Online Session 11 – Kings
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Original Video(s)
List of Online Links & Other Embedded Content
Other Links
See below!
Dan Gilbert's TedTalk
Checking Our Assumptions
Check-In Storytimes!
"The Unlikely King" (Based Off 1 Samuel 16:1-13, 2 Samuel 5:1-5; 6:1-5)
Note: Other readings for this month are listed below.
Characters: God, Samuel, Jesse, David (not a speaking part)
[God notices Samuel, who has been standing around worrying about who’s going to be king in Israel.]
God: Yo! Sam, my man . . . whatup?
Samuel: Uh. Well, nothing much. I’m kinda freaking out.
God: Why are you freaking out?
Samuel: I kinda just thought that . . . um . . . well–
God: Spit it out!
Samuel: I thought that Saul was going to be king over us. I thought that everything was set and we’d get a good leader. But, it’s starting to look like a mess...
God: How long are you going to keep fretting and worrying about Saul? I’ve rejected him. Him as a leader is not gonna happen.
Samuel: Dude I'm not sure that's going to calm me down....
God: TRUST ME!! I need you to do something for me, ok? Fill up that horn of yours with oil and set out for Bethlehem. There’s someone I want you to meet there.
Samuel: Are you going to tell me who? [God just smiles mischievously and says nothing] Well, okay then!
[God and Samuel head off to Bethlehem where Samuel will discover what God has planned. Consider heading to another place for the next scene. When they get there, they meet Jesse. (David is not present yet.)]
Samuel: I’m here! God said this was the place...Hello?
Jesse: Hello? Do you come in peace?
Samuel: Yup. I’m all about the peace, dude.
Jesse: Sounds good. Who are you?
Samuel:I'm Samuel.
Jesse: Nice to meet you! I'm Jesse! Why are you here?
Samuel: Um. I don't know.... God?
God: Yes, I’m here!
Samuel: What do we do now?
God: See that man way out there?
Samuel: [Samuel peers into the distance] You mean that tall, burly, tough-lookin’ guy?
Jesse: That’s my eldest son, Eliab.
Samuel: Eliab? What kinda name is Eliab?
Jesse: Whaddya mean?! It’s a fine name. It means God is the Father of all.
Samuel: Oh. Didn’t know that.
God: There’s a lot you don’t know, Samuel!
Samuel: I try to keep up on these things. Well, anyway, Eliab looks like a tough guy—he’ll make a great king!
God: He’s not the one I want to be king, Samuel.
Samuel: No? Oh. Too bad. I think we need a king who’s really big and muscly and strong.
God: I see it differently. Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as regular people see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.
Samuel: I guess whatever floats your boat. You’re God; I’m not!
Jesse: [chuckles] That’s for sure.
Samuel: [spots another person walking in the distance] Oh! Oh! What about him?! He seems like he’s a super smart dude. You know, like a guy who knows things.
Jesse: [states proudly] That’s Abinadab. And you’re right. Clever guy that Abi is.
Samuel: These names just keep getting better.
[Jesse huffs loudly, a bit disgusted at Samuel’s comments.]
God: Nope. Not Abinadab either. I’ve passed him over, too.
Samuel: Shucks. He woulda been good too. [points again to the distance] But what about him?! Is he the one?
God: That is Jesse’s third, Shammah.
Jesse: Right you are, God. Shammah’s . . . well, he’s always been good with the numbers.
Samuel: Finally - we’ve found our king.
God: Not Shammah either.
Samuel: When are we gonna get to the king, then?! It's getting old. Are there any more candidates, Jesse?
Jesse: There’s just my youngest, David. But he’s out tending the sheep.
Samuel: [surprised] He’s a . . . shepherd?!
Jesse: That’s right. Darn fine one, too.
Samuel: I guess we better see him, then.
[Jesse calls David, who’s away. David appears.]
Samuel: He’s good-looking, that’s for sure. Looks like he's comfortable in the outdoors. And those eyes!
Jesse: What can I say? I’ve got good genes. Thanks, God.
God: No problem.
Samuel: But a shepherd boy is supposed to be our king?
God: Yup. He’s the one. Take your horn and pour the oil all over his face. That’s how you anoint the king.
Samuel: Are you sure? I don't want to make him all greasy...What if he gets mad?
God: Do it!
Samuel: Okay, okay! [Samuel anoints David, David sputters and wipes his face]
Jesse: Surprises me that you chose this one, God.
Samuel: Yeah, me too.
God: Just you two wait and see . . .
[Samuel, Jesse, and David all look at each other quizzically.]
