Buy Bible Lesson Materials or Make Your Own Bible Lesson Materials? There are advantages to both sides of this question. Here are a few points to ponder:
- Buying Bible Lesson Materials
- Positive: This way certainly is easy! The elders or a few good brethren select several examples of Bible booklets, maybe add a few packages of extra aids such as flannelgraph or large pictures and simply choose the best that is offered.
- Positive: The lesson materials are usually written by grades or ages of the students, so the material is age appropriate.
- Positive: Material may be purchased in bulk at (almost) the last minute and receive the order quickly.
- Negative: The cost may be very expensive. Many booklets are purchased, one for each student and, perhaps, a few more for visitors or lost books. Children's handbooks may be as much as $4-$6 a book, teacher's guide runs around $10, resource packets are $13-15 each, and CD's and teaching pictures are nearly $20 a package.
- Negative: The material can be extremely confining and inflexible. Materials may be written so generically that little doctrine is taught.
- Making Your Own Bible Lesson Materials
- Positive: By creating your own Bible material, the Bible teacher can design the material, so that the lessons may be written for each individual class, taking into consideration the age, knowledge level of the students, and is able to emphasize the points that the Bible teacher finds important.
- Positive: Cost can be extremely low. Construction paper, crayons, glue and scissors are the mainstays of creating Bible projects that students take home. Special projects may use accumulative treasure (some may call trash) as the highlight of that day's lesson, for example, shiny paper, paper rolls, small paper cups, real sticks or twigs, etc.
- Positive: Doctrine may be taught without fear of insult or neglect. Children may be firmly grounded in the Truth at an early age.
- Negative: Creating anything takes time, and Bible lesson material is no exception. Bible teachers must be prepared, dedicated, and willing, making sure that there will always be "enough" for all students.
The Bible is wonderful book!
- The Bible is able to save our souls (James 1:21)
- The Bible produces faith (Romans 10:17)
- The Bible gives light in a darkened world (Psalms 119:130)
- The Bible makes us free from sin (John 8:32)
- The Bible is complete - we need no other book to guide us through this life (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).
What other book can make these claims to aid mankind? Only the Bible! As Bible teachers, we need to treasure the Bible, lifting up God's Word for all to see. Do the students see our love for the Word of God as we speak of and read from it? Do they know that their class is a BIBLE class and not a room that simply keeps them entertained until Mom and Dad can pick them up in forty-five minutes? Bible teachers need to teach the BIBLE!
Are we putting enough emphasis on the beauty and the authority of God's Word in our Bible class? Do the students see us reading from the Bible and not only from our lesson notes? Do we encourage the students who are able to read aloud to read for themselves and their classmates, even if it is only one verse? Do we encourage the students to bring their Bibles every time to Bible class and worship? Students need to know that the Bible is taught and is honored in their class and the lessons and ideas presented are not only good, wholesome thoughts, but come straight from the Bible!
If students--and adults-- bring their Bibles to Bible class EVERY time, it soon becomes a habit. A habit then is nurtured and promoted throughout their childhood, resulting in good study habits as young adults, embedding the thought that the Bible is our only guide and map through this life. Then, as older adults, the Bible is cherished, highly valued, and brings great comfort in times of distress, loneliness, hardship, as well as in peaceful times.
Are you teaching, not only God's Word, but a love for God's Word? May we all humble ourselves in the Light of His Word and pray that He will help us.
VERSES: 1 Samuel 25:2-44
MEMORY VERSE: 1 Samuel 25:3 "...Abigail ... was a woman of good understanding..."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: Review all 66 books of the Bible.
PRAYER: May we always strive to keep peace in the family, at school, and everywhere.
SPECIAL SONG: The Family In God's Plan (see April - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #4 on this blog)
VISUAL AID: TV Box (see February - Visual Aid #1 on this blog).
LESSON POINTS:
- We need to be, oh, so careful when we are choosing a mate to be married to all of our lives. In the Old Testament times, they didn't always have a choice when it came to marriage. Occasionally, men and women married because they loved each other, but more times than not, the man and woman married, then they grew to love each other. We need to always remember that God intended for one man to marry one woman and they were to stay married all of their lives. That's what He wants for you and for me.
- There was a man and his name was Nabal which really was not a very good name because it meant folly or foolish one. We can see in this Bible story that this man was truly a foolish man. Nabal was wicked and harsh and did evil things. The best thing about Nabal was his wife. The Bible says that his wife's name was Abigail and she had good understanding. She was smart and she was beautiful. Yes, Abigail was the best thing about Nabal as we shall see.
- Nabal was a very rich man. He had many thousands of sheep and goats. In fact, the story begins as Nabal was shearing his sheep. David was in the same area where Nabal lived and he had heard that Nabal had been shearing his sheep. We need to remember that in Old Testament times, they did not have any fast food or McDonald's or Kentucky Fried Chicken or any hamburger places. The food that people ate was food that they grew or raised themselves.
- David and his men were out in the wilderness, trying to stay away from King Saul, when David sent ten of his good men to talk to Nabal. David told the men what to say and they did as they were told. The men greeted Nabal in David's name and then said many nice things to Nabal like how David wished Nabal would live a long time and how he wished for them a peaceful life--things like that. David's men also explained that all the time that David and his men had been in the same wilderness that Nabals' shepherds had been watching over Nabal's sheep that David and his men had given them no trouble. They had not stolen anything or hurt anyone. What David wanted was food from Nabal and asked nicely and said he would take anything that Nabal wanted to give him.
