SCHOOL LESSON 08 October 28, 2007

The Woman at the Well
Theme: The Holy Spirit
Theme Verse: "'Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit', says the LORD of Hosts." Zechariah 4:6
Readings: John 4:1-42
Memory Verse: "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth. " John 4:23-24 (Pre-K to grade 3)
       Historical Background of the Samaritans: 2 Kings 17:1-8, 16-18 and 24-34, 41. The tribes of the N. Kingdom, Israel, repeatedly did evil in God's sight so finally they were carried off into exile by the king of Assyria. The King brought people from several other places to live in the land of the N. Kingdom. They had trouble with lions so the king was told that they didn't "know the law of the god of that land" so he sent a priest of Yahweh from exile to teach them--but they still continued to worship all their own gods as well, "as they do to this day" (17:41). (In those days people thought that every land had its own territorial god. The Jews, at least officially, knew that Yahweh was God of the whole earth.) The transplanted peoples were mixtures of other nations and worshiped other gods along with Yahweh. The Jews of Judah despised them as a mixed people and idol worshipers.
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      Jesus knew that the Pharisees would cause difficulties about the baptisms and he knew that it was not yet his time to die so he went back to Galilee through Samaria (the shortest way). Many Jews took the long way so they would not have to go through Samaria, but Jesus chose to go there. He always went where his Father told him to go.
Word received: There will be times when I ask you to go into a difficult situation. Just as I AM always with My Son, so I will always be with you.
      Jesus was wearied from the journey so about noon (6th hour) he stopped to rest by "Jacob's well" while his disciples went off to find food. This shows Jesus' full humanity. He got weary and hungry and thirsty just like we do. Because Jesus said he only does and says what the Father shows him, we have to assume that the Holy Spirit was guiding him to go through Samaria and stopt here. (John 5:19)
      The Samaritan woman came to the well at noon. It was very hot then and not the usual time to draw water. This would indicate that she did not have good relationships with the other women. Jesus asked her for a drink, which surprised her since "Jews have no dealings with Samaritans," plus Jewish rabbis avoided speaking to women in public. Notice two things: 1) Jesus asked her for something she could easily do. 2) Word received: I am not bound by the hatred of others. I do not want you to be bound by others' hatred either. (Acts 1:8) Before he ascended Jesus said that after they received the power of the Holy Spirit they were to be his witnesses "in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth. He had a special concern for the Samaritans, but his priorities were: Jews first, then Samaritans, then the rest of the Gentiles (Matthew 10:5-6).
      The woman is puzzled that he is talking to her but Jesus moves the conversation on to "the gift of God" and "living water". (v. 10) "Living water" would refer to running water as in a spring or stream or to a name for something spiritual -- as in John 7 or Jeremiah 2:13. She assumes the natural meaning and wants to know how he could get the living water without a bucket or rope. She is very proud of their connection with Jacob (vs. 12). She is still talking about ordinary water in verse 15.
      An interesting parallel to this is John 7:31-39 where Jesus stands up on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles and proclaims, "If anyone thirsts let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scriptures have said, 'out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.' Now he said this about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were to receive." [The theme and symbolism of "living water" occurs several times in scripture -- see the note.]
      In verse 10 Jesus talks about knowing the "gift of God" and "who" is talking to her. Our first reaction to "gift" is that it refers to some thing that God gives. Jesus is referring to the "gift of God" as God himself. See John 7:39, "he said this about the Spirit" who is one of the Trinity! She ignores the part about who he is. She does ask for that living water but misunderstands. Read verse 10 again. Word received: Do you know me? Have you asked for my living water? Jesus tells her his "living water" will become a spring in those who receive it (v. 14). Word received: Have you drunk deeply of my living water? Have you asked to drink deeply? Have you opened your mouth, your life to me? Word received: I have living water for everyone to drink. My salvation is for all. (See Isaiah 55:1, "Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters: and he who has no money, come, buy and eat.)
      Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your eternal life. Thank you that you have made a way for us to be forgiven and reconciled to the Father. Amen.
      Jesus awakens a desire in the woman, even though she doesn't understand. Jesus always responds when we seek him.
      Then Jesus in a very matter-of-fact way raises a question about her life, "Go call your husband." When she tells him she doesn't have one he again, in a straight forward way, tells her she has had five husbands and is now just living with someone. He isn't accusing, he is just stating the facts and she quickly changes the subject to a religious controversy about where Jews vs. Samaritans worship. [God knows everything about us -- he looks at our hearts not the exterior as people do. (1 Samuel 16:7-9)] Do we change the subject when God confronts us with something that needs to change? Jesus uses everything for his purposes. Jesus tells her you don't know whom you worship but "salvation is of the Jews" and soon the question of Mt. Gerazim vs. Jerusalem will be irrelevant because God the Father wants worshipers to worship him in Spirit and truth. He explains to her that God is a Spiritual being. He is not a wood or stone carving or just an idea like the idols of the Samaritans.
      God has made human beings with spirits, souls and bodies. Our spirits are part of us God created to have fellowship with him forever. (Our souls are our minds, emotions, wills, etc that are a lasting part of who we are.) God wants to give us his Spirit, the Holy Spirit, so we can worship him according to who he really is: truth and with our spirits by the power of the Holy Spirit. God the Holy Spirit is truth. Jesus, the word, is truth. God longs to have us receive his Spirit so we can worship him, not just externally but from our hearts.
       Are we really thirsting for more of God? Do we ever just go through the outer motions of worship? The Lord longs for us to love and worship him with all our "hearts, minds, souls, and strength." The Holy Spirit wants to help us do that.
      Look at the memory verse: "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24) Prayer: Help me do that.
      The woman changes the subject again to the idea of a coming Messiah who will provide answers to all these questions. Then Jesus does something astonishing. He tells her straight out who he is -- the Messiah. (Think of all the times he told people not to tell when they raised this question.) Not only does Jesus say he is the Messiah, he says to her, "I AM (he) who is speaking to you." (verse 26) Jesus is saying I am the I AM!!! whether she gets it or not.
      Then the woman gets really excited and goes back to the city and tells everyone to "come and see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Messiah?" Many people come out because of what the woman said and invite him to stay. He stays two more days and they come to believe Jesus is the Savior of the world. Isn't it amazing they recognize this when so many of his own people did not.
      When they return the disciples are puzzled by Jesus talking to the woman but don't ask about it. Their attention is on getting Jesus to eat but Jesus tells them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work." Prayer: Lord help us to desire this food also.
      There are two issues here: true worship and evangelism. Jesus points to the harvest of souls being ready, "white for harvest". God cares passionately about people who don't know him. Do we? It is God's harvest and each one of us has a different part to play. Have you ever experienced either taking part in the harvest or being the one who was brought to faith by others? Share
       Word received: I AM always watching. There is nothing I do not know or see. My son listens to me and follows me. Are you doing the same?
NOTE: Other symbolic references to water:(for adults and older kids)
       (Jeremiah 2:13) "For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns--broken cisterns that can hold no water."
       (Ezekiel 47:1-12) Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side. And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist. Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed. He said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?" Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of the river. When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many trees on one side and the other. Then he said to me: "This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many. But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be given over to salt. Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine."
       (Revelation 21:6) And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts."
      And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:1-2)
       (Revelation 22:17) And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

