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4.2 GRACE AND LAW: LESSON OPENER (5 MINUTES) OPTION 1: GUILTY OF ALL Notes: WHAT YOU LL NEED: A Bible bookmarked to James 2:10, dominoes, two sturdy tables LEADER PREP: Set up four paths of dominoes (include seven to 10 dominoes in each path), two paths per table. Make sure that the dominoes are set up in such a way that they will fall if the first domino is knocked down. ACTIVITY: STEP 1: Ask a volunteer to see if he can knock the first domino toward the others without knocking down any of the other dominoes in the pattern. Tell him he cannot move the first domino from its spot; he can only knock it toward the other dominoes. STEP 2: Ask two other volunteers to come forward and give them the same challenge with two of the other paths of dominoes. STEP 3: Ask: Why does it seem impossible to complete the task? (The dominoes are set up in such a way that if you knock over one, it will cause the others to fall as well.) STEP 4: Ask one of the kids to read James 2:10 aloud from your Bible. Explain to the group that the dominoes represent how God views sin. If we sin, or break only one law one time, (knock the first domino of the last path into the other dominoes in the path) it is as if we are guilty of breaking all of God s laws. Tell the kids that in this week s lesson they will learn how God s grace offers us salvation from the punishment for breaking God s laws and allows us to become more like Christ. STEP 5: Open in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to help you and the kids understand the great gift of God s grace. Transition to main lesson.
4.2 GRACE AND LAW: MAIN LESSON (10 MINUTES) OPTION 1: HAVE YOU EVER? WHAT YOU LL NEED: A Bible bookmarked to Galatians 3:2-3, whiteboard and dry erase markers or chalkboard and chalk, a pen or pencil for each child, a copy of the Have You Ever? handout for each child (Resource Bundle), Key Terms handout (Resource Bundle), construction paper, marker LEADER PREP: Before club, list the Ten Commandments from Exodus 20:1-17 in a concise form on the board. Print a copy of the Have You Ever? handout for each child. Draw a large question mark on a piece of construction paper. Print out the words Justification, Grace, and Sanctification, along with their definitions from the Key Terms handout in the Resource Bundle. ACTIVITY: STEP 1: Ask for three volunteers to give you a family rule from their home (e.g., bedtime is at 8:30, no electronics until homework is done, wait to be excused from the dinner table). Share the following key concepts: A. In the Old Testament, God gave His people, the Israelites, more than 600 rules, or laws, to follow. They had to obey all of those laws all the time in order to be righteous in God s sight. It was a sin to break any one of God s laws. B. The first 10 of these laws were called the Ten Commandments. STEP 2: Tell the kids that they will now discover how each of them is doing at keeping just 10 of God s laws. Point to your list of the Ten Commandments on the board. Explain any commands that the kids do not understand. For example, taking God s name in vain is more than just using His name as a curse word. It is saying untrue things about God to others or swearing to God that something is true when it is not or that you will keep a promise when you don t. Coveting is wanting something that someone else has so much that you are unhappy with what God has given you and you might even sin to get that thing you want. STEP 3: Give each child a Have You Ever? handout and a pen or pencil. Explain that if the answer to a question you ask is yes, they should put a check mark in the yes box. If the answer is no, they should put a check mark in the no box. A. Have you ever disobeyed or even thought about disobeying your parents or guardians? B. Have you ever said mean words to someone or had a mean thought about someone? (Jesus said in Matthew 5:21-22 that calling someone a bad name and holding anger in your heart towards that person is a sin like murder is.) C. Have you ever lied? (Remind kids that stretching the truth even a little is the same as telling a lie.) If any kids do not have a check mark in the yes box yet, press them a little bit to make sure they are being honest with themselves. If needed, ask more questions like these related to the other commandments until everyone has at least one check mark in the yes box. STEP 4: Emphasize to the group that it is easy to keep some of the commands, some of the time, but no one can ever keep all of God s laws perfectly all the time, no matter how hard he or she tries. Review these key concepts: We deserve the punishment of death for our sin. Jesus is the only one who kept