the woman meeting Jesus?
Now turn the squares over and complete the puzzle with the picture of her bringing her friends to Jesus�
Live the Story
Ask a friend to church by saying something like, “I want you to hear about the amazing things Jesus did in the Bible—and also what He has done for me�”
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Perplexing Parables
“A Sermon with Parables” page 612
“A Sermon with Parables” page 612
Jesus told parables and mini sermons� W hat would it have looked like if Jesus had texted His teachings? See if you can match the emoji stories with their titles� Write the number of the emoji set on the line in front of the parable name in the list below�
The Wise and Foolish Builders (Matthew 7:24–27)
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The Parable of the Lost Coin (Luke 15:8–10)
The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1–9)
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The Parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15:11–32)
The Parable of the Wandering Sheep (Matthew 18:10–14)
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STORY STORY
READ the ORIGIN STORY STORY
Draw your favorite parable or Bible story in emoji or comic format� Share it with a friend, and explain what that parable or story means to you and why it’s your favorite READ the ORIGIN
live the story
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page 619
Storm in a Bucket
How do you think the disciples felt when the storm threatened to overwhelm their boat? Try this experiment to see how hot and cold create convection currents� W hile this activity uses water, the same principles hold for when hot and cold air meet, which creates wind�
Gather
• Oblong container that is clear or see-through
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• Red and blue food coloring (though any two colors will do)
• Ice cube tray
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STORY STORY
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Because it wanted to improve its thunder-standing!
Why did the storm go to school? READ the ORIGIN
“Storm at Sea”
Go
1 Fill the ice cube tray with water, and add a drop of blue food coloring to each cube holder�
2� Let the tray freeze overnight�
3� Fill the oblong container about half full with lukewarm water�
4� Add the ice cubes to the left side of the container�
5� Add five or six drops of red food coloring to the right side of the container�
6 Watch the storm What happens to the red water?
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Power and Peace
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Jesus used His POWER to bring PEACE � He calmed the wind and waves—and the disciples! Think about it as you color this picture�
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Listen to the story by scanning the QR code
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“Storm at Sea” page 619
Basket Bungle
Imagine that the disciples Andrew, James, and Philip were the clean-up crew for the extra baskets of loaves and fishes� Each disciple picked up baskets of the same color�
Use the clues to figure out what color Andrew’s basket is W ho has four baskets?
1� James picked up two more baskets than Philip�
2� Philip’s basket is NOT a primary color�
3� Andrew picked up fewer baskets than Philip�
4� The disciple with six baskets has yellow ones�
Use this grid to organize your information (Put yes or no inside the squares )
JAMES PHILIP
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Then you’ll be able to figure out these clues:
Andrew’s basket color:
Disciple with 4 baskets:
Number of James’s baskets:
Philip’s basket color:
RED
BROWN
YELLOW
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“Walking on Water” page 632
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Weaving through Waves
Waves and wonder! Who is this Man who can walk on water?
Help Peter walk across the Sea of Galilee … and meet Jesus, Master of the sea�
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STORY STORY
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Worry No More!
Poor Martha! How will she get her chores done? Oh, really? Just sit at Jesus’ feet? Yup, that’s really what Jesus wants you to do with your cares and concerns� Put Him first�
To get a grip on what is making you worry, jot down your stresses on this page� T hen write an encouragement the way an advertiser would� For example: “Grades got you down? Remember the Creator of the universe is only a prayer away�” This will help you keep perspective and may even get you to smile� Read the verses around the edges of this page for comfort and inspiration
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“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
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“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
(Matthew 6:34)
“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
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Luke 10:38–42
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“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
(1 Peter 5:7)
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“Help for Martha” page 649
Counting Sheep
A good shepherd looks everywhere for his sheep� Jesus called Himself “the Good Shepherd” in John 10:11–14� John the Baptist called Jesus “the Lamb of God” in John 1:29�
Comb through this sheep’s wool to find these objects that represent names for Jesus� READ the ORIGIN
Alpha
(the Greek letter: A)
Bread of life
Cornerstone Shepherd of kings of God of the world of Judah
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(the Greek letter: )
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The Word
Hotel Pigpen
A guy needs freedom, right? A chance to live his own life? The prodigal son took that chance—and blew his early inheritance on parties� His money was GONE! His party friends vanished� He lived with the pigs until his father took him back�
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This little piggy may have said “wee wee wee” all the way home� W hen you look at him, remember that God offers you better than pigs�
Listen to the audio version of this story while you make the pig cube craft by scanning the QR code�
What do pigs and ink have in common?
They both run out of pens
First, get an adult to help you� C arefully cut out the shapes on the next page with scissors � Use a hobby knife to slit the white lines labeled with letters � ( You don’t need tape or glue�) F ollow the directions on the cube
“A Loving Father”
Animals Onstage
The Bible mentions lots of animals, but only a handful are named in the New Testament� Can you find the animals?
Look up these Bible verses—all from Matthew—and fit the name of the animal into the grid�
Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3:1)
Og (Deuteronomy 3:11)
Goliath (1 Samuel 17:4)
King Saul (1 Samuel 9:2)
Zacchaeus (Luke 19:3)
If you don’t already have a height chart for your family, make one!
