Chapter 8: A Few Good Men . . . and Women
Timeless Truth: Spiritual compromise can be overcome by turning back to God.
Bible Basis: Judges 2:7-8, 4 and 16
Key Verse: [Samson] said, “LORD and King, show me that you still have concern for me. God, please make me strong just one more time” (Judges 16:28)
Resource: The Story: Teen Edition, The Story for Kids/Children/Little Ones: Chapter 8
Parent Tips:
Use the Table Talk questions to start a discussion around the dinner table during the week. The Living Faith activity is designed to help your family understand how following God’s commands keep us safe. The Extra Mile will get your family to laugh as you discuss the importance of discipline.
Get the Point:
Preschool: God helps those who turn to him. I can depend on God.
Elementary: God helps those who turn to him. I can depend on God.
Middle/High School: Just like the Israelites, God calls us to be set apart. Live that way.
Table Talk
Preschool/Elementary
- Why did God have to raise up judges such as Deborah and Samson? (Because the Israelites weren’t following God.)
- How does this show God’s love? (God gave Israel a second chance—actually lots of chances—to come back and follow Him. He didn’t give up on the Israelites.)
- How does God show His love to us today? (By sending His Son to die for our sins; by forgiving the bad things we do and allowing us to have a relationship with Him.)
- God gave Samson great strength. What are some gifts God has given you?
- How can you use these gifts to help others follow God?
Middle/High School
- • When God allowed the Midianites to rule over His people and treat them badly, he raised up Gideon to get the Israelites back on track (Judges 6-8). What kind of man was Gideon? (He was the least important person in his weak family.)
- Gideon wasn’t popular, strong or a natural leader—he didn’t even trust God at first and made God prove himself. What does this tell you about God?
- Gideon raised an army of 32,000 men, but only 300 went to attack the Midianites. Why?
- How would you like to be more like Gideon? Does he have any character traits that you wouldn’t want to emulate?
Living Faith
Break your family into two teams. Gather masking tape, a package of 100 straws and several eggs. Work in teams to create a casing that will protect an egg when it’s dropped. Each team can only use tape and straws. When you’ve finished your designs, go outside and see which egg protector works best. You may need to get a ladder or chair to stand on as the eggs are dropped on a hard surface. The losing team has to clean up the mess.
Explain that the Israelites followed God as long as Joshua and the elders lived (Judges 2:7). God’s people were like the egg surrounded by the protective casing of God’s commands. The casing protects the egg. Without protection, the egg breaks. Chapter 8 of The Story shows what happened to the Israelites after they strayed from God’s commands by worshipping idols and following the world’s customs instead of God’s. God judged His people and they had to suffer the consequences of their actions.
Ask
- Could the egg survive the fall without the protection of the straw casing?
- How does God’s Word protect us?
- Why is it important to know and follow God’s commands?
- What happens to us when we decide to get outside the protection of God’s commands? (We sin and have to suffer the consequences.
Extra Mile
Go to godtube.com and search for Bob Smiley’s video called “Spankings.” It’s only a minute and a half long. If you want to watch more of Bob’s comedy, look for a 14 minute and seven second video that talks about being a father and other issues. When you’re done watching the videos as a family, discuss these questions about discipline.
- How is God judging the Israelites like a parent disciplining a child?
- What was God’s purpose in the judges? (To bring His people back to Him, to stop them from sinning and to help them live a more abundant life.)
- Did God’s judgment seem harsh or loving? Was it both?
- Why did God’s children disobey so frequently? (They forgot what God had done. They followed the world’s practices, not God’s.)
- What can your family learn from this chapter of The Story?
- Write down one thing your family will do differently after studying the judges: __________________________________ .
Chapter 7: The Battle Begins
Timeless Truth: God’s power, not our own, wins the battle.
Bible Basis: Joshua 1-6
Key Verse: “Be strong and very brave. Make sure you obey the whole law. … Then you will have success everywhere you go” (Joshua 1:7).
Resource: The Story: Teen Edition, The Story for Kids/Children/Little Ones: Chapter 7
Parent Tips:
Use the Table Talk questions to start a discussion around the dinner table during the week. The Living Faith activity is designed to help your family understand how God’s power can accomplish things that we can’t on our own. The Extra Mile will get your family involved in encouraging someone in your community.
