LIFE POINT God promised to send a Savior. God s Promise Through the Prophets BIBLE PASSAGE Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 11:1-5; Micah 5:2 CHRIST FOCUS Isaiah wrote about what Jesus would do before He was even born. It was God s plan for Jesus to die to save people from sin. LIFE VERSE Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (KJV) A child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (HCSB) LEADER BIBLE STUDY Consider the anticipation of Christmas. Compare that to the anticipation God s people must have felt as they looked forward to the coming of the Messiah. Though Ahaz refused God s offer of a sign, God still gave it. The virgin would conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel. When was the first time you refused to see a sign from God? The name Immanuel means God is with us. How might this name give hope to the people of Israel? How does it give hope to you? At this time in Judah s history, the people were led by an evil king and needed a king who was a good ruler. Isaiah promised that the coming child would be the king who would be all God wanted Him to be. The promised child was given these names. Wonderful, Counsellor (a political leader or a good administrator), Mighty God (a mighty warrior energized by God), Eternal Father (will care for His people forever), Prince of Peace (will bring social justice and prosperity). These names denote both a close relationship to God and give a sense of a mighty warrior who will restore peace. The stump mentioned in Isaiah 11:1 is the line of David. Out of that stump would come the Messiah. During Old Testament times, the Holy Spirit empowered individuals for specific periods of time. Then the Spirit left them. The coming Ruler, however, would have the Spirit rest on Him, meaning to settle and remain settled. The Spirit would empower the Messiah. The Messiah would be different. Human kings make decisions based on what they know, which is sometimes in error. The Messiah would have perfect knowledge to make perfect decisions. According to Isaiah 11:5, how would the Messiah be clothed? Belts held one s clothing in place and were easy to see. All would see the highest ideal of righteousness and faithfulness in the Messiah as He reflects God s character. Micah prophesied that not only would the Messiah be of David s line but that He would be born in David s birthplace, Bethlehem. Why are these prophecies important today? As boys and girls see these prophecies fulfilled in Jesus, the fact that He is the promised Messiah is emphasized. 1 DATE OF USE
BIBLE STORY God s Promise Through the Prophets Isaiah: I am Isaiah. God gave me words of prophecy to share with His people. Ahaz (AY haz) is our king. Everyone is afraid that Judah will soon be attacked. King Ahaz and all the people are afraid and nervous. God gave me this message for Ahaz, Do not be afraid. This will not happen. I will give you a sign. A virgin will have a baby boy and His name will be Immanuel. God has given me more messages, or promises, about the Messiah. One message is, Unto us a child is born and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. God also says the Messiah will come from the family of Jesse. Jesse was the father of King David. God promises that His Spirit will rest on the Messiah. He will be filled with the spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge, and the fear of the Lord. He will be a righteous judge who will judge the people fairly and justly. Micah: My name is Micah. I am a prophet in Judah. God gave me a message for the people. My message is for the people in Bethlehem. God said, Thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel. God was speaking about the Messiah. Neither Isaiah nor Micah knew that it would be over 700 years before God fulfilled His promise. God did keep His promise! Jesus, the Savior, was born! He fulfilled all the promises. based on Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 11:1-5; Micah 5:2 Review Questions True or False? Isaiah wrote, A virgin will have a baby boy. (True, Isaiah 7:14.) True or False? God promised, The Messiah will be born in Jericho. (False, Micah 5:2.) True or False? Isaiah wrote that the Messiah would be called: Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (True, Isaiah 9:6.) True or False? Micah wrote that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. (True, Micah 5:2.) True or False? Micah said, God will send the Messiah while I am living. (False.) Name two names for the Messiah found in Isaiah 9:6. (Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.) Bible Studies for Life grades 1 3 & 4 6 2
