Perseverance

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 * 1. ****determined continuation with something: ** steady and continued action or belief, usually over a long period and especially despite difficulties or setback ** or **

1. steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. 2. Theology . continuance in a state of [|grace] to the end, leading to eternal salvation. [] When we persevere, we: Perseverance was demonstrated by many people in the bible. This month we will talk about several people who persevered mostly through faith in God. They believed that God would help them through their struggles if they truly believed.
 * Do our best with what we have. Keep trying; we don't quit or give up easily.
 * Never make excuses for obstacles that get in the way of getting something done. Instead we look for ways to remove or work around the obstacles.

Paul and James persevered even though they were persecuted for preaching about Jesus. New Testament

<span style="font-family: 'arial','sans-serif'; vertical-align: baseline;">Jacob persisted in wrestling with an angel all night, he would not let go until he received his blessing from the angel. Genesis 32:24

==<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Joseph persisted in enduring slavery and being jailed because he trusted that God had a reason for everything that was happening. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Genesis 37:2 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">[] ==

<span style="font-family: 'arial','sans-serif'; vertical-align: baseline;">The widow persisted in confronting the judge until justice was served. Luke 18:1-8

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Noah Genesis 6:5-22 Daniel 1:1-7 6:1-28

 * Perseverance verses **

“Though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again.” **<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Proverbs 24:16 **

**<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">In all your ways Acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:6 **

**<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">For God so loved the world that He gave His only son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 **

**<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30 **

**<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14 **

Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through Him who gives me strength
==<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12px;">Hebrews 10:36 NIV You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. ==

Perseverance lessons
Ask children to define perseverance. This might be more difficult for them, so use the PDF poster from Focus on the Family. See if they can give a couple of suggestions. Explain that many times when things get tough we give up too easily. Look at the bible verse on the bottom of the paper. Give each child a copy of the PDF and have them fill in the blanks after discussing what perseverance is and is not. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">[]

<span style="font-family: 'arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">When we persevere, we:


 * <span style="font-family: 'arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">Do our best with what we have.
 * <span style="font-family: 'arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">Keep trying; we don't quit or give up easily.
 * <span style="font-family: 'arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">Never make excuses for obstacles that get in the way of getting something done. Instead we look for ways to remove or work around the obstacles.


 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Go over the <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Perseverance poster <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Read the story, <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|Look Who Persevered!] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">, 1 story each week.

** Stories and activities ** Tell children: Many people who have been asked to complete tasks for God have demonstrated perseverance. Think of the apostles who were willing to share the good news about Jesus, dying for our sins, but were afraid of being arrested or even killed for sharing the news. Many people worshipped alone or in their homes in secret because they were afraid but the apostles were willing to persevere through hard times to share the news about Jesus No matter what! Two special people were James and Paul. Paul was a special apostle who was chosen by Jesus. He was called Saul and was one of the people who was persecuting people who believed in Jesus.

Read the story of Saul/Paul in Acts chapters 9:1-31. Persecutor Saul to Apostle Paul [] Share the change in our life when we accept Jesus into our heart and how it can keep getting better when we continue to learn about God’s love and learn to rely on Him always.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">The persistent widow Luke 18:1-8

Have children review perseverance, what it means, how we can demonstrate perseverance. Tell children this is a parable and ask if they remember what a parable is. Tell them Jesus was teaching us while using a story. Read the story to the children. After reading tell children, Jesus wants us to relate to how persistent the widow was and become persistent in learning about God. God willingly takes care of us compared to the judge who reluctantly helped the widow to get rid of her. How can we be persistent in our lives when it comes to Jesus? (being kind to others, working hard to learn God’s word ex. Bible verses, learning stories to share with others.)

Our project, Bible verse journals can be purchased through Oriental Trading Company or made from juice pouches, paper, string and stickers, will take a great deal of perseverance. We need to punch out the holes, string the string through the foam and the papers. Then decorate with the foam letters and shapes. Children will build a prayer journal to save their prayers and Bible verses in. <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Joseph persisted through slavery and Jail

Like the story of Saul, Joseph changed the way he lived when he became a slave and was put in Jail. He was spoiled by his father and his brothers didn’t like him very much especially when he told them about his dreams. Joseph learned to persevere no matter what circumstances were given to him because he knew God was in control of his life and had plans for him.

Josephs coat, color each section a different color and then paste them on to make his coat. Look up Genesis 37:3 for help putting the pieces in the right order. Pattern of long coat and use tissue paper to glue on making a multicolored coat or use pattern from DLTK Kids.


