Day 1
The Two Kingdoms

Bible passages
Creator King and Prince of Darkness
John 18:37–38; Ephesians 6:10–11
Apologetics Content
Absolute truth is true for  people, for times, for  circumstances.
Veritas verse
Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:10–11
RHYME Time
Of two, only one is true!
lesson Focus
We’re in a battle between two kingdoms—God’s good kingdom that is based on truth and the enemy’s bad kingdom that is based on lies.
Animal pal
Winifred (“Winnie”) the Warhorse
Today’s Lesson at a Glance
Introduce It!
Which Side of the Castle?
Teach It!
Part 1: Two Kingdoms Contrasted
Option 1: Small Group Session
Option 2: Two Kingdoms Game
Part 2: Guardians of Truth Game
Part 3: Animal Pal Review
Apply It!
Part 1: Veritas Verse
Part 2: Go and DoPreparing for the Lesson
Read John 18:37–38 and Ephesians 6:10–18. 
Read this lesson several times and prepare the materials. 
For more information on absolute truth and the two kingdoms, visit AnswersVBS.com/keeperfaq. 
Pray.

Devotion 1: The Two Kingdoms
Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Psalm 51:6
When Pilate questioned Jesus about the charges the Jews were leveling at him, Jesus replied, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 
Can you hear the cynicism and sarcasm in Pilate’s voice as he asks dismissively, “What is truth?” and hands over Jesus to the Jews for crucifixion (John 18:37–38)?
Throughout the ages, people have echoed Pilate’s question, in sincerity as well as skepticism. In fact, the battle over truth is as ancient as the original sin. Take a look at the lies Satan told himself and those who rebelled with him against their Creator:
“How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn!
How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!
You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven;
above the stars of God I will set my throne on high;
I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; ’” (Isaiah 14:12–14, emphasis added).
Satan knew the truth—that there is none in heaven like the Creator God—but he exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and in the process became the father of lies (John 8:44). His first temptation of Adam and Eve was a continuation on the theme. He introduced error into God’s words (“Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” Genesis 3:1) and then blatantly lied about what God had said (“You will not surely die,” Genesis 3:4). 
For the past six thousand years, we’ve been floundering, trying to find our own way and denying that truth comes from God and his infallible Word. Thankfully, God has called his children into his kingdom through the sacrifice of his Son. In his infinite grace, God has given us the armor we need to stand strong in this battle for truth and boldly serve our Creator. 
This week as we examine the pieces of armor God has provided, ask yourself this: Where am I in the battle? Am I asking “what is truth?” along with Pilate, or do I know the difference between truth and error based on God’s Word? 
“Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment” (Proverbs 12:19).

Introduce It!

Bible
Medieval costumes for teachers
Mounting putty or tape for posters
Red, yellow, blue and purple cardstock (1 sheet each)
Masking tape or painter’s tape

 Which Side of the Castle? 
Prep: Prepare your costumes. Cut the  in half. Print the  on four different colored papers (red, yellow, blue, and purple), cut them in half, fold so the jewel is on top, and hide one of each around the room so just a tiny bit is showing. (Share the jewels from the other half of the sheets with another teaching room.) Print the  and hide it as well. Bookmark the Scripture passages in your Bible for the whole lesson. Place a masking tape or painter’s tape line down the middle of the room.
 Huzzah! Welcome to Keepers of the Kingdom. I’m ___, the trainer here at the castle. We’ll be meeting each day in this room called the keep. The keep is the strongest and most fortified spot in the castle. It looks like this.  When you’re in the keep, you’re in the safest spot and the one that can best ward off enemy attacks. Did you know there are all kinds of attacks we can experience in life—even some that are spiritual? Because of that, we need to learn how to be strong not only at this castle but also in the Lord.
 Good morrow! I’m ___, and I’m excited to open God’s Word and share about some special armor God has given us to wear in these spiritual battles. Let’s get our training started with a game!
 When I say to get up, everyone needs to move to this middle line. Then I’ll state two opposite choices. You’ll go to whichever side of the keep (left or right) that represents the choice you like more. Okay, let’s line up! Go through the following and have them go to the left side of the keep if they prefer the first choice or the right if they prefer the second. Point in the correct direction as you say each choice. Have them go back to the middle line after each one.
Eating salty treats (left side) or sweet treats (right side)
Walking fast or slow 
Experiencing winter or summer
Sitting in the front or in the back
Celebrating birthdays or Christmas
Owning a big animal or a small animal
Packing lunch or buying lunch
Playing in the basement or in the attic
Reading or doing math
Going to the mountains or to the beach
Having a busy life or a quiet life
 Okay, everybody can sit back down.  Now, I have a question for you. Do you think one choice was the right answer and one was the wrong one? For instance, is it right to like going to the mountains more than going to the beach? Are the beach lovers wrong? Yeah, there weren’t any right or wrong answers in the game we just played—just people’s preferences. Maybe you say “toe-MAY-toe”  and I say “toe-MAA-toe.” Or you say “Awwwnt”  and I say “Ant” . One isn’t true (right) and the other false (wrong). They’re just someone’s preference.
 But did you know there  ideas and behaviors that really  either absolutely true or absolutely false? Right or wrong? Truth or error? 
 That’s right. There’s something called absolute truth, which is truth that never changes. It’s true for  people, for times, for circumstances.
 Sometimes people wonder how they can know what really is the truth. It’s been a question asked through time. Even Jesus was asked about it by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. Listen to this:  There are lots of voices out there in the world telling you different, often opposite, things about what’s really true. So how can you tell what’s truth?
 Well, there’s a source of truth we can absolutely trust 100% of the time. I’ve hidden four jewels in this room that tell us about that source of truth. Without 
moving, see if you can first find a red jewel. 
 God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is the source of perfect truth. God lie , so every word he says will always be 100% true. You can bank your life on it.
 And because the Bible is God’s words to us, it’s 100% true, too. God and his Word provide truth for all people throughout all times and in all circumstances. That will never change.
 Now, I have one more opposite thing hidden around the keep to show us the source of lies. You won’t be looking for a beautiful jewel, but an ugly gargoyle. Do you know what a gargoyle is?  Without getting up, look for the hidden gargoyle. 
 
 Yes, the Bible tells us Satan (also known as the devil) is called the father of lies .  
 The Bible tells us how God and the enemy, Satan, are in a cosmic battle that’s between two kingdoms. God’s good kingdom is based on , and the enemy’s bad kingdom is based on .  And the super awesome news is that God wins the battle!

(1 per group)

Large paper or dry erase board and marker for sample chart
Poster board (1 piece per group)
Markers (1 or more per group)

 Teach It!
Part 1: Two Kingdoms Contrasted
Two options follow this short intro below. The first is a powerful small group session. This is great if you have enough time. The second is a quicker, fun game option that covers the same information. Choose whichever one fits your needs best.
 Okay, so who’s the leader of the good kingdom?  And who’s the leader of the bad kingdom? 
God and Satan are  equal, and God’s kingdom and the enemy’s kingdom aren’t equal. God is, well, God! He’s in charge. He’s good, kind, and loving. He can do anything! Satan, on the other hand, is bad and has limited power. He’s not equal to God but is an angel who was created by God and then rebelled against him. His kingdom includes the fallen angels who also rebelled against God in the beginning. He can’t be everywhere, seeing and knowing everything like God can. 
Option 1: Small Group Session 
Prep: Organize the supplies for each group.We’re going to divide into small groups and compare these two leaders and their kingdoms using the Bible. Your group will make a chart of your findings. You’ll have ten minutes, so let’s see which group can get the most done in that time. Divide into small groups and give each troupe leader a poster board, a marker, and a . Kids will read verses to contrast God’s kingdom with the enemy’s kingdom. They will make a chart of their findings on the poster board. 
After ten minutes, have each group finish and tack their chart on the wall or have it in front of them for reference. Then gather as a large group. As time allows, briefly chat about their findings, making a chart based on your discussion. Refer to the  for the answers. A sample chart follows. Then finish by showing the  and going over today’s rhyme: Of two, only one is true! 

Ruler: God (Psalm 47:7–8)	Ruler: Satan (1 John 5:19; John 12:31)	
Kingdom of light (1 John 1:5)	Kingdom of darkness (Ephesians 6:12)	
Always tells the truth (John 14:6; John 7:28)	Tells lies (John 8:44; Acts 5:3)	
For us (Romans 8:31)	Against us (Matthew 13:39)	
Creator/Protector of life (Genesis 1:1)	Destroyer of life (John 10:10)	
Promise keeper (2 Corinthians 1:20; 1 Kings 8:56)	Promise breaker (Ephesians 5:6a)	
Good (Psalm 25:8)	Evil (Matthew 6:13)	
Love (1 John 4:8)	Hate (John 3:20)	
Godly (Colossians 3:12–15)	Ungodly (2 Timothy 3:1–4)	
Omnipresent (Psalm 139:7–10)	Not omnipresent (Job 1:6–7)	
Unlimited power (Jeremiah 32:17)	Limited power (Matthew 4:10)	
The only God (Psalm 86:10)	Not a god (a fallen angelic being), so not God’s equal (Luke 10:18)	

 

  
Plastic chalice or cup
Dice, a spinner, or point total cards (see text)

  Option 2: Two Kingdoms Game 
Prep: Cut the cards and arrange so half of the  (random ones) and half of the  are mixed up in the chalice. Keep the rest organized and ready to use. Cut the  in half and hang each section so the cards can go under them.
Divide the kids into two teams—boys vs. girls. Explain that someone from their team will come up and pull a card out of the chalice. Their team has to decide together if they think it belongs to the Good Kingdom or the Bad Kingdom. All the team members (or one representative team member) should either move to the Good Kingdom side of the room or the Bad Kingdom side to show their answer. (Or, have team members turn to the right or left.) Tell them if they are correct, and put the card on the wall under the correct kingdom poster. Then the other team gets a chance to tell what they think the opposite would be that would go in the other section. If they are right, put that card in the correct spot and talk about that particular contrast by reading the accompanying Bible verses on the .
For example, the girls start and pull out the “Promise keeper” card. One or more of them move to the Good Kingdom side of the room, which is correct. They receive points for this correct answer (roll dice, spin a spinner, or draw point total cards). The boys then get a chance to tell the opposite. If they say something like “Promise breaker,” they receive points, and that card is put under the Bad Kingdom section, directly across from the “Promise keeper” card. You then read the accompanying Bible verses and make any brief comments.
It’s then the boys’ turn to draw a card and decide which side of the board it goes on, with the girls getting a chance to say the opposite. Continue going back and forth until time is up. At the end of time, see who has the most points. They should get most of these right.

