Can’t Go There

Revelation 21:8, 27; 22:15

Props: various signs depicting requirements for entry into different places (e.g., “Members Only,” “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service,” “No Children,” etc.); “No Liars” sign

Have you ever not been allowed to go somewhere? Maybe you were too young, too old, or not tall enough. All kinds of places don’t let people in for different reasons. (Display signs as you speak). Some places, like certain clubs, don’t allow non-members in. Many stores don’t let people in unless they’re wearing shoes. Some offices and businesses don’t let children in. Maybe you haven’t thought about it, but there is also a list of people who can and can’t go into heaven.
The list of people who can get into heaven is very long. It includes everyone who has asked God to forgive their sins and has let Jesus be in control of their life. It is everyone who has lived for God and has obeyed Him. You can make sure that your name is on the list of people allowed into Heaven by turning your life over to God.
God also has a list of people that He won’t let into Heaven. That list includes everyone who does not live for Him. But God makes it very plain in the Bible that no liars will get into Heaven. (Display “No Liars” sign). He takes lying so seriously that He made it a part of the list of people that can’t get into Heaven.
I don’t want to do anything that would keep me out of Heaven, and I know that you don’t want to either. You have to make up your mind to live for God and to live a life of honesty– being truthful in everything you say and do.

Called to do the Impossible

‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. Zechariah 4:6 (NIV)

Props: dry erase board and markers

Before the lesson, put away all the dry erase markers.

Call forward a volunteer and ask him if he thinks he can do an easy task. Tell him the task it to write his name on the dry erase board. Ask him if he is sure he can do it. When he says he is sure, tell him to go ahead and write his name. If he tries to use a pen, pencil or standard marker, remind him that those do not work on this special board. When he realizes that he is unable to write his name, offer him a dry erase marker. He should then complete the task. Thank him and continue with the lesson.

Our volunteer thought his task would be easy; then he realized he didn’t have what he needed to get the job done. There will be many times in your life when God will ask you to do things that seem impossible. He may ask you to tell a friend or family member about His love and you might be afraid to do it. He may ask you to pray for someone who is sick and believe Him to heal that person. God may want you to preach a sermon or even to start a world-wide ministry. Whatever it is, you will need power and strength to do the job.

When I asked our friend to write his name, it didn’t take him long to realize he needed more than the board. He needed more than what he had. When God asks you to do something, you need more than your own power, strength and talent to get the job done. You need more than all the money you have. You need the power of God’s Holy Spirit. As you are filled with God’s Spirit, He gives you the power to get the job done, whatever the job is. Even if it seems impossible for you to do it, it is never impossible for God. And that’s why you have to trust in Him, not yourself. If you work in God’s power, the job He calls you to do will get done.
Work in the strength of God’s Spirit. Remember to obey Him and let Him do the work through you.

Built to Pass the Test

I pray that…he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being… Ephesians 3:16

Props: Video clip of a car going through a series of crash tests

[Show clip.]

The reason the makers of cars put them through crash tests is because they know that someone somewhere will have an accident in one of these cars. The car has to be strong enough to protect the people inside; otherwise it wouldn’t be worth very much.

What is on the inside of the car (you, others) is the most valuable. And what is on the inside of you—your spirit—is the most valuable part of you; it will live forever. God cares about you and He wants what is best for you. Sometimes He allows you to go through testing to make you stronger. If you go through a hard time it might hurt at the moment, but if you allow God to use those hard times, He will make you more like Him.

[Use a personal example of a hard time you’ve gone through that God used to make you stronger and more like Him.]

There were many people in the Bible who went through tough times. They saw God’s power make them strong and keep them through their troubles. God can do the same thing for you: God’s power will make you strong in tough times.

