Oct. 23rd Lessons

9:00am DiscipleLand

1st-2nd grade 
Family Life with God Lesson 8--Homes
2 Kings 4:8-37 (Elisha's Special Room)

God Is Our Refuge

Verse : 

Joshua 24:15c
 " But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."

Focus:

~God is our refuge--a safe place for His people to dwell.
~People in Bible times lived in tents or simple houses.
~The Shunammite woman used her home to serve prophet Elisha.

Missionary Biography: William Carey--Troubles and Joy

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9:00am DiscipleLand

3rd-4th grade 

Follow the King Lesson 8—Living Water

John 4

Jesus loves everyone, regardless of their background.

Verse : 

John 4:14

 " but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Focus:

~Jesus offered the Samaritan woman living water--new life through the Holy Spirit.
~Jesus was not prejudiced and he treated all people fairly.  
~God wants people to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth with all their heart and mind.
Missionary Biography: Hudson Taylor—The Typhoon

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10:45am TRU

1st-4th grade

Main Focus: God Redeems

Joseph (Genesis 37; 39-41)

Anticipate: Picture Mazes

Joseph started as the favored son of Jacob, but soon became a slave and then a prisoner through no fault of his own.  It must have seemed as if God had forgotten him during those difficult times.  In the same way, we might sometimes feel we are in a maze and don't know where we are going or how to get out of it. But if we trust God and get His help like Joseph did, we will see God's Big Picture.  God who knows all things also redeems us.

Worship with songs: led by Youth Band 

Game: Throw That Sin Away!

Memory Verse: 

"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."--Philippians 1:6

Joseph was His father's favorite son.  Because of this there was a lot of jealousy and unhappiness in their family.  Joseph's life took many unexpected turns.  Through it all, God directed him where He wanted him to go and what He wanted Joseph to do.  God had never forgotten Joseph.  In fact, the Bible tells us that God remembered Joseph and that God was with Joseph through those awful situations and in the prison cell.  God blessed Joseph, gave him success and redeemed Joseph in each situation.  God still redeems us today, through His Son, Jesus Christ.  He has a picture in mind of the life He is going to give each of His people.

Respond: "Block Heads--How Would You Feel?"

God was with Joseph through all the twists and turns of his path.  At those turning points, Joseph made a decision to trust God instead of trusting his own feelings.  Feelings don't necessarily mean taking action.  But God cares about how we feel even when He is asking us to trust in His plans.

Although we know it's the right thing to do to trust God in all circumstances, we need to also be honest with God when we struggle with "doing the right thing".

God who knows all things wants us to go to Him and ask Him for strength.

We might not always be ready to be just like Joseph, but we can always tell God that "God, this makes me so angry.  I don't feel like doing the right thing.  Will You please help me respond in the way that will honor You?"

Bless

Psalm 40:1-4a

I waited patiently for the Lord;   he turned to me and heard my cry.
² He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.³ He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord  and put their trust in him.

⁴ Blessed is the one   who trusts in the Lord,

 May our children  know that the God of Israel redeemed them.  May they trust in God their Redeemer and live a faithful life that is consistent at church and everywhere else.