Training to Be A Christian

7/23/2024

Training to Become a Christian by Jennifer Tolbert

The people Paul taught were often different from him. Like Jesus, Paul used examples the people would understand to teach them about God and how to live in a way to please Him. Many times, we think the churches looked a lot like our churches. But in reality, they were new Christians trying to figure out how to live a completely different way than they were used to living! Even though many of them were grown-ups, spiritually, they were like babies!

Paul used the idea of the Olympics to teach them about training for God!

Key Themes:
1. The people Paul taught were often different from him.
2. We should share the message of Jesus.
3. God wants every person on earth to have the opportunity to hear the Good News, believe it, repent (turn away) from sin, confess, and be baptized, so they can be saved!

Memory Verse

Romans 10:13-14
13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[a]
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

Songs

Books of the New Testament
Apostles Song
Every Move I Make
Jumping Up and Down
Roll The Gospel Chariot
Said I Wasn't
Stand Up and Shout It
This Little Light of Mine

Story

Begin Class with Songs, Games, Table Activity, or Sharing Time

Open Class in Prayer

Introducing the Story Ideas
1. Silly Races/Contests
Make up some silly races they can do around the room. Some ideas include balancing a ping pong ball on a spoon, balance a foam block on their head or riding a pool noodle stick horse. They can also toss soft items into buckets or try to build the tallest tower. Anything silly and fun, but a little competitive. ASK: Do you like to win? How does it feel to win? If you wanted to win a contest, what are some things you might do to get ready?

2. Sports (Better for Older)
Ask is any of the kids in the room play sports. Let them share what sports they play. Ask questions like, what do you do at practice?
Does the coach ever tell kids to focus? Why do you think that is?
Is practice always fun or is it sometimes hard too?
How does it feel to win? How does it feel to lose?

3. History of the Olympics
Research and share some fun facts about the Olympics. You could also highlight some famous Olympians or play some Olympic trivia.

Story: Paul traveled all across the known world teaching and preaching the gospel. As he converted new Christians and established new churches, he didn't just leave them behind. He continued to teach and encourage them by sending the new churches letters. In one of the letters he sent to the young church in Corinth, he used the example of training for the Olympics to demonstrate how seriously we should train for Heaven.

READ the story of Run the Race or read Corinthians 9: 24-27 in the Bible.
EMPHASIZE that:

Paul was willing to go into the world to teach the gospel.
A missionary is someone who travels to teach the gospel in different parts of the world.
God wants everyone to hear the Good News!