2 Februari 2014

Kings: Abijah of Judah

1. HOOK:

• Prepare a plastic chair. Get a volunteer to come forward and put a hand on the chair. Get the volunteer to lift up the outside leg and lean towards the chair. The chair would move (control it a bit for younger kids), and the kid would lose balance.
• Then get another volunteer to come forward. Get this volunteer to put a hand on the wall and lean towards the wall. The wall doesn’t move, and the kid doesn’t lose balance. 
• Today we’re going to learn about somebody who put His trust in the Lord. He didn’t put his trust in other things (like numbers or his own strength and power), because those are like the plastic chair. If you lean on it, it may fail and you may fall. But if we trust the Lord, he is firm, like the wall.

 2. LESSON: King Abijah of Judah (1 Kings 15, 2 Chronicles 13)

• REVIEW: KINGS OF ISRAEL

• So far, we have learnt: 
• Rehoboam: Solomon’s son. Did not want to serve the people. People rebelled, and the kingdom was split into 2 — Israel and Judah. Rehoboam ruled over Judah.

• After Rehoboam died, his son Abijah succeeded him as king of Judah. He ruled Judah for 3 years.  
• What else do we know about Abijah? 
• The Bible records for us 2 main things in 1 Kings 15:
• Abijah did not have a WHOLE HEART like King David. He only had HALF HEART. He committed the sins of his father and grandfather of worshipping other gods etc.
• There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam (King of Israel) throughout Abijah’s lifetime.

• THE WAR (2 Chron 13) 
• One day, Jeroboam wanted to attack Abijah. He had 800,000 soldiers on his side. 
• Abijah got his troops ready too. But he only had 400,000 soldiers. 
• Who had the bigger army? Jeroboam (by double the number of troops) 
• Who would most probably win? Jeroboam 
• God’s ways are not our ways.  He delights to show His power in our weakness. (1 Cor 1:25) 
• Although we read that Abijah only had HALF HEART for God, he knew and understood that the ONLY way to win against his enemy was to fully rely on God. Not on numbers or his own strength or power.  
• Abijah was facing a huge enemy and he knew enough about God that he knew the only way he could win this battle was if God fought it for him.

• THE SPEECH 
• Abijah stood on the mountain and gave a speech to Jeroboam and his soldiers. His speech included: 
• Reminding them of God’s promise to David that his kingdom would reign forever. 
• Jeroboam made golden calves to be their gods and drove out God’s priests from his kingdom and allowed anyone who wants to be a priest to be one.(our lesson last week)
• Abijah’s kingdom had God’s priests who were obedient to follow God’s ways to worship.
• God is with Judah and enemies will lose if they fight against Him. “People of Israel, do not fight against the Lord, the God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed.” (2 Chron 13:12)

•  THE AMBUSH 

• But Jeroboam decided to go ahead. 
• He sent some of his troops behind Abijah’s troops to “sandwich” them. 
• When Judah turned and saw that there were Jeroboam’s armies in front AND behind them, they did the only thing they could do — they cried out to the Lord. 
• The priests blew their trumpets. The men of Judah raised the battle cry. 
• And even though Israel’s armies were 2x the size of Judah’s, the Bible records for us that God defeated the armies of Israel before King Abijah and Judah. 
• Israel’s armies fled, and Abijah and his men managed to strike down 500,000 of them. Imagine … 400,000 soldiers from Judah striking down 500,000 soldiers from Israel. Physically and logically, that was impossible. But God made it possible. 
• In 2 Chronicles 13:18, it says, “The Israelites were subdued on that occasion, and the people of Judah were victorious because they relied on the Lord, the God of their ancestors.”

• Conclusion:
• Even though Abijah did bad things, the one good thing he did was to remember God’s promise/covenant to his great grandfather, David.
• He knew that God promised to give King David a forever kingdom. 
• He knew God always kept His promises.
• So he knew God would not fail them.

• Even as a little boy, Abijah’s great grandfather, David, also remembered God’s promise/covenant to the people of Israel (e.g. the Abrahamic covenant of a great nation).
• When he saw Goliath mocking the armies of Israel, he said,“Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Sam 17:26) 
• When Goliath insulted him, David said, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” (1 Sam 17:45) 
• David knew who was with Israel and who will fight the battle for them — God.

