Scripture: 2 Kings 14:23-15:7, 2 Chronicles 26
Learning Objectives:
- Students will learn sometimes God will use evil people like Jeroboam II to accomplish things He wants accomplished.
- Students will learn that just like the prophecy of Jonah about Jeroboam, the prophecies of God’s prophets always come true.
- Students will learn pride can cause us to make ungodly choices.
- Students will participate in an activity to help them understand what modern idols may look like in the life of a Christian.
Guiding Question: Although Christians probably don’t have actually idols in their homes today; we can make other things more important than God. What are they and how can we remember to always put God first?
Materials: paper, markers
Procedure: Tell students the story of Jeroboam 2 and Uzziah. Ask students why God always got so upset when the people worshipped idols.
Show students images of two idols popular during Old Testament times – Baal and Dagon. Explain that neither actually existed. They were created by people (in the same way a character in a movie might be created), but many chose to worship these pretend gods.
Explain that while today there are still some people in the world who worship idols, Christians don’t normally have idols in their homes. Even though there are no idols that look like Baal or Dagon in their homes though, they may still choose to put something first in their lives other than God.
Read students the two great commands found in Matthew 22:36-40. Give each student a sheet of paper. Have them write the first of the two greatest commands at the top. Then have them draw a line down the middle of the paper. One side should be labeled “Idols in the Old Testament”. On that side they can draw Baal and/or Dagon. The other should be labeled “Idols Today”. On this side, they should draw pictures and label them of things they believe others sometimes put before God (making them idols).
After students are finished, have them share their work. End with a discussion of ways they can make sure they always keep God first in their lives.