Get the Point:
Preschool: God sent help for his people. God sends me to help, too.
Elementary: God sent help for his people. God sends me to help, too.
Middle School: God’s power can break down any wall—literal walls and personal walls in your life.
High School: God is strong. He wants His followers to be strong and not make compromises in their lives. He wants them to fight and win the battle within.
Table Talk
Preschool/Elementary
- Why do you think the Israelites had more faith this time than when the spies were sent into the Promised Land years before? (All of the people from before were dead; God showed His consistent power in the desert as they wandered.)
- Read Joshua 3:15-17. How did God show His power before the Israelites even got to Jericho? When did God show His power to part the water before this?
- Do you think God’s people felt silly walking around Jericho for six days while being completely silent? How does this show they had faith in God?
- What do you think the people inside Jericho were thinking as they watched the Israelites march around?
- How much confidence do you think God’s people had after they watched the walls around Jericho tumble down under God’s mighty hand?
Middle/High School
- God used Rahab, a woman with a sketchy background, to help His people in a big way. What does this tell you about God?
- Rahab lied to the king’s men to save the Israelite spies. Was it wrong for her to lie? (Yes, lying is always wrong. Rahab was not a Jew, but she did have faith that the God of Israel was the one true God—read Joshua 2:11.)
- Will God forgive past sins, such as lying?
- God blessed Rahab for her faith and for helping His people—not for lying. What are some ways you can show your faith in God and help other Christians?
Living Faith
Gather a glass bowl filled halfway with water and a peppershaker or pepper mill. Make sure the bowl is totally clean and free from soapy residue. Put the bowl and the pepper on the kitchen table. Hide some liquid dishwashing soap near the table. Bring your family together at the table and ask one family member to sprinkle pepper on the entire surface of the water.
Say: The pepper is like the wall around Jericho. It protected the city by holding out enemies and couldn’t be broken.
Have a child dip their finger into the bowl. Did anything happen?
Say: There was no way that the Israelite army could break through the wall by its own power. Only with God’s help could they take the city.
As you say this, secretly put some liquid dishwashing soap on your finger and dip it into the bowl. Watch as the pepper is immediately slammed against the sides of the bowl, leaving much of the water clear.
Explain how you did this trick by getting a new bowl or thoroughly washing out the one you used. Show how the detergent lowers the surface tension of the water and forces the pepper to the side. Allow your kids to sprinkle pepper on the water and then watch it being drawn to the sides by adding detergent.
Say: From the beginning of time, God designed the water to react the way it does in this trick. He knew exactly what the reaction would be when the detergent hit the water. In the same way, God’s power brought down the wall around Jericho. He knew it would crumble when the Israelites blew their horns and shouted out to Him.
Extra Mile
God brought people together to help the Israelites. In Jericho, Rahab helped the spies and encouraged them by saying, “Everyone in this country is weak with fear because of you.” God used one person, Rahab, to make a big difference for the Israelites. Rahab even shows up in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5), which demonstrates how God had a great plan for somebody who the world may have viewed as a castoff.
As a family, decide to make a difference in one person’s life by showing him God’s love in a tangible way. If you don’t know of anyone to help, talk to your pastor, friends, neighbors, a local charity or community organization to find an individual who needs help. Maybe it’s an elderly person who needs yard work (grass cut, sidewalk shoveled or weeds pulled). Perhaps it’s a single mother who could be blessed by a bagful or groceries or a gift card to a grocery store. Maybe it’s a military family who has a spouse overseas who would delight in a card of encouragement and dinner out. Be creative as you seek to serve one person in your community. Make sure this person knows that God cares for him or her.
Chapter 6: Wandering
Timeless Truth: Faith in God’s promises will be rewarded. Doubt will be punished.
Bible Basis: Numbers 13-14, 20:1-13, Deuteronomy 34
Key Verse: [Joshua and Caleb] said, “If the Lord is pleased with us, he’ll lead us into that land. … He’ll give it to us” (Numbers 14:8).
