FAITH CHALLENGE
Living Faithfully in the Promised Land
Scripture: Deuteronomy 6: 4-9
Memory Verse: “
Concepts:
- God loves us and wants us to love God.
- God wants us to keep God’s word in our hearts.
- We are more likely to obey God’s word if we know it by heart.
Objectives:
- Students will review the background and meaning of the scripture text for this lesson.
- Students will create a plaque of a meaningful memory verse from Faith Challenge.
Gathering Time/Introduction: (Coach)
1. The Coach leads the opening routine: snack, fellowship, Prayer Wall activity, and Prayer Chain. Name tags are available.
2. The Coach reviews the timeline. Remind the class that during the summer in Faith Challenge we study some lesser-known parts of the Bible. The current unit goes back to early in the Old Testament and will come from the timeline section titled “God Chooses a People.”
3. Introduce the Guide who leads the workshop lesson.
Workshop Lesson Procedure: (Guide takes over from here)
Scripture/Application.
1. Distribute “What do you know about Deuteronomy?” (same as last week). If most students were present last week, a quick review of the correct answers is all that needs to be done. However, if many students were not present, see lesson 1 for detailed information to provide as the correct answers for these questions are provided. Spend as long or short a time as is appropriate for the students present in this review
2. Pass out Bibles and ask three groups of students to look up the following verses: Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Matthew 22: 34-40, and Mark 12:28-31. Ask someone to read each of these passages.
3. Ask “What do you think it says to us today that Jesus repeated the words from Deuteronomy?” It tells us that Jesus came to support God’s laws and to tell us they were (are) still important and valid. Jesus tells us we should still follow the Old Testament laws like this one from Deuteronomy.
4. Review the flip chart list from last week with the instructions given in Deuteronomy 6:4-9: love God with your heart, mind, and soul, memorize these words, teach them to your children, wear them on your wrists and foreheads, put them on your doorposts, talk about them often.
5. Remind the class that last week the lesson focused on the instruction to “teach God’s word to your children”. Today the focus will be on “memorize God’s laws”.
6. Ask “Why do you think God gave the instruction to memorize scripture?” Most answers will probably be acceptable, but suggest that if we know God’s word by heart, we will always have it with us and can recall it whenever it is needed. As a guide if you have had an experience with recalling memorized scripture at a time of need, this might be meaningful to share with the class at this time.
7. Hand out a list of all the memory verses from this year of Faith Challenge (attached). Ask students to read these and to mark the one that is most meaningful to them. What verse seems most important to them at this time of their lives? What verse “speaks” to them? After each student has chosen a meaningful verse explain they will spend the rest of the hour creating a plaque with this verse written on it.
Wrap-up:
1. End by asking the class to recite the shema with you.
2. Ask students to tidy up.
Closing (Coach):
1. The Coach conducts the closing prayer time.
2. Close/lock the door and turn off the lights.
Guide preparation in advance:
1. Set up the room with chairs before your first Sunday. Set up the room with three tables and stools at each table. Have supplies for one type of plaque set up on each table.
2. Make 20-25 copies of “What do you know about Deuteronomy?”
3. Make 20-25 copies of “Faith Challenge Memory Verses”.
Supply List
· Bibles
· Flipchart paper
· Supplies for each type of plaque
References
·
Writers’ Bible study materials titled “
· Web sites http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04761b.htm, http://www.jewfaq.org/signs.htm#Mezuzah
What do you know about Deuteronomy?
1. Deuteronomy is the
____________ book of the Old Testament.
Fourth
Fourteenth
Fifth
Twenty-third
2. Deuteronomy has stories about the Israelites:
Before they entered the
Promised Land
After the Exile
During the time of Joshua
After King David ruled
3. The
____________________ are found in Deuteronomy.
Ten Commandments
Golden Rule
Jesus’ words
Retelling of God’s laws
4. Deuteronomy
was written by:
Moses
Many different writers
Jesus
Paul
5. The words of
Deuteronomy are important to modern-day Jews.
True
False
6. In Deuteronomy, we are instructed to do all of the
following except:
Memorize God’s words
Wear God’s words on our forehead
Carry God’s word in our pocket
Teach God’s word to our children
7. In Deuteronomy we
are told to:
Love God
Memorize scripture
Both a. and b.
Neither a. or b.
8. “Love the LORD with all your heart, mind and soul” are words of:
Moses
Jesus
Neither Jesus nor Moses
Both Jesus and Moses
Faith Challenge Memory Verses
“Everyone who has faith will share in the blessings that were given to Abraham because of his faith.” Galatians 3:9
“We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him.” Romans 8:28
“Even when we were God’s enemies, he made peace with us, because his Son died for us.” Romans 5:10, CEV
“God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.” John 3:16, CEV
“
“Choose life! Be completely faithful to the LORD your God, love him, and do whatever he tells you.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20 CEV
"Don't
let anyone make fun of you, just because you are young. Set an example
for other followers by what you say and do, as well as by your love, faith, and
purity." 1Timothy
Psalm 136 (refrain) in Hebrew:
Translated this is: “For his steadfast love endures forever” (NRSV):
“All of you are God’s children because of your faith in
Christ Jesus. And when you were baptized, it was as though you put on
Christ in the same way you put on new clothes” Galatians
“What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are!” 1 John 3:1 (The Message)
“You obey the law of Christ when you offer each other a helping hand.” Galatians 6:2
“Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.” – Psalm 34:14 (NRSV)
God spoke all these words, saying,
I am the Lord your God.
1. You shall have no other Gods before me.
2. You shall not make for yourself an idol.
3. You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.
(PC[