Teaching

Stand behind the table and face the children.

Let’s say our SuperVerse together. Hebrews 13:21:

May He equip you with all you need for doing His will. May He produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to Him.

God not only allows us to participate in His work, He gives us everything we need to do His will. What does the verse say He produces in us through Christ? Every good thing that is pleasing to Him.

I need one volunteer to write the name “Daniel” on the board for me. Choose a volunteer and wait ashe/she goes to the board to write “Daniel.”

Yes, go ahead and write Daniel on the board. Wait a moment.

Is there something wrong? The volunteer will say there is no marker.

Oh, yes, I’m sorry. I didn’t give you all you needed to do what I requested. Pull out the marker and hand it to the volunteer.

I’m thankful that God isn’t like me! He equips us with all we need to do His will and to please Him.

Hold up the marker. God can certainly equip us with physical things we need to do His will, like I just did with this marker. However, He often equips us with things we can’t see or hold in our hands. God equips us with various abilities and spiritual gifts that are invisible. Can you name some ways that God equipped Daniel to do His will? Boldness, courage, wisdom, favor, knowledge, the ability to interpret dreams.

These are not physical things that you can hold.

Read Daniel 1:17:

God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.

God equipped Daniel and his three Hebrew friends with special abilities and gifts. The Bible actually lists nine spiritual gifts that God gives His children, equipping them to do great things.

Optional scripture: have children take turns reading 1 Corinthians 12:7–11:

⁷ A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. ⁸ To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. ⁹ The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. ¹⁰ He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. ¹¹ It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

God also equips us with His armor to stand against the enemy and defeat him. Place the equipment bag on the table with the sign visible to the children. Take the armor items out of the bag, such as a sword, helmet, and/or shield, and hold them up.

Optional scripture: have children take turns reading Ephesians 6:11–17:

¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹² For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. ¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. ¹⁶ In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. ¹⁷ Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Can you really see the armor that God gives us? No, the armor that God gives us is invisible. Even so, it is effective and powerful; so powerful that we can resist and defeat the devil when he attacks us, tests us, or tempts us to do what is not pleasing to God.

Jesus used this armor! Does anyone know how Jesus was equipped to fight the devil in the wilderness? He was full of God’s Spirit and God’s Word.

Yes! Ephesians 6:17 calls this weapon the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God!

Another important way that God equips us is through the Holy Spirit, who produces spiritual fruit in us. Rummage through the equipment bag trying to find the fruit.

I may have a couple pieces of spiritual fruit in the bag to show you. Wait; is the fruit of the Spirit visible? Are they actual pieces of fruit? No!

You are right! I am just being silly! Like the Armor of God, the fruit of the Spirit is invisible, too! The Holy Spirit produces the fruit of God’s traits and characteristics in us so that we can please God—just like our SuperVerse says.

Have a child read Galatians 5:22–23a:

²² But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control.

The Holy Spirit produces these good things in us so we are equipped to respond, think, act, and talk in a way that represents God. When we demonstrate these things in our lives, we bring glory to Him and do His will on the earth. What do you need today to do God’s will and to live a life that pleases Him? God wants to give us every good thing that we need! Sometimes He equips us with physical things; other times we receive invisible things like special abilities or spiritual gifts. No matter what God provides us, we can be sure it is good and exactly what we need to please Him and accomplish His will in our lives!

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Display the model craft that you made. Give a Journal Scroll Pattern and a piece of twine or ribbon to any children who missed Lesson 1 so they can complete the craft at home.

Your challenge was to read and discuss Jeremiah 29:11, which says that God has good plans for you—to give you a hope and a future. Also, you were to ask God to reveal His plan for you, then write any thoughts about that on your scroll. Would anyone like to share something about that?

God’s plans are always for our good. Everything He does is to bring us closer to Him and to make us more like Christ! Continue to seek God to reveal more about His plan for your life. God doesn’t necessarily tell us everything at once; He often reveals one step at a time as we trust and follow Him! And ask God to reveal the gifts and tools He has given you to do His plan.

Our challenge for Lesson 2 is to read 1 Peter 4:10 and discuss it with your family if possible. The second part of the challenge is to understand what tools and spiritual gifts God has given you to do His plan. Continue to pray and seek God for His spiritual gifts as you obey His plan.

Write in your scroll journal any questions or thoughts about this. You will have a chance to share these next time. Remember, God enables us to do great things!