Uzzah and the Ark

David bearing the Ark of Testimony to Jerusalem painted by Domenico Gargiulo (from wiki commons)

Central Truth: You must obey God's commandments.

Scriptures: 2 Samuel 6:1-15, 17-19

David’s first military victory after becoming king secured the city of Jerusalem, which became the capital of Israel and the religious center of the country. He gathered 30,000 men to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. They set it on a new cart and along the way, the Ark slipped in the cart and Uzzah touched the Ark to steady it but was killed instantly. Afraid to go further, David left the Ark at the home of Obed-Edom. While the Ark remained with Obed-Edom, his entire home was blessed. When David heard how God had blessed Obed-Edom, he again attempted to bring it into Jerusalem. This time, he followed the law and had the Levites transport the Ark using staves. David also offered sacrifices along the journey and once they entered Jerusalem, he offered burnt and peace offerings for the people.

Bible Scrapbook

Each week the children will be adding to their scrapbooks what they have learned during Sunday School.  This week we added a beautiful coloring page with a scripture from 1 Corinthians 13 to our scrapbooks:

David becomes King

Central Truth: Because David was faithful to God, he became king over Israel.

Scriptures: 1 Samuel 31; 2 Samuel 5:1-5

The Philistines again attacked the Israelites. They gathered their armies at Mount Gilboa. During the battle, Saul was mortally wounded and his three sons were killed. The Israelite army fled. Saul took his own life and the Philistines took him and his sons’ bodies and displayed them for the people to see. The brave men of Jabesh Gilead stole their bodies at night and brought them back to Israel.

After Saul’s death, God told David to go to Hebron. While there, the tribe of Judah anointed David as their king, and he ruled over Judah for seven years from Hebron. During this time there was a civil war between David and the remaining descendants of Saul. When the house of Saul was finally vanquished, the elders of Israel anointed David king over all Israel. David went to rule for another thirty-three years.

Bible Scrapbook

Each week the children will be adding to their scrapbooks what they have learned during Sunday School.  This time we looked at Psalms 51:10, which was written by David after he sinned with Bathsheba. The download and instruction for tracing can be found at this Deeper Still.

David finds Saul in a Cave

Central Truth: Through our God, we have the victory!

Scriptures: 1 Samuel 24

After David and Jonathan made their covenant of friendship, David became a fugitive and an outlaw for the remainder of Saul’s life. David moved around from place to place, eluding Saul’s men while gaining a following of his own. When David heard that the city of Keilah was under attack by the Philistines, he took his army and defeated the Philistines. Saul heard that David was at Keilah and sent his men to besiege the city, but God had warned David who escaped Saul’s clutches. 

David was again betrayed to Saul, but the country was under attack by the Philistines so Saul returned to face them. David went to Engedi at the edge of the wilderness on the western shore of the Dead Sea. This oasis was watered by a hot spring 

Bible Scrapbook

Each week the children will be adding to their scrapbooks what they have learned during Sunday School. This time we looked at the Battle Psalms of David (specifically, Psalms 20 and 21). Battle Psalms were sung before, during, or after a battle. Using a free bible journaling page and devotional (Bending the Bow), we added creative worship in our bibles:

A page from My Creative Bible that includes my personal notes on Battle Psalms.

In my bible journal, I also included some notes about Battle Psalms. In case you cannot make out my notes in the picture:

We battle the enemy through:

• Worship (2 Chronicles 20:21)
• Word (Matthew 4:1-11)
• Prayer (James 5:13)

God will strengthen and arm us for battle (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Our Warrior King will never leave our side.

The other side of the insert I added in My Creative Bible.

Bella loved the pretty colors and the arrows.

Resurrection Sunday

Central Truth: Jesus sacrificed himself to save the world.

Scriptures: Matthew 28

After Jesus was crucified by the Romans, he was placed in a borrowed tomb for three days. At the end of the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene led a group of women to the tomb. There was a great earthquake and an angel descended from heaven and rolled back the stone. He told the women not to be afraid and that Jesus had risen just like he said he would. The angel told the women to return to the other disciples and tell them that Jesus will appear to them in Galilee.

Bible Scrapbook

Each week the children will be adding to their scrapbooks what they have learned during Sunday School. This is a special week where we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus, which included candy and some fun crafts.

Bible journaling supplies from Illustrated Faith.

Destinee's bible.

David and Jonathan

Saul tries to kill David (freebibleimages.org)

Central Truth: The friendship between David and Jonathan is the kind of friendship that God wants with us.

