11 Maret 2012

Kelas 1 - 3

sesi 1 = Coach Shianty

sesi 2 = Coach Iwan

Kelas 4 - 6

sesi 1 = Coach Andy

sesi 2 = Coach Lusiana

Jesus and John the Baptist

Lesson: Jesus is God's Beloved Son

1. Story:

Tell the story of Jesus and John the Baptist based on Luke 3:1-22.

• How was your Chinese New Year? How many of you had fun with your cousins?
• In today's story, we meet Jesus’ cousin. His name is John.
• John: quite an unusual man.
• He lived in the desert
• He wore clothes made of camel’s hair
• He had a leather belt around his waist
• He ate locusts and wild honey
• One day, when John was about 31, God told him to tell the people something important:
• Stop running from God and run to Him instead
• You need to be rescued 
• I have good news — the Rescuer is coming
•  Make your hearts ready for Him!
• John baptised the people in the Jordan river — a sign for them to show that they wanted to follow God and begin a new life.
• The people began to wonder if John was the Savior God had promised.
• Remember the cycle of sin in the book of Judges? God always had to send a saviour to get the people out of trouble. But He had promised to send them the ultimate Saviour who would break the cycle of sin once and for all.
• But John told them “NO”.
• I am just preparing the way for the Saviour
• Someone more powerful was coming
• I am not worthy to untie his sandals
• I baptise with water; but He baptises with Holy Spirit and fire
• One day, guess who wanted to come and be baptised by John too? Jesus!
• At first, John didn’t want to baptise Jesus because he didn’t think he was worthy; Jesus should be the one baptising John! Besides Jesus had no sin to repent of!
• But Jesus wanted to be baptised — it was a prophetic act to show that one day, He will take away ALL their sins and give them His righteousness in return.
• As Jesus was in the water praying, suddenly:
• Heaven opened
• The Holy Spirit came down like a dove
• A voice came from heaven saying, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

2. Lesson: Good News for today!

•  Even before Jesus began his ministry or did anything to serve God, God already acknowledge 3 things:
• You are my Son
• I love You
• I am pleased with You
• Because of what Jesus did for us — take away ALL our sins and give us His righteousness in return —we can have a relationship with God as our Father.
• And we don’t have to earn His love or favour.
• He’s saying to all of you now:
• You are my son/daughter
• I love you
• I am pleased with you
• Now say it for yourself:
• I am God’s son/daughter
• He loves me
• He is pleased with me
• Let’s thank Jesus for what He has done for us!

3. Activity ideas:

a. Craft: Dove Badge

• Prepare: White card paper, medium-sized safety pins
• Trace outline of hand on paper with thumb stretched as far from other fingers as possible — forms a dove shape
• Get kids to write on dove: “I am God’s Beloved child”
• Stick the safety pin behind the dove card so kids can wear it as a badge.

*****

Youth Bible Study

Leader's Guide

Jesus and John the Baptist

Read Luke 3:1-22.

1. What do you know about John? (cref Matt 3:4)

He was Jesus’ cousin; He lived in the desert, wore clothes made of camel’s hair, had a leather belt around his waist, ate locusts and wild honey.

2. How did Isaiah describe John’s role as?

One who prepares the way for the Lord so that all people will see God’s salvation.

To tell people to stop running from God and run to Him instead; of their need to be rescued; and of the coming Rescuer.

3. What did John preach?

A baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins; symbolizing a cleansing from the false belief that you can be saved through righteous works. To prepare their hearts for a Saviour.

ie. All of us are in the same boat; all sinners in need of a Saviour

4. What did John tell the different groups of people the fruit of their change of mind (repentance) is?

Crowd: share shirt with those who have none

Tax collectors: don’t collect more than required

Soldiers: be content; don’t extort money or accuse people falsely

Fruit of repentance: realizing all of us are in the same boat, in need of a Saviour. So we don’t lord over others with our wealth, position or power.

5. The people thought John was the Rescuer/Saviour. What was John’s response?

No, he is just preparing the way for the Saviour. Someone more powerful was coming; I am not worthy to untie his sandals; I baptise with water; but He baptises with Holy Spirit and fire.

(cref Acts 19:4: “Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.")

6. What was John’s initial reaction when Jesus came to be baptised?  (cref Matt 3:14-15)

John protested, saying that he needs to be baptised by Jesus instead.

