PowerPoints: A Bible Study Guide for Juniors: Recent Episodes
PowerPoints: A Bible Study Guide for Juniors
GraceLink is a 12-year curriculum comprising 624 lessons, all of which are firmly grounded in Scripture. Most lessons are story-based, some on scriptural references that teach a specific doctrine. Each story has been selected to develop one of the four dynamics of the GraceLink series: grace, worship, community, and service.
Have you ever felt misunderstood by a friend or family member? Did it seem as if you just couldn’t communicate?What might have happened if you had spoken “the truthin love?"
Do you have any brothers or sisters? How well do you get along with each other? What happens at your housewhen family members disagree or are treated unfairly?
Suppose you are invited to your best friend’s birthday party and you know exactly what gift to get for the birthday. It would take some effort to get (even though it wouldn’t cost a lot), but it would show how much you care for the friendship. Or you coul
Have you ever done something that turned out bad? Have you ever wished you could change something you did back to the way it was before? That’s how Adam and Eve felt. Try to picture what may have happened on the day when they made the worst choice of thei
Why do you like vacations? What would your life be like if you never stopped to rest? Try to picture what the first Sabbath Adam and Eve spent with God in the Garden of Eden might have been like.
Have you ever wondered what Adam and Eve felt like on their first day of life? They didn’t start out as babieslike the rest of us, but as fully grown adults. How did they know how to talk? How did they know what wordsmeant or how to describe feeling hungr
Imagine you know that something bad is going to happen in your neighborhood. You know that if people follow some very simple rules, they will be safe. What would you do? God knows that sin is destroyingthe world. He has given a specialgift of prophecy to
When was the last time you thought of God as you spent time in nature? What are some lessons you learned from nature and the Bible about God? Nature and the Bible reveal countless proofs of God’s love for us. Let’s listen in on a conversation.
Stand up and stretch as high and as wide as you can. How does that feel? Imagine what it would feel like if you were chained and not able to stretch or move freely. Paul was in that situation. Many others may have felt depressed in such conditions, but Pa
If you could go to the mailbox and find a letter from anyone you know, who would it be? Why? While in prison Paul remembered his missionary travels andtireless work to win Jews and Gentiles alike for Jesus. During his ministry Paul had worked closely with
Have you ever had to give a talk infront of your class or read something in church? Imagine that you had to stand in front of an angry mob and tell them why you loved Jesus. How do you think you would feel? Would you trust that God would let you know what
Imagine you are on a journey to see some old friends. You are really looking forward to seeing them. On your journey you hear that you will be in danger when you reach your destination. Would you continue with your journey or put it offuntil another time?
Imagine you have just come in first placein a national competition. How do youfeel? Everyone wants to congratulateyou, and reporters want to talk to you.How easy do you think it would be to rememberthose people who helped trainyou and supported you? In ou
Have you ever tried to explain your belief in God to someone else? When? Have you ever felt embarrassed or frightened because you were a Christian? How can you follow Jesus and serve others in spite of the prejudice they may have towardyou? A story from P
Do you find it difficult to love some people? Have you ever read 1 Corinthians 13 and wondered how you could have the love described by Paul? Do you think it’s even possible? Let’s read about Tina and her family to see how the qualities describedin this c
Isn’t it fun to get something in the mail? Who is the favorite person you like to receive mail from? Today in our story Titus gets a special letter from Paul. Let’s find out what it said.
Have you ever had an argument with someone in your family? How did you feel afterward? What if bad feelings from an argument are allowed to fester? Jesus wants us to live at peace with all the members of our family at home and in the church. Paul gives us
Have you noticed how easy it is to feel at home with others who believe the same as you do? Take a journey back in time and picture Paul with your mind’s eye as he travels, makes friends, and shares with others his faith in Jesus.
Have you ever felt lonely? Have you ever wished you had someone with you when you had to face difficult circumstances? While on earth Jesus had a Friend and Helper like that, and the same Friend andHelper wants to be part of your life as well. Some events
Think of some exciting news you have had to tell. Whatmade the news so exciting? Whom did you want to tellfirst?
Recall a time when you felt let down by your closestfriends. Or a time you felt totally alone and that no onecared about you. Jesus felt like that in our lesson today,but He discovered that even when He felt like that Godwas with Him and cared about Him.
How would you feel if you offered to help someone inneed and they were rude in return? Would you help themanyway? How do you think that following Jesus’ examplewould lead you to do some unexpected things?
What is your first reaction when asked to help someoneelse? Are you immediately willing, or do you want toknow how much work it will be? Does your responsedepend on who is asking for help? Imagine Peter andJohn’s responses.
Have you ever played Simon says or follow the leader?How easy is it to follow all the time? When Jesus came tothis earth, He served others and invited His followers toplay follow the leader by following His example.
Have you ever felt someone was always out to get you?What did you do about it? Have you wished you werestrong enough to put them in their place? Jesus hadanother idea.
Whom do you know that moved into your neighborhoodwho did not seem to fit in? How might that feel? How dosome students at your school dress or talk differently fromyou? How do you treat them? Jesus gave us an entirelynew definition for the word “neighbor”
Think of your best friend. What makes them laugh? Whatmakes them mad? What makes them happy? When youknow someone very well, you know how they think andact. You even begin to think and act like them.
When have you been so excited about something you just had to run and tell your best friend? What have you heard about that you really thought your friends ought to hear too, but weren’t sure how to tell them?
Have you ever waited to hear from a friend who had moved to another city? Perhaps you heard about them from others, but waited anxiously to hear from them personally. Did you begin to doubt their friendship?
Have you ever waited to hear from a friend who had moved to another city? Perhaps you heard about them from others, but waited anxiously to hear from them personally. Did you begin to doubt their friendship?
Imagine what John the Baptist might have said to share the reason for his simple lifestyle with someone your age.
HHave you ever been confused over what someone was trying to say? It sounded important. It sounded right, but you just needed to think about it for a while. Imagine a young man asking John the Baptist about his message.
A piano recital, public speaking, jumping off the high dive at a pool. Do these things make you think of sweaty palms and butterfly stomachs? We all have to take risks sometimes. But Jesus took the greatest risk of all.
How would you feel if your family planned to move to a place where you had never been before? Scared, excited, or both? This week we’ll learn about some people who made a big move during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah.
Think about a time you were away from home and were eager to get back. Maybe it was a week at summer camp or just a couple nights staying with a friend. Imagine what it would be like to be away from home for 70 yearn
You have always had questions. Why? Why? Why? Your parents may even have told you they didn’t want to hear the word “why” again. Habakkuk had questions too. When He asked God his questions, he found good reasons to trust Him.Habakkuk the prophet was trou
Have you ever attended a weeklong camp meeting? Interesting speakers and meaningful meetings take place. You see old friends, learn new songs, and discover new things about God. Hezekiah invites his kingdom to a sort of camp meeting where a revival among
Does your mom or dad ever get after you to clean your room? Is it a mess, with dirty clothes lying on the floor, piles of things you are “saving,” schoolbooks stacked up, your bed unmade? If it is, you can relate to the condition of the Temple before a ne
You may have heard countless offering appeals and pleas for more money to support the church budget. Well, this Bible story is about an offering appeal. The building of the Temple was in a state of utter disrepair. How did this congregation respond?
Family members are supposed to love and protect each other, right? Aunt Jehosheba showed love for her family when she rescued her nephew, Joash, who grew up to become a king.
