Scripture: Numbers 21
Learning Objectives:
- Students will learn that although God is very patient with us, eventually He can grow weary of our rebellion.
- Students will learn there are sometimes earthly consequences for our sins.
- Students will learn when Christians repent, God forgives our sins, but He may or may not remove any earthly consequences.
- Students will participate in a service project that provides basic needs.
Guiding Question: How can we provide medical supplies to people who have no access to them?
Materials: Needed items for your mission team
Procedure: Review the story of the bronze serpent with the students. Point out that had the people trusted God and not complained about what He was asking them to do, God probably would not have sent the snakes to punish them. Even when He did though, He gave them a way to be healed by looking to God (who supplied the bronze serpent cure) for the answer to their problems. Remind students there are consequences for our sins that can affect us and even other people. Even when we repent, we may still have to deal with negative consequences. God can still forgive us but we still may have consequences to learn the lesson from our sins.
Introduce the service project. Explain that there are some places that people can’t get or afford things like bandaids, antibiotic cream, vitamins, etc. Have the students collect needed items to give to mission team that needs them to give to people they serve. Work with your congregation’s mission teams or local missions in your area.
Additional Questions: How can students serve the homeless?
Supplemental Activity: Have students create kits with items such as bandaids, hand sanitizer, vitamins, etc. to supply those who are homeless. Donate to a local homeless shelter near you.