Scriptures: 1 Samuel 18:1-9; 20

David first met Jonathan after his victory over Goliath. Their friendship was to last as long as they both lived. When Saul and David returned from the battle with the Philistines, the women came out of the cities singing and dancing. They sang to one another “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” The song made Saul jealous and an evil spirit came upon him. David played for him as usual but his singing did not soothe Saul. Instead, he threw a javelin at David’s head. Thus begins Saul’s obsession to kill David. As soon as Jonathan discovered that Saul would harm his friend, he warned David who escaped from Saul’s grasp.

Bible Scrapbook

Each week the children will be adding to their scrapbooks what they have learned during Sunday School. We elaborated on David and Jonathan's friendship by listing the qualities of a good friend:

Drawing inspired by Pinterest, using drawing instructions found on Dragonart website.

David and Goliath

The Book of Psalms in My Creative Bible.

Central Truth: Victory comes from God and God alone.

Scriptures: 1 Samuel 17

The Philistines gathered an army against Israel in the valley of Elah. Jesse sent his son David to the battle to check on his three older brothers who were in the Israelite army. Goliath, the Philistines’ champion, challenged the Israelites morning and evening for forty days. When David heard Goliath’s boasting he became angry and accepted Goliath’s challenge. David met Goliath with his sling and, with a single stone, hit the giant on the forehead. He then took Goliath’s sword and cut off his head. When the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled and the Israelites pursued them.

Bible Scrapbook

Each week the children will be adding to their scrapbooks what they have learned during Sunday School. This week we included a devotional, Like a Tree, using our bible journals: 

David Anointed King

Central Truth: Do not judge others by how they look on the outside but what is in their hearts.

Scriptures: 1 Samuel 16

Because Saul disobeyed God, the Lord rejected him as king of Israel. The Lord told Samuel not to mourn over Saul and to go to Bethlehem. There the Lord instructed him to anoint David, the youngest son of Jess from the tribe of Judah, as the next king of Israel. 

David was a skilled musician. When God rejected Saul, the Spirit of the Lord left him and an evil spirit afflicted him. David was summoned to play his harp for Saul to sooth his troubled spirit. Saul grew to love David as a son and mad him his armor bearer.

Bible Scrapbook

Each week the children will be adding to their scrapbooks what they have learned during Sunday School.  While we are studying about the life of David, we are going to also study some of the Psalms he wrote, including our latest addition to our scrapbooks from Psalms 23:4:

This free coloring page can be found at this website.

Saul Disobeys God

Saul battles the Amalekites and disobeyed God (freebibleimages.org)

Central Truth: By not obeying God, Saul lost his kingdom.

Scriptures: 1 Samuel 13-15

The Philistines assembled a large army and camped in Michmash while the Israelites camped in Gilgal. Samuel told Saul to wait for him at Gilgal for seven days, but Saul became anxious because his army was deserting. To keep his army together, Saul offered a burnt offering instead of waiting for Samuel to come and off the sacrifice. When Samuel arrived, he reproved Saul for his disobedience and told him that God will take his kingdom away from him.

Again, Saul disobeyed God when he went to battle against the Amalekites. Samuel told him to destroy everything, but Saul spared the king and kept the animals, claiming that the people needed the animals to sacrifice to God. Samuel told Saul that it is better to obey God than to sacrifice and that Saul's actions were a rejection of God. When Samuel refused to pardon Saul for his sin, Samuel turned away from Saul who caught Samuel by his robes and ripped them. Samuel told Saul that because of his disobedience, God has torn his kingdom from him and given it to another.

**Usually, I include any extra crafts that the children and I do for our lessons, but I was unable to do so for this lesson. The iPhone I typically use completely died, taking all the photographs with it.**

Israel Wants a King

Samuel anoints Saul king of Isreal (freebibleimages.org).

Central Truth: Although the people rejected God, he gave them what they asked for.

Scriptures: 1 Samuel 8-10

When Samuel was older, the people of Israel asked for a king. He warned them of the evils and the responsibilities of a monarchy, but the Israelites refused to listen to him. God assured Samuel that the people had not rejected Samuel as their leader, but they were rejecting God as their king.

One day Saul, a man from Benjamin, was searching for his father's donkeys. He went to Ramah where Samuel lived to ask him about the missing animals. Samuel asked Saul to stay with him, and the next day Samuel anointed Saul to be king of Israel privately. Later, Samuel gathered the people at Mizpah and told them that the Lord has granted their request for a king. The king was selected from among the tribe of Benjamin by lot and Saul was selected as king.

Bible Scrapbook

Each week the children will be adding to their scrapbooks what they have learned. This week we added a glittery crown along with a scripture found in Psalms 99:5-6 to our scrapbooks:

Samuel Hears a Voice

Samuel hears a voice (freebibleimages.org).

Central Truth: Spiritual truth is not learned but discerned.