- It was not a nice meeting. Nabal got angry and rude and spoke unkindly. He said, "Who is this David? He may be one that has broken away from his master! Shall I give him my bread and my water and my meat that I had prepared for my shearers and give it to someone that I do not know?" So, when David's men turned around and went back to David with the news about what Nabal said, David got a little angry, too. It was the custom back then to help out a neighbor and if anyone asked something of you, you gave it to him. Jesus says that we should be that way today.
- David told all of his 600 men to put their sword on. David said that Nabal has returned David's good deeds with Nabal's wicked deeds.David was going to fight Nabal and nothing of his was going to be left standing, even the people would be killed.
- Meanwhile, one of Nabal's servants went and told Abigail all that had happened and all about Nabal's answer to David. Who was Abigail? That's right! Nabal's wife! The servant said that David's men had been good to them and had not hurt anyone or take anything from them and they had even talked together in the fields. Abigail was very smart! She hurried and gathered up 200 loaves of bread, five sheep that were ready to cook, things to drink ,corn, raisins, figs, and put the food on donkeys. Then, Abigail took off, with her servants going before her. She did not tell her husband, Nabal, and met David and his men on her own. As soon as she got close to David, she hurried, got off her donkey, and bowed her face to the ground before David, falling at his feet.
- Abigail said to David, "Please let me speak to you and do not even think about this wicked man, Nabal. His name means folly and that is what he is--a foolish man. I did not see any of your young men or talk to them, but please accept this blessing that I have brought with me. Please forgive and do not be offended." She went on to say many nice things about David and, in the end, David accepted her gift. David told her of his plan of killing everyone in Nabal's house, but she had acted wisely and had saved their lives that day. He told her to go home in peace.
- Abigail went home to find that Nabal was throwing a big party just like he was a king! But Abigail said nothing to Nabal that evening. The next morning when all the wine was out of Nabal, Abigail told him of just how close he came to being killed the day before. The Bible says that when Nabal heard what Abigail was saying, that his heart died within him and he became as stone. Nabal died ten days later.
- When David heard that Nabal had died, he sent messengers to Abigail, asking her to become David's wife. Abigail said yes.
"Older Student" Tips:
- So, even though David was a very good man, and many things that the LORD told him, he did have more than one wife. The Bible says that in Acts 17:30, "And the times of this ignorance, God winked at, but now commanded all men everywhere to repent."
ACTIVITY: What Abigail Brought To David As A Gift
Materials needed: smallest brown lunch sack, a plastic baggie, 5" x 7" tan construction paper,9" x 12" white construction paper, 5" x 7" gray construction paper, scraps of yellow, black, and brown paper, marker, scissors.
- Hand out tan paper.
- Cut large round oval out of tan paper. This bread.
- Write "200 loaves of bread" on tan oval.
- Hand out gray paper.
- Cut out a bottle or container. This is the wine or grape juice.
- Write "grape juice" on bottle.
- Hand out white paper.
- Draw five sheep.
- Write "sheep" and an "x" for the sheep's eye.
- Cut sheep out.
- Hand out small plastic bag or baggie.
- Hand out yellow scraps.
- Cut many small yellow circles. This is the parched corn.
- Place corn in plastic bag.
- Hand out black paper.
- Cut many smaller circles. These are raisins.
- Place raisins in plastic bag.
- Hand out brown scraps.
- Cut 2" circles. These are figs.
- Write "fig" on brown paper.
- Place figs in plastic bag.
- Hand out small paper bag.
- Write "What Abigail Brought To David As A Gift" and "1 Samuel 25" on brown bag.
- Place all items in paper bag.
- Fold down edge of brown bag.
VERSES: 1 Samuel 25:1
MEMORY VERSE: 1 Samuel 25:1 "And Samuel died and all the Israelites were gathered together..."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: Review all 66 books of the Bible.
PRAYER: Let us be thankful for those who have paved the way before us, the ones who have born the heat of the day, those who have given much of their lives on behalf of others and us.
SPECIAL SONG: This Little Light Of Mine (see March - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #3 on this blog)
VISUAL AID: Whiteboard or chalkboard drawing of the Activity below.
LESSON POINTS:
- The last judge of Israel died. His name was Samuel. We have studied in previous lessons that Samuel had great influence over Israel. They came to him with their problems and he prayed to the LORD on their behalf, and God talked to Samuel and gave him the answers to their questions.
- We first learned of Samuel's mother who prayed so fervently for a child of the LORD that Eli, the judge at that time, thought that Hannah, Samuel's mother was drunk. After an explanation, Eli told her that the LORD had granted her request for a child and that child was Samuel. (1 Samuel 1:17)
- We read about God talking to Samuel the very first time by calling his name in the middle of the night. Remember? He ran into Eli's room, saying, "Here am I!" Eli finally realized that God was talking to Samuel and found that God had talked about Eli and told of the end of Eli's life. (1 Samuel 3:5)
- We found out that the LORD was with Samuel as he grew up and everyone knew that Samuel was a prophet of the LORD. (1 Samuel 3:19)
- All of his life, Samuel spoke frankly with the children of God, reminding them of God's ways, praying for the people, and judging the people. (1 Samuel 7:5) Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. (1 Samuel 7:15)
- Samuel lived in Ramah and had a house there. (1 Samuel 7:17)
- The Bible is a very good book that is inspired by God. It tells us the good things about a character in the Bible and it tells us of the bad things as well. We know how much good that Samuel did, always putting the LORD first, yet he failed miserably as a father. His sons were wicked men who took advantage of the children of Israel, so much so, that the people desired a king to rule over them. (1 Samuel 8:1-5)
- Although Samuel was displeased when the people asked for a king, he continued to tell them of what God wanted him to say. He told them of all the things a king would do to them, most of which was not good, but he still could not convince them. The people still wanted a king. (1 Samuel 8:19)
- Samuel was the one who anointed the first king, Saul, the son of Kish. (1 Samuel 10:1)
- Samuel walked before the children of Israel from his childhood until he was old and gray headed. (1 Samuel 12:2)
- Samuel was not afraid of the king. When even the king did something wrong or foolish, Samuel reprimanded him, asking King Saul, "What have you done?" (1 Samuel 13:11)
- Samuel gave King Saul strong words from the LORD when King Saul disobeyed God and spared Agag, the king of Amalek, and the best of the cattle when he should have destroyed everything. (1 Samuel 15:13, 14)
- Samuel was truly grieved when the kingdom of Israel was taken from King Saul. (1 Samuel 15:35)
- Samuel was there to anoint a young, ruddy, young man named David as the second king of Israel. (1 Samuel 16:13)
- When King Saul was serious about killing David, who did David run to? It was Samuel to whom he turned for refuge. (1 Samuel 19:18)
- When King Saul saw a multitude of Philistines and was worried and afraid, who did he want to talk to when the LORD would not talk to him? Samuel (1 Samuel 28:11)
- Now, we learn of Samuel's death. (1 Samuel 15:1) The Bible tells us that all of Israel were gathered together and were grieved that Samuel had died. They buried him in Ramah, but Samuel continues to influence us today as read about him in the Old Testament.
