YEA Lesson Library
God Equips the Called
About This Lesson
Using Joshua as the primary example, this lesson teaches that if God has given you a job to do, He will also give you the tools and abilities to accomplish the task.
Scriptures
Exodus 4:10-15
Joshua 1:1-9
Judges 6:14-17
1 Kings 3:4-12
Proverbs 3:5-6
Ephesians 1:3
Hebrews 13:5
Words to Know
EQUIP - to give the necessary tools to do the job
FORSAKE - to desert or leave alone as no longer loved and cherished
COURAGEOUS - to have mental strength to do the job
REALMS - kingdoms, domains, places
The Lesson
'Mark" his mom called up the stairs, “I need you to watch your little brother and sister while I run next door." Mark gathered up his homework and carried it to the family room where David and Britney were watching cartoons. "I'll be gone 15 minutes. I need to help Mrs. Davis." Mrs. Davis was their elderly neighbor who needed help from time to time with little projects. Mark didn't think watching his siblings for just a couple of minutes would be any big deal.
But a couple of minutes was all it took for Britney to drop her glass of milk and for David to fall on the broken glass and get cut. Britney was crying. David was crying. Blood and milk were everywhere. And Mark knew he had to take care of it. He thought about the lesson in Sabbath School the past week --about Joshua taking over leadership from Moses. Several times Joshua was told, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9).
It would be easy to be terrified about getting the glass out of David's leg and stopping the bleeding. But if Mark was strong and courageous - and if he asked for God's guidance - he knew that God would help him take care of his brother and sister until his mom could get back.
First, he calmly told Britney to get a towel to throw over the spilled milk. He carried David to the bathroom and set him on the counter. Then with Britney's help, Mark carefully washed the blood away and looked carefully to make sure no pieces of glass were still in David's leg. Then Mark carried David back to the couch and propped him up on pillows, still holding the cloth over his cut. He told Britney to stay with David and keep talking to him. Then Mark cleaned up the spilt milk and swept up the pieces of glass.
When the children's mother walked back in, she heard Mark calmly asking for God's healing on David's leg. Although she was concerned about what had happened, she could see that Mark had handled things very well.
God told Joshua to lead the Israelites after Moses had died. Joshua had a difficult assignment. Moses had been a great leader. Deuteronomy 34:10-12 says that there has never been another prophet like Moses in Israel. "And at God's command he performed amazing miracles which have never been equaled" (verse 12 TLB). Now it was Joshua’s responsibility to lead the Israelites across the Jordan River where he would divide the Promised Land, by tribes, as their promised inheritance. How in the world would he ever be able to do that?
God provided what Joshua needed to succeed. God told Joshua that He would be with him all the days of his life, that God would never leave or forsake him. What incredible encouragement! Sometimes we give up because we feel like we are all alone. What if God was telling you that He would always be with you and help you?
God told Joshua to be strong and courageous. But God also warned Joshua to obey the law, to be very careful to do exactly what the law said. Joshua was to be so familiar with the law that it would be part of his conversation and thoughts at all times. Why was the law so important to God? Because obeying the law was the way to be prosperous and successful. Things would go very well for Joshua if he would carefully follow God's ways.
Keeping God's law is good for us today too. But in the end, the only way things will really go well for us is if we have chosen Jesus Christ as our Savior. If we have chosen God as our Master and Lord, then He has promised never to leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). And things will go well for us if we follow His ways. "Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path" (Psalm 119:105). "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV.)
It is easy to imagine how Joshua might have felt taking over as leader of Israel. But God doesn't make mistakes. God gave Joshua a job to do, and He knew that Joshua had the tools to do the job well. That's a good thing to remember the next time God gives you a job to do. God isn't going to give you a job that you can't handle. Just remember to trust Him, to ask for His help, and then be courageous in doing what you need to do.
Activity
Teaching the Lesson:
Legacy Lesson: Student book/Teacher book - Teaching Time: 25 mins.
Lesson Prep - Teacher book - Time: 30 mins.
Activity (Teacher book): Jigsaw Puzzles - Time: 20 mins.
Song: "Dare to be a Daniel”- page 9 of Kids Classics Collection - Time: 5 mins.
Activity (Student book): God Equips the Called - Time: 30 mins.
Extending the Lesson - REACH Activities:
*Back to the Bible: God Equips the Called
*Journal Jot: Your Calling
*Word Study: blessing - eulogia and spiritual - pneumatikos
*Just Toolin’ Around: Neume
*Did you Know? Strong and Courageous
*Stretch It Out: Your Abilities
*Music Notes: Abide With Me
*Questions? - Writing Prompt - 10 mins.
Student Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for loving me so much that You equip me with the tools I need to serve You.
