📖

The Outer Court: Coming to God

The Tabernacle: God's House

Day 37of 180
Week 8of 36
25Minutes
← Day 36Day 37 of 180Day 38 →
🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand the purpose of the bronze altar and bronze basin in the tabernacle's outer court

2

Identify how these items symbolize approaching a holy God

3

Recognize God's desire for relationship with His people

📖 Scripture Connection

Exodus 27:1-2

“You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide. The altar shall be square, and its height shall be three cubits.”

— Exodus 27:1-2 (WEB)

Demonstrates God's specific instructions for approaching Him

📦 Materials Needed

  • BibleMouse Tabernacle Diagram
  • Construction paper
  • Colored pencils
  • Scissors
  • World English Bible
  • BibleMouse Resource Guide for Grade 3
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (3 min)

Recap yesterday's lesson about the tabernacle as God's traveling home among His people

💭 Review Question: What did we learn about how God wanted to be close to the Israelites?
2Teaching (8 min)

Exploring the Outer Court: First Steps to God

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • The bronze altar showed how sin separates us from God
  • Sacrifices were needed to cover people's sins
  • The bronze basin helped priests become clean before serving God
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • Why do you think God wanted the priests to wash before serving?
  • How does this show God's desire for relationship?
3Activity: BibleMouse Tabernacle Exploration (10 min)
diagram study

Create a interactive diagram of the outer court using construction paper and BibleMouse resources

📝 Instructions:
  1. Trace the tabernacle diagram from the Resource Guide
  2. Color and label the bronze altar and bronze basin
  3. Write one thing each item teaches about approaching God
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Pre-cut diagram pieces for child to assemble

Challenge: Add Scripture references to diagram elements

4Closing (3 min)

Review key points about approaching God

📝 Review Questions:
  • What were the two main items in the outer court?
  • Why did priests need to wash before serving?
🙏 Prayer:

Thank God for providing a way to come close to Him

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll explore the Holy Place and its special items

💎 Memory Verse

Hebrews 9:22

“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”

— Hebrews 9:22 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Blood Drop Memory Verse Game: Create paper 'blood drops' with words of the verse, have child arrange in correct order

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

The tabernacle demonstrates God's holiness and humanity's need for cleansing

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Use gentle language when discussing sin
  • Emphasize God's love in providing a way to approach Him
  • Connect to Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children may find abstract symbolic meanings challenging

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Child's understanding of God's desire for relationship

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create a 3D model of the outer court using household materials
  • Research how priests prepared for serving in the tabernacle
  • Listen to BibleMouse Song Collection tracks about God's holiness

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 38 →Back to Bible