The Church of Jesus

The Church of Jesus

Wednesday, May 8th & Sunday, May 12th

Key Passages: Selected verses from Acts

Basic Truth: The church is God's plan to tell all nations about Jesus

Memory Verse: Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. Acts 5:42

Think About it:

Amid changing standards and collapsing values, some professing Christians in every generation are enticed to turn from the bedrock principles of Scripture to the sparkle of the “New”.  Material excesses, glamorous spiritual novelties, new thrills, new relationships, new “lovers”, new “gospels” - all serve Satan’s purpose to weaken the Church, the Body of Christ, and to block its vital witness to a perishing world.

Despite the incessant temptations, the Holy Spirit continues to direct all who walk by faith, and who yield to His guidance through repeated heartaches and trials.  Although sudden blows can lead even the faithful to questioning and doubts, our loving Lord stands firmly by His own: “God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” (Hebrews 6:10)

Pray for your students to have a clear vision of their place in the body of Christ – and steadfastness to faithfully carry out His commands.

Ask it:

All Levels

Q: Why is it good news that Jesus is the Christ?

A: "Christ" is the Greek word for Messiah- meaning the One anointed, or chosen, by God to rescue sinners. Jesus came to rescue sinners!

Grade 1-2

Q: What is the church?

A: The church is the family of God made up of loyal followers who are committed to learning and obeying the teachings of Jesus.

Q: Can children be apart of God's family? If they can, how can they help?

A: Yes they can! All believers are part of God's Church, and are apart of God's family. The Church is God's plan to make disciples of all nations. Children can learn what Jesus taught and believe in Him, and obey His commands too!

Q: What happens when people tell others about Jesus?

A: more believe and become disciples, and the family of God grows!

Grade 3-4

Q: How do believers participate in God's plan to build His Church?

A: God's plan to build the Church of Jesus will succeed without our help, but we have the privilege of sharing in His work as we obey His commands.

Q: When do you think the Church of Jesus will stop growing?

A: When Jesus takes His Church out of this world! But that won't be until all nations have been told about Him!

Q: How can we participate in building the Church of Jesus right where we live? 

A: We can learn and obey Jesus' teachings, tell others about Him, and live for Jesus wherever we are!

Grade 5-6

Q: How does the church continue the work of Jesus?

A: As the church faithfully proclaims the Gospel, new disciples are made. As the church faithfully passes on the teachings of Jesus, believers are equipped to obey Jesus and continue His work. 

Q: Why does our church need to proclaim that Jesus is the Christ? 

A: People need to know that Jesus is the One who can rescue them from their sins! (Acts 5:42)

Q: How is the church like the body of Christ? (1 Corinthians 12:12)

A: The church is many people working together, like the parts of our bodies work together, to do the work of Jesus. 

Family Activities:

1) Write a note thanking your pastor and/or teachers for helping you to learn about God's truth.

2) Practice telling the Good News of Jesus to each other. 

Family Discipleship Resource

God's Names by Sally Michael

Traditionally (in the past 100 years) curriculum and books for children have focused on mankind being the hero's of the biblical stories - "Dare to be a Daniel," or "Be a Ruth in your generation." Penn Valley Church has created the God Alone Curriculum that seeks to partner with parents in teaching theology - the Triune God - in the Person of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit the rightful heroes of each story in the Bible. The Bible is a book about God, not us. It's about our need for Him, not His need for us. It's a book that shows that History is His-story, not ours.

God's Names hones in on God's character and nature through His names.  This book is relational, interactive, understandable, theological, applicational, and encourages prayer, Bible study and worship in each lesson. There are 26 short lessons that are packed with God at the center of it all.

If you want your children to be God-focused, and others oriented, then look no further than this book. In a man-centered culture and church, it is absolutely essential that we get back to the core teaching of the Bible - the centrality of Christ, the Gospel, and God at the center of all things. I highly recommend this resource as great tool for discipling your family!

---Pastor Andrew

Cornelius

Cornelius 

Wednesday, May 1st & Sunday, May 5th

Key Passage: Acts 10

Basic Truth: God's salvation is for all who believe in Jesus.

Memory Verse: For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile- the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be save". Romans 10:12-13

Think About it:

People across America delight in belonging to organizations - fraternities, clubs, circles, teams, unions, associations - each with some particular appeal.  And a measure of exclusiveness adds to the attraction.

