FOR THE LEADER

Obey GodZephaniah 1–3

Like other minor prophets, very little is known of the man Zephaniah. The first verse of his book traces his lineage back four generations giving us some idea of who he was and when he lived. Whether the Hezekiah mentioned in this lineage is the king of Judah, cannot really be verified. Zephaniah would have been clearly identified as an Israelite. Zephaniah’s prophecy is distinctive in that he shares some of the darkest prophetic language, but also offers some of the greatest hope for the future.

Shockingly, Zephaniah began his prophecy by announcing the day of the Lord, or, as he stated, the total destruction of everything on the face of the earth—including Jerusalem. It is pretty dark! Because of sin, nothing would escape God’s wrath. The rest of the book methodically laid out for the people the sin for which they would be condemned. The people had sinned and God was not pleased. Zephaniah’s warning, while bleak, would encourage the residents of Judah to change their attitudes and begin to follow God with their whole hearts. As part of that encouragement, Zephaniah began to talk specifically to the people of Judah. God was announcing a cleansing of the nation from the idol worship prominent in their midst. Hope still existed for those who turned from their sin and followed God—a promise that still exists for us today.

Similar to Habakkuk, the prophet Zephaniah shared a series of woes against Judah’s enemies. These woes shed light on the fact that God indeed is the one true God of all the earth, not just in Judah. Sin is terrible and our holy God cannot ignore sin, but He will forgive and restore us when we repent.

Though Zephaniah’s prophecy was bleak in the beginning, the book ends with some of the greatest hope from any of the Minor Prophets. While God’s judgment was sure, God would still maintain a remnant of people who would one day reinhabit Jerusalem. The new Jerusalem would be a place where followers of God did indeed follow God.

Session 6Session 6: Obey God

46 Explore the Bible: Preschool Leader Guide© 2020 LifeWay

6

OVERVIEW

SESSION FOCUSTEXT TRUTHGod loves His people and wants them to obey Him.

BIBLE STORYZephaniah 1–3

BIBLE VERSEZephaniah 3:17

CHRIST IN CONTEXTThe Book of Zephaniah tells that God promised to send a new King and restore His people to the land. God’s promise came true in Jesus.

BIBLE SKILLS • Begin to understand how Bible verses apply to his life.• Understand the Bible teaches us what God and Jesus are like.

ARRIVAL ACTIVITIES (5 MINUTES)

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

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

▸▸ Dot paint a heart outline.

Tools: Bible, Heart Dot Paint Page (Enhanced CD), dot paint markers

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

▸▸ Press paint on paper inside a bag.

Tools: Bible, gallon-sized ziplock bags, heavyweight paper cut to fit bag, fingerpaint, tape

▸▸ Thread beads on string to make a necklace.

Tools: Bible, nylon shoelaces, round pony beads or heart-shaped beads

47Session 6: Obey God© 2020 LifeWay

BIBLE STORY

ZEPHANIAH’S MESSAGEZephaniah 1–3

Zephaniah was a prophet who lived in the country of Judah. Zephaniah loved God and told people what God wanted them to hear and do.

Zephaniah told the people that God would punish them. Zephaniah knew about the things the people did while bad kings ruled in Judah. Zephaniah saw kings like Manasseh build altars to worship idols (things that were not God). The bad kings caused the people to go away from God.

Zephaniah told the people to obey God’s commands and serve Him.

It was a bad time. Zephaniah had a strong message for the people. Zephaniah wanted people to understand that everyone must obey God. Zephaniah told the people that God would get rid of all their idols. He would stop the people who chose to disobey Him and not follow His laws. One day all the people would worship God and know His love. God would be with the people and bless them.

“God loves and rejoices in His people,” said Zephaniah.

TEXT TRUTHGod loves His people and wants them to obey Him.

BIBLE VERSE Zephaniah 3:17

BIBLE VERSEFrom the Bible text: God will rejoice over you and delight in you. Zephaniah 3:17

Paraphrase:God loves and rejoices in His people. Zephaniah 3:17

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.

48 Explore the Bible: Preschool Leader Guide48© 2020 LifeWay

CIRCLE TIME

TOOLS• Bible• tape• Enhanced CD

PACK ITEMS 6 Story Picture: Zephaniah’s

Message15 Bible Book Markers:

Zephaniah 17 Bible Books Poster18 Bible Poster Add-ons:

Zephaniah25 Prophet Figures28 Scenario Cards

LEADER TIPShow preschoolers where the Book of Zephaniah is located on the Bible Timeline for Kids.

