Sunday School Lessons
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Proverbs 27:7  The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

There are many that come to church today and are no longer hungry. They have been filled with the ways of the world and have no room left for the Lord.

This is why it is so easy to be distracted.

What is causing people to come to Church without a desire to be fed spiritually?

  • They are filling their soul with the ways of the world

Luke 6:25  Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

Proverbs 1:31  Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

  • What you are eating does not satisfy

Proverbs 19:15  Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

Proverbs 27:20  Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

  • We need to be filled with the bread of life

Matthew 5:6  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

John 6:35  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

  • We need to be filled with the Word of God

Deuteronomy 8:3  And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

Job 23:12  Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

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In our country we have adopted the colors Red, White and Blue as our symbol of liberty. Liberty that started with the pursuit of people that sought freedom to worship God apart from a oppressive religious government. This pursuit of liberty came to the establishment that honored God in all matters of law, justice and the protection of freedom; using the word of God as a guide to the writing of a constitution and bill of rights that reflected God’s liberty.

Colors

While there is no official symbolism of the colors of the flag there is a similar attribute made to the seal of the United States.  (IMAGE)

The colours of the pales are those used in the flag of the United States of America;

  • White – purity and innocence
  • Red – hardiness & valor
  • Blue – the colour of the Chief signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice

This desire to have liberty comes from the Bible

Galatians 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

We also see these colors symbolized in the Bible

  • Red is a very special color to Christians because it is the color of the blood of Jesus that was shed for our sins.
  • White, like the flag signifies purity

Isaiah 1:18  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

In the scriptures the color blue is always combined with other colors of royalty but the workmanship or bindings are often colored in blue or the protective apron part of the priests garment was blue signifying the work one would do.

Ephesians 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

So as much as the liberal media wants to try and separate the Bible from the government, the truth is that they have been combined from the very beginning. The very foundation of our country was set based on the desire to worship as they believed without oppression.

Tomorrow is Veterans Day. Veterans day celebrates those who have served, in any capacity; the facility that keeps us free from oppression. It is our opportunity to say, thank you to those who have served; ready to sacrifice all if needed to make sure that our liberty in Christ is preserved.

 

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Haggai 1:13  Then spake Haggai the LORD’S messenger in the LORD’S message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD.

God has a message. A message that needs to be delivered

Today our theme is the pony express.

The Pony Express was a mail service delivering messages, newspapers, and mail using relays of horse-mounted riders that operated from April 3, 1860, to October 1861 between Missouri and California in the United States of America.

 

Operated by Central Overland California and Pike’s Peak Express Company, the Pony Express reduced the time for messages to travel between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to about 10 days. It encouraged catalogues to be created, allowing people to buy goods and have them brought by horse to the customers. (The first Amazon) 

 

It became the West’s most direct means of east-west communication before the transcontinental telegraph was established (October 24, 1861), and was vital for tying the new U.S. state of California with the rest of the United States. Its reliance on the ability and endurance of individual young, hardy riders and fast horses was seen as evidence of rugged American individualism of the those days.

 

 

God Has a Message that needs delivered

1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

God’s message sometimes needs a messenger

Acts 8:27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

 

 

God’s Message is delivered by those who have received it already

1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

God’s Message needs to be delivered on time

2 Corinthians 6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

God’s Message:

1 John 5:13  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

 

Undeliverable Mail (rejected)

John 12:47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

 

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2 Corinthians 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

At this time of the year… the New Year, this is a good time to take some time to examine yourselves – Spiritually – Asking yourself this:

  • Am I better for God today, than I was a year ago.

An examination can come from a few perspectives. Let’s look at a few

Examination from God

Psalms 26:2  Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

God through the Holy Spirit speaks in a still small voice. If you listen, you can hear Him guiding you and showing you things in your life you can do to be close to God.

Psalms 46:10a  Be still, and know that I am God: …

1 Kings 19:12b … and after the fire a still small voice.

1 Thessalonians 4:11  And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

Try my reins is what you are connected to.

  • Friends
  • Relationships
  • Devices

Do any of these bring you closer to God? Or farther away?

Examination from the Word of God

2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Self Examination

Self Examination honestly needs the other 2 to be effective, otherwise it’s just emotions like guilt, depression, anger or despair that seeks out a change… any change that might make things better.

