Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 19, Session 3: God … Grade Kids Bible Study Guide ... Introduce...

1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 19, Session 3: God Gave Daniel Wisdom

2012 LifeWay Christian Resources

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TEACHER BIBLE STUDY This week’s Bible story opens with a feast—a great banquet hosted in the palace by King

Belshazzar. A thousand of his nobles were in attendance. The supply of wine was plentiful.

King Belshazzar and those closest to him drank from the holy vessels that Belshazzar’s ancestor,

King Nebuchadnezzar, had taken from the house of God in Jerusalem. They drank and praised

their false gods.

Several years had passed since King Nebuchadnezzar’s reign. Babylon had seen a handful of

successions, and though Daniel still served the king, he had likely lost his high-ranking position

after Nebuchadnezzar’s death.

The great feast was suddenly interrupted when a human hand appeared; its fingers wrote a

message on the wall. The king did not understand the message. Neither did the astrologers or

wise men. The queen (possibly Belshazzar’s grandmother) remembered Daniel and his ability to

understand dreams and signs. God had given Daniel wisdom to understand visions and dreams of

every kind. (Daniel 1:17)

Daniel read the words on the wall: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN. As verbs, these Aramaic

words mean “numbered,” “weighed,” and “divided.” They can also be interpreted as a series of

weights: “a mina, a mina, a shekel, and half-shekels.”

Daniel interpreted the message. God had evaluated Belshazzar and found that he wasn’t good

enough. God was bringing his reign to an end. The kingdom would be divided. Belshazzar, who

had witnessed the consequences of Nebuchadnezzar’s sinful pride, did not humble himself before

the Lord. That very night, Belshazzar was killed and the Persians took over the kingdom. Darius

the Mede became king.

God is opposed to the proud, but He gives grace to the humble. (See 1 Peter 5:5.) If God were to

weigh us, we too would be found deficient, lacking, not good enough. But when we put our trust

in Christ, who humbled Himself on a cross, God will raise us up with Him. (Philippians 2:8;

Ephesians 2:4-6)

LESSON OVERVIEW/SCHEDULE Session Title: God Gave Daniel Wisdom

Bible Passage: Daniel 5

Big Picture Question: What does God do to the proud? God humbles the proud.

Key Passage: Daniel 6:27

Unit Christ Connection: Despite captivity, God used faithful people to continue His plan to

provide salvation through Jesus Christ.



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Transition Time

Welcome time

Activity sheet/Table Centers

Session starter (10 minutes)

Lesson

Countdown

Introduce the session (1 minute)

Timeline Map (2 minutes)

Big picture question (1 minute)

Sing (5 minutes)

Key passage (4 minutes)

Tell the Bible story (10 minutes)

Discussion starter video (3 minutes)

The Gospel: God’s Plan for Me (optional)

Prayer (4 minutes)

Table Time

Timeline map (1 minute)

Bible story review (10 minutes)

Large Group Review / Activities

Key passage activity (5 minutes)

Activity choice (10 minutes)

Prayer (5 minutes)

THE BIBLE STORY/OVERVIEW

God Gave Daniel Wisdom

Daniel 5

Nebuchadnezzar (NEB yoo kad NEZ uhr), the king of Babylon, had died. A few other

kings ruled after him, and then Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson became king. His name was

Belshazzar (bel SHAZ uhr).

King Belshazzar had a big party—a feast! He invited a thousand people, and there was

plenty of food and drinks for everybody. King Belshazzar asked for gold and silver

containers. The containers had been taken from God’s temple in Jerusalem. The king and

his guests drank from the containers. They were misusing them. The containers from God’s

temple were not supposed to be used for drinking at parties. While they drank, the king and his

guests worshiped their false gods—gods made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

Suddenly, the feast was interrupted. A man’s hand appeared at the wall, and its fingers

began writing a message on the wall. The king watched the hand, and he was very afraid!



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His face was pale, and his legs shook. The king looked at the message on the wall, but he didn’t

know what it meant.

“Bring me the wise men!” the king ordered. “If anyone can tell me what this message

means, I will give him gifts and an important job in my kingdom.” The wise men came, but

none of them knew what the message meant. King Belshazzar and his guests were upset.

The queen heard what was happening, and she came into the room. She told the king,

“Don’t be upset. There is someone in Babylon who is wise. He will know what this message

says.”

The queen was talking about Daniel. Daniel came to the palace. The king said, “If you can

tell me what this writing means, I will give you gifts and an important job in my kingdom.”

