1st-2nd Grade (10:15am) February 02, 2014
Leader BIBLE STUDY God s people had a history of disobeying God. Sin separated them from God. But man was created to know and love God, and God was working out a plan to bring His children back to Himself. Like any good father, God knows that disobedience needs to be punished. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, just as a father, the son he delights in (Prov. 3:12). God sent prophets to the people of Israel. He helped the prophets know what to say. The prophets warned the people to turn from their sins and obey God. Many times, the prophets told what God was going to do in the future. Sometimes God s people listened to the prophets. Some of the Israelites repented and followed God. But a lot of them did not. The Israelites and the kings who led them did not worship the one true God. Instead, they worshiped idols people and things that were not God. God had been very patient with the Israelites. He had helped them in times of trouble and had delayed their punishment because He is gracious and compassionate. (2 Kings 13:23) But many years passed, and God knew His people would not love Him with all their hearts. God had had enough of His people s sinning. They wouldn t listen to Him, so He allowed their enemies to send them into exile. The king of Assyria attacked Israel and laid siege to Samaria. Assyria captured Samaria and forced the people to leave the city. The Northern Kingdom of Israel was destroyed, just as God had said it would be, and the people were scattered. (1 Kings 14:15) Israel s exile was God s judgment on their sin. As you teach, point kids to Jesus, who took our punishment for sin as our substitute. Our sin warrants our separation from God, but Jesus died to bring us back to Him forever. 1 Younger Kids Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 13 Session 5
Younger Kids Bible study OVERVIEW Session Title: The Northern Kingdom Was Destroyed Bible Passage: 2 Kings 17:1-23 Big Picture Question: Why did God scatter His people? God s people sinned against Him. Key Passage: 2 Kings 17:13-14 Unit Christ Connection: The prophets called God s people to repentance as Christ calls people to repentance. Sin continued to divide and ultimately destroy the Northern Kingdom, but Christ s perfect kingdom is forever. Small Group Opening Welcome time Activity page (5 minutes) Session starter (10 minutes) Large Group Leader Countdown Introduce the session (1 minute) Timeline map (1 minute) Big picture question (1 minute) Sing (5 minutes) Key passage (4 minutes) Tell the Bible story (10 minutes) Discussion starter video (3 minutes) The Gospel: God s Plan for Me (optional) Prayer (5 minutes) Small Group Leader Key passage activity (5 minutes) Bible story review (10 minutes) Activity choice (10 minutes) Journal and prayer (5 minutes)
The BIBLE story The Northern Kingdom Was Destroyed 2 Kings 17:1-23 Hoshea (hoh SHEE uh) was the last king of Israel, the Northern Kingdom. King Hoshea did very evil things, but he still wasn t as evil as the kings who ruled Israel before him. One day, the king of Assyria and his army attacked Israel. Hoshea had kept peace with Assyria by paying the king to leave Israel alone. Hoshea had to do whatever the king of Assyria told him to do. Instead of asking God to help His people, Hoshea secretly talked to the king of Egypt. Hoshea asked the king of Egypt to protect Israel from Assyria. Now that Hoshea had a deal with Egypt, he stopped giving money to the king of Assyria. The king of Assyria arrested Hoshea and threw him into prison. Then Assyria s army invaded Israel. The army surrounded the city of Samaria, the capital of Israel. Samaria had a strong wall around the city. For three years, the Assyrians attacked the city. They did not let anyone bring supplies into the city. Finally, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and forced the people to leave their homes. He bound them together with ropes and hooks, and he made them walk hundreds of miles to Assyria. God allowed His people to be exiled because they had sinned against Him. Even though God had rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and had taken care of them, they forgot about God. They acted in the same way as the nations who did not know and love God. They worshiped people and things that were not God, and they did exactly what God told them not to do. God warned His people through the prophets to stop doing evil things but they did not listen. The prophets said bad things would happen if they did not obey God. When the people heard this, they sinned even more! God had had enough. He was angry with His people because of their sin. God punished the people of Israel by letting their enemies take over and force them out of their homes. 3 Younger Kids Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 13 Session 5
