Leader Guide

Teaching

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Discipleship Challenge materials for children who missed previous lessons:

Copy the three Signpost Cards onto cardstock, if possible, in color or black and white. Give the Discipleship Challenge materials to children who missed previous lessons; see Lesson 1 for details.

A Mouthpiece for God: Isaiah prophesied about Jesus.

Have a child select the first Signpost Card and read it aloud. Tape the card to the wall or prop it up so children can see it. Lead a discussion with the information below. Repeat for the other two Signpost Cards. Additional material is included for Grades 4–6 to look up and discuss.

Signpost 1 The Glory of God

In Isaiah’s vision, he saw the glory of God. Do you remember what he did when he saw God’s glory? He laid face down on the ground before God.

Isaiah lay prostrate before God. That means to stretch out with your face on the ground in humility, adoration, and submission. Isaiah was overcome with God’s glory and holiness.

What word did the angelic beings repeat three times as they worshiped God around His throne? Holy, holy, holy.

They said that the whole earth is filled with His glory! You can imagine how overwhelming these sights and sounds were for Isaiah. During the vision, God called Isaiah to speak on His behalf to the people of Israel. He spoke to Isaiah and through him.

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6

Isaiah 6:3–5

3They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with His glory!”  4Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.

Signpost 2 The Birth and Ministry of Jesus

Isaiah predicted many things as a prophet during the reign of four kings—that’s a long time!

The Gospel of John quotes many of Isaiah’s predictions about Jesus. John wrote that Isaiah saw the future and Jesus’ glory. Isaiah predicted Jesus’ birth about 700 years before it happened!

In Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah wrote:

“All right then, the Lord Himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call Him Immanuel (which means 'God is with us').”

This is a familiar passage that is often read during a certain holiday that we celebrate. Can you name the holiday? Christmas.

Isaiah also said that Jesus would perform miracles of healing. Can you name some of the diseases and disabilities that Jesus healed while He lived on the earth? Blind eyes, deafness, lameness, evil spirits, bleeding, leprosy, raised the dead!

Isaiah also predicted that Jesus would deliver the Good News to the people. The Good News is how Jesus will heal, comfort, and set people free from sin.

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6

John 12:41 (CEV)

Isaiah said this, because he saw the glory of Jesus and spoke about Him.

Isaiah 35:5–6 (NLT)

5And when He comes, He will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf.  6The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy! Springs will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams will water the wasteland.

Isaiah 61:1 (NLT)

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon Me, for the LORD has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.

Signpost 3 The Death and Resurrection of Jesus

Isaiah not only predicted Jesus’ birth, but he also predicted His arrest, trial, and death. Do you remember how King Sennacherib sent his messengers to insult, mock, and threaten King Hezekiah and God’s people? The Assyrians didn’t believe the Lord could save Jerusalem from the mighty army that had already captured city after city.

Isaiah predicted that Jesus would also be insulted and mocked, and his prophecy came true. The soldiers beat Him, spit on Him, and pulled out His beard. Jesus endured all these things because He loved us and submitted to God’s plan.

Matthew 27:41–44 says:

41The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus.  42“He saved others,” they scoffed, “but He can’t save Himself! So He is the King of Israel, is He? Let Him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in Him!  43He trusted God, so let God rescue Him now if He wants Him! For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”  44Even the revolutionaries who were crucified with Him ridiculed Him in the same way.

Isaiah predicted how the Messiah would die for our sins—He would be pierced, beaten, and whipped so that we could be forgiven, healed, and whole. All of these things happened to Jesus. He was blameless and without sin, yet He chose to carry our sins on the cross.

1 Peter 2:24 says:

He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By His wounds you are healed.

Isaiah even predicted that Jesus would be buried in a rich man’s tomb. (See Isaiah 53:9.)

King Hezekiah trusted in the strength of the one true God to save him from his enemies. God moved in a mighty way and didn’t allow the enemy to enter Jerusalem. Jesus also trusted in the strength of His Father, God. Jesus died according to God’s plan and then was raised from the dead. All of this was predicted by Isaiah. God spoke to him and through him.

Jesus trusted in God alone—even all the way to His death on the cross. Will you trust Him, too? Those who put their trust in Jesus will move from darkness into Jesus’ marvelous light!

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6

Isaiah 50:6:

I offered My back to those who beat Me and My cheeks to those who pulled out My beard. I did not hide My face from mockery and spitting.

Isaiah 53:5–6:

5But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.  6All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on Him the sins of us all.

Isaiah 53:9–10:

9He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But He was buried like a criminal; He was put in a rich man’s grave.  10But it was the LORD’s good plan to crush Him and cause Him grief. Yet when His life is made an offering for sin, He will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD’s good plan will prosper in His hands.

Isaiah 9:2:

The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.

Now, it’s time for the Discipleship Challenge! We'll continue being challenged to be ready for God to send us to speak His Word to others!

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Give any child who missed the previous lessons the Isaiah Send Me Gizmo Craft with the telescoping neck. Consider taping the four brass roundhead paper fasteners on a page corner to secure them. Show children the sample craft made in Lesson 1 and have them assemble the craft at home.

Use the model craft as you discuss the challenge. The challenge last time was to learn Ephesians 4:15a. Would anyone like to try and say it from memory? Children respond. Ephesians 4:15a:

We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ.

It’s important to speak the truth, but it’s also important to speak it in love. If we speak in anger and judgment, people will feel discouraged and torn down. We want to share God’s love and encourage people to seek Him.

Let’s extend Gizmo’s neck as far as it will go to see the last challenge. Slowly pull up Gizmo’s neck and have a child read the challenge aloud.

Trust in God alone. Isaiah 40:31

If time permits, look up and discuss the verse now since it is the last challenge. Isaiah 40:31:

Those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. 

Why does this verse sound familiar? It is today’s SuperVerse. This is a powerful verse to memorize. It can be a reminder to trust God in difficult times, in all kinds of situations. Everyone grows weary—even young people like you. Yet God never does, and He wants to infuse us with His strength so we can run and soar!

This verse is also a wonderful message to share with others to encourage them. For this challenge, continue to pray for a clearer understanding of Almighty God, high and above all! Then, look up and learn Isaiah 40:31. Continue to listen to the Holy Spirit and be ready to share God’s Word with people He shows you!

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