LESSON 41 SKIT Principle: Leadership and humility. Bible Character(s): King Hezekiah, King Josiah Scripture Reference: 2 Kings 18-20, 22-23 PERSONAL PREPARATION: Before this weekend, please read through 2 Kings 18-20, 22-23. King Hezekiah and King Josiah provide us with great examples of good leadership. King Hezekiah clung to the Lord and always followed Him. The first thing he did in times of trouble was pray to God. He was also humble and did not become prideful about the things he was accomplishing for God. King Josiah was crowned king at age eight. He wanted to know how God wanted him to live because he valued God s Word and obeyed it. He did right in God s sight. Both of these kings submitted to God s authority, and they wanted God to get all of the glory. How are you a leader to those around you? Do your actions and words match how God wants you to live? Do people learn how to be more like Jesus through your example? In what ways do you struggle with being a leader? Spend some time reflecting on the leadership example you set and ask God to help you to become a stronger leader. BIG GROUP TIME - 35-40 minutes 1) Run-through/Prayer Run-through order of service (assigned parts, transitions, slides for music and skit, video if applicable, etc), assign door greeters, pray 2) Welcome Cabins Band member says, Welcome to Camp Grace! before Intro song 3) Intro Song Revised: 7/16 1
4) Camp Competition Stick em Give each cabin a stack of sticky notes. Allow them 30 seconds to stick as many sticky notes on their cabin counselor as they can the face is not out of bounds. The cabin with the most notes on their counselor wins. 5) Worship Set Worship Connector: Who are some people you trust? We ve been singing a lot of songs about trusting in God. Today we are going to talk about two Israelite kings who trusted in God and followed His plan for their lives. They led the Israelites well because they did not try to lead by themselves; they were humble and trusted God to help them lead. As we sing this last song, think about how God wants you to obey His plan for your life and ask Him to show you how you can be a leader to those around you. 6) Skit Keys to Being a Good Leader ProPresenter: Slide: Keys to Being a Good Leader 1) King Hezekiah - The Bible tells us that he clung to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him. (Image of Key) Cling to the Lord, Always follow Him. 2) King Josiah - The Bible tells us that he did right in the sight of the Lord. He did not turn aside to the right or the left. (Image of Key) Do right in God s sight. Do not turn to the right or left. Characters: Storyteller Staff Member #1: King Staff Member #2: King s Servant Props: Tool belt to be used by the king's assistant. He will keep the paper towel roll, the feather duster, and the tissue in the pockets of the tool belt. Feather duster Empty paper towel roll - one per service because the servant's mouth will be on the roll. Tissue box with tissues Camp chair for king's throne Grapevine wreath for king's crown Long stick for king's scepter Piece of burlap or bathrobe for king's robe Script: Revised: 7/16 2
Storyteller: Hi! I m. I m so glad to see you here at Camp Grace. Hey, do you remember last week when we talked about how God used children? Well, today, I want to tell you about a king who was only 8 years old. 8 years old!! Who here is 8? Can you guys imagine leading an entire nation right now? Wow! King s Servant: (Enter through the side door. Make the sound of the royal trumpet through a paper towel roll.) Hear ye! Hear ye! Presenting the King of Camp Grace! (The king enters and stands on stage. The servant rushes to the stage with a camp chair. The servant sets up the chair for the king s throne. He dusts it with a feather duster. The king almost sits in the chair, but stops and clears his throat. The servant sees that the king is pausing because of dust in the chair. The servant dusts the chair once more. Then, the king sits. The servant stands behind the king, to the right side.) Storyteller: (Name of staff member), what s going on? King: I have, I mean, I hath appointed myself King of Camp Grace. King s Servant: (Make the sound of the royal trumpet through the paper towel roll.) All hail the king! Storyteller: Excuse me, but WHAT?!?!!! King: After reading today s Bible story about King Hezekiah and King Josiah, I have I mean, hath been inspired to lead these people (gesture toward the children) as their king. King s Servant: (Pull out feather duster and begin the royal trumpet sound. Realize your mistake and switch the feather duster for the paper towel roll.) All hail the king! Storyteller: I m so glad to hear that the Bible story inspired you. King: Yes! I read about King Hezekiah, first. I was particularly inspired when I read in the Bible that there was no king like King Hezekiah among