remember god and obey · 2019-01-29 · for the leader remember god and obey hosea 1–14 hosea...

FOR THE LEADER

Remember God and ObeyHosea 1–14

Hosea shares a name with other biblical men. Hoshea was the original name of Joshua, the successor of Moses who led the nation into the promised land. Hoshea was also the last king to reign in Israel, the nation in which Hosea lived and to whom he prophesied. The name means “salvation,” and that was the message of hope Hosea brought.

While Amos’ ministry in Israel was short-lived, it is evident from the first verse of Hosea that his ministry extended up until the final destruction of his homeland. It is likely that Hosea witnessed the destruction of Samaria in 722 BC and that he lived out the rest of his days in Judah under Hezekiah’s reign.

Jeroboam II reigned in Israel from 790–750 BC during the absolute height of Israelite abundance. It was during this time that Amos had brought his message to highlight the coming disaster. Since Israel had ignored Amos, God also sent Hosea with an odd assignment—to show through his family what God intended for an unrepentant nation.

God also intended to show that God did care for and love the people even when they did not love Him as they should. God instructed Hosea to marry a woman named Gomer, who would be unfaithful to Hosea, a clear parallel of Israel’s unfaithfulness to God. The couple’s first son was to be named Jezreel. The name was associated with the site of a bloody battle led by Jehu. God’s message was that Israel’s power would end just as Jehu had demolished the city of Jezreel. The second child, a daughter, was named Lo-ruhamah, literally “no compassion,” because the Lord had no more compassion on Israel. The third child, a son, was named Lo-ammi, literally “not My people,” because God had claimed Israel, because of their disobedience, to not be His people.

The pictures of Hosea’s family are intended to shed light on the plight of the nation. God intended these images to show His love for the nation and affect repentance that would bring His people back into fellowship with Him.

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▸▸ Cut out pictures.

Tools: Bible; magazine pages featuring families, homes, children; 2 or 3 pair of children’s safety scissors

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OVERVIEW

SESSION FOCUSTEXT TRUTHLove and obey God because He loves us.

BIBLE STORYHosea 1–14

BIBLE VERSEHosea 12:6

CHRIST IN CONTEXTThe Book of Hosea reveals God’s covenant love for His people and provides a picture of redemption. Jesus redeemed His people—the church—with His own life.

BIBLE SKILLS • Begin to understand how Bible verses apply to his life.• Remember and say simple Bible words, phrases, and verses with

Bible references.

ARRIVAL ACTIVITIES (5 MINUTES)

As preschoolers arrive, offer choices of self-guided activities that set the stage for Bible explorations.

EXPLORE THE BIBLE TEXT CONNECTION

• Hosea lived in Israel and ministered there around the same time as Amos. Hosea had a long career as a prophet and was very likely still in Israel when Samaria was destroyed. Hosea, like many other prophets, had a message of judgment tempered with a message of hope for the faithful.

• The story of the Book of Hosea is a picture of God’s love for the people of Israel. God loved Israel no matter what they did, and God loves us just the same. Through Hosea’s life, God showed that Israel’s wandering away from Him would continue to be met with love from God.

• Love is sometimes difficult to give and receive. Genesis 37 helps us see that sometimes love between family members can be a difficult thing.

• Joseph had dreams which he shared with his brothers. These dreams appeared to say that Joseph, their younger brother, would one day be their ruler. Instead of rejoicing with Joseph, the brothers were unhappy and sold Joseph into slavery.

FAMILY AT HOMEPrint this week’s devotional page (Enhanced CD) to give to families.

▸▸ Draw pictures of families.

Tools: Bible, paper, washable markers or crayons

▸▸ After everyone has had an opportunity to do one or more arrival activities, direct preschoolers to Exploration Stations. (See next page.)

▸▸ Match Bibles to outlines.

Tools: 4 or 5 Bibles (different sizes and shapes); poster board; pencil; washable marker (Lightly draw around Bibles to outline their shapes, then darken outlines with a marker.)

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BIBLE STORY

HOSEA TALKED TO THE PEOPLEHosea 1–14

God chose a man named Hosea to give a message to the people. God was very unhappy. He was angry because the people in Israel had forgotten about God and the laws God gave them long ago when Moses was the leader.

Hosea saw how the people lived and acted, and he knew God was angry. God told Hosea, “My people have disobeyed Me. They have chosen to love false gods and make statues. They have chosen the wrong leaders. The people let their children do wrong things, and the families do not teach their children about Me. The people do not ask Me for help. They have forgotten that I am the One who led them out of Egypt and gave them food. They do not remember I kept them safe on the journey.”

God said, “When good things happen to the people —when their crops grow and they get rich—they do not think about Me.”

God had a plan. First He told Hosea, “Get married and have children. I have chosen names for your children.” So Hosea went to look for the woman God wanted to be Hosea’s wife. Later Hosea and his wife had several children.

God also loved the Israelites. He did not want them to disobey Him and worship other Gods. That is why God told Hosea to talk to the people.

