Jesus Helps Me To Be Holy

Host

Welcome to the Lab! Let’s get today started with a game. On your mark, get set, go!

Co-Host

They’re competing to see who can eat the sucker the fastest. There is a little surprise we haven’t told them about yet, but I will tell you.

Host

Wait, you’re giving it away! Okay, let’s take off those blindfolds and reveal what is inside those suckers. Yep, you were eating a bug sucker.

Co-Host

Gross. Did they taste good on the outside? I guess it goes to show you that what’s on the outside isn’t the whole story.

Host

That’s true. In fact, today is all about how what’s on the inside is really important, way more important than what you find on the outside. It has a lot to do with becoming more like Jesus. Let’s see what's happening in the lab today, but first, tell someone nearby if you would ever eat a sucker with a bug inside.

Co-Host

What a strange competition.

Host

I know. What kind of contest could tell you who is the holiest? Do you think that finding a Bible verse fastest makes you a better Christian?

Co-Host

I don’t think so. What do you guys think?

Host

Let’s check out our Big Point to see what the Bible says about how we become holy. I need a volunteer to help us reveal it.

Co-Host

After we count down from three, you will read the Big Point.

Host

Let’s all say it together, Jesus Helps Me To Be Holy!

Co-Host

Jesus is the One who makes it possible to become more like Jesus.

Host

Think about it like this example. I’m going to bring out a friend.

Co-Host

Can you guys read what his/her shirt says? (Pause) Arm wrestling champion. Wow! I had no idea you are that amazing at slamming another person’s wrist down onto the table.

Host

Since you’re World Champion, you should have no problem taking down one of our leaders.

Co-Host

(In an announcer’s voice) It’s time for the main event of the service! We have (Adult volunteer’s name) vs. the undisputed, undefeated Arm Wrestling Champion of the World, (Kid’s first name), the Destroyer, (Kid’s last name)!

Host

(To the adult volunteer) Good luck, you’re going to need it. (To the kid) Try not to break his arm, please?

Co-Host

Who do you think will win this match? (Pause) Wait, what? Why are you saying, (Adult volunteer)? Did you not read the t-shirt? It says, “World Arm Wrestling Champion.”

Host

So, you think that wearing a t-shirt that says you’re the champion doesn’t make you a champion? (To the kid) Do you think you could beat (Adult volunteer)?

Co-Host

You are all exactly right! Just like wearing a championship t-shirt doesn’t make you a champion, outside stuff, like wearing a Christian t-shirt or listening to Christian music, doesn’t make you holy like Jesus.

Host

It’s what Jesus does in the inside of us, how He changes us, that helps us to become holy like He is. What matters more in following Jesus is what goes on in your heart. Let’s see if the Lab can figure that out, and let’s hold off on the arm wrestling for now.

Host

Their t-shirts and karaoke contests are not helping Ethel, Sophia, or Alex become more like Jesus.

Co-Host

Yep, those things are nice, but they’re just outside stuff. The real change happens on the inside. Let’s say our Big Point,

Co-Host

Jesus Helps Me To Be Holy!

Host

Herman shared a Big Verse that explains how Jesus helps us become holy. Let’s choose an assistant to reveal it.

Co-Host

After we count down from three, please read the verse.

Co-Host

Colossians 1:22 (NIrV) says, “Christ’s death has made you holy in God’s sight.” When Jesus died on the cross for us and came back to life, He made it possible for us to become holy.

Host

In case you missed a few weeks ago, let’s review what we mean by holy. Holiness is being separated from bad things, evil, or sin so that you can be connected to God. It’s like these two cups of colored beads.

Co-Host

The problem is that we live in a world full of sin and evil. That means it touches every part of our lives. We’ve all made mistakes and sinned. We’ve all disobeyed God.

Host

Instead of being separated, set apart, and holy, we get all mixed up in the wrong things. We need help. We need someone to come and fix this mess. But not just anyone can do it.

