2. What does the juice represent in communion? 3. Why are we supposed to take communion?
Answers
1. The body of Jesus 2. The blood of Jesus
3. To remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us
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Healing – Why is there Sickness? Romans 5:12
Materials: A clear drinking glass, soil and water.
Preparation: Bring these items to class for your object lesson.
The Lesson: (Tell your students that you have a very important lesson for them. As they watch you, take the empty glass from the table and put a little soil in it, then take some water and fill it up. Then ask them:) So who is ready to drink this water? Why not? Yes, because the water is not clean, it is not safe. Many people suffer from typhoid or other sicknesses because of drinking unboiled or untreated water. Failing to obey the simple process of boiling or treating water causes many diseases to afflict people like diarrhea and stomach aches due to germs or bacteria that live in water.
The Word of God tells us about another source of sickness. (Read Leviticus 26:3-5; 14-16.) Here we see how God warned the children of Israel to obey His Word, telling them that obedience would bring blessing, and that failure to obey God’s Word would bring bad results. This is why God gives us principles and His laws, to protect us from bad things. There are some diseases that you can avoid if you follow the principles and laws of God. For example, there are some illnesses that are caused by excessive drinking of alcohol or smoking or using drugs. A person who doesn’t do these things has no reason to fear such illnesses. So, it is true to say that some illnesses are products of man failing to obey God. The Bible also says that some illnesses are a result of the power of Satan (read Acts 10:38). But just like this Scripture says, Jesus is even more powerful. Those are some things that can cause illnesses, but all of them have one origin, which is sin. Our main Scripture explains it better (read Romans 5:12). Sickness and death entered the world because of sin. It doesn’t mean that when you get sick you have sinned, but we all struggle with illnesses because we live in a world that is affected by sin.
In the coming lesson we will learn about healing, and how to receive it, but let’s not forget that we are responsible to follow the principles and laws of God in our own lives. Many times we don’t know why illness occurs, or how. Even good people, those who know Jesus can get sick, because we live in a sinful world. But there are some things we can do to avoid some diseases. Just as you will suffer from severe stomach problems if you don’t boil or treat your drinking water, there will be serious problems if you don’t follow the principles and laws of God.
Life Application: Even today we still have many people who drink unboiled or untreated water, and many of them suffer from typhoid or other sicknesses. There are also those who ignore the Word of God. Sadly, they reap the bad results of their actions! We need to do our part in avoiding bad things which can affect us negatively, both physically and spiritually. Let’s pray and ask God to help us do our part to stay spiritually and physically healthy.
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Healing – Where Does it Come From? Psalms 107:20
Materials: An empty syringe, tablets in a small bottle, clean water in a clear drinking glass.
Preparation: Bring these items with you to class to use during your object lesson.
Lesson: How many of you have ever had an injection? (Show the syringe as you ask.) How many have taken medicine when you’ve gotten sick? (Show them the tablets and glass of water as you ask.) These things can help us and heal us when we are sick.
(Briefly explain how injections are used to heal various diseases. And explain how various kinds of tablets like panadol or paracetamol can stop headaches when taken according to the instructions of a doctor.) It is not wrong to go to a doctor or to a hospital or to use medicine given by a doctor. But we should never forget that it is God who is our greatest healer. The Bible tells us about the amazing nature of healing which comes from the power of God, without having to use injections or tablets!
In the previous lesson we learned that the basic origin of all diseases is sin. Healing also has its origin. It is the work of deliverance accomplished by Jesus on the cross (Read Isaiah 53:4-5). Because of Jesus we can receive miraculous healing. When Jesus was here on earth, He healed many people. And this healing is available even today. There are those who think that miraculous healing doesn’t happen any more. They think that healing stopped after Jesus and his disciples. But, the Bible tells us that God heals us by the power of His Word (Read Psalms 107:20). And His Word does not change. It had power back in those days, and it has power today. Also, the Bible shows us that God heals us by the power of the Holy Spirit, using His people (Read 1Corinthians 12:7-9). Because the Holy Spirit still works today, healing is available even today. (If possible, here you can give your own testimony of being healed or someone else’s testimony that you know. Or you can allow the students to give their testimonies of healing.)
Like we said in the previous lesson, we live in a world affected by sin. Because of that, all of us struggle against the results of sin, and sickness is one of them. But we have every reason to thank God for Jesus Christ. He came to overcome and break all the works of Satan. He has won the victory over sin and death and sickness and because of that, we can be healed.
Life Application: God continues to heal people who accept and believe in His wonderful and amazing healing power. Let’s thank God for the work done by Jesus Christ and let’s thank Him for the healing available through Jesus. (At the end, you can lead the students in special prayer for those who need healing.)
“He sent out his word and healed them;
he rescued them from the grave.” Psalms 107:20
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Healing – How to Receive it James 5:15
Materials: A drawing or picture of a bicycle, motorcycle, car, train, airplane and a ship.
Preparation: Collect as many pictures as you can, showing different means of transportation, and bring them to class.
Lesson: There are many different ways to help us as human beings travel. How many of you have used a bicycle to travel? (Lift up the bicycle picture as you ask.) How many have travelled using this other way? (Lift up the picture of a car as you ask. Continue asking the question and lifting up the pictures one by one until you have finished all the pictures.) These are all different ways that help in transportation, but all these have the same goal, which is to assist a person to move from one place to another.
In the same way, people receive healing in many different ways, not just one. The Bible explains that people will be healed when servants of God place hands on them (Read Mark 16:18). Also the Bible shows that sick people are healed when they are anointed with oil and prayed for (Read James 5:14-15). Others were healed when servants of God proclaimed healing for them in the name of Jesus (Read Acts 14:8-10). Even though those are different ways, the goal of each way is the same, that the sick will be healed. It doesn’t matter how healing happens or what the circumstances are, it always happens through the power of Jesus Christ Himself. He is our healer. We don’t have the power to heal people, but we can be used by the Lord if we have faith and if we trust His Word. Many times when we pray for the sick, we lay hands on them because the Bible tells us to do that. When we lay hands on them we ask God to heal them, we rebuke sicknesses and command that they be healed in the name of Jesus Christ. We do those things because the Bible tells us to do so. When people are healed, it is not because of anything good in us or our power or the power of any minister or anything else more than the power of the Lord Jesus, doing His work through people who believe Him.
You don’t have to be a pastor or church elder to pray for sick people. Every believer can pray for the sick. Even little children have been used to pray for the sick, and they were healed. Because it has nothing to do with the age of the person or the ability of the person. It is God’s power and ability that does the work. (If possible, at this point give a testimony about your own healing, or of a person you know who was healed through the prayers of a child.)
Life Application: Divine healing is still available today. If you have a friend or family member who is sick, don’t hesitate to pray for them. God can not only heal the person but can also use it as a testimony of His power. Let’s thank God again for His healing and that it is available for all who believe. (The teacher should ask if there are any students needing healing so that they can be prayed for. If you want, invite a few other students to come forward and help you pray for those who need healing.)
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Questions from Lessons on Healing
Lesson 1: Healing — Why is There Sickness? 1. What is the basic origin of sickness and disease?
Answer the following questions by indicating whether they are True or False. 2. Some diseases are avoidable when rules of hygiene are followed.
3. Some diseases are can be avoided by following the principles and laws of God. Answers
1. Sin (This refers to original sin that entered the world, not necessarily individual sin) 2. True
3. True
Lesson 2 : Healing — Where does it Come From?