YEA Lesson Library
Devoted
About This Lesson
Using the example of Ruth’s devotion to Naomi, this lesson encourages the student to work to develop that kind of devotion to God.
Scriptures
Ruth 1:1-22
Ruth 2:1-23
Ruth 3:1-18
Ruth 4:1-22
Matthew 4:18-21
Luke 14:31-33
John 8:12
Romans 8:5-7
2 Corinthians 10:1-6
Words to Know
DEVOTION - the act of belonging completely
FAMINE - no food to eat
BARLEY - a kind of grain, the first grain to be harvested each spring
REAPERS - people to harvest the grain
ANCESTOR - someone in your family who lived before you; i.e., parents, grandparents, etc.
The Lesson
Have you seen the movie The Incredible Journey? It's based on the true story of three pets that travel alone through a wilderness to get back home to their owners. The distance and the dangers they faced made their success absolutely incredible! Why would two dogs and a cat work together to get back home? Because their owners loved them and the pets knew it. Home is where they wanted to be. The pets were completely devoted to their owners.
Sandwiched between Judges and 1 Samuel is a four-chapter book telling another story of devotion. Famine had driven Naomi and her family to leave Israel. When the famine was over, Naomi's husband and two sons were dead. So Naomi decided to go home. She told her daughters-in-law to go back to their own homes too. Ruth refused. Ruth said, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me" (Ruth 1:16-17 NIV).
Ruth returned to Bethlehem with Naomi as the barley harvest was beginning. Naomi sent Ruth to gather barley that the reapers had left along the edges of the fields. Because Ruth followed Naomi's directions, Ruth met Boaz, who was related to Naomi. Eventually, Boaz married Ruth. Ruth's story had a very happy ending.
But that really isn't the end of the story. Because Ruth was so devoted to Naomi, God blessed her. Not only did she marry Boaz, but Ruth became the great-grandmother of David which means she was one of the ancestors of Jesus Christ.
Do you remember when Jesus called the first disciples, Peter, Andrew, James, and John? “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4: 19 NIV). These four fishermen immediately left their nets to follow Christ.
That's the kind of reaction our Heavenly Father wants from us when He calls to us. We must be willing to immediately leave everything to follow Him, to do His will. Our devotion to God must be like the devotion that Ruth showed Naomi. In our hearts we should say to God, "Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay." Like the pets in The Incredible Journey, we shouldn't be at peace until we are with God.
That doesn't sound too hard, does it? Well, let me ask you a question: The last time your mom asked you to come to her, did you drop everything immediately to see what she wanted? The last time she wanted to take you someplace, did you say, "Where you go I will go"? Do you choose talking with your parents about God over watching videos or playing basketball with your friends?
Now, there's nothing wrong with playing video games or basketball, but your relationship with your mom and dad can be a good indicator of your relationship with your Heavenly Parent. And your Heavenly Father wants your complete devotion. Jesus said in Luke 14:33 NIV, .". any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." What kind of stuff do you have to give up? God doesn't want your phone or TV. He wants you. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 10:5b NIV, "and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Turning your will over to Jesus is not a bad thing. Just as Ruth's devotion to Naomi brought great rewards to her life, your devotion to God and His ways will bring blessings to your life. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12, NIV). I don't know about you, but I hate stumbling in the dark. I want the Light of the world.
Activity
Teaching the Lesson:
Legacy Lesson: Student book/Teacher book - Teaching Time: 25 mins.
Lesson Prep - Teacher book - Time: 45 mins.
Activity (Teacher book): Ten-Week Challenge Games, Memory Work, Jigsaw Puzzles - 45 mins.
Song: "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" - page 23 of Kids Classics Collection - Time: 5 mins.
Activity (Student book): Light of the World Maze - Time: 12 mins.
Extending the Lesson - REACH Activities:
*Back to the Bible: Light
*Journal Jot: Devoted
*Word Study: follow - akoloutheō
*Just Toolin’ Around: Moab
*Did you Know? Bethlehem
*Stretch It Out: Acting It Out
*Music Notes: His Way With Thee
*Questions? - Writing Prompt - 10 mins.
Student Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for giving me Light. Help me to use that Light to help me see in this darkened world.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday: Ruth 1:16-17
Monday: Matthew 4:18-21
Tuesday: Luke 14:31-33
Wednesday: John 8:12
Thursday: Ruth 4:13-17
Friday: 2 Corinthians 10:1-6
Saturday: Romans 8:5-7
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to: .
