Sesi 1 = Coach Grace Sesi 2 = Coach Shevica Kelas 4 - 6 Sesi 1 = Coach Swanky Sesi 2 = Coach Lusiana
A Son is Given
1. Lesson:
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given
Why do we celebrate Christmas? To remember God coming down to earth as a little baby.
When man chose not to rely on God but to go their own way, they were separated from God by sin. Nothing they did could bring them back to God. We were lost. Hopeless. Helpless.
But God had a solution — Thousands of years ago, God promised that He will send a very special Saviour to save us. He would send Himself.
This Saviour was special. He would be:
A Child
A Son
A Child:
God could have come as a tall, strong captain on a big horse. He could have come in a super fast space ship. He could have zoomed in like Superman.
But instead He chose to come as little helpless baby, a child. He was born and put in a smelly manger.
Man was the one who sinned. So man had to pay the price for the sin. So God had to be a man to pay the price for our sin.
He came down as a baby, lived a perfect life, and died on the cross to pay our sin for us.
A Son:
God could have come as a tall, strong captain on a big horse. He could have come in a super fast space ship. He could have zoomed in like Superman.
God didn’t just send an angel, or a very good man to save us.
He sent us His very best — His Son.
Why would He give His very best for a people who hated Him and didn’t care about Him? Because of His great love.
Jesus Himself tells us: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Even though we made the decision to go our own way and were separated from God, God gave us His Son to die on the cross, pay for our sin and open the way back to Him.
All of us who trust in Jesus will not perish (die) but have eternal life — we can be with God forever.
This Christmas, let’s thank God for the precious gift of His Son, Jesus, who came as Child so that we all can call God “Father” and be with Him forever!
If anyone would like to receive this gift of Jesus and trust in Him, please pray together with me:
Lord Jesus, thank you for coming to earth 2,000 years ago as a little baby, a little child. You lived a perfect life. You died in my place. Because of You, I can be a son and daughter of God and be with Him forever. I receive Your love and your gift of eternal life. In Your name I pray, Amen!
Memory verse: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
4. Activity Suggestion
Memory verse game: any simple activity to help kids to memorise John 3:16
Kelas 4 - 6 Sesi 1 = Coach Andy Sesi 2 = Coach Kezia
Jesus meets Zacchaeus
1. Story:
Tell the story of Zacchaeus meeting Jesus (based on Luke 19:1-10)
2. Lesson
a. INTRO:
Last week, we heard how Jesus met and healed someone on the road to Jericho. Who can remember who it was? Bartimaeus the blind beggar.
Today, we will learn about how Jesus met another person in Jericho. He wasn’t blind. He wasn’t poor. In fact, he was very rich. But he wasn’t well liked and he was short. His name was Zacchaeus, and he was a chief tax collector.
We’ve learned last time who a tax collector is —Tax collectors were Jews who helped the Roman government to collect taxes from their own people. Jews hated the Romans. So they also hated the tax collectors who worked for the Roman government. The tax collectors also often collected extra money for themselves. So if they were supposed to collect 100 dollars, they would collect 150 dollars instead and keep 50 dollars for themselves.
So Zacchaeus was not popular among the Jews because they saw him as a traitor and a cheat. And for all the money he had, he felt that there was something missing in his life.He wasn’t a happy man.
One day, he heard that Jesus was passing through. He must have heard good things about Jesus. He knew that Jesus was friends with many tax collectors. There was something different about Him — He was not like all the other teachers of the law or Pharisees. If only he could just see Him … But Zacchaeus was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead, and he climbed a sycamore tree, to catch a glimpse of Jesus.
b. JESUS CALLS:
When Jesus reached the spot:
He looked up and saw Zacchaeus — He had come for him
He called him by name — He knew him already!
He invited Himself to Zacchaeus’ house
c. JESUS TRANSFORMS:
What’s the result of Zacchaeus warmly welcoming Jesus into his house? What effect did it have on him?
