Kings & Prophets
Occupation
Our journey together this year is exploring God’s Big Story in the Old Testament! We are almost through it! We started the year in the beginning learning about the first stories of God and God’s Creation. Next, we learned about the first leaders and families of God’s people. Then, we worked through the book of Exodus and heard the journey of Moses and the Israelites. Last unit, we headed into the era of the Kings & Prophets and the Israelites after reaching the Promised Land. Now, we are finishing out the Old Testament and will learn about the time that God’s people are in Exile and are preparing for the birth of their Savior.
It is encouraged that families watch the videos, read the texts, reflect on the summaries, respond to the questions and pray together. However, Club 56 participants can also do this on their own- you might need a journal for journaling some thoughts!
Invocation
Find your Club 56 Candle (or a Candle) that you can light.
Invocation: the act of inviting or welcoming or acknowledging that God is present in our space.
As you light your candle, say this invocation out loud: “I light this candle in the name of God, our Creator; Jesus, our Savior; and the Holy Spirit, our Inspirer. The three in one!”
Connect Video
Get a taste of this week’s theme by watching ONE of these videos!
Occupation’s Video
Reflection Questions:
- What would it be like if your school got a new principle and enforced strict and harsh rules?
- After watching the video, what other words might you add?
- What are some clever ways you could still do things you want while also obeying the rigid new rules?
Connect is a curriculum from SPARK that is specifically designed for 5th and 6th graders.
Read, Reflect & Respond
Take some time to dig in deep to the Bible!
Need a Bible? Contact Leah M!
Read the Text: Esther 4:13-17
Identify the four main characters in the story (Mordecai, Esther, Haman, King Xerxes) and how they were related to each other.
Reflect on the Summary:
“When God’s people returned home from exile, they remained occupied, living under foreign control. Persian leaders and soldiers came to Jerusalem with God’s people to remind everyone who was in charge. While some people returned to Jerusalem, others chose (or were forced) to stay in Babylon. They made a life for themselves in the place they had lived for decades. Regardless of where they lived, God’s people were occupied and therefore not truly free.
Esther was one of the Jews who remained in Persia after exile. Through an elaborate beauty pageant, Esther married the Persian king, Xerxes. Her cousin Mordecai heard that Xerxes’s right-hand man, Haman, planned to destroy all of God’s people. When Esther learned about Haman’s intentions, she was confronted with a difficult choice: risk her life by asking Xerxes to stop Haman or say nothing and watch her people die. There were no guarantees. Esther asked Mordecai and all of the people to fast for three days, relying on God to give them wisdom in the midst of their fear.”
Respond to the Questions:
- What would you do in Esther’s situation?
- How might going without food help you made a difficult decision?
Remember (Club 56 Binder)
Our Club 56 Binders are for taking notes and helping us remember details in God’s Big Story!
Need a binder? Contact Leah M.
Get out your Club 56 Binder and find the green page with the Barbed Wire (labeled Occupation). Find the paragraph about why we are using a Barbed Wire to remember this story and read about it!
In the box or by the object, write important key words, people, events or notes that you want to remember about the first text you read.
Need help? Revisit the texts we explored today or read the paragraph at the bottom of the paper.
Prayer
“God of Freedom,
Please be with all people who still live under occupation. Help us to learn more about their stories and situations. Bring them peace and freedom.
In your name we prayer,
Amen”
Benediction
It’s time to blow out or turn off your candle and go on with your day with a blessing.
Benediction: a blessing that sends you out on your day!
As you turn off your candle, bless the people in your home by saying,” May God bless you and keep you, may God’s face shine upon you and may God always go with you and give you peace!”
Quoted texts are revised from:
Connect Leader Guide. Unit 5—Occuation: Babylon. wearesparkhouse.org © 2013 sparkhouse. All rights reserved.
May be reproduced for local use only provided each copy carries this notice.