Session 9 FOR THE LEADER Listen and Obey Amos 1:1-2; 4:13; 5:4,14-15; 7:14-15 Amos was a fig farmer and shepherd from the small town of Tekoa, a village about 10 miles south of Jerusalem. During this time in Israel s history, the nation had been split in two. Judah comprised the Southern Kingdom, while Israel became the Northern Kingdom. Amos claimed and held fast to the fact that he was not a professional prophet, but only spoke because God had called him to do so. While Amos lived in Judah, God called him to go to Israel and speak God s message. Amos was a contemporary of the prophets Isaiah and Micah who prophesied in Judah. Hosea also prophesied in Israel. Judah was ruled at this time by King Uzziah. In the history of kings, Uzziah is characterized as one of those who did what was right in the LORD s sight (2 Chronicles 26:4). In contrast, Israel was ruled by Jeroboam II, who restored prosperity to the nation but continued the evil practices of the previous monarchs. During this time, things seemed to be going well for both nations; but, as was the Israelites habit, when things started going well for them financially and agriculturally, they forgot about God. It is within the context of prosperity that Amos delivers God s message of judgment to come. Amos warned Israel that sin has consequences and, even though things seemed happy and cheerful now, with continued disobedience would come complete destruction. Amos 3 6 contain a series of judgments against Israel and Amos impassioned plea for the people to submit to God. Though Amos lived in Judah, his heart broke for the people of Israel and his pleading shows how much he desired the people s faithfulness to God. The very thing Amos warned about was Israel s response to him. The nation drove Amos away, basically claiming that God was still on their side because they were prospering and their enemies were not. Amos ended his prophecy with a series of visions that declared Israel s complete and total destruction. However, God, through Amos, also sent a message of hope and of a future restoration for a remnant following their exile. 70 Explore the Bible: Preschool Leader Guide
OVERVIEW SESSION FOCUS TEXT TRUTH Obey God and love Him. BIBLE STORY Amos 1:1-2; 4:13; 5:4,14-15; 7:14-15 Amos 5:4 CHRIST IN CONTEXT The Book of Amos reveals man s sinfulness and God s judgment for sin. Jesus met God s standard for righteousness. BIBLE SKILLS Know there are two main parts of the Bible the Old Testament and the New Testament. Begin to pronounce the names of the books of the Bible. ARRIVAL ACTIVITIES (5 MINUTES) As preschoolers arrive, offer choices of self-guided activities that set the stage for Bible explorations. Work animal puzzles. Tools: Bible; 2 or 3 puzzles showing animals, particularly farm animals Trace block shapes and make designs. Tools: Bible, wooden blocks, white paper, colored pencils Spell with magnetic letters. Tools: Bible; cards with the words Amos, God, Obey printed on them; magnetic letters; metal cookie sheet EXPLORE THE BIBLE TEXT CONNECTION Amos was not a professional prophet. He was a simple fig farmer from Judah. God called Amos to head north to Israel and issue a message that God desired faithfulness from His people. Things were going great for the people of Judah and Israel. The king of Israel, Jeroboam II, had restored prosperity to the nation, and with that the people stopped following God and began to rely on their own wealth and prosperity to save them. Amos spoke a message of hope to the people and encouraged them to not let their financial security tempt them to stop being faithful to God. Amos wanted the people to realize that God was the one who had granted them this blessing, and to Him they should be thankful and faithful. God desires the faithfulness of His people because He has been faithful to them. Genesis 35 recalls God s faithfulness to Jacob, who set up a marker to commemorate for future generations the faithfulness of God. After everyone has had an opportunity to do one or more arrival activities, direct preschoolers to Exploration Stations. (See next page.) FAMILY AT HOME Print this week s devotional page (Enhanced CD) to give to families. Session 9: Listen and Obey 71