Fill it in with Bible verses about growth: Psalm 92:12; 2 Peter 3:18; Ephesians 4:15; Colossians 1:9–10�
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Mark 10:46–52
Blind Faith
Have you ever wondered what it feels like to be blind? In Jesus’ day, visually impaired kids didn’t get to go to a special school� No one knew braille� T here wasn’t text-to-sound computer software� Blind adults, like Bartimaeus, didn’t have job opportunities, so they often became beggars� But Bartimaeus had something that many people with sight didn’t have: faith in Jesus�
Here’s a game to challenge you to use your sense of touch rather than your sense of sight
Gat her
• a medium-sized cardboard box (one that you can put your arms around with room to spare, but not too small)
• scissors or box cutter
• packing tape
• small paper plate (about 6 inches across)
• white paper for decoration
• markers
• various odd objects (nothing sharp!)
Go
1� Use markers to label one flap “Bartimaeus’s Box�”
2� On two opposite sides of the box, trace the salad plate to show where to cut out a circle�
3� Ask an adult or older teen to help you cut out the circles to make arm holes�
4� Decorate the inside of the box with paper if you’d like�
5 Find friends to be “Blind Bartimaeus ” Ask players to stand behind the box and put their arms in the holes
6 Put items in the box without the players seeing them A sk the player to use a blindfold if you think it’s necessary
7 Players take turns reaching into the box (though the sides) and using only their sense of touch to try to identify the item in the box�
Which items were the hardest to figure out? The easiest? If you wanted to make a sensory game for hearing or smelling, how would you do it?
DID YOU KNOW?
In the 1800s, Fanny Crosby grew up blind and without a father� Yet her love for Jesus gave her confidence� She became famous for writing thousands of hymns that are still sung around the world�
“Blind Bartimaeus” page 674
Hosanna Bonanza
For one day, the Jewish community in Jerusalem seemed to understand who Jesus was� T he crowd was shouting “Hosanna!” which means “Save!”
Hundreds of years before Jesus was born, the prophet Zechariah wrote, “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a
“Palm
Color in the shapes using the numbers assigned to the colors� You’ll discover what else the crowd was shouting�
“The
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Bark Up the Right Tree
In a meme-worthy moment, Jesus cursed a fig tree, causing it to wither, all because it didn’t bear fruit� T his maze, however, has lots of fruits—just like the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23)�
Work your way through this maze, and collect fruit as you go� Count how many figs you pass through on the correct path, and use that number for the activity called “Rescue Reunion” on pages 204–205 of this book�
Live the Story
What can you do this week to demonstrate spiritual fruit in your life? Write down your ideas here�
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Fruitless Fig” page 679
Write the number of figs here:
did you know?
Middle Eastern fig trees grow up to 35 feet tall—that’s as tall as a three-story house And the fruit most often mentioned in the Bible is—you guessed it—the fig!
Matthew 21:18–21
cherries apricots plumbs
Can you FIG-ure out this maze?
Money Matters
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READ the ORIGIN
Listen to the story by scanning the QR code�
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Bible scholars have counted how many Bible verses have to do with money—and there are more than 2,000! What people do or don’t do with their money matters a lot to Jesus�
Now, imagine you won a LARGE amount of money� W hat would you do with it?
Get some coins and do some rubbings to create a big pile of money in this space� To do a rubbing, place the coin behind this page� Use a colored pencil or crayon—held at an angle—to scribble over the top of the coin outline� It’ll give you an impression of the coin� Repeat with different colors� W hile you rub, think about what you would really do with a big pile of money� READ
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Matthew 22:15–22
“Money Troubles” page 681
Draw some things you’d buy or do with the money� Would you give some away to a children’s hospital? Fly to Timbuktu? Get your grandma a new car? Invest it? Buy the coolest e-bike ever made? Purchase a private island for your friends? Buy a horse? Provide groceries for someone in need?
matthew 27:3-10
Vanishing Coin Challenge
The Bible talks a lot about money! For example, Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver— and then threw them back at the chief priests (Matthew 27:3–10)� Jesus pulled a coin out of a fish’s mouth to pay the temple tax (Matthew 17:24–27)
Try these vanishing coin illusions to amaze your family and friends� Be sure to practice a lot first� Remember, these illusions work best if no one sees you preparing them�
Gather
• 2 sheets of colored paper (same color)
• quarter
• pencil
• scissors
ILLUSION #1 SET UP
• small, clear plastic cup ue or glue stick that dries clear
1� Use a pencil to trace the mouth of the plastic cup on one piece of colored paper�
2� Cut out the circle�
3� Glue the circle to the rim of the cup� Carefully trim any overhanging paper� W ipe any glue off the rim� T he idea is to hide the paper and have the cup appear normal�
4 Lay the uncut piece of paper of the same color on a table Place the quarter on the left side of the paper (If you are left-handed, reverse this instruction and the following ones too ) Place the plastic cup paper-side down near your right side� Have the empty box nearby�
5� Now go to “For the Performance” on p� 196 for how to do this trick�
ILLUSION #2 SET UP
Gather
• 3 sheets of colored paper (different shades)
• quarter
• scissors
• ruler
• glue or glue stick that dries clear
G0
1� Cut one 8�5-inch square of the first color paper� Cut a 6�5-inch square of paper out of the second color paper� Cut two 4�5-inch squares of the third color paper�
2� Fold each paper into thirds, then in thirds again� T his will create nine boxes�
3� With the smallest squares folded, glue the backs of them together with just a drop or two of glue� Flatten so it looks as if there is only one square� L et dry�
4� Open the one of the squares� You now have a coin pouch�
5� Turn over the smallest sheet so the second coin pouch is hidden� L ay the three squares on the table like this:
6� Now see “For the Performance” on p� 196 for how to do this trick�
for the performance
Once your table is set up, you are ready to create the illusions
Try to keep your audience from seeing the cup or papers up close�
ILLUSION #1 PERFORMANCE
1 For the cup illusion, say, “This quarter is going to disappear right before your eyes!” Then hold the cup with your hand covering the bottom rim� L ift up without tilting� Cover the coin but keep your hand on the cup�
2� Twirl your other hand over the top of the cup� S ay something like, “Look at this coin, shiny and bright� Now it’s here—what a sight� A wave of my hand, and with no delay� Poof! The coin has slipped away!” Then remove your hands and wave them to show you aren’t holding the coin�
3� Then put your right hand back� Twirl your left hand over the cup again and say, “Where did it go? What a surprise! Now watch closely with your eyes� A little tap for the perfect cue, And—ta-da! The coin’s in view!” Now lift up the cup!
