Sonoma Valley Church of the Nazarene
Find God, Find Hope, Find Rest for Your Soul
Happy New Year friends,
I am sure all of us are looking forward to putting last year behind us.
Last Week we ended the year thinking about resolutions and reputations- making some observations about why the Church exists (Ephesians 3)
In an effort to get the year off to the right start I want to continue that theme this week by locating our place in the Story of God. This sermon seeks to dovetail “why the Church exists” with a review of the Gospel of Matthew (chapters 1-6).
BOTTOM LINE:
Forgiving others can help us to heal our relationships.
OBJECTIVE:
Kids will discuss a time they forgave someone and how it felt.
KEY PASSAGE:
Genesis 32:6-21, 33:1-4, Jacob Meets Esau
MEMORY VERSE:
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
Object Lesson
ITEMS NEEDED:
A box of (super hero) band-aids
How good does it feel to rip off a band-aid? The short answer is – it doesn’t! Band-aids are designed to stick and stay, even when they get wet. That means when it’s time to rip them off, we’re likely to feel a little pain. If you think it’s bad to rip one off bare skin, try ripping one off your arm or leg when there’s hair involved. You’re not just ripping off the band-aid. You’re ripping out hair.
The best part of ripping off a band-aid is right after. There’s a relief, isn’t there? Sure your skin may be sore for a minute, but the anticipation of the moment and the moment itself are over. It feels good to have it over and done. The pain is over, and the healing has begun!
It isn’t easy to forgive someone who has hurt you, but once we have forgiven someone, there is relief. We’ve let go of a past wrong. We’ve released someone else from feeling guilty about what they did. Our conscience is clear. I’m sure Esau felt that relief when he forgave Jacob, and I know all of you feel it when you forgive someone who has wronged you. No, you can’t erase the past, but once the forgiveness is given, the healing can begin.
You can’t find relief holding a grudge, but you can if you forgive. Ask God to help you rip off that band-aid so that you can begin to heal.
Craft Activity
Have the kids draw and color a comic strip telling the story of Esau forgiving Jacob. They can make a comic book cover, or do a multi-panel story, whatever they choose to do.
The Apostle Paul enlightens us as to the Mystery of Christ that he has received by revelation to which he has been called to preach for the benefit of the gentiles.
Lesson Snapshot
BOTTOM LINE:
We can forgive others as God forgave us.
OBJECTIVE:
Kids will learn they can forgive others because God loves and forgives them.
KEY PASSAGE:
Luke 15:11-24 The Prodigal Son
MEMORY VERSE:
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
SUMMARY:
Jesus told a story about a man who had two sons. One son was very rude and disrespectful of his father. His father however, showed us how much God loves us and is willing to forgive us because when the disrespectful son returned, his father welcomed him with a hug rather than punishing him.
Song
Lesson
Trivia Game
Craft Activity
Have the kids design a logo for a super hero team called the Non-Avengers. They can draw and color their logo, or they can cut and paste construction paper together to make their logo for this super team.
Memory Verse
Today we light our final candle, the Christ candle. May the joy of Christ fill your hearts today and every day. Merry Christmas from all of us at Sonoma Valley Church of the Nazarene.
God’s love originates from God’s own character. Besides Jesus willing and sacrificial death to ransom a desperate downward spiraling humanity, Jesus incarnation is without a doubt one of the most remarkable demonstrations of God’s love we have ever encountered.
Merry Christmas
Lesson Snapshot
BOTTOM LINE:
Jesus is the greatest gift we could ever receive.
OBJECTIVE:
Kids will learn that they need Jesus.
KEY PASSAGE:
Matthew 2:1-12, The Magi
MEMORY VERSE:
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:11 (NIV)
SUMMARY:
Cody came the furthest to be here tonight, carrying visitors from the east. He tells everyone how the Magi followed a new star in the sky to this very spot, and of the gifts they delivered to the newborn king.
Game
Craft Activity
Let the kids cut out and create a camel using construction paper. (You can search online for “free camel templates.”) Punch a hole in the camel’s back, and he can become a Christmas ornament! Or instead, have the kids create and color a crown like the wise men might have worn.
The theme of week three in the season of Advent is joy, but the glimmer and shine on everything around us can distract from the reality that many do not experience joy this time of year. Our Scripture reading this week speaks right into that reality. Join me as we explore the Biblical concept of Joy.
Lesson Snapshot
BOTTOM LINE:
God wants everyone to come and meet Jesus.
OBJECTIVE:
Kids will learn that Jesus came for everyone.
KEY PASSAGE:
Luke 2:8-20, The Shepherds
MEMORY VERSE:
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:11 (NIV)
SUMMARY:
Sam was minding his business with the other sheep in the field, when an angel appeared in the sky, telling the shepherds that Jesus Christ was born. Sam just had to come with them to meet the Savior for himself.
Object Lesson
ITEM NEEDED:
Birthday Party Invitation
Of all the cards kids receive, the most exciting has to be a card with money. But if you had to pick a second favorite, it would have to be a card like this. Does anyone know what this is?
This isn’t just an invitation for a birthday party. It’s an invitation for a good time. It’s an invitation to games and good food and cake and ice cream. It’s an invitation to fun!
Invitations make us feel special. Not everyone gets invited to every party, so it means a lot when a friend picks you to come along to Chuck E. Cheese or the bowling alley or wherever you may go.
But God sent an invitation to his Son’s birthday to everyone – to kings, queens, the rich and powerful, and to you. God sent an angel to announce the birth of Jesus to shepherds, letting the whole world know that all are welcome to come to Jesus.
Christmas is an invitation to make Jesus the Lord of your life. Let’s share that good news with others, and let’s commit ourselves to following Jesus.
Trivia Game
Craft Activity
Let the kids create sheep using construction paper, glue sticks, and cotton balls (for a sheep template, search online for “free sheep template.”). Punch a hole in the sheep’s back, and he can become a Christmas ornament!