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God sent the prophet Elijah to tell King Ahab (7th king of Israel) that a terrible drought would come upon Israel because of his disobedience. Ahab’s evil wife, Jezebel, was so angry that she started having prophets of the Lord hunted down and killed. The Lord sent Elijah into hiding by a brook of water. The Lord kept Elijah safe. Twice each day, the Lord had bread and meat delivered to Elijah by unusual means – ravens. When the brook dried up, the Lord sent Elijah to the home of a poor widow. When Elijah stayed at the widow’s home, she miraculously had enough flour and oil to make bread. She never ran out. When the widow’s son died, Elijah raised him from the dead. The Lord took care of Elijah.

Bible verses used in this episode:

1 Kings 17

Outline:

1. Elijah prophesied a drought and then went into hiding at God’s command. (1 Kings 17:1-6)
2. God provided for Elijah through a widow from Zarephath. (1 Kings 17:7-16)
3. Elijah raised the widow’s dead son. (1 Kings 17:17-24)

Tips for teaching children:

• For small children, hide a picture of Elijah and find him.
• Provide flour, oil and water and make bread together.
• Guide older children in reflection using the “God’s Story” reflection page.

Tips for teaching adults:

• Bring to class bread, oil and a burner and ask a couple of people to make flat bread in the classroom while you are having the class. Or you can bring to class some bread to share that you have made out of flour and oil. Recipe
• Ask the class to share any stories about drought that they might have experienced and how they and their community coped.
• There are three sections in our story today. Challenge the class to think of at least one way we can respond to each section in the story. Here are some ideas you can give the class to get them thinking: What are the issues of trust in the story? What can we learn about God’s provision and God’s power?
• Here are some further questions to ask: How does Elijah reveal his trust in God? How does the widow? How does God demonstrate his power over the weather? What does this say about the god, Baal, and his power?
• End the class with a prayer thanking God for his provision and empowering the class members to deepen their trust in God, especially when things look bleak.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: God Takes Care of Elijah

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock), Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org

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Rehoboam was officially appointed the new king when his father, Solomon, died. When Rehoboam became king, Jeroboam gathered the people together and asked Rehoboam to be easier on the people and not make them work as hard as Solomon had done. The court elders advised Rehoboam that the people would love and follow him if he did this. Rehoboam ignored this good advice and listened to his young friends’ bad advice instead. They told him to make the people work harder and to treat them more like slaves. Because of this, the people rebelled, and the kingdom was divided into two parts. Rehoboam was king of the smaller part- called Judah. Jeroboam became king of the larger part- called Israel.

Bible verses used in this episode:

• 1 Kings 11:26-43
• 1 Kings 11:41-12:24

Outline:

1. Jeroboam, man of the people (1 Kings 11:20-40)
2. Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, is an unwise king (1 Kings 11:41-12:15)
3. God’s nation divides (1 Kings 12:16-19)
4. Israel chooses Jeroboam as their leader (1 Kings 12:20-24)

Tips for teaching children:

• Use a pizza as a way to tell the story. Spread tomato sauce and cheese on the pizza as you talk about Saul, David and Solomon. Cut the pizza into 12 pieces (12 tribes) but keep the pizza together.
  Then, show a jar of hot peppers. Describe Rehoboam’s cruel treatment of the people. The people rejected Rehoboam. Then divide the pizza into two parts (2 kingdoms). One part should have 2 parts to represent 2 kingdoms. One part should have 10 pieces to represent Israel.

Tips for teaching adults:

• This story can be read in class. Use the outline provided in the show-notes for how to divide the reading up.
• There are several questions that this text can generate. Here are a few to think about and possibly use in the classroom. What principles of leadership can we learn from this story? In what ways does Rehoboam reveal his pride? What are the consequences of pride and poor leadership? What can leaders of God’s people today learn from this story about keeping God’s people united?
• In a more general way, encourage the class to brainstorm important 10 pieces of wisdom you believe the young people of your congregation should hear and follow? Follow up by brainstorming ways you can share your wisdom with the youth in a healthy way.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: God’s Nation Divides

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock), Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org

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Solomon built a fantastic temple for the Lord. This temple replaced the Tabernacle tent that had been used since Moses’ time. After the temple was completed, the Lord reminded Solomon that this huge, beautiful temple would mean nothing if the people ever turned away from Him.