4 Quickly lift the paper and the cup, put them in the box, and put the lid on T his prevents your audience from figuring out the trick
ILLUSION #2 PERFORMANCE
1� For the paper illusion, slide the three folded-but-reopened pieces of paper to the front of the table�
2� Pick up the smallest piece of paper with your fingers underneath and your thumb on top� Put the coin in the center of the paper and put it down on the table�
3� Fold up the paper so the quarter is hidden� P ick it up in your right hand� W ith your left, hold up the second piece of paper and bring it to your right hand� T his next part is where the illusion happens� Make sure you turn the pouch over so it is coin side DOWN� A nd then bring the second piece of paper underneath and wrap up the small pouch�
4 Fold up the middle-size paper Then wrap it in the largest piece of paper
5� Now ask an audience member to clap their hands over the square and say, “Coin that’s wrapped in paper squares, now disappear into thin air�”
6� Unfold the large and medium squares� Carefully unfold the smallest one, pushing down the paper to cover the hidden pouch� Pause for just a couple of seconds to let the audience gasp� T hen refold it, and turn it over so the coin is ON TOP�
7� Quickly fold it back into the middle paper and the larger paper
8 Ask another audience member to clap their hands over the folded squares and say, “Coin in wrappers that disappeared, now it’s time to come back here�”
9� Unfold all the papers slowly� T hen quickly fold the papers up and hide them in the box so your audience can’t figure it out�
10� Resist the temptation to let them in on your secrets!
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The Perfect Order
After His death, Jesus seemed to be here, there, and everywhere�
See how well you know Jesus’ last week on earth—and beyond�
Number the events on these two pages in the order they happened�
With a roar, the Holy Spirit brought the gift of language to Jesus’ followers � T his gift allowed visitors to Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost to hear the gospel in their own language� Wow!
And guess what! The Action Bible has been translated into 94 languages around the world with another 20 in the works, allowing kids to read it in their own language�
Here are 25 of those languages� Write the language beneath the flag of the country where it is spoken, and check it off the list�
(Hint: Some languages might be spoken in more than one country!)
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Afrikaans
Arabic
American Sign Language
Bahasa Indonesian (Malay)
Bengali (Bangla)
Cebuano
Chinese (Mandarin)
Crimean Tatar
Dutch
English
READ the ORIGIN
French
STORY STORY
Fula (Fulani)
Kui
Laotian
Portuguese
Punjabi
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Romanian
Sinhala
Spanish
Swahili
Swedish
Tamil
Turkmen
Turkish
Vietnamese
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“Prison Break” page 733
Death Defiers
Breaking out of jail� Fleeing to Egypt� Hiding in caves� T he Bible tells exciting accounts of God’s followers who escaped death or imprisonment�
F ill in this crossword with details from their stories�
ACROSS
2� Two angels helped this man and his family escape from Sodom (Genesis 19:15)�
4� The prophet Nathan helped Bathsheba save Solomon from his half-brother named (1 Kings 1:11)�
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7� God decided not to destroy this city after Jonah preached there and the people repented (Jonah 3:1–2, 10)�
9� Jochebed saved her baby, Moses, by putting him in a basket and hiding him in the along the Nile River (Exodus 2:3)�
10� This woman’s courage helped save the Jews living in Persia from certain death (Esther 8:3)�
12� This man’s friends saved him by lowering him in a basket through an opening a city wall� His name later changed to this (Acts 9:24–25; 13:9)�
13� God saved this man from being eaten by lions (Daniel 6:21–22)�
14� Several times David escaped death when King Saul felt of him� (Hint: It’s a synonym of envious� Here’s the word scrambled: soeljua�) (1 Samuel 18:7–8 1 Kings 19–20)
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STORY STORY
15� Angry people dropped Jeremiah into a muddy , where he would starve� But a righteous official asked the king to have 30 men pull him out (Jeremiah 38:6)�
16� Baby Joash was going to be killed along with the royal family� T his woman saved him and hid him for six years till he became king� (2 Kings 11:2)�
17� God saved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when they were thrown into the fiery (Daniel 3:26)�
18� God saved this man and his family from a world-wide flood (Genesis 7:23)�
DOWN
1� The king of Aram sent an army to capture this prophet� But God protected him with invisible horses and chariots of fire� (2 K ings 6:17)
3� Paul and Silas were in prison when their chains fell off and the doors swung open because of an (Acts 16:26)�
4� God sent one of these to let Peter out of prison (Acts 12:6–7)�
5� Queen Jezebel was killing all the prophets of God, but this man hid 100 prophets in caves to protect them (1 Kings 18:4)�
6 This woman wanted Elijah dead, but God took good care of him (1 Kings 19:2)
8� God parted the Red Sea to save this group of people from the Egyptian army (Exodus 14:29–30)�
11� This very ill king didn’t want to die, so God gave him 15 more years to live (2 Kings 20:1, 6)�
12 Joseph was in when Pharaoh’s cupbearer suggested that Pharaoh speak to Joseph about his dreams, and Joseph was released (Genesis 40:2–3; 41:9–14)
16� God saved this man from drowning by providing a great fish to swallow him (Jonah 1:15-17)�
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What’s for Dinner, Peter?
In Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, God listed some no-no meats for the Hebrews� No vultures� No beetles� No bats� No bacon� What?! No pork? Yikes!
Then Peter had a vision� God said yes-yes to those previously off-limit foods� Turn these letters into animals to show the freedom we now have to eat all the foods God has given us
the ORIGIN
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“The New
Man with Two Names
This guy wrote almost half the New Testament� Most know him as the apostle Paul, but before that he was called Saul� F ind out more about him by completing the clues in this word-search puzzle�
Search the letter grid for the names, places, and people who are connected to Paul’s story—but there’s more! You’ll have to figure out the clues BEFORE you look for the answers in the puzzle Don’t worry if you don’t know them all� We’ve given you Bible verses as hints�
1� Saul watched as Stephen was stoned by the members of the Sanhedrin� W hat was laid at Saul’s feet (Acts 7:58)
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2 fell off Saul’s eyes when Ananias prayed for Saul’s healing (Acts 9:18)
3� Jesus met Paul on the road to � (Acts 9:3)
4� : an island Paul sailed to on his first missionary journey� (Acts 13:4)
5� Paul travelled with Silas to � (Acts 15:22, 40)
6� Paul’s friends put him in one of these to help him escape from Damascus: (Acts 9:25)
READ the ORIGIN
7� Paul preached about “an unknown God” here: (Acts 17:22–23)
STORY STORY
8� Paul made these to earn a living: (Acts 18:3)
9 was the wife of Aquilla Both were friends of Paul (Acts 18:2)
10� This false goddess was worshipped in Ephesus: (Acts 19:28)
11� Paul was a citizen of Israel and of � (Acts 22:25)
12� This man was Paul’s teacher when he was young: (Acts 22:3)
13� Paul’s companion on his first missionary journey: (Acts 13:2)
14� This man was Paul’s “son” in the faith: (1 Timothy 1:2)
15� Paul left this coworker in Crete: (Titus 1:5)
16 Paul was brought before this Roman governor: (Acts 24:24)
17� was the emperor when Paul went to trial� (Acts 25:11)
18� Paul was shipwrecked on this island: (Acts 28:1) see the story in see the story in action action
Paul” page 757
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“Escape in a Basket” page 759
Out and About
The apostle Paul was kicked out of Damascus and wound up in Jerusalem, where Barnabas befriended him� From there the believers sent him to Caesarea and then to Tarsus� A nd then he traveled to many places in the Roman Empire!
Think about where God may take you to share about Jesus� Unscramble the words to find some ideas� T hen brainstorm some of your own ideas� Draw or write them in the sky and clouds on the next page�
Start praying to ask God about His plans for you�
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READ the ORIGIN STORY STORY
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What’s a sailor’s least favorite vegetable?
Leeks in the boat!
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Has Your Ship Sailed?
The Holy Spirit led Paul and Barnabas to sail the Mediterranean Sea to tell people about Jesus, and they took a young man named John Mark with them� (See page 215 for a map of the area that Paul sailed�)
As you make this tip-top, ship-shape craft stick boat, check back on your journaling from page 209 and imagine where the Holy Spirit might be leading you�
Gather
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• 40+ small craft sticks
• 1 jumbo craft stick
• glue
• scissors
READ the ORIGIN
STORY STORY
Did You Know?
Sailors in Bible times didn’t have equipment to help them figure out directions� Even the compass hadn’t been invented yet! So captains hired navigators who knew things like the currents in different parts of the Mediterranean Sea, the winds that changed direction with the season, various colors of water that showed depth, and landmarks on shore� In addition to navigating by the stars and the sun, this is how sailors guided their ships�
GO
1� Along a corner, draw a right triangle (90 degrees) using a craft stick—this will be a guide�
A rrange seven craft sticks along it at an angle, as shown�
2� Dribble glue along both end edges�
Push another craft stick on top of the glue�
L et the sticks dry for several minutes�
3� Add a drop of glue to each of the four corners�
Add two more craft sticks opposite the first layer, and push them on top of the glue dots�
4� Repeat step 3 to build taller stacks�
Push crafts sticks on top of the glue, alternating sticks around the edges�
Repeat until you have about 6 layers�
5� Snip about an inch off the ends off the large craft stick�
Glue the curved ends to small craft sticks to make two oars
6� To make seats, set the rest of the large craft stick on the boat� Mark the stick where you need to cut it�
The apostle Paul was probably hard to keep track of! He and his friends traveled all over the northeast part of the Mediterranean Sea to tell people about Jesus� F inally his enemies threw him in jail and sent him all the way to Rome for a trial�
Use these coordinates to plot Paul’s voyage to Rome Draw a line between points to show where he sailed
“Silence, Sorcerer!” page 767
Where in the world would YOU travel to tell people about Jesus? How about starting in your own neighborhood?