• God is a Covenant-keeping God.  
• God kept His covenant when Goliath was threatening His people
• God kept His covenant with David when Jeroboam’s armies tried to ambush Abijah’s
• God didn’t help Abijah and Judah because they were so good or that they deserved it — even though Abijah boasted, “We are observing the requirements of the Lord our God.” 
• God helped Abijah and Judah because of His covenant with David — “For David’s sake, the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong.”
• And God keeps His covenant with Jesus, which was cut on the cross with Jesus’ blood.
• God will help us in our time of need — not because we deserve it; not because we are so good; but because He is good, and because we are His children under the New Covenant.
• For Jesus’ sake, God fights our battles for us. God protects us. God helps us and gives us the victory! 
• Praise the Lord!

•  Memory Verse:

o   2 Chron 13:18 The people of Judah were victorious because they relied on the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

Option: 

o   Ps 18:2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer ...

26 Januari 2014

Kelas Balita

Coach Dewi

Asst 1 : Jemimah

Asst 2 : Awan

Kelas 1 - 3

Coaches : Susi Tjio (Asst. Fenny)

Kelas 4 - 6

Coaches : Iwan & Shevica

Kings: Jeroboam and the Golden Calves

1. Lesson:

• Review of Kings of Israel

• So far, we have learnt:

• David: God promised David that there will be a Forever King on his throne. 
• Solomon: Solomon disobeyed God, so God told him that his kingdom will be taken away from him.
• Rehoboam: Solomon’s son. Did not want to serve the people. People rebelled, and the kingdom was split into 2 — Israel and Judah. Rehoboam ruled over Judah (2 tribes) 
• Jeroboam: God chose Jeroboam to rule over 10 tribes (Israel)

• Today we will take a look at King Jeroboam, the King of Israel (Northern Kingdom) 

•  Jeroboam 
• God had told Jeroboam: “If you do whatever I command you and walk in obedience to me and do what is right in my eyes by obeying my decrees and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Israel to you.”(1 Kings 11:38)
• (note: Under the Old Covenant, God’s presence and blessings were conditional — If Jeroboam obeyed fully, God would be with him and he would be blessed. If he didn’t, he would be punished.)
• Jeroboam became king of Israel — 10 tribes. 
• Rehoboam was king of Judah — 2 tribes. 






• Jerusalem and the Temple of Solomon, the place of worship, was in Judah. 
• The Jews from Israel would travel to Jerusalem for their temple worship and sacrifices.
• Jeroboam thought to himself: If the people from Israel kept going to Jerusalem to worship, they would gradually start supporting King Rehoboam and accept him as their king instead of me! (1 Kings 12:26-27)
• So Jeroboam decided to make 2 golden calves and set one up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. He said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”
• So the people of Israel went to Bethel and Dan to worship before the golden calves, instead of going to the Temple in Jerusalem. This was a sin. God had told the Israelites to worship Him only and not to bow down to any idols, such as the golden calves.
• Instead of following God and obeying Him, Jeroboam went on to set up his own forms of worship and create god in his own image — 
• He built more shrines (holy places) on high places
• He appointed priests from all sorts of people, even though they were not Levites (the tribe that God set aside to serve as priests)
• He instituted his own religious festivals (copying the ones held in Judah) 
• He offered sacrifices on the altar (the job of the priests) to the golden calves
• God sent prophets to warn Jeroboam about his evil ways, but he refused to change … even when his son became very ill and eventually died. 
• In the end, the prophet Abijah (the one who told Jeroboam that God had chosen him to be king) told him that because of the sins that Jeroboam committed and the sins he caused Israel to commit, God was very angry with Jeroboam and that his kingdom would be taken away from him one day. (1 Kings 14:7-9)

• Man-made Worship vs True Worship:

