Sunday School Gold Rush - Day 2

So we decided to build a "Mountain Stream" with Gold in it in the middle of the church. (Well, Bro. Mike had to build it...while I told him how. I did bend over a few times to put some greenery in place and overdid it...) As everyone entered, we had a CD playing the sounds of a stream running and birds singing.

















One of our "usherettes" handing out those Gold nugget mints to the early arrivers. :)



Before Sunday School: We sang "I've got a River of Life and Bro. Mike quickly spoke about this.

PANNING FOR GOLD INSTRUCTIONS:

Step #1 - Find where the gold is!
There is no use panning for gold in a stream where there is no gold…so go to a stream where people have found gold before. First of all: The Bible! Also, The Church of God AND your Sunday School!!!! Psalm 121:1,2 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. Haggai 2:8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.

Since gold is much heavier than water, the gold stays on the bottom and gets caught in slow moving areas around bends of the stream and along the shore. It also tends to get stuck in small crevices in the rocks and wedged in pieces of wood. Try to find places like this along the stream.

Step #2 – Submersion
To pan for Gold, you must submerse the pan in the Stream. Psalms 46:4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.

And we must be submersed in The Spirit, the Holy Ghost.
1 Cor. 2: 10b …for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1 Cor. 6:11 b…but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

To pan for Gold you must submerse your gold pan into the stream. While holding the gold pan under water, move the pan in a circular motion so that the lighter materials will be carried out of the gold pan. Don't move it too rapidly or you may lose gold along with the rocks and sand.


Step #3 - Panning
To find God’s true Gold, we must allow the Word of God to cleanse and purify us continually. Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine.

Lift the pan out of the water and begin swirling it again around with the pan tipped slightly to the side. Keep doing this until nearly all the sand and debris in the pan is gone.


Step #4 - Separation and Retrieval
After you find Gold, you don’t toss it back into the river! You separate it and retrieve it! You keep it protected, you treasure it. It is very valuable!!!
Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Job 22:22-24 Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.


There's nothing like finding God's True Gold!



(AFTER SUNDAY SCHOOL)

We had another visit from Prospector Sam:





AND a real Live Prospector "Slim Pickens"(who actually has panned for gold before):



Ole Slim talked a little and led all the children to Children's Church where he taught the class. Unfortunately, we had quite a few children out sick today. :( But they'll probably see Ole Slim next week too.




Right before the Puppets, Bro. Mike spoke about this.

PSALM 19: 7-10
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul:
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart:
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever:
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, yeah, than much fine gold:
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Iron Pyrite is also known as "Fool's Gold". This is a mineral that can be confused with gold because of its similar color and shape. But despite the similarities to real gold, it can be easily distinguished from it if you know what to look for. Here are some easy tests to find out if it is REAL gold or FOOL’S gold.

LOCATION TEST:
Consider the source and location. If what you found was glittering right on the surface without digging down, it’s probably “fool’s gold”. Gold is extremely heavy and will always seek the lowest place to rest - often on top of bedrock. Many people will tell you that “The Bible Says…” that we sin every day. But this is fool’s gold. The Word of God says: Romans 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

SUN TEST:
Once you have seen true Gold you will never forget it. A quick and easy test is to note the color and brightness of the gold. Remember that song? All that Glitters isn't Gold. Look at the material in the sunlight if it is all a glitter it is a 99.999 Percent chance it is not gold. Now put your Gold in the shade. Anything that is not Gold will become dull or fade. Real Gold will retain its color and luster – it will still be golden in the shade. James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

STREAK TEST:
"Streak" refers to the color of a mineral's powder. The color of the powder can be tested by rubbing the mineral on a surface of hard white porcelain. The color of the streak indicates the contents of the minerals. Real gold has a yellow streak, while Fool's Gold has a black streak. 1 John 1:5 This then is the message, which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

PIN TEST:
Stick a pin or the tip of a pick axe into the “gold”. If it breaks, fractures or crumbles it isn’t real gold. READ LUKE 6:46-49


Here are some little buddies hand in hand.


For now, Team Hopkins is ahead in the "which team brings the most visitors race".