THE CROSS
READ IT: Memory Verse: 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. John 3:16 NIV
HEAR IT: A Special Gift
Have you ever made a gift for someone you loved? Maybe it was a flowerpot, a potholder, or a papier-mâché elephant. Whatever is was, it was very special to you and you loved it. Well, God created you. You are very special to Him and He loves you. Because of this great love, God did something that you and I have trouble understanding. You see, God gave us a gift we cannot hold in our hands. It’s not made of yarn, glue, or clay, but it’s truly from his heart in that very same way. God gave his only son to us. He walked on the earth and showed us how to live. He lived a sinless life. That’s something we cannot do no matter how hard we try. Since God is perfect and we are not, we cannot be with God after our life in through. Now that breaks God’s heart, but good and bad do not mix. The only way around this was for someone perfect to give up their life to pay the price for our sin. That someone was God’s son, Jesus. He died on the cross, so that you, and everyone else, could have eternal life. All you have to do is confess your sins, ask Jesus to come into your heart, and help you live a new, clean life. Now that’s a gift worth sharing!
PRAY IT: (Pray with your group)
STUDY IT: Unwrapped Gifts
Imagine a birthday party planned just for you. There are balloons, streamers, cake, and snacks galore. The guests arrive carrying presents of all sizes. They are wrapped in beautiful papers and gorgeous bows. Throughout the party, you tell the guests over and over how thankful you are for the presents. You say, “I love the box!” or “The bow is incredible! Thank you so much for the kind gift.” However, there’s one thing wrong. You never open the presents. You just stare at them, shove them in your closet, and store them away. Why would you do that? Don’t you want to see the cool toy or game inside? Maybe you would find a fashionable outfit, purse, or jewelry. You’ll never know. The boxes just sit wrapped up in your closet with the mismatched shoes, lost socks, and dust bunnies. Hear me, daughter, God has a gift for you, too. He’s holding it out for you to take and unwrap. What’s inside the gift? It’s God’s love and he’s offering it to you. God loves you so much. He already sent his son to die for your sins. He knows what you need, what you want, and what you are thinking. He has incredible plans for your life. Aren’t you just a little curious about His gift? Don’t just let it sit around in your closet collecting dust. Open it up!
Want to know more? Read the entire story in John 3:1-21.
TRY IT: Parting Pepper
Items needed:
Bowl of water, pepper, and hand soap
Directions:
1. Fill a bowl of water full of water.
2. Sprinkle pepper on the top of the water to cover the surface.
3. Place a drop of soap on your index finger.
4. Slowly place your finger onto the surface of the peppered water.
5. Watch the result.
Discussion Question:
The pepper spreads far away from the soap. In the same way our sins separate us from God. What brings us back to God? How is that possible?
LIVE IT: Share the Gift
Jesus died on the cross, but know this, Sweetness, the story doesn’t end there. If it did, the villain would win and that just wouldn’t be right, now would it? Jesus was buried and then rose from the grave three days later. Death could not hold our Hero! He came back to earth to remind His disciples that He truly is the Son of God and that they have a job to do. They were told to share that gift with other people. Great gifts are meant to be shared, don’t you agree? Board games are not fun with just one person. A great movie is more fun when you watch it with friends. And in the same way, God’s story and his remarkable gift needs to be shared with others. Share John 3:16 with your friends. Print it on your t-shirt. Wear it on your bracelet. Write the verse on your shoelaces. Do whatever it takes to spread this verse to others, so they will know and love God as you do.
SHARE IT: Secret Shopper
The next time you are at a restaurant, fast food place, or ice cream shop, pay for someone else’s food. Hand the cashier a card with John 3:16 on it to deliver to the recipient. Don’t let anyone know that you did it. Watch from afar and see their reaction.
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READ IT: Memory Verse: 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. John 3:16 NIV
HEAR IT: A Special Gift
Have you ever made a gift for someone you loved? Maybe it was a flowerpot, a potholder, or a papier-mâché elephant. Whatever is was, it was very special to you and you loved it. Well, God created you. You are very special to Him and He loves you. Because of this great love, God did something that you and I have trouble understanding. You see, God gave us a gift we cannot hold in our hands. It’s not made of yarn, glue, or clay, but it’s truly from his heart in that very same way. God gave his only son to us. He walked on the earth and showed us how to live. He lived a sinless life. That’s something we cannot do no matter how hard we try. Since God is perfect and we are not, we cannot be with God after our life in through. Now that breaks God’s heart, but good and bad do not mix. The only way around this was for someone perfect to give up their life to pay the price for our sin. That someone was God’s son, Jesus. He died on the cross, so that you, and everyone else, could have eternal life. All you have to do is confess your sins, ask Jesus to come into your heart, and help you live a new, clean life. Now that’s a gift worth sharing!
PRAY IT: (Pray with your group)
STUDY IT: Unwrapped Gifts
Imagine a birthday party planned just for you. There are balloons, streamers, cake, and snacks galore. The guests arrive carrying presents of all sizes. They are wrapped in beautiful papers and gorgeous bows. Throughout the party, you tell the guests over and over how thankful you are for the presents. You say, “I love the box!” or “The bow is incredible! Thank you so much for the kind gift.” However, there’s one thing wrong. You never open the presents. You just stare at them, shove them in your closet, and store them away. Why would you do that? Don’t you want to see the cool toy or game inside? Maybe you would find a fashionable outfit, purse, or jewelry. You’ll never know. The boxes just sit wrapped up in your closet with the mismatched shoes, lost socks, and dust bunnies. Hear me, daughter, God has a gift for you, too. He’s holding it out for you to take and unwrap. What’s inside the gift? It’s God’s love and he’s offering it to you. God loves you so much. He already sent his son to die for your sins. He knows what you need, what you want, and what you are thinking. He has incredible plans for your life. Aren’t you just a little curious about His gift? Don’t just let it sit around in your closet collecting dust. Open it up!
Want to know more? Read the entire story in John 3:1-21.
TRY IT: Parting Pepper
Items needed:
Bowl of water, pepper, and hand soap
Directions:
1. Fill a bowl of water full of water.
2. Sprinkle pepper on the top of the water to cover the surface.
3. Place a drop of soap on your index finger.
4. Slowly place your finger onto the surface of the peppered water.
5. Watch the result.
Discussion Question:
The pepper spreads far away from the soap. In the same way our sins separate us from God. What brings us back to God? How is that possible?
LIVE IT: Share the Gift
Jesus died on the cross, but know this, Sweetness, the story doesn’t end there. If it did, the villain would win and that just wouldn’t be right, now would it? Jesus was buried and then rose from the grave three days later. Death could not hold our Hero! He came back to earth to remind His disciples that He truly is the Son of God and that they have a job to do. They were told to share that gift with other people. Great gifts are meant to be shared, don’t you agree? Board games are not fun with just one person. A great movie is more fun when you watch it with friends. And in the same way, God’s story and his remarkable gift needs to be shared with others. Share John 3:16 with your friends. Print it on your t-shirt. Wear it on your bracelet. Write the verse on your shoelaces. Do whatever it takes to spread this verse to others, so they will know and love God as you do.
SHARE IT: Secret Shopper
The next time you are at a restaurant, fast food place, or ice cream shop, pay for someone else’s food. Hand the cashier a card with John 3:16 on it to deliver to the recipient. Don’t let anyone know that you did it. Watch from afar and see their reaction.
_