3.

2 Large Group Lesson | Preschool

Say Cheese
Moses and the Fiery Bush

BIG IDEA: God will always help me.

BIBLE BASIS: Exodus 3-4

KEY VERSE: “But I know that God helps me. The Lord is the one who
keeps me going.” Psalm 54:4

15–20 minutes

20–25 minutes

25–35 minutes

Scripture marked “NIV” is taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used
by permission of Biblica. Scripture marked “NIrV” is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version ™, Copyright ©1995, 1996, 1998 by International Bible
Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. All scripture references are taken from NIrV unless otherwise stated.

User Agreement:
The GO! curriculum by Mooblio is intended for download and print by subscribing entities only. It may not be transferred electronically to or duplicated by other non-subscribing
entities. If the GO! curriculum is cost prohibitive for your organization, please contact us about assistance. We are awesomely generous! All use must be in accordance with the
Terms of Use agreement as described on the website www.go.mooblio.com.

© 2018 Mooblio. All rights reserved. 1

3.2 Large Group Lesson | Preschool

A little while back I was beginning to feel an unsettled stirring in my heart. After many
months of thought and prayer, I was starting to feel like God had a new adventure for me. I felt
like it was big, but I really had no idea what it could be. So I said a prayer—one of those
dangerous sorts of prayers. In retrospect, I only suggest you say this prayer if you’re seriously
ready to have God rock your world! I said to God, “What’s next?”
Later that night I was working on a home project when God said very loudly and clearly,
“Quit what you’re doing and start the GO! curriculum!” How do I know it was God’s voice? I
knew it because the voice was big and bold and it was telling me to do scary and exciting and
Kingdom-rocking things. My voice doesn’t do that. My voice tells me to do small and safe and
comfort-preserving things. In fact, my small, safe voice was quick to answer God by saying,
“You’ve got the wrong guy!” And I wasn’t just being modest. I really believed God had actually
dialed the wrong number. But here is how I heard God answer me back: “I know you’re the
wrong guy. That’s why I picked you.” BAM! In my face! How do I argue with that?
Shortly thereafter, God reminded me of all the other “wrong guys” He had picked. David
was the wrong guy. His dad thought the idea of David leading the nation of Israel was so
laughable, he forgot to even mention him in the list of his sons. Jonah was the wrong guy. He
pleaded with God to send someone else to Nineveh. And then there was Moses. When God
spoke to Moses through the burning bush, He told Moses to lead his people out of Egypt.
Moses replied back in Exodus 3:11, “Who am I that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
Seriously! Who was he? Who was David? Who was Jonah? Who am I? I tell you who we are—
we’re the wrong guys!
The truth is that God picks the wrong guys like it’s His job! Why? Maybe it’s because
God’s glory shines the brightest when He works through our weakness. How could I possibly
take credit for anything good that comes out of this adventure? I can’t. It would be undeserved.
Chances are that a lot of you might feel unworthy or unqualified to do great things for
God. Good! God is looking for someone like you. If you haven’t already, I hope you find the
courage to ask God a crazy question like, “What’s next?” I hope you hear God calling you to do
some hair-raising, white-knuckled, monumentally big and bold things. And when you’re finished
hyperventilating, I hope you find the courage to say, “Yes.”

David Rausch
Mooblio President

© 2018 Mooblio. All rights reserved. 2

3.2 Large Group Lesson | Preschool

Using Props Effectively

Telling a story is great. Showing a story is even better! Well-used props can give a third
dimension to a two-dimensional story. They help stories come alive. They add interest and
intrigue. More than that, they help cement a story or lesson into the minds of the audience.
Poorly used props, on the other hand, can bring your lesson down like the flaming Hindenburg!
Here are a few tips on how to achieve the former and avoid the latter:

Choose props that are relevant to the message. The GO! curriculum will often suggest
different props. If you think of a prop that you want to introduce on your own, be sure that it
contributes to the objective of the lesson.

