Kids July 4th Worship Lesson What is Freedom?

Materials: Items for snacks (Sugar cookies with blue icing and red punch and sherbet for a fizz drink, art items( see enclosed picture in this lesson), dry erase board, handcuffs, picture of the United States, red and blue cross cutouts, bibles

Scripture Reading So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)

Prayer: Thank you for the freedom that we have today. We are glad for the liberty and independence that you have given to us here in the United States of America. Most of all, we are thankful for the freedom that you will give to each one of us as we trust in you as our Lord and Savior. Because of your death on the cross we can be forgiven for our sin, and live a life pleasing to you. This liberty is for everyone who will ask forgiveness for their sins and turn to serving You. You are an amazing God and we love you! In Jesus name, Amen.

Song: His Royal Liberty (Tune AmericaO beautiful) We choose these Truths Of liberty, May God set us all free He gave His Son To die for us That we might live for Him Amazing love, how can it be, That he would die for me, I love Him so, and I will choose His royal liberty! Freedom from Jail Josiah: Cool! Look at these handcuffs? Jenny: What do you need those for? Josiah: These are the nicest ones I have seen. They really work (puts on and locks) Jenny: Youd better watch out..what if you cant get them off? Josiah: What do you mean cant get them off? Jenny: Well, that key is so small and you could lose it. Josiah: Not me..hey these even have a cool design on them. Jenny: I dont think I would want those on me. I dont like to be locked all up. Josiah: What do you mean? They are only for play. I can get them off whenever I want. Just watch me..(tries to get off and struggles) Jenny: They are stuck! I told you so. Josiah: Ill get them off and be free in no time. (Struggles more)

Jenny: They are sure stuck. Now I you know what it must have been like for Paul and Silas in jail. Josiah: Paul and Silas? Who are they? Jenny: They were men in the bible time who were telling people about Jesus. The leaders got mad at them and locked them up in jail. Josiah: Just for telling people about Jesus? That is crazy. I thought we lived in a free world..you know freedom of speechthat kind of stuff. Jenny: They didnt have freedom to talk about Jesus because it must have been against the law somehow, I guess. Josiah: What did they do to them? Jenny: Well, and earthquake happened and all the chains of the prisoners fell lose. Josiah: I wish I could get these things lose. They are beginning to hurt my hands. Jump up and down. May be that will jar the earth do they come loose. Jenny: Doesnt work that way. Here let me help you. (Works at getting them off) These are on tight. Maybe you should start singing. You could sing your way out of them. Josiah: That is really crazy. Ouch! (Pulls free) Jenny: Youre free at last! Josiah: Whew that was close! Did Paul and Silas get out of jail when the earthquake happened? Jenny: The jailer was very upset and was about to hurt himself and Paul and Silas stayed around to help him our so he would not get into trouble if all the prisoners left. Josiah: Then what happened?

Jenny: The jailor got saved and all his family. The magistrate finally came and they let Paul and Silas got free. Josiah: Oh it feels good to be freeI bet they were sure glad, too! Jenny: They were.come on lets get homemy mom is making homemade pizza today. Josiah: Mmmm! Must be nice! Jenny: Maybe you can eat with us. Oh my, your wrist sure looks red. Josiah: I am just glad to be free again. (EXIT)

Kids Message (Encourage the children to open their Bibles to the Scripture text for this lesson and read along with you. If you use the same bibles, you can tell them what page to turn making this easier) Freedom (Based on John 6:1-14) So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36) We live in a country that gives us much freedom. (Show picture of the United States) Freedom is having the liberty to do what you want to do. We can make choices to attend what church (Draw a church) we want to. We can make choices to go to the college of our choice. We can choose to worship God. We can choose where we want to live (Draw a house); what we want to wear (Draw a shirt), where we shop for groceries(Draw a shopping cart). We can choose who we want to be our president of the United States. We are given many opportunities here in the United States. In our verse here (have written in the board) Jesus Christ is the Son of God. God needed a way to set us free form our sins, so He sent Jesus to earth as a tiny baby born of the Virgin Mary to live on this earth. Jesus grew up in a poor home (Draw a hut), yet he had the love and protection of a family who looked after Him (Draw stick people). When He grew older, he did many miracles on this earth - healing the blind (Draw eyes), lepers,