Have you ever been, or seen anyone, “frozen with fear”? Many times we need to stand as still as if we were frozen in order for God to fight our battle and win the victory for us. A long time ago an entire army won a battle that way, just by standing still
Have there ever been times in your life you were not sure what you should do? Where did you seek help? One thing for sure, it doesn’t help to talk to someone who has already died. The Bible tells us the dead don’t know anything.
Have you ever met someone whom you felt could see inside you? Do you like what you see when you look inside yourself? Imagine David, the youngest of a large family.
Have you ever been frustrated because “bad guys” seemed to be in charge and “good guys” just stood around and did nothing? Have you ever wondered what God wanted you to do about it? Sometimes God asks us to wait, but sometimes He asks us to act in faith.
Have you ever chosen to be silent rather than to sing the hymns in church? Have you ever kept your eyes open during prayer or distracted others from listening to the sermon? How do your choices affect your ability to truly worship God?
Have you ever felt so sad you thought your heart would break? Or ever been so upset that you couldn’t stop crying? In this story a woman felt just that way. Thankfully, she was able to find a solution by talking to God about it.
Have you ever noticed the faraway look in the eyes of your grandparents when they start telling stories of long ago? This must have been the look that the old man Joshua had on his face as he began reminding the people of God’s care through the years he h
People are so different! Some of your friends love nothing more than being outside; other friends are more quiet. Most of the time our differences make our friendships more interesting. Sometimes, however, those differences lead to trouble.
Can you remember wanting something for a long time, and then finally getting it? Maybe it was a bicycle, a computer, a pet, or a brother or sister. It is the most precious thing you have. Now, can you imagine how you would feel if you were asked to give i
If you watch the TV news on just about any night, you’ll probably hear a story about the Middle East. This is not a new conflict. The people in the Middle East have been fighting for a long time—about 4,000 years, to be exact. Much of the conflict goes ba
Do you have a little brother or sister? If so, how did you feel when your parents told you that a baby would be added to your family? Did it seem like a long time before the baby was born? Were you very excited? Abraham and Sarah were even more excited wh
Waiting. It’s such a hard thing to do. Wait for Christmas. Wait for your birthday. Wait till school’s out. Wait till you can drive. “Be patient,” your parents say. That’s because parents know that the results of impatience are usually a disaster.
Have you ever had a hurtful argument? How did you feel? When there is conflict, someone usually gets hurt. Abraham discovered one way to avoid conflict. Imagine how it happened.
Has anyone ever said to you, “You look just like . . . ?” Have you ever thought that it is more than looks that get passed on from one generation to the next? Faith and family customs are also passed on from one generation to the next.
Last week we learned about the terrible final scenes of the great controversy. Satan, sin, and sinners will be finally destroyed. Then the earth will be re-created to be the home for God’s people. Let’s take a look at what life will be like in the earth
Last week we explored a little about what life will be like during the time of the millennium after Jesus comes again. This week we will learn what will happen as the millennium comes to an end.
Would you like to live in heaven with Jesus for 1,000 years? The millennium is the first 1,000 years we’ll spend in heaven with Jesus. Let’s explore the millennium and what will be happening during that time with the Bible as our guide.
Would you like to live to witness the second coming of Jesus and then go to heaven to be with Him? Stop and think for a few moments about that glorious event, when you will see Jesus face to face. What can you do right now to prepare for His coming?
Imagine that you are in a courtroom and you are on trial. The judge and the jury have to weigh the evidence and decide whether or not you are guilty. How would you feel if you were convicted of a violation of the law? How would you respond if your lawyer
When the apostle John and Ellen Harmon had their visions of heaven, do you think they wondered who would be there: who would be prepared to enter and become citizens of God’s kingdom?
Have you ever dreamed of a new house, or a room of your own? What color would it be? What would be in it? Can you imagine Jesus designing a place just for you?
“Oh, another dreary day. Nothing exciting is going to happen.” When was the last time you felt like that? John the disciple probably did on the island of Patmos. But something exciting did happen one day—he saw a vision of heaven and the new earth! Imagin
Remember Cleopas and his friend who met Jesus on the road to Emmaus? Remember how excited they were to hear Him explain all the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah?
Have you ever cried yourself to sleep, only to wake up in the morning filled with hope?
Is it possible to trust God so much that you can forget about your troubles and show love and compassion to another person?
Have you ever been on a long car trip and wanted to stay awake to help the person driving not get sleepy? if you had a hard time staying awake, then perhaps you understand the experience of Jesus' disciples when He needed them most.
When have you been part of a cheering crowd at a sporting event? How did it feel to be part of a group with the same goal—the winning of your favorite players? Jesus knew it was good to be part of a united team.
“I love to play soccer.” “I love mangoes.” “I love my dog. “I love my mom.” We use “love” in all kinds of ways. But love goes much deeper than really liking a favorite sport or food. Through His life and death Jesus gave us a perfect example of what true
Do you get along with everyone? Have you ever wished that you could show sympathy, love, and kindness to everyone, just like Jesus?
Have you ever been at an event during which someone has done something very unexpected?
Have you ever wondered what forgiveness means and how much you need to forgive? The disciples wondered about such things too, so Jesus answered their question by telling them a parable.
Perhaps you have been a Christian all your life. Your parents have taken you to Sabbath School and church regularly. You know many Bible memory verses and Scripture songs. You love Jesus very much. But now someone is asking you why you believe Jesus is th
Think of a time you wanted something badly but thought you might never get it because someone was prejudiced against you. Today’s story is about a woman who had that experience.
When have you asked for something on someone else’s behalf? Have you ever saved someone’s life? Your life may have a greater impact on others’ lives than you may think. Read on to discover how an “unbeliever’s” faith saved a friend’s life.
Think of a time you made a request for something that you were hopeful you would get. The father in this story went to Jesus hopeful that the Great Healer might heal his son. Let’s read about how Jesus’ miraculous healing of the royal official’s son stren
Would you like to experience lasting joy and real fulfillment? Would you like to feel blessed even when people are unfair to you? Let’s look at Jesus’ secret to how this is possible.
When was the last time someone thanked you? It felt good, didn’t it? It probably made you smile to know that something you said or did blessed someone else.age.
Have you ever felt pressured into doingsomething that you did not want to do?Then you will understand how Daniel’sthree friends felt when the king and allthe city bowed down to a golden imageand they refused.
Have you heard the saying “If you talk the talk, you’d better walk the walk”? Our story this week looks at the life of King Solomon. Did his talk match his walk? (See 1 Kings 10:1-13; Prophets and Kings, pp. 66-68)
Do you remember a time your family got some new furniture? Here’s a story about two families. One had a special piece of furniture for many years, and the other had the same piece of furniture for only three months.
When have you had to deal with difficultpeople? You want to help them, but theydon’t seem to want to help themselves.For any variety of reasons you may facechallenges. Let’s see how Joshua, Caleb,and Moses faced the challenges of leadinga stubborn, unfait
When have you felt called by God to dosomething that required you to be morebrave than you felt? Maybe it was somethingsmall, but it still required courageon your part. Imagine being asked to bea spy.
Have you ever been a part of buildinga church? Are you a part of the worshipthat goes on inside your church? In whatway?
When was the last time anyone tried topick on you for no reason? Have you everseen a bully picking on someone justbecause they were weaker? When hasanyone made fun of you because youlove and serve God?
