Worship Lesson 5: Jesus & God's Temple

Temple, greedy, holy place, blood sacrifices, anger, destroy temple and raise it up 3 days, Jesus (WORD), God’s Place- temple- WORSHIP

Part 16 pg. Jesus Restores God’s Place 287-305

NT group by sections: Gospels, Letters, Jesus God’s Temple- New knowledge/confusion

Using the Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm

Aim:

·         to reinforce that we worship God with knowing who He is and bringing honor/glory and praise, thanks to Him. 

·         to learn about how Jesus responded to making the Temple not about God, but about man and $. 

·         To teach that the temple that will be rebuilt in 3 days is not this physical building but it’s Jesus!. And that the people in the temple had lost sight of God’s special house and it’s purpose.

Review:

·         Temple- God’s House, A Holy Place- in the Biblical times- the place to meet with God, offer sacrifices, built by Kings (Jesus called it His Father’s House)

·         Sacrifices- blood sacrifice for sin with a pure dove, goat, lamb

·         Sin- anything I think, say or do, against the Word of God

·         Worship- giving thanks to God- acknowledging His worth, value, and bringing honor and glory to Him. 

Concepts:

Read section 16 pg. 288-305- reinforce, explain these concepts.

·         People in the temple -were they showing honor to God? What were they doing? (making $ selling, bring greedy)

·         Jesus in the temple- observed, was angry (at the people who forgot the purpose of this special place, stopped the selling, and told them he’d rebuild in 3 days, and left)

·         What Jesus is sharing, when they think He is confused

·         But it’s those selling in the temple, those who think they are amazing- that are confused and forgetting who God is, and what should be given to Him (Honor/Praise/Gratitude)

·         Jesus IS the temple- God’s special place- a substitute- His body is God’s Holy Temple, His blood payment for our sins. 

·         But no one understood this at the temple. 

Worship Lesson 4: New Testament, New Plan

Repeat-reinforce Worship NT pronounced New Testament Concepts/People John the Baptist- in the desert- Dove- God’s Kingdom, Trinity, Baptism, Disciples, Following Jesus

Part 15 God’s New People are called pg. 271-286 Matthew 3:1,2

Worship- reviewed NT books introduced Activity: John the Baptist pages-coloring and repent defined

Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm

Aim:

·         to introduce the New testament books of the Bible- how to pronounce them.

·         to review and reinforce Worship as something we do to bring worth to God to celebrate and give thanks for who Jesus is as God who lived as Man among us, but was holy and gave himself as a sacrifice for our sins on the cross.  We remember weekly in the Lord’s Supper, just as Jesus taught the disciples to do. 

·         To build the NT timeline of Jesus life. Review as a boy, add to it 30 years later when Jesus was a man.

·         To learn how God used a man, named John (instead of Angels) to teach about God’s Kingdom. He was a unique man and he baptized people to get them ready for the Kingdom.

Concepts:

·         Worship

·         John-not the Messiah, the forerunner or one who comes ahead of time to share that Jesus is the Messiah/Rescuer/King. He dressed, ate, spoke differently than most, and lived in the dessert.

·         Repent- stop sinning, turn from sin, and follow Jesus.

·         Kingdom of God-as Jesus arrives, he is the Rescuer who has come to reign from the line of David,

·         Baptism- a reminder and symbol of repentance from sin-- that we are dead to sin, but alive in Christ. Rescued from our sin. A NEW SYMBOL for the NEW Testament- a symbol that of the Holy Spirit coming to give you a New heart and stay to help. 

·         Dove-Spirit of God…throughout the New Testament the dove represents the third part of the trinity, the Holy Spirit who arrives and empowers Jesus as a man with God’s power.  Jesus will teach how the Holy Spirit is our helper.

·         Disciples-those who followed Jesus, the first group called out as a new people for God, and to travel with Jesus preaching about the new kingdom.

Lesson: (you choose the order)

·         New Testament Books of the Bible introduced/pronounced.

·         Worship- reviewed defined

·         Big Picture Story Bible Lesson and Concepts

Review/Introduce Worship: could be thought of as “Worth Ship” to bring assign worth or value to.We assign value and worth to God for Who He is, and to Jesus for Who He is and What He has done. 

Could be thought of as to honor, revere, praise. A simple way to think about WORSHIP of God- to give glory & praise, honor to God.  When we are seeking God with our whole hearts, we are able to remember and CELEBRATE who God is.  On our own and each week in the Lord’s Supper. 

