Unit 15 • Session 4 Habakkuk the Prophet

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Use Week of:

Habakkuk the Prophet

TEACH THE STORY(15–20 MINUTES)

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EXPERIENCE THE STORY(25–30 MINUTES)

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REVIEW THE STORY(10+ MINUTES)

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Unit 15 • Session 4

BIBLE PASSAGE: Habakkuk

STORY POINT: Habakkuk learned to trust in God.

KEY PASSAGE: 2 Chronicles 7:14

BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How did God plan to fix what sin broke? God planned to send Jesus.

Unit 15 • Session 4

110 Preschool Worship GuideUnit 15 • Session 4

11/10/19

4

LEADER Bible StudyHow much time do you spend waiting? Think about it. Waiting for a traffic light to turn green, waiting at the doctor’s office, waiting at the drive-thru, waiting for a phone call, waiting for a birthday, waiting on someone else.

The fact is, we spend a lot of our time waiting. Why do we wait? We know something is coming. A major factor in waiting is faith—“the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen” (Heb. 11:1). This is precisely what the prophet Habakkuk addressed. Habakkuk was a contemporary of the prophet Jeremiah, living in Judah shortly before it was taken into captivity. He found himself in a period of waiting, first for judgment and then for revival.

All around him, people were oppressed and violence escalated. The Book of Habakkuk records the prophet’s dialogue with the Lord. “How long, Lord, must I call for help?” Habakkuk asked. “Why do You tolerate wrongdoing?”

God answered. He was going to raise up the Babylonians, and they would hold captive the people of Judah.

Habakkuk prayed again. Judah deserved to be punished, but the Babylonians were even more wicked than Judah; how could God, in essence, bless them?

God answered. The Babylonian captivity would not last forever. After some time, God was going to rescue His people and punish the Babylonians.God’s people waited to be delivered from captivity, and those who are in Christ are waiting for the fulfillment of Christ’s return. Until then, we live by faith. (See Heb. 10:35-38.) We can trust that God is sovereign over the future, so “though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines … yet I will celebrate in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!” (Hab. 3:17-18).

111The Southern Kingdom of Judah

Habakkuk the ProphetHabakkuk

Habakkuk (huh BAK kuk) the prophet prayed to God. “How long do I have to wait, God?” he asked. “When I cry to You for help, do You hear me?” Bad things had been happening in Judah. Habakkuk

told God about it, but people were still mean. Habakkuk asked, “Why do You let bad things happen?”

God heard Habakkuk. He knew what was happening. God said, “Look

around. I am doing something amazing. If I told you what I am

doing, you wouldn’t believe Me.”God told Habakkuk that

Judah’s enemies—the mighty Babylonians—were coming. They were strong and fast. The Babylonians would take God’s people to Babylon and put them in prison. God told Habakkuk, “It may seem like

bad people are always winning now. But one day, they won’t

win anymore.”God promised that one day, He

would punish the Babylonians for doing wrong things. The Babylonians would take

God’s people away from their homes, but not forever. One day, God would bring His people back

to their land.Habakkuk asked God to change people’s hearts. Habakkuk wanted

people to remember God. He wanted them to be sorry for doing the

Bible Storytelling Tips

• Use dramaticdialogue: SpeakHabakkuk’s wordsas you look upward.Pause slightlybetween his dialogueand the rest of thenarrative.

• Act it out: Enlistthree adult leaders tobe Habakkuk, God, andthe narrator. Let theperson speaking God’swords stand awayfrom the focal area.Consider prerecordingwhen God speaksand playing it at theappropriate momentsin the Bible story.

The BIBLE Story


Habakkuk the ProphetHabakkuk

Habakkuk (huh BAK kuk) the prophet prayed to God. “How long do I have to wait, God?” he asked. “When I cry to You for help, do You hear me?” Bad things had been happening in Judah. Habakkuk

told God about it, but people were still mean. Habakkuk asked, “Why do You let bad things happen?”

God heard Habakkuk. He knew what was happening. God said, “Look

around. I am doing something amazing. If I told you what I am

doing, you wouldn’t believe Me.”God told Habakkuk that

Judah’s enemies—the mighty Babylonians—were coming. They were strong and fast. The Babylonians would take God’s people to Babylon and put them in prison. God told Habakkuk, “It may seem like

bad people are always winning now. But one day, they won’t

win anymore.”God promised that one day, He

would punish the Babylonians for doing wrong things. The Babylonians would take

God’s people away from their homes, but not forever. One day, God would bring His people back

to their land.Habakkuk asked God to change people’s hearts. Habakkuk wanted

people to remember God. He wanted them to be sorry for doing the

Bible Storytelling Tips

• Use dramatic dialogue: Speak Habakkuk’s words as you look upward. Pause slightly between his dialogue and the rest of the narrative.