BIBLE STORY TEXT TRUTH Obey God and love Him. Amos 5:4 AMOS MESSAGE FOR THE PEOPLE Amos 1:1-2; 4:13; 5:4,14-15; 7:14-15 Amos was a shepherd. He took care of his sheep and farmed his land. Fruit trees grew on Amos farm. One day God had a special job for Amos. God s people had forgotten about God s laws. God wanted Amos to take a message to the people. God told Amos to stop taking care of sheep. Amos, go to the people, God said. Tell them to listen to My words. Amos did what God said. He left his animals and his farmland. He went to the people in the town and told them God s message. Amos said: God made the mountains and the winds. He makes night turn into day. God wants you to do good things, not bad things. He wants you to be fair to one another. God will be with you. Amos reminded the people that God speaks to His people. God wanted the people to obey His laws and do what is right. God is pleased when people obey Him. Amos loved God. He did what God told him to do. Amos helped the people learn that God helps us know what to do. LEADER TIP You choose! Are your preschoolers ready to learn memory verses? Decide which wording of the Bible verse you want to use with your group. From the Bible text: The Lord says: Seek me and live. Amos 5:4 Paraphrase: Look to God for help. Amos 5:4 72 Explore the Bible: Preschool Leader Guide
CIRCLE TIME CIRCLE TIME (10-15 MINUTES, DEPENDING ON YOUR AGE GROUP) GATHER Walk around the room as children put away toys and materials and sing (tune London Bridge): Now it s time to come join me, come join me, come join me. Now it s time to come join me. Come to Circle Time. HEAR THE BIBLE STORY Ask children: Have you heard anything about a man named Amos who lived during Bible times? Listen for responses. Children may know someone living today who has the same name. OPTIONS 1. Arrival Activities 2. Circle Time 3. Exploration Stations OR 1. Arrival Activities 2. Exploration Stations 3. Circle Time Open the Bible to the Book of Amos and point to Amos name. Tell the Bible story, using your own words. Lay the Story Picture (Pack) on the floor. Say: Let s talk about the story. Who do you think is walking? What does he have with him? Where is Amos going? Why? What did Amos tell the people? Pick up the Story Picture then pass it around the circle. TOOLS Bible alphabet blocks (letters A, M, O, S); magnetic letters (A, M, O, S); magnet board cloth bag PRACTICE BIBLE SKILLS Put the alphabet blocks, magnetic letters, and Amos Bible Name Card (Pack) in the bag. Invite children one at a time to get an item from the bag. Direct children with magnetic letters to arrange their letters on the magnet board to spell Amos. Lead the children with alphabet blocks to arrange them to spell the Bible book name. PACK ITEMS 9 Story Picture: Amos Message for the People 21 Bible Name Cards After spelling the Bible book name, ask teachers to help children locate the Book of Amos in a Bible. PRAY Remind the children that the Bible tells about people who obeyed God and did what He said to do. Thank God for the people today who obey God and help others know the right things to do. Session 9: Listen and Obey 73
EXPLORATION STATIONS TEXT TRUTH Obey God and love Him. BIBLE STORY Amos Message for the People Amos 1:1-2; 4:13; 5:4,14-15; 7:14-15 Amos 5:4 EXPLORATION STATIONS (45-60 MINUTES) Set up at least three stations to provide choices of multisensory activities and movement for busy preschoolers. SEARCH AND SAY Tools: Bible, colored index cards PACK ITEMS 9 Story Picture: Amos Message for the People 16 January Bible Markers Print each word of the Bible verse or Text Truth on a card. Hide the cards around the room. Turn to Amos 5:4 and comment: Amos had something important to tell people. Let s search for cards that help us know what Amos told the people. Direct children to choose partners. Tell each pair to find one card. When all the cards are located, guide children to arrange themselves to put the words in order. Help children say the Bible verse or Text Truth. Remark: Amos obeyed God and told the people what God said to do. God wanted to help the people. LOOK AT BOOKS Tools: Bible, preschool books about farms and farm animals, children s Bible atlas or dictionary, rug or large towel Place books on the rug and open the Bible to Amos 1. Show a child pictures in the atlas or dictionary. Look for pictures of Bible times lands, animals, and people. Comment that a man named Amos lived in Bible times and he was a farmer. Touch the open Bible, then point to Amos name. Tell the Bible story to the child. Offer to read books to children and connect animals and farm life to Amos, the shepherd. 74 Explore the Bible: Preschool Leader Guide
EXPLORATION STATIONS WEAR BIBLE TIMES CLOTHES CREATE A YARN PICTURE Tools: Bible, Activity Page, scarves, stretchable headbands, tunics or children s robes, mirror, backpack, yardstick Show preschoolers the picture of Amos on the road. Comment on the style of clothing he is wearing. Invite a few children to dress up like Amos. Suggest that the child pretend to leave his farm and travel to the town. Recall the Bible story for the preschooler as he dresses then plays out the story. If you have enough clothing, invite other children to pretend to be the townspeople listening to Amos message. Turn to Amos 5:4 and say the Bible verse. PLAY WITH FARM ANIMALS Tools: Bible, toy farm animals, toy barn and fencing (opt.), wooden blocks, tree figures or sticks and twigs, January Bible Markers (Pack) Put today s Bible Marker strip in the