YEA Lesson Library
Chosen By God
About This Lesson
This lesson teaches that God chooses whomever He wills, not because they deserve it, but because of His mercy. We should likewise show mercy and compassion to others.
Scriptures
Deuteronomy 7:6-8
Isaiah 41:8-10
Matthew 8:1-4
Luke 5:12-15
John 15:16
John 15:18-19
Acts 22:14-15
1 Corinthians 1:26-29
Ephesians 1:3-6
1 Peter 2:9
Words to Know
QUARANTINE - a strict isolation imposed to prevent the spreading of a disease
LEPROSY - a chronic infectious disease marked by skin sores and a loss of sensation
POLIO - an infectious disease of the spinal cord and brain stem marked by skeletal deformity and muscular atrophy
The Lesson
Mrs. Perkins, the seventh grade teacher, thought it was time for her class to learn to dance. She instructed all of the girls to go to one side of the room and the boys to line up against the wall on the other side. “Randy,” Mrs. Perkins said, “you’re first in line and I want you to pick one of the girls to be your partner.”All of the boys and even the girls were a little embarrassed with this. The scary thought in each girls mind was “what if no one picks me?”
As the music started, one at a time the boys began to pick their partner. Doubtless, the prettiest, most athletic and most popular girls were chosen first. Every girl was finally picked except Karen. She was left embarrassed sitting at her desk. The bell rang and all of the students headed straight for the door. Karen was relieved that this ordeal was finally over.
As the students rushed out of the classroom, Mrs. Perkins grabbed Nate by the shoulder and said, “I want to see you for a few minutes.” She explained to Nate that she wanted him to choose Karen as his dance partner tomorrow. She told him that it was his Christian duty. He remembered what he had learned in his Sabbath School classes. And he knew this would be the Christian thing to do. But Nate still left the classroom wondering why this was his fate. He had already imagined himself dancing with Terri. Just holding her hand would be a real thrill. “Why me? The guys sure won’t think I look cool dancing with an overweight girl who is handicapped,” Nate thought as he walked down the hall to his next class.
Karen was a little heavy, but that wasn’t all. She’d had polio when she was a little girl, and it left her with a noticeable limp and a withered arm. None of the boys really wanted to dance with a girl who limped and was overweight.
The next dance class period arrived much sooner than Nate wanted. After three couples were on the floor dancing, Mrs. Perkins said, “Nate, it’s your turn to choose your partner.” Nate’s face got as red as a beet. He swallowed twice and in a voice that could hardly be heard, he said, “I choose Karen.” Karen wasn’t even looking his way. She was sure no one would choose her and she’d be left looking like a wallflower while the other students danced.
When Nate called her name, Karen quickly turned her beaming face towards him. Her smile was so pure, so genuine and so delightful as she walked to the front of the room to take Nate’s arm. Bad leg and all, her beaming smile made her look like a princess, Nate thought. As they began to dance, Nate was surprised to learn that Karen was a very good dancer. She had only needed to be given a chance to dance.
When Jesus was on this earth, He chose people to heal and people to save. A large crowd of people followed Jesus down the hillside. A very unattractive man came towards Him. This man had a terrible disease called leprosy. His skin had open sores. This disease was highly contagious. Lepers were quarantined and couldn’t go near other people. It was the law. So this man must have felt terribly alone and hopeless. But he came right up to Jesus and knelt before Him. “‘Sir,’ the leper pleaded, ‘if you want to, you can heal me.’ Jesus touched the man. ‘I want to,’ he said. ‘Be healed.’ And instantly the leprosy disappeared” (Matthew 8:1-3 TLB).
Then Jesus told him that he was not to talk with anyone. He instructed him to go to the priest and be examined, and give the offering required in the law for lepers who are healed. This was a public testimony of his healing.
Jesus showed that He cared for this very sick man and chose to heal him. He chose someone who was not good looking. His compassion is not limited to sick people in the Bible. He reaches out every day and chooses people to heal and to save. He chooses sinners who don’t look very good. We are all sinners. When we compare ourselves to Jesus Christ, we don’t look good at all. Jesus never sinned, yet we come to Him loaded down with sin.
The good news is that we have been chosen by God. For some reason, God has looked out in this world and has seen a lot of people, but you are someone special in God’s eyes. He wants you in His Kingdom. He has chosen you. And you can choose to have Jesus heal you of your sins. You have the opportunity to repent of your sins and to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior.
Karen’s beaming face made her look like a princess. Nate was glad that he did the right thing and chose Karen. Your Heavenly Father is glad that He has chosen you. Will you choose to follow Him?
Student Prayer
Thank you, Great Father, for choosing to heal the leper. It must have been very hard for him to be quarantined because of his disease. He didn’t look very good to other people with all those open sores. I’m loaded with sin, and I must not look very good to you. In your mercy you have chosen me. Help me to always believe and follow you.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday - 1 Corinthians 1:26-29
Monday - Ephesians 1:3-6
Tuesday - 1 Peter 2:9
Wednesday - Deuteronomy 7:6-8
Thursday - Isaiah 41:8-10
Friday - John 15:18-19
Saturday - Acts 22:14-15
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Explain that they are chosen of God to be apart of His family.
