Heroes of the Faith, Part 1Sample

Obey God

Hero: Noah - Genesis 6:9-9:17, Hebrews 11:7

Theme Verse: James 1:22

Have you ever said something like, “I’m not at all scared of tarantulas,” then, when you see one, you squeal and run away? Or have you told your Mom or Dad that you would do what they asked, then disobeyed them? Last week, we learned to believe God’s Word, but it is easy to say that and not do what it says! James 2:26 says our faith is dead if we do not act on it.

Today, we will learn about a man whose faith was very much alive. The Bible tells us that God decided to flood the whole earth once because all the people were wicked. God told Noah, the only righteous man on earth, to build an ark (a really big boat).

It can be hard to obey God for different reasons. Sometimes, we don’t want to. The Bible doesn’t say what Noah thought, but I’m guessing he wasn’t making arks before and had to change to obey God. Sometimes, it is hard to obey because we don’t understand.

It took around 100 years to build the ark, and Noah would have seen blue skies and no sign of a flood! A little child may not understand the danger of a busy street, but he must obey his parents and avoid it. Have your parents ever told you to do something you did not understand?

Sometimes, it is hard to obey because we are afraid of what people will think of us. Could you imagine how strange Noah seemed to everyone else? But if they could have seen the future, they would have helped and asked for a ride!

Sometimes, we think it will be impossible. God told Noah to get a pair of each animal on the boat. Cats hate water and moving things like boats, and they don’t listen! Noah not only had to get cats but lions, sheep, and all animals together!

Noah obeyed anyway and built the ark. Then animals obeyed God too and came on their own! The whole earth flooded for a year and ten days, and everything was wiped out! The Bible says that whoever keeps commandments keeps their life (Proverbs 19:16). Noah’s obedience, as did his family and the different animals, saved him. If you obey God, it could save others as well. God promised never to flood the earth again with the rainbow as a sign. Every time you see a rainbow, think about God’s promise and how you can obey God like Noah.

I choose to obey God because it is worth it.

Questions:

1. Why do my parents always tell me what to do?

2. What if disobeying God makes me popular and fashionable?

3. Will I live happily ever after?

Application to Life: This week's assignment is to write down one or more times you were tempted to do something God does not want you to do, but you decided to follow God instead.