"Older Student" Tips:
- Sometimes we think old people do not "know anything" or are "too old," but older Christian men and women have much to offer young people with their experiences in life and their advice should be treasured and heeded. We can save ourselves much heartache and sadness if we would only listen to ones who have been through the same experiences that we go through.
ACTIVITY:
Materials needed: 9" x 12" blue construction paper, 4 1/2" x 8" gray construction paper, scraps of bright colored paper, glue, scissors, markers, crayons.
- Hand out blue paper to students.
- Hand out gray paper to students.
- Cut two edges off of the gray paper.
- Glue gray paper onto the blue paper. This is a stone marker.
- Out of scraps, cut out flowers and grass.
- Glue flowers and grass to bottom of the stone marker.
- Write " Samuel died" and "1 Samuel 25:1" at the top of the blue paper.
- Write "Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life" and "1 Samuel 7:15" on the stone marker.
VERSES: 1 Samuel 24:1-22
MEMORY VERSE: 1 Samuel 24:17 "...You are more righteous than I..."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: Review all 66 books of the Bible.
PRAYER: Let us always treat everyone just the way we would want to be treated just as David treated King Saul.
SPECIAL SONG: Be Patient And Kind (see April - Lesson - Joseph Meets His Brothers Who Hated Him on this blog)
VISUAL AID: Whiteboard or chalkboard drawing. Draw a cave of rocks and inside each of the large rocks write sentences as you tell the story. (See the Activity below and picture above.)
LESSON POINTS:
- When King Saul came back from following the Philistines, someone told him that David was in the Wilderness of Engedi. When he heard the news, Saul took 3,000 chosen men of Israel and went to search for David and his men in the Rocks of the Wild Goats. It just so happened that Saul needed to rest and he went into a nearby cave. He did not know that David and some of his men were were scattered along the inside walls farther back in that very same cave!
- David's men told him to take advantage of this situation and do what he wanted to do with King Saul. David got up and cut off the edge of King Saul's robe, but the king did not know it. Afterwards, David felt bad about what he had done and said to his men that he should not have cut off the edge of the robe of the LORD's anointed. David's words made an impact on his men, so they did nothing to the king.
- After King Saul was a little ways away from the cave, David called out after him, "My lord, the king!" When Saul turned around to look at who was calling him, David bowed himself very close to the ground to show honor and respect to the king. David told the king that when he heard someone say that David was trying to hurt the king to think back on this day and remember that David had the opportunity to kill the king, but chose not to because he was the LORD's anointed. David would and did not hurt the king. David told King Saul to take a look at the edge of Saul's robe in David's hand. David said he could have killed Saul, but only cut off the edge of his robe instead. He told the king that the LORD would judge between him and Saul.
- When David was finished speaking, King Saul called out, "Is that you, my son David? You are more righteous than I am. I know for sure that you will be the king of Israel. Please give me your promise that when you are the king, you will not destroy my name from my father's house." David promised the king that he would not. Then Saul went home, but David stayed where he was in the rocks.
"Older Student" Tips:
- It was unusual in Old Testament times that the future king would not destroy every remembrance of the past king. That was what King Saul asked David to promise. He wanted him not to kill his family when David took control of the kingdom. David kept his promise as we will see in a future lesson.
ACTIVITY: Rocks of the Wild Goats
Materials needed: 9" x 12" brown construction paper, 4" x 6" black construction paper, 3" x 3" white paper, piece of fabric, marker, crayons, scissors, glue.
- Hand out brown paper.
- Cut top edge of brown paper to resemble huge boulders. This is the outside of the cave.
- Draw good-sized rocks on brown paper. See picture above.
- Pass out black paper.
- Round the tops of two corners. The is the mouth of the cave.
- Glue mouth of cave on rocks.
- Hand out white paper.
- Draw David holding one arm up.
- Cut out David.
- Glue David to the mouth of the cave.
- Glue small piece of fabric in David's held-up hand.
- Write one sentence in each rock.
- "David Spares King Saul's Life"
- 1 Samuel 24:1-22
- David was inside the same cave.
- David would never hurt the LORD's anointed.
- David cut off the edge of Saul's robe.
- David could have killed Saul, but chose not to.
- Rocks of the Wild Goats
- David had 600 men. Saul had 3,000.
- The edge of the robe was proof that David spared Saul.
VERSES: 1 Samuel 21-23
MEMORY VERSE: ! Samuel 23:15 "And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life..."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: It is good to review all 66 books of the Bible.
