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FALL 2013 PRESCHOOL WORSHIP GUIDEEd Stetzer • General EditorTrevin Wax • Managing Editor

The Gospel Project for Kids:Preschool Worship Guide

Volume 2 • Number 1 • Fall 2013

Eric GeigerVice President, Church Resources

Ed StetzerGeneral Editor

Trevin WaxManaging Editor

Tim PollardPublishing Team Leader

Landry HolmesManager, Kids Ministry Publishing

Lance HowertonDirector, Kids Ministry

Send questions/comments to: Publishing Team LeaderPreschool Worship Guide

One LifeWay Plaza Nashville, TN 37234-0172

or make comments on the Web at www.lifeway.comPrinted in the United States of America

The Gospel Project for Kids: Preschool Worship Guide (ISSN 2168-6033; Item 005529508) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President. © 2013 LifeWay.

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CONTENTSUnit 13: Israel, the Northern Kingdom

Session 1: Israel’s History of Evil Kings ...................................................6

Session 2: Elijah Confronted Evil Ahab .................................................16

Session 3: Elijah Ran from Jezebel ........................................................26

Session 4: Elisha and Naaman ................................................................36

Session 5: The Northern Kingdom Was Destroyed ...............................46

Unit 14: Great Prophets

Session 1: Amos, Prophet to Israel .........................................................58

Session 2: Hosea, Prophet to Israel .........................................................68

Session 3: Jonah, Prophet to Nineveh.....................................................78

Session 4: Joel, Prophet to Judah ............................................................88

Unit 15: Isaiah, Prophet to Judah

Session 1: God Called Isaiah ................................................................100

Session 2: Isaiah Confronted Ahaz .......................................................110

Session 3: Hezekiah, Judah’s Faithful King .........................................120

Session 4: Isaiah Preached About the Messiah ....................................130

Special Features

Using This Worship Guide ......................................................................2

Once Upon a Time ...............................................................................140

Strong-Willed Kids ..............................................................................142

The Gospel Project® for Kids Update ...............................................144

Leader Bible Study

This is a brief overview of the Bible story, its place in the grand narrative, and its connection to Christ.

The Bible Story

The script of the Bible story video includes a connection to Christ. • Show the video, use the video

script to tell the Bible story, or tell the story in your own words with the Bible open. Use bolded portions when telling the Bible story with younger preschoolers.

Large Group Worship

The worship session emphasizes Bible teaching and praise. • Focus on praise, the Christ

Connection, the Big Picture Question, the Bible story, and prayer.

• Six songs are provided for each unit: a unit song, a key passage song, a fun song, and three other praise songs or songs related to the Bible story. Teach a few words or phrases to help kids sing with understanding. Remember that the Bible teaches us to sing to the Lord!

• Begin teaching kids to give at

church by collecting an offering. Some kids may arrive with an offering, which you may hold for them at the door. Return their offerings to them after the Bible story; consider providing coins for kids who did not arrive with an offering.

• Use the timeline to teach concepts of before-and-after and to look forward to the coming of Christ. You may use the Timeline Map or the Small Group Visual Pack. You may sometimes prefer to print the digital Bible Story Picture.

• The Key Passage is a portion of Scripture to remember from the unit. Repeat it frequently. Use the key passage song to help learn it.

• Early Bible skills center on learning the parts and the purpose of the Bible. Emphasize that God gave us the Bible to let us know Him and His plan for us. Everything in it is true.

• The Big Picture Question is designed to teach a truth related to the Bible passage. Ask the question frequently during the session and help kids learn to respond with the answer.

Using This Worship Guide

Preschool Worship Guide2

Trouble at the Top

• Shorten or omit some of the review questions for young preschoolers.

• Time estimates are estimates only; determine when transition times must occur to conclude on time. Post the schedule. Trim the plan if necessary.

• “Say” suggests conversation that supports the session. Use your own words, but incorporate the Christ Connection, Big Picture Question, Key Passage, and parts of the Bible story.

• Use the countdown video or another favorite method any time you need to assemble your group and move to the next element in the session.

Small Group Activities

Fun activities provide a springboard for talking about the Bible story, the Big Picture Question, the Key Passage, or the Christ Connection. • In a self-contained classroom,

lead the small group activities in a different area of the room from the worship area if possible.

• Preschoolers learn through hands-on experiences, interacting with other kids, and talking with their teacher while they work or play.

• Select activities that work for you, or supply your own activities. Just remember to include the conversation tips as you do them.

• “Low Prep” indicates at least one activity that takes minimal resources and planning.

Large Group Closing

Close by reviewing the session. Extend the teaching to include a missions story or ministry project. • Review to help kids remember

the Bible story, Big Picture Question, and Key Passage.

• Read or watch a missions story. Once during each unit, introduce and carry out a ministry project.

• Conclude with an open-ended game while waiting for parents or a new set of teachers to arrive.

For other articles and ideas, see the kids blog at www.gospelproject.com.

Trouble at the Top 3

Unit 13: Israel, the NortherN KINgdom

Big Picture Questions

Session 1:What kind of king did God’s people need? God’s people needed a king who loved God.

Session 2:Who is the one true God? Yahweh is the one true God.

Session 3:How does God help in times of trouble? God promises to be with us.

Session 4:Who heals us from our sin? Jesus heals us from our sin.

Session 5:Why did God scatter His people? God’s people sinned against Him.


Unit 13: Israel, the NortherN KINgdom

Unit Description: The Northern Kingdom of Israel was led by a series of evil kings, each one seemingly worse than the one before. God sent the prophets Elijah and Elisha to warn the kings of their behavior. After many years of disobedience, the Northern Kingdom was finally destroyed.

Unit Key Passage:2 Kings 17:13-14

Unit Christ Connection: The prophets called God’s people to repentance as Christ calls people to repentance. Sin continued to divide and ultimately destroy the Northern Kingdom, but Christ’s perfect kingdom is forever.

Session 1:Israel’s History of Evil Kings1 Kings 16

Session 2: Elijah Confronted Evil Ahab1 Kings 18

Session 3:Elijah Ran from Jezebel1 Kings 19

Session 4:Elisha and Naaman2 Kings 5

Session 5:The Northern Kingdom Was Destroyed2 Kings 17:1-23

Trouble at the Top


The nation of Israel experienced quite the range of leaders throughout its history. Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. Joshua brought them into the promised land.

From there, Israel was ruled by a series of judges: Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, and several others until the time of Samson. The period of the judges was not a particularly proud time in Israel’s history. Without a godly king, the people continuously turned away from God and disobeyed Him. “Everyone did whatever he wanted” (Judg. 21:25).

Then came Samuel. Samuel guided God’s people between the time of the judges and the time of the kings. The Israelites asked for a king, and God gave them Saul. But God took Saul’s kingdom away and gave it to David. When David died, his son Solomon became king. Solomon’s sin led to the nation of Israel being divided into two kingdoms. Solomon’s son Rehoboam ruled over Judah in the south, and Jeroboam ruled over Israel in the north.

For several decades, Israel was led by men who did evil. Baasha became the third king of the Northern Kingdom when he murdered the second king. Baasha made God’s people in Israel sin, and when he died, his son Elah became king. Elah was king for two years, but then his servant Zimri killed him. Zimri became the next king. Zimri’s reign was short—just seven days. Zimri died in a fire, and Omri became Israel’s next king. When Omri died, his son Ahab became king. King Ahab was more evil than any other king before him.

The evil kings of Israel did not lead God’s people well. They sinned and led God’s people away from Him. As you teach kids the reality of Israel’s past, point out God’s plan to send a perfect king for His people. Jesus came to bring salvation from sin and be the faithful, loving King Israel needed.

Leader BIBle stUdY

Unit 13 • Session 1

1

Preschool Worship GuideUnit 13 • Session 16

Session Title: Israel’s History of Evil KingsBible Passage: 1 Kings 16Big Picture Question: What kind of king did God’s people need? God’s

people needed a king who loved God.Key Passage: 2 Kings 17:13-14Unit Christ Connection: The prophets called God’s people to repentance

as Christ calls people to repentance. Sin continued to divide and ultimately destroy the Northern Kingdom, but Christ’s perfect kingdom is forever.

Large Group Worship (15–20 minutes) .................................................................................Page 10

Small Group Activities (25–30 minutes) .................................................................................Page 12

Large Group Closing(10+ minutes) .....................................................................................Page 14

Preschool WorshIp oVerVIeWUNI T

13

1

Israel, the Northern Kingdom 7

Israel’s History of Evil Kings1 Kings 16

God’s people had many leaders over the years. Moses led them out of Egypt, and Joshua led them into the promised land. And then several judges led the people. Do you remember Deborah, Gideon, and Samson? Then came Samuel, and God’s people asked for a king. Saul became king, and then David. After that, David’s son Solomon was king.

After King Solomon died, the nation of Israel split into two kingdoms: Israel, the Northern Kingdom, and Judah, the Southern Kingdom. And a time began when the nation of Israel was ruled by some bad kings. These bad kings did not love God, and they did not lead God’s people like they should.

Baasha (BAY uh shuh) was the third king to rule over Israel. He was a bad king. Baasha had killed King Nadab (NAY dab) to take over the throne. Many of the things Baasha did were very bad, and he led the people of Israel to sin. The people of Israel began to serve and worship idols—people and things that were not God. They did not love God, and this made God sad and angry. God sent a man to tell Baasha that he would not be king anymore. Baasha died, and his son Elah (EE luh) became Israel’s king.

Maybe Elah would be a better king! But he wasn’t. Elah wasn’t a very good king, and he wasn’t king for very long. Elah was like his father, and he made God angry because he worshiped idols and caused Israel to sin and turn away from God. After two years, Zimri (ZIM righ)—a leader in Elah’s army—planned to kill Elah. And he did. Zimri killed Elah.

Would Zimri be a better king than Elah? No! Zimri became king, and he acted just like Elah and Baasha. He was an evil king, and he caused Israel to sin. The people of Israel didn’t want Zimri to be king. The people wanted Omri (AHM righ), the leader of the army, to be king of Israel. Omri took over the city where Zimri lived, and Zimri

The BIBle storY


was afraid. He knew he could not stand against Omri. Zimri went into his house and set it on fire. The house burned down with Zimri inside, and Zimri died.

Now Omri was king—the sixth king of Israel. While Omri was king, he bought a hill and built a city named Samaria. Was Omri a good king? No! Omri was like the kings before him. He worshiped people and things that were not God, and he caused Israel to sin. This made God angry.

Omri died, and his son Ahab (AY hab) became king of Israel. Israel needed a good king, but Ahab was more evil than the kings who were before him—more evil than Omri, more evil than Zimri, more evil than Elah, and more evil than Baasha. Ahab was a very bad king! He married Jezebel, who told him to do bad things. Ahab served and worshiped the false god Baal. He built a place in Samaria for people to worship Baal, and all the things Ahab did made God very angry.

Christ Connection: God’s people wanted a king, but no king helped God’s people love God. God was going to send Jesus. Jesus would come from heaven and be the king of God’s people. He would help them love God, and He would be the best King ever.


Large Group WorshIp

Large Group Worship (15–20 minutes)Smile and greet kids and parents as they arrive.

Welcome and singGather for worship. Sing a fun song like “I Can Say Hello” to help newcomers feel welcome. Collect an offering; supply coins to kids who did not bring an offering today. Let them practice giving.

Practice the key passage and a Bible skillShow the Book of 1 Kings in your Bible and today’s Bible story picture on the timeline. Say • Is 1 Kings in the Old or the New Testament? (Old)

What do you think a book called “Kings” is about? (kings) Right! There are two books in the Bible about kings—1 and 2 Kings. At the beginning of 1 Kings, the greatest king of Israel, King David, died. He was very old. His son, King Solomon, allowed people to worship idols; when he died, the great nation of Israel split into two parts. Israel, in the north, had the same name as the great nation, but it was ruled by evil kings. Judah, in the south, had a few good kings who loved God.

• Play “Mighty to Save” in the background as you welcome incoming preschoolers. Follow your church’s security procedures.

• “I Can Say Hello” song

• offering basket

• Bible• Timeline Map• Key Passage Slide or

Poster • “God’s Perfect

Words” song





Read the key passage poster aloud. Sing “God’s Perfect Words” together. Talk about times when we don’t obey God because we do not listen to Him, such as when we don’t show love to someone or don’t help a person in trouble.

Play a counting game to get the wiggles out before the Bible story. Clap your hands three times, counting aloud with each clap. Encourage preschoolers to clap and count along with you. Do a different motion three times, such as hop, shake heads, or click tongues. Continue the game, changing the number of times to repeat the action.

Watch or tell the Bible storyInvite children to count with you to five several times. Say • Today’s Bible story tells about five evil kings in

Israel. Listen carefully to hear the name of the worst king. Hold the Bible open to 1 Kings 16 as you tell the Bible story in your own words, or watch the Bible story video.

Worship with song and prayPlay the song “Mighty to Save.” Sing the key passage song again. Talk about the evil kings who did not love God but led the people away from God. Ask who the worst king was. (Ahab) Ask what King God would send to lead His people back to God. (Jesus)

Listen to the first two stanzas of “Come, Christians, Join to Sing” (through “Praise is His gracious choice”); teach kids to sing “Alleluia! Amen!” Play and sing the same portion of the hymn with kids singing the words “Alleluia! Amen!”Say • Thank You, God, for sending Your Son, Jesus.

Transition to small groupsIntroduce the small group activities. Send kids, one by one, to the activity of their choice. Use the countdown video.

• “Israel’s History of Evil Kings” video (optional)

• Bible

• “Mighty to Save” song

• “God’s Perfect Words” song

• “Come, Christians, Join to Sing” song

• countdown video (optional)Tip: Do activities one of these ways:

• as a group, all at the same time

• in small groups that rotate through each activity

• set up as centers, allowing preschoolers to browse and choose


Small Group Activities (25–30 minutes)

Make fist puppetsShow each kid how to make a fist. Draw a face using colors that she chooses. Draw the lower lip on the thumb, the upper lip on your fist, and the eyes and nose in proper relation to the mouth. Draw hair or tape yarn “hair” on the fist. Move the thumb up and down to make the puppet talk.

Let kids take turn asking the big picture question for the others to answer: What kind of king did God’s people need? God’s people needed a king who loved God.

Walk like a king Mark a start and a finish line with masking tape. Guide kids to stand like a person who is bored, sneaky, or wearing a uniform. Practice tiptoeing, stomping, and striding. Challenge them to walk balancing something on their head.Say • Some people look kingly because of the way they

stand and walk—straight and sure. Practice walking like a king. Try to walk from the start line to the finish line balancing something on your head. Can you walk and keep it from falling off your head?

PREPLOW

• washable markers• yarn and tape

(optional)• Big Picture Question

Slide or Poster

• beanbags• plastic plates• small books• masking tape




Small Group actIVItIes


Paint with heart-shaped spongesCut sponges into heart shapes. Put a layer of each color paint into a shallow pan. Use kingly colors: purple paint and yellow (gold) paint. Say • What kind of king did God’s people need? God’s

people needed a king who loved God. A good king would listen to God and lead the people in the kingdom to love God. God would take care of them. Bad kings didn’t pay attention to God. They did what they wanted to do. That caused trouble for themselves and their people. What king was God going to send who would love God and be the best King ever? (Jesus)

Sort heartsCut out hearts or use heart stickers that preschoolers can easily sort into three groups (three different sizes or colors, for example). Draw three circles on a page for each kid. Guide them to sort hearts and then glue or stick each group of hearts into a circle. As they work, remind kids that God sees people’s hearts. (See 1 Sam. 16:7.) God knows who loves Him.

Sing and leanChallenge preschoolers to see who can stand on one foot the longest. Say • Could you stand on one foot longer if you were

leaning on somebody? Who would be the best to lean on? God is called the Lord. Lord means “the one who has power.” Let’s sing about leaning on the Lord.

Have fun singing “Whose Side Are You Leaning On?” Pantomime the actions as you sing.

Transition to large group closingUse the countdown video to move to the closing.

• sponges • purple and yellow

paint• shallow pans• paper• scissors

• heart stickers or cutout hearts

• large sheets of paper, 1 per kid

• glue

• “Whose Side Are You Leaning On?” song

• countdown video (optional)


Large Group closINg

Large Group Closing (10+ minutes)

ReviewWelcome the children. Remind kids that today’s Bible story listed five kings in a row in Israel who were bad kings and did not love God—Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri, and Ahab.

Practice counting to five. Clap hands once as you name each king. Encourage a volunteer to locate a picture of a bad king on the timeline. Read the key passage aloud.Say • What kind of king did God’s people need? God’s

people needed a king who loved God.

Ministry Project: Support missionaries through prayerIf your church is taking part in a large or long-term missions project, explain the activity in simple terms. Help kids understand how this project helps people learn about God, and how they can be a part of this project.

If you do not have such a project, tell children about ways your church helps missionaries. Perhaps you give money to a special Christmas or Easter offering. Perhaps you send boxes of supplies to Samaritan’s Purse®.


Poster • Big Picture Question

Slide or Poster


• large globe• “I Can Say Hello”

song• “God Will Listen

When You Pray” song





Play the song “Mighty to Save” as you invite children to take turns spinning a globe and touching the country of their choice. Pause the music as you pray for missionaries in that country who tell people about Jesus. Encourage volunteers to take turns praying for the missionaries around the world. End the prayer time by thanking God for sending His Son, Jesus, to be the best king for all of God’s people.

Conclude with a fun song such as “I Can Say Hello” or “God Will Listen When You Pray.” Play a game as you wait to dismiss.

Play “The Good King Says”Remind kids that today’s Bible story told about kings who were not good. They were bad kings of Israel. They did not love God. They did not help the people do good things.

In this game, similar to “Simon Says,” children may follow any direction you give, as long as you begin with, “The good king says.” If you simply suggest an action, children should ignore it. Suggest actions such as these:

• Wiggle your nose.• Clap three times.• Hop on one foot until I say, “Stop.”• Sit down.• Find a partner.

Dismiss childrenAs parents arrive, follow church security rules for dismissing children.


King Ahab was an evil king. In fact, “Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him” (1 Kings 16:33). The things that Ahab did made God angry. God wanted His people to be faithful to Him, but King Ahab led them away from God.

Enter Elijah the prophet. God was going to use someone to get Ahab’s attention, and He chose Elijah. In 1 Kings 17, Elijah told Ahab that a drought was coming. God prevented rain in the land for three years. For Ahab, a man who worshiped Baal—the false Canaanite god of rain and fertility—the drought sent a strong message about the one true God.

When God was ready to send rain on the earth, Elijah appeared to Ahab and instructed him to gather the Israelites and the prophets of the false gods at Mount Carmel. Elijah challenged the people to choose: Follow God or follow Baal. They couldn’t do both.

Elijah set up a challenge to prove to the people who the true God is. Elijah faced off against the prophets of Baal. Each group prepared a bull on an altar and called on their deity to send fire from heaven. The prophets of Baal called and cried and cut themselves, but Baal did not answer. Then Elijah poured water on and around his altar. He called to God, and God sent fire from heaven. Everything was burned up.

The prophets could not deny that the God of Elijah is the one true God. God sent a great rain, ending the drought in the land.

The false god Baal had no power. As you teach kids this week, emphasize that only God—the one true God—has power to help His people and to save them. And He saves them through His Son, Jesus, whose name means, “God (Yahweh) saves.”

Leader BIBle stUdY


2


Session Title: Elijah Confronted Evil AhabBible Passage: 1 Kings 18Big Picture Question: Who is the one true God? Yahweh is the one true

God.Key Passage: 2 Kings 17:13-14Unit Christ Connection: The prophets called God’s people to repentance





Preschool WorshIp oVerVIeWUNI T

13

2


Elijah Confronted Evil Ahab1 Kings 18

King Ahab was the king in Israel. He was a bad king. King Ahab did not worship God; he worshiped a false god named Baal (BAY uhl). King Ahab caused the Israelites to disobey God too. God was not happy with King Ahab. God caused a drought. During a drought, there is no rain for a long time. God wanted Ahab to learn that Baal had no power. Only God—the Creator of all things—is powerful and in control of all things.

