GLOBAL RECORDINGS NETWORK

PO Box 899
SEVEN HILLS NSW 1730
AUSTRALIA
Phone: +61 2 98992211
Email: [email protected]
Web: globalrecordings.net/au

GOOD NEWS

Sunday School Lessons

for Evangelism and Basic Bible Teaching

Based on the Sunday School Lessons published by the AIC Sunday School Committee, Juba, Southern
Sudan.

Adapted for general use by Global Recordings Network Australia, with permission of the Africa Inland
Church, Sudan.

This lesson is for use with the “Good News” picture book from Global Recordings Network.

Copyright © 2001 by Global Recordings Network Australia. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this material (in printed text, recorded form or software files) may be changed, reproduced or
distributed for profit, without permission of Global Recordings Network Australia.
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

CONTENTS
Lesson 1......................................................................................................The Creation
Lesson 2...............................................................God creates the first man and woman
Lesson 3..................................................................................Sin Comes into the world
Lesson 4....................................................................................................Cain and Abel
Lesson 5...........................................................................................Noah and the Flood
Lesson 6..............................................................................................The Birth of Isaac
Lesson 7.........................................................Moses is Given the Ten Commandments
Lesson 8..................................................................................The Ten Commandments
Lesson 9.............................................................................................A Sacrifice for Sin
Lesson 10................................................................................Jesus' Birth is announced
Lesson 11....................................................................................................Jesus is Born
Lesson 12............................................................................................Jesus the Teacher
Lesson 13..........................................................................Jesus the Worker of Miracles
Lesson 14.............................................................................................Jesus is crucified
Lesson 15....................................................................................................Jesus is alive
Lesson 16.......................................................................Jesus Appears to His Disciples
Lesson 17.................................................................................Jesus Returns to Heaven
Lesson 18.....................................................................................The Way Back to God
Lesson 19................................................................................You must be Born Again
Lesson 20...............................................................................Coming of the Holy Spirit
Lesson 21............................................................................................Walk in the Light
Lesson 22.................................................................................Jesus Gives us New Life
Lesson 23.................................................................................................Loving Others
Lesson 24..................................................................................God's Power, not Magic
Lesson 25....................................................................God has Power Over Evil Spirits
Lesson 26...........................................................................................Satan's Opposition
Lesson 27..................................................................................The Forgiveness of God
Lesson 28.......................................................................Christians Should Always Pray
Lesson 29..............................................................................................Life After Death
Lesson 30........................................................................................What is the Church?
Lesson 31......................................................................................How to Worship God
Lesson 32....................................................................................Jesus is Coming Again
Lesson 33.......................................................................................................Be Fruitful
Lesson 34.................................................................................................Go and Preach

Page 2 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

INTRODUCTION

These lessons were written in response to some cries for help from young people who had been asked to
teach in Sunday School. They are based on the Good News pictures published by Global Recordings
Network, whom we would like to thank for permission to use their material and encouragement to go
ahead with the project. These pictures are an all important visual aid in the lessons. A reproduction of the
main picture or pictures needed in each lesson has been printed at its beginning.

This book deals only with the lesson section of the Sunday School and each is planned to last about twenty
minutes. The rest of the Sunday School time, composed of singing, prayer, Bible reading, quizzes and
other activities, is left to the teachers to plan. We recommend that each lesson should end with a short
prayer and song based on that week’s teaching. The lessons are aimed at a fairly wide age range of
children from 7 to 12 years.

When they were first tried out, the teachers wrote each lesson out week by week in an exercise book so
they were purposely kept quite short. Some lessons have been expanded but the idea was to give a fairly
brief but comprehensive outline for the teacher to fill out during their own preparation.

The aim printed at the top of each story directs the teaching of that lesson. To make the lessons suitable
for children, we cannot teach the whole truth about God in each lesson. Instead the teacher should
concentrate on one or two truths in each lesson so that children gradually come to know more about God.

The lesson is not meant to be read to the class from the book. It aims to be the teacher’s walking stick and
not a pair of crutches.

AIC Sudan Sunday School Committee.

Page 3 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

TEACHER INSTRUCTION

READ THIS BEFORE EVERY LESSON

Teacher's Preparation

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Have you prayed and asked GOD to help you prepare the lesson?
2. Have you read the plan of the lesson and learned the aim?
3. Have you read the Bible passage and do you know the story thoroughly?
4. Do you have your pictures, objects, questions and other teaching aids ready?
5. Have you planned your revision step?

Revision

This is where you make strong the meaning of the lesson. Do not take longer than 4 minutes.
Use some of these ideas or plan your own ideas.

1. Show the picture again and get the children to tell you the story.
2. Plan a quiz.
3. Tell the students again the aim of the lesson.

Page 4 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 1 The Creation

Pictures 1, 2, 3
Aim
To teach that God made the world we live in.
Teacher Preparation: Ask God to help you prepare the lesson.
Then read and study Genesis 1:1-25 and the lesson plan.
Memory Verse: Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the universe. (Note: universe means
earth and sky)

Lesson Plan
Introduction
Ask the class to put their hands over their eyes. What do they see? Nothing. There is just darkness.
Main Points of Lesson
Tell the story of Genesis chapter 1 in your own words keeping to the order. The work of the first two days of creation
is given as an example of how the story can be told.
1. Show picture 1. Darkness and chaos is what everything was like before God began creation. When
everywhere was dark, God said, "Let the day light come". Day light was created. There was light everywhere and no
darkness. God was very pleased with what he had made. On the first day there was light during the day and darkness
during the night.
2. On the second day, God gave the earth its shape. It is like an
orange (show the class an orange if you can). He separated the earth
from the sky. The sky is the space above the earth.
As the lesson continues, the teacher will describe what was created
on the other days. Repeat, as the Bible does, that God was pleased
with what was created. It was good.
3. Land, Sea, Plants and Trees.
4. Sun, Moon and Stars.
5. Birds and Fish.
6. Animals. Show picture 3. Ask the class what they can see. God has created all this beauty.
Review
Briefly go over the lesson emphasising the central truth. Ask questions that will allow the children to show that they
have understood the lesson.
Teach Memory Verse
Keep picture 3 in front of class as they learn it.
Our Response to the Lesson
Help the children to praise and thank God for the wonderful and
exciting world He has made for us to enjoy and to look after. How
can we do this? Ask the class to give some examples themselves.
Some suggestions:
Plant 2 trees when you cut 1 down.
Throw water you have finished with on plants.
Compost vegetable peelings and ashes.
Put rubbish like broken glass in a special place.

Page 5 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 2 God Creates the First Man and Woman

Pictures 2, 3
Aim
To teach that God made men and women (and boys and girls).
Teacher Preparation: Ask God to help you prepare the lesson.
Read and study Genesis 1:26-2:25 and the lesson plan. Prepare
more questions to ask the children at the beginning of the lesson.
Memory Verse: Genesis 1:27
God created human beings, making them to be like himself. He
created them male and female.

Lesson Plan
Introduction
This should take the form of questions which will review the previous lesson.
For example
Question: Who created the world?
Answer: God.
Question: What did God make in the world?
Answer: Light, trees, plants, animals, etc.
After the class have given some suggestions, picture 3 could be looked at again.
Question: There is something God made that we did not talk about in the last lesson. What is it?
Answer: Men and Women.
Main Points of Lesson
Tell the story of God's creation of men and women.
1. The first man Adam was made out of dust, God breathed life
into him. Man was made in God's image. Adam is a name which
means man. Genesis 1:27-28
2. Adam was put into a garden. Genesis 2:8-10.
3. God made Eve. Genesis 2:20-25
4. Men and women were to look after the garden. Genesis
2:15-20.
5. They were not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and
evil. Genesis 2:17
6. On Day 7 God rested. Creation was finished. When God spoke, at His Word creation took place. God speaks
to us today through the Bible. The Bible is called the Word of God. Show Picture 2.
Review
Briefly go over the lesson emphasising that God's word is powerful and that he speaks to us today through His
written word (the Bible) and through His living word (Jesus).
Teach Memory Verse
Our Response to the Lesson
Take a mirror to class. Hold it in turn in front of several children. Ask them who they see in the mirror. They will see
a picture of themselves or their image. God made us in his own image. The mirror reflects our picture back to us.
God made us to reflect his image. A mirror gets dirty and dusty. The story in God's Word, the Bible, is how the
mirror of our lives has got dirty and how God can make us beautifully clean and shining for Him.

Page 6 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 3 Sin Comes into the World

Picture 4
Aim
To teach that when Adam and Eve disobeyed God sin came into the
world.
Teacher Preparation: Ask God to help you prepare the lesson.
Then read and study Genesis 3:1-24 and the lesson plan. Prepare the
quiz for use in beginning the lesson.
Memory Verse: Romans 5:12
Sin came into the world through one man, and his sin brought death
with it. As a result, death has spread to the whole human race
because everyone has sinned.

