(To be translated)

• Understand that Joseph had to rely on God for direction. Genesis 41:1-16 • Know Jesus died for them • Have an opportunity to ask Jesus to be their friend and forgive their sins • Have opportunity to ask Jesus to heal their pain DOWNLOAD Chichewa Lesson #8

AS KIDS ARRIVE PRIOR TO THE LESSON (10 minutes) ACTIVITY
Get children to colour the Bible Verse Visual Aids

CROSS ART: Give children supplies to trace and cut out a large cross to decorate with glitter and stickers, markers, etc and write JESUS PAID THE PRICE FOR MY SINS, etc.

Children can hang the crosses around the room. It can be placed at front so at the end during the Encountering God session they have a cross to come to and lay their pain. These crossed can be made out of twigs or wood as well as the decorative paper once already mentioned in the Cross Art.

Supplies needed:

• Paper, scissors, glue, glitter, markers.
• Print out musical lyrics.
• Print the 'Bible Verse Visual Aid' and get a child to colour it prior to the class.
• Gift box.
• Jesus outfit (white wrap and blue sash) crown and gold cloth.
• MAN and GOD sign.
• Cross.
• 'Gospel in a Nutshell' visual aid.
• Peanuts. (Ensure no allergic to peanuts)
• Print ‘Bridge Track’ one for each child.
• Print Chapter #8 'And Puppy' one for each child.
• Print ‘Noah and the Great Flood' Colouring pages
• Print the 'Activity Book'
• Print the 'Take Home Bible Memory Verse'
• Print ‘Noah and the Great Flood' Take Home track

1. GAMES: (10 minutes)
I went to the Market: Give each child 5 beans and then start asking questions, if they say Yes or No they give you one of their beans. Start with fun questions but this game can continue into more therapeutic questions.

2. TEAM GAMES: (10 minutes) 'Jesus says' similar to 'Simon says'
One player takes the role of "Jesus" and issues instructions (usually physical actions such as "Jesus says ... jump in the air" or "Jesus says ...clap your hands ") to the other players, which should be followed only when prefaced with the phrase "Jesus says". Players are eliminated from the game by either following instructions that are not immediately preceded by the phrase, or by failing to follow an instruction.

3. ACTIVE PRAISE CHORUS: (10 minutes) Optional: Download 'Chipulumutso' video

4. INTIMATE WORSHIP: (5 minutes)

Optional: Download 'Ndaliona Dzanja' video

WE CAN DO NOTHING IN OUR OWN STRENGTH

Teaching:
Look at this beautifully wrapped gift. Do any of you like to receive gifts? Of course you do! If I were to give this package to you and ask you to give me five dollars, would it be a gift? No. When someone gives you a gift, it doesn't cost you anything. It doesn't come with any conditions. All you have to do is accept it. That's what makes it a gift.
What was the best gift you have ever received?
(Allow the children to answer)

DOWNLOAD Chichewa Lesson #8 Visual Aids

I want to tell you about a gift that is, without question, the greatest gift ever given.

What is that gift? It is the gift of eternal life. It is the gift of God and it was given to anyone who wants to receive it. The Bible says, "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." Whoever -- that's you and me. The greatest gift of all is for you and me.

When someone gives you a gift, it is never polite to ask, "How much did it cost?" But in this case, the Bible tells us how much God's gift cost -- and the cost was great. It cost God his only Son. Can you imagine how much God loved us to send his one and only Son to earth to die on a cross so that we could have eternal life? Eternal life -- what a gift! And all we have to do to receive it is believe and accept Jesus as our Saviour.

www.sermons4kids.com/greatest_gift_of_all.htm

WHAT STOPS US FROM GETTING THIS GIFT?

Sin – What is sin? Sin is anything we think, say, do or don’t do that displeases God.

We all sin, and we cannot save ourselves.

There must be a different way – God’s way

On one hand, God loves us and doesn’t not want to punish us; but on the other hand, God is just and must punish sin.

Mulungu ndiye chikondi.1 Yohane 4:8b

Koma wosamasula wopalamula; Eksodo 34:7b

DO YOU SEE THE PROBLEM?
God solved this problem by sending His son Jesus

THE GOSPEL IN A NUTSHELL: DOWNLOAD Children's Nutshell evangelism tool Cut them into strips and roll them up and place them in an empty nutshell. (Ensure that there is no nut allergy)

THE GOSPEL IN A NUTSHELL: DOWNLOAD Adult Nutshell visual aids (Get the children to colour these visual aids prior to the lesson)

He died on the cross …(Jesus holds both hands out and head sagging like He is on a cross)

And rose from the dead, (Jesus lifts His hands up and steps forward from the grave victoriously)

To pay the penalty for our sins and to purchase a place in Heaven for us. (Jesus lifts His hands up to Heaven praying)

Jesus is in Heaven now offering us the FREE GIFT of eternal us life.(Jesus reaches under the golden chair and pulls out a gift, He steps up on the chair and holds the gift out)

The Bible says: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life” John 3:16.

Optional: Ball game (Through ball from one child to the other and each child resites ONE word of John 3:16 before tosses the ball)

HOW DO WE GET THIS GIFT? BY FAITH!

6. APPLICATION / ENCOUNTERING GOD:
If you are a Christian this is just a reminder you can say this prayer again. But if you have never given your life to Christ Jesus then this is your chance. Tell Him " Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son Jesus, to show us the way and to die for our sins. I am sorry for the wrongs I have done, I am turning away from them and receiving your gift by faith. Today I thank you for forgiving me, I trust you to take care of me and help me have the power not to hate and not to fear. In Jesus Name Amen"

TAKE HOME PAGE/ACTIVITY:

NEXT WEEK: Learn about the new life in Christ

DOWNLOAD

(Sourced from Healing Hearts Club but adapted for a flood in Africa)

NEW LIFE CURRICULUM

GROW AND GO CURRICULUM