January 2017

New Years Examples could be, Matthew, Peter and Andrew. Anyone who’s lives changed because they made a decision to follow Jesus.Acts 9Paul on the way to Damascus. He has a order from the Leaders in Jerusalem to find the Christians and to arrest them. He hated the Christians because he thought they were bad people. When in fact Christians are people who love Jesus, they love each other and they love others. Paul thought he was doing the right thing.Suddenly Jesus appeared to him on the road. Acts 9: As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. He was changed. He was a persecutor of Christians we changed from the inside out. He no longer hated Jesus and his people, he loved them.Became a believer and a missionary and preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. New years is a good time to begin again or make changes in your life that will make you a better person or a better Christian. Activity: Write down some things that you could do to be better next year. Maybe something that would make you a better person. You will have to help the smaller children. Divide up the group among the ministry team and talk about what they would like to do or change this coming year. Talk about how their resolutions might fit into our values. Rule, respect, etc. You may talk to each child about their resolution.Put the name of each child on an envelope and put the resolutions inside and seal it. Write the child’s name on each envelope with the words “DO NOT OPEN UNTIL JULY 4 .” 

 Take up all the envelopes and put them in a safe place until July. These envelopes will be a part of the July lesson