During the lesson, the information for you to know is written in regular type, and what we suggest speaking or reading aloud to children is in bold. All resources for this lesson, including the Teacher Guide, Student Page, Family Connection Card, and other resources can be downloaded in a ZIP file by clicking on the following link:
In some lessons you will find "resource articles." These are articles written by experts from around the world to help equip you for your work with children and adolescents. Share them with parents or guardians if you consider it appropriate.
If needed, before class roll a pair of socks or wad the newspaper to create a soft ball.
Don’t be proud at all. Be completely gentle. Be patient. Put up with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:2
The apostle Paul instructed the early church to be patient with one another as they grew in faith. This can be very difficult when people are not always kind to one another. It is when conflicts happen that our patience is really tested.
Have you ever found yourself becoming impatient with someone for doing something you thought was wrong? It can be frustrating when people do things that we do not agree with. When you believe in God, you are called to be patient and gentle with others. This may sometimes mean waiting on someone to do something. More often, this means controlling feelings of frustration while others make decisions that you may not agree with. Take comfort in knowing that Paul’s instructions take time and effort to follow through with. God is patient with us as we learn to be patient with others!
Let your students’ families know that the children learned about having patience with others. Encourage families to remind their children to practice having patience with others throughout the week. Family members may need the reminder to be patient with the children too!
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
Greet the children as they come to class. Challenge each child to tell you what the word “patience” means. If anyone is unsure, ask a child who knows the answer to share what it means.
Ask the children to form a circle of boys and a circle of girls. Make sure the children are standing close to one another. Choose 3 children to demonstrate how to do the activity. As you explain the game to the children, help the 3 children to follow each step.
These 3 children will show you how to play the game. I will give the first child this ball. This child will place the ball under his chin and hold it between his chin and chest. Next, the first child will pass the ball to the second child without using his hands. The second child will take the ball using only her chin. The second child will then pass the ball to the third child. As you pass the ball, you cannot use your hands.
After the demonstration of how to play, ask the children if they have any questions before you begin passing the ball around the circles. Allow 1 group to do the activity first. Give each group 3 minutes to complete the activity while the other group cheers for the players.
If you thought this game was easy, raise your hand. Keep your hand up if you want to tell me why it was easy for you.
Allow 1–2 children to respond.
If you thought it was hard, raise your hand. Keep your hand up if you want to tell me why it was hard for you.
Allow 1–2 children to respond.
If you thought passing the ball was easy, you may have struggled to be patient with the players who found it difficult. If you thought the game was difficult, you may have struggled to be patient with yourself.
When other people cannot do something as well as you can, it is easy to become impatient with them. Impatient means not having patience with someone or something. If you found yourself being impatient during the game, know that you can learn to be more patient. God wants you to be more like Him. He has perfect patience. If you let Him, He will help you be more like Him and be more patient with others.
In the Bible, the apostle Paul wrote many letters to people who were just learning about Jesus. These early believers tested Paul’s patience. In his letters, he taught these new believers to help them grow in their faith. Paul knew that these people would not understand and follow everything the Bible said right away. Paul was patient with the new Christians. There is a lot to learn about Paul and the people he helped, but let’s take a look at how Paul showed patience with communities of new believers.
Paul saw that these people did not understand how or why they needed to be kind and helpful to each other. He told them:
Read this verse directly from your Bible.
So let us do all we can to live in peace. And let us work hard to build up one another.
Romans 14:19
Paul explained that the people needed to help each other to grow in their faith. He encouraged them to live in peace. Paul said this after explaining many times that the people should not judge each other and should not teach things about God that were wrong. Paul was patient as he explained God and the Christian faith to new believers. He also asked the people to be patient with each other.
Answers may include: I would think the people were not listening to me. It would be frustrating to say the same thing many times.
While Paul was not always patient with the new believers, this response to the people was very patient. Paul loved these people as if they were his family. It took patience for Paul to calmly tell the people the same thing many times.
Sometimes we must be like Paul and patiently wait for others around us to do something that we cannot do ourselves. There are times when we must wait for others. For example, we might have to wait for a family member who lives far away to come and visit. Or we might wait for someone to take us to see that person.
Allow 2–3 children to respond.