We worship God because of Who He is.  Our focus is on God and the Lord Jesus and who they are, what Jesus has done for us, and we respond with praise the comes from our hearts overflowing with gratitude. 

Big Picture Story Bible- God’s New People are Called

Read aloud pg. 271-285

Define the new concepts- listed above as you read. 

Timeline- Jesus born as a baby, seen by Wise Men as a Toddler, in His Father’s House at age 12, growing in wisdom and stature,  and now in his 30’s among the people. 

Pg. 274 God’s Messenger- not an angel. a man- a weird man (ate locusts, lived in dessert) JOHN

·         John-not the Messiah, the forerunner or one who comes ahead of time to share that Jesus is the Messiah/Rescuer/King- said (use your bible) Repent the kingdom of God is at hand. (Matthew 3:1-2)

Pg. 279 Baptism-

·         Baptism- a reminder and symbol of repentance from sin-- that we are dead to sin, but alive in Christ. Rescued from our sin. A NEW SYMBOL for the NEW Testament- a symbol that of the Holy Spirit coming to give you a New heart and stay to help. 

·         Repent- stop sinning, turn from sin, and follow Jesus.

John mistaken as Prophet-rescuer- but NO John is the FORERUNNER or Messenger telling of Jesus.

Pg. 282- Jesus baptized- but He knew NO sin- He was baptized to IDENTIFY the message and movement of John in bringing a nation to repentance and recognize the Messiah (Jesus) is here! 

·         Dove-Spirit of God…throughout the New Testament the dove represents the third part of the trinity, the Holy Spirit who arrives and empowers Jesus as a man with God’s power.  Jesus will teach how the Holy Spirit is our helper.

·         Trinity (make a triangle with your hands- God is at the top, Jesus on the right, and the Holy Spirit on the left) is all working together at baptism.  

o   Son- Jesus is baptized and praying.

o   Holy Spirit arrives like a Dove- resting on Jesus-

o   God- here in voice from heaven says “You are my beloved Son- with you I am well pleased)

Pg. 284 Jesus preaches and starts telling people to Follow Me… he chooses 12 special men to be His followers and known as Disciples.

·         Kingdom of God-as Jesus arrives, he is the Rescuer who has come to reign from the line of David,

·         Disciples-those who followed Jesus, the first group called out as a new people for God, and to travel with Jesus preaching about the new kingdom.

Pray and thank God for His gift to us. Jesus- Our King. 

Worship Lesson 3: Old and New Covenant connections, Who God is

Define: Worship, Symbol Connect: OT worship (temple, tithe, sacrifice, Passover)  NT worship- Last Supper teaches- Remembrance—expand Terms: Trinity, Worship, God’s Character,  Communion, Covenant, Lord’s Supper, Belief

Review Have bibles. Visual from biblefunforkids.com- Old & New Covenant Radical book for kids: pg.202-203 Hebrews:10:9-11 Luke 22:14-20 icb

Activity: ·         God’s Character (give pairs magnet letters & attribute description- to make word and share). ·         Add the Cross to God’s Covenant at the start. Teach Trinity as Triangle- God in three parts ·         Read verses. Show Symbols. ·         Coloring Page: Last Supper and story form last supper. ·      Review Books of the Bible OT-try NT if time.

Attention Getter: Who God is- His attributes

Have baggies of letters for pairs out, with a description of the attribute, and a card with the answer.  Have the students figure out the word, and then think of an example of this attribute of God. 

I.e.  God is Great.  Great means that He is better than other things. (an outstandingly superior skilled person) Or the Highest form of the Trinity.  Example:  God created EVERYTHING.  God provides for us. God loves us.

Resource found here and explained- thanks biblefunforkids.com

Today- the whole picture is put together with the cross in the middle!! 

 Define Symbol- a representation, a sign, letters that stand for something.  (when you see a wedding ring? A heart? Stone tablets, sign language, man/woman on door)

This is the review.

Read Hebrews 10:9-11 together: ⁹ Then he said, “Here I am. I have come to do what you want.” So God ends the first system of sacrifices so that he can set up the new system. ¹⁰ Jesus Christ did what God wanted him to do. And because of this, we are made holy through the sacrifice of his body. Christ made this sacrifice only once, and for all time. ¹¹ Every day the priests stand and do their religious service. Again and again they offer the same sacrifices. But those sacrifices can never take away sins.

