Trail Life Troop
NC-613
Devotional – Stewardship
Opening
- It was fun learning tracking. Now, let’s see what the bible says about our relationship to animals.
- Read, or someone read the Teaching verse. FYI: The memory verse is further down
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air…over all the earth, and over all the creatures…”
Devotional
Big picture God created man for earth stewardship.
- One of the main reasons today people track animals is to understand them better, to know their ways in the wild. So, we can take care of them and make sure they thrive and do not become extinct. It’s what is called man’s stewardship of the earth.
- Q: Does anyone know what the word “stewardship” means?
- Stewardship means taking care of something that someone else owns. Like caring for a neighbor’s pet.
- The teaching verse tells us that God made man to LET him rule over the earth.
- God gave us the responsibility to rule over the earth, to be stewards for Him of His earth.
- Because God made everything and owns everything.
- Psalms 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” So, God owns everything, and He letsus take care of it for Him.
- Q: So, what’s the word we just learned that describes our responsibility to care for earth? (Stewardship)
- Stewardship of the earth is more than just “being green.” It means we do what God tells us to do from His word, the bible. The bible is a higher authority than any man-made direction, law, or government.
- Q: So, how is learning to track things being a good steward of the earth? It helps you understand God’s animals so we can more effectively take care of them. Tracking helps us understand animals in the wild. In their native element, not in a zoo. Tracking is just one skill to care for animals.
- Animals are vastly diverse. There are so many different kinds of animals. God’s creation is amazing!
- We must not be irresponsible in our stewardship of all God’s creation. God gave us this job. The bible says so. Therefore, we should take our stewardship job seriously.
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
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What are some ways to be good stewards of animals?
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Is following Jesus somewhat like tracking God?
We find God by first following (tracking) the signs of Jesus in our lives. Then, if we have done a good job of following, Jesus leads us directly to God our Heavenly Father. -
What something about God’s creation that you’ve learned from observing animals?
Closing Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, You are Holy and worthy of all praise. We thank you for making us and making all things. We know you own the earth and everything in it. We thank you for giving us animals to help us learn and grown. And we thank you for this incredibly interesting world including animals that you put here. We cannot imagine what earth would be like without animals. We love you, Lord. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray, Amen!
