Introduction Question

Ask your child what power they'd want to have if they were a super-hero.

Often, when we think about a hero, we think about super powers.  Heroes don't need to have special powers or a colorful costume though.  Today we will learn about a group of people the Bible identifies as heroes.  Who do you think they might be?

Introduction Activity: Hero Brainstorm

Supplies:  paper/pencil or white board/marker

Help your child brainstorm a list of ideas or traits and abilities that might mark a person as a hero or heroine.  List the ideas your child comes up with.  After a few minutes, or when the ideas start to run out, go through the list and circle ideas that are true of the heroes listed in Hebrews 11.  Add ideas as needed.

Today we will learn about what it takes to be a hero of faith.  There are a lot of qualities that a hero of faith will share with other kinds of heroes, and some qualities that mark them as different from other kinds of heroes.  What traits do you think a hero of faith might have that no other heroes would have?

Open a Bible together to Hebrews 11 challenge your child to guess the identity of the Old Testament person described in the clues below:

1.  By faith, he led God's people out of Egypt and across the Red Sea.
2.  By faith, he built an ark to rescue his family from the flood.
3.  He was tested, and by faith, offered his son as a sacrifice.  He believed God is able to raise someone from the dead.
4. By faith, she believed God would give her a family even though she was old and had no children.
5.  By faith, she welcomed the spies into her home in Jericho.
6. By faith, he offered to God a better sacrifice than his brother.

Worship

Hebrews 11: 1

Hebrews 11: 1 & 6

2 Corinthians 5:17

Application Activity: Faith Obstacle Course

Supplies: Something to use as a blindfold, furniture & other objects to make an obstacle course

Create a simple obstacle course in your home.  Take turns with one family member wearing a blindfold and another family member leading them by the hand through the course.  Continue until everyone in your family has a chance to go through the course both leading and being guided.

Was it hard to have faith & trust the person leading you?  The Bible tells us about people who lived by faith.  How can you tell if someone has faith? [Allow your child time to respond].  We can't just say we have faith in Jesus; we show we have faith by how we live - by obeying and trusting God.  Everyone who has faith in Jesus will live with Him forever.