CBC in the faith of Abraham - lesson

 Complementary Lesson

BIBLICAL REFERENCE 

Genesis 12, 1-4:15,1-5

PURPOSE OF THE LESSON

 Teach the children that who lives in the faith of Abraham is one of the stars that Abraham saw when he was coming out of his tent.

 VERSE TO MEMORIZE

"...Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them. So shall your descendants be." Genesis 15,5 

 INTRODUCTION

Educator, start the lesson with a conversation with the children. 

Ask them, "Who here already had an opportunity to spend a night in a farm?" (Give them some time for them to answer). Did you notice that in a farm the sky has more stars? The truth is that in the countryside there's less lights and posters, for that reason we can see the stars brighter than if you were in the city. Talking about stars, our story of today also talks about them.

DESCENDANTS OF ABRAHAM

 

Most of you have already heard about Abraham, right? The Bible tells us the story of this man as a model for all of us. And do you know why? Because Abraham believed and trusted in everything that God spoke to him. He was the first one using living faith, to listen to the voice of God and to do exactly what God asked. In that time they didn’t have the Bible, pastor or church, even though didn't have what we have today he still believed in what God told him.

His name wasn’t Abraham but Abram. His name was changed after he proved to God that he really believed in Him. In a while we’ll talk more about how that happened. But the truth is that since the first moment Abraham listened to the voice of God making him a promise he obeyed.

God said:“Get out of your country,from your family and from your father’s house,to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing..”(Genesis 12.1, 2)

What a promise…, isn’t it? In those times having many children was an honor, imagine to have a nation of children and also be famous, who doesn’t want that? And even God said that he shall be a blessing for other people. Amazing!!! But was only a voice, there was no bible to assure that promise, nothing. Even though, Abraham believed.

Teach them that who lives the faith of Abraham is a star that he saw when he came out of the tent "...Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them. So shall your descendants be." (Genesis 15,5)                                  

But the time pass by, and Abraham didn’t have any children. Sara, his wife, was still barren, she couldn’t be pregnant and she was getting older. So Abraham ask to God:

"Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?"

When God listened to Abraham saying those words He answered: “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.”

That is when the Lord took Abraham outside and told him: Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them. So shall your descendants be. (Genesis 15.2,5).

CONCLUSION

And that was what exactly happened children. From Abraham emerged a great nation that is us. Abraham couldn’t number the stars, the same way he couldn’t number his descendants, because each one of us who live in the faith of Abraham, is one of those stars and his descendants. And each one of those stars, that is us, they also have the same promise of God, because He sworn to Abraham that He’ll bless his descendants.

Do you see how our story is all about stars?

FUN CHAT

Previously prepare some white stars in cardboard or office paper, and distribute to the children saying, "Children, each one of you will receive a star today, and your name will be on it. We’ll stick the stars on a blue panel that symbolize the sky, and every day, until the end of the this campaign, we’ll stretch out or hands through it and we’ll ask God for Him to make our life to shine as the life of Abraham."

Biblical Educator, the sky can be made with cardboard or other material dark blue.  

   

ACTIVITIES

Abraham look to the sky and saw many stars, so you are going to draw as many stars as you can, then colour it and make it very nice.

Puppets - Abraham and Sarah

 

  

 The Faith of Abraham

Materials used

Carton of milk or juice, pieces of cloths and foam paper (light brown), coloured ribbon, cotton, a pair of eyes, red paint, scissors, permanent marker, liquid glue (hot glue gun)

First, cover the top part of the carton with the skin colored foam paper (light brown) , this bit is to do the face

 then the bottom half cover it with the piece of cloth to make the little body

 

 Lets place a cloth on the head like the ones they used to use in the times of pharaohs. And then lets put a

thin ribbon to give the finished look and also to fasten the cloth on the head.

Cut a long stripe of colored foam and glue it in the middle of the puppet to give a finished look between the face and the little body

To complete the face, we will use the pair of eyes but will also look nice if you wish to draw a pair of eyes with the marker, then with the marker again draw the mouth.

