Hook:

(THIS IS REALLY RANDOM) BUT COS I COULDN’T THINK OF ANOTHER HOOK….

Get your kids to stand up, hold their bags with arms outstretched in front of them, and make them hold it there for like a minute or something, (till they are tired) and tell them to put/drop it after.

Ask them how it feels, whether they felt tired while holding their bags, whether their hands were aching and whatever else you would like to add.

Use this as an example for the heavy load that they have been carrying by themselves and by putting their bags down, it symbolizes them relying more on God.

Lesson:

1) PRAY BEFORE YOU START! (:

2) Basically the idea of this whole lesson is on the freedom that we have in Christ and how, we should just let go of our burdens and rely on Him. (:

- You could also link this back to our lessons on grace, because we can freely approach His Throne of Grace in times of need.

3) Talk about Psalms 23, just to add on to it, in summary, this Psalm tells me 5 things about our Shepherd.

· He leads (v1-3)

· He protects (v4)

· He enables (v5)

· He heals (v5)

· He will bring us home (v6)

4) Burdens – ask your kids what their burdens are. It could be their studies, their relationships and other things. And ask them if they would give it up to help someone else?

You could ask them to share about times where their friends wanted to confide in them but they were too busy worrying about their own problems or vice versa, ask them how they felt during that situation.

We should also remind them, like what the book says looking away from earthly stuff, especially when it takes our eyes away from what’s truly important: Eternal life.

5) Make sure you go through the questions in the book! (:

Application:

Encourage your kids to let go of their unwanted baggage! Also, if they have a friend who is struggling, you could encourage them to be there for that friend, why? Because they already have someone who has lifted off their loads.

OH YES. AND PRAY FOR YOUR KIDS AT THE END. (:

Hook:
Ever heard of the 11:11 thing? Where, when the clock strikes 11:11, you make a wish and it will be granted? So when we make a wish, we are probably actually asking God for something, right? Since.. there must be a where that came from. We probably wouldnt be on time for 11:11 once we reach AC, so turn the time on your watch to that time and tell your kids to imagine that it really is that time! And ask them to pray (wish) for something that they really really want right now. (they donÕt have to share it; privacy would make them more willing to be honest with themselves)

Book:
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8
Refer to Qn 2 and ask them to memorise! Note the repetitions of all and the word "every".What does this mean? THAT ALL YOU NEED, IS HIS GRACE! At first glance, this may seem lame to them. So what if I have his grace? That doesnt mean iPad 2 will miraculously appear in my hands. It doesnt mean that I will definitely score well in exams. It doesnt mean that everybody I will ever meet will like me and want to be my friend. It doesnt mean that what I just wished for will definitely come true. Whats the use of this grace? If God is so gracious and loves us so much, why can't he just give us everything we ask for? Why would he ever say no to what I ask for, even when I do things that the Bible tells me to?Refer to

Qn 3: has this ever happened to them?Did they feel discontented? Maybe even anger at God? Maybe the prayer they had was not going to harm anybody, and maybe it was a prayer that God would let a grandparent pull through an illness. But God did not answer that prayer.

Qn 4. How content are you with your life now? (on a scale of 1 to 10)Now think of recent tragedies; about the Japan situation( you guys can elaborate to them about it), the thai girl who lost both of her legs in the mrt accident recently, or situations that you have heard of recently.How contented are you, NOW? What has God given us? He didnt just plan for us to EXIST. He crafted our lives. Every action we are capable of doing, every word that we are able to speak, is derived from the fact that God gave us this ability. Neither did he make us to be temporary objects (his playthings?) that would roam the surface of the Earth, and then just disappear one day. We were made to LAST. That was the greatest gift of all; eternal life, despite our inadequacies.Read 2 Cor 12:9

Qn 5. What is the thorn in your flesh?(something that constantly bothers you, that you want so much, that thing you wished for in the 11:11 situation)Is it wrong to have this want, so much? No. It is human. Even Paul was a victim to it. What we need to recognize, however, is that GodÕs grace is sufficient. It is all that we NEED.

Qn 6. Read James 1:2-4 Why does God allow difficulties, or even wants, in our lives? 1. To grow us ( you can bring up the analogy of how a diamond does not become a diamond overnight, but by intense pressure, etc) 2. So that we rely not on our own strength of resisting the temptation, but God's grace. His grace is sufficient for our sin3. Difficult people to teach us that love is not a feeling, it is a choice.And then, we'lll finally be prepared for heaven ^^

Qn 7 (Took) So what can you do to take this challenge, today? Recall Ephesians 2:8-9
Done by : Gaily :):):)