Scripture: 2 Kings 11-12, 2 Chronicles 23-24
Learning Objectives:
- Students will learn godly leaders can point people who had rejected God back to worshipping and obeying God.
- Students will learn it is important to heed the advice of godly people.
- Students will learn it is important to worship and obey God for our entire lives.
- Students will learn how to develop their own faith.
Guiding Question: How does developing a personal faith lead to worshipping and obeying God?
Materials: Tape, small object (found around the classroom)
Procedure: Review the story of Joash from the scriptures above. Remind students that Joash was godly as long as Jehoiada was alive. He didn’t make his faith his own though so when Jehoiada died, Joash gradually moved farther and farther from God. Explain to the students that it is important to have their own faith so that they can learn from God, worship God, and experience a personal relationship with God.
Set up an obstacle course in the room (making a start & finish line, placing objects on the floor in the way of the start and finish line). Have students break into pairs. One student will be blindfolded and the other will give them directions on how to get to the finish line without stepping on any of the objects. All partners will give directions to their partner at the same time.
Once all the students get across the finish line, bring the students back together and have them share how they felt with so many voices in the room while trying to hear one voice, not being able to see, etc. Explain that without a personal relationship with Jesus, it can be easy to get distracted by the worldly voices around us and we will not be able to see the best choices to make. Have the students to write down something they can do with their family every day for the next week that will help them grow their faith.
Additional Questions: How can learning from others faith journey’s help grow your personal faith?
Supplemental Activity: Invite teens or young adults who could come in and share their testimony/share how important their personal relationship with Jesus is. Have them explain how having a relationship with Jesus helps them listen to and obey God. Allow students to ask questions at the end.