In most situations, keep the props out of sight until it’s time to use them. Props are kind of
like tigers during a magic show. Let them out at just the right time and they’re sure to wow the
audience. Let them wander around for the entire show and they’ll devour an audience member!
Interesting props, left in plain sight, can easily devour the attention of a kid.

Don’t let live tigers loose in the room. I think we adequately covered that one in the previous
bullet point. More than that, though, be sure that all of your props are safe around kids. If your
intro into the prop goes something like this, “God is kind of like this hand grenade,” please
reconsider your choice of props.

Organize your props ahead of time. Make sure your props are easy to get to. If you’re using
multiple props, organize them so you can quickly grab the right prop at the right time. Does your
prop require some set up? If so, set it up ahead of time. The transition from words to props
should be quick and seamless.

© 2018 Mooblio. All rights reserved. 3

3.2 Large Group Lesson | Preschool

Say Cheese! It’s picture day for the preschool kids! During the “Say Cheese” series, kids will
make the Bible come to life while mugging for the camera. By striking different fun and creative
poses, preschool kids will picture what it was like to be Moses and the Israelites during their
miraculous exodus from Egypt and into the wilderness. More than that, during “Say Cheese,”
kids will get a picture of God’s amazing provision and power.

 During the lesson, the teacher will show a picture of a campfire. If you would like to show
a physical picture in addition to or in place of the picture on the screen, print out the
campfire picture on 8½ x 11 cardstock and place it in the storytelling area.

 Create a “Bible Box” and place your storytelling Bible inside. This box will be used every
week. See ”Getting Started” in the Resource Folder for details on how to make the “Bible
Box.”

 Place a digital camera or a smartphone with picture-taking capabilities in the story time
area.

 Optional: At the end of the lesson, consider showing the children all of the pictures that
were taken during the storytelling time. Or tell the children that you will show them the
pictures when they come back next week, then create a slideshow with the pictures and
display it the following week during play time.

 If using the non-video options for the Topher segments of the lesson, print the Topher’s
Story Time Rules signs and Topher’s Big Idea signs on 8½ x 11 cardstock paper and
place in the story time area. See “Getting Started” in the Resource Folder for the
printable signs and for more instructions on how to perform the non-video options.

 Note: Any media repeated throughout the unit, such as the Topher Videos or the Say
Cheese Unit Title Slide, is located in the Lesson 1 Resource Folder only.

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3.2 Large Group Lesson | Preschool

Slide: show “Say Cheese” title graphic

Music: (optional) play upbeat music as children enter the storytelling area

WELCOME AND MUSIC

As children enter the story time area, give them a high energy welcome—smile, wave, give high
fives, and tell them you’re glad to see them. For added energy during the transition, play a fun
song that the children are familiar with. When the children have all arrived, play one or two
upbeat worship songs of your choosing and lead the kids in singing.

Music: play one or two upbeat worship songs

After the songs, help the children sit down by saying the following rhyme with them:

Topher the Gopher 1, 2, 3. (Clap on each number.)

Digs a hole right under me. (Make a motion as if digging with a shovel.)
Slowly I start sinking down. (Twist your body back and forth, lower and lower to the ground.)
Until I’m sitting on the ground. (Sit down on ground or chair.)

BIG IDEA AND BIBLE VERSE

Large Group Leader: Hello everybody, and welcome to another amazing week of “Say
Cheese!” Does anyone know why we say “Cheese?” (Take answer.) That’s right! We say
“cheese” when we’re having our picture taken. When you say “cheese,” it makes you smile. Let
me show you. (Say “cheese” while smiling big.) We’re going to have our picture taken a lot
during today’s true Bible story. Today’s story is going to teach us that God will always help
me. That’s our Big Idea for the day. Can you say it with me? (Repeat Big Idea with children.)
God will always help me.

It’s true: God will always help me. We know that because our memory verse from the Bible
tells us so. Let me teach it to you.