Parent Tips:
Use the Table Talk questions to start a discussion around the dinner table during the week. The Living Faith activity is designed to help your family understand the importance of knowing and following God’s promises. The Extra Mile will build trust among your family.
Get the Point:
Preschool: Joshua and Caleb were confident in God's promise. I can be confident in God's promises, too.
Elementary: Joshua and Caleb were confident in God’s promise. I can be confident no matter what.
Middle School: God will always come through on His promises, but disobeying God’s plan leads to suffering.
High School: Stand up for God against the majority, like Joshua and Caleb did, and you will enjoy the fullness of God’s promises.
Table Talk
Preschool/Elementary
Say This week The Story tells us how 12 spies went in to look at God’s promised land and 10 came back scared. Only Caleb and Joshua were excited about going into the Promised Land. Ask:
- Why were Joshua and Caleb so confident they could defeat people who were bigger than they were and lived in strong cities? (They trusted God; they had faith in His promises.)
- Were the other 10 spies focused more on God or on the situations?
- By focusing on earthly things, the 10 spies were too scared to trust God. What are some things in your life that scare you?
- Does your fear ever keep you from doing something you want to?
- How can you overcome that fear? What are some of the benefits of overcoming that fear?
Middle/High School
- The Israelites chose to listen to the 10 fearful spies, instead of Joshua and Caleb—who trusted God. Because of that, they missed out on the fruits of God’s promises. Name a time that you followed worldly advice. What was the consequence? Talk about a time where you followed God despite strong opposition. What happened?
- What was God’s punishment to the people, because of their lack of faith? Do you think God’s punishment was too harsh?
- What are some of the punishments or judgments people face today because of an unwillingness to stand strong for God?
- How can you live more boldly for God? Name one way that you want to trust God more in your life.
Living Faith
Set up two obstacle courses in your living room, backyard or a park. Be creative in using items around your home. Make one course long and difficult. Keep the other course rather simple and short. Ideas include: doing a hula hoop 10 times, putting your forehead on a bat and spinning around 10 times, jumping rope, running around a trash can, crab walking, climbing over the couch or fence, crawling on your hands and knees, skipping, etc. Once the courses are set up, bring a Bible and ask the first racer a question based on this week’s reading from The Story.
Sample: Who buried Moses in Moab when he died? Answer: God.
Where did the Israelites want to go, instead of going into the Promised Land? Answer: Egypt.
God made water pour out of what object? Answer: A rock.
If the racer gets a question correct, allow them to race the short course. If he misses the question, have him run around the longer course. Let each family member try to answer a question and complete a course. Try to make the questions age appropriate using the chapters mentioned in the above “Bible Basis.”
When everybody’s finished, ask:
- Which course was faster to complete? (the short one)
- What allowed you to run that course? (Knowing God’s Word)
- In what ways do these obstacle courses compare to the Israelites in the desert? (God has a more direct plan for your life, but allows for you to choose. Sometimes those choices lead to a harder path and punishment. Knowing God’s plan and following it makes life better and results in fewer roadblocks.)
- Why is doing something God’s way the first time important?
Extra Mile
Do trust falls with your family (just make sure your children are big enough to catch you). Have one person stand facing away and with their arms crossed in front of them. Instruct them to close their eyes, remain stiff and fall backwards. Have another family member or two “catch” that person before they hit the ground. Take turns falling backwards and catching each other. Ask:
- What was the scariest part?
- Was it hard to trust that you’d be safe when you fell backward? Why?
- Why is it hard sometimes to trust God and His Word?
- Can you always trust your family to be there for you?
- Can you always trust God to be there for you?
Chapter 5 - New Rules
Timeless Truth: Following God’s laws results in righteousness.
Bible Basis: Exodus 19-25:22
Key Verse: “[God's people] answered with one voice. They said, 'We will do everything the Lord has told us to do' " (Exodus 24:3).
Resource: The Story: Teen Edition, The Story for Kids/Children/Little Ones: Chapter 5
Parent Tips:
Use the Table Talk questions to start a discussion around the dinner table during the week. The Living Faith activity is designed to help your family discern what a lie is and always strive to tell the truth. The Extra Mile looks a current teen ethics trends and encourages your kids to be different. Plus, a fun game will help your family memorize the 10 Commandments.