Lesson Plan
Introduction
Use a quiz like this with your class. The teacher says, "Guess who I am pretending to be."
a) "I am a man, God made me and put me in a beautiful garden."
Answer - Adam.
b) "I am a woman. I am the wife of Adam. God made me out of Adam's bone."
Answer - Eve.
This is reviewing last week's lesson.
Also review memory verses Genesis 1:1 & 27
Main Points of Lesson
Tell the story of Genesis 3 in your own words. Act the part of each person in the story.
1. Satan, who came to Eve disguised as a snake said, "Did God really say you must not eat any fruit from the
trees in the garden?" v.1.
2. Eve said, "We can eat any of the fruit except from the tree in the middle of the garden. If we eat that we will
die." v.2 & 3.
3. Satan said, "You won't die. You will be like God if you eat it." v.4
4. Eve looked at the fruit. She ate it and gave some to Adam. v.6 and 7
5. Adam and Eve had disobeyed God. They hid from God. v.8-13. Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the snake
or Satan. Give an example of someone blaming someone else in the home. v.12
6. Show picture 4.
Ask questions about it. This will show if the children have understood the lesson. Adam and Eve were sent away
from the garden v.23. God could not allow them to stay there v.22.
Review
Briefly go over the lesson emphasising the tragic results of sin in Adam and Eve's lives, in our lives and in the world
(but God in His love has the answer for our sin problem).
Our Response to the Lesson
Disobeying God is called sin. Like Adam and Eve we all disobey God. Give some examples. Get the children to give
examples. Do not make this part of the lesson a sermon!
Teach Memory Verse
General Note
It is a good practice to include a place during the Sunday School period to review a group of memory verses, about 2
or 3 at a time. What is not reviewed often is quickly forgotten.

Page 7 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 4 Cain and Abel

Pictures 4, 5
Aim
Cain kills Abel. This shows what sin does.
Teacher Preparation: Ask God to help you prepare the lesson.
Then read and study Genesis 4:1-16 and the lesson plan.
Memory Verse: Genesis 4:7
Sin is crouching at your door. It wants to rule you but you must
over come it.

Lesson Plan
Introduction
Before Sunday School arrange with about 6 children to act 2 little plays, one play could show 2 or 3 children
quarrelling over the same toy car or some other possession. The second play could show a group of girls abusing
each other.
Main Points of Lesson
1. Refer to the plays just acted and suggest that the people in them were not very happy. Show picture 4 and ask
why Adam and Eve are leaving the garden. Try to get the following type of answers from the class.
They ate of the tree of knowledge of good and bad. They disobeyed God. They sinned.
Revise Memory Verse, Romans 5:12
2. Tell the story of Gen. 4:1 & 2 in your own words about the first family.
3. Abel and Cain worshipped God v.3
4. Cain did not bring the right offering, God could not accept it. Cain was angry. He disobeyed God. v.5
5. God spoke to Cain. "Get rid of your anger." v.6 & 7
6. Cain was jealous of Abel and killed him. v.8. Show picture 5.
Teach Memory Verse
7. Give an example of a quarrel in a family or refer back to the
plays in the introduction. Cain let sin rule him.
8. God spoke to Cain again. v.9 Cain lied to God.
9. Cain was sent away from God. Going away from God is the
punishment for sin. v.14
Review
Briefly go over the lesson emphasising the Bible truth that damaged
lives, shattered relationships and separation from God are the result of sin.
Our Response to the Lesson
Act the plays (or just one of them) from the introduction again but change the ending. This will have the effect of
stressing the last part of the memory verse i.e. you must overcome it.
Our memory verse tells us we must overcome sin. But this is not something we can do by ourselves. We need God's
help to overcome sin in our lives.
If the boys are quarrelling over a toy car, another person, perhaps the teacher could come in and suggest they all help
each other make another car. Say the memory verse altogether at the end.

Page 8 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 5 Noah and the Flood

Pictures 6, 7
Aim
To teach that God must punish sin. God saved Noah because he
obeyed God.
Teacher Preparation: Pray for your students as you prepare this
lesson that might be open to the truth of God's word. Then read and
study Genesis 6:9-8:22 and the lesson plan.
Memory Verse: John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has entered life, whoever disobeys the
Son .... will remain under God's punishment.

Lesson Plan
Introduction Tell one or two examples of someone doing something that is funny and ridiculous. For example,
digging a garden in the middle of the summer when its very hot and there's water restrictions so there is no water to
irrigate it. Wearing a very thick sweater on a very hot day.
Main Points of Lesson
1. Show picture 6. Talk about it. Point out Noah. He loved God.
He was asked by God to do something very unusual and different.
God told him to build a boat. But where Noah lived there were no
rivers, lakes or seas. The land was watered by springs under the
earth. It took him 120 years to build this boat.
Look at the measurement (Gen. 6:15). Show the class how big the
boat was roughly by comparing it with the size of something well
known e.g. the church or school.
2. The people were evil. They sinned. Ask the class "What is sin?"
Revise memory verse: Gen. 4:7 or Rom. 5:12
During the 120 years of building, Noah preached to the people. See 1 Peter 3:20
3. People laughed at Noah. Point out the people walking away from Noah. It had never rained. They did not turn
back to God.
4. On God's instructions, Noah filled the boat with animals and his family, 7:1-8. God shut the door.
5. The rains came. Show picture 7. The people were punished. They had not obeyed God. God offered to save them
in the boat. They refused. Only Noah and his family were saved.
Teach Memory Verse
6. Finish the story. Gen. 7:11 - 8:22
The rain came for 40 days and 40 nights. After 150 days the water began to go down.
7. Noah sent out a raven and then a dove. This is a very long lesson. It may be necessary to miss out this section
Gen. 8:6-12 Noah stayed in the ark for 1 year.
8. Noah worshipped and thanked God for saving him.
Review: Briefly go over the lesson to emphasise that God must punish sin but God will forgive us our sins if we trust
and obey the Son (Jesus) who died on the cross for us.
Our Response to the Lesson
Make up a story or use an account of something that really happened which shows that disobedience brings a
punishment, if not now then later.
For example, children are warned not to play near the river or to go there alone. Children are drowned every year in
rivers, the sea and swimming pools because they ignore this rule. We need to follow the example of Noah who
obeyed God.
God sent his son to take the punishment we deserve. Obeying him means life.
Repeat memory verse.

Page 9 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 6 The Birth of Isaac

Picture 8
Aim
To tell the story of the birth of Isaac. To teach that God promised
Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him because
through his family a Saviour would come.
Teacher Preparation: Seek God's blessing on you and your
students as you prepare this lesson. Then read and study Genesis
17:15-19; 18:1-15; 21:1-8 and the lesson plan.
Memory Verse: Genesis 12:3
I will bless those who bless you....
And through you I will bless all the nations.

Lesson Plan
Introduction
Ask the class to raise their hands if they know women who are expecting babies. They will probably have sisters or
mothers who are pregnant.
Ask the class who knows of a grandmother who is expecting a baby.
There may be a young grandmother but not very many.
Ask, "Do you think a woman aged 90 could have a first baby?" Without going into biological details, establish the
fact that by that age a woman is too old.
Main Points of the Lesson
1. Show picture 8. Point out Abraham, Sarah and Isaac. Abraham and Sarah are the parents of Isaac. Ask what is
unusual about Abraham and Sarah. They have white hair. Sarah was 90 years old, and Abraham was 100. Isaac was
their first child.
2. When God told Abraham that Sarah would have a child, Sarah laughed. God promised Abraham a big and
important family, Gen. 17:6.
Say memory verse.
3. Put away picture 8 while you tell story of Gen 18:1-15. One day Abraham was sitting at the door of his tent.
Abraham saw 3 visitors coming etc.
4. Tell how Abraham looked after the visitors.
5. One of the visitors said Sarah would have a son.
6. Sarah heard and laughed - she was too old..
7. God spoke to Abraham - nothing is too hard for God.
8. Show picture 8 again. When Isaac was born everyone was very happy. Abraham gave a feast when Isaac
stopped having his mother's milk.
Review
Briefly go over the lesson emphasising that Abraham was God's friend. God blessed Abraham in many ways. He
became the father of God's people. God always keeps His promises.
About 2,000 years after Isaac's birth, God sent his son, Jesus Christ to earth. He was born a descendant of Abraham
and Isaac as Saviour for all people. The memory verse speaks of him blessing all nations as he came to be our
Saviour.
Our Response to the Lesson
Ask the class to give you some examples of promises that have been kept. For example, your father promised to buy
you a new school uniform if you were promoted to the next class. You were promoted so you had a new school
uniform. God's promises are very big. He always keeps them. We often break ours. God kept the promise that is
mentioned in the memory verse.
Teach Memory Verse

Page 10 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 7 Moses is Given the Ten Commandments

Picture 9
Aim
To teach that God is holy. He has given us the Ten Commandments
to show us how to worship him and live for him.
Teacher Preparation: As you prepare this lesson ask God to help
you continue to worship and serve Him. Then read and study
Exodus 19 and the lesson plan.
Memory Verse: Isaiah 6:3
Holy, Holy, Holy. The Lord Almighty is holy.

Lesson Plan
Introduction
Ask the class what they would do if they wanted to please their father or their mother very much.
For example, for their father they might see that a chair was ready for him to sit in the shade when he returned from
working.
Main Points of Lesson
1. God our Heavenly Father wanted to teach his people how they could best please him. He gave them 10
commands to obey but first the people had to be prepared to receive these commands.
2. Review last week's memory verse. As God promised, Abraham's family grew very large. Show picture 9. All
these people were descendants of Abraham and Isaac. Point to Moses. This was their leader.
3. Put away the picture. Tell the story of Exodus 19:5,9-13 God had chosen to make these people a great nation.
He would teach them how to worship and serve him. Children could act this: They were to wash themselves and their
clothes. They were to put a line around the mountain which no one should cross. God is holy - people are sinful.
Sinful people cannot come near God. Remind children of the stories of Cain and Noah. Review memory verse, Gen.
4:7
4. After 2 days Moses went up the mountain. Tell story of Exodus 19:16-20
5. Moses returned with God's commandments. Show picture 9 again. Point out the cloud over the mountain.
God's presence was hidden by the cloud.
Review
Briefly go over the lesson to show that in His love God gave His people the Ten Commandments so that they would
know how to love Him and worship Him and also how to love one another.
Teach Memory Verse
Our Response to the Lesson
Make up a story about a boy or girl making something which is beautiful and perfect like a tin car or a flower
arrangement. Choose a suitable example. It is so perfect that you the maker can't let anyone like a little brother or
sister touch it because they will harm it.
God is perfect. He is holy. We are not perfect. We cannot approach him.
God promised that not only would Abraham's family grow large but from that family would come the Son of God,
Jesus Christ who would lead us back into God's presence and show us how to obey God's commandments.

