1st Grade (10:15am) December 01, 2013

1st Grade
(10:15am)
December 01, 2013
Leader BIBLE STUDY
King Solomon loved God. He received wisdom from the Lord and was
dedicated to building His temple. But early on, we see hints that Solomon’s
heart was not completely devoted to God. He married foreign wives who
turned Solomon’s heart away from God. (1 Kings 11:4)
Solomon abandoned what he had believed. Israel had a history of turning
away from God, and Solomon was no exception.
God was angry with Solomon. He had warned him twice not to turn to false
gods. God planned to punish Solomon’s sin by taking the kingdom away
from his family. God was going to take the kingdom from Solomon’s son
Rehoboam—every tribe except for one. God graciously left one tribe for
Rehoboam, keeping the promise He made to David. (See 2 Sam. 7:16.)
God raised up enemies against Solomon. God set apart one of Solomon’s
servants, Jeroboam, to become leader over 10 tribes of Israel. When
Solomon died, all of Israel gathered to make Rehoboam their new king.
They asked Rehoboam to lighten the burden of service Solomon had given
them, but Rehoboam refused. In fact, he promised to make their work even
harder.
Israel rebelled against Rehoboam and made Jeroboam king. Only the
tribe of Judah stayed with Rehoboam. So the kingdom was divided into
two kingdoms—the Northern Kingdom was called Israel and was ruled
by Jeroboam; the Southern Kingdom was called Judah and was ruled by
Rehoboam.
Every king failed to lead God’s people perfectly. God had a plan to send
them a better king, a perfect king. God would use the house of David—the
single tribe He reserved for Rehoboam—to bring into the world His Son,
Jesus, to become King over all of God’s people forever and lead them back
to God.
Younger Kids Leader Guide
Unit 12, Session 3
Copyright 2013
LifeWay
Younger Kids Bible study OVERVIEW
Session Title: Solomon’s Sin Divided the Kingdom
Bible Passage: 1 Kings 11–12
Big Picture Question: How did God punish King Solomon’s sin? God
divided Israel into two kingdoms.
Key Passage: 1 Kings 8:61
Unit Christ Connection: Solomon’s grand earthly reign is a picture of the
eternal reign of Christ. Solomon’s sin divided his kingdom, but Christ’s
perfect Kingdom is forever.
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The BIBLE STORY
Solomon’s Sin Divided the Kingdom
1 Kings 11–12
King Solomon loved God, but Solomon did not love God with his
whole heart. Some of the things he did were not what God wanted him
to do. For example, God warned His people, the Israelites, to not marry
people from other nations. They worshiped false gods, and God knew they
would lead the Israelites away from Him, the one true God.
Solomon had hundreds of wives. Many of them were from other
nations. Solomon’s wives turned him away from God. Solomon was not
faithful to God like his father David. He began to worship the false
gods that his wives worshiped. Solomon even built shrines where his
wives could worship the false gods.
This made God angry. God had spoken to Solomon and warned him
about false gods, but Solomon did not listen. God said to Solomon,
“Since you have done this, I will take the kingdom away from you. You
will be king the rest of your life, but when your son becomes king, he will
lose everything except for one tribe.”
Jeroboam (JER uh BOH uhm) was an official for Solomon, and God
intended to make him king of most of Israel. God raised up enemies
against Solomon. Solomon’s servant, Jeroboam, turned against him
and became his enemy.
When Solomon died, his son Rehoboam (REE huh BOH uhm)
became king. The people told Rehoboam, “Your father Solomon made
us work too hard. We will gladly serve you if you make our work
easier.”
Rehoboam thought about it and asked his friends for advice. Then
he replied, “My father Solomon didn’t make you work hard enough!
I’ll make you work even harder!” This was not the response God’s
people were hoping for. The people from the northern tribes of Jerusalem
went home. They didn’t want to serve a king like Rehoboam, so they
made Jeroboam king. Only one tribe remained under Rehoboam’s
Younger Kids Leader Guide
Unit 12, Session 3
Copyright 2013
LifeWay
rule, and that was the southern tribe of Judah.
