This is a set of five lessons, written for consecutive days at the Feast of Tabernacles. "The Way" requires more introspection and independent work than some of the other lesson sets on our website.
Quick Overview:
Day One: One Way Street - God's Way
Why should we obey God?
Note: Print an origami project from the internet prior to beginning the lesson. http://www.origami-fun.com
Day Two: Dead End - Man's Way
What happens when we choose to go our own way instead of God's way?
Note: Print a maze from puzzle maker.com prior to beginning the lesson.
Day Three: Well-Traveled Path
What are the benefits of obeying God?
Note: Print a tangram design from the internet prior to beginning the lesson.
http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/galleries/678-tangram-outline-puzzles
http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/MathTangrams.htm
Day Four: Speed Bumps and Potholes
What obstacles do we encounter when we resolve to seek God and His ways?
Day Five: The Holy Highway
There is coming a day when God will use us to teach His ways to others. Are you ready?
Quick Overview:
Day One: One Way Street - God's Way
Why should we obey God?
Note: Print an origami project from the internet prior to beginning the lesson. http://www.origami-fun.com
Day Two: Dead End - Man's Way
What happens when we choose to go our own way instead of God's way?
Note: Print a maze from puzzle maker.com prior to beginning the lesson.
Day Three: Well-Traveled Path
What are the benefits of obeying God?
Note: Print a tangram design from the internet prior to beginning the lesson.
http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/galleries/678-tangram-outline-puzzles
http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/MathTangrams.htm
Day Four: Speed Bumps and Potholes
What obstacles do we encounter when we resolve to seek God and His ways?
Day Five: The Holy Highway
There is coming a day when God will use us to teach His ways to others. Are you ready?
One Way Street: God’s Way
Folding origami can be challenging. You have to follow the directions exactly if you want your project to turn out like the picture shows. If you follow the directions exactly, when you finish folding you’ll have a giraffe. If you don’t follow the directions precisely, you might end up with something that looks more like a crab.
This is just a simple origami project. Because it’s so simple and because it was designed by sinful man, you could probably improve on the design. But imagine trying to put each piece of a DNA strand in the proper order to make a human being. It’s no surprise to us that God is the only One who can do this. Think about it: DNA is God’s design. It’s not a simple origami project. It’s not man’s development. Additionally, more than just arranging the pieces perfectly so they work properly, as Creator, Sovereign God and King of the Universe, He’s the only One who can bring those pieces to life. He’s the Life-Giver.
How many synonyms can you think of for “Creator”?
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Because God is the maker, the builder, the originator, He gets to determine the rules. He designed life. He knows what works to make life flow properly. He designed the way for life to work, down to the very last detail. Much like folding the origami properly, there’s one way for it to come out right: God’s way.
Psalm 119:98-100 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
for it is ever with me.I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.
Some people would like to ignore God’s right to demand our adherence to His rules, our obedience to His commandments. But the reality is: God made us; He is completely within His rights to destroy us for going our own way. And yet, man has gone His own way from the very beginning.
Look up these verses. What do each of them have to say about God as Creator?
Hebrews 3:3 ___________________________________________________________
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Proverbs 22:2 __________________________________________________________
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Isaiah 64:8 ____________________________________________________________
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Genesis 1:27 ___________________________________________________________
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Isaiah 40:28 ___________________________________________________________
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Romans 9:21 ___________________________________________________________
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Isaiah 54:5 ____________________________________________________________
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Hebrews 11:10 __________________________________________________________
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Next to the text of this hymn, write your thoughts about the words, scriptures which come to mind, another verse, a prayer of thanksgiving to God for who He is, or something which shows you’re really thinking
I Sing the Mighty Power of God
I sing the mighty power of God,
that made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad,
and built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained
the sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at God’s command,
and all the stars obey.
I sing the goodness of the Lord,
who filled the earth with food,
Who formed the creatures through the Word,
and then pronounced them good.
Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed,
where’er I turn my eye,
If I survey the ground I tread,
or gaze upon the sky.
There’s not a plant or flower below,
but makes Thy glories known,
And clouds arise, and tempests blow,
by order from Thy throne;
While all that borrows life from Thee
is ever in Thy care;
And everywhere that we can be,
Thou, God art present there.
Folding origami can be challenging. You have to follow the directions exactly if you want your project to turn out like the picture shows. If you follow the directions exactly, when you finish folding you’ll have a giraffe. If you don’t follow the directions precisely, you might end up with something that looks more like a crab.
This is just a simple origami project. Because it’s so simple and because it was designed by sinful man, you could probably improve on the design. But imagine trying to put each piece of a DNA strand in the proper order to make a human being. It’s no surprise to us that God is the only One who can do this. Think about it: DNA is God’s design. It’s not a simple origami project. It’s not man’s development. Additionally, more than just arranging the pieces perfectly so they work properly, as Creator, Sovereign God and King of the Universe, He’s the only One who can bring those pieces to life. He’s the Life-Giver.
How many synonyms can you think of for “Creator”?
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
Because God is the maker, the builder, the originator, He gets to determine the rules. He designed life. He knows what works to make life flow properly. He designed the way for life to work, down to the very last detail. Much like folding the origami properly, there’s one way for it to come out right: God’s way.
Psalm 119:98-100 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
for it is ever with me.I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.
Some people would like to ignore God’s right to demand our adherence to His rules, our obedience to His commandments. But the reality is: God made us; He is completely within His rights to destroy us for going our own way. And yet, man has gone His own way from the very beginning.
Look up these verses. What do each of them have to say about God as Creator?
Hebrews 3:3 ___________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Proverbs 22:2 __________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Isaiah 64:8 ____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Genesis 1:27 ___________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Isaiah 40:28 ___________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Romans 9:21 ___________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Isaiah 54:5 ____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Hebrews 11:10 __________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Next to the text of this hymn, write your thoughts about the words, scriptures which come to mind, another verse, a prayer of thanksgiving to God for who He is, or something which shows you’re really thinking
I Sing the Mighty Power of God
I sing the mighty power of God,
that made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad,
and built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained
the sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at God’s command,
and all the stars obey.
I sing the goodness of the Lord,
who filled the earth with food,
Who formed the creatures through the Word,
and then pronounced them good.
Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed,
where’er I turn my eye,
If I survey the ground I tread,
or gaze upon the sky.
There’s not a plant or flower below,
but makes Thy glories known,
And clouds arise, and tempests blow,
by order from Thy throne;
While all that borrows life from Thee
is ever in Thy care;
And everywhere that we can be,
Thou, God art present there.
Dead End: Man’s Way
Adam and Eve were given simple directions: Do not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Find these instructions in your Bible. Write down exactly what God said and the scripture reference.
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It seems incredible to us that Adam and Eve wouldn’t obey God’s simple directions. And yet, what about us? Have you ever been given simple directions? ALL THE TIME!! If you don’t think so, ask your mom! So make a list. I’ll help get you started. Then you add 10 more to the list. (There’s another simple direction!!)
Make your bed.
Brush your teeth.
Eat your broccoli.
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Do you always obey?
You don’t.
O.K.
Why not?
The top reason on this list is: I don’t want to. You might not feel well. You might be full. You might be distracted by a tv program. You might be tired. Whatever excuse you give, it still boils down to the fact that you don’t want to obey.
Eve was in the same boat. She knew what God had said, but she was deceived by the serpent’s beguiling words. What Satan offered was tempting. It was desirable. She disobeyed God because she was deceived. Adam, on the other hand, knew what he was doing: disobeying God’s command.
How do we know that? Read 1 Timothy 2:14
Because of Adam and Eve’s choice to disobey God, we have inherited carnal nature (Romans 5:12)
Write Romans 8:7 here.