In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday: Joshua 1:1-9
Monday: Ephesians 1:3
Tuesday: Hebrews 13:5
Wednesday: Proverbs 3:5-6
Thursday: Exodus 4:10-15
Friday: 1 Kings 3:4-12
Saturday: Judges 6:14-17
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Relate what God told Joshua as Joshua began to take over as leader of Israel.
2. Explain that God has promised to never leave or forsake us.
3. Explain that following God's Law will make us successful in this life.
4. Explain that Jesus Christ is the only way to ultimate success--salvation.
5. State that God gives the necessary tools in order to complete the task given.
6. Describe biblical examples of God equipping someone to fulfill his purpose.
Topics & Themes
Authority
God’s Gifts
God’s Leading/Guidance
Joshua
Trusting God
Wisdom
Materials Needed
Bibles, YEA Students' and Teacher's books, pencils and pens, attendance and memory verse chart, stars, songbook, music player, CD or cassette, chalkboard and chalk, poster board jigsaw puzzles, markers and crayons, ziplock bags with the students' puzzle pieces, sand, water, tweezers/eyedroppers (enough for all students), 2 pans for sand and 2 pails for water
Preparation
God tells us to be courageous in the face of the jobs He calls us to perform. God is not going to give us a job without giving us the necessary tools to complete it. It is important to teach our children to ask for the necessary tools and to believe God will provide them. It's also important to convey that what we need and what we think we need may not be exactly the same thing. Our faith must remain constant so that we uphold God's holiness to those around us even if we think we should do things a little differently than what God is showing us.
Even though it may be tempting to just talk to our students, it is very important to do hands-on projects and demonstrations. These things make lessons memorable - indelibly imprinted upon their minds when they must be courageous in performing God's will. Remember, these lessons can have a lifelong (and eternal) impact on our children. Let's make the most of the opportunity we have.
Before class, fill one pan with sand and one pail with water. Place an empty pan/pail a few feet from each.
How to Teach This Lesson
Eyedropper or tweezer - As students enter the classroom, give each a tweezer or an eyedropper. Tell them they'll need it later in the lesson. Open the class with prayer.
Joshua 1:1-9 - Have one of the students read Joshua 1:1-9. Ask: What two things stand out in these verses? 1) God's encouragement to be strong and courageous because He will be with Joshua, and 2) God's exhortation to obey and live the Law of God.
Promises for us? - Explain that if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Master, He has given us promises similar to those He gave to Joshua. Ask for volunteers to read the following Scriptures: Hebrews 13:5; Proverbs 3:3-6; Psalm 119:105; Ephesians 1:3; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; and Romans 8:28.
Equipping the called, or calling the equipped? - Many biblical examples (such as the ones in the Students' Activity) show that God will give the tools necessary to complete the task. And His glory is much more evident when the task is completed by someone who couldn't accomplish the task without God. Our goal, then, is to trust God, submit our wills to His leading, and be courageous in doing our jobs. God can do great things through people who submit their will to Him.
Tweezers and Eyedroppers - Instruct students to take out their tweezers and eyedroppers. Say: "Please follow directions carefully. Everyone who has a tweezer, move to the pan with the sand. Everyone who has an eyedropper, move to the pail with the water. Now, those of you at the sand pan are going to move the sand into the empty pan. Those of you at the water pail are going to move the water into the empty pail." Then wait for about two minutes to see what the students do. Note: You did not tell them to begin, only what their jobs were going to be. After the pause, say: "Oh, by the way, you at the sand are going to need these tools. And you at the water are going to need these tools." Provide empty yogurt cups, toy shovels, or other appropriate utensils for moving sand and water. Then tell the students they may begin. (Emphasize this direction, especially if someone started before getting a tool.)
Once they've moved some of the sand and the water, ask students to come back to their seats. Discuss how they may have assumed they were going to use the eyedropper or the tweezer because that's the tool they had going in to the task. Discuss the feelings of frustration they may have had at the overwhelming tasks of moving sand and water with inadequate tools. Then talk about how they were not told to begin, just what they were going to be doing. Talk about the feelings they experienced at being given more appropriate tools. Ask if any of them thought about asking for a shovel or a pump. Make the connection for them that God will provide us the appropriate tools at the appropriate time for accomplishing the task He has given. This would be a good time to share the Activities they completed in the Students' book for today's lesson.
Review Questions
1. What did God tell Joshua as he prepared to take over the leadership of Israel?
2. What promises does God also give to us as we get ready to serve Him?
3. Why do we follow God's Law? Is it for salvation?
4. Will God ever give us a task without giving us the appropriate tools? How do you know?
5. What is one biblical example of God equipping someone to fulfill His purpose?
Teacher-Directed Activity
Jigsaw Puzzles
Continue working on your jigsaw puzzle, using the piece for Lesson Four. On one side, write “Joshua. On the other, write "be strong and courageous." Give the students their ziplock bags so they can continue with their jigsaw puzzle pieces too.
