1st Grade (10:15am) August 18, 2013
Teacher BIBLE STUDY Following Joshua s death, the Israelites were without a leader. They fell into a cycle of sin that can be seen during each reign of the judges. The cycle is marked by an A-B-C-D-E pattern. Let s look at the first judge, Othniel, to see this pattern. First, the people Abandoned God. They turned away and served other gods. (Judg. 3:7) Next, they experienced a period of Bondage. God was angry with the Israelites, and He gave them into the hand of the king of Aram. (v. 8) Third, the people Cried out to God. (v. 9) God sent a Deliverer to save them. (vv. 9-10) Finally, they had Ease in the land. (v. 11) Then Othniel died. This pattern continued with Ehud. The people had again turned from God. Their abandonment made God angry. He sent them into bondage by strengthening the king of Moab to defeat Israel. The Israelites served the king of Moab for 18 years. The Moabites were fat, especially the king. They enjoyed the fruit of the Israelites labor while the Israelites went hungry. By thrusting a sword into the king s belly, Ehud disemboweled the king and left him dead on the floor of his room. The fat covered over the handle of the sword so that Ehud could not remove it. After Ehud delivered Israel, the Israelites struck down the Moabites and there was peace in the land for eighty years. But Ehud would die, and they would need another judge to lead them. The Israelites needed someone better than a judge; they needed a king who would save them not only from the consequences of their sin, but the sin itself. That was all part of God s plan. God sent a true Deliverer; His Son Jesus died for our sin and delivered us forever from the oppression of sin and death. 1 Younger Kids Leader Guide
Younger Kids Bible study OVERVIEW Session Title: The First Judges Bible Passage: Judges 3:7-31 Big Picture Question: How does God accomplish His plan? God works in the lives of people to bring about His plan for redemption. Key Passage: Judges 2:18 Unit Christ Connection: God used the judges to deliver His people from their enemies; Christ delivers people from the greatest enemy, Satan. 2 Younger Kids Leader Guide
The BIBLE STORY The First Judges Judges 3:7-31 Joshua had died. Without a strong leader, the Israelites began to disobey God and worship false gods. They forgot about the one true God. God was angry. He let an enemy king take over the Israelites, and they served the king for eight years. Then the Israelites remembered how good they had it when they loved and obeyed God. They cried out to Him, Save us! God wanted the people to love and obey Him, so God raised up Othniel (AHTH nih el) to rule over them as the first judge. Othniel led the Israelites into battle against the king of Aram, and God helped the Israelites win. The land was peaceful for 40 years, then Othniel died. Again, Israel forgot about God. God gave the king of Moab power to attack the Israelites and defeat them. The Israelites served the king of Moab for 18 years. The Israelites were sad. They remembered how good they had it when they loved and obeyed God. They cried out to Him, Save us! So God raised up Ehud (EE huhd) to save them. The Israelites sent Ehud to the king of Moab, who was a very fat man. Ehud had a double-edged sword under his clothes. Ehud said, I have a secret message for you. The king dismissed all his attendants so he was alone with Ehud. When the king stood up, Ehud pulled out his sword. He pushed it into the king s belly. The sword was swallowed up by the king s fat. Ehud couldn t even pull it out! Ehud escaped down the porch, locking the doors of the room behind him. Ehud was gone when the king s servants came in. The door was locked and they thought he was using the bathroom. They waited, but the king never opened the door. The servants got worried, so they unlocked the door and found their king dead on the floor! When Ehud escaped, he blew a ram s horn and he became the Israelites leader. God will help us defeat our enemies, the Moabites, Ehud told them. So the Israelites battled the Moabites and took control over them. There was peace in the land for 80 years. 3 Younger Kids Leader Guide
