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08-The Showdown - Lesson 8
08-The Showdown - Lesson 8
08-The Showdown - Lesson 8
God displays His great power over all things. He does not tolerate His children worshiping created things or non-existent gods in place of true worship to Him. He knows our hearts wander. He rained down fire to compel the Israelites to worship the true God, and He sent Jesus to display His power over sin and death, false worship, and gods that dont exist.
Written by: Kimberly Davidson & Steve Wright Graphic Design by: Michele Castillo | www.sonscapecommunications.com Art Design by: Amy Torcasso Editor: Jennifer Sharpe Music: Daniel Renstrom Website: http://www.treasuringchristonline.org | 919-326-3000 | Email: tcc@pray.org
Copyright 2011 by Providence Baptist Church. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means for profit via electronic, mechanical, recording or any other except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher. All Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Dear Sunday School Teacher, Your ministry as a teacher for our Lord has eternal value! When we view our ministry in light of eternity, we see its importance and the privilege that God has entrusted to us. In Psalm 78, the Bible also reminds us of this great calling: One generation commending the Gospel to the next. Treasuring Christ Curriculum: The ministry resource that you hold in your hand is produced and shaped by the local churchThe Bride of Christ. We have three primary strategies that guide us. First, we desire to produce a Gospel-centered curriculum that allows every child, babies to high school students, to study the same Scripture passage each week. Second, we seek to equip parents to thrive in their God-given role as their childs primary discipler. We want this resource, therefore, to connect the church and the home by providing the Connecting Church and Home resource within the curriculum. Third, we want to respond to the desperate need for curriculum resources around the world. We desire to bless the nations with a tool that will help them reach the world with the Gospel of Christ. Quarter One: God on Display Every relationship begins with an introduction. God introducing Himself to us is the heartbeat of this study. God on Display is a major theme that runs throughout all of Scripture. Gods desire to have communion with those He created is seen from cover to cover of the Bible. In the first few pages, we see God communing in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. The theme of communion continues to be seen through the role of the Old Testament tabernacle and temple. In the New Testament, God became incarnate in Jesus, God with us. After Jesus, the Father gives the Holy Spirit to believers and institutes the Church. Fellowship in the Church breeds community, both with God and others made in His likeness. As believers, we are guaranteed that we will spend eternity in communion with God, dwelling in His presence. God is on display: everywhere; in the past, present and future; and in our lives as believers. Let us live continually to display Gods greatness and love.
The Showdown
QuaRTeR THeme | God on dISplay 1 Kings 17-18
WEEK EIGHT
OVERVIEW FOR YOuR EdIFICaTIOn EaRlY ChIldhOOd ElEmEnTaRY PRE-TEEn/mIddlE sChOOl hIgh sChOOl COnnECTIng ChuRCh and hOmE REsOuRCEs
The Showdown
1 Kings 17-18
OVERVIEW
ElEmEnTaRY
hIgh sChOOl
Psalm 148:11-13 God has great power over everything for His ultimate glory and fame in the nations. Strong videos, Break the egg, Limping Questions resource page, Walking by the Spirit chart DVD player or laptop, two eggs, antibacterial wipes, Limping Questions resource page, pencils, Walking by the Spirit chart
Love, Love, Love song, Treasure Verse with instruments, Song time, Teaching Activities Rain Clouds resource page, Breakable/Unbreakable objects CD player and CD; toy instruments such as bells, sticks for drums and empty paper towel rolls for trumpets; DVD player or laptop (optional); Rain Clouds resource page; glue; cotton balls; breakable objects like pretzel sticks or eggs; unbreakable objects such as a brick or book
Supplies Needed
Construction paper, scissors, single hole punch, yarn, stickers, markers, PRAY resource page, pencils, CD player and CD, DVD player or laptop (optional), styrofoam plates or wax paper, marshmallows, frosting, plastic knives or spoons, red and orange gummy worms, mini pretzel sticks, notebook paper
oVeRVIeW
The Showdown
1 Kings 17-18
to squeeze in other worship to false gods for the things they needed, such as rain. God would not have it. He showed His power to His people and to the prophets of Baal. How often do we worship God but then limp between other gods (self or money) to get what we need or to take care of us? God requires wholehearted worship from us. He provided the only possible means. There are no two paths. The one and only path is Christ.
