Ruth in the Bible - Sunday School Lessons

Helping your spiritual side grow by harvesting the good things God has given us is just one of the Sunday school lessons that can be taught about Ruth in the bible.

Ruth in the bible Sunday school lessons.
Photo: wikimedia

While the word 'harvesting' may make it sound like a good Sunday school lesson to teach during the Fall when it is time for harvest, this lesson is great for anytime of the year. So, get your harvesting baskets ready and let's get started.

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Ruth in the Bible

Begin the class with prayer. Ask God to let all the little ears in the class not only hear, but to listen.

Here is the bible verse for this lesson:

 

James 1:22 KJV

 

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only.

Ruth is a famous woman in the bible. She followed her mother-in-law to a far away country where she learned about working hard and about the one true God - our God. You see, at first, Ruth didn't worship God. Where she lived, everyone worshipped idols.

Do you know what an idol is?

An idol is anything that you worship instead of God. Some people worship statues while others worship the sun and moon. Can a statue made out of stone help you in any way?

Wait for answers.

Then ask, "Can the sun and moon answer your prayers?"

Wait for answers.

Of course they can't.

Ruth realized this too. She made a good decision to follow the one true God and because she did, God blessed her over and over again.

Harvesting to Feed Our Spiritual Side

Teach kids the whole book of Ruth!

When we think of harvesting, we think of farmers gathering their crops to eat. Food is what we need to help our bodies grow.

But, did you know that we need to harvest things from God to help our spiritual side grow?

For instance, bible verses help us grow. Listening in church and Sunday school helps us grow. Of course, these things don't help us to get taller or keep us from getting thirsty or hungry, but they do help the part of us that needs to become more like Jesus grow.

If we never learn more about God, how can we tell others? How can we grow closer to him?

What are some ways that you can think of that can help your spiritual side grow and help you get closer to God and become more like him?

Wait for answers.

Some of the things you should harvest to help you grow in Christ are:

• praying
• singing songs to/about God
• telling others about Jesus
• inviting friends to church
• reading your bible
• memorizing bible verses (like the one above)
• coming to church and Sunday school

Can you think of any more? Wait for answers.

Story of Ruth & Esther Flannel Board Figures

A Reminder

 

When we come to church and Sunday school, we need to not only listen, but to do what we've learned. Repeat the bible verse above.

Anyone can come and listen to the Sunday School lesson, but that won't help them grow in Christ. You must practice what you've learned. When you go home today, tell your parents or brothers and sisters your bible verse. Tell them about harvesting what you've learned to help your spiritual side grow.

Pray for the kids in your Sunday school class and your class at school. Tell them about Jesus.

All of these things will help you become more like Jesus. Keep learning and keep spreading God's word to others.



 

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Book of Ruth - FREE Coloring Pages for Kids

The book of Ruth may be short, but there is so much to learn from each word. One thing many people like about this popular book of the bible is that it reads like a fiction story that someone has made up even though every word is true.

God allows us to step into the life of Ruth and see how choosing to follow God led her to the love of her life. This true love story captivates the hearts of kids and adults alike. Young children grasp the lighter part of the love story while adults can get deeply involved with each word.

Teach Ruth's story in this Sunday school lesson or read about Ruth in a different light at Christian Magazine Today.

Book of Ruth

FREE Coloring Pages for Kids

 

 

(double-click to print)

 



 

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Play Bible Trivia Using Bible Stories

Bible Trivia - Bible Verses
Photo:Vinicius de Carvalho Venâncio

Have you ever played a trivia game where you're trying to beat another person or a timer? It is fun and exciting. TV producers have even made hundreds of game shows using this same technique.

What makes these types of games so fun?

Basically, it is because you are racing against a clock or another person. You want to try to answer the question before the other team has a chance. You want to show that you know the answers, right?

I have to admit - I love playing the 'Family Fued' app on my children's iPods. It is fun to try to beat the clock!

Using this same type of system, gather up some bible trivia questions and get a game going! You can use this type of game with your Sunday school class, a Youth Group, a whole church congregation, or even invite surrounding churches for a full blown 'Bible Trivia Face Off!" (all in good fun of course).

Bible Trivia

Here are some bible trivia question about well known bible stories to help you get started. Use as many questions as you like during the game. Try to keep the answers short and sweet as it helps keep the game rolling along nicely.

