WELCOME TO WEEK 4

Welcome to week 4! We all face difficult situations at some point in time, but even during the bad times God promises to be there with us. God can help us get through our difficulty. This week we will read about Esther and the difficulty she faced and how her courage saved her people.

Esther 2,4; Philippians 4:13

BIBLE STORY

We are going to test your courage today. We are going to set up an obstacle course that you must walk across blindfolded. Determine the start position and the walkway they must walk down and the end point. Lay out a large tarp, plastic covering or newspaper to cover the ground. You will need to walk down this aisle but not step on these eggs that are placed throughout the path. (place several eggs on the ground while they are watching). Now while I finish the obstacle course, you can wait in the other room and put on your blindfold. While they are in another room, gather up all the eggs and replace them with small piles of saltine crackers. When they walk the obstacle course and step on the crackers they will think they are stepping on an egg from the crunching sound of the crackers. Be sure they are blindfolded before you call them back to the obstacle course. Allow your child or children to walk the course and get to the end.

What did it feel like as you prepared to walk the obstacle course? Were you afraid you would step on the eggs? Did you have to get courage to walk the aisle? What’s something brave and bold you’ve done that didn’t involve eggs and crackers?

This week we are learning about Queen Esther and how she didn’t know if her boldness would give her the results she was looking for. God was faithful and rewarded her boldness even though she was probably feeling scared.  

Materials: eggs, saltine crackers, newspaper or some other tarp (or complete activity outside), blindfold

Read or listen to the scripture  Esther 2,4

Who helped raise Esther after her parents died? (Mordecai, her cousin)

When Esther went to the palace how did everyone feel about her? (She won the favor of everyone who saw her)

Who did the King Xerxes choose to be his next queen? (Esther)

What secret did Mordecai tell Esther to keep? (That she is Jewish)

Who wanted the Jews killed? (Haman)

What did Esther say is the problem with going to see the king without being summoned? (If the king does not summon her she could be put to death unless he extends his golden scepter)

What did Esther decide to do? (She asked for Mordecai and all the other Jews to fast along with her and her attendants, then after 3 days she would go before the king.)

BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY

God has promised to help us overcome difficulty in our life. He did not promise we would never face anything hard, but He did say He would never leave us nor forsake us. We can trust that even when we face new things that are hard, God will be there with us just like He was with Esther.

Activity

Think of some ways God has provided for you during difficult times. Perhaps He provided food during a time when you didn’t have any, or your family avoided a car accident. As a family, take time to recall and each share a memory of how God has delivered. When we think about what God has done in the past it helps build our faith to know He will continue to deliver us now and in the future.

Alternate

Complete the following activity sheet

Materials: printed activity sheet

create:

Purim is a Jewish celebration to remember what Esther did to save her people from Haman. One of the traditions of this holiday is to make hamantaschen cookies. They are supposed to look like the hat Haman wore. Make hamantaschen cookies. Use this recipe or use sugar cookie dough and shape into triangles, add jelly to the middle and pinch sides to make a hat like cookie

Materials: Printed recipe of Hamantaschen cookies, cookie ingredients (butter, sugar, flour (white/wheat), eggs, vanilla, baking powder

ARTS & CAFTS

CRAFT 1

Esthers crown. Go to following link, click on one of the crown templates, and print. Have your child color and decorate the crown. Then cut out the crown and glue the tabs together to make a crown.

Materials: printed crown, crayons, scissors, glue, plastic gems

Craft 2

Coloring page

Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons

FOLLOW-UP

Read Philippians 4:13. John is speaking here and he knew a lot about hardships. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-33 he speaks of all the difficulty he’s had.

After reading his difficulties in 2 Conrinthians, use a sheet of paper divided in half. On one side label it “John’s difficulties” and on the other half of the paper label it “My difficulties” See how many of John’s difficulties you can remember and then write them down. Then write down what your difficulties are.

Reread Philippians 4:13. It says that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. All of the things John listed, he was able to endure because of the strength of God. God gives us the same strength to endure the difficulties we face in life. Some days are easier than others, but days that are hard God can help us overcome. God placed Esther in the palace at the exact time He wanted her to be there. God has placed you exactly where He wants you to be so that He can use you in a mighty way for an exact purpose. At first Esther did not want to go before the king for fear she would die, but she soon realized that even if the worse happened, it would be in God’s hands and she would be doing God’s will. We too must be brave to trust that even if our worst fear happens, God will still be there and He has already delivered us.

Practical Application at Home

Esther was a shinning star, she saved her people from Haman. When she was in the court preparing to meet the king, the Bible said she was liked by everyone that met her. God has called us to be shinning stars to the people around us. We can be a blessing to those we come into contact with. When we look for ways to be a blessing to others we worry less about what we can get from other people and more about how we can give to others. Listen to the following scenarios, how could you be a blessing in that situation?

-A kid drops his lunch in the lunch line spilling his entire lunch on the floor.

-The person in front of you in the store line is short a few dollars for their purchase.

-A friend is having a hard time with the math lesson at school.

-Your mom is tired from working all day and is trying to figure out what is for dinner.

-Your dad is working outside in the yard by himself trying to quickly finish before sundown

-Your neighbor’s mail came to your house by accident.

-Your little sister needs help putting her helmet on so she can ride her bike with you.

-Your brother asks you if he can share your new toy.

-You want to bring cupcakes to class for your birthday but one of your classmates is allergic to gluten.

Additional Resources

Outings to Reinforce Lesson

Spend time in nature watching how both living and non-living things have their own cycle and jobs to do. Watch how their job fits with the ecosystem and creates balance in nature. God had a plan for all of creation.