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Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. ~ Proverbs 22:6 KJV

  • Sunday School Lessons

    Find Sunday School Lessons - Teach kids of all ages with these easy to follow bible stories and lessons.

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    Find Sunday School Coloring Pages - Print these FREE coloring pages to use with your lessons or as time fillers.

  • Sunday School Games

    Find Sunday School Games - Teach kids about the bible and help them learn their bible verses with these easy to follow bible games.

    Showing posts with label Sunday School Lessons. Show all posts
    Showing posts with label Sunday School Lessons. Show all posts

    Tuesday, November 5, 2013

    The bible story about the rich young ruler makes for a great Sunday school lesson. It can be told quickly, if needed, or it can be made into a lesson complete with discussions where the whole class can get involved.

    When Jesus is talking to the rich young ruler, he ask him about the 10 Commandments. This is a great opportunity to touch on all ten which will also lead into a different branch of the story.

    You can find this bible story in Matthew 19:16-30, Mark 10:17-31, and Luke 18:18-30. We used the King James Bible and the King James Bible Commentary for this lesson.

    When teaching this Sunday school lesson, a great verse to go over along with the 10 Commandments is...

    Luke 1:37 KJV
    For with God nothing shall be impossible.
     
     
    In Matthew 19:26 (KJV), Jesus is talking to his disciples about the rich young ruler and how difficult it is for the rich to get into heaven (more on that below). Jesus tells his disciples, that with men things are impossible, but with God all things are possible.
     
    Rich Young Ruler
    Sunday School Lessons
    Photo Courtesy of Theodore Scott, Wikimedia Commons
     
     
     

    Rich Young Ruler Sunday School Lesson

    One day, a young man came to Jesus and said, "What good thing must I do to have eternal life?"
     
    You see, Jesus knows everything and he knew what was in the rich young ruler's heart. So, Jesus said to the young man, "Keep the commandments."
     
    Jesus was talking about the 10 Commandments.
     
    The rich young ruler asked, "Which commandment must I keep?"
     
    Jesus said, "Thou shalt do no murder. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness. Honor thy father and thy mother, and Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
     
    The young man replied, "I have done all of these things since I was a young boy."
     
    Then, Jesus said, "If you have kept all the 10 Commandments and are perfect, take everything that you have and give it to the poor. Then, come and follow me. You will have treasure in heaven."
     
    When the rich young ruler heard what Jesus told him to do, he got up and walked away very sad. How could he give up all that he had for he was very rich?
     
    Instead of choosing to follow Jesus, the young man decided he would rather be rich here on earth than in heaven.
     
    Ask the kids what they love more than anything. Wait for answers.
     
    Some may answer their toys, their games, their pets or even their parents. Then, explain that we are to love God even more than those things we love the most.
     
    We are to put God above all else. Of course, God doesn't expect us to give everything we have away, but he does expect us to put him first. When it is time for church, we shouldn't complain that our favorite TV show is on or that we'd rather play outside.
     
    Instead, we are to be excited about going to church or Sunday school to hear about God and what we can do to tell others about him. We should want to hear bible stories and tell others so they may want to ask Jesus into their hearts too.
     
    http://sunday-schoollessons.blogspot.com/2013/11/rich-young-ruler-sunday-school-activity.html
    Get this FREE printable
    Sunday School Word Scramble
    for this Sunday School Lesson!

    Jesus Talks to His Disciples

     
    Even in bible times, Jesus taught his disciples just like we are learning now. When the rich young ruler walked away, Jesus used what happened as an opportunity to teach his disciples something important.
     
    What did he teach them? Let  your Sunday school kids try to answer.
     
    He taught them that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven.
     
    To help show the kids how small the eye of a needle is, you should have one with you for them to see.
     
    The disciples were amazed at what Jesus had said and asked, "Who then can be saved?"
     
    You see, Jesus was saying that most, but not all, rich people think more about the money they have right now than they do about life after they die. Many rich people believe that if they have enough money, they can buy all that they want, but sadly, they can not buy their way into heaven.
     
    To answer the disciples, Jesus said, "With men this is impossible (getting into heaven); but with God all things are possible."
     
    What did he mean?
     
    Men can't do anything on their own, especially get into heaven. Thankfully, with God all things are possible. We must put our trust in God if we expect to get anywhere in this life or the life hereafter.
     

    Extra for Sunday School Teachers

     
    This would be a good time to have the children bow their heads and say a prayer. You may even want to ask if anyone would like to ask Jesus to come into their hearts.
     
     

    Saturday, October 26, 2013

    Learning about the fruit of the spirit at a young age will help your Sunday school children grow to live a more Godly life. Without the basic knowledge of how God expects us to live, children may never grow to let God shine through and may even come short of the glory of God.

    Fruit of the Spirit
    Photo Courtesy of Yosarian, Wikimedia


    While learning to get by in this world is a necessity, our eternal life is the most important thing children need to know about and how to share that knowledge with others.

    That being said, let's begin our Sunday school lesson about the fruit of the spirit.

    What Are the Fruits of the Spirit?


    The fruit of the spirit can be found in Galatians 5:22-23. I've added the verse below for you.
     
    22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
    23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
     
     
    There are 9 elements to the fruit of the spirit as you can see in the verses above. For younger children, you may have to work on two at a time while older children can do three, four or even five one week and finish up the others in the weeks to come.
     
    Trying to do all 9 in one lesson may result in the kids forgetting them or even becoming confused.
     
    One of the best ways to learn all of the fruits is by learning them just as they are in the bible. Start with the first part of the verse - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness.
     
    Again, if you have smaller children, just work on two - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy.
     
    Many kids learn visually, so having these printed on a large piece of poster board will be your best option. Of course, if you have a black board or a dry erase board, those will work great too.
     
    Print this on the board...
     