Hebrews 10:9-11 New Living Translation (NLT)  ⁹ Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. ¹⁰ For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.  ¹¹ Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins.

What else is worship?

Introduce Concept: Worship: could be thought of as “Worth Ship” to bring assign worth or value to.

Could be thought of as to honor, revere, praise. A simple way to think about WORSHIP of God- to give glory & praise, honor to God.  When we are seeking God with our whole hearts, we are able to remember and CELEBRATE who God is.  On our own and each week in the Lord’s Supper. 

We worship God because of Who He is.  Our focus is on God and the Lord Jesus and who they are, what Jesus has done for us, and we respond with praise the comes from our hearts overflowing with gratitude. 

Worship Lesson2 : Old Testament Connections and Old vs. New Covenant

Define: Lord’s Supper Connect OT worship/sacrifice, Passover, Jesus teaching about giving thanks/remembering, Breaking of Bread.

Reading: none Remembering… New Covenant-New Law-New Response Story options: Bible Story Cards, Gospel Story Book

Coloring page: Last Supper, Crossword (Matthew 26:17-30) Read at least one version of Last Supper- options- Review OT

Aim: 

To connect the knowledge of the Old Testament Stories and God's Covenant to the New Testament teaching and the New Covenant that replaces the old. 

Last week, we reviewed how people lived under the Old Testament Law- with God’s different covenants. 

This week, let’s talk about what happens in the Old Testament when people remember God?

·         When they acknowledge that God is Holy, Good, Loves them, etc. 

·         Under the law, who could approach God?  A Priest or Prophet. 

·         What did people need to do because of their sin? Atone for it with a blood sacrifice? What does that mean?

Review- sacrifice, offering, temple- and what the law was- the covenant God made with Noah (never destroy the earth again-rainbow), Abraham (you will have sons as great as the stars), Moses/Israel (rescue, new promised land, be His people), Prophets/Kings (Rescuer coming- a New King...) 

Also review- who obeyed God, heard the Word, believed in His promises, was a Man that God chose, and how did God share His blessings with them. 

Then start a clear concept that the OLD covenants- and the LAW are gone-- because God had a bigger plan and after the many silent years- Jesus came.  

Why did we need a new plan? a new covenant? why can't we live under the law? what have we learned?  People fail. People disobey. People ignored God's Words, People don't listen to God's teaching, so they miss His glory, ....

What is the new plan?  We will learn from Jesus life all about it, but since this new plan is something we practice weekly, we want to introduce it now and keep adding to your knowledge. 

God’s New plan comes with God’s Son coming to earth, born to die, for our sins- as OUR sacrifice before God, but because He’s God, he doesn’t just die, He is risen from the dead 3 days later…. And for the next few months we will be going through the New Testament learning all about this. 

Jesus taught us about the Lord’s Supper- He also told His disciples- this was something to do to REMEMBER Him when they come together-

How do we remember Him? Do we make a sacrifice in the temple?  No-  do we still remember the Passover- the freedom God gave the Israelite's from slavery? No

We give God our time and come together to remember all that God has done, is doing, and will do in our lives- but it’s not remembering about us- it’s thanking and praising God for who He is. 

It’s all about God- Why? Because He is Great- Holy,….because of who He is…. We focus on giving thanks to God and Jesus.

Link to lesson if you want a review of key points…

https://missionbibleclass.org/new-testament/part2/selections-from-the-epistles/meaning-of-the-lords-supper/

Bible Image version: http://freebibleimages.org/illustrations/last-supper-jesus/  Story planner has text.

Resource found here and explained- thanks biblefunforkids.com for Old/New Covenant Picture

Worship Lesson 1 : Old Testament Connections and Old vs. New Covenant Part One

Review:  Old Testament- what’s included.  (history, law, prophets) Cycle – of sinful people…God’s design-  Law- those who followed God, those who ignored Him, didn’t hear His Word, etc. Prophets and their role, those who followed/honored God, and worshipped him (and how- psalms, song, sacrifice, service, teaching, obedience…)

Content:  Review the cycle that develops in the OT: God promises/blesses, man obeys, but then forgets, or disobeys- God sends BIG signs (fire, His glory, temple,…) but man forgets—OT ends with God silent

Activity Options: Israel rejected God as Their King Coloring Color versions of OT characters- who loved God, who forgot? Who brought the law?  For showing and making the kids think about their own knowledge of the big people that were mentioned. God’s Design Circle Review the OT big picture story bible- disobey/sin/broke/believe- Color the missing items prophets page & kid/heart- discussing what does God look at? He looks at the heart.