Bring the Broken Pieces

“…a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:11 (CEV)

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

props: a broken heart wrapped in a gift box or bag

If you could give anything to Jesus for Christmas, what would it be? (Allow for response). One year, a children’s pastor asked the kids to write the answer to that question on a piece of paper and put it under the tree for Jesus. When she read the answers later, she was surprised that one girl wrote, “I would give Jesus my problems.” (Hold up gift box or bag). Some people may think that’s a silly answer, but the Bible says that Jesus wants your problems. He wants you to go to God in prayer and ask Him to help you with the things that hurt you and break your heart. (Begin unwrapping the present). When you pray to God, you show that you trust Him, you know that He is God and you know that He can do anything. (Put the pieces of the heart together). He wants you to talk to Him in prayer and tell Him what you need His help with so that He can fix it. If your heart has been broken, he wants to put it back together again.
This year, spend time with Jesus on His birthday. Bring your problems to Him and let Him take care of them.

Bow to the Christ of Christmas

“…a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:11 (CEV)

props: a large complete manger scene, one Santa doll or figure, presents

Place the manger scene in center stage, with the Santa doll and presents on either side.

Most of you have probably seen a manger scene similar to this. This is an idea of what things might have looked like when Jesus was born. You’ve learned about Mary and Joseph, Jesus’ parents. We have also talked about the shepherds who came to worship Jesus as soon as He was born. Maybe you’ve also heard about the Wise men who came to worship Him some time later. Of all that is a part of this manger scene right now, what doesn’t belong? (Allow for response).
Santa wasn’t there when Jesus was born. There were no presents there either, except what the Wise men later brought to Jesus. There’s nothing wrong with telling fun stories about Santa or buying gifts for one another. Sometimes, though, that’s all people think about and spend their time on. So some people bow down to Santa instead of Jesus. They worship the man who brings the presents instead of the One who gave us the best gift of all, the gift of life forever. Others worship the gifts they get. All they think about is how many gifts they might get or how big their gifts will be.
Who is the One that Christmas is really all about? (Allow for response). Jesus is the reason for the season. Remember to spend time with Jesus as we celebrate His birth and give all of your love and worship to Him. He is the only one who deserves it.

Born Again

In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ John 3:3-7 (NIV)

Props: an infant baby or baby doll

Look at this sweet little baby. Isn’t he cute? Do you think this baby has ever had to have a spanking? No! He’s not old enough to do anything wrong. Babies are born into newness of life and having done nothing wrong on purpose. However, all of us have done bad things, even little children. If we wanted to be pure we’d have to start our lives all over again.
Jesus once told a man that if He wanted to live forever, he had to be born again. The man got very confused and asked, “How can I do that? I’m a grown man and I’d never fit into my mother’s stomach again!” Jesus explained that He was talking about starting over in your spirit, or on the inside. When Jesus comes into your life, He forgives your sins and you are like a little baby starting over again. He makes you clean, and it will be like you’ve never done anything wrong. You can start over with Jesus. When you come to Jesus, He gives you the chance to be “born again,” to really start over in life.

Boomerang!

Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7 (NIV)

Prop: boomerang

Beatitudes is a big word that means (pause and allow for response)…blessings. In the other lessons about the beatitudes, you’ve learned that you will be blessed if you understand that you need God, if you are sorry for the bad things you’ve done, if you are strong in God and gentle with others and if you want all that God has for you. God will bless those who obey Him.

Today’s lesson will show you that you will be blessed if you show kindness and forgive others. God’s blessings come to those who are kind to others; God will be kind to them. If you forgive others, God will forgive you when you ask Him. If you show kindness to others, God will show kindness to you.

(Display boomerang). Who knows what this is? (Allow for response). A boomerang is a special kind of toy that Australians used to use for hunting. They liked using it because it came back to them if they missed their target. We like playing with boomerangs today because it’s fun having something you throw far away come back to you.

A boomerang is not the only thing that you can send out and have return to you. The things you do and say, whether good or bad, will come back to you. Good deeds will be returned to you and kind words, also. You will be blessed if you show kindness and forgive others. God will be kind and forgiving to you if you are kind and forgiving to others.

