1. CG: “Snapshot” title graphic

2. Hello everybody—it’s so great to see you here today
Hello everybody—it’s so great to see you here today! One of my favorite things in the world is learning how to follow our awesome God with you—it’s such an adventure. Hey— speaking of adventures, have any of you been on a really cool adventure before? (Take a few responses.) That’s incredible! Today we’re going to hear about an amazing adventure God wanted to take the Israelites on, but before we get started, I think we should take a snapshot! On the count of three, I want you all to strike a pose like you’re on the biggest adventure of your life! (Count to 3. Use a camera or smartphone to take a picture. Tell kids to take a seat.)

3. Taking a snapshot is great because it helps you remember
Taking a snapshot is great because it helps you remember. Like this picture I just took—when I look at it in a year from now, I’ll remember all of you and the awesome time we had learning about God. And you know what, it’s kind of like that with the Bible. (Pick up Bible and flip through it.) The stories in the Bible are a lot like snapshots—they give us a picture of who God is. They help us remember how loving, how powerful, or how trustworthy He is.

4. So that’s what we’re going to do today
So that’s what we’re going to do today! We’re going to get a picture of who God is by looking at another snapshot of God’s Word in the Book of Numbers. Oh yeah—and here’s the best part! We get to strike some pretty awesome poses to help tell the story. Let’s get started! CG: show “snapshot” from previous week of kids looking angry

5. Do you remember this picture from last week. (Refer to screen
Do you remember this picture from last week? (Refer to screen.) In our story from last week, what was it that made Moses so mad? (Take answer.) That’s right—after receiving the 10 Commandments, Moses found the Israelites worshipping a golden calf. But Moses prayed for the Israelites and God agreed to forgive them. CG: “The Big Bible Story” graphic. Strike a pose like you’re packing a suitcase! (Let kids pose.) Nice—hold that pose until I say stop. (Take a snapshot.)

6. After God gave Moses the 10 Commandments, God told the Israelites to pack up and head out for the land He had promised to give them—a land called Canaan. (Tell kids to release pose.) There was only one problem with Canaan. There was already a bunch of people living there, and they weren’t going to give the land up without a fight. So Moses came up with a plan. Strike a pose like you’re part of a super-secret spy agency. (Give kids a moment to pose. Take a snapshot.)

7. Moses chose twelve spies to explore Canaan and report back what they found. The spies were told to look at how good the crops were, how many people were living there already, and what the cities looked like. The Israelites needed this information to know what they were up against. So the twelves spies began sneaking around Canaan and taking notes on all the stuff they saw. When the spies saw the crops in Canaan, they were amazed at how big they were.

8. They didn’t think the Israelites would believe them, so they cut down a bunch of grapes to take back and show them. Strike a pose like you’re carrying something really heavy. (Take a snapshot.) The grapes were so heavy that it took two men to carry them! Unfortunately, the grapes weren’t the only huge thing in Canaan. Show me your best muscleman or musclewoman pose. (Take a snapshot.)

9. The people living in Canaan were also huge—much taller and stronger than the Israelites. And there were huge walls surrounding their cities—walls that would have been really hard to get through. After 40 days, the spies reported back to Moses. Strike a pose like you’re super confident. (Take a snapshot.) Two of the spies named Joshua and Caleb were super confident that God would help them take the land. Caleb said they could take it for sure! Now strike a pose like you’re a total scaredy- pants. (Take a snapshot.)

10. But the other 10 spies were shaking in their boots
But the other 10 spies were shaking in their boots! They told Moses and the Israelites that they’d have to be crazy to attack Canaan. They said the people were too powerful and the walls were too big. They said that they would get crushed if they tried to take the land. The two brave spies, Joshua and Caleb, couldn’t believe what they were hearing. Listen to what they said to the Israelites!

