Bible Study Curriculum: Peter

God told Cornelius through the angel to invite Peter to tell him about Jesus.
Peter's visit was the first time God's message had been taken to the Gentiles (people who were not Jews).


God spoke to Peter when he was visiting at Joppa.
Peter was waiting for his lunch.
God showed Peter in a vision (a picture in his mind) many different animals in a blanket.
God said they were all good .
Peter knew what God meant.
God sees all people as being good,
He wants them all in His family.

So when the messengers from Cornelius arrived Peter went back with them.
He told Cornelius and his family about Jesus.
Then the joy and power of the Holy Spirit came upon them too.

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Bible Study: Cornelius

Cornelius was a wealthy Roman centurion, a soldier.
God noticed his prayers and generous gifts.
But Cornelius needed help.

He did not know Jesus,
so God sent an angel with this important message.
It’s back to front— can you read it with a mirror?)

Cornelius was a foreigner.
He should have missed out on God’s blessings but instead God called him! Acts 10

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Devotional: The Surprise Harvest

This true story is an amazing support to Bible Teaching and an encouragement to the Sunday School student.


In the small African village of Rungai everyone was worried. There was not enough water for people to drink or even to grow food. The people would soon starve.
The dam wall holding the water was broken and there had not been any rain for two years. The tall grass was dry, ‘dead looking’ and most of the people visited the witch doctor to see if there was any hope.

The only real hope was in the hearts of the Christians who met to pray and study their Bible.
It was Cuthbert who decided to fix the dam wall ready for when God sent the rain.

The villagers thought he was a bit silly but when the wall was fixed the rain fell right into the dam even though it was not the rainy season. Then everyone was given a garden to grow food and soon there was plenty to eat.

When it was time for the plants to finish growing and die the people were so shocked. The gardens of the Christians who had believed God’s word continued to grow vegetables. There is no scientific way to explain this. Anyway the Christians shared their food with everyone until there was more food available.

This all happened in the year 1985 when God heard the prayers and faith of his people.
The pictures show the dam wall broken and the wall repaired.
God can still do the impossible - even where you are.

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Bible Study Curriculum: God's Promises

There are many promises in the Bible that contain God's word on matters that relate to us.
Let your child or student in the Bible Study class decide the one that blesses them.

And my God will meet
all you needs
according to his glorious riches
in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19



Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid or terrified….
For the Lord your God goes with you;
He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31: 6


To all who received (Jesus), to those who believed in his name,
He gave the right to become children of God. John 1: 12



What is the most suitable Bible verse for you?
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Bible Study: Maze

Copy the maze for your children or Sunday School scholars to enjoy and bring a pleasant diversion from study.

Remind the children to read the Bible everyday and ask God to speak to them in their mind. Suggest they read a few verses...wait...practise listening.

The boy Samuel said, “Speak, I am listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10)

We can all be connected to God like this. Try it!

On your mark for God .... get ready…. set.... Go!

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Devotional: A New Christian

The Criminal that Started Again

Jim Vaus was a new Christian.
He was a wire tapper for the underworld gang in Los Angeles. He listened to Billy Graham at a large meeting and he decided to ‘go for God.’

The morning after Jim Vaus decided to put God in charge of his life he read the morning newspaper. The headlines said, ‘Gangster For Christ’.

Now everyone would know about him but worse than that, his gang would know he had given up his crime life. What would they think? Horrors! They would probably call him a traitor and
decide to get rid of him—perhaps kill him.

As he put down the paper he saw two tough gangsters arrive in a large car. Yesterday he would have run away but today he didn’t run. He had read a verse in the Bible that morning. It said, “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.”
Jim believed that.


So Jim opened the door and the gunmen gave him a job to do—another crime. But Jim just told them “No.”
His heart had changed. He belonged to God now.
The gangsters were too shocked for a moment to move
and then they quietly turned and left.
Phh! Jim’s life was saved! God had kept His promise.
You can read the promise in Proverbs 16:7
Jim did have peace. God is true to His word.

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Bible Study Curriculum: Luke 6: 46-49

Get off to a Good Start

Jesus was a carpenter so it’s natural
that he told a story about two builders

One builder built a house on the rock and the other on the sand by the sea.

Rock is so hard for digging – it takes all day! (no jack hammers in Jesus day)
The builder kept chipping at the rock slowly all day.

The other builder liked the sandy position.
Lovely to look at and soft on under your feet.
Soft to dig in too. His house was finished quickly

The house was just finished when the storm hit. Wow !! Disaster!!
The sand under it washed away and the house collapsed. Finished!

The house on the rock was steady and safe.
Jesus said, ‘Build your life like that– strong
and safe on the good base of God’s word.’