    But the
    fruit of the Spirit
    is
    love
    joy
    peace
    longsuffering
    gentleness
     
    
    
    Don't add the other fruits until you are ready. Having too much on the poster board will only cause confusion.
     
    When the kids have learned the first part, then and only then should you move on to the last part of the verse...
     
    goodness
    faith
    meekness
    temperance
    against such there is no law.
     
     
    So, what do these fruits mean?
     

    Meaning of the Fruit of the Spirit

     
    
    Get the FREE Fruit of the Spirit
    Sunday school Song
    and activity!
    First, it is important to know that God calls them the fruit of the spirit not 'fruits'. The best way to
    describe this is to say that it is ONE fruit with nine elements. The first three elements are in relation to God. The second three are in relation to man. The last three are in relation to one's (inner) self.
     
    If you'd like to study these using the elements above, only do three each time you meet that way you can talk about the relation to God, man, and one's self as well.
     
    We'll start with the first one and go through all nine. I've listed them below in case you need them.
     
    • love - to be self-sacrificing and show a Christlike love.
    • joy - to have an inner rejoicing in the Lord.
    • peace - to have the peace (salvation) that only Christ can give and no one can take it away.
    • longsuffering - showing patience in times of trouble or suffering especially when those troubles are brought on by other people such as being provoked.
    • gentleness - to be kind, gracious, tender, and mild
    • goodness - always ready to do good and to be moral
    • faith - being true to his promise and tasks he performs
    • meekness - having controlled strength and listening to hear God
    • temperance - self-control
    And, last but not least, the end of the verse. What does 'against such there is no law' mean?
     
    This means that there is no law that says you can not possess these virtues. There are so many laws in this world telling us what we can and can't do, it is good to know that no man can take these things away from us.
    
    
    

    Sunday, October 20, 2013

    The bible story of Zacchaeus can help teach kids that no matter what they've done in their lives or will do, Jesus loves them and will forgive them. Kids should always be taught God is a forgiving God and if they truly are sorry for what they've done, God will forgive them. They will also understand the importance of loving others and sharing God's word.

    They can always start new and fresh without having to worry if God still loves them - He does.

    Zacchaeus Tree - Jericho
    Photo Courtesy of Tango7174, Wikikmedia

    Zacchaeus

    One day, Jesus was going to the city of Jericho. A crowd of people were gathered around to see Jesus as he walked by. Behind the crowd, a man was trying to see Jesus but couldn't.

    Ask the kids, "Why do you think he couldn't see?"

    Wait for answers.

    The bible tells us he was little of stature. This meant that he wasn't very tall at all. His name was Zacchaeus.

    Zacchaeus was a tax collector. A tax collector's job was to collect money the people owed the government, but Zacchaeus always took more money than he was suppose to take.

    Guess what he did with the extra money.

    He put it in his own pocket! He became very rich, but he was lonely. You see, all the people knew Zacchaeus took more money than he was suppose to, so no one liked him.

    He may have been rich, but he had no friends.

    Even if Zacchaeus would have tried to make his way to the front of the crowd to see Jesus, no one would have let him through because they didn't like him.

    So, Zacchaeus came up with a plan.


    The Sycamore Tree


    Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus so badly he decided to run ahead of the crowd to find a spot so he could see. As he ran up the road, he saw a sycamore tree.

    Ask, "What do you think he did when he came to the sycamore tree?"

    Wait for answers.

    He climbed right up into the tree!

    Now, he would be able to see Jesus. He may have been shorter than the others in the crowd, but he would be able to see Jesus better than most.

    While he sat in the tree, Jesus came walking by. But, instead of walking past Zacchaeus sitting in the tree, he walked right up to him.

    Jesus looked right up in the tree and said, "Zacchaeus, come down because I am going to your house." (Luke 19:5 KJV)

    How did Jesus know his name? Did you know Jesus knows everyone's name?

    Point to the kids and say, "Jesus knows _________ name and he knows _________ name." Fill in the blanks with the kids in your class.

    Zacchaeus quickly came down out of the tree. The bible tells us that when the people in the crowd saw Jesus talking to Zacchaeus and then going to his house, they began to talk amongst themselves.

    They couldn't understand why Jesus would want to go to Zacchaeus's house. He was a cheat and a liar. He took their money and was rich because he stole from them. How could Jesus want to spend time with him?

    What We Learn


    Think about this for a minute - why would Jesus want to spend time with a cheater and a liar? Why not spend time with someone who already believes in him and loves him?

    Jesus knew that Zacchaeus needed him. He knew that Zacchaeus needed to know about God. No one in town liked Zacchaeus. How would he ever know how much God loved him and how to get to heaven if no one told him?

    You see, because Jesus took the time to talk to Zacchaeus, the bible tells us that salvation came to his house (Luke 19:9 KJV).

    Talk to the kids about the following:

    If you have Jesus in your heart, one day when you get to heaven, you'll see Zacchaeus there.

    Maybe you have kids in your class at school that no one likes or you have people in your family that you'd rather not be around. Instead of not talking to them, try telling them about Jesus or being a friend.

    Not everyone will want to hear about Jesus, but some will. How will you ever know if you don't try?

    You can pray for that person and ask God to help them too. Remember, God can do anything and you can ask him for anything.

    After Zacchaeus was saved, he knew he had done all the people wrong. He decided to give half of what he owned to the poor and anyone who he took money from, he game them 4 times as much back.

    Bible Verse for this Lesson


    Romans 13:8 KJV
    ...for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.


    Even though Zacchaeus didn't always do what was right, Jesus loved him. Do you think that after Zacchaeus was saved, he never did anything wrong again?

    No.

    We all make mistakes, but God loves us no matter what.

    When we make a mistake, we need only to ask God to forgive us just as Zacchaeus did.