miracles and the greatest forces of nature bow to the sovereignty of God. Don Fortner, Discovering Christ in All the Scriptures, pg. 122
of frustration, envy and spite, as human jealousy so often is, but appears instead as a (literally) praiseworthy zeal to preserve something precious. J. I. Packer, Knowing God, pg. 170
to Himself in truth, declares that He burns with the hottest jealousy whenever, neglecting the purity of His holy marriage, we defile ourselves with abominable lusts, and especially when the worship of His Deity, which ought to have been more carefully kept unimpaired, is transferred to another, or adulterated with some superstition; since in this way we not only violate our plighted troth [loyalty, pledged faithfulness], but defile the nuptial couch, by giving access to adulterers. John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, II, viii, pg. 18
The Showdown
1 Kings 17-18
story Outline The nation of Israel had been ruled for many decades by ungodly kings, who year after year enticed the people not to follow the rules and direction of Yahweh. In todays Treasure Story, you will find that King Ahab was no different. In fact, Scripture tells us that he did more evil in the sight of the Lord than all the previous kings (1 Kings 16:30). For 22 years, the nation of Israel was under the rule of a king who didnt fear the One God. Since Ahab didnt worship God, he led Gods people into idolatrous worship. 1 Kings 16:30-34: And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took for his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him. He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun. Elijah is a prophet who was sent to the king to speak the words of God. Thats what prophets did. The prophet proclaimed the message given to him. Thus a prophet was a spokesman for God; he spoke in Gods name and by His authority. He was the mouth by which God spoke to men, and hence what the prophet said was not of man but of God. Prophets were the immediate organs of God for the communication of His mind and will to men (Eastons Bible Dictionary). Elijah was not only a prophet during King Ahabs time, but his legacy of walking with God lived on. In the New Testament, he is mentioned nearly 30 times. But this story isnt primarily about Elijah. This Treasure Story is about a God who showed His power when His people were worshiping false gods. God shows up in a mighty and powerful way to tell the nations and His own children that He is a consuming fire and will not tolerate idolatry. Elijah goes to King Ahab and predicts a drought. His prediction comes true, and the drought lasts for at least three years. Why was this drought such a cause for concern? The Israelites were living in a land that relied on water to help the crops grow, feed livestock and produce sustainable living. The false god the people were worshiping was Baal, who was the god of rain and fertility. Obviously, for three years, their false god did not help them or listen to their prayers. 1 Kings 17:1, 2, 7; 18:1: Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word. And the word of the LORD came to him. And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land. After many days the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year, saying,Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth. King Ahab and Elijah meet up after these three years and discuss who is to blame for the drought. The king decides Elijah is to blame, the prophet who follows after God. Elijah declares the truth and says the drought is because of the false worship and idolatry King Ahab has encouraged in the nation of Israel.
The Showdown
1 Kings 17-18
Elijah demands a meeting with all the prophets of these false gods. 1 Kings 18:17-19: When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, Is it you, you troubler of Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your fathers house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals. Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebels table. Elijah then gives the following instructions to the false prophets. He instructs the group to build an altar and prepare the sacrifice, but do not set it ablaze. If Baal can set the sacrifice on fire, he is the true god. If God sets Elijahs sacrifice on fire, He is the true God. The showdown is on to see whose god/God will show up. The false prophets call on Baal for hours. No answer. They limp around the altar several times, still no answer. No matter the pleading from the prophets, their cries for fire go unanswered. Elijah mocks them and asks them, Where is your god? Elijah wonders if he is thinking, going to the bathroom, traveling, or just sleeping. Whatever the situation, Baal does not answer.
Baals ears. Somehow he was unable to hear the pleas of his priests. Elijah suggested several excuses for him. None gave much comfort to the priests. They grew desperate with their pleading. They resorted to screaming and cutting themselves with knives and lances. This accomplished nothing. They were calling upon the wrong name. The Lord God of heaven does not respond to the name Baal. R. C. Sproul, One Holy Passion, pg. 175
is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him. And the people did not answer him a word. Then Elijah said to the people, I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baals prophets are 450 men. Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, he is God. And all the people answered, It is well spoken. Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it. And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, O Baal, answer us! But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened. And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation [an act of worship, sacrifice], but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention. Then Elijah said to all the people, Come near to me. And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been thrown down. Elijah then prepares the altar for a sacrifice to the Lord. And in the midst of a drought, Elijah asks for water to be poured out on the altar three times. Elijah prays to Yahweh that He would answer his prayer in order for the people to know that He is indeed God. God is the one that has led the people to repentance. God answers his prayer and sends fireimmediately. No one could blame wet altars
1 Kings 18:21-30: And Elijah came near to all the people and said, How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD
The Showdown
1 Kings 17-18
for not allowing the fire to ignite. The fire from heaven came and consumedEVERYTHING. 1 Kings 18:36-38: And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back. Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust,
and licked up the water that was in the trench. What is the peoples response? Immediate worship. Elijah then has all the prophets of Baal seized and killed. 1 Kings 18:39-40: And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God. And Elijah said to them, Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there.
