August 29th/30th – Say What? – Vine & Branches

The final saying of this series is also the most important! Simply put, we are useless without Christ. This lesson is simple, but crucial! It will force students to take an honest look at where they are in their relationship with Christ. The main point of this lesson: Am I attached, detached, or re-attached?

SAY WHAT?

Bible Saying You’ve Heard, But May Not Understand!

Vine and Branches

“Take care to live in me, and let me live in you. For a branch can’t produce fruit when severed from the vine. Nor can you be fruitful apart from me. Yes, I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in me and I in him shall produce a large crop of fruit. For apart from me you can’t do a thing. If anyone separates from me, he is thrown away like a useless branch, withers, and is gathered into a pile with all the others and burned” (John 15:4-6).

JESUS is the VINE / I am the BRANCH

CONNECTED TO THE VINE I’M:

HELPFUL and HOPEFUL

“Whoever lives in me and I in him shall produce a large crop of fruit” (John 15:5b).

“He has already tended you by pruning back for greater strength and usefulness” (John 15:3).

APART FROM THE VINE I’M:

HELPLESS and HOPELESS

“If anyone separates from me, he his thrown away like a useless branch, withers, and is gathered into a pile with all the others and burned” (John 15:6).

Thought for the week:

Am I ATTACHED, DETACHED, or RE-ATTACHED?

August 22nd/23rd – Say What? – Salt of the Earth

In this famous saying Jesus isn’t describing Himself—He’s describing us. This lesson takes an in-depth look at how believers can be “salty.” The first half of the lesson deals with the characteristics of salt, the second half takes those same characteristics and gives them human qualities. The main point of this lesson: How salty are you?

SAY WHAT?

Bible Saying You’ve Heard, But May Not Understand!

Salt of the Earth

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and tramped underfoot as worthless” (Matthew 5:13 NLT).

“Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? Flavorless salt is good neither for soil nor for fertilizer. It is thrown away. Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!” (Luke 14:34).

WHAT IS SALT GOOD FOR?

ADDS flavor

PRESERVES food

MELTS coldness

HEALS wounds

WHAT ARE CHRISTANS GOOD FOR?

We add HOPE

LIVE a holy lifestyle

SHOW love to others

SHARE Christ with our family and friends

Thought for the week:

How SALTY are you?

August 15th/16th – Say What? – Good Shepherd

Another strong claim that Jesus made about Himself and His relationship to us. The best way to teach this lesson is to set the whole thing up by talking about the role shepherds played in Biblical days. List the various qualities of a good shepherd, then compare those qualities with some of the same qualities found in Christ. The main point of this lesson: Am I part of His flock?

SAY WHAT?

Bible Saying You’ve Heard, But May Not Understand!

I Am the Good Shepherd

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep“(John 10:11 NLT).

THE GOOD SHEPHERED:

KNOWS me by NAME

“The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out” (John 10:3 NLT).

KEEPS me SAFE

“He walks ahead of them; and they follow him, because they recognize his voice”

(John 10:4 NLT).

GIVES me LIFE

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness” (John 10:10 NLT).

Thought for the week:

Am I PART of His FLOCK?

August 8th/9th – Say What? – Bread of Life

What was Jesus talking about when He called Himself the bread of life? This lesson helps students understand one of Jesus’ most famous claims. The main point of this lesson: Am I going to settle for white, whole wheat, or Jesus? In other words, why settle for the “bread” the world says we need when we can have Christ instead. Sort of dorky, but our students got a chuckle out of it.

SAY WHAT?

Bible Saying You’ve Heard, But May Not Understand!

Bread of Life

Give us free bread every day, like our fathers had while they journeyed through the wilderness! As the Scriptures say, “Moses gave them bread from heaven” (John 6:31).

BREAD:

NOURISHES ME

SATISFIES ME

SUSTAINS ME

Jesus replied, “I am the Bread of Life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry again” (John 6:35 NLT).

JESUS:

NOURISHES ME

SATISFIES ME

SUSTAINS ME

Thought for the week:

Am I going to settle for WHOLE WHEAT, WHITE, or JESUS?