Putting God First: Serving
Week 4: God Wants Us to Make Peace
This includes:
Leader Preparation
Lesson Guide
LEADER PREPARATION
BIBLE BASIS
This scuffle between David and Nabal takes place in the midst of an even greater ruckus between King Saul and David, God’s chosen king-elect. David had been on the run from
Saul in the wilderness for quite some time, finding ways to provide for himself and his men.
So he was likely under a little pressure when he began dealing with Nabal. When David arrived near Nabal’s land, he sent a message of peace and kindness, simply asking for
Nabal’s kindness in return. Instead, Nabal responded with an insult. Under stress, David took it personally and was ready to fight. They needed a peacemaker. This game of namecalling and fighting is pretty familiar for your kids. Use this lesson to help them avert tragedy by utilizing some of Abigail’s peacemaking skills.
DISCOVERY POINT
God wants us to make peace.
BIBLE FOCUS
1 Samuel 25:2-35
KEY VERSE
“Search for peace, and work to maintain it” (Psalm 34:14).
TEACHING PREP
The short overview below is designed to help you prepare for your lesson.
Supplies You’ll Need: Putting God First: Serving (Year 3/Quarter 12) CD, LIVE Children’s
Curriculum (Year 3) DVD, CD player, TV/DVD player, Bibles, “Abigail Bible Bio” handout, paper, scissors, tape, craft sticks, markers, shaving cream, paper plates, paper towels, colored paper, and masking tape
Before This Lesson
• Print the “Abigail Bible Bio” handout. You’ll need one handout for each crew of four kids.
• Assemble Bible Exploration Kits (one per four kids): one Bible, “Abigail Bible Bio” handout,
10 pieces of paper, 10 craft sticks, scissors, washable markers, paper towels, tape.
• Fill a paper plate for each crew of four kids with a pile of shaving cream.
• Use masking tape to make a 10-foot line on the floor of your meeting area.
• Review 1 Samuel 25:2-35.
• Cue "Into the Bible" (Track 1) on the Putting God First: Serving (Year 3/Quarter 12)
CD or (Quarter 12/Track 1) on the LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 3) DVD.
• Huddle briefly with your volunteers beforehand. Answer any questions they have.
Encourage them and pray.

We’ve provided you with a “Family Devotion” handout to send the Bible learning and faith discovery home. When kids and parents have faith discussions regularly, kids’ faith multiplies.
So we’ve given you two options:
 Print the “Family Devotion” handout and make enough copies for each child to take one home.
 Email the “Family Devotion” to families before or after the actual lesson.
Or why not do both? That way you’ll double the opportunities for parents to actually get the handout.

Putting God First: Serving
Week 4: God Wants Us to Make Peace
LESSON GUIDE
WELCOME!
Supplies: Putting God First: Serving (Year 3/Quarter 12) CD, LIVE Children’s Curriculum
(Year 3) DVD, CD player, TV/DVD player
1. Play “Into the Bible” (Track 1) from the Putting God First: Serving (Year 3/Quarter 12)
CD or (Quarter 12/Track 1) from the LIVE Children’s Curriculum (Year 3) DVD as kids arrive.
• “Into the Bible”
Makes me wanna jump!
Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump!
Makes me wanna sing! Hallelujah!
It’s the greatest book.
Come and take a look.
Makes me wanna shout!
Shout! Shout! Shout! Shout!
So that everyone will see
I’m getting into the Bible
And the Bible...is getting into me!
We’re discovering a brand-new world
As we dig a little deeper (deeper),
Finding out about who God is.
Open it up and see it (see it)!
There’s nothin’ like
God’s Word, and I get
So excited.
It makes me wanna,
Makes me,
Makes me wanna jump!
Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump!
Makes me wanna sing! Hallelujah!
It’s the greatest book.
Come and take a look.
Makes me wanna shout!
Shout! Shout! Shout! Shout!
So that everyone will see
I’m getting into the Bible
And the Bible...is getting into me!
“Into the Bible” by Jay Stocker. © 2006 Group Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.
Permission to use lyrics granted for local church use only. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