Page 11 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 8 The Ten Commandments

Pictures 9, 10
Aim
To teach God's commands and show how they can be obeyed today.
Teacher Preparation: Ask God to help you prepare the lesson.
Then read and study Deuteronomy 5:1-22 and the lesson plan.
Memory Verse: Deut. 5:16
Respect your father and your mother, as I the Lord your God
command you, so that all may go well with you.

Lesson Plan
Introduction
Show picture 9.
Ask questions which review last week's lesson. For example:
Where did Moses go?
Who did he talk to?
What did God give him?
Why was a fence built round the mountain?
Review last week's memory verse.
Main Points of Lesson
1. Show picture 10. Moses brought God's commandments to
the people. The commandments told the people how God wanted
them to live. The pictures tell us now how God wants us to live to
please him. It's the best way to live.
2. Point to first picture. What are the people doing? God wants
us to worship him only. There is no other God. These idols are not alive. What do people today think is more
important than God? Ask the children for suggestions. They may say: good food, money, a good job. These are all
good but will not bring happiness if put before God.
3. Point to second picture. God wants us to keep one day especially for him. What should we do on it?
4. Third picture. God wants us to respect parents. How can we do this? The children could act how they do this.
Teach Memory Verse
5. Fourth picture. Do not murder. If there is time go over the story of Cain and Abel. Was Cain happy when he
killed his brother? Did it solve his problem?
6. Fifth picture. Do not take someone else's wife. This does not make a happy family. Be faithful in marriage.
7. Sixth picture. What is the man doing? He is a thief. God says, "Do not steal." This could be acted.
There are no pictures relating to commandments 9, 10 but God wants us not to speak falsely or tell lies and not to
covet or want what others have.
Review
Briefly go over the lesson emphasising that Commandments 1- 4 teach us how to love God and Commandments 5-10
how to love others and that these Commandments God gave to Moses are the best way for us to live now. But we
need God's help to be obedient children.
Our Response to the Lesson
The class could be divided into groups and each one given a different commandment to act out. If these are well
rehearsed they could be used in the church service or at a tea party for parents.

Page 12 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 9 A Sacrifice for Sin

Pictures 10, 11, 17
Aim
To teach that sacrifice takes away sin.
Teacher Preparation: Ask God to help each student understand
that Jesus died on the cross for his/her sin. Then read and study
Leviticus 6:1-7, Exodus 12:1-14 and the lesson plan.
Memory Verse: John 1:29
There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Lesson Plan
Introduction
Make up a story of a boy or girl doing something wrong in their
home and the punishment they had. When we do wrong, we suffer
for it. We are punished.
Main Points of Lesson
1. Last week we heard about the commandments God gave his
people. What were some of them? Show picture 10.
2. We often disobey God's commands. In the days when God
first gave them, a person had to show how sorry he was when he
disobeyed them by sacrificing an animal. Show picture 11. The
animal was perfect. The man took it to the priest. He killed it. When
we sin we should die because we have disobeyed God. The animal
was killed instead of the man who sinned.
3. Moses led all God's people out of Egypt where they were slaves. Tell how Moses told the people to get ready
a special meal. They were to put the blood from the sheep on the doorposts, Exodus 12:2-11.
4. God punished the Egyptians for their sin. He punished them with ten destructive plagues the last of which was
death of the first born son. But if God saw blood on the door post he passed over the house , Ex. 12:12-13.
5. We don't sacrifice a sheep now (point to picture 11) because God sent his son Jesus to be the Lamb sacrificed
for our sin. Show picture 17.
Review
Briefly go over the lesson to make sure the children understand that
Jesus' perfect sacrifice on the cross means that we can become
God's children and belong to His family. Jesus has saved us by His
precious blood.
Teach Memory Verse
Our Response to the Lesson
God sent Jesus to die for my sin. Have the class repeat the memory
verse quietly and have them substitute their own name instead of the
world.

Page 13 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 10 Jesus' Birth is Announced

Picture 12
Aim
To teach that God sent an angel with a message to Mary. She would
give birth to God's own son.
Teacher Preparation: Pray for each member of your class, each
young life entrusted to your care and teaching. Then read and study
Luke 1:26-33, Matthew 1:18-25 and the lesson plan.
Memory Verse: Matthew 1:21
Mary will have a son, and you will name him Jesus.

Lesson Plan
Introduction
Ask how important messages are sent in the community. Do the elders take them? Are they sent by letter? Are they
sent in a special way?
Main Points of Lesson
1. Mary was in her home. She was a young girl. She was engaged to be married to Joseph. God had a special
message for her. He sent it by a special messenger.
2. Tell the story of the angel's visit to Mary, Luke 1:28-33
a) The angel's greeting was, "Peace be with you. The Lord is with you. God has blessed you."
b) Mary was afraid. What did the angel's words mean?
c) Mary would have a son. He is to be called Jesus. Say memory verse. The name Jesus means Saviour.
d) Mary asked how this would happen. The angel told her God's Holy Spirit would be given to her to give
birth to the Son of God. Show picture 12.
3. Joseph was upset when he heard Mary was having a child that was not his.
4. Joseph had a dream and was told who the coming baby was, the Son of God, Matt 1:20-21
Teach Memory Verse
5. Joseph married Mary and together they waited for God's Son to be born.
Review
Briefly go over the lesson emphasising that God chose a trusting village girl to be the mother of His Son. God still
chooses those who love Him to live for Him on earth.

Our Response to the Lesson

Have the children act out the story. In the light of what has already been learnt why was the angel's message so
important? Who is the central character in this drama?

Page 14 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 11 Jesus is Born

Pictures 12, 13
Aim
To teach that as God had promised, His Son Jesus was born to
Mary.
Teacher Preparation: As you prepare this lesson give thanks to
God for His written word that tells us of the birth of Jesus, the
living Word and Saviour. Then read and study Luke 2:1-20 and the
lesson plan.
Memory Verse: Complete last week's verse, Matthew 1:21.
Mary will have a Son, and you will name him Jesus because he will
save his people from their sin.

Lesson Plan
Introduction
Ask who has a new baby in their home.
Everyone is happy and there are visitors to see the baby.
Question: Who was told she was to have a baby?
Answer: Mary.
Question: Who was the baby?
Answer: Jesus Son of God.
Review memory verse: Show picture 12.
Main Points of the Story
Tell the story of Luke 2:1-20 in your own words. (Read the story in Luke several times so you know it well. Then
say the story to yourself without looking at the Bible.)
1. The time for Mary to have her baby came very near. Just before it, Mary and Joseph had to leave their home
in Nazareth and go back to Bethlehem where their family came from. This was about 120 km. The rulers of their
country asked everyone to do this so they could count all the people.
2. Mary and Joseph have to stay in a shelter for animals (stable) because everywhere else was full.
3. Jesus is born and put in the manger. (A manger was the animal's food box). Show picture 13 and keep it out
while you tell the story of the shepherds' visit.
4. The angel gives the shepherds the message.
5. The angel choir praises God.
6. The shepherds go to Bethlehem.
7. Mary thought about what the shepherds said and who this baby was.
8. The shepherds return home very happy to see what God has done.
Teach Memory Verse
Review
Briefly go over the lesson emphasising that God always keeps His promises (remember His promise to Abraham)
and that despite Jesus' very humble birth He was truly God's Son and our Saviour.
Our Response to the Lesson
Ask the children to think of the joy in the family when a new baby arrives and to tell about it.
We are joyful too because God has sent Jesus. He is the Saviour of the world, King of Kings, God's Son.
Sing a Christmas song.

Page 15 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 12 Jesus the Teacher

Pictures 11, 14
Aim
To teach that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Teacher Preparation: Pray for your students that they will come to
know Jesus as Saviour and Lord of their life. Then read and study
Luke 2:41-51, 4:16-30 and the lesson plan.
Memory Verse: Luke 2:52
Jesus grew both in body and in wisdom, gaining favour with God
and men.

Lesson Plan
Introduction
The teacher should ask the children if they can remember any important days in their family such as a wedding, a
birth, a death or anything else.
Main Points of Lesson
1. God's people had a special day every year called the Passover. Ask the class if they remember the story (show
picture 11) and remind them of the blood put on the door posts so that God's angel passed over them. They thanked
God for saving them from death. Don't spend more than 5 minutes on this review.
2. When Jesus was 12, he went to the main town of Jerusalem with Joseph and Mary for the Passover.
3. Jesus went with his parents to the temple. When they left, he stayed talking with the Jewish leaders and
teachers. His wisdom amazed them. Tell a story about a boy today teaching the lecturers at a university to show the
children how surprising this would be.
4. Tell the story of Luke 2:43-46 in your own words of how Joseph and Mary looked for Jesus.
5. They were surprised when they found Jesus teaching in the
temple.
6. Jesus' answer (v. 49) showed he was the Son of God. He was
teaching in his Heavenly Father's house.
7. Show picture 14 (1st picture on page). If possible cover the
second picture with a plain piece of paper.
8. When he was grown up (show 2nd picture) Jesus taught in his
home town. Some people listened and believed, others did not.
Review
Briefly go over the lesson seeking the children's response to Jesus.
Make it clear that you believe Jesus is God's Son. Explain that Jesus requires a personal response to the question,
"Do you believe?"
Our Response to the Lesson
Jesus asks us to listen to his words today. Where do we find them? In the Bible. Show the children your Bible. This
is where the stories we hear at Sunday School come from. This is where we find each memory verse.
Teach Memory Verse

Page 16 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 13 Jesus the Worker of Miracles

Picture 15
Aim
To teach that Jesus is the Son of God and has power over all things.
Teacher Preparation: Ask the God who is all knowing and all
powerful to help you prepare this lesson. Then read and study Mark
5:22-23; 35-43; 6:45-51 and the lesson plan.
Memory Verse: Matthew 28:18
Jesus drew near and said to them, "I have been given all authority in
heaven and on earth."

