BCIC Loyalty Sample

Loyalty

Using difﬁcult times to demonstrate my commitment to God and to those He has called me to serve

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” JOHN 15:13

RUTH CHOOSES TO REMAIN WITH NAOMI

“And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.”

RUTH 1:16

SPIRITUAL GIFT:

BIBLICAL CHARACTER ILLUSTRATED CURRICULUM Illustrated in Scripture, Illustrated in Life

Organizer

“The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7b). Biblical character is illustrated in this curriculum through both artwork and lessons from the lives of people in God’s Word. We most often beneﬁt from the positive examples of faithful men and women. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4). There were also people in the Bible who are representations of poor character, and we can learn from their lives as well. “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted” (I Corinthians 10:6). We would be wise to learn from the testimonies God has given us in Scripture.

Illustrated in Life

“Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Hearing the Word of God causes us to grow in faith. This curriculum offers many practical applications of God’s Word to everyday life. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22). As God enables us to act in faith, our lives as believers will illustrate His character to others.

The character of God is illustrated in Scripture. May it also be illustrated in our lives.

Character Quality Overview

What Is Loyalty?

Read aloud and discuss what loyalty means and how it applies to life.

The operational deﬁnition of loyalty is “using difﬁcult times to demonstrate my commitment to God and to those He has called me to serve.” Being loyal is easy when everything is going well. But what happens when there are disagreements, personality clashes, misunderstandings, or trials? Are you willing to work out differences? Are you there for others in their times of need? When a friend strays from the ways of the Lord, do you lovingly bring it to his attention? (See Galatians 6:1.) When tragedy strikes, do you offer your help and support? (See I John 3:17.)

When pressures come, do you take time to talk and pray together? (See James 5:16.) A loyal friend extends Christ’s love, no matter the cost. Committed in good times and bad—that is loyalty.

The opposite of loyalty is unfaithfulness. Difﬁculties often test our loyalty. When it is no longer convenient or beneﬁcial for us personally, do we stay faithful to

God’s call or back out to escape inconveniences? Realizing how much God sacriﬁced for us challenges us that no sacriﬁce is too great to make for Him. “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (I John 3:16).

Those who signed America’s Declaraton of Independence were loyal to America despite the great cost to them. Five of them were captured and tortured by the Britsh. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Four lost their children. Nine fought and died from wounds or the hardships of the Revolutonary War. Others died in poverty. Stll they stood for America, and their loyalty birthed a free naton.

One example of “demonstrating my commitment to God” is consistently spending time with Him. As you fellowship with God, you see His love for you! In response, you want nothing more than to return His love. Are you taking time to read God’s Word and talk to Him through prayer?

Benedict Arnold atempted to betray his fellow Americans to the Britsh. “Confdence in an unfaithful man in tme of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint” (Proverbs 25:19).

An example of “demonstrating my commitment to those God has called me to serve” is being there for your family: giving them smiles and encouraging words throughout the day, lending a helping hand with the cleaning or groceries, praying for them and supporting the wise decisions they make. Are you willing to demonstrate God’s love and be committed to your family?

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Loyalty in Scripture

As you read and study God’s Word, you will see Who He is! Be willing to be changed by Him so Christ can be seen through your life and others will glorify God.

The Character of God

We see examples of loyalty in God’s character in the following ways:

• God kept His covenant with Israel.

(See Psalm 105:8–9.)

• God will not leave us.

(See Hebrews 13:5–6.)

• Jesus was loyal to His mother by arranging for her care afer His death.

(See John 19:27.)

• Jesus was loyal to God instead of yielding to temptaton.

(See Matthew 4:10.)

• Jesus encouraged Peter in preparaton for an approaching difcult tme.

(See Luke 22:31–32.)

• Jesus was commited to His Father’s will in difcult circumstances.

(See Matthew 26:39.)

• The Holy Spirit within us is greater than the enemy and will empower us to withstand persecuton.

(See John 16:33, I John 4:4.)

LOYALTY KEY VERSE

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

JOHN

15:13

Loyalty in My Life

Now let’s examine some ways God wants us to live out loyalty daily.

• How might the Lord use me, like Joseph in Egypt, to cause my authorites to prosper?

(See Genesis 39:2–4.)