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“Jerusalem Council” page 776
City of Many Names
Jerusalem is known by at least 10 names� Here are some of them: “the holy city” (Isaiah 52:1), “Zion” (Isaiah 2:3), “The Throne of the Lord” (Jeremiah 3:17), the “city of God” (Psalm 87:3), “the Faithful City” (Zechariah 8:3), and “the City of David” (2 Samuel 5:9)� But perhaps the most revealing name for the city is found in Psalm 48:2, where Jerusalem is known as “the joy of the whole earth�”
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STORY STORY
Grab your pencils and draw!
Here’s a map of what Jerusalem may have looked like in New Testament times F ill in blank areas with more buildings, palm and fig trees, streets … or whatever your ideal Jerusalem looks like� T hen enjoy making it colorful!
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“‘Falling’ Asleep” page 799
Bible Kids Like Me
Which child in the Bible are you like? Do you sometimes doze off in church like the boy in Acts 20? Are you the type who would donate your lunch to see Jesus perform a miracle? Or would you make a great young king or queen?
Discover more facts about the children and teens the Bible reveals by figuring out the clues for this crossword puzzle� Hint: Some of the clues are about children who were also mentioned as adults�
ACROSS
4� An angel led Peter out of prison� T his servant girl was so excited to hear Peter’s voice, she forgot to open the gate to let him in (Acts 12:13–14)�
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8� An Israelite servant girl told Naaman to see this prophet about healing his leprosy� W ho was that prophet? (2 Kings 5:1–4, 2–3, 9)�
10� This widow’s son died� She asked Elijah to help� He prayed and the boy came back to life� W here did the boy live? (1 Kings 17:9–10, 17–23)
11 While Paul preached into the night, this young man fell asleep and fell out the window and died Paul revived him (Acts 20:9–12)
13� As a baby, this child rode in a basket on a river� Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him (Exodus 2:10)�
14� At age 12, this boy amazed the teachers in the temple with his understanding (Luke 2:41–42)�
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15� As a young shepherd, he defeated the giant Goliath with a sling and stone (1 Samuel 17:32–33, 50)�
18� This 12-year-old daughter died, but Jesus raised her from the dead� W ho was her father? (Luke 8:41–42, 54–55)�
19 Jesus welcomed the children He said the kingdom of belongs to people like them (Matthew 19:14)
DOWN
1� When he was 17, this young man had dreams that he would someday rule over his brothers� T he brothers sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:2, 10–11, 23–25)�
2� A boy gave Jesus his five barley loaves and two fish� Jesus multiplied them and miraculously fed 5,000 men plus women and children� T his happened near what sea? (John 6:1, 10–11)�
3� At 8 years old, he became king of Judah and helped turn his country away from idols and back to God (2 Kings 22:1–2)�
5� When Jesus’ mother, Mary, was pregnant, this baby jumped for joy in Elizabeth’s womb when Mary greeted her (Luke 1:41, 63; 3:16 )� (Hint: The baby’s name is known by three words�)
6 This young Israelite girl bravely spoke up to a princess for her baby brother (Exodus 2:7; Numbers 26:59)
7� God provided for this boy and his mother in the wilderness after they had been sent away (Genesis 17:20, 25; 21:17–19)�
9� Abraham almost had to sacrifice this boy� But God provided a ram instead (Genesis 22:6, 12)�
16 A father sought help for his son because this creature possessed him, making him fall into fire and water (Luke 9:38–39, 42)�
17� This boy’s mother was Hannah� He served with Eli in the temple from the time he was young� (1 Samuel 1:21–22, 24, 27–28)�
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A Peacock Promise
Christians in New Testament times saw peacocks as a symbol of the resurrection� W hy? Because the peacock’s tail feathers shed yet grow back brighter each year� T he apostle Paul likely saw peacocks while he was tried before Roman officials, because they liked the birds as pets�
DID YOU KNOW?
Female peacocks are called peahens, and babies are called peachicks�
Connect the dots on the peacock, and then finish coloring it in� You’ll have a wonderful reminder of the hope of eternal life in heaven�
“Paul’s Trial” page 803
A bee-cock!
