Building Blocks

1. Look up and review three or more of the Bible stories listed below: Noah (Gen. 6-7); tower of Babel (Gen. 11:1-9); Abram's tent (Gen. 12:1-8); wilderness tabernacle (Ex. 25-27); Solomon's temple (1 Chronicles 28:1-10, 2 Chronicles 3-5); manger (Luke 2:1-20); wise man and foolish man (Luke 6:47-49); New Jerusalem (Rev. 21-22).
2. Invite a builder or carpenter to talk about the:
   1. Tools he or she uses (display and demonstrate)
   2. Kinds of things he or she builds
   3. Safety rules
   4. Values like being honest, measuring carefully, following instructions/plans, setting a strong foundation
3. Share two choices that you can make this week that will build up and not break down your character. A building's foundation is the most important part of the building. Our foundation is our character. Jesus, the master builder, will help us make good choices that will build a strong character.
4. Read Revelation 21-22 and learn about the heavenly home that God is making for all who choose His gift of eternal life. What building materials is He using?
5. Construct one or more buildings of any size or type. May work individually or in teams.

Helps

1. As you review the stories, emphasize the items built and encourage the children to discuss the choices the Bible characters made.
   1. God asked Noah to build an ark. It took Noah 120 years to build the ark and he lived on it for over one year. Extra: How big was the ark? Use a long measuring tape to find out.
   2. Babel-God knew the best thing for the people at that time was to live in tents so they could spread across the earth. Not to build the tower of Babel.
   3. Abram's home was a tent. Extra: Make Abram's tent out of sheets and chairs.
   4. God asked Moses to build a portable tabernacle.
   5. God asked Solomon to build a tabernacle in Jerusalem.
   6. God sent Joseph and Mary to a stable.
   7. At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus refers to a man who built a house by first laying a strong foundation on a rock.
   8. God wants you to live in the house He is building for you in heaven.
2. Questions you might ask: What materials do you build with? How do you know where to build? What is this tool used for? What do you need to learn to be a good builder? Alternatives: Take a trip to a construction site, interview a worker and ask questions about the building.
3. Ways to share choices (you may work in teams):
   1. Draw a brick wall on a poster and write one choice or characteristic on each brick.
   2. Mime or act out a choice.
   3. Illustrate a choice in a painting, photograph, drawing, sculpture, video or on a computer.
   4. Sing a song describing good character-building choices.
   5. Privately write a poem or journal reflecting on your choice.
4. Bring gemstones to touch and see or show pictures of the New Jerusalem.
5. Any type of building materials may be used. Exampls: Legos, Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys, craft sticks, play dough, foam board, construction paper, sticks, straw, mud, or bricks. Suggestions for types of buildings: Biblebuildings, your home, school, favorite shop, church, imagined heavenly home.

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