Scriptures: 1 Samuel 3-4

When Samuel was a child, the Lord called to him one night as he slept. When Samuel heard the voice, he ran to Eli, the high priest, who told him that he did not call him and to go back asleep. Again, God called Samuel by name and, again, Samuel goes to Eli. When it happens a third time, Eli realizes that it is God and tells Samuel to answer God when he calls. 

The next time God called Samuel, he responds, “here am I.” God told Samuel that because Eli’s sons were sinful and Eli did not restrain them, then Eli’s house will end forever. The next morning, Samuel was afraid to tell Eli what God had said, but Eli would not have him hide it from him. Samuel told Eli what God had said, confirming a prophecy given to Eli that God would end his house.

After some time, the Israelites warred with the Philistines. In a battle, 30,000 Israelite footmen were slain and the Ark of the Covenant was stolen. Among those who were killed were the sons of Eli.

Bible Scrapbook

Each week the children will be adding to their scrapbooks what they have learned during Sunday School.  We have adopted The Promises of God as part of our bible journaling portion of our lessons:

1 Samuel 3 in The Promises of God bible journal.

I used a My Creative Bible for journaling and colored the page in my bible that corresponded with our lesson:

1 Samuel 3 from My Creative Bible.

The Birth of Samuel

Hannah prays for a son (freebibleimages.org)

Central Truth: God answers the prayers of his people.

Scriptures: 1 Samuel 1

A Levite, Elkanah, and his wife Hannah, who was childless, were worshipping at the tabernacle in Shiloh. Hannah prayed earnestly for a son and vowed that if the Lord granted her request, she would give the child to the Lord. In due time, Hannah gave birth to a son, Samuel, who becomes a priest and prophet of God. When the child was weaned, Hannah kept her vow and took Samuel to Shiloh, leaving him with the priest to minister in the service of the Lord.

Bible Scrapbook

Each week the children will be adding to their scrapbooks what they have learned during Sunday School.  This week we added Hannah's Prayer to our scrapbooks:

The Story of Ruth

Central Truth: God protects those who are faithful.

Scriptures: Ruth

The events recorded in the book of Ruth occurred during the time of the judges. During a famine, an Israelite man named Elimelech took his wife and family from Bethlehem and moved to Moab. Elimelech’s sons marry Moabite women and, after some time, Elimelech died, leaving behind a widow, Naomi. Ten years later, the sons also died, leaving their widows, Orpah and Ruth. Naomi decided to return to her home in Israel and told her daughters-in-law to remain in Moab. Orpah remained behind, but Ruth remained with Naomi.

And Ruth said, “Intreat me not to leave thee, or return from following after thee:

for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge:

thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God…

Ruth 1:16

Naomi and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem at the time of the barley harvest. Since Naomi and Ruth were widows, they had no means of support and were poor. Ruth, therefore, went into the fields after the reapers to gather what grain was left in order to find food for Naomi and herself.  Ruth gleaned in the field belonging to Boaz, a relative of Naomi. He had been informed of Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi and treated Ruth kindly, giving her food, water, and protection. 

In Israel, the law required that the nearest relative of a dead man must buy the dead man’s land, provide for his family, and marry his widow. At Naomi’s direction, Ruth appealed to Boaz to fulfill his right as a near relative and marry her, but there was a relative who had a prior claim. When the unnamed man gave up his right to Boaz before witnesses, Boaz was free to honor the requirements of the law and marry Ruth.

Bible Scrapbook

Each week the children will be adding to their scrapbooks what they have learned during Sunday School. This week we learned the beautiful story of Ruth, a story of love, loyalty, and faith in God. We added a delightful three-dimensional picture of Boaz and Ruth in a field: 

Ruth and Boaz from My Little House.

Samson and Delilah: the Lure of Sin

The death of Samson (freebibleimages.org)

Central Truth: God would rather forgive than judge.

Scriptures: Judges 16

Samson loved another Philistine woman, Delilah. The Philistines offered her eleven pieces of silver to discover the secret to Samson’s strength. Four times, Delilah begged Samson to reveal the secret to his great strength. Each time he told her his “secret,” the Philistines attacked him only to be defeated until the fourth time. Samson told Delilah that he was a Nazarite and no razor had ever cut his hair. When he fell asleep, Delilah called for a man to shave the seven locks on Samson’s head. When Samson awoke, he did not know that he had lost his strength. The Philistines overcame Samson, put his eyes out, placed him in chains, and took him to the prison house to grind.

