All Ages Bible Session 6-10-13 - Jesus Was Human

Jesus Was Human

*Adapted from Creative Bible Lessons on the Life of Christ

By Brett Spore 6-10-13

Introduction:
Last week we talked about how Jesus was both God and human.  We watched a video showing how foolish it is for anyone to think they can play God.  Tonight we’re going to look at Jesus as a human.  But first, we’re going to play a little game.  (Play unfair card game with changing rules.)

Message:
The card game wasn’t fair because the leaders had a huge advantage over their players.  It wasn’t much fun and it caused tension in the groups. 

I’m going to read you a story about a time Satan tempted Jesus.  As I read the story, think about how Jesus reacted as a  human being even though He could have used His supernatural powers as God to just ZAP Satan and be done with it.

Matthew 4:1-11 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.  The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread. Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.  “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down.  For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you , and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”  Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”  Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”  Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan!  For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”  Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

*Jesus experienced incredible temptations, but He played according to the rules God had established.  He responded to Satan as a human not as God.

* By becoming human, Jesus gave up His place with God and lowered himself to be like us.  By doing this, Jesus was in a position to face the same kinds of temptations we might face.  Now Satan has never said to me, “Bow down to me and I will give you a kingdom,” but I have had temptations thrown at me to get drunk, gossip about other girls in my group, hang out with the wrong crowd just to be popular.  There’s a lie that if you do this – you will get that.  Just like Satan tempted Jesus – if you bow down – you get the kingdom.

*Although Jesus was fully human, he was also still fully God, and therefore he never gave into temptation and never sinned.  I wish I could say that about myself, but I’m not God.  Thankfully, we have the Holy Spirit to help us guard against temptations and a loving God who forgives us when we fail.

Application:
Carry with you this playing card with the paraphrased version of Hebrews 4:15 glued on to it.  This will remind you when you are struggling with a temptation that Jesus was tempted as well.  It will remind you that Jesus was God and could have played by His own rules, but He wanted to relate to us and our struggles.  Instead of zapping Satan, he wrestled with the temptations as a human being.  He became one of us and played by human rules so we would benefit and be eternal winners.

Hebrews 4:15 (paraphrased) Because of Jesus’ willingness to play by the rules, to become fully human, and to face every temptation we will ever face, we have a Savior who understands our struggles. But because he never sinned, we also have a Savior who paid the price for our sin.

 

Bible Session - 6-3-13 All Ages - Jesus Is God

Jesus Is God

*Adapted from Creative Bible Lessons on the Life of Christ

Presented by Brett Spore 6-3-13

 

Introduction:
Sometimes we ask some silly questions. Here are a few questions from the book 101 Questions Children Ask About God.
            Does God sleep, or does He just rest?
            How does God make the sun and moon go up and down?
            Did God make people in outer space?
            If God made spiders, why do people squish them?
            How can Jesus fit in my heart?
            Is there a McDonalds in heaven?
            Why doesn’t God just zap the bad people?

Message:
It’s normal to have questions about God.  There are a lot of things about God that are difficult to understand.  One thing many people struggle to understand is how Jesus could be a human and also be God, and that’s what we are talking about today. 

Some of you might remember the movie Bruce Almighty in which Jim Carrey plays a man who wants to be God, so God lets him “be God” for a while.  Let’s see what happens.  (To view the video clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0cG11lTS1E )

As you can see, Bruce is really struggling with just one aspect of being God – handling prayers.  The movie goes on to show what a mess he’s created by answering “Yes” to all prayers.  It’s pretty insane to think that we can be equal to God or take over his job.

Is it possible that since Jesus claimed to be human and God, we also can be human and god? Many people, churches, and religions claim to know the way to God and to know the truth about God.  Some even claim that you can be a god.  But, only Jesus can be both God and man.

John 14:5-11 Thomas said to him, “Lord we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?  Jesus answered, “I am the way the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you really know me, you will know my Father as well.  From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”  Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”  Jesus answered, “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?  Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.  How can you say, “Show us the Father? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?  The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority.  Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.  Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.”

Even the disciples, the men closest to Jesus day in and day out, struggled with believing that Jesus was God.  It was and is a concept our human minds grapple with understanding.

John 20:24-29 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.  So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”  A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them.  Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”  Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands.  Reach out your hand and put it into my side.  Stop doubting and believe.”  Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”  Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Thomas was a disciple.  He followed Jesus, saw his miracles, listened to him speak day in and day out, and yet he required evidence that Jesus was God and had risen from the dead.  Then when Jesus proved he was the same man who had died on the cross by showing his nail scarred hands and allowing Thomas to feel the wound in his side, Thomas believed. 

