Big Picture Question: Why did God scatter His people? God s people sinned against Him. Bible Passage: 2 Kings 17:1-23 Christ Connection: The prophets called God s people to repentance as Christ calls people to repentance. Sin continued to divide & ultimately destroy the Northern Kingdom, but Christ s perfect kingdom is forever. The Northern Kingdom Was Destroyed September 15th 1st-3rd grade TEACHER 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.
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. 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. Our Prayer for You: That we would be reminded daily of our deep need for God s presence in our lives. Jesus is the only one who can take our sins upon himself and restore us into a right relationship with the Father.
WELCOME TIME As the kids arrive, ask them questions that might help you get to know them better. This is the time that makes or breaks how welcome a child feels and whether they will come back or not! Be friendly! :) EARLY ARRIVER ACTIVITY [9:45-10:00] (begin as soon as children enter; this activity is not neccessary for ALL children, it just gives the early arrivers something to get started on) How Far? Tape an X on the floor. This will be a center point. Tape another X a few feet to the left, one a few feet to the right, one a few feet above, and one a few feet below. Number each one, and make sure you measure to know exactly how far each one is from the center point. Provide several yardsticks or rulers. Encourage the kids as they arrive to see if they can guess the measurements of each spot from the center spot. Compare to see who guessed the closest measurement. Say: The people of Israel were moving farther and farther away from God. Today, we will see God s response to their sin. ENGAGE ACTIVITY [10:00-10:10] (begin @ 10:00; even if children haven t finished the Early Arriver Activity; this sets up the Bible Story for the day) Scatter Tape a very large circle with a smaller circle in the middle. Make sure there is enough room for all the kids to stand on the inner circle. If needed, create another set of circles and form groups. Explain that the goal is be the first one to get outside the large circle. Their command to start will be the word scatter. Repeat as time allows. Say: After years of disobeying God, Israel was scattered from their home. We will find out why they were sent away. TRANSITION TO LARGE GROUP [10:10] Note: Please be sure to stay with your class to help children stay focused and listen to the lesson. Be sure to actively participate with your class. They are looking to you as the example to follow! LARGE GROUP BIBLE STORY & WORSHIP [10:10-10:40] Big Picture Question: Why did God scatter His people? God s people sinned against Him.
Note: As students come back to the classroom, it is a good time to distribute snack as you take prayer requests and praises. PRAYER TIME [10:45-10:55] Use the class Prayer Journal to write down any prayer requests that the kids might have, as well as any prayer requests that have been answered! Take time for the kids to praise God in prayer and lift up the prayer requests mentioned. Allow 1 or 2 students to pray and then pray to close out the time of prayer. Remember, kids are learning to pray by your example. The importance and energy you put into prayer will be directly reflected in your class! BIBLE STORY REVIEW [10:55-11:05] Encourage the kids to find 2 Kings 17 in their Bibles. Help them as needed. Ask: 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 Timeline to show kids today s Bible story. 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 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. Key Passage: 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
KEY PASSAGE ACTIVITY [11:05-11:10] Make sure the Key Passage, 2 Kings 17:13-14, is visible for each child. 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. SINK IN ACTIVITY [11:10-11:20] 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. EXTRA ACTIVITY (can be sent home as a fun activity for families to work together if you do not get around to doing it) There is a Coloring Sheet if you need it, depending on the length of the service. ***THE HANDOFF*** As children are picked up, briefly state one of the things that were talked about in class today. You can do this by asking the child a question in front of their parent, or remind them of something they learned. Also, direct parents and kids to the website for the Family Journal page- a way for parents to lead their kids to know Christ at home! Supplies Needed: masking tape, rulers, Key Passage written on index cards (several words on each card; 2 sets; different color for each set,), straws (1 for each child), strips of paper 2 inches wide