Scripture: Exodus 11-12
Learning Objectives:
Students will learn the importance of following God’s specific instructions.
Students will learn how to follow a recipe.
Students will learn how to follow a recipe.
Guiding Questions:
How do you follow a recipe?
Why is it important to follow directions for a recipe exactly?
Why did God give the Israelites specific directions at Passover?
Materials: basic recipe with visuals for unleavened bread, necessary ingredients and tools (most likely oil, flour, salt) chocolate cookies (or other goody) made without the sugar or other key ingredient that would significantly alter the taste, cookies (or other goody) made with the sugar/key ingredient as the original recipe instructs.
Procedure: Review the story of the first Passover focusing on God’s instructions for preparing the unleavened bread. Explain that it was important for it to be unleavened so they could flee quickly and pack light. At the beginning of the lesson let students sample a cookie from an original recipe and an altered recipe. After students react to the taste differences, explain that one of the cookies did not follow the recipe. Introduce a recipe for unleavened bread. Talk about baking vocabulary such as leavening, measuring cups measures (and equivalencies for some math integration), etc. Follow the instructions to make the bread. If time is an issue, have some pre-baked bread for students to eat.
Relate following a recipe to following God’s instructions for our lives. We should follow all God’s plans just as the Israelites had to use the blood of the lamb, pack a certain way, and make unleavened bread. If we do not follow His plan, then our lives become bitter like the bitter cookies that were tasted.
Additional Questions:
- What are some of your favorite recipes? What ingredients do you think are in them?
- How does God take care of us when we follow Him?
Supplemental Activities:
- Encourage students research the purpose of different ingredients in recipes (eggs make bake goods fluffy, sugar sweetens, yeast rises, etc.) Let students create their own recipes to try. This can be anything from a basic smoothie or oatmeal recipe that does not require baking to a full dinner entrée. Have students explain the purpose that each ingredient in their recipe serves. Try them out.
- Have students write a recipe for a successful life as a Christian. What are some key “ingredients” such as prayer, church, and devotionals. What are some basic steps you can take?
Written by: Savannah Negas