Jesus wasn’t just a human. He was also God.  Jesus is both fully human and fully God.  He did not give up his divine nature when he became human.  Many of us get frustrated, because we cannot understand this.  How can God be 100% human and 100% God?  Let’s try to demonstrate that this can be true in another way using two things you know very well.

Demonstration:
Hold up a glass of ice.
What element is ice made of? Water
Hold up a glass of water.
What element is water made of? Water
*Water and ice are 2 manifestations of the same element.  Although ice and water have different properties, they come from the same source.  They are essentially “one.”

This is similar to Jesus’ two natures.  They are different and yet the same.  Jesus was 100% human and yet 100% God as well.

Even when we have doubts and questions, the fact remains that Jesus is God!  He isn’t surprised or bothered by our questions, so let’s ask Him some.

Task:

Write a brief letter to Jesus.  Put it in this envelope.  Seal it.  Put your name on the envelope and hand it in.  We will give these back at the end of summer. We will not open them.  This your private letter to God.

 

 

 

 

Dear Jesus,

 

Here are a few things I know about You. I know…

 

Here is how I feel about You. I feel…

 

Here are some questions I have about You.

 

H E L P !

We need someone to provide dinner for the MAD Skates & Rec Center kids and crew on Monday, June 17th!

If you are able to help out in any way, please contact me via facebook, email or text/call. brett@madskates.com 206-423-0813

God bless!

Memorial Day - Next Monday - May 27th

No Skate & Rec Night next week - Monday, May 27th!
Have an awesome Memorial Day weekend with your family and friends.
Remember to thank someone who has served or is serving our country and take a  moment to remember those we have lost but not forgotten.

Bible Session - 5-20-13 - The Basement

This is the video our teens watched last night for Bible Session.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPv7dBxJCa8

Bible Session Notes - 12+ Group - 5-6-13

Accepting the Call

5-6-13

Adapted from a Devotional by Gwen Smith

John 14:23 – Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. M y father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.

How many of you carry a cell phone?
How many of you know how to decline an incoming call?
How do you do it? 
When do you do it?

Have you ever received a “call” from God? A prompting from the Holy Spirit?  Maybe it sounded a little like this.  A small hint… almost a whisper… saying…
                Forgive him.
                Don’t go to that party.
                Focus on me and my plan for you.
                Do your work before you go play.
                Relax.  Take a break. Rest.

Read: John 14:15-27.  In these verses, Jesus clearly and repeatedly states that if the disciples and we love Him, they and we would obey His commands and His teaching.
 
It’s a simple IF/THEN statement.  If you love me – Then obey.

Have you ever received a call from God and promptly “declined the call?”  Maybe the call was telling you something you didn’t want to hear.  Maybe the call came at a bad time for you.  Maybe you were already too busy, overloaded, irritated, or completely unprepared.  Or maybe the timing was just right, you were in the right frame of mind, and you answered the call.

Read: John 16:7-14.  In these verses, Jesus reminds the disciples and us that He will send the Holy Spirit to teach, guide in truth, convict of sin, remind us of what Jesus taught, help us and empower us.

A lot of people will say, “You should trust your gut” meaning trust your intuition.  Intuition is that feeling inside that might say something like “This salesman is taking you for a ride.  Even though the car looks great and seems ok, there is something really wrong here.  Walk away.”  As Christians, we not only have that “gut feeling” or intuition, but we also have God in our lives guiding us through the work of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit within is speaking to us.  So listen up.  And then obey.

The Holy Spirit will give you what you need for each task that God has called you to do as you answer that call.  God will not call you up, tell you to do something, and then not show up to help you.  He wants our willingness and our obedience even when his plans seem to interrupt our own plans.

I think the hardest part in all of this is obeying when his call interrupts our lives, pleasure, happiness, chaos, etc.  I’m also learning that to obey quickly is a lot easier than delaying obedience.  Is seems the task grows in magnitude the longer I wait to obey.  If I just immediately respond to the call and obey, everything tends to work out much better and with a lot less stress on me. 

When you hear the call, first pick up the “phone” and answer God’s call.  Then listen to Him and obey.

Questions to Ponder:
1.       Can you think of a time when you sensed that God was leading you to do something? How did you respond?
2.       Is there something He is calling you to do today?
3.       Are you withholding forgiveness from anyone in your life?
4.       Are you aware of a need that God wants you to meet?
5.       Does He want you to end a toxic relationship?

6-11 Year Old Bible Session Notes

We haven't been doing the greatest job of telling you all what we are teaching the 6-11 year olds.  Here is a sample of what is being taught to that group.  Thank you Bev, Robb, and Melody for working with this awesome group of kids.

Eternal life

John 3:3 I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.
 