Lesson Plan
Introduction
Ask the children to tell you who are the people they know in their town or city who have power or authority over us.
Answers you may get are the governor, the police, town council, teachers, parents, etc.
Main Points of Lesson
1. Who is Jesus? Try to lead straight on from your introduction to this question. You may get different answers
such as a great man, a prophet, a teacher, the Messiah, the Son of God. This week we have 3 stories about Jesus, who
is God, and who came into the world to show us what God is like. On earth, one of his names is Son of God. Jesus
has the power of God. He can do the most wonderful things. Jesus' power is greater than anyone else's because He is
God.
2. Tell the story of blind Bartemaeus just as Mark writes it. Read the story through several times so you know it.
Jesus has the power to make a blind person see.

3. One day Jesus was asked by an important man called Jairus to come to his home. His daughter was sick.
Many people wanted to see Jesus first. Jesus was delayed. Messengers came to say the girl had died. Tell the story of
Mark 5:36-42. Jesus has power over death. Show picture 15.
4. Jesus friends, who were fishermen were out in a boat. Tell the story of Mark 6:45-51. Jesus walked on water,
he stopped the storm. Jesus has power over the earth, over life and death. He is God.
Review
Briefly go over the lesson emphasising that Jesus miracles demonstrate that He is the Son of God with power over all
things - sickness, death, nature.
Teach Memory Verse
Our Response to the Lesson
Ask the children to think of something they are frightened of. The teacher can make some suggestions such as going
to the clinic, walking alone into a dark house.
Challenge the children to put their trust in God's saving and keeping power. God who is all-powerful is with them
when they are afraid and He can take away their fear.

Page 17 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 14 Jesus is Crucified

Pictures 15, 16, 17, 21
Aim To teach that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died as the sacrifice
for man's sin.
Teacher Prepration: Ask God to help you explain clearly to your
students the significance of Jesus' death on the cross. Then read and
study Mark 15:15-20; Luke 23:26-49 and the lesson plan.
Memory Verse: 1 Peter 2:24
Christ himself carried our sins in his body on the cross.

Lesson Plan
Introduction Take a mirror to the lesson. Put it in front of a child's face. Ask, "What do you see?" Answer, "My
face," or "Me." Teacher asks again, "Can you see yourself clearly?"
The child will answer, "Yes"
The teacher should put a little dirt on the mirror and ask the same
question. "Can you see yourself clearly now?" This time he cannot
see clearly.
Main Points of Lesson
1. Our sin has made our lives like this dirty mirror. God made
us like himself but now we cannot see him. Jesus came to show us
what God is like. Ask the children to tell you any of the things Jesus
did when he lived on earth. After some answers, show picture 15.
Review the stories briefly. These were good things. Ask, "Did Jesus
ever do anything wrong?" "No. He is the Son of God."
2. Explain that Jesus taught by his work and his stories how people can worship and obey God best in their lives.
His work and his stories showed people when they were wrong and
selfish. He showed them they were sinners. Many people did not
like this especially the leaders who should have been teaching the
people how to worship God. They were angry and had Jesus
arrested by the government.
3. Jesus was given to the soldiers. Tell what happened in Mark
15:15-20. Show picture 16. Jesus had never sinned but he was
beaten. He did not fight back. He did not get angry.
4. Jesus was taken to be crucified. Show picture 17. Luke
23:26-27.
5. Put picture away to tell rest of story, Luke 23:32-48. The two
thieves were crucified. Jesus asked God to forgive those who
crucified him. The soldiers divided up his clothes. When Jesus died the sun stopped shining. God said blood must be
shed to forgive sin. Jesus shed his blood for us. He who had never sinned took our sins upon Himself and died in our
place (Show picture 21)
Teach Memory Verse
Review Briefly go over the lesson emphasising that Jesus who is
without sin died for our sins giving His body and blood as a
sacrifice. Jesus took the punishment in our place so that we might
be friends with God forever through faith in Jesus' finished work on
the cross.
Our Response to the Lesson
Show the mirror used in the introduction. It is still dirty. Dip the
mirror in some water or wipe it very clean. Just as this mirror has
been made clean, Jesus washed and wiped away our sin when he died on the cross.
Have you thanked Him?
Ask the children why we call the Friday on which Jesus was crucified "Good Friday?"

Page 18 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 15 Jesus is Alive

Picture 18
Aim
To teach that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, rose from the dead and
is alive today.
Teacher Preparation: As you prepare this lesson rejoice in the
presence of the Living Christ. Then read and study Luke 24:1-10
and the lesson plan.
Memory Verse: Luke 24:6
Jesus is not here, he has risen.

Lesson Plan
Prepare on a tray or piece of carton, a garden tomb like Jesus was put into. This is very easy with earth or sand, about
some big stones and some flowers.
Introduction
Easter Sunday is a very special day. At first there was a secret about Easter. Secrets are something we keep very
quiet about. We whisper them. The teacher should whisper to the first child at the beginning of each row, "Jesus is
alive." Each child whispers it to his neighbour until everyone has heard it. Teacher continues by saying that now
everyone should know about this secret. They should know what happened at Easter so we need to shout aloud what
we first heard whispered. Everyone shouts out together, "Jesus is Alive!"
Show the garden tomb to the children. Jesus died on a cross and was put in a cave like this, made out of rock with a
very big stone in front. Too big to move.
Main points of the Lesson
1. Jesus was crucified on a Friday. Very early on the Sunday morning three women came to the tomb where the
dead body of Jesus had been taken. They were going to put oil and perfume on his body. They wondered how they
would move the stone away.
2. Tell how they found the stone rolled away. They went in, saw the angels and were very frightened, v.3-5.
3. The angels asked them, "What are you doing here? Jesus is alive. Why are you looking for him where dead
people are put? Don't you remember what he said? After 3 days he would rise from the dead." v.5-7. Show picture
18. Point to the empty grave clothes.
Teach Memory Verse
4. The women remembered what Jesus said. They were so happy. Jesus is alive. They ran back to tell Jesus'
disciples. Jesus is alive now. He had to die for our sins. He loved us so much. The teacher could mention some
children individually saying, "Jesus died for you Henry," or "Jesus died for you Grace". Teachers must use their
discretion about this. Our sin could not keep Jesus dead. God made him alive. Jesus has victory over death so that
one day we may live with him.
Review
Briefly go over the lesson to bring out that because Jesus overcame death and is alive for evermore we no longer
need to fear death.
Our Response to the Lesson
Ask the children why Jesus had to die? Emphasize Jesus is alive now. Point to the empty tomb.
Sing a song about Jesus being alive.

Page 19 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 16 Jesus Appears to His Disciples

Pictures 17, 19
Aim
To teach that believing Jesus rose from the dead brings joy. By his
victory over death he saved us from sin.
Teacher Preparation: Pray for your students that they will not be
doubters but believers. Then read and study John 30:19-29 and the
lesson plan.
Memory Verse: John 20:20
The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord.

Lesson Plan
Introduction
Tell the class about some surprising news you once had. It was so surprising that at first you didn't believe it. Try to
make it an example of good news. For example, you gained high marks in an examination which you didn't expect to
pass.
Main Points of Lesson
1. Jesus' friends were very sad or very frightened. Why? Show picture 17. Jesus had been crucified.
2. John 20:19-21. Describe how the disciples were together on
the Sunday after Jesus was crucified on Friday. They were hiding.
Suddenly Jesus was there with them. They couldn't believe it. Was
it really him? Jesus showed them his hands, feet and side. They
were so happy to see him.
3. Put v. 24-25 into your own words. Thomas was not with the
other disciples and did not believe the news.
4. v. 26-27. A week later Jesus came again. Thomas was
present. Show picture 19. Say Jesus' words and give Thomas' reply.
Thomas saw Jesus and believed in him v. 28.
5. Jesus asked Thomas a question v. 29. He said as well: "How
happy are those who believe without seeing me."
Review
Briefly go over the lesson and explain that Jesus is speaking to us now as he spoke to the disciples then. We cannot
see Him with our eyes yet. We know He died but is now alive. It is by believing in Jesus that we are saved for
everlasting life with God.
Teach Memory Verse
Our Response to the Lesson
The children should be encouraged to act out the story of Thomas. Do not doubt that Jesus is alive like Thomas did at
first. Believe that Jesus is alive as he said. Thank him for dying for your sin on the cross. Ask him to be your Lord as
Thomas did.

