Each week’s content will correspond with the kid’s lesson on Sunday morning, whether you are joining us online or in person!
Jesus Returned to Heaven (May 8th)
Open your Bible to Matthew 28; Acts 1. Use the Bible storytelling tips on the Bible story page to help you tell the story or show the Bible story video “Jesus Returned to Heaven.”
Jesus’ story didn’t end when He returned to heaven because He sent the Holy Spirit to live within His disciples. Jesus gave His disciples the Great Commission. The story of God’s loving plan for the world is still going on, even today! Now, when I think about Jesus’ ascension, I don’t feel sad. Instead, I feel excited and overjoyed to know that I get to be a part of the story! God’s love for the world is incredible. He did not send Jesus to save only people from Israel, but from every nation, tribe, and people group in the entire world.
Preschool Questions
- Where did Jesus tell the disciples to wait? (Jerusalem, Acts 1:4)
- What did Jesus say the disciples would receive? (Power from the Holy Spirit, Acts 1:8)
- How will Jesus return? (In the same way He went to heaven, Acts 1:11)
Grade School Questions
- How can we make disciples? Guide the kids to think through the parts of the Great Commission. Part of the command helps explain how to make disciples: teach them to obey Jesus and baptize them. Help the kids remember that baptism and obedience do not save us, but they are important signs that help show a person has put her faith in Jesus.
- How is having the Holy Spirit with us more beneficial than having Jesus still on earth? Point out that everything God does is always best. We know that the Holy Spirit with us is better because that’s how God planned things to be. In addition, it is better for the Holy Spirit to indwell all believers everywhere, than for Jesus to be on earth in one place at a time.
- How do you feel knowing that Jesus will come back? Help the kids focus on the hope we have for the future. The world is still broken by sin, but as we obey Jesus and make disciples, there will be more and more people trying to do God’s will and bring justice and peace to the world. Someday, Jesus will come and bring perfect, everlasting peace and justice.
Activity: Follow-the-leader
Supplies Needed: None
Do: Select a kid to be the leader. Instruct the kids to line up behind the leader. The kids must follow the leader around he room mimicking any movements and behaviors the leader choses to do. Play multiple rounds, selecting a new kid to be the leader in each round.
Say: Great job following the leader! Today we will learn about the mission Jesus gave His followers. If we say Jesus is our King, that means we follow His lead!
The Holy Spirit Came (May 15)
Open your Bibles to Acts 2. The people of Jerusalem were confused by the disciples’ speaking in many different languages. Peter used these verses from the Book of Joel to remind the people that God had promised, long ago, to send the Holy Spirit. On the day of Pentecost, God kept His promise to send the Holy Spirit. Read Acts 2:16-21 together.
Preschool Questions
- What sound did Jesus’ disciples hear fill the house where they were meeting? (a strong, rushing wind)
- How did the Holy Spirit help them talk to everyone? (They were able to speak in different languages.)
- What did Peter tell the crowd? (God planned for Jesus to die and raised Him from the dead.)
Grade School Questions
- How does the Holy Spirit help us carry out the Great Commission? (Help your kids recognize that without the Holy Spirit, we could never carry out the Great Commission. God has given us the job of sharing the good news with everyone, but only the Holy Spirit can cause people to realize their sin and their need for the Savior.)
- How should believers live, knowing they have the Holy Spirit? (Help your kids recognize that believers can live boldly for the Lord because they have the power of the Holy Spirit within them. Believers have everything they need to serve the Lord and do His will for their lives.)
Activity: Never the Same
Supplies needed: Bottle of glue, baking soda, contact lens solution, water, disposable gloves, spoons, sandwich bags
Do: Combine the following ingredients in a sandwich bag and stir to combine (1 bottle of glue, ½ teaspoon baking soda, 1 ½ tablespoons contact solution, 2 tables water).
Say: God can use us in powerful ways when we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. At Pentecost, God kept His promise to send the Holy Spirit. Like these ingredients cannot make slime on their own, we can do nothing for God without the power of the Holy Spirit.
Peter Healed a Man (May 22)
Open your Bibles to Acts 3. Peter told the man that he had no money to give, but Peter said he would give the man what he did have in the power of the Holy Spirit. Read aloud Acts 3:6
Preschool Questions
- Why did the man who could not walk sit at the gate by the temple every day? (to ask people for money)
- What did the man do after he was healed? (He went into the temple, walking, leaping, and praising God.)
- How does the Holy Spirit help Christians? (The Holy Spirit comforts us, shows us our sin, and guides us as we live for God’s glory.)
