YEA Lesson Library
Walk Humbly With Your God
About This Lesson
This lesson teaches that our life here is temporary and is a time to learn to trust God, to ask for His guidance in prayer, and follow His ways - things we learn during the Feast of Tabernacles too.
Scriptures
Leviticus 23:33-35
Deuteronomy 16:13-17
Psalm 27:11
Psalm 89:15
Proverbs 3:5-6
Micah 6:8
John 16:33
2 Corinthians 6:16
Words to Know
ENTHUSIASM - willingness and eagerness to do a job
SERVICE - doing some job for someone else's benefit
TALENTS - the abilities and gifts God has given
TEMPORARY - something that does not last long
The Lesson
Becky begged her mom to let her walk Maggie, their dog, around the block. "Please, Mom. You know she needs exercise. It won’t take long. Please," she pleaded.
Mrs. Walker agreed to let Becky take Maggie around the block - if Becky would take her older brother with them. Maggie was always so eager to go, she pulled at the leash. Really, it was Maggie that was walking Becky. Maybe this time, Becky would be okay. Last time she came home with skinned knees from Maggie pulling her over!
This story helps us understand the last part of Micah 6:8: "Walk humbly with your God." The same as Maggie, God wants to do something with us. But He wants to lead. He wants us to learn to follow Him and His ways. God’s ways are best and God's ways are for our good.
Too often we want to do the leading. Just like Maggie pulling on the leash. We want to do things without knowing where God wants us to go. And many times we get ahead of where God would lead us.
So how can we keep from being like Maggie, pulling ahead of God? We need to start every morning with prayer. We pray that God will lead us and help us to recognize where He's leading us. And we pray that He will help us learn not to get ahead of Him.
Becky loved taking Maggie for a walk. But she didn't like going by the house second from the end of the block. There was a big dog in the yard sometimes. She hoped that today those people would have their big dog inside the house. But, as she neared the corner, she saw the big dog lying on the front step next to its owner's chair. As she and Maggie came closer, the dog saw them. Maggie's hair stood up on the back of her neck as she started barking. The big dog started barking. Now Maggie was really pulling. She was ready to jump in and fight that other dog. Becky had all she could do to pull her down the sidewalk. And having her older brother along was no help at all. He couldn’t hold Maggie when she got excited either.
Sometimes walking with God is like this too. We have problems and we don't know what to do. Many times we make a big deal out of our problems. We moan and cry and carry on - much like Maggie's barking. We get ready to do something about the problems and that’s good. But just as Maggie didn't ask Becky if she should attack that other dog, we sometimes forget to take our problem to God. We need to remember to ask Him, first, what we should do about it. Then we need to wait for Him to show us. Many times, the things we get so upset about never even happen. God just walks us right by them. How wonderful it would be if we could just learn to trust Him and look for Him to show us what we should do when we meet problems as we're going around the block!
Becky's next problem with Maggie came when they walked along in one of her favorite places. These houses had huge trees which shaded the sidewalk. Becky loved those trees. Maggie loved the squirrels that lived in the trees. When she spotted one, she was gone. Just like that, she pulled the leash right out of Becky’s hand! She ran across one person's lawn and through their flower bed. Becky was close behind, yelling for her to come back.
Sometimes our walk with God is like this too. We find something that we like to do and we're good at, and we're gone. We are off doing what we want - without asking God to see if that's His will for us. God has given us talents. And, we should use them. He is probably very pleased if we have the same enthusiasm for service that Maggie had for chasing the squirrel. But, it would be so much wiser to ask Him where and when to use those talents! We are not bringing glory and honor to our God if we're using our talents the way we want, instead of what God wants. Like Maggie and Becky running through someone's flower bed, our own efforts (without God) can make quite a mess - even though we never meant to make a mess.
Walking the dog around the block is a good story to help us learn to walk with our God. We also learn about walking with God from the Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast of Tabernacles is like a picture. It reminds us that, just as the walk with Maggie didn't last long, our life doesn’t last forever. We are only here for a short time. But we will live forever with Jesus in His Kingdom.
When Becky walked Maggie, it was training time. This life is training time for us. We must learn to follow God. We have to let Him lead. We must trust Him no matter what problems come. We have to let Him show us the way, even when we think we’re doing something good. This temporary life won't last long, so we had better learn our lesson to walk with God now. He has something wonderful planned for those who have learned to walk humbly with their God.
Student Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Help me to follow you wherever you lead, trusting you to show me your way through problems as I serve you.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday: Psalm 89:15
Monday: 2 Corinthians 6:16
Tuesday: Psalm 27:11
Wednesday: John 16:33
Thursday: Proverbs 3:5-6
Friday: Leviticus 23:33-35
Saturday: Deuteronomy 16:13-17
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Recite Micah 6:8.
