Stonecroft Ministries What is God like Trinity curriculum Lesson 6 adapted for youth and children in Africa"

Remember we learnt that God wants to be with His people. God knows all things and He always expresses Himself to us in ways that are best for us. He is trustworthy.

The knowledge that we are never alone calms our fears and brings peace to our troubled hearts.

There is another place where God is which we have only implied up to this point. By His Spirit, He lives in the hearts and lives of those who have invited Him in.

When God created man, He breathed eternal life into him and man became a living being. This made man different from all the rest of His creation.

Read Genesis 2:7. . . . .

7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

God’s plan is that people live with Him forever. But God gave Adam and Eve, the first humans, the power of choice. And they chose to disobey Him.

The consequence of disobeying God’s revealed will is death—eternal separation from God.

Read Deuteronomy 30:19. . . . .

19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;

But Adam and Eve’s failure and disobedience did not change God’s plan. God had already provided a way for disobedience to be forgiven and for the sinner to be clean again. When we believe and accept the way God has prepared, we will live forever in fellowship with Him in the place He is preparing for us.

Read 1 John 2:24-25 . . . . .

24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that He has promised us-eternal life.

This gracious action on God’s part reveals more about what God is like. He loves His creation and in mercy, He has graciously provided the only way our relationship with Him can be restored.

Do you remember a time when you made the decision to ask Jesus Christ to come into your life? Have you yielded your life to Him? It is the most important choice we have to make. It is the difference between eternal life with God or apart from God.

We are going to live forever some place. We alone decide where that will be. Don’t postpone this important decision. God wants us to be with Him forever.

God’s presence in our lives makes it possible for us to live under His direction and carry out His purposes! His holy presence with sinful people demonstrates His love and grace.

In the last lesson, we have learned about God’s continual presence in our individual lives. This week we will learn that God knows each of us personally and loves us intimately.

During the week, while at home, you would have read the Bible verses below, each of the verses gave an answer to our question-where is God? Lets discuss your answers.

Purpose of the Lesson
• Recognize the fact that God knows us as individuals
• Understand that God’s love never changes
• Desire to have meaningful fellowship with God
• Talk to God through Prayer

Eternal Father, thank You for telling us about Yourself in the Bible. Help us to trust You to meet our daily needs. Help us to understand that You have a plan for our lives. We pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

We are studying the Bible because we want to know God. We want to find out if God really knows us. Notice the title of our lesson—Does God Know Me? How would you explain the difference between us knowing God and God knowing us? . . . . .

For us to really know God, He must reveal Himself to us. Our experience of knowing God comes through our willingness to believe and obey what He reveals to us in His Word. We have had several lessons discussing how God has revealed Himself to us, so we know He wants us to know Him.

The secret of knowing God in a life-changing way is to ask ourselves if we really believe Him. When He says He wants us to know Him in a personal way, do we believe He means it? What a profound difference it makes in our lives when we ask God to reveal who He really is and when we begin to get a glimpse of His unmeasurable power and glory!

God knows more about us than we know about ourselves or anyone else knows about us. God doesn’t have to learn about us. He knew us before time began! He knew us before we were born. He already had a perfect plan for our lives. God has always known us, God knew us before we were born. He knows everything about us. And He does not want one of us loss.

JUNIOR YOUTH CIRCLE OF SHEEP GAME: One child can be the Shepherd who will stand in the middle of the circle of sheep. The teacher will walk around the outside edge of the sheep circle and pat each sheep on the back and will "secretly" place a sticker on the back of one child without anyone knowing who she picked for the ONE SHEEP that the Shepherd will find. Then the "Shepherd" will guess who has the sticker - that "sheep" will turn around and let the shepherd see if the sticker is on his back; if not, the Shepherd will continue to look for his "sheep" with the sticker. IF the sheep with the sticker is found by the Shepherd, then that sheep will become the new Shepherd and that Shepherd will go back into the circle of sheep. The teacher can continue to place a sticker on different children as time allows.

1. What does the parable in Matthew 18:12-14 reveal concerning God’s attitude about each individual person?. . . . . (God seeks for one that is lost.)

2. God loves each one of us as individuals and has a special purpose and plan for each person.

Know that the Lord , He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

God created us. God wants to bless us with spiritual blessings. He wants to have fellowship with us. The Bible confirms the fact that God loves us, He knows all about us, and He wants us to know His plan for our lives.

