Decisiveness Character Curriculum by Institute in Basic Life Principles

Decisiveness INTRODUCTION

re you committed to doing right, even before you

have a decision to make? A decisive person has firmly-held convictions based on God’s Word. He is ready when difficult decisions come. Sometimes, however, the wisest choice may not be clear at first. God promises to give wisdom when we are uncertain, as we ask in faith, nothing wavering. (See James 1:5–6.) The Bible guides us to know what is right. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). When we choose to pray for God’s wisdom and search His Word, He will answer. Committing to obey God prepares you to make right decisions. Will you commit to do what pleases God? By making this commitment now, before a difficult decision arises, you will be better prepared to have a clear, sure response when needed. The Ephesians Burn Their Evil Books

DECISIVENESS The ability to finalize difficult decisions based on the will and ways of God 1

Decisiveness Overview What is Decisiveness? Read aloud, study, and discuss what decisiveness means and how it applies to life. is best. You know you should confess if you break a

the will and ways of God.” Did you know that each

to not throw a ball inside the house, but you want to

of us makes thousands of decisions every day? Some

hide your guilt. Your thoughts are tossed back and

decisions are as simple as when to brush your teeth.

forth like the waves of the sea. (See James 1:8.) Your

Other choices are more difficult, such as what to do

father has instructed you to always admit wrongdoing,

when the cashier returns too much change from your

and your decision to humbly confess brings correction,

purchase. Decisiveness involves the skills of discern-

repair of the lamp, and restoration with your dad

ing the factors of a situation, listening to the Lord’s

and the Lord. Your faith in God’s ways is strengthened,

leading, and confidently knowing and making the

and you grow in your desire to choose His will. God

choice that would bring the best results. You know

delights to work in our hearts both to will and to do

the excess money does not belong to you, so you go

what is best! (See Philippians 2:13.) Peace will fill your

back in to return the extra change to the cashier. This

heart and confirm

difficult yet correct decision honored the Lord, and

your decision as you

inwardly you know you chose rightly. “For the Lord

walk in His ways.

giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6).

God’s Word is the sure foundation a decisive Christian needs in order to make right choices and hold to them.

lamp because you disobeyed your parents’ instruction

A decisive person will seek God’s will and ways through both the direct instruction and the A double-minded man, like the waves

The opposite of

underlying prin-

decisiveness is

ciples of the Bible.

double-mindedness.

As he faces choices

Double-mindedness

throughout the day, he recognizes that sensitivity to

is wavering between

the Holy Spirit’s leading is essential. He knows that

two opposing opin-

God confirms His Word through authorities, circum-

of the sea, is unstable. He continually changes his mind.

ions or options. Often, those two “minds” are God’s

stances, and abiding peace. Before making a final

way versus our way. We are pulled away from God’s

decision, a decisive person may examine other related

way by what we want to do. The Bible describes such

facts or picture the possible outcomes of a choice.

a double-minded person as a friend of the world and,

Finally, he will take courage and hold to his decision. A

therefore, an enemy of God! (See James 4:4, 8.) You may

decisive person does not second-guess God’s direction

struggle because you do not truly believe that His will

but stands firm.

he operational definition of decisiveness is “the ability to finalize difficult decisions based on

Decisiveness in Scripture Read aloud and discuss each verse, question, and concept.

THE CHARACTER OF GOD We see examples of decisiveness in God’s character in the following ways: •

God’s decisions are always righteous. (See Psalm 119:160.)

•

God has already appointed the day and the Judge by whom all the world will be judged. (See Acts 17:30–31.)

•

Before the foundation of the world, God chose us to be His accepted and adopted children. (See Ephesians 1:4–6.)

•

Jesus steadfastly resisted temptation by using Scripture. (See Matthew 4:10.)

•

Jesus did not allow anything to deter Him once He decided to go to Jerusalem to complete His work on earth. (See Luke 9:51–53.)

•

Jesus carefully selected His disciples for the purpose of multiplying committed followers of His heavenly Father. (See John 15:16.)

•

The Holy Spirit reveals God’s will and ways to us. (See I Corinthians 2:9–11.)

