Don't Fence Me In
Why do games always have to have rules? Help Liz and Grandpa figure out what's right about rules!
Before You ListenLet's Get Started
Theme: Follow the Rules
1. Deuteronomy 6:18 says, “Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight so that it may go well with you.” Why does God give us rules?
2. Have you ever heard about the most famous rule-breakers of all history—the first rule-breakers? Their names were Adam and Eve. They were the very first man and woman. They lived in a perfect garden. Genesis 3 tells the story of how they broke God’s most important rule. Everything was beautiful. And their one rule was not to eat from the tree in the middle of the garden. But along came a wicked serpent who decided it was too perfect in this garden. This crafty serpent got Adam and Eve wondering about that one rule. Why shouldn't they eat from this tree? Why should they have to follow this rule? So, they decided to break the one rule God gave them. Eve ate from the tree. Then Adam ate from the tree. When God came to the garden, they ran and hid. When God asked them what they had done, they tried to blame each other. Adam and Eve had to leave the beautiful garden forever. Sin and death and pain had now entered the world. Think of the consequences of Adam and Eve not following the rules as you listen to this episode.
After you listen
Memory Verse
“Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight so that it may go well with you.”
Quiz
Reflect
In this episode, several people break the rules and suffer consequences. If someone asked you "What good are rules anyway?" what would you say? When you don't follow rules, you hurt yourself or you hurt someone else. You break something that you love or you break something that someone else loved. Rules have a purpose.
Jesus said the most important rule was to love God most of all and to love the people around us (Matthew 22:37-40). This is the Greatest Commandment. God gives us rules so that we can know the best way to live. By following these rules, we please him and serve him and others. When we do what is right and good in God’s eyes, things will go well with us. That doesn’t mean that you’ll never have any problems. But it does mean that when you honor God by following his rules, you will know the best way to live, and you will always be in his care.
Want to dig deeper about following rules? Read Proverbs 1:8 and 1 John 2:3, 4
Challenge
Can you name any of God's rules for life? Pick one (see Exodus 20:1-17) and talk with your family about how you can keep this rule. For example, God says in the Ten Commandments, "You shall not misuse my name." What does that mean? How can you keep this rule in your everyday life? Discuss your ideas with your family and then pray together, asking God to help you remember his rules and obey.