3. As I expand my knowledge of God, I am learning the following things. (Possible answers include: God exists. He is eternal. He is all powerful. God knows all things, is present everywhere, is sovereign, wise, holy, majestic, King.)

4. Psalm 139:1-18 is evidence that God has perfect knowledge of every person. As you read this psalm, copy the verses that challenge you or give you the greatest comfort. . .

1 O Lord , You have searched me and known me.
2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
3 You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord , You know it altogether.
5 You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me,"
Even the night shall be light about me;
12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You.
13 For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.

17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
24 And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.

The next finger is called your index finger. It is used for pointing. Let this finger remind you to pray for those that point you in the right direction. Pray for your teachers at school, your Sunday School teacher, helpers including your pastor.

The next finger is the tallest finger. This finger reminds us to pray for our leaders. Pray for the president and other leaders in our government and those who are leaders in our village, town or school.

The fourth finger is the called the ring finger. Did you know that this is the weakest of all the fingers? Just ask any one who plays the piano and they will tell you that is true. Let this finger remind you to pray for those who are sick, week and in need.

The next finger is the smallest finger. The Bible says, "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought." Let the little finger remind you to pray for yourself.

So the next time you are talking to God, and you can't think of anything to say, let the "Five Finger Prayer" help you.

The Prayer of Faith

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
James 5: 13 – 16

Dear Lord, we thank you for prayer. Help me to remember the Five Finger Prayer and the 5W’s as I lift up those that need prayer - those that are closest to you me, my parents or guardian, friends and family. Help me to pray for my teachers at school, my Sunday School teacher and my pastor. May I always remember to pray for the president and other leaders in our government and those who are leaders in our town or village. Help me to remember to pray for those who are sick, weak and in need. Lastly Father I pray for myself and my needs, remembering that you know what I need before I even ask. Thank you in Jesus name.
Amen

6. APPLICATION/ENCOUNTERING GOD: Encourage the children to come and practice the "Five Finger Prayer".

CLOSING PRAYER: Our dear Heavenly Father we lift up our parents, our brothers and sisters or family and friends to you now in prayer. You are love and love comes from you, I pray for your love and unity for my parents. Please rekindle fresh love in their heart for each other let this love radiate to us the children. Let your love in their heart cover all their wrongs and give them a heart of forgiveness in Jesus name.

We pray for all who teach us, our teacher at school, our Pastor give them patience, wisdom and revelation. We thank you that when we are weak, you are strong. Please give your help when teachers are tired, give grace when they feel they've reached the limit, give peace when they feel overwhelmed. Empower them by your Spirit with enough energy to match even the most active child in their class.

We bring before you in prayer our leaders, administrators, the Prime Minister and other leaders in our government and those who are leaders in our town give us godly, honest leaders. Lord, we pray for our members of Congress, both in the Senate and the House of Representatives. Reveal yourself to them and bring them closer to you, each in their own unique way, that they may hear your voice clearly and distinctly. Speak to them of truth, integrity, justice, and fairness.

We remember those who are weak, troubled and sick give them strength and healing in Jesus name.

Father help me to obey my parents and guardians, help me to be a good student at school and obey my teachers. Teach me your ways and help me to follow, in Jesus name I pray Amen.

During the week, while at home, read the Bible verses below, each of the verses gave an answer to our question-God knows us.

All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.

(How much of what we do does God see? ) ..... ______________________________________________________

The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Keeping watch on the evil and the good.

Hell and Destruction are before the Lord ;
So how much more the hearts of the sons of men.

9 "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars."

5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and [ f ] manifest Myself to him."

(What is the connection between our love for God and our obedience to Him? ).....

* Select the verse from the Weekly Bible Reading which is the most meaningful to you at this time. Think about what that truth means to you personally and apply it to your life.
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Bring back your 'Weekly Bible Verse Readings' so you can discuss your answers at the next session.

NEXT WEEK: Lesson #7 will teach us that God can do nothing that is contrary to His own perfect nature. We do not need to fear what God has planned for our lives. Since He is holy, knows all things, is perfectly just, and loves with perfect, unchanging love, we know that God always wants the best for His children. We can rely and stand on His Promises.

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