Grade School Questions
- How did Peter and John’s confidence in the power of the Holy Spirit help affect the way Peter and John shared the good news? (Help your kids recognize that Peter and John were able to speak boldly because they knew they had the power of the Holy Spirit. All believers can have the confidence to share the truth of the gospel with boldness.)
- Why should I trust God with my wants and needs? (Help your kids recognize that God’s plans are so much better than anything we could want or plan for ourselves.)
Activity: Problem Solvers
Supplies needed: random household objects
Do: Collect various household objects such as craft sticks, building blocks, and tape. Include silly objects such as a plunger or a party hat. Place these on the “supply table.” Work together as a family to create something that could solve a problem. (Example: You need to get to school but can’t find your shoes.) Encourage your kids to make a plan of what they want to create. Then they can go to the supply table to gather objects to create their “problem solver.”
Say: You invented some very interesting problem solvers! This week’s Bible story was about a man who had a very big problem and how God worked in His life through Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples.
Aranias and Sapphire (June 12)
Something amazing was happening among believers in the early church. Not only was the Holy Spirit changing people’s hearts to believe in Jesus, He was empowering them to live differently. We see the evidence of God’s grace among the believers in Acts 4:32-35. The believers shared everything they had. If one person had a need, someone else gladly gave what he had to meet that need. As a result, “there was not a needy person among them”
Joseph (also known as Barnabas) was one of the disciples living in this way. He sold a field and gave the money to the apostles. But trouble arose when Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, sold some land. Perhaps they wanted to appear as generous as Barnabas without feeling the full cost of such generosity. They secretly kept back some of the money, and Ananias brought the rest to Peter.
When Peter confronted Ananias, he didn’t tell him he was wrong to only bring part of the money. In fact, Peter said Ananias could have been honest about how the money was divided. Ananias and Sapphira’s sin was in pretending to be generous when they were actually greedy. They had tried to deceive the apostles, but Peter pointed out that they were guilty of trying to deceive God. Ananias dropped dead, and a few hours later his wife did too.
As you teach this story to your kids, avoid using Ananias and Sapphira as a warning to be generous or die. As sinners, we struggle with the temptation of greed. Point kids to Jesus, who forgives our greed and changes us through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit changes our hearts to want to share with those in need because Jesus generously gave all He had so we can share in His riches and have forgiveness and eternal life.
Preschool Questions
- Who sold his land and gave all the money to the church? (Joseph, also called Barnabas; Acts 4:36-37)
- When Ananias and Sapphira sold their land, did they give all the money? (No, Acts 5:1-2)
- Why did Ananias and Sapphira die? (They lied to God. Acts 5:3-4, 8-9)
Grade School Questions
- Why does God want us to give money to the church? (Help kids see that God doesn’t need our money. Remind them that all of creation belongs to Him. He created us and needs nothing from us. Help them see that God’s desire for us is to experience the joy that comes from generous giving. He allows us to be a part of His wonderful mission to save sinners, and He wants us to be cheerful in the way we participate, including by giving generously.)
- What are some ways we can give generously? (Guide kids to think beyond just giving money. Help them think about ways they can give time or talent by serving the church. Explain that generosity is not about the amount you give but the attitude of your heart when you give.)
- Do you think we should give even if we don’t want to? (Encourage kids to answer this question honestly. Remind kids that sometimes the act of giving can help change our hearts to want to give. Help them see that refusal to give usually reveals sin in their hearts, even though not giving isn’t itself sinful.)
Activity: Paper Bag Masks
Supplies Needed: Paper bags, markers
Do: Provide paper bags and various art supplies for your kids to each design their own mask. Suggest they design masks that show a person, animal, or made-up creature. Encourage them to be creative. After several minutes, call for them to put on their masks and show them to the whole family.
Say: Have you ever wanted others to see you differently? Masks can disguise the way we really look. In the Bible story we heard this week, two people wanted to look generous even though they were greedy.
Stephen’s Sermon (June 19)
Stephen was one of the seven men chosen to serve as leaders in the early church at Jerusalem. (Help kids read Acts 6:1-7.) God blessed Stephen and gave him power to do wonders and miracles like some of the apostles.
Some of the Jews accused Stephen of blasphemy and dragged him to the Sanhedrin, a group of Jewish leaders who acted as a legal counsel. Stephen addressed the group. He drew from the Jewish history, which the leaders of the Sanhedrin would have known well. But Stephen taught from the Old Testament things the Jewish leaders had likely never realized.
As Stephen preached, he showed how the Old Testament pointed to a coming Savior and how that Savior was Jesus. Stephen pointed out that the Jews’ ancestors had rejected God’s prophets. And they were just like their fathers; they rejected the Messiah, the Lord Jesus. Not only did they reject Jesus, but they also killed Him!
