The Right Thing
WELCOME TO WEEK 3
Is it easy to always do the right thing? Making good choices can be hard to do on our own, but we can follow God’s law to help us choose the right things to do. This week we will see how God’s law is His love towards us that helps us make good choices.
BIBLE STORY
We are choosing our own adventure and today our adventure takes us to a tropical island with lots of sand and blue ocean. Let’s go for a tour of our new adventure and see where it will take us. Have the children act out each scenario you give them after they decide which one they will choose.
-Let’s take a tour of our island… will you go for a walk or ride in a car?
-We are going to stop at the beach…will you take a picnic or hunt for my food?
-After lunch is finished I’m ready to explore some more…will you leave your trash or find a place to throw it away?
-You make quick friends with a group of kids…will you join them as they prank others, or tell them you’ll see them later?
-As you are walking down the beach you find a wallet…will you turn in the wallet to the police or take out the money and put the wallet back?
-You forgot to bring your swimsuit for the beach…will you find a store that sells cheap ones because you don’t have a lot of money or steal one from a local store because they have more than they need.
-While playing on the beach you find a hurt animal… will you find a way to safely help the animal or poke a stick at it so you can have fun watching it suffer since it can’t do anything to hurt you.
-As you walk through the local town you see an elderly woman trying to load heavy things in her car… will you stop to help her load her car or quickly sneak by so she won’t see or try to stop you.
-As you are relaxing on the beach you see someone get hurt, you have your first aid kit with you…will you pretend you are sleeping so you don’t have to help or find your first aid kit and give them what they need to bandage their wound.
Some choices we make are helpful to others and some are harmful to ourselves. We can choose to do good and therefore help the people around us. The bible describes someone who loves God’s law and follows it as a tree that is planted by water. When a tree is planted by the water it has deep roots and can not be moved or easily blown over by the wind. When we choose to love God’s law and follow it, we can be like the tree; strong, rooted and not easily swayed by what others think. Let’s see what else the Bible says about those who follow His laws.
Read or listen to Psalm 1
Who is blessed? (Those who do not walk in step with the wicked)
Whose company should we avoid? (The way of sinners and the company of mockers)
What should we delight in? (The law of the Lord)
What should we meditate on day and night? (On the Lord’s law)
What does the tree by the water not do? (The leaves do not wither)
What does the tree do instead of wither? (Yields it’s fruit and prospers)
What are the wicked like? (Like chaff that the wind blows away)
What will the wicked not be able to do? (Stand in the judgement nor be in the assembly of the righteous)
Who does the Lord watch over? (The righteous)
What does the way of the wicked lead to? (Destruction)
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
Activity
God’s laws are his instructions we find in the Bible. These instructions keep us safe and tell us how to live and treat one another. Play this version of Outburst thinking of biblical instructions for each category. See if you or your team can give all of the answers listed before the timer goes off. Set a timer for 2 minutes, or time appropriate for the age of participants. As they call out answers check off the answers given. The goal is to guess all of the answers before the timer is off.
Materials: printed cards, pencil
Alternate
Choose one of the following ‘good’ things to do today or choose a new thing each day. Print and cut the following sheet into strips and add it to a bowl or widemouthed jar. Pick out a strip of paper and do the activity listed. We can choose to do good when we follow God. We are not choosing out of obligation but because we love God and want to follow His laws. God’s laws are His love to us so we can live happy and healthy lives.
Materials: printed sheet cut into strips, large mouth bowl/jar
Independent activity:
Sometimes our good deeds are done where others can see what we are doing, but then there are times our actions are not seen by others. What motivates us to do good things should not need an audience, other than God. We know that He sees what we are doing, but we shouldn’t do good things for the adoration of other people. Create a list of things you can do in secret when no one else is watching, not for credit, but just to be kind. Like a secret job that only you and God are in on. Make a list of things you can do for the people you know that are kind and can be done without others seeing your good deed. Name your secret identity and leave a note with your deed if possible. That says your secret name and a ‘Jesus Loves you’ message.
Materials:
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, scissors
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
James 3:13-18 describes two different types of wisdom. One type of wisdom is filled with envy and ambition. This wisdom is a result of ones own ambition or seeking to gain glory for yourself. The bible says this wisdom is not from God but is unspiritual and demonic. The other type of wisdom is done in humility, full of good fruit and and mercy. Our good actions should always be done in humility and with the right reason. Not to have yourself glorified but to show God’s love.
How are our good deeds a demonstration of God’s love?
Is doing the right thing always thee easiest choice?
What are some choices you’ve made this week that were good and humble choices?
What are some choices you made this week that were self-seeking?
What are some choices that are helpful to others?
How do a plants roots effect its leaves and stem?
Practical Application at Home
God considered David a man after his own heart, but David was not perfect. He made mistakes, some that were pretty big! Yet, God considered David to have a heart that wanted to follow Him. God knows our motives when we choose to do good things. We can choose to do good when no one is watching and our motives are simply to help others. Then there are times we do good so that we are recognized by others or receive some sort of reward. Those motives are not pure but for our own satisfaction.
David had Nathan the prophet who helped him see his wrong doing so that he could confess and ask God for forgiveness. We could use friends or mentors to help keep us accountable, or help us do the right things. These friends also want to choose follow God’s laws. Think of a friend who wants to choose to do what is right and decide together to help each other make the right choices.
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?