This unfortunately is the case for so many as they make promises to God without the foundation to carry them out.

2 Corinthians 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

  1. First part of self examination: are you saved? (whether ye be in the faith)
  2. Second is having a firm foundation: (prove your own selves)

1 Thessalonians 5:21  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

  1. Thirdly is a comparison with the world. A reprobate is someone abandoned to sin. Takes pleasure in unrighteousness.

(Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?)

This comparison to Christians…

1 John 2:15a  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world…

– So we started with this question… Am I better for God today, than I was a year ago.

 

 

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Luke 12:40  Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

  • This verse speaks of an event, an event that has not taken place yet.

It is a pivotal event that is at the core of our beliefs. It is as important as the fact that Jesus came and that He died for our sins.

  • Sometimes we forget this event in the affairs of this day, we get caught up in life sometimes… sometimes life gets caught up in us.

Have you ever had a bad day? Been sad?

John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

2 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.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

We call this event of Jesus coming “the Rapture”

1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

As our memory verse speaks about an event, it also talk about being ready…

Luke 12:40  Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Be ready by getting Saved

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Be ready by telling others

1 Peter 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

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In the ‘60’s, a TV show set out to provide a mindset of exploration and adventure being pitched as “the wagon train to the stars”. Gene Roddenberry sought to provide a glimpse of society from the viewscreen of a starship. In this show called Star Trek, he identified issues of the day and attempted to provide a solution that a utopian mindset might solve.

If you’ve ever watched the original series you will see that while the option was presented, it was never really the solution. It always seemed to stop short of a being the best option, leaving a question of whether there was a better solution.

Years after the show was cancelled, fan popularity brought back a Motion Picture in 1979 that revisited the slogan: “To seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where noone has gone before.”

The interesting comparison and perhaps the opening that gave Star Trek it’s extraordinary longevity is the fact that during those same years, Christians we’re beginning to be shamed for having the answer that society was so much searching for.

If fact, when Christians began to be silent, society began to go boldly looking for the answer.

In the 60’s the Bible and Prayer were removed from schools, the Apollo 8 Astronauts were sued for reading Genesis aloud on their flight to the moon, homosexuality became a protected legal status in 1967; all the while Christians continue to become more passive and increasingly silent.

On this 40th anniversary of Star Trek the Motion Picture, I think it is appropriate to look at those in the Bible who have boldly gone on before us, having the very answer humanity needs and refusing to be silent. Their lives and precious words can empower us to boldly do the same.

Consider these great heroes of our faith:

  • Moses Boldly went into Egypt to say let my people go.
  • Abraham boldly went into new civilization when God said to go.
  • King David boldly went before his enemies with the power of God
  • Elijah boldly stood before the 450 prophets of Baal and the people saying: “How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.”
  • Jesus, Paul, Phillip, Barnabus, Apollos, Pricilla, Aquila, Timothy and John ALL had a testimony of preaching the Gospel and BOLDLY taking the gospel… where it had never gone before.

You don’t have to have a Bible degree to be bold.

Acts 4:13  Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

People can tell when you have spent time with Jesus.

Boldly speak the truth

Ephesians 3:12  In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him

With boldness comes knowledge of where our power comes from.

1 Corinthians 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Ephesians 6:19  And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

To keep Christians silent society has shamed the truth, diluted the Bible, populated false teachers, and called evil good and good evil.

Boldness from the Pulpit to the People

2 Corinthians 7:4  Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

Boldness of the People to the World

Colossians 1:23  If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Conclusion

The final frontier is not the exploration of space or the exploration of our minds; the final frontier is souls. It takes boldness for a Pastor to speak truth and boldness of the people to take the Gospel message to a lost and dying world. Outside these doors lies the greatest adventure you could ever know, Christians have been taught to fear it, hide from it and not speak against it.

But we are told to Boldly Go by our headquarters; to set our coordinates on souls, and perhaps take the Gospel where it has never gone before. Because Christians have been silent for so long… that may be across the street, rather than across the world.

 

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This Lesson is a great illustration of how God placed sin into a cup that Jesus bore for us. It also has an visual that shows that by what Jesus did it takes away sin for those who believe.

