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11. Don't Covet

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(For instructions on how to use this study, see Welcome to The Ten Commandments)

Commandment: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house…” (Exodus 20:17a NET)

Bible Story: Victory in Canaan – Joshua 5:13-6:27

Goals-

Cognitive: The children will learn how Joshua followed God’s instructions and obtained victory in battle.

Affective: The children will understand with we are to follow God’s instructions for He knows best.

Books to know this week:

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude Revelation

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

Key passage(s) to know this week:

· The 10 Commandments – Exodus 20

· The Model Prayer – Matthew 6:9-13

· A Messianic Psalm – Psalm 22

· Imitating Christ’s Humility – Philippians 2:1-11

· A Priestly Blessing – Numbers 6:24-26

· Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 5-7

· The Creation Account – Genesis 1

· Hall of Faith – Hebrews 11

· The Lord is my Shepherd – Psalm 23

· Armor of God – Ephesians 6:10-18

Praise and Worship Time (10 minutes)

    1. Begin with opening prayer

    2. Sing songs: (songs of choice)

Review Books of the Bible and Key Passages (5 minutes)

Encourage the students to look up these passages in their bibles:

Situation 1: Your friend is having a hard time. Things just don’t seem to be going his/her way. You want to offer him/her some encouragement and your parents tell you to go to the book of Psalms. Often, things didn’t go David’s way so he would write out his feelings. Which psalm might look up to encourage your friend and to let your friend know that God cares for His own? (Psalm 23)

Situation 2: You hear from the preacher that we are in a Spiritual battle; the forces of evil versus God. He mentions the different spiritual armor we have access to, things like the shield of faith and the helmet of salvation. Where do you find the full list of the armor of God? (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Situation 3: You know as Christians, we are to be like Christ. One of Christ’s most prominent attributes was His humility while He was on earth; He was the perfect Servant Leader. Where in Scripture do we read specifically of Christ’s humility…what our minds should be like? (Philippians 2:1-1)

Find the following books of the Bible:

    1. 1 Corinthians 4. Hosea

    2. Mark 5. Obadiah

    3. Colossians 6. Joshua

Tell the Bible Story (15 minutes)

    1. Prepare to teach

Review last week’s Bible study notes

Read Joshua 5-6

Read all of this week’s Bible study notes

    2. Teach

Assign the following passages/verses to be read by the children:

    · Joshua 5:13-15

    · Joshua 6:1-5

    · Joshua 6:15-17

    · Joshua 6:20-21

    · Joshua 6:27

The following passage will be read by the leader:

      · f) Joshua 6:8-14

Review where we left off last time:

      · Last week, we left off with the priests’ crossing over the Jordan River.

      · The river was at flood level so the Israelites had to exercise some faith

      · God held the water back so they could cross on dry land just as He had done with Moses and the Red Sea

      · The Israelites were now ready to begin their conquest of the Promised Land

      · Word spread to the different kings of what God did for the Israelites

      · The Bible tells us the different king’s hearts melted in fear and that they no longer had the courage to face Joshua and the Israelites.

      · God told Joshua to have the people get themselves ready

      · On the 14th day of the month, the people celebrated Passover; the day after, the manna stopped.

Have a child read Joshua 5:13-15

    · Joshua was near Jericho; perhaps he was thinking through potential battle plans? Perhaps he was praying asking God for direction and protection?

    · When Joshua looked up, he saw a man with a drawn sword.

    · It was only natural for him to ask if the man was a friend or foe.

    · The man answered ‘Neither’ (interestingly enough) and told Joshua he was the commander of the LORD’s army.

    · Joshua fell face down in reverence and waited for a message from God

    · The man asked Joshua to remove his sandals for he was standing on holy ground

Ask the children:

Who else was asked to remove his sandals for he was standing on holy ground? (Moses at the burning bush)

This reinforces God choice of Joshua to fill Moses’ role as leader of the people.

Joshua was now ready to receive instructions. Have a child read Joshua 6:1-5.

    · God has already given them victory over Jericho, that was the first thing the man told Joshua.

    · He then told Joshua how they were to secure that victory.

    · They were to march around the city once per day for 6 days and seven times on the seventh day with the priests carrying the ark and 7 priests blowing trumpets in front of the ark

    · On the seventh day the people were to give a loud shout and the walls would collapse (recall how the spies Moses and Joshua sent in reported that the cities were fortified with large walls of protection).

(Have the children rise at this point. Choose 7 to act as priests with trumpets and 4 to act as priests carrying the ark of the covenant. Designate a space we will call ‘Jericho’ that the entire group will march around. If you have access to horns or can make some horns, do so. If not, consider finding a horn sound effect and use that. It is important we take the time to do this; we want the children to gain an understanding of what the people might have felt…some must have wondered how marching around a city would bring them victory.)

