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Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 57 “Daniel and the Lion’s Den”

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Featured Passage: Daniel 6

Babylon was captured by the Medes the very night that Daniel interpreted the handwriting on the wall. The new King Darius appointed one hundred twenty satraps (princes) over the provinces of his empire and three governors over them. One of the governors over the satraps was Daniel. Daniel did so well at his job that the king thought about making him the leader over the whole realm. The other governors and satraps were not happy about this idea. They wanted to find something that Daniel was doing wrong, but they couldn’t find anything that would be a reason to fire him from his job. They needed to come up with a plan to get rid of Daniel. 

Discuss:

Rebekah Ross | Living Education
  • Why do you think the other government officials wanted to take action against Daniel? Why was it hard for them to find anything wrong with Daniel? 
  • What was the scheme the men came up with to get rid of Daniel. How did the satraps and governors get the king to sign their new decree?
  • What did Daniel do when he heard about the new law? What character traits can we learn from Daniel’s decision? 
  • Why could the king not pardon Daniel when the officials wanted him punished for praying to God? How did the king feel he found out what his officials were up to? 
  • What was Daniel’s punishment? How did God protect Daniel? How did the king respond to the miracle? 
  • What happened to the officials who accused Daniel? 

Memory Challenge 

Daniel 6:25-27

Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth:

Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

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Children’s Bible Lessons – Level 2: Lesson 56 “The Handwriting on the Wall”

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Featured Passage: Daniel 4-5

King Nebuchadnezzar had a rich kingdom that dominated much of the world in its time, and he was proud of it. He became so filled with pride that God warned him through a dream that he was going to be greatly humbled. Just as Daniel interpreted, for seven years Nebuchadnezzar lived like an animal. When he finally came to his senses, he acknowledged that God was sovereign over all. After Nebuchadnezzar died, Belshazzar became king of Babylon. Belshazzar did not learn anything from Nebuchadnezzar’s mistake. You could say that the handwriting was on the wall. 

Discuss:

Rebekah Ross | Living Education
  • What happened to Nebuchadnezzar after he became filled with pride? Do you think Nebuchadnezzar learned anything from this experience?
  • What did Belshazzar do that was considered a prideful act against God? From what example should he have learned about the consequences of pride? 
  • How did God get everyone’s attention? Can you imagine how frightened people must have been? 
  • What did the writing on the wall say? What did Daniel explain its meaning to be? Today, what does the expression “the handwriting is on the wall” mean? 
  • How long did it take for God’s warning to become true? Who ruled Babylon after Belshazzar?

Memory Challenge: 

Daniel 4:34

And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation.

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Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 55 “The Fiery Furnace”

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Featured Passage: Daniel 3

Daniel’s friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego (Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah) were given positions outside the palace in the province of Babylon. One day, the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, decided to set up a huge golden statue. The height of it was 60 cubits–about as tall as an 8-story building! Nebuchadnezzar commanded that everyone worship the statue when they heard the music playing in its honor, or they would be put to death. Of course Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego had no intention of bowing to idols. The trouble began when some of the Chaldeans found out and reported them to the king.

Discuss:

Artist: Celia Pringle – Charlotte, NC Congregation | All rights reserved
  • Which Commandment forbids worshiping idols?
  • In what way did Nebuchadnezzar decide a person be put to death if they did not worship the golden image?
  • What did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego say when the king gave them one more chance to bow down and worship the idol? 
  • Did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego know for sure that God would deliver them? In what ways did they have to show courage? 
  • What happened to the men who threw the three men into the fiery furnace?
  • When the king looked into the furnace, he saw four men. Who was the fourth one that the king saw?
  • What happened to Sadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego after they had been thrown into the furnace? 
  • What did King Nebuchadnezzar do after Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego walked out of the fire?

Memory Challenge: 

Daniel 3:16-18 

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

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Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 54 “Daniel Taken Captive”

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Featured Passage: Daniel 1-2

The nation of Judah refused to repent of their sins, so God allowed the Jews to be carried away as captives to Babylon. Some of the first to be taken to Babylon were noblemen and their families; Daniel was most likely taken captive with this group. When they arrived in Babylon, Daniel was selected to be among the young men who would be taught the language, literature, and culture of the Babylonians. Even though he was a captive, Daniel was determined to live according to God’s laws which were certainly not practiced by the Babylonians. The first test came when Daniel’s first plate of food was set before him. 