The Showdown
1 Kings 17-18
The Showdown
1 Kings 17-18
Exodus 20:1-3: And God spoke all these words, saying, I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. Psalm 97: The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! Clouds and thick darkness are all around Him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. Fire goes before Him and burns up His adversaries all around. His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim His righteousness, and all the peoples see His glory. All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; worship Him, all you gods! Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice, because of your judgments, O LORD. For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. O you who love the LORD, hate evil! He preserves the lives of His saints; He delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to His holy name!
FoR youR edIFIcaTIon
micah 6:6-8: With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Romans 5:1-11: Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because Gods love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous personthough perhaps for a good person one would dare even to diebut God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
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1 Kings 17-18
galatians 5:16-25: But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy,
drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
God displays His great power over all things. He does not tolerate His children worshiping created things or nonexistent gods in place of true worship to Him. He knows our hearts wander. He rained down fire to compel the Israelites to worship the true God, and He sent Jesus to display His power over sin and death, false worship, and gods that dont exist.
My Mission As Teacher:
What areas of idolatry has God showed you in your life? What are you willing to do to live in a right relationship with Him?
Prayer Points:
Pray that the Spirit would continue to convict you of the sin in your life and how you can repent of those sins and live to make His name great. Pray that God would show Himself great and worthy to your students this week. Pray that they would seek to know Him more than they would desire to make their own name great.
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The Showdown
1 Kings 17-18
Early Childhood
Treasure story: 1 Kings 17-18 Treasure Verse: Praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted (Psalm 148:13). Treasure Point: God is powerful.
engage
Early arrival activity: (15 minutes or until you are ready to begin) Have the children sing Love, Love, Love as a means of expressing worship. You can sing this song as the kids arrive in your classroom. Love, Love, Love is this quarters theme song. It can be found on the Treasuring Christ website: www.treasuringchristonline.org. Supplies Needed: CD, CD player, or someone can play/teach the song to the children
discover
Bible story Time: (15 minutes) Teacher Note: Have the children sit in the designated reading/Bible story area. Tell them this is Gods Word, the Bible, the way He speaks to us. It is true, and we need to listen to God. Be sure they see you reading 1 Kings 17-18 out of the Bible and not out of the curriculum guide. Have the older children follow along in their own Bibles. The following outline will help you teach the story to the children. Read the designated Bible passages as they are included in the outline as you share this story.
eaRly cHIldHood
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The Showdown
1 Kings 17-18
Elijah was a prophet of god. Prophets are people whom God spoke to directly. After God spoke to them, they then went and told other people Gods message. 1 Kings 17:1a, 2: Now, Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe, in Gilead . . . now the word of the LORD came to him. god caused a drought in the nation of Israel. A drought is when it doesnt rain in a place for a very long time. Much of the rivers, lakes and ponds dry up when there is a drought. Elijah told the king of Israel, King Ahab, that God would cause a drought. 1 Kings 17:1b: As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word. The younger children can understand wanting it to rain but not having the power to make it rain, or vice versa. God, however, is all-powerful and can make it rain, make the rain stop, and can do anything else He wants to do for that matter. after three years of no rain, god sent Elijah to talk to King ahab again. Ahab was the king of Israel, but he didnt love God. 1 Kings 16:30: And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. Elijah met with ahab and told him to gather all the people and the prophets of the false gods at mount Carmel. 1 Kings 18:19: Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebels table. Elijah asked the Israelites (gods people) how long they would keep serving other gods. 1 Kings 18:21: And Elijah came near to all the people and said, How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him. ahab (and his prophets of Baal) and Elijah set up two altars. The showdown was on to see whose god/God would show up. Baals prophets did not get any answer from their god. But Elijahs God showed up. God wanted to make sure everyone knew He was God.
