The Good Shepherd; A House on Rock

The Good Shepherd; A House on Rock

Wednesday, January 23^rd& Sunday, January 27^th

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Key Passages: John 10:1-14; Luke 6:46-49

Basic Truth:  Jesus shows us the truth about God.

Memory Verse: Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

Think about it:

We are a very security-focused society, from locks on our doors to national defense.  We pour our livelihood into house insurance, health insurance, car insurance, flood insurance; yet “all these things” can be swept away without a moment’s notice.

There is only One Way that our future is secure – Jesus provides the only Way to have eternal life with God forever.  What security there is to be under the watchful protection of our Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, and to be forever firmly bound to Him, the Rock of Ages! Pray that this security in Jesus is clear in your own thinking as you share it with your child.

“I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.  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.”  (Psalm 40:1-2)

Ask It:

All Levels       Q:  Why is it good that we never have to guess if God is telling the truth?

                         A:  We can trust and rely on everything God says!

Grade 1-2      Q:  What truth does Jesus show us about God? 

A:  Jesus shows us that God loves and cares for us and wants us to be with Him forever.

Q:  What is the only way we can come to God?

A:  Through the Bible, knowing that Jesus is the only One who can help us.

Q: How can we be like a house on rock, with a solid foundation?

A: By reading and listening to what Jesus says, and by following Him!

Grade 3-4      Q:  Why is our decision about what to do with God’s truth extremely

                              important?

                        A:  Jesus tells us that God has made only one way to have a relationship with Him.  If we refuse to accept His way, we will be separated from God forever.

                        Q:  Why is it important to make careful decisions about whom or what to trust?

                        A:  Trusting in something that isn’t reliable can have serious consequences!           { Psalm 20:7 }

                        Q:  What are some things that people believe will make them acceptable to

                              God? What is the only way we are accepted by God?

                        A:  attending church, helping the poor, reading the Bible. But the only way is through Jesus! The others are things that God wants us to do, but we can’t ever do them perfectly!

Grade 5-6      Q:  Why do we need to accept all that the Bible says about God? 

A:  Satan tries to deceive us with false ideas about God.  If I only believe part of the truth, it’s not really the truth.  The Bible describes the true God.

Q: How does Jesus evaluate whether or not we really trust Him as Lord?

A:  If we obey Him.

Q:  How does Satan try and trick us into doubting what God says?

A:  When we go through troubles we might think that we can’t trust God, that He doesn’t love us, that He’s not there or isn’t real etc.

Family Activities:  

 

1.     Have one person silently read a verse of Scripture.  [Suggested references:  Mark 10:15, John 8:31-32, John 16:13, 1 Timothy 2:3-4, 1 John 1:6]  Without looking back at it, whisper the verse to another person.  That person whispers it to the next and so on through the family.  The last person says it out loud.  How will you check to see if it’s right?  (Go back to God’s Word!!)

2.      Look up shepherd or sheep in a Bible dictionary to find more ways that Jesus is like a shepherd and we are like sheep.