But I know (point to head) that God (point up) helps me (clasp hands together). The Lord (point
up) is the one (hold up one finger in front of you) who keeps me going (walk in place). Psalm
54:4 (extend hands like you’re holding a book).

Let’s do that together. (Repeat Memory Verse with children 2 or 3 times.)

STORY TIME RULES

Wow—nice job! I think you are ready for the Bible story. Before we get started, though, I think
we should go over our three story time rules.

Video: play “Topher’s Story Time Rules” video

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3.2 Large Group Lesson | Preschool

(Note: Play the Topher’s Story Time Rules Video or use the Topher’s Story Time Rules
Printables and Script found in the Resource Folder.)

SAY CHEESE INTRO

In just a little bit, we’re going to take a whole bunch of pictures with my camera (hold up camera
or smartphone). But first, I want to show you a picture of my own. (Show picture of a campfire
on the screen or hold up a printed picture.)

Slide: Campfire

It’s a campfire! I love campfires, don’t you? They’re very dangerous to touch, so you have to be
really careful around them, but they’re so warm when you stand by them. And I love the
crackling sound, too. I sometimes wonder if campfires love me as much as I love them.
Hmm…maybe I should ask the campfire. (Look at picture of campfire.) Hey campfire, I really like
you. Do you like me too? (Pause for response.) Maybe he didn’t hear me. I’ll try it again a little
bit louder. (Repeat louder.) Hey campfire, I really like you. Do you like me too? (Pause for
response.)

Would you have been really surprised if the campfire had talked back to me? (Children
respond.) I would too! Campfires don’t talk to people! Well…except for this one time. In today’s
true Bible story, we’re going to hear how God spoke to Moses through a fire much like this one.
And when it happened, Moses was as surprised as you and I would have been.

If you’re ready to hear today’s true Bible story, give me two big thumbs up. (Children give
thumbs up.) Great! Let’s get our Bible out of the super-duper Bible box. (Move to the Bible Box.)
I need your help getting it out, though. We need to say our special Bible words together. Repeat
these special words after me: It’s true, it’s true, the Bible is true!

(Repeat the words with the children, then turn on the Bible Box light so that the Bible is
revealed. Optional: play the Bible Box sound effect when you turn the light on.)

Sound: (optional) play the “Super Duper Bible Box Reveal Sound Effect”

(After the Bible is revealed, open the box and take it out. Hold the open Bible in front of you.)

Slide: show the “3_2 Moses and the Fiery Bush” slide

BIG BIBLE STORY—MOSES AND THE FIERY BUSH

I think we’re all ready to take our first picture. Pretend like you’re a sheep eating grass. (Take a
picture.) When baby Moses was all grown up, he was in charge of taking care of his dad’s
sheep. One day, while caring for the sheep, Moses saw a bush that was on fire, but the bush
wasn’t burning up. Moses thought, “Hmm…that’s strange. Why isn’t that bush burning up?” So
he walked closer to get a better look. When Moses got closer, God called to him from inside the
fiery bush, “Moses! Moses!”

Let’s take another picture. Make a surprised face. (Take a picture.) Moses was so surprised to
hear a voice coming from the fire. Moses said, “Here I am.” God spoke through the fiery bush
again. “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals because you are standing on

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3.2 Large Group Lesson | Preschool

very special ground. I am the God of your father. I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

It’s picture time again! Cover your face so that you can’t see. (Take a picture.) When Moses
heard God speak to him from the fire, he turned his face away so that he couldn’t see. He was
afraid to look at God. God said, “My people are hurting in Egypt. They have cried out to me
because the evil Pharaoh has made them into slaves. I will rescue them and lead them to a
better place. And I want YOU to help me. Go talk to Pharaoh and tell him to let my people go.”

Are you ready for another picture? Make a super scared face. (Take a picture.) Moses was
scared to talk to Pharaoh. Pharaoh was very powerful and could do bad things to Moses. So
Moses said to God, “How could I possibly get Pharaoh to let your people go? That’s too hard!”
But God said, “I will be with you and I will help you.” Moses said, “But what if the people don’t
listen to me or believe me?”