Hosea obeyed God. He went to talk to the disobedient Israelites. Hosea said, “People, let us return to God. He will heal us. He will be with us again. Always put your hope in God to forgive you for the wrong things you have done. God’s way is right.”

TEXT TRUTHLove and obey God because He loves us.

BIBLE VERSE Hosea 12:6

BIBLE VERSEFrom the Bible text: Return to your God. Put your hope in God. Hosea 12:6

Paraphrase:Follow God and love Him. Hosea 12:6

LEADER TIPYou choose! Are your preschoolers ready to learn memory verses? Decide which wording of the Bible verse you want to use with your group.

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CIRCLE TIME

OPTIONS1. Arrival Activities2. Circle Time3. Exploration Stations

OR

1. Arrival Activities2. Exploration Stations3. Circle Time

TOOLS• Bible• Enhanced CD

PACK ITEMS10 Story Picture: Hosea Talked

to the People17 February Bible Markers35 Movement Cube

CIRCLE TIME (10-15 MINUTES, DEPENDING ON YOUR AGE GROUP)

GATHER• Ask children to complete activities and move to the Circle Time area.

• Invite children to move their bodies. Toss the Movement Cube (Pack) and lead children to do the movement shown.

• After a few minutes, play the Enhanced CD and sing along with a few songs. Lead children to sway or clap to the music.

HEAR THE BIBLE STORY• Say: “God planned for families. You have a family. I have a family. Let’s

hear about families.”

• One by one, ask each child to name one person in his family. Say: “Your family loves you and brings you to church. Your family learns about the things God wants people to do.”

• Show children the Story Picture (Pack) and point to the people. Remark that the Bible tells about some people who did not obey God or teach their children about Him. God did not like this.

• Tell the Bible story, then pass the Story Picture around the circle.

• To review, ask preschoolers questions such as: “Why was God upset with the people?” (They disobeyed His laws and did not thank Him.) “What did God want Hosea to do?” (Tell the people to stop doing wrong things and start to follow Him.) “Did Hosea do what God wanted him to do?” (Yes)

PRACTICE BIBLE SKILLS• Open the Bible to Hosea 12:6 and read the Bible verse. Show preschoolers

the Bible Marker (Pack) for today.

• Repeat the verse with the children. Say: “Those words were important in Bible times, and they are important now. God wants us to follow Him and obey.”

• Ask preschoolers what they can do to show they love God and obey Him. Give suggestions as needed.

PRAY• Thank God for the children and the help God gives us.

Designer will have to move blue dots behind the numbers

manually.

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EXPLORATION STATIONS

TEXT TRUTH Love and obey God because He loves us.

BIBLE STORYHosea Talked to the PeopleHosea 1–14


PACK ITEMS10 Story Picture: Hosea Talked

to the People21 Bible Name Cards

LEADER TIP!For the tossing game, make three large masking tape circles on the floor. In each circle, place a colored paper on which you have written one of these statements (one statement per page):Tell a family member’s name. Say the name Hosea. Clap and say the Bible verse.

EXPLORATION STATIONS (45-60 MINUTES)

Set up at least three stations to provide choices of multisensory activities and movement for busy preschoolers.

PLAY A TOSSING GAME

Tools: Bible, masking tape,

beanbag, 3 sheets of colored

paper, marker, Story Picture:

Hosea Talked to the People

(Pack)

• Invite a child to stand

about two feet from

the circles and toss the

beanbag into a circle.

• Read the direction on

the paper on which the

beanbag landed. Lead the

child to do the action. Then

relate the action to today’s

Bible story, Text Truth, or

Bible book.

• After a few turns, engage

another child in the game.

• Open the Bible to the Book

of Hosea and point to

his name on a page. Say:

“Hosea loved God and did

what God told him to do.”

• Show the child the Story

Picture and tell the story.

MAKE A SHAKER

Tools: Bible, small plastic bottles with caps, pebbles, spoon, decorative tape, permanent marker (for teacher)

• Invite a child to make a musical shaker. Guide the child to spoon a few pebbles inside a bottle. Fasten the cap securely and seal with tape.

• Offer strips of colored tape for the preschooler to decorate her bottle. Print the Text Truth or Bible verse on the child’s bottle.

• Lead the child to shake a steady beat as you chant: Love God, follow Him. Love God, follow Him. Love God, follow Him. That’s what Hosea said.



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EXPLORATION STATIONS

CLIP FAMILY PICTURES

Tools: Bible, cardboard box with

top cut off, clothespins, family

picture cutouts (see Arrival

Activities)

• Place the box on a table

and put the pictures and

clothespins nearby.

• When a child shows

interest, suggest that he

look for a picture of a

family to clip to the edge of

the box. Encourage him to

clip a couple more pictures.

• Say: “That family reminds

me of a Bible story. It’s in

the Book of Hosea in the

Old Testament.”

• Turn to Hosea 1 and tell

the Bible story to the child.

• Say: “Hosea told the

families to follow God and

obey Him. God wants our

families to do that, too.”

• Tell the child to remove the

pictures and clips from the

box.

