Judah Taken Captive

Passage: 2 Chronicles 36

Watch the video and review the lesson with your children.

Discussion Questions:

Older Kids

1. Why did God allow the Babylonians to capture Judah? Did God give up on His people? Remind kids that God promised to bring a Messiah into the world through His people, and God always keeps His promises. Explain that the prophet Isaiah spoke about a remnant of God’s people that would return to God, and like a small plant growing out of a tree stump, a righteous King would rise up and rule over God’s people.
(read Isa. 10:33–11:1.)

2. How are we like the people of Judah? Lead kids to discuss that like the people of Judah, we deserve to be punished for our sin. But God loved us and sent His Son to take the punishment we deserve. Jesus never sinned. He died on the cross in our place, and He is alive!
(read Rom. 3:21-24.)

3. Can anyone’s sin be too much for God to forgive? Point out that for generations, God’s people had rebelled against Him. They broke His laws and worshiped false gods. But when Jesus died on the cross, He died for all our sins—past, present, and future. No sin is beyond Jesus’ forgiveness for everyone who trusts in Him.
(Option: Choose a volunteer to read Rom. 5:8-11.)

Younger Kids

1. How does God punish sin? Lead kids to discuss the two ways sin will be punished. For those who believe in Jesus, their sin was punished through Jesus’ death on the cross. Help kids see that believers will not face punishment for sin. On the other hand, those who reject Jesus will face punishment for their sin. Help kids see that God’s loving justice means all sin must be punished, but God’s mercy and grace provides the way for us to avoid bearing that weight.

2. What happens when believers sin? Help kids understand that believers cannot lose their salvation. Guide them to see that believers will be guided by the Holy Spirit, who will help them love and obey God. Remind them that sin still has consequences and will damage our relationships with God and other people. 

3. When will believers be completely free from all sin? Help kids see that, though we are free from the punishment of sin, we still live in a world broken by sin. When Jesus returns, He will fix all that is broken and will restore it. He will destroy all evil.

Unit 15 Big Picture Question: How did God plan to fix what sin had broke? Before He created the world, God planned to send the Messiah to save sinners.

Story Point: Judah ignored God’s prophets and was captured.

Unit 15 Bible Memory Verse: “If my people, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

Close in prayer!

Habakkuk the Prophet

Passage: Book of Habakkuk

Watch the video and review the lesson with your children.

Discussion Questions:

Older Kids

1. Why do you think Habakkuk chose to praise God no matter what? Guide kids to recognize that Habakkuk learned to trust God, who is in control of all things. Habakkuk had faith that God does what is for His glory and our good. We don’t always understand God’s ways, but we can trust Him to take care of us.
(Read Phil. 4:11.)

2. Where do you turn for comfort? Why? Invite kids to share where they turn when they face difficult circumstances. Remind kids that the Lord is with us and comforts us in our suffering. When we turn to Him, we can find peace and rest.
(Read Matt. 11:28.)

3. What hope do we have when evil seems to be everywhere? Assure kids that even though evil may sometimes seem to win in the world, God is really in control. Like Habakkuk, we can have faith and trust in God. Sooner or later, God will punish the wicked, but it will be in His own time and in His own way.
(Read Prov. 20:22.)

Younger Kids

1. Why do you think God punished His people’s sin? Guide kids to see that God’s justice is a part of His love. He punishes sin to prevent sin from growing and destroying more lives. Help kids see that if God simply allowed sin to grow and thrive, He would be going against His very character as a loving and holy God. 

2. When you think about God’s plan to punish Jesus for our sin, how do you feel? Guide kids to discuss their thoughts. Ask them questions about if they feel more grateful toward God, more shocked at His love, or more humbled by Jesus’ sacrifice. 

3. How can we have faith even when the world seems scary or evil? Guide kids to talk about our ultimate source of hope. Remind kids that we know Jesus will return and fix everything broken in the world. We know that evil will not win in the end. If we trust in Jesus, we will live in His perfect kingdom when He returns; if we reject Him, we will bear the punishment of our sin that we deserve.

