Purpose

A children’s message that invites participation (thumb votes + motions) while telling the story of Hagar and Ishmael and naming the wilderness as a place where God sees and provides.

Scripture to read first

Genesis 21:8–21

Leader prep (quick)

• Keep the pace slow. Let children answer.

• Use the motions every time you say the key words.

• If you have time, practice the motions once before you begin.

Participation cues (use every time)

• Hagar: say “Hagar” and do a self-hug.

• Ishmael: say “Ishmael” and do strong arms (like showing muscles).

• Wilderness: say “wilderness” and do a searching hand over your eyes (like looking far away).

Script (what to say)

Leader: I have a question for you, and I want us to hear each other’s answers.

To show that you’re listening, we’ll vote with our thumbs:

• Thumbs up means “I agree” or “I like that.”

• Thumbs down means “I would not say that.”

• Thumb to the side means “I’m not sure” or “I don’t feel strongly.”

Leader: Show me each one. Thumbs up… thumbs down… thumb to the side. Great.

Leader: Here’s the question: Tell me something you love to do that helps yourself or helps someone else.

Leader: I’m going to listen to a few answers. After each answer, we’ll vote with our thumbs.

(Pause. Let several children answer. After each answer, repeat it back and invite the thumbs vote.)

Leader: Thank you. Now, what if I told you that in my house, you would never be asked to do that thing you love?

(Pause for thumbs. If needed: “Show me your thumbs.”)

Leader: What if I told you that instead, I would ask you to do something you hate doing?

(Pause for thumbs.)

Leader: Sometimes grown-ups feel that way too. Parents and caregivers do not always get to do the things they love, especially when life is hard.

Leader: Our Bible story today has a mom named Hagar(self-hug). Can you say her name with me? Hagar(self-hug).

Children: Hagar (self-hug).

Leader: And she has a son named Ishmael(strong arms). Say it with me: Ishmael(strong arms).

Children: Ishmael (strong arms).

Leader:Hagar(self-hug) and Ishmael(strong arms) have had some really hard experiences.

Leader: In today’s story, they are sent away into the wilderness(searching hand). Can you say it with the motion? Wilderness(searching hand).

Children: Wilderness (searching hand).

Leader: The wilderness(searching hand) is a place that can feel lonely and scary. It is a place where you can get tired, and where water can be hard to find.

Leader: In this story, Ishmael(strong arms) is a child, and he is walking with his mom Hagar(self-hug) in the wilderness(searching hand). They do not have much water.

Leader: Have you ever been tired of walking and wanted your grown-up to pick you up, or wanted to stop and take a break?

(Pause. Invite thumbs up/down/side. Let 1–2 children answer.)

Leader: Do you think adults who love you want you to go without food or water?

(Pause for thumbs. If needed: “Show me your thumbs.”)

Leader: No. People who love you want you to have what you need.

Leader: And here is the hope in the story: even when things were hard, Hagar(self-hug) was reminded that God sees her.

Leader: When it felt like everything was going wrong in the wilderness(searching hand), God helped Hagar(self-hug) not give up.

Leader: God showed Hagar(self-hug) something she needed for her son Ishmael(strong arms): a well of water.

Leader: What do you think it feels like to be very thirsty, and then finally have clean water to drink?

(Pause. Let a few children answer.)

Leader: Just like Hagar(self-hug) loved her son Ishmael(strong arms), God loves you.

Leader: And God’s love reaches beyond what we can see in the moment, even in the wilderness(searching hand).

Leader: So when things are hard, when the walk feels too long, when you are hungry or thirsty, or when you cannot do what you love yet, remember this: God sees you, and God stays with you.

Leader: Repeat after me:

Leader: I am loved.

Children: I am loved.

Leader: No matter how hard things get.

Children: No matter how hard things get.

Leader: So I will love.

Children: So I will love.

Leader: And never quit.

Children: And never quit.