Holy Spirit--Fundamental Belief #5

 

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Fundamental Belief #5--Holy Spirit

God the eternal Spirit was active with the Father and the Son in Creation, incarnation, and redemption. He inspired the writers of Scripture. He filled Christ's life with power. He draws and convicts human beings; and those who respond He renews and transforms into the image of God. Sent by the Father and the Son to be always with His children, He extends spiritual gifts to the church, empowers it to bear witness to Christ, and in harmony with the Scriptures leads it into all truth. (Find these verses here:  Gen. 1:1, 2; Luke 1:35; 4:18; Acts 10:38; 2 Peter 1:21; 2 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 4:11, 12; Acts 1:8; John 14:16-18, 26; 15:26, 27; 16:7-13.)

The Story

The Martins were moving.  Janie and Thomas had even helped Mom and Dad pick out the new house.  They had gone to see several houses for sale and the children's job was to check out the bedrooms to see if they were big enough for their furniture and toys.  The new house was bigger and there was a nice back yard where Dad promised he would put up a swing set and make a new, large sand box as soon as the weather got warmer.  They were all so excited.  Mom loved the new kitchen with lots of cupboards and she was pleased there was a little room off the kitchen for an office.  Dad said the garage was big enough for the car and all his tools and there was lots of storage area for other things as well.  Janie and Thomas were thrilled because there was a large playroom in the basement where they could play on cold or rainy days.

There was lots of work to do before they could move into the new house.  Mom and Dad were packing boxes every night after supper.  Janie and Thomas had boxes to fill as well.  There were toys, and games and shoes and boots to go into boxes.  They were really busy.

Daddy had made arrangements to rent a big moving truck and in a week Dad would back the truck up the driveway and all their furniture and the packed boxes would be put in the big truck and everything would be moved to the new house.

But just a few days before the big move, Daddy's boss at work told him he had to fly to another city because of a work emergency.  He would not be at home to help move all the furniture and boxes to the new house.  Oh, no!  Now what would happen?  When Mom heard the news she looked worried.  She knew the neighbours were going to help but how could she take care of Janie and Thomas and get everything moved at the same time?  But Dad told everyone not to worry because his boss, Mr. Parker, was going to send a helper to take Dad's place while he was gone.  The helper's name was Big Jim Turner but everyone just called him Big Jim because he was so tall. He knew how to move furniture and boxes because he had done this work for many years. 

And just as Dad had told them, on moving day when he was away, Big Jim came and helped get everything moved to the new house.  He knew all about moving furniture and boxes and showed the neighbours how to pack the truck and get everything moved in one trip.  He was a good teacher and Janie and Thomas and the neighbours got the job done in record time.  How thankful everyone was for such a good helper. 

You know boys and girls, when Jesus was on this earth He told his friends that He would be going away.  They were sad Jesus would be leaving because they loved Him and would miss Him terribly.  Jesus knew His friends would be sad and worried but He told them He would send another Helper in His place. Jesus told them the Helper would teach them to be like Jesus and help them remember all Jesus had taught them.  He also told them the Helper, the Holy Spirit would give them power to preach about Jesus to everyone they met, even in far away lands. This Helper would be the Holy Spirit who had been with Jesus and God the Father from the beginning.  He has no beginning and no end.  He has always been. This would be God's Spirit, the Spirit of truth. 

One day soon after Jesus had returned to Heaven, the disciples and many friends were all together in a house.  "Suddenly a noise came from heaven. It sounded like a strong wind blowing. This noise filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw something that looked like flames of fire. The flames were separated and stood over each person there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak different languages. The Holy Spirit was giving them the power to do this."(Acts 2:2-4, ERV)

Just as Jesus had promised, He sent the Helper.  The Helper gave them the power to speak in different languages.  People who were visiting Jerusalem from far away countries could hear the disciples tell about Jesus in their own language. All the people listening were amazed the disciples could speak their language.  The Helper, the Holy Spirit had given them this power and now they were not afraid to tell others about Jesus.

