Humility
While playing table soccer, try to get the ball into the mouth of a bottle. Discussion point: If we stay humble, honouring God, pride has a hard time getting into our hearts.
For this hands-on option, you will need a piece of paper measuring 7 cm x 7 cm (2¾” X 2¾”), a flat surface such as a tabletop, and a plastic water bottle or a glass pop bottle with a mouth measuring less than 2.5 cm (1″) in diameter.
- Begin by asking your children to list the things they are tempted to be proud of. Write their ideas down on a small sheet of paper.
- Take that list and crumple it into a tight ball. Have your children practice blowing the paper ball around on a flat surface, such as your kitchen table. For extra fun and practice, have them try to blow the paper ball through a “goal” area. You can make a goal by placing two coins 15-20 cm (6″) apart.
- Once your children have mastered the technique of blowing the ball around, hold the bottle at the edge of the table so its mouth is level with the surface. Ask your children to take turns trying to blow the paper ball into the mouth of the bottle. (Since the bottle is full of air, the ball will not go in). After your children have had plenty of opportunity to try blowing the ball into the bottle, stand the bottle up and allow them to drop the paper ball into the bottle using their hands.
- Explain that the paper ball represents pride. The bottle represents us. When we acknowledge that we need God’s help in life, we are humble. Humility is often demonstrated by a person bowing down. The bottle on its side is in a bowed position. If we stay humble, honouring God instead of ourselves, pride has a hard time getting into our hearts. On the other hand, when we become self-confident and forget to honour and trust in our own ability to resist sin, the sin of pride can easily sneak up on us.
Relevant Scripture
Psalm 119:133 “Direct my footsteps according to Your word; let no sin rule over me.”
Proverbs 28:13 “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”
1 Chronicles 29:20 “Then David said to the whole assembly, ‘Praise the Lord your God.’ So they all praised the Lord, the God of their fathers; they bowed low and fell prostrate before the Lord and the king.”
Nehemiah 8:6 “Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, ‘Amen! Amen!’ Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.”
Psalm 22:27 “All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before Him…”
Acts 3:19-20 “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that He may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you – even Jesus.”
- Acceptance
- Adaptability
- Attentiveness
- Christmas
- Compassion
- Confidence
- Consideration
- Contentedness
- Cooperation
- Courage
- Courtesy
- Discernment
- Easter
- Faithfulness
- Forgiveness
- Generosity
- Gentleness
- Gratitude
- Harmony
- Honesty
- Humility
- Joy
- Kindness
- Obedience
- Patience
- Perseverance
- Respect
- Responsibility
- Reverence
- Righteousness
- Self-control
- Thanksgiving
