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1David—God’s Choice for KingBIBLE STORYGod Chose a King1 Samuel 16

BIBLE TRUTHGod chooses people to do His work.

This lesson will help early elementary children . . .

• Know God chose David to be the king of Israel

• Realize that their love and obedience is more important to God than what others think of them

• Feel encouraged that God has something for them to do for Him

VERSE-A-MONTH“Teach me your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path” (Psalm 27:11).

Reflect on the WordRead 1 Samuel 16. Have you ever been determined to have things your own way? For two years I insisted on selling my house and moving. It gets old being questioned over and over, “Have you sold your house, yet?” And now I have to serve up humble pie because I finally realized and accepted that God wants me to wait. And all this time, I had been insisting on having my way.

Israel insisted on having a king. They chose Saul. Saul was the people’s choice. And though he was strong, handsome, and charismat-ic, Saul’s trust in God had failed at the most critical moments. He had repeatedly grown impatient, distrustful, choosing to do things his way. God’s spirit left Saul, never to return. Saul sunk deeper and deeper into depression and paranoia. The Israelites’ choice for a king was clearly not working out.

The writers of the Book of Samuel want us to know: David was chosen by God. And even before he was crowned king, God was at work shaping David into the kind of leader who would rule his people as God ruled His people. It’s not surprising, then, that God would choose a shepherd to become king. He sent Samuel to anoint David. There was only one problem; Saul was still on the throne and his sons were

waiting to ascend the throne.The youngest son of a common Benjaminite, David was not an obvious

choice to follow King Saul as ruler of Israel. This is our first glimpse of David. He is still the little shepherd boy, almost forgotten when the prophet Samuel calls upon his family. Samuel was not expecting this, for though David was youthful and handsome, he certainly did not have the lineage or upbringing be-fitting a future king. However, we will soon find David possessed characteristics that made him uniquely qualified to slay giants and soothe troubled hearts, to defeat armies and unite a divided land.

David’s story began with obedience. And David’s obedience is central to the rest of his story. Both the aged prophet and the future king submitted to God’s decision not knowing what lay ahead. God chose David to rule a nation, but destined him to be a vessel through which salvation would come to the world. While none of our children may be chosen to be king or ruler of a nation, their tender and willing hearts can reflect that of David’s, a man after God’s own heart.

Week 1 of 6

Reflect on this:

• Are you insisting on your own way in some area of your

life right now?• Are you willing to consider God’s direction for you

even if it seems out of the ordinary?

LESSON HELPS HELPING HAND Tips for teachers.

DIGGING DEEPERImportant biblical and theological insights.

Foundational words of the faith.

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“God’s Shepherd King” Bulletin Board Resources, Item 2

Bible Memory Walk Resources, Item 4

Optional Activity: Pick a Play Dough

Bible Story – “God Chose a King” Resources, Item 2

Bible Story Review

Optional Bible Activity: Anointing a King

What Does God Want Me to Do? Connections, Sheet 1b

Shepherd’s Journal Connections, Sheet 1

Closing and Prayer Adventures; Parent Connections; Connections, Sheet 15

Optional Activity: Faith Words Resources, Item 3

Attention

Getters

Bible   Explorations

Connections

   To Life

LESSON PLANNERChoose from these activities to support the Bible story.

See Hear & Say Sing Do Solve Read & Write

NOTES              

PRE-SESSION POPPERS

Verse in Motion[Bonus ideas for Lesson 1 of unit 1—give Verse-a-Month Club activity, etc.]

To help the children learn the new Verse-a-Month Club memory verse, teach them these motions to go with the words.

“Teach [hands in open book motion] Me [point to self] Your way [palms facing each other, parallel, make river motion] O [arms create “O” overhead] Lord [“L” index and thumb, move from right shoulder to waist] Lead [offer right hand outstretched] Me [point to self] In a straight path” [ palms facing each other, parallel, move hands

straight out from body]

Psalm 27:11. [open palm]

Time LinePrepare Resources, Items 1A and 1B as directed on the item. Mount

the time line on a wall in your classroom. Use it each week to help the children understand how each Bible story is part of God’s story. Use it also to help them figure out the location of each story in the Bible.

