This Week at AWANA - April 13 Edition

Since we do not have AWANA next week, this week's lesson will the culmination of all we have been talking about for the past few months. This is the week we will emphasize the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The emphasis in Counsel time will be how all the events we talked about from the Old Testament point to Christ.

• The death of the animals to clothe Adam and Eve after their sin.
• The ark that saved Noah and his family.
• The promise to Abraham.
• The passover in Egypt where the blood of the lamb spread on the doorpost caused the Angel to pass over the home sparing the first born son.
• The deliverance of Israel from Egypt.
• The judges delivering Israel from the hands of foreign oppressors.
• The kings of Israel and Judah pointed to a future perfect righteous King of Kings.
• The prophecies pointing ahead to the work of the Messiah.

All these were written to prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah. Now we have all of it plus the record of Jesus's life, death, and resurrection in the Bible. What will we do with it?

Jesus Died on the Cross ...

...for a reason
God wants a close relationship with man, John 3:16
Our sin separates us from God, Isa. 59:2
Justice requires that our sins be paid for, Rom. 6:23
God provided a sacrifice to pay for our sins, 1 John 4:10

...voluntarily
Jesus had the choice, Matt. 26:53, 54
He was sinless, 1 Pet. 2:22
Jesus had the power, John 19:11
Jesus had the will, Matt. 26:39
Pleased not himself, Rom 15:3
He loved us, Eph 5:2

...for you
You have nothing to offer that isn't God's already, Luke 17:10
The Father wants a close relationship, so He paid your cost, John 3:16
So that you could choose to be close to Him, James 4:8
This relationship is voluntary, Mark 16:16

Discussion point:
The Jews had to make many specific sacrifices to God. Jesus serves as our sacrifice. Do we still sacrifice for him? (Read: Romans 12:1-2, Philippians 2:7, Hebrews 13:15, Psalm 51:17)

Illustrative Story: to make this an object lesson, give one student a dollar bill. Make out a fake restaurant tab.

Say we all went out to a restaurant to eat. We all eat until we're stuffed but Tom eats nothing. Then the waiter delivers the bill. We're broke. Only "Tom" has any money. Who will pay the bill? Tom's the only one with money. Who should pay the bill? We should. But we can't. If Tom pays, is that fair? No. Is it merciful of him? Yes!

Jesus paid our bill for us. We could never have enough to pay for our sins. Should we be grateful? Yes! How do we show our gratitude? Jesus said, "if you love me, keep my commandments." John 14:15

Here is a great lesson from Answers in Genesis to use during Handbook time to reemphasize the lesson.