Rehoboam didn’t like being king of only one tribe. He planned to attack
the Northern Kingdom of Israel, but God sent a prophet to stop him. The
prophet had a message from God. “Don’t fight them; the people of Israel
are part of your family. I am the Lord, and I am in control of what is
happening.” So Rehoboam went home.
Jeroboam was now king of Israel. Typically, the people of Israel
would travel to Jerusalem to worship God at the temple, but Jeroboam
was worried if they kept going to Jerusalem, they would start thinking
of Rehoboam as their leader again. So Jeroboam came up with a plan.
He made two golden calves and made an announcement to the northern
tribes.
“It is very inconvenient for you to travel all the way to Jerusalem to
worship at the temple,” he said. “Look! These golden calves are the gods
who brought your ancestors out of Egypt. You can worship them.”
What Jeroboam did was a sin! Those calves did not lead God’s people
out of Egypt; God led His people out of Egypt. Jeroboam also built
forbidden shrines and celebrated made-up festivals so Israel would
seem like a better place to live than Judah. Jeroboam led all the people
in worship to the false gods.
Christ Connection: King Solomon’s sin led to the division of Israel.
Every king failed to lead God’s people perfectly. God’s people needed a
better king, a perfect king! Through David’s family, God would send His
own Son, Jesus Christ, to be King over God’s people forever. Jesus would
lead the people perfectly back to God.
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A Kingdom in Trouble
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Small Group Opening
Session Title: Solomon’s Sin Divided the Kingdom
Bible Passage: 1 Kings 11–12
Big Picture Question: How did God punish King Solomon’s sin? God
divided Israel into two kingdoms.
Key Passage: 1 Kings 8:61
Unit Christ Connection: Solomon’s grand earthly reign is a picture of the
eternal reign of Christ. Solomon’s sin divided his kingdom, but Christ’s
perfect Kingdom is forever.
Welcome time
• paper, to keep score
Arriving Activity: Double the fun
As the kids arrive, form two teams. As new kids come in,
direct them to one team or another. Challenge the kids
to come up with things that come in pairs. The team that
comes up with the most things wins. (Examples: socks,
sunglasses, shoes, pants, earrings, gloves, twins, tweezers,
scissors, headphones or ear buds, animals on the ark,
handcuffs and so forth) If kids struggle, provide some hints.
Say • In most cases, two of something is good. In today’s
Bible story, two of something is not so good.
Activity page (5 minutes)
• “Divided Up” activity
page, 1 per kid
• pencils
Guide boys and girls to complete the activity page.
Say • Just like these pictures, a great kingdom was divided
in today’s Bible story.
Younger Kids Leader Guide
Unit 12, Session 3
Copyright 2013
LifeWay
Activity: One left
Tape a long start line and finish line several feet apart. Invite
the kids to stand behind the start line. Explain that the kids
must race to the finish line and try not to be the last one
to the line. Give instructions on how they are to race each
time. For example, hop, walk backward, skip, crawl, and so
forth.
Say • You didn’t want to be the last one to the line. In
today’s Bible story, only one group of people
remained as part of David and Solomon’s great
kingdom.
• tape
Transition to large group
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Tell the Bible story (10 minutes)
• “Solomon’s Sin
Divided the
Kingdom” video
• Bibles
• Bible Story Picture
Slide or Poster
Leader • Let’s see what caused Solomon to sin. Turn in
your Bible to 1 Kings 11. See if you can spot the answer
to our big picture question. How did God punish King
Solomon’s sin?
Show the “Solomon’s Sin Divided the Kingdom” video, or
choose to tell the Bible story in your own words using the
script provided. For a shorter version of the story, read only
the bolded text.
Leader • Solomon loved God, but he wasn’t without
sin. He didn’t completely follow God. In Bible days,
sometimes men would marry more than one wife. Kings
sometimes married many wives. Solomon didn’t just
marry a lot of women, he had wives who didn’t worship
God. They worshiped gods that were not real.
