Wake-up Call

Wake up! Strengthen what is left, or it will die. You have not done all that my God wants you to do. Revelation 3:2

 Prop: alarm clock

 Just before your lesson, set your alarm to go off while you’re teaching.

 I brought with me something that I don’t like!  In fact, it really bothers and annoys me.  It bugs me and disturbs me.  But it also helps me and I need it.  I wouldn’t get very far without it.  Can anyone guess what it is?  (Allow for response).    An alarm clock!  

            Without this alarm clock, I wouldn’t wake up on time in the morning.  I would miss work and important appointments.  I would have missed many things in my life if I never woke up on time: school (I’d probably still be in elementary school with all of you!), field trips, vacations and flights…almost everything!  The purpose of an alarm clock is to wake us up, so it is very important…even if it is annoying. 

            Today we’re going to talk about God’s wake up call.  God has given each of you a special job in this life.  Unfortunately, many people fall asleep in their spirit and try to ignore God’s call.  They try to ignore the fact that God is asking them to do something.  Maybe they think if they ignore God, He’ll go away.  God wants the best for you, so He’s going to do what it takes to get you to wake up and pay attention.   

            Stop snoozing!  This is your wake-up call!  Wake up and answer God’s call.

Wake up!

…let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 1 Thessalonians 5:6 (NIV)

 Props: pillow, eye mask

 Good morning!  I hope you all woke up feeling great today.  Today we’re going to be talking about waking up.  So wake up!  We’re not talking about your body going to sleep; we’re talking about your spirit, your relationship with God.  (Rest your head on the pillow).  When you get sleepy in your spirit, you don’t really talk to God as much.  You don’t read your Bible regularly.  You don’t talk about the Lord.  You either don’t come to church or you just kind-of sit there and don’t get into it.  That’s what it means to go to sleep in your spirit.  If you’ve been feeling sleepy in your spirit and you’re not as in love with God as you used to be, WAKE UP!

            (Place mask over your eyes and stretch out to go to sleep with your head on the pillow).  One of the biggest problems with falling asleep is that you can’t see what’s going on around you.  You have an enemy—satan—who would love nothing more than to set traps for you while you’re falling asleep in your spirit and not reading your Bible, praying or obeying God.  And with the eyes of your spirit closed you can’t see what the enemy’s doing.  So wake up and escape the traps of the enemy! 

            Remember, we’re not talking about going to sleep for a nap or going to bed at night—you don’t have to be afraid to go to sleep like that.  We’re talking about getting lazy in your walk with God.  Don’t let that happen—WAKE UP!

What Makes a Heart Hard?

“…Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord…”  Hosea 10:12

 Props: pictures of hands/feet with calluses

             Today we’re going to look at a minor prophet with a major message: Hosea.  Hosea was one of God’s prophets who spoke to the nation of Israel.  Who remembers what a prophet is?  (Allow for response).  A prophet receives a message from God and passes it on to others. 

God was sending a message to Israel because their hearts had become hard.  Does anyone know what it means to be hard-hearted?  (Allow for response).  It means that you don’t have feelings or care anymore.  Israel didn’t love God the way they used to.  They didn’t care about Him anymore.  They were running after other gods.  How does someone become hard-hearted like that?  It’s kind of like the way you get a callus on your foot or hand.  Calluses are those rough, bumpy areas on your feet or hands.  All the skin around it might be smooth, but that one area is rough and hard.  

Calluses are formed by constant pressure and lack of protection and care.  Look at the middle finger of your writing hand.  Many people have what they call “writer’s bump” there because a pen or pencil puts constant pressure on that spot.  There’s nothing there to protect it and most people don’t take the time to treat it with lotion after every time they write.  Now take a look at your feet.  Some of you are too young, but some may already have calluses on your big toe or the balls of your foot.  That’s because when you stand it puts pressure on your foot.  If there’s nothing there to protect the skin, it will start to form hard layers to keep from having pain. 

Your real heart is very well protected inside your body, so it will not get calluses.  But your heart (meaning your feelings and thoughts) and your spirit (that part of you that connects to God) can get hard toward God.  Just like a callus is formed by constant pressure, people can get a hard heart toward God when they face constant pressure.  You know what it’s like to have problems: maybe your parents are divorced, or someone you love is very sick or dies.  It could be that you always get picked on at school or home.  All of these things put pressure on you.  It’s easy to blame God and let your heart get hard, hoping it will help you not hurt anymore.  But God wants you to keep your heart soft toward Him so that He can do His work in you and help to take away your pain.  You can also get hard-hearted when you don’t protect your heart.  When you let yourself love other things more than God, you are not caring for your relationship with Him and your heart can become hard toward Him. 

Keep your heart soft toward God.  Don’t let the pressures of life or your love for other things make you hard toward God.