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Sunday School:Rahab

Find the name of the lady who surprised everyone
My first letter is in car but not in cat R
My next letter is in boat but not in boot A
My next letter is in hair but not in stair H
My next letter is in rabble but not in rubble A
My next letter is in fib but not in fight B

At first Rahab was the enemy of the Israelites but because she believed in God her life was saved. She joined the Israelite people, married and became (part of the royal line – Jesus' family tree).
From an enemy Rahab became an ancestor of Jesus.

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Bible Study Curriculum: Rahab

Rahab guessed the two men were spies.
She decided to help them.

She had heard how the Lord had dried up the water of the Red Sea and how he had helped the Israelites to fight their enemies.

Rahab had already started to believe that the Lord was the true God and that he would help the Israelites to capture Jericho.

When some soldiers came from the king Rahab hid the spies on her roof.
Later on she let them down to the ground from her window by a rope.

Before the spies left, Rahab asked them to promise to spare her family when the city was attacked, and they did.

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Sunday School: Growing Up

Growing up……
…. Surprise everyone!


We can all be great for God.

Do you notice?
Children grow to be a
bit like their parents?

All people in God’s family grow up to be like God, their spiritual Father.

It doesn’t matter how ordinary you are.
God will give you everything you need to be special.

Big brother, Jesus is the
example of our new character.
He is known for his strong happy character. Ephesians 6:

A baby boy has the same muscles and bones as his father but he doesn’t look like his father until his muscles and bones grow.

God will make you into a champion if you follow Jesus your friend and listen to His words and do them. So work with Jesus - your trainer.
You are .. a champion .. in training!

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Sunday School: God's Seed Grows

Jesus told a story once and if you think about it, it is all about us.
He described people who wonder what to do about God’s message.
There are four kinds of people.
Can you tell which one describes you? (Mark 4:13-2)

Remember God is the gardener;
the message about Jesus is the seed;
The gardener sows the seed into the ground –that describes
God planting his message into our lives—us.

1.Some people are like the seed dropped on the path. The birds come and eat the seed, so the plant doesn’t grow. Like the eaten seeds God’s message doesn’t stay or grow in some lives - it disappears.

2. Some people are like the stony ground where the seed grows for a little while but when the sun shines hot the plant dies. These people are God’s friends for a little while but soon forget.

3. The thorny ground where the weeds grow strong and squeeze out the good plants are like some who think so much about their worries and what they wantthat God’s friendship gets squeezed out.

4. The good soil grows plants so strong that they produce 30, 60 or 100 times more than was planted. Some of us are like that. You can get stronger every year until everyone can see God in you. Go for it!

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Sunday School: The 'Never Give Up'' Fish

Jim had been fishing with his grandfather when he caught the most unusual fish.

It was really too small and Jim knew he would have to put it back in the lake but first he wanted to look at it for a while so he put the fish in his bucket with water.

Jim’s little fish was the most lively fish imaginable. It swam around and around the bucket and then with a flip of his tail it jumped out of the bucket onto the jetty.

Jim put the fish back in the bucket but after another swim the fish jumped out again. Jim put it back in the bucket but the fish jumped out every time.
That fish never gave up so Jim called it ‘Never Give Up’. Jim was so proud of Never Give Up’s persistence that he put Never Give Up back in the lake again.

We can be like Jim’s fish and never give up in following Jesus.

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Bible Study:God Does It!

Praise is so special it brings God’s glorious presence.

When King David’s priests were in unity of praise and thanksgiving and music in the temple,
God came!
His Presence was so real, it filled the temple so much that the priests had to stop.
It was a cloud shining with the dazzling light of the Lord’s presence.

Read about it in 2 Chronicles 5: 13-14
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Bible Study: Fixing Trouble

The Bible verse in Hebrews 13:15 says
if we think of Jesus
even when our hearts are sad or angry
it’s like making a ‘praise sacrifice’ to Jesus.
It always helps us feel better.

A glad heart makes cheerful face. Proverbs 15:13

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Bible Study:Clues About Trouble

Sometimes we are selfish or lazy and we
ask God for selfish things. Our selfish
asking might even hurt another person.

The Bible says,
You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly. James 4: 3

(Drawing: Frances Hook)

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Bible Study: The Praising Army

King Jehoshaphat earnestly prayed, ‘We have no might against this great army that is coming against us, and we don’t know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.’

Then the Holy Spirit said through one of the men in the crowd,
‘Do not be afraid because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
Go down to them tomorrow, but you won’t need to fight. Just stand still and see how the Lord saves you.’

When they heard this amazing promise the king and his people humbly fell down and
worshipped the Lord.

They all got up early the next morning and as they went out to meet the enemy soldiers, the king reminded them to believe in the Lord.
Then he chose some singers to go on in front of the army.

When they began to sing and praise the Lord, God caused the enemy soldiers to fight and kill each other. By the time the people of Judah got there, they were able to collect gold and silver from their dead enemies, but they had nobody to fight.


