Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 54 “Jehoshaphat King of Judah”

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Featured Passage: 2 Chronicles 17-20

Many years had passed since King David died, and Israel had split into two kingdoms, Israel and Judah. The kings of Israel turned the people away from God. They worshipped idols and acted in evil ways. For the Kingdom of Judah, some of the kings practiced evil, and some of the kings wanted to follow God like King David. Jehoshaphat was a king who wanted to seek God and did what he could to lead the people to obey God. Even though Jehoshaphat didn’t do everything perfectly, God was pleased with his attitude and protected him from harm. One day, King Jehoshaphat heard that some enemies were coming to start a war. Jehoshaphat and the people cried out to God for help. God told them that they would not even have to fight in the battle. They would only need some faith and some singers!

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Discuss:

  1. Who was Jehoshaphat’s father? How do you think Jehoshaphat’s father helped him prepare to be a good king? How do your parents help you learn how to follow God?
  2. How did King Jehoshaphat become wealthy and powerful? 
  3. Why did God protect Jehoshaphat in the battle with King Ahab? Do you know of any examples where God has protected you or anyone in your family? 
  4. Why didn’t King Ahab listen to the prophet Micaiah who warned him of what would happen in the battle? 
  5. What did King Jehoshaphat do when he heard that some of his enemies were going to attack Judah? How were his actions and attitude different than King Ahab’s had been? What did the musicians do in the battle? 

Memory Challenge: 

2 Chronicles 20:15 

And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.’”

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Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: Lesson 55 “Haman’s Evil Plot”

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Featured Passage: Esther 3-4

There was a man named Haman who was part of the king’s court. Haman was an Agagite which means he was an Amalekite; the Amalekites were enemies of the Jews. Haman hated all Jews, but he especially hated Mordecai. Haman came up with a plot to kill all the Jews. He told King Ahasuerus that the Jews had different laws and that they did not obey the king’s laws. Haman said the Jews did not deserve to live, and the king agreed. What they both didn’t realize was that the new queen of Persia was also a Jew. 

Discuss:

Richard Gunther (www.lambsongs.co.nz) | FreeBibleImages.org
  • Why did Haman especially hate Mordecai?
  • What reason did Haman give the king for destroying all the Jews throughout the kingdom? 
  • How did Haman decide what day the Jews should die? What day was chosen?
  • What did Mordecai do when he heard about the proclamation to kill the Jews?
  • What did Mordecai ask Queen Esther to do to help her people? How did Queen Esther respond to Mordecai’s request? 

Memory Challenge:

Esther 4:14

“For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

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Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 55 “The Fiery Furnace”

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Featured Passage: Daniel 3

Daniel’s friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego (Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah) were given positions outside the palace in the province of Babylon. One day, the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, decided to set up a huge golden statue. The height of it was 60 cubits–about as tall as an 8-story building! Nebuchadnezzar commanded that everyone worship the statue when they heard the music playing in its honor, or they would be put to death. Of course Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego had no intention of bowing to idols. The trouble began when some of the Chaldeans found out and reported them to the king.

Discuss:

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  • Which Commandment forbids worshiping idols?
  • In what way did Nebuchadnezzar decide a person be put to death if they did not worship the golden image?
  • What did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego say when the king gave them one more chance to bow down and worship the idol? 
  • Did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego know for sure that God would deliver them? In what ways did they have to show courage? 
  • What happened to the men who threw the three men into the fiery furnace?
  • When the king looked into the furnace, he saw four men. Who was the fourth one that the king saw?
  • What happened to Sadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego after they had been thrown into the furnace? 
  • What did King Nebuchadnezzar do after Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego walked out of the fire?

Memory Challenge: 

Daniel 3:16-18 

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

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Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 55 “Jehoash Repairs the Temple”

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Featured Passage: 2 Kings 12

After King Jehoshaphat died, the Kingdom of Judah was ruled by many other kings. Some of them tried to follow God, while others worshipped idols and turned the people away from God. The name of one of them was Ahaziah. Ahaziah was a wicked king, and his mother Athaliah was just as wicked. When King Ahaziah died, his mother wanted to take over the kingdom and get rid of anyone who opposed her. Now, Ahaziah had a son named Jehoash (sometimes also called Joash). Jehoash was just a baby when his father died, and his aunt hid him and his nurse to protect him from the evil queen. When Jehoash was only seven years old, the priest brought him out of hiding to proclaim him as king before the people. As a young king, Jehoash grew up with the priest of God as his teacher which prepared him to help the people of Judah turn back to God. 