NEW TESTAMENT  When Jesus Was On Earth After Jesus Went Back To Heaven

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“God’s Shepherd King” Bulletin BoardBefore class, Prepare Resources, Item 2, as

directed on the item. Cover the bulletin board with paper and add a border.

In class, Let students help assemble the bulletin board. Place the title strips and picture of David on his throne as shown in the

diagram. Keep the punch-out pieces to add each week after the Bible story. Ask, Do you know the names of any kings from the Bible? Who do you think this king is? I wonder how he got to be a king. Let students offer their ideas.

TRANSITION: Say, We will begin to find out about this man in our Bible story today. Listen carefully and see if

you can figure out who he is.

Bible Memory WalkBefore class, Prepare Resources, Item 4, as directed on the item.In class, Introduce the new Verse-a-Month Club memory verse, Psalm 27:11.

Show the children where the Book of Psalms is in the Bible. If the children have their Bibles help them find the cor-rect chapter and verse. Read the verse two or three times to the students. Hold up the stones from Item 4 one at a time as you repeat the verse. Then hand out the stones to six different students. Have the students stand and try to line themselves up in the correct order. Encourage other students

to help them. Say, This verse asks God to teach us His way and lead us in a straight path. What do you think that means? Let students share their ideas.

TRANSITION: Say, God shows us in the Bible how to live for Him. Our verse tells us that He will lead us in a straight path which means the right path that will lead us to God. In our Bible story today another man asks God to lead him as he looks for a special person. Listen to find out who needed God’s direc-tion and why.

Pick a Play-DohBefore class, Obtain assorted colors of Play-Doh in jars and switch the lids

so they do not match the colors in the jars.In class, Let the children choose a jar of Play-

Doh. Have children all open them at the same time. As the children notice the Play-Doh color does not

match the lid, ask, Is your Play-Doh the color you thought it would be? What were you expecting? Let children offer their ideas. Ask, Can we tell what people are like just by look-ing at them? While we cannot see what is inside someone’s heart or mind, God can.

If you wish, allow the children to play with the Play-Doh for a few minutes.TRANSITION: Say, Today we are going to meet someone who looked one

way, but God saw something different.

You’ll need• Resources, Item 2

• Bulletin board, paper, border• Stapler or tacks

Attention

Getters

Use these activities to help focus the children’s attention and prepare them to learn today’s Bible Truth.

The transition state-ment provided at the end of each Attention

Getters activity is a tool to lead children to the Bible Explorations section of the lesson. You will only use one transition statement—the statement connected to the last activity used before Bible Explorations.

Use these memory stones for a variety of memory activities:

• Hide them around the room and let students search for them. When they find the stones they must arrange them in the correct order.

• Place all the stones in order on a table or the floor. Say the verse together and then begin removing one stone at a time while the students continue to say the verse.

You’ll need• Bibles

• Resources, Item 4• Cardboard or foam board, opt.

• Laminating machine and film or clear Con-Tact paper, opt.

You’ll need• Assorted colors of

jars of Play-Doh

Lesson 1

Option

9

Choose from these activities to help students connect the Bible Truth to life.

Bible StoryBefore class, Make an anointing horn

by rolling construction paper into a cone and fastening it with tape or glue. Fill the “horn” with torn pieces of tissue paper.

In class, Have the children stand in a line as if they are Jesse’s sons (at least three sons and David). Walk back and forth in front of them as you tell the story. Build suspense during the story by pretending to tip the horn on each of the sons. When David is anointed in the story, pour confetti over the head of the child standing there.

After the story, Have a child add the sheep from Item 2 to the bulletin board. Ask, What does this item have to do with our story? (David was a shepherd and took care of the sheep.) Samuel was looking for God’s chosen king. Where did they find David? (In the field taking care of sheep)

You’ll need• Resources, Item 2, Picture 1• Brown construction paper

or cardstock• Tissue paper confetti

• Glue or tape

ANOINT: To put oil on some-one’s head. Kings, priests, and prophets were anointed in the Bible. This act showed that God had chosen them to do something special for Him.

GOD’S WORK: Everything that God does. God’s work is also anything God asks people to do.

God Chose a King1 Samuel 16

The people had chosen Saul to be their king. But Saul disobeyed God. God chose His own king. God sent Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king. Samuel was nervous. King Saul did not know his prophet would be anointing another king. He would not be pleased. Samuel was afraid Saul would find out and kill him.