The Jewish leaders rushed at Stephen. As he faced his enemies, Stephen investigated heaven and saw God’s glory. Jesus was standing at God’s right hand. The Jews forced Stephen out of the city, and they stoned him.
Remind kids of Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:22: “You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Following Jesus will include difficulty and suffering. Jesus gives words of both warning and comfort: “Don’t be afraid” (Matt. 10:26).
Stephen was killed because he was a Christian. Jesus told His followers that they would be persecuted—hated, hurt, or even killed—for loving Him. (Mark 13:9-13; John 16:2) Jesus also said that those who suffer for Him would be blessed. (Matt. 5:11) Stephen was not afraid to die because he saw Jesus waiting for him in heaven. We can face suffering in this life because we know great joy is waiting for us in heaven.
Preschool Questions
- What was Stephen accused of? (Blasphemy- saying something untrue and dishonoring about God; Acts 6:11)
- What did Stephen preach about? (Stephen used Israel’s history to explain Jesus is the Messiah; Acts 7:51-52)
- What did the religious leaders do to Stephen as a result of his preaching about Jesus? (killed him, Acts 7:57-60)
Grade School Questions
- Have you ever faced persecution for your faith? (Guide kids to think about ways they may feel persecuted. Be sensitive to their experiences while taking care not to minimize the harsh persecution Christians face in other parts of the world.)
- How can we stand up boldly for Jesus in the face of persecution? (Discuss the strength nd power available to believers through the Holy Spirit. Remind kids that He can help us be bold in hard times. Encourage kids to trust God and have faith that He turns all things to good, even when we don’t see the good results.)
- What should we do if we are persecuted? (Talk through what Stephen did. Help the kids see that Stephen did not fight his enemies, but instead asked God to forgive them for killing him. Remind kids that Jesus promised troubles and persecution would come. Encourage kids to pray for boldness in hard times, not just for things to get easier.)
Right Hand Man
Supplies Needed: Paper, pencil, a ball
Do: Challenge your kids to complete a task—such as drawing a simple figure, writing their name, or tossing and catching a ball—using only their left hands. Then ask them to do the same challenge using their right hands. Compare the results of both.
Say: It’s tough to complete tasks with your non-dominant hand! The majority of people in the world are right-handed. As a result, it is often considered a great honor to be at someone’s right hand. Someone’s “right hand” man or woman is their most trusted helper or advisor.
The Good News (June 26)
Jesus’ followers in the early church wanted everyone to hear the good news about Jesus. God had kept His promise to send a Savior. He sent His own Son, Jesus, to earth to rescue sinners. Jesus lived the perfect life we cannot live and died the death we deserve to die. On the third day, God raised Jesus from the dead!
This good news—the gospel—changes everything. People who love Jesus tell others about Him.
That’s what Paul did. Paul wrote a letter to believers in Rome to tell them that Jesus was the Savior they had been waiting for. Paul wrote, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” Everyone sins and needs to be rescued. God saves people who believe the good news about Jesus. Because of their faith, God forgives their sins and gives them eternal life. Paul wrote that God showed His love for us by sending His Son to die for us. “We were sinners—enemies of God—but Jesus died and rose again to make us right with God. Jesus is God’s good gift to us. Let’s rejoice!”
Preschool Questions
- How is a person justified—given a right relationship with God? (by faith in Jesus’ sacrifice- Romans 5:1, 9)
- Through whom did sin enter the world? (Adam- Romans 5:12)
- Through whom does righteousness and justification come? (Jesus- Romans 5:18-19)
Grade School Questions
- Does it feel fair or unfair that Adam’s sin led to sin for all of us? (Guide kids to see that all of us have sin. We aren’t guilty simply because of Adam’s sin, but also because of our own sins. Help them see this truth through the lens of Christ’s sacrifice making righteousness available to all despite our sin.)
- Does it feel fair or unfair that Jesus’ righteousness leads to righteousness for all who have faith? (Help kids see that this, too, is a picture of God’s perfect justice. He showed us mercy when Christ became our perfect substitute. Help the kids wrestle with the difference between human ideas about justice and fairness in contrast to God’s perfect justice and mercy.)
- If God forgives all our sin when we have faith in Jesus, why is it necessary to live like Jesus? (Guide kids to remember that God’s plan for our lives is better for us than our own plans. Obeying God is good for us, because He knows what we need before we need it. Help them see obedience as a blessing, not a chore. Explain how sin may feel fun, but it leads to destruction, pain, and death.)
Activity: Read all about it
Supplies Needed: Large Sheets of paper, pencils, markers, rulers
Do: Invite your kids to design a newspaper front page based on the information in today’s story. Encourage them to write a paragraph or two summarizing what they learned or draw a large picture that represents what they learned.
