Heroes of the Bible - English by Christian Media Publishing

Heroes of the Bible ISBN: 978-1-928437-18-5

www.christianmediapublishing.com

To: __________________________ With love fro : __________________________

Contents 1. Noah and the Ark

2. The walls of Jericho

3. David and Goliath

4. Abigail and the two angry men

5. Elisha and the blind soldiers

6. Nasty Zacchaeus becomes kind Zacchaeus

7. Paul and Silas in prison

Heroes of the Bible

1. Noa

and the rk – Genesis 6–9

One day God told Noah, “I am going to send so much rain that the earth will become one big ocean! You must build an ark, because I want to keep you safe.” Noah loved God, so he built the ark, even though people laughed at him. Then Noah, his family and a male and female of each kind of animal went into the ark. It rained and rained, but inside the ark they were safe and dry.

Eventually the rain stopped. God sent a strong wind, the water dried up, and everyone stepped out onto dry land again. Then God made the first rainbow. Rainbows are a sign that when God makes a promise, He keeps it!

Look and Learn Can you find the Bible? Help Sammy and Amy to also find it. The Bible teaches us that God keeps His promises.

Remember the Bible story What happened in Noah’s story? Where is the rainbow? God made the rainbow with seven colours: Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. See if you can find all seven colours.

Whenever you see a rainbow, say these words: “The rainbow reminds me that God always keeps His promises!”

Prayer Dear Lord, whenever I see a rainbow, I know that You keep Your promises. You never sleep and You will always protect me. Thank You so much! Amen

Activity Draw a rainbow. Show your friends what you’ve drawn and tell them that God always keeps His promises. He promises to look after His children. Put your drawing up where you can see it. What are you going to remember when you look at it?

2. T e walls of Jeric o – Joshua 2 and 6 Joshua sent two spies to Jericho. The soldiers almost caught them, but Rahab helped them escape. She dropped a long red rope from her window so that the two men could climb down. The spies went back to Joshua and told him about the thick, high walls around Jericho. How on earth were Joshua and his men going to take over the city?

God had a plan. He said, “Walk around the city once each day for six days. On the seventh day walk around seven times. Then have the priests blow on their trumpets, while the rest of you shout as loud as you can. The walls of the city will fall down!” And this is exactly what happened! Israel won. And Rahab was also saved!

Look and Learn Remember to look for the Bible – maybe the cat can help you! The Bible teaches us that there is no-one as strong as God, He can do anything.

Remember the Bible story What happened in the story? Walk around a chair or a box seven times, repeating,

“My God is so great; there is nothing He cannot do!”

Prayer Dear Lord, You can do anything, no-one is as strong as You are. Anyone who hides in You need never feel afraid. Amen

Activity Play hide-and-seek. Do you have a place where you hide when you feel afraid? When you are scared, how do you think God can help you to feel safe in Him? When you feel afraid remember to say to yourself: “God is with me. He is very strong, and He will help me.”

3. David and Goliat – 1 Samuel 17 All the Israelites, excepting for young David, were very scared of the giant, Goliath. He said to his brothers and the soldiers, “Don’t be afraid. God is much bigger and stronger than Goliath. I will fight him. God has helped me to kill a lion and a bear before.” So David took his sling and he went out to meet Goliath. Goliath laughed in David’s face, as he looked down at him!

But David said, “Laugh all you like. I come in the Name of the Almighty God.” Then David picked up a smooth stone, placed it in his sling, and began swinging... the stone struck Goliath on the forehead. Goliath fell down dead! David trusted in God, and God helped him.

Look and Learn Do you think Sammy and Amy will find the Bible? Please help them! The Bible teaches us that God helps us when we put our trust in Him.

Remember the Bible story Wasn’t this an amazing story? Find someone to share the story with. Then look at the first picture again. How are the soldiers feeling? Can you see what David is thinking about?

Will God also help you when you ask Him to?

Prayer Dear Lord, I trust in You. People who don’t trust, will fall like Goliath. Whenever I have to do something that is difficult, You will be there to help me. Amen

Activity Look for a small, smooth round stone. Write the words ‘Trust in God!’ on it. Place it in your house near the front door where everyone can see it. Each time you see the stone, remember that God helps you when you have to do things that are hard.

4. bigail and t e two angry

en – 1 Samuel 25

Nabal is a rich man, who is unkind and nasty. His wife, Abigail, on the other hand is good and kind! David’s men help Nabal’s shepherds, but when they ask Nabal for food, he chases them away! This makes David very angry, so he decides to fight against Nabal. Abigail wants to stop them from fighting. So, without telling Nabal, she loads 200 loaves of bread, 2 barrels of wine, 5 roasted sheep, 5 pots of fried corn, 100 cakes of raisins and 200 cakes of dried figs on donkeys.

Then she takes the food to David. When David sees how good and kind Abigail is, he is not angry any more. But when Nabal learns what Abigail has done, he is so mad that he has a heart attack and dies! Abigail’s kindness prevented a war!

Look and Learn Who can help Sammy and Amy find the Bible: The dog or the cat? Why? The Bible teaches us that God wants us to be good and kind to people.

Remember the Bible story How well do you remember the story? What have the men done? And what has Abigail done? In the first picture who is still angry, and who is friendly?

Because she was kind and friendly, Abigail stopped a big fight.

