Scripture: Numbers 20
Learning Objectives:
- Students will learn that God wants us to trust Him and not ourselves to have the answers to life.
- Students will learn that God expects us to thank and honor Him as the source of everything good.
- Students will learn that God wants us to be humble and appreciate what God and others do for us and not take credit for it ourselves.
- Students will participate in an activity to encourage them to show appreciation to someone for something for which they may have taken the credit.
Guiding Question: When we can do something well or that is special, how does God want us to behave?
Materials: note cards, markers, decorative craft items, (optional: gift bags, small goodies as thank you tokens)
Procedure: Review the story of the Water form the Rock. Point out that God was angry with Moses because of the attitudes Moses had when he disobeyed God. Moses wanted to take the credit for what God was doing. He didn’t trust God enough to honor Him and give all of the credit to God for the water that came from the rock. Ask the students to share times when people may be tempted to take credit for things which really should be given to God. (Note: You may need to give them a few examples to get them started. Help them eventually understand that every good thing is from God. They need to remember to thank and honor God for every good thing in their lives).
Once students appear to comprehend the concept of honoring God, extend the idea a bit more. Ask the students to think of people who have helped them accomplish something. How often have they thanked and honored those people and how often do they take credit for those results. (Note: For younger students help them focus more on thanking anyone who helps us learn something rather than taking personal credit for any positive results. Upper elementary students need to begin exploring the idea of giving others credit and sharing credit for success). Have the students think of one or two people that they have not thanked properly for their help. Encourage students to write notes and create something to show appreciation to these people. End class with a chain prayer. Encourage students to thank God for something for which they have not thanked God for previously.
Additional Questions:
- Who are some people in your congregation who go unappreciated for what they do to serve God?
Supplemental Activity: Have the students research and find people in your congregation who quietly serve God and rarely if ever, thanked. Have your class find ways to thank these humble servants.