    Wednesday, October 9, 2013

    While many of us only dream of falling in love at first sight and having someone love us so much it seemed like a fairy tale, Jacob experienced it. This bible story is a true real life love story about a man falling in love with a woman only to find out he had been tricked into marrying the wrong girl and guess who tricked him - her very own father!
    Jacob
    Photo: the Providence Lithograph Company

    Jacob Sunday School Lesson

    After Jacob left his home, he traveled toward Haran where some of his family lived. He had been traveling for a very long time. Finally, he was close to his destination and as he walked near the city, he came upon a well.

    At the well were many shepherds. they were waiting to water their flock.

    Ask the kids, "Do you know what shepherds are? What is there job?"

    Wait for answers.

    Some kids may not know what a well is either so you may want to be prepared to answer questions about it.

    A well is a hole in the ground where shepherds would water their flocks. Often, a big rock or stone was put over the opening of the well and was only removed when it was time to give the animals their drink.

    Jacob asked the shepherds if they knew where Laban and his family lived.

    The shepherds knew Laban and said, "Look, here comes his daughter Rachel to water the flock."

    Rachel was a shepherdess which means she was a girl shepherd.

     
    Teach "Jacob's Ladder" bible story!

    Jacob Makes a Deal


    When Jacob saw Rachel coming, he went to the well, rolled the stone from the well's opening, and watered Rachel's flock for her. When Jacob told Rachel who he was, she quickly ran to tell her father Laban.

    
    Get the FREE
    Jacob Falls in Love Puzzle
    After Rachel told him about Jacob being in Haran, Laban ran back to Jacob, hugged him, kissed his cheek, and brought him back to his house where Jacob talked about his mother and the rest of his family.

    After a month, Laban decided he would pay Jacob to work for him.

    Now, Jacob had a plan because he loved Rachel and said, "I will work for 7 years if I can marry your younger daughter Rachel."

    The bible tells us that Jacob loved Rachel so much that the 7 years he worked seemed like only a few days had past which meant he loved her very, very much.

    After the 7 years had passed, Jacob went to Laban and asked to marry Rachel as per their agreement. Laban gathered everyone together a held a big feast so he could marry her.

    Jacob is Tricked


    In those days, a marriage was quite different from the marriages of today and Jacob hadn't seen the face of his bride until after he was married to her. When he realized it wasn't Rachel he married, but instead her older sister Leah, Jacob was furious!

    He went to Laban very mad and asked, "What have you done? I worked 7 years to marry Rachel. Why did you trick me into marrying Leah?"

    Laban answered and said, "It is not right for the younger sister to get married before the older sister and so I had to give Leah to you instead of Rachel."

    Guess what happened next.

    Laban wanted Jacob to stay and work for him, so he said, "If you will stay and work for me another 7 years, I will let you marry Rachel too."

    Jacob agreed and in one week, he finally married the girl he loved so much.

    What We Learn

    One thing we can learn from this bible story is that not everyone can be trusted. Sometimes, even our friends will try to trick us and often get us into trouble just like Satan tries to trick us. God doesn't want us to get others in trouble on purpose. He wants us to be loving and kind and do our best to do what he would like us to do. We need to know what is right so we don't let Satan trick us into doing something we shouldn't.

    Another thing we learn is that we don't always get what we want. Sometimes we may want a new game or even a certain food for dinner, but we may not always get it. We need to learn to be patient and calmly wait for the things we want.

    Lastly, you should explain to the kids that God does not condone having two wives, but in bible times this happened often. Sometimes, men would have more than two and one man, King Solomon, had 1000 wives (1 Kings 11 KJV). Whew!!

     

    Bible Verse for this Sunday School Lesson


    1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV
     
    Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

     

    Sunday, September 29, 2013

    Jacob was a trickster. He tricked his twin brother out of his birthright for a bowl of soup. He also tricked his nearly blind father, Isaac, into giving him a blessing which was meant for his brother.

    
    Jocob's Ladder
    Sunday School Lessons
    Photo: the Providence Lithograph Company
    Wikimedia Commons
    But, even after all of his tricking and scheming, God loved him and blessed him. This same Jacob became the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. Of course, you can see by the title of this lesson that this isn't what our Sunday school lesson is about today.

    Today we are going to talk about Jacob's ladder.

    This bible story is one that many children love to hear. It is an amazing bible story that has several details the kids will always remember. First, they will remember the ladder. Second, they will remember the angels walking up and down it. Third, they will remember that Jacob used a rock for a pillow.

    Let's get started.

    Jacob's Ladder - Sunday School Lesson


    Our story today begins when a young man named Jacob was sent on a journey to a different land to find himself a wife. You see, where Jacob lived, the women all worshipped idols and his father wanted to make sure he married a girl that loved God.

    Jacob started on his journey to find himself a wife who loved God.

    Jacob traveled and traveled. Finally, night began to fall and Jacob was very tired. But guess what! Jacob didn't pull out a tent, a blanket and a pillow so he could sleep. There were not hotels anywhere.

    Instead, he found a spot on the ground to lie down and used a rock for his pillow!

    Can you imagine how uncomfortable that must have been? How nice and comfy is your pillow? If you ever get a chance to use a rock for a pillow, try it. It is cold and hard and not comfortable at all.

    (Teachers - if you can find a small rock that could be used for the children to lay their head on, it would give them a better understanding of how Jacob must have felt.)

    Teach "Jacob Falls in Love" Bible Story!

    Jacob's Ladder
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    Jacob's Ladder
    Word Search Puzzle!


    When Jacob fell asleep, he had a dream.

    Ask the children, "Have you had a dream you remember?"

    Wait for answers.

    Jacob's dream was a bit different than most dreams because this dream had been sent from God. God was letting Jacob know that even though he hadn't always done everything right, God still loved him and had a plan for Jacob.

    In Jacob's dream, there was a ladder, but it wasn't a normal ladder that you might use at home. It was a special ladder that stretched from earth all the way up to heaven.