Have you ever been on a campout oron a journey where there were no shops?How would you feel if you started runningout of food and water? Would youpanic, or trust God to provide for you?
Think of a time you were really afraid.When have you ever felt that you were allalone and there was no one to help you?Remember when you prayed and weresurprised by the answer to your prayer?
Think of a time you were sick andcouldn’t go outside for several days.What did it feel like to have to stay insideyour house all that time? How did youfeel when you finally felt well enoughto go to school or outside to play? Aftermany months inside the ar
Debbie’s parents divorced when she was6. All her life she’d gone to church—sometimes with her mom, sometimeswith her dad, because they had differentfaiths. Most of the time, however, hermom just didn’t go to church. After afew years both her parents remar
Have you ever tried to make a modelor follow a pattern and the instructionshave not been very clear? How did youfeel? When God asked Noah to buildan ark, Noah didn’t have any problemfollowing God’s plan.
Do you remember feeling terrified ofbeing left alone, or afraid on the firstday of school? Or do you rememberwhen you were scared to jump into deepwater? Or scared to try something new?If so, you have experienced separationanxiety.
Close your eyes and picture the mostbeautiful rainbow you have ever seen.Keep that picture in your mind as youread what happened to John as the HolySpirit took him through the open doorinto heaven.
Have you ever been traveling along aroad thinking you were going in the rightdirection and then found that you weregoing in the totally wrong direction?That is exactly the experience of one ofthe churches in our lesson today.
Imagine that you are at the OlympicGames and have just won the 100-meterrace. You are standing on the winner’spodium listening to cheering crowds. Inreal life you may not win the Olympics,but if you follow the guidelines God hasfor your life, you will alw
Have you ever been in a totally darkplace, perhaps deep in a cave or in adark room? Is that someplace you’dwant to spend a lot of time? How canyour life of service shine brightly to thepeople around you?
Have you ever dreamed about being amissionary pilot, or a missionary doctor,or a teacher? There are many ways youcould serve as a missionary today. Let’sdiscover more.
Have you ever thought about runningaway from home? Onesimus was in thatposition. He had run away from his masterand was a poor, hungry fugitive whenhe met Paul.
Imagine what it would be like if you hadno choice about when you got up in themorning, no choice about what you ate,where you went, or what you did? Howdo you think you would feel? That wasjust what it was like to be a slave in Bibletimes.
Have you ever helped repair something?Did it look OK when it was mended?Isaiah says that we are repairers of awall when we show kindness to others.Imagine this conversation between a fatherand his son in biblical times.
Imagine what it would be like to have afriend who was always there, no matterwhere you were, what happened, or howyou felt. This friend would encourageyou, help you, and show you the rightthing to do. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?Jesus promised everyone who
Have you ever known someone whoneeded to share someone else’s home fora while? Have you ever been in that position?Jesus’ mother was in that positionwhen He died. Jesus’ beloved disciple,John, opened his home and took her in.
Have you ever been persuaded to dosomething that you think will be awfuland then afterward you were really gladthat you did it? That was just the situationSimon found himself in.
Did you hear about the man in NewYork City who offers to sell the BrooklynBridge to a rich tourist? When the touristcan’t decide if he wants to buy, the manadds the Titanic to the deal! Of course,it’s a hoax. Doubters say the resurrectionis a hoax too. Ye
Have you ever put your faith in afriend and felt sure that that personwould come through for you? Howdid you feel when the person let youdown? Would you trust that personagain? Mary and Martha knew theirfriend so well that they trusted Hislove—even when H
Have you ever experienced the deathof someone you loved dearly? Did youturn to Jesus for comfort? Even when wecan’t understand why He is allowing usto go through the pain, we can trust thatHe has a plan, and we can focus on Hispower.
Everyone has some friends who saylighthearted things that are easy tounderstand. But there are other friendswho are deep thinkers. When thesefriends say something, you sometimesend up scratching your head becauseyou are not sure what they mean. Jesuswas o
Think back to when you were learning toride a bicycle. Did you manage it the firsttime? No? Some things take time to learnto do. In the same way we need to practiceusing our talents. The more we practicethe better we will be and the more wecan do to serve
Have you ever been so caught up insomething that you forgot all about thetime? You were so engrossed that youforgot to eat anything, and suddenly yourealized how hungry you were. That isjust what happened to a crowd of peopleone day as they were listening
Have you ever had the measles orchicken pox and were so sick that youthought you would never get well?Maybe no one came to see you for fearthat they might catch whatever you had.Maybe you went to a hospital for a longtime. Can you imagine what it wouldbe
Has a friend ever awakened you whenyou were in a deep sleep or interruptedyou when you were working on animportant assignment? How did yourespond? Jesus told a story about sucha situation. Imagine it happened like this.
Have you ever heard a sermon so radical that it made you want to change right away, but it made other people angry?Many in Jesus’ audience had that experience as He finished telling them about the invisible kingdom. Imagine again one of the boys your age
Has anyone ever said anything to youthat made you think differently than you had ever thought before? How did that change your life? Imagine a boy your age being on the mountainside and listening to Jesus.
Have you ever heard a sermon so radical that it made you want to change right away, but it made other people angry?Many in Jesus’ audience had that experience as He finished telling them about the invisible kingdom. Imagine again one of the boys your age
Has anyone ever said anything to youthat made you think differently than you had ever thought before? How did that change your life? Imagine a boy your age being on the mountainside and listening to Jesus.
Have you ever listened to someonetalk about something they did that was very important to them, and caught their enthusiasm? Maybe you said to yourself, I want to do that too someday. Jesus wants each of us to follow His example in bringing the good news
If you have ever doubted that you belong in your family, you may be surprised to learn that Jesus knows how that feels.In this lesson Jesus and the apostle John help set the story straight about family—forever.
Did you ever wonder what to do or which way to go? How helpful would it have been to have had a guide? Inthis story, several people received guidance from God. Try to picture their experiences...
Think of a time you heard some really good news. How hard was it to keep it to yourself? How did you share itwith your friends and family? Read on to find out how angels and shepherds shared the good news they heard.When you have finished the story, think
Think of a time you have been disappointed when plans you made didn’t work out. You might then understand how Joseph felt when he discovered that Mary didn’t appear to be the girl of his dreams. Let’s imagine their conversation.
Think of a time you have been disappointed when plans you made didn’t work out. You might then understand how Joseph felt when he discovered that Mary didn’t appear to be the girl of his dreams. Let’s imagine their conversation.
Think of a time you were chosen for something special. How did you feel? Today in our lesson God sends anangel to tell Mary that He has chosen her above all others to be the mother of His Son. Think of how Mary musthave felt when the angel appeared to her
Imagine yourself being selected to serve as an elder in your local church. How would you handle church members who are not willing to serve God? Let’s find out how “Elder” Nehemiah handled the problems he faced.
Has anyone ever poked fun at you for doing what was right or tried to force you to stop doing it? Have you everfelt discouraged and wanted to give up? That is just how some of the Jews and Nehemiah felt when they were rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem.
Think about a fire drill. Do you think that all the details and practices were a waste of time? Anyone who hasescaped alive from a fire probably doesn’t feel that way about having a well-rehearsed plan to avoid disaster.Let’s continue to visualize Nehemia
Have you ever felt that you had messed up so badly that things would never be the same again? Did you wonder if there was any hope for the future? Elijah ran from God, asked to die, but ended up going to heaven in special transportation sent just for him.
