Freedom in Jesus
REFERENCE FOR TEACHERS ONL Y (General Understanding)
LINK: How to be Free in Christ - https:/ /youtu.be/qIFGD_WoltQ?si=pmu808d08DqwBXov
Verse of the month
for the littles
We have freedom. Stand strong! -Galatians 5:1
for the olders
We have freedom because Christ made us Free. Stand strong. Do not go back into the world.
-Galatians 5:1
1. Freedom from Sin: Jesus died for our sins. 1 Peter 2:24 - Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross. He did this so that we would stop living for sin and start living for what is right. And we are healed because of His wounds.
Romans 8:2 – And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.
2. Freedom from our Past: No longer tied down by our past mistakes.
2 Corinthians 5:17 - This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
3. Freedom to Live in Righteousness (Peace and Joy): Be right with God, do what is Right even
when it’s hard.
Romans 15:13 – I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while
you trust in Him. Then your hope will overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit.
4. Freedom of Choice: This freedom is a gift from God, allowing everyone to choose between good and evil.
Genesis 2:16-17
16 - The Lord God commanded him,“You may eat the fruit from any tree in the garden.
17 - But you must not eat the fruit from the tree which gives the knowledge of good and evil. If you ever eat fruit from that tree, you will die!”
Thursday 1
Offer small prizes (like candy, bible bucks, etc…) for winners/participants or all-around good behavior.
==============================================
Independence Day FREEDOM Celebration
Come ready to eat PIZZA! (bring your favorite dessert)
**Misc games if time left (Andy’s Coming, 4 Corners, Large Legos, Assembly Magnets, Free Time...)
Lesson 1
Freedom From Sin: Jesus died for our sins.
Read:
1 Peter 2:24 - Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross. He did this so that we would stop living for sin and start living for what is right. And we are healed because of his wounds.
Romans 8:2 – And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.
(always use personal examples that relate to the kids everyday lives)
Through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, our sins are washed away with His blood every time we ask forgiveness from our heart!
God didn’t just Free us from past sins but also from all future sins too. As long as we are following His word and keep Him in our hearts, He will continue to give us FREEDOM through Him.
EXAMPLE QUESTIONS:
What is one sin that Jesus has Freed you from? (involve multiple kids)
What did you have to do first to be liberated from that sin? (Accept Jesus & Ask for
forgiveness)
What else do you have to do after praying? (Do what God is asking)
This type of FREEDOM can only be given by GOD through JESUS CHRIST!
Craft/Activity:
Freedom from sin:
Littles: Chains of bondage
*Write sins on each cuff that God has freed you from.
Materials: Colored Construction Paper
Scissors
Marker
Stapler/Tape
Middles: The blood of Jesus covers our sins.
Actual craft will be a little different. (Reference Sample)
Materials:
Construction Paper
Red tissue paper
Glue
Scissors
Marker
Hole Puncher
String
Thursday 2
Competition Night (obstacle course)
(the below are just suggestions, use any you like for the course)
Make sure to put kids/teams in head to head competition.
Materials are available from church for the below suggestions
https://youtube.com/shorts/1alKyt1wLZo?feature=shared
https://pin.it/4abHNFlNZ
https://pin.it/27VdcX6cE - (may need to print out copies)
**Misc games if time left (Andy’s Coming, 4 Corners, Large Legos, Assembly Magnets, Free Time...)
Lesson 2
**Quick Recap** (Ask questions about last week’s lesson and refresh their memories.)
Freedom From our Past: No longer tied down by our past mistakes.
Read:
2 Corinthians 5:17 - This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.
The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
(always use personal examples that relate to the kids everyday lives)
Even though God already gave us FREEDOM from sin, sometimes we don’t let go of
things in our past that take away Freedom from us.
When we ask God to forgive us and Jesus washes our sins away, the mistakes we made have no more power over us.
We have to learn to also forgive ourselves so we can move forward and use the Freedom that God has given us.
Not forgiving others also holds us back from using the Freedom that God gave us. God teaches us to Love and Forgive each other. By forgiving each other, you are removing the thing that was holding you back from being happy instead of mad or sad. That’s showing God’s Love!
EXAMPLE QUESTIONS:
Do you think your Past can somehow affect your Freedom? (Allow for answers)
Has something in your Past held you back before? (involve multiple kids)
What do we have to remember when our Past tries to hurt us? (God will get me through)
GOD, through JESUS CHRIST, has given me FREEDOM from my Past so I can have a future.
Freedom from our past:
Littles: New Creation
Actual craft will be a little different. (Reference Sample)
Materials:
Copy of template
Crayons
Scissors
Popsicle Stick
Glue
Materials:
Copy of template
Optional Construction Paper (glue together to make it thicker/stronger)
Scissors
Paint
Sponge brushes
Markers/Crayons/C-Pencils
Thursday 3
Charades Night
(Below is an example on how to play.)