7. Why did Jesus want to be baptised?

It is proper to fulfil all righteousness.

Jesus was identifying with sinners and prophetic of His death and resurrection and how all who believed could have new life and His righteousness.

Jesus’ righteousness would fulfil the requirements of the Law that the sinners could never do on their own. And when they came to Him, they would be exchanging their sin for His righteousness.

8. What happened while Jesus was in the water?

Heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove. A voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Lesson:

·         Even before Jesus began his ministry or did anything to serve God, God already acknowledge 3 things:

o    You are my Son

o    I love You             

o    I am pleased with You

·         Because of what Jesus did for us — take away ALL our sins and give us His righteousness in return — we can have a relationship with God as our Father.

o    And we don’t have to earn His love or favour; we do things as a response to God’s love, not to earn it.

o    He’s saying to all of you now:

§  You are my son/daughter

§  I love you

§  I am pleased with you

Let’s thank Jesus for what He has done for us!

4 Maret 2012

Kelas 1 - 3

sesi 1 = Coach Eko

sesi 2 = Coach Shevica

Kelas 4 - 6

sesi 1 = Coach Savitri

sesi 2 = Coach Micha

Lesson: My Father's HouseBoy Jesus at the Temple

1. Game: Search for the Missing Number

Hand out a number to each child in your group on a card. The numbers should be in consecutive order. Before class, hide the No. 1 card somewhere in the classroom that would be fairly easy for the class to find. Have the class work together to put the numbers in order on the floor. When it is discovered that the number one is missing, have the class search for the missing card. When the card has been found, everybody sits back down quietly.

2. Story: 
Tell the story of Jesus in the temple based on Luke 2:41-52.

• In today's story Jesus was 12 years old. 
• Every year all of God's people travelled to the temple in the city of Jerusalem for a special holiday called the Passover. Jesus also travelled to Jerusalem with his family to celebrate the Passover with all their aunts, uncles and cousins.
• What is the Passover?
• The Passover was a celebration to remember how God delivered the Israelites from Egypt.
• How many plagues did God send on the Egyptians? (10)
• What was the last plague? (Death of the firstborn)
• How were the Israelites spared? (Put blood of lamb on the doorpost; angel of death passed over them)
• The Passover holiday lasted for many days.
• Mary, Joseph and all his relatives packed up and started home. They did not know that Jesus was not with them. They walked all day. When night time came, Mary and Joseph set up camp to sleep for the night. They thought Jesus had been travelling with his aunts and uncles and cousins so they went to look for Him. But they could not find Jesus anywhere. 
• So Mary and Joseph travelled all the way back to Jerusalem and started hunting for Jesus there.
• Jerusalem was a big and busy city. Mary and Joseph searched everywhere for 3 days.
• Finally they went to the temple. There was Jesus at the temple talking with the priests. He was asking them questions, and the priests were amazed with Jesus' understanding and his wise answers.
• Mary said to Jesus, "Son, why did you do this to us. Your father and I were very worried about you. We have been looking for you." 
• Jesus was very surprised that his parents wouldn't have known to look for him at the temple. He said to his parents, "Why did you have to look for me? You should have known that I must be in my father’s house, doing my father’s business."
• Mary and Joseph didn’t understand that Jesus was talking about God as His father. But Mary kept these things in her heart.
• Jesus returned home to Nazareth with Mary and Joseph and was obedient to them. He grew in wisdom and stature, in favour with God and man.

3. Lesson: Good News for Today 

• Even at a young age, Jesus knew who His father was (God) — the Jews of that time never knew God as their father. They only worshipped Him, but didn’t have a close relationship with Him. Jesus knew who He was and who He belonged to. When we accept Jesus as our Saviour and Lord, we can also call God “Father”.
• Does anyone here want to accept Jesus into their hearts today?

• Because Jesus knew who He belonged to, He knew whose voice to listen to. He was in His Father’s house, doing His Father’s business. If we know that we are God’s children, we will know how to listen to God’s voice.
• Who are God’s children? Who likes to listen to God’s voice?

• Because of God’s grace on His life, Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, in favour with God and man. When we receive God’s grace, we too can grow in wisdom and stature, in favour with God and man. What does it mean to grow in wisdom and stature? What does it mean to grow in favour with God and with man? (wise, big/tall/strong, blessed by God and by others)
• Who would like to grow wise and big? Who would like to be blessed by God and by others?