A Chain Gang
The apostle Paul spent two to four years chained up in Rome for the sake of sharing Christ�
Make these paper chains to remind you that God is near even during hard times� T hen make another one for a friend who needs encouragement�
Gather
• Thick paper, such as colored construction paper
• Markers that will show up on darker paper
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Tape, glue, or stapler
Go
1� Use the ruler and marker to mark the paper every inch� Cut the paper into strips 1 inch by 6 inches� Make at least 12�
2� On the first one, write the first part of a Bible verse that Paul wrote in prison (just 3 to 5 words) L eave an inch on each end of the strip for overlap
3� Write the next 3 to 5 words from the same verse on the next strip� T hen keep writing more words on more strips until the verse is finished�
4� On the last strip, write the Scripture reference�
5 Tape, glue, or staple the first strip into a circle
6� Insert the next strip into the circle, and close it up with glue, tape, or a staple�
7� Add all the strips until the paper chain is finished and the verse is complete�
8 Verses Paul Wrote from Prison
“We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do�” (Ephesians 2:10)
“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus ” (Philippians 1:6)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God ” (Philippians 4:6)
“The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus�” (Philippians 4:7)
“As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience ” (Colossians 3:12)
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace And be thankful ” (Colossians 3:15)
“Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him�” (Colossians 3:17)
“I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus ” (Philemon 1:4–5) READ the ORIGIN
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“The Final Letters” page 814
From A to Z
The last of the New Testament letters tell us how to live in ways that please God� A s we read more of the Bible and learn about Jesus, this means we want to change how we live—sometimes in big ways and sometimes small�
In this puzzle, you’ll change letters—alphabet letters Read the following clues, and fill in the answer on the blanks Every answer will be only one or two letters different from the previous word
Word Ladder 1
(starting word: the darkest color of all)
(change 1 letter: not pulled tight, slow)
(change 1 letter: put objects on top each other)
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13:8)
(change 1 letter & add 1 letter: piece of wood with a pointed end, a peg or spike)
(change 1 letter: to move something up and down quickly, a drink made with ice cream)
(change 1 letter; a type of layered rock often found near bodies of fresh water)
(change 1 letter: a large sea animal with a blow hole)
(change 1 letter: a period of time)
(change 1 letter: the lightest color of all)
The New Testament letters tell us there’s one thing that NEVER changes! “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews
Did You Know?
Two New Testament letters vie for being the shortest book in the whole Bible� T he letter of 2 John has the fewest verses, but the letter of 3 John has the fewest words (in Greek)
Word Ladder 2
(starting word: opposite of light)
(change 1 letter: a place where people gather outside, usually has grass and a playground)
(change 1 letter: a group of dogs or gum)
(change 1 letter: a bag)
(change 1 letter: ill or not feeling well)
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(change 2 letters: let out a deep breath that you can hear)
(add 1 letter: the sense you have with your eyes)
(change 1 letter: opposite of dark or heavy)
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Deception Detection
Has anyone ever “played you like a fiddle”? That means they manipulated and fooled you� T he devil is described in the book of Revelation as a deceiver like that—basically the greatest master of illusion ever� (See verses 20:8; 13:14; and 12:9)�
To see just how easy it is to create an illusion, try this drawing trick�
1� graph paper
• Draw a vertical line 14 cubes long near left side of the graph paper
• On the line 7, draw a horizontal line four cubes long�
• On lines 5, 6, 8, and 9 draw a horizontal line three cubes long�
• On lines 3, 4, 10, and 11 draw a horizontal line two cubes long�
• On lines 1, 2, 12, and 13 draw a horizontal line one cube long
• Draw a parallel line three cubes to the right of the starting line, but stop at line 13�
• Connect the lines that are the same height with a horizontal line�
• Connect the other lines with a slanted line� You’ll have a mountain-looking drawing
It’s easy to let our perspective be slanted—like seeing a staircase where there really is just a flat piece of paper� In his second letter to Timothy, the apostle Paul warned: “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:12–13)�
So how do we keep from being hoodwinked? Paul says to keep studying the Bible: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (verse 16)�
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• Connect the top end points of the lines with a slight arc Draw a straight horizontal line through line 13 to the end point of the second line�
• Color every other block starting with the bottom triangle Color in the empty background
DID YOU KNOW?
Another expression that means deception is “snake oil salesman�” That’s a person who sells a product and makes fake claims about its powers to heal or solve a problem�
d the paper along line 7, and view it from the side� ou’ll see a staircase going through your paper�
Who’s Knocking at Your Door?
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Imagine that Jesus knocks on the door of your house and you are the one who opens the door! Then imagine He wants to have dinner with just you� He’s got some fish He wants to cook and a loaf or two of bread�
What would you like to say to Jesus as you’re letting Him in? Write it on this page
Then, on the next page, write what you think Jesus would say to you while you’re eating together (besides “Please chew with your mouth closed”)� You may want to see what you wrote on pages 87–93, “Write the Whispers” journal� Has anything changed since then? Do you have any new thoughts, prayers, or direction you’ve received from God?