All of this happened after King Solomon had died and Israel split into two kingdoms. The people of Israel had made Jeroboam their king, and Jeroboam led them away from God. The people of Israel sinned all the time. They ignored God s warnings. Finally, God took action. God turned away from them and the people of Israel were exiled to Assyria. Christ Connection: When the Israelites disobeyed God, God judged their sin and punished them by removing them from His presence. Jesus took the punishment for our sin upon Himself. He unites and restores those who trust in Him. Jesus brings us into God s presence and keeps us there. 4
Small Group Opening Session Title: The Northern Kingdom Was Destroyed Bible Passage: 2 Kings 17:1-23 Big Picture Question: Why did God scatter His people? God s people sinned against Him. Key Passage: 2 Kings 17:13-14 Unit Christ Connection: The prophets called God s people to repentance as Christ calls people to repentance. Sin continued to divide and ultimately destroy the Northern Kingdom, but Christ s perfect kingdom is forever. Welcome time Before and After activity page, 1 per kid pencils Activity page (5 minutes) Guide boys and girls to complete the activity page. Say The Israel we will see today was a much different one than the Israel God once led out of Egypt. We will see how in today s Bible story. Transition to large group 5 Younger Kids Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 13 Session 5
Large Group LEADER Session Title: The Northern Kingdom Was Destroyed Bible Passage: 2 Kings 17:1-23 Big Picture Question: Why did God scatter His people? God s people sinned against Him. Key Passage: 2 Kings 17:13-14 Unit Christ Connection: The prophets called God s people to repentance as Christ calls people to repentance. Sin continued to divide and ultimately destroy the Northern Kingdom, but Christ s perfect kingdom is forever. countdown video Countdown Show the countdown video as your kids arrive, and set it to end as large group time begins. suitcase Timeline Map Introduce the session (1 minute) [Large group leader enters with a suitcase.] Leader After five days of riding the rapids, it s time for our final wave. It looks like I m ready to go. It s been great rafting with you. I m always saddened by goodbyes. Our Bible story today is also about a group of people who had some sad good-byes. They were forced from their homes, but had only themselves to blame. Timeline map (1 minute) Leader Before we look forward to our Bible story today, let s look back at what we ve learned the last several weeks. After Israel split and became the nations of Israel and Judah, Israel was led by several bad kings. Despite God s proof that He was the one true God, the king and people still worshiped other gods. Even Elijah, God s prophet, experienced how evil the people had become 7 Younger Kids Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 13 Session 5
when the queen tried to kill him. Through his fear and sadness, Elijah learned that God would never leave or forsake him. Even though God performed miracles like healing Naaman, the people still refused to see God for who He really is. God loved His people and wanted them to come back to Him, but His warnings to punish them were about to come true. Big picture question (1 minute) Leader If you have your Bible today, raise it up high. It s in our Bible that we see the one true God and His love for His people then and now. Here s our big picture question for today: Why did God scatter His people? Running song Sing (5 minutes) Leader The people were running away from God instead of to Him. The people of Israel needed to do what the words to our theme song say. Let s run toward Him as we praise God. Sing together Running. Key Passage Slide or Poster Keep My Commands song Key passage (4 minutes) Leader It must have appeared to God as if the people were ignoring all of His warnings by the way they were living. Do you remember God s warning? It s our key passage. Would anyone like to say it without the words? Let s all say it together. Show the slide or poster of the unit s key passage, 2 Kings 17:13-14. Lead the boys and girls to read the verses together. Leader The message seemed simple enough: Stop what you are doing and obey Me and My prophets. Sing together Keep My Commands. 8
The Northern Kingdom Was Destroyed video Bibles, 1 per kid Bible Story Picture Slide or Poster Tell the Bible story (10 minutes) Leader We already know that sin comes with consequences. The people could not continue to sin without punishment. That brings us to today s Bible story and the answer to our big picture question. Why did God scatter His people? Show the The Northern Kingdom Was Destroyed video, or choose to tell the Bible story in your own words using the script provided. For a shorter version of the story, read only the bold text. Leader Though Hoshea was not the worst king of the Northern Kingdom, he still didn t follow God. Instead of trusting God to protect those living in Israel, he trusted in another nation who also didn t worship the one true God. God had had enough. He allowed Assyria to take over the nation and send God s people away from their homes. From the time the Israelites became two nations, the new Israel to the north didn t follow or obey God. No matter how God reached out to them, they refused to turn back to Him. Because of their sin, God scattered them away from their homes. Why did God scatter His people? God s people sinned against Him. Ask the following review questions: 1. What nation attacked the Northern Kingdom? (Assyria, 2 Kings 17:5) 2. What did the king of Assyria do to Hoshea? (threw him in prison, 2 Kings 17:4) 3. What did the king of Assyria do to the Israelites? (forced them to leave their homes, 2 Kings 17:6) 4. Why did God scatter His people? God s people sinned against Him. 5. Who brings us back to God even though we sin? (Jesus) 9 Younger Kids Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 13 Session 5