God sees each and every one of us as guilty sinners, facing the fury of His righteous wrath.  But He, through the sacrifice of His Son, now opens the door to forgiveness and eternal blessing to each one who believes His Word.  When we believe, we receive permanent membership in the unique and most exclusive society of all - those redeemed by the shed blood of our Savior.  “You have come to God, the Judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant…” (Hebrews 12:23-24).

Pray that this lesson would cause your students to treasure the precious message of salvation.

Ask it:

All Levels

Q: What does it mean to be saved?

A: To be rescued from eternal punishment and receive eternal life.

Grade 1-2

Q: Why did Cornelius need to hear about Jesus?

A: God loves all people, but faith in Jesus is the only way to have eternal life.

Q: What did Peter tell Cornelius?

A: Can students retell the important facts about Jesus: He is God, He died to pay for our sin, He was raised again, Anyone who trusts Jesus as the way to be forgiven will live with God forever...

Q: How did God tell you about Jesus?

A: Encourage students to tell about how they heard about Jesus. 

Grade 3-4

Q: Why is it wrong to judge others?

A: God is the only rightful Judge and according to His standard people are all sinners and equally unworthy.

Q: Peter could only see the outward appearance, but what does God look at? 

A: God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7b)

Q: Did Peter have the right to say the Gentiles were "bad"? Do we have a right to say that someone is bad and shouldn't be rescued by God?

A: No, Peter didn't and we don't either! We need to see that all people were created by God, belong to the same God, are loved by God, and have all sinned and are separated from by. God's grace is our only hope. 

Grade 5-6

Q: What sets believers apart as God's people?

A: Those who are saved are called to be different in the way they live. The new life we have in Jesus causes an entirely new lifestyle. 

Q: How will loving one another identify us as God's people? 

A: It's not a natural way to respond to others! Don't you think people would notice if we loved each other the way Jesus loves us?! John 13:34-35

Q: It's not easy to live this way! How can we live as God has called us to? 

A: God gives all believers a new power or way to live according to His plan. This power we have is the Holy Spirit. The work of the Holy Spirit is not just seen in outward behavior. The power of God changes people's hearts and motives so that our whole lives are transformed- totally changed!

Family Activities:

1) Discuss ways we can demonstrate unacceptance of others. Why is such behavior wrong? How does excluding others indicate pride in our lives? 

2) Use a concordance to find verses of how much God loves you. How will knowing His love help us to love others? 

Saul's Conversion

Saul's Conversion 

Wednesday, April 24th & Sunday, April 28th 

Key Passage: Acts 9

Basic Truth: God has work for His people to do. 

Memory Verse: For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

Think About it: 

When we buy a car, we plan to use it… not just to admire its beauty.  Jesus paid the greatest possible price, not just to deliver us from our sins, but to put each redeemed person to work in His Kingdom. 

But the commitment is not easy.  For some, it has meant the sudden death or extended torture of martyrdom. The call to true believers for service in every century has been, “Whom shall I send?  And who will go for us?” Our Lord’s promise of a blessed harvest has been for those who willingly lay aside their personal ambitions, and who step out in faith to do the specific task He has planned for each of us. 

“As long as it is day, we must do the work of Him who sent me.  Night is coming, when no one can work.”  (John 9:4)

       

Pray for softened hearts and yielded wills to hear His call for service.  

Ask it:

All Levels

Q: Does God love us because we do good works?

A: No! We do good works because we love God!

Grade 1-2

Q: How did God use Saul to help the church?

A: Saul became a leader of the church, preaching the truth and writing letters that are in our Bibles. He did the work God had for him to do. 

Q: Why is God the One who makes a plan for people's lives? 

A: He's the One who created each person; He is Sovereign and in control of all things

Q: Does God have work and a plan for you?

A: God has work for all of His believers- work that will help more people to hear about Jesus. 

Grade 3-4

Q: How does God use people as His instruments?

A: God reveals His truth to people then sends them to tell someone else. 

Q: Why did God save Saul? Can He still use sinners to accomplish His plans?

A: God saved Saul because He had a plan and purpose for him in helping to spread the Good News of Jesus. Yes! God uses sinners to accomplish His great plans. 

Q: Does God have a plan for your life? What are some things He has for you to do now? 