Prayer Dear Lord, Your kindness goes all the way up to Heaven. You are good and kind to everyone. Help me to also be good and kind like You. Amen

Activity Write down on a large piece of paper, ‘Be good and kind to everyone.’ Put it up somewhere. Have you been kind and friendly to anyone today? Talk to your brothers and sisters, or a friend about how you are going to be kind to someone today. Then tonight you can tell each other what you did during the day.

5. Elis a and t e blind soldiers – 2 Kings 6:14–23

The king of Aram decided to capture Elisha. Elisha’s servant was terrified when he saw all the soldiers riding over the hill! But Elisha said, “Don’t be scared! We have more on our side!” Then God opened the servant’s eyes and he saw that they were surrounded by angels. The soldiers marched towards Elisha, but God made them go blind. Elisha led them to the king of Israel. There God opened their eyes again.

The king of Israel wanted to know if he should kill them? “No,” said Elisha, “be kind to them. Give them something to eat and to drink, then send them home again.” Because he did this there was peace from then on between King Aram and Israel!

Look and Learn Look for the Bible, it isn’t far from where Sammy and Amy are standing! The Bible teaches us not to fight, but to be kind to people.

Remember the Bible story Why was Elisha’s servant so scared? What happened next? Turn back to the picture on the previous page. Elisha doesn’t seem scared at all. Why not? Did the king listen to Elisha’s advice? What happened then?

Remember, being kind is better than fighting!

Prayer Dear Lord, Thank You for being with me when I am scared. Help me to be kind to people instead of fighting with them. Amen

Activity Do you and your brothers and sisters fight sometimes? Why? Think of a plan to make peace when you fight again. Ask your mom, dad, or another grown up to help you to put the plan into practice the next time when you are mad at each other. Remember that it is better to be kind than to fight.

6. Nasty Zacc ae s beco – Luke 19:1–10

es kind Zacc aeus

Rich Zacchaeus lived in Jericho. Nobody liked him because he stole money from the people. Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was visiting Jericho. He really wanted to see Jesus. Because he was short he couldn’t see over the heads of the people. The crowds kept on pushing him out of the way. Zacchaeus made a plan and he climbed a tree. Now he could see everything. Jesus saw Zaccheus as He walked by.

He stopped and spoke to Zacchaeus. The people were surprised to see Jesus being nice to such a dishonest man. Jesus went home with Zacchaeus and ate supper with him. Zacchaeus decided to return everything that he had stolen. This is how Jesus changed dishonest, nasty Zacchaeus into honest, kind Zacchaeus.

Look and Learn All the people in the picture are looking at Zacchaeus. Can you see who is holding the Bible? The Bible teaches us that Jesus helps and changes people who are not living a good life.

Remember the Bible story What a great story this is! What do you remember about the story? Jesus notices everybody.

He can help people who are living bad and unhappy lives to change, so that they

can live good and happy lives.

Prayer

Activity

Dear Lord,

Talk to your family about how Jesus changes people.

I will love You every day, and also the people around me. I am so glad that I am Your child. You make everything in my life beautiful. Amen

Maybe one of you can share how Jesus has changed you? Do you know a story about someone whose life became beautiful after they came to know Jesus? Remember: God sees you oo, and He loves you. He wants to help you live a good life.

7. Pa l and Silas in prison – Acts 16:16–35 In the town of Philippi, two ‘Jesus-Friends’, Paul and Silas, are thrown in prison because they have been telling people about Jesus. Around midnight they are in their cell, singing songs of praise to God. The other prisoners sit listening quietly. Suddenly an earthquake breaks open the doors of the prison. The chains fall from the feet of all the prisoners, but they remain sitting.

The prison warden is very upset. But when he sees that no-one has escaped, he wants to believe in Jesus too. He washes Paul and Silas’ wounds for them. Later he takes them to his house and he gives Paul and Silas food to eat. Paul helps the jailer and his family to become ‘Jesus-Friends’. God used Paul to invite more and more people to become ‘Jesusfriends’. Paul and Silas were always joyful, even when they were in prison, because they knew God!

Look and Learn Help Amy and Sammy find the Bible one more time. The Bible teaches us that ‘Jesus-Friends’ can pray and sing even when things are not going so well. They are joyful because they know: God is taking care of them!

Remember the Bible story What was your favourite part of the story about Paul and Silas? Turn back to the previous picture. Tell the story that you see there. How do Paul and Silas feel? How does the prison warden feel?

‘Jesus-Friends’ are always joyful.

Prayer Dear Lord, I love singing songs to You! I want to praise You as long as I live, I want to sing to You as long as I am

Activity Draw a picture of people who are singing and praising God. Why are they so joyful? Say, “It is so good to sing to our God.” Sing a praise song to God. Then tell each other throughout the day what it is that makes you joyful.

here on earth. Amen

Copyright ©2021 Christian Media Publishing Christian Media Publishing P.O. Box 3228, Matieland Post Office, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa www.christianmediapublishing.com All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means – electronically or otherwise – without the prior written permission of the publisher. Reg no 2010/008573/07 Author: © Ewald van Rensburg Illustrations: © Magriet Brink Layout: Zelda Botha Concept and Managing Editor: Noeline N Neumann First edition, first printing 2021 ISBN 978-1-928437-18-5

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Heroes of the Bible ISBN: 978-1-928437-18-5