As the children begin their march around ‘Jericho’, have a leader read Joshua 6:8-14. Pause for a moment after the first march then continue with the remaining marches. March as many times as time permits. Ask the children to pause before the seventh day set of seven marches. They are to pause again before marching around seven times.

    · Joshua provided his leadership with the instructions given to him from God.

    · He told the people not to give a war cry until they were told to.

    · Early the next morning, they began their march… early! Not in the middle of the day!

    · They marched once and returned to camp…they did this for six days

Ask the children: “What are your thoughts about this plan of God’s?”

(allow for honest responses; it’s a good one because it’s God’s plan, don’t quite understand it; seems silly; seems easy; whatever they might think)

Remind the group God has already told Joshua they would be victorious; all they had to do is follow God’s instructions. Some, maybe many, did not understand the plan, but they needed to follow God’s instructions anyway. They needed to trust God would work the details out.

Have a child read Joshua 6:15-17

    · On the 7th day, they got up at daybreak…again, early!

    · They marched around seven times just as God had told them to do.

    · The 7th time, Joshua commanded the people to shout for the LORD.

Have a child read Joshua 6:20-21

    · The trumpets sounded, the people shouted and the walls collapsed (just as God said they would).

    · The people went in and destroyed everything just as God told them to do.

Have a child read Joshua 6:27

    · The LORD was with Joshua and his fame spread throughout the land

    ·

What can we learn from this?

    · God is a God of His word. If He says He will do something, He will.

    · Following God means we need to show up for the battle. God had already given Joshua victory over Jericho but Joshua and his army still needed to show up and fight.

    · Our enemy may not be another nation as it was for Joshua, but we still have enemies. Our enemy can be those sinful habits we have that we need victory over.

    · What battle has God already given you victory over? Are you showing up for the fight or are you sitting back waiting for God to destroy the enemy for you (whatever that enemy might be)?

    · God promises victory over our enemy of sinful habits…but we need to show up for the fight

Review the commandment: You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. Covet means ‘to desire what belongs to other exceeding normal limits.’ It means wanting something so bad that is all you think about.

Why might God command this? Again, just like with stealing, when we covet, not just want something, but covet, we are telling God what He has given us is not enough.

Consider what God did for Joshua, He caused the walls of Jericho to fall down without any human effort. If God wants you to have something, don’t you think it is within His ability to give it to you? Of course it is so if He is withholding something, you have to believe it if for good reason because God loves you and knows what is best for you. Trust Him to provide for you just as He provided for Joshua and the people.

When you do want something, it’s okay to ask…pray to God, call upon Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides. If He believes what you want is good for you, He will be more than willing to provide. Remember, though, that He may say no or He may say ‘not now’ which seems like a no to us. Regardless, trust Him for your needs and wants and obey His command to not covet.

What does Jesus say about this commandment?

    · Jesus told us not to worry about things such as food and drink and clothing. (Matthew 6:31-33)

    · He also told us that the measure of our lives is not in the things that we have. (Luke 12:15)

    · Jesus wants us to put Him first and He will care for our needs (and even some of our wants).

    3. Pray

    · Worship God as the Omnipotent (all powerful) God that He is.

    · Thank Him for all He has already provided for you.

    · Ask Him to help you be content with what He gives you.

    · Ask Him to help you trust Him because He knows what is best for you.

    4. Explain the Family Activity Sheet

This week, you will prepare for next week’s closing activities. You will be given the opportunity to sign up to participate in the following events:

    · Place the books of the Old Testament in order

    · Place the books of the New Testament in order

    · Place the 10 Commandments in order

    · Match the Key Passages with their Scripture references and find them in Scripture

    · Place the Desert Trek cards in chronological order

    · Place all the books of the Bible in their correct order

Or you may participate in two take home events. These need to be done at home and brought with you (already completed) when you return next week.

    · Illustrate one of the 10 Commandments

    · Illustrate one of the Desert Trek events

You will be given a review sheet of all we have studied to help you prepare for next week’s events.

Weekly Challenge (20 minutes)

Organized Mass Chaos

    1. Before the Challenge

Gather the supplies necessary to execute the challenge.

Supplies:

    · 3 tables set up around the perimeter of the playing area

    · Two hula hoops per team to be placed in the center of the playing area

    · Jump ropes (as many as you can find)

    · The key passage cards (in additional resources)

    · The books of the bible cards (in additional resources)

    · 12 bibles

    · Playing cards (see below)

Copy the playing cards and cut them out. You need approximately 10 cards per child however, more is better. Have them ready before class time. These cards are based on three teams (red, blue, green). If you have different colored teams or more than three teams, you will need to manipulate the cards a bit.