PRAYER: In our difficult times, let us always remember to talk to God through prayer. He listens to His children's prayers.
SPECIAL SONG: Be Careful Little Eyes (see March - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #3 on this blog)
VISUAL AID: Whiteboard or chalkboard (see directions under Activity below)
LESSON POINTS:
- After David left King Saul's house and left his good friend, Jonathan behind, he had many difficult times ahead of him. His life was always in danger, so he had to very cautious in what he was doing.
- There were times...
- when David was hungry and had to eat the show bread which was an unusual thing to do,
- when David was without a weapon and had to use Goliath's sword,
- when David pretended to be crazy to escape the Philistines,
- when David had to live in a cave and all the unfortunate people came to be with him and the number of people grew to about 400,
- when David had to ask the king of Moab to watch over his mother and father so they could be safe,
- when people like a man named Doeg told King Saul where David was staying, making David feel responsible for the 85 priests that Doeg went and killed for being nice to David,
- when David had to flee into the wilderness to escape King Saul.
- All of these hard times David endured and survived, all while King Saul was trying to find out where David was, so that he could kill David. King Saul knew that the LORD had left him and now was with David, yet King Saul still wanted to kill David. David never tried to kill King Saul. David's way of staying away from a bad situation with the king was to run to a different place. David knew King Saul had been anointed by God, so David never tried to hurt the king.
- We have studied about someone else in our lessons who was in a difficult situation and decided to run away and leave his coat rather than go against God's Will. Do you remember who it was that we studied about? That's right! Joseph! We should be like David and Joseph when we find ourselves in stressful times or in times of great temptation. There's nothing wrong in going somewhere else to get away from sinning! Just get up and go!
"Older Student" Tips:
- There are harder times ahead for David which we read about in our Bibles. Let us learn valuable lessons from this good young man who was after God's own heart. Read 1 Samuel 13:13, 14; and Acts 13:22. David loved God above all others. We should, too.
- David was a leader. Even when he was running for his life, there were people who could see that the LORD was with him and wanted to be near David, too. Read 1 Samuel 22:1, 2 and 1 Samuel 23:13 to see that the number of people who were following David was growing.
ACTIVITY: Hard Times For David
Materials needed: index cards, markers, 9" x 12" piece of any color construction paper, stapler, staples.
- Hand out index cards.
- Write the beginning half of a sentence on the whiteboard or chalkboard. )See sentences below.) On one index card, the students will copy what you write.
- When they have all finished the beginning half of a sentence, erase the board and write the ending half of the sentence on the board for all to see.
- Students copy the ending half of the sentence on another index card.
- Repeat until all sentences are written.
- Hand out the any color construction paper.
- Write "Hard Times For David and "1 Samuel 21-23" on the front of the pocket.
- Before leaving class, have the students mix their own cards up and them match them up again.
- Each student will put their cards in their pocket to take home and practice with their parents or anyone who wants to play.
- Sample Sentences: (Feel free to add more sentences.
David was hungry and / had to eat the show bread.
David was without a weapon and / had to use Goliath's sword.
David pretended to be crazy / to escape the Philistines.
David had to live in a cave and / 400 people came to him.
David had to ask the king of Moab / to watch over his mother and father.
People would tell King Saul / where David was staying.
David had to flee / into the wilderness.
VERSES: 1 Samuel 20:1-42
MEMORY VERSE: 1 Samuel 20:42 "...The LORD be between me and thee...forever..."
BIBLE BOOK TO REMEMBER: The students should know all of the 66 books of the Bible. Review them again, so they will stay fresh in their minds!
PRAYER: We know that the LORD takes care of his own, but He takes care of those who obey Him. May we try every day to stay close to the LORD by reading His Word and doing His Will.
SPECIAL SONG: The Bible, The Bible (see February - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #2)
VISUAL AID: Large Activity (see below)
LESSON POINTS:
- Times were getting tough between King Saul and David. Because of the king's suspicion and jealousy of David, King Saul began to worry David more and more. David asked his close friend,Jonathan, who just happened to be King Saul's son, what terrible thing had he done to King Saul that he would try to kill him. What had David done? What was his sin? David had nothing wrong and he had no sin concerning God's anointed king. He had only treated King Saul with respect and honor, but Saul was trying to kill David. Saul could see that the LORD was with David and now was not with him.
- Answering David's question, Jonathan said that David wouldn't die. He did not believe that his father would hurt David. Perhaps Jonathan believed his father when King Saul had said he would not kill David when they were out in the field. Jonathan thought that Saul would tell him if he was going to kill David.
- David, on the other hand, was not so sure. He said that he thought there was only a step between life and death for him. The two friends talked at great length about this problem and finally they had a plan.
- Since it was the time for feasts and sacrifices, David planned to not be in King Saul's presence for three days. Instead he would hide in his hiding place. If King Saul asked why David was not at the dinner table like he usually was, then Jonathan would tell his father that David was going to feast with his family in Bethlehem.
- If his father got angry with David then Jonathan would give David a sign. Jonathan would take a young boy out into the field near where David was hiding and practice shooting arrows. David would listen and if Jonathan told the boy to go find the arrows on this side of the young boy, then that would mean all was safe and King Saul was not angry with David.
- But, if King Saul was angry with David, then Jonathan would tell the boy that the arrows were farther away. That would mean that things were not safe for David and that he should leave and not come back because King Saul was going to try to kill him.
- David and Jonathan did everything that they had planned and, on the first day, Saul missed David because he wasn't sitting at his place at the table but Saul didn't say anything. The next day, King Saul asked about David and Jonathan said he was feasting with his family in Bethlehem. King Saul then got very angry with Jonathan for trying to protect David and told Jonathan that as long as David was alive that Jonathan would not have a kingdom. King Saul commanded Jonathan to bring David to him, so that David would die. King Saul was so angry that he threw a javelin at his own son. Then Jonathan knew that King Saul was determined to kill his friend.