Teaching Ideas for Lesson 08
Please read the Study Guide first. Go over Memory Verse to make sure the children understand it and then if they have memorized it.
      Remind them their parents need to sign a report slip monthly if they have read the lessons, so they will get credit at the end of the year.
      Make sure they know what happened in the story. Get them to tell you.
Basic points of the lesson for little ones:
      1. Jesus wants all people to want the "living water" of his Holy Spirit. He wants to give us himself. Ask for Jesus and his Spirit to come and live in your heart. [Talk about what Jesus is talking about when he talks about "living water".
      2. Jesus want to do and say only what his Father in heaven tells him. He wants us to do that too.
      3. Jesus wants us to worship him with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength. He looks at our hearts.
      4. Jesus wants us to tell people about him so they can receive his new life.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 07 October 21, 2007

Hannah Seeks God and is Blessed
Theme: The Holy Spirit
Theme Verse: "'Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit', says the LORD of Hosts." Zechariah 4:6
Readings: 1 Samuel 1
Optional: 1 Samuel 2:11 and 21 for rest of story
Memory Verse: "So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit' says the LORD Almighty." Zechariah 4:6 (Pre-K to grade 3)
      How do you see the work of the Holy Spirit of God in this lesson?
      Hannah had no children after many years and her co-wife, Penin'nah, used to taunt her about this, especially when the family went up to the tabernacle of God at Shiloh.(vs. 6-8) (Childlessness was considered a disgrace for a wife.) (Polygamy was never a happy situation for the wives. In recent years we hear that the Anglican church in Africa has forbidden it to the clergy, even thought it still is common in their societies.) Word received: "And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the LORD had closed her womb."(1 Samuel 1:6) I want the children and the adults to ask my Holy Spirit to show them where they make other's lives miserable. I want them to repent of this. Bullying is pretty common in many schools.
      The text doesn't say but perhaps this was the first time in all the years she had gone to Shiloh that Hannah went and prayed to God at the door of the tabernacle of the LORD where the priest, Eli was sitting. Hannah is pouring out her grief, pain and bitterness to God silently but her lips moved. (It was the custom to pray out loud rather than silently.) "And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish." (1 Samuel 1:10) A word received: I will not turn you away if you come to me in bitterness and anguish. I love you and want to send my Comforter to you. Pray for my comfort, my Holy Spirit, to come into you. God already knows the hurt and pain that people endure and He wants you, or one you pray for, to come to Him so that He can comfort you/them. Bitterness is corrosive and God longs to deal with it. Word received: Hannah was grieved and she sought Me. I want you to seek Me in every circumstance. I will always hear and respond.
      The priest, Eli, jumps to conclusions and rebukes Hannah for being drunk.
"So Eli said to her, 'How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!'" (1Samuel 1:14) A word received: Do not rush to judgment as Eli did. Take time and ask the Lord to show you if you have rushed to judgment about anyone.
      After Hannah explains, Eli responds to her true situation with a blessing and prayer for her. "Then Eli answered and said, 'Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of him.'" (1 Samuel 1:17) A word received: This is what I want from you: that you would bless others as Eli did Hannah. I hear your blessings that are guided by my Holy Spirit.
      Then Hannah was able to release her burden to the LORD. (See vs 17-18) Word received: Lay it down. Lay down your burdens of grief, anger, hurt or whatever it may be before Me. I AM the only one who can help.
      When she was praying, Hannah offered and made a vow to the LORD, that if He gave her a son, she would give him back to the LORD all his life ( and he would be a Nazarite, i.e. not cutting his hair or shaving.) After Eli blessed her and prayed for her, she trusted in God with her whole heart and was comforted. Two New Testament verses point us the same way. Philippians 4:6-7 says "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." See also 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you." God knows our needs before we ask abut He wants us to come to Him and ask.
      The LORD heard Hannah and saw her heart. He blessed her with a son (vs.20). The name Samuel has two parts: "el" means God and the rest of the name sounds like "heard by God" in Hebrew. God takes vows made to him very seriously (see Ecclesiastes 5:4). Hannah kept her vows to the LORD. Word received: Hannah remained faithful. She gave Me her most precious gift. I gave My most precious gift in Jesus. I gave My Son to you because I love you and want a relationship with you.
      Hannah's obedience in her gift of her first born son to the LORD goes beyond the understanding of most mothers/parents! Hannah continued to care for Samuel and pray for him after she gave him back to the LORD. She waited until she felt he was ready -- after he was weaned, probably 3-4 years old. After that she saw him once a year! Hannah's sacrificial love reminds us of God the Father's great love and gift of us in Jesus.
       PRAYER: LORD, thank you for those people who put you first in all circumatances. May they be an example to all.
      The LORD's anointing was on the child, Samuel, and God raised him up as a great prophet and ruler (Judge) in Israel. The nation was blessed by Samuel. God also blessed Hannah with more children, (see 2 Samuel 2:21) with three more sons and two daughters. As a friend of ours told us, "You can't out give God."
      Other barren women whom God blessed with miracle sons were: Elizabeth (Luke 1:13), Sarah (Genesis 12: 16-19), Samson's mother (Judges 13:2-3), Rebecca (Genesis 25:21-26), and Rachel (Genesis 29), and of course the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:31& 37). " "For with God nothing will be impossible."
      Hannah returned God's gift to Him. God has blessed us with new life in Him. Jesus commented about the Roman coin that was stamped with Caesar's image and said, "Render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar and unto Go what belongs to God." We are stamped with God's image. Genesis 1: 27 says "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." Are we surrendering back to God our lives? We have the choice. We were created to worship and follow the LORD but God leaves the choice up to us.

Word received for teachers: I long for My people to cry out to Me.

Teaching Ideas for Lesson 07
Please read the Study Guide first. Go over Memory Verse to make sure the children understand it and then if they have memorized it.
      Remind them their parents need to sign a report slip monthly if they have read the lessons, so they will get credit at the end of the year.
      Make sure they know what happened in the story. Get them to tell you.

