Jeremiah

 

Objectives:

  1. Children should again identify a prophet as one who speaks for God.
  2. They should identify Jeremiah as a prophet who lived in Judah.
  3. Children should identify Jeremiah as author of the book of Jeremiah and of the Lamentations.
  4. Children should know that Jeremiah prophesied the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians and lived to see that fulfilled.
  5. Children should identify Nebuchadnezzar as King of Babylon.

 

Possible Lesson Plan:

  1. Open with prayer.

 

  1. Scripture Reference: Jeremiah 13:1-11 and (if there’s time) chapter 28. Jeremiah like Isaiah preached in Judah, the southern kingdom, but later, under the reign of Zedekiah, the last king of Judah. During this time, the Babylonians sacked the temple and took captives; later they returned and leveled the city.

 

  1. Learning Game: Out-lister – Give the students each a paper with three headings across the top: Kings, Prophets, Bible Places. Give them 5 minutes to write as long a list as they can for each category. The student with the longest total list is the winner, but he must be ready to identify the entry if questioned about its appropriateness.

 

  1. Discussion: What did God say to Judah with the belt (or girdle) demonstration? Was there truth to the statement? How did Jeremiah tell us how to tell a true prophet from a false one? Why was Jerusalem destroyed? Was God “fair” to the Jewish people? 

 

  1. Make Jeremiah’s Girdle:

A girdle was actually a belt worn to keep their flowing robes from billowing out too much. Make this one out of felt. Cut a 6x36-inch piece of felt for each student. Punch several holes in each of the short ends. Cut out a 4x4 square of felt also for each student. Staple or glue the “pocket” in the middle of the back of the girdle. Tie yarn in each of the holes as fringe.  Alternatively, use a piece of fleece, cut fringe at ends, and make long enough to be a scarf to use at home, as a reminder of Jeremiah.

 

  1. Close with prayer.