Notice the King was trusting God and the people were praising then...God answered.

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Bible Study Curriculum:Praise

These words are jumbled up. Can you work them out?
__ ______ ______ _____ ________
NI VEERY HITGN IVEG SKATHN


Notice:
A Prison Escape Acts 16: 16-34

It all began when Paul and Silas prayed and praised.

Praise triumphs gloriously.
God gives:
A song of praise instead of sorrow. Isaiah 61:3



Notice
The Praising Army

the King was trusting God and the people were praising
then...God answered. 2 Chronicles 20:1-30

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Bible Study:Prison Escape -Acts 16: 16-34

After they healed the slave girl Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison. The jailer threw them into the inner cell and locked their feet between heavy blocks of wood. But they weren’t frightened. They prayed and sang songs of praise and the other prisoners listened.

At midnight there was a great earthquake, doors flew open and chains fell off the prisoners. The jailer was very frightened. He knew it was God. He rushed in trembling and fell down at the feet of Paul and Silas and said,
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

The jailer wanted to become a Christian too. Then he took them to his home, washed their wounds and his family and everyone in his house believed in Jesus and they were all baptised that very night. They were filled with joy because their life had become new with God’s spirit.

Notice:
It all began when Paul and Silas prayed and praised. Praise triumphs gloriously.

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Devotions: Praising God

Praise in Trouble

- Praise brings God Close

The family thought this holiday would never come but at last it was here. The two kids in the back seat were planning exploring trips and beach fun in their minds for all the days to come.

In the middle of their ‘far away’ thoughts everything started to go wrong. The caravan hooked to the back of their car was swaying wildly until it rolled over pulling the car and all the family with it.

Their things fell out of the caravan and spread all over the road. Even personal treasures in the dirt and on the grass - everywhere. Such a mess! The amazing thing was no one was killed not even hurt – some were a bit stiff.
Father shouted, ‘Praise you Lord, you kept us safe.”

Beth who was the older said,

‘Really Dad I do love you but you say the strangest things.

How can you be thinking of God at a time like this.”

The policeman was there scratching his head and saying,
“I can’t believe you are all safe, in the middle of all this debris.”

But God was ‘’watching over’ them. As quickly as the next day they had an identical car and insurance money to cover the cost of the caravan. They were on their way again
but this time the whole family was thanking God and praising Him.

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Devotions: Spiritual "Batteries"

Sometimes we think God can’t help us.
We feel He is far away.
It’s probably because our ‘spiritual battery’ is flat.
We need to get God’s spirit flowing into our spirit.

When a torch battery is flat our torch won’t work.
A car battery that is flat needs to be recharged.

Recharging our 'spiritual battery'
When Moses was leading the people out of Egypt to the promised land

they could be healed of a deadly snake bite

if they looked at a snake on a pole in faith.

Later Jesus explained that his sacrifice (death) on the cross
was especially for our life and healing. (John 3:14-15)

So: If we ‘look' at Jesus with faith (believing Him)

and remember what He has done for us.
He will answer our faith and prayer.

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Devotions: New Life

Receiving new life.
- a pre schooler did it

Child: Mummy I want to give my life to Jesus.
Mother:You are too young. Do it when you are older.
Child: But I want to now.
Mother: Not now, I’ll explain when you are older.

Child leaves, then reappearing says:
It’s too late I asked Jesus into my heart.
Mother:What did you say?
Child putting hands together prayerfully:
Jesus come into my heart and play with me forever.

The mother could hardly believe that such a little child
wanted to accept Jesus. That happened a long time ago
and the little child is now grown up.
But……that child and Jesus are still best friends.

You can ask Jesus into your heart too

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Prayer Miracle

A Sociology professor in America was to speak to students and parents at the school speech night.
On that special evening after the speech a mother came to the professor carrying her child in her arms. The child’s leg was in metal braces - callipers.
“What do you want?” he asked.
“God told me to come,” she replied, “you are going to heal my child.”

The professor was shocked and confused so the school chaplain offered to help.
The chaplain said he would pray that the child would be able to walk properly.
If the people didn’t believe that could happen they had better leave. The professor was greatly relieved when everyone left and only the chaplain and five Christian kids were left.

While they prayed they felt an Awesome presence (like God) touch them and they stopped praying. They were disappointed that the child was not healed.

Three years later the Professor was guest speaker in a church in St Louis when a lady came to him and said, “I want you to see my son.” This was the same child, not crippled but standing tall and straight.
“How did this happen?” the professor asked.
“Don’t you remember, we prayed,” she said, “Each morning he would wake up crying because his callipers were too tight and I would have to adjust them until finally his legs were quite straight!.
God’s power started with the prayer.”

