July 17th Lessons

9:00am DiscipleLand

1st-2nd grade 
The Bible Guides My Life 7--Faith and Trials

James 1

Genuine faith enables believers to endure trials joyfully .

Verse: 

" Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."--James 1:2-3

Focus:

~Faith enables believers to be joyful even in trials.

~God gives wisdom when believers ask.

~Those who perservere during trials are promised with a crown.
~True faith always leads to good deeds.

Missionary Biography: Mary Slessor—Return to England

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9:00am DiscipleLand

3rd-4th grade 

World Ambassadors Lesson 7—Daunting Dream

Daniel 7

God will overcome and rule the entire earth in the end.

Verse: 
"Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him."--Daniel 7:27

Focus:

~God's graphic vision of the future troubled Daniel.

~4 bests representing 4 future kingdoms would complete and end their reigns on earth.
~God is the Ancient of Days and the eternal One.

~God's kingdom will have eternal dominion.

Missionary Biography: Loren Cunningham—Car Accidient!

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10:45am TRU

1st-4th grade

Main Focus: Jesus Is Master

Paul with Priscilla and Aquila

(Acts 18)

Anticipate: Explosive Growth

After the first Christian martyr, Stephen, was killed because of his faith in Jesus, persecution of the church intensified and many believers scatters. while this seemed like a bad thing, God used these believers to spread the gospel throughout the world, even to the ends of the earth.  The church exploded with growth!

Worship with songs: led by Youth Band

Game: Giant

Memory Verse: 

" My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me."--John 10:27

Faith means more than just believing in something. Faith means believing in something so much that you surrender to that belief and let it change your life. Faith is very serious and important. Stephen had faith. He had faith that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died and rose from the dead, and that He is the only One who can bring people into right relationship with God. Because of Stephen’s faith in Jesus, he shared what he believed with others, no matter what might happen to him. Stephen obeyed the one true God, even when it cost him his life.   Jesus also asks us to take up our cross and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). This is a high calling—one that means giving our lives to Him. Spend some time talking with your kids about what it means to truly live out faith in their lives.

Respond: Getting the Secret 

Stephen reminded the religious leaders that throughout history, God's people never seemed to get things right the first time.  But God never stopped being faithful to them.  This game of guessing what the secret is would take us a few rounds to "get it."  (ex. "I will travel to London and I will bring Larry with me." "I will travel to China and I will bring Cindy with me.")

Bless: 

Colossians 3:1  "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at eh right hand of God."

May our children worship the one true God with their whole lives.  May they serve and follow Him with great joy.