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______________________________________________________________________
The KJV says our carnal minds are enmity against God. What words looks very similar to the word “enmity”? __________________________________
It’s dreadful to think of being an enemy of God, but that’s the reality. We want to do what we want to do. How does James 1:14-15 put it?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Here’s the bottom line: Proverbs 14:12
______________________________________________________________________
So eschew your own way. Resist the ways of the world, the road of carnal man who lives in rebellion to God. Seek God and His ways. It’s the only way to successful make your way through this maze called Life.
Victory in Jesus (Find the references to the author being sinful - having carnal nature.)
I heard an old, old story,
How a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary
To save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning,
Then I repented of my sins;
And won the victory.
Refrain:
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him,
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood
I heard about His healing,
Of His cleansing power revealing.
How He made the lame to walk again
And caused the blind to see;
And then I cried, "Dear Jesus,
Come and heal my broken spirit,"
And somehow Jesus came and brought
To me the victory.
I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in glory.
And I heard about the streets of gold
Beyond the crystal sea;
About the angels singing,
And the old redemption story,
And some sweet day I'll sing up there
The song of victory.
Adam and Eve were given simple directions: Do not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Find these instructions in your Bible. Write down exactly what God said and the scripture reference.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
It seems incredible to us that Adam and Eve wouldn’t obey God’s simple directions. And yet, what about us? Have you ever been given simple directions? ALL THE TIME!! If you don’t think so, ask your mom! So make a list. I’ll help get you started. Then you add 10 more to the list. (There’s another simple direction!!)
Make your bed.
Brush your teeth.
Eat your broccoli.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Do you always obey?
You don’t.
O.K.
Why not?
The top reason on this list is: I don’t want to. You might not feel well. You might be full. You might be distracted by a tv program. You might be tired. Whatever excuse you give, it still boils down to the fact that you don’t want to obey.
Eve was in the same boat. She knew what God had said, but she was deceived by the serpent’s beguiling words. What Satan offered was tempting. It was desirable. She disobeyed God because she was deceived. Adam, on the other hand, knew what he was doing: disobeying God’s command.
How do we know that? Read 1 Timothy 2:14
Because of Adam and Eve’s choice to disobey God, we have inherited carnal nature (Romans 5:12)
Write Romans 8:7 here.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
The KJV says our carnal minds are enmity against God. What words looks very similar to the word “enmity”? __________________________________
It’s dreadful to think of being an enemy of God, but that’s the reality. We want to do what we want to do. How does James 1:14-15 put it?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Here’s the bottom line: Proverbs 14:12
______________________________________________________________________
So eschew your own way. Resist the ways of the world, the road of carnal man who lives in rebellion to God. Seek God and His ways. It’s the only way to successful make your way through this maze called Life.
Victory in Jesus (Find the references to the author being sinful - having carnal nature.)
I heard an old, old story,
How a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary
To save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning,
Then I repented of my sins;
And won the victory.
Refrain:
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him,
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood
I heard about His healing,
Of His cleansing power revealing.
How He made the lame to walk again
And caused the blind to see;
And then I cried, "Dear Jesus,
Come and heal my broken spirit,"
And somehow Jesus came and brought
To me the victory.
I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in glory.
And I heard about the streets of gold
Beyond the crystal sea;
About the angels singing,
And the old redemption story,
And some sweet day I'll sing up there
The song of victory.
Well-Traveled Path
Most people, when they get a new gadget, neglect to read the owner’s manual. List all of the gadgets in your house for which little or none of the owner’s manual has been read:
_____________________ ______________________
_____________________ ______________________
_____________________ ______________________
_____________________ ______________________
_____________________ ______________________
Why do we do this? Obviously, because we can. But seriously!! How can we get away with not reading the owner’s manual? (Think of as many reasons as you can. I have a few more to perhaps add to your list.)