    On this ladder were angels. The angels were walking up and down the ladder and at the very top, near heaven, was God.

    Then, God spoke to Jacob in his dream and said, "I am going to give you the land where you are now. I will also give it to your children and your children's children. You will have many, many children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren. I will be with you wherever you go and I will make sure that you come back to this place where you are sleeping."

    (Teachers - you can read God's exact words in Genesis 28:13-15 KJV)

    When Jacob woke up, he realized that God was near and he didn't even know it. The bible tells us that Jacob was afraid. He said, "This is the house of God and the gate of heaven."

    In the morning, Jacob took the rock that he used as his pillow and set it upright. Then, he poured oil on it. He wanted this place to be remembered and to be special.

    What was the name of this special place? Bethel which means 'The House of God'.

    God kept his promise to Jacob and brought him safely back to that land just as he had said. Jacob had many children including Joseph who you may remember as having a 'coat of many colors'.

    
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    What We Can Learn


    Did you know that God has a plan for you too? Did you know that God will never leave you? He will be with you wherever you go. No matter what you do or what happens in your life, God is there.

    Isaiah 41:10 KJV
     
    10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

    Depending on what age children you have, you can use the first part of this verse or more.

    In our class, we sometimes just say "Fear thou not; for I am with thee:", but the entire verse is great!

     

    Monday, September 16, 2013

    It's important for you to know as a Sunday school teacher that this bible story happened near the beginning of Jesus' ministry. He was only now calling the first of his 12 disciples. This true story happened not long after he was baptized by John the Baptist.

    Simon Peter cast out his fishing net just as Jesus said.
    Photo: Oxfordian Kissuth, Wikimedia Commons


    Fishers of Men Sunday School Lesson


    At the beginning of this Sunday school lesson, Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John were on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. They had been fishing all night long and their large fishing nets needed to be washed.

    You see, these four men were fisherman. It's not like when we go fishing to catch fish. It's not like when mommies or daddies go fishing for the weekend. This was Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John's job. Fishing is how they made money.

    Each night, they would go out onto the sea, drop their huge nets into the water and pull the fish back in. The next day, they would take the fish they caught into town to sell them.

    On the night when this bible story happened, the four fishermen had worked all night long to catch fish and hadn't caught even one.

    As they were working to wash out their fishing nets, Jesus came walking along the shore. He wasn't alone though. Many, many people were following him hoping to hear him teach and to preach.

    When Jesus came near Simon Peter's boat, he walked right up to it and stepped inside.
    
    Get the Fishers of Men
    Song with Lyrics

    He told Peter to push his boat out a little ways into the water and Simon Peter obeyed.

    That's when Jesus began to teach. He taught all those people sitting in Simon Peter's boat on the Sea of Galilee. After Jesus was finished, he told Simon Peter to take his boat out into the deep water of the sea and let down his net again.

    Remember, these men had fished all night long without catching a single fish. They were probably tired and disappointed. They probably didn't want to try again, but because Jesus told him too, Simon Peter obeyed.

    When Simon Peter let down his net into the water, the bible tells us that they caught a great multitude of fishes. It was so many their nets began to break. They called the other men on the shore and told them to come and help. When the men arrived in their boats to help, the bible says there was so many fish that both boats were so filled they began to sink.

    Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John was so astonished, they realized right then they were standing in the presence of the Messiah.

    Jesus told them to not be afraid. He also told them they were to not catch fish anymore.

    They were to be fishers of men.

    This meant instead of working day in and day out to catch real fish, they were to go out into the world to tell people about Jesus Christ so they might be saved and go to heaven one day.

     

    Get the Fishers of Men Game

    What We Can Learn from this Sunday School Lesson

     
    We learn that just like Simon Peter, we need to obey God in whatever he says to do. Simon Peter could have told Jesus there was no fish in the sea and went about his business. Instead, he obeyed Jesus and caught more fish than ever before.

    Sometimes, we may not understand what God needs us to do or why, but we don't have too. We only need to obey because God knows best.

    Second, we learn that we are to be fishers of men just like the men in the story.

    We should tell everyone about Jesus and how he died on the cross for us. We should let them know they can be saved and go to heaven one day if only they accept Jesus into their hearts.

    When we tell others about Jesus, we are being fishers of men.


     

    Saturday, August 31, 2013

    In this Sunday school lesson, we are going to be talking about Jesus' first miracle - Jesus turns the water into wine. After Jesus was baptized by John and tempted in the wilderness by Satan, he began calling his disciples.

    During this time, he along with his mother was invited to a wedding. Our Sunday school lesson begins here.

    Miracles of  Jesus
    Sunday School Lessons
    Photo: Wikimedia Commons

    Miracles of Jesus - Water Into Wine


    Ask the children, "How many of you have ever been to a wedding?"

    Wait for answers.

    Weddings today normally last a few hours or, in some cases, the better part of a day. In bible times, weddings would last several days even a week. Those getting married would be in charge of food and drinks for all the guests for all the days the wedding lasted. It must have been a lot of hard work.

    At one particular wedding, Jesus was invited. He along with his disciples and his mother attended the wedding.

    There must have been quite a few people there because all of the wine the guests were drinking at the wedding had been drank long before the wedding feast was over.

    A feast is sort of like a huge party with lots of food and drinks. Today, we would call it the reception.

    Mary, Jesus' mother, overheard the servants talking about the wine being gone.

    She immediately went to Jesus to tell him so that he could fix the problem. When Mary told him the wine was gone he said, "Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come." (John 2:4 KJV)

    
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    Jesus' First Miracle Maze
     


    When Jesus called his mother 'woman', he was doing it out of respect.

    Then, Jesus' mother went to the servants. She told them to do whatever Jesus told them to do. (John 2:5 KJV)

    Nearby, six very large stone water pots sat. In those days, it was custom to wash your guest's feet. These water pots had held the water the servants had washed the guest's feet with, but now they were empty.