- Jonathan got up from the table very angry and did not eat any food because he was so grieved about David. The next morning, Jonathan went out into the field at a time that they had agreed on and shot arrows, taking a young boy with him. When the little boy picked up one of the arrows, Jonathan shouted out, "Isn't there another farther away?" Then Jonathan sent the young boy back to the house with his weapons.
- As soon as the boy was gone, David came out of his hiding place and tearfully said good-bye to his best friend in the world, Jonathan. They promised that the LORD would always be between them and their children and then David went away.
- This is a great story about the friendship that two friends shared. May we be that good friend to our friends and have the LORD in common.
"Older Student" Tips:
- Jonathan was very upset when he realized that it was not safe for David to stay in the king's home. He was extremely sad and grieved. There was little he could do to control his father's feelings or actions. We , too, might be in a situation that seems very dreary and sad, but we must always trust the LORD and obey Him, no matter what.
ACTIVITY: Jonathan and David's Plan
Materials needed: 9" x 12" blue construction paper, 4 1/2" x 12" green construction paper, 9" x 12" white construction paper, green scrap of paper, crayons, glue, scissors, marker.
- Hand out blue paper to students. This is the foundation.
- Hand out both green papers.
- Glue long strip to the bottom of the blue paper.
- Cut a large "bush" out of scrap of green paper.
- Fold bottom edge of small green paper.
- Glue edge of green paper and place on top of green strip, preferably in the corner of the page. IF ENTIRE BUSH IS GLUED, DAVID CANNOT HIDE.
- Hand out white paper.
- Draw David, Jonathan, young boy, and a couple of thick arrows.
- Write "David," "Jonathan, "Boy" on correct people.
- Write "Isn't there another farther away?" in speech bubble.
- Cut out David, Jonathan, young boy, speech bubble, and arrows.
- Fold bush down and glue David behind it.
- Glue Jonathan, young boy, and arrows onto blue paper.
- Write "Jonathan Says Good-Bye To David" and "1 Samuel 20" at the top of the blue paper.
VERSES: 1 Samuel 19:1-24
MEMORY VERSE: 1 Samuel 19:18 "...so David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel..."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: Review the 66 books of the Bible.
PRAYER: Let us have that good and honest heart that is precious in God's sight and not a heart that is full of hatred, suspicion, and jealousy. May we strive to be more and more like Jesus every day.
SPECIAL SONG: Be Patient And Kind (see April - Lesson - Joseph Meets His Brothers Who Hated Him on this blog.)
VISUAL AID: Divide the whiteboard or chalkboard in to four parts. Number the areas. As you tell the lesson, draw David, Jonathan, and King Saul out in the field, talking; King Saul throwing his javelin again; Michal helping David; and David and Samuel talking in each of the four sections. (See Activity below)
LESSON POINTS:
- After King Saul had tried to kill David two times before by throwing a javelin at him, Saul told all of his servants and Jonathan, his son, to kill David. King Saul was aware that the LORD was with David and that the LORD had left King Saul. King Saul was afraid of David because David had the LORD's favor and he did not. He was jealous and would get very angry with David. His servants and Jonathan were commanded to kill David, but because Jonathan was David's close friend, Jonathan told David that his father was trying to kill him and advises him to find a hiding place and stay there. Later, Jonathan's plan was to stand by his father out in the field where David was hiding and talk with his father and then tell David what was said.
- So Jonathan, David's best friend, spoke up bravely to his father and said good things about David. He told his father not to sin against David because David had done nothing to Saul but good. He reminded Saul how David had killed Goliath and when King Saul saw that David had killed the giant, he was happy. David had done good for Israel. Then Jonathan asked his father, "Are you going to kill David without a reason?" King Saul listened to Jonathan and said that he would not kill David, so Jonathan brought David from his hiding place to talk to Saul and it seemed just like the good times they had enjoyed before Saul was jealous of David.
- Later, there was another war against the Philistines and David went out and killed a great number of the enemy. An evil spirit was with Saul at the time as he was sitting in his house. He had a javelin in his hand and guess what? King Saul threw it again at David as David played the harp, but the javelin hit the wall and David escaped! King Saul had become David's enemy.
- King Saul sent messengers to Jesse, David's father's, house so they could kill David the next morning. Michal, David's wife and King Saul's daughter, told David of her father's plan and helped him escape by helping him down through a window and David got away. Michal continued to help David by laying an image in the bed and putting a pillow of goat's hair in the bed and covered it with a cloth, so it would fool anyone who was looking for David. They would think that it was David laying in the bed! When Saul sent messengers to see David again, Michal said that he was sick. A short time later, King Saul said, "Bring the whole bed and David, too, so I can kill him." That's when they found out that it wasn't David in the bed, but just an image and a pillow. Saul asked his daughter why had she deceived him.
- So, David escaped. Where do you think he went? That's right! To Samuel's house. David told Samuel all the things that King Saul had done to him. David and Samuel went to another small town, but someone told Saul where Samuel and David were staying. Saul was always trying to kill David. Had David done anything bad to Saul? No! He had only done good, but King Saul still tried to kill David and David had to run for his life!
"Older Student" Tips:
- Sometimes people may accuse us of doing bad things to others, but it is not true. That's when we should think about David and how badly he felt when he was trying to do everything the way the LORD would have wanted.
- Did David ever try to hurt the King? Never! David respected the king's place and the fact that God had made him king over all his people.
ACTIVITY: David Runs Away From Saul
Materials needed: 12" x 18" white construction paper, crayons.
- Hand out white paper to students.