Have you ever stood next to a busy highway or a building site where there were lots of noisy machines? How easy was it to talk to someone? Did you need to shout or whis- per? Elijah discovered God’s power in both the powerful, loud events and the still, q
Have you ever prayed for something and not gotten an answer right away? That happened to Elijah right after he had experienced an instant answer to prayer—when fire came down from heaven on Mount Carmel. This time, however, he prayed seven times before he
Have you ever had questions about something and then had it proved to you beyond the shadow of a doubt?That’s exactly what God did for the people of Israel, to turn their hearts back to worshipping Him.
What is the longest time you can remember without rain? A week? A month? A couple of months? A year?Close your eyes and imagine what it would be like if no rain came for three years. That is just the situation thatthe people of Israel were facing in the d
Who is your favorite relative? Why is that person special to you? What common interests do you have? What is your favorite memory of that person?
Did you ever have a bad habit that you wished you could break? Did you notice that the more you thought about it, the more it seemed to control you? You may have already discovered that once you admitted to God that you couldn’t handle it by yourself, He
Think of a time a tough situation made you wonder how much God loved you. Maybe it was a hard time at school or in your own home. Joshua faced a rather large problem too.
Have you ever watched the winning team at school and wished you could be a part of it? Did you feel as if you justweren’t special enough to be on it? Can you imagine the feeling of having the captain come up to you and say, "Hey, I want you on my team?"
Do you know someone who has done something so bad to you that you think you could never forgive them? You would rather just ignore them than have to face them.You avoid them and can’t even look at them when you pass by them. How do you think Joseph felt w
Have you ever promised someone that you would do something for them and then forgotten all about it? What happened? Did that person ever forgive you?
Have you ever been going along, minding your own business, trying to be accepted, getting your work done, and keeping out of trouble, when someone started bothering you and asking you to do something you knew was wrong? Did it almost seem easier to go alo
Have you ever felt misunderstood by a friend or family member? Did it seem as if you just couldn’t communicate?What might have happened if you had spoken “the truthin love?"
Do you have any brothers or sisters? How well do you get along with each other? What happens at your housewhen family members disagree or are treated unfairly?
Suppose you are invited to your best friend’s birthday party and you know exactly what gift to get for the birthday. It would take some effort to get (even though it wouldn’t cost a lot), but it would show how much you care for the friendship. Or you coul
Have you ever done something that turned out bad? Have you ever wished you could change something you did back to the way it was before? That’s how Adam and Eve felt. Try to picture what may have happened on the day when they made the worst choice of thei
Why do you like vacations? What would your life be like if you never stopped to rest? Try to picture what the first Sabbath Adam and Eve spent with God in the Garden of Eden might have been like.
Have you ever wondered what Adam and Eve felt like on their first day of life? They didn’t start out as babieslike the rest of us, but as fully grown adults. How did they know how to talk? How did they know what wordsmeant or how to describe feeling hungr
Imagine you know that something bad is going to happen in your neighborhood. You know that if people follow some very simple rules, they will be safe. What would you do? God knows that sin is destroyingthe world. He has given a specialgift of prophecy to
When was the last time you thought of God as you spent time in nature? What are some lessons you learned from nature and the Bible about God? Nature and the Bible reveal countless proofs of God’s love for us. Let’s listen in on a conversation.
Stand up and stretch as high and as wide as you can. How does that feel? Imagine what it would feel like if you were chained and not able to stretch or move freely. Paul was in that situation. Many others may have felt depressed in such conditions, but Pa
If you could go to the mailbox and find a letter from anyone you know, who would it be? Why? While in prison Paul remembered his missionary travels andtireless work to win Jews and Gentiles alike for Jesus. During his ministry Paul had worked closely with
Have you ever had to give a talk infront of your class or read something in church? Imagine that you had to stand in front of an angry mob and tell them why you loved Jesus. How do you think you would feel? Would you trust that God would let you know what
Imagine you are on a journey to see some old friends. You are really looking forward to seeing them. On your journey you hear that you will be in danger when you reach your destination. Would you continue with your journey or put it offuntil another time?
Imagine you have just come in first placein a national competition. How do youfeel? Everyone wants to congratulateyou, and reporters want to talk to you.How easy do you think it would be to rememberthose people who helped trainyou and supported you? In ou
Have you ever tried to explain your belief in God to someone else? When? Have you ever felt embarrassed or frightened because you were a Christian? How can you follow Jesus and serve others in spite of the prejudice they may have towardyou? A story from P
Do you find it difficult to love some people? Have you ever read 1 Corinthians 13 and wondered how you could have the love described by Paul? Do you think it’s even possible? Let’s read about Tina and her family to see how the qualities describedin this c
Isn’t it fun to get something in the mail? Who is the favorite person you like to receive mail from? Today in our story Titus gets a special letter from Paul. Let’s find out what it said.
Have you ever had an argument with someone in your family? How did you feel afterward? What if bad feelings from an argument are allowed to fester? Jesus wants us to live at peace with all the members of our family at home and in the church. Paul gives us
Have you noticed how easy it is to feel at home with others who believe the same as you do? Take a journey back in time and picture Paul with your mind’s eye as he travels, makes friends, and shares with others his faith in Jesus.
Have you ever felt lonely? Have you ever wished you had someone with you when you had to face difficult circumstances? While on earth Jesus had a Friend and Helper like that, and the same Friend andHelper wants to be part of your life as well. Some events
Think of some exciting news you have had to tell. Whatmade the news so exciting? Whom did you want to tellfirst?
Recall a time when you felt let down by your closestfriends. Or a time you felt totally alone and that no onecared about you. Jesus felt like that in our lesson today,but He discovered that even when He felt like that Godwas with Him and cared about Him.
How would you feel if you offered to help someone inneed and they were rude in return? Would you help themanyway? How do you think that following Jesus’ examplewould lead you to do some unexpected things?
What is your first reaction when asked to help someoneelse? Are you immediately willing, or do you want toknow how much work it will be? Does your responsedepend on who is asking for help? Imagine Peter andJohn’s responses.
Have you ever played Simon says or follow the leader?How easy is it to follow all the time? When Jesus came tothis earth, He served others and invited His followers toplay follow the leader by following His example.
Have you ever felt someone was always out to get you?What did you do about it? Have you wished you werestrong enough to put them in their place? Jesus hadanother idea.
Whom do you know that moved into your neighborhoodwho did not seem to fit in? How might that feel? How dosome students at your school dress or talk differently fromyou? How do you treat them? Jesus gave us an entirelynew definition for the word “neighbor”
Think of your best friend. What makes them laugh? Whatmakes them mad? What makes them happy? When youknow someone very well, you know how they think andact. You even begin to think and act like them.
When have you been so excited about something you just had to run and tell your best friend? What have you heard about that you really thought your friends ought to hear too, but weren’t sure how to tell them?
Have you ever waited to hear from a friend who had moved to another city? Perhaps you heard about them from others, but waited anxiously to hear from them personally. Did you begin to doubt their friendship?
Have you ever waited to hear from a friend who had moved to another city? Perhaps you heard about them from others, but waited anxiously to hear from them personally. Did you begin to doubt their friendship?
Imagine what John the Baptist might have said to share the reason for his simple lifestyle with someone your age.
HHave you ever been confused over what someone was trying to say? It sounded important. It sounded right, but you just needed to think about it for a while. Imagine a young man asking John the Baptist about his message.
