Children’s Bible Program- Level 3: Lessons 38-41 Packet: Rehoboam and Jeroboam
Includes the lessons:
- Lesson 38 “Rehoboam Ascends to the Throne”
- Lesson 39 “Jeroboam”
- Lesson 40 “Rehoboam’s Reign”
- Lesson 41 “Israel and Judah”
Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: Lesson 42 “Elijah”
Featured Passage: 1 Kings 17-19
Ahab became king of Israel, and he followed in the footsteps of his wicked ancestor, Jeroboam. He also married Jezebel, a Phoenician Princess of neighboring Sidon, and daughter of King Ethbaal. Not only was she a princess, but she was a High Priestess of Baal worship. Ahab, with wicked Jezebel at his side, did more to provoke God to anger than all the kings before him. Together, they made a powerful and evil pair, luring Israel into wholesale Baal worship.
But the prophet Elijah was determined to defend against this unholy duo. His courage in defying Jezebel, Ahab, and all their cohorts was honored by God with miracles and signs that proved that God was still in charge, even during these dark days in the land of Israel.
Discuss:
- Elijah knew God was with him. What were some of the miracles God performed to protect Elijah from Ahab and Jezebel?
- Did Elijah do as God told him even though he was afraid? Someone once said that courage is not the absence of fear; it is action in the face of fear.
- There was a great famine in the land because God withheld the rain for a long time. How did God provide food for Elijah when he was staying with the widow and her son?
- How did Elijah survive when he was hiding from the king? What does that tell us about God’s ability to help us in the time of our need?
- Elijah invited the prophets of Baal to a showdown on Mount Carmel to prove who was the true God. How did God show the people that He is the only true God and that Baal and Asherah were just false, powerless idols?
Memorization Challenge:
1 Kings 18:21
“And Elijah came to all the people, and said, ‘How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.’ But the people answered him not a word.”
Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 42 “Israel Prepares to Meet God”
Featured Passage: Exodus 19
When Moses and the children of Israel left Egypt, they began their journey toward Mt. Sinai just as God had instructed (Exodus 3:12). They arrived at Mt. Sinai, the mountain of God, a few weeks after departing Egypt. God announced to Moses that He would speak to the Israelites from a thick cloud around the mountain. But they were required to prepare themselves. What did the Israelites need to do to prepare to meet God? Would they finally see the God who delivered them from the most powerful nation on the earth?
Discuss:
- God proposed a covenant with Israel. What does it mean to be in a covenant?
- There was a lot of excitement in the camp with the anticipation of meeting the Creator. How would we feel if we had the opportunity to meet God like the Israelites did?
- Why did the Israelites have to clean-up before meeting God? Why do we wear our best clothes to Sabbath services?
- In what ways was God’s presence announced to Israel? How did God get the attention of the people?
- What were some of the conditions of God’s covenant with Israel?
Memory Challenge:
Exodus 19:5–6
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 41 “Deborah and Barak Go to War”
Featured Passage: Judges 4:13-24; 5
As God instructed, Deborah and Barak prepared the army of Israel to fight against their enemies, the Canaanites. Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite army heard what the Israelites were doing, so he gathered together his own army—with 900 chariots of iron! He may have thought his chariots were prepared to meet the Israelites in battle, but He wasn’t ready to fight against God! God had a plan to stop those chariots—and they were stopped. They got stuck in the mud! Sisera, seeing the Israelites coming against his army leapt from his chariot and ran away on foot—right into a trap!
Discuss:
- The Canaanites had a superior army to the Israelites because they had chariots made of iron, which is a very strong kind of metal. Israel did not have iron weapons, so how were the Israelites able to win the battle against the Canaanites?
- How did God stop the chariots so that they got stuck in the mud?
- What happened to Sisera after he ran away from the battle?
- Who was the woman that Deborah was talking about when she told Barak “the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman”? Deborah mentions her in the song she sang with Barak after the battle.
Memory Challenge:
Judges 5:31
Thus let all Your enemies perish, O Lord! But let those who love Him be like the sun when it comes out in full strength.
Children’s Bible Program- Level 1: Lessons 38-41 Packet: Judges
Includes the lessons:
- Lesson 38 “The Time of the Judges”
- Lesson 39 “Deborah”
- Lesson 40 “Deborah Judges Israel”
- Lesson 41 “Deborah and Barak Go to War”
Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 42 “Samuel – God Heard”
Featured Passage: 1 Samuel 1-2
As 1 Samuel begins, we are introduced to a woman from the strange-sounding city called Ramathaimzophim! Her name was much easier to pronounce than her city! She was called Hannah.
Hannah was a faithful woman, and loved God. But God had not blessed her with the one thing that she desired most – a child. In time, Hannah and her husband travelled to Shiloh to offer sacrifices to God. As she prayed quietly, she began to weep, begging God to give her a child. If only He would bless her with a son, she prayed, she would dedicate the boy to serve God all his life. God heard the prayer of faithful Hannah, and fulfilled her request. Her son Samuel followed Hannah’s example of faithfulness and dedication to God, giving his life in service for decades to come.
Discuss:
- Hannah dedicated her son to God. What does it mean to be dedicated to God?
