Like King Josiah, We Respect the Authority of God’s Word
Those who teach children should read study #25 for children.
Prayer: “Holy Spirit, illuminate our minds to learn and obey your Word with all our hearts. Help us make it clear to others, so they can share in our joy.”
1. Prepare your Heart to learn from God’s Word
Read 2 Chronicles 34 and find:
·
How
Josiah broke with some human religious traditions, in order to obey
God.
(Answer: See verses 3-7. Josiah rejected the
people’s idols. We, too,
must shepherd God’s flock in the way that God requires, not according
to human
traditions.)
·
How
hard Josiah’s people worked to find the Word of God.
(Answer: See verses 8-15. The Word of God
had been lost in the
neglected temple.)
· God’s Word is hidden from many people today, wherever no one has yet translated it correctly into their language. Many translators work hard to provide accurate translations.)
In ancient times books were written by hand on scrolls that rolled up.
·
How
Josiah sought God’s help as he studied the Scriptures.
(Answer: See v. 21-28. The Holy Spirit dwells in us
believers and guides
us into truth (John 16:13). We ask Him to illumine us as we study God’s
Word
(Eph. 1:15-18).
·
The
authority that God’s Word had for Josiah, and what he did.
(Answer: See verses 30-33. We receive God’s
revelation with faith and
obey it.)
Find in Matthew 4:1-11 how Jesus resisted Satan.
· In what three ways did Satan tempt Jesus?
· What did Jesus quote, to answer Satan after each temptation?
· Who came to care for Jesus after His temptation?
Background
· The Holy Spirit inspired devout men to write God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17). They wrote the Old Testament in Hebrew and the New Testament in Greek:
· Hebrew is read from right to left:
· Greek is read left to right.
· We can understand a Bible passage better if we know:
Who wrote it, to whom and why.
Where and when the events happened.
Who was speaking in the passage.
What it prepares us to do.
We can also understand some parts of the Bible better, if we know the customs, history and geography of ancient Israel. Learn these in other Paul-Timothy shepherds and supplementary studies, (see P-T User Menu, Bible section).
2. Plan Activities to Do During the Week
· With your co-workers, help families to begin studying the Word of God diligently during the week.
· Find how you can support translation and literacy in your area.
3. Plan with Co-workers the Upcoming Worship
· Choose activities that fit the occasion and local customs.
· Pray that the Holy Spirit will guide the flock with God’s Word during the worship.
· Praise God for the truth revealed in His Word. Ask for testimonies and reports of how the Holy Spirit used the Bible last week to help people find joy and holiness.
Tell or act out the story of King Josiah.
· Prepare a helper to relate 2 Chronicles 34.
· First, ask everyone to listen to find how the Word of God changed the lives of the people of Israel. Ask the believers what they discovered. Ask the questions listed under Part 1, above.
Dramatize how the Holy Spirit uses God’s Word to illuminate our minds.
Learner: Light a candle on a table, then look the other way.
‘Demon’:
· Sneak up to the candle, blow it out and laugh evilly.
· Tie a cloth over Learner’s eyes, lead him by the hand. Say “Come!” (Walk.)
· Point at the people and read or recite this poem (If you translate the demon’s poem, you do not need to preserve the rhyme):
“You fools obey my Enemy! I’ll stop your bold sedition!
I’ll turn you from His Word, you’ll see, by teaching man’s tradition!
You mortals dare with Him to sup, whose cup delivers from hell’s fire?
I warn you, stop opposing or you’ll feel the
sting of
hell’s hot ire!”
Evangelist (shout):
· “Stop, demon! Or you will fall into a deep pit!”
· Read 2 Corinthians. 4:4 (‘the god of this world blinds us’).
· Light the candle and hold it over the Bible in front of ‘Demon’ and Learner.
‘Demon’: Cry in pain and shrink away. Cover your eyes. Shout, “Take away that horrible light!” (Leave)
Evangelist: “Satan, the god of this world, tied this blindfold over your eyes.” (Untie it.)
Learner: “I did not know that I was blindfolded!” (Take the Bible and read John 16:13-14.)
Memorize together Matthew 4:4.
Ask the Children to present the poem drama and questions that they have prepared.
Announce the activities that you planned to do during the week.
To introduce the Lord’s Supper read 2 Chronicles 30, verses 5-6 and 25-27. Explain that before Jesus came, God’s people sacrificed a lamb and ate it to recall how God had saved them from slavery in Egypt. Now, Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away our sins.
Gather in groups of two or three. Pray, confirm plans, and encourage one another.