When there was no rain, life was very hard for the people. People could not grow food in the fields. The lakes and rivers dried up. No rain fell from the sky for three years. Then one day, God was ready to send rain.

First, God sent a man named Elijah to talk to King Ahab. When King Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said, “Is that you, troubler of Israel?” King Ahab thought it was Elijah’s fault that there was no rain. But it was not Elijah’s fault. God was not angry with Elijah; He was angry with King Ahab.

“You have made trouble for Israel because you do not obey God, and you worship false gods,” Elijah said.

Elijah told King Ahab, the Israelites, and all of the people who worshiped Baal to meet him at Mount Carmel.

Elijah stood in front of all the people and said, “Make up your minds! If you believe the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him.”

Elijah wanted the people to see who the one true God is. Elijah set up a contest to show who the one true God is. The worshipers of Baal made an altar for their false god. They put a bull on their altar. Elijah told them what to do.

“You call to Baal,” Elijah said to them, “and ask him to send fire to your altar. I will call on the Lord. The God who answers by fire is the one true God.”

The BIBle storY


The worshipers of Baal agreed. From morning until noon, they called out to Baal. “Baal, answer us!” But no one answered. The people danced and cried loudly. But no one answered.

It was Elijah’s turn. He dug a ditch around his altar and put a bull on a pile of wood. Then Elijah asked for four jars of water. Each jar was poured on the wood. One, two, three, four. The altar was very wet. Elijah asked for more water. Water was poured on Elijah’s altar three times. The water ran down the altar and filled the ditch.

Elijah prayed to God, “Answer me, God! Answer me so that these people will know that You are God.”

God answered Elijah. God sent fire from the sky! The fire burned up the bull and the wood and the stones and the dust! It burned up the water that was in the ditch. God showed everyone that He is the one true God.

The men who were watching fell to the ground. They said, “Yahweh, He is God! Yahweh, He is God!” Then all the people who had worshiped the false god Baal died.

Soon the sky grew dark with clouds, and God sent rain. God ended the drought and proved that He is the one true God.

Christ Connection: God sent fire from heaven. The people who did not worship God saw the fire and knew that God is powerful. One day, God would use His power to raise Jesus from the dead.


Large Group WorshIp

Large Group Worship (15–20 minutes)Play the song “Mighty to Save” as children join the large group. Greet each child by name and help kids find seats.

Welcome and singWith a welcoming smile, sing “I Can Say Hello.” Say • What is your favorite type of weather? Encourage everyone to share an answer. Then mention that in today’s Bible story we will hear about a time when God stopped the rain for three years.

Practice the key passage and a Bible skillOpen a Bible to Matthew 1.Say • The Bible is divided into two parts; the Old

Testament and the New Testament. We read many stories about Jesus in the New Testament. [Turn to 1 Kings.] Two books in the Old Testament are named Kings. Our Bible story today is in 1 Kings. [Turn to 2 Kings and display the key passage poster.] These words are found in the other book of Kings, called 2 Kings.

Read the key passage aloud, and sing “God’s Perfect Words” together.

• Play “Mighty to Save” in the background as you welcome incoming preschoolers. Follow your church’s security procedures.


• Bible• Key Passage Slide or


Words” song





Watch or tell the Bible storyShow the timeline. Remind kids that last session’s Bible story told about some evil kings. Today’s Bible story tells more about one of those kings, Ahab, and how he learned that Yahweh is the one true God.

Watch the video or hold the Bible open to 1 Kings 18 as you tell the Bible story in your own way.

Review the Bible storySay • Who is the one true God? Yahweh is the one true

God. Remind kids of two ways God showed the people His power—God sent fire to burn up the bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust; later, God sent rain.

Make the sounds of a rainstorm. Begin by everyone rubbing their hands together. Then, snap fingers, change to hands slapping thighs, and end with slapping thighs while stomping feet. Reverse the actions to end the rainstorm.

Worship by singing and prayingSing the song “My God Is So Big.” Mention the Christ connection as follows.Say • God showed His great power by sending the fire and

the rain. God also used His power years later to raise Jesus from the dead.

Pray, thanking God that He is so big, so strong, and so mighty and that He raised His Son, Jesus, from the dead.

Collect an offering as you play “Mighty to Save.” Tell kids to listen for the words “He can move the mountains.” God is powerful!

Transition to small groupsDescribe the small group activities and guide each child to the activity of his choice.

• Timeline Map• “Elijah Confronted

Evil Ahab” video (optional)

• Bible

• “My God Is So Big” song


• offering basket







Sing “My God Is So Big”Sing “My God Is So Big” using motions on the video. If you are not using the video, make “mountains” by touching palms above the head. Teach the American Sign Language (ASL) sign for mighty/strong: make fists, bend elbows, and bounce hands forward. Shoulders and head should be tall and strong, with lips pursed, looking tough. Say • Who won the contest, God or Baal? God won. He

is strong and mighty. He won the contest in such an awesome way that everybody knew God is the greatest.

Make name plaquesUse brown paper to resemble wood. Cut cards and print each child’s name on a card. Provide stickers and markers to decorate the name plaques. Punch holes to hang the plaques with yarn.Say • In the contest between the prophets of a false god and

Elijah, the prophet of the one true God, what name did the prophets of the false god call for help? (Baal) What

Tip: Select from the activities those you can staff and which your class will enjoy.

PREPLOW


Note: Look online for a video of the sign.

• brown heavyweight paper

• washable markers• stickers• hole punch• yarn• scissors






name did Elijah call for help? (God, Yahweh) Who is the one true God? Yahweh is the one true God.

Play name games Let each child choose a colored card; print his name in large letters on the card. Place all cards in a bag. Draw a name from the bag and describe the child for the others to guess who it is. Include a card with Jesus on it.

Use these cards to play musical chairs, providing a chair for each child. Place each name card on a chair. Play music as kids walk around the chairs. When you stop the music, each kid must find his name card and sit in that chair. To play another round, do not remove a chair, but shuffle the cards and place them in different chairs. Say • What is another name for God? (Yahweh) Who is the

one true God? Yahweh is the one true God.

“Build an altar” relayForm two teams to build “altars.” Place blocks or boxes at the beginning line and help kids one at a time carry a block to stack in a pile. Count each block. Cheer for every effort. No losers! Play again, trying to build faster each time.Say • The number 12 is used often in the Bible. Elijah built

his altar using 12 stones—one for each tribe of Israel.

Discover whose name?Print Jesus in white crayon on white paper. Guide kids to color on paper with watercolors, finger paints, or markers to discover the hidden name. Use large brushes or small sponges to apply paint to the page.Say • Who is the one true God? Yahweh is the one true

God.

Transition to large group closing

• cards cut from colored construction paper

• markers• music• paper bag

• blocks or boxes, 12

• white paper• white crayon (not

washable)• finger paint,

watercolors, or markers

• paint brushes or small sponges



Large Group closINg


Before kids arrive, prepare review questions, one per strip. Attach each strip to a paper cup, block, smooth rock, or construction toy log or brick. Hide the items in the room.

Review the Bible storyAs kids locate the hidden items, invite them to pantomime building the altar with rocks, laying wood on the altar, and pouring water over the sacrifice. Read each question aloud. Help kids recall whose name is powerful to save. (Jesus)• What had the people not seen for three years? (rain)• What did Elijah pour over the altar? (water)• How did God show His power? (He sent fire from the sky.)• Who is the one, true God? Yahweh is the one true God.

Worship by Praying and SingingPray • Thank You, God, that You are so powerful that You

sent fire from the sky. Thank You, God, that You are so powerful that You raised Your Son, Jesus, from the dead.

Sing “My God is So Big.”For fun, sing “Whose Side Are You Leaning On?”

• strips of paper• paper cups, blocks,

toy logs or bricks, or smooth rocks

• marker• tape

• review questions on hidden items

• Big Picture Question Slide or Poster







Missions story: God still shows His powerWhen Vimal was young, he could not walk. His parents tried everything. They took him to doctors. They took him to Hindu priests. They took him to Muslim and Buddhist religious leaders. No one could help Vimal.

When Vimal was 10 years old, a Christian came to his town in South Asia to tell people about Jesus. He prayed for God to heal Vimal’s leg. The next day people noticed the cast on Vimal’s leg was cracked. When they took off the cast, Vimal could walk for the first time. God had healed Vimal’s leg.

The Hindu leaders were angry. They told the Christian to leave town. They threatened to hurt Vimal and his brothers if they told anyone what God had done. Vimal’s father was scared. He only allowed Vimal to go to church at Christmas.

Ten years later, college students from America told everyone in Vimal’s family about Jesus. The family destroyed their idols (statues of false gods like Baal). They were glad that Jesus’ name was powerful to save them. They started a church in their home. Now they tell everyone about Jesus.

Pray, thanking God that He shows His power and His love. Thank Him for healing Vimal.

Play “Name That Kid”Sit in a circle. Give clues describing one of them, such as clothing, hair color, or anything positive you observe. Invite everyone to “Name That Kid.” When they guess correctly, encourage everyone to change places, then play again. Invite volunteers to take turns giving clues as time allows.

• Follow church security rules for dismissing children.


The prophet Elijah had just witnessed God’s great display of power over the false god Baal. God had sent fire from heaven and then ended a long drought with a great rain. Elijah must have felt a sense of victory; the evil King Ahab could not deny the one true God. But trouble awaited Elijah in the form of Ahab’s wife—Jezebel.

When Jezebel heard what Elijah had done at Mount Carmel, she threatened to kill him. Elijah ran away and hid in the wilderness. What a change Elijah experienced! He went from a man faithfully and confidently praying for God’s glory to be displayed at Mount Carmel to a man begging the Lord to take away his life. (See 1 Kings 19:4.)

God was merciful to Elijah. An angel of the Lord brought Elijah food and drink while he rested. Then Elijah traveled to Horeb for a personal encounter with God. Horeb—another name for Mount Sinai—was a familiar place in the history of Israel. It was the place where God gave the Ten Commandments to the Israelites and where Moses met with God.

After the events in 1 Kings 18, Elijah might have expected a grand display of God’s presence, but what he experienced was just the opposite. The Lord was not in the wind. The Lord was not in the earthquake. The Lord was not in the fire. God revealed Himself to Elijah in a voice, a soft whisper.

Elijah’s circumstances were difficult, but God didn’t leave him. God gave him Elisha, a friend and successor. God assured Elijah that he was not alone; there were 7,000 people in Israel who had not turned to worship Baal.

God’s prophets suffered, but their lives and messages pointed forward to the ultimate prophet, priest, and king—Jesus Christ—who suffered for the sins of the world. Jesus was hated and killed, but His death and resurrection brought victory for God’s people.

Leader BIBle stUdY


3


Session Title: Elijah Ran from JezebelBible Passage: 1 Kings 19Big Picture Question: How does God help in times of trouble? God

promises to be with us.Key Passage: 2 Kings 17:13-14Unit Christ Connection: The prophets called God’s people to repentance





Preschool WorshIp oVerVIeW

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Elijah Ran from Jezebel1 Kings 19

God is powerful! Elijah knew this. Elijah was a prophet who saw God send fire from heaven. God showed King Ahab, the Israelites, and all the people who worshiped the false god Baal that God is the one true God. Elijah was probably very happy, but Elijah was about to face some big trouble.

King Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, was not happy with Elijah. Jezebel did not want the people to worship the one true God. Jezebel killed the men who were prophets for God. Jezebel told Elijah to watch out! She was going to kill him too.

Elijah was very afraid! He didn’t want Jezebel to kill him. So he ran far away. He went into the wilderness where Jezebel couldn’t find him. Elijah said a prayer to God, “Everything is going wrong! Lord, take my life. I’m ready to die.” Then Elijah lay down under a broom tree. He fell asleep.

God heard Elijah’s prayer, and He sent an angel to help Elijah. The angel touched Elijah. “Get up and eat,” the angel said. A loaf of hot baked bread and a jar of water was nearby, and Elijah ate and drank. Then he lay down.

The angel came and touched Elijah again. “Get up and eat,” the angel said. Elijah ate and drank. The food gave him strength to travel a very long way to Horeb (HOH reb), the mountain of God.

When Elijah got to the mountain, he went into a cave and spent the night there. God spoke to Elijah. God said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

“God, I tried very hard to do what You said,” Elijah said. “But your people have not done what You said! They are trying to kill me!”

“Go out and stand on the mountain,” God said. Then God passed by. A strong wind rushed by the mountain. Was God in the wind? No, God was not in the wind. Then there was an earthquake! The ground

The BIBle storY


shook. Was God in the earthquake? No, God was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, there was a fire! Was God in the fire? No, God was not in the fire. Finally, there was a voice—a soft whisper. Elijah heard the whisper. He covered his face and stood at the opening of the cave.

“What are you doing here, Elijah?” a voice asked.“God, I tried very hard to do what You said,” Elijah said. “But your

people have not done what You said! They are trying to kill me!”Then God said to Elijah, “Go back to Damascus.” God gave Elijah

instructions. God wanted Elijah to make certain men leaders: Hazael (HAZ ay el) would be a king, Jehu (JEE hyoo) would be a king, and Elisha would be a prophet like Elijah.

Elijah did what God said. When he found Elisha, Elisha was working in a field. Elisha left his work to follow Elijah and serve him.

Christ Connection: Elijah was a special messenger for God. Jezebel did not like Elijah, but God was in charge. God kept Elijah safe. Jesus is God’s messenger too. People did not like Jesus, but God was in charge. God used Jesus’ enemies to carry out His plan to rescue people from sin.


Large Group WorshIp

Large Group Worship (15–20 minutes)

Welcome and singSmile warmly as you greet children by name. Collect offerings and sing a fun song such as “I Can Say Hello.”

Practice the key passage and a Bible skillRead the key passage aloud and encourage kids to sing “God’s Perfect Words” with you.

Refer to the timeline to help recall details of recent Bible stories. Were there people in these stories who would not listen to God? Encourage volunteers to tell about the evil kings or about Elijah and King Ahab.

Remind kids that these Bible stories are in the front part of the Bible, the Old Testament. Both the New and the Old Testaments are divided into smaller parts, called books. Say • Can anyone name any books in the Old Testament?

Help children include 1 and 2 Kings as they name books.

Watch or tell the Bible storyWatch the video or hold the Bible open in your lap as you tell today’s Bible story. Make eye contact with the children

• Play the “Mighty to Save” song as you welcome kids. Follow your church’s security procedures.

• offering basket • “I Can Say Hello”

song

• Key Passage Slide or Poster


• Timeline Map• Bible

• Bible• “Elijah Ran from

Jezebel” video (optional)





and vary your voice to emphasize the various emotions represented in the Bible story.

Review the Bible storyGuide preschoolers to play out the Bible story. Begin with Elijah’s running away from Jezebel and resting under a tree. When Elijah goes to the mountain, encourage the other kids to blow hard to represent the wind, stomp their feet for the earthquake, wave their arms in the air for the fire, and finally, to whisper Elijah’s name.Say • How does God help in times of trouble? God

promises to be with us. Why was Elijah in trouble? (Jezebel did not want people to worship God. She wanted to kill Elijah.)

Help children identify ways in which God was with Elijah, such as sending the angel to help Elijah. Display the timeline and the Bible story picture, showing Elijah resting under the tree. What did God provide for him? (a loaf of hot baked bread and a jar of water) Mention the Christ connection, reminding kids that God is always in control.

Worship with song and prayEncourage volunteers to pray, thanking God for being with us. Sing “God Will Listen When You Pray.”

Transition to small groupsMention that Elijah walked all the way to Horeb. Invite kids to walk in different ways to the activity of their choice. They may walk very slowly, or backwards or sideways, or taking very small steps.

• Bible Story Picture (optional)

• Timeline Map

• “God Will Listen When You Pray” song







Play through the Bible storySit in a circle, with legs crossed. Lead kids to make the sound of running by patting thighs. Run fast to get away; then slow down and “walk” for a while. Take a nap; pretend to eat; sleep some more; eat again; walk for a long time. Climb a mountain, sleep again, and then stand to hear God speak. Ask periodically whether anyone is tired. If someone is tired, he can lie down and rest. Tell the story as you go.Say • How did God help Elijah? (food, instructions) How

does God help in times of trouble? God promises to be with us.

Stuff a mountainDraw and duplicate a mountain pattern. Print the big picture question or the key passage on the pattern. Copy two for each kid. Cut out two identical mountain shapes for younger kids; encourage older kids to cut out their own mountains. Suggest drawing a path up the mountain. Add a small cave and bushes or rocks. Tape or staple around them, leaving a small hole to stuff with paper. Stuff the mountain.


PREPLOW

• mountain pattern, 2 per kid

• markers or crayons• scissors• tape or staples and

stapler• paper






Say • How did God help Elijah on the mountain? (God talked to him.)

Stack cups Create a mountain using cups. Show how to stack cups. Use stiff paper between layers if necessary.Say • How does God help in times of trouble? God

promises to be with us. When Elijah was alone in a cave on a mountain far from home, God spoke to him and gave him a job to do.

Sing and waveList times to pray (in trouble, afraid, thankful, happy). Sing “God Will Listen When You Pray” and wave scarves to the music. Sing “My God Is So Big” and remember that He can help because there is nothing He cannot do; He made the mountain where Elijah was sleeping in the cave. If there is time and interest, sing “Whose Side Are You Leaning On?”

Sleep in a caveGo on a pretend campout. Put up a tent, turn off overhead lights, and use flashlights. Share camping or sleepover experiences—whom they camped with, what they ate, what they did.

Talk about how tired Elijah must have been when he spent the night in the cave on the mountain. After the contest with the prophets of Baal, he hid from Jezebel, who wanted to kill him. God sent him food to give him energy. He ran and walked for 40 days to the mountain. Say • How does God help in times of trouble? God

promises to be with us.


• plastic cups • pieces of stiff paper

• scarves or streamers• “God Will Listen

When You Pray” song



• indoor tent or a sheet over a table

• flashlights• dishes (optional)• other camping

supplies



Large Group closINg


Review the Bible storyShow the key passage and big picture question posters, along with the timeline. Ask for three volunteers to play out portions of the Bible story: one child as the angel, one as Elijah, and one as the tree. If more kids wanted to volunteer, consider repeating this part of the story; guide kids to tell it themselves.

Then, invite everyone to hike to the mountain and move in place like the wind, earthquake, and fire. Help preschoolers understand that God was with Elijah in his time of trouble.Say • How does God help in times of trouble? God

promises to be with us.

Pray and worship by singingPray • Thank You, God, for helping us when we are in

trouble. Thank You for being with us all the time.Sing “God Will Listen When You Pray” and “God’s Perfect Words.”



Slide or Poster







Missions story: Courage on the roadLily lives in Australia. A large group of Muslim people from Central Asia live near Lily. They do not speak much English. They do not know about Jesus. Lily is a good friend to them. She helps children with homework. She plays games with them. She helps the mothers with paperwork or to get to the store or doctor’s office.

Some mothers asked Lily to teach them to drive. Lily knew it would be hard for them because they did not speak English very well. Lily prayed. She asked God to help her.

At the beginning of every lesson, Lily asked each woman if she could pray for God to help them. Everyone wanted Lily to pray. Sometimes they asked her to pray before she even offered.

Sometimes the driving lessons were scary. Drivers would press too hard on the brake or on the gas. Lily had learned to drive on the right side of the road. Now she was teaching people to drive on the left side of the road, the way Australians drive. Lily says that God was with her, and that gave her courage.

Knowing that God is with her helps Lily show God’s love to her new friends. Not only does she want them to learn to drive, Lily wants her friends to learn about Jesus.

Play “Ways to Travel”Encourage kids to play out ways to travel, such as by plane, car, horse, bicycle, or boat. Then invite children to move around the room by hopping, crawling, taking baby steps or giant steps, swimming, or walking backward. Suggest kids take turns being the traffic director by calling out “Stop” or “Go” at appropriate moments.