eaRly cHIldHood
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The Showdown
1 Kings 17-18
1 Kings 18:23-39: Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, he is God. And all the people answered, It is well spoken. Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it. And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, O Baal, answer us! But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened. And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention. Then Elijah said to all the people, Come near to me. And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been thrown down. Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be your name, and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs of seed. And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood. And he said, Do it a second time. And they did it a second time. And he said, Do it a third time. And they did it a third time. And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water. And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back. Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God.
eaRly cHIldHood
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The Showdown
1 Kings 17-18
Treasure Verse learning activity: (5 minutes) Teacher Note: Combine the Treasure Verse Learning Activity with the Song Time if you would like. Give the children toy instruments to play with such as sticks as drums, empty paper towel rolls for trumpets, bells, etc. Be creative! Lead them in singing the Treasure Verse (just make up any tune). After singing the verse, have the children shout the name of Jesus because the verse says His name will be exalted above all other. Supplies Needed: Toy instruments such as bells, sticks for drums and empty paper towel rolls for trumpets song Time: (10 minutes) Love, Love, Love is this quarters theme song. It can be found on the Treasuring Christ website: www.treasuringchristonline.org. Supplies Needed: CD player, CD, DVD player or laptop (optional), toy instruments if combining with the Treasure Verse Learning Activity Reinforcement activity: (10 minutes) Pass out the Rain Clouds resource page (see resources) to each child. Help the younger children glue cotton balls on the page to make rain clouds. The older children should be able to complete this activity on their own. Remind them that God provided rain when there had been no rain. He makes the rain. Supplies Needed: Rain Clouds resource page, glue, cotton balls
Playground Time: (15 minutes) Center play or free play is useful here if there is no playground or if the weather is not conducive to playing outside. snack Time: (10 minutes)
eaRly cHIldHood
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The Showdown
1 Kings 17-18
treasure
Treasure Point: God is powerful.
My Mission: (5 minutes)
Give each child something to break: a pencil, a pretzel rod, a small stick or an egg. Then demonstrate something that is unbreakable by human hands: a brick, a book, etc. God has power and strength to break all these things, even things we cant. He can tear down or burn up altars if they are used in worship not to Him. Supplies Needed: Breakable objects such as pretzel sticks or eggs, unbreakable objects such as a brick or book
eaRly cHIldHood
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The Showdown
1 Kings 17-18
Elementary
Treasure story: 1 Kings 17-18 Treasure Verse: Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His majesty is above earth and heaven (Psalm 148:13). Treasure Point: God displays His power to all people.
engage
Early arrival activity: (10-15 minutes or until all the children arrive) Have the children make bookmarks. Pass out strips of paper (three bookmarks can be made from one piece of construction paper). Have them write Psalm 148:13 (their Treasure Verse this week) on the bookmark. Next, instruct them to punch a hole in the top and tie string in it. Then they can decorate it with stickers. Supplies Needed: Construction paper, scissors, single hole punch, yarn, stickers, markers
discover
Bible story Time: (20 minutes) Teacher Note: Have the children sit in the designated reading/Bible story area. Tell them this is Gods Word, the Bible, the way He speaks to us. It is true, and we need to listen to God. Be sure the children see you reading 1 Kings 17-18 out of the Bible and not out of the curriculum guide. Have the older children follow along in their own Bibles. The following outline will help you teach the story to the children. Read the designated Bible passages as they are included in the outline as you share this story. Elijah was a prophet of god. Prophets are people whom God spoke to directly. After God spoke to them, they then went and told other people Gods message.
