Bible Verses

Work with your child and your students to learn each verse. Then, discuss the meaning of the verse and how it can be applied to our everyday lives. On Sundays during class, riding in the car, or at dinner, it's fun to share stories of how the children have used the verse in their lives that week.

We provide memorization verses for each week. You can add your own.

Sunday August 6 Phil 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

• How can you use this verse in your daily life?
• What kind of strength is this verse talking about?

Sunday August 13 Phil 3:13,14
… but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

• What are the things that are “behind?”
• Why should we forget them?
• Why is it important to reach the things which are “before?”
• What is the prize?

Sunday August 20 Phil 2:5
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

• What does it mean to have the mind of Christ Jesus?
• How do we “let” this mind be in us?
• Why is it important to think and act with the mind of Christ Jesus?

Sunday August 27 Phil 2:3
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;

• What are selfishness and empty conceit?
• How do they get in the way of doing for others?
• What is required to have humbleness of mind?
• Why should we regard others more than ourselves?

Sunday September 3 Col 2:8
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

• Who would try to spoil us?
• What kind of philosophy should we beware of?
• What is “vain deceit?”
• What are the traditions of men?

Bible Stories

This is a good time to review the books of the Bible and help pupils tell the stories. This month’s theme is prayer.

• Ruth - Read Ruth
• Hannah - Read I Samuel 1 -2
• Gideon - Read Judges 6:1-8:32
• Samuel - Read I Samuel 3
• David - Read I Samuel 17-20
• Solomon - Read I Kings 3
• Elijah - Read I Kings 17 – II Kings 2
• Elisha - Read II Kings 2-13
• Hezekiah - Read II Kings 18-20
• Jabez - Read I Chronicles 4:9-10
• Esther - Read Esther
• Job - Read Job
• Three Hebrew Boys - Read Daniel 3
• Daniel - Read Daniel 6
• Jonah - Read Jonah

Exercise:
Find a prayer for each of the following: Hannah, David, Solomon, Elijah, Hezekiah, Jabez, Daniel, Jonah. Type the prayer on separate cards. Read the prayers and ask the students to tell who prayed it and describe the situation.

Exercise:
Prayer is a conversation with God. What kind of a conversation was each of these individuals having with God:

• Hannah
• Samuel
• David
• Solomon
• Elijah
• Elisha
• Hezekiah
• Jabez
• Job
• Daniel
• Jonah

Several of the people on this list had more than one conversation with God: read and discuss what types of things they said to God and God’s response.

Exercise:
Have the class alternate between being reporters and Bible characters. Assign each student a character to interview. They need to come with ten questions about this person for next Sunday. They should read some of the stories on the site or read about each person in the Bible. Then assign each one to be a Bible person. They should also be prepared to answer questions. After the interviews, create a newspaper headline and have the students print the story and draw a picture.

Example: Help the students tell the story of Esther.

Female teachers - if you feel comfortable, come dressed as Esther and let the children interview you.

If you prefer not to be costumed, make a sign with Esther's name on it and place it on yourself or any pupil in class and let the class members ask her questions. They can be reporters, preparing a piece for your ongoing Sunday School newspaper or magazine, or a film crew ready to do a documentary on Esther's life.

Let the children get the inside story on Esther. Some questions might include:

• How did you feel when the King wanted you to be part of his harem?
• What is a harem?
• Why would that be frightening?
• Were you surprised when the King selected you for his bride?
• What happened to his previous wife?
• What religion are you?
• Does that make a difference to the King?
• Why do you think he selected you?
• What is your uncle's name? [Mordecai]
• What did he ask you to do? [Talk with the King about saving her people]
• Were you afraid? [The Queen could only talk to the King if he called her; otherwise he could kill her]
• How did the King greet you?
• What did you ask for?[a banquet]
• Who was invited?
• Did you have to fix the meal or did your servants prepare the meal?
• What did you ask the King at dinner?
• How did that affect Haman?
• For whom had Haman prepared the gallows?
• What happened instead?
• What is the name of the feast the Jews celebrate every year in memory of the defeat of the Jews' enemies?

Exercise:
Act out the story of Jonah and the fish by making a sock puppet with fins for the fish and a paper doll to be Jonah. Then use the puppets to tell the story of Jonah.

