WELCOME TO WEEK 1

Have you ever been the leader at school, church or at home? Maybe you have been the leader of the band or the leader of a parade. It is fun to lead others, but we have to pay attention to where we are leading them. When we are following Jesus, we can lead others to follow Him as well. This week we will see examples in the Bible of how others were leaders for God.

Judges 4; Psalm 130

BIBLE STORY

Many animals live in groups or herds, but they usually have some type of leader. Not every animal can be the leader of a group, so one leader is usually chosen. Animals have their own way of determine who will be the alpha, the one in charge. Tell how you think each animal group determines who will be their leader. Then read the short description to determine if you were right.

-Gray wolves

-bear

-elephants

-lions

-Bison

-ants

Gray Wolves: live in packs of 5-15. Packs are lead by an alpha male and female. They raise young, initiate hunts and eat the best food. There is also a omega wolf, which is considered the last one in the hierarchy which every one else is ahead of. 

Bears: male bears usually roam alone and do not stay with a group. Female bears lead their young to food, safety, and water. They keep their cubs safe from being eaten by the male bear.

Elephants: male elephants leave the herd they were born into and herds with other young male elephants. They have shoving matches to establish a rank. Females stay with the herd they were born into and help each other raise their young. The leader of the female herd is older with more experience who can lead the herd to food, water and defend the frontline.

Lions: Like the elephants, young male lions leave the pride they were born into in a small group and search for another pride. When they find one, they fight the few male lions to defeat them and take over their pride.

Bison: male bulls live iwht their mothers in a female herd for a few years before they live alone or in a male herd. Bulls test each other with head-ramming fights to determine their dominance. 

Ants: Ants have a queen but she is not really in charge. Her job is to continuously lay eggs. Other worker ants all have a job they do which may be tending the eggs, feeding the larvae, finding food, or taking care of the queen. Everyone does their job without a designated leader. 

We can all be leaders and guide other people in the right direction. This month we are learning about how to be a leader for God. God wants us to share his good news about Jesus with others and to help lead them to God. We can do this by listening to God and then sharing what we know. This week we will read a story about Deborah, who was a judge in Israel. She listened to God and shared His words with others and she also helped people when they argued. She was a good judge because she listens to what God told her and then shared that with others. In this story Deborah hears from God and then tells the leader of the Israel army what he should do.

Read or listen to the Bible verse for this week: Judges 4

Who was oppressing the Israelites for 20 years? (Jabin, king of Canaan)

Who did the Israelites go to for judgment in Israel at that time? (Deborah the prophetess)

Who did Deborah ask to come see her? (Barak)

What message did Deborah give Barak from God? (Take 10,000 men to mount Tabor and defeat Sisera, commander of the army)
What did Barak ask Deborah to do? (Go with him or he would not go)

What did Deborah say would happen since she would go? (The Lord would deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman and she would get the honor)

When the Lord confused Sisera and his army, where did Sisera flee? (To the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber)

When Barak arrived to find Sisera, what happened? (Sisera had already died by the hand of Jael)

BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY

Being a good leader is more than just telling others what to do and being the boss. A leader for God, listens first to what God wants to tell them, and then they share that with others. We can lead others to God by listening to what God has to say first. 

Activity

God created each one of us unique and we can all be leaders for God. God has given you special talents, skills, and abilities that can all be used to help you be the leader God wants you to be. Draw a picture of yourself on a blank sheet of paper. Around the self portrait, write, draw or use cut-out pictures to show things that make you, you! You can add things you are good at, enjoy doing, where you live or things you hope to be when you grow up. Your picture should reflect who you are and who you would like to be. God can use the abilities and likes we already have to lead others to Him.

Materials: construction paper, pencil, colored pencils or crayons, magazines for cutting (optional)

Alternate

Listen to the following scenarios and be the judge of what you think should happen.

Materials: printed scenarios or device for viewing

Independent activity:

What we do effects others in big and small ways. When we lead others in the right direction it makes a positive impact on their lives. When we lead others in the wrong direction, we have a negative impact on their lives. God calls us to be leaders that point others in the right direction, towards Him! Create a domino train and see how one motion effects all the other dominoes. Place the dominoes, or rectangular bricks, vertically with a small space between each one. Create a path or train of dominoes, then gently push the first domino towards the others and watch the impact to the other dominoes. Be creative and design several tracks or paths. Watch this video for inspiration.

Materials: dominoes or other small bricks

ARTS & CAFTS

CRAFT 1

Create a palm tree. Using a toilet paper roll for the trunk and construction paper for leaves. Use green construction paper to cut leaf shapes, then glue them onto the truck of the tree. Decorate the tree and leaves with thin markers to create lines for the leaves and bark. Use this craft tree to retell the story of Deborah.

Materials: toilet paper roll, green construction paper, glue, scissors

Craft 2

Coloring page

Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons

FOLLOW-UP

Read Psalm 130

In this chapter, the Psalmist is writing about God’s redemption. Just as in the story of Deborah, God saved his people and helped them fight in a battle against their enemy, the Psalmist is asking God to forgive their sins and redeem them. God wants to use each of us, even though we are sinful and do bad things, to lead others to Him. 

Is it easy or hard to be a leader?

Where can you be a leader?

Who could you lead to God?

How can your actions lead others to God or push them further away?

What has God called you to lead in?

Practical Application at Home

God has called each of us to be leaders. Deborah was a female judge which was uncommon in her day. God called her to be a judge and others came to her for judgement because they knew she God was leading her. She listened to God and followed His instructions and in doing this she helped others. 

Where has God called you to be a leader? Is there a way you can help lead your fellow classmates at school or at church? Can you be a leader at home with your siblings, being an example of how to obey your parents? Can you be a leader on your team, including everyone and encouraging others?

Complete the following activity sheet. In each blank, write or draw an example of how you can be a leader in that place.

Materials: printed activity sheet 

Additional Resources

Outings to Reinforce Lesson

Donate to a local food shelter or toy drive this Christmas season. As a family, volunteer together or pick out toys you think another child your age might enjoy.