Sunday, August 30, 2015

30 Agustus 215

Kelas Balita
Coach Susan
Asst 1 : Adeline
Asst 2 : Awan

Kelas 1 - 3
Coaches : Lily Bun (Asst. Santi)

Kelas 4 - 6
Coaches : Lusiana (Asst. Theresia)

I AM the True Vine

1. ICE BREAKER: Vine Tag

  • Choose someone to be ‘in’. When you say ‘Go’, the person who is in must try to tag someone. When they succeed, they must link arms/hold hands with the person they tagged. Now both of them can tag people with their free hands. Each time some gets tagged, they link arms/hold hands and carry on until everyone is in one big chain.
  • Isn’t it nice to all be connected with each other?

2. HOOK (Items: lamp, extension cord)

  • We’ve learned some of the “I Am”s of Jesus. <Ask kids to name a few; lead them to remember “Light of the World”>
  • Yes that’s right, Jesus is the light of the World. Because Jesus is in us, we have His light shining through us too.
  • Sing: “This Little Light of Mine.”
  • <Hold up the lamp> While we sing it, I’m going to hold this light up and let it shine all around. <Start to sing the song, but stop when you notice that the light isn’t shining.> I wonder what is wrong, my light isn’t shining.
  • <Someone will probably notice that it isn’t plugged in.> Oh, here’s the problem, my light isn’t plugged in.
  • Now that we are plugged in, let’s try it again. <Sing> Oh, that was much better. The lamp was shining brightly, wasn’t it? It’s pretty hard for a light to shine when it isn’t connected to the power source, isn’t it? Well, actually, it isn’t just hard — it’s impossible!
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3. LESSON: I AM the True Vine (John 15:1-8)

     A. Jesus is our True Vine
  • In our Bible lesson today, Jesus told his disciples a story to teach them the importance of staying connected to him. Of course Jesus didn’t use a lamp to tell his story, because electricity hadn’t even been invented yet. Instead, Jesus used an example that his disciples would understand. He used the example of a vine.
  • You know what a vine is, don’t you? It is a plant with a lot of branches growing out from it. The branches have fruit on them. If it is a grapevine, the branches should have grapes on them. (objects such as grapes, branches, plants would be useful as visual aids )
  • John 15:1-8 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showIMG_1760ing yourselves to be my disciples.

     B. The branches need to stay connected to the vine to live and bear fruit.
  • God is the Gardener in the garden of life. Jesus is the Vine who grows good branches. Christians are those branches. If you have asked Jesus to be your Savior, you are like a branch on a vine in God’s garden.
  • Branches need water and food to grow. How do the branches get these things? (through the roots) The vine sends food and water from the roots to the branches. Then the branches send food and water to the flowers that will produce grapes. (Pass around a bowl of raisins/grapes and let each child take some.)
  • Have you ever seen a branch that has been broken off of a tree or a vine? What happens to it? That’s right, it withers up and dies. Can it ever have any fruit on it again? No, it isn’t any good for anything — except fire wood.
  • Jesus said, “I am the vine and you are the branches. If you remain in me, you will have much fruit, but apart from me, you can do nothing.”
  • With Jesus = Fruit. Without Jesus = Nothing. That’s right. Like the light that’s not plugged into the electrical source.

     C. The fruit you get depends on the tree you’re connected to
  • What is this fruit?
  • A rambutan tree will bear rambutan fruits. A durian tree will bear …? A papaya tree will bear …? These trees bear these fruits because that’s who they are. What their DNA is.
  • Jesus promises us abundant life — one overflowing with His love, grace, strength and power. When we depend on Him and trust in Him, our life is fruitful; our work is fruitful; our relationships are fruitful; our ministry is fruitful.
  • When the Holy Spirit lives in us, it bears the fruit of the Spirit — fruits like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control (Gal 5). When we bear these fruits, we will be kind and generous and loving to others.
  • All these are not things that we can do on our own. It’s not something we have to force out of ourselves. It comes naturally because of who we are in Christ — the temple/house of the Holy Spirit.
  • The key thing is to stay plugged in, stay connected, and let the Spirit’s life flow through us — the foods and water we need to grow strong, healthy and fruitful.
  • When we depend on our strength, we will feel tired and frustrated and be unfruitful.
  • Instead, let’s look to Jesus. Trust Him. Rest in His finished work. He has done the work for us. We just need to plug in and let the Holy Spirit flow through us.
    • If you cannot love someone, say, “Holy Spirit, please love that person through me.”
    • Whatever work you are doing, say, “Holy Spirit, please help me.”
    • When you are feeling sad or discouraged, say, “Jesus, thank you for being my strength and my joy.”
  • As we learn to look to Jesus and rest in Him, we allow Him to do the work of bearing fruit in our lives!

4. SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES

IMG_1774
  • Memory verse activity/game: John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Resource: Sermons4kids 

Sunday, August 23, 2015

23 Agustus 2015

Kelas Balita
Coach Carrie
Asst 1 : Felicia
Asst 2 : Felianti

Kelas 1 - 3
Coaches : Shianty & Ci Dewi

Kelas 4 - 6
Coaches : Tjipto & Jeremy

I AM the Resurrection and the Life

1. ICE BREAKER

  • Mummy game
    Divide kids into 2-3 groups. Choose one kid from each group. Get parents/kids to help wrap up the kid with toilet paper (like Lazarus). Most creative one wins. Then get kids to remove the “grave clothes”.
  • Wink, Wink, Resurrection
    Similar to wink murder. Kids sit in a circle. Choose someone to be the “resurrector” and a detective to guess. The resurrector has to discreetly wink at one of the other kids. But this time if someone is winked at, they must jump up and shout “I’m alive”, instead of dying. The detective is allowed three guesses to work out who the resurrector is before everyone is “alive”.

2. LESSON: I AM the Resurrection & the Life (John 11)

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  • What happened there? What did the messenger tell Jesus?His friend Lazarus was very sick.
  • Did Jesus rush immediately to his side?No. He stayed 2 more days.
  • Why? Why didn’t He stop Lazarus from dying? (get kids to think)Because there was a bigger plan — Jesus wanted to demonstrate some greater miracle of God to prove that He had victory not only over sickness, but over death
  • When Jesus reached Bethany, what was the first thing Martha and Mary (Lazarus’ sister) said to Him?“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
  • How long had Lazarus been dead?4 days. Ewww … stinko!
  • What did Jesus ask the people to do at the grave?Move away the stone.
  • How did Jesus pray? Did He beg God, “Please, please do something!!!!”?No. Jesus said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”Note: Jesus called God “Father”.
  • What happened when Jesus said, Lazarus, come out!”Lazarus came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
  • Isn’t Jesus wonderful? Even when no one around believed that He could do it, when people doubted and complained, He still did a great miracle and raised Lazarus — who had been dead 4 days — from the dead! He resurrected Lazarus!
  • Jesus IS the Resurrection and the Life!

JESUS CAME TO GIVE US THE “JESUS LIFE”

  • What did Jesus say to Martha? <get kids to read>I AM the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)
  • What is resurrection? Resurrection means being brought back to life.
  • Jesus said those who believed in Him will live, even though they die. Then He says if they believe in Him, they will never die! What do you think Jesus meant by that?
  • Jesus didn’t just mean that when we die, we will go to heaven. He didn’t mean we will never die physically — all of us will die one day; even Lazarus died physically later.
  • Jesus wanted to tell Martha something very important and wonderful. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He wanted to prove something even more awesome and miraculous — that He can give life to those who are spiritually dead!
  • Flashback: Garden of EdenGod told Adam that if he ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil, he will surely die. When Adam disobeyed God, he died spiritually. And because of that, we ALL were dead spiritually. We were all like Lazarus … dead!
  • Jesus came to die on the cross, taking all the punishments for our sin. Three days later, He rose again. By His death and resurrection, Jesus defeated sin AND death!
  • More importantly, Jesus’ death and resurrection brought us back to life from spiritual death. Jesus put His life into us — the Jesus Life. This is an everlasting life that will never die.
  • When we believe in Jesus, we have His Jesus Life in us today! And even when we sin, even when we sometimes do things our way, even when our physical body dies, we will always have this Jesus Life in us forever!
  • Do you want to believe in Jesus today?

