Lesson Outlines

Character Makes a Man

Things like Age, Abilities, Intelligence, Popularity, or Recognition do not make a person Mature
It is Character, and Character alone that defines Maturity and makes a boy a Man

I. Main Verses

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.

1 Peter 5:6

There hath no temptation taken you
but such as is common to man:

but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able;

but will with the temptation
also make a way to escape,

that ye may be able to bear it.
1 Corinthians 10:13

But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity.
Psalm 26:11

II. Background Thoughts

The events of the Old Testament directly relate to the Christian life (Romans 15:4)
The goal is to teach the kids about the Christian life being hard, yes, but very rewarding – learning to trust the will of God, and the promises of God
It will be important to show how that Joseph is used to show what Jesus will be like, in over 300 different ways – Joseph is the BEST picture of Jesus Christ in the entire Bible – and for good reason
The kids should without question, by the end of the week, know that they can endure temptation, and can be different that the world around them, and can exp[ect to win in the end
A BIG goal is to teach about forgiveness, and not getting bitter – against parents, other brothers and sisters, against God, and against themselves
We will use events from the life of Joseph, and also on occasion, the lives of others that show character

His home life, growing up time – last son (until Benjamin) therefore, the youngest son – favourite son of the father
Jacob was not a great father, so Joseph will have to learn some things on his own, and from his mother, and from the Lord teaching him through the circumstances of his life
While at home, God gives Joseph dreams – dreams of God’s will for his life – Joseph does not understand what they mean, and does not push his own fulfilment of those dreams, but the rest of the family realize exactly what those dreams mean – and don’t want to even THINK that they would ever humble themselves to honour their KID brother
There were lost of problems at home – constant family in-fighting, hatred among the brothers, selfishness by the father
Their only sister gets raped
Levi and Simeon take vengeance into their own hands and murder every man in a village out of revenge
Joseph is hated the most out of all the brothers – and would have been simply killed by Judah if Reuben had not intervened
Judah settles on making money off of selling Joseph into slavery – thought they would NEVER see or hear of Joseph again
Joseph’s worst nightmares are experienced – no hope of return from slavery – no hope to return to a family that doesn’t want him
But while in slavery, Joseph honours God, and works harder than everyone else – is raised up to a place of honour – decides to serve the Lord – and the Lord blesses Joseph for it
Then Joseph is attacked by the tempting power of Potiphar’s wife – just when everything is going so good – then comes the devil
Joseph has to risk being misunderstood, and falsely accused in order to retain his honour, integrity and reputation WITH GOD
In prison now, Joseph could have given up (PRINCIPLE: NEVER GIVE UP ON DOING RIGHT – IT WILL ALWAYS PAY-OFF)!
After 3 years, Joseph is raised up by pharaoh to be Prince over all the land of the empire of Egypt – over and above the natural born son of Pharaoh
Seven years of plenty – Joseph wisely SAVES and prepares for the future
Then began 7 years of drought – all over the world
THAT’S when Joseph’s brothers are forced to go down into Egypt to buy food
And that is where Joseph meets his brothers once again, and is able to forgive them – but only after making sure they had learned their lesson and been humbled by God

We have GOT to make sure that the kids know what the following words mean: Character, Integrity, Uprightness

We need to look up lesson materials to teach that will reinforce the above truths

Sermon to use - The blessings of adversity

I have some thoughts in my notebook on Teenagers in the Bible

Book – Joseph – a Man with Character Today we are surrounded with apathy, dishonesty and compromise. Strong character is essential for spiritual success. This study focuses on the life of Joseph, a teenager with character.