A: Yes He does! God plans for you to do things now like obeying your parents, doing your schoolwork, getting along with siblings and friends etc. 

Grade 5-6

Q: What is a lifework?

A: Because God is our creator He can expect us to carry out the specific things He planned for each person to do. The sum of all the ways we glorify God is called our lifework.

Q: How would you explain what the Memory verse says and means? 

A: God had a reason for creating you! God has specific work for each one of us to do. 

Q: How old do you have to be to start doing the work God has prepared for you? And when does it finish? 

A: It starts as soon as you're born into God's family and doesn't end until you die!

Family Activities: 

1) Assign each family member a partner and give paint or markers and one piece of paper to each pair. With no discussion, each person should think of something they'd to do on Saturday. At the same time-on the same page- both people should try and draw a full page picture of their idea. Discuss what happens when God and I have two different plans for my life. What would be a better idea? 

2) Plan to do some of the activities that were drawn as a family!

Persecution of the Church

Persecution of the Church

Wednesday, April 17th & Sunday, April 20th

Key Passages: Acts 5:17-42, 6:7-8:3

Basic Truth: God's plans are always good

Memory Verse: Many are the plans in a man's hear, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21

Think about it:

Simon from Cyrene (Mark 15:21), a stranger in town, was randomly selected by the Roman soldiers and compelled to carry the heavy cross of a man he had perhaps never laid eyes on before.  You may find yourself in circumstances that are shocking or bewildering.  In the midst of pain and confusion, can you find peace in the thought that this, too, must be in God’s plan for you?

If our faith in Christ’s redemptive blood is real, our surrender to Him means that all details in our lives are under His control, and they are allowed in order to bring Him greater glory.  Simon didn’t understand the unfair treatment, but he is remembered in God’s eternal Word for his part in God’s eternal plan.

 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  (Romans 8:28).

This life is not about me and my comfort – it’s ALL about GOD!  Am I willing to suffer so that someone else might know about my God?  

Ask it:

All Levels

Q: Why is it good that God's plans always prevail?

A: God's plans are always right and good!

Grade 1-2

Q: How did God use persecution to make more disciples?

A: As believers left Jerusalem and moved to other places to avoid persecution, many more people in far away places heard about Jesus and became disciples.

Q: What is God's plan (what did He tell us to do in Matthew 28:18-20)? Can anyone stop it??

A: He tells us to make more disciples by telling others about Him. Nobody can stop God's plan!

Q: Why did the apostles keep telling people about Jesus, even when they were put in prison?

A: They were obeying God and following His plan for them. 

Grade 3-4

Q: Why do we not need to be afraid or discouraged when things seem bad?

A: We can trust that God is always doing something good. He is able to use even evil things to accomplish His good purpose.

Q: What does God command us to do in Matthew 28:18-20? What is the promise that He makes at the end of verse 20?

A: He tells us to make more disciples by telling others about Him. He promises us that He will always be with us. God always keeps His promises!!

Q: What does it mean to be faithful? Is God faithful? Can anyone stop His plans? 

A: God is faithful! Faithful means to keep every promise; totally reliable. No one can stop Him and nobody else is like Him!

Grade 5-6

Q: Why do people suffer?

A: All suffering is the result of sin, but it's not without God's control. God has authority to allow suffering that will accomplish His good purposes. 

Q: An example of suffering can be found in John 9:3. Why did this man suffer with blindness? 

A: so God could display His power and greatness by healing Him. Everything is here on earth to bring glory to God and show His greatness!

Q: How can we accept suffering as good?

A: By knowing that God uses it for His own good purposes. We can also remember that He sees things we can't see, He knows everything! He sees the end of the suffering that He allows, and He sees that good that will come from it. Read 2 Corinthians 4:17.

Family Activities:

1) Learn about a martyr in Christian history. Discuss their life and how they are an encouragement and example for you. 

2) Talk about what it means to be a disciple (a loyal follower of Christ).

3) Remember a difficult time in your life and share how God was faithful and used it for something good, that maybe was difficult to see in the moment. 

Healing the Crippled Beggar

Healing the Crippled Beggar

Wednesday, April 10th & Sunday, April 14th

Key Passages: Acts 3 and 4

Basic Truth: The Holy Spirit gives power to obey God.

