Jehoshaphat and God s Word BIBLE STORY A Special Book 2 Chronicles 17:3-9 BIBLE TRUTH The Bible tells us about God. This lesson will help preschoolers recognize that the Bible is God s special book. This lesson will help kindergartners understand the Bible can help them learn to know God. VERSE-A-MONTH I will obey your word (Psalm 119:17). LESSON HELPS HELPING HAND Tips for teachers. DIGGING DEEPER Important biblical and theological insights. Allow time for preschoolers to sit and read age-appropriate Bibles. 1 Ask kindergartners to tell one thing the Bible teaches about God. Week 1 of 4 Reflect on the Word Read 2 Chronicles 17:3-9. Take a moment to reflect on the following: What is the most important lesson you have ever learned? What is the most important lesson you have ever learned from the Bible? It is amazing how some people rise above the family into which they were born. Jehoshaphat was one of those people. Jehoshaphat s father, Asa, was king of Judah. During his rule, Asa depended more on earthly means and measures than on the power of God. He relied on a powerful earthly king rather than God in a time of war. King Asa refused to see the Lord even while suffering from a debilitating disease (2 Chronicles 16:12). In spite of his misguided parentage, Jehoshaphat led Judah in a time of renewal. He tore down the Asherah poles and set [his] heart on seeking God (2 Chronicles 19:3). God blessed Jehoshaphat because he sought God rather than the false prophets and idols. Jehoshaphat s decision to follow God brought wealth and power that surpassed his father. Second Chronicles 17:10 says, The fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not make war with Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat s obedience brought God s blessing not just to himself, but also the people of Judah. This blessing began, though, not with Jehoshaphat s obedience, but with a renewed dedication to the Law. Jehoshaphat marshaled the Levites and priests, and sent them to read and teach the Book of the Law to the inhabitants of Judah. These men traveled through the towns and villages teaching the Law to each person. This was very important in a time where most people were illiterate and there were few manuscripts available. Jehoshaphat also knew that lasting reform could not be sustained without the people knowing the Law and living in obedience to God. The Bible is an important book because it carries the message of God s love for humanity and His plan for righteous living. Through it God continues to speak to and lead His people in dramatic ways. In its pages, the true nature of God is revealed. Foundational words of the faith. Attention Getters Bible Explorations To Life BASIC LESSON PLANNER 1. Choose preschool or kindergarten. Check the appropriate box. 2. Go step-by-step through each section of the lesson. A=3 steps. B=3 steps. C=3 steps. 3. If you would like additional lesson options, turn to pages 10 and 11. 4. Look at each activity to find needed supplies. op ok 1 Bible Bulletin Board Resources, Items 1 and 2 op ok 2 Say and Sign Bible Verse Resources, Item 6 op ok 3 Bible Pass Around Game op ok 1 Bible Story Transition op ok 2 Tell the Bible Story Resources, Item 2 op ok 3 Bible Story Review Questions Resources, Item 2 op 1 Preschool Activity Sheet 1 Preschool, Sheet 1 ok 1 Kindergarten Activity Sheet 3 Kindergarten, Sheet 3 & sticker insert op ok 2 Tasty Scrolls op ok 3 Connecting with God Through Prayer See Hear & Say Sing Do Solve Read & Write 6
Bible Bulletin Board Before class, Follow the directions on Item 1 to prepare the bulletin board for the next four weeks. Roll the scroll (Item 2) and tie it closed. If you have chosen the kindergarten option for this activity, cut a length of yarn for each child. In class, Gather children at the bulletin board. Preschool option, Show a Bible. Ask, Who can tell me the name of this book? (The Bible) Do you know what makes this book special? (It is the Word of God. It teaches us about God and helps us know Him.) Give each child the opportunity to touch and hold the Bible. Show the Bible picture. Say, See the Bible picture. We can put it on our board. We can remember that this is God s special book. Let a child help you attach the Bible picture to the center of the bulletin board. Add the rolled scroll to the bulletin board. Say, I wonder what is on this scroll. We will find out more during the Bible story. Kindergarten option, Follow the same preschool steps for kindergartners. In addition, have kindergartners draw a picture of their favorite Bible story and tell what they have learned about it. Say, The Bible can help us learn to know God. Roll the pictures as scrolls, tie, and set aside for take-home. Say and Sign Bible Verse In class, Have children help you. Place the poster on a classroom wall. You will add a poster for each month of the year. Preschool option, Gather