With Whom Do You Trust Your Soul?

Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. 2 Timothy 1:12 (NIV)

 Props: dissolving packing peanuts (available at Uhaul stores or at Uhaul online) and non-dissolving packing peanuts, 2 jars with lids (filled with water)

             It’s very important to know the one you are trusting with your life.  How many of you have ever heard the expression, “Looks can be deceiving”?  That means things can look different than they really are.  Let me show you what I mean.  (Display 2 jars filled with water.  Call forward a volunteer from each team to be your testers).  I have 2 jars filled with water.  This is pure, clean water.  There’s nothing different about it.  (Ask 2 testers to look closely at the water, smell it and even taste it.  Have them confirm that it is pure water).  One of these jars is going to represent God.  The other is going to represent ourselves; putting our trust in our own power, strength, goodness and abilities.  (Display packing peanuts.  Be sure they are separated and the dissolving peanuts go in the jar representing self.  However, do not call attention to any differences between the packing peanuts).  These packing peanuts are going to represent your life: your body (the part of you that only lives for a number of years on the earth), and your soul and spirit (the part of you that lives forever). 

Some people put their trust in God.  (Place the non-dissolving packing peanuts in the “God” jar).   They give him their life, their wants, their thoughts, their love, their worship, their time.  They trust in Him to forgive their sins and to take them to Heaven. 

            Others don’t put their trust in God.  They put their trust in themselves.  They think they can be good enough to get to Heaven; that they can take care of themselves.  (Place the dissolving packing peanuts in the “self” jar).  They don’t trust God because they don’t know Him.  They think, “I can handle life on my own.” 

            (Place lid on each jar and shake each one).   

As you can see, looks can be deceiving.  You think you can handle life by yourself.  But look what happened.  Life fell apart.  But you can trust your soul with God.  He will guard, protect and keep what you give Him.

Let God Break You

“…Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord…”  Hosea 10:12

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
       you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
       a broken and contrite heart,
       O God, you will not despise.

 Psalm 51:16, 17

Props: peanuts with shell    

**You may want to have some students come to the front to volunteer to eat peanuts.  Choose only older children (age 10+) and be sure they do not have peanut allergies!

 

            I love snacks!  Do you like snacks?  One of my favorite (healthy) snacks is peanuts.  They are just so tasty.  But you can’t just pick a peanut and eat it.  Who can tell me what you have to do first?  (Allow for response).  Of course, you have to take off the shell. 

            All peanuts grow with a hard shell around them.  In fact, this shell reminds me of how we are born.  The Bible says that we are all born in sin.  So it’s like we all have a hard shell of sin around our heart.  We know that if we are going to be able to use this peanut we have to get rid of the shell.  And if we are going to be useful to God and have a relationship with Him, we must allow Him to get rid of the sin in our life. 

            But do you know what some people try to do?  They try to keep their sin and still be okay with God.  They come to God and say, “Here I am, sin and all.”  (Take a bite of a peanut in its shell, or have a helper take a bite).  You can’t leave the shell on a peanut and you can’t leave the sin in your life if you want to live for God.  Other people leave the sin in their life because they say it’s too hard to get rid of it.  That’s like saying, “It’s too hard to shell the peanut, so I’ll just eat it whole.”  (Take a bite of a peanut in its shell, or have a helper take a bite).  It doesn’t work that way!  There’s no shortcut; you have to let God break up the hard places in your heart and get rid of the sin.  And there are a few people who try to make the sin in their life look good.  They might say, “Well, everyone else calls people names,” or, “It’s not that bad to talk about other people, as long as it’s true.”  (Color a peanut shell with some food coloring, then attempt to eat it.)  That’s funny; it still doesn’t taste any better. 

            If you’re going to enjoy this peanut, you’re going to have to get rid of the shell completely.  You can’t keep it on, you can’t say it’s just too hard to take off and you can’t try to make it look good.  If you’re going to live for God, you have to let him break up the hard ground of your heart; you have to ask Him to forgive the sin in your life and then turn away from your sin.  You can’t make excuses for your sin.  You can’t ignore it.

            Get rid of the sin and keep your heart soft toward God.

Worth Looking For (skit)

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)

 Leader:  What are you doing?

 Helper:  I’ve lost a diamond.  It’s worth $1,000,000 and I have to find it! 

 Leader:  Are you sure it’s here?

 Helper:  I think so.  But I must find it.

Leader:  How long have you been looking for it?

 Helper: Three days.  I haven’t stopped to eat or sleep–I MUST FIND THIS DIAMOND!

 Leader:  I know it must be really important to you for you to look that long.  Why don’t you re-trace your steps?

 Helper: (exiting the same way he entered) Okay.

 Leader:  Hope you find it.

