This lesson teaches children that God wants us to listen to wise, kind advice, and that a wrong choice can split a family or a country apart. It is built for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
Good leaders listen to wise people and choose kind words. When we ignore wise advice, we can make big mistakes that hurt many others.
Memory Verse
1 Kings 12:7
They replied, “If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them, and answer them with good words, then they will be your servants forever.”
(WEB)
Teach the children to hold both hands out, palms up, like a bowl, then slowly lower them as they say “serve them.” Each time they say the verse, they should lower their hands and then lift them back up, showing that a good servant bends down to help.
The Story: 1 Kings 12 for Kids
A long time ago, King Solomon died, and his son Rehoboam became the new king. All the people of Israel gathered at a town called Shechem to crown him. Before they made him king, a man named Jeroboam and the whole crowd came to Rehoboam with a request.
They said, “Your father made our work very hard and heavy. Please make it lighter, and we will serve you gladly.” Rehoboam did not answer right away. He told them to come back in three days, and he went to think it over.
First, Rehoboam asked the older men who had worked with his father. They said, “If you are kind to these people and speak gentle words, they will be loyal to you always.” That was good advice. But Rehoboam did not like it, so he turned to the young men who grew up with him. They said, “Tell the people your little finger is thicker than your father’s whole body. Make their load even heavier!”
When the people came back, Rehoboam answered them roughly, just as the young men had told him. He said, “My father made your load heavy, but I will make it even heavier.” The people felt sad and angry, and many of them turned away from Rehoboam. Only the people of Judah stayed with him, and the kingdom was split in two.
Jeroboam became king over the ten northern tribes, but he also made some terrible choices. He made two golden calves and told the people to worship them instead of God. This was a sin that led many people far away from the Lord.
Read It Together
1 Kings 12:8
But he abandoned the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.
(WEB)
Point out that Rehoboam turned away from the wise old men and listened to his friends who told him what he wanted to hear. Ask the children how it feels to be given advice that makes you feel good instead of advice that is truly wise.
1 Kings 12:13-14
13 The king answered the people roughly, and abandoned the counsel of the old men which they had given him, 14 and spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.”
(WEB)
Show how Rehoboam answered the people roughly and made their burden heavier. Explain that harsh words can hurt people and push them away, even when we are the one in charge.
1 Kings 12:28
So the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold; and he said to them, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Look and behold your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”
(WEB)
Point out that Jeroboam made golden calves so the people would not go to Jerusalem to worship God. Explain that people can be tempted to choose something easier or closer than what God asks of us, and that we should always remember who brought us out of trouble.
Talk About It
- What do you think Rehoboam should have done when the people asked him for help?
- Why is it important to listen to older, wiser people who have experience?
- How can the words we use make other people feel better or worse?
- Have you ever wanted to do something your friends suggested, even though you knew it was not the right thing?
- What are some ways we can remember to worship God in our everyday lives?
Activity Ideas
Crown Craft
Give each child a strip of yellow paper or cardboard, long enough to wrap around their head. Let them decorate it with markers, glitter, or stickers. As they work, talk about what makes a good king or leader. Have them write one kind word on the crown that they could use to encourage someone.
Wise Counsel Relay
Divide the children into two teams. Place a bowl at the far end of the room with slips of paper inside. Each slip has a simple question, such as “What would you say to a friend who is sad?” One child from each team runs to pick a slip, reads it aloud, and the team gives a kind and wise answer. Explain that the young men gave bad advice, and talk about how kind words help people.
Kind Words Jar
Give each child a small jar or cup and some paper strips. Ask them to write or draw one kind thing they can say to someone at home this week. Each time they say a kind word, they can drop a strip into the jar. Ending the week, read the words together and thank God for the chance to speak gently to others.
Teacher Notes
This passage shows that leaders carry heavy responsibility, and that advice is only as good as the wisdom behind it. Rehoboam had experienced counsel close at hand, but he chose the voices that told him what he wanted to hear. For adults, the chapter is a warning about pride and about the cost of ignoring those who have walked a long road before us. It also shows that God’s purposes stand even when human choices go wrong.
Avoid suggesting to children that the division of the kingdom was simply a punishment for one bad conversation. The chapter says the events came from the Lord, and it also describes Jeroboam’s and Rehoboam’s real choices, so keep both truths in view without oversimplifying how God works in history.
A Prayer to Close
Dear Lord, thank you for giving us wise people to help us make good choices. Help us listen carefully to those who love us and speak kindly to everyone we meet. Keep our hearts close to you and help us always remember who brings us out of trouble. Amen.
