God s Unfolding Story - PDF Free Download

Bible Story: Esther and the King (Esther 2 9) Bible Phrase: Do not be afraid, God is with you (Joshua 1:9). Bible Truth: I can trust God to give me courage to do what He asks me to do. Old Testament Unit 12: Prophets and Esther Lesson 2: Esther and the King God s Unfolding Story 1. God created everything. 2. People disobeyed God. 3. God chose a special people. 4. God sent Jesus to help us. 5. Jesus began the Church. Suggested Schedule: Arrival Centers 25 minutes Clean-up Time 5 minutes Bible Story Time 15 minutes Craft Time 10 minutes Snack Time 10 minutes Game Time/Dismissal Hour A 6. Jesus is preparing heaven for us. Unfolding God s Story for Teachers Please read Esther 1 9. Each year our church hosts a Princess Tea for our older preschool girls. The preschool pastor proudly stands at the door in his tux to greet the beautiful little princesses as they enter the room. There is giggling, laughing, and lots of pretending. The young ladies of royalty play princess games, make princess crafts, and eat princess foods. A highlight of the occasion occurs when they enter the magnificent throne room to witness a story. Their precious eyes are fixed as they listen to a beautifully dressed Queen play the part of Esther. She movingly tells of how God used her to save His special people, the Jews. No doubt many little girls leave the event dreaming of being a queen like Esther. Becoming a queen probably never entered Esther s mind. Esther was orphaned as a child and cared for by her relative Mordecai (see Esther 2:7). Mordecai was of the tribe of Benjamin, whose ancestors, along with the ancestors of the tribe of Judah, had been carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. Esther and Mordecai lived in the citadel of Susa, a fortified city containing gold, ivory, and other riches from all over Persia. Since Mordecai lived in the city, he my have held an official government job. King Ahasuerus, or Xerxes I, was ruler at the time. He reigned over a sprawling domain that stretched from modern Pakistan to Northern Sudan. Esther may have been living an uneventful and quiet life, surrounded by Jewish friends and families. Then came the alarming announcement that Xerxes wanted all eligible young women to be brought to the palace. Many may have come willingly, but no eligible girl had a choice. Esther was lovely in form and features. Right away she caught the eye of the one in charge of the harem, and in time, she won the king s heart. Life suddenly changed for Queen Esther. Though she had many beautiful gowns, sparkling jewelry, and royal foods available to her, this kind of life may not have been her first choice. The story of Esther showcases one of Satan s attempts to change the outcome of God s Unfolding Story. Although God s name doesn t appear in this book, His hand is evident. What may have appeared coincidental occurred because Yahweh was implementing His plan to save His children. Esther was part of that plan. Her beauty was certainly an asset, but her greatest strength was her inner spirit. Clearly relying on God, she put aside personal safety and allowed Him to work through her. God s justice prevailed and the story ended in victory, praise, and thanksgiving. Since time began, God has used people in His plan to unfold His story. Just as God had a plan for Esther, He has a plan for you. God has you in a place for such a time as this. Go forth in grace and courage. Lesson Plan Arrival Greet children at eye level and express how happy you are to see them. Be sure each child has a name tag and the security measures of your church are followed. Label all coats and personal belongings. Strongly encourage children who have brought items from home, such as toys and books, to place them on a shelf while they are working with other materials. Assure children their items will be safe and they can take them home at the end of the session. Help each child make a choice where he or she would like to begin his or her Center Time. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT12 Lesson 2 Hour A Page 1