Lesson Outlines

Brief Outline

I. Monday – Dreams - Vision – It All Starts Here – Right Attitudes

II. Tuesday - Discipline – Hard Work – Right Habits

III. Wednesday - Integrity – Right Convictions - Decency

IV. Thursday - Wisdom – Right Goals

V. Friday - Forgiveness – Right Relationships

Expanded Outline

I. Monday – Dreams - Vision – It All Starts Here – Right Attitudes

A. Evening Message Hold Onto Your Dreams (Heb 11:16)

II. Tuesday - Discipline – Hard Work – Right Habits

A. Morning Devotion – Being a Servant for God

B. Morning Lesson – A Christian’s Habits

C. Afternoon Preaching (Lam 3:27) – Why Life is Hard When We Are Young

D. Evening Message – The WORK of a Christian’s Life (Eph 2:10)

III. Wednesday - Integrity – Right Convictions - Decency

A. Morning Devotion – Joseph’s Price

B. Morning Lesson – Facing Potiphar’s Wife – Handing Temptation

C. Afternoon Preaching – What temptations are out there today, and how to defeat them

D. Evening Message – Drawing Some Lines in Your Life!!!

IV. Thursday - Wisdom – Right Goals

A. Morning Devotion - What Wisdom and Right Goals is All About

B. Morning Lesson - Joseph uses his wisdom in leadership

C. Afternoon Preaching – More than Conquerors!

D. Evening Message – Don’t Fail God’s Call for Your Life!!!

V. Friday - Forgiveness – Right Relationships

A. Morning Devotion - What is forgiveness?

B. Morning Lesson – Joseph Forgives His Brothers

C. Afternoon Preaching – Why Is It So Hard To Forgive?

D. Evening Message – God’s Greatest Gift – Forgiveness!!!

Complete Lesson Outline

These outlines are currently being worked through and compiled from various sources (Lydia O’Sullivan is working on the Morning Devotions and the Teaching Lessons)

Ideas are welcome to be added – just remember, the Camp Director makes the final decision about the direction a specific devotion, lesson, or even preaching theme will go.

I. Monday – Dreams - Vision – It All Starts Here – Right Attitudes

A. We need songs about right attitudes

B. Evening Message

1. Have Dreams

2. Hold Onto Your Dreams (Heb 11:16)

II. Tuesday - Discipline – Hard Work – Right Habits

A. Songs about hard work – patch the pirate songs?

B. What this concept is all about

1. Taking a good look at our habits – what we do naturally without thinking

2. Making sure that we have godly habits – that we do the things that Jesus did and would do

3. Believing that the rewards for right habits are worth more than for

C. Morning Devotion – Being a Servant for God

1. Wholeheartedness- Deuter. 10: 12-20 & Colos. 3:23

2. Regardless of how you feel- Jesus with Samaritan Woman at Well; tired but still willing to serve- John 4: 7-29

3. Serving Heart; Willing to do the dirty work- Jesus washing the disciples’ feet- John 14:4,5

4. Bearing one another’s burdens- Galat. 6:2

5. Morning Teaching Lesson: A Christian’s Habits

a. Short Skit to illustrate the effects of bad habits - 2 people asleep, alarm clock goes off. People get up too late to shower/eat healthy breakfast/have quiet time because they were watching horror movie/out dancing late last night. ??????

b. Distinctly Christian Habits

1) Good Manners

2) Not Grumbling/Being Cheerful

3) Giving Thanks for Food

4) Not being Critical

5) Including Others in activities/conversation

6) Good Stewardship of Time/Resources/Abilities

6. Things that a Christian makes themselves do in order to be more like Jesus:

a. Quiet Time

b. Church Attendance

7. Examples of Bible characters who had Good Habits:

a. Joseph- Good Habit of Obedience to Father & Working Hard and Whole- Heartedly (Gen. 37: 13-17 Shechem-Dothan)

b. Daniel-Good Habit of Prayer & Separation (Dan. 6:10) (?)

c. David-Good Habit of not seeking Revenge on Saul (1 Sam. 18:11; 1 Sam 19:10; 1 Sam. 24:6)

d. Ruth-Good Habit of Obedience and Working Hard (Ruth 3:1-5) (Ruth 2:2-18) (Ruth 3:11-Virtuous Woman)

8. Examples of Bible Characters with Bad Habits?????

9. Overcoming Bad Habits:

a. T.V. – Swearing/Blaspheming/Violence/Fornication/Adultery/ Also takes up time should be used in serving God; along with videos/dvds/computer

b. Laziness-

c. Half-heartedness-

d. Ungratefulness-

e. Selfishness-

10. Songs: Patch the Pirate

a. Good Old Fashioned Work-(Praises 2)

b. Responsibility-(Praises 2)

c. Rise and Shine- (Praise 2)

d. Finish the Job-(Praises 2)

e. Initiative- (Praises 1)

f. Servant’s Heart- (Praises 1)

g. Do it Now-(Praises 1)

