BCIC Thoroughness Sample

Thoroughness Knowing what factors will diminish the effectiveness of my work or words if neglected

“The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.”

PROVERBS 18:15

A PRIEST WISELY MANAGES HIS ASSIGNMENT “And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the Lord; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the Lord God of your fathers. Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, . . . in the chambers of the house of the Lord.”

EZRA 8:28–29

SPIRITUAL GIFT:

BIBLICAL CHARACTER ILLUSTRATED CURRICULUM Illustrated in Scripture, Illustrated in Life

Teacher

CONTENTS

Biblical Character Illustrated Curriculum Illustrated in Scripture “The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7b). Biblical

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Introduction

character is illustrated in this curriculum

2 How to Use This Curriculum

through both artwork and lessons from

3 Goals and Objectives

the lives of people in God’s Word. We most

4 Character Quality Overview

often benefit from the positive examples

5 Thoroughness in Scripture

of faithful men and women. “For whatso-

6 Lesson 1: Carefully Manage My Responsibilities

written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures

7 Bible Story: A Priest Wisely Manages His Assignment

might have hope” (Romans 15:4). There were

8 Memory Verse: Proverbs 22:29

also people in the Bible who are repre-

9 Activity: Ezra’s Scale

sentations of poor character, and we can

10 Lesson 2:

Pay Attention to Details

11 Bible Story: The Night the Destroyer Passed through Egypt 12 Memory Verse: Proverbs 18:15 13 Activity: Calculator Race

14 Lesson 3:

Make Needed Corrections

15 Bible Story: God Gives Gideon a New Strategy 16 Memory Verse: Romans 12:2 17 Activity: Help the Zookeeper Course-Correct

18 Lesson 4:

Finish What I Start

19 Bible Story: Solomon Undertakes a Magnificent Work!

20 Memory Verse: Luke 14:28 21 Activity: Word Search

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ever things were written aforetime were

Additional Resources

learn from their lives as well. “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted” (I Corinthians 10:6). We would be wise to learn from the testimonies God has given us in Scripture.

Illustrated in Life “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Hearing the Word of God causes us to grow in faith.

This curriculum offers many practical applications of God’s Word to everyday life. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22). As God enables us to act in faith, our lives as believers will illustrate His character to others.

22 Thoroughness GEMs 23 Journal and GEM

Mine

24 Hymn Sheet Music: “Complete in Thee” 25 Hymn History: “Complete in Thee” by Aaron R. Wolfe 26 Explaining Salvation to a Child 27 Reproducible Coloring Pages 31 Recommended Resources

The character of God is illustrated in Scripture.

May it also be illustrated in our lives.

Character Quality Overview What Is Thoroughness?

Read aloud and discuss what thoroughness means and how it applies to life.

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he operational definition of thoroughness is “knowing what factors will diminish the effectiveness of my work or words if neglected.” To do a job well, you must first identify the end goal. Then, consider what is needed, called “factors,” to accomplish that goal successfully. You may need certain tools, stepby-step plans, or experienced people to assist you.

Other factors may be discerning the amount of time needed or the expected level of detail. For example, a person who is thorough listens attentively to instructions and keeps deadlines in mind. When speaking, he relays all important, relevant information in order to communicate the full situation and not mislead.

He works efficiently and cleans up completely after a project. Thoroughness involves thinking ahead and committing to do whatever it takes to ensure that every part of an assignment is completed— even if additional time, effort, or care is required.

A thorough person carefully considers details, methods, and deadlines that will help him complete his work effectively.

The opposite of thoroughness is incompleteness. If a project is left unfinished, it is incomplete, and the time and effort that were invested are wasted. Projects that are finished but were done in a disorganized or hurried way may actually be incomplete, possibly hazardous, and will likely require additional time and work later.

For example, if someone carelessly wipes the kitchen

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table, some crumbs will likely be missed. The job will be incomplete. If he runs off to play, he may be called to come back to do the job correctly. A task might not be finished on time if someone dawdles, becomes overwhelmed with unnecessary details (perfectionism), or procrastinates. Other jobs may not be done thoroughly because a person lacks focus, “cuts corners,” or neglects to check his work.

