Galatians 6:7 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.NASU

The previous week Mary Rose and her classmates had been given an out of class assignment. They were to collect pictures of hands and bring them to Bible class the next week. Mary Rose looked through lots of magazines and found several different kinds. Young ones, old ones, some dirty, some clean, some with wrinkles, some without. She even found hands doing things God would be especially pleased with. Mary Rose put all the pictures into a zip lock baggie and took them to Bible class the next Sunday. As each student arrived they laid out however many pictures they had brought onto the table. A few had forgotten and didn’t bring any but the teacher had brought extra so there were plenty to go around Glue sticks were handed out and each student chose a few hands to glue onto the large paper on the wall. It had letters on it that spelled “Using Our Hands for God”. That month they had been talking about a few in the Bible who had done good things for others with their hands.

• 2 Kings 4:8-10 – They learned of the man and wife in who lived in Shunem that made a room for the prophet Elisha. It had a bed, table, chair, and lampstand.
• Genesis 6:13-22 – Noah obeyed God and built the ark.
• 1 Samuel 25 – Abagail who gathered and took food to David and his men.
• John 13:12-16 – Jesus washed the disciple’s feet.
• Acts 9:36-43 – Tabitha/Dorcas made clothes for others.
• Ruth 2:2-7 – Ruth who gleaned in the field gathering grain for her and Naomi’s food.
• Ruth 2:16 – The servants who obeyed Boaz and left more grain for Ruth to gather.
• Ruth 2:14 – Boaz was kind and served Ruth roasted grain to eat.

As they talked of those in the Bible who did good things using their hands the teacher added that Bible person’s name and what they had done to the poster where the hands had been glued. Then each student told how they had used their hands forGod that week and the teacher added that with each of their names as well. ‘After that it was quiz time. This is where the teacher normally had some sort of game with questions to answer that reinforced the lesson.

Today she passed out pictures of grain with questions on them. If you answered it correctly you got to put your grain in the basket on the poster entitled “Full Ruth’s Basket.” There was a special slit inside the basket where the pictures of grain fit just right. Mary Rose and her classmates had answered most of them correctly! Ruth’s basket was VERY full. Everyone must have been listening to the Bible lesson. When the first bell rang they had 5 minutes before class ended. One thing they still had to do was sign their name to a special card. It had a picture of golden hands on the front. Inside it spoke of how appreciative they were for this one who had served so many through the years. It was to be given to an elderly lady who had served the congregation in many, many good ways and still did what she could to encourage even though her hands didn’t work as good as they used to. “Like a Golden Hands Award!” Said Mary Rose. The woman’s hands were now very old and wrinkled looking. But when one thought of all the kind wonderful things she had done with her hands they were really very beautiful. They all thought she deserved this award. Her picture was put in the church bulletin with a write up about her and how the Bible class students had honored her with the “Golden Hands” Award for her service throughout the years . The woman was pleased but very humble in her acceptance of this special award. She made Mary Rose want to serve others with her hands as she had done.

Greetings!

To my Sister Bible class teachers,

How do your hands feel lately? Sore from all the cutting of visual aids or class activities? I would love to give you all a “Golden Hands’ Award!! You are greatly appreciated for all your efforts and we never know just who we may be inspiring to follow down the path we have laid. I too know the countless hours of study, planning, seeking and gathering it takes to effectively teach our young. I believe we have only begun to reap the rewards of our labors.

The visual aid being featured this month is a question/answer game poster called “Fill Ruth’s Basket”.

Below are pictures, supply list, and easy steps to follow to make one of your own.

Quiz Game – “Fill Ruth’s Basket”

Object: To work together to fill Ruth’s basket.

Directions: The teacher asks questions from the Bible lesson of Ruth. As each question is answered by a student correctly, that student gets to add grain to help fill Ruth’s basket. You may even want to use teams and fill two baskets or keep score. (If you don’t want to make the poster just buy an inexpensive basket or two, but the poster does store easily.)

