Sunday, May 3rd 2009 | Success Comes in “Cans”

Lesson Topic – Success Comes in “Cans”

That’s Good to Know – Through Christ, I Can Do All Things.

Bible Lesson – The unlimited potential in every Christian. – Philippians 4:10-20

Spoken Word –Christ gives me the strength to face anything.- Philippians 4:13

Parent Corner –
Abraham Lincoln said, “Without the assistance of the Divine Being…I cannot succeed. With that assistance, I cannot fail.” That is the message of our lesson. With the Holy Spirit working through us, we can do anything that God instructs us to do and endure anything that comes our way. In short, we can do all things through Christ. There are no trials or pitfalls that can keep us from following Jesus for the rest of our lives.

Today’s Scripture Memory Verse says, “Christ gives me the strength to face anything” (Phil. 4:13). Your kids need to know that this strength comes through a daily relationship with Him- through reading their Bibles, praying, spending time with Christian friends, attending church and obeying their parents. As they develop that relationship, they will learn the depth of God’s love, the voice of the Holy Spirit and the truth of Jesus’ sacrifice. They will know that Jesus’ relationship cannot be broken by any trial that comes their way.

As this truth becomes more real to them, they can rest, knowing that their futures are secure. They’ll have peace in their lives – the kind of peace that passes all understanding (see Philippians 4:7) – which will overflow into every area of their lives. Their attitudes, demeanors and relationships will reflect the love of Christ. It is that peace that will guard their hearts and minds.

As you share this truth with them, take the opportunity to encourage them. Some may be facing tough circumstances- a parents divorce, death of a loved ones or social troubles. This is a time to teach them how to stand strong in the midst of those situations. Teach them that even in tough times, they are able to rely on Jesus for answers and have the peace that comes from knowing that He loves them and is working on their behalf.

Sunday, April 26th 2009 | Beyond Imagination

Lesson Topic – Beyond Imagination

That’s Good to Know – Heaven is our future home.

Bible Lesson – The Reality of Heaven – Revelation 21:1-8

Spoken Word –There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I am going to prepare a place for each of you. – John 14:2

Parent Corner –
Heaven is our home-there’s no disputing that. Jesus said He has gone ahead to prepare a special place for each of us. (See John 14:2.) This world is just a temporary living space, where we can serve Him with all our might and get ready for the best that’s yet to come!

This week, you have a great opportunity to make heaven very real to your kids. Many of them know it’s a place “out there,” but it’s not any more real to them than outer space. This week, you can share what heaven looks like and what it feels like. From discussing streets of gold to gates of pearl, you’ll find that many of your kids will be instantly riveted. Then take your lesson a step further and share about how there will be no more death, suffering, crying or pain. (See Revelation 21:4.) Let your kids know that not only will they see loved ones who have passed away, but they will also experience life like never before, vibrant and constant for eternity.

One of kids’ greatest fears is the fear of death, both for themselves and for loved ones. Be sensitive to their concerns and assure them that death has no hold over them, because Jesus won the battle over sin and death when He died on the cross and rose again. Remind them that God plans for them to live a long and happy life here on earth, but that He has prepared an even better home in heaven where they will live forever with God. In heaven, there will be no fear; all the things that make us hurt or sad will be gone, and we’ll get to see Jesus face to face!

There is no better way to address the passing from this life to the next with children than to teach them how wonderful heaven will be and how glad Jesus will be when they are with Him in the place He has prepared them. Heaven is a perfect home, where we will feel very much “at home” and will be united with loved ones who have made it there before us. Today’s lesson is filled with comfort and excitement. Get ready to tell the end of the story as you let your kids know that heaven is our future home.

Sunday, April 12th 2009 | He’s Got You Covered

Lesson Topic – He’s Got You Covered

That’s Good to Know – Jesus Died to Take Away Our Sin.

Bible Lesson – Saved by the Blood.- Exodus 12:1-13

Spoken Word – God loved the people of this world so much that He gave His only Son.- John 3:16

Parents Corner-
Our relationship with God is deadly serious. Hebrews 9:22 says, “No sins can be forgiven unless blood is offered.”

Go back to the Garden of Eden. After Adam and Eve sinned and realized their nakedness before God, the blood of animals was shed in order for God to clothe them.

When Noah completed the ark, God told him, “Take seven pairs of every kind of animal that can be used for sacrifice and one pair of all others” (Genesis 7:2). When Noah and his family finally left the ark, “Noah built an altar where he could offer sacrifices to the Lord…The smell of burning offering pleased God” (8:20-21).

Most kids today don’t have a real understanding of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. They hear constantly that Jesus forgives our sins, but the cross was Jesus actually taking the penalty of our sins. We can now come to Him and know that He freely forgives us of all of our sins. In our lesson today, your kids will see that because of the blood that the Israelites wiped over their doorposts, the judgment of God passed by their family. But now, because of Jesus, the penalty or judgment of our sin has been taken away. Kids need to understand that if we sin, we will still get hurt, but God will never reject us because of our sin.

Jesus Christ was the final and most perfect sacrificial lamb, signifying God’s forgiveness for the whole world. Instead of sacrificing pigeons or lambs, we must believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins. That act of trusting faith brings us into a father/child relationship with God.

As you minister to your kids, don’t make salvation harder than it is. Receiving salvation is an easy step that your kids can take. Emphasize that Jesus died to take away our sin and pray with them to receive Christ if they have not already.

Sunday, April 5th 2009: And God Said…

Lesson Topic – And God Said…

That’s Good to Know – God’s Word Has Power

Bible Lesson – Genesis 1:1-25-God’s creation tools.

Spoken Word – With this Word, God created all things. Nothing was made without the Word.- John 1:3

Parent Corner – Take a look around. Everything you see was created by someone. If you step outside and look around, everything in the natural world-the sun, moon, animals, grass- was created by God. Yet you’ve never seen God, the real source of all things and the One being who was not created. You’ve only seen His handiwork.

But don’t try to find a designer’s label on an oak tree, or a manufacturer’s tag on a star. God doesn’t identify His work like that. He wants us to know that all things came from Him and were created for Him. He is the Master Creator, and we become deeply aware of this by being in relationship with Him.

In the Bible, we read that the Living Word, Jesus Christ, created all things by His spoken word. When God said, “I command light to shine,” the universe lit up. When He said, “I command the earth to produce all kinds of plants, including fruit trees and grain,” grass an trees appeared. When God said, “I command the ocean to be full of living creatures an I command birds to fly above the earth,” both sea and sky teemed with life. (See Genesis 1.) Anything that God can imagine, He can create with His word. He doesn’t need a team of architects and builders to bring it about. He dreams it, He speaks it, and it happens. God’s Word has power.

In today’s free-for-all world, one of the most important messages you can communicate to your children is that there is an ultimate source of authority, and His name is Jesus. Before God’s Son became a man, He existed eternally with God as His Word. After today’s lesson, help your kids to understand that God’s World has power to create and that Jesus is the living Word, and He has given Himself to us. God created and sustains all things by His very word.