    
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    Jesus told the servants to take the water pots and fill them with water again. The servants did as Jesus
    said. They took the pots and filled them up to the brim with water.

    Then, a miracle happened. It was Jesus' first miracle that we are told about in the bible. Here is what happened...

    Jesus told the servants to dip from the pot and take it to the governor of the feast to drink. The servants did as they were told. When the ruler tasted the water, it wasn't water at all! Jesus had turned it into delicious wine.

    The servants, Jesus' mother, and his disciples knew that he had performed a miracle.

    This was the first miracle of Jesus, but not the last. While Jesus was here on earth, he perform many, many miracles.






     

    Monday, August 12, 2013

    The temptation of Jesus Christ should be used
    as an example to resist temptation using the
    Word of God.
    Photo: Percita, Wikimedia Commons
    Many children don't know that Jesus Christ was tempted by the devil while he lived here on earth.

    In Sunday school, kids learn about the many wonderful things that Jesus did while he was here - turning the water into wine, making the blind man see, walking on water, dying on the cross, rising from the dead, and many, many other miracles.

    But, not too many teachers teach the temptation of Jesus. I've often wondered why.

    This is a great Sunday school lesson to teach kids. Knowing that even Jesus Christ himself was tempted by the devil just as we are each and every day reassures me - I am not alone.

    It also gives me a better sense of understanding what I need to do to resist him. Jesus knew the scriptures and used the verses within the scriptures against the devil. We need to learn and teach the scriptures to our class to help them fight the evils of this world too.

    Temptation of Jesus Christ Sunday School Lesson


    After the baptism of Jesus, he was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil (Matthew 4:1 KJV). He was in the wilderness forty days and forty nights and the bible tells us that he fasted during that time.

    Fasting means to not eat anything.

    Ask the kids, "How long have you went without eating?"

    Wait for answers.

    Many kids will only have gone a few hours while others may have gone a day or two if they have been sick or practice fasting themselves.

    It will be hard for young children to imagine not eating forty days. This is okay as long as you get the point across that he was very, very hungry after not eating for so long.

    First Temptation of Jesus Christ


    The bible tells us that the 'tempter', who is the devil, came to Jesus and said, "If you really are the Son of God, turn these stones into bread so you can eat them.
     

    Of course, Jesus could have quickly turned the stones into bread and eaten them because he was so hungry, but he didn't. Instead, he said back to the devil, "Man doesn't live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

    Jesus was quoting this scripture from the book of Deuteronomy 8:3 KJV. He meant that bread may keep you alive here on earth, but without God you can't have eternal life. We need to feed our spiritual part too. How do we do that? By coming to church, Sunday school, reading and memorizing the bible, and praying.

    Second Temptation of Jesus Christ


    Then, the devil took Jesus to the top of the temple. He said to Jesus, "If you really are the Son of God, throw yourself down off this temple. Then, the devil did something that we don't realize he can do - he quoted the scriptures.

    He said, "It is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone." (Psalm 91:11-12 KJV)

    Ask the kids, "Did you know the Devil knew the scriptures?"

    Wait for answers.

    The devil wanted Jesus to jump or throw himself off the temple then call his angels to catch him so he wouldn't get hurt.

    Again, Jesus did not. Instead, he counters the devil with another verse of scripture, "It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."

    Third Temptation of Jesus Christ


    The last time Jesus is tempted the devil takes him to a high mountain. He shows him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

    The devil says to Jesus, "If you will bow down to me, I will give you all that you see."

    Then, Jesus replied, "Get away Satan. For it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."

    The devil left him and the angels came to him.

    What We Learn from this Sunday School Lesson

    We learn a lot from this Sunday school lesson and it may be hard to teach younger children it all. So, for this lesson we will focus on some important details kids can relate to.

    First, when Jesus lived here, he was just like us. He got hungry. He go thirsty. He was tempted to sin. He chose not to sin just like we can choose not to sin. It is a choice and we need to make the right choice.

    Second, Jesus knew the scriptures by heart. When faced with doing something he shouldn't, he quoted the verses of scripture to help him through. The devil knows them too.

    Third, we need to learn bible verses to help us through each day. Kids may not realize the importance of learning verses and may feel it is too much like 'school'. Don't let that stop you as a teacher. You will just have to find new creative and fun ways to get them learning.

    Bible verses can be taught by playing games, having contests, repeating them each time you meet, and many other ways.

    Fourth, we are to worship God only.

    Fifth, we learn that with God nothing shall be impossible. We need only to lean on him when we are tempted and he will help us through.

    Talk to the kids about ways they are tempted in their lives: lying, cheating, stealing, disobeying, or other things your kids may be going through.

    Good luck and may God bless you as you teach the word of God.


     

    Monday, August 5, 2013

    Wading in the Jordan River!
    Imagine being baptized in the Jordan River
    just like John baptized Jesus!
    People are still baptized there today.
    Photo: Alicia Bramlett
    John the Baptist was Jesus' cousin. His mother was Elisabeth whom if you remember, was pregnant with John when Mary went to her to tell her she was going to have a baby. You can read this part of the story in Luke 1:41-44 KJV.

    41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
    42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
    43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
    44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

    While the above verses is a full Sunday school lesson in itself, we are not going to focus on that part of the story.

    Instead, we're going to focus on the part of John the Baptist's life when Jesus came to be baptized. Many folks don't realize the importance of baptism. Hopefully, this lesson will help teach your class about Jesus' example through the story of John who became known as 'John the Baptist'.

    John the Baptist - Baptism of Jesus


    John wasn't always known as John the Baptist. He was born as a baby just months before Jesus' was born in Bethlehem and guess what - he was Jesus' cousin!

    When they grew up, John began telling the people about the coming Messiah.

    Ask the kids, "Do you know who the Messiah is?"

