Reverence Character Curriculum

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

REVERENCE

Reverence in Scripture The Character of God

be are ordained of God” (Romans 13:1). If local leadership acts unrighteously, use that as a reminder to pray and trust that God is in control.

When your mom asks you to wait, realize this may be God teaching you patience. When your dad says “No,” trust God for His best for you in that answer. As you reverence God, you will trust He is using the authorities in your life, and it will free you to honor them. Thank God for the authorities He has ordained and placed over you. Trust Him to guide them and use them to produce the character of Christ in you!

• Because God is our Creator and over every authority, He is worthy of all reverence.

(See Psalm 95:3, 6.)

• Joseph recognized how God was at work through the people and events in his life.

(See Genesis 50:19–20.)

• God controls the hearts of all authorities.

(See Proverbs 21:1.)

• Jesus recognized God’s authority above Pilate. (See John 19:11.)

3. How We Show Respect to Authorities. God commands us to show respect to our authorities in Hebrews 13:17, which says, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”

Demonstrate your respect for authority with your quick, willing responses. Show respect for your parents, who are God-given authorities in your life, by speaking positively about them as well as to them. Politely address authorities by using their correct titles. Even your stance and speech communicate reverence and respect.

Smile and speak clearly; avoid slouching or mumbling. Your respect shows that you are trusting Almighty God to do His perfect will through the authorities He has placed in your life.

• The Holy Spirit gives reverence and glory to the Son. (See John 16:13–14.)

Key Concepts 1. Why We Reverence God. Reverence and the “fear of the Lord” are closely associated. (See Hebrews 12:28.) The Greek word for reverence means “awe” which naturally comes when you see Who God is. God created and sustains every atom in the universe. He is the sovereign King of kings and Redeemer. He is also all-powerful and Judge over all. One day, “every knee shall bow” to God. (See Romans 14:10b-12.) The fear of the Lord is the result of knowing that God sees every deed, word, thought, attitude, and motive, and we will give an account to Him of how we have lived the lives He has given us. (See I Corinthians 3:11-13.)

God rewards good and punishes evil. Seeing God’s power and authority leads to trusting His work in our lives and builds reverence in our lives.

• Psalm 25:12—What is one reward of those who fear the Lord?

2. Reverence for God Leads to Respect for Authorities. When you see how Almighty God is working through your authorities to make you more like Christ, it is easier to acknowledge their authority and respect them as God’s instruments for good in your life. “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that

• Psalm 34:3—Do I encourage others to honor the Lord?

• Romans 5:3–4—What qualities does God build in my life through trials?

• Jude 1:8—Do I speak evil and complain about those in authority over me?

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Reverence in My Life

REVERENCE Reverence is awareness of how God is working through the people and events in my life to produce the character of Christ in me.

Reverence in the Life of Philemon

Read the book of Philemon as a family and discuss the following questions:

4. W hat did Paul ask Philemon to do with Onesimus? Did Paul think Philemon would respect his request? “For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever . . . If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. . . . Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say” (Philemon 15, 17, 21).

Are you going to respect your authorities by obeying them? How can you go the “extra mile” and do more than they ask?

2. P aul could have commanded (enjoined) Philemon to take back his runaway slave, Onesimus. Instead, what did he do? “Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee” (Philemon 8–9). Is it easier to respect someone who commands you to do something or someone who asks you out of love? Do you make demands or ask others kindly?

5. W hy might it have been difficult for Philemon to honor Paul’s request that he receive Onesimus? “If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides” (Philemon 18–19). With a grateful heart for all your parents have done for you, do you honor their requests even when it is difficult?

3. W hat did Paul write to show Philemon how God was transforming Onesimus?

“I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me . . . not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved . . . ” (Philemon 10, 11, 16). Do you inspire reverence in others by sharing how God is working through people and events in your life?

6. H ow would Paul feel to see Philemon love, forgive, and welcome Onesimus? “ Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord” (Philemon 20).

Is the Lord pleased when we allow Him to work in our lives?

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1. T he book of Philemon is a letter from Paul to his dear friend, Philemon. What two qualities was God producing in Philemon?

“Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints” (Philemon 5). What situations is God using to produce love and faith in you?

REVERENCE

Paul Entreats Philemon’s Family with Confidence “Paul . . . unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, and to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus . . .

Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.”

—PHILEMON 1–2, 21 3

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

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

REVERENCE

Memory Verse PROVERBS 23:17–18 “Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.

For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.”

Memory Verse Game: Erase-A-Word Write the verse on a whiteboard and repeat the verse with the children several times. Each time, before repeating the verse together, have a child erase any two words in the verse on the whiteboard. Can they remember which words were erased and say them the next time through, even though the words are no longer visible? Repeat until every word is erased and the children have the verse memorized.

Ask God how He wants you to apply the verse, i.e., “seek to please God, instead of care about what others have or are able to do” or “remember that God is watching me.” or “Ask God for His perspective.” Then fill in the blank with His answer: “Dear Lord, I yield to You and am willing to apply this verse. Help me to ____________________________ _________________________________________. I ask that You would develop Reverence in my life. Amen.”

When the Lord gives you an opportunity to apply this verse, discuss it as a family and write it down in your personal journal to later recall God’s working in your life.

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Doers of the Word

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

REVERENCE

Craft Instructions Suncatcher Hearts Introduction Read to the children: “This month we are asking the Lord to develop reverence in our lives. What a privilege to respond to the work He is doing to change us into the image of His Son! Today we are going to create suncatcher hearts to remind us that God works through different people and events in our lives to work beautifully in us.”

