The world is living in darkness
Suspendisse feugiat mi sed lectus aoreet nec interdum By Trenz Pruca
Year 2 Quarter 4 Lesson 12 1
n o s s e L w e i v r Ove
Power Point: The world is living in darkness Direction: Jesus is the light Memory Verse: “[Jesus is] the light of the world. Whoever follows [Him] will never walk in darkness...” - John 8:12 (NIV)
It is no secret that we truly live in fallen world, a dark place governed by even darker spirits. But just over 2000 years ago, for the first ?me, people saw the One who would bring light into this dark, cruel place. Jesus was born. He is the light of the world – the only thing that can overcome darkness and chase it away. That is what Christmas is all about – when the light of Heaven stepped down into this dark world. Bible Lesson: Birth of Jesus (Ma5hew 1:18 – 2:11; Luke 2:1-‐14) On the evening that Jesus was to be born there was nowhere for Mary and Joseph to stay. The only place they could find was a dark and dirty barn. Jesus could have been born in a grand castle but God chose a dark and dirty barn. Why? Because Jesus wasn’t sent to be a light in a beau?ful and perfect world, he came to bring light to a world full of darkness. Object Lesson 1: Jesus’ light will bring you love This is the tes?mony of a young African girl. Both her parents died before she turned two years old. Not knowing the love of her father or mother, she grew up with her abusive aunt who then kicked her out onto the streets at age 12. This girl never knew what it was to be loved un?l one day as she was begging for money on the street, a pastor found her and told her about Jesus. From the moment she asked Jesus into her heart, she experienced a love that would never end. Object Lesson 2: Jesus’ light will bring you healing When we are sick or wounded, we go to the doctor and he will prescribe us medicine and treatment to bring healing. There are many people who need healing in their hearts. There is no doctor who can solve the problem of a wounded heart but that is what Jesus came to do. His light brings healing. Object Lesson 3: Jesus’ light will bring you joy This is a personal tes?mony of a boy who grew up in a world full of darkness. He would witness gangs, drug deals, and pros?tutes on the street where he lived. At home, his alcoholic father used to beat his mother. This darkness squeezed all the joy out of his life but when he invited Jesus into his heart, Jesus filled him with joy. Teacher's Responsibility This is an emo?onal lesson so make sure that you maintain the appropriate tone as you teach. Before you teach, think about the hopeless and painful situa?ons that He has brought you out of and healed you from, and speak from that place. Be sensi?ve to the Holy Spirit as you teach and allow Him to minister throughout the course of this lesson. As a soldier you need to know three important things... Sub 1: Don’t doubt God Sub 2: Don’t get caught up in sin Sub 3: Don’t quit when things get tough
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Lesson Intro Props
Music PreparaRon
Slideshow (black and white images of gangs, violence, abuse, hate, drugs, crime, poverty, hunger, anger, disease etc), large paper globe-‐shaped lampshade (color or paint this black) with light bulb hanging inside of it, extension cord, paper, black marker. “Dark” sounding music Using the paper and black marker, write words that describe the darkness of the world (eg: DRUGS, VIOLENCE, HATRED, CRIME, POVERTY, SICKNESS) and s?ck them onto the black lampshade. Have the light bulb ready to be plugged in and a helper to hold it up.