As Abraham was already very old in age, lets put cotton to symbolize the grey eyebrow and the beard

To do the red cheeks use your finger wet it slightly on the red paint, shake off the excess of the paint and then with care not wetting it too much rub around the cheeks as you do when wearing blusher, be careful not to make the cheeks too red.

Now only the little arms are missing. Hey do you know who that other puppet is?

Sarah, she is made in the same way as Abraham but the carton used to make Sarah is a bit wider than Abraham's and her arms are at the front rather than on the side, you will see bellow why that is, that's because we put a baby on her shoulders, the son of the promise, Isaac

Here is the couple already blessed with their son Isaac.

CBC & TF in The Faith of Abraham!

Hi Dear Biblical Educators, 

Based in the same faith of Abraham, in this Spirit we will pass it on to the children this very faith we are now living, in their own language and also respecting their faith.


Abraham was very special. He is the father of faith, because he believed in God before anyone believed. He had no Bible, church, pastor, no one to encourage him.  

Abraham heard a voice, and followed her.  

He was surrounded by voices, for he lived in the midst of a pagan and idolatrous people, still He could discern that "Voice" that was different from all others that he was used to hear.  

He heard the voice of God, believed and obeyed, ignoring all other voices, giving heed only the voice of God. And that's exactly what we do. Ignore the voices contrary to our faith, we only focus on the voice of God, so we can walk in His presence, living in His will. 

God had a great plan for Abraham's life. 

The first order of God to Abraham was to get out of that environment where other voices could distract him, and consequently mislead him from the purpose of God.  

"Get out of your country, From your family And your father's house, to a land that I will show you." (Genesis 12:1). 

 And he promptly obeyed unconditionally.

Certainly it was not easy for him to leave family, friends, possessions, but he did. 

He denied his desires, his will, and offered himself as a living offering to God. For our work in CBC to bear fruit, we must offer ourselves to God as Abraham did. 

Let us focus also on the following point: 

If we are sure that we are of faith, we are one of those stars that Abraham saw when God took him out of the tent and said:

..."Look now toward heaven and count the stars if you are able to. And He said to him, So shall your descendents be. "(Genesis 15:5). 

We are descendants (seeds) of Abraham, so we are this bright star and we must shine so intense to the point of overshadowing darkness. We are very blessed. If we determine so,  if we do our part, (and the path is the sacrifice), if we believe as Abraham believed, from us a great nation of men and women born of God, fruits of our work with kids and teens will be born from us. But for that it requires surrender, sacrifice, dedication, to walk in God's will. Our star has to shine, the star (life) of the children have to shine, and to make it happen is up to us and our faith. 

When we say that you must be a big star, we refer to the intensity of its glow.  
 
We have to shine so great that the name of our God will be glorified through us. 

Believe! Your star will shine! 

Because I do not denied anything to God He blessed me in everything!

TFTeen Lesson 8 for the 4th Week of June

Lesson 8 for the 4^th Week of June 

8^th Meeting

Biblical Reference:

Psalms 37.4 and Acts 16.16-34

Purpose of the meeting:

Teach teenagers that we should serve God with joy

Key verse:

“Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalms 37.4)

Initiating the meeting:

Start by saying: Let's say you go to a restaurant with your family and you get a certain waiter serving your table. You realize that, even smiling, he is serving you grudgingly. The question is: is it good for the waiter to smile, if they are serving you badly? (Wait their participation). Of course not, right? He should show satisfaction in serving you, not just with a smile, but especially with the attitudes, serving properly. We learn today that God is no different, for we should enjoy serving Him. Let's see more about it.

 

Edifying message:

Serving God with joy

          “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalms 37.4). In order to please God, we strive to do His will. We know that only through faith and obedience to His Holy Word, we will receive eternal Salvation. However, how have we been obeyed  and served our Lord? With joy and love; sad, is if we were forced to serve Him, or because of fear that we are not saved? God knows us and knows what the intent of our hearts. “For I know their works and their thoughts…” (Isaiah 66.18).