Unit 13 Session 5 discussion starter video Discussion starter video (3 minutes) Leader Have you ever been separated from someone because of your sin or disobedience? Watch this video. Show the Unit 13 Session 5 video. Leader Have you ever been punished for doing something wrong? God was patient and warned the people many times to follow and obey Him, but the people refused. God had to discipline them. God separated the people from Himself and the land He had given them. Why did God scatter His people? God s people sinned against Him. Sin always separates us from God. Jesus came and took the punishment for sin. When we repent and trust Jesus as our Savior, we are no longer separated from God. We can talk to and spend time with God because of what Jesus did for us. The Gospel: God s Plan for Me (optional) Use Scripture and the guide provided with this session to explain to boys and girls how to become a Christian. Assign individuals to meet with kids who have more questions. If this is not possible, encourage boys and girls to ask their parents, small group leaders, or other Christian adults any questions they may have about becoming a Christian. 10 Big Picture Question Slide or Poster Prayer (5 minutes) Show the big picture question slide or poster. Leader Let s take one more look at the big picture question and answer. Does anyone know it? Why did God scatter His people? God s people sinned against Him. Form two groups and assign one group to say the big picture question and the other group the answer. Each time the question and answer are repeated. Choose a few kids
on the answer side to join the question side. Repeat until there are only a few kids left on the answer side. You can talk about how the Israelites must have felt when they were forced to leave their side or their home. Before transitioning to small group, make any necessary announcements. Lead the kids in prayer. Pray that God will help the kids always listen to God s warnings about sin. Dismiss to small groups 11 Younger Kids Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 13 Session 5
The Gospel: God s Plan for Me Ask kids if they have ever heard the word gospel. Clarify that the word gospel means good news. It is the message about Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation. Use the following guide to share the gospel with kids. God rules. Explain to kids that the Bible tells us God created everything, and He is in charge of everything. Invite a volunteer to read Genesis 1:1 from the Bible. Read Revelation 4:11 or Colossians 1:16-17 aloud and explain what these verses mean. We sinned. Tell kids that since the time of Adam and Eve, everyone has chosen to disobey God. (Romans 3:23) The Bible calls this sin. Because God is holy, God cannot be around sin. Sin separates us from God and deserves God s punishment of death. (Romans 6:23) God provided. Choose a child to read John 3:16 aloud. Say that God sent His Son, Jesus, the perfect solution to our sin problem, to rescue us from the punishment we deserve. It s something we, as sinners, could never earn on our own. Jesus alone saves us. Read and explain Ephesians 2:8-9. Jesus gives. Share with kids that Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again. Because Jesus gave up His life for us, we can be welcomed into God s family for eternity. This is the best gift ever! Read Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; or 1 Peter 3:18. We respond. Tell kids that they can respond to Jesus. Read Romans 10:9-10,13. Review these aspects of our response: Believe in your heart that Jesus alone saves you through what He s already done on the cross. Repent, turning from self and sin to Jesus. Tell God and others that your faith is in Jesus. Offer to talk with any child who is interested in responding to Jesus. 12
