Baptist Training Course BTC TEACHER For BTC Teachers of Preschool, Beginner, Primary and Junior Classes Prepared by LENA CASE EDITOR IN CHIEF: Larry E. Clements Larry.Clements@bogardstore.org BUSINESS MANAGER: Wayne Sewell Wayne.Sewell@bogardstore.org PRODUCTION EDITOR: Sally McInvale ADULT EDITOR: Jim Jones CHILDREN S EDITOR: Libby Gill ILLUSTRATOR: Connie Spears GRAPHIC ARTISTS: Shawn Blase Jeff Allen Greg Hilterbrand LAYOUT DESIGNERS: Kyle Elkins Cindy Butler Ashley Elkins CONTENT EDITORS: Terry McKellar Carolyn Burks Deby Turrentine Joni Curtis PRINT PRODUCTION: Charles Easley Copyright 2014 Vol. 53, No. 4 Bogard Press 4605 N. State Line Ave. Texarkana, TX 75503-2928 www.bogardstore.org 1-800-264-2482 Titles of God s People Lesson Contents September 7 Sons of God... 3 14 My Little Flock... 7 21 A Bride and Groom... 12 28 Disciples Called Christians... 16 October 5 God s Garden... 20 12 Those of This Way... 24 19 New Creatures in Christ... 28 26 Dear Saints of God... 32 November 2 The Household of Faith... 36 9 Kings and Priests... 40 16 I m in the Lord s Army... 44 23 Servants of God... 48 30 Members of One Body... 52
TITLES OF GOD S PEOPLE God identifies His people with various titles. The lessons in this unit focus on thirteen of them. While some are similar in meaning, a different approach is used for each to provide fresh insights. Young believers who are discovering their true identities in Christ will find they have special relationships with the Heavenly Father. Some titles describe the relationship between God s people and the world of people without God. Other titles describe the relationship between a Christian and the church or other Christians. We all, young or mature, need a firm understanding of our position within the family of God, the church and the family of mankind. Comprehension of our being in Christ is prerequisite to living abundantly in the Spirit. Many of those who claim to be God s children continue to live like their peers who make no such claim. Discipleship makes the difference. Learning to consider oneself dead to sin and abiding in Christ doesn t happen without discipline. Becoming like the Master involves dying to self daily. Recognizing we are not our own but His gives a new perspective to our desires. If young people mature spiritually, it will happen because someone cared enough to teach the truths of God s Word about living for Jesus. Will you be that spiritual mentor for children who are bombarded by temptations to do wrong? Are you willing to invest yourself in the futures of the children in your church? As you await Christ s soon coming, may you be alert to opportunities to be about His kingdom work. Self-control is a character trait that sets children of God apart from those who choose to reject His gift of eternal life. Boys and girls are not exempt from the Lord s command to lead a pure, self-controlled life. They should not expect to live only for themselves after salvation. Salvation is more than fire insurance. We are saved for service, not just to escape hell. Train the children in your church to be servants in Christ s kingdom. Christian educators shouldn t do all the ministering. Allow children to learn the joy of serving others. Enthusiasm is contagious. Spread it around. When you are genuinely excited about what the Lord is doing in your own life, you ll spill over and stir enthusiasm in others. Use each lesson in this series as a growth step. Teach so students appreciate the relationship they can have with a living God. 2
LESSON 1 September 7, 2014 Sons of God LESSON TEXT: John 1:12, 13 MEMORY VERSE: TEACHING AIM: Preschool, Beginner: 1 John 3:2, Now are we the sons of God. Primary, Junior: 1 John 3:2, Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be. The student will gain insight into his relationship as a child to the Heavenly Father. LESSON PREPARATION Can you comprehend the meaning of being in the family of God an heir to the riches of His glory? I can t, but I like to think about it. God created a beautiful world and supplied it with all the resources needed by man whom He made to inhabit the earth. He made people in His own image with freedom to make decisions. Because humans disobey God, sin creates a barrier between God and man. God s mercy, however, provided a Redeemer who came to live on earth as a man. There was one big difference. That God-man, the Redeemer, never sinned. He could, therefore, pay sin s penalty for mankind. Jesus did that when He gave His life in death on the cross. His resurrection proved He was the Son of God with victory over Satan. He made eternal life available to all who trust Him for it. It is by trusting His sacrifice that you can become a child of God. Born into God s family! No longer enemies but one of His own! A child of the King of kings and Lord of lords. God promises He will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters (2 Cor. 6:18). Turn to Romans 8:14-18 in your Bible and read it. This special relationship with the Father makes us brothers or sisters in Christ. We have a lot of family members in countries around the world. This precious heritage is not limited to people in our part of the world but encompasses all nationalities and races. They may not understand our language and culture, and we may not grasp theirs. But we share the common bond of love for our precious Redeemer who made us brothers and sisters in Him. Read Hebrews 1:2. God has appointed Jesus as heir of all things. Now read Romans 8:17. We share the heirship status with Jesus. Finally, read Hebrews 1:14. God made the angels to minister for those who are His heirs. God takes care of His family members, and we inherit it all along with Jesus. Not because we deserve it, but because of His grace and mercy. God is the Creator of all mankind, but only those who accept His Son as Savior can say, Abba, Father. We ve been adopted! LESSON ILLUSTRATION Spiritual Birth Certificate Bring a birth certificate for students to examine. You have a birth certificate similar to this one, don t you? Everyone born in our country must be registered at the time of his 3
