SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 01 September 9, 2007

God's Name: "I AM"
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: Exodus 3:13-15, John 14: 1-17, John 8:56-58
Optional: Exodus 3:1-15
Memory Verse: "I AM the way, the truth, and the Life." John 14:6
      This year we are going to study about God the Holy Spirit. He, the Holy Spirit, is ONE God with the Father and the Son, Jesus. (Isaiah 43:3, 10b-11) "For I AM the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…that you may know and believe Me and understand that I AM He. Before Me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after Me. I, I AM the LORD (Yahweh, the I AM) and besides Me there is no savior." There is only one God and He has revealed Himself as the God of Israel and in Jesus and the Holy Spirit. This is a very unpopular truth these days but it is true. It is reality.
      Before we look at the Holy Spirit, God wants us to know His special name. God loves us. He knows and loves you and you and you and He wants us to know and love him. When we meet someone new we begin by getting to know his/her name and telling our name. God already knows your name. He knew it before you were born. His special name is "I AM".
      God has many names that describe who He is and what He does , but He has revealed to us in the Bible His special name. That name is "I AM". The longer version is "I AM who I AM". Review Exodus 3:13-15. "I AM" means that God IS, He exists, and is always present. He created time and is outside of time. The I AM has no beginning, no end and He made everything that is good. (Where evil came from is another story.)
       Word received: I was there at the beginning, I AM there now. I will always be.
      God's Name has power. His Name invokes His presence and power. That is why people are healed in the Name of Jesus. (Acts 4:10) Psalm 20:1 says, "May the Name of the God of Jacob protect you." Many cultures, especially traditional and tribal ones understand that names have power. One we might understand is "Open in the name of the Law."
      God wants us to begin with His name, "I AM".
Word received: I AM. I want the Sunday School to start with that: "I AM." Show them what it means to be "I AM". I AM with you; I AM alive ;I AM Lord; I AM mighty to save; I AM your healer… I AM all that and more.
       Word received: You are in My care -- that goes along with being I AM. I want the children to hear that as I was with Abraham as he followed My directions, so I will be with the children (all children by faith) who follow My directions and guidance.
      Jesus tried to tell his people , Israel, about who he was and is. Read John 8:56-58. Jesus also calls himself, "I AM". In John 8:24 Jesus says, "You will die in your sins unless you believe that I AM He." Then he uses it to tell more about himself. Look at the Memory Verse.
       Word received: I AM the way, the truth and the life. (John 14:5) Look at that, take it apart.
       I AM the way. I have promised that My Father will send His Holy Spirit to you it you ask. Ask for My Holy Spirit.
       I AM the truth. If you want to know what is true, look at what I have said in Scripture.
       I AM the life. I long for My people to have new life in Me. Ask for My Holy Spirit, enter the life of My Spirit. Ask for My new life and receive My Spirit.
      Jesus tells us that he is the only way we can get to God the Father and that if we know Jesus we have seen the Father and know him (See John 14:6-7) Jesus and God the Father are One God and they will send the Holy Spirit to us. He is also one with them. We don't have to understand this, we just have to believe it is true because Jesus told us. The Holy Spirit points to Jesus.
      Now look at John 14 to see some of the other things Jesus wants his disciples to know. We will take turns reading a verse and the word received and them share what the Lord is saying to us in it.
      "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me." (John 14:1) A word received: I AM the way to peace of heart. Believe in me so that you may have peace.
      "In my father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." (John 14:2) A word received: There is room for you.
      "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also." (John 14:3) A word received: I AM the Good Shepherd. I will lead you to the place I have prepared for you.
      "And where I go you know, and the way you know." (John 14:4) A word received: You know the way because you know me. I want you to know me better so that you will see the way more clearly.
      Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going, and how can we know the way?" (John 14:5) A word received: Don't be afraid to ask me questions. My disciples know that they can question me when they don't understand.
      Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) A word received: I have come so that you can know my father as your father. I AM the way to him.
      Jesus call to us at the beginning of a new year is to follow him, to walk with him as our Master and friend. Only he knows the way. Let us choose Jesus and the power of his Spirit and the Father's love as we walk into this new year.

Teaching Ideas for Lesson 01
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. There is one God, and His name is "I AM". God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit are "I AM". God loves you and wants you to know His name and to know Him.
      2. God, the "I AM" has no beginning and no end; He always has been and is here now.
      3. God, the "I AM", made everything that is good.
      4. Jesus, who is God the "I AM", is the way, the truth and the life. He is the way to the Father. The Father sent Jesus and the Holy Spirit so that we might come to Him. We have a Father in Heaven who is completely good and who loves us.