• Act it out: Enlist three adult leaders to be Habakkuk, God, and the narrator. Let the person speaking God’s words stand away from the focal area. Consider prerecording when God speaks and playing it at the appropriate moments in the Bible story.

wrong things. He wanted them to love God.“You have done so many amazing things,” Habakkuk

prayed. “Please do more amazing things so people will know You.”

Habakkuk thanked God for being powerful. He trusted God to take care of His people. The people in Judah would be prisoners for a while, but not forever. One day God would rescue His people and bring them home.

Habakkuk said, “No matter what happens, I will be happy because of God. Even if none of the plants grow fruit, if no food grows in the fields, and even if I don’t have any sheep or cows, I will be glad because God rescues His people.”

Christ Connection: Habakkuk lived when bad things seemed to be happening everywhere. He trusted God to take care of His people and rescue them. Bad things happen today, but we can trust that Jesus will come back one day and make everything right.


TEACH the Story

SESSION TITLE: Habakkuk the ProphetBIBLE PASSAGE: HabakkukSTORY POINT: Habakkuk learned to trust in God.KEY PASSAGE: 2 Chronicles 7:14BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How did God plan to fix what sin broke? God

planned to send Jesus.

Welcome and worship with songGreet preschoolers with a smile. As preschoolers arrive, sing an action song such as “I Have Hope” to engage and welcome them. Begin worship by leading preschoolers in the theme song “Come, Thou Fount.”

Watch or tell the Bible storyLead the group to sit silently and wait before introducing the Bible story.SAY • Is waiting easy or hard? [Allow responses.] In today’s

Bible story, Habakkuk the prophet was waiting. Bad things had been happening in Judah. Habakkuk waited for God to do something. Listen to what God said to Habakkuk.

Open your Bible to the Book of Habakkuk. Show the video or tell the Bible story using the provided storytelling tips. Use the bolded version of the Bible story for young preschoolers.

Practice the key passage and a Bible skillPlace the key passage marker at 2 Chronicles 7:14. Invite a child to open your Bible to the key passage. Form a circle. Go around the circle, guiding each preschooler to say a word of the key passage. Provide prompts as needed. Say the

• “I Have Hope” song• “Come, Thou Fount”

song

• Bible• “Habakkuk the

Prophet” video (optional)

• Bible Story Picture Poster

• Story Point Poster• Giant Timeline

• Bible• Key Passage Marker• Key Passage Poster• “If My People” song


verse several times starting with a different child each time.SAY • God told Habakkuk that His people would be sent

away, but one day, God would bring them back to their land. God said in our key passage that He would forgive His people when they turned from their sin and He would heal their land.

Sing the key passage song “If My People” together.

Learn the big picture question and answerSAY • What is our big picture question? How did God plan

to fix what sin broke? God planned to send Jesus. Sin is what makes people do wrong things and be mean. God sent Jesus to die on the cross to take the punishment for our sin. We can trust that Jesus will come back one day and make everything right.

Respond through song and prayerSAY • Habakkuk lived when bad things seemed to be

happening everywhere. Habakkuk learned to trust God. He trusted God to take care of His people and rescue them. Bad things happen today, but we can trust that Jesus will come back one day and make everything right.

Sing “Come, Thou Fount” and “One Heart” as preschoolers move with the music. Prepare for prayer by singing “Greater Than Anything.” You may also collect an offering. SAY • God, You always know what is happening, and

You are always working Your good plan. Help us trust that Jesus will come back one day and make everything right. Amen.

Transition to experience the story

• Big Picture Question Poster

• Story Point Poster • “Come, Thou Fount”

song• “One Heart” song• “Greater Than

Anything” song• offering basket

• countdown video (optional)


Make a choiceTell preschoolers examples of good things that happen and bad things that happen. Encourage them to show thumbs-up for a good thing and thumbs-down for a bad thing. SAY • Bad things had been happening in Judah. Habakkuk

talked to God about what was happening. God told Habakkuk that good things were coming. Habakkuk learned to trust in God. He trusted God would rescue His people. Bad things happen today, but we can trust that Jesus will come back one day and make everything right.