PresentaRon: When you take a look around your neighborhood or see stories in the newspaper you begin to see that the world isn’t a very good place a lot of the ?me. In fact everywhere you look, you see things like this… (Dim lights and show slideshow with the “dark” music playing. End slideshow and music.) When I see all those bad things, there’s one word that comes to my mind -‐ darkness. I look around and I think, ‘The world is living in darkness.’ (Hold up globe-‐shaped lampshade and point to different examples on it) I look at all of the darkness -‐ the drug addic?ons, the hunger, the crime, the hate, the sicknesses. I think it’s impossible -‐ there’s no hope because the darkness seems so strong. But did you know there’s something that’s even stronger than darkness? And that’s light. (Plug the light in and hold it up). Light and darkness cannot be in the same place. Whenever light enters into a place where there is darkness, that darkness has to leave. God knew this, and He also knew that this world needed a light that was great enough to remove the darkness we face everyday. That is why we celebrate Christmas. On Christmas we celebrate the day when God brought a light into our dark world. God brought light by sending His one and only Son Jesus Christ to be the light of the world. And that’s what today’s memory verse says in John 8:12: “[Jesus is] the light of the world. Whoever follows [Him] will never walk in darkness..." Jesus is the light of the world. He is the Savior and the One who gives you eternal life. He is the one who forgives you of your sins. He is the one who heals you, protects you, comforts you and encourages you. When you follow Jesus you will not be walking in the darkness even if you see it all around you. Why? Because deep down in your heart you will always have the light of Jesus with you. When you feel as if you’re alone and in darkness because people make fun of you, you have the light of Jesus to comfort you. When you feel like your world is full of darkness at home because you are surrounded by drugs and figh?ng, the light of Jesus will be there to help you and let you know that it’s going to be ok. As long as you have the light of Jesus in you, you never have to walk in darkness. The world is living in darkness, but Jesus is the light. Jesus’ light will bring… 1. Love 2. Healing 3. Joy
Bible Lesson The birth of Jesus Props
Actors PreparaRon
Manger, 2 hay bales, baby, swaddling cloth, pillow for Mary’s stomach, Mary costume, Joseph costume, walking s?ck, 2 trees, cardboard brick wall, a sign that says ‘No Rooms Available’ (old wood looking style sign), fat candle and a candle holder, lighter. Mary, Joseph Place the sign on one side of the stage. Place the brick wall with the manger and bales of hay around it in the middle. On the other side of the stage place the trees.
PresentaRon: The world had been living in darkness for a very long ?me, but just over two thousand years ago God sent Jesus to be the light. But God didn’t send Jesus to the world as a grown man; He did something truly amazing. He sent his son Jesus in the form of a baby to a young lady named Mary. It was a miracle because Mary wasn’t married yet and had never been with a man, yet she got pregnant by the Holy Spirit. (Mary and Joseph enter through the back doors and walk to the front of the stage) It was nearing the end of Mary’s pregnancy when Caesar Augustus, the man in charge of the whole Roman Empire, decided that he wanted to count all of the people living in the land. So Mary and Joseph, the man she was engaged to, loaded everything up and headed to a city called Bethlehem. Once they reached Bethlehem they searched for a place to stay (Mary exits stage as if looking for somewhere to stay, removes pillow and gets baby. Joseph looks around some more on stage) but there was nothing. Not one hotel had a room available for them to stay the night in. The only place they could find to stay was in a barn where the animals were. (Mary enters stage with the baby in her arms – Joseph meets her and helps her sit down) It was right there that Jesus was born (Joseph lights the candle). It was right there that God chose to bring His light into our dark world. (Actors naturally freeze) But look at where this happened. God could have chosen anywhere in the whole en?re world for Jesus to be born. He could have been born in a castle or a beau?ful palace because Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords. But God didn’t choose these nice places because Jesus wasn’t sent to be the light in a beau?ful and perfect world. He was sent to be the light in our dark world, our world that is full of pain and suffering, hate and violence, hunger and sickness. It was to our dark world that Jesus was sent to help us with our troubles, heal our broken hearts, and this is where that light began. Right here is where Christmas began -‐ in a dark and dirty barn. The world is living in darkness but Jesus is the light.
Object Lesson 1 Jesus’ light will bring you love Props
Picture of Chuki, picture of girl begging, picture of church members.