Have you considered that God completes what He starts and that details are an important part of His plan? God is also thorough in His dealings with Just as a jigsaw puzzle is incomplete without all the pieces, so our work us, and He finishes will be incomplete if any of the necesthe work He begins sary factors are missing or omitted. in believers. “. . . He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

One way God works in you is by giving you daily opportunities to build habits of thoroughness while you are young. You can learn to be thorough as you complete small tasks, such as putting away your toys after playing. As you grow older, you are assigned chores and schoolwork. When you are careful to use correct punctuation and spelling in your writing, you form good habits that later will make your written communication more effective. Let God continue His work in your life by thoroughly completing the tasks He gives you to do today.

Thoroughness in Scripture

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THOROUGHNESS KEY VERSE

s you read and study God’s Word, you will

“The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge;

see Who He is! Be willing to be changed by

and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.”

Him so Christ can be seen through your life and

PROVERBS 18:15

others will glorify God.

The Character of God

Thoroughness in My Life

We see examples of thoroughness in God’s character in the following ways:

Now let’s examine some ways God wants us to live out thoroughness daily.

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God always finishes His work.

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(See Proverbs 16:3, Luke 14:28.)

(See Genesis 2:1–2, John 17:4, Philippians 1:6.)

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God gave thorough instructions for the specific design of the priests’ clothing.

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(See Exodus 28:31–33.)

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God is attentive to details: He sees every sparrow, and He has numbered every hair on each person’s head.

Jesus fulfilled the details of every prophecy of His life on earth.

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(See Psalm 103:12, Hebrews 7:25.)

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The Holy Spirit fills Christians for life and powerful ministry.

(See Ephesians 5:18–21, Acts 1:8.)

How can I thoroughly cleanse my heart and mind?

(See Psalm 32:5, 119:9; James 5:16.)

How is it possible for me to be fully prepared for the return of Christ?

(See I Thessalonians 5:23.)

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(See Exodus 31:2–4.)

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What one factor determines if my work is effective in God’s sight?

(See I Corinthians 13:1–3.)

Jesus forgives absolutely and saves entirely.

The Spirit of God equipped Bezaleel with all that he needed to effectively complete the work he had been assigned.

What thoroughly equips me for a life of good works?

(See II Timothy 3:16–17.)

(See Luke 24:44.)

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Do I find myself working hard only when I am aware that someone is watching? How can I overcome this inconsistency?

(See Colossians 3:22–24.)

(See Luke 12:6–7.)

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What should I do before I start planning a project?

How can I live my life completely for the Lord?

(See Joshua 22:5.)

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What details are important to remember when partaking of the Lord’s Supper?

(See I Corinthians 11:26–30.)

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GOD ENABLES ME TO

Carefully Manage My Responsibilities

INTRODUCTION

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f you are asked to care for a pet, you show good manage­ment skills by caring for its various needs at the right times. A dog must be fed, exercised, and bathed regularly. Don’t wait until the dog food is gone to add it to the shopping list! What are your responsibilities?

How can you manage them well? First, consider what is most important to do today. Include your personal hygiene, daily chores, and schoolwork. Then decide the best order, time, and way to do your tasks, and pay attention to details! Track your progress on each assignment and double-­ check your work. Jesus praises and rewards those who faithfully accomplish their work. Ask Him to help you wisely manage your responsi­bilities so He can say: “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23).

A Priest Wisely Manages His Assignment

THOROUGHNESS Knowing what factors will diminish the effectiveness of my work or words if neglected 6

BIBLE STORY

LESSON 1

A Priest Wisely Manages His Assignment

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Carefully Manage My Responsibilities

erusalem’s city walls and Temple lay in ruins. Many of the Jews had been taken captive to Babylon

prophets encouraged the people to resume the work.

because God had judged His people for their sin. Yet

prophets. This time their enemies not only opposed

God was merciful to His people living in Babylon.

the work, but also notified the new Babylonian king,

Later, when King Cyrus ruled Babylon, the Lord told

Darius. When he found the record of Cyrus’s procla-

him to build a house for God in Jerusalem. King Cyrus

mation, he told the enemies to leave the Jews alone

invited the Jews in Babylon to return to Jerusalem.

and even provide whatever supplies they needed! Soon

A group soon set out to build a second temple, led by

the Temple was completed and the people rejoiced!

two priests, Zerubbabel and Jeshua. When the Temple

Whom would God raise up to teach His people? What

foundation was laid, the people shouted and wept so

Zerubbabel and Jeshua began again, joined by the

would a future Babylonian king, Artaxerxes, give this

loudly that the sound was heard far away. Enemies of

person to manage?

the Jews opposed the work several times, and conse-

Let’s read the Bible story in Ezra 7:6–28; 8:1, 15–36 and then discuss the following questions.

quently, construction halted for years. One day two

1. Who was Ezra? (See Ezra 7:6.) What was he doing before King Artaxerxes gave him a job? (See Ezra 7:10.)

chief priests before they traveled to Jerusalem?

