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10 - The Food Test

Daniel 1:1–20

About this video: This story shows how Daniel and his friends stand firm in their beliefs and ultimately impress and influence a King and his royal court. Daniel and his friends were being force to eat the King’s royal food and wine, even though they knew it was not good for them. They proposed a test that allowed them to eat their healthy food and show the King how it would help them in the long run to be stronger and more energetic. In the end, their test proved that their diet and commitment to good living made a difference and the King rewarded them for their wisdom. Questions to consider: Do you think Daniel and his friends were afraid to ask for special consideration by the King? Would you be afraid? Does doing the right thing make your life harder? How do you think the King and his court reacted when Daniel’s test proved successful? Is it hard to stand up for what you know is right when others want you to do wrong? Background to the story: God had listed clean and unclean foods during the time of Moses. Daniel’s ‘test’ was a way to honor God by not eating the unclean foods being offered by the Babylonians. This story connects Daniel’s desire for purity to God’s blessing Daniel with skills, knowledge and understanding of dreams and visions. This story explains Daniel’s abilities and sets the stage for Daniel’s success in interpreting dreams and visions of others in the rest of the book of Daniel. Reference - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=daniel+1%3a1-20&version=niv

9 - The Runaway

Jonah

About the Video: God told Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh but Jonah did not want to go. The Israelites and the Assyrians that lived in Nineveh were enemies. So, Jonah ran away from God! He wanted to get as far away as possible, so he boarded a ship sailing for Tarshish. God was angry, so He created a violent storm which threatened to destroy the ship that Jonah was sailing on. The crew begged their gods to save them, and they threw their cargo overboard, trying to save the ship. The sailors begged Jonah to pray to his God. But Jonah knew that prayer would not be enough because he knew that God was angry that he did not go to Nineveh. Jonah told the sailors to throw him overboard. Immediately, the sea grew calm. But God sent a huge fish to swallow Jonah up and Jonah lived in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights. Jonah cried out to God for help and God heard his pleas. The giant fish spit him out on dry land. Again, God told Jonah to go to Nineveh. This time, Jonah listened. In Nineveh he walked throughout the city shouting the prophesy that God gave him, “Nineveh will be overthrown in forty days.” Nineveh’s king believed Jonah and called for his people to repent to God. God heard their cries and did not destroy Nineveh. Questions to Consider: Why did God tell Jonah to go to Nineveh? Where did Jonah go instead of Nineveh? What did God do because Jonah would not go to Nineveh? What did Jonah do in Nineveh? If you were Jonah, would you have feared going to Nineveh? Would you have run away from God? Background to the Story: Jonah lived during the time of Israel’s King Jeroboam II. (2 Kings 14:25) During this time, the nation of Israel was wealthy and expanding in size. Nineveh was a large city in Assyria. Later, Assyria conquers Israel, destroying the nation. The Bible says that Jonah was swallowed by a huge fish but then delivered to dry land. Many cultures believed in large sea monsters that represented their gods. The sailors knew that only the one true God could calm the waters and send the fish that swallowed Jonah. In Exodus 34:5 God declares that He is a “compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” This incident showed God’s unchanging character. The book of Jonah reminds us that God wants everyone to repent and to believe in the one true God that is “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.” Reference - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=jonah%201&version=niv

8 - The Widow Pays a Debt

2 Kings 4:1–7

About the Video: This story shows the faith of a widow woman in a desperate situation to pay off the family debt after the death of her husband, a faithful prophet. If the debt is not paid, the widow’s sons will be forced to leave home and work for a stranger. The widow seeks the help of Elisha, a well-known prophet of God. Elisha gives the woman strange instructions to collect as many empty jars as possible. The widow has just a tiny amount of olive oil in her home, but Elisha tells the woman to pour all she has into the jars that she had collected. Miraculously, God provided plenty of olive oil to fill every jar from the tiny amount of oil that the widow had in her home. She sells the olive oil, raises the money to pay off her debts, and her sons remain safe at home with her. This story is told through the eyes of a shopkeeper who witnessed the faithfulness of the widow woman. Questions to Consider: Why did the widow woman beg Elisha for help? What did the prophet Elisha reveal to the widow about God? What did the widow woman do to show her faithfulness? What are some choices that you could make that show that you are faithful? Background to the Story: The story of the widow and Elisha is the first of four miracle stories performed by Elisha in 2 Kings chapter 4. Each miracle shows how God provides for faithful people through Elisha. When a faithful person asks for Elisha’s help, God delivers a miracle. Elisha was taught by another great prophet, Elijah who also performed miracles with God’s help. Later, Jesus will perform miracles like those of Elijah and Elisha. But Jesus' miracles are much greater than those of Elijah and Elisha. Reference - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+kings+4%3a1-7&version=niv