This made God angry because He had warned Solomon
and all the Israelites they shouldn’t marry people who
didn’t believe in God. God didn’t want the Israelites to
start worshiping their fake gods instead of the real God.
Sure enough, Solomon worshiped his wives’ false gods.
There are consequences to sin. God told Solomon that
his kingdom wouldn’t last. He said Solomon’s son would
only rule over one tribe, a small part of Israel. How did
God punish King Solomon’s sin? God divided Israel into
two kingdoms.
When Solomon died, Rehoboam, his son, would have
been king of the entire nation of Israel. However, God
remained true to what He told Solomon. The people of all
but one tribe made Jeroboam, one of Solomon’s servants,
their king. The one kingdom became two kingdoms,
Israel and Judah. Rehoboam ruled Judah, and Jeroboam
ruled Israel.
Younger Kids Leader Guide
Unit 12, Session 3
Copyright 2013
LifeWay
Jeroboam led those in Israel to worship false gods. He
didn’t want the people going to Judah, where the temple
was, to worship God. He even made up special festivals.
Ask the following review questions:
1. Why was God angry with Solomon? (He disobeyed
God by worshiping false gods, 1 Kings 11:9-10)
2. How did God punish King Solomon’s sin? God
divided Israel into two kingdoms.
3. What tribe did Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, rule?
(Judah, 1 Kings 12:17)
4. Who ruled the rest of Israel after Solomon’s death?
(Jeroboam, 1 Kings 12:20)
5. How did Jeroboam sin? (He led the people to
worship false gods, 1 Kings 12:28-30)
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A Kingdom in Trouble
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Small Group LEADER
Session Title: Solomon’s Sin Divided the Kingdom
Bible Passage: 1 Kings 11–12
Big Picture Question: How did God punish King Solomon’s sin? God
divided Israel into two kingdoms.
Key Passage: 1 Kings 8:61
Unit Christ Connection: Solomon’s grand earthly reign is a picture of the
eternal reign of Christ. Solomon’s sin divided his kingdom, but Christ’s
perfect Kingdom is forever.
Key passage activity (5 minutes)
• Key Passage Slide or
Poster
• dry erase board and
markers (optional)
• index cards
• pen or marker
Make sure the key passage, 1 Kings 8:61, is visible for each
child, either as the printed poster or written on a dry erase
board. Read the verse together.
Say • Solomon allowed his heart to do the opposite of
what he asked the Israelites to do in our key passage.
Solomon, who was the wiser than any other man,
still failed to completely follow God. How did God
punish King Solomon’s sin? God divided Israel into
two kingdoms.
Write the key passage on several index cards. You will need
one card per two kids. Tear or cut the cards into two pieces.
Invite the kids to spread throughout the room. Mix up the
card pieces and distribute one to each kid. Encourage the
kids to find the kid with the other half of the card. They
should fit perfectly. The first two kids to match their card
correctly will be the winners. Ask them to read the key
passage. Play again as time allows.
Younger Kids Leader Guide
Unit 12, Session 3
Copyright 2013
LifeWay
Bible story review (10 minutes)
• Bibles, 1 per kid
• Small Group Visual
Pack
• Big Picture Question
Slide or Poster
14
Encourage the kids to find 1 Kings 11–12 in their Bibles.
Help them as needed.
Say • Is 1 Kings in the Old Testament or New Testament?
(Old Testament) Which book does 1 Kings follow?
(2 Samuel) First Kings is part of which division of
the Bible? (History) What king does the majority of
the book talk about? (Solomon)
Use the small group visual pack to show kids where today’s
Bible story is on the timeline. Review the Bible story
provided using the bolded text, or summarize the story in
your own words. Divide the room in half. As you review the
story, invite one half of the kids to pretend to be followers
of Jeroboam and the other half to pretend to be followers
of Rehoboam. Each time you say Jeroboam’s name, his
followers should stand and cheer. Each time you say
Rehoboam’s name, his followers should stand and cheer.