- Fold paper in thirds, width-wise.
- Number the sections 1, 2, 3, then fold up the bottom section and number the section 4.
- Continue to fold paper down, so that it is only one section wise (like an up-and-down book).
- On the outside, write "David Runs Away From King Saul" and "1 Samuel 19."
- Unfold paper all the way.
- In Section #1, draw a picture of David, Jonathan, and King Saul in a field, talking.
- In Section #2, draw King Saul with his javelin. Write the word "AGAIN" in the area.
- In Section #3, draw a bed with something in the bed (see picture). Write "Michael, David's wife, tries to help." at the top of this section. Write "Goat hair pillow" and "Image" with arrows pointing to objects.
- In Section #4, draw Samuel and David talking (see picture). Write "David tells Samuel what Saul has done. Write "Samuel" and "David" in the area.
- First, draw everything, then color. There should be enough time for an activity like this, but if this activity takes too long, the students can finish a bit of coloring at home. At least, they have drawn the pictures and writing.
- Fold and take home.
VERSES: 1 Samuel 18:1-30
MEMORY VERSE: 1 Samuel 18:14 "And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: Review all 66 books of the Bible
PRAYER: May we, like David, behave ourselves in every way, showing others of the world that God is with us.
SPECIAL SONG: Be Careful Little Eyes (see March - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #3 on this blog)
VISUAL AID: Draw a large picture on the whiteboard or chalkboard of the Activity below.
LESSON POINTS:
- Have you ever had a best friend? David did. His name was Jonathan and he was King Saul's son, but the best part was that Jonathan was his closest friend. Jonathan and David made promises to each other that they would always be friends. Jonathan gave presents to David. He gave him his robe or coat, some clothes, his sword, his bow and his girdle or belt. Jonathan loved David as much as he loved himself. It is nice to have close friends.
- King Saul would not let David go home anymore to Bethlehem, but wanted him to stay where he and Jonathan lived. The Bible says that David behaved himself wisely and did everything that King Saul wanted him to do. Saul made David in charge over the soldiers and all the people accepted David, even Saul's servants also accepted David. David was loved by everyone.
- One day, David was returning from a great battle with the Philistines in which he had won, and all the women came out of the cities to meet King Saul and were happily dancing and singing and had instruments of music. The women were saying, "King Saul has slain (or killed) his thousands, but David his ten thousands." This made King Saul very angry and jealous of David. He didn't understand why they credited David with killing 10, 000 and he only 1,000. From that day on, King Saul was suspicious of David. The Bible says King Saul 'eyed' David.
- The next day, King Saul had a bad day. He had an evil spirit come upon him and he was talking in his house. David was playing the harp to soothe King Saul and Saul had a javelin or spear in his hand. Saul threw the javelin at David and did this twice to David! Saul was afraid of David because he knew that the LORD was with David and the spirit of the LORD had left King Saul, but still Saul made David a captain over a thousand men. David behaved himself very wisely and the LORD was with him. Saul was afraid of David when he saw that David was behaving well, but all the people loved David.
- Because David had done a good job in the battle of the Philistines, King Saul gave Michal, his daughter, to David as a wife. They chose wives different ways than we do now. The Bible says that Michal loved David, but King Saul was still watching David because he was afraid of him and he soon became David's enemy. The people knew that David was a good man because of the way he treated people and behaved himself and everyone said how good he was. This did not make King Saul any happier. Things were more and more tense on King Saul's part.
"Older Student" Points:
- Discuss the difference in choosing a wife now and choosing a wife back in Old Testament times. Is there a difference?
- Talk about how King Saul felt about David. Did this change the way David respect the king? No. David still considered Saul as God's appointed and would never disrespect the King of Israel. Had David done anything bad to King Saul? No. Saul's jealousy and fear is destroying the good relationship that King Saul had with David.
ACTIVITY: King Saul Is Jealous of David
Materials needed: 9" x 12" yellow piece of construction paper, 3" x 12" black construction paper, 6" x 12" red construction paper, scraps of colored paper, gold fastener, scraps of shiny paper, glue, scissors, marker, crayons.
- Hand out yellow paper.
- Hand out black paper.
- Glue black paper to bottom of yellow paper.
- Cut out a thick 'L' out of half of the red paper. Set aside. This is King Saul's arm.
- Cut leftover red paper into King Saul's body.
- Glue Saul's body on left side of the yellow paper.
- Push a gold fastener through Saul's arm, body, and yellow paper. Arm should go all the way around in a circle when Saul's 'throws' javelin.DO NOT GLUE SAUL'S ARM ON HIS BODY. IT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO 'THROW' JAVELIN.
- Cut a 'spear' out of brown scraps.
- Glue spear to King Saul's hand. (see picture)
- Cut King Saul's head out of tan scrap of paper. Circles work!
- Cut King Saul's hair out of scrap of brown paper.
- Glue hair to head.
- Cut orange crown.
- Cut shiny circles for crown. These are the jewels on the crown.
- Glue jewels to crown.
- Cut a thick lower-case 'h' out of brown paper. This is David's chair.
- Glue chair to yellow paper.
- Cut thick a loose 's' out of blue scrap paper for David's body.
- Glue David's bosy to chair.
- Cut a thick 'c' out of orange paper. This is the harp.
- Glue harp under David's arm.
- Cut circle for David's head.
- Glue David's head to top of blue 's'.
- Color and decorate.
- Write "...and there was a javelin in Saul's hand." and "1 Samuel 18:10" at top of yellow paper.
- Write "...and David escaped out of his presence twice." and "1 Samuel 18:11" at the bottom of the black paper.
- Practice turning King Saul's arm around, "throwing javelin" at David.