For this lesson you will need Styrofoam cups, a Large Sharpie, a mid-sized pot and acetone. (Be sure to pour the acetone in the pot before the lesson starts so the kids don’t see what it is. Make sure to keep in a well ventilated area as well.

The Cup of Sin

The Bible has a lot to say about cups. The Bible lists different kinds of cups:

The cup of the wicked: Psalms 11:6  Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.

The cup of Salvation: Psalms 116:13  I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.

The bible describes us as a vessel or cup, we get to choose what we will put into our cup…

The Bible has some other names for these cups:

  • The Cup of God’s Fury
  • The Cup of Consolation
  • The Cup of Astonishment and Desolation
  • The Cup of Blessings
  • The Cup of His Indignation

So many seek to fill their cups with the ways and sins of the world: (have them list sins and write them on the cups)

The Last cup write “SIN.”

You see God knew that sin would keep the world from going to Heaven… But God so loved the world that He sent His son Jesus to pay for our sin and whosoever believed in Him, would have everlasting life.

Just as we have a choice of what cup we are and what we want to fill our cup with… we also can choose whether or not we want to go to heaven… or hell.

So God gathered up all the sins and placed them in the cup of sin… and gave them to Jesus. It was a heavy burden to bear:

Take all the cups and stack them.. then place the in the SIN cup

Matthew 26:39  And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

Jesus knew:

Romans 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

But Jesus made a way to take away our sins:

(put the cups into the acetone) – The cups/sin will melt away.. as they watch this tall column of cups vanish.. read the verses:

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 3:1 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Some in here have made the choice to accept the gift that Christ gave…

Others have not.

Some maybe like to play Church trying to be a Christian on Sunday… but acting poorly on other days:

1 Corinthians 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.

Which cup are you drinking from today?

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The bible is full of references of people doing good works.

In fact, you have all heard of good works… afterall… doesn’t everyone tell you to be good?

If you’ve ever been in the boy or girl scouts they even give you badges for doing good works…

But how good… is good enough?

1 Peter 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

So there is a test, a trial that needs to take place to see what will hold up, what will honor God…

What good works this morning… will honor God?

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(Take the balloons and have the children call out good works and write then on the balloons.)

Once you have collected them all (in a container) Place them over… the fire (candle of flame)

Note: a candle has a tendency to be blown out when the balloon pops

As you pop each good work exclaim that there must be some work that will stand the test of fire… there must be some work that is good enough!

Then… after all the balloons are popped:

Romans 3:12  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

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

So if there are no good works that will stand the test… How can we get to heaven…

What IS good enough

Jesus Said:

John 4:14  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

(Take the balloon filled with water… Write JESUS on it and hold it over the flame.

Note: the Balloon doesn’t pop)

It’s not good works… it’s Jesus!

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

  • Jesus is the only way to heaven, not good works.
  • Jesus will past the trial by fire
    Jesus will save you!
  • But How?

Romans 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Have you ever called on Jesus to save you?

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Addl.

Titus 1:16  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Colossians 1:10  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Ephesians 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

 

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Suitable for kids of all ages! 

Supplies Needed

  • None

Gameplay

Instruct the children that whoever goes the longest without making any noise (this includes talking, giggling, whispering…) will recieve a reward.

Tips

  • Try to get the children distracted, ask one of them a question, make funny faces or start singing a favorite song.
  • No one is to try to cause a child to make noise by touching them in any way.
  • If the game is taking to long give the children a challenge they must do without making noise.

 

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Suitable for kids of all ages!

Supplies Needed

  • 2 Balls of yarn
  • Stopwatch

Gameplay

The children with the balls of yarn are to find the end, grab ahold of it and say their name and one interesting fact about themselves. They should then throw the yarn to someone else on the bus (without letting go of their end) who will do the same thing. Continue this until the worker says time is up or the yarn runs out. Choose two of your workers to be the participants. They are going to race one at a time through the web without breaking any strands. When a strand is broken there turn is over. Who ever gets the farthest is the winner, if they both complete the course then the one with the best time is the winner.

Tips

  • Pre pick your contestents and have them sitting up front so they dont have to work their way to the front before they play.
  • If you can, choose a male and a female worker to be your contestants. Kids love girl against boy challenges.
  • Tell the children to throw it to someone who has not had a turn yet.
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