Leader BIBLE STUDY The ark of God (also called the ark of the covenant ) was an incredibly important symbol in the lives of God s people. Not only was the ark the original container for the Ten Commandments, it symbolized God s presence with His people. God gave Moses instructions in Exodus 25 for creating the ark. It was made of acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold. God forbade anyone from touching the ark, so it was carried by two poles. God would speak to Moses from between two golden cherubim on top of the ark, which was called the mercy seat. (See Num. 7:89.) The Philistines were a near-constant threat to Israel during the time of the judges. Under the leadership of Samuel, the Israelites went out to fight the Philistines. But the Israelites were defeated because of their sin. The elders of Israel realized that it was God who allowed them to be defeated. God hadn t fought for them against the Philistines. So they did what seemed logical; they took the ark the symbol of God s presence and carried it to the battlefield. But the ark was not a good luck charm. Not only was Israel defeated, the Philistines captured the ark and killed Eli s sons. When Eli heard the news, he fell over and died. With the victory, the Philistines concluded that their god, Dagon, was better than the God of Israel. They moved the ark to Dagon s temple, where God showed His power over Dagon. (See 1 Sam. 5:1-5.) As the ark moved between Philistine cities, God afflicted the people and made them sick. Though the Philistines won the battle by capturing the ark, God afflicted them to show His power over their god. God received glory through the Israelites defeat. This points to the victory of God s Son on the cross. The people thought they had stopped Jesus by killing Him on the cross, but by His death, Jesus saved the world and brought glory to God. 1 Preschool Worship Guide Unit 10, Session 3 Copyright 2013
Preschool Bible study OVERVIEW Session Title: The Ark Was Captured Bible Passage: 1 Samuel 4 5 Big Picture Question: Why was the ark of God important? The ark reminded God s people that God was with them. Key Passage: 1 Samuel 2:35 Unit Christ Connection: God used people and visual elements in history to give us pictures of Christ. Large Group Worship (15 20 minutes) Small Group Activities (25 30 minutes) Large Group Closing (10+ minutes) 2 Hints of Christ
The BIBLE STORY The Ark Was Captured 1 Samuel 4 5 The people of Israel did not get along with the Philistines. The Israelites fought a battle against the Philistines, but the Philistines won. The Israelites were confused. If God was on their side, why didn t they win? God had allowed them to lose. Instead of asking God what they had done wrong, the Israelites decided to take the ark of God the beautiful box from the tabernacle that reminded them God was with them and carry it to the battle. Some of the men went to talk to Eli s sons. Eli s sons were priests; they were in charge of the ark of God. The men told Eli s sons their plan to win the battle. Eli s sons thought the men had a good idea. They sent the ark of God to the place where the Israelites were getting ready for battle. When the army of Israelites saw the ark of God, they shouted because they were happy. Surely they would win the battle now! The Philistines heard the shout, but they did not know what was happening. Why were the Israelites happy? They had just lost a battle. Then the Philistines heard that the ark of God was with the Israelites, and they were afraid! They could fight against men, but who could fight against God? The Philistines tried to be brave. The Israelites came out to fight, but the Philistines won again! They killed many Israelites including Eli s two sons and they took the ark of God! When Eli heard the news, he fell backward in his chair and died. The Philistines took the ark of God to a temple. The temple was where they worshiped Dagon (DAY gahn), a false god. They put the ark next to a statue of Dagon. The next morning, the Philistines went into the temple and saw that Dagon s statue was facedown in front of the ark of God. They set the statue back up. The next day, it was facedown again. This time, the head and hands were broken off. God punished the people living in the city where the ark of God 3 Preschool Worship Guide Unit 10, Session 3 Copyright 2013
was. God made them really sick. The Philistines wanted to get rid of the ark. When they moved the ark to another city, everyone in that city got sick. So they moved the ark to a third city. Then everyone in that city got sick too. The Philistines were afraid. They didn t want God to punish them anymore, so they decided to send the ark of God back to the Israelites, where it belonged. Christ Connection: The ark of the covenant reminded the Israelites that God was with them. God gave His people something even better to remind them that He was with them. God sent His Son, Jesus. One of Jesus names is Immanuel, which means God with us. * Use only the words in bold to review the Bible story or tell it to younger preschoolers. 4 Hints of Christ