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“The Final Days” page 818
Answers
GARDEN VARIETY, pages 2-3
WHEN THE FRUIT FALLS, pages 4–5
BONUS word “PYTHON”
Je vous aime German
Mahal kita French
Ich liebe dich English
I love you Tagalog
S’agapo Greek
Ti amo Mandarin
Seni seviyorum Afrikaans
Wo ai ni Turkish
Ek het jou liefe Italian
BEFUDDLED BIRTH ORDERS, pages 16–17
MESSAGE IN THE STARS, page 18 INTO A GREAT NATION
STEPS TO WISDOM, page 25
1. ST O NE 2. W IFE
ESA U
BRO T HER
STAIRWA Y
M OTHER
HE A VEN
BET H EL
BIRTHR I GHT
God told him, “I am with you (Genesis 28:15)
WILDLIFE WRANGLE, page 19
Animals named in the Bible: lionsparrow owlostrich dogdeer
Animals not named in the Bible: canary panther sloth iguana capybaradinosaur Hokkaido snow fairy
WHO’S GOT YOUR GOAT?, page 26
ALL IN THE FAMILY, pages 30–31
PATH FOR A PRINCE, page 40
PRINCE OF EGYPT, pages 34–35
WONDER-WORKING POWER, page
BUGGY MIRACLES, pages 46–47
FOOL’S GOLD, page 48
Do not make any idols (Exodus 34: 17)
A HOLY HOME, page 49
The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle� (Exodus 40:34)
Grab a calculator to find answers to the equations�
SETHU R GA D DIEL IG A L P ALTI S HAMM U A A MM IE L GADDIE L G EUE L N AH B I S H APHA T
A bottle� Lettuce� When you take the first letter off and put it at the end, each word is spelled backward� 7� A ton� 8 AM plus 8 hours is 4 PM� C� A river� A candle� An umbrella� 40� A sponge�
The piece of gum costs $ 05 ($ 05 + $1 05 = $1 10) A person A baby crawls on four legs; an adult walks on two; an older person uses a cane�
WHAT’S IN THE WHEAT?, pages 66–67
DRAMA KING, pages 70–71
DONKEYS
SPIRIT
GILGAL
THIRTY
JONATHAN
ABNER
DAVID GOLIATH
CAVE
ENDOR
D R O W S A N D T H I B
E G G S A P F A V L O U
S U O W M S I R I N U T
E R A D U K Y R E A P U
R G B P E P M V I H H R
T A N U L N U A J T I N
O J E N K Y D D D A L O
F O R T Y T W O S N I T
M N H N Y O L N R O S U
A M M O T D I K O J T W
O B A S R A K E Y G I I
N Z P H I L C Y P L N F
S T J N H S A S O T E R
P I A H T A M A R I S K
H N B C A R A E P S O N
T G E D E U L H N H G U
A J S N A N E G H A I B
BITTER WORDS OVER SWEET HONEY, page 72
Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones� (Proverbs 16:24)
1� Grapes 2� 6 3� Blue 4� Animal skin with spots 5� 3
6� Yes
7 A hill, trees, a sunrise or sunset 8� Nothing 9 Day 10� 1
11 Green and purple 12� They’ll get wet! There’s no roof, just a trellis�
STONE STACKING, page 83
This challenge was actually developed in 1958 by mathematician C � Dudley Langford� You can look up more about it by searching for “Langsford’s Problem�” Here’s how you would stack them:
LOOK AGAIN, pages 108–109
GRAPE EXPECTATIONS, pages 94–95
“… I will not bring this disaster in his day�” (1 K ings 21:28–29)
PROPHET MISHMASH, page 113
AMOS
Preached to the people of Bethel�
Was a shepherd and fig picker�
Used a crooked wall as an example (metaphor) in his preaching�
HOSEA
Married to Gomer�
Chose to forgive�
Theme was “God loves you no matter what�”
CHERUBIM CHATTER, page 114
JOEL
Prophesied an outpouring of God’s Spirit�
Wrote a short book of only 3 chapters�
Preached to the region of Judah about the Day of the Lord�
MIC AH
Preached to both Judah and Israel�
Predicted Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem�
Cared about the poor�
SCRIPTURE MAP, pages 116–117
1 Teaches in the temple (Luke 21:37–38)
2 Shares the Last Supper in the upper room (Mark 14:12–16)
3 Prays in garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:32–35)
4 On trial before the high priest, Caiaphas (Matthew 26:57)
5 On trial before the Roman governor, Pilate (John 18:28–29)
6 Crucified on Golgotha (Mark 15:22–24)
7 Buried in a tomb—but rises from the dead! (John 19:38–42; Luke 24:1–8)
8 Walks with two men to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–15)
9 Appears to His hiding disciples (John 20:19–20)
10 Ascends to heaven as His followers watch (Acts 1:8–12)
PUT THE WHEELS IN MOTION, pages 118-122
… move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws�
SET THIS BIRTHRIGHT RIGHT, pages 152–153 WIDE NET, page 165
A MOMENT WITH THE MAGI, pages 158–160
SPIRIT FILL-IN FUN, pages 166–167
Jesus [said], “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again�”
“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit� Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit� You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again�’ The wind blows wherever it pleases� You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going So it is with everyone born of the Spirit ”
PERPLEXING PARABLES, page 171
2 The Wise and Foolish Builders (Matthew 7:24–27)
4 The Parable of the Lost Coin (Luke 15:8–10)
1 The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1–9)
5 The Parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15:11–32)
3 The Parable of the Wandering Sheep (Matthew 18:10–14)
WEAVING THROUGH WAVES, pages 176–177
BASKET BUNGLE, page 175
Baskets
Baskets
Then you’ll be able to figure out these clues:
Andrew’s basket color:
Disciple with 4 baskets: Number of James’s baskets: Philip’s basket color:
COUNTING SHEEP, page 179
ANIMALS ONSTAGE, page 183
HOSANNA BONANZA, pages 188–189 BARK UP THE RIGHT TREE, pages 190–191
THE PERFECT ORDER, pages 198–199
1� Jesus enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday�
2� Jesus shares a last supper with His disciples�
3� Jesus is put on trial
4� Jesus is crucified and dies�
5� Jesus is buried�
6� Jesus rises from the dead and appears to Mary�
7� Jesus appears on the road to Emmaus�
8� Jesus appears to His disciples�
9� Jesus ascends to heaven�
DEATH DEFIERS, pages 202–203
LINGUISTIC LINKS, pages 200–201
Brunei: Bahasa Indonesian (Malay)
Bangladesh: Bengali (Bangla)
Brazil: Portuguese
Congo: Swahili
Cambodia: Vietnamese:
China: Chinese (Mandarin)
Côte d’Ivoire: French
El Salvador: Spanish
Finland: Swedish
India: Kui
Iran: Turkmen
Iraq: Arabic
Laos: Laotian
Mali: Fula (Fulani)
Moldova: Romanian
Namibia: Afrikaans
Pakistan: Punjabi
Philippines: Cebuano
Saint Lucia: English
Singapore: Tamil
Sri Lanka: Sinhala
Suriname: Dutch
Turkey: Turkish
Ukraine: Crimean Tatar
United States: ASL
MAN WITH TWO NAMES, pages 206–207
OUT AND ABOUT, pages 208–209
Answer: sport, school, friends, neighbor, hobby, family
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS … THE APOSTLE PAUL?, pages 214-215
Departure: Caesarea W 14
Sidon X 13
Sail north of Cyprus V 11
Myra S 10
Sail north of Rhodes Q 10
A PEACOCK PROMISE, page 220
FROM A TO Z, pages 222–223
Word Ladder 1 black, slack, stack, stake, shake, shale, whale, while, white
Word Ladder 2 dark, park, pack, sack, sick, sigh, sight, light
Bonus Pages for You!