Note: If a team guesses incorrectly, they don’t get a point. Put the card in the correct space and explain why it should be there. 

Use the  to bring home the point that only one of these kingdoms is good: Of two, only one is true! Have everyone say that together.

 (2 posters)
 
Large piece of corrugated cardboard or foam core board and tape 
2 pushpins of different colors for game pieces
Optional: large easel for game board or smaller game boards

 Part 2: Guardians of Truth Game 
Prep: Make the  by mounting the two posters side-by-side on a large piece of corrugated cardboard or foam core board. For a larger group, put it on a large easel and poke two pushpins in at the start space. For a smaller group, gather around it on the floor.
Print the  and the  on white cardstock and cut apart. Print the  and have them ready.

Lead the children in playing a round of Guardians of Truth. Explain that a guardian is a keeper of truth. In this game, they will try to figure out if the statements are truth or errors. Explain that an error is something that goes against God’s Word. The enemy tries to get us to fall for tricks, lies, and anything contrary to God’s ways. This game is designed to train their brains to think well so they know God’s Word and are not easily tricked.
How to Play: Divide into two teams. These can stay the same all week or can change daily. Quickly decide on team names (Jesters vs. Jugglers, Kings vs. Queens, etc.) and which team goes first. Read a question. Have the team decide together if they think it’s a true statement or an error. If they’re correct, they pick a color card and move to the corresponding color. Follow the directions on the game board. Play then moves to the other team. Go back and forth between the two teams, playing as long as time permits and making sure each team gets the same number of turns. Play as an ongoing game that is continued where you left off, or start a fresh round daily.
As an alternative to the large game board, you may have the children play the game in small groups or pairs using smaller game boards (11x17), which are available to purchase (12-0-068, pack of 10).
Allow time each day to play this game if possible. It’s a fun, quick, and content-rich way to develop a biblical worldview in your kids. It’s important to share the brief explanations to each question (on the  regarding why each statement is true or false.
Part 3: Animal Pal Review

Armor of God Sticker Sets (12-0-078)

 Share the  to summarize the teaching of the day. Pass out the Armor of God sticker sets (available to purchase from AnswersVBS.com), one set (child and armor stickers) per child. This week, children will add armor pieces as they learn about them. For now, have the children put their name on their papers and then return them to you.  
Some knights rode into battle on warhorses like Winifred here. These horses were bred for strength and endurance. Winnie reminds us that we’re in a battle between two kingdoms: God’s good kingdom and the enemy’s evil kingdom. Although the knights trusted that their horses would carry them faithfully through battle, our trust needs to be in our Creator God, who made us and takes care of us.  
Apply It!
The front page of each day’s student guide is a review of today’s lesson. The back page matches this section in the teacher guide. 

 In the remaining class time, complete one or more of the following ideas. These are also on the back of the  and can be done at home with a parent or caretaker if you are out of time. If you send them home, motivate the kids to do them because they are full of good stuff! Have the troupe leaders check with the kids tomorrow to see how they did on them, and consider giving contest bonus points to the groups for their hard work.
Supplies for this section are not included in the supply list on the back cover since they will vary depending on the activities you choose, so decide what you will do and add them to your supply list accordingly. 
Part 1: Veritas Verse
 Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:10–11
Note: The word  means “truth is mighty and will prevail” or simply “true, trustworthy.” It was a word used in the Middle Ages and is still used today. Share the meaning with the students so they know that every Bible verse is true, trustworthy, and mighty, and all verses will forever prevail (win, prove more powerful than opposing forces). 
Practice these verses a couple times using the  and  as references, then try the challenge.
For display, you may want to put the  at the top and add each new  under it every day to build the passage.

Gospel opportunity: The gospel will be presented in detail on Day 2; you may want to briefly mention how a child can trust in Jesus for salvation here. 
 Practice getting both physically strong and spiritually strong at the same time. Set a timer for one minute. See how many jumping jacks or other exercises you can do in that minute. At the same time, see if you can say the memory verse at least once without mistakes.
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness. Ephesians 6:14
Say the new verse together several times and try the challenge again. 
Part 2: Go and Do
Can you think of 10 things you can thank God for? Make a list, remembering that every good thing is given to us by God, the ruler of the good kingdom.
How many sit-ups or push-ups can you do in one minute? Time yourself and record how many you do. Do you think you could do more if you practiced every day? Exercise done regularly makes you physically strong. What’s one thing you can do regularly to be strong in the Lord? 
Play a game of opposites with a friend or family member or by yourself. How many kingdom opposites can you think of in one minute? Set a timer and see! (Examples: light, dark; all powerful, limited power.)
Check AnswersVBS.com/keeperkids for more fun information! 
Ask yourself these questions: Which kingdom wins? Which kingdom do I want to be part of?  

Day 2
The Belt

Bible passages
Savior King
Genesis 1–3; Gospels; Ephesians 6:14
Apologetics Content
Build a biblical worldview to stand strong in the truth.
Veritas Verse
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness. Ephesians 6:14
RHYME Time
Decide your side!
lesson Focus
Each child of the King needs to fasten on the belt of truth.
Animal pal
Wily the Fox
Today’s Lesson at a Glance
Introduce It!
Ready or Not
Teach It!
Part 1: Gospel Presentation
Section 1—Chronicles of the Kingdom
Section 2—Admit, Believe, Forever Receive
Part 2: Knight Time—Belt
Part 3: Guardians of Truth Game
Part 4: Animal Pal Review
Apply It!
Part 1: Veritas Verse
Part 2: Go and Do
Preparing for the Lesson
Read Genesis 1–3 and Ephesians 6:10–18.
Read this lesson several times and prepare the materials. 
For more information on building a biblical worldview, see AnswersVBS.com/keeperfaq.
Read “Leading a Child to Christ,” found on the inside back cover of this guide.
Pray.

Devotion 2: The Belt
The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. Psalm 119:160
. Ever heard that one before? Of course, the irony with that statement is that it’s an absolute statement. Those who say that actually mean, “I choose not to accept the absolute truth claims you are making.” 
So, can we know truth? Is there any basis on which we can make absolute moral statements (e.g., “Homosexual behavior is sinful; Jesus is the only way to heaven; there are only two genders”)? 
The only basis for determining truth from error, and right from wrong, comes from embracing the one who is truth. Jesus is “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). And Jesus reiterates that God is the source of truth when he claimed, “I am the way, and , and the life” (John 14:6, emphasis added).
When we know Jesus, we know truth. When we believe in Jesus, we believe in truth. Because he is the Creator, he is the one who sets the rules for his creation to follow. And he has given us those rules in his Word. There is no room for wavering because he has confirmed that we can trust his Word to be truth (John 17:17). 
Apart from the standard given in the Bible, there is no way to determine what truth is—everything becomes a matter of personal opinion. And who determines which opinion is correct? 
Examine your heart today. As you teach the children the  that the Savior King Jesus came to earth as a baby, died on the cross to pay for our sins, and rose from the dead, showing that God had accepted his payment, are you harboring doubts about God or his Word? Can you say with the psalmist, “I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me” (Psalm 119:30)? Have you put on the belt of truth?

Introduce It!

Bible 
Medieval costumes for teachers
Mounting putty or tape
Disheveled clothes costume

 Ready or Not 
Prep: Gather the disheveled clothes costume for Teacher 2 to wear. It should consist of the following: a pair of pants with the belt stuck through just one loop and dragging on the ground, a crooked shirt, one shoe on and one shoe off, a hat falling across your face, and papers in a folder that are all messed up.
Teacher 1 welcomes the knights and asks if anyone remembers what they learned yesterday about the two kingdoms. After chatting about this for a minute, Teacher 2 bursts in wearing the disheveled clothes.
 Fare thee well! Has VBS started already? Oh, no, it has! Well, I may be late, but I’m ready to go.
 Um, excuse me, but you really don’t look ready.
 I’m ready.
 Look at you. Your belt’s practically falling off. Your shirt’s crooked. You only have one shoe on. Your hat’s covering half your face. And your teaching notes are a mess. I’m sorry, but you’re ready! What have you been doing?
  Well, I was on my way in when I realized I’d left my Bible and notes in the wagon. Then I tripped and lost my shoe, and my papers went flying. I think my horse stepped on them! It was just one thing after another.
 Why don’t you pull yourself together?
 Okay. 
 All right. Boys and girls, as I was starting to say before ___ came in, there are two kingdoms—God’s good kingdom and the enemy’s bad kingdom. If we want to take part in the good kingdom, we need to be ready! ___ wasn’t ready, was he? There are lots of things we can do to be ready, which we’ll talk about in a little bit, but the first and most important step is to make sure you’re a citizen of the good kingdom. Let’s chat about how you can be part of the good kingdom.
Teach It!

1 per child
Treasure chest
2 flashlights 
Overhead transparencies
Optional: overhead projector or craft sticks
Fruit gummies or baggies of fruit, 1 per child 
Markers, 1 per child

 Part 1: Gospel Presentation 
Prep: There are two sections of the gospel presentation. For Section 1, find or make a treasure chest by spray-painting a copy paper box gold and attaching fake jewels to it. Hinge the lid with duct tape so it opens and loosely closes. Print the  on overhead transparencies. Cut them out along the square perimeters. (You may want to attach them to craft sticks if using the flashlight method of presentation listed in Section 1 below.) Put them in the treasure chest, along with your Bible, flashlight, and fruit gummies or baggies of fruit. For Section 2, cut the  apart and put in the treasure chest in order, separate from or under the supplies for Section 1. Print the . Bookmark your Bible with today’s passages.
SECTION 1—Chronicles of the Kingdom
Teacher 1 and Teacher 2 work together to tell this account. Teacher 1 relays the narrative in a dramatic voice and manner while Teacher 2 pulls the appropriate pattern out of the treasure chest, then either puts it on an overhead projector or shines a flashlight behind it so it reflects on the wall. 
 Now that ___ is back and looking ready, we’re going to share in some shadow play, a popular medieval pastime, as we hear words our heavenly King has written in his one-of-a-kind book, the Bible. I’m going to share a bit from the very beginning , but first, ___ is going to pass out fruit gummies  to each of you.  Before you eat this snack, however, you need to listen carefully to this kingdom account, for hidden within it is a very special clue word. The clue word is , just like your snack. When you hear the word , that will be the signal to open your bag and eat.