.

I printed and made three sets of the bible characters from our OT lessons. So they can think about who fits under each question-- 

It may be that we tell them the answers- it may be that they have great memories-- but the idea is to grasp that WE don't remember what God expects of us? We can't live under the law? we fail and the OT shows that people are broken by sin.... and God knows that the law won't work.  

My plan is to:
explain God's circle--

ask the kids to remind me- what types of books are in the OT. (History, Law, Prophets)

Ask them why does God give us His WORD as History? (so we learn from others mistakes and successes), law? (because He is holy, and can't be in the presence of sin- a sacrifice needed to be made- and this explains the standard)? What are prophets?  Why did He send them?  What did they tell people?  

Then say- we met a bunch of people in the OT - I am going to split you into groups and as we review- can you show us the character and be ready to tell the group- how this person lived?  

Which people followed God? 

Which people struggled to trust/believe/wait for God? How? 

When did people praise God? 

When did people forget God? 

What happened when people forgot got? punishment... 

What were the people to remember? (God's plan, directions, rules) How well did they remember it? 

What hints of Jesus were given in the OT? by who? 

What did the prophets say or do to get people to remember that a new King was coming?  

Review and Connections

What did God give to His People in the Old Testament?	1.       Good things- creation, promises, provision 2.
How did people respond to God’s love and care?	Obedience, Sin/Disobedience, praise, forget,
How did OT people atone for sins (make payment)	Blood Sacrifice
What types of books are in the Old Testament?	History, Law, Prophecy
What does the Old Testament teach us about God?	God is holy, just, loving, above all, powerful

We saw in the OT stories- men of God- do this- Abraham, Moses, King David, … often worship was done with an offering or sacrifice to God.  Other times it was by serving God and honoring Him, or praising Him in Psalms.  To worship God- you must know Him- and Jesus modeled this by meeting with men who knew God well and His Word, and learning/talking with them about Who He is.  (we can do that, Jesus showed he was human in this way, but also showed he was God with His understanding and amazing the men with his knowledge!) 

Old vs. New https://www.biblefunforkids.com/2016/01/old-law-vs-new-law-interactive-bulletin.html#more 

Just talk about the Old Covenant- the law- and sabbath worship, 10 commandments, tithe,…

 Theme is moving from Old to New.  Reviewing the Old Covenants- and realizing that we are entering into the New Testament with Jesus- and being sure that the concepts we need to show as NEW in this half of our biblical literacy.  

So a stronger connection to sin- disobedience cycle while God wanted to bless, love, redeem His people.   And He knew and planned to send His Son- to create a new covenant (different from Noah, Abrahams, Moses, ...)  

Printed and used: 

Resource found here and explained- thanks biblefunforkids.com

Just the Left Side

OLD   Covenant

Sacrifices

Sabbath worship

Clean/unclean

THE LAW

Children in Worship Part 8: What are my children capable of?

This article shares some key points about when a child can.... then they can....

It also shares the idea that when your children are young, learning letters and words, you the adult can have a notebook, write one sentence in child friendly print after the sermon, and read it with your child after the message. Then again at home with your child, with your spouse and child, etc.  This makes a lot of sense.  Build the skill of taking notes from young on, and train the kids how to take notes.  This will also work well with the strategy of giving kids key words to listen for and tally, as they hear them.  It will help your child gain more words that often are heard in the series you are in, or in a message. 

But the other point it makes is, that if your child can sing, he or she can memorize a psalm/hymn.  If your child can write, he or she can make a note.  If your child can speak, then he or she can pray. 

I'd like to add some other ideas, and you tell me if this is accurate or not. 

If your child can watch a full episode of Daniel Tiger, Paw Patrol, or other preschool TV, they can sit  for the sermon or message. 

If your child can draw or color independently while you make dinner, he or she can sit and color during the sermon. 

If your child can play quietly, while you teach your other children, he or she can play quietly during the quiet parts of the church meeting. 

I think how we the parents form our expectations is what really matters.  If you expect your children to attend and learn to sit,stand,play, color, whatever YOU find reasonable for YOUR children, I believe that they will rise to the challenge.   Will it happen the first week? month? that will take time, but as you train them of expectations, and they experience the opportunity, most children will love being close to you, having you whispering in their ear to explain the next part of the meeting, or to ask a question about the song lyrics, this is family time, and they love it. 