What do you think when you look at your baby pictures or book and see some gifts that people gave you before you were even born? Perhaps your mom has even saved a few of those gifts. Did you know God gave you a gift, a priceless gift, even before you were
What was something you studied in school that was particularly difficult to understand? And then, one day, a friend or a special teacher explained it so clearly that you could never forget it? That is what happened when God the Son became a human baby and
A piano recital, public speaking, jumping off the high dive at a pool. Do these things make you think of sweaty palms and butterfly stomachs? We all have to take risks sometimes. But Jesus took the greatest risk of all.
Has anyone ever slowed you down when you were excited about a project? How did you handle that person? To learn more about how the Israelites responded to challenges during the time the Temple was rebuilt in Jerusalem, read this Bible story.
How would you feel if your family planned to move to a place where you had never been before? Scared, excited, or both? This week we’ll learn about some people who made a big move during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah.
Think about a time you were away from home and were eager to get back. Maybe it was a week at summer camp or just a couple nights staying with a friend. Imagine what it would be like to be away from home for 70 yearn
You have always had questions. Why? Why? Why? Your parents may even have told you they didn’t want to hear the word “why” again. Habakkuk had questions too. When He asked God his questions, he found good reasons to trust Him. Habakkuk the prophet was trou
Have you ever attended a weeklong camp meeting? Interesting speakers and meaningful meetings take place. You see old friends, learn new songs, and discover new things about God. Hezekiah invites his kingdom to a sort of camp meeting where a revival among
Does your mom or dad ever get after you to clean your room? Is it a mess, with dirty clothes lying on the floor, piles of things you are “saving,” schoolbooks stacked up, your bed unmade? If it is, you can relate to the condition of the Temple before a ne
You may have heard countless offering appeals and pleas for more money to support the church budget. Well, this Bible story is about an offering appeal. The building of the Temple was in a state of utter disrepair. How did this congregation respond?
Family members are supposed to love and protect each other, right? Aunt Jehosheba showed love for her family when she rescued her nephew, Joash, who grew up to become a king.
Have you ever been, or seen anyone, “frozen with fear”? Many times we need to stand as still as if we were frozen in order for God to fight our battle and win the victory for us. A long time ago an entire army won a battle that way, just by standing still
Have there ever been times in your life you were not sure what you should do? Where did you seek help? One thing for sure, it doesn’t help to talk to someone who has already died. The Bible tells us the dead don’t know anything.
Have you ever met someone whom you felt could see inside you? Do you like what you see when you look inside yourself? Imagine David, the youngest of a large family.
Have you ever been frustrated because “bad guys” seemed to be in charge and “good guys” just stood around and did nothing? Have you ever wondered what God wanted you to do about it? Sometimes God asks us to wait, but sometimes He asks us to act in faith.
Have you ever chosen to be silent rather than to sing the hymns in church? Have you ever kept your eyes open during prayer or distracted others from listening to the sermon? How do your choices affect your ability to truly worship God?
Have you ever felt so sad you thought your heart would break? Or ever been so upset that you couldn’t stop crying? In this story a woman felt just that way. Thankfully, she was able to find a solution by talking to God about it.
Have you ever noticed the faraway look in the eyes of your grandparents when they start telling stories of long ago? This must have been the look that the old man Joshua had on his face as he began reminding the people of God’s care through the years he h
People are so different! Some of your friends love nothing more than being outside; other friends are more quiet. Most of the time our differences make our friendships more interesting. Sometimes, however, those differences lead to trouble.
Can you remember wanting something for a long time, and then finally getting it? Maybe it was a bicycle, a computer, a pet, or a brother or sister. It is the most precious thing you have. Now, can you imagine how you would feel if you were asked to give i
If you watch the TV news on just about any night, you’ll probably hear a story about the Middle East. This is not a new conflict. The people in the Middle East have been fighting for a long time—about 4,000 years, to be exact. Much of the conflict goes ba
Do you have a little brother or sister? If so, how did you feel when your parents told you that a baby would be added to your family? Did it seem like a long time before the baby was born? Were you very excited? Abraham and Sarah were even more excited wh
Waiting. It’s such a hard thing to do. Wait for Christmas. Wait for your birthday. Wait till school’s out. Wait till you can drive. “Be patient,” your parents say. That’s because parents know that the results of impatience are usually a disaster.
Have you ever had a hurtful argument? How did you feel? When there is conflict, someone usually gets hurt. Abraham discovered one way to avoid conflict. Imagine how it happened.
Has anyone ever said to you, “You look just like . . . ?” Have you ever thought that it is more than looks that get passed on from one generation to the next? Faith and family customs are also passed on from one generation to the next.
Last week we learned about the terrible final scenes of the great controversy. Satan, sin, and sinners will be finally destroyed. Then the earth will be re-created to be the home for God’s people. Let’s take a look at what life will be like in the earth
Last week we explored a little about what life will be like during the time of the millennium after Jesus comes again. This week we will learn what will happen as the millennium comes to an end.
Would you like to live in heaven with Jesus for 1,000 years? The millennium is the first 1,000 years we’ll spend in heaven with Jesus. Let’s explore the millennium and what will be happening during that time with the Bible as our guide.
Would you like to live to witness the second coming of Jesus and then go to heaven to be with Him? Stop and think for a few moments about that glorious event, when you will see Jesus face to face. What can you do right now to prepare for His coming?
Imagine that you are in a courtroom and you are on trial. The judge and the jury have to weigh the evidence and decide whether or not you are guilty. How would you feel if you were convicted of a violation of the law? How would you respond if your lawyer
When the apostle John and Ellen Harmon had their visions of heaven, do you think they wondered who would be there: who would be prepared to enter and become citizens of God’s kingdom?
Have you ever dreamed of a new house, or a room of your own? What color would it be? What would be in it? Can you imagine Jesus designing a place just for you?
“Oh, another dreary day. Nothing exciting is going to happen.” When was the last time you felt like that? John the disciple probably did on the island of Patmos. But something exciting did happen one day—he saw a vision of heaven and the new earth! Imagin
Remember Cleopas and his friend who met Jesus on the road to Emmaus? Remember how excited they were to hear Him explain all the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah?
Have you ever cried yourself to sleep, only to wake up in the morning filled with hope?
Is it possible to trust God so much that you can forget about your troubles and show love and compassion to another person?
Have you ever been on a long car trip and wanted to stay awake to help the person driving not get sleepy? if you had a hard time staying awake, then perhaps you understand the experience of Jesus' disciples when He needed them most.
When have you been part of a cheering crowd at a sporting event? How did it feel to be part of a group with the same goal—the winning of your favorite players? Jesus knew it was good to be part of a united team.
“I love to play soccer.” “I love mangoes.” “I love my dog. “I love my mom.” We use “love” in all kinds of ways. But love goes much deeper than really liking a favorite sport or food. Through His life and death Jesus gave us a perfect example of what true
Do you get along with everyone? Have you ever wished that you could show sympathy, love, and kindness to everyone, just like Jesus?
Have you ever been at an event during which someone has done something very unexpected?
Have you ever wondered what forgiveness means and how much you need to forgive? The disciples wondered about such things too, so Jesus answered their question by telling them a parable.
Perhaps you have been a Christian all your life. Your parents have taken you to Sabbath School and church regularly. You know many Bible memory verses and Scripture songs. You love Jesus very much. But now someone is asking you why you believe Jesus is th
Think of a time you wanted something badly but thought you might never get it because someone was prejudiced against you. Today’s story is about a woman who had that experience.