You may want to tell them they should not talk and shouldn’t touch their fruit bag until you say. If they do, you will take it away.

 Dim the lights and turn on the flashlight (“torch”). Dramatically tell the following, using this script that can be placed in your Bible. Shine the light on it to see.
 In the beginning, thousands of years ago (about 6,000!), there lived the very first man and woman.
Teacher 2: Shine the light behind the  to create a shadow on the wall, or put them on the overhead projector.
 They lived in a beautiful place called the garden of Eden, created by the perfect Creator King. Along with Adam and Eve lived all the different kinds of animals, such as cats and bears.
 And even dinosaurs!  Yep! There were also lovely flowers and bushes and trees in this beautiful paradise. 
Teacher 2: Shine the light behind the .
 God, the Creator King, who is good and only does good, said everything was very good. It was a perfect kingdom.
But then, something bad happened to destroy this happy place. An enemy came into the kingdom. 
 Help me tell of the enemy’s approach. Let’s start slowly chanting, and we’ll get faster and faster.   This enemy was created by God and lived in heaven. He was perfect and beautiful at first. But then the enemy started thinking he was great stuff—even better than God—and he sinned This was the start of evil.Teacher 2: Shine the light behind the .
 God threw him out of heaven, along with a third of the angels who turned against God . This enemy, called Satan, hated the Creator King and everything the King had made.
He knew God had created Adam and Eve to live happily ever after. But, as you might imagine, the enemy didn’t want that to happen. He wanted them to die and forever be with him in the terrible place God had prepared for . So he took on the form of a serpent and went to the garden of Eden, where he devised a wicked trick.
Teacher 2: Shine the light on the .
 It was the first trick ever.
 And it was a dirty, rotten one.
 The enemy found out about a special rule God had concerning a tree.
And this wasn’t an apple or oak or maple tree. Nope. It was called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and God told Adam (who would have told Eve) that he could eat from every tree in the garden except that one. God warned him that if he ate from that tree, the punishment for it would be death.

The enemy disguised himself as a serpent and found Eve. He said to her, “Did God really say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?’”
The woman replied to the serpent, “We may eat of the  . . .”
 Did I just hear the word ?
Teacher 1:  The woman replied to the serpent:  
 But the enemy told her she wouldn’t die, and she believed his lie. His trick worked, and she plucked a piece of fruit and ate it!
 Oh, noooooo!
 I know. And then Eve gave some to Adam. Satan had tricked Eve, but Adam knew better, and he still chose to disobey the Creator King by eating too. God held Adam responsible for that, just like God holds us responsible when we know the right thing to do but choose to disobey.
Well, that really messed things up. Now Adam and Eve had to deal with two kingdoms—God’s good kingdom and the enemy’s bad kingdom.
Teacher 2: Shine the light on the words  and .
 And from that day on, a battle began to rage between the two kingdoms.
Teacher 2: Make a couple shooting noises.
 Time out! Time out! It’s not that kind of battle. It’s not a battle we can necessarily see or hear. 
Teacher 2: Make a couple more shooting noises, then say, “Oh.”
 It was, and is, a very real battle, though. It’s an invisible, spiritual battle between God and his perfect kingdom, and the enemy and his wicked kingdom. And all people throughout all time, including all of us, are involved in this battle.
 Even little ole me?
 Even little ole you. 
 Even these nice kids?
 Even these nice kids. We’ve seen lots of make-believe battles, right? Can you think of any movies or books that have make-believe battles between the good side and the bad side? Those are make-believe battles. But long ago in that garden, the true battle began. That battle is  make-believe. It’s  pretend. It’s real. On that day, Adam disobeyed God’s command, and that’s called sin.
Teacher 2: Shine the light on the word .
 And because Adam disobeyed God and sinned, the earth is no longer a perfect paradise. God placed a curse on his creation, so now men have to work at tasks that are not always enjoyable, and ladies have pain when having babies, and plants have thorns, and people are sometimes mean, and sad things happen. 
 And God told Adam and Eve they’d have to leave the garden forever so they wouldn’t eat from the tree of life and live forever in their sinful state. It’s so sad! And I don’t like sad endings.
 Well, the good news is that it’s not a sad ending! God thought of everything, and he had a plan for the good kingdom to win Let’s pass out a couple supplies, and we’ll share the good plan God had!

SECTION 2—ADMIT, BELIEVE, FOREVER RECEIVE
Give each child a  and a marker. Decide ahead of time if you want to do the following activity with or without the game element. It works great just going through it as is, or, if playing as a game, explain that they can earn points for their team with right answers. They will turn their papers in at the end. (Make sure names are on them.) They are allowed to change their answers if they got it wrong at first. To do so, they need to cross out the wrong answer and circle the right one after it has been revealed. Explain that if they are listening carefully, they  be able to get them all right. (You can check later that day to see how they did and give bonus contest points to each team the next day to reflect their good work.)
 So, how many kingdoms did we say there are?  Right, two. And who’s the leader of the good kingdom?  Right, God. And who’s the leader of the bad kingdom?  Right, Satan.  But did you know you were actually born into one of those two kingdoms? Circle which one you think you were born into by the number one.  
All people are born into the bad kingdom with sin. Sin means we disobey the commands of the Creator King . Write down in one word an example of a really, really, really big, bad sin. Spelling doesn’t count.  Now write down an example of an itty-bitty bad sin.  
We may think of sins as big or small, but any time we disobey God’s commands, we sin. God says, “Do not lie” just as he says, “Do not murder.” 

For those who prefer not to show images of Jesus, we have included alternative pictures on the Resource USB for you to print.

Because the Creator King is perfect and without sin (holy), he can’t allow people who sin to live with him forever. This is sad news because the Bible tells us the punishment for sin is death . When we die, we’ll live forever in a terrible place called hell.
So how can we live with God forever? Well, God had a plan. It involved someone paying the penalty for sin on our behalf. Write down who you think that someone is.  It’s Jesus. 
About 2,000 years ago, Jesus left heaven and came to earth on a rescue mission just for us. Draw what you think Jesus looked like when he came to earth.  He came as a baby. 
Now, write one word to describe his life on earth. Now, let’s draw a picture of how he died using just two lines to show it. Then, they buried him in a tomb. But on the third day, something amazing happened. Jesus came back to life, showing that God had accepted his payment for sin. The bad men couldn’t keep him dead!Now, Jesus and God live in heaven together again. And, because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, he provided a way for us to live with God in heaven, the ultimate good kingdom, when we die. 
Does anyone know how to become a member of God’s kingdom? 
First, ADMIT: Finish the word ADMIT.  Admit you’re a sinner. This is called “repenting.” I need everyone to scoot around for a minute so your back is toward me.  Repenting is sort of like turning your back 
on sin. We repent when we say we’re sorry for our sins and want to turn from them. You can turn back around now.  
Remember, sin is disobeying God and his Word. Can you think of a time you sinned? God says that we’re to be kind . Have you ever, even once, been unkind to someone? God says that we’re always to tell the truth . Have you ever, even once, told a lie? God says that we’re to obey our parents . Have you ever, even once, disobeyed your parents? If you agree that you’ve sinned, then admit that to God. Tell him you’re sorry and want to repent.
Second, BELIEVE: Finish the word BELIEVE. Believe that Jesus really did come to earth for you. He lived a perfect life and never sinned. Then he died and rose from the dead, all because he loves you. The Bible tells us that God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life—life with God in his good kingdom .
Third, FOREVER RECEIVE: Finish the words FOREVER RECEIVE.  If you admit you’re a sinner, repent of your sins, and believe Jesus died and rose from the dead, then you need to ask God if you can forever receive the gift of eternal life. That means you believe in Jesus and want to be part of his forever kingdom, following him. This isn’t done to make life easy because hard stuff still happens to everyone in this broken world. It’s done because you want to be part of God’s good kingdom! And when you do, you’ll desire to obey God’s commands. You won’t ever follow perfectly, but God will give you his Holy Spirit to help you. It’s an amazing gift to be part of the good kingdom.
So it comes down to needing to decide your side. Let’s say that together.  You’re either in the bad kingdom or the good kingdom.
If you’d like to ask questions or talk to somebody more about this, you may follow ___, and they’ll help you.
Otherwise, you can stay here with me, and you’ll learn how to be ready each day to live for God’s kingdom. But remember, your troupe leaders or any of us here are happy to talk to you any time this week about this most important decision ever.
Children who are interested leave for salvation counseling in a safe, not isolated, place. Everyone else stays for the following teaching time. Have them turn their papers in, then move on.

