The Biblical Path of Life

Category: Year Two Quarter One

  • Lesson 3: 2 Kings 1-2: Elijah and Elisha

    Key Verse

    Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised) —Hebrews 10:23

    Key Verse Thought: After reading the verse, understand that the word faithful means “constant in the performance of duties or services — like a faithful servant.” In this verse, faithful also means “as God with his promises.”

    When we understand the faithfulness of God, it helps us as we “hold fast the profession of our faith.” That means we have and retain the faith we have of the Gospel message of Jesus (that He died to cleanse us from our sins). Moreover, that we do it without “wavering.” Wavering means “steady, without giving way.” In this lesson, we will continue looking at the life of Elijah, and we will begin to learn about Elisha. Both of these prophets of God held fast, knowing God would be faithful.

    Emphasis: Just as Elijah was faithful in doing what God asked of him (no matter how difficult we may think it might have been), we, too, are to remain faithful doing what God asks of us (no matter how hard it may seem!).  

    Lesson Summary: After the people of Israel professed, “The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God” (1 Kings 18:39), there continued to be idol worship in the land. We begin today with Ahab’s son, Ahaziah, as king of Israel, seeking the answer to his question from Baalzebub, the god of Ekron. When the king was injured (he fell through a lattice), instead of inquiring an answer from God, he inquired for a word from a false god. So God sent Elijah with a word for the king – words that the king did not receive (for he did not like the message). The king sent captains with their fifties to bring Elijah to the king. Two times Elijah called fire down from heaven that consumed them. On the third time, because of the captain’s words, he and his men lived. Elijah returned with a message for the king himself. The king would die from his injury — and he did. We will then look back to the call of Elisha as the servant of Elijah, soon to be the one to replace the prophet Elijah (I Kings 19:16). As we remember Elijah’s life, we find he knew he was about to leave the earth. Recall the familiar events of Elijah taken alive into heaven by a chariot of fire and horses of fire as Elisha stood as a witness. Don’t just recall the familiar events, read them again with the intention of learning more about just what really happened. Especially think about the faithfulness displayed, as Elisha never left Elijah’s side — even when Elijah told him to stay. Notice the reward Elijah, and even Elisha, received for their faithfulness. See what the 50 men of the sons of the prophets recognized about Elisha.

    Year Two Quarter One – Lesson 3 – Questions

    Year Two Quarter One – Lesson 3 – Children’s Worksheets

    You could cut out the shape of a coat from foam and let the children lace it. This could remind them of Elijah’s mantle that Elijah picked up and kept.

  • Lesson 2: 1 Kings 16:29 – 22:53: Ahab and Elijah

    Key Verse

    And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. —Romans 8:28

    Key Verse Thought: Have you ever had something bad happen to you? According to this verse, if we are Christians (have Jesus in our heart), and are living according to God’s Word doing what God wants us to do with our lives, everything will work out for good — even if it seems like something bad at the time. In this lesson, we will see this lived out in Elijah’s life. Even when the king and queen wanted Elijah dead, God provided for him and took care of him.

    Emphasis: If we will obey God, God will provide for us and take care of us — no matter what.     

    Lesson Summary: Now that we have seen the nation of Israel divide into two kingdoms, Israel and Judah, we will begin by studying the nation Israel. We will continue with Judah afterward. In our last lesson, we began by learning about the first three kings of Israel — Jeroboam, Nadab, and Baasha. Israel never had a good, or godly, king. In this lesson, we will continue with the next six kings — including one of the worst kings and his wicked queen.

    After seeing four more wicked kings (Elah, Zimri, Tibni, and Omri), we come to the worst king yet — King Ahab. After he became king, God sent His prophet, Elijah, to speak to wicked King Ahab. Elijah told the king that there would be no rain in the land; and there was a drought for over three years. God provided for Elijah during the drought and sent him back to King Ahab after three years with a great challenge. Elijah had all of Israel to meet on top of Mount Carmel to call for a decision from the people. Choose who the true God is. After Elijah’s mighty victory, he ran for his life. We see God had not forgotten him, but He showed himself to Elijah in a still small voice. He then gave Elijah a helper, Elisha. We will learn more about him in our next lesson.