Before class, mark out a playing area outdoors using cones or other markers. Set out three tables equal distance apart from each other. On one table, set out the books of the bible cards from each of the teams. On the second table set out the key passages cards and the bibles. On the third table set out the playing cards and a bucket for each team. Place the playing cards in each bucket. Have one person keeping score for each team (ideally, the team leader). Set the hula hoops and the jump ropes in the center of the playing area.

1. Execute the Challenge

Designate a specific amount of time you will play (i.e. 15 minutes). On the whistle blow, each team member will draw a card from their team bucket and follow its instructions. Instruct the children if they are asked to do something by another child, they must stop and do as they are asked. When they have completed the task, they are to take the card to their team leader and continue with the next card. At the conclusion of your designated time, blow the whistle. The team with the most completed tasks wins.

If time permits, move indoors and allow the children to review for next week. The teams are to put the books of the bible in order and match the key passages with the appropriate Scripture reference.

2. Apply the Challenge

We can glean some spiritual truths from this challenge. To the outside observer, it may have looked like everyone was just being crazy; it may have looked like chaos. But those of us who understood what we were doing know that we were all actually following the instructions we were given.

To the people of Jericho, watching the Israelites march around the city may have seemed weird or silly, but Joshua and the people knew they were just following instruction, God’s instructions. Their obedience brought them victory.

When God gives us instructions, we should simply obey them. When we obey God’s instructions, we show God that we do trust Him and trust He knows best.

Closing (10 minutes)

    1. Award this week’s medals based on the week’s challenge.

    2. Hand out the review sheet

    3. Closing prayer.

    4. Closing song – song of choice

Playing Cards (Copy the next two pages multiple times and cut the cards out. Provide equal number of cards per team with a minimum of 1 page per child understanding more is better.



Find 2 people, pretend to be in a boat and sing ‘Row, row your boat’ 2 times. 

Take your next card from the red team.


Hop on 1 foot while singing the ‘ABC’ song

Take your next card from the red team.


Run around the hula hoops 3 times

Take your next card from the red team.


Ask 1 person to say the Pledge of

Allegiance with you.

Take your next card from the red team.


Jump rope while counting to 15 

Take your next card from the red team.


Match up 2 Key Passages and find them in a Bible.

Take your next card from the red team.


Put the books of the New Testament in their correct order.

Take your next card from the red team.


Grab a hula hoop and hula hoop while counting to 25.

Take your next card from the red team.


Find 3 others and play 1 round of leap frog.

Take your next card from the red team.


Find 2 others and do the chicken dance.

Take your next card from the red team.


Do 3 Cartwheels (as best as you can)

Take your next card from the red team.


Go to a leader and tell them 3 of the

Ten Commandments

Take your next card from the red team.


Find 2 people, pretend to be in a boat and sing ‘Row, row your boat’ 2 times. 

Take your next card from the green team.


Hop on 1 foot while singing the ‘ABC’ song

Take your next card from the green team.


Run around the hula hoops 3 times

Take your next card from the green team.


Ask 1 person to say the Pledge of

Allegiance with you.

Take your next card from the green team.


Jump rope while counting to 15. 

Take your next card from the green team.


Match up 2 Key Passages and find them in a Bible.

Take your next card from the green team.

 



Find 2 people, pretend to be in a boat and sing ‘Row, row your boat’ 2 times. 

Take your next card from the blue team.


Hop on 1 foot while singing the ‘ABC’ song

Take your next card from the blue team.


Run around the hula hoops 3 times

Take your next card from the blue team.


Ask 1 person to say the Pledge of

Allegiance with you.

Take your next card from the blue team.


Jump rope while counting to 15. 

Take your next card from the blue team.


Match up 2 Key Passages and find them in a Bible.

Take your next card from the blue team.


Put the books of the New Testament in their correct order.

Take your next card from the blue team.


Grab a hula hoop and hula hoop while counting to 25.

Take your next card from the blue team.


Find 3 others and play 1 round of leap frog.

Take your next card from the blue team.


Find 2 others and do the chicken dance.

Take your next card from the blue team.


Do 3 Cartwheels (as best as you can)

Take your next card from the blue team.


Go to a leader and tell them 3 of the

Ten Commandments

Take your next card from the blue team.


Put the books of the New Testament in their correct order.

Take your next card from the green team.


Grab a hula hoop and hula hoop while

counting to 25.

Take your next card from the green team.


Find 3 others and play 1 round of leap frog.

Take your next card from the green team.


Find 2 others and do the chicken dance.

Take your next card from the green team.


Do 3 Cartwheels (as best as you can)

Take your next card from the green team.


Go to a leader and tell them 3 of the

Ten Commandments

Take your next card from the green team.

 

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