Archive for category: LivingEd – Youth

Featured Passages: Exodus 17, 24, 32

In the tribe of Ephraim, there was a man named Nun who had a son named Hoshea, whom Moses called Joshua (Numbers 13:16). Joshua was a slave in Egypt when God sent Moses to deliver Israel from bondage. Joshua and his family left Egypt with more than two million other Israelites as Moses led them toward the Promised Land. Moses saw potential in Joshua to be a good leader, and God began to use Joshua in His service. What did the future hold for this young man? In the book of Exodus we begin to uncover the beginning of Joshua’s adventures. 

Discuss:

• Joshua went from being a slave to commanding the armies of Israel in a very short period of time. How does having a relationship with God help us to be successful in our lives?
• Joshua was with the elders when they ate before God. He was with Moses on the mountain for forty days when Moses received the Ten Commandments. What lessons do you think Joshua was learning from these opportunities?
• Joshua served Moses, but he also developed a personal relationship with God. What can you do to help you be closer to God? 
• How do you think Joshua’s service to Moses was preparing him to be a good leader?

Memory Challenge: 

Exodus 24:13

“So Moses arose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up to the mountain of God.”

Featured Passage: Ruth 3-4

 Boaz was a prominent man in the community, having great wealth and many servants. He was also a close relative of Elimelech, Naomi’s deceased husband. Ruth had found favor with Boaz, and Naomi thought to secure Ruth’s future with him. The law of redemption allowed the nearest of kin to purchase the family land and to marry the widow of the one who owned it. Naomi instructed Ruth to secretly go to Boaz one night, with this statute in mind, and express her desire to put herself into his care. She said  to Boaz, “Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative.” She was basically asking Boaz to marry her! Boaz was glad that she came to him, and said he would be willing to take care of her, only there was a problem. There was another man who was more closely related to her than Boaz. This other man would have to decide not to redeem the land and marry Ruth if Boaz was to have a chance to do so himself. Not wanting to waste any time, Boaz got up early in the morning and went to the gate of the city to see what could be done. The decision made that day would determine what would happen to Ruth and Naomi. 

Discuss:

• The book of Ruth is one of  two books in the Bible that has a woman’s name in the title.
• Consider the character and honor that Boaz displayed in the book of Ruth. What were some things that he did which reflected favorably on his character? 
• True love always shows outgoing concern for others and does no harm. When Boaz showed concern for Ruth’s reputation and went to great lengths to protect her name. What are some other examples of true love from the book of Ruth?

Memory Challenge: 

Ruth 3:10-11

Then he said, “Blessed are you of the Lord, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman.”

Featured Passage: Genesis 37-50

 Jacob had twelve sons, but Joseph was his favorite. Seeing the special treatment he received from his father, Joseph’s older brothers became very jealous of him. They were also annoyed that Joseph would tell their father what they were doing, and would bother them by talking about his crazy dreams. One day, when they saw him coming, they decided to get rid of him for good and sold him to some traders as a slave. They thought they would never have to see or hear from him again. How wrong they were! Joseph ended up being taken down to Egypt and sold to an officer of Pharaoh named Potiphar. This was only the beginning of Joseph’s adventures, and as time went by, God began to work out his special purpose for Joseph. Little did his brothers know that Joseph’s dreams were about to be fulfilled in a way they would never have imagined. 

Discuss:

• God was with Joseph throughout his trials. How do you think Joseph was able to stay close to God even when things got tough?
• What was the important position that Joseph had in Egypt under Pharaoh?
• God used Joseph to save many people in the area from starvation, including the Israelites and the Egyptians. What was Joseph’s plan to make sure that the people didn’t go hungry during the seven years of famine?
• Jacob blessed each of his sons near the end of his life. Joseph, who was the firstborn son of Rachel, was given a double portion and Ephraim and Manasseh (Joseph’s sons) were given an inheritance with Israel’s sons.

Memory Challenge: 

Genesis 45:8

“So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.”

 Featured Passage: Ruth 2

It was now up to Ruth to look after her mother-in-law. As the barley harvest began she went to a nearby grain field. Little did she know that was owned by Boaz, one of Naomi’s relatives. It was customary to let poor people pick up the leftover grain that was missed by the men who were harvesting. Ruth bent to the work, gleaning the barley, unaware that Boaz was watching. Kind-hearted Boaz asked his men who this diligent and hard-working woman was. When one of his servants explained who Ruth was, and how she had left her homeland to care for Naomi, he was deeply impressed. He spoke to Ruth, inviting her to eat and drink with his servants. He then instructed her to harvest  the barley sheaves alongside his servants. No longer would she have to pick up the leftover grain. Not only did this make her work easier, but she could collect a lot more grain in the same amount of time. Boaz took responsibility to protect her and help her, just as she had done for her aging mother-in-law. When Ruth returned home and told her about the kindness of the landowner, showing her the overflowing basket of barley, Naomi asked who the man was. When she learned that this generous, caring man was her close relative, Boaz, she understood how God’s hand had turned to favor her. 

Discuss:

• Ruth’s works demonstrate her character. Christ said we can know a person’s character by their fruits (Luke 6:44–45). The Bible also says that even a child is known by their deeds (Proverbs 20:11).
• Ruth had stopped serving idols to serve the one true God. She had left everything she knew to be among the people of God. We, as Christians, must be willing to forsake everything to serve God. What does it mean for us to give up everything to serve God?  
• The Bible says that God rewards those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). God often does this by blessing our efforts. Ruth worked very hard, and as God promises, He blessed her efforts.

Memory Challenge:

Ruth 2:12

“The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.”