Exercise:
Have the students work with the Bible verses Eph 6:11-17. Have them draw a picture of themselves and put each piece of the armor in place. Have them label each item. Discuss the items and what it means for us to put our armor on everyday. There is also a coloring page in Kids Korner to color.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God…

• Loins girded with truth
• Breastplate of righteousness
• Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace
• Shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked
• Helmet of salvation
• Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

Exercise:
Put the names of their favorite Bible characters on cards. Put the cards face down. Then ask the students to draw a card from the stack. They must tell a little about the character and then write or say a prayer about how that person would have prayed. For example, what kind of prayer did Daniel pray before he was caught and after he was put in the lions’ den? What kind of a prayer did Esther pray? How did the three Hebrew boys pray when they were put in the furnace?

Exercise: Learning how to Pray

If you want to learn something, teach it. I find that maxim particularly true when helping young children learn how to pray through having them teach a doll or stuffed animal. I use this exercise with 3-5 year-olds and it always produces great results.

I start out by asking each child how he or she prays. Some give specific examples of prayers they have learned, which they say before meals or before bed at night. Then we start to look at what we put into a prayer.

• Who are we praying to?
• What do we want to tell God?
• Do we have to ask for something in order to pray?
  • We talk about prayers of gratitude, support, comfort, and for others.
• Then we say a prayer together.
• Next, I give each child an 18"-24" cloth doll. Boys get boy dolls and girls get girl dolls. I introduce each child to a doll. I tell the child the doll's name and a little background information. Example: "Scott, this is Wesley. I've known Wesley since he was a little boy. He likes to play most sports besides enjoying biking and reading." Then I have Wesley say something. The words may come out of my mouth, but I move Wesley as though he were talking to Scott. Wesley might say, "Hi Scott, do you like to play soccer?" (I talk about something I know about the child, so the child opens up and starts talking with the doll). "Jacquelyn, this is Channing. Channing spends time playing with her Barbie dolls and likes to wear hats and pretty dresses." Channing might say, "Hi Jacquelyn, I like your shoes. Do you like to shop?"
• I then ask them to talk with their dolls and teach them how to pray.

The key is to listen closely to what they are teaching, so you can make a group comment -- not just single out one child and say, "No, we don't pray like that." The collective comment will usually help the child get on the right track. The important thing is to help them see prayer as a conversation with God -- that prayer isn't just asking for something; it is sharing moments with God.

I've heard the sweetest prayers, as the youngsters become the voices for their dolls. After they've practiced with their dolls, they show us how their dolls pray. One little boy had the doll kneeling as he held the doll's hands together with one hand and put his hand over the doll's eyes with the other - since his eyes didn't close - and said, "Hi God, this is Kurt. I'm in Sunday School. They sure talk a lot about you here. You are Love. I like that. Bye! Oh, Amen."

Exercise: Ask the students to create a gratitude list.

• Discuss what they are grateful for.
• Go through the book of Psalms and count how many Psalms David wrote.
• When did David write a Psalm?
• Notice that the Psalms were like a daily diary or prayer journal that David kept. Do you keep a diary or journal?
• What do you write about?
• Let's try writing a Psalm.
• Read the 23rd Psalm.

From the Living Bible: 23rd Psalm

1. Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need!
2. He lets me rest in the meadow grass and leads me beside the quiet streams.
3. He restores my failing health. He helps me do what honors him the most.
4. Even when walking through the dark valley of death I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me, guarding, guiding all the way.
5. You provide delicious food for me in the presence of my enemies. You have welcomed me as your guest; blessings overflow!
6. Your goodness and unfailing kindness shall be with me all of my life, and afterwards I will live with you forever in your home.

• Discuss how God is like a Shepherd. What does that mean?
• What are the main points in this Psalm?
• Can you write a Psalm about school or a sport?

Exercise: Psalm writing.

• Talk about the composition of a Psalm.
  • A Psalm is a prayer to God, telling Him about what's happening in your life.
• Look at the following Psalms and indicate what was happening to David at the time he wrote them.
  • Ps. 7 David could write this, because he knew he was innocent. Innocent of what?
  • Ps. 3 David had to leave the city because Absalom was trying to become king. David may have written this while on the run from Absalom.
  • Ps. 30 is a Psalm filled with____________ (thanksgiving).
    • What are you grateful for?
    • Can you write a Psalm of thanksgiving?
  • Ps. 51 specifically deals with the Bathsheba debacle.
    • Have you ever wanted God to forgive you?
  • Ps. 59 was written when David was on the run from Saul.
• What do we learn about David's relationship with God from his Psalms?
• What do we learn about our relationship to God with our prayer journal (Psalms)?
• If you are musically inclined, put your Psalm to music.