Say: Paul wrote to the believers in Rome to explain the gospel to them. Paul wanted to be sure they knew the truth and were following Jesus. He wanted them to know that God sent Jesus into the world to rescue sinners. Paul wanted them to experience the transformation that is only possible by the Holy Spirit’s power and to be united together as a church body.
Doers of the Word (July 3)
The early church was made up mostly of Jewish believers who had grown up believing they needed to fully obey God to be accepted. Grace was a new concept for them, and many struggled with understanding how grace and obedience fit together. Some made the mistake of thinking that once they had acceptance in Jesus, obedience didn’t matter after all.
James wrote, “Be doers of the word. If you hear the word but don’t do it, you fool yourselves. Anyone who is a hearer but not a doer is like someone who looks at himself in a mirror, goes away and forgets right away what he looked like.” James gave an example: When we look into a mirror and see something is not right—our hair is out of place or food is stuck in our teeth—we don’t just walk away; we fix it. The gospel is like that mirror. It shows us what is true about ourselves, and when we see we are not living out our true identity, we should want to address it.
Help your kids understand that true faith in Jesus always leads to living differently. When we trust in Jesus, God changes our hearts so that we will want to live a life pleasing to Him. We aren’t accepted by God because of our obedience; we obey God out of gratitude because we are accepted by Him through Jesus.
Preschool Questions
- James says that a person who hears the Word of God but does not do what it says is like who? (A person who sees himself in a mirror and then immediately forgets what he looks like, James 1:23-24)
- What two groups of people did James specifically mention helping? (widows and orphans, James 1:27)
- What does James say a person can show their faith by? (the works they do to obey God, James 2:18)
Grade School Questions
- If you take care of people in need and show kindness to others, but do not trust Jesus, are you saved? (Remind kids that faith is necessary to salvation. We cannot earn salvation by good works.)
- Why is faith without works useless? (Guide kids to understand that a person who claims faith but shows no outward signs of loving and obeying God’s Word probably does not have true faith. Explain that saving faith is marked by the Holy Spirit’s presence in a person’s life. He transforms people to live more and more like Jesus; a person who isn’t being transformed likely doesn’t have the Holy Spirit in his life.)
- What are some ways we can do good works through faith? (Help kids brainstorm practical ways they can live on mission, such as sharing their lunch with a friend, showing kindness to someone they don’t normally get along with, and telling their friends about Jesus.)
Activity: Faith and works paper planes
Supplies Needed: Paper, Markers
Do: Have your kids to create paper airplanes, and write the word FAITH on one wing, and WORKS on the other. Then, let your kids to cut off one wing of the airplane, whichever wing they choose. Let them fly their planes.
Say: These airplanes sure flew a lot farther with both wings, didn’t they? Airplanes need both wings to fly. In the same way, Christians need both faith and works to please God. You can’t have an airplane without two wings, and you can’t have true faith without also obeying God and having good works. Good works cannot save us, but James said faith without works is useless.
Philip and the Ethiopian (July 10)
The believers in the early church faced intense persecution. After Stephen was killed, Jesus’ followers at the church in Jerusalem scattered; however, they did not stop talking about Jesus. They continued to share the good news. One man, Philip, took the gospel to Samaria. The crowds there listened and believed, and they had great joy.
In this week’s Bible story, Philip was instructed by an angel of the Lord to go to a certain road in the desert. Philip obeyed. The Spirit led Philip to a chariot, where an Ethiopian official was reading the Scriptures from the prophet Isaiah. The Ethiopian man did not understand what he was reading, so Philip explained it to him.
The man was reading from the prophet Isaiah: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter … In his humiliation justice was denied him … For his life is taken from the earth” (Acts 8:32-33). The official wondered if Isaiah was speaking about himself or another person. Philip told the official that Isaiah’s words weren’t about Isaiah; they were about the Messiah—Jesus! The official believed in Jesus and was baptized.
Guide your kids to consider the role of the Holy Spirit in this interaction between Philip and the Ethiopian official. Who was responsible for Philip’s going to the desert? Who helped Philip explain the Scriptures? Who changed the heart of the official so he would believe?
After his interaction with the Ethiopian official, Philip continued sharing the gospel in all the towns on his way to the town of Caesarea.
In our mission of making disciples, believers must be willing instruments to be used in the hands of the Lord. Philip didn’t go into the desert that day with a strategy for converting another man; the Holy Spirit led Philip, and he obeyed. As believers, we can be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and willing to follow His lead. He will go with us.
Preschool Questions
- What did Philip ask the man? (Do you understand what you are reading?)
- Who did Isaiah write about? (Jesus)
- What did the Ethiopian man think about the good news about Jesus? (He believed and went home happy.)