Discuss:

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  • How old was Jehoash when he became king? How old are you? What do you think it would be like to be a king or queen at your age? 
  • Jehoash was about the age of a first or second grade student when he became king. Who helped him with his responsibilities as king of Judah? 
  • What did Jehoash do to fix the mess that the previous rulers had made in the temple? Do you think God was pleased with what Jehoash did? 
  • Jehoash did well as long as he listened to Jehoiada, who was a wise priest. What happened after Jehoiada’s death? (You can read more about what happened to King Jehoash in 2 Chronicles 24)

Memory Challenge: 

1 Kings 12:2 

“Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him.”

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Children’s Bible Lessons – Level 3: Lesson 56 “The Courage of a Queen”

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Featured Passage: Esther 5-6

After three days of fasting, Esther prepared herself to go before the king. Even though she was the queen, it was still forbidden for anyone to stand in the king’s presence without permission. Even if the king made allowance for her to come into his court without being summoned, she had to be careful how to tell him that his chief of all the king’s princes was plotting to destroy her people. Esther was running out of time, for as she prepared banquets for the king, Haman was plotting his revenge against Mordecai. The king, unaware of Haman’s plans, had something very different in mind for Mordecai. 

Discuss: 

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Richard Gunther (www.lambsongs.com.nz) | FreeBibleImages.org
  • How do you think Esther felt before she entered the court of the king unannounced? Why did Esther decide to put her life in danger? What can we learn from Esther about courage? 
  • Why do you think Esther decided to have a banquet for the king and Haman? What happened at the first banquet? 
  • Why was Haman so angry with Mordecai? What was he planning to get revenge? 
  • What did Mordecai do for which the king wanted to honor him? What was Haman coming to ask the king when he asked Haman advice on how to honor Mordecai? Who did Haman think he was talking about? 
  • How do you think Haman felt when he had to carry out the king’s orders to honor Mordecai? What are some lessons this story teaches us about pride? Why is it important to be humble? 

Memory Challenge: 

Esther 5:7-8

Then Esther answered and said, “My petition and request is this: If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, then let the king and Haman come to the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.”

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Children’s Bible Lessons – Level 2: Lesson 56 “The Handwriting on the Wall”

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Featured Passage: Daniel 4-5

King Nebuchadnezzar had a rich kingdom that dominated much of the world in its time, and he was proud of it. He became so filled with pride that God warned him through a dream that he was going to be greatly humbled. Just as Daniel interpreted, for seven years Nebuchadnezzar lived like an animal. When he finally came to his senses, he acknowledged that God was sovereign over all. After Nebuchadnezzar died, Belshazzar became king of Babylon. Belshazzar did not learn anything from Nebuchadnezzar’s mistake. You could say that the handwriting was on the wall. 

Discuss:

Rebekah Ross | Living Education
  • What happened to Nebuchadnezzar after he became filled with pride? Do you think Nebuchadnezzar learned anything from this experience?
  • What did Belshazzar do that was considered a prideful act against God? From what example should he have learned about the consequences of pride? 
  • How did God get everyone’s attention? Can you imagine how frightened people must have been? 
  • What did the writing on the wall say? What did Daniel explain its meaning to be? Today, what does the expression “the handwriting is on the wall” mean? 
  • How long did it take for God’s warning to become true? Who ruled Babylon after Belshazzar?

Memory Challenge: 

Daniel 4:34

And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation.

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Children’s Bible Lessons – Level 1: Lesson 56 “King Uzziah”

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Featured Passage: 2 Chronicles 26

When King Jehoash died, his son Amaziah reigned in Judah. His time as king was short, and it wasn’t long before his son Uzziah became king of Judah after his father King Amaziah (2 Kings 14). In the Bible, Uzziah is sometimes also named King Azariah. Uzziah followed in the footsteps of his father as a good king, but like his father, he did not remove the high places where the people worshipped other gods. However, because he tried to do the right thing, God gave him many successes. He built cities, made his army strong, and protected the people from their enemies. Unfortunately, his successes filled him with pride.