When have you asked for something on someone else’s behalf? Have you ever saved someone’s life? Your life may have a greater impact on others’ lives than you may think. Read on to discover how an “unbeliever’s” faith saved a friend’s life.
Think of a time you made a request for something that you were hopeful you would get. The father in this story went to Jesus hopeful that the Great Healer might heal his son. Let’s read about how Jesus’ miraculous healing of the royal official’s son stren
Would you like to experience lasting joy and real fulfillment? Would you like to feel blessed even when people are unfair to you? Let’s look at Jesus’ secret to how this is possible.
When was the last time someone thanked you? It felt good, didn’t it? It probably made you smile to know that something you said or did blessed someone else.age.
Have you ever felt pressured into doingsomething that you did not want to do?Then you will understand how Daniel’sthree friends felt when the king and allthe city bowed down to a golden imageand they refused.
When have you had to deal with difficultpeople? You want to help them, but theydon’t seem to want to help themselves.For any variety of reasons you may facechallenges. Let’s see how Joshua, Caleb,and Moses faced the challenges of leadinga stubborn, unfait
When have you felt called by God to dosomething that required you to be morebrave than you felt? Maybe it was somethingsmall, but it still required courageon your part. Imagine being asked to bea spy.
Have you ever been a part of buildinga church? Are you a part of the worshipthat goes on inside your church? In whatway?
When was the last time anyone tried topick on you for no reason? Have you everseen a bully picking on someone justbecause they were weaker? When hasanyone made fun of you because youlove and serve God?
Have you ever been on a campout oron a journey where there were no shops?How would you feel if you started runningout of food and water? Would youpanic, or trust God to provide for you?
Think of a time you were really afraid.When have you ever felt that you were allalone and there was no one to help you?Remember when you prayed and weresurprised by the answer to your prayer?
Think of a time you were sick andcouldn’t go outside for several days.What did it feel like to have to stay insideyour house all that time? How did youfeel when you finally felt well enoughto go to school or outside to play? Aftermany months inside the ar
Debbie’s parents divorced when she was6. All her life she’d gone to church—sometimes with her mom, sometimeswith her dad, because they had differentfaiths. Most of the time, however, hermom just didn’t go to church. After afew years both her parents remar
Have you ever tried to make a modelor follow a pattern and the instructionshave not been very clear? How did youfeel? When God asked Noah to buildan ark, Noah didn’t have any problemfollowing God’s plan.
Do you remember feeling terrified ofbeing left alone, or afraid on the firstday of school? Or do you rememberwhen you were scared to jump into deepwater? Or scared to try something new?If so, you have experienced separationanxiety.
Close your eyes and picture the mostbeautiful rainbow you have ever seen.Keep that picture in your mind as youread what happened to John as the HolySpirit took him through the open doorinto heaven.
Have you ever been traveling along aroad thinking you were going in the rightdirection and then found that you weregoing in the totally wrong direction?That is exactly the experience of one ofthe churches in our lesson today.
Imagine that you are at the OlympicGames and have just won the 100-meterrace. You are standing on the winner’spodium listening to cheering crowds. Inreal life you may not win the Olympics,but if you follow the guidelines God hasfor your life, you will alw
Have you ever been in a totally darkplace, perhaps deep in a cave or in adark room? Is that someplace you’dwant to spend a lot of time? How canyour life of service shine brightly to thepeople around you?
Have you ever dreamed about being amissionary pilot, or a missionary doctor,or a teacher? There are many ways youcould serve as a missionary today. Let’sdiscover more.
Have you ever thought about runningaway from home? Onesimus was in thatposition. He had run away from his masterand was a poor, hungry fugitive whenhe met Paul.
Imagine what it would be like if you hadno choice about when you got up in themorning, no choice about what you ate,where you went, or what you did? Howdo you think you would feel? That wasjust what it was like to be a slave in Bibletimes.
Have you ever helped repair something?Did it look OK when it was mended?Isaiah says that we are repairers of awall when we show kindness to others.Imagine this conversation between a fatherand his son in biblical times.
Imagine what it would be like to have afriend who was always there, no matterwhere you were, what happened, or howyou felt. This friend would encourageyou, help you, and show you the rightthing to do. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?Jesus promised everyone who
Have you ever known someone whoneeded to share someone else’s home fora while? Have you ever been in that position?Jesus’ mother was in that positionwhen He died. Jesus’ beloved disciple,John, opened his home and took her in.
Have you ever been persuaded to dosomething that you think will be awfuland then afterward you were really gladthat you did it? That was just the situationSimon found himself in.
Imagine one of your friends betrayingyou. Imagine the rest of your friendsrunning away and leaving you to face amob of angry people. Imagine forgivingand encouraging them anyway.
Did you hear about the man in NewYork City who offers to sell the BrooklynBridge to a rich tourist? When the touristcan’t decide if he wants to buy, the manadds the Titanic to the deal! Of course,it’s a hoax. Doubters say the resurrectionis a hoax too. Ye
Have you ever put your faith in afriend and felt sure that that personwould come through for you? Howdid you feel when the person let youdown? Would you trust that personagain? Mary and Martha knew theirfriend so well that they trusted Hislove—even when H
Have you ever experienced the deathof someone you loved dearly? Did youturn to Jesus for comfort? Even when wecan’t understand why He is allowing usto go through the pain, we can trust thatHe has a plan, and we can focus on Hispower.
Everyone has some friends who saylighthearted things that are easy tounderstand. But there are other friendswho are deep thinkers. When thesefriends say something, you sometimesend up scratching your head becauseyou are not sure what they mean. Jesuswas o
Think back to when you were learning toride a bicycle. Did you manage it the firsttime? No? Some things take time to learnto do. In the same way we need to practiceusing our talents. The more we practicethe better we will be and the more wecan do to serve
Have you ever been so caught up insomething that you forgot all about thetime? You were so engrossed that youforgot to eat anything, and suddenly yourealized how hungry you were. That isjust what happened to a crowd of peopleone day as they were listening
Have you ever had the measles orchicken pox and were so sick that youthought you would never get well?Maybe no one came to see you for fearthat they might catch whatever you had.Maybe you went to a hospital for a longtime. Can you imagine what it wouldbe
Has a friend ever awakened you whenyou were in a deep sleep or interruptedyou when you were working on animportant assignment? How did yourespond? Jesus told a story about sucha situation. Imagine it happened like this.
Have you ever heard a sermon so radical that it made you want to change right away, but it made other people angry?Many in Jesus’ audience had that experience as He finished telling them about the invisible kingdom. Imagine again one of the boys your age
Has anyone ever said anything to youthat made you think differently than you had ever thought before? How did that change your life? Imagine a boy your age being on the mountainside and listening to Jesus.
Have you ever listened to someonetalk about something they did that was very important to them, and caught their enthusiasm? Maybe you said to yourself, I want to do that too someday. Jesus wants each of us to follow His example in bringing the good news
If you have ever doubted that you belong in your family, you may be surprised to learn that Jesus knows how that feels.In this lesson Jesus and the apostle John help set the story straight about family—forever.
Did you ever wonder what to do or which way to go? How helpful would it have been to have had a guide? Inthis story, several people received guidance from God. Try to picture their experiences...