Grades 1-3 PRACTICE BIBLE SKILLS Notes permanent marker plastic cups On separate plastic cups print each name of the Major Prophets and Minor Prophets. Together read aloud the name of each book written on the cups. Assist children with the pronunciations of the books as needed. Direct attention to the cups. Boys and girls will sort the cups into two divisions: Major Prophets and Minor Prophets. They will then stack the books from each division so they can name all book titles. Hint: Major prophets have three on the bottom row. INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITY red, green, and yellow papers scissors markers tape Cut the colored paper into 1-by-6-inch strips. Teaching Tip: Keep extra strips for use in next week s Power Up. Display the paper strips and supplies. Invite each child to make a Christmas chain of her name. On a separate strip of paper print each letter of a child s name. Print first names on red paper, last names on green paper. Optional: Nicknames on yellow paper. Loop the strips together. Fasten the ends with clear tape. Connect children s names together, using a blank strip of paper between each child s complete name. Help boys and girls drape the completed chain around the wall or the bulletin board for decoration. Explain that the chains will remind boys and girls of everyone in the class during the month of December. Today you will learn some names for the Messiah God promised to send. 3
PRACTICE BIBLE SKILLS Grades 4-6 Together read aloud the name of each book written on the cups. Assist children with the pronunciations of the books as needed. Direct attention to the cups. Boys and girls will sort the cups into two divisions: Major Prophets and Minor Prophets. They will then stack the books from each division so they can name all book titles. Hint: Major prophets have three on the bottom row. Notes permanent marker plastic cups On separate plastic cups print each name of the Major Prophets and Minor Prophets. INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITY Direct attention to the art paper. Each child will autograph the paper. Encourage children to think of words that describe each person and print them near or around the name of the person they describe. Children should use only positive descriptions (cute, smart, fun, great athlete, friendly, pretty hair, good friend, helpful, sweet, kind, Christian, exciting, energetic, adventurous) that tell good things about the person. Prompt each child to choose one name. She will read the name and the words that describe that person. Ask if the nicknames and descriptions help the child know what this person is like. Continue until you read each child s name. Explain that today the children will learn names given to the promised Messiah that describe what He is like. art paper tape marker Attach the art paper to the wall. Bible Studies for Life grades 1 3 & 4 6 4
Grades 1-3 STUDY THE BIBLE Notes Bibles Teaching Picture Kids Activity Page paper plates craft sticks tape scissors Optional Weekly Memory Verse Micah 5:2 INTRODUCTION Tell kids that this month they will learn stories about the event surrounding Jesus birth. Explain that today they will hear how prophets told of Jesus birth long before He was born. BIBLE STORY Give each child a paper plate and a craft stick. On one side of the plate guide each child to print Isaiah and on the other side, Micah. Tape the craft stick to the plate as a handle. Children will hold up the correct side of the plate as you read the Isaiah and Micah monologues. Display today s teaching picture. Tell the story in our own words from your Bible or use the Isaiah and Micah monologues. LIFE VERSE Read the Life Verse aloud from the Bible. Share that God promised that the Messiah would come and would be born as a baby boy. Read aloud names that describe the Messiah. Invite boys and girls to take turns reading aloud the verse from their Bibles. Assist as needed. Read the verse together one more time. Review Ask children to tell one thing they remember about Isaiah and one thing they remember about Micah. Use today s review questions to continue reviewing the story. LIFE Point When God wanted to tell people something, He would tell one of His prophets to go and share the message. Isaiah and Micah knew that Jesus would be the Savior. Invite children to explain how they know that God promised to send the Messiah. If a child does not point it out, direct attention to the memory verse. Together read aloud the verse The memory verse is God s message shared by Isaiah. Distribute learner guide pages. Read A Promise Litany as directed. Encourage each child to use the memory verse, the Bible story, and A Promise Litany to help him share the story of Micah and Isaiah with someone today. 5
