Preschool June 15, 2014 8:45am
Leader BIBLE STUDY Use Week of: June 15, 2014 Warnings had come from the prophets for decades. God patiently waited for His people to turn from their sin. The prophet Jeremiah spared few details when he warned Judah what would happen if they did not turn from their evil ways. (See Jer. 25:1-14.) 3 The people of Judah did not change their ways. The kingdom had been declining for years, despite King Josiah s efforts to prompt nationwide repentance. When King Josiah died, the people went back to their old ways, worshiping idols and disobeying the Lord. The time of judgment had come. Like God had warned through Jeremiah, He used the king of Babylon King Nebuchadnezzar to deport the people from Judah to Babylon where they would live in exile for 70 years. King Nebuchadnezzar went to Judah when Jehoiakim was king. He put Jehoiakim in chains and took him to Babylon. Jehoiachin became king, and Nebuchadnezzar came back for him too. Many of the people in Judah were taken, along with treasures from the Lord s temple. Nebuchadnezzar put Zedekiah on the throne in Jerusalem. The people of Judah were unfaithful to God. Zedekiah rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, and God poured out His wrath on Judah. Nebuchadnezzar showed no mercy to the people of Jerusalem. The Babylonians set fire to the Lord s temple and the king s palace. They destroyed the wall around Jerusalem. King Nebuchadnezzar s armies carried most of the people away to Babylon as prisoners; only poor farmers were allowed to stay and work the land. The people were held captive in Babylon, serving the king for the next 70 years. God did not abandon His people. The prophet Jeremiah told what would happen next: The days are certainly coming when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah (Jer. 30:3). God was going to save His people from captivity and raise up a new King a forever King from the line of David. (Jer. 30:9) 1 Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 18 Session 3
Preschool Bible study OVERVIEW Session Title: Judah Was Taken into Captivity Bible Passage: 2 Chronicles 36:1-21 Big Picture Question: Why were God s people in Judah captured? God punished His people for their sin. Key Passage: Ezekiel 37:27 Unit Christ Connection: Though it appeared that sin prevailed, the covenant God promised would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Small Group Opening U N I T 18 3 Large Group Bible Study Small Group Activities Snack and Transition 2
The BIBLE STORY Judah Was Taken into Captivity 2 Chronicles 36:1-21 King Josiah, the king of Judah, had three sons: Jehoahaz (jih HOH uh haz), Jehoiakim (jih HOY uh kim), and Zedekiah (ZED uh KIGH uh). Josiah had a grandson too. His name was Jehoiachin (jih HOY uh kin). Each of them had a turn at being king. None of them was good like King Josiah. First, the people who lived in Judah made Jehoahaz their king. Jehoahaz was not king for very long. He did bad things that God did not like. Jehoahaz was a lot like some of his relatives who were kings before him. They did wrong things too. One day, the king of Egypt came to Judah. He took Jehoahaz away and made him a prisoner. Jehoahaz had to give the king of Egypt lots of silver and gold. Now that Jehoahaz was a prisoner in Egypt, he couldn t be the king of Judah anymore. So his brother Jehoiakim became king. Was Jehoiakim a good king or a bad king? A bad king! Just like his brother, Jehoiakim did what was wrong. He did things that God did not like. One day, the king of Babylon came to Judah. He took Jehoiakim away and made him a prisoner. Now that Jehoiakim was a prisoner in Babylon, he couldn t be the king of Judah anymore. So Jehoiakim s son Jehoiachin became king. Was Jehoiachin a good king or a bad king? A bad king! Just like his father, Jehoiachin did what was wrong. He did things that God did not like. One day, the king of Babylon sent some of his servants to Judah. They took Jehoiachin to Babylon. They also gave some of the treasure from the temple to the king of Babylon. Now that Jehoiachin was in Babylon, he couldn t be the king of Judah anymore. The king of Babylon made Jehoiachin s uncle king. His name was Zedekiah. Was Zedekiah a good king or a bad king? A bad king! Just like his brothers, Zedekiah did what was wrong. He did things that God did not like. He led God s people to do wrong things too. Jeremiah the prophet 3 Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 18 Session 3
talked to Zedekiah. He warned Zedekiah that God would punish him for doing wrong things, but Zedekiah did not listen. God was not happy with the people of Judah. They did not obey God. They did whatever they wanted. God loved His people. He did not want to destroy them, so He sent prophets to talk to the people. The prophets said, Stop sinning! Turn back to God! But the people did not listen to the prophets. They laughed at the prophets and made fun of them. It was time for God to punish the people of Judah for their sin. God used the king of Babylon and his armies to punish the people. They attacked the people in Judah, and many of the people died. The king of Babylon took everything out of the Lord s temple. He took things from King Zedekiah and from his leaders. He took it all to Babylon. Then the king and his army burned the temple. They tore down the wall that stood around the city of Jerusalem. The army destroyed anything that was left. The king of Babylon took all of the people who did not die to Babylon, and he made them work for the king and his family. All of this happened just as God said it would. The prophet Jeremiah warned the people, but they did not listen. Christ Connection: God was right to punish His people because they sinned. But God still loved them, and He was going to give His people a good king, just like He said He would. Many years later, God sent His Son, Jesus, to be our King forever. Jesus took the punishment we should get for our sin. 4
