Be Determined!

Using object lessons and games are a good way to help children remember the concept you are teaching them.

This video has an object lesson/game you can use with children and adults. It teaches us not to give up and to keep trying.

God wants us to be determined to obey His Word and not give in to life’s pressures.

God is there to help you stay determined!

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9 NIV

Jesus gives us many treats.

He loves us and wants the best for us. Let’s look at the word

“TREAT”

and see some of the treats Jesus gives us.

T – Target

We need to focus on Jesus as our target. His example is a treat to us. He shows us how to live and helps us to be all He made us to be.

Have children through an object at a target. After each child has had a turn, talk about how we don’t always hit the center of the target. Jesus is our target. To hit the target we must first except the best treat He has for us.  Doing good things will not get us the best treat Jesus has for us.

R - Rose again
Jesus rose again to give us the very best treat we can ever have. It is a free treat that will cost you nothing. There is nothing we can do to earn this treat it is a gift from Jesus.
How can Jesus give us this treat? Jesus, God’s Son left heaven and was born as a little baby, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and rose again. By doing this He provide us the best treat of all, forgiveness of our sins. Sin is the naughty things do. The Bible says we are all sinners and have done wrong.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 KJV

If we have not asked Jesus to forgive us of our sins, we cannot hit the target. We fall short. No matter how many good things we do, we will not be able to get on target and receive forgiveness of our sins. (Label objects with good things and throw them short of the target.)

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV

The only way to receive Jesus’ treat of forgiveness is to pray and ask forgiveness for your naughty sins and tell Jesus you believe He never sinned, died to take away your sin, and rose again.

E – Everlasting life

Jesus gives us another treat when we except His gift of forgiveness. It is everlasting life.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 KJV

Someday our earthly bodies will die and be buried. By accepting Jesus treat of everlasting life we will not face a terrible punishment for our sins. Instead, we live live in heaven forever. In heaven no one will hurt you or let you down. There is no pain. The problems you have on earth will be taken away.

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:4 KJV

Heaven is filled with many wonderful treats. It will better than anything we have on earth.

A – Always with us

Jesus is always with us and wants to give us the best treats.

“He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5 KJV

When you are sad, lonely, hurting, upset, or anytime, Jesus is with you. You can talk to Him in prayer, learn about Him, and get help from the Bible. He gives us His treats of love and care.

T – Thank Jesus

We can thank Jesus for all the treats He gives us.
Sometimes we still sin, mess up, or do wrong after we accept Jesus treat of forgiveness. When we do wrong, all we have to do is tell Jesus we are sorry and He will forgive us. Then we need to do our best to obey and do what the Bible says. Jesus loves you! He wants to give you the best treats. Will you accept His treats today?

You might enjoy “Don’t Be Tricked By Satan” http://lois-graham.com/dont-be-tricked-by-satan/

We cannot be separated from God’s love.

Children need to know that as a child of God He will never leave them. Use this lesson to help children understand salvation and the love of God.

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.“

Romans 8:38-39 (KJV)

The Love of God is HUGE. It is bigger than anything.

What are some big things?

God’s love is bigger than any of those things. He loves us so much that even though we have done naughty things, God gave His Son Jesus to take away our sin.

What is sin?

The naughty things we do are sin. Moms, dads, boys, girls, and even grandpa and grandmas have sinned. Everybody, but God has sinned.

God loves us and wants us to go to Heaven to be with Him someday, but there is no sin in Heaven. Jesus, God’s Son never sinned, died, and rose again to take away our sins.

Would you give up your favorite thing in the world for someone who was naughty and mean to you?

God gave His only Son for us because He loves us. If we pray and tell God we are sorry for our sins and believe that Jesus died and rose again, God will take away our sin and we can go to Heaven someday. God takes our sins and throws them far away where they are gone forever.

Have someone toss or roll a ball.

We can still see the ball. God loves us so much He throws our sin where we will not see it again. When we do naughty things and sin again, we can ask God to forgive us and He will throw them away.

Sometimes people who love us leave.

Does that make you sad?

After we ask God to take away our sin and believe in Him, He will always be with us. We cannot see God, but He is always there. God will NEVER leave us. There is not anything that can separate us from God’s love.

Take a piece of duct tape, fold it over, and put the sticky sides together. Set it in the sun and make sure it is stuck together tightly.

Ask a child to try and peel the tape apart.

God’s love is stronger than duct tape that is stuck together. We cannot be peeled away from God’s love.

Read Romans 8:38-39.

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (KJV)

These verses mean that when we believe on God, He is with us now and when we die. He loves us and keeps us safe from things we see and the things we can’t see.

Do you know what you are going to be doing years from now?

God knows what things are going to happen to you now and in the future and He will not leave you.

Where is the highest place you could go?

You cannot get away from God’s love in the highest place or in the lowest place.

God loves you, sees you, and cares about you ALL the time!

Read more about God’s love here:  “No Love Like God’s Love”.