• Pray: Thank You Jesus that because of You, we, too, can call God “Father”. We can learn to hear His voice and do His work. We can grow in wisdom and stature, in favour with God and man. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

4. Activity ideas:

a. Worksheets 

*****

Youth Bible Study

Leader's Guide

Boy Jesus at the temple (Luke 2:41-52)

1. Read Luke 2:41-52

2. Why did Jesus’ parents go to Jerusalem every year?
To celebrate the Feast of the Passover

3. What do you know about this celebration? (cf Exodus 12:26-27)
To remember how the Lord passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared them from the death of the firstborn (10^th plague; deliverance from Egypt)

4. What did Mary and Joseph discover on their way back to Nazareth after the feast?
That Jesus was not with them or their relatives.

5. Where did they finally find Jesus and what was He doing there and what were the reactions of those with Him?
After 3 days, they found Jesus in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.

6. What did Jesus respond to His mother’s concerns?
He was surprised that they were searching for Him and didn’t know that He was in His Father’s house attending to His Father’s business.

7. Jesus’ parents didn’t understand what He was saying. Which “father” was Jesus referring to?
His heavenly Father, God

8. Jesus knew who He was and whose He was. Do we know who we belong to? (cf Gal 4:4-7)
Because of Jesus, we have full rights as sons of God. No longer a slave, but a son and an heir.

9. How did Jesus live with His earthly parents?
He was obedient to them.

10. How did Jesus grow? Why was He able to grow that way? (cf Luke 2:40)
Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, in favour with God and men. Because the grace of God was upon Him.

Thank the Lord that:

•  Because of Him, we can call God “Father”
• Because we are His sons, we can be about our Father’s business
• Because of His grace, we can grow in wisdom and stature, in favour with God and men

26 Februari 2012

Kelas 1 - 3

sesi 1 = Coach Susi Tjio

sesi 2 = Coach Iwan

Kelas 4 - 6

sesi 1 = Coach Andy

sesi 2 = Coach Mica

The Parable of the Rich Fool

Lesson: Jesus is all we need

1.       Story

• Tell the story based on Luke 12:13-21; 32-34
• Once there were two brothers. Their daddy had died and left some money, and they both were fighting over it. They came to Jesus to complain about how to divide up what their father had given them.
• Jesus reminded them that our life is not measured by how many possessions or money we have. “Because your true life is not made up of the things you own, no matter how rich you may be.” (Luke 12:14)
• He tells us a story of a rich man who had big harvest from his land. When he ran out of space to keep his crops, he decided to tear down his barns and build bigger ones. He thought, “If I keep all these for myself, I don’t have to worry about what I will eat or drink for many, many years. I can now enjoy life.” But one night, he died. And he couldn’t bring any of the crops or money with him.

2. Lesson: Good News for Today!

• Do these stories sound familiar? Do we fight and cry and complain when someone else gets more toys or candies than us? Do we try to hoard all we have instead of sharing? Why is that? We always want more toys, more candy, more stuff. We’re afraid someone else will take our share. We’re afraid we won’t have enough.
• The good news is: We don’t have to be like this rich man, or the two brothers. We don’t have to fight over things or keep things for ourselves. We don’t have to chase after stuff – toys, sweets, games, money etc. These things don’t last. And we can’t bring them with us when we die.
• But Jesus is our source. He is our everything. When we have Jesus, we don’t have to worry about not having enough. We don’t have to worry about people taking our things. We don’t have to worry about others having more than us. Because when we have Jesus, we have everything!
• When we have Jesus, we can give what we have generously to others because we know we will never lack. When we have Jesus, He provides all we need. And no one can take Him away from us forever. (Luke 4:33)
• Memory Verse: Luke 12:32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”

3. Activity Ideas

• Make bookmark/simple craft with the words, “I can share and give because Jesus has given me everything.” 
• Break into groups and get them to share: What is one thing God has blessed me with and how can I bless someone with it?