the law perfectly; that s why He could take the punishment for our sin. If we trust that Jesus died for our sin and rose to life again, we are saved from sin s punishment, and we receive Christ s perfect righteousness. STEP 5: Display the word Justification from the Key Terms handout. See if the kids can define this word before you display its definition. Share these key concepts: A. Now we are judged by God as innocent and righteous because Christ is innocent and righteous, and He paid for our sin. God sees us as if we have never sinned! B. (Display the word Grace and its definition from the Key Terms handout.) This is grace! We did nothing to deserve this righteousness, and we could never make ourselves righteous by keeping the law; we only become righteous by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. C. But even though God sees us as righteous, we still sin after we become Christians. The Bible tells us to stop sinning and start becoming more like Christ. So how do we do this? (Allow kids to share ideas without correcting them yet.) PAGE 1 OF 2
4.2 GRACE AND LAW: MAIN LESSON (10 MINUTES) STEP 6: Explain that in the Bible, some Christians from the church in Galatia thought that after they were saved, they could become perfect like Christ by working hard to keep God s laws. The apostle Paul asked them these questions so they could see how wrong they were. Open your Bible and read aloud this week s memory verses, Galatians 3:2-3. Then read the verses a second time, holding up the construction paper question mark each time you read a question in the verses. Have kids repeat the questions after you. Share the following key concepts: Notes: Paul is speaking of the Holy Spirit. The moment you place your faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of you. The Holy Spirit is God. His job is to teach you and give you power to get rid of sin and become more like Jesus Christ. We call this sanctification. (Display the word Sanctification and its definition from the Key Terms handout.) We didn t receive the Spirit because we were good at keeping the law. We received the Spirit because of our faith in Jesus Christ. The Galatians were wrong, because after we are saved, we don t become perfect by working hard to keep God s laws. We depend on the Holy Spirit to help us resist sin and become more like Jesus Christ. We could never do this on our own! (Hold up the word Grace and its definition again.) This is all grace! God gave us grace when He saved and justified us; God gave us grace when He gave us the Holy Spirit to help us be sanctified. We did nothing to deserve any of this. And we never stop depending on God s grace. We need His grace every day to help us live for Him! PAGE 2 OF 2
4.2 GRACE AND LAW HAVE YOU EVER? Listen to the questions your leader asks and answer yes or no by placing a check mark in the appropriate box after each question. NAME:
4.2 GRACE AND LAW HAVE YOU EVER? Listen to the questions your leader asks and answer yes or no by placing a check mark in the appropriate box after each question. NAME:
4.2 GRACE AND LAW: LESSON OPENER (5 MINUTES) OPTION 2: RULES OF THE ROAD WHAT YOU LL NEED: Whiteboard and dry erase markers or chalkboard and chalk STEP 4: Open in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to guide the lesson. Transition to main lesson. Notes: STEP 1: Ask kids to list several rules a driver must obey. Record their answers on a whiteboard or chalkboard. Possible answers might include: Obey the speed limit. Do not text while driving. Do not use a hand-held phone while driving (in some states). Always wear a seat belt. Slow down in a construction zone. Stop at a red light or a stop sign. STEP 2: Ask the following questions: A. Have you ever seen a driver break any of these rules? Which ones? (Answers will vary.) B. What if an adult could only keep their driver s license by keeping all of these laws? (Many people would lose their licenses.) C. How many people would be able to drive if they lost their driver s license by going one mile over the speed limit? (Probably no one!) STEP 3: Share these key concepts: A. There are a lot of laws about driving, and it is hard to remember to keep all of the laws at one time. B. In the Old Testament, there were a lot of laws that God gave to His people, the Israelites. In order to be righteous in God s eyes, they had to try to keep all of the laws, all of the time. C. The problem was that it was impossible to ALWAYS keep ALL of the laws. D. These laws showed that they could never be righteous on their own by keeping the law. That is why God gave us grace through Jesus Christ. Tell kids that they will learn more about how God s grace overcame the law during the lesson.