Unit 15 Big Picture Question: How did God plan to fix what sin had broke? Before He created the world, God planned to send the Messiah to save sinners.

Story Point: Habakkuk learned to have faith and trust in God.

Unit 15 Bible Memory Verse: “If my people, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

Close in prayer!

Jesus’ Crucifixion and Resurrection

Passage: Matthew 26-28; 1 Corinthians 15

Watch the video and review the lesson with your children.

Discussion Questions:

Older Kids

1. Why is it important that Jesus didn’t stay dead but He came back to life? Lead kids to recognize that Jesus’ resurrection proved that God accepted Jesus’ death as the payment for sin. It shows His victory over sin and death. Paul said if there was no resurrection, we would still be dead in our sins. (1 Cor. 15:17) Jesus’ resurrection gives us hope that we too will be resurrected one day.
(Option: read Rom. 8:11.)

2. How do we know Jesus is alive? Where is He today? Guide kids to recall that after Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to the women and the twelve disciples as well as more than 500 other people. Emphasize that we ultimately believe by faith in Jesus’ resurrection. Today, Jesus is alive in heaven. One day, He will return to set up His kingdom forever.
(Option: read Acts 7:55-56.)

3. How does the fact that Jesus’ tomb is empty affect how we live today? Prompt kids to consider the reality that Jesus has conquered sin and death, providing forgiveness to all who trust in Him. The empty tomb shows that God is faithful, powerful, and loving. Because Jesus is alive, we can live with confidence that our future with Him is secure. Jesus’ resurrection gives us hope for eternal life. We can live with a purpose—to know God and make Him known. We have hope even in hard circumstances.
(Option: read 1 Cor. 15:57-58.)

Younger Kids

1. How can you know if you are saved? Guide kids to see it is not our feelings that save us, it is God’s grace given to us through faith. (Eph. 2:8-9) Help them understand that salvation comes to everyone who trusts in Jesus. (Rom. 10:9) Explain what is written in the Bible—we can know that we are saved, even if we don’t feel saved or do sometimes choose sin. (1 John 5:12-13)

2. Why is the resurrection so important? Discuss Jesus’ role as a substitute. Jesus died for our sins because He had no sin. If He had stayed dead, it would have meant His sacrifice wasn’t enough. Jesus’ resurrection ensures that we will live forever with God because it proved that sin is paid for completely.

3. What does it mean to have eternal life? Help kids understand that eternal life is more than just a place with God after we die. Point out that our new life begins as soon as we believe the truth about Jesus. We become new creatures. Our current lives reflect that change through loving obedience to Jesus, and we look to the future when Jesus will return and fix all that sin has broken.

Unit 15 Big Picture Question: How did God plan to fix what sin had broke? Before He created the world, God planned to send the Messiah to save sinners.

Easter Story Point: Jesus’ resurrection gives us hope for eternal life.

Unit 15 Bible Memory Verse: “If my people, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

Close in prayer!

Jeremiah, Prophet to Judah

Passage: Book of Jeremiah

Watch the video and review the lesson with your children.

Unit 15 Big Picture Question: How did God plan to fix what sin had broke? Before He created the world, God planned to send the Messiah to save sinners.

Unit 15 Session 3 Story Point: Jeremiah told God’s people about a new and better covenant.

Unit 15 Bible Memory Verse: “If my people, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

Close in prayer!

Hezekiah and Josiah

Passage: 2 Chronicles 29; 34-35

Watch the video and review the lesson with your children.

Unit 15 Big Picture Question: How did God plan to fix what sin had broke? Before He created the world, God planned to send the Messiah to save sinners

Unit 15 Session 2 Story Point: Hezekiah and Josiah led the people back to God.

Unit 15 Bible Memory Verse: “If my people, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

Close in prayer!