Theme: God's knowledge of and love for each of us.

Bible Story: David the Boy Shepherd is known of God

Scripture Reference for Bible Story:

1 Samuel 16:1-12 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The LORD has not chosen these." 11 So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives." 12 So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one."

Memory Verse:

Psalms 139:1-3 For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.

Gospel Message:

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Major Points:

1) God made everything and everyone.

2) God knows all about me.

3) God loves me.

Speaking Up: God is the Creator of all things. He made everything, that also means that He made everyone. Because God is who He is, He knows everything there is to know about me. And the good news is that God loves me! He loves me and He has intervened on my behalf to make it possible for me to have life and life more abundantly by sending His Son, Jesus Christ.

Suggested Songs:

Jesus Loves Me

This is my Father's World

This is the Day that the Lord has Made

Theme: God's concern over each individual.

Bible Story: Parable of the 1 Lost Sheep and the 99 Others.

Scripture Reference for the Bible Story:

Luke 15:1-7 Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Memory Verses:

1 Peter 2:24-25 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Major Points:

1) God is concerned with each person.

2) We each have sinned or "strayed away" from God.

3) God is happy when we come to Him through faith in Jesus, His Son.

Speaking Up: Each of us is important to God. Unfortunately, we are all separated from Him by the sins, or wrong things, that we do. God knows where each of us is and He comes to find us and to call us back to Him, just like the lamb in the story of the lost sheep. God is happy to find us and to bring us back to Him, so that we aren't separated from Him anymore. This can happen because of what Jesus did for us.

Suggested Song: Amazing Grace (verse 1) plus other songs from Day 1

Theme: God helps us to have faith while He offers us forgiveness.

Bible Story: Rahab

Scripture References for the Bible Story:

Joshua 2:1-15 9 ..."I know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. ...11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. 12 Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will save us from death."

Hebrews 11:31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

Memory Verse:

Gospel Message:

Acts 2:38-39 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."

Major Points:

1) God wants us to be His no matter how bad we have been in the past.

2) God is the One who is the author and perfector of our faith.

3) God offers forgiveness to all who would believe in Him and repent.

Speaking Up: Rahab was a woman who had done a lot of bad things. But she believed in the God of the Israelites, and she knew that her city would lose a battle with the Israelites. So, she helped the Israelites. For that reason, she and her entire family were spared from death. Rahab believed in God and was spared and forgiven. Later, she was rewarded for her faithfulness.

Suggested Song: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Theme: Concrete ways of showing God we love Him. (Living in obedience to His will.)

Bible Story: The little boy with the 5 loaves and 2 fish.

Scripture Reference for the Bible Story: John 6:5-13 9 "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?" 10 Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. 12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

Memory Verses:

John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command."

Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Major Points:

1) Each of us has unique talents and gifts that are important to God.

2) God can help us make perfect use of those talents and gifts.

3) When we obey God in faith, God blesses our efforts in mighty ways.

Speaking Up: As a follower of God we may not think that we have much to offer, but God made us and gave us each unique talents and gifts. He has put us at just the right place, at just the right time, with those gifts and talents. When we obey God and offer what we have to Him in faith, He can use what we give in ways that are wonderful and miraculous.

Suggested Song: Trust and Obey

Testimony: Please tell us about your life as a Christian. How have you given different parts of your life over to God? Phase 3 of your journey with Christ. (Redemptive level journey)

Lesson# 5       Title: God loves Everyone.

Theme: God loves everyone and we can tell them about His love.

Bible Story: Jesus helps His disciples catch a load of fish.

John 21:1-14 especially verses 3-6

Memory Verse:

Matthew 4:18-20 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

Gospel Message: 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Major Points:

1) God loves everyone and wants them to be reconciled to Him through faith in Jesus Christ.

2) We can allow God to work through us to tell others about Jesus.

3) God will bless our efforts when we do what He asks us to do.

Speaking Up: God wants everyone to know how much He loves them and how He offers them forgiveness through faith in Jesus and the repentence of sin. We can tell others about Jesus. When we obey God, He can show us wonderful and happy ways of sharing all this great news with other people. If we try to do things without God, we will be unsuccessful. We will be just like the men in the fishing boat before Jesus told them where to throw their nets. But with Jesus we too can be fishers of men!

Suggested Song: I Will Make You Fishers of Men (if you follow Me)

Testimony: Is it easy or hard to tell others about Jesus? Phase 3 - ministry level journey