    Wait for answers.

    
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    The Messiah is Jesus. That's right - Jesus is the Messiah that John the Baptist was telling everyone about.

    John preached to people all the time. John was actually born to preach. Of course, there was something different about this preacher.
    
    He didn't have his own church. He didn't even preach in the towns near a church. Instead, he would go to a river (the Jordan River) and start telling anyone who would listen about the coming Messiah.

    One day, when John was telling the people they should ask for forgiveness for their sins and be baptized, Jesus came walking toward him.

    Jesus was there to be baptized by John.
    

    John looked at Jesus and said, "You should baptize me. You've never done anything wrong. You don't have to ask for forgiveness of your sin and most certainly don't have to be baptized."

    Jesus wanted to set an example to everyone. You see, baptism is to show others outwardly what has happened inwardly.

    What does this mean?

    It means that when you have asked for forgiveness and Jesus has come to live in your heart, you are baptized to show others what has happened. You are showing that you are now a child of God and want others to know it to.

    After the Baptism of Jesus


    After John Baptized Jesus, the holy spirit came down from heaven in the form of a dove and God spoke from heaven.

    He said, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."

    You see, God was very proud of his Son, Jesus. Jesus was setting a example for us to follow even today.

    If you have asked Jesus to come into your heart, have you been baptized?

    If not, talk to your kids about baptism a bit more and if anyone wishes to be baptized, be sure to talk to their parents and your preacher.


     

    Friday, July 26, 2013

    Sunday school lessons can be taught using many different techniques. Not every Sunday school class has to be the same. For instance, do you stick to a routine each Sunday? Do you have the kids sit in the same chairs, around the same table, or in the same spot on the floor? Does snack time come at the end of each lesson?

    This week, shake things up a bit and have the kids doing something totally different!

    The more fun stuff you do in class that is out of routine the more kids will look forward to coming. They won't know what you're going to do next and won't be able to wait to get to Sunday school each week!

    The best mind set I can give you is think like it is VBS all the time!

    That being said, let's take a look at how to use bible verses as this week's Sunday school lesson.

    Sunday School Lessons
    can be taught playing and having fun!
    Photo: Daniel Schwen, Wikimedia


    Sunday School Lessons Using Bible Verses


    For this Sunday school lesson, you'll need:

    • yarn or twine
    • large index cards
    • marker
    • an empty 2 liter plastic bottle (you can fill it 3/4 full with water)
    • a table or area to lay out the cards
    Decide on which verse you would like to teach the kids. For this example, we are going to use:

    Psalm 100:2 KJV
     
    Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

    Teaching kids the importance of serving the Lord with gladness is a lesson all in itself, but go a bit further and add on the second part. Every time we come before the Lord we should do it joyfully with singing.

    Does this mean he expects us to sing all our words?

    I don't think so, but when the opportunity presents itself, we shouldn't be ashamed. We should do it willingly and joyfully.

    Have you ever read the book, "90 Minutes in Heaven"?

    There is a part in the book that talks about how the preacher is in heaven. He describes how he hears hundreds of voices singing. They are singing different songs, but the voices are so beautiful, the songs sound amazing together. If you've never read it, you should.

    I think God enjoys music. He loves to hear singing and loves it when we sing.

    What You Need to Do
    Find more ways to teach
    kids in Sunday school!

    Divide your class into two teams.

    Write one word of the bible verse onto each index card. You need two of each so that each team has the whole verse. If you don't have enough kids, give two words to each child, but still only put one word on each card. This means that some kids will have two index cards. If needed, some kids can have three.

    Tape the string or yarn onto the back of the index cards. It should be long enough to go around a child's neck.

    Have the kids form a circle. Place the bottle in the center. Let the kids take turns spinning the bottle. To make things fair, the bottle will need to go around at least 3 times before it can stop. This will help eliminate cheating and allow the child spinning to get back into place.

    When the bottle's top lands on a child, that child gets to put his card onto the table. If that child has another card, let him get back into the circle. If he doesn't, he will stand by the cards to help put the verse in order as the kids continue playing. The kids can move in closer as more kids move out of the circle.

    Keep the game moving fast by letting the next child go immediately.

    Continue playing until one team finishes putting his verse into order.

    What You Learn


    The kids learn not only to work as a team, but they will learn the bible verse. Talk about the importance of the verse. You can choose whatever verse you wish for this Sunday school lesson.

    The main point of the verse above is that we should serve the Lord willingly and joyfully. When it is time for church, we shouldn't complain about not wanting to go or about how the big game or movie is coming on TV. We should be ready to go willingly when it is time.

    When it is time to read our bible at night, we shouldn't say 'I'm too tired'.

    What if God was too tired for us?

    Always do things for the Lord willingly and happily. NO grumbling or complaining.

    Philippians 2:14 KJV
     
    Do all things without murmurings and disputings.


     

    Monday, July 15, 2013

    The story of Jonah and the whale is one of the most famous bible stories of all time. That one simple story could be used to teach kids many different life lessons. Today our Sunday school lesson is going to focus on 'obeying God'.

    At first, Jonah chose to run from God instead of obey him.

    Where did that get him?

    Inside the belly of the whale (or big fish).

    Jonah and the Whale
    Sunday School Lessons
    Photo: James Tissot (1836-1902), French painter

    Sunday School Lesson


    At the beginning of the bible story, God told Jonah he was to go to a city called Nineveh. He was to tell the people there to turn from their sinful ways and turn to God instead.

    For some reason, Jonah didn't want to help the people of Nineveh.

    Ask, "Does anyone know what Jonah did?"

    Wait for answers.

    Instead of going to Nineveh, Jonah went to the boat docks and paid for a ride. The ride he paid for was on a ship. The ship was going to a place called Tarshish not Nineveh. It was going in the complete opposite direction!

    Ask, "Did Jonah obey God?" (No.)