Discuss:

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  • How old was Uzziah when he became king of Judah? What do you think Uzziah did to prepare to be king as he grew up? What can you do now to prepare to be a good king and priest in the future? 
  • We know that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). How did God reward Uzziah for seeking Him and listening to God’s priest?
  • What does the Scripture mean where it says that Uzziah “loved the soil”?
  • Why did Uzziah build towers in Jerusalem? 
  • What did King Uzziah do that made God angry with him? Why do you think Uzziah made that bad decision? How did God punish him? Do you think Uzziah learned from his mistake?

Memory Challenge: 

2 Chronicles 26:5 

“He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper.”

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Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: Lesson 57 “Esther Saves Her People”

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Featured Passage: Esther 7-10

Haman had built a gallows for Mordecai, but his opportunity to tell the king about the plan to use them instead turned into a conversation about how to honor Mordecai for his good deeds.  Haman, humiliated from having to lead a parade of honor for his enemy Mordecai, after sulking to his wife at home, arrived at Esther’s second banquet. At the banquet, King Ahaserus asked Esther what she desired, and he would give it to her — even up to half the kingdom! Haman and the king were both caught off guard by Esther’s request, and a lovely banquet quickly turned into the queen’s triumph and the end of a very bad day for Haman. 

Discuss:

Richard Gunther (www.lambsongs.co.nz) | FreeBibleImages.org
  • What do you think Haman was thinking about when he came to Esther’s second banquet? 
  • What was Esther’s petition to the king? Esther had the opportunity to ask for any desire up to half of the kingdom! For what could have she asked? What can we learn about Esther from her response to the king? 
  • How did the king respond to Esther’s request? Why do you think he reacted the way he did?
  • What happened to Haman? What happened to Mordecai in the end? 
  • How did Haman’s plan turn out for the Jews? How did the king help fix the situation for them?
  • In the book of Esther, the name of God is not used at all. What things from the narrative show us that God was working with the characters throughout the story?

Memory Challenge: 

Esther 7:3

Then Queen Esther answered and said, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the King, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request.”

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Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 57 “Daniel and the Lion’s Den”

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Featured Passage: Daniel 6

Babylon was captured by the Medes the very night that Daniel interpreted the handwriting on the wall. The new King Darius appointed one hundred twenty satraps (princes) over the provinces of his empire and three governors over them. One of the governors over the satraps was Daniel. Daniel did so well at his job that the king thought about making him the leader over the whole realm. The other governors and satraps were not happy about this idea. They wanted to find something that Daniel was doing wrong, but they couldn’t find anything that would be a reason to fire him from his job. They needed to come up with a plan to get rid of Daniel. 

Discuss:

Rebekah Ross | Living Education
  • Why do you think the other government officials wanted to take action against Daniel? Why was it hard for them to find anything wrong with Daniel? 
  • What was the scheme the men came up with to get rid of Daniel. How did the satraps and governors get the king to sign their new decree?
  • What did Daniel do when he heard about the new law? What character traits can we learn from Daniel’s decision? 
  • Why could the king not pardon Daniel when the officials wanted him punished for praying to God? How did the king feel he found out what his officials were up to? 
  • What was Daniel’s punishment? How did God protect Daniel? How did the king respond to the miracle? 
  • What happened to the officials who accused Daniel? 

Memory Challenge 

Daniel 6:25-27

Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth:

Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

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Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 57 “Josiah”

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Featured Passage: 2 Chronicles 34-35

After King Uzziah died, several more kings ruled the land. Some of them were very good, and some of them were very wicked, and caused the people of Judah to sin against God. A king named Amon, who was a very wicked man, only ruled for two years before God allowed him to die. His little eight year old son, Josiah was crowned as king after him. Despite having Amon for a father, Josiah was a good king. By the time he was sixteen years old he was determined to get rid of all the idols so that the people would have to worship the true God. He also wanted to repair the beautiful temple of God to be used once again for the right purposes. One day when some men were cleaning out the temple, they found an old book that had been forgotten and decided to show it to the young king. 

Discuss:

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  • How old was Josiah when he became king? Does a person have to be a certain age to begin to follow God? 
  • What did Josiah do to get rid of the pagan idols in the land? Which of God’s commandments was Josiah following when he got rid of the idols in Judah? 
  • What was the book that was found in the temple? What did King Josiah do when they read it to him? Why was he so sad?
  • What feast did King Josiah have all the people in Judah keep? What do you think that Passover was like for the people in Judah? 

Memory Challenge: 

2 Chronicles 34:31

Then the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the Lord, to follow the Lord, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book.

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