Encouraging children to build strong spiritual lives by helping them to become a "House of Faith"
Overview
The Bible teaches that the righteous live by faith and that we are a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit, so - we are all a spiritual “House of Faith”. Just like in a physical home, a spiritual “House of Faith” must be built from the ground up with special attention given to different parts. This five lesson unit takes the kids through the process of building a physical home as an illustration of building and maintaining a spiritual dwelling for God. The process begins with the foundation (being set apart to God), the walls (strength & support from Bible study), the roof (the covering & protection of prayer), furnishings (the importance of Godly friends), and regular upkeep (obedience & faithful living). Events from the life of Daniel and his friends are used as examples of how he put these principles into practice in his own life as a man of God. In each lesson a parallel is drawn between a particular stage in building a physical and the relating stage in building a spiritual “House of Faith.”
Unit at a Glance
Lesson #1 — “Foundation”
Being set apart to God starts out my “House of Faith” - Daniel 1:1-21
When building a home you must start with the foundation, everything else is built on that. The same thing is true with a spiritual “House of Faith”. In a spiritual house the foundation is being set apart to God, everything else is built on that. Daniel and his friends set themselves apart to God while they were young. It meant they had to say no to some things while saying yes to others.
Lesson #2 — “Walls”
Regular Bible study keeps me strong and gives me support - Daniel 9:1-27
The walls give strength and support in a physical home as well as protect what is inside. The same thing is true with a spiritual “House of Faith”. Knowing and understanding God’s Word keeps us strong and gives us support and protection. Daniel was a man of the Word who studied the Scriptures and then put into practice what it said.
Lesson #3 — “Roof”
Regular prayer lets me communicate with God and protects me - Daniel 6:1-28
The roof of a physical home covers, insulates and protects it from the outside. The same thing is true in a spiritual “House of Faith”. Communicating with God in prayer is like a covering that insulates and protects us from harm, especially during difficult times. During an especially difficult time Daniel went to God in prayer as usual and God protected and saved him.
Lesson #4 — “Furnishings”
Godly friends help me build my spiritual house - Daniel 2:1-3:30
A physical home is not complete without the furnishings, they help make it a good place to live. The same thing is true in a spiritual “House of Faith”. Godly friends are like good furnishings that are there when we need them and that help us fill up our “House of Faith”. When Daniel needed help from God, his friends prayed to God with him for help.
Lesson #5 — “Regular Upkeep”
Godly living helps keep me faithful and healthy - Daniel 3:1-20
In a physical home the work is never really finished. A healthy home must be maintained and kept up. The same thing is true in a spiritual “House of Faith”. Godly living helps us stay faithful, obedient and spiritually healthy. Daniel’s friends made the choice to be faithful and obedient to God even when they knew that it would get them into more trouble.
This product was added to our catalog on Wednesday 13 June, 2007.