Basic points of the lesson for little ones:
      1. Jesus wants us to stop if we are being mean to someone.
      2. Jesus wants us to treat others the way we want to be treated.
      3. Jesus wants to comfort us when we are having a hard time.
      4. Jesus wants us to seek him when we are feeling hurt, sad or in difficulty and ask for his comfort.
      5. God wants us to bless and pray for others as Eli did.
      6. Our Father God gave us his dear Son, Jesus, because he loved us.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 06 October 14, 2007

Who are you seeking?
Nicodemus seeks Jesus
Theme: The Holy Spirit
Theme Verse: "'Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit', says the LORD of Hosts." Zechariah 4:6
Readings: John 3: 1-21
Memory Verse: "Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.'" John 3:5 (Pre-K to grade 3)
      Nicodemus was a Pharisee (a group who tried to keep the whole of the law of Moses) and a member of the Sanhedrin (Jewish ruling council). He was impressed by the signs/miracles Jesus had done and was convinced that God sent Jesus -- but he was afraid, so he comes by night. What we can sometimes hide from men we cannot hide from God. God knows our thoughts even before we speak them. Word received: Even the darkness is light to Me. (Psalm 139:12).
      Jesus gets right to the point and says (vs.3)"I tell you the truth, unless a man (person) is born again (born from above) he cannot see the Kingdom of God." Word received: So you see that I want even the rulers to know Me. Some Christians are offended by the term "born again" but in fact it comes straight from Jesus. Word received: Purity of heart comes from new birth in Me. Purity of heart brings clarity of sight. ("Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8)
      Nicodemus objects "How can this happen?" because he is thinking of physical birth. Jesus repeats what he said and expands on it. (read vs.4-6) Word received: I want you to be born of water and the Spirit. That Spirit is the Holy Spirit. God's Kingdom is a spiritual Kingdom that we humans can neither see nor enter until we are born from above. (i.e. have a spiritual birth). "Do not marvel…" (vs.7) Word received: Many marvel and are offended when I say, "You must be born again." They reject that and live in the flesh. (Flesh is our natural, sinful human nature here. Other times it refers to our physical bodies.) "The wind blows…" (vs.8) Word received: You don't have to explain yourself to those who are still in the flesh. You cannot explain it, but you can
invite them to receive My Spirit. (This is also a good description of the Holy Spirit.)
      Nicodemus again asks, "How can these things be?" (vs.9) Word received: Many are asking that question these days; do you have an answer for them?
       How do we become born of water and the Spirit of God?
Peter answers that question in Acts 2. In Acts 2:21 he quotes the Old Testament prophet Joel, "Whosoever calls on the name of the LORD (the I AM) shall be saved. Then in Acts 2:38, he says, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
See also in John 3:16 which refers to Jesus death on the cross. "Whosoever believes in /has faith in him (Jesus) may have eternal life."
      This is the narrow gate that leads to life. (Matthew 7:14). Again Jesus said, "I AM the door" (John 10:7). If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture." There is only one way to new life and spiritual birth but once inside there is immense freedom and room. Psalm 119:96 says, "Your commandment is exceedingly broad." and "in my father's house are many rooms".
      Why did God do it this way? Look at John 3:16. It was/is because God loved the creatures (us) he had made so much that he sent his Son to live and die as one of us and for us so that we might have eternal life with him.
      Notice what it says in verse 18. God did not send Jesus to condemn the world (people) but to save it. That had to happen because as sinful human beings we are already separated from God, lost and under God's judgment until we believe/trust/have faith in Jesus. God's purpose is to rescue us from sin and death. Sin can be defined as making bad choices, rebelling against God and his laws, choosing our own ways instead of God's way, missing the mark or putting ourselves at the center of our lives.
      Jesus seems to show surprise that Nicodemus didn't know these things (vs.10-11). Word received: I have many faithful witnesses in this generation and their testimony is not received. Nicodemus doesn't yet have the basics down pat. "If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?"
Word received: Look at Paul's witness in Athens. He used earthly language to point to heavenly realities and few received what he said. (Acts 17)
      Look at the various times Jesus says, "I tell you the truth" (vs.3, 5, 11) . Word received: I will always tell you the truth if you ask, but you need to ask. I want you to ask. Word received: Again I am speaking of truth. Those who listen to the truth will be able to see the truth and will know me.
       God's invitation to us. Word received: Come to Me; come to Me and receive from Me. I long for you to be filled with My Holy Spirit. Turn to Me so that I may do this in you.
      The story ends without telling us how Nicodemus responded but in John 19:39 we read that Nicodemus did come to believe in Jesus and was bold enough to help bury the body of Jesus.

