Fruit of the Spirit · Lesson 4
Fruit of the Spirit: Patience
Genesis 26:12-33; Proverbs 15:18; Ephesians 4:2 Old Testament PrinciplePatience
Isaac's servants dug wells, and the herdsmen of Gerar fought over them again and again. Isaac didn't fight back. He moved on and kept digging until God made room for him, and in the end his enemies came asking for peace. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit. God is patient with us, so His Spirit helps us stay calm and kind with others.
Patience is a fruit of the Spirit. God is slow to anger and patient with us, so His Spirit helps us be patient with others.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.”
Proverbs 15:18 BSB
Christ Connection · God’s character
When God told Moses His name, He said He is "compassionate and gracious, slow to anger" (Exodus 34:6). Jesus showed that same patience. Paul called himself the worst of sinners and wrote that Christ Jesus saved him "so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His perfect patience" (1 Timothy 1:16). God "is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish" (2 Peter 3:9). Our patience with others grows from His patience with us.
1 Timothy 1:15-16; 2 Peter 3:9; Romans 2:4; Ephesians 4:2
The Big Story · Redemption
God kept His promise to Abraham through Isaac, blessing him in the land so that, through his family, the Savior of the world would come.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 50-minute class plan and prep checklist
- Object lesson: Short fuse, long fuse
- Dasch’s Dig Site (bible-times history): Isaac's wells
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Dig and answer
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
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Preschool (ages 3–5)
God helps me wait and be kind.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Dig and wait, Color the well
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
Isaac's servants dug wells, and other herdsmen kept saying, "That water is ours!" Isaac didn't fight. He kept digging until God made room. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit. God is patient with us, so His Spirit helps us stay calm and kind with others.
Start here
Show the short-fuse and long-fuse firecracker cards. Ask, "Which one goes BOOM faster?" Say, "Today we meet a man with a really long fuse."
Bible story 6 min
Isaac was Abraham's son. He lived in a dry land. God blessed him with lots of sheep, goats and crops. But some people were jealous. They filled his dad's old wells with dirt! The king said, "Go away!"
So Isaac moved. His helpers dug a new well. They found fresh water! But other herdsmen came. "That water is ours!" they yelled.
Isaac did not yell back. He named the well "Argument." Then he moved on. His helpers dug another well. The herdsmen fought over that one too! Isaac named it "Enemies." And he moved on again.
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Long fuse 8 min
- Call out a bugging moment ("Someone cuts in line," "Your sister takes your crayon"). Kids take a big slow breath, count to five on their fingers and say a kind answer out loud.
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3rd – 4th grade
When the herdsmen of Gerar fought Isaac over one well after another, Isaac refused to fight and kept digging, trusting God to make room. In the end, the king who had sent him away came asking for peace. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit. It means being long-tempered with people, because God has been so patient with us.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: The well names, Fuse cards
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, at home, online and on screens
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
Envied, pushed out and opposed over well after well, Isaac refused to fight, kept digging and trusted God to make room. The king who had driven him away ended up at his table, asking for peace. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit. It is literally being "long-tempered" with people, and it grows from God's own patience with us.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Long-tempered like God, My fuse
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, online and on screens, at school
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons on Patience
The same principle in other Bible stories.
My Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation: Simeon and AnnaLuke 2:21-38; Isaiah 49:6When baby Jesus was about six weeks old, Mary and Joseph brought Him to the temple in Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord. An old man named Simeon had waited his whole life to see the Savior God promised, and the Holy Spirit had told him he would see the Christ before he died. Simeon took baby Jesus in his arms and praised God – "My eyes have seen Your salvation," a light for all the nations. Then Anna, a very old woman who worshiped at the temple night and day, came and thanked God and told everyone who was waiting about the child. God keeps His promises, and waiting for Him is worth it.New TestamentPatience
With Building BricksThe Walls of Jericho: PatienceJoshua 6:1-20; Joshua 6:25; Psalm 27:14; Hebrews 11:30; Galatians 4:4Jericho's walls were tall and its gates were shut tight. But before Israel took one step, God told Joshua, "I have delivered Jericho into your hand." Then God gave a strange plan – march around the city once a day for six days, without saying a word, then seven times on the seventh day. Day after day, they waited and walked in silence. On the seventh day, the priests blew the horns, the people shouted and the walls fell down. Patience means waiting God's way, trusting that He will keep His promise in His time.Old TestamentPatience
Saul Couldn’t Wait: God Is Never Late1 Samuel 13:1-15; 1 Samuel 13:19-22King Saul's army faced a huge Philistine army, and his soldiers were hiding and running away. Samuel had told Saul to wait seven days at Gilgal until he came to offer a sacrifice. Saul waited, but when Samuel hadn't come by the seventh day, Saul got scared and offered the sacrifice himself. Just as he finished, Samuel arrived! Because Saul didn't obey God, his kingdom would not last. God is never late. Patience means trusting His timing and waiting for Him.Old TestamentPatience