Child's Play

Happy 4th of July!

Daniel part 1

Story

In the third reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. (meaning he took people and things from Judah). And out of the things taken where the temple vessels .  Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon commanded that some of the kids form Israel would come to the temple and live in his place and learn about the ways and the language of his people.  Out of the group of kids chosen where Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. (can you say those names?(have the kids try))  When they got to the place their names where changed to Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Messhach and Abednego.  They also where expected to eat the king's food. Now Daniel and his friends where Jewish meaning they where not supposed to eat and drink certain foods and the king's food they where not supposed to eat because God had given a covenant with the Jews.  Now Daniel and his friends knew to eat the king's food would be wrong. So Daniel  purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank. Daniel asked the eunuch who was put over them if he and his friends could eat pulse, and drink water so that they would not defile themselves.  This scared the eunuch because he thought the king might get angry if he did so, but he then agreed to let Daniel and his friends eat pulse and drink water for ten days.  And after the ten days them and the kids who ate the king's food would be compared to see who was the healthiest.  And guess what!  When the ten days where over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah looked healthier and stronger and better then the ones who had eaten the king's food. And on top of all that God blessed Daniel and his friends with knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom and  Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. plus when the king called them there was no one better then Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah and they worked in the king's place.

Memory Verse:  Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
(Hint: a fun way to learn this verse is to use a white board and marker and slowly erase the words until they have memorize the whole thing.)

WHAT IS PULSE? The edible seeds of various leguminous plants, for example chickpeas, lentils, and beans.

Snack idea: Jelly Beans and Water.( wait to do snack until the end or skip.)

Video resource

Craft

Have the kids take long pieces of paper and roll them into scrolls.

for this project you will need...

a piece of paper

crayons, markers or pencils

two smooth craft sticks.

Glue

To start out this project take the paper and wrap the ends around the sticks and glue them together. Then have the kids write their memory verse on the scroll or draw pictures or what the learned about today or all three. Then roll the scrolls up like a real scroll and your done. 

Bible reference: Daniel 1

 ¹In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

 ²And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

 ³And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;

 ⁴Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

 ⁵And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

 ⁶Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

 ⁷Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

 ⁸But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

 ⁹Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

 ¹⁰And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.

 ¹¹Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

 ¹²Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

 ¹³Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.

 ¹⁴So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.

 ¹⁵And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.

 ¹⁶Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

 ¹⁷As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

 ¹⁸Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

 ¹⁹And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.

 ²⁰And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

 ²¹And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.

A Simple Truth Jesus Loves Me

"Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to him belong
They are weak but he is strong
Yes Jesus loves me
Yes Jesus loves me
Yes Jesus loves me
The Bible tells me so."
The story behind the song Jesus Loves Me 

 The song Jesus Loves Me was written by Anna Warner who helped out with her uncles Bible study in Constitution Island, New York, 1860.  She originally wrote the song to place in her book Say and Seal it's a story about a little boy in the story the boy is sick his Sunday school teacher comes to visit him and sings to him the song Jesus Loves Me.  The tune of Jesus Loves Me was added in 1862 by William Batchelder Bradbury, he also added the chorus "Yes, Jesus loves me, Yes, Jesus loves me, Yes, Jesus loves me..." For a song so simple it has changed millions of lives.