Peter preached a wonderful sermon about the good news of Jesus, how He had died on the cross to save everyone from their sins.  The people were so sorry they asked Peter and the other apostles what they should do and Peter answered '"Change your hearts and lives and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ. Then God will forgive your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is for you. It is also for your children and for the people who are far away. It is for everyone the Lord our God calls to himself."' (Acts 2:38, 39, ERV) That day because of the power given to Peter and the apostles, 3000 people believed and were baptized.   

I'm so glad Jesus sent the Helper to Peter and the other people.  The promise of a Helper was not just for Peter and the other disciples but it was for everyone who loves Jesus. The Helper is still with us and will give us the same power the apostles received.    The Helper, the Holy Spirit will stay with us until Jesus returns and takes us to Heaven.

Prayer:  Dear Jesus, thank You for sending the Helper, the Holy Spirit to be with us.  We are so thankful we are not alone.  Amen.


The Bible verse:

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name,
He will teach you all things, and bring to your
remembrance all things that I said to you." John 14:26 NKJV

Have the children sing:

Spirit of the Living God
Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me.
Break me, melt me, Mold me, fill me,
Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me.
~Writer/Composer: Daniel Iverson
#672 Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal


The colouring sheet:

 http://www.sermons4kids.com/pentecost-colorpg.htm

God, the Son--Fundamental Belief #4

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Fundamental Belief #4-- God, the Son–Jesus

God the eternal Son became incarnate in Jesus Christ. Through Him all things were created, the character of God is revealed, the salvation of humanity is accomplished, and the world is judged. Forever truly God, He became also truly man, Jesus the Christ. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived and experienced temptation as a human being, but perfectly exemplified the righteousness and love of God. By His miracles He manifested God's power and was attested as God's promised Messiah. He suffered and died voluntarily on the cross for our sins and in our place, was raised from the dead, and ascended to minister in the heavenly sanctuary in our behalf. He will come again in glory for the final deliverance of His people and the restoration of all things. (Read verses here. John 1:1-3, 14; Col. 1:15-19; John 10:30; 14:9; Rom. 6:23; 2 Cor. 5:17-19; John 5:22; Luke 1:35; Phil. 2:5-11; Heb. 2:9-18; 1 Cor. 15:3, 4; Heb. 8:1, 2; John 14:1-3.)

Remember to pray with the children following the story.  Sing the song and ask the congregation to join in.  If possible have the song printed in the church bulletin or projected on the screen so the adults can follow along.


The Story:

Jesus, God the Son

We have been learning about God the last few weeks.  Last week you had a story about God the Father.  Today we are going to talk about God the Son or Jesus.  It’s only been a few weeks since we celebrated Christmas.  Do you remember the little manger that was at the front of the church?  Some people think that Jesus began in the manger when He was born but the Bible tells us he has always been.  He was at creation when this earth was made.  And you may ask why He then became a little baby.  It’s a long story and you will learn more and more as you grow older but today I’ll tell you He came from heaven because He loved us so very much.  

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God they had to leave their beautiful garden home and their punishment was to die forever.  All of us are naughty at times–even grown-ups do things they should not.  Some people steal things that don’t belong to them, some people hurt their friends, some people tell lies, some people say bad things about God.  God knew this would happen once Adam and Eve disobeyed.  He knew things would get worse and worse as time went on.  But there was a plan in place if such a thing should happen.  Jesus would die for them and their children and their children’s children and their children’s children’s children right down the years to 2014 and beyond.

Now, you ask how can someone die for somebody else?  We all know people who have died and it makes us very sad when they are not with us anymore.  How did Jesus die for them if they are gone?   Do you remember I said that Adam and Eve would have to die forever?  Well that means if Jesus did not die for them and for us they would stay in the grave and Jesus would not return to this earth to wake them up from the dead.  There would be no hope of ever seeing loved ones again.  But we who love and believe in Jesus, know someday He will come again and wake up the dead who loved Him and take His people to Heaven for a nice long visit.   We will live forever.  That’s a wonderful thing to look forward to! 

You see, if Jesus had not come to earth as a baby and had not grown up to be a boy and then a man, knowing what it is to be like us, He could not have done for us what He did.  When Jesus died on the cross he was dying the “forever” death for each one of us.  Jesus who lived as God and became a human, who had never done anything naughty or sinful, who was pure and holy, died that “forever” death so you and I will not have to die forever.  When God called Jesus back to life and He walked out of the tomb alive, Jesus broke the power of Satan and the “forever” death and became the God who saves us.