Memory Verse: For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Philippians 2:13

Think about it: 

From computers to microwaves, motors standing alone may seem to have an aura of energy.  But they are paralyzed unless plugged into the power source, and working in harmony with the rest of the parts.

The greatest hindrance to the flow of God’s miracle power today is our pride and worldly self-assurance.  Our Lord can still open the Red Sea, stop the flow of the Jordan River, or break the bonds of our personal prison whenever He sees fit to do so.  But His miracles are linked to the fulfillment of His promises and His plans. 

 When we in faith and humility have taken the intermediate steps prompted by the Holy Spirit, desiring His will above our own solutions, the mighty hand of God is free anew to move mountains.  “This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.  God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.” (Hebrews 2:3-4).

What miracles might God want to do in your life?  His power has not diminished!

Ask it:

All Levels

Q: Why do we need God's power to act according to His purposes?

A: We can't do it by ourselves.

Grade 1-2

Q: How did the Holy Spirit help Peter and John to obey Jesus' commands?

A: The Holy Spirit gave them power to speak boldly about Jesus so many people would hear the Gospel. He helped them to obey Jesus even when it was hard. 

Grade 3-4

Q: Why do we need the power of the Holy Spirit?

A: We can't believe in Jesus or obey His commands without the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Grade 5-6

Q: What does the life of a believer look like?

A: Believers are born into a new family. They have a new purpose and new power to obey their new Master. 

Family Activities:

1) Help someone in your church or neighborhood. How can helping someone be selfish? (wrong motives...) When is helping someone a way of obeying Jesus? (done unselfishly because we love Him-response)

2) Talk about times when it's hard to obey Jesus. 

Ascension; Pentecost

Ascension; Pentecost

Wednesday, April 3rd & Sunday, April 7th

Key Passages: Acts 1:1-11, 2:1-41

Basic Truth: Mankind is sinful and needs a Savior

Memory Verse: Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28: 18-20

Think about it:

Second Kings 7 tells of some starving men, stricken with leprosy and cast out by their fellow citizens who suddenly found food and riches beyond their wildest dreams.  They eagerly ate their fill and gathered abundant treasures for their future well-being; but soon conviction came on them as they remembered the need of their neighbors.  “Then they said to each other, ‘We are not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves...’”       (2 Kings 7:9)

Do we as born-again believers, blessed with all the fullness of God’s love and grace, just indulge ourselves?  Or do we sense the desperate need for salvation of the lost all around us?  Today God is still sending His followers into the world to share the good news with others.

“All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you.  They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, ¹² so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.”  (Psalm 145:10-12)

NOTE:  Do not make witnessing a legalistic requirement.  Present the truth and let the Holy Spirit prompt the response.

Ask it:

All Levels

Q: Why would Jesus want His followers to be baptized?

A: Being baptized is a public declaration that a person is a follower of Jesus.

Grade 1-2

Q: What is the Gospel?

A: The Gospel is Good News of salvation. Jesus has made a way for our sins to be forgiven so we can live with Him forever.

Q: Why did Jesus send His followers to tell others this Good News?

A: so people can have their sins forgiven and live with Him forever!

Q: In our memory verse, what did Jesus tell His disciples to do?

A: make more disciples, baptize them, teach them to obey Jesus' commands

Grade 3-4

Q: Why is Jesus' command to share the Gospel given to all believers?

A: The job is too big for just a few! God planned for believers to work together so all nations would hear about Jesus.

Q: What help did God give to the apostles so they could tell thousands of people?

A: the Holy Spirit

Q: God created His church by gathering the group of new believers together. What is the purpose of the church?

A: The local church is a group of baptized believers who join together to carry out the commands of Jesus. They gather for community and to help each other obey Jesus' commands and to tell others about him. 

Grade 5-6

Q: Why would we want to tell others the Good News of Jesus?

A: Jesus commands us to tell others so they also can be saved. If we recognize His infinite love for us, we will want to obey Him. 

Q: What did the followers of Jesus receive following pentecost? Do we receive this as well? 

A: They received the Holy Spirit. Yes, you have the Holy Spirit as well if you believe in Jesus as your Savior!

Q: Why is sharing the news about Jesus so important?

A: without this news people will be eternally separated from God. 

Family Activities

1) Discuss ways each member of your family can obey Jesus' commands. What does it mean to be a disciple: How does our church help us to obey Jesus' commands?

2) Watch the "Jesus" movie.