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
Play a game of Red light, Green light. Allow each person in the room a chance to be the leader and direct the traffic.
It’s fun to be the leader but we sometimes need to follow good leaders. When we listen to instructions from a trusted person, they will help guide us to where we need to go. God sends each of us people who can help lead us in the right direction. Listening to leaders can help us stay safe and protect our community.
This week we are reading a story from the book of Ruth about Ruth and Naomi. Naomi was Ruth’s mother in law and they loved each other very much. Naomi wanted what was best for Ruth and tried to send her back home to her parents but Ruth wanted to follow Naomi. Ruth knew that Naomi was a good leader and would lead her in the right direction. God places the right people in our lives to help us when we need it. Let’s read the story of Ruth and Naomi to see how they both trusted God.
Materials: items from around your house
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 even though she had not been there before. She trusted Naomi and followed her to a new city. Ruth was willing to trust Naomi, Naomi’s God and her people. Let’s play a game of “Where am I going?” Listen to the clues I give and then tell me where you think I am going.
Materials: printed clues or device for viewing
Alternate
Ruth was gleaned in the field picking up grain that had fallen from the harvesters. She did this in order to have some food for herself and Naomi. Ruth worked very hard to gather as much grain as she could, but it was not a lot. When Boaz heard what Ruth was doing for her mother in law, he told the harvesters to leave more behind for her to pick up and take home. Let’s pretend we are gleaning in the fields picking up words of encouragement. Print and cut the sentence strips and distribute them around the room. Add blank strips of paper to extend the time if desired. As the child gleans the papers, read the words of encouragement aloud.
Materials: strips of encouragement
Independent activity:
Complete the following activity sheet
Materials: printed activity sheet, pen/pencil, crayons
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
Why did Naomi return to Bethlehem?
Where did Naomi want her daughters in laws to go?
Why did Ruth stay with Naomi even though Naomi insisted she return home?
Have you ever insisted on staying with someone because you didn’t want to leave them?
Who is someone you trust?
How do you know when you are following the wrong person?
How can you stop following someone who is not leading you the right way?
Practical Application at Home
God give us leaders that we can follow and trust to lead us in the direction God wants us to go. Sometimes we may find ourselves following the wrong person and doing the wrong things. It is important to be able to recognize if the person leading us, is following Jesus. Listen to the following scenarios and determine if they are a good leader to follow or not.
-Cheerfully helps others
-Forgives others without staying mad
-Lies to get away with things
-Keeps the best for themselves
-Speaks to others with kindness
-Has a humble spirit (doesn’t have to be first)
-Tells the truth even when it is hard
-Does whatever it takes to please others
-Stands by the truth even when its unpopular
-obeys and respects authority (those in charge)
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.