Make team vs team
What to do:
Teachers write different words. Cut words out (1 word per paper) Mix them in a bowl
How to play:
Teachers take out one word from bowl (Helper: set up timer for 1 minute)
Draw clues on white board. Let kids guess what it is.
Example: You take out the word “pray” draw examples on board (praying hands, kid
praying, etc..) until kids guess the right answer or time is up
NOTE: you can not say the word out loud or you will lose a point. Only give glues
**Misc games if time left (Andy’s Coming, 4 Corners, Large Legos, Assembly Magnets, Free Time...)
Lesson 3
**Quick Recap** (Ask questions about last week’s lesson and refresh their memories.)
Freedom to Live in Righteousness (Peace & Joy): To be right with God and do what is Right even when it’s hard.
Read:
Romans 15:13 - I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while
you trust in him. Then your hope will overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit.
(always use personal examples that relate to the kids everyday lives)
God gave us the FREEDOM of Salvation which lets us be free from doing bad things in this world.
Jesus became a direct connection between God and us, so now we can learn what is right from wrong. Doing the right thing (what God asks of us) can sometimes be hard! It can sometimes take a lot of work, it can take a long time to complete or sometimes it’s
just hard doing the right thing for a person that you don’t like or doesn't deserve it. It's Not always going to be hard, sometimes God puts it easy for you.
When you decide to live right and do the things that God asks, you will find Peace and Joy because that means that you are close to God and obey the bible.
EXAMPLE QUESTIONS:
What is a RIGHTEOUS LIFE?
Do you think it’s hard to do the right thing?
Do you think that the Peace & Joy that God gives us from living a RIGHTEOUS LIFE is
worth it? (Explain that anything that GOD gives us is more than we deserve)
GOD, through JESUS CHRIST, gave us the FREEDOM to Live Right, but He blesses us because He loves us and not because of the things we do right.
Craft/Activity:
Freedom to live in righteousness (peace and joy):
Littles
Materials:
Copy of template
Crayons
Scissors
Multicolored Tissue paper/ribbons
Glue
Middles:
How to make it:
https://youtube.com/shorts/hzVaBlAY7V8?si=sNfzEp96EFZQr4ws
Materials:
Color paper
Tissue paper or multicolor paper (to cut into long pieces)
Markers/Crayons/C-Pencils
Glue
String
Hole puncher
Thursday 4
Fashion Show Picture Night
(“Fashion Pictures” taken of the kids on this day are to be sent to Oscar for later
development)
Come dressed and ready to impress! show off on the walkway.
After, go take a picture for the Fashion Show HOF wall
(Jenny & Oscar to explain)
Show your style and pose as you
**Misc games if time left (Andy’s Coming, 4 Corners, Large Legos, Assembly Magnets, Free Time...)
Lesson 4
**Quick Recap** (Ask questions about last week’s lesson and refresh their memories.)
Freedom of Choice: This freedom is a gift from God, allowing everyone to choose between good & evil.
Read:
Genesis 2:16-17
16 - The Lord God commanded him,
“You may eat the fruit from any tree in the garden.
17 - But you must not eat the fruit from the tree which gives the knowledge of good and evil. If
you ever eat fruit from that tree, you will die!”
(always use personal examples that relate to the kids everyday lives
God did not create us to be His slaves and so He gave us a choice to either accept or reject His offer of Salvation.
God allows bad things and good things to exist in the world, but you are not forced to do either one.
God allows both things to exist so we have a choice, because if there was only Good OR
only Bad in the world, we wouldn’t really have a choice, would we…?Because we are free to choose, we will have to deal with the consequences of our choices (Good or Bad).
If you obey God’s word then you will have GOOD consequences.
If you disobey God and obey your flesh (things that the enemy tells you to do), you will have BAD consequences.
EXAMPLE QUESTIONS:
Has anyone ever heard about “Freedom of Choice” before today?
Give an example of “Freedom of Choice”? (involve multiple kids)
What responsibilities come with this Freedom? (give your spiritual insight)
GOD, through JESUS CHRIST, has given us the FREEDOM to choose what path we will walk.
He gave us the opportunity to choose who to obey even after giving us our FREEDOM.
Craft/Activity:
Freedom of choice:
Littles: Jesus set me free
Materials:
Popsicle Sticks -
Multicolored Tissue Ribbons
Scissors (for ribbon if tissue doesn't come in a roll)
Large Star -
Marker
Stickers -
Glue
Middles: Freedom Banner
Actual craft will be a little different. (Reference Sample)
Materials:
String
Colored Construction Paper
Glue
Hole Puncher
Festive stickers -
Template with Words -