REACH Activity
Back to the Bible: God Equips the Called
Each one of the examples in your student activity are from the Old Testament. Can you think of anyone in the New Testament who was equipped by God to do the job set before him? Pick one person. Read their story and then write about it in your Bible notebook.
Journal Jot: Your Calling
Sometimes young people think that God doesn’t have tasks for them to do for His glory. But how old was Samuel when God called him? How old were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? How old was Jesus when he was teaching in the Temple? 1 Timothy 4:12 adjures you not to let anyone despise your youth. Conduct yourself in a Godly way. Seek God in prayer and Bible study. And don’t think that the little thing you do is insignificant. You never know what God can do with a small offering. Think of the boy’s lunch of 5 loaves and 2 fishes. Think about this for a little while. Then, in your Bible notebook, outline a project that you can do for God’s glory. Get advice from your parents, sabbath school teacher, or pastor for putting it into action.
Word Study: blessing - eulogia and spiritual - pneumatikos
This word translated “blessing” in Ephesians 1:3 is the Greek word which means “the blessing, good word, or action of God.” (Source: Zodhiates’ NAS Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible, 1990, G#2129) You can see the English word, eulogy, which comes from this Greek word. A eulogy is the blessing spoken during a funeral about the person who has just died.
The word “spiritual” in Ephesians 1:3 is the Greek word, pneumatikos, conveying that these “gifts of God are conveyed by the Holy Spirit (Gk. Pneuma). You can see the English words pneumatic, pneumonia, and pneume.
The two words together convey the idea that it is God’s Spirit which gifts you with the blessing of being able to exist and to work. Our work and our lives, then, in response, should be dedicated to glorifying God in everything we do. If we are called to be a street sweeper, we do it to the best of our ability that God would be glorified. If we are called to be a doctor, we practice medicine knowing that our abilities and insight come from God, and we give Him credit.
Ephesians 1:3 says that if you are in Christ Jesus, if you belong to Him, then God has gifted you with every spiritual blessing. You have the ability to do the task God has set before you to do. Write these words, their meanings, and the scripture reference in your Bible notebook.
Just Toolin’ Around: neume
This word is a noun and refers to “any of the various symbols used in the notation of Gregorian chant” (Source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neume) The Gregorian chant was a style of church music developed during the 9th and 10th centuries, mostly in western and central Europe. It is interesting that the word “neume” or “pneume” is derived from the Greek word pneuma, which at its most basic, means “breath.” You could say that this type of church music was intended to be as natural as breathing.
Did you Know? Strong and Courageous
God expects each one of us to be strong and courageous. How do we know that? Look at the opposite: weak and fearful. If we belong to God, if we are doing His will, and if we are giving Him the glory and honor always, then He will give us the power and ability to complete the task. And as far as being fearful, there is a strong warning in Revelation 21:8! The cowardly will not be part of God’s Kingdom!
Write down five things that you are most fearful about. Then write a prayer to God to help you overcome those fears and/or to trust Him to resolve the problem.
Stretch It Out: Your Abilities
Do you know what your strengths, skills, and abilities are? If you can identify what you are good at, you can know, perhaps, the direction that God would want you to take. Check out Career Direct (https://careerdirect.org/) to find out more about how God has gifted you.
Music Notes: Abide With Me
This hymn is on page 57 of the CEM Hymnal.
Henry Lyte, a British pastor in a fishing village for 23 years, wrote the text to this hymn after giving his final sermon. Having battled tuberculosis all his life, he planned to go to Italy, hoping the warmer climate would allow his lungs to heal. In the afternoon after his final sermon, “as he walked and prayed, this hymn came to him. En route to Italy, he sent a polished copy to his wife, then he checked into a hotel in Nice where he died.” He coined the phrase, “It’s better to wear out than to rust out.” (Source: Near to the Heart of God, Robert Morgan, 2010, Sept. 4)
How does this hymn relate to your lesson “God Equips the Called”? Henry Lyte didn’t allow a serious lung disease to stop him from ministering to a fishing village for over two decades. It is said that he nearly had to crawl to the pulpit for that last message to his congregation. That is determination and conviction to persevere despite even the obstacle of poor health. He was determined to live his life wholly for God - to wear out rather than rust out.
What is it that you feel called to do? How do you think God wants to use you to glorify Him? If God wants you to honor Him in that way, He will open doors and provide the abilities you need to complete the task. Write about this in your Bible notebook. Then go sing this amazing hymn.
Questions?
Write down any questions you have in your Bible notebook so that you can remember to ask your parents or your pastor.
Song
"Dare to be a Daniel" is on page 9 of the Kids Classics Collection.
Closing Prayer
Ask for a volunteer to lead in prayer asking God for the tools and the courage needed to accomplish the tasks He gives them to do.
Printable Pages
