3 rd -6 th. God Fills our Future with Hope Jeremiah 29:1, Lesson #4-12. Sunday, November 26, 2017

Transcription

1 Sunday, November 26, 2017 Lesson #4-12 God Fills our Future with Hope Jeremiah 29:1, rd -6 th Key Verse: The Point: For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD to give you a future with hope. Jeremiah 29:11 Jeremiah reminds God s people that God provides a future full of hope. Making Connections: Promises of Hope Bible Nuts & Bolts: The Exile Spiritual Practice: Prayer 1

2 Activities Supplies Demonstrate separation. Baby powder Demonstrate the path of the exile. Internet-connected devices Optional: projector Accomplishing a task becomes difficult when we are apart. Bibles Balls of various sizes Prayer can bring us together. Optional: blindfolds Experiment with marbles to see how they travel. Marbles 2

3 Envision Christ s kingdom. Mural paper or white board Construction paper Markers Optional: magazines, scissors, glue Play a family tag game. None Students continue their own Bible storybook. Bible Book page (found at end of lesson) Cardstock or plain paper Three-hole punch Pens Markers or crayons Optional: three-ring binders None 3

4 Background for Teachers Story Connections Today s lesson is the final lesson in the Promises of Hope unit. The people have lost their homeland and their temple, and are entering a dark and turbulent time. They likely feel alone and desperate, but God promises the people that God will never abandoned them or leave them hopeless. Story Summary: God Fills our Future with Hope The story of God s people is not always an easy one. We read again and again in the Old Testament about God s provision for and care of God s people, yet in this story the promises seem to come to an end. The temple has been destroyed and God s people have been scattered. They are alone, abandoned, and without their spiritual and cultural center, the temple. The period of exile continues for 70 years. The people can do nothing to change this, and must wait and trust on God alone for their deliverance. As they wait, God s people are encouraged to make a home where they are, to live and contribute and be an influence on their communities. In time, they will come to see God s ultimate plan and purpose. But while they wait, God continues to be with them. Even though things seem difficult and hopeless, God is with them. And in our own dark and lonely moments, as we wait for God s plan to be revealed, God is with us. The Point Jeremiah reminds God s people that God provides a future full of hope. There are times when every faithful person feels abandoned by God, as if they have been left alone during a difficult and painful time. Some of us turn away from God during these times, while others lean more fully into God. While our response to difficulties may vary, God s response is always the same: God waits with us and promises that God will provide a future that is hopeful. Bible Nuts and Bolts: The Exile After the death of King Solomon, Israel was divided into two kingdoms. The northern kingdom was Israel, and the southern kingdom was Judah. In 722 BCE, the Assyrians gained control of Israel. One hundred years later, the Assyrian capital of Nineveh fell to the Babylonians. To help keep the country safe, the kings of Judah began to pay tribute to Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king. After the rebellion of King Jehoiakim and King Zedekiah, however, Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem in 586 BCE, destroyed the temple, and sent God s people away. This time in Babylon, known as the exile, lasted for 70 years. It seemed like a desperate time in which God had abandoned God s people, but God continued to protect and be with the people even during these difficult times. Spiritual Practice: Prayer Prayer can serve many purposes. We might praise God, seek an answer to questions, pray on behalf of others, or even disagree with God. Regardless of the purpose, prayer brings us into relationship with God. Today the students will learn that prayer brings us closer to each other. 4

5 Lesson #4-12 (3rd-6th) November 26, 2017 Lesson Plan Demonstrate separation. You will need: Baby powder During class: 1. Give each student a small amount of baby powder. If there are too many students or this would create too great a mess, either do this as an instructor demonstration or move the class outside if your setting permits. 2. Look closely at the pile of baby powder in your hand. It is made up of lots and lots of small grains of powder. All these grains are together in one place. Tell me what would happen if you blew on the pile. [The grains would separate and scatter to different places.] Let s see if we are right. 3. Instruct students to blow powder so it flies away, NOT at someone else. 4. This is like what happened to God s people in today s story. The people were all living in their homes, and worshipping in a beautiful temple, but they were about to enter a difficult time. A king named Nebuchadnezzar attacked their city, and sent them away. 5. God s people find themselves separated and alone, just like this baby powder flew all over in many little grains. Without each other to rely on, God s people now need to rely even more on God. 5