Armor demo pieces (see Prep)
Oversized pair of pants and a belt 

 Part 2: Knight Time—Belt 
Prep: Prepare the armor demo pieces (described below) so they’re ready for the week. Cut out the pieces from the and laminate if possible.
Optional: Each day, hold up or put on the “armor” or use a child volunteer. You can use something simple, such as foil to fashion pieces of the armor, or buy play sets of armor, or use something to symbolize the armor, such as a football player’s uniform (belt for belt of truth, chest pads for breastplate of righteousness, cleats for shoes of peace, face mask for shield of faith, helmet for helmet of salvation, and playbook or football for sword of the Spirit). Another option is to have the kids put on imaginary pieces of armor as you demonstrate. 
 Now, let’s talk about another way we need to be ready, and that’s being ready to live for Jesus. The first step is to become a child of the King, like we just talked about. I’ve taken that first step, and I’m so thankful! Once we join God’s kingdom by becoming a Christian, we need to get ready for the battle between the two kingdoms. The Bible tells us one way to get ready is to put on the armor of God. This armor is spiritual armor, so we can’t see it like we can see a knight’s armor. We need to ask the Holy Spirit to help us put on the spiritual armor daily. The more we put on the armor, the more we’ll win the good kingdom’s battles. 
When we don’t, we can end up getting tricked, like Eve, and losing some battles. It’s so exciting that believers have special armor from God! 
The first piece of the armor of God is the belt. During medieval times, knights wore a belt around their clothing to keep their clothes up and to hold their swords.  
Over a regular pair of shorts/pants, put on an oversized pair of pants. The pants should be so big they won’t stay up on their own and fall off. Next, put a belt around the pants and cinch it shut so the pants stay up.
Let’s see what God’s Word says about the belt. 
God tells us to wear a spiritual belt called the belt of truth. The belt of truth is the piece of the armor that keeps your belief in Scripture held up strong and sure The belt of truth reminds you that the Bible is true—every single word of it. Just like a knight couldn’t function if his belt had missing pieces or if he didn’t have a belt, we can’t function if we have doubts about parts or all of God’s Word. We have to trust the truth. Let’s say “Trust the truth!” together.  Are you going to have an unshakable faith in God’s Word, or are you going to doubt it? Let’s trust the truth!
Remember that the bad kingdom is based on lies, so the enemy and the people in his kingdom will throw doubts and lies at you about God and his Word. That’s what he did to Eve at the beginning, and he still does it to us today. But God can’t lie, so his book can’t lie either. It’s the absolute truth. We can always trust it to tell us the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Even if we have questions about things in the Bible, we can know there are answers, and we can trust them. 
Of course, to trust the truth, we have to know the truth, right? What are some ways we can learn the truth?  
Also, putting on the belt of truth means you choose to be a person who’s known for telling the truth. Satan is the father of lies , and his kingdom runs on lies. But God’s kingdom runs on truth. When we become part of God’s kingdom, the Holy Spirit gives us the desire to tell the truth. Ask God to help you tell the truth, even when it’s hard.  
Let’s say, “Tell the truth!” together.  Now let’s say, “Trust the truth! Tell the truth!” together. Before we move into our Guardians of Truth game, I need two volunteers to come up and attach these belts to the knights to remind us to put on the belt of truth. 
Part 3: Guardians of Truth Game 

Day 1 Guardians of Truth supplies

 Remind the children that the enemy and his kingdom mix truth with error. They must train their brains to be strong in the battle for truth so they don’t get tricked by these errors. This game will help them wear the belt of truth!
See directions under Day 1 for how to play the game.
Part 4: Animal Pal Review

Armor of God Sticker Sets
 Share the  to summarize the teaching of the day. Pass out the Armor of God sticker sets to each child and have them put the belt on the child (either boy or girl or both) as you discuss the animal pal. 
During medieval times, foxes were often hunted for sport. But they could be tricky and sometimes escaped. This is Wily the fox. To be wily means to be tricky. Who tricked Eve into eating the fruit? The enemy, right. Wily reminds us to put on the belt of truth so we aren’t tricked by lies. God is the source of truth and we find his truth in the Bible. Never fear—God’s Word is here!

Apply It!In the remaining class time, complete one or more of the following ideas. These are also on the back of the  and can be done at home with a parent or caretaker if you are out of time. If you send them home, motivate the kids to do them because they are full of good stuff! Have the troupe leaders check with the kids tomorrow to see how they did on them, and consider giving contest bonus points to the groups for their hard work.
Supplies for this section are not included in the supply list on the back cover since they will vary depending on the activities you choose, so decide what you will do and add them to your supply list accordingly. 
Part 1: Veritas Verse
 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness. Ephesians 6:14
Practice this verse a couple times using the  as a reference, then try the following challenge.
 See how many times you can say the whole verse correctly in the time it takes you to put on a real belt.
And, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. Ephesians 6:15
Try the challenge again, this time with tomorrow’s verse.
Part 2: Go and Do
Go on a treasure hunt through your house to find the one book that is completely true. Hint: One name for it is God’s Word! How many can you find?
Search your home for belts. What kind of belts did you find (e.g., dressy, practical, large, or simple belts)? Which belt fits you best? Put it on and remind yourself that God’s Word is true from cover to cover.
Tell someone what God’s Word means to you.
Check AnswersVBS.com/keeperkids for more fun information!
Ask yourself these questions: Do I have an unshakable trust in the Bible? (Pray and ask God to help you to!) Do I want to be known as a person of truth?

Day 3
The Breastplate and Shoes

Bible passages
King Josiah
2 Kings 22–23; Ephesians 6:15
Apologetics Content
Put on what’s right (Jesus’ righteousness), then do right.
Veritas verse
And, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. Ephesians 6:15
RHYME Time
Do right in God’s sight!
lesson Focus
Put on the breastplate of righteousness and the shoes of peace.
Animal pal
Grimwald the Dragon
Today’s Lesson at a Glance
Introduce It!
Jester Review
Teach It!
Part 1: Knight Time—Breastplate
Part 2: King Josiah
Part 3: Knight Time—Shoes
Part 4: Guardians of Truth Game
Part 5: Animal Pal Review
Apply It!
Part 1: Veritas Verse
Part 2: Go and Do
Preparing for the Lesson
Read 2 Kings 22–23 and Ephesians 6:10–18.
Read this lesson several times and prepare the materials. 
For more information on the breastplate and shoes, check AnswersVBS.com/keeperfaq.
Pray.

Devotion 3: The Breastplate & Shoes
Your righteousness is righteous forever, and your law is true. Psalm 119:142
. It’s a word we hear a lot today . . . usually coming from those who are intolerant of any standard of truth (except their own, of course). 
When Josiah became king of the nation of Israel in 640 BC, the people had been practicing “tolerance” for idol worship, child-killing, and all types of sexually immoral behavior for years, neglecting the truth in the book of the law that had been handed down to them.   
King Josiah was twenty-six years old when he first read the words of the Lord. After reading the Scriptures (perhaps part of Deuteronomy), he immediately repented, realizing that he held truth in his hands and hadn’t been obeying it. Josiah also shared the truth of the book of the law with his people and set about making reforms (being intolerant of tolerance) based on what he’d read. He burned the altars to idols, tore down the place where children were sacrificed to false gods, and rid the temple of priests who were leading the people astray. With his newfound knowledge of the truth, Josiah acted righteously, no longer tolerating the views of those opposing the standard given in God’s Word (2 Kings 22–23).
When we make  our standard, we set ourselves up as gods, determining on our own which views and practices are acceptable and which are not. And we find ourselves in a morass of immorality. Are those who tolerate one view any more right than those who tolerate an opposing view? Who determines which actions to tolerate and which to forbid (if any)? 
With the belt of truth firmly buckled around our waist, the question then becomes: What do I do about that truth? Do I obey God’s Word, putting on the breastplate of righteousness? Do I share the truth of God’s Word with others, putting on the shoes of the gospel of peace? King Josiah did both. May the Lord use young Josiah’s example to encourage our hearts in the battle for truth. 
May we say with the psalmist, “Teach me your way, O L, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name” (Psalm 86:11).

Introduce It!

Bible
Medieval costumes for teachers
Mounting putty or tape

 Jester Review  
Explain that mime was used by court jesters in medieval times. It involves acting something out with gestures, expressions, and movements, but no words. As you give review questions, the students will mime the answers—no talking, just gestures.
Remember to silently answer this: How many kingdoms are there? 
Which one is good? 
What animal pal from Day 1 reminds us of the battle between the two kingdoms? 
Fill in the blanks with mime: ___ ___ in the Lord.  
What is something you can do to be strong in the Lord?  
What animal tempted Eve to sin? 
What did Adam and Eve do that was sin? 
What is the first piece of armor described in the book of Ephesians? 
Where can we find truth? 
Teach It!
Prep: Gather the armor demo pieces and get the T-shirts ready.

Armor demo pieces
Muddy white T-shirt that’s dry
Clean white T-shirt on a hanger

 Part 1: Knight Time—Breastplate 
 Okay, so the first piece of armor is called the belt of what?  Right, the belt of truth.  Now it’s time to hear about two more pieces of armor. Be listening for what comes after the belt of truth.  What comes after the belt of truth?  Right, the breastplate of righteousness. A breastplate would cover both your front and back. It went from your neck down to at least your waist and protected your heart, lungs, stomach, and other important organs.
Put a breastplate on yourself or have a child demonstrate.
 The breastplate we’re talking about isn’t just any breastplate. It’s called the breastplate of . Tell the person sitting next to you what smaller word you hear in the big word RIGHTeousness.  Yes, the word . 
 Let’s do a little demo to understand what that means. I need a volunteer. 
  Let’s imagine this bright, white, clean shirt belongs to Jesus. The Bible tells us Jesus is clothed in righteousness. That doesn’t mean he’s actually wearing this shirt. It means he is perfect and always does what’s right. It’s impossible for Jesus to sin. 
 That blows my mind, and so does this: When Jesus died on the cross and rose again, he made it possible for  to take on  righteousness. You see, he knew we couldn’t live a perfect life. We sin! So what happens is, when we become a child of God, Jesus puts his righteousness on us, kind of like this.

 We trade our sinful life, represented by this dirty shirt, for his perfect, clean righteousness. Now when God looks at any of us who are part of his kingdom, he doesn’t see our dirty life. He sees Jesus’ perfect life and not our sin! Wow! What a gift!
 Putting on the breastplate of righteousness also means that because we’re a child of God, the Holy Spirit will help us learn to grow in right living. Of course, we all know there’s no way we can ever live a perfect life like Jesus, but we can obey God’s commands and grow to more and more. Doing right, which means obeying God’s commands in the Bible, shows we’re living to please God. Let’s say, “Do right in God’s sight” together.  
 A cool example of someone who wanted to follow God’s commands and please God is a child king called Josiah. He wanted to do right for God! Let’s get organized to act out a little about King Josiah’s life.
Part 2: King Josiah 

 
String
Hole punch
Dry-erase board or chalkboard
Optional: props for King Josiah account

 Prep: Print the  for the children needing them. Gather and organize props if you decide to use any. Print the  Hole punch the top two corners of each nametag and then attach string so they easily slip over their heads and identify who is playing which part. 
Note: A shorter, simpler script in the Primary Teacher Guide can work well with a smaller class or for a shorter time.
Divide the class into four groups. Each group should have at least three children, but there can be as many as ten or more in a group if necessary. Each group will act out one section of the King Josiah Bible account. The teacher will be the narrator. If you have a very small class, divide into two groups and have each group do two sections instead of one, or just act out two sections and read/tell the other two sections.

