Teacher Bible Study Lesson Overview/Schedule
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1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 9, Session 1: The First Judges TEACHER BIBLE STUDY Following Joshua’s death, the Israelites were without a leader. They fell into a cycle of sin that can be seen during each reign of the judges. The cycle is marked by an A-B-C-D-E pattern. Let’s look at the first judge, Othniel, to see this pattern. First, the people Abandoned God. They turned away and served other gods. (Judges 3:7) Next, they experienced a period of Bondage. God was angry with the Israelites, and He gave them into the hand of the king of Aram. (v. 8) Third, the people Cried out to God. (v. 9) God sent a Deliverer to save them. (vv. 9-10) Finally, they had Ease in the land. (v. 11) Then Othniel died. This pattern continued with Ehud. The people had again turned from God. Their abandonment made God angry. He sent them into bondage by strengthening the king of Moab to defeat Israel. The Israelites served the king of Moab for 18 years. The Moabites were fat, especially the king. They enjoyed the fruit of the Israelites’ labor while the Israelites went hungry. By thrusting a sword into the king’s belly, Ehud disemboweled the king and left him dead on the floor of his room. The fat covered over the handle of the sword so that Ehud could not remove it. After Ehud delivered Israel, the Israelites struck down the Moabites and there was peace in the land for eighty years. But Ehud would die, and they would need another judge to lead them. The Israelites needed someone better than a judge; they needed a king who would save them not only from the consequences of their sin, but the sin itself. That was all part of God’s plan. God sent a true Deliverer; His Son Jesus died for our sin and delivered us forever from the oppression of sin and death. LESSON OVERVIEW/SCHEDULE Session Title: The First Judges Bible Passage: Judges 3:7-31 Big Picture Question: How does God accomplish His plan? God works in the lives of people to bring about His plan for redemption. Key Passage: Judges 2:18 Unit Christ Connection: God used the judges to deliver His people from their enemies; Christ delivers people from the greatest enemy, Satan. 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 9, Session 1: The First Judges 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 The First Judges Judges 3:7-31 Joshua had died. Without a strong leader, the Israelites began to disobey God and worship false gods. They forgot about the one true God. God was angry. He let an enemy king take over the Israelites, and they served the king for eight years. Then the Israelites remembered how good they had it when they loved and obeyed God. They cried out to Him, “Save us!” God wanted the people to love and obey Him, so God raised up Othniel (AHTH nih el) to rule over them as the first judge. Othniel led the Israelites into battle against the king of Aram, and God helped the Israelites win. The land was peaceful for 40 years, then Othniel died. Again, Israel forgot about God. God gave the king of Moab power to attack the Israelites and defeat them. The Israelites served the king of Moab for 18 years. The Israelites were sad. They remembered how good they had it when they loved and obeyed God. They cried out to Him, “Save us!” So God raised up Ehud (EE huhd) to save them. The Israelites sent Ehud to the king of Moab, who was a very fat man. Ehud had a double- edged sword under his clothes. Ehud said, “I have a secret message for you.” The king dismissed all his attendants so he was alone with Ehud. When the king stood up, Ehud pulled out his sword. He pushed it into the king’s belly. The sword was swallowed up by the king’s fat. Ehud couldn’t even pull it out! Ehud escaped down 2 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources 1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 9, Session 1: The First Judges the porch, locking the doors of the room behind him. Ehud was gone when the king’s servants came in. The door was locked and they thought he was using the bathroom. They waited, but the king never opened the door. The servants got worried, so they unlocked the door and found their king dead on the floor! When Ehud escaped, he blew a ram’s horn and he became the Israelites’ leader. “God will help us defeat our enemies, the Moabites,” Ehud told them. So the Israelites battled the Moabites and took control over them. There was peace in the land for 80 years. When Ehud died, the Israelites forgot God again. They turned away from Him. When they remembered how good they had it when they loved and obeyed God, they cried out to Him, “Save us!” God sent a third judge, Shamgar (SHAM gahr), to save them. Christ Connection: The judges saved the people from the consequences of their sin, but not the cause of it. God’s plan was to one day send a true deliverer—Jesus, His own Son—to be the King of His people. Jesus saves people from sin forever. TRANSITION TIME Session Title: The First Judges Bible Passage: Judges 3:7-31 Big Picture Question: How does God accomplish His plan? God works in the lives of people to bring about His plan for redemption. Key Passage: Judges 2:18 Unit Christ Connection: God used the judges to deliver His people from their enemies; Christ delivers people from the greatest enemy, Satan. 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: Purpose Finder 4 or 5 small everyday items of your choice Before kids arrive, place several items together on a table. Invite the kids to look at and touch the items and try to figure out what they are used for. Use everyday items like a pencil, an eraser, a toothbrush, a hairbrush, and so forth. If available, use some uncommon items too. Encourage kids to talk about other uses for the items. Kids may want to sort items by where they are used (at school, at home, inside, outside). Before you start the session, talk about each item and its purpose. Say • Everything we own is used for something. It all has a purpose or plan. Today, we will talk about how God accomplishes His plan. 3 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources 1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 9, Session 1: The First Judges Activities/Table Centers (5 minutes) Table Centers (Miscellaneous Activities) “Complete the Pattern” activity sheet / Bible Story Coloring Sheet, 1 per kid markers, colored pencils, crayons Guide boys and girls to complete the activity page. Say • The Israelites made it into the land God promised. After they moved in, a pattern in the way they lived formed—and it wasn’t a good one. We’ll find out more in just a few moments. Session Starter (10 minutes) Option 1: Left-Hand Game ball or paperwad Instruct the kids to form one large circle or several small ones. Invite the kids to toss a ball or paper wad. The player with the ball may toss it to the kid of his choice. However, kids may only use their left hands to throw it. Encourage them to not let the paper wad or ball hit the ground. Say • How many of you thought this game was more difficult because you had to use your left hand? That’s probably because you are right-handed. How many of you thought it was easy? You are probably left-handed. Today, we will learn about a hero of the Israelites who was left-handed. Option 2: Gavel Snack paper towels, 1 per kid pretzel sticks marshmallows Distribute a paper towel, pretzel sticks, and marshmallows to each kid. Use mini marshmallows with small pretzel sticks or regular-size marshmallows with large pretzel rods. Demonstrate how to push the pretzel into the side of the marshmallow to form a gavel. Once the kids form gavels, they may eat them as a snack. Say • Judges use gavels to get the attention of the people and to rule in a courtroom. In today’s story, we are going to look at three judges who didn’t use a gavel to get the people’s attention, but they did rule over God’s people. Transition to large group 4 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources 1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 9, Session 1: The First Judges LESSON Session Title: The First Judges Bible Passage: Judges 3:7-31 Big Picture Question: How does God accomplish His plan? God works in the lives of people to bring about His plan for redemption.