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Why is obeying God better than all the delicious food in the world?Why is it sometimes hard to obey God?How can you be faithful to God?
Legends
July 20
This Week’s Bible Story
Daniel was faithful. (Daniel 1) Daniel was faithful to God, and God blessed him. In an even greater way, Jesus was always faithful to God. He came to earth and followed God’s plan to save sinners. Those who trust in Jesus receive God’s forgiveness and blessing.
Check-in + Worship 8:30 - 9:05 10:30 - 11:05
8:30 - 9:05
10:30 - 11:05
As kids check in, invite them to join their parents in the Auditorium during worship. Once the worship set ends, wait in the back for kids to join you and lead them back to the Zion Kids area.
Connect 9:05 - 9:15 11:05 - 11:15
9:05 - 9:15
11:05 - 11:15
Invite the kids to circle up and play the Lame Name Game. Let each kid share their name and answer today’s icebreaker question: If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Bible Story 9:15 - 9:30 11:15 - 11:30
9:15 - 9:30
11:15 - 11:30
Look up Daniel 1 and teach the Bible passage in your own words. (Optional: Use the story cards provided if you would like visuals.)
Story Overview:
Today we are going to learn about some boys who chose to eat something different from what everyone else was eating. They wanted to do what was right even if no one else was. Let’s listen to how God helped them courageously obey.
Jehoiakim (jih HOY uh kim) was the king over God’s people in Judah when Nebuchadnezzar (NEB yoo kad NEZ uhr), the king of Babylon, brought his army to Jerusalem. God’s people had sinned, so God let Nebuchadnezzar take over the city.
King Nebuchadnezzar gathered a group of healthy, handsome, and smart young men from Jerusalem. He took them back to Babylon to serve in his palace. The king gave them food to eat— the same kinds of food that he ate. He gave them drinks—the same kinds that he drank. He chose men to be their teachers for three years. Then they would be ready to serve in the king’s palace.
Four of the boys were different from the others in the group. They wanted to be faithful—to worship and obey the Lord, the one true God. These boys were named Daniel, Shadrach (SHAD rak), Meshach (MEE shak), and Abednego (uh BED-nih goh).
They remembered that God’s rules said His people were not supposed to eat the kinds of food that Nebuchadnezzar gave them. So Daniel asked the man in charge if he and his friends could have vegetables and water instead.
“Give us vegetables and water for 10 days, ” Daniel said. “Then see if we are strong or weak.”
So the guard brought Daniel and his friends vegetables and water. After 10 days, Daniel and his friends looked stronger and healthier than the other young men. So the guard let them eat vegetables and drink water instead of eating the king’s food.
God was happy that Daniel wanted to obey Him. God was kind to Daniel and his friends. He made them wise and smart. Daniel served in the king’s palace for many years.
Debrief 9:30 - 9:40 11:30 - 11:40
9:30 - 9:40
11:30 - 11:40
Activity 9:40 - 9:45 11:40 - 11:45
9:40 - 9:45
11:40 - 11:45
Call out different things kids should or should not follow. (Examples: parent’s rules, God’s Word, friends who lie, people who bully others, laws, game rules, people who lead others to disobey God, etc.) Instruct kids to walk to one side of the room if they should follow that thing or the other side if they should not follow. Play several rounds.
TAKEAWAY: Not everything or everyone is something we should follow. God’s Word helps us know how He wants us to live and what we should follow after.
Prayer Time 9:40 - 9:45 11:40 - 11:45
9:40 - 9:45
11:40 - 11:45
Close your small group time by praying with your kids. This week’s prayer focus will include a PRAYER OF BLESSING. Look up Numbers 6:24-26 and pray it over the kids in your group: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
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