Exercise: Trusting and Listening to God

"...And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice." -- I Kings 19:11-12

In our Sunday School class, we are learning to trust God and listen for His direction. We may not be able to physically see or touch God, but if we listen expectantly, we can always hear His "still small voice" guiding us.

To illustrate this concept, I brought a few toddlers' toys (stacking cups, shape sorter, wooden puzzle, etc.) and a blindfold to class. Each student had to follow my step-by-step directions to complete a task blindfolded, just by listening. The students were not allowed to see the toys beforehand. Others in the class were very quiet and still while each one took his turn.

The students were amazed at what they could achieve -- whether it was a completed puzzle or tall tower -- by listening only to my directions. This helped them understand that even though we cannot see God or may be unsure about a path to take, He is always speaking gently to us. God is always guiding us to accomplishments beyond our expectations.

Susie S. Quitter

Exercise: Themes in the Bible

Another way to review is through various themes. Select a theme or create one of your own.

Family - create a family tree for the book of Genesis

Obedience - list the names of those who were obedient and the event that highlighted this quality.

• Moses - when God asks him to deliver the Children of Israel from Egypt.

Siblings - list the names of brothers and sisters and talk about what they might have done differently.

• Jacob and Esau - that Jacob would not have lied to get the birthright.
• Leah and Rachel - that Leah would not have cheated her sister out of marrying the man she loved.

Prayer - list those who prayed and what they prayed for.

• Hezekiah prayed to save his city; he also prayed for his health.

Exercise: Here is another review exercise for children who like to be somewhat dramatic and competitive. You need to prepare this in advance of your class as homework.

"Twenty Questions" with Bible Characters

This activity produces lively discussions. Children love games. This game gives them the opportunity to become an authority on one Bible character.

Each pupil is given a sealed envelope with the name of a Bible character inside. Write on the outside of the envelope:

When class starts, each pupil will ask questions that require only "yes" or "no" responses or one-word answers. No more than twenty questions can be asked about each individual. Whenever someone has enough clues, he or she may guess who you are. Whoever guesses the most characters correctly or in the shortest number of questions, wins.

If you can guess someone's identity with less than 5 questions being asked, you get 15 points; 6-10 questions - 10 points; 11-15 questions - 5 points; 16-20 questions - 3 points.

Sample characters:

Sample questions:

Ruth - Read Ruth

• What does it mean to be a good son or daughter?
• What kind of a family member was Ruth?
• Would you like her in your family?
• What happened to Ruth?
• How does Ruth's situation fit with this week's Bible verse?
• How important is God to your family?
• Do you show appreciation for every family member?
• Why is it important for everyone in a family to take responsibility for helping?
• What are some ways you help your home run smoothly?
• Do you do your tasks with love?
• Can you imagine Ruth being less than happy to serve?
• We are told in chapter two of the book of Ruth that Boaz is aware of Ruth's good reputation.
• Why is it important to have a good reputation?
• What does that mean?
• How do we make sure we maintain a good reputation?
• What major sacrifice does Ruth make? (gives up her family and training to establish her relationship with God)
• What kind of a relationship do you have with God? (Father? Mother? Friend?)
• Name some of the families you are familiar with in the Bible.
• What are their strengths?
• Any weaknesses?
• How do we overcome weaknesses in a family?
• Do you pray together as a family?
• At meal time?
• Before bed?
• In the morning?
• Any other time?
• Why is it important to pray together?
• Think about what kind of woman Naomi must have been. Neither of her daughters-in-law wanted to leave her. Ruth begged to stay. This wonderful verse tells us something about Naomi's spiritual commitment when Ruth says, " Ruth 1:16 … whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:"
• How are people learning about God from the way you live your life?
• Is there anything you could do differently? What?
• Who was Boaz?
• What advice did Naomi give Ruth about Boaz?
• Do you think Ruth tricked Boaz into marrying her?
• How did Boaz make sure he was able to marry Ruth? (Ruth 4)
• What kind of a man was Boaz?
• Of whom was Ruth the great grandmother? (David)
• What do you learn about God from the story of Ruth?