These bible story questions have been taken from Daniel and the Lion's Den, Jesus Feeds the 5000, the 10 Commandments, and Ruth. Choose questions about bible stories you've been going over in class as it is fun for the kids to know the answers or at least most of them. You'll find they will become discouraged if there are questions about stories the majority of the kids have never heard before.

Questions and Answers:

1. What did Daniel do to get thrown into the lion's den? He prayed.
2. How many times a day did Daniel pray? 3 times (morning, noon, and night)
3. What was the name of the man whose field Ruth was gleaning in? Boaz
4. Who was Ruth's mother-in-law? Naomi
5. How many men were there when Jesus broke the bread and fish? 5000
6. How many loaves of bread and fish did Jesus start out with? 5 loaves of barely bread and two small fishes
7. How much food was left over when all of the people finished eating? 12 baskets full
8. What does the 10 Commandments say about being jealous? Do not be jealous of what others have.
9. What does the 10 Commandments say about lying? Never tell a lie.
10. What is the 5th Commandment about moms and dads? Always obey your mom and dad.

Watch a Bible Trivia Video for more trivia questions.

Find more bible trivia questions that following along with bible stories you've been discussing or make some up of your own. Be sure you decide how you'll play the game and about scoring before class begins.

You can have groups competing or you can let everyone compete as individuals giving the winner a ribbon, a new bible, or even a pack of gum. Whatever you choose, do it for the glory of God.

Bible Stories

Get the Ruth bible story for your kids or to teach your class.

 

 

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Deborah Goes Into Battle - Sunday School Lesson

I love this bible story because not only does it show the bravery of women, but it also shows that God uses women as well as men. So, listen up girls and boys - God can and WILL use you no matter what age, color, or even if you are a boy or a girl. There are so many stories in the bible about God using women and children - like the story of Ruth or the little boy who gave his lunch to feed the 5,000!

Isn't that wonderful to know!!! If we allow God to use us, there is no telling what can happen.

Just like the bible stories above, the story of Deborah is also a true story of how God uses women to get the job done. In this Sunday School lesson, you'll learn how God not only uses one woman, but two and just how important they are.

Sunday School Lesson

The story of Deborah begins in Judges 4 when Israel turned away from God yet again when the Judge
Ehud died. Teachers - don't just go by the Sunday School lesson below. Turn to Judges 4 and read it for yourself. You may find more information about the story you'd like to share with your class.

Deborah Goes Into Battle

During this time, Deborah, who was a prophetess, began to judge the children of Israel. The bible tells us that she lived under a palm tree. Often, the children of Israel would come to her for help and for answers.

You see, the Israelites were afraid of Sisera who was the captain of the Canaanite army. Sisera had a strong army with 900 chariots of iron and thousands of men. The bible tells us that for twenty years he kept the Israelites under his control, or mightily oppressed them.

Finally, Deborah called for a man named Barak and said to him, "Barak, the Lord said for you to take 10,000 men into the mountains and He is going to lead Sisera's army down to the river. There the Lord will allow you to win the battle."

But, Barak didn't want to go even though the Lord said he would win!

Instead, Barak told Deborah, "If you will go with me into battle, then I will go. But, if you don't go with me, then I won't go."

Imagine, this big strong man who is more than capable of leading an army of 10,000 men is afraid to go into battle without Deborah by his side!

What do you think Deborah said to him?

Deborah knew the Lord would keep his word and that they would win the battle, so she immediately said yes she would go would Barak. (Of course, I believe Deborah would have went whether or not she knew they were going to win because she loved the Lord and wanted to do his will.)

But before they left, Deborah told Barak, "You must know that the Lord is going to let a woman take care of Sisera the captain of the Canaanite army. You will not have the honor of killing him yourself."

The Battle

Just as the Lord said, Barak and Deborah led the Israelite army up to the top of a mountain. The Lord led Sisera and his army down near the river.

When every thing was in place, Deborah said to Barak, "UP! For this is the day that the Lord hath delivered Sisera into thine hand!"

What did this mean?

It meant that it was time for Barak to take his men into battle! It was time to charge! The Lord had said that today was the day the Israelites were going to win the battle against Sisera and his army! It was time!

We know they win, but how did it all happen?