6 Demonstrate the path of the exile. You will need: Internet-connected devices Optional: projector Before class: 1. See examples at q=map+of+babylonian+exile+597bc&client=safari&rls=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch &sa=x&ved=0ahukewisx4datanqahuq2imkhuxmcx0q_auiccgb&biw=1009 &bih=666#imgrc=_. During class: 1. Today we are hearing the story of God s people being sent away from their homeland and being forced to live in different places, away from their families and their temple. This is a period of time called the exile, and it lasted 70 years. That means God s people were away from each other and confused and frightened for a long time. 2. Divide the students into small groups and have them search online for Babylonian exile. 3. Background to help leader understanding: a. The battle of Carchemish between Babylon and Egypt/Assyria took place in 605 BCE, when Jehoiakim was king of Judah (the southern kingdom). This battle created a shift in control over Judah from Egypt/Assyria to Babylon. b. In 597 BCE, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon asserted his power over Judah s king Jehoiachin (son of the previous king, Jehoiakim) and along with some other Jewish leaders; they were forced to leave Jerusalem into exile in Babylon. c. God s people rebelled in 587 BCE under the Judean King, Zedekiah (Jehoiachin s uncle). This rebellion made Nebuchadnezzar angry, and in response he destroyed Jerusalem and its temple. Many more people, then, were sent into exile. 4. Move the class to a place in your room that you have designated as Jerusalem. Our story starts with God s people living in Jerusalem. Have students find Jerusalem on their online maps. But there were wars and kings and leaders who wanted power. The battles destroyed homes and even the temple. Eventually, God s people were forced to leave Jerusalem. 6

7 5. Some of them (move a small group to another area in the room, far from the first) traveled to a place called Ninevah in Assyria. Have students find Ninevah on their maps. 6. Others (take another group to a different area) went to Babylon. Have students find Babylon on their maps. 7. Still others stayed in Jerusalem. 8. With everyone still spread out around the room, debrief with the following: Have you ever had to move? How did you feel? God s people had to travel a very long way, and they were away from home for a long time. How do you think they felt being away from their homes and families? [Confused, scared, alone, excited.] Do you think they felt like God was still with them? Our Bible tells us that God is always with us, even when we feel alone and scared. 7

8 Accomplishing a task becomes difficult when we are apart. You will need: Bibles Balls of various sizes During class: 1. Students will begin class in a circle. 2. As we tell our story today, we are going to accomplish a task. When we are sitting next to each other like this, that task will be easy. But let s see what happens as the story goes on. 3. Pass one ball around the entire circle of students. Next, pass two and then three balls around the circle. Sitting together in the circle, it should be easy to accomplish. 4. Let s listen to the beginning of our story. Show Bible. This story is found in the book of Jeremiah, in the Old Testament. Show the students where Jeremiah is in the Bible. Reading from Jeremiah: These are the words of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 5. Before I read the next part of our story, I want you all to move back about two feet, and let s try our ball task again. Pass one, then two, and then three balls around the circle. Was that more difficult that time? Let s hear more of our story. 6. Continue reading: Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. 7. Before I read the next part of our story, I want you all to move back another couple of feet, and let s try our ball task again. Pass one, then two, and then three balls around the circle. Is it getting harder? Let s keep reading. 8. Continue: But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let the prophets and the diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, says the Lord. 8

9 9. Let s try it again: move back another few feet, and let s try our ball task. Pass one, then two, and then three balls around the circle. Is it even more difficult? 10. Back to our story: For thus says the Lord: Only when Babylon s seventy years are completed will I visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. 11. One last time: move back another few feet, and let s try our task. Pass one, then two, and then three balls around the circle. 12. Why was it harder and harder to accomplish something together as we moved further and further apart? [Because we were not able to see each other, because we had things between us, because we could not reach, etc.] 13. Do you remember how far apart we were when we talked about the exile in our Bible Nuts and Bolts activity? We talked about feeling scared and lost and alone. What do you think God s people were thinking and feeling as they were separated from each other and from their temple? [Lost, scared, alone, nervous.] 14. It is hard to be away from people who love you. It would be especially hard if we thought we were even separated from God. But God promises to be with God s people all the time and everywhere. Listen to this part of our story again: For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. In what ways can we know God is with us even when things seem difficult and we do not have our friends and family to help us? [Through prayer, reading the Bible, worship, nature, memories, faith.] We are going to practice praying about times that we feel we are alone. 9