You may want to highlight specific parts on the script to give to each child involved.
A few action ideas are written as suggestions. The kids can use them or come up with their own ideas.
It helps to use one side of the room for the temple and the other for King Josiah’s home.

Give each group one section of the drama script and have them read it, deciding who is doing what. (Make sure volunteers know reading is involved in case there are struggling readers.) There are two or three main parts per section. Other ideas are listed if there are more kids. If you have a longer teaching time, provide a few props or offer some props that all can use. Allow five minutes for the groups to read their sections and decide on a plan of action. Then begin sharing the four sections in order with the kids acting it out.
Possible props: paper crowns for those playing King Josiah or wicked kings, simple costumes, a throne for King Josiah (high-back chair with material over it), a scroll for the Book of the Law, a messy area to represent the temple (possibly with papers, clothes, photocopied pictures of idols strewn around) 

If you have a small class, skip the crowd and the servant parts. If you have a large class, have a bigger crowd and more servants to involve more kids. (It’s okay if some want to sit and watch rather than be in it.)

 Scene 1: Josiah is crowned king.
Three or more parts: Narrator (teacher), wicked king or kings (including King Amon), Josiah, crowd (if you want more kids involved)
 This account begins about 700 years before Jesus came. A nation called Israel, which was made up of God’s chosen people, was ruled by wicked kings. As a result, the whole nation was not doing right. They were not obeying God’s commands. And the temple, called the house of the Lord, was falling apart. The people quit caring about God, so they quit caring about his house. Then wicked King Amon died. At that point in 640 , his young son, Josiah, became king. 
 I was just eight years old when I became king. Can you imagine being a king when you’re eight? Pretty cool, huh?
 The Bible records that Josiah lived righteously, meaning he did what was right in God’s sight. He stayed on God’s good path. 
 Even though I was younger than you, I decided I wanted to be a good king and follow the King of kings. It was a choice I made in my mind to follow him and do what he said.

If you have a biblical history timeline (such as The Seven C’s of History [00-5-057], point out on the timeline when Josiah lived (during the 600s ).

 Scene 2: Josiah orders the house of the Lord to be restored. The book of the law Is found.
Four or more parts: Narrator (teacher), King Josiah, Shaphan (the king’s scribe), Hilkiah (the high priest), servants (if wanting to involve more kids)
 A number of years went by, and King Josiah continued to live RIGHTeously. At one point, he decided on a project.
 Hmmm, the temple’s in bad shape. We need to get it repaired.
 King Josiah sent his scribe, Shaphan, to the house of the Lord with these instructions:
 Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him count the money the people have given for the house of the Lord. Give it to the carpenters and builders so they can buy wood and stone to repair all the damages.
 Very well, good king. It shall be done. 
 So off went Shaphan and other faithful servants to God’s house. When they got there, Shaphan found Hilkiah the priest. Hilkiah said:
I’ve found the book of the law, God’s Word!  Take it and read it! 
 This was exciting—a real treasure! It was especially exciting because the people didn’t have their own copy of God’s Word back then and copies were rare. So Shaphan and the servants took the precious book back to King Josiah. 
Scene 3: Josiah hears the book of the law and sends his team to Huldah, the prophetess.
Four or more parts: Narrator (teacher), King Josiah, Shaphan, Huldah, servants (if wanting to involve more kids)
 When they got back home, Shaphan read to King Josiah from God’s Word. When King Josiah heard it, he tore his clothes and wept, showing how terribly upset he was.
  Our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book and done what is written in here. They haven’t lived right!
 You see, Josiah realized that everything they needed to know about how to live righteously was in God’s Word, but they hadn’t been reading it. It was a scary and horrible feeling to know God’s Word had been sitting there, forgotten and unused.
 Shaphan, go and ask Huldah the prophetess what’s to be done. So, Shaphan and the others went to Huldah the prophetess. She said:
Those who haven’t followed and obeyed God’s Word will be very sorry. But as for you, King Josiah, you genuinely want to  and obey God. God knows that, and God won’t let you see all the trouble that will come on this place.  will be peaceful, and the trouble will come  you die.

Scene 4: Josiah reads the Word and makes a commitment, along with the rest of the people.
Four or more parts: Narrator (teacher), King Josiah, the crowd (at least two)
 King Josiah gathered all his kingdom at the house of the Lord. All the people were there, both great and small. And King Josiah said:
 I’m going to read in your hearing all the words of the book of the law which has been found in the house of the Lord. 
 So King Josiah read the book of the law. When he finished, he stood by a pillar and said:
 I’m making a promise, a covenant, before the Lord, to follow God and obey his commandments with all my heart and all my soul and to do everything written in this book.
  Me too! Me too!  
  And that’s exactly what King Josiah did. He chose to  all the days of his life. He read God’s Word and obeyed God’s commands. This doesn’t mean he obeyed perfectly every time, of course. But in his heart, he desired to do right. And in his actions, God helped him grow in obedience. 
 So you see how important reading God’s Word is to living right and wearing that breastplate of RIGHTeousness for every child of God. But it’s not just about reading God’s Word. We show our love for our King by desiring to obey what we read in his Word. When you read something in God’s Word, God knows you know about it, and he wants you to do it. Of course, he understands you’re going to stumble at times and sin. He understands you can’t obey perfectly on your own, but he gives each of his children the gift of the Holy Spirit to help you grow in love and obedience. 
Let’s take a minute to think of as many commands as we can from the Bible. Putting on the armor is about first putting on Jesus’ righteousness (becoming a child of God), and then, by the power of the Holy Spirit, obeying God and doing right. We’re vulnerable to Satan’s attacks if we don’t obey. This doesn’t mean we’re children of God  we do good, right things. We can’t ever be good enough to earn our way into God’s kingdom. That’s why we need Jesus! What it does mean is that  we’re children of God, we do good, right things. 
For those of us who are part of God’s kingdom, let’s make a commitment right now to be people who want to  and let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us desire to obey what we learn in God’s Word. 

Pair of sturdy shoes (may be the same as the armor demo shoes)

 Part 3: Knight Time—Shoes 
Prep: Cut out the breastplates and shoes from the  and laminate if possible.Okay. Let’s make sure you remember the first two pieces of armor. The first is the belt of ___.  The next is the breastplate of ___. Now I need you all to take your shoes off and throw them in a pile. On the count of three, we’ll race to see who can get their shoes back on and sit silently in less than one minute. One, two, three, go! A knight was in trouble if he didn’t have any shoes on or even if he didn’t have the right shoes on. Can you imagine going into battle without any shoes on? Shoes help you  in slippery situations, and they help you quickly and confidently when it’s time to do so.

Put sturdy shoes on yourself or have a child demonstrate. You may want to share an example of a time shoes helped you stand firm in a slippery situation or helped you move forward without falling. 

Briefly review the gospel and remind the kids that the armor of God is only for those who are children of the King.

 So the next piece of armor is shoes.  These spiritual shoes aren’t just any shoes. They’re shoes that help you be at peace with God. You used to be on the enemy’s side. But if you’re a child of the King, you’re at peace with him, and you can stand firm in God and his Word. The enemy wants you to doubt God and his Word. Stand firm! Let’s get into a position and stand firm in it as we say, “Stand firm!”  
These shoes also make you ready to go and share the good news about Jesus with others. Part of doing right is telling others about Jesus. If you have your gospel shoes on, you can confidently go wherever he leads and share about the Lord. Take a minute to think of one person who needs to hear the good news of Jesus.  Let’s pray and ask God to help you do this.  Attach the breastplates and shoes to the  or ask a boy and girl to come up and attach them. Have the class say again what they stand for. 
Try a quick activity to have them either stand firm or move forward, depending on your commands. When you say, “Stand firm!” they have to freeze immediately and not move or fall over. If they do, they’re out. When you say, “Move forward!” they need to take one big step forward and then freeze. Give the commands fast and see who stays in the longest.Part 4: Guardians of Truth Game 

Day 1 Guardians of Truth supplies

 You’ll probably only have time for a quick round today, or you may not have time at all. See the directions under Day 1 for how to play. This game can also be used after VBS during Sunday mornings, Wednesday nights, or other times.
Part 5: Animal Pal Review
Armor of God Sticker Sets

 Share the  to summarize the teaching of the day. Pass out the Armor of God sticker sets and have the kids add the breastplate and shoes stickers. 
Grimwald is a dragon. There are legends about dragons around the world. It’s likely that those legends are based on encounters with real animals, such as dinosaurs. Some dinosaurs or dragons were covered in scales, which protects them like armor protects us. When we become a child of God by repenting of our sin and believing in Jesus, we can put on the breastplate of righteousness. Jesus helps us to live rightly by obeying his Word. We can also put on shoes that help us stand firm in our faith and help us bravely go and tell others about our faith.
Apply It!In the remaining class time, complete one or more of the following ideas. These are also on the back of the  and can be done at home with a parent or caretaker if you are out of time. If you send them home, motivate the kids to do them because they are full of good stuff! Have the troupe leaders check with the kids tomorrow to see how they did on them, and consider giving contest bonus points to the groups for their hard work.
Supplies for this section are not included in the supply list on the back cover since they will vary depending on the activities you choose, so decide what you will do and add them to your supply list accordingly. Part 1: Veritas Verse And, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. Ephesians 6:15
Practice this verse several times using the  as a reference, then try the following challenge.

 Put on a pair of running shoes and jog for one minute while saying your verse. How many times did you say it correctly?
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one. Ephesians 6:16
Try the challenge again using tomorrow’s verse. Then try saying all the week’s verses learned so far in order.
Part 2: Go and Do
One way to do right in God’s sight is to obey your parents with a good attitude (Ephesians 6:1). What have they asked you to do that may be hard for you to obey right away and with a smile? Ask God to help you obey and commit yourself to doing it.
Make your own King Josiah costume (paper crown, royal sceptre, etc). Josiah decided to do right in God’s sight as a boy. What right thing can you do today?
Decorate a sign to put near your shoes that says, “Shoes of Peace.” Add today’s memory verse. When you put your shoes on, think about and pray for people who need to hear about Jesus.
Check AnswersVBS.com/keeperkids for more fun information! 
Ask yourself these questions: Am I at peace with God? Have I talked about Jesus to anyone lately?