        We should live according to what is written: “Take delight in the LORD”, in other words, to enjoy serving Him; do it with joy! For example, Have you have been pleased to get up Sunday morning to seek God, or always regret going, thinking: ‘it is a beautiful day, I could be walking around, or it is very cold I could sleep until late’. God watches us in the smallest things, so we must be sincere in His Presence. There is no use trying to pretend or show others holiness if inside you everything is different.

        Paul and Silas served God faithfully, and even behind bars they did not stop praising Him, so God showed his faithfulness, freeing them. He allowed them to be there, for the jailer and his family to receive Salvation. But if the two stayed complaining and doubting, they would not have been freed and not been used to save those people.

        Jesus saved us so we could save others. God counts on each of us to speak of His love to those who are still suffering. When Jesus separated 70 disciples and sent them to preach His word, the Bible says that they returned with joy (Luke 10:17). And that's exactly what happens!

When we delight in serving God, everything flows naturally, the Holy Spirit leads us and makes the work in our lives, and when we talk about Jesus to someone, our souls rejoice, for we see the power of God manifest in that person who was suffering and desperate, and that is our great reward!

Conclusion:

          Young man, young woman, you were chosen by God, He saved you so through your life you can serve Him with joy, talking about His love to others. Yes! YOU can help change the sad picture of young people who live with you, in your school, the neighborhood, the Church; preaching Salvation and winning them for the Kingdom of God. And so, you will see what a great joy will fill your heart.
 

Activity for the 8th Meeting

Opening the heart

Answer the questions honestly. Then give the paper to the TF TEEN Advisor; it is not necessary to put the name.

1) “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

(Psalms 37.4). Are you pleased to be serve God? Justify:

____________________________________________________________________________________________

2) Is there something that has hindered you to follow and serve God?

____________________________________________________________________________________________

3) Paul and Silas were faithful to God even in times of trouble. How has your faith been in times of difficulty?

____________________________________________________________________________________________

TFTeen Lesson 7 for the 4th Week of June

Lesson 7 for the 4^th Week of June

    

7^th Meeting

Biblical Reference:

Psalms 37.4 and Acts 16.16-34

Purpose of the meeting:

Teach teenagers that we should rejoice for having God in our lives

Key verse:

“Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalms 37.4)

 Initiating the meeting:

Start by saying: When you receive a blessing, it is common for people to thank God for the miracle. But when the answer seems long, many start to complain and then they become overwhelmed with doubt, anxiety, negative energy, ready to lose faith. In the study of today we will talk about two men who delighted in serving God, even in difficult times; a very strong example in which we  will meditate. Listen to the study.

Edifying message:

Happy with God

          “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1.8).

        These were the words of the Lord Jesus to the disciples after the resurrection. Jesus knew it would be necessary to send His Spirit to help them in preaching the Gospel, it is He who comforts us and gives us the strength we need to proclaim the Kingdom of God. This passage makes it clear that when we receive the Holy Spirit, we receive power. But what for? The answer comes soon after: "... and you will be my witnesses....” Power to testify about who Jesus is and what He does. Power to bring the joy of Salvation to the hearts of those who are lost, and shackled by sin, condemned to eternal death.

        After receiving the Holy Spirit, the priority of the disciples became the preaching of the Gospel and they did that with great joy, regardless of circumstances. Numerous Biblical passages prove it, and one of them is the passage where Paul and Silas when releasing a young woman enslaved by a spirit of divination were accused of disturbing the peace of the city by the employer of the fortune teller. In fact they were outraged because they lost the profit they had with the young woman. However, despite being prisoners, Paul and Silas sang and praised God, for the satisfaction of having released the young woman was greater than the injustice they were suffering.