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

GATHER• Play the Enhanced CD to signal children to move to the circle.

• When children are seated, ask: “What are some things your parents ask you to do at home?” Allow time for responses.

• State: “Your parents may ask you to pick up your toys, be kind to your brother, help take out the trash, or make your bed. Your parents have things for you to do and they want you to obey them. Someone in the Bible told God’s people they should obey Him.”

HEAR THE BIBLE STORY• Open the Bible to the Book of Zephaniah. Place the Zephaniah Prophet

Figure (Pack) in front of you. Remark: “Zephaniah lived during a time when many people disobeyed God. But Zephaniah obeyed God and did what God said to do. One day God gave a message to Zephaniah.”

• Show preschoolers the Story Picture (Pack) as you tell the story in your own words.

• Call on a child to tape the Zephaniah Poster Add-on (Pack) to the Bible Books Poster (Pack).

PRACTICE BIBLE SKILLS• Turn to Zephaniah 3:17. Read the Bible verse to preschoolers. Remind

children that God loves His people. Help children say the Bible verse.

• Say: “God loves people and wants them to obey Him. Sometimes obeying can be hard. God wants us to always do what He asks us to do. We can pray and ask God to help us obey Him.”

• Choose a Scenario Card (Pack) and read it aloud to the group. Lead preschoolers to determine if the child in the scenario is obeying God’s commands.

• Discuss remaining Scenario Cards.

PRAY• Thank God for loving and rejoicing over His people. Ask God to help

preschoolers obey what He wants them to do.

49Session 6: Obey God 49© 2020 LifeWay

EXPLORATION STATIONS

TEXT TRUTH God loves His people and wants them to obey Him.

BIBLE STORYZephaniah’s MessageZephaniah 1–3

BIBLE VERSEZephaniah 3:17

PACK ITEMS 6 Story Picture: Zephaniah’s

Message23 Bible Matching Cards29 Action & Path Gameboards30 Lacing Cards32 Book: Tell Me About the

Bible

LEADER TIP!Use sticky notes to mark the Book of Zephaniah in each Bible.

EXPLORATION STATIONS (45-60 MINUTES)

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

MOVE DOWN A LINE

Tools: 3 Bibles, sticky notes,

Action Gameboard (Pack),

beanbag, painter’s tape

• Tape three vertical lines

on the floor, making

them about 18 inches

apart. Place a Bible at the

end of each line. Direct

preschoolers to form lines

behind each taped line.

• Toss a beanbag on the

gameboard and direct the

first child in each line to

move down the tape using

the indicated motion. At

the end, tell the child to

open the Bible to the sticky

note and say “Zephaniah.”

• Repeat until all children

have moved and opened

the Bible and said Zephaniah’s name.

• Say: “You followed the

directions. Zephaniah

followed God’s directions.”

LACE CARDS

Tools: Bible, Lacing Cards (Pack), yarn, tape, scissors, Story Picture: Zephaniah’s Message (Pack)

• Use the cards showing hearts and people. Thread a piece of yarn through one hole in each lacing card and knot it. Wrap a piece of tape around the other end of the yarn.

• As children lace cards, say: “Hearts remind us of love. We have been learning that God loves His people and wants them to obey Him. The Bible says that God rejoices in His people.”

• Show the Story Picture as you tell the Bible story.

50 Explore the Bible: Preschool Leader Guide© 2020 LifeWay

EXPLORATION STATIONS

DROP POM-POMS

Tools: Bible, 5 small paper

sacks with bottoms cut out,

tape, plastic tub, pom-poms,

marker, tongs, Activity Page

• Use the marker to write

letters of the word Bible on

the sacks (one letter per

sack). Tape the sacks on the

wall at children’s eye level.

Place the tub below sacks.

• Invite preschoolers to use

the tongs to grab pom-

poms and drop them into

the bags. Tell children to

try to get the pom-poms in

the tub below the pans.

• Say: “The letters on the

sacks form the word Bible.

The Bible is God’s true

Word. Zephaniah is a book

in the Old Testament part

of the Bible. Zephaniah

wrote what God said to His

people.”

• Show the picture on the

Activity Page and tell the

Bible story.

MAKE A BOOK

Tools: Bible; Preschool Family Card; picture cutouts of people, food, clothing, homes; paper; glue; crayons and markers; photo album

• On a sheet of paper write the title God Loves People.

• Invite children to make a book about God’s love and care. Tell children to look for pictures that help them think about God’s love for them. Some children may enjoy drawing pictures to show things God provides.

• After children complete pages for the book, put all the pages in a photo album.