Rebekah Ross | Living Education

Discuss: 

  • Who was the king of Babylon when Daniel was taken captive?
  • Why do you think Daniel did not want to eat the king’s delicacies? What did Daniel propose that he eat instead? Has there ever been a time when you have had to courageously stand up for your desire to follow God? 
  • What position did King Nebuchadnezzar give to Daniel? How did he get the position? What can we learn from this in relation to Proverbs 22:29?
  • When the astrologers and magicians could not reveal to the king his dream, what did the king command be done to all the wise men? What did Daniel do when he heard about the proclamation? 
  • Who revealed to Daniel the dream and its meaning? What is important about Nebuchadnezzar’s dream?

Memory Challenge: 

Daniel 2:20-22

Daniel answered and said:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His.

And He changes the times and the seasons;

He removes kings and raises up kings;

He gives wisdom to the wise

And knowledge to those who have understanding.

He reveals deep and secret things;

He knows what is in the darkness,

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Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 53 “God Leaves His House”

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Featured Passage: 2 Chronicles 36; Ezekiel 10-11

After the days of King Solomon, the Kingdom of Judah and the city of Jerusalem were ruled by many different kings. Some were good kings who led the people to serve God and worship Him properly at His temple, and God was pleased with them. Sadly, not every king wanted to follow God’s laws, but rather they turned away from God to worship pagan idols and led the people to sin against God’s commandments. This made God very sad, and as time went by the problem seemed to get worse and worse. As God had told the Israelites many years before, if they turned away from Him to worship false gods, He would no longer protect them and He would have to leave the people and the house that was built for Him. After all, there was no longer room for Him in a house filled with idols. Just as the prophets of God had warned the people, if they didn’t repent of their sins God was going to leave His house and  teach them a hard lesson. 

Discuss: 

Sweet Publishing | FreeBibleImages.org
  • Who was the last king of Judah? What kind of attitude did he have toward God? 
  • The prophet Ezekiel was shown a vision of the glory of God leaving the temple in Jerusalem. Why did God remove His glory from the temple? 
  • Why did God send prophets to warn the people? What did the people of Jerusalem do when the prophets of God warned them what would happen if they didn’t listen to God? 
  • Who were the enemies who surrounded and conquered the city of Jerusalem? What happened to the temple and the things in it? 
  • Even though God removed His glory from the temple, did that mean that God would leave His people forever? What are some of God’s promises to the people of Judah and Israel? 
  • After the first temple was destroyed, who was the person God worked with to proclaim that the temple could be rebuilt? 

Memory Challenge: 

2 Chronicles 36:23 

Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: “All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May the Lord his God be with him, and let him go up!”

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Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 52 “Solomon’s Temple”

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Featured Passage: 1 Kings 5-8

King David had a special desire: He wanted to build God a house. He felt bad that God still dwelt in the Tabernacle as He had with the Israelites in the wilderness while he lived in his own beautiful palace. However, God had other plans in mind for His house. He decided that King David was not the right man for the job, but rather He would let David’s son do the special project. Four years after Solomon began to reign over Israel, he started to build a house for God—the temple in Jerusalem. Solomon spared no expense to get materials of the finest quality with which to construct this marvelous dwelling place for the Most High. Even the stones were carefully shaped to fit perfectly together so that not a single hammer would need to be used when they assembled it. When it was finally completed, seven years later, it certainly must have been something wondrous to behold. The Ark of the Covenant was brought into the Most Holy place, and there awaited one more essential component—the presence of God Himself. 

Discuss: 

Sweet Publishing | FreeBibleImages.org
  • What didn’t God want David to build the temple even though it was something he desired? Why did He instead give the job to Solomon? 
  • To whom did Solomon write asking for help in building the temple? 
  • What were some of the key materials Solomon used to build the temple? What were some of the elements that were built or crafted for the temple? 
  • Why do you think Solomon had the stones crafted perfectly before they were brought to the temple mount to be put together? What kind of connections can we make between this and us as a spiritual temple? (Read Ephesians 2:19-22 for some clues)
  • What were some of the colors used in the temple when it was furnished?
  • At the dedication of the temple, what were some of the things included in the ceremony? What happened when the priests brought the ark of the covenant into the Most Holy place? Try to describe what it would have been like to be there. 

Memory Challenge: 

1 Kings 8:30

And may You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear in heaven Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive.

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Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 51 “Moving the Ark”

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Featured Passage: 1 Samuel 4-6

When Israel finally came into the land God promised them, under Joshua’s leadership each of the tribes were given different territories where they could build their homes and families. During their wanderings in the wilderness, God had led them with the ark of the covenant and the tabernacle to represent his presence. Upon entering the new land, Joshua and the people set up the tabernacle in Shiloh where the ark would stay for many years, long after Joshua was gone. For a long while the ark was undisturbed and kept by the Levites in the tabernacle, but the people were forgetting why it was important. One day, when the Israelites were desperately preparing to go out to battle against their enemies, they made a rash decision. If they were to bring the ark of the covenant into battle with them like in the days of Joshua, surely God would protect them, right? 