Large Group Worship Session Title: The Ark Was Captured Bible Passage: 1 Samuel 4 5 Big Picture Question: Why was the ark of God important? The ark reminded God s people that God was with them. Key Passage: 1 Samuel 2:35 Unit Christ Connection: God used people and visual elements in history to give us pictures of Christ. Play Center of It in the background as you welcome incoming preschoolers. Follow your church s security procedures. The Stay-in-Place Song Bible Key Passage Poster A Faithful Priest song Large Group Worship (15 20 minutes) Welcome and sing Welcome kids to worship time. Invite two or three kids to lead the group in singing The Stay-in-Place Song. Practice the key passage and a Bible skill Say [Show your Bible.] The Bible is divided into books. There are 66 books in the whole Bible. Today s story is from the Book of 1 Samuel. In the Bible, books are divided into chapters. 1 Samuel has 31 chapters in it. Let s read a verse from 1 Samuel chapter 2. With your Bible opened to 1 Samuel 2:35, read the verse. Show the key passage poster and sing A Faithful Priest. Say Who does this verse remind us of? (Jesus Christ) Jesus did what God wanted Him to. 5 Preschool Worship Guide Unit 10, Session 3 Copyright 2013
Timeline Map The Ark Was Captured video (optional) Note: The location of the ark of the covenant is a mystery. Rumored locations include Mt. Nebo, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Europe. One archaeologist claims it is in a cave beneath the place where Jesus was crucified. Scholars agree that we will know its location when God wants to reveal it. Big Picture Question Poster Listen and Obey song Mighty, Mighty God song I Know song offering basket countdown video (optional) Tip: Do activities one of these ways: as a group, all at the same time in small groups that rotate through each activity set up as centers, allowing preschoolers to browse and choose Watch or tell the Bible story Say The people of Israel kept a special box that reminded them that God was with them. It was called the ark of the covenant or the ark of God. It s the same special box that the priests held when the Israelites crossed the Jordan River on dry ground. [Point to the timeline.] It s the same ark that they carried when they marched around Jericho and the walls fell down. [Point to the timeline.] Listen to today s story to hear what happened when the Israelites enemies took the ark. Watch the Bible story video or tell the story with expression, conveying just how powerful God is. Worship with song and pray Sing Listen and Obey. Talk about what happened when Eli s sons did not listen and obey. Pass the offering basket and softly play Listen and Obey again. Sing Mighty, Mighty God and think about how God showed His power to the Philistines. Talk about the big picture question, Why was the ark of God important? The ark reminded God s people that God was with them. Say The Israelites had the ark to remind them that God was with them. Today, we don t need a special box to remind us that God is with us. Why not? (Jesus came to earth, died, and is alive today.) What better reminder that God is with us than that! Sing I Know. Pray and thank God for sending Jesus. Transition to small groups Describe the small group activities you have set up. Dismiss kids to activities by making statements such as If your shirt is the color of broccoli (carrots, blueberries, tomatoes, cauliflower), you may choose an activity. 6 Hints of Christ
Small Group activities Session Title: The Ark Was Captured Bible Passage: 1 Samuel 4 5 Big Picture Question: Why was the ark of God important? The ark reminded God s people that God was with them. Key Passage: 1 Samuel 2:35 Unit Christ Connection: God used people and visual elements in history to give us pictures of Christ. Tip: Select from the activities those you can staff and which your class will enjoy. foam or rubber ball or beanbag LOW PREP strips of gauze Small Group Activities (25 30 minutes) Play a tossing game Stand in a circle. Explain that you will toss a ball to a kid and ask one of two questions. She will respond with the answer and return the ball. Questions: (1) Who is the one true God? God is the one true God. (2) Why was the ark of God important? The ark reminded God s people that God was with them. Bandage sick people Say God is powerful because He is the one true God. The ark of the covenant reminded the Israelites that God was with them. They took it out of the tabernacle and into the battle; they thought that would help them win. Big mistake! They were trusting in magic instead of God. The Philistines won the battle and took the ark into the temple of Dagon, their false god. God broke their idol and made the Philistines sick with bad sores. God was showing that He is the one true God. Invite kids to pretend their friends became sick when the ark of the covenant came to their town. Provide strips of gauze to wrap sores on the arms and legs of their friends. 7 Preschool Worship Guide Unit 10, Session 3 Copyright 2013
Philistine Puppet Pattern, 1 per kid scissors box to represent the ark of the covenant glue round, red adhesive labels paper lunch sacks, 1 per kid poster board large sheet of paper sticky notes crayons (optional) countdown video (optional) Make paper bag Philistines Give each kid a lunch sack, folded flat. Older kids may cut out the puppet face to glue to the base of the sack. Help younger kids cut out the face. Glue the beard under the fold, completing the face. Give each kid a few red circle stickers to use later. Designate three corners of the room to be Philistine cities; send a few kids with their puppets to each city. Carry a box (the ark) to the first city. When the Philistines become sick, kids can stick the red circles on their puppets to be the sores. Repeat at the second and third cities. Say Why was the ark of God important? The ark reminded God s people that God was with them. It was not made to use for good luck or as a magic charm. Make and assemble a floor puzzle Cut out a large 1 (one) from a piece of poster board. Cut it into several pieces. Invite kids to assemble the floor puzzle. Say There is only one God. The ark of the covenant reminded the Israelites that God was with them. Later, God gave His people something even better to remind them that He was with them. God sent His Son, Jesus. Think about a fish god Sketch and cut out a large figure with arms. Ask kids to place sticky notes all over the body like fish scales. Say Dagon was an idol a fish god. What could he do? (nothing) God caused the idol to fall down before the ark. It lost its face and hands. [Tear them off.] What did that show the Philistines? (God is the one and only God.) Transition to large group closing Give kids a five-minute verbal alert or play the countdown video. 8 Hints of Christ