birth.your parents can send to the Bureau of Vital Statistics and ask for a copy of your birth certificate. Maybe they have already. (Discuss the details of the person named on the certificate and lay it aside.) This is an important document for it proves the date of your birth. Some schools require a birth certificate for entrance into school. You will probably use your birth certificate many times in your lifetime. There is another birth, however, that s very necessary. (On the board write, Born once, die twice; Born twice, die once. ) Who can tell me what this slogan means? (Hold up the birth certificate.) Every one is born once when he enters the world in a physical birth. That person grows up and is responsible for his own sin penalty if he doesn t accept Jesus as Savior. What is the penalty of sin? (Quote or read Romans 6:23.) This is more than a physical death which everyone has. This is spiritual death or separation from God forever. You have a physical death plus a spiritual death die twice. You can, though, be born twice and die only once. Spiritual birth into God s family is what I m talking about. Becoming a child of God through salvation is life insurance. You will die only once if you have your spiritual birth certificate. That means your name is written in the Lamb s book of life. Once you become a child of God, you are forever a child of God. There is nothing that can take that from you. (Read Romans 8:38, 39.) Do you have your spiritual birth certificate? Are you one of God s children? LESSON PRESENTATION PRESCHOOL Little Bible learners need this lesson about the believer s relationship to the Heavenly Father. God loves them as they are, but He doesn t love their sin. Someday they will need to ask God to forgive them and receive Jesus as Savior. Then they will become sons of God. Bible Story. Open your Bible and read the Memory Verse to the students. Have them say the words with you. With your Bible remaining open, teach the Bible lesson. Use flannelgraph figures and the lesson presentation suggested in the visual aids to tell it. Have a prayer time to thank God for Jesus through whom we may become sons of God. Let each child who will pray aloud to thank God for Jesus and a home in Heaven. Something I Can Do. Each student will need one triangle, one rectangle and two squares from construction paper to match the shapes of the house on pages 2 and 3 of the Listen and Learn Paper. Provide cotton balls for gluing over the clouds and let them glue the shapes in place. Complete a sample for students to see how it will look. Sing a song about Heaven. Play London Bridge and change the words to Heaven is a happy place, happy place, happy place; Heaven is a happy place, Hallelujah! As you lock a child in your arms, swing him back and forth as you say, Heaven s street is paved with gold, paved with gold, paved with gold. Heaven s street is paved with gold, Hallelujah! A Picture To Color. Read the caption to your pupils and talk about what a person must do to become a son of God. Point to each picture one at a time. Let pupils decide if that boy or girl is asking to become a son of God. Circle those who are. BEGINNER First- and second-grade children are awakening to the spiritual need of forgiveness from God. Some are not yet convicted of personal guilt. Others may have already accepted Jesus as Savior. The Holy Spirit will convict each one of sin at some point in life. Until then, each person is safe in God s love. Until he knowingly rejects God s gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, God s love covers him. A child still must know the special relationship he may have as a child of God with the Father and with others who are saved. 4
Heir may be a new word for beginners to learn. It is pronounced like air. Explain the meaning by using examples of presentday people. The son of a king is an heir to the throne. We are sons of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. (See Romans 8:16.) Being an heir of God means one has all of God s riches available to meet his needs. Use the lesson material and visual illustrations from the visual aids to guide your presentation of the Bible truths. Ask students to read aloud the Bible lesson section on page 2. Then let them find the correct word to fill in the blank. Salvation is a big word, but your children probably are already familiar with it. As they trace over the dotted letters, talk about how salvation is received. Discuss the Lamb s book of life to help students understand its meaning. Jesus is called the Lamb of God in the Bible. Lamb s book of life refers to a roll book with the names of people who accept Jesus as Savior. Read the Memory Verse together from page 3. Direct students to cover it with one hand while numbering the children with the word cards. Each child should work alone to complete the activities on that page. Then check their work. Briefly comment on the gifts we enjoy as being heirs of God. They are things money can t buy, and they are priceless. I m God s Child Now! is a read-aloud story. Follow it