Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: NT Lesson 5 “The Beatitudes”

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Featured Passage: Matthew 5

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NT-L3L5 The BeatitudesDownload/Print

Jesus Christ had begun His ministry on earth. Many people followed Him, excited to see what miracles He would perform and to hear what He had to say. One day, Jesus  went up on a mountain to teach the people and His disciples some very important lessons. The speech he gave that day is one of the most famous ever given, and it is often called “The Sermon on the Mount”. He began His speech with a list of qualities we call “The Beatitudes”. “The Beatitudes” is a good place to start learning what Christ looks for in a Christian.

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Discuss:

  1. Beatitudes express attitudes that should be part of a Christian. What are the beatitudes Christ teaches? 
  2. The Greek word for “blessed” can also be translated as happy. What conclusion can you reach about people who have these qualities?
  3. What does it mean to be poor in spirit?
  4. What does it mean to hunger and thirst for righteousness? (Psalm 119:172 tells us what righteousness means)
  5. Think of an example in which you can act as a peacemaker.
  6. Christ said true Christians would experience persecution. Have you ever experienced persecution for Christ’s sake? Can you think of any examples of Christians who have? 
  7. What are the promises God offers to those who have the qualities mentioned in the Beatitudes?
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Memory Challenge:

Matthew 5:3-12 

Memorize the Beatitudes!

Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: NT Lesson 5 “The Pool of Bethsaida”

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Featured Passage: John 5

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NT-L2L5 The Pool of BethsaidaDownload/Print

It was the Feast of Tabernacles, and the city of Jerusalem swarmed with people from all around. In Jerusalem there was a pool where at certain times an angel would come and stir the waters in the pool, and the first person to get in the waters would be healed. Many sick people were at the pool for this reason, but only one could be made well. Out of compassion, Jesus healed a man who lay there, but not everyone was happy that the lame man could walk again.

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Discuss:

  1. Why was Jesus in Jerusalem at this time? 
  2. How long had the man that Jesus healed been sick?
  3. What law did the Jews think the man was breaking by carrying his bed? Why were they upset that the man had been healed? 
  4. Why did the Jews want to kill Jesus? 
  5. What did Jesus say about His relationship with the Father? 
  6. What authority did God give to Jesus Christ?
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Memory Challenge:

John 5:19 

Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.”

Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: NT Lesson 5 “Fishers of Men”

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Featured Passage: Luke 5

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NT-L1L5 Fishers of MenDownload/Print

Jesus grew up in grace and stature with both men and God. Jesus’ step-father Joseph was a carpenter, so Jesus learned to be a carpenter too. He worked as a carpenter until He was about 30 years old. In the meantime, His cousin John was teaching people to repent of their sins and was baptizing many people in the Jordan River. John the Baptist was preparing the people for the Messiah to teach them. Jesus Christ, the Messiah, was about to start doing the job His Father sent Him to do.

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Discuss:

  1. Whose boat did Jesus stand in to preach to the crowd on the shore? 
  2. What did Peter, and Andrew, James and John do for a living? How were they related to each other? 
  3. Had Peter, Andrew, James, and John any success fishing the previous night?
  4. Why was Peter surprised when Jesus told him to cast out his net? What happened when they lowered their nets? How many fish did they catch? 
  5. What do you think “fishers of men” means?
  6. What was Peter, Andrew, James, and John’s response when Christ told them to follow Him?
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Memory Challenge:

Mark 1:17 

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.’”

Forum Summary: Solidify Yourself When You’re Strong

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Author: Juliette McNair | Student, Living Education Charlotte 2020

Estimated reading time: 1 minute, 51 seconds.

Mr. Michael Heykoop is the Media Director at the Canadian Living Church of God office. He is also the assistant pastor to seven congregations in Ontario. In the forum on December 8, 2020, Mr. Heykoop streamed, via WebEx, into the Living Ed classroom. He spoke about the Work out of Canada and the lessons he has learned from being part of it.

Unique Challenges

Mr. Heykoop began by explaining that, while Canada is often viewed as the “kid-brother” of the United States, it is a very different nation. He described it as somewhat “halfway between the Americans and the British.” It is more secular than America, requiring a different approach to broaching religious topics. For example, the Tomorrow’s World Viewpoint series addresses “issues in today’s society with Biblical concepts.” The Tomorrow’s World Answers series provides direct answers to often misunderstood concepts. “Our goal is to get enough of these so that when someone asks a question [in the comments] on YouTube, we can send them an Answers video answering that question.”

Growth

Most Canadian TV stations are required to have 35% of their content produced within the country. Mr. Stuart Wachowicz and Mr. Heykoop record these telecasts at the Church’s Canadian studio. The effectiveness of the Canadian program is apparent. Mr. Heykoop mentioned, “In the time that we’ve been on television, we’ve tripled the Le Monde de Demain subscription list.”