Get the Point:
Preschool: God gave us rules so that we can know him. I can know God by learning his laws.
Elementary: God gave us rules so we can know him. I can know God by learning his laws.
Middle School: Following man’s ideas leads to selfishness and death. Following God’s laws leads to life.
High School: The 10 Commandments allow us to have true community with the one true God, instead of following our disobedient tendencies.
Table Talk
Preschool/Elementary
- Why did God’s people need rules?
- Those rules are pretty old now. Do they still apply today? Why?
- Which one of the 10 Commandments is the hardest for you to follow?
- What are some other important rules that the 10 Commandments don’t cover?
Middle/High School
- What do you think is the most important of the 10 Commandments? Why?
- When Jesus was asked that same question, what did He say? (Read Matthew 22:36-40) Why did He answer this way? Do you agree?
- The third commandment talks about not misusing God’s name. Does that apply to words such as “Gosh”, “Geez” and “OMG”?
- What do the 10 Commandments show us about God’s character? (He’s a jealous God; He cares about life; He wants us to look to Him for our needs.)
Living Faith
Play the “Two Truths and a Lie” game as a family. In this game, each family member has to think up two real things and one falsehood to say out loud. Then everybody guesses which thing is the lie. Try to make the lie sound believable. Parents will have an easier time stumping their children, but be aware about what you reveal about yourself. Also, try to have the true statements sound outrageous, then you can share the story behind your “truth.” (Example: “I never had detention in high school; I once hit a golf ball and broke a car’s windshield; I made my little brother drink pickle juice.” In this case, if the lie was about detention, then the truths could lead to interesting stories.
Ask:
- What was the hardest part about this game?
- Did you learn anything new about your family?
- Was it easy to disguise a lie in the truth?
- How come it’s easy for little lies to slip out in everyday life?
- What are some ways that we can always strive to be truthful?
Extra Mile
Use these ideas to drive home the importance of the 10 Commandments.
1. In the Cards—get a deck of cards and remove all the face cards (jacks, queens, kings and jokers). Shuffle the deck. Bring out a Bible and review the 10 Commandments in order. For younger children, you can paraphrase the Commandments like this: 1. God is the one true God; 2. Do not worship anyone or anything but God; 3. Do not misuse God's name; 4. Rest one day a week; 5. Respect your father and mother. 6. Do not kill; 7. Husbands and wives should keep their promises to each other; 8. Do not steal; 9. Do not lie; 10. Do not be jealous of others.
Put the deck on the table. Have the youngest family member start by drawing a card and trying to say the corresponding commandment (example: 8=Do not steal). If the person says the correct commandment, he gets to keep the card. If it’s incorrect, the card is put face up next to the deck. Go through the entire deck of cards. The person who ends up with the most cards gets a prize, such as being able to choose a special dessert the following night.
2. Teen Scene—Look up “The Ethics of American Youth—2008 summary” online. Based on a random survey of 30,000 high school students, this study found that 35 percent of boys and 26 percent of girls stole from a store in the past year. Twenty-three percent stole from a parent or relative, and 20 percent stole from a friend. Lying was an even bigger issue. Eighty-three percent admitted to lying to a parent about something significant. Cheating is also a problem that appears to be getting worse in that 64 percent of students cheated on a test in the last year. High schoolers couldn’t even be totally honest on this anonymous survey—26 percent said they lied on one or two questions.
Ask:
- Do these numbers on lying, cheating and stealing seem about right in your school and among your friends? Would you say the problem is larger?
- Why do you think so many students lie, cheat or steal?
- Have you ever cheated on a test or been tempted to cheat?
- Is cheating the same thing as lying? Why or why not?
- What’s one way that teenagers could be encouraged to lie, cheat and steal less?
- Can you think of the underlying cause of this behavior? (Selfishness, fear of getting bad grades, etc.)
- What can we do as parents to help you not lie, cheat or steal?
Chapter 4 - Out of Egypt
Timeless Truth: God is the ultimate Deliverer.