Page 20 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 17 Jesus Returns to Heaven

Picture 20
Aim
To teach that Jesus went back to Heaven but will return to this earth
one day.
Teacher Preparation: As you prepare this lesson thank God for
Jesus' first coming and for the certain hope of His second coming.
Then read and study Acts 1:1-11, Luke 24:50-51 and the lesson
plan.
Memory Verse: Acts 1:11
This Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will come back in
the same way that you saw him go to heaven.

Lesson Plan
Introduction
Talk about saying goodbye to someone.
When someone from the family goes to the store you know they will come back soon. You say goodbye quickly.
When a member of the family leaves for a long holiday or moves somewhere else far away it is harder to say
goodbye. You don't know when you will see them again.
The teacher could begin with 2 short acts of drama to show these different goodbyes. This needs to be prepared with
a few children before Sunday School.
Main Points of Lesson
1. Jesus had to say goodbye to his friends and disciples. Put Luke 24:50 into your own words.
2. Jesus was returning to God the Father in Heaven. He told his disciples two things. He would return but the
date is unknown Acts 1:7. God would send the gift of the Holy Spirit so that the disciples could continue the work of
Jesus on earth. Acts 1:8.
3. Jesus was taken away from the earth v. 9. Show picture 20.
4. God's messengers talked to the disciples v.10
Review
Briefly go over the lesson emphasising that when Jesus returns He will come in majesty and power as King of kings
and Lord of lords.
Teach Memory Verse
Our Response to the Lesson
When someone returns to the family after a long journey or when they have been away a long time they often come
unexpectedly. Jesus is going to return. He always keeps his promises. Are we expecting his return? If we are
following him, loving him and obeying him, we are ready for His return.
Sing a song about Jesus' return.

Page 21 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 18 The Way Back to God

Pictures 20, 22, 23
Aim
To teach that belief in the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour is the way
back to God.
Teacher Preparation: As you prepare this lesson thank God for
leading you to Jesus who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. How
blessed and privileged we are to be able to tell people about Jesus'
love and power to save. Read and study Matt. 7:13-14, John 14:1-7,
Rev. 3:9-10 and the lesson plan.
Memory Verse: John 14:6
I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Lesson Plan
Introduction
Describe the roads you walk along to get to Sunday School. Some
are wide roads, some are narrow. Some have holes, some are flat.
Life is like a journey along a road. Where are you going in your
life?
Main Points of Lesson
1. Show picture 22. A big, wide road which is easy leads to the
place of punishment. God gave us life, we must take care of it. Give
examples of this, such as if we drink too much alcohol it will harm
our body; if we smoke cigarettes these will destroy our lungs; if we
take illegal drugs they will affect or destroy our minds and bodies.
Point to the wide road on the picture.
2. The narrow road is harder to find. It goes past the cross. It leads to life with Jesus. Point to the narrow road
on the picture. Say Memory Verse. Look briefly back to picture 20. Jesus promised he would go and prepare a place
for those who believe and trust in Him. There is no punishment for them because Jesus took it all on the cross.
3. This lesson would be easier to understand if illustrated by stories of people who took the different roads. Tell
the story of:
a) Ananias and Sapphira, Acts 5:1-12, who took the wide road. They were selfish and pretended to the
church that they were better than they really were but they lied to
God.
b) The Ethiopian, Acts 8:26-38, who took the narrow
road. He believed the good news about Jesus Christ.
Review
Briefly go over the lesson making it very clear that the narrow road
(Jesus' way) leads to abundant life now and in the world to come,
whereas the wide road (the way of the world) leads to death and
separation from God.
Our Response to the Lesson
Show picture 23. God wants every person from every tribe and nation to follow him. Here is Jesus welcoming those
who love him and want to follow him. Which road are you taking?
Teach Memory Verse

Page 22 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 19 You Must Be Born Again

Pictures 15, 22, 24
Aim
To teach that if we want to live with the Lord Jesus we must be
born again.
Teacher Preparation: As you prepare this lesson thank God for the
work of the Holy Spirit in your life. Ask Him to help you teach your
students the Bible truth that in His love God offers us new birth in
Christ. Then read and study John 3:1-17 and the lesson plan.
Memory Verse: John 3:3
No one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again.

Lesson Plan
Introduction
Begin the lesson by describing how you would prepare your house for the visit of an important person. Get the
children to make suggestions too. You would sweep the house, put
flowers around and so on.
Main Points of Lesson
1. One day when Jesus lived on the earth he had a very
important visitor. He was a religious leader of the Jews. His name
was Nicodemus. Show picture 24.
2. He came to see Jesus at night. Why did he do that? He didn't
want anyone to know he had come to see Jesus. He came secretly
because he was afraid of what the other leaders would say. He came
because he had many questions to ask Jesus.
3. He knew Jesus was a teacher sent by God because of the miracles Jesus did, John 3:2. Show picture 15. Ask
the children to name some miracles. Nicodemus wanted to know how he could follow God and live with Him.
4. Jesus told him he must be born again. Nicodemus asked: "How can a grown up man like me be born again?"
John 3:3
5. Jesus said that this is a different birth. God's Holy Spirit is
born in a person who wants to follow Him. He is changed so that he
can enter heaven. Refer to Picture 22. We cannot change ourselves
because of sin, John 3:5-6
Review
Briefly go over the lesson and emphasise that the Holy Spirit in a
person's life enables him/her to be born into God's family and to
become an inheritor of His Kingdom.
Teach Memory Verse
Our Response to the Lesson
End the lesson with a brief testimony about someone whose life has been changed. Provide a few examples of people
whose lives have been changed by the power of the Holy Spirit and new birth in Christ (from personal experience,
from the New Testament, or from church history). The children may be able to provide examples.

Page 23 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 20 Coming of the Holy Spirit

Pictures 20, 24, 25
Aim To teach that the Holy Spirit of God gives Jesus' followers
power to witness for Him.
Teacher Preparation: As you prepare this lesson remember that
time when you accepted Jesus into your life and you received the
Holy Spirit. Ask God's Spirit to continue to help and teach you in
your Christian life. Then read and study Acts 2:1-15, 38-42 and the
lesson plan.
Memory Verse: Acts 1:8
But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with
power and you will be witnesses for me.

Lesson Plan
Introduction Show the class a torch. Ask what we use it for? Answer: to give light so that we can see in the dark.
Switch the torch on (take the batteries out before the lesson and don't let the children see you do it). The torch does
not work. Take the top off and show them why. No batteries means no power.
Main Points of Lesson
Note: Answers are suggested. These exact words need not be used.
1. Show picture 20. - The disciples look very sad. Jesus was
going away from them. Ask the class:
Question: Where was Jesus going? Answer: He was returning to his
Father in heaven.
Question: What did the angels tell Jesus' followers? Answer: Jesus
would return again one day.
Question: Who did Jesus say would come and give them power to
witness for him? Answer: The Holy Spirit.
Show picture 24. This man came to ask how he could follow Jesus.
Question: Who was he? Answer: Nicodemus.
Question: How did Jesus tell him to follow God? (This is a difficult question. Children may need help and
encouragement to understand.) Answer: He needed to be born again by God's Holy Spirit.
Say memory verse. Show picture 25.
2. Jesus' followers are together. Tell what happened in Acts 2:2-4.
3. The followers of Jesus went out and in the power of the Holy Spirit talked to many people from different
countries and in different languages, Acts 2:5-6.
4. Peter, who ran away when Jesus was crucified, began to talk to this big crowd. The followers of Jesus were
not drunk, Acts 2:14-15.
5. This is a summary of Peter's sermon, Acts 2:38-39.
Turn away from sin.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Receive the Holy Spirit.
Review Briefly go over the lesson emphasising that God is Father,
Son and Holy Spirit, and that when we accept God's gift of
salvation and receive Jesus into our lives God gives us the Holy
Spirit who comes and stays with us and helps us to live lives that
are obedient to His Word and pleasing to our Father God.
Teach Memory Verse
Our Response to the Lesson Show picture 21. Show the torch without batteries again. When Jesus first went away
the disciples were like the torch, they had no power. Put batteries into the torch and switch on and show its power
and light. When the Holy Spirit came they had power. Jesus gives us his Holy Spirit when we follow him. Jesus'
followers did have the power of the Holy Spirit because three thousand people believed in one day and became
Christians when they preached in his power. If you have given yourself to God, then God has given you the Holy
Spirit to help you.

Page 24 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 21 Walk in the Light

Pictures 25, 26
Aim
To teach that Satan wants us to walk in darkness but God's Holy
Spirit enables a Christian to walk in the light.
Teacher Preparation: As you prepare this lesson ask God to
continue to help you to walk in the light and to be a faithful witness
to God's love in Jesus. Then read and study Ephesians 5:8-20,
Joshua 7, Luke 19:1-10 and the lesson plan
Memory Verse: Ephesians 5:8
You must live like people who belong to the light.

