Trail Life Troop
NC-613
Devotional – God’s Word
Opening
- Outdoor cooking is fun and an important survival skill. But God says something is even more important than food.
- Read, or someone read Teaching verse. FYI: The memory verse is further down
Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Devotional
Big picture Nothing is more important than God's word.
- Q: In the teaching verse, does anyone know what Old Testament verse Jesus is quoting? (Deut 8:3)
- Jesus quoted the Old Testament and Deuteronomy a lot. So, the Old Testament is still important.
- In Deuteronomy 8:3, God is reminding the Israelites how He fed them during their 40 years in Exodus.
- The Israelites were grumbling, and God said to them, “Trust Me, haven’t I always fed you for 40 yrs?”
- The Israelites started worrying, they distrusted God, even though He had saved them time after time.
- The Israelites believed a lie, not the truth. And, speaking of lies…
- Q: Does anyone know who Jesus is talking to in Matthew's teaching verse? (Satan, the liar/deceiver)
- Food is incredibly important to us. Without it we couldn’t live. So, food is a good thing.
- Satan knows we need food. In the teaching verse, Satan is using food to tempt Jesus to sin when He is hungry. Starving! However, praise be to God, Jesus instructs Satan (and us) that God (and His word) is even more important than food. We should not let food and hunger cause us to sin.
- Even today, Satan uses food as a stumbling block for believers to sin. We eat too much (gluttony). We worry about having food (lack of trust). We even horde food (selfishness).
- Yet, in the teaching verse, Jesus is literally starving to death, after fasting 40days & nights in the desert.
- And even though Jesus is starving, He knows God has something more important than food.
- Q: And what is it that is more important than even food? That’s right, God’s word.
- So, we should always thank God for our food. “Our daily bread”. For He is good and loves us.
- Outdoor cooking is fun. And we are often very hungry on campouts. But remember, what is important.
Memory Verse #1
Ask if anybody knows it yet and can say it? Read it together 2X Consider having a memory verse pamphlet for kids take home.
Ephesians 6:13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
Topical Questions
- God cares for us: Psalm 107:9 “for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” What type of thirst is does the Psalmist mean?
- Mt 6:25 says “do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink”. What is this calling us to do?
- When you are hungry and God provides food, do you often thank Him for careing for you?
- Jesus got hungry, too. Why is that important to know?
Jesus was human, just like us, but also God
Closing Prayer
Jesus, we thank you for giving us good food to eat. Last week we learned about fire and this week we learned about cooking over fires. You are such a good father. You provide for us; you have always provided for us. You ask us to trust You and not worry about what we will eat, or what to wear or where we will sleep. Learning how to cook outdoors is such a fun thing. We thank You for teaching us all these helpful skills. Help us to remember Your word is more important than food. In Christ's name we pray, Amen!