Hannah - Read I Samuel 1 -2

• Who was Hannah?
• Why did Eli ask Hannah if she had too much to drink?
• What did Hannah ask God for?
• What did she promise God?
• Could you have given your child to God?
• What was his name?
• What was special about Samuel?
• Where did Samuel live?

Samuel - Read I Samuel 3

Tell the story of when Samuel heard someone call him in the night.

• What did Samuel hear?
• Who was speaking to Samuel?
• Who did Samuel think was calling him?
• What did Eli tell Samuel to do?
• Memorize the verse: I Sam 3:9 Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.
• Are you listening to God?
• Have you ever heard God speak to you?
• What is the book of I Samuel about?
• Who are the main characters?
• Israel is about to receive its first king -- why?

David - Read  I Samuel 17-20

• What was David? (shepherd)
• What do shepherds do?
• Why did Jesse, David's father, send David to the battlefield? (to take food to three of his brothers in the army)
• What did David see when he got to the front lines? (a giant named Goliath)
• What was Goliath's boast?
• Why was everyone afraid in Saul's army? (Goliath was 9' 9" - 11' tall, his armor weighed more than David)
• What did David offer to do?
• Why was David so confident that he could defeat Goliath? (lion and bear)
• Bible Characters tells us that a shepherd slingshot isn't like the ones we use today. It consisted of a small patch of leather with two long straps. An average shepherd could hit a target over 50 yards away. The stone flew off of the patch at over 60 miles an hour.
• Why didn't David wear Saul's armor?
• What did Goliath say when he saw David?
• What was David's ringing statement to Goliath? (I Sam 17:45 Thou,46 (to ;)Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand;)
• What Goliaths need defeating in your life?
• Are you afraid of anything?
• How can you run to meet your fears?
• What is required to get rid of fear?

Make a list of all the lessons you have learned from David.

• David refused to give in to fear.
• He refused to let size make a difference.
• He volunteered when no one else would.
• He stood up for his nation and his God.
• He was confident in his ability to succeed with God.
• David used the tools he had and relied on what he knew (he had tested his sling; he knew he could use it effectively).
• He "ran" to meet Goliath (I Sam. 17:48). (see Make a Difference)

Solomon - Read I Kings 3

Ask the students to tell the story of Solomon

• Who were Solomon's parents? (David and Bathsheba)
• How did God appear to Solomon? (I Kings 3:5)
• What did He ask Solomon?
• What was Solomon's response? (I Kings 3:6-9)
• What did God give Solomon? (I Kings)
• Name three things Solomon did.
• Discuss the story of the two women fighting over the living child. (I Kings 3:16-28)
• Do you really think King Solomon would have divided the child?
• Why was his solution perfect?

Elijah - Read I Kings 17 – II Kings 2

• What was happening in the land?
• Why were they having a drought?
• Where did God tell Elijah to go? (I Kings 17:3)
• Who was going to feed Elijah? (I Kings 17:4)
• How many times of day were the ravens going to feed him?
• When the brook, Cherith, dried up, where did Elijah go?
• Why did the woman go ahead and fix a cake for Elijah when she only had enough food for her son and herself?
• Would you have given your last bit of food to a stranger?
• What did this widow discover about her generosity?
• What happened to the widow's son? (he died)
• What did Elijah do to help the widow? (he raised her son from the dead)
• Why is Elijah's raising the dead child significant?`
• What do you learn from these stories about God's love for us?
• How has God supplied your needs?
• Why is Obadiah afraid? (I Kings 18:7-16)
• Why is Elijah challenging the Baal prophets?
• What is the challenge? (I Kings 18:22-24)
• How many Baal prophets were there?
• What did they do?
• How successful were they in getting Baal to answer by fire?
• What did Elijah do after the Baal prophets failed to get an answer?
• Why do you think Elijah used so much water on his offering?
• After God answered by fire, what did the people do? (I Kings 18:39)
• Why did the people keep vacillating between God and idols?
• What possible comfort could they derive from a statue or piece of gold?
• Do people worship idols today? What kinds?
• After the fire contest, what did Elijah do to the prophets of Baal?
• How did Jezebel react to this news?
• What did she promise to do to Elijah?
• How did Elijah react? (I Kings 19:4)
• Why did Elijah want to give up? Hadn't God given him sufficient proof of His existence by answering with fire?
• What is the "still small voice?"
• Why wasn't God in the wind? Earthquake? Fire?
• Do you listen for the still small voice?
• Why would God whisper instead of shout?
• What did Elijah do to the river Jordan?
• Why is this significant?
• Can you remember any other times in Bible history when someone parted a body of water?
  • Red Sea
  • Jordan (when the Children of Israel go into Canaan)
  • Others?
• What does Elisha ask Elijah for? (A double portion of his spirit)
• What does that mean?
• Under what conditions will Elisha receive a double portion?
• What does this experience tell us about the importance of watchfulness?
• Did Elisha receive a double portion?
• How did Elisha "test" whether or not he had the ability to be a prophet like Elijah? (He used Elijah's cloak and parted the Jordan river.)
• Do you ever test God?