2. Discuss the effects of hanging labels on others.
3. Discuss how none of us deserves God’s mercy.
4. State that God expects us to show love and mercy to the handicapped and less fortune.
Topics & Themes
Bearing Fruit
Chosen
Family
Jesus, His Ministry
Jesus, His Miracles
Healing
Jesus, Savior
Judging Others
Loving Others
Mercy
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA students and teacher’s books, attendance and memory verse charts, copies of skit for next week’s lesson
How to Teach This Lesson
Begin the class discussion by giving this background. Leprosy was one of the worst diseases a person could have when Jesus walked this earth. To be a leper was assumed to be cursed by God. This was a label no one wanted. Then there was a polio epidemic in this country in the 1940s. The disease left a number of people crippled. None of us wants to be labeled as a cripple. One of the most dreaded diseases today is AIDS. HIV positive is not a label anyone wants. Listen to this and see if you know who said it:
“Many people have called me a hero because I’ve chosen to dedicate the rest of my life to educating people, especially teenagers, about HIV and how to protect themselves from it. But let me be clear about one thing: I’m not a hero because I got HIV. And I didn’t get HIV because I was a ‘bad’ person or a ‘dirty’ one or someone who ‘deserved’ it for whatever reason. . .”
Ask: Who knows who said this? “Magic” Johnson. Did God choose “Magic” Johnson to be HIV positive? No. Why is “Magic” Johnson HIV positive? Because he chose to have sex with someone who was HIV. But should we hang labels on people like the Leper, Karen who had polio and left handicapped, or “Magic” Johnson? Why or why not?
Is it hanging a label on someone to say “they were chosen by God to be HIV positive, or it was a curse from God the reason a person was a leper?” Why or why not?
Give each student a 3 x 5 card. Tell them to write down as many labels as they can think of to describe themselves. Here is an example: African American, middle-class, teenage Christian, left-handed, non-smoker, born in Chicago to Catholic parents.
After the students have finished, shuffle the cards. Tell them that you will give them ten seconds to identify the person as you read the card. After each student has been identified, discuss these questions:
How did you feel about being reduced to a label? Have you been guilty of doing this to other people? How. Why do you think people hang labels on other people? Do you think it is right to label a church? Why or why not?
Do you think it is right to say some people are chosen by God and others are not? Why or why not?
Ask one of the students to read Psalm 103:1-10. Ask: Does God show His mercy to only the people who deserve it? Karen didn’t deserve to have polio. But how did you feel when Nate chose her to be his dance partner?
How do you feel about God choosing you to be in His Kingdom? Should you feel better than other people because God has chosen you?
Ask one of the students to read1 Corinthians 1:26-29. Are you glad that God has chosen you? Why or why not? What are you going to do about it?
Teacher-Directed Activity
The activity for this lesson is included under “How to Teach This Lesson.”
REACH Activity
Memory Verse Spotlight
When you read the memory verse did you understand the meaning of the words “appoint,” “bear,” and “fruit”? You probably know their meanings in other contexts or ways. Find the biblical meaning of each of these three words. In your Bible notebook rewrite the memory verse substituting the meaning of each word: appoint, bear, and fruit.
Where in the World?
Jesus healed many people of different diseases and handicaps. Using your Bible and Bible tools find examples of Jesus’ healings and the location of each. Plot the locations on a map. Share the map and the healings with your family or class.
They Did What Back Then?
Leviticus 13 explains details and procedures (also called regulations) about the handling of infectious skin diseases. What were these procedures that the LORD gave to Moses and Aaron to pass on to the Israelites? In your Bible notebook write a summary of Leviticus 13. Share your summary with family or class.
Making It Mine
The first Daily Devotional Scripture for you to read is 1 Corinthians 1:26-29. As you read these verses, how do they make you feel? Do you feel insulted? Or do you feel blessed to be among those people chosen to bring glory and honor to the Great God of the Universe?
If your heart is devoted to serving God, then you know He is your source of strength and wisdom (Philippians 4:13; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10). But if you think you can accomplish anything worthwhile without God, perhaps you should read John 15:5.
It hurts to be left out, to be the last chosen, to be ridiculed for your belief in God, for your outward appearance, or for your obedience to God. Write out your feelings to God. Tell Him exactly what you’re feeling: the pain, the rejection, the longing to belong. End your letter (prayer) by recounting His many blessings and promises to you.
You can take comfort in knowing that Jesus understands what you’re going through (Hebrews 4:14-16).
Worldview Collision
“He was obviously chosen by the gods.” Somehow this false religious worldview has insidiously become part of our thoughts today. Ancient Greeks or Romans believed a handsome, strong man was chosen because of his appearance. That was their religion.
But in reality, a true biblical worldview does not look at the outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7). This does not mean that if you are pretty or handsome you can’t serve God. But the outside is not what’s important. What is in your heart is far more important. From your heart come the actions which demonstrate your true beauty (1 Peter 3:3-4).
A nice-looking young man can be a bully. A beautiful girl can have a vicious tongue. A young man in a wheelchair can show the compassion to prevent the suicide of his friend. A girl with Down’s Syndrome can freely show love, encouraging others in pain. In these cases, the actions show the true beauty of the person.
Think about it. Who is beautiful to you? Are you beautiful to others?
Song
“Love Round” is on page 15 of The Group Songbook.
Closing Prayer
Ask the students to join hands and form a circle. Get a volunteer to lead in prayer. Ask that person to thank God for His mercy that we do not deserve and for choosing us to be a part of His family. Ask that He help us not to hang labels on others and show the same mercy and love to others that He has shown to us.
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