• What could I do for my siblings when they are going through a hard tme?

(See Proverbs 17:17.)

• Who else, besides my own family and close friends, can I be loyal to?

(See Proverbs 27:10.)

• What sacrifces could I make to demonstrate loyalty to other Christans?

(See Romans 12:10–13, 16:3–4.)

• How could I, like Onesiphorous, help others?

(See II Timothy 1:16–17.)

• What is one way I could support orphans and widows in their tmes of need?

(See James 1:27.)

• What should I do if I am being infuenced to be unfaithful to the Lord?

(See Psalm 1:1, Proverbs 14:7, 22:24–25.)

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Serve My Family and Teachers

Serving others shows your loyalty not only to them but also to God. “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40). You show loyalty to your family when you choose their well-being over your own. Loyalty may call you to spend the afternoon helping an aging grandparent instead of playing with your friends. When your teacher steps out of the room and other children unwisely stop following her instructions, a loyal student will continue to obey, despite her absence. Being loyal may cost you your reputation, time, energy, or possessions. However, even as you encounter difﬁcult times, God will enable you to continue serving your family and teachers faithfully.

LOYALTY

Using difﬁcult times to demonstrate my commitment to God and to those He has called me to serve

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INTRODUCTION GOD ENABLES ME TO

Ruth Chooses to Remain with Naomi

Ruth Chooses to Remain with Naomi

The nation of Israel was delivered by God from slavery in Egypt. God instructed the Israelites to worship only Him and to follow His leading to the Promised Land. In order to get to the Promised Land, the Israelites had to journey through the Canaanite country of Moab. The Moabites, however, did not worship the one true God. Instead, they worshipped an idol. They offered sacriﬁces to this false god, as if this man-made statue possessed power! Once Israel settled in the new land, the Moabites were a neighboring country. Over the years, these two nations were often in conflict. Yet, during the time when the judges ruled

Israel before the reign of King Saul, the two warring nations experienced a period of peace. When a famine came upon Israel, one Israelite family relocated temporarily to the fertile grasslands of Moab. They hoped to escape the famine and live comfortably there. Once the famine ended, the plan was to return to the land God had provided them. What difﬁculties would befall this family while they dwelt in Moab? How would two women of Moab respond to these tragedies? What would one woman’s loyalty cost her during this time?

Let’s read the Bible story in Ruth 1:1–2:17, 4:6–17 and then discuss the following questions.

1. What family events occurred after Elimelech and Naomi moved from Judah to Moab?

(See Ruth 1:3–5.)

What unique challenges have happened in your family recently? How did you stick together?

2. What decision did Naomi make when she heard the famine had ended? (See Ruth 1:6.) Did she require her daughters-in-law to return with her?

(See Ruth 1:8–9.)

How can you do more than your parents and teachers require of you?

3. What did Ruth and Orpah say they would do? Did they both follow through with their commitments? (See Ruth 1:10, 14–15.)

Whom do you know or have heard about that set aside his plans in order to assist those that God called him to serve?

4. What was Ruth willing to give up in order to remain with Naomi? (See Ruth 1:16–17.)

When have you chosen to be loyal to someone

when it cost you something? What might you give up to help your mom’s day go more smoothly?

5. Once the two widowed women were in Bethlehem, what did they need? How did Ruth offer to meet that need? (See Ruth 2:2–3a.)

In what ways do you offer to serve your family?

6. How long did Ruth work in the ﬁeld?

(See Ruth 2:7b, 17a.)

When have you worked an entire day to serve your family?

7. Was Ruth’s service to her mother-in-law a one-time event? (See Ruth 2:23.)

When have you not wanted to be loyal, but God enabled you to continue helping your family or a teacher?

8. What wonderful event occurred for Ruth as she remained loyal to Naomi and the one true God? (See Ruth 4:13–17.)

How can faithfully serving your parents and siblings bring honor to God? (See Matthew 5:16.)

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BIBLE STORY

LESSON 1 Serve My Family and Teachers

Revealing the character of Christ through the stories in His Word.

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Biblical Character Illustrated Curriculum

Discover this unique tool that uses the stories in Scripture to illuminate character qualities God wants to develop in the lives of His people. This curriculum contains multiple ways to teach character to kids and give them a vision for building character through faith in Christ!