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
Many aspects about serving God seem like getting a new gadget. Because God is so long-suffering and patient, He gives us lots of time to see our mistakes and to come back to Him. So it seems like it doesn’t matter how diligent we are to follow His ways exactly. After all, people reason, God knows our heart. He understands. Those people are wrong. God’s instructions and commandments are not optional. They are extremely important to God. He expects that we follow them precisely.
Think of at least two examples in the Bible which underline the idea that God really does care whether His people obey Him or not. Write them on these lines and be ready to share.
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
O.K. So if we need to follow God’s laws, what’s the best way to do that? There’s a saying: “I hear and I forget; I see and I remember; I do and I understand.” Think about that for a minute. If someone described to me how to fillet a fish, I’d probably forget in a New York minute. If someone showed me how to fillet a fish, I’d probably remember, but it would take me sixteen times longer than either my sister Patricia or my brother-in-law Dave. If Tricia told me what to do as I was doing it, I’d probably never forget how to fillet a fish. I would understand how to pull the skin back . . . you get the picture.
Now it’s your turn. You think of an example of a task that you forget if you hear a description, you remember if you see it done, but you understand how it works if you actually do it.
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_______________________________________________________
It’s the same way with God’s laws. If we merely hear them, they’re gone faster than we can get distracted by something else. If we see them in action (or read them in the Bible), we may remember them. But if we diligently obey God’s laws, doing them with all of our heart, then we understand.
Write James 1:22-25 here:
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_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Now take some time to learn how to arrange your tangrams to make a design.
Trust and Obey (Jot down some notes about how learning and doing God’s will can be so beneficial.)
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
Most people, when they get a new gadget, neglect to read the owner’s manual. List all of the gadgets in your house for which little or none of the owner’s manual has been read:
_____________________ ______________________
_____________________ ______________________
_____________________ ______________________
_____________________ ______________________
_____________________ ______________________
Why do we do this? Obviously, because we can. But seriously!! How can we get away with not reading the owner’s manual? (Think of as many reasons as you can. I have a few more to perhaps add to your list.)
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
Many aspects about serving God seem like getting a new gadget. Because God is so long-suffering and patient, He gives us lots of time to see our mistakes and to come back to Him. So it seems like it doesn’t matter how diligent we are to follow His ways exactly. After all, people reason, God knows our heart. He understands. Those people are wrong. God’s instructions and commandments are not optional. They are extremely important to God. He expects that we follow them precisely.
Think of at least two examples in the Bible which underline the idea that God really does care whether His people obey Him or not. Write them on these lines and be ready to share.
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
O.K. So if we need to follow God’s laws, what’s the best way to do that? There’s a saying: “I hear and I forget; I see and I remember; I do and I understand.” Think about that for a minute. If someone described to me how to fillet a fish, I’d probably forget in a New York minute. If someone showed me how to fillet a fish, I’d probably remember, but it would take me sixteen times longer than either my sister Patricia or my brother-in-law Dave. If Tricia told me what to do as I was doing it, I’d probably never forget how to fillet a fish. I would understand how to pull the skin back . . . you get the picture.
Now it’s your turn. You think of an example of a task that you forget if you hear a description, you remember if you see it done, but you understand how it works if you actually do it.
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
It’s the same way with God’s laws. If we merely hear them, they’re gone faster than we can get distracted by something else. If we see them in action (or read them in the Bible), we may remember them. But if we diligently obey God’s laws, doing them with all of our heart, then we understand.
Write James 1:22-25 here:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Now take some time to learn how to arrange your tangrams to make a design.
Trust and Obey (Jot down some notes about how learning and doing God’s will can be so beneficial.)
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
Speed Bumps and Potholes
Have you ever been speeding down the road when, all of a sudden, the car hits a pothole. It’s jarring. It’s surprising because it was unexpected. And it can do a lot of damage to the car! Similarly, a speed bump is jarring and, if taken too quickly, can do a lot of damage to a car. But the speed bump usually is very well marked. Speed bumps are placed there on purpose to get you to slow down.