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Bible Study: Miracle

A Miracle for a Twelve Year-old

The girl’s father was the ruler of the synagogue, the ‘church’ of the Jews.
His name was Jairus.

This day he was very worried
because his daughter was so sick.
He thought she might die.

Everyone said,
“Jesus is coming to town”
Jairus wondered if Jesus could help his girl.
So he set off to find him and at last he found him in the crowd.
Jesus said he would go and see the girl but before they got there a messenger came and told them that the girl was already dead.

Many people were crying loudly the house.
Jesus encouraged Jairus to believe in Him.
Then his daughter would be well again.
Some people even laughed because she was already dead but Jesus went into the girl’s room and held her hand. “Get up, my child,” he said.
The girl stood up and walked to her mother and father.
She was well!
Jesus had done it. Luke 8:40 –56

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Devotional: Prayer Warning

Red Light: Stop - Watch

Some things stop our prayers
being answered!

1. If we will not forgive people who hurt us.
2. If we want to keep doing something we know is wrong.
3. If we don’t really believe in God.
4. If we won’t let God change our heart.

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Devotional:Prayer Clue

Jesus, God's Son gave special clues about having our prayers answered.
It's written in the Bible - John 16: 23b
Jesus said,
“I am telling you the truth
the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”
- meaning if your prayer is part of His good plan.

( Mention Jesus when you talk to God in prayer.
God and Jesus work together.)

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Devotional: Prayer Attitude

How is your heart toward God?
Hard or Soft?


Can you imagine an
experiment with butter and cheese?
If you put some butter and cheese on a plate and left them in the sun
for a few hours they would change.

Even though they are almost the same.

The butter would probably be soft and ‘runny’
and the cheese would get v~e~r~y hard.
Some hearts are like butter and some are hard like cheese.

A soft heart will listen to God and follow Him.

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Prayer: Getting God's Help

Help! Help!
If you want to get help from God,
First of all you must ask Him.
God wants us to talk to Him
about the good and bad things
of our life. His son Jesus is our everyday helper and friend.


A Bible verse from the book of James says,
"You don’t have because you don’t ask." James 4:2


We can pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, we are glad you want us to talk to you
and ask for what we need.
Help us to remember your promise to give us what is good for us
if we will ask You for it.
In Jesus’ name we ask this. Amen

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Prayer: Keep on Asking

The twins went to the skating rink to practice but it was already closed.
The cleaner said it would be open again tomorrow.
Just as Jill was turning sadly away, James said,
“Could we skate for a while as you clean? We won’t get in your way.”
“Well, alright,” the cleaner answered.

That’s how Jill and James got to skate that afternoon. All because James asked.

Jesus told a story about asking.
He said a man had visitors late one night and they were very hungry.

So the man decided to ask his neighbour for food but he had already gone to bed.

As he banged on the door his neighbour looked out his window and said, “Go, away, it’s too late.”
But the friend kept knocking and in the end the neighbour got out of bed and went to get some bread to give to the man who kept knocking on his door.

Jesus said it will work for you the same way if you keep on asking God for what you want.
Luke 11:5-10

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Bible Study Curriculum: Prayer

Kids can pray b.i.g prayers
- even prayer for your own country
Kids pray and God brings the results.

God says:
If my people (that's us)
who are called by my name (if you're a Christian)
will humble themselves (go God's way instead of your own)
and pray (do it)
and turn from their wicked ways (do that too)
and seek my face (keep with God)
then I will heal their land. (then God does it!)

Aussie kids can pray for Australia. God can even fix Australia
- or....the country where you live. Try it!

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Bible Study Curriculum: Salvation

When Jesus was born in Israel he announced to his followers that he was the Lamb of God. Instead of a lamb being sacrified to cover people's sins he knew he would become the Lamb.

So after three years of teaching the people Jesus was (killed) sacrificed - a once only for everyone.

Just as the lamb's blood in Egypt saved the people in the old days so Jesus' blood will save anyone who believes He is God's son.

It's for us - you and me. It's free!
We only have to accept his sacrifice.

If we believe in our hearts and say it with our mouths it authorizes Jesus to protect us and save us. Romans 10:9 Revelation 12:11

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Bible Sudy Curriculum: Protection

The Message from the book of Exodus in the Bible is an important subject for the Bible Study Curriculum.
It shows the power of God to protect.

The incident took place about 1200 years before Jesus Christ was born.
Long ago in the Old Testament days God's people were in great trouble.
The Egyptian pharoah was making slaves of all Israelite boys and men. They were whipped and treated very cruelly.

Moses said he would be able to help them escape if they followed the instructions which God gave to him.

Each family killed a lamb and place a little of the blood over the door of their house.
It meant that they were under God's protection. It worked!

They did escape and the pursuing Egyptian soldiers in their chariots were drowned.
God made the miracle possible.

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