Send out acts of kindness and mercy and, like a boomerang, they will come back to you.

Blessed: Given Much (Running Over)

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38

Props: clear glass, clear glass pan, large clear glass pitcher filled with water

Jesus taught his followers how they could be blessed. His followers wrote his teachings down and now we’re going to teach you. How many of you want to be blessed? (Allow for response). You may not understand what it means to be blessed. You learned in the past few weeks that to be blessed means to be given what you don’t deserve. To be blessed also means to be given much. (Place glass in pan and begin filling glass with water from the pitcher. Stop when the glass is just over half-full). I could stop here and say that there is plenty of water in the glass. (Continue filling glass while you speak). Or I could keep going and stop when I get to the top of the glass. The glass is definitely full now. (Pour until the water runs out into the pan and the pitcher is empty). God’s blessings are like this water. He keeps pouring them out on us until we are overflowing. Just like this water is now running over into the pan, the blessings that God gives us are supposed to run out into the lives of others. God blesses us so that we can bless others.

Now how many of you want to be blessed by God? (Allow for response). When God blesses you, He gives you more than you can keep for yourself.

BITTER or BETTER?

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16)

Props: 7 papers, with one of the following letters on each: B, I, T, T, E, R and E

In today’s Bible Lesson, you heard about different workers in a vineyard. Some of them worked all day and others worked for just a short time, but they were all paid the same amount of money. The workers who were there all day became upset by what they thought was unfair.
There may be times in your life when you feel like you have had to work very hard for what you have. Maybe you have gone through problems or tough times and it seems like others around you are getting off easy.
(Have helpers hold up the letters to spell “BITTER.”) Problems can make you bitter, if you let them. Does anyone know what bitter means? (Allow for response). A bitter taste in your mouth is sharp and yucky. When you become bitter toward others, you don’t like them because of how you feel they have treated you. Some people even become bitter toward God. They blame Him for bad things that happen to them and they hold on to their anger.
Everyone will go through tough times. (Have helpers hold up the letters to spell “BETTER.”) But whatever you go through, those times can make you better. Problems can be used to make you stronger and to help you grow in your faith. Hard work will make you stronger and can teach you discipline. Everything that happens to you can make you better, even if it seems unpleasant at the time.
Some of those workers in the Bible Lesson had to work for 12 hours in the hot sun. They didn’t understand why they didn’t get paid more than the others. If they had been focusing on the right things, they would have been happy that the others were blessed the same as they were.
BITTER or BETTER. (Interchange the “E” and the “I”). The “I” makes the difference. Everyone point to yourself. Say, “I make the difference.” Say, “My attitude can make the difference.” Your attitude will decide whether tough times make you bitter or better.
Focus on all that God has given you, and how everything that happens to you can make you better.

Better than you could imagine!

I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Revelation 21: 22-27

Prop: photo album

A few years ago, I went to Disney World (or tell about somewhere else you’ve been). When I came home, I wanted to tell my best friend all about my trip. I described everything, told every detail about every ride and even showed her pictures. But she didn’t seem as excited as I was. I didn’t understand why she wasn’t as thrilled as I was. She said she was sure it was great, but she just didn’t feel the same as me.

A few months later, she went on an exciting trip. She told me all about it and showed me pictures. It sounded great, but I didn’t feel her excitement because I just had not been there and had not seen the same things she had. Looking at pictures just wasn’t the same.

That’s what it’s like for us and heaven. We have a picture of what Heaven looks like in the Bible. God told us a little bit about what heaven will be like. But because we haven’t been there and seen it with our own eyes, and because we haven’t felt the glory ourselves, it’s hard to understand just how incredible, wonderful, marvelous and spectacular it really is. In fact, we’ll never know how great it is until we get there. You’ll learn a lot about heaven today, but most importantly, make up your mind that you’re going to do what it takes to get there.

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