elemenTaRy
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The Showdown
1 Kings 17-18
1 Kings 17:1a, 2: Now, Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe, in Gilead . . . now the word of the Lord came to him. god caused a drought in the nation of Israel. The people needed rain for their crops. A drought is when it doesnt rain in a place for a very long time. Much of the rivers, lakes and ponds dry up when there is a drought. Elijah told the king of Israel, King Ahab, that God would cause a drought. 1 Kings 17:1b: As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word. after three years of no rain, god sent Elijah to talk to King ahab again. Ahab was the king of Israel, but he didnt love God. 1 Kings 16:30: And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. In John 15:14, Jesus tells us that if we love Him, we will obey Him: You are my friends if you do what I command you. Ahab was certainly not Gods friend because He didnt obey what God told him to do. He did evil. Elijah met with ahab and told him to gather all the people and the prophets of the false gods at mount Carmel. 1 Kings 18:19: Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebels table. Dont you think Elijah felt outnumbered? There were 850 prophets on one side, and only Elijah on the other. But, who did Elijah have on his side? GOD! Elijah asked the Israelites (gods people) how long they would keep serving other gods. 1 Kings 18:21: And Elijah came near to all the people and said,How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him. How do we limp (go back and forth, not worship wholeheartedly) between good and bad? If we dont do what our parents ask us because we are busy playing a video game, then we are not fully obeying God. We are limping. If we cheat in school just to get a better grade, we are limping. God doesnt want us to cheat. What other ways can you think of that we limp? How do we not fully obey God? ahab (and his prophets of Baal) and Elijah set up two altars. The showdown was on to see whose god/God would show up. Baals prophets did not get any answer from their god. But Elijahs God showed up. God wanted to make sure everyone knew He was God.
elemenTaRy
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The Showdown
1 Kings 17-18
1 King 18:23-39: Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, he is God. And all the people answered, It is well spoken. Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it. And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, O Baal, answer us! But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened. And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention. Then Elijah said to all the people, Come near to me. And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been thrown down. Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be your name, and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs of seed. And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood. And he said,Do it a second time. And they did it a second time. And he said, Do it a third time. And they did it a third time. And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water. And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back. Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God. How did God show up? He sent down fire on a wet altar. What was the peoples response? They knew then that the Lord was the only true God. They feared Elijahs God. God makes His name great in powerful ways even to people who dont know Him.
elemenTaRy
19
The Showdown
1 Kings 17-18
Treasure Verse learning activity: (5 minutes) Have everyone get their bookmark they made earlier in the class and repeat the verse. Ask the children to give reasons for why they praise God. Help the children locate 1 Kings in their Bibles and place the bookmark in 1 Kings. Reinforcement activity: (10 minutes) Pass out the PRAY resource page (see resources). Instruct the children to fill in the sheet with items they pray for. Encourage the children to talk about how they have been praying for certain situations and how they have seen God answer. The same power that Elijah called on to burn the altar is available to us as well when we pray in Jesus name and for His glory. Supplies Needed: PRAY resource page, pencils
Playground Time/Center activities/Free Play: (15 minutes) song Time: (10 minutes) Love, Love, Love is this quarters theme song. This song can be found on the Treasuring Christ website: www.treasuringchristonline.org. Supplies Needed: CD player, CD
snack Time/Reinforcement activity: (10 minutes) Build edible altars. Give each child a styrofoam plate or piece of wax paper. Then give each student six jumbo marshmallows and pretzel sticks (mini ones). Have containers of frosting in the middle of the tables so that the children can share. Then give each child a plastic knife or spoon to spread the frosting in between the marshmallows (stacked on top). Put the pretzel rods on top of the stacked marshmallows so it looks like an altar. Ask the children to make two altars. You can also bring in red and orange gummy worms to lay on top of the pretzel sticks so it looks like flames. After construction is complete, the children can eat their creations. Supplies Needed: Styrofoam plates or wax paper, marshmallows, frosting, plastic knives or spoons, red and orange gummy worms, mini pretzel sticks
elemenTaRy
20
The Showdown
1 Kings 17-18
treasure
Treasure Point: God displays His power to all people.
elemenTaRy
21
The Showdown
1 Kings 17-18
Pre-Teen/middle school
Treasure story: 1 Kings 17-18 Treasure Verse: Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and maidens together, old men and children! Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His majesty is above earth and heaven (Psalm 148:11-13). Treasure Point: God displays His great power for His glory.
engage
group Fellowship Time: (10 minutes) Opening activity: (10 minutes) What are some ways to get attention? Yell. Wear brightly colored clothes.