Samuel filled his horn with oil. He chose a young cow to make an offer-ing. When the elders of Bethlehem saw Samuel, they were afraid. He invited them to the offering. He invited Jesse and seven of his sons. They were strong young men. Samuel saw Eliab, the oldest son. He thought that surely this man would be the next king. God said, “No. Samuel, do not choose a man to be king just because he looks good.”

Samuel shook his head and stepped to the next son, Abinadab (A-bin-a-dab). Again, Samuel looked carefully into his eyes. Again God said, “No.” Samuel stopped in front of each son, wondering which one God had chosen. Surely there was one here among them! Samuel walked up and down looking over the sons of Jesse. God continued to say, “No, no, no, no, and no.” Was this everyone?

Samuel turned from the seven sons to ask Jesse, “Are there any more?” Surprised, Jesse said, “Yes, but he’s the youngest, and he’s tending sheep.” Samuel knew he needed to see this little shepherd boy, the youngest of Jesse’s sons.

They brought David to Samuel. God said to Samuel, “Rise and anoint him; he is the one.” He poured the horn of anointing oil over David’s head. “The Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power.” Saul did not know God had chosen David to take his place as king. Hardly anyone knew this shepherd boy was destined to be the shepherd of God’s people.

David was called upon to serve under Saul. Saul was deeply troubled and needed someone to play the harp to help him. David played the harp well. He was sent to the palace to play music for Saul. David’s music brought peace to Saul’s troubled heart. God’s shepherd king served the people’s king.

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Bible Story ReviewBefore class, Find a sheep button or tiny sheep figure to use for this game.In class, Have the children stand in a line with their hands, out in front

of them, cupped together like a bowl. Give one child the sheep and have that child walk along the line putting his or her hands in each pair of hands one by one. In one pair of hands the child drops the sheep but continues to touch the others’ hands so no one knows where the sheep is except the giver and receiver. Then have the child who dropped the sheep call out, “Sheep, sheep, who has the sheep?” Let each child in the line guess by saying, “[Mary] has the sheep.” If the guess is correct, [Mary] must answer a question and becomes the next player. If the guess is incorrect, play continues until the person with the sheep is identified. When the person with the sheep is found, he or she must answer a review question to become the next player (giver of the sheep).

Questions:1. How many sons of Jesse were older than David? (Seven)2. What was David doing when Samuel asked for him? (Tending sheep)3. What did Samuel do to show David was chosen by God to be king?

(He anointed David with oil)4. How did Samuel feel about anointing David? (Nervous)5. Did David become king right away? (No)

Anointing a KingBefore class, Add a drop of rose or lavender essential oil to two table-

spoons of olive oil. Shake well and store in a small jar or vial.In class, Tell the Bible story, “God Chose a King.” When you come to the

part of the story that tells how Samuel anointed David, stop and apply a small dab of oil to the wrist or forehead of each

child. Finish the story then say, Samuel was God’s prophet. God told him to go to Bethlehem to anoint a new king. David would not officially become the king for several more years. However, this anointing by Samuel, witnessed by the people, signaled the approval and blessing of God on His chosen king.

What Does God Want Me to Do?Say, Samuel anointed David

because God told him to. God chose David to be the next king of Israel. You will probably not be asked to become a king but what might God ask you to do? Let the children share their ideas.

Give each child Sheet 1b. Say, Let’s read the words on this page. Now write words on the hand that tell what you think God wants you to do. Choose from the words printed on this page or think of other words. Then color the hand to match yours.

Ask, How can you show love to God and others this week? Can you do the things you think God wants you to do? Encourage the children, this week, to try to do one of the things written on their Connections sheet.

You’ll need• Olive oil

• Rose or lavender essential oil

• Small jar or vial

Background music can be helpful for some

children. Play harp or string music softly in the background during the Bible story or as children work on other activities.

You’ll need• Connections, Sheet 1b

• Pencils• Crayons

Lesson 1

Option

You’ll need• Sheep button or tiny figure

Choose from these activities to help students connect the Bible Truth to life.

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Lesson 1

Option

Connecti

ons

to L

ife

Shepherd’s JournalBefore class, Obtain cardstock to use for journal covers. Have

decorative items, such as ribbon and buttons, available for creating attractive covers.