VERSES: 1 Samuel 17:1-58
MEMORY VERSE: 1 Samuel 17:50 "...but there was no sword in the hand of David."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: Take another week to review the 66 books of the Bible. Everyone should be learning them and memorizing them well by now. The students' confidence should be growing every week!
PRAYER: May we possess the kind of conviction and bravery that David had. May we believe in the LORD as strongly as David did.
SPECIAL SONGS: Read, Read Every Day (see February - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #1)
VISUAL AID: Remember it does not need to be a true work of ark, just a humble picture of a soldier that could resemble Goliath which can be drawn and tacked upon the wall--that is if your classroom wall is at least 9 feet, 9 inches tall!! (That's how tall Goliath was.) This picture can be chalked or drawn using an overhead projector which is found in March - Visual Aid #4 on this blog or it could be "pieced" together with butcher paper and construction paper like the picture here (see above). It is nice if David could be drawn as well, perhaps no more than 6 feet tall.
LESSON POINTS:
- Remember that King Saul was troubled all the days of his reign as king with the Philistines. On this particular occasion, there was a valley that was between two mountains. On the side of one mountain, the Philistine army was camped out and on the other side of the mountain, the Israelite army was camped out. There was a problem and that problem was 9 feet 9 inches tall! His name was Goliath and he was HUGE! 9 feet, 9 inches tall! He had a helmet of brass and he wore a coat of mail which was a flexible armor made of links. The armor was very heavy, in fact everything he was wearing was extremely heavy, so he must have been very strong to even wear his armor! He had a huge spear and a man went ahead him of wherever he went in battle, carrying his shield. The Bible calls Goliath of Gath a 'champion' of the Philistine army.
- Every day for forty days, Goliath came out on the Philistines' side of the mountain and cried out to the Israelite soldiers, "Choose a man from your army to come out and fight me! If he is able to kill me, then we will be your servants, but if I kill him, then you will be our servants!" Every day he did this, but not one soldier on Israel's side would go and fight him. When Saul and his army heard Goliath challenging them every day, they were dismayed and afraid.
- Now David, the son of Jesse, who lived in Bethlehem, had seven brothers, and three of the oldest brothers were in Saul's army. David had left Saul's house and was feeding his father's sheep in Bethlehem when David's father told him to take some corn, some cheese, and some bread to his brothers who were in the army. David got up early in the morning and took all the things his father told him to take to his brothers. When David arrived at the battleground and was talking to his brothers, Goliath came out on the mountain and challenged Israel again. When David heard Goliath's words, he saw the Israelites run away from Goliath because they were afraid. David was hearing and watching all of this go on and he asked the men that were standing close by him, "What will we do to this Philistine who defies God's army?" The soldiers and his oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking and he was very angry with David. He said, "Why did you even come down here?" he suggested that David just came to peek at the battle and to see what was going on. But that did not stop David! David said to Eliab, " What have I done now? Is there not a cause?" and he kept asking every soldier what they should do with this Philistine, until even King Saul heard what David was saying and sent for him.
- David spoke bravely to King Saul and said they should not be afraid of a Philistine when they belonged to God's army! Saul told David that he could not go out to fight Goliath because he was too young. David said that he had already killed a lion and a bear who were stealing his sheep. David said that the LORD had delivered him out of the paw of the lion and the bear and that he was confident that God would deliver him out of the hand of the Philistine! Saul was convinced and told David to go and fight Goliath. He gave him an armor and a helmet and a sword, but David had not tried it out and told King Saul that he could not fight the giant with those things on, so he took them off.
- So, David took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a small bag. He had his sling in his hand when he got close to Goliath. As Goliath drew closer to David, and saw that David was so young and didn't even look like a soldier, Goliath made fun of David. He said, "Am I a dog that you come to fight me with sticks?" and he said bad things about David. Goliath said to David, "Come to me and I will fight you!" David replied, "You come to me with a sword, and a spear and a shield, but I come to you in the name of the LORD God of Israel whom you defied!"
- Then Goliath got up and came to meet David, and David, without any hesitation at all, ran to meet Goliath! He put his hand in his bag, pulled out a stone, put it in his sling and let it fly!! The stone landed right in the middle of Goliath's forehead, and Goliath came tumbling down to the ground. So, David killed Goliath, the 9 foot, 9 inch giant of Gath without even a sword in his hand!! When the other Philistine soldiers saw that their champion was dead, they all started to run away! By David acting bravely, it gave all the other soldiers of Israel confidence and energy and they chased and wounded many of the Philistines. David's bravery was contagious!
"Older Student" Points:
- After Goliath was killed by David, David took Goliath's own sword and took his head off, put Goliath's armor in his tent. This would be proof that Goliath was killed and that David was responsible.
- God uses young people to do great things!
ACTIVITY: Goliath
Materials needed: 9" x 12" blue construction paper, 4 1/2" x 12" brown paper, scraps of leftover paper from other lessons, glue, scissors, marker, crayons.
- Hand out blue paper.
- Hand out brown paper.
- Cut a valley out of brown paper.
- Glue blue paper onto the bottom of the blue paper.
- Students can draw or cut scraps of paper to make David and Goliath. (Make sure Goliath is taller than David and David has a sling and Goliath has a spear.)
- Make two little signs.
- Write "Philistines' camp" and "Israel's camp" on signs.
- Glue signs.
- Write "David and Goliath" and "1 Samuel 17" at the top of blue paper.
VERSES: 1 Samuel 16:14-23
MEMORY VERSE: 1 Samuel 16:18 "...cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war...and the LORD is with him."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: Review the 66 books of the Bible. Idea: Divide students into two groups on opposite sides of the room. One person from one team begins with "Genesis." A person on the other team says, "Exodus." The Bible books are said from one side to another across the room. If someone misses a book, a teammate can save him before the other team can try. It is nice to promote memory work!