(See Ezra 8:24–25.)

What can you do while waiting for greater responsibility to be entrusted to you? (See II Timothy 3:14–15, Luke 16:10.)

As needed, do you write down steps or things to remember?

2. What responsibilities were entrusted to Ezra by the king? (See Ezra 7:14–17, 19, 25–26.)

What responsibilities have you been given? How do you manage multiple responsibilities?

3. If the Israelites needed additional resources to rebuild the Temple, what did King Artaxerxes command his treasurers to do? (See Ezra 7:20–22.)

What should you do when you realize that you don’t have everything necessary to complete a job?

4. When Ezra realized that essential people were missing from the team, how did the chief leaders help? (See Ezra 8:17–18.)

When have you participated in a group project?

How can you help a leader manage a project well?

5. How did Ezra carefully record what he gave to the

6. How much silver and gold did Ezra weigh?

(See Ezra 8:26–27.)

During a long or meticulous task, do you persevere?

Or do you become discouraged or lazy?

7. What did Ezra specifically instruct the priests to do? (See Ezra 8:29–30.)

What have you been asked to protect to make sure it isn’t damaged, lost, or stolen?

8. How did Ezra ensure none of the gold and silver went missing during the journey? (See Ezra 8:32–34.)

Do you check your work to make sure it is complete before you move on to another activity or task?

9. How was Ezra faithful to complete his primary mission? (See Nehemiah 8:1–3, 13.)

What is the proper motivation for anything you do? (See I Corinthians 10:31.)

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Operational Definitions of Character Qualities ALERTNESS vs. Unawareness

ATTENTIVENESS vs. Unconcern

AVAILABILITY vs. Self-Centeredness

BOLDNESS vs. Fearfulness

CAUTIOUSNESS vs. Rashness

COMPASSION vs. Indifference

CONTENTMENT vs. Covetousness

Being aware of that which is taking place around me so that I can have the right response to it

Showing the worth of a person by giving undivided concentration to his words and emotions

Making my own schedule and priorities secondary to the wishes of those I am serving

Confidence that what I have to say or do is true and right and just in the sight of God

Knowing how important right timing is in accomplishing right actions

Investing whatever is necessary to heal the hurts of others

Realizing that God has provided everything I need for my present happiness

Mark 14:38

Hebrews 2:1

Acts 4:29

Proverbs 19:2

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Philippians 2:20–21

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I John 3:17

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I Timothy 6:8

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CREATIVITY vs. Underachievement

DECISIVENESS vs. Double-mindedness

DEFERENCE vs. Rudeness

DEPENDABILITY vs. Inconsistency

DETERMINATION vs. Faintheartedness

DILIGENCE vs. Slothfulness

DISCERNMENT vs. Judgment

Approaching a need, a task, or an idea from a new perspective

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

Limiting my freedom in order not to offend the tastes of those God has called me to serve

Fulfilling what I consented to do even if it means unexpected sacrifice

Purposing to accomplish God’s goals in God’s time regardless of the opposition

The God-given ability to understand why things happen

James 1:5

Romans 14:21

Visualizing each task as a special assignment from the Lord and using all my energies to accomplish it

Romans 12:2

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Psalm 15:4

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II Timothy 4:7–8

Colossians 3:23

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I Samuel 16:7

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DISCRETION vs. Simplemindedness

ENDURANCE vs. Giving Up

ENTHUSIASM vs. Apathy

FAITH vs. Unbelief

FLEXIBILITY vs. Resistance

FORGIVENESS vs. Rejection

GENEROSITY vs. Stinginess

The ability to avoid words, actions, and attitudes that could result in undesirable consequences

The inward strength to withstand stress to accomplish God’s best

Fervently expressing with my soul the joy of my spirit

Visualizing what God intends to do in a given situation and acting in harmony with it