Bible verses used in this episode:

1 Kings 6:1-9:9

Outline:

1. Construction of the Temple and palace (1 Kings chapters 6-7)
2. Dedication of the Temple (1 Kings chapter 8)
3. God speaks to Solomon (1 Kings 9:1-9)

Tips for teaching children:

• If teaching small children provide blocks so that they can build their own version of the temple.
• Guide the children in finding Egypt and Jerusalem on a map. Talk about how God led them out of Egypt and slavery. Then, talk about the lavish temple in Jerusalem.
• God was not limited to living in the temple only. Older children can discuss I Corinthians 3:16 and talk about how our bodies are a temple for God to live in.
• Older children can discuss the temple versus the palace. Solomon’s palace was twice as big as the temple. Why do you think he had the temple build first?

Tips for teaching adults:

• Below are three links to animations to Solomon’s Temple.
  • Solomon’s Temple (this one is a cut-away drawing of the Temple. This would be good to use as a PowerPoint slide while you are studying these chapters in class as a visual.
  • An animation description of the Solomon’s Temple: (5 minutes)
  • An animation description with commentary and interpretation of Solomon’s Temple (10 minutes)
• God is not contained in a building even though he may be in the building 1 Kings 8:27). Ask participants to write down two places where they especially feel the presence of God and worship him more freely or genuinely.
• At the end pray to God summarizing the words of Solomon.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: Solomon Builds the Temple

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock), Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org

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Although David was a good king, there was a time when he did not choose to follow the Lord. Once, when he looked across from the roof of his palace, he saw a beautiful woman, Bathsheba, bathing. This led David to commit adultery with Bathsheba. When Bathsheba became pregnant, David arranged to have her husband murdered so that he could marry her. The prophet Nathan confronted David with his sin. David’s heart was such that he repented of his sin and asked the Lord to forgive him.

Bible verses used in this episode:

2 Samuel 11:1-12:25

Outline:

1. David gets Uriah’s wife pregnant. (2 Samuel 11:1-5)
2. David arranges a coverup and has Uriah killed before marrying Bathsheba. (2 Samuel 11:6-27)
3. The prophet, Nathan, confronts David and the child dies. (2 Samuel 12:1-23)
4. Solomon is born. (2 Samuel 12:24)

Tips for teaching children:

• Show wedding photos and talk about promises husbands and wives make to one another.
• Talk about the importance of confessing sin. Provide a shallow dish of sand. You or any of the children can use your finger to write a sin in the sand. Pray and ask God’s forgiveness. After the prayer, wipe away the word (the sin) you wrote in the sand. This represents God’s forgiveness.

Tips for teaching adults:

• The story is likely too long to read in its entirety during the class time so it can be summarized. Be prepared to read certain parts when summarizing such as the story of the one little female lamb.
• David saw and took what didn’t belong to him. This set him into a downward spiral leading him to commit adultery and murder. But these are only symptoms of something deeper in David.
  • What, do you think, is behind David’s actions?
  • Where did David go wrong?
  • Why would he send for Bathsheba knowing that she is a married woman and married to one of his most trusted and capable soldiers?
  • Besides the obvious sins of adultery and murder (two of the ten commandments), what other sins was David guilty of?
• Challenge the class in their interactions with people to ask themselves the question, “am I treating this person as one made in God’s image or am I using them for my purposes?”
• There is forgiveness in this story, too. Have everyone pray to God and confess their sin. Following this have someone pray on behalf of the people in the class using the words of Psalm 51:1-12 (but change singular to plural). After the prayer ask someone to read Psalm 32:1-5.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: David’s Sin with Bathsheba

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock), Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org

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King David remembered his good friend Jonathan. He found out that before Jonathan died, he had had a son named Mephibosheth. David had Mephibosheth brought before him. He gave Mephibosheth all of the land that had belonged to Saul. He also gave him servants and told him he would always care for him. He treated him like a son. David did not wait until Mephibosheth asked for help. He gave kindness freely.

Bible verses used in this episode:
2 Samuel 9

Outline:

1. King David seeks out Jonathan’s descendants. (2 Samuel 9:1-4)
2. King David blesses Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son. (2 Samuel 9:5-13)

Tips for teaching children:

• Learn to say and spell M-E-P-H-I-B-O-S-H-E-T-H
• Discuss “kindness” and plan something kind the group can do.
• Make coupons or gift vouchers to give parents or others. An example coupon for a mother might contain the words, “This coupon can be used for washing the dishes. I will smile and wash the dishes for free today.”

