BATTLE READY: DON'T FIGHT ALONE

Nerf Battles are more fun with you can get a team to work together. it's no different than a football team following the directions of their coach. When everyone knows their role and everyone plays their role well a team can be unstoppable, just as happens every spring during March Madness. The teams that keep winning aren't always the team with the best players. it's the teams that play as a team the best!

One of the most important things to remember about being battle ready, always ready to serve the Lord, is that we do not serve alone. God did not create us to be alone, and He never intended for us to serve or worship Him alone. If He did, none of us would be here. We'd all be at home, having a daily private time with God completely separate from one another. We gather here together every week to worship God as a community, and God wants us to band together to serve Him as well. 

Today's story is about a man named Barak, whom God called to lead Israel into battle against their enemies. God sent word to Barak of His plans through a woman named Deborah. Barak agreed to go, but he had one request. He wanted Deborah to go with him!

READ JUDGES 4: 1-16

Barak was never going to go into battle alone. He would be going out the army of Israel behind him. Not only that, he would have the power of God on his side. It was God's call to make Barak the leader. It was God's call to send Israel into battle. But Barak was nervous, and he asked Deborah to go along with him. 

Deborah went with Barak, giving him the encouragement he needed to follow God's command. They won a huge victory and saved Israel from an oppressive and cruel leader. And just as Debora predicted, Sisera was later captured and killed by a woman, another person on their team. It was a victory they all celebrated together. 

Victory with God means we stand with one another. We don't go it alone, but we go with our Christian brothers and sisters to support and encourage us. It's not always easy, but it's good to know that we have back up any time we stand for Jesus. 

If you want to know what it's like to serve as part of God's team, just look around this room. Look at all the volunteers who come together each week to help. Some cook, some help lead groups and some are here to interact with you. Then there are the ones who you don't see, the ones who pray each week for you, the ones who financially support you and make it possible for us to even come together. 

It takes so many people to run this ministry, but if we all do our part, we can give our best effort every weekend to share this good news. Jesus loves you. He died  to save you from your sins. IF you give your heart to Jesus, you will receive eternal life. He will make you battle ready, ready to serve Him with us!

How YOU can help make this lesson stick!

1. Ask your child what they learned this week on the car ride home.

2. Make this week's lesson real: Clear a space on the fridge this week. Set a note pad by the fridge. Challenge everyone to leave encouraging notes for family members on the fridge using the notepad. How many notes can you all write in one week?

3. Here are some great discussion starters: Why did Barak want Deborah to go into battle with him? Do we serve God alone, or should we serve with others? Why is it better when we come together to serve and encourage each other?

52 Week Curriculum ~ BATTLE READY: DON'T FIGHT ALONE