Curriculum

Oh Be Careful

Oh Be Careful Go to Curriculum multi-week pack

Bible Background

What Kids Will Learn

God’s way is best. God wants us to live a life that’s wise ( not foolish) and full of joy. He sent His Holy Spirit to fill us and help us live a life that glorifies Him.

Scripture Summary

Paul wrote a letter to the church in Ephesus to encourage them in their walk with Christ. From prison, Paul wanted to communicate with his friends, so he sent the letter with Tychicus as he traveled. Paul had spent three years in Ephesus and became close friends with the people there. Paul also included information about the church as a whole and how the church is the body of Christ.

When saying “the days are evil,” Paul was talking about a sense of urgency to live rightly even when Satan’s schemes attempt to derail us. God wants us to make good decisions throughout our lives. He wants us to avoid foolishness and drunkenness. Paul challenges those in Ephesus (and us) to keep our hearts light by sharing psalms and songs of praise.

In this passage, wine is oddly compared with the Holy Spirit. While wine can produce a temporal high while intoxicated, the Holy Spirit offers a beautiful long-lasting joy that cannot be matched. Wine and drunkenness are also referenced as part of the old life before coming to Christ and following His ways which are best.

“Always giving thanks to God” can sound impossible. Really, we’re to give thanks in all things. In the midst of challenges, we can still give thanks and praise God for who He is. Giving thanks to God shifts our perspectives from the pile of problems to a big, good God who is in control.

Why Is This Important

The Christian walk is a journey full of life’s circumstances—both the good and the bad. But God wants us to live our best lives by letting Him love us and following His way.

Teacher Devotion

Scripture

“Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.” (Proverbs 4:26)

I’ve had the privilege of teaching our older son how to drive this year. And yes, I said privilege. While there were plenty of tense moments, close calls, and arguments, the time spent in the car created a space for us to talk about life. And I wonder if we would have had the same conversations in any other setting.

He shared with me some of his future goals. We chatted about some decisions his friends were making and the potential consequences down the road. He asked me questions about my experiences in college. We even talked about girls. I felt freer, while in the passenger’s seat, to ask follow-up questions and engage with him on a deeper level.

While teaching someone to drive, I can fully get why God warns us about our own paths, our own choices. Each and every decision either glorifies God or glorifies self; follows God’s way or my way. It can be a daunting task to navigate life well with so much pressure.

But God doesn’t want us to go at it alone. It’s not like we practice for a while and then take a test to obtain a “license” to live our lives from here on out. No, God wants to be (and is) with us each step of the way throughout our days.

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for knowing what is best. I want to pay attention to your loving warnings and think about where I’m walking today. I’m glad you’re right there with me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Get the full Sunday school lesson plan

  • Bible Memory Verse
  • Interactive Bible Experience
  • Animated video with companion questions

Bible Memory Verse

You’ll Need: Bibles - one per child, Paper, Pencils

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise.” Ephesians 5:15

Lead kids in these steps:

  • Invite kids to open their Bibles to Ephesians 5:15.
  • Invite several kids to read aloud the verse.
  • Divide the class into small groups, and give each group paper and pencils.
  • Challenge each small group to make a song out of today’s memory verse. They can use a familiar tune or an original one.
  • Once each group has had enough time to write and practice their memory song, allow each group to share their song with the class.

SAY: Today we’re going to hear how the Apostle Paul told the church of Ephesus to speak to each other with psalms and songs from the Spirit. We’ll also hear a warning from Paul about how to live.

Interactive Bible Experience

You’ll Need: Bibles - one per child, “To Follow or Not” handout - one per child, Child-safe scissors - one per child, Glue

Invite kids to open their Bibles to Ephesians 5:15-20.

SAY: One thing we can do to dig deeper and learn from God’s Word is to ask ourselves which examples in the passage are good to follow— and which aren’t. Let’s think about that as we read.

  • Read aloud the Scripture passage.
  • Give each child a handout, scissors, and glue to share.
  • Point out the “Follow” and “Don’t Follow” headers.
  • Read the following statements from today’s Scripture and invite kids to cut out and glue them under which column they think they fits best.
    • Be very careful.
    • Live wisely.
    • Live unwisely.
    • Do not be foolish.
    • Understand what God’s will is.
    • Do not get drunk on wine.
    • Be filled with the Spirit.
    • Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs of the Spirit.
    • Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.
    • Always give thanks.

