The Biggest Story Curriculum
David Sins...And Repents
BEFORE THE LESSON
Read 2 SAMUEL 11–12.
Pray for God’s help. Ask for the Spirit’s help in understanding the passage and for the Lord to open the children’s eyes to see who he is, what he has done, and how they should respond to him.
Study the lesson plan below. Use these sections as suggestions. Think of ways to teach it in your own voice.
Pray for God’s help. Ask for the Spirit’s help in understanding the passage and for the Lord to open the children’s eyes to see who he is, what he has done, and how they should respond to him.
Study the lesson plan below. Use these sections as suggestions. Think of ways to teach it in your own voice.
The Big Picture
Help children see how this story connects with the other lessons. Build anticipation by introducing the setting and the significance of what is about to happen in this week’s story. {5 minutes}
Remember how Samuel anointed David to be the next king? In the meantime, Saul was still king. God was pleased with David but not with Saul. So Saul became extremely jealous of David. Time after time, he tried to kill him. David had to live on the run. He even hid in caves in the desert. But God was with David. He delivered him over and over. After Saul died, David came out of hiding and was crowned king. David was a good king, a man after God’s own heart. He was merciful toward Saul’s family. He ruled God’s people with wisdom and kindness. He won many battles. He became rich and famous. Everyone loved him! Would you want that? Of course! David enjoyed that too. But more than the money, fame, success, and power, he enjoyed God’s presence and promises. One night God spoke to David through the prophet Nathan. He promised David a kingdom that would never come to an end: “Your throne shall be established forever” (2 Sam. 7:16). David was amazed. Everything was going so well! But things were about to change.
Remember how Samuel anointed David to be the next king? In the meantime, Saul was still king. God was pleased with David but not with Saul. So Saul became extremely jealous of David. Time after time, he tried to kill him. David had to live on the run. He even hid in caves in the desert. But God was with David. He delivered him over and over. After Saul died, David came out of hiding and was crowned king. David was a good king, a man after God’s own heart. He was merciful toward Saul’s family. He ruled God’s people with wisdom and kindness. He won many battles. He became rich and famous. Everyone loved him! Would you want that? Of course! David enjoyed that too. But more than the money, fame, success, and power, he enjoyed God’s presence and promises. One night God spoke to David through the prophet Nathan. He promised David a kingdom that would never come to an end: “Your throne shall be established forever” (2 Sam. 7:16). David was amazed. Everything was going so well! But things were about to change.
Teach The Story
Video: David Sins . . . and Repents: The Story of David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11-12)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtMil7g8aqk
Can someone who loves God sin? Sadly, yes. Does even this king after God’s own heart have a heart that always beats with God’s? Thump. Thump. Bump. Blump. No. David did many good things, and he loved and praised God most of his life. But he also did some pretty bad things—terrible sins that showed he didn’t always trust and obey God. One day David was on the roof of his big palace. He looked down and saw a beautiful woman named Bathsheba. He decided then and there, “I must have this beautiful woman for myself.” Ah, but there was only one problem: David was al ready married. Oh yeah, and another problem: Bathsheba was married too! David didn’t care. He set his heart on her, a heart that was no longer beating with God’s heart. So, here’s what he did. It was really, really bad. He took her anyway. And she became pregnant. To cover his tracks, David commanded Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, to fight at the front of a battle. Uriah was a brave soldier. He accepted the order. He fought. He died. (Just liked David had planned.) David immediately married beautiful Bathsheba. David was an adulterer, murderer, and a thief. What David did was not what a man after God’s own heart would do. God was upset, that’s for sure! So he sent the prophet Nathan to David with a hard mes sage. Nathan shared a story about a rich man with everything who stole a little lamb from a poor man who had nothing. When the story was over, David was furious, “What a terrible thing to do! That man deserves to die!” Then, Nathan surprised him. “You are the man!” he said. David’s heart hurt. He saw now that he was the wicked man. He deserved to die. So here’s what he did next: he bowed low and asked God to forgive him. And God did. God always forgives those who come to him. Later, he wrote a song about what happened, in which he said: “Oh God, I have sinned against you. Have mercy on me and cleanse me from my sin. Create in me a clean heart and restore to me the joy of your salvation” (see Psalm 51). David now knew that he was a terrible sinner who worshiped a wonderful Savior.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtMil7g8aqk