Here are some extra grids so that you can keep having Four Corners Fun! (See instructions on page 14 )
game three game four
I love hanging around with you
Wait! We didn’t get to tell you OUR animal jokes! Share YOUR jokes with us at TheActionBible com or by emailing info@TheActionBible com
Capybaras are awesome I am a T herefore
Al ways be yourself Unless you can be an ostrich� T hen always be an ostrich!
What do you call a sleeping dinosaur? A dino-snore
What do you call a cow that plays an instrument? A moo-sician
What does a frog eat with its burger? French flies
Why did the hot dog wear a sweater? Because it was a chili dog
squirrel to like you? Act like a nut�
What kind of books do bunnies like to read? Stories with hoppy endings�
THE ACTION BIBLE HEROES AND VILLAINS
HERO OR VILLAIN? YOU DECIDE!
In this full-color guide to 75 fascinating Bible characters, readers will learn captivating facts and figures of each character, from Adam and Eve’s most embarrassing moment to the details of a Roman soldier’s armor.
THE ACTION BIBLE DEVOTIONAL
ADVENTURE WITH GOD ALL YEAR LONG!
With eye-popping comic illustrations and a week’s worth of activities for each Bible story, The Action Bible Devotional gives you real-life ways to meet with God and live out His spiritual adventure every day.
THE ACTION BIBLE
THE #1 BESTSELLING BIBLE FOR KIDS
USA TODAY BESTSELLER —
The Action Bible, the all-time bestselling illustrated Bible with over 3 million copies sold, has gained a reputation for sparking excitement in kids, teens, seekers, and comic book lovers alike as they discover an adventurous life with God.
The Action Bible: Faith in Action Edition is designed to engage young readers in God’s Word through hundreds of vividly illustrated Bible stories in chronological order, activities, and games. Readers will grow in God’s Word by using QR codes that provide free access to over 200 devotionals, hundreds of prayers, character stories, teaching videos, maps, timelines and much more.
AGES 6+
THE ACTION BIBLE COLOR AND LEARN
COLOR YOUR OWN BIBLE HEROES AND BRING THEM TO LIFE!
Grab your imagination and your favorite art supplies and learn more about how God works through His people. Each time you turn the page in this fun coloring book, you’ll meet another person from the Bible who tells you their story and how they were part of God’s big plan.
THE ACTION BIBLE GUESS-IT GAME
CAN YOU GUESS THE BIBLICAL PERSON, PLACE, OR THING? READY … GO!
If your kids like The Action Bible, they’ll love The Action Bible Guess-It Game. Testing your knowledge about the Bible has never been more easy and fun! Guess-It Game includes 99 oversized clue cards with 15 clues questions each and all-new art, making it perfect for traveling, family game night, or the classroom! Expand your Bible knowledge today!
THE ACTION BIBLE ESV
THE COMPLETE ESV TRANSLATION STUDY BIBLE
This newly revised design of the complete ESV translation, paired with full-color illustrations from The Action Bible throughout, includes engaging special features such as memory verses and games to help kids ages 8 and up discover the joy of reading and understanding God’s Word.
JOIN US. SPREAD THE GOSPEL. CHANGE THE WORLD.
We believe in equipping the local church with Christ-centered resources that empower believers, even in the most challenging places on earth.
We trust that God is always at work, in the power of Jesus and the presence of the Holy Spirit, inviting people into relationship with Him.
We are committed to spreading the gospel throughout the world— across villages, cities, and nations. We trust that the Word of God will transform lives and communities by bringing light to the darkness.
As a global ministry with a 150-year legacy, David C Cook is dedicated to this mission. Each time you purchase a resource or donate, you’re supporting a ministry—helping spread the gospel, disciple believers, and raise up leaders in some of the world’s most underserved regions. Your support fuels this mission. Your partnership sends the gospel where it’s needed most.