19 Februari 2012

Kelas 1 - 3

sesi 1 = Coach Shianty

sesi 2 = Coach Shevica

Kelas 4 - 6

sesi 1 = Coach Savitri

sesi 2 = Coach Kezia

The Gracious Moneylender

Lesson: Forgiven much, Love much

1. Story:

• Tell the story of Jesus being anointed in the Pharisee's house from Luke 7:36-50.
• Suggested prop: a bottle of perfume for "smell effects"
• One day, a Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus to his house for dinner.
• As Jesus was eating at the table, suddenly a woman came to him. This woman had a bad reputation in the town. The Bible describes her as someone who lived a sinful life.
• This woman started crying at Jesus’ feet. Her tears streamed down and wet his feet, and she wiped the feet with her hair. She had a very expensive and precious alabaster jar of perfume — it was probably her most treasured possession. She poured the perfume on Jesus’ feet. (spray some perfume in the air or at feet so that the kids can smell it)
• When Simon saw this happening, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is.”
• As we know, Jesus knows our thoughts even when we don’t speak them out. Jesus decided to tell Simon a story:
• Two people owed money to a moneylender. One owed 500 denarii, while the other owed 50 denarii. (1 denarii = 1 day’s salary)
• None of them could pay their debt.
• The moneylender decided to forgive both their debts.
• Which of these two people will love the moneylender more?
• Simon answered, “The one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
• Jesus said, “You have judged correctly.” Then Jesus  turned to the woman and said to Simon:
• Simon: did not give any water for Jesus to wash His feet
• Woman: wet feet with tears and wiped with hair
• Simon: did not give Jesus a kiss
• Woman: has not stopped kissing feet
• Simon: did not put oil on Jesus’ head
• Woman: poured perfume on His feet
• Both Simon and the woman had sins — both had debts they could not pay.
• But only the woman realised and understood that Jesus had forgiven her many sins. That’s why the woman’s response was so great! She had been forgiven much, so she loved much.
• Whereas Simon the Pharisee was probably self righteous and did not realise he also needed his sins to be forgiven. So as he thought he had not much to be forgiven, he also showed little love to Jesus.
• Difference: Simon invited Jesus into his house, but the woman invited Jesus into her heart.
• Jesus assured the woman: “Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” The woman no longer had to go out as a “sinful” woman, but as one who knew she had been forgiven.

2. Lesson: Good News for today!

• When we realise how much Jesus has done for us, we cannot help but to love Him in return.
• That’s the amazing grace of God!     
• Let’s pray: Thank you Jesus that while we were still sinners, when we couldn’t pay our debts, when we were Your enemies, You loved us and forgave us. Thank you for Your amazing grace in our lives. Amen.

3. Activity Ideas

• Craft: Perfume bottle
•  Print out perfume bottle on white card.
• On 1 side write: Jesus makes me lovely
• On the other side: Get kids to stick colourful crepe paper to decorate. Then spray some perfume on the crepe paper.

• Wordsearch 

*****

Youth Bible Study

Leader's Guide

Jesus' Parable: The Gracious Moneylender (Luke 7:36-50)

1. Who invited Jesus to dinner?

Simon, a Pharisee

2. Who made an uninvited appearance at the dinner? What did she bring with her?

A woman in that town who lived a sinful life.
An alabaster jar of perfume — probably her most treasured possession.

3.  Jesus could read what the Pharisee was thinking. Where else have we learned that He demonstrated this ability?

When He healed the paralytic who was brought by his four friends to Jesus (Luke 5:22).

4. Jesus then told a parable. How many men owed the moneylender money? How many couldn’t pay? How many had their debt forgiven?

Two men owed money. Both men couldn’t pay. Both had their debt forgiven.

5. Between the Pharisee and the woman, which of them had sin in their life? Which of them couldn’t be perfect? Which of them had their debt forgiven?

Both of them.

6. Which of them realised how much they had been forgiven?

The woman.

7.       State the differences between how the Pharisee and the woman treated Jesus:

Pharisee	Woman
Did not give Jesus water to wash His feet	Wet Jesus’ feet with tears; wiped with hair
Did not give Jesus a kiss	Had not stopped kissing Jesus’ feet
Did not put oil on Jesus’ head	Poured perfume on His feet

8.  At this time, Jesus had not yet died on the cross. But the woman knew that He was the one who loved her and had the authority to forgive her many sins. How did Jesus send her off?

By saying, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

9. When we know how much Jesus has done for us and how much He has forgiven us, what response can we have?

Love Him.

