📖

A New Name, A New Man

Wrestling with God

Day 29of 180
Week 6of 36
25Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand how God can transform a person's character

2

Learn about Jacob's name change and its spiritual significance

3

Recognize that God sees our potential beyond our past mistakes

📖 Scripture Connection

Genesis 32:27-28

“The man said, 'Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, for you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.'”

— Genesis 32:27-28 (WEB)

Demonstrates God's ability to rename and transform individuals

📦 Materials Needed

  • Name tags
  • Markers
  • Blank paper
  • Colored pencils
  • Soft wrestling mat or blanket
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (3 min)

Welcome to today's BibleMouse adventure! Yesterday, we learned about Jacob wrestling with God all night long. Today, we'll discover how that night changed everything for Jacob!

💭 Review Question: Can you remember what happened to Jacob by the river?
2Teaching (8 min)

In our BibleMouse lesson today, we'll explore how God gave Jacob a new name - Israel - which means 'he struggles with God'. This wasn't just a name change, but a heart change!

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Jacob used to be a tricky person who tried to get his way
  • God saw something special in Jacob, even when he made mistakes
  • The new name 'Israel' showed Jacob's new relationship with God
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • What do you think it means to have a 'new name'?
  • How can God help us become better people?
3Activity: My New Name Craft (10 min)
craft

Children create a special name tag showing their character strengths

📝 Instructions:
  1. Take a name tag
  2. Write your current name on one side
  3. On the other side, write a special name that shows something good about you
  4. Decorate your name tag with colors and drawings
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Parents help children brainstorm positive qualities

Challenge: Write a short story about how their 'new name' represents growth

4Closing (3 min)

Remember, just like Jacob, God sees the amazing person you can become!

📝 Review Questions:
  • What was Jacob's new name?
  • How did God change Jacob?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, help us to grow and become the people You want us to be.

Coming up: Tomorrow, we'll learn how God can change anyone's heart!

💎 Memory Verse

2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

— 2 Corinthians 5:17 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Name Change Dance: Children create a fun dance move for each word, acting out the verse while repeating it

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Jacob's transformation shows God's power to redeem and reshape character

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Be patient with your child's understanding
  • Emphasize God's love over punishment
  • Connect the lesson to your child's personal experiences
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might find it hard to understand spiritual transformation

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Moments of empathy and understanding about personal growth

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Act out the wrestling story using the soft mat
  • Create a family tree showing Jacob's important moments
  • Use BibleMouse Printables Library for additional worksheets

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 30 →Back to Bible