LESSON 13Review
Teacher’s Theme.—Walking with God. Genesis 6:9; Proverbs 3:5, 6. See also Genesis 5:21-24; Isaiah 30:21; Amos 3:3; Hebrews 11:5; 1 John 1:6, 7; 2:6; Revelation 3:4, 5.
Read over at one sitting, if possible, Genesis chapters 6-18, with thetheme of this lesson uppermost in the mind. The story of Enoch has been used for the pupil’s book because it fits in so well with this theme, and because it is a name and a story that all children should know. It need not be introduced into this review, of course, but the reference is given as part of the study because Enoch is such a notable example of those who walked with God.
(Draw on a large sheet of paper a road with another branching off from it. Begin your lesson by telling of two persons starting out to walk together.) When they come to the parting of the roads one says, “I am going this way.” The other says, “I cannot go that way, for this is the only road that leads to the place to which I wish to go.” What must they do if they are to keep on walking together? Two cannot walk together unless they agree and are willing to go the same road. If one of the two must take this road and the other can take whichever he chooses, it is quite certain that the one who can choose will go with his friend if he really loves him and wishes to be with him.
Do you remember what the Bible says about Noah? Noah walked with—whom? Let us see what that means. What is the road that God walks? It is the way that leads to heaven. It is the way of love, goodness, joy, kindliness, obedience, trust, patience. Noah walked that way, but the other people were filled with violence and their thoughts were evil. There are no such things as violence and evil in the way that God walks, so people who love those things are not walking with God. What do you think of Abraham—did he walk with God? Why do you think so? (Get from the children the story of his obedience to God’s call and the memory text for that lesson; his giving Lot the first choice and the Golden Rule; his unselfish risking of his life to rescue Lot, showing that he was a true friend and brother, and his kindness in entertaining those who he thought were strangers. Call for the memory texts for both of these lessons by subjects and read or recite to the children Hebrews 13:16.) How splendidly Abraham did these things! What name did he earn by his obedience and love?
What story have we had about a woman who walked with God? Doesany one walk with God in these days? Can boys and girls as well as men and women walk with God? Certainly, anyone who loves the Lord may walk with him, and he loves us so much that it grieves him when we choose to go the other way. In his Word we are told, “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will direct thy paths.” Have you ever heard what seemed almost like a voice inside of you saying, “That is wrong, do not do it”? That is the voice of God speaking to you, for he has said, “Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it; when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” So that the voice that you hear, which we call conscience, is God’s voice trying to keep you from turning away from him and walking in evil ways. What does our text for this year say? (Luke 11:28.) Is it easy to keep the word of God, to walk his way? No, it is not easy but he has promised to help us and he will do so always if we ask him. Do you talk to your heavenly Father every day?
(Ask how many use the prayer, “Now I lay me down to sleep,” and how many offer some other prayer, not committed to memory, but their own? Ask how many pray in the morning, and show them how much they need care and guidance through the day, and ask them each morning to use this prayer: “O, Lord, help me to walk with thee to-day in loving obedience.” When children have reached the age of nine they should be led to see that the mere recitation of a memorized verse is not talking with God. Many parents teach the child some simple prayer when he is about four years old, and give no further help nor instruction on the subject of prayer from that time on; and for this reason a heavy responsibility rests upon the Sunday school teacher. It is essential that the child shall understand that talking with God is as real as talking with anyone whom he can see; that God hears and answers always, but does not always answer yes; that we need always to pray for help to do right and for forgiveness when we do wrong; that we should talk with our loving heavenly Father about everything that interests us. This note is put here because it is important that teaching on prayer and suggestions concerning it should be put in all through this course at any time when it comes in naturally with the lesson.)
FOOTNOTES[1]George Albert Coe, Ph.D., Education in Religion and Morals.[2]Telling Bible Stories, Louise Seymour Houghton.[3]See explanation, pages 24 and 25.[4]The Christian View of the Old Testament.
FOOTNOTES
[1]George Albert Coe, Ph.D., Education in Religion and Morals.
[1]George Albert Coe, Ph.D., Education in Religion and Morals.
[2]Telling Bible Stories, Louise Seymour Houghton.
[2]Telling Bible Stories, Louise Seymour Houghton.
[3]See explanation, pages 24 and 25.
[3]See explanation, pages 24 and 25.
[4]The Christian View of the Old Testament.
[4]The Christian View of the Old Testament.