The Most Important Book Session 1 Lessons for the Leader Are you known for any accomplishments? What strides have you made in your spiritual walk? We learn today about a young king who listened to and obeyed the words of God. Read 2 Kings 22:1-7. Josiah began his reign as a child. He chose to follow and obey God's commands. At what age did you choose to follow God's commands? At the age of 26, Josiah began his greatest work as a religious reformer repairing the temple and leading people to obey God's commands. Read 2 Kings 22:8-11. What was found in the temple? The scroll may not have been truly lost, but cast aside or put back out of sight for some reason. Scholars believe the scroll contained Deuteronomy or all of the first five books of the Bible, since it was called the book of law. Have you read the first five books in the Bible? What happened after Shaphan (SHAY fan) read the scroll to Josiah? Read 2 Kings 22:12-20. What did Huldah (HUHL duh) tell the men? Why would Josiah be spared from experiencing the disaster? How do you respond when you realize God's commands have not been kept? Read 2 Kings 23:1-3. Notice that Josiah did not sit back and relax because he knew he would not see the desolation that was to occur. Instead, he chose to be proactive. Josiah sought to return the entire nation to obeying God's commands. Josiah led the people in making a covenant with God. Josiah read the words of the scroll. He demonstrated the importance of the Scriptures. Do you demonstrate the importance of the Bible by using one in front of the children? Help them learn the Bible is the most important book. What do these symbols mean? Application Activities Format: 1t Follow the numbers with arrows for a 30-minute, large group plus 20-minute Application Activities format. Large Group Format: 1 Follow all the numbers for a 45- to 60-minute large group only format. People Found a Lost Scroll Focus Passage: 2 Kings 22:1 23:3 Key Bible Verse: 2 Timothy 3:16 Life Application: I can learn the Bible is the most important book. Session at a Glance Introduction to Worship (8 minutes) Greet Children Play "Hot and Cold" Worship (30 minutes/45 minutes) Welcome Children and Pray Sing "The Bible Is God's Word" Sing "Everything the Bible Tells Me" Learn the Bible Verse Find It Tell the Bible Story Review Present Offering and Pray Sing "Give Thanks to God and Praise Him" Use Worship Guides Sing About the Bible Make Application Transition Application Activities (20 minutes) Wrap-Up (10 minutes) OK to copy. Page 1 of 19
Introduction to Worship Teacher Tip Distribute copies of "The Most Important Book Parent Connection" (CD) as parents arrive with their children. 1tGreet Children Offering container Show preschoolers where to put their offerings. 2tPlay "Hot and Cold" Paper, tape or string Roll the ends of the paper to the center and tape or tie closed to make a scroll. Instruct: "I'll choose one person to close his eyes. I'll choose another person to hide the scroll [display] in the room. When it is time to look for the scroll, everyone else will help the person find the scroll by saying 'hot' or 'cold.' We'll say 'cold' when he is not near the scroll and 'hot' when he is getting near the scroll." Choose the first two children to play. Use the words hot and cold to lead the child to locate the scroll. Repeat, choosing kids to hide and find the scroll. Say: "We hid and found a scroll in our game. In Bible times, the Scriptures were written on scrolls. Today, the Scriptures are in our Bibles. We'll learn what happened when people found a lost scroll." Worship 3 Welcome Children and Pray (2 minutes) Welcome kids and say: "We will learn the Bible is the most important book. Let's pray." Pray 4 Sing "The Bible Is God's Word" (DVD, 2 minutes) 5t Sing "Everything the Bible Tells Me" (DVD, 2 minutes) 6tLearn the Bible Verse (5 minutes) Blank scrap paper, marker, scissors Print "Puzzle Template" (CD). Print the words of 2 Timothy 3:16 from your preferred translation on the template. Cut the puzzle along the lines. Crumple the puzzle pieces and scrap paper. Toss all of the paper pieces on the floor. Teacher Tip Print and use "2 Timothy 3:16 Paraphrase" (CD). Comment: "A long time ago, people found a lost scroll in the temple." Point out the pile of paper wads on the floor. Instruct: "I'll choose volunteers to get paper from the floor. Decide if your paper is a piece of a puzzle or scrap paper." Choose volunteers and help them sort puzzle pieces from scrap paper. Invite kids to put the puzzle together. Read aloud the verse. Lead children to say the verse several times. 