lame, and sick (Sick ned). He loved people and was always with them unless He spent time with God in prayer or teaching His disciples and those about the Truth. One day, Jesus was accused of many things that were not true; some people nailed him to a cross (Draw a cross) and let him die. He was buried in a grave (Draw a tomb) and arose after three days (Write 3 on board). After He has appeared to many, He returned back to heaven to prepare a wonderful place for us. It is because if his great sacrifice for us in dying on the cross that we can be free (Write the word FREE) in living a life pleasing for Him. We can be free from Satans bondage that he wants over us and say NO (Write the word NO) when he comes around to tempt us to sin. As we say NO we become stronger in our walk with Jesus. Before Jesus came to earth and died on the cross, no one was free from their sin. They offered an animal sacrifice every year to cover their sins. We do not have to offer animal sacrifices any longer, because Jesus has paid our dept in order that we may be free forever. You can trust in Jesus as your Savior - now. He will forgive you for your sins, and help you to live for Him each day. He loves you so much! (John 3:16) It is as simple as ABC. Admit you are a sinner. We are all born in sin. Believe Jesus came to die for your sins on the cross shedding His own blood. Confess that sin to Him and He will forgive you. (I John 1:9) Trust Him to do that just now. Let us pray. If you know Jesus, you can pray with me, and if you already have confessed your sins and Jesus forgive you just now, thank Jesus for what He has done for you. Ask Him to help you grow more like him in your actions and words every day. He will! Bible Game (Good to verify comprehension and listening skills) Draw a large cross on a dry erase board. Cut out blue and red hearts or crosses. Divide the kids in two teams blue team and red team. As they answer the questions, they place a cross on the board. See which team gets the most crosses. Give the whole team who wins a piece of cinnamon heart candy. You can also just give them a round of applause, or allow

them to go first for snacks. You could also give them one of the crosses that you used for the game. 1. What is the word that our lesson is about today? Hint: It begins with letter F 2. Answer: Freedom 3. In our story, what did Josiah have new? 4. Answer: Handcuffs 5. What happened to Josiah in the story? 6. Answer: He got the handcuffs on, and could not get them off. 7. Who tried to help Josiah get the handcuffs off his wrist? 8. Answer: Jenny 9. What two people in the Bible did this event remind Jenny of? 10. Answer: Paul and Silas 11. What happened to Paul and Silas? 12. Answer: They were place in jail. 13. Why were they placed in Jail? 14. Answer: For telling others about Jesus. 15. Did Paul get mad at the people for doing this to him? 16. Answer: No 17. What happened while they were in jail? 18. Answer: An earthquake took place 19. What happened to all the prisoners? 20. Answer: Paul helped keep everyone safe so the jailer did not get into trouble. 21. Who did Paul lead to Christ? 22. Answers: The jailor and all his family 23. How did Paul and Silas get free? 24. Answers: The magistrates came and let them go free. 25. Do you think they were glad to be free? 26. Answer: Yes 27. What does freedom mean for us her in the United States? 28. Answer: will vary..freedom of speech, church, ect 29. What does freedom mean in serving Jesus?

30. Answer: We are no longer in bondage to Satan but follow Jesus Christ. 31. How can we be free in Jesus 32. Answer: Confess our sins and ask Jesus to forgive us.

Freedom Memory Verse Game: So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36) Take two rolls of toilet paper and make two teams. As you say the verse one word at a time wrap the tissue around the arm and pass the roll on to the next person. Anyone who breaks the chain of freedom must go back to jail. Designate a special place. If you do not want to do this, you can make that team start all over from the beginning. See which team can do this first getting to the end of the line and verse, both, FIRST without breaking the tissue. The first team to freedom gets to go to snack first or whatever you decide works best for your group.

Snack Suggestions: Sugar cookies with blue icing. Red Fizz Punch with a dip of orange sherbet in each cup. Yummy!

Art Suggestion: Draw a cross or provides crosses and have kids write all the things that Jesus want to free us from. Examples: pride, fear, sin, hateful thoughts, unkindness, anger, jealously ect. Color the cross inside. See picture below. Rev. Dr. Jeanne McIntosh July 1, 2011. All rights reserved.

What Freedom Means to Me?

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