children at the poster. Point to each sign and say the word. Have children do the sign and say the word. Say, We are going to learn this Bible verse by using our words and doing sign language. Say the verse four times, doing the signs. Say, We can learn from God s Word, the Bible. We need to obey Him. Kindergarten option, Follow the same preschool steps for kindergartners. Then, remove the poster. Have the group say and sign the verse with you, without seeing the poster. Replace the poster. Say, You can learn from God s Word, the Bible. After you learn from God s Word, then you need to obey God. Bible Pass Around Game Before class, Gather the supplies. In class, Sit with children in a circle. Preschool option, Say, This is a Bible. The Bible is a special book. The Bible teaches us about God. Bible Resources, Items 1 and 2 Bulletin board, background paper, and border Plasti-Tak or removable tape Stapler and staples Yarn or string (12 or 30 cm.) Scissors Construction paper and crayons or washable markers Resources, Item 6 Plasti-Tak Age-appropriate Bible Music CD and CD player I am going to play the music. As the music plays, pass the Bible around the circle. When the music stops, the person holding the Bible stands and says, The Bible is God s special Book! Play the game. Kindergarten option, Ask, What is this book? (Bible) Why is it special? We are going to play a game. As the music plays, pass the Bible around the circle. When the music stops, the person holding the Bible stands and tells one thing they know about God. One thing I know about God is that He loves me. Play the game. Attention Getters 15 min. As children arrive, allow them to do activity centers as suggested in the unit pages. When you are ready to begin, do the three Attention Getters activities on this page before moving to Bible Explorations. Each Attention Getters activity can be used with preschoolers or kindergartners. The NIRV Read with Me Bible from Zondervan Publishing House is a good option. HELPING HAND Need Bibles for these four lessons? Check with families. Ask if you can borrow children s Bibles for the classroom. Go to page 10 for additional Attention Getters options. 7
8 30 min Transition children to the Bible story time, tell the Bible story, and ask the review questions. If needed, retell the Bible story to children for understanding. Then go to to Life. Bible: The Bible is a special book that teaches us about God and helps us know Him. Kindergartners ONLY! Photocopy onto colored paper and cut out the Faith Word card for Bible from page 88 and the kindergarten sight word, king, from page 89. Invite two kindergartners to hold these word cards during the Bible story. When Bible is said in the story, the child holds up the word card and the kindergartners repeat, Bible. Each time you read the sight word, stop and have the children read it along with you. Go to page 10 for an optional Bible story activity. Age-appropriate Bible Resources, Item 2 Faith Word card Bible Kindergarten Sight Word card king Preschool Bible Story Transition In class, Sing the song, repeating the verse as you sit with the children. I Love My Bible Book (Tune: Farmer in the Dell) I love my Bible book, I love my Bible book, I am so glad to read God s Word, I love my Bible book. Tell the Bible Story Faith Word card Kindergarten Sight Word card 520 min.1 Kindergarten Bible Story Transition Before class, Photocopy the two word cards. In class, Clap your hands and say, Bible. Walk with me. Bible. Sit with me. Bible. When children are seated in the Bible story area, sit and hold up the card Bible. Have children say the word with you. Hold up the card king. Have children say the word with you. A SPECIAL BOOK Jehoshaphat looked out at his kingdom. God has made this kingdom strong, he said. Jehoshaphat [juh-hahsh-uh-fat] was the king of Judah. Jehoshaphat was a good king. He loved God. He read from the Book of the Law. The Law was on a special paper. This paper was rolled up. It was called a scroll. (Hold up the rolled scroll from Resources, Item 2) It helped Jehoshaphat know how God wanted him to live. We have the Bible. The Bible is a special book. The Bible helps us know how God wants us to live. (Hold up the Bible) The words on the scroll amazed Jehoshaphat. I will obey God. I will not listen to what false gods teach. I will do what God wants me to do. (Roll open the scroll and show the picture as you continue the Bible story) God was pleased with Jehoshaphat. God blessed King Jehoshaphat. King Jehoshaphat took away anything that might remind the people of fake gods. He tore down the places where people would go and bow down to the other false gods. King Jehoshaphat wanted only to honor God in the whole land. One day Jehoshaphat was walking around his room. The special helpers read to the king from the scroll. Jehoshaphat said, I want all of God s people to hear this! Go, said Jehoshaphat. The special helpers went to every town in Judah. Listen! they called to the people. We have something important to read. King Jehoshaphat wants you to listen and obey! The people did listen. The people did obey. King Jehoshaphat was a strong king. He was a good king. He loved God. He obeyed God. He helped the people know how God wanted them to live. King Jehoshaphat did what was right. We can do what is right too. We can listen to stories from God s special book. We can obey God. We can choose to do what the Bible teaches us to do. Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah lived safe as long as Jehoshaphat obeyed God and did what was right. Bible Story Review Questions Place the opened Jehoshaphat scroll from Resources, Item 2 on the bulletin board. Ask Preschoolers, 1. What is the special book that has Bible stories that help us know more about God? (Bible) 2. Who was Jehoshaphat? (King) 3. Who did King Jehoshaphat love and obey? (God) Ask Kindergartners, 1. What can you tell about King Jehoshaphat? 2. What special thing did the men find in the Temple? (Scroll) 3. When we read Bible stories, what can we choose to do? (Choose to obey God and live as He wants us to live)
Preschool Before class, Separate the activity sheets. You will use Sheet 1 for this activity. In class, Give each child Sheet 1. Encourage children to color the sheet. Ask, What is this boy doing? (Reading his Bible) Have children turn over the sheet. Ask, What is this? What is a Bible story you know? Punch apart each child s sheet. As they assemble the puzzles, say, The Bible is a special book. The Bible helps us know God. Place each child s puzzle pieces in a Ziploc bag. Print each child s name on a bag for take-home. Tasty Scrolls Before class, Gather snack items. Make a scroll. In class, Give each child waxed paper and bread. Help children use the rolling pin to flatten the bread slices. Give each child a spoonful of cream cheese and fruit to spread on the bread. Help children roll the bread into a scroll and eat. Preschool option, Say, This looks like a scroll. What did Jehoshaphat do with the scroll? What is the special book that you can read and obey? Kindergarten option, Before the children roll their tasty scrolls, have them lightly carve the word, Bible, into the spread. For beginning writers, allow them to carve a B for Bible. Say, The Bible is God s special book. It helps us know God and learn what He wants us to do. What is your favorite Bible story? What can you learn from the Bible? Connecting with God Through Prayer In class, Always close with prayer. Note children s requests and praises. Write them on the flip chart or in a journal. Pray, Thank You, God, for the Bible. We can learn to know You and to obey You through the Bible stories we hear and read. Allow children to pray. Bless them as they leave, Thank You, God, for [child s name]. Kindergarten OR, Sheet 1 Crayons Small Ziploc bags (1 per child) Permanent marker (Teacher use only) Before class, Separate the activity sheets. Use the sticker and Sheet 3 for this activity. In class, Give each child Sheet 3 and a Bible sticker. Have children lick and stick the Bible in place. Encourage children as they print their names. Ask, Who can remember the Bible verse? What is the word we need to obey? (Bible) Point to each picture on the sheet. Have children name the pictures and identify the first letter for each picture. Say, B-I-B-L-E. This is Bible. What is your favorite Bible story? Have children trace the word, Bible, on this sheet. Say, The Bible is a special book. Thank You, God, for the Bible! Have children turn to the opposite side of the sheet. Say, This is a special sheet for you to take home and do with someone in your family., Sheet 3 and Bible Sticker from the center insert Pencils 55-10 min.1 Flip chart and marker or journal and pen Kindergarten Enrichment, Allow children to say sentence prayers for the requests and praises before you close in prayer. To Life 15-20 min Connect this lesson to life for children. Do one activity sheet, one additional activity, and end with a time of prayer. 560-65 min.1 60-65 min. is your total lesson time. Add or take away activities to adjust your class time. Waxed paper Wheat bread (1 slice per child) Softened cream cheese spread (check for allergies) Fruit spread or jelly Rolling pin Plastic knives or craft sticks (1 per child, to spread) Take-home items for each child (Celebrate, Parent, Preschool [Sheets 5 and 6] or Kindergarten [Sheets 1 and 2] for Unit 1) Go to page 11 for additional to Life options. 9