7tFind It (3 minutes) Print "2 Kings" (CD). Display the "2 Kings" title. Say: "This is 2 Kings. Second Kings is in the Old Testament. Let's open our Bibles to 2 Kings." Encourage adults to assist children. 8tTell the Bible Story (7 minutes) Teacher Tip Display the scroll (step 2) or show pictures of scrolls (from a Read to Me Bible or other resources). Explain: "Books looked different in Bible times than they do today. Words were written on scrolls rolls of parchment, papyrus, or leather. The scrolls were rolled up to be carried or stored. Listen for these words in our Bible story: scroll and book. When you hear the words, pretend to open a scroll [pretend to hold scroll and wiggle fingers while moving hands apart]." People Found a Lost Scroll Based on 2 Kings 22:1 23:3 When Josiah was 8 years old, he became king in Jerusalem. He was a good king, because he did what God wanted him to do. People Found a Lost Scroll Page 2 of 19
When King Josiah was a young man, he told his helper, Shaphan (SHAY fan), to go the temple. Shaphan was to tell Hilkiah (hil KIGH uh), the temple leader, to count the money given by the people. Shaphan was to give the money to the carpenters, builders, and stonecutters to buy what they needed to repair the temple. Shaphan did as Josiah said. Hilkiah brought a scroll to Shaphan. He said, "I have found the book of the law in the temple." Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan, who read it and took it to King Josiah. Shaphan told King Josiah the money was given to those who were repairing the temple, just as the king had asked. Shaphan showed the king the scroll and read it to the king. When King Josiah heard the words, he knew they were important. The words of the scroll told the people what God wanted them to do. The words told them how they should love God and how they should treat other people. Josiah knew the people were not doing this, and it made him very sad. He told Hilkiah, Shaphan, and other servants to find someone to tell them about what was written. Hilkiah, Shaphan, and the other servants went to a woman named Huldah (HUHL duh). She helped the men understand the words of the scroll. Huldah told the men God told her the words of the scroll were true. She said that, because the people had not done what God wanted, God was angry with them. She said to tell King Josiah that, because he believed and obeyed the words, he would not see the bad things that would take place. Hilkiah, Shaphan, and the other servants told all this to King Josiah. He called all the people of Jerusalem and Judah together, and King Josiah read the words of the scroll to them. He promised God he would obey God's rules that were written in this scroll. All the people agreed. 9tReview (5 minutes) Print "Scroll Review" and "Teaching Picture Scroll" (CD). Use page 1 and "I Spy" questions on page 2 of "Scroll Review." Use the Application Statements now or in Wrap-Up. Display the teaching picture and review the story. Display the collage (p. 1). Read aloud the questions, leading kids to find the hidden items and answer the questions. 10tPresent Offering and Pray (2 minutes) Thank God for the Bible. Thank Him that the stories in the Bible are true. 11 Sing "Give Thanks to God and Praise Him" (DVD, 2 minutes) 12 Use Worship Guides (7 minutes) Worship Guides, pencils or markers Distribute supplies. Guide children to complete the Worship Guide activities. 13tSing About the Bible (4 minutes) Teach children the "Special Book" song. Special Book (Tune: "If You're Happy and You Know It") Oh, the Bible is a special book to me (*clap, clap) Oh, the Bible is a special book to me (clap, clap) It says God loves me and you And it tells us what to do Oh, the Bible is a special book to me (clap, clap) *Substitute: stomp, snap, 'Oh, yeah' Conclude: "We can learn the Bible is the most important book. The Bible is true." 14 Make Application (4 minutes) Bible, 6 grocery bags, 5 toy tools and/or play money Place each item in a separate bag. Say: "Let's discover what is in the bags." Invite six children to choose bags, then display and name the contents. Remark: "The tools and money help us remember people in our Bible story were repairing the temple. We found a Bible in one of the bags. The Bible helps us remember the people found a scroll. The stories in the Bible are true. The Bible is the most important book. What is the most important book?" Lead kids to answer: "The Bible." 15tGo to Application Activities or Wrap-Up The Most Important Book Session 1 Page 3 of 19