In the Bible we read, “God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NIRV)

Jesus loves us so much that when we do something naughty or bad He will forgive us when we ask Him.  Jesus says, “I died for Jimmy.  I died for Susan.  I love them so much.”  So of course He wants to rescue every single person from the "forever" death.  All we have to do is ask and believe. 

Jesus, is Lord of lords and Kings of kings.  He will come someday as King of the Universe and we will be his children and He will be our God.  What a wonderful Jesus!  We love Jesus because He died for us and because we love Him we obey Him.  Don’t you all want to be one of Jesus’ children today?

Prayer: Dear Jesus, Thank you for dying the “forever” death for us.  We love you so much for the wonderful gift of life you have given each one of us.  Amen.


The Bible verse for this story:

"When the name of Jesus is spoken,
everyone’s knee will bow to worship him.
    Every knee in heaven and on earth and under the earth
will bow to worship him.
Everyone’s mouth will say that Jesus Christ is Lord.
    And God the Father will receive the glory." Philippians 2: 10, 11


The song for this story:

He Is Lord
He is Lord, He is Lord. 
He has risen from the dead and He is Lord.
Every knee shall bow, Every tongue confess
That Jesus Christ is Lord.

You are Lord, You are Lord.  
You have risen from the dead and You are Lord.
Every knee shall bow, Every tongue confess
That Jesus Christ is Lord.


The colouring sheet:

God, the Father--Fundamental Belief #3

Fundamental Belief #3--God, the Father

God the eternal Father is the Creator, Source, Sustainer, and Sovereign of all creation. He is just and holy, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. The qualities and powers exhibited in the Son and the Holy Spirit are also revelations of the Father. (Read verses here. Gen. 1:1; Rev. 4:11; 1 Cor. 15:28; John 3:16; 1 John 4:8; 1 Tim. 1:17; Ex. 34:6, 7; John 14:9.)

Today's story is about our Heavenly Father.

(A Regatta is a boat race involving row boats or sail boats.)

The Story

The day dawned sunny and calm--just what everyone had hoped for.   It was Regatta Day in town and everyone would be at the water's edge watching the young men and women row to qualify for a chance to compete in the championship race. Good weather was essential for a good race and today's weather was perfect.  With the good weather, and because it was a holiday, thousands of people would be at the Regatta grounds  There was lots to do at the Regatta besides watch the boat races.  It was like a huge party up and down the shores of the lake with happy people milling about, meeting each other, kids running, babies crying and music playing.  Throngs of people wandered in and out of the entertainment and food booths that were set up to amuse and feed the crowds of spectators.

Lois was just as excited as everyone else.  She and her family had gotten up early and prepared for the day.  Getting dressed in her new outfit made her feel important and grown-up.  She wondered who she would meet at the Regatta.  Maybe some of her friends from school whom she hadn't seen for more than a month, maybe a long-lost relative would show up and remark on how she had grown. Yes, this was going to be a great day.

Lois and her family made their way up the long stretch of grass to the bandstand where musicians were playing lively marches and familiar tunes to entertain the people and encourage the rowers.  This was the "spot" where they would meet up with the aunts and uncles and a few friends to watch the races and relax.

Soon after the family arrived, Lois decided to go exploring.  Dad and Mom said she could go but she was not to get lost.  She should stay close to the bandstand and keep it in sight.  She was 11 years old and almost an adult, so she thought.   How could she get lost? With her parents instructions still ringing in her ears she set off all by herself to buy an ice cream or maybe cotton candy.

There were so many food booths with so many choices, that carelessly Lois wandered farther and farther away from the bandstand.  Finally, making a purchase of ice cream, Lois started back only to realize she could not see the bandstand, she could not even hear the band playing.  She looked around but all she could see was people and more people.  A wall of people and no one who looked at all familiar.  She wandered about hoping the bandstand would soon come in sight but no bandstand appeared.

