GOD IS PERSONAL

Bible Time: Day 4 & 5

Day 4: God Knows You!

Because GOD IS A PERSONAL SPIRIT, I can get to know Him better every day.

Memory Verse:

"Yes I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5

Preparation: Before you begin today's study, retrieve the branch or stem you cut from the plant at the beginning of the week. What does it look like today?

Read or quote the memory verse: "Yes I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5 (NLT).

Can you think of a time when you did something that surprised those who know you well? Was it something you did better than anyone expected you to do or something no one thought you could do? Tell me about it.

Listen to how a young girl named Kate answered that question:

MY NAME IS KATE, AND THIS IS MY STORY. . .

"Give it up." I can still hear the words in my head. Has anyone ever said that to you? It's like, deep down inside you know you can do something, but everyone else says you can't.

I heard about a young boy who was in a terrible accident. The doctors said he would never run again, but he knew he could. He worked hard, harder than most of us will ever work, and when he grew up, he surprised everyone by winning the Olympic gold medal in the mile race!

I can't run very well, but I can sing... at least that's what I thought until my choir teacher told me to give it up and stick to playing the clarinet. I went home that day and cried. I was sure I could sing. I just knew that God had given me the ability to sing. I had a voice inside that wanted to come out. So why did people look like they wanted to cover their ears whenever I began to hum a melody? I tried out for a lot of singing parts in choirs and talent shows. Most of my friends were chosen... I never was. I know, I know, you would think I'd get the hint. What do you do when God has put something in your heart but the opposite seems to happen? Do you know what I did? I talked to God about it. Do you know what He said? "Don't give up."

It was hard. I took voice lessons and learned that even though I thought I was singing the right notes, I wasn't. When everyone else was singing one tune, I was singing another... No wonder people didn't like my singing! I thought that I might have to "give it up" like the boy in the story. It wasn't easy to learn to sing the right tune, but when I did, the voice I had heard on the inside finally made it to the outside.

God is not surprised. He knew how He made me and the voice He had given me. He also knew it would take time and work to bring that voice out. Do you know who is surprised? My choir teacher!!

(PARENT/MENTOR: Share a story from your own life to help your child.)

God is never surprised by anything you do or think because He knows everything about you!

Read Psalm 139:1-6.

"Oh Lord, You have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I'm far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place Your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!" (NLT).

What does God know about you? How does this make you feel?

Read verse 6 again.

"Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!" (NLT)

Why do you think David (the wrtier of the verse) thought it was so great that God knew him so well?

How do you feel about the fact that God knows all about you--the good and the bad?

God is not surprised by the bad stuff you do. As a matter of fact, He planned for it! Let's read what He did…

Read Romans 5:8.

"But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." (NLT)

How did God show His great love for us? (He sent Christ to die for us.)

You don't have to worry that He will discover something about you that will make Him stop wanting a friendship with you.

You don't have to try to be good enough to earn His friendship.

He loves you and He wants a relationship with you now and forever!

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

Because God is a Personal Spirit, we can get to know Him and He knows us. God knows everything about us. There is nothing you can say or do that will surprise Him. There is nothing you can say or do that will make Him stop loving you. He wants a relationship with you so much that, even though He already knew every bad thing you will ever think or do, He sent His Son to die for those sins. He wants a relationship with you that much.

The fact that God is a Personal Spirit, also matters because it is our relationship with Him that helps us get along with others.

TALK WITH GOD AND STAY CONNECTED TO THE VINE!

Thank God that He wants a relationship with you. Tell Him how you feel about getting to know Him better.

"The greatest tragedy (or one of the saddest things) in life is when we stop talking with God." -- Zac Bright

Day 5: Stay Connected!

Because GOD IS A PERSONAL SPIRIT, I can get to know Him better every day.

Memory Verse:

"Yes I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5

Preparation: Before you begin today's study, retrieve the vine or stem you cut from the plant at the beginning of the week. What happened to it?

Read or quote the memory verse: "Yes I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5 (NLT).

Why did the branch you cut from the main part of the plant wither and die? (It was cut off from the main part of the plant and its roots; it couldn't get food or water.)

