Nov 6, 2024
Truth Group
Week 8 - We need grace
Main Point & Memory Verses
Main Point: I can’t afford GRACE from the Lord
Scripture Spies Memory Verse - 2 Timothy 1:9 “[God] saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works”
Faith Force Memory Verse - Galatians 2:16 “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ.”
Some people believe that they can get to heaven by doing enough good things or giving enough money to God. But the Bible tells us that there’s nothing we can do or anything that we can give that will pay for our sins! We just can’t afford it. We need someone else to pay for us.
Game - Survive the Sprint!
Since we didn’t get to this game last week, we’ll try it this week. Graham will be leading this game if he’s available.
Setup and materials. This game will require cones & dodgeballs. Set up two rows of cones as a wide “Track” that stretches from one side of the gym to the other. Spread the dodgeballs out alongside the cones.
Gameplay. Choose three or four kids to be “Throwers.” The rest of the kids will be “Sprinters.” Have the Throwers stand on either side of the cones and the Sprinters line up by one wall of the gym. On the whistle, the Sprinters will run to the other side of the gym, trying to avoid getting hit by a dodgeball. If they can make it to the other side, they are safe, but if they are hit, they become a thrower for the next round.
Winning. Rounds will continue with kids running from one side to the other until there is only one kid left. That kid is the winner!
Important rules. No Throwers are allowed to step inside the Track of cones. Balls that stop inside the Track must remain there until the round is over. Throwers may not throw the ball until after the whistle has been blown. Head shots are not allowed.
Note for Teachers: The game will go smoothest if the teachers help gather thrown balls during the game and pass them to the Throwers.
Lesson - Acts 8:1-23 - Simon Wants to Buy the Holy Spirit
Have you ever saved up and bought something really expensive?
Read the entire lesson
Visual 1 - Show all sorts of expensive items with price tags
How do you know if you have enough money to pay for something? How do you know if something is too expensive, and you can’t afford it?
There was a man who lived in Samaria at the time when the church was just starting. His name was Simon, and he tricked people with his magic. People thought he had the power of God, and many people followed him. However, he was just a fraud and a wicked man.
Visual 2 - Picture of Philip preaching
One day, Philip the Evangelist came to town. He stood before the people of that town and preached the good news about Jesus. He preached that a person could not be saved by his own good works but only by God’s work of grace. That means that a person can only be forgiven when he trusts in Jesus’ work on the cross. Many people heard the gospel and believed in God’s grace to save them. Simon joined that group too. All those who said they believed in Jesus were baptized.
Visual 3 - Acts 8:8 “And there was great joy in that city.”
Simon began to follow Philip the Evangelist around. Simon saw God’s power through the apostles, and Simon wanted that power for himself. In fact, Peter and John came to town, and God’s power came upon them too. Everyone saw God’s power when they laid hands on those who believed. Peter and John had the power of the Holy Spirit!
Visual 4 - Picture of Simon bringing Peter money
When Simon saw that, he wanted that power too. So, Simon brought money to the apostles. He offered them money and said, “Can I buy God’s power for myself? I will pay to use the power of God!”
But Peter rebuked Simon. Peter told him God’s power only comes through grace. A person cannot earn or buy God’s work. No person can be good enough or give enough money to make God do something. God’s grace is a free gift of love from God to sinners.
Visual 5 - Acts 8:20 “Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought the gift of God may be purchased with money.”
Simon realized that Peter said he was not truly a Christian. Peter showed Simon that a person is not saved by his works or his giving money. God only saves by grace. Peter said to Simon, “Repent. Turn from your sinful ideas about God. Trust only in Jesus’ and the grace He offers.” A person can only be saved by God’s grace!
Visual 6 - Main Point: I can’t afford grace from the Lord!
Nobody is able to do enough good things or pay enough money to be saved. What is the only way to be saved? Right! To believe on the Lord Jesus Christ! He could afford to pay for all our sins, and He did it when He died on the cross. Will you accept Him today? Will you be a witness like Philip and Peter?
Training Time
Group Activity: Play a rousing game of tic-tack-toe. Divide your group into two teams. Write a big tic-tac-toe graph on a sheet of paper or board. Have children take turns playing putting up Xs and Os. Make the board more than 9 spaces to make it more difficult. Play a couple of times. Make sure you have a group that wins for the night. At the end of the time of playing, declare the team that lost the winners. No doubt the winning team will cry unfair. Say your reason for declaring them the winner was because they tried hard. The real winner will protest again.
Have the children quiet down and talk to them about today’s topic. Explain to them your point of declaring the losing team the winners. Your point is this: It is true the real winning team were those who won the game. The world wants you to think no matter what you do, you are always the winner—even if you lose. They apply this to heaven too. Even though you are guilty of breaking God’s law, they teach you will still go to heaven. If though you deserve to be punished, they think you should get a pass for trying hard and doing some good things. But their ideas are false. It matters to God that we have broken His laws. He will not just let sinners pass into heaven. We are all guilty.
Group Discussion: Without saying his name, describe the good things about Judas Iscariot. Describe things like:
A disciple of Jesus
Collected money for the poor
Preached about Jesus
Did wonderful works for the Lord
It looked like to everyone that he was a great Christian
Followed Jesus for three years
Talked about his concern to give to the poor
Then ask, “Do you think a person like this is a child of God in heaven or separated from God in hell?” Then reveal you were talking about Judas the Iscariot. Read John 17:12. This verse talks about Judas. It says he was a son of perdition. “Perdition” means to be doomed to destruction. Though Judas did many wonderful things, none of those works could take away the laws of God he broke. He could have asked Jesus for forgiveness, but instead he tried to “fix” what he’d done by giving the money back to the priests.
Prayer: Pick a world religion that trusts in works to take away their sin. Have the children pray that those who are trusting in their works will turn to trust only in Jesus.