The Good News-Week 1

Memory Verse

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Day 1-Sin is What Separates Us

  • Pray.
  • Practice the memory verse together. Make up motions together if your children do not already know the verse.
  • Ask, “Have you ever heard of the term, ‘the gospel’? Where have you heard the word used? What does it mean?”
  • Say, “The gospel means ‘good news’. So, what is the good news that the Bible talks about? John 3:16 gives us the answer. Let’s say it one more time.”
  • Say, “We are going to start at the beginning to see why this news is such good news.”
  • Read Genesis 1:27. Then read Genesis 2:15-17.
  • Review what you just read before moving on:
    • God made man and woman.
    • He put them in the garden of Eden.
    • He gave them one rule.
  • Ask, “Why do we have rules?”
  • Say, “God gave them this rule because He knew what was best for Adam and Eve; He did create them, after all. ”
  • Read Genesis 3:1-7.
  • Ask, “What did Adam and Eve do? Did they obey or disobey God?”
  • Say, “That is sin-disobeying God. What do you think will happen next?”
  • Read Genesis 3:8-13 and Genesis 3:21, 23.
  • Say, “I thought we were talking about Good News this week! This news doesn’t sound very good, does it? Well, thankfully, the story doesn’t end here! Because of their sin, the perfect relationship they had with God had been broken, and they had to leave the garden.”
  • Ask, “How are we like Adam and Eve? Have you ever sinned?”
  • Say, “The Bible says that we all have sinned (Romans 3:23), and because of that we are separated from God (Isaiah 59:2). But as we read more this week, we will see that God loves us so much and does not want us to be separated from him (2 Peter 3:9).

Day 2-The Savior Came

  • Pray.
  • Review the memory verse.
  • Ask, “Can you think of some good news you have been told before? How did that news make you feel?’
  • Say, “We are going to hear some good news today! We read yesterday about how our sin separates us from being in a right relationship with God, but today we are going to see how God had a plan to bring people back to Him. His plan was Jesus. (Ask younger kids if they can spell Jesus. If not, teach them!)
  • Say, “700 years before Jesus was born, there were prophets whom God sent to tell the people that He would send a Savior, the Messiah. Well, He kept His word and the Savior came! As we read from the Bible, listen to what the angels had to say about Jesus.”
  • Read Luke 1:31-33 (angel speaking to Mary).
  • Ask, “Who was the baby? Who was His Father?”
  • Read Matthew 1:20-23 (angel speaking to Joseph in a dream).
  • Say, “The name Jesus means “Savior”.
  • Ask, “What does the Bible say Jesus would save His people from?”
  • Connect yesterday’s story to today-we have sinned and are therefore separated from God. So, God sent Jesus-the One who would save us from our sins and reunite us with God. This is the GOOD NEWS!!
  • Read Luke 2:10-11 (angel speaking to the shepherds on the night that Jesus was born).
  • Ask, “Did you hear the angel say He had Good News? (You may want to reread Luke 2:10-11.) Who was the news for? What was the Good News?”
  • God loves us so much! He didn’t want anyone to be separated from Him because of sin. So He sent the only One who could save us from our sin. Our Savior is Jesus! (John 3:16)
  • Activity:
    • Older kids-pretend to put on a news cast about the Good News the we read about today. You can tell the stories of Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds.
    • Younger kids-practice writing or tracing the name “Jesus”. You can find lots of ideas for “name writing practice for preschoolers” on Pinterest.

Day 3-Jesus is the Way

  • Pray.
  • Review the memory verse.
  • Say, “Yesterday we read about how Jesus came to earth as a baby, but he was no ordinary baby! Who did the angel say Jesus was?”
  • Say, “When Jesus was about 30 years old, He called some men to come join Him as He started to teach the Good News. Jesus did many miracles while He was on the earth. Remember miracles are things that only God can do. What are some of His miracles you can think of?”
  • Say, “Jesus also told stories to teach the people about God and how they should live. Many people were amazed by what they saw and heard from Jesus and began to follow Him.”
  • Say, “Nicodemus was an important man who had seen all of the things Jesus had done and knew that He must have come from God, but he was curious to know more so He went to visit Jesus one night. While they spoke, Jesus shared the Good News with Nicodemus.”
  • Read John 3:16-17.
  • Ask, “Why did God send Jesus into the world (verse 17)? Why did the world need saving?”
  • Read or talk about Isaiah 59:2 and Romans 3:23.
  • Say, “The world needs saving because our sin causes a separation between us and God, and no matter what anyone does, we can’t get back to God on our own.”
  • Read the Good News that Jesus tells His disciples in John 14:6.
  • Say, “While we can’t get back to God on our own, Jesus came so we would have a way! He is the Way!
  • Pray, thanking God for sending Jesus to be the Way back to Him.
  • Activity: Draw a treasure map and have a small prize waiting for them at the end. Compare the map to Jesus and the treasure at the end to eternity with God in Heaven.

