BRAVERY
BIBLE STORY
Two players, each pick an animal out of the bowl. These two animals are going to go head to head. Each player declares the natural defense or predator skill they will use that is accurate for the animal, and then decide if they will be bold and fight, or if they will leave.
Being bold as animals is different that being bold humans. Animals need to decide if they are going to fight or take flight. We also have to make those same decisions quite often. Sometimes the situation might require us to be bold and take action, and other times it might require us to walk away. Being bold doesn’t mean we are looking for a way to stand out and be the loudest, but it means that we have to do the right thing even when it’s hard. It might mean standing up for someone who can’t stand up for themselves, even if we begin to get picked on. This week as we continue our story of Ruth and Naomi, Ruth has to be bold. She has to be direct in order to help save her and her family. It’s hard to say the things we need to se sometimes, but God can give us the right kind of boldness to face the necessary challenge. Let’s continue on in our story of Ruth and Naomi to see what type of boldness Ruth displayed.
Read or listen to Ruth 3
What was Naomi trying to find for Ruth? (A home for Ruth)
Where did Naomi tell Ruth to wait for Boaz? (On the threshing floor
What was Ruth to say to Boaz when he saw her waiting? (I am your servant, spread the corner of your garment over me since you are a guardian redeemer of your family.
What did Boaz want to do before saying yes to Ruth?( to check with the family member who is closer guardian redeemer)
What did Boaz add to Ruth’s shawl? (Six measures of barely)
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
Activity
Pick two cards. One card is the action of how you need to be brave (trapping a mouse in the kitchen) inn the other pile are the cards that say how you show your bravery (run under the couch) Then decide if that’s the best way to be brave in that situation. There were a lot of chances to be brave, but did your cards always match? Sometimes that might be how we feel, that we can’t be brave and we just want to hide or do something else completely. But God gives us the boldness we need to face the challenges that are important.
Materials: Activity cards printed and cut, 2 bowls or small containers
Alternate
There are a lot of characters in the Bible who have shown boldness. God gives us boldness just as he gave these characters in the Bible boldness. Listen as I read these clues and guess who is being described. Tell how God helped them be bold.
David with the giant
Esther going before the king
Joshua and the battle of Jericho
Materials:
Independent activity:
Create finger puppets for each character of this week’s story. Wrap a strip of paper around your finger and tape the paper. Slide off the small paper tube and draw or place a smiley sticker on the top. Then decorate the bottom half with crayons to create clothes. Use finger puppets to retell the story of Naomi, Ruth and Boaz. Use this link as an example of how to make finger puppets
Materials: Craft paper, crayons, markers, smiley stickers (optitonal)
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
Ruth’s basket. Cut a white paper plate in half. Paint or color the paper plate brown to make it look like a basket. Glue the two half paper plates together to create the basket. Cut out sheaves of wheat from yellow construction paper and decorate with brown crayon or marker adding details. Glue the wheat on the inside pocket of the paper plate basket.
Materials: handprint, construction paper, scissors
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
Read or listen to Psalm 42. Are there any phrases that stand out to you from this chapter? Several times during this Psalm, the Psalmist states “My soul is downcast” but often answers his own statement by saying he will praise God, He will put His hope in God, He remembers God’s protection in the past. Although the Psalmist seems to be going through difficult struggles, He still longs for God to be his hope, his love and his Savior. Ruth and Naomi put their trust in God even during a very difficult time in their lives. They trusted God would deliver and provide for them. God gave them boldness to act and they obeyed in faith.
What do you need boldness to do?
What does it mean to live boldly?
What is the difference in living boldly for God and living boldly for oneself?
How did Ruth’s boldness affect the people around her?
In what ways can God use your boldness to affect the people around you?
What qualities did Boaz see in Ruth that made him notice her?
Practical Application at Home
Living boldly is not about living wild and selfishly, but living in a way that displays God’s love for you and others. Living boldly may be standing up for someone who can’t stand up for themselves. It might mean not laughing at jokes that are said at someone else’s expense or feelings. Living boldly might be reaching out to someone who is hurting. It might be sacrificing your own comfort to give to someone in need. It might include listening to God’s voice to say something to someone that doesn’t make sense to you, but it’s what they needed to hear at that moment. We can live boldly by listening to God’s urging to do things that are out of our norm in border to serve the people around us.
This week, ask for God to show you ways to serve others and to body do the things he is urging you to do, even when it seems strange or uncomfortable. Pray for courage to follow through and watch how God’s timing is perfect!
Additional Resources
Outings to Reinforce Lesson
Enjoy the cool weather and take a nature walk. Observe the things God created and how they work together in His plan. What part do each of us play in God’s plan for us?