Nature Corner: Bee Stings Bees are marvelous creatures of God that help flowers make seeds through the process of pollination. But watch out! Never try to touch a bee. They can sting you if they feel threatened. Did you know at the end of a bee's tail is a stinger? If a bee stings, it releases a tiny, tiny, tiny drop of venom through its sharp stinger that really, really hurts. It's amazing that such a tiny amount of venom can cause so much pain. The Bible says in 1 Samuel 14:6, "Nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few." If God can give the bee this tiny, but powerful venom as a way to protect itself, surely God can help us in our big challenges, even if we are small or have just a tiny bit of resources. God fulfilled this verse for Gideon in our story today. With a tiny army, God helped Gideon defeat the big army of the Midianites. Memory Mastery: Creation Week This is the final week we will practice the days of creation as a class. In fact, we will be presenting the days of creation to the church congregation at church next week. Please, please practice with your child at home. We will also be singing All Things Bright and Beautiful. The children are responsible for knowing the refrain.
Mission Mail: Giuseppe Finds God Dear Patterson Kids, My name is Giuseppe, and I am 13 years old. I live in Italy. When I was 8 years old, I started attending the Adventurer Club at the Adventist Church. It was lots of fun, so I stayed on and am now a Pathfinder. In Adventurers and Pathfinders, I learn a lot about God, good morals, and helpful skills. At school, when the teacher said that everything started from evolution, I spoke up and shared what I learned in the Bible - that God made everything in 6 days. I like coming to the Adventist Church and want to always be a pathfinder. I know Jesus is coming soon. I want to tell others about His love for them. Are you in Adventurer Club? Sincerely, Giuseppe Bible Lesson: Little Tests - Gideon's Army References: Judges 7; PP 548-554 God called Gideon of the tribe of Manasseh to defeat Israel’s enemy the Midianites. Gideon sent word to the surrounding tribes of Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali. Many men came forward to fight beside Gideon’s men of Manasseh. God said, “There are too many men ready to fight. I don’t want everyone thinking you defeated the Midianites without Me. We need less men. Tell them that anyone who is afraid can go home.” When Gideon told the men to go home if they were afraid, 22,000 men went home. 10,000 men stayed. God said, “There are still too many men in your army. Bring them down to the water, and I will test them there.” So, Gideon brought the men to the water. The men started drinking water. 300 men drank quickly, scooping up water with their hands to drink, so they could keep their eye out for the enemy. The rest of the men drank leisurely, putting their face into the water to drink. “By the 300 men, I will save Israel from the Midianites,” the Lord said. That night, God told Gideon to spy on the Midianite camp. He went down and heard one Midianite soldier telling a dream that said that God would help Gideon defeat them. Gideon rose up and armed his men with torches, trumpets, and clay pots. They lit their torches. When Gideon blew his trumpet, all his 300 men blew theirs and said, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” Then they crashed their clay pots and came rushing in on the Midianite army. The Midianites were so scared that they destroyed themselves and ran away. Our prayer verse says: "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts." Zechariah 4:6 Let's claim this verse in our prayer today. Dear Father God, Thank You for Your Spirit that gives me power to obey You, like Gideon. In Jesus' Name, Amen Table Time: Gideon's Army Coloring Page
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Nature Nugget: Autumn Colors Have you noticed how the leaves change color in the fall? Some turn brown, others turn red, many turn yellow and orange. The leaves change color because the tree is no longer feeding them, so it can reserve its energy to make it through the winter time. When we see the leaves change color, that is a sign for us that winter is coming. The Bible says in Psalm 56:3, "Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You." Our Bible story is about a man named Gideon, who asked God for a sign so he could stop being afraid of fighting the Midianites. Like the beautiful fall leaves, God gives us many signs of His love. Memory Mastery: Creation Week We will present the creation week story to the church on October 22. Until then, we will continue to practice it in class. Please practice at home with your child. Included here are the audio and hand motions. Children who recite their creation week will receive a Bible gem or mineral to add to their Bible artifact collection.
Mission Mail: Marika's Mission Dear Patterson Kids, My name is Marika. I am 9 years old. I live in Italy. Even though my school has classes on Saturday, I don’t go because I know it is Sabbath. On Sabbath, I go to church with my family. I like to go to church and participate in Adventurer Club. My classmates at school are curious why I don’t come to school on Saturday. I tell them about Sabbath, how God rested on the 7th day of creation week, so He can spend time with us. When my cousin came to visit, I told her about Jesus, too. I showed her how to pray and read her Bible. Now, she calls me every Sabbath to find out what happened at church. I like telling others about Jesus, do you? Sincerely, Marika Bible Story: The Call of Gideon After Joshua died, the Israelites forgot about God and worshipped Baal. God was sad. He allowed the Midianites to bother Israel. The Midianites would steal Israel’s food. Gideon, the son of Joash, was of the tribe of Manasseh. He only worshipped God, even though his father and others around him worshipped Baal. One day Gideon was threshing wheat in a secret place by the winepress to hide his food from the Midianites. He wondered what God would do to stop the Midianites. Suddenly, Jesus appeared to him as the Angel of the Lord! The Angel of the Lord said to Gideon, “The Lord is with you, brave man. I am sending you to go and save Israel from the Midianites.” Gideon asked Jesus to wait for him while he brought Him some food. When Gideon placed the food on a rock, the Angel of the Lord touched it with His staff. Fire came out of the rock and consumed the food. Then the Angel of the Lord disappeared. God told Gideon to destroy his father’s idol and build an altar to God. That night, Gideon obeyed. The next day, the men of the town were angry that Gideon destroyed their idol. But, Gideon’s father decided to follow God, too, so he encouraged everyone to leave Gideon alone. Gideon wanted more certainty from God about fighting the Midianites. He asked God to make a fleece wet on a dry ground the next morning, and it was so. Then he asked God to make the fleece dry on a wet ground the following morning, and it was so. Gideon was sure now that God would help him defeat the Midianites. Is there something that you are afraid of? Like Gideon, we can trust God, too, that He will help us to not be afraid. Context Connections: Learn About Harvesting, Threshing, and Winnowing Wheat Table Time: The Call of Gideon Coloring Page Take Home Guide
Below are the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy references, prayer verse, and prayer prompt for this week's daily devotions.
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