Lesson Plan
Introduction
Before Sunday School ask two older children to help you and explain what you want them to do. At the beginning of
the lesson ask the first child to walk across the room from one side to the other. Have a table and a chair there so he
has to walk around them. Ask the second child to do the same but he must cover his eyes. Ask the class who walked
more easily and quickly. Answer - The first, because he could see where he was going. He walked in the light.
Main Points of Lesson
1. Show the children Picture 26. Talk about the two pictures.
First Picture: What is the man in the first picture doing? He is
walking down the road in the dark. The road is bad. He falls down
the holes. He is frightened. Second Picture: What is the man in the
second picture doing? He is walking down the road in the light. The
road is good. He is happy. Stress the point that one man is in the
dark and the other in the light.
2. Look back at picture 25. Who came to help Jesus' followers?
Jesus sent God's Holy Spirit to help them. The Holy Spirit helps us
to please God. This is like walking in the light. But Satan tries to
make us walk in the dark. He tries to stop us following Jesus.
3. There was once a soldier called Achan. He fought in a battle against a big city called Jericho which had high
walls. God said that Jericho's walls would fall down. None of the soldiers were to take anything from the city. Tell
the story of what Achan took and hid in his tent. Joshua 7:21. The next battle Achan and the Israelites fought they did
not win because Achan had disobeyed God. He stole. He was walking in the dark. He was punished. He was like first
man in Picture 26. He followed Satan.
4. Tell the story of Zaccheus, Luke 19. Zaccheus worked for the government. He often stole money from the
people. One day he heard Jesus was coming to his town. He was short so he climbed a tree to see Jesus. Jesus
stopped under the tree. He wanted to come to Zaccheus' home. When Zaccheus met Jesus, he wanted to follow him.
He wanted to walk in Jesus' light. Zaccheus said any money he had stolen he would return 4 times as much. Give an
example (If he had stolen $10 he would give back $40).
Review
Briefly go over the lesson and emphasise the contrast between walking in the dark (deliberately sinning and being
disobedient to God's Word) and walking in the light of Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Teach Memory Verse
Our Response to the Lesson
Give an example of walking in the dark and walking in the light from life at home today. Try to get the children to
give you examples also. For example helping with work in the home, instead of answering back or refusing to do as
asked. The Holy Spirit helps us to walk in the light.

Page 25 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 22 Jesus Gives Us a New Life

Pictures 27, 28
Aim
To teach that a follower of Jesus is a new person. He turns his back
on the old ways with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Teacher Preparation: As you prepare this lesson thank God that
you are a new person in Christ Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to help
you to model attitudes, values and actions that are truly Christian in
your teaching ministry. Then read and study 2 Corinthians 5:14-18,
Galations 5:16-26, Colossians 3:18-21 and the lesson plan.
Memory Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:17
When anyone is joined to Christ, he is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come.

Lesson Plan
Introduction
The best way to begin the lesson would be with a word of testimony
showing how the Holy Spirit helped you to overcome a temptation.
For example, perhaps there was a boy in your class at school who
always abused you. One day after you became a Christian he began
to say rude words to you. Instead of fighting him as you used to do,
you suggested that you have a game of football together.
If you cannot think of your own example make up a story about a
boy or girl similar to the one above but a real example is always
much better.
Main Points of Lesson
1. Show picture 27. A Christian is like a new person: he has been born again. Review memory verse, John 3:3
(Lesson 19). He is turning his back on the old ways. The class can tell you what the old ways in the picture are -
drinking, fighting, stealing, worshipping idols or putting something else before God. Read from the Bible Galatians
5:20-21. Get the class to tell you what are the old, bad ways.
2. It is important to tell the class that it is very difficult for the Christian to turn his back on the old ways. A
Christian often feels he is pulled in two directions. Show the class an elastic band or a piece of elastic. Pull it in both
directions. A Christian is pulled like this. The Holy Spirit is the one who has the power to help the Christian who is
seeking to live God's way.
NOTE: The danger with this lesson is that the children are only taught to stop doing the old, bad things. There must
be a positive side to the lesson. New good ways must be put in the place of the old bad ways. The new good ways
will be plain for all to see in our everyday living. Read Gal. 5:22-23. Get the children to tell you what are the new,
good ways.
Review
Briefly go over the lesson to emphasise that becoming and being a Christian means living a changed, new life
walking in God's holy ways.
Our Response to the Lesson
Show picture 28. Here is a Christian family. The man and the wife are helping each other. The wife is looking after
the children. The husband is helping to carry what they need.
With older children the teacher could read Col. 3:18-21. God says the husband must love his wife, look after her,
care for her. God says a wife must love her husband and respect him.
This picture shows a different family from pictures 4 and 5, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel. Theirs was the old way.
Contrast it with the new way. Help the children to respond positively to what may be for them a new and different
view of family relationships and family life.
Teach Memory Verse

Page 26 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 23 Loving Others

Picture 29
Aim
To teach that following Jesus means loving and serving others and
even loving our enemies.
Teacher Preparation: As you prepare this lesson ask God to help
you teach the story of the Good Samaritan so that your students will
understand and practise God's command, "Love your neighbour as
you love yourself." Then read the study Luke 10:25-37 and the
lesson plan.
Memory Verse: Luke 10:27
Love your neighbour as you love yourself.

Lesson Plan
Introduction
Think of an example when a family was helped by a neighbour not a relative and tell it to the class. For example, the
neighbour took a sick person of another family to hospital or did some other kind act.
Main Points of Lesson
NOTE: There are 2 pictures on the same page. If possible cover up the one on the left of the page with a paper held
in place with a paper clip, for first part of the story.
1. Jesus told a story once about a man who went on a journey. Tell the story of the Good Samaritan in your own
words, Luke 10:30-35. Point out that the Samaritan and the Jew in Jesus' story were enemies of each other.
2. Show picture 29, 2nd picture. It is important to teach that Jesus was saying that a Christian has to do more
than anyone else. He has to love and help his enemy not just his friend.
Review
Briefly go over the lesson to show that God expects us to love others as He loves us. We can only do this, of course,
through the power of the Holy Spirit and not through our own determination or strength.
Our Response to the Lesson
Show picture 29, 1st picture. Who does that mean helping today? Get suggestions from the children. It means people
who have done wrong to us. It means people from another tribe. In the picture the men have dropped their weapons.
We can only love those who hate us through the power the Holy Spirit gives us to do this.
Teach Memory Verse
This is a very good story to act. You can act it as a modern story with a person helping some one from a tribe who is
thought of as an enemy.

Page 27 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 24 God's Power, Not Magic

Picture 30
Aim
To teach that Christians do not need charms. God is more powerful
than any charm or evil spirit.
Teacher Preparation: As you prepare this lesson renew your
allegiance to the one true God as you worship Him and commit this
lesson and your students to Him. Then read and study Acts 19:11-
20 and the lesson plan.
Memory Verse: Luke 10:27
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with
all your strength and with all your mind.

Lesson Plan
Introduction
The children will have seen charms being worn by people around the neck or wrist or else where, they may even
wear them themselves. Ask the class (not a child who is wearing one) why people wear charms. The answer you
want is that people believe they are a powerful protection.
Main Points of Lesson
1. Tell the following story. This is a story set in Africa.
There was no rain in Riwoto, Southern Sudan. The crops were dying. The elders came to see Pastor Peter - the
missionary from Kenya. They asked him, "Please will you pray to God to send us rain?" Pastor Peter said he would
but first they must take off all the charms they were wearing. If they prayed together with those on they were not
trusting in God's power. The charms were taken off and with the Pastor they prayed for rain. That night it rained so
hard that Pastor Peter could not leave his house the next day. It was a very powerful witness to people who did not
know the power of God.
2. Show picture 30. Talk about what the men are doing. It is not easy to destroy charms etc. It is a big step of
faith to trust in God's power. The men are obeying God's command.
Teach Memory Verse
God will bless us when we do this as he did the people at Riwoto.
3. Tell the story of Acts 19:18-20 in your own words. The people of Ephesus made a big fire of all the books of
magic and charms. God blessed them because they showed they trusted his power. The church grew.
Review
Briefly go over the lesson emphasising that God's love and power are completely sufficient for our daily Christian
living. No one else and nothing else has any power to help us.
Our Response to the Lesson
If possible, end this lesson with a story you know like the one the lesson begins with.

Page 28 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 25 God has Power Over Evil Spirits

Picture 31
Aim
To teach that the Lord Jesus Christ has power over evil spirits.
Teacher Preparation: As you prepare this lesson praise God that
Jesus has overcome Satan and evil, and thank Him that you and
your students and Christian believers do not have to fear evil spirits
because they are subject to the power and authority of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Then read and study Luke 8:26-39 and the Lesson
Plan.
Memory Verse: 1 John 4:4
The Spirit who is in you is more powerful than the spirit in those who belong to the world.

Lesson Plan
Introduction
Before the Sunday school begins ask about 6 or 8 of the older children if they will help you at the beginning of the
lesson. They should be an even number and boys may enjoy this more than girls. At the beginning of the lesson
divide your helpers into two teams of equal numbers to have a game called Tug of War. A teacher may like to be the
leader of each team.
Each team member holds around the waist of the person in front. The leaders hold hands. A mark is made on the
floor between the two leaders. At the word "Go" each team has to try and pull the other across the mark. The team
members must not let go of each other. Play this game once and then send children back to their places.
Main Points of Lesson
1. That game was fun but suppose it was like a tug of war going on in your head. You would be mad. One day
Jesus met a man like that. Show picture 31. This man is not in his right mind. Describe how he lived and what was
the matter with him. His body was possessed by (belonged to) many evil spirits, Luke 8:27,29-30.
2. Describe how one day Jesus met him. The evil spirits knew who Jesus was and recognised his power over
them, Luke 8:28.
3. Jesus ordered the evil spirits out of the man and allowed them to go into the pigs. Jesus has power over all the
evil spirits. The demons were forced to leave the man called Mob (Legion) because Jesus is far more powerful than
any demon, Luke 8:32-33. Demons or evil spirits are afraid of Jesus. Jesus' power can take away our fears of evil
spirits.
4. The man called Mob was like a new person, Luke 8:35. He asked if he could stay with Jesus but Jesus gave
him a new job to do, Luke 8:39. He was a changed person.
Review
Briefly go over the lesson emphasising that because of his authority and power Jesus was able to help a man other
men thought was evil, mad, dangerous and impossible to save. Nothing is too hard for God.
Our Response to the Lesson
Teach Memory Verse
As you teach it explain that it means God's Holy Spirit in the Christian is more powerful than any spirit in the world.
Evil spirits cannot harm us as Jesus protects us when we ask for his help.

