Sonoma Valley Church of the Nazarene
Find God, Find Hope, Find Rest for Your Soul
This week we begin a new series in the Book of Genesis. These first pages of scripture are among the most widely read, but also the most deeply misunderstood in the entire Bible. It is my intention that this sermon continue along the same vein as our last series “When Love Bends Down” focusing in on God’s good intentions for humanity.
Lesson Snapshot
BOTTOM LINE:
Trust God to be your leader.
OBJECTIVE:
Kids will learn they can have confidence in going where God leads them.
KEY PASSAGE:
Genesis 12:1-8, God Calls Abram
MEMORY VERSE:
“The grass dries up. The flowers fall to the ground. But what our God says will stand forever.” Isaiah 40:8 (NIrV)
SUMMARY:
Many people flocked to the Old West because it was a chance to start over in a place where there weren’t many people. God called Abram to move to an unfamiliar place and promised to make a great nation from him. Abram trusted God, and knew one day the promise would be fulfilled.
Object Lesson
ITEMS NEEDED:
A cowboy hat, bandana, and boots
It’s easy to spot a cowboy. Cowboys are known for their signature wardrobe – Stetson hats, bandanas, and boots. But these iconic accessories are no mere fashion statement. They all reflect how dangerous the Old West could be. The hat protected a cowboy’s face from the harsh light and heat of the sun. The bandana kept harmful trail dust from getting into a cowboy’s lungs. And those boots were made to keep a cowboy’s feet dry and protect them from thorns, brambles, and deadly snake bites!
Our world today may not be the wild, wild west, but it’s a world fraught with its own
kind of danger. But just as the frontier men and women answered the call to go west, God has a calling for each one of us. He will equip us for the journey with spiritual gifts, wisdom, and friends, and He will lead us where He wants us to go. We can trust the Lord to lead us, just as He led Abram to his new home, because God always keeps His Word.
Have you asked God for your calling? Did you know He even had a calling for you? Time to saddle up, and see where the Lord wants you to ride!
Craft Activity
Have the kids draw, color, and cut out their own cowboy hat to prepare them for the adventure they are about to begin with God!
Lets Move
Test Your Knowledge
This is the forth and final sermon from our series.
Lesson Snapshot
BOTTOM LINE:
We need to share Jesus with others.
OBJECTIVE:
Kids will learn that as a follower of Jesus it’s our job to tell other people about Jesus.
KEY PASSAGE:
Matthew 5:14-16 (Light of the world)
MEMORY VERSE:
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
SUMMARY:
What kind of “firework” are you? Are you the kind that burns for a brief second and then fizzles away, or are you a sparkler, lighting up the night? Jesus wants us to be the light of the world. He wants us to light the way for others to find Jesus. We need to ground ourselves in Jesus so that we can be a light in the darkness.
Object Lesson
ITEMS NEEDED:
Flashlight
How many flashlights do you all keep around the house? You never know when a storm is going to knock the power out –
Have someone kill the lights to help you make the point. Turn on the flashlight and con- tinue.
…So it’s wise to have a few of these around the house in case you need them.
It’s also wise to make sure they are in good working order and have fresh batteries. It’ll do you no good to have a dozen flashlights around the house when the power goes out if the batteries are all dead!
A flashlight can’t light up the darkness if its batteries are dead. If we want to be the light of the world, we need to make sure we’re connected to our power source – Jesus!
In today’s story, Jesus reminds that we need to stay connected to him. Jesus wants us to ground our faith in him. When we are connected to Christ, we will not only grow in our faith, but we can also be a light that will show others the way to Jesus.
Flashlights need batteries. We need Jesus to help us shine our light in a dark world!
Craft
Supplies Needed:
Paper or Construction Paper Markers/Crayons – lots of different colors
Instructions:
Have the kids write out the memory verse at the top of their page:
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
Then in the blank space that’s left have them draw the most colorful fireworks display they can as a reminder that we are to be the light of the world.
Let’s Move
This is the third of four parts inspired by my friend and former professor Michael Lodahl
Lesson Snapshot
BOTTOM LINE:
Jesus will always redeem us because He loves us.
OBJECTIVE:
Kids will learn Jesus is full of love, compassion and power.
KEY PASSAGE:
Mark 5:1-20, Jesus Heals A Demon-Possessed Man
MEMORY VERSE:
“Lord, you are great. You are really worthy of praise. No one can completely understand how great you are.” Psalm 145:3 (NIrV)
SUMMARY:
When Jesus encountered a man possessed by demons, he had compassion and drove the demons out into a herd of pigs, which all scrambled to their deaths. No matter what struggle we face, when we come to Jesus humbly, there’s nothing He can’t heal and redeem.
Object Lesson
ITEMS NEEDED:
A cake mix Eggs Water
Oil
Bring in a cake mix and prepare it in front of the kids. Ask if any of the kids want to try the cake mix raw – but don’t let them.
A cake mix is a big, slimy mess of oil, water, and raw eggs. It’s unsafe to eat, because of the eggs, and as sweet and chocolatey as it may be, it’s just not the same as eating actual cake. But take this slimy mess, put it in a pan, bake as directed, and it becomes something sweet and lovely.
Jesus wants to turn us from slimy cake batter into something sweet and fragrant. He wants to set us free from the muck of sin and forgive us. He wants to give us a new life and make us a new creation.
Life is messy, and sin only makes it messier. Thank God that He sent Jesus to wash away our sins. Let’s thank God for the gift of Jesus, and if you’ve never made Jesus your Savior, make today the day He turns you into a new creation!
Craft Activity
Give each of the kids a lump of modeling clay or Play-Doh. They can shape this into whatever they like, but as they work on their creations, talk to them about how Jesus wants to take us in His hands, like the modeling clay, and make us into a new creation!
Game
See What You’ve Learned
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images of the Christ who meets us where we are
Matthew 2:13-23, Joseph Leads His Family
Lesson Snapshot
BOTTOM LINE:
Show Dad you love him.
OBJECTIVE:
Kids will think of something good or helpful they can do for their dad this week.
KEY PASSAGE:
Matthew 2:13-23, Joseph Leads His Family
MEMORY VERSE:
“Children, obey your parents as believers in the Lord. Obey them because it’s the right thing to do.” Ephesians 6:1 (NIrV)
SUMMARY:
Joseph was a godly man who lived as Jesus’ earthly father. When Jesus was a child and his life was in danger, Joseph led his family to safety. A godly father loves and protects his family, and listens and obeys his Father in heaven. We can show our dad that we love him, by obeying him and respecting his instruction.
Sing Along
Object Lesson
ITEMS NEEDED:
A tool kit
When something’s broken around the house, you call for Dad, and when Dad hears something is broken, he reaches for his tool kit. A wise dad keeps a tool handy for any big job. From pliers to wrenches to hammers to screwdrivers, Philips and flat head, Dad has the tool to fix, tighten, and nail down just about everything.
Dads take care of a lot of things around the house. They do the heavy lifting when it’s needed. They can also do the heavy discipline. They make sure the house is secure and locked up at night. They teach you responsibility. They know how to have fun, but they also know when to be serious and when to be strong.
Dads have a tough job, but they have a Father of their own in Heaven to guide them. A father is supposed to lead, to teach, and to comfort, but more importantly, he is supposed to model the love of God the Father to his children.
Fathers deserve our love and respect. Let’s show them we love them this week with our actions and obedience as well as our words.
Craft
Have the kids create three “coupons” for their Dad. One can be for a free hug or cuddle time, but the other two should be for chores that the kids will do without griping when cashed in.
Test Your Knowledge
Images of the Christ who meets us where we are-Taken from my friends Book