             That man was desperate to find his diamond.  It is very valuable to Him.  He was giving up everything to look for it.  That’s the way we need to be with God.  We need to search for Him with all our strength.  Today we’re going to learn more about seeking after God.

Last Will Be First

“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Matthew 20:16

Call forward boys as stated in the lesson and use them to build a pyramid. 

            I have a job for three guys.  This is a job that only the biggest guys in the class can do, so let’s see…(choose the largest/strongest boys in the class).  Okay, now I need two more boys—you don’t have to be quite as big.  And finally, I need one smaller boy.  (When all the boys reach the front of the class, help them form a pyramid.  Instruct the largest boys to kneel on the floor, the next two boys to kneel on the backs of the three and the smallest boy to kneel on top.)   

            Look at _____________ (name of smallest boy).  He was chosen last, he’s smaller than the others, but he’s in the best position.  He has a great view and, best of all, he doesn’t have anyone’s knee in his back.  (Allow the group to disassemble). 

            Sometimes God chooses to give good positions to those who may not seem as big, strong, intelligent or talented as you think you are.  It may not seem fair to you.  But remember, God sees things differently than we do.  He said the last will be first and the first will be last.  Seems kinda upside-down to us, but that’s the way it works in the Kingdom of God.  Don’t worry about what is fair.  God will see that you get what is right, so keep your eyes on Him and not on others.

You Are His Workmanship

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

 …you are God’s chosen and special people. 1 Peter 2:9

 Props: painting, frame, clear glass piece 

             The Bible says that we are God’s workmanship.  That means we are God’s creation.  He is the one who formed us and put us together before we were born.  He is the one who has a perfect plan for our lives.  Many people have a hard time loving themselves because they don’t understand what it means to be created by God. 

            Look at this painting.  It may be beautiful to you and to me, but no one admires, understands and loves this painting more than the artist.  You see, the artist is the one who dreamt of this painting long before it ever appeared on the canvas.  She is the one who took the time to paint each stroke and form each image.  She is the one who spent hours making it look just right.  Only the artist truly understands the real meaning behind the painting; and she doesn’t just see it or know it, she feels it.

            God thinks of you in the same way that the artist thinks of her painting.  He knew you before you were even formed.  He spent time putting you together, and he loved every minute of it.  He made a plan for your life.  He loves you more than you will ever know. 

            The next time you’re feeling bad about yourself, remember that you were created by God.  He loves you.  He wants what is best for you.  He will protect you.  You are precious to Him.  Learn to see yourself like God does.

Know Your Weapon (skit)

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  Ephesians 6:17 (NIV)

Props: “devil” character costume, large Bible

Helper 1: Are you ready for the battle?

Helper 2: What battle?

Helper 1: Against our enemy…

Helper 2: We have an enemy?

Helper 1: Of course we have an enemy!  Where have you been?  Our enemy, the devil, is always trying to attack us.  He tries to contaminate our heart, mess with our mind, stop us from doing what’s right and pull us away from God.

Helper 2: Oh, maybe that’s why I’ve felt so beat up lately.

Helper 1: The enemy is out to get us and we have to defend ourselves by wearing the full armor of God.  Not only that, but we have to attack him with our sword.

Helper 2: Oooh!  We get to play with swords.

Helper 1: No, it’s not a sword that you can see, and it’s no game.  We’re not playing; we’re at war!  Our sword is the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.  You know, the Bible!  (Hands helper 2 a large Bible).

Helper 2: (Looking over Bible).  It doesn’t look like much of a weapon to me, but I guess it’ll do in a pinch. 

Helper 1: I don’t think you understand how powerful the Sword of the Spirit is.  But you’re about to find out.  Here comes the enemy now. 

(“Satan” character enters and makes his way toward Helper 2).

Helper 2: Leave this to me.  I’ll fight the enemy off with my new, uh…“sword.”

Helper1: I don’t think you know what you’re…

Helper 2: I’ll hit him with the Bible!  (Hits the devil character.  Devil is not hurt and goes after helper 2).

Helper 1: It doesn’t work like that!

Helper 2: I’ll throw the Bible at him and hit him in the head. (Starts to throw Bible and is stopped by the devil character’s attacks.  Helper 2 ends up on the floor.)  

Helper 1: That’s not the way you use the Sword of the Spirit!

Helper 2:  Alright, then, Mr. Smarty Pants!  How do you suggest we defeat the enemy?

Helper 1: Speak the Word!  Obey the Bible!  Do what it says!  Live by it!

Helper 2: You can’t just talk to the enemy; you have to fight him!

(The devil character approaches Helper 1 to attack him). 

Helper 1:  God’s power in me is greater than the power of the enemy!

(The devil character cowers , then starts to attack again). 

Helper 1: For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline. 