1. Correctly attribute the quote in Ruth 1:16-17 to Ruth and explain the circumstances surrounding it.
2. Describe the reaction of Peter, Andrew, James and John when Jesus called them.
3. State that Jesus wants us to submit our will to Him and explain what that means.
4. Explain that devoting ourselves to God is in our best interest.
Topics & Themes
Devotion
Follow God
Naomi
Putting God First
Ruth
Submission
Materials Needed
Bibles, YEA Students' and Teacher's books, pencils and pens, attendance and memory verse charts, stars, songbook, music player, CD or cassette, chalkboard and chalk, poster board jigsaw puzzles, markers and crayons, ziplock bags with the students' jigsaw puzzle pieces, rewards for Memory Work and Challenge Board Games, refreshments, certificates.
Preparation
Because this is the last lesson in this book, you will want to have a celebration. Make sure you have rewards to give each student who successfully completes the Ten-Week Challenge and Ten-Week Memory Work. Your celebration may be as simple as cookies and juice or something more elaborate such as cake and punch. It is important that the students feel they've reached a goal and have been rewarded. This keeps them willing to begin work on the new book, the new ten-week challenge and memory work. Give each student a certificate for attendance and memory verse work, and completed work in this book, etc. Pass out Bible Heroes Book Four to the students.
How to Teach This Lesson
After opening the class with prayer, discuss the following:
Characteristics of Heroes - Say: Over the past ten weeks, we’ve talked about the characteristics found in biblical heroes. Ask: Who can name them? (Integrity, blessing and salvation, God chooses leaders, strong and courageous, faith in action, mighty and powerful, obedient, acting on God-given information, and chosen by God.) Write these on a chalkboard. Tell students that today's topic is devotion.
Define devotion - Ask: What is the definition of devotion? If the students have seen The Incredible Journey or have read either Homeward Bound or Lassie Come Home, talk about the devotion shown by the pets in getting back to their owners. They didn't rest until they were back where they belonged.
Ruth - Have the students help tell the story of Ruth. Point out that Ruth's devotion to Naomi led Ruth to her kinsman-redeemer, Boaz. Ultimately, this made Ruth the great-grandmother of King David, in the lineage of Jesus Christ!
Devotion in action - Just as pets made an incredible journey to get home, the disciples showed devotion by immediately following Jesus Christ when He called them from their fishing boat.
Personal application - Ask: Is it easy to be devoted to God? No. In fact, Romans 8:7 says that the carnal nature is enmity against God (KJV). The NIV puts it this way, "the sinful mind is hostile to God." We want to do our own thing; we want to go our own way. Being independent and relying on ourselves is part of that carnal nature. We don't want to depend upon God; we want to lean upon our own understanding. So part of being devoted to God is learning to submit to His will, to bring into submission every thought to Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). That is not restriction and enslavement: it is truly freedom. But it is a decision that must be made in each situation that develops. (This would be a good time to sing the song “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.” The words will make more of an impression coming on the heels of this discussion.)
Are you a hero? - Just as Gideon, Moses, Joshua, Rahab, and Ruth had to make the decision to follow God, you also have to make that decision. Who knows, someday when the books are written about your life, perhaps you'll be recorded as one of God’s heroes or heroines. That's definitely something worth working for, isn't it?
Review Questions
1. Why did Ruth say, "Where you go, I will go..." to Naomi?
2. Why was Naomi returning to Israel?
3. What did Peter, Andrew, James, and John do when Jesus called them?
4. In Luke 14:33, Jesus says we must give up everything we have, or we cannot be His disciple. What kinds of things do we have to give up?
5. What does God really want from us?
6. When we give our devotion to God, what does He give back to us? (The list may be long!)
Teacher-Directed Activity
Ten-Week Challenge
Take the time in class to play any board games the students have created about Bible heroes.
Ten-Week Memory Work
Have the students recite the books of the Old and New Testaments. Make sure you have appropriate rewards for their efforts.
Continue working on your jigsaw puzzle, using the piece for Lesson Ten. On one side, write "Ruth." On the other, write “willingly follow or devoted." Give the students their ziplock bags so they can finish their jigsaw puzzle pieces.
REACH Activity
Back to the Bible: Light
Light is such a fascinating study! God created light on Day 1 of Creation, but He didn’t create the Sun, Moon, or stars until Day 4. Revelation 22:5 says that there will be need of lamp or sun for the Lord God will be our light. God illuminates our way. Hmm. That makes me think of Psalm 119:105. What lights our way? So Jesus is the Light (John 8:12). God’s word lights our way. And the lampstand in the Tabernacle had 22 almond flowers (Exodus 25:31-40). There just happen to be 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet - the building blocks for every word. And then John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word.” Read all of these scriptures. Create a mind map showing the connections between each of the pieces: Jesus = Light = Word. Write your memory verse under your mind map.