Zacchaeus stood up and told Jesus, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
Last time we learnt about the rich young ruler who thought he could earn eternal life by obeying all the laws himself — when Jesus told him that his wealth was his idol, he could not accept it and went away sadly.
But for Zacchaeus, a tax collector who knew how unrighteous he was — he knew there was no way he could earn salvation on his own. But when Jesus came into his house and touched his heart, he was transformed. He could give up his money willingly and generously.
d. JESUS SAVES:
The people around were not so happy. “Jesus has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” They thought that Zacchaeus was not worthy to have Jesus in his house and wondered why Jesus would “waste” His time with a sinner.
Jesus told them, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Jesus came to save the lost. Those who thought they were good enough didn’t want to be saved, so He came to those who knew they were not good enough.
And because Zacchaeus received Jesus into his house and heart, he was saved and had eternal life.
e. JESUS DOES THE SAME TODAY
Today Jesus also does the same:
He looks for us — while we were lost sinners
He calls us by name — He knows us before we were born
He invites Himself to our hearts
We can all be like Zacchaeus and welcome Jesus happily.
And we can let Jesus transform our lives and give us eternal life in Him!
Memory verse: Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.
Ice Breaker & Games : Rini P., Linda, Rini Nomleni
The Wise and Foolish Builders
Lesson: Jesus is our Firm Foundation
1. Story:
Tell the story of "The Wise and Foolish Builders" based on Luke 6:47-49.
Jesus liked to use a lot of stories when He taught the people. These stories are called “parables”.
One day, Jesus was on a hill teaching the people about God.
He told them that:
no matter how good man was, he could never be good enough for God’s standards, based on his own works and efforts
God loves His enemies and is kind to those who were evil
If we know that only God can make us good enough, we will live right and treat others right.
After teaching these things to the people, Jesus told them a parable about two men.
These two men were building a house.
One built his house on the rock — he dug deep to make sure he had a solid foundation.
The other decided to build his house on the sand.
Both houses looked nice when completed.
But one day, a heavy rain came. The wind blew, the flood rose.
The house on the rock got wet, but it stood firm.
However, the house on the sand fell flat and was destroyed.
2.Lesson: Good News for today!
How many of you saw the news and pictures of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan? <show some pix to the kids> This reminds us that in such storms, many things are easily destroyed. Our hope and faith cannot be on them.
When we build our house on sand, we’re building on our own abilities, our intelligence, our achievements, our money ... we think that we are good enough for God. But when the storms come, we realise that whatever we have built cannot stand.
But when we build our house on the rock, we are building on the sure foundation — Jesus. Jesus calls us to “come to Him and hear His words and put them into practice.”
Only He is good enough for God. Only He can make us good enough for God.
And when we believe and trust in Him, we can stand firm till the end.
Do we want to build our life on ourselves or on Jesus?
Pray: Thank you Jesus that You are our sure foundation. You have done a perfect work on the cross, and all we can do is to trust in You and not be shaken. Thank you for keeping us safe in the storm. In Your name we pray, Amen.
1. Read Luke 6:27-45. Jesus was teaching people on a hill. He told them a lot of things. What were some of them?
Love your enemies, don’t judge others, what’s in the heart determines what comes out of the mouth
2. What do you think His intentions were in teaching these things?
Whatever good man thought he could do on his own works and efforts, Jesus raised the standards higher, e.g. Love others à Love your enemies.Vs. 35: God loves His enemies and is kind to those who were evilVs: 43-45: If we know that only God can make us good enough, we will live right and treat others right.
3. In the parable Jesus told, what were the differences between the ways both men built their houses? What were the results that when the storm came?
One man built his house on the rock — he dug deep to make sure he had a solid foundation. When the flood came, the house stood firm because it was well built.The other decided to build his house on the sand, without foundation. When the storm came, the house collapsed and was destroyed.
4. Jesus said that the man who hears His words and puts them into practice is like the one who built his house on the rock. What do you think that means?
