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 and Student Page, 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.
So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
2 Thessalonians 2:15–17
Be encouraged! God notices the work you are doing. He knows your heart. As you prepare to teach the last lesson in this unit about conviction, spend some time thinking about your own convictions and the good works you do because of them. Think of the ways this work can be hard, yet you choose to do it anyway because it is your conviction.
Throughout this week, continue to invite God to encourage your heart and strengthen your convictions so that He will be glorified! Write down the little ways He encourages and strengthens you this week.
Let the families know that this is the last of 4 lessons about conviction. Encourage them to discuss these words by Christian teacher Howard Hendricks with their child: “A belief is something you will argue about. A conviction is something you will die for!” They can share a simple belief they have (for example, green is the best color) and a strong conviction (for example, it is important to take care of my family).
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
We have learned about convictions over the past few weeks.
Choose 1 child to share. If needed, add to his definition with these words: A conviction is a strong belief that influences our attitudes and actions.
During the last lesson you heard this quote by a Christian teacher named Howard Hendricks: “A belief is something you will argue about. A conviction is something you will die for!”
A belief is something we think, and we may even argue about it. A conviction is much stronger than simply a belief. A conviction is a belief that is so strong that it influences our thoughts, actions, attitudes, and important life choices. Throughout history, many people have been willing to die for their convictions. We are going to do an activity to decide whether statements are simply beliefs or strong convictions.
Designate 1 side of your area “belief” and 1 side “conviction.” Have the children stand in the middle. Read each of the following statements. If they think the statement is a belief someone may have, they should stand on the “belief” side. If they think the statement is a conviction someone may have—something that influences a person’s thoughts, actions, and attitudes—they should stand on the “conviction” side. The children do not have to agree with the statement, but they need to decide if it is a belief or a conviction. After each statement, give 1–2 children a chance to explain why they chose that side.
Have children return to the middle of your area and sit down.
Convictions are stronger than simple beliefs. Convictions are beliefs that influence important decisions. Our convictions influence whether we make wrong decisions or right ones. Today we are going to hear about a man who stood strong in his convictions and made a positive difference for millions of people in his country.
Before listening to today’s story, I will read an important passage from the Bible. Listen carefully as I read it two times.
So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
2 Thessalonians 2:15–17
Possible answers might be: He loves us; He provides us with salvation and hope; He will encourage and strengthen us to do good works.
All Christian convictions are good, and when we hold to them it helps us to do good deeds. Paul challenges believers to stand strong in the convictions that come from the truth of God. And then he prays that they will put their convictions into practice. Paul knows that only by God’s help is it possible for a believer to put into practice Christian convictions.
Show your children the photo of Nelson Mandela, at the end of this lesson.
All people are valuable and important to God. Nelson Mandela believed that truth so strongly that he was willing to go jail rather than give up his conviction. Nelson Mandela was a black South African man who grew up during the time when white South Africans ran the country. The white South Africans discriminated against the black South Africans.
Mandela believed God’s truth: People are valuable and important—no matter how educated they are, or how rich or poor they are, or what color their skin is. He stood up for his conviction. He said that everyone should have the same rights. At that time, this was not a safe thing to do. When he tried to help black South Africans, he was thrown into prison.
Prison was terrible. Mandela was treated very badly. But did he give up? No! Instead he used his time in prison to study hard and become a lawyer. He knew that with an understanding of the law, he could help more people when—and if—he was set free.
Finally, South Africa began changing, and he was released from prison 27 years later. Before he went to prison, he had helped many people. Even while he was in prison, his reputation had grown as someone who fought for everyone to be treated the same.
Finally, South Africa began changing, and he was released from prison. Before he went to prison, he had helped many people. Even while he was in prison, his reputation had grown as someone who fought for everyone to be treated the same.
A few years after he was released from prison, the people of South Africa elected Nelson Mandela to be their president. That was a huge change for the country! Many black people looked at Mandela and thought, “Now it is our chance to be in power! Now we can be cruel to those who were mean to us!”
But Nelson Mandela had become very wise in prison. He stood firm in his conviction that all people were important to God—black and white, poor and rich, healthy and sick. All people!
Mandela said no to those who wanted him to take revenge. He told both black and white South Africans, “We are all South Africans. We are not each other’s enemies. Prejudice is our enemy. We will fight prejudice. We must forgive.”
It took a lot of courage to remain true to his conviction, but Nelson Mandela knew God’s truth that every person is important. He was brave and courageous and led his country to do the right thing.
He believed God’s truth that every person is important.
He chose to stand up for the rights of all people even though it meant he would go to prison.
Have the children find partners. Read the next questions and give them about a minute after each to share their answers with their partners. Then call on 1–2 pairs to share their ideas with the class.
Gather the children back together.
As we saw in Mandela’s life, convictions are stronger than simply beliefs we think in our heads. They are beliefs that are so strong they influence our decisions, even very hard ones.
As we heard last week, Jesus stood firm in His conviction to follow God’s will, even when it was hard. When we have the same conviction as Jesus to follow God’s will no matter what, we make the right choice even when the wrong one seems easier. For example, choosing to cheat on a test or assignment at school may seem like the easiest way to get a good grade. However, cheating is wrong. When you cheat you do not truly learn the material or show honestly what you know. God wants you to be honest and not to cheat. When you have a conviction to follow God’s will no matter what, you will not cheat at school, even if it means you get a lower grade.
Have children share with someone sitting beside them. Then call on 2–3 children to share with the class.
Standing firm in the conviction to do God’s will no matter what happens can be hard. A simple place to start is by committing to make right choices. Whether or not you are a follower of Jesus, you can make right choices this week. When you make right choices, you are doing God’s will! You are standing firm in the same conviction that Jesus had and demonstrated while He was on earth. God will encourage you and help you to do what is right.
Every person has convictions that are important to him. Some convictions honor God and others do not. Many non-Christians have good, moral convictions that influence them to make good choices. For example, they may believe stealing is wrong or that respecting authority is important.
When a person becomes a follower of Jesus, or Christian, the Holy Spirit fills her and God strengthens her good convictions. The term “Christian convictions” refers to convictions that line up with what God says in the Bible about what is wrong (sinful) and what is good and pleasing to Him.
Allow 2–3 children to answer. If needed, offer some suggestions: God loves me, lying and stealing are always wrong, every person is important and created in God’s image, God wants us to obey and honor Him, you are important to God.
I need your help with this part of the lesson. I will read aloud behaviors I see in children every day. Some are good and some are not. If you believe my statement shows a child living out a Christian conviction, then stand up and make a big smile. If you think the child is not living out a Christian conviction, then make a big frown. After each example, I will pick a volunteer. If I choose you, then you will explain why you chose the face you did.
Good work! Now you will decide for yourself what you will do based on your convictions. Everyone find a partner. I will read a situation. You will tell your partner what you would do and why.
Optional: If you are using Student Pages, the children can write their answers for the next two situations on those pages.
You are in a market and see something that you want but cannot afford. No one is watching. It would be easy to take it and walk away.
Your friends are breaking a school rule. The headmaster expects all students to tell him when someone breaks a rule. Your friends ask you not to tell.
Tell the children to answer the next question quietly to themselves.
Give children time to think quietly. You may give them several suggestions: I believe it is important to honor my parents, so I will obey my mom; I believe God loves me and I am important to Him, so I will not say bad things about myself or hurt myself in any way.
Ask 2–3 children to share their decisions with the class. Close class by praying 2 Thessalonians 2:15–17 as a blessing over the children.
Blessing: So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
Lead the children in singing “Blessed Be Your Name” again, 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.