Very good! It is not always easy to wait for others. In the Bible, Paul reminds us to be patient with each other.
Don’t be proud at all. Be completely gentle. Be patient. Put up with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:2
The apostle Paul used these words to speak to a community of believers. He began by asking this community to love others and do things to please God. It pleases God when you are patient. God wants you to be gentle, patient, and loving.
This verse talks about a type of patience that is not the same as waiting. This talks about patience when someone does something we do not like. It is not easy to have this type of patience with others.
Having patience with others stretches you. When you stretch your body, you use your muscles in ways that you do not always use them.
Have your children stand up and stretch their arms as straight and as high as they can. Then have them bend down and touch their toes. Then they can sit down again.
Did you feel your muscles stretch? Patience is like a muscle. Stretching may not be comfortable, but it makes you stronger and able to do more things. Learning to have patience with others stretches you. You have stronger relationships when you have patience. You will become more like the person God created you to be when you are patient.
Allow 4–5 children to respond. Responses may include: Do something else while you wait. Stop and calm down. Pray for God to help you to be patient. Think about how you would want someone else to treat you.
Let’s talk about a few things we can do to help us be patient with others. As I explain each one, you will create a motion to help you remember it.
For each statement, each child will come up with his own motions. Pause for 30 seconds after each statement to allow the children to show their motions.
Pray to God to help you with the situation. Remember that we learned that patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. He will help you when you ask Him. Show me an action for “Pray to God for help.”
Do something else while you wait. For example, I might play a game while I wait for my mother to cook dinner. Show me an action for “Do something else while you wait.”
Stop and calm down. When we talked about controlling our emotions, we learned that we can take deep breaths or count to 10 to help us calm down. Show me an action for “Stop and calm down.”
Think about the other person. If you were the other person, how would you want someone else to treat you? You would probably want her to be kind and patient with you. Show me an action for “Think about the other person.”
Let’s quickly practice the motions you just showed me. I will name a way to help you have patience, and you will do the motion you created. Ready?
Call out the following statements in any order. Repeat the list 2 times. Allow 20–30 seconds for children to act out each statement.
Optional: If you are using Student Pages, give the children crayons to draw pictures for each way to help them have patience. Read each item to the children, showing them where it is on the page, then give them about a minute to draw each picture.
Now that we have some ways to help us show patience with others, I will read you a story. Each time you hear something that might stretch your patience, stretch your arms up high to try to touch the sky. This will be the signal to stop and talk about what you can do to show patience with the friend in the story.
Story: You and your friend decide to play together. You begin playing, but then your friend’s mother tells him to go to the market with her instead. Now your friend cannot play with you. (Stop and stretch up to the sky with the children.)
Your friend’s mother caused your plans to change. your friend cannot play with you.
Allow all the children to respond. Call out 2–3 actions you see them doing.
Sometimes plans change. It is important to show patience when this happens. It can make us sad or angry when this happens, but we can stay calm and change our plans. Let’s try another situation.
Story: You come home from school and see your mother and brother for a few minutes before they have to leave for work. You spend the night alone. You feel scared alone in the dark. You must wait until morning to see your family again. (Stop and stretch up to the sky with the children.)
You must wait for your mother and brother to come home.
Allow all the children to respond. Call out 2–3 actions you see them doing.
It is not always easy to have patience with others. They may change your plans, make you wait when you do not want to, or do something you do not like. You might not agree with what someone does or says. God wants you to have patience with others.
This week, remember to be patient with others. The memory verse reminds us to wait patiently.
Show the Memory Verse poster, if you are using it.
The end of a matter is better than its beginning. So it’s better to be patient than proud.
Ecclesiastes 7:8
Read the verse with the children 3 times. As you say the verse together, allow the children to use the same rhythm and “instruments” as they did for the previous class.
End class by saying this blessing, based on Ephesians 4:2, over the children.
Blessing: May God help you to be patient with others. May you be gentle with those who may do things differently than you and may you show them God’s love.
Lead the children in singing this quarter’s song if possible.
Life on Life ©2020 David C Cook. Reproducible for home or classroom use only. All other uses require written permission from David C Cook [email protected]. All rights reserved.