4.2 GRACE AND LAW: MAIN LESSON (10 MINUTES) OPTION 2: A PICTURE OF GOD S GRACE WHAT YOU LL NEED: Key Terms handout (Resource Bundle), two clear glass jars, measuring cups, water, bleach, red and blue food coloring, a spoon, pens or pencils, paper NOTE: The activity in this lesson was adapted from the following website: http://bestactivitiesforkids.com/ disappearing-color/* LEADER PREP: Gather two clean glass jars, bleach, and red and blue food coloring. Before T&T, fill one jar with 1 cup of water. Pour one-half cup of bleach in the second jar. Place the prepared jars, spoon, and food coloring on a table in front of the classroom. (Note: If you have a large club, prepare two sets of jars, along with the other material.) Print out the words Justification and Sanctification, along with their definitions, from the Key Terms handout. ACTIVITY: STEP 1: Display both jars to the class. Explain that the jar of water represents a person. Add one drop of red food coloring, which represents one sin that the person committed (e.g., telling one lie, disobeying parents one time). Gently stir the water. Ask: What did that one drop of food coloring do to the clear jar of water? (All the water turned red.) Share these key concepts: A. Just as the one drop of food coloring affected the color of the water, one sin affects our lives and causes us to deserve the punishment of death for our sin. B. Because of God s grace, He sent Jesus to take the punishment for sin. (Carefully pour the bleach into the red water and gently stir the water.) C. When we choose to trust in Jesus as Savior, all our sins are forgiven and we are justified. (Hold up the sign Justification, along with its definition.) STEP 2: Review the definition several times with your kids. Point to the jar containing the water, bleach, and food coloring. After one minute, the water will slowly become clear. Share this key concept: A. Because we are justified, the sin that we committed was completely forgiven, and God sees us as righteous and innocent in His sight. Point out to kids that the water is no longer red; it is clear. STEP 3: Add a drop of blue food coloring. Remind kids that even though we are forgiven, we will still sin. (Note that the blue color swirls around the glass for about 30 seconds.) But even though we still sin, we are still justified; God still sees us as righteous. (Gently stir the water; it will gradually become clear again.) Share this key concept: A. After we trust Christ and accept His grace to save us, God wants us to obey Him and become more like His son, Jesus. STEP 4: Ask: Is this something that we can do on our own? (No!) God knew that we would need help becoming like Jesus. That is why God gave us the great gift of the Holy Spirit. (Hold up the word Sanctification, along with its definition.) Explain to the group that the Holy Spirit helps us resist sin and become more like Jesus. The process of becoming more like Jesus is called sanctification. STEP 5: Open your Bible and read aloud this week s memory verses, Galatians 3:2-3. Then read the verses a second time, holding up the construction paper question mark each time you read a question in the verses. Have kids repeat the questions after you. Share the following key concepts: A. Paul is speaking of the Holy Spirit. The moment you place your faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of you. B. The Holy Spirit is God. His job is to teach you and give you power to resist sin and become more like Jesus Christ. We call this sanctification. (Display the word Sanctification and its definition from the Key Terms handout.) C. We didn t receive the Spirit because we were good at keeping the law. We received the Spirit because of our faith in Jesus Christ. PAGE 1 OF 2
4.2 GRACE AND LAW: MAIN LESSON (10 MINUTES) D. The Galatians were wrong, because after we are saved, we don t become perfect by working hard to keep God s laws. We depend on the Holy Spirit to help us resist sin and become more like Jesus Christ. We could never do this on our own! Notes: E. (Hold up the word Grace and its definition again.) This is all grace! God gave us grace when He saved and justified us; God gave us grace when He gave us the Holy Spirit to help us be sanctified. We did nothing to deserve any of this. And we never stop depending on God s grace. We need His grace every day to help us live for Him! *References to websites and resources not created by Awana are for your information and are not necessarily an endorsement of content. PAGE 2 OF 2