Can’t Touch This

KEY VERSE

Romans 6:6

STICKY STATEMENT

Sin no longer has any power.

LESSON OBJECTIVE

Children will learn that faith in Jesus Christ gives them the power to overcome sin.

CHECKLIST

1. A PowerPoint is available for this lesson.

2. Cross – at least 8 ½" x 14"; large enough to attach sticky notes (Introduction)

3. Sticky notes (Introduction)

4. Permanent marker (Introduction)

5. Video “Saul Becomes Paul,” https://teachersource.wol.org/videos/oly18/29-1/ (3:01) (Younger Adaptation)

6. Visual #1 (Body)

7. Table with an old towel for protection (Introduction)

8. A tall glass container (vase) with a sticker that says “You and Me” (Introduction)

9. White packing peanuts (colored ones will leave a slight tinge to the water) (Introduction)

10. Acetone liquid (Use nail polish remover with acetone; non-acetone does not work) (Introduction)

11. Glass jar that contains the acetone liquid with a sticker that says “Jesus.” (Body)

LESSON OVERVIEW

Today we finish the Foundations: Sin module. We will begin by acknowledging sins that elementary-aged children may be guilty of. We will look at the life of the apostle Paul and the remarkable transformation he underwent when he encountered Jesus. After reviewing a little of the last two weeks, we will have a demonstration of faith in Jesus overcoming the power of sin. Children will learn that once they have put their trust in Jesus as their Savior sin no longer has any power to separate them from God. God will always see them with Jesus’ righteousness.

Younger Adaptation

Teacher’s Note: Show the video, Saul Becomes Paul, https://teachersource.wol.org/videos/oly18/29-1/ (3:01)

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INTRODUCTIONTeacher’s Note: Place a large cross at least 8 ½” x 14” or larger to display in the front of the class. Cover the table with the towel. Put the tall glass container, the packing peanuts, and the glass jar with the acetone on the table. Since the acetone will have an odor, you can pour the acetone into the jar before class and leave the lid off to allow the odor to dissipate. The acetone will still dissolve the packing peanuts even when left uncovered for more than three hours.

Today we are going to talk about sin. Does everyone sin? [Allow time for response.] Remember a couple weeks ago we learned that none is righteous – not even me, not even you. So we all are guilty of sin. What do I have up here with me? [Indicate the cross.] Why is the cross important? [Allow children to give answers, but get to the truth that Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin.]

Teacher’s Note: As each sin is named, write it on a sticky note and have a child put it on the cross.

Let me give you a situation, and you tell me what sin it describes. Let’s say that you tell your teacher or parents that you did not do wrong when you really did. What sin is that? [Allow a child to respond.] Sometimes we lie to try to avoid getting in trouble. I’m going to write the word, lying on a paper and we’re going to put it on the cross.

What about this situation? You pick up a piece of candy from a store and stick it in your pocket without paying for it, or maybe you take money from your parents without asking. What sin is it? [Allow a child to respond.] That’s stealing. I’m going to write that on a paper and we’re going to put that on the cross, too.

What do you call the sin when your parents tell you to do something, and you don’t do it; or they tell you not to do it, and you do it anyway? [Allow a child to respond.] That’s disobeying. I’m going to write that on a paper and we’re going to put that on the cross, too.

Maybe you don’t like having to share the computer, TV, or video games with other people in your family. What sin does this describe? [Allow child to respond.] Selfishness. I’m going to write that one down, and we’ll put it on the cross also. This is just a short list of the many sins that most of us have done. I think that we can confidently say that all of us have sinned in at least one way or another.

BODY

Teacher’s Note: You may want to insert the Younger Adaptation here to replace the two paragraphs below about Paul with the Saul Becomes Paul video, https://teachersource.wol.org/videos/oly18/29-1/ (3:01).

Now, let’s look at a very famous man in the Bible, Paul. In the book of Philippians, Paul lists why he was so proud of who he was. Let’s see what Paul had to say about himself. [Read Philippians 3:5-6.] [Show Visual 1.] Basically, Paul was saying that he comes from a “good family,” he does “good works,” and he lives a “good life.” That’s all fine, but Paul also was a sinner, and his sin separated him from God.

Paul has a very interesting story about how he came to be a believer in Jesus. Before Paul was saved, he would travel from town to town hurting Christians. As Paul was on his way to Damascus to arrest more Christians, he had a special encounter with Jesus. A bright light came down from Heaven, and Paul heard Jesus speak to him. Jesus asked Paul why he was persecuting or hurting Him. After the light left, Paul was blind, but he continued to Damascus. Three days later, God sent a man named Ananias who told Paul that Jesus had sent him so that 29. Can’t Touch This (Module 8 – Virus) - 2

Paul could regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Paul realized that he was a sinner and put his trust in Jesus. He was baptized, and spent the rest of his life telling people the good news about Jesus Christ.