As you travel down the road of life, you’re going to hit some potholes and some speed bumps. And as you’re trying to follow God’s ways, to learn and do His commands, there are going to be two kinds of people who will try to discourage you from staying on the path.
Speed bumps: These people you can see. You know they are there. They are the foes who oppose you, the people who are not your friends and who are very much against God and you living your life in a God-honoring way.
Potholes: These are the people who take you by surprise when they express displeasure at your obedience to God’s ways. These can be friends and family. They can be employers or coworkers. Their resistance to the way you live your life can be extremely jarring because you don’t see it coming. And their influence can have severely damaging effects on how you stay on the path.
Write about a time when someone who doesn’t like you made your life difficult because of what you believe and how you worship God.
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Now write about a time when a close friend or a family member caused you to feel bad about what you believe and how you worship God.
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What do you do? How can you stay strong despite the pressure that you feel to conform to this world, to please the people around you, to go along to get along? Read the words to this hymn and see if you can find an answer.
I am resolved no longer to linger,
Charmed by the world’s delight,
Things that are higher, things that are nobler,
These have allured my sight.
I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I will hasten, hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I am resolved to go to the Savior,
Leaving my sin and strife;
He is the true One, He is the just One,
He hath the words of life.
I am resolved to follow the Savior,
Faithful and true each day;
Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth,
He is the living Way.
I am resolved to enter the kingdom
Leaving the paths of sin;
Friends may oppose me, foes may beset me,
Still will I enter in.
I am resolved, and who will go with me?
Come, friends, without delay,
Taught by the Bible, led by the Spirit,
We’ll walk the heav’nly way.
The person who penned these words understood that there are potholes and speed bumps in the road we must take. He was determined to seek Jesus Christ with all of his heart.
What does that look like? What’s the difference between doing something because you think you should and doing something because you really want to do it? Think of things you would put in each category:
Things I Do Because I Should Things I Do Because I Want To
Do you have to have anyone tell you to do the things you want to do? Does the time drag when you’re doing what you want to do? Are you disappointed when you have to stop doing the things you want to do? Do you make time to continue doing what you want to do? Does thinking about what you want to do make you smile?
Where do you put keeping God’s laws? Is it in the first column or the second? How do you answer each of the questions above when talking about obeying God, keeping His commandments?
Potholes and speed bumps won’t bother you anymore when you have resolved to follow God with every part of your being, with everything you are - with all your heart, all your mind, all your strength, and all your soul.
This is the text of the resolution from the movie “Courageous.”
After reading it, write your own resolution about how you want to serve and worship God.
I DO solemnly resolve before God to take full responsibility for myself, my wife, and my children.
I WILL love them, protect them, serve them, and teach them the Word of God as the spiritual leader of my home.
I WILL be faithful to my wife, to love and honor her, and be willing to lay down my life for her as Jesus Christ did for me.
I WILL bless my children and teach them to love God with all of their hearts, all of their minds, and all of their strength.
I WILL train them to honor authority and live responsibly.
I WILL confront evil, pursue justice, and love mercy.
I WILL pray for others and treat them with kindness, respect, and compassion.
I WILL work diligently to provide for the needs of my family.
I WILL forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged.
I WILL learn from my mistakes, repent of my sins, and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God.
I WILL seek to honor God, be faithful to His church, obey His Word, and do His will.
I WILL courageously work with the strength God provides to fulfill this resolution for the rest of my life and for His glory.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. ---Joshua 24:15
Have you ever been speeding down the road when, all of a sudden, the car hits a pothole. It’s jarring. It’s surprising because it was unexpected. And it can do a lot of damage to the car! Similarly, a speed bump is jarring and, if taken too quickly, can do a lot of damage to a car. But the speed bump usually is very well marked. Speed bumps are placed there on purpose to get you to slow down.
