Memory Verse:
“Guide me in your truth. Teach me. You are God my Savior. I put my hope in you all day long.” Psalm 25:5 (NIrV)
Lessons:
Raging Rapids
Scripture: Exodus 17:10-16, Joshua Defeats the Amalekites
Sometimes the river waters are calm but watch out because they can turn into raging rapids without a moment's notice. Moses raised his staff while Joshua fought the Amalekite army. As long as Moses kept his arms up, the Israelites were winning; but anytime he lowered his arm, things turned in the Amalekites favor.
Objective: Kids will learn that even when life is crazy or scary, we can keep our focus on God and trust that He will take care of us.
Rules of the Jungle
Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:1-29, God Rejects Saul as King
A good explorer knows there are many dangers in the jungle and you must always be careful and stay on your guard. You can’t decide to just ignore the rules of the jungle when you feel like it and expect nothing bad to happen. God had ordered King Saul to defeat the Amalekites and destroy everything they possessed. Saul did defeat the Amalekites but disobeyed God by keeping their stuff for himself. Because of Saul's sin, God rejected Saul as king of Israel.
Objective: Kids will learn that we can’t just obey God when it’s easy or convenient; we should obey Him always.
Strange Customs
Scripture: 2 Samuel 9, David and Mephibosheth
Explorers often find new people with customs and rituals we're not familiar with. In King David's time, it was the custom for the new king to kill or imprison all the old king's family members. But David had compassion on Saul's grandson Mephibosheth and treated him well the rest of his life.
Objective: Kids will learn that God wants us to treat others with compassion.
Overgrown Vines
Scripture: 1 Kings 12:1-17, Israel Rebels Against Rehoboam
Explorers have to navigate through dense jungles, cutting away overgrown vines to create new paths. It can be easy to get lost so it helps to have a compass to help guide you and keep you going in the right direction. When Rehoboam became king of Israel, the elders advised him on which direction to go. They encouraged him to take a new path and treat the people better than the previous king. But Rehoboam rejected their advice, and as a result, the people rejected Rehoboam and the kingdom of Israel was torn in two.
Objective: Kids will learn it's important to listen to the advice of wise, godly people.
Unfamiliar Sights and Sounds
Scripture: Daniel 5
The jungle is filled with unfamiliar sights and sounds. When strange writing appeared on the walls at King Balshazzar's banquet, it was a sight no one had seen before. And no one knew what it meant until God used Daniel to deliver an important message to the king.
Objective: Kids will learn that God can use us to explain the Bible to others who do not know that God loves them.
Dangerous Creatures
Scripture: Acts 5:1-11, Ananias and Sapphira
Be on your guard! The jungle is filled with dangerous creatures. Ananias and Sapphira learned the hard way that lying can be more dangerous than any animal. They loved money and pride more than they loved following God’s ways and being truthful. Their dishonesty had a very deadly consequence that God used as an example to show us how serious lying is.
Objective: Kids will learn that God wants us to be people of honesty and integrity.
Rocky Cliffs
Scripture: Acts 7:54-60, The Stoning of Stephen
There are many dangers in the jungle – including the rocky cliffs. The life of a Christian is not always easy. Stephen was killed for telling people about Jesus, but in the end he received a heavenly reward that lasts forever.
Objective: Kids will learn that no matter what danger or trouble we face in this life, we can have joy knowing our reward is life with Jesus forever.
New Discoveries
Scripture: Acts 10:1-23, Peter's Vision
Explorers often venture into the jungle because they are looking to discover something that has been hidden or something new that no one has ever seen. One day, Peter had a vision where a feast was set before him filled with foods that, as a Jew, he had never eaten. God used the vision to show Peter something new, that he wanted everyone – Jew and Gentile – to know the good news about Jesus.
Objective: Kids will learn that God wants everyone to know the good news of Jesus, no matter how many mistakes they’ve made or how unkind they may be.