all the kings of Judah. I would like I mean, I would like the to be remembered in such a way. Storyteller: That would be a great way to be remembered. King Hezekiah was remembered in that way because he followed God so closely. When he became king, he tore down all the idols, temples, and altars to false gods. He wanted the people to trust the one true God. I m sure you read that even when it seemed that the mighty Assyrians were going to defeat Judah, King Hezekiah didn t give in because of fear. He trusted God to lead him. King: Yes, and that is the type of king I want to be. Storyteller: Well, let s not forget that King Hezekiah was not perfect. He made some big mistakes. For instance, he became proud of his wealth and bragged about it to Revised: 7/16 3
the Babylonians. By doing that, he caused Judah to become one of Babylon s targets for future war. King s Servant: (Dust the king s shoulders with the feather duster.) King: Well, I also read, I read, I read.(sneeze.) King s Servant: (Take a tissue from the tool belt and hand it to the king.) The king s royal tissue. Storyteller: Bless you. King: Allergic to dust. As I was saying, I read of King Josiah, another great king. The Bible says he did right in the sight of the Lord. He did not turn to the right or the left. Storyteller: I was just telling the campers about King Josiah. He was only 8 years old when he became king. He, too, cleaned up Judah by getting rid of all the idols and anything that had to do with false gods. He also found that there was scripture that people had not heard. He immediately made sure everyone knew what God said in the scripture so they could change their ways. King: I m sure King Josiah made, made the mistakes, as well. But my point is that they were remembered as great kings - kings who followed God and led the people back to God. That s the kind of king I want to be. Storyteller: The thing is, although I m glad you ve been inspired, Camp Grace really doesn t need a king. We have a camp director. King: But, but, I read the Bible stories and I was so inspired that I went right out and put together this kingly robe and crown. I found my servant. I just want to be king so that I can lead like King Hezekiah and King Josiah. How can I do that if I am not king? Storyteller: Well, even though we don t need a king at Camp Grace, we do need leaders. Everyone can be a leader. King Hezekiah and King Josiah s lives teach us a lot about being a good leader. In fact, let s look at some key things we need to be leaders. We ll show these keys on the screen. King s Servant: (Make the royal trumpet sound with the paper towel roll.) Keys to being a good leader.(use the feather duster or the paper towel to point to the items on the screen without being too distracting.) ***SLIDE Keys to Being a Good Leader 1) King Hezekiah - The Bible tells us that he clung to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him. (Image of Key) CLING TO THE LORD. ALWAYS FOLLOW HIM. Revised: 7/16 4
2) King Josiah - The Bible tells us that he did right in the sight of the Lord. He did not turn aside to the right or the left. (Image of Key) DO RIGHT IN GOD S SIGHT. DO NOT TURN TO THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT. Storyteller: Why was King Hezekiah a good leader? Well, the Bible tells us that (read the words for #1 on the power point). So, our first key to good leadership is (read the words after the first key on the power point). Now, King Josiah was a great king because he did right in the sight (read the words for #2). So, our second key for good leadership is to do right in God s sight (read the words after the second key on the power point). King: (Take off crown.) You re right. I don t need to appoint myself king. I can put the Bible story into action by becoming a good leader. I can cling to the Lord and do right in His sight. Hey, kids, can you say that with me? I can cling to the Lord and do right in His sight. One more time! I can cling to the Lord and do right in His sight. Say it again! (Continue the phrase.) King s Servant: (Play a tune for the phrase on the paper towel roll. Begin dancing as the king continues to chant the phrase. Dance with the king off the stage.) King: (Continue the chant to the music the servant plays. Dance along with the servant off the stage and exit.) Storyteller: That was interesting. I m glad we could help him. You know, we can't be kings and queens, but God wants us to all be leaders. To be a great leader for God we can cling to the Lord and do right in His sight. Let s pray. Father, thank You for the example of great leadership in these two kings. Help us to want to cling to You and follow You only. Help us to want to obey You. Make us great leaders for You. Amen. Gracechurchkids.org 2801 Pelham Rd. Greenville SC 29615 Ph: 864.284.0122 Fx: 864.284.0222 Revised: 7/16 5