Small Group Opening Session Title: Judah Was Taken into Captivity Bible Passage: 2 Chronicles 36:1-21 Big Picture Question: Why were God s people in Judah captured? God punished His people for their sin. Key Passage: Ezekiel 37:27 Unit Christ Connection: Though it appeared that sin prevailed, the covenant God promised would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Step by Step song offering basket Follow the Path to Babylon activity page, 1 per kid crayons Welcome and Session Starter Play the unit song Step by Step in the background. Place an offering basket at the door. Activity Page: Follow the Path to Babylon Trace the path from the people s home in Jerusalem to a strange city far from home. This maze will challenge older preschoolers. For younger preschoolers, you might need to help them complete the maze. Say Jerusalem was destroyed. The people had to leave special things behind, and they were very sad. LOW PREP construction paper tape Make paper chains Paper strips approximately 1½ inches by 9 inches. Show each kid how to loop a strip of paper through another loop to make a chain. Tape the strip into a loop. Talk about how God s people were taken as prisoners to a strange land. Some of them may have been chained. Use a paper chain to demonstrate chaining ankles or wrists together. 5 Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 18 Session 3
Transition to Bible study Clap a simple rhythm for children to copy to gain attention when it is time to move to Bible study. Say Let s walk to Bible study as if we are hot and tired. 6
Large Group Bible Study Session Title: Judah Was Taken into Captivity Bible Passage: 2 Chronicles 36:1-21 Big Picture Question: Why were God s people in Judah captured? God punished His people for their sin. Key Passage: Ezekiel 37:27 Unit Christ Connection: Though it appeared that sin prevailed, the covenant God promised would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Large Group Bible Study paper marker beanbag Introduce the Bible story Different sheets of paper, with printed sentences that describe God and fit the tune God Is So Good : God is so kind; God s always fair; God s always right; God loves me so; God s words are true. Add other sentences you Scatter think of. the pages on the floor. Invite each kid to throw a beanbag on a page. Energetically sing the words on that page. Say Even though God s words are true, His people did not listen to them. Today we will learn what God did about that. Bible Judah Was Taken into Captivity picture Tell the Bible story Say King Josiah was a very good king. When he died, the people in Judah were very sad. Josiah s sons did not love God as Josiah did. They were bad kings, and they were the last kings of Judah. God sent Jeremiah to warn Zedekiah to change his ways or be punished, but Zedekiah did not listen. With your Bible open to 2 Chronicles 36, tell the Bible story in your own words. 7 Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 18 Session 3
Remind kids that you are telling a Bible story. It is true because the words in the Bible are from God. Big Picture Question Poster Key Passage Poster My Dwelling Place song Timeline Map Bible Story Picture Poster Step by Step song Talk about the Bible story Say Why were God s people in Judah captured? God punished His people for their sin.. I ll tell you the names of the last bad kings of Judah, and you count them: Jehoahaz (jih HOH uh haz), Jehoiakim (jih HOY uh kim), Jehoiachin (jih HOY uh kin), and Zedekiah (ZED uh KIGH uh). (four bad kings) God used the king of Babylon to punish the people. What did the king of Babylon do to the temple? (He took all the golden things in the temple to Babylon; he burned the temple.) What did the king of Babylon do to the wall around Jerusalem that protected it? (He tore it down.) What did he do to the people? (He took them to Babylon to work for him.) God was right to punish His people because they sinned. But God still loved them, and He was going to give His people a good king, just as He said He would. Many years later, God sent His Son, Jesus, to be our King forever. Jesus took the punishment we should get for our sin. God also promised something wonderful for His people. Read the key passage poster and sing My Dwelling Place. Transition to small groups Say The people walked step by step to faraway Babylon. Describe the small group activities. Play the unit song Step by Step and walk to the activities. 8