Well - When Sisera and his army saw Barak and his men coming down off that mountain, the bible tells us that the Lord confused Sisera and his army so badly that Sisera jumped down off his chariot and took off running. While Sisera's army was confused, Barak and his army took care of them all. There was not a single man left.

Now, while this was going on, Sisera was still running. He ran until he came to a tent. There was a woman inside the tent named Jael. Jael told Sisera he could come into her tent and when he did, he laid down and she covered him with a blanket.

Sisera told Jael he was very thirsty so she gave him some milk to drink.

After he finished drinking, he said to Jael, "You stand by the door of tent and if anyone comes looking for me, you tell them no one is here."

So Jael waited. Finally, Sisera fell fast asleep because he was so tired and worn out from all that running away.

While he was asleep, Jael took a tent stake and killed Sisera. Which is exactly what Deborah had said, remember? Deborah told Barak that Sisera would be killed by a woman.

Now, Barak was still chasing after Sisera and came to the tent where Jael was. When Jael saw Barak, she told him, "Come into my tent. There you will find the man you are looking for."

A Final Note

Depending on the age children you have, you may want to tell them exactly how Jael killed Sisera. The bible tells us that she took a tent stake and drove it deep into his temple and fastened it into the ground.



**Note: There are many times in the bible where God allows people to kill and often children and adults wonder how this is so when one of the Ten Commandments clearly states - Thou shalt not kill. When the scrolls were translated, the word kill was actually the word murder. What does this mean? It means that God commanded us - Thou shalt not murder. We are not to let hatred fester inside of us where we devise a plan to murder someone.


If you like this Sunday School lesson, please share it with others. Also, be sure to add your email in the upper right side to get free Sunday school games and lessons!
 

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Spiritual Growth - Sunday School Game

Teaching kids about spiritual growth is as important if not more than teaching kids to feed themselves. After teaching the Ruth in the bible Sunday school lesson, you can use this Sunday school game to let the kids have fun while they are learning about spiritual growth.

Spiritual Growth
Sunday School Game

Sunday School Game

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To teach the class about spiritual growth, play this Sunday school game.

You'll only need a few things for this game. You can also play it with any number of children. Here's what you'll need:

• cut out paper food items (carrots, apples, strawberries, pumpkins, corn, etc.)
• printed out verses and words (list shown below)
• tape

After you have cut out the food items, tape the words or verses (listed below) on the back and hide them around the room or area. Don't make them too hard to find - just hard enough for your age children.

For this example, let's say you have 12 kids in your class.

You'll need at least 2 paper food items for each child plus 12 more - a total of 36 food items (more for more kids).

Write the following on the back of the first 24 food items. You can add some of your own ideas too. You can also copy and paste so that you can print them out. Then, just cut and tape them on the back of the food items.

• Bible verses
• Prayer
• helping others
• sharing
• going to Sunday school
• bible school
• youth meeting
• attend church
• read your bible
• tell others about Jesus, God, and Heaven
• invite people to church and youth meeting
• talking to God
• or any other things that will help the kids spiritual growth

Here are some bible verse suggestions you can add to the backs of some too:

James 1:22 KJV

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only.

 

Proverbs 10:5 KJV

He that gathereth in summer is a wise son:

but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

 

Philippians 4:13 KJV

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

 

 

 

You'll also need 12 things that will NOT help with spiritual growth. Below are just examples. Feel free to add your own.

• using bad language
• using the Lord’s name in vain
• telling lies
• disobeying
• being jealous of what others have
• stealing
• talking back to parents and teachers
• bullying
• hurting people’s feelings on purpose
• cheating
• throwing trash down on church property

 

How to play this Sunday school game:

 

After you have cut out the foods, taped on the words and verses above, and hidden them, it is time to explain the rules.

 

Each child will walk around the room looking at each piece of food. As they read the back of the food, they can decide if it will help their spiritual growth or hurt it. Let each child pick up two foods, but be sure they don't pick up the bad foods.

 

Once the kids have gathered two good food items, let them come back to sit in a circle. Let the kids take turns telling what they found and how it can help their spiritual growth. This is important as it will let you step in and explain why it will help when needed.

After everyone has gone, talk about the bad foods they found and why it will hurt their spiritual growth.

Use your own ideas and verses that you've been working on to help encourage the kids in your Sunday school class.


 

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