POWERFUL
WELCOME TO WEEK 2
This week we will see how there are a lot of scary things around us and even scary things happening around us, but God is more powerful than the evil we see. God has the power to defeat evil.
BIBLE STORY
What is the scariest animal you can think of? What would it be like to challenge that animal. Let’s pretend we have to defeat the following animals. What would you do to defeat…
A shark
A lion
A tiger
A gorilla
A pack of wolves
A wild boar
A charging elephant
A grizzly bear
All of these animals are scary and it would be difficult to try to defeat them. We could think of ways to escape or avoid injury, but it would not be easy. There are many things in our world that are evil and scary that would be difficult for us to defeat. But God is more powerful than any of those evils. He is able to defeat anything we think is strong or scary, because he is more powerful than any of them. This week we will read a story about a dark, or evil presence that Jesus was able to get rid of.
Let’s read the Bible story for the week Luke 9:37-43a
After Jesus came down from the mountain who was waiting there for him? (A large crowd)
What did the man ask of Jesus? (To heal his son)
What was wrong with his son? (A spirit seizes him, he suddenly screams and has convulsions)
Who had the man asked to heal his son before Jesus? (Jesus’ disciples)
Had the disciples been able to heal the son? (No)
What did the demon in the son do when he was brought to Jesus? (threw the boy to the ground in convulsions)
When Jesus rebuked the spirit, what happened? (The boy was healed and went back to his father)
How did the people feel who witnessed it? (They were amazed at the greatness of God)
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
Activity
Think about your favorite story. What were some challenges the character in the story had to face. What if the main character in the story had Jesus on their side to face their challenge? How would the story change? Retell your story with Jesus on their side, tell how the story would change and how they would overcome their challenge with ease. Now think of challenge you could face, and how God can defeat your challenge.
Materials: favorite story
Alternate
We are going to play this Challenge game and see if you are able to complete these difficult tasks. Some are really hard but let’s see if you can do them. Play this game of Challenge. Print and cut apart cards and place them in a bowl. Each player picks out a card and tries to complete the challenge as best they can. Was it easy or hard to complete these challenges. Before you started you may have been nervous about your ability to complete the challenge, but it was clear these challenges were not too difficult. What may seem difficult or scary to us, is not difficult or scary to God. He is able to face anything we think is a challenges and defeat it, because He is more powerful.
Materials: printed challenge cards
Independent activity:
Draw a picture of something you fear or that seems scary to you. We all have things in our lives we are unsure we can defeat. It may seem too powerful for us, but it is not too powerful for God. Draw your picture, then title your picture “Whom shall I fear?” Then answer the question at the bottom of the page by writing “The Lord is the stronghold of my life”.
Materials: White sheet of paper, pencil. crayons or coloring utensils
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
Create your own short picture story describing a hero character that faces a scary situation and receives help from God. Write your story and then illustrate the pictures.
Materials: white drawing paper, pencil, crayons
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
Read or listen to Psalm 27:1-6
This scripture describes facing troubles or fears. Who did it say it should fear if God was with them? The answer is no one or nothing! When we have God on our side, who can we fear? What is greater than God? What is stronger than God? If thee answer is nothing, then the response is to fear nothing. That is not easily done, but we know it to be true. This verse reminds us that God is with us and that the wicked nor our enemies can defeat us.At the end of this chapter, it says that we are to be strong, take heart, and wait on the Lord.
Is it easy or hard to wait on the Lord?
What do we often want to do when things get hard or difficult?
Is waiting our natural response to difficulty?
How is waiting while praying to God different from waiting while watching TV?
Who does the Bible say we should fear?
How did the father in our story show He knew Jesus could heal his son?
Practical Application at Home
It is easy to become discouraged about the bad things that are going on around us or in our own lives, when we don’t remember that God is with us. When we remember that God is more powerful than all of the problems in our lives, we can trust that He is in control. Our situation may not always turn out the way we think it should, but we can trust it is not because God is weak, but He has a different plan from ours. Let’s visually see that God is more powerful than our troubles and the evils around us.
Make a list on a sheet of paper of all the struggles you are facing and the evils in the world that concern you. Leave space at the top of the paper. After writing your list, on the top write ‘God is more powerful’ in big bold letters.
Let’s remember that no matter what we may add to our list, God is still more powerful than all the evils or problems we are facing.
Materials: sheet of paper, pencil/pen
Additional Resources
Outings to Reinforce Lesson
Enjoy the cool weather and take a nature walk. Observe the things God created and how they work together in His plan. What part do each of us play in God’s plan for us?