Bible to mark Amos 5:4. Guide children to create a farm setting for the animals. They may want to look at the Story Picture shown on the Bible Marker for ideas. Talk about different animals and where they live. Mention farms that have animals and those that have crops. Say: Amos had sheep on his farm, and he grew grapes. Look at the Bible Marker picture and point to the farmland. Remark that God told Amos to leave his farm and go to the people. Tools: Bible, thick paper, yarn pieces, white glue, pencil, shiny star stickers, Story Picture: Amos Message for the People (Pack) Write the words Obey God in large letters on sheets of paper. Give a child a sheet of paper, some yarn pieces, and glue. Read the words on the page. Say: Amos had an important message from God. These words are part of that message. Direct the child to use the glue to write (trace) the letters on her paper. Then she can lay yarn on the glue outlines to highlight Bible words. When the child is finished, give her a few stickers to create a border. Turn to Amos 1 in the Bible and tell the Bible story. Show the preschooler the Story Picture. Session 9: Listen and Obey 75
NEXT HOUR NEXT HOUR (MORE EXPLORATIONS FOR PRESCHOOLERS) OPTIONS 1. Continue activities from the first hour. (Kids learn through repetition.) 2. Try something different. Choose two or three new activities. TALK THROUGH TUBES Tools: Bible, cardboard tubes (one per child), colorful stickers, masking tape, washable markers Invite a child to decorate a tube. After he finishes, put masking tape around both openings for stability. Write the child s name on his tube. Open the Bible to the Book of Amos. Find chapter 5, verse 4. Say the Bible verse. Then tell the child to talk through the tube to say the verse. TEXT TRUTH Obey God and love Him. BIBLE STORY Amos Message for the People Amos 1:1-2; 4:13; 5:4,14-15; 7:14-15 The Bible story is printed on the back of the Story Picture. Amos 5:4 Comment: Amos told people about God. Amos said, Look to God for help. You can tell a friend what God said. Direct the child to walk to a friend in the room and say the Bible verse. MATCH PICTURES Tools: Bible, Message Match Cards (Pack Item 34), Story Picture: Amos Message for the People (Pack Item 9) Turn over the cards and lead a child to turn them over, two at a time, to find matching pictures. Mention that the pictures show tools or ways to send messages or talk to people. Ask the children to name the tools. Turn to Amos 1 and remark that Amos used his voice to speak to people and tell the important message from God. Recall the Bible story for the child as she holds the Story Picture. BLOW THROUGH STRAWS Tools: Bible; drinking straws; lightweight objects such as table tennis balls, feathers, paper pieces; Activity Page Show children the picture of Amos. Say: Amos talked to the people in the city and reminded them that God made the mountains and the winds. Let s blow air like wind and try to move these objects. Spread the objects on a table and give one child a straw. Direct him to blow toward the objects. After a few tries, give another child a clean straw for his turn. 76 Explore the Bible: Preschool Leader Guide
NEXT HOUR Say: God made the wind. He made everything in creation. God is good. We can look to God for help, just as Amos told the people in the city. DECORATE A POSTER Tools: Bible, poster board, markers, colorful shape stickers LEADER TIP! Form groups of two or three preschoolers and a teacher. Look at the Activity Page, review the Bible story, and say the Bible verse. Print the Bible verse in the center of the poster. Open the Bible to Amos 5:4 and lay it near the poster. Read the verse to the children as they show interest in the stickers and markers. Invite preschoolers to decorate the poster. As children use the art materials, touch the Bible and comment that this is where we read about Amos talking to the people. Lead children to say the Bible verse together. CIRCLE TIME GATHER To the tune If You re Happy and You Know It, sing: If you ve finished cleaning up, come sit here. (Repeat.) Continue with stanzas such as: Tap your feet, Nod your head, Clap your hands. REVIEW THE BIBLE STORY Hand the Story Picture (Pack) to a child and ask her to tell something she remembers from the Bible story. Give clues as needed. Give each child a turn to talk. PRACTICE BIBLE SKILLS Give a Bible to pairs of children. Ask: What are the two main parts of the Bible? Let s find them. After locating the Old and New Testaments, tell preschoolers that today s story is in the Old Testament. PRAY Open the Bible to Amos 5:4 and read the words. Pray a simple prayer, asking God to help the children know to look to Him for help. DON T FORGET! Give every child this week s Activity Page and Preschool Family Card. Look for printable Next Hour helps on the Preschool Enhanced CD. Session 9: Listen and Obey 77