Tag Archives: Father

Creative Teaching Ideas

The Nature of God

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We were recently very blessed in church when we got the opportunity to meet and worship with the writer of the praise song “Jesus Shall Take the Highest Honor.” It really opened our eyes and hearts to the magnificence of God and we saw a glimpse of what a big and indescribable God He truly is.

When we think about God, it really blows our minds. There’s so many things to say about Him, many things about His character that we still don’t understand. This activity helps youth at least gain some perspective on the personhood of God and relate to Him in ways they can describe and (at least try to) identify with.

The Nature of God

Resources

  1. Balloons
  2. Newsprint or a large sheets of paper
  3. Markers for youth to write on the balloons and also to write on the newsprint

Preparation

  • To speed up the activity you can inflate the balloons in advance.

What to Do

  1. Divide the youth into small groups and give each group a marker and some newsprint.
  2. Individual groups brainstorm attributes of God and list their ideas on newsprint.
  3. Groups share their answers and vote on 5 most important attributes from the collective ideas of all the youth.
  4. Write the attributes of God on the inflated Balloons and place them in the center of the classroom.
  5. Have the youth group stand in a circle around the balloons. For larger youth groups split into 2 or more circles.
  6. Toss the balloons into the air. The youth must keep all the balloons in the air at once.
  7. If a balloon hits the floor, everything stops and the youth must discuss what God would be like without the attribute that touched the floor.
  8. If the same balloon hits the floor more than once, the youth must discuss one of the attributes on a balloon that has not been discussed yet.
  9. Once all the attributes have been discussed, have everyone take a seat and get out their Bibles.
  10. Share a few of the verses on the attributes of God. (Unless you have a lot of time, limit discussion to 3-5 attributes, but mention some of the others)
  11. Discuss how the attributes affect our relationship with God.

Variations

  • Replace the word “God” in the instructions above with “friend” for a lesson on the qualities of a friend.
  • Attributes of the Church (Christians)
  • Attributes of a Good father / Good Mother
  • Attributes of a Christian
  • Attributes of a missionary / evangelist
  • Attributes of Christ
  • Attributes of the Holy Spirit

Take It to the Next Level

Make it Spiritual

God is…

  • Alive (John 5:26)
  • Beyond Comprehension (Isaiah 40:28; Psalm 145:3; Romans 11:33, 34; Isaiah 55:8).
  • Compassionate (Psalm 103:13)
  • Eternal (Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:2; 1 Timothy 1:17)
  • Faithful (1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:24)
  • Father (Matthew 6:9; 7:9-11)
  • Forgiving (1 John 1:9)
  • Gentle (Psalm 18:35)
  • Good (Romans 2:4)
  • Gracious (Exodus 34:6; Psalm 31:19; 1 Peter 1:3; John 3:16, 17:3; Psalm 103:8, Ephesians 2:7-9)
  • Holy (Leviticus 11:44-45, Isaiah 6:3; Habakkuk 1:13; Exodus 3:2, 4-5; Hebrews 12:29; 1 Peter 1:16; Isaiah 59:2)
  • Incomparable (2 Samuel 7:22; Psalm 86:8; Isaiah 40:25; Matthew 5:48)
  • Invisible (Exodus 33:20; John 1:18; 1 John 4:12; 1 Timothy 6:16; Col 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 11:27)
  • Just (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 18:30; Isaiah 45:21; Jeremiah 9:24; Job 34:12)
  • Love (1 John 4:8,16)
  • Merciful (Psalm 103:8)
  • Omnipotent; All-powerful (Revelation 19:6; Jeremiah 32:17, 27; Genesis 17:1; 35:11; Romans 13:1; 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:6; Matthew 19:26)
  • Omnipresent; Everywhere (Psalm 139:7-13; Jeremiah 23:23; Mark 5:10; Jude 6; Revelation 20:1-3; 1 Kings 8:27; 2 Chronicles 2:6; 6:18; Isaiah 66:1; Acts 7:49; 17:27-28; Psalm 139:7-13)
  • Omniscient; All knowing (Psalm 139:1-5; Proverbs 5:21; Psalm 139:1-6; Job 42:2; Acts 2:23; 1 Timothy 1:17; Psalm 147:5; 1 John 3:20)
  • Patient (Exodus 34:6)
  • Perfect (Matthew 5:48)
  • Personal (Exodus 3:14, Romans 9:19; Isaiah 1:18; Romans 11:33-34; Genesis 1:27; Psalm 18:19; Psalm 103:13; Proverbs 6:16; Exodus 20:5; Psalm 103:8; Deuteronomy 4:25; Genesis 6:6; Psalm 103:1)
  • Provider (Matthew 6:25-27)
  • Righteous (Exodus 9:27; Matthew 27:45-46; Romans 3:21-26; Psalm 129:4; Psalm 19:7-9; Jeremiah 9:24)
  • Sovereign (Psalm 93:1; 95:3; Jeremiah 23:20)
  • Spirit (John 1:18; 4:24; Matthew 16:17)
  • Truth (Psalm 117:2; 1 Samuel 15:29; 1 Jn 1:5; John 17:17; Titus 1:2)
  • Unchanging (James 1:17; Malachi 3:6; Numbers 23:19; Psalm 102:26, 27; Mal 3:6; But God can change his mind: Jonah 3:10; Gen 6:6)