In class, Read 1 Samuel 16:7 to the children. Discuss the mean-ing of this verse with them. Say, God told Samuel to choose David even though he was the youngest and seemed less kingly than his brothers. But God knew that David was the right person to be king. God knows what is in our hearts. What does God see in your heart? Does He see love, obedience, and kindness? Or does He see anger, lying, and rebellion?

Give each child Sheet 1. Say, Today we are going to begin work-ing on a journal. What does God see in you? Write some words on your journal page that describe what you think God sees in you. Are these things pleasing or disappointing to God?

Let children create a cover for their journals using the cardstock and decorative items. Be sure to collect the journal pages and covers and clip them together for each child. Save to use again next week. At the end of this unit each child will create his or her own com-pleted journal for home.

Closing and PrayerSay, God told Samuel to go and choose another king. Samuel obeyed.

God chose David to be the new king. David obeyed. God still chooses people today to do His work. God may want to choose you to do something special

for Him. Your love and obedience to God is more important than what other people think about you. Keep asking God to teach you what you need to know and to lead you in the right path.

Have the children make a line. Go down the line and pray for each child placing your hand on his or her head. Pray that God will

bless each child and teach that child what he or she needs to know to love and follow Him. Thank God for what each child is going to do with his or her life.

Hand out Adventures, Unit 1 Parent Connections, and Connections Verse-a-Month Club verse reminder on page 15.

Faith WordsBefore class, Prepare the Faith Words

word cards for Unit 1 from Resources, Item 3. Designate one wall space in the classroom as the Faith Words Wall. Create a title from con-struction paper or cardstock for this area. Add new Faith Words word cards as they are used in the lessons.

In class, Introduce the Faith Words for this lesson, anoint and God’s work. Show the word cards and read the definitions to the children. Say, Each unit will have new Faith Words for us to learn. We will add these Faith Words to our Faith Words Wall. Use the definitions found in the narrow column of this lesson to help explain what these words mean. Have the children read the words and try to give a definition for them. Then let volunteers use each word in a sentence.

You’ll need• Take-home items for each

child (including Adventures and Parent Connections for Unit 1)• Connections Verse-a-Month

Club reminder

You’ll need• Resources, Item 3

• Construction paper or cardstock• Marker

• Plasti-Tak

Try This!The thermos isn’t just for soup. New and trendy thermos lunches:

• Pizza bread cut into small pieces • Chicken nuggets • Rice and beans • Scrambled eggs and bacon

• Grilled cheese sandwich stripsChange up your sandwich: • Apple butter and fresh apple slices (dipped in lemon juice and drained before putting in the bread)

• Soft cheese spread with a slice of ham and grated carrot • Blueberry cream cheese and sliced strawberries

• Veggie cream cheese and cucumber slices

GOD’S SHEPHERD KINGBible Truth: God is at work in every part of our lives.

These six lessons will help children become familiar with how God worked in the life

of David, know that God is always at work in their lives, grow in their trust that God is

with them and helps them, and praise God for His work in their lives.

Verse-a-Month Club Bible Memory Verse: “Teach me your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight

path” (Psalm 27:11).Faith Words: Anoint–to put oil on someone’s head; God’s work–everything that God does.

Weeks 1 t hro

ugh 6

Fall 2008

Parent Connectionsfor families of young children

Dear Parent, We are so glad to continue to join

with you in nurturing your child spiritu-

ally, physically, emotionally, socially, and

mentally. You hold the unique position in

your child’s life as spiritual mentor. Your

child looks to you for consistent guidelines

of right and wrong. You are the day-to-day

example of God’s grace and justice in your

child’s life. It is our goal to come alongside and

give you spiritual parenting tools. In ad-

dition to this note, each week your child

will bring home a paper called Adventures.

Adventures includes the week’s Bible story,

activities for you to do at home with your

child, and fun facts to encourage your

child’s love of learning. As your family gets into a back-to-

school routine, incorporate spiritual train-

ing into the schedule. The time invested

in your family’s spiritual health is the best

investment you will ever make. Thank you

for allowing us to join with your family.

You’ll need• Connections, Sheet 1

• Cardstock• Decorative items, markers,

ribbon, buttons, etc.