Kid’s Slot: 8/19-8/25 Rehoboam Listens to Fools

Confession / Being Honest with God Rehoboam Listens to Fools Last week we talkedConfession about King / Being Solomon Honest—about with how God he was one of OVERVIEW: Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Rehoboam Listens the wisest people who ever lived. God revealed a lot of wise things to to Fools) • If you want to be wise, hang out with wise people. Solomon, and Solomon was wise enough to write them down. We can find them in the bookGod of Made Proverbs Peace. (H oldwith up UsBible .) Check out BIBLE STORY & VERSE: 2 Chronicles 10 (Supporting: Proverbs what it says in Proverbs 13:20. 13:20) God Made Peace with Us Open the Bible to Proverbs 13:20 and read. ”

ICEBREAKER: Who is your best friend? “Walk with wise people and become wise. A companion of foolish Spiritual Gifts for the Soul (Gifts of the Spirit) people suffers harm, (NIrV). DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

 Why does it matter whom you’re friends with? ‘Walk with wise people and become wise.’ Seems simple enough.  What is the benefit of hanging out with wise people of different And you’d think Foretweetingthat Solomon’s (God son, promisesof all people a Savior), would have this ages? What wisdom might your parents have to share that figured out. Well, not so fast. Let me tell you about Rehoboam.” your friends might not and vice versa?

 Would you consider yourself to be a wise person that people Yes, Rehoboam was Solomon’s son. When Solomon died, would want to hang out with? Why or why not? If not, how Rehoboam naturally became king. But could he possibly be as wise might you need to change? as his father?  What are some ways you can share your faith without actually joining in with a crowd of kids who make bad choices or letting Here’s an important thing for you to know about Solomon. Even their choices influence your choices? though he was incredibly wise, he had made the Israelites work very,  What are some bad choices that seem like “no big deal” at the very hard during his reign. It wasn’t easy; they were hoping for a time but later can become a huge deal? (Remind students of break when it was over. They had worked hard for King Solomon, Rehoboam’s decision that totally backfired.) and now that he was gone, they were hopeful things might get a little  How can you figure out who is giving good advice and who is easier for them. giving bad advice? The Israelites went before King Rehoboam, led by a man named Leader Reminders: Jeroboam, to ask the king to lighten their load. They promised the

Children are a valuable part of the life group! The children should new king they would serve him if he would make things just a little bit

participate in group worship. At the end of the group have them easier for them.

return to the Life Group and share their Bible Verses or Craft

Activity. The children then join in the prayer and fellowship time. But Rehoboam needed some time to think about it, so he sent the

Israelites away for three days so he could figure out the best move.

Your group can also watch one of the many, many awesome kids’ That seems wise, right?

videos available to you on www.rightnowmedia.org.

It was. And Rehoboam continued to make wise choices—at least for

a little bit. He went to the elders who had given his father Solomon

advice when Solomon had reigned as king. Rehoboam told the elders ©2018 The reThink Group, Inc. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com: Adapted by (Tambra Eagan/Celebration Church? August 2018). what the people had said, and he asked them what they thought he should do. Listen to the advice the elders gave him about the people. Jeroboam and the rest of the Israelites were NOT happy to hear this news. And things started to go badly for Rehoboam as the king. Open the Bible to 2 Chronicles 10:7 and read. The people left that day and made Jeroboam their king. The kingdom “They replied, “Be kind to them. Please them. Give them what they are of Israel split in two, and King Rehoboam was only left with the asking for. Then they’ll always serve you, (NIrV). smaller kingdom of Judah to rule—all because he had chosen to listen to foolish advice. Awesome. Sounds like Rehoboam was on his way to winning the day. He got some solid advice from some very wise people, and now all he What’s really frustrating is that King Rehoboam HAD people in his life had to do was put it into action. Well, I’m afraid I have some bad news. to give him wise advice, but he chose not to listen to it. You have to The elders did give Rehoboam some wise advice when they not only seek out wise friends, but you also have to listen to them— suggested that he lighten the people’s load, but unfortunately, even if you don’t always like what they have to say. Sometimes it’s Rehoboam didn’t like their advice. hard to hear the truth, but it can also save you a lot of heartbreak in the end. He went off to find his childhood buddies—the guys who had grown up with him. He explained the situation to them and asked them what Find some wise friends. Spend your time with them. Listen to them. THEY thought he should do. Let’s see if their advice was any different Because this is true. If you want to be wise, hang out with wise from the advice he got from the elders. Here’s what Rehoboam’s people. buddies wanted him to say. God can bring people into our lives who can help us make the wise Open the Bible to 2 Chronicles 10:11 and read slowly and choice. But we need to be wise enough to listen, and we need God’s dramatically. help to do that. Let’s talk to God about that.

“My father put a heavy load on your shoulders. But I’ll make it even Pray heavier, (NIrV). “Dear God, thank You for putting wise people into our lives who can help us make the wise choice. Help us to listen to them when we’re Wow. Rehoboam got some VERY different advice from the elders and not sure what to do. Help us to lean into our parents, our friends, our from his buddies! Let’s see who he chose to listen to. The Israelites Small Group Leaders, and anyone else who follows You. As we came back to him after three days to see what decision he had made. search for wisdom in our own lives, help us to be wise friends who can help others make the wise choice, too. We love You, and we pray Sadly, the news wasn’t good. Rehoboam had decided to take the in Jesus’ name, amen.” advice of his foolish friends instead of the wise elders. Here’s what happened.

Open your Bible to 2 Chronicles 10:13-14 and read.

The king answered them in a mean way. He didn’t accept the advice of the elders. Instead, he followed the advice of the young men. He said, “My father put a heavy load on your shoulders. But I’ll make it Boss even heavier,” (NIrV). ©2018 The reThink Group, Inc. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com: Adapted by (Tambra Eagan/Celebration Church? August 2018).

What You Need: No Supplies Needed What You Need: Construction paper, coloring materials

What You Do: What You Do:  Ask the group who would be the best basketball teacher:  Pass out construction paper, and coloring materials. someone who plays every day, or someone who just watched  Direct kids to use the supplies to make a card for someone in it on a YouTube® video? What about a good math tutor: a kid their life who has helped them find wisdom. It could be a who understands what your teacher is saying, or a kid who friend, teacher, coach, parent, or other leader. goofs off all the time?  For younger kids, help them write on the inside of the card,  When we want to learn, we look for people who have skills that “Thanks for helping me make wise choices!” we want.  For older kids, be available for spelling help and encourage  Play a game of “Boss”: them to write something similar in their own cards, maybe with o Kids sit in a circle and hides their eyes. an example of how that person helped them. o Silently select one kid to be the Boss.  When all kids are finished, let them hold their cards in their o The Boss starts a motion, like clapping or tapping their laps as you thank God for wise people in our lives. nose, and the rest of the circle follows.  Close in prayer. o Make sure the Boss varies their movements often so the group has to switch motions. What You Say: o Have the other kid open their eyes. “Dear God, thank You for giving us wise friends in our lives. Please o They have three guesses to find the Boss. help us to look for people who will help us grow in wisdom. Amen.  Remind younger kids not to stare at the Boss!  Play as many rounds as time allows. “This week, when you’re hanging out with friends, at school, or practicing sports, keep your eyes open for people who are making wise choices! Spend time with them this week because [Bottom Line] if you want to be wise, hang out with wise people.”

Pray and Dismiss

©2018 The reThink Group, Inc. All rights reserved. • www.ThinkOrange.com: Adapted by (Tambra Eagan/Celebration Church? August 2018).