As you travel down the road of life, you’re going to hit some potholes and some speed bumps. And as you’re trying to follow God’s ways, to learn and do His commands, there are going to be two kinds of people who will try to discourage you from staying on the path.
Speed bumps: These people you can see. You know they are there. They are the foes who oppose you, the people who are not your friends and who are very much against God and you living your life in a God-honoring way.
Potholes: These are the people who take you by surprise when they express displeasure at your obedience to God’s ways. These can be friends and family. They can be employers or coworkers. Their resistance to the way you live your life can be extremely jarring because you don’t see it coming. And their influence can have severely damaging effects on how you stay on the path.
Write about a time when someone who doesn’t like you made your life difficult because of what you believe and how you worship God.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
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Now write about a time when a close friend or a family member caused you to feel bad about what you believe and how you worship God.
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What do you do? How can you stay strong despite the pressure that you feel to conform to this world, to please the people around you, to go along to get along? Read the words to this hymn and see if you can find an answer.
I am resolved no longer to linger,
Charmed by the world’s delight,
Things that are higher, things that are nobler,
These have allured my sight.
I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I will hasten, hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I am resolved to go to the Savior,
Leaving my sin and strife;
He is the true One, He is the just One,
He hath the words of life.
I am resolved to follow the Savior,
Faithful and true each day;
Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth,
He is the living Way.
I am resolved to enter the kingdom
Leaving the paths of sin;
Friends may oppose me, foes may beset me,
Still will I enter in.
I am resolved, and who will go with me?
Come, friends, without delay,
Taught by the Bible, led by the Spirit,
We’ll walk the heav’nly way.
The person who penned these words understood that there are potholes and speed bumps in the road we must take. He was determined to seek Jesus Christ with all of his heart.
What does that look like? What’s the difference between doing something because you think you should and doing something because you really want to do it? Think of things you would put in each category:
Things I Do Because I Should Things I Do Because I Want To
Do you have to have anyone tell you to do the things you want to do? Does the time drag when you’re doing what you want to do? Are you disappointed when you have to stop doing the things you want to do? Do you make time to continue doing what you want to do? Does thinking about what you want to do make you smile?
Where do you put keeping God’s laws? Is it in the first column or the second? How do you answer each of the questions above when talking about obeying God, keeping His commandments?
Potholes and speed bumps won’t bother you anymore when you have resolved to follow God with every part of your being, with everything you are - with all your heart, all your mind, all your strength, and all your soul.
This is the text of the resolution from the movie “Courageous.”
After reading it, write your own resolution about how you want to serve and worship God.
I DO solemnly resolve before God to take full responsibility for myself, my wife, and my children.
I WILL love them, protect them, serve them, and teach them the Word of God as the spiritual leader of my home.
I WILL be faithful to my wife, to love and honor her, and be willing to lay down my life for her as Jesus Christ did for me.
I WILL bless my children and teach them to love God with all of their hearts, all of their minds, and all of their strength.
I WILL train them to honor authority and live responsibly.
I WILL confront evil, pursue justice, and love mercy.
I WILL pray for others and treat them with kindness, respect, and compassion.
I WILL work diligently to provide for the needs of my family.
I WILL forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged.
I WILL learn from my mistakes, repent of my sins, and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God.
I WILL seek to honor God, be faithful to His church, obey His Word, and do His will.
I WILL courageously work with the strength God provides to fulfill this resolution for the rest of my life and for His glory.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. ---Joshua 24:15
The Holy Highway
There’s a road called the holy highway that once was a desert land.
Very soon you’ll hear the sound of a holy marching band.
Everlasting joy upon them, there’s a remnant strong and true.
We bring the song back to Zion. We bring the praise back to You.
We exalted You, God Almighty;
You are worthy to be praised.
Let all nations bow before You,
holy Ancient of all days.