Attention Getters I Will Obey (K) In class, Gather children in a circle. Say, I am going to say a person. If this is someone you can obey, shout, Yes, I will obey. Mommy (Yes). Daddy (Yes). Teacher (Yes). Pastor (Yes). God (Yes). Have children sit with you. Ask, What are some things that Mommy and Daddy want you to do to obey them? Do you have rules that keep you safe? What happens if you disobey? What happens when you do what you are asked? Ask, Why do your mommy and daddy want you to obey? (The appropriate response is because they love me and want me to be safe.) God loves you too. He gives us His special book, the Bible, so we can know Him and learn what He wants us to do. We can choose to obey God and do what He wants us to do. Lesson 1 O ptions Bibles (print, CD, and/or DVD) Classroom corner with pillows and carpet squares Electronic equipment and earphones as needed to support technology Antibacterial wipes Bible Book Corner (P or K) Before class, Set up a Bible reading corner in your classroom. Place a few children s Bibles, pillows, and carpet squares in this area. If you have the Scripture on CD or DVD, place this along with the equipment needed in this area. Include earphones for quiet listening. Provide antibacterial wipes to clean the earphones between each use. In class, As children arrive invite them to the Bible reading corner. Say, This is a quiet corner where you can enjoy the Bible. The Bible is a special book. The Bible teaches us about God and helps us know Him. Allow children to go to this corner during free play or when they need a quiet break. 10 Bible Explorations Jehoshaphat and God s Word Echo Story 2 Chronicles 17:3-9 King Jehoshaphat looked at his kingdom. God has made this kingdom strong, he said. Strong, strong, strong. Say it with me, strong, strong, strong. King Jehoshaphat was the king of Judah. He was a good king who loved God. Loved, loved, loved. Say it with me, loved, loved, loved. Jehoshaphat read from the Book of the Law. The Law was on a rolled up scroll. It helped him know how God wanted him to live. Roll, roll, roll. Say it with me, roll, roll, roll. We have the Bible. The Bible is a special book. The Bible teaches us how to live. The Bible helps us know how God wants us to live. Live, live, live. Say it with me, live, live, live. The words on the special scroll amazed Jehoshaphat. I will obey God. I will do what God wants me to do. Do, do, do. Say it with me, do, do, do. God was pleased with Jehoshaphat. God blessed King Jehoshaphat. God kept His people safe. Safe, safe, safe. Say it with me, safe, safe, safe. The people brought gifts to Jehoshaphat. This is the way God wants me to rule His people, the king said. Rule, rule, rule. Say it with me, rule, rule, rule. King Jehoshaphat took away anything that might remind the people of gods that were not real. He tore down the places where people would bow down to false gods. Smash, smash, smash! Lesson 1 O ptions
Say it with me, smash, smash, smash! One day Jehoshaphat was walking around his room. The special helpers read to the king from the special scroll. This is important, Jehoshaphat said. I want God s people to hear this! Go, go, go. Say it with me, go, go, go. The helpers did go. Listen! they called to the people. The people did listen and obey. King Jehoshaphat was a good king. He loved and obeyed God. He helped the people know how God wanted them to live. Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah lived safe as they obeyed God and did what was right. Right, right, right. Say it with me, right, right, right. Bible Seek and Find (K) Before class, Hide a Bible in the classroom. In class, Have children look for a special hidden book. When it is found, have children join you and sit down. Have the child who found the Bible, tell what the special book is and a favorite Bible story. Ask, What do you learn from this Bible story? (Let child respond.) Have all children close their eyes while the finder hides the Bible again and stands with you. Continue until each child has had the opportunity to bring the Bible to you. Say, The Bible is a special book. The Bible teaches us about God and helps us know Him. We can learn how God wants us to live from the stories in the Bible. We can choose to obey God and do what He wants us to do. The Bible Song and a Cheer (P) In class, Stand with children in a circle. Show the Bible. Say, Let s sing about this special book. Play a Bible song through one time, singing along. Clasp hands. Say, This time, let s move around in a circle as we sing. Play the song as you move around the circle, holding hands. Sit with the children. Say, The Bible is a special book. It teaches us about God. It helps us know Him. Let s jump up and say a cheer for the Bible. Jump up, then continue jumping up and down as you cheer, Hooray! Hooray! The Bible is a special book. Hooray! 1-2-3, B-I-B-L- E! Yay! Repeat the jumping cheer. Say, Let s sit down and whisper a thank you for the Bible. Bible. Bible. B-I-B-L-E. The Bible is a special book. Thank You, God, for the Bible. See page 5 for a list of Bible songs to sing with the children. to Life Lesson 1 O ptions Bible Great Big Praise, Book 1 and CD CD player 11