Start your class by inviting students to participate in a discussion.
Most of us have probably made an excuse for not doing something. These excuses could have been valid, such as being sick and not able to attend school. Or, they could have been made up, such as pretending to have a prior commitment.
- Have you ever used an excuse? Was it valid or made up? Explain. (Accept all reasonable responses.)
- What are some examples of reasonable excuses for not attending school, extracurricular activities, or social events? (Accept all reasonable responses which may include illness, family emergency, broken down car, etc. Record these responses in one column on the whiteboard or screenshared document.)
- What are some examples of unreasonable or made-up excuses people may use to get out of school, responsibility, or obeying an authority figure? (Accept all reasonable responses which may include pretending to be sick or hurt, wanting to finish playing a game, saying the dog ate homework, etc. Record these responses in a second column on the whiteboard or screenshared document.)
These lists show many great examples of good and bad excuses. While there are many times when excuses are valid, there are also times when we use them to get out of responsibility or avoid doing what an authority figure has asked us to do.
- When a teacher, coach, or parent tells you to do something, why is it sometimes so hard to obey? (Most teenagers push back against things that might be good for them. All of us—even adults—will search for reasons to disobey.)
The Bible shows us many examples of people who used poor excuses and refused to obey God’s commands. The Israelites were people who didn’t always take action when God spoke, and the consequences were deadly. Let’s see if we can discover how to get better at quick obedience . . . and put aside excuses.