Wear something different than everyone else (if perhaps everyone else is wearing a uniform). Cry wolf (saying something has happened when it actually hasnt taken place at all). Have you heard this story before? There was a boy tending the sheep who would continually go up to the embankment and shout,Help, theres a wolf! The farmers would all come running, only to find that what the boy said was not true. Then one day there really was a wolf but when the boy shouted, they didnt believe him and no one came to his aid. The whole flock was eaten by the wolf. Be wild and crazy. How would you get the attention of someone you really liked or had a crush on (send them a letter, buy them roses, etc.)? The prophets of Baal, in this weeks Treasure Story, used different means of getting the attention of their gods, but all to no avail.
pRe-Teen/mIddle ScHool
22
The Showdown
1 Kings 17-18
discover
Bible story Time: (30 minutes) Teacher Note: Use the following outline to tell the Treasure Story to your students. After listening to this Scripture passage and engaging in the story, your students will hopefully know the truth that God acts in powerful ways to display His glory and fame to the world. Have students take turns reading these verses as they are listed below. The nation of Israel was not obeying god. The Israelites had been ruled for many decades by ungodly kings, who year after year enticed the people not to follow the rules and direction of Yahweh. In todays Treasure Story, you will find that King Ahab was no different. In fact, Scripture tells us that he did more evil in the sight of the Lord than all the previous kings. 1 Kings 16:30-34: And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took for his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him. He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.
pRe-Teen/mIddle ScHool
23
The Showdown
1 Kings 17-18
What does Jesus say that people who love Him will do? (John 15:14: You are my friends if you do what I command you.) Elijah is a prophet who was sent to the king to speak the words of god. Thats what prophets did. The prophet proclaimed the message given to him. Thus a prophet was a spokesman for God; he spoke in Gods name and by His authority. A prophet was the mouth by which God spoke to men, and hence what the prophet said was not of man but of God. Prophets were the immediate organs of God for the communication of His mind and will to men (Eastons Bible Dictionary). What do you want to be remembered for? Elijah was remembered for good things, for having a relationship with God. When you graduate or move to another place, what do you want people to say of you? This story isnt primarily about Elijah. This Treasure Story is about a God who showed His power when His people were worshiping other false gods. God shows up in a mighty and powerful way to tell the nations and His own children that He is a consuming fire and will not tolerate idolatry. 1 Kings 17:1, 2, 7; 18:1: Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word. And the word of the LORD came to him. And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land. After many days the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth. King Ahab and Elijah meet up after these three years and discuss who is to blame for this drought in the land. The king decides Elijah is to blame, the prophet who follows after God. Elijah declares the truth to him and says the drought is because of the false worship and idolatry King Ahab has encouraged in the nation of Israel. Elijah demands a meeting with all the prophets of these false gods. Have you ever gotten the credit or the blame for something you didnt do? Elijah didnt make the rain stop; God did. God stopped the rain to help Ahab and the other people know that He is God. god demands right, wholehearted worship. 1 Kings 18:21-30: And Elijah came near to all the people and said, How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him. And the people did not answer him a word. Then Elijah said to the people, I,
pRe-Teen/mIddle ScHool
24
The Showdown
1 Kings 17-18
even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baals prophets are 450 men. Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, he is God. And all the people answered, It is well spoken. Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it. And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, O Baal, answer us! But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened. And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention. Then Elijah said to all the people, Come near to me. And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been thrown down. Elijah prepares the altar for a sacrifice to the lord. And in the midst of a drought, Elijah asks for water to be poured out on the altar three times. Elijah prays to Yahweh that He would answer his prayer in order for the people to know that He is indeed God. God is the one that has led the people to repentance. God sent fireimmediately. The fire from heaven came and consumedEVERYTHING. 1 Kings 18:36-38: And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back. Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. What is the peoples response? Immediate worship. Elijah then has the Baal prophets seized and killed. 1 Kings 18:39-40: And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God. And Elijah said to them, Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there. Worship should be our response to what God has done in our lives. Worship is not just about singing songs to Him. Worship is a whole lifestyle lived in surrender to God and His perfect plan.
pRe-Teen/mIddle ScHool
25
The Showdown
1 Kings 17-18
What has God done for us that deserves our response? Romans 5:1-11: Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because Gods love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous personthough perhaps for a good person one would dare even to diebut God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Given us peace with Him through Jesus and granted us access to Him. Assured us that we can rejoice with hope and given us the Holy Spirit that lives in us. Paid the penalty for our sins (not His) through the blood of Jesus. Saved us from the wrath of God (hell, separation from God forever) because of the sacrifice of Jesus.
treasure
Treasure Point: God displays His great power for His glory.
pRe-Teen/mIddle ScHool
26
The Showdown
1 Kings 17-18
high school
Treasure story: 1 Kings 17-18 Treasure Verse: Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and maidens together, old men and children! Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His majesty is above earth and heaven (Psalm 148:11-13). Treasure Point: God has great power over everything for His ultimate glory and fame in the nations.
