September 27, 2015

OT 51 David is Anointed King

Reference: 1 Samuel 16

Story Summary: 
     After Saul was anointed as king of Israel, he committed a very serious sin. He made a sacrifice himself, instead of waiting for Samuel the priest. Because of this great sin, Samuel told him that his family would no longer be king over Israel. Instead, God had selected someone else to be king.
     God told Samuel to head to the house of a man named Jesse, in Bethlehem. There, God would show who he had selected to be the next king.
     Jesse brought his oldest son to Samuel. Samuel was sure this was the man God wanted to be king. But God said, “Don’t look at his outward appearance. People look at the outside of a person, but I look at their heart.” Jesse brought all of his sons to Samuel, but none of them were picked by God to be king.
     Samuel asked Jesse if he had another son. He said his youngest was out taking care of the sheep. His name was David. Samuel anointed David's head with oil to show that God had selected him to be king. God said he selected David because he was a man who was after God's own heart.

Big Idea and Motions: People look at the outside, but God looks at our hearts.
People - point to yourself
Look - pretend to look through binoculars
Outside - rub your cheeks with your hands
God - point
Looks - pretend to look through binoculars
Hearts - tap your heart

Verse / Motions: 1 Samuel 16:7, ESV - For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.
Lord - point up
Sees - pretend to look through binoculars
Man - flex your muscles
Looks - pretend to look through binoculars again
Outward appearance - pretend to brush your long hair
Heart - tap your heart

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who was the first king of Israel? // Saul
What was Saul like? // Tall and handsome
What happened when Saul sinned? // God said he wouldn’t be king forever
Whose house did God send Samuel to? // Jesse, in Bethlehem
What was the name of the son God picked to be king? // David
Was David the brother that Samuel thought would be king? // No, he picked the other brothers
Where was David when Samuel was looking at the other brothers? // Looking after sheep
What did Samuel do to anoint David king? // Poured oil on his head
People look at the outside, but what does God look at? // Our hearts
How was David’s heart different than Saul’s heart? // David trusted God to forgive his sins.

Google Docs Links:
Lesson - https://goo.gl/asQxuo
Resources - https://goo.gl/K5NonX

September 20, 2015

OT 50 Saul Disobeys God

Reference: 1 Samuel 11, 13

Story Summary: 
     Before Saul was crowned king of his people, the Israelites were in trouble. King Nahash surrounded the people of Jabesh Giliad with his soldiers. He told them that he would poke their eyes out. The people of the city said, "Give us seven days. If no one comes to save us, we'll surrender to you."
     The people sent out messengers from the city asking for help. Saul eventually heard about their trouble. God's Spirit came on Saul in power and he was very angry. He sent the messenger back with a new message: "By the hottest time tomorrow, you'll be saved." And Saul left for Jabesh Gilead with three groups of soldiers and defeated Nahash's men. The people of Israel were so happy, they crowned Saul king.
     Later, the Israelites were attacked by the Philistines. The men were beginning to lose heart. Saul wanted to offer a sacrifice to the Lord before going to battle, but Samuel the priest was gone. He said he would return in seven days. But Saul didn't wait for Samuel; he offered the sacrifice himself, just before Samuel arrived. Because of Saul's sin, Samuel told him that God had already selected someone new to be the king of Israel.

Big Idea and Motions: Bad news: you and I have sinned. Good news: Jesus died for our sins.
Bad news - droop your shoulders and look sad
You and I - point to another person, then yourself
Sinned - two thumbs down
Good news - thrust your fists in the air, like celebrating a touchdown
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
Sins - two thumbs down

Verse / Motions: Romans 5:8, ESV - but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God - point up
Love - put your hands over your heart
Us - point to yourself with both thumbs
Sinners - two thumbs down
Christ - form a cross with your arms
Died - cross your arms in an “X” over your chest

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
What did King Nahash say he was going to do to the Israelites? // Poke out their eyes.
Who led the Israelites to fight King Nahash? // King Saul
Who came upon King Saul in power? // The Holy Spirit
Who won the battle, King Saul and the Israelites or King Nahash? // Saul and the Israelites.
What were the special people who offered sacrifices to God called? // Priests
What was the name of the other group of people the Israelites battled? // The Philistines
What was the name of the priest Saul was waiting for? // Samuel
How long did Saul wait for Samuel? // 7 days
What did Saul do when Samuel didn’t show up on time? // He offered the sacrifice himself
What was God’s punishment for Saul? // He wouldn’t be king forever

