05 April 2020

Toddler Class

Coach Carrie

Asst. Adeline

Primary Class 1-3

Coach Lily Bun

Asst. Trista

Primary Class 4-6

Coach Swanky

DAVID & GOD'S ARK

1. STORY: David & God's Ark (2 Sam 6)

• We’ve been learning about a person called David.
  • What have we learnt about him so far?
    • David was a shepherd.
    • David was anointed king.
    • David killed Goliath
    • David + Jonathan made a covenant
    • David married Michal (Saul’s daughter)
    • Saul was jealous of him.
    • Saul wanted to kill him.
    • David ran away, and God protected him from all harm.
  • Fast forward to our story today — Saul and Jonathan were both killed in battle. So David was then made king of Judah, then all of Israel.
• David loved the Lord. He loved to sing and write songs of worship.
• One of the first things David did as king was to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem.
• What is the Ark of the Covenant?
  • The Ark is made of gold; represented God’s presence among the Israelites.
  • Carried through the desert for 40 years when Israelites left Egypt
  • The priests carried the Ark into the River Jordan, causing the water to stop, so the Israelites could cross.
  • Lost in battle and captured by the Philistines, but they returned it to the Israelites. (1 Samuel 5-7:1).
  • Stayed in a place called Kirjath-jearim for 20 years.
• David wanted to bring the Ark back to Jerusalem:
  • To remind Israel that God is the real King
  • Because David loved God’s presence
• David’s 1^st attempt: 
  • Bring in the Ark on a cart, carried by oxen. Uzzah, one of the men accompanying the ark reached out to touch it to prevent the ark from falling. And he died!
  • The Ark represented God’s holy presence, and according to God’s law, The Ark could ONLY be carried on the shoulders of the Levite priests. Not anybody, even David, could just touch the Ark.
  • Why? Because of SIN. Sin is serious. Sin separates us from a holy God. Whether we have good intentions or try our best, we still fall short of God’s holy standards.
• David’s 2^nd attempt:
  • So King David tried again, this time, the right way. On the shoulders of the Levite priests.
  • There were burnt sacrifices of oxen and sheep à death for the forgiveness of sin
  • Picture of the gospel: There had to be a sacrifice for sin so that we can be holy and enter the presence of the Holy God.
  • Heb 10:10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
  • And what a big celebration it was! There were trumpets and singing and dancing and shouting. All Israel came to see the procession bringing the Ark into the city of Jerusalem. It was a huge celebration.
• David Dancing:
  • And right in front of it all was David. Yes, the king of Israel was dancing with all his might! And not just dancing, but dancing almost naked! David had taken off his crown, his majestic robes and fine clothes. He only wore a linen ephod.
  • Can you imagine our country’s king dancing on the streets at our national day parade? Or the king of any country dancing … naked? It was unheard of. Some may say embarrassing or humiliating for the great king. But David didn’t care. He was so happy that he could bring the Ark back to Jerusalem, and he was worshipping God. He was leaping and dancing.
    [suggestion: can show this video of David dancing]
  • The ark was brought into a tabernacle that David had prepared. David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord. Then he blessed the people and gave them gifts of bread and cakes. And all the people went home after that.
  • Now, not everybody was as happy as King David. In fact, his own wife, Michal, Saul’s daughter, was not enjoying the celebrations with everyone else. She was looking out her window, and she didn’t like what she saw. The Bible says she despised David in her heart.
  • When David returned home, Michal came to him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”
  • But David told his wife, “In God’s presence, I’ll dance all I want! He chose me over your father and the rest of our family and made me prince over God’s people, over Israel. Oh yes, I’ll dance to God’s glory — more recklessly even than this. And as far as I’m concerned … I’ll gladly look like a fool!”
  • David celebrated the way he did because he knew that it was God who chose him to be king and he wanted to give God all the glory.

2. LESSON

• Jesus died to make us holy
  • Sin separates us from the holy God.
  • Jesus’ death makes us holy so we can be with our holy God
• Jesus is our Ark
  • Today, we don’t need the Ark of the Covenant to have God’s presence. (no Ark = no presence of God in the Old Covenant)
  • Jesus is our Ark — God’s spirit/presence is in us forever.
• Jesus is our reason to celebrate
  • Just as David and the city of Jerusalem were in celebration when the Ark was brought into Jerusalem, there were huge celebrations when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey. People lined the streets and danced and cheered, waving palm branches.
  • Of course now we know Jesus came to Jerusalem to die for all of us. He loved us so much, He wanted to give His life for us so that our sins can be forgiven and we can be together with God forever and ever.
  • Now … isn’t that reason for us to dance and celebrate? We can worship and celebrate God’s goodness, greatness and holiness! So when we come together every Sunday, let’s not fold out arms, or do our own things. Instead, let us sing dance with all our heart like David did, because we worship such as wonderful Saviour, Jesus!

3. ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS

• Memory Verse: 2 Sam 6:21, ““In God’s presence, I’ll dance all I want to His glory!” (MSG)
• Song and dance: The Spirit of the Lord is within my heart
  (The original song lyrics state, “When the spirit of the Lord comes upon my heart.”  It is good to remind kids that God’s Spirit is already in us, today. Hence we should sing this song as “The Spirit of the Lord is within my heart, I will dance like David danced.”)

29 March 2020

Toddler Class

Coach Ochie 

Asst. Oling

Primary Class 1-6

Coach Shawn & Joel

DAVID & MEPHIBOSHETH

1. STORY: David & Mephibosheth (2 Sam 9)

• We’ve been learning about a person called David
• Who was David’s best friend? Jonathan, King Saul’s son
• What did David and Jonathan do? They made a covenant/promise with each other — My life is yours; your life is mine
• What happened to Jonathan? Killed in battle with his father, King Saul
• Even after David became king, he remembered his covenant with Jonathan:
  “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (2 Sam 9:1)
• Ziba, one of the servants who used to work in Saul’s household, replied: “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.”
• When Jonathan and Saul died, the nurse carried Jonathan’s 5yo son up and ran away to hide (because she was afraid that the new king will kill all of the former king’s family). However, as she was running, the boy fell down and became disabled. His name was Mephibosheth (2 Sam 4:4)
• Mephibhosheth
  • Son of Jonathan
  • Name means “a thing of shame”
  • Crippled in both feet; orphaned; scorned and living in fear; a “dead dog”
  • So King David summoned for Mephibhosheth to be brought to him.
    • How do you think Mephibhosheth felt? Scared for his life
    • Fell on his face. “Here is your servant.”
    • But King David surprised him completely. He said to him:
      •  “Do not fear
      •  for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake  (covenant promise)
      • and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather;
      •  and you shall eat bread at my table continually.” (2 Sam 9:7)
      • Wow! In one day, Mephibhosheth went from a nobody, “a thing of shame”, to someone who will dine in the King’s palace daily. It was unbelievable! In fact, he couldn’t believe it himself. He asked, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?”
        • But David went on to assign Ziba and his household to work Mephibhosheth’s fields and provide for him all the days of his life. Talk about favour! Talk about grace!

2. LESSON

• Why did David do all that for the grandson of his enemy?
  Because of the covenant he made with Jonathan — “for Jonathan your father’s sake”
  David did not make the covenant with Mephibhosheth, but because Mephibhosheth was Jonathan’s son, he was able to enjoy all the benefits of the covenant between David and Jonathan. 
• Because of his covenant with Jonathan, David gave Mephibhosheth:
  • New Life — no more a “dead dog”
  • Restoration — of all the land his grandfather owned
  • Provision — Ziba and family to work the land for him
  • A Place at the King’s table (mentioned 3x in the chapter!)
  • Sonship — as “one of the King’s sons”
• On the cross, God cut a Covenant with Jesus. If we are in Jesus, we are God’s children, and we get to enjoy all the benefits of this New Covenant!
  • New Life (Eph 2:4-5)
  • Restoration —Jesus came to restore us to the Father and all the Adam lost in the garden of Eden
  • Provision (Phil 4:19)
  • A Place at the King’s table (John 6:53) — can participate in the Communion
  • Sonship (John 1:12, Gal 3:26)

22 March 2020

Toddler Class

Coach Susan 

Asst. Adeline

Primary Class 1-3

Coach Iwan

(Asst. Shevica)

Primary Class 4-6

Coach Savitri

DAVID & JONATHAN

1. STORY: David & Jonathan (1 Sam 18-20)

• Last week we learnt about David & Saul.
• Who was David? A shepherd boy who was chosen by God to be KingWho was Saul? The king of Israel whom God rejected; jealous of David; tried to get rid of himLesson?  In everything David did he had great success, because the Lord was with him. 
• Today we’re going to learn about someone who became best friends with David. His name was Jonathan. Jonathan was Saul’s son. When Saul died, Jonathan was supposed to be the next king. But instead of being jealous like his father, Jonathan loved David.
• 1 Sam 18:1, 3-4 Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. ³ And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. ⁴ Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.

• Jonathan and David’s Relationship:
  • One in spirit
  • Loved as himself
  • Made a covenant with each other
    (take some time to explain this; can get kids to act out the exchange of belongings etc as illustration)
    • My life is yours; your life is mine
    • Till death do us part
    • Exchanged belongings (robe, tunic) and weapons (bow, sword):
      What is mine is yours
    • A marriage relationship between husband and wife is also a type of covenant — 2 lives becoming one until death; symbolised by the exchanging of rings.