Supplies White paper (or clear plastic such as a page protector), multi-colored tissue paper, scissors, Sharpie pen, glue stick, hole punch, string. (You may want to laminate your finished work with contact paper.)

Instructions Instruct children to cut a large heart out of the white paper or clear plastic sheet.

With the Sharpie pen write across the heart: “God is Working in Me.”

Have the children cut small squares out of the colored tissue paper and glue them onto the heart, covering the words.

While they are cutting and gluing, read to them, “These multi-colored tissue papers remind us of the different events and people in our lives. God is working through our experiences to complete a beautiful work in our lives.” Hold the heart up to a sunny window or light. “When have you seen God working behind the scenes?”

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Punch a hole in the top of the heart and attach the string that will enable you to hang it in a window to catch the sunlight.

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

REVERENCE

Activity Page God is Over All

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God works through the people and events in your life to produce the character of Christ in you. In the top blanks of the diagram, write the people and events you know God is using in your life. In the lower blanks of the diagram, fill in the character quality God is producing in your life through those people and events.

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

HYMN HISTORY

“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” “Let's have some fun heckling those stuffy church-goers! Maybe we can disturb this traveling preacher's meeting!”

Laughing as he went, 20-year-old Joachim [pronounced wa-keem] Neander sauntered through the twisting old streets of Bremen, Germany, with a group of his fellow students. They were quite the rowdy dandies in their slashed doublets, white lace collars, and baggy knee-length breeches tucked into tight hosiery. Their stylish hair was worn long, brushing their shoulders.

For four generations, the name “Joachim” had been bestowed to the Neander family baby boys. Joachim's father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather (all Joachim Neanders) were and had been faithful preachers of the Gospel. But this young man of the same name had viewed those callings with disdain. In college, he joined wholeheartedly with others in debaucherous living.

At this particular point in the story, Joachim and his cohorts had planned some mischief: to disrupt Theodore Under-Eyck’s sermon while he preached that day in St. Martin's Church. The foolish lads hastened toward the church, laughing about their impending mockery. Little did Joachim know what was really about to happen! The young man was unaware that God would use this pastor and the events of the day to draw him to Himself.

Joachim Neander (1650–1680)

Joachim was no stranger to church services, and he knew just the time to make the most raucous disruption. Preacher Under-Eyck continued to preach above the mocking laughter and ridicule of the hooligans. One never knows when God’s Spirit is moving, but in this moment He was! In the midst of the foolishness, God sent a heavy wave of conviction over Joachim. The wayward young man’s eyes were opened to the reality of his spiritual emptiness. This powerful conviction led to Joachim’s decision to wholeheartedly give his life to Christ. What a drastic conversion from a rebellious “preacher’s kid” to a redeemed young man with deep reverence and awe for God. Interestingly, this Greek surname, “Neander,” means “new man.” Indeed, Joachim Neander was a new man! At a later time Joachim served as Under-Eyck’s assistant at that very same church where he had foolishly come to disrupt but instead found new life.

In the coming years Joachim would tutor young men. He held a position at a school in Dusseldorf.

A vibrant believer, he encouraged prayer and preaching at the school. Not far from Dusseldorf, the Dussel River ran through a beautiful gorge where Joachim loved to walk. He was there so often that people eventually associated the place with his name, calling it the “Neander Valley.”

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Soon, the waters of the Weser River glittered through the gap in the houses ahead. The boys with evil intent saw the four-pointed, triangular gables of the church. The 400-year-old square, brick church tower loomed high overhead.

Mounting the brick steps, they disrespectfully burst into the church with boisterous abandon.

HYMN HISTORY

“Take My Life and Let It Be” | page 2

At the age of thirty, Joachim found himself in a fight with tuberculosis. After ten years of loving and serving his Savior, Joachim would come face to face with Jesus later that year. During this time of illness, he wrote a hymn which has been called by the Julian Dictionary of Hymnology, “a magnificent hymn of praise, perhaps the finest production of its author and of the first rank in its class.” Joachim wrote it in German, and it was translated into English by Catherine Winkworth.

Notice how each phrase lifts your heart in an attitude of honor and gratefulness to the Lord.

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation!

O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!

All ye who hear, Now to His temple draw near, Join me in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him! All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him. Let the Amen Sound from His people again; Gladly for aye we adore Him.

Bibliography: Hustad, Donald P. Dictionary-Handbook to Hymns for the Living Church, Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL, 1978, p. 293.

Johnson, Guye. Treasury of Great Hymns and Their Stories, Bob Jones University Press, Greenville, SC, 1986, pp. 51–52.

Morgan, Robert J. Then Sings My Soul, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, 2003, p. 27.

Osbeck, Kenneth W. 101 Hymn Stories, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, 1982, p. 209.

Peterson, Randy. Be Still My Soul, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, IL, 2014, p. 65.

Reynolds, William J. Hymns of Our Faith, Broadman Press, Nashville, 1964, p. 370.

This hymn and the other 11 featured hymns of this year’s character curriculum are available on CD. The hymns are sung by home educating families to piano accompaniment. Go to store.iblp.org/product/CBCH2.html for more information.

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No matter who or what God is using in our lives, whether pleasant or unpleasant, we can trust God and praise Him for the plans and purposes He has in each situation. This response builds reverence in our lives as we see what God is doing to produce His character in our lives. Our God is worthy of praise, and it brings us joy to praise Him with a reverent heart!

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

REVERENCE

Praise Almighty Praiseto tothe theLord, Lord, The the Almighty Joachim Neander (1650–1680) Translated by Catherine Winkworth (1827–1878)

Stralsund Gesangbuch 1665

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