Stamp fruit and vegetablesBefore the session, slice various fruits and vegetables. Post an allergy alert. Cover a table with a large sheet of paper. Roll up sleeves and put on smocks. Squirt washable paint onto foam plates. Show a preschooler how to dip a food in the paint and then stamp it on the paper. SAY • Habakkuk said even if none of the plants grew fruit

and no food grew in the field, he would be glad because God rescues His people. Habakkuk learned to trust in God. Bad things happen today, but we can trust that Jesus will come back one day and make everything right.

Examples: • someone being mean• a birthday party• someone hurting

someone else• a new baby is born• a forest fire• someone trusts

Jesus to save him• making a new

friend

• Allergy Alert• smocks• fruits or vegetables,

such as carrots, starfruit, mushrooms, cauliflower, brocccoli, tomatoes, peppers, and apples

• knife (adult use) • large sheet of paper• masking tape• washable paint • foam plates

EXPERIENCE the Story




Ask questionsCut a question mark out of a large sheet of paper. Remind preschoolers some of the questions Habakkuk asked God. Take turns leading preschoolers to answer, “If you could ask God a question, what would it be?” Write their questions on the question mark.SAY • Habakkuk talked to God. He asked God questions.

Habakkuk learned to trust in God. We can ask God questions when we pray. We can trust God to take care of us. One day, Jesus will come back and make everything right.

Match the locksProvide various types of locks and keys. Invite preschoolers to match the key that opens the lock. SAY • God told Habakkuk that the Babylonians would take

God’s people as prisoners, but one day, God would bring His people back to their land. Habakkuk learned to trust in God. We can trust that Jesus will come back and make everything right.

Play happy/sad tic-tac-toeDraw happy faces on five paper plates and sad faces on another five. Use painter’s tape to make a large tic-tac-toe board on the floor. Lead preschoolers in playing a game of tic-tac-toe with the paper plate faces. SAY • Things happen that make us sad, but no matter what

happens we have a reason to be happy—Jesus! How did God plan to fix what sin broke? God planned to send Jesus.

Transition to review the story

• large sheet of paper or poster board

• scissors (adult use)• marker

• locks and keys

Tip: Consider color coding matching locks and keys with colored dot stickers for younger preschoolers.

• painter’s tape • paper plates, 10• markers

Tip: If you have a large group make several game sets.

• countdown video (optional)


REVIEW the Story



ReviewPoint to the giant timeline as you review today’s Bible story. Ask the following review questions:

1. Who prayed to God about the bad things that werehappening in Judah? (Habakkuk)

2. Who were the enemies who were going to takeGod’s people as prisoners? (the Babylonians)

3. What did God promise? (He would bring His peopleback to their land.)

4. Why did Habakkuk decide to be happy no matterwhat? (because God rescues His people)

5. What did Habakkuk learn to do? (Habakkuklearned to trust in God.)

6. How did God plan to fix what sin broke? Godplanned to send Jesus.

SAY • Habakkuk prayed to God when bad things were happening everywhere. God told Habakkuk He was doing something amazing. God promised to bring His people back to their land. Habakkuk trusted God to take care of His people and rescue them. We can trust that Jesus will come back one day.

Sing the theme song “Come, Thou Fount” or key passage song “If My People.”

• Bible• Bible Story Picture

Poster• Giant Timeline• Story Point Poster• Big Picture Question

Poster• Key Passage Poster• “Come, Thou Fount”

song (optional)• “If My People” song

(optional)


PrayInvite preschoolers to tell you any prayer requests they have.SAY • God, thank You that we can talk to You about

anything, including bad things that happen. Help us trust You to take care of us like Habakkuk trusted You to take care of the people of Judah and rescue them. Thank You for sending Jesus. We look forward to the day when He will come back and make everything right. Amen.

Missions moment SAY • What do you need to play football? [Allow

responses. Then hold up a Bible.] Christian coaches in Baltimore also need this. The Bible is most important because the coaches use this to tell the players about Jesus. Let’s meet another coach, Coach Sean, who leads the sports ministry in Baltimore. The players are learning to trust in God.

Show the “10:12 Sports (Part 2)” missions video.

Play out being sheep and cowsAssign each preschooler to act out being a sheep or cow. After a few minutes, lead preschoolers to switch roles. SAY • Habakkuk lived when bad things seemed to be

happening everywhere, but Habakkuk learned to trust in God. Habakkuk said even if he didn’t have any sheep or cows, he would be glad because God rescues His people. He trusted God to take care of His people and rescue them. Bad things happen today, but we can trust that Jesus will come back one day and make everything right.

• Bible• “10:12 Sports (Part 2)”

missions video.


Unit 15 • Session 4 Habakkuk the Prophet

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Transcript of Unit 15 • Session 4 Habakkuk the Prophet