Note: Follow church security rules for dismissing children.


Everyone seems to get sick at some point in his or her lifetime … most often many, many times! Illness is probably no stranger to the kids you teach. In today’s Bible story, Naaman—a commander for the Syrian army—was really sick. He had leprosy, a skin disease that was likely disfiguring and isolating. Without a cure, Naaman would face great suffering. But help came from an unlikely source: a young slave girl.

The people of Israel and Syria were often at odds with one another. The Syrians sometimes attacked the cities in Israel and plundered them. They took what they wanted, including people to work as slaves. The young slave girl who served Naaman’s wife had been taken from her home in Israel.

As an Israelite, the girl knew about the one true God. She was familiar with God’s prophets, including Elisha, who had performed miracles to help and heal people. The girl told her mistress that Elisha the prophet could heal Naaman. So the king of Syria sent a letter to the king of Israel, asking him to cure Naaman of his leprosy. But the king of Israel had no power to heal Naaman. The power to heal comes only from God.

Elisha called for Naaman. But what happened next was not at all what Naaman expected. Naaman expected Elisha to call upon the name of God, wave his hand over Naaman, and miraculously heal him. Instead, Elisha instructed Naaman to go wash in the river.

Naaman was angry! If Naaman wanted to wash in the river, he could have done that back home! But Naaman’s servants urged him to wash. He did, and he was made clean.

Not all sick people will be healed on this side of heaven, but our physical maladies are symptoms of an even greater illness—sin. Jesus’ death and resurrection provided healing—forgiveness and eternal life—for those who trust in Him.

Leader BIBle stUdY


4


Session Title: Elisha and NaamanBible Passage: 2 Kings 5Big Picture Question: Who heals us from our sin? Jesus heals us from our

sin.Key Passage: 2 Kings 17:13-14Unit Christ Connection: The prophets called God’s people to repentance






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Elisha and Naaman2 Kings 5

Naaman (NAY muhn) was an important man. Naaman was the leader of the army from Syria, and he did a good job leading the army. The king of Syria liked Naaman. Sometimes Naaman and the army attacked the cities of Israel. God’s people lived in Israel. Naaman and the army took things that did not belong to them. They even took people to work for them as slaves. Naaman was a strong leader, but he was sick. He had a problem with his skin.

A young girl from Israel had been taken by Naaman’s army, and she worked as a slave for Naaman’s wife. When the girl heard that Naaman was sick, she wanted to help him. She wanted Naaman to feel better.

“I know someone who could help Naaman,” the girl said. “There is a man in Israel who can make him better.” Naaman wanted to get better! He went to see the king of Israel. But the king of Israel could not help Naaman.

“I am not God,” the king said. “I cannot make sick people well. Only God can do that.”

Elisha was a prophet. God had chosen Elisha to tell people things that God said. Elisha heard about Naaman, and he invited Naaman to his house. Naaman went to Elisha’s house and stood by the door. He was ready to be healed! Naaman thought Elisha would come and wave his hand over Naaman’s skin to heal him. But that’s not what happened.

Elisha sent someone to tell Naaman what to do. “Go wash seven times in the Jordan River.” Wash in the river? Naaman said, “I could have washed in the rivers near my home. Did I travel all this way for nothing?”

Naaman felt angry. He started to leave, but his servants asked him to do what Elisha said. So Naaman went to the river. He dipped himself into the river seven times. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Then

The BIBle storY


Naaman’s skin was all better! He wasn’t sick anymore!Naaman went back to Elisha. He said, “I know your God is the one

true God.” He wanted to thank Elisha by giving him gifts, but Elisha did not want the gifts. So Naaman started to go back home.

Elisha’s servant Gehazi (gih HAY zigh) stopped Naaman. “Wait!” he said. Gehazi told Naaman a lie. Gehazi said he needed the gifts Naaman had. He said he wanted to give the gifts to some people who were visiting Elisha. Naaman gave Gehazi some silver and some clothing.

But Gehazi did not give the gifts to anyone else. He was greedy, and he kept them for himself. What Gehazi did was wrong. When Elisha saw Gehazi, Elisha said, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” Gehazi told another lie. He said, “I didn’t go anywhere.”

Elisha knew what Gehazi had done. He knew he had taken gifts from Naaman. Gehazi was punished for doing the wrong thing. Gehazi got sick, and—like Naaman—he had a problem with his skin too.

Christ Connection: Naaman was sick. He had a problem with his skin. When Naaman washed in the river, his skin got better. No one can obey God all the time. We are all sick with a sin problem. When we trust in Jesus, He heals us. God forgives us and makes us better.


Large Group WorshIp

Large Group Worship (15–20 minutes)Follow your church’s security procedures as preschoolers arrive.

Welcome and singTo the tune “Are You Sleeping?” sing:

“ Welcome, (child’s name), Welcome, (another child’s name), Come on in. Come on in. I am glad to see you. I am glad to see you. Come, sit down. Come, sit down.”

Practice the key passage and a Bible skillDisplay the timeline and guide volunteers to share details of any Bible story represented on the timeline. Remind kids that people wrote God’s words in the Bible, so we could learn about God and Jesus. Read the key passage aloud.Say • God wants us to listen to Him. Sing “God’s Perfect Words” together.



Words” song





Watch or tell the Bible storyRemind children that at the end of the last session’s Bible story, Elijah found Elisha working in a field. Elisha left his work to follow Elijah. God wanted Elisha to be His prophet in Elijah’s place. Watch the video “Elisha and Naaman,” or open your Bible to 2 Kings 5 and tell the Bible story in your own words. Say • What was Naaman’s problem? (He was sick with a

skin disease.) Everyone is sick with a sin problem. When we trust Jesus, God’s Son, as our Savior, Jesus heals us from our sin.

Worship with song and praySay • Who heals us from our sin? Jesus heals us from our

sin.Lead children to sing with you (tune “Are You Sleeping?”):

“ Jesus heals us, Jesus heals us, From our sin. From our sin. Jesus loves and heals us, Jesus loves and heals us, From our sin. From our sin.”

If time permits, sing “God Will Listen When You Pray” or “My God Is So Big.”

Pray, thanking God that Jesus heals us from our sin, if we ask Him to do so. Collect an offering at an appropriate moment.

Transition to small groupsDescribe each small group activity first. Help children recall that Naaman dipped himself in the river seven times. Encourage children to count to seven with you several times. Then suggest kids move to the activity of their choice while hopping, clapping, or nodding vigorously seven times.

• Bible• “Elisha and

Naaman” video (optional)



• offering basket







Play “Elisha Says”Play “Elisha says,” saying, “Elisha says, ‘Do (name a motion) seven times.’ ” If you do not precede an instruction with “Elisha says,” kids should not do it. Begin with an up-and-down motion, such as touching the floor, to recall Naaman’s dipping into the river.Say • Elisha was a prophet—a messenger for God. He told

people messages from God. Elisha told Naaman how to be healed. When Naaman obeyed, he was healed. Who heals us from our sin? Jesus heals us from our sin.

Paint over bubblesTape page-size sheets of bubble packing material to the table, bubble side up. Brush paint across the bubbles. Press a sheet of paper over the painted bubbles. Remove it to find a bubble print. Enjoy the activity, and suggest that Naaman’s skin may have looked something like the bubble print. Remind kids that Naaman was an enemy of God’s people, but that God is slow to anger. He is kind and loving. God made a way to heal Naaman when Naaman obeyed.

PREPLOW

• paper• bubble packing

material• tape• paint• paintbrushes






Experiment with water Fill the dish with water. Sprinkle enough pepper onto its surface to cover the surface of the water. Squeeze a drop of dish soap into the dish. The pepper should “run away.” (Eventually, the soap will cover the surface, and the pepper will sink from the surface.)

Retell the part of the Bible story where Naaman obeyed Elisha’s instructions from God and his skin became clean.

Make a disease disappearOutline a gingerbread-man shape that fills a page. Make a copy for each kid and laminate it, or make a few copies and insert each copy into a clear plastic letter-size sleeve. Encourage preschoolers to draw disease sores on the body with a dry erase marker and then wipe the sore places away. Say • After Naaman obeyed and washed in the river, God

healed him, and his skin looked like a young boy’s. We are sinners. Who heals us from our sin? Jesus heals us from our sin.

Count nature itemsSet out three to five groups of various nature items. Only one group should have seven items. Kids should look and guess which group has seven. Then, actually count to see if they were correct. Invite kids to set out sets of items for you to guess. Read the key passage poster aloud.Say • Somebody in today’s story did listen and obey God’s

command. Who was it? (Naaman) What happened to him? (He was healed.) Who heals us from our sin? Jesus heals us from our sin.


• dish• pepper• liquid dish soap• water

• paper• dry erase markers• letter-size clear

plastic sleeves (optional)

• dry erase erasers or paper towels

• collections of 7–10 rocks, twigs, leaves, or other easily available nature items




Large Group closINg

Large Group Closing (10+ minutes)Play “Mighty to Save” as children arrive from small group activities.

ReviewDisplay the timeline and ask a volunteer to find the picture of Elisha and Naaman. Ask questions to help preschoolers recall details of the Bible story.• What was wrong with Naaman? (He had a problem with

his skin.)• What did Naaman want Elisha to do for him? (He wanted

Elisha to wave his hand and heal his skin. He wanted to tell Elisha how to heal him.)

• What happened when Naaman obeyed and washed in the river? (He was healed. He learned that Elisha’s God is the one true God.)

Worship by praying and singingTalk about ways people sin, or do wrong things, every day. Show the big picture question poster.Say • Who heals us from our sin? Jesus heals us from our

sin.


• Bible• Timeline Map







Thank God for taking care of us. Thank God for Jesus. Sing “My God is So Big.”

Missions story: A thankful manDr. Doug Derbyshire and his wife, Cheryl, are missionary doctors in Thailand. They want people there to have good health. They want people to hear the good news about Jesus.

The Derbyshires go all around Thailand to hold medical clinics. One time, they had to ride on elephants to get to the clinic. Everyone who comes to a clinic is given a Bible or a booklet about Jesus. Everyone is told about Jesus. The workers pray for everyone who comes to the clinic.

One day a Buddhist monk came to the clinic. He believed in Buddha instead of God. He had had a terrible, itchy rash on his body for many years. He had gone to many doctors, but no one could help him. He said, “If your God will take my rash away, I will follow Him.”

Dr. Doug and his helpers prayed for the monk. They gave him medicine and a Bible. A few weeks later, the monk rushed into the clinic, hugging his Bible. He was so excited. His rash was gone! He had read the Bible and learned about Jesus. God had healed his rash. Better yet, God had taken away his sin.

Play “Count and Move”Say • Naaman followed directions and dipped himself in

the river seven times. Then Naaman’s skin was all better! Count to seven with me. Now, listen carefully; while you stay in place, follow directions for ways to move.• Hop four times. • Jump two times.• Sit one time. • Tiptoe five times.• Gallop six times. • Swim seven times.• Do three jumping jacks.

• map or globe

Tip: Point to Thailand on a globe or map. Show how far it is from your state.

You may choose to show “Dentists on the Lake,” a brief video about teenagers helping dentists with people who live in a lake in Vietnam.



God’s people had a history of disobeying God. Sin separated them from God. But man was created to know and love God, and God was working out a plan to bring His children back to Himself. Like any good father, God knows that disobedience needs to be punished. “For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, just as a father, the son he delights in” (Prov. 3:12).

God sent prophets to the people of Israel. He helped the prophets know what to say. The prophets warned the people to turn from their sins and obey God. Many times, the prophets told what God was going to do in the future.

Sometimes God’s people listened to the prophets. Some of the Israelites repented and followed God. But a lot of them did not. The Israelites and the kings who led them did not worship the one true God. Instead, they worshiped idols—people and things that were not God. God had been very patient with the Israelites. He had helped them in times of trouble and had delayed their punishment because He is gracious and compassionate. (2 Kings 13:23) But many years passed, and God knew His people would not love Him with all their hearts.

God had had enough of His people’s sinning. They wouldn’t listen to Him, so He allowed their enemies to send them into exile. The king of Assyria attacked Israel and laid siege to Samaria. Assyria captured Samaria and forced the people to leave the city. The Northern Kingdom of Israel was destroyed, just as God had said it would be, and the people were scattered. (1 Kings 14:15)

Israel’s exile was God’s judgment on their sin. As you teach, point kids to Jesus, who took our punishment for sin as our substitute. Our sin warrants our separation from God, but Jesus died to bring us back to Him forever.

Leader BIBle stUdY


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Session Title: The Northern Kingdom Was DestroyedBible Passage: 2 Kings 17:1-23Big Picture Question: Why did God scatter His people? God’s people

sinned against Him.Key Passage: 2 Kings 17:13-14Unit Christ Connection: The prophets called God’s people to repentance






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The Northern Kingdom Was Destroyed2 Kings 17:1-23

Hoshea (hoh SHEE uh) became the king of Israel. Israel was a kingdom in the north. Another kingdom was in the south. It was called Judah. The Kingdom of Judah had a king too. His name was Ahaz. King Hoshea did many evil things, but he wasn’t as evil as the kings who came before him.

Another country was nearby. It was called Assyria. The king of Assyria did not get along with the people in Israel. They were enemies! But the army in Assyria was bigger and stronger than Israel’s army, so Hoshea gave the king of Assyria money to leave Israel alone.

One day, Hoshea stopped giving the king money. Hoshea asked the king of Egypt for help. The king of Egypt agreed to protect Israel. This made the king of Assyria mad! He liked getting money from Hoshea. So the king of Assyria took his big, strong army, and they attacked Israel! Hoshea was thrown into prison. The army surrounded the capital city and attacked it.

The king of Assyria and his army took over the city! They made all of the people leave their homes. Then the people started walking. They walked and walked and walked. The army made the people of Israel walk far away—hundreds of miles—to the land of Assyria.

What a bad thing to happen to the people of Israel! All of the people were probably scared. Maybe some of them cried and wanted to go home. God’s people were prisoners in another land. But God was still in control. God let His people be taken away from their homes because His people had sinned. They had broken God’s laws and forgotten about Him.

God had done so many good things for the Israelites. Do you remember that God saved His people from Egypt when they were slaves? He sent Moses to lead them. God took care of them. But after a while, the people forgot about God. They forgot that God had taken care of them. They acted as if God wasn’t real. Instead of worshiping

The BIBle storY


God, they worshiped other people and other things. This is exactly what God had told them not to do!

God even warned His people. He sent men called prophets to tell them to stop doing bad things. Did the people listen to the prophets? No. In fact, they did even more bad things!

God said, “Enough!” He was angry that His people sinned. God punished the people. He let their enemies attack them and take them far away from home.

Christ Connection: When the people of Israel did not do what God said, God punished them. We disobey God too, but Jesus took our punishment for us. People who trust in Jesus can be with God forever.


Large Group WorshIp


Welcome and singSmile warmly and lead children to sing with you the first four stanzas of “I Can Say Hello.”

Learn a new wordExplain that scatter means to separate and move off quickly in different directions. Read the big picture question aloud. Play a game to help children understand what it means to scatter.

Lead preschoolers to march in a circle as you play “Mighty to Save.” When the music stops, kids must scatter to other parts of the room. When the music resumes, they may re-form the circle and continue to march around.

Scatter and return several times; then, everyone sit down. Say • Why did God scatter His people? God’s people

sinned against Him.

Practice the key passage and a Bible skillRead the key passage aloud. Explain that God’s people sinned by not listening when He told them to keep His

• Play “God’s Perfect Words” in the background as you welcome incoming preschoolers. Follow your church’s security procedures.






Words” song





commands. Why did God scatter His people? God’s people sinned against Him.

Sing “God’s Perfect Words.”Display a Bible.

Say • What are the two main parts of the Bible? (the Old Testament and New Testament) In the Old Testament, God punished His people by scattering them. In the New Testament, Jesus took the punishment for our sin so we could be forgiven and be brought back to God.

Watch or tell the Bible storyRemind kids of the game in which they scattered every time the music stopped. Say • The Bible story is about God’s people being

scattered. Listen carefully to hear how the people were scattered and where they went.

Watch the video or hold your Bible open in your lap as you tell the Bible story in your own words.

Worship with song and prayListen to the song “Mighty to Save” as you collect the offering. Provide coins for children who did not bring an offering, so everyone may take part.

Pray. Say thank you to God for sending His Son, Jesus, and for the Bible, which tells us about God and Jesus.

Sing “God Listens When I Pray.” Sing “My God Is So Big.”

Transition to small groupsSet up activities in one of these ways: for the entire group to do at the same time; in small groups that rotate through each activity; or set up as centers, allowing kids to choose.

Introduce the small group activities and explain the rules for moving from one to another.

• Bible• “The Northern

Kingdom Was Destroyed” video (optional)


• “God Listens When I Pray” song


• offering basket




Play “Red Light, Green Light”Kids line up at one end of the room, facing the leader. The leader holds up the green sign and shouts, “Green light!” The kids walk quickly toward the leader, stopping when the leader holds up the red sign and shouts, “Red light!” Repeat until the kids get to the leader. Play again. Say • God told the people to stop sinning, but they didn’t.

Practice making an SPrint a large S on sandpaper. Form the letter using yarn on the sandpaper. Other options: cover the printed letter with colored pom-poms or bend chenille stems into S shapes. Talk about S words: sin, scatter, save. Say • God’s people sinned and were not sorry, so God

scattered them. Trusting in Jesus saves us from the punishment (not the consequences) for our sin.

Build block towers Show the picture “King Solomon’s Sin Divided the Kingdom.” Point out the towers (altars) on the high places


PREPLOW

• 2 pieces of paper, red and green

• sandpaper• yarn• marker• chenille stems• paper• marker• pom-poms

• blocks or stackable boxes

• “Solomon’s Sin Divided the Kingdom Picture” (enhanced CD)






where people worshiped idols. As kids build towers, remind them that God warned His people often not to worship idols. Idols would make them forget about the one true God. Say • God told His people to tear down the altars and break

the idols, but they didn’t. Only a few good kings obeyed. Knock down the towers! But don’t let blocks hit people!

Make coin rubbingsStick coins to the table with double-stick tape. Help kids place paper over a coin and rub over it with a crayon. Make several coin rubbings on the page, and then count them. Say • King Hoshea paid the king of Assyria money to

leave Israel alone. What happened when King Hoshea stopped giving the king of Assyria money? The king and his big, strong army fought Israel. They won the war and made the people of Israel move away from their homes. God had scattered His people. Why did God scatter His people? God’s people sinned against Him.

Scatter seeds or blow bubblesTalk about scattering. Seeds are scattered in nature. How does that happen? Animals, wind, and water carry seeds. Some seeds float away; wind carries some seeds away; birds or animals may carry them away; sometimes seed pods burst open and seeds fling away from the plant.

Turn on a fan or create wind with paper fans to watch tissue paper “seeds” or bubbles scatter.Say • Why did God scatter His people? God’s people

sinned against Him. What does scatter mean? (to cause something to separate and go off in different directions) God used enemy armies as one way to scatter His people.


• coins• crayons• thin paper• double-stick tape

• seeds• bits of tissue paper• fan• bubble solution

and bubble wands (optional)



Large Group closINg

Large Group Closing (10+ minutes)Play the song “Mighty to Save” to welcome children to the large group.

ReviewAsk children to find today’s Bible story on the timeline. Read the key passage aloud. Then ask the big picture question. Say • Why did God scatter His people? God’s people

sinned against Him.Talk briefly about the people of Israel who had to leave their homes and move away to another country. Ask why the people in the picture looked so sad. Then remind kids that because of Jesus, we don’t have to be sad. We can be with God forever.

Worship by praying and singingPray • Thank You, God, for Jesus. Thank You for listening

to us when we pray. Thank You that when we trust in Jesus, we can be with You forever.

Sing “God Will Listen When You Pray.”