10 Prayer can bring us together. You will need: Optional: blindfolds Before class: 1. If possible, darken the room or provide blindfolds. During class: 1. Have students stand in a circle facing outward and close their eyes. Read through the following petitions. After each petition, students should take one step forward, enlarging the circle. Lord, for the times we have been mean, we move further from our neighbor. Students take one step forward. Lord, for the times we have been unfair, we move further from our neighbor. Students take one step forward. Lord, for the times we have lied, we move further from our neighbor. Students take one step forward. Lord, for the times we have been selfish, we move further from our neighbor. Students take one step forward. 2. Sometimes we feel alone. But God is always with us, even in the times when we feel most alone. God will never leave us, and God wants us to be in relationship with each other. 3. Have students turn toward the center of the circle and open their eyes. 4. List opposite statements of those above, moving toward the center with each: Lord, for those times we have been kind, bring us together. Students take one step forward. Lord, for those times we have acted justly, bring us together. Students take one step forward. Lord, for those times we have been truthful, bring us together. Students take one step forward. Lord, for those times we have cared for our neighbor, bring us together. Students take one step forward. 5. Close by holding hands and saying the Lord s Prayer. 10

11 Experiment with marbles to see how they travel. You will need: Marbles During class: 1. Give each student five or six marbles. 2. We are going to spend some time experimenting with these marbles. To begin, I want you to take one marble and drop it on the floor. Play close attention to where it lands, and then how far it moves. The marble will likely stay near where it was dropped, unless it is rolled. 3. Now let s try it with a few more marbles. Take a few minutes on your own (or in small groups) and try dropping different numbers of marbles. Which ones travel the furthest? What can you do to make them go further? 4. Allow students time to experiment. 5. What did you discover? [Generally, more marbles dropped together will cause them to travel further.] Why do you think this happens? [Because other forces are acting on the marbles either there are multiple marbles hitting each other or the marble is moved or rolled by hand.] 6. When the Jewish people had to move, it was not by their own choice. They were forced to go into exile. Other forces acted upon them to move them away from each other. What were some of these forces? [The kings, battles, destruction.] 7. Sometimes things happen in our life that we have no control over. We may find ourselves moving in directions that we did not plan. It is important to remember that God is with us, regardless of what other forces may be influencing our lives. God is always with us, and has a plan for our lives. 11

12 Envision Christ s kingdom. You will need: Mural paper or white board Construction paper Markers Optional: magazines, scissors, glue During class: 1. If you were king, what would you decree? On the mural paper, make a list of the decrees the students would make. 2. What did the kings in our story decree? [The people must leave.] 3. Today is a special holiday in the church. It feels like Thanksgiving, and it almost feels like Christmas, but today in church we celebrate a holiday called Christ the King Sunday. This is a special day that reminds us that Jesus is the King, and that he is the holy Son of God. 4. What does it mean that Christ is the king? What do you think his rule looks like? How is it the same as or different than the kings in our story? [Christ s kingship is always loving and cares for people, his rule is just and kind.] 5. Draw or make a collage representing Christ s rule. Where do you see Christ s kingdom in the world around you? How do you recognize it? 12

13 Play a family tag game. You will need: Nothing During class: 1. For this game, we need to be in family groups. Give students a chance to create their small groups. Groups can have different numbers of members. 2. We are going to play tag, but as a family group. What is your job in a game of tag? To stay away from the person who is It, right? So that keeps all of our families apart from one another, just like God s people in today s story. Hold hands with your family group, and I will choose one group to be "It". When you tag another group, they will become It. Be sure to stay away from each other! 3. Play as time allows or each group gets a chance to be "It." 13