3. Suggested Activities

  • Memory verse activity/game: John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
  • WorksheetJohn 11 25 Crossword & Verse

Sunday, August 16, 2015

16 Agustus 2015

Kelas Balita
Coach Jemimah
Asst 1 : Jesslyn
Asst 2 : Ruth

Kelas 1 - 3
Coaches : Iwan & Shevica

Kelas 4 - 6
Coaches : Savitri & Miguel

Nehemiah: Trickery & Treachery (Neh 6)

1. HOOK: Rock, Paper, Scissors

  • Any game that involves a bit of trickery — try to trick your opponent — such as rock, paper, scissors
  • Get 2 kids to go up in front to play, or pair kids up to play against each other

2. STORY: Trickery & Treachery (Neh 6)

  • We’re following the adventures of Nehemiah as he and the people of Israel work together to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem
  • Two weeks ago, we learned how Nehemiah’s enemies tried to stop the building of the wall. The builders armed themselves and were reminded that God was always with them (If God is for us, who can be against us?)
  • But when the enemies — Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem and the others — heard that Nehemiah had built up the walls of Jerusalem (but haven’t fixed the doors yet), they tried again to hinder its completion through various means.
  • The Enemies’ Attacks:(if saying the names — Sanballat, Geshem etc —  is too distracting for teacher/students, just use “the enemies”)
  • i. Distract:
    • The enemies (Sanballat and Geshem) asked Nehemiah to meet them at the villages in the plain of Ono
    • Ono: 1 day’s journey northwest of Jerusalem (enemies’ territory)
    • This would distract Nehemiah from what He should be doing (the rebuilding) and waste time (at least 2 days for travelling to and fro)
    • Nehemiah knew they were trying to harm him.
    • So he sent this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?”
    • They sent him the same message 4 times; each time he gave the same reply
    • Nehemiah was not distracted from the great work that God called him to do.
  • ii. Lie:
    • The enemies (Sanballat) tried another method — to spread lies about Nehemiah (give him a bad name/reputation; say bad things about him)
    • Sanballat sent an open letter, claiming that Nehemiah wanted to become king of Judah and rebel against the Persian king (Nehemiah’s boss). Sanballat threatened to tell the Persian king about it and told Nehemiah, “You better meet up with us now to discuss this matter!”
    • Sanballat tried to put fear into Nehemiah — if the Persian king believed Sanballat, Nehemiah could be put to death for treason/going against the king
      Neh 6:9  They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.”
    • Nehemiah replied, “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.”
    • He also prayed and asked God, “Now strengthen my hands.” He may have been afraid, but instead of dwelling on the threats, Nehemiah decided to depend on God’s strength and boldness.
    • Nehemiah knew that FAITH in God could overcome FEAR
  • iii. Betray:
    • Then Sanballat got a “prophet” called Shemaiah to try to trick Nehemiah — Shemaiah told Nehemiah: “Someone is trying to kill you. Quick … go hide in the temple!”
    • It was a trick to get Nehemiah to the temple, where his enemies would kill him.
    • But Nehemiah realized that Shemaiah was a false prophet — not sent by God — who was hired by Tobiah and Sanballat to trick him. So he did not go to the temple. “Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!”
    • Nehemiah was a wise man — he was able to judge a situation and know if something was not right.
  • So despite all the enemies’ efforts, the wall of Jerusalem was completed in a record52 days!
  • When all the enemies heard about it, and all the nations around saw these things, they knew that this work was done by God (Neh 6:15).
  • “With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.” (Matt 19:26)

3. LESSON:

  • Like Nehemiah, Jesus faced much opposition when He was on earth.
    • The religious leaders were always trying to trip Him up by asking all sorts of trick questions (e.g. Should we pay taxes? Who is my neighbor?)
    • Jesus was also wrongly accused many times for going against God and the Roman Emperor
    • Jesus was also betrayed by His own disciple, Judas
    • But like Nehemiah, Jesus remained firm and focused on what God called Him to do.
    • He always knew that His Father hears His prayers and will deliver Him.
    • The completed wall was a picture of Jesus’ finished work on the cross.
  • The devil is our enemy. He comes to steal, kill and destroy. But he is a toothless lion — he has no real power.
    • He can only make us fearful, afraid, scared … just like Sanballat and friends tried to make Nehemiah fearful.
    • What can we do when we are afraid?
      • Remember God and His love for us
        Perfect love cast out all fear. (1 John 4:18)
      • Pray and remember Jesus’ finished work on the cross
      • Know that with God, all things are possible.

4. ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS:

  • Memory Verse activity/game
    • Matt 19:26 “With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.” 
  • Close in Prayer

Sunday, August 9, 2015

9 Agustus 2015

Kelas Balita
Coach Susan
Asst 1 : Tasya
Asst 2 : Tessa

Kelas 1 - 3
Coaches : Lily Bun & Santi

Kelas 4 - 6
Coaches : Lusiana & Theresia

Nehemiah: No more Debt! (Neh 5)

1. HOOK: IOU

  • Teaching kids about interest (can use any other example you find helpful)
  • Prepare 10-20 of the same objects at the back of the room, e.g. erasers, plastic bottles, crayons etc.
    Basket/Container A: placed at the front of the room, with a sign “Debt” attached, facing away from the kids.
    Basket/Container B: also at front of the room, but less conspicuous, e.g. behind Basket A, with a sign “Interest” attached, facing away from the kids.
  • Choose a volunteer. This volunteer has to run back and forth the class, picking up one of the objects from the back of the class and putting it into Basket A at the front of the class. He/she has to get 10 objects into the Basket A within 60-120 seconds (depending on classroom size).
  • As the volunteer starts running to and fro, putting items into Basket A, you (the teacher/assistant) will take an item from Basket A and put into Basket B at various times. After the 60-120 seconds, the idea is to have only 2-3 items in Basket A (with the rest in Basket B.
  • Turn both baskets around so the kids can see the attached signs. Explain to the class: Basket A represents the volunteer’s debt of 10 items (what he/she owes). Every time the volunteer brought an item to the basket, he was paying his loan. But there’s a high interest on the debt — a fee charged for the loan. So even though the volunteer was running up and down, working very hard to pay off his debt by putting the items into Basket A, most of it went to pay the high interest on that debt (Basket B). So the volunteer is still left with a big debt.

2. STORY: NO MORE DEBT (Nehemiah 5)

  • We’re following the adventures of Nehemiah as he and the people of Israel work together to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem
  • Last week, we learned how the builders were able to defend themselves against their enemies — one hand working, one hand holding a weapon etc. They were reminded that God was always with them(last week’s memory verse: If God is for us, who can be against us?)
  • While the people of Jerusalem were able to fend off their enemies, they also faced problems in their own community.
    • Last week: external enemies: the people were united against them
    • This week: internal problems: divided the people 
  • Problems faced by the Israelites:
    • Famine
      • Big families, but not enough food
      • Had to sell their fields, vineyards and homes to get food
    • High taxes
      • Had to borrow money to pay tax
      • Children sold into slavery
    • High interest:
      • Fellow Jews (nobles and officials) were lending money to the Jews and charging them interest, so they could not pay back their loan
        (just like the volunteer who, despite his efforts, could not fill Basket A)
  • Nehemiah’s response:
    • Very angry — leaders were exploiting the people; those who had money were pressing down those who didn’t have money and making them poorer, instead of helping them
    • He called a large meeting and scolded the nobles and officials: “You are charging your own people interest! What you are doing is not right.”
    • Selling fellow Jews (they were one big family) into slavery to Gentiles (non Jews)
      — Nehemiah had to buy them back from the Gentile masters
    • Taking away the fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses from those who already don’t have food or money
    • Charging interest — 1% of the money, grain, new wine and olive oil that they lend to the poor
  • Nehemiah’s own example:
    • He and his brothers have been lending money and grain to the people, WITHOUT charging any interest.
    • When he was governor of Jerusalem for 12 years, he:
      • didn’t eat the food allotted to the governor (even though he had 150 guests at his dining table with lots of beef, lamb, chicken & wine)
      • did not take any land for himself or extra money from the people (unlike previous governors who took 50 shekels of silver from them, on top of food and wine)
      • did not lord over the people
    • Why? “Out of reverence for God.”
      He knew God’s heart — to help and encourage, not to push down and step on.
    • Instead, he devoted himself to the work on the wall — do what God called him to do.
    • Instructed the nobles/officials to return the fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses to the poor.
  • The nobles/officials’ response:
    • “We will give it back. And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say.”
    • Took an oath to do what they had promised