Think of a time you heard some really good news. How hard was it to keep it to yourself? How did you share itwith your friends and family? Read on to find out how angels and shepherds shared the good news they heard.When you have finished the story, think
Think of a time you have been disappointed when plans you made didn’t work out. You might then understand how Joseph felt when he discovered that Mary didn’t appear to be the girl of his dreams. Let’s imagine their conversation.
Think of a time you were chosen for something special. How did you feel? Today in our lesson God sends anangel to tell Mary that He has chosen her above all others to be the mother of His Son. Think of how Mary musthave felt when the angel appeared to her
Imagine yourself being selected to serve as an elder in your local church. How would you handle church members who are not willing to serve God? Let’s find out how “Elder” Nehemiah handled the problems he faced.
Has anyone ever poked fun at you for doing what was right or tried to force you to stop doing it? Have you everfelt discouraged and wanted to give up? That is just how some of the Jews and Nehemiah felt when they were rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem.
Think about a fire drill. Do you think that all the details and practices were a waste of time? Anyone who hasescaped alive from a fire probably doesn’t feel that way about having a well-rehearsed plan to avoid disaster.Let’s continue to visualize Nehemia
Living with people you don’t know very well is not easy. Asking for favors from people you don’t know very well is even harder. Our story this week demonstrates how God gives us the power to serve Him and witness for Him no matter how difficult it may be.
Have you ever felt that you had messed up so badly that things would never be the same again? Did you wonder if there was any hope for the future? Elijah ran from God, asked to die, but ended up going to heaven in special transportation sent just for him.
Have you ever stood next to a busy highway or a building site where there were lots of noisy machines? How easy was it to talk to someone? Did you need to shout or whis- per? Elijah discovered God’s power in both the powerful, loud events and the still, q
Have you ever prayed for something and not gotten an answer right away? That happened to Elijah right after he had experienced an instant answer to prayer—when fire came down from heaven on Mount Carmel. This time, however, he prayed seven times before he
Have you ever had questions about something and then had it proved to you beyond the shadow of a doubt?That’s exactly what God did for the people of Israel, to turn their hearts back to worshipping Him.
What is the longest time you can remember without rain? A week? A month? A couple of months? A year?Close your eyes and imagine what it would be like if no rain came for three years. That is just the situation thatthe people of Israel were facing in the d
Who is your favorite relative? Why is that person special to you? What common interests do you have? What is your favorite memory of that person?
Did you ever have a bad habit that you wished you could break? Did you notice that the more you thought about it, the more it seemed to control you? You may have already discovered that once you admitted to God that you couldn’t handle it by yourself, He
Think of a time a tough situation made you wonder how much God loved you. Maybe it was a hard time at school or in your own home. Joshua faced a rather large problem too.
Have you ever watched the winning team at school and wished you could be a part of it? Did you feel as if you justweren’t special enough to be on it? Can you imagine the feeling of having the captain come up to you and say, "Hey, I want you on my team?"
Do you know someone who has done something so bad to you that you think you could never forgive them? You would rather just ignore them than have to face them.You avoid them and can’t even look at them when you pass by them. How do you think Joseph felt w
Have you ever promised someone that you would do something for them and then forgotten all about it? What happened? Did that person ever forgive you?
Have you ever been going along, minding your own business, trying to be accepted, getting your work done, and keeping out of trouble, when someone started bothering you and asking you to do something you knew was wrong? Did it almost seem easier to go alo
Have you ever felt misunderstood by a friend or family member? Did it seem as if you just couldn’t communicate?What might have happened if you had spoken “the truthin love?"
Do you have any brothers or sisters? How well do you get along with each other? What happens at your housewhen family members disagree or are treated unfairly?
Suppose you are invited to your best friend’s birthday party and you know exactly what gift to get for the birthday. It would take some effort to get (even though it wouldn’t cost a lot), but it would show how much you care for the friendship. Or you coul
Have you ever done something that turned out bad? Have you ever wished you could change something you did back to the way it was before? That’s how Adam and Eve felt. Try to picture what may have happened on the day when they made the worst choice of thei
Why do you like vacations? What would your life be like if you never stopped to rest? Try to picture what the first Sabbath Adam and Eve spent with God in the Garden of Eden might have been like.
Have you ever wondered what Adam and Eve felt like on their first day of life? They didn’t start out as babieslike the rest of us, but as fully grown adults. How did they know how to talk? How did they know what wordsmeant or how to describe feeling hungr
Imagine you know that something bad is going to happen in your neighborhood. You know that if people follow some very simple rules, they will be safe. What would you do? God knows that sin is destroyingthe world. He has given a specialgift of prophecy to
When was the last time you thought of God as you spent time in nature? What are some lessons you learned from nature and the Bible about God? Nature and the Bible reveal countless proofs of God’s love for us. Let’s listen in on a conversation.
Stand up and stretch as high and as wide as you can. How does that feel? Imagine what it would feel like if you were chained and not able to stretch or move freely. Paul was in that situation. Many others may have felt depressed in such conditions, but Pa
If you could go to the mailbox and find a letter from anyone you know, who would it be? Why? While in prison Paul remembered his missionary travels andtireless work to win Jews and Gentiles alike for Jesus. During his ministry Paul had worked closely with
Have you ever had to give a talk infront of your class or read something in church? Imagine that you had to stand in front of an angry mob and tell them why you loved Jesus. How do you think you would feel? Would you trust that God would let you know what
Imagine you are on a journey to see some old friends. You are really looking forward to seeing them. On your journey you hear that you will be in danger when you reach your destination. Would you continue with your journey or put it offuntil another time?
Imagine you have just come in first placein a national competition. How do youfeel? Everyone wants to congratulateyou, and reporters want to talk to you.How easy do you think it would be to rememberthose people who helped trainyou and supported you? In ou
Have you ever tried to explain your belief in God to someone else? When? Have you ever felt embarrassed or frightened because you were a Christian? How can you follow Jesus and serve others in spite of the prejudice they may have towardyou? A story from P
Do you find it difficult to love some people? Have you ever read 1 Corinthians 13 and wondered how you could have the love described by Paul? Do you think it’s even possible? Let’s read about Tina and her family to see how the qualities describedin this c
Isn’t it fun to get something in the mail? Who is the favorite person you like to receive mail from? Today in our story Titus gets a special letter from Paul. Let’s find out what it said.
Have you ever had an argument with someone in your family? How did you feel afterward? What if bad feelings from an argument are allowed to fester? Jesus wants us to live at peace with all the members of our family at home and in the church. Paul gives us
Have you noticed how easy it is to feel at home with others who believe the same as you do? Take a journey back in time and picture Paul with your mind’s eye as he travels, makes friends, and shares with others his faith in Jesus.
Have you ever felt lonely? Have you ever wished you had someone with you when you had to face difficult circumstances? While on earth Jesus had a Friend and Helper like that, and the same Friend andHelper wants to be part of your life as well. Some events
HHave you ever tried to talk to someone on the phone, but been interrupted by a bad connection? It’s disappointing. That disappointment is what God feels when He tries to communicate with people whose minds are clouded with harmful substances that interfe
Do you remember a time your family got some new furniture? Here’s a story about two families. One had a special piece of furniture for many years, and the other had the same piece of furniture for only three months.
When have you been part of a cheering crowd at a sporting event? How did it feel to be part of a group with the same goal—the winning of your favorite players? Jesus knew it was good to be part of a united team.
