Facilitate a discussion about promises, using the following questions as a guide.
- Think of a time when someone kept his or her promise to you. What was the promise? How did it make you feel when the person kept that promise? (Answers will vary.)
- Now think of a time when someone broke his or her promise. What was it? How did you feel when the promise was broken? (Answers will vary.)
- When trust is broken, what happens to the relationship? (Answers will vary.)
Seeing how students respond to these questions will help you get a better grasp on how they feel about promises in general. If a student has experienced many broken promises, he or she will be less likely to trust others.
- Why do you think trust is so important in all kinds of relationships? (Accept all reasonable responses.)
According to Psychology Today, “Trust—or the belief that someone or something can be relied on to do what they say they will—is a key element of social relationships and a foundation for cooperation…and a lack of trust in such scenarios can come with serious consequences. Indeed, society as a whole would likely fail to function in the absence of trust.”
God designed people to need and trust each other. This is just one reason why keeping promises is important. When someone we know repeatedly breaks promises to us, we’ll be less likely to trust that person. Today’s lesson is about a Person who reaches out to us with His promises. Let’s dig in to learn more about what these promises are and Who is making them.