Teaching Ideas for Lesson 06
Please read the Study Guide first. Go over Memory Verse to make sure the children understand it and then if they have memorized it.
      Remind them their parents need to sign a report slip monthly if they have read the lessons, so they will get credit at the end of the year.
      Make sure they know what happened in the story. Get them to tell you.

Basic points of the lesson for little ones:
      1. Nicodemus was seeking Jesus. Jesus met him right where he was spiritually. Jesus wants to meet you where you are.
      2. God the Father want us to seek His Son, Jesus, just as Nicodemus did. John 3:16 tells us WHY God sent Jesus. What does it say?
      3. Jesus tells Nicodemus that he needs to be born again (spiritually). We too need to be born again (like Nicodemus).
      4. To be born again, we need to ask Jesus to come into our hearts, and tell him we are sorry for the things we have done wrong, be baptized (if we haven't been) and God will give us His Holy Spirit.
      5. God is faithful. He will always do what He says. He wants us to come to Him and receive His Spirit.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 05 October 7, 2007

Who is Jesus?
Theme: The Holy Spirit
Theme Verse: "'Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit', says the LORD of Hosts." Zechariah 4:6
Readings: John 14:1-20, Philippians 2:5-11, John 1:1-5, 9-14
Memory Verse: "'But what about you?' he asked. 'Who do you say I am?' Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'" Matthew 16: 15-16 (Pre-K to grade 3 )
      Let's begin where Jesus' disciples began -- by being with him. They had some idea that he was the Messiah, but had their own ideas about what that meant. Jesus spent a long time with them the night before he was arrested and crucified, to encourage them and help them to know him better. Jesus wants to encourage us too. (See John 14)
      Jesus is asking them to trust him and believe in him and not be afraid. He is going on ahead to prepare a place for them--and for us. Word received: Trust Me. I love you more than you can ever imagine. I want only what is best for you. We have Jesus' promise in verses 2-3 (John 14). Word received: You see, I want you to be with Me. I love you that much. Jesus has good plans for us. He is preparing place for all of us. He doesn't want to lose a single one.
      Thomas, like us, doesn't understand when Jesus says, "You know the way where I am going." Then Jesus says to them and to us, "I AM the way, the truth and the life: no one comes to the Father, but by me." Jesus, in his death, is going back to God the Father and there is no other way to come to God the Father except through Jesus. There is only one God and only one way to get there and that is through Jesus. To see Jesus is to see God and what he is like. To know Jesus as Savior and friend is to know the Father. Jesus is the visible, touchable image (picture) of the invisible God. Word received: Do you see how I think you can do it now -- believe in Me and you will know the way.
      The disciples were unsure of themselves. Word received: The person you need to trust is Me. DO NOT BE AFRAID. TRUST ME. I LOVE YOU. Jesus promised not to leave his disciples alone but to come to them through the Holy Spirit.(John 14:18,16). To have the Holy Spirit is to have Jesus. Invite him into your heart. Jesus told them they were to show their love for him by obeying his commandments. (vs.15)
      Now look at Philippians 2:5-11. (Many think this was a hymn of praise in the early church.) Paul is urging the church to think like Jesus, to have Jesus' mind. "Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others." An illustration I heard years ago was as if someone was looking at some ants trying to solve a problem that the person could see an answer to but there was no way he could communicate it to the ants. The only way would have been to become an ant to lead them. God was and is trying to bring back his rebellious, hurting creatures (us) to himself. He sent many messengers, but (Hebrews 1:1-3) finally God spoke to us through his Son, through whom he created all things. He had God's nature and was God, but took our human nature in order to rescue us and deal with our sins.
      Notice that Jesus, the Word, the Son, didn't hang onto his divine privileges but emptied himself and took on our human nature, coming as a servant to rescue us. (Jesus is both fully God and fully a man, a human being.) It didn't stop there. He humbled himself still more and in obedience to the Father became obedient to death on the cross. (Remember Jesus agony in the garden as his human flesh struggled to be obedient to the Father's will. Remember the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are one God. God knew this would be necessary before the foundation of the world. It was Jesus' human nature that was struggling to obey.) "God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself." ( )
