God liked Rahab; God likes me too … always!

1. Lesson (based on Joshua 2): Rahab & the 2 Spies

• Game: “I spy with my little eye”

• Hook:
• Have you ever felt that nobody liked you?
• Maybe some other kids don’t like you because you are different — the clothes you wear, or the way you speak. Maybe they think you are weird. Maybe they tell their friends not to be your friend. Maybe they don’t want to share their toys with you or to play with you. Maybe it’s because you once did something wrong that made them unhappy.
• It’s tough when you feel nobody likes you. It’s tough when you think you are not good enough. You can feel lonely, or sad, or angry. Sometimes we all feel this way.
• But do you know that there’s Someone who likes you ALL the time. He doesn’t care about what you wear, or how your talk or what you’ve done. Even if you made other people really, really mad. He’s there for you. And He loves you always.
• What’s His name? Jesus!
• 
  

• Story:
• Once upon a time, there was a woman called Rahab. She lived in a town called Jericho. People in the town did not like her very much. Because she did things that were not very good.
• One day, she met two men. They were Israelites from the desert. They wanted to find out some information about Jericho. They were spies.

God was with Joshua (Part 2)

1. Lesson (based on Joshua 1)

• Hook:
• Have your parents or teachers ever asked you to do a big and important job? Perhaps it was to perform on stage or give a speech in front of many people. Or to organize an event. Or to lead a group to do something big. Maybe it feels too difficult for you. Maybe you were afraid. What would you do?
• What if someone big came to help you? Say an experienced senior, your parents or your teacher? This person not only helps you but even prepares everything you need to do the big job. All you had to do was just to follow the person and trust that they will take care of everything. Suddenly the BIG job seems smaller and easier. Wouldn’t that be great?

• Story:
• Let me tell you about someone who had to take over a BIG job.

God is with Joshua

1. Story (based on Numbers 13:1-30)

• God’s special people, the Israelites, were slaves in Egypt for 400 years.
• One day, God saved them and brought them out of Egypt. He was going to bring them into the Promised Land, the special place that He had reserved for them.
• But first, they had to cross a desert. So for many months they walked, until one day, they were near the Promised Land.
• Then God told Moses, “Send spies into Canaan, the country I am giving you. Tell them to see what sort of land it is. Find out what the people are like who live there.”
• Moses did as God asked. He choice one man from each of the 12 tribes of Israel. Moses raised his hand and blessed the 12 men as they left camp.

Jesus Goes Up to Heaven

1. Story (based on Luke 24:44-53)

•  Last week we learnt about how Jesus appeared his disciples. What was the name of the disciple who wanted proof that Jesus was alive? (Thomas) And who did Jesus say was more blessed because they believed without seeing? (All of us)
• Over the next 40 days, Jesus met and talked with His disciples and explained many things to them.
• He explained to them about what all the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms were talking about — they were talking about Jesus. Everything that happened to Him — His life, His death and His resurrection — had already been planned by God from the beginning of time.

Jesus appears to His disciples

1. Story (based on Luke 24:36-53; John 20:24-29)

• Last week we learnt about how Jesus appeared to some of His disciples. How many? (2) What was the name of one of them? (Cleopas). Where were they walking to? (Emmaus)
• After the two disciples recognized Jesus, they quickly ran all the way back to Jerusalem to tell the others that they had seen Jesus.
• The other disciples were also excited … Jesus had appeared to Simon Peter. As they were talking, suddenly, guess who appeared before them? Jesus!
• The disciples were startled and afraid. They thought He was a ghost!

A Walk to Emmaus

1. Story (based on Luke 24:13-35)

• Last week, we heard of how Mary and Peter and John went to Jesus’ tomb and saw that it was empty!
• That same day, two other disciples — Cleopas and his friend — were walking to a village called Emmaus, about 7 miles from Jerusalem.
• How do you think they were feeling? Yes, they were feeling sad! They were feeling dejected. Disappointed. Defeated.
• Their friend Jesus had died. Their hopes and dreams for a superhero savior had been dashed. And now, they have heard that Jesus’ tomb was empty!
• As they walked and talked to each other, suddenly Jesus came by and walked together with them. But somehow, they were not able to recognize him.

The Empty Tomb

Lesson: The Empty Tomb

1. Story (based on Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-18)

• Good morning, boys and girls! (Good morning!) 
• Do you like mystery stories?
• Today we are going to hear about the most exciting mystery story every told. I call it, "The Case of the Empty Tomb." 
• This is a story about what happened after Jesus died on the cross.  Jesus died on a Friday.  It was a very sad day.  It was sad because Jesus’ friends didn’t know what was going to happen.  They didn’t understand why Jesus had to die.
• Late on that Friday afternoon, Jesus’ body was taken down from the cross.  It was wrapped in long strips of cloth.  And it was buried in a rich man’s tomb.  A large stone was rolled over the entrance to the tomb, and soldiers were standing outside to make sure that nothing happened to Jesus’ body.  Jesus was dead.