Sabbath School December 3

Nature Corner: Avalanches
Up in the mountains it can be very cold, and it can snow.  Sometimes it snows light. Sometimes it snows hard.  But the snow from each snowfall stacks on top  of the mountain.  Sometimes the snow at the top of the mountain can become loose for any number of reasons, then it begins to slide.  As it slides, it gathers more snow.  Soon, a wall of snow is sliding down the mountain.  We call that an avalanche, and it is very dangerous.  

Mount Cook, New Zealand photo, #1387208, by Waylett21 courtesy of FreeImages.com

​An avalanche reminds me of the Bible verse, Deuteronomy 6:18, which says, "And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may be well with you."  When we make good choices, it helps us to make more good choices.  If we make bad choices, it helps us to make more bad choices, just like how an avalanche grows as it slides.  Our Bible story is about a king named Saul who kept making bad choices.

Memory Mastery: God's Special Book
We are learning basic facts about God's special book, the Bible.  Can you help your child review this lesson at home?  Show them a Bible while you listen along.

Help your child learn the answers to these questions:

• ​What's the name of God's special book?
• How many little books are in the Bible?
• What are the 2 big parts of the Bible called?
• Who helped each Bible writer to write his book?
• The Bible tells us the story of ___ from ___ until __________.
• Who will we see leading God's people in all the Bible stories?
• How can we have Jesus lead us in our daily lives?

Mission Mail: Making Friends for Jesus
Dear Patterson Kids,
My name is Virgil, and I live in France.  I made a special friend at the playground named Jean Luc, and our families became friends even though we lived an hour away.  One day, I invited Jean Luc to stay the night at my house.  The next day, he went to church with us.  He had not gone to church before, but he loved it.  He asked his parents to do it again.  Then his parents decided to go to church on Sabbath, too.  Now, Jean Luc and I have something else in common!
Sincerely,
Virgil

Bible Story: King Saul Becomes Proud
References: 1 Samuel 11-15; PP 612-631

The Israelites had decided to ask God for a new king.  God chose a very tall man named Saul to be king over his people.  The prophet Samuel anointed Saul, so the Holy Spirit would help Saul make good decisions.

Courtesy of Sweet Publishing and FreeBibleImages.org

At first Saul made good decisions and wanted to obey God, but soon he didn't want to listen to the Holy Spirit anymore.  He started to disobey.  One time, prophet Samuel told him to wait for him 7 days, but Saul didn't wait for Samuel and offered sacrifice.  Another time, Saul told his soldiers they could not eat until they finished the battle.  His soldiers were very hungry.  Saul disobeyed God a third time, and that was it.  The Holy Spirit left him alone.

Courtesy of Sweet Publishing and FreeBibleImages.org

Samuel told Saul that God had chosen another king instead of Saul's son to be king after Saul.  Saul was very upset, and an evil spirit troubled him.  

​Our prayer verse, 1 Samuel 15:22, says, "It is better to obey God than to offer a sacrifice.... and to heed than the fat of rams."  God was sad that Saul did not want to obey all of his directions.  Do you listen carefully to directions and follow all of them?

Dear Father God, I want Your help to obey and heed Your Commandments and my parents.  In Jesus' Name, Amen