This lesson teaches children that God wants us to follow Him, not copy the bad choices of people around us. It is built for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including the story, the memory verse, and the activity.
Big Idea
We belong to God, so we pray to Him and do what He says, even when everyone around us does something different.
Memory Verse
2 Kings 16:2
Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He didn’t do that which was right in the LORD his God’s eyes, like David his father.
(WEB)
Teach the children to stand tall with both arms out to the sides, then slowly bring them together in front of their chest, as if they are choosing to turn toward something good. Say the verse together while you move, and then repeat it while sitting down with the same motion.
The Story: 2 Kings 16 for Kids
Once upon a time, a young king named Ahaz began to rule over the land of Judah. He was twenty years old, and he ruled in the city of Jerusalem for sixteen years. Ahaz had a father named Jotham, and he had a great-great-grandfather named David, who loved God very much.
But Ahaz did not follow God like David did. He copied the wicked kings of Israel instead. He even did terrible things, like offering his own son as a sacrifice in the fire. Ahaz also built altars on the hills and under the green trees, places where people worshiped false gods.
One day, two enemy kings came to attack Jerusalem. Their names were Rezin and Pekah. They surrounded the city, but they could not win. Ahaz was scared, so he sent a message to the king of Assyria. He said, “I am your servant. Please come and save me!” He even took gold and silver from God’s own house and sent it as a gift.
The king of Assyria helped Ahaz, but Ahaz’s plan did not bring him real peace. Ahaz went to the city of Damascus and saw a new altar there. He liked it so much that he had a copy of it made for God’s house in Jerusalem. Then he moved God’s bronze altar out of the way and used the new one instead.
In the end, Ahaz died, and his son Hezekiah became the next king. Ahaz had trusted his own ideas and other nations instead of trusting God. This story shows children what happens when people turn away from God’s way.
Read It Together
2 Kings 16:3
But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yes, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel.
(WEB)
Point out that Ahaz walked in the ways of the bad kings around him. Ask children what it looks like to follow a bad example, and help them see that copying others can lead us away from God.
2 Kings 16:7-8
7 So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria, saying, “I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, who rise up against me.” 8 Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the LORD’s house, and in the treasures of the king’s house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria.
(WEB)
Show the children that Ahaz asked the king of Assyria for help instead of asking God. Explain that God wants us to bring our worries to Him first, not to depend only on people or things that cannot truly save us.
2 Kings 16:10-11
10 King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria, and saw the altar that was at Damascus; and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest a drawing of the altar and plans to build it. 11 Urijah the priest built an altar. According to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus, so Urijah the priest made it for the coming of king Ahaz from Damascus.
(WEB)
Point out how Ahaz was so impressed by a new altar that he changed God’s house to match it. Talk about how easy it is to want new and exciting things, and how God’s ways are always better than our own ideas.
Talk About It
- What did Ahaz do when he was scared, and what could he have done instead?
- Why do you think it is hard to do the right thing when your friends are doing something different?
- How can you tell when a choice is leading you away from God?
- What is one way you can ask God for help this week?
- What did David, Ahaz’s ancestor, do that Ahaz did not do?
Activity Ideas
Draw Your Own Altar
Give each child a sheet of paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask them to draw a picture of something they can give to God, such as a kind act, a prayer, or a song. Let them label it with a word and share it with the group. This helps children think about what it means to bring their best to God rather than copying what others offer.
Follow the Leader Game
Choose one child to be the leader and have them make simple movements, like clapping or hopping. The rest of the children copy the leader. After a minute, stop and ask, “Who are we following?” Then call out, “Now follow God!” and have everyone stand still with hands folded. Explain that we must choose carefully who we follow.
Take-Home Prayer Card
Cut index cards in half and give each child a piece. Ask them to write or draw one thing they want God to help them with this week. Encourage them to keep the card in their pocket or on their nightstand. Each time they see it, they can pray and ask God to help them choose His way.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this passage is a warning about compromise. Ahaz wanted security, so he made alliances, copied foreign practices, and even changed the worship of God to suit his own preferences. The lesson is that trusting God means keeping His commands, even when the world offers easier or more impressive options.
When teaching children, avoid overstating the most troubling details, such as the child sacrifice. Keep the focus on the simple truth that Ahaz did not trust God and followed other paths. You can say that the story is sad and that it shows why God wants us to follow Him, without going into frightening detail.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You for loving us and showing us the right way to live. Help us choose to follow You every day, even when our friends make different choices. When we feel scared, help us remember to ask You for help first. Amen.