12 Februari 2012

Kelas 1 - 3

sesi 1 = Coach Eko

sesi 2 = Coach Yungcien

Kelas 4 - 6

sesi 1 = Coach Lily Bun

sesi 2 = Coach Agus Rianto

Ask, Seek, Knock (II)

1.       Lesson: Daddy God Gives Good Gifts

• Based on Luke 11:11-13, Matthew 7:9-12.
• Intro: Prepare 3 paper bags/boxes. Inside each bag/box:

Label on the bag/box	Inside (either put object or a picture of it)
Bread	Stone
Fish	Snake
Egg	Scorpion

• Tell the kids that it’s “Snack time”. Three kids get to choose which “snack” they want.
• As each kid choose, give them the unopened bag/box and have them stand in front.
• Then have each kid open the bag/box one by one and show the class what’s inside.
• Ask them how they feel when they ask for something good and get something bad.

• If you are hungry and ask your daddy for some bread, will he give you a stone?
• If at dinner time, you ask your mummy for some fish, will she give you a snake?
• If in the morning, you want to eat some scrambled eggs, will your daddy give you a scorpion instead?
• Definitely not!
• Our mummies and daddies only give us good things. Not things that will harm us.
• Do you know that as much as our mummies and daddies love us, that there’s Someone else who loves us even more? Yes, God loves us soooo much more than our mummies and daddies!
• If our mummies and daddies can give us good things, God gives us the very best! He gave us His beloved Son — Jesus.
• Because Jesus died for us and rose again, today, God can send His Holy Spirit to live with us forever and ever.
• And when God gave us Jesus, He has already given us everything good, so we can just ask Him for all that we need. (Rom 8:32)

• Memory Verse:
• (Blue/Yellow) Matthew 7:11 “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

• Let’s Pray: Dear Daddy in heaven, thank you for loving me so much. Thank you for giving Jesus to die for my sins. Thank you for giving your Holy Spirit to live in me forever. Thank you for blessing me with good gifts always. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

2. Activity Ideas:

• Gift box: Make a gift box card with the memory verse or "Daddy God gives GOOD gifts to me" inside 

5 Februari 2012

Kelas 1 - 3

sesi 1 = Coach Grace

sesi 2 = Coach Iwan

Kelas 4 - 6

sesi 1 = Coach Swanky

sesi 2 = Coach Lusiana

Ask, Seek, Knock

Lesson: God loves to give

1. Story:

• Tell the story based on Luke 11:5-10.
• Once there was a man. He was about to sleep at night when there was a knock on his door. It was a friend visiting him. The visitor had come from a long journey and was hungry.
• The man went to check his cupboards. Uh oh! There’s no food in there.
• So he goes to his neighbor. It’s midnight, but still he knocks on the door. Knock, knock, knock.
• The neighbor cannot believe his ears. “Why do you wake me at this time?”
• “Please lend me three loaves of bread. A friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.”
• “What?! Don’t bother me. My door is already locked. My children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.”
• But the man persists in knocking and asking.
• Finally, fed up, the neighbor grudgingly gets out of bed, opens the door and gives the man all the bread he wants — as much as he needed.

2. Lesson:

• This neighbor was reluctant to help the man. He was already in bed. He didn’t want to get up. Even though he knew the man and was his friend, he didn’t want to help him.
• But in the end he still did. Because the man dared to ask.
• The key difference is that God is NOT a reluctant neighbor. He doesn’t give us a dozen excuses about why He cannot help us. He doesn’t need you to bang down His door before He decides to help us.
• In fact, Jesus tells us to simply: A.S.K. — Ask, Seek, Knock. (Luke 11:9-10)
• When we have a need, ask our Heavenly Father, and we receive. If we are looking for an answer, seek, and we shall find. If we need an open door, knock, and the door will be opened for us.
• Because of Jesus, and what He has done for us, we can be bold (like the man) and approach God whenever we have a need.
• Memory Verse: Luke 11:9 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

3. Activity ideas:

• Memory Verse:
• Prepare 3 posters (A4 or A3) with pictures of:
• An open mouth
• A ear
• A door
• Round #1: Hold up each poster and get kids to shout out:
• Ask
• Seek
• Knock
• Round #2: Hold up each poster and get kids to shout out:
• Ask: And it will be given to you
• Seek: And you will find
• Knock: And the door will be opened to you

• Small group sharing and prayer:
• What is one thing you are asking, seeking, knocking for?
• Do you know that God wants to help you and answer your prayer?
• Pray for one another