Grade School Questions
- Who told Philip to go to the chariot and talk to the official? Help kids recognize that the Holy Spirit spoke to Philip and Philip obeyed.
- How did Philip know what to say to the official? Lead kids to recall that Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would help us and teach us what to say.
- How can we have the Holy Spirit today? Help kids recognize that when we follow Jesus, God promises to send each of us the Holy Spirit to live within us. This promise is for everyone!
Activity: Funnel Challenge
Supplies Needed: Empty water bottle with narrow opening, bag of dried beans, piece of paper
Do: Give your kids an empty water bottle, a bag of dried beans and a plain sheet of paper. Without explaining how, instruct them to get all the beans in the water bottle as quickly as possible without spilling any on the floor. See how long it takes for them to figure out to roll the paper as a funnel and pour in the beans. If they are stuck after a few minutes, give hints on how to use the paper.
Say: The quickest way to accomplish this challenge was to use the paper creatively. Paper is usually written on, but it can have so many different uses. In a similar way, God can use us in creative ways that we might not expect. As we heard in our Bible story this week, one of Jesus’ followers was a willing instrument in God’s plan to spread the gospel.
Paul Met Jesus (July 17)
Saul was no stranger to religion. He grew up in a religious household. He was a devout Jew who was born in Tarsus (Phil. 3:5) and inherited his Roman citizenship from his father. So when people began talking about this man named Jesus and claiming that He was the promised Messiah, Saul was defensive.
Saul believed strongly in the Jewish faith of his ancestors. He violently persecuted God’s church and tried to destroy it. (Gal. 1:13-14) He dragged believers from their houses and put them in prison. He approved of the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Saul thought he was doing the right thing by defending Judaism, but God’s purposes could not be stopped. As Saul was on his way to arrest believers in Damascus, the Lord stopped him in his tracks.
Jesus revealed Himself to Saul, and Saul was never the same. He was struck blind and led into Damascus, where a believer named Ananias placed his hands on Saul. Suddenly, Saul could see again. Saul was convinced that Jesus is Lord. Saul later described the experience as being like dying and receiving a new life. (Gal. 2:20; 2 Cor. 5:17)
God had a purpose and a plan for Saul. He had set Saul apart before Saul was even born (Gal. 1:15). God said, “This man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites” (Acts 9:15). Jesus changed Saul’s life. As you teach your kids, clarify that conversion happens when a person recognizes his sin, repents, believes in Jesus, and confesses Jesus as Savior and Lord. Jesus changes a person’s heart, and as a result, his life is changed too.
Jesus appeared to Saul and changed him inside and out. Jesus called Saul, who was once an enemy of Christians, to spend the rest of his life telling people the gospel and leading them to trust Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Preschool Questions
- What did Jesus ask Paul? (“Why are you against me?”)
- What did God tell Ananias He had planned for Paul? (“I have chosen Paul to tell many people about me.”)
- Why were the people so amazed when Paul said that Jesus is the Son of God? (He had been an enemy of Jesus, but now he loved Jesus.)
Grade School Questions
- Why was Ananias nervous about going to Saul? Help kids recognize that Ananias knew what Saul had done in Jerusalem and why he had come to Damascus.
- What happened to Saul because Ananias obeyed God? Help kids recognize that Saul received his sight, but he also received Jesus as his Savior. Saul followed in baptism and learned from the Christians in Damascus.
- Why should we be like Ananias, willing to obey even if we’re scared or nervous? Help kids recognize that nothing is impossible with God, so we can trust Him when He tells us to do something.
Activity: Blinded
Supplies Needed: Random obstacles (chairs, cones, etc.)
Do: Set up obstacles in an open space. Arrange chairs or cones. You may tape paper to the floor as obstacles to avoid. One player should put on a blindfold. His family will guide him through the obstacle course using only verbal instructions. The family may not touch the blindfolded player. After kids move through the obstacles, pairs should switch roles and go again.
Say: Everyday tasks become so much harder when you can’t see, right? In this week’s story, we will learn about a man who was blinded by the Lord so that he could finally see the truth about Jesus.
New Life in Jesus (July 24)
Paul wrote his letter to the Colossians while he was imprisoned in Rome. At this point, Paul had not yet visited the church at Colossae. The church was established by Epaphras, who reported to Paul that the church was facing troubles with false teachers. Paul wanted to put an end to the false teaching and remind the believers of who Jesus really is. Key to this letter is Paul’s teaching about how the gospel affects how we live.
First, God changes us when we trust in Jesus. The Bible describes us apart from Jesus as “enemies of God” (Rom. 5:10) and “dead” in our sins (Eph. 2:1). Jesus rescued us from sin and death by dying on the cross and rising again. Jesus gives new life to people who trust in Him.