Wrap-Up (Large Group Only Format) Wrap-Up (Application Activities Format) 16 Sing "Whoa!" (DVD, 2 minutes) 17 Review (4 minutes) Nonbreakable magnifying glass, "Teaching Picture Scroll" (step 9) Teacher Tip Read the Application Statements from "Scroll Review" (step 9) instead of asking kids for story facts. Instruct children to pass the magnifying glass around until you say "stop." Instruct: "[Say name of child holding magnifying glass], look at the picture and tell one fact about the Bible story." Continue reviewing as time permits. Lead kids to say the Bible verse (2 Timothy 3:16). Say: "In the Bible story, the people found a scroll. We used the magnifying glass to find items in the picture to help us remember facts about the Bible story." 18 Play a Scroll Game (4 minutes) Scroll (step 2) Teacher Tip Form small groups, providing a scroll for each group. Guide kids to stand in a circle. Instruct: "Put your hands behind your backs [demonstrate]. I'll walk behind everyone and place the scroll [display] in someone's hands. Close your eyes. After I place the scroll, I'll ask someone to guess who has it." Walk around and place the scroll. Ask a child: "Who has the scroll?" Invite responses, revealing who has the scroll. Invite the child with the scroll to place it in someone else's hands next. Continue as time permits. Say: "We hid and found a scroll in our game. In Bible times, the Scriptures were written on scrolls. Today, the Scriptures are in our Bibles." 19 Dismiss Children to Their Parents The Most Important Book Session 1 16tSing "Whoa!" (DVD, 2 minutes) 17t Highlight Application Activities (2 minutes) Call on several children to tell what they did in their Application Activities. ttarts and Crafts Make Bible Flip Books ttdramatic Play Make and Present Awards ttgames Play Hula Hoop Games ttexploration and Discovery Make and Explore a Book Path Apply: "Our activities helped us learn the Bible is the most important book." 18tReview (3 minutes) Bottom half of page 2 from "Scroll Review" (step 9) Instruct: "I'll read a statement. If the statement is true, stand up. If the statement is false (not true), stay seated." Read aloud one statement at a time. Connect: "We can learn the Bible is the most important book." Lead kids to say the Bible verse (2 Timothy 3:16). 19tMake Application (4 minutes) Bible, 6 grocery bags, 5 toy tools and/or play money pieces Place each item in a separate bag. Say: "Let's discover what is in the bags." Invite six children to choose bags, then display and name the contents. Remark: "The tools and money help us remember people in our Bible story were repairing the temple. We found a Bible in one of the bags. The Bible helps us remember the people found a scroll. The stories in the Bible are true. The Bible is the most important book. What is the most important book?" Lead kids to answer: "The Bible." 20tDismiss Children to Their Parents Worship KidStyle Preschool Edition Leader Guide, Volume 9 2015 LifeWay. Page 4 of 19
Application Activities Select from the following choices. Each choice is designed for 20 minutes of small group time. Glue sticks, paper (construction, decorative, wallpaper pieces, etc.), markers, chenille stems, hole punches, scissors, ruler Print "Bible Flip Book" (CD) (1 copy per child). Cut paper into 4½-inch squares (6 per child). Teacher Tip Precut "Bible Flip Book" pages. Bible, several children's books (large and small), play dough, scissors, ribbon, tape, markers or crayons, ruler Print "Award Tops" (CD) (1 copy per child). Cut ribbon into 5-inch lengths (at least 5 per child). Display the collection of books. Teacher Tip Show a few certificates, trophies, or ribbons that you received. Talk about reasons people receive awards. Worship Through Arts and Crafts Make Bible Flip Books Ask: "What is the most important book ever written? (the Bible)" Say: "The workers found a scroll that had the book of law written on it. The book of law refers to the