Make it Personal

  • What attributes of God comfort you? Make you fearful?
  • How are the attributes of God revealed in his dealing with us?
  • Share a situation when you personally experienced one of the attributes of God. How did it make you feel? What effect did it have on your relationship with God, with others, or on the way you live your life?
  • What attributes of God should we also display in our words, thoughts, and actions?

Make it Practical

We are called not only to seek God and worship him, but also to be like him. While there are some attributes of God we can never have, there are other attributes of God that we are told to express in our lives as Christians. (Eph. 4:24, Colossians 3:10, leviticus 11:44, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Romans 8:28-29, 1 John 3:2)

  • Which characteristics of God should do you need to express more in your life? Which is most difficult for you?
  • What can you start doing now that can help it to happen?

With all the awesome attributes of God, it may seem that God is out of reach. It’s hard to imagine that God should take an interest in us. But our awesome God can be found if we seek Him.

Close with a time of praise to God for who he is and for how he relates to us.

Scripture References

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
– Romans 1:20

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
– Jeremiah 29:11-13

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Teaching Illustrations

Dad Is

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A dad is a person
who is loving and kind,
And often he knows
what you have on your mind.

He’s someone who listens,
suggests, and defends ~
A dad can be one
of your very best friends!

He’s proud of your triumphs,
but when things go wrong,
A dad can be patient
and helpful and strong.

In all that you do,
a dad’s love plays a part ~
There’s always a place for him
deep in your heart ~

And each year that passes,
you’re even more glad,
More grateful and proud
just to call him your dad!

Thank you, Dad…
for listening and caring,
for giving and sharing,
but, especially, for just being you!

Author Unknown


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Parents Ministry, Teaching Illustrations

A Father’s Influence

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Various studies conducted by Yale, John Hopkins and other groups have documented the following;
The absence of a father is a stronger factor than poverty in contributing to juvenile delinquency.

In 48 cultures around the world crime rates were highest among adults who as children had been raised solely by women. Closeness with parents was the common factor in hypertension, coronary heart disease, malignant tumors, mental illness and suicide. A study of 39 teenage girls suffering from anorexia nervosa showed that 36 of them had one common denominator; lack of closeness with their fathers.

An emotionally or physically absent father contributes to a child’s

  1. low motivation for achievement;
  2. inability to defer immediate gratification for later rewards;
  3. low self esteem;
  4. susceptibility to group influence and juvenile delinquency.

(Again the stats speak for themselves, father’s are important in the lives of their children, and they need to be there not just physically but emotionally as well).

And let me say something up front again, when I say fathers, I am not referring solely to biological fathers; I am also speaking of step-dads as well. Over 40% of all marriages in the US involve a remarriage of 1 or both parties. 1 out of 3 Americans (80 million people) is either a step parent, step child or step sibling. 1 out of 5 children under the age of 18 is a step child. And by the year 2,000 step families (involving 1 spouse who has children) and complex families (in which both spouse have children) will soon be the majority.

Now, If you’re like most men – even those who had a poor or harmful experience with their own fathers – you have a general idea of the kind of father you want to be. You have a picture in your mind of what a model father looks like: you want to be the kind of father: whose children feel secure, confident, loved and accepted whose children save sex for marriage, and remain faithful to their spouse in marriage. whose children develop a reputation as men and women of integrity; honest, ethical, hardworking. whose child might say, “my dad keeps his promises. whose children stand up to unhealthy peer pressure, children who develop healthy friendships,. whose kids say no to drugs and alcohol and risky behavior. whose children quickly admit their mistakes, who are forgiving and patient with others and who enjoy a healthy sense so self- esteem and self confidence. whose children have a hard time picking out a fathers day card (not because they say too much but say too little)

That’s the kind of father we all want to be. That’s the kind of father I want to be. But I know that I am not all I should be. And I know that for me to do this I need a model, I need an example of a father that I can pattern myself after, a father from who I can learn from and imitate.

Source: www.Sermoncentral.com


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