After some time, Samson’s hair began to regrow. The Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to their god, Dagon. When the Philistines had drank their wine, they called for Samson to be brought to them. They placed him between two pillars. Samson asked the boy who had brought him in to place his hand on the pillars. Samson called upon the Lord to restore his strength so he can avenge himself. God heard Samson’s cry and restored his strength. Samson then pushed the pillars with all of his might, killing all of those who were in the building, including himself.

Bible Scrapbook

Each week the children will be adding to their scrapbooks what they have learned during Sunday School. I have always been fascinated by the Nazarite vow, and the children had questions, so we made a list of the rules concerning the Nazarite vow along with the scripture referring to it in the Old Testament. 

Samson's Riddle and Revenge

Central Truth: Samson’s actions are destructive, but God’s will is ultimately done.

Scriptures: Judges 14-15

One day the angel of the Lord appeared to a certain woman and her husband Manoah of the tribe of Dan. The couple had no children, and the angel told them they would have a son. He said the child was to be consecrated to God as a Nazarite from the womb. An Israelite taking the Nazarite vow was prohibited from cutting the hair, eating or drinking the fruit of the vine, and eating or touching anything unclean. Men and women might take the vow for a specified time, but this child was to have the vow for life, and even his mother must observe the vow while the child is in her womb.

When Samson was born, he was extremely strong physically. Throughout his life, he encountered the Philistines but never led an army. He killed them single-handedly using his strength. Samson found a woman of the Philistines he wanted to marry, which made his parents unhappy because they wanted him to marry a woman from their tribe. On his way to Timnah, he came across a young lion. The Spirit of the Lord came over him and he killed the lion without using any weapons. On his return from Timnah, he found honey in the mouth of the lion and took it and ate it. 

At the wedding feast, he told a riddle. If any of the guests could declare the answer to the riddle within the seven days of the wedding feast, he would give them thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes. If they could not solve the riddle during that time, they would have to give Samson thirty garments and thirty changes of clothes. The riddle:

Out of the eater came forth meat

And out of the strong came forth sweetness 

(Judges 14:14).

On the seventh day, the guests still had not answered the riddle, so they threatened Samson’s bride. She went to Samson complaining that he did not love her because he has not told her the answer. Samson tells her the answer and she tells her people:

What is sweeter than honey?

What is stronger than a lion?

(Judges 14:18).

Samson was angry. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson, and he went to Ashkelon and killed thirty men, taking their clothes and gave them to the guests who had guessed correctly. Samson was so angry at his bride that he gave her to his companion. When Samson went to visit his wife, he discovered that her father had given her to his companion. Samson then took 300 foxes, tied their tails together and put a torch to each tail. He then turned them loose in the wheat fields, destroying the crop. As revenge, the Philistines then burnt the woman and her family. Samson then took revenge and slaughtered the Philistines.

Bible Scrapbook

Each week the children will be adding to their scrapbooks what they have learned during Sunday School. We continued our character sketches with the lesser-known judges Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon mentioned in Judges 12:8-15 (Inspired by the Judges Lapbook found on Bible Fun for Kids website):

Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon - Judges of Israel

We also included Samson in our character sketches:

Samson

I also brought My Creative Bible to demonstrate how to apply bible scrapbooking to a bible journal. I first practiced drawing in our notebook:

Directions to draw this lion can be found on Activity Village website.

And then I added my notes and drawings in my bible along with a honeycomb design (using a stencil of a hexagon and colored pencils):

A close-up of the lion (created using a sharpie pen and colored pencils). 

Jephthah

Jephthah

Central Truth: Because of his faith and obedience, Jephthah destroyed the enemies of Israel.

Scriptures: Judges 11

Again, the Israelites turned against God and worshiped foreign idols of Canaan, including Baal and Ashtoreth. This time when the Israelites cried out to God, he told them to cry to their false gods, but the Lord had compassion on them and sent Jephthah to save them. Jephthah was the son of Gilead and lived in a territory called Gilead, which is east of the Jordan River. The Ammonites claimed that Gilead belonged to them and attacked the Israelites. Jephthah was cast out of his family by his half-brothers and fled to the land of Tob. While there, Jephthah led a band of men who raided and pillaged.

When the Ammonites attacked Gilead, the elders asked Jephthah to lead the Israelites against the Ammonites. Jephthah made the elders of Gleaned agree to make him their chief if the Lord delivered the Ammonites not his hand. The Lord delivered the Ammonites into Jephthah’s hand, and he destroyed twenty of their cities.

Bible Scrapbook

Each week the children will be adding to their scrapbooks what they have learned during Sunday School.  This week we did a character study of Jephthah as well as the lesser-known Judges Tola and Jair (inspired by the Judges Lapbook found on Bible Fun for Kids website):

Jephthah, meaning "promise-keeper."

Tola, meaning "worm, grub, scarlet."

Jair, meaning "he shines."