Jeremiah for Me! Intro Lesson: "Be Not Afraid of Their Faces!" A Jeremiah Journey, Journal, and Puppets

Jeremiah for Me! Intro Lesson:  "Be Not Afraid of Their Faces!" A Jeremiah Journey, Journal, and Puppets

Goodbye Deuteronomy, Hello Jeremiah!

Here's an introductory lesson to a new series.  Written for "kids" and their "big kids" its sections include everything from: "Where in the Word Is Jeremiah?" to "Jeremiah Face Places to Illustrate" plus much more!  Won't you come along with us on a "Jeremiah Journey?"

Lesson goals include read aloud verses/passages; search for words/phrases; highlight certain words/ parts; record findings/drawings; memorize Jeremiah sayings/gems; and relate Jeremiah to today/tomorrow.  For each lesson kids/big kids will create a tube puppet character to help retell the stories. Stay with us for the whole series, and you'll have an amazing easy-to-make puppet collection plus accessories.   

Before you begin, take this little quiz to see how much you know about Jeremiah.

1.   Jeremiah is the 23rd or 24th book in the Old Testament.

2.   Jeremiah has 55 or 52 chapters.

3.   Jeremiah is the first book of the minor or major prophets.

4.   Jeremiah is about Israel's ten tribes, two tribes.

5.   Jeremiah came from Assyria, Anathoth.

6.   Jeremiah is followed by Isaiah, Lamentations.

7.   Jeremiah was a priest, a prophet.

8.   Jeremiah spoke about Jerusalem, Jordan.

9.   Jeremiah spoke about the south, the north.

10. Jeremiah referred to Bethlehem, Babylon.

11. Jeremiah was known as the happy prophet, the weeping prophet.

12. Jeremiah spoke of the coming capture of Jerusalem, of Shiloh.

13. Jeremiah's theme is the building of, or the judgment of Judah.

14. Jeremiah's book abbreviation is Jerm. or Jer.

Answers: 1. 24   2. 52    3. major    4. two tribes    5. Anathoth    6. Lamentations    7.  prophet  

8.  Jerusalem    9.  the north    10.  Babylon    11.  weeping prophet    12.  Jerusalem    13.  judgment    14.  Jer.  

Chapter One Read Aloud:  Read verses 1-19 

Jeremiah's ID:  Jeremiah's father:  Hilkiah the priest Jeremiah's hometown: Anathoth* Jeremiah's Time Period: Five kings from Southern Kingdom of Judah/Benjamin Jeremiah's Prophesies: for Judah/ Jerusalem and the Nations Jeremiah's age at his call: About 20

*  Check out a Bible map to see Anathoth was three miles northeast of Jerusalem.

 

Your ID:  Son or daughter of, hometown, date, age.  Record in journal.

Jeremiah's Name Means: God (Yahweh) "establishes or sends" 

Jeremiah's Name Frame:

Check out the sample journal page below, then make a face circle, headband, hair line, ears, eyes, nose, mouth, and neck.  After write words around it, and in the headband as well.

For each lesson draw Jeremiah using the same basic face while changing the features to fit the story.  After drawing the face, and the name frame make a second frame using these words from Jeremiah 1:4 "Then the word of the LORD, came unto me saying, ...."    

Jeremiah's Call:  Jeremiah 1:5 is an amazing verse.  In it, God speaks to Jeremiah saying "I" four times.  It reads; "Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee (set you apart), and I ordained thee to be a prophet to the nations."  Don't forget to highlight or mark the Is!  What was Jeremiah to be?

The Bible says a true prophet is someone who foretells the future and their words come true; whereas a false prophet is someone who foretells the future, but their words do not come true.    

Draw a pic of Jeremiah. Make him look scared. To make a frame use the four "I" parts around it.  Which Bible prophet (See Exodus 4:11,12) was Jeremiah like when he said he couldn't speak well?   

Jeremiah Exclamation!   Jeremiah's reply to the Lord's call began with this exclamation: "Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak for I am a child."  And God answered Jeremiah with, "Say not I am a child (youth): for thou shalt go to all that I send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak." Jer1:6,7   Later, this little exclamation "Ah, Lord GOD!" is found three more times in Jeremiah.  Look for it!  P.S. "Spy the Is" in this conversation.      

Draw Jeremiah using this expression as he talks to God and writing God's reply.   See journal sample.    

Jeremiah Gem Verse:   In each chapter there's a jewel verse to memorize and recite.  Using a glitter marker, or crayon write the verse in your journal.  Beside it you may draw a "sparkly gem." Also punch out dots from glittered/shiny stickers to place by each Bible gem verse.  