        In that place, Paul and Silas had the opportunity to preach the Gospel to the jailer and his whole family, which accepted Jesus and were saved. God, through both of them, saved an entire family, and do you know why this was possible? At no time did they mourn the fact of being imprisoned nor were they concerned about their freedom. The main concern for them, even while in prison, was still preaching the Gospel. Even in prison, they were still willing to be an instrument for God to bring freedom to the captives. They were stuck physically, but their spirit was with God and when they rejoiced, sang and prayed “…suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.” (Acts 16.26). God had been pleased of them therefore he saved them.

 

 Conclusion:

          Teenagers, we were saved to save and everyone who is saved has the permanent joy of Salvation and their main objective is now to bring Salvation to as many people as possible. He who possesses the Spirit of God, also has a permanent joy that is independent of circumstances, because it flows from the inside as a river of living water, overflowing and flooding the hearts of those around you.

Proclaiming Jesus Christ brings to our heart immeasurable joy, the joy of knowing that when we proclaim the Gospel we take sinners to repentance and because of that the Angels rejoice. “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15.10). When we have joy in serving God and pleasing Him, He meets our needs. Paul and Silas, even in hard times did not give up serving God, neither complained for what had happened, that’s why God freed them from prison.

 

Activity for the 7^th Meeting

                         Meditating

Read careful,justifying your answer.

1. We should be pleased to serve and do the will of God.

Right (           ) - Wrong (     )    Justify:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________       

2. The example of Paul and Silas, faithful servants of God who were unjustly imprisoned, shows us that it's not worth doing good for others.

 Right (     ) - Wrong (     )    Justify:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. The Christians today do not go through any kind of persecution.

Right (           ) - Wrong (     )    Justify:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. We learn from the example of Paul and Silas that we can only be used by God in the Church.

 Right (     ) - Wrong (     )    Justify:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CBC Activities from 1st to 7th of July

ACTIVITIES

AGE 2-3

SUNDAY-Coloring. Juju learned that she should thank God. Paint pretty well Juju and her family praying. Educator, give thick crayon to the kids to paint.
MONDAY-Setting up a poster. You will need a cardboard, several flyers and inserts of supermarket, toy store and clothes store. Take magazines too. Distribute it to the class and ask them to choose pictures of toys, clothes and food they like (help the kids in need). Educator, when they choose the pictures, you cut out and give to the kids. Write on the cardboard “Thanking God” as a title. Say: We learned today that we should always thank our God and Father who is in heaven. Now, let’s make a beautiful poster with the pictures of what God has been giving and will give us more and more? Every time we receive something from Him, what should we say? (Wait their participation). Thank you, that’s right! We should thank God for everything. Now let’s stick the pictures? Educator, interact with the kids, congratulate every time they get a picture, apply glue and ask them to stick on the cardboard helping the kids in need. In the end, show the poster and congratulate them all.
WEDNESDAY-Decorating the scene. We should always thank God for everything. Paint the drawing and glue little crepe paper balls on the frame.

