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Paul Gave Hope

Bible Passage: 1-2 Thessalonians

Kids Church: May 30, 2021

Volume 11: The Church United. Unit 33: A Firm Foundation. Session 4 of 4

Leading Parent, please read below for an overview of today's lesson (drop down) ----->>

Paul Gave Hope

Consider how your life would change if you knew the future—if you could accurately predict the weather or outcomes of baseball games. If you could know how your life is going to turn out, would you live today differently? In the bigger picture of God’s plan for the world, we do know the future. God reveals the outcome of His plan for humanity in His Word.

In the Book of 1 Thessalonians, Paul wrote about the future to encourage believers facing persecution. Their hope as believers then is the same as our hope as believers today. We look forward to a final resurrection, the return of Jesus, and the judgment of the world.

Around AD 50, the city of Thessalonica was filled with those who worshiped idols, Greek and Roman gods, and even the Roman emperor himself. So when Paul started a church there, he quickly faced persecution and was forced to flee the city. Even though he could not return, Paul still loved the young church and was concerned for them, so he sent Timothy to check on the believers.

Timothy reported back with good news—though the church was suffering from persecution, they were holding tightly to their faith. They did have some misunderstandings about Christianity, especially the return of Jesus, but they were working hard for the Lord. Paul wrote a letter to encourage the believers and to clear up misunderstandings about the future and what happens when Christians die.

Perhaps Paul’s greatest message was about the return of Jesus. On that day, Paul said, believers will be freed from their sufferings. On the Day of the Lord, Jesus will return for His people and judge the wicked. That’s a promise we can still claim today.

Paul’s letter gave believers hope. The hope we find in the Bible is stronger than just wanting something to happen; biblical hope is expecting with confidence because we know God is faithful and true.

Opening Prayer for Kids Church Worship

Dad (or Mom) lead your family

Praise God for His attributes: holiness, greatness, grace, love, mercy, etc.
Thank God for sending His Son Jesus to save us from our sins.
Thank God for His goodness, provision, forgiveness, etc.
Thank You God for for sacrificing Your Son Jesus on the Cross to take our just punishment of death. Thank You Jesus for Your obedience to the Father and suffer the pain and death on the Cross. Thank You for the victory over death by raising Jesus from the grave on the third day! Because He is risen, the children of God shall inherit eternal life. Thank You God!
Ask God for His Holy Spirit to prepare our hearts, minds, and spirits to worship God and learn the lesson He has for us today.
God, we are here to worship, adore, and exalt You. Speak and teach us through Your Word. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

You may ask all the kids to take turn to pray as well.

Pledges - recite out loud together

Right hand to your heart

Bible raised high in the air

Praise & Worship singing to God together

Let's dwell on the holiness of God and His expectation of us, too.

Leader - Ask the Big Picture Question

Everyone reply with the Big Picture Answer

Everyone memorize the Scripture verses CSB version

NIV

Leader: Salvation is only found in Jesus. There is no one else in heaven or on earth who can save us from our sins. Only Jesus, who is without sin, could take the punishment of sin for all. Because of God’s mercy and grace, we not only receive salvation in Jesus, but we live in the hope He provides His children. This hope carries us through life and helps us remain strong in faith.

Let's all sing “In No One Else" (Acts 4:12).

Everyone sing the Scripture song CSB version

Everyone open your Bible and read aloud Romans 15:13.

Leader: The hope that God provides allows His children to live in peace. It allows us to experience true joy that isn’t changed by things that happen in life. Let’s praise the One who provides hope, joy, and peace to all who believe in Him!

Let’s sing together “Go Tell the World.”

Praise & Prayer Time

Invite kids to pray items below:

Share praises from this past week of what God did in your lives.
Confess and repent of our sins. Pray to God for His holiness and purity in our lives.
Ask God to forgive us, and ask the Holy Spirit to help us in self-control.
Share prayer requests with each other. Pray for each other.
Ask God to give wisdom for parents, school teachers and kids for work, in-person and virtual learning to manage time, technology, and meals for this semester.
Let us look forward to Father's Day! Think of one thing you are thankful to God for your dad.
God, thank You for the hope You give that helps us stand firm as we wait for the day when Jesus will return for Your people and judge the wicked. May we glorify You and live in the joy, hope, and peace You give. In the Name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Bible Lesson Time

Leader - Read the main story point below

Watch the Bible Story video

Christ Connection: When Christians face challenges or hardships, we can rely on the hope that comes from being a child of God. The prophets of the Old Testament told about the Day of the Lord, a day when God would come to judge the world and save His people. Paul said that in the future, on the Day of the Lord, Jesus will return for His people and judge the wicked. Believers live with hope, knowing that Jesus will come again.