Puzzle Center: Work Puzzles Offer a variety of non-fantasy wooden or cardboard puzzles for children to work. What to Do: Encourage preschoolers to finish puzzles they begin. Affirm children as they work together to complete the puzzles. Link to the Bible Story: As children work, look for opportunities say the Bible phrase or to briefly tell the Bible story. Home Living Center: Role Play Small rocking chair, sink and stove unit and small table and chairs; plastic dishes, child pots and pans; pretend food items; doll, doll bed, and doll accessories Option: Plastic crowns, prince and princess dress-up clothes What to Do: Home living items naturally encourage children to act out roles and activities they observe at home. If crowns and dress-up clothes are available, supervise children as they pretend to be kings and queens. Make a pretend throne with a chair. Link to the Bible Story: As children work and play together, listen for opportunities to talk about the Bible story, Bible phrase, or Bible truth. The throne and costumes, if available, will provide a wonderful opportunity for children to hear and even act out the Bible story. Center Time Bible Learning Center: Finish the Picture Copies of Activity Page: Finish the Picture (Reproducible, 1 per child) Crayons or washable markers Self-adhesive stars Teaching Picture, Esther and the King (Reproducible) What to Do: Show the teaching picture and invite children to add facial features and decorate the crown to finish the picture. The child can create a King or a Queen. Link to the Bible Story: As children work, use the teaching picture to talk about the Bible story. For instance, Our Bible story today is about King Xerxes and Queen Esther. God used Queen Esther to help God s special people, the Jews. You can add a face to your picture and decorate the crown to make either King Xerxes or Queen Esther. Art Center: Colored Pencils Copies of Coloring Page, Esther and the King (Reproducible, 1 per child) Colored pencils What to Do: Invite preschoolers to use the colored pencils to color the Bible story picture. Link to the Bible Story: As preschoolers work, say something like, This is a picture of our Bible story. The beautiful lady is Queen Esther, and the man is King Xerxes. God used Queen Esther to help save the Jews, or the Israelites, from harm. Esther had to be very brave. We will hear more about Queen Esther during Bible Story Time. Block Center: Build with Blocks Wooden blocks What to Do: Provide a small carpet if possible. Blocks are best located in a corner of the room away from the traffic flow. Link to the Bible Story: While children are engaged in building with the blocks, listen for opportunities to share part of the Bible story, Bible phrase or Bible truth. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT12 Lesson 2 Hour A Page 2

Clean-up Time Encourage preschoolers to help at clean-up time. Assign specific tasks for preschoolers to do such as placing all the crayons in the basket, throwing away the trash, gathering all the glue sticks, etc. Guide children to the Bible Story Time area. Bible Story Time Bible Teaching Picture Esther and the King (Reproducible) God s Unfolding Story Cube (Reproducible/Cardstock) Introduction Show the God s Unfolding Story Cube. Express to the boys and girls that even though we find many stories in the Bible, the Bible really tells one big story, and all the little stories are a part of the big one we can call God s Unfolding Story. Tell children that each picture represents a chapter of God s Unfolding Story. Turn the cube and talk about each part of the story. (Refer to page 1.) Express that every story from the Bible is from one of the main chapters in God s Unfolding Story. Today s story is from the third chapter, God chose a special people. Introduce the story by saying something like this. We talked last week about God s being the greatest rescue hero. We learned how God saved Daniel by closing the lions mouths This week we will learn how God used a young woman to rescue her people from an evil plan. Bible Story Esther and the King (Esther 2-9) Esther was a beautiful young Jewish woman who lived in Susa with her relative Mordecai. Mordecai had loved and cared for Esther, probably since she was a little girl. They were Jews, members of God s special people. (In the Bible, the Israelites sometimes are called Jews. ) The king of Susa was King Xerxes. One day he decided to choose a woman to be his wife and to be the queen. Many beautiful women were taken to the palace so the king could make his choice. He chose Esther, so she went to live in the palace. Mordecai told Esther, Don t tell anyone you are a Jew. Many people do not like the Jewish people. So Esther obeyed Mordecai s words. Every day Mordecai would watch after Esther. He would sit at a gate called the King s Gate and check to see how she was doing. A man named Haman worked for King Xerxes. Haman didn t like God s people. He went to the king and asked him to make a law that would be harmful to the Jews. The king did not know Esther was an Israelite, so he agreed to the new law. Mordecai and Esther heard about the new law. They were very sad and afraid. Mordecai told Esther she must talk to the king. Esther knew she would be putting her life in danger if the king would not allow her to talk with him, but she wanted to rescue her people. Esther, Mordecai, and all the Jews in Susa began to pray. They prayed and did not eat for three days. Then Esther dressed in her most beautiful gown. Even though she was afraid, she went to see the king. Esther walked slowly down the hall to the throne room where king Xerxes was sitting. The king looked up and saw his beautiful queen in the doorway. Would he allow Esther to enter the room or refuse her? King Xerxes raised his scepter! That meant Esther could enter the room. Esther bowed to the king, and he asked her what she wanted. She asked King Xerxes and Haman if they would come to a dinner. Esther said she would tell the king what she wanted at the dinner. Esther and her helpers prepared a wonderful meal for the king. At the special meal, Esther talked to the king about the plan to harm the Jews. She said to King Xerxes, I am a Jew. He was upset and said, Who would make up such a plan? Esther pointed to Haman. The king was very angry with Haman, and he had him taken from the palace. The king wrote a new law that would help protect the Jews. God gave Queen Esther courage to do what was right for God s special people, and God s people were saved! Talk Time 1. Show the teaching picture for today s Bible story. Review by using these or similar questions. Who did king Xerxes chose as his wife? What did Mordecai ask Esther not to tell about herself? Why were Esther and Mordecai sad? How did Esther help the Jews? 2. Read the Bible phrase on the teaching picture. Say the phrase together: Do not be afraid, God is with you (Joshua 1:9). Explain, Esther loved God and she loved her people. Esther wanted to do the right thing, but she needed courage. Esther prayed, and God gave her the courage she needed to talk to the king. God will give us the courage we need to what He asks us to do. 3. Close the Bible Story Time by inviting the children to join you in prayer. Ask God to give each boy and girl and each teacher the courage to do what is right. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT12 Lesson 2 Hour A Page 3