      Then the lowly descent of Jesus into death turns to resurrection and to God the Father exalting him to a "Name above every name in heaven and on earth and under the earth." Someday, "every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is LORD (I AM) to the glory of God the Father." Word received: This is what I did for YOU -- NOW do you believe that I love you? This is what I AM. I gave everything I am for each one of you.
      Now look at John 1:1-4 and 9-14 to discover more about who Jesus is. Jesus is God's Word. He has always been with God because he is God. "All things were made through him" Genesis 1 tells us that God created by speaking his word and things came into existence. Word received: I AM the WORD. I was with God the Father in the beginning. Look at some examples of God creating thing by his word. "All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made". (John 1:3)
      Then God said, "Let there be light" (Genesis 1:3)
      Then God said, "Let there be a firmament" (Genesis 1:6)
      Then God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered" (Genesis 1:9)
      Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass" (Genesis 1:11)
      Then God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament" (Genesis 1:14)
      Then God said, "Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures" (Genesis 1:20)
      Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth the living creature" (Genesis 1:24)
      Then God said, "Let Us make man in our image" (Genesis 1:26)
A word received: Look around you; what can you see that I did not speak into existence? I want to speak my word into your heart; will you let me come in? (God is all powerful yet he has chosen to give us freedom of choice--even to choose bad and hurtful things--because God wants us to choose to love and obey him and become his children.
      "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) In the beginning ... "God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light." (Genesis 1:1...3) A word received: When I speak there is light to see by. I have always been there speaking my light into being. "He was in the beginning with God." (John 1:2) A word received: I was there as the Word of God at the beginning of all things that you know. Let my word speak into your life and bring light.
      "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." (John 1:4) "But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it." (Deuteronomy 30:14) "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life" (Deuteronomy 30:19a) A word received: Choose life so that my light can shine on your path and you will not stumble. "And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." (John 1:5) "If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me," Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You." (Psalm 139:11-12) A word received: Look at the darkness -- it is light to me. Look at the night -- is day bright to me. Look at the darkness in your heart; my light can shine there as well.
      "And the Word became flesh (a human being) and tented among us" and John and the other disciples saw his glory ("as of the only Son from the Father"). A big word for this is "incarnation" that is, God made his Word visible as the human being Jesus.
      There is a promise for us in vs 12-13 (John 1) "But to those who received him, (many did not) who believed in his name, he gave the power/right to become children of God; who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh nor the will of man, but of God." We too, like Nicodemus can be born of God--that is, we can have two births, one physical and one spiritual. That spiritual birth will make us sons and daughters of God who can live with him forever.
      Now look at the Memory Verse. Jesus started by asking his disciples what people were saying about who he is. Then he makes it personal and asks, "Who do you say that I am?" That is a question Jesus also asks us. God revealed to Peter the answer. It is through the work of the Holy Spirit that we come to really know who Jesus is. Peter answered, "You are the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the living God." Who do YOU say Jesus is? Many in our culture want to dodge the question and say he was just a good man, a great teacher, or one of many ways to get to know God, but that is not what is really true. C.S. Lewis once said that when we listen to all that Jesus said about himself, he was either crazy, evil or who he said he was. Nothing else makes any sense. ( What are some of the things Jesus said about himself that start with "I AM..."? )
      Now look at what this answer of Peter's says about God the Father. Word received: The Father is living today. I AM, Jesus, is living today and the Holy Spirit is living today. This is not a dead life. When you believe in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit you believe in life. Jesus has life in himself. "I AM the resurrection and the life," and he wants to give you and me new life now and a new beginning. Choose life.