• In Jeroboam’s time, God’s Spirit was only in the Temple in Jerusalem. People could only worship God and make sacrifices at the Temple. 
• Because he feared losing his kingdom, Jeroboam took matters into his own hands and created his own methods of worship to keep people away from Jerusalem.
• God gave Jeroboam a wonderful offer of a great dynasty, but Jeroboam did not believe God — he ignored God’s willingness and ability to keep His promises. 
• He forgot that his kingdom was from God anyway. He forgot God’s promise that as long as he followed God, God will give him a great kingdom and a powerful dynasty.
• He tried to set up places of worship so people could worship God anywhere and everywhere. 
• However he failed. That’s because man, even kings, are sinful and unholy.They cannot simply approach God and worship Him anywhere and anyhow. 
• That’s why Jesus had to come to die for us and to wash us clean so that we can approach God freely anytime.
• When Jesus was talking to the Samaritan woman, she said, “Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” (John 4:20) 
• Jesus told her: “A time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem ... Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” 
• Jesus was talking about a time where people would be able to approach God and worship Him anywhere in Spirit and in truth. They didn’t have to go to a temple or a mountain to worship God. 
• When Jesus died and rose again, those who believed in Him would have God’s Spirit in them, and they would be able to worship God in Spirit and in truth. 
• Because of Jesus, our Forever King, we can worship God anywhere and approach Him boldly and confidently! Thank you Jesus! 

• Conclusion: 
• Solomon was wise but disobedient king. Jesus is our wise and obedient Forever King.
• Rehoboam was proud and refused to serve the people. Jesus is our servant King who came to give us rest.
• Jeroboam tried to let unholy people worship a holy God everywhere. Jesus’ death made us holy and opened the way for us to worship the Father in Spirit and in truth.

 Memory Verse:

• John 4:23-24 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.
• Simplified: John 4:24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth. 

19 Januari 2014

Kelas Balita

Coach Junita

Asst 1 : Kasey

Asst 2 : Adeline

Kelas 1 - 3

Coaches : Yungcien (Asst. Dedy)

Kelas 4 - 6

Coaches : Savitri (Asst. Miguel)

Kings: Rehoboam the Proud King

1. Lesson:

• Last week we learnt: God had prophesied to Solomon that because of his disobedience, his kingdom will be taken away from him. The prophet Ahijah had prophesied to Jeroboam that he would become king over 10 of Israel’s 12 tribes. 

•  The People’s Request

• Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, succeeded to the throne after his father, Solomon, died.
• Rehoboam went from Jerusalem to Shechem, a city about 40 miles north of Jerusalem, to establish himself as king in the north. (This is where Joshua spoke his last words and where Joseph’s bones were buried.)
• Jeroboam had been an administrator of Shechem during the reign of King Solomon. He was popular there.
• During the reign of King Solomon, Solomon had many big building projects, such as the Temple and his palace. And the people had to do a lot of the work and pay a lot of the taxes. So the people asked Jeroboam to talk to King Rehoboam on their behalf for some help.
• Jeroboam and the people of Israel told King Rehoboam, “Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”
• King Rehoboam told the people to give him 3 days to think about their requests.
• Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?”
• They replied, “If you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.” The elders said that If King Rehoboam helped the people, the people would always serve him faithfully. It was good advice.
• But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders. Instead, he consulted his friends for their advice.
• The young men gave King Rehoboam bad advice. They told him NOT to help the people and to make their problems even BIGGER! “Tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’”
• So 3 days later, Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam.
• The king answered the people harshly. “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.”
• So the king did not listen to the people. He did not help them. This was so that God’s prophesy through the prophet Ahijah would be fulfilled.
• When all Israel saw that King Rehoboam refused to listen to them, they rebelled against the king and rejected him.
• Instead they made Jeroboam their king.
• Only 2 tribes — Judah and Benjamin — remained faithful to King Rehoboam.
• Revise: Jeroboam was king of 10 tribes (Israel); Rehoboam was king of 2 tribes (Judah)

• Conclusion: The Proud King vs Jesus: The Servant King 

• Rehoboam did not consult God. He did not listen to good advice. He thought he was smart enough to make his own decisions. He did not listen to the people. He had no compassion for them. He lorded over them and wanted to show his power and strength.

