Sabbath School March 18

Nature Walk: Two Rivers

Did you know that rivers have different colors?  Some rivers seem blue.  Some seem green.  Some seem reddish.  Some seem brown.  These colors appear because of what is in the water, like different kinds of minerals, algae, clay, and dirt.

River photo, #1520849 by Noemi Munteis, courtesy of FreeImages.com

Jordan River photo, #1330914 by FSG777, courtesy of FreeImages.om

If you had to choose which river you'd like to go swimming in, what would it be?  A pretty, clean looking blue river?  Or an ugly, brown river?  Probably the blue one, right?  Well, in our Bible story today, prophet Elisha told Naaman the Syrian to wash in a brown river.  That reminds me of a special Bible verse that says, "the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God" (1 Corinthians 3:19, ICB).  It didn't make sense to wash in the brown river, but when Naaman did, he was cured of his skin disease.  Sometimes God asks us to do things that don't make sense to us, but He always has a great blessing in store for us. 

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Memory Mastery: The Godhead

We have finally moved on to our next memory mastery project - the Godhead.  During our time, we will unpack a little of the mystery of God to help the children understand some important principles.  At the end of our questions and answers, you will find a poem about the Godhead that I want the children to memorize.

Who is God?

• God is our maker.  [Can you pound your fist like you are building something?]  He put our bodies together before we were born.
• God is our provider.  [Can you hold your hands out to give?]  He gives us everything we need to live (air to breathe, food to eat, water to drink, clothes to keep us warm, roof to keep us dry, and family to love).
• God is our Savior from sin.  [Can you cross your arms like you are in jail, then open them to be free?]  He died for our sins and gives us power to obey, so we can live forever with Him.

​Did God really make everything?  What was there before Him?  
Reference: Acts 17:24-28

• God is the Creator of heaven and earth and every living being. 
• He has always been there.  He was there before anything existed.  He was there before your mommy and daddy, before your grandma and grandpa, before Abraham and Noah, before Adam and Eve, before the animals, before the earth was created, before the angels lived, before the whole universe was here – God has always been there, and He will always be here. 
• And God wants each of us to get to know Him and be His friend, so He inspired prophets to write the Bible – His words to us.

Do you like to be alone all by yourself?  Neither does God. 
In fact, did you know God has his own family? 
References: 1 John 5:7; Mark 1:9-11

• We call His family the Godhead. 
• There are 3 persons in His family – The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 

Can we see God?
References: 1 John 4:12; John 6:46; Hebrews 4:14; John 15:26; John 14:7-9

• No, we can’t see God, but we know He is there.  There are a lot of things we cannot see, but we know they are there.  Can you think of any examples?  (air, microscopic organisms, certain wavelengths of light, magnetic force, etc.)  
• But, people long ago did see Jesus when he walked and lived on earth.  Now, Jesus is in heaven serving as our great High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary.  Even though He is way up there, we can still see Jesus here.  When we prayerfully read the Bible, the Holy Spirit will show Him to us.  And Jesus will show us the Father.

Here is a poem I wrote to help us remember each person of the Godhead.  
(This poem is the actual memory mastery project we will memorize as a class.)

• Who is God? [arms and shoulders raised up like I don't know.]
• Heavenly Father, to whom I pray. [point up, then hands folded in prayer]
• Jesus Christ who died for me. [open arms wide like cross, then point to self]
• Holy Spirit who lives in my heart. [swirl on finger around, then point to heart]
• All 3 are one God of love. [show 3 fingers, show 1, point up, then hug self]

- by Inga Goodwin

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Bible Story: A Faithful Slave

Reference: 2 Kings 5:1-19

​Naaman the Syrian had a terrible skin disease called leprosy.  Mrs. Naaman had a little Israelite slave that told her, "Master Naaman should go visit the prophet in Israel to get healed."  Naaman decided to visit prophet Elisha.

Naaman the Syrian had a terrible skin disease called leprosy. Can you point to his spots? The little girl who worked for his wife told him to go visit Prophet Elisha to get healed. Courtesy of Sweet Publishing and FreeBibleImages.org

On his way to prophet Elisha's house, Naaman met a messenger from the prophet who said, "Prophet Elisha sent me to tell you to wash in the Jordan River 7 times." 

On the way, Naaman met a messenger who said, "Prophet Elisha told me to tell you to wash in the Jordan River 7 times." Courtesy of Sweet Publishing and FreeBibleImages.org

Naaman was angry and didn't see any sense in washing in the dirty Jordan River.  But, Naaman's servant told him, "Sir, don't be angry.  Why not just do what the prophet said?"  So, Naaman went to the Jordan river and dipped down 7 times.

Naaman dipped in the Jordan River 7 times. Can you count to 7? Courtesy of Sweet Publishing and FreeBibleImages.org

When Naaman came up on the 7th time, the leprosy was all gone!  He was healed.  He hurried to prophet Elisha's house and told Elisha, "Now I know there is no other God but the God of Israel, and I will only serve Him."  Naaman returned home happy and healed.

When Naaman came out of the water on the 7th time, all his spots were gone! He decided he would only worship the God of Israel. Can you clap with joy? Courtesy of Sweet Publishing and FreeBibleImages.org

Our prayer verse comes from 1 Corinthians 3:19, which says, "the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God" (ICB).  Sometimes, we think we are wise when we disobey and do what is wrong.  But, God says that is foolishness.  Naaman was tempted to disobey the prophet's message about washing in the Jordan River because it didn't make sense to him.  But, I am glad he decided to obey because in obeying God's word, he found healing and a new life.  

Dear Father God, help me not be foolish by disobeying Your Word or my parents.  I want to be wise and obey.  In Jesus' Name, Amen