Soon she was hot and tired.  Her feet hurt and she was thirsty from eating the ice cream.  Then she saw the edge of the lake.  The water looked so nice and refreshing, that taking off her socks and shoes, she walked in to cool off.  The water at the edge was shallow and just as nice as she thought it would be.  How nice to walk around in the cool water.  Suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her foot as if something had bitten her.  Looking down she saw a red ribbon of blood swirling about her foot.  She had stepped on a sharp stone or piece of glass.  Hopping out of the water, she knew she had to get help fast.

Looking about she saw, in the distance, a large white tent with a big red cross on the side.  She knew this was the emergency tent so hopping and hobbling along she made her way to the tent where she was met by a kind nurse who cleaned and bandaged her foot.  But she was still lost.  The nurse told her to stay in the tent until someone came to claim her.

Now, some little girls or boys would be terrified to be lost in such a big crowd but Lois knew something that kept her from being afraid.  She didn't even cry.  At first she didn't know she was lost. When she realized she couldn't find the bandstand on her own, it was then she knew her Daddy would look for her.   She knew he would look and look until he found her.  She knew he would not go home without her.  She knew he would stay all night to find her if he had to.  Although, she had disobeyed and went away from the bandstand she knew her Daddy would forgive her and take her home and give her hugs and kisses and tell her how happy he was to have found her.

And so it was, while Lois was in the big white tent, she heard a familiar voice asking if anyone had seen a little girl with blond hair, brown eyes and a pink top and shorts.  Forgetting about her sore foot, Lois jumped up and ran to the door of the tent and flung herself into her Daddy's arms.  What a happy reunion they had.  Daddy brought her back to Mom and little sister and everyone was joyful the lost girl had been found. 

Boys and girls we have a Heavenly Father who loves us very much, even more than your Daddy loves you.  God, our Heavenly Father is so sad when one of us gets lost.  Not lost like the little girl in the story, but lost in our naughtiness or lost in sin as the Bible calls it.

The Lord is not being slow in doing what he promised—the way some people understand slowness. But God is being patient with you. He doesn’t want anyone to be lost. He wants everyone to change their ways and stop sinning. 2 Peter 3:9 (ERV)

Our Heavenly Father, sent Jesus into this world to find and save us from sin.  The Bible says, "The Son of Man (that's Jesus) came to look for the lost and save them.” Luke 19:10 (NIRV)

Just like our fathers here on earth, we may ask our Heavenly Father to help us and provide for our good.  Jesus was telling his disciples how the Heavenly Father is waiting for us to ask for every good gift He has for us.  

“Suppose your son asks for bread. Which of you will give him a stone? Or suppose he asks for a fish. Which of you will give him a snake?  Even though you are evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more will your Father who is in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:9-11(NIRV)

How loving God, our Heavenly Father is to His children.

Our Heavenly Father can never die.  He has always been and will always be. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, above all, and ever present. We cannot understand all about God, our Heavenly Father because it is too hard for us to understand.  When we get to heaven we will understand better.

Our Heavenly Father is forever worthy of worship, adoration, and service by everyone and everything in this world and in heaven.  

The Bible says:

“You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”  Revelation 4:11

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father, we are so grateful for Your love and care.  We know You always want what is best for Your children.  Thank you for sending Jesus to help us.  Amen.

Songs that can be used:

Heavenly Father We Appreciate You
Heavenly Father we appreciate You,
Heavenly Father we appreciate You,
We love You, adore You, we bow down before You,
Heavenly Father we appreciate You.
~Unknown Composer

This is the Lord's Prayer sung to the tune of the old spiritual "Kum Ba Yah".  

Lord’s Prayer
To the Tune of Kum Ba Yah

Father, God in Heaven –Lord most high,
Hear Your children’s prayer –Lord most high,
Hallowed be Your name –Lord most high.
O Lord, hear our prayer.

May Your kingdom come –Here on earth,
May Your will be done  –Here on earth,
As it is in heaven –So on earth.
O, Lord, hear our prayer.

Give us daily bread –Day by day,
And forgive our sins, –Day by day,
As we, too forgive, –Day by day.
O Lord, hear our prayer.