    Wait for answers.

    Ask, "Where was Jonah supposed to go?" (Nineveh.)

    Wait for answers.

    There are many times God needs us to do things for him, but we ignore him because we are scared or think we don't have time or that we can't do it.

    Use yourself as an example.

    Say, "What if I didn't obey God when he wanted me to teach Sunday school? I love to teach Sunday school. But, if I chose not to obey God because I was scared, God would have chosen someone else and I wouldn't be here teaching you today. I wouldn't want to miss out on God's blessing because I was too scared."

    Go on to explain that God blesses those who are willing to obey him and do his will.

    Bible Verse for this Sunday School Lesson


    Teaching bible verses with your Sunday school lesson helps reinforce your lesson with God's word. Go over your weekly bible verses more than once as repetition helps kids remember.





    John 12:26 KJV

    26 If any man serve me, let him follow me;
     

    Another bible verse you can use with this lesson is as follows:


    John 14:15 KJV

    15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

     

    So, What Happened to Jonah?


    As the ship sailed away with Jonah, God sent a strong wind onto the sea. The ship rocked back and

    forth so badly the men on the ship was scared. They thought they were going to die.

    They began throwing things off the ship thinking that if they made the ship lighter, it wouldn't sink.

    The men found Jonah asleep down in the ship and woke him up.

    When they discovered the storm was because Jonah ran from God instead of obeying, they wondered what they should do.

    Jonah said, "Pick me up and throw me overboard into the water."

    At first, the men didn't throw Jonah overboard, but finally they realized it was the only way to stop the storm.

    As soon as Jonah hit the water, the storm stopped.

    But, this wasn't the end of Jonah. You see, God still needed Jonah to go to Nineveh to tell the people there to stop sinning and turn to him.


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    Jonah and the Whale



    The bible doesn't say that Jonah was swallowed by a whale, but since the fish had to be big enough to swallow a man whole, people believe it was a whale.

    So, God prepared a big fish to come along at just the right time. The big fish opened his mouth up wide and swallowed Jonah whole.

    God wanted Jonah to know that he couldn't run away. He needed to obey.

    After three days in the belly of the great big fish (maybe a whale?), Jonah knew he must obey God and agreed to go to Nineveh.

    You see, God heard Jonah praying in the belly of the fish.

    God allowed the fish to swim near the shore and spit Jonah out on dry land.

    Jonah then knew he must obey God and went to Nineveh just as God needed him to do.

    What We Learned in this Sunday School Lesson


    No matter where we are or what we are doing, God can see us and hear us just as he heard Jonah in the belly of the great big fish. When God needs you, you can be sure he'll find you.

    Obeying God the first time will lead to a life of blessings from God instead of a life of running from him.

    Obey him when he calls.

    Some ways God may need children:

    • telling friends about him
    • inviting friends to Sunday school or VBS
    • helping mom or dad
    • leading others to ask Jesus to come into their hearts
    • keeping parents in God's word
    • reading the bible to those who can't read
    • praying for other
    • becoming a Sunday school teacher
    • becoming a preacher
    • the list goes on and on

    Jonah and the whale teaches kids that obeying God the first time is much better than trying to hide or run away. Don't be scared if God needs you. He won't leave you. He'll be by your side the whole time.



     

    Wednesday, July 10, 2013

    Teach Kids About Avoiding Sins
    Sunday School Lessons
    Photo: Ece Turkoglu
    Sins can be a tricky Sunday school lesson to teach. The problem I've faced when teaching kids about sins is that they don't see how it applies to them.

    For instance, we go over the 10 Commandments regularly and talk about sins. That seems pretty simple, right?

    Wrong.

    Think about some of the 10 Commandments - 'Thou shalt not kill', 'Thou shalt not commit adultery', and 'Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife or house'.

    While these are very important to teach the kids in Sunday school, it is also important to teach them about every day sins they will face, as well.

    Sunday School Lesson


    In this Sunday school lesson, we'll talk about the sins kids will face every day and how they can avoid them. Be sure to click on the 'Avoiding Sins Activity' to help reinforce the lesson.

    Ask the kids, "What are some sins you can think of?"

    Wait for answers.

    Some answers may be stealing, killing, disobeying mom and dad, lying, taking the Lord's name in vain, and so on.

    Today, we are going to focus on several of the above sins.

    First - stealing.

    Stealing, no matter how big or small, is stealing.
    
    Get the Avoiding Sins
    Sunday School Activity!

    Some men and women may steal a car, someone's purse, or even someone's child.

    But, did you know that 'borrowing' someone's jacket, pencil, eraser, toy, calculator, game, movie, or anything else and not returning it is stealing?

    Kids tend to borrow things from other kids all the time, but do they return them?

    You may have good intentions to return what you borrowed, but if you don't return it, it's stealing.

    Second - lying.

    Why kids think they have to lie to impress others is beyond me, but they do.

    When someone asks you, "Have you seen the latest movie?" or "Do you have the new Xbox game?", what do you say?

    Believe it or not, many kids will say 'yes' even if they don't.

    Some people call lies 'little white lies', but a lie is a lie no matter how big or small.

    If you lie, no matter what the reason, ask God to forgive you. He will, but that doesn't mean you can do it again and again just because he forgives you. It means you have to try harder not to lie again.

    
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    Third - taking the Lord's name in vain.

    The bible tells us that any time you use the Lord's name in vain it is a sin.

    There are people in churches across the world that know this commandment by heart, but still don't obey it.

    Let's put this plain and simple - when you say, "Oh my, G - -", it is a sin!

    When you say the name of the Lord in any form, it is a sin. The exceptions to this commandment is when you are speaking of him, talking about him, teaching about him, or reading about him.

    Otherwise, keep his name holy and do NOT say his name carelessly.

    Some of the other names you may hear people say are: Jesus, Christ, Lord, and God.

