Jeroboam Disobeyed God
1 Kings 12-13
Continue the conversation throughout the week with your kids by asking them questions pertaining to the lesson from Sunday at Redemption Kids.
The questions asked below were asked on Sunday during our time at Redemption Kids. Take some time to read the passage together, discuss the questions, watch a BRAND NEW video of the lesson, memorize the Bible verse, and remember the big idea of this week!
Ask the Questions
Bigs Discussion Questions
What was your favorite part of today’s Bible story?
1 Kings 12-13 In today’s Bible story, Jeroboam (JER uh BOH uhm) was the king of Israel. He saw there was a problem. If the people of Israel wanted to worship God, they would have to go to the temple in Jerusalem. Jerusalem wasn’t in Israel; it was in Judah, where their old king, Rehoboam (REE huh BOH uhm), was in charge. Jeroboam wanted to make sure the people never went back to following their old king. So instead of letting them go to Jerusalem to worship God at the temple, Jeroboam made two golden calves for the people to worship. “Look!” he said. “These golden calves are the gods who saved your families out of Egypt. You can worship them.” What Jeroboam did was a sin! Those calves did not save God’s people. It was God who led His people out of Egypt. One day, Jeroboam was getting ready to make a sacrifice to a false god when a man came to him. The man was a prophet; God had sent him with a message. The prophet warned that God was going to judge the leaders who made sacrifices to false gods. Jeroboam did not like the prophet’s message. He pointed to the prophet and shouted, “Arrest this man!” But suddenly Jeroboam could not move his arm. The altar next to him broke into pieces. “Help!” Jeroboam cried. “Pray and ask God to heal my arm!” So the prophet prayed, and God healed Jeroboam’s arm. Still, Jeroboam did not turn from his evil ways. Because of Jeroboam’s sin, Jeroboam’s kingdom would one day be destroyed.
What did you learn about God in today’s Bible story?
God wanted Jeroboam to repent so He sent the prophet to warn Jeroboam that what he was doing was wrong. God wants us to repent when we disobey Him too. Sin separates us from God. Jesus came to bring us back to God. Jesus is the true King who gave His life so we can be forgiven. God wants us to worship only Him.
What did King Jeroboam want the people to worship instead of God?
Jeroboam made two golden calves for the people to worship.
What is idolatry? Idolatry is loving something else more than God.
Elementary Discussion Questions
How did the golden calves lead the people of Israel away from God?
Remind the kids that the golden calves were idols. Discuss how idolatry is a sin that always leads us away from God. Explain to the kids that when the people worshiped the golden calves they believed a lie and turned away from what was true. Remind kids that we were made to worship God alone.
What kinds of things can become idols in our lives?
Reflect back on the definition of idolatry. Discuss how any thing we love above God is an idol. Provide some examples of idols such as money, pride, friendships, and even sports. Discuss how idols will always disappoint us because they can never save us from our sin or give us what we need most—Jesus. Explain how only Jesus leads us back to God and saves us from our sin.
How can we stay away from idolatry?
Lead kids to discuss how the Bible always points us to what is true and helps us to know Jesus. Help kids understand that the more we are reminded of Jesus and what He has done for us, the more we should want to turn away from idols. Encourage kids to pray and ask Godfor help when they may be tempted to love something more than Him.
Watch the Videos
Remember the 3 B’s
Big Picture Question: What is idolatry? Idolatry is a sin of the heart in which we love and value something else above God.
Big Idea: Sin always leads us away from God. Jesus came to bring us back to God.
Bible Verse to Memorize - You shall love the Lord, your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Deuteronomy 6:5
Practice Catechism
Question 50: What does Christ’s resurrection mean for us?
Answer: Christ triumphed over sin and death so that all who trust in him are raised to new life in this world and to everlasting life in the world to come.