Supplies Needed:

• Scissors
• 1 poster board any color for base poster.
• Carbon paper
•  Means of enlarging basket pattern.
• If you are going to color the basket with chalk or crayons use white poster board for basket to be drawn onto . Otherwise use a contrasting color poster for basket or just outline basket onto base poster board.
• Contrasting  paper for letters “Fill Ruth’s Basket”
• Glue
• Laminator
• 11×17 piece of white or light colored paper.
• Dye cut machine
• Black sharpie marker
• Picture of bundle of grain to be copied on copier
• Yellow Astrobrights colored paper for bundles of grain
• Pattern for large basket (provided)
• Directions and object of game for back of poster
• Zip lock baggie
• Box tape

Steps to Making Game

1. Make title letters out of contrasting construction paper to spell Fill Ruth’s Basket. Small Dye cut letters work very well.
2. Glue letters to top or bottom of base poster.
3. Using enlarged pattern of basket and carbon paper trace basket onto white or colored poster.
4. Using black marker outline over lines of traced basket.
5. Write scripture text in small but legible lettering neatly on poster board. (Book of Ruth)
6. Cut and glue directions and object of game to back of poster.
7. Put your name on the back of the poster.
8. Cut slit in top of inside basket edge so students can insert grain.
9. On back of basket use box tape to trim and tape 11×17 construction paper over slit cut in basket to make a pocket for grain.
10. Color basket with pastel chalk or crayon if wish.
11. Glue basket onto poster board.
12. Laminate poster board
13. Make 1 bundle of grain for each question, copied on copier onto yellow colored paper to be added to Ruth’s basket.
14. Write questions on back of grain with pencil to be added to basket.
15. Laminate bundles of grain and cut from laminate.
16. Zip lock baggie taped to back of poster to store grain in.

Above: The basket with cut made. The basket with 11×17 paper taped onto back of basket to make pocket with box tape. Basket showing pocket. In story part of article, you will find  picture of completed colored-(chalked) basket glued onto poster with grain questions inserted into basket.

Printable patterns and take home papers at link below!

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B0JVwiZJ0ZA9TzlId3FvNXNDelk&usp=sharing

Bible words defined: (From Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

• Prophet – A person who spoke for God and who communicated God’s message courageously to God’s Chosen People-the nation of Israel.
• Gleaning – The process of gathering grain or other produce left in the fields by reapers (Judges 8:2; Ruth 2:1; Isa 17:6). The Old Testament Law required that property owners leave the gleanings of their produce in the fields so they might be gathered by “the poor and the stranger” (Lev 19:9-10; 23:22).
• Humility – Opposite of proud. A freedom from arrogance (or self-importance) that grows out of the recognition that all we have and are comes from God.

Some extra verses to think about:

Proverbs 31:20 She extends her hand to the poor, And she stretches out her hands to the needy.

1 Thessalonians 4:11…make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands,

Ecclesiastes 9:10“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…

I wish you many blessings in your Bible study and classes and my prayers are with you all.

Serving in Christ, Gwendolyn Schnell

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Gwen Schnell

Gwen is the author of Mary Rose and Me (Available at Amazon.com). She has been married to her devoted husband Dan for over 41 years. He has been the pulpit minister for the Owasso Church of Christ for over 25 years and they both love working with the this outstanding congregation. Dan and Gwen are richly blessed with 3 faithful children who are married to faithful spouses, and are even further blessed to have Jonathan, Matthew, Micaiah, and Lydia join the ranks making them Grandma/Nina, and Opa! Gwen has had the pleasure of putting the Word into the hearts of children for over 30 years, and 4th and 5th grades are her favorite children’s Bible classes to teach. On occasion, Gwen has opened the Word with teen/adult ladies classes and has had the pleasure of speaking for couple of ladies days, but personal home Bible studies are among her favorite ways of opening the Word with others.

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