Elisha - Read II Kings 2-13

Widow and the pot of oil: (II Kings 4:1-7)

• Does this story remind you of another healing? (Elijah and the widow)
• What was going to happen to this woman?
• What did Elisha ask her? [one of my favorite questions in the Bible: what hast thou in the house?]
• What does that question mean?
• Have you ever had to see what you've had in the house for survival? ·
• What did the woman and her sons do?
• What did you learn from this story?

The Shunammite: (II Kings 4: 8-37)

• Elisha must have been an incredible man. Why? (a woman in Shunem invited him to eat bread; had her husband fix a room for him when he came to town - she saw he must be a man of God)
• Do people know we belong to God when they meet us? Why or why not?
• What would we need to do with our lives for others to see God through us?
• Who was Gehazi? (Elisha's servant)
• What did Elisha ask Gehazi? (what he could do for the woman)
• What was Gehazi's response? (the woman didn't have a son)
• Did she believe Elisha when he told her she was going to have a baby?
• Did she have a son? (yes)
• What happened to her son?
• What did the Shunammite woman do when she noticed her son was dead? (put him on Elisha's bed, got a donkey and a servant to ride with her to find Elisha)
• Where would she go to find Elisha? (Mount Carmel)
• Why did she go get Elisha?
• What was so special about him?
• Did she go to complain?
• When Elisha sent Gehazi to inquire if everything was all right, how did she respond? (It is well. Other translations say, "Everything is fine.")
• Why didn't she complain?
• Elisha understood something was wrong and after the woman told him her child had died, what did he do? (sent Gehazi with Elisha's staff to put on the child)
• Did this revive the boy? (No)
• What did Elisha do? (II Kings 4:33-37)
• Was this healing like any Elijah performed? (I Kings 17:21)

Poison in the Pot (II Kings 4:38-41)

• Where did Elisha visit the sons of the prophets? (Gilgal)
• What was wrong with the pottage (stew)? (one of the prophets had gathered a wild gourd)
• What did Elisha do to remedy the problem? (sprinkled in meal)
• Is that all he did? Do you think there was something else he did?
• Is there anything we need to be careful of when we gather food in a field? (mushrooms, other?)
• What does this require of us? Just to be careful of what we put in the pot? Is something more required?

Twenty Loaves of Bread (II Kings 4: 42-44)

• What is one of the most common themes of the stories about Elijah and Elisha? (supply)
• Discuss the Teen Time article on Infinite Supply.
• What happens in this story?
• Why did the man doubt that Elisha could feed 100 men with only twenty loaves of bread?
• Does this story remind you of any other in the Bible? (Jesus feeding the multitudes - lots more people and a lot less bread initially - but everyone was full, with scraps left over)
• Do you believe this is possible?
• How can we daily demonstrate this in our lives?
• What great lessons do you learn from Elijah and Elisha?

Hezekiah - Read II Kings 18-20

Discuss the wonderful story of Hezekiah. II Chronicles 29 - Hezekiah was nothing like his father.