engage
Introduction activity: (10 minutes) Watch these two videos with the students:
missions will be weak. John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad, pg. 18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EmxCDkL1PE (1 minute) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ks8-J9VStA&feature=related (4 minutes) After watching the videos, do this activity with them. Bring two eggs to class. Give one egg each to a guy and a girl (who think they are pretty strong) and ask them to attempt to break their egg. Instruct them to place the raw egg in the palm of their hand toward the fingers the long way (not width). Then tell them to squeeze their fingers around it. Not many people can break the fragile egg this way. Supplies Needed: Laptop, two raw eggs, antibacterial hand wipes for after handling raw eggs
discover
Bible story Time: (30 minutes) Teacher Note: Have your students take turns reading sections of the Treasure Story and telling the highlights from each section:
HIGH ScHool
27
The Showdown
1 Kings 17-18
There is a drought in the land. After three years, Elijah meets up with King Ahab and the prophets of the false gods. Elijah and Ahab have a showdown to see whose God/ god would show up. God won the showdown. His desire is that everyone would know He is the Lord.
Focus on 1 Kings 18:21 because this is where you want to camp out with your students. This is where the application/rubber meets the road/what does this mean for my life today will happen. Have one of your students read this verse aloud to the rest of the class. Divide the students into groups of three or four. Pass out one copy of the Limping Questions worksheet (see resources) to each group and some pencils. Their objective is to determine which answer is the Christian (biblical) belief to each question. Supplies Needed: Limping Questions resource page, pencils
Answers: 1. C, 2. B, 3. A, 4. C, 5. A, 6. B, 7. B, 8. A, 9. C, 10. B, 11. A, 12. B, 13. B, 14. C, 15. A, 16. C The nation of Israel was worshiping other gods and hoping these false gods would supply their needs. The Israelites hadnt learned that God demanded their supreme worship and that He alone would supply all their needs (including rain for their crops). Teacher Note: There are two characteristics of God that need to be emphasized in this lesson. Instruct the students to look up these Scriptures and read what the Bible has to say about these characteristics of God. god is all-powerful. He rained down fire from the sky and consumed water-logged altars. He shows Himself to be powerful in other Scriptures as well: Psalm 147:5: Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure. Jeremiah 51:15: It is He who made the earth by His power, who established the world by His wisdom, and by His understanding stretched out the heavens. Corinthians 1:18: For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 2 Corinthians 4:7: But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. Revelation 19:1: After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.
HIGH ScHool FIRST QuaRTeR, WeeK eIGHT | God on dISplay
28
The Showdown
1 Kings 17-18
god is a jealous god. Jealousy is a good thing when it describes God because He knows that He is the best for us. Nothing else will satisfy. The Baal gods that the Israelites worshiped would do nothing for them. God is God alone. Exodus 20:5a: You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God. Exodus 34:14: For you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. deuteronomy 4:24: For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Psalm 78:58: For they provoked Him to anger with their high places; they moved Him to jealousy with their idols. Ezekiel 39:25: Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for my holy name.
treasure
Treasure Point: God has great power over everything for His ultimate glory and fame
in the nations.
29
The Showdown
1 Kings 17-18
connect
Our hearts are so prone to set our affections on things (idols). In this weeks lesson, your children will study Elijah and an idol that people in his day bowed to called Baal. Gods glory was given to another and He could not allow His people to live in their sin of idol worship. Remember Exodus 20? No other idols . . . Can we think of an idol our family might be tempted to bow to? As those in Elijahs day, we are often tempted to worship idols. Even our children can become our idols if we arent careful. Do our calendars, budgets, fears and anxieties all revolve around those things that will last for eternity and how are we helping our children to do the same? Treasure Verse: Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and maidens together, old men and children! Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His majesty is above earth and heaven (Psalm 148:11-13).
far greater multitudes than any other deity of either ancient or modern heathenism. John Angell James
30
I Pray for:
1.
______________ ________________ ______________ ________________
2.
3.
______________ ________________
TReaSuRInG cHRIST cuRRIculum | www.treasuringchristonline.org
1.
Which of the following quotes is inspired and therefore authoritative? A. And it came to pass that when my father had read and seen many great and marvelous things, he did exclaim many things unto the Lord; such as: Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and, because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish! B. But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them. C. Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth; Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind. But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.
2.