We have talked about the sin of stealing – taking something without permission that is not yours. I think it’s pretty easy not to steal. But not being greedy, now that’s a little harder for me. I mean, I don’t have tons of stuff, but I do like my stuff. And I don’t like it when people use my stuff and don’t put it away properly. And I like to have extra stuff in case I might need it someday. So I suppose you could say I struggle with the sin of greed.

We are all born sinners. Nobody has to teach us how to sin; we just do it. God is righteous and without Jesus we can’t be with God in Heaven because when He looks at us He sees our sin. That’s why we need Jesus. So that when God looks at us He sees Jesus’ righteousness.

Romans 6:6 tells us this, “… that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” What in the world does that mean? Our old man is the way we were born with a tendency to sin – to think, say, and do things that are not pleasing to God. The “Him” in the verse is Jesus. So, Romans 6:6 is saying that when we put our trust in Jesus as our Savior the old us – the one that has a tendency to sin – has been done away with and sin no longer has any power over us.

Teacher’s Note: You will be adding peanuts to the vase as you talk about sin. The sign on the vase should read “You and Me.” You want to end up with your container about half full of packing peanuts.

You can use your own personal illustrations of sin and add packing peanuts for each additional sin.

Let me give you a demonstration to show you what I mean. On the table I have a large vase – the vase is going to represent you and me. And I have a bunch of packing peanuts. The packing peanuts are going to represent sin.

So, when I was a little kid sometimes I didn’t obey my mom and dad. [Add peanuts.] And when I was a teenager, well, let’s just say I made some bad choices. [Add peanuts.] Let’s add another handful of peanuts because I’m sure I really sinned a whole lot.

A couple weeks ago we talked about being righteous. We learned that there is none righteous – not even me, not even you. So you and I are sinners. And sin has power over us because it is our sin that separates us from God.

There is nothing we can do to erase our sin. But there is something Jesus can do. [Pick up the “Jesus” jar and pour some of the acetone liquid into the “You and Me” vase while you speak.] When we put our trust in Jesus as our Savior, He cleans us up. Sin no longer has any power because now when God looks at us He sees Jesus’ righteousness.

When I was younger, I put my trust in Jesus Christ as my Savior. Did that mean that I stopped sinning? Oh, no! Let’s see – Sometimes I get frustrated with my kids and yell at them. [Add peanuts.] A couple weeks ago I got really angry at work and fired off a sharp email to my coworkers. [Add peanuts.] Hmmm, I guess you could say I have a problem with anger. [Add peanuts.]

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Do you see what’s happening? (Point out how the peanuts are melting.) Just like God’s Word tells us in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Once I have trusted Jesus as my Savior, and when I confess my sin, Jesus continues cleaning me up so that I am still seen by God with Jesus’ righteousness. When you have placed your trust in Jesus sin no longer has any power to separate you from God. Pretty awesome, huh?

APPLICATION

Everyone who has ever lived, except Jesus, has a problem with sin. God’s Word tells us in Romans 3:23 that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Jesus lived a sinless life. Because Jesus was without sin, He was able to take the punishment for the sins of everyone in the past, everyone alive today, and everyone who is yet to be born. When we make the decision to trust in Jesus as our Savior, all our sins are washed away – they are nailed to the cross with Jesus. [Point to the cross you used earlier.] Is there anyone here today who, like me, has a problem with greed or anger? Is there anyone who has stolen or lied? Anyone who has disobeyed their parents? Anyone who has already put their trust in Jesus but has a sin that they have not confessed? Take this opportunity to talk with God, and confess your sin.

I would like everyone to close their eyes and bow their heads. I’m going to pray and if you would like to put your trust in Jesus today, you can take this time right now to talk to God. If you are already a believer in Jesus Christ and have an unconfessed sin, will you use these next moments to confess it to God? [Close in prayer.] If any of you have questions about putting your trust in Jesus or have made a decision, will you talk to one of our leaders? He/she would love to answer any questions you have.

PERSONAL TRAINING TIMEGoal of this Personal Training Time

Ensure that the children understand that through Christ the power of sin to separate us from God is overcome.

Discussion Questions

1. What is the power of sin? (Sin separates us from God.)

2. When we put our trust in Jesus as our Savior, are we still under the power of sin? (No, because Jesus lived a sinless life, once we have put our trust in Jesus, God sees us with His righteousness.)

3. What are some sins that you struggle with? (Answers will vary. Sometimes the temptation to sin comes because we have allowed ourselves to be in situations that we should have avoided. As you discuss the sins try to provide suggestions on how the children can avoid the temptation.)

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PARENT CONNECTION

Today we shared with the children that once they have put their faith in Jesus they are no longer under the power of sin – their sin no longer separates them from God. Ask them what happened to the packing peanuts used to represent “sins” when we poured “Jesus’ forgiveness” onto them. (Nail polish remover with acetone poured over packing peanuts causes them to disintegrate.) We also demonstrated that once a person places their faith in Jesus, He continues to wash them clean of any new sins.

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Visual 1

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