Follow In His Steps - Lesson 8

By Stafford North

LESSON 8

We Exemplify—Part 1

Background Information for the Teacher

Objectives:

The student can quote Phil. 2:5—“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”
The student can list at least at least six qualities which Jesus exemplified for us.

Preparation:

Get out the “footsteps” again and put them on the floor of the classroom.
Be ready to mark on the board.
Have available for the class the words and music for “Let the Beauty of Jesus Be Seen in Me.”
Students need a card on which to write the qualities of Jesus.

Theme: One of the reasons Jesus came was to exemplify for us the qualities He wants us to demonstrate to others.

Lesson Plan for Teaching the Class

Introduction: (12 minutes)

Check roll and welcome visitors.
Have the class repeat aloud the five ways in which we are to follow Jesus.
Study the words to the song, “Let the Beauty of Jesus Be Seen in Me” provided below with this lesson. Ask the class to identify characteristics of Jesus mentioned in the song which the song asks us to emulate. Write these qualities on the board as they mention them.
Quietly and slowly sing the song.
We are to “follow in His steps,” and that means we must “exemplify” Jesus in our daily living. We have listed qualities we are to have from the song, but what qualities do various scriptures tell us we should show to others?
Prayer that we will learn to be more like Jesus and for class needs.

Learning Experiences: (28 minutes)

We are going to look at several passages to get a list of qualities and will put these on the board alongside the qualities we listed from the song so we can compare the two.
Read Phil. 2:5. Let’s repeat together this verse. Let’s memorize this verse so it will stay on our minds. Now, someone read Phil. 2: 5-8. Q: What specific qualities of Jesus does this passage tell us we need to have the attitude of Christ? A: Humility and obedience. Q: When are specific times in Jesus’ life when he showed these qualities besides in His willingness to come from heaven to earth? A: Humility—washing the disciples’ feet. Obedience—going to John to be baptized, submitting to the Father in Gethsemane. (Write these two qualities on the board. We will come back to this passage again when we study about sacrifice so don’t list that one now.)
Read Matt. 11:29. Q: What qualities of Christ does this passage tell us to build into our character? A: Gentle and humble. Q: What does “gentleness” mean? A: To speak softly. Not to retaliate. To be kind. The opposite of harsh and critical. To turn the other cheek. To be forgiving. Q: When did Jesus show himself to be gentle? A: When He spoke with Peter by the Sea of Galilee after Peter had denied Him. When He dealt with the woman taken in adultery. When He blessed the little children. When, from the cross, he told John to care for His mother.
Read 2 Peter 1:3-4. This passage says God has given us everything we need “for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his glory and goodness.” Q: Through Christ’s glory and goodness what has He given us? A: “Very great and precious promises.” Q: What benefit do we gain when we participate in these promises? A: We participate in the divine nature (become like Christ) and “escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” Read 2 Peter 1:5-7. Q: So, if I want to grow in my likeness to the divine nature and want to overcome evil desires, what should I do? A: I should “make every effort to have in my life eight qualities which Christ demonstrated—faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. (List on the board the qualities given here that lead us to have “the divine nature” which is the likeness of Christ. As you write each one, ask the class for a time in Jesus’ life when He showed this quality. You will need to move through pretty rapidly. There are, of course, many other examples that then ones listed next with the words, but those shown will give you some to use as needed. If you need to move more quickly because of the time available, then just mention the examples given as you write the quality on the board.) Faith—Jesus resisted the temptations of Satan because He had faith that God’s way was best. Goodness—He raised the son of the woman in Nain; when He fed the 5,000. Knowledge—He predicted the destruction of Jerusalem; He knew the thoughts of the Pharisees when He healed the man let down through the roof. Self-control—From Gethsemane through His death on the cross when He could have called legions of angels to deliver Himself or taken other measures to stop His suffering. He could have answered the charges but did not. Perseverance—in training the apostles who were sometimes slow to learn; in remaining with the apostles forty days after His resurrection to continue their preparation. Brotherly-kindness—His treatment of the woman who anointed His feet at a dinner when others were condemning her; His going to eat with Zacchaeus. Love—His connection with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus; His treatment of Judas when He knew that he would eventually betray Him. Read 2 Peter 1:8-11. Q: What admonitions do these verses give about the qualities listed? A: Possess these qualities in an increasing measure, that is, be growing in them. If you don’t have these qualities you have forgotten that you have been cleansed from sins. Be eager to make your calling and election sure by developing these qualities. Q: What benefits does this passage suggest will come from having these qualities? A: You will be effective and productive. You will never fall. You will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom (heaven).
Relate the list of qualities in the song to the other list of qualities you have made from the passages.

Application and Assignment: (5 minutes)

Q: What is our point in this lesson about noting that Jesus had these qualities? A: We need to “exemplify” Jesus and to do that we need to know what qualities He had.
Take the card given you today and write on it the list of qualities Jesus had which we need to exemplify. Throughout the coming week, note examples you see in your life or the life of those around you and exemplifying each of these qualities of Jesus. We will ask you to share these in the next lesson.

(Words to Let the Beauty of Jesus Be Seen in Me are on the next page.)

Let the Beauty of Jesus Be Seen in Me

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

All his wonderful passion and purity;

May His spirit divine all my being refine,

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

When somebody has been so unkind to you,

Some words spoken that pierces you thru and thru;

Think how He was beguiled, spat upon and reviled;

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

From the dawn of the morning to close of day,

In example in deeds and in all you say;

Lay your gifts at His feet, ever strive to keep sweet,

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

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