    We will continue with King Ahab’s wicked reign as Benhadad, king of Syria, besieged Israel. God mightily delivered — twice. However, because King Ahab spared the enemy king’s life, God would require King Ahab’s life.

    We see more of Queen Jezebel’s wickedness as she kills to acquire Naboth’s vineyard for her husband, King Ahab. When Elijah told King Ahab of God’s displeasure about this event, we will see the compassion God had upon King Ahab when he was sorry for sin. When King Ahab joined with the king of Judah, Jehoshaphat, to enter into battle with Syria, a prophet of God told King Ahab that he would die in battle — and he did. King Ahab’s son, Ahaziah, became the next king of Israel. He, too, was a wicked king.

    Year Two Quarter One Questions

    Year Two Quarter One Student Worksheets

    You could have your students make their own coloring book about Elijah.

  • Lesson 1: 1 Kings 12–15: Rehoboam, Jeroboam, and the Divided Kingdom

    And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation … —Matthew 12:25a

    Key Verse Thought: Have you ever heard the phrase “there is strength in numbers?” Think of the following instances to help in the understanding of this concept: Work is completed faster with more workers; a choir has a stronger voice with more choir members singing; the more papers you have stacked together, the harder it is to tear them in two; it is harder to break a bundle of sticks bound together than just one stick, etc. What happens when more than one person tries to explain rules to a game (especially if they list different rules)? Unless everyone agrees, or works together, it is almost impossible to play the game or even to accomplish a task. Also remember the following: “And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12). In this lesson we will see what happened that caused the nation of Israel to become divided.  In our key verse for this lesson, the word desolation means “be laid waste; be made desolate (deprived of inhabitants; neglected; destroyed).”

    Emphasis: We must learn from history. Israel rejected God and chose idol worship bringing division and destruction to the nation. The same division and destruction will occur in our lives if we reject God.

    Lesson Summary: Now that we have completed the Personal Books (mostly written by David and Solomon), we will continue with the History Books. If you remember, the people rejected God as their king and wanted a man like all of the other nations to rule over them. God gave the people a man to become their king, just like they wanted. We learned about the first three kings: Saul, David, and Solomon. Saul disobeyed God, and the kingdom was removed from him and his family. David was known as a man after God’s own heart, and God promised him the kingdom would never be removed from his family. Solomon, David’s son, became the next king, but he ended up allowing his heart to be turned from God to idols. God promised to divide the kingdom because of this great sin, but because of God’s promise to David, two tribes would be left to his family. 

    In this lesson, we will learn that Rehoboam, Solomon’s only son, was a very foolish king. God left two tribes for him to rule. They became known as Judah (also known as the Southern Kingdom). God gave the other ten tribes to Jeroboam, and they became known as Israel (the Northern Kingdom). When Jeroboam became king over the Northern Kingdom, Israel, he did not allow the people return to Jerusalem to worship God. He was afraid that he would lose his kingdom, and the divided kingdom would reunite as one. So he set up two places of worship, Dan and Bethel, with golden calves in each city for the people to worship. When Jeroboam was warned by a prophet of God while offering at the altar, Jeroboam rejected his words. King Jeroboam’s hand was withered and then restored. Later, when confronted with his wickedness, he rejected God’s prophet, and God rejected Jeroboam telling him the kingdom would be removed from him and his family. And it came to pass – just as God said.

    Israel and Judah warred against each other continually. After this lesson, we will primarily continue our study with the Northern Kingdom (Israel). Afterward we will learn of the Southern Kingdom (Judah). To help keep the kings straight and find out a verse listed where they became king, refer often to the chart “The Kings and their Prophets.”

    Year Two Quarter One – Lesson 1 Questions

    Year Two Quarter One – Lesson 1 Children’s Worksheets

    One idea would be to have your children make a crown to help them remember the divided kingdom.