(All material is original to the author with the exception of songs and activities which have been borrowed from various sources. All studies are free for public use.)
Jesus Wants Us to Have Patience
Scripture Reference: Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)
Related Scripture References: Genesis 6:11-18; Job 1:6-12; Galatians 6:9-10
(Compiled and written by Martin W. Wiles)
Objectives: To teach children that Jesus wants them to be patient and also have patience just as God is patient with us.
Sing “If You’re Patient and You Know It”
(Tune: If You’re Happy and You know It)
If you’re patient and you know it, stand in line! (Clap, clap)
If you’re patient and you know it, stand in line! (Clap, clap)
If you’re patient and you know it, then here is how to show it,
If you’re patient and you know it, stand in line! (Clap, clap)
If you’re patient and you know it, wait your turn! (Clap, clap)
If you’re patient and you know it, wait your turn! (Clap, clap)
If you’re patient and you know it, then here is how to show it,
If you’re patient and you know it, wait your turn! (Clap, clap)
If you’re patient and you know it, sit and listen! (Clap, clap)
If you’re patient and you know it, sit and listen! (Clap, clap)
If you’re patient and you know it, then here is how to show it,
If you’re patient and you know it, sit and listen! (Clap, clap)
Icebreaker:
Say: Remember during the months of January and February, we are studying about fruit that doesn’t grow on trees. Patience is one of them.
Ask:
• Do you ever have a hard time sitting and listening to your teacher or parents when you really want to go out and play? When all you can think about at school is recess?
• When you are waiting in the lunch line at school, do you ever want to cut in line? Or when you are sitting at the dinner table with your parents, do you ever want them to hurry up and say the blessing or hurry up and pass the food that you can’t wait to eat?
• What do you normally do when you get tired of being patient? How might you act?
Say: Let’s say our memory verses together. Galatians 5:22-23 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! (NLT)
Transition into letting the children know God wants them to be patient with their parents, brothers and sisters, friends and teachers at school, teachers at church, and with people who don’t love God like they do. Ask the children to give examples of what it means to be patient. Then let them tell what they think patience is. Guide the children to understand the meaning of patience. Patience is learning how to accept things that don’t go our way without getting upset or angry. Let the children give examples of things that might make them angry or upset. (Spend some time on this last activity so the students can reflect on whether they are having trouble being patient.) Also give them guided time to discuss some things that might happen when they aren’t patient.
Examples of Patience:
• When Mom or Dad tells you to clean your room and you don’t want to. What do you do? Fuss, cry, complain, or talk back to them. Or do you do what they ask you to?
• When someone else in your class wins the prize for a game you are playing. Do you get mad, cry, and pout? Or do you congratulate them for winning?
• When your teacher at school or church asks you to sit down. Do you keep standing, running around, and playing? Or do you listen and obey?
Activity Break:
Give the children a blank sheet of paper and let them draw a picture they think is showing patience. Have them explain their picture as well as how it demonstrates patience.
Reinforcement Segment:
Be prepared to tell the children the story of Noah and the ark from Genesis 6.
God had created Adam and Eve. They had children, and their children had children. Before long, the earth was filled with people. But none of them loved God. Rather, they were doing everything he told them not to do. God became so angry with them that he decided he was going to destroy them all with a great flood. There was one man, however, who obeyed God, and his name was Noah. God told Noah to build a huge boat. He and his family, along with some of the animals, would be saved from drowning. The boat God told Noah to build was 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high. A boat longer than a football field. Noah wouldn’t be able to build such a boat very quickly. He would have to be patient. He may not have been excited about such a huge job, but he got busy doing what God told him to do so he would have it ready before the flood came. Not only did it take him from 80 to 100 years to build it but he also had to preach to the wicked people and warn them that they would drown in the flood if they didn’t stop disobeying God. Noah and his family were patient. They did what God asked them without getting upset. And they also loved the people who didn’t listen to them.
Ask: What do you think this story teaches you about having patience?
Take Away Story: Teacher should become familiar with the Old Testament story of Job.
A man by the name of Job lived a long time ago. Like Noah, he obeyed God when many other people didn’t. God had blessed him with a large family and a lot of land and livestock. But the devil wanted to test Job’s patience, so he asked God if he could. God gave him permission. The only thing he couldn’t do was kill Job. He sent robbers to kill Job’s servants. They also stole his oxen, donkeys, sheep, and camels. Then a storm destroyed the house where his children were having a birthday party. All of them died. Then to top it off, Job got a terrible disease called boils. Boils are skin infections that leave sores all over a person’s body. Job’s wife wanted him to curse God and die so he would be out of his misery. But Job was patient. He continued to trust God without getting upset or angry until all the bad things went away. God gave him more livestock and children. He also restored his health.
Ask: What does the story of Job teach us about patience?
Wrap Up: Read Galatians 6:9-10 (NLT) So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.
Take Away Questions:
• How can you be patient with people who are doing things God doesn’t want them to?
• What can you do when things don’t go your way other than getting upset and angry?
• Name one way you can show patience this week.
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