END
Kid Story
Tell us about a time when you made a false judgment about someone when you first met them. Why did you turn out to be wrong about that person? Can it work the other way around, too, as you thought the person was nice, but turned out to be mean?
David Plots, Commits Adultery, and Basically is Just Nasty (Based off 2 Samuel 11 & 12:1-9)
"Kings . . . Isn't This What They Warned Us About?"
*NOTE: To answer the questions for this month's session, you'll need also to read the other reading. Here is a handy link so you can get to it quickly!
Readers: Kid, Jesus
[Jesus pops in magically.]
Kid: Whoa! Jesus?
Jesus: Hi! Thought I'd drop by, seeing as you have some questions.
Kid: I do?
Jesus: Sure you do. After your confirmation session today reading about King David your mind was simply bubbling with doubts, questions, anger, and a little hint of jealousy, too.
Kid: No way! How'd you know I was thinking about all that stuff.
Jesus: I am Jesus, after all. King of Kings. The Great Shepherd. All those fancy titles don't amount to anything though. The main point is that I care about you and you have questions, and I'm here. So fire away!
Kid: Okay. That story about David and Bathsheba . . . did it really happen?
Jesus: Sure did. Not exactly in the way that you read it, of course. But you get the basic gist of the story.
Kid: Well, um . . . dunno how to say it, but–
Jesus: [encouraging] Go ahead; spit it out.
Kid: David was, kind of, a . . . a . . . major turd.
Jesus: You bet he was! But there was more than one side to him, of course, like there is with all people.
Kid: What do you mean?
Jesus: In the case of the story of David, Bathsheba, Uriah, and Nathan—gotta add all them in, too, because they're a part of the story—Bathsheba felt like she had to sleep with David; he was the king, after all.
Kid: I don't see how that excuses what he did.
Jesus: It doesn't, really. But David had more sides to him than just lust and devious plots to get Bathsheba's husband killed.
Kid: [not convinced] Fine. He had more "sides." But that doesn't excuse him for plotting murder so he can hop in bed with a woman he's got the hots for!
Jesus: Yup. You're right. It doesn't excuse it. The strange thing is, because of what David and Bathsheba did—make a baby—David himself was my great, great, great, great, great, great, great . . . [big breath] Grandpa!
Kid: Really?
Jesus: Sure was. The first child they had died, but their next was Solomon—you'll be reading about him and his wisdom later. The point I'm trying to make is that even in bad situations, God still tries to work with humanity. God never gives up on y'all.
Kid: Y'all?!
Jesus: Hey! I don't get to try out my Texan very often. Give me a break!
Kid: Okay. Thanks for coming to visit, Jesus!
Jesus: Anytime. Just remember that the stories in the Bible aren't supposed to stand on their own. It's okay to have questions. And it's okay to get a little mad at the way people acted back then. Because you know what? People still act like this today. That's why God sent me, to work with you to change your hearts.
Kid: Got it. Ciao, Jesus!
Jesus: Ciao, kiddo.
Kid Story: After reading the story of David and Bathsheba's adultery, and David plotting to kill her husband, how would you have reacted to the news if David had been your leader, your king? Tell about a time when you did something you felt bad about later.
*Scripture citations taken from The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. 1989. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers. As found in the Logos Bible study software program.
Check-In Questions and Mentor Meeting Options
THIS MONTH'S MENTOR MEETING OPTIONS
Choose one of these activities for your next mentor meeting.
Activity #1: Royalty For a Day
Meet at a public place for one hour, like a mall, coffee shop, or post office. During the hour, talk together about what you see. Talk about the things you’d change in the world if you were in charge. Keep track of the list on a notepad. Report back to your mentor and discuss.
Activity #2: Wisdom Shrine
Create a diorama or artful poster with “wise” quotes from members in your church or faith community. Decorate your project and hang it up or set it out where all can see it.
Activity #3: Create Your Own
Discuss with your mentor or teacher what kinds of things you will both enjoy doing. Decide on an activity for this month that you and your mentor will do.
CHECK-IN QUESTIONS
Instagram/Phone Check-in: David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11 & 12:1-9)
(See above for Check-In Storytimes!)
Why did David plot to have Uriah killed?
Nathan tells David a story. Describe that story in your own words. Why did Nathan tell the story?
Why are people sometimes possessive over relationships? How can we respect others’ relationships?
Instagram/Phone Check-in: Solomon Rules Over Child (1 Kings 3:4-28)
Who was Solomon’s dad? In what way is it interesting that Solomon speaks so highly of him?
What gift does God give to Solomon?
How does Solomon put his gift to use? Why did he do what he did?
What does the ruling say about what it means to be a parent? What wisdom does it give about love?