BIBLICAL VIRTUE GROUP

Because I value God's teaching in the Bible, I choose to believe and follow its teachings.

What To Believe

The Father

The Bible teaches that God the Father is the Source, Sustainer, Redeemer, and Sovereign of all Creation.

Definition

God the Father is the Source, Sustainer,a nd Sovereign of all Creation.

See flipchart

Like a River Glorious, SDAH 74
Before Jehovah's Awful Throne, SDAH 82
God the Omnipotent, SDAH 84
This Is My Father's World, SDAH 92
Great Is Thy Faithfulness, SDAH 100
Children of the Heavenly Father, SDAH 101
It Took a Miracle, SDAH 111
Near to the Heart of God, SDAH 495
O Gracious Father of Mankind, SDAH 497
A Child of the King, SDAH 468
Nearer my God to Thee, SDAH 473
Dear Lord and Father, SDAH 481
Father Lead Me Day by Day, SDAH 482
O Thou in Whose Presence, SDAH 36

Student Life Applications

Because I know from the Bible about God the Father, I will:

Recognize His greatness, holiness and love and will worship and praise Him;
Speak His name reverently, never in exclamation, slang or curse;
Keep in mind His justice and love;
Trust Him as more powerful than all the evil forces of Satan and this world when I face problems;
Learn about His character and through His power be like Him;
Treat others as if I were doing it to God;
Act, knowing God knows all things, even my thoughts.

Bible, E.G. White

Views of the Father – Matthew 5:38-41
God the Father in the Old Testament – Exodus 34:6, 7 – “The Lord God, merciful, gracious,”

“Tender and merciful Father.” SC 103

Reinforcing Stories

“God’s Great Kingdom, Parts 1, 2, 3,”, Volume One, Uncle Arthur’s Bedtime Stories by Arthur Maxwell. R&H. 1964
“The Shipwrecked Printer”, Book One, The Children’s Hour by Arthur Maxwell. R&H. 1945.

Student Activities

1. Pushover: Form pairs. Have partners stand facing each other and place palms of their hands together. Tell students to try to push the other person off balance without moving their feet. Whoever moves a foot is out and must sit down and watch.
Winning students may partner together to play again. Read Psalm 147:1-5. Ask: How does God use His power? Does our powerful God try to push us around? What is one way you’d like God to use His power to help you?
2. Make a shelter (a house) of your choice. God is big enough to shelter anyone and everyone.

Links to the Curriculum

Physics: Energy flows throught he universe even so God gives all life to the universe.
Social Studies: The family unit is governed by the father even so God the Father governs the universe.

Resources

Uncle Arthur’s Bedtime Stories. R&H. 1964
The Children’s Hour by Arthur Maxwell. R&H. 1945.

God the eternal Father is the Creator, Source, Sustainer, and Sovereign of all creation. He is just and holy, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. The qualities and powers exhibited in the Son and the Holy spirit are also revelations of the Father.—Fundamental Beliefs, 3.

Primary:
Tell or write two ways that show what it means to believe and follow the Bible teaching of God the Father.
Tell or write about a time when you saw someone show they believed and followed Bible teaching of God the Father.
Tell or write about when you showed that you believed and followed the Bible teaching of God the Father.
Tell or write about when you saw the hurt and unhappiness when someone didn’t believe and follow the Bible teaching of God the Father.
How do you think God feels when He sees people who believe and follow the Bible teaching of God the Father?
How do you feel or act when you follow the Bible teaching of God the Father?
Tell two ways that you can show you believe the Bible teaching of God the Father.
What makes you want to follow the Bible teaching of God the Father?
What is the opposite of believing and following the Bible teaching of God the Father? Who makes us act or believe that way?
Finish the sentence: We can show we believe and follow the Bible teaching of God the Father when we..........

Middle:
Why does God care if I believe and follow the Bible teaching of God the Father?
What difference does it make whether I believe and follow the Bible teaching of God the Father or not?
What effect would it have on my future if I did not believe and follow the Bible teaching of God the Father?
How would people treat me differently if I did or didn’t believe and follow the Bible teaching of God the Father?
How would I feel about myself if I did or did not believe and follow the Bible teaching of God the Father?
Give some reasons why you think it is best to believe and follow the Bible teaching of God the Father.
Why would someone do differently?
What makes choosing to believe and follow the Bible teaching of God the Father better than the opposite?
List some ways that a person might believe and follow the Bible teaching of God the Father without anyone noticing?
List 3 situations where a person could believe the Bible teaching of God the Father and show it in his work, home, or at the shopping mall.
Is it possible for a person to get better at believing and following the Bible teaching of God the Father? Explain.
Can you think of someone who seems good at believing and following the Bible teaching of God the Father? What makes them better at it?
How could you learn to be better at believing and following the Bible teaching of God the Father?
How often do you show that you believe and follow the Bible teaching of God the Father? Think of the last three times and tell me.
Do you like to join in when people believe and follow the Bible teaching of God the Father? How have you joined in?

High school:
Would you practice believing and following the Bible teaching of God the Father if no one were checking on you? Your parents, school, or the law?
What is the alternative to believing and following the Bible teaching of God the Father and what do you see as the results of that choice?
Would you recognize it if someone were not fully believing and following the Bible teaching of God the Father? How?
Would you keep quiet if someone paid you a lot of money not to believe and follow the Bible teaching of God the Father?
Are you proud to believe and follow the Bible teaching of God the Father and willing to tell others how you feel?
If someone in a group spoke out against believing and following the Bible teaching of God the Father would you speak up to give the other side?
Are you willing to put some of your money toward helping people believe and follow the Bible teaching of God the Father, in your city, class, work?
Can you say that believing and following the Bible teaching of God the Father has become a habit? How often do you show your belief?
What effect do you think believing and following the Bible teaching of God the Father will have on your future life?
Do you see your family believing and following the Bible teaching of God the Father? How about your church, city, or nation?
What do you think should be done to promote believing and following the Bible teaching of God the Father in your family, friends, church, city, nation?
Does it make much difference if they believe and follow the Bible teaching of God the Father or not?