Big Idea: God is close to people with broken hearts, so we can find comfort in Him when we’re sad.
Bible Basis: Jeremiah 27-28, 37-39; 2 Kings 25; Lamentations 1
Key Verse: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 (NIV)
OPENING PRAYER
Lord, open now my heart to hear, And through your Word to me draw near. Let me your Word ever pure retain; Let me your child and heir remain. All this I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
THUMBS UP, THUMBS DOWN
Simply ask your child to share one good thing that happened today or this week (thumbs up) and one not-so-good thing (thumbs down). This is a great way to share celebrations and struggles with one another.
COMIC SHEET
This month’s theme, The Fab Five, has a superhero / comic sheet feel. So, as we go through the Bible lessons, your child will be able to add their drawings to the Bible History comic sheet available below. The comic sheet will include panels with background scenery, but the primary drawings are missing. As our leader goes through the story, encourage your child to draw the missing pictures.
BIBLE LESSON VIDEO
ASK THESE QUESTIONS
For younger kids:
What was your favorite part of this story? Why?
Why do you think Jeremiah was so sad?
For older kids:
What does this story teach you about God?
How would you have felt if you were Jeremiah? Why?
REFLECT AND RESPOND
After the video, have your child pick one or more of the prompts on the GO! Home Guide.
Prayer Station prompt: Are you sad about anything? Write a prayer to God and tell Him about it. Ask Him to be close to you.
Journal Station prompt: When Jeremiah was sad, he wrote a poem about it. Try writing a poem to God about your sadness. It doesn’t even have to rhyme.
Bible Station prompt: Read it for yourself: Jeremiah 39:1–14. Draw a picture of the story or write to God about your favorite part of the story. Tell Him why you liked it.
Art Station prompt: What do you look like when you’re sad? Draw a picture of it. While you’re drawing, tell God what makes you sad and ask Him to be close to you.
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
+ The Fab Five Connect Activity
- Say: Today we’re going to hear a bummer of a story. It’s a story about one of the Fab Five prophets who lost not only his entire house, not only his entire city, but his entire nation. To get us started, I want to ask you a question. Instead of telling us the answer, though, you’re going to draw it!
- Directions: Give each kid a blank piece of paper. Place a box of markers, crayons, or colored pencils in the middle of the group. When ready, ask the question below and have the kids draw a picture of their answer. When finished, allow the kids to show their picture and tell a little bit about what they drew.
- Question: If your house was going to be destroyed and you could only save one thing from it, what would you save?
+ The Restoration Race (Application Activity)
- Set-up: Print one copy of the “Broken Heart” worksheet for every kid on 8½ x 11 paper.
- Say: In today’s story, Jeremiah had a lot of things to be sad about, but God was close to him and kept Jeremiah from being crushed by his sadness. It’s the same for us. We all experience things that break our heart and make us sad, but God is right there with us and helps to piece our heart together again. We’re going to do an activity that will help us think about that.
- Directions: Give each kid a “Broken Heart” puzzle and a pair of scissors. The worksheet will contain a heart with Psalm 34:18 written on it. Instruct the kids to cut the heart out of the paper and then to cut the heart into pieces along the provided lines. Tell the kids that cutting the paper into pieces reminds us of a broken heart. While the kids are cutting along the lines, ask what kind of things have happened to make them broken hearted or sad. Allow the conversation to continue for as long as it needs to, even if kids are finished cutting.
- Say: When those kinds of things happen to us, it’s easy to feel like this paper—broken hearted. But in Psalm 34:18, it says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” No matter how sad something is, He doesn’t allow sadness to crush us and He helps us piece our heart back together. We’re going to give that a try right now.
- Directions: Tell the kids to mix up their heart pieces on the floor. On “go,” have them race to piece the heart back together. If time permits, have them repeat the race several times. When finished, ask the questions below. At the end, give each kid an envelope to hold their heart pieces.
- Question: What do you think God does for you when you’re sad? How do you know He’s close?
- Question: In the Bible, it says that even Jesus wept. How can knowing this help you the next time you’re sad?
- Question: Sometimes God uses other people to help heal a heart. What can you do to help someone when they’re feeling sad?
- Pray: One of the best things to do when you’re sad is to pray. Open your group in prayer and then allow kids to tell God about what’s making them sad and ask Him to be close to them.
+ Kiss-A-Verse (Bible Memorization Activity)
- Set-up: Using a Sharpie marker, write a number 1–12 on the bottom of 12 different Hershey’s Kisses®. Print the 12 “Bible Verse Cards” on 8½ x 11 cardstock and cut apart.
- Directions: Place the 12 “Bible Verse Cards” on the floor in the order of the verse. Each card will be numbered in order. Read the verse several times with your group so that they can begin to memorize it. Today’s Bible verse says: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 (NIV) Next, randomly place the Hershey’s Kisses® in the middle of the group with the numbers facing down. Select a kid to pick up any one of the Kisses®, show the number, unwrap it and eat it. Remove that numbered card from the verse and have the group recite the verse again with the missing words. Continue having kids take turns eating the Kisses®, removing words and reciting the verse. As more of the Kisses® (and words) disappear, the kids will have to recite the verse from memory. Keep playing until all of the Kisses® are gone and the kids have completely memorized the verse.
- Question: How do you think God shows that He is close to you when you feel sad?
+ Prayer Bands (Prayer Activity)
- Directions: Give each of the kids in your group a marker and a Tyvek® wristband. Go around the group and have the kids share what they need prayer for. After each kid shares, have them sum up their request in one word. Next, have the rest of the group write down that person’s name and their one-word prayer request on their wristband. For younger kids, you can have them write only their name and their one-word prayer summary on their band. When everyone is finished sharing, encourage the group to put on their wristband. Tell your group that every time they see their Prayer Band over the coming week, it should be a reminder to pray for the other kids in the group. Finally, close your group by leading them in prayer.
.
(Due to copyright restrictions, the printable materials described in the activities above are only available to those who have registered for Our Savior’s Kids. To register your child(ren), click the button below)
CLOSING PRAYER
Dear God, thank you so much for your patience and sending Jesus to be my Savior. Help me to remember always the forgiveness of sins that you have given me. Amen.
DURING THE WEEK
Read in the Bible the story that was the basis for this week’s lesson:
Jeremiah 27-28, 37-39; 2 Kings 25; Lamentations 1
Do more of the activities list above with your child.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LESSON?
Leave them in the comments below!