Slide or Poster






Missions story: Too busy to listenCourtney Street tells people on the island of Antigua about Jesus. Sometimes they want to hear the good news, but sometimes they tell him to go away. One man listened to Courtney and decided to accept Jesus.

One day the man came back to Courtney. He asked Courtney to go with him to tell some friends about Jesus. Courtney went with his new friend to a house filled with men who were doing bad things. The man told his old friends to stop doing bad things and believe in Jesus.

The people were shocked and angry. They said, “Go away. Come back later.” They were too busy to listen.

Courtney did not want to go back, but he wanted the men to hear about Jesus. He and his friend went back to the house. Some of the men scattered because they did not want to hear about Jesus.

Five people stayed to listen to Courtney and his friend. They knew they had sinned against God. They knew that Jesus took the punishment for their sin so they could be brought back to God. All five men trusted Jesus. Courtney and his friend started a new church in their house.Say • Hooray! Five men trusted Jesus!

Play “Follow the Leader”Say • Watch carefully and copy what I do. Move different parts of your body. Repeat every movement several times. You might shrug your shoulders, shake your head strongly or gently, wiggle your fingers, tap your toes, flex your biceps, march in place, stick out your tongue, swing your arms, or shake your hips.



Unit 14: Great ProPhets


Session 1:What does God do when people sin? God loves people, but He punishes sin.

Session 2:Does God stop loving us when we sin? God loves us even when we sin.

Session 3:How can we be forgiven? God forgives people when they are sorry and ask for forgiveness.

Session 4:What is God’s desire for people? God wants all people to be saved.


Unit 14: Great ProPhets

Unit Description: Like Elijah and Elisha before, God continued to send prophets to the people of Israel, Judah, and other nations to warn of God’s judgment to come. God sent messages of judgment but also sent messages of hope.

Unit Key Passage:Jonah 4:2

Unit Christ Connection: Through these prophets we see a picture of the salvation provided through Jesus Christ.

Session 1:Amos, Prophet to IsraelAmos 1–9

Session 2: Hosea, Prophet to IsraelHosea 1–14

Session 3:Jonah, Prophet to NinevehJonah 1–4

Session 4:Joel, Prophet to JudahJoel 1–3

Trouble at the Top


The prophet Amos was a common, working man. He raised sheep and tended fruit in the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Then God called him, saying, “Go, prophesy to My people Israel” (Amos 7:15).

By all appearances, the nation of Israel was doing well. They were prospering economically, their borders were expanding, and sure, King Jeroboam was an evil and ungodly man, but he could have been worse.

But God was not pleased with His people. Their hearts were far from Him. They ignored God’s laws, worshiped idols, and mistreated the poor. They were greedy, hypocritical, and prideful. So God called Amos to tell Israel that God was going to judge them for their sin.

The name Amos means “burden” or “burden bearer.” Amos was certainly a man with a burden. Taking God’s message to the people of Israel was no easy task. The Israelites expected the day their enemies would be judged. (Deut. 30:7) But when Amos told Israel through three sermons that God’s judgment would also fall on them, they told him to go away.

Amos’s call to repent seemingly fell on deaf ears. The Israelites’ refusal to turn back to God eventually led to their exile and brought an end to their time of prosperity and optimism.

The Book of Amos ends with a good promise. Notice some of the words God used to describe the future of His nation: “I will not totally destroy the house of Jacob” (Amos 9:8); “I will restore ... repair ... rebuild” (Amos 9:11).

As you teach, help kids understand that a holy God is perfectly just in judging sin. Highlight the anticipation of God’s unfolding plan to graciously restore His people once and for all through the righteous life, wrath-absorbing death, and life-giving resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Leader BIBLe stUDY


1


Session Title: Amos, Prophet to IsraelBible Passage: Amos 1–9Big Picture Question: What does God do when people sin? God loves

people, but He punishes sin.Key Passage: Jonah 4:2Unit Christ Connection: Through these prophets we see a picture of the

salvation provided through Jesus Christ.




Preschool WorshIP oVerVIeWUNI T

14

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Great Prophets 59

Amos, Prophet to IsraelAmos 1–9

A long time ago, God’s people lived in two groups. Some of the people lived in Judah, and some of the people in Israel. Judah and Israel were countries right next to each other. A man named Amos lived in Judah. Amos was a farmer. He raised sheep and grew fruit. One day, God talked to Amos. God said, “Go, talk to My people in Israel.” God wanted Amos to tell the people of Israel something very important—a message from God! Amos went to Israel. He obeyed God.

The people of Israel probably looked happy. The country was strong, and they were ruled by a king—King Jeroboam (JER uh BOH uhm). But God could see what other people couldn’t see. God could see His people’s hearts. God knew the people did not love Him, so they were not truly happy. They sinned a lot.

God is holy. He punishes sin. Amos went to Israel to warn the people. He told them that God was going to punish them.

“First, God is going to punish the bad people around you,” Amos said. “Then God is going to punish you too!”

Why would God punish His own people? God’s people knew God, but they did not love Him. They did the same bad things their enemies did. They were mean to people who were poor, and they worshiped idols—people and things that are not God.

Amos said, “An enemy army is going to come and take away everything you have.” Amos reminded the people of all the things they did wrong. They deserved to be punished.

“Go to God and live!” Amos said. “God is in control of everything! Who put the stars in the sky? God did! Who makes the sun rise and set? God does! Who makes it rain? God does! God made everything, and He can destroy it too.”

God did not want people to pretend anymore. They said they loved God, but they didn’t mean it. God wanted His people to be holy like He

The BIBLe storY


is holy. God was going to punish His people by making them leave their homes. They were going to go far away, and they would be sad.

God showed Amos what would happen to Israel. God gave Amos a vision. A vision is like a dream, but Amos wasn’t sleeping. He was awake.

Buzz! Buzz! God was going to send locusts! Locusts look like grasshoppers, and they eat up plants. The locusts would eat up all the plants the people grew for food. Amos prayed. He asked God not to send the locusts. God agreed.

Then Amos saw a fire. The fire burned up everything in Israel. Amos prayed again, “God, please stop!” So God said, “I will not send the fire.” But God said He was still going to punish the people for their sins.

King Jeroboam heard about the things Amos said would happen. Jeroboam did not like it. This was bad news! The priest went to talk to Amos. “Go away!” he said. “Go home!”

Amos said, “God will punish the people like He said. The people will be taken far away from their homes.”

Before Amos went home, he left the people with some good news. Yes, God was going to punish the people, but He was not going to stop His plan there. God is loving and merciful. After the people were punished, God was going to fix things. He was going to bless Israel again. “And I promise,” God said, “that My people will never again be taken from their land.”

Christ Connection: God is holy and He punishes sin. But God also loves people. God wanted His people to stop sinning and love Him, but they would not. God punished His people. God loves us. We sin and should be punished. But God sent Jesus to be punished for us.

Great Prophets 61

Large Group WorshIP

Large Group Worship (15–20 minutes)Play “Live Like That” as children join you for the large group worship. Smile and greet each child by name.

Welcome and singGet the wiggles out with a fun song such as “Whose Side Are You Leaning On?”

Practice the key passage and a Bible skillIntroduce the key passage and explain big words in the key passage song such as compassionate (caring and loving), abounding (having more than enough), gracious (kind), and relents (becomes less strict). Play “I Know,” and then invite kids to sing the song with you.

Open your Bible to Amos.Say • Can anyone name the two main parts of the Bible?

(the Old Testament and the New Testament) Can anyone name any of the books, in either part of the Bible? [Wait for some answers.] One of the books in the Old Testament is called Amos. It is named after a person. Today’s Bible story is about that person and what God told Amos to tell the people of Israel.

Locate Amos on the timeline. Lead the boys and girls to

• Play “Live Like That” in the background as you welcome preschoolers. Follow your church’s security procedures.



Poster • “I Know” song• Timeline Map





recall some Bible stories on the timeline before Amos. Then look ahead to the coming of Jesus, God’s Son.

Watch or tell the Bible storyIf you have printed the Bible story picture, display it now, or refer to the picture on the timeline. Looking at the picture, ask kids to guess what kind of work Amos did before God called him to be a prophet. Tell them to listen to the Bible story to learn whether they guessed right.

Open the Bible to the beginning of Amos and remind kids that this story is true. God gave it to us in the Bible. Watch the video or tell the Bible story in your own words.

Keep the Christ connection in mind as you end the story on a positive note.

Worship with song and prayPlay “Come, Christians, Join to Sing” as you guide a volunteer to collect the offering.

Sing “I Know Jesus Loves You and Me,” encouraging kids to do the appropriate actions along with the words.Say • What does God do when people sin? God loves

people, but He punishes sin. We can be happy because God loves us. He loves us so much, He sent His Son, Jesus, to take the punishment for our sins.

Pray, thanking God for sending His Son, Jesus.

Transition to small groupsBriefly describe each activity. Use the countdown video to help kids move to the small group of their choice.

Choose and set up activities that work for your time, resources, and kids. Create or modify activities as needed. Do them as a group, all at the same time; in small groups that rotate through each activity; or set up as centers, allowing preschoolers to choose what looks good to them.

• “Amos, Prophet to Israel” video (optional)

• Bible Story Picture Slide or Poster (optional)

• Bible


• “Come, Christians, Join to Sing” song

• “I Know Jesus Loves You and Me” song

• offering basket


Great Prophets 63


Play musical detectivesKids sit in a circle with eyes closed. The leader moves around the room, stopping periodically to hum a tune or play a note on a step bell. Kids keep eyes closed and point to where the leader might be. Compliment their listening.

Vary this by listening for pitch. If the pitch is high, kids stand tall; if pitch it low, they scrunch down low. Say • The people in Israel didn’t listen to God.

Make a faceTell each kid to draw eyes, nose, and hair on a paper plate. At the end of the activity, she may glue or tape a chenille stem mouth onto the plate. Ask kids to hold the chenille stems in a smile or frown as appropriate in these situations:• One child gets a bigger piece of bread than another. • One child has a fancy outfit on; the other has holes in her

clothes and no shoes. • An open cupboard/pantry has very few items in it. • A person gives warm boots to a child who has none.Say • Many people in Israel were selfish and treated others

badly. They didn’t obey God. He punished them.


PREPLOW

• step bells or any instrument that plays an octave or at least 5 graduated notes

• paper plates• chenille stems• glue or tape• markers






Talk on a string telephone Make a tiny hole in the bottom of the cans or cups. Cut a piece of string long enough for talkers to stand far apart. Push each end of the string through the hole into the cup. Tie a knot on each end. Keep the string tight between the cups with nothing touching it. Practice the big picture question or saying, “God made (sun, rain, night, …).” Say • A prophet tells people messages from God.

Sometimes the message is about something that may happen a long time later and far away.

Learn ways your church helpsIf your church has a clothes closet or food pantry to help people in need, take the kids to see it. Otherwise, invite a church member involved with a ministry helping others to come tell preschoolers what he does. Say • God wanted people to help others in need. God is

happy when we help others.

Play “Pass the Figs”Explain that Amos grew figs and picked them from his fig trees. Play a relay with teams of two to four kids. Place the same number of “figs” for each team at one end of the room and their basket at the other end. Spread team members in a line from their figs to their basket. The team member nearest the figs picks one up, passes it to the next kid in line, and so on until the last kid drops it in the basket. Keep teams small so that kids must move to pass the ball. Say • God is holy and must punish sin. God also loves

people. Amos told the people to stop sinning and love God, but they would not. What does God do when people sin? God loves people, but He punishes sin.



• 2 cans, paper cups, or plastic cups

• string

• 12 beanbags, rubber balls, or newspaper balls

• baskets or boxes, 1 per team


Great Prophets 65

Large Group cLosInG


Play the unit song or “I Can Say Hello” as background music as children gather around you.

ReviewLocate today’s Bible teaching picture on the timeline and invite volunteers to identify Amos’s job before God made him a prophet. Prompt children to recall what locusts have to do with today’s Bible story. (In a vision, Amos saw locusts eating up all the food farmers grew.) What else did Amos see in his visions? (fire burning up everything) But God said He wouldn’t punish the people with locusts or fire.Say • What does God do when people sin? God loves

people, but He punishes sin.Help preschoolers relate God’s punishing sin to everyday life. Give examples of ways kids might misbehave and be disciplined. Volunteers may stand up or raise a hand if they can relate to examples: leaving toys on the floor; playing with someone else’s stuff without permission; having to go to timeout; having to say sorry.

Worship by singingSing the song “His Love Goes on Forever.”

• “Live Like That” song• “I Can Say Hello”

song

• Bible• Timeline Map• Big Picture Question

Slide or Poster

Tip: To avoid embarrassment, never ask kids questions about family life unless you already know the answers.

• “His Love Goes on Forever” song





Ministry activity: Draw pictures to show loveIf your preschool and children’s ministry is currently involved in a missions project, talk about it now. If not, suggest children draw pictures or decorate cards to show love to people who are homebound, hospital patients, or residents of a local care center or homeless shelter.

Provide heavyweight paper, and crayons or washable markers. As kids work, relate the key passage to sharing the good news about God’s love with people who might not know about God.

Thank preschoolers for sharing God’s love with others, just as Amos told the people of Israel about God’s love.

Play “Red Light, Green Light”Talk about traffic lights. What does the red light mean? (Stop) What does the green light mean? (Go) In the same way, God sent Amos and other prophets to warn people to STOP going their own way and to GO the way God wanted them to go.

Hold up two sheets of paper: one red and one green. Explain that you will hold up the green paper and give instructions about how to move around the room. When you say stop and hold up the red paper, everyone must freeze in place. Give instructions like these.

• Tiptoe very slowly.• March in place.• Step sideways.• Everyone form a line, holding hands and walking

around the room• Hop three times on one foot, and then hop three times

on the other foot. Keep switching feet until I say, “Stop!”


• heavyweight paper• crayons or washable

markers

• sheet of green paper• sheet of red paper


Great Prophets 67

God sent the prophet Hosea to speak to Israel a message of God’s hatred toward sin and His coming judgment. But God also sent Hosea to bring a message of love—a love that never gives up. God used Hosea’s own life to show Israel what a never-gives-up kind of love looks like.

God told Hosea to marry a prostitute. God told Hosea that his wife would not be faithful to him. She would give birth to children who were conceived with other men. Hosea obeyed God. He chose Gomer as his wife. Just as God said, Gomer was not faithful to Hosea. She went after other lovers. Can you imagine Hosea’s grief each time he found his wife with another man?

It would have been easier for Hosea to throw up his hands and say, “Enough! I’m done with you!” God’s people were no different than Gomer. They were spiritual adulterers. Their hearts chased after other lovers. They loved and worshiped idols, people and things that were not the one true God.

It would have been easier for God to throw up His hands and say, “Enough! I’m done with you!” But God’s love never gives up. He gave Hosea a love for his wife that compelled him to buy her back from the slave market after all she had done. In the same way, God sought after His unfaithful people even after all they had done. God paid a high price—the life of His Son, Jesus—to bring them back to Himself.

Remember to present the story of Hosea in an age-appropriate way. God used Hosea’s unfaithful wife to show the people of Israel that they are unfaithful to Him. God gave Hosea a deep love; Hosea was willing to buy back Gomer even after all she had done. God’s love is deep, and it never gives up. He goes after His people and loves them back to Himself.

Leader BIBLe stUDY


2


Session Title: Hosea, Prophet to IsraelBible Passage: Hosea 1–14Big Picture Question: Does God stop loving us when we sin? God loves

us even when we sin.Key Passage: Jonah 4:2Unit Christ Connection: Through these prophets we see a picture of the






14

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Great Prophets 69

Hosea, Prophet to IsraelHosea 1–14

Hosea was a prophet. His job was to listen to God and then tell the people of Israel what God said. God gave Hosea a message to tell the people. God told Hosea to do something too. God said, “Go and marry a woman. She will not love you with her whole heart. She will love other men. Be a daddy to her children.”

God was going to use Hosea’s life to teach the people of Israel a lesson. The way Hosea’s wife treated Hosea would be just like the way the people of Israel treated God. The people did not love God with their whole hearts, and they loved other things and people more than they loved God.

God asked Hosea to do something very hard. It isn’t easy to love someone who doesn’t love you too. But Hosea did what God said. He married a woman named Gomer. Gomer had a baby boy. God told Hosea to name the baby Jezreel. The name Jezreel was special because it meant that God was going to punish Israel.

Then Gomer had another baby. This baby was a girl. God told Hosea to name the baby “No Mercy.” What a strange name! God was not going to show mercy to the people anymore. He was going to give them what they deserved, and they deserved to be punished.

A while later, Gomer had a third baby. This baby was a boy, and God said, “Name him ‘Not My People.’ ” For a long time, the people of Israel had been God’s people. He promised to take care of them if they obeyed Him. But God’s people did not obey Him. So God said, “You are not My people.”

Gomer did not love Hosea like a wife should love her husband. She ran away from home. The people too did not love God like they should. They ran away from Him.

What do you think Hosea did when Gomer ran away? She had done many things to hurt him. Did he let her go? No! When someone you love

The BIBLe storY


goes missing, you go after her! Hosea found Gomer and brought her back home. Hosea loved his wife even though she had hurt him. Hosea would never stop loving Gomer.

Hosea said to the people, “Turn back to God. He still loves you. He is going to punish you for your sin, but when the punishment is over, He will take care of you.” The people of Israel acted like Gomer. They ran away from God, but God kept loving them. God loves His people with a love that never gives up. God had a plan to get His people back no matter what.

Christ Connection: Gomer did not love Hosea with all her heart. She did things that made Hosea sad, but Hosea still loved Gomer. God’s people do not love God with all their hearts. We do things that make God sad, but God still loves us. He showed us His love by sending Jesus to be our Savior.

Great Prophets 71

Large Group WorshIP


Welcome and singPlay the song “His Love Goes on Forever” as you greet each child. Smile warmly and make each one feel welcome.

Practice the key passage and a Bible skillRead the key passage aloud; rephrase it in your own words to help preschoolers understand some big words. Say • Does God stop loving us when we sin? God loves us

even when we sin.Sing “I Know” and help children understand that God loves us very much, even when we do wrong things.

Refer to the timeline and locate Hosea. Open your Bible and explain that, just like Amos, Hosea has a whole book of the Bible named after him. Help kids name some other books with which they are familiar. (Genesis, Exodus, Psalms, maybe Jonah—next Bible story on the timeline)

Watch or tell the Bible storySay • We have heard Bible stories about God’s people

not obeying Him. God sent many prophets to tell the people what He wanted them to do. He sent Elijah. He

• Play “His Love Goes on Forever” in the background as you welcome preschoolers. Follow your church’s security procedures.


Poster • “I Know” song• Timeline Map• Big Picture Question

Slide or Poster

• Timeline Map• “Hosea, Prophet

to Israel” video (optional)






sent Elisha. He sent Isaiah. He sent Amos. [Refer to these pictures on the timeline.] Today we will hear about another prophet. His name was Hosea.

Tell the Bible story in your own words or watch the video “Hosea, Prophet to Israel.”Say • Did Hosea stop loving Gomer, even when she sinned?

(No) Does God stop loving us when we sin? God loves us even when we sin.

Worship with song and prayerSay • Knowing that God loves us even when we sin makes

me feel so happy. Let’s sing some happy songs about God and Jesus.

Sing “God Loves Everybody” and “I Know Jesus Loves You and Me.” Encourage kids to move to the music or do actions mentioned in the song as they sing along with you.

Explain that one way to worship God is to sing songs about God and Jesus. Another way to worship is to tell God we love Him, or to say thank you to God.

Invite volunteers to take turns saying thank you to God for something that makes them happy.

Play the song “His Love Goes on Forever” as you collect any offerings the children have brought to the session.

Transition to small groupsDescribe the available small group activities. Then remind kids that Hosea and Gomer had three babies. Suggest that kids take baby steps to reach the activity of their choice.