• Describe King Ahaz.
• Describe Hezekiah.
• What is the major difference between this father and son? (obedience to God)
• What was one of the first things Hezekiah did as king? (got rid of the idols in the Temple and re-established the Passover feast)
• What one unusual thing were the people worshipping? (the brass serpent)
• What is the story behind the brass serpent? (Numbers 21:5-9)
• Why was Hezekiah afraid of King Sennacherib? (he quit paying taxes to Sennacherib and now he wanted to destroy Hezekiah and all of Judah)
• What did Hezekiah do with the letter he received from Sennacherib? (he spread it out in the Temple and prayed and then asked for the prophet Isaiah's advice)
• What did Isaiah tell Hezekiah? (that this battle belonged to God)
• What happened to Sennacherib's troops? (many died of a plague and the rest went back home - they never attacked Judah again)
• When Hezekiah was sick and about to die, what did he ask Isaiah? (if he would live)
• After Isaiah told Hezekiah he was going to die, what did Hezekiah do? (He prayed)

God told Isaiah to go back and tell Hezekiah he would live.

• What did Hezekiah demand of Isaiah? (a sign)
• What kind of a sign did Hezekiah want? (the sun to go back ten degrees)
• Do you ever ask God for a sign?
• What do we learn about Hezekiah? (He obeys God, he turns to God whenever he's in trouble, he prays,…)
• Why was Hezekiah's tunnel dug? (Judah was under attack, and his enemy was just waiting to cut off the supply of water to the city. Workmen worked underground at one end by the source of the water and the others under the city. They created a tunnel with just a bit of a jog in it that would bring water to the city if they needed it. What precision to work so quickly and only be off a few feet! That's where complete faith and trust in God come in to help us accomplish all good.)
• What other things do you know about Hezekiah?

Jabez - Read I Chronicles 4:9-10

• What is unusual about these two verses compared to the verses that precede and follow it?
• What are the four steps of prayer?
• How often do we get quiet and ask God to do for us what Jabez asked?
• How often do we ask God to bless us, give us a better life, stay with us all the time, and keep us from evil?
• If we do ask God, do we believe that He will answer our prayer? Or are we just asking out of habit? Or are we just hoping that God will hear us?
• Do we ask for what we really need? Or do we just ask for what we think God could possibly give us (and thus, limit our concept of God)? Or do we ask for things that we don't really need and which won't really bless us?
• Starting next month for the next four months, we will have articles on teaching the prayer of Jabez.

Esther - Read Esther

You might discuss what happened to Queen Vashti.

• Talk about vanity.
  • What is it?
  • How do you know when someone is acting vain?
• Why is the story of Esther important enough to be in the Bible?
• What do we learn from Esther’s example?

Job - Read Job

Review the story of Job. Explain that this is a drama. It opens with a description of Job's prosperity. He had everything he could ever want. We see that God is pleased and that Job is a good man and he honors God.

• What makes a "good" person?
• Describe someone you know who is good?
• Why is it important to be good?
• How do your parents, teachers, friends, treat you when you are good?
• How do you identify yourself?
• How would you answer the question, "Who am I?"
• What do you know about your nature?
• What does God know about you?

Discuss the story of Job starting with the visit of his three friends - Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar.

• Why are his friends visiting him?
• What do they recommend that Job should do? [Job 4:1-14:22 First cycle of speeches]
• What kind of comfort did they offer Job?
• Would you want them as your friends?
  • Why or why not?
• Describe the perfect friend.
  • Do you have a friend like that?
  • Are you a friend like your description?
• Would any of Job's friends fit the description of a perfect friend?
  • Why? Or Why not?
• If you had been Job's friend, what would you have done to help him?
• After reading about Job's friends, what do you learn about advice?
• Should we ever pay attention to what our friends say?
• What if we like our friends a lot and they recommend we do something that is bad – what do you do?
• How do you stand up to your friends when they are asking you to do something wrong?
• Do you feel insecure about breaking a friendship over standing for Principle?
• How did Job respond to his friends?
  • Did he cave in and do as they advised?
  • How did Job defend himself?
  • Are you willing to defend yourself?