Tips for teaching adults:

• Have someone read the story aloud. Ask the group to reflect on the following questions:
  • Why would David want to show kindness to the house of Saul?
  • And what does David get out of this?
• This is a story about David's kindness, a kindness motivated by his promise and loyalty to Jonathan. David’s act of kindness was not expected. Challenge the class to plan an act of kindness to someone in their congregation or family that is not expecting it. It could be a nice gift, an invite to a meal, cleaning a house.
• Challenge the class to plan how to create space for others not normally in your circle of friendship — invite someone who’s “outside your circle” to eat with you or go visit someone who you would not normally visit.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:
Bible Lesson: David Helps Mephibosheth

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock), Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org

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After Saul and Jonathan died in battle, David became the king of Israel. The people loved David. He made Jerusalem the capital and the main place of worship for Israel. He made two attempts to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. On the first attempt, he did not follow all of God’s instructions, but the people were still celebrating, and David was very popular. When a man named Uzzah touched the ark, he immediately died. On the second attempt, David followed God’s instructions and the ark was safely moved to Jerusalem. David learned that being popular does not mean that one can forget the Lord.

Bible verses used in this episode:

1 Samuel 31:1-6; 2 Samuel 5:1-5; 6:1-19

Outline:

1. The Death of King Saul (1 Samuel 31:1-6)
2. David is recognised at the king of all Israel. (2 Samuel 5:1-5)
3. God’s presence is established in the new capital, Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 6:1-19)

Tips for teaching children:

• Show illustrations of the ark of the covenant. There is a good one in the tabernacle set at www.freebibleimages.org/illustrations/moses-tabernacle/
• Find Jerusalem on a map.
• Make a paper crown and decorate it.

Tips for teaching adults:

• I would suggest summarizing 1 Samuel 31 – Saul’s death and 2 Samuel 5 – David becoming king but read 2 Samuel 6:1-19. Choose some readers to read the different sections.
• Discuss and list some ways that our worship can demonstrate that we regard God as holy and worthy of all our honour and respect. Think in terms of the kind of language we should use in worship and what actions we should do or not do. In other words, how would you put together a worship that demonstrated to everyone present that God is a holy God?
• God was offended by Uzzah’s action. David was offended by God’s action. Which offends you more: God’s action or Uzzah’s action? Why?
• What is one thing you can do to show that you believe that God is a holy God and should be given the kind of respect he deserves?

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: David Becomes King

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock), Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org

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Saul continued to be jealous of David. He hunted him and tried to kill him. David had raised his own armies and could have fought Saul, but he did not. He respected Saul as king. David trusted the Lord to know when it was time for him to become king. Once, David came to Saul’s camp and found Saul sleeping. He quietly took Saul’s spear and water jug to prove to Saul how close he had been. After walking a long distance away, David called to Saul and told him that he could have killed him but chose to show mercy. Mercy means to show kindness even though we have the power or opportunity to hurt someone.

Bible verses used in this episode:

1 Samuel 26

Outline:

1. David quietly takes a spear and water jug from a sleeping King Saul. (1 Samuel 26:1-12)
2. Paul offers momentary peace to David. (1 Samuel 26:13-25)

Tips for teaching children:

• Talk about mercy and what it means. Mercy is compassion or forgiveness that is shown towards someone when we have the power to punish or harm them.
• Play a game where King Saul must identify David from the rest of the group.
  • One child should lie on the floor and pretend to sleep like King Saul did. The child should wear a blindfold. Place a couple of objects near him to represent a spear and water jug.
  • The rest of the children should group behind the sleeping King Saul.
  • Once Saul is “sleeping” the group chooses one child to quietly slip up to Saul. The child should remove the items and bring them back to the group.
  • The child playing David should say “Mercy” to signal King Saul to wake up and identify which child was David.
• Print the word MERCY in the middle of a large paper and then allow the children to decorate it with markers, crayons, glitter or other items.

Tips for teaching adults:

• This story is brief enough to read it during the class so I suggest that you have this text read.
• Ask the class to look over the story and to think about David’s words and actions. What were some right things that David does and says in this story? What can we learn about David?
• Challenge the class with the following: Live in such a way that your conscience is clear—even if others misunderstand you. At the end of each day ask, “If God looked at my actions today, would I be guiltless?” Pray according to how you answer.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: David Shows Mercy to Saul

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock), Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org