What does eternal mean to you? Living forever in heaven is eternal life. Jesus said there is a place for you in heaven if you know Him. Forever is a VERY long time. How do we get eternal life … what kind of “work” do we have to do?

Discussion with questions from the kids.

Additional Scriptures: John 3:16, Matthew 19:17, Luke 10: 25 – 28, John 14:1-4

What is iniquity?

Psalm 38:18 I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin. (Memory verse)

Iniquity = wrongdoing - i.e. all of sudden turning your friends against someone who IS your friend just because that person did something you didn’t like or it made you mad.

We have ALL sinned. Part of having eternal life is knowing that Jesus is constantly by our side and we can always confess our sin (iniquity). He said he would do that even if we are repeat offenders. Maybe we have something we can’t stop doing or saying right now. BUT He will forgive you each and every time you come to Him and confess. We may try to do our best to “never sin again” but nobody can live up to that …. nobody! It’s impossible because we are human and we have all sinned (Romans 3:23) and will continue to do so (not an excuse). Jesus is the only pure one.

Even though we confess our sins, we may still have to pay consequences. He doesn’t always bail us out but he always forgives. Once we confess our sins, they are forever forgotten. He erases it from our record and He will NEVER make us feel guilty about what we have done. That comes straight from Satan.

We cannot hide anything from Jesus so you might as well be straight with Him. He already knows our sin. He wants us to come to Him for forgiveness. Not everyone can forgive a person just because they asked for forgiveness … but Jesus does.

This is all part of asking Jesus to be Lord and Savior of your life.

Additional Scriptures: Psalm 78:37-38, Psalm 103:10, Isaiah 59:2 & 20

 

What do You Want Your Life to Look Like?

What do You Want Your Life to Look Like?

4-22-13

Lesson by Brett Spore

What do you want your life to look like in 3 months?  Are you making a plan to get there?

The next three months for most of you looks a little like this:

May – School full time
June – School is out roughly June 20^th
July – Summer full time

So, what are you going to do with the next three months?  What do you want your life to look like?  Tonight we’re going to take a look at seeking God’s direction in your lives and living wisely by looking at several pieces of scripture.  We’ll read through each scripture and then discuss it.

I Kings 3:1-14 – Solomon asks for wisdom.

Proverbs 2:1-6 – The Lord gives wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

Romans 12:1-3 – Don’t conform to this world.  Renew your mind.  Know God’s will.

Ephesians 5:15-17 – Live wisely.  Understand the Lord’s will.

Colossians 1:9-14 – Ask God to fill you and others with wisdom and understanding.

James 1:5-8 – If you lack wisdom, ask God.

Homework:
Write out what you want your life to look like in 3 months.  Ask God to show you what he wants for you.

Bible Sessions - Yes We've Been Doing Them

So, for some reason I have totally sketched on posting the Bible Sessions for the past few weeks.  I'm going to briefly sumerize what we've been doing, and hopefully that will help keep you up to date.

Here is what we've been doing in the 12+ age group.  From May 25 - April 8th, we have been looking at various topics and scriptures and discussing them.  I present a short thought, and then we get right into the Word and discussion. The teens seem to enjoy this style, so we're sticking with it for awhile.

If you don't have a Bible, there are tons of phone apps and online resources you can use.  Online I really enjoy BlueLetterBible.com.  For an App, I like YouVersion.

3/25/13 Am I My Brother's Keeper
Today there seems to be this "live and let live" mentality with an over abundance of tolerance without question.  My challenge to you today is to look at life from a slightly different perspective. 

Gen 4:1b-13 (read aloud) - God obviously felt that in some ways Cain was his brother's keeper and that we are to be looking out for each other. (Discussed)

I John 3:11-15 (read aloud) - This passage reminds us of the story of Cain and Abel and calls us all to a life of love. (Discussed)

Matt 7:1-2 (read aloud) - Do not judge or you will be judged. (Discussed)



4/1/13 God's Promise of Excellence

At the Action Sports Conference one of the speakers talked about excellence. He said if you are going to do something for God, do it with excellence. Don't do something halfway. Don't copy what someone else is doing. Do what God has called you to do with excellence.

At the same time, do not sacrifice other commands of God in order to pursue excellence. Ex. Let's say God has called you to become a professional skate videographer. As you pursue being the best skate videographer don't dabble with the sex, drugs, and alcohol in the skate world. That may seem obvious, but what about taking shortcuts that may be a little bit in the gray area? What about going into debt? What about dating that non-Christian girl who happens to be the producer's daughter who might get you where you want to go in the industry?

What are your current or future dreams for excellence in your life?

Let's look at some Bible verses regarding excellence and discuss how these verses can be seen and played out in your life. We'll also discuss what your job is in each verse.