Read - Job 38:1-42:6

After Job goes through three cycles of speeches from his friends, and Elihu's angry response, to whom does Job speak next? [God]

• What does God say to Job?
• What does God say about the creation of the universe?
• Why does God mention He created the universe?
• When God asks Job to speak, what do you notice about his answers? ·
• How would you respond to God?
• Who or what are Behemoth and Leviathan? [Behemoth could be either a gigantic species of hippopotamus or water buffalo. Leviathan, according to some researchers, could be a crocodile or a sea monster.]
• Why are these creatures mentioned? [If Job wants to play God, he must rule these beasts.]
• What is Job's response to God? [Absolute awe of God's power.]
• When did you talk with God last?
• Why is prayer a form of talking with God?
• How often do you pray?
• Give an example of how you pray.
• List some of the Bible figures you have studied who had conversations with God.
• Why is it important to talk with God?
• Do you hold God in complete reverence?
• Would you argue with God or listen?

Three Hebrew Boys - Read Daniel 3

• Who was the King?
• What did the King create?
• What did the King want the people to do when they heard the music?
• Have you ever heard music from a cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, or dulcimer?
• What is a cornet? [horn] Flute? Harp? Sackbut? [in the book of Daniel, it is a string instrument; elsewhere in the Bible, it is a wind instrument with a slide similar to a trombone], Psaltery? [a harp with a soprano register] Dulcimer? [In Daniel, it's more like a bagpipe]. Curiously enough, the line opens with two wind instruments, goes to three string instruments (varied in the number of strings each has), and closes with a wind instrument.

Teachers: If any of these instruments are available for you to bring to church, it adds to the lesson. If possible, make an audio recording of each of these instruments and bring pictures of each one so the children can hear and see the differences. Once you have them recorded, they can be used in the telling of the story. If you have pupils who play a musical instrument, ask them to bring their instruments to class and they can provide the music for that part of the story.

• What was the penalty if they didn't bow down to the image when the music played?
• Name the three Hebrew boys who refused to bow down to this image.
• What were their names before King Nebuchadnezzar changed them? (Dan. 1:6,7) [Shadrach was Hananiah, Meshach was Mishael, and Abed-nego was Azariah]
• How did the King respond when he heard that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego wouldn't pray to his gods or bow to his image of gold?
• Anger certainly can make people hot under the collar. Did the King's rage get hot like a fiery furnace? Was he heated 7 times greater than normal?
• Why is anger bad?
• Who does anger hurt?
• How did the three Hebrew boys respond to the King's anger?

Dan 3:17,18 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

• Describe what it feels like to stand up to evil?
• What did it take for these Hebrew boys to willingly submit to the fire rather than compromise their belief and faith in God?
• Are you faced with those kinds of challenges today?
• How hot did the King get the furnace?
• When the King looked into the furnace, what did he see? [see Q&A in Bible Overview]
• Who saved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego?
• What was unusual about their appearance when they came out of the furnace?
• What kinds of things are we tempted to bow down to?
• Name some fiery furnace experiences that you have faced. [Not that you've actually been put into a fire, but you have been put in uncomfortable circumstances as a result of taking a stand for good.]
• How have you dealt with difficult situations?
• Did you think you could come out of it without "the smell of fire?"
• What would the "smell of fire" be like today? [Any hurt that we carry with us from the past?]
• What lessons do you learn from the story of the three Hebrew boys?

Daniel - Read Daniel 6

• What kind of a man was Daniel?
• Why were the princes jealous of Daniel?
• What was in the law the King signed?
• What did the princes catch Daniel doing?
• Did Daniel try to hide the fact that he was praying?
• Do you think the king wanted Daniel to die? Why or why not?
• Why couldn’t the King sleep?
• How did Daniel handle the lions?
• What do you think his prayer was like?
• Talk about the types of lions' dens.
• What would be a modern day lions' den?
• What kinds of situations are similar to Daniel being fingered for praying to his God?
• How did Daniel face down fear?
• Read through the Psalms and select some that Daniel might have used while in the lions' den.
  • Example: Ps 143:9 Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.

Jonah - Read Jonah

• What was Jonah asked to do?
• Why didn't he do it?
• Where did he go instead?
• What happened?
• What is the moral issue here? (disobedience, willfulness, prejudice, lack of integrity?)
  • Did Jonah express integrity? When? [He owns up to being the cause of the storm.]
  • Discuss a life of integrity and how it relates to the interview with Gen. Ostenberg.
• What are lots? (see Shep and Lily)
• Would you flip a coin to see whether you should obey God?
• Has God ever asked you to do something? Did you do it?
• Why is it a bad idea to refuse God?
• What lessons do you learn from the story of Jonah?