AGE 4-7

SUNDAY-Connecting the dots. Connect the dots from 1 to 10 and discover what Julia’s family is used to do before meals.
MONDAY-Pass it over. Write in pieces of paper the questions below and put it inside a basket or a decorated shoebox. Take a radio and a gospel CD (for kids). Arrange the kids in circle and pass the basket or the box among them. Suddenly stop the music and the kid who is holding the basket should get a paper and read the question (read it for the illiterate). The kid can answer or pass it over to the kid on the left. Who answers it wrong should leave the circle and keep an eye on the game.
Questions for this activity:
1. Today we learned that we should always…
2. What did you understand of the verse of the week?
3. Say the name of Julia’s parents and brother.
4. How was Julia’s house?
5. In your opinion, did Julia behave correctly with her friends?
6. How was the financial life of Julia’s parents before they come to the house of God?
7. What happened to Julia’s parents after they seek God?
8. Did Julia recognize that God had blessed her parents? Justify.
9. What did Mr. Richard teach to his daughter Julia? Educator, if you wish, you can ask more questions related to today’s story.
TUESDAY-Coloring. We should always thank God. Julia learned this lesson with her father. Paint it correctly.
WEDNESDAY-Secret word. Write the initial letter of the pictures and discover the name of today’s story.
THURSDAY-Research. For this activity you will need office paper, pencils, colored pencils, blunt scissors, glue, magazines, pieces of wrapping paper, crepe paper, and pencil shavings. Write the sentence: “THANK YOU, JESUS” on the board or paper before the kids arrive. Educator, distribute office paper and magazines for the kids. Ask them to cut the letters that form the sentence “THANK YOU, JESUS”. They will stick the letters on the paper making the sentence. The kids can decorate it the way they like: drawing, gluing balls of crepe paper, pencil shavings, etc. At the end, ask them to put their names on the paper and say: Kids, everything we have comes from our God, that’s why we should thank Him every day, amen? Ask the kids to show their parents (responsible) the activity they did and explain them the importance of being grateful to God.
FRIDAY-Memory game. Educator, take to the class (big) pictures of bedroom, doll, teddy bear, bicycle, cars, a beautiful house, abundant table (lunch). Educator, you should get two pictures of each or copies of them. Stick them separated, on office paper (enough to all the kids of your class). Choose a kid and distribute the pairs of the pictures to the others (kids who have similar pictures should be away from each other). Tell the chosen kid to say the name of two participants that should show their papers. If the pictures are the same of the chosen kid it will receive the two papers and will change places with the other kid; the two participants who gave the paper should sit down. In case of the pictures be different, the chosen kid should get off the game and you will chose another kid to keep the game. Continue the activity until all pairs are found. At the end, remind the story talking about the blessings that Julia and her family received, and about the importance of thanking God.
SATURDAY-Free activity.

AGE 8-10

SUNDAY-Find the errors. Julia learned that she should thank God every day. Find the errors between the scenes.
MONDAY-Exercising the memory. Educator, take to the class (big) pictures of bedroom, doll, teddy bear, bicycle, cars, a beautiful house, abundant table (lunch). Educator, you should get two pictures of each or copies of them. Stick them separated, on office paper (enough to all the kids of your class). Choose a kid and distribute the pairs of the pictures to the others (kids who have similar pictures should be away from each other). Tell the chosen kid to say the name of two participants that should show their papers. If the pictures are the same of the chosen kid it will receive the two papers and will change places with the other kid; the two participants who gave the paper should sit down. In case of the pictures be different, the chosen kid should get off the game and you will chose another kid to keep the game. Continue the activity until all pairs are found. At the end, remind the story talking about the blessings that Julia and her family received, and about the importance of thanking God.

TUESDAY-Expanding. Julia learned that she should praise and thank God. Reproduce the drawing in the bigger square.
WEDNESDAY-Memorizing. Today we learned that we should always thank God. Paint and memorize the verse.
THURSDAY-Alone with God. Educator, distribute office paper to the kids and ask them to write a declaration of love to Jesus, thanking Him for the blessings and protection received.
FRIDAY-Pass it over. Write in pieces of paper the questions below and put it inside a basket or a decorated shoebox. Take a radio and a gospel CD (for kids). Arrange the kids in circle and pass the basket or the box among them. Suddenly stop the music and the kid who is holding the basket should get a paper and read the question (read it for the illiterate). The kid can answer or pass it over to the kid on the left. Who answers it wrong should leave the circle and keep an eye on the game.
Questions for this activity:
1. Today we learned that we should always…
2. What did you understand of the verse of the week?
3. Say the name of Julia’s parents and brother.
4. How was Julia’s house?
5. In your opinion, did Julia behave correctly with her friends?
6. How was the financial life of Julia’s parents before they come to the house of God?
7. What happened to Julia’s parents after they seek God?
8. Did Julia recognize that God had blessed her parents? Justify.
9. What did Mr. Richard teach to his daughter Julia? Educator, if you wish, you can ask more questions related to today’s story.
SATURDAY-Free activity.

