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 LifeWay

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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A Kingdom in Trouble LifeWay

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 LifeWay

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

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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 LifeWay

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

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© 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?

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© 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

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A Kingdom in Trouble