Introduction for: Year 1, Lesson 33
Fall of Jerusalem
The Big Idea (Textual Principle):
God’s mission kept going.
2 Kings 25
Biblical Virtue (Timeless Principle)
Trust in Hard Times – God stays with us even when things go wrong.
Memory Verse
And he burnt the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man's house burnt he with fire. 2 Kings 25:9
Fall of Jerusalem
Bible Text: 2 Kings 25
Answer the following questions:
After asking these for yourself, you will be ready to ask these questions of the students after you tell the story.| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What did you like in the story? | |
| What did you not like in the story? | |
| What does the story teach you about God? | |
| What does the story teach you about mankind? | |
| What might the Lord be calling you to do after hearing this story? |
Teacher Soft Skills Development
Create 5 Questions and answers to thoughtfully review the text.| Question | Answer | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | ||
| What | ||
| When | ||
| Where | ||
| Why | ||
| How |
Classroom Sequence for Fall of Jerusalem (2 Kings 25)
#1 Welcome the Students
AHello students, please sit down and stay quiet for prayer.”
BPray and praise God for a beautiful day, and
ask God to bless the teacher and students.
#2 Rules Review
Use the rules chart to remind everyone to sit, listen, watch, put away their toys/personal items, and have fun.
#3 Music
Sing two or more joyful songs.
#4 Five-Finger Prayer Time
Thumb
Praise God for His
worthy character
Index Finger
Confess sins
Middle Finger
Thank God for
His great care
Ring Finger
Pray for those
who are weak
or in need
Pinky
Pray for my own
needs
#5 Bible Time
Use the rules chart to remind everyone to sit, listen, watch, avoid toys, and have fun.
#6 Story Time
Engage: Engage
Expound: Tell the Story (5-10 minutes)
1. Mention the historical situation.
2. Begin: “This is a true story from God’s
Word.”
3. Tell accurately with gestures/pictures.
(Accurate/Transferable/Contextual/Short)
Explain (Before or after the story – not during):
1. Share insights and biblical principles.
2. Compare with Jesus or NT when appropriate.
3. Identify Christian virtue(s): Trust in Hard Times – God stays with us even when things go wrong.
4. Apply an example to real life.
Note: Learning to read the full passage and accurately retell a short version is part of the personal development of the teacher.
#7 Expand
Do 2 or 3 of the following as time permits. The teacher does not have to do everything listed – just choose according to the time permitted.
A. Retell the Story so the students can memorize it.
If possible, tell the story again so the students can memorize it.
B. Craft
Materials Needed
1 recycled cardboard shoe box lid or flat pizza box top (serves as the sturdy base)
4–6 wooden clothespins or wooden popsicle sticks (to build the wall framework)
Aluminum foil (to wrap the base and give a metallic background)
3–4 cotton balls or cotton pads (for smoke/cloud effects)
1 small piece of bright yellow or gold felt, fabric scrap or paper
1 dark marker
Glue stick or craft glue
Safety scissors
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Lay your recycled cardboard box lid flat on the table to act as the ground.
Step 2: Wrap a piece of aluminum foil over the top surface of the lid to make it bright and shiny.
Step 3: Cut a simple shield or heart shape out of your bright yellow or gold felt.
Step 4: Glue the felt shape firmly right into the center of the foil base.
Step 5: Use a dark marker to write the phrase "God stays with us" inside the felt shape.
Step 6: Write the verse reference "2 Kings 25" on the lower corner of the cardboard lid.
Step 7: Take your wooden clothespins (or popsicle sticks) and arrange them in a standing ring or wall shape around the felt center.
Step 8: Glue the wooden pieces at tilted or overlapping angles so they look like a broken, collapsing city wall.
Step 9: Stretch and pull a few cotton balls into thin, wispy clouds.
Step 10: Glue the stretched cotton clouds over parts of the broken wooden wall to show that even when earthly walls fall, God remains close!
C. Total Physical Response
| Story Moment | Teacher TPR Commands | Expected Student Actions |
|---|---|---|
| Jerusalem is captured and the people are taken away | “Walk slowly… leave your home.” | Students walk slowly in place. |
| The people face a very hard time | “Look down… stay strong.” | Students lower their heads, then stand firm. |
| Even in trouble, God does not leave His people | “Point up… God is still with us!” | Students point upward confidently. |
| The people learn to trust God again | “Hands on heart… trust God.” | Students place hands on their hearts. |
| We trust God in hard times | “Take a deep breath… step forward in faith!” | Students take a deep breath and step forward boldly. |