Josiah Finds God's Word
2 Kings 22:1–23:25; 2 Chronicles 34:1-33 Old Testament PrincipleObedience
Josiah became king when he was only eight. Years later, workers fixing the temple found God's Word, which had been lost. When Josiah heard it, he was sorry for how his people had disobeyed. He read it to everyone, promised to obey it with all his heart and led the people back to God.
God speaks to us in His Word and hears a humble heart. When we hear what He says, we don't just listen; we obey with all our heart.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it (this lesson)
- RedemptionJesus fixes it
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.”
James 1:22 BSB
Christ Connection · Better than
Josiah was one of Judah's best kings, but even he couldn't change his people's hearts for good. God promised a new covenant that would write His law on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10). Jesus, the perfect King, obeyed God's Word completely, became our Passover Lamb and gives us new hearts to obey.
1 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 8:10; Luke 24:44
The Big Story · Fall
Sin made God's people forget His Word and chase idols. God kept speaking and calling them back, and one day He would send Jesus, the perfect King, to write His Word on our hearts.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 45-minute class plan and prep checklist
- Object lesson: Lost and found
- Bible Kitchen (taste the story): Passover flatbread
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Unroll the scroll
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
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Preschool (ages 3–5)
I listen to God and obey!
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Boy king, Color King Josiah
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
Josiah became king when he was eight. Years later, workers found God's Word in the temple. Josiah was sorry for how the people had disobeyed. He read God's Word to everyone and promised to obey it. We can be doers of God's Word too.
Start here
Ask, "What's the most important thing you've ever lost? Did you find it?" Let a few kids share. Say, "Today God's people lost the most important book in the world. Let's see what happened when they found it."
Bible story 6 min
Josiah became king when he was only eight years old. His grandpa had been a very bad king. But Josiah loved God.
When Josiah grew up, he told his helpers, "Fix God's temple!" The workers got busy.
The high priest was named Hilkiah. One day he shouted, "I found the Book of the Law! It's God's Word!" It had been lost for years.
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Act it out 10 min
You’ll need: A long paper scroll, A paper crown
- Choose Josiah, Hilkiah, Shaphan and Huldah. Everyone else is the people.
- Act out the skit. Hilkiah "finds" the scroll, and Josiah reads it to everyone.
- Switch so more kids get a turn.
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3rd – 4th grade
When God's lost Word was found in the temple, King Josiah didn't just listen. He humbled himself, read it to the whole nation, promised to obey it with all his heart and led the people to do what it said. God wants us to be doers of His Word, not hearers only.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Hearer or doer?, Unroll the scroll
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, at school, online and on screens
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
The Word of God that every king was supposed to read daily had been lost so long that its discovery shocked the nation. Josiah responded with humble repentance and wholehearted obedience, renewing the covenant and keeping the Passover as written. God's Word, which named Josiah centuries in advance, calls us to be doers, not hearers only.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 6 discussion questions
- 2 activities: The Word that came true, Found and followed
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: online and on screens, with friends, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons on Obedience
The same principle in other Bible stories.
Kings and ProphetsGod Calls Samuel1 Samuel 3:1-21When God's word was rare in Israel, God called the boy Samuel by name, and Samuel learned to say, "Speak, for Your servant is listening."Old TestamentObedience
Kings and ProphetsThe Walls of JerichoJoshua 6:1-27; Joshua 2:1-21God told Israel to march around Jericho for seven days, and when they trusted and obeyed, God made the walls fall down flat.Old TestamentObedience
Balaam’s DonkeyNumbers 22:1–24:19King Balak paid Balaam to curse God's people. On the way, Balaam's donkey saw the angel of the LORD and stopped, and God made her talk! Balaam could only say the words God gave him, so he blessed Israel three times. God's word never changes, so we listen and obey Him the first time.Old TestamentObedience
In the BeginningGod Calls MosesExodus 2:1-3:15; Exodus 4:1-17God saw His suffering people and came down to rescue them, and He called Moses to go, promising, "I will be with you."Old TestamentObedience
With Building BricksThe Wise and Foolish BuildersMatthew 7:24-29; Luke 6:46-49Jesus told about two builders. The wise one built on the rock and his house stood through the storm. Jesus says those who hear His words and do them are like the wise builder.New TestamentObedience
The Ten CommandmentsExodus 19:1-20:21; Exodus 31:18; Matthew 22:34-40God rescued His people from slavery in Egypt. Then at Mount Sinai He gave them Ten Commandments, showing them how to love Him and love each other. God's rescue came first, and His good commands show the rescued how to live.Old TestamentObedience