Lead us in Your way –Make us strong,
When temptations come,–Make us strong,
Save us from all sin, –Keep us strong.
O Lord, hear our prayer.

All things come from You –All are Yours,
Kingdom, glory, power,–All are Yours,
Take our lives and gifts,–All are Yours.
O, Lord, hear our prayer.
~Words by James Seddon

Here is a colouring sheet that can be used.  I originally had it photocopied on an 8½ x14-inch paper which gave the children a nice sized poster.  I had to reduce the size of the poster and colouring sheet to an 8½ x11-inch sheet so I could scan the image from my printer. 

The poster is found at Danielle's Place.

  

The Trinity--Fundamental Belief #2

Fundamental Belief #2--The Trinity

There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three co-eternal Persons. God is immortal, all-powerful, all-knowing, above all, and ever present. He is infinite and beyond human comprehension, yet known through His self-revelation. He is forever worthy of worship, adoration, and service by the whole creation. (Look up the verses here. Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 4:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 Tim. 1:17; Rev. 14:7.)

The Trinity is a complex and difficult concept to understand, let alone explain to children.  Because we can only relate to things we know, heavenly, supernatural concepts are often beyond the scope of our finite minds but with God's help we can get a glimpse of  the wonders we cannot yet understand. 

I found a good article on the Trinity by Raoul Dederen  which was written when he was at Andrews University.  I found it fairly easy to read and understand and you may find it beneficial to read the article before presenting this concept to the children. It is not feasible to present everything about the Trinity as a children's story so I chose just one concept.  There are so many scripture verses of proof that are better left to deeper Bible study. 

An object lesson may be the best way to explain the Trinity, although we can never truly explain this in earthly terms.  

The Object Lesson

Materials Needed: 

• A nice shaped, large apple 
• Cutting board or plate 
• Small sharp knife 
• Paper towels or napkins to clean hand 
• If the church budget allows, you may have an apple for each child to take home. 

Today I want to help you understand our wonderful loving God.  Do you ever get confused when the preacher talks about God and then he calls God, "Jesus" or calls God the "Holy Spirit"?  And when we pray at church or home sometimes we call God our "Heavenly Father".  You may wonder which one of these persons is God.  Well, I'll tell you our God is three persons: God is our Heavenly Father, Who loves us very much. God is Jesus, Who is our Saviour, our Lord and our Big Brother.  And God is the Holy Spirit, Who is our Comforter and Guide.  Even grown-ups get confused about this. 

When Jesus comes and takes us to heaven we will understand, but now it seems difficult how one God can be three persons.  This apple may help us a little bit to understand how it may work.

I like apples, do you?  I went to the supermarket this week and picked out a nice, big juicy apple to help us today.  

What do you see covering the apple? (Wait for answer.) Yes, that's right, it's the skin.  Have you ever seen an apple growing on a tree without its skin?  No, of course not.  Every apple has a skin.  Some skins are red, like this one (if you have a red apple), some are yellow or green and some skins are streaky with red and yellow.  But no matter what color the skin, an apple is always covered by a skin that protects the apple as it grows.   The skin reminds us of the Holy Spirit because it always covers the apple just as the Holy Spirit will always be with us.  Jesus  sent the Holy Spirit to comfort us.

Now that's just one part of the apple.  It wouldn't be an apple if we only had the skin.

I'm going to cut this apple in half.  (Cut the apple in half using the cutting board/plate and the knife. Place the knife where little hands cannot reach.)

Now, we can see more of the apple.  Who can tell me what parts we can see.  (Give the children time to tell you about the flesh and the core with the seeds.  You may have to prompt them as some children may not realize the flesh and seeds are separate parts of an apple.)  

Yes, we have the seeds in the middle.   The seeds are important because from the seeds, more apples can be grown. The seeds remind us of the Father because our Heavenly Father is the Creator, Mighty and all Powerful.  

The white part we love to eat is called the flesh.  It is juicy and crisp.  We can eat it just as it is or Mommy or Daddy can make a yummy treat like apple pie out of the flesh.  The flesh reminds us of Jesus, because Jesus is God who became human flesh like us.  He came as a little baby, grew up and died for our sins.