Teaching Ideas for Lesson 05
Please read the Study Guide first. Go over Memory Verse to make sure the children understand it and then if they have memorized it.
      Remind them their parents need to sign a report slip monthly if they have read the lessons, so they will get credit at the end of the year.
      Make sure they know what happened in the story. Get them to tell you.

Basic points of the lesson for very little ones:
      1.Jesus is God the Father's only Son. He has always been. He was there at creation and is here now too.
      2. Jesus is fully God and fully a human being. He became a man just like us so that he could bring us back to God by dying on the cross to take away our sins, because he loves us.
      3.Jesus is the way to get to God the Father. They love you and want a relationship with you. Jesus wants you to listen to him and talk to him like a friend.
      4. Jesus wants to give us life.. He wants us to choose to love and obey him and become his adopted children. He wants to live in our hearts. You need to invite him in.
      5. The Holy Spirit points to Jesus and Jesus and the Father want to give us the Holy Spirit to help us. He is the Helper.
      For older little ones:
6.Jesus is God's WORD and when we hear him, we hear God. (Your words are part of who you are. So God's Word is part of who He is.). God's Word makes things happen.
      Get the kids to give their answers to the question "Who is Jesus?" Examples would be he is God's Son. He is the Good Shepherd. He is the Messiah/Christ. He is the light of the world. etc.