The Gift of God - Follow Jesus

The Gift of God

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1 & Ephesians 2:8-9

YOU WILL NEED: No items needed.

Introducion Game: Body Spellers

Divide your class into two or more teams with at least three students on each team. Instruct them to use their bodies to spell the following letters.

Practice: Spell V / W

Competition—Spell: F / A / I / T / H

Sit in a circle

What word did we just spell?

What is faith?

Read Hebrews 11:1

Can you see the wind? (No, but you can see what it does)

Can you see God? (No, but you can see what He does too.)

How do you know He’s there? (You can see what He does; can feel His presence; He’s in your heart if your saved; etc.)

KEY: Faith believes something even if it can’t see it.

Game: The Gift Pass, part 1

Choose an item (the “gift) to pass around the circle.

Time to see how fast your group can pass the gift you’ve chosen around the circle. See how fast they can pass it around two times.

Read Ephesians. 2:8-9

What is the gift of God?

How is a person saved according to this verse? (For by grace through faith.)

What is grace? (Jesus dying for you when He didn’t have to.)

Your part is faith–not just believing, but trusting Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

Game: The Gift Pass, part 2

Time to see how fast your group can pass two gifts around the circle in opposite directions

Gift Illustration

Choose 1 volunteer

Let’s say this “gift” is worth a million dollars and I come to you one day and say, “Johnny, I’d like to give this to you.” Is it yours yet? What would you have to do to get it? (If they don’t immediately say, “I have to reach out and take it,” guide them toward that answer.)

Like a gift, you can accept it, or you can say no. A gift can’t be earned, just like heaven—you can’t be good enough to get to heaven. There is only one way to heaven and that’s Jesus.

Now with this “gift”, it would be easy for you to take it. All you have to do is reach out and it’s yours. With God’s gift, it’s a little different—You can’t physically reach out and take it, but in the Bible God told us how we can accept this gift. You see, Jesus paid the price; what we have to do is:

(1) Admit you have sinned and be willing to turn from your sin and turn to Jesus.

(2) Believe (this is FAITH) that Jesus is God’s Son who died and was raised from the dead.

(3) Call on the Lord, confess your sins, and commit your life to Him.

(NOTE: You could also lead the conversation in the direction of: “Once you’re given a gift can anyone take it away?” and talking about whether or not a person can lose his/her salvation.)