Apply the Bible Lesson

Guide kids to open their Bibles to 1 Thessalonians 4. Remind kids that Paul wrote several letters to encourage and teach different churches. Explain that today’s Bible story comes from two letters Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica.

Choose a volunteer to read aloud 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18.

LEADER SAY • Paul told the church to stand firm as we wait for Jesus’ return. Paul encouraged the believers in Thessalonica to focus on Jesus’ return and encourage each other with this truth when they face struggles in their faith.

Ask the following questions. Lead your family to discuss:

(Take your time to ask, let the kids to ponder and answer the following questions)

1. What did Paul remind the believers in Thessalonica? (drop down for answer) ----->>

God has already secured the salvation of all who belong to Him. Paul reminded believers that whether they live or die, they can know that they will be with Jesus.

(Option: Choose a volunteer to read John 14:2-3.)

2. How can we have hope, even when we face hard things? (drop down for answer) ----->>

Recognize that when we put our hope in God, no hardship can take that hope away because everything God says is true, and everything He promises will happen.

(Option: Choose a volunteer to read Heb. 6:19.)

3. How should we react when people make fun of us or attack us for our faith in Jesus? (drop down for answer) ----->>

Having God’s approval is infinitely more important than having the approval of people. Encourage kids to stand firm in their faith and continue sharing the gospel as a way of loving their friends.

(Option: Choose a volunteer to read Gal. 1:10.)

Leader Say: Christians will often face hard times, but with God, we can have hope and help in these trials because we know that one day Jesus will come again.

Application: Questions from Kids

Leader Say: As you watch this video, think about when Jesus will come back.

After the video discuss what they think will be the best part about Jesus’ return.

Sing the Song of Response below

Closing Prayer - Leader

Praise and thanksgiving to God that the Holy Spirit helps us to listen and obey God.
Praise and thanksgiving to God for the past school year's pandemic education.
Protection from COVID-19 throughout the summer especially for people who will be traveling.
For those who are sick or lost of job.
For our family, our church, our nation our leaders to repent, to honor and to follow God.
For the Fasolinos and for the church in Toronto.
For Pastor Kaiyi Chen and family settling down in Lima, Peru, and getting ready for the missionary work.

A Missions Moment

Leader: If people cannot read the Bible, they don’t know the truths of Scripture like our story point: Believers are saved and grow in godliness by faith in Jesus. We know this is true because we read it in the Bible. Missionary William Carey spent many years translating the Bible into languages so people could read it for themselves. Let’s find out more about Bible translation.

Watch the missions video. Then pray for missionaries today who translate the Bible.

A KCCC Missionary Cared for by Kids Ministry

Kaiyi Chen & Lisa Jan

Pastor Kaiyi is a personal friend of Pastor John and Mrs. Catherine. They left to the mission field on April 29, 2021, and they have safely arrived in Lima, Peru where they planned to commit 2 years in the field. Let's pray for them.

You can read their 1st NEWSLETTER HERE, May, 2021.

Country Peru

Kaiyi and Lisa both grew up in Taiwan and have lived in Houston, Texas for the last 20 years where he has served as the Children’s Pastor at Fort Bend Community Church since 2011. They are serving in Lima, where they will be engaging with the ministry and the local community.

Kaiyi loves working with families and empowering parents to be the spiritual leaders of their homes. He serves as the liaison between Kids Alive Peru and local churches. He also helps direct the children and family mentoring programs. Lisa provides support for various ministry projects in conjunction with caring for their young children.

Kaiyi and Lisa have two children. Sophia is 8 years old and Connor is 5 years old. They both enjoy swimming and listening to stories.

A Missions Moment

Leader: Salvation comes only through faith in Jesus. That’s the reason we want to tell everybody around the world about Jesus. Without Him, they cannot have eternal life. William Carey, a missionary hundreds of years ago, wanted to make sure that people in India heard about Jesus.

Watch the missions video. Then pray, thanking God for missionaries who first brought the gospel to new countries.

William Carey: Bearer of Good News (Heroes for Young Readers) | Biography Story for Kids

A book reading. 7:30 mins.

William Carey - Father of Modern Missions

A short documentary. 21:45 mins.

Candle In The Dark (1998) | Full Movie | Richard Attlee | Lynette Edwards | Julie-Kate Olivier

A full movie drama. 1:34:49 mins.

An adult Class Lecture

An adult class lecture. 48:05 mins.

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