Second, following Jesus means living for Him. Jesus is our reason for living, and He gives us power to live in a way that honors Him. Jesus adopts us into His family and makes us new! We respond to the good news of the gospel by submitting to Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Finally, Jesus calls us to turn away from our sinful ways and live in a way that honors Him. Paul contrasts an earthly way of thinking with a godly way of thinking. The old, sinful way of living, “the old self,” is characterized by anger, wrath, hatred, lies, and filthy language. Paul wrote that living for Jesus means putting away the evil, selfish ways of the world and living like Jesus by loving God and loving others.
In Jesus, we have power to live in a new, godly way. This way “the new self” is marked by compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love. Paul says believers should “put on” these things. As we grow in this new way of living, God is making us more like His Son.
Preschool Questions
- What is the gospel? (The good news of Jesus)
- Who wrote a letter to the people in the church at Colossae? (Paul)
- What did Paul tell the people in his letter? (How people who love and follow Jesus are supposed to live)
Grade School Questions
- Why did Paul write this letter to the Colossians? Help kids recognize Paul wanted to encourage the church and make sure they had a complete understanding of Jesus.
- How did Paul want the people to live their lives? Help kids recognize that everything we do should be done in the name of Jesus.
- How does Jesus want us to live our lives today? Help kids recognize that Jesus wants us to live in Him through faith.
Activity: Encouraging Words
Supplies Needed: Paper and Markers
Say: Paul wrote letters to the early churches to teach them and to encourage them. He told them that Jesus gives new life to people who trust in Him. These days, most people tend to communicate electronically. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up with special messages that way.
Do: Distribute paper to kids and have them write encouraging letters to friends or family members.
Guarding the Truth (July 31)
In New Testament times, Corinth was an important city in ancient Greece. About eighteen years after Jesus’ death on the cross, Paul preached the gospel to the Corinthians and established the church there (See Acts 18). He stayed in Corinth for at least 18 months.
In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul wrote to help believers solve some problems within the church. In his second letter, written just a few weeks later, Paul wrote to encourage the church and to assure them that God loved them—even when they had troubles. Of all Paul’s letters in the New Testament, none reveal his heart as much as 2 Corinthians. In it, Paul showed his passion for Christ as he fiercely defended his ministry against false teachings.
Paul wrote of the dangers he faced as a disciple of Christ—stonings, beatings, imprisonment, hunger, and hardship. But he also wrote of the comfort and the strength to endure that Jesus gives to those who trust in Him. Nothing could keep Paul from sharing the good news of Jesus—a lesson for the believers at Corinth and for all believers everywhere. God gives us power to stand up for the gospel. Paul cared about the believers in Corinth, and he wanted them to be faithful to Jesus and remember the gospel. Paul may not have been an eloquent speaker like those who preached lies, but he refused to back down. Paul suffered and nearly died to share the gospel.
Second Corinthians teaches us that sharing Jesus with the world is not always easy. There will always be some who try to stop the good news from spreading. But our job as believers is to follow and obey Jesus no matter what. Like Paul, we guard the truth because God, the Father of the Lord Jesus, deserves to be praised.
Preschool Questions
- Who told the people in Corinth about Jesus? (Paul)
- After Paul left Corinth, who started telling the people things that were not true? (New teachers)
- Why were the new teachers sharing a message that was not true? (They did not love God and tried to keep the good news from spreading.)
Grade School Questions
- Paul said the church in Corinth was deceived just like someone else in the Bible. Whom did he reference? Help kids recognize the church was deceived like Eve was deceived by the serpent.
- How might we be deceived today in the same way as Eve? Help kids recognize when we believe a lie or disobey God, it’s the same as saying we don’t trust God to know what’s best for us and we want to go our own way.
- How can we know truth and overcome temptation? Help kids recognize that by reading the Bible we will know God’s truth and learn to fight the schemes of the enemy. God will prepare us and provide a way out.
Activity: How do you share the Gospel?
Supplies Needed: Bible, Gospel Plan Poster
Say: God gives us power to stand up for the gospel. To share the gospel with others, we have to know it ourselves. Some people think you have to know the whole Bible to tell someone about Jesus, but that’s not true. You just have to know the basics. Let’s look at this poster, which lays it out clearly for us to learn and then share with others.
Do: Encourage kids to look up the verses for each part of the gospel plan. Let kids find another family member and practice explaining the gospel plan to one another.
Do: Distribute paper to kids and have them write encouraging letters to friends or family members.