The apple has three parts:  the skin, the seeds and the flesh.  Three parts make one good apple.  God has three persons:  God our Heavenly Father, God the Son who is Jesus, and God the Holy Spirit.  Three persons make one Holy God. 

God can never die.  He has always been and will always be. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, above all, and ever present. We cannot understand all about God because it is too hard for us to understand. 

Our God is forever worthy of worship, adoration, and service by everyone and everything in this world and in heaven.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, help us to always worship and adore you.  We are your children and we love you.  Amen.


The Bible verse:

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."  2 Corinthians 13:14

Have children sing:

Awesome God 
Our God is an awesome God,
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power and love,
Our God is an awesome God!
~Writer/Composer : Rich Mullins
 
The colouring sheet:

Holy Scriptures, Fundamental Belief #1

We are doing the 28 Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church with the children during the children's story time at church.  Turning these into story format has been a challenge and some may say why don't you just buy a book and read the stories to the kids.  Well, where's the fun in that?  There is however a good source found here if you'd like to get a published source. So here is the first story in the series.

Fundamental Belief #1--Holy Scriptures

The Holy Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, are the written Word of God, given by divine inspiration through holy men of God who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. In this Word, God has committed to man the knowledge necessary for salvation. The Holy Scriptures are the infallible revelation of His will. They are the standard of character, the test of experience, the authoritative revealer of doctrines, and the trustworthy record of God's acts in history. (Look up these verses here. 2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17; Ps. 119:105; Prov. 30:5, 6; Isa. 8:20; John 17:17; 1 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 4:12.)

The story below can be adapted.  When I told this story I shortened it considerably, telling about the airmen and the Bible hidden in the dough.  But the story is certainly good as written.  I found this online at Your Story Hour website.
  

 God's Great Book 

We’ll have to make a forced landing,” said the pilot to his helper, “and there is nothing but jungle and the enemy and dangerous natives below us.”

The plane came to a jolting halt in a little ravine. The men were badly shaken but not seriously hurt. They left their plane and began to creep through the jungle. The men were afraid. Surely someone had seen their crippled plane come down and would be out looking for them. Suddenly, the men saw before them a little opening in the jungle surrounding a small village. They did not know where to go to be safe, so they decided to remain hidden and watch the village. It was clean and neat, not like the villages on the other islands where the men had been stationed. The people who were in the village were clean, too.

Finally one of the men said, “Let’s go in and give ourselves up. We’ll die if we
stay in the jungle.”

When they walked into the village, the natives came to meet them, but not with clubs or guns. They came smiling. They greeted the fliers and took them to a clean house. They gave them food to eat, and then the natives showed the men the Book.

How happy the fliers were when they saw the Book! They were not afraid any more. They could trust these people who loved the Book. The natives were almost like brothers to the aviators, as they fed and cared for them. After days of planning and waiting, the natives helped them to reach their own forces again.

What was this wonderful Book that turned wild savages into kind people? It was a Book that is very precious; it is called the Bible. Hundreds and hundreds of years ago, even before John Cabot discovered the New World people loved this Book. At that time only a few people had a copy of the Bible, for it was all written by hand, copied letter by letter. There were so few copies of the Bible that only a small number of people ever had the opportunity to read it.

People paid a great deal just for the privilege of coming to the house of someone who owned a Bible in order to read it.  A farmer who heard that someone had a Bible, gave him a large load of hay for permission to read it for an hour each day.

The people who paid so much just to read the Bible actually risked their lives when they read it. Soldiers went through the towns and country looking for the Bible. If anyone was found with one in his home, he would be put in prison or even killed, and the Bible would be burned up. Even though it was so dangerous to be caught, people continued to read the Bible in secret places and in their homes with the shades tightly shut.

In the front of an old Bible this prayer was written: “God grant us to know and to keep well the Holy Writ and to suffer joyfully some pain for it at last.” People who read the Bible really knew what pain was because they were hunted like wild animals and had to live in lonely mountain valleys and in caves. Many who were caught lost their lives. After hundreds of years a man named Gutenberg found a way to produce books on a printing press. The first book he printed was the Bible, but people were still forbidden to read it. All the copies that could be found were burned.