There’s a road called the holy highway where the people dance and shout,
Where the enemy is running with confusion all about.
Raise your banners, sing the victory; raise them high. His Word is true.
We bring the song back to Zion. We bring the praise back to You.
I love the image this song evokes. I love the vista spread out before me of a land flowing with water and life where it was a dry deserted wasteland before. I love the picture of people moving in unison, singing praises to God, dancing and shouting. I feel great peace at the idea of the enemy being subdued, of no more pain and death and suffering. I love the visualization of God’s kingdom established on this earth and God reigning perfectly, permanently.
Write Isaiah 2:3 here: ____________________________________________
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The Hebrew word for “ways” is derek and means “way, path, journey, road, manner.” “Paths” is the Hebrew word ‘orach which means “way, path, passing of life, way of living.” What the people are looking for, in Isaiah 2:3, is learning how to live their lives the way God intended people to live - in obedience to Him.
We who have been learning God’s ways and walking in His paths now will have the incredible privilege of helping to teach people what we know. God is preparing us to be teachers, witnesses of His glory, a kingdom of priests.
Remember how we talked about learning and doing God’s law? There’s a very interesting thing which happens when you teach: you learn the subject much better than you had before. Try it. Take either the origami pattern from the first day - the letter of your name - or the tangram design from the third day. Practice doing it until you’re sure you could teach someone else how to either do the origami or to arrange the tangrams.
Now write out your most favorite verses which talk about God’s ways. Be ready to share the verses and why they are your favorites.
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A final thought: there are many things you can do, people you can talk with, places you can go. How do you know what God would have you to do, who God would have you to talk with, where God would have you to go? Think about a verse that might give you a good answer for knowing God’s will for these questions. Write it here. (I’m curious to see if we’ll come up with the same verse.)
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There’s a road called the holy highway that once was a desert land.
Very soon you’ll hear the sound of a holy marching band.
Everlasting joy upon them, there’s a remnant strong and true.
We bring the song back to Zion. We bring the praise back to You.
We exalted You, God Almighty;
You are worthy to be praised.
Let all nations bow before You,
holy Ancient of all days.
There’s a road called the holy highway where the people dance and shout,
Where the enemy is running with confusion all about.
Raise your banners, sing the victory; raise them high. His Word is true.
We bring the song back to Zion. We bring the praise back to You.
I love the image this song evokes. I love the vista spread out before me of a land flowing with water and life where it was a dry deserted wasteland before. I love the picture of people moving in unison, singing praises to God, dancing and shouting. I feel great peace at the idea of the enemy being subdued, of no more pain and death and suffering. I love the visualization of God’s kingdom established on this earth and God reigning perfectly, permanently.
Write Isaiah 2:3 here: ____________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
The Hebrew word for “ways” is derek and means “way, path, journey, road, manner.” “Paths” is the Hebrew word ‘orach which means “way, path, passing of life, way of living.” What the people are looking for, in Isaiah 2:3, is learning how to live their lives the way God intended people to live - in obedience to Him.
We who have been learning God’s ways and walking in His paths now will have the incredible privilege of helping to teach people what we know. God is preparing us to be teachers, witnesses of His glory, a kingdom of priests.
Remember how we talked about learning and doing God’s law? There’s a very interesting thing which happens when you teach: you learn the subject much better than you had before. Try it. Take either the origami pattern from the first day - the letter of your name - or the tangram design from the third day. Practice doing it until you’re sure you could teach someone else how to either do the origami or to arrange the tangrams.
Now write out your most favorite verses which talk about God’s ways. Be ready to share the verses and why they are your favorites.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
A final thought: there are many things you can do, people you can talk with, places you can go. How do you know what God would have you to do, who God would have you to talk with, where God would have you to go? Think about a verse that might give you a good answer for knowing God’s will for these questions. Write it here. (I’m curious to see if we’ll come up with the same verse.)
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