• “God Loves Everybody” song



• offering basket





Great Prophets 73


Hide a heartHide a small paper heart in the room and challenge kids to find it. The person who finds the heart gets to hide it next.Say • In the Bible story about Hosea, his wife ran away

from home. Hosea loved her; he looked for her and brought her home. Does God stop loving us when we sin? God loves us even when we sin.

Draw with chalkEncourage kids to draw a beautiful sunrise or soft rain on flowers (based on Hosea 6:3).Say • Does God stop loving us when we sin? God loves us

even when we sin. God promised He would bring some people back home to Israel after they lived for a while in a different land. God always keeps His promises, just as He makes the sun rise every morning and the rain fall to the ground. We can trust God to do what He says.

Look up what names mean Bring in a dictionary that gives meanings of names, or use a website with name meanings. Look up names of kids in your class, or print their names with meanings on cards to


PREPLOW

• small paper heart

• colored chalk• paper

• dictionary of names or computer

• cards






show them. Talk about the names of Hosea’s children.Say • Hosea’s children had strange names that described

God’s people. God promised He would change their sad names to happier names one happy day in the future.

Make a tornado in a bottleAccording to Hosea 8:7, Israel’s sinful actions would have the same result as a tornado. Fill the bottle 3/4 full. Add a few drops of dishwashing liquid and some glitter. Kids can take turns holding the bottle upside down by the neck and spinning the bottle in circles several times. Stop to see whether a small tornado is forming in the water. Keep trying if it doesn’t work at first. While kids wait for a turn, they might copy the motion by spinning around!Say • A tornado would destroy food growing in the fields

and knock down buildings. Worshiping idols would destroy life in Israel. Other nations would make war on them, take them away, eat their crops, and tear down their buildings. Life would be hard until they stopped sinning. Then God would make things right. Does God stop loving us when we sin? God loves us even when we sin.

Match heartsCut hearts out of different colors or patterns; make a small heart to match each large heart. Put small hearts into a bag and tape large hearts spaced around the floor. Kids may take turns pulling a heart from the bag and tossing a beanbag on the large heart that it matches. Variation: Draw pairs of similar large hearts on a white board. Kids take turns throwing suction cup balls at matching hearts.Say • Does God stop loving us when we sin? God loves us

even when we sin.


• water• clear plastic bottle

with a cap• glitter• dishwashing liquid

• matching small and large hearts

• tape• bag• beanbag• suction cup balls

(optional)• white board

(optional)

Great Prophets 75

Large Group cLosInG


Review the Bible storyAs kids arrive, give each one a large sheet of colored paper. Instruct them to lay their papers on the floor and stand next to them. Give instructions like the following, but alter them if any kids live in sensitive situations.

• If you have a mom or dad in your family, stand on your paper.

• If you have a brother in your family, sit on your paper.• If you have a sister, touch your paper with both hands.• If someone in your family loves you, hold your paper

over your head like an umbrella.Show the timeline. Ask someone to find Hosea and his family on the timeline. Ask questions to help kids recall facts about Hosea’s family and other details of the Bible story. Say • Does God stop loving us when we sin? God loves us

even when we sin.

Worship with a song and praySing “His Love Goes on Forever.” Pray briefly, thanking God that He loves us even when we sin. Include each child’s name in the prayer.

• paper, various colors• Timeline Map






Missions story: Using a yo-yo to tell about JesusTyler Young is a missionary kid living in the Czech Republic, a country in Europe. His family moved there from Illinois to tell the people about Jesus. One way Tyler makes friends is with his dog. The Czech people love dogs. Tyler’s dog is named Smudge, and Tyler got him soon after they came to the Czech Republic.

Tyler is very, very good with a yo-yo. He enters contests in Europe and in the United States. Tyler also teaches yo-yo classes at schools and camps. This is another great way to meet people and make friends. Everyone loves to see the cool tricks Tyler can do with a yo-yo. Then they want to learn how to do those tricks, too.

Tyler’s mom tells kids about Jesus. She speaks in Czech. Tyler’s sister, Emma, repeats everything in English. While they tell kids about Jesus, Tyler performs tricks with his yo-yo. Kids who might not stay to hear about Jesus stay to watch the yo-yo tricks. They learn about Jesus, too.

Tyler is very glad he is so good with a yo-yo. Tyler is glad he can help people hear about God’s love.

Play “A Family Outing”Suggest that all the children are part of a large family and that the family is going on an unusual trip. Start at one side of the room, and pretend to walk on a variety of surfaces as you cross the room together. How might the family walk on the following?

• A hot surface • Rocks• Sand • Incoming tide• The moon • A pile of dry leaves


Great Prophets 77

The Book of Jonah is not primarily about Jonah and a big fish. While those elements are important, Jonah’s account centers around the compassion of God, not only for the people of Israel, but for people throughout the earth—even Israel’s worst enemies!

God spoke to Jonah: “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because their wickedness has confronted Me” (Jonah 1:2). God is the judge of all the earth (Gen. 18:25), and He is sovereign over all the nations. Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, and the rulers of Nineveh were notoriously evil and cruel. No wonder Jonah ran the other way!

No one can flee from God’s presence. (Ps. 139:9-10) Through a storm and some time in the belly of a fish, God got Jonah’s attention. Jonah went to Nineveh. For three days, Jonah walked around the city. His message to the Ninevites was brief: “In 40 days Nineveh will be demolished!”

The people of Nineveh immediately repented, and God withheld His judgment. He passed over their sins and did not demolish the city. How did Jonah react? “Jonah was greatly displeased and became furious” (Jonah 4:1). God rebuked Jonah and prompted him to examine his heart. He left Jonah—and the reader—with a question to consider: “Should I not care about the great city of Nineveh?” (Jonah 4:11).

Jesus is greater than Jonah. (Matt. 12:41) Jesus came calling all sinners, Jews and Gentiles, to repentance. He didn’t only bring a message; He truly loved us. He submitted to God’s will with joy and laid down His own life for our sins. And God shows His mercy in the gospel, forgiving those who trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior. God sends us out, like Jonah, to share the good news of salvation.

Leader BIBLe stUDY


3


Session Title: Jonah, Prophet to NinevehBible Passage: Jonah 1–4Big Picture Question: How can we be forgiven? God forgives people

when they are sorry and ask for forgiveness.Key Passage: Jonah 4:2Unit Christ Connection: Through these prophets we see a picture of the





Preschool WorshIP oVerVIeW

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Great Prophets 79

Jonah, Prophet to NinevehJonah 1–4

Jonah was a prophet. Like Hosea and Amos, Jonah listened to God and then told people what God said. One day, God talked to Jonah. God said, “Go to Nineveh. The people have been doing very bad things. Tell them to stop.”

Jonah was afraid! Nineveh was a city in Assyria. The people in that city did not love God. They were not God’s people, and they were very mean! So Jonah ran the other way. He got on a boat to go far away. Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh.

But God wanted Jonah to go to Nineveh. God sent a storm. The boat Jonah was on went up and down on the waves. The sailors on the boat were scared! They cried and asked their false gods for help. They threw things into the sea.

Wait, where was Jonah? Jonah was not crying and throwing things into the sea. He was below deck—sleeping! The captain of the ship woke up Jonah. “Get up!” he said. “Ask your god to save us. We don’t want to die.”

The sailors cast lots, like flipping coins or tossing dice, to figure out who to blame for all this trouble. The lot fell on Jonah. The sailors asked Jonah, “Who are you? What are you doing here? Where did you come from?”

Jonah said, “I am one of God’s people. I worship the one true God who made everything.”

The sailors were afraid. What did Jonah do to make God angry? The storm was getting worse. The boat went up and down on the waves. They shouted to Jonah, “Tell us what to do!”

Jonah said, “Throw me into the sea!” So the sailors picked up Jonah and threw him over the side of the boat. Splash! Jonah fell into the sea.

Even if Jonah was a good swimmer, he would get tired and start to sink. But God did not let Jonah drown. God sent a big fish to swallow Jonah. Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights. Jonah prayed to God. He thanked God for sending the fish to save him. Then

The BIBLe storY


the fish vomited Jonah onto dry land.God said, “Jonah, go to Nineveh. Tell the people My message.” This

time, Jonah went to Nineveh. He walked around the city and shouted, “In 40 days, God will destroy Nineveh!”

The people in Nineveh heard Jonah. They did not want God to destroy them! They stopped doing bad things. They showed God that they were sorry. Everyone—even the king—was sorry. So God decided not to destroy Nineveh.

Jonah was mad! Why was God being so kind to such bad people? “I knew You would do this!” Jonah said to God. “You are a gracious God. You do not give people what they deserve. You are slow to get angry, and You love people. I am so mad!”

“Is it right for you to be mad?” God asked Jonah. Jonah left the city of Nineveh. He made a shelter and waited. Maybe God would change His mind and destroy Nineveh. But God didn’t. Instead, God taught Jonah a lesson.

God made a plant to shade Jonah from the sun. Jonah was happy. Then, God sent a worm. The worm ate the plant, and the plant died. Then God sent wind. Jonah was so hot, he almost fainted. He was not happy.

God asked, “Are you mad that the plant died?”“Yes,” said Jonah.God wanted Jonah to know that He cared about the people in Nineveh,

even though they were bad people. God said, “You cared about the plant, but you did not take care of it or make it grow. The city of Nineveh has many, many people. They need help. I made them, and I care about them. Aren’t people more important than a plant?”

Christ Connection: God was going to punish the people in Nineveh because they sinned. The people of Nineveh were sorry. They told God they were sorry. God did not punish them. He showed them mercy. God showed mercy to the world by sending His Son, Jesus. Jesus took the punishment we should get for our sin. God wants us to go, like Jonah, and tell others about Jesus.

Great Prophets 81

Large Group WorshIP

Large Group Worship (15–20 minutes)Follow your church’s security procedures as kids arrive.

Welcome and singWelcome the children as they join the large group. When everyone is seated, sing the song “God Loves Everybody.”

Practice the key passage and a Bible skillHold open a Bible to show the Book of Jonah.Say • Today’s Bible story is about Jonah. Remember that

Amos and Hosea were prophets who have books of the Bible named after them. Jonah was also a prophet, and one of the books of the Old Testament is called Jonah.

Encourage volunteers to name any books they know in the Old Testament. Refer to the timeline to help children recall Bible stories they have heard recently.

Display the key passage poster and mention that this verse is found in the Book of Jonah. Read the passage aloud. Lead the preschoolers to sing “I Know” with you.

Watch or tell the Bible storyOpen your Bible to the Book of Jonah and tell the Bible story in your own words. Or you may watch the video “Jonah, Prophet to Nineveh.”



Poster • “I Know” song

• Timeline Map• “Jonah, Prophet

to Nineveh” video (optional)






Say • How can we be forgiven? God forgives people when they are sorry and ask for forgiveness.

Review the Bible storyMake a large X on the floor with painter’s tape or lengths of yarn to mark Nineveh. Make another X on the opposite side of the room to mark the boat.

Starting at a point between the Xs, play out the Bible story. Did Jonah go directly to Nineveh? (No, he went in the opposite direction.) Move children to the boat area, and then jump out of the “boat” into the “water.” Provide a parachute or sheet for kids to huddle under as you tell about Jonah being swallowed by the big fish. At the appropriate moment, move everyone to Nineveh, and then outside the city, as the story unfolds.

Read the key passage aloud. Say • How can we be forgiven? God forgives people when

they are sorry and ask for forgiveness. Jesus came to take the punishment for our sin. How can we be forgiven? We can tell God we are sorry, ask for forgiveness, and trust in Jesus.

Worship by singing and prayingPlay “God Loves Everybody” as you collect the offering. Sing “I Know Jesus Loves You and Me.” Pray briefly, thanking God for sending Jesus.

Transition to small groupsChoose the activities you can manage and enjoy. Describe the activities and encourage kids to “swim” to the activity of their choice.

Note: A big fish swallowed Jonah, not necessarily a whale.

• painter’s tape or yarn

• parachute or sheet• Key Passage Slide or

Poster



• offering basket


Great Prophets 83


Change directions Play a favorite song and give instructions on which way kids should walk, hop, shuffle, or whatever you say—forward, backward, or side to side. Stop the music, change the instruction, and continue. Say • God told Jonah to go to Nineveh. Jonah went the

exact opposite direction. God stopped Jonah from going the wrong way, and Jonah changed directions.

Sort colorful fishCut out several simple fish shapes from different colors of construction paper. Attach paper clips and use the fish in one of these ways: place them on a blue paper “lake” and fish with a magnet on the fishing line; sort colors of fish into muffin tins; or drop fish into different sizes of buckets. Say • How did God care for Jonah while Jonah was running

away? (sent a fish to keep him safe)

Grow a bean plantSoak fava bean seeds (or other broad beans) in water for an hour before class. Help each kid swirl water in a clear plastic cup, dump out the water, but leave the cup wet. Put a


PREPLOW

• music

• colored paper• paper clips• muffin tin

(optional)• fishing pole with

magnet• different sized

buckets

• fava bean seeds• clear plastic cups,

1 per kid• paper towels• ziplock bags






folded paper towel in the cup to hold the bean seed against the side of the cup. Talk about how plants need sunlight and water. Send each kid’s planted bean home in a ziplock bag. Print instructions on the bag: Put the cup on a sunny windowsill; spoon a little water on it every day for 10 days. Say • God made a plant to shade Jonah from the hot sun.

Then God sent a worm to eat the plant. How did Jonah feel when the plant died? (angry) God said, “You were more angry that the plant died than that people in Nineveh might die.” God forgave the people in Nineveh. How can we be forgiven? God forgives people when they are sorry and ask for forgiveness.

Rock the boatPretend the parachute is the boat in the storm. Place “Jonah” on the “boat” and rock the boat, trying to keep him on the boat. Then toss him off the boat.

For an alternate game, call different kids to take a turn going under the towel to be “in the belly of the fish.”Say • God wanted Jonah to warn Nineveh; God wanted to

forgive the people in Nineveh.

Paint on a mapMake copies of the Jonah map. Instruct kids to paint blue on the “Great Sea.” Paint a mixture of 1/4 cup glue and 1/2 cup water on the land. Stir the mixture and spread with a soft brush or sponge. Sprinkle sand on the land. Say • Jonah told the people of Nineveh to be sorry for their

sin or God would destroy their city. The people were sorry, and God forgave them. How can we be forgiven? God forgives people when they are sorry and ask for forgiveness.


• parachute or beach towel

• doll or something else to represent Jonah

• “Jonah Ran Away Map,” 1 per kid (enhanced CD)

• blue watercolor paint

• cup of water• glue• paintbrushes• sand

Great Prophets 85

Large Group cLosInG


ReviewAs children locate and study the picture of Jonah on the timeline, prompt them to recall details of the Bible story.Give each child an opportunity to name one thing he remembers about Jonah. Talk briefly about forgiveness.Read the big picture poster. Say • How can we be forgiven? God forgives people when

they are sorry and ask for forgiveness.Read the key passage. Play the key passage song if time permits.

Worship with a song and praySing “His Love Goes on Forever” and “God Will Listen When You Pray.”

Pray, thanking God for His love and forgiveness.

Missions story: Prisoners can be forgiven, tooWhen Don Williams retired after 22 years in the Air Force, he needed a new job. He had a wife and six children, and he still needed paychecks. Now he works as a counselor in a prison for teenagers in Oklahoma.


Slide or Poster• Key Passage Slide or




Note: You may choose to show the missions video “We Had to Do Something.”





Don did not know anything about teenagers in prison. He is glad that God opened his eyes to see people in prison as people God wants to forgive. Don is glad that God is at work in prisons all over America, forgiving people when they are sorry and ask for forgiveness.

Don says, “Two of the men I work with who are in prison are there because they did awful things. They asked God to forgive the terrible things they had done, and God saw their hearts and forgave their sins.” Even though these young men will never get out of prison, they tell others in prison about Jesus. They tell others that God will forgive their sins if they are sorry and ask Him to forgive them.

Don is glad that no matter what anyone has done wrong, God can forgive that person. So many people in prisons across America still need to hear that good news, so they can be forgiven, too.

Play “Ways to Travel”Talk about some ways Jonah traveled: he walked, he rode in a boat, he swam in the water, and he was carried in the belly of the big fish. What are some ways we can travel today?

Encourage kids to play out driving around the room in a car, riding together on a bus or train (hold hands and form a long line), flying in a plane, crawling like a baby, riding a tricycle, or even walking backward around the area.


Great Prophets 87

The prophet Joel spoke to the Southern Kingdom of Judah at a time when the nation faced a crisis. The land had been invaded by locusts; swarms of the insects had devastated the plants. In addition to the locusts, Judah was affected by a severe drought. Joel looked back on these events and announced that these were not mere natural disasters—the Lord was judging the people for their sin.

In Deuteronomy 28, God told His people, “If you do not obey the Lord your God by carefully following all His commands and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come and overtake you: … You will sow much seed in the field but harvest little, because locusts will devour it” (vv. 15,38). That is exactly what happened.

These disasters were a wake-up call. Joel told the people to repent. He told them to fast. He told them to gather and repent together, crying out to God and asking Him to show them mercy. Then Joel looked ahead to the future. In essence he said, “You think this is bad? This is only the beginning!”

God’s judgment of Judah was not over. The Day of the Lord was coming, a day when God would show His strength through an invading army. For those who were not right with God, this was bad news. God’s power would be against them. So Joel implored them, “Return to the Lord your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in faithful love, and He relents from sending disaster.”

God had pity on His people and promised to restore them. God would rather forgive His people than punish them. He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for sins so people could be right with God. An ultimate Day of the Lord is coming, and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Leader BIBLe stUDY


4


Session Title: Joel, Prophet to JudahBible Passage: Joel 1–3Big Picture Question: What is God’s desire for people? God wants all

people to be saved.Key Passage: Jonah 4:2Unit Christ Connection: Through these prophets we see a picture of the






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Great Prophets 89

Joel, Prophet to JudahJoel 1–3

Joel was a prophet. God spoke to Joel, and Joel told people what God said. God gave Joel a message to tell to the people in Judah. Bad things had been happening in Judah. No rain had fallen for a long time. The people ignored God. They did not do what God said to do. God warned the people what would happen if they did not obey Him. One of the things God said would happen was this: “You will plant seeds in your field, but the locusts will eat the plants.”

What do you think happened when the people of Judah disobeyed God? Swarms of locusts came into the land. They ate the plants. When the locusts went away, more locusts came. They ate up any plants that were left. When they went away, more locusts came. One, two, three, four. Four swarms of locusts came to Judah. They ate the plants for growing grapes, grain, apples, and other fruits.

Joel said, “Listen to me! Has this ever happened before?” No, the locusts had never eaten all the plants in Judah before. But there had been locusts somewhere else. Do you remember where? Some of the people might have remembered hearing the story. Many, many years before—when Moses led God’s people out of Egypt—God sent locusts to punish the Egyptians for doing bad things. Now God was punishing the people of Judah for doing bad things too.

“Be sad for your sin,” Joel said. “Ask God to forgive you.” Joel told the people to get together and cry out to God. “A day is coming when God will punish sin once and for all!” Joel said. “That day will be terrible!”

What would happen on such a terrible day? Joel said that God was going to send a strong army to Judah. This was very bad news! The army would take over Judah. Everyone would be scared. No one would be able to survive their attack.

“Stop doing bad things and turn back to God,” Joel said. “God is

The BIBLe storY


loving. He would rather forgive you than punish you.”Joel had some good news from God. One day, God was going to

send rain to make the plants grow. God would send rain so the animals could drink water. God said, “I will save anyone who calls to Me. I will bring My people back together.”

Then God said, “Another day of punishment is coming. I will punish people who turn away from Me. I will pay back all of your enemies for the bad things they did to you. I am your God. If you stop sinning, I will forgive you. I will be with My people forever.”

Christ Connection: The people in Judah sinned. To punish them, God sent locusts and stopped the rain. Joel told the people to be sorry for their sin. Jesus also wants people to be sorry for their sin. Jesus died to take away our sin, and He is alive. If we trust in Jesus and are sorry for our sin, God forgives us.

