Ministry class assignment #2 – Humbleness
Lesson in humbleness… (Hypothetically would be for the Girl’s Ministry
class)
Central message: The best lifting up is through God.
He will lift up the humble.
Memory Verse:
Proverbs
16:19 Better
it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly,
than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Scripture:
Luke 15:11-32 -- Prodigal Son
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father,
Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them
his living.
13 And not many days after the younger son
gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there
wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a
mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen
of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with
the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How
many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish
with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will
say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son:
make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But
when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and
ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have
sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy
son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring
forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes
on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill
it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again;
he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he
came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked
what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come;
and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe
and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in:
therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo,
these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy
commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with
my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which
hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted
calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with
me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be
glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is
found.
Lesson:
We want to have a byline, share our two cents, and be
recognized with admiration for our achievements; we are by nature prideful
beings. Seems logically to receive praise for the accomplishments we have under
our belts, but how much glory do we tend to rob? How many situations do we walk
away with the glory that rightfully deserves to be in the hands of God?
There is not one
person who does not struggle with pride in one or many areas of their lives. And
pride is a dangerous weakness to dwell in because Proverbs tells us God hates
pride. God has a way of bringing those who were set up high to a lowly state
and those who find their selves low in stature to a highly valued place.
The lowest person does not have anywhere to go but up and
the highest can sometimes merely fall. Another example in scripture is David.
David was the youngest of his siblings and God called him out and set him as
King, whereas, the giant was arrogant and prideful in his ways and God made him
fall.
In the story of the prodigal son, we are given a wonderful
example of what happens when we let our guard down and slip off the pedestal we
built ourselves and find ourselves in a low place needing His grace. At the
beginning, the son has wealth and is living in a riotous manner. He has no
concern for others and was probably self-absorbed. It does not take long for
him to find himself in the pig pen where no one else will give to his want. (Note:
only God through Christ can fulfill our need for salvation.)
It is when he is lowly that he finds himself to be humble.
When he looks back to return to his father, he does not want the wealth he had,
but rather he would be grateful just to work as a servant for his father. He
does not think himself to deserve a place in his father’s house, but he
realizes he could ask to serve his father.
This is a beautiful picture of a person who looks to God and
knows they have nothing, but if they could only serve God it would make the
difference in their life.
Once the son returns, he is given more than he could have
ever anticipated. His father welcomes him back with open arms and adorns him
with his very best. God gives us the best when He gives of Himself through
Christ and Holy Spirit. So, our Heavenly Father places value on those who are
lowly. When we have nothing, but a willingness to turn, repent and serve Him,
He gives us everything.
The older brother is then pulled aside in his anger for his
father’s unmerited favor toward the younger son. The older brother sets outside
the celebration because pride creates jealousy in his heart. He has the same
access to his father’s riches and gifts, but it is untold if he lets go of his
anger to join the celebration.
Pride can take many forms in our lives and sometimes we do
not even realize it is there, but it still separates us from our father.
Whether you are in the pig pen after spending everything you thought belonged
to you or you think you are playing ever card the right way, pride can sweep in
and bring you to a low place which only your Heavenly Father can lift you from.
Supporting Scripture:
Psalm
138:6 Though
the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly:
but the proud he knoweth afar off.
Romans
12:16 Be of
the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but
condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own
conceits.
Ezekiel
21:26 Thus
saith the Lord God; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall
not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high.
Proverbs
16:19 Better
it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly,
than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Proverbs
29:23 A
man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in
spirit.
Activity options:
1.) Tug a war in mud. Flesh and pride are opposite forces of
spirit and humbleness. They will pull in opposite directions and the mud to
symbolize being in the pig pen similarly to the prodigal son and/or our filthy
righteousness.
2.) Fire pit. Take several scraps of paper and write the
things you have failed at, things you might not like about yourself, things
from the past. Throw those papers in the fire and discuss how God takes us when
we are imperfect and we have value because he created value in us. He gives us
freedom to walk away with the fire of His spirit in us and no longer those
things that hinder our walk with Him.