(The devil character cowers again, tries one more time to attack). 

Helper 1: It is the Lord who gives me victory over my enemies.  He has made me more than a winner! 

(Devil character runs away). 

Helper 2: Wow, it really does work! 

Helper1: God’s Word is powerful!  When you know the Bible, obey it and use it against the enemy, he has to run away!  (Starts to run after devil).  Get back here devil!  I’m gonna use the Word to put a bruisin’ on you! 

Helper 2: Yeah!

(Both exit).

Knocking Down the Obstacles

“…people brought to Jesus all who were sick. He placed his hands on each one and healed them.” Luke 4:40

Mark 2:1-12 (Jesus Heals the Paralyzed Man)

Props: 6 buckets, each labeled with one of the following “obstacles”: doubt, unbelief, fear, unconcern, busyness, problems.  One bean bag (or ball) large enough to knock down each bucket. 

Throughout the lesson, set down the buckets in a pyramid as you speak.  (3 on bottom row, 2 on middle row, 1 on top). 

God wants all of us to be like the men in today’s Bible lesson that carried the paralyzed man to Jesus.  Those men cared about the man who was paralyzed and they did whatever it took to get him to Jesus for a miracle.  They even tore through part of the roof!  The crowds may have been in their way and the roof may have been blocking their way to Jesus, but that didn’t stop them. 

            If we’re going to help bring people to Jesus, we will have things that get in our way, too.  The men had to take off part of the roof.  You will have to deal with things in your way.  Let’s look at some of the things that may get in the way. 

• (Hold up bucket that says doubt).  Doubt is thinking that God won’t do a miracle, or that He may not want to do a miracle for you or the person you’re praying for.  (Set down bucket on floor or table).  Doubt gets in the way, because if you believe that God won’t help you, you’re not going to ask. 
• (Hold up bucket that says unbelief).  Unbelief also gets in the way of many miracles.  Unbelief is believing that God can’t help you, even if He wanted to.  It gets in the way because if you don’t believe in God’s power then you’re not going to trust Him to do a miracle for you or anyone else.  (Set “unbelief” bucket beside doubt bucket.  Hold up bucket that says fear). 
• Fear is a huge obstacle for many people.  Have you ever wondered, “What if I pray for my sick friend and he/she doesn’t get well?”  That’s fear.  Fear can keep you from even praying for a miracle or asking someone else if you can pray for him or her.    (Set “fear” bucket beside “unbelief” bucket.  Hold up bucket that says unconcern). 
• Many people let unconcern get in the way of bringing people to Jesus.  It’s easy to forget that people have needs and problems, or to get caught up in your own problems and not care about others’ needs.  (Set down “unconcern” bucket on top of first row of buckets.  Hold up bucket that says busyness). 
• One more thing that you can allow to get in the way of bringing people to Jesus is busyness.  You might get busy with school, homework, chores and friends and not take the time to help people who need a miracle.  Those four men who carried the paralyzed man to Jesus were probably busy, but they set everything else aside and took the time to help him.  (Set down “busyness” bucket beside “unconcern” bucket.  Hold up bucket that says problems). 
• Finally, you may allow yourself to let problems stop you from bringing people to Jesus.  Maybe you have problems of your own and you let that stop you from helping other people find Jesus.  (Set down “problems” bucket on top of the stack.  Pick up bean bag.)    

 The key is to get all of these things out of the way.  The men in today’s Bible lesson tore through the roof to get the paralyzed man to Jesus.  So let’s see how we can take care of these problems.

            When you have problems of your own, remember the verse that says, “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4).  Care for others and God will take care of you.  (Knock down “problems” bucket).   

            If you are getting too busy to help others, remember that Jesus said to “do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12).  If you would want others to stop and help you, then take time to help them.   (Knock down “busyness” bucket).

            There may be times when you don’t care about others and aren’t concerned about their problems.  God’s Word teaches us to “carry each other’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2).  That means we should all help each other out and care about bringing people to Jesus when they need a miracle.   (Knock down “unconcern” bucket).

            If fear gets in your way, remember what Jesus said: “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12).  (Knock down “fear” bucket).

            When you’re tempted not to believe in God’s power, remember that Jesus taught us “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (Matthew 21:22).  (Knock down “unbelief” bucket).

            If you’re doubting that God can work a miracle, keep in mind the words of Jesus: “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done” (Matthew 21:21).  In other words, if you believe God to do miracles and don’t doubt, nothing is impossible.  (Knock down “doubt” bucket).

            Remember, you can bring people to Jesus when they need a miracle.  Look at the things that were standing in the way.  Knock them down by using everything God taught us in His Word, the Bible.  Get rid of whatever is keeping you from helping others when they need a miracle.  You can be the blessing that someone is praying for.

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