When Ehud died, the Israelites forgot God again. They turned away from Him. When they remembered how good they had it when they loved and obeyed God, they cried out to Him, Save us! God sent a third judge, Shamgar (SHAM gahr), to save them. Christ Connection: The judges saved the people from the consequences of their sin, but not the cause of it. God s plan was to one day send a true deliverer Jesus, His own Son to be the King of His people. Jesus saves people from sin forever. 4 Younger Kids Leader Guide
Small Group Opening Session Title: The First Judges Bible Passage: Judges 3:7-31 Big Picture Question: How does God accomplish His plan? God works in the lives of people to bring about His plan for redemption. Key Passage: Judges 2:18 Unit Christ Connection: God used the judges to deliver His people from their enemies; Christ delivers people from the greatest enemy, Satan. 4 or 5 small everyday items of your choice Complete the Pattern activity page, 1 per kid markers or crayons Welcome time Arriving Activity: Purpose finder Before kids arrive, place several items together on a table. Invite the kids to look at and touch the items and try to figure out what they are used for. Use everyday items like a pencil, an eraser, a toothbrush, a hairbrush, and so forth. If available, use some uncommon items too. Encourage kids to talk about other uses for the items. Kids may want to sort items by where they are used (at school, at home, inside, outside). Before you start the session, talk about each item and its purpose. Say Everything we own is used for something. It all has a purpose or plan. Today, we will talk about how God accomplishes His plan. Activity page (5 minutes) Guide boys and girls to complete the activity page. Say The Israelites made it into the land God promised. After they moved in, a pattern in the way they lived formed and it wasn t a good one. We ll find out more in just a few moments. 5 Younger Kids Leader Guide
LOW PREP ball or paper wad ession starter (10 minutes) Activity: Left hand game Instruct the kids to form one large circle or several small ones. Invite the kids to toss a ball or paper wad. The player with the ball may toss it to the kid of his choice. However, kids may only use their left hands to throw it. Encourage them to not let the paper wad or ball hit the ground. Say How many of you thought this game was more difficult because you had to use your left hand? That s probably because you are right-handed. How many of you thought it was easy? You are probably left-handed. Today, we will learn about a hero of the Israelites who was left-handed. Transition to large group 6 Younger Kids Leader Guide
The First Judges video Bibles, 1 per kid Bible Story Picture Slide or Poster Tell the Bible story (10 minutes) Leader It s time to meet the first three judges God used to save His people. Let s open our Bibles to Judges 3. Don t forget about our big picture question. How does God accomplish His plan? Choose to tell the Bible story in your own words using the script provided, or show the video The First Judges. Leader Did you notice a pattern? The people of Israel sinned. God sent an enemy to remind them how much they needed Him. They asked God for help. He sent someone to free the people and lead them. How does God accomplish His plan? God works in the lives of people to bring about His plan for redemption. Redemption means to pay a price to get something back. The Israelites faced the consequences for their sin, and God used a judge to bring them back to Himself. The first judge was Othniel. Othniel was related to Caleb. Does anyone remember who Caleb was? He was one of the twelve spies Moses sent to see what was in the promised land. The spies came back with a bad report, but Joshua and Caleb trusted God. God blessed them for their obedience. We don t know much more about Othniel, but we know God used him as a judge for 40 years. He died and the people refused to follow God. This time God sent a mean king named Eglon. For 18 years, the Israelites served this king until they cried out again. Then God sent Ehud. Ehud was left-handed, which was rare. God used his left-handed ability to kill the mean king and set the people free. The Israelites were free for 80 years. The third chapter of Judges also mentions a third judge. Shamgar killed 600 Philistines with an oxgoad. An oxgoad is an 8-foot long stick with a pointed end. It was used for farming, but God used it to deliver His people.