PRAYER: Thank the LORD for creating so many things in life that can soothe us and help us feel better,
SPECIAL SONG: The Bible, The Bible (see February - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #2 on this blog)
VISUAL AID: Large harp (see Activity below)
LESSON POINTS:
- After Samuel had anointed David with the oil that was in his horn, the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day on (1 Samuel 16:13). As David received the Spirit of the LORD, the Spirit of the LORD left King Saul and was replaced with an evil spirit that troubled him.
- Saul's servants told King Saul that an evil spirit was what was troubling him and that he needed to hear someone play the harp, a musical instrument, in order to feel better. Saul told his servants to go and find someone who could play well and bring him back to Saul.
- One of his servants told Saul that he remembered that Jesse of Bethlehem had a son that played well. He was also a mighty, valiant man, a man of war, wise in speech, a handsome man, and the LORD was with him.
- Saul sent messengers to Jesse and asked to send David, the shepherd, to him. So Jesse, David's father loaded up the donkey with bread, something to drink, goat meat to eat, and sent the king his youngest son, David.
- David was sent in to see King Saul and King Saul loved David greatly and was very pleased with him. He even made David his armor-bearer which was a job given to only those whom the king trusted most.
- Then Saul sent word to Jesse to see if Jesse would allow David to stay longer with King Saul to stand before him because David had found favor in King Saul's sight.
- As time went by, whenever King Saul was troubled, David took a harp and played for King Saul until he wasn't troubled anymore.
"Older Student" Tips:
- King Saul did not know that David had been anointed the next king of Israel, otherwise, King Saul probably would have tried to kill young David. That was the way it was in Old Testament times.
ACTIVITY: David And His Harp
Materials needed: 9" x 12" black index paper (which is a little sturdier than construction paper), yarn, hole puncher, white crayon or silver marker, scissors..
- Hand out black paper to student.
- Round the corners of the black paper.
- Cut the middle out of the paper, so it looks like the letter "C" or a harp.
- Punch six holes on the inside of the harp and six matching holes on the inside of the harp.
- String yarn by tying a knot in the inside of the harp, then going in and out of the punched holes.
- Tie a knot in the last hole with the yarn.
- Write "David Played The Harp" and "1 Samuel 16:14-23" on the harp.
VERSES: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
MEMORY VERSE: 1 Samuel 16:7 "... but the LORD looketh on the heart."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: Review all 66 books of the Bible.
PRAYER: May we trust God and love Him always. He will take care of His children.
SPECIAL SONG: God Called Samuel (see March - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #3 on this blog).
VISUAL AID: Large Activity to tell story (see Activity below)
LESSON POINTS:
- The LORD spoke to Samuel and asked him, "How long are you going to grieve for Saul?" God was not with King Saul anymore because Saul had rejected God's commandments and had done things his own way instead of God's way. God told Samuel to fill up his horn with oil and go to Jesse's house in Bethlehem and anoint a new king. Samuel was nervous and asked God how could he go anoint a new king because when King Saul found out about it, he would kill Samuel. God told Samuel to take a young cow with him and tell whoever would ask that he was going to sacrifice to the LORD. When Samuel arrived at Jesse's house, he should call Jesse to the sacrifice and then God would tell Samuel what to do and then he should anoint the one that God would tell Samuel to anoint. Samuel did as God told him to do.
- When Samuel arrived in Bethlehem, the leaders or elders of the city were nervous and asked him if he came peaceably to Bethlehem. Samuel said he had come peaceably and that he was going to sacrifice and that they should come with him.
- Finally, the sacrifice was ready and Samuel called Jesse and his sons. As the sons came to Samuel, he looked at Eliab, one of Jesse's sons, and thought that he would be the one the LORD would choose as king, but the LORD told Samuel not to look on the outside. God looks differently at a person because he looks at the heart of man.
- Jesse called son after son until all seven sons had passed by Samuel and had not been chosen. Samuel asked Jesse if these were all his children. Jesse said that the youngest son was out watching the sheep. Samuel told everyone to go get the youngest because they would not sit down until all the sons had come to the house.
- When Jesse's youngest son, David, came in, he was handsome and pleasant. The LORD told Samuel to get up and pour the oil on David's head in the middle of all of his brothers . From that day forward, the Spirit of the LORD was upon David.
"Older Student" Tips:
- Out of all the sons of Jesse, it is interesting that the youngest son, David, was chosen to be king over all Israel. God can use young people as well as older people to serve Him. We shall see in future studies how David grows in his love for the LORD even when he does things wrong.
ACTIVITY: The Eight Sons Of Jesse
Materials needed: one 12" x 18" any color piece of construction paper, one 12" x 18" white construction paper, one 7" x 12" tan construction paper, scissors, crayons, marker, stapler, staple.
- Hand out white paper.
- Fold paper in half, in half again, then in thirds. The result: 12 squares.
- Draw Samuel, Jesse, a cow, and the 8 sons of Jesse in each white square.
- Color everything on the white paper.
- Cut everything out or, if that is too much cutting for young students, cut into squares, not around each person, etc.
- Set everything aside and throw away trash.
- Hand out tan paper.
- Fold tan paper into fourths to make a house.
- Draw a door on house, touching the bottom edge.
- Cut door, so it opens. (Should only be two cuts.)
- Write "Jesse's house in Bethlehem" on house.
- Hand out any color 12" x 18" paper.
- Fold large paper in half.
- Staple up two sides. This is the pocket everything goes in to go home with students.
- Write "David Is Anointed King!" and "1 Samuel 16" on outside of stapled pocket.
- Students can retell this story again and again by using these characters.