Large Group closing Session Title: The Ark Was Captured Bible Passage: 1 Samuel 4 5 Big Picture Question: Why was the ark of God important? The ark reminded God s people that God was with them. Key Passage: 1 Samuel 2:35 Unit Christ Connection: God used people and visual elements in history to give us pictures of Christ. Large Group Closing (10+ minutes) Bible Timeline Map Big Picture Question Poster Mighty, Mighty God song Review the Bible story, sing, and pray Ask kids to tell you what happened first in the story. Continue asking what happened next, using the Bible story facts below, and clarify as needed. The people of Israel fought a battle against the Philistines, and the Philistines won. The Israelites were confused about why God allowed them to lose the battle. Instead of asking God what they had done wrong, they chose to take the ark of God into battle with them. Even though the Israelites had the ark, the Philistines won again! The Philistines captured the ark. A messenger told Eli the bad news; Eli fell backward in his chair and died. [Point to the Bible story picture on the timeline.] The Philistines put the ark in a temple next to the statue of Dagon, a false god. The next morning, the statue of Dagon had fallen facedown in front of the ark of God. The Philistines set the statue back up. 9 Preschool Worship Guide Unit 10, Session 3 Copyright 2013
The following morning, Dagon s statue was facedown again, and the hands and face were broken off. Wherever the Philistines took the ark, people got sick. The Philistines sent the ark back to the Israelites, where it belonged. Say Why was the ark of God important? The ark reminded God s people that God was with them. God is powerful! Let s sing about His power. Sing Mighty, Mighty God. Invite a child to pray. Close by thanking God that we can trust that He is always with us. Missions story: Soldier Without a Gun Army Chaplain (Maj.) Daniel Middlebrooks works in a military hospital. A chaplain is like a pastor to the hospital staff and wounded troops. Daniel serves with a unit known as the Mountain Medics. Many wounded soldiers are brought to this hospital. Daniel visits with patients and hospital staff. He prays a lot, too. He reads Bible verses to comfort wounded soldiers who are far away from home. Sometimes, he can tell soldiers who are not Christians about Jesus. Daniel trusts in the Lord each day as he ministers to people who are having hard times, and he shares this message with hospital staff and wounded soldiers. Ask God to keep Daniel strong as he cares for the soldiers each day and helps point them to Christ. Ask God to bless all those who serve our country in the military. small block music Follow church security rule for dismissing children. Play Who s Got the Box? Sit in a circle. Select one person to be It and stand in the center of the circle. Play music as kids pass a small block secretly around the circle behind their backs, stopping when the music stops. It tries to guess who has the block. Once discovered, that child becomes It, and play continues. 10 Hints of Christ
Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. 1 Samuel 2:35 UNIT 10 Key Passage Poster (NKJV) 2013 Christian Resources. OK TO PRINT Hints of Christ
I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. 1 Samuel 2:35 UNIT 10 Key Passage Poster (NIV) 2013 Christian Resources. OK TO PRINT Hints of Christ
And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind. 1 Samuel 2:35 UNIT 10 Key Passage Poster (KJV) 2013 Christian Resources. OK TO PRINT Hints of Christ
Then I will raise up a faithful priest for Myself. He will do whatever is in My heart and mind. 1 Samuel 2:35 UNIT 10 Key Passage Poster (HCSB) 2013 Christian Resources. OK TO PRINT Hints of Christ
And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. 1 Samuel 2:35 UNIT 10 Key Passage Poster (ESV) 2013 Christian Resources. OK TO PRINT Hints of Christ
2013 Christian Resources. OK TO PRINT UNIT 10 Session 3 Big Picture Question Hints of Christ The ark reminded God s people that God was with them. Why was the ark of God important?
UNIT 10 Session 3 The Ark Was Captured 2013 Christian Resources. OK TO PRINT Hints of Christ
Philistine Puppet Pattern UNIT 10 Session 3 Philistine Puppet Pattern 2012 Christian Resources. OK TO PRINT Hints of Christ
Instructions: Print this poster, or laminate it and reuse it throughout the quarter. Use a dry erase marker to fill in the necessary information when bringing food, animals, things to smell, or nature items that might cause allergic reactions. Display the poster where parents can see it when they arrive with their children. Today your child will be tasting/touching/sniffing Please notify a teacher if your child should not participate in this activity. UNIT 11 Allergy Alert Poster 2012 Christian Resources. Saul and David OK TO PRINT