Week 9 - Faith

Main Point & Memory Verses

Only FAITH (trust in Jesus) saves and frees us!

Scripture Spies Memory Verse - Romans 3:28 “Man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

Faith Force Memory Verse - Galatians 3:13 “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree”

Game Time: Newspaper toss

Goal: to be the team that can land the newspaper on the mats for the most points.

The gym is divided in half. On one half of the gym, a rug is laid out with a smaller mat on top of it.

On the other side of the gym, two to four teams are each in a line. The kids at the front of the line each have a wrapped newspaper in their hands. They must run up to the center of the gym and try to toss the newspaper onto the rug. If they get it on the bigger rug (it only has to be touching it), they get 1 point. If they get it on the smaller mat, they get 3 points. After they throw the newspaper, they may run up and grab it and then run it back to the next person in line, and the game continues.

Winning: The team with the most points wins.

Lesson - John 3 - Nicodemus learns about being born again

If you could ask the smartest person in the world anything you wanted, what would you ask?

Read Entire Lesson

Visual 1 - Picture of a very smart old man

There was a very religious man who lived in Jerusalem during the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry. His name was Nicodemus. He was a pharisee, and he believed his own good works were good enough to get him to heaven. But he was wrong. He heard Jesus teaching, so he met Jesus on the roof of a house at night to hear more. Jesus claimed to be the Messiah, the Savior of the world.

Visual 2 - Picture of Jesus & Nicodemus

Nicodemus wanted to find something out from Jesus. He wanted to figure out what Jesus would say about spiritual things, like heaven and obeying God. So he told Jesus that he thought He was from God.

Visual 3 - John 3:2 “We know that thou art a teacher come from God, for no man can do these miracles that thou doest except God be with him.”

That sure was nice of Nicodemus to say. But was it enough for Nicodemus to know Jesus was a good teacher? Does just knowing that Jesus is a good teacher enough to save? NO!

Visual 4 - John 3:3 “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

What Jesus said shocked Nicodemus. He imagined trying to be reborn as an adult. But Jesus was not talking about being reborn as a human baby. Jesus was talking about being reborn in your soul. Jesus was teaching about the work God must do to cleanse your heart from your sins.

Jesus taught that the Father loved the world so much that He sent His Special Son (that’s Jesus) to die on the cross and rise again so that we would not have to be separated from God but could have eternal life.

Visual 5 - John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Visual 6 - Main Point - Only Faith (trust in Jesus) saves and frees us!

Nicodemus thought a lot about what Jesus said. He believed Jesus was a good teacher, but he had not yet believed that Jesus was His Savior. But soon, that all changed. Jesus died on the cross, and they needed someone to bury him.

Visual 7 - Picture of Nicodemus with Joseph in the tomb

Do you know who volunteered? Nicodemus! Nicodemus had a friend named Joseph who owned a stone cave that could be used for burial. Together, they took Jesus’ body, wrapped it up, anointed it with special smelling oil, put it in the cave, and rolled a big stone in the front.

But you know that wasn’t the end of Jesus. Three days later, Jesus didn’t stay dead. Jesus defeated death and sin when He rose to life. Nicodemus stopped believing in himself, and he placed his faith in Jesus as his LORD and Savior!

What about you? Have you trusted Jesus to save you? Or do you think that Jesus is just a good teacher?

Training Time

Group Activity: Come up with a list of “problems” that you might have, and have the kids figure out what your problem is by asking only yes or no questions. Eventually, once they figure out your problem, discuss what the right solution would be.

Example 1 Problem: A bad headache; Solution: Taking some medicine (Tylenol, etc.)
Example 2 Problem: A popped bike tire; Solution: Putting on a new tire
Example 3 Problem: I hurt my friends feelings (in anger); Solution: Asking for forgiveness

Problems need solutions to be fixed. If you try to fix a problem with the wrong solution, it won’t work. The only solution to our problem of sin is Jesus’ death on the cross. We must believe in Him for God to forgive our sin.

Group Discussion: Luke 23:39-43 tell us about the criminals that were crucified next to Jesus. Read the verses and ask the following questions:

Because they were guilty, did the criminals deserved to be punished? (Yes)
What did the criminal that feared God say about Jesus guilt? (verse 41)
What did Jesus promise this criminal? (verse 43)
Why did Jesus promise this man a place in heaven with Him?
What laws of God have have all sinners broken? Are you guilty?
What do you deserve?
How can you be in heaven like this criminal?

Prayer: Have the children pray silently thanking God for their salvation if they are saved.