Say • Neither Rehoboam nor Jeroboam had anything to
cheer about. Solomon’s sin led to the fall of a great
kingdom while Jeroboam sinned by leading the
people under his rule to abandon God. There are no
winners when it comes to sin, but one man was able
to defeat sin. Jesus is the perfect King who rules over
His people forever. Those who trust in Jesus will still
sin, but the punishment Jesus took on the cross has
paid for those sins forever.
Show the big picture question slide or poster.
Say • Would anyone like to try to answer the big picture
question? Here it is. How did God punish King
Solomon’s sin? God divided Israel into two
kingdoms.
A Kingdom in Trouble
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Activity choice (10 minutes)
LOW
PREP
• scissors
• “Don’t Say Cards” • Cut apart cards prior
to small group.
Activity: “Don’t Say It!” game
Guide kids to form pairs or teams. The goal of the game is
to give clues to your teammates so they can guess the key
word, but you may not say any of the words listed on the
card.
Say • In our game you had some words that you were not
allowed to say or you lost the point. What did God
warn Solomon not to do? God warned Solomon not
to worship anything or anyone except for God.
• Did Solomon obey God? What did Solomon do?
• How did God punish King Solomon’s sin? God
divided Israel into two kingdoms.
• Solomon’s sin had serious consequences for him and
for all of the Israelites.
Journal and prayer (5 minutes)
• journal
• Journal Page, 1 per kid
• markers or crayons
• Bible Story Coloring
Page
Distribute each child’s journal and the journal page
provided with this session. Instruct the kids to draw a
picture of a palace with a line through the middle to show
it divided. Writers can write sins that can separate or divide
people.
Say • Let’s say our big picture question and answer one
last time. How did God punish King Solomon’s sin?
God divided Israel into two kingdoms.
Make sure each child puts this week’s sheet in the journal,
and then collect them. Keep the journals in the classroom so
they will be available every week or as often as you wish to
use them.
If time remains, take prayer requests or allow kids to
complete the coloring page provided with this session. Pray,
thanking God for sending Jesus as the perfect King. Pray
for each child by name, asking God to show them their sin
and their need for forgiveness.
Younger Kids Leader Guide
Unit 12, Session 3
Copyright 2013
LifeWay
Journal Page
Younger Kids Leader Guide
Unit 12, Session 3
Copyright 2013
LifeWay
© 2013 LifeWay Christian Resources.
OK TO PRINT
Session 4: Poetry and Wisdom
Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes
Session 3: Solomon’s Sin Divided the Kingdom
1 Kings 11–12
Session 2: Solomon Built the Temple
1 Kings 6:1–8:66
Session1: Solomon Asked for Wisdom
1 Kings 2:1-4,10-12; 3:1-15
Key Passage: 1 Kings 8:61
A Kingdom in Trouble
LifeWay
© 2013 LifeWay Christian Resources.
OK TO PRINT
UNIT 12 • Key Passage Poster (ESV)
A Kingdom in Trouble
1 Kings 8:61
Let your heart
therefore be wholly true
to the LORD our God,
walking in his statutes and
keeping his commandments,
as at this day.
Younger Kids Leader Guide
Unit 12, Session 3
Copyright 2013
LifeWay
© 2013 LifeWay Christian Resources.
OK TO PRINT
UNIT 12 • Session 3 • Big Picture Question
A Kingdom in Trouble
God divided Israel into
two kingdoms.
How did God punish
King Solomon’s sin?
LifeWay
© 2013 LifeWay Christian Resources.
UNIT 12 • Session 3 • Younger Kids Activity Pages
A Kingdom in Trouble
Instructions: The items below have been cut in half. Draw a line to
match each picture with its other half.
Solomon’s Sin Divided the Kingdom
1 Kings 11–12
Younger Kids Leader Guide
Unit 12, Session 3
© 2013
LifeWay Christian Resources.
Copyright 2013
LifeWay
UNIT 12 • Session 3 • Solomon’s Sin Divided the Kingdom
© 2013 LifeWay Christian Resources.
OK TO PRINT
LifeWay
A Kingdom in Trouble