In the Verse Kit Box:
Review:
Lesson:
Note: If the student has not learned Ecclesiastes 7:9, just have them read through it once or twice without reciting it for the next 3 weeks. After that, try to have them say it from memory. It is too “deep” of a verse to miss!
Lesson for Proverbs 25:21 below:
After you have read the verse aloud, and the student has read it once too, ask: who are we supposed to give food and water to, according to this verse? (NOT THE DOG!!! NOT everyone or even the homeless.) According to this verse, it’s your enemy.
Discuss who their enemy might be. They may or may not be willing to give names. I kept our discussions general, and everyone said their enemy was someone they didn’t like or get along with (including their sibling!)
I used a personal illustration to help them understand how to apply this verse (cuz, really, do you give the kid on the bus a piece of bread every time he makes fun of you?) My first year of teaching, I had a little girl in my 3rd and 4th grade class that had a snotty nose ALL THE TIME! From the beginning of the school year, through the holidays and beyond; it was constant! And her love language was touch. She constantly wanted to be touching me (just after she had used her hand to wipe her nose!) I tried giving her Kleenex, suggesting baby wipes as much as possible, and keeping hand sanitizer on my desk; nothing worked. As the year went on, I found myself avoiding her as much as possible. I knew it was wrong, but I didn’t know what to do! So somewhere after Christmas (yes, I’m a slow learner!), I started praying for her by name. And somewhere around the first of February, my attitude toward her changed. Her sinus issue didn’t change; evidently just my heart changed, because I was praying for her. By the end of the year, she was the best student, she was my favorite, and I could see past her snotty nose!
Sometimes “bread” doesn’t have to be edible. Sometimes it’s finding the thing that works to change the relationship. Not at the cost of losing your personality or your values, but in order that the world might see that Christ-followers are different.
Conclude the lesson by having the student read the verse 3 times. Then they should be able to say it without looking.
Kit:
Enjoy your crackers! (I couldn’t send bread through the mail!)
Bible Literacy:
Help your student find Proverbs 25:21 and highlight or underline it. Consider “flipping” through the Bible and see how many other highlighted/underlined passages pop out at you! They become like dear friends, shining like a lighthouse when you need an encouraging or directive word.
