WELCOME TO WEEK 3

Being bold and courageous is not just for superheroes or for the knights who fight the dragon, but for ordinary people like Ruth and you! This week we will see how God gave Ruth boldness to save her family and give her a future.

Ruth 3

BIBLE STORY

Let’s go on a beer hunt. Say this rhyme with your child as you pretend to do the actions listed in the verses.  As you go through the motions, add in a comment about being bold to go through it. Change the verses to add things they need to do to show boldness such as picking up a snake, walking through a dark cave, stepping over a tarantula, walking through a hail storm. Click here to use this reference on how to sing the song:

Let’s go on a bear hunt! We will say these words together and do the actions as we go on this adventure together!

We’re going on a bear hunt,

I’ve got my binoculars,

I’m not scared

Look at the tall wavy grass

We can’t go over it

Can’t go under it

We’re going to have to be brave and go through it. (Swish hands back and forth to push aside grass)

Change verses:

look at the tall wavy grass (swish hands to move grass)

Walk through thick sticky mud

Splash through fast flowing river

Walk through a dark cave

Step over a big hairy tarantula

Walking through a windy thunderstorm

That was fun! There were times we needed to be bold to do things that may have seemed a little scary or a little hard! Even though this was just a game, we know there are times we do have to be bold. Maybe we see someone being teased on the playground, we can be bold and stand up for them. We may hear someone saying unkind words about another person when they are not there and we can be bold to say we can’t be a part of that conversation. God gives us boldness to say or do what is write even when it is hard! THis week we will continue our story of Ruth and Naomi and see how Ruth needed to be bold inn order to save her family. God gave her boldness to do something big just as he gives us boldness to do the right thing.

Read or listen to the scripture 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 up two cards. One card is the action of how you need to be brave (trapping a mouse in the kitchen) in 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

Collect grains of wheat. Read the “I can” statements on each wheat as you pick it up. Gather all of the wheat in a small basket then discuss the ways your child can be brave.

Materials: Printed sheaves of wheat, small basket

Independent activity:

Create a play about Ruth, Naomi and Boaz. Give each person a character and then practice retelling the story. Use costumes if desired.

Materials: Optional: bible costumes for story characters

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: paper plate, scissors, brown paint or marker, yellow construction paper

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?