• Rehoboam was the exact opposite of Jesus, the Forever King.
• Rehoboam refused to serve his people. Jesus came to serve and to give His life for us. Mark 10:45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 
• Rehoboam wanted to put a heavier yoke on the people. Jesus offered an easy yoke, a light burden and rest. Matt 11:28, 30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 
• Rehoboam spoke harshly to the people. Jesus is gentle and humble in heart. Matt 11:29 …  for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 
• Even though Rehoboam was not a good king, God still preserved David’s line so that one day, the best king, Jesus, would come and reign as our Forever King. Thank you Jesus!

2. Suggested Activities

• Memory Verse: 
  Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
• Worksheets
  

12 Januari 2014

Kelas Balita

Coach Susan

Asst 1 : Felicia

Asst 2 : Tasya

Kelas 1 - 3

Coaches : Iwan & Shevica

Kelas 4 - 6

Coaches : Lusiana & Lily Bun

Kings: The Divided Kingdom

1. Lesson: The Divided Kingdom (1 Kings 11)

• REVIEW: ORIGINS OF NATIONS OF ISRAEL

 

• Abraham: God promised, "I will make you a great nation"
• Jacob: Renamed "Israel" after wrestling with God
• 12 Sons:
• Went to Egypt when Joseph was leader 
• Descendants became slaves
• God delivered from Egypt
• Entered promised land as nation of Israel (12 tribes)

•  REVIEW: KINGS OF ISRAEL<suggest using flashcards or pictures for younger kids to stick up at correct places>

• God was the King of Israel. He spoke to His people through prophets and judges.
• But the people of Israel wanted their own king that they could see, like all the other nations around them. (1 Sam 8)
• God was not happy. But He gave them a king anyway.

• Saul had NO HEART for God: Disobeyed God
• David had WHOLE HEART for God: Man after God's heart
• Solomon had HALF HEART for God: Started well, but ended up worshipping false gods

• Solomon turned to worship his many wives’ false gods. He did not keep his promise to God to follow the One and Only True God with his WHOLE HEART, as his father David did.
• Because of that, God told him that his kingdom will be divided (1 Kings 11:9-13).

• Ahijah & Jeroboam (1 Kings 11:31, 37-39)
  Reference: Ministry to Children
  
  ACT IT OUT: Get 2 volunteers to act out this scene; Props needed: a large paper cloak — large piece of colour paper in shape of shirt.
• Solomon had an official who was a good worker. His name was Jeroboam.
• One day after Jeroboam was finished with his work and was on his way home, God sent a prophet, Ahijah, to meet him. 
• The prophet Ahijah was wearing a new cloak. <show paper cloak>
• When he saw Jeroboam, Ahijah took his new cloak and tore it into 12 pieces. <tear the paper cloak into 12 and get the kids to count 1-12>

 

• The prophet gave 10 pieces to Jeroboam. Ahijah told Jeroboam that because of Solomon’s disobedience, God was taking away part of his kingdom and giving it to Jeroboam. Jeroboam would be king of 10 of Israel’s 12 tribes. And if Jeroboam obeyed God and worshipped Him only, he will have a great kingdom.
• The 10 tribes would form Israel; Jeroboam to be king
• The remaining 2 tribes (Judah and Benjamin) would form Judah; Solomon’s son, Rehoboam to be king
• Note: For younger kids, you can prepare 12 building blocks to represent the tribes of Israel. Get them to count out 10 blocks and separate it from the last 2.

• Maps of Israel, pre and post division:

 

  

CONCLUSION:

• Ahijah ends his prophecy with, “I will humble David’s descendants because of this, but not forever.”
• Although Solomon was unfaithful, God was always faithful.
• Despite Solomon’s disobedience, God did not forget His promise to David that he will have a forever kingdom (2 Sam 7:16). God promised David that David’s family would have a king to rule forever.
• David was from the tribe of Judah, and one of his descendants would be the forever King and known as the Lion of Judah.
• Do you know the Name of this King who was born from David’s family? (Jesus)
• Because of Solomon’s sin and disobedience, his once glorious kingdom was divided and separated.
• Because of our sin and disobedience, we were divided and separated from God.
• But Jesus came to fulfil God’s promises as a forever King and a Saviour for all of us, so that we may be reconciled/united with God again. Thank you Jesus!