2. Explain how "walking humbly with your God" applies in their life.
3. Tell that God wants to lead always.
4. Explain how the Feast of Tabernacles pictures walking with God and submitting to Him.
Topics & Themes
Feast of Tabernacles
Follow God
God’s Kingdom
God’s Will
Holy Days, Feast of Tabernacles
Humility
Prayer
Temporary
Trusting God
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA Students and Teacher's books, attendance and memory verse charts, star stickers, songbook, CD and player, colored pencils, pencils, markers, mural from previous lessons, poster paper
Preparation
Prior to this lesson, find three pictures in a magazine, an old calendar, a coffee table picture book, etc. 1) A divided trail - with at least two different directions you could go. It could be an intersection, a fork in a trail, a split in a road. Any picture which shows a choice to make in the path traveled will work. 2) An obstacle to overcome—a mountain range, Monument Valley, Devil's Tower. This picture will help the students visualize problems they encounter in their path. If the picture also shows a way around the obstacle (such as Monument Valley or Devil's Tower), that would be ideal. 3) A single road going straight into the distance or people busy doing something. This picture will be used to talk about asking God what you should do before doing it - just to make sure you're going the right way.
Juniors will not have a hard time with this lesson concept. Even though they are functioning more independently, they still need assistance. And, especially in this world, Mom and Dad are never far away.
Prior to class, write these five Scriptures on separate pieces of poster paper to hang up as you talk about each:
"Teach me your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path. . .” (Psalm 27:11).
"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
" 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).
"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8).
"As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people'" (2 Corinthians 6:16).
How to Teach This Lesson
Micah 6:8: Bring the lesson back to Micah 6:8. Say: Today we're going to talk about the third part of the things God requires of us in Micah 6:8. Does anyone remember what the third part was?
Let God Lead: Show the first picture of a divided road. Ask: Which direction would you take? Ask: How would you decide?Guide the discussion to praying that God will lead you. Hang up the first poster with Psalm 27:11 on it. (See Preparation.) Ask: When should you pray? Can you pray once a day? Can you pray more than just over your meals and at bedtime? Guide discussion so students will agree that we can pray whenever we need for God to show us what we should do.
Here Comes Trouble: Show the picture of the obstacle to overcome. We're going to have trouble in this life. But sometimes our problems seem bigger than they really are. And sometimes what we worry about never even happens. In the mountains, it is hard to find a gap - a way through the obstacle. In Monument Valley or at Devil's Tower, you just need to keep your eyes on where you are going. Regardless, when problems come, what should we do? Guide the discussion to praying to God and then trusting Him with our entire lives. Hang up the second poster with John 16:33 printed on it. (See Preparation.) Talk about who said this. Say: We can trust Jesus because He loves us so much.
Serving and Talents: Show the third picture to the students. Sometimes we see something to do or a way to go, and we get to it. We're excited! We're happy! We tell ourselves that God has given us this talent - we know how to do this - and we get started doing it. But like the story with Maggie and Becky (remember them crushing the flowers in the flower bed as they chased the squirrel), we can hurt other people if we're not using our talents as God shows us. So how do we know what to do? How can we use our talents (that God has given us) in a way that glorifies Him? Guide the discussion again to prayer, but add in the idea of stopping and thinking about our decisions before we act. Too many people don't stop to think of what can happen and the consequences of their actions before they do something. Hang the third poster which has Proverbs 3:5-6 printed on it. (See Preparation.) Talk about making sure that God will get the glory, not us, from our service.
The Feast of Tabernacles: One of the lessons of the Feast of Tabernacles is to walk with our God. He dwells (tabernacles) in us as we tabernacle (live temporarily and live in temporary houses during the Feast) here.
Micah 6 : 8 and 2 Corinthians 6:16: Hang posters with these two verses written on them. God tells us how He wants us to live in this temporary life. Recite Micah 6:8. Why do we do this? Recite 2 Corinthians 6:16. God is holy and He's teaching us the way to be holy too.
Review Questions
1. Micah 6:8 lists three things God requires of us. What are they?
2. What does it mean to walk humbly with God?
3. How do you let God lead you in everything you do ?
4. God gives us one of His holy days to help us learn to walk with Him. Which?
Teacher-Directed Activity
Micah 6:8 Banner
Continue the Micah 6:8 banner begun on the Feast of Trumpets. Have students make snapshot drawings, in random order, of situations where they are walking humbly with God. For example, the picture might show someone getting a phone call asking them to come help sing at a nursing home. The person's response might be, "Sure I'l come," but then a second frame of the drawing shows them kneeling in prayer and asking God to show them what to do and for His blessing. The activity the students did in their YEA Students’ books may help to spark some ideas. Plan to hang the completed mural where the church members can see it.