Great Prophets 91

Large Group WorshIP

Large Group Worship (15–20 minutes)Play “Live Like That” in the background as children arrive.

Welcome and singWelcome kids and sing “I Know Jesus Loves You and Me.”

Practice a Bible skill and the key passageSay • Do you remember Bible stories about Amos and

Hosea and Jonah? Each of these men was not only a prophet but also had a book of the Bible named after him. Can you name any other books in the Old Testament?

Refer to the timeline to help children recall details of earlier Bible stories and people.

Introduce today’s Bible story; explain that Joel was another prophet who told people to be sorry for their sin. Joel also has a book in the Bible named after him. Show the Book of Joel.

Read the key passage aloud from the poster. Then sing the key passage song “I Know” together.

Watch or tell the Bible storyPrint and display the Bible story picture for kids to study, or point to it on the timeline. Ask a volunteer to point to the insect on the leaf. Take guesses of what kind of insect it is.

• Follow your church’s security procedures.

• “Live Like That” song• “I Know Jesus Loves

You and Me” song



• Bible Story Picture Slide or Poster

• Timeline Map• “Joel, Prophet

to Judah” video (optional)






Say • Listen to the Bible story to find out what this insect is and why it was important to the people of Judah.

Open your Bible to Joel 1. Tell today’s Bible story in your own words, or watch the video “Joel, Prophet to Judah.” Follow up with review questions.Say • What is the insect in the Bible story picture? (a

locust) What did the locusts do? (They ate all the plants growing food for the people.) Who sent the locusts? (God) Why did God send the locusts? (God was punishing the people of Judah for their sin.) What is God’s desire for people? God wants all people to be saved.

Help kids make the Christ connection.

Worship by singing and prayingPlay “Live Like That” as you guide a volunteer to collect the offering. Supply a few coins for anyone who did not bring an offering (to teach giving at church).

Sing some upbeat songs such as “His Love Goes on Forever,” “God Loves Everybody,” or “My God Is So Big.”

Pray; thank God for sending so many prophets to tell people about His love. Say thank you to God for sending His Son, Jesus. Allow time for volunteers to pray, too.

Transition to small groupsDescribe each activity you have set up. Remind kids about the swarms of locusts that invaded Judah. Invite kids to hop, creep, or “fly” to the activity of their choice. You may prefer to use the countdown video.

Note: Locusts are the swarming phase of certain species of grasshoppers. Grasshoppers can hop; locusts fly. Swarms of hungry locusts can eat everything green in sight.

• “Live Like That” song• offering basket• “His Love Goes on

Forever” song• “God Loves

Everybody” song• “My God Is So Big”

song


Tip: Do activities• as a group, all at the

same time• in small groups

that rotate through activities

• in centers, allowing kids to choose among them

Great Prophets 93


Make a fruit treeCut a 9-by-36-inch strip of green paper or tape sheets together to make a strip. Roll up the paper, beginning with the short end, and tape it into a tube shape. Print on the tube these references: Joel 1:12 and Joel 2:22.

Cut 2 to 3 inches down the side of one end of the tube. Make more cuts all the way around the tube, about an inch apart. Gently pull the inside layers out of the tube to make a tree. Cut and tape yellow circles (figs) to the branches.Say • Joel, the prophet, warned the people in Judah of bad

times when there wouldn’t be rain, and the trees wouldn’t produce fruit. But later, God would forgive the people, and there would be plenty to eat. What is God’s desire for people? God wants all people to be saved.

Work food puzzlesCut cereal box fronts into 6 to 12 puzzle pieces each. Put each puzzle in a ziplock bag for kids to work.Say • The people in Judah sinned. To punish them, God

sent locusts and stopped the rain. Joel told the people to be sorry for their sin. Jesus also wants people to be sorry


PREPLOW

• green and yellow construction paper

• tape• scissors• pen

• cereal boxes • scissors• ziplock bags






for their sin. Jesus died to take away our sin, and He is alive. If we trust in Jesus and are sorry for our sin, God forgives us.

Wave to the music Play the “Ride of the Valkyries” by Wagner (hear it online) or choose other stirring music. Give each child a craft stick. Attach strips of crepe paper to wave like locust swarms.

When the music begins, locusts are on the ground. The children listen to the music and move their craft sticks up, down, and in circles according to how the music sounds to them. Alternate idea: Use punch balls.Say • Some of the messages from God that the prophets

said sounded very scary, but God wanted people to ask Him for help and forgiveness. What is God’s desire for people? God wants all people to be saved. Every scary message ended up by saying God will make things right.

Make grasshoppersHelp kids color a clothespin green with a marker. Color eyes on the closed part of the clothespin. Thread a chenille stem through at the spring, and bend it into legs. Put it on the floor, press down, and make it hop. Say • Locusts and grasshoppers are related. Think about

millions of locusts eating everything green and growing. Where else did God send locusts? (Egypt)

Paint with fruit-shaped stampsCut sponges into fruit or vegetable shapes, or paint with apple halves. Kids can stamp them on paper. Say • What is God’s desire for people? God wants all

people to be saved. One day, Jesus will make everything right, and there will be plenty of food for everyone.


• “Ride of the Valkyries” from Die Walkure by Wagner

• craft sticks• crepe paper strips• tape• punch balls

(optional)

• clothespins• green and black

markers• chenille stems

• sponges• tempera paint• apple halves

(optional)• paper


Great Prophets 95

Large Group cLosInG


ReviewPlay the song “I Know” as children return from small group activities. Display the big picture question poster. Ask a volunteer to point to today’s Bible story on the timeline. Say • What insect is this in the picture? (locust)

What did the locusts eat? (all the plants)Who sent the locusts? (God)Why did God send locusts? (to punish the people of

Judah for their sin)What is God’s desire for people? God wants all people

to be saved.Help preschoolers understand that God is loving and patient. God wants us to love and obey Him. Joel shared good news from God, too. God would send rain. The plants would grow. God wants all people to be saved.

Show the key passage poster and read it.

Pray and singPray • Thank You, God, that Your Son, Jesus, took our

punishment for us, so we can be forgiven.Sing “I Know Jesus Loves You and Me.”

• “I Know” song• Bible• Key Passage Slide or


Slide or Poster• Timeline Map • Bible Story Picture

Slide or Poster (optional)






Missions story: Telling neighbors about JesusWhat is God’s desire for people? God wants all people to be saved. But how can people learn about God? Members of a Vietnamese church in Pennsylvania worked together to tell everyone in their neighborhood about Jesus. Even the kids had a part.

First, the children went on a prayerwalk around the neighborhood with their pastor. It was a cold, windy day in March, but they stopped in every block and prayed for the people who lived or worked there.

Next, they helped fill bags with information about Jesus and about their church. The information was printed in both English and Vietnamese. The children helped hang the bags on doors. They also set up a table at a local Asian market. They gave bags to everyone who wanted one. Even 4-year-old Michelle helped hand out bags. By the end of the day, they had given away over 1,000 bags.

Christine, age 13, was excited that people came to their church because of information they found in the bags. One homeless woman they met in the market came to their church many times. She became a Christian. Christine, and the other children, were glad they had prayed and shared information about Jesus with so many people in their neighborhood.

Play “What Can Fly?”Name animals, birds, fish, and insects. When you name a creature that can fly, kids flap their arms like wings. Otherwise, kids stay still. Include locusts in the list of insects that can fly. After several rounds, invite kids to call out other kinds of moving creatures.


Great Prophets 97

Unit 15: IsaIah, ProPhet to Judah


Session 1:Why did God call Isaiah? God called Isaiah to warn His people.

Session 2:What does Immanuel mean? Immanuel means “God is with us.”

Session 3:What can you do when you are scared? I can pray to God for help.

Session 4:Whom did Isaiah preach about? Isaiah preached about Jesus.


Unit 15: IsaIah, ProPhet to Judah

Unit Description: Isaiah, a prophet from Jerusalem, prophesied to the kings of the Southern Kingdom, Judah. Because God loved His people, He sent prophets to warn them to repent but also to give them hope. The people did not listen.

Unit Key Passage:Isaiah 53:6

Unit Christ Connection: God’s promised Messiah comes out of David’s family and is described in Isaiah’s prophecy.

Session 1:God Called IsaiahIsaiah 6

Session 2: Isaiah Confronted AhazIsaiah 7

Session 3:Hezekiah, Judah’s Faithful King2 Kings 18–20

Session 4:Isaiah Preached About the MessiahIsaiah 53

Trouble at the Top


King Uzziah’s death marked the end of an era. His reign had been long and prosperous. Uzziah became king when he was 16, and he reigned over Judah for 52 years. Uzziah had listened to the prophet Zechariah; he feared God and God made him prosper. But Uzziah’s pride got the best of him. “When he became strong, he grew arrogant and it led to his own destruction. He acted unfaithfully against the Lord” (2 Chron. 26:16). God struck Uzziah with leprosy. Then Uzziah died.

Under Uzziah’s leadership, God’s people had turned away from the promises of God and trusted in the promises of the world around them. God had promised to bless the entire world through Abraham’s family, but God’s people were rebellious. Instead of blessing, they set themselves up to receive God’s judgment.

But God’s plans and promises were not thwarted. God sent Isaiah to preach a message of hope. Even though God was going to correct His people through judgment, His purpose was one of grace through which God would receive glory. God planned to send a Messiah who would bring salvation to the world.

Isaiah 6 opens with Isaiah worshiping in the temple. Then God gave Isaiah a vision. Isaiah saw God sitting on a throne. In the year that King Uzziah died, God was sitting on the throne. God was reigning over the universe. The magnitude of God’s holiness made Isaiah realize the magnitude of his own sin. His response? “Woe is me!”

God extended His grace to Isaiah. He took away Isaiah’s guilt. God passed over Isaiah’s sins because He was going to send Jesus to pay for them. In His death on the cross, Jesus paid for the sins—past, present, and future—of those who would trust in Him. When we trust in Jesus, God says to us, “Your guilt is taken away. Your sin is atoned for.”

Leader BIBLe studY


1


Isaiah, Prophet to Judah

Session Title: God Called IsaiahBible Passage: Isaiah 6Big Picture Question: Why did God call Isaiah? God called Isaiah to

warn His people.Key Passage: Isaiah 53:6Unit Christ Connection: God’s promised Messiah comes out of David’s

family and is described in Isaiah’s prophecy.

Large Group Worship (15–20 minutes) ...............................................................................Page 104

Small Group Activities (25–30 minutes) ...............................................................................Page 106

Large Group Closing(10+ minutes) ...................................................................................Page 108


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Isaiah, Prophet to Judah 101

God Called IsaiahIsaiah 6

Isaiah was a prophet like the prophets Joel and Jonah. God chose Isaiah to take God’s message to His people. Do you know what the name Isaiah means? It has a special meaning. It means “The Lord saves.” That was God’s message Isaiah took to the people: God saves sinners.

When God spoke to Isaiah, Isaiah heard His voice, but Isaiah had never seen God. One day, God did something Isaiah would never forget. Isaiah was worshiping God in the temple, and God gave him a vision. A vision is like a dream, but Isaiah was awake. Isaiah saw God sitting on a throne. Who sits on thrones? Kings do! God was wearing a long robe. It was so long, it filled the temple! And creatures with wings were standing above God. They said, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord. The whole earth is filled with His glory.”

The voices of the creatures made the temple shake, and it filled with smoke. Isaiah knew he was with God. He said, “Oh no! I am a sinner. I cannot be with God, or I will die! But I’ve seen Him!”

Then one of the winged creatures flew to Isaiah. The creature had a burning coal. He touched Isaiah’s mouth with the coal and said, “Your guilt is gone, and your sin is wiped away.”

Then Isaiah heard God talking. God said, “Who will I send? Who will go for us?” God had an important message to share, and He wanted someone to tell it to everyone.

Isaiah said, “I’m here! Send me.”God said, “Go.”Isaiah went to the people to preach to them. First, God warned Isaiah,

“The people will not listen to what you have to say. You will tell them My message—that they can stop sinning and be rescued—but they will not listen.”

“How long should I talk to them?” Isaiah asked. “How long will they not listen?”

The BIBLe storY


“Keep telling them My message until their cities are destroyed and no one lives there anymore,” God said. “I am going to send the people far away.”

God said that some of the people would come home one day. God would bring some people back to Judah. Those people would be some of the only ones left in Abraham’s family. A long time ago, God promised to bless the world through Abraham’s family. God was going to keep His promise; God always keeps His promises.

Christ Connection: Isaiah knew he was sinful and shouldn’t be with God. God is holy. God forgave Isaiah’s sin. God had a plan to send His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. We must trust Him. When we trust in Jesus, we answer like Isaiah: “Here I am. Send me.”


Large Group WorshIP


Welcome and singGreet boys and girls by name and ask them to name one place they enjoyed going to this week. How did they travel there? Give everyone an opportunity to respond.Say • Today we will hear that God sent someone to travel

around the country telling people about God.Sing a fun song such as “I Saw.”

Practice a Bible skill and the key passageOpen your Bible and explain that people wrote God’s words in the Bible. Many of these people were prophets; they told people God’s words. Some of the prophets wrote the words in Bible books. The books they wrote were named for them. Display the timeline.Say • We have heard Bible stories from books by Amos,

Hosea, Jonah, and Joel. Today we will hear about another prophet. His name was Isaiah. Can you guess the name of the Bible book that tells us about him? (Isaiah)

Open your Bible to Isaiah 53. Display the key passage poster and explain that these are some of the words Isaiah wrote in his book. Read the key passage aloud, and then

• Play “Your Love Never Fails” in the background as preschoolers arrive. Follow your church’s security procedures.

• “I Saw” song


Poster • “All We Like Sheep

(Thank You, God)” song





sing “All We Like Sheep (Thank You, God)” to help preschoolers become familiar with the words.

Watch or tell the Bible storySay • Sin is any word, thought, or action that does not

please God. The Bible tells us that everyone has sinned. In this Bible story, when Isaiah saw God, he realized that he was a sinner, too.

Watch the video “God Called Isaiah” or hold your Bible open in your lap and tell the story in your own way.Say • When the angel touched Isaiah with the special coal

from the altar, God forgave Isaiah’s sin. When we trust in Jesus, God’s Son, God forgives our sin.

Why did God call Isaiah? God called Isaiah to warn His people.

Worship with songs and prayPlay “Your Love Never Fails” as you collect an offering. Say • Isaiah was in the temple when he had the vision of

God on His throne. Sometimes people call the temple “the house of the Lord.” Sometimes people call church “the house of the Lord,” too.

Sing the songs “I Was Glad” and “He Has Made Me Glad.”Encourage volunteers to pray, thanking God for

something God has made or done that makes them glad.

Transition to small groupsDescribe the activities. Send individuals to the activity of their choice.

• Bible• “God Called Isaiah”

video (optional)• Big Picture Question

Slide or Poster

• offering basket • “Your Love Never

Fails” song• “I Was Glad” song• “He Has Made Me

Glad” song







Wander like sheepRead the key passage poster. Talk about what it means to go astray like sheep and do whatever we want to. Talk about the trouble sheep might get into if they wander around their own way. (fall off a cliff, get lost, be eaten by a bear or lion)Say • When we disobey God, we sin. We are like sheep

that can get into trouble. God sent Jesus to be punished instead of us if we trust Him.

Whom do missionaries tell?Cut people figures using a die cut, or use index cards. Kids may add hair and faces to the people figures. Ask kids about things they like to do or know about. For example, sports (player, announcer), musician (band member, teacher, instrument repair person), dinosaurs (paleontologist), fashion (model, designer, seamstress). Kids may decorate their figure as one of those people and tape cards to the walls. Tape as many cards as you can. Comment on the variety: “Look at all the people we can tell about Jesus.”Say • God sends people who like different things all over

the world to tell different people about Jesus.

Select activities those which your class will enjoy.

PREPLOW


• people figures or index cards

• markers• tape






Make a “telling” sticky collage Cut out pictures of people’s mouths from magazines or catalogs, or print them from the Web. Also cut out images of communication items (billboards, computers, megaphones, newspapers, cell phones, and so forth). Hang a piece of contact paper, sticky side out, on the wall, or lay it on a table. Attach the pictures to the contact paper.Say • Why did God call Isaiah? God called Isaiah to warn

His people.

Move “coals” with tongsUse tongs to move black pom-poms from one bowl to another.Say • Isaiah knew he was sinful and shouldn’t be with God.

God is holy. Then one of the winged creatures in Isaiah’s vision touched Isaiah’s mouth with a burning coal and said, “Your guilt is gone, and your sin is wiped away.” That is the way God forgave Isaiah’s sin.

To forgive our sin, God sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross. We are called to trust Him. When we trust in Jesus, we answer like Isaiah: “Here I am. Send me.”

Why did God call Isaiah? God called Isaiah to warn His people.

Play “Who Will Go?”This could be used as a cleanup game. Ask questions like, “Who will go and bring me a Bible? Who will go and put a red block on the shelf?”Say • When God said, “Who will go?” to tell the people a

message, Isaiah said, “Here I am. Send me.” Why did God call Isaiah? God called Isaiah to warn His people.


• “Telling Sticky Mural” (enhanced CD)

• pictures of mouths and communication items from magazines

• clear contact paper

• tongs• pom-poms• bowls, 2



Large Group cLosIng


ReviewAs children return to the large group, sing “He Has Made Me Glad” or “I Was Glad.”

Talk about why Isaiah might have been glad to be in the temple. (For one thing, he had a vision of God there.)

Encourage volunteers to walk through the Bible story as you retell it up to the point where God said, “Go.” One child may represent God, another, Isaiah, and the others may be winged creatures. When one of the seraphim pretends to touch Isaiah’s mouth with a hot coal, consider using a play dough coal held by tongs, if available.

Read the key passage aloud. Say • Why did God call Isaiah? God called Isaiah to warn

His people.

Worship by singing and prayingSing “All We Like Sheep (Thank You, God)” or the song “I Was Glad.”

Pray, telling God how glad you are for each child in church today, mentioning each one by name.

• “He Has Made Me Glad” song

• “I Was Glad” song • Bible• play dough and

tongs (optional)• Key Passage Slide or


Slide or Poster

• “All We Like Sheep (Thank You, God)” song

• “I Was Glad” song





Missions activity: Make thank-you cardsBefore the session, ask your missions coordinator for names and addresses of missionaries with ties to your church. Say • Just as Isaiah shared God’s message with the people,

missionaries share God’s message of good news about Jesus with people today.

Share details of ways missionaries associated with your church help people learn about Jesus. Suggest making thank-you cards to send to these missionaries. Play music as children work.

Print names and addresses on labels for each missionary family; add the labels and stamps to each mailer. Collect the cards, help kids sort them by missionary, and place the cards in the correct mailer. Include a return address, in case any missionary has time to write back to the children.

Play “Warn the People”Encourage kids to think of a sound they might make to warn someone. They might say, “No, no, no!” They might whistle or shout. They might call, “Look out!” Everyone may make the sound she chose as long as the music is not playing. When the music starts, they must be quiet.

Play “Your Love Never Fails” or another song you choose, pausing at intervals for kids to “warn the people.” Remind them that God called Isaiah to warn His people.

Play the game again, changing to animal sounds. Change categories of sounds each time the song begins again.

• music• large mailing

envelopes• mailing labels• stamps• heavyweight paper• crayons or washable

markers• glue sticks• fabric or tissue

scraps

Note: You may choose to show “He Started It,” a brief video about how God used a boy who spent a lot of time in the hospital.

• “Your Love Never Fails” song



In the days Ahaz was king of Judah, the political situation between Judah, Israel, and Syria was tense. The Kingdom of Assyria was getting stronger and taking over nations. Israel and Syria formed an alliance against Assyria and asked Ahaz to join them. If Ahaz joined the alliance and Assyria won, he was as good as dead. If he said no and the alliance won, he was as good as dead.