Day 4
The Shield and Helmet

Bible passages
King Solomon
1 Kings 2–11; Ephesians 6:16–17a
Apologetics Content
Guard against false teachings and temptations.
Veritas Verse
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one. Ephesians 6:16
RHYME time
Learn to discern!
lesson Focus
Take the shield of faith and the helmet of salvation. These will guard you from the enemy’s attacks.
Animal pal
Byron the Ironclad Beetle
Today’s Lesson at a Glance
Introduce It!
Jester Review
Teach It!
Part 1: Knight Time—Shield and Helmet
Part 2: King Solomon
Part 3: Large Group Discussion
Part 4: Guardians of Truth Game
Part 5: Animal Pal Review
Apply It!
Part 1: Veritas Verse
Part 2: Go and Do
Preparing for the Lesson
Read 1 Kings 2–11 and Ephesians 6:10–18.
Read this lesson several times and prepare the materials. 
For more information on the shield and helmet, check AnswersVBS.com/keeperfaq.
Pray.

Devotion 4: The Shield & Helmet
Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble. Psalm 119:165
. (Are you  sure?) When we get involved with people on a personal level (as we should!), experiences and emotions can cause us to lose sight of the absolute standard as we begin to rationalize and reason away that standard: “They’re so nice, can I really say that what they’re doing is wrong? Maybe it’s okay for them, just not for me.”  
When David passed his kingdom to his son Solomon around 1000 BC, he reminded him of the command the Lord had given “to walk before me in faithfulness with all [your] heart and with all [your] soul” (1 Kings 2:4). Soon after, when the Lord promised to give Solomon whatever he asked for, Solomon asked for wisdom—the ability to think clearly about the truth. And the Lord granted his request, as evidenced by the thousands of proverbs and songs Solomon wrote and the judgments he rendered. Solomon also knew the truth about God’s tangible creation—birds, creeping things, fish, and trees (1 Kings 4:30–34).  
But somewhere along the way, Solomon began to allow his affections and attachments to the women (many women!) in his life to blur the lines between right and wrong, truth and error. Can you hear him begin to rationalize his behavior? “Sure, I know you don’t want me to marry foreign women, Lord, but I can handle it. That command is for others—not for me.” Sadly, as he allowed himself to be influenced by his wives, he built altars for their false gods . . . and eventually joined them in worshipping at the feet of idols. 
The helmet of salvation guards our minds and the way we think while the shield of faith helps us deflect temptations. Solomon neglected both of these vital pieces of armor. Solomon, the one who wrote, “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment” (Proverbs 12:19), denied the absolute truth and turned away from the one who is truth. 
We must never be satisfied with our current knowledge of the Christian faith, but instead we need to be continually studying God’s Word, so that when the devil lobs his lies in our direction, we can easily deflect them with the shield of faith. And with the helmet of salvation firmly in place, we can guard what we put into our minds. Things we watch on TV, read in books, hear from our friends, and learn from our teachers should all be evaluated against the standard of truth found in the Bible before we allow ourselves to meditate on it and allow it to sink into our souls. May we take refuge in the truth of the Lord and his Word as the psalmist did: “But you are near, O L, and all your commandments are true.” (Psalm 119:151).

Introduce It!

Bible
Medieval costumes for teachers
Mounting putty or tape

 Jester Review  
 Welcome back to the keep, where we’re learning how to be strong in the Lord. Let’s play Jester Review. Remember that we are miming our answers.
They will show or act out the answers without talking.
How many kingdoms does God rule? How many does the enemy rule? 
To become a member of the good kingdom, we must admit we sin, then what? Make the first letter with your hands. After we admit and believe, we can forever ___? Make the first letter of the word with your arms. Where is the first piece of the armor of God worn? Where is the next piece worn? And where is the next piece worn? Put on the piece that has to do with us believing the truth and being people who tell the truth. Put on the piece that has to do with us being at peace with God and going and telling others about Jesus. Teach It!
Cut out the shields and helmets from the  and laminate if possible.
Part 1: Knight Time—Shield and Helmet 
Give everyone a piece of paper and pencil or pen. Have them write two words describing temptations they may struggle with on their papers, one on one half and the other on the other half. The words should be something like  or . Rip the paper in half and wad tightly into two balls. Then take a minute to have the kids each throw one of their paper balls at you as they shout out what they wrote. See how many hit you. (Hopefully many.) Then say:
 Good “knight”! If I were a knight and those paper balls were arrows, you’d have to say “knight, knight” to me right about now because I’d be a gonner.
But, if I had the next pieces of my armor on—the shield and the helmet—it would be a different story. I’m going to hold up this “shield”  and put on this “helmet” , then we’ll try again and see how it goes. That time I was protected from attack, and those “arrows” didn’t wound me. That’s what the medieval knights would do. They always carried shields with them into battle. The shields were so big, they covered most of their bodies. They even protected them from flaming arrows. Without his shield, the knight would be vulnerable in battle. And without his helmet, the knight’s head would be unprotected.  
In a spiritual sense, the Bible records that we need a shield and a helmet too. Listen to what they’re called.  What’s the shield called?  Right, the shield of faith. We take up the shield of faith by trusting and believing in Jesus, and that protects us from attacks by the enemy. Our shield of faith guards us during hard times like a knight’s shield does during battle. And what’s the helmet called?  Yes, the helmet of salvation. Being sure of salvation allows us to have a defense that can’t be broken into, and it guards our minds from 
wrong thoughts. These two pieces are used together to protect our hearts and minds from the spiritual arrows the enemy throws at us. 
What were some of the words you wrote on your paper “arrows”? The enemy has two main tactics in his battle with God’s children. He tries to get us to  or . He uses his D-darts to do this. To get us to , he throws the dart of doubt or the dart of discouragement. Have you ever doubted whether you’re a child of God? Have you ever felt discouraged—felt kind of down or depressed? To get us to , he throws the dart of doing wrong or the dart of deception. Deception means to deceive—to cause someone to believe something that’s not true. He also throws the dart of division—trying to get God’s children mad at each other and divided—or the dart of destruction. The enemy throws these d-darts because he  doesn’t love you. But the good news is you don’t have to fear because God  love every one of his children, and he gives you this armor to protect you from spiritual harm. God wins over the enemy, and you’re on his side if you’re a child of God! You just need to keep your guard up.
Let’s put our next armor pieces on our knights to remember this.  
Now let’s take a look at how a very wise king in the Bible let his guard down and . Here we go.
Part 2: King Solomon 

Treasure chest
Red construction paper, straws, and tape

 Prep: Cut the red paper into flag shapes and tape one to each straw. Make one per child, and put them in the treasure chest. Put the  in your Bible at 1 Kings 3.
Give each child a red flag from the treasure chest. Have them place their flags on the floor or table in front of them and instruct them not to touch the flags until they hear any time when Solomon was letting his guard down. When prompted by the teacher, they must decide whether to pick up and wave their red flags or leave them down. It may or may not be more than once. They’ll have to decide.
Relay the account of Solomon below using the  that’s tucked in your Bible.

If you have a biblical history timeline (such as The Seven C's of History [00-5-057]), point out on the timeline when Solomon lived (about 1000 BC).
An alternative to the red flags is to have them do some type of physical movement (e.g., high five each other if he did well, slap the floor if he let down his guard).

 Did you know that the book of 1 Kings in the Bible tells of a time when God asked a person what he wished for? What would you wish for if you had one wish? About a thousand years before Jesus came to earth, God said to a king named Solomon, “Ask what I shall give you.” Guess what he asked for? He asked for a wise, understanding mind so he could judge God’s people well and tell between good and evil . Red flag yet? Solomon’s request pleased the Lord. God said that because Solomon had asked for this, and didn’t ask for long life, riches, or the life of his enemies, God would give him a wise and understanding heart so there wouldn’t be anyone like him before or after. God added that he’d  give Solomon what he didn’t ask for: both riches and honor. Red flag yet? 
Solomon became known as the wisest man ever. He made many wise judgments, and he loved God. He spoke 3,000 wise sayings called proverbs, some of which are recorded in the Bible in the book of Proverbs. He also knew about trees and animals, birds, bugs, and fish. And people all over the world came to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Red flag yet? Then Solomon took on the project of building a temple to the Lord, which is kind of like a church. God gave him directions, and he obediently completed it in seven years. Red flag yet? Also, Solomon decided to build his own house, which took thirteen years to build. And during this time, he spent a lot of time gathering riches and caring for his own stuff. Red flag yet? He may have been letting down his guard. Also, King Solomon started marrying ladies he shouldn’t have. We know God intended for a man to have just one wife, as we see with Adam and Eve . And in the New Testament, God tells us that he wants us to marry someone who is a citizen of the same kingdom we’re part of . In other words, a Christian should only marry another Christian. But Solomon didn’t listen to God, and he started marrying women who weren’t part of God’s kingdom. Red flag yet? Solomon was neglecting both the shield of faith and helmet of salvation. He was letting his guard down and making bad choices.
And how about this? Solomon liked these foreign women so much he married lots of them—like 700! Red flag? He sure didn’t do right in God’s sight! The Bible records that his wives worshipped false gods. (There’s only one true God, the Creator King, who is the leader of the good kingdom. False gods are really not gods at all, but part of the enemy’s kingdom.) Solomon even went so far as to build places to worship the false gods of his wives. Red flag? God told Solomon that because he had done this and hadn’t kept God’s commands, he would take the kingdom away from him and give it to his servant.
And that’s exactly what happened. Solomon’s kingdom was eventually taken away.  Solomon’s life started out well, but it didn’t end well because he let his guard down.
Lead a brief discussion about what actions caused Solomon to let his guard down. Possible answers may include when he spent more time building his house than God’s house, when he spent much time and attention gathering riches for himself, and especially, when he loved many foreign women and built high places (altars) for them to worship their gods. Talk about how he gradually let down his guard, and it eventually caught up to him.
He wasn’t careful about his wives and the people he spent time with. He’s an example of how Satan can use the people in his kingdom, in this case, the wives of Solomon, to tempt a child of God to sin. If the wisest man let down his guard and was tricked by the enemy, don’t you think you need to be careful? Let’s practice with our red flags for a minute.
Give the kids some modern examples and have them wave their red flags if it would be letting their guard down. Some possible examples include hanging out with friends who love the Lord (good—don’t wave flag), talking bad about a good teacher to your friends (wave red flag), sleeping in and skipping church (red flag), memorizing a Bible verse (good), watching a movie filled with bad words (red flag), watching a show where the kids talk back to their parents and then doing it yourself (red flag), or telling someone something you’ve learned from the Bible (good).
We find in the Bible that “bad company ruins good morals” . What do you think that means? 
This means that the people we hang out with may end up leading us away from God. And this doesn’t just mean friends we’re with in person. This can mean people in books, music, movies, and on the internet or TV.
You may be surprised to see how many of the people we read about in the Bible started out well, but didn’t end well because they didn’t continue to obey God’s Word. You can never let down your guard. You need to turn to Jesus every day! He’s the one who will help you and keep you in good times and in hard, messy times. It’s super important to read and study God’s Word and keep asking him to help you do right. Pray for God to help you stay strong.
Part 3: Large Group Discussion 
Let’s talk about deciding on things like what shows to watch, what music to listen to, or what video games to play. Maybe  parents say something’s okay, but parents say it isn’t. Has that ever happened to you? Do you think the Bible says anything about this? Does God say in the Bible, “Kids, don’t watch any more ___?” The Bible doesn’t specifically mention show titles or song lyrics to watch or not watch, but it does give us guidelines to prayerfully use when trying to decide. It’s about a heart attitude of wanting to live for God. Everyone may not come to the same conclusion, but a great verse to use as you’re thinking about it is Philippians 4:8: As you think on this verse, let the Holy Spirit guide you as to whether to watch, play, listen to, or read something. Ask yourself if this show or book or music is filling your head with good ideas or bad. God wants you to learn to discern, which means learn to tell the difference between right and wrong.  Let’s say, “Learn to discern!” together. God wants you to protect your heart and mind. Let’s think about a few examples now from our own lives. In light of talking about growing in the Lord and living for him, what’s something you’d like to do more of this year? Now think to yourself—what’s something you’d like to do less of? 
Pray and ask God to help you protect your heart and mind against Satan’s schemes to get you to  or !
Part 4: Guardians of Truth Game 