Bible Basis: Exodus 1—16:15
Key Verse: Moses answered the people. He said, “Don't be afraid. Stand firm. You will see how the Lord will save you today” (Exodus 14:13, nirv).
Resource: The Story: Teen Edition, The Story for Kids/Children/Little Ones: Chapter 4
Parent Tips:
Use the Table Talk questions to start a discussion around the dinner table during the week. The Living Faith activity is designed to help your family look to God during hard times and follow Him. The Extra Mile idea will help your family relate to the Israelites and benefit your church.
Get the Point:
Preschool: God sent Moses to bring his people out of Egypt. God will always help his people—including me.
Elementary: God watched over Moses and his people. God watches over me, too.
Middle School: God is the God over all gods. He sees and hears everything. He can overcome any power on earth to help me.
High School: Jesus is the new Passover sacrifice.
Table Talk
Preschool/Elementary
Say: God provided for Moses through his entire life, and He provides for our family today. Share a story of God’s provision in your life and then ask
• How did God care for Moses when he was a baby? (Pharaoh’s daughter finding him in Nile River; being raised by his own mother as an infant; growing up in the palace)
• How did God provide for Moses when he was asking Pharaoh to let the Israelite people go? (He protected Moses and gave him his brother Aaron to speak.)
• How did God provide for the Israelites when they left Egypt? (Guiding them with a pillar of fire or cloud; parting the Red Sea; manna in the morning.)
• How does God provide for you?
Middle/High School
Say: Pharaoh was very stubborn and hardened his heart against God. Share a story where God was working in your life or trying to get your attention, but you didn’t see it until later. Ask
• Do you know a friend, teacher or relative who’s hardened their heart against God and refuses to see Him?
• Why do you think people stubbornly refuse to see God when He makes himself known in creation and everyday circumstances?
• What can you do to open people’s eyes to the truth about God? (Share the good news about Jesus with them; pray for them; be their friend.)
• If somebody totally refuses to acknowledge God, what should you do? (Pray that the Holy Spirit softens their heart; continue to show them God’s love.)
Living Faith
Grab a flashlight and bring your family to a dark room or into the basement. This activity can also be done outside on a dark night. Explain that according to the Bible, God led the Israelites at night with a pillar of fire (Exodus 13:21). By following the pillar of fire at night and the pillar of cloud during the day, God’s people always knew exactly where to go. Tell your family that you’re going to play a game of “Reverse Hide and Seek.” Instead of one person counting and everybody hiding, the person holding the flashlight will hide and everybody else will count. Have a parent hide first. After everybody counts to 20, let them search for the person hiding. Once that person is found, let him hide again. This time after everybody has counted, wait a couple minutes and then turn on the flashlight before anybody finds you. With the flashlight on, allow every family member to get to you. Let other family members take turns hiding.
When you’re finished, ask:
• Were you ever scared being stuck in the dark and not knowing where to go?
• Was it easier to find the hidden person when the flashlight was on or off?
• How does God shine His “flashlight” today, so it’s easier for us to follow Him? (He gave us the Bible; instruction from parents; youth leaders at church.)
• How does God’s light deliver us and keep us safe?
• God’s “flashlight” is on all the time. How does it make you feel to know you can go to Him whenever you’re in need?
• The Bible says, “You are in the light because of what the Lord has done. Live like children of the light” (Ephesians 5:8). What are some ways we can live as children of the light?
Extra Mile
On a Sunday night (or early on a Monday morning if you wake up before your kids), tell your family that you’re going to eat breakfast like the Israelites did when they escaped Egypt. The Bible says that thin flakes of bread appeared on the ground every morning (Exodus 15:15-16). The Israelites would gather up enough for their family and eat it throughout the day. The next morning a whole new crop of manna, which comes from the Hebrew words “What is it?” would be waiting for them to eat. Instead of manna, explain that your family will eat oatmeal every morning. Calculate the cost savings of eating oatmeal instead of cereal, doughnuts or eggs (whatever is your family’s normal breakfast food) and have your children donate that money to the church the following Sunday to do God’s work.
At some point during the week, ask your family what the Israelites must’ve felt like after eating manna every day for years.