Daniel didn’t want the king’s gifts, but he agreed to tell the king what the message said.

First, Daniel reminded the king about what happened to his relative, King Nebuchadnezzar.

“God made King Nebuchadnezzar great,” Daniel said. “But King Nebuchadnezzar thought too

much of himself, so God punished him.”

King Belshazzar had not learned from Nebuchadnezzar’s mistakes. King Belshazzar did not

love God; he loved himself the most and he worshiped false gods. “God is in control of your

life,” Daniel said. “This message on the wall is a message from God.”

Then Daniel read the message. The words on the wall were MENE (MEE nih), MENE,

TEKEL (TEK uhl), PARSIN (PAHR sin). Daniel told the king what the words meant. MENE

meant that God had counted the days of the kingdom. The king wasn’t going to be king

anymore. The next word, TEKEL, meant that God had given the king a report card, and he

had failed. The word PARSIN meant that Babylon would be split up and taken over by two

enemies.

King Belshazzar gave Daniel gifts like he had promised, and he gave Daniel an important

job in the kingdom. That night, God’s message came true. King Belshazzar was killed, and

a new king named Darius (duh RIGH uhs) took over the kingdom.

Christ Connection: God used Daniel’s wisdom to get the king’s attention about his pride. The

king acted like he was better than God. God humbled the king. Jesus humbled Himself by dying

on the cross for our sin. God raised up Jesus and gave Him honor. When we humble ourselves

and trust in Jesus, God will raise us up too, and we will be with Him forever in heaven.

TRANSITION TIME Session Title: God Gave Daniel Wisdom








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Welcome time Tip: As kids arrive this is a great time to collect the offering, fill out attendance sheets, and help new kids connect to

your group.

Arriving Activity: Wall Art large sheets of paper

markers

tape

Hang large pieces of paper on the wall. Encourage the kids to write or draw on the paper. They

may draw what they wish, or you may use this as an opportunity to review. Invite them to draw a

picture of Daniel eating vegetables or Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace.

Say • How many of you enjoy writing or drawing on the wall? Do you normally get to write on

walls? No. That’s why we have paper on the wall for writing. However, writing on the

wall is part of today’s Bible story. See who wrote on a wall and why.

Activities/Table Centers (5 minutes) Table centers (Miscellaneous Activities)

“Wall Writing” activity sheet / Bible Story Coloring Sheet, 1 per kid

pencils, markers or crayons

Guide boys and girls to complete the activity page.

Say • Each of the words you uncovered has a special meaning. We will find out the meanings in

a moment.

If time remains, allow kids to complete the coloring page provided with this session.

Session Starter (10 minutes) Option 1: Whose Hand? paper, 1 piece per kid

markers

scissors

pencils

Provide each kid with a piece of paper. Invite her to trace her hand and cut out what she traced.

Encourage her to write her name on one side with a pencil so it can’t be seen on the other side.

Take all the hand cutouts and shuffle them. Draw one out, and see if the kids can guess whose

hand it is.

Say • What would you do if a hand suddenly appeared and started writing on a wall? We will

see how a king reacted when that happened in today’s Bible story.

Option 2: Wrong Place tape

plastic or paper cups

Tape a long start line and finish line several feet apart. Form groups of two or more, and

encourage the members of each group to spread out between the two lines. Place six pyramid-

stacked plastic or paper cups at the start line. Explain that the cups don’t belong there. They

belong on the other side of the finish line. The kid closest to the starting line in each group must

pick up one of the cups and hand it to the next kid. This continues until the last kid in the group



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receives it. That kid must then place the cup on the other side of the finish line. Only he can

stack the cups.

Continue until all the cups are stacked the way they were at the start line. At no time during

the game may a kid hold more than one cup at a time, and a kid cannot leave his spot in the line to

help. The first group to stack the cups at the finish line wins. To make the game more

interesting, give commands about how they must pass the cup (like behind their backs or over

their heads). Allow the kids to change places and play again.

Say • You were trying to get the cups back where they belong. In today’s Bible story, some

people took some containers that belonged in God’s temple and took them somewhere they

didn’t belong.

Transition to large group

LESSON Session Title: God Gave Daniel Wisdom






Countdown countdown video (on provided DVD with lesson videos and worship)

Show the countdown video as you clean-up table centers, set up classroom chairs for the lesson

and set it to end as large group time begins.

Introduce the session (1 minute) rope

garden hose

plastic hard hat

inflatable swim ring

TIP: You will use these same items each week.