11. Open your Bible and read Numbers 14:7-9 aloud
Open your Bible and read Numbers 14:7-9 aloud. It says, “They spoke to the whole community of Israel. They said, ‘We passed through the land and checked it out. It’s very good. If the LORD is pleased with us, he’ll lead us into that land. It’s a land that has plenty of milk and honey. He’ll give it to us. But don’t refuse to obey him. And don’t be afraid of the people of the land. We will swallow them up. The LORD is with us. So nothing can save them. Don’t be afraid of them.’”

12. Do you think this little pep talk helped give the Israelites some courage? (Kids respond.) Unfortunately not! Even though God had promised to be with them and to help them take the land, the Israelites refused to obey God. They were too scared to do what God had told them. Suddenly, the glory of God appeared to all of the Israelites. God told Moses and all of the Israelites that because of their disobedience, none of them would ever see the Promised Land. Only the Israelites’ children and the two spies who trusted God would be able to see the Promised Land.

13. CG: “Big Bible Story Questions” graphic
What was your favorite part of this story?
If you were one of the spies, would you have been afraid too? Why or why not?

14. Sometimes God calls us to do some pretty scary things—things that might seem impossible for us to do. But we have to trust that God will be there to help us do it. Let me show you what I mean. Ask for a volunteer who will follow your instructions, even if they’re hard. (You may want to choose a kid who is a bit smaller and lighter.) Tell the volunteer that you want him to walk across the room on his hands (in front of the stage). His feet can’t touch the ground. Remind the kid that he said he would follow your instructions earlier Ask the kid how he is feeling about your instructions now. Does he think he can do it? Why or why not?

15. Ask the kid if he will at least try
Ask the kid if he will at least try. If not, choose another kid who will. Right before the kid starts to try, stop him. (Depending on the size of your teaching space, you may want to modify the instructions to be walking across the stage or to a wall and back.) Stop! Isn’t that amazing?! _____ (use kids name) was going to follow my instructions even though it looks so hard. Well, I’ve got good news for him. I’m here to help! Pick up the legs of the volunteer and tell him that he’s going to walk around the room on his hands wheelbarrow-style, applaud when done.

16. I asked our volunteer to do something really hard
I asked our volunteer to do something really hard. In fact, it seemed downright impossible! But, he was willing to trust me and gave it a shot. And, with my help, what seemed impossible wasn’t so impossible after all. I never left him alone. How do you think that’s like our story for today? (Take answers.) God told the Israelites to do something that seemed really hard— way harder than walking on your hands. He asked them to move into a land that was already filled with big and powerful people. But they didn’t have to do it alone.

17. In the same way that I helped _____ (use kids name) walk around the room on his hands, God was going to help the Israelites take Canaan. They just needed to trust Him. But did they? (Kids respond.) No way! And because of that, they missed out on an incredible blessing from God. Only the two brave spies, Joshua and Caleb, would ever get to see the Promised Land.

18. Did you know that God asks us to do some pretty hard things too
Did you know that God asks us to do some pretty hard things too? It’s true! But here’s the great news— just like God was with the Israelites, God is with us. He gives us a Spirit of power so that we can follow Him even when it looks impossibly hard or scary. In fact, that’s what our Bible verse for today says. Let’s look at it together. CG: “God gave us his Spirit. And the Spirit doesn’t make us weak and fearful. Instead, the Spirit gives us power and love. He helps us control ourselves.” 2 Timothy 1:7

19. Do you see that. God’s Spirit doesn’t make us weak or fearful
Do you see that? God’s Spirit doesn’t make us weak or fearful. So let’s do this—when I point to you, I want you to throw your fist up in the air and yell, “POWER!” Got it? (Kids respond.) When God calls us to do something, He gives us a Spirit of…(point to kids). POWER! When God calls you to tell others about Him, He will give you…(point to the kids) POWER! When God calls you to put other people first, He will give you…(point to the kids) POWER!

20. When God calls you to stand up for someone who’s getting picked on or to tell the truth when it’s hard, He will give you…(point to the kids) POWER! God gives us a spirit of…(point to the kids) POWER, so we can have the courage to follow Him anywhere. Let’s pray and thank God for giving us His power when we need it the most. CG: “Snapshot” title graphic