DEPENDENCE 4 - God does great things through weak people.

Treasure in a Clay Pot

Dependence 4 - English files

Abhängigkeit 4 - English files

The picture at the left shows the finished craft project belonging to this lesson.

Devotional Thoughts about 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Why do we instinctively hide our weaknesses? We don't want to be seen as hypochondriacs or wet blankets. It usually comes down to pride. Weak­ness is unattractive, and the comfort of pity soon gets old.

Paul began the account of his experience with awkward phrasing and third-person narration. Maybe those indicate that he was uncomfortable exposing his weakness. Yet the story ends up strong with the straightforward affirmation that he welcomes all sorts of trials because they make him depend on Christ, which turns his weakness into strength.

This amazing paradox shows up again and again in the Bible (see James 1:2,3 and 1 Peter 1:6,7). More than once when yet another health problem has surfaced, I’ve tried to wrap my mind around these passages, wondering how to embrace trials and weakness for Christ.

Lord, please help me do just that.

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DEPENDENCE 3 - Stay close to Jesus!

Dependence 3 - English files

Abhängigkeit 3 - German files

Devotional Thoughts about John 15:1-8

The metaphors of Jesus as the vine, the Father as the vinedresser and believers as the branches are probably quite difficult for most children to understand. With this tactile lesson, I’m trying to put at least the word pictures into their minds along with a few main concepts. I hope that when they later come in contact with the passage again, they’ll remember and build on what they’ve learned.

With the Bible and prayer, we have the means at our disposal of communicating with the living God! Unfortunately, our other priorities often crowd Him out, and we wither spiritually. It's logical that neglected relationships suffer, but Christians often don't seem to realize that their carelessness, indifference and other sins might be responsible fortheir dry, mechanical relationship to Jesus.

The Bible simile of a thirsty deer (see Psalm 42:1,2) shows how desperately we need God and how greatly we should long for Him. I’ve often heard that by the time our brains register that we’re thirsty, a mild dehydration process has already begun. Likewise, by the time we realize we need God, contact with Him is long overdue.

Lord, help me to long for You and to seek You in Your Word and prayer. Don't let me forget that I can't do anything without You.

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DEPENDENCE 2 - Admit your helplessness!

Dependence 2 - English file 

Abhängigkeit 2 - German file

Devotional Thoughts about John 5:1-14

Sickness is a good metaphor for weakness or other hindrances we can’t control.

When the first signs of bronchitis come upon me, it’s often a day or two before I’ll admit even to myself that I’m sick, and only then will I change my routine and take medicine. 

Besides the misery of the symptoms, I don't like cancelling appointments and depending on others for help. That’s probably the case for most people. We want to at least give the impression of strength and ability, but we’re often sick or burdened by other limitations.

When Jesus asked the man at the pool whether he wanted to get well, he described how his disability kept him from being healed. He wasn’t shy to state his need for help, and Jesus healed him.

Lord, please help me to always remember that I need you for every breath I take, for my salvation and for every step in my walk with You.

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DEPENDENCE 1 - Everyone needs God.

Dependence 1 - English files

Abhängigkeit 1 - German files 

Devotional Thoughts about Genesis 11:1-9

After the flood, God told Noah’s family to have children and populate the earth. To begin filling the huge earth, his descendants would need to spread apart, but they had plans of their own and settled together in a favorable plain at Shinar.

Using clay or mud God had created, the people formed and baked bricks and then extracted resin from the ground to stick them together. With this innovation, they were able to build stable buildings, presumably to replace temporary shelters they had been using.

However, the main focus of their accomplishment didn’t seem to be providing housing for their families; it was rather a statement of their own collective arrogance: a city with an excessively high tower. They must have feared their significance would be diluted if they were scattered (11:4), and this building project at least kept them together.

God, who knew their motivation, recognized it as rebellion against Him. He changed their one language into many, and the resulting confusion ruined the cooperative endeavor. People abandoned the project and left town, ultimately accomplishing the goal that God had intended in the first place.

Lord, never let me believe that I can get along without You just trusting in my own abilities.

Downloading lesson files

If you're interested in the lesson files, simply click on the appropriate link above to download them in the desired language. See the Informational Pages in the right column for more about the lesson series. The next post and lesson will be the second in the topic Dependence.