Can someone who loves God sin? Sadly, yes. Does even this king after God’s own heart have a heart that always beats with God’s? Thump. Thump. Bump. Blump. No. David did many good things, and he loved and praised God most of his life. But he also did some pretty bad things—terrible sins that showed he didn’t always trust and obey God. One day David was on the roof of his big palace. He looked down and saw a beautiful woman named Bathsheba. He decided then and there, “I must have this beautiful woman for myself.” Ah, but there was only one problem: David was al ready married. Oh yeah, and another problem: Bathsheba was married too! David didn’t care. He set his heart on her, a heart that was no longer beating with God’s heart. So, here’s what he did. It was really, really bad. He took her anyway. And she became pregnant. To cover his tracks, David commanded Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, to fight at the front of a battle. Uriah was a brave soldier. He accepted the order. He fought. He died. (Just liked David had planned.) David immediately married beautiful Bathsheba. David was an adulterer, murderer, and a thief. What David did was not what a man after God’s own heart would do. God was upset, that’s for sure! So he sent the prophet Nathan to David with a hard mes sage. Nathan shared a story about a rich man with everything who stole a little lamb from a poor man who had nothing. When the story was over, David was furious, “What a terrible thing to do! That man deserves to die!” Then, Nathan surprised him. “You are the man!” he said. David’s heart hurt. He saw now that he was the wicked man. He deserved to die. So here’s what he did next: he bowed low and asked God to forgive him. And God did. God always forgives those who come to him. Later, he wrote a song about what happened, in which he said: “Oh God, I have sinned against you. Have mercy on me and cleanse me from my sin. Create in me a clean heart and restore to me the joy of your salvation” (see Psalm 51). David now knew that he was a terrible sinner who worshiped a wonderful Savior.
Gospel Connection
Show how the story points to Jesus and his rescue mission as the Snake Crusher. {5 minutes}
In the Old Testament, God made two very important promises to two important people. He promised Abraham that through him and his children he would bless all the nations. And God promised David that through him and through one of his children he would create a kingdom that would never end. What kind of a king would it take to rule that forever kingdom? The perfect King! That perfect King is Jesus. David was good some of the time; Jesus is perfect all the time. David committed some big-time sins; Jesus never committed any sins, not even one. David needed a Savior; Jesus is his Savior. Jesus died on the cross for sinners (see Rom. 5:8)—like David and like us. And he is the Savior of all people from all nations who bow before him as King of kings and Lord of lords and ask for his forgiveness (“Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner”). Only those who know Jesus as their Lord and Savior can have their sins forgiven and find true and lasting joy. Praise God for our perfect King!
In the Old Testament, God made two very important promises to two important people. He promised Abraham that through him and his children he would bless all the nations. And God promised David that through him and through one of his children he would create a kingdom that would never end. What kind of a king would it take to rule that forever kingdom? The perfect King! That perfect King is Jesus. David was good some of the time; Jesus is perfect all the time. David committed some big-time sins; Jesus never committed any sins, not even one. David needed a Savior; Jesus is his Savior. Jesus died on the cross for sinners (see Rom. 5:8)—like David and like us. And he is the Savior of all people from all nations who bow before him as King of kings and Lord of lords and ask for his forgiveness (“Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner”). Only those who know Jesus as their Lord and Savior can have their sins forgiven and find true and lasting joy. Praise God for our perfect King!
Discuss The Story
1. Question: How did David sin? Is there anyone besides Jesus who has not sinned?
Takeaway: Like David, we are sinners.
2. Question: How did Nathan show David his sin? How did David respond? How did God respond to David’s prayer? What can we learn from David’s example?
Takeaway: God forgives even big-time sins.
3. Question: Has your heart ever hurt after you sinned? What do we do when we know we have sinned? How does it feel to know that Jesus forgives your sins when you come to him?
Takeaway: We must go to Jesus to have our sins forgiven and find true and lasting joy.
4. Question: How long did God promise David his throne would last? Was David going to live forever? Then how would this promise come true?
Takeaway: Jesus is the promised King of the forever kingdom.
Memory Verse:
The Lord also has put away your sin. 1 SAMUEL 12:13
Takeaway: Like David, we are sinners.
2. Question: How did Nathan show David his sin? How did David respond? How did God respond to David’s prayer? What can we learn from David’s example?