2. LESSON

• Jonathan: A Picture of Jesus
  Jonathan’s life is a picture of the true friendship we have in Jesus — loyal, dedicated, sacrificial
  • Laid aside his position as heir
    • Jonathan was the successor to Saul’s throne; but he recognised that David was God’s chosen one, giving David his robe and weapon
    • 1 Sam 23: 17 “You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you.”
  • Placed his life on the line (Risked his life) for his friend
    • 1 Sam 20:32-33  And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, “Why should he be killed? What has he done?” ³³ Then Saul cast a spear at him to kill him, by which Jonathan knew that it was determined by his father to kill David.
    • When Jonathan found out his father wanted to kill David, Jonathan protected David and spoke out in defense to his father. This angered Saul so much that Saul also threw a spear at Jonathan.
  • Encouraged his friend in the wilderness
    • 1 Sam 23:15-17 ¹⁵ While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned thatSaul had come out to take his life. ¹⁶ And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. ¹⁷ “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.”
    • When David ran away and hid because Saul wanted to kill him, Jonathan went to encourage him and reminded him of God’s promise that he will be king.

• Jesus is our true friend / BFF
  • Jesus made a covenant with us when He died on the cross — He took our sins and exchanged them with His righteousness
  • Jesus laid aside His kingly position so we can become God’s heirs
    • Jesus — Lord of the universe — gave up everything and came to earth as a baby/man so that we can become children of God
  • Jesus laid down His life for his friends
    • John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 
  • Jesus encourages us in our times of need
    • When we are sad or angry or tired, we know that our best friend Jesus is always there to help us. 

• Memory Verse: John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 

3.  ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS

• Songs:
  • Jesus is my best friend
  • Jesus what a friend
• Craft with: “Jesus is my Best Friend”

• Game with Memory Verse (John 15:13)

15 March 2020

Toddler Class

Coach Carrie

Asst. Laila

Primary Class 1-3

Coach Grace

(Asst. Leesia)

Primary Class 4-6

Coach Daniel
Coach Nicho

DAVID & SAUL

1. LESSON: David & Saul (1 Sam 18)

• Who was the shepherd boy who was anointed king of Israel? David

• Who was the king at that time? Saul

• What does “anointed” mean? Set apart for a special role. Empowered — Holy Spirit comes on that person to give him the power to do the work God prepared for him.

• With God’s anointing, David became very successful and popular. However, not everyone was happy with David. In fact, King Saul hated David.

• King Saul:
  • Rejected: King Saul had been anointed by Samuel. But he disobeyed God, so God rejected him, and His spirit/anointing left Saul
    Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had departed from Saul. (vs 12).
    (Under the Old Covenant, God’s Spirit would move from person to person; under New Covenant, God’s Spirit stays in us forever!)
  • Jealous and insecure: After David killed Goliath, David became a hero and had many more successes on the battlefield. The women of Israel would welcome him with dancing and singing: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” This made Saul very jealous! (vs 7)
    When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. (vs 15)
  • Tormented: After God’s Holy Spirit left Saul, Saul would be tormented by an evil spirit — only David’s playing of the lyre (harp) would make him feel better. But even then, the evil spirit made Saul throw a spear at David (not once … but twice!) and try to kill him.
  • Murderous: Besides throwing the spear, Saul also tried to think of other ways to get rid of David — he offered his daughter, Michal’s, to David as his wife in return for killing 100 Philistines — Saul’s plan was to have David fall by the hands of the Philistines. (vs 25)

• Can you imagine what is it like to be David? Having the most powerful man in the land, the King of Israel, trying to destroy you at every turn?

• But David was the anointed one — God was with him. God was bigger than the giant (Goliath). And God was bigger than Saul.

• David:
  • Successful: Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. (vs 5)
    In everything he did he had great success, because the Lord was with him. (vs 14)
  • Protected: Twice, Saul threw a spear at David. Twice, David escaped unharmed. Even when Saul sent David to kill 100 Philistines in order to marry his daughter, David managed to kill 200 Philistines in the time frame!
  • Loved: David was loved by:
    • the people of Israel and Judah (vs 16) because he was their hero
    • Jonathan, son of Saul
    • Michal, daughter of Saul

• Despite all Saul’s evil intentions, he could not harm David.
  When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David, Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days. (vs 28-29)

• David was God’s anointed. He was loved, protected and successful in all he did.
  David met with more success than the rest of Saul’s officers, and his name became well known. (vs 30).

• Because of Jesus, we are also God’s anointed ones. So we don’t have to live like Saul — jealous, insecure, tormented etc. We can live like David — knowing that God loves us, He protects us and will grant us success in what we do. 

• Memory Verse: 1 Sam 18:14  In everything David did he had great success, because the Lord was with him. 

2. ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS:

• Worksheet