Determination: Keep Going Even When It Seems Impossible

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Link to May 3^rd Video Worship Service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOWC_oeJbXw&list=PLWzu5Hp1aUXln4qxCH4VqEoZJuIvVSyed

STEPS FOR EXPLORING THIS WEEKS LESSON – KEEP GOING EVEN WHEN IT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE  

Step 1) Watch the Children’s Sermon Video together:

• Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rho_C65tabs&list=PLWzu5Hp1aUXln4qxCH4VqEoZJuIvVSyed&index=5
• Discuss: What have you been determined to do in your life? Think about something new that you’ve learned or something you really wanted to do but need to work hard to accomplish. Determination isn’t easy, and it’s hard to stay positive when things don’t go right at first. But determination is the key to success. Jesus had been put to death on the cross just before Easter because people didn’t like what he was teaching and saying, and Jesus was asking his disciples to go teach and say the same things in the world. The disciples must have been scared, after all they had just seen what had happened to Jesus. But they were determined to do the work Jesus called them to do.

STEP 2) Read scripture together:

• Read: Jesus’ Commission to His Disciples – Matthew 28: 16-20(NIV) – ¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven – Luke 24:51 (NIV) – ⁵¹ While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Acts 1:10-11 “¹⁰ They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ¹¹ “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
• Discuss: Before Jesus went up into heaven, he told his disciples, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. This is often called the Great Commission. This word commission means “instruction”. Jesus was instructing his disciples what they needed to do to carry on the work that Jesus had started (telling everyone about the love of God). This is the same job that we have as followers and believers of Jesus, to share His Good News with the world. What might it look like to share the Good News of Jesus with those around you?

STEP 3) Play “Easy to Start, Hard to Finish”

• Supplies: 1) The “Easy to Start, Hard to Finish” activity page, 2) scissors
• Directions: 1) Print out the “Easy to Start, Hard to Finish” activity page. 2) Cut out each “job”. 3) Have your child sort out the jobs from which they think would be the easiest to complete, to the ones that would be the hardest to complete.
• Discuss: There are lots of jobs that are easy to start but hard to finish. Some jobs might even feel impossible! Which job is the hardest might depend on who you are, but no matter who you are, we all can trust that God will help us have the determination to finish whatever job He’s given us, even when it seems impossible.

STEP 4) Watch/Listen/Sing “One, Two, Three!” (This is a great song to sing to keep the spirit of Easter alive! Miss Karen also sent out this song in an email late this past week)

• Watch/Listen/Sing:
• Lyrics to One, Two, Three! ONE, TWO, THREE LYRICS
• Discuss: Think about this line in the song, “God loved the world, so he gave His Son, Jesus is our friend, He loved everyone.” When Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, it was for EVERYONE! We are all Jesus’ special friends.
• Determination Coloring Page
  • Kids might enjoy coloring this page while they are listening to this fun Easter song!

STEP 5) Read through the attached “Corinthians Verse” Handout and see if you and your children can guess the “determination story” character correctly! Take some time to think about the determination this person needed to accomplish their goal.

• Pray: Dear God, give us the strength to run the race you have set before us, even when it seems impossible. Amen.

STEP 6) Read through the attached “Parent Cue W1” Handout about Determination and Encouragement. It’s easier to be determined when we have our loved ones cheering us on, encouraging and supporting our efforts. Think of ways you can encourage your family this week and consider helping your children find determination to finish something or the positivity to encourage others in their efforts.