Google Docs Links:
Lesson - https://goo.gl/xEG8T4
Resources - https://goo.gl/XTW2bO

September 13, 2015

OT 49 Saul Becomes King

Reference: 1 Sam. 8-10

Story Summary: 
     The Israelites went to Samuel. They wanted him to find a king to rule them. Samuel was getting old and his sons were doing evil things. When Samuel prayed, God told him that the people weren't rejecting him. They were turning their backs on God as their king. Still, God decided to give them what they asked for.
     Saul was a tall and handsome Israelite. Along with his servant, he set out on a trip to find his father's lost donkeys. After having no success, the two decided to go see Samuel and see he could help them find the donkeys, since Samuel often spoke with God.
     As Saul came near, God spoke to Samuel. "Here's the man I've selected to be Israel's king." Samuel asked Saul to eat a meal with him and stay the night. The next morning, Samuel anointed Saul's head with oil as a sign that God had chosen him to become king. He told Saul that the lost donkeys had already been found and sent him on his way.
     Samuel gathered the people together. God then chose a specific tribe, family group, and family, until Saul was picked to be king. But the people didn't see him; he was hiding among the supplies.

Big Idea and Motions: Jesus is our good king forever.
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
Good - two thumbs up
King - pretend to put a crown on your head
Forever - repeatedly trace a sideways 8 (∞) with your finger in the air

Verse / Motions: Philippians 2:10, ESV - ...so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.
Name - pretend to write your name on your palm
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
Bow - reach your hands up and bow down
Heaven - point up
Earth - stomp the ground
Under the earth - pretend to dig with a shovel

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
What did the people of Israel ask for? // A king.
Who was supposed to be their king? // God.
How did Samuel and God feel about this? // They were angry.
What was Saul searching for? // Lost donkeys.
Who did Saul and the servant ask for help from when they were looking for the donkeys? // Samuel.
Who did God tell Samuel was going to be the king of Israel? // Saul.
What did Samuel pour on Saul’s head? // Oil.
Why did Samuel pour oil on Saul’s head? // He was anointing him as king.
When Samuel was selecting the king of Israel, where was Saul? // Hiding amongst the supplies.

Google Docs Links:
Lesson - https://goo.gl/Y7G0xQ
Resources - https://goo.gl/N7Phwo

September 6, 2015

OT 48 The Philistines Capture the Ark

Reference: 1 Samuel 4:1-11, 5, 6

Story Summary: 
     The Israelites battled their enemies, the Philistines, and lost badly. The people were unsure why God would let them lose. They didn't seek God's help, but they did send for the Ark of the Covenant. They brought it with them as they battled the Philistines a second time. Once again, they lost badly and the Philistines captured the Ark.
     The Philistines took the ark to the city of Ashdod and placed the ark in the temple of their god, Dagon. However, the next morning, the statue of Dagon had fallen over and lay at the feet of the Ark of the Covenant. They set it back up, but the next morning, it had fallen again. This time, its hands, feet, and head had broken off. The people of Ashdod also began to grow painful growths.
     They sent the ark to the city of  Gath. But the people of Gath experienced the same painful sores. They sent the ark to another city, Ekron, but the same thing happened again.
     The people asked their priests what they should do. They told them to send the ark back, with golden models of rats and the growths on their bodies. They sent in on a cart pulled by cows. God guided the cows all the way back to Israel.

Big Idea and Motions: There’s no god like our God!
No - wag your finger “no”
God - point up
Our - point to yourself with both thumbs
God - point up

Verse / Motions: Isaiah 45:5, ESV - I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God...
I am - point to yourself
Lord - point up
No other - wave your arms back and forth in a “no” gesture
Besides me - pretend to put your arm around someone beside you
No - wag your finger “no”
God - point up

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who did the Israelites lose a battle against? // The Philistines
After they lost the battle, what did the Israelites go get? // The ark of the covenant
Who won the second battle? // The Philistines
What did the Philistines take from the Israelites? // The ark of the covenant
What was the name of the Philistines’ god? // Dagon
What did God do to the statue of Dagon? // Make it fall over, made it’s head and hands break off
What happened to the Philistines when the ark was in their cities? // They had painful growths on them
What did the Philistines finally decide to do with the ark? // Send the ark bad on a cow-pulled cart
What things did the Philistines put on the cart with the ark? // Five gold “growths” and five gold rats
How did the cows walk back with the ark to Israel? // They walked straight, mooing all the way

Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/zfrwsb
Resources - http://goo.gl/rB2Vu4