14 Optional ongoing activity. You will need: Bible Book page (found at end of lesson) Cardstock or plain paper Pens Markers or crayons Optional: three-ring binders, hole punch Before class: 1. Make copies of this week s Bible Book page on cardstock or copy paper for each student. During class: 1. Hand out Bible Book pages. 2. What are some of the important things we have learned from today s story? [Answers will vary.] 3. On the bottom of your page, please write one or two important things that you have learned from the story today. In the middle of the page, draw a picture from the story or illustrate one of the important things you ve learned. Don t forget to put your name on the back of the page, please! 4. Optional: Collect and three-hole punch the pages, and put them in individual binders for each student to be kept at church until the end of the year. If you wish, you can investigate other options for binding the Bible books through a local print shop at the end of the year instead of using a three-ring binder. 14

15 We have talked a lot today about feeling alone, and that God is always with us. For our closing prayer, I want you to spread out around the room. We are going to pray, and you are going to say out loud something that might cause worry or fear for people. After each statement, we will all respond with The Lord gives a future of hope, and take a step closer together. When we are all back in a circle, we will hold hands and say The Lord is always with us. Amen. 15

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17 Bible Book Lesson #4-12 (3rd-6th) November 26, 2017 God Fills our Future with Hope Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14 I learned: 17

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19 The Home 3 rd -6 th Living the Word: Teaching Kids God s Story Narrative Lectionary, Year 4 ( ) Lesson #4-12 Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14 Last Week Last week Isaiah reminded us that God is always with us, and that God s light will shine even in our periods of darkness (Isaiah 9:1-17). This Week The story of God s people is not always an easy one. The promises of God seem to have come to an end as the temple has been destroyed and God s people have been scattered. Story Summary God s people have been sent into exile. They are alone, abandoned, and without their spiritual and cultural center, the temple. The period of exile continues for 70 years. As they wait, God s people are encouraged to make a home where they are, to live and contribute and be an influence on their communities. In time, they will come to see God s ultimate plan and purpose. Even though things seem difficult and hopeless, God is with them. In our own dark and lonely moments, as we wait for God s plan to be revealed, God is with us. Practice: Prayer Prayer can serve many purposes. We might praise God, seek an answer to questions, pray on behalf of others, or even disagree with God. Regardless of the purpose, prayer enhances our relationship with God. Sit together in a room, but face different directions. Pray silently. Turn around, join hands, and close with a prayer together. Next Week The Point Jeremiah reminds God s people that God provides a future full of hope. Bible Nuts & Bolts The Exile After the death of King Solomon, Israel was divided into two kingdoms. The northern kingdom was Israel, and the southern kingdom was Judah. In 722 BCE, the Assyrians gained control of Israel. One hundred years later, the Assyrian capital of Nineveh fell to the Babylonians. To help keep the country safe, the kings of Judah began to pay tribute to Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king. After the rebellion of King Jehoiakim and King Zedekiah, however, Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem in 586 BCE, destroyed the temple, and sent God s people away. This time in Babylon, known as the exile, lasted for 70 years. It seemed like a desperate time in which God had abandoned God s people, but God continued to protect and be with the people even during these difficult times. Next week God is present even in the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

20 @ HOME Lesson #4-12 Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14 Family Discussions Use the questions below or other questions you think of to discuss today s Scripture reading (listed above) with your family. In what way does this text speak to our theme of Promises of Hope? What does this scripture have to do with our lives today? What part of this scripture is the most interesting to you? Why? Family Devotions As you hear and study these stories each week, consider what God has to say to you and your family. What is God s message to us? How should we respond? Sunday Read Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14 God promises to fill our future with hope. What three things would you take with you if you had to move to a new land? Why? Monday Read Jeremiah 29:15-23 Jeremiah prophesies about exile. As you read this passage together, move to different places in your home. Tuesday Read Jeremiah 30:1-11 Jeremiah prophesies about the return from exile. Hold your hands together, crossed at the wrists. What things keep you bound and unable to trust God? As you share these things, uncross your wrists. Wednesday Read Jeremiah 31:1-14 Jeremiah continues to prophesy about the return from exile. Yay! The exiles have been returned! Celebrate with a parade or a dance party. Thursday Read Daniel 1:1-21 Daniel and his friends come to Babylon. Eat vegetables and drink water. God provides for God s people. Friday Read Daniel 2:1-25 Nebuchadnezzar has a dream, part one. Do you remember a dream you ve had? Tell about it. Saturday Read Daniel 2:26-49 Daniel solves Nebuchadnezzar s dream. Take turns trying to figure out the meaning of the dreams you shared yesterday.