CBC Lesson from 1st to 7th of July

BIBLICAL REFERENCE
Psalms 92.1

PURPOSE OF THE LESSON
Teach children that we should always please God.

VERSE TO MEMORIZE
“It is good to praise the LORD…” (Psalms 92.1)

INTRODUCTION
Start this moment saying to the class: Kids, there are two words that you certainly already learned and will use it all your life. I will give you a hint: it is something we say every time we gain something. (Wait their participation). That’s right, the words are thank you! We learned these special words during our childhood and we never forget it again, right? We will use it every time we need it. Raise your hand who here says thank you when you get something, receive a complement or someone does a favor to you? However, did you know that there is someone who deserves to hear our thank you every single day? Do you know whom I am talking about? Let’s find out listening today’s story.

THANKING GOD
ONCE UPON a time there was a 9 years old girl called Julia; she had a 10 years old brother called George. Julia was snooty and liked to mistreat people because she was too proud of herself. George, however, was different from his sister. Mrs. Marsha and Mr. Richard, their parents, had accepted Jesus recently and were happy in the house of God. However, kids, but it was not always this way. Before they were converted, there were many problems in that family, and therefore their almost lost their jobs, cars, home, and because of the lack of money to afford the school fees, almost Julia and George changed schools.
Julia knew the problems that the family had faced, but was still snooty and proud. The girl kept saying that her father was so smart and her family was blessed and she spent time telling the girls in the about the luxurious things she had in her home.
One day, at lunch time, Mr. Richard made a prayer thanking God for the food and for the blessings in their lives. Julia thought her father's attitude different because they were not used to pray before lunch, because they were newly converted. Then she said:
- Dad, you went to the supermarket with mom, shopped and paid with your money; mom prepared the food, so why should we pray thanking God?
- My daughter, do not say that again! Said Mr. Richard. All we have is God who has given us, and did not allow us to lose anything, so we thank Him forever. God is everything to us, and we thank Him for health, food and, finally, for all the comfort that we have, said Julia’s father. The girl was very ashamed.

CONCLUSION
Julia did not know how God is important to us and began to change from that day on. Children, it is wonderful to praise and thank God and, by doing so, we let Him very happy because we recognize that He is everything in our lives. In the Word of God it is written: “It is good to praise the LORD…” So, if you were not used to thank God, then thank Him every day.

FUN CHAT
Educator, take to the class pictures of backpacks, school lunchbox, umbrella, books, notebooks, pencils, plate, vase and pillow. Stick some masking tape behind each picture; put them on the board or cardboard. Ask a kid to go to the front of the class to participate. Start by saying the following: let’s say that you (point to the kid) are packing this backpack (take this picture and put it separated from the others) to go to school; what of these objects would you put inside it? (Put near the backpack pictures of the objects mentioned by the kid). Educator, observe if it will mention the umbrella and continue your explanation:
Class, there are some objects here (point to the board where the pictures are) that you would not take to school because there is no need of that, right? For example, the plate, the vase, the pillow. However, there is one object that we do not always remember it but, when it starts to rain, we realize how much we miss it. Do you know what am I talking about? (Wait their participation). The umbrella, that’s right! There are people who forget to put it in the bag, but when the weather changes and it rains, they quickly remember it.
Children, we cannot treat our God the same way people do with the umbrella.
Many people remember God only when they need Him, when there is something wrong or when they are facing a problem. We should remember God daily and thank Him every day. Little friends, He is everything in our lives, without Him we are nothing and it is He who gives us life, health, keeps us safe and protected, that’s why we should thank and praise Him at all times.
Educator, make a prayer of acknowledgment with the kids and then memorize
the verse using the poster of the week.

Meet the CBC Team- Tania Rei

Tania Rei is a Volunteer in the CBC Team and she works as a UK Head Leader Personal Assistant - PA, we first met in Newcastle Upon Tyne and when I got to know her I quickly notice that it was not gonna be a easy task to be able to help her and work together, as she was very, but very shy, and due to the shyness very dependent to be told what to do, and all the opposite of me that so bubbly would come with so many different ideas and inspirations and when sharing or asking her opinions frustrating she did not give any or did add anything about it.