Some good men who loved the Bible went about the country as peddlers, selling needles, pins, buttons and cloth and secretly carrying copies of the Bible with them. When they came to a home where people were hungry to hear the Bible read, they would bring out a copy of it and read it to them. Sometimes they would leave a Bible with the family, and they would share it with others.

A lady who had bought a Bible from one of the peddlers was in the kitchen one day baking bread. A neighbor came running to her house and told her that the king’s soldiers were coming. “Hide your Bible,” she said. The lady looked for a good hiding place and she suddenly thought about the bread sitting on the table. She quickly wrapped the Bible and hid it in an unbaked loaf.

When the soldiers came to her house they looked and looked but did not find the Bible.
In most countries today people are free to read the Bible, although in some places it is difficult to get a copy. Here in America and many other countries too, anyone who wants a copy may buy one in almost every bookstore. You will want to read this precious Book that so many people have loved.

“Your word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11 NKJV.
 
This story is from Your Story Hour.
Here are the two Bible verses that were used on the coloring sheet.

"You have known the Holy Scriptures ever since you were a little child. They are able to teach you how to be saved by believing in Christ Jesus. God has breathed life into all of Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right.  By using Scripture, a man of God can be completely prepared to do every good thing."  2 Timothy 3:15-17

"Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You."
Psalm 119:11

The chorus of the old Sabbath School song "Give Me the Bible" was the chosen song for this story.  Click the link to hear the song. You may have another song about the Bible you would like to teach the children.

Give Me the Bible
Give me the Bible-holy message shining,
Thy light shall guide me in the narrow way.
Precept and promise, law and love combining,
'Til night shall vanish in eternal day.


Here's the colouring sheet that was given to the children. I used pictures of both a girl and a boy reading the Bible for this story. 

I've searched the internet til my eyes are blurry looking for the links to these pictures.  If anyone knows where I found them please let me know so I can give credit and a link.  Thanks.

Tell A Good Story

"I need a story to tell at church and I can't find one!" 

How many times have I heard this or even said it myself.  If you've been telling the children's story at church for as many years as I have you may have exhausted your files several times over and are looking for a fresh new take on the old, old stories so dear to us all.  

Today, while sitting in church, listening to the story along with the kiddies I had a flash of genius (don't laugh).  I'll blog the stories (the best ones) and give any links for songs, colouring pages or activities so anyone can have access to these stories that are wasting away on my computer's word processor files. 

I don't know how you do it at your church but we usually take turns each week telling the story just before the sermon.  I like to provide a coloring sheet with an appropriate picture/activity, Bible verse and song to help the children retain the valuable stories and lessons learned.  (That's the teacher in me!) I also include the song in the church bulletin and everyone sings it following the story.  Don't forget to end the session with a simple prayer.  

Not every story will be a Bible story but each story should have a spiritual application that can be identified by the children listening.   And I might add the adult congregation is usually just as interested in the story as the children are.  Some are new Christians and the stories are fresh and unheard of by some.  The simple stories for children are also food for the new Christian adult. 

We must always remember our task is not to entertain--a clown or TV show can do that.  But we should tell the stories in an interesting and captivating way that will capture the listeners' attention.  (You know how tiring it is to sit through a dry and boring presentation.) The listeners should remember not that Mrs. Gill was marching around the front of the church but that Mrs. Gill was marching around the front of the church just like the Children of Israel marched around Jericho just before God gave them victory and the walls of Jericho fell down.  We are telling the best stories from life and most importantly of Jesus and His Word.   Ours is indeed a most crucial and life-preserving challenge. 

I hope you will be able to use and adapt any of the stories you find here for use in your church or children's programs.  
 

Gentle Jesus

Gentle Jesus, meek and mild,
Look upon a little child;
Pity my simplicity,
Suffer me to come to Thee.

Loving Jesus, gentle Lamb,
In Thy gracious hands I am;
Make me, Saviour, what Thou art,
Live Thyself within my heart.

I shall then show forth Thy praise,
Serve Thee all my happy days;
Then the world shall always see
Christ, the Holy Child, in me.

~ Charles Wesley~