[Large group leader enters carrying a rope, garden hose, plastic hard hat, and an inflatable

swim ring.]

Leader • Hello there! I’m glad to see all of you back because I have just received the

instructions for another emergency drill. A wall fell at a new construction site and two workers

are trapped. A rescue team is helping them get free. You know the drill. If I was on the rescue

team, which of these items would I take with me? I bet I’ll need this hard hat. After all, it’s



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really wise to protect your head at a construction site. Speaking of wise, that reminds me of

another Bible story about Daniel.

Timeline Map (2 minutes) Timeline Map (small group visual pack – copies provided for Table Time Review)

Leader • Let’s see if we can find out more by looking at our timeline map. We have talked

about two rescue stories in Daniel. The first was how God rescued Daniel and his friends and

blessed them after they refused to eat the Babylonian food. Daniel knew the Babylonians

didn’t follow the same food laws God had given to His people. Even though Daniel and his

friends had been captured by the Babylonians, they were still faithful to God. What did Daniel

do in captivity? Daniel remained faithful to God.

Last time, we saw how God rescued Daniel’s friends because they refused to worship a statue

King Nebuchadnezzar ordered everyone to worship. They were thrown into a really hot

furnace, but they were not alone. Who was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? God

was with them in the fire. God rescued them. They were not hurt at all.

In today’s Bible story, God gave Daniel special wisdom to explain a message to King

Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson. Our story is called “God Gave Daniel Wisdom.”

Big picture question (1 minute) Big Picture Question: What does God do to the proud? - 11x17 poster provided

Leader • Only one place has the true wisdom of God. Does anyone know where it is? That’s

right! It’s in your Bible. Who has a Bible today? Keep it close by because we are going to use

it to answer an important question from today’s Bible story. Here’s the big picture question,

What does God do to the proud?

Sing (5 minutes) Worship Song: “You Are I Am” (on provided DVD)

Leader • When we are proud, we give ourselves the credit God deserves. God is the One whom

we should brag about, not ourselves. After all, God is the One who makes all things possible.

Sing together “You Are I Am.”

Key passage (4 minutes) Key Passage Poster: Daniel 6:27 (provided)

Worship Song: “He Rescues and Delivers” (on provided DVD)

Leader • God had rescued Daniel and his friends, but in today’s Bible story God used a miracle

to prove He is in control even while His people are in captivity. That reminds me of the key

passage.

Show the slide or poster of the unit’s key passage, Daniel 6:27. Lead the boys and girls to read

the verse aloud. Sing together “He Rescues and Delivers.”



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Tell the Bible Story (10 minutes) “God Gave Daniel Wisdom” video (on provided DVD)

Bibles, 1 per kid

Bible Story Picture Slide or Poster

Leader • Let’s see what miracle God used to teach a Babylonian king that God was in control.

Turn to Daniel 5 in your Bible. Don’t forget to listen for the answer to the big picture question,

What does God do to the proud?

Show the “God Gave Daniel Wisdom” video, or choose to tell the Bible story in your own words

using the script provided. For a shorter version of the story, read only the bolded text.

Leader • Belshazzar was not the first Babylonian king to struggle with pride. His grandfather,

Nebuchadnezzar, saw how God rescued and blessed Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and

Abednego. Still, Nebuchadnezzar refused to worship only God. God punished him by taking

away his kingdom until he praised God as the one true God.

It turns out Belshazzar was even worse than his grandfather. He misused the things that were

in God’s temple. He did not respect God and thought he could do whatever he wanted. He

loved himself more than God. That’s called pride. Belshazzar’s pride led to God’s message on

the wall. God was not going to let him be king any longer.

Pride is a sin. God wants us to put God and others before ourselves. God wants us to be

humble, which means putting Him and others first. What does God do to the proud? God

humbles the proud. Belshazzar was proud. Because of his sin, God took his kingdom away.

Ask the following review questions:

What did King Belshazzar use that belonged in the temple at Jerusalem? (gold and silver

containers to drink from, Daniel 5:2)

What appeared during the party and wrote on the wall? (fingers of a man’s hand, Daniel

5:5)

Who did the queen suggest Belshazzar call to tell the king what the words on the wall

meant? (Daniel, Daniel 5:11-12)

What did Daniel say the writing meant? (Belshazzar had been judged, and he would not

be king much longer; Daniel 5:26-28)

What does God do to the proud? God humbles the proud.