Not setting my affections on ideas or plans that could be changed by God or others

Clearing the record of those who have wronged me and allowing God to love them through me

Realizing that all I have belongs to God and using it for His purposes

Hebrews 11:1

Colossians 3:2

Ephesians 4:32

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Proverbs 22:3

Galatians 6:9

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I Thessalonians 5:16, 19

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II Corinthians 9:6

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GENTLENESS vs. Harshness

GRATEFULNESS vs. Unthankfulness

HOSPITALITY vs. Loneliness

HUMILITY vs. Pride

INITIATIVE vs. Unresponsiveness

JOYFULNESS vs. Self-Pity

JUSTICE vs. Corruption

Showing personal care and concern in meeting the needs of others

Making known to God and others in what ways they have benefited my life

Cheerfully sharing food, shelter, and spiritual refreshment with those God brings into my life

Recognizing and doing what needs to be done before I am asked to do it

Delighting in fellowship with the Lord regardless of my circumstances

Personal responsibility to uphold God’s unchanging laws

I Corinthians 4:7

Hebrews 13:2

Recognizing that without the help of God and others my achievements in life would not have been possible

Romans 12:21

Psalm 16:11

Micah 6:8

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I Thessalonians 2:7

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James 4:6

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LOVE vs. Selfishness

LOYALTY vs. Unfaithfulness

MEEKNESS vs. Anger

OBEDIENCE vs. Willfulness

ORDERLINESS vs. Disorganization

PATIENCE vs. Restlessness

PERSUASIVENESS vs. Contentiousness

Giving to others’ basic needs without having as my motive personal reward

Using difficult times to demonstrate my commitment to God and to those He has called me to serve

Yielding my personal rights and expectations to God

Eagerly yielding to God’s Word rather than following my own will

Preparing myself and my surroundings so I will achieve the greatest efficiency

Guiding vital truths around another’s mental roadblocks

Psalm 62:5

II Corinthians 10:5

I Corinthians 14:40

Accepting a difficult situation from God without giving Him a deadline to remove it

I Corinthians 13:3

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John 15:13

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Romans 5:3–4

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II Timothy 2:24

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PUNCTUALITY vs. Tardiness

RESOURCEFULNESS vs. Wastefulness

RESPONSIBILITY vs. Unreliability

REVERENCE vs. Disrespect

SECURITY vs. Anxiety

SELF-CONTROL vs. Self-Indulgence

SENSITIVITY vs. Callousness

Showing high esteem for other people and their time

Wise use of that which others would normally overlook or discard

Knowing and doing what both God and others are expecting from me

Luke 16:10

Romans 14:12

Structuring my life around that which is eternal and cannot be destroyed or taken away

Instant obedience to the initial promptings of God’s Spirit

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Awareness of how God is working through the people and events in my life to produce the character of Christ in me

Exercising my senses so I can perceive the true spirit and emotions of those around me

Proverbs 23:17–18

John 6:27

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Galatians 5:24–25

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Romans 12:15

SINCERITY vs. Hypocrisy

THOROUGHNESS vs. Incompleteness

THRIFTINESS vs. Extravagance

TOLERANCE vs. Prejudice

TRUTHFULNESS vs. Deception

VIRTUE vs. Impurity

WISDOM vs. Natural Inclinations

Eagerness to do what is right, with transparent motives

Knowing what factors will diminish the effectiveness of my work or words if neglected

Not letting myself or others spend that which is not necessary

Acceptance of others as unique expressions of specific character qualities in varying degrees of maturity

Earning future trust by accurately reporting past facts

The moral excellence and purity of spirit that radiate from my life as I obey God’s Word

Seeing and responding to life’s situations from God’s frame of reference

G Philippians 2:2

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I Peter 1:22

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T P— Prophet

Proverbs 18:15

S— Server

Luke 16:11

G T—Teacher

E— Exhorter

Ephesians 4:25

P G— Giver

II Peter 1:3–5

O— Organizer

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Proverbs 9:10

M— Mercy

Revealing the character of Christ through the stories in His Word.

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Biblical Character Illustrated Curriculum Discover this unique tool that uses the stories in Scripture to illuminate character qualities God wants to develop in the lives of His people. This curriculum contains multiple ways to teach character to kids and give them a vision for building character through faith in Christ!

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