Ask the following review questions: 1. Who is the first judge mentioned in the Book of Judges? (Othniel, Judg. 3:9) 2. What made Ehud different from most others? (He was left-handed, Judg. 3:15) 3. How did Ehud get King Eglon to meet with him alone? (Ehud told Eglon that he had a secret to tell him, Judg. 3:19) 4. How long was Israel at peace because of Ehud? (80 years, Judg. 3:30) 5. What did Shamgar use against the Philistines? (oxgoad, Judg. 3:31) 10 Younger Kids Leader Guide
Small Group LEADER Session Title: The First Judges Bible Passage: Judges 3:7-31 Big Picture Question: How does God accomplish His plan? God works in the lives of people to bring about His plan for redemption. Key Passage: Judges 2:18 Unit Christ Connection: God used the judges to deliver His people from their enemies; Christ delivers people from the greatest enemy, Satan. Key Passage Slide or Poster dry erase board and markers (optional) Key passage activity (5 minutes) Make sure the key passage, Judges 2:18, is visible for each child, either as the printed poster or written on a dry erase board. Read the verse together. Say God cared about His people even though they stopped worshiping and obeying Him. When they cried out for help, God used people to deliver them from their enemies. How does God accomplish His plan? God works in the lives of people to bring about His plan for redemption. God didn t just use the judges to accomplish His plan; He uses me and you to share Jesus with others. Choose three volunteers to be judges. Form three or four groups with the remaining kids. Read the verse together several times so kids are comfortable with the passage. Instruct the kids how to say the verse. For example, tell them to say the verse loudly, softly, quickly, and slowly. Invite the three volunteers to judge which group was best at following the instructions. Change up judges and groups, and play again as time allows. 13 Younger Kids Leader Guide
Bibles, 1 per kid Small Group Visual Pack Big Picture Question Slide or Poster paper, 3 pieces markers tape Bible story review (10 minutes) Encourage kids to find Judges 3 in their Bibles. Help them as needed. Say Judges is located in the Old Testament. The book comes right after Joshua as part of the division called History. The Book of Judges tells about the leaders of Israel who came after Moses and Joshua. Use the small group visual pack to show kids where today s Bible story is on the timeline. Review the Bible story provided or summarize the story in your own words. Attach a piece of paper to three different walls in the room. Write Othniel on one of the papers, Ehud on another, and Shamgar on the final paper. Explain to the kids that the group is going to play Who Am I? Read the following questions and encourage the kids to go to the wall they think has the correct answer: Who was the first judge? (Othniel) Who told the king he had a secret message to give him? (Ehud) Who was the third judge? (Shamgar) Who killed the king with a sword? (Ehud) Who killed 600 Philistines? (Shamgar) Who battled the king of Aram? (Othniel) Who battled his enemy with an oxgoad? (Shamgar) Who was a judge for 40 years? (Othniel) Who does the Bible say was left-handed? (Ehud) Show the big picture question slide or poster. Say Here s a reminder of the big picture question and answer. How does God accomplish His plan? God works in the lives of people to bring about His plan for redemption. The Israelites redemption was only temporary. Once the people cried out, God sent someone to lead 14 Younger Kids Leader Guide
them to victory. After that judge died, the people once again quit worshiping and serving God. Our redemption through Jesus is forever. Jesus paid the price for our sins once and for all. heavyweight paper, 1 per kid washable school glue glitter or colored sand Activity: Left hand craft Distribute a piece of heavyweight paper to each child. Pour a generous amount of school glue on a paper plate. Demonstrate how to place your left hand in the glue and leave a handprint on the paper. Once kids make their handprints, provide glitter or sand to sprinkle onto the glue. Encourage each kid to write God can use me! below her handprint. Say God used a left-handed man named Ehud to free the Israelites from an evil king. How does God accomplish His plan? God works in the lives of people to bring about His plan for redemption. God can use us to share about Jesus. Jesus is God s plan to redeem people of all nations. 15 Younger Kids Leader Guide
journals, 1 per kid Journal Page, 1 per kid markers or crayons Bible Story Coloring Page Journal and prayer (5 minutes) Distribute each child s journal and the journal page provided with this session. Instruct the kids to draw a picture of one of the three judges. Writers can add the judge s name and how he became judge. Say Let s say our big picture question and answer one last time. How does God accomplish His plan? God works in the lives of people to bring about His plan for redemption. Make sure each child puts this week s page in the journal, and then collect them. Keep the journals in the classroom so they will be available every week or as often as you wish to use them. If time remains, take prayer requests or allow kids to complete the coloring page provided with this session. End the session with prayer, thanking God for using us in His plans. Pray for each child by name, asking God to help each one see how God is working in his or her life and in the lives of others. 16 Younger Kids Leader Guide
Journal Page The Judges Key Passage: Judges 2:18 Session1: The First Judges Judges 3:7-31 Session 2: Deborah and Barak Judges 4 5 Session 3: Gideon Judges 6 8 Session 4: Samson Judges 13 16 2012 Christian Resources. OK TO PRINT
Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. Judges 2:18 Unit 9 Key Passage Poster (ESV) 2012 Christian Resources. OK TO PRINT The Judges
How does God accomplish His plan? God works in the lives of people to bring about His plan for redemption. Unit 9 Session 1 Big Picture Question 2012 Christian Resources. OK TO PRINT The Judges
Instructions: Complete each pattern below. The Judges UNIT 9 Session 1 Younger Kids Activity Pages 2012 Christian Resources.
The First Judges Judges 3:7-31 2012 Christian Resources.
The Judges Unit 9 Session 1 The First Judges 2012 Christian Resources. OK TO PRINT