LIFE POINT God promised to send a Savior. INTRODUCTION Tell kids that this month they will learn stories about the event surrounding Jesus birth. Explain that today they will hear how prophets told of Jesus birth long before He was born. BIBLE STORY Display today s teaching picture. Identify Isaiah writing his message on a scroll. Read the Isaiah monologue. Share that Isaiah was a prophet, or messenger for God. Isaiah lived about 700 years before Jesus was born. He wrote promises God gave about the Messiah. Read the Micah monologue Share that Micah was a prophet. He lived about the same time as Isaiah. Micah wrote promises God gave about the Messiah. LIFE VERSE Read aloud the verse from your Bible. Form three groups. Group 1 will read aloud the first part of the memory verse. Group 2 will read aloud the next part of the verse. Group 3 will finish reading aloud the verse. All groups will say together the Scripture reference. Repeat the activity, assigning a different part of the verse to each group. Continue until the children read the verse three more times. Finish by reading the memory verse together. Review Distribute the learner guide pages and pencils. Call attention to The Prophets as a quick review. Children will complete Chain Links. Use today s review questions. Instruct children to jump up to answer a question. LIFE Point Invite children to say the memory verse, Isaiah 9:6. Tell kids that today people know Isaiah was speaking about Jesus. Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies. Explain that the people to whom Isaiah spoke knew he described the promised Messiah. They did not know His name would be Jesus. Encourage each child to use the memory verse and the Bible story to help him share the story of Micah and Isaiah with others. Grades 4-6 Notes Bibles Teaching Picture Kids Activity Pages pencils tape scissors Optional Weekly Memory Verse Micah 5:2 Bible Studies for Life grades 1 3 & 4 6 6
Grades 1-3 LIVE IT OUT Notes Choice 1 learner guide pages glue bowls of water clear ornaments sheets of tissue paper, scissors, markers Dilute glue with water, half and half, and pour into bowls. Prepare a bowl for every 3 to 4 children. Choice 2 learner guide pages scissors construction paper clear tape ribbon stapler Print 3-inch circles onto construction paper (5 per child. Cut 30-inch lengths of ribbon (1 per child). In the top and bottom of each circle cut 1-inch horizontal slits. Choice 1: Name ORNAments Distribute learner guide pages and pencils. Together complete Match the Meanings. Distribute clear Christmas ornaments. With a marker, print on tissue paper two or three of the names from the learner guide page. Cut the paper into small strips, with one name on each strip. Dip the strips into the glue solution. Gently pull the strip across the edge of the container to get rid of part of the glue. Smooth it onto the ornament. Each child will continue attaching all his name strips to his ornament. Set the completed ornament aside to dry. Talking Point These names remind you that God kept His promise and sent Jesus as the Savior. Encourage the children to apply what they learned by using the names on their ornaments to remember that God promised to send a Savior. Choice 2: RIBBON PLAqUES Distribute learner guide pages and pencils. Together complete Match the Meaning. Distribute a length of ribbon and one circle to each child. On his circle, each child will print God Promised. Thread the ribbon through the slits in the circle so that the ribbon goes behind the printing. Place this circle four inches from the top of the ribbon. Print names for the Messiah (see learner guide page), one on each of three circles, and thread the circles onto the ribbon. On the last circle, each child will print God Keeps His Promises. Thread this onto the bottom of the ribbon. Help the children turn the top of the ribbon down to form a hanger and fasten the loop with a staple. Children will apply what they learned by displaying their plaques as reminders that God promised to send a Savior. 7