Music
Something sad
PresentaRon: (Start playing sad music) I know a story of a lifle girl named Chuki. (Show picture) Chuki lives in Africa. When she was 6 months old, her mom died. When she was a year old, her father died. Chuki never knew what it was like to be loved by her mother or her father. Aher her parents died, Chuki’s aunt came and took her. But Chuki’s aunt did not love her. She abused Chuki for years and even allowed men to come and hurt her too. When Chuki was 12 years old, her aunt didn’t want her anymore and kicked her out of the house. Chuki was leh alone to beg on the streets. (Show picture of girl begging) She didn’t have a single person in the en?re world that loved her. Nobody cared for her and nobody wanted her. Chuki lived in darkness. But Chuki is not the only one; there are many people in the world who are living in darkness and they are desperate for someone to love them. (Fade sad music) Maybe your story is not the same as Chuki’s, but you don’t feel loved either. Maybe your parents never have ?me to ask you about your day and listen to your stories about school. Maybe you do not live with your parents like Chuki, somebody else takes care of you but they do not tell you that they love you. If you don’t feel loved then your world can be very dark and lonely like Chuki’s. But Chuki’s story didn’t end there. One day when she was begging for money on the street a pastor came and told her about Jesus. He told her that Jesus loved her and that he wanted to bring light into her life. Chuki gave her life to Jesus and from that day her life completely changed. Some loving Chris?ans came and paid for Chuki to go to school. She started going to church and the people in the church became her new family (show picture of church members). They loved her and cared for her. Most importantly, Chuki knew that Jesus loved her so much. The Bible says that God has never stopped loving you, and He never will (Jeremiah 31:3). Jesus had filled Chuki’s heart with love and He will do the same for you. He has always loved you and He will never stop loving you. The world is living in darkness but Jesus is the light. When you allow Jesus into your life, His light will bring you love.
Object Lesson 2 Jesus’ light will bring you healing Props Actors PreparaRon
Doctor costume, fake blood, bandage, ointment, two chairs Doctor, Pa?ent Set the two chairs up in the middle of the stage.
PresentaRon: (Pa[ent enters screaming holding a knee with fake blood on it) PaRent: I need a doctor! Please help me, I hurt myself! (Doctor enters) Doctor: I’m here just sit down and calmly tell me what happened. (While pa[ents starts talking doctor checks out the knee) PaRent: I was running and then I fell really hard and my knee started bleeding. Doctor: It doesn’t look too bad but I’ll put a bandage on and some cream to help it to heal. Soon it won’t be hurRng anymore at all. (Doctor bandages the knee) PaRent: Thank you so much. Teacher: By giving people medicine and bandaging up their wounds, doctors help to heal people who are sick or hurRng. People can have pain in their body when they have a disease or a wound, but people can also have pain in their heart. Maybe some of you know what I am talking about. You don’t have a wound on the outside but on the inside, you heart is hurRng. Somebody said something mean about you and it made your heart hurt on the inside. Or maybe somebody that you loved and cared about has gone away and your heart is hurRng so badly because you miss them. You are hurt. Your heart hurts so much that some?mes you cry yourself to sleep -‐ you feel alone in the darkness and you feel like there is no light. When your heart is hurRng like this you need to know Jesus will bring you healing. The Bible says that he binds up the brokenhearted; and in Isaiah 42:3 it says, “A bruised reed he shall not break.” That means that when people who are hurRng and bruised come to Jesus, He will not break them. He will bring healing. Jesus wants to do the same for you. When you let Him into your life He will bring light your darkness and start to heal your heart. The world is living in darkness, but Jesus’ is the light. Jesus’ light will bring you healing.
Object Lesson 3 Jesus’ light will bring you joy Props
PreparaRon
Table, large clear glass jar of blue water (use food coloring), very large sponge (that fits into the jar), black box containing a big bowl (to squeeze the water into), jug of blue colored water with a sign that says “JOY” on it. Set up the table at the front of the stage. Put the jar of blue water, the sponge, and the bowl in the box on the table. Put the jug of blue water under the table.