Day 4-Forgiveness

  • Pray.
  • Review the memory verse.
  • Ask, “Do you remember what the word ‘gospel’ means?”
  • Say, “The gospel is the good news that through Jesus we can be forgiven of our sins and have a personal relationship with God. But what did Jesus have to do to enable us to have those things? To find out the answer, we have to look back in the Old Testament.”
  • Explain to your children that the Bible says that the payment for sin is death (Romans 6:23), and forgiveness of sin requires the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22). Back in the Old Testament, God accepted animal sacrifices to forgive sins. But that was only a temporary solution.
  • Ask, “Do you like watching movie previews or previews to a new episode of a show you really like? What is the purpose of a movie preview?”
  • Say, “Well, God gave us a preview in the Old Testament of what He was going to do in the New Testament. The Israelites had being living in slavery for many years and God sent Moses to rescue them from slavery. God finally said enough is enough! He told Moses His plan to save His people.”
  • Read or summarize Exodus 12:3, 5-7, 12-13.
  • Ask, “What were they to use for a sacrifice? What were they to do with it? What did the blood over the door signify? So, how does that story go with Jesus?”
  • Read John 1:29 (John the Baptist referring to Jesus).
  • Ask, “Who did John say Jesus was?”
  • Say, ” Jesus was the lamb of God; the lamb that God provided to forgive our sins. He was perfect; He had never sinned so He didn’t deserve death like we do (Romans 6:23). But because He loved us so much, He sacrificed (willingly gave up) His life so that our sins could be forgiven once and for all (John 3:16).”
  • Ask, “Remember back to our Old Testament preview. What happened to the people who believed what God told Moses and put the blood over their doors?”
  • Say, “They were saved from death. The same is true today. When we believe that Jesus is the perfect Lamb, the sacrifice that was needed to forgive sin completely, we can be saved!”
  • Read Romans 6:23.
  • Tell them that we will be talking more about God’s gift to us tomorrow!

Day 5-The Gift God Gives

  • Pray.
  • Review the memory verse. Can they recite it with their eyes closed?
  • Ask, “Can you tell me about a great gift you have gotten?” Tell your children about a great gift you have received too.
  • Say, “Those are all super! But, did you know that God has a gift for us that is even better than any of those gifts you told me about? Jesus tells us what God’s gift is in John 3:16. Say the verse in your head, but don’t tell what the gift is if you know it!”
  • Read Romans 6:23.
  • Say, “Now tell me what God’s gift to us is!”
  • Say, “So, like we have talked about earlier this week, our sin deserves death, which means total separation from God. But there is good news! God doesn’t want us to be separated from Him! He wants us to live with Him forever! He made a way for us to be with Him, and the way is _____________! (Jesus)”
  • Remind your kids how Jesus willingly gave up His life on the cross. The perfect lamb, the final sacrifice to forgive our sins. Talk with them how He was buried and a huge, heavy stone was rolled in front of the entrance to block anyone from getting in. Guards were placed around the tomb. Jesus was in the tomb two days, but on the third day He rose again. (Matthew 27:57-66)
  • Read Luke 24:1:1-8.
  • Ask, “What amazing miracle happened that day?”
  • Say, “Jesus not only died to forgive us of our sins, but because He rose from the dead, He beat death, so we no longer have to be eternally separated from Him (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). His gift to us is life with Him forever! The Bible tells us that nothing can separate us from the love of God, and He showed His love for us through Jesus (Romans 8:38-39).”
  • Say, “Now you know about God’s gift to us, but just knowing about God’s gift doesn’t mean it’s yours. If a friend comes to your birthday party and holds out the present he wrapped for you, you have to take it or don’t get it. The same is true for God’s gift to us. He is holding out His gift of forgiveness and life forever with Him, but you have to decide if you are going to accept His gift or not.”
  • Read Romans 10:9-10.
  • Say, “The Bible says that the way to accept God’s gift of salvation is to tell God that you have sinned and that you know you need Jesus because He died for your sins. You recognize that He is the Boss. You also must believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead so you can have life with Him forever.”
  • Pray(out loud), asking God to help your children understand how much He loves them. Pray that they will accept His gift of salvation.
  • Activity:
    • Younger kids-Give them some boxes, wrapping paper, ribbon, bows, and tape. Tell them to wrap the boxes like gifts and have a pretend birthday party.
    • Older kids-Teach them how to properly wrap a present.

Resources About Leading a Child to Christ

God will draw your children to Himself as they hear from His Word (Isaiah 54:13 and John 6:44). He will prompt their hearts and convict them of their sin and need for a Savior (John 16:8). He will give them understanding of the Truth in His Word (Psalm 119:130).

Below are a couple of great resources that can help you navigate their questions and guide you if they are ready to accept God’s wonderful gift.