The ordinances such as baptism and the lords supper are . . . A. A means of grace. Some of them are necessary for salvation. B. Symbolic acts commanded by Christ. C. The means of grace if received with faith.
3.
When someone dies . . . A. The wicked go to hell and those with faith in Christ go to be in the presence of the Lord. B. The good go to spirit paradise, while the wicked go to spirit prison. C. The good go to heaven but those who can work off their sins go to a place called purgatory.
4.
mans nature is . . . A. Not entirely corrupted and can be remedied by good works. B. Is corrupted but can be improved by good works and obedience to the Bible and the Church. C. Is entirely corrupted and no amount of good works can remedy it.
5.
The Bible as comprised of the 66 books of the Old and new Testament . . . A. Is the only authority we have to know God and live holy lives. B. Is inspired along with other revelations. C. Is inspired and along with the Churchs teachings is the proper authority to live by.
6.
Which of the following quotes is inspired and therefore authoritative? A. And it came to pass that the Jews did mock him because of the things which he testified of them; for he truly testified of their wickedness and their abominations; and he testified that the things which he saw and heard, and also the things which he read in the book, manifested plainly of the coming of a Messiah, and also the redemption of the world. B. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land. C. O Lord, Almighty God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of their righteous seed; who hast made heaven and earth, with all the ornament thereof; who hast bound the sea by the word of thy commandment; who hast shut up the deep, and sealed it by thy terrible and glorious name.
7.
The ordinance of baptism . . . A. Must be by submersion for the remission of sins (meaning that through baptism past sins are forgiven), and occurs after one has shown faith and repentance. B. Is an act of obedience symbolizing the believers faith in a crucified, buried and risen Savior; the believers death to sin; the burial of the old life and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. C. Is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this ordinance.
8.
saints are . . . A. Anyone who has placed their faith in Jesus Christ. B. Can be prayed to for help when you have trouble. C. To be relied upon as examples whose lives we should emulate.
9.
Jesus is . . . A. Originally one of the spirit beings that all humans used to be. B. A model for right living. C. The only way to God.
10.
Children are . . . A. Born sinners and must be therefore taught the Gospel so they can repent of their sin and place their faith in Christ as soon as they are capable understanding this. B. Regarded as free of sin and incapable of sinning until the age of eight, when they become accountable. C. Born sinners, therefore, must be baptized as infants to protect them spiritually until they become old enough to know right from wrong.
11.
Which of the following statements is correct? A. The death of Christ was a substitutionary sacrifice that satisfied Gods justice. B. The death of Christ created merit that is shared with sinners through sacraments. C. The death of Christ was sacrificial and along with other things provides salvation.
12.
god . . . A. Still speaks to humankind. He has called new apostles and prophets, and revelation flows today as it did in ancient times. B. Still speaks to believers through His Word as they are guided by the Holy Spirit. C. Still speaks to humankind through the Bible, the teachings of the Church, and through His designated representatives on earth.
13.
Which of the following statements about the Church is true? A. The Church is the place where humanity must rediscover its unity and salvation. Its teachings are authoritative. B. The Church as the Body of Christ is not limited to a time, place, race or culture and can therefore be referred to as catholic. C. The Church is only where we start our trip to God. Each person must create his own personal relationship with God and Jesus Christthat becomes the church that is going to matter to each person.
14.
Which of the following quotes is inspired and therefore authoritative? A. Wherefore, the Lord did visit them in great judgment; nevertheless, He did spare the righteous that they should not perish, but did deliver them out of the hands of their enemies. B. With that all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and praised God, who saveth them that trust in Him. C. Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.
15.
Which of the following statements about priests is true? A. Every believer is a priest and can go to God on his own behalf through Jesus. B. Priests are mediators between God and man. C. Priests must be consecrated by special rites in the temple to intercede for the people.
16.
good works . . . A. Help us achieve a higher status spiritually. B. Merit the favor of God. C. Are a gift of God and a means to display His glory in us.
dEsIREs OF ThE FlEsh Galatians 5:16-21 Sexual Immorality Impurity Sensuality Idolatry Sorcery Enmity Strife Jealousy Fits of Anger Rivalries Dissensions Divisions Envy Drunkenness Orgies
FRuIT OF ThE sPIRIT Galatians 5:16-18, 22-25 Love Joy Peace Patience Kindness Goodness Faithfulness Gentleness Self-control