Rescue Me!

KEY VERSE

1 Peter 3:18

STICKY STATEMENT

Jesus is the only “Sin Rescuer.”

LESSON OBJECTIVE

Children should understand that Jesus is the only way to be rescued from their sin.

CHECKLIST

1. A PowerPoint is available for this lesson.

2. Younger children video: God’s Story – Easter https://teachersource.wol.org/videos/oly18/38-1/ (4:36)

3. Older children video; Man on the Street: Kid’s version (Good Friday) https://teachersource.wol.org/videos/oly18/38-2/ (3:51)

4. Visuals 1-3

LESSON OVERVIEW

The purpose of Jesus’ death on the cross was to reconcile us to God. Because God is just, He cannot excuse any sin; but because He is loving, He made a plan for us to be rescued by Jesus.

Younger Adaptation

Teacher’s Note: Begin the lesson by shouting out, “Rescue Me!”

When you hear that, what do you think? [Allow the children to respond.] If someone needs to be rescued that means they are in some kind of danger. I’m going to show you pictures of people who are in danger. Raise your hands and tell me who could rescue them. [Show Visuals 1-3 and allow the children to respond.] When you are in danger, you need someone to rescue you.

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INTRODUCTIONTeacher’s Note: If you choose, you may replace this introduction with the Younger Adaptation as described above. Show video God’s Story – Easter. https://teachersource.wol.org/videos/oly18/38-1/. (4:36) Continue teaching at the Body section of the lesson.

Teacher’s Note: Begin the lesson here if you are not using the Younger Adaptation.

Many people don’t know the true meaning of Easter or Good Friday. Unbelievers may be confused when Christians call the day that Jesus died on the cross Good Friday. How would you explain to an unbeliever why Christians call it Good Friday? [Allow the children to respond.] Well, those are all good answers.

Let’s see what the man on the street has to say about Good Friday. [Show Man on the Street: Kid’s version (Good Friday) video.]https://teachersource.wol.org/videos/oly18/38-2/ (3:52)

Now that Tyler, the guy who just got out of jail, has received Jesus as his Savior, he has a good reason to celebrate Good Friday and Easter. [Continue teaching at the Body of the lesson.]

BODY

Raise your hand if you have ever played the game, Monopoly. Do you know which card all the players want to draw out of the pile? [Allow the children to respond.] It’s the “Get Out of Jail Free” card. This card gives you freedom from jail if you land on the space marked “Go to jail.” Well, I have something much better for you than a card that frees you from jail.

Let me read 1 Peter 3:18. [Read 1 Peter 3:18.] Jesus suffered once on the cross to take the punishment for your sin. Jesus, the only righteous one, paid for the unrighteous ones to be able to come to God. Jesus is righteous because He always did what was right. He never did anything wrong. Since Jesus is the only righteous one, that means that everybody else is unrighteous (unjust). We usually use the word unrighteous (unjust) to describe criminals. Maybe you don’t think of yourself as a bad person, but be honest, do you always do or say the right thing? Have you ever said, done, or even thought about doing wrong things? Sin is anything we think, say, or do that displeases God. [Read Romans 3:23.] The Bible calls everybody unrighteous. How do people react when someone comes to save them from danger? [Allow the children to respond.] We should be even more excited, and happy that Jesus, the righteous one, left Heaven to come to rescue us? It was God’s plan to send Jesus as our rescuer. Jesus came to the earth as a baby, grew up in a family with half brothers and sisters, and was not always accepted by others. Yet, Jesus never did or said a wrong thing all the time He lived on earth.

Jesus died a horrible death on the cross on Good Friday. He willingly gave up His life on the cross for your sins and mine. Jesus is the only “Sin Rescuer.” That’s why we call it Good Friday. Easter (or Resurrection Sunday) is another great day because that is when we celebrate the day that Jesus rose from the dead and He is alive! Only God’s Son could do that! Because of what Jesus did, all those who received Him as their Savior can know for sure that they will spend eternity in Heaven with Him one day. Now that’s something to celebrate!

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APPLICATION

Have you been rescued from your sin? Maybe you are counting on the good things you do to rescue you. Do you think that being born into a Christian family or coming to church will rescue you from your sin? These are good things but not good enough. Only you can make a personal choice about whether you will receive Jesus Christ as your Savior and allow Him to rescue you from your sin.

The Bible is the 911 manual on how to be rescued from your sin. It’s as simple as ABC. A is for Admit. Tell God that you are a sinner. He already knows you’re a sinner, but do you agree with Him? B is for Believe. You need to believe in your heart that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, was buried but rose from the dead after three days and is alive! This is what the story of Easter is all about. The last step is found in the letter C, Come. Ask Jesus to come into your life and save you.

The Bible says that at the moment you receive Jesus as your personal Savior, the angels up in Heaven celebrate your new birthday. Wait till you hear this! You even receive a new birthday gift which is life in Heaven with Jesus for eternity (Romans 6:23).

If you have done that, I have one more question for you. Have you shared that good news with someone else? Remember, Jesus is the only “Sin Rescuer.” Lots of people just like you are waiting to be rescued from their sin. Let’s all tell them about the Rescuer, Jesus. [Close in prayer.]

PERSONAL TRAINING TIMEGoal of this Personal Training Time

Help the children realize they each need to be rescued from their sin. Remind them how and why Jesus is the only “Sin Rescuer.” Give them a personal opportunity to ask God to rescue them from their sin by trusting Jesus as their Savior.

Discussion Questions

1. What does each one of us need to be rescued from? (Our sin.)

2. What is sin? (Sin is anything we think, say, or do that displeases God.)

3. Why is Jesus the only One who can rescue us from our sin? (He is the only one who is sinless.)

4. Have you ever asked Jesus to rescue you from your sin? Would you like to ask Jesus today? (If every child in your group professes to be saved, have a few share their testimony.)

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PARENT CONNECTION

Most of us enjoy watching rescue stories on social media. Today we watched the greatest rescue ever recorded in history: https://teachersource.wol.org/videos/oly18/38-1/. Your child learned that Jesus is the only one who can rescue them from their sin because He is sinless, and we are not. Ask your child if he/she has been rescued from their sin.

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Visual 1

Visual 2

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Visual 3

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