VBS 2024 Day 2: God's Plan is Best

Guess What?

Welcome back!

Q. When you’re trying to make a decision, has someone told you to just ‘do what makes you happy?’ Is this good advice? Why?

Happy not always bad

But not a good life plan

Sometimes happiness doesn’t equal following God’s plan

Temporary happiness, but not long term

Form two teams and distribute the “Guess What? Cards” evenly between them, one per player (or more if you have extra).

Explain that they will see a few things on the cards that would make many people happy.

Teams will take turns choosing a card and describing the phrase on the card using only three words or short phrases.

None of the words they say aloud can be on the card

For example, if the card reads, “Birthday Party,” the team could say, “celebration, gifts, every year.”

The other team must try to guess what the card says.

The team that guesses the most cards correctly wins.

Debrief:

Many things bring happiness

Not necessarily bad

Only problem when all choices based on happiness

Doesn’t last and is hurtful

Unsatisfied

God’s plan is better

Following God’s plan = great and lasting joy

Would you rather?

Explain that you will be given preteens some choices.

If a kid chooses your first option, he will pretend to be a starfish by standing up and spreading his arms high above him.

If a kid prefers the second option, she should be a sea turlte by lying down and pushing her arms and legs through the “sand.”

Would you rather (A) go to the beach or (B) hike the mountains?

Would you rather (A) travel somewhere far away or (B) stay near home?

Would you rather (A) eat green beans or (B) eat Brussels sprouts?

Would you rather (A) change your name or (B) get a new name from someone else?

Would you rather (A) ear familiar foods or (B) try a fancy food you don’t recognize?

Would you rather (A) take a risk or (B) play it safe?

Debrief:

Choices remind me of today’s Bible story

But they didn’t have a choice for some things

But did make important choices

Listen for choices they could make and when they didn’t have a choice.

Bible Story Explanation

Daniel 1:1–6 ESV

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god. 3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, 4 youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king’s palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. 5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. 6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah.

AKA, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Daniel 1:8 NLT

8 But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods.

Asks for noly vegetables and water

Bc healthy? More than that!

Commanded not to eat certain foods

Daniel discovers king’s food was against God’s plan and obeys God instead

Daniel 1:10–14 NLT

10 But he responded, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has ordered that you eat this food and wine. If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age, I am afraid the king will have me beheaded.” 11 Daniel spoke with the attendant who had been appointed by the chief of staff to look after Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 12 “Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said. 13 “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.” 14 The attendant agreed to Daniel’s suggestion and tested them for ten days.

Daniel 1:15–16 NLT

15 At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king. 16 So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine provided for the others.

Three years later...

Daniel 1:18–20 ESV

18 At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. 20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.

Daniel was even able to interpret dreams for the king!

Could have taken the easy way

But he knew it wasn’t right

Not just good choices; choosing God’s way

Commitment = Standing strong

Not just following God some; continuing to follow God

Q. What are some choices you make every day?

Q. How do you make these decisions?

Q. Where do you look for advice when you need help making a decision?

Discuss these sources of advice and whether or not they are good sources.

Before following happiness, ask if it pleases God

God’s plan is always best

Written in Stone

Distribute activity books, making sure preteens who are visiting for the first time receive one. Guide kids to turn to page 4.

Instruct preteens to turn to the passages indicated under “Written in Stone,” and ask for a volunteer to read each passage aloud.

Guide kids to list ways Daniel and his friends were faithful to God’s plan and the ways God blessed them in these passages.

God’s plan > making us or others happy

He knows best

Creator and definer

God knows what will turn out best in the end

When God said not to eat fruit, it wasn’t for the selfish reason Satan suggested

BC God knew the world = better place without consequences of eating fruit

God doesn’t ask us to do hard things He isn’t willing to do himself

He did the hardest thing of all; sending Jesus to die for our sins

More on this later

Jesus came bc of love

He wants to restore our relationship

Night before death = asks to not die, but says He’s willing

Dies on the next day

Jesus’s decision to follow God = more joy for us than can imagine

Small Groups

Form small groups of no less than 6 preteens.

Whenever possible, place preteens who are not familiar with the Bible and church in groups with preteens who are.

Plan to keep these groups throughout the week.

Distribute the copies you made and lead each group to discuss the “Small Group Discussion Questions” for today’s session (item 4).

Guide groups to meet in sight of other groups so that no adults are alone with children.

Whose Plan?

Guide preteens to page 5 in their activity books.

Explain that the top of each signpost has a scenario with two choices beneath it.

Read each scenario and ask kids which choice would honor God in that situation.

Q. Are there other choices that would honor God in this situation? What else could you do?

Usually more than one good choice

Need to ask God which is best

Some situations show God’s plan is better

List examples.

Don’t always see why God asks us to make certain choices

We may never know “why” it is better

But obedience is important

Direct attention to “Day 2 Bonus Verse Poster (item 11)

Verse shows us how to learn God’s paths

He will show us

Refer attention back to the “Theme Verse Poster” (item 6)

Trusting the Lord with all of our hearts is a good way to let God transform and renew our minds, which Romans 12:2 says will show us God’s will.

Make a list naming reasons our ways are not always best

I’m sinful

I want to be happy now instead of waiting for a better result

It’s easier to do what everyone else is doing

List some reasons why God’s plan is better

He knows what is best

His truth never changes

He knows my needs best

Debrief:

Can’t promise it’ll be easy

But can promise it’s best

You’ll be glad in the end

The safest place to be is wherever you follow God’s plan

Bible Reading Tool Kit:

Direct preteens to turn to page 14 in their activity books and find a spot to sit alone in the teaching area.

Explain Day 2 task and play “Name Above All Names”

Encourage preteens to bring any questions they have about today’s story with them to “Wrap it Up”

Wrap It Up:

Distribute Memory Maker bags and Day 2 tags

Discuss the bowl and pitcher icon.

Ask for volunteers to read the “Some People Say” and “Today’s Point” statements.

Q. Does anyone have any questions after working on the Bible reading Tool Kit assignment?

Direct attention to “Day 2 Verse Poster” (Item 11)

Pray this verse over your kids as you dismiss, asking God to help kids trust in Him with all their hearts and not lean on their own understanding.

Ask God to direct their paths and help them follow His plan because it is so much better.