LIFE POINT God promised to send a Savior. Choice 1: BILLBoard PROmise Lead each child to look at the Bible story on her Kids Activity Page. She will highlight God s promise that each prophet shared with the people. Attach the poster paper to the wall. Explain that boys and girls will make a billboard. Remind children that billboards are used to advertise or share information. Their billboard will share God s promises. Choose a format for the billboard. (For example: Print God promises and list the promises.) Illustrate and decorate the billboard as desired. If time allows, display the billboard. Encourage children to invite people to come by and see the billboard. Boys and girls can apply what they learned by using the billboard as a reminder that God promised to send the Savior. CHOICE 2: Make PROmISE BOOKS Guide each child to make a promise minibook. Distribute the Kids Activity Pages and other supplies. Fold the half sheet of paper in half lengthwise. Press the crease, unfold, and fold in half crosswise. Fold each end of the paper back to the middle fold and crease. Cut from the middle fold to the quarter fold along the center crease. Open up the paper and refold along the original lengthwise fold. Push the ends to the center and fold together to form a booklet of four double pages. Using the Bible story from the learner guide page, write one promise on each page. Punch a hole in the top left corner of the minibook and insert a ribbon hanger. Boys and girls can each apply what she learned by reading one promise a day from her minibook and remembering that God promised to send the Savior. Grades 4-6 Notes Choice 1 Bibles Kids Activity Pages highlighters poster paper tape markers Plan and ask permission to use a space to display the billboard. Choice 2 Kids Activity Pages half sheets of copy paper with Christmas border markers hole punch ribbons Bible Studies for Life grades 1 3 & 4 6 8
PICTURE: GOD S PROMISE THROUGH THE PROPHETS Bible Teaching for Kids Grades 1-3 and 4-6 2008 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Printed in the United States of America. Douglas Klauba
Read a name on a green shape. Find the matching red shape to discover how the name describes Jesus. Which names did Isaiah use? Read Isaiah 7:14 and Isaiah 9:6. God's Promise Through the Prophets LIFE VERSE Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The A child will be born for us, a son will Prince of Peace. be given to us, and the government Isaiah 9:6 KJV will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 HCSB Ask an adult to read the lines printed in black. You will read the lines printed in red. The Messiah will be born in Bethlehem. God promised to send the Savior. The Messiah will be called by many names. God promised to send the Savior. We know that Jesus is the Messiah. God always keeps His promises. Bible Studies for Life grades 1 3
God s Promise Through the Prophets Isaiah and Micah were prophets. They spoke for God. Prophets spoke God s message to the people. Part of their message was about the promised Messiah. I am Isaiah. This is God s message. God will give the people a sign. A virgin will have a baby boy. He will be called Immanuel. He also will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, and The Prince of Peace. He will come from the family of Jesse. God s Spirit will be on Him. I am Micah. This is God s message. Bethlehem is a small place, but the Messiah will be born there. Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 11:1-5; Micah 5:2 Time with God The Messiah is Jesus. Pray for a friend who does not know that. Jesus came for the whole world. Sing a song to Jesus, thanking Him. God sent Jesus to be your Savior. Praise Him. Use your More magazine each day to study more about the Messiah.
God's Promise Through the Prophets A child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 HCSB LIFE VERSE Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 K JV Chain Lin ks Draw the missing links to join the word to its correct definition. Isaiah was a prophet who lived in Judah over 700 years before Jesus was born. His message is recorded in the Old Testament Book of Isaiah. Many of Isaiah s prophecies were about the Messiah. Micah was a prophet who lived in Judah. He lived during the same time as Isaiah. His message is recorded in the Old Testament Book of Micah. Bible Studies for Life grades 4 6
God s Promise Through the Prophets God promised to send the Messiah, the Savior. Prophets brought messages to the people about the Messiah. God gave Isaiah this prophecy for King Ahaz: God will give you a sign. A virgin will have a baby boy. His name will be Immanuel, which means God with us. A son will be born. He will be a ruler. He will be called by names that describe Him. He will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, and The Prince of Peace. The Messiah will come from the family of Jesse. God s Spirit will be on Him. He will be a righteous judge. Micah shared this word from God: Bethlehem is just a small town, but this is where the Messiah will be born. Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 11:1-5; Micah 5:2 Time with God God promised to send the Savior, and He sent the Savior. God always does what He says He will do. Pray, asking God to make your faith in Him stronger. Use your Adventure magazine to guide your meetings with God this week.