3. LESSON:

  • Jesus paid our debt for us
    • Just like the poor Israelites, all of us were in debt. Our debt was called “SIN”. We were sold as slaves to sin.
    • We owed a debt we could not pay — no matter what we did or how good we tried to be.
      • So, by dying on the cross, Jesus paid this debt He did not owe and paid the price to buy us back for himself.
      • Colossians 2:13-14 When you were dead in your sins … God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the record of debt, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.
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    • We can love and care for one another
      • When we know and understand what Jesus has done for us, we can show His love and care to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We can help and lift up those in need, and not push them down or step on them.

4. ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS:

  • Memory Verse activity/gameRomans 8:31   He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the record of debt, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.


Sunday, August 2, 2015

2 Agustus 2015

Kelas Balita
Coach Ochie
Asst 1 : Laila
Asst 2 : Adeline

Kelas 1 - 3
Coaches : Susi Tjio (Asst. Fenny)

Kelas 4 - 6
Coaches : Kent & Swanky

Nehemiah: Facing Opposition (Neh 4)

1. STORY: FACING OPPOSITION (Nehemiah 4)

  • Recap
    • We’re following the adventures of Nehemiah as he and the people of Israel work together to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem
    • Who is Nehemiah? A Jew who was serving as cupbearer in the Persian king’s court
    • What is a cupbearer? A high-ranking officer whose duty is to serve drinks to the king (guarding it against poison).
    • Why did Nehemiah go to Jerusalem? To lead the people to rebuild the broken walls and the burnt gates — a city without walls is in disgrace and without protection from enemies.
    •  When Nehemiah first went to examine the walls, what did he see? Ruins. A mess.
    • What did Nehemiah say to the people to encourage them? The God of heaven will give us success.
    • The people started rebuilding and repairing the gates. Who can name me some of the gates? Sheep, Fish, Old, Valley, Rubbish, Fountain, Water, Horse, East, Miphkad
    • What do all the gates remind us about Jesus? Jesus is the gate of life! (John 10:9-10)

  • Facing Opposition:
    • In anything we do, we would face difficulties or opposition — people who go against what we are doing.
    • Obviously Nehemiah and the people of Jerusalem faced their share of challenges.
    • Their enemies did not want Jerusalem’s walls to be built.
    • Sanballat, Tobiah, Arabs, Ammonites, Ashdodites: furious and indignant
    • Mocked (Neh 4:1-3)
      • Attacked their identityFeeble Jews
      • Attacked their abilityWill they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices?Will they complete in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish?
      • Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall.
      • Conspired (Neh 4:8)
        • To attack
        • To create confusion
        • To create fear:
          “They will neither know nor see anything, till we come into their midst and kill them and cause the work to cease.”
          “From whatever place you turn, they will be upon us.” à told 10x!

  • Nehemiah’s Response:
    • Nehemiah knows God hears his prayers
    • He set men to guard the wall day and night 
      Half worked at construction; other half wore armour, held spears, shields and bows;
      One hand worked; other hand held a weapon
    • He rallied the people and reminded them about how BIG their God is:
    • He recognised the Person of God“Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome …” (Neh 4:14)
    • He recognised the Partnership of God: “Our God will fight for us” (Neh. 4:20)
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  • The result:
    • The enemies retreated!
      15 And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work. 

2. LESSON:

  • Know our identity:
    • The devil attacked Jesus’ identity as the Son of God when he tried to tempt him in the desert. The devil always tries to make us doubt our identity and our standing before God — Does God really love me? Will God really help me? Maybe God won’t listen to my prayers because I sinned etc
    • We can also face opposition and challenges by knowing who we are in Christ and what He has done for us!
  • Stand guard:
    • We can stand against the devil by putting on the whole armour of God (Eph 6:10-13) Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
  • Recognise the Person and Partnership of God
    • “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome …”
    • Romans 8:31  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

  • What can we do when we face challenges?
    • Get kids to share what sort of challenges they face.

3. ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS:

  • Memory Verse activity/game
    • Romans 8:31  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?