DECISIVENESS IN MY LIFE Now let’s examine some ways God wants us to live out decisiveness daily. •

Will God accept my worship if I am double- minded? (See Exodus 34:14.)

•

What will happen if I choose to reject the Lord’s counsel? What will happen if I determine to heed His Word? (See Proverbs 1:29–33.)

•

Do I seek wise counsel from knowledgeable people before making a decision? (See Proverbs 11:14.)

•

Can I trust my own thinking, apart from the Lord, to lead me to the right conclusions? (See Proverbs 16:25.)

•

When making decisions, do I keep in mind that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit? (See I Corinthians 6:19.)

•

Do I surrender to the Holy Spirit’s leading in everyday choices, or do I trust Him only for my salvation? (See Galatians 3:2–3.)

•

How can I learn the will and ways of God? (See II Timothy 3:16.)

DECISIVENESS KEY VERSE “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” JAMES 1:5

roverbs 2:1–6 says, “My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.” What a privilege to study the rich truths of God’s Word, hide them in your heart, and apply them to daily life! These truths are priceless treasures, far above the value and beauty of rubies and diamonds. As you dig deeper into God’s Word, see Who He is, and allow Him to work in you, your life will be a radiant expression of His love. He will be glorified as His character is seen in you.

Bible Story THE EPHESIANS BURN THEIR EVIL BOOKS

ilver statues and shrines gleamed brilliantly in the

One day, Paul arrived in this pagan city to preach Christ.

morning sun. Ephesus, one of the greatest cities of

He met twelve followers of John the Baptist and led

the Roman Empire, was a bustling center of commerce

them to understand that salvation is through Jesus

and religion. The Ephesians believed that an image of

Christ alone. As a result, many who once worshiped

the mythological goddess Diana had fallen from Jupiter

false gods trusted in Jesus. Soon thereafter, the

to Earth. Thus, Ephesus became an international hub

Ephesians witnessed a startling incident that greatly

for the worship of false gods. The city was home to

impacted their lives. How would the Ephesians respond

the famous Temple of Artemis (Diana’s Greek name),

when confronted with God’s power and their own sin-

one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The

fulness? Would Jesus be Lord of their lives, or would He

Ephesians were not only involved in mythology and

merely be added to their idol worship? What changes

idol worship but also in other forms of the supernatu-

and commitments would the Ephesian believers make

ral world, including witchcraft, magic, and evil spirits.

as a result of their relationship with Christ?

BIBLE STORY QUESTIONS Read Acts 19:8–20 together and discuss the following questions:

When did you personally decide to trust Christ? Without salvation, will a commitment to do right earn you a place in heaven? (See Galatians 2:16.) 2. What miracles did God do through Paul? When the sons of Sceva tried to cast out demons, what happened? Why? (See Acts 19:11–16.) What should be your motivation for doing right? (See I Thessalonians 4:1.) On Whose strength should you depend so that you can do right? (See John 15:5.) 3. As the name of Jesus was magnified, how did the Ephesian believers respond? (See Acts 19:17–18.)

base their decision on the will and ways of God? (See Deuteronomy 12:3.) Who watched as they did this? (See Acts 19:19a.) Do you own anything that violates God’s Word, compromises your relationship with Jesus, or damages your Christian testimony? What decision would God desire you make regarding that item? (See Ephesians 5:11.) Who can you be accountable to by letting them watch you dispose of it? 5. How much were the evil books worth altogether? (See Acts 19:19b.) Why is destroying such items better than storing them, selling them, or giving them away? Are you willing to honor the Lord and do right, even if it costs you something?

Do you recognize ways God is working in your life? When you are truly sorry for your sin, what will you want to do? (See Proverbs 28:13.)

6. As the Ephesians committed to do right, what was the greater result of their decision? (See Acts 19:20.)

4. What did some of the Ephesian believers do as a result of their commitment to Christ? Did they

With God’s help, what commitment to do right can you make today?

1. Was Paul committed to follow God’s will despite the opposition in Ephesus? How many people in Asia Minor heard the Gospel? (See Acts 19:8–10.)