Small Group LEADER Session Title: The Northern Kingdom Was Destroyed Bible Passage: 2 Kings 17:1-23 Big Picture Question: Why did God scatter His people? God s people sinned against Him. Key Passage: 2 Kings 17:13-14 Unit Christ Connection: The prophets called God s people to repentance as Christ calls people to repentance. Sin continued to divide and ultimately destroy the Northern Kingdom, but Christ s perfect kingdom is forever. Key Passage Slide or Poster dry erase board and markers (optional) index cards, 2 colors marker Key passage activity (5 minutes) Make sure the key passage, 2 Kings 17:13-14, is visible for each child, either as the printed poster or written on a dry erase board. Read the verses together. Say In today s Bible story, the time of warning was over. God had clearly proven that He is the one true God. The people knew God s commands, and God sent prophets. The Israelites refused to listen. God loved His people and tried to get them to turn back to Him. Despite those attempts, the people chose to sin instead. Why did God scatter His people? God s people sinned against Him. Create two sets of the key passage on index cards with one or more words on each card. Each set should be a different color. Form two groups of kids and assign each group a color. Invite each group to find the index cards of their color that have been scattered around the room. Then, as a group, guide them to put the cards in order. The winning group is the first to do so. 13 Younger Kids Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 13 Session 5
Bibles, 1 per kid Small Group Visual Pack Big Picture Question Slide or Poster Bible story review (10 minutes) Encourage the kids to find 2 Kings 17 in their Bibles. Help them as needed. Say Is 2 Kings in the Old Testament or New Testament? (Old Testament) Does anyone know which division of the Bible 2 Kings is part of? (History) Name five other Books of History. (Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther) What do we learn from 2 Kings? (how God punished His people because they would not worship and obey Him) Use the small group visual pack to show kids where today s Bible story is on the timeline. Review the Bible story provided using the bold text or summarize the story in your own words. As you retell the story, invite the kids to stand from their seats and scatter to other seats each time you say the word Israel. Say The people of Israel didn t listen to the warnings. They didn t believe that God was holy and just, and He must punish sin. Their punishment was to lose their homes and the land God had given them. Show the big picture question slide or poster. Say That brings us back to our big picture question and answer. Why did God scatter His people? God s people sinned against Him. 14
15 paper strips, 1 per kid unsharpened pencils, 1 per kid tape straws, 1 per kid journals Journal Page, 1 per kid markers or crayons Bible Story Coloring Page Activity: Rocket away Cut a piece of paper into five strips 2 inches wide. Provide each kid with one strip and a pencil. Invite the kids to wrap the paper lengthwise around the pencil, and tape the long edges together to form a tube. Then, fold one end of the small tube, flatten it, and tape it down. Kids should end up with what looks like a straw wrapper with one end open. Explain to the kids that they have just created a rocket. Distribute a straw to each kid, and tape a start line. Allow them to see whose rocket can go the farthest by putting the rocket on one end of their straw and blowing on the other end. Say Sin had pushed the people far away from God, much like your air pushed away the rocket. God warned them but they didn t listen. Why did God scatter His people? God s people sinned against Him. 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 the Israelites leaving their homes. Writers may write the key passage. Say Let s review our big picture question and answer one last time. Why did God scatter His people? God s people sinned against Him. Make sure each child puts this week s sheet 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. Pray, thanking God for sending Jesus to bring us back to Him. Pray for each child by name, asking God to show the kids the importance of obeying. Younger Kids Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 13 Session 5
Journal Page Key Passage: 2 Kings 17:13-14 Session 1: Israel s History of Evil Kings 1 Kings 16 Session 2: Elijah Confronted Evil Ahab 1 Kings 18 Session 3: Elijah Ran from Jezebel 1 Kings 19 Session 4: Elisha and Naaman 2 Kings 5 Session 5: The Northern Kingdom Was Destroyed 2 Kings 17:1-23 OK to print
The LORD warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, in accordance with all the Law that I commanded your fathers, and that I sent to you by my servants the prophets. But they would not listen. 2 Kings 17:13-14 Unit 13 Key Passage Poster (ESV) OK to print
Why did God scatter His people? God s people sinned against Him. Unit 13 Session 5 Big Picture Question OK to print
Before and After Instructions: Circle the differences between the two pictures below. Unit 13 Session 5 Younger Kids Activity Pages
The Northern Kingdom Was Destroyed 2 Kings 17:1-23
Unit 13 Session 5 The Northern Kingdom Was Destroyed OK to print
Today we will be tasting/ touching/sniffing: Please notify the leader if your child should not participate. Instructions: Print this poster. You may laminate it and reuse it throughout the quarter. Use a dry erase marker to fill in the necessary information. Display the poster where parents and kids can see it before class. UNIT 13 Allergy Alert OK to print