What does the vine or, in this case, the main part of the plant, do for the branch? (It provides what it needs to live.)

Read John 15:5.

[Jesus said,] "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing." (NLT).

The word "remain" in that verse means "stick close to" or "hold on tight to." Jesus wants us to know how important it is to stick close to Him.

Think of your closest friend.

If you stop talking with your friend, what happens to the friendship? (Your friendship will not last. It will die.)

If you have a big fight and stop talking with each other, what must happen to begin fixing the friendship? (You must forgive one another and start talking to each other again.)

If friends stop talking, there is no hope for the relationship to stay the same or to grow stronger. It will get weaker. It is the same with our friendship with God. The words, "Lord Jesus, I need You" begin a conversation with a loving, faithful, all powerful, forgiving God who will be your best friend forever.

How would you describe your relationship with God?

I am holding on tight to the vine (You talk with God often and like to hear His Word, the Bible).
I am holding on, but not tightly. (I like to read His Word. I talk with God at night and sometimes during the day when I need His help.)
I am holding on with my pinky finger (You talk with God some but not much).
I don't talk to God at all; I am not connected.

If you haven't begun a relationship with God, don't wait any longer! Go to the 4Keys 4Kids and find out how to start!!

Look at this list of words that describe God. Which do you like the best? (Prompt your child if he/she can't read well.)

God Is a Personal Spirit
God is All-Powerful (Biggest & Strongest)
God is Holy (Perfect & Clean)
God is Love
God is Everywhere all the time
God is Totally Truthful
God is Merciful
God Knows Everything
God is Always Right
God is Faithful
God is Creator King
God is Just (Always Fair)
God Never Changes

The more we get to know God, and hold on tightly to Him every day, the more we will experience these attributes in our lives. I'm going to read your favorite attribute. Listen for God's part and your part.

(Note to Parents: Find the one your child chose from the list of attributes below, and read it aloud like this...)

Because God is a Personal Spirit, I can get to know Him better every day as I hold on tight to Him. Apart from Him, I can do nothing.
Because God is All-Powerful, (the Biggest and the Strongest), I know He can help me with anything as I hold on tight to Him. Apart from Him, I can do nothing.
Because God is Holy, (Perfect and Clean), I know He sent Jesus to make my heart clean too, so I will hold on tight to Him. Apart from Him, I can do nothing.
Because God is Love, I know He loves me no matter what, and He will help me to love others as I hold on tight to Him. Apart from Him, I can do nothing.
Because God is Everywhere, I know that I am never alone,so I will hold on tight to Him. Apart from Him, I can do nothing.
Because God is Totally Truthful, I know I can trust Him and His Word, the Bible, to be true, and so I will hold on tight to Him. Apart from Him, I can do nothing.
Because God is Merciful, I know He forgives me even though I don't deserve it, and so I will hold on tight to Him. Apart from Him, I can do nothing.
Because God Knows Everything, I know that I can go to Him with all my questions and worries as I hold on tight to Him. Apart from Him, I can do nothing
Because God is Always Right, I know what He says is best, and I want to obey Him as I hold on tight to Him. Apart from Him, I can do nothing.
Because God is Faithful, I know I can trust His promises to me so I will hold on tight to Him. Apart from Him, I can do nothing.
Because God is the Creator/King, I know He is in control, and I can trust His plan for me as I hold on tight to Him. Apart from Him, I can do nothing.
Because God is Just (Always Fair), I know He will always treat me fairly so I will hold on tight to Him. Apart from Him, I can do nothing.
Because God Never Changes, I know I don't have to worry about the future as I hold on tight to Him. Apart from Him, I can do nothing.

What is God's part? (To be: (insert the attribute))

What's our part? (To stay connected to the vine and hold on tight to Him!)

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

How would you answer someone if he were to ask you, "Why does it matter if God is Personal or not?"

TALK WITH GOD AND STAY CONNECTED TO THE VINE!

Talk with God all the time. You can pray like this: "Lord Jesus I need You... and I'm thankful that you are... (whatever attribute the child chose earlier). Help me to hold on tightly to You."

ACTION POINT:

Because God is a Personal Spirit, I will ______________________.