Memory Verse JAMES 1:5

Play the game together to help the children commit James 1:5 to memory. In the section “Doers of the Word,” have the children record how they will apply the verse to their lives.

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

MEMORY VERSE GAME Clap-the-Word Have everyone say the verse together three times. Next, select a child to leave the room while the rest of the children agree on a word they will clap instead of say when quoting the verse. The child re-enters the room. He listens as the others quote the verse, and he tries to guess which word they clapped. Select another person to step out of the room and repeat the game until all the children have had a chance to guess a clapped word.

DOERS OF THE WORD In the blank below, write how this verse could be applied in your life, e.g., “first ask You for wisdom when I don’t know what to do,” or “prayerfully consider all the options before making a decision,” or “seek counsel from Godly authorities.” “Dear Lord, I yield to You and am willing to apply this verse. Help me to ________________ _________________________________________ �� . I ask that You would develop decisiveness in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.” When the Lord gives you an opportunity to apply this verse, write it in your journal to later recall God’s working in your life.

JAMES 1:5

Activity WORD SEARCH

INTRODUCTION Enjoy meditating on and thinking about the words of the decisiveness key verse and definition as you find them in the word search below. The underlined words are hidden horizontally, vertically, diagonally, or backwards.

A O T T A N T F D H O O A

S S E N E V I S I C E D O

E L D V E V L M F O E S G

D O I W S M I L F C Z I I

G G A B R H B G I O I W P

A Y R J E E A S C W L T E

S K B A H R I L U T A V H

K J P M T O A L L H N T V

H M U E N C N L T E I Z L

Y S L S K X D Q L O F G H

M U H K B D N A N Y N R V

Y S G F A H N Q A I Z E S

James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

Decisiveness The ability to finalize difficult decisions based on the will and ways of God

If finding the underlined words is too difficult or frustrating for your child, assign only a few words to find, such as “men” and “of.” Younger children could point to the ABC’s. Older children may enjoy the extra challenge of finding all the words instead of only the underlined words.

Permission granted to reproduce this page for educational use.

B L H O F O Y O U G X M O

Object Lesson HOLD TO IT! Instructions You will need two neckties or nylon cords, each about 24

person represents each choice. As the decision maker

inches long, and three volunteers. Choose a volunteer to be

stands between both choices, he will consider the Bible

the “decision maker.” Hand him both neckties and have

verse and make his decision. He will hold tightly to the

him hold the ends of the ties, one end in each hand. The

tie of the right choice and release the tie of the wrong

decision maker must try to stand his ground (not move) throughout the activity. Have an adult or responsible, older child stand on each side of the decision maker. Then have each person hold the other end of the neckties. If both people pull on their neckties at the same time, the decision maker will be unable to hold both ties.

choice. At the same time, the ones who represent the two choices will gently tug their ties. (For safety concerns, please encourage the children to tug gently to prevent falling and injuring themselves.) The decision maker can only hold on to one tie. He should be able to make a wise choice quickly, releasing the tie held by the “wrong choice” and affirming his commitment to hold to the

I am going to read aloud a Bible verse to the decision

“right choice”! In the following situations,

maker. Next, I will read two choices and indicate which

which would you choose to do?

1. “Get up in the morning at the set time” vs. “Roll over and go back to sleep.” “As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.” PROVERBS 26:14 2. “Watch a questionable movie” vs. “Quietly leave and do another activity.” “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes . . . .” PSALM 101:3

3. “Come when Mom calls” vs. “Pretend I didn’t hear.” “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.” COLOSSIANS 3:20 4. “Lie about what happened” vs. “Tell the truth.” “The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” PROVERBS 12:19 5. “Forgive my brother” vs. “Stop speaking to him.” “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” EPHESIANS 4:32

6. “Look for something to be grateful for” vs. “Complain about my situation.” “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” I THESSALONIANS 5:18

7. “Give the last cookie to my brother” vs. “Keep the last cookie for myself.” “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” PHILIPPIANS 2:4

8. “Fret over disappointing news” vs. “Turn to God in prayer.” “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” ROMANS 8:28

Decision Scenarios:

The Ephesians Burn Their Evil Books

“Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men . . . . So mightily grew the word of God” (Acts 19:19–20). 8

Hymn History “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” Sing “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” and read about the decisiveness proclaimed by an unknown Indian Christian martyr.

a very superstitious region. Following a great

“The cross before me, the world behind me. No turning back.”

revival in Wales, Welsh missionaries journeyed to the

The chief motioned to his archers and the man was

Assam area in northeast India to bring the Gospel to

killed. As the chief looked at the dead bodies of the

tribes of idol-worshiping headhunters.

four Christians, a spiritual awe gripped his heart.