It is really hard to work with shy people, and as a Volunteer of the CBC specially if you are a Leader  or having a responsibility within the CBC Team you must "think outside the box" and get out of your own Word to be able to add and contribute to this work, whilst knowing your place but boldly gaining your space to be able to contribute!

When you are shy in CBC you are been selfish!

Thinking only about you, what people might say or get wrong from you, you, you, you, all all about you!

It took us some time to finally connect and be part of the CBC puzzle! But when we finally connect the work simply flowed so much that we both wore able to work together in the very hard part "I consider" of the CBC, the structure.

Been connected she learned that her opinion always would be valued, and she learned how and when to bring them, she became a bold and independent PA, and made it so easy our work together!

I loved to work with her, and now that she is the blessing she will be able to bless anyone and anywhere else that she is going, and I will miss her so much, so much, but now is time for changes and it includes the change of the UK-PA, I will be introducing to you our very dear new UK- PA that I am already loving,  in the next post!

CBC UK Head Leader,
Graziela Lima.

 

TFTeen Lesson 6 for 3rd Week of June

6^th Meeting

Biblical Reference:

Psalms 25.14, John 11.1-46, John 12.1-8

Purpose of the meeting:

Teach teenagers that we should become friends of God

Key verse:

“The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.” (Psalms 25.14)

Initiating the meeting:

Start this meeting by asking: Do you consider yourself a friend of God? Do you know what is necessary to have His friendship? (Wait for their participation). In today’s study we will find out what is necessary to be so close to God.

Edifying message:

Friends of God

       “The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.” (Psalms 25.14). According to the dictionary, the word intimacy means familiarity, friendship. When a person says they are a close friend to someone, we imagine that one trusts, knows, respects and has confidences towards this someone.

        To be close to God and friends of Him we should respect Him and be obedient to His Word. The Bible says: “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend.” (James 2.23).  Abraham obeyed the hardest request of his life, and offered his only son in sacrifice to God. It is only fair to be considered His friend, right?

        Only someone who trusts 100% would have faith and courage to take such attitude; “By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He…was about to sacrifice his one and only son…Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead…” (Hebrews 11.17-19). He believed that God would give him back his boy, and that would fulfill the promises He had made. And this act made ​​Abraham the father of a great nation and also our father in faith!

 

        Suddenly you're wondering: What should I do to be a friend of God? The Lord Jesus taught us when He said: “You are my friends if you do what I command.” (John 15.14). We must practice what is written, follow the Word of God, His commandments and not to worry if others will like it or if they will criticize our faith. We should know that the Holy Scriptures say: “We must obey God rather than human beings!” (Acts 5.29). In doing so, we are not just friends of God, but also blessed by Him.

        For those who prefer to please others and live according to the world, the Apostle James, inspired by God, made an important guidance when he said: “…don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” (James 4.4). Hardly anyone will be able to maintain a friendship, if you live in discord and disharmony with this friend, right?

        It's great to have a true friendship. There are friends who are like brothers, because they are always together no matter the situation. They laugh, cry, and celebrate together. They go on for years and decades and the friendship remains. If you can maintain a friendship with someone that is so flawed that may disappoint or say something that upsets you, imagine if we are friends of God, a Supreme Being who has no defect, who will never say words that make us sad or hurt, nor forsake us because He is Faithful!

       

                                        

Conclusion:

          Teenagers, take advantage today and enter into a covenant with this Living and Wonderful God. Give your whole life to Him, use your faith and He will turn to you too. Remember: “The LORD confides in those who fear Him…” (Psalms 25.14). God is waiting for your attitude to act in your favor. Ok?

 

Activity for the 6^th Meeting

Alone with God

Reflecting on today's lesson write in the lines below on how your relationship with God has been. Do you consider yourself a friend of Him? Justify your answer.