The Church is also growing in Canada. From 2000 to 2020, membership increased from 300 people to 874. Mr. Heykoop stressed, “The statement, ‘The Church isn’t growing’ is really a naïve statement to make. It doesn’t take into account the facts.” 60% of baptized members in Canada were baptized into LCG.

“God uses those who put everything into it.”

Mr. Heykoop shared several lessons he learned through being a part of the Work. One was: “God uses those who put everything into it… You know it is your job to give everything you have, but it’s entirely up to God whether it succeeds.”

Another lesson is to take advantage of the opportunities we have now to solidify the things we may know only in theory. He encouraged the students, “Solidify yourself when you’re strong, and when you’re at your weakest points, you can draw on that strength.”

This post is part of our new series of student-written content for LivingEd-Charlotte. These summaries cover topics originally presented by our faculty and guest speakers in our weekly Forum and Assembly. For more Assembly-related content check out our Second Thoughts posts.

Course Spotlight: Bondservant Word Study

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The word bondservant is used several different times throughout the Bible. What is the meaning of this word, and who does it refer to?

Course Spotlight From The General Epistles: (Part 2) The Letters of John and Jude
Find the definition!

Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: NT Lesson 4 “The King of Kings”

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Featured Passage: Matthew 4; Isaiah 9, 11

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NT-L3L4 The King of KingsDownload/Print

Jesus had been baptized and was preparing to begin His important ministry on earth. God had a very important mission for Him, and He knew that the lives of every human being depended on Him to be successful in the mission. Jesus also knew that if He succeeded He would one day earn a brand new title. He was about to be tested in a way He never had been before. He was about to enter a battle against the current ruler of the world – the one whose name literally means “adversary”.

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Discuss:

  1. Who is the god/ruler of this current age? (Hint: Have a look in 2 Corinthians)
  2. In what ways did Satan tempt Christ? How did Christ respond? What are some ways we can respond when we are being tempted to do something wrong?
  3. Why do you think Satan offered to give Jesus the kingdoms of the world? 
  4. What title(s) will Jesus Christ have when He returns to the earth? What will happen to Satan at that time?
  5. Christ will not return to the earth alone, the saints will be with Him. Who are the saints? What will the saints’ role be in the Kingdom of God? Why do you think Satan would be angry about that?
  6. What are some ways that life will change when Christ and the saints rule the earth?
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Memory Challenge:

Matthew 4:10

Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: NT Lesson 4 “Woman at the Well”

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Featured Passage: John 4

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NT-L2L4 Woman at the WellDownload/Print

After spending some time teaching in Judea, Jesus and the disciples headed home for Galilee. The shortest route to get there was to go through Samaria. Samaria had been in the land of the Kingdom of Israel before God allowed them to be taken into captivity by the Assyrians. The King of Assyria replaced the Israelites with people who mixed the worship of the true God with paganism (2 Kings 17:24-33). The Jews didn’t like the Samaritans and would usually travel many extra miles around Samaria to avoid meeting them–but not Jesus.

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Discuss:

  1. Why was the woman at the well surprised that Jesus asked her for a drink of water? From whose well did the woman draw water? 
  2. What did Jesus mean by “living water”?
  3. What did the woman do when she realized who Jesus was? 
  4. Why do you think the disciples were surprised to see Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman? 
  5. What did Jesus call His “food”?  
  6. What is the work that Jesus was doing? What are some ways you can help do the work that Jesus is doing today?
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Memory Challenge:

Luke 4:13-14

“Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again,  but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.’”

Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: NT Lesson 4 “Jesus Prepares to Teach”

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Featured Passage: Luke 3-4

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NT-L1L4 Jesus Prepares to TeachDownload/Print

Jesus grew up in grace and stature with both men and God. Jesus’ step-father Joseph was a carpenter, so Jesus learned to be a carpenter too. He worked as a carpenter until He was about 30 years old. In the meantime, His cousin John was teaching people to repent of their sins and was baptizing many people in the Jordan River. John the Baptist was preparing the people for the Messiah to teach them. Jesus Christ, the Messiah, was about to start doing the job His Father sent Him to do.

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Discuss:

  1. Why did John baptize people? 
  2. What happened when Jesus was baptized? 
  3. Why did Jesus go into the wilderness for forty days? What happened when He was there?
  4. Why did Jesus go to the synagogue? What did He do there?
  5. What did the Nazarenes try to do to Jesus? How did He escape?
  6. What were some miracles that Jesus did? What do you think it would have been like to live where Jesus was performing miracles? 
  7. What message was Jesus teaching the people?
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Memory Challenge:

Luke 4:43

“But He said to them, ‘I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.’”

