Lesson Continued...

• Begin by reading together Galatians 5:22-23.

• ASK: Can anyone tell me what patience is? (Allow time for response and different ideas.) The dictionary tells us patience is the bearing of pain, misfortune, or annoyance without anger, irritation, or complaint. Bearing is like holding something very heavy. When you are going through something difficult, it can feel like you are carrying something very heavy everywhere you go. So patience is going through something very hard, or just something very annoying, without getting angry or complaining.

• ASK: What is the opposite of patience? (Impatience!) What are some things you go through each day that make you impatient? (Write their thoughts on the board.)

Begin by reading together Galatians 5:22-23.

• SAY: The Bible tells us in this passage that patience is a fruit of the Spirit. If we are saved, the Holy Spirit is living inside of us, and we can be patient people. This does not mean that we will be patient all the time! But as we come to know God more and more, we change! Patience becomes part of the kind of person we are. With the Spirit living inside of us, He gives the power to be patient!

• Ask: In order to know all about patience, what do we need to do? (Look in the Bible!) God’s Word is our ultimate source of truth!

• SAY: There are four different parts of patience we are going to read about today. I am going to read the verse aloud, and I want you to match the verse with the description of patience written on the board. (As they guess correctly, draw a line from the description to the verse, or ask for four different children to come up and draw a line to match the verse with the corresponding description.)

• ASK: What do we learn about patience based on these verses? (Discuss each verse individually. Use the paragraph below as a guide, but let them give their thoughts on each verse.)

• Proverbs 19:11 reminds us that a wise is patient. When someone wrongs them, they patiently forgive that person. Also, it is really tough to be patient sometimes, but Colossians 1:11 tells us that God’s glorious power gives us strength to be patient. Not only does God give us strength to be patient, but He also shows us how to be patient. Second Peter 3:15 explains that Jesus is patiently waiting to come back to earth so that all people will have a chance to know Him and be saved (in context). So, God is patient in a general way with all people, but also in a very specific way with each of us. In I Timothy 1:16 Paul says that he was shown mercy so that God’s perfect patience would be put on display. Paul, like all of us, did not deserve to be saved. He had offended God badly over and over again, but God was patient with him and still saved him.

• SAY: Each day we will face situations that test our patience. These can be small things, like someone taking their time when you are in a hurry or very big things, like waiting on God to heal a family member. As we learn to be patient in the small things, God will prepare us to go through the bigger things. 

• Say: When we are struggling to be patient with another person, we should remember God’s patience toward us. As sinners, we have offended God. The Bible says that we have even hated Him. So, God had every right to be angry with us, but instead He showed just how awesome His patience is by saving us! If someone hurts you and you really just want to explode back at them, think of all the things you have done against God. Think of how He could have punished you, but instead in His patience poured out His mercy and love. This is not just when we are saved either. Every day we still wrong God and He still is patient with us. So, may that truth sink deep into our hearts and motivate us to be patient with others!

• SAY: I want us to memorize together 1 Timothy 1:16, “But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.” (Use hand motions or write it on the board, erasing one word at a time until everyone is able to say it together without seeing it.)

• Spend time in prayer together. Remember the specific situations your children are going through. Invite them to share their needs and praises. Praise God for the fruit of the Holy Spirit, the patience we are able to have because He lives within us.

Directions

1. Give each child a paper plate with some liquid glue on it. Give them another paper plate with fruit loops in it. 
2. Have them create a rainbow from the template provided, cut it out, and glue the fruit loops on as seen in the picture above! Talk about how glueing these on one at a time takes patience!

Directions

• The egg and spoon walk is often done as a race. Instead, instruct your child to walk carefully from the start to finish line so as not to drop the egg. After the game, emphasize how walking slowly and carefully allowed them to finish the game without dropping the egg. You can also ask them how it felt to move slowly despite wanting so badly to get to the finish line. This is a great activity for kids aged 5 and up. 

Directions

Have kids stand in a straight line. Say: Let’s see how fast we can pass a banana up and back down the line. Here is the catch: You can’t use your hands. You must hold the banana with your chin. Pass the banana, chin to chin, up and down the line. If someone drops the banana, you must start over.

Place the banana beneath the chin of the child in front of the line. Show that child how to hold the banana between his or her chin and chest. Odds are that the banana will drop to the floor a few times during the game. Allow children to express frustration, but redirect unkind words. If children have an especially difficult time, modify the rules so kids can restart the game with the same partner who dropped the banana.

When kids have finished, gather them around you in a circle. Ask: • Was this game easy or difficult for you? Why? • How did you feel when someone dropped the banana? Why? • If you dropped the banana, how did you feel when you heard the group’s reaction?

Say: It’s easy to feel impatient when things don’t go your way. Sometimes people do things that make it hard for you to get what you want. When we get impatient, we’re tempted to say things that aren’t nice. We can make others feel bad. But we can learn patience. The Bible says that he gives us the power to be patient with others in the same way that he’s patient with us. Show kids that patience is a fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5.