first five books of the Old Testament. Let's make Bible flip books with verses from the first five books of the Old Testament." Distribute materials. Instruct: "Cut apart each square with a Bible book name and verses [display page]. Glue each square to a separate color square [display]. The teachers will help you punch a hole in a corner of your pages." Assist kids with gluing, punching holes, and aligning pages. Invite kids to use the markers to decorate the pages. Say: "Push your chenille stem [display] through the holes and twist together to close. Flip the pages of your books to see the verses." Say: "Josiah told workers to repair the temple, a place to worship God. The workers found a scroll. Josiah knew the scroll had important words from God." Lead children to clean the area. Guide children to say the Bible verse (2 Timothy 3:16). Conclude: "The Bible is the most important book because it tells us what God wants us to know." Pray, thanking God for the Bible. Worship Through Dramatic Play Make and Present Awards Say: "Today, we will have a book awards show. We will make trophies and ribbons for the show." Talk with the children about some of their favorite books. Display a Bible. Say: "This is the most important book ever written. The Bible is filled with special instructions from God. The Bible is the best book I have ever read." Invite the children to make play dough trophies. Give each child a copy of the "Award Tops" and ribbon. Read aloud the award tops. Say: "Let's cut apart the award tops and tape ribbons to them." Place a variety of books, including a Bible, on a table. Invite one child at a time to present her trophy to one book. Then, present the ribbons. Emphasize: "The Bible is the most important book ever written. Let's say our Bible verse together." Open the Bible and lead kids to say the Bible verse (2 Timothy 3:16). Review the Bible story. Clean the area. Pray, thanking God for the Bible. The Most Important Book Session 1 Page 5 of 19
Several children's books, hula hoop, beanbag, colored tape, dry erase board and markers, scissors, paper Place a hula hoop on the floor. Print "Scroll and Bible" (CD) and cut apart pictures. Lay the books and scroll picture inside the hoop. Tape a line about 10 feet from the hoop. Print the Bible verse (2 Timothy 3:16) on 2 pieces of paper. Roll and tape the papers to make 2 scrolls. Teacher Tip Use a small hoop for the hoop roll activity. Colored tape, 2 children's Bibles, variety of children's books (about 20), long sheet of paper Hide books around the room. Teacher Tip Make the taped path long enough for the children to move along it and comfortably look through the books. Substitute a path of yarn or wooden blocks for a taped line. Tape a path on the floor before the session. Worship Through Games Play Hula Hoop Games Review the Bible story. Say: "Josiah wanted to repair the temple. In Bible times, a temple was a place to worship God. Josiah sent workers to repair the temple. The workers found a scroll. The scroll had instructions from God on it." Ask: "What is the most important book ever written?" [Display Bible picture.] Explain: "Line up behind the tape line. We'll take turns trying to toss a beanbag onto the most important book [display Bible picture; lay inside hoop]. When a beanbag lands on the picture of the Bible, shout 'Bible!' " Retrieve the beanbag after each toss. Invite the children to form a large circle. Teach preschoolers how to spell the word Bible. Print Bible in large letters on a dry erase board. Practice spelling Bible aloud. Roll the hoop from one child to another while spelling Bible. Form two teams. Guide each team to line up behind the tape line. Place the two verse scrolls inside a hula hoop on the floor at the opposite end of the room from the taped line. Explain: "The first child in the line will run to the hoop and grab a scroll. Then he will place it under his chin and run back, trying not to drop the scroll, and give it to the next child in line. The next child will put the scroll under his chin, run to the hoop, drop the scroll in, and return to his team." Continue until each child has a turn. Invite the last child in the line to open the scroll. Read aloud the verse on the scroll (2 Timothy 3:16). Pray, thanking God for the Bible. Worship Through Exploration and Discovery Make and Explore a Book Path Say: "Not all stories are true. Some stories are made up by writers. All the stories in the Bible are true. The Bible is an important and true book." Review the Bible story. Roll up a paper on both ends to show an example of a scroll. Comment: "People found a scroll in the temple. The scroll had instructions from God. Josiah knew the words were important." Explain: "Let's tape a path on the floor. I'll give everyone tape. Work together to make a path across the floor. The path can be straight or have turns. One person will put his tape down first. The next person will add his tape to the first line. We'll continue until we make a path." Give children pieces of tape and help them make a long path. Say: "Find the books hidden around the room. Line up the books along the taped path. Put a Bible at the beginning and at the end of the path." Invite the children to move along the path and look through the books. Open a Bible and read the Bible verse (2 Timothy 3:16). Say: "We can learn that God's words are true, special, and important." Lead kids to clean the area. Pray, thanking God for the Bible. Worship KidStyle Preschool Edition Leader Guide, Volume 9 2015 LifeWay. OK to copy. Page 6 of 19
People Found a Lost Scroll 2 Kings 22:1 23:3 Key Bible Verse: 2 Timothy 3:16 Life Application: I can learn the Bible is the most important book. Find and circle 9 things that are different in the bottom picture. Josiah was 8 years old when he became king did what was right knew the Scriptures were true promised to follow and obey God Count each set of scrolls. Draw lines to the matching numerals. The Most Important Book Session 1 Worship KidStyle Preschool Edition Worship Guide, Volume 9 Page 7 of 19
People Found a Lost Scroll 2 Kings 22:1 23:3 Key Bible Verse: 2 Timothy 3:16 Life Application: I can learn the Bible is the most important book. Find and circle 9 things that are different in the bottom picture. Josiah was 8 years old when he became king did what was right knew the Scriptures were true promised to follow and obey God Count each set of scrolls. Draw lines to the matching numerals. The Most Important Book Session 1 Worship KidStyle Preschool Edition Worship Guide, Volume 9 Page 8 of 19
People Found a Lost Scroll (2 Kings 22:1 23:3) The Most Important Book Session 1 Angus McBride 2015 LifeWay. Printed in the USA. OK Page to copy. 9 of 19
Worship KidStyle Preschool Edition Parent Connection Parents: Check out what your child is learning in Worship KidStyle! The information on this page will help you carry out your role as your child's primary spiritual developer by continuing the discussion we have in class. The Most Important Book This unit will help kids learn more about the Bible. Session 1: People Found a Lost Scroll The Big Idea: I can learn the Bible is the most important book. Bible Passage: 2 Kings 22:1 23:3 Key Bible Verse: All that the Bible says is from God. 2 Timothy 3:16 Connecting Points this week: When you or your child misplaces something and finds it, say: "Finding [state item] reminds me of the Bible story when the people found the lost scroll. The scroll had Scriptures written on it. We can read those Scriptures in our Bibles today." Open your Bible to 2 Timothy 3:16. Read aloud the verse with your child. Comment: "God gave us all of the Scriptures in the Bible. The Scriptures teach us the right things to do, tell the things we should not do, and help us know about God and Jesus." Session 2: Jeremiah Wrote God's Words The Big Idea: I can learn people wrote God's words in the Bible. Bible Passages: Jeremiah 36:1-4,22-24,27-28,32 Key Bible Verse: God said, "Write the words I have spoken to you." Jeremiah 36:2 Connecting Points this week: While your child writes or colors, remark: "People wrote God's words in the Bible. The people wrote His words on scrolls. The words were copied from the scrolls and put on pages and printed. We read God's words in our Bibles." Print Jeremiah on a paper. Say: "Jeremiah was one person who wrote God's words in the Bible." Invite your child to roll the paper as a scroll. Guide your child to either roll from one end only or roll from both ends, meeting in the middle. Session 3: Jesus Read a Scroll The Big Idea: I can read and learn from the Bible. Bible Passage: Luke 4:16-22 Key Bible Verse: Jesus read a scroll at the synagogue. Luke 4:16 Connecting Points this