Daniel decides to do the right thing
key words
bible reference
Daniel 1:1-15
lesson objective
To help the children learn to make decisions that are aligned to God’s will.
memory verse
“Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right” (Psalm 106:3, NIV*).
prepare yourself to teach
Daniel was born during the reign of Josiah and grew up during a time of reforms. When King Josiah died in battle in 609 B.C., the people of Judah began to do evil before God, ignoring the prophets.
In the year 605, Nebuchadnezzar became king of the mighty Babylonian empire. During that year he conquered Jerusalem, taking with him the most trained men to be at his service in the royal palace. Daniel and his friends made the long journey from Jerusalem to the city of Babylon. Although they were taken against their will, Daniel and his friends decided to trust God and obey Him. They decided that regardless of the circumstances, they would serve God.
Daniel decided not to eat the food of the royal table, knowing that if he did so, he would be abandoning his covenant with God. Daniel trusted God all the time and he answered him.
Daniel’s life gives us an example of how we should act when we are faced with difficult situations. We know that we can trust that God will give us the strength and wisdom to face them.
adaptation
Preschoolers face difficult and new situations for them. For example: the first day of classes, teachers, new lessons, new friends, etc...
Daniel’s story is a great way to show your children that no matter how difficult the situation is, God will always be with them if they ask.
Preschoolers react in different ways to new situations. Some grow in anxiety when their parents are not around. Others are excited by the opportunity to explore things for themselves. As you present this lesson, help them understand that God likes it when we choose to do good, and that He will always be with us to help us, even in the most difficult situations.
introduce the lesson
Different vegetables
You will need molding clay or Play-Doh of different colors, tablecloths or plastic bags, and wooden sticks.
Cover the work area with the bags or tablecloths, divide the materials and ask the children to form their favorite vegetables. As they work, tell them that in today’s story, you will talk about vegetables.
teach the lesson
Study Daniel 1:1-15 prior to the session and be ready to tell the Bible story. You can use some of these activities to help the children have a better understanding of the Biblical truth.
Decisions
Divide the chairs in your meeting area into two groups and have the children stand in a row. Allow everyone to decide which group of chairs they will sit on to listen to the Bible story.
When everyone is in their place, talk to them about the decisions they make daily in their homes and the importance they have.
Emphasize that it is important to consult with God before making decisions, as you will study in today’s story.
A special guest
Invite a man from your congregation to come to class and represent Daniel as he tells the story.
Have him wear the right clothes and provide him with the materials he needs in advance.
Present the special guest with a brief introduction. Explain to your children that Daniel was captive in a very distant country because his people had been conquered by a very powerful king. However, Daniel trusted God and that is why he decided to do the right thing.
Allow the guest to come forward to tell the story.
Daniel decides to obey God
Daniel and his friends were walking along the dusty road. Each step they took was further from their homes and their families.
King Nebuchadnezzar, who ruled Babylon, had invaded the city of Jerusalem with his armies. That’s where Daniel and his friends lived. The soldiers chose the best young men, like Daniel, to take them to work in the king’s palace in Babylon. Now they would have to live under Nebuchadnezzar’s orders and learn the customs of his country.
After the long trip, Daniel and his friends arrived at the place where they were going to live. They would also have to go to school to learn the language of the Babylonians and their traditions. When it was time to eat, the servants of the King served them a strange meal. It was not the kind of food that pleased God. Daniel and his friends wanted to behave well in Babylon, but they also wanted to obey God. They were convinced that this food from the King was not good for their bodies and that God did not approve. So Daniel decided to talk to one of the king’s helpers. “Please, could we eat only vegetables and drink water?” Daniel asked kindly.
“The king has ordered that every day you eat his food so that you are healthier and stronger. If I do not comply with his orders, he will punish me,” he replied.
Daniel asked him to give them water and vegetables for ten days. If after that time their appearance was weaker than that of others, then they would eat the king’s food. The king’s servant accepted the deal and gave Daniel and his friends vegetables to eat and water to drink for ten days. When the deadline was over, Daniel and his friends looked healthier and stronger than everyone else.
The king’s servant was very surprised and allowed the boys to continue eating vegetables and drinking water. Daniel and his friends decided to do the right thing and obey God. That is why he blessed them during all the time they lived in Babylon.
connect the lesson
Daniel obeys God
Prepare Student Activity Sheet #91-A, #91-B and #91-C prior to the session. Cut out the pictures corresponding to this lesson from Student Activity Sheet #91-C to give a set to each child.
Hand out the activity sheets and allow time for the children to write their name and trace the word of faith (obey). Hand out the pictures from Student Activity Sheet #91-C so they can stick them in the right place and look for the hidden carrots in Student Activity Sheet #91-A.
While the children are working, review the Bible story. Then turn to Student Activity Sheet #91-B to see the memory verse, and paste the pictures in the corresponding figures.
Encourage the children to take home the activity sheets to share the lesson with their families and friends.
practice the memory verse
Use the activity sheet to review the Bible verse. Allow the children to connect the vegetables with the pictures and put the verse in the right order. When everyone has finished, ask them to close the books and repeat the verse a couple of times.
wrap-up
Pray
Use this opportunity to teach children a structure for their prayer life. If possible make an acronym using a word like “PRAY.”
P = Praise – thank God for his wonderful gift of his Son, Jesus.
R = Repent – Ask God to forgive your sins (when you have acted in a way that doesn’t please God.)
A – Ask God to help you live a life pleasing to him and ask for requests/needs that you know about, and finally
Y = Yield – Pray for God’s will to be done, even if it is not what you think should happen. Ask the children to share their requests and pray with them modelling the structure you have taught them.
Encourage
Encourage the group to put into practice what they learned: obeying their parents, teachers and especially God during the week.
Invite
Sing a song before saying goodbye. Hand out any items to take them home, and invite them to the next session.
* Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™