Peter and Cornelius (Aug 7)
The story begins in Caesarea (cess uh REE uh), the capital city in the Roman province of Judea. Cornelius, a Roman centurion, lived in Caesarea. Like many of the people in Caesarea, Cornelius was a Gentile; however, he did not worship the Roman gods. Cornelius worshiped the one true God, and one day, God spoke to Cornelius in a vision. In the vision, an angel told Cornelius to send for Peter.
Now Peter was in Joppa (JAHP uh), about 30 miles south of Caesarea. As Cornelius’ men approached the city, Peter had a vision too. He was on a rooftop when God showed him a sheet of animals and commanded him to eat. The problem was that some of the animals were considered “unclean” by Jewish food laws. Three times, God said to Peter, “What God has made clean, do not call impure.”
The gospel is good news for everyone. God showed Peter that just as there is no “clean” and “unclean” food, there are no “clean” and “unclean” people. God calls believers to tell everyone the good news about Jesus, no matter who they are or where they come from. Jesus is the Lord of all!
Preschool Questions
- What did God tell Cornelius in his vision? (To send for Peter; Acts 10:5)
- What did God show to Peter through a vision? (A sheet in which many animals, including unclean animals, were sitting; Acts 10:11-12)
- What did Peter’s vision mean? (That God wanted the gospel to be preached to Gentiles; Acts 10:28, 34-36)
Grade School Questions
- Why does God love all people? Guide kids to remember that all people are made in God’s image. Help them see that our value and dignity do not come from our actions, our appearance, or the talents we have. Our value is based on God’s love for us and the fact that He has created each of us.
- Why does God want us to love all people? Guide kids to see that our love reflects His love. If we behave toward others as if we hate them or do not care about them, we communicate untrue things about God. Help them see that the Bible teaches us that we cannot love God without also loving people. Our love for people is evidence of our love for God.
- How can we show with our actions that we love God and love people? Guide kids to think practically about ways they can care for others. Suggest ways they can show kindness to their classmates and help them see that seeking out ways to show love to people who are different from them is a great way to show that God does not show favoritism.
Activity: Where is it from?
Do • Display various stuffed animal toys and ask the kids to group them based on various traits, such as where the animal lives, what color it is, whether the animal is a mammal, or what the animal eats (plants, meat, or both).
Say • People like to group things to help us understand them better. We even do that with ourselves sometimes, grouping people based on what language we speak, where we live, or other factors. Sadly, we often sin by thinking certain groups of people are better or worse than others.
Barnabas in Antioch (Aug 14)
As the message about Jesus went out, churches were started. One of these churches was in Antioch, which was the capital of Syria. When the church at Antioch began, it was made up only of Jewish Christians. But, as Acts 11:20 reveals, some Christians from Cyprus and Cyrene went to Antioch and began sharing the gospel with Greeks (Gentiles). Many Gentiles believed in Jesus.
When the church in Jerusalem heard about this, what was their response? They sent Barnabas to Antioch to encourage the believers there! Then even more people believed in Jesus. The Bible tells us that Antioch was the place where believers were first called “Christians.”
Preschool Questions
- How did the Jewish believers react after Peter explained what happened with Cornelius? (They glorified God and understood that Gentiles could be saved by faith too, Acts 11:18)
- Who did the scattered believers share the gospel with? (Only the Jews, Acts 11:19)
- In what city were believers first called Christians? (Antioch of Syria, Acts 11:26)
Grade School Questions
- Who can we share the gospel with? Direct kids to see that God’s plan all along has been for people of all nations and tribes to come to faith. As a result, we can be sure that God wants us to share the gospel with everyone we meet.
- How do you feel when you think about sharing the gospel with someone? Help kids think through the common emotions they might experience. Remind them that it is normal to feel nervous, afraid, or uncertain. Help them understand that the Bible teaches us the Holy Spirit will empower us and help to give us the words we need to share the gospel. Remind them that even a negative reaction from the person listening doesn’t mean we should stop sharing the gospel.
- How can you encourage other believers? Guide kids to think practically. Remind them that telling someone you care or thanking them for the ways they help you love Jesus are great ways to encourage others. Sometimes, even just listening to others’ problems is all it takes.
Activity: Be an encourager
Say • What are some ways you can encourage your friends in their faith? Can you encourage someone to come to church? To read the Bible? To pray more? Remind kids that they encourage others, like Barnabas did and like missionaries do today. Ask the kids to discuss different ways they could encourage one another. Point out that we can remind our brothers and sisters to live out their faith daily by reading the Bible, praying, and telling others about Jesus.
Do • Write some encouraging notes to friends or family and let them know that you are praying for them! They would love to get a note from you!
