CHILDREN’S SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHURCH 12TH MARCH 2023

MEMORY VERSE:

For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. Matthew 18:11 (NKJV).

TARGET

To help the child understand that Jesus is the Saviour and that He still saves from sin.

OBJECTIVES:

During and after the lesson, each child will show that he or she understands the lesson by:

1. Explaining who is a Saviour, what a Saviour does and how Jesus is the Saviour.

2. Identifying ways he or she can despise a fellow believer.

OUTLINE:

1. What Jesus Came to Do – Matthew 18:10-11

2 When the Sheep Is Lost – Matthew 18:12; Luke 15:3-4

3 When the Sheep is Found – Matthew 18:13-14; Luke 15:5-7

After creating Adam and Eve, God put them in the Garden of Eden and gave them only one command to keep. But they could not keep it. They allowed the serpent to deceive them. Because of this, man died spiritually and lost his communion with God. But God made another plan, which He brought to pass when the time came. The plan was that He sent His Son, Jesus into the world to save man from sin. Jesus was sent by God to be the Saviour.

A ‘Saviour’ is one who rescues others from evil, danger, or destruction just as a shepherd rescues a sheep from danger or destruction in the hands of thieves or wild animals. This is exactly what Jesus came to do as our Saviour.

1. WHAT JESUS CAME TO DO – Matthew 10:10-11

Before Jesus told His dinciples why He was sent on earth or what He came to do, He gave them an important warning about the way to treat people. He warned them to be careful not to offend or despise “one of these little ones”, One of these little ones could be explained in two ways. It may mean a little child. It may also mean a humble believer, that is, one that is always known to God, the Father, and is always under His personal care. Jesus went ahead and said that the little children have their own angel. This means that they have angels that take care of them. These angels occupy a position in heaven from where they always s0e clearly the face of God, the Father who is in heaven.

After the warning and explanation, Jesus told His disciples the reason why He, the Son of Man, came to earth. He said it was to search for all those who are lost in sin and save them from it. In this regard, Jesus is like a shepherd and He told a parable or story to illustrate this.

2. WHEN THE SHEEP IS LOST – Matthew 18:12; Luke 15:3-4

In telling His parable, Jesus asked an important question. He asked His listeners what they think about a shepherd that has one hundred sheep and later loses one. What does he do? Does the shepherd not leave the ninety-nine and go to look for the one that is missing? Is it because the ninety-nine are not important? Not at all The shepherd, according to Jesus, goes to the mountains, to the valleys and to everywhere searching for the lost sheep. And he does not rest until he sees the straying sheep and rescues or saves it from harm. That is what it means to be a Saviour.

3. WHEN THE SHEEP IS FOUND – Matthew 18:13-14; Luke 15:5-7

What happens when the sheep is found? Jesus said that when the shepherd finds the one sheep that was lost, he rejoices and carries it on his shoulder and goes home. Then he calls together all his friends and neighbours and throws a party for them. He tells them to rejoice with him for finding his sheep that was lost.

After the parable, Jesus made two important statements. First, He said in Matthew 18:14 that it is not the will of God, the Father, who is in heaven for one little child or a humble believer to perish. What this means is that God wants everybody to hear the gospel and be saved from sin. Second, in Luke 15:7, Jesus explained what happens in heaven when one sinner repents. He said that there is great joy in the presence of angels of God in heaven when one sinner repents than over ninety- nine other sinners who have no need of repentance.

By this parable, Jesus simply illustrated what He came to do as the Saviour.

Like the lost sheep, we are all lost in sin and Jesus came to save us. Yes, God sent Him to save us from the sins of lying, cheating, fighting, stealing, cursing, etc. He can save even the worst sinner. Paul said he was the worst sinner and yet, Jesus saved him. He can save us too.

The concern Jesus has for a child or the most humble believer teaches us to preach the gospel to everyone that comes our way so that all will be saved. The reason for this is that we all are lost and are in need of the Saviour

Let us always desire to know and love the Saviour more and more as He is the only One that can save us from our sins and take care of our needs. He is our Shepherd and we will never be in want.

1. What warning did Jesus give before telling His disciples why He was sent to earth?

(A) He warned them not to eat too much food

(B) He warmed them to watch and pray

(C) He warned them to be careful not to offend or despise “one of these little ones”

(D) He warned them to pray before eating food.

2. Why, according to Jesus, did He, the Son of Man, come to earth?

(A) To look for all those who are lost in sin and save them from it

(B) To look for all those who are lost in sin and scold them for it

(C) To look for all those who are lost in sin and encourage them to continue

(D) To look for all those who are lost in sin and tell them well done.

3. What does a shepherd that has one hundred sheep and loses one do?

(A) He leaves the lost one and takes the ninety-nine and move on

(B) He chases the remaining ninety-nine away and goes to look for the lost one

(C) He can forget about the whole hundred sheep and go home

(D) He leaves the ninety-nine and goes in search of the one that is missing.

4.When the sheep is found what does the shepherd do?

(A) He will not be surprised

(B) He will tie the sheep on a leash forever

(C) He rejoices and carries it on his shoulder and goes home. Then he calls together all his friends and neighbours and throws a party for them.

(D) He feels disappointed for losing the sheep in the first place.

Monday: Do Not Despise Little Children – Matt 18:10

Tuesday: God Doesn’t Wish Anyone to Perish – Matt 18:14, 15

Wednesday: Joy in Heaven for a Repentant Sinner – Luke 15:7

Thursday: Jesus Christ Has Abolished Death – 2 Timothy 1:10

Friday: God Sent the Son to Save the World – 1 John 4:14

Saturday: To God Alone Be Glory – Jude 25

CHILDREN’S SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHURCH, NIGERIA SUNDAY 12TH MARCH 2023