7 - The Wisdom of God

1 Kings 3

About the Video: God gave King Solomon the opportunity to ask for anything he wanted. Solomon could have asked for riches and honor. Instead, he asked for godly wisdom that would help him make wise decisions about ruling the kingdom. Not long after Solomon requested wisdom, two women sought his advice to solve a difficult problem. Each woman was the mother of an infant, but one of the infants had died at only three days old. Both women claimed that the living infant was theirs. What an impossible task before Solomon! He needed to solve the mystery of which woman was the mother of the infant! Solomon suggested that they cut the baby in half so that each Mom could have part of the child. Of course, he sounded crazy to everyone that heard this suggestion! But because Solomon had the gift of wisdom from God, he understood that he would not need to follow through with the gruesome threat. The mother that stole the baby was selfish and would let Solomon follow through on the threat. But, the real mother, desperate to save her child, would give up the baby. Wisely, Solomon knew that the real Mom would do anything to protect her child. Solomon’s great wisdom saved the child, and he returned the boy to his mother. Questions to Consider: Why did Solomon ask God for wisdom? How did Solomon use his wisdom to determine the baby’s real mother? How do you think the baby’s real mother felt when Solomon suggested cutting the baby in two? If you could ask God to give you anything, what would you ask for? Why? Background to the Story: Solomon was the son of King David. David was faithful and followed the laws of God. David did not always do right, but he was also humble and asked for forgiveness when he made a mistake. David was known as the best and most faithful king of Israel. Solomon also wanted to be faithful and follow God’s laws. He learned from David that being a king and following God is very difficult, and Solomon knew that he needed wisdom to be a faithful king. God gave Solomon wisdom, but Solomon had to choose to be faithful to God. When promising Solomon wisdom, wealth, and honor, God said to him, “And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” (1 Kings 4:14) We learn later in Solomon’s story that he is not faithful to God, which will lead to bad decisions and severe consequences. Reference - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20kings+3&version=niv

6 - The Battle is the Lord's

1 Samuel 17

About the Video: Jesse’s youngest son, David, was just a shepherd boy, but he stood up to the Philistine army’s most fearsome soldier, Goliath. Without fear, David relied on his God to help him defeat the enemy of the Lord’s people. For 40 days, the Israelite army held back in fear that they could not defeat this giant. Finally, a young shepherd boy named David stepped forward and accepted the challenge. Praying to God for help, he used just a sling and some stones and was able to kill the mighty Goliath, which won the battle for the Israelite army. This event set the stage for David to become a great leader of his people and changed the faith of his family for generations to come because of his inner strength and reliance on God. Questions to Consider: How would you feel seeing and hearing for 40 days the giant Goliath challenge the Israelite soldiers to battle? Why do you think David was not afraid of Goliath? Was David relying on his skill as a shepherd or his faith in God to enable him to defeat Goliath? Do you believe God can help you face and overcome the giant difficulties in your life? Background to the Story: As part of this story, David is introduced to King Saul which leads to his chance to begin serving the King. David had secretly been anointed as the next king of Israel to replace Saul. This story confirms that David, because of his faith in God, has the ability to fight for and lead Israel. Fulfilling prophecies from centuries before, one of David’s descendants was the long awaited Messiah of the Israelites known as Jesus. Reference - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+sam+17&version=niv

5 - Speak, for Your Servant is Listening

1 Samuel 3

Speak, for Your Servant is Listening (God Calls Samuel) An elder approaches David to anoint him as a leader, reminding David of a secret promise the prophet Samuel made to him years ago. By telling the story of Samuel hearing from God as a child, David assures them that God will not let any promise go unfulfilled. Scripture Reference: 1 Samuel 3 Watch all 20 of these “Amazing Stories” here or at https://amazingstories.media/ where you can learn about other great resources available with each episode, including coloring pages, teaching activities, and more!

4 - The Humble Servant of Mighty Deeds

Exodus 3—4

The Humble Servant of Mighty Deeds (Moses and the Burning Bush) Tubal asks his grandpa Aaron if they have a home, and Aaron reassures him they are almost home. Aaron tells Tubal the story of Moses and the burning bush and explains how God helped Moses free their people from slavery in Egypt to go to a new homeland. Scripture Reference: Exodus 3-4 Watch all 20 of these “Amazing Stories” here or at https://amazingstories.media/ where you can learn about other great resources available with each episode, including coloring pages, teaching activities, and more!

3 - The Dreamer

Genesis 41

The Dreamer (Joseph and Pharoah’s Dreams) Javan travels to purchase food in Egypt, where Madai tells him why they still have food after a drought. Madai shares about the ways God guided an Egyptian leader named Joseph to help Pharaoh lead his people through a famine. Scripture Reference: Genesis 41 Watch all 20 of these “Amazing Stories” here or at https://amazingstories.media/ where you can learn about other great resources available with each episode, including coloring pages, teaching activities, and more!

2 - Giving Everything to God

Genesis 22:1–18

Giving Everything to God (Abraham and Isaac) Elam tells the curious King Zakar how God tested his master Abraham’s faith. Then Elam shares that God rewarded Abraham for his willingness to follow and obey. Scripture Reference: Genesis 22:1-18 Watch all 20 of these “Amazing Stories” here or at https://amazingstories.media/ where you can learn about other great resources available with each episode, including coloring pages, teaching activities, and more!

1 - The Fear of Rainbows

Genesis 6:1—9:17

The Fear of Rainbows (Noah and the Flood) Little Onan is afraid of a rainbow in the sky because he’s heard that it’s a sign of something terrible. By telling him the story of Noah, his uncle Shem explains that it’s actually a sign of God’s loving promise to all people. Scripture Reference: Genesis 6 – 9: 17 Watch all 20 of these “Amazing Stories” here or at https://amazingstories.media/ where you can learn about other great resources available with each episode, including coloring pages, teaching activities, and more!

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