Scripture: Exodus 32-34
- Students will learn God has some rules that are non-negotiable. He expects us to obey them no matter when or where we live.
- Students will learn God expects people to love and obey Him with all of their hearts, souls and minds.
- Students will learn when people disobey God and/or worship things besides Him, they have sinned. God will forgive Christians if they repent, but they must often face earthly consequences for their disobedience.
- Students will learn about the idols mentioned in the Bible.
Guiding Question: Why might people prefer fake idols over God?
Materials: Photos of various idols in the Bible
Procedure: Share the story of the Golden Calf in Exodus 32-34. Focus especially on the concept of disobedience to God resulting in negative consequences on earth. (Make sure older students understand that God doesn’t always “punish” us with negative consequences when we disobey. They need to begin to understand even if nothing “bad” happens when they disobey God, it doesn’t mean God is happy with their choice or that there will not be other consequences later.) Discuss why Aaron should have encouraged the people to obey God rather than helping them disobey.
Introduce the activity. Take students to a museum or show them photos of the various idols mentioned in the Bible. Discuss why people might prefer idols over God even though idols are fake gods. Make sure the students understand idols never work and that God is the only real god. Have students share the consequences of following a fake god.
Additional Questions: What idols can we fall victim to in our world and why?
Supplemental Activity: Have the students create a poster of different idols people may have in life today such as money, food, clothes, other people, etc. Have students also explain how these idols lead away from God.