Out of Darkness, Light
GOD IS THE BIGGEST AND STRONGEST
Bible Time: Day 2 & 3
DAY 2: GOD IS STRONGER THAN OUR FEARS!
Because GOD IS ALL-POWERFUL, (The Biggest and the Strongest), He can help me with anything.
Read or quote the memory verse:
(Scroll down for Day 3)
"O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and the earth by Your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for You." Jeremiah 32:17
Have you ever been afraid? What were you afraid of?
Let's read in the Bible about a time when Jesus' disciples were afraid:
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As evening came, Jesus said to His disciples, "Let's cross to the other side of the lake." So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with His head on a cushion. The disciples woke Him up, shouting, "Teacher, don't You care that we're going to drown?" When Jesus woke up He rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Silence! Be still!" Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then He asked them, "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?" The disciples were absolutely terrified. "Who is this man?" they asked each other. "Even the wind and waves obey Him!" - Mark 4:35-41 (NLT).
Do you think Jesus was afraid of the storm? Why or why not? (No. He was sleeping through the storm.)
Do you think the disciples were afraid? (Yes!) Why or why not? (They were afraid of drowning and they didn't believe Jesus could save them.)
What did the disciples learn about Jesus' power? (Even the wind and the waves obeyed Him!)
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The disciples were afraid, but they didn't need to be. Jesus was right there with them in their boat! He is bigger and stronger than everything, even the stormy wind and waves! When we're afraid, we don't need to be. Because Jesus is the biggest and the strongest, there is nothing we need to fear!
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Let's read what the Bible says we should do when we're afraid. Read Isaiah 41:10.
"Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand." (NLT)
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What does God promise us in this verse? (God promises to always be with me, and to hold me up with His strength.)
Just as Jesus used His power over the wind and the waves to calm the fears of His disciples, God promises to use His power to calm our fears and to give us the strength we need to make sure no one and no thing ever stops God's perfect plan for us!
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What is God telling us in this verse? (We don't need to be afraid. He will give us strength. He will hold us up.)
Next time you see or hear a powerful storm, think about God's power. Thank Him that He is stronger than the storm, and be reminded that He is stronger than anything we will ever experience. We don't need to be afraid
WHY DOES IT MATTER?
If no one and no thing can ever beat God or stop Him from doing His will, then you don't have to be afraid.
TALK WITH GOD AND STAY CONNECTED TO THE VINE!
Tell Him your worries and fears, just like the disciples did, and then thank Him for how He is going to show His power in and around you so that you don't have to be afraid.
DAY 3: GOD IS STRONGER THAN OUR WEAKNESSES!
Because GOD IS ALL-POWERFUL, (The Biggest and the Strongest), He can help me with anything.
Read or quote memory verse:
"O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and the earth by Your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for You." -Jeremiah 32:17
Do you ever look at other people and wish you could be as good at something as they are? What do you wish you could do better?
Listen to this story about a young girl named Minnie Moorehouse:
Minnie Moorehouse had a very obvious weakness. She was paralyzed and couldn't walk. Her dad came home one day with a package for her mother.
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"Where is Mother?" he asked after he kissed and hugged his daughter.
"Mother is upstairs," Minnie responded.
"Well," he said, "I have a package for her."
"Oh," she pleaded, "Let me carry the package to Mother."
"Why, Minnie dear," her father replied, "how can you carry the package? You can't even carry yourself."
With a smile, Minnie continued, "That's true, Papa. But you can give me the package, and I will carry the package -- and you will carry me!"
How did Minnie's weakness give her dad an opportunity to show his strength? (He's strong enough to carry her!)
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Listen to what the Bible says about our weaknesses. Read 2 Corinthians 12:9,10.
"Each time He said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong."(NLT)
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Why do you think God said, "My power works best in your weakness?" (Our weaknesses remind us that we need God's help. I am weak next to God.)
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Think about Minnie. Would she have asked her dad to carry her up the stairs if she had been able to walk? (Probably not.) Because she couldn't do something for herself, she saw how strong her father was.
It's a lot harder to remember to ask for God's strength when we think we're strong enough (even though it is God who gave us the strength in the first place).
Our weaknesses also remind us how Powerful God is.
If Minnie had been able to walk up the stairs by herself, would she have been thinking, "Wow, my Dad is so strong! I'm glad he's so much stronger than I am!" (No!)
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She probably would have raced up the stairs, never giving a thought to her dad's strength. God created us with the ability to do amazing things, but we often forget to give Him the credit and praise He deserves. When we see His power in our weakness, it's a good reminder!
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What are some things you are really good at? These things are called strengths. (For example: kind heart, hard worker, generous, great sense of humor, music, math, sports.....). God gave you those strengths, and it's important to thank Him for them!
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What are some things you are not good at? These things are called weaknesses. (For example: controlling your temper, being kind to others, sharing, listening, music, math, sports...).
Our weaknesses give us obvious opportunities to let God help us and give us the strength to do the things we can't do on our own.
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Let's read Philippians 4:13.
"For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." (NLT).
Where does strength come from? (God, Jesus)
How do you feel about the things you may not be very good at doing? (A looser, dumb, okay...)
Can you think of a time when God's power helped you do something you didn't think you could do? (For example: being nice to someone who has been mean to you, getting up in front of class even though you are scared of standing up there, saying "no" to something you knew was wrong, even though everyone else was doing it and you really wanted to do it too ...).
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Try to remember to ask God to help you do the things that are difficult for you. God's strength and power are always available.
WHY DOES IT MATTER?
Your weaknesses are not a problem for God, and they don't stop Him from doing what's best for you.
TALK WITH GOD AND STAY CONNECTED TO THE VINE!
God knows your strengths and weaknesses. Both are opportunities to see God's Power at work in you. Thank Him for both. Ask Him to give you strength in one of your weak areas, and thank Him now for the opportunity to see Him help you later!