The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Secret

  • Lesson 9 (Lesson 35): II Samuel 1-5: David Crowned as King

    Key Verse

    “The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.”  Psalms 25:14

     

    Read the Key Verse with your class.  Help them understand the verse using the following definitions.

    secret:  Intimacy, conversation, consultation

    fear:  reverently fear

    covenant:  a pledge; a contract with promises of blessing for obedience, a curse for disobedience

    Today we will see the “secret” God had made with David many years earlier (that he would be king of Israel) come to pass.  We also notice that David’s relationship with God was one of reverential fear.  We see God show David that He will continue fulfilling His covenant with His people by establishing David as king.  This was pivotal in ushering in Jesus, the King of Kings (I Timothy 6:14-15).

    Summary:  Remember that we saw Saul became the first king of Israel, but had the kingdom removed from him and his family, forever, because of his disobedience to God’s words.  I Samuel 15:23:  “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”   I Samuel closed with King Saul’s death in battle.  We have now seen 3 of the 4 main characters in the books of Samuel have died.  We begin the book of II Samuel continuing in the life of David.  We open with David hearing the news, mourning, and Judah (one of the tribes of Israel – David’s tribe) anointing him as their king.  The rest of the tribes accept Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, as their king.  We see the nation in a state of conflict and turmoil as their king has died, and they try to go on.  Until they receive David, God’s choice for their king, there is no peace in the land.  Once David is established as king throughout Israel, they are prepared to move on as a nation.

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  David faithfully sought God’s will for his life.  He knew God’s word and obeyed it.  He then saw God do just what He promised.  We see David live Matthew 6:33 long before it was written:  “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 35 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 35 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet

     

    Ideas for children:

    Stickers always work well with children. Often times I watch Wal-Mart or Oriental Trading Company for specials or deals on things I can use for crafts for Sunday School (i.e. foam sheets, Bible Story scene stickers, crowns, stick on jewels, construction paper, etc.).  I keep a stash and when I need something, I go search in my stash!  Pinterest always has great ideas!

    You could have a coloring sheet that goes with the lesson.

    One idea for today’s lesson:  (See picture below).  For today’s lesson we made a crown as we remembered how God made David king of Israel.  You could either purchase pre-made crowns through someplace like Oriental Trading or make your own with gold or silver poster board.  Stick on jewels are the easiest to use to decorate the crowns.  Some children are creative and enjoy coloring their own crowns  with markers making their own jewels.

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.

    By now your class should be in a groove as to the direction and areas in which they need to focus and work on to improve their Christian lives.  Use this knowledge to help you address specific areas in each lesson that your class can discuss and share as you add new things to your mural.  Continue to watch as your class grows in their knowledge of not only God’s Word, but areas in their lives that can be corrected, drawing them closer to the Lord.

    Have them each add anything else they may have brought to add to the wall.  Encourage everyone to participate.

  • Lesson 8: Seventeen Prophetic Books: Isaiah – Malachi

    Key Verse

    “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.”  Matthew 13:35

    Have you ever been told a secret?  Did you want to keep it a secret, or tell someone else?  Secrets are hard to keep, yet the most important “secret” ever is not shared near enough.  God had secrets, and He told many of them to His people.  We can know those secrets today if we will just read His Word.  In this lesson we will begin to look at the prophets and see that they revealed secrets that had been “kept secret from the foundation of the world.”  At first we will just become familiar with who they are.  In the future, we will study them deeper.  Notice: God wanted us to understand the “mysteries” or “secrets” of the Old Testament.  He wanted us to realize that it all centered on the coming of Jesus, God’s Son.  Romans 16:25-26:  “25. Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26. But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:”

    When God’s people were in sin and rebellion, God would send a prophet to speak His words to the people.  The word prophet means “one who speaks in place of another.”  Often, they would say, “Thus saith the Lord.”  Many times they brought a message to the people warning of the chastisement that was to come if the people did not repent and turn their hearts back to God and His commands.  Their primary job was not to foretell the future, although at times they did.  Prophets were usually unpopular in the land.

    This lesson is just an introduction to the prophets, to become familiar with the names and in which books of the Bible the events of the prophets’ lives are found (when they prophesied).  Just because they are listed at the back of the Old Testament, this is not necessarily the time frame in history they occurred. This lesson ends with an event in the New Testament that helps understand why we need to know the prophets.

    In this lesson, we want to recognize that God wanted us to understand the “mysteries” or “secrets” of the Old Testament, for they were all centered on reminding us of the coming of Jesus, God’s Son.

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 8 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet

    Lesson 8 – Volume 1 Younger Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet

    Lesson 8 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet

     

    Ideas for children:

    In any lesson, you may want to work on your coloring timeline – especially when it relates to the lesson.

    Review the 3×5 cards if you made them, practicing the divisions.  Focus on dividing the Major and Minor Prophet books and putting them in order for today’s lesson.

    Another idea:  One teacher wrote the name of each book of the Old Testament on 39 different clothespins and clipped them in order on a hanger.  You  could have your students practice putting them in order! (See picture below.)

    You may find a coloring sheet of one of the events that take place in the books of the prophets.  You may also have some stickers about Jesus.  Remind them much of the books of the prophets reminded the people to look for Jesus.

     

    Mural idea: 

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.  For this week, have them each add the picture, news article, poem they have written, picture they may have drawn, etc. of something they believe is relevant to the lessons we have been studying.  Encourage everyone to participate.  Watch as it grows weekly, as they express what God is revealing to them through our study of how the Bible fits into His plan to help us become more like Him.

    Today, have them think about the world we live in.  Should there be a voice to the world with words from God?  Who is the voice today? (they should recognize that Christians are ambassadors in the world today.)  What should that voice say?  Have them make headlines for a newspaper or magazine with bold messages that need to be shared with our world today.  Add them to your mural.  For this week, you may also have them each think of someone they know who is lost.    Have them make a list of friends or family that needs to be saved.  Add that list to your mural to remind you to pray for these lost friends and family each Sunday.  Help them understand the important job they have.  They have the Words of Life for the lost world.  Encourage them to share Jesus with those on this list (and anyone they meet).