“I love to play soccer.” “I love mangoes.” “I love my dog. “I love my mom.” We use “love” in all kinds of ways. But love goes much deeper than really liking a favorite sport or food. Through His life and death Jesus gave us a perfect example of what true
Do you get along with everyone? Have you ever wished that you could show sympathy, love, and kindness to everyone, just like Jesus?
Have you ever been at an event during which someone has done something very unexpected?
Have you ever wondered what forgiveness means and how much you need to forgive? The disciples wondered about such things too, so Jesus answered their question by telling them a parable.
Perhaps you have been a Christian all your life. Your parents have taken you to Sabbath School and church regularly. You know many Bible memory verses and Scripture songs. You love Jesus very much. But now someone is asking you why you believe Jesus is th
Think of a time you wanted something badly but thought you might never get it because someone was prejudiced against you. Today’s story is about a woman who had that experience.
When have you asked for something on someone else’s behalf? Have you ever saved someone’s life? Your life may have a greater impact on others’ lives than you may think. Read on to discover how an “unbeliever’s” faith saved a friend’s life.
Think of a time you made a request for something that you were hopeful you would get. The father in this story went to Jesus hopeful that the Great Healer might heal his son. Let’s read about how Jesus’ miraculous healing of the royal official’s son stren
Would you like to experience lasting joy and real fulfillment? Would you like to feel blessed even when people are unfair to you? Let’s look at Jesus’ secret to how this is possible.
When was the last time someone thanked you? It felt good, didn’t it? It probably made you smile to know that something you said or did blessed someone else.age.
When have you been so excited about something you justhad to run and tell your best friend? What have you heardabout that you really thought your friends ought to heartoo, but weren’t sure how to tell them?
Marci gave her mom a kitten for Christmas. Not because her mom wanted a kitten. She didn’t. Marci wanted a cat. Matthew gave his older brother a video for his birthday. He knew his brother did not especially like that particular video, but Matthew wanted
What was something you studied in school that was particularly difficult to understand? And then, one day, a friend or a special teacher explained it so clearly that you could never forget it? That is what happened when God the Son became a human baby and
What do you think when you look at your baby pictures or book and see some gifts that people gave you before you were even born? Perhaps your mom has even saved a few of those gifts. Did you know God gave you a gift, a priceless gift, even before you were
Think of a time you wanted something badly, but thought you might never get it because of who you were or of what group of people you were a member. Today’s story is about a woman who had that experience.
When have you asked for something on someone else’s behalf? Have you ever saved someone’s life? Your life may have a greater impact on others’ lives than you may think. Read on to discover how an “unbeliever’s” faith saved a friend’s life.
Think of a time you made a request for something that you weren’t sure you would get. The father in this story wasn’t sure, but he thought Jesus might meet his need. Let’s read about how Jesus’ help made the father’s faith strong.
Whom do you know your own age who is ALWAYS cheerful, obedient, willing to help? When Jesus was young, He was like that. Wouldn’t it be interesting to spend one day with Jesus as a friend your age?
Is there a peacemaker in your family? Someone who steps in when people are having a great debate and things begin to get unpleasant? After Absalom’s death King David found himself in a situation in which he had to be the peacemaker, and it wasn’t easy.
Remember the last time you got lost? Did you stop and ask for directions? Most people do. But some people justdon’t want to follow directions. They think they know a better way. A long time ago Joab, one of King David’sgenerals, thought he did. Was he rig
When your whole family is seated around the dinner table and everyone seems to be talking at once and youwant to say something, what do you do? How do you get their attention? If you thought you had something reallyimportant to say, would you pound on the
When have you wanted something so much that you schemed to get it? You knew it was wrong, but you thought that no one would ever find out. And then you got caught! That's what happened to King David a long time ago.
Being a part of a wedding is fun. The wedding ceremony and reception are great, but what does it take to lead up to that wedding? Ever wonder what it takes to make a lifelong commitment to love someone? It must be like making a lifelong commitment to Jesu
Someday you may hear a guest speaker at your church or school who tells the story of how very bad he was at one time. Maybe he used drugs or was a thief. But then someone told him about Jesus, and he became a Christian and changed his ways. While the pers
Do you remember a time your family got some new furniture? Here's a story about two families, one who had a special piece of furniture for many years and another who had the same piece of furniture for only three months.
Have you ever noticed the faraway look in the eyes of your grandparents when they start telling stories of long ago? This must have been the look that the old man Joshua had on his face as he began reminding the people of God's care through the years he h
People are so different! Some of your friends love nothing more than being outside, other friends are more quiet. Most of the time our differences make our friendships more interesting. Sometimes, however, those differences lead to trouble.
Have you ever had someone steal something that belonged to you? Do you remember how angry you were? How powerless you were to do anything about it? And probably the last thing on your mind was how to be kind to that person. Let's imagine that happening wh
Everyone has some friends who say lighthearted things that are easy to understand. But there are other friends who are deep thinkers. When these friends say something, you sometimes end up scratching your head because you are not sure what they mean. Jesu
Have you ever had the measles or chicken pox and were so sick you thought you would never get well? Maybe no one came to see you for fear they might catch whatever you had. Maybe you went to a hospital for a long time. Can you imagine what it would be lik
Take a careful look at a piece of furniture in your home, perhaps a chair you find comfortable. Examine how the different pieces fit together. What did the builder of this piece of furniture have to know? What tools do you think the builder used? Now imag
Have you ever attended a week-long camp meeting? Interesting speakers and meaningful meetings take place. You see old friends, learn new songs, and discover new things about God. Hezekiah invites his kingdom to a sort of camp meeting where a revival among
Does your mom or dad ever get after you to clean your room? Is it a mess, with dirty clothes lying on the floor, piles of things you are saving, schoolbooks stacked up, your bed unmade? If it is, you can relate to the condition of the Temple before a new
You may have heard countless offering appeals and pleas for more money to support the church budget. Well, this Bible story is about an offering appeal. The church was literally falling apart, unused for many years. How did this congregation respond?
Family members are supposed to love and protect each other, right? Aunt Jehosheba showed love for her family when she rescued her nephew, Joash, who grew up to become a king.
What birthday or Christmas present have you wanted that you were afraid you might not get? How did you feel when you considered asking your parents for that gift?Did you get it?
Think about a time you were away from home and were eager to get back. Maybe it was a week at summer camp or just a couple nights staying with a friend. Imagine what it would be like to be away from home for 70 years!
Have you ever stayed out of someone's way because you weren't sure how they would accept you? Did you find out that your fears were well founded or not? In this story things turn out much better than the fearful person could ever have imagined.
Have you ever been sad or frightened by something you knew was going to happen? Did you want to talk about it? Did you do anything to prepare it?
Have you heard the saying “If you talk the talk, you’d better walk the walk”? Our story this week looks at the life of King Solomon. Did his talk match his walk? (See 1 Kings 10:1-13; Prophets and Kings, pp. 66-68)
Have you ever said, “It’s not fair” only to have someone answer, “Life isn’t fair”? This week’s story is about how God’s servant, King Solomon, ruled with fairness, told from the viewpoint of imaginary palace workers. (See 1 Kings 3:16-28; Prophets and Ki
Have you ever read an instruction manual and not understood the instructions? Have you ever needed help to assemble something because the instructions were so complicated? There’s good news for you. The Bible has instructions for our lives that are easy t
Who’s the wisest person you know? How do you think that person became so wise? Do you think you can ever be as wise? Imagine two of King Solomon’s palace workers discussing how he asked God for wisdom.