MATERIALS:
White cloth, Gold Jesus crown, palm leaf. New Candle, box of matches. Small candle just 1” tall. “I ain't gonna grieve my Lord no more” lyrics sheet and colouring pages. A limp yellow leaf. A lamp with a translucent shade that allows a little, but not all, of the light to show through. 6 boys to act out the Transfiguration, cloth wraps for Peter James and John, purple and gold wraps for Moses and Elijah. 10 Commandment poster for Moses to hold. A piece of paper rolled up like a scroll for Elijah. Print lyrics and music sheets

AS KIDS ARRIVE PRIOR TO THE LESSON:
Welcome Teacher/Trainers, Trainers and students. Get all the children to colour the Active Praise lyrics colouring pages until it is time to start.

1. OPENING GAME: (10 minutes)
The teacher hides a small candle in her hand hidden behind her back. She brings her hands out concealing the small candle. “Guess which hand the candle is in”
The children run to the left or right and whichever side is wrong are disqualified, the game is repeated until there is only one player left who is the winner. Have a little treat like a sweetie as a prize.

2. TEAM GAMES: (10 minutes)
Position two chairs each with a flashlight at the far end of the room or area. Divide children into two teams and have one from each team run to the chair and get a flashlight and run back to the team handing it over to the next team player who on receiving it shouts “God is Light” they then run with the flashlight back to the far side of the room or area run around the chair and return to the next team player. Continue to play until all of the team has run then the entire team runs to the finish winning team gets there first.

3. ACTIVE PRAISE CHORUS: (10 minutes)
Marching on in the light of God (See separate lyrics, music sheet and video)
(Get children up and marching.)

Chorus:
A robe of white,(White cloth)
a crown of gold, (Gold Jesus crown)
A harp,( pretend to strum a harp)
a home,(put hands like a roof over your head)
a mansion fair, (raise hands above your head)
A victor’s palm, (wave a palm leaf)
a joy untold, (dance and rejoice)
Are mine when I get there.

4. INTIMATE WORSHIP (5 minutes)
Days of Elijah (See separate lyrics and music sheet)

Prayer: Heavenly Father we know you are light; and in You there is no darkness at all. Praise God You have made Your light to shine to us. We learn in the Book of Revelation 21:23 that the New Jerusalem does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for Your glory gives it light, and the Lamb Jesus is its lamp to your glory.

5. TEACHING
a. “Back Track”
Who is the Light of the World? (Jesus)
Then turn off the lights and note the responses, light a candle.

Discussion
While the lights are still off and the candle is burning and illuminating the room, ask the following questions for discussion:
• Did anyone notice the candle before? What did you think? Did you disregard / dismiss its presence in the room ?
• How did things change when the lights went off?
• How is the candle like Jesus in the world? (When so many other things grab our attention it is easy to miss God!)
• What attractions of this world distract us from God?
• Where can you personally shine brightly for Christ?
• What are some of your personal distractions?
• How can you avoid the distractions and stay more focused on Christ?

b. Sword Play (Give each child a Sword Play track to take home)
Ready…Swords up… 1 John 1:5… CHARGE
“God is light ... and in Him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5)
(Split group into three each repeating the verse in three sections, then change around and repeat.)

c. Teach the Lesson (15 minutes)
Introduction: View ‘Shine’ video
We are going to look at one of the simplest passages in the Bible. It is only three words. Even though it is only three words it is one of the most profound passages in the Bible. Turn to I John 1:5.
“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” (I John 1:5 NKJV)

We read the whole verse but I want to concentrate on three words, “God is light.” That phrase is profound. In fact, two of the simplest and yet most profound verses in the Bible are found in I John. Chapter 1 verse 5 is one of those passages. The other is chapter 4 verse 8, “God is love.”

We need light just like we need God. Do you realize there is a physical disorder caused my lack of light? People become very sluggish and lazy, plants need light leaves become limp and yellow. (Show the leaf)

We need physical light but even more we need God’s light. I want to share some of the functions of light to us to understand God’s unique place in our lives.

Light begins with L...Light gives Life.
One of the first things God placed in this world was light. Remember in the first lesson we learnt In Gen. 1:3 God commanded that there be light. One of the major teachings of I John is that life comes from God and eternal life comes through Jesus Christ. Apart from Him there is no life.

Light Inspires! When we are inspired by God’s light and our relationship with Him, we will live a different lifestyle.

Have you ever walked out on a moonlit night and gazed up into the Heavens? The sight of that beautiful sight will lift your spirits. That light inspires you or a stunning sunset, the light inspires you. Light has that affect. It draws and inspires and people want to be near it. John teaches us in verses 5 & 6 that people who walk in God’s light want to have fellowship with Him.

King David said in Psalm 4:6b “Let the light of your face shine on us” and in Psalm 76:4 You are radiant with light

In Revelation there is a wonderful passage about light. “And there shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.” (Rev. 22:5 NKJV)

The disciples knew that Jesus was the Light of the world, we learnt that last week; He had told them so. They had seen in His life, words, and miracles, a glimpse of the glory of God. It was as if they were looking at a lamp with its light shaded from view, sort of like this lamp. (Show lamp with shade.)

Let’s read a story in the Bible from Matthew 17:1-3 (Get a group to act it out)

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John ... and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

When Jesus was transfigured on the mountain, it’s as if the shade was taken away and the disciples could see the true brightness of God’s glory. His face shone like the sun and his garments were glowing white. Do you think the disciples were surprised? They’d never seen Jesus like this; usually he looked ordinary and human just like them. And Jesus was human, but his disciples knew He was also special. They knew that he was God’s own Son, the Saviour of the world.

Well do you know what happened next? A bright cloud came over them and God’s voice came from the cloud and said, “This is my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with him. Listen to him” (Matt. 17:5 NLT). Do you think those disciples had any doubts about who Jesus was at that moment? There was no doubt about it. Jesus was God’s Son. He was shining with heaven’s glory; God was speaking. There was no doubt.

Extracts from www.kidsermons.com

6. APPLICATION / ENCOUNTERING GOD: Refer to our Encountering God Handbook for ideas for this important section of the session. Experience the Holy Spirit Learning Centers creating an atmosphere for this experience.

Listening to God’s Son Jesus is so very important. Getting ideas and suggestions from other people is important but it is most important that we listen to Jesus. We can listen to Jesus by reading about the life of Jesus in the Bible. We can read what he said and taught and we can ask the Holy Spirit to help us understand, spend some time now quietly listening to Jesus.

CLOSING PRAYER:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your son Jesus as the great Light. Thank you for pushing back the darkness of our sin and surrounding us with the warmth and healing light of your presence. We praise & worship you, Jesus speak to us now, we are listening. Amen

TAKE HOME PAGE:
Optional: ‘Take Home Quiz’ books are available for the children at the end of this session.

NEXT WEEK:
We will learn how to walk in the light.