2. As kids arrive, have each person think of a pair of favorites, such as skateboarding and playing soccer, Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers, PE and recess, and so on. Help everyone think of two, making sure kids don’t share their favorites with others.
3. When everyone has arrived, SAY: I’m so glad you’re here today! We’re going to talk about differences. Let’s start by seeing how you’re all different. You each thought
of a pair of favorites. You’ll need to remember those for this game.
Have kids take turns sharing with the large group the favorites they thought of. Each time someone shares, have everyone else decide which they like best and move to a specific side of the room to show their choices. For example, if someone said skateboarding and playing soccer, those who prefer skateboarding would move to one side, and those who prefer soccer would move to the other.
4. Play until everyone has shared. Then
ASK:
• Why did you disagree?
• What happens when people disagree?
SAY: Sometimes people don’t agree on certain things. When that happens,
they need to find ways to make peace with each other, even if they don’t agree.
5. Have kids form Bible Crews of four kids each. Ask each crew to think of two more choices. This time, the choices should get everyone in the room to choose the same side.
For example, some options could be cleaning elephant droppings or owning a Wii, eating boogers or a hot fudge sundae, or having a toe on your forehead or eyes in the back of your head.
Allow a couple of minutes for crews to brainstorm. Then have them share their ideas while everyone else moves to the appropriate side of the room. After each crew has shared,
ASK:
• What does it mean to be a peacemaker?
• Why does God want us to make peace?
SAY: We don’t always agree on things. But God wants us to make peace. Let’s find
out how a young woman named Abigail once helped two grown men stop arguing.
LET’S EXPLORE!
Supplies: assembled Bible Exploration Kits, plates, shaving cream
1. Give each Bible Crew a Bible Exploration Kit, and have crews find the Bibles, paper, markers, scissors, tape, paper towels, and craft sticks in their kits. Help kids find 1 Samuel
25:2-35, and SAY: When we argue or fight with others, we go through a lot of emotions and attitudes. As you read about an argument between two men, look for the different emotions. Every time a new emotion or attitude comes up, work together to create a mask that shows that emotion or attitude. For example, if
someone is mean, you could make a mask with a scowl.
Have crew members take turns reading as the rest of the crew members make masks. As they work, help crews find the different emotions and attitudes in the passage.
Allow 10 minutes for crews to read and create.
2. When crews have finished, have each crew use the masks to summarize 1 Samuel 25:2-
35. While one person shares, another crew member can hold up the corresponding emotion or attitude mask. Make sure each crew has a chance to share, and then
ASK:
• What did Abigail do that you could do to make peace with someone?

3. SAY: God wants us to make peace. Abigail demonstrated some good peacemaking skills we can use in our own lives. Let’s practice some of those skills
now.
Give each crew a plate of shaving cream. Explain that crew members will work together in their crews to come up with a modern situation where a peacemaker, like
Abigail, is needed. Then the crew members will work together to draw the crew’s situation in the shaving cream. Allow five minutes for crews to discuss and draw. Then have them use the paper towels to wipe excess cream off their hands.
4. When crews have finished etching their situations into shaving cream, have them trade plates with another crew. Then SAY: There are lots of times when we need a
peacemaker. God wants us to make peace in all of those situations. Have crews open their Bibles to the Key Verse, Psalm 34:14.
The person wearing the most white should read the verse aloud and then
smooth over the shaving cream. Pause. When we make peace with others, that peace smoothes out any tough situation. Now talk about how we can make peace in the situation that was on your plate. Then decide on one way to make peace
that you can draw together. Allow three minutes for crews to discuss and draw. Then let them use paper towels to wipe excess shaving cream off their hands.
ASK:
• What would your life be like if you didn’t make peace?
• Why does God care whether or not we get along with people?
• How does our treatment of others show praise and honor to God?
SAY: God wants us to make peace—and maintain it, which means to keep things peaceful. When we obey him in this, we’re showing God we love him and
appreciate his peace in our lives. Let’s praise God now.
LET’S PRAISE!
Supplies: Putting God First: Serving (Year 3/Quarter 12) CD, LIVE Children’s Curriculum
(Year 3) DVD, CD player, TV/DVD player, colored paper, markers
1. Have kids form a circle. Give each child a piece of colored paper, and set out markers.
SAY: God made each one of us different. We’re unique, and that’s the wonderful thing about God’s creation! But because we’re different, we’re not going to always agree and get along. That’s when we need to find ways to make peace with each
other.
Explain that kids will write their names on their papers. They can be as creative as they want, but they only have about two minutes to write.
2. When kids finish writing, have them pass their papers to the person on their left. SAY:
Now you have 30 seconds to write one great quality about the person whose name
is on the paper—something that makes God happy and proud. Have kids continue passing and writing until the papers get all the way around the circle.
SAY: God is a wonderful creator who made each of us different and unique.
When we’re in a situation where we need to make peace, we can remember
others’ great qualities and praise God for our differences.
3. Set up the Putting God First: Serving (Year 3/Quarter 12) CD or the LIVE Children’s
Curriculum (Year 3) DVD. PLAY:
• “Use Your Whole Body” (Romans 6:13) (CD Track 2) (DVD Quarter 12/Track
2)