week: Read aloud Luke 4:16. State: "Jesus read a scroll that had Scriptures written on it. He read the Scriptures to the people. Jesus wanted the people to hear the words and learn from them. Those Scriptures are in our Bible. We can read and learn from our Bible." Invite your child to turn pages in his Bible. Ask: "What have you learned from the Bible?" Encourage him to say be kind, tell the truth, say nice things, help people, and/or tell about Jesus. Ask him about his favorite Bible story. Conclude: "Jesus read the Scriptures on a scroll so people could learn. We read our Bibles and learn." Session 4: Philip Taught the Ethiopian The Big Idea: I can explore what the Bible says about Jesus. Bible Passages: Acts 8:4-8,26-40 Key Bible Verse: Jesus said, "The Scriptures tell about Me." John 5:39 Connecting Points this week: Ask: "Where was Jesus born? What did His mother lay him in after she wrapped Him in cloth? Who healed the lepers? Who chose disciples? Who loves all people?" Lead your child to answer "Jesus" to the last three questions. State: "We learn about Jesus when we read the Bible. I'm glad you know about Jesus." Inquire: "What do you remember about a Bible story with an Ethiopian?" Assist your child to recall the story of Philip and the Ethiopian (see Acts 8 for help). Comment: "We read the Bible to learn what is said about Jesus." Session 5: Timothy Learned from the Scriptures The Big Idea: I can discover the Bible teaches how to live. Bible Passages: Acts 16:1-3; 2 Timothy 1:1-5; 3:14-17 Key Bible Verse: You learn from the Bible. 2 Timothy 3:15 Connecting Points this week: Read aloud 2 Timothy 3:15. Comment: "This verse refers to Timothy. Timothy's mother and grandmother taught him the Scriptures. We can learn how to live by reading the Bible. The Bible tells us how to treat, help, and teach people." When your child is fussy or disobeying, comment: "Let's look at the Bible to see how we should live and act." Read aloud Deuteronomy 5:16; 6:18; Psalm 107:8; and Matthew 6:6. Say: "The Bible teaches us how to live." The Most Important Book Parent Connection (The Most Important Book Session 1) Page 10 of 19
Puzzle Template (The Most Important Book Session 1) Page 11 of 19
All that the Bible says is from God. 2 Timothy 3:16 2 Timothy 3:16 Paraphrase (The Most Important Book Session 1) 1 Page 12 of 19
All that the Bible says is from God. 2 Timothy 3:16 2 Timothy 3:16 Paraphrase (The Most Important Book Session 1) 2 Page 13 of 19
2 Kings 2 Kings 3 Page 14 of 19
Scroll Review (The Most Important Book Session 1) 1 Page 15 of 19
I Spy Review Questions In what Bible book is today's story found? (2 Kings) How old was Josiah when he became king? (8) Was Josiah a good or bad king? (good) What is something a king would wear? (robe, crown) What did the people find? (lost scroll) Where did the people find a lost scroll? (the temple) What did people give at the temple? (money, coins) Application Statements We can only read the Bible at church. (false) The stories in the Bible are true. (true) The Bible is God's Word. (true) The Bible is not an important book. (false) We do not need to read the Bible. (false) The Bible is the most important book. (true) Kids wrote the books in the Bible. (false) We are to read the Bible each day. (true) Scroll Review (The Most Important Book Session 1) 2 Page 16 of 19
My Bible Book Genesis In the beginning God created the world. Genesis 1:1 God made the fish and birds. Genesis 1:21 God made animals. Genesis 1:25 God made man and woman. Genesis 1:27 Exodus Do not worship anyone or anything but God. Exodus 20:3 Obey your father and mother. Exodus 20:12 Tell each other the truth. Exodus 20:16 Leviticus Love your neighbor as yourself. Leviticus 19:18 Keep my commandments and do them. Leviticus 20:8 Numbers God is with us. Do not be afraid. Numbers 14:9 Deuteronomy Love your father and mother. Deuteronomy 5:16 Do what God says. Deuteronomy 5:32 Do what is right and good. Deuteronomy 6:18 Help people in need. Deuteronomy 15:11 Love God and always do what He says. Deuteronomy 30:20 Bible Flip Book (The Most Important Book Session 1) Page 17 of 19
The Most Important Book The Biggest Book The Smallest Book The Most Colorful Book The Prettiest Book Cover Award Tops (The Most Important Book Session 1) Page 18 of 19
Scroll and Bible (The Most Important Book Session 1) Page 19 of 19