Small Group Activities Session Title: Judah Was Taken into Captivity Bible Passage: 2 Chronicles 36:1-21 Big Picture Question: Why were God s people in Judah captured? God punished His people for their sin. Key Passage: Ezekiel 37:27 Unit Christ Connection: Though it appeared that sin prevailed, the covenant God promised would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Small Group Activities paper glue craft sticks clean sand markers or crayons box lid Make sandy art Guide kids to draw a wide road across the middle of their paper and draw bushes or rocks outside the road. Show them how to spread a thin layer of glue along the road using craft sticks. Place the paper with glue in a box lid, and sprinkle sand on the glue. As you work, talk about how the roads would not have been like our paved roads. Say Why were God s people in Judah captured? God punished His people for their sin. 9 Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 18 Session 3
music Sing The Exile Song Play a game similar to the London Bridge game. Sing The Exile Song (below) or play music as children walk in a circle that crosses under the bridge. Two kids hold hands, arms up, to make the bridge that will capture a child. When the music stops, they lower their arms and capture a child. Ask the kid who is caught a review question from the story. Use simple review questions such as these: Was King Josiah, who cleaned out the temple, a good king or a bad king? (good) Were good King Josiah s sons good kings or bad kings? (bad) Did God love the people of Judah? (yes) Did God s people obey Him? (no) Whom did God send to warn the people? (prophets) How did the people treat the prophets? (made fun of them; didn t listen) What did the king of Babylon do to God s people? (conquered them; took them into exile) Why were God s people in Judah captured? God punished His people for their sin. Sing The Exile Song to the tune Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star : Mile after mile after mile after mile, They walked to Babylon in exile. God punished Israel for their sin, But to their land they d return again. God is good in everything. God sent Jesus, our forever King. 10
hula hoop taped start line streamers music Note: See Psalm 137. Match shoes Guide kids to remove their shoes and place them inside a hula hoop. Scramble the shoes to separate pairs. Playing as a team relay, boys and girls run to the pile of shoes, find their matching shoes, run back to sit down behind the start line, and put their shoes on. Give help as needed. Say Kings of Judah were taken captive to faraway places because they did not obey God. The people did not listen to prophets who said, Stop sinning! Turn back to God! Then all the people were captured. Why were God s people in Judah captured? God punished His people for their sin. Move to music Say God gave His people many days in the year to celebrate: weddings, harvest, past events when God saved them in a mighty way, and feast times to meet with God. Most of these days were joyful with music, dancing, and food. Some of them took place at the temple. People played trumpets, cymbals, and instruments with strings like lyres (harps). Encourage kids to have fun moving to music. After a few minutes of celebrating, relate this to the Bible story. Say When the temple was burned, all its beautiful gold furnishings were taken to Babylon. The people were also taken to Babylon, far from home. They were sad, and they didn t feel like singing. They hung their lyres on trees instead of playing them. They cried when they remembered the good times of praising God in their own land. It was hard for them to feel joyful in Babylon. Why were God s people in Judah captured? God punished His people for their sin. 11 Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 18 Session 3
Snack and Transition Take a restroom break. Wash hands well with soap and water. Encourage kids to scrub or rub thoroughly. Volunteers may help set out the snack if that works in your routine. Kids may wish to take turns thanking God for the snack, or a leader may pray. Journal Page crayons Transition - Journal Page As kids finish eating and dispose of leftovers and trash, kids may draw on their journal pages pictures of what they might take on a long trip. 12
Journal Page June 15, 2014 Key Passage: Ezekiel 37:27 Session1: God Called Jeremiah Jeremiah 1 Session 2: Jeremiah Warned of God s Judgment Jeremiah 36 Session 3: Judah Was Taken into Captivity 2 Chronicles 36:1-21 Session 4: Ezekiel Prophesied to the Exiles Ezekiel 10 Session 5: Ezekiel Told About a Future Hope Ezekiel 37 OK TO PRINT
My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Ezekiel 37:27 UNIT 18 Key Passage Poster (ESV) OK TO PRINT
Why were God s people in Judah captured? God punished His people for their sin. UNIT 18 Session 3 Big Picture Question OK TO PRINT
Follow the Path to Babylon Instructions: Trace the path from the people s homes in Jerusalem to a strange city far from home. Point out that Jerusalem was destroyed, the people had to leave special things behind, and they were very sad. UNIT 18 Session 3 Preschool Activity Pages
Judah Was Taken into Captivity 2 Chronicles 36:1-21
UNIT 18 Session 3 Judah Was Taken into Captivity OK TO PRINT