Programa Bíblico para Niños – Nivel 1: Lección 12 “Dios castiga a Caín”

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Pasaje Destacado: Génesis 4:9–16; Lucas 10:27

Cuando Dios aceptó la ofrenda de Abel, pero no aceptó la de Caín, Caín se enojó mucho. ¡Se enojó tanto que mató a su hermano! Se convirtió en el primer asesino de la humanidad. Dios sabía que Abel estaba muerto y vino a hablar con Caín sobre el asesinato de su hermano. Dios preguntó a Caín que dónde estaba su hermano. En vez de admitir lo que había hecho, Caín intentó esconder de Dios lo que había hecho y no lamentaba sus acciones. Él respondió a Dios, diciendo: “¿Soy acaso el guardián de mi hermano?” Esta lección mostrará el concepto de causa y efecto. Mostrará que ciertas cosas suceden debido a nuestras acciones, y que serán positivas o negativas dependiendo de si obedecemos a Dios o no. También mostrará que todos deben amar a su prójimo.

Discusión:

  • Explique a sus hijos que Dios, que lo sabe todo, sabía que Caín había matado a Abel. Caín no podía ocultarlo de Dios, y tampoco podemos ocultar nuestros errores o pecados de Dios.
  • Pregunte a sus hijos cuál era la actitud de Caín cuando Dios le preguntó acerca de Abel.
  • Discuta con sus hijos el castigo de Caín. Fue enviado lejos de Dios y de la comunidad. ¿Por qué Dios enviaría a Caín lejos de los demás?
  • Ayude a sus hijos a comprender que los malos pensamientos conducen a malas acciones.
  • Pregunte a sus hijos si seguir el mandamiento de Dios de amar a nuestro prójimo hubiese cambiado la vida de Caín.

Memorizar y revisar:

Lucas 10:27

“Aquél, respondiendo, dijo: Amarás al Señor tu Dios con todo tu corazón, y con toda tu alma, y con todas tus fuerzas, y con toda tu mente; y a tu prójimo como a ti mismo”.

¡Más que hacer!

Estas actividades son opcionales, pero algunos niños pueden encontrarlas agradables.

  • Muestren amor por sus vecinos haciendo tarjetas para las viudas, viudos u otros miembros mayores de la congregación.
  • Ayude a sus hijos a planificar una buena acción para alguien de la familia.
  • Cante con sus hijos un himno de alabanza a Dios.
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Programa Bíblico para Niños – Nivel 2: Lección 12 “La familia de Noé se extiende”

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Pasaje Destacado:Génesis 5:28–29; 9:18-29; 10:1–32

¿Sabías que el nombre de Noé significa “descanso”? Su nombre mostraba la esperanza de su padre de que Dios usaría a Noé para traer liberación a su pueblo. Y, por supuesto, eso es lo que Dios hizo. Dios usó a Noé para preservar la raza humana. Cuando Noé y su familia dejaron el arca, Dios les ordenó que fuesen fructíferos y se multiplicaran. Esto significa que Dios quería que las familias tuvieran hijos y poblaran la Tierra. Todas las personas de todas las razas, etnias y culturas pueden rastrear su linaje hasta Noé. Noé vio a muchos de sus hijos, nietos y bisnietos porque vivió 350 años después del diluvio. Él vivió un total de 950 años, lo cual era común para las personas en la era previa al diluvio. Sin embargo, después del diluvio, la duración de la vida de la mayoría de las personas comenzó a acortarse. Luego de casi cinco generaciones después del diluvio, la gente estaba viviendo menos de doscientos años. Noé también vivió para ver, tal como Dios lo había dicho, que el corazón del hombre está inclinado al mal (Génesis 8:21). La gente no aprendió de los problemas del mundo previo al diluvio, pues poco tiempo después del diluvio, los seres humanos se volvieron a alejar del camino de Dios.

Discusión:

  • Ayude a sus hijos a ver cómo las familias son los componentes estructurales de la sociedad. Explique cómo por el crecimiento de las familias se formaron las naciones.
  • Señale a sus hijos el cuidado que Dios tomó para registrar a los descendientes de Sem, Cam y Jafet y donde vivían. Una razón para esto es para que podamos identificar a las naciones modernas por sus antiguos nombres.
  • Noé fue un predicador de justicia antes y después del diluvio (2 Pedro 2:5). Él también fue el anciano y líder (“patriarca”, que significa el jefe masculino de una familia o tribu) de su creciente familia. Discuta con sus hijos por qué la gente no escuchó a Noé. Explique que los seres humanos tienen libertad de elección, pero que Satanás el diablo influye en sus decisiones.
  • La gente no escuchó la sabiduría de Noé, que era un “predicador de justicia” (2 Pedro 2:5). Pregunte si este es un problema común en las familias de hoy. Comente junto con sus hijos sobre Proverbios 1:7–8; 10:21. Pregunte a sus hijos si pueden pensar en algún incidente en el que las cosas salieron mal porque alguien no escuchó a sus mayores.

Memorizar y revisar:

Génesis 6:9

“Estas son las generaciones de Noé: Noé, varón justo [recto, que guarda los mandamientos], era perfecto en sus generaciones; con Dios caminó Noé”.

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