PresentaRon: I grew up right here in Brooklyn. I would walk around my neighborhood and everything around me was dark. Every ?me I went across the street I saw the drug dealers on the corner. When I looked down the block there was a pros?tute selling herself. I would go home and my Dad, who was always drinking, would beat my mom. My world was filled with darkness. I felt like all of that darkness was taking the joy out of my heart and sucking the life out of me. (Put sponge into jar and squeeze the water out into the bowl with the examples) Just like this sponge here is sucking the water out of this jar. Maybe some of you know exactly what I’m talking about because you are in the same kind of darkness that I was in. Maybe there are things going on at home -‐ figh?ng, yelling, cursing, depression, drugs, and drinking. That darkness around you just sucks the joy from your heart, leaving you feeling. (Put sponge in jar and squeeze water out) Or maybe there’s been a death in your family recently and your family is struggling and you don’t know what’s going to happen. That darkness around you just sucks the joy right out of your heart (again, put sponge in jar and squeeze water out) un?l you have nothing leh. You’re empty with no joy in your life. (Jar is empty of water) The Bible says that the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but that Jesus has come so that we can have life to the full (John 10:10). The devil wants to use the darkness around you to suck the life out of you -‐ the joy that was in your heart (point to empty jar). But Jesus is the light and He can fill you with His joy. All you have to do is ask. Say, “Jesus, I need you. I am empty on the inside without you. Please give me your joy in my heart.” When you do that Jesus will come and fill your heart with joy; He will fill you with His life. (Pick the jug up and pour the blue water into the jar). When Jesus came into my life I knew I had a friend who would never leave me, I knew I was never alone, and I knew he had great plans for my life – those things gave me joy and nothing that happened around me could take that joy away. When you leave this place, many of you will go back into a dark world. I know that because the whole world is living in darkness. But remember that Christmas is about how Jesus came to be the light and Jesus’ light will bring you joy.
Life Lesson Escape from darkness Props Sound Effects PreparaRon
Hardhat with light on the front, backpack, big plas?c rocks Earthquake Teacher will wear the backpack and hardhat. Place the big rocks in the middle of the stage and “walk through them” as you go into the cave.
Frame 1: Melinda mole and her team of scien?fic researchers were beginning their research project in the French caves. “Everyone listen up and gather round,” said Melinda in a loud voice, “Today marks the day that we’ve all been wai?ng for -‐ our decent into the depths of this great cave Criss-‐Cross Cavern!” It was cold and snowy but everyone let out a great big cheer. Nobody had ever explored Criss-‐Cross Cavern before. Melinda packed a few final things into her rucksack and headed for the mouth of the cave (put on backpack and hard hat). Frame 2: Melinda took a few steps into the cave, followed by her two trusty assistants Molly and Marco. Aher just a few feet Melinda no?ced how dark it was gemng (dim the lights). “Time to turn on our flashlights,” she said as she flicked the switch to the flashlight afached to her helmet (turn the light on the hard hat on). “This is so exci?ng!” said Molly, Melinda’s assistant. “Who knows what we’ll find down in the depths of this dark cave,” said Melinda. They ventured deeper into the cave, unaware of what lay ahead of them. Frame 3: “Wow! I’ve never seen anything like this before!” Melinda’s mouth dropped open as she looked around the vast expanse of the cave. She shone her flashlight around to reveal a beau?ful, crystal clear lake. The shapes and colors of the limestone and icicles were unlike anything they had ever seen. Molly took pictures while Marco documented their incredible findings into his scien?fic journal. Aher an en?re day of hiking, they were ?red and decided to camp for the night. Frame 4: “Help! Somebody help me!” Melinda was the first to wake up from the sound. “Where is that sound coming from?” she thought to herself as she quickly turned on her flashlight. Marco and Molly were both s?ll sound asleep. “Help!” She heard it again. “Wake up you guys! Somebody’s in trouble!” “What are you talking about?” said Marco, rubbing his eyes. “Ain’t nobody but the three of us in this cave.” But Melinda put her hand over his mouth and mo?oned for them both to listen. That ?me all three of them heard the cry for help. They had to do something. Frame 5: They hurried around the edge of the