Theme: Our eternal destiny hinges on our response to Jesus.
Color Theme: Yellow
Key Scriptures:
- 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9
- Philippians 3:20
Yellow Thread Memory Verse:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
Items you will need:
- An item representing each previous Gospel color “thread”: white, black, red and green
- A yellow item such as a bandana, balloon, piece of card stock, etc.
- A small yellow item such as a stamp, sticker or gum ball
- Poster board with Gospel Threads illustration used from Days 1-4
Bible Lesson:
During the Bible teaching time, you will add to the drawing of the Gospel Threads outline on the poster board. For instructions on the Gospel Threads presentation board, go HERE.
This lesson is intentionally short. Many BYBC or VBS opportunities often only plan for four days of teaching. As a result, this lesson is intended to be a review day with an opportunity to respond at the conclusion.
This lesson can be taught in one of two ways:
1) If you only have four teaching days, add on the response section of this lesson to the end of the Day 4 teaching.
2) If you have a fifth day of teaching available, use this lesson as a stand-alone lesson by adding the new content on to the end of a review time.
The following are two suggestions for how to review the Gospel Threads.
1) Review from the presentation board used previously throughout the week. Be sure and hold up the representative colored item for each point as you teach through the main tenants of the Gospel. Download a summary of these points HERE.
2) Use the Sewing Gospel Threads Worksheet as a form of review.
The goal at the end of the review is for students to be able to at least recite the Gospel colors and their corresponding points.
Short version:
- White: God is holy
- Black: Man is sinful
- Red: Jesus is enough
- Green: Faith is necessary
- Yellow: Eternity is urgent
If possible:
- White: God is the holy, just and gracious Creator of all things.
- Black: We are each created by God, but we are all corrupted by sin.
- Red: Jesus alone is able to remove our sin and restore us to God.
- Green: We can be restored to God only through faith in Jesus.
- Yellow: Our eternal destiny hinges on our response to Jesus.
Our Response:
When you reach this section of the presentation, hold up the yellow item you have that represents this day’s color theme.
Begin by praying that the words spoken and the Scripture that is read would penetrate hearts. Pray for the Spirit to work through the story of Lazarus to help children realize the urgency of eternity.
Read Luke 16:19-28.
The Rich Man and Lazarus
There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
Tell children that this story is why you are here. To inform them – maybe even warn them – that there is an eternal destiny for all of us. And that ……
Our eternal destiny hinges on our response to Jesus.
Add the word “eternity” to the Gospel Threads presentation board.
Tell students that the passage you just read to them teaches, along with other passages in the Bible, that we are each faced with two possible eternal destinies:
1) Hell is a dreadful reality for those who turn from Jesus.
Read I Thessalonians 1:8-9
…in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might
Help students understand that part of the suffering of hell is that we will be eternally separated from God. Also tell students that you do not give them this information to make them afraid, but simply because you want them to know the truth and have an opportunity to respond to the truth. Help children understand that our decisions have consequences.
However, God offers us another option.
2) Heaven is a glorious reality for those who trust in Jesus.
Read Philippians 3:20.
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ
This verse tells us that our citizenship – where we live and belong – is in heaven. Other places in the Bible give us more information about heaven. They tell us that in heaven we will have no more suffering. There are no tears there because there is no pain or sorrow. There is no sickness because our bodies will all be healed. But the most wonderful thing about eternity is that we will spend it in the presence of Christ and God! It is a peaceful, perfect place. So,
Will you TURN FROM Jesus or will you TRUST IN Jesus?
Add response card to board.
Remind students that the way to trust in Jesus is to believe in Him as Savior and commit to Him as Lord.
Lead students in prayer of commitment if the context is appropriate.
Conclude by handing out a small yellow item and reminding students that eternity is urgent and requires a response from each of them.
For a hard copy of this lesson, click HERE.