Day 1 Guardians of Truth supplies

 See the directions under Day 1 for the game instructions.

Armor of God Sticker Sets

 Part 5: Animal Pal Review
Share the  to summarize the teaching of the day. Pass out the Armor of God sticker sets and have the kids add the shield and helmet as you discuss the animal pal. 
Byron is a diabolical ironclad beetle. Diabolical means “evil.” Despite his name, Byron is actually harmless! In our fallen world, God has given Byron strong coverings to protect him from his enemies. What has God given us as protection?  Right, his special armor. The shield of faith gives us courage to resist Satan’s fiery darts (arrows) 

and the helmet of salvation guards our minds so we can focus on who God is (he’s wonderful!) and what he’s done for us. 
Apply It!In the remaining class time, complete one or more of the following ideas. These are also on the back of the  and can be done at home with a parent or caretaker if you are out of time. If you send them home, motivate the kids to do them because they are full of good stuff! Have the troupe leaders check with the kids tomorrow to see how they did on them, and consider giving contest bonus points to the groups for their hard work.
Supplies for this section are not included in the supply list on the back cover since they will vary depending on the activities you choose, so decide what you will do and add them to your supply list accordingly. 
Part 1: Veritas Verse
In all circumstances, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one. Ephesians 6:16
Practice the verse several times using the as a reference, then try the following challenge.Get a paper plate (“shield”) and some paper wads (“fiery darts”). Have someone throw paper wads at you while you use your shield. At the same time, say your memory verse. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit. Ephesians 6:17–18a
Try the challenge again with tomorrow’s verse. Then try saying all the week’s verses learned thus far in order.
Part 2: Go and Do
Make a temple building with LEGO bricks, blocks, or cardboard boxes and tubes. Look in 1 Kings 6 for a description of the temple. What precious metal did King Solomon use throughout the temple?
Go on a hat hunt around your house. How many hats can you find? Which hat is the funniest? Which hat would provide the most protection (e.g., large sun hat, bike helmet, sports helmet)? Remember that the helmet of salvation protects your mind from bad influences.
Draw a big heart and write out Philippians 4:8 inside it. Ask God to help you use that verse to decide whether to watch or listen to something (or someone!).
Check AnswersVBS.com/keeperkids for more fun information! 
Ask yourself this question: Am I hanging out with anyone or watching or listening to anyone who is leading me away from God?

Day 5
The Sword and Prayer

Bible passages
King of Kings vs. Prince of the Air
Matthew 4:1–11; Ephesians 6:17-18a
Apologetics Content
Be ready to give an answer for the hope that is in you.
Veritas VERSE
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of  God, praying at all times in the Spirit.  Ephesians 6:17–18a
RHYME TIME
Train your brain!
LESSON FOCUS
Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, and pray at all times.
Animal pal
Skye the Peregrine Falcon

Today’s Lesson at a Glance
Introduce It!
Jester Review
Teach It!
Part 1: Knight Time—Sword
Part 2: Jesus in the Wilderness
Part 3: Armor of God Skits
Part 4: Guardians of Truth Game
Part 5: Sword Drills
Part 6: Animal Pal Review
Apply It!
Part 1: Veritas Verse
Part 2: Go and Do
Preparing for the Lesson
Read Matthew 4:1–11 and Ephesians 6:10–18.
Read this lesson several times and prepare the materials. 
For more information on memorizing the word of God, see AnswersVBS.com/keeperfaq.
Pray.

Devotion 5: The Sword & Prayer
Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right, for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. Proverbs 8:1, 6–7
But what if I say that is a false statement? Am I making truth, or are you? You can see that absurdity reigns when we allow truth to be set aside in favor of opinion. 
Satan knows there is an absolute standard of truth, but he delights in obscuring, changing, and denying it. He is the author of the false truth claims we’ve visited this week, and he loves it when Christians—the ones who hold truth in their hands every time they pick up a Bible—fall for his lies. 
He has even been so bold as to lie to the King of kings—the one who banned him from heaven in the first place for his original lies. When he tempted Jesus, he lied in three ways:
1. He denied the truth that Jesus is God (Matthew 4:3). 
2. He wrongly quoted Scripture to serve his own purposes (Matthew 4:6). 
3. He lied about the power and authority he had (Matthew 4:9). 
How many times have we fallen for one of these lies: doubting God, believing someone who twists a passage of Scripture to mean something other than what it does, or craving the things of the world more than Jesus?
When Satan tempted the King of kings in the wilderness, Jesus responded with the truth. Even though he was bone-weary, famished, and thirsty, he didn’t stoop to Satan’s level by falling for any of his lies. Instead, he rebuked and rebuffed the enemy by simply drawing the sword of the Spirit and quoting Scripture that he had already memorized and meditated on, Scripture that was readily available in his mind for him to speak, Scripture that he himself had written. 
In this battle between truth and error, may we continually hunger to know the truth of God’s Word and desire to seek his face in prayer. We know the end of the “story”: God wins the war, and Satan will be forever sentenced to an eternity in fiery hell. But how are we fighting the battles in the meantime? How accurately can you handle the sword of the Spirit? How well does it fit in your hand? How comfortable are you using it to defeat the enemy? How intimately familiar are you with the Word of God? 
May we stand strong in this battle for truth and say, “For my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips” (Proverbs 8:7). 
Introduce It!

Bible
Medieval costumes
Mounting putty or tape

 Jester Review  
Remind the troupes that mime was used by court jesters in medieval times. As you give them review questions, they will show or act out the answers without talking.
How does Ephesians 6 tell us to stand? What animal pal has protective scales like a breastplate? Which piece of armor helps us be truthful people? 
Briefly review the gospel and remind the kids that the armor of God is only for those who are children of the King.

 Which piece of armor helps us make right choices—to do right in God’s sight? Which piece of armor helps us be at peace with God and tell others about God? Which pieces of armor protect our hearts and minds? What did King Josiah find in the temple? What is something King Solomon built? Philippians 4:8 tells us how many things to think on? Teach It!

Armor demo pieces (sword, in particular)
Juggling balls
Book for pretend medical journal
Book for pretend flight manual
Optional: low, long table 
Two chairs

 Part 1: Knight Time—Sword 
Prep: Gather or make juggling balls. If making them, see the directions in the .
Teacher 2 is going to juggle poorly in this opening sequence. Start dramatically with just one ball, throwing it up and down and from hand to hand. Have the kids ooh and aah for fun. Add another ball and pass them from hand to hand, probably dropping them. Try to add a third ball, but flub it. Try again, and flub it again.
Teacher 1 asks ___ if he’s been practicing. He admits he hasn’t. Remind him that he isn’t going to get better until he gets serious about learning how to juggle. The effort he puts into it will make a big difference in how effective he is as a juggler.
Then remind the kids that, in a similar way, we need to practice and learn how to use our next piece of armor. Say:
Back in medieval times, knights had a special weapon they used when they went into battle. It was a sword. If you’ve ever seen a medieval movie, you know that sword fighting was big back then. But it was hard because the swords were heavy and difficult to handle. So good knights spent many hours practicing. If they didn’t, they were toast.
Our piece of spiritual armor for today is also a sword.  It’s called the sword of the Spirit. Does anyone have an idea what it might represent? Let’s say Ephesians 6:17 together. The sword of the Spirit, then, is the specific words of the Bible. The Lord wants us to believe the Bible from cover to cover—that’s the belt of truth. He also wants us to know the Bible and how to apply it—that’s the sword of the Spirit. A knight’s sword wouldn’t do him any good if he never used it during a battle, would it? Well, God’s Word won’t be the help it should be if we aren’t learning it and using it in our everyday life.

Let me show you what I mean. I need a volunteer to come up and help me. 
Would you have much confidence in Dr. McGillicutty? No! He should have studied his medical book more to be ready for this situation, shouldn’t he?
I need another volunteer. 
Would you have much confidence in Pilot Crasher? No! He should have studied his flight manual! 
In the same way, many followers of Jesus leave their most important weapon, God’s Word, just laying around. Raise your hand if there’s a Bible somewhere in your home.  Sometimes Bibles are left just sitting for days on end without being opened.
You may want to have gift Bibles available to give to students who don’t have a Bible in their home.