lake and through one of the long tunnels, following the sound of the voice. They were shocked when suddenly they saw who had been crying for help. It was a small mole, curled up behind a rock. As they got closer their flashlights shone on him and they were able to see that his leg was hurt very badly and he was unable to move. “My leg is stuck and I can’t move,” he cried. Molly ran up to him and was able to bandage his wound with the help of her flashlight. Preaching Point: Jesus’ light will bring you healing. Just like Molly helped this lifle mole and bandaged up her wound, Jesus wants to help you and bring you healing. When your life is in darkness and your heart is hurRng because of the way people have treated you, Jesus’ light will chase that darkness away. He will heal you of the pain in your heart. Frame 6: “Are you alone down here?” ques?oned Melinda. “What do you mean down here?” said the lifle mole. “I mean, how did a lifle mole like you get down into this dark cave?” she asked again. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. All I know is that I got separated from my family. They live through that long tunnel over there,” he said poin?ng down deeper into the cave. Within minutes, they were on their way to find the mole’s family. Whoosh! They slid down a tunnel toward the unknown.
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Life Lesson escape from darkness Frame 7: What Melinda saw next was an unforgefable sight. It was an en?re colony of moles living in complete darkness. The moles started to surround Melinda, fascinated with her brilliant flashlight. For the first ?me ever, the moles were able to see what was around them. Melinda could hardly believe her ears when they said that they had never seen light before. They didn’t even know that they were living in darkness. All of the moles looked sad a depressed. Suddenly, Melinda had an idea. “Come with us!” she blurted out, “Where we come from there is a whole world full of light! You have been living in darkness but you don’t have to any longer!” Preaching Point: The world is living in darkness; Jesus is the light The same goes for you. Some of you have been living in darkness – the darkness of broken promises, the darkness of disappointment from people lemng you down, the darkness of rejec?on when your friends are not there for you, the darkness of loneliness when your parents don’t have ?me for you. The world is living in darkness but Jesus came to this world to bring you light. Jesus came to give you everything you need so you don’t have to live in darkness. You saw that light is stronger than darkness – where there is light, the darkness cannot be. When you invite Jesus into your life, His light will chase away all the darkness in your heart. Frame 8: The moles jumped at the chance to leave the darkness. They didn’t know where they were going, but they followed behind Melinda as she led the way. Molly and Marco followed behind to make sure that not a single mole was leh behind. “Who would have thought that these moles were living down here in the darkness,” Marco whispered to Molly. “I know,” said Molly, “and do you see their faces? They are so happy. For the first ?me in their lives they have hope.” Frame 9: All of the moles hiked over and under large rocks on their journey through the cave. “We’re almost there!” said Melinda. Suddenly the ground began to shake violently (play earthquake sound). “What’s happening?!” the moles asked one another in a panic. “It’s an earthquake! Quickly, we have to get out of here!” They raced to the entrance of the cave as rocks began to fall on top of them. “Hurry! Everyone out! It’s about to give way!” Frame 10: CRASH! Dust flew everywhere as the mouth of the cave collapsed and was blocked forever. When the dust finally sefled, the moles looked around in awe. They had all made it out of the cave and for the first ?me in their lives, rather than finding themselves living in a world full of darkness, they found themselves living in a world full of light. Point of Decision If you choose today to accept Jesus into your life – you will experience the light of his love and joy filling your heart. Not only that, but you take that light with you for other people to see. Do you want the light of Jesus in your life, or do you want to con?nue to live in darkness? If you want that light, raise your hand. Closing Prayer Dear God, thank you for Jesus. Thank you that he was born and died for me. Today I believe that Jesus is my light. Take the darkness away. Fill me with love, heal my heart, and give me Your joy. Come and make my heart Your home. I love you Jesus and I thank you that You have set me free from darkness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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