Discussion starter video (3 minutes) Unit 19, Session 3 - Discussion Starter Video (on provided DVD)

Big Picture Question: What does God do to the proud? - 11x17 poster provided

Leader • We often give ourselves credit for things when God deserves the credit. Watch this.

Show the “Unit 19 Session 3” video.

Leader • Are there times when you think this way too? How could Samuel have put God first

instead of himself? Do you put God and others before yourself? What is a way you can put

God first? We don’t always use the word pride. We call it being selfish, but it means the same

thing. Aren’t you glad that Jesus wasn’t selfish or proud? He humbled Himself. That means

Jesus put God first and then us second when He lived and died. God honored Jesus by raising



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Him from the grave. God wants us to humble ourselves and put Jesus first by repenting and

trusting in Him.

The Gospel: God’s Plan for Me (optional) Use Scripture and the guide provided with this session to explain to boys and girls how to become

a Christian. Assign individuals to meet with kids who have more questions. If this is not

possible, encourage boys and girls to ask their parents, small group leaders, or other Christian

adults any questions they may have about becoming a Christian.

Prayer (4 minutes) Big Picture Question: What does God do to the proud? - 11x17 poster provided

Show the big picture question slide or poster.

Leader • How about one more peek at the big picture question? What does God do to the

proud? God humbles the proud.

Invite the kids to repeat the question and answer together while standing. Repeat while asking

the kids to physically humble themselves by squatting down a little. Repeat while squatting even

lower. Continue, challenging the kids to see how low they can squat and still stay balanced.

Before transitioning to small group, make any necessary announcements. Lead the kids in

prayer. Pray that God will help each kid learn the importance of being humble.

Dismiss to small groups for Table Time

The Gospel: God’s Plan for Me Ask kids if they have ever heard the word gospel. Clarify that the word gospel means “good

news.” It is the message about Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation. Use the following

guide to share the gospel with kids.

God rules. Explain to kids that the Bible tells us God created everything, and He is in charge

of everything. Invite a volunteer to read Genesis 1:1 from the Bible. Read Revelation 4:11 or

Colossians 1:16-17 aloud and explain what these verses mean.

We sinned. Tell kids that since the time of Adam and Eve, everyone has chosen to disobey

God. (Romans 3:23) The Bible calls this sin. Because God is holy, God cannot be around sin.

Sin separates us from God and deserves God’s punishment of death. (Romans 6:23)

God provided. Choose a child to read John 3:16 aloud. Say that God sent His Son, Jesus, the

perfect solution to our sin problem, to rescue us from the punishment we deserve. It’s something

we, as sinners, could never earn on our own. Jesus alone saves us. Read and explain Ephesians

2:8-9.

Jesus gives. Share with kids that Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and

rose again. Because Jesus gave up His life for us, we can be welcomed into God’s family for

eternity. This is the best gift ever! Read Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; or 1 Peter 3:18.



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We respond. Tell kids that they can respond to Jesus. Read Romans 10:9-10,13. Review

these aspects of our response: Believe in your heart that Jesus alone saves you through what He’s

already done on the cross. Repent, turning from self and sin to Jesus. Tell God and others that

your faith is in Jesus.

Offer to talk with any child who is interested in responding to Jesus.

TABLE TIME LEADER

Session Title: God Gave Daniel Wisdom






Bible story review (10 minutes) Tip: Divide children into small groups for table time. Each group should include an adult leader at the table.

Bibles, 1 per kid

Timeline (small group visual pack – extra copies provided for Table Time Review)

Big Picture Question: What does God do to the proud? (11x17 poster provided in classroom)

Encourage the kids to find Daniel 5 in their Bibles. Help them as needed.

Say • Is Daniel in the Old Testament or New Testament? (Old Testament) In which division of

the Bible is Daniel found? (Major Prophets) What are some of the stories we’ve talked

about from Daniel? (“Daniel and His Friends Obeyed God”; “Shadrach, Meshach, and

Abednego”; “God Gave Daniel Wisdom”)

Use the small group visual pack to show kids where today’s Bible story is on the timeline.

Review the Bible story provided using the bolded text, or summarize the story in your own

words. Invite the kids to stand and move away from any chairs in the room. Encourage the kids

to run to a wall each time you say “wall” in the Bible story.

Say • King Belshazzar misused items from God’s temple. He considered himself more important

than God. This is pride, and pride is a sin. James 4:6 says God opposes those with pride,

but gives grace to the humble. God humbled Belshazzar by taking away his kingdom.