Ahaz said no. What happened next is found in Isaiah 7. The kings of Syria and Israel went to Jerusalem to wage war, but the kings could not succeed.

Though they didn’t conquer Judah, they still devastated the country. Syria took many captives. Israel killed 120,000 men, plundered Judah, and took 200,000 captives. (See 2 Chron. 28:6,8.) Judah was able to survive because Ahaz entered into an alliance with the king of Assyria.

Isaiah 7 opens with the armies of Israel and Syria approaching Jerusalem, the capital of Judah. Ahaz was terrified. Isaiah and his son, Shear-jashub, gave Ahaz a message from God. “Calm down and be quiet,” Isaiah told Ahaz. “These kings are planning to conquer you, but God says this will not happen.” God would be Ahaz’s ally. All He asked of Ahaz was to trust Him.

God would give Ahaz a sign: “The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.” Immanuel means “God with us.” If God was with Ahaz, what did Ahaz have to fear? Ahaz did not trust God, and a short time later, Assyria defeated Judah.

Isaiah’s prophecy was partially fulfilled immediately with the birth of Isaiah’s son. (See Isa. 8:1-4.) Judah would escape Assyrian captivity because God was with them. Isaiah’s prophecy was ultimately fulfilled through Jesus. (Matt. 1:23) Jesus is God with us. He is our faithful ally at all times—protecting, defending, and comforting those who trust in Him.

Leader BIBLe studY


2


Session Title: Isaiah Confronted AhazBible Passage: Isaiah 7Big Picture Question: What does Immanuel mean? Immanuel means

“God is with us.”Key Passage: Isaiah 53:6Unit Christ Connection: God’s promised Messiah comes out of David’s






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Isaiah Confronted AhazIsaiah 7

The prophet Isaiah had a special job: to talk to God’s people in the Kingdom of Judah. The king of Judah was named Ahaz (AY haz). He was not a good king. He did not do what was right. King Ahaz worshiped idols—people and things that are not the one true God.

Another kingdom in the area was the Kingdom of Israel. The king of Israel was named Pekah (PEE kuh). Pekah wanted Israel to be safe, so he asked the king of Syria to protect Israel. The kings of Israel and Syria agreed to help each other in battles.

King Ahaz gave gold and silver to the king of another country—Assyria. Assyria was powerful, and its army was strong. The king of Assyria agreed to help the kingdom of Judah.

The kings of Israel and Syria were going to attack the city of Jerusalem. Ahaz was afraid! Everyone in Judah was afraid.

Ahaz didn’t need to be afraid. A long time ago, God promised his ancestor, King David, that He would be with His people. God always keeps His promises!

God sent Isaiah and Isaiah’s son to talk to Ahaz by a channel of water. Isaiah said, “Listen and be quiet. Trust God. He will take care of you.”

Then Isaiah said, “The kings of Israel and Syria are planning to attack your city. They want someone else to be king. But God isn’t going to let this happen. God is in control of everything.”

This was good news for Ahaz, but how could he be sure this was true? God’s words are always true! Isaiah spoke God’s words: “Don’t you believe Me? I’m going to protect you. Believe it!”

Isaiah told Ahaz to ask for a sign, proof that God was telling the truth. But Ahaz didn’t ask for a sign. God gave Ahaz a sign anyway. Isaiah said, “A young, unmarried girl will have a baby. She will name the baby Immanuel.”

Isaiah said that Ahaz would be safe from the other kings soon.

The BIBLe storY


“But,” Isaiah said, “God’s judgment is coming. He will punish you and the people of Judah for your sin. The king of Assyria and his strong army will attack! Your enemies’ armies will surround Judah. You won’t be able to escape!”

Christ Connection: God told Isaiah about His plan. Isaiah said that God was going to send someone named Immanuel. Jesus is the One God promised to send. One of Jesus’ names is Immanuel. The name Immanuel means “God with us.” Jesus is God with us.


Large Group WorshIP

Large Group Worship (15–20 minutes)Play “Your Love Never Fails” in the background as kids arrive. Follow your church’s security procedures.

Welcome and singGreet preschoolers warmly. Select volunteers to help you display the key passage and the big picture question posters.

Play the song “Ancient Words” as children gather in a circle with you.

Practice the key passage and a Bible skillRead the key passage aloud. Say • The words in the Bible are ancient, very old, words

that are still true. These words tell us we are all sinners and that God punished Jesus instead of us. When we trust Jesus by knowing that He took our punishment for us, then God forgives us and is with us.

Read the passage again and sing the key passage song together. Refer to the timeline to recall Isaiah’s vision of God sitting on His throne. Encourage volunteers to recall details of that Bible story. When Isaiah saw how awesome and holy God is, what did he realize about himself? (He was a sinner.) How did God take away Isaiah’s sins? (An angel touched Isaiah with a coal from the altar.)




• “Ancient Words” song




• Timeline Map





Watch or tell the Bible storySay • One name for Jesus in the Bible is Immanuel. What

does Immanuel mean? Immanuel means “God is with us.” Listen carefully to the Bible story, and raise your hand when you hear the name Immanuel.

Hold your Bible open to Isaiah 7 as you tell today’s Bible story in your own way. Or you may prefer to watch the video “Isaiah Confronted Ahaz.” Say • What does Immanuel mean? Immanuel means

“God is with us.” Briefly review the Bible story.

Worship with songs and prayInvite a volunteer to collect the offering, while you play “Your Love Never Fails” as background music. Provide coins for any child who did not bring an offering.Say • What does Immanuel mean? Immanuel means

“God is with us.” Talk about why knowing God is with us makes us feel glad.

Sing the songs “He Has Made Me Glad” and “I Was Glad.”

Pray, thanking God for giving Ahaz such a wonderful sign. Say thank you to God for sending His Son, Jesus—Immanuel—so we could know that God is with us.

Transition to small groupsDescribe each small group activity. Remind children that Ahaz was afraid because the armies of Israel and Syria were coming to fight him. But God had good news for Ahaz. God would protect Ahaz. Suggest children march like soldiers to the activity of their choice.


• Bible• “Isaiah Confronted

Ahaz” video (optional)


Fails“ song”• Big Picture Question

Slide or Poster• “He Has Made Me

Glad” song• “I Was Glad” song


Tip: Do activities one of these ways:






Sing “Whose Side Are You Leaning On?”Play the song “Whose Side Are You Leaning On?” and do motions to the fun song. Copy the motions on the music video, or practice motions for leaning, skiing, whispering, eating, leaning.Say • Do you think Ahaz was leaning on the Lord’s side?

(No! He tried to make his own plans to stay safe.)

Sketch signsSketch or describe signs that something is about to happen. Tape a poster to the wall, or use a white board. Draw or name a “sign” that predicts something is going to happen, such as lightning, which predicts thunder; clouds–rain; sunrise–breakfast; a green traffic light–cars moving through intersection; an oven with a fresh-baked scent filling the room–eating cookies; a pregnant mom–a new baby.Say • God promised to keep Ahaz safe from the enemy

kings. Isaiah said that God would send someone named Immanuel. Jesus is the One God promised to send. One of Jesus’ names is Immanuel. The name Immanuel means “God is with us.” Jesus is God with us.

Tip: Choose from these activities or develop others that suit your class.

PREPLOW

• “Whose Side Are You Leaning On? song

• large sheet of paper• markers• tape






What does Immanuel mean? Immanuel means “God is with us.”

Paint the sidewalk Paint the sidewalk with water, or use small paintbrushes on construction paper. As a child paints with water, talk about the aqueduct (channel, trough, or pipe) where God told Isaiah to take his son and meet King Ahaz. Say • Isaiah described a real place where he and his son

met the king. It was a pipe or trough through which water flowed from a spring or river to the city. There the water was collected and stored to use.

Play “Big Picture Question Hopscotch”Use masking tape to create an indoor hopscotch grid. On index cards, write the big picture question and the answer (one word per card) and tape them inside the squares. As a child hops through the grid, say each word together. Allow young preschoolers to hop the best way they can.Say • What does Immanuel mean? Immanuel means

“God is with us.”

Make a name collagePrint the child’s name (and meaning if he knows it) on a sheet of construction paper. Provide short pieces of yarn and glue to decorate the name.Say • What does Immanuel mean? Immanuel means

“God is with us.” Who is Immanuel? (Jesus)

Transition to large group closingAs kids move to the large group area, ask them to point out any signs they see along the way. If you are moving to a different area within the same room, you may post sticky notes with arrows leading the way as you transition. Talk about the sign God gave Ahaz.

• tubs of water• paintbrushes• construction paper

(optional)

• masking tape• index cards• marker

• construction paper• yarn• glue



Large Group cLosIng


ReviewPlay “All We Like Sheep (Thank You, God)” as children join you. Invite a volunteer to locate today’s Bible story on the timeline. Recall together details of the Bible story. Conclude by emphasizing the sign God would send: “A young, unmarried girl will have a baby. She will name the baby Immanuel.”Say • What does Immanuel mean? Immanuel means

“God is with us.” [Read the key passage aloud.] Jesus is the One who took the punishment for us all. Jesus was the sign that God would send. He was called Immanuel, God is with us.

Sing the key passage song, “All We Like Sheep.”

Worship with prayer and a song Pray briefly, thanking God for being with us. Encourage volunteers to pray, too.

Sing “I Saw” or another fun song that says thank you to God.




Poster



“God is with us.”Immanuel means “God is with us.”Key Passage: Isaiah 53:6Unit Christ Connection: God’s promised Messiah comes out of David’s



Missions story: God with usJeff Christopherson, a missionary in Canada, was very glad that God was with him on his river adventure. Jeff and some friends went canoeing on a river high in the Canadian Rockies. The water was very cold.

Jeff and a friend were in the last canoe. All went well until the friend leaned too far and the canoe tipped over. Both men fell into the river. The friend swam to shore and grabbed hold of a bush, but Jeff was swept by the current into the middle of the river.

Jeff was behind his friends in the other canoes, so no one heard him call for help. Jeff was carried downstream. Suddenly, he felt his overturned canoe. It nudged him toward the shore. Soon Jeff’s friends appeared and pulled him out of the water. They rescued the other friend, too. They built a fire, and the wet men got warm and dry. They thanked God for being with them and helping them.

Several of the men on the canoeing trip were not Christians. They saw how God had helped Jeff. They heard Jeff thanking God that no one got hurt. They had listened when Jeff had told them about Jesus. Later, they trusted Jesus, knowing He is Immanuel, God with us.

Play “Partner Relay”Guide kids to choose a partner. Partners join, facing the same direction, by putting arms around each other’s shoulder or holding the ends of a short cord.

Suggest different ways for partners to move across the room without letting go of each other. They might tiptoe, walk backward, take giant steps, hop, or crawl. Change partners and play the game again. As kids work together, comment that working with a partner reminds you that Immanuel means “God is with us.”

Note: You may also choose to show the missions video “God Can Use Anyone.”

• cord (optional)



He’s a chip off the old block. Like father, like son. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. These idioms exist because sons tend to look and behave like their fathers. When it comes to Hezekiah and his father, Ahaz, however, the two were far from similar.

When Ahaz was king of Judah, he did not respect God, God’s law, or God’s prophets. He worshiped idols. Ahaz “did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord his God” (2 Kings 16:2). He led the people away from God, evoking God’s wrath and anger.

Hezekiah, on the other hand, “did what was right in the Lord’s sight just as his ancestor David had done.” Hezekiah destroyed the places of idol worship and cleansed the temple. (See 2 Chron. 29.) The Lord was with Hezekiah, and Hezekiah prospered.

Hezekiah was a faithful king who led the people of Judah to worship God like they were supposed to, but even good kings are sinners. His wealth and success led to pride. How did Hezekiah react when God said everything in his palace would be carried off to Babylon? “Who cares? I’ll be dead by then.”

Jesus is our faithful King who never sinned. Check out some of these definitions for the word faithful: strict or thorough in the performance of duty; true to one’s word, promises, or vows; steady in allegiance or affection; loyal; constant; reliable, trusted, or believed; adhering or true to fact, a standard, or an original; accurate.

Jesus completed His work—the redemption of sinners. He said on the cross, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). Jesus is faithful over God’s house as a Son. (Heb. 3:6) His obedience is steadfast. (Isa. 50:4-10) “Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb. 13:8). One day Jesus will return to make all things the way they are supposed to be. (Rev. 1:1-6)

Leader BIBLe studY


3


Session Title: Hezekiah, Judah’s Faithful KingBible Passage: 2 Kings 18–20Big Picture Question: What can you do when you are scared? I can pray

to God for help.Key Passage: Isaiah 53:6Unit Christ Connection: God’s promised Messiah comes out of David’s






UNI T

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Hezekiah, Judah’s Faithful King2 Kings 18–20

Hezekiah was a young man when he became the king of Judah. He did what God said was right, just like his relative King David did. Hezekiah made some changes in Judah. Hezekiah got rid of the bronze snake Moses made. The people had worshiped the snake instead of worshiping God.

Hezekiah trusted God. He obeyed God’s commands, and God was with him. God helped Hezekiah. Hezekiah’s army beat their enemies in battle. God helped Hezekiah stand up to the bad king of Assyria.

Soon the bad king of Assyria attacked Israel—the kingdom north of Judah. The army attacked the city where the king lived. The army made all the people leave their homes and their city. They took the people to Assyria.

A few years later, the king of Assyria and his army went to Judah. Hezekiah was afraid. He did not want to leave his home like the Israelites. Hezekiah should have trusted God to protect His people. Hezekiah talked to the king of Assyria. He said, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have stood up to you. Please go away; I’ll give you as much money as you want.”

“Give me eleven tons of silver and a ton of gold,” the king said. Hezekiah didn’t have that much silver and gold! He went out to find some. Hezekiah took the silver that was in God’s temple and in the palace. The temple doors had gold on them, so he took the gold off the doors and the doorposts, and he gave it to the king of Assyria.

But the king of Assyria sent his big army and three leaders to talk to Hezekiah. The leaders talked loudly. The people of Judah could hear what they were saying. “Who do you trust to protect you?” the leaders said. The army from Assyria was strong. If they started a battle, they would win! “You should just give up,” they said.

The people did not say anything. Hezekiah sent a message to the

The BIBLe storY


prophet Isaiah. “Pray for us! Ask God to protect us!” Hezekiah said.Isaiah said, “God says, ‘Don’t be afraid. I will take care of the king

of Assyria. He will go home, and he will die there.’”Then Hezekiah got a letter from the leaders in Assyria. The letter

said, “God is not going to protect you. He has not protected the other lands from us. Why would He protect you?”

Hezekiah went to the temple to pray. He spread out the letter and said, “God, You made everything. Please save us from the evil king of Assyria. Then everyone will know that You are the one true God.” God heard Hezekiah’s prayer. God was not going to let Assyria attack Hezekiah’s city.

That night, the angel of the Lord went into the camp where the Assyrian army was staying. Many of the enemy soldiers were killed. The next day, the king of Assyria went home. He died too, just like God said he would.

One day, Hezekiah got sick. Isaiah said, “You are very sick. You are not going to get better.” Hezekiah was sad. He prayed and asked God to make him better. God told Isaiah, “I heard Hezekiah’s prayer and saw him crying. I am going to heal him.”

The king of Babylon sent a gift to Hezekiah, and Hezekiah showed the king’s messengers everything he owned. Isaiah came to talk to Hezekiah. He had a warning from God. “One day, everything you have will be taken away. The people will have to work for the king of Babylon,” Isaiah said. Hezekiah wasn’t upset because he knew he would die before this happened.

Christ Connection: Hezekiah was a good king. He led the people of Judah to love and worship God. But even good kings sin. Jesus is our faithful King. Jesus never sinned. Jesus will come back to earth to make everything right. He is our King forever.


Large Group WorshIP


Welcome and singGreet each child by name as you welcome preschoolers to the large group time. Sing the song “I Saw.” As everyone settles down, ask kids to tell about a time when they were scared.

Practice the key passage and a Bible skillSing the key passage song, “All We Like Sheep (Thank You, God),” together. Then show a Bible and ask preschoolers to name the two parts of the Bible. (Old Testament and New Testament) Remind kids that these parts are divided into books.

Refer to the timeline and prompt children to recall the names of some Old Testament books by remembering the names of prophets mentioned in previous sessions. (Amos, Hosea, Jonah, Joel, Isaiah) Encourage volunteers to name any other books of the Bible, too.

Watch or tell the Bible storyRemind children of the conversation earlier about times when they felt scared. Explain that in today’s Bible story, King Hezekiah was scared, too.

• Follow your church’s security procedures as kids arrive.




Poster • Timeline Map


• Bible• “Hezekiah, Judah’s

Faithful King” video (optional)





Say • What can we do when we are scared? We can pray to God for help. Listen carefully to hear what King Hezekiah did when he was scared.

Open your Bible to 2 Kings 18–20, and tell the Bible story in your own words. Make eye contact with the kids as you share this exciting Bible story; remember to vary the tone of your voice to reflect the various emotions in the story. Or watch the video “Hezekiah, Judah’s Faithful King.”

Begin reviewing by asking for the answer to the big picture question. Say • What can you do when you are scared? I can pray

to God for help. What did King Hezekiah do when he was scared? (He prayed and showed God the letter he had received.)

Worship by singing and prayingPlay the song “Ancient Words” as a volunteer collects the offering. Then sing the song “He Has Made Me Glad.” Briefly review the Bible story; make the Christ connection. Say • Hezekiah was a good king even though he was a

sinner. The only person who never sinned was Jesus. Jesus is our King forever.

Pray. Thank God that we can pray to Him for help when we are scared. Say thank you to God for sending Jesus.

Transition to small groupsDescribe each small group activity. Ask each kid to answer the big picture question before moving to an activity to try first: What can you do when you are scared? I can pray to God for help.

• offering basket • “Ancient Words”

song• “He Has Made Me

Glad” song







Go on a scavenger huntPrint each letter of the alphabet on an index card and hide the cards around the room. Help kids arrange them in order, and talk about using the alphabet to write messages. Retell the part of the story where Hezekiah received a letter from his enemies in Assyria that frightened him.Say • The letter said, “God will not protect you. He has

not protected other lands from us.” Hezekiah went to the temple to pray. He spread out the letter and said, “God, You made everything. Please save us from the evil king of Assyria. Then everyone will know that You are the one true God.” God heard Hezekiah’s prayer. God did not let Assyria attack the city. What can you do when you are scared? I can pray to God for help.

Make a snake reminderMake a loop in a chenille stem like a snake’s head, and twist it together. Slide beads onto the chenille stem. Loop the end of the stem through the last bead to keep the beads from falling off. Add googly eyes. If you don’t have beads, wrap the stem around a pencil and add eyes.

Tip: Select activities that your class will enjoy.

PREPLOW

• index cards• marker

• chenille stems• pony beads• googly eyes

(optional)• glue• pencil






Say • When Hezekiah was a young king in Judah, he destroyed the idols as God said to do. One of the idols was a bronze snake on a pole. Do you remember when it was made? [Show the picture “The Bronze Snake.”] It was God’s plan to heal people from snake bites, but it became an idol. Hezekiah obeyed God and destroyed the bronze snake on the pole. What did Hezekiah do when he was scared? He prayed to God for help. What can you do when you are scared? I can pray to God for help.

Work with tools Sand wood scraps or tighten screws. (Rub screws with soap beforehand to make them easier to screw.) Find a firm piece of foam board to hammer golf tees into. Say • Hezekiah was afraid of the king of Assyria. He pulled

the gold covering off the doors of the temple to give the king of Assyria. What tools do you think his workmen used? What can you do when you are scared? I can pray to God for help.

Write letters and fold envelopesBefore the session, cut and fold paper using the directions on “Fold Envelopes.” Encourage kids to write (scribble) letters and fold the envelopes around them. Seal envelopes with stickers. Older kids may want to play post office.Say • When Hezekiah received a scary letter, he prayed.

What can you do when you are scared? I can pray to God for help.

Sing and wave scarvesSing “God Will Listen When You Pray.” Wave scarves and move to the music. What can you do when you are scared? I can pray to God for help.