    Avoiding Sins


    Bible Verse for This Sunday School Lesson
     
    Psalm 119:11 KJV
    Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

    There are so many other sins that kids need to learn to avoid. Ask the kids now as the Sunday school lesson is winding down to see if they can think of any more ways that people sin.

    Wait for answers.

    When faced with sin, talking to God is the best way to avoid it.

    You can say a silent prayer or just think about him in your head. God will help you with the sins you face daily.



     

    Thursday, July 4, 2013

    Sunday school lessons should teach kids about daily living as well as bible stories. For instance, how many of your Sunday school kids practice daily prayer? If you ask the kids this question, most will probably say they pray each day.

    Angkor Wat - Akiyoshi Matsuoka 2011 アンコールワット DSCF2838
    Prayer Partners
    Sunday School Lesson
    Photo: 松岡明芳
    Wikimedia Commons
    Now, ask them when they pray and what they pray about.

    Wait for answers.

    Most of the answers will be "praying over food", "thanking God for family", "praying for family", and other things similar.

    Today's Sunday school lesson is going to focus on daily prayer with prayer partners. Prayer partners can mean many different things, but today we are going to pair up the kids so that they can pray for each other all week long.

    Teaching kids to pray for each other will help them understand the other person better along with following the Word of God and learning to develop a great prayer life.

    Bible Verses About Prayer



    Colossians 4:2 KJV
    Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
     
    Matthew 18:20 KJV
    For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
     
    1 Thessalonians KJV
    Pray without ceasing.
     
    Matthew 21:22 KJV
    And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
     
     

    Sunday School Lesson - Daily Prayer

    
    Prayer Crossword Puzzle
    Click to Get It!
     
    You can use any of the above bible verse about prayer for your lesson, or find another one you like. It's always a good idea to go over a bible verse with the kids each Sunday as it helps them learn God's Word and keep it close to their heart.
     
    The bible teaches us about many people who prayed and God answered their prayers.
     
    Daniel prayed every morning, noon, and night and God saved him from the lion's den.
     
    The famous prayer of Jabez found in 1 Chronicles 4:10 KJV says, "And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested."
     
    There is also the famous 'Lord's Prayer' where Jesus is teaching his disciples how to pray.
     
    Jesus himself even prayed.
     
    Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane before he died on the cross for our sins. He prayed again on the cross asking God to forgive those around him. Another time he prayed was when he blessed the food before breaking it when he fed the 5000.
     

    Prayer Partners - What To Do

     
    What You'll Need:
     
    • something to write on
    • something to write with
    • cut pieces of yarn large enough to tie around a child's wrist or ankle
     
    Once you've discussed some of the prayers above, sit the kids down in a semi-circle on the floor. Have a large paper, poster board, or dry erase board to write on for everyone to see.
     
    Go through each child one-by-one and ask for prayer requests. Write them on the board or paper for all to see. Be sure to write the child's name beside the prayer request.
     
    Ask the next child in the circle, "Did you hear that prayer request?"
     
    Then, tie a piece of yarn around that child's wrist and say, "You are in charge of praying for that request every day until next week."
     
    The yarn will serve as a reminder for that child to pray for their partner's prayer request.
     
    Instruct the child to pray for that person and their prayer request every time the yarn reminds them to pray. Even if it is 10 times each day.
     
    Now, go to the next child and ask for their request.
     
    Continue this until every one has someone praying for their request and everyone is praying for someone.
     

    What You'll Learn

     
    Praying for yourself and your own family is wonderful, but when we join together and pray for someone else and their prayer request we learn the importance of caring for others. It helps us to understand one another, grow closer to God, and get in a routine of praying all throughout the day.

    Wednesday, June 19, 2013

    King David
    Clipart: Christians Unite
    Sunday School Lessons
    Even though Jesse's youngest son became known as the famous King David, it wasn't an easy road. The road was long and hard. In fact, the road was so rough that only David himself was fit to walk it. But, because David trusted God and praising him all the way, David became king and was known as 'a man after God's own heart'.

    If David had chosen his own path, God couldn't have used him.

    Bible Verse for this Lesson:

    Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV
    Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
    In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

    King David


    Begin the Sunday school lesson by asking the kids if they know of a famous David in the bible. More than likely, they will think of David and Goliath.

    Wait for answers.

    While this is the same David, our Sunday school lesson today isn't about that particular story.

    The lesson...

    David was the youngest of 8 boys. His job was to watch over the sheep. But, even though he was the youngest and just a shepherd boy, God chose him to be a king. Normally, the king's son would become the new king, but not this time. God had a different plan.

    Of course, David didn't immediately become the new king. There was already a king - King Saul.

    The problem was that as time went on, King Saul became jealous of David and tried to kill him over and over.

    Instead of David fighting back, he left.
    
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    If it had been time for David to become king, God would have made it possible, but it wasn't the right time yet. For many years, Saul sought to kill David, but was unsuccessful.

    Time and time again, David had the chance to kill Saul too. But, he didn't.

    Once he sneaked up behind Saul and cut a piece of his robe off. He wanted to show Saul that he could have killed him, but he chose not to.

    Another time, he sneaked into Saul's tent and took his spear and canteen. Again, he could have killed Saul, but chose not to.

    He wanted Saul to know that he wouldn't go against God.

    In the end, Saul fell on his own sword and died. Then, King David took the throne.

    It took 20 years for David to become king.

    What We Learned:

    God does things in his own time. While we tend to want things now, God doesn't always see fit for us to have it now. Sometimes, we have to wait years and years before he answers our prayers while other times he answers our prayers with a simple 'no'.

    David was chosen by God to become King David, but 19 years later he still wasn't king.

    David chose to serve God and to praise him through all those years. When the time was right, David took the throne.

    When you pray, pray that God will have his own will with the answers to your prayers.

    No matter what happens, God knows best and we must trust in that.