Teaching

Stand behind the table and face the children.

Let’s say our SuperTruth together: “I will wait upon the Lord.”

Raise your hand if you enjoy waiting for something you really want. Children respond.

That’s what I thought; in most cases, we would choose to not wait!

Hold up the calendar. What could this represent that would be hard to wait patiently for? Summer break, weekend, birthday, Christmas or another holiday, vacation, event with a friend.

Hold up the empty food box. Raise your hand if this is one of your favorite foods. Children respond.

Read the cooking time instructions. Why is it difficult to patiently wait for it to be done? You are hungry, it smells so good.

Yes, it seems like the timer will never ring to tell us it is done, right?

Let’s name some other things that are hard to wait for. A package or letter in the mail, a test result, a decision or permission to do something, an acceptance letter, saving money to buy something, waiting to be old enough or tall enough to do something, someone who is traveling to visit you, arriving at a destination.

What was hard for Mary and Martha to wait for? For Jesus to arrive after they sent a message to Him that Lazarus was very sick.

Why do you think they may have grown impatient waiting? They probably hoped He would immediately come see them. They were probably very worried about Lazarus as he grew sicker and sicker.

To make it even more difficult, they couldn’t call or text Jesus. They didn’t know where He was on His journey. They didn’t even know for sure if He had received their message! And by the time Jesus got to Bethany, Lazarus had been dead 4 days.

Do you remember why Jesus waited? So God would receive glory.

Yes, it would have definitely been a miracle to heal Lazarus’ sickness, yet how much more glory would God receive by raising him from the dead!

Jesus chose to wait for a greater purpose to bring glory to God. We are often like Mary and Martha. When we have a need, we hope God will respond immediately. However, this doesn’t always happen. That is why we must patiently wait on the Lord! His timing is not always the same as what we would like, yet it is always perfect!

So let’s talk about what it means to wait on the Lord. Select two children to sit with you in the row of chairs—different children than the five volunteers selected earlier. Is there a waiting room for God, like a waiting room at the doctor’s office or dentist’s office? No, you don’t need to be in a specific place to wait on the Lord!

The two children may remain in their chairs. Call the other five volunteers to stand with you and have them begin to act out their roles. Walk beside each and ask: Which ones do you think could be waiting on the Lord: the one playing basketball, typing on a computer, talking on a phone, praying, or playing an instrument?

Consider the children’s answers. We would expect that the one who is praying would be waiting upon the Lord. However, all of them could be waiting on the Lord!

Walk over to the row of chairs. You see, waiting on the Lord is not like waiting for an appointment! It is not something that you can always determine by outward appearances. Taking time to get alone and pray is very important for us to do—like this person. Stand next to the praying volunteer.

In a secret, private place, we can speak to God and allow Him time to speak to our hearts. Even so, it isn’t the only way to wait on the Lord. We still must live our lives and go about our days. That doesn’t mean we stop waiting. Waiting on God is trusting in expectation of what He will do! We can be busy on the outside, yet be still and silent on the inside—in our hearts.

Read Philippians 4:6–7:

⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

When we pray and leave our request with God, we can experience His peace inside. This gives us the ability to rest in Him as we continue with our activities and responsibilities. We let go of our need, we place it in His hands, and we stop worrying. To wait on the Lord is to submit to God’s timing and His will. Waiting is not being passive or lazy; it takes faith and strength to trust in God when we feel pressure to do things our own way! This is why our SuperVerse tells us to be brave and courageous! Let’s say it together. Psalm 27:14:

Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

Conclusion: Today, with things like microwaves, instant downloads, same-day deliveries, and fast food, it is difficult to patiently wait for something. To wait on God means we have faith and hope in Him. It is trusting God to answer in His perfect time, and that will bring Him glory.

Now, it’s time for our Discipleship Challenge where we will learn to know God’s will and to think more like Him. When we understand God’s will and purpose, it can help us to wait for Him with confidence.

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Display the model craft that you made. Give a Lazarus Tomb Pattern to any children who missed Lesson 1 so they can complete the craft at home.

Let’s discuss the Discipleship Challenge we began last time we met. The challenge was to read and discuss Hebrews 12:1–2a. As we run the race of life, who are we to focus on? Jesus.

What will Jesus do when we keep our eyes on Him? He will make our faith perfect and complete.

Were you able to pray and identify things in your life that weigh you down or hinder your spiritual progress? Children respond.

Sin definitely weighs us down; however, even good things can weigh us down if we are too busy and don’t keep our lives balanced. Martha was doing a good thing to serve Jesus and the disciples, yet, at the time, the better choice was to take a break and spend time with Jesus.

Our challenge on the craft for Lesson 2 says: “Wrong thinking: Romans 12:2.” If time permits, read Romans 12:2:

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

If possible, read this verse with your family and discuss how wrong thinking can hinder or hold us back from growing in our new life in Christ. God doesn’t want us to just copy the behavior of the world; He wants us to live according to His will and do what pleases Him. Continue to pray and ask God for His help in identifying and removing things from your life that may hold you back from His perfect plan for your life. You will have a chance to share your thoughts and experience next time.