James 4:10 says that if you humble yourself before God, He will lift you up.

Show the big picture question slide or poster.

Say • What does God do to the proud? God humbles the proud.



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LARGE GROUP REVIEW

AND ACTIVITIES

Key passage activity (5 minutes) “Written on the Wall” Instructions

Key Passage Poster: Daniel 6:27 (provided)

dry erase board and markers

Make sure the key passage, Daniel 6:27, is visible for each child, either as the printed poster or written

on a dry erase board. Read the verse together.

Say • God used the handwriting on the wall as a sign for King Belshazzar. His pride had cost

him the throne. He would not be king anymore. We need to be humble by putting God

and others first. If we don’t, God will use events in our lives to humble us. What does

God do to the proud? God humbles the proud.

Use a dry erase board to write the key passage. Invite the kids to read the verse while you write

it. Rewrite it or invite older kids to help write parts of it. Again, invite the kids to read the verse

as it is written.

Activity Choice (10 minutes) Option 1: Wall Writings dry erase board and markers

Write a word or phrase on a dry erase board. The kids must try to figure out what the word or

phrase is. For instance, write the word Daniel with the letters scrambled. Make enough blanks

for the word Belshazzar. Allow the kids to guess letters. Fill in the letters they guess correctly.

Begin writing a word one letter at a time, pausing to let kids guess the word. Write the word

minus the first letter or another letter. See who can guess the word. Here are some other words

to consider: wall, writing, pride, humble, feast, king, message, hand.

Say • Belshazzar didn’t know what the writing on the wall meant. Daniel told him the writing

meant that Belshazzar was full of pride and wasn’t going to be king anymore. God’s

words came true that night. Pride is a sin, and God hates sin. What does God do to the


Option 2: Wall Decals clear contact plastic

permanent markers

scissors

Provide each kid with a piece of clear contact plastic. Any size piece should work. Encourage

each kid to color a picture on the plastic and cut it out. Each kid will create a wall decal. Explain

that kids can peel off the back, and the plastic becomes a giant sticker. Encourage them to get

permission before sticking the decal on a wall. Remind parents as they pick up their kids that

contact paper generally peels off the wall without damaging it, but they may want to let their



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child place the decal somewhere it can stay permanently.

Say • You just created your own wall sticker. King Belshazzar saw writing on his wall. Daniel

told him it was a message from God about Belshazzar’s pride. What does God do to the


Prayer and Clean-Up (5 minutes) Say • Let’s see who remembers the big picture question and answer. What does God do to the


Invite kids to share ways they can be humble by putting God and others first. If time remains,

take prayer requests. Pray, thanking God for exalting those who humble themselves. Pray for

each child by name, asking God to forgive us when we are prideful.

Clean-Up Room

DanielUNIT 19 • Session 3 • Younger Kids Activity Pages© 2013 LifeWay Christian Resources.

Instructions: Connect the dots to find out what a king will see written on his wall in today’s Bible story.

© 2013 LifeWay

Family Journal Page

UNIT 19 • Session 3OK TO PRINT

Invite family members to write a special talent they have

below. Remind the family that God gives us talents to give

Him glory, not ourselves. Talk about how each family member’s

talent can be used for God, and help each family member plan a

time and place to use it.

DanielGod Gave Daniel WisdomDaniel 5

Preschool Key Passage: Daniel 6:27

Big Picture Question: How did God help Daniel help

the king? God gave Daniel wisdom.

Christ Connection: God made Daniel wise. Daniel

told the king God was going to punish him. The king

thought he was better than God. No one is better than

God. Jesus is God’s Son, and even He obeyed God.

Jesus left His place in heaven to come to earth and

rescue us from sin.

KidsKey Passage: Daniel 6:27

Big Picture Question: What does God do

to the proud? God humbles the proud.

Christ Connection: God used Daniel’s

wisdom to get the king’s attention about

his pride. The king acted like he was better

than God. God humbled the king. Jesus

humbled Himself by dying on the cross

for our sin. God raised up Jesus and gave

Him honor. When we humble ourselves

and trust in Jesus, God will raise us up

too, and we will be with Him forever in

heaven.

“He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from

the power of the lions.”Daniel 6:27

OK TO PRINT Daniel

Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 19, Session 3: God … Grade Kids Bible Study Guide ... Introduce...

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Transcript of Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 19, Session 3: God … Grade Kids Bible Study Guide ... Introduce...