by reading the two Scriptures in unison with the children. Discuss the family relationship of all those who trust Jesus for salvation. We are one family in God. He is our Heavenly Father. Because of His great holiness, we show respect and reverence by calling Him Father. His love, though, is greater than any earthly dad s love. He provides every need we have. We call fellow Christians brothers and sisters, a close family relationship. Talk about that feeling of closeness we can enjoy with other believers when we are one in the Lord, and He is truly Lord of our lives. PRIMARY When children are confident of who they are in Christ Jesus, their ability to cope with the world increases. If God be for us who can be against us is a powerful ally for troubled times. God defends His children and provides the needs of those who belong to Him. A child of the King should conduct himself so his Father is not ashamed. If you claim to be a son of God, act like it. Live so others are brought to Jesus, too. It s exciting to be in the family of God and allow Him to use our lives for His work. Teach the Bible lesson as suggested in the visual aids, using the teaching aids provided there. Help students understand what an heir of God and joint heir with Christ means. It s a special relationship with the Father. One s personal identity on earth hinges on physical attributes. One s true identity is the person inside who will live forever. Guide each student in understanding the Bible lesson so he realizes the value of becoming a son of God. Primaries need to know the context of the Memory Verse. Take time for students to find it in their Bibles and read 1 John 3:1, 2 together. Discuss the meaning of the verses. Let students work individually to complete the questions at the bottom of page 3. When everyone is finished, let different ones read aloud his answer for a question. Since number six may involve different ways of saying the same thing, let each read his response to it. Answers to the puzzle on page 4 are ACROSS 3. children, 5. witness, 7. Father, 8. brothers, 10. Believers, 11. Spirit. DOWN 1. God, 2. saints, 4. heirs, 6. sisters, 7. family, 9. Savior. Read aloud Rabbits and Heaven or allow students to read it aloud by sections. Memorization of Bible verses is an important aspect of your teaching. Make sure every student can say the words and understands them. Before class, write the verse on a large piece of paper. Cut the 5
paper into a puzzle with one word per puzzle piece. Students work as a team to put the puzzle together. Say the words together, and then remove one or two key words. Repeat the verse. Continue removing words and repeating the verse until everyone can say it without help. JUNIOR Since the lessons for this quarter deal with symbolism, remember to use the process for your teaching that takes students from known facts to unknown truths. The junior s experiences and knowledge are the basis for teaching spiritual application. Each lesson in the Junior Quarterly has a section in which the symbol for that lesson is used. Use the Bible lesson presentation and the pictures from the visual aids to teach the class. Use the pupil book activities to help students learn how to apply the Bible truths to life. A Letter from Paul is also a part of each lesson. It teaches that an individual believer has the relationship to God discussed in the lesson. The pupil is to write his own name in the blank to personalize the lesson content. Stress the use of the Bible search activities. Juniors like a challenge. Get the Bible into their hands and the Word into their minds and lives. Make this one of your main objectives. Be sure to understand the positions one has in the human family (all people past, present, future), the family of God (all saved) and the church (only saved persons baptized by church authority). The Memory Verse Calendar on page 43 of the pupil book will encourage students to memorize more Scripture. Pages 44 and 45 in the pupil book contain a map showing locations of the churches in Paul s time. Read the directions for In His Footsteps on page 46 of the pupil book. This is a review game. A son is the symbol for this first lesson. Discuss John 1:12, 13. See the Father-son relationship which salvation gives to the believer. A Letter from Paul Acts 9:1-8 is the basis for the letter. Distinguish between the family relationship of all saved and the church family of saved believers covenanted together. Physical Birth Psalm 139:13-16. Parallel the physical father-son relationship with the spiritual birth into God s family. Spiritual Birth John 3:1-21. There is only one way of salvation and to get the position of a son in God s family. A Son s Inheritance Explain the following: 1. Adoption God s act of placing the believer into His family. 2. Accepted God s acceptance of the believer based on Christ s work of redemption. 3. Redemption The price Christ paid for salvation. 4. Forgiveness God s act which re moves the penalty for sin from the believer. 5. Grace God s favor given as a gift to the believer. 6. Inheritance Blessings God gives here and in eternity. 7. Earnest The promise which guarantees complete salvation. 8. Peace Spiritual peace obtained by being restored to God s favor. 9. Access The ability of the believer to approach God. 10. Fellowcitizens believers who share rights and privileges of being church members. Memory Verse. Salvation is received instantly by faith. Read the entire verse, 1 John 3:2, from your Bible. Then focus on the words chosen for the Memory Verse. Work with the students to memorize them. 6