Howl! Howl! Hi, Kids! I m Calvin the Coyote, and this year, you are going to be my students in calling for character. Coyotes are really good at calling to each other! So come along with me, and I ll show you how to call for character. You start with some young yipping, and progress to some bold barking. And then, just when you re ready, you can grow into some good growling, and on to hopeful howling, and then, by the end of the year, you can finally get to some good Christ calling! I m excited about practicing these calls with you, so come on! Here we go! 1
Calling for Character Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein:for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed:for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Character is from the Character is for the Who just died? Who did God appoint after Moses? Where do we get character from? Who is character for? 2
Calling for Care Matthew 7:12a Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them. Luke 6:31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. Rahab Cared for God Cared for Where did Joshua send the two spies? Who hid the spies from the soldiers? What did the spies tell Rahab to do to save her? What did the spies tell Joshua? Who did Rahab care for? What was the result? 3
Calling for Crossing Joshua 3:5 And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the Lord will do wonders among you. 1 Peter 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. Be Be Be What river was between Joshua and Jericho? What did God tell the priests to do? What were the priests carrying? What did the Israelites learn during the crossing? How many stones did Joshua set up on the other side? 4
Calling for Commitment Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:11a So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void... Isaiah 55:11b... but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Commit to God s Commit to God s Why was Joshua afraid of Jericho? What did God tell Joshua to do? How many days did the Israelites march around Jericho? What did the people do when they finished the seventh time on the seventh day? What should we commit to? 5
Calling for Cleansing Psalm 51:2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Sin Hurts Sin Hurts Sin Hurts What did God tell the Israelites not to do after the walls fell? Who disobeyed? What city did the Israelites fight against next? Did they win the first battle? Why? What was God s punishment for Achan? Did they win the second battle? Why? Who does sin hurt? 6
Calling for Caution Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts. Psalm 139:24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Be Careful of Not God. Be Careful of Not Sin. Who decided to trick Joshua? How did they trick him? What did Joshua do when he met the Gibeonites? What did Joshua not avoid? 7
Calling for Communication Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Prayer is Prayer is Prayer is Why was the next battle so important? What did Joshua pray? Did God answer? What is prayer? 8
Calling for Conquering Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Jeremiah 7:23 Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. God s Obedience God s Guidance What did God tell Joshua to do? What should we give God? What do we get in return? 9
Calling for Claiming Joshua 14:12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day... 2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God... Claim God s Conquer God s Who came to Joshua after 45 years? What did Caleb want? What should we claim? What should we conquer? 10
Calling for a Choice Joshua 24:15b...Choose you this day whom ye will serve. Joshua 24:15d... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. The The Where did all the people gather with Joshua? What did Joshua say? What did Joshua give to them? 11
Calling for Confidence 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life.. 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Fight against Fight for What did the Israelites do after Joshua died? What tribe continued to fight and conquer? What should we fight? 12
Calling for Correction Proverbs 15:5 A fool despiseth his father s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent. 2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. Correction sometimes Correction all the time Who did God send to correct the Israelites? Why did they need correction? How does correction feel sometimes? What does correction do all the time? 13
Calling for Consistency 2 Timothy 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them. 1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them:for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. Israel God Israel God Israel Israel Idols God Israel God for Israel What people did the Lord send to save Israel in the book of the Bible? Who was the first judge? What was the Israelites cycle? 14
Calling for Creativity 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Jude 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference. Ehud was Ehud made a Who was the second judge? How was he different? How did God use him and his left hand? Who was the king that he killed? Because Ehud was different, what did he make? 15
Calling for Courage Joshua 1:7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. Barak was Deborah was Who was the third judge? Where did she sit? Who was the evil general who hurt the Israelites? What were the Israelites afraid of? What was Barak? What was Deborah? 16
Calling for Confirmation Mark 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Gideon was God was Who stole from the Israelites? Who did the angel of the Lord come to? What did he call him? What was Gideon? What did Gideon want to do, just to make sure? What did he ask for the second time? What did God do? 17
Calling for Commandments James 1:22 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass. James 1:23 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. James 1:24 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. Follow what God Find who God Because there were too many men, what did God tell Gideon to do? What was the second command that God told Gideon, because there were still too many men? What was the third command that God gave about how to fight the Midianites? 18 If we follow what God says, what do we find?
Calling for Cooperation Judges 8:20b...But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth. 1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. The enemy was The circumstances were The task was His Father was Him Who was upset about Moses being the leader? What happened to Miriam because of her rebellion? If our words are cutting, our words have what? 19
Calling for Commendations Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. John 12:42 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Abimelech had Abimelech wanted Abimelech received Who was Abimelech s father? What did Abimelech do to his brothers? How did Abimelech die? What did he have? What did he want? What did he receive? 20
Calling for Coming Numbers 30:2 If a man vow a vow unto the Lord he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth. Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Be careful what you to God Be committed what you to God Who was the general of the Israelite armies? What foolish vow did he make? Who came out of his house first? What should we be careful of? What should we be committed to? 21
Calling for Counsel Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Ephesians 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) Ephesians 6:3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. Listen up to your Look out for your What vow had Samson made? What did that mean? Who did Samson want to marry? Did his parents approve? Who should we listen to? Who should we look out for? 22
Calling for Compromise Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he... Psalm 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. Tempting Tolerant Thoughtless How did Samson break the first part of his vow? What riddle did Samson tell his friends? How did they figure it out? What did Samson do in anger? What started Samson s rebellion? What was the second step to thoughtless rebellion? 23
Calling for Comfort Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Matthew 8:19 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. He fought by Christ He failed by Comfort What did the people of Israel want Samson to do? What did Samson do after he gave himself up? What did he use to fight the Philistines? How did he fight? How did he fail? 24
Calling for Companions Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. Proverbs 1:10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. His friends were His friends were His friends were Who did Samson meet after he escaped from the Philistines? What did she ask him? Why dis she ask him? What did he tell her the first time? the second time? the third time? What did Delilah do after she cut his hair? Samson s friends were 25
Calling for Confession 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you:but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. He lost his He lost his He lost his He never lost God s What did Samson lose? What did he never lose? 26