Page 29 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 26 Satan's Opposition

Picture 32
Aim
To teach that Satan tries to stop us following Jesus Christ.
Teacher Preparation: As you prepare this lesson ask God to
thwart Satan in his efforts to prevent your students coming to
Christ. Praise God for any student who you know has committed
his/her life to the Lord. Then read and study James 1:14-15, 1 Peter
5:8-9, Mark 10:17-22 and the lesson plan.
Memory Verse: Continue to learn last week's verse 1 John 4:4 or 1
Peter 5:8-9.
Be alert. Be on the watch. Your enemy the devil roams round like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Be
firm in your faith and resist him. 1 Peter 5:8-9

Lesson Plan
Introduction
Begin with a short story either from your own experience or make one up about resisting a temptation.
Example: You are at school and the teacher is giving a test. You are sitting next to a boy in the class who is very
clever and you can easily see his answers.
You ask the Lord Jesus to help you not to look at his paper. With God's help you keep your eyes off his paper and
complete the test.
Main Points of Lesson
1. Show picture 32. The Christian is in the middle. He is turning his back on the temptation to drink too much
and to get money the wrong way. It's important to say that money and riches are not wrong. They are God's gifts but
they become wrong if they have the first place in our lives.
2. Tell the story of the rich young man who came to Jesus. He really wanted to follow Jesus. He had obeyed
God's commands. Jesus told him to sell his possessions not because it was wrong to have them but because they were
more important to him than serving God. The young man couldn't resist the temptation. Satan knows if he can get us
to want material things then we will take our eyes off God.
Review
Briefly go over the lesson emphasising that following Jesus and belonging to God's family is far more precious than
worldly possessions or the friendship of unbelievers who are encouraging you to turn away from God.
Our Response to the Lesson
Show picture 32 again. Show the Christian turning away from what is being offered by Satan's friends and turning to
Jesus. Ask the children what things they must turn away from. Is it quarrelling with a brother or sister? Make a few
suggestions.
Teach Memory Verse

Page 30 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 27 The Forgiveness of God

Picture 33
Aim
To teach that when we sin, God forgives us when we are truly sorry
and turn away from the sin.
Teacher Preparation: As you prepare this lesson ask God to
forgive your sins as you forgive those who have sinned against you.
(Don't forget that sins can be wrong things that we think or do and
the things we know are right that we fail to do.) Then read and
study Luke 15:11-24, 1 John 1:9 and the lesson plan.
Memory Verse: 1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins to God he will forgive us our sins.

Lesson Plan
Introduction
Begin with a story from your life or make up a story about someone who was a Christian but who sinned.
For example: Wani was a Christian. He loved the Lord Jesus and tried to serve Him. Wani had a test at school. He
had learnt his work but Micah who hadn't done his work, cheated. He looked at Wani's paper. Wani hit him and a
fight began. Micah should not have cheated but Wani should not have hit him. What could Wani have done?
Main Points of Lesson
1. Even when we become Christians we still sin. What must we do about our sin? Ask the children this question.
Try to get these answers:
We must know that we have sinned and done wrong.
Say we are sorry to God.
Say we are sorry to the people we have wronged.
2. Say memory verse, 1 John 1:9. If we confess our sins to God he will forgive us our sins. Jesus told a story
about a man who needed forgiveness. Tell the story of Luke 15:11-24. Note to Teacher: Read the Bible story many
times so you know it well.
3. Show picture 33. Point to the father. He is very happy. His lost son has come home. Point to the son. He has
come back to the father. He is sorry for his sin. The father welcomes the son.
Review
Briefly go over the lesson to emphasise that Christians still sin but know God's forgiveness when we recognise we
have sinned, say we are sorry to God and turn away from our wrong doing. God forgives us just as the father forgave
his son in the story Jesus told.
Teach Memory Verse
Note: This is a very good story to act. Have everyone taking part except those who are really too shy.
Our Response to the Lesson
The story in Luke 15 is a good story to discuss with your class and to act. Dramatisation will help to fix the story in
your students' minds and to underline the lesson's main points.
The son in the story is like us when we sin. We need to say we are sorry to God. This is hard to do but God is like the
father in the story. He welcomes us and forgives us when we are truly sorry and turn away from that sin.

Page 31 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 28 Christians Should Always Pray

Picture 34
Aim
To teach that wherever he is or whatever he is doing, a Christian
can always talk about it to God.
Teacher Preparation: A lesson on prayer is a good thing to be
reminded of our own prayer life and its importance. Ask God to
teach you to pray. He wants you to praise Him, to confess your sins,
to thank Him, to pray for others and to bring your own needs and
problems to Him. Pray to Him now. Then read and study James
5:13-18, Philippians 4:5-7, 1 Kings 17 and the lesson plan.
Memory Verse: James 5:13
Is any among you in trouble? He should pray.

Lesson Plan
Introduction
Before Sunday School begins, arrange with a small group of about 6 children to help with this introduction. The
selected children come into the class one after the other at the beginning of the lesson, acting as if they each have a
different illness. For example, one could walk in holding his stomach as if he has a stomach ache; another could put
her hand to her head as if she has a bad headache and so on. Ask the rest of the class what is wrong with them? They
are all sick.
Main Points of Lesson
1. Show picture 34. Someone is very sick. What do people do when they are sick? Get the children to tell you.
Some suggestions:
Take traditional medicine or go to the witch doctor.
Go to the clinic or hospital and take medicine from there.
When Christians are in trouble or sick they can pray. The Bible tells us to do this. Read memory verse.
2. Anybody can become sick - those who are Christians and those who are not. If you are sick, pray to God and
ask him to help you get well. Sometimes God will heal you at once. He may use doctors and hospitals to make you
well. God is powerful and if you pray to him in Jesus' name, he will hear and answer your prayer. When God doesn't
heal us immediately, we think he has not heard us praying. Sometimes God does not heal us. He has something for us
to learn about him while we are sick. We can trust God. His power is greater than the witch doctor's.
3. There was a prophet called Elijah. He taught people about God. The king did not want to listen. Elijah taught
the king that God is powerful and hears prayer. Elijah prayed there would be no rain. There was no rain for 3½ years.
God looked after Elijah. He had water from a spring and the birds brought him bread and meat to eat.
Review
Briefly go over the lesson making sure the children understand that God wants us to pray and Christians can pray at
all times for anything (not just in regard to sickness). But we need to do more than ask. We need to love God and tell
Him so, to thank Him for all His blessings, and to confess our sins. God listens to our prayers and always answers.
His answer is always the right answer even when it's "No" or "wait".
Teach Memory Verse
Our Response to the Lesson
Get the children to tell you names of people they know who are sick. End the lesson with prayer for them.

Page 32 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 29 Life after Death

Pictures 4, 5, 21, 35
Aim
To teach that Jesus spoke about life after death.
Teacher Preparation: Rejoice today and thank God that you have
salvation and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. Then read
and study John 5:21-29, John 14:1-4, and the lesson plan.
Memory Verse: John 5:24
Whoever hears my words and believes in him who sent me has
eternal life.

Lesson Plan
Introduction
Death is not an easy subject to speak about but a Sunday School
lesson gives an opportunity to show the Christian teaching and
practice when a death occurs.
It is very likely that there will be a funeral somewhere nearby when
this lesson is given. Talk about this. By asking questions bring out
the differences between a Christian and a traditional funeral. There is
hope and joy at a Christian funeral as well as sadness.
Main Points of Lesson
1. Show picture 35. We have another sad picture to look at. The
man in the picture has died. His family are very sad. We all have to die one day.
2. Just before he died Jesus told his friends what would happen
when we die. He told us not to be worried. Jesus died because we
have sinned. Show picture 21 and picture 5. Death came into the
world because we have sinned. Show picture 4. Adam and Eve
disobeyed God. Jesus came to take away sin. If Jesus Christ has
taken away your sins and made you a new person you do not have
to be afraid. When you die you will go to heaven to live forever
with God. This is called eternal life.
3. Jesus said that when he returned to his Father in Heaven, he
was going to prepare a place for us to live with him. He is doing
that now.
4. We are sad when someone dies. We do not see them anymore now. We are glad for them because if they love
God they will be with God. Christians will meet each other again one day in heaven.
5. There are people who die who do not know or love the Lord
Jesus. What happens to them? Jesus says he will judge them. We
must trust his judgement. He is a true judge.
Review
Briefly go over the lesson emphasising that when we belong to God's
family through faith in Jesus Christ we have abundant life now and in
the world to come. Jesus would not have told us this if it was not true.
Teach Memory Verse
Our Response to the Lesson
Pray for any people the children know who have had deaths in their
family just recently.
Ask the children about the progress of those people who were sick last week. Continue to pray for them.

Page 33 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 30 What is the Church?

Picture 36
Aim
To teach that the church is made up of different people. God has
given us all different gifts which we use together to worship and
serve Him.
Teacher Preparation: Ask God to help you use your gifts for Him
and thank Him for the gift of teaching. Then read and study Romans
12:4-8, 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 and the lesson plan.
Memory Verse: Ephesians 5:23
Christ is himself the Saviour of the church, his body.