In one village, one of those fierce headhunters listened

What supernatural power had these four believers

to a missionary, and his heart grasped the Good News of Christ. Not only did he believe, but his wife and two sons also became Christians. As the redeemed man eagerly shared his newfound faith with other villagers, they, too, became believers! The changes among his people infuriated the village

possessed? In a spontaneous confession of faith, the chief astonished everyone by suddenly shouting out, “I,

chief. Summoning all the villagers, the chief angrily

too, belong to

addressed the first convert among the tribe: “Renounce

Jesus Christ!” The

your faith, or be killed!” Moved by the Holy Spirit, the

villagers were

man replied:

moved. Soon the

“I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back.” The incensed chief next ordered his archers to kill the man’s young sons. Then he harshly demanded, “Will you deny your faith? You have lost both your children. You will lose your wife, too.” The man solemnly spoke: “Though no one joins me, still I will follow. No turning back.”

entire village accepted Christ.

India

This one man and his family are an inspiring depiction of decisiveness: “the ability to finalize difficult decisions based on the will and ways of God.” This heart-touching story was passed by word of mouth, and eventually the words were written down and

Furious, the chief then ordered the man’s wife be killed.

placed to the melody, “Assam,” after the region where

Within minutes, she joined her two sons in Heaven.

the martyrdom occurred. The song is popular in many

The chief yelled, “I will give you one more opportunity

Indian churches and around the world today. Now

to deny your faith and live! There is no one for you in

when you sing “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus,” may it

the world!” Now facing death himself, the man again

remind you that being decisive for Christ and follow-

gave his steadfast reply:

ing Him is worth our all!

ver two hundred years ago, northern India was

Hymn Sheet Music

I Have Decided to Follow Jesus

     

1. I have 2. The world 3. Tho' none

      



 

cid - ed hind me, with me,

 

  

Je fore fol -

 

 



sus; me; low;

 



 

  

 



 

de - cid - ed be - hind me, with me, go

      





   

 

 

Je - sus; to fol - low the cross be - fore me; fol - low; still I will

           

to fol - low Je - sus; the cross be - fore me; still I will fol - low;

   

      

            

No turn - ing No turn - ing No turn - ing

   

back, back, back,

 

I have de - cid - ed The world be - hind me, Tho' none go with me,





     

Folk Melody from India

I have de The world be Tho' none go

     

      

to fol - low the cross be still I will

   

   



 

       



 

no turn - ing no turn - ing no turn - ing

back. back. back.

Unknown Christian Martyr

Word Search Answer Key

B L H O F O Y O U G X M O

A O T T A N T F D H O O A

S S E N E V I S I C E D O

E L D V E V L M F O E S G

D O I W S M I L F C Z I I

G G A B R H B G I O I W P

A Y R J E E A S C W L T E

Recommended Resources

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Y S G F A H N Q A I Z E S

•

2018 Biblical Character Illustrated Calendar

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Hymns for the Family CDs (“I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” is sung to piano accompaniment on Volume 4.)

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Eric Liddell: Pure Gold by David McCasland

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“Pitching Your Tent Toward Sodom” (Message by Gil Bates, available at embassymedia.com.)

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“God of Choices with Consequences” (Message by Karl Coke, available at embassymedia.com.)

Job, Dr. P. P., Why God Why?, Sabina Printing Press, 387-24, Faridabad, Haryana-121005, India, 2003, pp.113–116.

To view these resources and many more, visit us at:

store.iblp.org

Hymn History Bibliography