Teacher Bible Study Lesson Overview/Schedule
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 14, Session 2: Hosea, Prophet to Israel TEACHER BIBLE STUDY God sent the prophet Hosea to speak to Israel a message of God’s hatred toward sin and His coming judgment. But God also sent Hosea to bring a message of love—a love that never gives up. God used Hosea’s own life to show Israel what a never-gives-up kind of love looks like. God told Hosea to marry a prostitute. God told Hosea that his wife would not be faithful to him. She would give birth to children who were conceived with other men. Hosea obeyed God. He chose Gomer as his wife. Just as God said, Gomer was not faithful to Hosea. She went after other lovers. Can you imagine Hosea’s grief each time he found his wife with another man? It would have been easier for Hosea to throw up his hands and say, “Enough! I’m done with you!” God’s people were no different than Gomer. They were spiritual adulterers. Their hearts chased after other lovers. They loved and worshiped idols, people and things that were not the one true God. It would have been easier for God to throw up His hands and say, “Enough! I’m done with you!” But God’s love never gives up. He gave Hosea a love for his wife that compelled him to buy her back from the slave market after all she had done. In the same way, God sought after His unfaithful people even after all they had done. God paid a high price—the life of His Son, Jesus—to bring them back to Himself. Remember to present the story of Hosea in an age-appropriate way. God used Hosea’s unfaithful wife to show the people of Israel that they are unfaithful to Him. God gave Hosea a deep love; Hosea was willing to buy back Gomer even after all she had done. God’s love is deep, and it never gives up. He goes after His people and loves them back to Himself. LESSON OVERVIEW/SCHEDULE Session Title: Hosea, Prophet to Israel Bible Passage: Hosea 1–14 Big Picture Question: How does Hosea remind us of God? God loves us even when we are unfaithful. Key Passage: Jonah 4:2 Unit Christ Connection: Through these prophets we see a picture of the salvation provided through Jesus Christ. Transition Time Welcome time Activity sheet/Table Centers Session starter (10 minutes) 1 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources 1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 14, Session 2: Hosea, Prophet to Israel Lesson Countdown Introduce the session (1 minute) Timeline Map (1 minute) Big picture question (1 minute) Sing (5 minutes) Key passage (4 minutes) Tell the Bible story (10 minutes) Discussion starter video (3 minutes) The Gospel: God’s Plan for Me (optional) Prayer (5 minutes) Table Time Timeline map (1 minute) Bible story review (10 minutes) Large Group Review / Activities Key passage activity (5 minutes) Activity choice (10 minutes) Prayer (5 minutes) THE BIBLE STORY/OVERVIEW Hosea, Prophet to Israel Hosea 1–14 Hosea was a prophet. God gave Hosea a message to tell to the people of Israel. In addition to God’s message for Israel, God also gave Hosea instructions for his own life. God told Hosea, “Go and marry a woman who will not be faithful to you, and be a father to the children she has with other men.” God was going to use Hosea’s life to show His people in Israel what they were like. Hosea’s wife would love other men instead of Hosea, just like the people of Israel loved and worshiped other gods instead of the one true God. God was asking Hosea to do something very difficult. It is hard to love someone who doesn’t love you back! But Hosea obeyed God. He married a woman named Gomer. Gomer became pregnant and gave birth to a son. God told Hosea, “Name your son Jezreel.” The name Jezreel had a special meaning. It would be a warning to Israel that they would be defeated by their enemies. Next, Gomer had a daughter. God told Hosea to name the baby Lo-ruhamah (LOH-roo HA muh), which means “No Mercy.” God wanted the people of Israel to know that He was not going to show them mercy anymore. They would get the punishment their sin deserved. 2 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources 1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 14, Session 2: Hosea, Prophet to Israel Then Gomer had another son. God told Hosea to give him the name Lo-ammi (lo-AM igh), which means “Not My People.” God’s message to the Israelites was that they were no longer His people. When God rescued the Israelites from Egypt, He made a covenant with them. He told them, “If you obey My commands, I will take you as My people, and I will be your God.” But God’s people had broken the covenant by not obeying Him. Gomer was not faithful to Hosea. Even though she was his wife, she often ran away. In the same way, God’s people said they were committed to God, but they turned away from Him. They worshiped false gods. Hosea might have given up on Gomer, but God told Hosea to go after her. So Hosea found Gomer and paid to get her back. He brought Gomer back home. “Stop being unfaithful,” Hosea said. Even though Gomer had not loved her husband and only her husband like a wife should, Hosea loved her anyway. God gave Hosea a love that would never give up. God wanted the people of Israel to hear about Hosea and his wife and understand that Israel was no different than Gomer. Israel did not love God and only God like God’s people should, but God loved Israel anyway. God loves with a love that never gives up. Hosea gave Israel God’s message. He warned them that God was going to judge them for their sin. Hosea pleaded with Israel to turn back to God, to know and love Him. “Come, let us return to the Lord,” Hosea said. “Let us strive to know the Lord.” God’s people were unfaithful to God, but God is never unfaithful to His people. God said, “The number of the Israelites will be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted. And in the place where they were told: You are not My people, they will be called: Sons of the living God.” God was going to punish the people for turning away from Him, but He would keep the promise He made to Abraham. Abraham’s family would be a big family, and one day Jesus would come from Abraham’s family. Yes, God still loved Israel. God hated their sin, but He loved His people so much that He was going to bring them back to Himself. Just like Hosea paid a high price to get back his wife who did not love him, God had a plan to get His people back no matter what the cost. Christ Connection: Hosea’s relationship with Gomer reminds us of God’s relationship with the people of Israel and with us. Even though God’s people are unfaithful and love other things more than they love God, God still loves us. God sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sin and bring us back to Him. 3 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources 1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 14, Session 2: Hosea, Prophet to Israel TRANSITION TIME Session Title: Hosea, Prophet to Israel Bible Passage: Hosea 1–14 Big Picture Question: How does Hosea remind us of God? God loves us even when we are unfaithful. Key Passage: Jonah 4:2 Unit Christ Connection: Through these prophets we see a picture of the salvation provided through Jesus Christ. Welcome time Tip: As kids arrive this is a great time to collect the offering, fill out attendance sheets, and help new kids connect to your group. Arriving Activity: Balloon Up balloons Allergy Alert Provide each child with an inflated balloon. Make sure to check for any latex allergies. Encourage the kids to hit their balloons into the air and count the number of times they hit it before it touches the ground. Before the session begins, ask who was able to keep the balloon in the air the longest. Say • You were asked to do something that is really difficult because you have very little control over what the balloon is going to do. Today, we’ll meet a prophet whom God asked to do something even more difficult: to love someone who didn’t love him. Activities/Table Centers (5 minutes) Table centers (Miscellaneous Activities) “What Makes It?” activity sheet / Bible Story Coloring Sheet, 1 per kid Guide boys and girls to complete the activity page. Say • Faith is what is produced by those who trust God, but our faith isn’t perfect. Our Bible story today will remind us of that. If time remains, allow kids to complete the coloring page provided with this session. Session Starter (10 minutes) Option 1: Faith Challenge Ask for a volunteer to come complete a challenge. Explain the challenge and ask the kids if they believe the volunteer can do it. Whether the kid fails the challenge or completes it, make sure you cheer him on and congratulate him. Here are a few suggestions: run to a wall and back in 5 seconds stand on one leg for 30 seconds 4 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources 1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 14, Session 2: Hosea, Prophet to Israel balance a cup on your head for 30 seconds while walking in a circle spin around 10 times in 5 seconds Add more challenges if you wish.