It’s picture time again! Pretend like you’re a snake. (Take a picture.) God told Moses to take his
walking stick and to throw it on the ground. When Moses threw the stick on the ground, God
made it turn into a snake. Then God told Moses to grab the snake by the tail. When he did, God
made the snake turn back into a walking stick. God said, “When the people see you do this,
they will know that I sent you and they will listen to you.” Moses said, “But what if I don’t know
what words to say?” God said, “I will be with you and I will help you know what to say.”

Let’s take one more picture. Stand up and march in place. (Take a picture.) Moses was still
nervous about talking to Pharaoh, but he knew that God would help him. So Moses got his
family and he began walking all the way to Egypt to tell Pharaoh to let God’s people go.

MUSIC AND CLOSING

(Encourage the children to keep standing. Lead them in a worship song of your choice.
Following the song, use the rhyme from earlier to help the children sit down again.)

Music: play one worship song

In our story for today, God asked Moses to do something. What did God ask Moses to do?
(Take answer.) That’s right—God asked Moses to talk to Pharaoh and to tell him to let God’s
people go. On the count of 3, let’s pretend to be Moses and shout, “Hey Pharaoh, let my people
go!” (Count to 3 and shout with children.) Was that an easy thing or a hard thing for Moses to
do? (Children respond.) It was a HARD thing. But Moses wasn’t alone; he had help from God.

Sometimes God asks us to do hard things, too. Not hard things like talking to a big, bad
Pharaoh, but hard things like saying “I’m sorry” when you hurt somebody. Or telling the truth
when it might get you into trouble. Or sharing your toys when you really don’t want to. When
God asks us to do hard things, are we alone or do we have help? (Children respond.) That’s
right—we have help! God helped Moses and He helps us too. One of the best ways that God
helps us is by giving us His Son, Jesus. When Jesus died and came back to life, He took away
the punishment for the bad things we do. God loves us and God will always help us.

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3.2 Large Group Lesson | Preschool

You know what? That’s our Big Idea for today. I think we should tell it to our parents when we
see them. Maybe we should practice first. (Appear to be thinking.) Hmm…who could we
practice telling? I know! We could tell our friend, Topher the Gopher. Let’s see if we can find
him.

(Play “Topher’s Big Idea Video 1” or, for a non-video option, print out the “Topher’s Big Idea
Cards” ahead of time and hold up card #1. See the “Topher’s Big Idea” document in the
Resource Folder for more suggestions on how to perform the non-video option.)

Video: play “Topher’s Big Idea Video 1”

(Whisper.) Uh-oh. It looks like Topher is asleep. I think we should wake him up. When he wakes
up, we can all tell him that God will always help me. On the count of 3, let’s all yell, “Topher
the Gopher, wake up, wake up!” (Count to 3 and yell with kids. Then play “Topher’s Big Idea
Video 2” or hold up card #2.)

Video: play “Topher’s Big Idea Video 2”

Topher: Hey, what’s the Big Idea?

Children and Large Group Leader: God will always help me. (Repeat the Big Idea several
times. When finished, play “Topher’s Big Idea Video 3” or hold up card #3.)

Video: play “Topher’s Big Idea Video 3”

Topher: Wow! That is a Big Idea! Thanks for telling me! Goodbye kids. (Encourage kids to
wave goodbye to Topher as he disappears back into his hole.)

Large Group Leader: Let’s say a prayer together and thank God for always helping us.
(Encourage kids to repeat the following prayer after you.)

Dear God,
Thank you for always being with us,
And for always helping us.
You are an amazing God,
And we love you so much.
Amen.

(Note: At the end of the lesson, consider showing the children all of the pictures that were taken.
Or tell the children that you will show them the pictures when they come back next week, then
create a slideshow with the pictures and display it the following week during play time.)

© 2018 Mooblio. All rights reserved. 8