PRETEND TO BE A FAMILY

Tools: Bible, Bible Name Cards (Pack), some dress-up clothes, baby dolls and doll clothes, toy dishes and utensils, Activity Page

• Use the Hosea Bible Name Card to mark today’s story in the Bible.

• Show children the picture on the Activity Page. Remark that Hosea talked to families. And God told Hosea to marry and have a family.

• Say: “Let’s pretend you are a family. You may use the dress-up clothes.”

• While children play, talk about their families and families of friends.

• Thank God for Hosea and his family, as well as the children and their families. Ask God to help us follow God and love Him.

MATCH LETTERS

Tools: Bible, Prophet Letter Match Pages (Enhanced CD), wooden letter tiles, shallow plastic bowl, yellow crayon

• Print one or two pages showing Hosea’s name. Put the letter tiles in the bowl.

• Open the Bible to the Book of Hosea and highlight Hosea’s name with a yellow crayon.

• Tell a child: “The Bible has stories about men God chose to give messages to people. These men were called prophets. Hosea was a prophet. Hosea told people what God said.”

• Show a child the page with Hosea’s name. Point to the letters and say their names. Then guide the preschooler to search in the bowl for letters to match those on the page.

• After matching all the letters, suggest that the preschooler return the tiles to the bowl.



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NEXT HOUR

OPTIONS1. Continue activities from

the first hour. (Kids learn through repetition.)

2. Try something different. Choose two or three new activities.

TEXT TRUTHLove and obey God because He loves us.

BIBLE STORYHosea Talked to the PeopleHosea 1–14The Bible story is printed on the back of the Story Picture.


LEADER TIPSee the Enhanced CD for a page to print (Bible Words: God).

NEXT HOUR (MORE EXPLORATIONS FOR PRESCHOOLERS)

WALK AND SINGTools: Bible, Story Picture: Hosea Talked to the People (Pack Item 10), tablecloth

• Walk around the room and begin singing this song (tune “Mary Had a Little Lamb”): I can show that I love God, I love God, I love God. I can show that I love God, by doing what He says.

• After a few circles around the room, ask children to be seated with you on the cloth. Say: “We sang about doing what God says. When we obey God, we show that we love Him. Look at this picture of someone who obeyed God.”

• Point to Hosea and the people. Summarize the Bible story.

ROCK AND READTools: Bible; child’s rocking chair; baby doll; 3-5 books about God, the Bible, and families

• Prop the books in a window or on the floor near the chair. Invite a preschooler to rock the doll while you read a book.

• As you read, comment on families loving and caring for children. Say: “God told Hosea to have a family, and Hosea did. God told Hosea to tell the people to follow God and love Him. Hosea did that, too.”

• Invite the child to choose a book to “read” to the doll. Remark that God wants families to obey Him and teach their children about Him.

FORM A WORD WITH PLAY DOUGHTools: Bible, fresh play dough, craft sticks, card or page with the name God printed on it, watercolor paintbrushes (opt.)

• Put the card or page on the table with the play dough and craft sticks. Open the Bible to the Book of Hosea and mark it with a craft stick.

• Point to God’s name on the page. Say each letter, G-o-d. Encourage preschoolers to use their dough and a craft stick to cut the dough and roll letters to form the word God. Or children can use the end of the paintbrushes to write in the dough.



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NEXT HOUR

LEADER TIP!Form groups of two or three preschoolers and a teacher. Look at the Activity Page, review the Bible story, and say the Bible verse.

• Point to Hosea’s name on the Bible page, then point to God’s name. Say: “Hosea listened to God and obeyed Him.”

DRIVE CARS ON ROADSTools: Bible, several toy vehicles, masking tape, Activity Page, Traffic Signs (Pack Item 30)

• Make a series of winding tape roads on the floor. Place cars on the roads.

• When a child begins to roll a car, talk about his family driving to church. Say: “At church we read from the Bible and learn the things God wants us to know. Hosea told people what God wanted them to do. Hosea’s story is in the Bible.”

• Show the child the picture on the Activity Page and recall the Bible story.

CIRCLE TIME GATHER• Play the Enhanced CD as children

go to Circle Time and sit down.

• Say: “I’m going to clap the sound of the word Bible.” Clap on each syllable.

• Clap three times and say: “I’m thinking of someone in the Bible whose name has three claps.”

REVIEW THE BIBLE STORY• Show the Story Picture (Pack). Ask

children if they know the name of the man who talked to the people.

• Say: “Yes, Hosea. Let’s clap Hosea’s name.”

• Recall some of the things Hosea told the people.

PRACTICE BIBLE SKILLS• Place a ribbon in the Bible at

Hosea 12:6.

• Pass the Bible around the circle. Stop at one child and direct him to open the Bible to the ribbon.

• Say the Bible verse together.

• Repeat a few times.

PRAY• Ask God to help everyone follow

Him and love Him.

Look for printable Next Hour helps on the Preschool Enhanced CD.

DON’T FORGET! Give every child this week’s Activity Page and Preschool Family Card.



© 2018 LifeWay

remember god and obey · 2019-01-29 · for the leader remember god and obey hosea 1–14 hosea...

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