The Twelve Special Friends

Objective:
Learn what it means to be a disciple.

Memory Verse:
“…all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another”

John 13:35

Reference:
Matthew 10

Introduction:
Who has friends? How many friends do you have? Let every child say a name of one of his/her friends. Prepare a picture of twelve men to count, which represent the twelve disciples. Ask the children to count to twelve.

Lesson Outline:
When Jesus Christ started to teach people about God, He wanted special friends that can help Him in this work. Just like you all have friends, it was the same with Jesus. He wanted His friends to go everywhere with Him and to learn from Him. He had twelve special friends. They were called disciples.
One day, Jesus was standing on the side of a lake and was watching the fishermen cleaning their nets. He called Peter and Andrew and said: “Come with me.” They immediately left their boat and nets and went after Jesus. He also called James and John and they did the same. So, Jesus called Peter, Andrew, John, and James (Let the children repeat the names after you). Then Jesus saw Matthew who was collecting money. Jesus went to have dinner with him and Matthew left all his money and followed Jesus. So, how many friends does Jesus have now? Yes, they are five now: Peter, Andrew, John, James, and Matthew. He also chose more friends until He had 12 friends. Jesus chose them to follow Him, to learn from Him, and to help Him teach everyone the word of God.
What are the friends of Jesus called? (Disciples); Do we remember some of their names?

Conclusion:
Our Lord Jesus called all of us who love Him, His friends, and His disciples. He said: “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Like His twelve special friends (His disciples), we too, should always follow Jesus (by doing what He tells us in the Bible), and be good friends with Him (by always praying and talking to Him). We must obey Him, learn from Him, and do the work He asks us to do. Most importantly, we must love everyone around us because this is what Jesus wants the most from us. Like this, we could be the disciples of Jesus.

Application:
Use a picture Bible. Show the children the twelve disciples and let them count with you the 12 men.

Four Friends Help a Paralytic

Objective:

Learn that Jesus can heal the sick. Learn to pray for the sick.

Memory verse:

“Arise and take up your bed and walk” Mark 2:9

Reference:

Mark 2:1-12

Introduction:

Ask the children about their friends. Ask them to name a few. What do friends do together? Other than playing and having fun, friends can also help each other and go to church together, etc. Our story today is about some friends who were very caring and helpful.

Lesson Outline:

There once was a man who could not walk (he was a paralytic). He needed others to help him go from one place to another. It was very hard for him to live that way. He had four very caring friends who loved him and helped him. One day, his friends came and told him that he can get healed and they were very excited. He asked them how that can happen, and they told him that Jesus has arrived to their town and He is healing everyone who is sick that goes to Him. The man was happy to hear his friends say: “Let’s go and find Jesus,” and they carried him and his bed.

They found Jesus in a house teaching, but there was a little problem. There were so many people in the house and around the door. There was no place for the man to get into the house. The four friends were so caring. They really knew Jesus was the only One who can make their friend walk, so they kept on thinking of a way. Finally, they climbed up to the roof of the house. They made an opening in the roof and let their friend down with his bed using ropes, right until he was in front of Jesus.
When Jesus saw him and saw his friends helping, he told him, “Arise and take up your bed and go to your house.” The man got up and was able to walk. Jesus healed him! Everyone who saw this was amazed. The man was very happy that he can walk again. His friends that carried him were also very happy for him.

Conclusion:

We are sure that Jesus can heal those who are sick. How can we help if we know someone who is sick? We can pray and ask Jesus to heal them. We need to pray for those who are sick and ask Jesus to heal them, because Jesus, the Son of God, can do everything and nothing is hard for Him.

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samuel

God Calls Sleepy Samuel

samuel

Objective:

Learn to pray before we sleep and listen to God.

Memory Verse:

“Speak, Lord, for your servant hears” 1 Samuel 3:9

Reference:

1 Samuel 3:1-10

Introduction:

Ask the children what they do before they go to bed. Do they brush their teeth and wear PJs before they sleep? Do they read a book? Is it a Bible storybook? Do they pray? Ask each child to mention just one thing for which he/she can pray. Our story today is about a very nice boy who lived in the church and used to pray before he sleeps. Review the previous lesson about Hannah and baby Samuel.

Lesson Outline:

Samuel was a very nice boy who loved to pray and do all that pleases God. He used to live in the church with Eli the priest. One night while Samuel was sleeping, he heard someone calling him. Samuel ran to Eli; he thought Eli the priest was calling him. Eli told him that this didn’t happen and that he didn’t call him.
Samuel went back to bed and tried to sleep. Guess what happened? He heard someone calling him again. So he went to Eli, and Eli told him that he didn’t call him. Samuel tried to sleep again, but he heard the same voice for the third time. So, he ran to Eli. This time, Eli told him that this is GOD who is calling him. He told Samuel to say “Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears,” when he hears the voice again. This is exactly what Samuel said when he heard God calling him again. God told Samuel about important messages for Eli the priest.

Conclusion:

It is very important to pray before we sleep, so we can feel that God is with us and guards us all night.
We should all learn to obey God and to listen to Him as Samuel did. When God asks us to love one another and be nice to each other, we should listen.

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hannah

Hannah’s Prayer

hannah

Objective:

Learn that God hears our prayers.

Memory Verse:

“Hear my prayer, O Lord” Psalm 143:1 (NKJV)

Reference:

1Samuel 1:1-27

Introduction:

Ask the children if they have ever seen a new born baby. How does the baby look? Mommy and Daddy are really happy when God sends them a baby.

Lesson Outline:

Hannah did not have any children and really wanted to have one. That made her very sad. She went to the temple and started praying and telling God how she was so sad. She was crying with tears as she prayed. She promised God that if He gave her a child, she would bring him to God’s house to help out and serve there.
Eli the priest saw her praying and told her to go home and not to be sad and that her prayer will be answered. God did hear Hannah’s prayer and gave her a baby boy. She named him Samuel and took him to God’s house as she promised. Hannah was very joyful and thankful and praised God.

Conclusion:

When Hannah was sad, she went to God and prayed about it. God helped her and made her very happy. We should also do the same when we are sad. God always hears what we say and He answers our prayers. God always knows what’s best for us and gives us what we ask when it is good for us and at the right time for us. We should not forget to talk to God every morning and every night, because He loves us and loves to hear us pray. We also love talking to God, because He is our Father

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