So use your whole body as an instrument
To do what is right for the glory of God.
Everybody’s got one, now whatcha gonna do with it?
Are you gonna use it for good, for the glory of God?
Come on, everybody, let’s do this right;
Clap your hands, and keep it tight.
Come on, everybody, let’s move your feet;
Stomp ‘em real hard, stomp ‘em right on beat.
Come on, everybody, let’s do both things;
Do it for the glory of our great King.
So use your whole body as an instrument;
To do what is right for the glory of God.
Everybody’s got one, now whatcha gonna do with it?
Are you gonna use it for good, for the glory of God?
O-o-oh, o-o-o-o-oh (echo)
O-o-oh, o-o-o-o-oh (echo)
Yea-h-h-h-h (echo)
Ah, ah, ah, ai-oh (echo)
Come on, everybody, let’s do this right;
Clap your hands, and keep it tight.
Come on, everybody, let’s move your feet;
Stomp ‘em real hard, stomp ‘em right on beat.
Come on, everybody, let’s do both things;
Do it for the glory of our great King.
So use your whole body as an instrument
To do what is right for the glory of God.
Everybody’s got one, now whatcha gonna do with it?
Are you gonna use it for good, for the glory of God?
Are you gonna use it for good, for the glory of God?
“Use Your Whole Body” (Romans 6:13) by Jay Stocker. © 2011 Group Publishing,
Inc. All rights reserved. Permission to use lyrics granted for local church use only. No unauthorized duplication permitted.
• “Fairest Lord Jesus” (CD Track 5) (DVD Quarter 12/Track 5)
Fairest Lord Jesus (flutter your hand around your face, then point up),
Ruler of all nations (pound your first in your other palm),
Son of God and Son of man (raise one hand up, then lower it):
You will I cherish (place your hands on your heart),
You will I honor,
Oh—my soul’s glory, joy, and crown. (Pretend to put a crown on your head.)
(Repeat.)
You will I cherish (place your hands on your heart),
You will I honor,
Oh—my soul’s glory, joy, and crown. (Pretend to put a crown on your head.)

• “Servant of All” (Mark 9:35b) (CD Track 7) (DVD Quarter 12/Track 7)
If anyone wants to be first,
He must be the very last.
If anyone wants to be first,
He must be the very last,
And the servant of all,
And the servant of all,
And the servant of all,
If you want to be first.
(Repeat from the beginning.)
If anyone wants to be first,
He must be the very last.
If anyone wants to be first,
He must be the very last.
“Servant of All” (Mark 9:35b) by Uelese Fa’agutu, Rachel Fa’agutu, and Jay Stocker.
© 2007 Group Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission to use lyrics granted for local church use only. No unauthorized duplication permitted.
Have kids take their papers home to remember good things others see in them.
LET’S PRAY!
Supplies: masking tape line, Putting God First: Serving (Year 3/Quarter 12) CD, CD player
1. SAY: Jesus is the ultimate peacemaker. When our sin created a big problem between God and us, Jesus bridged the gap between us and God by dying for our
sins on the cross.
Have kids line up at one end of the tape line. Ask them to imagine the tape is like a bridge over the gap that kept us away from God. As kids walk from one end to the other, encourage them to pray quietly, thanking Jesus for the way he brought peace and made a way for us to be friends with God again.
Play the instrumental version of “Fairest Lord Jesus” (Track 13) on the Putting God
First: Serving (Year 3/Quarter 12) CD as kids pray.
2. After everyone has crossed, SAY: One reason God wants us to make peace is to
help our friends and family know God and follow him.
ASK:
• How can you offer peace this week to someone who doesn’t know God?
Have kids close the prayer time, asking God to help them bring peace to someone’s life this week.
HIGH FIVES
Supplies: none
Have kids say one peaceful thing to three people as they give them high fives.
FOR-EXTRA-TIME ACTIVITIES

Tug-O’-War
Supplies: uncooked spaghetti noodles
Have pairs of kids play Tug of War with a brittle piece of uncooked pasta. The objective is to try to win the war without breaking the noodle. Then discuss how disagreements often lead to destruction unless we make peace with each other.
Match Up
Supplies: cards from Memory, Go Fish, Old Maid, or another matching game and tape
Tape a playing card on each person’s back, making sure each card has a corresponding card and each child doesn’t know what card is on his or her back. Explain that without looking at their own cards, kids need to find someone with a card that matches the card on their backs. Discuss how this game is like or unlike peacemaking.
Hiding It in Your Heart
Supplies: “Peacemaking Opportunities” handout
Give each crew a copy of “Peacemaking Opportunities” handout, and have them read the
Key Verse, Psalm 34:14, together: “Search for peace, and work to maintain it.” Then have them choose one of the scenarios and make up an impromptu skit revealing how they could put the Bible verse into action. Allow time for crews to share their skits with the class.
Create a Bible Dictionary
Supplies: paper, markers, dictionary, CD player, Putting God First: Serving (Year 3/Quarter
12) CD
Ask kids to create one or more pages, each with a new word, for a Bible dictionary. Have kids suggest words from today’s lesson—peacemaker and conflict are two suggestions. Have them write each word on a sheet of paper in fun letters, add a definition, list Scripture references, and make illustrations. Play “The Books of the Bible Song” (Track 8), from the
Putting God First: Serving (Year 3/Quarter 12) CD while kids work. Add each page to a three-ring binder, and watch the dictionary grow!