- Hannah named her son Samuel which means “God heard”. Why do you think Hannah chose that name for him?
- Samuel lived and served in the tabernacle from the time he was very young. What do you think it would be like to grow up working in the Tabernacle of God?
- Just as Samuel’s story shows, you’re never too young to serve and obey God. How can you be like Samuel today?
Memory Challenge:
1 Samuel 2:26
And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the Lord and men.
Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: Lesson 43 “Elisha”
Featured Passage: 2 Kings 2-7
Elijah the prophet was getting older and God decided it was time to appoint a new prophet in Israel to take his place. Under God’s instruction, Elijah went to find the man God chose and met a certain young man named Elisha plowing a field with twelve yoke of oxen! (1 Kings 19:15-21) Without delay, Elisha left his home, his family, his oxen and begin to serve and learn from Elijah in preparation for his new role as a spiritual leader in Israel. After learning what he could, the time came for Elisha to take over for Elijah. God was about to send Elijah away in a miraculous way, but the people would need to know that God was with Elisha. God had some exciting adventures planned for this courageous young leader, as well as number of miracles of his own.
Discuss:
- Why do you think God wanted Elisha to spend time learning from Elijah before taking Elijah’s position?
- Elisha performed his first miracle after Elijah his master was taken away. What was this first miracle? Why did God allow Elisha to perform miracles so soon after Elijah had gone?
- With God’s help, Elisha performed many miracles. Which is your favorite of the miracles he performed? Why?
- What are some lessons we can learn from the story of Naaman and Elisha?
- The Syrians, enemies of Israel, wanted to capture Elisha because he had alerted the Israelites of their plans. How did Elisha’s servant respond when he woke up to see the city surrounded by the Syrian army? How did Elisha respond? What can we learn from Elisha’s example?
- What are some examples of Elisha’s compassion?
Memory Challenge:
1 Kings 2:9
And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”
Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 43 “God Speaks to Israel”
Featured Passage: Exodus 20
God wanted to enter into a special relationship with Israel, but they had to agree. He planned to speak the terms of the agreement to Israel directly. The most magnificent fireworks display could not compare to what the people saw, and the loudest thunder storm would diminish in comparison to what they heard that day. Could the people, sinful as they were, stand before the Creator and live? What was so important that God wanted to say it Himself?
Discuss:
- The sights and sounds were truly amazing that day. What did the people hear? What did they see? What things do you think they felt?
- The people heard God’s voice, but they did not actually see God. Whose was the voice which they heard?
- Why are each of the commandments important? How do you think the world would be different if everyone kept these ten laws?
- The people were very afraid while God was speaking, even Moses was shaking in his sandals (Hebrews 12:18–21). How do you think we would feel if we were there?
- In the end, the people did not want God to speak with them anymore.
Memory Challenge:
Exodus 20:20
And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.”
Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: Lesson 44 “Jonah”
Featured Passage: Jonah 1 – 4
After the death of Elisha, God raised up other prophets whom He used to speak His words to the people. One of those prophets was a man from a town called Gath Hepher whose name was Jonah (2 Kings 14:25). Jonah usually delivered messages from God to the people of Israel, but one day God told him to deliver a message to an entirely different group of people in a city called Nineveh. The people of Nineveh were not Israelites, but Assyrians and enemies of Israel, and Jonah wanted nothing to do with them. So, instead of following God’s directions to deliver a warning to the people of Nineveh, Jonah decided to run away from God. But God wasn’t finished with Jonah. He was forming a plan that would get the attention of both Jonah and the people of Nineveh.
Discuss:
- Why do you think Jonah tried to run away from God? Is it ever possible to hide from God?
- Why do you think Jonah didn’t want to go to Nineveh to deliver God’s message?
- Jonah knew that he was the reason God sent the storm, so he told the men to throw him into the sea. How did God save Jonah’s life?
- What do you think it was like for Jonah to be in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights?
- What did the people of Nineveh do when they heard God’s message from Jonah? What lessons can we learn from their response?
- Do you think Jonah learned the lessons God was trying to teach? What can we learn from his story?
- What can we learn about God’s love, His mercy, and His compassion from the story of Jonah?
Memory Challenge:
Jonah 2:7
“When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer went up to You, into Your holy temple.”
Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 44 “The Golden Calf”
Featured Passage: Exodus 24 & 32
Moses went to the top of the mountain where God gave him detailed instructions on God’s law and constructing the tabernacle. God also wrote the Ten Commandments on two tablets of stone and gave them to him. While Moses was away for 40 days, the people began to wonder when he would return. Not knowing what had happened to Moses, the people took matters into their own hands.
Discuss:
- The people had made a covenant with God saying they would do everything that God told them to do. Did they really keep their word?
- What was Aaron’s role in creating the idol? Why did Aaron participate in the worship of an idol? Did God hold Aaron accountable for his actions (Exodus 32:21–25; Deuteronomy 9:20)?
- What was Moses’ reaction to Israel’s sin? Was it wrong for Moses to be angry? What are the limitations God puts on human anger (Ephesians 4:26)?
- There are always consequences for sin. What are some of the consequences for Israel’s worship of the golden calf?
Memory Challenge:
Exodus 19:5–6
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.