• “The Bronze Snake Picture” (enhanced CD)

• wood scraps• sand paper• screws• foam board• small rubber mallet• golf tees

• “Fold Envelopes” (enhanced CD)

• letter-size paper• stickers• markers or crayons


• scarves or streamers, 1 per kid



Large Group cLosIng

Large Group Closing (10+ minutes)Play “All We Like Sheep (Thank You, God)” as children join you in a circle. When everyone is seated, sing the song.

ReviewSay • What can you do when you are scared? I can pray

to God for help.Encourage a volunteer to find the Bible story picture on the timeline. Ask the following questions:

• Why did the Assyrians send a letter to King Hezekiah? (to scare him)

• What did King Hezekiah do when he was scared? (He prayed to God.)

• Did God help Hezekiah? (Yes, God helped Hezekiah.)Assure children that they can pray to God for help, too. To the tune “Mulberry Bush,” sing:

“ When I am scared, I’ll pray to God, Pray to God, pray to God. When I am scared, I’ll pray to God, I’ll pray to God for help.”

Missions story: Help for worried peopleHave you ever felt worried? Have you ever felt scared?



Slide or Poster





Sometimes people who have moved from South Asia to England feel worried or scared. Many have to learn to speak English. The food is different. The weather is different. Everything seems strange.

Neil Gann is a missionary who helps South Asian people deal with worries and problems. He teaches math. He also teaches people about Jesus.

Many South Asian people are Muslim. They read the Koran instead of the Bible. Neil explains why the Bible is true. The Bible tells us that God wants people to talk to Him. God can help people when they have problems or feel scared. People can pray and ask God for help.

Neil hosts a weekly Chai Club for men. Chai is the word for tea in many South Asian countries. Neil makes friends with men at the club. They invite him to their homes, and Neil tells the families about Jesus. He tells them to pray and ask God for help when they feel worried or scared.

We can pray and ask God to help Neil and other missionaries know the best way to tell people about Jesus.

Worship by praying and singingPray • Thank You, God, that Neil Gann teaches people to

pray to You when they are worried or scared. Thank You that we can pray to You for help when we are worried or scared, too.

Sing “God Loves Everybody” and “God Will Listen When You Pray.”

Play “Night and Day Tag”Talk about praying when you are scared in the daytime or nighttime. Give every other child a scarf. The Night kids wave the scarves. The Day kids, without scarves, try to tag the Night kids. If they succeed, they exchange roles.

If there’s time, sing “Whose Side Are You Leaning On?”



• scarves or streamers• “Whose Side Are

You Leaning On?” song



The Book of Isaiah contains four servant songs—poems about the Servant of God. (Isa. 42:1-4; 49:1-6; 50:4-9; 52:12–53:12) In these poems, the prophet Isaiah describes the working out of God’s plan of redemption. We see a vision of the promised Messiah, the innocent substitute who would suffer for the sake of sinners. Through Jesus, God brings sinners back to Himself.

The fourth and final servant song is found in Isaiah 53. In this passage, Isaiah provides an answer to the question, How can a just God justify the ungodly? How can He declare innocent those who are guilty? How can He treat bad people as though they are good? How can He love people like us?

A just God can’t just look the other way. He doesn’t say, “Don’t worry about it,” or “No big deal.” That’s cheap grace. Sin against a big God is a big deal. God didn’t just forgive our sins, He dealt with them. And this grace was costly. The price? God’s own Son.

Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecies of a suffering servant. People assumed God had cursed the Suffering Servant for His own sins. But no; Jesus was sinless. So why did He suffer? “He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him.” The Suffering Servant died the death we deserve. When we trust in Jesus, our sins are wiped away—paid for by His blood—and His righteousness is credited to us.

When Christ’s work on the cross was finished, God rewarded Him. “For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-11).

Leader BIBLe studY


4


Session Title: Isaiah Preached About the MessiahBible Passage: Isaiah 53Big Picture Question: Whom did Isaiah preach about? Isaiah preached

about Jesus.Key Passage: Isaiah 53:6Unit Christ Connection: God’s promised Messiah comes out of David’s






UNI T

15

4


Isaiah Preached About the MessiahIsaiah 53

Isaiah was a prophet. He gave the people of God special messages from God. Isaiah told the people what was going to happen in the future. Isaiah reminded them that God had a plan. God had a plan to send someone to rescue people from sin. Someone was coming, and He was called the Messiah. The Messiah would be a servant of God. The people didn’t know who the Messiah was, but Isaiah told them what the Messiah would do.

“God’s servant grew up, and He looked very ordinary. He wasn’t handsome. No one paid attention to Him, and they didn’t want to be His friend. They stayed away from Him. God’s servant hurt. He knew how it felt to be sick,” Isaiah said.

Isaiah said that people saw God’s servant, but they looked the other way. They didn’t care about Him or love Him. But God’s servant still did what God wanted Him to do. He came to help people and save them from sin, and that is what He did.

The Servant was punished. People thought that He was punished because He had done something wrong. But He never did anything wrong! We were supposed to be punished, but He was punished in our place. We are the ones who do wrong things. We do not love God like we should. But instead of punishing us, God punished Him!

Then Isaiah said that something bad was going to happen to the Messiah.“He is going to be hurt and treated badly. But He will not say anything. People will be unfair to Him, and they will take Him away. He will be treated like a criminal, but He isn’t a criminal.”

But even though bad people did this to God’s servant, God planned this to happen. When the Servant died, He took away people’s guilt so God could look at them and say, “Not guilty!” God would even say, “You’re good!”

God’s servant would not stay dead. No, God would bring Him back

The BIBLe storY


to life! God’s good servant will see all of the people He saved by dying in their place, and He will be happy. He will be glad that He hurt and was treated badly because people were helped.

“Then God will give Him a reward,” Isaiah said. “God will give Him honor for doing the right thing, for saving people from sin. God will welcome His friends who walked away from Him.”

Christ Connection: God planned a very long time ago that Jesus would die on the cross for our sins. Many, many years before Jesus was born, Isaiah wrote about what Jesus would do. Jesus died to save people from sin.


Large Group WorshIP


Welcome and singPlay “Your Love Never Fails” as children gather. Smile and lead kids to sing “I Know Jesus Loves You and Me.”

Practice a Bible skill and the key passageOpen a Bible to the beginning of Matthew and ask kids to name the two main sections of the Bible. (Old Testament and New Testament) Say • The Book of Isaiah is in the Old Testament. The

books in the New Testament were written many years after Isaiah. Books in the New Testament tell us about Jesus’ birth, about His life and death, and about His being raised from the dead.

People wrote God’s words in the Bible. God planned from the beginning that Jesus would die for our sins. When Isaiah wrote God’s words about Jesus, he wrote about Jesus seven hundred years before Jesus was born.

Read the big picture question poster aloud: Whom did Isaiah preach about? Isaiah preached about Jesus.

Read the key passage aloud. Explain that Isaiah wrote these words about Jesus, too. Sing the key passage song.

• Welcome kids; follow your church’s security procedures.



• Bible• Big Picture Question








Watch or tell the Bible storyWatch the video “Isaiah Preached About the Messiah,” or hold your Bible open to Isaiah 53 as you tell the Bible story in your own way.Say • Whom did Isaiah preach about? Isaiah preached

about Jesus.Review the Christ connection and encourage volunteers to share what they know about Jesus.

Display the Bible story picture as you help preschoolers recall details of the Bible story.

Worship by singing and prayingPlay “Your Love Never Fails” or “All We Like Sheep (Thank You, God)” as you collect an offering. Remember that some children may not have brought an offering, so supply coins so everyone may participate in the offering.

Sing “He Has Made Me Glad” or “I Was Glad.” Then sing a fun song like “I Saw” or “I Know Jesus Loves You and Me.”

Encourage anyone who wants to pray to do so, but do not expect every child to participate. Suggest conversational prayer, thanking God for something connected to today’s Bible story. During the prayer, give an opportunity for kids to list things they are thankful for. End the prayer by thanking God for each child present and for loving each one.

Transition to small groupsBriefly describe each activity offered. Play the countdown video to move children to the activity of their choice.

• Timeline Map• “Isaiah Preached

About the Messiah” video (optional)


• Bible


Fails” song• “All We Like Sheep


• “He Has Made Me Glad” song

• “I Was Glad” song• “I Saw” song• “I Know Jesus Loves

You and Me” song







Play a quick change gameAsk children to notice how you are dressed. Turn your back, change an item, then challenge children to identify the change. Compliment how they are paying attention. Say • Isaiah paid close attention to what God said so that

he could tell the people. Whom did Isaiah preach about? Isaiah preached about Jesus.

Sing and sign Sing “Jesus Loves Me” with signs to go with “Jesus Loves Me” and “Bible.” Jesus–touch right palm with left middle finger and reverse, touching left palm; loves–cross fists across chest; me–point to self. See the sign for Bible, which pictures a book, God’s Word, coming from heaven. Say • How do you know Jesus loves you? (The Bible tells

me so. The Bible is true. Isaiah wrote that Jesus loves us.)

Paint with marblesPut a sheet of paper in a box lid (like a cardboard storage box lid). Allow kids to squeeze out some tempera paint onto the paper. Place marbles in the box. For younger kids, wrap the box with the plastic wrap to help keep the marbles from


PREPLOW

• marbles• paper• box lid• tempera paint• plastic wrap

(optional)






falling out of the box while still being seen as they roll. Say • Isaiah wrote that people are like sheep that are

wandering around, doing what we want instead of listening to God. That is sin. The marble paths look like paths of people wandering around, don’t they? Isaiah wrote that Jesus would die to save people from sin.

Grow a plant from a rootDo a classroom experiment. Stick three or four toothpicks around the middle of a sweet potato to hold it off the bottom of the jar. Put the potato in the jar, and add enough water to completely cover the bottom of the potato. Place the jar in the windowsill to get sunshine. Keep the water level covering the bottom of the potato. Watch for a few weeks to see roots, leaves, and vines form. Say • The sweet potato is a root. Isaiah described Jesus as a

root out of dry ground. Whom did Isaiah preach about? Isaiah preached about Jesus.

Who is coming?Suggest that kids draw pictures of what the world might look like in 100 years (or pictures of whatever kids want to draw). As they work, ask the following:

• God told Isaiah that the coming One would not look like a king. Who is coming? (Jesus!)

• God told Isaiah that the coming One would not be loved by people. Who is coming? (Jesus!)

• God told Isaiah that the coming One would be hurt and killed. Who is coming? (Jesus!)

• God told Isaiah that the coming One would take away our sin. Who is coming? (Jesus!)

Isaiah knew about Jesus hundreds of years before He came!


• sweet potato• glass jar• toothpicks

• paper• markers or crayons



Large Group cLosIng


Review and singPlay the unit song or the key passage song as children gather. Display the timeline and help kids understand that Isaiah told about Jesus many, many years before Jesus was born. God told Isaiah what to preach.Say • Whom did Isaiah preach about? Isaiah preached

about Jesus.Briefly review the Bible story. Lead kids to sing these words along with you to the tune “The Farmer in the Dell”:

(1) “ Isaiah told good news. / Isaiah told good news. Isaiah preached about Jesus. Isaiah told good news.”

(2) “ He told of Jesus’ birth. / He told of Jesus’ birth. Isaiah preached about Jesus. He told of Jesus’ birth.”

PrayInvite volunteers to say thank you to God for sending His Son, Jesus. End the prayer time by naming each child and thanking God that everyone came to church and heard about Jesus.

• “Your Love Never Fails” unit song



Slide or Poster





Missions story: Worshiping God through artHave you ever drawn pictures in church? Kerry Jackson is a missionary and an artist. He tells people about Jesus by drawing pictures of Jesus in church.

Sometimes Kerry paints pictures of Jesus’ life while the pastor is teaching. Sometimes his pictures are the sermon. Kerry lets people at church take his pictures home with them. A 10-year-old girl took home a picture of Jesus. The picture helped her learn more about Jesus and trust Him as her Savior. Kerry wants all of his pictures to help people accept Jesus as their Savior.

Kerry also has an art studio. He paints at his studio. He shows his pictures at his studio. People also come to his studio to hear more about Jesus.

Some creative people work on Sundays. Others do not feel comfortable in regular church. Kerry and his wife, Twyla, started a church in Atlanta for people who have a hard time sitting still and just listening. These people want to worship God through art or dance, poetry, photography, or music. They use their creative talents to tell people about Jesus. They might share a poem or a song they wrote about Jesus.

Kerry is glad he can help others use their creative talents to tell people about Jesus.

Play “Warmer, Colder”Hide a Bible in the room. Explain that you will say “warmer” or “hotter” the closer they get to the Bible, but when they move away from it, you will say “colder.” Give hints until kids find the Bible. Say that we can read Isaiah’s words that he preached about Jesus. Encourage kids to take turns hiding the Bible, too.

Note: You may choose to show a brief video about teenagers on a mission trip to Botswana, “God Can Use Anyone.”

• Bible



Know the Bible story

Read the Bible story from more than one translation. If you tell the story from a Bible story book make sure it is scriptural! One story book states that John baptized people to “wash away their sins.” It then said he baptized Jesus. Did that mean Jesus needed His “sins washed away”? The implication was there!

Answer these questions:• Who are the main characters? • What emotions did they display? • Where did the story take place? • What happened before this event?

after the event? • What words are new? How will you

explain them?• What point or special impact do you

want to make?

When I was a little girl, one of

my favorite teachers read to us

after lunch. I liked it best when

she told us a story. She would

look directly at each of us and

sometimes call our names so we

would pay attention to the next

words. There is definitely an art

to telling a story and capturing

the attention of those listening.

Once Upon a Time …Know your listeners Think about the kids to whom you will tell the story: • What are their strengths? limitations? • What kinds of stories do they like to

hear? • How many minutes do I have before

I lose their attention? • What can I do to stretch the

attention span of my listeners? • What special needs will I encounter? • What questions might be asked? • How will this story affect the

everyday lives of the listeners?

Study Jesus’ methods

Jesus used examples familiar to the people He was teaching. He used words that were easy to understand. He knew hungry people do not make good listeners!

Why do you suppose Jesus told stories in different ways? Surely it was because people learn in different ways. No one method will be successful every week. Both the teacher and the learner will enjoy a variety of methods.

Try new techniques

Begin the story in an unusual way. One Sunday I watched a wonderful storyteller. He opened his Bible to Genesis 26 and said, “This is a true story. It is from the Bible. All the


Trouble at the Top

you tell about Jesus’ healing the lady with a crooked back.

One of my friends sings at an appropriate time in a Bible story— much to the delight of the listeners!

Close the story

Stretch learning experiences as well as attention spans. Make sure the listeners have learned something new or at least enjoyed hearing a familiar story once more!

Ask for comments and questions. While it usually is not a good idea to moralize after telling a story, a listener may catch a meaning you had not thought about at all! Do not underestimate your learners’ abilities.

A few more tips

The media presents so many stories that are not true. Establish firmly in the minds and hearts of the listeners that the Bible is God’s Word to us, and the accounts of events are true.

Open your Bible to the correct book and chapter, and show where the story is located. Gauge what you will tell according to your listeners’ ages and abilities to understand. You can challenge the learner without preceding a story of David with the decapitation of the giant!

Adapted from an article by Lou Heath in Special Education Today.

stories in the Bible are true.” He paused and then began arguing

as though he were the herdsmen of Gerar and Isaac’s servants. He looked to the right and shouted, “The water is ours!” Then he looked to the left and said just as angrily, “It is not your well!” You can well imagine he had everyone’s attention from the very beginning.

Ask what listeners already know

This involves the listener and lets you know what background information to share. When telling the story of Jesus’ birth, one of my favorite storytellers was surprised to realize that several in the group thought about Jesus as a baby but not as a man. Now she never tells the story without explaining that Jesus is God’s Son who was born into this world and grew to be a man.

Vary your voice and posture

Get excited if something exciting happens! Show by your face the shepherds’ fright when the angels appeared to them. Whisper when the shepherds approach the stable. Sigh when the disciples report there was only one small lunch to feed a hungry crowd. Stand straight and tall when


Strong-willed kids get a bad

rap. But having a strong-willed

personality is definitely not a

negative trait. You want your kids

to have a good dose of strong

will. That’s how they hold up and

make it through life.

Working with strong-willed kids

Strong-willed kids are willing to die for their causes. Parents and teachers, who deal frequently with strong-willed kids, might ask themselves, “What’s the point?” when trying to win an argument.

Try to remember these three basic questions when dealing with a strong-willed kid:

1. What needs to be accomplished?

2. Is there another way to reach the goal?

3. What’s the bottom line?

The issue with strong-willed kids is not authority but how the authority is communicated. You can’t point your finger in a strong-

Strong-Willed Kids

willed child’s face and say, “You have to obey me,” but you can persuade a strong-willed kid to do what you want. There is a magic word that will work about 80 percent of the time. The word is “OK?” For example: “Put your seat belt on, OK?”

Strong-willed kids don’t expect or want to get by with bad behavior. That would be weakness on your part. It’s the respect that matters to them.

Teachers and parents of strong-willed children may be the only ones left who still see hope and promise in that child. Even if you’re at the end of your rope, don’t give up.

Strong-willed children are among the most capable at changing the world. They don’t want to be like everybody else. They strive to find ways to be different. They want to shake up the status quo, even though the status quo wants to hold them down.


Trouble at the Top

➤ Act, but not out of anger. Clarify your expectations and discipline when needed. Don’t make harsh decisions out of anger. Step aside and let another teacher talk with the child before you act or speak out of anger.

➤ Make sure your strong-willed child always knows your love is unconditional. Kids have to know that no matter how they act, you are still going to be there for them.

Never forget that a strong-willed kid is a blessing! Imagine how God can use a determined, committed follower in His kingdom. Strong-willed kids are used by God every day in His plan of redemption.

Adapted from an article posted on www.lifeway.com.

Five strategies for success

➤ Choose your battles. Don’t make everything non-negotiable. Is this a battle worth fighting? Choose the things you want to go to the wall for and leave the rest alone.

➤ Lighten up, but don’t let up. Smile often. When you are a strong-willed child, sometimes no one is all that happy to see you when you walk in the room. A teacher who smiles and is happy to see each and every child is a blessing and comfort.

➤ Ask more questions and issue fewer orders. Ask: “Do you want to keep working on your craft, or do you want to play a game with us?”

Strong-willed children are

among the most capable at

changing the world … They want

to shake up the status quo, even

though the status quo wants to

hold them down.


The Gospel Project® for Kids UpdatesWe’ve heard you! Many of you

have made suggestions over

the past year. Here are some

of the updates that have been

implemented.

➤ Bold text in Bible story scripts For a shorter version of the Bible story to use with younger aged kids or for review, read only the bold text of the Bible story script.

➤ Poster packs Each poster pack contains the big picture question posters, key passage posters (HCSB, KJV, ESV, NIV translations), and the Bible story pictures for each quarter. Call Customer Service or see your Quarterly Order Form to place an order.

➤ Hosted Bible stories Want an introduction and a wrap-up for the Bible story video? Play the hosted Bible story.

➤ Preschool Christ Connections Preschool kids now have their own, more age-appropriate Christ Connection. It’s located at the end of every Bible story.

➤ Presentation files Using a presentation software to show the slides and videos? Presentation files are now included in each kit to make it easier to load into a presentation software.

➤ Split tracks Want to sing one of the theme songs in worship or for a special parent service? Split tracks are available by calling Customer Service at 800.458.2772.

➤ Song lyrics A PDF of the song lyrics is included on the enhanced CD.

➤ Unit tabs Dropped your book and lost your place? Now it’s easier to locate the unit and session you are on, using the unit tabs located on the side of each page of the leader guide.

➤ Spiral bound leader guides Now it’s easier to hold your book open with your Bible while you teach.

Keep the suggestions coming by checking out and commenting on our blog at www.gospelproject.com/blog or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thegospelproject.


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