Sept. 24th Lessons

9:00am DiscipleLand 1st-2nd grade How We Got The Bible 
Lesson 4--Authors Wrote God's Words
(Moses and Luke--Deuteronomy 33:1-4; Luke 1:1-4)

Human authors were let by God to write down His inspired words.Verse:"For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."    ---2 Peter 1:21 
Focus:~God helped human authors to write down His inspired words.~Inspired means "God-breathed". (2 Timothy 3:16)~Bible "addresses" include book, chapter and verse.Missionary Biography: Cameron Townsend--Nothing Is Impossible with God

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9:00am DiscipleLand 3rd-4th grade Eyewitnesses 
Lesson 4--Happy Birthday
Acts 2:22-47
The Holy Spirit unites believers in one heart and purpose.

Verse:"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."  --Acts 2:42
Focus:~The Church was born at Pentecost.~At Pentecost, 3,000 people believed in Jesus and were baptized.~The believers continued to grow and fellowship together.Missionary Biography: Amy Carmichael--Go...Into All the World

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10:45am TRU 
1st-4th grade 
Main Focus: God Is Lord, Part 2 (10 Plagues--Exodus 5-11)

Anticipate: Plagues of Frogs

The Egyptians who enslaved the Israelites worshipped many creatures including frogs. When God sent Moses to save His people in Egypt, He defeated the Egyptian Gods by sending plagues. What makes a plague and plague? It’s the relentlessness of the onslaught (they just keep on coming!).

Worship with singing:  Youth Band

Game: Who's In Charge?

Memory Verse: 

"The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom." --Isaiah 40:28

God commanded Moses to go to Pharaoh to let His people go to worship God in the wilderness. But God knew Pharaoh's heart would hardened and say no.  So God brought plague after plague onto the Egyptians to reveal His power and authority.  With each plague, God not only conquered the Egyptian false gods, but also demonstrated that He alone is the Lord.  There's no one like Him.  

RESPOND: Idol Bashing

Today it may seem strange that some ancient religions and even some modern day religion encourage their followers to worship idols. People still bring these idols gifts of money or food to ask for their help. These idols in and of themselves are not bad, but what they represent is a power that is in opposition to God.
Our world worships a lot of things that become idols like: money, power, influence. We probably know these things can't "save" us or make us better people.  Sometimes it may even seem that technology and science are offer all the solutions to our life problems.  You can "google" an answer or a translation or a calculation. But while we get lots of information from these sources and the information in and of itself is not evil, our dependence on these things can make us forget about asking God for help or remembering that God is in control.

Bless:

“The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.” Isaiah 40:28

May our children give thanks to and worship God alone because He has power over everything.  May our children know His might and His wonders and proclaim that He alone is Lord.

September 17th Lessons

9:00am DiscipleLand1st-2nd grade 
How We Got The Bible Lesson 3--God Showed His Heart (Deuteronomy 10)

The Bible tells about God and reveals His plan for people.

Focus:

1. God reveals Himself in the Bible to all people.

2. God wants people to know Him and follow Him.

3. Disobedience breaks God’s heart.

Missionary Biography: Cameron Townsend
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9:00am DiscipleLand

3rd-4th grade 
Eyewitnesses Lesson 3--Energized

Acts 2:1-21

The Holy Spirit empowers believers to witness about Jesus.

Verse:

"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."  --John 14:26

Focus:

~The Holy Spirit arrived as "tongues of fire" on Pentecost.

~The Holy Spirit empowered believers to witness about Jesus.

~The Holy Spirit is a gift from God to believers.
~The Holy Spirit empowers believers of all ages.

Missionary Biography: Amy Carmichael--Shawlies

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10:45am TRU 
1st-4th grade 
Main Focus: God Is Lord, Part 1 (Moses--Exodus 2-4)

Anticipate: Name Game

God is our Creator and our Redeemer. How should we respond to His love for us? We should
know that He is Lord (in control). He is Lord but He is a Lord who knows our insides and outs. He is Lord AND He is our Creator AND He loves His creation. The God who made all things knows YOUR name and knew it before you were born. Do we know each other’s names as well as He knows ours?

Worship with singing:  Youth Band

Game: Getting to Know you

Memory Verse: 

"The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom." --Isaiah 40:28

God revealed Himself to Moses through the burning bush.  God asked Moses to take off his sandals and taught him how to worship God.  God also revealed His name to Moses.  He set Himself apart from the Egyptian false gods.  By telling Moses His name, "I AM WHO I AM," God reveals Himself as the one true God.  He alone is LORD.  He wants His people to know that He is God, they (the false gods, idols) are NOT. 

RESPOND: I AM

There have been a lot of scary things happening around the world recently. Can you think of what
they are (Irma, Harvey, North Korea, ISIS, bombs, floods, fires etc.) We live in a world just as hard and as scary as the one the Israelites did back in Egypt. We need to be freed of our fears too!

Bless:

“The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.” Isaiah 40:28

May our children honor God with all they do.  May their hearts rejoice in knowing that God is Lord over all the earth!

Sept. 10th Lessons

9:00am DiscipleLand1st-2nd grade 
How We Got The Bible Lesson 2--The Bible Came From God 

(The Books of the Law--Joshua 1:1-9)
The Bible is God's inspired gift to all people.
Verse:"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."    ---2 Timothy 3:16-17                          
Focus:
~God speaks to people through words of the Bible.
~The Bible is God's message to everyone, everywhere.
~The Bible requires special care because it's so special.
Missionary Biography: Cameron Townsend--A Bible Salesman in Guatemala
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9:00am DiscipleLand3rd-4th grade Eyewitnesses Lesson 2--Abandoned?
Acts 4:1-31
Jesus commands His followers to proclaim the Good News to others.
Verse:"After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight."  --Acts 1:9

Focus:
~Jesus's followers witnessed His death and resurrection.
~Jesus instructed His followers to witness about Him to everyone, everywhere.~Jesus' followers witnesses His ascension.
~Matthias was selected in place of Judas as one of the 12 disciples.Missionary Biography: Amy Carmichael--Tested by Fire

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10:45am TRU 
1st-4th grade 
Main Focus: God Is Worthy of Worship (Genesis 11-12; 15: Tower of Babel and Abram)

Anticipate: Communicate This!

