Men of Valor (1) - Courage

Game for Courage: God is my Flashlight

God is my flashlight

A very common fear among children and adults is fear of the dark. Being careful in the dark is wise, as a person can trip or bump into hidden obstacles. However, being cautious in the dark is different from being fearful of darkness.

When a person is afraid of the dark, they are usually letting their imagination get carried away. If a person continues to dwell on those thoughts, the fear only gets worse.

Offering an alternative focus can help your children overcome their fear of the dark. One helpful alternative is the three-part “fear stopper” handshake.

Begin by having your child hold your hand as you would hold hands if you were walking side by side.

As you swing hands, have your child say, “God is with me.”

pretending your hands are binoculars. Look at each other and say, “God knows what hides in darkness!”

Finish by saying “God will protect me!”

as you make a fist with one hand and gently “pound it” by punching your fist against the other person’s fist, “hammer-style.”

Principle of Courage: Men have the Courage to do what is right.

Gentlemen‘s Behavior: How many of you have learned to hold a door open for your mom or sisters?

Do you know where this comes from? This was started better than 100 years ago. Women would carry their children from place to place. This allowed the husband to carry a weapon or have his hands free to fight off animals or robbers. This gave his family an advantage. So as the women would be unable to hold the door herself the husband would hold the door for her. It became a sigh that you were no longer a little boy but you are a man when you could be trusted to open the door for a lady. It was a sign that you had the courage to protect her.

Gentlemen’s Behavior: How many of you have learned to give your seat up for a lady that doesn’t have one.

This comes from the man having a clear view of anything going on around his family so that if any harm would come his way he could fight it off. So a gentlemen gives his seat to a woman’s as a sign that he is brave enough to protect her.

Scripture Memory: Deuteronomy 31:6

Deuteronomy 31:6 (KJV 1900)

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Lesson: Men have the courage to do what is Right.

How many of you have a friend name Caleb. Do you know what that name means?

… it means “courage”.

Did you know that there was a man in the Bible whose name is Caleb and he demonstrates real courage.

After God delivers the Children of Israel from bondage in Egypt and brings them to the promised land, he instructs Moses to send spies into the land. So Moses chooses 12 spies; they go into the land and are amazed at what they see.

It truly is a land flowing with milk and honey, but it is also inhabited by strong people with walled cities.

When they give their reports to Moses, Caleb speaks up immediately that they should go in and take possession of the land, but 10 of the men are far too fearful and try to persuade the people that it is too dangerous.

Joshua and Caleb try to convince the people. “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.” (Numbers 14:7-9

Numbers 14:7–9 KJV 1900

And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.

Caleb was brave because he knew that the Lord was with them.

The scene ends when the people try to stone Caleb and Joshua, God intervenes and punishes them for their unbelief. They will now wander the wilderness for 40 years before the well-known story of Joshua and the Battle of Jericho.

However, this isn’t the end of the story for Caleb. We see him again in Joshua 14 where he reminds Joshua that he had stood with him and for God 45 years ago.

Joshua 14:13–14 KJV 1900

And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance. Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel.

Is doing right always the easy thing to do?

answer of course is NO…

What are some ways you can show courage?

1. Do the right thing, even if others are not.

2. Bravely deal with your daily challenges.

3. Be willing to try new things, even if you might fail.

4. Tell the truth regardless of the consequences.

5. Face your fears and work to overcome them.

6. Admit your mistakes and learn from them.

7. Do not give into negative peer pressure

What are a few more examples of Bible stories about courage:

David and Goliath

David runs from Saul

Daniel in the lions’ den

the three Hebrew men (Daniel 3)

Joshua and the battle of Jericho

Moses facing Pharoah

On a Roll (Suggested for all grades)

Materials: One sheet of copy paper, small book

Show the class the piece of paper and ask them if there is any way the paper can hold up the book, using only one hand to hold the paper. You can ask for several volunteers to try; soon they will realize there is no way. Now take the paper and roll it tightly into a tube, the diameter of about 1 to 1⁄2 inches. Hold the tube in one hand and carefully place the book on top of the open end of the tube. It should support the book. Relate this to the ability we all have to turn our weaknesses into strengths and show courage. The paper at first is flimsy, weak, lacking backbone and character- easy to crush and overwhelm. This might be compared to some people who are faced with a problem or obstacle, they may lack the courage to confront the problem or stand up to the opposition. But, with determination we can turn our weaknesses into strengths. Just as the paper can be rolled into a sturdy tube, we can work to add muscle to our weaknesses if we have the courage to persist. We will then develop backbone to hold up under pressure. Ask the students to give examples of what someone could do to turn a weakness into strength.

Examples: Marty has to give a presentation in class and he is afraid to speak in front of his classmates. Jackie loves to play basketball but she is extra short for her age. She is afraid to sign up for the team because her skills might not measure up. (10-Minute Life Lessons, by Jaime Mille

What are a few more examples of Bible stories about courage:

David and Goliath

David runs from Saul

Daniel in the lions’ den

the three Hebrew men (Daniel 3)

Joshua and the battle of Jericho

Moses facing Pharoah

Snuff Out Fear

Discussion point: Fear is like fire – it can easily get out of control; we can ask God to calm our fear.

Light a candle and talk about how scary fires can be. Have your children put their hands close enough to the flame to feel the heat. Remind your children to be careful around fire.

Explain that when fire gets too much fuel, it can get out of control. Fear is like fire; if we feed it, it can get out of control too. The good news is that God is stronger than fire and He is also stronger than fear.

Take a candle snuff or paper cup and put the candle out. As you demonstrate how a candle snuff puts the fire out, explain that God is more powerful than any fire. Even when our fear is out of control, God can put a stop to it if we ask Him.

Needs list:

Candle

Shields

Flashlight

Sheet of Paper

Small book