I believe in our family it was a lot like potty training, it was highly anticipated by me, dreaded even, seemed like it took forever, but when my children were ready, and had clear expectations, it never took more than 3-4 days of lots of accidents to achieve 90% success.  It just felt like forever.  I know that even my most difficult child to train, took less than four weeks to learn and live up to the expectations I set.  Was it perfect? did I never have to take him out again? No, but it became unusual to have a struggle and normal to be able to worship alongside him with little stress. 

Children thrive on clear structure and routine and once they learn a new routine, they often excel on their own.  Yes you will still be involved in their engagement and attention, with questions, accountability, and insight, but it won't be the discipline struggle you dread, when you plan for success.

Perhaps, your child having siblings near by will create a bigger challenge, then invite some singles or empty nesters or teens to sit among your family, and prevent sibling interaction, and they just might cheer and praise your child more effectively than you can while managing 2 or more children. 

Perhaps the environment change, makes your children respond differently, teach your children that when you go to church, this is time at God's House- and since you are already walking and talking a loving, caring, connected real relationship with your Great, Big God.  This will help children know that it is a home away from home. 

Perhaps you can set the expectations for family time at church, with your children when you are seeing the skills needed for Big Church, at home, and remind them- they can be independent, attentive, and engaged while sitting, listening, playing, coloring, singing, etc.  It's a life skill to learn to sit without talking to your neighbor, and it's one that is worthy of our time not just to make church possible, but to make our children ready for public settings, like the movies, theater, library, restaurants, meetings, school, etc. 

Wonder how to make this possible, here is an article on Mom Tested Tips.

Moody Publishing Partner Book Review: Start with the Heart by Dr. Kathy Koch

I love launching books.  But books that help parents/teachers/adults whisper the Word to our children make my heart happy!

The subtitle of this pretty amazing book is: How to Motivate Your Kids to Be Compassionate, Responsible, and Brave (Even When You're Not Around).  And the big title- Start with the Heart.

Starting with the heart and a real relationship built on love and connection with children is my inner mantra and a tip I share with anyone who wants advice.  It makes an enormous difference when children know you love them (not dependent on their behavior) and only want to help them grow a little bit each day.  Love really is the answer in impacting the next generation for Christ, and raising up a new body of believers who will thrive and grow to new depths in love and connection in the body of Christ.

Dr. Kathy Koch is a book mentor of mine.  She knows how to help others equip their children to become the best adults, she writes in a way that makes it simple and easy to apply with questions, tips, and story telling examples to move the reader forward in an uncharted path or to continue gaining skill in supporting children to become great grown ups!  And this is my favorite book of hers so far!

This book has a larger and stronger biblical foundation and wisdom shared than I remember in her other books.  Her principles have always been built on how God creates us and communes with us, but this book shows us how following His Word will make change happen in our lives and will help us identify what needs to change.

She also knows children, what makes them tic, how they learn, and approaches all of her books with this in mind. So it's not a one size fit all approach. It's individualized for different personality children and adults.
Things I love about this book:

Features:

• format- two color pages used just right to make a huge impact. 
• Green headings throughout chapters, with smaller italics headings sometimes. 
• Green tabs with motivational key points (so when you flip through you stop at them)
• Appendixes- these are worth the price of the book! 

Biblical Counsel with psychological, therapeutic strategies taught:

• Chapter 3: What will make change happen?  
• Look at the Contents page... 
• practical, manageable strategies
• developing a growth mindset, resiliency, tenacity, etc. GRIT- such a need in our world today! 
• Modeling of the strategies including suggestions of what to say to help.  

I've read so many books on helping children grow in the past five years.  Many from leading researchers and counselors on how to help children, and in this easy to read, easy to grasp and implement, as long as you are honest with yourself new book, I can tell you this book puts the best research based concepts into practice and the author makes it so realistic and easy to build on.  I wish I'd had this book five years ago!  

I can't wait to hear what other parents love about this book, as I can see it being read and re-read as we seek to be the best parents we can for the children that God has given us!  And Dr. Koch grasps how to make that work and possible.  So prepare to dig in, take a few quiet breaks to pray and think about yourself and your style, so that you can address your kids needs and change yourself and your children with techniques that build one another up.  

Thankful to partner with Moody Publishing and get an advanced copy of this book.  It releases Friday, March 5th, pre-order it today so you will have it on Tuesday!!