16. Tower Of Babel

Tower Of Babel

Materials Needed

• set of blocks
• television or radio
• stuffed animals

Setting The Stage

The lesson you want to communicate to your children is that there is only one way to get to God and that is through Jesus’ death on the cross. In this story the people tried to get to God another way and it didn’t work.

Project

1. Take a set of blocks and lay them out on the floor. The object of the game is to try to build a tower, but the children are not to know this yet. Explain to them that for the next few minutes they are only allowed to talk “gibberish,” which is a made up language that no one else can understand. Say “Go” and have everyone talk gibberish at the same time while trying to do something with the blocks. When you say “Stop,” see what has been built. If they seem to be making good progress during the “gibberish” time, you might need to misdirect them a bit. The point to make is that when you can’t understand each other it is very difficult to build something. Now let them know that they were to be building a tower.

2. Move to a television or radio and turn it on to a station where a different language is being spoken, a language no one in the house can understand. It would be best if you had already located the station ahead of time so the children will not be distracted with the other programs. Point out to them how hard it is to understand what is being said in this other language.

3. It would be fun for the older children to learn the word “thank you” in several different languages. Here are some examples:

Spanish – Gracias
German – Danke
French – Merci
Italian - Grazie

4. Tell the story of the tower of Babel as found in Genesis 11. The people spoke one language and they decided they were going to build a tower to get to God their own way. God was not happy with this, so he caused them all to speak a different language. When they could not understand each other they had to stop building. Remind the children how they felt earlier when they could not understand each other while building. People who could understand each other grouped together and moved off to an area of their own. The lesson they needed to learn was that there is only one way to get to God and that is through Jesus Christ.

Memory Verse

John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Sit in a circle with an adult holding the stuffed animal. Explain that when you are holding the stuffed animal it is your time to say the verse. When you toss it to somebody else it is their turn to say the verse. Continue the game, speeding up as you go along, until everyone can say the verse easily. Note: The three year old might have difficulty mastering the verse so the game will need to be slowed down for him or her.

Prayer

Thank God for sending Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. Let God know you understand that the only way to Heaven is by saying thank you for Jesus’ death. Note: The older children can also pray and say they are sorry for their sins. You may explain to the older children that it is not just saying the words “Thank you” but you also have to believe in your heart that you can’t get into Heaven by just being good; it is only through Jesus’ gift of eternal life.