Israel Demanded A King:
The focus of this family time is to use five easy steps to teach your family that God intended for a heavenly king to rule over Israel, but the Israelites did not trust God’s plan. They wanted a king like the nations around them. God had a better plan: to eventually send His Son, Jesus, to be the perfect King forever.
Learn the Memory Verse together and say it throughout the week to help your family remember and apply what they have learned.
MEMORY VERSE:
“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”
- Isaiah 6:5
STEP 1. GATHER!
Use this time to begin Family Worship Night and have fun!
- Play “king for the night” throughout the night, allowing each family member to have a turn making decisions like what game the family will play, what movie the family will watch, or what dessert the family will eat. Discuss how earthly kings do what they want, but Jesus, our heavenly King, rules over all and always does what God the Father wants.
STEP 2. WORSHIP!
- Sing and have fun while worshiping then pray. Take a moment here to thank God for your family and your time together!!
STEP 3. BIBLE!
Watch the Bible story video or read 1 Samuel 8-10 from the Bible:
Preschool:
Elementary:
STEP 4. DISCUSSION!
Use these questions and points to have a conversation with your children about the Bible story.
- Have you ever visited a Ice cream shop that allows you to choose your own toppings? They have hundreds of choices: crumbled cookies, gummy worms, fruit, sprinkles, and even candy that you can pour over to make your sweet treat even sweeter! What’s your favorite? It’s very tempting to want all the toppings, but that would only lead to a stomachache and lots of regret!
- The people of Israel did not like the judges God had put in charge of leading them. When they saw how other nations around them had kings, the Israelites wanted a king of their own! Who warned the people that they would regret asking for a king? Samuel! Did the Israelites care about his warning? NO! So, God gave the people what they wanted—a king named Saul.
- The Israelites chose their own way and rejected God’s way. Sin is choosing anything that goes against God and His commands. Who has sinned? We’ve all sinned because we thought our way would be better than God’s way. But God is so great that He had an even better plan to save us! Who did God send to be the perfect King? JESUS! Jesus trusted God’s plan and gave His life to save all who believe in Him!
- God intended for a heavenly king to rule over Israel, but the Israelites did not trust God’s plan. They wanted a king like the nations around them. God had a better plan: to eventually send His Son, Jesus, to be the perfect King forever.
- Pray: God, help us to trust in You and Your plans for us. When we want to choose our own way, give us the strength to follow You. And when we sin by choosing our way instead of Yours, remind us of the forgiveness that is found in Jesus!