• Look at the Family Card. Tell children that Zephaniah told people: “God loves and rejoices in His people.”

• Show children Zephaniah 3:17 in the Bible. Help preschoolers say the verse.

COMPARE & MATCH BIBLES

Tools: Bible Matching Cards (Pack), small basket holding 4 or 5 different types of Bibles, Book: Tell Me About the Bible (Pack)

• Put the basket of Bibles on the floor. Prop the book against the basket.

• Invite a child to examine and explore the different types of Bibles. Talk about the features of each one.

• After reading the book with the child, help him locate in a Bible some of the things mentioned in the book.

• Invite another child to turn all the Bible Matching Cards facedown. Guide the child to turn over cards, two at a time, to look for matches.

• Remark: “The Bible is the most important book we can read. We learn about God and what He wants people to do.”

51Session 6: Obey God© 2020 LifeWay

NEXT HOUR

OPTIONS1. Continue activities from

the first hour. (Kids learn through repetition.)

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

TEXT TRUTHGod loves His people and wants them to obey Him.

BIBLE STORYZephaniah’s MessageZephaniah 1–3The Bible story is printed on the back of the Story Picture.

BIBLE VERSEGod loves and rejoices in His people.Zephaniah 3:17

PACK ITEMS 6 Story Picture: Zephaniah’s

Message25 Prophet Figures

CD ITEMSHeart Outline

LEADER TIP!Look in a Bible dictionary or atlas for a picture of a Bible times house or village.

NEXT HOUR (MORE EXPLORATIONS FOR PRESCHOOLERS)

TOSS RINGS ON BOTTLESTools: Bible, Prophet Figures (Pack), clear plastic bottles, tape, sturdy paper plates with centers cut out

• Tape the Prophet Figures to the bottles and stand them on the floor about a foot apart.

• Open a Bible to Zephaniah 3:17. Read the verse, then say: “Zephaniah said those words to the people. Zephaniah told the people that God loved them and wanted them to obey Him.”

• Show a child a paper plate ring. Guide the child to toss a paper plate ring on a picture bottle. Name the prophet. Say: “Prophets told people what God said.”

PASS THE BIBLETools: Bible with ribbon marking Zephaniah 3:17, Enhanced CD

• Play the CD and invite children to stand in a circle. Tell preschoolers to pass the Bible to one another while the music plays.

• Stop the music and ask the child with the Bible to open it to the ribbon. Comment that this is the page where we read today’s Bible verse.

• Lead children to say the Bible verse together.

• Resume play until every child gets a turn to hold the Bible.

PLAY WITH BLOCKS & PEOPLE FIGURESTools: Bible, Activity Page, wooden blocks, toy people figures, picture of a Bible times house or village

• Encourage preschoolers to share the blocks and people figures. Suggest the children work together to build homes for the people.

• Show the picture of the Bible times house or village, then look at the Activity Page. Note that people lived in the houses with their families just as we live in homes with our families.

• Say: “God told Zephaniah to tell people to stop disobeying and begin doing what God said.” Summarize the Bible story.

52 Explore the Bible: Preschool Leader Guide© 2020 LifeWay

NEXT HOUR

MAKE A PEOPLE PICTURETools: Bible, Heart Outline (Enhanced CD; print a page for each child), glue sticks, people picture cutouts, marker

• Use a heart cutout to mark the Book of Zephaniah in the Bible.

• Give a child a heart page and a glue stick. Direct the child to look for people pictures to glue onto the heart.

• While the child is busy, remark that God made people and cares about them. God loves and rejoices in His people.

• Invite the child to open the Bible to the heart. Point to Zephaniah’s name. Say: “Zephaniah is the name of a prophet who told people about God’s love. The story about Zephaniah is in the Bible.”

CIRCLE TIME GATHER• Walk around the room and ring a

bell. Chant these words: I can obey. I can obey. I can go to Circle Time. I can obey.

REVIEW THE BIBLE STORY• Show children the Story Picture

(Pack) and point to Zephaniah. Summarize the Bible story.

• Ask preschoolers to tell some of the things Zephaniah warned the people about.

PRACTICE BIBLE SKILLS• Ask children: “Who do you think

wrote the Book of Zephaniah?”

• Guide children to shout “Zephaniah.” Show preschoolers where the Book of Zephaniah is located in the Bible.

• Turn to Zephaniah 3:17 and help children say the Bible verse and reference together.

PRAY• Thank God for loving each of us.

Ask God to help people obey 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.

53Session 6: Obey God© 2020 LifeWay