Last week we learned about God’s relationship to us as our creator. He communicated directly with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden but they disobeyed Him and lost this privilege. God still communicated with His people through the words passed down in stories and laws by the elders of the people. But the people decided that they’d rather talk to each other or pretend to hear from false God’s rather than listen to God through their elders. They were so caught up in talking to each other and building a great tower to reach to the heavens that they forgot they were God’s creation.

Worship with singing:  Youth Band

Game: Tall Tower from the Mouth

Memory Verse: 

"The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom." --Isaiah 40:28

This week's lesson points out the contrasts between people in Shinar and Abram and their responses to God who is worthy of worship. People on earth continued to sin against the Lord.  At the time, people spoke the same language and were able to communicate with one another.  God has given people ways to communicate.  His plan was not only for people to talk to each other, but more importantly, to communicate with and worship Him.  However, when people moved to Shinar, they were worshipping idols, disobedient, and walking away from the Lord.  They talked only to one another and had a plan to build a tall tower that would reach the heaven.  God was disappointed and heartbroken as people worshipped themselves and their abilities instead of worshipping God and talking to God.  So God confused their languages and cause the tower project to come to a halt.
On the other hand, there was one man, Abram, who chose to listen to and talk to God.  When God asked him to move from his country and go to a place where He would show him, Abram obeyed and got going!  Upon receiving God's promises of becoming a great nation, having numerous descendants and becoming a blessing, Abram built an altar and worshipped God there.  Abram trusted that God knew where he would go, when he'd receive his own child and how he would become a blessing to all people.  Abram, unlike the people in Shinar, understood the importance of communicate with God and the fact that God is worthy of worship.

RESPOND: It's aMAZEing!

Sometimes life seems to be like a maze where you cannot see the end point or understand why
you are taking certain paths. Abraham must have felt very confused when God told him to “go to a place I will show you” but he trusted God and obeyed His commands. And God used Abraham’s obedience to help us all communicate with Him through Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Bless:

“The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.” Isaiah 40:28

May our children remember this week that God is worthy of their praise and worship.

Sept. 03 Lessons

9:00am DiscipleLand

1st-2nd grade 
How We Got The Bible Lesson 1--Discover God's Treasure!
(Josiah Discovers God's Word--2 Chronicles34)

The Bible is God's map to guide people through life.

Verse:

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."    ---2 Timothy 3:16                           

Focus:

~The Bible is God's holy Word that guides our lives.

~God used a 8 year old boy in a powerful way.

~King Josiah turned the hearts of people back to God.

Missionary Biography: Cameron Townsend--Early Days

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9:00am DiscipleLand

3rd-4th grade 
Eyewitnesses Lesson 1--Explosion 

Acts 1-28

Christians spread the Good News about Jesus from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. 

Verse:

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  --Acts 1:8

Focus:

~The book of Acts connects the 4 Gospels with the rest of the New Testament.

~The apostles began spreading the good news of Jesus from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.

~The Holy Spirit gives believers power to obey God.

Missionary Biography: Amy Carmichael--Irish Mischief

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10:45am TRU 
1st-4th grade 
Main Focus: God Is Redeemer (Genesis 2-3: Fall of Mankind)

Anticipate: Creation Guessing Game

Wow, big or small we all feel the same about our creations whether good or bad. How do you think God felt? Remember, He created everything already KNOWING that there would be sin! Even though He knew He would feel SAD or DISAPPOINTED, He STILL decided we were worth creating. Why? Because He loved us and wanted us to share in His joy in creation. From the beginning He felt we were WORTH the trouble even though we would not be perfect.  We were worth FIXING or REDEEMING. Wow! God could have given up on us and created something else or maybe just left the rest of creation alone and took us out because we weren’t perfect, but He chose to send Jesus to us.

Worship with singing:  Youth Band

Game: Animal Charade

Memory Verse: 

"The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom." --Isaiah 40:28

As we read Genesis, the first chapters tell us of God's perfect love and care for His creation.  As He saved the best for last, God created mankind made in His own image.  God gave them responsibility over the earth and the animals.  They lived in perfect relationship with God.  But as soon as they choose sin, they gave up their right to live in perfect harmony with God.  Try as they might, to cover their own sin and shame, it was not sufficient.  Only God can redeem us from sin.  From the very beginning of time, God gave the people the promise of the Redeemer, who would eventually pay the penalty for the sins of all mankind.  God redeems.

RESPOND: Being a Creator

Now its our turn to create something! As you are following instructions and making your animals think about how much MORE difficult and complex it was for God to create the instructions and then make YOU inside your Mom. He spent more time and more care doing that than you will creating these animals! So when Adam and Eve chose to disobey Him, His desire to redeem them came from the deep love of His creation. At home, remember that even as these animals are your creations, you are God’s precious creation and He loved you enough to send Christ to die on the cross and rise again to give you eternal life for the asking.

Bless:

“The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.” Isaiah 40:28

May our children know that God, Creator of the heavens and the earth, also created them.  May our children find peace knowing that He has made the way for them to be in perfect relationship with Him.