City Kids Parent Take-Home
1 Samuel 8-15
Big truth: Our good God is the only King we need.
Christ connection: God planned to send a perfect, forever King – Jesus – to defend and rule for His people!
Faith Response: Children who know that obeying King Jesus is always best.
Memory verse: Proverbs 14:12, 27
There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
that one may turn away from the snares of death.
Dinner-table questions
- Why was it wrong for Israel to demand a king?
They wanted a human king for the wrong reasons, instead of having God as their King. They wanted to trust a king they could see, instead of trusting God. They wanted a king like the other nations. - When Israel and Saul rejected God and his rules, did that stop God’s good plan?
No! God is sovereign: He is in control of all things. God replaced Saul with David, and from David’s family came king Jesus! It was always God’s good plan to send a perfect king to rescue and reign forever. He is the only King we need. - How did Saul disobey God’s good rules? Why? What are some ways we might feel tempted to please others instead of God?
Saul made sacrifices and didn’t follow God’s instructions for battle. He did what he thought was best and wanted to impress the people.
Family activity: Follow the instructions
A parent should find a picture; no one else should see or know what it is. The parent is to give specific instructions, describing the picture, for everyone else to draw. Those drawing cannot ask questions or guess, but only follow the instructions given. Stop after some time, comparing the original picture to those drawn.
By following God’s good rules, Saul would have showed the people that God is the best king. Instead, Saul acted like other kings in the world, following his selfish wishes. We can show our friends that Jesus is the best King by obeying him.
Link love
The Biggest Story podcast: Spotify / Apple
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