Co-Host

Jesus is the only One. That’s because Jesus is God, but He also became a human. He lived a perfect life and chose to die on the cross in our place. Then He came back to life. Jesus won the victory over evil and sin.

Host

If we believe in Jesus and what He did for us, and if we commit to make Jesus the leader of our life, then His power can change us on the inside and make us holy.

Host

Becoming set apart for Jesus is a change that comes from inviting Jesus to take charge of your life. It’s not a result of things we do on the outside. Let’s take a moment to stand and worship God.

Let’s bow our heads and close our eyes. We want to become more like Jesus. That’s the ultimate goal, but it doesn’t come by following rules or making changes to outside stuff. It comes from the power of the Holy Spirit working inside you. You have that power because of what Jesus did for you. You can become more and more like Jesus. There’s more good news. We have each other’s help, too. We can’t give our friends a new heart, but we can pray for them and encourage them. You might struggle with some bad attitudes or thoughts yourself. Maybe you’re having trouble controlling what you say or do. We have some adult volunteers up front who want to pray with you. We know that God can create in you a heart that is clean and pure, a heart that is becoming more like Jesus. Come to the front and find a volunteer to pray with.

Co-Host

I can totally believe that Skip McDougall would lie and cheat during a holiness competition. At least our friends in the Lab learned that what matters is what Jesus does on the inside.

Host

Jesus taught the Jewish leaders that what matters most is what happens in our heart. That’s what shows who we truly are, and the good news, when you follow Jesus, is that He gives you a new heart that can follow Him. Let’s say our Big Point,

Host

Jesus Helps Me To Be Holy!

Co-Host

That’s a story you can share with your family when you do this week’s Big Do.

Host

As a family, celebrate being more like Jesus. Whenever you catch someone making a wise choice, give them a high five, thumbs up, or a big smile.

Co-Host

Let’s practice, so we’re ready to do the Big Do this week. When we say go, one of our volunteers will rush through your section, giving a high-five to the first kid in each row. That kid will then give a high-five to the kid next to him or her, who will high-five the kid next to them, and so on until you reach the end of the row. Let’s see who can pass a high-five through their entire section first.

Host

Be ready to catch your family being more like Jesus. Let’s turn and connect with our Small Groups and talk about loving God.

• Why did Herman say that the competition in the Lab couldn’t declare who was the holiest person? Because all of the things they were testing were just things on the outside. True holiness comes from the inside, what Jesus does in our hearts.

• Why were the Jewish leaders, the Pharisees, mad at Jesus’ disciples? Jesus’ disciples weren’t following the extra rules the Pharisees had added to the Bible. The disciples weren’t washing their hands before eating. What did Jesus say mattered? The stuff that comes out of our hearts matters more than what we eat.

• Do the things that Jesus changes in our hearts affect what happens on the outside? Yes, the change in our heart is shown by the things that we say and do. We become more like Jesus by considering, “What would Jesus do if He were me?”

• What did Herman tell us to do with our families in the Big Do? When you catch someone making a choice like Jesus, give them a high five

• Our Big Point says, Jesus Helps Me To Be ______!

  • Holy

  • Clean

• What kind of contest was going on in the lab?

  • Holiness contest

  • Dance contest

• What was the name of the Jewish leaders in the Big Story?

  • Pharisees

  • Priests

• What did the Pharisees add to God’s word?

  • Lots of extra rules

  • New stories

• Why were the leaders mad at Jesus’ disciples?

  • They forgot to worship God

  • They didn’t wash their hands

• Colossians 1:22 (NIrV) says, “Christ’s _____ has made you holy in God’s sight.”

  • Music

  • Death

• A good question to ask ourselves is, “What would Jesus do if He were me?”

  • True

  • False

• Jesus said that what comes _____ us shows that we follow God.

  • Into

  • Out of

• When we say “Yes” to Jesus, He gives us the power to live a holy life.

  • True

  • False

• What challenge did Herman give us as this week’s Big Do?

When you catch someone making a choice like Jesus, give them a high five