This lesson continues in a series to help students develop and maintain a daily quiet time with God. This lesson was scheduled the week before Christmas so it has a Christmas theme to it. This is only a suggested guide to help you create a lesson for your ministry’s needs.
Bible Passage: Ephesians 1
Bible Story Title: Gifts in Christ
Target Age Group: Ages 9-11 (3rd-5th Grade U.S.A.)
Target Time Frame: 60 Minutes
Original Teaching Context: Sunday School
Supply List: Bibles, gift bags, packages, Word puzzle, pens/pencils
Learning Goal: Students will learn from Ephesians 1 the gifts that all believers receive through faith in Jesus Christ.
Learning Activity #1: Word Puzzle for Ephesians 1
Memory Verse: Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”
Bible Lesson: Gifts in Christ-Ephesians 1
Read Ephesians 1 together as a class.
Christmas is an exciting time of the year! We celebrate the Greatest Gift of all Jesus! Today we are going to continue to discover the importance of having a daily quiet time by studying Ephesians 1. This is a perfect chapter to think of all the gifts the Lord Jesus has given us.
In Christ
Let’s say our memory verse together. Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”
We are going to ‘un-wrap’ the blessings that belong to all believers.
First, let’s review what we mean when we say in Christ.
- Who are in Christ? (Believers: Anyone who has put their faith in Jesus to save them from their sins-they have believed that Jesus died on the cross for their sins, He was buried and God raised Him from the dead 3 days later.)
- Who are outside or not in Christ? (Unbelievers-people dead in their sin who have not put their faith in Jesus as their sacrifice for sins Ephesians 2:1)
Choose volunteer to unwrap the box titled In Christ. (Inside this gift will be a gift titled Every Spiritual Blessing)
Every Spiritual Blessing in the Heavenly places
Recite Ephesians 1:3 again.
Choose volunteer to open this gift. (Inside the box will be 3 wrapped gifts titled: Chosen, Redemption, and Sealed)
From Ephesians 1 Paul teaches that believers have privileges because they are in Christ. If you are a believer you own these gifts that Christ has purchased for you when He died on the cross for your sins, was buried and rose again.
Chosen before the foundation of the world
Allow a student to open gift titled Chosen. (Inside is the Scripture reference Ephesians 1:4 and 2 Timothy 1:9) Let’s turn in our Bibles and read Ephesians 1:4. When did God choose those who would believe in Christ? (Before the foundation of the world)
Let’s look at 2 Timothy 1:9. How is this verse similar to Ephesians 1:4? (God has called us (believers) according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ before time began)
What does this truth that God chose you before the foundations of the world mean to you? How can it help you when others make you feel like you are of no value?
Redemption through His Blood
Choose volunteer to open gift number 2 and has the word Redemption on it. (Inside the gift is the reference Ephesians 1:7. How are people redeemed? (Through the blood of Christ) What do the redeemed receive through Jesus’ blood? (Forgiveness of sins)
Why do people need to be forgiven? (Romans 3:23 All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God)Why is the blood of Jesus important? (Hebrews 9:22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.)
Sealed with the Holy Spirit
Open gift number 3 and has the word Sealed. (Inside is the reference for Ephesians 1:13-14) Let’s read these verses. Who sealed those who believed in Jesus Christ? (The Holy Spirit) When a person believes in the Lord Jesus the Holy Spirit comes and lives inside his/her life. A way to understand what this verse means when we read sealed by the Holy Spirit think of the Bible stories you remember where a seal was placed over something. (Allow students to think and respond. If no one responds here are a few examples-Darius seals the mouth of the lion’s den (Daniel 6:17). Daniel’s situation could not be changed by the king. Jesus’ tomb was sealed (Matthew 27:65-66). When a ruler used their ring to seal something it meant that the situation could not be changed. In both of these illustrations of a ruler sealing (mouth of the lions’ den, Jesus’ tomb) God broke those seals because He is the ruler of the universe. When He seals a believer with the Holy Spirit we can trust that we are protected and no one can take away the gift of salvation. (Ephesians 4:30, 2 Corinthians 1:22)
Ephesians 1 is filled with valuable gifts that belong to every believer. Like any gift we receive we must open it and use it to truly understand the value of the gift. The more we study God’s word and put into practice what we learn the more we understand how blessed we are because we belong to Jesus.
For some God has offered the gift of eternal life through Jesus. Unless a person believes in Jesus that gift remains wrapped and the person does not have forgiveness of sins and all the privileges of being in Christ.
Believers have opened the gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. However, unless we continually seek to know and understand God’s Word we have many ‘unwrapped’ gifts that belong to us that will help us to live this life on earth with power and become all that God desires us to be. Having a personal quiet time enables us to walk closely with God and to use the gifts He has blessed us with will be possible.
Close in prayer.
