The Bible teaches us about God's grace. "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men…" (2:11). By God's grace we live in a world of remarkable beauty and each one of us is offered God's love. This love and kindness is God's choice – A gift freely given.
Jesus did what nobody ever did before and nobody has ever done since. Jesus made a man who had been dead for four days be alive again. Now one thing people have never been able to do is to make someone or something that is NOT alive to BE alive. Giving life is something only God does. [If Jesus could make people be alive, what does that tell us? Where does Jesus' power to do wonderful things come from? Listen to all answers.] It tells us that Jesus' power comes from God. Now if Jesus' power is from God, that means that what Jesus says and does is the way God wants us to live. Jesus teaches us soooo much about God and soooo much about the way we are to live.
We always feel better when we can talk to someone about what is worrying us. Begin with God, remembering that God loves you. Pray about how frightened and sad and worried you are. Then go to a loving adult who will be able to help you sort out and handle the bad secret. When a secret has been hidden away in darkness it feels good to get it out in the light. You will feel lighter. You will feel free. It is a very brave thing to do and the light of God's love will shine in your life.
What comes to your mind when you think of something powerful? Let's list a few of our ideas: • A jet engine is powerful. It lifts and carries planes through the sky. • The wind is powerful. It turns windmills and sometimes causes large waves to form in the ocean. • A horse is powerful. It can run for long distances and some horses pull heavy loads.
(Show the dead flower) What is wrong with this flower? (Give children time to respond) It is dead isn't it? It's been cut away from the plant and it has died. (Show the beautiful fresh flower) Look at this fresh and beautiful flower. But, look! (Take flower out of vase to show that it has been cut.) This flower has been cut off from the plant, too. What will happen to it? (Allow children to respond) Yes, it will die, too won't it?
The Bible teaches us the importance of being close to Jesus so we can grow healthy and strong. As we study the Bible and pray, we learn more about Him. We come to understand that each one of us is known by Him and that he cares for us. Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I'm known by my own" (10:14).
In the Bible Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I'm known by my own" (10:14). He is telling us that he knows each one of us. Just as a shepherd takes care of his flock, Jesus cares for us. We learn about our shepherd and come to know him by studying and reading about his life and also through prayer. Learn to recognize God. He recognizes you. You are loved and in God's care.
Everything that lives dies someday. It’s just a part of life. Plants die and animals die – and, sadly, people die too. But Jesus not only performs a miracle this week by bringing Lazarus back to life, he makes a very important promise to each of us. He says that "those who believe in me, even though they die, will live." God wants us to live forever in heaven. And that’s a miracle waiting for each of us.
All life comes from God. God gives life to a tiny kangaroo, no bigger than a lima bean, and God gives life to each one of us. It is a gift beyond measure. We need only to accept the gift of God's love to grow strong and enjoy life now and forever.
Jesus is a special kind of shepherd. He doesn't have a flock of sheep - he has a flock of people - and we're them. We are Jesus' sheep! That's kind of a funny thought, isn't it? We aren't really sheep of course, but the Bible helps us to understand that Jesus does the same things for us, that an actual shepherd does for his sheep. You see, shepherds have three important jobs: herding, tending and protecting.