Joshua 1:7

Proverbs 16:3

Matthew 20:26-28

John 14:12

John 15:15-16 (Discuss. Then read vs. 17 and discuss some more.)

2 Corinthians 3:2-6 (Discuss where does our confidence come from.)



4/1/13 God's Promise of Excellence

At the Action Sports Conference one of the speakers talked about excellence. He said if you are going to do something for God, do it with excellence. Don't do something halfway. Don't copy what someone else is doing. Do what God has called you to do with excellence.

At the same time, do not sacrifice other commands of God in order to pursue excellence. Ex. Let's say God has called you to become a professional skate videographer. As you pursue being the best skate videographer don't dabble with the sex, drugs, and alcohol in the skate world. That may seem obvious, but what about taking shortcuts that may be a little bit in the gray area? What about going into debt? What about dating that non-Christian girl who happens to be the producer's daughter who might get you where you want to go in the industry?

What are your current or future dreams for excellence in your life?

Let's look at some Bible verses regarding excellence and discuss how these verses can be seen and played out in your life. We'll also discuss what your job is in each verse.

Joshua 1:7

Proverbs 16:3

Matthew 20:26-28

John 14:12

John 15:15-16 (Discuss. Then read vs. 17 and discuss some more.)

2 Corinthians 3:2-6 (Discuss where does our confidence come from.)

 

4/8/13 What Does The Bible Say About Revenge?

Revenge Dictionary Definition:

To exact punishment or payment for a wrong on behalf of yourself or someone else, especially in a resentful or vindictive spirit.

To take vengeance for, inflict punishment for, avenge.

Vengeance = infliction of injury, harm, humiliation etc on a person who has been harmed by that person.

Have you ever sought revenge for yourself or someone else?

What does the Bible say about seeking revenge?

Deuteronomy 32:34-35 This is part of the song of Moses. God had spoken to him about the nation of Israel falling away from God and look what God said in vs. 34. What did he say? Basically, he's saying I have logged this data. I will remember it. Then in vs. 35 whose job is it to deal with this? "It is mine to avenge."

Psalm 94:1 who’s job is it?

Proverbs 25:21-22 What does this verse have to do with revenge? How can you really get back at your enemy and still please God?

Matthew 5:38-42 What do you think about these verses? How do you see this realistically playing out in your daily life?

Romans 12:17-21There is a lot in this section. What do you see in these verses?

• Do not repay evil for evil.
• Live at peace whenever possible.
• Don't take revenge: leave that for God. He'll handle it.
• Do exactly the opposite of what you may want to do, and treat your enemy with love and kindness.
• Overcome evil with good.

I Thessalonians 5:12-15 Make sure no one pays back wrong for wrong. Have you ever heard the saying 2 wrongs don't make a right?

I Peter 3:8-14 Why are we supposed to repay insult with blessing?

Revenge does not equal Love. God is love. We are to be his hands, his feet, his mouth. We cannot seek revenge and act in love at the same time. Even if you are seeking revenge on behalf of someone you love, you cannot be showing love to the person you are acting out against. At least 19 times in the New Testament, we read that it is our job to "love on another." As you leave Bible Session tonight, go back to school, back to your friends, back to your families, keep those words in your heart and mind, "LOVE ONE ANOTHER."

Kids Are Cooking - A HUGE SUCCESS!

The first ever MAD Skates Kids Are Cooking event went really well.  The only downside was that it took much longer to cook than we had anticipated, so we ran out of time for the Bible study.  Lesson learned, and we'll get it all in next time!

Bev, Gary and Brett were in the kitchen.  Jeremy and Melody ran the Skate & Rec area.  Jeff moved between the two places helping out where needed.

We had 8 kids in the kitchen helping out.  After some initial instruction and going through the routine one time, they caught on quickly! It was like a pancake and sausage factory in there.  Kids swapping between the dry ingredient station, the wet ingredient station, the electric griddles stations and the sausage station.  Seth definitely became the Sausage King and spent most of his time there.  Caleb L got the perfect pancakes on the griddle, while his brother Dakota seemed to have mastered the triangular/corner pancakes.  Ethan tried every station available and even helped wash up some utensils we needed to use for both dry and wet ingredients.  Ella, McKenna, and Kristen worked as a team the entire time and jumped from dry station, wet station and griddle many times.  We ended up making 5 batches of the recipe and by the end of the night all the pancakes had been eaten along with a tub of strawberries, a tub of grapes, and 40+ sausages a gallon of milk and a half gallon of OJ.  I don't think anyone went home hungry last night.

Special thanks to Tina Berry for dropping off the syrup even though her girls couldn't come.  Also, special thanks to Christine Brown for lending us her griddle, and to Nicole Cormier for giving me her griddle for last night and any future griddle needs.