Craft Time: Bible Phrase Scepter Copies of Bible Phrase Scepter (Reproducible, cardstock recommended, 1 copy for every 4 children) Crayons or markers, tape Straws (1 per child) Crepe paper streamers Plastic jewels or sequins, glue What to Do: Cut out each star. Cut crepe paper streamers into 12 strips. Give each child a star to color and decorate. Show children how to tape the star to a straw and then how to tape streamers to the back of the star. Link to the Bible Story: Remind children that the king had to give Queen Esther permission to see him, and he did this by raising his scepter. Express that Queen Esther prayed, and God gave her the courage she needed to talk with the king. Snack Time Be sure to wash hands or use hand sanitizer. Say a thank-you prayer to God for the snack. When snack time has ended, encourage preschoolers to help with cleaning up. Game Time / Dismissal: Oh King, Who am I? What to Do: Ask children to form a circle in the Game Time area. Place a chair in the center of the circle. Choose a volunteer who will pretend to be the king or queen and will sit in the chair. Each king or queen should cover his/her eyes. Quietly point to a child to go and tap the king on the shoulder and say, Oh king, who am I? The child goes quietly back to his or her seat. The king then tries to guess who tapped and spoke. Give several guesses and then the child who tapped and spoke becomes the new king or queen. Review the Bible Phrase together: Do not be afraid, God is with you (Joshua 1:9). Remind boys and girls that whatever God asks them to do, He will give them the courage to do it. Dismiss children as parents arrive. Be sure to follow the security procedures of your church. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT12 Lesson 2 Hour A Page 4

Resources and Supplies Old Testament Unit 12: Prophets and Esther Lesson 2: Esther and the King Hour A Standard Art Supplies (Supplies that are generally in the room) Washable markers Crayons Child scissors Playdough and accessories Drawing paper Easel (optional) Glue/glue sticks Tempera paint, 4 colors Tape/masking tape Pencils/colored pencils Hole punch Teacher scissors Stapler/staples Permanent markers Watercolors Paintbrushes Yarn Standard Equipment (Equipment that is generally in the room) Bible Small beanbag for Bible Story Time Assorted wooden/cardboard puzzles Set of wooden blocks Small cars and trucks Doll bed Baby doll (soft plastic) Stove/sink unit Play dishes/pots and pans Small table and chairs Small carpet for block area Play food items Storage shelf for blocks Tables and chairs for art, puzzles, and Bible Learning Center CD player/children s Worship CDs Reproducibles (Included with the lesson plan downloads) Coloring Page, Esther and the King (1 copy per child) Bible Phrase Scepter (1 copy for every 4 children, cardstock recommended) Teaching Picture: Esther and the King (1 copy per class) God s Unfolding Story Cube (Cardstock 1 copy per class) Parent Page (1 copy per child) Additional Art Materials Colored Pencils (several sets) Additional Bible Learning Materials Self-adhesive stars and or plastic jewels Additional Home Living Materials Optional: Plastic crowns Prince and princess dress-up clothes Additional Craft Materials Straws (1 per child) Crepe paper streamers yellow or gold God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT12 Lesson 2 Hour A

Activity page: Finish the Picture Instructions: One copy per child. Add facial features and decorate the crown with adhesive stars. The picture can be either the King or Esther. OT12 Lesson 2 Hour A Bible Learning Center God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com

God s Story Cube Instructions: Cut out on dotted lines, fold on solid lines. Glue or tape to form a cube.

Do not be afraid, God is with you. Joshua 1:9 Do not be afraid, God is with you. Joshua 1:9 Do not be afraid, God is with you. Joshua 1:9 Do not be afraid, God is with you. Joshua 1:9 Craft Time: Bible Phrase Scepter Instructions: Copy 1 for every 4 children. Cardstock recommended. Cut out and decorate the star with sequins or plastic jewels. Tape star to a sturdy straw and add crepe paper streamers. OT12 Lesson 2 Hour A Craft Time God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2014 - SundaySchoolZone.com