Jesus is Better (Aug 21)
Jesus is better than angels. He is the Son of God. He is better than Moses and the Mosaic covenant. Jesus completely fulfilled the covenant of the Old Testament; that made Jesus’ new covenant far better. Jesus is better than the tabernacle and the priests.
Because of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, the people no longer needed priests to speak to God for them or to offer sacrifices to take away their sins. These Old Testament figures, laws, and traditions pointed forward to someone better: Jesus.
Emphasize to kids that Jesus is better than anyone and anything. He is the better Prophet, the better Priest, and the better King. Everyone who trusts in Jesus has salvation from sin through His perfect life, death, and resurrection. As the church, Jesus calls us to share the gospel with the world. Jesus is the superior solution to the problem of sin. He is all that is needed for salvation.
Preschool Questions
- How did God speak to people long ago? (Through prophets, Heb. 1:1)
- Who is the perfect Prophet through whom God has spoken? (Jesus, Heb. 1:2)
- How is Jesus a better high priest? (He lived as a human, but never sinned; Heb. 5:1-10)
Grade School Questions
- Why is the new covenant better? Guide your kids to see that under the new covenant, we are declared righteous by God. Remind them that Jesus’ sacrifice was perfect, and we don’t need to keep offering more and more sacrifices. The old covenant was sufficient to show people their need for a Savior, but it is the new covenant that provides salvation from sin.
- What are things you sometimes value too highly? Encourage your kids to answer honestly and think about the people, things, or events that they may make idols in their lives. Remind them that Jesus is better and help them think through ways to adjust their lives to make Him their priority.
- How can we hear from God? Guide kids to understand that God’s Word, Scripture, has been preserved for us. We can read the Bible to see Jesus’ teachings from when He was on earth, as well as the teachings He gave through His apostles after returning to heaven. Help them remember that the Holy Spirit helps believers understand God’s Word.
Activity: The greatest treasure
Supplies needed: construction paper, fake money, gems, and craft supplies.
Provide kids with construction paper, plastic coins, adhesive gems, and other craft supplies such as glitter glue and stickers. Encourage kids to draw a treasure chest on their papers and decorate it with the coins, jewels, and other craft supplies. Kids can write Jesus is the greatest treasure on their sheets.
Say • Jesus, our great High Priest, brought a better covenant. No matter what riches or popularity the world might have for us, Jesus will always be more valuable. He gives us hope for the future and lasting joy and peace. We can be a part of His plan for the world when we share the gospel and encourage others to live for Him.
The Hall of Faith (Aug 28)
It is common to think of faith as something that is just inside us—trust and confidence in God. While that is surely part of it, faith doesn’t stop there. Faith starts inside of us and always leads to action.
The writer of the Book of Hebrews wanted to explain the fullness of faith to the early Jewish Christians. One of the best ways he could do this was to walk through examples of how men and women in the Old Testament had proven to be faithful. The result is Hebrews 11, often known as the Hall of Faith. The people listed in Hebrews 11 trusted God, and so did many others. Having faith was not easy. Many suffered, and they died before God’s greatest promise—the arrival of Jesus—came true, but they believed that God had a wonderful plan. God was pleased with them because they trusted Him.
Preschool Questions
- What is faith? (Being sure that what we hope for will happen, Heb. 11:1)
- What trait tied all the Old Testament heroes together? (Their faith, Heb. 11)
- Are faithful people rewarded with happy, easy lives? (No, having faith isn’t always easy; Heb. 11:36-37)
Grade School Questions
- What is the reward God gives for faith? Guide your kids to see that God’s rewards are bigger than material possessions, fame, glory, or power. Instead, God promises eternal life with Him in the perfect world Jesus will bring when He returns.
- Why is faith important? Help kids understand that faith is how God provides us salvation, grows us to be more like Jesus, and works His plans through us.
- Who are people in your life who have great faith? Guide your kids to think about the men and women they know who have demonstrated great faith. Direct them to consider parents, the pastors of your church, and the ministry leaders and volunteers they interact with each week.
Say • God works mightily through people who have faith in Him. God uses people even though He doesn’t need us. When we have faith, God gives us power through the Holy Spirit so that we can be a part of His mission to spread the gospel to all nations. What is the gospel? The gospel is the good news that God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to rescue sinners.
Activity: Missions statements
Do • Write this statement on a separate piece of construction paper: We are Forerunners of the Faith, united, to help people find and follow Jesus.
Say • This statement is the mission and vision statement for Rush Creek. Let’s talk about what this statement means and how we can do these things.
Do • Distribute sticky notes and ask kids to write some of their ideas on the notes and stick them next to the statement. Remind them that God works mightily through people who have faith in Him. They too can be in the Hall of Faith—used by God to live out their faith, serve others, and obey what Jesus commanded the church to do.