| DISCOVER
(20-30 Minutes)
"THE HOLY SPIRIT AND ME" Please set aside page 17 of The Greatest Promise booklet and look at "The Holy Spirit and Me" Activity Pages We completed the sentence "I am a child of God." Next is a new verse to learn. Who would like to read Galatians 4:6 and the words to the right of this verse? Thank you, _______! Galatians 4:6: "'And you are God's children. That is why God sent the Spirit of His Son into you.'" "The Spirit of His Son is the Holy Spirit of God. Even now, whenever you wonder if you really belong to God, the Holy Spirit helps you remember how you prayed and asked Him to come and live in you. The Holy Spirit is God living in you." So, one thing we have discovered is that God's book, the Bible, teaches that the Holy Spirit is God. God lives in you when you invite Jesus into your life. The next activity helps us understand that the Holy Spirit is always with those who ask Jesus to live in them. Read along with me. "The Holy Spirit is with you all the time. He is with you when . . . (Mark out all the X's and J's to find out some times the Holy Spirit is with you.)" [Give the learners a few moments to mark out the X's and J's in the five phrases. Then ask several to share their answers.] The Holy Spirit is with you all the time. He is with you when Good! Now please look at the next page. This page helps you think about ways the Holy Spirit helps us. Please read with me: "The Holy Spirit is powerful." "You want to live the life that God has for you. Circle the pictures that show some things you do:" What do you think the pictures are saying a Christian does? [Answers: Pray, read the Bible, be with other Christians.] Who would like to read the next directions? "It is hard to always do the things God wants. You need some powerful help. Think of some people who are very powerful. Write their names here, or draw their picture here." [Help the children think of heroes or fantasy characters like Superman. They can draw a picture or write the names. Allow enough time for each child to write or draw at least one idea, then direct them to the next question.] "Where do the people on your list get their power?" [You may need to prompt their thinking by giving them an example, like "Superman gets his power from the planet Krypton. Kryptonite takes away his power."] [Continue reading with the children.] "The power of the Holy Spirit is in every child of God. You need His power to..." Here is another code where you will discover what the Holy Spirit gives power to do. Use this code to fill in the spaces. I will give you a few minutes to complete your answers. Who would like to tell the others in our group your answer for number 1? You need His power to __________. [Answer: obey God.] Continue in the same way through number 4. [Answers: 2. To choose to be the person God wants you to be. 3. To live the way God tells you. 4. To tell others how they can become God's children.] Who would like to read the writing in the box? Thank you, _________! "The Holy Spirit wants to be your Helper and guide you. Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of any thoughts, words or actions (sins) you have not confessed (told Him). When you confess your sins, the Holy Spirit's power will guide and help you." Please look at the next page. At the top of this page is a sentence that reminds us what to do when we think or say or do something wrong. Who will read the sentence? "When you think or say or do something that is wrong, talk with God about it." Next is a fun puzzle. We will need to read the directions carefully together. "This activity helps to remind you of a Bible verse about confessing. Follow these directions to fill in the spaces on the big tree. The numbers tell you which small tree to look at. The shapes tell you which letter on the small tree to use. Below the first space on the big tree is a 3 triangle. Find the small tree with the number 3. Now find the triangle on that tree. Did you find the letter 'I' below the triangle? Put 'I' in the first space on the big tree. Any questions about how to do this part? Then finish the message in the same way. [Allow the children sufficient time to complete this part. Younger children will need more help and more time. Ask children to share their answer.] The next part is a reading time. As we read we find three ways to be guided and helped by the Holy Spirit's power every day. Please read along with me: "Dear God, I need You to guide and help me. Thank You that my sins are forgiven through Jesus's death on the cross. I now ask You to guide and control me with Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for doing what You promised. I pray this in the name of Jesus." "There is a way to continue to be guided and helped by the Holy Spirit's power every day." Who would like to read next? "Each day: Believe that God has forgiven you. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide and help you to become a person of compassion, forgiveness and integrity. You need to do this each time you make a wrong choice." Remember how we learned that the Bible is where we can find truth? In this next section we will read several Bible verses that will tell us more about the Holy Spirit. Who would like to read the writing at the top of the next page? "In the Bible, God tells you ways the Holy Spirit helps you. Printed in the Bible below are some verses. Find and read these verses in your Bible. On the right-hand page of the Bible below write or draw pictures to tell what the verses say about the Holy Spirit." [If you do not have Bibles for the children, the verses are printed on Activity Page 4.] Let's try the first one together. John 16:13 says, "But when the Spirit of truth comes He will lead you into all truth. He will not speak His own word." So, what would you put on the right-hand page? The Holy Spirit . . . does what according to this verse? [Possible answers: The Holy Spirit is truth. The Holy Spirit will help me discover what is truth, and to become a person of integrity.] [Continue in the same manner with 2-5. Allow children to share their answers. Answers are printed upside down below the Bible.] At the bottom of the page is a picture of a girl praying. Who would like to read her prayer? "God, thank You for giving the Holy Spirit to help me grow and become a person of compassion, forgiveness and integrity like You." SUMMARY (2-5 Minutes) Let us think about some things we have learned about the Holy Spirit. As we think together, I'll write your answers on the chalkboard and you may write them on your piece of paper. When is the Holy Spirit with you? [Possible answers: when you . . . are joyful or happy, need to be kind to a friend, there is a terrible storm, it is your turn to share, are sick, all the time (or any other ideas children have.)] Complete this sentence: The Holy Spirit is in ________ child of God. [Answer: every.] What are four reasons people need the Holy Spirit's power? [Possible answers: to obey God, to choose to be the person God wants you to be, to live the way God tells you, to tell others how they can become God's children.] What are three steps we can take to be guided and helped by the Holy Spirit's power? [Possible Answers: pray; believe that God has forgiven you; ask the Holy Spirit to guide and help you become a person of compassion, forgiveness and integrity.] |
THEME THOUGHTS "The
Spirit of God is my Helper and Guide; giving me power to choose
what is right." The Holy Spirit is God's Spirit, living in every person who believes Jesus is God's Son and invites Him to live in him or her.
The logical consequence of the Holy Spirit's power, help and guidance
is:
The Holy Spirit is God's Spirit, living in every child of God. The Holy Spirit is a Helper and Guide, giving people the power to choose what is right. |
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