D. Morning Lesson – A Christian’s Habits

1. Distinctly Christian habits

2. Things that a Christian makes themselves do in order to be more like Jesus

3. Joseph’s habits – things he did without thinking

4. Overcoming bad habits –

a. Hating the bad habits – seeing what they mean to God and how they hurt others

b. Replacing those habits with right ones

E. Afternoon Preaching (Lam 3:27) – Why Life is Hard When We Are Young

1. Because it only gets harder as we get older

2. And we need to be stronger for those days

F. Evening Message – The WORK of a Christian’s Life (Eph 2:10)

III. Wednesday - Integrity – Right Convictions - Decency

A. Songs: Put on Yer Running Shoes

B. Morning Devotion – Joseph’s Price

1. His brothers thought he was only worth 20 pieces of silver Gen. 37:28

2. Satan thought he would crumble under slavery Ephes. 6: 12

3. Satan then hoped Joseph would give in to temptation with Potiphar’s wife

4. Joseph’s value went up and up –Joseph became stronger as he resisted temptation James 4:7

C. Morning Lesson – Facing Potiphar’s Wife – Handing Temptation

1. Joseph becomes a slave in Egypt Gen. 39:1-6

2. Joseph is tempted to sin Gen. 39: 7-20

3. Joseph becomes a prisoner Gen. 39:21-40 & 40:23 & Psalm 105: 17-19

4. Songs: I will do what’s right (Praises 1)

a. Do right (Praises 1)

b. Put on Your Running Shoes (Praises 2)

D. Afternoon Preaching – What temptations are out there today, and how to defeat them

E. Evening Message – Drawing Some Lines in Your Life!!!

1. Concerning drink, drugs, sex, porn, internet porn

2. What feeds sin in our lives – what do we allow that actually brings us under slavery to sin?

a. Rock music – how

b. Bad friends – how

c. Laziness

3. What things build up my resistance to temptation

a. Fear of God

b. Honesty

c. Knowing that God rules

4. What I need to do

a. Quit running from God, from parents, from Garda

b. Starting running from the devil, from temptation, and from bad habits

IV. Thursday - Wisdom – Right Goals

A. Morning Devotion - What Wisdom and Right Goals is All About

1. What is Wisdom?- Prov. 9:10 Fear of the Lord is begining of Wisdom

2. Where we get Wisdom from:

a. God- Prov. 2:6 & James 1:5

b. Rod & Reproof- Prov. 29:15

c. Parents- Prov. 4

3. Fruits of Wisdom- Proverbs 3:13 & 12: 8 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom/Man shall be commended according to his wisdom

4. Value of Wisdom- Prov. 8:11& 16:16 Better than rubies/gold

5. Wisdom is built upon integrity and all the previous ingredients

6. Wisdom is the result of learning from your struggles, from your parents, from your Bible

7. Leadership – Joseph took charge of every situation

a. Tried to lead his household

b. Took charge of Potiphar’s household

c. Later took charge of the prison

d. Then, was placed in charge of the nation of Egypt

8. He didn’t think of himself

9. He didn’t let the past, the hurts, the memories ruin where he was at

B. Morning Lesson - Joseph uses his wisdom in leadership

1. Joseph in charge of Potiphar’s household Gen. 39:1-6

2. Joseph in charge of prison Gen. 39:20-23

3. Joseph in charge of Eygpt Gen. 41:38-44

4. Joseph was wise/God gave Joseph wisdom

5. What were Joseph’s goals?

a. To please God

b. To give God the glory Gen. 40:8 & Gen. 41:16

6. Songs - The fear of the Lord (Praises 2)

C. Afternoon Preaching – More than Conquerors!

D. Evening Message – Don’t Fail God’s Call for Your Life!!!

V. Friday - Forgiveness – Right Relationships

A. What Forgiveness and Right Relationships are All About

1. This is the ultimate goal – the ultimate goal of God, and of ever one of us

2. To obtain forgiveness

3. And the ability to start again

4. The devil seeks to divide and create bitterness

a. People are bitter and angry at God

b. Mad at home

5. Challenge will be in extending forgiveness to others – breaking the curse

B. Morning Devotion - What is forgiveness?

1. Not forgetting, but choosing not to remember (Heb 10:17; Ps 103:12)

a. (Practically speaking, not bringing up issue again before the person, or before another person and not dwelling on it in our minds.)

2. How often should we forgive? (Mt 18:21,22)

3. Jesus’ promise of forgiveness (1Jn 1:9)

C. Morning Lesson – Joseph Forgives His Brothers

1. Joseph forgives his brothers:

a. Gen 50:17 So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.

b. Gen 50:18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.

c. Gen 50:19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?

d. Gen 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

e. Gen 50:21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

2. Jesus’ example of forgiveness:

a. Luk 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

3. Following Jesus’ example:

a. Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

b. Col 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

c. Luk 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

4. Song: Be kind and Compassionate (Praises 2)

D. Afternoon Preaching – Why Is It So Hard To Forgive?

E. Evening Message – God’s Greatest Gift – Forgiveness!!!