Journal Jot: Devoted
There was a t-shirt that was popular a few years ago which said something to the effect: A secret service Christian is one who is so secret that no one knows they’re a Christian.
I hope that no one can say that about you! I hope that no one ever says that about me. There was a time when a friend shocked me by asking if I believed in Jesus. I had thought that would be evident by my actions, but what they saw was me keeping “Jewish” holidays and not celebrating Christmas. Their question made it quite clear to me that I needed to not only act like a Christian, I needed to express my belief in Jesus Christ when the opportunity presented itself.
What do you think about this? Have you had the opportunity to profess your faith in God? Do you make the most of those opportunities? Write about this topic in your Bible notebook.
Word Study: follow - akoloutheō
The Greek word which is translated “follows” in John 8:12 means to follow Jesus, but not as a temporary or momentary action. It “denotes a fellowship of faith as well as a fellowship of life . . . cleaving to Him in believing trust and obedience . . . following His leading, acting according to His example.” (Source: Zodhiates’ NAS Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible, 1990, G#190)
This definition points out that following Jesus is a way of life. Everything you do is according to God’s ways. It’s not just going to church on Sabbath. It’s not just going to the Feast of Tabernacles. It is living your life in such a way that everyone knows that you love and serve God - and that includes what you say!
Just Toolin’ Around: Moab
Do you remember who the Moabites were? Who was their ancestor? What was their relationship with Israel during David’s reign? What was God’s judgment on Moab (Jeremiah 48) and why? Share your research with your family.
Did you Know? Bethlehem
When you think of Bethlehem, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Maybe you think of Jesus’ birth (Matthew 2:1). Maybe you think of it as David’s hometown (1 Samuel 20:6). Do you remember that it was where Naomi and Elimelech lived before they moved to Moab - and the place to which Naomi returned with Ruth? (Ruth 1:1; Ruth 1:22) Do you think it’s interesting that there was a famine (which is why Elimelech and Naomi went to Moab) in a place whose name means “House of Bread”? And did you know that “Because of Bethlehem’s location in a fertile region, Rehoboam turned it into a fortress city (2 Chronicles 11:5-12)”? (Source: ESV Study Bible, 2008, p. 478) Write these facts down in your Bible notebook. You may wish to start a collection of interesting facts so you can make a Bible trivia game for your family.
Stretch It Out: Acting It Out
Write a play based on Ruth, chapters 1 - 4. Ask your friends and siblings to help you perform the play for your family/their families. Why would you do that? You will learn so much more about the book of Ruth if you 1) write the play and 2) act it out. Be sure to video tape it so that you can watch it too.
Music Notes: His Way With Thee
This hymn is on page 61 in the CEM Hymnal.
The word and music for this hymn were written by a Methodist pastor, Cyrus Nusbaum, when he was 25 years old. He had been appointed to care for one of the poorest circuits in the district, caring for seven congregations. The money he made so little that when the next conference came, Cyrus and his wife hoped for a better assignment. They were disappointed that they had been assigned to the same location. After his wife went to bed that night, Cyrus wrote, “I was very unhappy and a spirit of rebellion seemed to possess me. About midnight, I finally knelt in prayer beside my chair. After some struggle, a deep peace came stealing into my heart. I told the Lord that I would be willing to let Him have His way with me regardless of the cost. With that feeling, of surrender to the will of God, came the inspiration for the song.” Even though, Cyrus Nusbaum wrote other hymns, this is the only one still used. He eventually became an outstanding, well-known evangelist. (Source: 101 More Hymn Stories, Kenneth Osbeck, 1985, p. 123.)
Following Jesus, submitting to His will, being devoted to Him - these are the goals of the Christian. Regardless of the cost, we make it our aim to serve God wholeheartedly with singleness of purpose. How does this hymn affect you? Can you relate to learning to submit to God’s will for your life? Write about this in your Bible notebook.
Questions?
Write down any questions you have in your Bible notebook so that you can remember to ask your parents or your pastor.
Song
"I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" is on page 23 of the Kids Classics Collection.
Closing Prayer
Ask for a student to lead in prayer thanking God for giving us Light in His Son Jesus Christ, so that we can see!
Printable Pages