We need to build on the right foundation. We cannot build on our own abilities, intelligence, achievements, money etc and think that we can be good enough for God. Because when the storm of God’s judgment comes, what we built cannot stand.Instead, we have to build our house on the sure foundation — Jesus. Only He is good enough for God. Only He can make us good enough for God. And when we believe and trust in Him, we can stand firm till the end.
5. What foundation are you building your life on?
Jesus
·Pray: Thank you Jesus that You are our sure foundation. You have done a perfect work on the cross, and all we can do is to trust in You and not be shaken. Thank you for keeping us safe in the storm. In Your name we pray, Amen.
Sesi 1 = Coach Shianty Sesi 2 = Coach Shevica Kelas 4 - 6 Sesi 1 = Coach Swanky Sesi 2 = Coach Iwan
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
Lesson: Let us boast in Jesus
1. Story: Tell the Parable of the "Pharisee and the Tax Collector" based on Luke 18:9-13.
Jesus told a story about 2 people — a Pharisee and a Tax Collector
Who was a Pharisee?
He is part of a religious/political group that prides themselves in keeping the law. The word “Pharisee” means set apart — they wanted to keep themselves holy and were careful not to mix with anyone who did anything wrong.
Who was a Tax Collector?
Tax collectors were Jews who helped the Roman government to collect taxes from their own people. Jews hated the Romans. So they also hated the tax collectors who worked for the Roman government. The tax collectors also often collected extra money for themselves. So if they were supposed to collect 100 dollars, they would collect 150 dollars instead and keep 50 dollars for themselves.
Both these men went to pray in the temple.
The Pharisee stood apart by himself — he didn’t want to be with the “common” folks in case they contaminated him. He prayed, "I thank you, God, that I am not greedy, dishonest, or an adulterer, like everybody else. I thank you that I am not like that tax collector over there. I fast two days a week, and I give you one tenth of all my income."
The Pharisee took pride in the things that he could do that made him better than everyone else, especially the tax collector — he was not greedy, not dishonest, not an adulterer, fasts two days a week, gives one-tenth of his income.
He thought that by doing all these, he will be able to earn or deserve God's favour. God will be happy with him, and he will be right before God ("righteous"). But actually he was only self-righteouse because he thought he could be good enough on his own — he didn't need God.
On the other hand, there was the tax collector. He hid his face down, ashamed. He knew all the wrong things he had done. He knew he could not be right with God on his own. He was a hopeless case. He knew only God could save him. So he beat his chest and said, "God have pity on me, a sinner."
Jesus told his disciples that it was the tax collector, not the Pharisee, who went home righteous that day.
Why?
The Pharisee was self-righteous. He believed, by what he does, that he was good enough and didn’t need God. But the Bible tells us that none of us can meet God’s standards on our own (“There is none righteous, not one.” Rom 3:10). But because the Pharisee didn’t see himself as needing a Saviour, he didn’t accept God’s forgiveness.
The tax collector was unrighteous. And he knew it. He didn’t pretend to be better than he was. He didn’t try to hide it. He just called out for help. And God heard him and answered him.
2. Lesson:
When we accepted Jesus into our hearts, we told Him that we couldn’t do it on our own and we needed His help. God heard us, and answered us, and Jesus lives in us forever.
Today, because of Jesus, you and I don't have to beat ourselves up like the tax collector any more.
We can stand before God boldly, not boasting in our works like the Pharisee, but boasting in Jesus' works — Jesus is our wisdom, our righteousness, our holiness and our redemption (1 Cor 1:31).
We can say, "I thank you, God, that because Jesus was not greedy, not dishonest, and not an adulterer, because Jesus was completely sinless and completely righteous, we are now the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!" Praise the Lord!
Memory verse: 1 Cor 1:31 "Therefore, as it is written, 'Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.'"
2. Activity Suggestion
Any related craft with the memory verse or the words “I will boast in Jesus”