In our Jeremiah 1:8 gem verse is a "face place" where God encourages Jeremiah saying, "Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with you to deliver (protect) thee, saith the LORD."   What a neat verse for us too.  

Jeremiah's Enemy Faces: Check out the journal page below--see the enemy faces--using that headband draw some faces with frowns and raised eyebrows to show their mocking of Jeremiah's words.  Say, have you ever had someone make fun of things you said especially about God's word?  Jeremiah had plenty of those enemies--you'll meet them later on.   

Your Enemy:  Write down the name of someone in your journal who has been unkind to you or made fun of you.  Pray for that person that you can help them see that God loves them and wants them to know Him.  Luke 6:28 says, " Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you."

Jeremiah's Mouth:  Draw Jeremiah with an oversized mouth.  Reread verse 9.  How will you show this verse in your drawing?  Who alone would give Jeremiah words to say?  See one way of depicting the verse in the photo below.

Jeremiah's Jobs:  God says in verse ten there were six things that Jeremiah was asked to do.  Two are positive and four are negative.  Which two are + words, and which four are - words?  Jot them down in your journal or draw Jeremiah with the words around him.  Write "Jeremiah's Jobs" in his headband.      

Jeremiah Questions:  Jeremiah has lots of questions: questions from the Lord, the people, and Jeremiah asking why, what, who, where, when and other questions.  In this chapter God asks two "What" questions to Jeremiah saying, "What seest thou?"  First, Jeremiah spies a flowering "almond branch," and second, he spies a "seething or boiling pot."  Both of these are word pictures. Draw them in your journal. What do they mean? 

A Hidden Word: By the way there's a clue word hiding in the boiling cauldron story.  Did you detect it?  It has five letters, and it's a direction word.  From that direction what would come?

Where In the Word Is?   The abbreviation "vs." means "against."  In all there are ten "vs. words " starting an "a" in verses 15-16 and 18-19 to hunt for, and highlight.  Did you find them?

Arise Jeremiah!  God said, "Get up, gird up, (Tuck in your robe!), and speak to the people for I am against them because of their wickedness."

Another "Face Place!"  Again, there's a focus on faces in verse seventeen. Look at it.  It says, "... be not dismayed (stressed out/alarmed) at their faces ....". 

God's Promise to Jeremiah:  What would the people do when Jeremiah spoke God's message?  

The last verse of chapter one gives the answer: "And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail (win out over you) against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee." (Jer.1:19)    

Have You Heard of These Words?  Here are some of the vocabulary words from our lesson.  Can you match them up to their definitions? 

1. form 2. sanctify 3. prophet 4. rod 5. north 6. dismay 7. Jerusalem 8. Judah 9. behold 

10. against 11. deliver 12. seething

a. to create   b. a branch c. holy city d. to set apart e. a tribe f. one who foretells the future g. to see h. to distress i. a direction j. to protect k. boiling l. versus or vs.  Find the answers at end of lesson.

Unscramble Jeremiah's Message Theme:  my words! Speak 

Just Like Jeremiah:  Today we often feel hesitant to speak words about the Lord to those who don't know Him, for they may mock or defy us as they did Jeremiah.  However, God says don't be afraid of their faces, but to remember He will be with us when we encounter those who make us feel fearful.  A great song to sing with this chapter is: "He Is Able to Deliver Thee."  

Answers to Jeremiah Vocab Quiz/Message Theme:

1.a   2.d   3.f   4.b   5.i   6.h   7.c   8.e   9.g   10.1 11.j 12.k       Message: "Speak my words!"

 A Jeremiah Tube Puppet is an easy-to-make kids' puppet to use with the lessons.  Simply take a toilet tube, wrap it in light colored paper, and tuck in ends.  After tie a white napkin strip around "Jeremiah's head" to make a headband.  Then using paper or foam cut out facial features as ears, eyes, noses, mouths, moustache, and so on.  Place the tube inside a tray or box.  Make some printed word strips or write them yourself.  Now, change your Jeremiah face to go with parts of the story, and move "word, or phrase" strips to make a frame round him.  Use and reuse!  In each lesson we will make another tube puppet character or accessories to use with the lessons.  When your set is complete, you'll have a whole set of puppets and props to use to retell Jeremiah's stories.      

Check Out "My Jeremiah Journal" photos 'n Puppet "Prophet" below by clicking on pic to enlarge it.