DILIGENCE 4 - Don't work for nothing; don't live for nothing!

Diligence 4 - English files

Fleiß 4 - German files

The picture at the right shows the craft project for this lesson. Instructions are included.

Devotional Thoughts about Matthew 7:24-27

Scenes from this famous parable are often crafted, drawn or colored by Sunday School kids and shown to their parents. Most of them can usually point out the differences in the two structures that make the one practical and the other tragic.

In this age of building codes and of heavy machinery eliminating much of the back­breaking work necessary to erect sustainable buildings, most children in first-world countries now have little or no exposure to poorly-built houses. But even those who can point to a potential fixer-upper in the neighborhood don’t necessarily get the point of the story.

Just as the houses in most neighborhoods don’t usually convey to a curbside bystander the problems that might be hiding inside such as mold, faulty plumbing, abuse or even criminal activity, many of those who build their lives without Jesus don’t let on by their outward appearances what a wreck their lives are.

Many aren’t even fully aware of it themselves as they live in denial, desperately projecting success with their selfies, their words and their lifestyles. Children as well as many adults are taken in by appearances, not perceiving the brokenness in people all around them.

Lord, please convince me—and the kids, too—that a life without You brings devastation. Help us to make You and Your Word the foundation of our lives.

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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 the next lesson will be the first in the topic Fairness.

DILIGENCE 3 - When something needs to be done, do it!

Diligence 3 - English files

Fleiß 3 - German files

Devotional Thoughts about Nehemiah Chapters 1-5

Nehemiah was a Jew of the captivity who’d made it good in Persia, but when his brother told him about the derelict state of Jerusalem, he cried and mourned for days. Although he’d probably never been there, he wanted to go help his people.

He fasted and prayed over the situation and specifically about approaching his boss, King Artaxerxes (1:11). As his cupbearer—the one who made sure he wasn’t poi­soned—Nehemiah surely had a track record of reliability. When the king noticed his changed demeanor, he asked what was wrong and was told of his burden.

Artaxerxes knew a request was coming, and in the few seconds before Nehemiah answered, he prayed one of the short, pithy prayers he’s known for (see for instance 5:19, 6:9). The king responded by granting a leave of absence and arranging for letters of passage and the wood needed to rebuild the city wall.

Nehemiah is a great example of initiative. He was willing to lead the project of rebuilding the wall, and he wasn’t afraid of hard work in adverse conditions. Still, he wasn’t a self-made man climbing to success, but rather a man of faith who prayed and trusted God to take care of the results.

Lord, please give me the courage to take the initiative on tasks You want me to do, not forgetting to pray over them.

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 the next lesson will be the fourth in the topic Diligence.

DILIGENCE 2 - Don't get distracted from your job!

Diligence 2 - English files

Fleiß 2 - German files

Devotional Thoughts about Distraction

Distraction is a big trap for me. I can work hard and concentrate, but often when I grab my phone to look up some needed information, I’m bombarded by notifications, updates and advertisements from the big wide Internet out there.

I find it important to just quickly check them, which launches me on a series of unrelated texts, e-mails, forgotten tasks and random thoughts. At some point I surface to discover I’ve wasted lots of time and haven’t made any progress with the work.

A smart phone is very useful in modern life. It makes many tasks much easier, but I sometimes find it scary that I can hardly imagine getting along without it. Among its many offers is the constant temptation to waste time in so many ways.

I make rules for myself, but then disregard them as one video clip melts into another and another. Some are good; many are irrelevant, but inertia keeps me from shutting down the comfortable diversion.

Lord, please forgive me for my laziness. Give me the strength to resist distraction and the incentive to focus squarely on what you’ve given me to do. 

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 the next lesson will be the third in the topic Diligence.

DILIGENCE 1 - Give your best to please God!

Diligence 1 - English files

Fleiß 1 - German files

Devotional Thoughts about 1 Corinthians 10:31

Kids are drawn to play and aren’t generally noted for having a work ethic. They consider many of their duties to be either hard or boring, and some would never stick to a job if left to themselves. Parents often find it hard to motivate them to concentrate and give a task their best without complaining.

I remember as a kid longing to be grown up because I thought I’d then be able to do just as I liked. Of course I found out that as an adult I had to work more rather than less.

Actually, the context of this verse is not specifically about work, but rather about getting along with other Christians. However, it applies to work and to everything else we do: God’s glory is the goal.

Lord, give me the desire to please You in every situation and put out the effort to give You my best.

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 the next lesson will be the second in the topic Diligence.