 * Daniel in the lion's den Daniel knew that God would protect him when he prayed **

Begin by having children put the Bible verse in order and have children recite for a prize.

Review perseverance, have children share examples of perseverance and what it looks like (faith, persistence, believing, etc.) make sure these words are on the poster and review words and ideas discussed all month.

We are going to learn about one more person who really was glad he could trust God. Daniel Read story of Daniel and the Lion’s Den. Point out that Daniel trusted God, he knew if he prayed to God he would be safe. Jesus gave to everyone guidance through the Lord’s prayer, on how to talk to God easier when we need him.

Remind children about the Lord’s Prayer on their book mark last week. We are going to create our own book this week and look at each part of the Lord’s Prayer that speaks to trust in God. We can use this prayer to talk to God each day. Learning it is a great way to guide conversations with God, asking for strength, comfort, guidance, etc. whatever you need.

When we finish with the book, make a door hanger with Fully Rely on God stickers.


 * Fully rely on God Door Hanger Use door hanger foam cut outs and put on stickers from oriental trading to decorate. **

Jacob wrestled with an Angel

==<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Do the [|activity] (to reinforce the perseverance character trait. ==

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">[]

 * Learning Goals: **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12px;">After this lesson, the children will express the difference an encounter with Jesus can make in a person’s life.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12px;">After this lesson, the children will express Jesus’ ability to change anyone no matter how evil they may seem to those around them.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12px;">Learning Indicator: **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12px;">By pointing out ways that Jesus changed Saul the children will display the Lord’s power on a person’s life.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12px;">By discussing the sins they feel are unforgivable the children come to understand that no sin is beyond the Lord’s forgiveness expect absolute rejection of Him.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12px;">Learning Activity #1 **

__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12px;">Active Listening: __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12px;"> Divide the children into two groups and have the first group identify what they learn about Saul before He encounters Jesus on the road. The second group should identify what indicates the differences found in Saul after his encounter with Jesus.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12px;">Immediately following the reading of the passages, have a volunteer retell the story the best to their recollection. Ask someone from the first group to describe Saul before He meets Jesus, and then ask for volunteer from second group to describe Saul after meeting Jesus.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12px;">Learning Activity #2 **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12px;">Read the following statements to see whether the children agree or disagree. Ask for a reason they disagree.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12px;">Saul lost his sight for 7 days and didn’t eat during that time. Disagree, 3 days
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12px;">The men with Saul heard the voice but didn’t see anything. Agree.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12px;">Saul was a man murdering disciples of the Lord. Agree.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12px;">Saul was afraid to tell others about Jesus. Disagree, spoke about Jesus in synagogues.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12px;">Saul believed Jesus was a good man. Disagree, believed He was the Son of God.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12px;">Saul didn’t know who the voice was when it asked why Saul was persecuting Him. Agree. Voice identified Himself as Jesus.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12px;">The change in Saul’s attitude toward the Lord’s disciples amazed those listening. Agree.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12px;">Learning Activity #3 **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12px;">Discuss with the children about sin and ask them what sins they think Jesus could not forgive. Help them to realize that the only sin the Lord doesn’t forgive and that will keep them from heaven is the continual rejection of Jesus as their Savior.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12px;">Test: **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12px;">Ask two volunteers to retell the story, having one describe the experience Saul had on the road to Damascus and the second to describe what he did in Damascus. Prompt them with questions like, “What happened next?”


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12px;">Connection with the Gospel: **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12px;">This story shows the difference Jesus makes in a person’s heart, thoughts, and actions. It is important for children to realize that Jesus wants us to see the truth about who He is and how He changes us from the inside to the outside, displayed in the actions and words a person does.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12px;">Connection with Life: **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12px;">Discussion: Ask the children to share an incident in their lives about when they were tempted to do something mean to another person, but remembered what Jesus wanted them to do and chose to be kind instead. Challenge them to try to do something kind for someone who isn’t kind to them.

winning over weeds [getting into nature]
Go outside and try to dig up all the dandelions (or other weeds) in your yard, or in a nearby green belt. While you are working, talk about how persistent the weeds are in coming back. Draw a parallel with sins that are “persistent” and seem to keep coming up again and again.

Explain to your children that they need to keep coming back again and again to God, persevering in prayer, asking Him to help them overcome the temptation to (name a particular sin).

Have your children pray “in Jesus' name” and assure them that Jesus has already won the victory over any sin Satan might send their way to tempt them.