2. Activity Suggestions: 

• Memory Verse: Get kids to memorise
  2 Cor 5:19  God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.
• Song (to tune of “If you’re happy and you know it”) 

• The kingdom was divided, split in 2 (2x)
  The kingdom was divided (2x)
  The kingdom was divided, split in 2
  
  Israel got 10 tribes, Judah 2 (2x)
  Israel got 10 tribes (2x)
  Israel got 10 tribes, Judah 2

• Worksheet

5 January 2014

Kelas Balita :

Coach Carrie 

(Asst. Laila & Javelyn)

Kelas 1-3 :

Coach Susi Tjio 

(Asst. Fenny)

Kelas 4-6 :

Coach Swanky

Team Praise and Worship :

Music by Maxteen Ministry 

"Alvin, Alvaro, Kevin" with Coach Andrew

Worship Leaders &amp; Ice Breakers : 

Andy & Miguel

Seek first His Kingdom

1. Icebreakers 

• Play a simple age-appropriate icebreaker. Some examples:
• Freeze! 
  Play praise music and lead the children in movements (stepping side to side, clapping their hands, stomping their feet, tiptoeing, following the teacher in a circle, slapping their legs, doing jump and jacks, reaching up high and down low, etc). Have an assistant shut the worship music off and have the students freeze, standing completely still.  Play the music again and repeat multiple times.  For an added challenge, while students are freezing, recite a memory verse and begin again.

• Simon says  
  One teacher is Simon.  Simon yells out a command such as, “Simon says, march in place!”  The students would then follow the command because “Simon says” to do it.  If Simon does not use the phrase “Simon says” before stating the command and a child still follows, then that child will be seated and is out of the game until the end of the round.  Play continues with eliminations until one child remains who will become the next Simon.

• I spy with a little eye 
  Get kids to take turns spying out objects or people in the room. You may want to put some props around (e.g. stuffed animals, pictures from Bible lessons from last year etc) or get kids to sit in a circle and spy out each other. E.g. “I spy with my little eye someone wearing a red dress.”

• Blanket game 
  Get all the kids to introduce themselves. Divide class into 2 teams. Hold a large blanket in between. Each team sends a representative to sit in front of the blanket. When blanket is dropped, first side to shout out name of the other wins a point for their team.

2. Lesson

• At Christmas time, some of you had a list of presents that you wanted. Maybe it’s a new Transformers. Or a Barbie doll. Or a truck. Or a book.
• As we enter this new year, what is it that we want? Is it good results? Favour with your parents? Good health? Nice new clothes? A holiday? PSP?
• We all want and need good things in our lives. And God our Father wants to give us good things. He wants to bless us tremendously every day. We just need to look to Him. He is the source of everything.
• Jesus tells His disciples (Matt 6:25-33): DON’T WORRY! 
• Don’t worry about: 
• What you will eat 
• What you will drink
• Your body
• What you will wear

• Jesus gave us 2 examples: 
• Birds of the air: They don’t sow or reap or store, but the Heavenly Father feeds them.
• The flowers of the field: They don’t labour or spin. They are here today and gone tomorrow. Yet God dresses them in more splendour than King Solomon.

• You and I are worth much more to God than the birds and the flowers. 
• God who provides for the birds and the flowers will provide for you and for me. We don’t have to run after all these things like people who don’t know Jesus. 
• Jesus says, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33)
• It’s not because of our own goodness that we deserve all these, but because of Jesus’ goodness, Jesus’ righteousness.

• We are blessed because Jesus was so good. 
• So let’s chase after Jesus instead. Go after His kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy. Recognise and remember that it’s His goodness in us that qualifies for any and every of God’s blessings. Chase Him, worship Him, spend time with Him … because He loves you and wants to spend time with you.
• This year, 2013, let’s not chase after all these things — good results, favour with your parents, teachers and friends, good health, nice new clothes, holidays, PSP etc.
• Let’s look to Jesus and His righteousness in us, and we KNOW that ALL these things will be given to us as well! 
• As we learned in Psalm 23, as the sheep follow the Shepherd, goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives. 
• Chase Jesus, and all these blessings will chase after us!