Title: I’m Achan to put God first!

Main Point – Don’t put anything in front of God.

Text: Joshua 7

iGod (memory verse):  “But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.”  Matthew6:33 CEV

Lesson Overview:  Israel had just won a tremendous victory as the walls of Jericho crashed down. There was no stopping Joshua now, right? Wrong- Achan chose gold and silver first over God. Gold and silver became Achan’s idol. Achan’s idolatry cost the lives of 36 men and also the life of Achan and his family.  This lesson will creatively teach kid’s that any THING we put before God becomes an idol.

Try to be alone today for at least 15 minutes, and read the Bible.

Read the following verses, and think about them.  Write down what you read, and what it means to you.

1 Kings 9:4-5

Psalm 41:11-13

Proverbs 2:6-8

Psalm 2:20-21

Genesis 18:19

1 Peter 3:10-12

Deuteronomy 25:15-16

Proverbs 4:23-27

Luke 16:10

Romans 12:17

2 Corinthians 4:1-2

2 Corinthians 7:2

Colossians 3:9-10

Philippians 4:8

Read 1 Kings 18:39-45 and 1 Kings 19:1-15

Isn’t it amazing that even after Elijah did the miracles, and proved to everybody that God is alive, and Baal was a false and dead God, and he even brought back rain to Israel, that he  was afraid of the queen?

What are you afraid of?  Are you afraid of going to school, because other Children tease you?  Are you afraid that your parents are splitting up?  Or are you afraid of just being afraid?

Me personally, I am sometimes afraid of talking to other people about Jesus.

However, why are we afraid?  If we put God first in our lives, even when we are alone, He is faithful.  His spirit is more powerful than the Spirit of the World (Satan and his demons). We need to start believing in that, and LIVING in it.

Pray today that God will take away your fear, so that you do not have to run away anymore.

Read this week’s Text (1 Kings 18: 17-38), and answer the following questions:

1. What was the King’s name?
2. What is the name of the false God, that Israel served?
3. Which mountain did the King tell the prophets to meet at?
4. How many prophets of the false God were there?
5. How many stones did Elijah use to rebuild the altar?
6. What do you think we can learn from Elijah for us today?

Title: Can somebody please Baal me out?
Main Point: When I’m alone I will still put God first.

Text: 1 Kings18: 17-38

iGod (memory verse): 1 John 4:4b “The Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world”.

Lesson Overview: Being alone is no fun sometimes, particularly for a child. The odds certainly were not in Elijah’s favor as he stood before the king and the 450 prophets of Baal as he challenged the people to put Baal or God first. Wouldn’t you like to know what he was thinking and feeling as he called down fire from Heaven! In a fun way this lesson encourages the kids to put God first even when they are alone.

We are going to teach to the children, that even when we are alone, God is with us.  And most important, we should still put God first.

Grown-ups call it Integrity, being authentic, and other different terms are being used.

To be simple, let’s just call it: Put God first, even when nobody is with you.  Because even when we think we are alone, God is still with us.

And mostly, His Holy Spirit.

To be honest here, it has been an issue for me in the past for me.  I wasn’t the same person in private, as I was in public.

As a child, I “liked”  to be by myself.  Well, I had to.  I did not have a lot of friends, so I had a lot of time by myself.  However, I did not do what I was supposed to, or knew I had to do.  Like reading the bible, or praying.

Now, it is different.  I meditate more on His word, and what His vision is for my life, and our ministry.

As parents, and teachers, we need to make sure we live a life of integrity in front of the children and youth.

How can we expect them to be a person of integrity, if they do not have role models?

Title: Could someone please turn down the heat?

Main Point: It’s safe to put God first!

Text: Daniel 3:1-30

iGod (memory verse): “Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety. Proverbs 29:25 NLT

Lesson Overview:

What ‘church kid’ hasn’t heard the story of the three Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace? Even so, it still remains a powerful story that encourages both kids and adults alike, not to compromise our obedience to God regardless of the situation or consequence.

God Wants to Be #1 in your Life

Title: No ‘Idol’ Time Allowed

Text: Exodus 19 – 20:5

Main Point: God deserves to be #1 in my life

iGod (memory verse): “You shall have no other gods before me.”  Exodus 20:3 NIV

Lesson Overview:

Who doesn’t want to be #1? From an early age, being the best or first in games, sports, academics or other skills are important to kids and in reality, adults! The focus of this lesson is about being #1. Not me, not a pro athlete, musician, actor or entertainer of any kind. The number one slot belongs to God alone! God is worthy of being first in our lives even above our selves.  When we put God first, everything else falls into place.

We are going to start a new series on February 19.  It is called “Who”s Your Idol?”

The title might be a parody, but the content is certainly not.

Children today are confronted by so many worldly influences.  One influence is the idea that things, people, and money can take the place of God in their life.   The reality is that God wants to be #1 in their lives, and they shouldn’t let anything get in the way of that.

In the next four weeks, we are going to cover the following topics:

1.  God deserves to be #1 in my life.

2.  It’s safe to put God first.

3.  When I’m alone I will still put God first.

4.  Don’t put anything in front of God.

This week’s theme:

How to pray for the sick!

This week’s power verse:

“…by His stripes we are healed.”  Isaiah 53:5

So, you must know EVERYTHING there is to know about prayer by now!  After all, you did 6 week’s of P.U.S.H. – what else is there to know?  Nice try, but there is PLENTY more to praying than doing it for 6 weeks.  Prayer is something that you can do your whole life.  You’re too old for diapers (P.U.!), you’re too old for a baby bottle (I hope!), you’re too young to drive a car (sorry!), you’re too young to get married (yucko!), and you’re too young to be President of the United States (but maybe one day!).  But ONE thing you will ALWAYS be the right age for is praying and knowing God.  It doesn’t matter if you are 3 or 103, you’ll ALWAYS be the right age to pray!  Boys and girls, don’t stop praying because P.U.S.H. is over – PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE with extra PLEASE on top!  If it sounds like I’m begging you to never stop praying, you’re right – I am.  PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE with extra PLEASE on top!  (I know, I already said that – but when you’re begging you repeat yourself!)  I’ll be praying for you, even after today.  So, remember: Week 1: pray with confidence; Week 2: pray when you are scared; Week 3: pray for your unsaved friends; Week 4: pray God’s Word: Week 5: pray for the missionaries and; Week 6: pray for the sick.  Remember: Pray Until Something Happens – He’s always listening and ready to answer.

Today’s activity:

Write your own code for the phrase “Pray Until Something Happens”.

Prayer Challenge for Today:

Dear Jesus, Thank you, God, that I have been P.U.S.H.ing.  Keep me P.U.S.H.ing my whole life.  Lord, thank you for answering prayer.  Please continue to heal those that I know who are sick.  I love you, dear Jesus.  AMEN!