Moody Publishers | FreeBibleImages.org

Discuss: 

  • Why was the ark of the covenant so important? What did it represent? 
  • Why do you think the Israelites decided to bring the ark into battle with them? Why didn’t their plan work? 
  • What did the Philistines do with the ark when they first captured it? What happened to their idol when the ark was put in their pagan temple? What message do you think God was trying to send?
  • Why did the Philistines decide to give the ark back to the Israelites? How did they do it? 
  • Where was the ark kept after the Philistines sent it back? 
  • The next person to move the ark of the covenant was King David (2 Samuel 6). Why did David move it? What happened when he tried?

Memory Challenge:

1 Samuel 4:22

And she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”

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Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 50 “Joshua and the Battle of Jericho”

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Featured Passage: Joshua 6

After the Israelites made it across the Jordan River, they prepared to meet the next obstacle – the great walled city of Jericho. The men who Joshua sent to spy out the city had come back with important information, but now Joshua needed a plan. Joshua knew that God was the one who would give Israel the victory, but he needed some directions. And, guess what? The Commander of the Army of the Lord Himself came to deliver them. On top of that, the directions He gave were not ordinary battle plans. These plans required a little bit of patience and a whole lot of faith! 

Discuss:

Moody Publishing | FreeBibleImages.org
  • All the people of the land had heard of the children of Israel. How do you think the people of Jereicho felt when they heard that the Israelites had crossed over the Jordan into their territory? Do you think the people of Jericho felt safe inside the city walls?  
  • What were the directions that God gave to Joshua? What was unusual about them? What do you think the people of Jericho were thinking when they saw the Israelites following the directions they were given?
  • How was the instruction for the army different on the seventh day than on the other days? Who did God protect in the city?
  • Why do you think God planned the Battle of Jericho the way He did? 

Memory Challenge:

Joshua 6:2 

And the Lord said to Joshua: “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor.

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Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 49 “Israel Crosses the Jordan”

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Featured Passage: Joshua 3-4

The spies that Joshua sent returned safely from Jericho with important information that Joshua needed to attack the city. However, before the Israelites could capture the city they had to make it past the first big obstacle—the Jordan River. The river flowed from the north in Galilee to the Dead Sea and at the time was a broad, wide river, filling its banks to the brim. How was Joshua supposed to get all the people safely across to the other side? Joshua trusted that God had a plan. The Ark of the Covenant would be carried down to the river and the people were to follow after it. But, how would they get across? God was about to perform another miracle before His people, this time intending to remind the people that Joshua had been chosen as Israel’s leader after Moses.

Discuss:

Richard Gunther (www.richardgunther.org) | FreeBibleImages.org
  • The Israelites had been camping for three days near the Jordan River. How were the people supposed to know that it was time for them to move?
  • What is the Ark of the Covenant? What did it represent? Why do you think God wanted the Ark to lead the people? 
  • What miracle did God perform to help the people cross the Jordan River? How was it similar to or different from the crossing of the Red Sea? 
  • Why did the twelve tribes set up memorial stones after crossing the river? Where did the stones come from? What did they mean? 

Memory Challenge: 

Joshua 3:5-6 

And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” Then Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over before the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.

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Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 48 “Rahab”

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Featured Passage: Joshua 2

Joshua was preparing to lead the Israelites into the land God promised them. He knew it wasn’t going to be an easy task, and there would be obstacles along the way. There were two big obstacles right from the beginning—the Jordan River and the great, walled city of Jericho. In order to cross over the river and take the city, Joshua would need a plan. So, he selected two men to be spies to go look around the city and bring important information about it back to him. The spies went into the city and found a place to stay in the house of a woman named Rahab. Unfortunately, someone had seen the spies and suspected what they were up to. The two men were in great danger, and Rahab had a risky decision to make.

Discuss: 

Richard Gunther (www.lambsongs.co.nz) | FreeBibleImages.org
  1. Why did Joshua send spies into the city of Jericho? Why was it important that they go secretly?
  2. What did Rahab tell the men who came to capture the two spies? 
  3. Where did Rahab hide the spies? Why was it dangerous for her to do this? 
  4. Why did Rahab want to help Joshua’s spies? What was her request to them? 
  5. It would have taken Rahab a lot of courage to do what she did in hiding the spies and requesting that they allow her and her family to be unharmed in the upcoming battle. What does it mean to have courage? As Christians, how can we gain courage? 

Memory Challenge: 

Joshua 2:11

“And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.”

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