REACH Activity
Back to the Bible: A Relationship
Do you know who was called a friend of God? Do you know who spoke with God face to face? Do you know who was called Beloved of God? Do you know who was called a man after God’s own heart? Use a concordance to find out the answers to these questions. Then consider the relationship that each had with God. Each of them was special to God and God blessed them greatly, but each of them also honored and obeyed God in their daily life.
It’s not enough just to be obedient to God’s commandments. You have to have a relationship with God. That requires daily communication through prayer and Bible study. Make a plan to do both every day - and then, stick to the plan!
Journal Jot: The Reason Why
Do you know why your family and your church family celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles every year? If you do, write about it in your Bible notebook. Make sure you use scripture references to explain why it’s important to keep these holy days. If you don’t know, ask your parents to explain it to you. Then write this information down, with scriptures, so that you’ll remember the next time someone asks you why you keep these holy days.
Word Study: Covenant
2 Corinthians 6:16 states the covenant that God makes with His people: He will be their God, and they will be His people. Since this is a covenant - a relationship contract and promise, it’s important to make sure you know exactly what your part of the covenant agreement is. Your job is to make sure that God is your God. You obey all of His laws. You treat Him with honor and respect. You love and trust Him with all of your heart. You recognize Him as Master, Lord, and Sovereign of your life. He gets to call the shots. That’s your part of the contract.
God’s part of the contract is that you would belong to Him (be part of His people). That means He cares, provides, guides, and instructs you. He orders your life and applies discipline when necessary to keep you going the right way.
Here’s the part we humans have problems with: Nowhere in the contract does it say that you get to decide when you want to recognize God as sovereign over your life. He either is - all the time - or He’s not. You can’t decide that God is your God when you’re in trouble and need Him and then you get to go your own way when everything is going smoothly. You either love, honor, obey, and trust Him always - or you don’t. There’s no middle ground. There’s no being lukewarm.
Secondly, you don’t get to tell God how to do His job. He has complete control over guiding, providing, instructing, and caring for you. You don’t have any right to criticize or complain - because as soon as you do, you are breaking your part of the contract to treat Him as sovereign and to trust Him.
This is tough. As soon as things are not going like we want them to, we default to giving God advice on how to do His job. Spending time reading your Bible and in prayer will help. As you get closer to Him, you will trust Him more and more. It’s all about relationship. And that’s one of the blessings of the Feast of Tabernacles - building a closer relationship with our Great God.
Write the contract in your Bible notebook and then write a paragraph about how you will show God that He is sovereign in your life.
Just Toolin’ Around: Research Tabernacles
Using a Bible encyclopedia or dictionary and a concordance, find out how God instructed the Israelites to construct a tabernacle. What kinds of trees were they supposed to use? What are some designs for constructing a tabernacle? How long were they supposed to dwell in the tabernacle? What kinds of lessons could you learn from living in a tabernacle during the Feast? Write down the information you find in your Bible notebook. Share with your family.
Did you Know? Name It
The Feast of Tabernacles was also called the Feast of Booths or the Feast of Ingathering. This harvest festival came at the end of the grape and olive harvests - when the crops were gathered in from the field. This would have been a time of great celebration for what God had given them! What has God given you this year? Write a poem of thanksgiving in your Bible notebook.
Stretch It Out: Following Jesus
Trace around your shoes onto different colors of construction paper. Cut out several pairs of footprints. On each shoe, write an activity that you want to do at the Feast of Tabernacles. Remember, you’re following in the footsteps of Jesus, so choose to do things that will honor Him. But also remember that you are supposed to be rejoicing before God for these seven days. Enjoy the Feast of Tabernacles and honor God in your choices.
Music Notes: Footsteps of Jesus
This hymn is found on page 176 of the CEM Hymnal.
Mary Bridges Slade wrote the words to this hymn. Robert Morgan describes her this way: “She was an educator by trade, a pastor’s wife by marriage, and a hymnist by grace.” (Source: Near to the Heart of God, Robert Morgan, 2010, January 18th.)
As you sing this hymn, think about how the melody makes you think of moving, step by step. Are you resolved to follow Jesus’ footsteps every day of your life?! How do you do that? Celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles is a great start. Write down other ways you follow Jesus and ways that you should follow Jesus. Resolve to make changes in your life to follow Him more closely.
Questions?
Remember to write down any questions that you think of as you are reading your lesson, daily devotionals, or doing the REACH activities. Plan to ask your parents or your pastor these questions.
Song
“His Banner Over Me Is Love" is on page 36 of Kids Classics Collection.
Closing Prayer
Lead the children in prayer. Ask for God's direction as each person learns to walk humbly with Him, trusting Him, and looking to Him for His will always.
Printable Pages
