October 20, 2024
1st-3rd Grade
4th-5th Grade
Story Focus: In week 3, we head to 1 Samuel 24, where we find David on the run from his enemy, King Saul. Saul’s jealousy got the best of him, so he set out to kill David. While on the hunt, he entered a cave to relieve himself, which also happened to be the SAME cave where David was hiding! David could have killed Saul, but he chose to trust God and show self-control instead.
Bottom Line: Think before you act. Do you ever catch your body reacting to something before you can even think about it? Like when a baseball comes flying at you, you duck or stick out your hand to catch it before you even realize that you’re doing it. Sometimes it’s easy to react first and think later . . . and that can be a good thing. However, when we act out of anger or act before we think, our actions can do more harm than good.
Key Question: When have you had self-control? Sometimes in life, it’s easy to get upset when things don’t go our way. Maybe you planned that perfect vacation and then it rained . . . or maybe someone just spilled their drink all over you and ruined your favorite outfit. You may have felt like getting angry and taking out your frustrations on someone. But what would happen if you chose to show restraint instead? This question prods preteens to think about the impact self-control can have— not just on themselves, but on others as well.
Memory Verse: “God's power has given us everything we need to lead a godly life.” 2 Peter 1:3A, NIrV
Self-Control: Choosing to do what's best even when you don't want to.