Monday, December 14, 2015

December 13th Lessons

9:00am DiscipleLand

1st-2nd grade 
Christmas Lesson--
Christmas Around the World
Luke 2:8-20
Jesus' birth in Bethlehem is celebrated all around the world.
Verse:
"But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people."--Luke 2:10
Focus:
~The Angels brought the news about Jesus Christ for all the people.
~Believers around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus in many ways.
~The good news of Jesus is for all people around the world.
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9:00am DiscipleLand
3rd-4th grade 
Christmas Lesson--Amazing Savior
Matthew 1:18-25
Jesus came from God to save all people from sins.
Verse:
"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[a] because he will save his people from their sins.”--Matthew 1:21
Focus:
~God, Jesus, came to earth as a human baby.
~Jesus' mother was a virgin.  His "father" was God the Holy Spirit.
~Joseph was a man of faith who willingly did God's will.
~"Jesus" means "salvation".  "Immanuel" means "God with us."

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10:45am TRU 
1st-4th grade 
Main Focus: Jesus Is the Promise (The Birth of Jesus--Luke 2:1-20; Matthew 1:1-16)
Anticipate: Reindeer in the Stable
God's people knew God had promised to send a Messiah.  They weren't expecting God to send Him to earth as a humble servant.  But God planned it that way.  He sent His Son to be born in a stable--a dwelling place for animals, and then laid in a food trough in an insignificant town called Bethlehem. 
Jesus is the promise of God!  God never forgot His promise to Send Jesus, the Redeemer.  Today we can know and trust that God will remain faithful to His promise to return to earth.
Memory Verse:
"Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them."--Luke 1:68
God loves His people so much that He promised long ago to provide the Redeemer, the coming King.  God prepared the way by sending John the baptist.  God kept His promise and chose Mary to become the mother of the Messiah.
Respond: Morse Code Necklace/Symbol Keychains

Even though God is with us, it's easy to forget sometimes.  Having a reminder can help us remember God's faithfulness to His promises.  

Monday, December 7, 2015

December 06 lessons

9:00am DiscipleLand

1st-2nd grade 
Why We Got the Bible Lesson 1--The Bible Enters My Mind
1 Kings 3:2-15 (King Solomon asked God for wisdom)
God uses the Bible to develop believers mind.
Verse: 
"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. "--Colossians 3:2
Focus:
~When people read the Bible, God's Word reaches their minds.
~God honored Solomon's prayer by not only giving him wisdom and understanding but also riches and fame.
~Missionary Hudson Taylor used his wisdom to serve others in China.
Missionary Biography: Hudson Taylor--Missionary to China
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9:00am DiscipleLand
3rd-4th grade 
Powerful Messengers Lesson 1--Special Gifts
Acts 9:32-43
the Holy Spirit empowers Christians to serve others with their spiritual gifts.
Verse: 
"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms."--1 Peter 4:10
Focus:
~God has the power to heal every disease.
~God uses His people His way to accomplish His plan.
~God has given spiritual gifts to use for His glory
~Peter used the gifts of healing and evangelism.
Missionary Biography: Stephen, the First Martyr--Circa A.D. 36, Jerusalem

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10:45am TRU 
1st-4th grade 
Main Focus: God Prepares the Way and He Will Provide (Mary--Luke 1:25-55)
Anticipate: Angel in Disguise
Memory Verse:
"Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them."--Luke 1:68
God loves His people so much that He promised long ago to provide the Redeemer, the coming King.  God prepared the way by sending John the baptist.  God kept His promise and chose Mary to become the mother of the Messiah.
Worship Response: God provided Jesus for us to be free from sin and death.  We praise God and celebrate Jesus!
Respond: God Uses Us!
God provides for us in many ways.  Sometimes God chooses to provide for others through individuals like John the baptist and Mary.  Sometimes God wants us to be His vessel and provide for those we see with different needs.  

