Week 261 · about 45 minutes
Judges 9
Judges 9 · Memory verse Judges 9:3
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Queues the lesson plan, this story’s coloring page (Judges 9), the matching word search and answer key (Judges 9 word search), the memory-verse tracer, and a parent slip.
Five-minute object lesson
Prop: a wooden spoon
Hold a wooden spoon. Read Judges 9 in about four minutes, stopping at Judges 9:3: “His mother’s brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words. Their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, “He is our brother.”” Ask, “What does this prop have to do with Judges 9?” Let two children answer, then say the memory verse together.
Story script
Judges 9 is a real chapter from the Old Testament. It starts, “Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s brothers, and spoke with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,” That is not a motto invented for a poster. It is the first sentence a family hears when this page is opened at night.
Keep going a little further. The chapter also says, “I wish that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech.” He said to Abimelech, “Increase your army, and come out!”” Judges 9 opens with these words: “Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s brothers, and spoke with them, and with all the family of the house of his…” The line to keep is Judges 9:3: “His mother’s brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words. Their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, “He is our…” Carry the word “mother” from that verse into the rest of the day.
The line worth learning out loud is Judges 9:3: “His mother’s brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words. Their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, “He is our brother.”” If the rest of the chapter feels crowded, hold that one sentence until the room is quiet.
What happens first in Judges 9? Then try this: Read “His mother’s brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words. Their hearts…” once more. What does it show you about God? You do not have to finish every verse. You can close the book after the memory verse and still have read the Bible together.
Group game
Walk the room as if you are moving through Judges 9. Every time you freeze, a child says one word from Judges 9:3. The last child says the whole verse.
Craft
On a US Letter sheet, draw one picture from Judges 9 and write Judges 9:3 under it. Send it home as tonight’s reminder, not as a decoration contest.
Memory verse
Judges 9:3
“His mother’s brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words. Their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, “He is our brother.””
Take-home prayer
Father, thank you for Judges 9. Help us remember Judges 9:3 when we wake up, and teach us to notice you in an ordinary night. Amen.