  Every day, you’ve got to take your sword. That means you choose to read it, memorize it, learn it, and obey it. Let’s listen to a great example of how King Jesus used the sword of the Spirit in this Bible account.
Part 2: Jesus in the Wilderness 

Optional: DVD of Jesus in the Wilderness and DVD player
Gold foil-wrapped candies, 1 per child
Treasure chest

 Prep: Set up the DVD player if using one and put the gold foil-wrapped candies in the treasure chest.
I’m going to challenge you to see if you can count how many times Jesus uses the sword of the Spirit. I’ll be giving out a golden treat from the treasure chest to those who guess the right number at the end (without giving it away to anyone else), so listen carefully. Here we go.
Share Matthew 4:1–11 from the Bible or a children’s picture Bible or show a video clip of this scene from a Christian video. Use the as needed. When done, see if the kids figured out how many times Jesus used the sword of the Spirit (three). Mention that he often said, “It is written . . . ” That shows us Jesus relied on God’s Word! When he lived on earth, he was 100% man and 100% God at the same time. As a man, he relied on God and God’s Word to help him obey, just as we must. And because Jesus is our perfect example and substitute, the only one to always obey and never sin, it should make us love him more and want to obey. 
Pass out the foil-wrapped candies and allow them to eat as long as they are quietly listening.
You might be asking, “Okay, how do I really do that? I don’t know where to begin with getting to know the Bible.” Does anybody have any ideas? You’ve got to train your brain. Commit to God that you’re going to read at least a little bit from the Bible every day (or have a parent read it to you). 
Decide on a plan, such as reading through the whole New Testament in a year. (There are 260 chapters in the NT.)
Write down or talk about a command, a promise, something you learned, or something that stood out to you from your reading.

Pray and ask God to help you love him and his Word more each day. 
Go to church and learn more about God and his Bible. 
Talk to people who love God’s Word and see what they do to study and love it.
Begin memorizing God’s Word. You can start with your craft from today and memorize the verses you’re taking home. Whatever you do, do something! Pray about it, make a plan, and commit to keep it! Remember that it’s a daily choice. There will be days you miss, but don’t let the D-darts discourage you. Just keep praying about it and getting back to it! It’s a heart attitude of wanting to honor and love God, not a checklist! And when you pray, ask God to help you love him and his Word more and more with each passing year.

1 copy of 
Armor demo pieces
Appliance box TV set and comfy chair (see Prep)
Remote control, a math textbook, and a cell phone
Foam or foil darts (see Prep) 

 Part 3: Armor of God Skits 
Prep: Print the  for Teacher 2. Make a big TV set by cutting a large rectangular hole (“screen”) out of one side of a large box and putting a black construction paper border around the hole. Add some knobs for effect. Place a supply of “darts” behind the TV screen. Foam darts from a nerf gun work great. Or make “darts” by wadding foil and attaching yellow, orange, or red curling ribbon to them. Use either the armor demo pieces or the  and  to review the armor.
Let’s review all the parts of the armor.
Ask for a volunteer and have him put on or hold up the parts of the armor one at a time (or do so yourself). As you do, see if the kids can remember its name and meaning. Or, review each piece using the  and .
Belt of truth: Believe God’s Word is 100% true. Trust the truth. Tell the truth.
Breastplate of righteousness: Take on Jesus’ righteousness, and choose daily to obey your King and do right.
Shoes of peace: Be at peace with God and ready to share him with others.
Shield of faith: Keep your guard up against the enemy’s fiery D-darts.
Helmet of salvation: Guard your mind against the enemy’s attempts to get you to  or .
Sword of the Spirit: Train your brain to know and use God’s Word in specific situations.
Before we end, let’s watch  and see someone who doesn’t know how to use the armor of God to fight the enemy’s fiery darts.
At this point, both teachers will work together for the following skit. Teacher 1 gets behind/inside the cardboard TV set with the darts, and Teacher 2 sits in a nearby chair (so it’s easy for the darts to hit him) with a remote control, a math textbook, and a cell phone. Teacher 2 gets comfy in the chair, then pretends to turn on the TV set to check out what’s on. At this point, Teacher 1 starts talking from inside the TV set.

Practice ahead of time to make sure the darts hit Teacher 2. If one misses at any point when it’s supposed to hit you, just pick it up and jokingly throw it at yourself!

 Armor of God—Take One!
 Welcome to Headline News! Today’s top story shows that the pandemic is continuing to cause havoc everywhere. People feel there isn’t anywhere to turn for answers, and fear is at an all-time high.   Yeah, I feel so scared all the time about everything. Well, let’s see what else is on today.  Welcome to Paleontologist Planet. Today we’ll be talking about the  bird. This fascinating creature lived  of years ago and evolved from dinosaurs originally. 
  Birds started out as dinosaurs? I didn’t know that. Well, there’s nothing I feel like watching, so maybe I should do my homework instead.
. I’m not good at math. My teacher says I’m way behind. I’m so dumb. I’m just a loser.  Oh hi!  No, I didn’t hear that about Jordan. He’s such a jerk! I’m going to tell Chris!  
 Well, I guess I better quit wasting time and get back to work. I’m just gonna check the TV one more time before I do. 
 Today in Washington DC, another march turned dangerous. 
 Oh brother! I can’t stand those people! 
  Time out! We’re now going to rewind and see take two! This time, watch ___ use the armor of God to fight the fiery darts. Let’s see what a difference it makes when he’s on his guard and using God’s Word.
Armor of God—Take Two!
  Welcome to Headline News! Today’s top story shows that the pandemic is continuing to cause havoc everywhere. People feel there isn’t anywhere to turn for answers, and fear is at an all-time high.   People may feel like there aren’t answers, but there are! They’re in God’s Word! It’s 100% reliable, and God tells us in 1 Peter to cast all our cares on him because he cares for us. God understands what we’re going through—even the scary stuff! When I get really fearful, it helps so much to think about God and remember he’s in control. Even if something sad or hard happens to me, I need to remember I can trust my loving God. Let’s see what else is on.  Welcome to Paleontologist Planet! Today we’ll be talking about the  bird. This fascinating creature lived  of years ago and evolved from dinosaurs originally.  No, that can’t be true because God’s Word tells us in Genesis 1 that God created the world in six days. It’s written in Genesis 1:1 that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, and he made each animal after its own kind. Birds were made as birds . Dinosaurs were made as dinosaurs a day birds . They didn’t change from one kind into another kind. And we know the world isn’t millions of years old because we can add up the dates in the Bible and find that it’s just thousands of years old .Well, there’s nothing on I feel like watching, so maybe I should do my homework.
 Math isn’t my best subject, but I’ll try my best because God tells us in his Word that whatever we do, do it heartily, remembering we’re working for the Lord and not for men . And even though sometimes I feel like a loser, I know that’s not true. Psalm 139 says I’m fearfully and wonderfully made, and that God’s works are wonderful. So even though I’m not great at math, I know God made me special, and he has a special purpose for my life.
Hmm, I didn’t hear that about Jordan but I’m sure there’s a logical explanation. Let’s not talk about it anymore. 
 Oh, look at the time! I need to get back to my schoolwork. I’ll find something on TV to listen to while I work.  
 Today in Washington DC, another march has turned dangerous. 
 Another deadly gathering. I’m not surprised. Satan tries to get us angry at each other and divided, sometimes to the point of actually harming each other. But God doesn’t want us to hate the other people on this planet. Instead, because we’re all related and made in his image, we should be treating each other with respect and kindness. Sometimes we may not agree, but God’s Word tells us that as much as it depends on me, to live at peace with others, to be kind, and to not fight.
  See what a difference it makes if you use the armor of God? Of course, God isn’t asking us to actually walk around with a shield and helmet and sword and all that. But you understand that it means we’re to use our spiritual armor when the enemy lies to us and tries to trick our minds, like he did with Eve. We use the truth of God’s Word to fight the enemy! 
Realize that the battle is really in your mind. The enemy wants to make you believe his lies. So keep your guard up and train your brain with Scripture! Let’s say, “Train your brain!” together. 
Discuss the importance of praying, which is simply talking to God. We can pray to God any time, anywhere, and he hears us. This is an amazing and important gift! Prayer is not considered an official part of the armor of God, but it’s a necessary component in the spiritual battle. You may want to share a little about your prayer life and ask them about their challenges or victories in their prayer life. End this segment by praying together for strength in the battle!

Day 1 Guardians of Truth supplies

 Part 4: Guardians of Truth Game 
Today is the last round. You may want to make the point totals worth double or more for this last day. Play for as long as time allows, then tally the day’s or the week’s totals and declare the winning team.

Bibles, 1 per child

 Part 5: Sword Drills 
If you have extra time today (or any day), practice some sword drills. Pass out Bibles and see who can get to various passages in a designated amount of time, such as one minute.
Part 6: Animal Pal Review

Armor of God Sticker Sets

 Share the  to summarize today’s teaching. Pass out the Armor of God sticker sets and have kids add the sword. They can take the papers home today. 
Skye is a peregrine falcon. People trained falcons to hunt small animals. Falcons like Skye learn quickly and are eager to obey. She reminds us that we need to be quick and eager to learn the Word of God. We need to train our brains!
Apply It!
In the remaining class time, complete one or more of the following ideas. These are also on the  and can be done at home with a parent or caretaker if you are out of time.
Supplies for this section are not included in the supply list on the back cover since they will vary depending on the activities you choose, so decide what you will do and add them to your supply list accordingly.
Part 1: Veritas Verse
 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit. Ephesians 6:17–18a

Note: You may want to show them the  or  that are available if you plan to give these out.
Practice the verses several times, using the  as a reference, then try the following challenge.
Try to say the whole week’s verses in order. You may want to make up motions to symbolize each armor piece to help you remember the order. 
Part 2: Go and Do
Draw a knight’s sword on a piece of sturdy paper and write “Sword of the Spirit” on it, then color and cut it out. Use it as a bookmark in your Bible.
Train your brain to know God’s Word. How many verses from VBS can you say by memory? Pick a Bible verse from the Bible or your card caddy and memorize it!
It’s important to pray. If you’re a child of the King, pray now and thank God for giving you the armor of God. Ask him to remind you to wear it every day.
Check AnswersVBS.com/keeperkids for more fun information! 
Ask yourself these questions: How often do I open God’s Word? Do I have a plan?