Monday, November 30, 2015

Nov. 29th Lessons

9:00am DiscipleLand

1st-2nd grade 
How We Got The Bible Lesson 13--Review
Review this quarter's lessons and events by playing "Treasure Island".
Focus:
~The Bible came from God.
~The Bible is God inspired, and different from every other book in the world.
~People translated the Bible into different languages so others can read and understand God's Word.
~The Bible is God's perfect, true, alive and eternal message to all people.
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9:00am DiscipleLand
3rd-4th grade 
Eyewitnesses Lesson 12--Surprise Ending & Review Lessons
Acts 9:1-31
The Holy Spirit transforms people into Christians who follow and serve God.
Verse Review:
Acts 5:42; Galatians 6:10; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Matthew 5:10; Romans 10:14
Pictures of transformed lives
Focus:
~Saul persecuted those who believed in Jesus.
~Saul encountered Jesus as he traveled to Damascus.
~After Saul's conversion, he began to boldly speak about Jesus as the Messiah.
Missionary Biography: Amy Carmichael--India Today

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10:45am TRU 
1st-4th grade 
Main Focus: Remember and Celebrate God as Redeemer (Review and Feast of the Unleavened Bread)
Celebrate Game: Make Haste
When Pharaoh finally allowed the Israelites to leave Egypt, they had to do so as fast as possible because they knew Pharaoh would very likely change his mind and take them back to be his slaves again.  But God had already prepared his people by instructing them to prepare only unleavened bread so in their haste, they could pack their food for the journey.  
Zonk
Every quarter, our TRU children would participate in the game of ZONK! to help them remember what they've discovered during the past several weeks in the Big God Story.
Review Lessons:
~God Is Enough (The Golden Calf--Ex. 12-15; 19-30; 32-34)
~God Is In Control (Wandering in the Wilderness--Num. 9-20)
~God Is Faithful (Jericho--Joshua 1-6)
~God Delivers (Ehud--Judges 3-4)
~God Is With Us (Deborah--Judges 4-5)
~God Is Worthy (Gideon--Judges 6-8)

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Nov. 22nd Lessons

9:00am DiscipleLand

1st-2nd grade 
How We Got The Bible Lesson 12--God's Word Is Eternal

(The Eternal Word--Isaiah 6:1-13, 40:6-8)
God protects the Bible so it stays the same and true forever.
Verse Review:
Nehemiah 8:8; 2 timothy 2:15; Psalm 19:7a; Psalm 33:4; Hebrews 4:12
Focus:
~God preserves the Bible so His word will never change.
~God's Word is eternal, it will not change through time.
~Isaiah answered God's call to speak God's Words.
Missionary Biography: Cameron Townsend--World Travel and Famous People
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9:00am DiscipleLand
3rd-4th grade 
Eyewitnesses Lesson 11--Into Africa 
Acts 8:26-40
The Holy Spirit guides believers to tell others about Jesus' love and forgiveness.
Verse :
"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?"--Romans 10:14
Focus:
~God directed Philip to an Ethiopian official who needed to hear the Good News of Jesus.
~Philip obeyed God and shared the Gospel of Jesus with the Ethiopian man.
~The Ethiopian man took the truth of the Gospel when he returned home to Africa.
Missionary Biography: Amy Carmichael--the Servant Writer

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10:45am TRU 
1st-4th grade 
Main Focus: God Is Worthy (Judges 6-8--Gideon)
Anticipate: Gideon's Fleece

God called Gideon to lead the Israelites against the oppressive Midianites and told Gideon that He would be with His people the entire time.  But several times Gideon asked God to reassure him through a fleece as a sign of God’s presence.  God displayed His power to show that we can trust Him because He is worthy.  
 
Memory Verse: "'Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."  (Deuteronomy 31:6)

God gave Gideon many signs to reveal He was in control and would win the battle for the Israelites.  When it came time to fight the Midianites, God reduced the size of the Israelites' army to only 300.  By doing this, God made sure that no one took any credit for this unbelievable victory because He alone is worthy.  
Response: Gideon's Torch
During today’s part of The Big God Story Gideon and his soldiers brought torches with them as they went to fight the enemy.  These torches remind us of how God fights for us and is worthy of all glory.
May our children know God is worthy of their time, resources and praise.  May they spend this week praising our God who is worthy.