Takeaway: God forgives even big-time sins.
3. Question: Has your heart ever hurt after you sinned? What do we do when we know we have sinned? How does it feel to know that Jesus forgives your sins when you come to him?
Takeaway: We must go to Jesus to have our sins forgiven and find true and lasting joy.
4. Question: How long did God promise David his throne would last? Was David going to live forever? Then how would this promise come true?
Takeaway: Jesus is the promised King of the forever kingdom.
Memory Verse:
The Lord also has put away your sin. 1 SAMUEL 12:13
Activity Or Craft
Option 1 (Activity):
"Swat Away Sin Game"
"Supply List: masking tape, dark paper or newspaper
Before Class: Gather supplies. Place a piece of masking tape down the center of the play area to divide it into two sections.
Divide children into two teams—one team on each side of the tape. Distribute an equal number of pieces of dark colored paper or newspaper to each side and instruct the children to crumple the pieces into balls. Explain that the paper represents sin and they’re trying to get rid of it. When you call “Go,” each team tries to keep the paper off their side by tossing the pieces to the other side for a predetermined amount of time (recommendation: 3-5 minutes). At the end, the team with the most pieces of paper on their side loses. Play again as time allows. When game time is over, the leader yells “Repent!” and all paper gets thrown into a trash can.
Option 2 (Activity):
"Carrying Sin Relay"
Supply List: two bags, books
Before Class: Fill bags with heavy books (one bag per team).
Divide children into two teams. Give each team a heavy bag of books. Say “Go!” The first child on each team should carry or drag the bag of books to the other side of the room, empty the bag, and bring it back to the next person in line. The next person carries the empty bag to the opposite side and puts the books in and carries it back to the next in line. Play continues until all children have had a turn to race. Remind children that carrying around sin weighs us down, but when we repent and are forgiven, we are free from the weight of sin.
Option 1 (Craft):
"Forgiven Heart"
Supply List: red paper, white paper, glue sticks, scissors, crayons
Before Class: Gather supplies. Make copies of a large heart on red paper and a smaller heart on white paper (one of each per child). Print a cross that has the word Forgiven on it (the cross must fit inside the white heart); make copies on white paper (one per child). Make a sample craft.
Give each child one red heart, one white heart, and one cross paper. Have the children color the cross. Then have the children cut out the two hearts and the cross. Have them glue the cross to the white heart and then the white heart to the red heart.
"Swat Away Sin Game"
"Supply List: masking tape, dark paper or newspaper
Before Class: Gather supplies. Place a piece of masking tape down the center of the play area to divide it into two sections.
Divide children into two teams—one team on each side of the tape. Distribute an equal number of pieces of dark colored paper or newspaper to each side and instruct the children to crumple the pieces into balls. Explain that the paper represents sin and they’re trying to get rid of it. When you call “Go,” each team tries to keep the paper off their side by tossing the pieces to the other side for a predetermined amount of time (recommendation: 3-5 minutes). At the end, the team with the most pieces of paper on their side loses. Play again as time allows. When game time is over, the leader yells “Repent!” and all paper gets thrown into a trash can.
Option 2 (Activity):
"Carrying Sin Relay"
Supply List: two bags, books
Before Class: Fill bags with heavy books (one bag per team).
Divide children into two teams. Give each team a heavy bag of books. Say “Go!” The first child on each team should carry or drag the bag of books to the other side of the room, empty the bag, and bring it back to the next person in line. The next person carries the empty bag to the opposite side and puts the books in and carries it back to the next in line. Play continues until all children have had a turn to race. Remind children that carrying around sin weighs us down, but when we repent and are forgiven, we are free from the weight of sin.
Option 1 (Craft):
"Forgiven Heart"
Supply List: red paper, white paper, glue sticks, scissors, crayons
Before Class: Gather supplies. Make copies of a large heart on red paper and a smaller heart on white paper (one of each per child). Print a cross that has the word Forgiven on it (the cross must fit inside the white heart); make copies on white paper (one per child). Make a sample craft.
Give each child one red heart, one white heart, and one cross paper. Have the children color the cross. Then have the children cut out the two hearts and the cross. Have them glue the cross to the white heart and then the white heart to the red heart.
Contact Hannah Kitchens at hannah@gatherwithus.church for more information.