Lesson Plan
Introduction
Sing one or two songs the children know that use different parts of the body in the actions that go with it. Example:
`Father Abraham has many sons,' or `Two little eyes,' or any others you know.
Main Points of Lesson

1. Show picture 36. What are the pictures of? (A whole man in good health and one who is sick and crippled).
Ask the children to identify parts of the whole man's body (eyes, ears, mouth, etc.) Call out other parts of his body
and tell the children to point to each parts on their own body.
Question: What do all these parts together make?
Answer: They make a complete body.
2. Each part of the body has something to do.
Question: What does the eye do?
Answer: It is for seeing.
Continue with the other parts of the body.
3. Look at the second picture. What is wrong with the man? He's hurt. When one part of our body is hurt then
often the whole of our body feels sick.
4. God says that all Christians are like the different parts of a body. They are all different and they are all given
different jobs to do in the church. Give examples of your church. Use their names:
James is the Pastor.
Ben, Anna, Maria are Sunday School teachers.
Umberto finds seats for people in the church etc.
Each person is given different gifts by God to use for him.
Review
Briefly go over the lesson emphasising that just as many strands put together make a strong rope many different
people using many different gifts from God make up a strong church.
Our Response to the Lesson
When a Christian in the church is in trouble, or someone in his family has died it is like the man in the picture who is
hurt. How can people in the church help him? Get suggestions from the class. e.g. visit the family, take food, fetch
water.
All parts of the body are important. One part of the body is not more important than any other. A Christian must not
say that his gifts are more important than those of another Christian. All parts of the one body must love one another.
Most of all they must love Jesus who is the head of the body.
Teach Memory Verse

Page 34 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 31 How to Worship God

Picture 37
Aim
To teach how Christians worship God together in church.
Teacher Preparation: Pray for your students and their families that
their hearts and minds might be open to the Word of God as you
faithfully teach the children week by week. Then read and study Acts
2:43-47, 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, Hebrews 10:24-25, Psalm 122 and
the lesson plan.
Memory Verse: Hebrews 10:25
Let us not give up the habit of meeting together .... let us encourage
one another.

Lesson Plan
Introduction
Ask the class the question - "What do Christians do on a Sunday?" One answer could be that they go to church to
worship God. It may be to a building or a place in the shade of a tree.
Main Points of Lesson
Show picture 37.
1. Here are some different people sitting together. Some are old, some are young.Some have dark skins, some
have light skins. They are Christians. A group of Christians is called the church. God says in his word the Bible that
is good for Christians to meet together to worship Him.
2. What do Christians do when they meet together in church to worship God?
Get the children to give you some answers like these:
sing to God
pray or talk to God.
listen to the Word of God, that is the Bible, being taught.
share testimony with each other, that is, how God has helped them in the past week
bring gifts for God's work. Tell the children what this money is used for.
3. Look at picture 37 again. What is the church doing in this picture? They are having a service of the Lord's
Supper or Holy Communion. Christians remember what Jesus did at the last meal he had with his disciples before he
died. He broke bread into pieces and gave it to his disciples to eat. This was like his body being broken when he was
crucified. He gave his disciples wine to drink. This was to show his disciples that his blood was shed. Christians do
this to remember Jesus died and to say thank you to him.
Review
Briefly go over the lesson emphasising that when we come together to worship God we have an opportunity to use
the gifts God gives us and to learn from each other. It is a happy and special time of fellowship and sharing.
Our Response to the Lesson
When we come to church to worship God He is pleased and we encourage one another and learn more about Him.
Teach Memory Verse
When we come to Sunday School and church we are obeying Jesus and giving him joy. It will help us to follow and
obey him.

Page 35 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 32 Jesus Is Coming Again

Pictures 20, 38
Aim
To teach that the Lord Jesus Christ will return to the earth a second
time. Christians must be watching for his return.
Teacher Preparation: Thank God for Jesus' first coming and what
He accomplished and ask God to keep you expectant for Jesus'
second coming and what it means for His followers. Then read and
study Matthew 24:36-51, Mark 13:45-51, John 14:3, Acts 1:11, 1
Thessalonians 4:13; 5:11 and the lesson plan.
Memory Verse: Mark 13:33
Be on watch, be alert, for you do not know when the time will come.

Lesson Plan
Introduction
Ask the children what event they are looking forward to. If there are
no answers make some suggestions, for example: a wedding, getting
new clothes, growing up.
Main Points of Lesson
1. What event are Christians looking forward to? The return of
the Lord Jesus to earth. Show picture 20. What did the angels tell
Jesus' friends when Jesus returned to heaven? Review memory verse,
Acts 1:11. Jesus also said he would return again, John 14:3.
2. What do we do when we know a visitor is coming? We watch
for them. Jesus is coming but the time is unknown. We must watch
all the time.
Teach Memory Verse
Refer to the example of a night watchman. A bad watchman sleeps at night but a good one stays awake.
3. Show picture 38. Show how some of the people in the picture are prepared and go out to meet the returning
Lord. Others are left. NOTE: The Bible here does not say they are left to judgement. Do not read into this passage
what is not there!
4. Tell the stories of the faithful servant and the unfaithful servant. Mark 13:45-51.
Review
Briefly go over the lesson to emphasise that Jesus will return suddenly in God's perfect time and this is an event to be
joyously expected by Christians.
Our Response to the Lesson
The Christian needs to live like the faithful servant daily expecting his Master's return. Get some suggestions from
the class as to how Christians should be waiting, eg., helping each other, caring for those with difficulties, talking to
others about Jesus' return. Give several practical suggestions. Finish by saying the memory verse together. What kind
of watchman are you?

Page 36 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 33 Be Fruitful
Picture 39
Aim
To teach that Jesus expects Christians to produce spiritual fruit in
their lives.
Teacher Preparation: As you prepare this lesson ask God to help
you produce the fruit of the Spirit in your life as you remain in Jesus.
Then read and study John 15:1-10, Galations 5:19-23, Mark 14:27-
31, 66-72 and the lesson plan.
Memory Verse: John 15:5
I am the vine and you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, and
I in him will bear much fruit.

Lesson Plan
Introduction
Take a branch or small plant to Sunday School. Begin the lesson by talking about taking care of bushes and small
trees. They are watered and pruned, that means the old branches are cut out so new growth will come. Any dead
branches are cut off. Why is this done? It helps the tree to produce fruit.
Main Points of Lesson
1. Show picture 39. Talk about what the gardeners are doing. The old wood is no good. It is cut out and burnt.
Jesus was talking about vines on which grapes grow in John 15. The picture shows a big fruit tree not a vine which is
a low climbing plant.
2. Teach the spiritual lesson from the picture Jesus gave. Christians are like trees, they have to be pruned. They
need to become more like Jesus and cut out the dead wood - give examples: hatred, bad temper, etc. Then the fruit
can grow - love , joy, peace, patience, gentleness, etc.
3. Tell the story of Peter denying Jesus, showing how he had to get rid of his boastfulness, Mark 14:27-31. Peter
boasted he would never leave Jesus. He was warned he would deny Jesus.
4. Mark 14:66-72 Peter denied he knew Jesus when Jesus was arrested and taken to court. Peter learnt the lesson
that he needed to stay very close to the Lord Jesus. John 21:17. Peter became a great servant for Jesus. When he
remained close to Jesus his life bore fruit.
Review
Briefly go over the lesson to show that the fruit of the Spirit is not produced by our own determination or effort but is
the natural result of the Holy Spirit living in us and our obedience to the Spirit's leading.
Our Response to the Lesson
The branches (Christians), have to remain and feed off the main tree trunk (Jesus) if they want to grow and bear fruit.
How can Christians do this? If you have a best friend you like to spend time with him. Christians need to spend time
with Jesus. We will know more about him when we learn the memory verses each week.
Teach Memory Verse
We also need to talk or pray to Jesus each day. Encourage the children to spend time each day this week at home
saying the memory verse over and praying they will show good fruit in their lives.

Page 37 of 38
 GOOD NEWS Sunday School Lessons

Lesson 34 Go and Preach

Picture 40
Aim
To teach that Jesus commanded Christians to preach the gospel
everywhere.
Teacher Preparation: Thank God that you have the opportunity in
your Sunday School class to teach your students about Jesus. Ask
God to help you to be a good Gospel witness. Then read and study
Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 16:16-34 and the lesson plan.
Memory Verse: Matt 28:19
Go then to all people everywhere and make them my disciples.

Lesson Plan
Introduction
Ask the class:
Question: If you have had some good news what do you do?
Answer: You go and tell everyone near you.
Talk about the good news people have had, for example, a new baby born, or a visitor arriving who hasn't come for
many years.
Main Points of Lesson
1. Christians have some good news to talk about. What is it? God loves us and has forgiven our sins because
Jesus Christ died for our sins. Sing a song about this.
2. Show picture 40. The last command Jesus gave his friends before he returned to heaven, was to go and tell
everyone about the Gospel. Here is a Christian in the picture obeying the command.
3. Another man who obeyed this command was Paul. He traveled a long way from his home all his life to tell
people he met about Jesus Christ. Sometimes he was even put in prison for this. Tell the story of Acts 16:25 -31. Paul
and his companion Silas were put in prison for preaching the gospel. The jailer in the town of Philippi and his family
became Christians.
Review
Briefly go over the lesson emphasising that Christians are called to share the Good News about Jesus with others and
to make them His disciples.
Teach Memory Verse
Our Response to the Lesson
This command is given to Christians today. Ask the class how the command is obeyed in their church today. Are
there open air meetings or witness teams visiting homes? Are the children inviting their friends to Sunday School?
Give examples of how this command is being obeyed today. Finish the lesson with everyone repeating the memory
verse.

Page 38 of 38