Example
WELCOME TO WEEK 4
Do you have leaders at school, home and at church? Do you really have to follow their lead? Sometimes it is hard to be a follower because we often want to be the person leading others the way we want. We are called to be leaders at times, but God has also placed people in our lives to lead us! We can learn to follow the people God has given us and then lead others as well. This week we will see what makes a good leader and what it means to follow.
BIBLE STORY
We have people all around us who are our leaders. They help protect and keep us safe. Listen to the “Who am I?” Statements and decide what leader is being described.
-I like to read to people, I keep my location nice a quiet, I help others discover new places without ever leaving their seats. (Librarian)
-I direct people where to go, I keep kids safe when coming or leaving school, I help prevent serious accidents (crossing guard)
Read or listen to the Bible verse for this week:Ruth 1:1-18
Why had Naomi, her husband and sons left Bethlehem many years before? (There was a famine in Jerusalem)
What happened to Naomi while living in Moab? (He sons married, then her husband and 2 sons had died)
Why had she decided to return to the land of Judah? (She had heard how God was taking care of His people’s needs and providing them food.)
As they traveled along the road to Judah, what did Naomi tell her daughter-in-laws to do?(return to their fathers’ homes so they could remarry)
What did Orpah tell Naomi in response? (She kissed
What did Ruth tell Naomi? (Not to convince her to leave any more. Where Naomi went, Ruth would go as well)
When Naomi realized how persistent Ruth was, what did she do? (Stop asking her to return home.)
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
Ruth did not know what to expect in this new country yet she followed Naomi because she trusted her. Naomi showed herself as trustworthy and a follower of the God of Heaven. She followed God and Ruth wanted to follow as well. We can lead others to God through our walk of faith and hope in Him.
Activity
Ruth traveled with Naomi to a place she had never been to before. She was leaving her home to live in a city far from home. She may not have known a lot about Bethlehem but she knew and trusted Naomi was leading her the right way. Ruth believed if she stayed with Naomi she would taken care of by Naomi’s God and people. Imagine if you traveled to a foreign place far from home, there would be lots of new things to discover. Listen as I read these facts about different places, then guess what city or country is being described.
Materials: printed or viewed activity sheet
Alternate
When we follow instructions from a leader we have to listen careful so that we do not skip any steps but follow all of the instructions. Follow along with this video to follow the step by step instructions of how to draw a panda. Gather your materials such as white sheet of paper, crayons, markers, coloring pencils and a device to watch the video. Pause the video as needed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs9YUUhBQGg
Materials: Device for viewing video, white sheet of paper, crayons, markers, coloring pencils
Independent activity:
Create a travel brochure of a place you would like to move to if you could. Fold a sheet of white construction paper into thirds lengthwise. On the front panel write the name of the place you would go and draw a picture of it. On the subsequent pages, write and draw things to do, places to visit, foods to eat, and facts you know about the place.
Materials: White sheet of construction paper, crayons, markers, coloring pencils, pencil or pen
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
Create a gleaning basket for Ruth to gather wheat. Use a paper plate, crayons, markers and construction paper, to create a basket full of wheat.
Materials: paper plate, crayons or markers, construction paper
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
Read or listen to Lamentations 3:22-33
This scripture describes God’s faithfulness. Tell which statement or description of God’s faithfulness means the most to you.God was faithful to Ruth and Naomi just as He is still faithful to us. Ruth and Naomi still had troubles and difficulties but God was with them through it all. This scripture encourages us to keep our hope in God even when times are difficult because God will bring deliverance. Great leaders share their experiences and struggles with others as well as the victories God has given them as a testimony. God sends us leaders who have had similar experiences to help us grow and continue in our faith. When we share our struggles and victories with others we can then help lead others to continue to grow closer to God and see His faithfulness as well.
How did Ruth and Naomi keep their hope in God?
How did Ruth show she had faith and trusted God?
Name several difficulties Ruth and Naomi faced.
Do you think Naomi ever questioned or doubted why she was going through such a difficult time?
How did Naomi show she trusted God even in the midst of her suffering?
How can we live with hope and faith even when times are difficult?
Who are the leaders in your life that share their struggles and victories with you?
Who do you lead closer to God from your shared testimony?
Practical Application at Home
We all face struggles and difficulties throughout life. Some struggles are small such as not being prepared enough for an upcoming test or keeping your room tidy. Some struggles are big such as moving to a new school or losing a loved one. God sees all of our struggles and wants to show us compassion and love. When we remember our struggles from the past and how God has led us through them, it helps us remember He is faithful in the middle of our struggles. It’s important to reflect on God’s past faithfulness so we can remember that He is always faithful. Although things may not turn out the way we want or perhaps we have strayed from what we should have done, God does not change and His mercies are new every day. That means every day He gives us grace regardless of past mistakes or failures.
In a journal or sheet of notebook paper, divide the paper in half lengthways. Write about a recent struggle, or several past struggles in the left hand column, giving as much details as desired. In the right hand column directly across from the struggle, write the solution God provided. Write as much detail as desired including the time in which the answer or solution was received. Save this journal entry or sheet of paper for future reading.
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.