ASK:

  • What did you learn from today’s passage?
  • How will you live differently this week as a result of today’s passage?

Snack

Wise Owls

You’ll Need: Paper plates - one per child, Napkins - one per child, Rice Cakes - one per child, Bananas - two slices per child, Marshmallow cream, Apples - two slices, Blueberries - two per child, Carrots - one triangle per child, Cheerios cereal - one handful per child, Plastic knives - one per child

Get Ready: Before class, cut the bananas into thin slices. Slice apples into very thin wedges. Slice and cut carrots into small triangles.

Follow these steps for the “Wise Owls” snack:

  • Give each child a paper plate, a rice cake, and a napkin.
  • Explain that you’ll give them step-by-step instructions to create today’s “Wise Owls” snack. Challenge them to listen and look closely so their snack will turn out correctly.
  • First, instruct kids to spread marshmallow cream on their rice cakes.
  • Put two banana slices at the upper part of the rice cake. This will serve as the owl’s eyes.
  • Put a small amount of marshmallow cream in the middle of the banana slice and then place a blueberry in the middle of each banana slice.
  • Place two apple slices on the edge of the left and right sides of each rice cake, with the peel on the outside. This will give the owl wings.
  • Place a carrot triangle in the center below the eyes to serve as a nose.
  • Add some Cheerios between the apple slices (wings) for feathers.
  • Enjoy.

SAY: Look at your wise owls. Our passage today tells us to live wise, not unwise, lives. Living in the wise ways of God will help you live a Spirit-filled life that glorifies God.

Game

Instruction Drawing

You’ll Need: “Instruction Drawing” handout - one per child, Pens or pencils

To play the “Instruction Drawing” game, have kids follow these steps:

  • Have kids spread out in the room; so every child is at least a few feet from other children.
  • Explain to the kids that they are not allowed to talk during this activity.
  • Give each child a handout and a pen or pencil.
  • Tell kids to read the directions and get started.

ASK:

  • Explain whether you were successful in completing the handout.
  • What makes it easy or hard to follow instructions in life?

SAY: We have to be very focused to follow instructions. If you didn’t read all 10 steps carefully on your sheet, you probably didn’t follow the instructions correctly. To follow God’s instructions, we need to get to know Him and His commands. The Bible is a great place to get to know God, and the example of Jesus points right to God.

Craft

God’s Instruction Chain

You’ll Need: Construction paper, Tape or staplers, Pens or pencils - one per child, Bibles - one per child

Get Ready: Before class, cut strips of construction paper at least one inch wide and three inches long. Make 12 to 15 strips for each child.

Follow these steps to make the “God’s Instruction Chain” craft:

  • Give each child at least 12 to 15 thin slips of construction paper, a pen or pencil, and a Bible.
  • Encourage children to write one of God’s instructions on each slip of paper.
  • After all of their slips of paper have been written on, the children can loop them together to form their own personal chain.
  • When finished, instruct kids to hang their “God’s Instructions Chains” around their necks.

ASK:

  • Why is it important for us to follow God’s instructions for life?

SAY: Following God’s instruction for life helps us live a Spirit-filled life. And a Spirit-filled life brings glory to God.

Prayer

Instruction Prayers

You’ll Need: Strips of paper - one per child, A pen

GET READY: Before class, write one instruction for following God on each slip of paper. Examples are:

  • Be very careful.
  • Live wisely.
  • Do not be foolish.
  • Understand what God’s will is.
  • Be filled with the Spirit.
  • Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.
  • Always give thanks.

 

  • Give each child a strip of paper with an instruction on it.
  • Invite kids to sit quietly and talk to God about following His instruction.
  • Explain that they may need to ask God for more help, more clarity, and a desire to obey.

PRAY: Dear God, we want to glorify You with our lives, but You know that we make wrong choices and need Your help. Please help us to reach out to You for help in being careful, being wise, and living Spirit-filled lives.