Archive for category: LivingEd – Youth

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: 

• 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.”

---

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:

• 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.”

---

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:

• 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?”

---

Featured Passage: Daniel 1-2

---

The nation of Judah refused to repent of their sins, so God allowed the Jews to be carried away as captives to Babylon. Some of the first to be taken to Babylon were noblemen and their families; Daniel was most likely taken captive with this group. When they arrived in Babylon, Daniel was selected to be among the young men who would be taught the language, literature, and culture of the Babylonians. Even though he was a captive, Daniel was determined to live according to God’s laws which were certainly not practiced by the Babylonians. The first test came when Daniel’s first plate of food was set before him. 

Discuss: 

• Who was the king of Babylon when Daniel was taken captive?
• Why do you think Daniel did not want to eat the king’s delicacies? What did Daniel propose that he eat instead? Has there ever been a time when you have had to courageously stand up for your desire to follow God? 
• What position did King Nebuchadnezzar give to Daniel? How did he get the position? What can we learn from this in relation to Proverbs 22:29?
• When the astrologers and magicians could not reveal to the king his dream, what did the king command be done to all the wise men? What did Daniel do when he heard about the proclamation? 
• Who revealed to Daniel the dream and its meaning? What is important about Nebuchadnezzar’s dream?

Memory Challenge: 

Daniel 2:20-22

Daniel answered and said:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His.

And He changes the times and the seasons;

He removes kings and raises up kings;

He gives wisdom to the wise

And knowledge to those who have understanding.

He reveals deep and secret things;

He knows what is in the darkness,

Featured Passage: Nehemiah 1-6

---

The temple in Jerusalem had been rebuilt by the group of captives that had been allowed to return to the city. However, even though the temple was completed and rededicated, there was still trouble for the people. The walls of the city were broken and Jerusalem was not protected from the attacks of the surrounding enemies. At the time, a man named Nehemiah worked as the cupbearer for the Persian king Artaxerxes. Nehemiah heard that the people in Jerusalem were in distress and he became very sad, and cried out to God for help. God, hearing Nehemiah’s prayer, had a plan to help the people through the kindness of a king and the leadership of a cupbearer. 

Discuss: 

• What was Nehemiah’s first reaction when he heard about the situation in Jerusalem? What can we learn from his actions? 
• What are the responsibilities of a cupbearer? How did the king notice something was wrong when Nehemiah came before him? What does this tell us about the kind of person Nehemiah was? 
• How did Nehemiah organize the building of the wall? Why do you think he did it this way? 
• What kind of difficulties did the people have as they were trying to build the walls? What was the response of the builders to the adversity they met? What should our response be when we have difficulties trying to accomplish our goals in life? 
• How long did it take the people to finish rebuilding the walls? What roles did Nehemiah play in helping the people finish the job so quickly?

Memory Challenge: 

Nehemiah 2:17

Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.”

---